Guwardiya ni Palparan, isa sa mga dumukot kina Karen at She — Page 5 Multiples
Philippine Collegian Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman 10 Agosto 2011 Taon 89, Blg. 9
Terminal Cases Delfin Mercado
Annual gov’t subsidy for SUCs short by P9B
E
raserheads hit it right when they said we all needed a superproxy. There is just too much work, too much pressure to last till the end by yourself. And now, thankfully, we have proxies everywhere.
Two thirds of deficiency shouldered by students Continued on page 4»
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Design by Nico Villarete Photographs by Chris Martin Imperial and Richard Jacob Dy
The allure of tourism amidst budget cuts Features Page 7
Unraveling fraud Editoryal Page 2
Mabilis, maagap --ganyan ang ninja sa Casaa Kultura Page 8
With the world’s current configuration, it is impossible not to copy oneself. There’s the virtual world to take care of all our proxies—in just one click, I can reproduce (or reprogram) myself in some obscure space measured in bytes and bandwith. Our online presence is an extension of ourselves – it is part of us, but is not us. My facebook persona may reflect a part of me I do not show in real life, in much the same way that my twitter account often posts stuff I will not dare say out loud in class. By creating the virtual world, we are forever guilty of complicating our already befuddled lives. So when the cyberworld feasted on Christopher Lao, complications unraveled. I saw people unleash their other selves, parts of them they previously kept secret. Lao, whose gravest mistake was that he wasn’t street smart and media savvy, was the netizens’ laughingstock for a couple of days. His claim to fame (or infamy) could have passed as just one of anyone’s bad days. Unluckily, a television crew taped the incident and his frustrated remarks, and showed it on primetime television. Within minutes of the broadcast of the newsbit, my online contacts mutated and evolved to new beings. A really timid female classmate suddenly transformed to a bitch, laughing her ass off when a friend tagged her in some Lao-related post. My quiet cousin started liking cusses posted as comments, and improvised on netspeak— that was the most I heard (or read?) him talk about something. And suddenly people, who lived through everyday without sparing a moment for activities that nurture social awareness (read: watching the news), had a lot to say on the Lao subject. Various commentators have pointed out how slanted the representation of Chris was on that news report, how the sound bites chosen for the report allegedly highlighted Chris’ stupidity and arrogance. Other groups called for the responsible use of the social media. The discussions bore on, with people suddenly feeling relevant and obliged to take a stance. Who said what to whom? For his friends, Chris is a conscientious student, a helpful classmate. For his family, he may be a thoughtful and caring father. But in the eyes of those who judged him based on the viral video, he is an arrogant law student who is putting himself above others. The online representation of Chris – the video – has taken a life of its own, far removed from the reality that his close associates would have known. Maybe even far removed from Chris’ perceived notion of himself. I tried to join the discussion on Lao, but I couldn’t think of anything witty to say. Now that is me trying, and failing, to program a copy of myself. ●
2 • Kulê Opinyon
Miyerkules 10 Agosto 2011
Unraveling fraud The infamous story of how Gloria Arroyo rigged the 2004 and 2007 election results has yet to be fully disclosed. Yet now, key personalities involved in the fraud have surfaced, supplying information that may finally pin down the Arroyo. Upon his emergence from hiding,formerMaguindanaoelections supervisor Lintang Bedol earlier confessed that Arroyo instructed him to manipulate election results in the Maguindanao province, giving zero votes to senators from an opposing party. The votes, according to him, were instead transferred to Miguel Zubiri, who recently resigned from the senate following allegations of his involvement in the poll fraud. Bedol went on to implicate former Comelec officials and suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan. While the testimonies of Arroyo’s co-conspirators are relevant, these information merely confirm what the public has long known. Data from the Center for People Empowerment in Governance released months after the elections already reveal that the Ampatuans were able to secure about 194,000 votes for Arroyo in Maguindanao. And the most memorable piece of evidence that proved Arroyo’s culpability—the taped conversation between the then Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano—detailed how one million questionable votes beat the late Fernando Poe Jr. in the presidential race. Yet, despite glaring evidence of Arroyo’s shameless cheating, she was able to stay in power until 2010. Now, Arroyo sits in Congress as Pampanga representative
QUOTED Kung ganito lang rin naman, as majority floor leader I will make sure that the CCP will cease to exist in the General Apropriations Act.
5.5 x 3.5 in
—Sen. Vicente Sotto III, on the
controversial Kulo exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, gmanews.tv, August 8
Marianne Rios
under the Aquino administration. Her freedom is an insult to the last remaining, albeit flawed, vestige of democracy in this country— elections. Now that details of the fraud have been uncovered, Arroyo remains unperturbed and confident. It appears that no amount of evidence could overcome Arroyo’s mastery of the art of denial. As before, she shrugs off accusations, labelling them as propaganda. Her skills at evading punishment have in fact been demonstrated in how she bribed bishops with pajeros for their support. In Philippine politics, solid evidence does not always prosecute the guilty. In this warped system of justice, the prosecution of people who trample institutions of democracy is not a moral obligation—at times, it can serve as political leverage. That it took years for Bedol and Ampatuan to confess indicates that their
Editoryal
testimonies came with a price. The circumstances are suspect enough: when Bedol was summoned back in 2007, he claimed that he had lost documents that would prove the election fraud. Four years later, he goes on to implicate Arroyo in poll fraud. In 2007, Ampatuan was a staunch Arroyo ally. Now that he is facing murder raps for the heinous Maguindanao massacre, he is ready to drop the bomb on the Arroyos. The arrival of a new regime has clearly shifted loyalties. The vested interests behind Bedol and Ampatuan’s confession must not be used against the strength of evidence that they present. The election fraud done by Arroyo, is not merely an issue of political bickering, it is an issue of committing crimes against the people. The burden now lies upon the Aquino administration to use all available measures to prosecute Arroyo. During the campaign, Aquino promised to finally
bring justice by finally punishing Arroyo for her numerous crimes against the people, including that of cheating the people in the elections. The pursuit of justice, however, requires the current administration to be truly decisive and sincere in prosecuting Arroyo. Considering Aquino’s inability to even punish Arroyo for her involvement in human rights violations, the path to justice seems paved with doubt. Aquino’s claims of chasing Arroyo appear to be nothing more than populist tactics. Even when he was a senator, Aquino has done nothing to change the flawed system of elections. For Aquino, the protection of power still trumps the pursuit of justice. The clamor of the people for justice will persist. What the people need now is a change in the current political system—genuine change that will guarantee them the election of honest leaders. ●
Philippine Collegian www.philippinecollegian.org Punong Patnugot Marjohara S. Tucay Kapatnugot Pauline Gidget R. Estella Tagapamahalang Patnugot Dianne Marah E. Sayaman Panauhing Patnugot Jayson D. Fajarda Patnugot Sa Lathalain Mila Anna Estrella S. Polinar Patnugot Sa Grapiks Nicolo Renzo T. Villarete, Chris Martin T. Imperial Tagapamahala Ng Pinansiya Richard Jacob N. Dy Kawani Ruth Danielle R. Aliposa Pinansiya Amelyn J. Daga Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon Paul John Alix Sirkulasyon Gary Gabales, Amelito Jaena, Glenario Ommalin Mga Katuwang Na Kawani Trinidad Gabales, Gina Villas Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman, Lungsod Quezon Telefax 981-8500 lokal 4522 Email kule1112@gmail.com Website philippinecollegian.org Kasapi Solidaridad: UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers Organizations, College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Kahit minsan, parang lukaluka ako, walang nagbago—ako pa rin yung taong nakilala n’yo at minahal. —Nora Aunor, Philippine
Daily Inquirer, August 3
Let the Moros run their affairs; let them decide their own destiny. Let them succeed or self-destruct. Gone were the days when the government in Manila designed everything for them. —MILF website editorial, luwaran.com, August 8
Matagal na naman akong kumbinsido na [may] fraud. It took [Miguel Zubiri] long to be convinced, pero at least dumating din tayo sa puntong na-convince din siya na may fraud.
