The GUIDON - December 2016–January 2017 by The GUIDON

Buklod Atenista mulls internal structure revamp

Ateneo Art Gallery launches tribute to Nat’l Artist Arturo Luz

ADMU President bares 2017 plans

Triumph in the making

The calm before the storm

NEWS, 2

NEWS, 3

NEWS, 5

SPORTS, 10

SPORTS, 11

T H E OF F ICI A L ST U DEN T PU BL IC AT ION OF T H E AT EN EO DE M A N I L A U N I V ER SI T Y VOL. LXXXVII, NO. 5 · DECEMBER 2016–JANUARY 2017

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Sectors press for representation in Sanggunian LGBT, TR sectors urge immediate implementation of constitutional provision SPORTS The road back to the top After heartbreaking losses in the finals last Season 78, these three teams are working for a return to glory.

FEATURES Making ripples: 2016 Atenean game-changers Given all its controversies, 2016 was a great time to stand for a cause. Here are some Ateneans who did.

PHOTO BY PATRICK T. ONG

BEYOND LOYOLA Confronting change How will Filipinos confront the changes posed by 2016?

INQUIRY Beyond area visits The Anatomy of Pushing Advocacy: SBC Organizations

OPINION Who watches the watchman?

BY FAITH T. LIM AND LUIS M. MILLARES

AS ONE of the key features in the newly instituted Constitution, the establishment of Sectoral Representation in the Sanggunian has yet to be enacted. Three months after the election of the new Sanggu officials, the inclusion of sector representatives in the Central Assembly is still pending, with various sectors clamoring for its implementation. According to Ateneo Commision on Elections (COMELEC) Chief Commissioner Patrice Gabito, a “public consultation” will first be done to discuss and analyze the guidelines regarding Sectoral Representation. “ This w ill be ca rried out ideally in the first two months of the new semester” said Gabito.

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TRANSFEREE SECTOR

One sector that has voiced a desire for Sectoral Representation in the Sanggunian is the Transferee (TR) community or the students entering Ateneo from different universities. Mikhail Moulic, a member of the TR community, said that their sector experiences issues that go unnoticed and would otherwise be acknowledged

better if sector representatives were present in Sanggu. Moulic shared that members of the TR community often face issues regarding enlistment. “There were times when we [felt] we [weren’t being] taken seriously, or that other students are prioritized over us, which felt unfair because we are students as well,” he said. Moulic said that they had to enlist in almost all of their subjects during their freshman year, with most of them needing to go through manual registration due to the lack of slots. He said that the stigma of being transferees is still present, making it harder for them to fit in with the whole community. Moulic also added that they don’t seek special treatment, but rather equality in terms of how they are treated with regards to the other students. According to him, having a

representative in Sanggu would help address the “disadvantages” that the transferee community experience. FUTURE PLANS OF TR

If the Transferee sector is successful in their objective of representation in the Sanggunian, TR member Mark Trangia says that their main focus would be changing the aforementioned stigma that comes with being a transferee. “It doesn’t make us different and less of an Atenean if we come from a different school” said Trangia, adding that most people expected more from him because of his status as a TR student. “We hope for this stigma to be dissolved and be replaced with a new perspective that like [students who originally started in Ateneo], we were once freshmen too, only that we came from a different

school, and that we are all the same,” he said. Trangia added that their agitation for proper representation is not necessarily just for the current TR batch, but for future transferees as well. He points out that recognizing their advocacy for representation will prevent future TR bbatches from experiencing the same issues previous TR batches have faced. Aside from equality and consideration for f uture batches, Trangia said that the TR sector plans on setting up a TR organization. He said that the plan started out as a joke but as discussions continued, they were able to draft plans for recruitment and have discussions with OSA about establishing a TR org. “It was one of the topics we SECTORS DEMAND › 4

Sanggunian establishes Task Force SIKHAY BY GABY N. BAIZAS AND LOREBEN LL. TUQUERO

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According to Gabito, the majority of the Electoral Code has already been provisionally approved by the Student Judicial Court (SJC). However, the section concerning the sectoral representatives was sent back for clarification and upon further review, COMELEC decided to have the public consultation. The consultation will involve all political parties, the Sanggunian, and other interested individuals or sectors.

FOLLOWING NATIONAL issues that prompted multiple mobilizations of the Ateneo community, Task Force SIKHAY was established as the advocacy arm of the Sanggunian to sustain engagement and participation in mobilization activities. In her statement, Sanggunian President Carmela Vinzon said that the task force was established “as a space for student empowerment, involvement, collaboration, and mobilization.”

“The task force is envisioned to bring together the Ateneo student community to raise its collective awareness on pressing national issues, increase its involvement, and find spaces of collaboration, all towards our call to action,” she said. Vinzon mentioned that discussions regarding the task force took place even before the clamor against the burial of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The plans for the task force were later concretized during the string of rallies against the burial. During the Office of Student Act iv it ies’ (OSA) Ateneo

Student Leaders’ Midyear Summit held on December 10-12, 2016, Sanggunian officers consulted the different clusters under the Council of Organizations of Ateneo (COA) to “see what form of engagement was best for their particular context,” as stated by Vinzon. L ater i n t he Su m m it, Vinzon and other Sanggunian off icers presented t he concept of SIKHAY to several student leaders. “From the original idea of it being just a mobilizing arm of the Sanggunian, the consultation with other groups and students led us to adjust the

idea to make it an open space of collaboration focused on an agenda decided upon by the larger student body as its driving force for the community’s response to the current national situation,” she said. Luis Enriquez was appointed as the Task Force Coordinator, as Vinzon noted his committed participation in past mobilizations to the collective effort towards nation-building. Sign ups for other positions in Task Force SIKHAY were open to all Ateneans and were announced during the release of the task force primer on December 22, 2016. The sign ups were open until January 10.

KILOS K ABATA AN

Union of Students for the Advancement of Democracy (USAD) Premier Lanz Espacio, along with COA Sector-based Cluster Head Katherine Culaba, Development Society of the Ateneo President Alexa Fontanilla, and Ateneo Assembly President Trixie Beato, convened the Kilos Kabataan (KK) movement as a response to the “lack of initiative from the student government to organize the community’s efforts.” The KK was established as an independent student movement ATENEANS RALLY › 4

News

Buklod Atenista mulls internal structure revamp BY ANGELICA S. ANDAYA AND JM MUNAR

THE REFORMING of Buklod Atenista (BA)’s interna l structure dominated discussions in the 33rd Buklod Atenista Midyear Conference held last December 18-22 in the Ateneo de Manila University. BA is a network among student governments from f ive ter tiar y Jesuit institutions in the country: Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU), Ateneo de Za mboa nga Un iver sit y (Ad Z U ), a nd Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan (XU). This year, the conference u nder went a c omple te reformatting of the programs and agenda followed in the previous years. For the past few years, BA delegates and ambassadors would come toget her to confer about their respective student governments’ practices and dilemmas while tackling school-related and national issues. However, in continuing that program, delegates from the member schools were left unsure about the intended purpose and identity of the network itself. According to AdMU’s BA Ambassador CJ Leong, the BA members did not have a clear idea on the rationale behind their yearly meetings and the goals they wanted to accomplish. “We started questioning [the] purpose of the organization. It wasn’t really clear as to why we were meeting two times a year and why we really had to talk about national issues [as a network of five Atenean universities],” she explained. REVAMPING THE IDENTITY

The dilemma was first brought up by a member of the AdMU delegation during one of the BA conferences held in 2014. “We passed resolutions that needed to address [identified] issues but it wasn’t really clear to any of us as to why we were doing them,” Leong explained. “We were following [the program] for the sake of tradition, so we started questioning what we were doing and what we should actually be doing.” However, in addressing chosen issues, the delegation came up with various resolutions that were not seen as sustainable. Furthermore, the issues tackled were not related to one another, leading to a disconnect among the actions pursued by the member schools. These dilemmas, together with the ongoing questioning of the network’s identity and purpose, prompted the member schools to pursue the restructuring and reenvisioning of BA. The revamping of BA, however, faced severa l problem s t hat delaye d its progress. “Since we were trying to assess our own issues, it proved to be difficult because there were biases,” said AdMU

delegate Regis Andanar. “There were things that we felt we did right but weren’t working for us, or things that we felt we did wrong but were actually okay.” CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Following these issues, the conference – with a format and program created the help of Ateneo CODE – concentrated on revamping BA’s fundamental elements, including its vision-mission statement, the roles of BA members, and the functions of BA offices. The delegates reconstructed the BA vision statement at the end of the first day after consolidating their proposals and ideas. Moreover, a big chunk of the discussion was allotted to diagnosing the problem s encou ntere d with BA’s old structure and the presentation of possible solutions. Some of the problems stated included the overload of responsibilities given to Buklod Ambassadors and the unclear roles of student government presidents in the organization. To address this, the delegate s d iscus sed a delineation of the different roles to create a new structure that eases the flow of responsibilities among the positions. This new structure will have a BA Convener and Secretary-General to spearhead the network with the help of the BA Ambassadors and delegates. Furthermore, the delegation pinpointed the main goals that would set the primary focus and scope of BA as an organization and network. These include the strengthening of student governments, the continued development of BA, and the furthering of student welfare all geared towards nation-building. FUTURE EXPECTATIONS

After establishing the fra mework during t he conference, the delegates a i m t o f i n a l i z e t he documents and formalize the changes by March 2017. This will be in time for the new re-envisioned BA and constitution to be applied in the next national conference this June. “The changes in BA won’t be felt immediately but in the long run, I really envision the student governments to be stronger, in a sense that they’re more relevant to the students and more felt by the community,” said Leong. Editor’s Note: Regis Andanar is a member of The GUIDON’s Vantage staff.

JESUIT UNITY. Delegates from Atenean student governments nationwide gathered to discuss forging a new unified identity among the Jesuit schools. PHOTOS BY YURI TAN

COMELEC firm on “mini-ConCon” for sectoral representation rules BY THEA A. SISCAR AND MARIEL L. ZAMORA

THE ATENEO Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that a public consultation will take place in revising the draf ted g uidelines for sectora l representation during the Sanggunian-wide meeting on November 4. In a n inter view wit h The GU IDON, outgoing COMELEC Commissioner for Hu m a n Re s ou rc e s Dom Rañises said that the Student Judicia l Cour t (SJC) has provisiona lly approved most of the Electoral Code. However, the portion on sectoral representation was returned to COMELEC for comments and clarifications. “Upon reviewing the document, COMELEC decided that it would be better for there to be a public consultation

that would involve all political parties, the Sanggunian, and other interested individuals and groups to discuss and agree on the guidelines,” he said. According to Rañises, the reason for this was that although sectoral representation is mandated by the 2016 Constitution, there is ambiguity when it comes to the definition of terms and details of the procedures. “The precise definition of a ‘sector,’ for example, is left out. The renewal process is also lacking in details, [although] it is described in Article V, Section 4.3 of the 2016 Constitution. This ambiguity can lead to future problems in implementation which, in my personal opinion, were not foreseen when the Constitution was drafted,” he added. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

COMELEC Chief Commissioner Patrice Gabito said that after

the 2016 Sanggunian General Elections on October 5 to 7 and 2016 Sanggunian Special Elections on November 14 and 16, the Board finally had the time to meticulously examine the guidelines for sectoral representation. Upon closer inspection, the Board saw loopholes and parts that were “easy to attack.” Gabito explained that in the intersession semester of the same academic year, COMELEC “defined sectors in a way that is not narrowed down to the extreme.” However, she contemplates that the definition is too broad such that a group with a common ideology can become a sector. “But what constitutes a common ideology?” she said. “The Board recognizes that sectors are there to give diversity to the Sanggunian so that different voices will be heard. We have to take into consideration everything that is at stake.”

Rañises echoed Gabito’s explanation. “Sectoral representation is a big deal, and can substantially alter the political landscape of the Sanggunian and is therefore of concern to many,” he said. “ Thus it was determined by COMELEC that the best course of action was to get everyone on board and agree on a document so that future implementation would be smooth and potential roadblocks [legal or otherwise, will be] avoided.” “MINI-CONCON”

Gabito said that the public consultation spearheaded by COMELEC would take the form of a “mini-ConCon (Constitutional Convention).” “We want to meet with the Central Assembly (CA), the political parties, and the student body because we SECTORS DEMAND › 4

EDITOR: LIAM C. LU · EDITOR: ANGELICA S. ANDAYA · LAYOUT ARTIST: ANNIKA N. HERNANDEZ

PHOTO ESSAY

Ateneo Art Gallery launches tribute to Nat’l Artist Arturo Luz BY BEA P. SANTIANO PHOTOS BY PATRICK T. ONG

A TRIBUTE exhibition of the works of Philippine National Artist Arturo R. Luz was mounted in the Ateneo Art Gallery in celebration of his 90th birthday. #Luz@90 was suggested by Ambeth R. Ocampo, PhD, a close friend of Luz. Ocampo is also the curator of the exhibit, and the owner of the displayed works. The exhibition runs from November 16, 2016 to April 8, 2017. “WORKS ON PAPER”

Ocampo said that 2016 was a landmark year for the National Artist. During the opening of the exhibit, Ocampo said that he specifically chose to display Luz’s drawings and collages on paper because they were belittled and given less importance compared to paintings, especially in auctions. He called these “works on paper” the backbone of Luz’s art, since they are inaugural to his other works of art such as paintings. “The reason why I also chose the works on paper [is] because of the current auction frenzy that gives priority to paintings. Works like this are not given their due. They’re looked [at] as minor works; they’re derisively called ‘works on paper,’” Ocampo said. He also said that although Luz’s works seem to be repeated, it’s part of Luz’s technique to create different variations of his art.

“When we look at it, the drawings that have been seemingly repeated since the 1950s, they’re not actually repeated, it’s just that Mr. Luz wants to draw the same things over and over again to try and exhaust all forms and all permutations and that’s almost infinite,” he added. CONTRIBUTION TO FILIPINO ART

Luz, who received the National Artist Award for visual arts in 1997, continues to produce art despite his age and health condition. Ocampo shared that during Luz’s recent hospital confinement, he was able to finish over 300 crude drawings. “It will form yet another series of works that shows how his mind works and his creativity continues,” Ocampo said. Pieces that could be found in the exhibit are part of Luz’s private collection that were owned by Ocampo and will be given as a bequest to the Ateneo Art Gallery. “What you come to see here is the works that he normally would not sell. They’re very private, very personal works and I hope that when you go in, you would get a glimpse of what I call his muse for his life: the life of creativity that keeps him alive and that has contributed greatly to the history of Filipino art,” he said.

PHOTOS BY YURI TAN

News

Sanggunian establishes ‹1

with the intent of sustaining the momentum and making future responses to national issues more organized. According to Espacio, the conveners made it clear to Vinzon, who was present during the initial talks regarding the movement, that they wanted an independent student movement. “We ascertained that subordinating the movement under an established institution such as the Sanggunian would be a burden to our campaigns given the bureaucracy and the government’s inability to assert itself as politically independent from the University’s administration,” he said. During the OSA Summit, however, Vinzon requested the KK movement to transition to Task Force SIKHAY since it was found that both units had one and the same purpose.

Espacio also mentioned that Vinzon stressed the need for organizing efforts to be under the Sanggunian during the OSA Summit, as she noted that the Sanggunian “is a house already built, the call is to merely inhabit it.” “I surmise that what the President was trying to say was that the Sanggunian already has its own resources and therefore would be more effective at organizing the student community for this purpose. Hence, it was decided that the Kilos Kabataan group would step aside in the name of unity,” Espacio stated. RESPONSE TO COA DEMANDS

Enriquez responded to the demands forwarded by COA in a statement released on December 27, 2016, by reiterating points that were included in the SIKHAY primer.

Regarding socio-political formation, Enriquez reiterated that research and information dissemination and discussion efforts were emphasized by the structure and function of SIKHAY, “with precisely the same hope that these help equip the student body to navigate through the issues we face.” He also addressed the demand “to create spaces for dialogue with representatives from different sectors of society” by stating that d iscus sion w i l l include “subject matter experts” and “those who experience these issues first-hand.” Enriquez agreed with the demand for unity among youth and cited collaboration as one of the task force’s core values. “This call to unity extends not only to the youth but to anyone who shares in our goals—‘for the freedom of all Filipinos,’” he wrote in his statement.

He responded to the call for creative and diverse means of engagement by citing the allotted team for innovation, “which will explore these avenues for creative citizen engagement.” O n t h e d e m a n d fo r establishment of ownership of Sanggunian’s initiatives, he asserted that the student government makes it their duty “to protect our students from being used by such groups to advance any sole political agenda from that which we all agree upon.” Regarding transparency and accountability in all processes, Enriquez said “the primer hopes to serve as a starting point, to broach the topic of how to move forward,” and that “the plan of action, now given that we have a place to begin, is up for discussion.” INITIAL REACTIONS

In a statement released in

the Kilos Kabataan ng Ateneo Movement Facebook group, Espacio conceded “the spaces for dialogue and engagement we were hoping to create in response to the nationa l situation” to the Sanggunian and assured those who were part of the KK movement that their initial efforts will not go to waste. “We will see to it that the resources found in the movement will be properly transitioned, in good faith, to the Sanggunian who from this point on will serve as primarily the leader of the students in these tumultuous times,” he said. Benjamin Alvero, Committee Head of the Committee on Socio-Political Affairs of the Sanggunian’s Central Assembly, released a statement calling the process of forming the Task Force “undemocratic” and a “direct violation of

the will of our constituents.” He called out “the exclusion of our constituents from the process of forming the Task Force, by virtue of hiding from view the processes behind its formation and especially in the appointment of its Head.”

non-binding resolution supporting the document.

implementation of sectoral representation for its own benefit,” she said, adding that “it’s all just a matter of securing what’s in those provisions” in a bid to ensure that the drafted guidelines for sectoral representation will be adequate in the long run. Furthermore, Gabito expla ined t hat t he Loyola Schools is still adjusting to the 2016 Constitution. “There are a lot of steps na kailangan pagtuunan ng pansin. ‘Yung paggawa ng sectors, hindi siya dali-dali lang. Hindi siya kailangan madaliin or else there might be problems we might face in the future that will only be detrimental to the process of sectoral representation (There are a lot of steps that need ample attention. The creation of sectors takes time. We do not have to rush it or else there might be problems we might face in the future that will only be detrimental to the process of sectoral representation),” she said. “We’re doing this for the Sanggunian that we all envision.”

