Philippine Collegian Issue 25-26

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

V TE Tomo 90, Blg. 25-26 Pebrero 26, 2013

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DECISIVE CHOICE Punong Patnugot Kapatnugot

(on leave)

Patnugot sa Balita Patnugot sa Lathalain Patnugot sa Grapix

Mga Kawani

OPINYON (on leave)

Martes 26 Pebrero 2013

Pinansya Tagapamahala ng Sirkulasyon Sirkulasyon

Mga Katuwang na Kawani

THE SHOW OF FORCES has begun once again. In a few days, UP students are to choose their next set of student leaders as the University Student Council (USC) and local council elections draw near.

For days, the colors blue, yellow and red will compete for various spaces in the university in packaged deals: an array of people donned in flashy or formal attires, candidates who wear customary smiles or trained for handshakes, and distribution of flyers and leaflets. Of course, the well-rehearsed spiel and witty taglines seeking recall never fails to add entertainment to spectators.

Indeed, no other point in the year could be more political than the student council elections when colors assume definite meanings. The elections after all, open much room for debate and discussion on various issues—an attribute widely associated to UP students, who as scholars of the people, are expected to uphold and defend the interests of the marginalized.

Yet, it seems such duty has been abused to forward agendas that reek of sheer

rhetoric and claims to political power.

Amidst the sea of slogans and speeches delivered by eloquent speakers with beaming faces, and the unending wave of eager candidates presenting themselves as alternatives, there exists a great possibility that students get lost in the election haze.

Old timers even argue that the student elections, to an extent, have stooped down to mere pageantry and gimmickry—a novelty show where personality assumes primacy over principles or platforms. As such, projects alone seemed to have displaced stances and positions on relevant national and local issues.

Beyond the elections however, students and the people are hounded year-round by a plethora of issues continuously spawned by a grossly unjust and unequal society that favors the few. As UP continues to toe the road set by the government—gradual reduction of state subsidy and the increased encroachment of private interests in the academe—we need committed leaders who will decisively halt the erosion of UP’s public character.

For despite promises of change and reforms, the government still refuses to acknowledge what we have been fighting for so long: that education as a right should be made accessible to all regardless of one’s economic status.

Even more sinister is its big time deception of progress and development when majority of Filipinos remain in the margins with little to no hope of economic mobility.

The times call for a firm leadership, a USC that can live the student institution’s glorious history of actively engaging UP students within the university and beyond what is convenient. We need a USC that raises the level of discourse not only during elections, but for every issue cleverly cloaked by veils of deceit and selective truths.

Such expectations are only just, for it reminds us of the USC’s historical role in leading the forefront of our crucial battles as students. The wide opposition forged against the 300 percent tuition increase in 2006, the campus strikes of 2010 and 2011—which have delivered concrete gains in the budget of UP and other state universities—remind us of our collective strength

as students, and the USC’s instrumental leadership to effect substantial change.

As we continue calling ourselves scholars of the people, we inherit the legacy left by past UP students who have defended the university from all forms of threat.

Furthermore, we cannot afford to have leaders who seem to forget the students’ basic alliance with all oppressed sectors of the society, a potent force that collectively writes and rewrites history.

The USC plays a crucial role in reinvigorating the solidarity of students, a leadership that could champion unity and action on common issues despite UP’s much-celebrated diversity.

For in the game of choice that is elections, we do not merely elect our representatives as students of the university.

Clearly, we do not need leaders who simply seek council positions for personal gains.

For one day, we decisively choose who among aspiring student council members clearly understand the proverbial role of student leaders to unite us students to collectively serve the people in the grand manner.

Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman, Lungsod Quezon Telefax 981-8500 lokal 4522 Email kule1213@gmail.com Website philippinecollegian.org Kasapi Solidaridad: UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations, College Editors Guild of the Philippines Ukol sa Pabalat Litrato ni Jiru Nikko Rada

Editor’s Note Ang kinabukasan, tulad ng kaunlaran at kasarinlan, ay hindi maaaring ipagbili.

Subalit ngayon, higit sa kailanman, kailangan itong ipaglaban.

PITONG MAGPAKAILANMAN Francis Roland R. Perez February 20, 1991

As the Philippine Collegian celebrates its 90th year, we revisit lines from prized editorials that defined the publication’s tradition of critical and fearless journalism.

Digital Democracy 2.0 Troubleshooting glitches behind the 2013 automated polls & IT’S “ALL SYSTEMS GO” FOR the upcoming national and local elections, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Sectoral groups and election watchdogs, however, warn that unresolved irregularities still hound the automated process and may compromise the integrity of the elections on May 13.

“Unlike what Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes wants the public to believe, there is indeed cause for alarm with regard to the upcoming automated polls,” Kabataan Partylist President Terry Ridon said in a statement.

Yet instead of resolving valid and pertinent issues, Brillantes has only accused poll watch groups of sabotaging the reform efforts of the Comelec, Ridon added.

The Comelec said it expects to meet the March 30 deadline for complete voter lists and the April 25 deadline for ballot printing, said Comelec Education and Information Department (EID) Acting Director Maria Victoria Dulcero in an interview with the Collegian.

As of February 21, 8.2 million registered voters, or 15 percent of the total 52.01 million registeredvoters, are already on the Comelec’s official lists, while 14.15 million ballots, or 27 percent of the needed total needed ballots, have already been printed, Dulcero said.

On February 12, the Technical Evaluation Committee certified that the Smartmatic Automated Elections System (SAES) “can operate properly, securely, and accurately.” The source code for the SAES however has not been certified, after US-based source code owner Dominion Voting System (DVS) terminated its 2009 licensing agreement with Smartmatic in May 2012.

Jelor Gallego

The termination of the license denied Smartmatic access to the source code, which has to be surrendered to the Comelec for safekeeping at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The source code is a set of programmed instructions necessary for correcting errors and enhancing the software used by the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines.

“This not only means that we are using unlicensed software, [the software itself is] suspect.

[The lack of a license] can be a source of electoral protests as [it] represents an irregularity in the election process,” said Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) Policy Studies Director Professor Bobby Tuazon.

Because of the legal dispute between Smartmatic and DVS, the Comelec also cannot get updates to the SAES and will thus need to settle for a modified version of the code used in the 2011 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections, poll watchdog Kontradaya convenor and IT expert Rick Bahague.

Dulcero however maintained that the software cannot be considered unlicensed or pirated, as Comelec’s contract was signed before DVS terminated its licensing agreement with Smartmatic. “In fact, we [still] might sue Smartmatic for its failure to provide [security enhancements],” Dulcero added.

Automated Elections System (AES) Watch, meanwhile, questioned the Comelec’s decision to select Smartmatic for the 2013 automated elections.

“Smartmatic shouldn’t have been issued the contract, since they haven’t even been held accountable for their failures in the 2010 national elections,” said

Tuazon, who is also a convenor of the AES Watch.

The results of the February 2 mock polls also revealed that PCOS machines do not allow voters to verify that their votes were counted, said Bahague. The transmission of results were also still digitally unsigned, which means rogue PCOS machines may be able to transmit fraudulent votes, the IT expert added.

“We’ve been pointing these issues since 2010 and, in the three

years that has passed, Comelec [is the problem]. They’re calling it electoral sabotage when [we’re trying to prevent failure of elections],” said Tuazon.

The delay in the resolution of these issues will only lead to massive electoral cheating, Ridon said.

“The youth challenges Comelec to man up and face the challenges [and stop] issuing half-hearted assurances and empty rhetoric. The mandate of the people is at stake.”

WHY DO WE NEED AN EFFICIENT AND SECURE AUTOMATED SYSTEM?

1. FASTER AND EASIER VOTE CANVASSING. Results for local positions are expected to be released 24 to 36 hours after voting period ends, compared to about three weeks for manual elections. For national results, it will take 48 to 72 hours for results of automated polls compared to seven weeks during manual elections.

2. WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ELECTORAL FRAUD IS LESSENED. The decreased time period between end of voting and announcement of results will help to narrow the window of opportunity for dagdag-bawas and other forms of fraud.

PAGLINGON AT PAGTUGON. Nagbigay ng talumpati si Pangulong Aquino sa harap ng may 1000 kataong nakigunita sa ika-27 taong anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power sa tapat ng People Power Monument noong Pebrero 25. Nilagdaan ng pangulo sa naturang pagdiriwang ang Human Rights Victim Reparation and Recognition Act na naglalayong bigyan ng kaukulang kabayaran ang mga biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao noong panahon ng diktadurang Marcos.

SUMMARY OF ISSUES RAISED BY POLL WATCHDOGS: Uncertified software source code No voter verification system in PCOS machines Errors in results transmission programs

3. HUMAN ERROR IS MINIMIZED. Because canvassing and tabulation of results will be done automatically, errors can be limited to the software. Manual audit, however, can still be done to ensure accuracy of machine results.

4. CREDIBILITY OF RESULTS IS ENSURED. If the integrity of the entire process is guaranteed, incidences of fraud will be lessened. Valid reasons for electoral protests will thus be limited.

Hardware problems, including faulty and damaged machines Possibility of remote manipulation of results Mismatch between ballots and compact flash cards Lack of clear mechanisms for election protests Digitally unsigned transmission of results

How does the automated process work?

WWW.PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN.ORG

BALITA Martes 26 Pebrero 2013

Draft CSC nears approval despite contentious provisions THE BOARD OF REGENTS (BOR) is set to deliberate on the 2012 Code of Student Conduct (CSC), after the UP Diliman (UPD) University Council (UC) approved the CSC in its December 2012 meeting and endorsed it to the university’s highest policy-making body.

If approved, the CSC, which outlines the rules and regulations on student conduct, will be implemented in June.

More than two months since the UPD UC approved the CSC, the UPD University Student Council (USC) has not released an official position. Incumbent USC members have yet to form a unified stance on the CSC, said UPD USC Chair Gabriel “Heart” Diño.

The current CSC draft was the consolidated version of two earlier draft codes, namely the studentinitiated Student Handbook

on Rights and Responsibilities (SHRR) and the 2009 CSC, which was drafted without student representation.

Student formations criticized the 2009 version of the CSC for certain contentious provisions, such as a one-year residency requirement for joining organizations, a required membership of at least 0.05 percent of UP students for an organization to be recognized,

OPINYON BALITA BALITA Miyerkules Martes 27Pebrero Hunyo 26 Miyerkules 2012 2013 27 Hunyo 2012

Lordei case witness testifies in court A PRIMARY WITNESS TESTIFIED on February 11 in the first court hearing of the case of UP Diliman (UPD) Political Science student Lordei Camille Anjuli Hina, who was attacked and robbed at the UPD University Student Council (USC) office more than a year ago.

The primary suspect, Danmar Vicencio, was also present at the hearing held at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 91.

Vicencio currently faces charges of robbery and physical injury but has posted a P16,000 bail in June 2012.

In her testimony, the witness, who requested anonymity, told the court how Vicencio and an alleged accomplice, arrived at the UPD University Student Council (USC) office at around 12 PM on February 12 to supposedly inquire about applying for a tattoo booth at the 2012 UP Fair.

When she left Lordei alone at the USC office to buy food, the witness began receiving text messages from Lordei at around 3 PM, saying Vicencio returned and was asking her more questions. At around 3:30 PM, the witness then returned to the office where she found Lordei sprawled on the floor, covered in blood.

Vicencio tried to escape from the crime scene but a

Vinzons Hall security guard apprehended the suspect.

Hina’s possessions and an ice pick were later recovered from the suspect.

Police authorities, however, have not been able to locate and arrest Vicencio’s alleged accomplice, who was later identified as Dante Santos.

The witness will resume her testimony at the next hearing on April 12.

Lordei sustained multiple stab wounds in her arms and head, injuring her hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for emotion and basic body functions.

Though Lordei’s condition is improving, she sometimes displays excessive happiness and has problems with basic functions such as bowel movement, sweating, and memory retention, Lordei’s mother Concepcion Hina said in an interview with the Collegian.

“My greatest worry right now is the financial burden,” said Mrs. Hina. The Hina family still owes around P1.3 million to Capitol Medical Center where Lordei underwent a brain surgery last year. Mrs. Hina said they had to give up their car as collateral so that the hospital would discharge Lordei.

“Hindi na kami nakakapagbayad ng renta. Pati nga pagkain,

CLOSE CALL. Men’s Football Team Goalkeeper Tyrone Caballes failed to block Ateneo de Manila University Booters Captain Yu Murayama’s winning kick during the penalty shootout in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 75 men’s football championship on February 24 at Moro Lorenzo Field in ADMU. The Blue Eagles crushed the Fighting Maroons’ three-peat bid with a score of 4-2.

pinoproblema [namin],” said Mrs. Hina.

Though the UP Board of Regents initially released P380,000 as financial assistance, Mrs. Hina said the UP administration, through UPD Vice ChancellorMaria Corazon Tan, initially assured her that they will shoulder all hospitalization and legal fees.

“If they put themselves in my shoes, mararamdaman nila kung ano ang nararamdaman ko,” said Mrs. Hina.

Meanwhile, Lordei’s daily therapy sessions have been discontinued since January, because the monthly cost of about P100,000 was too expensive.

“I had to borrow money from friends and ask money from different institutions,” said Mrs. Hina. Although several UP organizations held fundraisers and collection drives, UP itself has not institutionalized any regular financial assistance.

“Kung tinupad lang [ng UP admin] yung pinangako nila, hindi magkakaganito,” said Mrs. Hina.

Task Force Lordei convenor Eduardo Gabral, meanwhile, has called to intensify the campaign to seek justice for Lordei and to launch more fundraisers, such as the band contest being organized by the EMC2 Fraternity. “[There] is also a definite need to intensify legal support. [The fact that the] primary suspect was able to bail [has left] Lordei’s family and friends in emotional distress and [frustrated with the lack of justice],” Gabral added.

and its assertion on tambayans as privileges granted by UP. Due to student opposition to the 2009 CSC, the Student Review Committee, composed of student leaders from the USC and local college councils, consolidated formulated the SHRR, which was released during the 2011 Diliman Student Summit.

