Philippine Collegian Tomo 89 Issue 14

Students launch nationwide strike against SUCs budget cut—Page 3 Philippine Collegian Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman 22 Setyembre 2011 Tomo 89, Blg. 14

Trophies Terminal Cases Delfin Mercado

A

Dibuho ni Marianne Rios

Hindi lahat ng libre ay mabuti Lathalain Pahina 6-7

Cause for strike Editoryal Page 2

Blue print ng mga alaala Kultura Pahina 9

fairly jovial mood pervades the office tonight. Who could wear a frown during such great days?

Shamcey, the gorgeous UP alumna, was hailed as one of the most beautiful in the whole universe. The UP Pep Squad, the blonde ambassadors of school spirit, just bagged another championship.

May Oble bless Shamcey’s tidal strides and the squad’s golden crowns.

As usual, the infectious glee fails to keep me happy. After some hours, I begin reading the implications of such victories on myself—and sulk at the lowly position I have been tending during my college years.

I can’t help but feel unworthy. I, who cannot even finish a semester without dropping a subject or getting an INC, awes at the way I’ve managed to stay in a university of winners. But I have one saving grace: I am not the biggest disappointment in this university.

The most glaring problem in this blessed institution is not the sea of faceless underachievers like me. The most depressing lack, if I believe all the statements and news articles the Collegian has published recently, is the lack of funding.

UP has trophies to display now, but it still misses the long-awaited triumph over its budget crisis. For years now, the university has made ends meet with a myriad of absurd measures—setting up a mall in the middle of school property, raising tuition and fees, among others.

Those efforts, however, have never led to any good. The fight for higher budget almost seems like a lost cause, especially to those who have seen, over and over again, how the national government plugs its ears to deafening calls for greater subsidy.

Now that is a loss that trumps out my account of personal disappointments.

Having little when needing more certainly counts as a failure, particularly when one ceaselessly asserts to be sufficiently provided for.

Thus, I am not the biggest loser around here. We are. Because we are cheated of funds, we are deprived of something we all deserve.

The university’s cause for funding seems lost already, and the cynic in every one will opt for the easier choice—the one I’ve stuck to all my college life and kept me in loser station. Do nothing.

Lose, as many times as possible, then sulk afterwards.

The truth about our communal loss does not make me feel any better. Only winning can make me feel better. I want to win something too, but I am certain my athletic skills and awkward posture will never take a prize home. Perhaps I need to merge forces with fellow losers and fight to win something. There is after all, great chances of winning. Activist friends of mine have told me of how the strike last year actually brought home some extra dough for UP. It may not be the billions we need, but it certainly is proof that the fight is not totally lost— at least, not yet.

There’s no trophy to win in that fight, but the prize is certainly desirable. For once, I could say I fought for something.

And if we lose again, what’s there to lose still? I have nothing to lose anymore, except perhaps my claim to the name Iskolar ng Bayan.●

2 • Kulê Opinyon

Huwebes 22 Setyembre 2011

Cause for strike When neglect becomes the norm, a harsh response is not only inevitable—it is appropriate.

Such is the logic behind the national transport strike held last Monday and the national strike against budget cut in education and other social services this week. The Aquino administration’s consistent negligence of the people’s welfare has pushed the people over the edge, giving them due cause to halt the normal operations of everyday life.

Clearly, the people can no longer stand the daily grind of their lives. The rampant increases in oil prices have not only made transportation more expensive—the phenomenon has also triggered upward spikes in the prices of other basic commodities.

Expectedly, people whose livelihoods are based on transporting goods are most vulnerable to the effects of the oil price hikes. Amid a worsening crisis that pits low wages against high costs of living, every cent added to the price of oil reduces the income of drivers and other members of the transport group.

The drivers who staged the transport strike have clear demands: scrap the oil deregulation law and impose a ceiling on the oil prices.

Yet the Aquino administration, and the regimes before it, has chosen to ignore these calls. By refusing to regulate oil prices, the government has prioritized the profit motive of private oil companies, especially the Big Three—Chevron, Shell, and Petron—over the needs of the people.

So when the Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas called the transportation strike last Monday as “perwisyo,” his position on the matter of oil price hikes could not be mistaken. Apparently, Roxas thinks nothing of the frequent and unreasonable hikes in oil prices—the increases are normal occurrences that were beyond government control, a phenomenon that people have no other choice but to accept.

Docile acceptance, however, is not a fitting reply to the government’s insensitivity to the people’s plight.

QUOTED The AntiPlanking Act of 2011 is even more useless and absurd than the act of planking itself —tweet from planetchuckie,

September 20, 2011

Ysa Calinawan The people’s suffering is aggravated by the systematic reduction of the budget for social services. The 2012 budget proposal reveals that the administration has again provided less than what is needed for the sectors of health and education. For a people whose wages barely meet half of the prescribed daily living allowance, free or affordable education and healthcare certainly lightens the burden. The government deprives the people of such comforts by sticking to its policy of abandonment of social services.

As if mocking the urgency and depravity of the people’s situation, the government hails its “pantawid” programs as solutions to the crises.

For instance, to address the current crisis faced by the health sector, the government has turned to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to compensate for the zero budget it has given for the improvement of the country’s current health facilities. The administration fails to understand

Editoryal

that PhilHealth can only do so much as to pay a certain portion of a patient’s hospital fees. However, for as long as facilities remain decrepit, for as long as hospitals lack the necessary medical equipment, quality health services will remain inaccessible.

Meanwhile, in the case of addressing poverty, the administration has relied on the Conditional Cash Transfer Program, a program which gives limited assistance to families deemed poor by the government.

The family is entitled to five years’ worth of financial assistance from the government. However, a dole-out system will never suffice to battle poverty: the CCT dispenses cash in amounts that will be easily offset by the increasing costs of living, and thus could only serve as aid for subsistence living.

These government measures against prolonged socio-economic crises are not only inadequate; they are also means for profit. Social services, which cannot be maintained with the government’s measly subsidy, have been opened to intervention by the private sector. This program,

deceptively called public-private partnerships, again denies the people the smooth access to social services.

The triumph of the capitalist enterprise of profit accumulation over public service—this is the stasis in Philippine society that people reverse when in strike. The transport strike held last Monday, the strike for education this week and the subsequent strikes are all manifestations of the people’s desire for an alternative. The worsening crises fuels the people’s desire for genuine change, their rage at the prevailing order cannot be easily quelled. ●

Philippine Collegian www.philippinecollegian.org Punong Patnugot Marjohara S. Tucay Kapatnugot Pauline Gidget R. Estella Tagapamahalang Patnugot Dianne Marah E. Sayaman Panauhing Patnugot Jayson D. Fajarada Patnugot Sa Lathalain Mila Anna Estrella S. Polinar Patnugot Sa Grapiks Nicolo Renzo T. Villarete, Chris Martin T. Imperial, Ruth Danielle R. Aliposa Tagapamahala Ng Pinansiya Richard Jacob N. Dy Pinansiya Amelyn J. Daga Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon Paul John Alix Sirkulasyon Gary Gabales, Ricky Kawat, Amelito Jaena, Glenario Ommalin Mga Katuwang Na Kawani Trinidad Gabales, Gina Villas Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman, Lungsod Quezon Telefax 981-8500 lokal 4522 Email kule1112@gmail.com Website philippinecollegian.org Kasapi Solidaridad: UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers Organizations, College Editors Guild of the Philippines

This strike is not s simple nuisance.

The bigger nuisance here is how the oil cartel affects all drivers, commuters and motorists.

— Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño on the

transport strike last Monday, Philippine Daily Inquirer,September 20, 2011

You know how much I love the University of the Philippines where the students are the best, the brightest, the bravest, the most articulate, and the most prone to selfdelusion.

— Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, in an RH Forum

at the UP College of Law, September 15, 2011

3 • Kulê Balita

Huwebes 22 Setyembre 2011

Students launch nationwide strike against SUCs budget cut Isabella Patricia Borlaza Thousands of students from various state universities and colleges (SUCs) all over the Philippines have staged a national strike this week against the impending cuts in the allocation for SUCs next year.

Since last week, various student formations and organizations nationwide have launched a series of walk-outs, unity marches, noise barrages and other creative demonstrations “to create an atmosphere of protest” aimed at pressuring the Aquino administration to allot higher funds for public tertiary education and other social services, said UP Student Regent Kristina Conti.

In November last year, a series of protests and demonstrations were also launched by various student groups to oppose the over P400-million cut in the 2011 budget for SUCs, culminating in a nationwide student strike.

“Strike two na ito ng rehimeng Aquino. Kung noong nakaraang taon, naipakita natin ang galit ng kabataan sa mga kaltas na ginagawa ng gobyerno, uulitin natin ito ngayong muli na namang babawasan ang pondo para sa edukasyon,” said Vanessa Faye Bolibol, secretary general of the National Union of Students of the Philippines.

For next year, the government will only allot P23.6 billion for all 110 SUCs in the country, a P146.6-million decrease from the current P23.7 billion. The P23.6 billion SUCs budget

for 2012 is less than a third of the original P62-billion budget proposed

by SUCs. Fifty SUCs will sustain cuts in their budget for 2012, while 58 SUCs will suffer cuts in the personal services (PS) component of their budget, which is the fund used to pay for salaries and benefits of faculty and staff. Meanwhile, 45 SUCs will also sustain cuts in the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) component of their budget.

The government has not allotted even a single peso for capital outlay (CO), the fund used for the construction of new buildings and facilities for all SUCs. “We don’t see this merely as an

issue of budget cuts or short time problems. We see this as a crisis, not merely of funding but of direction.

Philippine education is moving towards a system where it is more commercialized, where education is becoming a privilege,” Conti said.

