The Manila Collegian Volume 28 Number 19 by The Manila Collegian

THE MANILA COLLEGIAN

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA

MORE INSIDE Thursday June 25, 2015 Volume 28 Number 19

02 NEWS Tanduay workers stage strike over unjust labor conditions 06 CULTURE Ganito Kami Ngayon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? 06 FEATURE On the Run 10 OPINION On Empathy 11 EDITORIAL Beyond the Barrage

02 NEWS

Volume 28 Number 19 June 25, 2015 | Thursday

Tanduay workers stage strike over unjust labor conditions

COLLEGE BRIEFS

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ARTHUR GERALD BANTILAN QUIRANTE

Contractual workers of Tanduay Distillers Inc., led by Tanggulan Ugnayang Daluyang Lakas ng Anakpawis sa Tanduay Distillers Inc. (TUDLA), launched a strike on May 18 in Cabuyao, Laguna to demand for higher wage, for their regularization, and for a safer workplace. As of press time, the fight of the workers is still on going. The strike was met with violence from the security personnel of Tanduay in their distillery plant in Cabuyao as the workers try to save their fellow 96 contractual employees who is on the verge of losing their job after the issuance of a memorandum ordering them to stop reporting to work by May 18. Moreover, national labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) mentioned an incident on May 23 wherein the striking workers and some supporters were chased and beat by alleged hired goons who threw rocks at them and beat them with sticks.

slammed the violence and said minimum wage is P362.50. that the company’s “cruelty to On the other hand, TUDLA also said workers knows no boundaries.” that workers in the distillery are exposed to a dangerous working Kabataan party-list environment. representative Terry Ridon, on the other hand, said that staging “Similar to the lack of safety a strike is a right of workers to air protocols in Kentex, the lack of their grievances against unfair personal protective equipment treatment they experience in (PPE) is pervasive also in our their workplace. workplace,” said Anse Are, president of TUDLA. “Launching a strike is a fundamental right of all workers Are also added that workers choose that experience oppression and to not use PPEs because these exploitation in their workplace. are deducted from their wages. The violent acts committed by Consequently, the workers are the management of Tanduay more vulnerable to injuries caused against the striking workers by frequent explosion or breakage constitute not only clear of bottles. violations of our country’s labor laws but also grave In line with this, KMU called on transgressions of fundamental business tycoon Lucio Tan to human rights,” Ridon said. regularize the long-standing 397 contractuals in Tanduay Distiller, Fight for regularization and Inc. and recognize their rights as workers. safety

“This is the same complicity that was shown by the Labor Department with the capitalists of Kentex who also kept their workers contractuals for years. This is the same complicity that ensures that capitalists get their profits at In line with this, KMU vicechairperson Lito Ustarez Despite this, the workers receive the expense of workers,” Ustarez only P315 per day when the regional added. According to the labor code, the 397 contractual workers of Tanduay should already have been regular employees as they have continually worked in the distillery for five to 11 years.

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The UP College of Medicine, in collaboration with UP Medical Alumni Fund, UP College of Nursing and UP College of Pharmacy, will be holding the First ASEAN Patient Safety Congress with the theme “Towards a unified approach to patient safety in the ASEAN perspective” on June 25-26, 2015 in the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila. For inquiries, please contact Ms. Therese Kristie Faro at the email tkfaro@post.upm. edu.ph. The College of Public Health’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health will host the 73rd Postgraduate course in Occupational Health and Safety on July 8 - 10 and 13 - 16, 2015 in the CPH Auditorium. The said postgraduate course includes lectures ranging from the Overview of OHS, Labor Laws, Industrial Hygiene, OHS Programs and Services, Compensational Medicine and others. For inquiries, please call 5247102 or email at deoh_up_ cph@yahoo.com.

ORGANEWS The UP Manila Learning Resource Center (LRC) is looking for student assistants starting on the months of June to July 2015. For interested students, please visit UPM LRC on the second floor of Joaquin Gonzales Bldg. Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila. In celebration of the Philippine General Hospital’s (PGH) Foundation Week, the PGH Alumni Association will host “Kalinga Para Sa PGH Alumni,” a free laboratory test for all PGH alumni. The free laboratory tests include CBC, FBS, Crea, ALT, AST, Uric Acid, Lipid Profile and ECG. Pre-registration for the first 80 PGH alumni will start on June 15, 2015 at the DEM’s Chairman’s office from 10 am to 4 pm. The actual bood extraction will be from August 17 to 19, 2015 at the Outpay Express Laboratory (former Pay Admitting Unit).

NEWS 03

Volume 28 Number 19 Thursday | June 25, 2015

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Unang araw ng klase, sinalubong ng kilos-protesta Pagpapatupad ng K-12, binatikos ARIES RAPHAEL REYES PASCUA

Minarkahan ng kilos-protesta mula sa iba’t ibang progresibong grupo ang pagbubukas ng klase sa karamihan ng paaralan sa bansa noong Hunyo 1 upang tutulan ang umiiral na programang K-12 at upang kondenahin ang patuloy na pagtaas ng matrikula. Idinaos ng Stop K to 12 Alliance ang mga kilos-protesta sa Batasan National High School, Ramon Magsaysay High School, Manila Science High School, Caloocan High School, at Manila High School, lima sa pinakamalalaking mataas na paaralan sa bansa. Nagmartsa rin ang mga raliyista patungong Mendiola upang magsagawa ng isang programa.

suplay ng kuryente at tubig. Ayon sa kanila, lalala lamang ang mga problema sa edukasyon sa ilalim ng programang K-12.

nito, na makikita sa kakulangan ng mga guro, silid-aralan, libro, modernong kagamitan, at suplay sa koryente at tubig.

Sa kabila ng mga pagtutol mula sa iba’t ibang sektor, determinado pa rin umano ang administrasyong Aquino na ipagpatuloy ang pagpapatupad ng K-12.

Samantala, sinabi naman ni Renato Reyes, Jr. ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) na ang K-12 program ay naglalayong mapagsilbihan ang interes ng mga dayuhang kompanya.

Ayon kay Department of Education (DepEd) secretary Armin Luistro, sa kabuoan ay handa na umano ang mga paaralan sa hinihinging pangangailangan ng K-12 curriculum, bagaman inamin ng kalihim na may pagkukulang pa ring kailangang resolbahin.

“The whole program is designed to orient the basic and secondary educational system into producing cheap labor for domestic and international employment in the tradition of the “vocationaltechnical” schools. These youth will be eligible to join the work force Pinabulaanan naman ni Alliance of after graduating from senior high Ipinarating ng mga grupo ang mga Concerned Teachers (ACT) national school (SHS),” wika ni Reyes. hindi pa nareresolbang problema chairperson Benjamin Valbuena sa sektor ng edukasyon tulad ng ang diumano’y kahandaan ng Binatikos naman ng kinatawan ng kakulangan sa mga libro, silid- DepEd at sinabing hindi maayos na ACT Party-list na si Antonio Tinio aralan at pasilidad, at problema sa nagagamit ng kagawaran ang pondo ang pagdami ng bilang ng out of HIGIT SA DIPLOMA MULA PAHINA 10

Madalas nang magkaroon ng mga Iskolar ng Bayang tinapos lamang ang kanyang pananatili rito sa pamantasan, at hindi hinahayaang yanigin ang kanyang pagtingin sa mundo. Kulang ang isang taong naghangad lamang ng diploma higit pa sa hangad niyang bumagsak, pumusta, makipaglaban, at matuto. Dapat laging mayroong rebolusyon, sa iyong sarili man o sa iyong kapaligiran. Ganito ang tunay na epekto ng UP sa mga mag-aaral nito. Ang daming pwedeng sabihin ukol sa usaping ito, pero lagi naman sigurong naririnig ng mga estudyante, taga-UP man o hindi, na iba ang pagkuha ng diploma sa pagkuha ng mga aral. At sana, kapag tumuntong ka na sa entablado, kapag nakamayan mo na ang dapat kamayan at humarap na sa mga panauhin, matandaan mo: Walang ibang parangal na mas mahirap pang maabot kaysa sa pagkatuto. At sana, sa dulo ng karera, masigurado mo sa iyong sarili na isa kang UP graduate na patuloy na lumalaban, patuloy na bumabangon, at patuloy na natututo.