UPD Chancellor Ceasar Saloma then formed a committee who will draft the 2012 CSC, which was composed of members of the 2009 CSC committee, UC Committee on Student Organizations, Activities and Welfare, previous and present student regents, and UPD USC representatives.

“Student representation in the drafting committee is already a big victory,” said USC Student Rights and Welfare Committee Chair Aryanna Canacan, who was part of the 2012 CSC drafting committee.

The 2012 CSC welcomed several amendments from its 2009 version. The minimum residency requirement for prospective members of student organizations was reduced from one whole academic year to only a semester.

Under this rule, student organizations who accept those students in their first semester may be given a maximum penalty of expulsion, according to the 2012 CSC. Meanwhile, any student who lacks the minimum residency requirement and is admitted in an organization shall be required to undergo counseling and have his or her legal guardian notified.

“Nakikita natin ‘yung wisdom ng admin. [At] least, the ‘buffer’ time [was] minimized,” said USC Committee on Organizations, Fraternities and Sororities Chair Francisco Jayme Guiang. A one-semester residency rule would allow a freshman to consider other factors such as academics,

he explained.

On the other hand, organizations can help freshmen cope with the demands of university life, said Canacan, adding that the said provision restricts the students’ right to organize.

Another revision in the 2012 CSC was the creation of hearing committees under a new Student Disciplinary Council. The hearing committees will each be composed of two regular faculty members and an elected USC official. In the 2009 version, three to five SDC members who are regular faculty have the sole power to try cases filed against students.

“Isa itong napakagandang development at makakatulong na mas marinig ang boses ng mga estudyante,” said Guiang.

“But more than the provisions, one of the biggest victories [of the new CSC] is the streamlining of the processes. Now there are guidelines that prevent squabbles over jurisdiction in disciplinary cases,” said Diño.

Even with all the revisions, several contentious provisions remain unchanged, Canacan said.

The current CSC still includes Section 1.3.e, which states that “insulting, discriminatory, or threatening behavior towards any person of authority” will be penalized with a minimum of one semester of suspension.

If the same act was committed against a student, however, the offender will only be penalized with a minimum of 15 days of suspension.

“Pwede pa rin namang mabago.

Pwede pa ma-assert yung ‘right to organize’ through [Student Regent] Cleve [Arguelles]. The ultimate power to change the Code rests with the future [actions of UP] students,” said Canacan.

Collegian Kultura writer is next EIC INCOMING CREATIVE WRITING senior and Kultura writer Julian Inah Anunciacion will lead the Philippine Collegian as editor-inchief next school year.

Anunciacion scored 72.75 in the three-part examination, only 1.25 points ahead from lone competitor Political Science junior Victor Gregor Limon, who garnered 71.50 points. Mechanical Engineering sophomore Emmanuel Jerome Tagaro, meanwhile, was a noshow at the editorial examination on February 23 at the College of Mass Communication.

The editorial writing component constitutes the largest bulk of the exam’s aggregate score at 70 percent, followed by news writing covering 20 percent and layout with 10 percent. Anunciacion won the editorial writing after scoring

56.25 points, while Limon topped the news writing and layout with 14.50 and 7.50 points, respectively.

For the editorial writing part, the examinees were tasked to write about “The possibility of progressive politics in the campus and national elections.”In her winning piece entitled “Political Narratives,” Anunciacion wrote that progressive elections is always possible in a democracy, but “our democracy has yet to realize our potential to change the country through collective unified action.”

“We must [not only] vote for a leader that uses his or her hands in writing a clear platform, but also in actually implementing the platform—a leader that does not leave his subjects in unfinished

Continued to Page 15

Profs slam ‘irregularities’ in CHE dean selection Jelor Gallego

A group of UP Diliman (UPD) College of Home Economics (CHE) faculty members have slammed the alleged inconsistencies between the ongoing process of selecting the next CHE dean and the existing university rules and guidelines.

The new CHE dean will replace incumbent CHE Dean Maria Lourdes Catral whose term will end on May 31. Catral was initially scheduled for compulsory retirement on January 28. Catral’s faculty appointment and deanship term, however, was extended until May 31, UPD Chancellor Saloma said during the University Council’s (UC) meeting on November 19.

During the nominations period for the next CHE dean, which ran from January 11 to 21, CHE professor Dr. Raquel Florendo nominated Dr. Aurorita Roldan as the lone candidate, said a CHE professor who requested anonymity.

The Office of the UPD Chancellor, however, will still welcome additional nominees from other sectors, Saloma said in an email sent to the Collegian. The BOR will then appoint the next CHE dean from the final list of nominees endorsed by the nominations committee (NC).

The formation of the nominations committee (NC) on January 4, however, was not consulted with members of the CHE faculty, said another CHE professor who also requested anonymity.

“The principle of self-determination of the College was disregarded and the external committee was forced upon us. What we want is a democratic process [of] selection.”

In the selection of deans, existing UP rules offer three options: an internally managed search, consensus building among constituents, and the use of an external search committee, said Faculty Regent Lourdes Abadingo in her February 4 report of the January 24 BOR meeting. “What was reported to me is that the Chancellor simply imposed an external search committee,” Abadingo said.

Saloma however maintained that the nominations committee was already designed as a consultative body, adding that he personally chose the members of the said committee to ensure that the decision is based on objective deliberations by an external committee.

“Nowhere is it stated in [the UP Charter], or in any other existing

BOR policy, that a college has a right to self - determination. It must be noted that an NC was also utilized in 2012 to select the next CHE Dean, [yet] no complaint was received about the process at that time,” the Chancellor added.

In a January 15 joint petition to the UP Board of Regents (BOR), a group of 95 professors and alumni from CHE and other colleges also pointed out that the search process for the new CHE dean should have begun at around the end of October 2012, three months before Catral’s scheduled retirement on January 28.

The group, however, also questioned Catral’s initial appointment in July 2012 and her subsequent term extension

beyond compulsory retirement on January 28.

According to the 2004 “UP Guidelines for Extension of Regular Full-Time Faculty Appointment Beyond Retirement Age,” a faculty member who faces compulsory retirement may only be granted extension of full-time tenure for academic purposes and not for extending an existing administrative appointment, the petitioners read.

The BOR had agreed to meet in a special meeting scheduled around the first week of March 2013.

Chancellor Saloma also met with CHE faculty members on February 19 for a discussion yet faculty members felt that the issues remain unresolved. “He still

remains adamant with his process of deanship,” said a faculty member.

“Our issue is the lack of transparency in the selection.

The student council respects the process but what we want is clarification regarding the process of selection,” said CHE Student Council Vice Chair Tin Roque.

The group of petitioners recommended that the BOR form a special university-wide committee which will study review the current processes of selecting academic and administrative heads of the university. The BOR will discuss the points raised in its special meet-BALITA ing of the BOR in the first week of March, Abadingo said.

Martes 26 Pebrero 2013

UP Tubbataha alliance renews call to junk VFA FACULTY AND STUDENT organizations of the UP Alliance to Save Tubbataha, Junk VFA have renewed calls to abolish the Visiting Forces Agreement, the bilateral pact which has legalized US military presence in the country since 1999.

More than a month since the USS Guardian ran aground in the Tubbataha Reef National Park on January 17, the 1,300-ton US minesweeper remains stranded in the United Nations World Heritage site, damaging around 4,500 square meters of coral. “[The] UP Diliman (UPD) community [expresses] outrage over the wanton damage of the Tubbataha Reef. [The] Aquino administration [must] make the US Navy accountable and [assert] the Philippines’ territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

[We] renew our call to abrogate the Visiting Forces Agreement,” read an online petition launched by the alliance.

As the national university, UP must take a stand on this issue of environmental and national importance, said faculty convenor Sarah Raymundo during a discussion forum held at the UPD Balay Kalinaw on February 23.

Students and faculty from the Center for Nationalist Studies, College of Science, College of Arts

and Letters, and College of Social Sciences and Philosophy have so far joined the alliance’s advocacy campaign, Raymundo said.

On January 31, the alliance held a candle-lighting ceremony attended by faculty, students, and UP employees in front of Palma Hall. The alliance also staged a flash mobilization on February 12 where professors danced and read poems to raise awareness of the Tubbataha incident among UP students.

Founded by the All-UP Academic Employees Union, AllUP Workers Union, Congress of Teachers and Educators for National Democracy (CONTEND), Ang Manininda, and various student organizations, the UP Tubbataha Alliance is also part of the national multi-sectoral group Task Force Tubbataha.

Task Force Tubbataha was formed by various sectoral groups, including Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, AGHAM Advocates of Science and Technology, and Pambansang Lakas ng Mamamalakayang Pilipinas, and Gabriela.

“The issue of the grounding incident at Tubbataha goes [at] the heart of the Visiting Forces Agreement that allows [US military] ships to traverse our country with impunity.

We should heed the calls to

GAME PLAN. UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma taps his head as he discusses the proposed UP Professional School shown in the background during his second convocation on February 20 at the UP Theater. Saloma presented the current state of UP Diliman and the ongoing projects addressing academic and operational problems like tenure and lack of research grants for professors, campus security, and infrastructure developments. abrogate this unequal treaty not only to avoid further disasters but to finally assert our sovereignty,” said AGHAM Chair Giovanni Tapang.

Monetary compensation, however, can neither compensate for the damages done to ravaged reef nor offset the infringement of the country’s sovereignty, Task Force Tubbataha said in a unity statement released on February 23.

The Tubbataha marine park management has placed the minimum fine for destruction to the reef at an estimated P38 million, smaller than the $15 million fine paid by the US Navy for damaging coral reefs in Oahu, Hawaii, in 2009.

“The Philippine government allows the US to get away with crimes with a mere slap on the wrist. This is why, more than just compensation, we demand the Aquino [administration] to take more decisive actions such as filing charges against the USS Guardian crew and lodging a protest [before] the United Nations,” said Center for Women’s Resources Executive Director Mary Joan Guan.

CALAMITY AFTERMATH Sumatotal

MORE THAN THREE MONTHS since Typhoon Pablo ravaged Mindanao in December, and despite government assurances that relief and rehabilitations programs are still underway, entire communities are still reeling from the destruction of their homes and livelihood.

The figures below spell not only the grim situation of the victims of the strongest tropical storm to ever hit the country’s south. The following numbers also reveal how funds and donations intended for Mindanao’s recovery may have been

going to the wrong pockets.

Total area damaged by Typhoon Pablo: 95,823 hectares Estimated total cost of damages wrought by the typhoon: P36.95 billion Cost of one of 21 bunkhouses built by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Cateel, Baganga, and Boston in Davao Oriental: P550,000 Cost of one of the 39 other bunkhouses being built by private contractors: P650,000 Cost of one bunkhouse built

by International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the same area: P259,653 Monthly rent of a 260-square meter, four-bedroom house in Bel-Air, Makati City: P200,000 Cost of a DSWD bunkhouse’s kitchen with two sinks, made of coco lumber and metal sheets: P47,388.38 Monthly rent of a 70-square meter, two-bedroom house in

Continued to Page 15

PARTY PROFILES ALYANSA

PARTY PROFILES Martes 26 Pebrero 2012

KAISA

STAND UP

Now on its 12th year, UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA) holds the most number of seats in the incumbent UP Diliman (UPD) University Student Council.

Formed during the clamor for former President Joseph Estrada’s ouster in 2000, ALYANSA was initially founded by Buklod-CSSP, Sanlakas Youth (SY), Tau Rho Xi fraternity, and Upsilon Sigma Phi (UPS) fraternity. In 2006, SY and UPS broke away from ALYANSA to form another political party, KAISA – Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA).

Central to ALYANSA’s political philosophy is “multi-perspective activism.” This year, the blue party’s tagline underscores its role in the legislation of bills such as the Reproductive Health Bill and the Sin

Tax Reform Law: “Ituloy natin ang napagtagumpayan. Para sa UP, Para sa Bayan.” “[Ang] activism ay hindi lang dapat nakukulong sa iisang porma [kundi dapat ay] nakikinig sa lahat ng side. Pero at the end of the day kami ay progressive at may kiling sa marginalized, oppressed, at powerless,” said ALYANSA Chair Ace Ligsay.

Though ALYANSA sees some procedural flaws in the current Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program of the UP administration, the party supports the idea of a socialized tuition.

Furthermore, ALYANSA pioneered the revision of the UP Charter in 2003 and reforms in the Student Regent selection in 2006.

ALYANSA also launched the STFAP Under Protest in 2008, a clamor to change the bracketing system of

UP’s tuition, and the Break the Code campaign which sought responsive, timely, and pro-student provisions in the UPD Code of Student Conduct.

“Para mas maraming ma-engage na estudyante, ‘di mo dapat ibinababa lang ang ano ang dapat paniwalaan na ideyolohiya, dapat kabahagi sila. Kaya ang mga tagline natin ay ‘Kasama ka’ at ‘Tayo ang USC,’ dahil dapat inclusive at pantay-pantay ang mga pananaw,” said Ligsay.

ALYANSA currently has 16 UP member organizations, including Akbayan Youth – UP Diliman, Buklod CSSP, UP Bukluran sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino, UP Kalipunan sa Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiyang Pilipino, Lingkod Eduk, UP Alliance for Responsive Involvement and Student Empowerment, UP Economics Towards Consciousness, and UP Tau Rho Xi Fraternity.

Nagkakaisang Iskolar Para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA) was founded in May 2005, making it the youngest among the three major political parties in UP. “Political differences” caused its split from ALYANSA, and since then KAISA has sought to introduce a new brand of leadership: “scholar-activism.”

Scholar-activism reflects one of the core ideals espoused by the party, which is “academic excellence with social relevance,” said KAISA Chairperson Shaina Santiago.

