SINAG Issue No 2 November-December 2017

NEWS

2

ISSUE NO. 2 NOV DEC 2017

State repression greets December RENEE LOUISE CO & RYAN MARTINEZ A series of attacks on civil society organizations and individuals took place, while the state administration continued to aggravate conditions of mass persecution during the last days of November until the first week of December.

Rampant killings For the past week, starting November 28 up to December 4, over 27 identified individuals died after clashes with government forces and private entities associated with officials.

At 2:40 PM last Monday, November 28, two individuals from a thirty-member fact finding mission were killed by unknown gunmen while another was injured after deployment in Brgy. San Ramon, Bayawan, Negros Oriental.

They arrived to investigate “reported human rights violations due to intensified military operations in the area.” Upon arrival at the barangay, they were blocked and harassed by the mayor’s private security detail. Later, the same men presumably opened fire to the human rights team.

At around 8:30PM of the same day, fifteen alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and three others injured after an encounter with the Philippine Air Force in Nasugbu, Batangas. The clash occurred five days after President Rodrigo Duterte cancelled peace talks with the the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its affiliates. One of them was Josephine Lapira, a 22-yearold BS Biochemistry student from the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila.

Meanwhile, at 1PM last Sunday, December 3, eight members of the Lumad indigenous group were slaughtered by a joint team of soldiers and marines in South Cotabato. According to an urgent report from human rights group KARAPATAN, soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 27th and 33rd infantry battalions and the Philippine Marines entered the farm of the peasants in Datalbong Langon, Ned Village, Lake Sebu.

According to Efren Aksasato, spokesperson for NDFP-Far South Mindanao Region, those slain in the ‘encounter’ were part of the T’boli-Manobo S’daf Claimants Organization, seeking to retrieve their ancestral land from Consunji/ DMCI, a subsidiary of the Nestlé Corporation. A day prior to the massacre, a military official warned through the media that the Lumads should surrender.

of political detainee from the Provincial Jail in Cabanatuan City shortly before his assassination. He was also a coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in Central Luzon, who actively campaigned against militarization and provided service for communities and victims of human rights violations.

Quezon City Hall of Justice while he was about to post bail.

Civilian harassment

Judge Don Ace Mariano Alagar of the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 43 issued a warrant of arrest against San Mateo for violating Section 20 (k) of the Commonwealth Act No. 146 or The Public Service Act, with a ₱4,000 bail set by the local court.

On the following day, December 5, George San Mateo, national president of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), was arrested for charges related to the organization of the transport strikes condemning jeepney modernization.

He was forcibly taken by authorities in front of the

Meanwhile, in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, Lumad groups and advocates brought attention to the military food blockade that barred relief aid to more than 1,500 individuals.

About 345 families are at the evacuation site by the Army’s 75th Infantry Battalion due to increased military counterinsurgency operations.

In response, the AFP released a statement expressing that donations should properly be coordinated with the Local Government Unit and assured that the residents of the bakwit site is secured as military operation continues to pursue the fleeing NPA.

State action On that same Tuesday, December 5, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced that Duterte signed a memorandum ordering the return of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to actively support the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the antiillegal drugs campaign.

In that Malacañang press briefing, Roque also hinted at the possibility of the

On the same day, at 8PM, Pastor Lovelito Quiñones, a 57-year-old pastor of King’s Glory Ministry, was shot dead by the Police Regional Mobile Group in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. The army’s 203rd Brigade claimed victim was a member of the NPA, which the pastor’s relatives countered.

According to the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, there was an alleged encounter in the area where the pastor drives through going home.

Finally, at around the same time the next day, December 4, Fr. Marcelito “Tito” Paez, a 72-year-old Roman Catholic priest, was shot nine times by motorcycle-riding gunmen in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.

He was rushed to the hospital after the incident, where he was pronounced dead at 10:45PM. Paez facilitated the release

HACIENDA BUWAGIN ni Red Carao A farmworker tears down the wall of land formerly owned by Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), amidst dozens of police forces lining up on the other side of the wall. The 500-hectare land, which forms part of the Hacienda Luisita, was sold by the Cojuangco clan to RCBC in 1996. The occupation is part of the bungkalan campaign of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and other allied peasant organizations to claim lands awarded to them by the Supreme Court in 2012. Bungkalan is launched int line with the 13th anniversary commemoration of Hacienda Luisita massacre (November 16) that left seven farmworkers killed by police forces, in which until today, no one is prosecuted

ISSUE NO. 2 NOV DEC 2017

3

NEWS Philippines withdrawing from the International Criminal Court should the tribunal violate the principle of complementarity by investigating into a filed complaint regarding Duterte’s war on drugs.

He warns that the court should “only exercise jurisdiction if our courts are unwilling or unable to exercise jurisdiction on any crime cognizable by

the International Criminal Courts.” This refers to the complaint of mass murder filed

by Jude Sabio, the lawyer of professed Davao Death Squad hitman Edgar Matobato.

The following day, December 6, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration martial law in Mindanao.

The vote was 10-3-1 with ten in favor denying the three

motions of reconsideration.

The three abstentions stuck to their earlier votes to limit scopes of martial law to relevant locations only, while lone dissenter Associate Justice Marvic Leonen voted to nullify the proclamation.

Martial law in Mindanao will cease on December 31, after Congress voted for an extension passing its original expiry date on July 22. s

Photo by Red Carao

Peasant groups camp out at DAR, call for genuine land reform MACY MARIE ADDUCUL

QUEZON CITY, Philippines— In line with the celebration of the national peasant month, around 2000 farmers, tillers and agricultural workers from different parts of the country set up camps outside the central office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) from October 18 to 25 to intensify the call for genuine agrarian reform.

Members of the groups Bukidnon Free Farmers and Agricultural Laborers Organization (BUFFALO), Tried Agricultural Movers Association of Rural Active Workers (TAMARAW), and the Landless Tillers Inhabitants of Musuan (LIMUS)—collectively known as BTL—were the first to camp at DAR during the two-week long protest action. Peasant groups from Bicol, Southern Luzon, Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley also joined the mobilization in the following days.

Titled as #LakbayMagsasaka, this protest action aimed to raise awareness on the concerns of farmers from all over the country and garner support in their fight for free land distribution.

“Ang gusto sana namin ay gawing ligal ang aming pagsasaka, na

sana maidistribute na sa amin yung mga lupa,” Dante Minente, a member of BTL said in an interview.

“The BTL farmers have been tilling the lands inside the Central Mindanao University (CMU) since 1975 originally as CMU-hired farm workers used to maintain a school-managed rice field… CMU claims it suffered budget cuts, and leased its lands to agribusinesses at the expense of the farmers,” read the statement given by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

The secretary general of KMP, Antonio Flores, explained that despite the existence of land reform laws such as PD 27, which supposedly mandates the distribution of farm lands, a lot of farmers still remain landless. This was allegedly due to its lack of implementation and because landowners either refused to obey or find ways to evade the law through land use conversion.

In relation to this, Rafael Mariano, who served as DAR secretary for more than a year and currently the chair of Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan, assured the peasant groups that despite his rejection, they will still

continue to push for a genuine agrarian reform.

“Tuloy po ang ating adbokasiya para maipatupad ang tunay na repormang agraryo at maipasabatas ang Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB).

Ito ang Free Land Distribution Bill o panukalang batas para sa libreng distribusyon ng lupa sa masang magsasaka, manggagawang bukid, manggagawang agrikultural o sa lahat ng mga nagbubungkal ng lupa na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring sariling lupa,” he said during the peasant groups’ Solidarity Night in October 24.

