Philippine Collegian Issue 17 by Philippine Collegian

TOMO 91

BLG. 17

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

Balancing the “equation”

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman

CHEd’s new science project and how it could go wrong BALITA page 3

In the coming months, Filipino college professors will begin a series of collaborative projects with their American counterparts, sharing resources and expertise in the name of advancing science through research. Such an endeavor is crucial, for many novel ideas are forged through collective efforts by scientists and researchers, shares UP Diliman (UPD) Physics Professor Giovanni Tapang, national chair of scientists’ organization Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Sambayanan (AGHAM). Yet given the vast potential of international cooperation, a close look at how the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) plans to implement this otherwise worthy undertaking reveals more questions than answers.

Narratives of loss ‘Discriminatory hazard 6-7 Kultura pay is illegal’ – health group Balita

Lopsided Examining the global impact of climate change negotiations Lathalain

OPINYON

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

In cold blood PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN 2013 - 2014

THOSE WHO OWN THE monopoly of the means of violence never hesitate to pull the trigger. They do not feel remorse. They will not easily give in to our demands of justice. This month, the nation once again mourns the deaths of those murdered in the name of a social and political system that has bred a culture of impunity: the Hacienda Luisita Massacre and the Maguindanao Massacre. Both are heinous, silencing those who have found voices they could use to expose and challenge the old but tacit rules of power. For those who are threatened by these voices can only resort to violence. Always, the threats to the current social order must be eliminated. No one else embodies this culture of impunity but the President himself. He belongs to a class whose family’s wealth and power rests on the enslavement of farmers. He leads a government which is run by people like him—landed, wealthy, and powerful. Both the Luisita and Maguindanao Massacres of course did not take place under the term of Benigno Aquino III, yet it is now clear that Aquino has failed to swiftly bring justice

Punong Patnugot Julian Inah Anunciacion Kapatnugot Victor Gregor Limon Patnugot sa Balita Keith Richard Mariano Patnugot sa Grapiks Ysa Calinawan Emmanuel Jerome Tagaro Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya Gloiza Rufina Plamenco Panauhing Patnugot Piya Constantino Margaret Yarcia Mga Kawani Mary Joy Capistrano Ashley Marie Garcia Ronn Joshua Bautista

Karl Aquino to the victims and to address two of the most long-standing social ills: the lack of a genuine agrarian reform and the lack of freedom of the press. The very exact manifestation of the gap between landlord and farmer, the Hacienda Luisita still remains the symbolic battlefield by the fight to distribute land to

EDITOR’S PICK

The Philippine Collegian republishes distinguished photographs from its past issues that captured its YEARS tradition of critical and fearless journalism.

Four years ago, various media groups gathered at Mendiola on November 30, 2009 to protest the murder of 34 mediamen dubbed as the Maguindanao Massacre. This Saturday, protesters will march once again to Mediola to condemn the continuing culture of impunity under the Aquino regime.

MARCH FOR JUSTICE

Photo byChris Imperial December 9, 2009

the tillers. Those who dare to cross the line that however are in danger of death. Even those whose sacred role is to expose these errors are easy targets of human rights violations that continue to prevail under Aquino. In the course of the year activists, alleged militant leaders, and tribal leaders had fallen prey to this culture of impunity. As issues pile on each other, Aquino—with an arsenal of funds and political executive power at his disposal—chooses the side of his allies over the people. The landed elite will never cease holding power as long as the web of political alliance to which they are part of remains steady enough to prey on the lower class. Aquino, an heir to one of the most powerful clans in national politics, is the perfect example of such set-up; an active part of a government with a longstanding culture on silencing both the common farmers and dissidents that challenge the government’s authority. What the country commemorates then are not only the victims of the two

massacres, but the need to change a whole system of violence that is caused by greed and that thrives on inequality. While the class which holds control overproduction are in direct war against farmers and workers, the vast social and class divide shall never cease to exist. With a president who belongs to a family who has long benefitted from the sweat and blood of the ordinary farmer, a president who leads a government that silences any dissidents, we can only expect the need to intensify the struggle. Anti-people policies have defined and still continue to define Aquino’s legacy, and we cannot expect for the administration to willingly change course, to willingly bring us the justice we have long sought. The people’s historical triumphs are victories dearly bought. For those who monopolize the means of violence, those who have no regrets in spilling blood to remain in power, will not easily give in to our demands for justice. We will have to fight for it. ∞

Pinansiya Amelyn Daga Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon Paul John Alix Sirkulasyon Gary Gabales Amelito Jaena Glenario Ommamalim Mga Katuwang na Kawani Trinidad Gabales Gina Villas Kasapi UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations (Solidaridad) College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon Telefax 981-8500 lokal 4522 Online pkule1314@gmail.com www.philippinecollegian.org fb.com/philippinecollegian twitter.com/kule1314

Ukol sa Pabalat Rosette Abogado

BALITA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

Balancing the “equation”

CHEd’s new science project and how it could go wrong Franz Christian Irorita Victor Gregor Limon

APPROVED IN AUGUST LAST year, the CHEd’s PhilippineCalifornia Advanced Research Institute (PCARI) hopes to become a five-year “laboratory” for research partnerships between Philippine universities and the University of California in Berkley (UC-B) and San Francisco (UC-SF). Through PCARI, Filipino professors will receive training scholarships by partnering with UC faculty. They will initially conduct their research in UC-B and UC-SF under two areas of study: “information infrastructure development” and “health innovation and translational medicine.” Out of 202 project proposals received since November 2012, 25 have been shortlisted by a team of representatives from CHEd, the Department of Health, and the Department of Science and Technology. Based on the output of the researchers after two years, the same team will assess the projects to determine if they may be continued. In subsequent years, these projects may be transferred back home once Philippine universities have acquired the requisite equipment, facilities, and other capabilities, through funds from PCARI. Research questions Meanwhile, several issues in the PCARI contract have been raised by

CHEd commissioners Nona Ricafort and Nenalyn Defensor and CHEd Administrative and Finance Services Director Carmina Alonzo. According to the said CHEd officials, who all consequently resigned, the selection of the UC as the partner university was pre-determined and thus against government rules on a competitive bidding process for procuring goods and services. “In one meeting with our procurement consultant … the posting for [the] project … should [have been] available to other universities in [the US]. But to the undersigned’s observation, the project is pre-destined to be collaborated only with the [UC-B],” Alonzo said in her September 17 resignation letter as a member of the Bids and Awarding Committee. Kabataan Party-list representative Terry Ridon also pointed out a “conflict of interest” in the membership of Diosdado Banatao in the PCARI steering committee. While Banatao is the main proponent and facilitator of PCARI, he is also the incumbent chairman of the UC-B College of Engineering Advisory Board and member of the UC-B Chancellor’s Executive Advisory Council. Large numbers With an initial P1.76 billion purse under the 2013 national budget, the PCARI will have a total five-year budget of P10 billion —all of which

are sourced from public funds. The budget will be mostly used for the procurement of research equipment, said UP President Alfredo Pascual, justifying the size of the budget. Some of the budget will also be used to compensate the faculty of UC-B and UC-SF, he added. Each research project under the PCARI will receive an annual budget ranging from P30 billion to P264 billion, according to the PCARI’s Project Summary Report. 12 projects will focus on Information Infrastructure Development, while 13 will address the top ten deadliest and most prevalent diseases in the Philippines like Dengue and Tuberculosis. Tapang also questioned how the budget for the PCARI was estimated. “Malaki na ang P20 million [para sa pondo ng isang research project],” he said, explaining that an average research project in the National Institute of Physics, where Tapang is an associate professor, costs around P5 million. Series of inequations The PCARI can be considered “one-sided,” because of the absence of counterpart funds from UCB and UCSF, said Tapang. “Ang Pilipinas [lang] ang may pera, and essentially we are buying services from the UC.” A partnership can be considered to be a genuine collaboration only when both parties have the equal roles, said Tapang. Also, legalities in intellectual property laws raise fears that the research output of PCARI

which universities will benefit from the project? Number of (UP, Ateneo, La Salle, Mapua, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology); Ateneo, La Salle, and Mapua are private schools.

