Vol 28 No 2

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{ what’sinside?

2 About the Cover 3 Editor’s Note 4 From the Readers

19 Loving Me and Leaving it (DOTA o ako?)

20 Indifinite Struggles 21 Of Love, Betrayals and Death 22 The Well-known Nobody 23 Worth the Wait

OPINION 5 Action and Reaction News 6 Saiben wins as SSG President 6 MSU-Marawi to be declared a Zone of Peace 7 Five new buildings, ready to rise 7 No more CET, official says Economic Report 8 Sin Tax reduces cigar consumption of MSUans Investigative Report 9 The Difference (An Investigative Report on Athletic and Varsity Fee) 10 Lack of witnesses hampers Mindnolia murders progress, says NBI

Columns 24 Sighed View 24 Double-edged 25 Diagnosis 25 Sweet Irony 26 Thoughts and Blurbs 26 Mark my Word 27 A slip of a pen 27 Man in a Manhole Tingog 28 Love Online 28 Both Wearing Skirts

FEATURE 11 Aiman

Minda Vendetta 29 My Monster Teacher

{ Digmaan at Pag-ibig }

Editorial 30 Media and Politics

12 Their Plight 13 Elizabeth 14 A Tale of Two Storms 18 Students at Work

31 Comics

A balut vendor was shot see page dead. A bakery owner was killed...

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WITH THE LUMADS. While Sharon Liguyon (below) narrated, during the forum on mining...

BLACK&WHITE. Nasasaklawan ng bawat kuha ng lente ang mga kwentong naghihintay lamang na maipahayag at mailuwal sa mga diwang hindi tanaw ang realidad...

see page

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{ aboutthecover Ang buhay ay isang walang hanggang digmaan. Marahas ang mga eksena.

Hindi napagtatagumpayan nang mag-isa. Kailangang humugot ng tapang sa iba. Kailangan ng lakas na tatalo sa mga pagsubok. Kailangang harapin ang bawat laban. Para sa kaligtasan. Para sa pag-ibig.

Sapagkat ang pag-ibig ay isang tahanan. Pansasamantalang nililisan upang harapin ang bawat laban. Ngunit ang pag-ibig ay nanaghoy, nanabik sa bawat yabag ng paang babalik. Ito’y naghihintay na maisambulat ang matamis na kahulugan ng tagumpay. Nakagabay sa paghugot ng dahilan upang ipagpatuloy ang bawat laban.

Ang digmaan ay dulot ng pag-ibig. Ang pag-ibig ay isang digmaan. Tanging bisig ng pag-ibig lamang ang hihilom sa masasakit nitong bakas.

Theme by Mike Ariel Plaza Photo by Jayson Leigh Segovia Cover by John Louie Margate Models: Norhanisa Dipatuan and Moslem Fattash

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Nalulunod ako sa napakaraming boses na nagsisipagbulungan sa aking isipan.

Kailangang kitilin muna ang iba upang mariin na mapakinggan ang mga pagsasalaysay na mas may katas at esensya. Ang dami pang dapat isulat bagaman nauubusan na ako ng espasyo at pagkakataon. Bakit kasi kailangan pang humantong sa pagtatapos ang lahat?

editor’s note

Nakakalasing ang magsulat. Minsan, kailangang malango ang isipan upang makapagluwal ng mga matatalim na paksa at ideya. Hindi lamang naman kasi tinta ang kailangan upang mabuo ang bawat talata. Kung ganuon lamang sana kasimple ang lahat, disin sana’y hindi na ako nalilito kung paano isusulat ang pinakahuli kong pambungad para sa pahayagang ito.

Sa apat na taon kung pananatili sa Mindanao Varsitarian , nahubog ‘di lamang ang kamay na panulat. Muli ring nabuhay ang mandirigmang minsan nang nahimlay sa loob ng kinakalawang nang kalasag. Natutuhan kung kumalas mula sa yapos ng takot at kalamigan ng loob. Kumawala ang maingay na ako at napagtanto kong may isang napakalaking hamon ang nakaabang para sa isang manunulat na tulad ko. At dahil naatasan akong pangatawanan ang responsibilidad na dati’y di ko naman talaga hangad, kailangan kong harapin ang bawat digmaan. Kailangan kong lumaban at manindigan.

Sapagkat pasan ko ang pananagutang maglingkod sa mga mag-aaral ng Pamantasan, kaakibat ng tungkuling panatilihing nakaangkla sa katotohanan ang bawat siping aming isinusulat, kinailangan kong maging matapang at handa. Sandali ko munang kinalimutan ang mga katamlayan at ginawang sandata ang tapang ng loob. At dahil likas na madaling papanghinain, ako’y humugot ng lakas mula sa mga kawani ng pahayagan at suporta ng mga mag-aaral. Walang bisa ang tapang ng aming mga akda kung ‘di rin lang naman ito handog sa mga estudyante. Makita lang naming binabasa ang kopya ng dyaryo ay sapat na upang patuloy kaming maniwalang may kapangyarihan pa rin ang mga titik at salita.

Sa huling isyu ko bilang patnugot, iniaalay ng patnugutan ang mga kwento ng digmaan at pag-ibig. Pinaghihiwalay man ng distansya, ang magkasalungat na mga elementong ito ang nagpapanatili ng balanse sa pag-ikot ng mundo. Bawat digmaan ay dulot ng pag-ibig. Dahil ang pag-ibig ay digmaan.

Matunghayan niyo sana sa mga pahinang ito ang mga kwento ng inspirasyon, pagbabago at tagumpay. Malalampasan din ang mga paghihikahos. Sapagkat ang bahaghari’y dulot lamang din ng ‘di mapipigilan at mapunasang patak ng ulan.

Saksihan ang pagtatalik ng digmaan at pag-ibig. Mapusok ang mga naratib.

Nagpupumiglas na makawala at maisatitik. Magpadala sa daloy ng damdamin.

Magpadarang sa apoy ng emosyon. Hahagupit ang mga kwentong hindi pa naririnig. Panatilihin ang kababawan upang masukat ang kalaliman. Sisirin ang bawat espasyo sa pagitan ng mga salita. Salatin ang mga ideyang dati ay sa isip lamang napupunla.

Sa huling pagkakataong ito na ipinagkaloob sa akin ay pupunan ko ang espasyo ng aking pasasalamat.

MV peeps, kayo ang status ko. Kahit wala na ang buwisit na ito na nagkatawang tao, laban lang ng walang pakundangan. Louise, sa wakas! Emelyn, Gp, Riz, Mark at Jesslei, sino sa inyo? Reyjhon, Karl at Ivan, hindi laging may kakabit na pambura ang lapis. Raym, hindi tayo. Marvs, hindi rin kayo.

Kuya Jaze, may kwento ang litrato kahit naka-auto ang kamerang kumuha nito. Hapsa, Ate Ekra, hindi lahat nang nakapose ay modelo. Maud, mas gusto ko ang Gio. Jun, ang korona! Plok, may isang bagay na di mo malelayout. Harvey, Lady, Glee, Adnan at Kuya Maf, malawak man ang kalawakan, magtatagpo pa rin tayo. Sir Ibs, legal na ama ng MV. DSA, sa suporta. Shito, diyos ng mga langaw. Ate Minnie, Ate Mercie, sa inspirasyon. CEGP, UNICA, Hudyat, Bidlisiw at TUP, sa paghubog. At higit sa mga estudyanteng patuloy na naniniwala sa kapangyarihan ng mga titik, lagukin ninyo ang kalayaan at kamalayan. Salamat, salamat. Hindi dito nagtatapos ang lahat. Naging bahagi kayo ng isang paglalakbay na siya ring simula ng libu-libo pang yapak. Ang bawat salita’y papalaot pa.

Sumpungan sa isyung ito ang nawawalang piraso ng inyong tula. Tikman ang katas ng bawat ngiti at luha.

Paalam!

Sa muli, MIKE ARIEL PASTOR PLAZA Punong Patnugot

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{ fromthereaders posts to Mindanao Varsitarian’s Facebook account

tweets to @MSUvarsitarian

{ mv update Mindanao Varsitarian ’s Vol. 28, No. 1 was awarded the 1st Best Magazine in the 2013 Tinta Awards, during the Lanaowide student press convention of the College Editor’s guild of the Philippines last February 21. It was also proclaimed the 3rd Best Magazine in the 2012 Lanog Awards, during the Guild’s Mindanao-wide convention Dec 6 to 9, 2012.

Congratulations, MSUans!

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4/11/2013 8:49:37 AM

photo by Jayson Leigh Segovia

Action and reaction

by EMELYN MANLANGIT

A balut vendor was shot dead. A bakery owner was killed. People are furious about lost-and-not-found money. Killing here, shooting there, greed everywhere.

MSUans, what else is new?

We barely knew him. He used to sit in that little chair facing his box of fresh balut and crispy chicharon. Busy students usually pass by him not even throwing a glimpse; some stop and patronize his goods. Nobody knew if he’s going home to his family in the evening or not. Nobody knew whether he’s been going through a lot of crises.

Nobody knew what’s going on in his mind while tending his customers. Nobody knew him except the fact that he’s someone who strived for a living amidst the cold wind of MSU. MSUans barely knew him until that one tragic night when the light turned out and he went lying in his blood at the street.

He was shot dead for a reason nobody could not figure out. Chitchats about who did it and why was it done filled the atmosphere.

MSU constituents were terrorized, at least in part, of how an innocent life was taken by some monstrous soul roaming around the institution’s premises. And now we knew

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him when he’s gone, when all that’s left in the scene is just one melted candle.

A bakery owner was killed. By some business rival? By some CoCo hater? By some death lover? Probably. He was killed not long after the balut vendor’s crime was done. That was two hits in a row and it seemed funny how fast the fire suddenly turned out.

And now everyone was furious about the scam. Millions and hundred thousands of money were invested or rather, given for hopes of triple gain to some Coco Rasuman, and now the money was gone. Concerned citizens said they can do everything just to get their money back. Who knew what ‘everything’ meant? But whatever it is, it was terrifying enough for some MSUans to pack their bags and left for home. Will things always be just like that?

These incidents are not rare. They are not unique. And they are not new. A lot of cases followed – one after another. For MSUans to get surprised is hypocritical because they knew that before they stepped in the premise is the acceptance of the fact that anytime and anywhere, things can

happen whether expected or not. Everyone felt pity of how ruthless the balut vendor and the bakery owner were killed, but what will it do for everyone? Will it solve the problem? Will it fear the killer to surrender?

Will it awaken the minds and hearts of officials? Will it really do something? Will it change everything?

As the writer puts this article to its end without even grasping what this was all about, all that’s left was the thought that this must be written and this must be passed, not because the editor was already furious, not because the issue must be published and released, but because the writer was afraid.

She was afraid and worried that Manong Balut vendor is not the last one on the list. She was afraid that all other business owners’ lives will be put at risk. She was worried that man’s dignity be equated with money. She was afraid of her life and how she would be able to go out alone. She is afraid of her security. She is afraid because she is still in MSU and that MSU did not change.

She was afraid but all she wanted was action, not inappropriate reaction.

vol. 28 no. 2|OPINION

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4/11/2013 8:49:41 AM

Saiben wins as SSG president with 3,017 votes

by RIZ SUNIO, Managing Editor and JESSLEI MAE PIQUERO, Features Editor

With 3,017 votes, Hobaib “Kobi” Saiben won the presidency for the Supreme Student Government Elections last January 17.

Saiben, a 4th year BS Accountancy student, is the standard bearer of Student Movement for Academic Reforms and Transparency in Mindanao State University (SMART-MSU). The party’s vice president, Mohammad Aiman Langlang, and councilors Jalaloden “Jalal” Motalib, Mohammad Binladin “Benny” Sohayle, and Raffi Dimakuta also won their vied positions.

The canvassing of votes started at around 9:30 pm at the Dimaporo Gymnasium. Each party was allowed to send two watchers for the counting.

“Ok lang. Smooth and peaceful [ang election]. Wala namang gulo,” said Mr. Alsi Iggo, vice chairman of the 2013 SSG Electoral Board.

However, he said that there was a reported suspected anomaly for the counting of ballots in presinct no. 23 of the King Faisal Center for Islamic, Asian, and Arabic Studies (KFCIAAS).

“Iba ang stroke ng counting [compared with the figures given of the number of votes]. Strokes ang fina-follow.” The supposed watchers, who were supposed to lookout for the counting, instead, tallied the votes.

“I can’t feel any happiness. I feel so much fear [be]cause of the responsibility I am now holding,” said Langlang in winning the election.

The presidentiable Amer Hassan “Ikoy” Mala of ONE Party got a total vote of 1, 367 followed by Asnar “Bata” Aniego, an independent candidate, a total of 1,340; Yasser Nasser “Yass” Galves of Student’s Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in MSU-Main (STAND-MSU) with 1,270, and Sarifoddin “Ben” Bin Hashim of ISATAYO, with 803 votes.

The filing for the candidacies was from January 7- 9. Fifty-four students ran for this election with 43 candidates for councilors, six vice presidentiables and five presidentiabls. There were also four candidates for councilors who were unanimously disqualified by the Electoral Board for not meeting the required 15 unit minimum load.

The candidates were briefed and oriented on January 10 about the elections including the election rules, activities and schedules. The candidates were given a campaign period from January 10-15 and was extended until 16, the supposed rest day. Mr. Iggo said that the candidates were given seven days to campaign. Next year, they plan to give the candidates nine days.

The heads of the Electoral Board were Amer Faisal Mindalano, LLB, as acting chairman; Prof.

Norania Acmad, DSA director, as co-chair, and Mr. Iggo as vice chair. The board also consisted of two faculty representatives: 1 Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) representative, two student representatives, one from the Department of Security Services (DSS), a secretary and an assistant secretary.

On January 15 at the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) Convergence Hall, the Harapan 2013: the SSG Presidential

6 NEWS|mindanao varsitarian page.indd 6

Face-off was organized by the Mindanao Varsitarian which was attended by SMART,

STAND, ISATAYO and two other independent councilors. The platforms of each presidentiable were challenged and critiqued in the said event.

The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) was budgeted with Php 84,000 for the elections.

The last election was November 2011 where

Afnan Cana won as president. Her administration almost ended last August 2012 when the DSA planned to pursue a regular SSG election scheduled every August. Her term formally ended last December, exactly one year after her proclamation, as provided in the SSG Constitution and By-laws.

THE FACE-OFF. SSG President Hobaib Saiben during the HARAPAN 2013: the SSG Presidential Faceoff last Jan 15, organized by the Mindanao Varsitarian and the 2013 SSG Electoral Board where the presidentiables were given the chance to interrogate and answer questions from their co-candidates (photo taken by Jayson Leigh Segovia at the IPDM Convergence Hall).

MSU-Marawi to be declared a Zone of Peace

by Riz Sunio, Managing Editor

Because of the ambush incident in the campus last August 8, seven fire episodes including the Mindnolia murders in 2012, attempts of arsons and several other ‘dangers’ lurking in the campus, MSU-Marawi is to be declared a Zone of Peace.

Features Dr. Dipunudun D. Marohom, one of the proponents of the resolution, said it covers the following: 1) Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras will be installed around the strategic parts of the campus; 2) Plan to resume curfew hours; 3) Strengthen the committee on land use, the commission supposed to be watching over who comes in to live inside the campus premises; 4) Brandishing of firearms to be disallowed inside the campus, including the Peace Keeping Force (PKF), the army, or even the Philippine National Police (PNP); 5) To have baranggay tanods 6) To raise awareness to students on cultural sensitivity.

“MSU Zone of Peace resolution is needed because the PKF has no police power,” said Mr. Nasser Andam, Presidential Management Services director, adding the Campus needs police power, especially of the army, because

of the national elections this May and the implementation of the election total gun-ban.

Other reasons are illegal squatting in the campus, loss of coordination with the barangays, absence of clear policies on private houses and buildings; the so called ‘open university’ where anyone can go inside the campus; the absence of fire trucks, fire hydrants (especially in the dormitories), ambulances, and absence of building codes; and many other incidents in Marawi “that are spilling over the campus,” Dr. Marohom said.

