Philippine Collegian Issue 5

TOMO 91

5

BLG. 5

MARTES, HULYO 19, 2013

NCPAG dean accused of misusing tuition fund

Balita

6-7

Dis-lokasyon Kultura

9

Danger Zone Lathalain

Washed out Lathalain 8

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

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OPINYON

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

All at sea THE GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSED national budget for next year charts a familiar yet dangerous course.

When the Aquino administration revealed its P2.268-trillion proposed national budget for 2014, it floated the idea of greater social welfare and inclusive economic growth.

“Rising tides lift all boats,” claims Presidential Spokesperson Lacierda.

With an additional nominal 13 percent increase in its cargo, the government claims to map a propeople course. Speaking before a group of visiting foreign dignitaries last week, Aquino is quoted as saying: “We are laying the priorities for next year.”

Among priority agencies included the Department of Education (DepEd) at P336.9 billion from P293.32 billion, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at P78.9 billion from P56.33 billion, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with a 40-percent increase with P78.9 billion.

For health services, the government seeks a 45.5 percent budget boost at P87.1 billion, with the Department of Health receiving the highest increase among agencies.

A quick sweep at the figures paddle flattering conclusions— spending for health has increased, while the education sector continues to get the highest share among government departments. Yet, these are false signals that merely deceive the people’s perception.

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PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN 2013 - 2014 Punong Patnugot Julian Inah Anunciacion Kapatnugot Victor Gregor Limon Patnugot sa Balita Keith Richard Mariano Patnugot sa Grapiks Ysa Calinawan Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya Gloiza Rufina Plamenco Panauhing Patnugot Piya Constantino Margaret Yarcia

Karl Aquino For navigating through the budget exposes how the Aquino government has not diverged off its elitist track, but instead has utilized it to further strengthen its fleet of programs and policies that are inefficient at best and anti-poor at worst.

Clearly, bulk of the increases were directed to support the government’s

EDITOR’S PICK

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

Despite claims of economic reforms by the Aquino administration, calls from different sectors remain the same even after five years. In this photo, a group of students, dressed as members of different sectors, hold banners calling for accessible education, wage hike, social justice, and agrarian reform.

STATUS QUO Photo by Timothy Medrano July 23, 2008

widely criticized and discredited flagship projects.

Seemingly insensitive to the already dismal state of Philippine education, Aquino and his cohorts are bent to channel significant DepEd funds to the K to 12 program, despite the multitude of unresolved issues anchored to it.

Logistical considerations alone— shortages of 19, 579 classrooms, 47, 584 teachers, 2.5 million chairs and 60 million textbooks at the start of the school year according to government statistics—wreck any merits to pursue K-12 over solving the chronic education crisis that has haunted the sector for the longest time.

Not to mention the additional load K-12 entails to families that already find it difficult to work their way through the constant onset of rising education costs, amidst waves of high prices of commodities, utilities, and depressed wages.

Worse, the government is obsessed with further scaling the controversial Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and brands it a “social protection” program for the poor.

In fact, 4Ps takes the lion’s share from DSWD’s proposed budget at P44.3 billion. This despite vast allegations of corruption, patronage, and lack of substantive results.

Indeed, even with increased budget, the government prefers to spread its ‘scarce’ resources to

unproductive programs that have little to no long-term impact given current social realities.

Wading on rough waters at the same time, Aquino continues the country’s cruise towards intensified proliferation of private and foreign interests at the expense of Filipino welfare.

As Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) loom over state assets like hospitals, increased budgets of key agencies, even that of health, invite logical suspicion. In the coming months for instance, the Orthopedic Centre may find itself under private ownership, raising valid fears among patients regarding the accessibility and costs of its services.

While there is clearly a need for improved infrastructure, such efforts in light of the PPP leads us to suspect that the budget will largely benefit private corporations who slowly take over essential social services. The much-vaunted economic growth, which is far from ‘inclusive,’ offers rich insights on the Aquino government’s skewed view of development, and efforts to row the agenda of the few.

With how the President plans to spend the nation’s coffers, it becomes more apparent that the Filipino people can only expect to be caught in an undertow. Indeed, the tides may be rising—but not for the majority Filipino people.

Mga Kawani Mary Joy Capistrano Ashley Marie Garcia Kimberly Ann Pauig Jiru Nikko Rada Emmanuel Jerome Tagaro Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon Paul John Alix Sirkulasyon Gary Gabales Amelito Jaena Mga Katuwang na Kawani Amelyn Daga Trinidad Gabales Gina Villas Kasapi UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations (Solidaridad) College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon Telefax 981-8500 lokal 4522 Online pkule1314@gmail.com www.philippinecollegian.org fb.com/philippinecollegian twitter.com/kule1314

BALITA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

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BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

UP proposes P17-B budget for 2014 Victor Gregor Limon FOR 2014, THE UP SYSTEM will need a budget that is twice as much the P8.6 billion allocated by the government this year.

The national university’s administration proposed a P17.1 billion budget to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the administration of the UP system’s seven constituent units across and the Philippine General Hospital next year.

Of the proposed budget, P7.74 billion will go to personal services (PS), which include the salary and retirement benefits of faculty and staff, among others.

Meanwhile, P5.62 billion will be allocated for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) such as utility expenses.

The remaining P3.18 billion is earmarked for capital outlay (CO), which covers infrastructure projects, purchase of equipment and development of lands.

The current budget proposal is P1.31 billion or 7.1 percent lower than the P18.4 billion the UP administration proposed in 2013 (see sidebar 1).

The proposed 2014 budget is lower because of infrastructure projects, which were already funded through the additional budgets given to UP in the last two years, said UP Vice President for Planning and Finance Lisa Grace Bersales.

In January 2012, for instance, UP received an additional P1.3 billion budget under DBM’s Disbursement Acceleration Program. The UP administration allocated P498 million of the said budget for CO. In crafting the budget proposal, the UP administration also takes into account the approved budget of the university in the current year, said Bersales.

In the last three years under the Aquino administration, the university has been proposing an average of P17.97-billion budget.

However, the government only approved around 43 percent of the proposed budget (see sidebar 2).

To augment the university’s budget, the UP administration taps other sources through internally generated income obtained from development projects such as the UP-Ayala Technohub and UP Town Center, among others, said Bersales.

Sidebar 3

The income generation schemes implemented in the university manifest the Aquino administration’s policy of pushing state universities and colleges to become self-sufficient, which leads to the “commercialization” of education in the Philippines, said UP Student Regent Krista Iris Melgarejo “Alam natin na kasabay ng pagbawas sa pondo sa edukasyon ay ang pagtaas ng tuition. Hindi lang UP administration ang sumasakit ang ulo, pati na rin ang mga estudyante,” added Melgarejo.

In 2006, the UP administration implemented a 300-percent tuition and other fees increase (TFI)

because of insufficient state subsidy.

In UP Diliman, tuition was hiked from P300 to P1,000 per unit.

“Every year, UP asks the national government for a higher budget. Not only do we not get this, but what we do receive is proportionally lower than the previous year’s budget,” read the UP administration’s 2006 primer on the then proposed TFI. The DBM is set to submit the 2014 National Expenditure Program, which outlines the national budget as approved by the Office of the President, for Congress’ approval as President Benigno Aquino III delivers his State of the Nation Address on July 22 (see sidebar 3). ∞

Sidebar 2. How much does the government give UP?

Sources: Office of the Vice President for Planning and Finance, Department of Budget and Management

Sidebar 1. How much does UP need?

Muslims from the UP Community congregate in the Institute of Islamic Studies Office in Romulo Photo by Angerica Hainto Hall for their weekly Friday Prayer, July 12. Various attempts from 1958-2006 on constructing a mosque in different administrations is proposed but more than 50 Muslims from UP continue to use the approximately 25 sq. ft. faculty lobby.

RELIGIOUS OFFICE

*includes budget for Retirement and Life Insurance Premium

Urban poor group rejects CCT redesign ‘Jobs, not dole-outs, will alleviate poverty’ Victor Gregor Limon IF A RECENT STATE-FUNDED study is to be believed, the Conditonal Cash Transfer program may still be redeemed from failure to combat poverty in the Philippines.

The country’s largest alliance of urban poor organizations, however, thinks otherwise.

In a 46-page report of the 2012 Economic Policy Monitor of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), a group of researchers concluded that to help poor Filipinos land better jobs in the future, the administration’s flagship anti-poverty program must modify

its design and implementation.

Led by PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. Celia Reyes, the fourmember research team stated, among other recommendations, that 4Ps must cover the education of children of up to 18 years of age or until they are expected to graduate high school under the K to 12 system.

“This would likely boost their wages when they enter the labor market and eventually increase the chance of breaking intergenerational poverty as it will increase investments in human capital,” the researchers explained.

However, according to Gloria

Arellano, national chair of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), the government must focus instead on job-generation and agrarian reform to resolve poverty in both urban and rural communities.

“Totoong hindi epektibo ang cash dole-outs [ng 4Ps] sa pagpapabuti ng kalagayan ng mahihirap, pero ito ay dahil pangmatagalang hanapbuhay ang kailangan ng mga nasa kalunsuran at sariling lupa naman ang kailangan ng mga nasa lalawigan upang makapagsimulang mamuhay nang disente,” explained Arellano.

Formally known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the program provides cash subsidies to the poorest families, provided the mothers get natal care and their children regularly go to school, among other conditions.

Each family may receive a health subsidy of P500 per month and an education subsidy of P300 per month for up to three children 14 years old or younger.

“Mula noon hanggang ngayon, tutol ang mga mararalitang tagalungsod sa CCT. Kaysa maglaan ng napakalaking pera para sa CCT, mas mainam na gamitin na lamang ito sa mga serbisyong panlipunan sa kalusagan at edukasyon,” said Arellano.

For this year, the government has allocated P44 billion for 4Ps. In separate press releases, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Social Welfare and Development Corazon Soliman said they are eyeing a 40 percent budget increase for 4Ps or up to P78.9 billion next year.

“Panawagan namin sa mga mambabatas na huwag pahintulutan ang pagpapatuloy at mas pagpapalawak pa ng isang programang walang naidudulot na pangmatagalang kaginhawaan sa mga mahihirap. Para sa mga mararalita, sa lungsod man o kanayunan, trabaho at lupa ang sagot sa kahirapan,” Arellano added.

∞

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BALITA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

STFAP Batch 3 results out by early August Kira Chan MORE THAN A THOUSAND UP students system-wide will need to wait for three more weeks to get their bracket assignments under the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) this year.

The Office of Scholarships and Student Services (OSSS) is set to release the final batch of results in the first week of August, two months after the initial deadline for STFAP applications.

Anna, a BA Public Administration junior, applied for Bracket D during the third batch of the applications.

Pending the release of the STFAP results, the OUR assessed her to tuition at P1,000 per unit under Bracket B during enrolment.

Since Anna could not pay for her assessed tuition, she is currently removed from the official class lists until she is able to settle her tuition.

Her mother is the sole income earner for her family.