Number of public universities out of the 5 initial participants in PCARI

is there a better way to use the funds? p10 billion p3.3 billion

budget cut for 79 sucs under the 2014 national budget

could be exploited in favor of UC-B. According to the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009, Filipino researchers will personally own their patents, with the Philippine government having no claim from it. On the other hand, 35 USC § 262 of the US Code of Laws stipulates that disagreements between joint owners of patents may make, use or sell the patent in the US without the consent and without accounting of the other owner(s). If collaborators disagree on the ownership of a discovery, the patents can be independently exploited by both parties without the consent of the other party. In the event of a conflict of ownership rights, UC-B and UC-SF could still sell or make use of the patents in the US without the consent of the other party involved. Dr. William Padolina, Executive Director of the PCARI poject, however, maintained that should the PCARI decide to patent their discoveries, these will be put under joint-ownership between the collaborating parties. The institutions involved gets to decide whether or not they will patent their findings or release them as public intellectual property. UPD Biology instructor William Patrick Buhian meanwhile noted that

110 Total number of state universities and colleges in the Philippines. * Other universities will be asked to join the team after the first or second year

pcari total budget

privately-owned patents will make it more expensive for the government to make use of inventions due to the royalties paid for using patented methods and objects. Recommendations There are no problems in funding foreign collaborations with Filipinos, said Tapang, but it limits our researchers to whom they could partner with. With proper funding, local researchers will be able to go to any institution and establish necessary collaborations based on what we really need, stressed Tapang. “They need not be locked to a few universities,” he pointed out. The funds for PCARI should instead be channeled to local research to better serve the national interest, said Tapang. “Public funds should be used for our own domestic targets,” he said. “We do not want our targets to be conditional on the concurrence of external groups outside the country—which is what is to happen [under] the PCARI.” Research funds are not usually used to serve the interests of the Filipino people because the country lacks a coherent industrialization policy that will absorb research output, said Tapang. “Kahit na magbigay ka ng [research funding], hindi maliwanag kung ano ang longterm viability niya.” Tapang further explained that while there should always be funds for research, there should also be a clear goal for research especially in the applied sciences to address the needs of the country. “P10 billion will go a long way to develop local science and technology especially if it is under a clear plan for research and national development,” he said. “This plan should be based on building and developing local capacity in science education, industry, and agriculture.” ∞

BALITA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

Nine years after Luista Massacre

‘Luisita farmers still landless, threatened with violence’ Johnwyn Ace Fornal

NOVEMBER 16 MARKS another anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre that killed 14 people, including children, and injured dozens others. Nine years after the incident, however, farmers at the sprawling Tarlac estate continue their fight for genuine land reform. In a report released to the public on November 15, a fact-finding mission group revealed several irregularities in the ongoing land distribution scheme being implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). Only 4,099 hectares are currently being awarded to beneficiaries, despite a 2012 Supreme Court ruling ordering the agency should distribute 4,335 hectares of the hacienda owned by President Benigno Aquino III’s family, the group said in their report. The high tribunal’s decision had excluded 580 hectares already sold by Hacienda Luisita Inc. to Rizal Commercial Bank Corporation and to the Bases Development Conversion Authority (BDCA) for the construction of the SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway. Composed of land reform advocates from different sectors, including Anakpawis Party-list Representative Fernando Hicap, the group conducted their investigation on September 16 and 17. Tambiolo system

Instead of free and unconditional distribution of land titles to the 6,212 farmworkers, the DAR implemented a “tambiolo” system, where farming lots are randomly assigned to each beneficiary, the group reported. Beneficiaries who have agreed to the raffle were required to sign an Application to Purchase and Farmer’s Undertaking (APFU). The DAR would then give them a certified true copy of the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA). Peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas have earlier called the CLOAS mere “pieces of paper,” saying these photocopied certificates do not guarantee land transfer and may be cancelled at any time.

The tambiolo system have also displaced farmers from the family lots they have tilled for decades, said former Anakpawis Representative Rafael Mariano. There are no boundaries provided by the DAR so the farmers also cannot determine the new, raffled lots they should be farming, he added. Rather than distributing random titles and instead of only to individual beneficiaries, the DAR should also allow collective land ownership, which will be more beneficial to the farmers, the group recommended. "What must be given full recognition and support is the organized rank of the farmworkers in their campaign to increase production and improve their livelihood through mutual aid, cooperativization and collective farming," the report read. Under the current land transfer scheme, Luisita farmers need to pay amortization fees of P61 a month for the first three years, P118 for the next two years, and P230 per month from the sixth to the 30th year. Should the beneficiaries miss even a single payment, their CLOAs will be revoked. In fact, because of financial problems, many CLOA recipients have already pawned their CLOAs by renting out their lands to private financiers, according to Luisitabased peasant group Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA). “The farmers possess the moral, historical and legal rights to the

land which the Cojuangco-Aquino clan has ruthlessly denied them for decades. [The] demand for free land distribution is a just call that must be granted,” the group said in their report. ‘Typhoon TADECO’

Land reform advocates, meanwhile, have called for the withdrawal of armed TADECO

IN LIGHT OF THE STORM Photo by Keith Richard Mariano

personnel stationed in Luisita, pending resolution of the company’s claim over 300 hectares of land which they had cordoned with walls and outposts. TADECO had started giving out eviction letters and sued 81 farmers for “trespassing” charges. After many of the farmers were affected by typhoon Santi in October, TADECO guards also allegedly

employed “demolition tactics” to claim more lots near the SCTEX. AMBALA will file a motion to the Supreme Court for the inclusion of all agricultural land in Hacienda Luisita in the land distribution. “Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa natatapos ang labang sinimulan ni Andres Bonifacio para sa reporma sa lupa,” said Mariano. ∞

A group of students light candles to show support for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda during the International Day of Action and Solidarity on November 13 at Quezon Hall. Tulong Kabataan, a network initiated by Kabataan Partylist, holds 24-hour relief operations at Vinzons Hall as donations continue to pour in.

