The National Guilder
Biyernes, 21 Oktubre 2016 Opisyal na pahayagan ng pambansang tanggapan ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines
Intertwined The national minorities’ struggle for land, justice, and peace La tha l a in / Pa hina 6
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Prospects and challenges One hundred days since his assumption of office and President Rodrigo Duterte has seemingly already set the tone of his presidency for the next six years--one that is against foreign intervention and willing to forge alliances with democratic and progressive forces in order to build a self-reliant and truly independent nation. It is a source of hope for the Filipino people, and of anxiety and desperate measures for the imperial powers, especially the United States, who still look at the Philippines as its neocolony and stronghold in the Asia Pacific, as well as for the local landlords and business elites who sustain their economic and political power by maintaining the status quo. Times have changed, indeed. The Filipino people now has a unique opportunity to reignite nationalistic ideals and reaffirm the collective struggle for the defense of the country’s independence and sovereignty and the achievement of social justice and transformation. As the new administration cloaks the country in national euphoria with its frequent progressive pronouncements, it is now our duty to pressure the president to make his verbal pronouncements as official national policies. The initiative of the Duterte presidency to rekindle the path of the peace process by going back to the negotiating table with sincerity and willingness to tackle just and lasting peace founded on social and economic reforms is also something that the country has not been able to witness with the past administrations. Furthermore, the call to implement all existing agreements intensifies, beginning with the release of all political prisoners and NDFP consultants. Along with this initiative, the discourse on social justice and social transformation has been placed in the limelight with a strong emphasis given on the most fundamental reforms that this country needs--genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization. Although the administration has been mostly leaning on a pro-people stance, it is important to point out that there are still no concrete significant changes that could be observed when it comes to the people’s democratic demands. For instance, the neoliberal policies that further impoverish the majority of the Filipinos are still in place. Social services including education and healthcare, as well as housing and pub-
COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES Pambansang Komiteng Tagapagpaganap, 2016-2018 JOSE MARI CALLUENG Pambansang Pangulo The National National University KEVIN PAUL AGUAYON Tagapagpaganap na Pangalawang Pangulo EARIST Technozette Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology JAN JOSEPH GOINGO Pangalawang Pangulo para sa Luzon ThePILLARS Ateneo de Naga University RHICK LARS VLADIMER ALBAY Pangalawang Pangulo para sa Visayas Central Echo Central Philippine University ROCHAMAE BIHAG Pangalawang Pangulo para sa Mindanao Mindanao Varsitarian Mindanao State University
As the new administration cloaks the country in national euphoria with its frequent progressive pronouncements, it is now our duty to pressure the president to make his verbal pronouncements as official national policies.
The National Guilder PUNONG PATNUGOT: Ronilo Mesa KATUWANG NA PATNUGOT: Jose Mari Callueng MGA KAWANI SA ISYU: Shirley Apolonio, John Vincent Cañares, Cody Cepeda, Ma. Noreen Evalla, Jan Mikhail Geriane, Jordan Thomas Pimentel, Angelica Reyes
lic transportation, are still inaccessible to the poor. The quality of service-delivery is also still unsatisfactory as much as it is unaffordable. Prices of food, medicines, and other basic commodities continue to skyrocket far beyond the means of a minimum wage earner. Contractualization of workers and other similar unjust working arrangements are still rampant, subjecting laborers into inhumane working conditions with lack of adequate salary and benefits. Moreover, the most controversial and questionable acts of the current administration could be found on the bastardization of due process as it allegedly perpetrates extrajudicial killings for its “war on drugs”. It is important for the current administration to rather address the root causes of the drug problem in the country than to continue its unreasonable killing spree. Respect for human rights and rule of law must be time and again reiterated if we are to live in a humane society. Furthermore, military and paramilitary elements are still deployed in indigenous peoples’ (IP) communities and schools threatening the IP’s rights to
their land, life, and education. The Duterte presidency offers a unique chance for the whole Filipino nation to form a united front, with a stand that is uncompromising. Every significant success must be celebrated yet we must also never fail to condemn the acts that are degrading to the people. Now more than ever, our just demands must be fully articulated and our unity declared. We must effectively mobilize all our forces in order to inflict the adequate pressure that would necessitate the national government to recognize our democratic demands. Demonstrations must be fueled and sustained in the call to abolish neoliberal policies in the country and to severe unequal ties with other countries. Because more than any pronouncement of the president, it is the collective struggle and militancy of the people that will still be ultimately decisive and will be strong enough to free the nation from the chains of poverty, injustice, and elitedomination. NG
RONILO MESA Pambansang Pangkalahatang Kalihim The Manila Collegian University of the Philippines Manila
Pambansang Kalihiman JOSIAH ELEAZER ANTONIO KALasag University of the Philippines Diliman College of Arts and Letters JUBERT CABREZOS The Philwomenian Philippine Women’s University JOHN VINCENT CAÑARES The Catalyst Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila CHARINA CLAUSTRO The Communicator Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila College of Communication CHRISTIAN KING SAAVEDRA The Catalyst Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila
Biyernes, 21 Oktubre 2016 College Editors Guild of the Philippines DIBUHO SA EDITOYAL: Lizette Joan Daluz DIBUHO SA PABALAT: Jose Paolo Reyes Para sa mga kontribusyon at pakikipag-ugnayan sa patnugutan, mag-e-mail sa cegp.newsdesk@gmail.com
Pambansang Tanggapan
PAMUHATAN: Room 305 National Press Club Bldg., Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila NUMERO NG MOBILE: +63 947 377 4358 WEBSITE: cegp.org E-MAIL: cegphils@gmail.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/CEGPNational Office TWITTER AT INSTAGRAM: @cegphils ISSUU: issuu.com/thenationalguilder
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Campus journos stage protest to defend campus press, student democratic rights N ATI O N AL N EWS B U R E AU Member publications of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) in Metro Manila conducted a symbolic protest on August 24 at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City to condemn the intensifying violations not only to campus press freedom but also to the students’ democratic rights. The Guild claims that its annual monitoring reveals that there are more than 800 campus press freedom violations recorded nationwide under former president Benigno Aquino’s watch. Of the consolidated cases, 322 are related to inconsistencies and suppression of funds, making it the primary campus press freedom violation experienced by student publications in the country. “At least three-fourths of the 322 cases of withholding of publication funds are experienced by state universities and colleges (SUCs). These violations happen under the guise of unnecessarily tedious bureaucratic processes, but a closer look will reveal that these are systemic repression aimed at silencing
radical student publications,” said Jose Mari Callueng, CEGP national president. He reiterated that CEGP stands firm that the student publication’s mandate of service comes from the student body and any form of campus press repression is tantamount to an assault to the right of the students to know. “As such, it is imperative that the student body work hand in hand with the members of the campus press to defend their democratic rights and interests, for only through collective action can this fight be won. We shall continue to intensify our campaign to stop campus repression and uphold our democratic rights,” Callueng ended. NG
Student journalists from Metro Manila held a symbolic action at UP Diliman against campus press repression, August 23. KENNETH GUTLAY/PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN
CEGP hails victory as former Outcrop EIC acquitted of libel N AT I ON A L N EWS BUR EAU The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) warmly welcomed the acquittal of former University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio Outcrop editor in chief Jesusa Paquibot of the libel charge filed against her by a UP professor in 2011, saying that it is a landmark decision which upholds the freedom of the press, September 22. The Regional Trial Court in Baguio City cleared Paquibot of libel after it found that the lampoon article from which the case stemmed is not defamatory. Moreover, actual malice was not proven by the court. Defamation and malicious intent are among the requisites for an article to be considered libelous. “After five long years, the case against Paquibot has been finally put to rest. We laud the court for coming up with its favorable decision, as we believe that libel is an instrument to infringe on the civil and political rights of the people, more specifically journalists,” said Jose Mari Callueng, CEGP national president. In line with the recent victory, Callueng maintained that it is long
overdue for libel to be decriminalized. “Libel is inconsistent with press freedom and democracy in general. The existence of libel as a criminal offense can only result in media groups, including the campus press, exercising self-censorship, which jeopardizes, first and foremost, the freedom of the press, speech and expression; and ultimately, the right of the people to know. The Guild stands firm that libel must be decriminalized,” Callueng explained. On the other hand, Callueng also enjoined the campus press to intensify the fight against campus press repression which became increasingly glaring in the recent months. “Libel is just one of the many campus press freedom violations a student publication can experience. Currently, hundreds of publications all over the country are sufferring from repression such as withholding of their fund. May this victory serve as an inspiration for the campus press to unite and fight for genuine press freedom,” Callueng ended. NG
Youth solon files bill vs campus press repression J O R DA N TH O M AS PI M E N T E L / TOMASINOWEB, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Elago filed a bill that “genuinely upholds campus press freedom” after funds of various student publications of some state universities were reportedly being withheld. In a press conference held at the House of Representatives on September 15, Elago said that she wanted to replace Republic Act 7079 or The Campus Journalism Act of 1991 with Campus Press Freedom Bill. “The student publication is the tangible expression of press freedom in campus. Through it, students are able to practice their rights to freedom of expression and information, rights that are protected by the 1987 Constitution.” Elago said. “We are refiling the Campus Press
Freedom Bill in light of the intensifying attacks against our campus publications in recent months,” she added. Under the Campus Press Freedom Bill, there will be compulsory establishment of student publications in all school levels, autonomy of the school paper’s editorial board from any form of administrative intervention with regard to the handling of funds, content of articles to be published, and the selection of publication staff and members. Elago said RA 7079 as “flawed” and that “school administrators are exploiting it in order to suppress campus journalism.” According to data from the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, there were more than 800 cases of
campus press violations recorded from 2010-2015, 300 of which involved suppression of publication funds. There were also reported cases of harassment and censorship. The Philippine Collegian, the official student publication of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, was not able to print out its first issue for this academic year after the school administration cut their budget. Meanwhile, student publications at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines face potential closures as the university’s officials plan to create one consolidated university-wide publication. Its official student publication, The Catalyst, also suffered budget cut. NG
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‘Marcos burial in LNMB a grave injustice to campus press martyrs’ N AT I ON A L N EWS B UR EAU The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) expressed its strong dissent over the interment of the former President Ferdinand Marcos’ remains with full military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. According to the CEGP, the burial of the late dictator is a gross act of disrespect and an injustice to the countless media men and Guild alumni who, during the US-Marcos regime, fought tooth and nail against the blatant oppression, and asserted the freedom of the press and expression. “We stand firm in our conviction that Ferdinand Marcos should not be accorded the honors of a hero’s burial after once depriving us of our right to free speech. The atrocities he committed to the press is an affront to the Filipino people. Shutting down media outlets — the mosquito press — that fearlessly exposed the corruption and countless human rights violations is shutting down the people’s fundamental right to know,” said Jose Mari Callueng, CEGP National President. During the Martial Law, Marcos
ordered the closure of all student councils, publications, organizations, and youth formations seeing its strong ability to mobilize and organize the people and unite their ranks to fight the extreme repression through militant actions, Callueng narrated. He added that many of the student activists who dared go against the regime were mercilessly tortured, killed, and disappeared. “The Guild, the long-standing alliance of student publications in the country, has numerous alumni who died during the Martial Law. To bury a plunderer-murderer’s remains at a memorial for heroes is to bury the memory of our journalist-martyrs, the youth, and the Filipino nation who suffered during the largest crisis to our democracy,” Callueng added. Among the CEGP alumni who suffered during Martial Law include newspaper worker’s union director Satur Ocampo, student activists and community organizers Judy Taguiwalo and Neri Colmenares. Meanwhile, Makibaka women’s organization founding chair Lorena Barrios and warrior-poet Em-
manuel Lacaba joined the New People’s Army during that time. According to accounts they were forcibly detained and mentally and physically tortured in the form of electrocution, Russian roulette, water torture, pistol whipping, stripped naked, among others. “They are only some of the more than 9,000 claimants of human rights violations and more than 4,000 reports of disappearances, salvages, murders perpetrated by Marcos. This act of ‘reconciling and breaking divisions’, in the words of President Duterte is nothing but an act of insult and would further incite divisiveness among us,” Callueng said. Marcos not qualified to be buried in LNMB The campus journo also claimed that Marcos is not worthy of the hero’s burial or even military honors as provided by the law on the basis of the history that Marcos made. “In order to make Marcos qualified for the burial in the LNMB, the rules are CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
The National Guilder Biyernes, 21 Oktubre 2016
NEWSBRIEFS CEGP NIR holds first regional assembly The newly-formed College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Negros Island Region (NIR) conducted Asdang 2016, the first Negros-wide student press convention, at Binalbagan Catholic College, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on August 21. A commemorative banner of Asdang 2016 was also signed by the Guilders in support of CEGP’s campaign against campus press repression. On the other hand, the provincial chapters of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental were also formed during the event. Daniel Pollentes of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos was elected as the chairperson of the Negros Occidental chapter, while Robert Salvador of Bacolod City College was elected vice chairperson. Meanwhile, Elizer Dinahiva of Binalbagan Catholic College and Joselyn Valenciano of Philippine Normal University Visayas were appointed as secretary general and deputy secretary general, respectively. CEGP NIR was formed on August 7 during the 76th National Student Press Convention (NSPC) held in Iloilo City. National News Bureau
Baguio youth leaders convene to call for education reforms Around 50 student leaders gathered in the Baguio Youth Leaders’ Assembly, September 3, in University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio. Student councils, publications, and organizations from Benguet State University, Saint Louis University, University of the Cordilleras, and UP Baguio addressed various issues and concerns in their respective schools in relation to the call for genuine change in the educational system. Among the highlights of the event is the educational situation discussion which gave a background of the current state of the Philippine educational system. “The growing calls for genuine change will remain empty without the collective action of the people, and it is the youth’s task to be at the forefront of this struggle,” said Arthur Astaquinta, chairperson of CEGP Baguio-Benguet. The said event is a joint effort of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Kabataan Partylist, and NUSP. Baguio-Benguet News Bureau