On June 6, a day after the regular enrolment period, Vice Chancellor

UPIS to transfer near Eduk in October Franz Christian Irorita THE UP INTEGRATED SCHOOL (UPIS) students will now be moving to a new home near the College of Education this October to make way for Ayala Land Inc.’s (ALI) University Town Center.

The UPIS will transfer from its 7.4-hectare campus along Katipunan Avenue after the UP administration leased the land to real estate giant ALI in 2011.

As part of the lease agreement, ALI allocated P260 million for the construction of the new high school and grade school buildings of UPIS at the former location of the Narra dormitory near the College of Education.

The transfer of UPIS will allow for a more centralized administration of the school and address safety and security concerns for its students and faculty, said Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora.

The construction of UPIS, which started on August 2011, is set to be completed before the end of July, said UPIS Principal Ronaldo San Jose. After UPIS’ transfer, ALI will then start the construction of the second phase of the University Town Center, a mixeduse retail and office complex.

The University Town Center is the third lease-agreement in UP Diliman entered into by the university UP administration and ALI, following the South S&T Park along C.P. Garcia Avenue and the UP-Ayala Technohub along Commonwealth Avenue.

Citing provisions of the 2008 UP Charter, Zamora said that “UP is expected to generate resources from its properties” to augment state subsidy to the university. UP is projected to gain at least P8.5 billion from the 25-year lease contract.

“The UP administration [however] does not relent on asking for higher subsidy,” said Zamora. Even with full development, resource-generating facilities in UP will not be enough to fund the University’s expenses, she added.

However, income generation schemes such as land leases will further undermine UP’s position to ask for higher subsidies to education, said Charlotte France, councilor of the UP Diliman University Student Council.

“Ang mga pagpapaupa ng mga lupang ito sa mga pribadong kumpanya ay katumbas ng pagsuko sa ating laban para sa mas mataas na subsidiyo sa edukasyon,” added France. “Ito ay direktang pagpapahintulot sa estado na patuloy na abandonahin ang mga USC sa bansa.”

∞

for Student Affairs Ma. Corazon Tan ordered the OSSS and the OUR to assess the fees of students based on their previous bracket. First time STFAP applicants, meanwhile, may provide their parents’ ITR as a basis for their temporary bracket.

Anna was assigned to Bracket C last year, where tuition is fixed at P600 per unit or twice the tuition rate under Bracket D. To pay for her tuition, she plans to apply for a 100 percent tuition loan at six percent interest per annum.

Anna, however, was only one of those students who were automatically assigned to Bracket B pending the release of the STFAP results. “Dumagsa ang mga reklamo ng mga napilitang mag-apply ng loan o ‘di malaman kung saan [kukuha ng] pambayad,” said Charlotte France, head of the University Student Council Student Rights and Welfare Committee.

The OSSS organizes three batches of STFAP applications for encoding and processing at the Computer Center. The first two batches were released on May 2 and June 5, more than a month after the deadlines.

The applications in the third batch, however, were not processed immediately since the OSSS accepted applications until July 3.

The OSSS allowed late submissions to accommodate students who are unable to submit all requirements on time, said OSSS officer-in-charge Aries Dacanay.

“May mga students na yung income nila galing sa family business [pero dahil] nagsara na at hindi na-report sa Bureau of Internal Revenue, walang Income Tax Revenue (ITR) certificate of exemption na maipakita,” Dacanay cited as an example.

The results were also delayed due to the large number of submissions, said Dacanay. As of press time, applications are still being encoded in the Computer Center for processing.

Meanwhile, the OSSS still accepts late applications for STFAP and student loans as long as the student has a valid reason for late submission, and the necessary documents, said Dacanay.

Students may now also appeal for re-bracketing until the end of the first semester. As of press time, more than 200 students have already submitted appeals for lower brackets.

∞

How much land has UP leased to Ayala throughout the years?

BAKWET Photo by Jiru Rada

Nakiisa sa panawagan ng hustisya para sa mga bilanggong pulitikal ang mga anak ng magsasaka ng Quezon sa Kontra-Agos: Gabi ng mga Awit at Tula ng Paglaya noong ika-12 ng Hulyo sa Faculty Center ng UP Diliman. Nagtungong Maynila ang mga magsasaka upang magsampa ng kaso sa Commission on Human Rights laban sa 74th Infantry Battalion ng AFP dahil sa militarisasyon sa kanilang bayan. Tinawag na “bakwet” ang mga napaalis sa kanilang tahanan dahil sa mga kalamidad at tunggalian sa lupa.

Scrap or Reform?

Debating on the university’s tuition policy Arra B. Francia IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE Aquino administration’s policy to make all state universities and colleges self-sufficient, the Commission on Higher Education plans to adopt a standard socialized tuition scheme that “allows cost recovery without limiting access among the poor.”

In the national university, however, students and faculty members are yet unresolved if education will remain accessible under such a framework, after 23 years of implementing the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP).

On July 12, during a debate forum hosted by the School of Economics Student Council and the UP Economics Towards Consciousness, two opposing sides clashed through speakers representing each camp in the “Scrap or Reform STFAP?” debate.

The said forum is part of “Kapekonomiya,” a series of events promoting the field of Economics by discussing the most current social issues over a cup of coffee. This year, the series was kicked off with a debate entitled “Surveying the Financial Affair Policy in UP.” Atty. Rowena Daroy Morales, Director of the Office of Legal Aid in the College of Law, moderated the discussion. The speakers were each given 15 minutes to defend their stand,

after which each can ask the other side a question. The four student panellists were also allowed one question each for their chosen speakers.

STFAP bars poor students from entering the country’s premier state university, said Sarah Torres, chair of Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP and Filipino professor Ramon Guillermo of the College of Arts and Letters, also the president of the All-UP Academic Employees Union.

The STFAP, however, is the reason why the university is able to subsidize poor UP students, and that revisions are needed to make the system more efficient, argued Juan Carlo Tejano, representative of the Bukluran ng mga Progresibong Iskolar, and School of Economics Professor Emeritus Solita Monsod.

Scrap or reform?

STFAP was first implemented in 1989 to supposedly democratize the access to UP education. Under the current program, students are classified into brackets which determines how much tuition a student has to pay based on family income and other socio-economic indicators.

The program ultimately failed in its objective to democratize education and instead barred poor students from entering the university, said Torres.

Continued on page 11

BALITA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

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BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

NCPAG dean accused of misusing tuition fund Jul Mar Esteban THE DEAN OF THE NATIONAL College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) is confronted by allegations of misappropriating the college’s Graduate Tuition Fee Increment (GTFI) fund for a curriculum review turned team building activity.

NCPAG Dean Edna Estifania Co, however, said that the budget for the activity was duly requested from, and approved by the UP administration.

In March 2012, Co requested funds from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration (OVCA) for a two-day “Curriculum/ Programs Review and Workshop” for the BA Public Administration (BAPA) set on April 26 to 27. The OVCA then authorized the release of P230,000 from NCPAG’s GTFI as per the dean’s request.

Then Student Regent Cleve Robert Kevin Arguelles questioned the use of the GTFI in funding the supposed curriculum review of an undergraduate program in a December 2012 letter to the UP Diliman Chancellor.

When the Board of Regents approved the GTFI in May 2009, the income from the tuition increase was earmarked for faculty enhancement, equipment, teaching materials, and

scholarships in the NCPAG graduate programs.

Co said she originally requested to fund the activity through the undergraduate TFI, but the UP administration suggested using the GTFI instead. “Normal lang na kunin yung pondo mula sa GTFI, kasi siya yung kakasya ang balanse.

Otherwise hindi magaganap yung mga activities na tulad nito,” she added.

“However, even the nature of the activity is in question. Was there even a review of the BAPA program?” said Arguelles.

The minutes of the April 10, 2012 NCPAG faculty meeting shows that the supposed curriculum review was not presented to the faculty.

Instead, a “summer team building” was set in the said meeting.

The review of the BAPA curriculum, Co explained, did not push through because the academic director of NCPAG was unable to attend the activity. Only four faculty members attended the supposed curriculum review, she added.

In the June 2012 faculty meeting, a number of faculty members asked for a written and oral report on the team building activity but Co declined the request.

“I am not supposed to be giving a report on that. First of all, it was open to all. We [begged] on bended

knees for people to join,” Co was quoted as saying in the minutes of the meeting.

UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma later formed a committee to look into the supposed misuse of the GTFI fund on January 10. On the same day, COA issued a notice “disallowing” the appropriation of funds to the NCPAG activity for violating the government’s austerity measures.

Headed by Biology Professor Dr. Perry Ong, the investigation committee submitted a report to UP President Alfredo Pascual as early as March. Pascual, however, refused to disclose the committee’s findings until Co finishes her term on July 31, said NCPAG Professor Ma. Oliva Domingo.

As of press time, Pascual has yet to respond to Collegian’s request for a copy of the report. ∞

SPORTSCENE Franz Christian Irorita THE DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY (DLSU) Lady Archers foiled what could have been a second win for the UP Lady Maroons, 59-39, at The Fil-Oil Arena in San Juan on July 14, during the 76th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

UP was off with a cold start, while DLSU took the lead with a 7-0 run.

The Maroons then shifted to high gear and forced the Archers to commit fouls, sending the State U lady cagers behind the free throw line. The Maroons however failed to make use of the free throw shots to their advantage, shooting only 3 out

Ronn Joshua Bautista Wire thief in Vinzons caught A man was caught looting 150 meters of electric wires in Vinzons Hall on July 12.

According to the blotter report from the UP Diliman Police (UPDP), Rodrigo Cumpio, Jr., an auxillary staff of the Office of the Sectoral Regents, saw Remar Lim-it at around 2:15 PM carrying something bulky under his shirt.

Cumpio then immediately alerted the UPDP. The university police retrieved a coil of 3.5mm wires owned by the building’s electrical concessionaire, Voltage Electrical Contractor Corporation.

UPDP has turned over Lim-it to Station 9 of the Quezon City Police Department for further questioning.

2 car accidents in 2 days On July 15, Jose Panbrica, 19, had been driving along Velasquez Street on his motorcycle, when a Toyota Hi-Ace allegedly hit him from behind. Panbrica fell on the road pavement, sustaining abrasions on his leg and on his face.

Meanwhile, a Chevrolet Spark crashed into the rear of a still Honda Civic at an intersection on the corner of Roces and Osmena Avenues on July 16.

Gia Oriones, the driver of the Chevrolet, had been driving towards the intersection but was not able to use her brakes on time, crashing her vehicle against the Honda Civic.

Both cars’ bumpers were damaged.

The two parties decided not to file any charges.

Lady Archers steal victory from Lady Maroons, 59-39 of 6 behind the charity line.

The first quarter ended with only a single-point lead by DLSU, 9-8.

The start of the second quarter saw a three-point shootout, with Lady Archer guard Trisha Piatos scoring her first with a three-pointer 30 seconds into the quarter. UP’s Christine Isip answered with a three-pointer of her own in the next possession, but Piatos scored another three points, boosting DLSU’s lead to 4.