Power back up in Econ after month-long outage Repair of Alumni Center power lines still underway Kira Chan

AFTER A MONTH WITHOUT electricity, the power system has finally been repaired at the School of Economics (SE). In late August, the SE’s 35 year-old main electric line shortcircuited due to heavy rains. The school’s students, faculty, and personnel then had to study and work in limited spaces, said SE Student Council Chair Darryll Magsambol. Before the power was restored

in the first week of October, SE classes were held temporarily at the College of Law or at the SE auditorium. Professors even had to work on research and other work assignments outside the UP campus, said SE Dean Ramon Clarete. While the actual repair took only three weeks, the Office of the Campus Architect (OCA) had to assess the state of the electric system the week following the incident. After the repairs, the SE also needed to obtain a certificate

of inspection from City Hall in order to receive power from electric company Meralco, in accordance with the Philippine electrical code. The P1-million renovation involved not only repaired the main line but also redesigned the main circuit breaker since the electrical system, installed in 1978, no longer adhered to the country’s current electrical code. The procurement of the repair services was expedited, since the renovation fund was not sourced

from the UP budget but from alumni donations and research contract earnings, said Harvey Angeles, electrical and technical designer at Office of the Campus Architect. We decided to fund it ourselves in order to speed up the process. Students, faculty, and administration all needed to use the building again, said Clarete. Meanwhile, the Alumni Center (AC), also known as Fonacier Hall, Continued to page 5

BALITA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

‘Discriminatory hazard pay is illegal’ – health group Arra Francia

HEALTHWORKERSALLEXPERIENCE hazards because of the high-risk nature of their work. But if the government agencies are to be believed, not all of them deserve the same amount of compensation for the dangers they face every day. Beginning this year, hazard pay for public health workers have been subject to a classification scheme which provides them compensation based on salary grade and the length of exposure to work-related risks. (see sidebar) Under Joint Circular No. 1 Series 2012 of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) at the start of the year, PHWs are

Continued from page 4

Power back up in Econ after monthlong outage

classified either under low-risk or high-risk hazard. While PHWs who experience 12 or more days of high-risk hazards are still given 25 percent of their income, it effectively decreased the compensation given to those exposed to low-risk hazards to only 14 percent of their basic salary. Republic Act 7305, known as the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers, states that PHWs under Salary Grade 19 and below must receive a hazard pay worth 25 percent of their monthly income. Meanwhile, those in higher salary grades will get an additional of five percent of their basic salary. The law did not discriminate between “high-risk” or “low-risk” hazards.

“Ito ay malinaw na paglabag sa Magna Carta, na una nang sinasabi na 25 percent dapat ang matatanggap na hazard pay ng mga health workers,” said Jossel Ebesate, president of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW). Through discussions with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) administration and the AHW, the joint circular failed to take effect in PGH, dubbed as the country’s national hospital. Only negotiations with hospital administrations have stopped the implementation of the joint circular in the PGH as well as other hospitals, said Ebesate. “Pantay-pantay lang dapat ang binibigay na hazard pay sa mga empleyado, regardless kung anumang hirap ang haharapin

Rates of Hazard pay for salary grade 19 and below Actual exposure

High risk

Low risk

12 or more days

25percent

14 percent

6-11 days

14percent

8 percent

Less than 6 days

8percent

5 percent

The King’s Ransom Johnwyn Ace Fornal

ON NOVEMBER 19, the Supreme Court declared the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund as unconstitutional, 14-0-1, prompting President Aquino III to fly back to Manila from typhoon-ravaged Tacloban. The spotlight now turns on other remaining forms of lump-sum or “pork barrel” funds that Aquino intends to retain, such as his own presidential discretionary funds and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds. But just what exactly are DAP funds and why do various sectors also call for its abolition?

DAP Quick Facts: still has not regained the use of Fonacier Hall five months after ongoing roadwork improvements accidentally hit the electrical wires. Unlike in the case of the SE building, the repair of their electrical system will be funded by UP. The bidding process for the contractors is still ongoing, according to Angeles. “Hindi katulad ng SE na private funding, at pwedeng magrecommend ng contractor katulad ng T&D Power Systems, kailangan magbid ang mga contractors, dahil pera ng UP ang gagamitin,” said Angeles. The AC is currently renting a generator that costs approximately P2000 a day. From June 26 to October 17, the electrical fees amounted to approximately P390,000, according to the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR). The bidding process should be more efficient since some projects are priority projects. The UP Accounting Office, which handles the salaries of UP employees, and the UP Foundation which handles some scholarships, cannot work adequately since the generator also occasionally shuts down, said OAR Director Jose Wendell Capili. ∞

Meanwhile, the DOH is expected to receive the highest budget hike in 2014 at P87.1 billion, 45.5 percent higher than their 2013 budget, should their proposed budget be approved. “We will have to wait and see kung makikita ang pagtaas ng mga benepisyo sa manggagawa kasabay ng pagtaas ng budget para sa DOH,” said Ebesate. ∞

nila,” said Benjamin Santos, president of the All UP-Workers Alliance- Manila. Aside from the clear violation of RA 7305, the joint circular has also been made in haste, as the document was only made known to the public three days before its implementation on January 1, 2013. No public consultations also had been made prior to the said date.

What is the DAP

The DAP is a spending mechanism for funds culled from government “savings,” unexpected remittance of dividends from government corporations and financial institutions, and the sale of government assets.

Are DAP funds approved by Congress

No. Critics of the DAP point out that the Executive has undermined the Congress which has the sole power of the purse. According to Kabataan Partylist Representative Terry Ridon, the President has violated the constitution by authorizing the transfer of funds by identifying and approving projects to be financed by the DAP, without approval from Congress.

What does the Constitution say about the limits of the President’s power over government funds

Article VI Section 25(5) stipulates that “No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations; however, the President [may only] be authorized to augment any item in the [national budget] for their respective offices from savings in other items of their revspective appropriations.”

SUMATOTAL

Number of years since the DAP was first implemented in 2011

amount of DAP funds P866.5 M released to senators who P157.36 B Total released from 2011 to 2013 voted for the conviction of

P32.9 B

Total amount of cuts in the UP budget from 2011 to 2013

P124.46 B

Remaining amount of the total DAP funds if these cuts were financed by the DAP

P17.23 B P15.3 B P1.93 B

9% 90%

Total amount of cuts in the budget for SUCs in 2013 Total amount of DAP funds released in 2013 Remaining amount of the 2013 DAP funds if these cuts were financed by the DAP

Portion of DAP funds released to projects identified by legislators Portion of DAP funds released to projects identified by Aquino

Total Funds from DAP former CJ Corona

P400,000 393,400

Estimated actual cost of UP education for 4 years, without state subsidy Number of UP students who can finish 4-year programs using the total amount of DAP funds released by Aquino

of classrooms as of 32,644 Shortage June 2013 of building a 7x9-meter P650,000 Cost one storey classroom

242,092

1.3 percentage points

DAP’s contribution to economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to Aquino

0.25 percentage points DAP’s contribution to economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation

total government spending in the fourth quarter of 2011

P309.7 B total DAP-related spending in P61.4 B the fourth quarter of 2011

19.8%

DAP’s share in total government spending in the fourth quarter of 2011

P5 B P7.5 B P7.5 B P20 B

according to the Department of Education Number of 7x9-meter clasrooms that could be built using the DAP funds

Calamity Fund allocation for 2011 Calamity Fund allocation for 2012 Calamity Fund allocation for 2013

Total amount of calamity funds appropriated from 2011 to 2013

7.9

Number of times the DAP fund is larger than the total amount of calamity funds from 2011 to 2013