Last October 23, the Multi-Sectoral Cooperation for Peace signed a resolution to formally declare MSU a zone of peace. The said group is composed of Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office, the PKF, University officials, local officials in Marawi, and representatives from the government of Lanao, Assemblywoman Samira Gutoc-Tomawis of the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) said in a report from Rappler. com. The resolution had 24 signatories. continue to page 8 (Zone of Peace...)

2nd Semester

4/11/2013 8:49:44 AM

Five new buildings, ready to rise

by RIZ SUNIO, Managing Editor and ANDRES AWING, JR., News Editor

THE FIRST FIVE buildings are ready.

The buildings of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM), College of Social Science and Humanities (CSSH), College of Information Technology (CIT), College of Agriculture (COA), and another girls’ dorm are done with the bidding process, said Mr. Nasser Andam, Presidential Management Services (PMS) director.

The Php35-million CSSH building will have two floors with 20 rooms. It will be constructed east of the present College building and its annex.

The CNSM Science and Technology Center, which will be constructed near the Science Lecture Hall (SLH), and CIT building will also have three floors costing P90 million and P43 million, respectively.

COA’s two-story Farm Machinery and Fabrication Center is funded P5 million and will be constructed near the Plant Science Department building.

The new girls’ dormitory will be near Bolawan Hall and internet cafes are planned to be installed inside the dormitories.

The construction was delayed because everything, from bidding to building, must undergo governmental bureaucratic procedures that last for months, said Dr. Sadic Mohammad, director of the Physical Plant Division (PPD).

“The constructions should be given a preparation time of at least [a] year,” he added.

Last December, the construction site of CSSH had a problem with the MSU Golfers Association because the said building would accordingly occupy a portion of the golf course. The golfers thought that the whole golf greens would be used as the site for the buildings, so they sent a letter to the Board of Regents (BOR) requesting that the construction be moved somewhere near the College of Engineering (COE).

“You cannot put [the CSSH] building away from [CNSM and CSSH buildings]. This (the building)is an academic complex,” said Dr. Mohammad, adding that roads must also be constructed from CSSH to COE, if ever it happens, that will cost millions again. Aspects of accessibility, security and maintenance should also be considered, he added.

The golfers were, however, misinformed, said Dr. Mohammad, also the president of the Association.

“Contrary to their (the golfers) claims, not a single building will be constructed in any part of the golf course area, nor would the fairway golf greens be affected,” he said, adding that the game of the golfers will not be affected, and slicer moves can still be done.

According to Dr. Samuel Anonas, CSSH dean, the college building construction had already chosen the lowest bidder last January. However, the said chosen bidder was disqualified for not meeting some requirements and for already winning in one of biddings of the 13 buildings.

At the series of meetings of the Special Bids and Awards Committtee (SBAC) of the University on the third week of March, the team has finally

AY 2012- 2013

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decided on the winning contractors who will work on the first five incoming buildings. The construction will start on April.

After the five building, the other seven buildings will be tended next such as the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management (CHARM) building, King Faisal Center for Islamic, Asian, and Arabic Studies (KFCIAAS), College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), and others, said Mr. Andam.

The water systems will also be upgraded to have enough water supplies for the motor pool, especially for dorms that have problems with water

availability. The water pumps will also be replaced.

He also said that the University plans to put up a University Medical Center, offering new courses such as Medical Technology and Radiation Technology together with Medicine and Nursing.

The cafeteria will also be rebuilt to a threestory convention center. For now, there is still no target year when these plans will happen.

The funds for the construction were from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for capacity building. The Mindanao State University System received P1 billion where P400 million was allocated to MSU-Marawi.

No more CET, official says

by GIRON PAUL DEL ROSARIO, Opinion Editor and JESSLEI MAE PIQUERO, Features Editor

MAY 2012 COLLEGE Entrance Test (CET) takers will be considered the last batch after the Admission Committee decided its abolition.

Dr. Zenaida Ababa, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs said that the University cannot accommodate anymore the fast growing population of the students, adding that the University is still on the process of materializing the planned high-rise buildings.

Accordingly, in the Academic Year 20122013, Mindanao State University - Marawi has approximately 14,000- 15,000 enrollees including 4, 500 freshmen encompassing those who are in the baccalaureate and pre-university programs.

Students’ opinions were divided with regards to the issue. Different concerns were raised.

“Bakit ‘di nalangpataasanang cut-off score kesatanggalinang CET? Mas tataas pa ang quality ng education,” Dannah Yap, a BS Nursing student commented.

Dr. Ababa said that the quality of the University will not be changed by either increasing or decreasing

the cut-off scores. She clarified that MSU will still be offering its intervention or bridging programs “for those who were not able to meet the standards.”

According to the research conducted by Prof.

Solaiman Mangorsi, the College Bound Program (CBP) and the College Preparatory Course (CPC) have still been proven effective over the years. Fifty percent of the students who became part of these programs were said to have graduated on time compared to the 25% for the baccalaureate passers.

She said that “we could better address the needs of the minorities for better education,” adding that “MSU is not accidentally situated here in Marawi City.”

For the case of the out of school youths, Ababa said that if they really wanted to enroll in MSU, they will really find ways to enter through the System Admission and Scholarship Exam (SASE).

When asked if there is still a chance of CET being brought back after the University will have achieved its goals, Ababa answered, “Que sera, sera (come what may).”

GOOD NEWS. A pedicab driver, Asgar Dimayuga (on the right) returns a wallet containing P500 bill, ATM card and pertinent documents to a BS Forestry student after the latter accidentally left it to the cab. Asgar surrendered the wallet to Mohaimen Madale (on the left), the owner of the cab, who then contacted his colleagues in finding the lost items’ owner. The items were handed back to the student with all the things still intact (photo

by Jayson Leigh Segovia).

vol. 28 no. 2|NEWS

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4/11/2013 8:49:46 AM

Sin tax reduces cigar consumption of MSUans

by Mike Ariel Plaza

Nasser Alipada, 20, would regularly smoke a pack of 20 cigars a day, but his consumption was cut to 5 sticks daily with the implementation of sin tax law on January 1.

Eight of the ten interviewed smoking students of Mindanao State University-Marawi campus had admitted to have lessened their consumption of cigarette after its prices have increased to at least P1.50 a stick.

“Kailangang magbawas kasi hindi lang naman ‘yun ang pinaggagastuhan ng allowance,” Alipada, an Agriculture student, added.

He said he cannot anymore afford to spend too much ‘on a vice,’ especially that buying a single pack is already almost equal to a two-meal cost.

Karl Hayagan, an Engineering student, also cut his consumption to three sticks a day. He said the sin tax is hitting his and his friends’ pockets, giving them no choice but train themselves to minimal nicotine consumptions.

According to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) in late August, prior to the implementation of sin tax law, almost a tenth of Filipino teenagers are now smokers, and they can only be discouraged from the habit if cigarette prices go up.

A similar earlier survey by Laylo Research Strategies showed that about half of Filipino smokers will likely quit if the government increased sin taxes.

With a subsequent yearly increase of taxes in tobaccos, five of the eight MSUans said they cannot yet tell if they probably would quit smoking.

“Ma-lessen lang tingali pero dili ko kaingon nga muundang. Kung mutaas pa man gani ang presyo, kutob lang siguro sa naa’y ikapalit. At that time, graduate na, sure na nga nay ikagasto bahin ana,” Hayagan quipped.

On the dealers’ side

Aside from the students, sidewalk vendors also are affected of the taxation.

Airah Mama said the number of smokers buying at her stall is utterly decreased after the Christmas break.

“Dati nakakaubos ako ng dalawang packs, ngayon kahit ang isa hindi pa nauubos,” she said, from page 6 (Zone of Peace...)

It was taken up to the RLA on November 6, 2012 through Resolution No. 480.

Still a work in progress Various groups such as the Catholic Students Organization (CSO) have sent their sentiments over Marawi’s security and MSU Zone of Peace, said Assy. Gutoc-Tomawis, adding that Marawi Mayor Fahad Salic received 33 incident reports regarding security concerns of the city since the recent military ambush.

“This is still a work in progress,” said Dr. Marohom, adding that they are still coming up with how to give ‘teeth’ to the said resolution.

They are still going to have a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with MSUS President Dr. Macapado Muslim, whom they already met about the matter last November 29; Marawi City Mayor

8 page.indd 8

adding that she has also lessened the number of rims she buys weekly from a retailing store.

Rofaidah Ampaso, a vendor, said that from four packs a day, she now has a hard time selling a pack every day.

“Humihina talaga ang benta. Nakaapekto talaga ang sobrang laking napataw na tax,” she added, saying that she is even more acquiring a lower income.

However, even with the evident increase of the cigar’s price, ‘Fahad’, an owner of a retailing store at Barrio Salam, said that there is no significant difference as to the number of consumers buying the product from him.

“Wala naman gaanong nabago sa bilang ng [mga] bumibili. Marami pa rin naman ang nauubos,” he said, adding that “kapag nasanay na sa sigarilyo, mahirap nang tigilan ‘yan kahit lumalaki pa angpresyo.”

Fahad also expressed that some of the buyers had already changed their preferences to other cigarette brands.

Sin taxing

The Republic Act No. 10351 known as ‘An Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco’ was signed by Philippine President Benigno Simeon Aquino before Christmas and was implemented on January 1.

The tax on cigarettes packed by hand, which comprise the bulk of tobacco products sold in the country, is P12 per pack for those with a net retail price P11.50 and below. For those with a higher retail price, the tax is P25.

The rates will go up to P17 and P27 in 2014, P21 and P28 in 2015, and P25 and P29 in 2016.

There will be a single rate of P30 per pack starting 2017, rising by four percent every year.

As stated in an article at Philippine Daily Inquirer, the President said he signed the “sin tax” law, projected to generate P33.96 billion in revenue in the first year of implementation, to help liberate “more Filipinos from the vices of smoking and drinking.”

He added that the country has the highest incidence of smoking in the Southeast Asia, with tobacco-related diseases costing the country P177 billion on 2011.

Fahad Salic, the religious sectors, the students, faculty, and other organizations; and 103 Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Daniel Lucero and the PNP. There is still no definite date when the Resolution will be fully implemented, but Dr. Marohom said that the launching of the resolution will be a big affair to be attended by the mayors residing in the campus and other groups.

It has already been introduced and approved to the Board of Regents (BOR) last December 21.

“Like any other schools, [MSU-Marawi] must be a zone of peace” said Assy. GutocTomawis.

“Di basta-basta [pwedeng mag-implement] ng zone of peace because [MSU is] not a warzone,” Dr. Marohom added. The implementation of curfew hours also cannot be immediately

NEWS|mindanao varsitarian

WITH THE LUMADS. Raising awareness on the oppression of the Indigenous peoples of Bukidnon, student activists from MSU joined protests last Nov 17 - 19 in front of the Malaybalay provincial capitol (above). While Sharon Liguyon (below) narrated, during the forum on mining organizaed by CEGP-Lanao at the IPDM Convergence Hall last Nov 21, how his chieftain husband was killed when the latter refused to sign an agreement allowing mining in their ancestral lands (photos taken by Raymark Estael.)

imposed without the permission of the solicitor general of the Department of Justice.

Mr. Andam said that the bidding for the CCTV cameras had already started. The budget for it came from the university income. The PNP and Army is also already seen roaming inside the campus.

On another series of the forum for the Resolution last Feb 14, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commander Hadji Acmad Alonto said that they will declare ‘jihad against crimes’. They will be assisting the ‘war against criminalities’ inside the campus by coordinating with the PNP and military in doing so.

Col. Nasser Pendatun of the AFP also calls for the visibility and concern of the MSU president regarding the crime concerns inside the campus. “Ano man ng nangyayari dito (campus), it is the responsibility of the MSU president,” he

2nd Semester

4/11/2013 8:49:49 AM

The Di { fee }rence

By ANdres Awing jr.

An investigative report on Athletic and Varsity Fees Parts of what we pay during every enrolment, as reflected in our Pre-Registration Form (PRF), are the Varsity and Athletic Fees. We dispense P50 to pay each. However, some of the students do not know the difference between the said fees. They do not even know where these fees go. It now leaves a question to MSUans.

“Ambot,” said Cybelle Torayno, a 4th year Marketing student. According to her, she does not know the difference of the two. All she does during every enrollment is pay them whenever they reflect in her PRF. This was also affirmed by Jerson Rebucas, graduating Social Work student. “Natingala bitaw ko kay ngano kadaghan sa bayronon nga murag pareha raman siguro ang paingnan,” he said. “Pero sige nalang, di man pud ta ka enroll kung dili natao bayran,” he added.

However there are also students who chose not to question the said payments. They rather pay them immediately than be stuck with the enrollment process.

According to Michelle Layao, department chair of Professional Studies, College of Sports Physical Education and Recreation (CSPEAR), the athletic fee is used during intramurals.

“We use that [athletic fee] during intrams, wherein each college is given budget for uniforms and other related expenses solely for the meet,” she said.

The colleges have to request specific amount that they need for the intramurals meet which happens during every founding anniversary celebration of the University, added she.

Miss Layao said there were times that CSPEAR did not receive any budget for the intramurals.

Instead, the college paid the expenses. Also, the student athletes spent an amount from their own pockets.

“In the past two years na ako ang faculty sports coordinator ng college, hindi kami nabigyan for intrams. We just asked budget from the college,” said Ms. Layao. However, she added that all the expenses were reimbursed though.

Presidential Management Service (PMS) Nasser Andam said that the colleges are given an amount what is due to them for these activities.

“Kasi ang hindi nila alam lahat na galaw nila na may makuha sila na pera galing sa pondo ng MSU, yun na. Kung malaki ang budget natin galing sa gobyerno, hindi sila magkakaproblema,” said Andam.

According to Prof. Joseph Gieward Layao, Faculty member of CSPEAR and former chairperson of Department of Athletics, the collection of the athletic fee was done from different colleges. But the payment was centralized and collected by the University Business Office (UBO) through a Board of Regents (BOR) Resolution No 33, series of 2009, stressing that it was part of the unapproved College Based Fees (CBF) of the board.

Furthermore, he believes that the process before was a lot effective compared now. “Mas nindot man to sa una kay dili man centralized and pag-bayad. Dili na maglisod ang colleges ug pangita sa ilang budget because they had it with them,” he said.

Conversely, Nasser Andam justifies that the

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process of collection we have now is better since it undergoes a disbursement method in accordance with accounting and auditing rules and regulation.

“Kahit isang centavo na pumapasok sa cashier na binabayaran ng mga studyante ay maaasahan na nadun na sa caban ng MSU. Recorded yan at hindi yan magagalaw ng sino man,” Andam said. “Ibig sabihin panatag ang kalooban mo na pag-pumasok na yan, nandoon ang pera,” he added.

On the other hand, another P50 is collect for the varsity fee. It is accumulated from the students to support the varsity program of the University. This was according to Prof. Miriam Aman, chairperson of the department of athletics.

“Varsity Fee is the collection that we use for the varsity allowances, uniforms, travel [expenses], equipment and other services mainly for the varsity program,” she added.

According to her before the varsity program was reinstated, since it was not active for about 20 years, there used to be a department that supervised the activities related to sports program and during intramurals activity. It was the Sports Scholarship Development Office (SSDO). However, this department seemed ‘less functional’ and still relied to CSPEAR. A BOR resolution was submitted to merge this department to CSPEAR. It was then named the Department of Athletics.

During the time of the acting president of MSUS Ricardo De Leon on April 10, 2006, BOR Resolution No. 21 was passed to restore the varsity program of the University. Since then, the collection of the varsity fee was imposed. Mr. Joseph Gieward Layao was the proponent of the resolution.

Budget delays

According to the resolution, selected sports scholars shall have the privilege of the following: Free Tuition, Free Dorm Accommodation, free books (book allowance), transportation allowance, free playing uniforms, and an allowance of P500/ month.