The second quarter saw strong offense from both sides, with 14 points from UP and 17 from DLSU. The Maroons’ offensive faltered after the halftime break, scoring only 6 points against the Archers’ 19. Maroons’ point guard Bea Daez tried to hoard three-point shots to close the gap but missed her chances.

The Archers continued their hostile play, further stretching their lead to 17 by the end of the third quarter.

Both teams committed several fouls in the final quarter, but neither side was successful in the free throw line. Maroons’ shooting guard Karen Salapong tried to turn the tides with her open shots, but the game’s momentum was against the Diliman-based squad.

Policebriefs

OUTHUSSLED Photo by Kimberly Pauig

Fighting Maroons forward Samuel Marata tries to drill in a jumper despite Bulldogs center Emmanuel Mbe’s defense in a match in the 76th season of UAAP at the Mall of Asia Arena on July 14. A huge chunk of NU’s scoring came from the charity line, converting 30 out of 40 free throw attempts, compared to UP’s 9 of 15, leaving UP at 0-4 record after a 60-74 defeat.

The quarter ended with DLSU still on the lead, 14-11, bringing the final score to a 59-39 win for the Lady Archers.

Despite impressive hustle effort and strong plays, the Lady Maroons struggled to sink the ball in the basket, prevailing in only 24.6 percent of their shots versus DLSU’s 32.4 percent. They also committed 22 turnovers, allowing the Archers 18 turnover points. The Archers had more successful offensive rebounds than UP and were able to convert 11 second-chance points.

Maroons’ Head coach Ramon Garcia said the team’s loss was due to lax defense and “overaggressiveness” of the Lady Maroons during the third quarter. The team’s missed shots also hurt the players’ morale despite a good run in the fourth quarter. “They got frustrated because we had open shots and we missed most of them,” he added.

The Lady Maroons will be facing Far Eastern University’s Lady Tamaraws on July 21 at the same venue. ∞

‘Ipit Gang’ Meanwhile, on July 9, an unknown suspect stole UP student Francescas Rosas’ iPhone 5 in another UP Katipunan jeep. Rosas’ P25,000-phone was supposedly in her purse’s pocket.

According to Rosas, the suspect immediately left the jeepney without calling it to stop when they reached the GT Toyota building. She checked her purse’s pocket out of suspicion and found her phone missing.

UPDP dubbed such suspects as part of the ‘Ipit gang.’ Suspects would normally sit closely beside victims in jeepneys until they get an opportunity to steal valuables, said UPDP investigator Caesar Conquilo.

∞

6

KULTURA

Bed check Ma. Teresa Magtanggol Naalimpungatan ako dahil sa isang malakas na kalabog mula sa labas.

Agad akong bumangon sa kama para alamin kung ano ang nangyari.

Sa may banyo, naunahan na ako ng mga nagkukumpulang mga babaeng dormer. May nahulog palang bahagi ng kisame at nabagsakan ang roommate kong si Jasmine habang naliligo. Sa bigat ng kisameng yari sa semento, malaking sugat sa kanang braso ang natamo ni Jasmine.

Pasensya na, pero sa nerbiyos ko bigla talaga akong naihi. Sa pagmamadali ko, napasok pa ako sa cubicle na hindi gumagana ang flush. Hinintay ko pa tuloy umalis ang iba bago ako lumabas, nakakahiya naman kapag nalaman nilang hindi ako nag-flush.

Second year na ako pero ngayon lang ako natanggap sa Kamia, ang pinaka-abot kayang pambabaeng dorm sa UP. Apat kami sa aming kwarto—ako, si Jasmine, si Anne at si Gina. May kanya-kanya

kaming higaan, kabinet at maliit na lamesa.

Bukod sa malapit ito sa AS, kung nasaan ang karamihan ng mga klase ko, P250 lang kada buwan ang binabayaran ko sa Kamia, kasama na dito ang kuryente at tubig. Magdadagdag ka lang ng bayad kung may gamit ka—charger ng cellphone, electric fan o laptop, gayundin ang bayad sa mineral water at association fee para sa mga gawain ng konseho ng mga estudyante sa dorm.

Bumalik ako sa kwarto para kunin ang toiletries at damit ko bago maligo. Mayamaya, narinig ko ang sunod-sunod na katok ni Anna, hinahanap daw ako ni Miss Minchin, ang dorm manager.

Mamaya na ‘yan, maliligo muna ako.

Saktong magbabanlaw na ako nang mawalan ng tubig. Buti na lang nasa kabilang cubicle lang si Anna. Nagpa-abot na lang ako ng tatlong tabong tubig para magbanlaw.

Didiretso sana ako sa opisina ni Miss Minchin, kaya lang pababa pa lang ako ay tanaw ko na ang mahabang pila. Unang araw nga pala ng check-in ng mga bagong dormer ngayon.

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

KULTURA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

Lansangan alinlangan Nakita ko ang sarili ko sa mga nakapila, lalo na si ateng may dalang lumang bag na parang sasabog na sa dami ng laman. Parang ako lang nung unang dating ko sa Kamia.

Ang dami naming pinagdaanan para lang makapasok ako sa UP. Araw-araw kaming kumukuha ni Nanay ng labada tuwing bakasyon.

Si Tatay naman, kung ano-anong trabaho ang p i n a s o k— n a g aararo ng bukid, naggagapas sa palayan, gumagawa ng uling at nagkakargador sa palengke.

N a g i n g mahirap para sa akin ang unang semestre, lalo na’t malayo na ako sa aking pamilya. Gayunman mabilis akong nakaangkop sa Maynila, sumasabay na lamang sa agos bawat araw.

Kahapon lang may nagyaya sa akin kumain sa Banapple sa Katipunan.

Masarap sana ang Banoffee pie nila, pero malalagas naman ang isang linggong baon ko. Ngayon heto ako at sesermunan ni Miss Minchin.

Bakit daw lagi akong gabi umuuwi at hindi magawang dumalo sa mga activity sa dorm.

Ipinaliwanag ko namang kailangan kong gumawa ng assignments sa library dahil wala akong laptop ngunit kahit ano pang sabihin ko ay buo na ang desisyon niyang paalisin ako sa dorm.

Hindi ko na alam kung paano ito sasabihin sa mga magulang ko. Tila anumang pilit kong igpawan ang aming kalagayan, pilit naman akong ibinabaon muli ng pagkakataon.

∞

Stevenson Dimaculangan Nasa transisyon na naman ako ng pagkawala.

Paglabas sa condo na tinitirhan ko, sumakay ako ng trike at sinabihan ko ang manong na pumunta sa Mcdo. Isa na naman itong gabi ng paglalamay sa acads sa loob ng isang fastfood resto.

Pinagmasdan ko ang iba’t ibang tanawin habang binabagtas ang abenida: mga naghahabulang ilaw mula sa mga kotse, ang labas-masok ng mga tao sa iba’t ibang restaurants na nagkalat dito, pati na ang tila walang direksyong paglalakad ng mga tao sa sidewalk.

Tulad ko, hindi rin sila mapirmi sa

Dito sa may looban Bien Venido Hindi mahirap hanapin ang tinutuluyan kong apartment. Kailangan mo lang sumakay ng jeep at isang pedicab, lumusot sa ilang mga masisikip na eskinita, at magtanong ng direksyon sa at least dalawang tambay sa kanto.

Inaamin kong mga isang oras din akong naligaw noong una akong pumunta rito— kahit technically ay sakop pa rin ng UP ang komunidad na ito— pero tiyak akong dahil lang sa geographically challenged ako kaya muntik na akong sumuko.

Sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko noon, okey lang, promising naman ang sabi sa room-for-rent poster na nakapaskil sa waiting shed na malapit sa AS. Nakalettering pa ang sulat-kamay: “1.5k per month all-in, no curfew.”

Naisip ko, ayos na ‘to, higit na mas abot-kaya ng kita ko sa raket—kaysa naman sa dati kong apartment na ang mahal pero parang isang anay na lang yata ang hindi pa pumipirma. Malaya pa akong umuwi nang kahit na anong oras,

basta lang wala akong makakasalubong na holdaper.

Hindi naman ako nabigo. Wala akong mahanap na kapintasan sa bago kong tahanan. May linoleum ang sahig, may papag na pwedeng all-in-one kama, mesa, at study table, at may maliit na bintanang may view ng dingding ng kapitbahay.

May bonus pang kalendar yo featuring Maui Taylor. Ang CR, nakahiwalay, katabi ng isang puno ng mangga. Sabi nga ng girlfriend ko noong una siyang dumalaw, “Ang cute ng apartment mo.

Very quaint.”

Sa totoo lang, wala talaga akong reklamo. Seryoso. Mababait ang mga tao dito, kahit na minsan ay nagkakasigawan at nagkakasuntukan—na madalas ay dala ng hindi maawat na tsismisan o kaya ay napatagal na inuman. Mura pa ang alak at yosi, malapit sa talipapa, at puwedengpuwede pang mangutang sa tindahan ng de lata kapag kapos na sa allowance.

Dyahe rin naman siyempre na at home ang mga daga at ipis sa ilang mga

7

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

sulok ng komunidad, pero ang tunay na sigurong mas nakapepeste ay itong bago na namang notice ng demolisyon. Kung bakit o para saan ay ‘di malinaw, basta may 30 araw na palugit bago magsidatingan ang demolition team.

“Squatter’s area” kasi ang turing sa aming “village” at hindi raw dapat na binebeybi ang mga squatter. Dyahe, ‘di ba? Saan naman kaya ako pupulutin kapag natuloy ang anumang planong magtayo ng isa pang TechnoHub o kaya ng anumang proyektong maaaring pagkakitaan ng UP? Pwede naman akong mag-uwian sa bahay namin sa probinsya at mamulubi sa pamasahe. Pwede ring makipag-agawan sa kakarampot na slots sa dorms. O kaya makitulog sa mga kaibigan, kaklase, o kaorg—kapal ng mukha na lang ang gawing puhunan.

Biro naman ng landlady ko kaninang umaga, habang kasabay ko ang pamilya niyang mag-almusal, sumama na lang daw ako sa kanila sa relocation site sa Rizal, sakaling matuloy ang demolisyon. Libre na raw ang renta ko, basta ako na raw ang mag-tutor ng math sa mga anak niya.

Kaunting ingat na lang daw kami at baka ma-Cherry Hills Subdivision kami nang wala sa oras. Tumawa na lang ako para masakyan ang attempt niyang gawing katatawanan ang problema. Ang hindi niya alam, kung sakaling wala akong mahanap na bagong murang upahan, baka seryosohin ko na rin ang joke niya.

∞

Dis-lokasyon

mga ating an a s p angko a k ap u s ong a probinsya, k antasan. y s a p ng es an sa ng pam p tayo layong tirah dad sa loob a n a a ing ili ah Nagh gailangan: m sapat na pas g magig at n a h a s n ng baw panga , kawalan ng tin inaa indi na g angkinin a g ating a r h e a p n g r a n n tin g bok na mga lu g lunan tayo sa abang sinusu bawat kalyen ng mga k la u t Itinu tahanan. H gusali, yan. gi tayo ga , bawat agiging baha ting kinalalag m o t r g a in t w a a uli ay n awat ku ayong sulok, b w at gabi, sa h l sa mga esp a ra mga ar iksyong umii d a r t n ko

isang lugar, para bang may matinding pangangailangan ang lahat na umalis at tumungo agad sa ibang destinasyon.