KAISA also believes in “Responsive Leadership towards Student Empowerment,” recognizing that the students are part of the solution in addressing various issues, says Santiago. “Nagco-consult muna kami sa mga taong naaapektuhan bago kami magdikta ng posisyon sa [isang particular na isyu],” Santiago added.

The party has long called for the passage of the Six Will Fix Bill, which aims to institutionalize the allocation of at least six percent of the country’s gross national product to the education sector. They also launched the STFlop Campaign, as the party believes that the students should not be burdened financially by the current Student Tuition and Financial Assistance Program.

The party also opposed the 300 percent tuition increase implemented in 2007 and has maintained that UP’s idle assets must be productively utilized so long as safeguards are met, including academic integrity and consent.

The party is also against the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and is a member of the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance.

This year, KAISA’s theme is “Push the Limit: One Strong UP.” It is push-

ing for a unified UP despite having limitations in budget and differences in beliefs, Santiago says. Being able to field a complete slate in this year’s elections despite being a fairly new party is one way of pushing the limit, according to Santiago.

The party’s 11 member organizations include Bukluran ng mga Iskolar-Atleta Tungo sa Progresibong Aksyon, Facilitators of Educational Development-Uniting People, KAISA Mass Organization, Leaders for Excellence, Action and Development, MagKaisa College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Practice of Administrative Leadership and Service, Sanlakas Youth-UP Diliman, Student Action Towards Responsive Leadership in Tourism, UP Beta Sigma Ladies’ Corps, UP Paralegal Society, and UP Phi Delta Alpha Sorority.

Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) remains to be the largest political party in UP Diliman (UPD) with over 30 member organizations. Now on its 16th year, STAND UP is also the oldest among the three major political parties in this year’s UPD University Student Elections (USC).

STAND UP traces its roots to the split of Sandigan Para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan (SAMASA) into two factions, one of which was SAMASA - Tunay, Militante at Makabayang Alyansa (SAMASA-TMMA). In 1996, SAMASA-TMMA was officially renamed STAND UP. The unity among STAND UP’s members is forged by the party’s core principle that education is a right.

The party has been in the forefront of mass actions which call for greater state subsidy for UP, spearheading various student strikes

against budget cuts. STAND UP has also been a staunch critic of the Student Tuition and Financial Assistance Program, which it labels as a “smokescreen” that legitimizes tuition increases.

For this year’s University Student Council elections, STAND UP calls for the reinstatement of a student council that genuinely serves the students and the nation, with the line “Iskolar ng Bayan, Ibalik ang konsehong Tunay, Palaban, Makabayan.”

“STAND UP ang tunay na ipinaglalaban ang mga issue, hindi nananatiling pipi, at hindi natatakot lumaban,” says STAND UP Chair Garret Paris. “Pinaglilingkuran din ng STAND UP hindi lamang ang sangka-estudyantehan ng UP kundi pati na rin ang ibang sektor ng lipunan,” Paris adds.

The party has been vocal against the current national administra-

tion’s education policies, including the K to 12 program, which adds two more years to the basic education curriculum. STAND UP involves itself in issues faced by other sectors in UP, fighting against demolitions of residential houses on campus and advocating the rights of the university’s janitors, vendors and security guards, Paris said.

STAND UP also calls for the passage of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill and advocates national industrialization.

Among the member organizations of STAND UP are Anakbayan, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines, Union of Journalists of the Philippines – UP Diliman, Alpha Sigma Fraternity, Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, Gabriela UP Diliman, and League of Filipino Students.

ALYANSA

KAISA

1. For me, the number one issue na kailangan sagutin ng mga tumatakbo

na mga congressmen at senador ay ‘yung transparency at accountability.

Kasi I think from here, ang dami na nating issues na masasagot.

For example ‘yung budget, pag-allocate ng budget nang tama. Kasi kapag transparent at accountable yung pag-aallocate natin, or at least yung pagbibigay mismo ng PDAF sa mga congressmen natin, ang dami na nating makikitang mga bagay. For example, kapag may kulang sa isang sektor tapos sumosobra sa isa. Kapag transparent and accountable ang nakikita nating gobyerno, makikita natin kung saan pwede tayong kumuha at i-reallocate ‘to nang maayos.

Tapos pati na rin sa mga policies na for example, nakikita nating repressive, kapag transparent and accountable talaga ‘yung government, mas magiging maganda ang relationship, at para makita natin ‘yung logic at makausap talaga sila nang maayos para Standard maayos ‘yung mga policies na ganito.

Bearers 2. We in ALYANSA believe na walang budget cut, kasi ang definition Martes ng budget cut ay mayroon nang isang budget tapos saka siya 26 Pebrero babawasan. Ang nangyayari kasi sa ‘tin is may proposal tayo tapos 2013 never siyang nare-reach or palaging mas mababa ang binibigay sa atin. Kaya in ALYANSA, sinasabi natin na dapat palaging mas mataas ‘yung binibigay na budget ‘di lang sa UP, pero sa education sector as a whole, na ‘yun pa rin ang call natin for higher UP budget, at higher education budget. Kasi yung proposal dapat, ‘yun kasi ang pangangailangan natin, and never siyang binibigay nang tama, palagi siyang mas mababa. So hindi siya nababawasan, never lang talaga nare-reach yung ideal nating budget para sa education.

3. Kung sa isang chess game, siguro ako ‘yung magiging pawn.

Kasi bilang isang chairperson, ‘yun talaga ang trabaho mo. Ikaw ‘yung manguna sa laban at protektahan ‘yung ibang mga tao, ‘di lang sa loob ng USC, pero pati na rin ‘yung mga nirerepresent mong boses sa loob ng USC.

1. So it is written in the Philippine Constitution that the government should be prioritizing education, the reason for which is because investment in education is very important. And I think, for our senatorial candidates and of course for our incoming senators and government officials, this is what they should be prioritizing. That’s why since 2007, KAISA has been pushing for the Six Will Fix Bill that’s because we recognize the importance of education and of course investment in the youth. So the Six Will Fix Bill is the allocation of at least six percent of GNP to education budget. On average, the government is only allotting around 2.29% of GNP to education and of course, we can see that that is not enough. We have lack of facilities, lack of schools, lack buildings and so on. Even for teachers, competent teachers. And I think that if we want the country to develop, we should be investing on education.

2. It is written in the UP Charter that our premier National University should be subsidized by the government, but of course, this has never been the case. Although yes, we’ve been proposing for a budget, the right amount of the budget for UP, we never actually received it. So the government has always been neglecting the responsibility for this University. Thus, this national—premier National University is never really developed because, well, more than the budget cut is actually the systemic state abandonment that we’re experiencing as a University. And of course, this should not be the case. This is why we should demand the government for them to fulfill their responsibility in subsidizing this university, and of course, in investing more in education.

2. Patuloy pa rin ang pagkaltas ng ating gobyerno sa subsidiyo na binibigay niya sa SUCs and siyempre sa UP na rin. Nasabi namin ito dahil meron naman tayong proposed UP budget and yet, year-in, year-out, magkano lang ba ang binibigay? Hindi pa nga kalahati, almost 42% the last time na nagbigay ng budget ang pamahalaan sa UP. This year sinasabi na makakakuha ng 10 million from the 18 million na hinihingi ng UP. Sabi namin, oo, kinakaltasan pa rin tayo. At actually nga pinapasa sa mga estudyante ang pasan ng kakulangan sa budget sa UP. Sa STFAP, bakit kailangan pa ng STFAP na ‘yung mga estudyante na maykaya ay kaya naman niyang suportahan ang kapwa niya Iskolar ng Bayan. Yun lang, di ba, so magbabayad siya ng mas mataas na tuition para ma-subsidize.

And mali ‘yung gano’ng sistema because ang dapat na pinanggagalingan ng budget ay mismong gobyerno.

3. If the USC is a chess game, I’d like to be the pawn because I’d like to be at the forefront when it comes to fighting for the rights of the students.

VICE CHAIR Juliano Fernando Guiang 4th year, BA Public Administration VICE CHAIR Alexandra Maria Francia Santos 3rd year, BA Broadcast Communication 1. Tayo sa ALYANSA, naniniwala tayo sa principle of socialized tuition.

However, we really have to make sure na okay na siya for implementation before natin siya ipatupad sa iba pang mga state universities and colleges. Tulad nga ng nangyayari ngayon sa ating university, marami pa rin tayong nakikitang flaws when it comes to implementation, at ‘yung mga requirements na kailangan ng bawat estudyante para ma-apply ‘yung STFAP. So in essence, maganda ang principle ng STFAP, pero ‘yun nga, kailangan nga natin ma-make sure na bawat estudyante ay kayang mag-apply for it, for us to have a relevant and accessible education.

2. Siguro kung may isang hayop nga sa Chinese Zodiac ang makakadescribe sa mga plataporma ng aking mga kalaban, siguro ito ‘yung snake. Kasi feeling ko, ‘yung snake kasi nandiyan, parang umaaligid, kaya niyang mag-blend into its environment. But you’ll never know when it’s gonna attack you, when it’s gonna pounce, and para kunin ‘yung atensyon ng mga tao. Kaya ‘yun ang feeling kong hayop na would best describe ang plataporma ng ibang mga kalaban.

CHAIRPERSON Jose Miguel Solis 4th year, BA History

CHAIRPERSON Ana Alexandra Castro 4th year, BA Psychology

CHAIRPERSON Raphael Carlo Brolagda 4th year, BA Political Science

STAND UP

1. Mula noon hanggang ngayon ay patuloy na nagiging ehemplo o gabay ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa lahat ng mga SUCs. Kung ano ang sinisimulan dito sa ating unibersidad, ay siyang ginagamit din ng iba’t ibang mga SUCs. Kaya pagdating sa usapin ng STFAP, alam naman natin dito sa unibersidad na ito ang mekanismo na ginamit ng UP administration upang pagtakpan ang pagtaas ng matrikula noong 2007. Kaya kapag ito ay nilagay natin sa iba’t ibang SUCs, isa lamang itong manipestasyon na pinapagbigyan na natin ang ating gobyerno na pagbigyan lang na itaas ang tuition fee dahil meron naman tayong ipapalit na STFAP. Kung ganito man, kung may mekanismo man na dapat gawin ang gobyerno, dapat ay ayusin muna ang programa ng STFAP dito habang patuloy nating pinaglalaban ang pagbigay ng mataas na alokasyon ng budget sa edukasyon.

2. Kung meron mang hayop mula sa Chinese Zodiac sign na maaari kong ihalintulad sa mga nakakalaban ko na Vice Chairperson, silang dalawa ay parang rooster, actually ako rin, iko-consider ko na lahat kami ay rooster. Dahil lahat kami, naniniwala ako, na mayroong mga sariling mga gustong itilaok na pagbabago. Ngunit ang pagkakaiba ko lang sa kanila ay handa na akong isabong.

FOR CHAIRPERSON

1. Ano sa tingin mo ang pinakamabigat na suliranin ng bansa ang dapat tugunan ng mga mahahalal na mambabatas?

2. Naniniwala ba ang inyong partido na nagkaroon ng budget cut sa UP, batay sa pondong matatanggap nito ngayong 2013? Bakit o bakit hindi?

3. Kung ang USC ay isang chess game, anong piyesa ka at bakit?

FOR VICE CHAIR

1. Sang-ayon ka bang ipatupad ang STFAP sa iba pang state universities and colleges, alinsunod sa Roadmap for Public Higher Education Reform?

2. Anong hayop sa Chinese Zodiac ang kumakatawan sa plataporma ng mga kalaban mo?

1. Ang pinakamalaking suliranin na kailangang tugunan ng ating mga mambabatas ay ang poverty. Although mataas ang popularity rate ng ating pangulo, marami pa ring naghihirap dito sa ating bansa. Meron siyang

programang PPP, pero hindi pa rin ito tumutugon sa talagang poverty or ‘yung pinanggagalingan ng kahirapan ng mga tao sa ating bansa. Wala pa ring maayos na social services na binibigay sa ating mga kababayan. Although, yes, maraming programa si PNoy na sinasabi niya ay makakabuti sa kaniyang constituents, marami pa rin talagang taong naghihirap.

Hindi pa rin nito natutugunan ‘yung talagang kakailanganin ng bawat isang Pilipino. Marami ngang na-create na jobs, and yet talaga bang kumikita ang mga Pilipino? Meron nga ba talagang pagkain na napupunta sa tiyan ng bawat isang Pilipino? Poverty pa rin ang pinakamalaking problema ng ating bansa.

3. Kung ang USC ay isang chess game, ito ay ‘yung mga pawn, ‘yung nasa harapan, ‘yung unang sinasakripisyo, ‘yung forefront n’ung laban. At sino-sino ‘yung nasa likuran, ‘yung nasa pangalawang hanay? Hindi ito yung mga naghaharing uri, hindi ito ‘yung mga panginoong maylupa, hindi ito ‘yung mga mutinational corporation.

Ito ang mga estudyante na pinoprotektahan natin ang kanilang mga karapatan. Ang USC dapat ang unang inaalay, nasa forefront ng laban para ipagtanggol ang mga karapatan ng Iskolar ng Bayan. Ang USC, alam na pagdating sa dulo, kung meron mang makuha na piyesa—‘yung mga estudyante nga ito—‘pag nakarating naman siya sa dulo, binabawi niya ito, sinasakripisyo ang kaniyang sarili para siyampre, ‘yun nga, ‘yung purpose niyang ipagtanggol ang bawat Iskolar ng Bayan.

VICE CHAIR Hannah Keila Garcia 2nd year, Juris Doctor, College of Law 1. Siyempre hindi tayo sang-ayon, sa STAND UP at tayong mga Iskolar ng Bayan, ‘di tayo

sang-ayon sa STFAP. Bakit? Kung titingnan natin historically, historicize natin ang pagkakaroon ng STFAP, unang nagkaroon ng STFAP noong 1989, the first time nagkaroon ng tuition fee increase from P40 to P300. ‘Yung pangalawang STFAP naman was on 2006. I think I was a freshman back then, undergrad, pagtaas naman from 3000 (sic) pesos to one thousand pesos, 300 percent increase. Kung titingnan natin ang STFAP ay isa lamang justification sa pagtaas ng tuition fee. Socialized ito, sinasabing socialized adjustment program ito, pero ang totoo niyan, ginagawa lamang itong dahilan para mas maging palatable sa mga estudyante ang pagkakaroon ng tuition fee increase instead of pagbibigay ng mas mataas na budget para sa edukasyon. So hindi po tayo sang-ayon sa STFAP.