KULTURA

Calamity ward PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

KULTURA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

link installed by Télécoms Sans face in front of international media, medicine due to neglect from the Frontières: “I never left because I was has yet to direct attention to the national government and from the local politics JAMES MADE HIS ROUNDS ACROSS trained for this… It’s just unfortunate hospital. The local government that diverts goods to other areas. the halls as more patients fill Tacloban that nobody from the government even was in chaos, as several officials Patients who would come asking for medicines would City Hospital. His shift started just hours dared to visit our hospital.” gave conflicting orders in be attended to as long as what they needed was in stock. James before Typhoon Yolanda made landfall In a series of messages from him posted on an effort to distribute aid would politely ask them for any food to spare, not just for himself, on the islands of Eastern Visayas. The Facebook by a relative, he attributed the lag in across the region. Patients but for his patients and other hospital staff. It was not a direct trade calamity was something the hospital did aid to a lack of transport vehicles and fuel. Days ended up harassing some of of goods but a sharing of whatever resources they had in a crisis where anticipate—as evidenced by publicity earlier, he personally walked to local agencies the hospital staff who were money itself has lost its value. photos posted on their website the day and foreign relief groups in the city, an hour unable to provide them with Even death has not been kept out of the picture for James, who not before. Unsuspecting of how the storm away by foot, to ask for food and medicine, only experienced it in his work: one of his own relatives survived the would play out, staff would smile only to be turned away as they had typhoon only to die of infection a few days later. It was already too late while posing under tents with ‘I Love nothing to give. when foreign doctors arrived in the city to provide care to the many Tacloban’ sprawled across. The national patients, delayed by the hazy intentions of local bureaucracy, James was the only nurse in one of gover nment , stalling long enough to shift the immediate need of the few remaining medical teams in busy with some from treatment to body bags. the city. While his family had already saving Between the stench of death and the evacuated Leyte for Manila or Bicol, struggle to survive, James would he chose to stay in the hospital to wake up to fulfill his duty as tend to the sick and injured, only a nurse in city that is yet to face limited medical supplies to rebuild itself from and hunger. These difficulties ruins. For as long were met by the medical team, as there would be a task not easily taken with untreated patients just a willingness to help. and a cold, uncaring Amidst wall posts government, the end Yolanda—the strongest typhoon to showing concern for him, of his shift could wait. ever hit land—smashed Tacloban and other James posted a Facebook ∞ areas into smithereens of shattered homes status on his condition and lost narratives. The scent of death over a communications continues to linger as more dead bodies are being tallied. In the aftermath of Yolanda, whirlwinds of stories clutter among the debris, pooling the pages of dailies with narratives that get grimmer as government neglect continues to prevail.

Micholo Medrana

Loss

Narratives of

Sigalot ng unos Rutchel Docena

ang kalangitan sa lakas ng hangin. Kalauna’y nawalan nangangailangan ng mga ito. na ng signal sa tinutuluyan namin. Sana’y tuluyan nang DALAWANG ARAW BAGO Saksi ako sa hagupit ng bagyo. Wasak ang lahat ng maibalik ang suplay ng bumagyo nagpapulong ang mayor mga establisyemento: paaralan, munisipyo, hotel, at kuryente dito nang hindi namin upang ibalita ang paparating terminal. Walang pinatawad na bahay si Yolanda, na manatiling bulag sa na supertyphoon ay posibleng tatama gawa man ito sa matitibay na materyales o hindi. katotohanan ang mga tao sa Guiuan at Abuyog. Pinalikas na rin Samantalang nagmukhang kinaingin naman sa inutil nitong gobyerno. ang mga taga-baybayin papuntang ang kabundukan. Nito lamang, umabot na Hindi ko tatanggapin ang evacuation centers at dinumog na sa dalampasigan namin ang mga bangkay kasinungalingang hatid ng rin ng mga tao ang palengke upang mula sa ibang lugar. mga balita sa telebisyon at makakuha ng mga pagkain, flashlight, at Patay-malisya ang lokal na mga artikulo sa internet. kandila. pamahalaan sa mga nagsikalat Sabi raw sa balita ay Madaling araw ng Biyernes, na bakas ng delubyo. nakarating na sa mga nagising akong wala nang kuryente. Ipinagpaliban ng gobyerno liblib na lugar ang relief Noong nakaraang gabi pa lamang ay sa Lunes—parte ng kanilang goods. Walang ideya ang ramdam na ramdam ko na ang malakas opisyal na “working days”—ang mga tao rito sa dami ng na hangin. Matapos mabalitaang pagliligpit ng pira-pirasong alaala mga donasyong galing ang nagbabadyang bagyo ay si ng dating Tacloban. dito’t galing abroad. Wala Yolanda—ang pinakamalakas na Nang marinig ang kagimbal-gimbal na na rin kaming natitira pang supertyphoon sa kasaysayan hagupit ng storm surge, dali-daling nagsilikas paraan upang sagkain ang ng mundo—kinumbinsi ko ang mga tao papuntang Abuyog. Walang tsinelas at sinasabing naisakatuparan na ang aking mga magulang na bitbit ang mga anak at natitirang ari-arian, ang mga tao raw ng gobyerno. lumikas. Nagparating din nagmamadaling lumikas papuntang Barauen at Javier. Ako, isang residenteng ng matinding pag-aalala ang Agad kong sinundo ang kapatid ko. biktima ng bagyo ng kawalangkapatid ko mula sa Tacloban Isang matanda ang inaalalayan ng kanyang anak. pakialam, ay nagsasabing matapos mabalitaang sa lugar Nakalulunos ang ibang mga matatandang iniwan na ng kaniwala itong katotohanan. namin tatama ang delubyo. kanilang pamilya dahil sa hindi na sila kaya pang dalhin sa ∞ Sinubukan naming makituloy bundok. Sinabihan silang magdasal na lamang. sa kapitbahay na may tahanang may Isang linggo pa ang dumaan bago kami nakatanggap tatlong palapag; ngunit hindi na nila ng tulong mula sa gobyerno. Bigas. Dalawang kilo ng marahil na kami marinig mula sa labas. NFA rice. Hindi na ito nasundan pa. Sa isang bahay na kahoy na may ikalawang Matapos mabalitaan ang gabundok na palapag kami tumuloy panandalian ng kuya ko. relief goods, nakakagalit isipin kung Hindi na sumama pa ang aking mga magulang. saan dinadala ng gobyerno ang Lagi kong tinitingnan ang internet upang makakalap ng mga ito, at bakit hindi ito balita ukol sa bagyo. Alas singko ng umaga babagsak ang bagyo, maidala sa mga lugar na ayon sa balita, ngunit alas kwatro pa lamang ay tila sumasabog na