‘Collective protest’

In the National Capital Region, SUCs and local colleges have organized simultaneous protests and plan to converge at Mendiola on September 23. Student groups in the Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon and other parts of the Philippines have also organized simultaneous walkouts and demonstrations for the week.

The Polytechnic University of

the Philippines (PUP) kicked off the nationwide strike this week with a unity march that mobilized more than 8,000 students and faculty on September 20.

Catering to over 68,000 students, PUP proposed for a P2-billion budget for 2012, but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) only approved P 735 million.

“We strike back as we stand firm for our basic, fundamental rights and dignity as humans. In his administration’s new showing of its incompetence and absence of concern for the people, President Aquino passed a budget that is largely unresponsive to the needs of the people and insensitive to our

FIRST STRIKE. Members of the UP community march around the Academic Oval to protest the impending cuts in the budget for education and other social services in the opening salvo of the three-day strike in the Diliman campus on September 21. Meanwhile, top university officials, including UP President Alfredo Pascual, join around two thousand students, faculty and staff during the march.

Airnel Abarra and Richard Jacob Dy

condition,” said PUP Student Regent Rommel Aguilar.

‘UP strikes back’

Meanwhile, similar protest actions have also been launched by UP students, faculty and staff to denounce the impending P208-million cut in government subsidy for 2012.

Of the P17-billion budget that the UP administration proposed for next year, DBM approved only a third or P5.54 billion, constituting a 3.6 percent or P208.2 million decrease from the current P5.75 billion budget of the university.

“We must continue to demand increases in state subsidy for UP, increases in the pay of our faculty and the upgrading of our facilities deserving of a national university,” said UP President Alfredo Pascual.

In UP Diliman (UPD) and Los Baños, hundreds of students participated in walk-outs and unity marches that signaled the beginning of the strike week on September 21. In UP Manila, Visayas, Baguio and Mindanao, similar protest actions will be conducted starting September 22.

“Hangga’t hindi binibigay ng pamahalaan ang badyet na nararapat para sa mga pampublikong pamantasan at serbisyong panlipunan, hindi tayo titigil sa pagkilos – lalabas tayo sa ating mga klase, titigil tayo sa ating mga gawain kung kinakailangan, upang ipadama lang sa gobyerno ang ating galit sa kanilang kapabayaan,” said UPD University Student Council Chair Jemimah Garcia. ●

House OKs P208M cut in 2012 UP budget on 2nd reading P1.816 trillion nat’l budget passes without revisions Keith Richard D. Mariano The House of Representatives (HOR) has approved on second reading the 2012 General Appropriations Bill, which allocated only a third or P5.54 billion of the P17 billion that UP needs next year.

After nine days of marathon plenary sessions, members of the HOR passed on second reading House Bill (HB) No. 5023 last September 16, fully adapting the P1.816-trillion national budget prepared by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in its National Expenditure Program.

Under HB 5023, UP will only receive a P5.54-billion allocation for 2012, a 3.6 percent or P208-million decrease

from the current P5.75 billion budget of the university. The P5.54 billion allocation for next year is only a third of the P17 billion budget originally proposed by the UP administration.

Next year, UP’s budget for maintenance and other operating expenses will also be decreased

by P181.7 million or 20.6 percent, to P698.4 million from the current P880.1 million.

For the third consecutive year, UP along with all other state universities and colleges (SUCs) will also not receive any allocation for capital outlay, the fund for equipment and infrastructure development. DBM disapproved UP’s P7.2 billion proposal for CO, which included funds for the continued construction of the National Science Complex, new laboratories, dormitories and school buildings.

The budget for personal service or the source of fund for the salary of faculty and staff was also cut by

P27 million, to P4.845 billion from the current P4.872, mainly due to the removal of funds for unfilled positions.

Meanwhile, the government will also decrease the allocation for the 110 SUCs in the country by P142.4 million, bringing down the total SUCs budget to P21.89 billion from the current P22.04 billion.

“Small budget translates to poor services. UP has been underfunded continuously and it has stunted [its] growth. If UP’s target is to be a worldclass university, mahihirapan tayo dahil sa mababang budget,” said UP Student Regent Ma. Kristina Conti.

To call for higher budget for UP and other SUCs in the country, students, faculty and staff of various public universities launched a national coordinated strike this week (see related article).

No amendments yet While

HOR

has

approved

the appropriations bill without amendments, members of the House who wish to amend parts of the appropriations bill may opt to pass a written proposal to the ad hoc committee created during the plenary deliberations last week to scrutinize such amendments, said San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, member of the House Committee on Appropriations.

All proposed amendments will be discussed prior to the third and final reading on October 12. Once passed in the HOR, the appropriations bill will then be transmitted to the Senate, which will also create its own version of the bill.

Representatives from both houses of Congress will then meet in a bicameral committee to merge and reconcile the Senate and House versions of the bill, and submit it to the president for it to be signed into law.

Though Congress can still realign items in the appropriations bill in order

to increase the budget of UP and other SUCs, UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma said that in the past, the DBM does not release such realigned funds to the agencies, especially funds coming from congressional insertions.

In 2010, SUCs should receive P23.8 billion as appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, P2.8 billion of which were congressional initiatives. DBM did not release the congressional initiatives due to the lack of funds, according to Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

“Kailangang paigtingin talaga ang ating panawagan para sa mas mataas na budget para sa UP. Kailangan maintindihan ng lahat na kailangang suportahan ang UP dahil ito ay isang national treasure na may kakayahang magbigay ng epektibong solusyon sa mga problema ng ating bansa,” said Saloma. ●

4 • Kulê Balita

Huwebes 22 Setyembre 2011

Admin to review RGEP, STFAP Keith Richard D. Mariano

WALANG BIYAHE. Bilang pagsuporta sa tigil-pasada ng mga tsuper ng dyip, nagdaos ng kilos-protesta ang mga kabataan sa Commonwealth Avenue noong Setyembre 19. Ipinanawagan ng grupo ang pagbasura sa Oil Deregulation Law na nagpapahintulot sa mga kumpanya ng langis na magtaas ng presyo ng langis nang walang takdang halaga.

Airnel T. Abarra

Transport groups strike against oil deregulation, overpricing John Toledo Transport groups and other sectoral formations held a nationwide strike in protest of the rising prices of petroleum products, the pending toll hike and the deregulation of oil on September 19, mobilizing around 50,000 drivers to paralyze traffic in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Mindanao and parts of Metro Manila.

Protesters demanded a P9.00 rollback in the price of diesel, the abolition of the 12 percentvalue added tax (VAT) on oil products and the repeal of Oil Deregulation Law (ODL), which was passed in 1998 and “liberalize(d) and deregulate(d) the downstream oil industry.” “[Ang kilos protestang ito] ay pagtutol sa pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, laban sa overpricing at laban sa ODL na nagbibigay ng pahintulot sa mga cartel ng langis na magtaas ng lingguhan at ngayon nga bago matapos ang taong ito ay aabot ng P50 ang presyo ng diesel,” said Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) Secretary General for the National Capital Region Ruben Baylon.

Since the enforcement of the ODL, oil prices have increased “drastically” from P8 per liter in 1996 to P44-P45

per liter in 2011, while about P5-P6 per liter were placed on VAT for oil, Baylon added.

The price of diesel this year has risen to P44.50 per liter from last year’s P32.50 per liter, while the price of gasoline has risen to P55.15 per liter from P42.00 per liter last year, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.The research group also claims that oil firms overprice diesel by as much as P9 per liter.

There have been 21 increases and 12 rollbacks for diesel this year, based on the records of Department of Energy (DOE).

“Sa bawat pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina, epekto nito ang pagliit ng kita ng mga tsuper at katumbas yan ang pagliit ng kita ng mga mamamayan partikular ang mga manggagawa sa kadahilanang tataas ang mga presyo ng bilihin [pati pamasahe],”explained Baylon.

Though the Aquino government had recently passed the Executive Order 32 which allotted P450 million to finance the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP) or the “Pantawid Pasada” Program of DOE, the support is not enough for 373,000 jeepney operators who spend P1,500 per day on 30 liters of oil, according to PISTON.

Unless the ODL is not repealed, there will be no substantial decrease of competition in the market, said Kilusang Mayo Uno vice-chairperson Lito Ustarez. All sectors of the society are affected unless President Aquino truly faces these problems, he further explained.

‘Nuisance strike’

Other sectors also joined in the protest, staging noise barrages, mass planking and “die-ins” in different regions across the country.

Stranded commuters either rode taxis or walked to their destinations in the absence of jeeps. Alarmed by the traffic build up caused by the protests, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Metro Manila Development Authority prepared free bus rides to these stranded passengers.

In provinces such as Davao, Cavite and Laguna, city officials deployed buses and dump trucks for stranded passengers.

Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas reportedly called the strikes “nuisance to the public.”

Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño, who joined the transport strike, retorted and said the unabated increase inoil prices by the cartel is the real nuisance to the people. ●

The UP administration is planning to review the Revitalized General Education Program (RGEP) and the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) of the university to answer various concerns on the implementation of both programs.

In his investiture speech last September 15, UP President Alfredo Pascual laid down his administration’s plans to “improve” the RGEP and to “restructure” the STFAP. “We must improve general education (GE) so students can acquire an even broader foundation in the sciences and the humanities. We need to train our students in higherorder thinking, ingrain in them the value of life-long learning as leaders in their fields, and, even more critically, in working for the public good,” said Pascual.

Pascual also pushed for the restructuring of the STFAP in order to “maintain the public character” of the university. “UP must be a university where students earn their degrees as Iskolar ng Bayan regardless of the economic status of their family,” he added.

‘Hybrid GE program’

The current GE program of the university allows students to freely choose any GE subject as long as they satisfy 45 units of GE subjects or five subjects in each of the three domains of Arts and Humanities; Social Sciences and Philosophy; and Math, Science and Technology.