Photo by Red Carao

Members of the peace panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) who also attended the said event also expressed their support to the peasant groups’ call for genuine land reform.

“Ang inyong mahigpit na kahilingan ay bahagi at priority po ng peace negotiating panel… kaya nga noong third round ng peace talks sa Roma, kasama doon si Ka Joma Sison at kanyang asawa. Doon napagagreehan ng magkabilang panig na yung free distibution of land for farmers and tillers ay isang principal priority ng magkabilang panig sa peace negotiations,” NDFP Senior Peace Adviser Luis Jalondani said in his speech.

However, Jalondani also reminded the peasant groups to

continue their fight for free land distribution for these reforms will never be implemented unless the farmers rigorously assert for it.

Among those present in the event were NDFP Peace Panel Chair Fidel Agcaoili; panelists Benito Tiamzon, Coni Ledesma, and Osterio Calima; and consultants Alan Martinez, Randy Malayao, and Satur Ocampo.

Throughout the two-week long protest action, several mobilizations, performances, forums, solidarity nights and camp integrations were conducted. This is in coordination with several mass organizations such as KMP, Anakpawis, Kuman, Sinag Bayan and others. s

NEWS

4 SMUPC petitions to UPD Relocate us to better spaces

ISSUE NO. 2 NOV DEC 2017

admin:

MACY MARIE ADDUCUL The Samahan ng mga Manininda sa UP Campus (SMUPC) has filed a petition calling on the administration to take action and relocate to a better area the members who were affected by two incidents of fire in the campus in 2015 and 2016.

According to SMUPC President Edna Sinoy, the vendors around the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association (CASAA) food center and the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) were greatly affected when the buildings burned down.

Sinoy added that up to now those members are still displaced and because of

the frequent food sale being conducted in the area, they also continue to suffer losses in revenue.

In relation to this, the petition which garnered 3000 signatures also urges the administration to allow the SMUPC vendors tort sell affordable and healthy rice meals to students at certain times of the day.

“Ang samahan po kasi limitado lang ang pwedeng ibenta alinsunod sa university guidelines. Pero dahil dito sa petisyon, sa tulong ng mga estudyante, ay nakahanda po kami na magserve ng mga masustansyang pagkain. Sana pumayag sila na madagdagan

ang mga uri ng namin,” Sinoy said.

paninda

She also hopes that a definite place will be provided for them soon and for all other vendors of UP; a place where students will have variety of choices and will have access to more affordable food.

On the other hand, efforts are already being made by the administration and the student council of the College of Social Science and Philosophy to address both the needs of the vendors and the students.

According to CSSP Dean Bernadette Abrera in an earlier interview with Sinag,

the construction of a new CSSP food court will hopefully begin in 2018 at the old CASAA space.

“The food stalls will be at the center of the food court, and then all around, there will be tables and chairs for the students…we hope that it can open [starting] at 6 AM to accommodate the early classes [to] provide breakfast for our students,” she added.

The CSSP Student Council has also given out survey forms to students, faculty and staff regarding their food preferences. This is for the administration to know what kinds of food they will ask from the food concessionaires. s

S I N A G T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F C S S P 2017 - 2018

RENEE LOUISE CO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DANIEL BRAZA ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ENRIQUE NAVERA

MANAGING EDITOR

SEAN APOSTOL

LITERARY EDITOR

GIANA LARRAURI FEATURES EDITOR

SOFIA VALERA GRAPHICS HEAD

HERBY ESMERALDA PHOTOGRAPHY HEAD

NIKKA DE TORRES LAYOUT HEAD

KARLA SANTAMARIA VERNICE SISON LAYOUT ARTISTS

RYAN MARTINEZ

FSRC manual, venue rental fees stifle CMC ORGS DANIEL BRAZA

S t u d e n t- o r g a n i z a t i o n s from the College of Mass Communications (CMC) have been up in protest after a series of policy impositions that have led to organizations being immobilized, both during the recognition processes and their activities.

Organizations from CMC protested against the continued imposition of the Faculty-Student Relations Committee (FSRC) Manual of 2001, which they claimed to be “repressive” and have “promoted anti-student policies.”

This manual, which outlines the guidelines on the process of organization recognition, use of college spaces, and restrictions on membership, has allegedly prevented three CMC organizations namely Filmmakers' Guild of UP,

UP Mass Communicators' Organization and UP Aperture from applying for recognition because they failed to meet the minimum membership requirement.

As an act of protest, all CMC student organizations pulled out their applications on the then ongoing org recognition process last October 2.

“In the UP College of Mass Communication, the college administration continues to defend and justify the creation of Faculty-Students Relations Committee (FSRC) Manual, which has been used so frequently to suppress local student organizations through the arduous procedures, mechanisms and requirements embedded in the college’s organization recognition process,” said the UP Office of the Student

Regent in a social media statement.

Earlier protests had also been launched by students in CMC last August 29 and September 7, both of which aimed to unite CMC students in a call to junk and replace the FSRC manual.

However, after this move by the CMC orgs, the admin then raised rental rates on the college facilities with rates ranging from PhP 250-350 on weekdays and PhP 1,120 on weekends, which started on October 3. This was followed by a 2005 document justifying the rates, since venues were free of charge prior to the withdrawal. The document says that rates had to be enforced due to “scarcity.”

Shortly after, clamor was once again raised due to

BUSINESS MANAGER

JETHRO CAMARA WEB ADMINISTRATOR

the presence of Philippine National Police (PNP) officers inside the college, whom the college administration claimed to be there for exercises aiming to improve their communication skills.

“The College of Mass Communication Student Council stands with all organizations in their struggle against policies that trample on the students’ democratic rights including their right to spaces and organization. The recent actions by the admin only echoes its anti-student stance that pushes it to further implement repressive policies instead of addressing the students’ legitimate demands,” said the CMCSC in an official statement in response to these series of events. s

SINAG was established in 1968 in a time

when Philippine democracy was facing its biggest challenge since independence. The students of the College of Arts and Sciences deemed the need for an avenue to speak their critical minds and take a stand through an official student publication. Its name is portmanteau os SINing and AGham. Also meaning ‘a ray of light’ in Filipino, its name represents the paper as a source of light, especially in the dark times during which it was founded. While the dictatorship has fallen, the Philippines never left the darkness of social injustice and oppression. Thus, SINAG continues to strive to provide light that we may one day live in the light of true freedom.

MEMBER

UP SOLIDARIDAD

csspsinag@gmail.com csspsinag.wordpress.com (02) 981 8500 loc. 2479 fb.com/CSSPSINAG @ sinag_cssp SINAG Office, 1/F Palma Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101

ISSUE NO. 2 NOV DEC 2017

FEATURES

5

Passenger vs Driver?

The Constructed Battle for Jeepney Modernization RENEE LOUISE CO

J

eepneys are as ubiquitous on the modern Philippine roads as pedestrians are. No matter what road in the entire diversity of landscapes in the country you find yourself on, you are likely to find a jeepney travelling asphalt, concrete or dirt next to pairs of shoes and slippers walking along. The puts of its engines are audible across regions, its faces transformed by various geographical needs, but nonetheless all too familiar. The jeepney is the symbol for Philippine travel.