2.

Ang totoo niyan, ang naisip ko hindi lang isang hayop kundi dalawa. At iyon ay isang ahas, kahit year of the snake ngayong taon, at isang rabbit. Sa tingin ko ahas dahil sa lahat ng mga ginagawa nila, kahit na pinagmumukha nila na para sa estudyante ang mga ginagawa nila, at ang mga pipu-push nilang legislation ay para sa sambayanan, at the end of the day, ang pinagsisilbihan po nila ay hindi talaga ang masa, at hindi po talaga pinaniniwalaan na ang edukasyon ay isang karapatan. Kaya isa po itong pagtataksil sa sambayanan. Kaya alam naman natin na ahas, ‘di ba, kahit paano mo iyan alagaan, at the end of the day, may malaki talaga ang chance na kakagatin ka niyan. At rabbit po dahil patalon-talon lang sila, akala mo tumatalon nang ‘onti, kala mo may ‘onting progress, pero ang totoo niyan, hindi naman talaga at wala silang pinupuntahan.

Sherie Claire G. Ponce College of Arts and Letters Fenina Maria C. De Leon College of Business Administration Shamah S. Bulangis College of Education April Rose B. Ramos College of Engineering Stefanie D. Quintin College of Music Chris Erwin SG. Alquizalas College of Social Science and Philosophy Adolfo Jose A. Montesa School of Economics Maria Angelica R. Rotoni School of Statistics

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Kyrie Eleison Muñoz Asian Institute of Tourism Rebomafil Bayot II College of Architecture Ma. Aliona Silva College of Arts and Letters Al-Habbyel Yusoph College of Business Administration Stewart Go Roa College of Engineering Ines Adavan College of Home Economics Dave Terante School of Library and Information Science Beata Regina Carolino College of Mass Communication John Christopher Morillo College of Science Joey Loristo College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Erika Isabel Yague College of Social Work and Community Development Georgia Louise Melendres School of Statistics

STAND UP

• Ma. Ysabelle Clarisse Anne S.M. Bonoan Asian Institute of Tourism • Jose Ruel V. Fabia College of Architecture Alyssa Joy P. Quinto • College of Business Administration Daniel Raymund L. Nieva College of Engineering • Carlo P. De Laza College of Fine Arts Anna Alexa F. Nacional Independent College of Home Economics • Regine Beatrice T. Rodriguez Ma. Isabella B. Aurellado School of Economics College of Human Kinetics • John Paul R. Rotap Miguel Angelo T. Barretto College of Law College of Law • Carla Patrice S. Cucueco Wes Antonio C. Lipana College of Mass Communication College of Music Ram Vincent C. Tomaneng College of Science Karla Ena R. Badong College of Social Science and Philosophy Ma. Beatriz G. Obcena College of Social Work and Community Development Francesca Anne Louise G. Angeles National College of Public Administration and Governance Gillian Caye G. Briones School of Library and Information Studies

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ALYANSA

COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko ng super strength kasi gusto natin dalhin ‘yung mga estudyante towards our visions and towards our plans and platforms. Siyempre, kailangan din natin ng lakas ng loob para maipaglaban natin ang ating mga isinusulong na mga plataporma, mga isinisulong nating kampanya and advocacies. Nariyan ang continuous nating paglaban para sa mas mataas na budget at para sa mga basic student services.

Audrey Dei O. Raposa 3rd year, BS Chemical Engineering

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpowers, it will be mental telepathy, ‘yung kakayahan na kausapin ang lahat ng UP student sa utak nila. Kasi ang layunin ko, ‘yung platform ko, is magkalat ng kamalayan, consciousness-raising efforts about different issues, para balanse ‘yung mga pros and cons ng mga issues at makapag-decide tayo sa matalinong pamamaraan.

Arjay R. Mercado 4th year, BS Business Economics

Kung ako ay magiging superhero at magkakaroon ako ng isang superpower, ang superpower ko ay ang pagkakaroon ng isang x-ray vision kung saan, isa rin naman sa plataporma ng ALYANSA ay ang pagkakaroon ng transparency and accountability, na kung saan ang superpower ko na pagkakaroon ng x-ray vision ay makikita ko sa bawat isang tao ang pagiging transparent nila.

Ma. Josefina Isabel A. Meily 5th year, BS Geodetic Engineering

Kung ako ay may superpower, I think it would be X-ray vision.

This is aligned with ALYANSA’s platform for greater transparency and accountability. Using x-ray vision, let’s try to pierce through any obscurity, pierce through any vague matters so that we’re able to clearly see and analyze what’s really happening in terms of transactions, especially ako, coming from the College of Business Administration na Accountancy ‘yung course ko. We’re really looking towards greater transparency and accountability.

Raphael Aaron A. Letaba 3rd year, BS Business Administration & Accountancy

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko makuha ang power ni Spiderman na super strength at spider sense. Kasi ‘pag may super strength ako, kaya kong protektahan ang mga tao at kunwari, may kailangan dalhin sa ibang lugar, kayang-kaya ko ‘yun buhatin. At spider sense naman para ma-sense ko kung may nangangailangan ng tulong o kung may paparating bang masamang tao, para maprotektahan natin ang UP at para mabigyan natin ng serbisyo ang mga lahat ng nasa UP Diliman.

Dale Wilson A. Garcia III 2nd year, BS Mathematics

Kung magkakaroon siguro ako ng superpowers, okay siguro ‘yung nakakabasa ng iniisip ng ibang tao. Lalo na ngayon na gusto natin ang transparency, importante na hindi lang officers ‘yung transparent sa mga pangangailangan, importante na ‘yung mga constituents alam din natin kung ano ang pangangailangan. So kung meron tayong ability para mabasa kung ano man ang nasa isip nila, mas madali ang pagtratrabaho natin para hand-in-hand tayo.

Jamayca R. Encanto 5th year, BS Mechanical Engineering

If I had a superpower, I guess it would be the power to control computers. I’d create a very big database of PowerPoint presentations on the lessons needed, so that we can achieve free and accessible education for all.

If I had a superpower, it would be to read minds. Para malaman ko ang opinyon ng lahat ng tao about a certain issue at kung paano nila gusto itong i-handle para makabuo kami ng consolidated idea. Dahil kami sa KAISA ay naniniwala sa inclusive activism, and we believe in having a collective decision in order to have a collective action.

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko makapag-teleport para mas madali ako makapunta sa iba’t ibang lugar. With this easier form of transportation, mas makakalapit ako sa mga estudyante sa bawat lugar dito sa UP at mas malalaman ko kung ano ang mga pangangailangan nila. At ‘pag nalaman ko na ito, mas madali ko itong mailalapit sa ating konseho at maibibigay ko na sa kanila kung ano ang mga hinhiling nila. Ito ang mas madaling relationship natin with the students and with the USC na gusto nga natin mangyari ngayong taon.

*Hindi nakarating ang mga kandidato sa itinakdang panayam ng Philippine Collegian.

KAISA Gayle Krystle “Gayle” Grey, 5th year, BS Sports Science

ALYANSA Anne Lorraine “Anne” Garcia, 4th year, BS Geography John Gabriel “Gab” Nuque, 3rd year, BS Chemistry

Iba pang kandidato sa pagkakonsehal*:

I would choose the power to mind read, because with the power to mind read, you are able to see what is it that people actually want, and what they actually think about a specific issue. Because sometimes, especially in our Asian culture, we tend to limit ourselves, saying that this might be offensive to the general public. But when we push for policies, we push for programs, we want to make sure that our programs, our laws that we legislate, are responsive to the needs of the people and we can only achieve this with through honesty.

Mara Angeli Villegas 3rd year, Juris Doctor, College of Law

So I’d like to have the power to read minds so that we may be able to better know what the people are thinking about, what their needs are, what they want, so that we may better push for something that would be best for them to address their problems.

Frente Sur Melliza 3rd year, BS Computer Science

If I had superpowers, I like to have super strength so I could help lift people up and eventually help them lift each other.

Jan Zoilo Rafael Mayo 4th year, Bachelor of Sports Science

Kung ako’y bibigyan ng superpower, gusto ko magkaroon ng super strength. Kakailanganin natin ito sa University Student Council kasi bilang parte ng University Student Council, kakailanganin natin ito ‘di lang dahil pasan-pasan natin ang unibersidad, kundi ang buong sambayanan.

Ryan Cristian Lintao 2nd year, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

If I had a superpower, I would want to be able to fly. Why? Because I think that when you fly, you feel strong, you feel invincible. You feel like you can defy gravity, you feel that you can defy all odds and that’s what I want to push. I’m pushing for youth empowerment, and by flying and by giving people a sense of power, by giving them a sense of capability that they are able to do, whatever they want to do regardless of limitations.

Erica Camille Lau 1st year, BS Business Administration and Accountancy

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, siguro that would be the ability to be in many places at once, kasi ang personal advocacy ko as a candidate for councilor is to fight for the oppressed, lalo ‘yung part na ie-empower ko ‘yung women and men na sexually harassed, dahil I’ve had a lot of friends na ‘yun nga, oppressed sila. They were sexually harassed pero they have no guts to come out. So ‘yun, kaya ability to be in many places at once, kasi if only I could watch over them, all of them, I would.

Charina Victoria Jimenez 2nd year, BA Philosophy

So kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, I think ‘yung super abilities ni Superman. Palaging sinasabi ng dad ko sa ‘kin, “‘di ka si Superman, ‘di mo kayang gawin lahat ‘yan.” And kung meron akong powers ni Superman,’di mali na siya. Sa tingin ko kasi, kaya natin talagang gawin lahat ng ating makakaya para makatulong.

Dahil dito, sinusulong ko na, ‘yung tunay na serbisyo, ‘yung serbisyong nararamdaman ng mga tao, mabibigay ko at lahat hindi mapapabayaan.

Daniel Guzman 3rd year, Bachelor of Sports Science

So having a superpower doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to be supernatural, it can be superhuman too. So I would choose the superpower of Bradley Cooper in the movie Limitless —being able to use 100% of your brain. Why did I choose this?

Precisely because the platform of KAISA this year is Push the Limit for One Strong UP, so just like in Limitless, we want the students of this university to go beyond their limit.

Carla Monica Gonzales 4th year, BS Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management

If I were to have a superpower, I’d like it to be like Superman, super hearing—the ability to take in what people are saying no matter how far away they are and no matter how small a group it is. Because what I feel is that I want to be able to listen to many different groups of people. For example, I like to be able to improve the ACLEs. I want to be able to get a lot of feedback and to gear it to be most relevant and helpful to the students.

Martes 26 Pebrero 2013

Councilors

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpowers, siguro power to imitate ‘yung image ng isang tao. Siguro ii-imitate ko ‘yung image ng one from the admin, para maisulong ‘yung karapatan ng mga freshies na sumali sa mga organizations, mawala yung discouragement sa kanila na sumali, at ma-unleash yung full potential nila sa pagsali ng mga org. Kapag may kopya ako, kunyari ako man si Mr. President Pascual, madi-dismiss na ‘yung idea na ‘di pwede silang sumali ng org.

Christian Lemuel Magaling 2nd year, Sertipiko sa Malikhaing Pagsulat

Kung bibigyan po ako ng kapangyarihan, pipiliin ko pong magkaroon ng supersonic voice para po wala nang dahilan ‘yung mga taong nasa tatsulok upang sabihin nila na hindi nila tayo naririnig. Wala na silang dahilan para magbingi-bingihan.

Hilary Chelsea Chan 4th year, BS Metallurgical Engineering

Gusto po sana magkaroon ng time travelling powers. Kasi nga po, kung papalarin po, gusto ko pong maging part ng Community Rights and Welfare Committee. Ngayon sa CRAW, gusto ko po sana tulungan ang mga manininda natin dito sa UP, pati na rin po ‘yung driver’s community, pati rin po iba’t ibang community dito sa UP. Ngayon, if I have the power to time travel, pwede ko pong gawing lahat ng mga gusto kong gawin in a very short period of time.

Allynna Haneefa Macapado 2nd year, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

If I had a superpower, I’d want to have power of super speed, like the Flash, cause we only have limited time in our hands and siyempre, as a member of the student council, marami kaming programa na gusto naming ibigay sa ating mga estudyante. And given the time we have, gusto po naming sulitin ang aking time as a USC councilor, and siyempre, if I have super speed, aking maa-achieve lahat ng aking goals.

Mario Adrefanio Santos 4th year, BA Communication Research

So ang superpower na pipiliin ko ay the power to have multiple selves. Kasi we at STAND UP naman, dahil dala-dala ko ‘yung gender advocacy n’ung gender committee, we believe na we can only do so much. So dapat talaga mas marami tayo, and para makuha natin ‘yung suporta ng students, kailangan nating mag-raise ng awareness. And ano talaga, puntahan isa-isa. Kung mas marami ako, mas marami akong panahon na mapuntahan sila.

Erra Mae Zabat 3rd year, BS Psychology

Kung magkakarooon ako ng superpower, I’d like to have the greatest power of all, it’s the power of love. Because I think that’s what would keep us, that’s what would allow us to look forward.

And regarding my platforms, of course, we need to have our love for our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters. My platform is for us to have a mosque inside the community.

Sitti Meryam Agatha Reyes 4th year, BS Business Administration & Accountancy

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko siyempre ‘yung makalipad, hindi lang dahil sa naga-aspire akong maging Darna, kundi lang gusto ko sanang makapag-organisa ng mga bakla at lesbiyana hindi lamang sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, kundi pati na rin d’un sa mga pamayanan kung saan hindi naaabot n’ung influence ng mass media when it comes to the gender rights advocacy.