—Aquilino Pimentel III, on the
resignation of Juan Miguel Zubiri from the Senate, State of the Nation, GMA News TV, August 3
3 • Kulê Balita
Miyerkules 10 Agosto 2011
Embattled Cebu dean denies all charges Isabella Patricia Borlaza UP Cebu College (UPCC) Dean Enrique Avila and Professor Ernesto Pineda are still denying the charges of gross negligence, grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty filed against them in the fourth public hearing of the Administrative Disciplinary Tribunal (ADT) in UP Manila last July 27. Several members of the UPCC faculty and staff filed a complaint with the ADT last March 15 against officials Enrique, Pineda and Acting Budget officer Alsidry Sharif and called for their removal from office. Due to the pending case, Avila, Pineda and Sharif were put under a 90-day preventive suspension since May 26. The first three hearings took place in Cebu from July 13 to
July 15. Another hearing is set this August. The cross examination was headed by ADT Chair Atty. Rosario Larracas, together with Prof. Alden Lauzon and Dr. Prospero De Vera III. In the complaint affidavit submitted by members of the UPCC faculty, Avila was accused of illegally rechanneling P3 million from the undergraduate tuition fee increment in UP Cebu to finance the centennial bonus given to UPCC faculty and staff in 2008. In the hearing last July 27, Avila explained that he used funds from other sources for the centennial bonus, so that the UPCC administration can disburse the bonus even if the budget coming from the UP System has not yet arrived. “I did not know exactly where [the centennial bonus] came from,” Avila
said in the hearing. “It was really my assumption that it was taken from the graduate increment funds because we do not have money.” Avila was also charged for violating section 22 of Republic Act 9500 or UP Charter of 2008 which specifies that the use of school property “shall be consistent with the academic mission and orientation of the national university,” for entering a contract with Green Peaks Development Inc. that lent the use of UPCC’s soccer field as dumping site for excavated soil. During the last week of January, students and faculty in the Arts and Sciences building (AS) of UPCC were surprised to find eight-feet high mounds of earth, which was supposedly to be used to level the two-feet deep potholes on the
ground, covering the soccer field. “Professor Pineda, who is the chair of the Development Planning committee and [Professor] Sharif who was then the administering officer also thought that the request of Green Peaks was an opportunity for us to take advantage of since if we do not accept it, it will cost UP Cebu P5.5 M to fill the recess portion at the back of the AS building,” Avila explained. Avila’s creation of the Resource Development Bids and Awards Committee (RDBAC) also caused controversy when he gave the head position to Pineda who was only a lecturer and consultant at that time. Under Republic Act 9184, the BAC of public government institutions should be chaired by a high-ranking permanent official of the procuring entity.
Avila said that he was confident in appointing Pineda into position because of his “expertise in development projects using university resources.” Sharif, on the other hand, was over-all secretariat of BACs. The UPCC faculty refused to comment until the final decision has been made. “Lahat ng mga nagkakaisang sektor sa UP Cebu ay umaasa na sa ilalim ng bagong administrasyong may pagpapahalaga sa demokratikong pamamahala’y mapapadismiss talaga sina Avila, Sharif at Pineda lalo pa’t mabibigat ang aming mga ebidensya,” said UPCC Student Council Vice Chairperson Kristian Jacob Abad Lora. ●
Narra dorm demolition begins
BOR confirms contract with Ayala for lease of East campus property Isabella Patricia Borlaza Soon after the Board of Regents (BOR) confirmed the P3-billion contract with AyalaLand Inc. (ALI) for the lease of the 7.4 hectare East Campus property along Katipunan Avenue on July 25, the UP administration has begun the demolition of the condemned Narra Residence Hall to give way to the transfer of the UP Integrated School (UPIS) high school campus. In the lease contract, ALI will lease the current vicinity of the UPIS high school along Katipunan Avenue for 25 years and develop the property into a “mixed-used University Town.” The said project is the second lease agreement entered by ALI in UP Diliman, the first one being the UPAyalaLand Techno Hub that occupies 20 hectares of the 37.5 hectare land along Commonwealth Avenue.
Demolition begins
The lease agreement entails the transfer of the current UPIS campus to the location of the Narra dormitory. ALI will be financing the relocation and reconstruction of the UPIS facilities worth P220 million as part of the lease contract. From the said amount, P180 million will be allotted for the construction of the new UPIS high school campus, while the remaining P40 million will be used for the rehabilitation of the
existing UPIS buildings for kinder and elementary. The demolition of the condemned residence hall, located near the College of Education, commenced last July 28. Once the old structures are removed, the construction of the new UPIS high school campus will begin. The contract requires ALI to finish erecting the new school buildings before the construction of the University Town, a “mixed-use retail and office facility” with “academic support facilities,” could begin. In a separate cost estimation done by UPIS officials and architects, however, the facilities for the grade school department of the UPIS should not only be rehabilitated but “reconstructed fully.” In a meeting with UPIS alumni last August 6, UP President Alfredo Pascual said that the university needs to raise at least P47 million in addition to the ALI donation to fund the reconstruction of the grade school buildings. “We understand that there will be higher expectations to the quality of education from the school due to the new facilities, however, we are also very concerned that, in the long run, there will not be enough budget for its maintenance,” said principal Ronaldo San Jose.
Need for student housing
While the construction of new facilities for UPIS is a favorable
RAIN OR SHINE Amid the persistent rain, parents and guardians of high school seniors wait outside Palma Hall for the examinees to finish the five-hour long University of the Philippines College Admission Test on August 6. With around 72,000 hopefuls, this year records the highest number of UPCAT examinees in the history of the university. Richard Jacob Dy development for the university, there is also an urgent need for the construction of new dormitories and extensive rehabilitation of existing ones, said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ma. Corazon Tan. The Narra Residence Halls had been functional since 1952 but was condemned in 2007 after several inspections deemed it as “inhabitable.” In 2008, its east wing caught fire due to faulty wiring. At present, there are only 11 dormitories within the campus that can accommodate around 2,855 students, less than a fifth of Diliman’s total student population. ●
MAHILIG KA BANG PUMITIK? Akyat na sa Silid 401 sa Vinzons Hall at mag-apply bilang photographer ng Kule. Magdala ng 2 blue book, bolpen, at portfolio ng sample works. Para sa karagdagang katanungan, kontakin si Richard sa 09054596893 o mag-email sa kule1112@gmail.com
4 • Kulê Balita
Annual gov’t subsidy for SUCs short by P9B Two thirds of deficiency shouldered by students Marjohara Tucay While the total budgetary requirement of 110 state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country amount to an average of P32 billion annually, the government provision for SUCs fall short by P9 billion, amounting to an average of only P23 billion for the past five years, official government data show. For next year, the government allotted only P21.89 billion, down by P142.4 million from the current P22.04 billion, according to the National Expenditure Program (NEP) prepared by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Fifty SUCs will sustain cuts in their budget for 2012, with 58 SUCs to suffer cuts in personal services (PS), or the budget for salary and benefits of employees, and 45 SUCs receiving less for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE). To compensate for the lack in subsidy, SUCs are compelled to earn their own income through various means, including charging tuition and other fees, and utilizing assets. Since 2007, the average internal income of all SUCs amount to an average of P11 billion, two-thirds or almost P4 billion of which comes from fees paid by students. (See Table 1) Next year, DBM projects that SUCs will spend a total of P37.2 billion, of which P11.6 billion is expected to be financed by internal income. (See Table 2) “Estudyante ang tunay na agrabyado sa patuloy na pagbaba ng subsidyo ng gobyerno para sa SUCs. Dahil sa kulang na badyet, napipilitan ang SUCs na ipasa sa mga mag-aaral ang dapat na obligasyon ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng pagtataas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin,” said Vanessa Faye Bolibol, secretary general of the National Union of Students of the Philippines.