Nowadays, it is also the symbol for the issues in the Philippine transport system. This is not to glorify our other means of transport – our trains, buses, taxis, tricycles, motorcycles and private cars all come with their problematic set of issues. However, the focus has been pinpointed on jeeps as it is the first target of the Duterte administration with its policy: jeepney modernization. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) “trickle-truthed” the details: jeepneys older than 15 years will be phased out and replaced by eco-jeepneys. However, the drivers will be the ones to pay for their new jeeps priced at ₱1 million. In addition, the government will be so kind to offer loans to drivers that will cost them around ₱800 per day, and it has to happen at the moment they say it.

With that, the debate ensues. PISTON organized two-day transport strikes that shocked Metro Manila traffic and prompted government suspensions. Drivers took to the streets to air out their grievances. The vacuum of activity created by the lack of jeepneys prompted a national discourse on the policy, joined by stranded passengers, rallying supporters, and high-ranking officials. And in the comments section of one of the many Facebook posts about the issue, one has asked: “Who has it worse: the jeepney driver or the commuter?”

The story of a commuter On the left corner, the commuter – your average joe or joanna waking up two hours early to beat the traffic, but gets stranded in EDSA anyway. They line up outside train stations to sweat in metal death traps that collapses every other day or so, and they compress themselves in jeepney seats half their hip measurements to inhale smog from miniscule windows. They have to do this twice a day, for five days a week. The daily commute escapes no one; students, workers, government officials, businessmen, and plain folk all ride our jeeps.

The jeepney modernization plan by the administration aims to solve the problems commuters face. As they put it, it aims to improve the quality of life of the riding public.

There will be two expected effects by the removal of old jeepneys on the roads. Firstly, it

will decrease traffic congestion on roads. Since there are a sizeable number of jeepneys that use older systems, banning them would mean there would be lesser vehicles on the road. Although old jeepneys will eventually be replaced, the administration is positive that traffic can be better controlled when those jeepneys are taken out for some time. The government will also plan the routes to be taken by franchises, which would “ideally” help curtail traffic congestion.

Secondly and most importantly, they will remove the environmental and safety hazards posed by the old jeepneys. LTFRB says that these old jeeps do not comply with the requirements set forth, such as comfortable and secure seating, functioning speedometers, environmentally-friendly vehicle emissions, and other miscellaneous items, like WiFi, dashboard cameras, and GPS devices. Through the jeepney modernization program, the public is assured that jeepneys will be a safe and reliable option of transportation, and the commuters are ensured safe travels.

The story of a driver On the right corner – your manong driver waking up before the break of dawn to start their jobs, and retiring only a few hours before midnight. Working nonstop for two-thirds of the day, driving through the same path ad nauseam, they tirelessly brave through the traffic, weather and their own hunger. The job demands physical and mental abilities: the driver must calculate fares and changes, remember faces of those who paid, and drive responsibly, trying to stay awake and alert the

entire time.

The winner?

Jeepney drivers are not only overworked, but they are underpaid. Many of their problems can be traced to the outdated franchising system jeepneys use. In a franchise, there are operators, who own the jeepneys, and drivers, who use the jeepneys. Franchise owners basically let drivers “rent” vehicles as their job. However, drivers must pay a boundary, usually costing around a thousand pesos each day, which serves as the “rental fees”. In other words, the income they get from driving does not all go to them. If you also subtract money for gas, maintenance costs and repairs, the jeepney driver takes home little money.

With the jeepney modernization program, jeepney drivers not only fight amongst themselves, but the administration pits them against the commuters as well. They frame it as a zero-sum game: either the commuters become happy because of the “innovations” for jeepneys and drivers have to pay for it, or we all eternally suffer from bad transportation practices, choking on polluted air and stopping development. No one wants to continually stagnate, but the solution the government is offering will choke the remaining lives of jeepney drivers.

The outdated franchising system does not have rules or regulations for drivers set in place.

This pseudo free market enables franchise owners to simply gain profit without much effort, and thus results the disorganised system jeepneys are under. Because drivers are driven to put greater effort in their work to meet their boundary and make their actual profit, they fight for passengers, which are limited in number.

This creates a free-for-all competition between jeepney drivers, who try to outmanoeuvre themselves at each turn. They go past speed limits, overtake jeepneys in stops, and stay for longer minutes at jeepney stops to wait for passengers. All this creates a culture where jeepney drivers are pit against each other.

It is easy to demonize a sector without a voice. For the longest time, they have been silently turning the wheel with an acceptance of the norms clearly working against them. Now, they have spoken. They offer their sides and ask us to sympathize with their lose-lose situations.

As commuters and consumers of their services, we cannot simply stay at our side of the ring.

We should overlook the problems we point out to see the greater ones the other parties face.

After that, we demand a better alternative.

In our situation, there is no winner. But this isn’t a contest where someone has to lose. The battle drivers and commuters fought is naught, only an illusion created so that policies may be railroaded. In cases like this, it is always quite honorable to throw in the towel and shake hands. s

6

MANGGAGAWA NG KAPP: Iskolar ng

GIANA LA “Ay narito po.”

ang pangalang Pat Johnny. Tinanong malilimutan ang mga nagdaang isyu pesos lamang ang kanyang kinikita

Matapos na ipakita sa kanya na

ko ang kanyang mga karanasan sa pagpapaalis ng mga maninindang sa isang araw. Bukod pa rito ang mga

Hall ang magigiting na manggagawang estudyante nga ako dito, hindi ko na nakasasalamuha natin araw-araw. Sila sinuot pa ang ID ko. Kung susuriin mo

bilang isang security guard at ang gumagamit ng cart. Tulad na lamang ng pagkakataong may kakumpitensiya

ang mga tauhang mahalaga sa ating ang guwardiyang nagkalat sa iba’t pang araw-araw na gawain tulad ng ibang lagusan, iisa ang nakatatak

malilimutan

simpleng pagpapaxerox ng ating mga sa kanilang kaliwang balikat: babasahin, pagpapanatiling malinis Northcom. Ang Northcom Security ng ating mga palikuran, paninigurado and Investigation Agency (NSIA) ay

“Noong naging task force ako, UP. Marahil ay simula’t sapul, sila ay N a k a l u l u n g k o t Disyembre 2014, napagbintangan ako nariyan na upang magbenta ng mga isipin na hindi sa isang kasalanang hindi ko naman pagkaing abot-kaya ng ating mga lamang kita ang

ng ating seguridad at proteksyon, at isang ahensiyang nag-tatalaga ng ang pagpapapawi ng gutom at stress mga security personnel sa iba’t ibang

ginawa.”

Sa dinami-rami ng mga taong nagdaan, naririto na sa paligid ng Palma

sa pamamagitan ng mga mumunting mga lugar na nangangailangan nito. pagkain. Sila ay nagmula sa iba’t Subalit sa kabila ng mga mainam ibang larangan ng lipunan, kabilang na pagtatakda, hindi rin maiiwasan

mga pangyayaring hinding-hindi niya mga inaasahan nating manggagawa, silang mga food fair na sa

larangang

piniling sila ay kabilang sa mga mahahalagang mas pinupuntahan ng

tahakin.

parte ng napakalaking komunidad ng mga

allowance bilang mag-aaral.

walang pagsisiyasat na naganap. Ang ako ng mga apo.” hinaing na isiniwalat ni kuya Pat ay ang

kanilang mga karanasan.