John Nelvin Lucero 2nd year, BA Journalism

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, ‘yun ‘yung time control. Kasi kami sa STAND UP ay naniniwala na dapat education is a right at dapat ‘yung tuition natin ay accessible para sa lahat ng mga estudyante. Kung kaya ko nga ibalik ‘yung oras, siyempre mas paiigtingin ko ang kampanya upang pigilin ang pagtaas ng tuition mula sa P300 pagtaas sa P1000, at pati na rin P1500.

Angelo Lagman 3rd year, BA Communication Research

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko ‘yung makapagparami, makapag-multiply para sana siyempre, makapunta tayo d’un sa iba’t ibang sektor, sabay-sabay nating ma-address ‘yung iba’t ibang sectors ng society, ‘yung kanilang mga issues, at maipaglaban natin ang kanilang mga karapatan.

Pero dahil alam naman natin na hindi, na imposible iyon na mag-isa makapagparami, naniniwala naman tayo na nandiyan pa rin ‘yung maraming mga kabataan at malawak na hanay ng masa.

Charlotte France 4th year, BA Broadcast Communication

For me, teleportation, so I can go to different places and touch people’s lives.

Leandro Miguel Alberto Rommel Fernandez 4th year, BS Tourism Management

Patrick Shane Diaz 4th year, BA Public Administration

Juan Antonio Bugayong 3rd year BA Political Science

Alea L. Carpio 4th year, BA European Languages

Rafael Luis Rodolfo Fernando 3rd year, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

‘Yung pipiliin kong superpower ay ‘yung doppelganger na superpower. Kasi gusto ko sana maging maparami ang sarili ko, pero siyempre, with the same conviction, with the same principles, para mas marami ang maaabot kong estudyante—makapag-RTR, makapagkumbinsi, makapagmulat tungkol sa mga isyung panlipunan, at siyempre, para kapag kunyari sa STAND UP, naniniwala tayo sa collective action.

Kung magkaka-superpower ako, siguro ‘yung katulad ng kay Rogue sa X-Men. Kasi mas maiintidihan mo, talagang acquired knowledge ‘yun sa subject mo. Sa lider-estudyante dapat naiintidihan mo muna ‘yung concern ng constituent mo, at dito magkakaroon tayo ng nagkakaisang aksyon at doon, masusolusyunan natin ang mga isyu at problema, hindi lamang ng pamantasan kundi ng sambayanan.

Kung ako ay magkakaroon ng superpower, ang gusto ko ‘yung power to time travel. Kasi kung kaya nating mag-time travel, maaabot tayo sa nakaraan, sa future. And para matulak natin ang mga plataporma natin, kailangan natin malaman ang mga pagkakamali natin, at posible pang mangyari in the future. So ‘yun, if I have the power to time travel then I’ll be prepared, then all of us will be prepared sa mga susunod pang mangyayari.

Mely Ann Emerie Cristobal 1st year, Juris Doctor, College of Law

STAND UP Serene Ezra Bondad 4th year, BS Chemistry

KAISA

Kung magkakaroon ka ng superpower, ano ito at paano mo ito gagamitin upang maisulong ang iyong plataporma?

John Paulo G. Delas Nieves 3rd year, BS Economics

ALYANSA

COUNCILORS

Sherie Claire G. Ponce College of Arts and Letters Fenina Maria C. De Leon College of Business Administration Shamah S. Bulangis College of Education April Rose B. Ramos College of Engineering Stefanie D. Quintin College of Music Chris Erwin SG. Alquizalas College of Social Science and Philosophy Adolfo Jose A. Montesa School of Economics Maria Angelica R. Rotoni School of Statistics

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Kyrie Eleison Muñoz Asian Institute of Tourism Rebomafil Bayot II College of Architecture Ma. Aliona Silva College of Arts and Letters Al-Habbyel Yusoph College of Business Administration Stewart Go Roa College of Engineering Ines Adavan College of Home Economics Dave Terante School of Library and Information Science Beata Regina Carolino College of Mass Communication John Christopher Morillo College of Science Joey Loristo College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Erika Isabel Yague College of Social Work and Community Development Georgia Louise Melendres School of Statistics

STAND UP

• Ma. Ysabelle Clarisse Anne S.M. Bonoan Asian Institute of Tourism • Jose Ruel V. Fabia College of Architecture Alyssa Joy P. Quinto • College of Business Administration Daniel Raymund L. Nieva College of Engineering • Carlo P. De Laza College of Fine Arts Anna Alexa F. Nacional Independent College of Home Economics • Regine Beatrice T. Rodriguez Ma. Isabella B. Aurellado School of Economics College of Human Kinetics • John Paul R. Rotap Miguel Angelo T. Barretto College of Law College of Law • Carla Patrice S. Cucueco Wes Antonio C. Lipana College of Mass Communication College of Music Ram Vincent C. Tomaneng College of Science Karla Ena R. Badong College of Social Science and Philosophy Ma. Beatriz G. Obcena College of Social Work and Community Development Francesca Anne Louise G. Angeles National College of Public Administration and Governance Gillian Caye G. Briones School of Library and Information Studies

KAISA

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ALYANSA

COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko ng super strength kasi gusto natin dalhin ‘yung mga estudyante towards our visions and towards our plans and platforms. Siyempre, kailangan din natin ng lakas ng loob para maipaglaban natin ang ating mga isinusulong na mga plataporma, mga isinisulong nating kampanya and advocacies. Nariyan ang continuous nating paglaban para sa mas mataas na budget at para sa mga basic student services.

Audrey Dei O. Raposa 3rd year, BS Chemical Engineering

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpowers, it will be mental telepathy, ‘yung kakayahan na kausapin ang lahat ng UP student sa utak nila. Kasi ang layunin ko, ‘yung platform ko, is magkalat ng kamalayan, consciousness-raising efforts about different issues, para balanse ‘yung mga pros and cons ng mga issues at makapag-decide tayo sa matalinong pamamaraan.

Arjay R. Mercado 4th year, BS Business Economics

Kung ako ay magiging superhero at magkakaroon ako ng isang superpower, ang superpower ko ay ang pagkakaroon ng isang x-ray vision kung saan, isa rin naman sa plataporma ng ALYANSA ay ang pagkakaroon ng transparency and accountability, na kung saan ang superpower ko na pagkakaroon ng x-ray vision ay makikita ko sa bawat isang tao ang pagiging transparent nila.

Ma. Josefina Isabel A. Meily 5th year, BS Geodetic Engineering

Kung ako ay may superpower, I think it would be X-ray vision.

This is aligned with ALYANSA’s platform for greater transparency and accountability. Using x-ray vision, let’s try to pierce through any obscurity, pierce through any vague matters so that we’re able to clearly see and analyze what’s really happening in terms of transactions, especially ako, coming from the College of Business Administration na Accountancy ‘yung course ko. We’re really looking towards greater transparency and accountability.

Raphael Aaron A. Letaba 3rd year, BS Business Administration & Accountancy

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko makuha ang power ni Spiderman na super strength at spider sense. Kasi ‘pag may super strength ako, kaya kong protektahan ang mga tao at kunwari, may kailangan dalhin sa ibang lugar, kayang-kaya ko ‘yun buhatin. At spider sense naman para ma-sense ko kung may nangangailangan ng tulong o kung may paparating bang masamang tao, para maprotektahan natin ang UP at para mabigyan natin ng serbisyo ang mga lahat ng nasa UP Diliman.

Dale Wilson A. Garcia III 2nd year, BS Mathematics

Kung magkakaroon siguro ako ng superpowers, okay siguro ‘yung nakakabasa ng iniisip ng ibang tao. Lalo na ngayon na gusto natin ang transparency, importante na hindi lang officers ‘yung transparent sa mga pangangailangan, importante na ‘yung mga constituents alam din natin kung ano ang pangangailangan. So kung meron tayong ability para mabasa kung ano man ang nasa isip nila, mas madali ang pagtratrabaho natin para hand-in-hand tayo.

Jamayca R. Encanto 5th year, BS Mechanical Engineering

If I had a superpower, I guess it would be the power to control computers. I’d create a very big database of PowerPoint presentations on the lessons needed, so that we can achieve free and accessible education for all.

If I had a superpower, it would be to read minds. Para malaman ko ang opinyon ng lahat ng tao about a certain issue at kung paano nila gusto itong i-handle para makabuo kami ng consolidated idea. Dahil kami sa KAISA ay naniniwala sa inclusive activism, and we believe in having a collective decision in order to have a collective action.

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko makapag-teleport para mas madali ako makapunta sa iba’t ibang lugar. With this easier form of transportation, mas makakalapit ako sa mga estudyante sa bawat lugar dito sa UP at mas malalaman ko kung ano ang mga pangangailangan nila. At ‘pag nalaman ko na ito, mas madali ko itong mailalapit sa ating konseho at maibibigay ko na sa kanila kung ano ang mga hinhiling nila. Ito ang mas madaling relationship natin with the students and with the USC na gusto nga natin mangyari ngayong taon.

*Hindi nakarating ang mga kandidato sa itinakdang panayam ng Philippine Collegian.

KAISA Gayle Krystle “Gayle” Grey, 5th year, BS Sports Science

ALYANSA Anne Lorraine “Anne” Garcia, 4th year, BS Geography John Gabriel “Gab” Nuque, 3rd year, BS Chemistry

Iba pang kandidato sa pagkakonsehal*:

I would choose the power to mind read, because with the power to mind read, you are able to see what is it that people actually want, and what they actually think about a specific issue. Because sometimes, especially in our Asian culture, we tend to limit ourselves, saying that this might be offensive to the general public. But when we push for policies, we push for programs, we want to make sure that our programs, our laws that we legislate, are responsive to the needs of the people and we can only achieve this with through honesty.

Mara Angeli Villegas 3rd year, Juris Doctor, College of Law

So I’d like to have the power to read minds so that we may be able to better know what the people are thinking about, what their needs are, what they want, so that we may better push for something that would be best for them to address their problems.

Frente Sur Melliza 3rd year, BS Computer Science

If I had superpowers, I like to have super strength so I could help lift people up and eventually help them lift each other.

Jan Zoilo Rafael Mayo 4th year, Bachelor of Sports Science

Kung ako’y bibigyan ng superpower, gusto ko magkaroon ng super strength. Kakailanganin natin ito sa University Student Council kasi bilang parte ng University Student Council, kakailanganin natin ito ‘di lang dahil pasan-pasan natin ang unibersidad, kundi ang buong sambayanan.

Ryan Cristian Lintao 2nd year, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

If I had a superpower, I would want to be able to fly. Why? Because I think that when you fly, you feel strong, you feel invincible. You feel like you can defy gravity, you feel that you can defy all odds and that’s what I want to push. I’m pushing for youth empowerment, and by flying and by giving people a sense of power, by giving them a sense of capability that they are able to do, whatever they want to do regardless of limitations.

Erica Camille Lau 1st year, BS Business Administration and Accountancy

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, siguro that would be the ability to be in many places at once, kasi ang personal advocacy ko as a candidate for councilor is to fight for the oppressed, lalo ‘yung part na ie-empower ko ‘yung women and men na sexually harassed, dahil I’ve had a lot of friends na ‘yun nga, oppressed sila. They were sexually harassed pero they have no guts to come out. So ‘yun, kaya ability to be in many places at once, kasi if only I could watch over them, all of them, I would.

Charina Victoria Jimenez 2nd year, BA Philosophy

So kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, I think ‘yung super abilities ni Superman. Palaging sinasabi ng dad ko sa ‘kin, “‘di ka si Superman, ‘di mo kayang gawin lahat ‘yan.” And kung meron akong powers ni Superman,’di mali na siya. Sa tingin ko kasi, kaya natin talagang gawin lahat ng ating makakaya para makatulong.

Dahil dito, sinusulong ko na, ‘yung tunay na serbisyo, ‘yung serbisyong nararamdaman ng mga tao, mabibigay ko at lahat hindi mapapabayaan.

Daniel Guzman 3rd year, Bachelor of Sports Science

So having a superpower doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to be supernatural, it can be superhuman too. So I would choose the superpower of Bradley Cooper in the movie Limitless —being able to use 100% of your brain. Why did I choose this?

Precisely because the platform of KAISA this year is Push the Limit for One Strong UP, so just like in Limitless, we want the students of this university to go beyond their limit.

Carla Monica Gonzales 4th year, BS Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management

If I were to have a superpower, I’d like it to be like Superman, super hearing—the ability to take in what people are saying no matter how far away they are and no matter how small a group it is. Because what I feel is that I want to be able to listen to many different groups of people. For example, I like to be able to improve the ACLEs. I want to be able to get a lot of feedback and to gear it to be most relevant and helpful to the students.

Martes 26 Pebrero 2013

Councilors

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpowers, siguro power to imitate ‘yung image ng isang tao. Siguro ii-imitate ko ‘yung image ng one from the admin, para maisulong ‘yung karapatan ng mga freshies na sumali sa mga organizations, mawala yung discouragement sa kanila na sumali, at ma-unleash yung full potential nila sa pagsali ng mga org. Kapag may kopya ako, kunyari ako man si Mr. President Pascual, madi-dismiss na ‘yung idea na ‘di pwede silang sumali ng org.

Christian Lemuel Magaling 2nd year, Sertipiko sa Malikhaing Pagsulat

Kung bibigyan po ako ng kapangyarihan, pipiliin ko pong magkaroon ng supersonic voice para po wala nang dahilan ‘yung mga taong nasa tatsulok upang sabihin nila na hindi nila tayo naririnig. Wala na silang dahilan para magbingi-bingihan.