Aquino worst investor in SUCs
Sentral ng Pilipinas and inflation share of the government’s subsidy for estimates for 2011 and 2012 from SUCs has decreased to 67 percent, the latest Budget of Expenditures thereby raising the share coming from and Sources of Financing of DBM internal income to almost 33 percent. “Instead of providing real reforms, to determine the real value of the appropriation for SUCs from 1987 to especially in the education sector, Aquino is blatantly continuing the 2012 based on 2000 prices. Among the post-People Power long-standing policy of reducing presidents of the Philippines, the funding for higher education,” said present Aquino administration has Student Regent Kristina Conti. provided the least percent share of the total budgetary requirement of Systemic neglect The continued decline in state SUCs, inflation-adjusted data also funding is a result of the aggressive reveal. (See graph) In 1987, the late president Corazon implementation of various policies Aquino provided for 87 percent of the designed to make SUCs “financially total budgetary requirement of SUCs. autonomous,” Conti explained. In 1997, Ramos signed into law Almost 13 percent, meanwhile, was the Higher Education Modernization sourced from SUCs’ internal income. Share of government subsidy and internal income in total SUCs budget*
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012** Average
Tuition
3.24 3.89 4.35 4.56 5.62 6.06 5.15
ni Aquino na wala siyang pinag-iba, at mas malala pa, sa mga nakaraang administrasyon pagdating sa pagpondo ng SUCs,” Bolibol added.
UP budget cut to exceed P800M Meanwhile, UP President Alfredo Pascual told the Collegian that the DBMapproved budget for 2012 is actually lower by an estimated P800 million from the current budget of the university. At first glance, the P5.54 billion UP budget indicated in the 2012 NEP and the P5.75 billion budget allotted under the 2011 General Appropriations Act (GAA) show a net decrease of 3.6 percent or a P208.2-million budget cut for the university. However, the P5.54-billion appropriation for 2012 is already bloated by the P581-million adjustment for the second tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 3, Pascual said. He noted that the P5.75-billion budget for UP this year only accounts for the budget increments due to the first tranche of the SSL 3. To correctly compare the two budget figures, the P581-million adjustment for the second tranche of SSL 3 must be removed from the
*The data used for the graph was adjusted based on 2000 prices, with assistance from the Ibon Foundation Source: Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing 1989-2012
Fidel Ramos increased the government’s share in the budget requirements of SUCs by three percent in real value to 90 percent. However, by the time of President Joseph Estrada’s ouster in 2001, the percent share of government subsidy to SUCs decreased to 84 percent in real value. Meanwhile, the share of the income of SUCs increased to 16 percent. Gloria Arroyo’s nine years in power brought further decline in the state’s share in the expenditures of SUCs. By 2010, the percent share of government subsidy in the total SUCs budget was down to 68 percent in real value, while internal income of public colleges rose to almost 32 percent. For this year and the next, the
When inflation is taken into account, the proposed SUCs budget for 2012 is almost at the same level as the government allocation in 1999. Based on the data, the real value of the DBM-approved budget allocation for all SUCs in 2012 is P14.3 billion, almost at par with the P14.4 billion allotted by the government in 1999. The Collegian used the Consumer Price Index obtained from the Bangko Table 1. Sources of income of state universities and colleges (in billion pesos) Year
Miyerkules 10 Agosto 2011
Other income collected from students
Income from other sources
Income from revolving fund
Grants and donations
1.18 1.49 2.0 2.46 2.64 2.78 2.47
0. 88 1.05 1.11 1.57 1.61 1.82 1.53
0.76 1.07 1.11 1.20 0.85 0.9 1.01
0.07 0.12 0.17 0.26 0.11 0.10 0.16
Other sources of income
Total
0.54 0.56 0.69 1.07* 1.06* 0.74 0.89
6.68 8.18 9.44 11.14 11.89 12.4 11.22
*Includes cash balances **as projected by the DBM Source: Statement of receipts of SUCs from the Department of Budget and Management
Act (HEMA), which gave the administration of SUCs the power to “fix tuition and other necessary school charges,” “enter into joint ventures with the business industry,” and “privatize management and nonacademic services.” Meanwhile, under Arroyo’s Longterm Higher Education Development Plan (LTHEDP), the government aimed to rapidly increase the internal income of SUCs by pushing them to initiate more income-generating projects and adjusting the tuition rates to a rate “comparable” with their private counterparts. Under this policy, the UP administration under former President Emerlinda Roman was able to increase the tuition from the base P300 per unit to P1,000 in 2007, Conti explained. However, the Aquino government is not showing signs it will terminate this policy of state neglect, said Bolibol. In the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016, one of the main thrusts of the Aquino administration is to “rationalize the number, size, and roles of higher education institutions (HEIs) through systematic interventions, including…phase-out or closure of nonperforming HEIs and redundant programs.” “Maaga pa lang ay ipinapakita na
P5.54-billion figure, bringing down the total budget allocation for 2012 to P4.9 billion, Pascual explained. This represents an estimated P800-million decrease from the current P5.75 billion budget, he said. Of the estimated P800-million cut, over P600 million is under the PS component, while the remaining P200 million represents a cut in the MOOE of the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT). “Those are just estimates. We are currently finalizing the figures to really determine how much will be the cut for the 2012 budget. But definitely, there is a cut,” Pascual said.
Contractuals, non-regulars in danger
The large decrease in the PS component is due to the non-inclusion of funds for the 1,764 unfilled positions in the UP System, Pascual explained. For 2012, DBM removed the lump-sum allocations for unfilled positions to “minimize conversions.” In the past, the government releases funds to pay for the salary of employees that are yet to be hired by government agencies. By the end of the year, the funds become part of the savings of agencies such as UP, which can in turn be realigned or “converted” for other uses. From such practice arise “anomalous” practices, DBM explained. The budget for unfilled positions were transferred to a lump-sum item called “Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund” (MPBF). DBM explained that SUCs and other agencies can reclaim the funds “upon the submission of sufficient proof that personnel have been hired for these positions.” However, in this new budgeting scheme, contractual employees and non-regular faculty are in danger of losing funding for their salaries, Pascual said. In the past years, UP uses its savings accumulated from the budget for unfilled positions to pay for the salaries of contractuals and nonregular faculty, he explained. “If DBM requires UP and other agencies to submit proof of hiring, we might have a problem,” Pascual said, explaining that the items that are under the MPBF are for regular employees, and thus cannot be released to fund salaries of existing contractuals and non-regular faculty. Of the 4,603 teaching faculty in the UP System, only 3,253 are regular faculty, while 1,350 are non-regulars, or part-time instructors and lecturers. “If this budget passes in Congress, we will really have a problem in finding sources to pay for the [non-regular faculty’s] salaries,” Pascual said. “We should fight for the restoration of items taken out from the 2012 budget. We have buildings to finish and facilities to maintain, and UP has no ready source of income to cover for all the cuts,” Pascual added. Congress is currently deliberating the proposed 2012 budget. Once the proposed budget is passed as law by the plenary of the House of Representatives and the Senate, both houses will meet in a bicameral conference to finalize their versions of the GAA, which will then be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III for approval. “What the government should realize is that public institutions like SUCs cannot function without their support. Without government subsidy, it would not take long before these SUCs close down,” Conti said. ●
Table 2. Expenditures of state universities and colleges (in billion pesos) Year
Government subsidy
Expenditures from internal income
Total
2007
18.5
6.33
24.87
2008
20.8
7.54
28.35
2009
24.2
8.72
32.95
2010
23.8
10.62
34.46 34.76
2011
23.7
11.04
2012*
25.59
11.57
37.16
Average
22.79
9.30
32.09
*as projected by the DBM Source: Statement of expenditures from the Deparment of Budget and Management
5 • Kulê Balita
Miyerkules 10 Agosto 2011
‘Guwardiya ni Palparan, isa sa mga dumukot kina Karen at She’ Mary Joy T. Capistrano
Positibong kinilala ng isang bagong testigo ang security aide ni Ret. Maj. Jovito Palparan bilang isa sa mga dumukot sa dalawang nawawalang estudyante ng UP na sina Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan. Sa supplemental affidavit na ipinasa ni Wilfredo Ramos, 21, sa pinakahuling pagdinig noong Agosto 3 ng kasong kriminal isinampa laban kay Palparan, itinuro niya ang close-in security aide ni Palparan bilang isa sa anim na armadong lalaking nagtali ng kamay niya noong dukutin sila Empeño at Cadapan. Nakikituloy sa tahanan ng pamilya ni Ramos sa Hagonoy, Bulacan ang dalawang estudyante nang dukutin sila noong 2006 sa kasagsagan ng pagpapatupad ng Oplan Bantay Laya, ang programang kontra-insurhensiya ng rehimeng Arroyo. Nagsasaliksik sina Empeño at Cadapan sa kalagayan ng mga magsasaka sa Hagonoy nang maganap ang insidente. Nakilala ni Ramos ang itinuturo niyang suspek nang makita niya ito sa
loob mismo ng gusali ng Department of Justice (DOJ) noong ikalawang pagdinig sa kasong kriminal na isinampa nina Concepcion Empeño at Erlinda Cadapan, ina ng mga nawawalang estudyante, kay Palparan at iba pang akusado. Ayon kay Ramos, naaalala pa rin niya ang mukha ng security aide kahit mahigit limang taon na ang lumipas. “We have difficulty getting the name of the suspect identified by our witness. We missed the opportunity of identifying him when he was at the hearing, and it may now be possible that he will make himself scarce,” pahayag ni Atty. Ephraim Cortez ng NUPL, abogado ng mga biktima. Gayunman, matibay umano ang testimonya ni Ramos at maaaring mapalakas nito ang kaso laban kay Palparan. “Kung tutuusin siya lang ang directly identified na witness na kasama sa abduction, and his closeness to Palparan will further strengthen the case against him,” pahayag ni Atty. Cortez. Kinumpirma rin ni Col. Herbert Yambing, Provost Marshall General,
na miyembro ng Armed Forces of the Philippines ang security aide ni Palparan. Gayunman, tumanggi ang panel na ituro sa mismong pagdinig ang nasabing suspek sapagkat mawawalan umano siya ng karapatang maipagtanggol ang sarili sa harap ng maraming tao. Nangako naman si Yambing sa mga magulang ng mga biktima na makikipagtulungan siya upang makilala ang suspek. Samantala, naglabas na rin ng utos ang DOJ sa pangunguna ni Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera na ilahad ang pagkakakilanlan ng nasabing suspek upang maisama sa criminal complaint. “At least tumatakbo ng maayos ang justice system kasi nakikipag-cooperate si Yambing para makilala ang bagong akusado. Sa kabilang banda, may agamagam pa rin kami kung paano huhulihin at makukulong ang perpetrators,” ani Empeño, ina ni Karen.