ON EMPATHY

FROM PAGE 10

perfect quizzes. Worse, you may find yourself at lunch time trying to keep everything under control for you have just discovered you missed a test that was moved at an earlier time, and you did not know because your internet got cut-off, the inconvenience of convenience. I remember a class I had before where a guy came in late, and was consequently asked by the professor why. He flashed a sheepish grin at her, and rubbed his stomach as if to say, “I’m suffering from diarrhea, ma’am.” I laughed along with the class, but I said to myself, “Too bad, kuya, she only cares for our output. Didn’t you know, as students, we have more duties than rights? Our “excuses” are irrelevant.” Welcome to college, where teenagers shed their last skin of optimism as they undergo the symbolic comingof-age ceremony. This is the place where they have to maturely handle disillusionment, otherwise they will be accused of inability, or refusal, to grow up. Welcome to college, where they teach you the essence of “grace under pressure,” and the art of pretense. This is our training ground as we become, unknowingly, productive, yet hardened, members of the society.

school youth at drop-outs dahil sa K-12. Aniya, may 2.3 milyong kabataang mula sa mahihirap na pamilya ang hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na edukasyon. “President Aquino and the Department of Education cannot claim success in any so-called education reform for as long as one child in ten is not able to go to school,” sabi ni Tinio. Kaugnay nito, nangako ang alyansang patuloy nitong igigiit ang de-kalidad na edukasyon para sa masang Pilipino. “To attain mass-based, scientific, and nationalist education, we should change the system, we should change the government. And we can only do that through our collective action,” wika ni Reyes.

04 NEWS

Volume 28 Number 19 June 25, 2015 | Thursday

Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang

ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA

Sapat na ba ang mga paghahanda ng pamahalaan at pamantasan sa nakaambang paggalaw ng West Valley Fault System?

Wala nga akong nakikitang paghahanda eh. - AkoNalangSana, CAS, 2014-3**** A big big NOOOOO! -Jeskelerd, CAS, 2013 I have no idea. Kailan ba naging sapat ang paghahanda? Hindi lang naman siguro dapat asa nalang nang asa sa pamahalaan, dapat may sarili rin na paghahanda. – Sa**e**ch, never naging CAS, 2013. Naghanda na pala ang UPM? Maliban sa poster na may things to do before and after an earthquake? Di ako informed. Sorry. Hahaha Eddie, CAS, 2013-14696 Not enough -Tambok, 2013-sinx, CAS Well, aside sa pagreremind nila na risky ang location niyo? - getalife, 2012-xxxxx, CAS Hindi pa ata handa ang pamahalaan dito, wala pa naman akong nakitang malaking paghahanda paraa sa sitwayson. Anyway, it’s all their fault. *winks* (weh) - Alice, 2014-501**

Pwede ring ipadala ang inyong mga sagot sa pamamagitan ng pag-text sa 09175109496! (Pero bawal ang textmate!) mamamayan kasya sa mga problema na sangkot ang ibang bansa. - SirJ, Cas, 201****** Siyempre hindi, kailan ba tayo naging handa ever? Sa eleksiyon lang tayo laging handa. W1LDGURRRRL, 2013 Alam mo yung kantang “I did my best, but i guess my best wasn’t good enough?” Parang ganon kasi nag-eeffort kahit papano sila kaso parang kulang parin. Yes, they plan pero gaano sila kasigurado na yung plano nila ay foolproof. - RainySeasonMermaid, CAS, 2013-13*** Hindi, at hindi ko alam kung paano nila magagawan ng paraan. -di na freshie, CAS Oo, pero strong yung feeling ko na hindi nila magagawan ng paraan. Hello, armageddon. - bordeaux belle, 201*-*****, CAS

na sa bucketlist mo ngayong 2Anyare bakasyon? Bakasyon? Anong bakasyon? - Always, CAS, 2012-354xx Ayun. Ubos na yung bucket ng chickenjoy, wala pa akong nasisimulan kahit isa. Whattalife! - AkoNalangSana, CAS, 2014-3****

Ayon sa naririnig kong “lakas” ng lindol, kulang pa ng pwersa sa pag-endorso sa mga taong maghanda sa peligro. - INDAYBOTE, CAS

Nabaon na sa hukay, teh! - Jeskelerd, CAS, 2013

Hindi pa sapat, hindi ko nga alam ang ginagawa ng pamahalaan eh maliban sa mag-inform na may fault pala. - Trust Issues, 2013.

Nagkaroon na ako ng iPad. - mababaw, CAS, 2014

Wala akong masagot kasi di ko maramdaman yung aksiyon o baka kasi manhid lang talaga ako. - patglow, cas, 2014 Nakikita kong hindi pa sapat ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng gobyerno sa paghahanda sa nakaambang paggalaw ng West Valley Fault. Bagama’t napakalaking tulong na ang inilabas na interactive map kung saan makikita ang mga tatamaang lugar ng fault line, marami pa ring kailangang gawing preparasyon sa lindol na ito. Napakainportanteng mag-effort sila na makipagugnayan sa lokal na pamahalaan ng mga probinsya at i-assess ang tibay ng bawat gusali, bahay at ang mga imprastraktura at siguraduhing earthquake at fire resistant ang mga ito. - Star, 2014 No. I dont even think the govt know where to go after the earthquake. And i dont even think they know every exit since there are so many buildings in manila. They keep telling us about being prepared, sure prepared, we have supplies etc but what if our houses break? What do we do after? Where do we go? Who will assist us? - Oishi, CAS Hindi. Hanggang kailan pa ba tutunganga ang pamahalaan bago sila gumawa ng aksyon? Kapag nangyari na ang kalamidad? In fact, hindi nga lang sa sitwasyon na ‘to tumutunganga ang pamahalaan eh. And sa mga na-obserbahan ko, kahit nangyari na ung kalamidad, wala pa rin silang ginagawa. - dessertS, CAS, 2014 Hindi kasi hindi ramdam na may ginagawa ang gobyerno nating sakim mula ulo mukhang paa. – kissmyA*st*t**s69, CAS Hindi, dahil ngayon lang nila sinosolusyunan ang mga problema. Typical na gawain nila ng pagdeliver ng solusyon na hindi naman tugma at nakakatulong sa problema. - frustrated, 2014-*****, CAS Watch me whip, wa-wa-ley-ley. - lil sebastian, 2013-xxxxx Hindi. Puro plano, puro pag-aaral at puro pangako pa rin. Ang pamahalaang tunay na naglilingkod sa bayan ay mas uunahin ang napipintong sakuna na nakaamba sa kanyang

Natuto ako mag-gitara. Kbye! -baboy, CPH, 2014

Ayun may kiti-kiti na kasi masyadong stagnant. Huhu. – S*u***s*h, never naging CAS, 2013. MAY BUCKETLIST AKO? T_T APPHY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME!!! - Tambok, 2013-sinx, CAS Ayun, nasa bucket pa rin. - Alice, 2014-501** Hinihilom ko pa pimples ko after sagarin nung finals. - INDAYBOTE, CAS Walang nangyari sa bucketlist ko. - Trust Issues, 2013. Matatapos ko na himym season 9, yeheeey. Saka sinusupah upgrade ko na stuff sa clash of clans, tapos malapit ko na mabili yung great white shark sa hungry shark evo. - patglow, cas, 2014 Isa lang naman ang gusto ko ngayong bakasyon, mabawi lahat ng sleepless nights last sem. Ayun, magdamag lang akong nasa bahay, magdamag tulog. - Star, 2014 Uuwi na ako ng probinsya. Math11 i love you. - Oishi, CAS hindi ko siya maiusog dahil sa dinamidaming problema ng bansa. hindi ko maisip ang aking sarili dahil mas iniisip ko ang inang bayan natin na ang pilipinas. – kissmyA*st*t**s69, CAS ****!!!! - frustrated, 2014-*****, CAS Bucket list more like bucket pa ako gumawa ng list in the first place. - lil sebastian, 2013-xxxxx Walang nabawas at patuloy na nadagdagan dahil ang asam na bakasyon ay mapupuno pa rin ng pag-aaral. #shortterm - SirJ, Cas, 201****** Nganga lang ako ngayon e hahahaha – cam**let*e, 2014 Ayun, nakaka-2 bucket pa lang ako. 5 more to go!!! # animefever - W1LDGURRRRL, 2013 Sabi ko sa sarili ko magpapaint ako’t magpapractice ng lettering, sinabi ko rin sa sarili ko na magpapapayat ako tsaka matutulog nang maaga. Pero, sabi ko nga lang yun. Sabi lang. Waley. - RainySeasonMermaid, CAS, 201313***