responsibilidad

tanggap nang tanggap ng pera. At turon, at iba pa ang

Lingid sa ating kaisipan na tunay na nakaatang sa kanila, sapagkat sila

dahil sa kapabayaang ito, mayroong mga napiling ibenta ni

ngang apektado tayo sa kung ano ang unang pagbibintangan sa oras na

mga kagamitang hindi inaasahang Nanay Cecilia upang

man ang mangyari sa kanila. Kung mapasukan ng masasamang loob ang

mawala. Walang pakundangan siyang makatulong sa mga

wala tayong matatakbuhang taga- mga lugar na kanilang nararapat na

kinaltasan ng sweldo at inalis sa nagugutom na mag-

xerox, kailangan pa nating pumunta bantayan. Kabilang na sa binabantayan

serbisyo. Hindi na siya binigyan pa ng aaral

sa SC at sumakay pa ng Ikot. Kung ng mga security guard na ito ay ang

pagkakataong ipaliwanag ang sarili Tulad na nga ng

walang matiyagang maglinis ng mga kinabukasan ng kani-kanilang mga

sapagkat nakulong na sila sa kaisipang nakagisnan,

banyo, saan na lang tayo gagamit nito? pamilya.

hindi niya nabantayan nang husto ang 3 0 0 -

Kung walang mag-mo-monitor ng

Siguro

ang

nakalulugod

isipin

na

labas-masok sa kolehiyo, paano tayo mayroong ahensiyang nagtatakda sa makakasiguro na ligtas pang manatili ‘yo ng trabaho ngunit ang lahat ng bagay rito? At higit sa lahat, kung wala ang talaga ay hindi perpekto. Isa na sa mga ating mga manininda, paano natin ipinaglaban at patuloy na sinusulong ng malalagpasan ang bawat pagsubok sa mga guwardiya ay ang mga benepisyo isang araw? Hindi rin natin maikakaila nila bilang mga manggagawa. Walang na kung wala sila, ay wala rin tayo. At hulog ang kanilang mga benepisyo kung mawawalan sila, mawawalan rin sa SSS, Philhealth, at PAG-IBIG. Ito tayo. ang pinoproblema ng kanilang HR at hanggang ngayon ay hinihiling Magigiting na manggagawa

pa rin nila sa pamamagitan ng mga

Isa lamang ito sa mga katanungang diskurso. Ang tanging hiling lamang bumagabag sa kaisipan ko pagbaba nila ay mahulugan na ang mga ito sa ng ikot jeep. Sa paglipas ng mga lalong madaling panahon sapagkat araw na pumapasok ako sa paaralan, hindi naman laging malusog ang kaninakatutulong ba ako sa mga taong kanilang mga pangangatawan, na ito? Sino nga ba sila sa buhay ko bilang nararapat na laging handa sa aksyon. isang estudyante? Ano nga ba ang Kritikal ang trabahong ito kaya walang parte ko sa buhay nila? Paano ako ibang maaasahan kundi ang kanilang nakaaapekto sa kanilang hanapbuhay? pisikal na kalusugan.

Kung tutuusin ay isa sa malalagim na At bakit kailangan ko pang malaman kung sino sila?

karanasan ng isang guwardiya ay ang

Sa dinami-rami ng mga katanungan mapagbintangan sa isang kasalanang sa isip, hindi ko napansing binati na hindi naman niya ginawa. Sa paglalakad pala ako ni manong guard.

“Miss, ID mo?”

ko patungo sa CASAA, nakita ko ang isang

guwardiyang

nagbabantay.

Nakakabit sa kanyang kanang dibdib

naaapektuhan,

pati “1998 pa lang nagtitinda na ako sa kundi rin ang ganitong uri ng mga manggagawa UP. Kumbaga dito ko na binuhay ang na n a p a k a r a m ing ay ang mapagbintangan sila nang mga anak ko hanggang sa biniyayaan Isa sa mga isyu na kinakaharap ng

sa mga grupong bumubukod sa ang katotohanang malaki ang pagkakakilanlan—bitbit ang kani- ginagampanan ng isang guwardiya.

Katakot-takot

estudyante.

Mineral water, soft

pagkawalang-ingat ng mga tauhang drinks, lumpia, karioka,

nasabing pangyayari.

400

Paskong walang kwarta Inabot

siya

ng

isang

taong

pakikipag-demandahan sa city hall upang mapatunayang wala siyang kasalanan sa nasabing pangyayari.

Inamin niyang hindi siya makatulog noon dahil pinagdurusahan niya ang isang kasalanang hindi naman niya ginawa. Ayaw na ayaw rin niyang magpakain sa kaniyang pamilya ng perang galing sa kalokohan at kakutya-kutyang

gawain.

Hindi

nagtagal ay napatunayan niyang wala siyang sala at binayaran siya sa nagawang napakalaking abalang ‘di niya makalilimutan kailanman.

Paglabas madadatnan ni

Nanay

ng ang Ceciliang

CASAA, mga

apo

masipag

na

nagbebenta ng mga fish crackers sa mga estudyanteng dumadaan.

Kabilang si Nanay Cecilia sa SMUPC. Isa siya sa mga manininda na mayroon lamang kakarampot na kita sa pang araw-araw na gastusin. Kaya hindi nga

at

propesor.

FEATURES

ISSUE NO. 2 NOV DEC 2017

g bayan, para kanino ka lumalaban?

ARRAURI matitirang mga pagkain.

“Para sa akin ang laking tulong ng trabahong

mahirap

ipagmalaki. sa harap ng salamin. Nagtungo naman kinakailangan ng mga machine ay

kasing laki at kapal ng iba`t ibang papel “Ano po ang ginagawa ninyo sa mga mga estudyante, propesor, at mga Dahil sa sila ay kabilang sa mga ako kay Ate Margie sa AS Lobby. empleyado… kasi kung wala sila wala manggagawang underpaid, ang uri natitira?”

“Ate paxerox po nito. Isang kopya na walang kapagurang ginagamit sa rin kami dito.” ng trabahong kanilang pinasok ay pagpapaphotocopy. Nasisira rin ang lang.”

“Ipinapamigay namin sa mga hindi

nagugutom.”

Bihira na nga lang ata sa mundong Nakagisnang problema ito ang mga taong tumutulong

Ngunit hindi niyo ba napapansin?

pa rin sa kapwa kahit na walang- Tila paulit-ulit na ang mga suliraning wala na rin sila. Ang tanging kinakaharap ng ating mga manininda pinanghuhugutan niya ng lakas ay bukod pa kay Nanay Cecilia. Tulad ni ang pagmamahal at suporta mula Ate Evangeline sa may ASCAL, may sa pamilya. Ang pagkain at halos amo siyang kailangang hatian, kaya lahat na ng pangangailangan nila ay porsyentuhan lamang ang kanyang kinukuha mula sa kinikita sa pagtitinda. kita.

Siya na rin ang nagpapaaral sa lahat ng

Palagi na lamang ba mayroong

kailanman

sapagkat

ito

ay

magiging

madali,

sumasaklaw

sa

kalinisan ng kapaligiran. Sila ang mga taong masipag na nagpapanatiling malinis ng ating mga silid at palikuran.

Sila ang mga nagtatapon ng mga basurang hindi natin mailagay sa tamang tapunan. At sila ang mga naghahanda

ng

mga

kagamitang

kinakailangan natin araw-araw. Kung tutuusin pa nga’y wala tayong dapat na

alalahanin pa, sapagkat bago pa man mga apo, katulong ng kanyang anak na mga isyung kinakaharap tungkol sa tayo makatuntong sa unang klase sa si Ate Amor. matumal na benta, at mga isyu sa umaga, nalinis na nila ang bawat sulok pamamalagi sa loob ng campus? ng paaralan.