Weather warfare

Americans was the sight their children—were buried in a mass grave. My lola lived with my that welcomed my lola at aunt at a subdivision near the seafront, but my lola was alone the airport. She wondered when disaster struck. THE UNIVERSE NEVER why there were US soldiers at a The despair that my lola became a part of the ruined RUNS OUT of ways of relief operation. The Philippines city ran through me, but hope came when a family punishing me: 12 units short needed rescue and medical experts friend told us that my lola was safe and alive. Though in the online enlistment, no and not soldiers, she thought. She our house was wrecked, I was thankful that she dorm to stay in for the semester, couldn’t help thinking that there was was spared from the misfortune that thousands and a painfully expensive tuition an ulterior move behind this “friendly” suffered. for a supposedly affordable public gesture even if it were the Americans I was eager to see her again and to hear education. I thought I had the worst. I who offered to fly my lola to Villamor the truth directly from her, not from was wrong. Airbase on a US C130. From Villamor, my the fabrications of Noynoy Aquino. During the first Friday of the semester, father and aunt brought her home. My lola was on the second floor my father told me that he couldn’t reach It took so long for us to get her back. I kitchen when the storm surge my lola and relatives in Tacloban, and that was thankful that she decided to survive, submerged Tacloban in a blink a storm named Yolanda had erased the when others dived into the bitter waves of an eye. It was a good thing city of my roots. I badly wished he was of despair. that our kitchen was on exaggerating, but it was true: Tacloban was My grandmother decided to the second floor where lola no more. forgive the government — but got her food supplies from. The days following that dreadful forgiving is not equal to forgetting Lola never liked biscuits, but Friday brought distress to my family. all who died at the hands of knowing that a whole city was At that time, Aquino’s best efforts neglect and corruption. To dying, she savored every bite went not to the calamity victims but forget Tacloban —and with sheer gratitude. When the to the rescue operation of his ailing to let the government biscuits were gone, she started reputation as president. undermine the people consuming what is left of the Reading the news was excruciating. —is a calamity more supplies, including uncooked An aerial shot that went viral on disastrous than noodles. Facebook made me wish that my the strongest The raging floodwaters trapped grandmother and my other relatives typhoon. ∞ her inside for seven days. Each passing were not part of the almost 4,000 day added to my lola’s suffering. During dead bodies that litter the ghost that time, her concern was not even town. Desolation brought no hunger but the stinging smell of decay certainty on who died and who lived. Illustration : Ysa Calinawan diffusing throughout the city. She tried A few days passed, we received Page design : Andrei Cobey hard not to think of the smell as the rotting news that my relatives in downtown flesh of our dead relatives. Tacloban died. The rise of the sea Through the efforts of a family friend, my brought the ships into the city and lola was rescued from a bitter death. A mixture crushed their houses. Nine of these of both refugees and foreigners who were mostly relatives—cousins of my father and

Julian Bato

LATHALAIN

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

Dreadful Devastation: The government’s blunders in handling Yolanda

Miriam Miciano ANOTHER SHARP STAB OF PAIN PIERCES HIS STOMACH. No, he must have thought. I have one more day. Six days has passed since the super typhoon Yolanda ravaged his hometown, along with the rest of the Visayas region. Many have survived the onslaught, but most are struggling with the lack of food, water, and medicine. They say it takes seven days for a man to die of hunger. Quirico Dejillo, an 88 year-old man residing in the ruins of a remote village in Leyte, lay in his musty, damp bed. He was too weak to move. His family was in Luzon and he was alone, waiting for aid and care. No one came. Aggravated blow Dejillo’s case is not an isolated one. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the latest death toll has reached 4,011. Meanwhile, 18,557 were reported injured and 1,602 remain missing, after one of the world’s strongest typhoon in history that affected more than ten million families. With the gravity of the situation revealed across all forms of media, help poured out from all over the globe from many concerned groups and individuals. However, progress on the government’s disaster management especially the relief operations, was too slow and has

been close to idle. “It’s all under control since day 1,” DILG secretary Mar Roxas assures the public, but the scale and magnitude of the disaster aftermath proves otherwise. The government’s operations lack efficiency, preparedness and compassion. Yolanda’s storm surge may have brought devastation upon the nation, but the blunders of Aquino and his government may just be enough to end more lives and crush what is left of the victims’ dignities. Poorly-ranked priorities On November 11, the fifth day of the disaster, Aquino approved the release of P18.7 billion in “calamity funds, contingency funds and savings” for the victims of the said disaster, along with an additional “quick response fund” for both the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Aquino’s move demonstrated the government’s poorly ranked priorities in disaster management, with his administration scrimping on prevention programs and releasing billions only after the damage has been done. CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper noted Tacloban’s weak public infrastructure, such as buildings and bridges, which could have been rehabilitated to be able to withstand storms. In a CNN interview, Aquino even admitted that “no one was really in charge”, revealing how vague the

disaster plan was. “The Aquino government (is) having no proactive disaster risk reduction (DRR) solutions and climate-proofing measures in already pre-identified hazardous areas over the past three years,” environmental group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment states. Such inefficiency during calamities can only be a result of economic instability, explained global organization Climate and Development Knowledge Network. “Unless climate-related disaster risk management is integrated into plans for economic growth, infrastructure planning to be specific, countries will face ever more serious human, financial and livelihood losses,” the network comments. In a country where many families live beyond the poverty threshold, or less than P180 a day, it is no surprise that the country was critically hit. For as Filipinos are already forced to live in impoverished conditions as a family’s weekly cost of living already amounts to P1,034, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation, wages leave nothing for a disaster of this magnitude. Absent empathy Beyond proper preparations, a disaster like Yolanda calls for a sincere and able leadership from the government to lead the country through its aftermath. Yet, all the victims got were empty gestures and sheer intimidation. In the first few days, cargo planes

from Manila unloaded more soldiers than relief supplies, attempting to establish “civil order” in commercial establishments and airports first before showing compassion for the victims. The Special Forces controlled those who were forced to loot from supermarkets out of sheer desperation, and held back angry crowds from boarding the planes. In his plea for the evacuation of Tacloban, Mayor Alfredo Romualdez admitted, “I’m just asking for a humanitarian flight. You cannot live in a community living with the dead. That is why you see the exodus of people leaving out of the city.” “Aquino...used the calamity as justification for heightened military presence not for relief and rehabilitation, but to supposedly reinstate ‘safety and security’ in ravaged towns,” Kabataan Party Rep. Terry Ridon remarked. In addition, Tacloban City administrator Tecson John Lim speculates Aquino might be deliberately downplaying casualties to protect his political image, to the extent of sacking PNP Regional Chief Supt. Elmer Soria who gave his staggering death toll estimate of 10,000, while the president insisted that the death toll could be at most 2,500. International and local groups then slammed the government’s retrieval operations of dead bodies, with another CNN reporter commenting that he sees the same corpses scattered in the streets day after day. It was only in November

18, the eighth day of the disaster, when a special task group was deployed to recover and bury dead bodies. “We deserve a far better leadership from the national government than what (the administration) has demonstrated in ‘Yolanda’…unless we are contented with having thousands dead, millions affected and billions of pesos worth of destroyed properties every time a typhoon hits,” asserted Leon Dulce, campaign coordinator of Kalikasan PNE. The Philippine government has time and again shown its utter incompetency in the face of disaster, if its storm-battered history can testify. And now, even after facing its toughest test yet, the government seems to insist on the same inefficient mechanisms – if any at all – in responding to calamities, baring twisted priorities of “keeping the order” before relief and coming only on the calm after the storm. Lest the government straightens out these priorities and get its act together, the dire consequences brought about by Yolanda can happen again, anytime in the near future: scattered corpses, wailing victims, broken homes and a seemingly postapocalyptic wasteland that has once been Eastern Visayas. ∞