Hilary Chelsea Chan 4th year, BS Metallurgical Engineering

Gusto po sana magkaroon ng time travelling powers. Kasi nga po, kung papalarin po, gusto ko pong maging part ng Community Rights and Welfare Committee. Ngayon sa CRAW, gusto ko po sana tulungan ang mga manininda natin dito sa UP, pati na rin po ‘yung driver’s community, pati rin po iba’t ibang community dito sa UP. Ngayon, if I have the power to time travel, pwede ko pong gawing lahat ng mga gusto kong gawin in a very short period of time.

Allynna Haneefa Macapado 2nd year, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

If I had a superpower, I’d want to have power of super speed, like the Flash, cause we only have limited time in our hands and siyempre, as a member of the student council, marami kaming programa na gusto naming ibigay sa ating mga estudyante. And given the time we have, gusto po naming sulitin ang aking time as a USC councilor, and siyempre, if I have super speed, aking maa-achieve lahat ng aking goals.

Mario Adrefanio Santos 4th year, BA Communication Research

So ang superpower na pipiliin ko ay the power to have multiple selves. Kasi we at STAND UP naman, dahil dala-dala ko ‘yung gender advocacy n’ung gender committee, we believe na we can only do so much. So dapat talaga mas marami tayo, and para makuha natin ‘yung suporta ng students, kailangan nating mag-raise ng awareness. And ano talaga, puntahan isa-isa. Kung mas marami ako, mas marami akong panahon na mapuntahan sila.

Erra Mae Zabat 3rd year, BS Psychology

Kung magkakarooon ako ng superpower, I’d like to have the greatest power of all, it’s the power of love. Because I think that’s what would keep us, that’s what would allow us to look forward.

And regarding my platforms, of course, we need to have our love for our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters. My platform is for us to have a mosque inside the community.

Sitti Meryam Agatha Reyes 4th year, BS Business Administration & Accountancy

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko siyempre ‘yung makalipad, hindi lang dahil sa naga-aspire akong maging Darna, kundi lang gusto ko sanang makapag-organisa ng mga bakla at lesbiyana hindi lamang sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, kundi pati na rin d’un sa mga pamayanan kung saan hindi naaabot n’ung influence ng mass media when it comes to the gender rights advocacy.

John Nelvin Lucero 2nd year, BA Journalism

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, ‘yun ‘yung time control. Kasi kami sa STAND UP ay naniniwala na dapat education is a right at dapat ‘yung tuition natin ay accessible para sa lahat ng mga estudyante. Kung kaya ko nga ibalik ‘yung oras, siyempre mas paiigtingin ko ang kampanya upang pigilin ang pagtaas ng tuition mula sa P300 pagtaas sa P1000, at pati na rin P1500.

Angelo Lagman 3rd year, BA Communication Research

Kung magkakaroon ako ng superpower, gusto ko ‘yung makapagparami, makapag-multiply para sana siyempre, makapunta tayo d’un sa iba’t ibang sektor, sabay-sabay nating ma-address ‘yung iba’t ibang sectors ng society, ‘yung kanilang mga issues, at maipaglaban natin ang kanilang mga karapatan.

Pero dahil alam naman natin na hindi, na imposible iyon na mag-isa makapagparami, naniniwala naman tayo na nandiyan pa rin ‘yung maraming mga kabataan at malawak na hanay ng masa.

Charlotte France 4th year, BA Broadcast Communication

For me, teleportation, so I can go to different places and touch people’s lives.

Leandro Miguel Alberto Rommel Fernandez 4th year, BS Tourism Management

Patrick Shane Diaz 4th year, BA Public Administration

Juan Antonio Bugayong 3rd year BA Political Science

Alea L. Carpio 4th year, BA European Languages

Rafael Luis Rodolfo Fernando 3rd year, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

‘Yung pipiliin kong superpower ay ‘yung doppelganger na superpower. Kasi gusto ko sana maging maparami ang sarili ko, pero siyempre, with the same conviction, with the same principles, para mas marami ang maaabot kong estudyante—makapag-RTR, makapagkumbinsi, makapagmulat tungkol sa mga isyung panlipunan, at siyempre, para kapag kunyari sa STAND UP, naniniwala tayo sa collective action.

Kung magkaka-superpower ako, siguro ‘yung katulad ng kay Rogue sa X-Men. Kasi mas maiintidihan mo, talagang acquired knowledge ‘yun sa subject mo. Sa lider-estudyante dapat naiintidihan mo muna ‘yung concern ng constituent mo, at dito magkakaroon tayo ng nagkakaisang aksyon at doon, masusolusyunan natin ang mga isyu at problema, hindi lamang ng pamantasan kundi ng sambayanan.

Kung ako ay magkakaroon ng superpower, ang gusto ko ‘yung power to time travel. Kasi kung kaya nating mag-time travel, maaabot tayo sa nakaraan, sa future. And para matulak natin ang mga plataporma natin, kailangan natin malaman ang mga pagkakamali natin, at posible pang mangyari in the future. So ‘yun, if I have the power to time travel then I’ll be prepared, then all of us will be prepared sa mga susunod pang mangyayari.

Mely Ann Emerie Cristobal 1st year, Juris Doctor, College of Law

STAND UP Serene Ezra Bondad 4th year, BS Chemistry

KAISA

Kung magkakaroon ka ng superpower, ano ito at paano mo ito gagamitin upang maisulong ang iyong plataporma?

John Paulo G. Delas Nieves 3rd year, BS Economics

ALYANSA

COUNCILORS

A year has passed since UP Diliman (UPD) students elected its University Student Council (USC), the campus’ highest student governing body mandated to “defend and promote the rights and general welfare of [UP students] and the Filipino people.”

Students from UPD’s three major political parties occupy the 34 seats in the incumbent USC, with 13 members from UP Alyansa ng mga Magaaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA), and 10 members each from KAISA— Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA) and Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP). An independent member representing the National LATHALAIN College of Public Administration and Governance completes the list.

Martes As elected student leaders, the 26 Pebrero USC is expected to live the council’s 2012 tradition of serving the students and the people. Indeed, as various university and national issues mark the current academic year—from the opening salvo of the Bracket B Certification (BBC) scheme to human rights violations, and the looming midterm elections—the USC plays a crucial role in leading the students.

Continuing the service The USC celebrates its centennial this year, having gone a long way since Manuel Mariano Tabona led the very first council in 1913. Even in its early years, the USC—then known as UP Student Council— has already established a legacy of fighting for student’s welfare.

For instance, it led the students’ protest against a fee increase imposed by the Department of Physical Education (PE) in 1929.

During the dark days of Martial Rule in the ‘70s, the USC was among the student institutions that mobilized the students to decisively act for social change.

This year’s USC focused its efforts in spearheading projects that catered to the needs of the students. “I think nag-deliver talaga [ang buong konseho] in terms of mga naging pangako namin noong eleksyon,” says USC Chairperson Gabriel “Heart” Diño.

Among its projects and events include the UP budget awareness campaign that consolidated all parties’ budget initiatives, the voter education project Tatak Botante, and IskoOperation, a “pro-active” mechanism that seeks to help calamity victims.

At the start of the academic year, the USC spearheaded the forum Lets Clarify, which sought to shed light on the issues hounding the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program. And in light of the P9.5 billion subsidy received

by UP for 2013, it also organized a forum that culminated with a manifesto calling for higher allocation on education.

“Ang mga activities ng USC ngayon ay nag-e-empower talaga sa mga estudyante na maging involved,” says KAISA Chairperson Shaina Santiago.

The USC was also able execute zero tolerance in resolving recent cases on fraternity-related violence, says UP ALYANSA Chairperson Ace Ligsay. Furthermore, it supported the Sin Tax and Reproductive Health laws passed

by Congress, and released statements condemning the proposed implementation of laboratory and PE fees.

“The USC recognizes the need for additional budget in CHK to maintain their facilities…however, we cannot allow that these fees will be sourced from us, the Iskolar ng Bayan,” according to the official statement of the council on the additional fees.

Resolving divides Unlike previous councils, USC members claim to have transcended political divides, and have been able to work together despite inherent differences. Such conduct is expected from USC members, who are stripped off their party color once they enter the council that has to function as a single body.

“May mga General Assemblies (GA) na umaabot ng 3 AM, bickering on political stance sa issues, pero hanggang doon lang ‘yun. ‘Pagsinalang na sa mga projects ng USC, regardless of party color, tumutulong naman lahat,” says Councilor Francisco Jayme Guiang.

Yet, there have been several instances when the council failed to forge unity. In joining the State of the Nation Address protest action for instance, USC members agreed to participate individually instead of joining as a council, says Francisco Guiang. The USC’s pro-Sin Tax stance was also placed to a vote, after the council failed to reach a consensus.

Participation of USC members in General Assemblies (GAs) were also telling. In the nine GAs held during the first semester, 90 late and 65 excused and unexcused absences were recorded. Meanwhile, for the six GAs conducted in the second semester, 56 late and 46 absences were noted.

The council was unable to mobilize as a body, resulting to certain committees standing out among the others. “Hindi lahat ng committees na-utilize nang maayos, kumbaga selected committees lang

Track record

Assessing the course taken by the 2012-2013 UPD USC

talaga ‘yung nakapag-deliver ng concrete projects,” says Julliano Guiang.

Also, in October 2012, much controversy erupted when Diño tagged the organization Anakbayan as a communist front in her Twitter account — an act which several student leaders including former USC Chairperson Jemimah Garcia condemned for effectively endangering the safety of students associated with Anakbayan.

Lacking advocacy Among the criticisms hauled against the USC was its lack of stances and actions in several issues like the draft Code of Student Conduct (CSC), the university’s set rules governing student conduct that drew wide criticisms back in 2009.

The CSC, which only awaits the highest policy making body Board of Regents’ approval, includes a contentious provision limiting freshmen from becoming organization members in their first semester.

“Naipasa [ito] nang walang ikinibit-balikat man lang ang konseho,” laments Garcia, who was part of the committee that drafted the students’ version of CSC, which was later considered in the latest CSC version.

The council was also unable to spearhead advocacies beyond the university or lead campaigns on pressing national issues. “Maraming outputs ang nabuo ng USC, pero nagkulang [sa] follow-ups ng mga issues,” says USC Councilor Julliano Guiang.

Leadership in the USC does not

end with organizing activities at projects. “‘Pag sinabi mong USC, going beyond projects dapat ang iniisip mo, kasi hindi lang naman mga UP students ‘yung mga constituents mo,” says Francisco Guiang.

Consequently, the USC failed to act on key concerns in the education and health sectors like the K to 12 program, Roadmap for Public Higher Education Reform, the planned privatization of state hospitals, and recently, the Tubbataha Reef fiasco.

“Dahil tayo ay pamantasan ng bayan at kinikilala bilang isa sa mga tagapagtaguyod ng karapatan ng mamamayang Pilipino, dapat may tindig [ang USC] sa isyu kung saan nakasalalay ang kalagayan ng taong bayan,” says Felix Pariñas, national president of the All-UP Workers Union. He cited the USC’s non-participation.

Indeed, the USC’s historical role as a student institution goes beyond projects for UP’s students; it extends to the larger UP community and the people. “[Subalit] kahit sandali sa mga pagkilos [naming mga kawani], hindi ko ‘ata nakita ang kanilang presensya sa aming mga pagkilos,” Pariñas adds.

Ultimately, the USC must never forget its dual role to serve the students and the people. As a student institution whose influence stretches beyond UP, the USC’s competence and service is not measured solely on the student events and projects it has led, but its capacity to engage UP students to fulfill their proverbial role as scholars of the people, within and outside the university.

The 2013-2014

Philippine Collegian Editorial Examinations Political Narratives Julian Inah G. Anunciacion 3rd year, BA Creative Writing POLITICS COMPOSES A LANGUAGE OF ITS OWN NARRATIVE. At the start of the campaign period, political candidates in the University of the Philippines or in the national level of politics communicate a distinct language defined by party colors, accomplishments of the candidates, and ambitious platforms.

Like language, politics is not a solitary activity. As voters belonging in a democracy, the people too are active characters in politics.

The history of the country is not written with narratives of its times of peace. It is written however, with the legends of war and the characters—leaders—that won over these wars. More so the leader must be the ideal elected by the majority in the democracy whether in the national or UP elections.

The country has a history of electing leaders that do not fulfill their obligation to the majority. As long as this reality exists with the majority remaining mute about it, progressive elections cannot be attained.

UP has been a breeding ground for future leaders in the government. The student politics of today will be the national politics of tomorrow. The student body seeks from student leaders service towards the people, and giving education for everyone who deserves. It also seeks genuine change from national leaders such as agrarian reform and employment aimed for the progress of the majority. It calls for leaders that remain accountable for their actions.

In a setting where every politician prioritizes victory over the opposition more than the service and the improvement of the service, progress cannot be achieved. Politics then speaks in persuasion, rather than a strong declaration of change—a rhetoric without content. The repetitive verses of a tragedy of the elections will continue to reproduce copies.

A progressive election is possible because we are a democracy that has the right to choose.

However, our democracy has yet to realize our potential to change the country through c o l l e c tive unified action, and not fragments of history.

We need a leader that puts an accomplished period to his sentences, and not leave an u n c e r t a i n question mark. We must vote for a leader that uses his or her hands in writing a clear platform, but also in actually implementing the platform—a leader that does not leave his subjects in unfinished phrases.

Genuine change is possible in selecting the next main character of our democracy’s history as long as the writer of the history is the people that know how to handle the language of politics

Charting the maps of progress Victor Gregor U. Limon 3rd year, BA Political Science THE FUTURE OF A NATION IS SHAPED BY THE SEA OF COLLECTIVE voices, the rise and surge of united actions guided by a shared goal.

On May 13, more than 52 million registered voters will rush to thousands of polling precincts across the archipelago to chart a new course for the Philippines. Yet more than just the names of those we w i l l place at the helm of government, our ballots will also hold the blueprint of our laws, policies which will be the compass of national development.

The students of the University of the Philippines face the same exact challenge in the various University Student Council (USC) elections in the entire UP system this month. In UP Diliman alone, out of 79 hopefuls, only 32 successful candidates will be entrusted the task to represent the student body in the next school year.

