Philippine Collegian Issue 7

TAON 91

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BILANG 7

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013

2 UPD students arrested, detained News

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P1.43-B budget cut looms for UP in 2014

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Power of the Purse Features

News

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

NOWHERE MAN

Alan P. Tuazon Lost Things

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In the line of duty Features

THESE PAST WEEKS, MY FACIAL muscles forgot their function to smile.

Already etched on my face was a frown as I await draft after draft, watch my grades hit rock bottom, lose sleep, deadlines, friends, and a lot of second chances.

I tried finding lost things in the SONA mob last week among different kinds of people who, like me, were also seeking for lost things—justice, equality, and a proper leader.

The rain drops declared it to be a gloomy day. It was my first SONA. I was with Kule people, handing down Kule copies to people.

As I scanned people’s faces, I desperately hoped of catching a glimpse of your beautiful face among the crowd. It was a fruitless search for an ideal that does not exist.

After the cultural performance protest, the only things left in the streets were torn banners—remnants of a fleeting drive to change the world. In the medic area, remains of bloodied handkerchiefs were littered on the floor after the dreaded police violence. The SONA ng Bayan and its noble cause ended, and the president remains indifferent. The television would resume its endless rounds of capitalistic commercials.

Commonwealth Avenue was a ground of forgetting—a rare occasion to fight for things worth fighting for.

After giving away the last piece of hardly worked newspaper, I reached for my phone pocket and realised it was lost—another addition to the many things I lost recently.

I went back to the front row to search, and caught a familiar face.

“Hey, old sport!” It was the high school friend I was not able to communicate with for years. He patted my shoulder. I felt that familiar brotherly connection I haven’t felt in a while.

SONA was over. I haven’t lost that much after all. ∞

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OPINYON

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013

No Decency PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN PERHAPS THE P10-BILLION pork barrel scam is only the latest addition to the government’s notorious portfolio on corruption.

The recent exposé that involved businesswoman Janet LimNapoles, who allegedly benefited from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of several senators and congressmen was hardly a surprise. If anything, such an anomaly only validated what has long been known of the government— self-serving and corrupt.

Much media hubbub has surrounded the controversy, which has polarized public opinion into at least two camps—to junk or retain the PDAF while instituting reforms in implementation— most of the time, simplistically reducing the issue to the junk-revise dichotomy.

Such an outcry is perfectly understandable considering the P27 billion PDAF in the national budget, an amount as vast as it is prone to abuse.

What’s often left out is the systemic nature of the PDAF and its vile role in the country’s politicaleconomic setup of shortage and patronage. That ultimately, an unchallenged, almost conventional wisdom underlying the pork barrel scheme stems from a grand scandal, where the government is unable to serve the general welfare of its constituents; and instead of fulfilling such responsibility, the best the system could do was to give politicians ultimate discretion on how to spend public funds.

The political implications of the PDAF or any other funds hinged on individual discretion are of course

91

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

Ysa Calinawan beyond standard graces. Reports of strategic usage of such funds to perpetuate hold on political power have long sealed the dominant impression on pork barrels as an economic leverage rather than a development tool whose noble end-goal is to improve the lives of Filipinos.

It is thus unsurprising that the pork barrel system survived for decades despite perennial and valid criticisms against its vulnerability

EDITOR’S PICK

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

Militant groups slam Mike Arroyo in a demonstration at Welcome Rotonda, a day after the former first gentleman fled the country and hours after he was identified in the September 18 Senate hearing as the “mystery man” in the ZTE deal scandal.

“MYSTERY MAN” UNCOVERED

Photo by Alanah Torralba September 18, 2007

to corruption and key role in animating patronage politics.

Everything fits fine for those who privately gain from public coffers, who would latter indecently claim ownership to such funds by favoring beneficiaries and patrons based on personal whims.

Just a few months ago, although a completely different background story, issues over misuse of funds and ethical conduct hounded the remainder of then-Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s tenure.

After all, the pork barrel in whatever form, reinforces the feudal relations prevalent in Philippine society in which legitimate rights only become accessible insofar as it is compatible with the interests of the self-serving elite holding public office.

Even the self-proclaimed champion of good governance himself, Pres. Benigno Aquino III made his position clear to maintain the pork barrel, which has earned a reputation as a stable source of corruption. As a response that befits the anti-corruption stalwart, Aquino ordered his administration to conduct an “exhaustive, fair and impartial” investigation. Yet, similar initiatives in the past speak for itself in truly delivering results.

With all his pretensions of “daang matuwid,” Aquino didn’t even mention such an issue in his State of the Nation Address— perfectly understandable, lest he wishes to earn the ire of Congress. Not incidentally and unsurprisingly, Aquino himself is silent on funds under his own discretion.

Halfway through his term and beset by perennial problems of high commodity prices, low salaries and unemployment, it is increasingly becoming clear that Aquino’s muchhyped anti-corruption crusade failed at two levels: to eradicate corruption as the supposed “root” of poverty, and bring genuine change to the impoverished majority.

Indeed, the PDAF system, with its inherent susceptibility to corruption and abuse, reflects the imbalance of power in the state. The highly regarded checks and balances between branches of governments is clearly a farce in the face of exchanging economic benefits for political gains.

More so, to continue defending the retention of PDAF in the face of “scarce resources” of precious government funds reeks of hypocrisy and utter disregard to public interests.

Never mind that for the longest time, the budget for social services in which the people directly benefit suffer insufficient funding. Never mind that these same bureaucrats adhere on neoliberal paradigms at the expense of people’s welfare and beefing up their pockets.

Such a morally bankrupt system is beyond redemption. With all the evidences and experiences that have fortified the people’s perception on the PDAF, the logical—and moral—way forward lies in junking this widely discredited scheme and explore alternatives that can redeem whatever decency is left of the government. ∞

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

BALITA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

3

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013

People’s SONA rebukes Aquino’s ‘lies, omissions’ Kira Chan AS PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III delivered his fourth State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex on July 22, at least 5,000 police officers in full-battle gear were deployed to barricade Commonwealth Avenue.

Barred from launching a demonstration near the complex were about 15,000 workers, farmers, youth, women, and other members of different sectors. When they asserted their right to assembly, 50 of them were injured and 10 others were arrested in a clash with the police forces.

“The Aquino government only wants to hear the applause and cheers from its allies in Congress. It does not want to face the reality of public dissatisfaction and indignation,” said Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

In his almost two-hour SONA, Aquino touted the economic achievements in his term: the 7.9 percent increase in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the first quarter of 2013.

However, poverty incidence in the country has not significantly changed and unemployment rates remain the highest in Southeast Asia, according to independent think tank IBON Foundation (see related article below).

“Aquino’s SONA contain rehashed rhetorics and empty promises.

The president remained silent in many fundamental issues that the people have long clamored for,” said Kabataan Party-list Representative Terry Ridon.

As in his previous SONAs, Aquino touted accountability in his administration and his fight against corruption. However, a Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, aimed

at promoting transparency in the government, was not included in the president’s plans.

Aquino failed to report the continued violation of human rights including 142 cases of extrajudicial killings and 243 illegal arrests under his term. For Kabataan and other progressive groups, the violent dispersal of protesters during the SONA spelled out Aquino’s stance on human rights.

The president also made no mention of the stalled peace talks with

the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“This complete silence on the peace talks only means the further escalation of [Oplan Bayanihan’s] ruthlessness against the revolutionary movement in the next three years,” said NDFP Mindanao Chapter Spokesperson Jorge Madlos in a statement.

In light of earlier proposals to open the country’s military bases to the United States and Japan, meanwhile, Aquino sent mixed signals on modernizing the Armed Forces of

the Philippines to protect the country’s territories in the West Philippines Sea. The protesters expressed their disapproval of the proposed military bases agreement as they set on fire a 13-foot effigy of the president feasting on battleships at a table clothed with the American flag. “[Aquino’s] SONA reflected the situation of the people. Not his speech, but his silence on pressing issues, his haciendero arrogance and narcissistic self-promotion,” according to Anakbayan, a militant national youth group. ∞

‘Economy under Aquino still run by elite’ – IBON Arra B. Francia AN ELITE-RUN “DEMOCRACY” STILL controls the nation’s economy, which benefits only the rich and excludes the poor amidst what the Aquino administration touts as “economic growth,” according to independent think tank IBON Foundation.

In its midyear Birdtalk on July 19 in UP Diliman, IBON revealed that the country’s top 1,000 corporations gained a profit of P868 billion in 2011 alone. Meanwhile, 26.8 million Filipinos continue to live on P52 a day and 11.9 million remain jobless in 2012.