Pagdating sa McDo, binati ako ng kahera, mukhang kilala na niya ako pero hindi ko man lang siya maalala. As usual, french fries at kape na naman ang inorder ko para sa aking magdamag na paglalamay.

Pa g k a u p o, napansin kong may nagtext sa akin.

Nangungumusta na naman si Inay, tinatanong kung pumasok na ba sa account ko ang baong ipinadala niya. Kahit sa ganitong oras, ako pa rin ang nasa isip niya. Nagreply ako na baka bukas ko pa

matitingnan. Kinumusta ko rin siya sa trabaho niya pero hindi na siya nagreply.

Halos isang oras na ang lumipas pero hindi ko pa rin masimulan ang papel ko.

Requirement ng prof na magsulat tungkol sa sarili at napaka-ironic lang na tila wala akong maisulat tungkol sa sarili ko.

Kung mabubuod sa isang talata ang buhay ko, isa lang itong serye ng paglilipat mula sa isang lugar tungo sa isa pa at naging isang kalakaran na.

Nakasanayan ko na ang araw-araw na food trip, pag-sample sa mga exotic coffee, o drinking sessions sa Drew’s. Magigising na lang ako sa condo kinabukasan na hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakauwi. Para tuloy akong nanakawan ng isang bagay na ‘di ko na mahahanap muli.

Dito sa Katipunan, sinusubukan ko isiksik ang mga alaala ko sa mga masisikip na espasyo nito.

Bilang only child, nakuha ko naman ang lahat ng gusto ko kahit pabagobago ang trabaho ng mga magulang ko.

Minsan, natitiyempuhan ko pa silang nag-

aaway tungkol sa mga utang, pero bigla silang tumitigil kapag napapansin nilang nandiyan ako.

Nang pumasok ako sa UP, doon ko lang kinailangan lumipat ng tirahan dahil malayo ang bahay namin. Pinatira muna ako sa condo ng tito ko rito sa Katips.

Dahil madalas namang wala ang tito ko, napapadalas tuloy ang paglalakwatsa ko.

Sa kabila ng kagandahan ng condo at sa variety ng mga gawain ko ngayon, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mabalisa. Ito ako, pilit tinatapos ang isang bagay na hindi ko masimulan,unti-unting namamanhid sa mga aliw na tila inilalako ng abenida.

Tila may isang malaking butas sa dibdib ko na hindi kayang mapunan ng kahit anumang luho o aliw sa mundo. Habang hindi pa nalulutas ang aking matinding paghahanap, mauuwi muna ako sa walang hanggang pagsusulat tungkol sa aking hungkag na buhay.

Trixie Hispacio

binaha pa rin ako ng mga mensahe at ni isa wala man lang bumati ng magandang umaga.

Nahagip ng mata ko ang isang mensahe, “wer n u? my report p tau tom d p tau nagmit as a grp. mtg at my katips condo l8er. reply asap pls if u cn make it. tnx,” sabi ni Stevenson.

Sosyal, condo sa Katips. Kakapalan ko na ang mukha ko kahit kagrupo ko lang siya sa klase. “hello. if ever late tayo matapos, can i stay over? thanks.”

Ayan, mukhang may matutulugan na ako mamaya. Feel ko, harmless naman si Stevenson saka may iba naman kaming kasama kaya sa tingin ko okay lang sa kanya. “xur. c u. pls bring ur laptop n ur readings. tnx,” ang tipid niyang sagot.

Dumiretso ako ng Katips pagkatapos ng klase. Kung maaga man ako, dun na lang muna ako magtatrabaho. May tinatapos din kasi akong transcription para sa isang kompanya.

Wala palang klase ngayon si Stevenson.

Nasa Bataan din daw ang Tito Romy niya para sa isang routine inspection. Tulad ng inaasahan, sobrang aga ko para sa meeting namin. Inalok niya ako ng merienda at hinayaang makigamit ng wi-fi nila para malibang daw habang naghihintay.

Bagaman bago ang building, tila matagal na silang nakatira rito. Napapalamutian ang sala ng piling artworks, paintings at sketches na gawa ng Tito niya. Tila madami nang napuntahang lugar ang Tito niya—sa Baguio, sa Singapore at maging sa Costa Rica.

Naalala ko bigla ang bahay namin sa Cainta na halos dalawang taon ko nang hindi nadadalaw.

Doon pa rin kaya nakatira ang mga magulang ko? Nasa estante pa rin kaya ng kuwarto ko ang picture namin nung minsang nagpunta kami sa Megamall noong bata pa ako?

Bumalik si Stevenson bitbit ang isang plato ng carbonara at isang baso ng orange juice. Pilit kong itinago ang nangingilid kong luha. Ayaw ko mang aminin sa sarili ko, pero miss ko na ang dati kong kuwarto.

Wer n u?

Sanay na akong gumising sa mga hindi pamilyar na kuwarto—may iba’t ibang kulay at disenyo. Ngayong umaga, tumambad sa akin ang naninilaw na kisame ng isang three-star hotel sa kahabaan ng Roxas Boulevard.

Bago pa man kayo maghinala sa ginawa ko kagabi, uunahan ko na kayo: trabaho lang ito. Nag-assist ako sa isang training workshop ng isang NGO kahapon at kasama sa kontrata ang hotel accommodations at pagkain. Agad kong tinapos ang deliverables ko para sa training dahil may klase pa ako mamaya.

Lampas alas-nuwebe na pala. Nagalala tuloy ako na baka mahuli ako at wala nang abutang pagkain sa ibaba. Wala pa naman akong mabibilihan ng mas mura pa sa singkwenta.

Agad kong hinanap ang dambuhala kong backpack na puno ng mga damit, babasahin at mga resibong naipon sa nagdaang taon. Tila pasan ko ang daigdig kasama ang pipitsuging digicam at bulok na laptop na pamana pa ni Nanay.

Ito na ang naging buhay at “bahay” ko mula nang magsarili ako dalawang taon na ang nakalipas. ‘Yun lang naman ang silbi ng bahay ‘di ba, imbakan ng mga gamit?

Sinubukan kong mag-boarding house dati kasama ang mga kaibigan ko pero gastos lang din naman, dahil nagmistula lang itong imbakan ng mga naipong readings, labada at gabok.

Tatlong oras lang akong nakatulog pero

∞

∞

Illustration : Ysa Calinawan Page design : Jerome Tagaro

6

KULTURA

Bed check Ma. Teresa Magtanggol Naalimpungatan ako dahil sa isang malakas na kalabog mula sa labas.

Agad akong bumangon sa kama para alamin kung ano ang nangyari.

Sa may banyo, naunahan na ako ng mga nagkukumpulang mga babaeng dormer. May nahulog palang bahagi ng kisame at nabagsakan ang roommate kong si Jasmine habang naliligo. Sa bigat ng kisameng yari sa semento, malaking sugat sa kanang braso ang natamo ni Jasmine.

Pasensya na, pero sa nerbiyos ko bigla talaga akong naihi. Sa pagmamadali ko, napasok pa ako sa cubicle na hindi gumagana ang flush. Hinintay ko pa tuloy umalis ang iba bago ako lumabas, nakakahiya naman kapag nalaman nilang hindi ako nag-flush.

Second year na ako pero ngayon lang ako natanggap sa Kamia, ang pinaka-abot kayang pambabaeng dorm sa UP. Apat kami sa aming kwarto—ako, si Jasmine, si Anne at si Gina. May kanya-kanya

kaming higaan, kabinet at maliit na lamesa.

Bukod sa malapit ito sa AS, kung nasaan ang karamihan ng mga klase ko, P250 lang kada buwan ang binabayaran ko sa Kamia, kasama na dito ang kuryente at tubig. Magdadagdag ka lang ng bayad kung may gamit ka—charger ng cellphone, electric fan o laptop, gayundin ang bayad sa mineral water at association fee para sa mga gawain ng konseho ng mga estudyante sa dorm.

Bumalik ako sa kwarto para kunin ang toiletries at damit ko bago maligo. Mayamaya, narinig ko ang sunod-sunod na katok ni Anna, hinahanap daw ako ni Miss Minchin, ang dorm manager.

Mamaya na ‘yan, maliligo muna ako.

Saktong magbabanlaw na ako nang mawalan ng tubig. Buti na lang nasa kabilang cubicle lang si Anna. Nagpa-abot na lang ako ng tatlong tabong tubig para magbanlaw.

Didiretso sana ako sa opisina ni Miss Minchin, kaya lang pababa pa lang ako ay tanaw ko na ang mahabang pila. Unang araw nga pala ng check-in ng mga bagong dormer ngayon.

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

KULTURA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

Lansangan alinlangan Nakita ko ang sarili ko sa mga nakapila, lalo na si ateng may dalang lumang bag na parang sasabog na sa dami ng laman. Parang ako lang nung unang dating ko sa Kamia.

Ang dami naming pinagdaanan para lang makapasok ako sa UP. Araw-araw kaming kumukuha ni Nanay ng labada tuwing bakasyon.

Si Tatay naman, kung ano-anong trabaho ang p i n a s o k— n a g aararo ng bukid, naggagapas sa palayan, gumagawa ng uling at nagkakargador sa palengke.

N a g i n g mahirap para sa akin ang unang semestre, lalo na’t malayo na ako sa aking pamilya. Gayunman mabilis akong nakaangkop sa Maynila, sumasabay na lamang sa agos bawat araw.

Kahapon lang may nagyaya sa akin kumain sa Banapple sa Katipunan.

Masarap sana ang Banoffee pie nila, pero malalagas naman ang isang linggong baon ko. Ngayon heto ako at sesermunan ni Miss Minchin.

Bakit daw lagi akong gabi umuuwi at hindi magawang dumalo sa mga activity sa dorm.

Ipinaliwanag ko namang kailangan kong gumawa ng assignments sa library dahil wala akong laptop ngunit kahit ano pang sabihin ko ay buo na ang desisyon niyang paalisin ako sa dorm.

Hindi ko na alam kung paano ito sasabihin sa mga magulang ko. Tila anumang pilit kong igpawan ang aming kalagayan, pilit naman akong ibinabaon muli ng pagkakataon.

∞

Stevenson Dimaculangan Nasa transisyon na naman ako ng pagkawala.

Paglabas sa condo na tinitirhan ko, sumakay ako ng trike at sinabihan ko ang manong na pumunta sa Mcdo. Isa na naman itong gabi ng paglalamay sa acads sa loob ng isang fastfood resto.

Pinagmasdan ko ang iba’t ibang tanawin habang binabagtas ang abenida: mga naghahabulang ilaw mula sa mga kotse, ang labas-masok ng mga tao sa iba’t ibang restaurants na nagkalat dito, pati na ang tila walang direksyong paglalakad ng mga tao sa sidewalk.