INDIGNATION. Students protested the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos last November 18, 2016. PHOTOS BY JOHN P. ORANGA

Comelec ‹2

have to take into c on s ide r a t ion how they want the public consultation to proceed,” she said. She added that the guidelines on sectoral representation will be taken from the unapproved nine-page draft the COMELEC has initially included in the Electoral Code. The draft is open for comments, revisions, and debate. Rañises said that available documents and testimonies of resource speakers from t he pr e v iou s C on C on will also be used during the public consultation. “The public consultation itself would be accomplished, ideally, within the first two months (if not the first month) of the second semester, and implementation either being in that semester or in the following school year,” he said. “It will be carried out in three phases: Sectors (including the definition of a sector), Referendum (the procedures for a referendum), and Sectoral Structure (internal structures and renewal process).” According to Rañises, the final document will be submitted to the SJC for final approval, while the CA will likely be invited to create a

IN THE LONG RUN

Through this public consultation, Rañises said that the COMELEC will be able to “create the best possible system and environment for various democratic processes to coexist and function.” “[The] COMELEC sincerely hopes that the consultation will be accomplished quickly and correctly, and in genuine spirit and goodwill, such that the best possible guidelines for sectoral representation can be drafted for all the years to come,” he added. Moreover, Gabito said that the public consultation would be able to provide a platform for hearing the thoughts of their constituents. Citing the preamble of the 2016 Constitution, she added that “it is also [the student body’s] right to participate in all of the processes that all of the Sanggunian arms will be undertaking.” Ga bito s a id t h a t t he COMELEC does not intend to delay the guidelines for sectoral representation through their decision of requiring a public consultation. “[The] COMELEC doesn’t mean to delay the

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

AdMU President bares 2017 plans BY ANDREA L. TAGUINES AND SAMANTHA O. SUBIDA

WITH THE Arete set to be completed this year, the Ateneo is prepared to expand its infrastructure capabilities in order to adapt to the evolving needs of the school, according to University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ. According to him, the target goal for completion is May 2017. “[The Arete will be] huge, the biggest. I hope that it will really help us be creative. We can be creative anywhere but I hope that space will help you think out of the box, think of new paradigms [and] new ways,” said Villarin. “That’s always difficult kasi, but we need new thinking. It’s the same old problems but we’ve never really made headway, ‘diba? So I hope the Arete will be that space,” he added. Moreover, 2017 will also be the year that construction on a new dormitory for international students will begin. Villarin said that construction will begin this February with students using the quarters by school year 2018-2019. “That’s the reason why we’re building it, because of our internationalization goal. The goal is to have at least 10%

of our students [and] faculty non-Filipinos. They will enrich our campus life. So if you open that, that’s a lot of people and that means providing facilities for them. Right now our students actually want to stay outside but we want to offer something inside,” he said. “It’s not the same as Cervini or Eliazo. The design will be 2–3 students per room. May singles din for graduate students, and then professors would might want to come,” he added. Villarin also maintained that the Ateneo will not sacrifice its natural features for the sake of development on campus. “We will try to improve as well the campus. This will change, there will be a flyover or an underpass, we don’t know. This will be a busy area, so without sacrificing some of the greenery. It’s a beautiful campus, so we hope it’s not ruined by all these things that are happening,” he said. On the issue of traffic and road management, Villarin said that a plan to install parking buildings is “in the pipeline but [there is no] definite timeline for [the plan] yet.” HOPE FOR HOPE

In light of the current issues arising in the country, Vil-

larin calls the community to remain vigilant. “It’s disturbing what’s happening; the normalization of… extrajudicial killings. We do not want our students desensitized as well. People are desensitized about it. It’s not right. We need to bring justice and to be sensitive to these grievous things so i hope they will continue to be aware of what’s happening,” he said. He also urged the students, regardless of their discipline, to familiarize themselves with different issues ranging from political to legal and even to “esoteric political issues” such as federalism. “Whether you are a Psych major, IS major, get to know what that means. Try to understand how to put it in language because if you don’t understand, how can you expect others to understand as well?” he added. Moreover, Villarin admitted that he has fears for 2017 but would rather not dwell in it. “There’s fear of course. There are concerns, there’s anxiety but I don’t want those doubt forces to take over, and I think there’s no use to be motivated by fear. So I’d like us to, like myself also, to look for these lights where you can find them.” he said.

In line with this, Villarin recounted the instances that proved how unbreakable the Filipinos are. “ T h is cou nt r y ’s b e en through a lot but we were never utterly broken. Martial Law, I thought Martial Law would break us. We’re quite resilient naman. The typhoons that come can break us for a while but we rise. I don’t know how we do it but we do it. We know how to do it,” he said. Additionally, he noted how the distortion of history and the widespread of fake news, particularly in social media, should not dishearten the community. “You guys know how to navigate your way through that [social media] field. It’s a mind field right now…. Look for ways to reform it. It’s powerful eh,” he said. Despite the challenges, Villarin urged the community to remain hopeful. “Don’t let go of hope. If there’s anything radical that we need right now, it’s hope. And we can remember hope from the lights that are out there shining in the darkness. It’s not just all shadows,” he said. He also emphasized that the community should also hear out the sentiments

from the opposing side in order to understand their own perspective. “We have to be careful lang that we don’t create our own echo chambers, that we just ally ourselves with those who agree with us. It’s also good to know the dissenting voices out there. Why they think so. Not so much why they think rin eh, why they feel so,” he said. In addition, Villarin also encouraged Ateneans to remain critical, truthful and honest. “Our students they take charge of what they think need to learn so they can always be critical, they can be honest to themselves, they can be truthful and respectful too,” he said. STANDING AGAINST THE CURRENT

Villarin also looked back on the year that has passed and commended the participation of Ateneans in the protests against the burial of late President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani last November. On the day of the Marcos burial, Ateneans walked out of their classes and took to the streets, displaying their indignation. “That [protest] showed that you guys can lead and have led this fight for the truth, and that you are movable. You can be

moved by issues that are truly and actually important,” he said. “We all have our different worlds, different concerns, but I think November was a time we converged in the values we hold dear,” he said. Asked whether he thought the education provided in the Ateneo was a factor to this mass movement, Villarin said it is hard to measure. “You were one of the first ones there in the streets. You didn’t have to be told. That means... it could be innate, but it could also be [the education],” he said. “In education kasi, the fruit will come much later so it’s really an investment. Normally it takes a while, but I saw it right there [last November]... what the Ateneo has been all about,” said Villarin. “I would say it’s still early to say success, but we’ll keep planting, we’ll keep working the earth, making things grow, planting good seeds.”

Sectors press ‹1

had while we were having lunch as a block,” Trangia said. “In fact, we already made connections with the freshie TR block. And we found out that they are in favor of setting up an org, because like us, they are having difficulties with representation and belongingness.” DOLLHOUSE

Another sector viable for representation is that of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The endeavor for representation is primarily being spearheaded by the Dollhouse organization. According to Dollhouse member JM Tan, no formal talks have been made regarding the sector representation of the LGBT community in the Sanggunian. “If anything, any efforts towards representation of our sector have been conducted independently by Dollhouse - case in point, our participation in the address of Geraldine Roman at her first privilege speech at the House of Representatives” she said. Sectoral representation, Tan added, will allow them to raise their advocacy on gender issues. “We really want to address moving the student body from tolerance to positive acceptance through a better gender education,” said Tan. Tan also stated how sectoral representation can address the problem of properly communicating the issues to the student body, as Dollhouse itself is not an official campus organization. “By having a platform that can effectively communicate this goal, we hope to be able to address these issues better,” she said. SECTORAL REPRESENTATION

As stated Article V, Section 4.4 of the 2016 Constitution, the sectoral representatives “shall adhere with the renewal process subject to the guidelines prescribed by the Com-

mission on Elections and the Electoral Code.” “COMELEC is responsible for providing the specific definition of a sector and the details of how referenda for the sectors will be carried out,” said Gabito. The inclusion of sectoral representatives will grant these sectors a vote in the Central Assembly, similar to the powers of elected course representatives. “Sectoral representation is itself, frankly, a big deal, as it can dramatically alter the political landscape of the Sanggunian,” she said. She also added that aside from the TR and LGBT community, the Muslim sector is another community that has expressed a desire to have proper representation. According to the Chief Commissioner, the process of identifying a sector will likely involve the application of individuals without any political representation. If the application is approved by COMELEC, it will be followed by a formal schedule and specific regulations for a referendum within the university that “requires at least 10% of the university’s student population” as per Article V, Section 4.3. After all these requirements are fulfilled, the sector will be recognized and will be able to elect a representative to enter the Central Assembly. “These procedures, especially when further illuminated by the Public Consultation, will ensure that the process is democratic, free, lawful and in full concurrence with the Constitution,” said Gabito. Editor’s Note: As per CA Resolution 1 dated January 25, 2017, CA will take charge of the public consultations.

SECTOR FORMING. A transferee group is being formed for the promise of representation in the new government. Top photo from left: Justin Lam, 2 BS MGT Mikhail Moulic, 2 AB COM Coleen Illescas , 2 BS PSY Bottom photo from left: Anton Rosales, 2 BS MGT Alex Fernando, 2 AB DS Karen Caleon, 2 BS MGT PHOTOS BY PATRICK T. ONG

Opinion

VOLUME LXXXVII, NO. 5 DECEMBER 2016–JANUARY 2017

The GUIDON Founded 1929 by Rev. Frank O’Hara, SJ First Editor-in-Chief, Manuel C. Colayco, AB ‘30 PURPOSE

To serve as a record of Ateneo history in the making; to serve as an organ of journalistic expression; to serve God and country.

Frances Christine P. Sayson, AB LIT (ENG) ‘17 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Katrina Isabelle G. Pimentel, BS CTM ‘17 ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Alfonso Miguel N. Sevidal, BS ME ‘17 MANAGING EDITOR

Nicolina G. Solinap, BFA ID ‘17 DESIGN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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Briane B. Dela Peña, AB COM ‘18 Janine Ysabel B. Peralta, AB SOS ‘17 SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS

NEWS Angelica A. Andaya, Editorial Assistant; Michelle D. Abad, Gaby N. Baizas, Faith T. Lim, Luis M. Millares, JM Munar, Bea P. Santiano, Thea A. Siscar, Samantha O. Subida, Andrea L. Taguines, Loreben Ll. Tuquero, Mariel L. Zamora SPORTS Jamie S. Katigbak, Editorial Assistant; Lorenzo C. Aycardo, Carlos H. Cruz, James B. Gavina, Brittany J. Go, Kirby G. Jalandoni, Renzo C. Ramos, Tonichi C. Regalado, Chino D. Reyes, Colin C. Salao, Jason R. Santos, Vincent D. Soliven, Cedric B. Teng Ampo BEYOND LOYOLA Ina M. Morales, Editorial Assistant; Abelardo M. Torio, Managerial Assistant; Maxine A. Buenaventura, JC A. Beltran, Andie M. Bernas, Sean S. Chingkaw, Alex M. Evangelista, Jerome D. Jacob, Nicole A. Lorena, Mia C. Pangilinan, Janelle H. Paris, Bella R. Perez-Rubio, Angel T. Villamor FEATURES Francis R. Toledo, Editorial Assistant; Saffi C. Arcenas, Mikaela T. Bona, Kayla T. Cadenas, Andrew D. Cambri, Bea C. Constantino, Patricia A. Dy, Annicka B. Koteh, Samantha C. Ledesma, Katya F. Lichauco, Celine D. Natividad, Joma M. Roble

EDITORIAL

Who watches the watchman? AC C OR DI NG T O t h e count maintained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer as of press time, 2,034 suspected criminals have been killed outside the confines of the judicial system since President Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration, with 1,076 summarily executed by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the remainder dispatched by civilian vigilantes. It is easy—but utterly false—to assume an easy split of Filipino opinion: full support of the administration’s efforts or horror at the carnage. Socia l inf luencers are quick to push a certain narrative, eager to defend against strawmen arguments and bayaran. The reactions of the reading public paint a callous disregard for life; those killed are either secret conspirators or collateral damage in the war on drugs. But think of this: Just this December 2016, 94 percent of Filipinos agreed it was important that drug suspects were not killed indiscriminately during drug bust operations and 78 percent feared being or knowing a victim of extrajudicial killing. This is not the narrative we have come to know, lost in the sorrowful coverage of innocent lives lost and the frothing hatred of keyboard warriors and trolls alike. On the surface, it seems that the issue has been resolved. PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa temporarily suspended the war on drugs on Monday, January 30, following the coverage of the recent murder of Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo within the confines of the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame. He vowed to find the “few bad ones” among the ranks and remove them from the force. To hear him tell it, one would think that there are a few rogue policemen committing crimes against the people. This, despite the assertion from the President himself that 40 percent of policemen are corrupt, “corrupt to the core.”

Every week seems to brings with it a whirlwind development in our country’s story, one where the various points of view conflict. All these changes make it easy to lose the threads and forget Tuesday’s tragedy in the face of Sunday’s scandal, and this is the most dangerous of all. Wit h t he con st a nc y of death on every form of news media we are exposed to, it is possible to grow almost used to it or to despair and think that nothing can be done. The administration’s continued insistence on a narrative where they are the good guys and the dwindling opposition, the bad, is disheartening, especially in light of the seeming support of thousands of our own fellow citizens. But fight, we must, against not only misinformation, but the unjust laws and structures that make it so easy to yearn for a savior, bloody-knuckled or not. In an age when the words of the powerful can hold more sway than the facts, when presidential spokespersons attempt to jump through hoops in order to make the President’s words whatever they need to be, it is imperative that we stay vigilant. Our fear of injustice must not remain s ome t h i n g wh i sp ere d anonymously or in our echo chambers. It should bolster our voices and our actions. As each death is reported, as the story of every victim is told, we must keep watch.

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY CHAPY B. FADULLON

INQUIRY Renz G. Espanol, Editorial Assistant; Manuel M. Aldeguer, Nio B. Atrigenio, Andie M. Casas, Jake B. Cureg, Jayvee A. del Rosario, Joaquin B. Jacinto, Jairus I. Paul, Corleto O. Vinluan VANTAGE MAGAZINE Regis Martin Andanar, Ching M. Balina, Deany R. Cheng, Gio Goseco, Luisa C. Jocson, Benjo T. Lansangan, Franco M. Luna, Ashley Martelino, Carlito O. Mortel, Patrick L. Roasa, Martina R. Roces, Romano Santos PHOTOS Reena Dunque and Gabby F. Jimenez, Editorial Assistants; Justin C. Ang, Danica T. Bibera, Aya Cabauatan, Trina Camacho, Jill R. Chan, Twinkle R. Liboon. John P. Oranga, Jeff Pascual, Aliyah Rojo, Pat Sarmiento, Chester B. Tan, Yuri Tan, Janine Torres, Bryan T. Torres, Marco T. Torrijos, Joshua M. Vera, Analeigh Y. Yao GRAPHIC DESIGN Victor N. Datu and Inya de Vera, Editorial Assistants; Antonette A. Amoncio, Jill T. Arteche, Colleen P. De Luna, Chapy B. Fadullon, Annika N. Hernandez, Celline Mercado, Richard Mercado, Mikaela R. Montaño, Jezka Ratilla, Patricia Reyes, Beatriz K. Venezuela, Meg F. Villena DIGITAL MEDIA Ian B. De La Cruz, Ana K. Batiller, Mike G. del Castillo, Enzo Orbeta, Leina Santiago TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT Hannah Guinto, James Andales, Paul Jason F. Gue, Trisha Lim, Keanu Emmanuel A. Penaranda EXTERNALS March Bulalacao, Editorial Assistants; Paula Birung, Sheila Advincula, Clarissa Borja, Shaira Co, Lanlan Marquez, Patrick Moscosa, Aimee Nazareno, Jeric Santos, Javier Serrano

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Open Society LIAM C. LU

Our economy badly needs tax reform— what’s stopping it? MUCH INK has been spilt over the recent proposal to increase the excise tax on fuel—transport groups, senators, and netizens alike are up in arms over the bill, calling it an “antipoor” measure that will make costs of living more expensive for ordinary Filipinos. W h i l e t h e s e g r o up s express genuine concerns

that need to be addressed, they are missing the point of the tax increase. The fuel excise is just one of a whole slew of tax reforms meant to spur the economy, including a decrease in personal income taxes. Raising taxes on fuel is meant to serve as a counterweight to the losses from lowered income taxes, which are some of the highest in the region. Our situation is not like other successful countries in the region— advanced Asian economies were able to finance their development mainly through indirect taxes, of which fuel excise is an example. Conversely, these economies have a simpler personal income tax system than the Philippines. T he re a s on for t h i s is simple. Consump tion ta xes do not have as adverse an effect on

savings as income ta xes. The Philippines has one of the worst savings rates in Southeast Asia, hovering at around 13.9% in 2015. Compare this with 32.7% in Malaysia, 28.5% in Vietnam, and 35.4% in Thailand. Low savings corresponds to low investment, depriving the country of much needed capital in order to grow and develop. The Department of Finance (DOF) simply wants to replicate the success of developed countries through the imposition of fuel taxes, as well as an expansion of the Value Added Tax (VAT) base and an excise tax for sweets. In any event, the fuel tax comes at a time where oil has been at its cheapest in a very long time. The price is stable enough that a tax imposition would not disproportionately put the economy in disarray.

The DOF estimates that the government is losing Php 145 billion in revenues from non-adjustment of oil taxes. According to Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua, gasoline excise taxes have not been adjusted in over 12 years while diesel has remained tax-free. Even more shockingly, the proposal is sure to affect the rich even more than the poor, with rich families making up 50% of national fuel consumption. For a tax that transfers wealth from the rich into projects aimed at improving lives of the poor, it does not seem like the “anti-poor” plan that lawmakers like to repeat ad nauseam. The possible effects of such a proposal are staggering. However, we have to take into account the fact that this proposal is regressive in nature, and will affect low-income families even more than higher-income ones.

Noting this, Chua said that the government is ready to help transport groups weather the tax increase by including in the tax reform package a cash transfer program that will comprise cash transfers, a reintroduced Pantawid Pasada that will give fuel price discounts to public utility vehicles, and a jeepney modernization program to improve fuel efficiencies of jeepneys for the poorest 50% of families. Simply put, if we want to encourage inclusive growth, then we must do away with our outdated ta x system and usher in new reforms for the future. Cha nge is def in itely coming, and it’s for the better.

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

Wayfinding NIKKI G. SOLINAP

Who I’m making myself pretty for SINCE I’VE started wearing make-up, I’ve received some encouraging compliments and tips from friends and the occasional befuddled stare when people (mostly my high school teach-

Space Junk DANI D. REYES

“If you don’t know what you want to be” “WHAT DO you want to be when you grow up?” is the quintessential question of every family gathering. For the longest time, I always had the same answer: a doctor. However, I could never really give a proper reason why. I have this one memory of an old conversation I had with my dad, and at times I feel unsure of whether or not I made it up. “Pa, wala akong sagot (Father, I don’t have an answer),” I said, ashamed. “Sabihin mo na lang muna, doktor (For now, say you want to be a doctor),” he replied. At that time in my life, uncertainty seemed to be an unacceptable. “I don’t know yet” didn’t seem to cut it. Record scratch. Freeze frame. This was the beginning of my adolescent-life crisis. It would have been less confusing if I could isolate the

ers) try to put a finger on how they know me. However, there’s one question I’ve failed to dodge every time I greet a tita cheek-tocheek: “Sin-o ginapagwapahan mo (Who are you making yourself pretty for)?” I usually just chuckle and utter a meek “wala, tita.” In my mind, I’ve already rolled my perfectly winged cat eyes so far back I can see my brain cells die a little bit. In high school, being exceptionally girly (or inta, to use the proper Hiligaynon term) was probably the second worst thing you could be called (the first, of course, being a flirt). My mother, concerned about

my oily skin, bought me a humble powder pact, which I quickly stuffed into my backpack—never seeing the light of day again. I didn’t want to be caught powdering my nose, lest I be teased to social death by both the males and females that made up my barkada. That was the unspoken implication that sometimes came with being inta: there was someone you were trying to attract and that made you a flirt as well. It was a two-inone deal that no girl wanted. Girls often find themselves performing a balancing act of sorts—we’re constantly walking on the tightrope between “too

influence from my parents, who had assumed the job of buying me medical-related toys to play with and telling me I looked like a doctor every time I tried on a white jacket or a pair of glasses. However, I was also developing my own interest in science, spending my free time reading encyclopedias. I wasn’t particularly good at science, nor was I the kid that had entire collections of books about animals or space, but it made me wonder if the budding desire to become a doctor was a result of my parents’ encouragement or rather, my own. During college applications, I was too bothered by the anxiety of needing to pass into a college, so I settled into a pre-med course that would give me all the units I’d need for medical school. Throughout the first few years of college, I spent my time rediscovering art, which I undoubtedly loved the most. I invested time writing stories, making music, visiting museums, and watching gigs. It was then that I felt forced to put an end to my ambiguous position and eventually teetered on a place where I could potentially lose my pre-med course. The desperation that came with my failure

answered all my questions, so I scrambled to my feet and hit the ground running. For the first time ever, three years into undergraduate science, I felt an undeniable passion to pursue medicine. I reconciled it with my love for art by deciding to become a doctor and to develop programs for science communication in the future. This wasn’t meant to inspire people to test their desire for their course by consistently failing, but rather, it meant to say this: It’s all right to take your time in figuring out who you want to be in the future. It’s hard not to feel guilty when you see people around you who already have a straight-track mind towards where they want to be, but it’s easy to remember that you don’t have to be or think like someone else. College doesn’t have to be the place where you have it all together, but it can be the place where you explore all the things you might want to be. The time that you spend on your journey of discovery will be worth it.