Due to the freedom offered by the RGEP, however, some students are not able to take “core courses” such as Philippine History, said Student Regent Ma. Kristina Conti.

In 2010, then President Emerlinda Roman commissioned a systemwide conference to review the RGEP. The consolidated results of the review revealed that “necessity of the subject is the students’ last consideration” in choosing GE subjects. Students tend to choose “easy, uno-able and fun” GE subjects, the report revealed. With the implementation of the RGEP in 2001, academic standards “seem to have been relaxed,” according to the report.

For instance, the number of students graduating with honors has sharply increased since the RGEP. Prior to the implementation of RGEP in 1998, an average of five students graduate as summa cum laude per year. With the RGEP in force, the number of students graduating summa cum laude has increased to over 20.

The administration will conduct a GE summit next month to look into the flaws of the RGEP, said UP Diliman

(UPD) Chancellor Caesar Saloma.

The administration is planning to come up with a “hybrid” GE program, which would prescribe a certain number of required and elective units in each domain, added Conti. In UPD, for instance, the administration plans to prescribe 9 out of the 15 units of GE courses required in each domain, she explained.

“Our GE program must instill the urgent lessons in ethics and civics, public-mindedness, national pride and global orientation,” said Pascual.

Democratic access

Meanwhile, Pascual unveiled his administration’s plans to restructure the STFAP as a way of ensuring the “public character” of UP. The administration wants more students to declare their actual bracket classification, especially those who qualify under Bracket A and pay P1,500 per unit, said Conti. The increase in the number of students under Bracket A would enable the administration to increase the number of students under Bracket E1 and E2, who enjoy free tuition, Conti explained.

Results of the STFAP policy review conducted by the Office of the Student Regent in July revealed that 90 percent of the respondents throughout the UP System land in brackets higher than what they applied for. For instance, 36 percent of the UPD respondents applied for bracket E but only 1.69 percent of the respondents were actually classified under the said bracket.

Progressive student organizations have been pushing for the scrapping of the STFAP as it has not “fulfilled its function as a supposed mitigator of the effects of tuition fee increase [but] has rather made tuition fee increase more acceptable to students,” said UPD Student Council Chairperson Jemimah Grace Garcia.

The STFAP was first instituted in 1989, when tuition was increased from P40 to P300 per unit. Students then were classified into nine brackets under the numeric bracketing scheme. When tuition was again increased by 300 percent in 2007, the administration restructured the STFAP to the present alphabetic bracketing scheme.

“Let us remember that we are in a state university where the poorest and the brightest should be able to study. [Students] should not be forced to enter a ‘poorer than thou’ contest in order to be able to avail of government subsidy for their tuition because by virtue of UP being a state university, that should have been a given,” said Garcia. ●

5 • Kulê Balita

Huwebes 22 Setyembre 2011

UP Pep swagger stuns competition Snags fourth cheerdance title in five years Glenn L. Diaz At the sound of the first drum beats, eight girls were at once in the air.

Assisted double cupies, where two fliers are raised by a single lifter, opened the 6-minute routine of the UP Pep Squad, the eventual champions— the first time the stunt was seen in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

Surprise second-placer De La Salle Animo Squad tried one set in their routine but failed, with one flier falling just as she was lifted. For its part, the Diliman-based team of Coach Lalaine Pereña had four successful sets.

This would set the tone for the immensely difficult routine of the now seven-time champions, pulling off a decisive and confident victory that puts the squad one title away from tying its erstwhile rival University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe’s record eight plums.

Inspired by the pop icon Madonna, their routine this year was a noticeable departure from the Pinoy themes that the squad had been known for. From their banderitas-draped uniform last year, they donned black fitted jackets with corsets. From fiesta-like drum beats, they danced to “Four Minutes” and “Material Girl.” From sunflower pompoms, they transformed the queen of pop’s iconic Gaultier cone bras into golden pompoms.

“UP is known for being a trendsetter, for being adventurous and fearless,” says co-captain Laurence Bautista. “And with these, we identify with her. Her legacy is timeless so we were hoping that a lot of people will appreciate the routine.”

The bleached hair also became a curiosity to a lot of fans, hiking up the already intense anticipation over what this pioneering squad will do next. Squad captain Kae Madrigal says that while doing a Madonna-inspired theme was “exciting,” some members had doubts with bleaching their hair.

“Just changing your hair color is fine, but bleaching it is another thing.

It was pretty scary because we knew that it would damage our hair,” she adds.

But this collective effort is something that the UP Pep Squad had also been known for, with members getting the same hairdos year after year for better cohesion and as a show of team unity.

And with the skill level that they’re at, easily pulling off mountings and pyramids that the other seven squads don’t even attempt, the squad appears to have cemented its fearsome powerhouse status this year.

INTO THE GROOVE. The UP Pep Squad victoriously defends their cheerdance crown in the 2011 UAAP Cheerdance Competition at the Araneta Coliseum on September 17.

With their stunning Madonna-inspired routine, the UP Pep gave the university its seventh championship title in UAAP cheerdance. Airnel Abarra and Richard Jacob Dy

Even the technically efficient Far Eastern University Cheering Squad, last year’s runner-up and foil to what could’ve been a five-peat this year, had to settle for the bronze, when its Bollywood-inspired routine encountered errors and missteps in choreography.

But squad captain Kae Madrigal says they have gone beyond competing with others for the ultimate prize.

Presenting a perfect routine for the 21,000-strong crowd at the Big Dome – and more so for the black-clad UP contingent – was its own reward.

“We focus on our team and we try not to compare ourselves to the other teams,” she says. “Winning comes second.”

“The UP Pep is known for setting a standard in the competition,” Bautista says. “And every year, we strive very hard to show something new.”

And this year, the UP Pep Squad is peerless in the mat. Alongside the P340,000 prize money and the cheerdancing crown, its five-member continent also topped the inaugural group stunt division, while Nesza Salvador, also from the squad, was named Samsung Stunner.

The squad is set to fly to Hong Kong in November to represent the country at the Cheerleading World Championships. Madrigal says they have not started practicing for that yet, as the UAAP season just wrapped up for them.

“We are just so happy that we gave pride to our school,” she says.

“The support the UP community gave us was just so overwhelming. Seeing them happy just keeps us going.”

Always hard-pressed to top each performance year after year, Bautista says the team can still improve.

“There are more things that we can show. Our supporters can expect another amazing routine next year.” ●

DOJ extends travel ban vs Palparan, 4 military officials Security aide pleads innocent to abduction of Karen, She Joan Cordero The Department of Justice (DOJ) extended the watchlist order (WLO) issued against Retired Major General Jovito Palparan, Jr. and four other military officials accused of abducting UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006.

Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III issued the order on September 19, extending the effectivity of the July 13 WLO that expired on September 10.

The WLO automatically bars Palparan and the four other military officials from leaving the country while criminal charges lodged against them are being heared in the DOJ. The WLO was issued against Palparan and four other military officials due to their alleged involvement – along with Second Lieutenant Arnel Enriquez, Major Sergeant Donald Caigas and other unidentified military personnel – in the abduction and torture of Empeño, Cadapan and farmer Manuel Meriño.

The DOJ also directed Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David include the names of Lieutenant

Colonels Rogelio Boac and Felipe Anotado, Second Lieutenant Francis Mirabelle Samson and Master Sgt. Rizal Hilario in the Bureau of Immigration’s Watchlist. Individuals listed under the watchlist must secure a government clearance before leaving the country.

Empeño and Cadapan were abducted by alleged military personnel in Hagonoy, Bulacan on June 26, 2006, and remain missing up to this day.

“Hanggang dinidinig pa ang kaso dapat manatili ang suspek sa loob ng bansa, hindi dapat sila magtangkang umalis dito,” said Concepcion Empeño, Karen’s mother.

Repeated denial

Meanwhile, Palparan’s security aide Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio has again denied his involvement in the abduction of the missing UP students, dismissing the accounts of the witnesses as mere “fishing expeditions.” “[I] was never assigned within the area of responsibility of 7th Infantry Division where the alleged incident took place,” said Osorio in a 2-page rejoinder affidavit submitted September 7 to answer the joint reply of the mothers of Empeño and Cadapan.

The rejoinder-affidavit was in response to the reply affidavit submitted by the mothers of Empeño

and Cadapan during the DOJ hearing on September 7.

Osorio explained that, at the time of the alleged abduction, he was training in the Army Personnel Management Center in Fort Andres Bonifacio. He added that he has never met Empeño or Cadapan, and has only met the witnesses Wilfredo Ramos and Alfredo Ramirez during the DOJ hearings.

Osorio served as Palparan’s security aide during the DOJ preliminary hearing on July 19. During the said hearing, witness Ramos identified and declared that Osorio was one of the armed men that abducted Empeño, Cadapan and Meriño. “[Osorio’s statement] is full of general denials and alibis. There are no new arguments presented,” said Atty. Edre Olalia, legal counsel of the complainants, explaining that the contents of the rejoinder-affidavit were rehashed statements taken from the counter-affidavit that Osorio filed last August.

The DOJ investigating panel will hold a clarificatory hearing on September 23, wherein the complainants, the witnesses, and the respondents in the case will be crossexamined by the panel.

“This is tiring but we cannot stop now. Physically, it is taxing, and financially too, but we could not give up until we find justice,” said Empeño, Karen’s mother. ●

6-7 • Kulê Lathalain

Kevin Mark R. Gomez at Jeremy G. Pancho Pagpatak ng alas-tres ng hapon, tila pinapaso ng araw ang lahat ng nasa Barangay San Roque, Quezon City. Tinitiis ito ni Nanay Mila* habang nakaupo siya sa kahoy na bangkong nakapwesto sa tapat ng mga tindang banana cue ng kapitbahay. Hinihintay niya ang kanyang bunsong anak, at pinalilipas niya ang pagkabagot sa pakikipagkwentuhan sa mga taong mapapadaan.