LolaPatola

GRADUATION EDITION

Bang bang in two da room! Congratumalations sa Yu Fi Em Class of 2015!!! After zo many years and zo many trials (AKA Math 11, Math 22, Math 33 ... charot!), diz is it! Magmamarcha-loo na ang aking mga beloved afowz with their togas and sablays!!! Huhuhu, another girls generation of Iskolars ng Bayan are going to byelaloo sa aketch. Sa mga afowz naman na naiwan, don’t cry cutie piez!!!!! Ders olways next year nemern! Ilabas niyo nalang ang ka-haggardo versozahan niyo to your loving doving Lola P! Char! But wait, ders more. Habang nagfufunas aketch ng tears of joy for my graduating afowz, tuloy-tuloy parin ang dating ng mga bonggangbonggang sumvongs from my other afowz! Juskelerd. Tapos na ang second sem, but the froblemz keep tumbling down! Sablay na sablay sumvhong numbah wan: For The Module Sa pagstartsung ng regular school year ng ibang schoolz, nag-start naman ang extra spatial short term ng aking mga afowz. But this one class cannot make sunod the syllaboos! Paano nemern, wala paring moduling ang aking afowz! Juskelerd! Lagpas one week na since the ready set go ng short term na itech, aneksung parin ang bookella nila??? Pleaze nemern, don’t make paasa my afowz. Give them the moduling they deserve!!! Sablay na sablay sumvhong numbah tu: It’s About Time Sinech iteng froppie na not twice, not once, but never (as in NEVER!!!!!) dawsung pumasok on-time sa isang class niya last sem! Sa may Jurassic World ka ba nakatira, froppie? Why oh why so late nemern? Buti sana kung minsan lang, but allegedly

apparently supposedly, every single meeting nuhlung daw siyang late! Anek?! And and and, in fairnez to dis froppie, pati sa paglabas ng gradesung ng aking poor poor afowz, late din! Ass in, hanggang ngayon, waley padin! Jeskelerd! Haggardo versoza! Baka walang internet sa Jurassic World itong si froppie kaya hindi itech makaupload ng grades sa Sirang-sirang Aneksung Imbiyerna Syztem! Charot! Hihihi. Sablay na sablay sumvhong numbah tri: Too Sabaw, Too Furious Sumtimez, diz froppiez tuhluguh! So nakaka-imbiyerna! Diz one froppie from a whitewalkers college daw ay, thankfully, nagbabalik naman ng resultz ng mga exams ng aking afowz. But, ders a catching fire, never daw nitech pinaliwanag ang my way niya ng pag-compute ng gradez! Kaya nung nilabas ni froppie na itech ang eczemption list, nalurkey ang aking mga afowz!!! Hindi daw binibigyan ni froppie ng full credit ang exam scores ng aking mga afowz!!!!! Juskelerd. What sorcery is diz??? Anong klaseng grading syztem ba ang trip mong gamitin, froppie? Hindi daw darts, but scrabble!!!!! Charot! At hindi pa nacontent si froppie na itech! According to my afowz, kapag sinusubukan daw nilang kausapin si froppie, sabaw na sabaw daw! Sobrang sabaw, nag-umaapaw! Haggardo versoza tuhluguh!!!!! Please get your shiz together froppie!!!!! Kawawa naman my afowz. Huhuhu. Dats it, pancit! Oh well papel, aalis man ang ilan sa aking mga afowz, may papasok naman na bagong girls generation – mga freshies!!! Sana madaming cute at pogi sa kanila! Ahihihi. Shh, baka marinig aketch ni Lolo Upo! Love you bae! Char! Yu Fi Em Class of 2015, olways remember, serve the people... and love your Lola P! XOXO

NEWS 05

Volume 28 Number 19 Thursday | June 25, 2015

Delubyo

ISKOTISTIKS

Pagsusuri sa pagtugon ng pamahalaan sa oras ng kalamidad PATRICIA ANNE LACTAO GUERRERO AT SOFIA MONIQUE KINGKING SIBULO

Sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Pilipinas ay mababakas ang kalunos-lunos na kalagayang iniwan ng delubyo sa isang bansang walang kahandaan at seguridad, na dapat ay naibibigay ng pamahalaan sa mga mamamayan. Mabagal na pagtugon sa pangangailangan, kawalan ng pansin sa tamang pagpapatupad ng batas ukol sa disaster response, at hindi sapat na paglalaan ng pondo ng pamahalaan ang nagpapalala sa kalagayan ng mga nasalanta ng bagyo na ang tanging pagasa ay ginupo na rin ng kalamidad.

Pandarayang tulong Alinsunod sa Republic Act 10121 o ang Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act na isinabatas noong 2010, dapat na pagtibayin ang programa sa Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) ng bansa upang mapigilan ang mas malalang epekto ng pananalanta ng mga kalamidad sa socio-economic at environmental risk. Nakasaad din sa batas na ito na mas pagtutuunan ng pansin ang pagtugon sa lokal na lebel dahil sa kalapitan nito sa mga komunidad. Ngunit sa kabila nito, hindi pa rin nakasusunod ang Pilipinas sa pagpapatupad ng nilalaman ng batas na magbibigay daan sa mas agarang pagtulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo. “Local DRRM (disaster risk reduction and management) structures are often not functional, community participation has not been maximized and there remains a lack of clarity about key governance and funding provisions,” ayon sa Oxfam, isang humanitarian group.

Pambansang Pangamba Ang Pilipinas bilang nakalatag sa Pacific Typhoon Belt ay lantad sa natural na panganib na nagdudulot ng malulubhang sakuna. Kadalasan ay 20 bagyo ang dumadaan sa bansa kada taon. Ayon sa National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), mula taong 2012 hanggang 2013 ay nagkaroon ng sunod-sunod na mapanirang delubyo kaugnay sa tubig tulad ng bagyo, biglaang pagbaha dahil sa malalakas na ulan, at pana-panahong kilos ng hangin. Ang naging tugon ng gobyerno sa hydrometeorological hazards ay ang kaunaunahang National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) na magsisiguro sa naaayon na pagresponde sa mga sakuna sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay tulong sa mga nasalanta o sa local government unit (LGU). Nakaplano ito para sa taong 2011 hanggang 2028. Ito ay inihanda kasama ang iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno at organisasyong sibiko at internasyonal, sa pangunguna ng Office of Civil Defense (OCD) at sa paggabay ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) bilang Vice-Chairperson for Response. Ang

mga nabanggit na ahensya, sampu ng iba pang mga sangay ng gobyerno ang dapat mamuno sa pagresponde. (Sumangguni sa tsart 1) Sa kabila nang pagpaplano ng gobyerno, wala pa ring mabilis na pagresponde sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo. Kung matatandaan ang bagyong Sendong na humagupit sa Mindanao noong 2011, mahigit sa 1,000 ang namatay at halos P1 bilyon ang naitalang pinsala dahil hindi naikalat nang maayos ang impormasyon ukol sa pagdating na bagyo at ang mga dapat paghandaan kaugnay nito. Makikita na makalipas ang ilang linggo ay malaki pa rin ang bilang na hindi natutulungan na pamilya. (Sumangguni sa tsart 2) Matapos ang dalawang taon, tila walang bahala pa rin ang pamahalaan nang dumaan sa Pilipinas noong 2013 ang isa sa pinakamalakas na mga bagyo sa buong mundo—ang bagyong Yolanda. Ito ay pumatay ng libo-libong katao at kulangkulang P34.3 bilyon ang halaga ng nasira sa Visayas. “Hindi ko na alam kung aasahan pa namin ang tulong ng gobyerno. Taun-taon sa mga bagyong nagdaan, wala namang ibinibigay na tulong sa amin,” ayon kay Alfredo Camonggay Jr., isang magsasaka sa Tacloban mula sa interbyu ng Pinoy Weekly makalipas ang isang linggo ng bagyong Yolanda.

ng bagyong Yolanda, napag-alamang pinaglaanan ng mas malaking pondo ng pambansang gobyerno ang pag-aayos matapos ang bagyo kaysa sa paghahanda sa pagdating ng delubyo. Sinabi ring sa 2013 national budget ay 54 porsiyento ng disaster risk management fund ay napunta sa response at rehabilitation samantalang 46 porsiyento naman para sa mitigation at preparedness. Napansin naman ng komisyon na ang paglalaan ng pondo para sa LGU ay mayroong “imbalance between available resources and risk exposure”— nangangahulugang mas mababa ang natatanggap na pondo ng mas delikadong probinsiya.

ng bagyo. Binigyang pansin ng komisyon na kahit may maliit na badyet lamang ang mga LGU para sa local disaster risk reduction and management, kadalasan ay unutilized o underutilized pa ito. Napuna rin ng COA na isa sa mga dahilan ng maling paggamit ng disaster preparedness funds ay kaugnay ng burukratang isyu.