CEGP South Cotabato, nagsindi ng kandila bilang paggunita sa batas militar Naglunsad ng isang candle-lighting ceremony ang iba’t ibang kasaping publikasyon ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines-South Cotabato noong Setyembre 21, 2016 upang gunitain ang madilim na kasaysayan na dinulot ng Batas Militar 44 na taon na ang nakalilipas. Ginanap ito sa harap ng Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU), Alunan Avenue, Koronadal City, South Cotabato. Ang mga manunulat mula sa Salo ng University of the Philippines Manila School of Health Science Extension Campus in South Cotabato), OMNIANA ng NDMU, Oasis ng ACLC College of Marbel, Usbong ng Marvelous College at Echo ng Green Valley College ay nagbigay rin ng kanilang mga mensahe ng pakikiramay para sa mga naging biktima noong Martial Law. “Huwag nating kalimutan ang mga sakripisyo at kabayanihang inialay ng mga mga biktima upang bakahin at ipagtanggol ang ating karapatan at kalayaan lalong lalo na sa pagpapahayag,” ani Jonalyn Balome, chairperson ng CEGP South Cotabato. Ang seremonya ay inilunsad kaugnay rin sa desisyon ni pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte na pahayagan ang paglibing kay Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani. “Ito ay malaking insulto at inhustisya sa mga naging biktima ng batas militar at isang paglimot sa isa sa mga madilim na parte ng kasaysayan ng ating bansa. Naukit sa kasaysayan ang maraming bilang ng paglabag at pag walang bahala sa karapatang pantao noong Martial Law kung kaya’y kailan ma’y di magiging isang bayani si Ferdinand E. Marcos,” pahayag ni Ruben Castanares III, chairperson ng CEGP SOCSKSARGENDS. SOCSKSARGENDS News Bureau
Duterte signs order to form task force on media killings Various progressive organizations and thousands of students marched toward Mendiola Peace Arch to commemorate the 44th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, September 21. Dubbed as the National Day of Action for Peace, Education, and Human Rights, students demanded just peace, freedom of all political prisoners, free education, and justice to the victims and the martyred during the Marcos dictatorship. KYLA PASICOLAN/THE MANILA COLLEGIAN
President Rodrigo Duterte signed on October 11 an administrative order (AO) creating a presidential task force to investigate media killings. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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Newsbriefs / from page 4 AO 1, Duterte’s first administrative order, also includes a provision mandating the task force to ensure a safe environment for media workers. The task force will be chaired by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) secretary Martin Andanar as co-chair. Chairpersons of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Ombudsman, and heads of media organizations including the National Press Club (NPC), the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP), Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI) and Philippine Press Institute (PPI), would also be invited as observers and resource persons. “We laud President Duterte for the political will to form the task force. It is long overdue and we hope that justice will finally be served to the victims of media killings such as the gruesome Ampatuan massacre,” said Jose Mari Callueng, CEGP national president. National News Bureau
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CEGP lauds commitment to release political prisoners after 2nd round of peace talks N ATI O N AL N E WS B U R EAU College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) welcomed the commitment to free all political prisoners as the second round of the formal peace talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Philippine government concluded on October 10. “The continued imprisonment of more than 500 political detainees is inconsistent with President Duterte’s agenda of bringing about change in the country. The said pronouncement is a significant step in attaining peace based on justice,” said Jose Mari Callueng, CEGP national president. Callueng emphasized that political detainees should not be languishing in jails as they are incarcerated based on false charges.
“Political prisoners were wrongfully jailed for trumped-up charges and should not even be in prison in the first place. It is only just and appropriate to drop the cases against them and release them,” Callueng said. He also noted that releasing all political prisoners is in compliance with previous agreements signed by the NDFP and the Philippine government such as the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). “Previous administrations have willfully violated the JASIG and CARHRIHL in the name of their counterinsurgency operations. It is only imperative
that the Duterte administration abide by these agreements to accelerate the peace talks and bring about the change he promised to the Filipino people,” Callueng explained. Meanwhile, Callueng also expressed high hopes that the formal peace talks will proceed smoothly to address other pertinent issues in peace. “The second round of peace talks also concluded with the approved outline for other substantive agenda such as the Social and Economic Reforms. We hope that the next rounds of talks will finally address the root causes of poverty in the country which pushes the Filipino people to join the armed struggle,” he ended. NG
Campus journos slam mandatory ROTC proposal Nagsindi ng kandila noong Setyembre 6 ang mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas, National Teachers College, at Araullo High School upang maaring kundenahin ang nangyaring pambobomba sa Davao at ang naganap na massacre sa Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation sa Laur, Nueva Ecija na kinasawian ng apat na magsasaka. RONILO MESA
CEGP condemns Davao bombing, urges in-depth investigation Student journalist from different member publications of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines in Metro Manila together with League of Filipino Students, National Union of Students of the Philippines and Anakbayan conducted a candle-lighting activity in front of the University of Santo Tomas on September 6 to express solidarity with the Filipino people and condemn the terrorist attack on the country’s democracy last September 2 in Davao City. “The cowards behind this act of terrorism that resulted 14 deaths and injured at least 60 innocent civilians should not go unpunished,” said Jose Mari Callueng, the National President of CEGP. He further emphasized the importance of the government to have an in-depth investigation regarding the terror attack. “We should not rule-out foreign instigation to destabilize our country for their own gain. It can be noted that the Abu Sayyaf Group were initially recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency of the US government to fight its proxy war in Afghanistan during the height of the Cold War,” added Callueng. National News Bureau
NATIONA L NE WS BURE A U The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) slammed the proposal of President Rodrigo Duterte, some legislators and other interest groups to make the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory, describing it as an attack to academic freedom on universities and colleges. Jose Mari Callueng, CEGP National President, depicts the proposal as “blatant militarization of academic institutions.” “The mandatory instruction of ROTC does not foster nationalism and patriotism. The program is only meant to gather intellegence reports and harass students who are critical on many different issues of our society,” said Callueng. Meanwhile, Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Jane Elago also denounce the said proposal, stating that it is “inimical to the rights and wel-
fare of the students.” “We do not subscribe to the notion that ROTC could instill discipline and love of country, given its violent and mired history. On this issue, we will not mince words: ROTC should not be made mandatory. In fact, the program should be abolished,” Elago added. To show strong opposition to ROTC, Kabataan Party-list filed House Bill 2399 or the “ROTC Abolition Act of 2016” which provides the grounds for the program’s abolition. The youth solon also said that ROTC is inconsistent with Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act as well as the International Humanitarian Law (IHR). RA 7610 states that “public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and
‘Marcos burial in LNMB a grave injustice to campus press martyrs’ clear in stating that, aside from being a President or a soldier, he must not be a ‘personnel who were dishonorably separated/reverted/discharged from the service and personnel who were convicted by final judgment of an offense involving moral turpitude.’ But he is,” Callueng explained.