Manggagaling ang anak ni Aling Mila sa East Avenue, kung saan may pinakamalapit na Automated Teller Machine (ATM). Bagaman wala silang perang maiiimbak sa bangko, mayroon silang ATM card. Sa ATM card na ito nakukuha ang pera mula sa conditional cash transfer (CCT) program ng pamahalaan, kung saan benepisyaryo si Nanay Mila kasama ang 118 pang iba sa kanilang lugar.

Direktang tumatanggap ng buwanang subsidyo mula sa pamahalaan ang mga benepisyaryo ng CCT kapalit ng pagsunod sa iba’t ibang mga itinakdang kondisyon (sumangguni sa sidebar). Maaaring makatanggap ng hanggang P1,400 ang isang benepisyaryo ng 4Ps: P500 para

Huwebes 22 Setyembre 2011

sa pagkain ng pamilya, at P300 ang nakalaan bilang suporta sa hanggang tatlong anak na 0-14 anyos at nagaaral.

Sa kaso ni Nanay Mila, tumatanggap siya ng P1,100 kada buwan dahil mayroon siyang dalawang anak na nasa elementarya at hayskul.

Mag-isa niyang itinataguyod ang mga anak, at hindi sapat ang kinikita niya sa pagtitinda ng pagkain at basahan.

Para sa mga tulad ni Nanay Mila na nakararanas ng matinding kahirapan, ginhawang maituturing ang direktang subsidyong ibinibigay ng pamahalaan. “Natuwa naman ako at aking mga kapitbahay sa [CCT] dahil kahit papaano naramdaman namin ang tulong ng pamahalaan,” ani Nanay Mila.

Pangunahing programa

Hangga’t tumutupad si Nanay Mila sa mga kondisyong hinihingi ng 4Ps, patuloy siyang makatatanggap ng subsidyo.

Inangkat ang konsepto ng CCT mula sa ibang mga bansa. Sa Mexico unang ipinatupad ang CCT noong 1997, matapos buhusan ng teknikal na suporta ng mga institusyong pampinansiyang World Bank (WB) at Asian Development Bank (ADB). Ang WB at ADB rin ang mismong nagpautang ng pondo sa

mga pamahalaang nagpatupad ng programa.

Tinatawag na Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) ang bersyon ng Pilipinas, na unang ipinatupad noong 2007 sa panahon ni dating Pangulong Gloria Arroyo. Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino program ang unang naging tawag rito na ipinatupad sa anim na bayan sa Pilipinas, kabilang ang siyudad ng Pasay at Calooocan. Umabot ng higit sa 1 milyon ang mga benepisyaryo ng naunang CCT, ayon sa ulat ng WB. Ipinagpatuloy ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ang 4Ps sa kanyang administrasyon at ipatutupad ito mula 2010 hanggang 2015. Dumami na ang mga benepisyaryo, mula 1 milyon tungong 2.3 milyon ngayong 2011.

Ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang pangunahing ahensiyang titiyak nito.

Unang isinagawa ang 4Ps sa mga piling mahihirap na lugar sa Pilipinas.

Katulad sa ibang bansa, nag-ambag rin ng teknikal na suporta ang WB at ADB bago tuluyang naipatupad ang 4Ps sa panahon pa man ni Arroyo. Layunin ng 4Ps na wakasan ang kahirapan ng mga maralitang pamilya sa pamamagitan ng direktang pamimigay ng pera.

“We believe that lack of education and access to health are the root causes of poverty, and these are what

4Ps is trying to address by enabling poor families to avail these services through cash grants,” ani Pamela Susara, public information officer ng DSWD. Maliban dito, layunin rin ng 4Ps na tuparin ang lima sa walong Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) tulad ng pagwakas sa malawakang kahirapan at pagtitiyak sa edukasyong unibersal.

Tumutukoy ang MDGs sa mga layuning nais kamtin ng ilang bansang kasapi ng United Nations hanggang 2015.

Subalit pagkatapos ng 2015, unti-unting bababa ang suporta ng pamahalaan sa 4Ps, ayon sa Philippine Development Plan (PDP) ni Aquino.

Ginagamit lamang ang 4Ps para makahabol ang Pilipinas sa pag-abot ng mga MDGs, ani Geneve Reyes, pangkalahatang kalihim ng Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), organisasyon ng mga manggagawang pangkalusugan.

“The 4Ps has been dramatically expanded although a comprehensive and independent assessment of its effectiveness in the country has yet to be seen,” ani Prof. Marivic Raquiza ng UP National College of Public Administration and Governance. Maliban sa ulat ng WB at mga isinagawang pag-aaral ng Social Weather Stations, wala pang kahit na anong dokumento sa bansang nagpapatunay na epektibo ang CCT. “The results of [another] evaluation were not even of overwhelming success with poor or lackluster results. It is still unclear [whether] the SWS survey was comprehensive enough to justify… CCTs,” ayon sa institusyong pananaliksik na IBON Foundation.

Bagaman hindi tiyak ang epekto ng 4Ps, malinaw na panibagong dagdag ito sa ating mga utang panlabas.

Pawang mga pautang ang pondo ng 4Ps—$405 milyon (higit P17.6 bilyon) mula sa WB at $400 (P17.4 bilyon) milyon galing ADB.

Palyang palisiya

Umani ang 4Ps ng maraming kritisismo mula sa iba’t ibang grupo buhat ng tahasan nitong pamimigay ng

pera—isang prosesong binansagang “dole-out” o halos limos. Bukod dito, marami ring pagkakataong pumalya ang programa.

Tanging DSWD ang ahensiyang nagtitiyak na naipatutupad ang bawat hakbang ng 4Ps —mula sa pagpili ng mga benepisyaryo sa komunidad, pagrehistro, pagtiyak na tumutupad s a

Ilan sa mga kasalukuyang palya ng 4Ps ang pagkakaroon ng mga benepisyaryong hindi lubos na nangangailangan, o mga maralitang hindi kasama sa listahan. Sa Barangay San Roque, 34 lamang sa 119 benepisyaryong pamilya ang aktwal na tumatanggap ng perang madalas kinukulang pa, kwento ni Nanay Mila.

ang pinakahuling perang kanyang nakuha at magtatatlong buwan nang walang natatanggap. “Sinusunod ko naman ang mga kondisyon, pero bakit gano’n?” pagtataka ni Nanay Mila.

Mainit ring usapin ang mismong mga kondisyong nakapaloob sa 4Ps. “Tumutupad ang mga benepisyaryo sa [mga] kondisyon para lang mapunan ang rekisito ng programa [at] hindi dahil naniniwala silang mahalaga ang check up o edukasyon,” ani Cham Perez, senior researcher ng Center for Women’s Resources (CWR), isang institusyong pananaliksik ng kababaihan. Lumilikha rin ang 4Ps ng “culture of dependence,” ayon sa CWR. Bunsod ng matrabaho ngunit hindi tiyak na epektibong katangian ng 4Ps, maaaring maging kasayangan lamang ito sa makinarya ng pamahalaan at pera ng taumbayan, ani dating Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo .

Pansamantalang ginhawa

mga

kondisyon ang mga benepisyaryo, at iba pa. Buong bansa ang sakop ng 4Ps at marami ring mga prosesong kailangang ipatupad sa iba’t ibang antas ng burukrasya at pamamahala, kaya’t hindi maiiwasang magkaroon ng mga palya ang programa.

“We also need a performance audit to gauge whether the DSWD is indeed capable of implementing a program in such scale,” ani Raquiza.

Bagaman may mga pagkukulang ang 4Ps, “all systems are smoothly working for the program,” ani Susara. Aniya, kung mayroon mang hinaing ukol sa programa, maaari naman itong ipaabot sa pamamagitan ng pagtetext sa numero ng DSWD. Para sa mga maralitang benepisyaryo, maaaring problema ang pagkakaroon ng cellphone, tulad na lamang ng kaso ni Nanay Mila. Walang siyang cellphone kaya’t hindi niya matext ang DSWD na P800 lamang

Kaakibat na nosyon ng CCT ang pamumuhunan ng pamahalaan sa mamamayan upang mabawasan ang kahirapan at makamit ang kaunlaran.

Kaya’t sa mga sumunod na taon, malaki ang itinaas ng badyet ng 4Ps mula P10 bilyon noong 2010 tungong P29.2 bilyon ngayong taon, at P39.5 bilyong sa 2012.

“We focus on strengthening human conditions by providing cash grants [for] health and education requirements so that before or by the end of 4Ps, kaya na ng mga beneficiary to stand on their own,” ani Susara.

Habang dinagdagan ng mahigit P19 bilyon ang pondong laan sa 4Ps, nanatiling mababa ang badyet para sa mga batayang serbisyo tulad ng edukasyon at kalusugan. Tinatayang 11.5 bahagdan lamang ng kabuuang badyet ang inilaan ni Aquino sa edukasyon, isa sa mga pinakamababang paglaan sa sektor sa loob ng sampung taon. Napipinto rin ang muling pagkaltas sa badyet ng mga pampublikong pamantasan tulad ng UP. Mapanlinlang naman ang mga pagtaas ng badyet para sa kalusugan, dahil napupunta lamang ang kalakhan nito sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) at hindi sa mismong operasyon ng mga pampublikong ospital. Wala ring

pondong inilaan para sa mga indigent patients.

Bunsod ng kawalan ng maayos na pasilidad at murang gamot sa mga ospital, hindi rin lubos napakikinabangan ng mamamayan ang PhilHealth, ani Reyes.