Ang hinuha ng komisyon dito ay hindi nakapaghahanda ang mga tao dahilan upang mas tumaas ang bilang ng mga nadedelubyo ng bagyo. Isa ito sa mga nagpapalala ng kahirapan ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino tuwing panahon ng kalamidad.

Sa bawat pagbaha ay may mga nalulunod na pag-asa ng pagbangon dahil sa pagpapabaya ng gobyerno. Ang pagkakaroon ng batas ukol sa pagtugon sa hamon ng kalikasan ay mananatiling isang dokumento lamang na nagpapatunay sa huwad na intensyon ng pamahalaan na tumulong habang hindi nito lubos na naipagaganap ang programa. Hindi maikakaila na sa ilalim ng mapaniil at mapagkait na sistemang ito ay ang wala pa ring pagkatuto ang mga namumuno sa paulit-ulit na pagbayo ng mga bagyo.

Kaugnay nito, iminungkahi ng COA na mahalagang mapaunlad ang pagiging bukas ng komunikasyon at ang tamang pagkalat ng impormasyon habang hindi maayos na nagagamit ng pamahalaan ang pondo para sa pagresponde sa epekto

Kasabay ng paghagupit ng malalakas na bagyo ay walang dudang mababakas ang palala nang palalang pagpapabaya ng pamahalaan sa mga nasalanta. Mahihinuha mula sa mga naihayag na datos na ang mga plano ng gobyerno ay nananatiling mga plano na lamang.

Samantala, mula naman sa assessment ng Commission on Audit (COA) sa kasalukuyang taon ay mababa ang rate sa tamang paggamit ng disaster funds ng LGU sa buong bansa. Kaugnay nito, hanggang ngayon ay makikita pa rin ang malagim na sinapit ng mga Pilipino kahit isa at kalahating taon na ang nakalipas nang humagupit ang bagyong Yolanda. Patunay lamang itong bigo ang lokal at ang nasyonal na pamahalaan na tugunan ang pangunahing pangangailangan ng mga nasalanta ng kalamidad kahit pa may mga programa at batas na ipinatutupad ukol dito.

Mata ng Bagyo

Tsart 1: Organisasyong Balangkas ng Grupong Reresponde. (Sanggunian: NDRP)

Sa bawat bagong bagyong dumadaan sa Pilipinas ay siya ring paglipas sa mga pangarap na nawasak nito dahil sa pagsasawalang-bahala. Mula na mismo sa World Risk Report ng United Nations University at ang Institute of Environment and Human Security noong 2011, idineklara ang Pilipinas bilang pangatlo sa pinakamapanganib na bansa sa buong mundo dahil sa banta ng mga sakuna, at noong nakaraang taon lamang ay umakyat na ang bansa sa pangalawang pwesto. Ayon sa ulat, bukod sa lokasyon ng bansa, ang ranggong ito ay bunsod din ng kawalan ng mainam na sistema ng pagtugon ng pamahalaan sa mga sakuna. Kung titignan ang pagsusuri ng COA sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon kaugnay sa epekto

Tsart 2: Kabuuang bilang na Naapektuhang Lugar at Natulungangang Pamilya. (Sanggunian: DSWD)

06 CULTURE

Volume 28 Number 19 June 25, 2015 | Thursday

Ganito Ka Paano Ka

Ako nga pala si John Lloyd Dela Cruz. Isa akong tinedyer na galing sa future. Maaaring isa o dalawa sa inyong mga nagbabasa ngayon ay aking magiging magulang, pero hindi niyo pa lang alam ngayon dahil halaman pa kayo at hindi pa kayo naniniwala sa forever. Ang liham na ito ay para sa inyong mga ninuno ko. Nais kong malaman ninyo ang estado ng Pilipinas makalipas ang dalawang dekada. Maraming nangyari, nawala, at nabago. Sana, magsilbing inspirasyon ang mga ibabahagi kong kaginhawaan at kaunlarang natatamasa namin ngayon mula sa aming gobyerno.

Dalawampung taon matapos ang tinaguriang “ginintuang dekada” ng Pilipinas, nagpapatuloy pa rin ang karamihan sa mga batas at proyektong nasimulan noong taong 2000 hanggang 2015. Ang unang labin-limang taon ng ika-21 siglo sa bansa ay nagdala ng pagbabago sa buhay ng bawat mamamayan. Kung ano man ang tinatamasa namin ngayon sa hinaharap, malaking bahagi nito ay dahil sa mga pamahalaan noong dulo ng ginintuang dekada. Ngayon, kitang-kita ang epekto ng mahusay na gobyerno noong taong 2010-2015 sa edukasyon. Hanggang ngayon, bahagi pa rin ng sistema ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas ang K-12 na nagsimula noong panahon niyo. Sa pagsasaliksik ko nga, talaga namang pinagmamalaki ng pamahalaan ito, at tiwalang-tiwala sila rito sa puntong ginawa itong prayoridad para lang maranasan na ng lahat. Dahil mataas na ang cost of living, ang K-12 ngayon ay nagbibigay sa amin ng pagkakataon para makapag-trabaho agad; sa sobrang bilis nga ng pagdating ng trabaho, ginawa nang 13 taong gulang ang edad para makapagtrabaho. At sa ibang bansa pa yun ha! Kung trabaho lang din naman, bakit pa ba kailangang pumasok ng kolehiyo? Kahit saan na nangangailangan ng taga-linis, taga-ayos, taga-luto, mapupuntahan namin. Pero bago iyon, nag-aral muna kami sa mga paaralan na may K-12. Bata pa lang kami, tinuturuan na kami na ang edukasyon ay isang pribilehiyo. At dahil kasama kami sa mga pinalad, natuturuan kami ng kasaysayan ng US at ng China, dalawang bansang may hawak sa malalaking bahagi ng Pilipinas. Saka, ang bansang US at China rin naman ang kumukuha ng pinakamaraming empleyadong Pinoy, kaya’t mas mabuting pag-aralan ang kasaysayan nila kaysa ang sa Pilipinas. Subalit ang higit na nagbibigay ng saya sa amin sa K-12 ay tuwing pinagbabasa kami ng mga akda ni Marcelo Santos III. Grabe, ang galing-galing pala niya, punongpuno ng emosyon yung pagkakasulat. Pagdating naman sa kolehiyo, hindi na rin nakabatay sa interes ng mga estudyante ang itinuturo. Dahil ang tingin sa mga Pilipino ay magagaling na manggagawa, ang pamahalaan ay sinusunod na ang hiling ng mga dayuhang bansa. Kailangan ng OFW? Agad-agad tayong nagpapadala roon. Upang magkaroon ng pondo sa pagpapadala ng OFW, ibinenta na rin ng gobyerno ang mga research facilities at mga pamahalaan nito. Nakapaghanap na ng pondo, nakapagbigay pa sila agad ng trabaho sa mga mamamayan. Pero simula pa lang ito ng pagtulong sa amin ng pamahalaan. Sinisigurado rin nilang nasa mabuti kaming mga kamay kapag nagtatrabaho na.