However, some of these privileges are not enjoyed by the varsity. Some players are not given enough budget for uniforms, others also receive their allowances delayed, said Mr. Layao.

Mark Credo, a second year BS Physical Education student and a varsity player for Sepak Takraw said that instead of receiving the allowance monthly, what happens is they get it every end of the semester, totaling to P2,500.

Ronnie Taglucop, 2nd year Agri-Business Management student and a member of the Chess varsity team confided that even he is a scholar, he still paid his tuition fee in the recent enrolment.

“Kung maghulat pa ko nga ma TP (Tuition Privilege), mawala na ang akong mga subjects,” said Taglucop. He paid his tuition fee with own expense because he feared he might lose his subjects if he waited for his balance to be cleared.

He also added that there are some problems and delays when it comes to requesting for a budget whenever they (players) join competition outside the campus.

“Kaingon gani ko dili nami kauban adtong sa Iloilo last February kay wala pa daw ang budget,”

Taglucop added.

This was confirmed by Prof. Aman, telling that “the delays happen because of the long and slow process.”

“We have to process the Special Order before we can get the allowance. And sometimes the processing of the special order [takes] long. I don’t know, so far siguro ang mga tao sa Office of the President na mga tao ang dugay sa paggawas sa special order,” she said.

It depends upon the liaison

Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Prof. Nazarolla Macalandong said that process of the disbursement would depend to the ones who handle the transaction.

“Depende yan sa pag-submit nila dito,” Prof.

Macalandong said. “Kasi matagal silang magbigay ng lists of varsity kaya din natatagalan. It’s not the office of the President who prepares the payroll. Sila ang gumagawa,” he added.

“Nag-dedepende talaga yan sa liaison kung matiyaga siyang nagbabantay at sumusunod sa proseso. Talagang mahaba at maraming pagdaanan sa pagkuha ng pera, kasi binubusisi yang mabuti,” added Prof. Macalandong.

Abolition

With the mentioned fees being collected from the students, there are some groups who oppose with the collection. They wanted to abolish them.

The STAND party of the recent Supreme Student Government (SSG) election last January 17 disliked the idea of the collection. The members of the party believed that they are not necessary and that “they do not reflect in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) memorandum.”

According to one of STAND’s running councilors Rochamae Bihag, those fees (athletic and varsity fees) are ‘obviously redundant.’

“Kung iisipin, wala naman silang pinagkaiba.

And aside from that, exorbitant and dubious fees should be abolished since according to CHEd memo ID, Publication and Council Fees lang ang dapat bayaran ng studyante aside from the tuition fee.”

Bihag, adding that “it clearly implies that we are paying excessive fees.”

However, Nasser Andam believes that these fees are necessary for us to survive. Thus, according to him they are intended for specific activities and purposes.

“The government allows us to have an income generating strategy. Pwede kang mag taas ng tution fee, pwede kang mag-singil ng ganito-ganito. Para ang mga collection doon kung ano man ang income, yun na ang gagamitin para sa mg activities like the intramurals at ng varsity,” Andam said.

This was also affirmed by Prof. Nazarolla Macalandong. “Kung tutuusin, kulang pa nga binibigay ng gobyerno para sa atin. That’s why the government allows us to take initiative of collecting some fees. Para din naman yan sa inyo yan,” Prof.

Macalandong told.

vol. 28 no. 2|INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

9 4/11/2013 8:49:52 AM

CEGP-Lanao: Not just extension of TRO—SCRAP Cyber Law CCL is unconstitutional, says Guild Lanao Guilders appeal to move to JUNK Cybercrime Law. “Kay unang-una, unconstitutional siya. Ug daghan nang mga provisions na vague. (First of all, the Cybercrime Law is unconstitutional. A lot of its provisions are vague, too.),” said Janne Claudian Salvaña, CEGP-Lanao Chairperson, adding that behind the passage of CCL is to silence the brewing opposition against the popular regime.

“The President should safeguard the democratic rights of the people. Pero iyang ginabuhat (through the cybercrime law), iya pang ginatangal sa ato (the Rights) ug ginabuhat pa nila [President] Aquino karon, gina disregard niya ang Freedom of Expression.” (The President should safeguard the democratic rights of the people. But of what he was doing now, He’s taking it away from us. And instead, they are disregarding our freedom of expression).

With the extension of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) of Cybercrime Law issued by the Supreme Court, the Guild rejoices but it does not stop them.

“Dako siyang kadaugan kay na-extend and TRO. Pero kami sa CEGP Lanao, dili lang mao ni ang among panawagan, dapat i-junk siya (It’s a great victory that the TRO was extended.

But we in CEGP Lanao doesn’t only call for extension but to completely junk the Law),” said Salvaña.

“Tungod sa sama-samang pagkilos ng mga estudyante, mga mamamahayag, mga campus journalist, mass organizations, ug iba pang mga sector, na extend ang temporary restraining order ng anti-cybercrime law, unsa pa kaha kung magtabang-tabang ang tanang katawhan

sa Pilipinas para ma-junk ang Law? (The Cybercrime Law TRO was extended because of the move from journalists, broadcasters, campus journalists, and other sectors. How much more if all the Filipinos would join together in junking the Law)” he added.

The Chapter will continue with its anticybercrime law campaigns. The guild from each formation will still be holding protest activities in their respective places against the Law. Activities were signature campaigns in different schools in Lanao, leafleting, distribution of anti-cybercrime stickers, posterings, and information campaigns.

Radio hopping in radio stations were also done.

Salvaña also said that the Cybercrime Law is a revelation and part of the plans of the administration “to control the few unbridled democratic space of the country,” taking away the basic rights of a citizen.

“We were all surprised by the sudden injection of the libel clause to the Law,” said Riz Sunio, CEGP-MSU Chairperson. “It’s a dangerous move against the practicing and campus journalists especially that the cyber space is the only outlet of the people for genuine Freedom of Expression. Internet expression is not hampered by any gatekeepers so people can address their grievances and for the press to be efficient watchdogs.”

“Not only the internet freedom taken away.

The regime is demolishing our civil rights.

Yet, we will not just stand and watch. We are called to defend our rights to the freedom of expression both in the virtual and the real world,” Salvaña expressed.

NO TO E-MARTIAL LAW. A number of Mindanao State University-Marawi students show their opposition to the Cybercrime Prevention Act by joining the signature campaign organized by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Lanao Chapter last January 14 along the University covered walk (photo by Jayson Leigh Segovia).

Lack of witnesses hampers Mindnolia murders progress, says NBI

by RIZ SUNIO, Managing Editor

“Ni-hang lang ang kaso because of lack of material witnesses,” said Atty. Alex Caburnay, National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) Iligan Office Chief, about the murders of Prof. Othello Cobal and Erwin Diaz in Mindnolia.

Chief Caburnay said that the Philosophy department did not allow the survivors of the fire, Erwin Diaz’ siblings, to be interviewed by the NBI. He said that relatives of the victims asked them for help regarding the case. However, no witness would come to them to testify.

“The Department (Philo) has nothing to do with it (the case),” said CSSH Dean Dr. Samuel Anonas. “It so happen that Othello is a faculty

member (of Philo Department).”

“May batas na di dapat basta-basta [maglabas] ng details (ang witnesses) without the presence of an attorney,” he said, adding that Diaz’ sisters were still in the state of turmoil when the NBI wanted to interview them.

Dr. Anonas also said that Sir Othello Cobal was on study leave for Cebu during the time of his death.

Chief Caburnay said that they already have suspects on who the assailants may be, based on their intelligence reports.

Assemblywoman Samira Gutoc-Tomawis said that Col. Romeo Magsalos, former Philippine National Police (PNP) Lanao Chief, relayed before his retirement that possible reasons for the murders are business angles. “But

10 NEWS|mindanao varsitarian page.indd 10

[there is no] definite point into who (culprit).”

Sir Cobal’s family is still processing his death certificate in order to redeem his benefits as a government employee.

Many other business establishments are being threatened in the Campus. Some proprietors are received scares through texts, said Assy. Gutoc-Tomawis.

Prof. Cobal, a Philosophy department instructor, and Diaz, a Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) student and Prof. Cobal’s student assistant, were murdered and burned in Mindnolia last October 25. MSUS President Macapado A. Muslim sent a letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to have the murders investigated. (With reports from Xyza Ched Yobero)

2nd Semester

4/11/2013 8:49:57 AM

photo by Janice Aldana

Aiman (A son, an MSUan, a legend)

By Mike Ariel Plaza

He climbed up the stage and stood in the podium. All eyes were on him. He smiled, glancing through the speech he was about to deliver. He looked through the faces of the people – young dreamers wearing the same toga as his, bearing the same experiences as his, feeling the same excitement he was also feeling that same moment.

His throat was burning while his eyes began to mirror the inexplicable sentiment within him. He started speaking through the microphone. That’s when the kaleidoscope of memories began to play. ***

A son

Aiman Calimbaba Cairoden came from a humble family of Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur. He is the eldest of six siblings. Although his parents were only high school graduates, they dreamt of providing a better future for him.

“Actually, yung father ko, gusto niyang maging engineer. Kaya lang due to financial difficulties, hindi niya yun nareach,” Aiman shared, adding his father really dreamt of him to become a doctor.

His father, after marrying his mother at a young age, worked as a driver in Saudi Arabia.

“One of my inspirations talaga is my father. Kasi, to tell you frankly, hindi kami mayamang pamilya,” said he.

Aiman shared that it was his father who really pushed him to aim for the best, especially in his academics. It was in his elementary graduation that his father went home from abroad. However his father challenged him.

“Sabi niya, ‘Aiman, hinding hindi ako ang magbibigay sa’yo ng medals, ribbons or whatever achievements na makuha mo hangga’t hindi ikaw yung valedictorian.’ Kasi class salutatorian lang ako sa Saguiaran Central Elementary School. So from that time, naisip ko na sana maging valedictorian ako,” he narrated.

Those words hit him so he strived to become the first during high school. However, during his high school graduation, his father was not able to go home. “[Patuloy siyang nagtrabaho] para matustusan ang pangangailangan ng pamilya namin. Kasi parang naisip niya na lumalaki na ako, kaya’t lumalaki na rin yung gasto. Mas nagpursige pa siya.”

Frustratingly enough, his high school graduation

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was only video recorded and was sent to his father overseas. Since then, he promised to see his father climbing up the stage and award him his medals come college graduation.

“Pero ngayon, wala siya dito kasi he passed away noong November 30, 2011. Pero siya talaga ang naging inspiration ko,” he said, adding that the car accident that ended his father’s life did not kill his dreams of giving his best for his late father’s honor.

Aiman became a consistent Dean’s Lister, a fourtime Chancellor’s Lister and a President’s Lister as well. His simple dreams of giving honor to his parents resulted to an achievement not only for his family but to the entire Meranao race and to the history of Mindanao State University. He became MSU’s first Muslim Meranao Summa cum Laude.

“Kahit ako, hindi ako makapaniwala. As in.

Pero ako na thankful ako kasi Maranao rasied ako.

Nakakaproud. Kahit nga yung iba nashock. Kasi hindi naman talaga kilala yung pamilya ko. Talagang low profile,” he said.

“Isa na rin sa mga inspirasyon ko yung mother ko, my very caring mother,” he said adding that his mother once encouraged him to give all his best in studying.

An MSUan

During his speeches, Aiman always emphasized the importance of sacrifices to reach one’s goals and become excellent.

As an MSUan, he shared that the first sacrifice he has to make is commuting from his hometown to the University every day.

“Everytime may schedule ako na 7 or 6 am, kailangan maaga ako dito since sa Saguiaran pa ako umuuwi. So talagang mga 5:30 pa lang, naglalakad (nagbabyahe) na ako papunta dito sa MSU,” he laughingly said.

Contrary to what most believe, he is not somebody who always puts on his nightclothes for overnight studies.

“Akala nila na na-achieve ko to kasi siguro daw every day akong nagoovernight. But no. Kasi parang kawawa naman ang sarili ko kung ganoon,” he clarified, pointing out that he does constant reading and studying days or weeks before the examinations.

“Dapat before examination, nagsastudy ako in

advance. Para when examination comes, review na lang. Hindi ako nagka-cram.”

Aiman admits that he is an anime addict.

“Feeling ko mas malaki pa yung ginugugol ko na time dun,” he laughingly said.

He shared that while he was doing his undergraduate thesis, the anime series and movies had become his stress relievers.

In his four years in being in MSU, he admits that there are things that he has not yet done, like joining semi-academic organizations. However, he holds no regrets of being an MSUan. “For me, hindi ako nagsisisi. Talagang mas thankful pa ako na may MSU hindi lang para sa amin na mga Muslims kundi sa ating lahat. Kasi kung wala ito, hindi ko maaabot tong achievement na to,” said he.

A Legend

Being awarded a Summa cum Laude is yet too fulfilling, but to be tagged as the first ever in one’s race is beyond any achievements to harbor.

“Thankful ako na nakuha ko yung title na first Meranao Muslim summa cum laude pero kahit na naachieve ko yun, still parang for me normal na sa akin. Kahit na nakuha ko yung achievement na yun, kung ano man ako noon, ganun pa rin ako ngayon.”

When asked what his message to his fellow MSUans is, he said, “Talagang ipursue niyo yung mga dreams niyo. Cherish them. But before you reach that you have to undergo the challenges. Hindi niyo yan maiiwasan. You have to develop the senses of selfsacrifice, self-reliance and determination. Always pray, of course, dapat hinding hindi ka nakakalimot. And then dapat maintained yong humility within you.”

Finally he said, “Thank you very much, MSU, for molding us into globally competitive individuals!” *** He left the podium with the applause of people he touched and inspired. Still wearing that smile, he walked down the stage with a bigger challenge to face. But with a humble heart and a personality who has known the importance of sacrifices, Aiman will go places. Because at the end of the celebration and graduation beats, even without the maroon toga, he is still Aiman – a son, an MSuan and a legend.

vol. 28 no. 2|FEATURE

11 4/11/2013 8:49:59 AM

photo by Raymark Estael

Their plight

By Jun Sacay jr. & Raymark Estael

Painful. That is the best way to describe the days when we took part on an Interfaith Solidarity Mission in San Fernando, Bukidnon.

The goal of the event is to assemble the indigenous leaders and representatives of the indigenous communities in that place to articulate their recent condition regarding their land, their livelihood, and their economic, cultural and socio-political situation. Discussions were held on the emerging issues affecting them, their ancestral domains, the natural resources and the accustomed environment; sharing sessions with the ‘Lumads’ of the different community struggles and survival.

Resuming to the query, it was heartbreaking and upsetting to hear the sentiments and clamors of the Lumad farmers to the government officials of Bukidnon. It was an ache inside seeing the doors of the provincial capitol closed before the tribe leaders aiming to enter just to voice out their problems and bring out their concerns.

It was painful to realize that the hearsays are true – powerful and influential people on their seats choose to be blind, deaf and mute and cutting their hands, though not literally, for them not be touched with and refrain from giving aid to these deprived individuals who deemed fall to their responsibility. This time, rumors became reality.

Placards and voices were raised by the natives with some support from some advocates to correct the indifference of the local government.

The indigenous people of Bukidnon continue to strive for their rights. They raised their demands hoping that one day, they will be heard.

The following are their concerns: • Peace process to address the situation that puts IPs in the middle of conflicts of the

•

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• • •

•

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government and rebel groups and recognize and respect traditional peace pacts; Violations of IP Human Rights, Militarization and the Recruitment of IP children by Armed Groups to stop the recruitment of IP children as soldiers for the different armed groups and resolve the cases of extrajudicial killings to give justice to the victims; Development aggression to require Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA) as part of the FPIC and stop the Pulangi V Dam project; Access to basic services to reinforce educational and health assistance and recognition on traditional health providers; Women’s and children’s rights to support documentation of abuses against IP women and children and provide budget for maternal women; The right to self-determination to recognize traditional systems of governance and justice; The IP struggle for recognition and respect of the traditional peace agreements; The IPRA for the government to recognize and respect the native title as “existing prior rights” over their lands as expressed in Section 55; Government policies to scrap the Mining Act of 1995 and pass the MMBs and prioritize hiring of IPs in the promotion and welfare of their ancestral domains; Climate change to forward education and use of organic farming.