Illustration: Patricia Ramos Page design: Ashley Garcia

LATHALAIN

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

: d e d i ops

act of p m i l a b g the glo tiations n i n i m a go Ex ange ne h c e t a clim

Gloiza Plamenco A STANDING OVATION MET the tearful speech of Naderev Sano, Philippine Climate Change Commissioner, on the dismal condition of the regions devastated by the super typhoon Yolanda, during the 19th Conferences of the Parties (COP) in Poland. From the tons of boxes containing relief goods carried by gigantic planes to donations amounting to almost $90 million— the outpouring of foreign aid makes it easier to picture that the world is one with the Philippines in this time of calamity. It seems ironic, though, how super typhoon Yolanda and other extreme calamities caused by climate change could have been prevented by the global community, precisely through such a venue as COP. It is in these global actions where negotiations to stop climate change could have been agreed upon. Yet, there still lacks a fruitful compromise within the international community, even after 20 years of talks and negotiations. Setting the plan Every year since 1995, the COP is attended by the 195 signatory-countries or parties, and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations. During the convention, all the committees and some parties present reports progress and recommendations to the signatory-countries. Decisions are adopted if there is a consensus among the parties, or at least threefourths majority vote. COPs work under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), which gave birth to the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that sets binding obligations on industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gases that cause climate change from 2008 to 2012. The FCCC treaty aims to “stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous [human-induced] interference with the climate system”. The treaty is based on countless and thorough researches of

Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), commissioned by UN to conduct comprehensive scientific assessments of climate change. IPCC have already pinpointed human activity as one of the main contributors for the gradual warming of the earth’s temperature, leading to climate change. At first, the Kyoto Protocol seemed to have been an opportunity for combating climate change. The negotiations that started in 1997, however, have veered away from the true purpose of reducing GHG emissions as years went by. Industrialized countries have agreed on the Flexible Mechanisms, under which are the Carbon Trading, Joint Implementation and Clean-Disaster Management. These mechanisms allow signatory-countries to go beyond their target GHG emissions —either by buying credits from other countries to reach their target for the period 2013 to 2020, or by financing projects in developing countries that will supposedly reduce emissions

Not only will these mechanisms fail to achieve the agreed reduction targets for GHG emissions, but industrialized countries could gain profits from this and at the same time cause environmental and social catastrophes, according to independent research institution IBON International. Futile attempts Despite the industrialized countries initially pledging to cut their GHG emissions, years of COPs have only called into question these countries’ commitment to genuinely addressing climate change. “The developed and industrialized nations have the largest current and historic emissions…they should therefore take the lead and burden of helping reduce harmful effects and cut down emissions,” according to IBON. The signatory-countries, however, are clearly not keeping their promise, as others have also recently announced that they are backing out of the treaty, including Russia and Canada. Japan, meanwhile, is setting lower GHG reduction targets to 3.8 percent from the initial commitment of 25 percent. “Pumapapel silang may pagmamalasakit sa kalikasan at climate change, pero hindi naman talaga sini-seryoso ang pagpapababa ng kanilang emisyon ng GHG,”

according to Frances Quimpo, Executive Director of Center for Environmental Concerns, a nongovernment organization. Moreover, these industrialized countries are entering into more coal, oil and gas extraction projects with private businesses. For instance, Australia, a signatorycountry that promised to cut carbon emissions from 2013 to 2020, has lined-up projects, including nine new coal ports and terminals along the coast of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This would mean an additional 900 million tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 2020. “Nahaharap na tayo sa matitinding kalamidad subalit patuloy pa rin ang pagtaguyod sa pagmimina, coal-fired power plants, reclamation at iba pang programang nagpapalala ng ating bulnerabilidad sa kalamidad,” says Quimpo. Money talks Pressures from companies and corporations have dimmed the prospects o f

reaching a genuine international treaty that will combat climate change, and in the future prevent tragedies much worse than Yolanda. For instance, the government of Mexico keeps constant communication with businesses as to how the negotiations are going, says Juan Mata Sandoval, Mexico’s top climate official. “The private sector also wants a voice and an opinion on how much Mexico is going to put on the table [during negotiations],” Mata Sandoval adds. Clearly, private businesses have a hand and influence in the climate change negotiations, as they get their profit from exploiting the environment — 50 of the biggest corporations in the world contribute to 73 percent of the global GHG emissions in 2013, according to Global 500 Climate Change Report 2013 of the Carbon Disclosure Project. This includes Royal Dutch Shell from Netherlands, and Exxon Mobil and Walmart from US. While the COP is important as it brings together the international community in addressing environmental concerns, the agreements have never really produced significant and longterm solutions, especially for those developing countries and island states that are always left struggling after every calamity caused by climate change “[These developed and industrialized countries] should be the one indebted to us, as they caused the climate change that we are experiencing today due to their overproduction, causing more GHG emissions from factories and industries. Typhoon Yolanda was borne out of the use of this,” Giovanni Tapang, National Chairperson of Advocates of Science and Technology for the People. Industrialized countries’ solidarity to developing ones during times of crisis will remain meaningless, if not hypocritical, until they end the exploitation of the environment and fulfill their commitments for a long-term solution to climate change.∞ Illustration: Ysa Calinawan Page design: Ashley Garcia

OPINYON

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

Pulitika sa panahon ng trahedya Jerome Tagaro “SA LAKI NG KALAMIDAD na kinakaharap ng bansa ngayon, isantabi muna natin ang pulitika.” Inaamin kong nangangati ang tainga ko sa tuwing makababasa ng ganito sa Facebook at sa ibang social networking sites. Halos kasabay din kasi ng pagbuhos ng tulong para sa mga nasalanta ng Bagyong Yolanda ang pagdagsa ng iba’t ibang pananaw tungkol dito. Wala namang mali sa pagpapahayag ng sariling pananaw sa ganitong isyu. Karapatan naman ito ng bawat isa. Nakatutulong pa nga ang marami sa mga ito upang hikayatin ang ating mga kababayan hindi lang para makiisa sa pagtulong sa mga nasalanta kundi para pagyamanin ang diskurso at suri sa kalagayan ng bansa. Samantala, sa tuloy-tuloy na pagdagsa ng mga bagong isyu at problemang kakaharapin, may panganib na unti-unting mabaon sa limot ang mga nauna at kahit iba pang kasalukuyang suliranin ng bansa—naresolbahan man o hindi. Ginugunita tuwing Nobyembre ang Hacienda Luisita Massacre at ang Maguindanao Massacre. Hanggang sa ngayon, wala pa ring hustisya para sa mga kaanak ng mga biktima. Kahit mismong mga

problemang pinag-ugatan nito ay hindi pa rin natutugunan. Mahirap din namang sisihin ang mga taong nag-iisip ng ganito. Napakarami nang nangyari simula pa noong pumutok ang isyu ng Pork Barrel scam noong Hulyo. Marami nang bagyo at lindol ang nanalakay, nagkaroon ng bakbakan ang MNLF at ang pamahalaan sa Zamboanga. Napakarami at napakabigat na ng mga problemang pinapasan ng mga Pilipino. Hindi nga kaya makatutulong kung isantabi na muna natin ang problemang nauna pa sa mga iyon na hanggang sa ngayon ay dinadala pa rin natin? Malayo na ang narating ng laban ng mamamayan sa pork barrel upang pairalin pa natin ang ganitong pag-iisip. Masyado nang malalim ang pagkakaalam upang isantabi pa natin ito at manganib na malimutan. Kung tutuusin, ang interes at ang pagpilit ng mamamayan upang aksyunan ito ang siyang pangunahing nagpapausad sa isyu. Hindi lamang ngayon ito usapin ng pagpaparusa sa mga may mga sala. Pagkakataon din ito upang mabago ang isang sistemang matagal nang sumisira at nagpapahirap sa bayan. Hindi makatutulong ang