Pagkatapos mong magkaroon ng sertipikasyong ikaw ay handa nang magtrabaho para sa mga dayuhan, sisiguraduhin naman ng pamahalaang ikaw ay rehistrado sa isang dayuhang pamilya o kompanya. Karamihan sa mga pamilya at kompanyang nagbibigay ng mga trabaho ay nasa mga bansang may mga matitinding batas. Nagiging disiplinado ang mga Pilipino dahil kung hindi, siguradong bitay ang aabutin nila. Wala ring kahit anong benepisyong ibinibigay ang mga kompanya, kaya’t natuturuan ang mga manggagawa na pangalagaan ang sarili nila. Isinusulong din ng pamahalaang matuto ang mga manggagawang Pilipino na mamuhay mag-isa sa pamamaraan ng hindi pagtulong sa mga napupunta sa kulungan. Totoo nga naman, kung nasanay kang walang tutulong sa iyo kapag nagkamali ka, masasanay ka ring hindi magkamali. Nagbago na rin ang pagtratrabaho sa loob ng bansa. Katulad ng Estados Unidos, kinakailangan na rin ng dalawa o tatlong trabaho para kumita ng pera. Importanteng may back up kang trabaho dahil lahat ng manggagawa ngayon sa bansa ay kontraktwal na. Payapa na rin sa loob ng mga kompanya dahil tinatanggal lahat ng empleyadong nagsasabi ng masama tvvungkol sa mga boss nila. Ilan sa mga kompanyang naging tagapanguna nito ay ang Tanduay, Kentex, GMA, at iba pa. Upang maging mas disiplinado ang mga nagagalit na manggagawa, hindi rin sila makatatanggap ng sweldo kapag naglabas sila ng masasamang pahayag. Upang dumami ang mga investor sa bansa, binago na rin ng pamahalaan ang konstitusyon para pumabor sa kanila. Marami na ring kompanya ang nagtatangal ng mga benepisyo sa kanilang manggagawa, upang mas makatipid at makasunod sa galaw ng ibang bansa. Kasabay ng pag-usbong ng kontraktwal na trabaho ang napakamahal na mga bilihin. Sabi ng pamahalaan, sumusunod lamang ang merkado natin sa pandaigdigang merkado. Dagdag pa nila, mas mabuti pang humabol na lang din ang mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng mas maraming trabaho. Bukod pa, ang pagbaba ng pamahalaan sa gulang para maging manggagawa ay paraan para mas maagang makapag-ipon ang mga Pilipino. Dahil gusto ng pamahalaan na makapagpokus sa ibang mga serbisyo, at dahil gusto ng pamahalaan na maging nagsasarili ang mga mamamayan, idineklara ng gobyerno na hindi nila prayoridad ang trabaho ng mga Pilipino, at iniwan na lang ito sa kamay ng kapitalismo. Hindi lang nakikita ang yaman ng bansa ngayon sa mga mag-aaral at manggagawa — makikita rin ito sa estado ng transportasyon. Lalong-lalo na sa mga kalsada at tren sa Metro Manila. Katulad noong panahon ninyo, marami pa rin ang mga sasakyan sa kalsada, at sabi ng pamahalaan, isa raw itong manipestasyon ng karangyaan ng bansa at mga mamamayan nito. Nagpatuloy ang ganoong pag-unlad nayong hinaharap, sa pagdami pa ag mga pribadong sasakyan sa lipunan. Wala na ring rush hour dahil buong araw at gabi ay napupuno ang kalsada ng mga sasakyan. Walang patay na oras para sa mga kalsada ng Metro Manila at iba pang malalaking lungsod sa bansa dahil tanghalian man o madaling araw, mabagal ang usad ng mga sasakyan. Bukod sa mga sasakyan, dumami na rin ang mga skyway kung saan mga pribadong sasakyan lang ang nakadaraan. Ang pagkakatayo rin ng mga skyway ang nagbigay daan sa pagtanggal ng mga informal settlers sa Metro Manila dahil halos lahat ay pinalayas para mapatayo ito. Natanggal na ang mga nakasisira ng view, nadagdagan pa ng skyway na mukhang nagpapayaman lalo sa bansa. Minsan nga akala mo hapon na, yun pala wala lang araw dahil nasa ilalim ka ng skyway. Tila naging EDSA at C-5 na rin ang NLEX, SLEX, SCTEX, at iba pang daanan papunta sa iba’t ibang probinsya dahil sa lumalaking populasyon ng mga tao sa Pilipinas. Halos araw-araw, napupuno ng sasakyan ang kahabaan ng mga kalsadang ito. Ngunit masaya pa rin ang mga tao dahil tulad ng EDSA, halos bawat sulok ay napalitan na ng restaurant at mall, kapalit ng mga dating lupa ng magsasaka. ‘Yung SCTEX nga, parang pinalaking Maginhawa Street na ngayon sa dami ng kainan. Sa kabilang banda, ang pagbuti ng kalagayan ng mga tren simula noong taong 2014 ay nagpatuloy hanggang ngayon. Ang mga tren na ginagamit simula pa noong nagbukas ang PNR, LRT, at MRT ay ginagamit pa rin ngayon, at lubos silang naging matibay. Sa katunayan, ang mga tren na iyon ngayon ay napagkakasya ang mas maraming tao sa loob, dagdag pa ang mga taong pinapasakay na rin sa ibabaw ng tren. Ilan sa mga nagbago sa transportasyon ay ang pagkawala ng mga bus at tren sa mga kalsada. Paliwanag ng gobyerno, dahil na rin sa nagiging dahilan ang mga ito ng usok, kasabay pa na sa mga sasakyang ito nagkakaroon ng nakawan, ipinagbawal na lang ang mga sasakyang ito. Ang mga tao ngayon ay pinapapili kung uutang para makabili ng pribadong sasakyan, o sasakay sa mga tren.

CULTURE 07

Volume 28 Number 19 Thursday | June 25, 2015

ami Ngayon, ayo Noon?

ANGELO DENNIS ALIGAGA AGDEPPA DIBUHO NI MICHAEL LORENZ DUMALAOG RAYMUNDO

Hindi malayo ang sitwasyon ng edukasyon at transportasyon sa sitwasyon ng kalusugan dito sa hinaharap. Katulad ng sitwasyon sa bansa dalawang dekada na ang nakalipas, umuunlad pa rin ang kalidad ng mga ospital sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng pribatisasyon. Hindi na nahihirapan ang mga pasyente sa tagal ng paglabas ng mga resulta ng lab tests dahil mas maganda at mabilis na gamit pang-ospital. Hindi na rin nagpapalipat-lipat ang mga pasyente dahil halos lahat ng kagamitan na kailangan nila ay nasa mga mamahaling ospital ng gobyerno. Hindi na rin mahaba ang pila dahil halos wala nang nagpapa-ospital. Dahil dito, bahagyang nabawasan ang populasyon ng bansa, isang malaking sagot sa malaking problema sa populasyon. Sumabay rin dito ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga gamot. Subalit ang mataas na presyo ng gamot ay humantong sa pagiging immune ng mga tao sa sakit. Pagkatapos ng ilang buwan ng pagkakasakit at pagkamatay, hindi na kailangan pang magpagamot ng ilang mamamayan dahil kinaya na lang ito ng kanilang mga katawan. Ang pagpapahalaga naman sa kaligtasan ng mga doktor, nars, at iba pang manggagamot ang nagtulak sa gobyerno para itigil ang anomang panggagamot sa mga kanayunan. Bagkus, binibigyan na lamang ang mga pamilya ng “allowance” na gagamitin namang pamasahe papuntang lungsod kapag may nagkakasakit. Dahil na rin sa umuunting bilang ng mga nagkakasakit at nagpupunta sa ospital, unti-unti na ring nababawasan ang kita ng mga mmanggagamot sa bansa. Upang mabuhay, ang ilan ay nag-aaral muli ng ibang kurso kung saan mas kinakailangan ng mga manggagawa. Kailangan talagang pasanin ng mga mamamayan ang pambayad sa ospital ng walang tulong sa gobyerno dahil walang may kasalanan ng kanilang pagkakasakit kung hindi sila mismo. Halimbawa, noong nagkasakit ang kapitbahay ko dahil sa paninigarilyo, kasalanan niya iyon. Hindi na sasagutin ng pamahalaan ang gastusin kahit nasa pampublikong ospital siya dahil hindi naman pinilit ng pamahalaan na mag-yosi siya. Paraan na rin ito upang maging disiplinado ang mga Pilipino sa kanilang kalusugan.