Bunga ng mababang badyet, kalunos-lunos ang estado ng mga serbisyong panlipunan sa bansa.

Kulang ang mga paaralan ng 152,000 silid- aralan, 95.5 milyong aklat, at 103,500 na guro, ayon sa tala ng Department of Education. Sa tala ng HEAD, anim sa bawat sampung Pilipino ang namamatay ng hindi nabibigyan ng atensyong medikal.

Hangga’t nananatiling kalunoslunos ang kalagayan ng batayang serbisyo tulad ng kalusugan at edukasyon, tila nawawalan ng saysay ang mataas na pondo ng 4Ps. Sakaling magkaroon ng malalang karamdaman ang kahit isa kanila Nanay Mila, hindi nila kakayaning bayaran ang mga gastusin sa ospital kahit pa gamitin ang buong perang natatanggap sa programa.

Kahit araw-araw pang pumasok ang mga anak ni Nanay Mila, hindi rin niya matiyak kung may kalidad ang edukasyong kanilang nakukuha bunsod ng kakulangan sa mga guro at pasilidad. Hindi rin katiyakan ang pagtatapos sa pagaaral sa paghahanap ng trabaho.

Kasalukuyang may 4.6 milyong Pilipinong walang trabaho, bagaman 87 bahagdan o higit apat na milyon sa kanila ang nakatuntong ng kolehiyo o hayskul, ayon sa IBON Foundation.

“This underscores [the] overall economic conditions of poor jobs prospects where [being educated] is no guarantee of getting work; it is unrealistic to assume that having attended school or being healthier will result [to] productive and decent-paying employment,” pahayag ng IBON. Habang walang komprehensibong palisiyang titiyak sa pangmatagalang kapakanan ng mamamayan tulad ng magandang serbisyong panlipunan at kaayusang sapat na nakatutugon sa kanilang pangangailangan, hindi malayong walang kahinatnan ang 4Ps.

Pangmatagalang solusyon

Bahagi lamang ang 4Ps ng malawak at hindi malinaw na programa ng pamahalaan upang wakasan ang kahirapan. Maliban sa PDP ni Aquino at pagtutulungan ng iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno, walang aktwal na planong naglalatag ng mga konkretong hakbangin kontra-kahirapan.

Ayon kay Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino, hindi CCT ang dapat na pagtuunan ng pansin ng National Anti-Poverty Commission. “Where is land reform, industrialization, decent job creation or wealth distribution?

No wonder [NAPC] also pushes for inadequate solutions like CCT,” ani Palatino.

Pinatutunayan lamang ng mga mababaw na solusyon tulad ng 4Ps kung gaano kakitid ang pangunawa ng pamahalaan sa kahirapan.

Kailanman hindi matutugunan ng mga programang pantawid tulad ng 4Ps ang mga problemang may malalim na pinag-uugatan. Sa halip, pinananatili lamang nito ang kasalukuyang kaayusan kung saan walang puwang ang pag-unlad ng mga maralitang tila

Mga litrato ni Keithley Difuntorum Disenyo ng pahina ni Roanne Descallar

Nilimos na kaunlaran

Ang conditional cash transfer bilang panandaliang tugon sa kahirapan

nabilanggo ng kahirapan. *Hindi tunay na pangalan

Mga kondisyong kailangang sundin sa ilalim ng 4Ps

• Pagbisita sa health centers ng mga: -batang 0- 5 taong gulang para sa ‘complete immunization, weight monitoring, nutrition counseling and preventive health services’ kada buwan -batang 6- 14 taong gulang upang makatanggap ng ‘de- worming pills,’ dalawang beses sa isang taon -mga inang buntis upang makatanggap ng ‘pre- and post- natal care, and childbirth,’ isang beses kada buwan • Pagpasok sa paaralan para sa 85% na patakaran sa attendance ng mga: -batang 3- 5 taong gulang na pumapasok sa Day Care -batang 6- 14 taong gulang na pumapasok sa elementarya at hayskul • Pagdalo ng Family Development Sessions isang beses sa isang buwan

8 • Kulê Kultura Mary Joy T. Capistrano “Sa bilang ng isa, dalawa, tatlo!” Sabay-sabay na huminto ang kalansingan ng mga kutsara at tinidor. Tumigil ang lahat sa kanilang ginagawa— isa itong freeze mob. Sa AS, nag-plank naman ang mga magaaral sa AS steps habang abala ang ilan sa pagpipinta sa kalsada.

Ilan lamang ang mga nabanggit sa pagtatangkang pag-angkop ng mga kabataang aktibista sa nagbabagong panahon. Ito marahil ang istiryutipo na hindi matatakasan ng kahit sinong mag-aaral ng UP, sumang-ayon man sila o hindi. Nakilala ang UP sa ganitong kaisipan dahil sa palagiang niton pagtindig sa mga isyu, lokal man o pambansa. Hindi ito ang imahe na nais ng ibang mag-aaral ng UP na ikabit sa kanila, subalit hindi ito ganoong kadaling iwasan. Nakaugat ang radikal na reputasyon ng unibersidad sa mayamang kasaysayan at tradisyon ng aktibismo na nakaukit na sa ating kasaysayan.

Huwebes 22 Setyembrel 2011

Duyan ng magiting Sa talumpati sa pagtatatag ng KM noong 1964, sinabi ni Jose Ma. Sison na mas madaling tumanggap ng mga bago’t progresibong pananaw ang mga kabataan kaysa nakatatanda.

Pinaniniwalaang kabataan ang makapagbibigay-sigla sa rebolusyong wawasak sa nabubulok na sistema ng lipunan.

N a g i n g masikhay ang mga

magbarikada at magkilos-protesta sa kabila ng pandarahas ng armadong pwersa ng rehimeng Marcos.

Nang ideklara ng yumaong diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos ang batas militar noong

Idagdag pang highly militarized ang UP campus especially sa AS,” ani Prop.

Judy Taguiwalo, isa sa mga hinuling batang aktibista noong Martial Law. Upang makapagpatuloy, napilitan ang karamihang mag-underground.

Tumungo naman ang ilan sa mga probinsya upang mag-armas at labanan ang pwersa ng diktaduryang Marcos.

Binuno ng mga

Balik-tanaw

Itinatag ang UP sa panahong puno ng ligalig at alinlangan.

Matapos ang pananakop ng mga dayuhan, larawan ng krisis ang Pilipinas.

Lugmok ang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka at manggagawa.

Tumaas ang presyo ng mga bilihin at naging sunud-sunuran ang piso sa galaw ng dolyar. Mainit rin ang usapin ng soberanya at nasyonalismo, lalo na sa mga kolonya ng mga m a ka ka p a n g y a r i h a n g bansa gaya ng Estados Unidos. Samantala, niligalig naman ang mundo ng pagusbong ng iba’t ibang problema at krisis tulad ng gera sa Vietnam.

Ito ang kalagayang kinamulatan ng mga progresibong kabataan noong dekada 60 na nagtulak sa kanila upang basagin ang intelektuwal na konserbatismong namamayani sa bansa dulot ng malakas na kontrol ng US sa pulitika at sa ekonomiya.

Sa paghahanap ng masasandigang pagsusuri sa mga problemang kinakaharap, naging gabay ng mga kabataan ang mga akda nina Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin at Mao Tse-Tung at ang mga makabayang akda nina Claro M. Recto, Teodoro Agoncillo at Renato Constantino. Dito nila nasapul ang kritikal na pagsusuri sa Pilipinas: malapyudal at malakolonyal ang lipunang Pilipino kaya’t hindi mapatid ang mga krisis rito.

Bunsod ng pangangailangang bumuo ng pwersa ng mga progresibong kabataan, umusbong ang iba’t ibang organisasyon katulad ng Kabataang Makabayan (KM).

Kasabay ng pagbuo sa KM at iba pang organisasyong pangkabataan ang pagsibol ng kilusang kabataan sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng mundo.

kabataan sa pagmumulat at paghikayat sa mga taong makilahok sa pagbabago ng lipunan. Naglunsad sila ng mga impormal na pag-aaral tungkol sa mga panlipunang usapin.

Lumabas ng mga silid-aralan ang mga kabataang organisador para alamin ang situwasyon ng mga manggawa sa mga pabrika at magsasaka sa kanayunan. Dito nila napagtantong hindi kaiba ang kanilang ipinaglalaban sa loob ng kampus sa iba pang sektor ng lipunan.

Daloy ng tunggalian

Ang First Quarter Storm noong 1970 at ang Diliman Commune ng 1971 ang ilan sa mga kaganapang sumubok sa tapang at katatagan ng mga kabataan. Hindi sila nangiming

Setyembre 21, 1972, tinutugis at itinuturing na mga subersibo ang mga makabayang mag-aaral. Dahil direktang nararanasan ng mga kabataan ang karahasan ng estado, matinding pakikipagtunggali ang kanilang isinukli dito. Nag-organisa ang mga kabataan nang palihim sa loob at labas ng kampus, sa mga komunidad at paggawaan.

“During martial law ipinagbawal ang student organizations at ginawang illegal ang mga mass organizations, walang student council at walang dyaryo, Philippine Collegian.

sumunod na henerasyon ng mga kabataan ang mahabang panahon ng diktadurya sa pagpapalakas. Nang mahinog ang kundisyon sa pagbagsak ni Marcos noong 1986, kaisa ang kilusang kabataan sa pag-aaklas sa EDSA na naging wakas ng diktadurya.

Kagyat na isinulong ng mga kabataan ang pagbabalik ng mga karapatang sibil sa mga mamamayan at sa mga mag-aaral.

Pagpapatuloy ng hamon

Matapos ang pag-aalsang Edsa, nagkaroon ng pagtinging nagbalik na ang demokrasya kaya’t maaari nang isantabi ang radikal na pagkilos laban sa estado.