BLUE JEANS

What It Means to Hope BY LYONEL TANGANCO

LET ME begin with an apology for the pretentious title. Who am I to write about hope? What about hope can I possibly share that philosophers like Marcel or our professors and modern heroes, who have been fighting for different causes all their lives, have not already said? Not that much, really. But I can write about one experience—my experience—of what hoping in our country has been like. When I entered college, I saw the example of many young student leaders and started to consider working in the government in the future because of its capability to positively impact people’s lives. Back then, seeing how I could help solve many of the problems that plague our nation today gave me hope. But much of this enthusiasm was challenged last year – the year I saw our country elect a leader who promised change by stronghand rule and killing the “worst” of humanity, utter disregard for due process in dealing with potential criminals, the trivializing of human lives—even that of a six-yearold girl—by treating them as necessary collateral damage, a national leader disrespect women and implicitly give

much” and “too little.” Wear too much make-up, you’re vain. Wear too little, you’re a slob. Equilibrium is especially difficult to achieve when the harsh spotlight of the male gaze is upon you, and yet we continue to make fun of people when they put too much make-up on; we still snicker when we see that they don’t wear enough. We assume that girls do it to attract male attention—or worse, to “deceive” men (I would insert a thousand question marks here but The GUIDON’s style guide and the character limit for this opinion piece beg me not to). Can we really help that some people put make-up on simply

Agape

ANGELA R. NATIVIDAD

Calculated cruelty KINDNESS AS currency has become somewhat of a norm. We exchange niceties for things we need and then leave people hanging with empty promises of seeing each other again soon as go-to gestures of goodbye, because “see you later” is always easier to say. We say we value kindness, but many of us mean it only when it is comfortable or convenient, when we can benefit from it. Maybe we only exhibit it when we’re visible, up high on our soap boxes where people can see us. Some of us even take it as an opportunity to see someone else in a certain beneficial light: I did this for you and now you owe me. Worse even is when we seemingly treat people kindly, exercise patience and all, but reserve none of that kindness when it comes to a certain person. It is as if we are calculating how much we can give and deeming

because they don’t feel comfortable going out without blendedout triangles of concealer under their eyes, especially when we as a society expect everyone— especially women—to look a certain way? Of course, society’s standard of beauty is a whole other problem we need to figure out. The least we can do for now is to stop putting people down for wearing make-up. We need to stop assuming that the only reason girls (or any make-up wearer for that matter) put on make-up is for anyone else but themselves. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look cute for the boy you’ve

been eyeing in your Philo class, this attitude towards make-up as something so superficial and vain disregards the fact that it’s a billion-dollar industry that boosts its patrons’ confidence with the swipe of a brush. We forget that make-up is an art, that make-up is a career for many people from salon employees to your favorite YouTube beauty guru, that make-up is fun, that you don’t have to put it on if you don’t want to, that you can if you do. This is a long-overdue apology to my titas—I’ve been lying to you. I am making myself pretty for someone. That someone is me.

this one person unworthy of any decency. Treating them like they are exempt from our belief in love, kindness, and our supposed want to carry these things out isolates them, makes them the outlier. Being cruel to none except one is crueler than anyone thinks. It tells the person that all people, except you, are deserving of love. This is something I like to refer to as “calculated cruelty.” It’s just enough for you and your friendgroup, claiming kindness all you like, to poke fun at one person. Just one person, because any more and you feel uneasy, like suddenly you are not all the good you project yourself to be. Usually this person is some sort of scapegoat, has a trait you don’t agree with, and you magnify this to unfair proportions that you pick at like a scab. Whatever this person does suddenly becomes some sick inside joke, a phrase you repeat amongst yourself, a name that everyone rolls their eyes at. It is calculated, just enough. And for all the good you and your friend-group are known for, there is suddenly a space of cruelty. There is a place you avert your eyes from, turn away, as if your active spite can be ignored. “It doesn’t count,” many will insist. There is the silent agreement that this person deserves it.

No one bats a lash. After all, you all agreed. This person isn’t worth it. It’s just one person. It’s only this one guy. The next day you all wake up and greet the guards at the gate, punctuate your emails to professors with pleasantries, hold the door open for a freshman, and then laugh at that one guy. You will reason it out: At least I’m not mean to everyone. I CLAYGO, I bring my drunk friend home, I’m the guy who replies to sad tweets. “I’m a good guy,” you will say. But statements on the self require self-reflexivity. Am I really? That’s the crucial question. Because cruelty is not chiefly about number. Nobody counts on their fingers how many people saints were kind to, just that they were. Cruelty is not about number as kindness is not about exchange. To give is enough. It should be. There is no gauge to how kind we must be in a day, how many people we greet, the number of people who smile back at us when we smile at them. We do not fill up a quota like it’s finite, like we’re trying to save some for something special or for ourselves. No tallies or counts. It is freely given without agenda or expectation, free from malice or hope for exchange. We give because we can. Because it is an expression of love and, when things are done with love, there will always be enough.

Our Emmanuel Goldstein is the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. A common observation on Martial Law protests is its synonymy to being an antiMarcos protest. In itself, there is nothing wrong with that. The human rights violations and embezzlements that occurred during the Marcos Regime are ceaselessly echoed in our history texts and by those who remember. Filipinos have a right to be angry over the atrocities that occurred during the Martial Law era, but it is just as important that we are not blinded by our rage and point everything at the Marcoses. Obviously, none of the Marcoses who pulled the trigger on the desaparecidos themselves, nor were they the only ones who conspired Ferdinand’s dictatorship. For something as historically complex as the Marcos Regime, there are multiple actors involved. For example, a prominent figure during the Martial Law era is Juan Ponce Enrile, who allegedly faked his ambush in 1972 to justify the proclamation of Martial Law. Another one is Fidel Ramos, chief of the notorious Philippine Constabulary (former PNP) from 1972 to 1986. The Philippine Constabulary, mostly through the infamous Metropolitan Command, tortured and killed thousands of Filipinos during Martial Law. But despite their involvement in the atrocities during

Marcos’ dictatorship, they were rewarded with cabinet positions by the democratic president Corazon Aquino, absolving them of their past sins just because they jumped ship at the last minute. PostEDSA, Filipinos continue to elect them, in the senate and even the presidency. Contrast this with Germany, a nation that remembers its monstrosities during World War II. Even if their disdain for Adolf Hitler continues, the Germans did not forget the other Nazis. In fact, Germany allowed these citizens to be charged with war crimes until 2016, when the oldest Nazi to be persecuted died. Because of the Germans’ holistic recollection of their history, we are called to be like them. But if we were to be like them, then let us have a comprehensive understanding of the Martial Law era. We cannot allow those who remember to remain forgetful.

BLUE JEANS

consent for others to do the same, social media used as a tool to mislead people, truth so easily jettisoned, and a traitor, thief, dictator, and murderer buried as a hero. But 2016 was not a year of total darkness. Late last year, thousands of people stood up to the injustice that was the honoring of the former dictator and the legitimization of the atrocities against our nation. I, too, shouted my disdain at the cowardice of the stealthy burial and sang “Bayan Ko” beside the victims of that era of injustice. For once, I felt like we were winning. I felt that anything could be accomplished if we got together. But days, weeks, and months pass, and the grit of the everyday brings us back to our own small realities—requirements, deadlines, friends and family who often disagree with our values. Still, everyday we see fake news and paid trolls, a number of killings that now tally more than those who were killed in Martial Law, and young people still ridiculed for being naïve. To see that our efforts at organizing even just within the school sometimes end up in disagreement makes it all frustrating and seemingly hopeless once again. I was ready to give up on our country. But over the semestral break, I heard the vice president give an inspirational talk. Something I have always wondered was how she had the strength to continue with her work, despite being attacked constantly.

Her speech reminded me of something student leaders like telling each other: go back to your “why.” It was a call to put our focus away from these disappointments, back to the battles that still have to be fought. So many forms of injustice prevail in our world today. Focus on your goal, and these voices become background noise. A friend once told me, “May we find it within us to hope.” Like her, I had thought that hope is something found within a person—a mysterious internal element found in heroes like Nelson Mandela. But perhaps hope begins with looking outwards—into the eyes of the people swept aside by society, and telling ourselves, “For these people, I have no choice but to go on and fight.”

Lyonel Tanganco is a senior student and lead coordinator of the Bagumbayani Initiative, an organization that seeks to promote integrity and positive change in the government by sustainably recruiting young people to join the civil service as a purposeful, viable, and practical career option.

The making of an Emmanuel Goldstein BY CORLETO O. VINLUAN III

IN ONE of the unforgettable scenes of George Orwell’s 1984, Ingsoc (English socialism) party members of the fascist Oceania superstate are invited to watch a film daily, depicting Emmanuel Goldstein and his alleged insurgent group, The Brotherhood. As their faces are shown, the party members shout and curse in blind anger, even throwing their chairs towards the screen to show their loathing for Goldstein. But along with this hatefilled routine, the Ministry of Truth rewrites historical documents to fit the rhetoric of the Ingsoc party. In effect, its people forget the evils of the superstate, as Goldstein becomes the scapegoat for the societal ills of this fascist regime. Thankfully, we do not live in Orwell’s 1984. The Philippine state is not fascist and a chunk of its citizens are impervious to historical revisionism. However, one common element between some Filipinos and the Ingsoc party members is an immense hatred towards one person.

Corleto Vinluan III is a senior BS Legal Management student and an Inquiry staffer of The GUIDON. If you would like to contribute to Blue Jeans and Chalk Marks, e-mail your entry to desk@theguidon.com. Entries should be no longer than 3,200 characters with spaces.

News

Atenean Voice How will the newly elected Trump administration affect Philippine-US relations? Joe Decastro 3 AB POS-MPM Course Representative

Dave Araquel 3 AB POS

“The most immediate effects of the newly elected Trump administration on Philippine-US relations would concern defense, trade, and investments. Trump’s security strategy is very different from his predecessors because he seems to want a more inward-looking government. But regardless of whether or not he increases military presence in Asia, I would expect the US to pivot towards Asia. In this pivot, the US would need to utilize soft power in order to maintain and forge new alliances and agreements with Asian countries. I don’t think the US would lose interest in the Philippines any time soon.” “Beyond Trump’s political agenda, I think what’s really scary is how he managed to resurface strong dormant sentiments during campaign season. By making foreigners highlights during his rants (i.e. Mexican walled border), Trump had unwittingly mobilized white supremacy and, even as he is now retracting on his racist posture during the elections, popular support shall force him to reverse progressive foreign policies. Matters obviously do not help when we have a Duterte who keeps on bad-mouthing the US while drawing closer to China and Russia (sorry excuse for hedging). In short, we can expect economic reprisals and further military projection schemes from a Trump administration that has amplified foreign hate, thereby making us witness to a more heated and contested PH-US relationship in the coming years.”

Jaia Corral 2 BS ITE

“Our country’s economy is very dependent on BPOs and OFW remittances. Trump focuses on protecting America’s economy which will basically have BPOs to pull out from the Philippines. The worst that he could do is put higher taxes on the remittances that our fellow OFWs send. These are the main obstacles that our country should expect if Trump pushes through with his protectionist policies.”

Rafa M. Habana 2 AB POS

“Assuming Trump does not go back on his word as he has done with a number of other issues, the key factors would be the TPP deal and his proposed tax increase on US companies going abroad. The Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership is an economic treaty that would benefit the Philippines and could possibly bring more jobs in but if Trump scraps that treaty and increases taxes on US companies going offshore then maybe there would be a decline in the number of jobs coming from the US. Trump has also proposed his ‘extreme vetting’ of everyone entering the US which could affect the ease with which Filipinos enter the US. All in all, these things will also have an effect on many other countries and not just the Philippines when it comes to immigration and economics.”

Bryan Hsieh 3 BS MGT

“Both presidents are unreasonable and uncompromising in their selective xenophobic dogma. That, coupled with their massive egos will strain the traditional relationship the Philippines and America has enjoyed. The change will come in three ways. Firstly, bilateral diplomatic relations would suffer, leaving us less likely to gain aid and technical expertise from the US. That and the reticence of Duterte to kowtow to US hegemony would make these boons a distant memory. Secondly, economic injection via foreign investment would be much less. Trump has expressed his desire to concentrate the economy into a US homegrown powerbase. This policy will not allow for overseas production, thus investment will dry up. Most importantly though is the potential military support the US can provide. The Philippines can never hope to go against China alone, it has only survived up to this point due to the potential threat of US intervention were China to go too far. Thus we see our incumbent president going on his knees to improve relations with China.”

Marc Bueno 4 BS ME

“Trump’s nationalist rhetoric of putting America first to ‘Make America Great Again’ would definitely be the cornerstone of PH-US relations, but to be fair, what’s new? The US has always put its interests first, regardless of who’s president. I do think, however, that it’s still too early to tell what will actually happen since Trump is backtracking on a lot of his campaign promises.”

Anthony Aguillo 3 AB COM

“I take an unconventional view, I actually think President Duterte and [President] Trump will get along. In the sense that they are both populists and pragmatists in the political sense. Yes, they come from different divides of the ideological spectrum, but ideology took a backseat when these gentlemen were elected. We can actually see they agree on some points vis-a-vis, [such as] the role of America in the world and the creation of a mutually beneficial economic and political deal for each of their countries. Hence, the guy who has a book on the art of the deal talking with a shrewd politician like Duterte can create an unconventional political pairing that is unorthodox but is something that could work. And as we’ve seen in 2016, the unorthodox is not so unorthodox or impossible anymore.”

Rocco Venadas 2 AB PSY

“I think US-Philippine relations will remain pretty much the same for Duterte’s administration. We remain a very lucrative partner for the US due to our old trade deals, and while Duterte wishes to get rid of the EDCA, most likely because we are one of the lowest paid countries for allowing the US to maintain bases in our territory, I don’t think it would impact us too much.”

Larry Glenn T. Abucay 2 AB PSY

“Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ Policy is intended to prioritize Americans for jobs within the country, a country for the Americans and by the Americans. This may take a toll on the Philippines’ BPOs—a huge economic source of the country. President Duterte (PH) and [President] Trump (US) are both temperamental and populist, that is why an unlikely relationship between the two may very well be a possibility.”

Daniel Sarte 3 AB EC

“Both Duterte and Trump have ‘strong-man’ and populist personalities and the few articles I have read lean towards a cordial relationship between the two presidents. Geopolitically, we may be military allies with substantial defense agreements with the big three—USA, Russia, and China. Economically, Trump leads towards more of an American first policy, which is bad news for Filipino emigration and immigration to the US. However, Trump (and Duterte) is known for his unpredictability, so the future ‘bromance’ between Trump and Duterte may provide exemptions for Filipino businesses in the US and OFWs. Frankly, as difficult [as it is] for me to admit, a Trump administration is actually good news for the Duterte administration. Now, I am curious with the alliances and political policies our country will enact, especially with both Putin and Trump vying for a Filipino alliance.”

Gabe Legaspi 2 BFA CW

“Although President Duterte has shown aggression towards the US because of their criticism towards his war on drugs, the president has shown a form of camaraderie towards president-elect Trump. Most would find this to be a silver lining in Trump’s win, with how dependent the Philippines is on the US. I, however, do not think this is alright at all. Another country our president has shown a very special sense of camaraderie with is China. We have seen him bend backwards for China, even giving leeway to China’s blatant disrespect towards the court’s ruling on the West Philippine Sea dispute. [President] Trump has made it clear that he plans on pulling businesses that export work. This would mean that call centers, our country’s newest economic backbone, will be greatly affected. The public relations between the Philippines and the US may seem better compared to the Obama administration, but in return, we suffer a heavy blow to our economy, as well as very important criticism on a failing war on drugs that the Obama admin provided.”

Anton Miranda Executive Vice President for Externals, APAIR

“An unpredictable US foreign policy under a Trump administration would cast doubt on all existing structures of US-Philippine relations as well as the current balance of power in the Asia-Pacific in which both countries have been defending for so long. On one hand, it is possible that the military alliance would deteriorate upon the mutual interests of Trump and Duterte on not interfering on each others’ domestic issues. In effect, current joint military exercises and transfer of weapons provided under EDCA would be shelved in the event that both parties will render such arrangement irrelevant. In the greater scheme, the dynamic US pivot of the Obama administration would subsequently end if the US will give up the Philippines as its strategic ally. Thus, the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific would dramatically shift in China’s favor. In fact, there would be no obstacle for Duterte to declare his allegiance towards China without facing criticism. Although there has been great progress on protecting the fishing rights of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea, Duterte’s unhindered bandwagoning with China in terms of political alignment and deeper economic ties casts doubt on our ability to exert our exclusive rights towards disputed maritime territory that is still guarded by Chinese naval ships. However, the essential problem of these assumptions is that the future course of US-Philippine relations remains unpredictable due to inconsistent statements of both Trump and Duterte. Since both are more preoccupied in shaping their ‘personality’ for their political advantage rather than past state practice, their policies are heavily dependent on their ability to appease their constituents and to present a new ‘image’ of their countries towards the international arena.”

ERRATUM

In our November 2016 AVoice, we misprinted Bri Sandoval’s response. His correct response to the question “What is the most pressing issue the newly elected Sanggunian should address?” is as follows: “They should fix the suspension system, because lagi tayo pinaasa, like the government says it already, UP, and all the other schools in Katipunan are suspended, but us, no? People commute to school and need an early suspension announcement para they can prepare, diba? And traffic, too—all guards should be able to give gate passes in all lanes para mas mabilis flow from Katipunan to outside Ateneo and pedestrian lanes should be managed better.”