Tulad ko, hindi rin sila mapirmi sa

Dito sa may looban Bien Venido Hindi mahirap hanapin ang tinutuluyan kong apartment. Kailangan mo lang sumakay ng jeep at isang pedicab, lumusot sa ilang mga masisikip na eskinita, at magtanong ng direksyon sa at least dalawang tambay sa kanto.

Inaamin kong mga isang oras din akong naligaw noong una akong pumunta rito— kahit technically ay sakop pa rin ng UP ang komunidad na ito— pero tiyak akong dahil lang sa geographically challenged ako kaya muntik na akong sumuko.

Sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko noon, okey lang, promising naman ang sabi sa room-for-rent poster na nakapaskil sa waiting shed na malapit sa AS. Nakalettering pa ang sulat-kamay: “1.5k per month all-in, no curfew.”

Naisip ko, ayos na ‘to, higit na mas abot-kaya ng kita ko sa raket—kaysa naman sa dati kong apartment na ang mahal pero parang isang anay na lang yata ang hindi pa pumipirma. Malaya pa akong umuwi nang kahit na anong oras,

basta lang wala akong makakasalubong na holdaper.

Hindi naman ako nabigo. Wala akong mahanap na kapintasan sa bago kong tahanan. May linoleum ang sahig, may papag na pwedeng all-in-one kama, mesa, at study table, at may maliit na bintanang may view ng dingding ng kapitbahay.

May bonus pang kalendar yo featuring Maui Taylor. Ang CR, nakahiwalay, katabi ng isang puno ng mangga. Sabi nga ng girlfriend ko noong una siyang dumalaw, “Ang cute ng apartment mo.

Very quaint.”

Sa totoo lang, wala talaga akong reklamo. Seryoso. Mababait ang mga tao dito, kahit na minsan ay nagkakasigawan at nagkakasuntukan—na madalas ay dala ng hindi maawat na tsismisan o kaya ay napatagal na inuman. Mura pa ang alak at yosi, malapit sa talipapa, at puwedengpuwede pang mangutang sa tindahan ng de lata kapag kapos na sa allowance.

Dyahe rin naman siyempre na at home ang mga daga at ipis sa ilang mga

7

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

sulok ng komunidad, pero ang tunay na sigurong mas nakapepeste ay itong bago na namang notice ng demolisyon. Kung bakit o para saan ay ‘di malinaw, basta may 30 araw na palugit bago magsidatingan ang demolition team.

“Squatter’s area” kasi ang turing sa aming “village” at hindi raw dapat na binebeybi ang mga squatter. Dyahe, ‘di ba? Saan naman kaya ako pupulutin kapag natuloy ang anumang planong magtayo ng isa pang TechnoHub o kaya ng anumang proyektong maaaring pagkakitaan ng UP? Pwede naman akong mag-uwian sa bahay namin sa probinsya at mamulubi sa pamasahe. Pwede ring makipag-agawan sa kakarampot na slots sa dorms. O kaya makitulog sa mga kaibigan, kaklase, o kaorg—kapal ng mukha na lang ang gawing puhunan.

Biro naman ng landlady ko kaninang umaga, habang kasabay ko ang pamilya niyang mag-almusal, sumama na lang daw ako sa kanila sa relocation site sa Rizal, sakaling matuloy ang demolisyon. Libre na raw ang renta ko, basta ako na raw ang mag-tutor ng math sa mga anak niya.

Kaunting ingat na lang daw kami at baka ma-Cherry Hills Subdivision kami nang wala sa oras. Tumawa na lang ako para masakyan ang attempt niyang gawing katatawanan ang problema. Ang hindi niya alam, kung sakaling wala akong mahanap na bagong murang upahan, baka seryosohin ko na rin ang joke niya.

∞

Dis-lokasyon

mga ating an a s p angko a k ap u s ong a probinsya, k antasan. y s a p ng es an sa ng pam p tayo layong tirah dad sa loob a n a a ing ili ah Nagh gailangan: m sapat na pas g magig at n a h a s n ng baw panga , kawalan ng tin inaa indi na g angkinin a g ating a r h e a p n g r a n n tin g bok na mga lu g lunan tayo sa abang sinusu bawat kalyen ng mga k la u t Itinu tahanan. H gusali, yan. gi tayo ga , bawat agiging baha ting kinalalag m o t r g a in t w a a uli ay n awat ku ayong sulok, b w at gabi, sa h l sa mga esp a ra mga ar iksyong umii d a r t n ko

isang lugar, para bang may matinding pangangailangan ang lahat na umalis at tumungo agad sa ibang destinasyon.

Pagdating sa McDo, binati ako ng kahera, mukhang kilala na niya ako pero hindi ko man lang siya maalala. As usual, french fries at kape na naman ang inorder ko para sa aking magdamag na paglalamay.

Pa g k a u p o, napansin kong may nagtext sa akin.

Nangungumusta na naman si Inay, tinatanong kung pumasok na ba sa account ko ang baong ipinadala niya. Kahit sa ganitong oras, ako pa rin ang nasa isip niya. Nagreply ako na baka bukas ko pa

matitingnan. Kinumusta ko rin siya sa trabaho niya pero hindi na siya nagreply.

Halos isang oras na ang lumipas pero hindi ko pa rin masimulan ang papel ko.

Requirement ng prof na magsulat tungkol sa sarili at napaka-ironic lang na tila wala akong maisulat tungkol sa sarili ko.

Kung mabubuod sa isang talata ang buhay ko, isa lang itong serye ng paglilipat mula sa isang lugar tungo sa isa pa at naging isang kalakaran na.

Nakasanayan ko na ang araw-araw na food trip, pag-sample sa mga exotic coffee, o drinking sessions sa Drew’s. Magigising na lang ako sa condo kinabukasan na hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakauwi. Para tuloy akong nanakawan ng isang bagay na ‘di ko na mahahanap muli.

Dito sa Katipunan, sinusubukan ko isiksik ang mga alaala ko sa mga masisikip na espasyo nito.

Bilang only child, nakuha ko naman ang lahat ng gusto ko kahit pabagobago ang trabaho ng mga magulang ko.

Minsan, natitiyempuhan ko pa silang nag-

aaway tungkol sa mga utang, pero bigla silang tumitigil kapag napapansin nilang nandiyan ako.

Nang pumasok ako sa UP, doon ko lang kinailangan lumipat ng tirahan dahil malayo ang bahay namin. Pinatira muna ako sa condo ng tito ko rito sa Katips.

Dahil madalas namang wala ang tito ko, napapadalas tuloy ang paglalakwatsa ko.

Sa kabila ng kagandahan ng condo at sa variety ng mga gawain ko ngayon, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mabalisa. Ito ako, pilit tinatapos ang isang bagay na hindi ko masimulan,unti-unting namamanhid sa mga aliw na tila inilalako ng abenida.

Tila may isang malaking butas sa dibdib ko na hindi kayang mapunan ng kahit anumang luho o aliw sa mundo. Habang hindi pa nalulutas ang aking matinding paghahanap, mauuwi muna ako sa walang hanggang pagsusulat tungkol sa aking hungkag na buhay.

Trixie Hispacio

binaha pa rin ako ng mga mensahe at ni isa wala man lang bumati ng magandang umaga.

Nahagip ng mata ko ang isang mensahe, “wer n u? my report p tau tom d p tau nagmit as a grp. mtg at my katips condo l8er. reply asap pls if u cn make it. tnx,” sabi ni Stevenson.

Sosyal, condo sa Katips. Kakapalan ko na ang mukha ko kahit kagrupo ko lang siya sa klase. “hello. if ever late tayo matapos, can i stay over? thanks.”

Ayan, mukhang may matutulugan na ako mamaya. Feel ko, harmless naman si Stevenson saka may iba naman kaming kasama kaya sa tingin ko okay lang sa kanya. “xur. c u. pls bring ur laptop n ur readings. tnx,” ang tipid niyang sagot.

Dumiretso ako ng Katips pagkatapos ng klase. Kung maaga man ako, dun na lang muna ako magtatrabaho. May tinatapos din kasi akong transcription para sa isang kompanya.

Wala palang klase ngayon si Stevenson.

Nasa Bataan din daw ang Tito Romy niya para sa isang routine inspection. Tulad ng inaasahan, sobrang aga ko para sa meeting namin. Inalok niya ako ng merienda at hinayaang makigamit ng wi-fi nila para malibang daw habang naghihintay.

Bagaman bago ang building, tila matagal na silang nakatira rito. Napapalamutian ang sala ng piling artworks, paintings at sketches na gawa ng Tito niya. Tila madami nang napuntahang lugar ang Tito niya—sa Baguio, sa Singapore at maging sa Costa Rica.

Naalala ko bigla ang bahay namin sa Cainta na halos dalawang taon ko nang hindi nadadalaw.

Doon pa rin kaya nakatira ang mga magulang ko? Nasa estante pa rin kaya ng kuwarto ko ang picture namin nung minsang nagpunta kami sa Megamall noong bata pa ako?

Bumalik si Stevenson bitbit ang isang plato ng carbonara at isang baso ng orange juice. Pilit kong itinago ang nangingilid kong luha. Ayaw ko mang aminin sa sarili ko, pero miss ko na ang dati kong kuwarto.

Wer n u?

Sanay na akong gumising sa mga hindi pamilyar na kuwarto—may iba’t ibang kulay at disenyo. Ngayong umaga, tumambad sa akin ang naninilaw na kisame ng isang three-star hotel sa kahabaan ng Roxas Boulevard.

Bago pa man kayo maghinala sa ginawa ko kagabi, uunahan ko na kayo: trabaho lang ito. Nag-assist ako sa isang training workshop ng isang NGO kahapon at kasama sa kontrata ang hotel accommodations at pagkain. Agad kong tinapos ang deliverables ko para sa training dahil may klase pa ako mamaya.

Lampas alas-nuwebe na pala. Nagalala tuloy ako na baka mahuli ako at wala nang abutang pagkain sa ibaba. Wala pa naman akong mabibilihan ng mas mura pa sa singkwenta.

Agad kong hinanap ang dambuhala kong backpack na puno ng mga damit, babasahin at mga resibong naipon sa nagdaang taon. Tila pasan ko ang daigdig kasama ang pipitsuging digicam at bulok na laptop na pamana pa ni Nanay.

Ito na ang naging buhay at “bahay” ko mula nang magsarili ako dalawang taon na ang nakalipas. ‘Yun lang naman ang silbi ng bahay ‘di ba, imbakan ng mga gamit?

Sinubukan kong mag-boarding house dati kasama ang mga kaibigan ko pero gastos lang din naman, dahil nagmistula lang itong imbakan ng mga naipong readings, labada at gabok.

Tatlong oras lang akong nakatulog pero

∞

∞

Illustration : Ysa Calinawan Page design : Jerome Tagaro

8

LATHALAIN

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

Washed out Gloiza Plamenco affordable drinking water and The dismal water situation led ‘Tubig, Serbisyo! Hindi Negosyo!’ quality of service has sanitation for all.”

Angat Dam Reliability Project former President Fidel Ramos Progressive groups braved the not improved either.