He pointed that the numerous human rights violations and murders that led to the historic People Power Revolution in 1986 and ousted Marcos is conflicting with the guidelines that he must not be “dishonorably discharged from service.” “The case of Hilao vs. Estate of Fer-
dinand Marcos found Marcos guilty of human rights violations, therefore he is a personnel who were convicted by final judgment of an offense involving moral turpitude,” said Callueng. Callueng also argued that the late dictator’s interment in LNMB will defeat the purpose of the Construction of a Na-
tional Pantheon as provided by Section 1 of Republic Act No. 289. “We, alongside the thousands of campus press, media men, and the Filipino youth, will never forget that the Marcos regime inspired us to be vigilant in protecting our liberty. We ask the President, in his capacity as chief ex-
rural health units shall not be utilized for military purposes such as command posts, barracks, detachments and supply depots” while Rules 22-24 of IHR restrict the use of schools for military purposes. Furthermore, Callueng reminded the public about the physical abuse done by an ROTC officer to its trainee in Mindanao State University which was evidenced by a video that went viral on social media, as well as the case of Mark Chua who was killed after exposing the corruption of ROTC in University of Santo Tomas on March 2001. “This cycle of abuse and militarization on our academic institutions must stop. The country deserves higher form of nationalism and patriotism than the one being emulated by ROTC program,” Callueng ended. NG
FROM PAGE 4 ecutive of the country, to execute the law and settle with the victim’s plea not to bury in Libingan ng mga Bayani a dictator responsible for the countless murder and disappearances of Filipino youth,” Callueng ended. NG
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The National Guilder Bi
Intertwined I n basic education, we are taught that as long as geography is concerned, Philippines is defined to be an archipelagic and mountainous country that sits in the Pacific, West Philippine, and Celebes seas. It is a country rich in natural resources—our agricultural soil are traces of volcanic and sedimentary origin, we have extensive marine life, our forests are haven to wildlife, mineral deposits are abundant, and various hydropower, geothermal, and other sources of energy. We are called “Filipinos,” the people who, for more than 300 years, had been under the colony of Spain and later under the control of United States of America which sold the country to the Japanese during the Second World War. And then, though still arguable, independence came to being. It is a 30-million-hectare land shared by over 100 million people: Those who were influenced by its colonizers, those foreigners welcomed to live, and those who managed to defend, retain, and preserve their pre-colonial life ways. The latter are interchangeably called as indigenous peoples (IPs) or national minorities. There are plenty of them scattered to their own territories. In fact, there are about 15 million indigenous peoples belonging to over 140 enthnolinguistic groups collectively known as the Moro people (13 ethnolinguistic groups) and Lumad people (18 ethnolinguistic group) of Mindanao; the Cordillera peoples of Northern Luzon; the Aeta of Central Luzon; Dumagat and Mangyan of Southern Luzon; the Agta and Ati in Cagayan Valley and Ilocos, and the Tumandok of Panay and Ati in the Visayas, and they consider the Philippines more than a home. We are always charmed to see these IPs or national minorities in their vibrant red-yellow-black-whitecolored costumes finely weaved and matched with head piece. Be it in textbooks, in the internet, or when we tour in the places they live, one cannot deny the lushness of our culture. But beyond the colors, the rituals, the dancing, and the singing, also weaved in the fabric is the culture of resistance which for hundreds of years is still being lived. When the colonizers set foot to our country, they may have succeeded into converting the low-lying communities as their colonial subjects by introducing Christianity, but the people peacefully living in the upland resisted and continued their socio-political and cultural edifices. They are pushed beyond the margins; they were forced to move further upland to escape subjugation. The national minorities have fought and survived, through stubborn armed and unarmed collective resistance, for their land, culture, identity. However, some of them do not possess indigenous techniques to fight against territorial invasion. Long ago, ancestral lands were abundant and landgrabbers were only a few. But gone are those days. Today, powerful landlords came to rule the land and ev-
ery minority group is threatened. They involuntary left their ancestral lands and the mighty landlords continue the plunder and exploitation. The Philippine soil is so rich that we share it. Thus the majority of the country remains agrarian yet feudalism still exist, and capitalist elements penetrated the industrial and service sectors. Everyone suffers but the national minorities are the most vulnerable as they are deprived to cultivate their ancestral lands and neglected access to basic social services. Weaving the decades-long plight They almost lost count of the years of their grieving
for land, peace, and justice. Such is the distressing plight of the national minorities which intensified for the past six years as the indigenous peoples were subjected to multiple violations to their rights. These are brought by the implementation of former president Benigno Aquino III’s counterinsurgency program, Oplan Bayanihan, which claimed 90 of the indigenous people’s lives under his watch. Oplan Bayanihan is aimed to targeting the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels particularly in Eastern Mindanao. Military officials claim that 90 percent of the NPA’s are based in ancestral lands. This is the
JOSE M A RI CA LLU E NG THE NATIONAL / NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
logic of the former administration to justify the militarization of IP communities, especially the Lumad’s. However, what seemed to be a counterinsurgency turned into protecting huge multinational mining corporations that continually exploits and plunders the lands in Mindanao. It has become the “mining capital of the country” as it holds the richest deposits of gold and other minerals. The Lumad gravely suffered under Aquino’s term. Their ancestral lands were militarized and forced at least 4,000 of them to leave and sought refuge to nearby communities. To date, they are temporarily housed at the Provincial Sports Complex in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, and at the Haran Center in Davao City. Many of the Lumad shed blood in pursuit of peace and piece of their land. Tribal/ community leaders, women and children, were killed. Data from various fact-finding missions revealed that out of the 90 IPs killed, 75 were Lumad. Some of the IPs were reportedly missing and until today are unfound; one cannot say whether or not they are still alive. Most of the fallen leaders or community members resisted mining, agribusiness plantations and development aggression projects in their lands. As if Martial law torture was brought back where those who resist are silenced or enforcedly disappeared. Education, being a basic right that everyone must gain access to, was also neglected as at least 200 schools closed or burned. What used to be considered homes and alternative schools for these IPs are now turned into encampments of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). From 2010-2016, the Aquino administration secured
thing- the p foreign corporations to extract m create for export-agro-industrial military bases of the US armed fo In a statement of Katribu, an peoples in the Philippines, they s at least 410 hydropower dams, 27 power projects that strengthen Aboitiz, Lopez, Ayala and Cojuan foreign business partners in the turn, these projects will adverse indigenous communities. Moreover, dam projects are in the rivers of Jalaur in Iloilo, Bal Laiban in Southern Luzon, at the e indigenous peoples and peasants In Aquino’s Philippine Deve claimed that it opened up 125 a within ancestral territories and ta ares of mostly agricultural land agro-industries and plantations o palm, rubber, and other export cr While in 2013, Aquino also ga of 218 large-scale mining applica than 238,000 hectares of land. According to a report by Bula 619,000 hectares of indigenous p been covered by mining permits has. under Financial and Techn ment (FTAA) with OceanaGold in Petroleum in Compostela Valley, a The people affected, partic norities, resists the blatant abu lands and calls on the governme their land and allow them to exer determination yet the answer o guns and bullets. Increased mili munities has intensified human r Sleepless are the nights of t Massacre that brutally murdere nel Campos and Datu Juvello Sin Samarca, executive director of th native Learning Center for Agric Development (ALCADEV). Some of nessed these killings by the par hat-Bagani in Sept. 1, 2015. Italian missionary priest Fau Dutch environmentalist Willem G in the frontline of defending the i anti-mining campaign, has not e the state thus they were also amo were among those killed. From July 2010 to March 201 extrajudicial killings were docum rights group, Karapa-
struggle
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The National Guilder Biyernes, 21 Oktubre 2016
iyernes, 21 Oktubre 2016
one profits of big local and minerals out of our lands, projects, or turn it into orces. n alliance of indigenous said that there are now geothermal and 33 coal n the monopoly of the ngco families and their e power industry. In reely affect thousands of