Glimpses Hult Prize finalists pitch enterprise geared towards refugees On December 10 at the Ching Tan Room, the 2017 Hult Prize Case Competition in Ateneo was held in search of social enterprises that address relevant global issues. This year, the competing teams built their enterprises around the query, “Can we build sustainable, scalable social enterprises that restore the rights and dignity of 10 million refugees by 2022?” The winning team, Kyuse Protein Bars, proposed to address the refugees’ food shortage problem by planning to distribute “kyuse” mini farms which refugees will use to produce pulses, or grain legumes. These would then be made into protein bars packaged with hopeful messages from past refugees, for them to consume or sell. The team, composed of Vince Ngan (V BS ITE), Earl Forlales (V BS CH-MSE), Paul Ceralde (V BS APS-MSE), and Stephanie Gail Canilao (V BS CH-MSE) will be competing in the Regional Finals in March 2017. MICHELLE D. ABAD

JGSOM students bag bronze for FINEX Intercollegiate Finance Competition A team of five JGSOM students claimed 2nd runner up in the 18th annual FINEX Intercollegiate Finance Competition (ICFC) held on November 21. The ICFC is a national quiz bee-type finance competition for top colleges and universities in the Philippines. Part of the competition’s aims is to expose competing students to world-class financial standards of knowledge and to better prepare them for careers in this particular industry. The winning students are applied mathematics senior Arianna Chua, and management engineering seniors Lyonel Tanganco, Martin Koa, James Gan, and Justin Tan. The team was coached by Finance and Accounting Department lecturer Riche Lim. MICHELLE D. ABAD

Lee-Chua wins CMMA’s Best Business Column Citation

AESS holds Turtle Talk and Walk to promote sea turtle conservation

Mathematics and Psychology Department professor Queena Lee-Chua, PhD won the 38th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) Best Business Column Citation for her column “All in the Family.” As of writing, it has appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and was recognized for promoting positive values. The CMMA was established by former Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin to “enhance the total human development of the Filipino audience through competent and professional use of mass media techniques.” Lee-Chua also won the same award in November 2015. MICHELLE D. ABAD

The Ateneo Environmental Science Society (AESS) held its very first Turtle Talk on November 14. Biodiversity Management Bureau experts Renato Borja, Nilo Ramoso, and Rizza Salinas, PhD gave talks about marine turtles’ biology, conservation, and patrolling. Turtle Talk served as a means of preparation for AESS’ Turtle Walk, held on December 12-13 at the Pawikan Conservation of Naic, Cavite. In the annual Turtle Walk, participants camp out on a beach and patrol for newly-hatched turtles to guide and protect them as they move towards the ocean. MICHELLE D. ABAD

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

GALLERY OF EAGLES

Andrei Tolentino and the eight-week strength program BY VINCENT D. SOLIVEN

THE EIGHT-WEEK PROGRAM

“AS A strength and conditioning coach, your primary job is to get your athletes ready for competition and to make them be able to compete at their highest level,” says Coach Andrei Tolentino, who has been with the Blue Eagles since 2011. Tolentino, a human kinetics graduate from the University of the Philippines, started out his career in strength and conditioning in 2001 with the Tanduay Rhum Masters in the Philippine B a sketba l l A s s o ciat ion (PBA). He was also part of the coaching staff of the University of the East Red Warriors. Currently, Tolentino works with the Talk N’ Text KaTropa of the PBA. Early in the offseason, Tolentino met with the rest of the coaching staff to set the standard for the team’s training. “Coach Tab [Baldwin] said ‘La Salle is the benchmark right now because they are big, strong, quick, fast, everything,’ so he wanted to bridge that gap. [Baldwin] does not think youth would be an excuse so we just had to make our players ripe as possible by the time the season began,” explains Tolentino.

To l e n t i n o ’s p r o g r a m , however, was cut by the team’s trip to the United States for practice games from July 16 to August 1, forcing him to adjust his strength training schedule from linear to non-linear. In the linear periodization, the training is broken into phases and is completed over a longer period of time. However, in the non-linear periodization, everything that needs to be developed in an athlete is done on a shorter timeline. “It was only this year that I did [a] non-linear [schedule] because they left in July for the US. So, when they came back, I didn’t want to start from scratch. I had to compress everything in prior to the opening of the season,” says Tolentino. The intensive eight-week program began on June 4 and lasted until the middle of August, with the US trip in between. During this process, Coach Tolentino would have the team in the weights room from 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM. With the program being new to the players, Tolentino needed to explain why a change was implemented. “I had to make them trust the process. I had to make them absorb that, in

the end, you will see the difference between who you were then and who you are now,” he shares. Once the team bought into the program, players came in as early as 5:30 AM to work out and pushed each other to their absolute limits. Although the sessions were grueling, Tolentino kept the atmosphere light, but knew when to turn the heat up to strike a balance between enjoyment and productivity. REAPING THE RESULTS

The Blue Eagles showcased the benefits of the program, proving they can stand toe-totoe with any team in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Basketball tournament. The evolution of the young squad was on full display, as it overcame the Mayhem press and limited Season 79 Most Valuable Player Ben Mbala’s numbers in an 83-71 win over the Green Archers. “I think the biggest benefit of being in Coach Drei’s program is the strength and agility that I gained throughout my stay with him.” says Aaron Black. “From last year, I really wanted to bulk up even more but at the same time keep my speed and quickness at par with the weight I was

gonna come up to. Coach Andrei played a big part in helping me do that as he pushed me to my limits with all the workouts we did.” Another major beneficiary of the program was Mike Nieto who lost 37 pounds in the offseason. “[The program was] tiring because [Tolentino] orders you to do a lot of things, but in the end you know it’s for a better cause of becoming a better player,” says the sophomore, who was desig-

nated as a starter this season. Isaac Go also saw a major improvement as a result of the hard work put in with Tolentino. “I feel I’m a lot faster and stronger. I’m able to do things now that I couldn’t do last year,” says Go. The on-court improvement, however, did not come as a surprise to Tolentino who knew even before the first game of the season, that the gap had been bridged.

PHOTOS BY JILL R. CHAN

“What people watch in the UAAP is the finished product. That was the kitchen where we cooked everything,” says Tolentino, pointing to the weights room beside the team’s practice court in the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.

Sports

TEAM FEATURE

Triumph in the making BY TONICHI C. REGALADO

IN SEASON 78, Ateneo Men’s Track and Field (AMTF) finished sixth in the overall podium for the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP). It was a rough loss for the team, as they came quite close to podium finishes in a few of the events. The Ateneo Women’s Track and Field (AWTF) also struggled in Season 78, but just like the AMTF, the team’s members were able to keep their heads held high. This season, Blue Eagles Head Coach and Program Director Mick Perez is once again at the helm of the track and field program. He expressed how he and his staff aim to raise the teams’ standard of performance. Coach Perez wants both teams to reach the caliber of the 2006-2009 era, where the Blue Eagles were consistently among the top three UAAP collegiate teams.

GOING BEYOND THE ATENEO GRASSROOTS PROGRAM

Ateneo Track and Field has made strides to prove its champion-level status. With new coaches and a reconstructed program, these Eagles are ready to soar once again. Starting this year, a classification system will be more strictly implemented, meaning that both the men’s and women’s teams have programs singularly suited for each of the athletes’ events. With fixed specialization, the tracksters expect a level of improvement in competition quality. In addition, there will no longer be any recruitment of rookies without specific prior experience. Because of this change, this season’s rookies hail from beyond the Blue and White. The blue tracksters have freshmen Javi Morfori and Nathan Rosal from De La Salle Zobel and La Salle Green Hills. Morfori is a former 800m record holder from the juniors division and Rosal will be adding a much-needed boost in the javelin and hammer events. “They’re all very fresh so it’s important that they taste some competition,” says captain Gab Vera Cruz. According to him, they are relying on UAAP veteran and medalist Maui Ramos to support the team in the sprints. Co-captain Mikee Ruiz and junior Rabbi Villanueva also compose a bulk of the team’s skill. Villanueva, who will be stepping up this year in the 4x400m relay, maintained that the revamping of the program and the addition of new coaches has pushed the team to progress compared to last year. Vera Cruz is also confident in his team’s strength. “We’re still a young team, [but] I think that’s where our strength is. We’re still developing,” he says, explaining that being young does not automatically equate with

being inexperienced. Instead, the new program is a welcome breath of fresh air for the team. TAKING BIGGER STEPS

As for the Lady Eagles, after a stunning performance at the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) 2016, they are eager to show exactly how high they can fly this Season 79. The team this year is also undergoing change with the new program and a new coach, Southeast Asian Games medalist Riezel Buenaventura. Supersenior Captain and Queen Eagle Vanessa Baguiwet impressed everyone with her gold medal performance at the PATAFA 2016, where she also established her personal best. Also donning the Blue and White once again is Kimberly Zulueta, a battle-hardened runner. Her performance in last season’s 100m dash gave the Lady Eagles their only medal for the

season. In July 2016, she was given a chance to represent the country in the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations University Games in Singapore and reached the finals in her events. Building the agendas and strategies around the athletes seems to be the central theme of the revamped programs, a necessity to meet the heightened demands of competition. The Lady Eagles are no exception, however, and just like their male counterpart, AWTF is definitely up to the challenge this season. The season looks bright for Ateneo Track and Field. The Blue and Lady Eagles are hungrier than ever and are poised to impress. “It’s all about speed and aggression,” says Cruz.

PHOTOS BY TWINKLE R. LIBOON

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

SPORTS FEATURE

The calm before the storm

PHOTO BY CHESTER B. TAN

BY JAMES B. GAVINA AND JASON R. SANTOS

WITH A total of four University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball championships in the hands of the Blue and White, the program has undoubtedly found great success over the past few years of glory. However, their success certainly did not come to them on a silver platter. Instead, the victories came to them through blood, sweat, and tears that were laid out on the court during each day of training. Furthermore, the team undergoes through rigorous training sessions, which require them to train in the morning and afternoon. By the end of afternoon sessions, the players find themselves fatigued from training. But their regular day does not end there as they have to deal with the responsibilities of academics, social meetings, and the like. To keep them focused on the game, the coaching staff turns to meditation, a unique training regimen in the form of simple exercises that puts the athletes in the right mindset to perform to the best of their abilities. THE ORIGINS

The use of the exercises all originated from Coach Anurson “Tai” Bundit, the head coach of the women’s team, who had also recommended it to the men’s team Head Coach Oliver Almadro. Coach Almadro previously read about the exercises in a book, Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson, who was a basketball coach that helped the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers win a total of 11 National Basketball Association championships. Jackson’s selfdeveloped approach derived from different disciplines such

as psychology to zen meditation has helped him ground his method in the essence of freedom, authenticity and selfless teamwork. Inspired by Jackson, Coach Almadro was able to get the chance to fully integrate his research on holistic development into his training program with the help from a group of Ateneo alumni who are experts in the field of psychology. According to Coach Almadro, this was an integral part in the first championship of the men’s team. BREEDING THE MIND OF A CHAMPION

For both teams, off-court training is taken just as seriously as training on court. For instance, the men’s team often attends mass, participates in recollections, and joins retreats to develop the team’s camaraderie, chemistry, and most importantly, holistic development. “For me, aside from their regular training, [their training] should [also] be holistic; it should be also spiritual, also mental,” shares Coach Almadro. To improve their mental game and to always be on court with the proper mindset, the team conducts simple meditation exercises. “At first we sit at a very quiet place and then coach tells us to be in a comfortable position,” says men’s team captain Karl Baysa. A f ter wa rds, t he tea m members undergo breathing exercises where they inhale and exhale slowly while simultaneously counting their breaths. “Then, he makes us slowly relax and think about what we want to do in the court,” says Baysa. The focus of the exercise is to separate one’s self from the events happening outside the court and concentrate on what will be happening on the court in a few minutes. This exercise is done before every training session and before every game

to keep the players concentrated and prevent them from becoming too stiff. BENEFITS

According to women’s team co-captain Michelle Morente, the benefits the meditation exercises bring to the team are plenty. Firstly, she says that the exercises rid her of any frustrations and disappointments that take a negative toll on her during games and practices. She also finds the effects of meditation therapeutic, as it clears the mind and builds focus and composure—two traits invaluable to a volleyball player. “[The exercises] clear our mind para mas focused daw kami sa training. And for me, nakakarelax din siya pag nate-tense ako sa games (The exercises clear our mind so that we can be more focused in training. And for me, it’s relaxing also for the moments when I get tense during games),” says Morente. In addition to this, she states that the exercises help the team during practices, as communication becomes more lucid and open. “It keeps us on the same page na what we practice during training is what should be applied during the games,” she says. Baysa also shares the positive effects that the meditation has brought to his team. “The meditation helps us to clear out our thoughts, to focus on training so wala kaming inaalala na school work or social meetings or anything outside the court; we just keep ourselves at a present moment we’re in training so we focus all our energy into giving 110% going all out and improving ourselves,” he shares. RISE OF DAWN

With the UAAP Season 79 Volleyball tournament com-

mencing soon, both teams will be entering the tournament with different missions. The men’s team will be looking to complete a three-peat run, while the women’s team will be looking to avenge their finals round loss to the De La Salle Lady Spikersv last season— a loss that dispatched what could have been a threepeat for the women’s team. According to Coach Almadro, Baysa, and Morente, the teams will once again be sticking with their meditation sessions to fuel the players through the tournament. With open hearts and clear, calm minds, victory should come as no surprise for these teams.

“For me, aside from their regular training, [their training] should [also] be holistic; it should also be spiritual, also mental.” — OLIVER ALMADRO HEAD COACH, MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

EDITOR: BEATRICE T. GO · EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: JAMIE S. KATIGBAK · LAYOUT ARTIST: DIANA F. DAVID

Sports

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

A unique training regimen may be the key to keeping players focused on what is happening on the court.

The road back to the top

BY LORENZO C. AYCARDO AND KIRBY G. JALANDONI

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS usually face the enormity of pressure before the new season begins. From the moment the championship lands in their hands, all eyes are on the team and a target is on their backs. The pressure of defending the crown can either make or break a team. Last season, Ateneo men’s football and baseball teams, as well as the women’s volleyball team experienced heartache on a grand stage. Then on the verge of rewriting the history books, these Ateneo teams were poised to shatter records and bring the championships back to Katipunan. This year, with new captains at the helm, seasoned veterans right behind, and an exciting crop of rookies, these teams are looking to make it back to the top of their sports. IN RETROSPECT

Despite all three teams placing second to the last by the end of University Athletics Association of the Philippines

(UAAP) Season 78, their journeys to the finals are largely distinct. For the blue booters, it was a tale of two rounds. The team ended the first round near the bottom of the standings, getting only three wins and losing four matches. The team remained undeterred despite the slow start. “What I liked about the team last year was how we recovered,” says Ateneo Men’s Football Team Captain Carlo Liay. “We told ourselves that we could still do it. It tells you a lot about the heart of the team.” After clawing back in the second round, the team finished the elimination round with a win-loss slate good for third place. This set them up with archrivals De La Salle University (DLSU) in the semifinals, the same team that they succumbed to in the semifinals of the season before that. They ended up winning in dramatic fashion against DLSU in a penalty shootout, giving them a spot in the finals versus University of the Philippines. The fairytale finish was not meant for the team, as they lost resoundingly to their Katipunan rivals.

“What I liked about the team last year was how we recovered. We told ourselves that we could still do it. It tells you a lot about the heart of the team.” — CARLO LIAY TEAM CAPTAIN, ATENEO MEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM

“We were all frustrated because we worked hard,” Liay explains how the team felt after the game. “We really thought that the comeback was real.” For the Ateneo blue batters, last season was a pivotal year. They came into the season as the three-time defending champions and pressure was mounting for the team to become the first in 30 years to win four straight titles in UAAP baseball. They continued their run of dominance as the season progressed, picking up nine victories and only losing a single game in the elimination round. The blue batters’ win in their last game of the season against DLSU gave them hometeam advantage in the finals, also against DLSU. However, the blue batters squandered this advantage by dropping their first match against the archrivals, Ateneo’s first loss in the finals in years. This set both teams up for a highly anticipated match filled with drama, comebacks, and excellent baseball. Unfortunately, the blue batters were in the losing end of things even after starting the game with an 8-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. The match ended 11-9 in favor of the Green and White, ending the Blue Batters’ three-year reign on the mountain top of college baseball in the Philippines.

It was heartbreaking for the team, to say the least. Team Captain Nacho Cojuangco described the feeling after the loss as the worst feeling he has ever had in his college life. “After the game, you could feel the negative energy throughout everyone. As in, no one was talking, even our coach,” Cojuangco recounts. “Everyone was just down.” The Ateneo Lady Eagles were in a similar situation, as they came into the season as the twotime defending champions and finished the elimination round at the top of the standings. They also succumbed to DLSU in four sets in the last game of the finals. The upsetting feeling directly after the finals loss could not be avoided, especially after the looming graduation of two notable players. “At first syempre it was sad kasi it was [Alyssa Valdez’s] and [Amy Ahomiro’s] last year. We wanted it to be memorable for them,” says Team Captain Michelle Morente. Despite the all of this, the Lady Eagles tried to remain positive. Morente reiterates that even if the team lost, happiness was key. “Maganda pa rin naman yung result eh (The result was still good),” says Morente. “Silver medal [isn’t] that bad.” CAPTAINS’ CORNER

All three captains share a common denominator—big

shoes to fill and an immense amount of pressure to lead their respective teams back to the Finals. Liay recognizes that the team will always be associated with Mabanag, given their former captain’s investment in the entire Ateneo community. However, he plans to step out of his predecessor’s shadow and prove that he’s worthy of being captain. Cojuangco of the blue batters feels the pressure of leading the team as last season’s Baseball captain was adored by the entire team. “We all love the guy. There’s nothing bad about him, there’s nothing we ever disliked about him and like he pushed us to always do our best,” Cojuangco says of Dio Remollo, his predecessor. Morente is grateful for the opportunity to be the captain of the Lady Eagles, despite being on the sidelines last season. Picking up after Valdez makes Morente relish the opportunity even more, given the successes the former achieved throughout her career for the Blue and White. During games Morente’s voice fills the entire arena and is the primary reason why she was named captain. “Siguro yun din nakita ni Coach Tai [Bundit] kaya he made me captain. I just like being loud on the court. If

PHOTOS BY BRYAN T. TORRES, DANICA T. BIBERA, AND JEFF PASCUAL

I’m quiet, something’s wrong,” she further adds. THE LONG ROAD BACK

Liay, Cojua ngco, a nd Morente all understand that making it to the championship will not be a walk in the park. With various factors such as additions and losses to the rosters and bolstered line-ups from other schools, making it back to the Finals is definitely easier said than done. With the bitter memory of last season’s shortcomings combined with renewed vigor, all teams are ready to fight for their right in claiming supremacy in their respective sports once again. All three also share the recognition that at the end of the day, they are still playing a team sport. Though they may have the distinction as captains, these athletes know the value of their teammates’ input that will hopefully translate into victories on the pitch, field, or court—input that may lead them back to the Finals and hopefully to the championship.

EDITOR: ROBBIN M. DAGLE · EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: INA M. MORALES AND ABELARDO M. TORIO · LAYOUT ARTIST: MEG F. VILLENA

Beyond Loyola

STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM

The government is not a monolith and remains to be about the people and for the people.