Lahat ng tagumpay ngayon, tulad ng K-12, pag-export ng mga manggagawa, mas matinding trapik, matatandang mga tren, hanggang sa pribatisasyon ng mga ospital ay dahil sa masikhay na pagtatrabaho ng mga nasa gobyerno. Isa sa mga nagsimula ng pagbabago ay ang paglaban sa korapsyon sa gobyerno. Sabi sa amin ng mga nakakatanda sa amin, nagsimula raw ito noong panahon ni Pangulong BS Aquino. Dagdag pa nila, marami nga raw sa mga natatamasa namin ngayong biyaya, tulad ng matinding trapik sa lahat ng kalsada at magandang kurikulum sa edukasyon ay nagsimula noong panahon niya. Sinimulan noon sa pagtatanggal ng kaaway sa politika, at ngayon, dahil ipinagpatuloy, halos buong gobyerno ay kapamilya o kaalyado ng dating Pangulong Aquino. Kapalit naman nito ang paubos na tiwaling opisyal sa gobyerno. Pagkatapos ng dalawang dekada, nawala ang mga tiwali at napalitan ng ayos ang gulo. Maging ang mga kritikal na indibidwal at mga aktibistang grupo ay agad-agad ding ipinapakulong. Ipinatupad ito nang mainam ng pamahalaan — kung bawal magreklamo ang mga manggagawa sa kanilang mga amo, bawal ding magreklamo ang mga mamamayan sa gobyerno nito. Sa usaping pinansyal ng gobyerno, malayo na rin ang narating natin dahil sa pamumuno ni Secretary Butch Abad at ng kanyang pamilya. Dahil patuloy na hinawakan ng kaniyang pamilya ang pinansya ng gobyerno mula kay Pangulong BS Aquino hanggang ngayon, may ilan nang umuunlad na lungsod, partikular ang mga lungsod na malapit sa pamilyang namumuno ng bansa. Marami tuloy ang mga taong naninirahan sa mga ganoong lungsod. Ang tinipid ng gobyerno mula sa kalusugan ng trabaho ay napunta naman sa mga pinapagawang kulungan para sa mga kaaway sa politika at mga aktibista. Dahil may pondo na, mas naging mahirap na para sa mga nakakulong ang makalabas. Bukod sa kulungan, ang ilang pondo ay napunta na rin sa pagpapapunta ng mga OFW sa ibang bansa para magtrabaho. Panghuli, ay ang pambayad utang ng bansa. Sa galing nga ni Secretary Abad at ng kaniyang pamilya, ipinangalan na sa kanya ang maraming sentro ng komersyo sa bansa. Minsan tuloy, sa dami ng nakikita kong tagumpay ng pamahalaan natin dito sa bansa, parang gusto kong maging bahagi nito. Napakalaking karangalan siguro ang magsilbi sa mga kababayan gamit ang ganitong mga proyekto, ang ganitong mga batas, na talaga namang nagpapawala sa mga mahihirap.

Tulad ng sinabi ko kanina, masaya kami ngayon. Napakaunlad. Kung pwede nga lang mamuhay sa panahong iyan, kung saan nagsisimula pa lang ang pribatisasyon ng mga ospital, K-12, maging ang idolo kong si Marcelo Santos III, ay gagawin ko. Ang swerte niyo! Pero maswerte rin naman ako dahil ang hindi niyo paglaban pala ang susi sa matagumpay na krusada ng angkan ng mga Aquino, at ngayon, kaming mga anak niyo, ang nakakatanggap ng biyaya. Sana nagustuhan niyo ang liham ko. Tiwala lang sa gobyerno ah! Sabi nga ng idolo ko, “Pakatatag kayo!” -John Lloyd Dela Cruz

Author’s Note: Naaalala ko noon, sabi nila “Matuto tayo sa kasaysayan,” pero parang walang nakikinig at natututo sa mga nangyari kahapon. Kung darating kaya ngayon ang balita bukas, at ang balitang ito ay puno ng kalubusang ayaw nating mangyari, may makikinig at matututo na kaya?

08 FEATURES

Volume 28 Number 19 June 25, 2015 | Thursday

ILLUSTRATION BY PAULINE SANTIAGO TIOSIN KATRINA MARIA LIMPIADA PEROLINO

The Plight ofthe Rohingya Refugees

ONTHERUN

In the post-colonial society, concepts of sovereignty and citizenship are significant markers of statehood and independence. But for the Rohingya refugees who had lived on the borders, not only in terms of geographical territory but also in the social and economic spaces, these concepts have been nothing but instruments of exclusion, repression and exploitation.

The Excluded

The Rohingya people was historically resettled in the old kingdom of Arakan, a tiny province at the edge of Southeast Asia and later became a part of Burma, which is now called Myanmar. After fluctuating states of slave trade, Arakan became known as the Rakhine state, a land where communal violence was a frequent occurrence. With warfare came the burden of relocating the Rohingya recruits. This has thrown them in conflicts of beliefs, issues of faith and the never-ceasing question of territorial boundaries vis a vis the original Rakhine settlers. Eventually, the Rohingya recruits were bigotedly classified as Rohingya refugees by the government of Burma. Denials of citizenship were repeatedly experienced by the Rohingya refugees, with the Burmese government providing a declaration that the refugees were merely stateless. With no nation willing to vouch for their

existence n d

identification, the Rohingya refugees were and are continually stripped off of their basic

rights, and left with the option of being swept out of Burma or subjected into various programs of torture. The refugees chose to flee from the human right abuses and poverty. With only 32,000 registered Rohingya refugees, a sum of 800,000 Rohingya refugees has spread all over South East Asia. The establishment of centralized systems in the form of states has created the hegemony of national cultures which resulted to the marginalization of ethnic minorities. Despite the celebration of citizenship as instrument of nationalism, in the case of Rohingya refugees, it served as an instrument of discrimination and domination.

The Repressed

The treatment received by the Rohingya refugees is cruel and unjust. They have even been appropriated graves by the Burmese government in an attempt to trap them into their doom and later deaths. Furthermore, if the Rohingya refugees were to return to their old homes, they were to be lethally injected or put into prison. Despite these inhumane treatment the Rohingya refugees have received, little sympathy was ushered to them. Agreement within South East Asian nation circles dictated that the refugees not be given temporary shelters and driven away, leaving them to rest on cracked boats and uncharted shores. They were repeatedly shunned by Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar. On the other hand, the remaining Rohingya refugees in Myanmar were registered formally, but not without an exorbitant cost. Those who desired temporary residence in the Rakhine state were asked to pay a fee of $1000, only to be classified as an official refugee with no clear considerations of rights or citizenship. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have declared this fee as a transaction to relieve the money allegedly stolen by some of the Rohingya refugees, despite having no evidence to support the claim. Civilization has brought a drastic change not only on the modes of living but also on the social power distribution. In the

case of the Rohingya refugees, stature has been used to legitimize repression of the minority. State concepts has been prioritized over basic human rights.

The Exploited

The Rohingya refugees paint a picture of what has been continually experienced by many refugees stripped off of basic human rights— unsheltered, unfed and untaken cared of by the government. Their case has resonated for different countries and different lifetimes, and yet, it remains unsolved, simply disguised with a sheen of ignoble ignorance. The issue of the Rohingya refugees does not begin and end with territorial disputes—it extends upon discrimination, oppression of rights and racism. With the Buddhist Rakhine state people waging a battle against the beleaguered Rohingya refugees, or Rohingya Muslims, the administration chooses the majority over the minority and decides upon the bitter fate of the refugees. Moreover, the Rohingya refugees were entitled to a life of suffering under the regime of Burma, where they were forced to smuggle themselves from. Refusal to do so entailed bodily torture that could eventually lead to death, and the refugees faced this situation repeatedly. The exploitation experienced by the refugees led to the decision to flee the country in hopes that they would find a new country to build their homes upon. However, this caused greater harm for the refugees, who found themselves with no access to medicine, food and shelter. Days and nights spent looking for welcoming shores left them hungered and beaten down, eventually dying, and their deaths in vain, as their search for their new home continues to be unfruitful. National identity is an important ingredient of nationalism. It solidifies the people’s will towards nationbuilding and its defense against any form of intrusion. But more than nationalism is the common humanity of the peoples of the world. The ability to empathize to the plight of the Rohingya refugees as well as other ethnic minorities should be the primary drive of every nation in putting humanitarian cause above any statist concept. The refugees run at the crack of dawn, run at the sight of the sun, run at the set of it. They are on a run that seemingly never ends, an interminable loop in the cycle that they have sought to escape. Their punishers are lurking, and the refugees are unable to keep the sight of the land they once habituated. For now, they are unsheltered, mere thuds on the ground, rapid and rhythmic as the beat of their hearts.