“We are blinded by the yellow light that everything’s going well with the economy, when hard data show otherwise,” said IBON senior writer John Paul Andaquig.

Anti-poor policies The socioeconomic outcomes the country experiences are results of neoliberal policies that work against workers and the general public, explained IBON. Under the Aquino administration, more public institutions are being privatized, making basic services inaccessible to the poor, said Andaquig.

For instance, the Philippine Orthopedic Center, the country’s only hospital for orthopedic services will be privatized by the end of 2013.

Also, the two-tiered wage system first implemented in 2012 further allows companies to fix wages, said IBON. Under the scheme, the government determines a floor wage and gives companies the prerogative to determine any optional wage increase.

The government also implemented the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to alleviate poverty through cash transfers. The program, however, is instead used to further the interests of “vicious” politicians, added IBON.

Traditional politics Aquino has favored families, friends, and the United States government, contradicting his “Kayo ang Boss ko!” slogan, said Jazminda Lumang, who heads IBON Partnership in Education for Development.

In the 2013 midterm elections, the president endorsed nine out of the 12 winning senators who came from the 178 political clans that dominate Philippine politics. This reveals the undemocratic nature of Philippine elections, where elite’s traditional politics prevails, according to IBON. The Aquino administration also continues to remain under American influence, added IBON. Through the Visiting Forces Agreement, the government allows the US to use the Philippines as a strategic defence command in the Asia-Pacific, said Lumang.

The road to development The road to economic development for a largely agrarian country like the Philippines lies in genuine agrarian reform, according to IBON. The Aquino administration, however, has yet to distribute 915,000 hectares of land before the president’s term ends.

Providing farmers adequate jobs and support services would increase agricultural output, and result to more income for the farmers, explained Andaquig.

Moreover, national industrialization is needed in order to create jobs for the millions of unemployed Filipinos, IBON added.

“We see now that the government is not being run for us, so the next step for us is to ensure that we will work for a government where the economy is done for the Filipinos by the Filipinos,” said Andaquig. ∞

PUSHING THE LIMIT Photo by Jiru Rada

Police forces rammed around 200 protesters from Camp Karingal to Anonas Extension in order to disperse the indignation rally on the evening of July 22. Members of different sectors stormed the police headquarters to call for the immediate release of the 10 activists detained in the SONA protest march.

Police forces attempt to disperse SONA protesters

2 UPD students arrested, detained Jiru Nikko Rada ANTI-RIOT POLICEMEN ARRESTED and detained two UP students who joined a protest march during President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address on July 22.

Kyrie Eleison Muñoz, a third year BS Tourism student and another student from the College of Science who requested anonymity were among those 10 arrested. Muñoz said he was held in the back by a policeman as three other officers hit him several times in the head and body during the clash.

Eight of the arrested protesters, including the UP students, were then detained at Camp Karingal, while two others were first brought to East Avenue Medical Center for medical attention.

“Paulit-ulit kong sinabi na hindi kami kriminal. Kaya kami sumama sa [mobilization], gusto naming makisama sa mga taong may ipinaglalaban. Nagsusulong kami ng mga hinaing namin para mapakinggan,”

said Muñoz who suffered a blow in the head and bruises in his upper body.

A scuffle ensued when policemen barred the protesters from going beyond the three-kilometer demarcation line from Batasang Pambansa, leaving an estimated 50 protesters and around 20 police injured near Ever Gotesco mall.

The Quezon City Police District filed cases against the 10 arrested protesters for supposedly violating provisions of Batas Pambansa 880 or The Public Assembly Act of 1985 when they held protests without a permit.

The Quezon City Government earlier denied the application of progressive groups for a rally permit near Batasan Complex, saying such an activity “may cause a serious traffic problem.”

However, a rally may only be prohibited if there is a clear and present danger to public safety and public health, said Renato Reyes Jr, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), a national multisectoral coalition.

Due to the lack of sufficient evidence in the inquest proceedings, the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release of the 10 protesters on Tuesday at 4:45 PM, 29 hours after their arrest.

Sectoral groups will file cases against QCPD for illegal detention of the UP students and the other protesters, said Eduardo Gabral, chair of Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral, an alliance of student councils across the UP system.

Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code states that any public officer may only detain a person—who was arrested without warrant or pending charges in court—within 12, 18 or 36 hours, depending on the gravity of the crime committed.

“Kinokondena natin yung pagaresto sa kanila. Alam natin kung bakit tayo pumunta sa SONA ng Bayan.

Iginiit natin ang mga karapatan natin at gusto nating ipakita ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga mamamayan,” said UP Student Regent Krista Melgarejo. ∞

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BALITA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013

P1.43-B budget cut looms for UP in 2014 Jem Aizen Guhit THE UP SYSTEM MAY JUST SUFFER its biggest budget cut next year.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved P8.1 billion or barely half of the P17-billion budget the UP administration proposed for the university system’s seven constituent units and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

The DBM-approved budget is P1.43 billion less than the current P9.5 billion budget of the university, the biggest cut for the UP System under President Benigno Aquino III’s administration (see sidebar).

Of the P8.1 billion budget, the DBM allotted P6.02 billion for personal services (PS), the fund for salary and compensation of faculty and employees.

The remaining P2.07 billion were appropriated to maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) such as the utility expenses, which is less than half of the P5.16 billion UP proposed.

The DBM did not approve the P3.18 billion budget UP proposed for infrastructure and equipment, or capital outlay (CO). However, DBM allocated a lump sum of P5 billion for CO of all state universities and colleges (SUCs).

UP President Alfredo Pascual said he is “still in discussion” with the Commission on Higher Education and DBM “on the possibility of improving the CO allocation for UP.” Also, DBM has yet to specify Retirement and Life Insurance Premiums (RLIP) and funds for unfilled positions under the

(UN)FARE HIKE Photo by Angerica Hainto

Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) for the university. This year, UP received P557 million in RLIP and P696 million in MPBF. Meanwhile, DBM approved a total of P39.3 billion for the 112 SUCs across the country, about 6 percent higher than this year’s P37.1 billion.

DBM submitted the P2.27-trillion 2014 national budget proposal to the House of Representatives for legislation on July 23. The House Committee on Appropriations will start hearing the proposed budget for SUCs on August 27.

Should the DBM-approved UP budget be adopted by both chambers of Congress, UP will need to raise P9 billion through income generating programs and fees collected from students, said University Student Council Vice Chairperson Jules Guiang.

In the last three years, UP earned an average of P1.6 billion from tuition and other sources of income (see sidebar).

“The reduction of budget in SUCs is in line with the government’s Roadmap for Public Higher Education Reform (RPHER), which urges statefunded schools to generate [their] own income,” said Kabataan Partylist Representative Terry Ridon.

RPHER aims to “rationalize” the number of SUCs and force them to become self-sufficient. Under the said roadmap, 22 SUCs including UP are expected to shoulder half of their budget by 2016.

“Ironically, where can you find that an SUC will be self – sufficient and has an expensive tuition? That’s why it is an SUC, because it is funded by the government and must cater to the poor,” said UP Student Regent Krista Iris Melgarejo. ∞

Sidebar 1:

UP System’s Proposed and Approved Budgets (2010 - 2014) Proposed budget

CO

MOOE

Proposed

PS

Approved Total:

Total:

P18.24 B

P6.92 B

P1.28 B P4.28 B P1.36 B Approved

Proposed

Total:

Total:

P18.54 B P5.75 B P4.87 B P880 M Approved

Proposed Total:

Total:

P17.07 B P5.75 B

Proposed

Approved Total:

Total:

P18.4 B

Proposed

P4.85 B P713 M P190 M

P9.5 B

P6.02 B P2.06 B P1.45 B Approved Total:

UP’s Internal Generated Income (2010 - 2013) Tuition and Income from other fees other sources Grants and Others Donations Total:

P1.55 B P374 M P211 M

P3.2 M

P925 M

Total:

P1.48 B P428.8 M

P666 M P56 M

P328 M

Total:

P1.63 B P466.7 M

P733 M P61.6 M

P360.1 M

Total:

P1.63 B P472 M

P734.2 M

P61.6 M

P363 M

Total:

P17.1 B

P8.1 B

P6.02 B P2.07 B P18 billion

P12 billion

P6 billion

P500 million

P1 billion

P1.5 billion

PGH charges Class D patients for lab tests Franz Christian Irorita & Hans Christian Martin HEALTH WORKERS’ GROUPS AT the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) opposed the imposition

Over 1.3M daily passengers of the LRT and MRT lines will have to shoulder an impending P10 fare increase anytime between 2013 and 2014. Railway systems in Metro Manila were aimed to cost lesser than the P40 average bus fare, but Transportation Secretary Emilio Abaya wants to decrease the government’s P60/per train passenger subsidy.

of fees for laboratory procedures among the poorest patients of the state university’s hospital—a policy which has been implemented since July 12.