‘Mahinang testimonya’ Kasabay supplemental naghain din affidavit sa Palparan, na
ng paghahain ng affidavit ni Ramos, ang NUPL ng reply counter affidavit ni inihain sa ikalawang
pagdinig noong Hulyo 19. Sa affidavit na ito, muling pinabulaanan ng panig ni Palparan ang mga pahayag ng mga testigo. “The Counter Affidavit of respondent Palparan contains merely bare and general denials,” ayon sa reply affidavit. Sa counter-affidavit ni Palparan, pinabulaanan ng dating heneral ang mga paratang ng testigong si Raymond Manalo, isang magsasakang dinukot rin umano ng military kasama ang kanyang kapatid ngunit nakatakas. Nauna nang itinanggi ni Palparan ang pagkakasangkot sa pagdukot kina Empeño at Cadapan sapagkat hindi umano siya nagbigay ng “operational command” sa 24th Infantry Battalion (IB), 56th IB at ang Task Force Bulacan. Ngunit ayon sa reply affidavit, bigo si Palparan na patunayan ang nasabing pahayag. “No operation or project of these military units are undertaken without the command, control and supervision of the 7th ID,” ayon sa reply affidavit. Sa darating na pagdinig sa ika-11 ng Agosto, inaasahang sasagutin ng panig ni Palparan ang reply affidavit
na inihain ng mga biktima. Nakatakda ring pangalanan ang bagong akusado.
Patuloy na panawagan
Samantala, personal namang naghain ng “urgent motions to resolve” sina Oscar Leuterio at Manalo, mga biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao, kasama ang NUPL sa tanggapan ni bagong Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales noong Hulyo 19. Layunin ng petisyon na hingin ang agarang aksyon ng ombudsman sa matagal nang nakabinbing kaso na inihain pa kay dating Ombudsman Merceditas Guitierrez noong 2006 at 2008. “The motions to resolve were intended to remind the Ombudsman that these cases are now ripe for resolution” pahayag ni Cortez. “Sa tagal na inuupuan ang aming kaso sa ilalim ni Ombudsman Guitierrez at Pangulong Arroyo, hustisya pa rin ang hangad namin ilang taon pagkatapos ng nangyari sa amin. Walang mangyayari kung matatakot lang kami, samantalang napakaraming biktima ang naghahangad ng hustisya,” ani Manalo. ●
Tigers devour Maroons, 68-49
SPORTSCENE Richard Damian After clinching their second win in the 74th season of University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the UP Fighting Maroons suffered its fourth loss in the hands of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 68-49, during the men’s basketball tournament at Araneta Coliseum on August 7. The loss came after the Maroons crushed last season’s runner-up Far Eastern University Tamaraws with a 13-point lead, 76-63, on August 4. Maroons guard Jett Manuel, who scored 20 points, led the underdogs from Diliman in ending the Maroons’ 12-game losing streak against the Tamaraws since 2004. The Maroons, however, failed to sustain the heat in their next game as
they succumb to lousy shooting and UST’s strong defense. In the opening canto, the Tigers immediately pounced on the Fighting Maroons, who only scored four points through forward Mike Silungan’s three-pointer and bonus shots during the first four minutes, 10-4. UST maintained an eight-point lead until the last minute of the quarter when Maroons guard Anjelo Montecastro and forward Carlo Gomez consecutively fired up twopoint shots to narrow the gap to four points, 16-12. The Growling Tigers retaliated with a strong offense which led to an eight-point lead over the Maroons in the first three minutes of the second quarter, 20-12. Maroons center Ifeanyi Mbah and Gomez attempted to boost UP’s defense but the Tigers still captured the quarter at 25-17. Kevin Ferrer’s assists to forward Chris Camus and Karim Abdul at the beginning of the third quarter strengthened the Tigers’ offense and led to a double-digit lead for the España dribblers, 31-21. During the Tigers’ momentum, the Maroons trailed by as much as 20 points. Tigers guard Jeric Fortuna scored another six points from the field, closing the third quarter with a 16-point lead over the Maroons, 45- 29.
In the last quarter, Abdul widened the gap to 19 points with a three-point shot in the fourth minute, 51-34. UP’s Montecastro and Silungan scored a total of nine points combined in the last quarter, but UST maintained a lead of at least 14 points throughout the quarter. With only two minutes remaining in the game, Camus shot another two points from an end-to-end pass from Fortuna. In the last 30 seconds, Fortuna followed up with his threepointer to lead by 21 points, 68-47. The Maroons held on to dear life as UP’s Mbah grabbed possession of the ball in the last two seconds and made a quick pass to Gamboa for UP’s buzzer-beating final two-points in the game. The game ended with the Tigers leading 19 points over the Maroons. Montecastro, who led the Maroons against UST, only scored nine points. “Siguro, coming from a win last game, parang [naging] complacent kami. [The Tigers] outworked us [in terms] of rebounding and everything [pero] hindi ko naman masasabi na outplayed kami ng UST,” said Montecastro. The Maroons will compete against the Adamson University Blue Falcons at the Araneta Coliseum on August 11 ●
Carmelo Afuang of the UST Growling Tigers swiftly steals the ball away from UP Fighting Maroons guard Jett Manuel during the men’s basketball tournament at Araneta Coliseum on August 7. After pulling off an upset win over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in their previous game, the Diliman dribblers exhibited poor shooting performances and succumbed to the Tigers, 68-49. Richard Jacob Dy
8 • Kulê Kultura
Miyerkules 10 Agosto 2011
Way of the Ninja Pagdagit ng pinggan sa Casaa
Toni Antiporda Sa kaharian ng College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association (Casaa) Food Center, na binubuo ng Gloria’s, Chef’s Grille, Pipanganan at iba pang kainan, may tatlong dakilang ninjang laging nagmamasid, laging nagmamatyag, para sa kanilang susunod na pagdagit. Nakikipaglaro sila sa liwanag ng katanghalian, at matapang na hinaharap ang tila hindi maubos na bilang ng mga estudyanteng nagugutom. Pasan nila ang isang dakilang tungkulin: hanapin at bawiin ang natatanging kayamanan ng kaharian, ang mga pinggan.