Volume 28 Number 19 Thursday | June 25, 2015

GRAPHICS 09

10 OPINION

Volume 28 Number 19 June 25, 2015 | Thursday

BALINTATAW

FILIAL PIETY

Jose Lorenzo Querol Lanuza

y favorite philosopher, Nietzsche, once argued that “one must have chaos within oneself to give birth to a dancing star.” To transform the world into a work of art, one must first transform himself into one. And to do that, one must recognize one’s individual identity—the reality of oneself. But how can I know my true ‘self,’ if my identity has always been connected to my father’s. Since young, I have idolized my father. Every day he studies philosophy, sociology, theology, etc. He writes essays, and sharp criticisms, applying every theory and concept that he knows and not wasting even a single sentence. He is a dangerous man. His thinking can cut firm beliefs into pieces, and his words can inflict a deeper wound than a bullet. He is a great teacher, and a great father. I have always looked up to him. I dream that someday, I will be the one to satiate his appetite for knowledge. But as years passed, the disparity of our paths has reached the impossible. I feel like we can never see eye to eye. Compared to him, I’m just a worm, or rather an ape trying to become a

human—a second-rate, if you may. It is my only wish to succeed him. For the greatest respect I could ever give to my father is to overcome him. For years, I have been trying to find my true self. Whenever people ask me if I’m the son of a renowned

“

I MUST CREATE MY OWN PATH— MY OWN FLOW OF LIFE—A SELF THAT IS FREE FROM ENTANGLEMENT IN OTHER IDENTITIES, AND ONLY THEN WILL I BE FREE FROM ANYONE’S SHADOW

professor in UP, I feel like I do not have my own name—a self—that I cannot exist without him. It is as if my identity cannot be recognized without first recognizing him. People expect me to become like my father. People expect me to do what he does. People expect me to be greater than him. Like sons and daughters have no other choice but to succeed their parents. To be, or

THINK TWICE

Jamela Limbauan Bernas

was suddenly awakened from my slumber, and the brutal process of peeling myself off from my bed had to be overcome. The realization that I am going to be late again slapped me across my cheek, and I instinctively rebuked myself, “Late ka na naman. Feeling mo na naman importante ka. Magsisimula ang mundo nang wala ka. Bakit kasi hindi ka nagising?” But instead of getting ready at a supersonic speed, I heaved a sigh of despondency, and bathed myself in a deceitful mantra. I already knew that a 10-minute snooze meant an additional 45 minutes at the LRT, and another stain on my punctuality. But who could resist 10 minutes of rest, ignorance, and bliss in this fast-paced world who waits for nothing and no one except the relevant? And when the stress becomes too much, when my prospects are not lightening up, I am haunted by the immense desire of dropping everything to go backpacking. Sometimes, I just want to take on a new name, a new identity, and a new life, and just be free of the drama I’ve been cornered into. Yet I still manage to end up

daydreaming, wishing my days away on my bed. I have lost count of the times I assured myself that I am not the only one suffering, and that there are people who are even more brutally crushed by their circumstances. But that thought, as I have realized, does not provide any comfort. Aside from the backlash on my morality that I take solace on other people’s suffering, the

“

NOWADAYS, IF YOU BLINK, YOU’LL MISS EVERYTHING

fact that they are struggling, like me, does not deny my own reality. Forms of invisible violence continuously tear us apart, and they go unnoticed because they are considered conditions to living the life we covet. Sometimes, when you fall into depression because of your inability to sustain all the emotional, physical, and mental activities imposed by the demands of our highly competitive society, you’re accused of being too

BASAG-ULO Lean Sandigan

to be like him—these are the only HIGIT SA DIPLOMA paths I can take right now. But then, I have chosen both. And as I tread this path, I ask myself, am I still ‘me,’ Graduate ka ng UP? Eh ano ngayon? or am I now just a combination of imposed identities—a realization of Bawat taon, maraming estudyante ang nagtatapos sa pamantasang ito. others’ desires? Pero sa dami ng mga nakakakuha ng diploma, ganoon din ba karami ang For now, I may not find my own talagang mga natuto? identity. I am not even sure whether this path is the right one to take. Ang sagot ay hindi. Walang kinalaman But now, I have come to realize ang diploma at pagtatapos “on that it is not my father that I need time” imbes na “in time.” Wala to overcome, but myself. And if I ring kinalaman ang sweldong were to know my true self, then I matatanggap ng isang UP grad must create my own path—my own pagkatapos ng ilang taon, o kung flow of life—a self that is free from natuloy ba siya sa pagiging doktor o entanglement in other identities, abogado, o tuluyan nang hindi. and only then will I be free from Sa huli, hinuhulma na nito ang anyone’s shadow, including my pagtingin kung saan nakikita lamang father’s. [That is the meaning of my ang pag-aaral bilang pataasan ng life—to make myself a work of art— marka, at pabilisang makamit ito. my very own masterpiece.] Totoong masalimuot ang buhay For one’s masterpiece is one’s sa UP. Sa isang komunidad na napupuno ng mga dalubhasa, hindi identity. mo maiiwasang ibigay ang lahat Until then, I shall follow my para lang tingalain ka ng iyong mga father’s path, learn everything I kaibigan at kakilala. Subalit hindi ito esensiya ng pag-aaral sa ating can from him, and eventually be ang pamantasan. Hindi nakikita sa sulat able to get a step ahead of him. ng papel ang halaga ng karanasang That is the greatest respect I can makukuha mo. give to him as his son. Ako na mismo ang magsasabi: ON EMPATHY Hindi ka talunan kapag wala kang natanggap na award, o kapag nadelay ka sa pamantasang ito.

sensitive, and weak. With all the resources within your reach (but not at your disposal), failure to attain and utilize them makes you incompetent. Everything becomes your fault. Blame the system, and it will push back its responsibilities on you.

This is the same reality that told you earlier on that it is okay to dream, but attached to it is a conditionality; you have to earn the right amount of capital first. We live in a society that tells us we are all special, but we later on realize that Social Darwinism has always been at play, that only the fittest can survive. Our world calls depression a mere failure of will. Inequality has turned into an acceptable fact for we attribute everything to our fate. And to be slighted by this injustice makes you naive, childish and egotistical. And it is your fault if you become indignant. Sometimes, it is a real challenge stopping yourself from lunging at the people who suggest that you take a breather. It is as if they do not know that nowadays, if you blink, you’ll miss everything. Running late because of LRT system failure? Kiss goodbye to CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Ang tunay na halaga ng pag-aaral sa UP at iba pang pamantasan sa bansa ay para matutong magisip at makipagtunggali ang isang estudyante sa kaniyang sarili at magtagumpay. Bagamat madalas ang debate sa pagitan ng mga estudyante bilang bahagi ng kurikulum, ang UP, ay mananatiling isang lugar para makatunggali ang sarili. Ang pagkatuto sa UP ay ang pagkauhaw sa karunungang magbabago sa sarili at sa lipunan. Tunay na UP graduate ang isang taong alam na hindi nagtatapos ang pag-aaral sa pagkamit ng kanyang diploma. Ang pagkatuto sa UP ay ang pagtanggap na kailanman, hindi natatapos ang problema, na darating at darating ito sa iba’t ibang anyo at iba’t ibang pagkakataon. Tunay na mag-aaral ang patuloy na pagdaloy ng kritikal na pag-iisip, kasama ng prinsipyadong pagdedesisyon at pakikibaka. IPAG PATULOY SA PAHINA 03

EDITORIAL 11

Volume 28 Number 19 Thursday | June 25, 2015

ignals have not yet signified the start, but the strategies have Salready been laid out open. And

even before it should, the siege towards the most aspired seats in the government has already begun.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Angelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS Patrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag

The upcoming 2016 Philippine Elections could already be felt with numerous political advertisements being aired in the media. From flagging their ‘achievements’ as incumbent political leaders to throwing honorable descriptions of themselves, the aspirants meet in the common ground of promising the same aim to people—to give good governance that will lead the nation to progress. But despite the question of premature campaigning in the barrage of political advertisements, COMELEC stated that there are no grounds that could sanction the leaders since no one has yet filed a Certificate of Candidacy—a requirement to consider, as stated in the Section 38 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC). And while the laws of the current laws in the Philippines regarding premature campaigning remain loose, no resolutions have been enacted to aid the gap of the code. The lack of strong laws regarding campaigning that these leaders are still able to go as far as to circumvent and take advantage of the loopholes of the OEC, in the process of assuring that their names and said accomplishments would be embedded in the minds of the people. Issues regarding the frequency of provincial visits of eyed presidential candidates have also resurfaced as early as 2014, with the leaders accusing each other of premature campaigning. The prevalent personality politics in the country became a foyer for candidates to visit and stretch their popularity. In essence, these officials have forgotten the real purpose of overseeing the different provinces in the country, which is to assess the problems in the area, and come up with solutions. However, regardless of their success in assessing the problems of the areas they visit, the notoriety of when these visits occur is a slap of truth: that the Filipinos are only remembered a year before elections. With all the clamor before the filing of candidacy, the possible presidential candidates are placed in the boiling water. For instance, Senator Grace Poe has been facing questions regarding her residency in the country, and Vice President Jejomar Binay has been put in the spotlight with his issues of corruption back as the mayor of Makati. Schemes regarding anti-corruption has also been seemingly one-sided, as the usual officials facing the charges are

ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla MANAGING EDITOR Carlo Rey Resureccion Martinez ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari NEWS EDITOR Ronilo Raymundo Mesa FEATURES EDITOR Angelica Natividad Reyes CULTURE EDITOR Jamilah Paola dela Cruz Laguardia GRAPHICS EDITOR Lizette Joan Campaña Daluz NEWS CORRESPONDENTS Ezra Kristina Ostaya Bayalan Adolf Enrique Santos Gonzales Eunice Biñas Hechanova Arthur Gerald Bantilan Quirante Gayle Calianga Reyna Sofia Monique Kingking Sibulo FEATURES CORRESPONDENTS Liezl Ann Dimabuyu Lansang LIZETTE JOAN CAMPAÑA DALUZ

BEYOND THE BARRAGE those coming from the opposition. The remaining months prove that instead of focusing on their job, most of the officials are really focused on retaining their position or going up the ranks. In the midst of leaders blasting each other of different accusations and questions anchored towards the elections, current national and social issues have continuously been neglected. By merely being a government concerned with the elections, the current administration continues to turn a blind eye on the real key issues in the country—the existing and rampant poverty and social inequality.

officials have not kept true to their word of not subjecting themselves to corruption. Moreover, the present state of the society has not improved, and good governance has never been delivered to the people who are still left to suffer the dire living conditions in the country. The truth that the image of an impoverished Philippine society remains unchanged cannot be hidden, under the hands of these officials who have promised progress in their past campaigns, and are most likely to say the same in the upcoming elections. But no matter how early the campaign or how groomed the politicians are, it still drains down to

WHAT THE NATION NEEDS ARE PROGRESSIVE LEADERS WHO WILL GENUINELY UPHOLD THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE What remains as a concern is that the running politicians for the 2016 elections have mostly been the same politicians who were elected in the past—the same politicians who have incessantly promised progress to the people. But it is apparent that the Philippines has remained backward in the hands of these leaders. The platforms that have resonated on their advertisements have proven to be nothing but facades, fooling the citizens who have instilled trust on them through votes. The different scams that have surfaced in the current administration has also only proven that most of the government

CULTURE CORRESPONDENTS Josef Bernard Soriano De Mesa Pia Kriezl Jurado Hernandez Jose Lorenzo Querol Lanuza Gabrielle Marie Melad Simeon Thalia Real Villela RESIDENT ILLUSTRATORS Maria Catalina Bajar Belgira Jamela Limbauan Bernas Daniel John Galinato Estember Princess Pauline Cervantes Habla Joanne Pauline Ramos Santos RESIDENT PHOTOJOURNALIST Jenny Mary Camama Dagun OFFICE 4th Floor Student Center Building, University of the Philippines Manila, Padre Faura St. corner Ma. Orosa St., Ermita, Manila 1000 EMAIL themanilacollegian@gmail.com WEBSITES issuu.com/manilacollegian www.facebook.com/themanilacollegian www.twitter.com/mkule themanilacollegian.tumblr.com MEMBER

College Editors Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications Guild of the and Writers’ Organizations Philippines

The Cover

the judgement on who served true, or on who is capable of preserving their mandate of serving the people. Amidst the jingles and advertisements that scream of the ‘aims’ and the ‘successes’ of the aspirants, what the nation needs are progressive leaders who will genuinely uphold the rights and welfare of the people. And above all the superficial siege of the officials to hold their seats, the real fight rests in the fight of the people—the fight towards having a government that will truly render its service to the nation.

Illustration by Jose Paolo Bermudez reyes Layout by Joma Michiko Cruz Kaimoto

ASSESSING THE LABOR VIOLATIONS OF

THE K EN T EX FAC T ORY DE A TH TRA P CHLOE PAULINE REYES GELERA AND JENNAH YELLE MANATO MALLARI

As victims of poverty and unemployment, majority of Filipinos resort to selling their labor in low-paying, low-ventilated, and mercenary factories. They tend to endure extra hours of exhausting their limbs and exerting their efforts in order to survive, only to be deprived of their basic human rights.

OBJECTION Last May 13, 2015, the nation was shocked by a 7-hour factory fire that killed 72 people, one of the worst fire incidents of recent time in the Philippines in terms of casualties. In September 2014, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) declared that Kentex complies with general labor and occupational safety standards and that the factory had undergone fire safety inspection by the Bureau of Fire Protection, to which it has passed. However, according to the report released by several nongovernment organizations (NGOs) including Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development IOHSAD), Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER), and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), “violations of standards pertaining to general labor conditions and to occupational health and safety” was committed by Kentex which had possibly led to the fire incident. In addition, according to IOHSAD, the fact that majority or 69 workers died on the second floor of the building, where there is a claimed functioning fire escape contradicts the claims by the factory owner and the Labor Department that Kentex has complied with labor standards, building requirements and fire and safety requirements. I t

was reported that the

Kentex mishandled and misused the chemical Super Seal, which is used as a rubber emulsifier. From the survivors’ account, the said containers of newly-delivered flammable chemicals (called Super Seal) were not stored and labeled properly. Making matters worse, these chemicals were placed near welders of an adjacent factory who were working at the time. It is concluded that the cause of the fire is the welding spatter, reacting with the improperly stored chemicals on the ground floor. This is a violation of Rule 1943.07 of the Philippine Occupational Health and Standards which says that significant quantities of commodities with fire hazards greater than ordinary combustible commodities shall be separated from the main bulk by fire walls. Furthermore, the Kentex Corporation showed no proper fire exits which is a clear violation of Rule 1943.03 of the Philippine Occupational Health and Standards. The factory only had two available gates—one for the workers and one for the delivery trucks—which proved to be useless. The other gate was even closed during the fire. The windows are said to be covered with grills and chicken wires which made escaping impossible. Survivors said that they heard no fire alarms and when asked if they remember any fire and safety drill, they confided that they don’t even know if there was one. If these had been pointed out in the first place during the construction and DOLE’s inspection, such catastrophe could have been evaded. However, with these glaring violations, it could be inferred that inspections were not even really carried out — certificates of labor standards and safety compliance became mere instruments of deceit.

ABJECTION Kentex is a rubber slippers manufacturing company owned by Mr. Beato Ang and Mr. Ong King Guan. According to bulatlat.com, it is one of those manufacturing companies which only regularizes workers after 2025 years of service. Reportedly, Kentex workers only receive the minimum wage, and some received even below it. Moreover, 104 casual workers were illegally hired by a subcontracting agency which DOLE claims to possess patent violation of labor laws. Furthermore, their social security, health and housing contributions were never remitted by their recruitment

ILLUSTRATION BY JAZMINE CLAIRE MARTINEZ MABANSAG

agency. Some workers are even said to be hired on a piece-rate basis and are required to work for 12 hours. Severe discomfort in the workplace was also evident as the “workers complain that they have to bear the heat inside the factory during work hours as there is no proper ventilation in the factory. They claim that they get tired of work not because of the heavy workload but because of the heat inside the factory premises.” Recently, DOLE has been said to issue a compliance order to compel the Kentex Corp., to pay at least P7.8 million in underpaid wages to 99 workers hired through an illegal subcontractor. But the damage has been done. Furthermore, it is DOLE’s Department Order 18-A (DO 18-A) which legalized contractualization — an employment scheme where a worker gets a job for only a fixed period, usually less than six months per contract. It is a scheme which clearly gives advantage to the employer as they are able to avoid regularization which for them means less profits. On the other hand, it serves

as a curse to the contractual worker as the lack o f regularization equates to lower wage, no job security and no retirement benefits. In the due course, all will remain the same until the government lifts its contractualization policy on labor. Otherwise, more and more Filipinos will be subjected in lowpaying death traps with no promises of survival. More than Kentex, it is the accountability of the government to strictly enforce labor standards and the protection of workers’ rights. But in a country where the government favors foreign and local capitalists more than its people, policies protecting and upholding the workers’ rights remain in paper and lip service. Workers remain objects of production abjected to dire living conditions. The labor sector remains marginalized and underserved.