Kung itutuloy natin ang paglimot sa pagkakaugnayugnayngmga bagay,hindi nalalayong mabaon lamangsa limotangmga usapingdapat dinghindinatin binibitawan okinakalimutan.

pagpapaliban sa usapin sa pulitika upang mas mapagtuunan ng pansin ang pagsasaayos sa mga bayang dinaanan ng bagyo, dahil kung itutuloy natin ang paglimot sa pagkakaugnay-ugnay ng mga bagay, hindi nalalayong mabaon lamang sa limot ang mga usaping dapat ding hindi natin binibitawan o kinakalimutan. Kung tutuusin, hindi nalalayo sa isa’t isa ang pagtulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo at ang pagresolba sa usapin ng pork barrel. Kapwa may ginagampanang tungkulin ang pamahalaan at ang mamamayan. Kasabay ng pagtulong ng mamamayan, dapat din nating panagutin ang gobyerno sa kanilang napakalaking gampaning maglingkod sa ating mga mamamayan. Dahil bagama’t para sa ikagiginhawa ng ating mga kababayan ang ating walang patid na pagtulong, uusad lamang sa tamang direksyon ang bayan kung walang alinlangan nating tutuligsain at babaguhin ang sistemang malaon na nating nasuring hindi nagsisilbi sa interes ng sambayanan. ∞

Bayad-bayad din ‘pag may time Pins HAY NAKO. ITO TALAGANG SI YOLANDA, lakas mang-trip sa mga tao. O, ba’t ba, hindi ko naman sinasabing biro lang ‘yung nangyari. TagaSamar ako, at kahit hindi kami napuruhan nitong si Yolanda, aba, singlakas naman ng kahambugan ni Noynoy ‘yung hangin na dumaan doon. Pero ayoko munang pagusapan si Noynoy. Pareho lang sila ni Yolanda e, sakit sa ulo. Mas iniisip ko pa ngayon kung paano ko babayaran ‘yung loan na pinilahan ko nang bongga at binalik-balikan sa Vinzons para lang makapag-enrol ngayong semestre (kahit na halos sa Vinzons na lang rin ako nakatira). Sa ngayon, Bracket B(wiset) ako. Hindi ko alam ba’t ako napunta sa bracket na ‘yan, e hindi naman kami mayaman. Nako, e hindi ko nga maramdaman ‘yang halos isang milyong income ng pamilya ko sa isang taon e. Hamak na empleyado lang ng gobyerno ang Tatay ko, at ruma-raket madalas ang Nanay ko. Diyos ko, e libo-libo na nga ang bawas sa sahod dahil sa mga buwis — pwede na sanang pambili ng

Ba’t ngayong trahedya lang sila gumagawa ng paraan para mas maging bukas sa lahat ang edukasyon?

bigas, o ulam na masarap, imbis na mapupunta lang sa bulsa ng mga kurakot. Balita ko sa isang kaibigan, pwede raw mag-appeal ng STFAP ang mga nasalanta ng bagyo. Hmmm, e hindi naman kasing tindi ang naging pinsala ng bagyo sa amin. Buti nga at ganoon ang nangyari, dahil ‘yung mga kalapit naming bayan gaya ng Tacloban at Basey ay nawasak. Pero sa totoo lang, wala pa rin kaming takas sa mga epekto pagkatapos ng trahedya. Tatanggapin kaya ang sulat ko kung sabihin kong walang kuryente sa amin ngayon, kaya ilang linggo na rin akong walang allowance? O pwede ko bang sabihin na nagmamahal na ang mga bilihin doon, kaya kailangan munang pagtuunan ng pansin ng magulang ko ang mas mahahalagang bagay kagaya ng pagkain at tubig? Magugulat ba sila kung sabihin kong nasawi sa trahedya ang buong pamilya ng Tita ko? Hmmm, mukhang nauubusan na ako ng pwedeng i-dahilan. Baka sakali lang naman na tanggapin nila ang appeal ko

at mabawasan ang utang ko sa pamantasan. O sabihin ko na lang kaya na i-scrap na nila ‘yang STFAP? Ba’t ngayong trahedya lang sila gumagawa ng paraan para mas maging bukas sa lahat ang edukasyon? Kahit naman walang Yolandang dumaan sa Kabisayaan, e libo-libo pa ring mag-aaral ang hirap magbayad ng matrikula nila. May mas malala pang bagyong hinaharap kahit ang mga tagasiyudad. Walang sapat na trabaho, at kung meron man, e kakarampot lang ang matatanggap na sahod. Ewan ko lang ha, pero kasing tindi na ring mawalan ng makakain at matitirhan ang malugmok sa kahirapan ng ilang dekada. Baka sabihin mong ang nega ko lang. Hindi ‘no. Sinasabi ko lang ‘to para maisip mo na isa ka rin sa mga biktima ng trahedya — hindi lang ng trip ni Yolanda, kundi ng isang mas malaking sistema na matagal ka nang nilamon. ∞

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

OPINYON

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

EKSENANG PEYUPS

TEXTBACK

Ano ang masasabi mo sa naging tugon ni Aquino sa pagresolba sa problemang dulot ni Yolanda, lalo na sa Tacloban? ang maayos lang siguro kay pangulong Aquino sa aftermath ng yolandaay iyong cnn interview niya. Foreign press na mismo ang nagsasabing naging mabagal ang tugon ng pamahalaan (at defensive pa ang local press na ndi daw sila ang nagsabi noon). Sana naman magising ang pamahalaan dito. Halata pa nga atang ndi napaghandaan ang gaitong scenario dahil walang malinaw na recovery plan para sa mga naapektuhan. May pondo naman daw. 2012-21271 BA Hist napapaisip aq na hindi pa sapat ung tugon ng gobyerno. sa bayan namin na merida, leyte na nasalanta din walang 2long na umaabot. gu2m na ang pamilya q dun at di aq mkauwi pra 2lungan cla. nakakalungkot lng. buti nlng may ibang priv8 people na willing 2mulng. 2008-33848 LYN JURIS DOCTOR nakakabwiset. tengene puro paninisi, puro papogi. nakakapanot. rawr! 08-67863 Ano ang resolutions mo para sa panibagong semestre? Gusto kong makakuha ng mas mataas na grade thus magaaral na ako mabuti. Woohoo!!! 13-1**** Bimby Hindi na ako magkakacrush this sem They are #distractions Hueheheuhehe 2012-***** George CMC Iiwasan ko na pong mag drew’s ngayong sem haha \m/ 2011-092** Afan BSCE Hindi na ako magkakape kapag nag-aaral sa gabi. Bigla akong nakakatulog eh.-_- 2012-23037 SioPao Stat Ngayong 2nd sem. sisikapin kong layuan na sya, at sana magawa kong huwag na ring umasang mahalin pa niya. 2012***** BA PolSci Comments Maaari po bang paclarify, kasi ayon po sa inyong balita ng nov. 13 issue ukol sa mga dorm renovation (pg.4): “renovations include the repiping and retiling

HUWEBES, NOBYEMBRE 21, 2013

of bathrooms…”, bakit ganun, dito sa narenovate na 2nd floor-main supposed to be dito sa yakal ay ganun pa rin yung hitsura ng banyo? kung di man kasama sa budyet, di pa nila sinagad nakapagpintura’t naayos na rin lang yung mga ilaw at kisame, pinalitan na rin sana yung pinto nung mga cubicle ng yakal ng higher-grade na pinto tulad dun sa mga cubicle ng nigs c.r.? hay awan mabalinkon… 2011-36691 paul christian yand-ed Hi, I would just like to say that I really like Tuazon’s column. Whenever I get the paper, I read his column right away. I like his present column especially because he’s talking about morals and stuff, and I’m a philosophy major. K, just wanted to say that. On Editorial: u call deploying soldiers n police “worse”? THERE’S RAPE, KILLING, ESCAPED PRISONERS, NPA, LOOTING NON-BASIC GOODS! shallow n amateur 8-22279

CONTACT US! Write to us via snail mail or submit a soft copy to Rm. 401, Vinzons Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Email us pkule1314@gmail.com. Save Word attachments in Rich Text Format, with INBOX, NEWSCAN or CONTRIB in the subject. Always include your full name, address and contact details.