Throughout history, the country’s premier state university has been a reservoir of young minds able and willing to map the course of our nation’s future. It is this potential, the wellspring of progressive ideas, which must be distilled into concrete actions and united by the leadership of the university’s next student councils.

For there is much that remains to be accomplished to turn the tides of the present: both in the national and campus political landscapes. In 2012, the national economy posted a 6.6-percent growth, a considerable increase from 3.9 percent in 2011. Yet wages remain far below decent living standards, while budget allocation for basic social services and public institutions remain lacking. For UP alone, the government approved only 60 percent of the administration’s proposed budget for 2013.

Nothing else then is more crucial for the next student leaders to once more channel the university’s critical tradition and tap into the UP student body’s wisdom and strength in advancing the interests of the people, the change needed in the larger context of society. This can only be done however if the next student councils truly represent the collective will and interests of students and other marginalized sectors.

For the tradition of UP and its student movement have never been to conserve the dominant ideas of the present, the limits set by the status quo. The strength and influence of UP is anchored on the constant attempt to refashion our political landscape.

As the bastion of fearless and critical campus journalism, the Philippine Collegian serves a crucial role in this endeavor. Thru a stream of progressive ideas which it has always advanced in its more than 90 years of history, the Collegian is in a privileged position to influence the ideas and actions of the UP community.

In the next few days, the university will have new student leaders who will one day become the captains of our government and economy. In barely three months, as well, the people will choose the next leaders of our current government. The success of our choices depends on our united commitment to the goal of fostering change for the nation and the people.

THE POSSIBILITY OF

PROGRESSIVE

POLITICS IN

CAMPUS AND

THE

NATIONAL

Jan Andrei Cobey

ELECTIONS

Editorial Examinations Martes 26 Pebrero 2013

GRAPIX Martes 26 Pebrero 2013

Bukod sa pagiging isa sa mga pangunahing kabuhayan sa Artex, ang pamamangka rin sa palibot ng pamayanan ang nagsisilbing libangan ng mga pamilya.

Sa halagang limang piso para sa mga residente at limampung piso para sa mga bisita, maiikot na ang buong Artex Compound sakay ng mga bangka. Hindi pa man sumisikat ang araw ay abala na ang mga manininda ng pandesal sa pag-iikot sa mga kabahayan upang magbenta ng bagong luto at mainit pang tinapay.

Pagsapit ng alas kwatro ng umaga, nagsisimula nang mamangka ang mga estudyante patungo sa kani-kanilang mga paaralan.

Bilang pandagdag kita, ilang mga residente ng Hindi hadlang sa mga residente ang pagkalubog ng kanilang kapilya Artex ang nag-iigib ng tubig upang ibenta sa upang patuloy na manampalataya. kanilang mga kapitbahay sa halagang limang piso kada galon.

Pagsilip sa natatanging water world ng Maynila Pagsapit ng alas singko ng umaga, paisa-isang magsisilabasan ang mga bangkang bubulabog sa banayad na tubig na umaagos sa Artex Compound, ang tinaguriang “Venice ng Malabon.” Malayo man sa tabing-dagat ang isang ektaryang compound na ito, naging sandata na ng mga residente ang bangka’t sagwan upang mailayag at mairaos nila ang bawat araw.

Isang proyektong pabahay ang Artex para sa mga manggagawa ng Yupangco Cotton Mills, Inc. Dahil sa panggigipit sa suweldo, naglunsad ng welga ang mga manggagawa ng Yupangco noong 1989. Bagamat natigil na ang operasyon ng kumpanya, nanatili pa rin ang mga residente sa compound.

Noong 2004, binaha ang Artex Compound dulot ng mga bagyo’t malalakas na pag-ulan. May siyam na taon na ang lumipas ngunit hindi na humupa pa ang tubig—hanggang ngayon, lumalangoy pa rin sa limang talampakang baha ang munting pamayanan.

Lumapit na sa lokal na pamahalaan ang mga residente ng Artex, nanghingi na sila ng tulong maging sa mga kumakandidato pa lang sa eleksyon. Gayunman, hindi umano makagawa ng karampatang aksyon ang pamahalaan dahil pribadong kumpanya raw ang may-ari sa lugar.

Nakalubog man sa tubig ang unang palapag ng kanilang mga tahanan, makikita pa rin sa Artex ang mga batang naglalaro sa mga bangka, ang mga nanay na nagkukuwentuhan, ang kapilyang hindi na makapagdaos ng misa ngunit dinadalaw pa rin ng mga nais manalangin.

Kamakailan lang, sinubasta na ng gobyerno sa halagang P200,000 ang compound dahil hindi na nakapagbabayad ng buwis ang Yupangco Cotton Mills, Inc. Hindi nakonsulta ang mga residente ukol dito.

Ngunit lumangoy man ang mga residente sa kawalang katiyakan ng kanilang kapalaran, handang ipaglaban ng mga residente ang kanilang karapatan para manirahan sa compound na halos dalawang dekada na rin nilang itinuturing na tahanan.

Pagsapit ng alas singko ng umaga, muling haharapin ng mga residente ang baha. At humupa man ito, mananatiling kalunos-lunos ang kanilang kalagayan—patuloy pa rin silang maglalayag sa mga suliranin ng kawalang hanapbuhay, kawalan ng tirahan, at marami pang ibang kakulangan.

Jan Andrei Cobey

GRAPIX Martes 26 Pebrero 2013

Sh*t “Kung isa kang tae, bakit kita tatapakan?”

Iyan ang tanong ng katabi ko sa mga kandidatong nag-RTR sa klase, kung saan nag-sit in ako.

Nandidiri at nagtatawanan ang ibang mga estudyante sa tanong.

Sino ba naman ang hindi? Marinig mo pa lang ang salitang “tae” ay mapapailing ka na sa imahe at amoy na mabubuo sa utak mo.

Malayong-malayo ito sa hitsura ng mga naka-posturang kandidatong nasa harapan naming bihis na bihis -- mga naka-slacks, polo, pencil cut skirts, blouse, makintab na leather shoes at four-inch heels.

Isa ‘yun sa hindi ko maintindihan sa kanila. Bigla na lang silang OPINYON nagbabagong anyo sa dalawang linggong pangangampanya. Akala Martes mo araw-araw may report o in26 Pebrero terbyu. O di kaya ay pinalitan 2012 na nila ang mga ate at kuyang namimigay ng mga flyer ng kondominyum sa mga mall. Pero dahil sa mga kasuotan nila, nakikita ko kaagad kung paparating na ang mga naglipanang pilit na nakikipagkamayan at bumabati ng isang magandang araw na may abot taingang ngiti.

Ewan ko na lang kung ngingiti pa sila sa mga naglalabasang mga balita laban sa kanila. Pinagpe-

piyestahan na sa Facebook, dorm tours at iba pang mga debateng kanilang nilalahukan ang mga kintagu-tagong mga lihim. Pwede rin namang imbentong lihim. Tulad lang ng tae, mahirap pigilan.

Lalabas at lalabas din ang itinatagong baho.

Aminin mo, tuwing sasapit ang Pebrero, hindi Valentine’s Day ang inaabangan mo kundi ang banggaan ng asul, dilaw at pulang mga puso Sa una, pinipigilan mo pang sabihin sa iba. Top secret, kumbaga.

Kinikilig kang isipin na kaunti pa lang kayong may alam. Ngunit madalas ay hindi mo rin maatim na hindi ipagsabi sa iba. Minsan parang utot lang din iyan na sasabay sa hangin. Lilipas din, pero may makakaamoy. At diyan na magsisimula ang mala-kubetang lakaran ng eleksyon – madumi.

Kung gayon, ang UP ay isang malaking inidorong hindi pa nal-

Pahabol sa Valentine’s Day Lilipas nanaman ang Pebrero nang halos hindi ko namamalayan.

Kung bakit naman kasi tuwing Pebrero nagkakasabay-sabay sa pagbibigay ng mga rekisito at pagsusulit ang halos lahat ng mga propesor. Sinabayan pa ng pagcover sa eleksyon ng susunod na student council ng pamantasan, at ng lingguhang presswork ng dyaryo. Ang Pebrero nga marahil ay isa na sa pinakamahihirap na panahon sa unibersidad.

Kung may tao nga akong kilala at nakakakilala sa akin nang husto, marahil ay siya na iyon Pati ang linggo ng UP fair, dumaan na lang nang basta. Nakapunta ako sa tatlong gabi ng UP fair, pero tulad ng dati, mga kaibigan ang mga kasama ko. “Happy Independence Day” nga raw para sa mga katulad kong single.

Masaya pa rin naman ang fair, pero noong mga panahong ‘yun,

hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip at mapabulong sa sarili na, “sana ako din.” Kahit sinasabi kasi nilang “love is in the air,” wala naman akong love na kasama. Sa bagay, ‘yun naman siguro ang hiling ng halos lahat ng single sa Araw ng mga Puso.

Sinubukan ko namang yayain sa isang date ‘yung taong gusto kong makasama sa Araw ng mga Puso. Pumayag pa nga siya e; maaga lang daw siyang aalis dahil may exam pa siya sa isang major subject niya. Sayang, dapat talaga ginagawang holiday ang Valentine’s Day. Ayos pa rin naman sana, pero sa huli, hindi rin kami natuloy dahil kailangan niya talagang mag-aral n’ung gabing iyon.

Buti na lang may mga kaibigan pa rin akong nakasamang pumunta sa fair.

Kung tutuusin, matagal-tagal na rin akong ganito sa kanya — nasa paligid lang, nariyan kapag kailangan. Mas malayo pa nga yata ang narating ko kaysa sa iba e — sila nasa friendzone, pero ako, nasa best friend zone na (ayos ‘di ba?).

Malapit na magkaibigan na kami simula pa noong hayskul, pero noong isang taon ko lang natanggap sa sarili ko na nagkakagusto nga ako sa kanya. Kung may

ilinis ng ilang taon. Nagkalat ang iba’t ibang klase ng dumi. Kung kasinlaki at tigas ba naman ng mais iyan, aba, kukulangin ang tatlong timba pambomba diyan. E kung parang tubig sa gripo lumabas iyan, mamasa-masa, pero may kaunting buo-buo, magsimula ka nang mag-imbak ng bote-boteng pabangong amoy Sampaguita.

Isipin mo, kung ang bawat isa ay may isasabog na dumi. Aba, hindi na talaga lilinis ang eleksyon. Kada taon na lang kasi, paulitulit na lang ang bangayan, siraan at pagalingan. Kada taon, palakihan na lang ng taeng ibabato sa kalaban.

Pero aminin mo, tuwing sasapit ang Pebrero, hindi Valentine’s Day ang inaabangan mo kundi ang banggaan ng asul, dilaw at pulang mga puso. Kasi naman parang buong taon ang paghahanda ng isasabog sa kabilang partido.

Kung matatapakan natin ang mga tae, didikit sa atin ang baho at dumi. Kahit pa anong pilit linisin ang sapatos, paliguan mo man iyan ng alcohol, mag-iiwan pa rin ito ng bakas. Gugustuhin mo pa rin ba ang ganitong klase ng eleksyon? Sa huli’t huli, nasa mga estudyante pa rin ang pagpapasya. *pasintabi sa mga kumakain

Jogs tao nga akong kilala at nakakakilala sa akin nang husto, marahil ay siya na iyon.

Torpe na kung torpe pero hindi ko pa rin sinasabi sa kanya.

Hindi naman sa natatakot ako na baka masira ‘yung pagkakaibigan namin kapag inamin ko sa kanya.

Malayo pa lang talaga sa mga prayoridad ko sa buhay ang pakikipagrelasyon.

Sa ngayon, itinuturing ko siya bilang isang inpirasyon — inspirasyon para maging higit pa sa kung sino ako ngayon. Panahon na lang siguro ang makapagsasabi kung magiging kami man o hindi; basta sa ngayon, masaya ako sa pagiging isang malapit na kaibigan.

Minsan, umaabot din sa puntong gustong-gusto ko nang sabihin sa kanya. Gusto kong malaman kung anong magiging reaksyon niya at kung ganoon din ba ang nararamdaman niya. May mga pagkakataon din na napapaisip ako kung nagpapahiwatig nga ba siya ng paghanga o naiisip ko lang ‘yun dala ng pagkakagusto ko sa kanya.

Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, sinasabi ko na lang sa sarili ko, “relax ka lang, hintay-hintay din, darating din tayo riyan.”

LAKAS TAMA Mga muni-muni ng may mabigat na iniisip Nakita kita kanina. Sa kanto ng Maginhawa at Mahusay, sa tapat ng Tomato Kick. Likod mo pa lang, namukhaan (nalikuran?) ko na. Naglakad ako palapit sa ‘yo, tuloy-tuloy at walang balak prumeno.

Nang halos magkatabi na tayo, may kumalabit sa ‘yong lalaki. Nagpalitan kayo ng “uy!” at naglakad kayo papunta sa Mixxx.

Nagkalapit tayo, maikli pa sa isang dipa ang layo mo, pero hindi mo man lang ako nilingon—hindi man lang ako nahagip, nakilala ng peripheral vision mo. Ganoon na lang yata ‘yun ano?

Nang kumaliwa na ako papuntang Mahusay para bumili ng yosi, naisip ko: Mabuti na sigurong hindi mo ako nakita kasi hindi pa ako naliligo, tatlong araw na. Magulo ang buhok ko, suot ko pa rin ang damit na suot ko kahapon. At kung sakali mang lumabas ako ng bahay nang mas maaga at naunahan ko ang kaibigan mo na tapikin ka habang naghihintay ka sa kanto, ano kayang magiging takbo ng usapan natin?

Ako: Huy! Kamusta?

Ikaw: Guerrero!

A: Kamusta?

I: Pumayat ka (sa tingin ko mapupuna mo ito dahil ito naman ang napupuna ng lahat) A: Anong ginagawa mo rito?

I: May hinihintay.

A: Sige, bili akong yosi d’un.

I: Sige.