Ninja Squad
Kulang ang reserba ng mga pinggan upang matiyak na may kakainan ang lahat ng tao sa Casaa tuwing oras ng tanghalian. Kaya naman ang mga dating tagaligpit ng pinggan, nagsanay upang maging mga tusong ninjas. Tulad ng lahat ng bihasang ninjas, ang kanilang mga kamay ang
pangunahin nilang sandata. Kaya nitong makalimas ng isang lamesa sa loob lamang ng ilang segundo. Nakaposisyon sa gitna ng kaharian ang kanilang metal pushcart na pinaglalagyan ng kanilang mga nadagit. Kapag puno na, dinadala kaagad nila ito sa kusina para mahugasan ang mga pinggan at kubyertos. Upang mapadali ang pagbabalik, may partikular na kulay ng pinggan para sa bawat kainan, tulad ng itim para sa Pipanganan, puti para sa Gloria’s at Sizzler at orange naman para sa Chinatown. Dalawampu’t limang taon nang ganito ang trabaho ng Casaa ninja na si Emilio Serrano, o mas kilala bilang Kuya Emil. Sa edad na 44, siya pa rin ang pinaka-notoryus na ninja sa kaharian, listo at mapagmatyag. Dahil dito, nabansagan na siyang “Master Buddha” ng mga estudyante, bukod pa sa kanyang nakakahawang ngiti at bilugang pangangatawan. Tuwing maririnig ang dagundong ng kanyang mga yapak, may mesang nanganganib mawalan ng plato. Hindi nalalayo kay Master ang kanyang dalawang disipulo na sina Archie Garrido at Philip Licup. Naturingan silang mga “Bad Boys” ng kaharian, dahil sa kanilang natatanging angas at imbay, bukod pa sa kanilang malasnatcher na bilis at katusuhan. Walong taon nang ninja si Kuya Archie, samantalang 16 na taon nang nandadagit ng plato si Kuya Philip. Kasama ni Kuya Philip ang kanyang asawa na si Ate Rosiel, na labintatlong taon nang naghuhugas ng pinggan sa kaharian ng mga kainan. Ano mang kaguluhan ang hatid ng oras ng katanghalian, maaari
ANONIMO pa itong lumala sa oras na maubos ang mga pinggan at kubyertos. Kaya naman patuloy na lumilikha ang mga tusong ninjas ng mga pamamaraan upang maiwasan ang krisis.
Mga taktika ng digma
Ayon kay Kuya Emil, hindi na talaga sapat para sa kanila na hintayin pang umalis ang kumakain bago sila makapagligpit. “Ang mga tao naman kasi sa Casaa, mas lamang ang tambay kesa kain. Kaya kapag alam naming papatapos na sila, kinukuha na talaga namin kaagad para mahugasan na,” aniya. Dekada ng pag-eensanyo ang kailangan upang maging mahusay sa pagdagit ng mga pinggan. Ngunit gaano man kagaling, minsan ay pumapalya pa rin. “Minsan naman talaga nahuhuli. Lagi nga ako’ng nasisigawan ng ‘Kuya, kumakain pa ako!’. Siyempre, ako, hihingi na lang ng sorry tapos maghahanap na lang ng ibang liligpitin,” ani Kuya Archie. May mga pagkakataon ring hinahabol ng mga estudyanteng naagawan ng pinggan ang mga ninja, lalo na kung gutom ang mga patron at mag-eextra rice pa. Dahil kilala sa pagmamasid at pandadagit, buntunan sila ng suspetsa kapag may mga nawawalang kagamitan sa kaharian. “Akala ng mga tao dahil nangunguha kami ng pinggan, nangunguha na rin kami ng kung anu-ano. Tuwing may nawawalang laptop o payong diyan, kami ang unang napagbibintangan,” ani Kuya Emil. Subalit kailan man, hindi raw sumagi sa kanilang isipan na kumuha ng mga mumunting kayamanan bukod sa mga pinggan. Gaano man kaliit ang kanilang naiuuwing sahod mula sa pandadagit, nagagawa naman nilang pagkasyahin iyon para sa mga gastusin nila sa tahanan.
Isang mahalagang (ko)misyon
Sa kanilang paglilingkod sa kaharian, nakakakuha ang mga ninjas ng P4,290 na sahod tuwing a-kinse. May SSS at PhilHealth sila, subalit hindi sila libre ng pananghalian. Wala rin umanong mga benepisyong natatanggap ang mga ninja. Bagaman matagal na sa Casaa, minsan lang nakakuha ng loyalty award si Kuya Emil — bonus na P1,000 na ibinigay noong sentenaryo ng UP. Mapalad si Kuya Emil dahil hindi siya pamilyado, at katuwang pa niya sa gastusin ang kapatid na namamasada ng traysikel sa Krus na Ligas. Sina Kuya Archie at Philip, parehong may asawa at anak. “Hindi sa paano napagkakasya ang kita, eh. Kailangan talagang magkasya,” ani Kuya Archie. Mabuti na lang din at katuwang niya sa gastusin ang asawang si Josephine, na minsang nakapapasok na kahera sa mga fast food chain, at ang amain na namamasada naman ng traysikel. Sapat naman raw ang kinikita ni Kuya Philip at ng kanyang asawa mula sa Casaa upang mapag-aral ang dalawa nilang anak na nasa grade 6 at kinder. Maliit man ang pabuya sa kanilang paglilingkod, ito ang nagbibigay seguridad sa kanilang mga buhay. Aminado ang tatlo na hirap silang makahanap ng trabaho dahil high school lamang ang kanilang natapos. Dating tagagawa ng siopao sa Kowloon House si Kuya Emil, subalit dalawang linggo lang siya tumagal dito dahil sa iringan sa mga kasamahan sa kusina. Cook naman sa isang pares at mami house sa Sikatuna si Kuya Archie dati, samantalang
www
Tinaguriang “CASAA Ninjas,” bihasa sina Mang Philip at Emil sa pagkuha ng mga pinagkainang plato.
Bukod sa pagligpit at pag-imis ng mga plato, kasama rin sa trabaho nila ang pagpapalit ng inuming tubig, paglilinis ng mga mesa sa CASAA at pagsasaayos ng kusina.
Sa paghihintay ng bus, sa pagsakay ng jeep, sa paglalakad sa mga lansangan ng lungsod at kanayunan —nalulunod tayo sa dagat ng mga mukha. Milyun-milyong kababayan ang unti-unting umuukit ng kanilang pangalan sa ating lipunan. Sa Anonimo, pangangalanan namin ang mga mukha at bibigyang-mukha ang mga pawang pangalan lamang.
attendant n a m a n sa isang gas station sa Katipunan si Kuya Philip. Tila dinadaya raw sila sa baba ng sweldo at sa hirap ng kanilang mga dating trabaho. Para sa tatlo, mapalad sila at napasok sila sa Casaa. Mas mainam na para sa kanila na makipagagawan ng plato kaysa makipagsapalaran pa sa ibang kaharian upang makahanap ng ikabubuhay. Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, laking pasasalamat na din nila at may sigurado silang napagkukunan ng pera. Tulad ng mga estudyante, nakikisalo sila sa pag-asang hatid ng pananatili sa unibersidad. Maaasahan ang mga Casaa ninja upang siguruhing may magagamit na malilinis na pinggan at kubyertos ang mga estudyante. Bawat pinggang nadadagit nila ay katiyakan na makakapaghatid naman sila ng pagkain sa mga hapag ng kanilang tahanan. ● Kuha ni Chris Imperial
Disenyo ng pahina ni Roanne Descallar
9 • Kulê Kultura
Miyerkules 10 Agosto 2011
Encore Fame and glory after death Dianne Marah Sayaman Booze for breakfast, a joint for lunch, nicotine to fill in the hours and drugs to sleep soundly at night: the rockstar lives as if life was meant to be wasted. There is no limit to the abuse the body can take. There is only a craving to break rules, an instinct for selfdestruction. They treat their youth as license for delinquency, giving justice to the phrase young and restless. Yet finally, when their bodies expire, they are worshipped like gods.