In a July 15 protest action, the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and the PGH Workers' Union denounced a July 4 memorandum from PGH Director Jose Gonzales.

The memorandum requires Class D patients to pay first before they could avail of 210 out of 254 laboratory procedures.

Earning less than the P446 minimum daily wage in the National Capital Region, Class D patients comprise about 80 percent of patients admitted in PGH every year, said AHW President and former UP Staff Regent Jossel Ebesate.

All laboratory examinations were previously free for Class D patients.

Under Gonzales’ memorandum, however, only 44 procedures like manual urinalysis, fecalysis and surgical pathology are "automatically waived" for the first examination.

Subsequent examinations may only be waived upon submission of two documents, including a "personal letter of the patient or family to the congressman of his/her place requesting for financial assistance," read the memorandum.

The PGH released a similar memorandum in 2011 where

laboratory procedures fees from Class D patients were specified. The hospital administration, however, set aside the memorandum following oppositions from health workers’ groups.

PGH Coordinator for Public Affairs Felixberto Lukban said that both the 2011 and 2013 memoranda only aim to provide a tangible estimate on how much the PGH is spending.

However, the new memorandum is not only for quantifying waived fees, but is also used to charge fees from indigent patients, said Ebesate. "In other words, the PGH administration is only fooling the UP [administration] and the BOR that no charges will be imposed to Class D patients.”

The collection of fees from Class D patients aims to augment the budget of PGH, according to the health workers’ groups. For 2013, the government only allocated a P2.1-billion budget for PGH to be used for treating an average of 600,000 patients annually.

“Rather [than] squeezing the poor of every ounce to recover costs, health care should be given to them for free. The brunt of state abandonment of our health care and services must not be passed on to the poor,” according to a statement by multi-sectoral alliance UP Kilos Na. ∞

BALITA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

5

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013

‘On-site relocation’ para sa mga residente ng UP Arboretum Jul Mar Esteban MAAARING MANATILI SA UP Arboretum ang may 1,000 pamilyang kasalukuyang naninirahan sa 17-ektaryang kakahuyan sa likod ng UP-Ayala TechnoHub, ayon sa UP Diliman (UPD) Office of Community Relations (OCR).

Sinang-ayunan na ni UPD Chancellor Caesar Saloma ang hiling na “on-site relocation” ng mga residente, ani Thelma Magcuro, head ng OCR, isang tanggapan sa ilalim ng Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs.

Gayunpaman, kailangan pang dumaan ang nasabing kasunduan sa Board of Regents (BOR), ang pinakamataaas na lupong tagapagpasya sa unibersidad.

Bagaman wala pang master plan para sa proyekto, binabalak na italaga ang Arboretum bilang

isang “national botanical garden.”

Alinsunod sa 2012 UPD Land Use Plan, itinituring na isang “priority protection zone” ang Arboretum.

“Maganda [ang] planong [pangalagaan] ‘yung mga puno at ilapit ang Arboretum sa mga estudyante. Ang gusto lang namin ay maayos [na] relokasyon,” ani Myrna Repalda, isa sa mga lider ng Samahan ng mga Residente sa Pook Arboretum (SRPA).

Noong ika-20 ng Hunyo, naglunsad ng konsultasyon ang Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA), kung saan inilahad ng SRPA at iba pang sector sa UP ang ilang mga kahilingan bago maipatupad ang nasabing Land Use Plan.

Kapalit ng paninirahan sa Arboretun, hiniling ng SRPA na tumulong sa pagpapatupad ng proyekto, mula sa pag-iimbentaryo ng mga puno

hanggang sa pangangalaga ng mga ito, ani Repalda.

Kasama rin sa mga hiniling ng mga residente ang tulong pinansiyal para sa pagpapatayo ng paaralan at paglulunsad ng livelihood programs sa Arboretum.

Sa panig naman ng mga estudyanteng kasama sa konsultasyon, hiniling na gamitin lamang sa research and development ang binabalak na national botanical garden, ni Earl Orio, Basic Masses Integration head ng partidong Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP).

“We maintain that the botanical garden project should not entail commercialization.

It should be used solely for academic purposes,” dagdag ni Orio. ∞

Bagong mga opisyal ng Stat at Eng’g SC, nanumpa na Franz Christian Irorita MAY BAGO NANG KINATAWAN sa konseho ang mga magaaral ng School of Statistics (SS) at Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (MMM) sa College of Engineering.

Inihalal bilang kinatawan ng SS sa University Student Council (USC) ang 3rd year BS Statistics student na si Egbert Amoncio.

Itinalaga naman ang 3rd Year BS Materials Engineering student na si Luther Castante bilang kinatawan ng departamento ng MMM para sa Engineering Student Council (ESC).

Nagsagawa ang SS ng espesyal na eleksyon noong ika-4 ng Hulyo upang punan ang naiwang

posisyon ni Nelica Rotoni ng UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran.

Nagbitiw si Rotoni upang unahin ang kaniyang pagaaral at para maresolba ang ilang personal na problema, ayon sa kaniyang isinumiteng resignation letter noong ika16 ng Abril. Hindi naipasa ni Rotoni ang higit sa 25 porsyento ng mga kursong pinasukan niya sa ikalawang semestre ng nakaraang taon.

Nagwagi sa espesyal na eleksyon ang kapartido ni Rotoni na si Amoncio, na nakakuha ng 101 boto laban sa kaniyang katunggali na si Georgia Melendres ng Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic

Rights in UP na nakakuha ng 52 boto. Nanumpa sa tungkulin si Amoncio noong ika-12 ng Hulyo.

Samantala, nabakante ang isang posisyon para sa mga kinatawan ng MMM sa ESC, nang maalis sa kanyang kursong Materials Engineering si Eleanor Geniston ng UP Progressive Responsive Innovative Movement in Engineering. Isa si Geniston sa limang nahalal bilang kinatawan ng MMM noong nakaraang eleksyon.

Batay sa Section 7.a, Article XV ng ESC Constitution, maaalis mula sa konseho ang isang kinatawan sa oras na mapatalsik o lumipat siya mula sa departamentong kinabibilangan. Maaring punan ang nabakanteng posisyon ng

SWIFT Photo by Kimberly Pauig

Heavily guarded Lady Maroon Antonia Wong drives past two Lady Eagle defenders in the first round match at San Juan Arena on July 28. UP sparked a 12-0 run in the opening of the first canto and sustained a comfortable lead throughout the game to secure a win against the ADMU, 56-46.

kandidatong nakalikom ng susunod na pinakamataas na boto sa nakaraang halalan, ayon sa Section 6.e, Article V. Sa 42 miyembro ng konseho na dumalo sa pagpupulong noong ika-18 ng Hunyo, 36 ang bomoto

upang maitalaga si Castante na pumang-anim noon sa halalan.

Nanumpa si Castante, na kaalyado rin ni Geniston, bilang bagong kinatawan ng MMM noong ika-25 ng Hunyo. ∞

Fighting Maroons, ginahol kontra Red Warriors, 62-57

Hans Christian Marin NAGPAMALAS NG UP FIGHTING Maroons ang kanilang tapang at tikas ngunit hindi ito sapat upang higitan ang University of the East (UE) Red

Warriors, 62-57, sa sagupaan para sa University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Basketball Season 76, ika-27 ng Hulyo sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Naging mapagpasya ang dalawang turnover ng Maroons sa huling minuto ng laro, kung saan napatawan ng 8-second violation ang guard na si Renzar Asilum habang dehado sa iskor na 57-58. Nakatapak naman sa labas ng linya ng court si Jason Ligad, sampung segundo ang nalalabi sa iskor na 57-60 pabor sa Warriors.

Nagpakitang-gilas agad ang 6’8” center Red Warrior na si Charles Mammie na nangibabaw sa gamit ang kanyang post moves upang magtala ng 6 puntos at buhatin ang Warriors, 17-10, sa unang quarter.

Umarangkada naman ang Warriors guard na si Lord Casajeros na kumana agad ng apat na puntos sa pag-uumpisa ng ikalawang quarter upang maisakatuparan ang pinakamalaki nilang kalamangan, 21-10 at manguna sa pagtatapos ng quarter, 29-20.

Bumangon mula sa pagkakabaon ang mga iskolar ng bayan bagaman nalubog sa iskor na 35-24 sa bisa ng layup ni Warriors forward John Noble.