Confronting change BY ANDIE M. BERNAS AND NICOLE A. LORENA

hey say that a lot can change in a year, but one can agree that 2016 was something else. In the past year, major political earthquakes have sent shockwaves the world over: the United Kingdom chose to leave the European Union, more than a million South Koreans rallied to impeach President Park Geun-hye, and the United States elected Donald J. Trump as their new president. The Philippines was no exception. With the Duterte phenomenon, the deadly antidrug war, and the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, among others, 2016 served as a rude wake-up call. For some, the rise of authoritarian leaders and illiberalism

even in nations once considered as bastions of liberal democracy is enough reason to name 2016 as the “worst year ever” (more so if one considers the unusually high number of high-profile celebrity deaths this year). Many would hope that the new year would serve as a clean slate, but that probably won’t be the case. 2017 would simply be a continuation of what has been started in the past year. UNDER A NEW ADMINISTRATION

Change is coming. This was President Duterte’s campaign slogan, promise, and battle cry rolled into one. Simple as it was, the slogan, along with his iconic campaign symbol of a closed fist, persuaded enough Filipinos to vote for the former Davao City mayor last May. Lizzie Ledesma, an architect from Bacolod, was one of the

“How much of history is made by people who decide to take risks and how much of history stays stagnant because people would not?” — JO-ED TIROL, PHD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, HISTORY DEPARTMENT

16 million Filipinos who voted for Duterte. Ledesma said that she gets behind Duterte’s slogan because her idea of change is the same as his—one that involves a president that would do everything in his power to alleviate the corruption in the government and keep everything in order. “As of now, I am elated by the speed and enormity of his projects. I am very satisfied with the way things are going. He has appointed his alter egos who are experts in the fields assigned to them and performs to the best of their abilities,” she said. She recalls first hearing about Duterte back in 2015 from her Davaoeño friends. She says she was impressed when she found out that he “made Davao into one of the safest and cleanest cities in the country” and hopes that he could do the same thing to the whole country as well. More than six months into his term, Duterte remains popular. Polling firm Social Weather Stations found 77% of Filipinos satisfied with the president in a survey conducted on December 3-6. Pulse Asia recorded Duterte’s approval rating at 83% based on a poll done on December 6-11. Enrique Niño Leviste, PhD, assistant professor at the Sociology and Anthropology Department, explained that Filipinos are seeking change because they feel “let down” by establishment economics a nd politics. Because of people’s discontent with the way things are, Leviste says that there will always be people expressing their desire to change the system. “I think calls for change have always been prominent. Activists in the 1980s chanted ‘Tama na, sobra na, palitan na’ to express their discontent and desire for change

despite the late dictator’s attempts to remain in power. Joseph Estrada won because he purportedly represented and fought for the poor (‘Erap para sa mahihirap’), a stark contrast from his predecessors [former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos who were] perceived [to have a] lack of connection and concern for the impoverished,” he said. Leviste believes that the reason Duterte’s slogan became effective was because it followed a similar template and called out the inadequacies of the previous administration. TAKING A STAND

However, not everyone is satisfied with the new administration. As part of Duterte’s socalled change, he ordered for the burial of late president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for “national healing.” He says he was also influenced by how many Ilocanos felt “disheartened” when the late dictator was initially not allowed to be buried alongside the fallen heroes of the country. He also said that the decision was lawful since Marcos was a former soldier and was thus qualified for burial in Libingan. But some believe that the burial was Duterte’s way of paying back political debt to the Marcoses, whom he said were among the supporters of his campaign. This brought about social unrest especially among the youth, sparking multiple mass demonstrations against the burial. On the day the Supreme Court announced its decision as well as on the day of the burial itself, spontaneous walk-outs and protests happened in Ateneo and in other universities across the country. Rachelle Ng (2 BS CTM), one of those who joined

the demonstrations, finds these rallies inspiring and a great way for people to come together and strive for what they believe is right. “In my opinion, rallies can have several goals that they seek to fulfill. One of the strongest purposes is [to hear] that the [voices] of the people are demanding to be heard,” she said, adding that she was surrounded by people who rallied to fight for their beliefs despite their fears and the potential danger. Part of why Ng rallied joined the protests despite her parents’ disapproval was because of what she learned in her history classes. She remembers a question posed by assistant professor Jo-Ed Tirol, PhD of the history department: “How much of history is made by people who decide to take risks and how much of history stays stagnant because people would not?” “It was there when I decided to be part of the story—the story that was going to give voices to those who are not heard, the story that would create ripples across generations to inspire them to fight for what they believe in,” Ng said. MOVING FORWARD

Change has indeed come, for better or for worse. While misinformation and vicious trolling have made online discourse more toxic than ever, the events of 2016—if soberly and thoroughly examined – can serve as reality check of how society has really become. “While we have made significant inroads economically, such inroads are not felt on the ground or by people who should have benefited most from poverty alleviation programs and the delivery of basic services. The inadequacy

GRAPHIC BY MIKAELA R. MONTANO

of the current system—not to mention untrammeled abuses in government—makes its constituency vulnerable to skepticism and disillusionment,” Leviste said. The changes of the past year have also urged Filipinos to make a stand and today challenge them to think critically about what is happening a nd how to move forward. “ Through the different mediums of mass communication, people have become more aware of the different realities of political situations that are happening around the world and I believe that awareness is the first step to change,” Ng said. Yet beyond just being aware, civic engagement will be key in strengthening Philippine democracy. Its importance cannot be discounted this 2017, as contentious issues such as the reinstatement of the death penalty, lowering of the age of criminal responsibility, and constitutional change are all ex pected to dominate public debate. These are indeed exceptional times. While change can be overwhelming, the events of the past year and the challenges confronting the new year remind that change is spurred by a united and engaged people.

Beyond Loyola

Starting from the bottom BY JC A. BELTRAN AND INA M. MORALES

crowd of nanays and their toddlers wait in the lobby of a barangay hall to avail of a free medical check-up. Upstairs, a staff member informs community residents about disaster risk management. This is the typical scene at Barangay San Bartolome in Novaliches, a community that has garnered recognition for good governance. Last year, it was bestowed the Barangay Seal of Good Housekeeping. One of San Bartolome’s best practices is its Lupong Tagapamapayapa or mediation committee. Ba ra ngay S e cret a r y Ve g a Ch ave s explains that it has helped keep court trials at bay by settling personal cases amicably at the barangay level. The program was named second runner-up for the Outstanding Lupong Tagapamapayapa award. Responding to the needs on the ground is the foundation of good governance. Local government units are thus crucial to further the national agenda. But the concept of a capable local government is not exclusive to Metro Manila. In Iloilo province, Ronilo Caspe beams with pride as he serves another term as municipal mayor of Cabatuan. Inside his office, the shelves display the trophies and plaques recog n izing t he merits of the modest town. Under the leadership of Caspe, Cabatuan became the two-time recipient of the Gawad Listahanan Award, first for its

staunch anti-poverty campaign, and second for its free maintenance drugs program. FROM MINORITY TO MAJORITY

As an anti-poverty initiative, Caspe notes the municipality’s Cabatuan Laban sa Kahirapan (CABALAKA). This multi-sectoral program brings the services of the local government unit (LGU) directly to the people. Under the CABALAKA is the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) that identifies needed anti-poverty projects. Civil society organization (CSO) representatives must approve of these before sending them to the national government. This procedure was mandated under the Bottom-up Planning and Budgeting (BUB), a reform launched in 2012 by the Aquino administration that institutionalized the participation of citizen’s groups in the budget process. Si x t o D on a t o “D o do” Macasaet, executive director of the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), explains that the LPRAT is evenly composed of both LGU and CSO representatives. Prior to this, they had the local development councils and CSOs made up only 25% of the total members. “In the BUB, the local government is, in a sense, forced to listen to and work out an agreement with CSOs because without their support, they don’t have the support of the majority,” he says. CITIZENS AT THE CORE

The Aquino administration was keen on achieving a more

“Hindi lahat ng barangay kumikilos, ‘yun ‘yung reality. ‘Yun ‘yung challenge.” — VEGA CHAVES BARANGAY SECRETARY, SAN BARTOLOME

participator y governance, and BUB was only one of its many initiatives. The Department of Internal and Local Government (DILG) launched the Seal of Good Local Governance in 2014 to award LGUs with exemplary performance in good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, and social protection, among others. The awardees are also incentivized with the Performance Challenge Fund to help them sustain economic development initiatives in their respective localities. In 2015, the Aquino administration, together with the private sector and civil society, crafted the 3rd Open Government Pa r tnership National Action Plan. The three-year action plan aims to promote good governance through different reforms, namely the passage of the freedom of information bill, fiscal transparency, publicprivate consultation, and civic engagement. During the start of his term, Caspe organized multiple summits, where various sectoral representatives are invited to voice their concerns and propose solutions to the town’s problems. He draws examples from previous efforts: summits for child and youth development welfare, agriculture, and health among others. Apart from engaging in public dialogue, Caspe also cites financial management and transparency as one of the best practices of good governance. “Every time we post the collections and expenditures of the LGU, we also conduct regular audit. Then I submit the results of the audited funds and present them to the barangay. We also follow the proper procedures for both open and transparent bidding,” he added. THE QUESTION OF ENGAGEMENT

However, the implementation of new reforms could possibly limit citizen involvement. The BUB, despite it being a platform for grassroots empowerment, has been rebranded as the Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities (ADM) program. The new DILG secretary, Ismael Sueno, sees ADM as a major improvement from its predecessor. While the

BUB mainly covers all LGUs regardless of income class, the ADM prioritizes the allocation of resources to the poorest LGUs. Sueno describes the eligible projects as basic infrastructure most needed in those areas: access roads, potable water, evacuation centers, sanitation facilities and small water impounding. Despite the differences in objectives, Sueno insists that the thrust of ADM remains “propoor and pro-people.” “In ADM, we are more concerned in helping the towns address the essential needs

of their constituents,” he said in a statement. Macasaet argues against the new system since it provides less opportunity for checks and balances. ADM only involves one chief executive and his or her chosen CSO to identify the projects. The exclusive “menu” especially limits choice. He says that although this may address a gap, it may not be the priority of the community. “What we’re after is actually the essence of BUB, which i s …pa r t icipator y [ governance],” he shares. “Although there are problems, it’s more effective in responding to the local situation than a top-down approach.” Civil society’s participation has indeed proven to provide better services, but the avenues for engagement remain lacking. Although Chaves praises San Bartolome’s barangay-based institutions, she admits that not all of them function to accommodate their respective sectors. She attributes this to the requirement that members are only required to attend two regular sessions in a month to receive their allowance. Because of their complacency, Chaves laments that they have no achievements to present during the barangay assemblies held twice a year. “Hindi lahat ng barangay kumikilos, ‘yun ‘yung reality. ‘Yun ‘yung challenge (Not all of the barangays act, that’s the reality. That is the challenge),” Chaves says. POWER OF THE PEOPLE

PHOTOS BY MARCO T. TORRIJOS

Being at the forefront of the grassroots movement, CSOs have emerged as effective catalysts toward achieving good governance.

CSOs have been instrumental to the country’s growth, serving as prominent stakeholders in state projects. For instance, CODE-NGO conducts training seminars in barangays where locals are taught how to analyze bud get do c u ment s a nd engage constructively in government. A side from mobilizing citizens, the organization also performs its watchdog role of monitoring government’s performance. “[Each person] has to be part of the whole development process. Hindi siya beneficiary lang, hindi siya tagatanggap (They’re not just a beneficiary or a receiver),” Macasaet says. He recalls a success story in South Cotabato where the construction of a bridge shortened the travel time of locals who visit the town center daily, made possible through BUB and the active involvement of CSOs. “Development is not just income, it’s also how empowered [people are],” Macasaet says. On the other hand, Chaves says that working in the barangay requires hard work for it to be “vibrant” and “lively,” which indicates that everyone is doing their job. “Kung matino at mahusay ang pamamahala ng barangay, matino rin ang Pilipinas (If the management of the barangay is sensible and capable, then so would the Philippines),” she claims. “Kung lahat ng barangay kumilos… walang problema ang national government. Nandito ‘yung tao e, grassroots ito (If every barangay would act, there would be no problem in the national government. The people are here, this is the grassroots).”

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

LEGENDS

Knowing Your Local

Barangay City/Municipality

WORDS BY ALEX M. EVANGELISTA, MIA C. PANGILINAN, AND ABELARDO M. TORIO, INFOGRAPHIC BY MIKAELA R. MONTANO AND DIANA F. DAVID RESEARCH BY MIGUEL N. SEVIDAL AND JAIRUS I. PAUL

The survey, using convenience sampling as sampling methodology, was conducted from January 4 to 15 with 124 respondents. The insights in this survey are limited to the sample size covered and cannot be generalized to the entire Ateneo population. Full results of this survey are at tinyurl.com/BLLGUSurveyJan2017. LGU AWARENESS Respondents seem to have the highest level of awareness at the city/municipality level. When asked

to rate one’s overall level of awareness with LGUs on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest, most rated their city LGU awareness highest (2.65 on average). It can also be noted how majority of respondents said they did not know their LGU officials and werwe not aware of their LGU officials’ responsibilities at the barangay and provincial level. However, majority of respondents expressed an awareness on both LGU officials and their respective responsibili-

Provincial RESPONDENT’S KEY DEMOGRAPHIC 60.5% were seniors

ties at the city level (74.2% and 55.6% respectively). Researchers’ note: We assume a 90% confidence level and a 7.5% margin of error for this study.

41.1% were from the John Gokongwei School of Management 2.04

2.65

71.8% were from the National Capital Region (NCR)

2.37

45.6% of whom were from Quezon City 41.1% of respondents indicated that they belonged to the ‘Over PHP 500,000’ income tax bracket

OVERALL SELF-AWARENESS RATING 1 - LOWEST, 5 - HIGHEST

SELECTED RESPONSES

How important is your local government unit (at whichever level) to your day-to-day life?

74.2%

What endeavors have your local government officials worked on in the last three years?

70 60

Valenzuela, NCR “A lot. The government, especially the city government, is in hand-in-hand with the community in all its efforts to keep the government and the community running. In that sense, the community where we belong benefit the more from these developments. Life is easier in our city, compared to ten years before. My city reflects me as well.”

55.6%

50 41.9%

41.1%

34.75%

30 22.6% 20 10

Manila, NCR “I think the LGU is important to my day-to-day life because of the security it provides me and my family. They make sure that crime in the area would be stopped and households would be safe from dangers such as robbery, trespassing, etc.”

0 AWARENESS LEVEL FOR LGU OFFICIALS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

AWARENESS LEVEL FOR LGU OFFICIALS

SERVICES IN THE LGU Respondents were also asked about their awareness of services in their LGUs with. The results were the following: Sangguniang Kabataan

62.9%

Health Services

62.9%

Public Safety

56.5%

General Services

54%

Civil Registry

48.4%

Planning and Development

44.4%

Environmental and Natural Resources

37.9%

Legal Services

37.9%

Public Information

37.9%

Budget Management

24.2%

Population Monitoring

Limay, Bataan, Central Luzon “Improving the tourism in the province, attracting development corporations, maintaining the cycle of breaking down and fixing roads, and maintaining their political dynasty, among others.”

19.4%

Architectural Planning

16.9%

Veterinary Services

12.9%

Consolidated Engineering Services

9.7%

Cooperative Development

8.1%

Agricultural Services

7.3%

Local government units (LGUs) at all levels are often mistrusted and perceived to be corrupt by their constituents. The latest figures from the 2012 SWS Survey on Good Local Governance find that 68% of Filipinos view their city or municipal government to be corrupt, while the 2015 Philippine

Tiaong, Quezon, CALABARZON ”Tiaong’s local government’s most notable endeavors in the last three years were giving out financial aid to college students and providing medical assistance to patients.”

29%

Accounting

BY ABELARDO M. TORIO

Naic, Cavite, CALABARZON “Tokhang (barangay level), building roads & inviting investments through malls/shopping centers (town and provincial levels).”

37.2%

Treasury

Corruption persists in LGUs

Pasig, NCR “As far as I know, they have been improving on emergency response and taking care of the senior citizens in the city. They also have different infrastructure projects.”

Parañaque, NCR “My dad is a senior citizen, so our barangay officials help ensure he gets his benefits such as his senior citizen card and booklet. Small services and benefits like these help families all over the countries and that’s why I think LGU’s deserve more credit for the work that they do.”

62.1%

Social Welfare and Development

Quezon City, NCR “Not familiar with any barangay projects, but I’m familiar with Quezon City’s initiative to amend the QC Gender and Development Code and Herbert Bautista’s housing project called Bistekville (I’ve seen some in Novaliches), and the reconstruction/renovation of the Quezon City Public Library is in the works to be opened this year (2017).”

Trust Index shows that only 19% of Filipinos trust their LGU. This perception is validated by the statistics. The Office of the Ombudsman, the government office mandated to monitor the three branches of government for corruption and investigate complaints filed towards government offices, reports 1,535 filed cases against LGU officials in the first half of 2016 alone, the highest of any government institution. Of these cases, LGU officials also top cases referred to the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan with 488.

Tiaong, Quezon, CALABARZON “Tiaong’s LGU plays a significant role not only to mine but more importantly to other Tiaongins’ lives as it works for the advancement of public good. The LGU officials serve to build a community that promotes welfare and social good for the benefit of the town and its citizens.”

The proliferation of corruption and the mistrust it sows upon LGUs can be traced to several factors. For one, LGU corruption is a product of the power structures that involve the myriad problems that seem to be endemic in our political culture. Among these problems is the proliferation of political dynasties that effectively turn LGUs into “small dictatorships.” These internal problems are amplified by the boosted power entrusted to LGUs. The 1991 Local Government Code (LGC) codified the system for local government units at all levels.

Under the LGC, certain powers are devolved to the LGU, giving them the ability to collect taxes and maintain autonomous budgets while making them responsible for the delivery of basic services such as healthcare and social welfare. These factors together show how LGU corruption becomes a cyclical and self-sustaining process that becomes very hard to be rid of. Aside from being a symptom, LGU corruption has also been identified as root of societal problems. Because of the responsibilities devolved to LGUs, corruption at that level often

translates to disruptions in delivery of public services, which directly affect the everyday lives of constituents. For instance, access to medicines has been hampered by questionable bids in many LGUs. This in turn further complicates the already-precarious public health conditions of the country. While institutions such as the Ombudsman exist to ensure accountability, little has been done to address the roots of this structural problem. In 2015, then-chair of the Senate’s oversight committee on local governments Koko Pimentel decried

corruption in LGUs and filed a resolution to investigate LGU corruption. No record of such inquiry is available and no further action has been taken in the Upper House since. The issue has recently been muchdiscussed in light of the debate on federalism. Those who are against changing the country’s structure of government argue that federalism, through the greater powers it would accord to local government units, would only serve to exacerbate the LGU corruption problem and the consequences thereof.