“Drugs are a bet with your mind.” – Jim Morrison
When Amy Winehouse passed away on July 23, she was inducted into Club 27, the group of gifted artists who died at the age of 27. She joined electric guitarist Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, soul singer Janis Joplin and The Doors vocalist Jim Morrison in the club, among other artists who were mourned and edified for dying at such a young age and at the prime of their careers. The unexpected deaths of Winehouse and Cobain were attributed by many to their substance a b u s e .
Winehouse’s battle against her drug addiction was no secret, and was even the subject of some of her songs. Drug use and abuse, as well as other vices, is a common affliction among the members of Club 27 and other artists. The proliferation of vices among artists is excused by the demands of creativity; cigarettes, alcohol and drugs serve as lubricants for the flow of creative juices. When viewed within the context of artistry, the notoriety of these vices is eclipsed by their role in the production of culture. They are not mere bad habits to break, they are necessary rituals in writing a song and giving a kickass performance. This perception on artistry and vices did not flourish by the artists’ own volition. Without openly endorsing vices, media and manufacturers of culture, such as record companies, intentionally display the artists’ taste for the bad and prohibited to generate desire and tolerance for these notorious activities. Hence, people are used to seeing pictures of musicians drinking or balancing a cigarette between their lips. Most of these artists are marketed to listeners in a way that mystifies the rock and roll lifestyle, creating ambiguous meanings for the consumption of vices. So, when they strum their guitars or croon their
unique melodies under the influence of chemicals, millions sway and sing with them.
“We’re so trendy we can’t even escape ourselves.”- Kurt Cobain
The fame of these dead artists thrives in their unexpected and early passing. They died in their youth, at an age of ambiguity and possibilities. The youth stage exists in such liminal definitions that there are no clear parameters in determining who should be considered a youth. The young may be of different ages in different places, and cultural practices likewise play a part in shaping the perception of youth— for instance, the young are expected to marry in certain countries while in others the young are chastised for their puppy love. There is no universal norm for what the youth can or cannot do. At best, youth is viewed as a transition stage, thus we have coming-of- age stories, as if the youth are supposed to upgrade or evolve into adults—or, as the cliché goes, the best that they can be. It is this evolution, the possibility for greatness
that turns to stone the moment a gifted artist dies.The grief for the members of Club 27 is partially accounted for by their potential, and at their young age, the flashes of brilliance. Against the formulaic sounds of pop culture, these possibilities are valuable for their sheer impossibility.
“Once you’re dead, you’re made for life.” – Jimi Hendrix
In this sense, death prolongs, instead of terminates, their youth. They seem to have become young forever—never to be tainted by the machinations of the adult world, which would probably object to their notorious and wayward lifestyle. Whenever a group of people refuse subjugation by measures as mild as growing their hair long or wearing multiple earrings, the group is often analyzed by placing them in subcultures. Subcultures, according to theorist Sarah Thornton, are “condemned to enjoy a consciousness of ‘otherness’ or difference.” With respect to a dominant culture, subcultures are often thought as groups with deviant practices, codes and values. The youth, with its wide spectrum of meanings, easily falls into a subculture and also gives rise to subcultures. In some way, these dead artists subscribe to subculture practices in their life. The music of some of these artists, in closer inspection, was either a deviation or retaliation against the dictates of the market
and the rules of the adult world. They strove to reinvent genres and depict harsh realities in their music— material that is often off-limits in a culture industry that seeks to mask a deteriorating social order with feel good music. Yet in their death, they have become relics exploited for their strangeness and attempts at resistance. Their deaths fuelled the production of culture. Their songs have been covered time and again, and memorabilia from their life have become precious collector’s items. Simple photos of their private moments while still living are published in magazines and books, feeding the nostalgia for their music and the longing for what they could have achieved with a longer life. As with all things past, a life acquires new meaning after death— nostalgia and memory magnifies life and multiplies meaning. Thus, in the religion of the cool and greedy, those who die young are gods better dead than resurrected. Their greatest performance is the tragedy of their lives. ●
Dibuho ni Archie Oclos Disenyo ng pahina ni Roanne descallar
Illustration by Archie Oclos Page design by Roanne Descallar
10 • Kulê Opinyon
Miyerkules 10 Agosto 2011
RICHARD JACOB N. DY
Bawal tingnan, bawal pag-usapan Marami tayong mga bagay na tinatangi. Nakikita sila sa ating mga pitaka: litrato ng syota, lisensya, pera. Nakikita rin sila sa mga pader ng ating bahay, tulad ng mukha ni Kristo na nabuburat na yata sa palasak nating mga problema. Minsan, sila lang ang pinanghahawakan natin, kung kaya’t normal lang ang mapoot tuwing may magtangkang umalipusta sa kanila. Kaya ganoon na lamang ang reaksyon ng mga tao sa kontrobersyal na likhang sining ni Mideo Cruz, isang visual artist na bumuo ng art installation mula sa mga lumang kalendaryo at mga imahen ng ating mga tinatangi—mula sa mga matinee idol hanggang kay Birheng Maria. Mapangahas ang sining ni Cruz. Isa sa mga tampok na imahen ng kanyang gawa ang mukha ni Kristo na dinikitan ng kahoy na korteng ari ng lalaki. Gaya ng maraming usisero, gusto ko ring masilayan ang kontrobersyal na art installation na tinawag ni Cruz na Poleteismo—ang pagsamba sa samu’t saring mga diyos. Pero parang wala nang tsansa upang mangyari pa ito. Nang magalit ang makapangyarihang mga indibidwal at mga grupo dahil sa Poleteismo, napilitan ang Cultural Center of the Philippines na ipasara ang Kulo exhibit kung saan parte ang likha ni Cruz. Sampung taon nang pinaiikot sa iba’t ibang lunsaran ang
mga gawa ni Cruz, ngunit ngayon lang ipinasara ang isang exhibit na naglalaman nito dahil sa nakukuha nitong atensyon sa midya. Hindi biro ang atensyong napukaw ng gawa ni Cruz. Dahil nangahas siyang galawin ang sagradong mukha ni Kristo, umabot sa puntong may nagtangkang sumunog sa kanyang likha. Tila hindi naman nagulat ang artist sa reaksyon ng ilang tao—aniya, lumilikha siya ng sining upang “mangprovoke” ng mapanuring pag-iisip. Magbubukas na sana ang diskurso sa pagitan ni Cruz, ng mga napopoot, at ng publiko. Makapagluluwal sana ng matatalas na suri ang mga debate sa kanyang likhang sining. Subalit sadyang baluktot na ang pangangatwiran ng mga taong naniniwalang dapat isara ang exhibit dahil diumano sa dala nitong panganib. Hirap sigurong umintindi ang mga tao, lalo na sa hanay ng ating mga lider sa simbahan at pulitika. Nararapat mang kilalanin ang angal ng maraming grupo sa likha ni Cruz, hindi makatwiran na sarhan ang pinto ng balitaktakan tungkol sa kanyang likha. Malay si Cruz sa puntirya ng kanyang likhang sining. Alam niyang magbabanggaan sa kanyang likha ang kanyang pagpapahalaga sa malayang pagpapahayag at ang pananalig at paniniwala ng maraming mga grupo at
Hindi makatwiran na sarhan ang pinto ng balitaktakan tungkol sa kanyang likha
indibidwal. Normal na maramdaman ng simbahang Katoliko at iba pang mga grupo ang poot sa ano mang kapangahasan sa kanilang mga tinatanging bagay o simbolo. Kung susuriin, ang mga imaheng ito ay daluyan ng kanilang kapangyarihan, kaya ang ano mang paggalaw sa mga ito ay pagbalewala sa kanilang pinanghahawakan: ang pagtalima ng mga tao sa kanilang papel sa lipunan. Lahat tayo ay may mga pinanghahawakang bagay, at posibleng magawa natin ang lahat para ipagtanggol ang mga ito. Ngunit labas na sa personal na pagtatangi ni Cruz ang usapin rito—ang karapatang magpahayag sa pamamagitan ng sining. Kung mayroong nailantad ang sensura sa kanyang mga likha, ito ay ang pagtatakip sa katwiran ng kanyang mga ipinaglalaban. Sa naging hakbang ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno at mga grupong Katoliko, halos pinigilan na rin nila ang publikong hatulan ang mga likha ni Cruz. Hindi lamang isang malaking insulto ang sensurang ito sa kakayahan ng taong mag-isip, at magpasya kung ano ang tama at mali. Gaano man tayo mapoot, walang kapatawaran ang pagsikil sa karapatan nating makaalam, magpaalam at makialam. ●