Ngunit ngayon, 25 taon matapos ang unang pag-aalsang EDSA, iyon

at iyun pa rin ang mga problemang kinakaharap ng mamamayan at mga kabataan—kawalan ng sapat na trabaho na may nakabubuhay na sahod, kakulangan ng badyet sa batayang serbisyo gaya ng edukasyon, lumolobong utang na panlabas, kawalan ng pambansang industriya at mapanlinlang na repormang agraryo.

“Wala namang nagbago. Mas lalo [lamang] tumindi ang krisis ng lipunan kaya talagang mainam lang na i-maximize ng mga kabataan ngayon ang lahat ng kanyang talento, gamitin ang lahat ng revolutionary ideas niya para mas higit na makapag-educate at makapagmobilize ng mamamayang Pilipino,” ani John Francis Losaria ng Anakbayan, isang komprehensibong organisasyon ng kabataan.

Bagamat pareho pa ring mga problema ang kinakaharap ng mga mamamayan at kabataan, kinakailangang iangkop ang pamamaraan ng pakikibaka sa panahon. Bahagi ng pag-unlad ng porma ng pakikisangkot ang mga oportunidad na ibinibigay ng teknolohiya.

Nandyan ang internet, iba’t ibang mga social website katulad ng facebook, twitter at marami pang iba kung saan mas mabilis ang daloy ng ko m u n i ka s y o n — a t mas madaling maabot ang mga kabataang hindi pa namumulat.

Iba’t ibang paraan ang ginagamit upang pukawin ang mga kapwa kabataan na makilahok sa mga pagkilos. Modernong bersyon ng die-in sa mga rally noon ang planking na isinagawa kamakailan ng mga estudyante bilang suporta sa transport strike.

Nariyan din ang flash mob/ dance at freeze mob na agawpansin para sa mga namamanhid nang sensibilidad.

“Gumagawa tayo ng mga creative ways para mahamig o ma-entice ang kalakhang bilang ng mga estudyante upang makiisa sa pagkilos hindi lang sa isyu ng budget cut kundi maging ng iba pang sektor ng lipunan,” ani Jane Marianne Brillantes ng Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Artista.

Nag-iba man ang porma ng pagpapahayag at pagpukaw sa mga mag-aaral para kumilos, parehong suliranin pa rin ang nais na tugunan ng kabataan. Gayunpaman, hindi matatawaran ang aral ng kasaysayan—kolektibong pagkilos pa rin ang pinakamabisang armas.

Ang kasaysayan ng pakikisangkot ng kabataan ay hindi dapat manatili na isang kwento ng ating kasaysayan.

Sa tuwing iniuusal natin ang mga katagang “matatapang, matatalino/ walang takot, kahit kanino/ hindinghindi magpapahuli/ ganyan kaming mga taga-UP” nawa’y kilalanin natin— at ipagpatuloy—ang tradisyon ng paglaban at pakikisangkot sa loob at labas ng pamantasang hirang. ● Dibuho ni Rd Aliposa Disenyo ng pahina ni Roanne Descallar

9 • Kulê Kultura

Huwebes 22 Setyembre 2011

HAYSKUL NAMING MAHAL

pamahalaan upang tustusan ang mga paaralan.

Kitkat Elona Masarap balikan ang mga alaalang hayskul.

Sa yugtong iyon natin naranasan ang marami sa ating “first time,” at naging impukan din ng mga espesyal na gunita maging ang mga silid-aralan.

Para sa mga mag-aaral ng UP Integrated School (UPIS), malaking bahagi ng kanilang buhay ang kanilang paaralan. Ngunit may mga dumarating na hindi inaasahan, gaya ng unsolicited proposal ng Ayala Land Inc. na linangin ang UPIS sa Katipunan upang maging isang mixed-use complex.

Kasabay ng napipintong paglipat ng UPIS sa Narra Residence Hall (Narra) area, maraming mga ‘di malilimutang lugar sa UPIS ang hindi na nila maaaring bisitahin —ngunit mananatiling buhay sa kanilang pagbabalik-tanaw.

Simula nang mapabalita ang napipintong paglipat ng campus sa Narra, nagsibalikan ang mga alumni at nagpakuha ng mga litrato sa mga sulok ng UPIS na nag-imbak ng kanilang mga alaala. Tibagin man o ilipat sa ibang lunan, tiyak na mananatili ang paggunita sa mga mahahalagang lugar sa campus.

Hindi nila hahayaang gumuho ang kanilang mga alaala dahil lamang sa daloy ng komersyo’t kawalan ng sapat na pondo ng

bagayna pinakanami-miss ng mag-aaral sa UPIS.

Gate 1 at 2

Ang dalawang tarangkahang ito ang lagusan ng mga magaaral papasok at palabas ng campus. Dito lumulusot ang mga estudyanteng tumatakas sa klase para mag-cut, at mayroon ding nagpipilit lumabas para sumama sa mga protesta. Noong kasagsagan ng mga pagkilos laban kay dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada, maraming mga mag-aaral ang nakipag-away sa mga guwardya at guro, umakyat sa gate at lumusot sa mga sirang bakod upang dumalo sa mga rali. Hayskul pa lamang, pinili na nilang makialam sa mga isyung panlipunan, ani Jaque (Batch 2004).

Multi-purpose Hall

Tunay na “multi-purpose” ang hall sa UPIS dahil bukod sa pagiging lunsaran ng mga malalaking kaganapan gaya ng freshman orientation at recognition day, extension din ito ng canteen. Sa entablado rin nito nagtatagisan sa pagtatanghal ang bawat batch at section tuwing Buwan ng Wika at field demonstration tuwing Disyembre.

May “Flipflop” battle ding nagaganap dito tuwing tanghalian, na hango sa nausong Fliptop battle.

Comfort Room

Saksi ang banyo sa mga sutil na trip ng mga estudyante, vandal man sa pader o mga kalokohan. Dito nagtago at nahuli si Dean (Batch 2009) noong unang taon niya sa hayskul dahil ayaw niyang dumalo sa lingguhang flag ceremony. Pumupuslit din si Katte (Batch 2004) sa banyong

mga

Lover’s Lane

malapit sa silid kung saan nagtuturo ang kanyang hinahangaang propesor.

Classroom

Sa mga silid-aralan ng UPIS nahubog ang ilan sa mga kilalang personalidad sa bansa gaya nina dating Pangulong Fidel Ramos, Sen. Francis Escudero at Ryan Cayabyab.

Hindi uso ang spoonfeeding sa UPIS at tinuturuan ang mga estudyanteng maging kritikal, anang mga magaaral dito. Ugali na nga raw ng mga mag-aaral ang sumagot sa guro at manghamon ng diskusyon dahil sinasanay silang maging mapanuri.

Hindi rin ligtas ang mga guro sa kapilyuhan ng mga mag-aaral—may ilan sa kanilang nabansagan ng “Sir Butete,” “Scabies” at “Panda.”

New Building Quadrangle (Quad)

Saktong 7:30 ng umaga idinaraos ang flag ceremony sa Quad tuwing Lunes. Sinisermonan ang mga estudyanteng mahuhuli sa pila o hindi nakasuot ng complete uniform.

Mahigpit na ngayon ang patakaran sa pagsusuot ng uniporme at akmang haba ng buhok, ngunit may panahon noon na walang naninita sa mga mag-aaral kahit pumasok sila na may suot na pantalon sa ilalim ng palda o neon green na bra.

Gayunpaman, isa ang “kalayaan” sa mga

Mahalagang lugar naman para sa mga mapupusok na mangingibig ang hilerang ito ng mga stone bench kung saan sila kumakain at tumatambay. At tuwing Araw ng mga Puso, maraming pakulo ang mga mag-aaral ng UPIS: mayroon silang Cupid Express at love-gram, kung saan may mga estudyanteng binabayaran upang mangharana at magdala ng sulat sa kanilang mga napupusuan sa gitna ng klase.

Aling Norms

Sa isang maliit na tambayan sa tapat ng Quad matatagpuan si Aling Norms, isa sa mga nagsisilbing nanay/ tagabantay-ng-bag/tindera ng mga estudyante. Sa kanya mabibili ang mga tingi-tinging pagkain na wala sa canteen, at minsa’y kinakausap din nila ang ale upang humingi ng mga payo sa pag-ibig, pakikipagkaibigan at sa buhay. Sa ngayon, wala pang tiyak na plano kung sasama si Aling Norms sa paglipat ng UPIS sa loteng kinatitirikan ng Narra, ani Eldrich (Batch 2014).

Canteen

May kanya-kanyang mesa ang iba’t ibang barkada sa canteen, lalo na ang mga miyembro ng varsity, ayon kay Ysabelle (Batch 2012). Gayunpaman, nananatiling malapit ang mga estudyante sa isa’t isa. “Isang malaking barkada” ang turing ni Dean sa Batch 2009. Sa canteen din nagpupunta ang mga estudyanteng nagka-cut ng

klase, at sa ibabaw rin ng mga mesa rito tumayo at nanghikayat ang mga mag-aaral sa mga kilos-protesta noong panahon ng EDSA Dos.

Corridor

Samu’t saring eksena ang nagaganap sa corridor— mga bagot na estudyanteng naghihintay sa klase, mga nagka-cram ng takdang-aralin at maging mga educational discussion ukol sa kalagayan ng lipunan. Minsang pinagbawal ang mga aktibistang alumni sa loob ng campus matapos lumakas ang kilusang kabataan dito noong EDSA Dos. Ngunit hindi napigilan ang mga mag-aaral, kaya mula sa mga bench sa labas ng campus at hanggang sa mga corridor ay patuloy silang nagsagawa ng mga pag-aaral sa lipunan.