Beyond Loyola

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

Trump: From personality to president BY MAXINE A. BUENAVENTURA AND BELLA R. PEREZ-RUBIO

nited States (US) president Donald J. Trump’s win in a close general election came as a shock to many, defying polls that predicted a comfortable victory for his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. While Clinton got the most number of votes nationwide, the Republican’s razor-thin victories in key states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan—states thought to have been in the bag for the

Democrat—were enough for him to win the electoral college. Trump garnered 304 electoral votes to Clinton’s 227, becoming the fourth person to secure the presidency through the electoral college without winning the popular vote. With Trump sworn in as the 45th US president last January 20, many wonder how his presidency would affect not just America, but the world as well. TRUMP AND DUTERTE

Even when Trump was still a candidate, some have

Many have also expressed their fear towards what effect Trump’s presidency would have on marginalized groups such as women and people of color.

brought up the similarities between him and the Philippines’ newly-elected president Rodrigo Duterte. Both were unlikely presidential candidates who ran on a populist and anti-establishment agenda. Both conducted unorthodox campaigns that have broken political norms countless times. Temperamentally, the two are known for having short tempers and loose tongues. In the realm of policy, Trump’s stance is in line with his inward-looking paradigm of “America First,” which includes his desire for the US to stop playing world police, allowing Duterte and other world leaders the room to determine their own policies. Duterte said that Trump has given a stamp of approval on his controversial war on d r ug s. Not ably, D uter te repeatedly lashed at Trump’s predecessor, former president Barack Obama, for criticizing his anti-drug ca mpa ig n. Coupled w it h Duterte’s warming relations with known US rival China, questions have been raised whet her t he Philippines’ relationship with its foremost a lly and former colonia l master is fast deteriorating. A NATION DIVIDED

Back in the US, Trump’s victory did not signal a start of national healing expected after the conduct of an election. Rather, it exposed and

activated lingering fault lines present in American society. In exit polls conducted during the elections, a large percentage of Trump’s supporters said they agree with his hardline stances on immigration. A whopping 84% of Trump voters said that most illegal immigrants to the US should be deported while only 34% said that they should be offered a path to legal status. Trump supporter Peggy Smith Shortt defended her stance in an interview with the BBC, saying that while her position does not mean a refusal to help, she believes that immigration “needs to be done the right way.” “We have so many people in our country that we need to help as well,” she said. When asked about what for them is a candidate’s most important quality, 83% of Trump supporters said that he or she “can bring needed change.” A n a ly s t s h ave at t r ib uted economic a nd cultural disenfranchisement among white working class Americans as among the main reasons for Trump’s election. But critics point to Trump’s status as a billionaire and his penchant for dishonesty as just some of the reasons why they believe Trump will not deliver the change he promised. Following his election, several protests broke out across different parts of the US such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Demonstrators

chanted slogans such as “not my president” and “we don’t accept the president.” Trump is already considered as the most unpopular president to begin his term. Only 45% of Americans approve of his performance during his first three days in office, the lowest initial rating recorded since the first poll on the matter was done in 1953. Many have also expressed their fear towards what effect Trump’s presidency would have on marginalized groups such as women and people of color. During numerous instances, Trump was called out by critics for exploiting racist and sexist sentiments present among his supporters. A day after his inauguration, the Women’s March on Wa s h i n g t o n r e p o r t e d l y drew larger crowds than the inaugural rites itself. Solidarity marches were also held in other US cities and around the world.

between the two leaders has raised some eyebrows. This includes bot h Republican and Democratic lawmakers, which have shown a general distrust for Russia and Putin. As he transitions from candidate to president, both the US and the international community will await with bated breath as to whether Trump’s outrageous comments will transform into actual policy. In the United States, there is a great divide between citizens who dread what they feel will be a return to an era of sexism, racism while others wait to see if Trump will indeed follow through on his promises.

AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE

Shakeups are also seen in the geopolitical arena. For one, an unexpected alliance between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was formed throughout the latter’s campaign. From the two paying each other compliments in public to the confirmation that the Russian government was involved in the hacking incident involving Clinton, the growing goodwill

Empowering urban poor key to solving NCR’s housing woes BY SEAN S. CHINGKAW AND ANGEL T. VILLAMOR

s the economy grows, Metro Manila’s rapid urbanization is no surprise. This has brought about lucrative employment opportunities and a highlydeveloped infrastr ucture compared to other areas of the nation. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Metro Manila contributed over 36.5% to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015. To put this in perspective, this share is more than double Region IV-A’s, the second highest contributor at 17.2%. This has been a trend since 2012. Metro Manila also received a lion’s share of the 2017 national budget. Figures from the Department of Budget and Management show that the National Capital Region (NCR) was allocated Php 519 billion, more than thrice Region IV-A’s which has the second highest budget at Php 164.6 B. Despite this, the unchanging development approach of the national government and the private sector has placed a strain on the infrastructure of NCR. Signs of this strain are the exacerbated flooding problems and a worsening traffic situation which may cost the national government over Php 6 B daily by 2030. Yet one of Metro Manila’s biggest problems is the lack of adequate housing for the poor. As of 2006, around four million people are estimated to be living in slums. This is expected to rise to 9 M by 2050. The capital is also believed to be the city with the highest homeless population in the world. GRASSROOTS HOUSING INITIATIVES

In a 2014 study, the Asian Development Bank proposes a system of social housing initiatives and a national shelter program as possible solutions. The plan also emphasizes the role of local government units (LGUs) in implementing these initiatives as well as existing legislation related to the national housing problem. Recent ly, t he nat iona l government and certain LGUs have taken on socialized housing initiatives that aim to put informal settlers in the driver’s seat in making decisions about their housing situation. These initiatives allow for informal settlers to obtain proper housing despite their financial capabilities. Anna Marie Karaos, PhD, associate director of the John J. Carroll Institute, explains that through these initiatives, an organized association of informal settlers can come together to take a loan from the Social Housing Finance Corporation. This loan enables them to acquire land of their choosing. Though they may still live in poor conditions, they are at least afforded the security of living on their own land. If they have more funds, the association will be able to make a bigger loan to build their own houses. This type of housing, called incremental housing, allows the association to introduce improvements to the extent that they can. Loans are paid back through a tailored amortization scheme, which takes into account their finances. Programs such as the People’s Plan, which was first implemented during the Aquino administration and is headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, embraces a bottom-up approach where associations are afforded on-site and in-city relocation

instead of moving them to areas outside Metro Manila. Karaos emphasizes the importance of giving informal settlers the option of either staying in the city where loans for housing are greater or moving to areas outside the city where it is cheaper to live. Assuring that informal settlers get their say in their housing options makes it more likely for them to move into the houses being built for them. A MORE PROACTIVE GOVERNMENT

Unfortunately, a bottomup approach to the housing

problem is not available to all communities. “Not all families belong to a community that is willing to be organized. That relies also on how much people trust each other in their community because they will be incurring a group loan,” says Karaos. Karaos also emphasizes that local governments, especially of cities that are not yet as congested as Metro Manila, should have a more proactive response to the lack of urban planning and housing in the Philippines.

Rather than just treat the urban poor as informal settlers who add to the congestion of urban space, Karaos stresses the importance of the urban poor to the life of the city. “Services are being performed by the urban poor at a very cheap cost. My argument has always been t hat t hese laborers a re actually subsidizing the better off in our society, because they are able to provide these services at a cheap cost,” says Karaos. In the end, Karaos says that it is up to the government to g ive a redist ribut ive

PHOTO MANIPULATION BY MEG F. VILLENA

for m of just ice for t he urban poor. “In other market societies, [the urban poor] would be paid higher, but because our society is not able to pay them as much, that’s where the state should come in, that’s the redistributive role of government. What the people don’t receive by way of wages, they can receive by way of public services,” says Karaos.

EDITOR: ADRIAN M. GOH · EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: SAFFI C. ARCENAS · LAYOUT ARTIST: PATRICIA REYES

Features

A PRESS-ING ISSUE

While swiping through the news may be faster, flipping through a newspaper may be an entirely different experience.

MAKING RIPPLES:

2016’s Atenean game-changers BY SAFFI C. ARCENAS, ANDREW D. CAMBRI, ANNICKA B. KOTEH, AND SAM C. LEDESMA

016 has been tagged as the “worst year ever” in the press and social media. But just like any other year, 2016 was also filled with individuals who brought new discoveries, creations, and movements to the Philippines and beyond. The Ateneo has its fair share of youth whose admirable accomplishments, talents, and ideas not only allowed them to peak in their own fields, but also made them shining representations of the Atenean community. With these triumphs, we don’t only find ourselves inspired as we welcome 2017. More importantly, we also reflect on some of our own resolutions and what we hope to make of this year, as individuals and as a community. POCHOLO ESPINA

Poch Espina could only get a metal straw by purchasing in bulk, so he turned his excess orders into an opportunity for others to reduce plastic waste as well. Enter Sip PH, his social enterprise, which has sold over 1,500 reusable straws through Ateneo Trade, bazaars, and word of mouth. Espina still hopes to have his product in resorts and coffee shops to institutionally influence this eco-friendly culture. Sure enough, he’s always been the guy with big ideas and a taste for exploration: He’s been in about 30 orgs throught his college years, including the Institute of Skin Divers Ateneo and Loyola Mountaineers. With an Erasmus scholarship, he has studied in Romania, where he took a course on solid waste management and hatched his dream to build a recycling firm.

Sip is a step towards that dream and is an expression of empathy. “The root of this is knowing how to empathize with people,” Espina explains. “You empathize with the world and realize that the Earth is suffering. So you do your best to help.” PAULO JOQUINO

Science rests on questions and this is why Integrating Science in the Philippines (ISIP) aims to inspire curiosity. The organization started with just three Philippine Science kids brainstorming about how to promote science through a YouTube channel, a magazine, and a camp. Pau Joquino is the sole Atenean in the founding trio and back in 2014, the science camp was his idea. Since then, Joquino has headed two “Discovery Camps,” where students attend workshops, stargaze, and pitch community improvement projects. “We tell the scientists in the panel to communicate with the students so that there is a conversation going,” he explains. Similarly, his other commitments—such as YouthHack and Health Hacks—push students to develop their own social enterprises through competitions. For ISIP and the rest of his initiatives, Joquino’s endgame is to sustain critical conversations. “Researching and going the extra mile are what we want to impart beyond the facts in our workshops, YouTube series, and social media posts,” he says. “It’s about the long-term impact as students grow into their careers.” SOPHIA DEMANAWA

Self-expression is not the end-all be-all of art. This is why Sophia Demanawa’s art sheds light on issues relevant to society. Her recent work can be seen in Ang Mga Kuwentong Aeta (2016),

a children’s storybook. “Being a part of this project really drove home the influence of children’s books in everyone’s formative years and how it is so important to promote diverse representation in these children’s books,” she shares, emphasizing how fulfilling the project was despite her past apprehensions, mostly about inadvertently “desensitizing the struggles of the Aeta community.” On her Facebook page titled Demonawa, she also uses her art to portray more social issues, such as mental health. “I want to communicate [mental health issues] in future works [...] because, unfortunately, that isn’t a thing taken seriously and [is often] desensitized in media because it isn’t researched well,” she explains. “I personally think the duty of art is to spark conversation about relevant topics. Maybe it doesn’t have to be every artwork, but there should be a duty as an artist to illustrate the world around them.” RAMBO TALABONG

Journalism requires fearless people taking fearless actions and Rambo Talabong seems to have that on his job description as Editor-in-Chief of Matanglawin this school year. By being a voice for the marginalized and a voice against the issues that afflict the country, he not only managed to develop the organization with his leadership experience and bolster its small pool of members, but also put Matanglawin in the spotlight with the release of

Mochang Tanga Blog, last year’s title for their annual satirical “Tanganglawin” issue. “[It] was a bold move for [us to lampoon] Mocha Uson, because we also take a stand against irresponsible use of social media and we really stand by it. [The] reaction was phenomenal,” Talabong says, having originally meant for the issue to both take a stand as well as grab the attention of Ateneans seeking to join Matanglawin. In a way, they’ve exceeded their own expectations. Amid the attention on the org, Talabong hopes that Matanglawin will continue to be a “mouthpiece [that] can differ” and “a voice in telling the story of the people” in both advocating for the poor and marginalized, as well as about national issues. “For Matanglawin, patuloy lang ang laban (the fight goes on),” he shares. GABY GLORIA

There’s no doubt about it: Being a student writer demands a lot of time and yet Gaby Gloria not only managed to strike a balance between her academics and career, but also started her own writing projects. Using her background in writing for Young STAR, Rookie, and CNN Philippines, she created her very own magazine for Filipinas of the modern generation. Recalling her past, a despondent Gloria shares, “I [felt] like I [was] worthless kasi I had friends who were so into what they were doing–they’re all doing things and I’m just here.” Taking inspiration from her experiences, as well as her newfound interest in a local audience, she began an ambitious effort to create a website named The Thing Online, a pop culture magazine-slash-blog for Filipinas where she serves as the editor-in-chief alongside a team of equally dedicated girls. These creatives tackle the “million interests and opinions just waiting to be expressed” in modern culture—art, food, fashion, music, and much more. The site is becoming a haven for Filipino writers to explore their interests and perspectives, and Gaby Gloria has created an excellent breeding ground for

young, up-and-coming writers to grow in the years to come. JESSICA HAO

Putting smiles on others’ faces is what Jessica Hao believes she spent 2016 doing. Together with Joanne Chu, Hao brought to the Philippines The Foundation Foundation (TFF), which aims to provide support for female victims of abuse, rape, and human trafficking. Originally founded in Canada in 2014 by Katrina Hernandez, a high school friend of Hao’s, TFF’s attention to women is what Hao says makes the foundation different. Hao is also a member of several sector-based organizations namely, TUGON, which aids child victims of abuse and abandonment, the Habitat for Humanity Blue Chapter, which helps impoverished families in need of good homes, and the Ateneo Special Education Society, which supports and promotes quality education for people with special needs (PWSNs). “It’s like all the blood, sweat, and tears I put into helping them don’t matter [to me] as long as they’re happy,” says Hao about visiting the PWSNs and their families. This year, she looks forward to helping more people and spreading awareness about her causes. BIG MIKE BIKES SOLUTIONS

Shawntel Nieto, Maan Flores, Miko Manaloto, Sasa Raya,

From left to right, top to bottom: Pocholo Espina, Paulo Joquino, Sophia Demanawa, Rambo Talabong, Gaby Gloria, Jessica Hao, and Big Mike Bikes Solutions PHOTOS BY TWINKLE R. LIBOON AND DANICA BIBERA

Anjel Perilla, and Amae Miclat formed Big Mike Bike Solutions (BMB) with the belief that all homes should have access to the basic human rights of clean water and electricity. For this project, the group focused on helping disasterstricken areas. “Such a choice stems from our Big Mike Bike’s current energy-generating and storing capacities as well as from the very dire need we saw in marginalized communities to have a large-scale, holistic, and sustainable relief system for when disasters such as typhoons strike,” says Nieto. Their solutions were pedal-powered machines for water filtration and energyefficient production. In 2016, the group was able to create five working prototypes despite having no background in physics or engineering. BMB Solutions continue their research, making their bikes more efficient and effective. They hope to bring Big Mike bikes to communities all over the country.

Features

A press-ing issue Has the click of a button become easier than the turn of a page? At the apex of digital publishing, it has become unconventional to see millennials reading a newspaper instead of scrolling through their online news feed. BY MIKAELA BONA, PATRICIA A. DY, AND KATYA F. LICHAUCO

reviously, it was somewhat of a norm to cut out strips of newspaper and magazine pages rendered important to the reader. Stuffed in envelopes or pasted onto albums, these snippets have exceeded their foremost purpose and have turned into objects of sentiment and value. This, however, might not prove to be true in the present. While research is consistent on the positive effects of reading print on memory, there’s no denying that reading print is gradually being deemed as antiquated. With the dynamic nature and speed that the Internet can offer, the millennial majority of the Filipino population is offered a more appealing alternative. Certain publications are shifting from their printbased media to the digital space one-by-one, with the majority of consumers being more respondent to online content. Print as a medium is on a decline. Whether it still offers a distinct experience will determine its worth in the coming decades. CLICK SHIFT

Publications left and right have adapted their print platforms into digital newsstands to keep up with the rise of the Internet. For instance, Adobo Magazine, a branding and advertising magazine, has expanded to the online space as a means of reinventing their publication. They continue to release their bi-monthly print magazine, but agree that their online platform assists in promoting their publication to more readers. Information has become more accessible with just the click of a button. In recent years, this has caused much discourse about the effect of digital media’s growing popularity on the viewership and readability of print media. Re n ow n e d n e w s s it e Rappler is known to have been launched solely in the digital sphere. Its founders have agreed that the journalism they abide by resides in a world that has become empowered by technology and is

caught up in the web of social media. Crowdsourcing has become a main component in their means of distributing and sharing information. This idea hatched from Rappler’s founders’ desire to have readers participate in the news, creating a collaborative approach to a journalism fit for a democratic society where everyone’s opinion matters. With Rappler’s Move.PH forum and Mood Meter, readers can actively discuss ideas and label their feelings towards specific articles. UP TO SPEED

In just a span of a decade, Internet subscribers have learned to swipe through world headlines instead of flipping through newspaper pages for content. A side from reaching more readers, digita l media a lso has a sub s t a nt ia l s t ren g t h i n mobility, according to Young Star Web Editor and Print Art Director Maine Manalansan. “I think online content should be timely. What’s new now might not be new in ten minutes,” she says. But such factors also pose a challenge: creating engaging and digestible content that will garner a steady audience. “It’s much harder to bring focus to your website if you’re not doing anything different,” Manalansan says. Digital publishing also affects how articles are written on print. “A website can do a straightforward restaurant review and upload it tomorrow, but for us [in print, doing] a restaurant review today, [means] it’ll come out in two months and it’ll be super late, so we’ll do it differently. We focus on the chef or we’ll focus on a specific food trend to make it different,” says lifestyle magazine Town & Countr y Managing Editor Manica Tiglao. In an ever-advancing era, the print medium proves to be the more tedious choice. There are delivery logistics, pr i nt i ng proce s se s, a nd costs to be considered. As print is costlier and harder to produce, quality is paramount. Mistakes are out of the question. “You’d have to produce another batch to fix that mistake—which isn’t ideal, especially for a business,” Manalansan explains.

“People enjoy owning things, and holding them in their hands. You can’t do that with a website.” — MAINE MANALANSAN WEB EDITOR, YOUNG STAR

She says that print’s main disadvantage is its inability to publish videos. “It’s the age of moving content,” Manalansan adds. Millennials—the socalled “digital natives”—are the first generation to grow up with smart devices and the Internet. They’re attuned to seeing how things really play out. CNN and TIME online, for instance, attach video footage or reports in most of their articles. Factors such as impatience resulting from technological dependence and visual learning come into play, and this is how videos have become an increasingly vital medium for millennials. PRINTED ON PEOPLE

Form is the very strength and frailt y of the print medium. Despite the emergence and shift of publications to the digital space, there are still some things the print medium can offer that the digital cannot. For instance, the quality of information on print is thoroughly processed as compared to when published online. On the topic of Town & Country’s recent web launch, Tiglao talks about what their digital team calls a “daily churn.” Each day, a writer has to come up with roughly six articles, whereas the print team has more or less two months to produce output. The online cycle goes like this: the writer sends the story to the managing editor, who revises the article, and the story is published online. In contrast, the print team is given a more tedious editing process. Whereas only two people are involved in digital publishing, print publishing requires that the article pass through more individuals, from the writer and managing editor, to the copy editor and layout team. Due to the fast-paced nature

of the digital space, information used for online articles prove to be more susceptible to error as opposed to that of print. Tiglao shares that while their website is relatively new, they have had instances where corrections had to be made even when a story was already published online. Furthermore, readers absorb information on print differently from how they would online. In fact, some audiences prefer tangible materials to read. According to Tiglao, although the digital space makes everything easily accessible, “there can be so much noise online and so [many] distractions.” “[People will] look at [a story] for five seconds, but they won’t really appreciate it like they would on paper,” she shares. For all these reasons, print can almost seem like a novelty nowadays—as if it were a new experience that is yet to be valued. Ultimately, there are ad-

vantages to both print and digital media. On print, there is sure to be a higher quality of information and lesser distractions for the readers, while online, stories come on-the-dot and these can further stimulate the interest of readers through the use of moving visuals. To each his or her own about how and where they prefer their articles to be rendered, but mixing it up is never a bad idea. TIME does it perfectly by offering both a physical maga zine a nd a n online space that loosely supplement each other. Despite t he g row ing demand online, most publishing companies seem to be retaining their print products and are unlikely to make the complete digital switch in the near future. Although online presence aids in widening their audience reach, the print medium never fails

GRAPHIC BY ALIYAH H. ROJO AND CLARISSA R. GORREON

to reach out to a vast network of people. Above all, print can also evoke a sense of sentimentality from the readers. “Pe ople enjoy ow n i ng things, and holding them in their hands. You can’t do that with a website. As long as there are artists who enjoy creating an experience, and as long as printers exist, really, I don’t think print will ever die,” Manalansan says.