(Source: The Indigenous Peoples Agenda in PNoy Administration)

12 { DIGMAAN|mindanao varsitarian page.indd 12

Last August 27, 2012, residents from Brgy.

Dao in San Fernando marched to Malaybalay to seek succor from the governor. They left their place after the death of their Brgy. Captain, Jimmy Liguyon who had been allegedly shot because of his resistance against seizure of their land by the large- scale mining companies. As per statement of Tay Mariano, people can no longer entrust their lands for they think that larger effects of these mining activities does not only mean relocation but permanent degradation of the environment and contamination water.

Though Lumads hold on their rights and stand against the plan of the oppressors, their courage and faith is still cut short when faced with guns and military powers, pushing to leave just to spare themselves from the threats and calamities.

They fear death and abuses.

Unconstitutional killings and military operations abound in the area to reinforce the opening of San Fernando, Bukidnon to mining.

Presently, vicious repression still lives in the locale. Even their government and police force failed to defend the victims of abuse, intimidated by the paramilitary groups organized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the New Indigenous of People’s Army Reform (NIFARM) and the Tribal Reform Organizing in Mindanao (TRIOM). They are still lording the town and continue terrorizing whoever resisted.

People stayed in the Capitol grounds to wait justice they believe they truly deserve despite the government’s indifference.

It had been months since they have been casted away from their lands and the waiting is still taking longer.

2nd Semester

4/11/2013 8:50:05 AM

vol. 28 no. 2|PAG-IBIG }

AY 2012- 2013

By Rey Harvey Suello

We have heard or known stories of remarkable Elizabeths who lived as queens of England, United Kingdom, Romania or empresses of Austria and Russia. Printed on books, discussed by historians, or featured websites, their stories projected power, luxury, greatness and many other things so desirable.

Their stories were told.

Beyond these great stories, another Elizabeth also has a story worth telling. A story of a simple woman who lived a bright simple life that was unexpectedly charred by a fire incident at Mindnolia Internet Cafe on a gloomy morning of October 25, 2012. That fire incident.

We have already written the woeful tale about her brother’s death. Erwin Diaz was his name if you can still remember. We have told how her brother, together with his dreams and ambitions were burnt to ashes. Now it is time to share the remaining piece of that sad story.

Elizabeth Encabo Diaz’s story, ‘Beth’ as what most people calls her.

After Erwin’s burial, Beth decided to focus on tending the needs of her injured sister but days after she cried over her brother’s coffin, on November 17, ‘Yeye’ also passed away. Yeye was her younger sister who acquired 3rd degree burns from the tragedy. Yeye died with Elizabeth by her side.

Beth added that on that day, Yeye thanked her for everything she has done but she did not expect that her little sister’s ‘thank you’ was her other way of saying goodbye. “Naawa talaga ako sa kapatid ko. Kung pwede lang malipat yung pain niya. At least lang man mabawasan yung paghihirap niya.”

Beth might not have been able to share Yeye’s physical pain but she surely carried loads of emotional burdens.

There is no question on how beautiful her relationship was with her siblings. She proudly said that they were very close especially that their parents were separated. They (Erwin and Beth) felt like whoever the older sibling is has the responsibility of filling up the empty spaces that their parents left on the younger ones.

Before all of those happened, Beth was like every typical MSUan lady. Education was one of her top priorities. She first step foot on MSU at year 2008 with the hope of graduating as fast as she could so that she can help her late brother in giving their other siblings a better life.

“Dream ko lang talagang makatapos sa pagaaral, find a good job. Yan din ang gusto ni kuya Erwin for me. Sayang lang kasi wala na si Yeye para mapa-school if ever may work na.”

only time left before she can finally fulfill that dream. But after everything that happened, that one year might become longer. Knock on woods, it might never happen.

“Sana hindi na nila gawin sa iba yung ginawa nila sa amin.Wala ni isang tao dito sa mundo ang may right na kumuha ng buhay ng kapwa tao kasi hindi sila ang nagbigay nito.” This was what she said when asked if she can say anything to the people who allegedly started the fire on Oct. 25.

Beth refused to tell her whereabouts in fear of being followed by the said people. She just said that she will never come back here at MSU. Just the thought of the campus according to her, gives her heartache and pain. She would also like to tell the students to be serious on their studies while enjoying the marvel of it. “Ipakita niyo sa mga mahal niyo sa buhay how important they are because you will never know anong mangyayari bukas.”

She then added, “Life must go on, kahit gaano pa kahirap ang pinagdadaanan mo, kailangang magpatuloy.”

Elizabeth’s life might be shattered now but hopefully she can slowly pick up the broken pieces. She might not be able to assemble the same picture but all being well, she can create a new one beautiful enough to give her hope and happiness.

One more year. This was supposed to be the

photo taken from Elizabeth Diaz’s facebook account

“Humingi siya (Yeye) ng tulong sa akin kasi hindi na daw siya makahinga.” Beth shared as she

remembered that moment when Yeye stopped breathing. Her mind went blank and just kept on crying. She hoped that everything was just a bad dream. A nightmare she yearned would end.

Unfortunately, that dream was her reality.

13

Elizabeth page.indd 13

“Sana hindi na nila gawin sa iba yung ginawa nila sa amin. Wala ni isang tao dito sa mundo ang may right na kumuha ng buhay ng kapwa tao kasi hindi sila ang nagbigay nito.”

4/11/2013 8:50:08 AM

The events were grim and gloomy. Death was just at any corner. The rise of the water seemed to be a horrible scene we see in horror stories. The flash floods that crushed the houses and the wind that blew the roofs appeared to be dreadful sights one would ever experience. The fatalities were shocking, and so with the destructions. There existed a disco of panic, fear, horror and terror.

That Sendong and Pablo devastated many people’s lives in just a glimpse of an eye is certainly a heart-breaking phenomenon.

Thousands of lives were lost, lots of infrastructures were destroyed, and many dreams were swept away. At any rate, these had apparently changed Mindanao.

{ Remembering Sendong } December is a season of merrymaking where students enjoy long vacations and people get to enjoy the holidays to be spent with the loved ones. Northern Mindanao experienced far different from what they expected. A year had passed yet the people of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan Cities still have their memories fresh.

Bert, an elementary student and a resident of Sitio Kabangahan, Brgy. Upper Hinaplanon, Iligan City, said it was his worst nightmare.

“Nahadlok ‘ko kay nitingog ug hadlok ang bukid sa taas.” It was the rush of waters flowing from the hills that gushed and swept away the entire city into darkness.

He said that they ran uphill along with few of their neighbours when their nipa hut was swept away in the other side of the bank. No help came to them in a month because of the impenetrable roads obstructed by fallen trees and its distance from the city.

“Nanguha nalang mi ni papa ug kamote among pangkaon,” he added.

Several outreach programs were organized by Non-government Organizations and the neighbouring Local Government Units after the news went on air. Even international organizations personally went to the site to offer help. Bunk houses were donated for those who lost their homes. Others were relocated to ensure safety and security against disasters such as this.

The government had also tried to revive the city’s economy by offering social entrepreneurship to those who lost their ways of living. Psychosocial supports were also given to those with post-traumatic stress.

Forest Rehabilitations were also implemented so as to avoid the horrible incident from happening again. Tree planting activities were recommended to schools as part of the curricula.

Recently, Northern Mindanao formed Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council which caters the preparatory procedures and evaluation for possible dangers in times of calamity.

“Lipay ko kay nagatanom na mi ni papa ron ug kahoy para walay baha.” Bert’s father is now the PO President which is organized by DENR for rehabilitation.

Now that Iligan and other places in Northern Mindanao have started to move on with their lives, they will always remember the wrath of nature and pledged never to harm her again.

{ Pablo’s Wrath }

The people were all aware of the coming but no one had expected the havoc that typhoon Pablo had left in the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental last December 4. It completely disfigured these once agriculture-rich provinces. The thought was a nightmare everyone would surely hate about.

Ivan Gallegos, a 2nd year Journalism student of this University, and a resident of Moncayo, Compostela Valley, said he expected the typhoon but never expected the casualties.

{ A tale of tw

By Jun Sacay, Adnan Alauya, mar

“Grabe talaga ang pagkasira ng lugar namin.

Ang gym na kakatayo lang, nawala ang bubong; ang isang eskwelahan dun sa high

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school, nasira; ang public market namin, bumigay ang mga pundasyon kaya gumuho.”

He said that the house they were boarding was also partially wrecked. The owner won’t repair it for them so Ivan’s family had to do the repairs. It was really a burden because aside from the fact that they have to mend the house with their own expense, they still have to pay for the monthly rentals once it will have been restored.

Ivan, together with other homeless evacuees, celebrated their Christmas at the evacuation center with a small can of fruit cocktail, noodles, and canned goods for Noche Buena.

“Ok narin siya. Na-realize ko talaga na hindi importante ang maraming pagkain sa hapag kapag pasko. As long as you’re with your complete family, ok na. After all, it’s the essence of Christmas,” he said, flashing a smile full of hope.

“Ang laki talagang kawalan. I even came to a point kung saan naitanong ko: Bakit hindi sinira ni Lord ang lahat para fair? Bakit lugar lang namin? Ang lugar na ‘walang-wala’ na nga, pinalala pa talaga ang kawalan nang dahil sa bagyong yun,” he added.

He said that the present problem of their locality as of now is the safe drinking water.

Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Jose Mayo Almario of Davao Oriental said on a report that the worst is yet to come. He said that part of the consequences of Pablo is hunger. He added that donations and relief goods will dwindle, social problems such as theft and illness outbreaks will arise, and flash floods are possible to occur.

{ The Spirit of Camaraderie and Hope } The typhoons may have lashed thousands of lives and bulldozed billions of properties, but the spirit of camaraderie never ceased to exist. The United Nations has extended US$10 million, equivalent to Php408.6 million, in assistance to families devastated by Typhoon Pablo. In addition, army personnel voluntarily donated a total of PhP7 million to the sufferers who, despite extreme wreckage within themselves, continue to show hope.

Having an estimate of 300 storms that struck our country for the past 15 years, only ‘six’ had passed across Mindanao. It is indeed a rarity in Mindanao to be shattered by such lethal catastrophes.

Verily we accept the multitude of environmental problems we face in the society nowadays, it is but our accountability and responsibility towards ourselves, to the next person beside us, and to the state itself that we all have to contemplate and sort things out before time takes place. We have nothing left to do in abating the growing dread brought about by the environmental degradation that is slowly creeping within our midst.

In the Philippines, certain legislations and mechanisms were drafted and forwarded to directly respond to the mounting concerns of environmental predicaments. The question then: are these mechanisms of the government can immensely reduce the existential problems our country has, particularly on the level of catastrophic issues? Definitely yes, but the problem is on the teeth of the law.

After the disaster brought by Sendong and Pablo, we cannot afford to lose lives anymore. Let’s extend our hands by not just giving the victims foods, clothes, donations, etc. After all, these are just temporary aids to the victims. Let us promote reforestation and eradicate deforestation.

At times like this, it does not matter anymore to whom the blame must finger-pointed to. What matters most is how we prevent the same disaster that threatens the country as a whole. Sendong and Pablo were then considered as the world’s deadliest disaster in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

wo storms }

rk maylan & jayson leigh segovia

The fright that these two typhoons had caused will never be just an experience for the victims. It was a nightmare – a terrible one. But the tales of the victims, the government’s response towards calamities, the sympathy of the Filipino people, the tears of those who were left by loved ones, and the moans of those who lost their lives, shout for a solid action. Let us not allow the history repeat itself.

This tale of two storms will end. In our own hands.

AY 2012- 2013

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vol. 28 no. 2|PAG-IBIG }

15 4/11/2013 8:50:10 AM

{ black&white mga larawang kuha ni Raymark E. Estael

Larawan. Kwento. Katotohanan. Nasasaklawan ng bawat kuha ng lente ang mga kwentong naghihintay lamang na maipahayag at mailuwal sa mga diwang hindi tanaw ang realidad. Sa isang paglalakbay, natutunghayan ang iba’t ibang eksena at nasisisid ang mga tunay na tagpong may mas malalim na kahulugan. Ito ang mga kwento ng Mindanao na nahagip ng mga mata. Sa kulay na itim at puti, mas makulay na naratib ang naisasalaysay.

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4/11/2013 8:50:41 AM

18 { DIGMAAN|mindanao varsitarian

By Mark Maylan, Harvey Suello & Lady Mae Lao

A typical student life is never easy.

The continuous activities from our subjects are stressful. The never-ending cycle of fees and contributions is pocket-holing. The rampant 5.0 during exams is super-ultra-mega disappointing.

The delays of allowances, the hold-ups and other security concerns, the break-ups with boy/ girlfriends – all of these cost us so much pimples and eye bags.

However, for the student assistants in the campus, these struggles have already become a part of their daily routines. In fact, they carry more of those than us. They carry stories more interesting than what we have. Because student assistantship has become an avenue for students who want to win the brawl against the odds, against the world, and against life.

For Snoopy (not his real name), the future is vague and a liter of sweat each day will make it clear. He is a freshman and is currently working under a professor in this institution.

Since elementary, he had already jumped to so many hurdles just to pursue his education.

The memory of driving side cars on dusty roads for him to afford something to eat during recess and lunch breaks was still crystal clear to him.

He even remembers the times in his high school years when he would ask permission to the jeepney drivers to have a free top load ride just to reach school.

“Humihingi ako sa kanila ng permiso para makisakay ako; tapos palagi nilang sinasabi na bayaran ko nalang daw sila pag propesyonal na ako,” he said with a smile.

All challenges he faced were well conquered, except the death of his mother. He entered the University with a heavy, grieving heart, yet he knew that striving even harder in life is the best thing he can do.

photo by Riz Sunio

Academically, Snoopy confessed that he

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really is having some hard times. He finds it really hard to study while doing his “all around work,” especially with his unruly roommates who can only sleep at around 11 in the evening. Studying therefore had been a nocturnal activity for him.

Often times he would experience the scarcity of money. Sometimes he would attempt to ask from his father but most of the time, his father would just refuse. He knows his father really has nothing to give. During these times he would reluctantly ask from his understanding bestfriend.

“Huwag daw akong mag-atubiling lumapit sa kanya ‘pag may kailangan ako, sabi ng bestfriend ko. Minsan nagpapadala siya ng 500, minsan 700.

May kaya din kasi yun.”

For Snoopy, the future is vague but he believes that with hard work and drops of sweat, slowly he will be seeing it clear – the vision of seeing his family sleeping in a big beautiful bed, waking up with delicious and healthy breakfast with his younger brothers, nephews and nieces who do not have to walk in the same path he had. *** Pinocchio, not his real name, applied as an SA because he only got 9-unit load.

His employer offered him P600 worth of allowance, a lunch and an afternoon snack.

“This is my first time being an SA, and I’m grateful because he (his employer) is very kind to me. He acts like a father and for my 5 months of work, I didn’t hear any words of dislikes from him,” he said.

Pinocchio expressed that he never is ashamed of being an SA, saying “Actually, I felt the other way around.” *** What we see is not always what it means.

Looks can be deceiving, so is the reason of Veronica to do the job.

Determined to give light to her puzzling reason, she was asked what her friends think about her being a student assistant. Surprisingly, she answered “Wala din akong masyadong kaibigan, yun lang mga amo ko at saka mga anak nila.”

There it was. According to her, most people do not really like her and always had trouble keeping friends even when she was still a high school student. She had worked as an SA for a year and declared that “So far, ito [ang] mga pinakamasayang araw ng buhay ko.” Even her parents were taken aback when they knew about Veronica working but were later convinced when according to her, “nakita nilang masaya ako sa ginagawa ko.”