e also pushed by Aquino log-Balog in Tarlac, and expense of some 50,000 s affected. elopment Plan, Katribu agro-industrial projects argeted 1.5 million hectd, to be opened up for of banana, pineapple, oil rops. ave go signals to a total ations that cover more
atlat.com, by 2015, some peoples’ territories have s. These include 100,000 nical Assistance AgreeNueva Vizcaya, Agusan and FCF in Mindoro. cularly the national miuse to their ancestral ent to bring them back rcise their right to selfof the fascist state are itary presence in comrights violations. the IPs following Lianga ed Lumad leaders Dionzo, as well as Emerico he Lumad school Altercultural and Livelihood f the students even witramilitary group, Maga-
usto “Pops” Tentorio and Geertman, known to be indigenous peoples and escape the fascism of ongst those killed. Even
tan. It reveals 318 victims under the six-year term of Aquino. Despite the nation’s clamor to pull-out military and dismantle counterinsurgency and paramilitary groups in IP communities and lands, the bloodshed and attacks continued. The most recent is the killing of two leaders in Compostela Valley province: Jimmy Saypan, 48, a Mansaka and secretary general of Compostela Famers’ Association, and Anoy Pasaporte, 28, a member of Panalipdan youth. Cut from the same fabric For years, we have seen indigenous peoples journeyed to the capital to register their strong opposition and condemnation on the various attacks to their rights especially to their ancestral lands. This October 13, we witnessed a different scene that left a marked in our, as not just two or three groups belonging to different tribes come as one but more than 20 national minority groups comprising of 3,000 indigenous and Moro peoples gathered for one call; that is to assert their rights to land, self-determination, and just peace. This is also the first time in history that indigenous peoples call for the junking of all laws that should have served their interest but, for many years of existence of these laws, put the IPs lives in peril. To people deeply rooted in and connected to nature, they see themselves as guardians of our natural resources for the next generations, hence ancestral lands to these guardians are more than a piece of land where a house is tilted or minerals extracted, it is a soil where seeds of our very culture and heritage are planted, watered by gods and goddesses of nature, and grows into robust trees; more than home, it is life and they will fight tooth and nail for their threatened worldview and entire way of life. The national minorities must be given full autonomy to rule their ancestral lands because for decades and centuries that passed, it is them, guardians of nature, which knows better when it comes to sensible usage of the land. While they are guardians of the upland, we are the people of the lowlands, some of us might not be from different tribes or speak their dialects, but we were cut from the same red-blue-yellow-colored-fabric therefore their issues of plunder, exploitation, human rights violations, and sell out to foreign domination are issues of us as a banded Filipino nation. Let us bring them home, let us bring them justice, and let us bring them lasting peace. NG
16, a glaring number of mented by the human
The national minorities’ e for land, justice, and peace
Within Confines A farmers life in Hacienda Luisita C O D Y C E PE DA / THE LASALLIAN, DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY Violeta “Nanay Violy” Basilio confesses she can’t remember anything when asked about the sweetest memory she has in her life. Holding a cigarette in one hand and her tote bag in the other, Nanay Violy looks off into the distance, her eyes spanning the endless fields of Barangay Mapalacsiao, one of the 11 barangays of the Hacienda Luisita plantation in Tarlac. “Buong nasa isip ko ang bukid eh,” she clarifies. Nanay Violy starts her day at 4 am, cooking breakfast with her fellow farmers from the barangay in their kubol hut, a makeshift shelter made of bamboo, palm leaves, and plywood, which they consider their main meeting and resting area. The farmers are out in the fields by 6 am and won’t stop working save for lunchtime, only to return again to the fields by 1 pm. “Inaabot pa kami ng dilim kasi hinahabol namin yung lamig ng araw. Araw-araw yan. Wala kaming pahinga. Pag
tamad ka, di ka mabubuhay dito sa amin.” Once she’s done for the day, she gets on her motorcycle and rides back to her house, a kilometer-long walk from the kubol. At night, she rests heavy, laden by the backbreaking labor of her work in the fields, along with the decade-old nightmare that continues to haunt her to this day. Jhaivie At the mention of her son, Jhaivie, Nanay Violy’s strong demeanor falters—a complete antithesis to her vibrant getup of floral tights, neon blue shirt, cheetah-print scarf, and leather cowboy hat. “Si Jhaivie ang kaisa-isa kong lalaki,” Nanay Violy says, thrusting towards a stack of photographs wrapped in newspaper. The photographs contain pictures of Jhaivie’s lifeless body being cleaned and dressed in the embalmer’s,
of his fatal bullet wounds in the buttock, armpit, and chest, and of the day of his funeral and burial. Jhaivie Basilio, 20 years old, was one of the seven people who died in the Hacienda Luisita massacre on November 16, 2004. The massacre, which occurred near Gate 1 of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac sugar mill, was picketed by hundreds of farmers who launched a strike in protest of their meager P9.50 daily salary and once-aweek work in the fields. The protest, which started November 6, continued on to the later days of the month, while police and military forces grew stronger by the day. At 3 pm of November 16, a military tank rammed through the sugar mill gate, and the farmers were pelted with tear gas and water cannons. Then, gunfire erupted. A
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
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DEFEND CAMPUS
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The National Guilder Biyernes, 21 Oktubre 2016
A briefer on campus press freedom situation Conflicts of interest between school administrators and students will always result to repression of student democratic rights. It reflects the fascist nature of Philippine educational institutions which are more than willing to violate student rights in order to preserve their reputation and protect their commercial interests. As such, student publications, being at the forefront of forwarding the interests of students, will inevitably face various forms of threats and harassment from the school administration to suppress them. Based on the Guild’s monitoring, more than 800 campus press freedom violations were recorded nationwide under former president Benigno Aquino’s term from 2010-2016. Of this number, at least 200 cases are related to withholding of publication funds, making it the primary campus press freedom violation experienced by student publications in the country. These violations happen under the guise of unnecessarily tedious bureaucratic processes, but a closer look will reveal that these are systemic repression aimed at silencing radical student publications. One current glaring example of such is the case of Philippine Collegian, the official student publication of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, which was prohibited to print its first issue for academic year 2016-17 since it has yet to conduct a bidding process for its new printing contract. The said bidding process usually takes more than a month to complete, which for the longest time has been contracted to the FEP Printing Corporation. The Bids and Awards Committee of UP Diliman has also forbidden the publication from using the budget for issues declared in its past contract with the FEP Printing Corporation, where only 19 out of 32 issues were printed under the term of Mary Joy Capistrano. Last academic year, the publication was allowed to do so while the bidding procedure for the new contract was in process. In hopes to continue its regular printing operations, the publication also opted to decrease the number of its printed issues to incur an amount of P50,000 below expenses, so it can create separate purchase orders while the bidding is on process. However, this violates the Government Procurement Reform Act that bans the splitting of contracts. Moreover, the new budget proposal of the Philippine Collegian has yet to be approved by the administra-
tion. Without the approved proposal, the publication cannot issue a purchase request necessary for the bidding process of its new printing contract. Because of the Procurement Law of 2006, the publication’s money which comes from student fees is treated as government funds. The Philippine Collegian had to pass several documents to request for the money that they will use for printing, staff honoraria, and other expenses. Reimbursement of the Philippine Collegian’s expenses shouldered by the members takes at least one month to process. Meanwhile, college student publications at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila currently face the threat of closure as the PUP administration aims to establish a “centralized publication” which will be universitywide in nature. The publication fee of The Catalyst, the official university student publication, is proposed to be cut by half from P40 to P20. Currently, The Catalyst is campaigning for the transfer of their fund from the administration which accumulated and amounts to P4 million. During the PUP Finance Committee meeting on August 24, 2016, voluntary collection of college publication fee has been raised. A survey on whether publication fee should be collected mandatorily or voluntarily is currently being rolled out by PUP administration. Moreover, the administration will formulate guidelines for the operation of college student publications in PUP Manila. The Engineering Spectrum, the official student publication of the PUP College of Engineering, also experiences difficulties in getting their fund because the administration still holds it even if the publication has its own bank account. In the case of The Paradigm, the official student publication of the PUP Manila College of Accountancy and Finance, it continues to experience harassment from the Internal Audit because of the last published issue. Because of such circumstances, the publication fund of college student publications in PUP Manila is withheld. The Torch Publications of the Philippine Normal University (PNU) in Manila, on the other hand, also experiences financial difficulties since the school administration treats the publication fund as government fund subject to the Procurement Law. As a result, the publication can only request for cash advances not exceeding P15,000, while office supplies are requested to and provided by the ad-