However, the Aquino worth P45 billion and P5 to sign into law the Water heat of the sun on June 12 as they Today, 60 percent of administration has been keen on billion, respectively.

Crisis Act in 1995, mandating marched from Commonwealth Avenue the 790,000 consumers entering partnerships with private From 2008 to 2011 privatization or the to Ayala Technohub where a public turnover of MWSS operations consumers of Maynilad receive entities instead. From hospitals, have consultation was being held by the to private companies. A 25-year been paying for the 24-hour water rail transit system to state Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Concession Agreement with c o n c e s s i o n a i r e s ’ supply, while poor colleges and universities, Aquino System (MWSS). Ironically, the venue private concessionaries MWC income taxes worth communities merely has chosen to turn these over was tightly secured and not everyone and Maynilad was then inked P15.3 have bulk connections to profit-driven companies. billion was allowed to enter. sometimes shared by By giving the people through their and was extended for another 15 The consultation was about additional burden, around 100 families. monthly bills, years in 2009. the proposed rate hikes of Metro remain the government has Facilities Water for the Several incentives were offered Estimated new water rates Manila’s water service providers, too, and veered away from its inadequate People Network in the agreement, including the Manila Water (East Zone) Manila Water Company (MWC) leaking pipes in fact responsibility of (WPN) reveals. companies’ proposed water hikes Basic/Average charge: 34.12 and Maynilad Water Services account for 1.54 billion allowing the public MWSS-RO has that have eventually proved to FCDA: (0.12) Inc. (Maynilad). Their services be onerous. A provision in the liters of water loss every day. to exercise the allowed the Environmental charge: 6.80 are once again scheduled for Concession Agreement, allows Amid the rising costs of CERA: right to water. concessionaires a rate adjustment in the MWC and Maynilad to conduct a other basic services, water bills Today, to include their Subtotal: 40.80 consumers’ water bills, review and adjustment of all the will surely add to the heavy burden VAT: 4.90 the largest corporate income All-in charge: 45.69 proposing a P5.83-P8.53 per expenses that will be covered for of the ordinary citizen. For workers investor taxes under the cubic meter increase. earning the minimum wage of P419, 30 cubic meter per month: of MWC operating expenses. the next five years.

Calls of protest P1370.70 the estimated total bill monthly may is the The proposed hike is Impassive state constantly follow proposed actually just an increase in already account for 8-11 percent of the A y a l a While Filipinos have been price hikes—no wonder, the basic charge, according to meager wage. That is about the cost of Corporation. working to pay for expensive water since it is consumers who more than ten kilos of rice, or formula On the other hand, independent think-tank bills, private concessionaires have will bear the brunt of the milk for infants. (see sidebar) Benpres Holdings of the Lopez IBON Foundation. all along been earning large sums rising costs of what is Calls to scrap these unwarranted clan initially held the biggest Other taxes will also of profit from the charges they have supposed to be a public rate hikes on essential services such as share for Maynilad, before it be included such been previously collecting. utility service. water remain relevant more than ever. was bought by Manny Pangilinan as environmental Net income of the water Nowadays when the government of the Metro Pacific Investments charge, and Excessive charges concessionaires has consistently is geared towards allowing more Corporation in 2007. f o r e i g n After the 1986 grown at an average of 15-44 private entities to take over currenc y EDSA Revolution, Stagnant percent annually, according to public utilities, the government d i f fe re n t i a l former Pres.

Despite MWC and Maynilad’s claims 2011 BusinessWorld Top 1000 should be pressured to uphold adjustment C o r a z o n of significant improvements, the water Corporations. Despite this, the the public’s interest and ( F C D A ) A q u i n o crisis continues as costly rates further government has chosen to remain halt the deterioration of rate which Estimated new water rates paid for trap marginalized Filipinos to poverty. silent. public services towards accounts for Maynilad (West Zone) mounting MWSS was privatized then to address Pres. Benigno Aquino III will privatization. the value of d e b t s Basic/Average charge: 42.55 t h e water crisis but only comment on the water hikes peso, is also FCDA: (0.42) incurred t h e after MWSS submits its report to counted (see Environmental charge: 6.80 in the the president, says Presidential sidebar).

CERA: 1.00 Marcos Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda R e g u l a r Subtotal: 51.76 regime by in a press briefing. Despite households consuming VAT: 6.21 annually the unjust hikes the All-in charge: 57.97 an average of 30 cubic allocating government has refused to meters per month may 30 cubic meter per month: the largest take its stance in the issue, expect a dramatic increase P1739.10 budget. As of P234 to P342 in their bills, neglecting to side with the a result, social if the hike is approved by the people. services became In 2010, the MWSS-Regulatory Office (MWSSthe least priority in budget distribution.

United Nations (UN) RO) this July.

MWSS, a government-owned “call[ed] on states Also, MWC and Maynilad charged corporation created to supply and and international consumers for projects that never distribute water services in Metro organizations to pushed through, says Arnold Padilla Manila, then offered services to provide financial of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan customers in only 67 percent of its resources, [and] build (BAYAN). He enumerated the service area and provided water supply capacity…to provide supposed construction of Laiban for only seven to 13 hours a day. safe, clean, accessible and Dam in Sierra Madre and the Illustration : Rosette Abogado Page design : Jan Andrei Cobey

LATHALAIN

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

enough to cover even the most basic needs of their family. Their eldest, Anna,

BY THE END OF THE YEAR, is a senior at the Quezon City High communities along Agham Road School, while Rina and Paolo are Grade 6 in Quezon City may become ghost and 5 students at San Vicente Elementary towns of demolished shanties—a School. Anna is a scholar of a foundation, wrecked expanse of what used to while the other two get by with a P30 be the homes of poor families. In daily allowance each for transportation, place of these communities, the city food and school materials. government plans to build a worldThe family lives in a 40-squareclass business district—complete meter one-bedroom shack made with park-lined boulevards, trendy of slabs of wood nailed together.

Poverty establishments, state-of-the art The house lacks a ceiling—only — a n d office spaces, and high-rise iron sheets for a roof, which not personal condominiums. leaks when it rains and which c h o i c e — Among those who will makes the room very hot is what drives be forced to give way to during the summer. the increase in the this sprawling urban This humble abode number of informal complex is the family has been their home settlers in the country. of Armando, a for more than 20 construction worker years now, yet a who lives with his wife Donna and their government notice says they will have three kids, Anna, Rina, and Paolo.* They to leave voluntarily or face demolition live in a danger zone, where every-day before the end of the month. needs compete with an ever-present Upon invitation of city officials, threat of violence and where dreams of Donna visited the model houses in a decent life remain beyond their grasp.

Montalban and Bulacan. Those who will relocate may pay around P130,000 for Shattered dreams renovations and other improvements.

Armando and Donna grew up in the But for families like Armando’s who provinces of Leyte and Bicol. Hoping to cannot afford the said expenses, they find opportunities for a better life, the may choose to relocate to cheaper units two moved to Quezon City to study and which cost up to P200 per month. eventually look for jobs.

Until recently, all relocated families Armando, a high school graduate, have used power generators with a P25 is currently a contractual worker at a daily fee per household and water tanks construction site in Makati, earning which cost P50 per day. Private power P400 a day. On the other hand, Donna and water concessionaires only became now only works as a part-time agent operational in Montalban this 2013, for a direct-selling cosmetics company leaving other sites with the same old and earns as much as P500 monthly. generators and water tanks.

At 48, Donna says it’s difficult to find “[Doon] lang ako nakakita ng bahay a job because employers usually prefer na [binabaha] hanggang [pangalawang younger applicants. palapag.]. [At ang] priority ko ay ang Their combined earnings are barely

Jem Guhit

9

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

magandang edukasyon ng aking mga anak. Mas gusto kong makatapos sila sa pag-aaral nila. Kung [lilipat] kami, paano na ang pamasahe, [na halos] P200 papunta at pabalik,” Donna said.

Limited choices According to Donna, she and her husband would have wanted to raise their family in a better neighborhood, but their combined wages simply are not enough to afford them more decent housing elsewhere.

According to urban group alliance Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) and non-government organization Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies Inc. (PHILSSA), poverty—and not personal choice—is what drives the increase in the number of informal settlers in the country.

In fact, even those with decent jobs but very low salaries, like Armando and Donna, are forced to live in shanty towns. These thousands of drivers, janitors, and factory workers simply cannot afford to live anywhere else, according to Kadamay.

The existing law on urban development and housing, known as the Lina Law or Republic Act 7279, however, provides little security for informal settlers like Armando’s family.

Implemented more than two decades ago, the law states that decent and affordable housing, basic services, and employment opportunities should be given to informal settlers through private sectors in cooperation with the government.

Many years of half-hearted implementation however has hardly delivered any lasting improvement to the lot of informal settlers, said Gloria

DANGER ZONE Arellano, national chair of Kadamay.

Of the total 584,000 families living in informal settlements in the country, only 46,000 have so far been relocated since 2009.

Economic development has remained concentrated in the cities, Arellano explained. Those who are relocated to far-flung areas eventually find their way back to the cities because that’s where they can find jobs and good education for their children. “Napakapangunahin [ng mga pangangailangang ito], kaya napipilitan [silang] manirahan kahit sa tabi ng estero, sa tabi ng riles ng tren, o kahit pa tambakan ng basura.”

ng] mga Pilipino. Ang mga industriyang ito ang hihigop sa napakaraming Pilipinong walang trabaho.”

This must begin with a genuine agrarian reform policy which will address landlessness among peasants and farmers. “Kailangang turulin ng gobyerno [kung bakit] napipilitang umalis sa mga lalawigan at maghanap ng hanapbuhay sa kalunsuran [ang mga mahihirap na Pilipino]. Unang hakbang ang makabuluhang reporma sa lupa na magdudulot ng agrikulturang sasapat sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan sa kanayunan,” Arellano added.

With only a few weeks left before the 30-day demolition notice runs out, Armando and Donna’s family are Long-term, not temporary solutions uncertain about their future. Their More than short-term solutions, options remain bleak—and so do the government needs to strike at the hundreds of thousands of primary reason why poor Filipinos families whose struggle for their Those live in informal settlements. constitutional rights remain a who are “Kailangang maiangat sa continuing fight. relocated to kahirapan ang mga mararalita Until this struggle far-flung areas sa pamamagitan ng paglikha succeeds, poor families like eventually find ng mga trabahong may Armando and Donna’s their way back to the nakabubuhay na sahod,” shall remain in danger cities because that’s where Arellano said. zones—threatened they can find jobs and good For example, by poverty and education for their children. rather than spend uncertainty and billions of dollars in violently displaced cash dole-outs through the Condition by a brand of “economic progress” Cash Transfer program, the government enjoyed only by a few. should invest in social services which help the poor become more productive, such as public higher education.

“Kailangan din [sa pangmatagalan] Photograph : Angerica Hainto na makapagtatag ng mga pambansang Page design : Jan Andrei Cobey industriyang [tunay na pagmamay-ari

10

OPINYON

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

Unang sabak Majoi

Tatlong araw mula ngayon muling gaganapin ang isang malaking pagtitipon sa loob at labas ng Kongreso kung saan imbitado ang milyong-milyong mga Pilipino.