Snoopy and Pinocchio’s stories were that of a war against financial tragedies. Veronica’s story is a battle towards gaining reverence and acceptance from people around her.

They might have different reasons on working as student assistants but they still have an intersection. For Snoopy, Pinocchio, and Veronica, these reasons are their motivations why they should do well not just being an SA but more on being the persons they want to be in the future.

Their narratives should also serve as a call for the administration to put more efforts in accommodating student assistants in the campus.

Students came here usually because they do not have the resources to go other universities. Some students really live with these conceptions. They really had nothing and so they resorted to being an SA. The administration, the staff, the faculty, and the students should strive hard in initiating programs that would be beneficial to SA’s. After all, their combats were also ours. We dreamed of becoming a world-class university, right? Let’s realize it by empowering the reason why an institution exists---the students.

“Wala akong problema sa pera. Trip ko lang talaga.”

Students at work 4/11/2013 8:50:44 AM

photo by Jayson Leigh Segovia

Loving me and leaving it (DOTA o ako?)

By Mary Louise Omelio & Mark Maylan

She is fervently waiting.

He is playing.

She would have believed that love is letting go of a person, but he is still fighting.

Fighting…

Fighting for his heroes. Fighting to destroy the towers of his opponents.

Defending the ancients. Ancients that only he knows.

But no love, there is.

It has been the script of a same old story about girls breaking up with their boyfriends because of some another flirt sticking around. But now it is different.

Girls do not get mad to their guys over another girl.

Over a computer game, they raise their eyebrows and ask, “Ano, DOTA o ako?”

No joke, here are some real-life testimonies of girlfriends and boyfriends fighting over the impossibility of DOTA. *** Kk, not her real name, said that her boyfriend would not at all listen to her once he starts to play. According to her, he would always say, “Isa na lang jud ka-game,” but would end up finishing three to four.

“Mag-away mi kay dili daw siya free. Gusto siya inig magdula siya, free siya. Dili siya hilabtan.

Naabot jud ko sa point nga: DOTA nalang ang uyaba be. Mag bulag na lang kaha ta?” she narrated.

She broke up with her boyfriend after 10 months of relationship but not because of DOTA.

AY 2012- 2013

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Van Damme’s case is a little different. He broke up with her eight-month girlfriend because of DOTA. He said that when he is at an internet shop, he does not like to reply to her girlfriend’s text message, and neither answers any of her calls. He would even lie sometimes to her just to cover up that he is actually playing.

He said that with girlfriends, you can never get away with a fight. But with DOTA, there is no fight to get away at all. However, Van Damme said, “Dili ko kahibalo muhigugma ug babae… kung makahuna-huna ko ug DOTA, makalimot ko sa akong uyab.”

But after they broke up, he was regretful why he chose the computer game over his girlfriend.

Ars, however, said that there are really instances that the boys would pour out all their heartaches to playing DOTA. “Ang mga gf sab, dapat dili possessive. Dapat give your bfs a time for DOTA because at the end of the day, it is still their means of entertainment,” he added.

Mayang and Dingdong, a couple, has their different view, though.

According to Mayang, “Ok raman sa ako ang mag-DOTA siya, basta mananghid ug dili makalimot ug reply.” But Dingdong admitted that he was really fond of playing the game before but eventually stopped when he met his girlfriend.

He added that boys should prioritize their girlfriends to avoid a fight.

However, there was once when they fought.

It was Dingdong’s birthday and his friends treated him to the internet café and played. He got so preoccupied with the game that he was not able to respond to Mayang’s text messages.

Mayang on the other hand was already thinking

that Dingdong already found a new girlfriend.

Dingdong defended, “Kung mo-undang, madaot ang game so dili nalang mo-reply.

Mahadlok man gud na masisi nganong napildi ang grupo. Ikaw na hinuon dayon ang ma-bully.”

They ended the interview by sharing that a couple should not let DOTA be the reason of breakup.

But Bry said that you will never get bored with DOTA. “Ako man gud, basta wala pa ka-gunit ug mouse, naa pay chance nga dili ko ka-DOTA. Pero pag nakagunit na, focus na jud,” he added.

Bing, his girlfriend, does not like him playing the computer game because sometimes he would just lie to her. But according to Bry, DOTA is just a short-time enjoyment. “After ana nga hour, wala na dayon. Kadyot ra nga kalipay.”

In the end, he said, “Ang DOTA, makit-an bisan asa. Sa Yadz, All Star, A.S. Pero ang gf, dili makit-an bisan asa… lisod pangitaon.” *** Right. Boys will not lie if girls do not nag. But girls will not nag if boys do not lie.

After all, everything is just up to the couple; but to feign of doing something you actually do not is no good.

It is not about being free. It is about choosing who or what weighs heavier. You can never easily give up something when it is where you find happiness, may it be temporary or permanent. But people are people and computer games are not.

DOTA might be non-living, but in all fairness, it tempts worse than a bitch.

vol. 28 no. 2|PAG-IBIG }

19 4/11/2013 8:50:55 AM

Indefinite Struggles

By Adnan Alauya, Riz Sunio and Jesslei Mae Piquero

Swords. Guns. Tears. Blood. Revenge.

What you are about to read is a collection of short stories of families, of people and of lives involved in what they call Rido.

The first in our list is a family once united by tight bondage of intertwining surnames and connections. They are one of the big groups of people residing near the seaside of the province.

What once was a peaceful community became tensed with unspoken threats floating in the air.

How this conflict even started? Ayeka, Hannah, Mira, Tasia, Heeyay, Jelba, and Bb were unsure. They enumerated unreasonable shootout and interfamilial disagreement on matters of marriage, as some of the causes they know. This led one clash to another which was then passed down to generations. Many lives were lost, much tears were shed. Yet, their family stayed steadfast on their feet, fearing nothing on their land. All they wanted was for these ladies to be polite and avoid worsening the problems, especially that they are away from each other, the latter studying on another community. Up to what extent this discord damaged their ties? They’re not so sure.

“Hindi na namin alam kung kanino talaga kami pwedeng makisama. Parang bawat relative kasi namin ay may kinalaman sa Rido ng ibang pamilya. Tapos parang halo-halo na lahat. Dapat talaga kung susubukan man nilang ayusin, ay talagang walang pinapanigan. Sana babaan na rin nila ang pride nila,” Ayeka said.

The next family in our list had actually been involved in three sets of ridos. Most of which were from the infamous disagreement on elections.

According to Marga, her side of the family was actually the one who started the bloodshed; a murder triggered by electoral mischief. The stories were distinct and separate but the effects were the same. A number of lives had been lost, and threats are still fresh and alive. Neither of the families involved wants to back out and no settlement has yet been planned.

“Nakakandado na nga ang mga gates namin parati at may maliit lang kaming dinadaan na opening para di basta makakapasok ang kung sinuman. Pinahanda na rin sa ‘min ang aming mga gamit para anytime, kung may problema, pwede kaming makaalis agad. Dun narin daw ako magaaral if ever….” Marga shared. Her family is open to the possibility of changing their residence.

Marga expressed her disappointment towards these people running for certain positions this coming election. “Di ko talaga alam kung bakit pa sila tumatakbo kung kasinungalingan lang naman ang kanilang mga sinasabi. Pera lang talaga ang habol. May inis rin ako sa lolo ko. Bakit ba di nalang pwedeng magparaya? Tuloy, marami na ang naapektuhan.” *** The last on our discussion is narrated by a student whose family is closely related to the scam controversy of the province; a story he thought would soon break into a rido. His uncle was one of those so called agents. After the issue of breaking the scam and failing to return due money to investors, Rain’s relatives were sought and threatened out. Some of his cousins, students at that, were kidnapped for ransom. His uncle’s house was evaded and gunshots were released

up in the air to inject terror and pressure to their family to compensate the other family for the financial loss.

“Nung narinig kong pinasok yung bahay ng tito ko, pumunta lang ako sa kanila at tanging pangungumusta lang ang nagawa ko,” he sadly stated.

“Gusto ko ngang magkaroon ng baril gaya ng mga pinsan ko, pamproteksyon, pero di ako pinayagan ng parents ko,” he added.

Though this event in their lives brought negative effects to his studies, which caused him to fail one subject last semester, he remained strong. “Hindi ako takot sa pwedeng mangyari sa akin. Mas takot ako sa pwedeng mangyari sa pamilya ko.” *** Rido, as famous as it is as being unique in the region of Lanao, is a reality that needed to be opened up to every reader that it does not only exist in this place. It is alive in almost every place in the archipelago.

“Kahit sa Christian area, tulad sa Luzon, nangyayari din to. Society will not develop without conflicts,” Dr. Mocsir Matuan of Institute of Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM), said.

“What differs this struggle from others is the strong fight to maintain and restore the so called maratabat or pride that the natives in Lanao so long treasured,” he added. *** These are just some of the stories and there are still a hundred of them untold. We are writing and telling these stories in search of a different ending.

Illustration by Reyjhon Entenia

“Hindi naman kami takot sa mga maaaring mangyari doon sa lugar namin. Alam naming kaya na nila yun. Mas may takot kaming nararamdaman dito sa MSU. Di kasi namin‘to lugar kaya pag-iingat lang talaga ang magagawa namin,” she added.

***

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photo by Jayson Leigh Segovia

Of love, betrayals and death

By Al Marvien Savandal, Lady Mae Lao & Glihard Escudero

Nightmares. They plague Sittie’s sleeps and wake her in tears. The nightmares keep on reminding her that she made a despicable mistake, she was victimized by a fake love and made a wrong choice. Her nightmares took her back to a dreadful day in August 27, 2012. It was the start when her life went amiss. It was the day she showed her last smiles, the day when she began wearing black to mourn and grieve over what she had lost.

to Abdul’s desire. They engaged to premarital sex.

Though she knew it was wrong, Sittie continued to believe she was going to spend her future with Abdul.

Sittie’s wrist was tattered. Her voice was broken. And her silence meant pain. Sittie was supposed to carry a nine-month old baby. She was supposed to give birth to her first child. A child’s life that she chose to end – a life that never was.

Instead of fulfilling his promise, Abdul asserted to abort the child. It shocked Sittie since she had never imagined that those words would come from him. He said he would not marry her “because it was still not the right time.” At that moment, Sittie felt as though she carried the whole world. And so she asked, when will the right time come? Even though she insisted that they should marry immediately before their parents would know about it, Abdul argued that he would never admit that he was the father of the child.

She was 15 and a third year High School student when she first met Abdul. They were living in the same town but had never met before. Abdul was already in college and would soon graduate.

Their first encounter did not mean something to her since she believed Abdul would swiftly become an old topic.

One day, she received a text message from him. He wanted to befriend her and she found nothing wrong about it. Then eventually, he became her “kuya.” They became so close and gradually, she was folded in his hands. Ten months later, Abdul vocally expressed his feelings for her.

He courted her and since Sittie knew Abdul was not committed to someone else, she accepted his love despite the fact that he was five years older than she.

Months later, Abdul’s demands went beyond what Sittie was willing to give. He wanted to take away her purity. She was so hesitant since she was just too young, but Abdul forced her and promised to marry her ‘when the right time comes.’ Blinded by her immaturity, she was compelled to submit

One day, she noticed she was missing her monthly visits. She was pregnant. The fact that a life was growing in her womb brought torment. She was not afraid to mother a child at a young age, but the fact that her family’s expectations troubled her.

She asked Abdul to wed her.

With no choice left, Sittie again submitted to Abdul’s will. He brought her to an old deviant abortionist. Her conscience disturbed her extensively. It never crossed her mind that she would do this horrible thing. She loved the baby.

But she was afraid that what Abdul has done to her would cause the devastation of her dignity. So she did the worst. She felt the agony as she sensed the five-month old fetus gradually protruding in her womb. But the emotional and psychological distress she was experiencing upon seeing how the abortionist was killing her helpless baby was the most excruciating pain she swore she would never want to feel again.

She kept it from the knowledge of her family.

Abdul put the fetus on a crock and buried it.

Sittie thought that Abdul made it look like it was

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masterfully planned and it terrified her. It was just then that she knew that it was the third time Abdul did it with different women.

Horrified by what kind of person Abdul was and knowing that he has another girlfriend who Abdul assured to marry, Sittie broke up with him.

She realized that she became Abdul’s puppet.

Sittie always woke up having the same nightmare. God knew how she suffered from a great loss. She attempted to commit suicide by drinking Biogenic Alcohols and kerosene. She almost killed herself by slashing her wrist. Until one day, she could no longer hold the pain inside.

With broken voice, shrugging shoulders, and misty eyes, she finally found the courage to tell to her parents about the incident who, with open hands, understood her.

She knew it was still not the end of her dilemma. When her relatives knew about it, they were so embarrassed. They said that she was a disgrace of their family and insisted that she should marry Abdul even if she liked it or not. As a result, Abdul went hiding elsewhere and begged her to retract her words.

Fear and losing are still lingering in her mind during sleepless nights. But with the help of God and her newboyfriend, she believes she will forget the pain someday.

Sittie shared this story with the hope of feeling better… of breathing again. She wants to move on.

She hopes that people will see her not as a killer for she was also a victim. She wants to correct her mistakes and hopes that is still not too late.

She wanted to show that despite the struggles and flaws, she had survived. She hopes that finally, her story would be the last story written in woman’s destiny.

vol. 28 no. 2|PAG-IBIG }

21 4/11/2013 8:51:09 AM

photo taken from Afnan Cana’s facebook account

The well-known nobody

By Mary Louise Omelio and Riz Sunio

Students do not even know her. Some do not even think of her existence. She is no one. There is no ‘she…’

But now she is airing her side. She is flipping the pages, and this is the story of her struggles.

Afnan Cana was proclaimed the SSG President last December 2011. She said she was not supposed to run.

It should have been her Sis in her fraternity-sorority, but something turned out wrong so she took the risk.

Running without any clear platform to dish for her campaigns, she took her chance and filed for candidacy five dying minutes before the filing ended that day.

“Ginawa kong platforms ang mga sinasabi sa akin ng mga students nung nag-campaign kami,” Afnan said.

She added that her triumph over an SSG veteran was all but unexpected considering that it was yet her second semester here then from MSU-IIT. Afnan’s administration was barely funded, but the SSG still pushed for their first few activities. After the struck of typhoon Sendong, they were able to solicit help from the establishments in Commercial Center and other instructors and bought can goods and sacks of rice for their relief operation in Iligan City. They also put up information drives for students who were willing to hand over their donation for the typhoon victims.

She added that they also had the enrolment watch (e-watch), pitching a help desk for enrolment assistance and built tents near the registrar to shade the students; clearing out that it was one of her councilor’s personal money that was used for the expenses.

The Palakasan, a sports festival, and a concert were also held last March 2012. The SSG was also active in the fights against tuition and other fees increase (TOFI) where they laid the matter to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Student Council Association of the Philippines (SCAP).

And that was all of it.

After the Palakasan, “Dun na nagkawatak-watak,” she said, adding that some of her councilors were no more active. Others were those whom she started to have squabbles with, and among all others of her used-to-be party mates, some even appealed for her impeachment.

“Ang pinakamahirap na nangyari sa akin, yung sumalo ng lahat… Ikaw pa rin yung sasalo ng kasalanan ng subordinates mo kasi ikaw yung Pres nila,” Afnan stressed.

But despite that, they were still able to draft the College Project Proposal which the Student Councils of

the colleges passed and the SSG to fund for these.

Among their proposals were roofed walk for the CBAA, KFCIAAS and CPA; comfort rooms for Annex; glass bulletin boards for CED; audio system for the CIT; Hall of Fame for the COE; student center for COF; among others, as requested by the college student councils.

But all these project proposals were scraped.

None was materialized.

Another thread to her term also rose. The SSG election, which was supposed to be pursued last August 2012, was decided by the Division of Student Affairs (DSA), in accordance with the provision of the SSG Constitution and By-Laws (CBL), setting the elections every August.

To defend their right to fully consume their term, the SSG passed a resolution to the DSA, quoting a provision in their CBL that they should have a term of one year.