ministration. The PNU administration also chooses which printing house publishes The Torch Publication’s issues; The Torch Publication is only required to submit a list of three printing presses to choose from for every issue to be printed. EARIST Technozette, the official student publication of Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), on the other hand, is yet to get hold of funds amounting to P500,000, which accumulated from the second semester of academic year 2015-16 and first semester of academic year 2016-17. The EARIST accounting office insists on the provision of the financial statement of the previous EARIST Technozette term before releasing the funds. However, the said financial statement has already been submitted to and cleared by the administration according to EARIST Technozette. In the case of Philippine Collegian, it has run in-depth and investigative reports critical of policies and projects reflective of the UP administration’s commercialization and privatization efforts such as the student housing scheme, the Socialized Tuition System (STS), and the eUP digital modernization project. Such articles have been key instruments in intensifying the campaign against these policies, spurring mass mobilizations not just in UP Diliman but in other constituent UP units as well. The Catalyst, The= Torch Publications and EARIST Technozette, all known for their progressive content, also publish articles critical not only of university policies but also of national policies and issues under the previous and current administration such as the war on drugs and extra-judicial killings. The student publication’s mandate of service comes from the student body. Therefore, any form of campus press repression is tantamount to an assault to the rights of the students these publications are serving. By withholding the release of publication funds, which are the lifeblood of student publications, school administrators can effectively paralyze the operation of the campus press, and thereby infringe on the right of the students to access relevant information. As such, it is imperative that the student body work hand in hand with the members of the campus press to defend their democratic rights and interests, for only through collective action can this fight be won. NG
PHOTOS FROM T H E PH I L I PPI NE C O L L E GI A N
The National Guilder Biyernes, 21 Oktubre 2016
LaTHaLain
Within confines: A farmer’s life in Hacienda Luisita thousand rounds of ammunition were used, with the first spray of bullets lasting for almost a full minute. Men, women, and children ran for their lives, followed by rapid spurts of more bullets. This brought only tragedy with seven people dead and at least 121 injured from the gunfire, while 133 were arrested and detained. Of the 121 injured, 11 were children. As for the case of Jhaivie, nothing came out of it; there was no hearing and no prosecution. The case was simply folded like a piece of paper and stashed inside a drawer, never to be opened again. “Si Jhaivie kasi malapit sila ng mga kalalakihan sa may Gate 1 nun. Sinabit siya sa barbed wire bago pinagbabaril,” recalls Nanay Violy, wrapping the photographs back in the newspaper. Of continued harassment “Isa rin akong nabaril noong 2004, dito, patapyas,” shares Florida “Ka Pong” Sibayan, pointing to her left shoulder blade. “Buti nalang ayaw ng laman ko yung bala. Malas ng pamilya Cojuangco-Aquino na buhay pa ako.” Ka Pong is the chairman of the Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA), of which Nanay Violy and other farmers are a part of. Together with Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), they organize and mobilize protests in their fight for justice. After the massacre, the farmers, organized through AMBALA, began to take occupancy on plots of unproductive lands to grow rice and vegetables because they had no other source of livelihood. This collective farming, known to them as bungkalan, occupied 2,000 hectares of land, and earned the farmers better income from the selling of produce. This joint effort, however, didn’t overrule the plight of the farmers, who were still deemed landless. Ka Pong also shares that it’s normal for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to destroy their crops for no apparent reason. She recalls the time when the PNP bulldozed the crops of their fellow farmer, Ka Jerry Catalan, just a week before harvesting. “Walang awa nilang binulldozer ang mga tanim ni Ka Jerry. Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, hinaharass at sinisira nila ang mga tanim namin,” she shares. Despite all this, Ka Pong says they went to the Department of Agriculture (DAR) to ask for help. She remembers begging them, “DAR, parang awa niyo na, pigilian niyo ang mga naninira ng munggo.” But Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Pangilinan of DAR, however, told them that the depart-
ment did not have the right or authorization to stop the PNP from destroying their crops. “Ang sabi ng DAR, wala daw silang magawa. Nakagapos daw ang kamay nila. Nakagapos. Inaamin naman nila,” Ka Pong says, shaking her head. Nanay Violy also shares that most farmers take 5-6 loans to be able to farm, wherein they are charged an interest rate of 20 percent over an agreed period of time. “Lalo na ngayon oras na ng panananim namin. Umuutang kami pambili ng fertilizer, ng mga equipment. Yung isang libo, 20 percent ang tubo. Kapag gipit na gipit na kami, susunggaban namin yun,” she explains. She says that once they harvest their crops, they try to pay back their loans. “Syempre yung mga utang namin nanganganak. Kung minsan sisirain pa ang pananim namin, eh pano na kami? Di namin nababayaran yung utang namin sa 5-6.” Uncertainties from the law In 2014, the Supreme Court stated its ruling ordering for the total distribution of Hacienda Luisita to about 6,000 farmers—with the likes of then Chief Justice Renato Corona being one of those who voted in favor of the ruling. Nevertheless, for the farmers of Hacienda Luisita, uncertainty remains to be their only certainty. In the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), the farmers were placed under the Stock Distribution Option (SDO) stating that the farmers are a part of Hacienda Luisita. The farmers, however, were then placed under another contract called the Application of Worker’s Undertaking (APCU), stating that the farmers are requesting to buy land from the Cojuangcos. Ka Francisco, a farmer who has been sitting a few feet away and eavesdropping, says they fought in the higher court and won; “Kaya ang dapat binigay sa’min contract for land transfer, hindi APCU kasi hindi naman kami bumibili ng lupa.” A home to call theirs Hacienda Luisita has been the home to thousands of farmers like Nanay Violy, Ka Pong, and Ka Francisco, whose ancestors have been working the fields of the plantation long before they were even born. In the same way their ancestors organized unions and fought for their rights, the farmers of Hacienda Luisita today have taken the mission to continue the struggle for proper land distribution. Nanay Violy says she and the other farmers can always go to Manila to look for other jobs, but they can-
not leave behind the oppression they faced in Hacienda Luisita, which they are deeply rooted in. “Ang Hacienda Luisita ay pag-aari ng mga manggagawang bukid din. Hindi namin maiwan iwan tong hacienda dahil gusto namin ipaglaban ang karapatan namin. Hustisya ang hinahanap namin, lalong lalo na yung namatayan.” “Pero hindi kami naninira ng isang pamilya, ang hangad lang namin ay ang katotohanan. Sila rin ang nagtulak sa mamamayan para lumaban,” Ka Francisco explains. “Tuloy tuloy pa rin ang pakikibaka at pakikipaglaban namin dahil patuloy ang panlilinlang at pandadahas sa amin,” adds Ka Pong. Even though they’ve been pushed to the brink and have been emotionally and spiritually crushed by giants, Nanay Violy says she and the farmers persevere by getting strength from each other. “Dahil sa pagkakaisa naming manggagawang bukid, nakikita namin ang pinagpapaguran namin kaya tuloy-tuloy ang aming kasiyahan. Lahat ng pandadahas, pananakot, masaklap para sa amin pero hindi kami nasisindak.” Ka Pong, on the other hand, asks the principal question: “Narasan niyo na bang magtanim?” At 10 am of what is supposed to be a regular workday in the fields, Ka Pong, in her red Bon Jovi shirt that bears the slogan Because We Can, sits
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FROM PAGE 7 on the kawayan bench of their kubol in Barangay Mapalacsiao to take a rest. “Mahirap magtanim ng pagkain ng sambayanan.” NG
“Dahil sa pagkakaisa naming manggagawang bukid, nakikita namin ang pinagpapaguran namin kaya tuloy-tuloy ang aming kasiyahan. Lahat ng pandadahas, pananakot, masaklap para sa amin pero hindi kami nasisindak.”