Aasahan kong mas magtatanong ka, sinsero mo akong kakamustahin, at sasamahan mo pa akong bumili ng yosi habang pinag-uusapan natin ang nalalapit na eleksyon sa UP, at ang mga kalakasan at kahinaan ng paborito mong partido.

Pero alam kong hindi mo gagawin ‘yun, dahil matagal nang umikot ang ating siklo, at pawang mga estranghero na tayo sa mundo ng isa’t isa.

------Maraming nangyari nitong mga nakaraang linggo, at muli, heto na naman ang perenyal kong pananabik sa pagtakas.

May mga subject akong wala nang pag-asang mairaos. Dalawang propesor ang nag-abiso na kailangan ko na talagang mag-drop. Hindi ko na rin malaman kung paano ako puposisyon sa bahay kasi magkaaway ang nanay at lolo ko, at parang ako ang nagsisilbing pain nila sa isa’t isa.

Tuloy, higit na nagiging mahalaga sa akin ang nakaraan, ang mga bagay na ipinapaalala sa akin ang kahapon, kasi kahit nagdaan na ang mga ito, inilalayo naman nila ako sa lahat ng sama ng loob ko sa mga kasalukuyang tao sa buhay ko.

-----Hindi pa ako bumoto nang straight sa buong buhay ko sa UP. Noong freshie, random lang ang pagpili ko.

Siniguro ko lang na may ibinoto ako mula sa lahat ng partido, ni hindi man lang ako tumingin sa pangalan ng mga kandidato. Noong nakaraang taon naman, binoto ko ang mga kakilala ko—me maboto lang.

Pero ngayong taon, didiretsuhin ko na. Isang partido lang ang panggagalingan ng iboboto kong chair hanggang sa mga opisyal ng lokal na konseho. Prinsipyo at paniniwala ang naging batayan ko. Marami akong nakaaway, nakasagutan, at nakasamaan ng loob dahil may mga ipinagtanggol akong ilang punto.

Totoo pala ‘yung sinabi ni Delfin, at ng marami pa sa mga taga-Kule—mapagpasya sa lahat ng relasyon ang pagkakatulad, o pagkakaiba, ng inyong pulitikal na paniniwala.

Newscan

NATIVE SPEAKERS WANTED Calling all Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Waray, and Tausug native speakers! Help us preserve, develop, and enrich the Philippine Languages. Earn P400 as you join us in a 1 1/2 hour recording session at the DSP Laboratory, UP EEEI Bldg. Contact 09166517555 for further details.

THE BLADED HAND: THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF THE FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS The Bladed Hand is documentary about the global impact of Eskrima/Kali/Arnis, otherwise known as Filipino or folk martial arts (FMA). FMA is rooted in the holistic, integrated and deep folk knowledge universe of the entire archipelago. Folk martial culture informs an inherent and significant part of Filipino culture.

An hour and a half documentary indie film, directed and produced by Jay Philip Ignacio of the Philippines, and produced by Aliguyon – University of the Philippines Folklorists, the Bladed Hand will be screened on Marso 5, 2013, 2:30pm & 5:30 pm with an open forum/ Arnis demo at the Cine Adarna, UP Film Institute, UP Diliman, QC. FLOY QUINTOS’ COLLECTION IN DULAANG UP’S 37TH SEASON CLOSING Collection, the muchawaited new work from acclaimed playwright Floy Quintos is a dark comedy that paints a disturbing picture of society obsessed with conspicuous consumption, surface glamour, and the endless, unsatisfying pursuit of the Next Big Thing.

Collection is directed with an imaginative and imagistic flair by Dexter Santos whose innovative works include Lulu, Rizal X, and Orosman at Zafira.

Collection runs February 13-15, 20-22, 27-28 and March 1 at 7pm, and February 16-17, 23-24 and March 2-3 at 10am and 3pm at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, UP Diliman. For ticket inquiries, contact 926-1349, 981-8500 local 2449 or 433-7840 ELEVASION: THE ELEVATE INVASION UP Varsity Pepsquad presents ELEVASION: The Elevate Invasion on February 27, 2013, 3pm and 7pm at the UP Diliman University Theater.

For tickets and inquiries, contact 09175551350, 09174485549, 09162829946, or visit www.uppepsquad.wordpress.com SINSATION V: WHO’S GONNA SAVE YOU TONIGHT? Prepare yourselves as the University of the Philippines Varsity Swim Team brings you SINSATION V! Indulge on the wildest dance floor with fist pumping beats, free flowing drinks and the most exciting games. Hosted by Ramon Bautista and Rizza Diaz, only the hottest people in the metro.

We’ll make your party experience better than ecstasy. Get someone to save you tonight cause SIN

Textback

happens at Decagon, Silver City, Pasig on March 8, 9PM. For tickets and inquiries, contact: 09175356480 (Sean) or 09274455795 (Tiara). For more updates, follow us:facebook: http:// www.facebook.com/Sinsation5WhosGonnaSaveYouTonight, twitter: @SinsationV

Continuation from Page 4 phrases,” Anunciacion added.

The editorial concluded that achieving change through elections is possible as long as the elected leaders represent the will and aspirations of the Filipino people.

In an interview, Anunciacion said she will continue the Collegian’s legacy of giving voice to the students and the people.

“We will always side with the students in their struggle for their rights, and we will constantly be partial to the people to whom UP as a public institution owes its existence,” she said.

College of Mass Communication Dean Rolando Tolentino headed the examination’s Board of Judges, which was composed of College of Law Professor Florin Hilbay, National College of Public Administration and Governance Professor Simeon Ilago, and student judges Renze Santos from the College of Engineering and Nadine Gutierrez from the Asian Institute of Tourism.

Continuation from Page 5 Davao City: P1,500 Daily wage earned by Pablo victims on one hectare of farm land, under the cash-for-work program by the Davao Oriental provincial government: P226 Minimum daily wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wage Regulatory Board for agricultural workers: P281 Number of Pablo victims who barricaded the Montevista highway in Compostela Valley on January 15 to call for the immediate release of relief goods: 5,000 Number of sacks of rice that the government refused to distribute, according to the barricade protesters: 10,000 Total number of families affected

by Typhoon Pablo: 711,682 Total death count, as of January: more than 1000 Total estimated number of Pablo victims: 6.2 million Percentage of Pablo victims versus the total population of Mindanao: 28 percent Total number of victims who are still in evacuation centers, as of January: 850,000 Number of Pablo victims who would still need support during the next five months: 300,000 SOURCES: Department of Social Welfare and Development, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Organization for Migration, World Food Program, 2010 Census of Population and Housing, United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, National Disaster Risk and Management Response, International Organization for Migration’s, Philippine Daily Inquirer, sulit.com.ph, olx.com.ph

Matapos ang Santo Papa, sino ang gusto mong sumunod na mag-resign sa kanyang posisyon? sana sumunod na magresign yung mga buwaya sa gobyerno na nakaupo kahit hindi naman talaga sila ang karapatdapat dahil pahirap lang sila sa pilipinas! punyemas! 11644441 IAmHellNippyPi GEtodayCEtomorrow Si PNoy naman ang magresign please? Display lang sya sa Malakanyang wtf. Mac 1260592 gusto kong mawala si totoy(ng US) este si pnoy, lalong nawawala ung buhok nya kakatap? ng us sa ulo nya. sana mawala na rin ung mga dynasty sa government. Ang tagal na nila sa politika wala pa ring pagbabago.

201223*23 BS GE gusto kong magresign na si Eric Tayag, ung s DOH at magturo n lang sya ng belly-gud dance nia. Bwahahaha :) Hi nga din pala kay crush, sorry huh, nahihiya kasi ako sayo. NAKS !

2012-7855* Mr.Yus of BSGE kung ak0 ang tatanungin, si obama ang susun0d na gust0 k0ng magresign sa posisy0n nya dahil ibabagsak nya ang Amerika. tp0s idadamay pa tayo. tsk tsk tsk. 2012-00756 PhoenixVII BS ECE Si Cyria, gusto ko magresign na sya sa posisyon nya sa puso ko. Hihi.

Si Gigi, the sec of Enrile. Wala lungs, nangGigigil na ko eh. :D 2012-sdhtr gusto kong mag-resign si manong Oble sa kanyang posisyon kasi nakakasawa na ang kanyang katawan. Gusto ko naman babae. Si ex-PGMA naman. haha 2011-38*** Gusto kong sumunod na magresign ang bagong OSA coordinator dito s UP tacloban! Bias, at authoritative! 20**42**2 Ulysses 2. Anong kanta ang sasalamin sa assessment mo sa kasalukuyang USC? hey i just met you but this is crazy but i’ll run sa USC, so vote me maybe 12**139 jaob bs stat Upuan ang kantang sumasalin sa USC ngayon. Mga bulag at bingi sa hinaing ng mga estudyante. Buti pa ang patay nagpaparamdam, ang USC ngayon, dko maramdaman. >.< 1141006 The current USC is not very “noisy” revolutionary yet it targets on establishing the fundamentals. Yes, it has been quiet yet it has already been strengthening the foundations of having equality and freedom. So I guess ang kanta for

Next week’s questions: 1. Nanalo ba ang manok mo sa eleksyon?

2. Dugtungan ang pangungusap: Marso na naman kasi _______.

Key in KULE <space> MESSAGE <space> STUDENT NUMBER <required> NAME AND COURSE (optional) and send to

Non-UP students must indicate any school, organizational or sectorial affiliation.

Eksenang Peyups that one is “Go ka lang, Love Kita From Afar”. Parang lover na quiet lng pero ginagawa ang lahat para sa UP niyang mahal. Actually gagawin pa lng ang kanta na yan. Ehem. Pakigawa na po pls. 200411599 MA Demography kanta para sa kasalukuyang USC? Gangnam Style! Dahil laos na. At di ko man lang naintindihan. Wahaha 09***64 Ms. PSYgon Comments Sana lahat nalang ng babae kagaya ni Miss Uy kapag nambasted. Sabihin kung ayaw, di yung paasa, sa huli GG pa tuloy lalo. Matauhan yung mga Palengkerong Lalaki. (Sakit, nangyari sa crush ko. Awts) 11-152** Bakit po mukhang pabalat ng tig-pisong chichiria ang cover ng Kule? Astig pa din Kule pero d na appealing pulutin. :D rie2011-57949 to SR Arguelles, i think for n0w u must argue less muna kc u have to represent all of the students para sa mga usapin kagaya ng sa STFAP.. palagay m0 ba kung tatanggalin ang stfap, ayos n agad ang problema? hindi. dhl pnalala mo lng ang sitwasy0n. palibhasa di ka maapektuhan dhl mtaas ang bracket m0, eh pan0 kaming nxa D at E? edi hndi n kmi nkasurvive.. di namin kailangan ng leader n puro tapang, kailangan namin ung mkakagawa ng maganda at epektibong solusyon! nam ge 201015521 Hi! Comment lang sa Rak en Rol article ni Tiangco on UP Fair. It was good that she attempted to trace its history, pero it hardly offered anything new.

What I wouldve liked to see was a deeper probe into the workings of the fair not immediately known to the UP community, particularly its financial aspect i.e, how are booths rented, for how much, and then revenues of the USC from the fair, and auditing accounts, plus anomalies over the years. I personally know someone who has worked in the Fair committee and dealt with its more gritty aspects. Lagi na lang kasi ganito yung theme ng mga UP Fair articles. When it boils down to it, the Fair is primarily an IGP. Maganda if students are informed too, of these facts. The more well-rounded the reportage is, the better. Kudos! :) Subtle Ty Journ Pabati Pabati kay Ralph Michael Ono! Happy Birthday sa feb 20! i love youuuu so muuucccch! :*

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Da Keri Lang Edishun Let me get this straight, ang tanging straight na lang sa kin ngayon ay ang aking balota sa darating na USC elections at excuse me naman sa iba jan, labas-labas din sa closet anerch? Nakalabas na lang sa kanyang fabulous wardrobe ang bubble-popping beauty nitong si Sebastian Castro, you remain lurking inside your walk-in closet na kung sinu-sino na lang naglalabas-pasok! Hihihi.

Chareught lang! This is just me talking to myself becauseOPINYON I still am not over drooling at Sebastian’s c*ck sarap, esteMartes Sebastian’s jock strap in his26 Pebrero steamy music video Bubbles. See2013 for yourself and uh-oh feelings are guaranteed unlike these keri lang chismises na I don’t think will satisfy your cravings. Sareeeeee.

Keri No.1 – Hindi raw nagpahuli sa Oscars iteng atey natin na laging nakatayo. While okay ate is talking about the desaps of the university during their visit sa Ipil tree, Oscars Atey was carried away! Like Eponine level daw, except well, the beauty and matching rain ano?

OA raw looked up to the sky with teardrops running down his left cheek. I don’t know ha. We’re also very much concerned with our dearest desaps but OA took it to the next level. Like election drama level! Hihihi. Di bale Oscars Atey, may hearing this March sa kaso nina Karen at She, keri lang kung anong mangyari sayo sa eleksyon, I just hope to see you there!

Keri No. 2 – Several candidates from all USC slates lack it. They totally don’t have much of it and my gosh, kulang na kulang talaga sila, kulang na kulang sa height.

My jaw dropped when I saw this gwapong kulutero photographer ask this candidate to make tapak on a platform (not the tapak they do on each other’s platform huh? see what I did there?) because hindi raw kule-spread ready ang height ni ate. Then nasundan pa siya ni koya, ni ate at ng marami pang cute na cute na mga ate at koya. I just hope the photos would come out very nicely sa issue na ito kasi grabe sa katatawanan ang nakita ko. Hahaha.

Keri No. 3 – This certain kuletero who loves the Not-sohungry-looking-katniss-everdeen-movie very much, and is not mainstream btw, is a prom king pala during High school! Keri.

That’s it. Sorry for the not so explosive EP this ish.

Napakakeri lang ng linggong nagdaan at lalong napakakeri lang ng mukha mo, I know.