Nagpaulan ng dalawang tres ang mga Maroons guard na sina Ligad at Moriah Gingerich. Tinuldukan naman ng tres ni Maroons forward Samuel Marata ang kinanang 18-9 run ng Maroons upang palapitin ang iskor sa pagtatapos ng ikatlong quarter, 42-44.

Gitgitan ang naging bakbakan ng dalawang koponan sa ikaapat na quarter kung saan naging tabla pa ang iskor sa 49-49 dahil sa tres ni Gingerich at 57-57 sa pamamagitan ng layup at foul play ni Maroons forward Joseph Gallarza. Bigo namang lumamang ang Maroons dahil namintis ni Gallarza ang kaniyang free-throw.

Hindi na nakaporma pa ang Maroons at nagwakas na ang labanan, 62-57, nang umiskor ng apat sa anim niyang free throws si Warriors guard Roi Sumang sa huling minuto ng laro.

“We were working hard. We started strong and finished strong.

I’m very proud of my team. We need this experience,” sambit ni Maroons Center, Andre Paras. Ayon naman

kay Maroons coach Ricky Dandan, gumawa sila ng ilang pag-aayos sa kanilang laro at nakita naman niyang ginawa ito ng kaniyang koponan.

Kumamada si Maroons Center Raul Soyud ng 10 puntos at 11 rebounds para sa kaniyang ikatlong double-double sa seaon at nakamit naman nina Gingerich at Gallarza ang kanilang career-high na 10 puntos para sa Maroons. Nalimitahan naman sa 3 puntos ang kanilang ace player na si Marata.

Bumagsak ang panalo-talo kartada ng UP sa 0-7 habang umangat naman ang sa UE, 4-3 taglay ang kanilang ikatlong sunod na panalo para sa unang round ng season. ∞

6

KULTURA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013

Hanggang saan aabot ang bente pesos mo?

Victor Gregor Limon SA LAHAT NG MGA ISIPIN bilang estudyante ng UP, pinakamasarap problemahin ang tungkol sa kung saan kakain at kung ano ang kakainin. Napakarami kasi ng pagpipilian—mula sa mga restaurant ng TechnoHub hanggang sa mga tea-and-cake shops ng Maginhawa. Nakalulunod din ang maaaring bilhin—pasta o pizza, salad o extra rice, tsaa o kape, for here or to go.

Pero paano kung kapos ang badyet mo? Sa tila nagbabagong hunos na anyo ng pamantasan, hanggang saan ka kaya tatangayin ng bente pesos?

Agahan Ayon sa mga eksperto ng nutrisyon, pinakamahalagang pagkain sa buong araw ang agahan, lalo sa mga estudyanteng may mga klaseng nagsisimula nang maaga. Depende sa kapal at bigat ng pitaka, maaaring totoo ito.

Maaari rin namang alamat lang ito na inimbento ng kung sinong mapanghimasok na doktor.

Sa katunayan, bagaman magkakahilera na ang tindahan ng mamahaling kape, tsaa, at tinapay sa paligid ng kampus, nag-iiwan pa rin ang mga negosyong ito ng mga sulok at siwang para sa paglalako ng mga mumurahing pampagising tuwing umaga.

Sa mga kalye ng Ripada at Area 2, nagkalat ang mga puting vending machine na naga a l o k ng mainit na kape (P5), pamawi sa antok na hatid ng mahabang gabi ng pag-aaral.

Kung mas hardcore na caffeine ang hanap mo, pwede ring Cobra energy drink o kaya Sting (parehong P10). Parisan na lamang ng biskwit (P7), o kaya yosi (P5 kada stick) para lubusang magising ang diwa.

Wala mang sustansyang makukuha sa ganitong mga pansamantalang palaman sa sikmura, hindi na rin kagulat-gulat na ang ganitong mga bilihin ay patuloy na nililikha at tinatangkilik sa loob ng unibersidad.

Tila nakatatak na sa UP ang kultura ng paghihigpit ng sinturon sa panahon ng matinding kakapusan.

Sa katunayan, kilala ang UP sa mga “pang-masa” at murang pagkaing tulad ng fishball (P10 bawat order) at isaw (P3 bawat stick).

Dahil ipinagpapalagay na galing sa mas mahihirap na pamilya, naging karaniwan na ang mga paglalako at pagkonsumo ng ganitong mga pantawid gutom. Sa paglipas ng mga taon, tuluyan na itong naging bahagi ng mainstream na kamalayan at imahe ng UP. Kahit sa mga t-shirt na

inilalako sa SC, may ilang may imprenta pa ng isaw at fishball bilang mga icons ng pamantasan. Maging mga artista at mga estudyante sa mga karatig private schools, dumarayo pa sa UP para lang matikman ang mga pagkaing ito.

Tanghalian Pagdating ng tanghaling tapat, daig pa ng CASAA ang palengke sa dami ng mga estudyanteng nagpapaligsahan sa paghahanap ng bakanteng mesa. Ngunit para sa mga hindi swak sa badyet ang pananghaliang nagkakahalaga ng humigi’t kumulang P50, maaari namang hindi na makipagsiksikan pa.

Sa palibot ng academic oval, nakaabang ang mga kiosks na nagtitinda ng instant pancit canton.

Kumpleto ang menu sa pagpipilian depende sa panlasa ng nagtitipid: mula sa matabang hanggang sa maanghang. Sa presyong P15 bawat pakete ng instant pancit canton, at sa loob lamang ng tatlo hanggang limang minuto, may pantawid gutom ka na.

Ngunit hindi lamang para sa kapos sa allowance ang ganitong diet dahil mistulang STFAP din ang combo meals. Depende sa badyet mo (P20 hanggang P60), maaari ring

mamili ng kombinasyong gusto mo—liban sa pancit canton, maaari kang pumili ng bonus na tinapay, siomai, kwek-kwek, fish ball, kikiam, cheese sticks, juice na nakatetrapack o nakaplastic na bote.

Noong pangulo pa ng UP si Prop.

Emerlinda Roman, ipinagbawal ang pagtitinda sa mga kiosks ng mga pagkaing hindi masustansya. Kalakip sa kasunduan sa pagitan ng mga manininda at ng administrasyon ang listahan ng mga maaari lamang ipagbili sa mga estudyante. Hindi rito kasama ang mga lutuing instant gaya ng pancit canton.

Sinimulan lamang payagang ilako ang mga pagkaing ito noong Agosto 2008—dalawang buwan lang matapos ang enrolment ng mga bagong isko at iskang apektado ng pagtaas ng base tuition mula P300 hanggang P1,000 kada yunit.

Hapunan Pagtakipsilim, kakalam muli ang tiyan. Dahil sarado na ang mga tindahan sa loob ng kampus, dadalhin ka ng gutom sa laylayan ng UP—sa mga komunidad na noon pa ma’y tahanan na ng kahit na anong mura—murang bedspace, murang gamit, murang alak at yosi, at higit sa lahat, mura ring pagkain.

Sa Krus na Ligas, pa lamang, nakahilera na sa harap ng plaza ang mga tindahan ng “bentelog.”

Sa halagang P20, makakabili ka ng isang tasang kanin, pritong itlog, at sari-saring ulam na prito: hotdog, bacon, meat loaf, embutido, longganisa, ham. Libre na ang isang mangkok ng sabaw.

Nagkalat din ang mga gotohan, mamihan, at tindahan ng mga buyone-take-one na hamburger.

Katulad ng mga estudyante ng UP na kailangang magtipid kahit sa pagkain, bahagi na ng kultura sa mga komunidad na gaya ng Krus na Ligas ang malikhaing mga paraan para magapi ang kakapusan.

Para sa isang komunidad na “ipinagbili” ni dating Pangulong Elpidio Quirino sa UP noong 1941 sa halagang P1, tila hindi na katakatakang naging tahanan ng mga murang bilihin ang Krus na Ligas.

Sakop ang halos 400 ektarya ng kampus, may higit sa 20,000 ang kasalukuyang nakatira sa Krus na Ligas. Bagaman karamihan ay higit dalawang dekada nang residente, itinuturing pa rin silang mga “informal settlers” na maaaring paalisin sa kanilang mga tahanan kung nanaisin ng UP. Samantala, dahil kapos din ang UP sa pondo, mas may laya ang mga malalaking kumpanyang gaya ng Ayala na gamitin ang lupa ng UP kapalit ng upa. Sa ganitong gana, lalong napaigting pa ang kultura ng hyper-konsumerismo sa pamantasan. Sa pagpasok ng mga mamahaling produktong alok ng mga bagong establisamyentong ito, tuluyan nang itinutulak sa mga sulok at siwang ng pamantasan ang mga kapos at nagtitipid.