Maaaring pumili ang mga bisita ng dadaluhan—sa malaking bulwagan o malawak na bakuran.

Isa lang siguro ako sa mga maswerteng nakadalo na sa dalawang pagtitipon, noong freshie sa SONA ng Bayan nang sumunod na taon sa Kongreso naman.

Kung tatanungin ako ngayon, mas pipiliin kong pumunta sa SONA ng Bayan. Simple lang ang ginagawang pagdiriwang may kung ano-anong pakulo ang mga tao—nariyan ang kultural na pagtatanghal, ilang serye ng mga speakers kung saan mo maririnig ang maraming aral at mga pangunahing karanasan.

Marami ka ring makikilala mula sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan— nariyan ang mga magsasaka, mangingisda, mga manggagawa, kaguruan, estudyante at mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan na nais makiisa sa panawagan at pagkilos.

Bakit ko naman pipiliin sa loob ng Kongreso kung pagandahan lang naman ng damit ang labanan at maging taga-palakpak sa bawat

salitang bibitawan ng pangulo.

Freshie pa lamang ako nang sumali ako sa SONA ng bayan noong 2010. Ito ang naging una kong karanasan kong maki-isa sa rally. Kailangan raw kasi naming mamigay ng Kule sa mga sektor na palaging laman ng aming mga pahina. Sabi pa ng editor ko, requirement daw ‘yun, para raw mas maintindihan ko kung ano ang mga isinusulat ko at makilala ang mga taong pinaglalaan ng bawat espasyo ng Kule.

Sumama ako, hindi lang dahil sa takot na mapagalitan ng editor pero dahil gusto kong maranasan ang nakikita ko lang sa telebisyon dati—isang mahabang pila ng mga taong may hawak-hawak na mga plakard at iba’t ibang disenyo ng mga grupo habang sumisigaw ng “karapatan ng mamamayan!” at marami pang iba.

Kinakabahan ako nung una, dahil hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko kaya mas pinili kong maging ablaa sa pamimigay ng dyaryo sa mga estudyante na nasa Quezon Hall. Nang magsisimula na ang paglalakad, lalo akong kinabahan dahil hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabayan ang mga chant nila, mga jokes, at kung paano ko kakausapin ang ibang tao bukod sa mga taga-Kule.

Bakit ko naman pipiliin sa loob ng Kongreso kung pagandahan lang naman ng damit ang labanan at maging taga-palakpak sa bawat salitang bibitawan ng pangulo

“Kamusta? Pagod ka na ba?” yan ang laging tanong ng editor ko na laging nakaagapay, siguro dahil freshie pa ako. Siya rin ang nagpapakilala sa akin sa mga kaibigan niya na nasa hanay. “Si Majoi, bagong Kule, Kultura.”

Tipid na ngiti at “hello po,” ang lagi kong sagot, hindi ko kasi alam kung paano magre-react sa mga taong sa TV ko lang dati nakikita.

Para akong na-starstruck sa isang hinahangaang artista.

Nang malapit na kami sa Kongreso kung saan gaganapin ang mismong SONA ng Bayan, untiunti akong naging komportable sa mga kasamahan ko. Kahit pabulong, pinilit kong sabayan ang chant ng mga kasama ko. Nahiya at nainggit naman ako kay kuya na nasa unahan namin, halos mapatid na ang litid niya kaka-chant.

Aaminin ko nakatulong talaga siya para matandaan ko ang ibang linya.

Kakaibang pakiramdam ang bumalot sa akin nang makita ko ang mga taong naghihintay at ng mga grupong kasabay naming dumating sa lugar na paggaganapan ng SONA ng Bayan. Mababasa mo sa kanilang mga mukha ang pagiging buo ang loob, pursigido, at masaya sa pagkakataong magpamalas ng pagkakaisa. ∞

Ha akon pinaura GRMP Miss na miss ko na ang kapatid ko.

Hindi ko na maalala kung kailan kami huling nag-usap sa telepono.

Sa tuwing tatawag kasi ang Nanay at Tatay ko, busy siya palagi sa paglalaro sa computer. Kung naguusap man kami, hindi talaga kami nagkakaintindihan. “Hi, Ate!” lang ang palagi niyang sinasagot sa mga tanong ko.

Ano kaya ang libangan niya ngayon sa bahay? Natutulog na kaya siya ng maaga? Dati kasi inaabangan niya pa ang closing credits at ‘Lupang Hinirang’ ng mga lokal na istasyon sa TV bago matulog. Kabisado niya pa ang lyrics ng pambansang awit, sa puntong sinulat niya pa ito sa ilang pader sa bahay.

Siya ‘yung tipong parang walang problema sa buhay. Mahilig siyang mag-YouTube, at lagi niyang pinapatugtog ang kantang ‘Biyahe Tayo!’. Sasabay siya sa kanta, tapos sasayaw habang nakangiti. Minsan pa nga nagbibiruan kami sa bahay na, “Mabuti pa siya, makapagYouTube lang, solb na sa buhay.”

Pero minsan may mga tao talagang hindi nakakaintindi sa kalagayan niya. Hindi nila naiintindihan na kadalasan,

Sayang.

Ang dami kong pangarap para sa kanya, na hanggang sa ‘siguro’ at ‘baka’ na lang

kailangang tatlong beses pa siyang tatawagin bago makuha ang atensyon niya. Hindi nila maintindihan na kapag may nakita siyang bagong gadget na hawak ng kalapit niya, bigla niyang aagawin at kakalikutin—minsan pa nga ay mabubuksan niya ang phone kahit may password.

May ilan nga na pagtatawanan siya o tatawaging ‘loko-loko,’ ‘baliw,’ o ‘may sayad’. Kahit hindi naiintindihan ng kapatid ko, nasasaktan pa rin ako kasi hindi naman siya ganyan. Hindi niya naman kasalanan na special child siya, na autistic siya.

Noong bata pa ako, palagi akong nagsa-summer dito sa Maynila kasi dito siya nag-aaral. Hindi ito ‘yung karaniwang paaralan na tuturuan ng sibika at kultura o pagbibilang. Dito, kaklase niya ang ilang mga batang espesyal din ang kalagayan tulad niya. May therapy sessions sila, at tinututukan ang bawat bata ng isang guro. Sa paaralang ito natutong makipagusap sa Inggles ang kapatid ko, at natutong magbasa at magsulat.

Ngunit kalaunan, naubos ang pera namin dahil mahal ang matrikula para sa mga special children, kaya kinailangan na niyang huminto sa

pag-aaral at umuwi na sa probinsya.

Ngayon, malapit nang mag18 ang kapatid ko. Kahit minsa’y makulit, napagsasabihan naman at nakakatulong pa nga sa ilang gawaing bahay. Siguro kung mabibigyan lang nga sapat na atensyon at badyet ang pagtuturo sa mga special children sa bansa, baka hindi naging ganoon kamahal ‘yung mga paaralan para sa mga kagaya ng kapatid ko.

Siguro kung naipagpatuloy niya ang kanyang pag-aaral, baka naging “child prodigy” din siya, kagaya ng ilang espesyal na bata.

Kung marami lang kaming pera tulad ni Kris Aquino na kayang pag-aralin si Baby Joshua sa mga mamahaling paaralan, baka kaya na ring makipag-usap ng kapatid ko ng hindi naguutal-utal.

Baka nakapag-elementary at hayskul siya, nagkaroon ng barkada, naka-attend ng JS prom o nanligaw. Baka Iskolar na din siya tulad ko, tulad natin. Matalino ‘yun, kahit hindi siya nakapag-aral sa normal na paaralan.

Sayang. Ang dami kong pangarap para sa kanya, na hanggang sa ‘siguro’ at ‘baka’ na lang. ∞

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

OPINYON

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, HULYO 19, 2013

eksenang peyups

Ze Spewing Edishun!

Heller der my fellow kuluteras! Sorry sa quickie na paglabas pero iz time wans agen for the 2-time, nakakalurky, high-pumping chikadora ng iyong bayan!

Hindi lang iyon mga ganders, kahit sabik na ang iyong mga jowabelles sa round 2 pero hephep! Pajinitin muna natiz ang ating mga eyez ng nagbabagang chika!

Chika 1. Alam niyo ba mga friends, sa isang hot juicy orgy-este mainit na kapihan nabalitaan ng iyong beki ang isang koyang bulky ang dinadalang schlongers ay winisikwisik ang kaniyang magic juice sa microphone?? As in, habang nagmamasturbate- i mean, nagdede-bate ang mga utaws sa bare-it-all-out bakbakan ng stFAP, naghubad si kuya ng kaniyang list of sex positions with stFAP, ay sabik na sabik mag-FAP! At nang matanong kung nasiping ni koya ba ang atetenecio report ay wiz ang fez ni koya! Basabasa din pag may time!

Chika 2. Sa isang malayong booking na pinuntahan ni koya for that glorious, hammer hammer askyon sa hada-hada ng mga bakal, malapit nang tilamsikan si koya ng enlightenment nang biglang nagfly ang hard-on ng mga rocks at spermsies nang naisipan ni koya na i-fulfill ang childhood dream niya na maging aksyon star! Bongga!

Takbo si koya away from the orgy nang naisipan siyang i-hump ng naghuhumindig na batobells, ouch si koya sa roughness nito kaya ingat ingat din pag may time!

Chika 3. Ano na namang nasense kong kababalaghan sa isang kolehiyo ng artsyfartsyness? Chovaline kyle daw may espionage mode etong si beking naghahasik ng kaniyang lagim sa mga orgy as in excited na excited na makilafang! In fairness labasan pa mga girlash ni beking todo magnotes sa mga orgys, sabik sa se* te? Award!

Bayad-bayad din pag may time!

O sharon cuneta, mang-ookray pa ako ng mga lapelyas ng mga purita kalaw jan sa phil collins, ka-sister shock naman mga happenings! till the next kuliti edishyun, babayoosh!

∞

Continued from page 1

Scrap or reform?

Of the national population, 60 percent have a monthly family income of less than P11,250, equivalent to Brackets E1 and E2 of the current program.

However, only one third of them are able to enrol in UP, said Guillermo Indeed, barely one percent of all UP students who graduated in 2008 came from the “poorest of the poor” while 27.8 percent were from the country’s richest families, said Monsod.

For the economics professor, however, these figures show that a socialized tuition scheme is necessary.

The current design of the STFAP only needs revision to address implementation flaws, said Tejano, who proposed a 13-point agenda, which includes the implementation of a consumption-based bracketing criteria and a biannual review of a student’s STFAP bracket.

Is education a privilege?

If the STFAP were scrapped, Brackets E1 and E2 students will effectively be forced to pay, said Tejano. “Scrap STFAP, and then what?”

As a state university, UP must be fully subsidized by the government, said Torres. Education is a constitutional right, but through the STFAP, UP education becomes a commodity which students pay for based on how much money they can pay for tuition, she added “Demand for full state subsidy? In your dreams!” said Monsod. “Education is a right [but] education in UP is a privilege.”