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

Ground to the finest grade Ground to the finest grade BY BEA A. CONSTANTINO, CELINE D. NATIVIDAD, AND FRANCIS R. TOLEDO

n the misty mountain ranges of the Cordilleras, a coffee farmer steps out of his home to greet the crack of dawn. The air is rich with the scent of dew and fresh vegetation. After more than six months, the big cherry harvest has arrived. And as the farmer heads for the plantations, others emerge from their abodes to join him. The day is spent picking cherries of select ripeness, while being careful not to disturb the unripe ones. In such regions like the Cordilleras where the weather isn’t extreme, coffee plantations thrive under sunlight and regular watering. The soil is kept moist but well drained to ensure consistency in the coffee beans. After a morning of cherry-picking, the farmers load baskets full of cherries into the guardiola, a mechanical dryer which eliminates moisture and prevents beans from turning sour. This, however, is only the first step to brewing a good cup of coffee. The truth is, growing coffee beans is no ordinary task that just anyone can do on a whim. To ensure that there is fair trade, a farmer has to consider building good ties with buyers of homegrown beans. Aside from catching up to the average coffee drinker's expectations of high quality coffee, the local coffee industry also has the responsibility of educating local farmers and supporting their lands, next to creating a future where homegrown coffee becomes a staple.

MAKING WAVES

Within the Katipunan area, there are a number of coffee shops that are frequented by Ateneans. Though many Ateneans subscribe to coffee as a vital part of their day, there might be a lot that the average Starbucks-loving Atenean doesn’t know about their caffeinated beverages. There are three waves of the coffee trend. “First wave coffee started with Folger, and [in the Philippines, with] big [brands] like Nescafé,” says JP Gomez, a co-owner and barista of Colloquial Coffee. First wave coffee abandons taste and quality for convenience and mass production by wrapping the “coffee shop experience” in small, ready-to-use packets.

On the other hand, second wave coffee is marked by an emphasis of the social aspect of drinking coffee, or the “coffee shop experience.” By mass producing coffee this way, the quality of the coffee degrades and according to Gomez, this is where shops such as Starbucks Coffee, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and Bo’s Coffee belong. The beans are the focal point with third wave coffee. “From the growing process up until the brewing and consuming of the coffee, third wave coffee shops [create] a more holistic or well-rounded coffee experience,” says Gomez. Explaining that three-in-one coffee brands such as Nescafé actually offer a mix of local Arabica and Robusta beans,

“From the growing process up until the brewing and consuming of the coffee, third wave coffee shops [create] a more holistic or well-rounded coffee experience.” — JP GOMEZ CO-OWNER, COLLOQUIAL COFFEE

ILLUSTRATION BY INYA DE VERA

Cow and Chicken restaurant co-owner Sam Beltran shares that Filipino customers think that exclusive homegrown coffee on the other hand, isn’t of high quality. In the case of homegrown coffee in the Philippines, creating awareness among Filipino coffee drinkers is an imperative, because “nobody actually brings local coffee beans front and center, and says ‘we can make special quality coffee out of these beans,’” notes Beltran. FROM BEAN TO BEVERAGE

A good batch of coffee beans has a musky-malty scent, at least according to Junko Flores, a former Starbucks barista who is now a co-owner of Cow and Chicken. Making sure that there are no cracks, the beans must have a perfectly symmetrical shape to ensure that there are no deformities. The beans are then ground into the right size depending on the roast, before being tamped or compressed. In the espresso machine, the temperatures and colors of the coffee are adjusted to the barista’s liking. A fresh cup of coffee is ready to be served. But even before the beans became a beverage, they have made their way from the hands of coffee farmers. Aside from ensuring that their customers drink the best local coffee, Cow and Chicken’s owners find it their responsibility to enlighten the Cordillera farmers – their trading partners – about the coffee roasting process. “Kasi ‘yung magagaling mag-roast, nandito sa Manila. Hindi yung farmers (Those who roast well are here in Manila, not the farmers),” says Flores. And this is why educating the farmers must be

prioritized: to help them gain the same skills Manila roasters have. With proper roasting knowledge, farmers can sell their beans at higher prices instead of relying on third-party roasting establishments. Aside from giving farmers more control over their harvests, proper knowledge can help the farmers’ products gain more traction in the local market. Another problem for local coffee farmers is the lack of attention they receive from the government. “It’s one of the reasons why we can’t label [Filipino coffee as] specialty coffee. Kulang pa ‘yung (We’re still lacking) funding ng farmers to shift to being specialty,” says Cow and Chicken co-owner Mark Tating. As a response to this, coffee experts from the United States and local private sectors took it upon themselves to improve the quality of Filipino homegrown coffee and the skills of the farmers through different projects, the Inquirer reports. Still, a steady development is needed to achieve specialty coffee. In Cow and Chicken’s and Colloquial Coffee’s cases, their owners have started by creating awareness amongst their customers and maximizing the potential of local beans. “[We go local] not just for the concept of going local, but because of the widely available ingredients here,” says Tating. “[We use] what we have.” ONE CUP AT A TIME

Amidst the slow but steady rise of homegrown coffee, commercial coffee is still a staple among consumers. A big reason for its demand is its familiarity to the public. Artisanal coffee shops, on the other hand, take advan-

tage of their unique concept to entice customers to patronize their products. “Aside from using our local coffee, we also incorporate other flavors,” says Flores, saying that they sweeten their coffee with panocha syrup, a Batangueño delicacy. The goal of the homegrown coffee industry is to show the quality of each individual coffee shop and to raise awareness that local coffee can actually taste good. However, keeping up with well-known commercialized brands might already be a difficult feat on its own. “It’s hard to go head-to-head,” says Tating. “So what we’re trying to do is to maximize our coffee [through different items on our menu].” Gomez also says that providing consumers with something that sets your coffee apart is an important aspect. This can be seen in Colloquial Coffee’s and Cow and Chicken’s menus, where they serve their zesty “Pulp Fiction” coffee and their nostalgic Chocnut Coffee, respectively. Due to the fastidious nature of their trade, their target market becomes the lifeblood of the entire operation. Due to a higher regard for commercialized coffee, homegrown coffee has become a trivialized product to the general public. However, Gomez assures that when regulars come back, they are often more interested. Through artisanal coffee shops, knowledge and appreciation for local coffee can be heightened. In a nutshell, homegrown coffee is a relatively fresh and undervalued product. But through the continuous support and promotion for the local coffee trade, it’s possible for local coffee to one day become a staple for coffee aficionados, caffeine junkies, and even your average Joe.

Features

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

Home is where you are

ILLUSTRATION BY INYA DE VERA

BY KAYLA T. CADENAS AND JOMA M. ROBLE

rollercoaster of emotions is what the last few weeks of a semester thrusts upon university students. While one has to deal with both the stress brought about by final requirements and the anxiety over the pending release of grades, for student dormers, there is also the sweet anticipation of coming home. The holidays offer a hiatus of sorts for many students, but for student dormers, this break is an opportunity to return to their families and hometown circles. However, after the initial excitement of being back home washes away, student dormers are faced with the challenge of acclimatizing back into their home lives after a few semesters away. They and their loved ones find respite and comfort in being reunited together, but each visit is a navigation of adjustment. INDEPENDENCE COMING HOME

“The idea of going back home and seeing everyone again is deeply heart-warming. However, there really is this feeling na nagbago na ako because although ‘home’ is familiar, it’s just not what I’m really used to anymore,” shares Boz Suaybaguio, a senior who hails from Davao City. There seems to be this discombobulating feeling when returning to a land that, not until recently, remained in the faraway echoes of your childhood. Everything can feel like it’s still in the right place like it always has been except for one thing: You.

Returning home can be a blend of sweet and bitter, and not always the best flavor for your warm holiday beverage.

“When I’m here in Manila, I’m very vocal and I can say what I want. I feel more understood here,” shares Monica Trinidad, a sophomore from Cagayan de Oro. “But when I’m at home, sometimes I want to say something but I just don’t, because I know that our beliefs aren’t the same anymore and that bringing it up would just cause unwanted tension.” Home may be where the heart is but what happens when the heart learns to grow and sail away from “home?” It’s as if you were to trying to jump back into your favorite pair of skinny jeans after packing on those holiday pounds—a good amount of discomfort followed by an acceptance of the fact that some things may have changed. Since the beginning of Trinidad’s stay in Manila, a chance to return home never fails to fill her with feelings of excitement. She remembers her favorite holiday memories to be moments of joy and

togetherness. However, it isn’t always warm milk and cookies as different ideas can put a damper on festivities. “When I reached Manila, my worldview really changed and, so with it I let go of some of the beliefs I [used to share] with my family. [Although I love my family,] I’ve got to stand up for my beliefs [as well],” she shares. Returning home can be a blend of sweet and bitter, and not always the best flavor for your warm holiday beverage. RETURN INTO THE FOLD

“The first night I came back to Seattle [and] I went to bed, I was sad that I was home,” says Marquis Alindongan, who grew up in Seattle, Washington and is now a member of the Ateneo baseball team. He moved to the Philippines for university while his family stayed behind. “It’s really weird. I was genuinely sad. You realize that everyone just kept on going with their life

and you’re back here trying to catch up [with] that,” he says. Every day back home involves active readjustment for both the family and the student dormer. Families have to “reconfigure” in order for the dormer to fit back into the family unit while the dormers, in turn, have to readjust to assume their place in the family once more. Alindongan has only been back to Seattle twice since moving away two years ago and only returns during the summer break. He has six siblings, two of which are below 12 years old. He laments on missing the formative years of his younger siblings’ growth. “It’s different. I don’t get to witness that,” says a contrite Alindongan. But it’s not just family that student dormers find themselves trying to fit back into. Friends also have different experiences while separated and this may cause a shift in the relationships. Tamara Damary is a sophomore from Geneva, Switzerland who has also spent some time living in Davao where she studied at the Ateneo de Davao University before coming to Manila. As she enumerates the challenges of long-distance friendships, she adds that it’s inevitable that things change while separated from one’s friends. “Then you have to catch up with [how they’ve changed],” she says. “It’s not too difficult, but it’s still there. It’s definitely there.” Damary explains that youth actually plays a large role. In youth, one is constantly exposed to life changes— changes that uncontrollably extend to one’s friendships.

Suayba g uio ret ur ns to Davao for the holidays. He recalls his first few days of settling in to be periods of joyous reunions and celebrations. But after having enough rounds of the proverbial beers of reminiscence with his buddies, their stark differences start to show. “Although [my friends] may look the same, the way they talk and do things have really changed,” says Suaybaguio. “ Their beliefs a nd t heir habits have really changed, then there is this moment of awkwardness where you don’t know how to act with them anymore.” Returning home is an exercise in quick adjustment for student dormers. It is a feat to have to constantly reposition themselves in personal circles as seamlessly as possible. Yet, after every attempt to assimilate, student dormers are forced to uproot themselves once more. BACK TO THE HUSTLE

The end of the holidays signifies more than just the start of a new semester for student dormers. For them, it means briefly turning away from their hometowns once more for another period of time away from home. Living away from home has become a unique social and intellectual experience that has been normalized—and for many, has become a necessity— as part of the so-called “college life.” However, this seemingly nomadic lifestyle has become a challenge of experiencing double the effect of acculturation. The effects can include pressure from not being part of the “dominant” society and

feeling the constant need to modify their behavior according to their environment. “Both times you’re being uprooted,” Damary shares. “You’re settling back down and then you’re being uprooted again.” In his book Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow, clinical psychologist Michael Thompson, PhD explains that early experiences of independence away from home for children and adolescents can yield positive effects later in life. Living away can result in a higher self-esteem from developing skills independently and finding a new “community” to bond with. Thompson firmly believes that “the self is not something one finds, [but] something one creates.” However, this continuous process of recreation isn’t always painless for student dormers. Emotional security is essential for student dormers. A healthy relationship with their loved ones back at home can make them feel that their independence and growth are well supported. Above all, student dormers need a healthy mindse, a perception that allows them to see that the sacrifices they make actually contribute to their future and that the homesickness they bear is worth it; that home is actually where they make it. “My life is in the Philippines right now,” says Alindongan, thinking of his home in Seattle. “At this moment, at this segment of my life, that’s where it is.”

EDITOR: GABRIELLE M. LOMBOS · EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: RENZ G. ESPANOL · LAYOUT ARTIST: COLLEEN P. DE LUNA

Inquiry

COSTLY OPPORTUNITIES

Studying abroad comes at a steep cost, but over recent years, the Ateneo has sent more students abroad.

Beyond area visits Feeling good is not the same as doing good. BY JOAQUIN B. JACINTO AND CORLETO O. VINLUAN III

mong the most passionate people in the university are the members of the sectorbased cluster (SBC) organizations. Committed members regularly visit their communities, despite numerous hell weeks and heavy academic workloads. Ask different SBC members what their advocacy projects are about and they will give one coherent answer: developing their communities. K Y THE Ateneo has the Child Life Program which alleviates the stress of children with chronic illnesses and promotes normal growth and development. Musmos has area visits, where members teach values formation to children from the urban poor. Aside from area visits, TUGON Ateneo also holds an annual Awareness Week to spread consciousness about child sexual abuse. Musmos, T UG ON, a nd KYTHE have a combined 86 years of working within their sectors. But such longevity raises questions: When a problem has been tackled for so long, are the right things being done? Does this mean that SBC orgs do not make an actual difference? MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

Not exactly. In fact, it is dangerous to think that a single organization can alleviate a social problem. After all, social problems are multidimensional problems that need multidimensional solutions. Furthermore, with their limited capacity, student organizations cannot hope to substitute the roles of governments and multinational organizations in doing the big work in development. Like other organizations in COA, SBC organizations do not have enough support for funding, nor do they have t he capabilit y to conduct la rge - sca le inter vent ions such as building infrastructure, providing health care, and stopping human trafficking altogether. I n s t e a d , D e velopme nt Studies instructor Anna Mae Dela Cruz suggests a complementary role for student organizations. “You let the big fish take care of the heavy stuff [like] insurance, coverage, stuff like that,” she says. Meanwhile, organizations with limited capacities can complement the activities “big fishes” are doing in development. She gives Project LAAN as an example, which shifted to a complementary role by helping people understand PhilHealth benefits instead of raising money to subsidize the health expenses of their communities. Shifting to a complementary role allows the student organization to act within its boundaries, instead of stretching itself and delving into projects it cannot implement thoroughly. The danger is when organizations start to come up with interventions that they feel does good to the

community, without measuring whether or not there is really an impact. Of course, it is unlikely for an SBC organization to create an intervention just for the sake of its members. But to prevent this, it is important that organizations are able to measure the effectiveness of their interventions. TRACKING PROGRESS

In orga n izat ions t hat conduct development interventions, having a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system is essential to see if the goals of these interventions are met. Dela Cruz reveals that out of several student organizations that have been consulting with her, none have an M&E system to track their progress in terms of social impact. She also claims that “at least half of them didn’t have clear social impact objectives.” Hav ing unclea r objectives, or not knowing if they are making an impact, is a concern among members of SBC organizations. One of Dela Cruz’s criticisms against these organizations is that the interventions were made to enrich the college experience of its members and let them feel good about themselves rather than to make genuine change on the community. “Maybe one reason why student orgs don’t feel compelled to question their impact is because they are in fact performing well on the kind of impact that matters to them: To enjoy [and] feel good about what they’re doing,” Dela Cruz states. “But [they] don’t think about [other] important objectives like what is [their] impact on the community.” The fact that some SBC organizations had been existing without a sound M&E system in place can be seen as a testament to this. To stay true to their initial p u r p o s e of d e ve lo pi n g t heir sectors, t hese SBC organizations have started to implement M&E systems. Musmos is on its first year of its three-year plan of monitoring and evaluating their intervention. KYTHE Ateneo’s M&E system has existed for a few years, but it was only in this year that

ILLUSTRATION BY JILL T. ARTECHE

they began an M&E system towards their community, in an effort to align with their current thrust of getting to know the community more. One of the concerns of sustaining an M&E system is continuity, particularly with how a term for an executive board in an organization lasts for only a year. Musmos President Melody Lee Yu is familiar with this concern. However, she believes that proper transitioning and communication will cancel out this problem. “[We communicated that] this is what the outgoing wants to show and it’s something that the next team actually felt that was important din,” she says. “So I guess it’s that leveling off with the transitioning and all that.” There is also a concern regarding intangibility. Unlike business success which can be measured in profits, the goals of the interventions of SBC organizations are harder to pinpoint. A child’s

“If you make a kid happy, [it] doesn’t necessarily equate to doing anything about sexual abuse.” — KATHERINE CULABA HEAD, SECTOR-BASED CLUSTER

happiness isn’t easily quantifiable. However, Dela Cruz understands the complexity of measuring intangible objectives, in the sense that some of these are for the long term. In response to this, she asserts that “everything can be measured.” POLITICIZATION IN SBC

Sector-Based Cluster Head and former Ateneo TUGON member Katherine Culaba believes that politicization among the organizations is crucial to making a difference. “We have to go beyond, kasi it is not giving us real change,” she says. “Okay, may impact, but in the long run wala rin siyang ginagawa, so we need to go beyond and my suggestion is politicization.” To illustrate, Culaba uses her former organization. “Ano ba nagawa ng TUGON, for example, in the bigger picture of sexual abuse?” she says. “If you make a kid happy, [it] doesn’t necessarily equate to doing anything about sexual abuse.” For Culaba, an example of a student organization that “went beyond” was the Ateneans for Agrarian Reform Movement, which was able to help Coco Levy farmers push for a bill in legislation. “They were able to help Coco Levy farmers to push for the bill and I think pwede ‘yun sa sexual abuse…You engage the government institutions if you want a concrete answer,” she says. Culaba contends that lobbying in legislations is not the only way an organization can politicize. The images that come to mind when an organization is politicizing are directly engaging with local politicians in interventions, releasing stands, and forming coalitions with other organizations with the same advocacies.

However, TUGON Ateneo President Sofia Trinidad says that there are difficulties with this. “To directly engage in politics is difficult for an organization like ours given that we are partnered with different institutions,” she says. By making a response or statement as TUGON Ateneo, we can directly affect those affiliated with us.” This year, TUGON Ateneo has attempted to engage with social issues through infographics and advocacy talks to raise awareness on child abuse, despite their difficulty to directly engage with politics. The question seems to be about the relationship of politics with the development of their sectors. While it can be argued, in Culaba’s words, that “everything is political because t he problem is structural,” we must examine t he ex tent to wh ich a n organization can and should be “political.” The answer to this question depends on the nature and purpose of an organization, and its accepted role in its social issue. If organizations are scrutinized for delving into projects they cannot commit, they should be held to the same standard when it comes to engaging in politics that can jeopardize the communities in which they operate. In whether or not engaging in politics should be a priority, KYTHE Ateneo President Issa Yang believes that politicization should only be incidental in the SBC’s vision of the development of sectors. “I don’t think that [politicization] must be the main focus of the cluster since our sole focus is serving the sector better,” Yang says. “Politics is just one part of the experience of the sector.”