Mairaos mang matagumpay ang bawat araw ng pagtitipid, may hatid na kakaiba namang pakiramdam na dulot ang gabi—may hinala mang naisahan mo ang buong araw sa pamamagitan ng pagtitipid, may suspetsa ring mainam nang matulog na agad bago pa man muling magreklamo ang tiyan at maagaw ang maliit at pansamantalang tagumpay. ∞ Photographs: Keithley Difuntorum Page design: Ashley Garcia

KULTURA

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

MULING NAGISING ANG HIGANTE para sa pana-panahong paghuli ng pagkain nito. Idinilat niya ang kaniyang dambuhalang mata bilang pamain. Sisimulan niyang ibuka ang bibig at kusa niyang hinintay dumating ang mga “pagkain.”

Punung-puno ng kotse ang mga likaw-likaw na daanan ng kalsada, halos gapang-pagong ang usad dito. Saglit na huminto at bumaba ang mga lulan nitong pasahero at kusa silang pumasok sa bunganga ng higante na tila hindi matinag ang pagnguya dahil sa dami ng pumapasok.

Sa labas, bakas sa balintataw ng higante ang mga salitang ito: “3-day sale madness! Up to 50% off!”

Habang labas-masok ang mga “pagkain,” sa ‘di kalayuan, may isang magiting na bayaning minamatyagan ang bawat kilos ng higante. Hinihintay ang akmang pagkakataon para paslangin ito.

Doon sa dulo, naglilingkis na parang sawa ang mga pila sa kahera.

Tumataginting ang pumapasok na pera sa bituka ng higante.

Ngunit para sa ilan, hindi na bago ang pangyayaring ito sa kanila. Minsan na nilang hayag na tinatanggap ang mapanghalinang bitag ng higante. Naranasan na nilang magpakain at makalabas nang ganap.

Hindi maikakaila ang kadalubhasaan ng higante sa larangan ng pagbitag. Ginagawang abot-kaya ang mga presyo ng kaniyang mga paraisong-gamit para masaklaw ang pinakamalawak at pinakaraming tao kaniyang pwedeng makonsumo.

Pagtunaw sa Bituka Saglit na humupa ang pagpakyaw sa katas ng paraiso.

Halos matumba at gumulong ang mga tao sa dami ng kanilang mga bitbit. Hindi mabura ang kanilang ngiti. Para bang may napunan na pagkukulang sa buhay nila at ngayo’y pakiramdam nila na nasa langit na sila.

Sa labas, kita ang ngisi sa mukha ng higante. Nasustentuhan muli nang maigi ang paborito niyang pagkain. Isa-isa na niyang iniluluwa ngayon ang mga kuntento nang mamimili. Matamang pinag-aralan ito ng bayaning nakamasid.

Naitala niya na ang bumubuhay sa higante ay ang pera ng mga tao.

Pagdausdos sa Lalamunan Ang loob ng katawan halimaw ay isang paraiso ng mga kagamitan.

Hindi magkadaugaga ang mga tao sa pagtingin sa iba’t ibang inilalakong mga gamit. Hindi rin nila alintana ang mga kapwa nilang nilamon na at ngayo’y mga taong hinubad na ang katwiran at naging katuwang sa pagbuhay sa higante.

Napakagarbo ng loob ng lalamunan ng higante. Puti ang mga sahig at sa sobrang kintab nito ay isinasalamin ang namamanghang mukha ng mga “pagkain.” Mapangakit ang mga tatak at pamagat ng bawat bagay na nakapatong sa iba’t i b a n g pedestal at estante, nanghahalina.

Tila ba nagayuma na ang mga taong nagsipasukan sa ona Alz sandaling iyon, k c ri kumaripas sila sa iba’t Pat ibang dako upang malubos ang bawat produkto na magkakasya sa pera nila.

Nag-uunahan silang mahipo ang katas ng paraiso. Walang patumangga sa dami ng kanilang madadampot at isasalampak sa namumuwalan na nilang lalagyan.

Naroon ang ilang tao sa pamilihan ng gadgets, matapos makita ang mga modelo ay diretsong ilalabas ang pambayad.

Naroon ang ilan sa parada ng mga damit, kinikiliti ng tela ang haraya nila ng kagandahan.

Naroon ang ilan sa mga pamilihan ng pagkain, hinihimas ang mabubusog nilang mga tiyan.

7

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013 Walang pakay na pumatay ang mga higante ng tao bagkus inaalagaan pa nga ang mga mamimili sa pamamagitan ng pagbenta nito ng mga kagamitang “mahalaga” daw sa kanilang buhay. Kapital kung tawagin ang pera ng tao sa wika ng higante.

Ikalawa, pinag-aralan niya kung bakit pabalik-balik ang mga tao sa tiyan ng higante kahit batid na nila kung ano ang mangyayari sa kanila sa loob.

Sinuong niya isang beses ang bituka ng higante at doon niya nakita ang halimaw sa loob: sadyang pinuputakte ang pandama ng mga tao ng iba’t ibang mga imahen na waring pinupunan ang kanilang pagkukulang. Dahil doon nagluwal ito ng pakiramdam na kung tawagin ay “pagnanais.”

Sa pag-asam na lalong mapalusog ang higante, napansin ng bayaning labis kung mag-angkat ito ng mga paraisong kagamitan sa bawat paghahanda nito ng pamain.

Minsan ay halos mapuno ang bituka ng higante. Ngunit hindi makuhang itapon at isawalang bahala ng higante ang mga kagamitan, sapagkat gusto nilang masulit ang ganansya hanggang sa huling patak.

Sa paglibot ng bayani sa buong bansa napansin din niyang dinudumog na ito ng mga higante.

Minsan nagpapaligsahan ang mga higante sa paramihan at palakihan ng kapital. Bunga nito, nasakop ang

mga lupain at espasyo ng tao upang magluwal ng panibagong higante.

Magmula dito, nagalit ang bayani sa malaon nang pagsuko ng tao sa mga higante. Sa isip niya ay kusang tinanggap na nila ito sa kanilang buhay at iniasa sa higante ang kapalaran nila.

Ang konswelong natitira sa tao ay ang pag-alay nila ng kapital sa higante upang paginhawain ang buhay nila. Napupunta at nakokonsentra ang kapital ng buong bansa sa mga higanteng ito na kung tawagin ay mga “malls”.

Pagpurga sa Tiyan Sapul ang pagkabundat ng mga higante matapos ang tatlong araw. Bagamat kumupad ang pagkain nito, hindi pa rin matinag ang kaniyang katakawan, kahit nakapikit na ang mga mata nito.

Naging banayad ang daloy ng lahat: ang mga kalsada, ang dagsa ng mga tao. Sa ilang araw, magaangkat muli ang higante. Bakas sa mukha ng tao ang hindi matighaw na pag-asam nilang bumili pa ng mga paraisong-gamit. Nagsimula din silang mag-ipon ng pera upang lalong masulit ang susunod nilang pagpapakain.

Hindi mawaglit sa isip ng bayani ang palaisipan na umiinog ang buhay ng tao ngayon sa kalakaran ng kapital. Namumuhi siya na ang lahat ng bagay ay may katumbas nang halaga. Nanlumbay siya sa mga kapwa niyang

ang tanging nasa isip ay ang katas ng paraiso.

Sinuong ng bayani ang loob ng higante upang puksain ito. Ngunit, laking gulat niya na mismong ang kagamitang kailangan niya upang patayin ang higante ay mismong inilalako ng kaniyang bituka.

Hindi malunok ng bayani ang matinding kabalintunaan.

Ito ang buhay ng konsumerismo: ang pag-iral ng kahalagahan ng pagkamal ng labis-labis na kapital at labis-labis na mga produkto.

Dito, matagumpay nang naitaguyod ang higante sa buhay ng mga tao, kahit batid at gagap na nila ang mga kasakiman at pananamantala nito, hindi pa rin nila mapigilan magpakain sa kaniya.

Sa ganitong tipo ng sistema ng lipunan, nasusukat na lamang ang kahalagahan ng tao sa kakayahan niyang magbayad at umani ng pera. Wala nang kuwenta gayon, ang kabuluhan ng halaga ng tao sa unti-unti nitong pag-agnas sa kalakarang ito.

Sa huli, napilitang bumili ang bayani ng kagamitang kailangan niya upang puksain ang higante.

Sinimulan niyang itipon ang mga tao upang maghasik ng madugong pagbalikwas sa loob mismo ng bituka ng higante. ∞

Illustration: Rosette Abogado Page design: Ashley Garcia

8 The Batasan Complex is always busy. Cars of all shapes and sizes bearing the plate numbers 7 and 8 fill the parking lots while their owners—lawmakers in barong, crisp suits and sheath dresses— spend their day at the House of Representatives. Within its august halls, however, dirty secrets lurk.