Hanggang kailan nga ba natin maririnig Subalit tulad ng ibang manggagawa ang ganitong mga suliranin? Paano ba sa CSSP, isa rin sila sa mayroong natin masosolusyunan ang ganitong mga kakarampot na suweldo at mga hinaing? pinagkakaitan ng mga benepisyo.

Patuloy akong naglakad patungo Pinagkakasya sa abot ng makakaya sa palikuran. Papasok na sana ako sa upang may iuwi sa pamilya. isang cubicle nang marinig ko ang Pinagkakasya nila di lamang ang salapi, boses ni ate. pati na rin ang enerhiya at lakas bilang “Ano ba naman yan hindi sandigan ng kanilang mga mahal sa

marunong mag-flush. Kadiri!”

buhay.

“Sige, sandali lang ha.”

Si Ate Margie ang babaeng laging pinipilahan sa AS lobby para sa mga kinakailangang babasahin at ipapa-

photocopy. Siya ay may isang pinagaaral na anak at tricycle driver naman ang kanyang asawa, na dati nang nakapwesto sa Palma Hall bilang tagaxerox rin noon.

Kung tutuusin ay nagkakasya naman sa pang araw-araw na pangangailangan ang kanyang kinikita. Naisipan niya rin kasing magbenta ng mga blue book, ballpen, candy, at magload sa iba’t ibang network upang magkaroon ng dagdag suweldo. Nakapagpapadala pa raw siya sa kanyang mga kapatid sa probinsya bilang pagtulong na rin sa mga mahal sa buhay. Bilang nag-iisa sa pagpapatakbo sa kanyang pwesto, bumabiyahe na siya simula 5:30AM at nakararating sa eskuwela bago mag

kabagalan, sa kanya pa rin nakasalalay ang mga hinahanap na readings ng mga

estudyante.

Mayroong

mga

panahon rin naman na nakalilimutan sa kanya ibalik ang orihinal na kopya ng mga babasahin kaya hinahanap ito ng propesor sa kanya. Kinailangan niyang kopyahin itong muli at siya na mismo ang nag-abono sa kawalan na nangyari.

200 pesos ang kanyang sweldo kada-araw,

ngunit

may

komisyon

rin siya sa bawat kita. Ang 500 pesos na kikitain sa isang araw ay mangangahulugang

additional

25

pesos mula sa orihinal na sweldo.

Swerte siya sa unang mga linggo ng pasukan dahil umaabot ang kanyang kinikita sa 4k-5k, kaya naman malaking dagdag ang magiging komisyon sa kanyang karaniwang sweldo.

“Yun nga lang, bagsak naman ang

pahinga kaya sinisikap niyang makakain katawan mo.”

Sa darating na June, magkakaroon sa tuwing walang magpapaxerox sa siya ng kasama dahil dadagsa na naman ang dami ng estudyante sa susunod na taon.

“Thank you po, ate.”

Sa

aking

pagkuha

ng

mga

pinaphotocopy kong readings, agad na akong nagtungo sa aking susunod na klase. Bitbit ang mga kwentong puno ng pagsisikap, paghihirap, at pagpupunyagi.

Sino nga ba ang mga magigiting na manggagawa ng CSSP? Marahil ay

sila

ang

mga

nakasasalamuha

tauhang

araw-araw

ating ngunit

hindi napagtutuunan ng pansin. Sila ang mga nanay at tatay ng mga pamilyang tulad natin, ay sinusustentuhan at pinag-aaral din. Sila ang mga kapatid at mga anak ng mga Pilipinong nais umahon sa nakalulunod na kahirapan.

At higit sa lahat, sila ang ating mga

na kapwang nararapat na pasalamatan at kanilang ginagawa. Ang mga ink na pagsilbihan bilang iskolar ng bayan. s ‘Di

Matapos ko ayusin ang aking sarili

at kahit na pinagtiyatiyagaan pa rin sa

alas-otso ng umaga. Wala siyang halos

Agad niyang nilinisan Tulad ng ating mga guwardiya, kanya. ang cubicle na iyon, ngunit mayroon din silang mga ahensyang Ang kanyang ginagawa bilang tagabakas sa mukha niya ang pinagmulan.

CBII Philippines xerox ng mga kinakailangang papeles pagkayamot sa taong International, Incorporated ang hindi marunong karaniwang makikitang nakatatak sa ay hindi biro. Siya ang pangunahing gumamit ng CR. Hindi likod ng mga uniporme ng bawat janitor takbuhan ng mga mag-aaral at ko na siya nakausap sa CSSP. Kaakibat ng mga ahensyang propesor sa pagduduplika ng mga pa pagkatapos noon. ito ang hindi nila napapansing pagsupil kopyang kakailanganin sa pag-aaral.

Siya ang taga-salba ng mga lumang K a r a n i w a n g sa kanilang sariling mga manggagawa. babasahing kailangan ng panibagong iniisip ng iba na Sa katotohanan ay hindi lamang kopya. Siya rin ang pinupuntahan ang pagiging ang mga pribadong ahensya ang mga kapag nakalimutan ang mga blue book janitor ay isa kumikitil sa hanapbuhay ng ating mga sa klase. sa mga manggagawa. Nakadidismaya ang Iniinda niya ang mga pagkakataong realidad na hindi marunong magpanatili nagmamadali ang mga estudyante ng kalinisan ang mga iskolar ng bayan. lalo na sa kahabaaan ng pila. ‘Di niya Sa simpleng pagsesegregate lamang naiiwasang pagtaasan ng boses ang ng mga basura ay ‘di pa magawa. Sa mga taong nagmamadali ngunit simpleng pagpapanatili ng kalinisan sa kinakailangan talagang maghintay. May CR ay ‘di rin magawa. Tayo rin mismo mga pagkakataon rin namang inuuna ang humahadlang sa ikagiginhawa ng ng ibang mga empleyado ang kanilang bawat isa sa kanila. mga sarili sa kabila ng mahabang pila.

Doble kayod

mga machine na kanilang ginagamit

biro

ang

pagxexerox

FEATURES

8

On October 5, 2017, Eat Bulaga host Joey de Leon said, “Yung depression, gawa-gawa lang ng mga tao ’yan. Gawa nila sa sarili nila.“ The media was then quick to publicize and reprimand his statement, while Twitter and Facebook users took to their respective platform to make their criticisms and opinions heard. While he has since apologized for the statements, the buried truth about mental health in the Philippine society has become evident. It is very unfortunate that some are still unaware and ignorant of mental illnesses people experience daily.

This is why UP Diliman’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVSCA) and the UP Psychology Society`s (PsychSoc) Mental Health Week held from October 24 to 27, is extremely relevant today. This nationwide commemoration was introduced locally through different activities – such as the Mental Health Fair, recreation and relaxation workshops, and fora focusing on mental health and media.

It is only recently that mental health is becoming better known in our country as a grave reality. Mental illnesses and disorders were once regarded as gimmicks to garner attention from the masses, but the myth is being dispelled as awareness of these issues spread. But what is mental health exactly?

On mental health Mental health is the state of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects every aspect of our lives – from how we handle stress and relate to the people around us to how we make our daily choices. A positive and healthy mental state can make our lives easier and more productive not just for ourselves, but also for the people we interact with daily.

Although mental health is a vital aspect in how we function, the problems and issues regarding mental health are only recently making mainstream headlines. These issues, however, have been present for the longest time, silently affecting lives right under our noses. For years the Filipino people have faced these issues on mental health by hiding behind the use of humour and by being told to be resilient through the pain and torment. This culture, in fact, can prevent the person from expressing their struggles openly and, in turn, makes the situation worse. The tendency is to bottle all the emotions inside, feeling the need to face the issue alone, even when the situation starts to overwhelm.