PHOTOS BY M I K A H C O R ON E L / THE LASALLIAN Ang artikulong ito ay unang inilathala sa thelasallian.com noong Hulyo 15, 2016
baLiTa
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The National Guilder Biyernes, 21 Oktubre 2016
Student press convenes for 76th NSPC MA . N OREEN EVALLA THEPILLARS, ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) held its 76th National Student Press Convention at West Visayas State University La Paz, Iloilo City on August 3-7, 2016. The event gathered over 350 student journalists nationwide who are one with the organization’s objectives. Patricia Estilo of The Eagle Publication said that as journalists, we need to clarify the distinguishment between news that is actually biased and news that people simply do not like. “This is not only so he may maintain objectivity and fairness in his work, but also so he may not withdraw from speaking an unsavory truth about a party or situation simply out of fear to be labelled as a press-titute,” she added. Meanwhile, part of the event was the 38th Biennial Student Press Congress last 6 August wherein it highlighted the election of the new National Executive Committee (NEC). Endorsed by 11 out of 62 publications, Jose Mari Callueng from The National of National University was elected as the new National President with 59 total votes. He is the second The National Editor to be elected as CEGP president. The first was the Guild’s founder himself, Ernesto Rodriguez Jr., in 1931. Kevin Paul Aguayon from the EARIST Technozette of Eulogio ‘Amang’ Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology was elected as the new Executive Vice President after getting 55 votes. As to the Vice Presidents per island, Jan Joseph Goingo from The Pillars Publication of Ateneo de Naga University had a total of 18 votes and was elected as the new Vice President for Luzon. For Visayas, Rick Lhars Albay from the Central Echo of Central Philippines University was elected with a total of 26 votes. Bagging votes of all 13 participating Mindanao-publications, Rochamae Bihag from Mindanao Varsitarian of Mindanao State University won as Vice President for Mindanao. Furthermore, NEC appointed Ronilo Mesa from Manila Collegian of University of the Philippines Manila as the new secretary general. During the event, former CEGP National President Marc Lino Abila ended his term expressing his heartfelt gratitude to those who made his past years worthwhile. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of struggling with the masses not only to fight for their basic rights but also to promote campus press freedom and
student democratic rights. Moreover, Abila showed support to the new NEC. “I’m confident that the new leaders of the Guild will lead the campus press with utmost fervor as staunch defenders of campus press freedom and people’s democratic interests,” he said. In line with the convention’s theme “85 Years of Patriotic and Democratic Campus Press: Challenge the New Regime to Uphold the People’s Democratic Interests”, the Congress also passed resolutions concerning the pressing issues of the country such as the support on the on-going peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the junking of Enhanced Defense Cooperative Agreement, and the call to end all neoliberal attacks on education and the continuous repression to campus press. These are the challenges the campus press would like to forward to the current administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. With the aim of upholding student democratic rights and raising social democratic rights, CEGP continues its legacy as it celebrated its 85th year of being a patriotic and democratic organization. In line with this, Maryan Te from The Collegiate Headlight of University of Southeastern Philippines explained that as student journalists, it is our task to be critical and go beyond the issue. “We are the ones who should challenge the status quo and the ones who provide avenues in which the masses could directly participate in achieving this so called CHANGE,” she furthered. Ending the five-day event, newlyelected president Jose Mari Callueng expressed his delight, in behalf of the entire CEGP, not just for the success of the event but for the growing number of chapters the organization is forming. According to him, “Ang paglaki ng ating hanay ay paglaki rin ng bilang ng mga sumusulong para sa karapatan ng mga mamamayan, sumusulat para sa masa, naninindigan para sa ating lipunan, at nagmumulat ng mga kabataan na pag-asa ng bayan.” “Inaasahan din natin na lalu pang basagin ang tradisyunal na pamamaraan ng pamamahayag at maging alternatibong pahayagan na hindi lamang sumasalamin kundi nakikiisa rin sa pakikibaka ng masang api ‘pagkat iyan naman ang tunay na mandato ng isang pahayagan- ang maging boses ng mga hindi naririnig,” he ended. NG
Sinalubong ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Maynila ang mga Lakbayani sa kanilang pagdating sa Maynila noong Oktubre 13. KYLA PASICOLAN/THE MANILA COLLEGIAN
CEGP urges youth to clamor for struggle for land, identity, self-determination and just peace N ATI O N AL N E WS B U R EAU The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), together with its member student publications, welcomed on October 13 the national minorities and delegates of the Lakbayan 2016 as they gather in Manila to forward their demand for self-determination and just peace. Lakbayanis are composed of various minority groups such as Moro people with 13 ethnolinguistic groups and Lumad people with 18 ethnolinguistic groups, both from Mindanao; the Cordillera people of Northern Luzon; the Aeta of Central Luzon; Dumagat and Mangyan of Southern Luzon; the Agta and Ati of Cagayan Valley and Ilocos; the Tumandok of Panay; and Ati of the Visayas. “The undying will to struggle of our fellow Lakbayanis strengthens as gov-
ernment policies continue to plunder the resources within their ancestral domain and intensify the suppression of their right to self-determination,” Ronilo Mesa, CEGP National Secretary General said. Together with the Filipino people, they also suffer the burden of a backward agrarian economy due to the government’s subservience to foreign entities and the subsequent control of resources, Mesa explained. “Our Lakbayanis continue to experience various forms of injustices in their respective communities. Their rights to land, self-determination, freedom and education are being compromised because the Philippine government continues to cater to the interests of the powerful and
ruling elite,” Mesa added. He also mentioned that the Philippine government launched a series of counter-insurgency programs under different regimes with the objective to completely destroy the resistance of Moro and indigenous peoples. According to him, these attacks have resulted to numerous human rights violations against the national minorities. “Now is the high time to demand the Duterte administration to address the problems of the national minorities, and the youth plays the vital role to clamor for change and to join the struggle of our marginalized sectors,” Mesa emphasized. NG
Duterte duty-bound to save Mary Jane — CEGP N ATI O N AL N E WS B U R EAU The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) called on President Rodrigo Duterte on September 13 to exhaust all avenues to remove Mary Jane Veloso from death row, citing that it is his responsibility to do so as president. “Duterte’s ostensible ‘go-ahead’ on Mary Jane’s execution raised some red flags. As the president, it was expected of him that he will do his utmost on categorically asserting that Mary Jane is merely a victim,” said Jose Mari Callueng, CEGP National President. A Jakarta news outlet reported Indonesian President Joko Widodo as saying that Duterte gave the green light to the execution of Veloso, who was sentenced
to death for possession of drugs in 2010. Meanwhile, Callueng lambasted Malacañang’s statement that Duterte merely said “follow your own laws” to the Indonesian president, saying that it betrays the Filipino people’s collective action which prompted Veloso’s temporary reprieve last year. “It is the legal system of Indonesia which brought Mary Jane to her current ordeal, so saying that Indonesia should follow its own laws is like surrendering the fight for Mary Jane’s reprieve. Moreover, it disregards the success of the efforts of Filipinos last year to pressure the Indonesian government to stop the execution,” Callueng added.