Next week’s questions 1. Ano ang masasabi mo sa sistema ng pagpapaloan sa UP? Sang-ayon ka ba dito? 2. Kung ikaw si Chichay, ano ang isasagot mo sa tanong ni Wacky na: “So, is that a yes? Key in KULE <space> MESSAGE <space> STUDENT NUMBER <required> NAME and COURSE (optional) and send to

0935 541 0512 0908 180 1076 Non-UP students must indicate any school, organization or sectoral affliation.

Da Englisheruh Edishun I dunno about you bitches but this Kulêhiyala’s been spending all her free time volunteering at the relief ops… ‘cause you know, like, Vinzons Hall is the new UP Town Cenner, amiright? Charotskies, like I’d be caught dead in that overpriced commercialist excuse for an income generator in place of subpar state subsidy! What am I, an Arrenean from the Arreneyow? Lolerz. Anyways, I have kwento!!! 1.

Kwennow Numerow Unow Perhaps Koya from the College of Human Kiyeme assumed that his place near the tambayans was perfect for trying to pry out whatever it was that got stuck in his nose, but I beg to differ. Jusko diday, ‘di man lang gumamit ng tuwalya or hankie or sumthin’? In fairness, nakaka-mesmerize lang panoorin ang kanyang pagkutkot for 20 seconds straight. My golly, as in! Sayang naman you, koya. You looked so yummy pa naman if not for that unfortunate incident only. :( 2.

Kwennow Numerow Doz Way to go, Mister and Miss Kaloka! You’ve double-handedly managed to make our entire class feel so miserably single! Pa’no ba naman, kung makadikit sa isa’t isa parang they’re playing an unli game of The Boat Is Sinking, Group Yourselves Into Two Tapos Mag-MOMOL. Pero ‘pag tinanong if there’s something between them, yung sagot ay, “Uhm, nooo-uh?” with matching intonation and perplexed look pa! Eh kung pag-untugin ko kayo diyan? Chosz. (Not really) 3.

Kwennow Numerow Trez Finally, sinasabi nga nilang “Basta driver, sweet lover”, pero kung makatesting naman ng hypothesis ‘tong si Iskobekibels na pinick-up ng isang Manong Driver, NKKLK!!! Tinake na nga ang front seat, kinareer pa ang pagkuha ng bayad para lang mahimas ang kanyang perfectly manicured fingerellas sa palm ni MD. Like, are you sure that’s all you want to make himas, sis? What’s more, sobrang obvious lang niya maka-steal ng glances at pansin ang desperation for small talk. Yun oh, Iskobekibels. Baby steps. Push mo lang ‘yan. Etcetera. Hoy, disclaimer lungs: if you think I’m too busy with the pagtutulongs that I can’t chika about anything outside the efforts, think again! May tenga ang lupa, and they happen to be wearing the same earrings as I am right now (meganon?). ‘Til next time, my bonggang bata’s of d’Bayan! To quote a friend of mine, “Mwah, mwah, lick, lick!”

NEWSCAN

Join Philippine Association of Nutrition - Alpha Chapter and PhilRice on NOVEMBER 24, 2013 (SUNDAY) 5AM in UP DILIMAN ACADEMIC OVAL for a FUN RUN in celebration of the National Year of Rice 2013 and the National Rice Awareness Month. Distances and Fees: 2K (150 pesos) and 5K (250 pesos) Registration fee includes drifit shirt and baller which will be distributed on November 24. Proceeds will benefit the victims of the recent calamities in Visayas. You may register online ( h t t p : / / w w w. p h i l r i c e . g o v. p h / run4rice2013/) or register and pay at the PAN-Alpha tambayan in UP Diliman College of Home Economics (CHE Activity Center 1). For shirt sizes, please refer to http://www.philrice.gov.ph/ run4rice2013/shirtsize.php SEE YOU THERE OKAY! GET WET. GET WILD. GET FIT. TIME TO MAKE A SPLASH AGAIN! JOIN THE AQUA ZUMBA POOL PARTY! NOVEMBER 23, Sat | 6-8PM | UP DILIMAN POOL Registration starts at 5pm Ticket for only P250. BUY TICKETS NOW TO GET DISCOUNTS! Contact Tin at 09157904452 for more details. Handa ka na bang tsumaMBBa? Sinuswerte ka ba? Hanggang saan aabot ang tsaMBBa mo? Sumali na sa pinakanakakabaliw na game show sa UP! Mula sa UP MBBS, inihahatid namin sa inyo ang TsaMBBahan, kung saan walang malas pero kahit sino maswerte! Manalo ng 20,000!! Joke lang, sinuswerte ka naman. 3,000 lang, tsong. SALI NA!!! November 27, 6PM NIMBB Building, National Science Complex Get fit for a great cause! Help the survivors of the earthquake and the typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas Region by joining this ZUMBA Bayanihan event on Friday, November 22, 2013, 5-8PM at the UP Gymnasium for only P100. See you! Please share!

www.philippinecollegian.org

NOWHERE MAN

Alan P. Tuazon

Death notes IT IS MY SECOND allowance cut this month, yet I am almost bankrupt due to readings—mostly from CW and CL classes. I spend a lot of time in CAL now, but still a stranger to this many-faced college. I have every intention of regaining my lost interest in schooling. I realized how, just last semester, I horrendously failed to memorize my class schedule due to excess absences. This semester would be different: my planner is constantly updated, my workplace implements a neat post-its system, and my laptop displays a clear timetable. Yes, it is about time to start recognizing the idea of a deadline. “I want to write for a living,” I told my parents over a casual family dinner in BGC. The reply was expected. They told me that I should start thinking practically; that I am too idealistic; that I should stop this talk on saving the world from capitalism. Their objection made me even more motivated to prove them wrong. I have always loved proving people wrong. I planned this strict regimen: a poem a day, a book a week, a constant update on my sci-fi blog. Finish that Goodreads to-read list, I also promised myself. Last night, I practiced writing poetry on the different versions of death. I fear death. It strips one off his identity once rotten flesh mixes with dirt. Death is dehumanizing. What is even more appalling is death by oppression. I was scanning back issues of Kule, and realized how diligently the newspaper covered the same issue of the Hacienda Luisita for the past years. To die at the hands of an oppressor is the most tragic death, I thought. What adds more to the tragedy is to die with the world not only forgetting your name, but also forgetting the cause to which you died for. People are just too busy planning their own fancy funeral. ∞

The Break Free picket protest is a week-long event which aims to raise media literacy and expose the culture of impunity in its many various forms. We are inviting everyone to join the activities and work together towards obtaining social and political justice.