Discussion of mental illnesses can be considered a taboo topic in conversations over dinner; if it were discussed at all, it is usually treated as a seemingly harmless joke. This kind of attitude paves way for the alarming death toll brought upon by mental illnesses. Results from the National Centre for Mental Health as of November 21,

2016 shows that the suicide rates are 2.5 (0.0025%) for men and 1.7 (0.0017%) for women per 100,000 members of the population. What makes this even more tragic is that these numbers do not include unreported cases. Another report made last 2014 from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that there were 2,558 cases of suicide due to mental health problems in the Philippines back in 2012.

In fact, these mental illnesses mainly affect the young and the poor.

This, however, also extends to people who have encountered “extreme life experiences” according to University of the Philippines College of Medicine professor emeritus Dr. Lourdes Ignacio.

“Extreme life experiences” include living through disasters, violence in the home and the streets, terrorism, and armed conflict.

An alarming statistic is how mental illnesses are becoming common. One of the mental illnesses popularly known is depression. Around the globe, more than 300 million people are now living with depression and it has become the leading cause of disability worldwide.

While what each person experiences is different, generally this illness will manifest silently during one day in your life but will have different and multiple episodes throughout. Common symptoms of depression can range from the feelings of bitterness, emptiness, and tearfulness; the loss of interest or pleasure from things that give those aspects to them; trouble thinking, or concentrating, or making decisions, and remembering things; or tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort. Another symptom is frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts that when left untreated can lead to suicide attempts.

Not only does it affect their education or work negatively, but it also affects the relationships they have built with those they consider to be close to.

Helping hand Thankfully, the discussion on mental health has expanded. The initiative of the Mental Health Week actively promoted its awareness, so that the stigma can be eliminated or at least, lessened. There are projects during the Mental Health Week such as HEADSPACE: A Mental Health Fair, RECHARGE: Workshops

for Relaxation and Recreation, RECOVER: A “Take What You Need”, and RECONNECT: Panel discussion on Mental Health and Media Board. These promote the practice of positive mental health growth, and whose message of becoming a more active help to people with mental illnesses, is to be embodied even after the projects have taken place.

One of the events of RECHARGE: Workshops for Relaxation and Recreation, for example, focused on helping adolescents by teaching them how to meditate. The event was Mindful Meditation.

The students were asked to close their eyes and focus on breathing, and were told to allow their minds of wander for a few minutes. This activity helped the participating students relax and temporarily forget about their stressors. Meditation, theoretically, helps your brain think by allowing you to sort your thoughts when they start to overwhelm you. Specifically, Mindful Meditation was derived from an old Buddhist practice that dates back to 2,500 years ago called Vipassana or Insight Meditation and has been developed into a non-sectarian and research-based form of meditation.

As adolescents and young adults, a good handful of things go on in our heads. These things can either be pleasant or nervewracking. People meditate in order to become better at taking in their experiences that exist inside and outside of them. It is more than just "thinking", wherein we tend to pick out things we don't want to remember; it's being fully aware of oneself and accepting our thoughts without any harsh judgment. The psychologist heading the activity states that it should become a habit because by consistently practicing Mindful Meditation, we develop the ability to pay attention to our immediate experience and helping to overcome our

ISSUE NO. 2 NOV DEC 2017

stressors so that we can clearly see what is happening in our experience of the present moment. This also allows us to embrace even the unpleasant and painful experiences that we are faced with and further improves our relationship with ourselves and others in a meaningful and healthier way.

Another way of promoting positive mental health is by becoming an positive influence on a person’s life. Spreading simple but encouraging messages, such as “tara, usap” or “you are not alone” makes an impact in the lives of not just those with mental illnesses but also for those who are currently going through hard times.

This camaraderie leads to a safer and happier environment for everyone in the community.

This leads us to the last way in being a positive influence: by spreading the knowledge that the Philippines now has its own suicide prevention hotline. The artist Logic released the track “1-800” on April 28, 2017, a song about seeking help by naming the song after the phone number of National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S.A, and performed the song in the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) last August 27,2017. The day after the VMAs performance, the Lifeline states that they received 5,041 calls and several mentioned the release of the song. In the Philippines, the Department of Health, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), and Natasha Goulbourn Foundation have launched “Hopeline”; a suicide prevention hotline and Hopeline may be reached at (02) 804-4637; 0917-5584673; and 2919 for Globe and TM subscribers, adding to this is the current emergency hotline 911 and 8888 for complaints that is promised to be free to PLDT and Smart subscribers.

As information spreads through different mediums of communication, more and more members of the community become linked to one another, including those who do have mental illnesses. 2017 has been a year where endeavors, such as the song “1-800” and the Mental Health Week, have been made to lessen the stigma towards mental illnesses. Despite this, there are still those who are not aware of the existence of mental illnesses. It is our job to continue to each be an advocate in spreading awareness on mental health. To unite our country, we must make a society where every mouth that speaks is heard and listened to. But more than just listening, we must act, collectively, to actively improve society so that everyone, no matter who, feels safe and accepted. s

ISSUE NO. 2 NOV DEC 2017

9

OPINION

KONSENSIYA NG KOLEHIYO

Why you can’t get into UP DANIEL BRAZA

Getting into UP Diliman, or any of the University’s campuses, is no easy feat. UP has been known to have one of the more competitive entrance exams. According to the estimates of College Rev PG, the University has an acceptance rate of 17-18%, and for the higher quota campuses UP Diliman and UP Manila, about 1011%. Thousands of hopefuls flood UP’s examination centers every year, and every year only the best of the best are chosen.

most 30,000 would be from public high schools (with the rest coming from homeschooling and specialized high schools).

This year is no different. According to Admissions Director Aurora Odette Mendoza in an interview with GMA News, almost 103,000 high school students applied to take the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) and an estimated 88,500 of those applicants took the exam. However, the statistics show that more than 50,000 of those prospective examinees would be coming from private schools and at the

This points to a very glaring and obvious fact: UP has slowly become less and less accessible to people from lower income brackets. There is a good reason: the higher costs and lower quality of education received by students in lower economic classes give them a distinct disadvantage. In a study conducted last 2014, when public high school students were still entering UP prior to K-12, a research group

“

WE HAVE ALWAYS BRANDED OUR YOUTH AS THE PAG-ASA NG BAYAN. WHY THEN ARE WE SEEMINGLY SHIRKING FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE THEM QUALITY AND ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION?

ECCE HOMO

Fed Ex(Repress) CHARLES ALMODOVAR

Pederalismo. Federalism. Sa totoo lang, hindi ito naging matunog sa mga nakalipas na taon. May iilang nagtangka, ngunit wala ring napala; nabigo silang baguhin ang sistema ng pamahalaan. Ngunit kasabay ng pag-kakaluklok ni pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa Malacañang ay ang pag-ingay rin ng katagang ito – iyon nga lang hindi na lang ito basta ingay kundi isang malaking banta sa katatagan ng ating bansa sa kasalukuyan at maging sa hinaharap.