On the other hand, he also stressed that Duterte should be assertive and aggressive in protecting overseas Filipino workers (OFW). “Duterte is bound by his duty to defend and stand for Filipinos overseas, especially drug-trafficking victims like Mary Jane,” Callueng said. He noted that Veloso’s case stems from a larger problem rooted on the lack of decent jobs and high wages in the country. “Veloso and other Mary Janes of the country would not be prone to illegal recruitment, human traffic, drug trafficking if the issues highlighting the scarcity of proper jobs and decent wages were addressed,” the Guild president ended. NG
pahayag
The National Guilder Biyernes, 21 Oktubre 2016
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Never again to Martial Law! Uphold campus press freedom! C O L L EGE ED I T O RS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINE S - MINDA NAO The whole nation revisits the darkest period in Philippine history marked by the declaration of martial law by the fascist dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos. On its 44th commemoration, we, from the College Editors Guild of the Philippines – Mindanao, call for justice for all the victims of the dictatorship and as well as to the victims of the continuing state fascism. We also express our strong dissent over the interment of late President Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The people, so was the campus and mainstream press, experienced graved human rights violations under the martial law. Hence, the burial of the late dictator would only be an affront to
the countless activists, media men, and Guild alumni, who fought against the oppression, and asserted the freedom of the press and expression. The Guild has numbers of alumni who suffered and died during the dark days of Martial Law. Among these are Satur Ocampo, Judy Taguiwalo, Neri Colmenares, Emman Lacaba, Lorena Barros and many more who fought up to their death. During the Martial Law, Marcos ordered the closure of all student councils, publications, organizations, and youth formations seeing its strong ability to mobilize and organize the people and unite their ranks to fight the extreme repression through militant actions.
Many of the student activists who dared go against the regime were mercilessly tortured, killed, and disappeared. Hence, we call on the Duterte administration to make a decisive action on executing the law not to bury the fascist dictator at the Libingan ng mga bayani. Today, martial law is very much alive, not only in the memories of those who fell victim to it since the 70’s, but for all of the Filipino people, especially the masses of workers, peasants, youth, lumads, and urban poor, who have been experiencing the worsening economic and political crisis. In the case of the campus journalist, campus press freedom violations are
eventually the de facto of Martial Law. School administrations become effective instruments of the state on repressing the campus press on its freedom of expression. It could be felt in the form of withholding of funds, censorship, meddling by the adviser, administrative intervention and threats and harassment. We seek for the attainment of a campus press that is free from any interference of the school administration and of the state. Thus, we call on all campus journalists to stand for their right to expression. Nothing could be more decisive in this fight, but only through the collective action of the campus press, with the support of the
whole studentry. The experience of the Filipino people, especially of the youth, during the reign of the US-Marcos dictatorship won for us valuable lessons and opened a wide arena for creativity in advancing the national democratic struggle. Let us never allow state brutality to dampen our militant spirit. Fascist acts of the reactionary state of this sort should be steadfastly and courageously exposed and opposed. We should strongly demand justice for the victims of extrajudicial killing and human rights violations. And most of all, let us fight and uphold the campus press freedom. NG
On its 85th year, CEGP upholds its duty to serve the people The College Editors Guild of the Philippines prides itself not only being the longest running organization of student publications, but most importantly of its history of patriotic and democratic struggles for the people. On its 85th year, we remember every victory we have achieved through collective action and alongside the toiling masses, and reaffirm our duty to serve the people, in writing and among their ranks. With the newly-installed administration, we offer our guarded optimism as we welcome pronouncements and policies that will genuinely benefit the people. We continuously support the ongoing peace talks and therefore seek that just and lasting peace be achieved through national industrialization and genuine agrar-
ian reform. We also applaud President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent signing of Freedom of Information Executive Order as this can serve as a tool for campus journalists in pursuing truth and accountability. While it is true that we recognize these efforts, the need to remain vigilant is pressing now more than ever. We should not let our guards loose and instead, continue to be critical of these fast-changing times. We vow not to be silent in the face of clear affront to our rights and remain calling for the accountability of long overdue injustices to the Filipino people. Our practice in ensuring our political education and heightened social practice will help us identify and target our efforts. Our guiding principle
remains the same: To write is already to choose and it is imperative that we always choose the people as our purpose. The Guild’s long-standing history is replete with small and huge triumphs that have shaped our nation’s history as well. We produced staunch political figures, luminaries of literature, film and art, great teachers of the people and even revolutionaries who offered their lives for the cause of democracy. We, today, contribute our collective efforts in sustaining the Guild’s duty in awakening the sense of patriotism among the Filipino people, and mobilize them to struggle for a bright and free tomorrow. Always, sumulong, sumulat, manindigan at magmulat. NG
Hinggil sa represyon sa mga pahayang pangkampus ALYAN S A N G KA BATAAN G MAMAMAHAYAG NG PUP Hindi na bago sa mga mamamahayag pangkampus ang nararamdamang represyon sa pamamahayag. Kasabay ng pagpapatupad ng mga neoliberal na polisiya sa edukasyon ay ang pagtindi ng panggigipit sa ating mga propagandista sa loob ng mga pamantasan. Patuloy ang panghihimasok ng administrasyon upang pigilan at supilin ang paglalabas ng mga “radikal” na pahayag at artikulo. Maging ang kawalan ng awtonomiya sa pinansya ay ginagamit upang pigilan ang mga campus journalist sa loob ng pamantasan. Pilit na pinahihirapan ang mga publikasyon sa pamantasan, mula sa pagkuha ng pondo na naiipon na lamang sa Special Trust Fund (STF) maging sa
kawalan ng awtonomiya sa pamamalakad ng kanilang institusyon. Kahit pa napagtagumpayan ng The Catalyst ang laban nito para sa paggigiit ng kanyang karapatan sa pinansya ay nagkakaroon pa rin ito ng kahirapan sa paglalabas. Matatandaang nagkaroon ito ng sariling bank account dahil sa tuloy-tuloy na kampanya ng buong publikasyon. Pilit rin itong pinahihirapan sa kanyang liquidation process. Noong nakaraang taon ay inabot ng dalawa hanggang tatlong buwan ang pagpo-proseso ng kanilang pondo dahil sa bagong polisiya ng Internal Audit. Ngunit hanggang sa ngayon ay nakikipaglaban pa rin ang nasabing publikasyon para sa transfer of fund nito para makuha ng buo ang naipon
nitong pondo na tinatayang higit 4 milyong piso. Mas masahol naman ang nararanasan ng mga publikasyon sa PUP branches and campuses. Magpa-hanggang sa ngayon ay naka-manual collection pa ang mga ito at hindi ginagabayan ng administrasyon upang makuha nila ng buo ang kanilang pondo. Binabantayan man ng administrasyon ay pilit silang pinanghihimasukan upang makontrol ang pagpasok ng pinansya, maging ng kanilang ilalabas na mga artikulo, sa porma ng pagkakaroon ng adviser sa loob ng publikasyon. Isa itong banta sa kalayaan ng mga campus journalist sa kanilang paggigiit ng kanilang kalayaan sa pamamahayag.
Ang Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag ng PUP (AKM-PUP) ay mariing kinukundena ang anumang porma ng panggigipit ng administrasyon sa kalayaan ng mga publikasyon. Isa itong malinaw na represyon kung saan ibinunga ng tumitinding krisis sa edukasyon. Nakikita nila ang kakayanan ng mga pahayagan upang bumuo ng pampublikong opinyon hinggil sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng mga estudyante. Kasabay nito ang patuloy na kurapsyong nananaig sa administrasyon ng mga pamantasan sa porma ng pagpapahirap ng proseso at paglalaan ng pondo sa iba, imbes na mapunta sa mga publikasyon. Ang laban ng mga estudyante at ng kanilang publikasyon ay hindi
magkahiwalay, sapagkat karapatan ng bawat mag-aaral na magkaroon ng pahayagang naninilbihan para sa sambayanan. Ang panggigiit ng awtonomiya sa pinansya ay isa sa mga dapat mariing hawakan ng bawat pubikasyon sa bansa, dahil ito ang dugong dadaloy sa katawan ng institusyon kasama ng malaman at militanteng pahayag mula sa mga ito. Kasabay nito, nananawagan ang AKM sa lahat ng publikasyon na tumindig para sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag at tuloytuloy na kampanya kontra neoliberal na atake sa edukasyon. NG