To subsidize people who can even pay P100,000 for high school is “crazy,” said Monsod, who proposed to further increase tuition rates among Bracket A students.

newscan

TEXTBACK

‘An income generating scheme’

STFAP, in the strictest sense, is an income generating scheme not for profit but for redistribution, said Monsod. “I see everything right, and nothing wrong, to take from Peter to give to Paul,” she explained.

“This kind of logic devoids UP of its public character. Hindi nangyayari yung attempt [ng STFAP] to democratize education,” Torres said.

In order to place more students under Bracket E, the UP administration would have to “maximize” the number of students to be classified under Bracket B, Guillermo added.

Even Tejano said he did not share Monsod’s view on the STFAP as an income generating scheme although he remained firm on revising the program.

STFAP has already undergone two major revisions since 1989. For instance, the number of income brackets were collapsed from nine to five in 2007, effectively decreasing the non-paying brackets from five to only one.

The death of a UP Manila freshman in March sparked even more debates on whether to scrap or reform the program.

Kristel Tejada, who was placed under Bracket D, committed suicide a few days after she was forced to file a leave of absence due to her inability to settle her tuition.

“Ako mismo hindi talaga maintindihan ang pasikot-sikot ng STFAP, e. Ang alam ko lang ay may hindi nagawa nang tama ang administrasyon.

Marami ang numero [na may kinalaman sa STFAP]. Pero iisa lang si Kristel,” Kristel’s father Christian Tejada, told an audience of around 400 participants.

Ano ang isasagot mo sa tweet ni Bianca Gonzales?

•Wow ha. Hiyang hiya naman kami sayo! Bago mo sila i-judge, tumira ka dun at nang maranasan mo ang hirap nila. Palibhasa kasi may kaya. Psh. 2012-*4*3* BAA •Kule isa lang masasabi ko sa sinasabi ni bianca. Tomoh! Kainis kaya, marami/ halos lahat ng kakilala ko sa iskwats ay tamad/may bisyo. Marami rin ang professional na, kukuha ng rights sa relocation, ibebenta sa iba, babalik ulit at gagastahin ang pera hindi para sa anak kundi sa bisyo. Nam ge •Dapat tinutulungan ng pamahalaan kahit ang mga informal settlers.

Lehitimo rin naman ang mga trabaho nila. Pero nagiging baby nga kasi dahil sa boto. 2013-58528 Meel, BA English Studies •ang kupal niya, tangina mukha bng bini-baby sila? cguro masochist sya 201004175 SML BSChE

Kaninong puso ang gusto mong muling buksan?

•Puso ng crush ko, para matutunan na niya akong mahalin. BOOM! Sunog! :p 201332340 JB BSUP Haha. XD •Para sayo na niloko ako, alam ko na na kurt linus name mo! Sana yung puso mo, isara mo para sa gf mo. Wag mo ng buksan para sa iba. T_T ang babaero •ung puso ng ex ko. Tapos dko isasara para mamatay na sya. WAHAHAHA! #MedyoBitter HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEBEAR KO! 2012 04614 BEY BS ChE •Ang puso ko. </3 201010124 BS Chemistry •Gusto kong muling buksan ang puso ko upang magmahal. Pagod na akong maging BATO 2011-39204 Bret STAT •puso ni charm. 2012-21271 BA History

•ung sa akin. ;) Kaya sa mga gustong kumuha ng susi ng <3 ko, punta ka sa eng’g lib 2 TTh 11:30. *wink wink* 2011-4***3 •Puso ng prof ko! Leche, tatlong taon na kitang mahal. (Take note: Mahal, hindi crush.) Sana makita na kita ulit.

Hindi na masaya ang sem ko ngayong hindi na kita prof. :”( -- 2010-78^^^ •Sana muling buksan ni Kenneth Tapnio ang puso niya 2012-4**** •Bubuksan ko puso ni G.S. <3 para magmahal sya ulit. Pati na mata nya para makita nyang andito lang ako. :) :D -12-*5**0 kei stat •Ung sawi at bato kong puso! 6months bago ako pumasok ng UP, naging manhid na ko at napagod na ko sa pagmamahal at sa org kaya puro aral lang ako. Kaya sana, matuto akong magmahal muli at magmahal sa mga org. Please, buksan niyo ang puso ko :-D 2012-*0*9* Renaissance BA BC

Comments:

•Magkaiba ‘yung nilagay na score ng up basketball team sa pahina 4 at 5.

2012-27854 E BA BC •Ur edtorial says d govt mst learn 2 dfend d interest of d country ON ITS OWN. Hw cud dt b wen all it takes for china is an unyielding claim, and w/ its greater rsources and powr, send military n fishing vessels 2 occupy d dsputed seas? Hw cn d govt dfend alone wd rsources inferior to china?

8.22797

Pabati:

•Could I just say kung gaano ko kamahal si Kitty. <3 Magtatagal tayo, promise. Sorry kung busy ako sa acads and council work. I love you, Kitty.

-Cutie 201*32***

Next week’s questions 1. Kung sasali si PNoy sa The Voice, ano ang gusto mong kantahin niya?

2. Anong gusto mong ipangalan sa magiging anak ni Jolina MagdangalEscueta?

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

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11

College of Arts and Letters Student Council “SONAta: A Cultural Night” Inaanyayahan ang lahat sa SONAta, isang Cultural Night na inihahandog ng Konseho ng mga Mag-aaral ng Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura ukol sa darating na ikatlong SONA ni PNoy sa Hulyo 22, 2013. Kung interesado, maaari kang magbasa ng tula, sumayaw, umarte, kumanta, maggitara, o magpalabas ng mga kritikal mong video dito sa event.

Para sa mga karagdagang tanong, maaring kontakin si Mel sa numerong 09058261777 o Viktor sa numerong 09153085857.

CAL Atrium | Hulyo 19, 2013 (Biyernes) | 7PM - 9PM Everybody deserves a second chance.

UP Association for Computing Machinery, in cooperation with the UP Mathematics Club, invites you to a MATH 17 SECOND LE REVIEW SESSION on July 23, 2013 (TUE, 4-6 PM) at the College of Engg Lib II (UPAECH) TLC Discussion Room&Multimedia Room.

Sign-up now at: tinyurl.com/ math17second See you there! :D Solving x problems isn’t easy.

But y go through it alone? Can’t you z that we’re here for you? Let us help you! :) DLRC Math 17 2nd LE Review. July 20 and 22, 2013, 8:30 – 12:00 / 1:00 – 4:00. @Diliman Learning Resource Center, Near Kamia Dorm!

Questions? Clarifications? Text Martin at 09199998765 or Ludho at 09174401036!

UP Samahan Tungo sa Progresibong Administrasyon (UP STPA) #KabataanRoadtrip: Sa’n na tayo nakarating, sa’n na tayo papunta?

A PUBLIC FORUM ON THE SONA AND THE NATIONAL BUDGET Speaker: Prof. Emeritus Leonor Briones NCPAG Assembly Hall, July 23, Tuesday, 1-5PM "Don't let the clothes wear you."

Besides the clothes and accessories, a great model showcases Poise and Confidence. Do you have enough to rock the runway as you fade to light?

UP Engineering Society is looking for fierce ladies who will conquer the runway and get a chance to win PHP 10,000.

Mechanics can be found at: http:// tinyurl.com/HysteriaFashionShow2013

Get free publicity! Send us your press release, invitations, etc.

DON’T TYPE IN ALL CAPS. And go easy on the...punctuations?!! dOn’t uSe tXt LanGuage pLs. Provide a short title. 100 words max. Email us at pkule1314@gmail.com

NOWHERE MAN

Alan P. Tuazon

Silent Mode LATELY, I HAVE BEEN TURNING my phone off whenever people are likely to give me a call or leave a message. Afterwards, I could just make an excuse that my battery died or that my phone was in silent mode—or that I recently discovered I have cancer and needed the time to be alone and come to terms with my new life situation.

When there’s a lot of things going on, my brain short-circuits and I just had to severe connections with any human life form or else my head would explode.

Yesterday marked the seventh day of my latest self-imposed quarantine period. When I finally turned my phone on again, there was predictably a flood of messages. Most of them were from my parents who are out of town this week. Some are from my GE classmates nagging me about a group report that is still weeks ahead.

One of the messages caught my attention. It was from a high school buddy with whom I lost contact since college and Kule happened.

We were part of the same circle of friends, admired the same literary geniuses, and even liked the same girls—which was awkward but did not really cause us any great distress as neither of us really had the courage to ask out any of them.

We watched our grades sink to unimaginable depths, shared bottles of beer, plotted against parents who sought to control our future careers.

But the early years of college, the thin ribbon of the Katipunan Avenue, and our rapidly diverging political views slowly taught us to be indifferent to each other.

Between the two of us, I was the more passionate one, the one who easily loses his cool. He was the more composed one who was always magnanimously patient with others who always questioned his views. Our disagreements eventually punctuated almost all of our conversations.

There was a particular debate which, I had thought, destroyed all remaining reasons for us to continue hanging out with each other. We had just found out that we both passed the UPCAT and we were thinking if we should enrol in UP. He began by telling me we should convince our parents to go instead to the other university just across the street, because we could afford it and others with less privileged circumstances could use our slots in the State U. “Hey, I think I saw you at the Kapekonomiya thing. Had to ask a Kule reporter for your new number.

I think I may have switched to your side of the fence. See you at the SONA mob, old sport,” his message read.

Maybe it is about time I reply to messages. I hesitated for a split-second and then tapped on “Text message.” ∞

Elehiya Patrick Alzona May nagtalumpati na liderato na ang kaniyang landas ay tuwid at isang katiyakan ang pagsalba mula sa kahirapan, mula sa mga halang, mula sa mga nang-aapi.

Ipinagmalaki niya ang dalisay na bukal ng tubig ngunit araw-araw tatambad sa mamamayan ang gripo na puno ng putik-dugo sa bawat delubyo— at umaalingasaw sa ilalim ng estero ang mga naagnas nang pangarap.

Ipinagmalaki ang kinang ng dilaw na liwanag kaalinsabay ang pagsirit ng presyon sa walang habas na pagtaas ng mga bayarin.

Hinahatak na tila bato-balani ang tainga ng bawat mamamayan sa mga matatamis nitong salita “tahakin ng walang agam-agam ang tuwid na daan” gayon ang lansangan ay puno ng alinlangan.

Lahat ng mga anak ng bayang ito ay pinalaki sa layaw: layaw ng pagdarahop, layaw ng walang hanggang pang-aapi hanggang matuyo ang lalamunan, mahungkag ang tiyan masaid ang laman, mawalan ng buhay, matira ang kalansay sa ilalim ng mga nagtataasang gusali.

Kung gayon, ang inaapakan ba nating lupang hinirang ay isa na bang dambuhalang libingan? o baka isa lamang itong masamang biro; isang napakahabang litanya ng mga pasong pangako ng isang tuwid na daan na ang dulo ay isang napakalalim na bangin.

Illustration: Ysa Calinawan