Kung pederalismo lang ang paguusapan, wala namang masama at wala ring likas na ikabubuti ang pagpapalit ng sistema ng pamahalaan. Ito ay dahil walang namang pagkakaisa ang mga mananaliksik ukol sa kung ano nga ba ang mas mabuting sistema ng pamahalaan, kung unitaryo ba o pederal. Ngunit mula social media hanggang sa mga tambay sa kanto, tila bigla na lamang naging eksperto ang lahat at sigurado sa tatahaking landas ng pagpapalit na ito. Maihahalintulad ito sa isang tao

convened by former UP President Alfredo Pascual reported that there was a trend of richer students “edging out” the poorer students in terms

na nagpapalit lang ng damit at hindi nag-lalaan ng panahon para linisin ang sarili niya: walang magbabago, mabaho at madumi pa rin siya. Ang masama pa rito: ang pederalismo ay isang get-up na hindi ganoon kadaling palitan.

Bakit? Tatlong punto ang dapat malaman ng sinumang apektado nito (sa kasamaang palad, lahat tayo). Una, ang pederalismo ay bunga ng maraming bagay na iba’t iba ang anyo sa iba’t ibang bansa sa mundo. Samakatuwid, hindi tayo maaring manghiram lamang ng kung anu-anong modelo ng ibang bansa at ipipilit ito sa ating sariling kalagayan. Kung babalikan ang metaporang tao na nagpalit damit, nagsusuot tayo ng damit na hindi tama ang sukat.

Maraming mauunlad na bansa ang may modelong pederalismo, tulad ng Estados Unidos. Subalit, ibang iba ang naging kasaysayan at kalagayan ng bansang ito. Maaring pederalismo nga ang isa sa mga

”

of acceptance into the University, showing a pattern of lesser and lesser students from lower income brackets getting admitted.

UP is still considered one of the most expensive of the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines, despite its implementation of the Socialized Tuition System (STS). In fact, it is the third most expensive

naging dahilan kung bakit ito naging maunlad, ngunit dahil sa napakaraming baryante, hindi natin maaaring gayahin lang ang mga institusyon nito. Gayundin bilang isang sistema ng pamahalaan, ang pederalismo ay nangangailangan ng dalawang lebel ng pamahalaan na may kani-kaniyang tungkulin at kapangyarihan malaya sa isa’t isa.

Ngayon, hindi ba at gusto natin ng agarang solusyon? Dahil malaya sa

“

among SUCs in the country in terms of tuition, according to 2017 data released by the Commission on Higher Education. UP also has an enormous per-student-cost estimate, at PHP 177,849, the highest in the NCR, a statistic which compares the budget for Personal Services + Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses to the total weighted enrolment of the university which points to the costs expended per student in UP. This phenomena of higher costs is not exclusive to UP and has not been unexpected. In an earlier study by the World Bank, the gap between needed per student expenditure and estimated actual per student expenditure in 2017 was 259% of GDP per capita. However, while the bulk of the budget does go to education, the Department of Education receives PHP 613 billion while the Commission on Higher

pamahalaang lokal na kontrolado ng iisang pamilya lamang.

Pangalawang punto: bukod sa ibaiba ang anyo ng pederalismo at hindi natin maaasahan ng buo ang mga bansang sobra nating tinitingala tulad ng Amerika at Alemanya, hindi pa tayo nakuntento sa ambisyon ng mabilisang pagpapalit ng sistema ng pamahalaan at gusto pa nating isabay ang pagbabago ng relasyon sa

DAHIL NGA HINDI NAMAN ANG MASA ANG SIYANG MAGIGING TALAGANG TAGAPAGPATAKBO NG PROSESONG ITO, MAY IBANG MAGBIBIHIS PARA SA ATIN.

isa’t isa, at sa kalagayan ng Pilipinas na pinuputakti ng mga dinastiyang pulitikal, gusto natin ng pagbabago?

Kung tinuloy ang planong ito, ano kaya ang mangyayari?

Maraming maaaring mangyari.

Isa na rito ang patuloy na paghahari ng mga “dinastiyang” inangkin na ang pamahalaan. Unti-unting masasawalang bahala ang kapakanan ng nakararami sa paglalagay ng napakalaking responsibilidad, karapatan at kapangyarihan sa

”

pagitan ng kongreso at pangulo. Mula sa “presidensyal” ay nangangarap tayo (kasabay ng isa pang ambisyon) na maging “parlyamentaryo”.

Kumbaga hindi lang isang pares ng damit ang ating pinapalitan kundi dalawang magkaibang bagay ang gusto nating pag eksperimentuhan.

Pangatlo, dahil nga hindi naman ang masa ang siyang magiging talagang tagapagpatakbo ng prosesong ito, may ibang magbibihis para sa atin. Ang kaya na lang

Education only received PHP 13.5 billion, which reflects the path of the education policy of the state: a focus on the K-12 curriculum. One good news, however, is that for this fiscal year, CHEd also received a budget to subsidize tuition fees in SUCs, a phenomenon which is hoped to be repeated in the succeeding years.

After you crunch the numbers and data, and subject the current education to an eye test, you can see that the problems are glaringly obvious: limited facilities in all levels, poor quality of education brought by mismatches in faculty and subjects taught, and the majority of students dropping out – some of which stop at the elementary level.

We have always branded our youth as the pag-asa ng bayan. Why then are we seemingly shirking from our responsibility to give them quality and accessible education? Like a plant who needs water and sunlight, a person needs education. And when the people flourish, so does the nation. S

nating gawin ay ang humanap ng paraan upang mas matino naman ang gumawa ng prosesong ito. Sa kasamaang palad ay tila hindi pa rin natin nakuha, maiiwan tayong nasa kamay ng iilang hindi naman alam ang kanilang ginagawa (hindi ko nilalahat, ngunit aminin, karamihan!). Dahil hindi naman nila katawan, at dahil mayroon naman silang kakayahan na takasan ang mga kapalpakan maaring maiwan tayong pinagsasamantalahan at panghabambuhay na puno ng kabahuan kung ipagpapatuloy ang prosesong ito.

Ngayon, sagot tayo ng sagot, alam ba natin ang tanong? Maaring alam natin ang tanong, ngunit ang pederalismo nga ba ang sagot? Sa totoo lang, hindi pa natin nagagamit ng lubos ang Saligang Batas ng 1987.

Nariyan rin ang Local Government Code ng 1990 na kung aayusin lang ang implementasyon ay maaring maging lunas sa kawalan ng mga lokal na pamahalaan ng kapasidad na abutin ang kanilang potensyal.

Ngunit ngayon tila tayo, taong may problema sa anghit na upang masolusyonan, ay nagpapalit ng damit. Walang koneksyon, hindi ba?

Iyan ang kalagayan ng iniisip nating problema. Bakit nga pala natin naisip, kasi sabi nila? S

LITERARY

10

ISSUE NO. 2 NOV DEC 2017

BANG GIANA LARRAURI

San Roque, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija was where Reynaldo de Guzman`s body was found.

One of the places in Manila where war on drugs operations were executed, alongside with the Central Market area, Moriones, Sampaloc, Santa Ana, Pandacan and districts of Ermita.

3 Four notorious drug peddlers were found dead and believed to be victims of EJK in the city of Silang and Imus City, Cavite.

1 2

ISSUE NO. 2 NOV DEC 2017

11

LITERARY

ANG LIHIM NG BATANG LANSANGAN CAROLE ANNE R. ALILIO

Aking kinamulatan Ang dumi ng daan Pilit ko mang iwaksi Dito pa rin uuwi.

Sabi ni Itay at Inay Kami ay luluwas Dala ang konting bigas At perang pambayad ng bus.

Gayak na gayak pa kami Akala mo’y kung saan lalagi Maynila sabi nila ay maganda Trabaho, edukasyon at pera.

Akala ko kami ay sasaya at yayaman Ngunit gaya ng sino pa man Nariyan na si Itay, Inay, at kanilang awayan Pasaring dito at sari’t-saring bungangaan.