Arguably the worst kind involves the legislators’ misuse of public coffers, especially the pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). As controversies one after another hounded PDAF spending, we see the sad truth that it has become.

The

Fund (CDF). The CDF revived these allocations with “definitive parameters, equal appropriations, built-in accountability and clear transparency” which were absent during the profligacy and corruption of the Marcos regime. However, contrary to its goals, corruption scandals were later linked to the CDF. This prompted the congress to rename it to PDAF and revise its implementation rules.

Currently, P24.9 billion or 1.25 percent of the P2 trillion national budget is allotted for the PDAF. The annual PDAF of senators lack of totals P200 million transparency Pork and patronage while P70 million The phrase ’pork opens opportunities is apportioned barrel’ was first for corruption and to each of the used in the United 294 district and appropriation for States to refer to party-list represencontainers where bogus organizations, tatives. Meanwhile, salted pork are ghost projects and the President’s PDAF, stored. Some of also called the syndicates—an these would later be President’s Social evident misuse of given as reward to the Fund, amounts to slaves who would then public funds nearly P1 billion. compete for their share.

As part of the By mid-1800s, alluding country’s budget, the to the “fatness of pork”, the PDAF targets small-scale term has become synonymous to ventures which are not part of [1] the largesse in American politics , the national plans. Legislators which becomes basis for patronage. themselves identify the projects During US President William to be funded, the liquidation for Taft’s time, pork barrel was which will later be assessed by the introduced to the Philippines. It Commission on Audit (COA). But has since become known as the the verification of fund beneficiaries funding given to congressmen and is outside COA’s duty. The lack of senators for their discretionary use. such a process opens opportunities Back then, lawmakers proposed the for corruption and appropriation for projects they want to be funded bogus organizations, ghost projects under the national budget, subject and syndicates—an evident misuse to the deliberation of the assembly. of public funds.

Ideally, PDAF can be used to All checks, no balances finance scholarships, infrastructure When reports of the P10 billion developments, and even programs scam concerning 28 lawmakers and of philanthropic groups and nonJanet Lim-Napoles broke out, the government organizations (NGOs). legislators faced renewed calls for Formerly called congressional abolition of the PDAF. But allocations, the Supreme Court under stories about the embezzlethe Cory Aquino administration ment of pork barrel funds declared the appropriation of are nothing new. the Countrywide Development

LATHALAIN

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

Based on a study by the According to the Center for People Stockholm-based think-tank Empowerment and Governance, International Institute for a public policy center, patronage Democracy and Electoral Assistance politics also boosts centralization (International IDEA), the trend of powers that sustains the of using the PDAF escalates when domination of political clans. For its elections are near and that around part, independent research group 20 percent of the national budget is IBON Foundation asserts that the lost due to corruption. skewed appropriations for the PDAF If anything, the most recent are inconsistent with PNoy’s goal to expose involving Lim-Napoles only fight corruption. showed how pocketing the pork barrel is easily and systematically Not a necessity As the PDAF remains the subject accomplished. According to Benhur Luy, her former assistant, Lim- of heated debates, some have argued Napoles created a dozen ghost NGOs that scrapping the PDAF will deprive to benefit from the PDAF of the the lawmakers’ constituency of accused lawmakers, and allocations development. For example, Sen. Vicente Sotto III explains that were directed to her bank account.

In light of the revelations, without the PDAF, legislators must include their projects in the lawmakers belonging to the General Appropriations Act, progressive Makabayan making the process more Coalition, had again tedious and difficult to called for scrapping monitor. the PDAF: “[Our Pork barrel But Senators bill] shall prohibit has evolved more Francis Escudero, in the President from providing as a political tool his first few years, and Panfilo Lacson, budgetary items for acquiring and were known for or including in not using their keeping power the proposed pork barrel funds, budget lump sum than as a fund with the latter allocations to the to promote even asserting that PDAF. Aside from the legislators’ pork public welfare “lawmakers should not build roads.” In addition, barrel, the bill [shall former Bayan Muna bar] the Presidential pork representative Teddy Casiño barrel funds such as the argues that duty-wise, it is not President’s Social Fund,” read the Makabayan Coalition’s press statement. the obligation of the congressmen That the system promotes and senators to initiate projects. patronage politics was evident After all, the constitution stipulates early on in Aquino III’s term. that legislators are primarily For instance, budget secretary responsible for making laws and Butch Abad allegedly refused to budget appropriations. These duties release the pork funds of former prohibit lawmakers from stamping opposition congresswoman Mitos their name in projects which are the Magsaysay, and justified the act turf of governors, mayors and other by saying it is a political reality. local government officials.

The power to withhold the PDAF of certain lawmakers then permits the administration to impose its will on Congress.

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013 Casiño also stressed that lawmakers have no need for the PDAF.“[The PDAF] is not a necessity.

[It was] institutionalized for the convenience of senators and congressmen. It should be abolished and then the lump sum will be part of the budget for other sectors, or the national budget will decrease,” he adds.

He claimed that PDAF monitoring were done in the past but failed. In their joint statement, the representatives under the Makabayan bloc also explained that “the pork barrel system is a form of institutionalized patronage and officially tolerated graft and corruption,” and that the current scam proves that is “beyond salvaging.” They argued that the most effective solution is to abolish the PDAF and eliminate the opportunities for corruption.

“Without the PDAF, legislators have to itemize their projects and have it subjected to the House’s approval. This will ensure transparency in budgeting. [Also], there would be less tools for the administration [to use for] manipulation,” he explained.

Over the years, the pork barrel has indeed evolved more as a political tool for acquiring and keeping power than as a fund to promote public welfare. And as lawmakers themselves can be expected to prevent the establishment of a stronger regulating system, complete transparency becomes an unattainable ideal. ∞ Reference [1]Nograles, P.C., Lagman, E.C., Understanding the Pork Barrel Center for People Empowerment in Governance IBON Foundation.

Power of the purse Probing the politics behind the pork barrel Klidel Rellin

Illustration : Karl Aquino Page design : Jerome Tagaro

LATHALAIN

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

9

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013

In the line of duty Julian Anunciacion

Suspicious men in motorcycles— alleged military personnel—wait outside the house of a member of a group of young student journalists from the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) convention.

Wrapped in fear, the young group of writers dreaded the unwelcome minutes as they wait within the temporary safety of their locked doors.

The members of the small group are national and regional leaders of CEGP, the oldest and broadest alliance of campus publications in the Philippines. They had to resort to text messaging and the use of social media for updates on their current situation.

Earlier that day, the group of men in motorcycles and pedicabs were aggressively asking for their whereabouts from residents of Catarman. They were then harassing the young group to get inside the tricycles as the group hurried to the house of a co-guilder near the Catarman terminal.

The group left in the morning, amid the ongoing threats of military terrorism against campus journalists.

Student Journalism The campus paper is essential to the students and has been integral in the dissemination of social issues. During the Martial law period, campus publications have served as mosquito press that continued to publish underground materials that blatantly exposed the ills of the Marcos dictatorship. “[Sa campus press] nananatili ang aspirasyon para sa malayang pamamahayag habang marami sa ‘profesyonal’ na media ay nahatak na sa kapitalismo’t kita ng mga ito,” said UP College of Mass Communication Dean Roland Tolentino.

The campus press is the freedom from any form of administration intervention and censorship. A student publication is an autonomous student-managed institution, free from commercial and corporate interests.

Since media ownership is a restraint to press freedom due to conflicting interests, campus press has always been the alternative media, according to a statement of CEGP. “Unlike the mainstream media, the student pub is beholden not to any political or commercial interest, but the interest of the student body. The student body is not isolated from the society at large, and whatever faulty policy the government implements affects the students whether directly or indirectly,” CEGP National President Pauline Gidget Estella said.

Article III Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution states that no law shall be passed that would disable “freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.” Press freedom is an essential element of a democracy

for it to have a wellinformed citizenry.

Although press freedom is contained in the Constitution, the campus press is still victim to many violations.

RePressed With the need to uphold campus press freedom (CPF), the government instead ignores the call to advocate CPF. CEGP documented 230 cases of campus press freedom violations (CPFV) since April 2013.

Some of the violations recorded were threats against student writers and editors, administration intervention with editorial policies and articles, censorship of articles, barring of publication funds and facilities, and suspension and filing of libel against student journalists.