DANNIE
Lakad oval Napapadalas na ang pag-iikot ko sa acad oval, hindi para mamingwit ng gwapo o maglusaw ng taba kundi magbawas ng problema. Sa aking paglalakad, seryoso kong pinag-iisipan at tinitimbang ang mga mabababaw kong problema. Sinusubukan kong hanapan ng paraan kung pa’no ko aayusin ulit ang buhay ko, pa’no ko maibabalik ang dati. Sa una kong ikot sa acad oval, pinaglimian ko ang kasalukuyan kong estado bilang estudyante. Binilang ko ang mga natitirang araw para sa pagliban, ang sarap kasi mangolekta ng absences lalo na’t lahat ng subjects ay nasubukan ko nang ‘di pasukan. Nawalan na kasi ako ng ganang pumasok at makinig sa mga dinadaldal ng aking masisipag na professors sa GEs. Baka ang utak ko’y napapagod nang tumanggap ng mga bagong kaalaman. Sa thesis class ko naman ay ‘di ko alam kung may direksyon pa akong sinusundan. Malamang sa susunod na buwan ay makakapagsulat na ako sa sikat na asul na form ng unibersidad. Pangalawang ikot, at sumulpot sa isip ang aking problema sa pamilya. Noong bata pa ako’y pinilit ko pang
lagyan ng scotch tape ang family picture namin, ngunit ngayon kahit may photoshop na ay ‘di na talaga pwedeng ma-edit o ma-undo ang lahat. Ang bigat pa sa pakiramdam na ang pagdayo pala ng mga kamaganak ko’y di para sa pagsalubong ng sunflowers sa aking pagtatapos kundi sa pag-aasam na makuha ang bouquet sa kasal ng aking ama at ng kanyang kinakasama. Umikot muli, at sa pangatlong beses ay napansin ko mga taong naguusap sa Sunken. Buti pa sila may nalalabasan ng tuwa, galit at lungkot. Ngayon kasi ay facebook na lang palagi kaharap ko, o mas malala ay kinakausap ko na ang dingding at ang aking mga stuffed toys, ‘di tulad ng dati na sa pag-uwi ko sa dorm ay wala nang makakapigil sa’king magbulwak ng tsismis sa mga nangyari sa araw ko. Nahihiya kasi akong makipag-usap sa mga roommates kong nakasalpak lagi ang mga earphones at ka-date ang makakapal at madudugong libro sa math at science. Hindi ko na kaklase mga kabarkada ko kaya minsan nagnanakaw na lang din ako ng kaunting pagkakataon na magbahagi lang ng iilang problema at kwento sa
Nakakalungkot talaga ang iwan ng mga kasamahang nag-imbita sa’king pumasok sa isang bisyong ang hirap iwanan
kanila. Pang-apat na ikot ay napatigil ako sa harap ng Vinzons Hall. Nagbago na rin ang daloy ng aking trabaho sa pahayagan. Aaminin kong nakakalungkot talaga ang iwanan ng mga kasamahang nag-imbita sa’king pumasok sa isang bisyong ang hirap iwanan. Alam ko namang mahalaga para sa kanila ang makapagtapos, pero mahalaga rin naman iyon sa’kin. Napagod na ako sa kapipilit sa kanilang bumalik, desisyon nila ‘yon at nirerespeto ko naman ‘yon. Ngunit may mga pagkakataon ding gusto ko nang tumigil sa bisyong ito. Lagi akong lasing sa puyat at naadik na sa pag-aasam na makatapos ng gawain para sa dyaryo na inuuna ko pa kaysa sa iba. Palagi ko ring binubulong sa pader na sana’y makatakas pa ako sa kung anong balak ng mga panginoon. Minsan nagsisisi akong di ako sumabay sa biyahe ng aking mga kasamahan. Pinagpatuloy ko ang lakad sa oval ng nakakunot-noo’t nakatungo, sabay lumapit si Zorro at sabi, “ Are you okay? Is this about your boyfriend?” Natatawa akong lumayo kay Zorro. ‘Di lahat ng malungkot at problemado’y pag-ibig ang dahilan. ●
NEWSCAN
6th National Civil Engineering Summit
In celebration of its 57th founding anniversary, the University of the Philippines Association of Civil Engineering Students (UP ACES) will proudly host the 6th National Civil Engineering Summit on Sept. 5–10, 2011. Events included are: Civil Engineering Exhibit, High School Career Talk and Laboratory Tour, High School Bridge Building Competition, 6th National Civil Engineering Symposium, College Company Talk and Laboratory Tour, and 19th National Civil Engineering Quiz. More than 2500 outstanding students and faculty nationwide are expected to participate. Speakers include: DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson, Dr. Benito M. Pacheco, and Dr. Ramon D. Quebral. For details, go to: www.upaces.org/ ncesummit2011
Forum on the role of media in a developing economy
UP Lingua Franca, in cooperation with the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines, sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, proudly presents: THE BUSINESS STATE OF THE NATION: The Role of Media in a Developing Economy, with speakers Tina ArceoDumlao (journalist, Philippine Daily Inquirer) and Cito Beltran (columnist, Philippine Star) on AUG 23, 2011 at Pulungang Recto (FC Conference Hall), Faculty Center (Roxas corner Roces Streets, between Vargas Museum and Palma Hall) at 2:30-5:30 PM. This event is FREE! Reserve your slot today by filling out this form: http://tinyurl.com/ TheBusinessStateoftheNation. Text Jazz at 09066638127 for inquiries.
Universal Healthcare Essay Writing Contest
The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) is inviting the students to join our Universal Healthcare Essay Writing Contest. The winners will receive the following prizes: Php 25,000.00 for First prize; Php 15,000.00 for second prize; Php 10,000.00 for Third prize. Contact us through 8141809/ 0916 4464733, or email mhipolito@phap.org.ph.
3rd Pandayang Lino Brocka
Twelve films, a collection of documentaries, short films and poetry in motion, were selected for the festival: Pandayang Lino Brocka will launch on Wednesday, August 10 and will run until August 11 at the University of the Philippines Film Center. Visit http:// pandayanglinobrocka.wordpress.com for the schedule of screenings and updates or contact (02) 709-4156.
11 • Kulê Opinyon
Miyerkules 10 Agosto 2011
TEXTBACK
1.
Anong kanta ang
magsasalarawan sa budget cut sa SUCs? Para sa akin, ang kantang pinakamainam magsalarawan sa budget cut sa SUCs ay ang “My Way” dahil halos lahat ng kumakanta nito ay namamatay. Ang gobyerno habang inaawit ang my way, pumapatay ng pag-asa ng mga mag-aaral at mga magulang na hirap na hirap kakahagilap ng pera, pambayad ng mataas na tuition fee. 2010-13936 Aray ni ara mina! Hahaha .. 05-17332 B E Educ DOWN by Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne hahaha.. xD 201141004 Fuck The System ng System of a Down. Yan ang bagay sa budget cut na yan. \m/ Bleh pfft 2011-01537 ben music Ang kantang naiisip ko for budget cut sa SUC’s ay DOWN ni jay sean. yung lyrics na “budget you’re so down, down, down, down, down... doowwnn, doowwnn... SUC’s budget is so down, down, down...” wala lang ang fail kasi sobrang sabaw. haha. 2011-15266, Tapz ng Educ. :) para sakin, mairerelate ko ang budget cut s SUC’s s kantang love the way you lie ni rihanna, kasi sabi ay pnphlgahan ang edukasyon, k2ld ng pag-ibg ngunit nababalewala, kagaya n dn nung mensahe ng kanta. 2011-03020 Nat AB POLITICAL SCIENCE Spaghetti Song, kasi pababa nang pababa yung budget e. Haha. :)) Pag nagpatuloy pa yun, pataas nang pataas ang tuition, obviously. Nakakalungkot. :( 10-20697 Dear Doctah aka Thomas High, Try mong pumunta ng Pilipinas minsan. Para di naman forever alone yung isang eba rito. Labyu raw. KBAI. 11-11510 Logan,Theater theme song ng budget cut ang Super Bass ni Minaj. Dahil kung gaano ka-low note ang bass, gnun na rin kababa ang handa nlang gastusin para sa edukasyon. Eh super bass pa, kaya super baba na! Amp. O746260 franco BAPA ‘Ngunit Bakit Tila Walang Natira’ by Gloc 9. Napakaraming SUCs dito sa atin, ngunit bakit tila walang natira? Na-budget cut sila (kumita 4x) :( 2008-10889 nasaan ka man ~~ nasaan ka man, hanap ka pa ng puso. Nasanay ng sa’yo sumasamo... Maging ang bayad at sukli ay buhay pa...~~ 2011-32097
F
reedom of the press in the Philippines is clearly not served on a silver platter, rather can be attained only through collective action. To struggle against journalist killings and restricted access to information are clear moves towards achieving press freedom and a mediafriendly society. It is high time for media practitioners on various fields and scale mainstream, alternative and communications students - to join hands in campaigning for the promotion and advancement of press freedom in the country.