Lorna at Rockman

Sina Lorna at Rockman ang dalawang kilalang rebulto sa UPIS. Tambayan ng maraming mag-aaral ang matikas na rebulto ni Rockman, habang alamat naman ang paghahanap ni Lorna ng bolpen dahil wari siyang nagsusulat sa ere nang walang panulat. ●

Litrato ni Airnel Abarra Dibuho ni Luigi Almuena Disenyo ng pahina ni Kel Almazan

10 • Kulê Opinyon

Huwebes 22 Setyembre 2011

ARJUNA DE LEON

NEWSCAN

Sa isang dating kaibigan Hindi na kita kilala. Matagal nang lumipas ang mga araw na magigising ako sa iyong tabi, sa iyong asul na kwarto kung saan pinipigilan ng makakapal na kurtina ang pagsilip ng araw. Tila panaginip na lamang ang mga gabing pipilitin mong huwag na akong umuwi, at samahan ka sa mapanglaw mong silid sa magdamag.

Aanyayahan mo akong matulog sa tabi mo, at unan ko ang matipuno mong bisig sa kama mong asul rin ang kobre.

Madalas mo akong yayaing samahan ka, tabihan ka, damayan ka sa iyong pag-iisa. Dahil sa iyo kaya ako natutong magbaon ng sipilyo saan man ako magtungo. Sipilyo lamang ang binabaon ko sapagkat magkasukat naman tayo kaya napahihiram mo ako ng uniporme sa umaga, sakaling may pasok sa sunod na araw.

Walang pagkakaiba ang pagtulog at paggising noon. Walang pagkaantala ang mga panaginip, sapagkat noon, ang mamulat nang ikaw ang unang nakikita ay siya rin namang naging laman ng aking mga panaginip. Simula noong araw na una mong idinampi ang iyong mga labi sa akin, namuhay ako sa isang pangarap na mundo.

Pero hindi na nga siguro kita

kilala. Gaya ko, malamang ay may iba ka na ring mga kaibigan, tagahanga at siguro, kaibigang yayain mong samahan ka sa mga gabi ng pag-iisa.

Ganap na nga ang pagkatapos ng ating pagkakaibigan – maaaring sa ilang pagkakataon ay nakapag-uusap pa rin tayo, ngunit iba na ang ating mga pananaw, iba na ang ating mga interes, iba na ang ating mga paniniwala. Hindi tulad noong mga gabing nagagawa nating tahimik na pagmasdan ang buwan, kumot ang yakap ng isa’t isa, at batid ang pakahulugan ng ating katahimikan. Ngayon, kung muli tayong magkita at magkausap, marahil walang mamumutawing mga salita sa ating mga bibig. Walang imik tayong magtitinginan hindi dahil tayo’y nagkakaunawaan kundi dahil wala naman tayong masasabi sa isa’t isa.

Naaalala ko pa ang huling gabing ating pinagsaluhan. Marso noon at gagradweyt na tayo ng hayskul.

Walang umimik magdamag. Kinuha mo ang aking palad at ipinatong sa iyong dibdib. Matagal tayong nakahiga sa ganoong posisyon nang walang sinasabing anuman. Mayamaya’y nakatulog ka na. At sa huling pagkakataon, napagmasdan kita

Alam kong gaano man natin subukan, papatapos na ang magandang panaginip

habang nahihimbing. Napagmasdan ko kung paanong naglalapat ang pilikmata ng magkabilang talukap ng iyong mga mata. Napagmasdan ko rin ang iyong mahinahong paghinga. Sa puntong iyon, alam kong gaano man natin subukan, papatapos na ang isang magandang panaginip.

Kailanma’y hindi naging kaso sa atin ang paghihiwalay ng landas.

Mabuti na lamang at masusi kong inukit sa aking alaala ang bawat detalye hinggil sa iyo – ang iyong nunal sa ilalim ng kaliwang mata, at ang magkawangis nating balat sa likod.

Ngunit maging ang pinakatinatanging memorya ko sa iyo ay nauupos na rin pala sa paglipas ng panahon.

Hindi na nga kita kilala. Tinawagan kita nitong makalawa upang batiin sa iyong kaarawan. Laking gulat ko nang kailangan ko pang kumpirmahin kung ikaw nga ang nasa dulo ng kabilang linya. Nalimot ko na ang boses na dati’y kahit maulinigan ko lang sa malayo ay nabubuhay na ang aking diwa. Gaano man karikit ang inimpok nating mga alaala, sa huli, ginagapi pa rin tayo ng ating sariling paglimot. ●

UP Strikes Back: The Isko Tsunami Walk

On September 23 (Friday), let’s flood the gates of Malacañang.

Join the historical march of the UP community from UP to Mendiola as the university once again claims its legacy of fearless and principled role in shaping society. Iskolar ng Bayan, Paglingkuran ang Sambayanan!

For more information, contact Shai @ 09069415858

Cirque du Licious

College of Home Economics Education Department HEED 177 class presents: Cirque du Licious.

Cirque du Licious offers rich & tasty foods inspired by carnival theme.

When: September 22-30 (TTh 10AM3PM, WF 10AM-2PM). Where: IDS 120 Annex III, College of Home Economics.

For more information, contact Jessa (09276828714) or Bernadette (09209486073).

Gabriela Youth in PUP KOOH BEAR

Farewell note For those I am leaving, I believe you deserve an explanation for what I am about to do. Not because you actually need one, but because my selfish nature doesn’t want to let me feel bad about having to cut and run again without an excuse.

For almost four years, majority of my lengthy stay in the university I spent in Kule. Many a workmate have come and gone. Years have passed; a lot had happened, still I have no words to describe everything. Sometimes I wonder why I even stayed this long.

All I could account for are sleepless nights and unfinished works, priorities dropped, plans let go, many frustrations and seemingly hollow successes. To answer the question though, my reason is simply because I wanted to. Whether you call it an addiction or a calling, I had to be here.

‘No need to elaborate’ as an ex-editor of mine once said.

Time changes everything, though.

I am too old to be here now. And I write that confidently even with the knowledge that a lot of alumni and a few staffs would contest the notion. I guess I could blame my

either dwindling or increasing desire to finish my academics. Or my less than desirable experiences during the paper’s previous term. I could say I’m all kule’d out to put it simply, but it would be an understatement and an insult to all those who sacrificed a lot more than me for their stay here. I’d understand if people would only see my leaving as an unfair and selfish act.

I simply feel that my time is up and that my further presence would be a hindrance to the people next in line, especially my successor. But I could only be saying that to fill the emo quota of this here page.

Well, the transition to pass on my editorship went as smoothly as sand paper. Still it was one plan that worked among my many other ones that failed. And although ‘Cake’ told me that I’ve done enough for the paper and I deserved to move on with my life, I still feel unworthy of this honourable discharge of sorts. Especially since I left her with the most baggage and responsibility by means of what can only be compared to as shameless and cold-blooded manipulation (kidding of course). She showed glaring

A strong sense of guilt is left sitting in my stomach. Or is that fear?

disappointment in her face as I told her I’ve finally decided not to stay the next semester. A strong sense of guilt is left sitting in my stomach. Or is that fear? ‘Cause man is she pissed at me.

Anyway, to overflow the emo quota I’ll finish with this: I’ve come to the end of my stay in Kule, but I’d always remember the fruit shakes, the food trips, the walks around the acad oval, the rooftop loitering, everything we did in Katips, the funny and awkward conversations, road painting in mobs, that one night I got plastered, the very late night presswork, crunch time, the smell of newly printed newsprint, and especially (or should I say oddly?) the people. I would probably have gone mad if not for the people. That may have been cheesy as hell, but I promise I think that I may have maybe meant it.

And with that, I bid you adieu. ●

*For Cake and the Food Pyramid

GABRIELA YOUTH - NCR invites you to a festival of educational discussions this coming Sunday, September 25, at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

Various discussions on women, children, and socio-economic issues will be conducted from 9am - 4pm. This is open to all interested individuals.

For inquiries and confirmation of attendance, kindly contact Nikki (09178051661) or Abi (09152272102). You may also email us at gabrielayouthphils@yahoo. com and/or visit our Facebook page.

See you there!

POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Politikal

Iniimbitahan ang lahat na manood ng POLDET: Panata sa Kalayaan ng mga Detenido Politikal, isang dula kung saan tampok ang mga akda’t pagtatanghal ng Alay Sining, Sinagbayan, People’s Chorale at iba pa, ngayong Setyembre 30 (3PM 7PM) sa Vinzons Rooftop, UP Diliman.

Nagkakahalaga ang regular ticket ng PhP 50, habang P500 naman ang sponsor ticket, na mapupunta sa legal defense ng bilanggong pulitikal na si Ericson Acosta. Para sa karagdagang katanungan, mag-email sa freeericsonacosta@gmail.com.

11 • Kulê Opinyon

Huwebes 22 Setyembre 2011

INBOX

EKSENANG PEYUPS

Statement of concern of the UP Department of Anthropology on the medium of instruction for deaf education

It has come to our attention that the Department of Education (DepEd) has publicly announced that Signing Exact English (SEE) will be the official sign language to be used for Deaf Education and for training instructors in Special Education.

We are alarmed with this development because SEE is not the native language of deaf persons in the Philippines. SEE is an artificial language that has been developed by hearing persons to help the Deaf learn spoken and written English. The Filipino Deaf have their own natural language, namely Filipino Sign Language (FSL). This unique language is the basis of Filipino Deaf culture and identity. It is a basic right of all citizens, including the Deaf community, to be taught and educated in their native language.

The new DepEd move violates the provisions of the Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education, Policy and Organization (1994) that: “Educational policies should take full account of individual differences and situations. The importance of sign language as the medium of communication among the deaf, for example, should be recognized and provision made to ensure that all deaf persons have access to education in their national sign language (italics added).”