Sa aking pakiwari, wala namang handang tumulong Kaya nga ba sa droga at sigarilyo ako’y nalulong Nagnakaw, nakapatay at nakulong Lumaya, nagka-asawa’t anak, sa iisang bubong.

Oo, kagaya pa rin ng noon ang naging buhay ko “Masisisi ninyo ba ako?” Kinamulatan ko na ito Sa habang panahon, walang nakaalam ng aking munting hiling Ang makakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw ng bagong saing.

Libu-libong kalansay ang nakaratay sa lansangan Dinampot, kinantyaw, binaril, sinaksak, walang pag-aalinlangan Nang kinain ng buwan ang araw, naisip ni Juan dumalaw Sa karatig-bayan kung saan ang handaan at paghiyaw Siya’y naglakad napadaan sa simbahan Sa noo’y umukit ng krus, lumuhod dahan-dahan Pinagdasal ang ama, ang ina, mga kapatid Nang biglang may marinig, aninong tila baga may napatid Mga mata niya’y kumislap nang makita Ang anino pala’y may bitbit na sandata Agarang tinaas ni Juan ang kanyang mga kamay Ayaw matulad sa mga nakaratay na kalansay

“Pulis ako! Anong sinisinghot mong bata ka?!”

“Isa kang durugista! Isang bala lang, ‘wag kang mag-alala” Si Juan ay lumuhod, humiyaw, nagmakaawa Aniya barya lang ang dala, pamasahe sa paggala Buong anyo ng anino kanyang nakita Nang sa kanya’y ito’y lumapit, nailawan ng lampara Isang lalaking tuwid ang tindig Isang ginoong may magandang bisig Taliwas kay Juan na ang katawa’y patpatin Kapag kanyang tinakbuhan, siya pa ang alanganin Sa kanyang pagtitig sa mga mata ng pulis Mga nakaraang alaala nanumbalik nang pagkabilis-bilis

“Pasensya na boy, trabaho lang walang personalan” “Ama mo’y walang galang, kami ay kinakalaban” Sabay pagputok ng kanyang baril, pulbura’y tumalsik sa pagkalabit Nagkalat ang dugo sa lansangan, O anong sinapit ni Juang mabait Unico ijong si Juan pinaslang nang walang malay Sa lansangan, may bagong nakaratay na kalansay Ilang toneladang inosenteng dugo pa ang hahayaang malaklak Ng aninong nakaabang, sa bangin nanunulak Karapatang pantao binalewala, nilapastangan!

Libu-libong kalansay na ang nakaratay sa lansangan Libu-libong Pilipino magsikilos kayo Itayo ang bandera ng karapatang pantao.

K A L A N S AY JOHN KIEL VICTOR BAYOTAS

EDITORIAL

UNDAS NG ASEAN

Dibuho ni Bernice Henson

Kada ika-unang araw ng Nobyembre, nagsasagawa ng paglalakbay ang mga pamilyang Pilipino sa mga libingan. Dala ang kandila, pagkain, at bulaklak, nagtitipon ang mga angkan upang magluksa para sa mga pumanaw. Ngayon, sa pagsalubong natin ng ASEAN sa bansa, napahaba ang pagdiriwang natin ng Undas sa karangalan ng namamatay na asosasyong ito.

Sa mga libingan sa may squatter’s area, nagdadalamhati ang mga maralitang lungsod. Wala silang magawa kung hindi panoorin ang tumatangkad na patong-patong na mga puntod. Mahigit kumulang 14,000 na ang namatay dahil sa giyera ni Pangulong Duterte laban sa droga, ayon sa Human Rights Watch, na nakabiktima ng mga durogistang pinagsuspetyahan pa lang,

mga “aksidenteng” nasangkot sa gulo, mga biktima ng vigilante justice, at iba pa. Matanda man o hindi, nasa siyudad man o probinsya – walang pinipili ang war on drugs ng rehimeng Duterte.

Subalit, marami pa rin ang pinipiling magbulag-bulagan sa pamamaslang na nagaganap.

Maraming opisyal ng gobyerno, mga kinatawan ng kongreso at senado, mga alagad ng midya, at mga mamamayan ang sumusuporta sa ginagawa ng pangulo, o kaya ay nagpapatuloy sa buhay na pawang nakapiring ang mga mata. Katulad ni Aguirre, Kalihim ng Kagarawan ng Hustisiya (DoJ), na winika, “Deal with drugs and you will find neither refuge nor respite from the law.”

Isa pa sa mga gumagamit ng pribilehiyong mamili ay ang Association of Southeast Asian Nations, o ang ASEAN. Noong Nobyembre 13, dumalaw ang mga miyembro ng ASEAN

at iba’t-ibang mga dialogue partners para sa ASEAN Summit.

Sa kabuuan, hindi man lang seryosong napag-usapan ang giyera sa droga.

Hindi ito ang unang beses na tahimik ang ASEAN ukol sa paglabag ng mga karapatang pantao. Sa Myanmar, halos milyun-milyong Rohingyas ang sistematikong inaatake ng gobyerno, at kinikilala sila bilang “the most persecuted minority.”

Sa Thailand, patuloy ang opresibong junta na nagtitipon ng kapangyarihan. Sa Cambodia at Vietnam naman, patuloy rin ang crackdown sa mga oposisyon at pahayagan.

Sa pagdiriwang ng ika-50 taon ASEAN, laging problema ang paglabag sa mga karapatang pantao. Kahit nalagdaan ang ASEAN Human Rights Declaration noong 2012, walang makabuluhang ginagawa ang organisasyon para masolusyonan ito. Ayon kay Phelim Kine, Deputy Director

ng Human Rights Watch sa Asia, “lip service” lang ang ginagawa nila.

Mismong istruktura ng ASEAN ang nagpaparalisa sa kanila na gumawa ng makabuluhang pagkundena.

Isa sa nakakaapekto ang noninterference principle, kung saan sumasang-ayon ang mga bansa na hindi makikialam ang bawat isa sa kani-kanilang mga panloob na suliranin bilang pagrespeto sa soberanya ng mga miyembro. Ang prinsipyo ng ASEAN rin na musyawarahmufakat, o “konsultasyon at konsensus” ay nagbibigay ng veto powers sa lahat ng miyembro, kaya’t natatago nila ang karahasan sa loob ng bansa.

Hindi rin na nakakatulong na mismong mga miyembro ay hindi mataas ang tingin sa karapatang pantao. Maraming mga bansa ang mayroong mga opresibong batas na nagbibigay ng limitasyon sa mga karapatan at kalayaan na mayroon ang

bawat mamamayan – para manatiling hari-harian ang mga namumuno. Makikita sa kasaysayan na lahat ng mga miyembro ng ASEAN ay may karanasan sa pamumunong diktatura, na walang bahalang nagpapatay ng mga sumasalungat sa kanila.

Nagmumukha na isa sa mga unang-unang dapat gawin ng ASEAN ay turuan ng mga gobyerno nito ang halaga ng buhay ng tao.

Kung walang pagbabago sa ASEAN, mawawalan ito ng saysay. Sa kalagayan ngayon, puro laway at walang ngipin ang kagat ng ASEAN. Dapat maging mas mapangahas ang paninindigan sa ASEAN ukol sa pamamaslang na laganap sa Timog-Silangang Asya. Kahit maganda ang tindig ng ASEAN sa papel, hindi masabing kaalyado ang ASEAN sa laban na ito.