FOR THE KIDS

It is clear that SBC organizations have good intentions in helping t heir sectors. However, it is more important that good intentions actually pave the road to development. Feeling good is not the same as doing good. In fact, feel-good measures, such as conducting interventions without regard for measuring their effectiveness, can be very harmful because it blinds people from the possible reality that the intervention is not working at all. Dela Cruz says that organizations may have to sacrifice a bit of feeling good to do actual good. “[They] should not just limit themselves to positive reinforcement and encouragement [while] not really asking for results,” Dela Cruz states. “That has to change for the sake of the communities you are dealing with.” The biggest hurdle to this, she says, is leadership. In order to increase the capacity of organizations to implement effective interventions, some sort of discipline and intensive training must be imposed in the membership. A stricter implementation of measures may be harder for leaders who want to protect their members’ feelings, but it should be reiterated the SBC organizations should not merely act as an avenue to feel better about oneself. While it is important that the members are motivated to go to area visits, it is to keep in mind that, above all, to allow genuine change and interventions is the primary concern. Editor’s Note: In an earlier version, Melody Lee Yu’s name was written as “Melody Yu .” Ad ditionally, some paragraphs were modified to include additional information from interviewees.

Inquiry

Costly opportunities BY NIO B. ATRIGENIO AND JAIRUS I. PAUL

t is no secret that student mobility programs have become among the most defining features of top tertiary schools and universities in many countries across the world. After the initial surge in the number of exchange students post-World War II, these programs have steadily gained popularity and appeal with the help of pop culture and social media, eventually culminating into today’s vast network of partner universities and programs. While the Ateneo entered this pool just recently in SY 2003-2004, the options available to students have improved greatly over the years. The university offers various programs, from the Junior Term Abroad (JTA) and Summer Term Abroad (STA) programs that last for an entire semester, to the smaller-scale study tours that happen frequently as part of the school’s thrust to promote globalization. Coordinator for Outbound Exchange Suzzane Andaya says that internationalization is one of the primary goals of University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ. “We want to widen the coverage of the exchange not only for initially the School of Management but [also] for the entire Loyola Schools. [Our] main goal is to cover everyone... all the LS students—to give the opportunity to these students to study abroad,” she says. With that said, the steep financial costs associated with these programs are a major deterrent for interested students, as only a small fraction of the student community can shoulder them. A COSTLY ENDEAVOR

While the rundown of expenses varies greatly depending on both the country of choice as well as the partner institution, the total cost of studying abroad normally exceeds the cost of a semester in the Ateneo. For instance, t he 2016 Korea Business Tour, a two-week program, cost more than a semester at around USD 2,500. Another factor to consider is the type of program. Semester-long programs such as JTA and STA are flexible because students have free rein to budget their own living expenses. Study Tours, which

usually run between two weeks to one month, come at a fixed cost. “More specific approximates of expenses per school are made by the [Office of International Relations],” explains John Gokongwei S cho ol of M a n a gement (JGSOM) Student Exchange Coordinator Patrick Valentin. These figures are then relayed to the students through the respective coordinators of the four schools. There are several factors involved in the formulation of these projected costs, consisting of board and lodging, transportation, medical insurance, book fees, and other miscellaneous living expenses. For instance, the list of de st inat ion s for JGSOM JTA Spring 2017 includes New Zea la nd’s Auck la nd University of Technology, which has estimated costs of USD 3,000 for housing, USD 1,650 for food, and USD 850 for other fees, for a tota l of USD 5,500, or a round Php 270,000 for living expenses. Meanwhile, France’s I A E Montpellier Un iver sit y School of Management has a much lower average total cost for living expenses of USD 4,000. These estimates consider a student’s living expenses only and do not include tuition. However, for some programs, there is a special system in place “to arrange study abroad programs where students pay Ateneo tuition instead of paying that of [the] par tner universities,” according to JGSOM Dean Luis Dumlao, PhD. Many partner universities have a limited number of slots classified under the Ateneo Student Exchange Program, where students only have to pay the tuition fee of a regular semester in the Ateneo. On the other hand, universities classified under the External Study Abroad Program require students to pay the tuition fees of the partner university instead, which can easily reach USD 10,000 or more, depending on the university. On the other hand, the cost of the less frequent business study tours depends on a different set of criteria. “We start first with a value set by the partner... That is the basis for us to determine [the] payment for each participant,” says Valentin. Aside from this initial participation fee, there are other

“The realization that ‘you know what, we’re completely different people but we’re all doing the same thing’ made it all worth it.” — GILES DE JESUS BS MANAGEMENT-HONORS SENIOR

expenses such as airfare and insurance, both handled by travel agencies. All of these make for a one-time-big-time payment given by the students before the study tour. This now presents students with a choice: while JTA and STA give more freedom and flexibility with regards to the total cost, business study tours are a lot lighter on the budget. To put things into perspective, a regular semester in the Ateneo goes for around Php 100,000, or roughly USD 2,000. Taking part in a JTA program with the aforementioned estimates taken into consideration will cost at least USD 6,000, which by itself can already pay for three regular semesters. Considering further that a hefty part of the student population consists of scholars, some of whom are under financial aid, then it is difficult to contest the common sentiment that student mobility programs are not very affordable. These programs present great opportunities that remain out of reach for many because of monetary concerns. INCLUSIVELY EXCLUSIVE

Despite the financial deterrents of studying abroad, many students claim that the benefits outweigh the losses. Student mobility programs provide students with the learning experiences that the classroom cannot provide. Ma na gement of Applied Chemistry senior Eloisa Raya describes her JTA experience as humbling. “There are many things in Manila that we take for granted,” she says. However, the variability of student mobility programs means that not all costs are equa l. For Ma nagementHonors senior Giles de Jesus, studying in Regensburg University meant that he had to give up his financial aid scholarship from the Office of Admission and Aid. “Before JTA started, I reapplied for financial aid to help pay for my tuition for that semester. My application was rejected because my destination school was Germany, and the costs normally associated for studying in Europe were beyond what a normal scholar could afford,” he says. As both a Director’s List and Financial Aid scholar, de Jesus says that he had to be thriftier than other students. However, despite the financial burdens and losing his scholarship, he says that the experience, as a whole, was worth it. “A change in perspective about life in the world and the realization that ‘you know what, we’re completely different people but we’re all doing the same thing’ made it all worth it,” he says. While most students that pursue st udent mobilit y programs abroad shoulder majority of the costs, some programs offer scholarships. Andaya says that the availability of these subsidies depends year-by-year. The subsidies can range from partial scholarships, which cover either tuition, airfare, or living expenses, to full scholarships which cover all expenses. Andaya says that the availability of scholarships is variable as it primarily depends on the

Ateneans around the world budget of the scholarshipgiving body. “We’ve [sent students on scholarships] for the last couple of years but it actually depends on the availability of budget. Although these scholarships existed, it depends pa rin talaga sa finances ng scholarship-giving body, but meron naman definitely,” she says. BEYOND THE PRICE TAG

Student mobility programs have come a long way since their inception. What was once a small-scale, JGSOM-exclusive initiative is now available to students from all four schools, each with their own extensive selection of partner universities to choose from. The programs have been able to maintain their reputation and positive reception over the years, and as this year’s long list of applicants suggests, it will likely be able to do so for many more years to come. With that said, looking beyond the high praise revea ls ot her linger ing concerns that need to be addressed. As many would attest, the benefits of the programs may very well outweigh the losses, but there are no benefits to reap for those who are not able to take part in the programs in the first place whether it be because of the expenses, or more commonly, the strict grade requirements. “We really want to send as many students as we can to these partner universities but it’s just that a lot of these applicants don’t really meet the QPI requirement,” confirms Valentin. Apart from this, Andaya brings up administrative concerns such as the crediting of classes and conversion of units that also need to be resolved. “We have to fix those littlest details for us to have a smoother transaction with sending and receiving students,” she says. Making improvements for these programs requires coordination from several different offices, from the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Office of the Registrar, Office of International Relations, down to the different deans and departments of the four schools. True enough, making the programs available to more students has been agreed upon to be an ideal goal to set for the future, but what may not be immediately apparent is that there is a lot more at play behind these progra ms besides the money. As long as all of these concerns persist, there is still a lot of work to be done not just for the administration and staff but also for students to fully realize the potential posed by these programs.

RESEARCH BY Jake B. Cureg ILLUSTRATIONS BY Jill T. Arteche SOURCES JGSOM, SOSS, SOH, and SOSE JTA online resources

North an

Legend

JUNIOR TERM ABROAD

TUITION WAVED

SUMMER TERM ABROAD

FEE-PAYING

STUDY TOUR

COVERS ALL EXPENSES

All costs based on JTA Spring 2017 estimates from SOM

All costs based on STA 2016 estimates from SOM ML Study Tour costs based on 2017 Study Tour Fee

USA

6,391–1

26,311–

5,000–1

All expected costs per country are set in USD.

Asia

China 1,800–2,500 2,800–7,950

Thaila

Singapore 2,300–8,600 Indonesia 1,250–2,500

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

Europe

nd South America Canada 5,965—7,925

United Kingdom 7,799–30,525

Norway 7,029–8,959

6,600–7,100 Germany 4,465–8,796 7,634–20,870 3,717

12,713 Czech Republic 3,979–6,079

–29,111

13,000

Netherlands

Austria 5,855–8,515

6,141–7,281 Mexico

3,300–4,000

5,000–6,600

5,597–7,447

Cyprus 5,215–7,615

Brazil 5,875–9,125

Belgium

Italy

3,700–5,600 France

9,530–11,430 Spain

Japan 3,600–4,500

3,717

1,495–1,780

4,500–6,600

1,579–5,900

5,810–8,210

3,979–9,149

17,814–21,572

12,845–15,275

29,429–31,279 2,670–6,400

South Korea 3,222–10,842 3,400–6,000 JUNIOR TERM ABROAD The Junior Term Abroad (JTA) program offers the opportunity for students

Australia and Oceania

Australia 6,458–8,368 12,963–16,897

Taiwan 2,285–4,135

7,100–8,000

and 2,132–3,721

New Zealand 6,526–17,158

to spend a semester abroad in one of several partner universities. All four schools (JGSOM, SOH, SOSS, and SOSE) currently offer the JTA program and classes students take while on JTA are credited towards their degree. The JTA program spans most of the globe, with partner universities from North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. There are two kinds of tuition schemes for JTA programs. In the TuitionWaiver scheme, students simply have to pay the equivalent of a full-load semester in Ateneo. On the other hand, in the Fee-Paying scheme, students are expected to directly pay the tuition fee set by the destination university. On top of this, students must pay the required processing fee, apply for any required visas, and are expected to shoulder airfare, accommodation expenses, and other living costs, which vary greatly from country to country.

SUMMER TERM ABROAD The Summer Term Abroad (STA) program provides students with the chance to live like an exchange student in a much shorter timeframe than JTA. STA is scheduled during Ateneo’s summer/intersession period and offers students a wide choice of areas of study: business, language, culture, and sciences, among others. Location choices are largely the same span as with JTA. Tuition schemes are similar to JTA, with both Tuition-Waived and FeePaying schemes available. It must be noted though, that tuition-waived slots are extremely limited. Likewise, students are also expected to shoulder airfare, accommodations, and other costs of living.

STUDY TOUR As another option for those looking for a taste of the study abroad experience, there are the Study Tours, such as the Business Study Tour offered by JGSOM and the Modern Languages Study Tour offered by the Department of Modern Languages under SOH. Locations are not as varied as JTA or STA, with only a handful of choices mainly in Asia for the Business Study Tour and just France, Spain, and Germany for the Modern Languages Study Tour. The study tours are also considerably shorter in length, from around two to three weeks for Business, to four weeks for Modern Languages. Unlike JTA and STA, the payment made for a study tour covers everything— airfare, lodging, meals, tuition, and other cultural activities.

Inquiry

The GUIDON December 2016–January 2017

The eagle shrugs

BY MANUEL M. ALDEGUER, JAYVEE A. DEL ROSARIO, AND RENZ G. ESPANOL

S THE first semester of SY 2016-2017 drew to a close, finals week seemed to be the least of many Ateneans’ worries. The days leading up to the burial of Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani were punctuated by prayer vigils and noise barrages. And when the former President was laid to rest on November 18, outrage reached a fever pitch and the Ateneo’s students, faculty, and staff occupied Katipunan Avenue. Atene a n pa r t icipat ion and visibility in the recent protests bespeaks a political fervor very much present among current students, as well as a growing necessity for the Ateneo’s students to be more concerned about the public sphere. This necessity becomes all the more evident as the university’s identity and ideals continue to come under fire from parties both within and outside the campus.

The image of the petty, socially oblivious, burgis Atenean is a common detraction used to invalidate the university’s stands against issues such as extrajudicial killings and historical revisionism. It should go without saying that the politicization of the Ateneo’s students is needed more than ever in the face of increasing public opposition and disdain. ISSUES LACK IMPORTANCE

When asked to rate the political engagement of the students, Nina Alcantara, a political science major, says, “The student body to me, is definitely at a 7 [out of 10]. It has honestly disappointed me in some areas, such as how during the mobilization, several were actually laughing at the rallyists or taking pictures while doing so.” Putting aside the Marcos burial rally, which approximately 500 Ateneans joined, other org and school activities concerning the political saw only a minimum attendance. When Ateneo Resident Students Association (ARSA)’s social responsibility arm,

“May kakayahang magorganisa ng mga proyektong makakatulong ang bawat samahan para ilapit ang mga mag-aaral sa kamalayang makabayan at makamasa ngunit nililimita rin ito ng ibang mga salik tulad na nga rin ng mismong pamunuan ng pamantasan.” — MARC ARNEL VANGUARDIA BAYBAYIN, PRESIDENT

Aguhon, organized “100 Days of Duterte,” a series of talks that assessed the newly elected president’s first three months in office, there were only 200 attendees over two sessions. The general lack of interest in the public sphere displayed by Ateneo’s students is the result of a confluence of factors. Union of Students for the Advancement of Democracy Premier Lanz Espacio believes that the six years under Benigno Aquino III’s administration played a huge part in this. “President Noynoy’s term was, I think—at least for most of us here in Ateneo—was a fairly peaceful administration. If anything the status quo was kept [and there was] not much change, at least for us Ateneans. And I think that contributed to that kind of view…a view that we don’t really need to do anything,” he explains. Espacio’s comments point towards a certain lack of urgency that Ateneans have recently had to deal with when it comes to timely issues. The Off ice of Student Affairs (OSA), led by Mr. Ralph Quiblat, understands that this is a dilemma Ateneans should deal with. However, Quiblat believes that the OSA can only do so much and that the true solution is independent action by the students. “The best thing we can do is to provide facilities, means and encouragement for them to understand their place in the entire political arena,” he says. “But to decide on what issues to be involved with, which side do they stand, how the quality of their political involvement, that’s on them.” As Quiblat states, the school provides the “facilities” and “means” for the students to find their own voice in the current political landscape. These are represented by the student organizations of the Ateneo. These organizations serve as the active pulse of the Ateneo in terms of its political involvement. ORGS AGAINST APATHY

But even before the controversy surrounding the Ateneo’s instigative communiqués, the university has been at the forefront of orchestrating efforts

to politicize the student body. Ignatian education distinctively integrates national issues and social realities in the classroom setting as part of its mission to train men and women for others. And there is no dearth of politicization outside the classroom setting either. Student organizations are wellsprings of opportunities for political engagement in the Ateneo. The vibrant “org culture” constantly attempts to foster politically aware and committed students through talks, forums, and social media blasts. Whether they effectively carry out this goal, however, is a matter of debate. Dom Martin Rañises, Socio-Political Awareness Head of ARSA Aguhon, puts it into perspective. “We had to bury a dictator beside our national heroes to get people on the streets, and not that many,” he says. Like many Ateneans before him, Rañises sought a student body that was more in touch with the public sphere. Though the second half of 2016 was particularly political for the Ateneo’s orgs as they produced events tackling the national situation under Duterte and responded to hot-button issues that marred the president’s first few months of presidency, the same could not be said for the student body. From extrajudicial killings and Marcos, to sexism and state violence against indigenous peoples, there was more than enough impetus for politicization. Lacking, however, were students willing to engage the situation. “People in the Ateneo do not tend to be politically active,” Rañises says, explaining what he seeks to solve as Socio-Political Awareness Head. “We wanted people to care, we wanted people to be informed [through ‘100 Days’]...I believe there is a large untapped desire to be politically aware and knowledgeable [in the student body].” Simila rly, Nicole Sing Benco, AVP for Socio-Political Advocacy of The Ateneo Assembly, hopes to “make political discourse a natural thing” in the campus. As project head of Face the Nation 2016, last year’s installment of Assembly’s long-running annual national situationer, she details her goal.“I was

aiming [to provide] students with critical and informative inputs from sectors such as [indigenous peoples], labor, and human rights,” she says. Sing Benco shares that despite the positive feedback for the event, she cannot help but feel that these sorts of programs, for the most part, fall on deaf ears. “I feel as though Face the Nation was just another talk to everyone else,” she says. However, she does remark that “politicization efforts are imperative steps in establishing political engagement in Ateneo.” Though the student body generally remains politically apathetic, Sing Benco says, “It is vital that we continue the activities we have started...because this presents to the community that we are quick to respond and aggressive in our campaign to make politics accessible.” Like Sing Benco, Marc Arnel Vanguardia, President of Baybayin and one of the organizers of Ateneo Indigenous People’s Week, trusts that student organizations must remain steadfast in their commitment toward politicization. “Mahalaga ang papel na ginagampanan ng mga samahang makabayan sa pagsesentro ng pokus sa mga pambansang sitwasyong pampulitika (Organizations play an important role in focusing the national political condition),” he says. Vanguardia also expresses his opinion that Ateneans should not only be aware of the controversial issues, but the more subtle issues that the country deals with. “Hindi nabibigyang pokus ang mga suliraning patuloy na kinahaharap ng masang Filipino at ng iba’t ibang sektor ng ating lipunan (Problems relating to the Filipino public and different sectors are not given attention),” Vanguardia says, calling for a more effective and holistic politicization. UNDER ONE BANNER

The heterogeneity of the Ateneo’s politicization efforts is undeniably vital in igniting an interest in students from different backgrounds. Despite this, the university is still lacking a unified response to the internal and external attacks on its social and political positions. This is the result of a confluence of factors.

GRAPHIC BY PATRICK T. ONG AND CLARISSA R. GORREON

As mentioned in a previous article, the Sanggunian must take full advantage of their current situation to reorient and reassert its position in the university. Vanguardia shares a similar sentiment. “May kakayahang mag-organisa ng mga proyektong makakatulong ang bawat samahan para ilapit ang mga mag-aaral sa kamalayang makabayan at makamasa ngunit nililimita rin ito ng ibang mga salik tulad na nga rin ng mismong pamunuan ng pamantasan (Student organizations have the power to create projects that will develop students’ nationalism and social conscience but they are limited by factors like the university administration itself),” he says. “Dito nagiging mahalaga ang papel ng Sanggu na tanging opisyal na representante ng mga estudyante na nagsusulong at nagproprotekta sa kanilang mga karapatan (This is where Sanggu comes in, the only official representative of the student body that progresses and protects their rights and interests),” he adds. However, consolidated student efforts under a restored student government are not enough, especially since almost all student leadership positions are filled by different faces annually. Rañises believes that OSA and the Office of Social Concern and Involvement bears a bulk of this burden. On the other hand, Espacio believes that the bureaucracies in place actually discourage student organizations from involving themselves in political matters. As an administrator, Quiblat sees a different idea of unity within the Ateneo. “This is why we are a university, because this is the best place for collaboration and to identify not one idea of engagement, but to celebrate different kinds of involvement,” he explains. Nevertheless, Ateneans must eventually come to terms with the public sphere as the university faces turbulence in Philippine society. Whether we like it or not, there is a special place in the national political arena reserved for the Atenean and the Atenean must make the best of it.