Moreover, this recent DepEd pronouncement runs counter to the Department’s own efforts to encourage education based on one’s mother tongue, as contained in DepEd Order No. 74, series of 2009. FSL is the mother tongue of Deaf Filipinos and should thus be used as the official medium of instruction for the country’s schools for the Deaf.

[This statement was] approved during the Regular Faculty Meeting of the Department of Anthropology at University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City [on] September 5, 2011.

Nestor T. Castro, PhD Chair

OH EM edition

SHOOT

Malay mo mag-click tayo.

Magdala ng portfolio, 2 blue books at ballpen sa Room 401 Vinzons Hall.

Kontakin si Richard sa 09054596893

TEXTBACK

Sino ang gusto mong magkaroon ng expose sa Wikileaks at tungkol saan ang expose?

gusto kong maexpose sa wikileaks mga gnagawa ng crush ko. Hahaha! Kht di mo ako kikala, gusto kong malaman kung anong mga pinaggagawa mo. Labyu! :)) 0914550, vodka hi kule. Haha. Ang dalas kong magtext nuh? Anywhoo. Ang gusto kong chenahin ng WikiLeaks eh ang friend ko na si ROSETTE ABOGADO. At gusto ko e i-expose nila ang talent ni Rosette sa pagdo-drawing. Korni man ang sagot ko, pero naniniwala ako na ang talent eh di dapat tinatago at kinukulong sa sketch pad. Thanks kule, you’re so kewl. 1149466 gusto ko tungkol kay OBLE at kung bkit d cya hinuhuli ng UPDP kahit nakahubad cya in a public place at kng anu ang rel’nxip nun sa pagkaltas ng badyet sa UP! STRIKE 4 GREATER STATE SUBSIDY! Halu nga pla sa mga app phy pipol dyan! Nd congratz to JC 4 makin it 2 top 50 (at s 1 rin nyang ksma)! Good job ka bro! :) 2011-38438 Si AZALEA CATSUP 2011 28837 (ECE), bawat floor s boys wing sa kalay dorm ay may corresponding na nililink s knya.

201128846

Kung ikaw si Shamcey Supsup, anong isasagot mo sa tanong sa kanya sa Miss Universe Pageant?

Perfect na sagot ni Shamcey! Uno na xa sa Q&A 101! -11 37927 Same answer. But I will emphasize that, “If a man chooses to love me, then he should love my God even more. ‘Cause I’d only marry

a man who loves God more than me, more than anyone else, more than himself.” 06-40101 Para po ito sa question number 2 : Dahil kabado ang sinumang nasa kalagayan na ‘yun, ito ang isasagot ko (na may interpreter): Kung kami talaga ang itinadhana ng Diyos na maging magkatuwang sa buhay, edi kami po talaga. Diyos ang may gusto, wala tayong magagawa. =)) More powers Kule! Hi Janenne Hicarte! :> BS CE 11-15624 Kung ako si Shamcey, ang isasagot ko ay ganito: “If you love someone, you should respect each other’s beliefs. So if i will marry a man of different religion, i will respect his beliefs as long as he respects mine. For i believe that love doesn’t involve religion, Love is about faith. when you love, you have to accept everything. I Love God. Thank you!” 11-42913 mrkgt hello kule! Hm kung ako yung tatanungin dun sa natanong kay Ms. Supsup, ok lang na i-set aside ko yung religion ko para sa kanya.

Like, religion should not be a hindrance sa pagmamahalan ninyong dalawa di ba? Di ko naman kasi masasabing si God ang first love ko, dahil nung pinanganak ako at nagkaisip, pamilya ko ang una kong nakilala. Haha. Anyway, babae ako kaya mas ok siguro kung yung lalake ang maggive way. :D 1149466 Di kelangan magpalit ng relihiyon.

Respeto lang. Kung pakakasalan ko lamang ang tao kung magpapalit siya ng relihiyon para sakin, pano naman siya na may sariling paniniwala at paninindigan din? At ang tunay na pagmamahal ay di masusukat sa pagpayag na lumipat sa relihiyon ng minamahal o pagpilit sa minamahal na lumipat sa relihiyon mo. Ito ay tunay na pagmamahal kung napapanatili ito kahit magkaiba ang inyong mga paniniwala dahil

natuto kayong irespeto ang pananaw ng bawat isa.10-05114. Psycho.

Kung ako si shamcey supsup, ito sasabihin ko: “ if that person won’t love me because of my religion, it’s not my loss! “ haha! :-D 0911929 Hi! ;] ang isasgot ko ay “ang Diyos ang unang nagmahal satn, sya dn ang may dhlan kung bkt ko nkilala ang partner ko kya walang dahlan para talikuran ko sya o ang paniniwala ko para sa taong sya mismo ang ngbgay skn” o db? Winner! 11-71207

Comments

Been trying to find the article for UPMaroon’s final game. Sadly there was none.

Goodbye Miggy Maniego and Mike Gamboa!

You’re efforts will be forever remembered.

From a devastatingly hyper fangirl. :-) (Ps: Hi Juris Napakabangis!) -201137927 @jake kwenta: pag sumali na ba ng ROTC ibig sabihin pro-government agad? Di mo na dapat binanggit iyon, dahil nayuyurakan pati ang imahe ng ROTC.. 09-45318 non-maj Nahulog na ang loob ko sa kumatha nung nasa back page. Dinala niya ako sa mundong malabo na sa alaala ko; nabuhay ang mithiing matagal ko nang naibaon sa limot <3 Edi ikaw na talaga. MORE! -0924197 BAA, trying hard sa wikang Filipino :P Nice article especially the Lines to a President column. Suggestion lang, pwede bang magkaroon ng official blog (e.g. Tumblr) ang Kule kung saan papost nung mga artiks sa mismong kule, para marinig rin, hindi lamang ng mga UP students, ang hinaing natin. Kudos! 200942368. BS ComSci Dun s “Police briefs” n Borlaza, aus ung parte kng san A.Prof. Palmiano “FOUND his

black bag [...] MISSING in his car.” (Emphasis my own) Ambabaw ng ligaya. -09.75846 yoh kule! nakakalungkot naman, bakit wala yung Lucida Sky sa last issue? inaabangan ko pa man din kung anong gagawin nila for the budget cut. Pero anyway, u’re so awesome guys! 1149466 Dami kong tawa sa Eksenang Peyups!

Gorabelles ka lang ’te! Nakakawala ng stress ang article mo. Minsan kailangan din natin ng mga bagay na masaya o nakakatawa eh.. Waley man o havey. Right mga isko at iska? Hi kay MICHAEL ANGELO RIVERA. Haha. 201178972 Lagi kong inaabangan ang Kule dahil sa Terminal Cases. Mahal na kita, Delfin Mercado!

Haha. Keep it up, Kule! 11-29762 maygaaaaahd!!! Ang galing galing talaga ng UP pep swag! tang ina! Wahahaha <3 96-56396

Sagutan

To 97-78038: nakakahiya ka! Dyan kayo magaling - sa MALI at MAPANGHATING suri!

Pero pagtagumpay na, dudugtong naman sa bulto! Mga oportunista!:( Francis, 05-50593

Panawagan

sana po mgkron ng sudoku ang kule.

2010-13510

Next week’s questions:

1. Ano ang unforgettable experience mo sa strike ngayong taon?

2. Ano ang gusto mong gawing theme ng UP Pep Squad sa susunod na Cheedance Competition?

09175312630

OH EM mga teh! What is Budget Cut na naman! As in Haggardo Versoza ang week na ditey. Di na ko magugulat kapag na-kalbo ang populasyon ng mga utawz dito dahil sa mga cut cut na yan. IKR?! Fatale to da highest level!

OH EM #1 Ang inyong mga waley ay walang ligtas! Kawawa naman itong si Kuya na na-budget cut ang kanyang Manilyn Reynes. Ayan tuloy, dahil pureza na si Kuya ay napapadalas na ang driving around town nitong si Ate-in-question with her bagong jowakerz. Nako nako nako, Kuya, sinasabi na namin sayo ni Bituin, “Kung ako nalang sana ang ‘yong minahal..” Chaaaar!

OH EM #2 A little bird told me na may isang org na may nagmomodang mga Tunay na Lalaki lang ang tinatanggap.

Meron tuloy isang aplikante na na-cut ang pag-join sa org porket hindi chiks ang target market niya.

Anubaiteeeey. Ang sakit sa bangs diba? 21st century na mga utrez!

Ruler na lang ang straight! Paalala lang mga koya, ang katapangan ay di nadadaan sa pahabaan. At para sa mga beki all over da world, sabi nga sa Rent, “I’m more of a man than you’ll ever be and more of a woman that you’ll ever get.” Paaaak! Warla na itey!

OH EM #3 In fair, naluka ang mga ateng and koyang across the sang kaKULEhan nang mahulog ang isang very important jeditor sa manhole! Ang jeditor in furly capes ay nahulog sa isang gaping hole sa Philicollins, habang rumarampa sa dilim. What’s with gays and manholes? Well. mga teh, man’s holes nga diba?

Namagnetize na ng bengga to the max ang mga bakla across the Pilipenis inside the glory holes!! Hmm kaya ikaw teh ingat. Baka kaw na susunod. Char!

O, Zsa Zsa Padilla! Nextaym nalang ulit ang bonggang chizmakan tungkol sa mga ka-cheverloohang nasasagap ng aking radar. Lam mo naman nagtatago ang mga bekis in their closets this week. And don’t forget magstrike na as in kung ayaw niyong macut din ng wiz na glory hole! ●

Dibuho ni Nico Villarete Mga litrato ng photogs section Teksto ni Mix Villalon

KulĂŞ The Back Page Huwebes 22 Setyembre 2011