Afnan said that they were not even able to touch the money for their proposed projects. They requested President Muslim that they will manually collect the SSG fees but they were refused to do so. “Saksi din naman lahat ng estudyante na diretcho sa Cashier (ang pera).”

She added that they were no more counting the personal money they consumed for the SSG to patch the fund they were supposed to be getting from the Admin.

“Ginawa lang namin ang best para makakuha ng fund sa admin through the DSA, pero mahirap.”

Like what most of the students were blind about, she poured out so much to the dying SSG that she barely could enroll and ended up with almost all INCs in a semester. And when her mother learned about it, she was even grounded for days.

“Actually nahihiya ako… nagka-crash yung selfesteem ko pag may gusto ako na hindi ko magawa… kino-comfort nalang ako ng mga college presidents.”

“Oo, inaamin ko, wala akong na-achieve. Natiming-an lang sa time ko na marami ang problema.

Hindi ko rin nakaya dahil hindi kami united,” Afnan said.

She even admitted that she never had a background on being a leader. “Kahit muse nga wala.” All she wanted at first was to fix the internal organization and apply here in the university the plausible leadership she experienced in MSU-IIT by the KASAMA… “Pero hindi nangyari.”

During the last semester of their term, they only had done simple assistance to the students, because while some of her subordinates were changing excuses about their own business and problems, Afnan, too, was becoming hopeless.

But even then, together with her members who remained true to her, they were able to bridge help especially to those who were victims of enforced registration for the ARMM elections who approached them. Afnan dialogued with the President and the latter contacted then the help of the 103rd Brigade headed by Col. Daniel Lucero.

Not even the Federation of Mindanao State University System Student Council (FEMSUSSCO) was able to do anything about helping Afnan with the problem in the organization.

Students see nothing of SSG. No tangible projects. No activities or any work, as they say. Some even consider the organization as nonexistent. But Afnan is continuing to fight for the SSG’s right in the FEMSUSSCO and to fight for the TOFI rollback.

She said that while students see her as nobody, “Na parang bata lang na nawawala sa kalye,” she added “Wala akong pakialam sa sasabihin nila, basta ipaglalaban ko yung gusto ko… kahit anong sabihin ng mga estudyante, tatahimik nalang ako.”

When asked about the money, Afnan said “Nakahalo ang pera ng SSG sa trust fund ng university,” adding that the President told her that the ‘trust fund’ will still be consumed for the students.

Ironically, she said that the street lights, their only approved project proposal, is still hanging at the Office of the President and is not yet still given the appropriate budget, even up to now.

She added that with all the failures they had in the organization, she still did not regret why she ran for candidacy. “Kahit hindi napapansin ng iba, kahit papaano, nakatulong din ako.”

“I admit na hindi ako competent na leader. Yung responsibility ng SSG, hindi ko na-fulfill dahil estudyante din ako.”

As a leader, it was her fault. But as a person, she only did all she can to keep the student government running.

She fought. She struggled.

And the fight is handed down to be continued by the new set of officers.

22 { DIGMAAN|mindanao varsitarian page.indd 22

2nd Semester

4/11/2013 8:51:10 AM

vol. 28 no. 2|PAG-IBIG }

AY 2012- 2013

By Andres G. Awing Jr.

They are not hopeless-romantics—nor are they hopeless.But they see life as a long wait and love a path to take.

Others may regard them absurd, out of style, and late. But they are just in a long, worthwhile wait. In them is the vision of an “I do” in the altar that they steadfastly hold. To be pure in front of their mate and in the eyes of God when that day finally comes. They are committed to True Love Waits.

“True love waits for me is waiting patiently for that time that I can celebrate the fullness of love in light of marriage,” said Rachel from CBAA. “It’s about being sexually abstinent and pure until I marry the man God has intended for me.”

“It is waiting patiently for the best person created just for [me to marry] while preserving purity and holiness,” said Yam from CHS. “[Isang] pagkakamali lang in marrying the wrong person will cause you to regret [it] for the rest of your life.”

“Piniliko’ng mag-TLW kasi love is not something to be played about. When a man and a womanfall in love with each other, it’s a serious thing,” said Rachel.

“Kasi yung original na plan ni Lord is for eros love to be the means of procreation. So the fullness of joy in love, for me, can only be achieved when I love according to His plan and will.”

“For me, it’s waiting for the right time before committing to a relationship. To be matured, especially spiritually, and to earnestly listen well to God in when to commit, to say yes; and to whom to say yes,” said Rebecca from CSSH. “Love is not a try-try game. It’s more than just finding someone to be with or lavish my affections to. More than following the heart, too. I will not compromise my heart, nor give it away,” she added.

“It encompasses the mystery of God-given love for lifetime partners. Love is beyond selfcontrol. Beyond sacrifices. Beyond patience,” shared Katrina, also from CBAA. “Para sa akin, personal commitment ko ito kay Lord. Isang paniniwalang darating ang tamang panahon nai bibigay Niya ang tamang babae para sa’kin,” said Marv of COE. “Romance is designed

by God through marriage.”

This commitment, as misconceived by many, is not only committing to no relationships yet, but also in committing to sexual purity in mind and body.

“Hindi lang [ito] sa [pagkakaroonng] walang relasyon. Pinag-uusapan din dito ang pagpapanatili sa sariling puridad,” said Marv, saying that being pure in mind is also commitment.

Yam said that, by God’s grace, he would strive not to entertain ideas of immorality, sexual impurity, covetousness, and lust. I want “to glorify the Lord in whatever capacity I have, abounding in love in all aspects,” he shared, as his devotion to God. But as teenagers, they also stumble and fall.

They’re tempted from time to time. Some give in.

Some stay steadfast. And for being strong, they give thanks to God. “I’ve never had a boyfriend ever. I committed with my friends in high school to not have one until the right time. But I must admit, I, some time, thought of swerving from my commitment, especially when a guy or two is around,” said Rebecca. “But whenever I felt like giving up on my pledge, I seek council. And I fix my eyes again to the promise I made to God and the promise He gave me: that good things come to those who wait. That He’s preparing the guy I’m destined to be with. I cannot betray that man now. I cannot destroy that vision.”

He’s been to a relationship before, said Yam. “It went good at first. Yet, as it end[ed], it le[d] to sin, hurt, and no forgiveness… fleshly satisfaction [lang] ang aim.”

Rachel has also been in a relationship—even while she was already committed to waiting. “It was a roller coaster ride… I broke up with him because I think we are not pure in our relationship, which I think is not how TLW works. Being a Christian, I strongly believe that relationships should please Him.” Marv has never been in a relationship yet too. “May mga pagkakataong natutukso ako. Pero grasya ng Panginoon, hindi naman natutuloy (na magkarelasyon). Sa tuwing napapasabak ako, naiisip ko kaagad [ang] commitment ko. Kaya ontrack parin ako hanggang ngayon.”

“I don’t put myself in situations where I

23

feel like I’d possibly compromise,” said Katrina.

“Instead, I surround myself with people where I could give and receive love that fits [with] my season right now.”

So when? What is true love then?

“I don’t know. Marami ako’ng plano kung kailan, at kung kailan magse-settle down, but I really don’t know when, what, how, at who. But I’m sure of one thing: God will tell me. And I have peace of mind with that,” said Rebecca. “I just have to make sure that my deceitful heart won’t talk louder that my mind or than God’s voice. I know nahigit pa ang tunay na pag-ibig sa mga hormones or sa crush-crush lang.It’s love destined, designed, and blessed by God.” “I want my first kiss to be in the altar,” she expressed.

“Para sa akin, he is the one if I love him despite and in spite of. Pero di pwedeng ikaw lang. Dapat siya rin feels the same way for you,” said Rachel.

“Para sakin, pag dumating na siya, kayong dalawa will both know. Yun ngalang, it doesn’t end there.

Pag nakita mo na siya, you have to make the love grow.”

“Again, he’s the one not because of all the good things you are attracted about him. It’s about seeing flaws, yet you accept and love him as he is.

And more importantly, your greatest hope is the future with him.”

“It’s true love if love dwells in both parties and chooses to stay forever. Whatever the circumstances may be,” said Katrina.

“Una, pinili ko’ng mag-TLW dahil naniniwala ako sa mga plano ng Panginoon. Walang rason para magmadali,” said Marv. “Estudyante pa ako at marami pang dapat asikasuhin. Dagdag oras, responsibilidad at atensyon lang yun (mga relasyon). Not to mention, dagdag gastos din yunsa part ko,” he chuckles. “Ang plano kotalaga ay makasunod saplanong Panginoon.”

“If you know the exact definition of true love, there’s no way you would entertain the wrong one,” said Yam. In the future, I want a “Godly family serving the Lord.”

And of course, “I’m praying while I’m waiting,” said Katrina.

photo by Jayson Leigh Segovia

Worth the Wait page.indd 23

4/11/2013 8:51:16 AM

With undies on

{ sighed view } Mike Ariel P. Plaza @angtweetnimike

I am writing this column because I read it on papers.

A 23-year old physiotherapy student is dead, 12 days after she was gang-raped in a school bus traveling the main roads of New Delhi in India. She was raped for more than an hour, metal rod after penises, was subjected to acts of sadism, and was thrown out of the bus with a male friend who was also beaten by the hooligans. There were six attackers, one was a juvenile. The woman is dead after severe internal complications. The doctors had to remove her bowels in an effort to save her life. The rape became murder.

The word is brutality. That rape in India has become a culture sparked protests demanding their government to stop treating rapists with impunity. That ‘only 600’ rape cases per year gets to the country’s capital, even with the thousands estimated to occur annually, has strengthened the call to provide security for women. That the incident has become a reflection, a microcosm of the world’s way of treating women is true.

India is not Philippines but India is not the only place.

Since I was younger, the news, print or broadcast, would always provide spaces and time slots to reports of rape and acts of lasciviousness. The victim is always a girl or a woman, face blurred, name altered, talking about dark rooms and vindictive touches and foreign man hard tools. The victim is always weak, not able to fight, even after the ‘asshole,’ which usually is a father or a drunkard neighborhood, would flit with his own pleasure again and again.

There are even times when the victim would not make it to the news because her body already lies in the morgue, surrounded by angered and grieving mothers and sisters. If not found bloating in rivers or dumped in lawns, the victim is found chopped in a crimson-drenched sack or sprawled in septic tanks. I suspect people has grown sick of hearing these news almost served to their dinner plates. Because rape has almost become a pastime.

I remember how Filipinos had witnessed the televised

lethal poisoning of a house painter who raped his daughter on 1999. I remember how many have thought it would eradicate rape in the country. But it did not. After that, rapists had only become too certain of killing their victims because the dead would tell no tales. Thus, scrapping the death penalty.

Rape happens not because most men cannot control their urges. It has never even become the measure for manhood.

The thought that rape victims are the ones who should be blamed because they in a way also flirt with their attackers is purely illogical. Rape happens simply because the world has made the culture of treating women in low regard. Just because our holy books state she was ripped from his ribs doesn’t mean he already could rip her future and life apart. The world has revolved in a way it never has done before. And the women had already proven themselves. They have rose into power and stood to be equally capable with men. The women deserve to be given protection and granted their choice, not only in India.

I write this column because I do not find pleasure in reading or hearing about news on women losing their virginity to men of castrated conscience. A friend’s friend is pregnant, carrying in her womb her youngest brother. Four months from now, she’s going to hear him calling her mother ‘Lola’ and her father ‘Papa.’ A freshman was raped inside her cottage in this campus on 2008. She ran away after the incident, the suspects are free outside the jail. I write this column because every tday a woman gets raped, belittled and not granted freedom and ownership to her own body. Futures that were built are ruined in an instant. Women are exploited and trafficked. A wife is harassed even by her own husband.

I write this column because a 23-year old Indian student was raped and died in a Singapore hospital where she was flown in a desperate measure to save her life. And because rape has gotten out of hand of India and of the Philippines and of the world. I write this column because I am not a woman and I don’t have to be just to write this one.

Shotgun questions The Total Gun Ban was brought up again after a stray bullet took the life of the innocent Stephanie Nicole Ella on a supposed happy celebration of the New Year. Their house was surrounded by 240 guns, according to reports.

How many are licensed there?

Three days later, Ronald Bae had a ‘shooting spree’ in Kawit, Cavite, killing eight innocent persons.

Here in the campus, there had been almost three shooting incidents between January and February alone.

Are shooting incidents something new around here?

Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. backed up the call for a ‘gunless society’, saying that “the government should immediately take a bold move and put an end to senseless killings.” Aside from the Election Gun Ban that has already taken effect on January 12, lawmakers are calling for no guns all year ‘round, allowing only the authorities and security personnels to carry some.

But how about the guns on the loose?

Gun owners are required to take psychological and other tests before they are given their licenses. Valenzuela Representative Magtanggol Gunigundo and President Benigno Aquino III said that implementing stricter gun control and strict execution of existing laws in gun handling are the ones to be backed upon and not another new law.

“We cannot just disarm innocent civilians. We should go after illegal gun owners,” said Rep. Gunigundo, adding that the citizens have their right to self-protection as a democratic country, therefore, should be allowed to own a gun.

With the Total Gun Ban, the government is going to

disallow even legal gun ownership. But can the government confiscate or even hamper the production or ownership of illegal, unlicensed guns?

How about the black market?

As what Pres. Aquino said in one of his speeches, “Is the problem about the licensed gun owners—or the lawless elements?”

Even here in Marawi City, suppressing the said element is still a rough road to take.

Pro-gun ban advocates’ argument on imposing the policy is to prevent senseless killings. US reports also say that guns have higher chances of killing people than other common weapons. Will it stop crimes to happen?

Picture this: there’s no gun to use, but stabbing someone with a kitchen knife or even a screwdriver is as easy.

There’s not much difference in shooting or stabbing someone, netizens say over the issue in an online forum. It’s still infliction. It’s still murder.

There are also abusive authorities in high positions who use the power of the police and military for their personal interests like in land grabbing and depriving farmers of their rights to their lands. Some human rights defenders were also framed up during election gun ban periods—illegal guns were planted on their bags and belongings just so to have a reason to criminalize them. They were on for a peaceful means of fighting, yet what are the hoodlums doing to them?

Now answer this: Is there really a need to exercise existing laws on safe gun handling—than drafting another unnecessary law?

24 COLUMNS|mindanao varsitarian page.indd 24

{ doubleedged } Riz P. Sunio @rpsunio

2nd Semester

4/11/2013 8:51:19 AM

Election blues

{ diagnosis } Jesslei Mae Piquero

Failure. That’s what these two consecutive electoral years had been for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Why? How? Everyone knows. Almost everyone in this region takes part in it, from people as young as 14 years old to as old as posthumous beings.

“The Cheating Capital,” that’s the new tagged name for the Region.

When the mist of elections started to fill the air, signage, tarpaulins, commercial ads, and even medals and awards became stained with the names of aspiring candidates, even without having filed their Certificate of Candidacy yet. This was what we often started calling EPAL. Oligarchs. These are people, or should we say clans wherein the saying “It goes in the blood” is often evidenced.

Families of politicians continue to reign using the political existence of their sons/ daughters, grandkids, relatives and even to the 10th or more generation there is that exists.

Traditional Politicians, a.k.a. TRAPOs, that is what they are.

Every politician have their own tactics of making their motives known to the people who they dream to be their cards during the elections. So as early as they think is fit, politicians of large pockets started to appear on televisions, graduations or seminars and even start raiding the print media sending their condolences, congratulations and even wishes of good will, as unethical as we think this may be.

The Anti-EPAL law who once threatened to block these acts had not succeeded to come into life. As what the COMELEC rationalized, these politicians are free to voice

out their political aspirations since they have not yet filed their COCs and election period still has not yet started.

Their acts are not covered with the scope of electoral rules.

This is still considered their right they mischievously found to extend. Nothing can be done.