Despite the presence of a bill to protect campus press, a libel case was charged against campus journalists from University of the East’s the Weekly Dawn whose former Managing Editor was banned from enrolment. The publication also suffered from loss of funding along with other publications such as Polytechnic University of the Philippines Taguig’s The Chronicler and Holy Angel University’s The Angelite. EARIST Technozette experiences a threat of abolition after it refused having an adviser.

Extreme measures such as red-tagging and use of military force to threaten student journalists were also recorded. In 2012, members of Palawan State University’s The Pioneer were red-tagged as “communist fronts” by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during a forum in Palawan.

The campus press is also a victim of the culture of impunity. Former CEGP Vice President for Mindanao Benjaline Hernandez of Ateneo de Davao University’s Atenews was killed by members of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Northern Cotabato while doing field research ten years ago.

The number of CPFV excluding the undocumented ones is escalating at an alarming rate. The current administration failed to deliver a bill that protects the rights of the press. To end this cycle of injustice against student journalists, CEGP filed a complaint to Commission on Higher Education (CHED) last July 17 against the documented violations on campus press freedom.

Bogus freedom A law intended to protect journalists was the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. It seeks to “uphold and protect the freedom of the press even at the campus level.”

However, the law has loopholes such as the allowing of non-mandatory establishment of publications and non-mandatory collection of publication fee—the main source of life of campus publications. This gives a leeway to school administrators to boycott collecting publication fees.

The law also gives exemptions to violators of the freedom and space of student journalists, and does not contain a penalty clause, allowing offence after offence among administrations.

“CJA paved way for school [administrations] to devise more creative schemes to silence the pub without violating the law,” Estella said.

One of the most known examples of the consequence of this law was the libel case filed against UP Baguio Outcrop then-Editor in Chief Jesusa Paquibot in 2011 by a UP Baguio professor after the publication of Outcrop’s satire issue. Trial would take place in October.

“Naniniwala ang Outcrop na hindi hiwalay ang kasong kinakaharap nito sa nararanasan ng iba pang mga publikasyon sa bansa. Sa tala pa lamang ng CEGP ng mga CPFVs noong nakaraang taon, makikitang hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na proteksyon ang mga pahayagang pangkampus,” current Outcrop Editor in Chief said.

Several student publications were shut

down by the school administration such as the EARIST Technozette of Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, The Dawn of University of the East,The Pedon of Mindanao State UniversityMarawi, Monthly Quest of Quezon City Polytechnic University, and the La Sallian of De La Salle University Manila.

Outside the frame In an effort to end the many violations against campus journalists, House Bill 1493 or the “Campus Press Freedom Act of 2013” was re-filed by Kabataan Partylist (KPL) representative Terry Ridon.

Revisions present in HB 1493 are the required establishment and independence of publications in all levels, and the mandatory collection of publication fee to support the operations of the student paper which is an integral part not only of the student body, but of the national press.

The conflict of interest between the campus or national administration and the thrust of the student publication is the root cause of CPFV. With the violations against freedom of expression, and even the basic rights, it is evident that the current administration failed to prioritize the lives of the press and student journalists who chronicle reality in daily headlines.

As campus press freedom remains subjugated, the educational system is chafed with an uninformed student body. Full autonomy of student publications must be attained for journalism to serve its purpose of serving the common interest of the student body and the people. ∞ Illustration : Ysa Calinawan Page design : Jerome Tagaro

10

OPINYON

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

Para kay Danê Amelyn Daga

Ilang buwan na ang lumipas ng makita ko sa peryodiko ang balitang ito.

Tungkol ito dun sa estudyante ng UP na nagpakamatay.

Kamusta na kaya ang mga magulang niya? Nakakarelate ako kasi magulang din ako at ramdam ko kung ano ang pakiramdam ng mga magulang ng batang ‘yun ng mga panahon na ‘yun.

Masakit para sa isang magulang ang masabihan na parang wala silang ginagawang aksyon para mapunan ang pangangailangan at pangtuition ng kanilang anak. Sigurado akong kung naririnig ng batang ito ang akusasyon na ‘yun sa kanyang magulang, malamang ay galit na galit na ito. Tiyak akong may nagawa sila—‘di nga lang sila pinalad na makamit ang gusto nilang maibigay sa kanilang anak.

Kung sana’y naging responsable din ang gobyerno para mabigyan ng tamang budget para sa edukasyon ang mga kabataan, hindi na sana umabot sa ganoong sitwasyon.

Wala na sanang batang magiisip na magpakamatay o titigil ng pag aaral dahil lamang sa hindi matustusan ang kanyang pangangailangan bilang isang mag aaral.

Naniniwala ako na walang

magulang na hindi gagawin ang lahat ng paraan para lamang sa pangangailangan ng kanilang mga anak. Isa ako sa mga magulang na ‘yon na gagawin ang lahat para sa kinabukasan at pangarap ng kanyang anak.

Wala akong pakialam kahit pa husgahan ako ng ibang tao o tangkain pigilan ako. Hindi ako perpektong tao. May mga sablay din ako sa buhay. Pero ang imporatante, malinis ang hangarin ako.

Hindi lahat ng nakikita ay pinaghihinalaan at hindi lahat ng pinaghihinalaan ay totoo.

Anak ko ‘yun at handa akong igapang siya sa hirap makatapos lang siya ng pag aaral. ‘Di ko papayagan na mahirapan siya dahil wala siyang pangbayad ng matrikula o walang pamasahe para makapasok ng eskwelahan.

Sobrang dinamdam ng batang ‘yun ang mga pangyayari kung kaya’t di niya nakayanan at tuluyan na niyang kinitil ang sarili niyang buhay.

Sana may natutunan tayo sa mga nangyari. ‘Di natin alam kung hanggang saan ang tatag o kahinaan ng ating mga anak hangga’t di sila nakakaranas ng matinding problema sa buhay.

At masakit, sobrang sakit, ng pakiramdam para sa isang magulang, kung wala na silang magawa pang higit sa nagawa

Ginagawa ko ito dahil isa akong ina na may simpleng pangarap para sa kanyang mga anak— ang makita kong sila ay may maganda nang buhay

na nila at maakusahan na sila ay iresponsableng magulang.

Apat na taon ang kursong kinuha niya at siyam na buwan mula ngayon ay gagraduate na anak ko ng koleheyo. Hindi ko pinanghihinayangang gastusan gawin ang responsibilidad ko sa kanya bilang magulang, dahil masipag siyang bata at may dedikasyon sa pag aaral. Kaya kailangan kong magpursige nang husto at rumaket ng rumaket—kahit maglabada ,magbenta ng load, magpa-ukay ng mga lumang damit—lahat na pinasukan ko at kahit na nga pagsusulat ay inekstrahan ko na din para kumita lang ng pera.

Ginagawa ko ito dahil isa akong ina na may simpleng pangarap para sa kanyang mga anak—ang makita kong sila ay may maganda nang buhay. At least, mawala man ako sa mundo, hindi nila makakalimutan na ang kanilang mga magulang ay hindi naging iresponsable sa pagbibigay sa kanila ng tamang edukasyon.

Kung sana ang gobyerno ay maging tulad din ng isang responsable at mabuting magulang sa mga eskwelahang tulad ng UP, malaking tulong na ito sa mga tulad ni Kristel, sa mga tulad ng anak ko, at sa marami pang kabataan. ∞

Anxiety vs Physics Peter Burgos

She still refuses to answer my calls or reply to my messages. We had this terrible row about joining the SONA mob, but I thought she said it’s fine as long as I don’t get myself into trouble. And then she began to ignore me. Whenever I left her a message on Facebook, I would be “seen-zoned.”

But rather than be sucked into a miserable black hole, I decided that tonight, at the very least, I will try to find out how quantum mechanics may offer me both solace and a logical explanation for what might be going on.

First, there’s this guy Hugh Everett III, whose credibility is not directly related to the levels of obesity, smoking, and alcoholism which eventually led to his untimely demise.

Hugh claims that for each possible outcome to an action,

For each possible outcome to an action, the world splits into copies of itself

the world splits into copies of itself. It’s like a choose-yourown-adventure book—only you don’t choose between either jumping into the rabbit-hole or going back to reading your book by the river, because the universe splits in two and both actions are taken at the same time.

This means that in an alternate reality, she did call or text me. It no longer matters that I happen to exist in this one reality where she did not call or text me. In an alternate reality, she actually did. Her own choice in this side of the reality is no longer that much important, because at that precise moment when she could have called or texted me, the world has already split in two.

And then there’s this Niels Bohr guy who says that “particles” exist in all states at

once and that it is only forced to assume a definite state when we try to observe it. Which is another way of saying the proverbial tree in the forest has fallen only when we try to find out if it did.