EKSENANG PEYUPS
2.
Anong meron sa kape ng
PAGCOR at sobrang mahal nito? .. Mahal ang kape ng PAGCOR dahil may tongkat ali ito na mabisang pampadagdag s pagkalalaki ng mga lalaki. =) 2007-54408 BS MatE Nako, complete siguro sa vitamins at minerals ang kape ng pagcor. From A-Z, at lahat ng minerals tulad ng ginto, pilak, etc. Nakakatawa lng na nakakainis. ang mahal ng nagastos sa kape ah. Mga Kurakot! 11-42913 mrkgt mayroon siguro s kape ng PAGCOR na ginto, o baka binili s starbucks nmn to o d kaya ay baka galing s dumi ng alamid to kya gnyng kmhl! Grbe hahahaha ;) 2011-03020 Isang branch ng starbucks ang nasa isang tasa ng kape, isama m0 b ang c0ffee bean at seattle’s best! XD 2011-25709 “ang kape sa PAGCOR ay may ginto, ung katulad ng sa mga pampaganda tulad ng p0nds, meron itong gold dust/particles. Ang mhal eh. Anu kaya ung karat nun?” :D11-07885 BA APP PSYCH ü Comments ...nakakagulat ung Kultura section ng Kule Blg. 8 o_O Just... WOW ha. I knew I should have expected something like that from UP, but still xD Also, ang ganda nung Terminal Cases article about reality. Panalo talaga. 2011-13810 Kudos to Kule for quoting Eugene Domingo. 09-43565 Hindi lang sa Budget Cut sa SUCs, sa kabuuan applicable ang Dear Mr. President. Sobrang naenjoy ko ang addictionthemed centerfold nyo! Go Kule! :)) 1060337 sa yosi break- simple lng naman yan, wag kayong mandamay sa usok nyo kya wag kayo magyosi sa public place. O4-4572o to CoN DoMinad0r:kmusta aman ang wlang wisd0m mung reas0ning na ang ‘c0nd0m ang cmb0lo ng pgpur0l sa talim ng pgbBwal ng lipunan’!?!cm0n man!c0nd0m ang panakip buTas mu sa pgGawa ng mali at kwalan ng visi0n sa buhay.tgnan ntin kng msaBi mu pa yan kng mbuntis mu ang gf mu.at sa gf mu:gurl,wer has all ur dgnity nd self-resPect g0ne!?ur w0rth a weDding ring,n0t a c0nd0m. 07-53918
To ma. Vibra peniles, hanga ako sayo ate! Mahal ko ang mga tulad mo na walang pakialam sa sinasbng bwal ng lipunan para maging hadlang para makadama ng kaligayahan. Good work! -201128841 Wow at kultura section, ‘Yosi break.’ hindi ko maunawaan ang punto. Diary entry ba ito? Makasarili. Tss. Pointless. Anti-Kule. Ano yan. Post-modern shit? Watevs -07 82181 ur so KULE as in COOL. haha! Grabe kayo. Super nag-eenjoy ako sa bawat issues kaya naman inaabangan ko ito every week! Keep it up! 10-10454, shobe I just wnt to comment on the suicide note last issue. Even though it is a fictional composition, u shouldn’t say bad words to God. It is a very blasphemous act and at the same time disrespect in the religion. 201110526 Music Christopher Lao I WAS NOT INFORMED!.. na guwapo ka pala. Teehee :D Kebs ka lang sa tanga keme ng others. Epalomeras lang sila. Mga pa-award. 10-3511O Pat BC Panawagan can you write an article on choirs in UP Diliman? Para naman ma-engganyo ang mga isko/iska sumali. 2011-03686 Next week’s questions 1. Paano mo maipapakita ang iyong pagmamahal sa wikang Filipino ngayong Buwan ng Wika? 2. Bakit pa bumalik si Nora Aunor sa Pilipinas?
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Deh UPCAT Edishun!
Andito na naman ang inyong baklang lingkod, live and alive dahil semi-bakla ako last week, bakla ulit ako this week! And wafazz lang ang naghaharing discriminators na lumipana across UP Naming Mahal. Oh my gad teh, koyah, BIs, gays, trannies and lesbos! As in uber sa kalokahan ang iwawarla kong mga chismax na nanggaling pa sa hidden septic tanks ng mga utrez! Warla #1: Habang naglipana ang cute little papaboys and the not-so-handsome examiners last Saturday at Sunday, meron namang naglipanang freshboy to his first lover (uhmm… may second lover din kasi). Take note pinagsabay sila! Kalurkey to the max dahil si bikoyang ay di makapili sa dalawang vaklush! At pareho pa silang diverse ages: as in old and young! Kalowkah ka koyah! You’ll pick one and throw the other away! Dahil diyan, isang malaking MINUS WRONG sayoh! Warla #2: Grabe lang ang kayabangan ng isang fourth year vaklush sa kanyang pagrampa along Acad Oval. Discriminate efex to the max siya habang kinakalat ang kanyang nega BVs (bumobonggang vibrators). Sabi niya to one madir
waiting for her daughter: “Ay adameng bata! Di naman sila papasa!” OMG (Oh My Gaga) sau teh! Warla # 3: Ito namang mga ateng na shungaerz ay nadisappoint sa facilidad ng UP nating nagmamahal. Sabi ni ateng number 1 sa kanyang amigas: “Arreneow na lang tayo, ryt?” Sagot naman ni gagang amiga: “Yuh! Arreneow na lang tayo!” Mega interject si another gagang amiga: “Yuuuuuhhh! Mag-Arreneow na lang tayo.” Dahil sa pagmamaganda ninyo, wag sana kayong makapasa sa UPCAT at sa Arrreeneeow, ryt? Warla #4 And for the least of all chismis, dahil kaka-UPCAT lang ng mga utaw, isang malaking evil laugh sa inyo future freshies! Kala nila kasing dali ng UPCAT ang pagpunta sa UP na pinuno ng rich caroos. As in uber hirap ng Pinas but there are so many cars! Lurkey to the max na to! Oh well, brace myself (myself daw o?) na next year! Mukhang polluted na naman ang Acad Oval sa dami ng future freshies na may caroo. Siksikan tuloy sa oval! Feel ko next year, UP becomes Burgesya University of the Pilipenis na! Char! See yah next week mga teh. Mwah, mwah! ●
Philippine Collegian Graphics section presents:
LE UP AC
2011
o t o Ph ania M he age t n i m s i ournaalry media Photoejm por cont
August 18, 1:00PM to 5:00PM College of Mass Communication Auditorium UP Diliman, Quezon City Speakers: Joan Bondoc, veteran photojournalist, Philippine Daily Inquirer Luis Liwanag, freelance photo/videojournalist Veejay Villafranca, photojournalist, Getty Global
of
Lunes 17 Abril 2011
KulĂŞ The Back Page
Dibuho nina Nico Villarete at Archie Oclos