TRAPOs on the other hand, who constantly irritate the eyes and ears of the mass are still on the run. These people, who populate most government positions, still continue to network their power all over the region and can even be nakedly observed nationally. However, this right of theirs can become the threat of the society if badly managed .

All we can do is be responsible in choosing the deserving person to vote and not merely go with the flow as to who gave the larger sum of money for their ballots. Everyone is widely aware of their extent to honest and effective public service.

Now that the ARMM and national elections is starting to fill the air, we people, as intellectual beings should not be suffocated with all the pollution that comes with it. Let’s open our eyes and mind to be conscientiously rational to whom names we write in our paper. Let’s remember that we will never and truly have the right to protest and voice all our cries for impeachment or of any government anomalies if we as the citizens of this country do not responsibly exercise our right to suffrage. We know for ourselves that no matter how we reform the electoral process, if the people themselves becomes a part of the dirt of society, everything becomes a failure.

Where art thou?

This is a story of invisibility. You are there but you are unseen. You exist but then you do not. People starts to ask, “Where are you?”

The year started with a clash of promises meant to be broken. Political parties and independents fought through glitz and glamour in getting the coveted student position.

More than fifty battled for the seats. And so the winners were declared in front of sleepyheads at 1 in the morning.

A lad not very well known in the campus but has a verbal wit was selected. They are to sit as soon as possible and to materialize their promise as early as possible.

Of all the questions by concerned students flying in mid-air, a student was sitting with his back resting flat on one of the antique armed chairs at the annex. With all the vandals on the wall at his right poking him to notice them, he was making his world exclusive for him and his deafening earphones locked in his ear with eyes shut from what was going on. He’s got random thoughts and questions unanswered in his head but he chose to shrug it away from his consciousness and pretended not to care.

He is unseen.

Night came peacefully, or so everybody thought.

A student was silently eating her stress out in a newlyrevived bakeshop in the campus. Suddenly a gunshot was heard, followed by another. It was so audible that she felt like running when she saw the balut vendor lying dead on the street few meters away from where she was. A rush of fear came to her when blood bathed the innocent victim’s body. Then the light turned out. The killer got every chance to escape. The witnesses ran for their life leaving justice behind. He was already dead and what happened was sure to tap the headline the next day. And she was left where she was standing, struck and shocked. Was she supposed to be asking, “Where is justice?” No, justice is elusive. Here, it is invisible.

He heard the news - even received the group messages sent by his fellow students. He was dumbfounded, but

AY 2012- 2013

page.indd 25

recovered few minutes later. The balut vendor was a close friend. He was a suki who also used to share his sentiments to him about his boring day. The vendor would then give him discount for the story told. And now he’s gone, he said. He never paid any double thought for he knew that nothing will happen. The balut vendor’s death will soon disappear from the student’s mind and the spot where he was sitting and vending will remain the unmoved sole witness of his unjustifiable death. The student struck his earphone again, and listened. Only listened, and did nothing.

The ‘big brother’ was in his office. He heard the news, but like the student, he did nothing. He was used to hearing killings and injustices in this place where he was raised. He was hoping that students will also be habituated, but he forgot to think that a student was afraid to get out alone of her cottage even at broad daylight because she was afraid.

He forgot to pay attention to the students’ clamor because he expects everyone to get accustomed, and to learn to be helpless.

Now the real deal is passivity. Because students’ condition themselves that they can always complain without doing anything; because some of the student leaders don’t act their talk; because money and greed are equated to life; because many chose to sleep in their cottages and hide from the foggy reality that is slowly killing the already rusty institution; because some of us think that everything is fine and somebody else will take care of it, and that somebody is God-knows-who. Because we only listen. Because we only talk. Because we only react. But we never act. We never do a thing, and we never care.

Let this be an answer to your question, “Why is change impossible?” because we are unseen. We are nowhere to be found. We are invisible.

Now, where are you?

{ sweet irony } Emelyn M. Manlangit

vol. 28 no. 2|COLUMNS

25 4/11/2013 8:51:22 AM

Beat the deadline

{ thoughts & blurbs } Mohamad Abdulfarid M. Delna @mafdelna

To recap, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro is not yet the final peace agreement. Annexes that are to be discussed yet will form part of the agreement and together they will be consolidated to form the Comprehensive Peace Pact.

These annexes, in reality, are substantiations which boils down the general points contained in the Framework Agreement, some of which are issues on power-sharing, wealthsharing and normalization. Right after the historical signing October last year, the following big test to the panels is the completion of the Annexes. As announced beforehand and as anticipated by many, these annexes should have been completed and presented before changing the calendar to 2013.

However, due to many contentious issues on wealth-sharing and power-sharing, accordingly, the working groups couldn’t finish it before 2012 ends. Meaning to say, at the present-day the panels are still on the process of addressing the question marks posed towards the Framework Agreement. By common sense then, any delay will inevitably make significant variations in the timetable of projected events, not unless they will fast track working on that part. That question is, would that be ok and the cases of further extensions?

I am not thinking twice to give a caps locked NO in this regard. I’m afraid that further delays would frustrate every enthusiasts of the agreement, to note that many were teary-eyed during the day it was signed thinking it to end the decades-long of conflict and be the doorway for lasting peace and opportunities.

To note also that many of the people of Mindanao (as I’ve seen when I went back home to my hometown Maguindanao for December break) are very compassionate and supportive as manifested by the parading streamers along the road bearing their support that says “We support the Framework Agreement.”

And to note also that campaign drives and forums are already iniated to bring the good news as far as the remote areas.

Consequently if delays will be made further and worse

extending the deadline, I’m afraid that those streamers will turned into a hanged rag on the streets by time, and those tears of joy would turn out into tears of boredom from waiting. At this instant stop me from stepping the slippery slope to guess the eyebrow-meeting climaxes from there.

So as long as the impartiality is concerned it shall be observed that a deadline is a deadline. Also, by nature, agreements are basically formulated with the consent of parties involved. Thus with regards to this deadline, doubtful minds must be aware that the date is reasonable already, the fact both the government and the MILF are in accord with it as an output of their series of talks. So the question whether to rush or delay the establishment of the entity shouldn’t be brought to the table.

For no matter what side we sympathize, raising such would just negate our support for our proponents who are in the lead and to the framework agreement itself.

The point here is deadline has already been agreed and sticking to it will provide the fair play. Looking into it deeply, it is one way also of conveying our aspirations for lasting peace in the South. After all, after being tagged from good names for decades, the Mindanaons, as the main characters here, are that passionate to live again in atmosphere of serenity and full of opportunities like any other setting.

And in my part as a Moro and future constituent of the entity, I am looking forward that efficiency will be ensured also and not just simply complying with the deadline. Simply because I am more concerned on acquiring these opportunities that wait, God-willing, than just merely writing a new word on my address.

So take this as another sentiment from a Moro, this time a sentiment attached with optimism. With respect to the framework agreement, when the deadline will be beaten, it would be as well the beginning for Mindanaons to see doves in the air once again.

COCOoned lies In a status quo where land space and resources become limited because of overpopulation; where prices are increasing every now and then; where graft and corruption persist like parasites; where peace isn’t yet a reality; where calamities are frequent; and where poverty has become the norm of the society; one would surely get tempted to deceive others, while others would not care and would remain passive to the tendencies of being deceived.

When the news on massive money investment scams particularly those that involved Aman Futures Group Phil’s Inc. and “Coco”, was spilled all over the country, it made me think that indeed, these kinds of deceptions had existed because the present situation of the Philippines triggered them to exist. If the country had only the abundance of wealth and resources, with the needs of the people within reach, I doubt if there is still someone who wants to get involved on promising a “fifty-to-ahudred-percent-interest-in-just-two-months”. Because of too much poverty in the Philippines (even if it had experienced a 7.1 economic growth during the 3rd quarter last year), more and more forms of money scams would continue to exist. These might have activated Coco and the Aman Futures to do the scam.

But no, I am not cleansing the names of the two by making them appear as victims of the country’s economic status and that they, too, are innocent, like the people they had victimized.

Much that I am not erasing the blames they deserved. In fact, “Coco” must be condemned for duping PhP 7B while Manuel Amalilio of Aman Futures, who is alleged to be hiding somewhere in Malaysia, must be sentenced for collecting PhP 12B. Imagine yourself investing your earnings intended for the education of your children, or investing your hardly-fought retirement fee, and later you would know that these two people

ran your money. Won’t you curse them? Of course, you will.

What I am trying to point is this: continuous blaming of the two wouldn’t help in the long run. The authority had heard the victims’ sentiments and it’s enough because the justice’s tentacles are now working to give justice.

Blaming the present situation might help. This would pressure the government to put more efforts in eliminating scams in the country. In fact, if the government’s drive to minimize these kinds of crimes were effective, then the number of the victims wouldn’t have reached 15,000 investors and more. Maybe, what had happened calls for a change of “tactics” done by the executive, legislative, and judiciary branch of the government.

The victims, on the other hand, should also receive part of the blame. Yes, I acknowledge the idea that because of the status quo, most people would dare to do what they coined as “kapit sa patalim”. But one should be critical enough to think that something is wrong with the “fifty-to-a-hundred-percentinterest-in-just-two-months”. Where on earth would these culprits look for the 50-100 percent interest in just a short period of time? In addition, the victims should have checked the license of the two. Undeniably, the victims had been careless.

I sympathized for the lost moneys. I am hurt with the idea that these moneys would have been useful if only the victims had been cautious. Much that I cursed the idea that once again, a promise had been carefully built for the intention of breaking it.

But we have to accept the reality. The best thing that we can do now is to learn the virtue of being alert and observant. After all, despite the negativities that the incident had done, still, the investment scams had left something worth pondering for – lessons.

26 COLUMNS|mindanao varsitarian page.indd 26

{ mark my word } Mark C. Maylan @markhee17

2nd Semester

4/11/2013 8:51:25 AM

The price ain’t right

{A slip of a pen } Mary Louise A. Omelio @marymelouise

Kristel Tejada was only 16 and freshman when she killed herself due to her inability to pay tuition fees. And that was inexplicably tragic. She was taking Behavioral Sciences in University of the Philippines-Manila, the country’s national university, and a state-run higher education institution, ironically.

Everybody knows that that tragedy could have not happened – if only she was strong enough not to easily give up; if only her adviser was not ‘neglectful’; if only she was granted with another loan. But no. That is, if only there were enough state subsidies.

It was not her fault that she made that drastic action.

Neither her father’s for being a taxi driver, nor is her mother’s for being just a plain housewife. It is because of the system.

There were criticisms on the implementation of the ‘No Late Payment’ policy which as the officials of UP Manila would say it, is consistent with Article 330 of the University Code which states that “no person who has not duly matriculated shall be admitted to classes.”

UP Manila Chancellor Manuel Agulto said that the policy is not to repress the students but rather to “put order, uniformity, and equality among all UP students.”

However, considering their implementation of the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), which supposedly gives varying discounts in tuition depending on the economic status of the students, they knew that not all of their students are well-heeled.

They are accepting the reality that some of their students could barely shoulder the tuition expenses and that appeals from them to pay the bills later are an inevitable fact. But the policy was not lifted not until Kristel took her own life.

But that is not the point. Should there have been enough budget from the national government allotted for education, state universities would have not implemented policies that are actually repressive to students. Education would have been real accessible for every person with keen interest in their studies, like Kristel, and that education would have indeed become a right.

While activists nationwide voiced out their anger and disappointment over the circumstances, students from here might as well have thought that it only happened in UP Manila and no similar tragedy would ever occur here in the University.

But nobody can ever tell.

With the recent education budget cuts, the tuition here in Mindanao State University surged form Php85 per semester to Php50 per unit. Students were left only with two options – to take the risk, even if it would mean emptying the pockets and wallets of their parents, or just pack their things up and leave. That is for the first try of the tuition hike.

As for a couple of years from now, what would happen?

With the ladderized tuition increase, and probably additional cuts on the budget for education, we do not know how many more will drop out from school, or how many more will be left with last straw but to kill themselves because leaving the university would mean shattered dreams. We do not know how many more Kristels there would be.

This is not a matter concerning the UP system alone.

This is a matter that the national government has to focus on because the untimely demise of Kristel meant only one thing – poverty. And see what President Aquino did; last March 25, he refused to sign a bill which aims to protect the rights of the poor by giving them equal access to basic rights and government services because he pointed that several provisions of the proposed law were ‘unrealistic.’

With the 2013 national budget of Php2.006 trillion, there is no such thing as unrealistic if the funds will go to where it should appropriately be. What’s unrealistic here is the additional allocation for the security forces while having the cuts on the education budget.

With this, it would not be any more surprising if dropouts will outnumber the enrollees and if more unfortunate cases of suicide will be reported.

Even after Kristel’s suicide incident broke out, reported in the Yahoo News that 95 state universities and colleges in Metro Manila alone will have their tuition increased. For all we know, SUCs will not have tuition hike only if they are allotted with enough subsidies that would cater the needs of the institutions and of the students.

If only. But there is none.

That left Kristel left with no option.

As many have believed, she was killed by the system, and more students will possibly be. She dreamt, but was denied of it. And on that fateful Friday morning, the price of education for Kristel was death.

So amalayer?

Her name is Paula Jamie Salvosa.

She appeared in a TV interview. Even with the dim light, I knew her nose was swelling. She said she hid in her room – afraid of everyone; ergo she broke the silence. There she was, airing her side of the story. She said she was bullied. She said they were wrong. She said they have misjudged her. She said she was a “victim.”

She is famously known as the ‘Amalayer girl’ on a video that went viral in Facebook and had reached to more than 68,000 shares and 17,000 comments in just a few days. It was even aired in various TV stations. Numerous parodies of the video were seen afterwards. She said it had made a great impact on every aspect of her life and that “it had taken a toll on her health.” She said her life had never been the same again because it had undergone a drastic change. The memory of it is undying. The video will be in the internet forever.

People might stop commenting about that video, the media might stop having headlines about her, but she would always be the “Amalayer” girl. The people would always see her as the girl who berated a lady guard. It will never change.

She will not get her usual life back the way it was before.

What we saw on that video is not even half of what kind of person she really is. People have then judged her, called her with different names.

Gregory Paulo Llamoso, the person who uploaded the

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video said he have “justifiable” motives for his actions. But what happened? Did it make things any better? No. It made things worse. He did not think of the possible repercussions of his deed. Salvosa have rights and he might have at least considered that. He was a bully to the cyber world.

There is no liberty in hurting other people. Everyone has rights but it should never be used to humiliate, defame or embarrass others. It should never be used to step on other people’s rights. Llamoso might have at least settled it privately.

There is no decency in his act, let alone heroism.

It was unfair. I pity her. The world became her enemy.

And it has never been tantamount to what we saw she did on that video. True, she might have overreacted. Her reaction might have been wrong. But, we all commit mistakes. And Llamoso only “corrected” that mistake with another one.

They said that our world have made its greatest shift.

The internet, after founded in the late 1970s has created a new world where all is made and done through a click. Gone are the times of snail mails, telegrams and hand-written, perfumed love letters. Now there’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social networking sites. It changed the way we live.

It changed the way we say ‘hello.’ Smiles were replaced by colons and parentheses. Lightning-fast, a mail is sent, a video is uploaded, a gossip is disseminated, a comment is posted, a person is bullied.

{ man in a manhole } Giron Paul D. del Rosario

vol. 28 no. 2|COLUMNS

27 4/11/2013 8:51:28 AM

Tingog

Tingog is a column in the Mi ndanao Varsitarian where students can share their love stories, heartaches and appy endings. Be inspired to write and love. Send your contributions to mindanaovarsitarian@gmail.com.

It is a mystery how we fall in love. It is a mystery when it comes. Can love grow in an impossible way? Is love possible when two persons hadn’t meet even once? Well, for me it’s possible.

As like any other young modern girls these days, I am also engrossed in social networking sites especially Facebook.What makes Facebook cool for me is the opportunity to update my status and uploading pictures. And, mind you, that’s how I met him.