This means that as long as I do not try to find out why she has not called or texted me, there would be equal probabilities to all reasons why she has not called or texted me yet. As long as I wait patiently, all of these reasons would coexist truthfully and I would not have to confront the real reason just yet.

So, she has not called or texted me in two days. No big deal. It’s nothing. Really. Now I will go submit this bullshit and be perfectly pleased with myself.

Thank you, Hugh. Thank you, Niels. Thank you, editor. ∞

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013

OPINYON

PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

BIYERNES, AGOSTO 2, 2013

eksenang peyups

TEXTBACK

The Fashiongaers Edishun!

Kung sasali si PNoy sa The Voice, ano ang gusto mong kantahin niya?

Usually, I just spy on ordinary conversations in our beloved university. But I decided to make EP more reachable to the others outside UP because after all, we just heard all the lies, este things that are nice from The President Noirnoir Akeenuw. Time flies nga naman when you’re having fun laundering your precious scalp using people’s money so where should I start, but the SONA? Of course, everyone’s polite and people-pleasing during the event, so there’s really no gossip… but there were so many tacky dresses!

Peyups, welcome to the fashyown edition.

However, a certain Kule alumni disapproves of the fashyown. Sayang. My inner Tim Gunn is crying his heart out. More on that Kule alumni and her proposal later.

SONASHUWAYT #1. Imel The Mark Oz’ seat was empty during Aquino’s SONA. Everyone thought it was the continuation of her magical ability to turn public funds into gems and shoesami, but it turns out she just tripped on the stairs. Don’t worry folks, the stairs are okay. Imel The Mark Oz should’ve picked another shoe! 2,699 pairs left to choose from dear!

SONASHUWAYT #2. Somebody more famous attended SONA since she ate a senator’s cheese. She also managed to steal my heart with her Ivan Aseron white gown. As said to yours truly by one enthusiastic Malacanan coffee table magazine photographer, “Nabuhay ang mga kamera pagdating niya.” Nabingi ako sa SNAP SNAP SNAP ng kamera.

SONASHUWAYT #3. Another ethnic dress was worn by a district representative. May dress na nga, may headdress pa! There’s sexy in subtlety, but all I thought of was Christmas…red and green kasi! Then I think of unwrapping my presents. One more month until the –ber season!

Sa totoo lang, ayoko sa barong. They cover up the abs! Those are very important to me! Though to be honest, parang si Senador Sonny Angara lang yung meron. Taga Baler siya diba? Surfing surfing din si Angara pag may time (at kung hindi masyadong SONNY). Sayonara, Maria Clara! That’s a real possibility.

That Kule alumni said she wants everyone to wear identical uniform! Catholic highschool ba yung gobyerno? It would explain a lot, ooops. ∞

Errata During last week’s issue, in the article “UP proposes P17B budget for 2014” (p.3), the budget particulars should have been in billions, instead of millions. The following is a revised comparative survey of items in the UP budget.

• ah kng kkanta c pn0y s d voice, kantahin nya ung pusong bato.

Iddc8 nya kna bernadette, korina, shalani, liz, bianca, etc! Wahaha!

• Kung sasali si PNOY sa The Voice ang gusto kong kantahin nya ay Kastilyong Buhangin 2012-24363 BA Political Science • “Underwear” by the minions kse mukha syang minion hihihi :”> 201258904 Martha Zuñiga BS Mat Eng’g • Kung sasali si pnoy sa the voice, peg kong kantahin nya ang pelukang itim. Bet ko dn na walang magbabuzzer sa kanya. 201220210 BS MATE • BANANA BY MINIONS 201210587 • WE DONT DIE WE MULTIPLY 09264814007 AERHON BOTERO COMPUTER SCIENCE • Kung sasali man siya siguro banana potato mukha naman siyang potato pero kulay dilaw ahihi 2012 Aligaga, NCPAG • Hindi ko naman siguro kailangang maging isang iskulptor para hubugin ang BATO mong puso. 2012-**979 Choke STAT • “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko” dapat kantahin nya xD kahit wala naman cia buhok xD hahaha 20131**** Stewie Gryffindor • kung sasali si PNoy sa the voice e sana kantahin niya yun “I Love It”

Next week’s questions 1. Sang-ayon ka ba sa pag-abolish sa SK? Bakit o bakit hindi?

2. Bakit hindi ka crush ng crush mo?

newscan

ng Icona Pop. Kasi parang “I don’t caaaare!” Siya sa issues eh :D 1109**4 AFAN BSCE • Toyang. Kantahin niya ‘yon para sa crush kong si Inna Daniele Esmena! <3 201205238

Anong gusto mong ipangalan sa magiging anak ni Jolina Magdangal-Escueta?

• To Ms. Jolina: Idol na idol ka po ng pinsan/HS-mate/orgmate kong si LOUIE kaya naman po, ang request ko, ipangalan ninyo sa kanya ang magiging anak ninyo. Maraming salamat po.

P.S. Miss na namin ang LABS KITA, OKEY KA LANG? 201059864 • Si Jolina nlng din naman ang Barbie ng Pilipinas nung 90s eh sana Barbielyn na yung ipangalan sa anak niya. Haha. Barbielyn! 2011-215*5 Charlot BA BC

Comments • sabi sa page 11, continued from p1 ung article na scrap or reform, pero galing sya sa page 4. un lang 201220210 • isang malaking no! tapusin na ang pagiging karinderyang bukas sa lahat ng pilipinas, lalo na sa mga kanong ‘yan. pero sa bagay, kahit pa “wala” nang mga base militar sa bansa, may vfa pa rin naman. at kelangang maibasura na rin iyon.

2008-30936 mina deocareza BA creative writing

CONTACT US! Write to us via snail mail or submit a soft copy to Rm. 401, Vinzons Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Email us at pkule1314gmail.com.

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Send in your opinions and feedback via SMS! Type KULE <space> MESSAGE <space> STUDENT NUMBER <required> NAME and COURSE (optional) and send to:

0916 739 2684

Non-UP students must indicate any school, organization or sectoral affliation.

philippine collegian.org

11

Dibdiban 2013 Press Launch The UP Sigma Beta Sorority is inviting everyone to attend Dibdiban 2013 Press Launch on August 5, 2013 (Monday) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Rm.400, Palma Hall UP Diliman.

This press launch is organize for everyone to know more about the good cause behind the advocacy run, Dibdiban 2013: Run for Breast Cancer Patients, organized by the Sorority.

Free snacks will be served. See you there!

E-waste project Basag na speaker, laspag na oven toaster, sirang earphone o lumang cellphone? E-waste na yan!

Kung meron kayong luma, sira o hindi na ginagamit na electronic devices o gadgets, oras na para mabawasan ang kalat sa inyong mga bahay at maging aktibo sa pagtulong sa kalikasan! Sa The E-waste Project, ang inyong e-waste ay makakatulong sa edukasyon ng kabataan!

Abangan sa September 10-13, 2013, sa AS Parking Lot. Huwag nang magpatumpik-tumpik pa. Tara, donate na!

Hatid sa inyo ng: UP Circuit, DLSU ECES, PNU UNESCO Club, UP Manila Medicine Student Council, SSC Communication Society, at Mapua MICRO! Kita-kits!

Bata, Bata, Paano ka Inakda?

Sinong di makakaalala sa mga paborito nilang kwentong pambata? ang mga kahanga-hangang alamat, ang mga matatapang na bayani, at ang mga makukulay na ilustrasyon na pumupuno sa bawat pahina ng mga libro. Paano kaya sila nilikha?

Tara! Tuklasin natin ang hiwaga sa likod ng Panitikang Pambata.

"Bata, Bata, Paano ka Inakda?"

Isang Kwenkap tungkol sa Panitikang Pambata with guest speakers Prof. Eugene Evasco at Prof. Bernadette Neri August 2 FRI | 4pm | CAL 312

Cinema Rehiyon Reloaded: NCAA Cinema Showcase • August 14, 15, 16, 2013 • UP Cine Adarna • Free screenings everyday.

Brought to you by the NCCA, UP Film Institue, Dakila, and the Active Vista Film Festival.

LAGABLAB NG PAGLABAN Tuluyan nang tinupok ng apoy ang mga kabalintunaang pinalakpakan sa loob ng Batasan. Bagaman tinangkang maapula ng estado ang siklab ng galit ng taumbayan sa tuwid na daan, lalo lamang umalab ang simbuyo ng damdamin ng mga Pilipinong nawalan na ng tiwala sa tatlong taong batbat lamang ng mga huwad at hungkag na mga pangako.

MGA LARAWANG KUHA NINA KIRA CHAN KEITHLEY DIFUNTORUM KIM PAUIG JIRU RADA