I thought it wasn’t really serious matter because it’s just normal to any guys to court gals when they are attracted to their pictures. That’s why when he asked if he could court me, I gave a YES easily for the reason that we don’t know each other and the fact that he can’t see me personally. The courting lasted only for a month and I’ll tell you, he has been so serious. He had been so good to me though we did not see each other in person. Who would say that the feeling “kilig” would only be felt to a person who’s nearby at you?

I fell inlove with a man despite of: 1. the distance (he’s in Manila) 2. the fact that we haven’t met; and 3. I was already in a relationship.

Yes, that’s true. You may call me a fool because I even broke up with my boyfriend just for this guy. I, myself couldn’t believe it either. But I really can’t deny the fact that I was deeply in love to someone I haven’t seen yet. Our relationship just revolved in texting, calling, sending MMS, and chatting. I never complained of that kind of set-up, neither him. I really did feel the intense of love that even the past nights I couldn’t sleep just thinking of him, that I couldn’t control the rapid heartbeats.

However, the relationship lasted only for a year and a half and still we haven’t met yet. I was really devastated when we broke up since he found someone who’s going to be in his side, in person, unlike me. What made me more hopeless was the feeling when I have to give up because there is someone who will fill the responsibilities of being a girlfriend that I can’t give; that I have to give up despite the fact that we’ve been first, more than his latest but I couldn’t fight for him because I don’t have the right; that I have to give up because I just feel that he’s also willing to give up on me though he didn’t said it directly.

After all I can’t push myself to get angry to him for what he had done, because love they say is also letting go. I let go of him because I want him to be happy, happy with a girl who can be with him always physically and emotionally.

Sometimes I find it hard to share the pain that I feel inside with my friends because I think they will laugh at me and will say “you’re over reacting, it’s just in Facebook”. Well, for me it is not, because I really love him and he also did love me in a way that I haven’t feel in my past relationships.

I know in myself that it’s unusual to fall in love with a person who’s not on our side. But remember that as a person, we don’t choose love either. It’s love that chooses us. We can love a person in unexpected place, time and circumstances. It just happens and all we can do is to accept it for all its situations and mystery, when love comes into our lives. Whatever may happen we shouldn’t regret that we tried to love because after all it’s the reason why we live in this world: that is to love and be loved. Pain is just a part of it, since when we feel pain that’s when we know that we did love.

Tweety, 18, says love is more than likes and posts to be just shared.

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Illustration by Ivan Ray Aranas

Love online

Both wearing skirts They call us deviant.

I guess there’s nothing I could do about it, and there’s nothing also that they could do about this little love story we have. But hell, I am still unsurprisingly human inspite of my being alien among other girls, I do long to be accepted and be loved, maybe not by the opposite sex but by girls, by Leigh.

Miley is not my real name, but I am here to tell you the story of my identity trying to fit itself to the world of love.

It’s been a year since Leigh and I been dancing with the tune of this forbidden love. It’s been a year that I’ve been listening and deafening myself from their i-told-you-so’s and you-shouldn’t-have’s. All these things are keeping us apart. I love her, more than a real guy can. I love her and she loves me too.

She was my classmate back in my first year days. It was first semester in our P.E. 1 class when I stared at her and she caught me. I admit! I felt embarrassed to her by that moment. Well, I just can’t stop looking at her angelic face.

Among my classmates she was the only one I’ve never talked with. I don’t know why, but she seems like she will not enjoy my company. But at last with the help of my cousin’s super powers, she learned to at least have a laugh with me through text.

That start brought us to an intimate friendship swiftly.

We talk and bond almost every day and we sleep together in the same bed or space in every overnight we have in our group activities. This closeness we had at first was just nothing but friendship. I mean I never realized it then how deep my feelings were for her.

Not until when summer fell like the autumn leaves. I uttered the words in my lips these feelings that I longed to tell her. “I’m falling for you.” She smiled and I hear silence. But it was all worth it and not that long, I heard those soft words I’ve been waiting to hear, “I think, I love you too.”

Months and months had rolled and bunch of people had rolled in too in our relationship. Her sister is against us, her brother, her roommate, and most of all her parents. It was all because of the pictures that didn’t caress alone in her mind but she carelessly put under her pillow. Not really all of them were able to grab the chance to see it, ‘twas her sister alone.

It was really supposed to be a secret, but we’re not afraid to be bold. We’re ready for whatever waves to come. This love really helped me a lot to be strong and to build myself up. In 1 year, it opened me heaps of achievements. In this love, I became a Dean’s Lister, in this love I became generous, I learned to sacrifice and most of all I was able to know what love truly is.

Even though the risk of our relationship is getting higher, this love will take a parachute. Even though many are trying to drag us apart, this love will take a strong hold. Even though the deviance in the eyes of the many kills, this love will take immortality to last.

Miley, 20, says love does not conform to the world’s definition of loving.

2nd Semester

4/11/2013 8:51:29 AM

{ My monster teachers ang unang talak ni MINDA VENDETTA

“Your late. Go out!” hindi ko na halos mahabol ang aking hininga habang papasok ng classroom at dire-diretso sa aking upuan nang marinig ang mga katagang iyon. “Sino na naman kaya ang sinisigawan ng babaeng ‘to? Hindi naman siguro ako”, nasabi ko sa aking sarili habang inaayos ang aking upo. “You lady in black jacket, don’t you hear me?! I said go out!!”Hala ang ilong ni ma’am kung makausok, wagas! Teka, bakit siya nakatingin sa’kin? Even my classmates gave me that ano-pa-anghinihintay-mo look. Anong… “I SAID GET OUT?!”

“Ay butiki! Yes ma’am!” agad-agad kong hinablot ang aking bag at halos madapa na ako sa pagmamadaling makalabas sa impiyernong silid na yun. Grrr, bakit pa ba nag-reincarnate ang mga katulad niyang dragon?

...................................................................

Nakatagpo ka na ba ng ganyang klaseng guro? Yun bang hindi mo alam kung nag memenopause ba siya o nabadbadtrip lang talaga dahil sa kanyang kasungitan? Yung hindi mo alam kung galit lang ba siya o talagang ganoon na ang ugali niya na akala mo’y kakainin ka ng hilaw kahit di pa nasasawsaw sa suka? O yung teacher na akala mo di makabasag-paso sa tahimik, na akala mo may sore eyes kapag tinititigan ka tapos grade card mo na lang ang sasagot para sa kanya sa isang wapak na wapak at tumatawang singko?

Maraming ganyan dito sa MSU. Iba-iba nga lang ang genre nila sa pagiging nakakatakot na nilalang pero yun na nga nakakatakot pa rin. Wag mo na lang sanang makasalubong sa daan. Kung di mo pa sila nakikilala, meet them and shake hands with ‘em as I take you to the world of fire-breathing monster teachers.

My Ever Business-Minded Monster Teacher Mabait naman si Sir. Nag-iinitiative nga siyang gumawa ng pop sheet para sa kanyang mga mahal na estudyante. Pero nga dahil mahal na mahal na mahal na ang gramo ng intiative at pagkukusang-loob ngayon, ibinibenta niya angkanyang 10-page black printed pop sheet sa tumataginting na isandaang milyong piso, este isandaang piso. Eto naming si MSUJuan na kahit mahirap ay nagsusumikap para makaahon sa kahirapan, kahit labag sa loob at kahit nakataya pa ang kanyang pangtatlong araw na allowance, eh babayaran nalang si sir para lang makapasa at makapagtapos. Tsk. Ikaw na sir. Ikaw na talaga ang negosyante.

My “FAITHful” Monster teacher Eto si Sir, sa halip na magdiscuss tungkol sa mga away-away ng nakaraan, eh parang pinagsasalpok pa ata ang mga relehiyon ng mga estudyante niya. Teka, MSU is for “integration amidst diversion” daw di ba? Ilang beses niya ring ikinwento sa klase ang lahat na atang kasamaan at katatawanan sa paniniwala

AY 2012- 2013

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ng iilang estudyante niya. Ayon sa University Rule Book, kinakailangang irespeto ng mga propesor ang anumang relehiyong sinusunod ng kanyang mga mag-aaral at hindi nila maaaring ipilit sa mga ito ang maniwala sa mga ganito at ganyan. Tama na po ang panlilibak niyo sa kung ano man ang ‘tamang daan’.Bow.

My Daig-Pa-Ang-CashierManingil Monster Teacher Ang subject na ‘to ay may seminar kadasemester. Pitong kilong 7-tonner na rin ang mabibili ko sa laki ng registration fee para sa half-day seminar na ito. Pero no’ng namigay na sila ng snacks na parang may ginto ata na naka-sprinkle, kailangan pa raw ipangalandakan, este, ipakita ang resibo na nagbayad ka nga. Nagkataon naming ito si Neneng ay na-Pablo ang resibo.Nagbayad man siya ng malaki, ni isang subo, kahit man lang “bread crumbs” ay wala siyang nakuha. Ang mga estudyante naman na di agad nakapag bayad ng registration fee ay magbabayad pa rin ng 250php kahit wala silang nakuhang snack.

May iilang estudyante rin na nagbayad ng registration fee on time pero na-INC sa subject na ‘to. Ang rason? Di daw sila nagbayad.

Na-Pablo din ata ang listahan nila ng mga nagbayad. No choice, nagbayad na naman sila. Sumunod na semester, pulang INC pa rin ang nakita nila sa AKAN nila. Bumisita ulit sila sa departamento at muli na naming sinabi sa kanila: Di daw sila nagbayad, sabay walkout ng chairperson dahil napakabastos daw ng mga students (Di naman. Nagalit lang konti, bastos na agad? Di ba pwedeng ‘for emphasis’ lang muna?)At muli, no choice na naman. Kaysa mag-lapse ang INC, nagbayad nalang sila ulit ng isa pang 250php. Si sir kung makademand, akala mo anak tayo ni Lucio Tan! Wala naming ganyanan!

My Invisible Monster Teacher First meeting: Absent. Second meeting: Absent. Third meeting: Absent. Ah, baka nagkasakit lang o nagkaLBM. Fourth meeting: Absent. Na naman?! Grabe naman baka nadehydrate na si Sir. Di man lang nagpasabi o nagtext (Di lang siguro mahilig magGM. XD) Aba’y pwede na siyangiDROP ah! Kung di ka lang siniswelduhan, aba’y kiber! Ang saya-saya sana! Kaso, nakalista ka na sa payroll, at 50 pesos per unit na, every peso and every second count, kaya sir, magpakabait ka na!

My “Negotiable Monster Teacher Ok lang naman si sir. Tinuturo niya ang lahat ng kailangan mong malaman tungkol sa lahat ng parte ng iyong katawan, di mo nga lang halos maintindihan. Kaya kung di ka talaga

nakikinig, laughing singko ang naghihintay sayo.

Pero oks lang yan kaibigan, ang laughing singko na yan ay magagawan pa ng paraan.

Lapitan mo lang si sir, makipag-usap ka, bilhin mo ang gusto niyang ipabili sayo, gawin mo ang gusto niyang ipabili sayo, at tentenenen! May 3.0 higher kana! O saan ka pa makakakita ng ganyang klaseng nilalang? Dito lang yan!

Buhay estudyante nga naman, napakakulay.

Idagdag pa ang mga extraterrestrial at out-ofthis-world na tagapagturo. Wapak! Sana lang ha, ang mga taong tinutukoy dito, ay alam na ang mga pagkakamali nila, at pag nagkataong mabasa nila ito, eh, maisip nila ang kanilang mga sarili at masabi nilang, “Uy! Ako yun, ah! Makapagbago na nga.” Ok lang sana kung ganyan sila, kung sarili lang nila ang giniganyan nila. Eh kaso, mga estudyante ang apektado. Di ba nga ang mga estudyante ang dahilan kung bakit nakakapagtrabaho sila, at ang mga estudyanteng ito ang nagpapatakbo ng institusyong ito? Sila man ay nakakaangat at nirerespeto, pero di nun ibig sabihin na pwede na silang umapak ng pagkatao. Guro sila at nagtuturo ng kagandahang asal, hindi yung kung anu-anong katarantaduhan ang pinaggagagawa nila. Alam nila ang tama at mali, alam nila ang dapat gawin at hindi.

Gamitin sana nila ang kanilang natutunan.

So yun na. kilala nyo na ang modern version ng mga halimaw. Wag lang tayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Baka madapa sila at makapag-isip-isip. Gudluck na lang. Pano bayan ma’am, sir, see you tomorrow morning and God bless us all.

vol. 28 no. 2 | MINDA VENDETTA

29 4/11/2013 8:51:31 AM

Media and Politics Media is for the people, for the widest dissemination of factual information, for the common good.

Not for politics.

But even in the entertainment media, the politicians are penetrating; making it for the rich, popular, and powerful. Their faces flashed on frontpages and headlines and their stories printed and showed in the breaking news and MMK episodes.

The media is used for their upperhand.

And it has lost its original mandate.

The mainstream media has the largest and widest coverage in print, and broadcast. In its ability to transmit all over the country, it can effectively mold a person’s opinions, interests, and point of views. And this power is harnessed well by the upperclass.

The traditional politicians have made the media a tool for their premature and ‘motivated’ campaigns. Staining it.

From Alan Cayetano and Grace Poe’s stories featured in MMK episodes, to Mrs. Cynthia Villar’s appearance in Goin’ Bulilit, to Chiz Escudero’s ‘frustrating’ love affair.

From Bam Aquino’s frontpage article to the feature story about Sonny Angara in the Philippine Daily Inquirer; from all the flying campaign paraphernalias to the photo statuses in Facebook. do, what is being given value is the family These all have chipped in to the they came from and the surnames attached outward function of the media, which is to them, along with their commercial ads to lift the lifted, to give more supremacy and celebrity endorsers. to the superior, and to romanticize In the part of the media outfits, politics. instead of keeping the integrity of their That instead of giving more emphasis role, they already sold the objectivity. on their platforms they They are becoming more said they would do ‘para sa EDIT O RIAL into the business aspect of kinabukasan at kaunlaran journalism, leaving out the ng bayan,’ the focus was on their cliches supposed advocacy of the profession. On and superficiality. top of that, some of the ‘big’ politicians are That instead of stressing what they can shareholders of and advertisers in these

mindanao varsitarian

agencies, making some of the reports somehow twisted.

These magnifies that not all that are seen on TV are as they are. Even the news.

This is as well a challenge to the patrons of the mainstream to be critical and skeptic in every projection of the politicians made by the media.

Because as politics is made dirty by those who make it, the media has all the power and influence to spread the filth to the plainly receptive audience.

The Official Student Publication of Mindanao State University, Marawi City

Editor-in-Chief Mike Ariel Plaza | Associate Editors Emelyn Manlangit and Mary Louise Omelio Managing Editor Riz Sunio | Associate Managing Editor Mark Maylan Circulation Manager Jun Sacay, Jr. | News Editor Andres Awing, Jr. Opinion Editor Giron Paul del Rosario | Features Editors Jesslei Mae Piquero and Rey Harvey Suello Literary Editor Mohamad Abdulfarid Delna | Layout/Graphics Artist John Louie Margate Writers Adnan Alauya, Glihard Escudero and Lady Mae Lao Photojournalists Hapsa Batuan, Raymark Estael, Jayson Leigh Segovia and Ekra Yori Tatil Senior Cartoonists Reyhon Entenia and Al Marvien Savandal | Junior Cartoonist Ivan Ray Aranas

30 EDITORIAL | mindanao varsitarian page.indd 30

2nd Semester

4/11/2013 8:51:33 AM

Comics

So long, Lolong

BUWAYA

msuicide

SABAH beh...

Illustrations of Reyjhon Entenia

AY 2012- 2013

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vol. 28 no.2 | COMICS

31 4/11/2013 8:51:34 AM

Kahit sa paglubog ng araw, Patuloy ang digmaan, Ngunit sa huli, May pag-ibig pa ring uuwian.

Mindanao Varsitarian

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@MSUvarsitarian

msu_minvar@yahoo.com

mindanaovarsitarian@gmail.com

4/11/2013 8:51:39 AM