THE OBLATION | Midyear 2016 Issue

FIRST SEMESTER, A.Y. 2016-2017

THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

40,000 Manilakbayanis, progressive groups march for SONA 2016

By Ben Te

MORE THAN 3,500 farmers, workers, fisher folk and other delegates from the Bicol region were hosted in the University of the Philippines Diliman from July 23 to July 25 for the “Manilakbayan Para sa SONA”.

“The Manilakbayan para sa SONA shows the solidarity of the Filipino people and their willingness to unite in the struggle for social change,” said USC Councilor Shari Oliquino.

She further stated that the youth and students must take part in the struggle of the different sectors in society as part of our role in nation building.

After a program led by the University Student Council at the Quezon Hall on July 25, the Bicol contingent marched towards Batasang Pambansa along with the student organizations, Chancellor Michael Tan, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Nestor Castro and DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo to join the 40,000-strong crowd from different regions including Mindanao, Southern Tagalog, Northern and Central Luzon.

The People’s SONA, Oliquino said, shall serve as a venue to forward the People’s Agenda that tackles the different reforms necessary to achieve the change that the people truly need.

“We must be able to engage with the new administration by all means if we wish to forward our democratic rights. It is not Duterte but the people’s mass movement that will bring forth genuine social change,” she added.

The People’s Agenda was crafted by different national organizations and was forwarded

Militant women call for the release of political prisoners and the resumption of the peace talks as they march at the forefront towards Batasan for the SONA ng Bayan 2016 last July 25. / Mikhaela Dimpas

to the members of the Duterte administration during the People’s Summit held in UP last June. The agenda includes land reform, national industrialization, general wage increase, free education and social services, and the defense of national sovereignty.

“The new administration gives us a window of opportunity to strengthen our campaigns for the change we truly need,” said USC Chairperson Bryle Leano.

“However, we must engage our current administration with guarded optimism, vigilance, and critical support for his progressive pronouncements. While we laud substantial reforms, we must continue to expose the systemic ills in our government and in society. We must hold no illusions that a change in the presidency means genuine change for the

people. Our task remains to arouse, organize, and mobilize the youth and the people towards taking part in the struggle for social change,” he said.

The People’s SONA, which marked history with people being able to hold the rally within the vicinity of Batasang Pambansa, aimed to support the pro-people pronouncements of the current administration, such as the resumption of the peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF, release of political prisoners, ending contractualization and shutdown of destructive mining firms.

It also called out government programs and practices that continue to threaten people’s rights including rampant extrajudicial killings, militarization of rural communities, and the implementation of neoliberal economic policies.•

42nd GASC unites against eUP, neoliberal policies

By Arvin Alba KATIPUNAN NG Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP) former chairperson and UP Visayas’ first summa cum laude Raoul Manuel was chosen as the 34th Student Regent with a consensus decision of the 42nd General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC).

The UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) along with 48 other student councils from all UP units attended the GASC at the UP Los Banos on July 16-17, 2016 where former student regent Miguel Enrico Pangalangan formally ended his term with a progress report and a

discussion on the UP Situationer.

“The Student Regent must be able to unite the student body to stand up and fight for our democratic rights. Without the student movement, the SR is powerless,” said Manuel, whose primary plan of action is to strengthen the coordination between the student councils across the UP System for a unified campaign against the colonial, commercialized, and fascist system of education.

The student councils also adopted several resolutions that will serve as a framework for the general campaigns across the UP System. The assembly Continued to page 9

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THE OBLATION | THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

Vision

Agenda & Resolution

The student body, in realizing its full potential as iskolar ng bayan, will be at the forefront of the struggle for genuine change of the students and the Filipino people as a whole. Through unity and collective action, together with the other sectors of Philippine society, it will actively defend the people’s democratic rights and advance their collective interests and aspirations.

In recognition that the Filipino people’s desire for genuine social change can only be realized through collective struggle, the USC shall take part in the campaigns of the different sectors of Philippine society and address the issues faced not only by the University but by the nation as a whole. The Filipino people continue to experience various forms of oppression, exploitation, and marginalization that have only been aggravated by the implementation of neoliberal policies and other illusory reforms. As we face the changes in the administration of the government and the university, we are challenged to maximize all venues in advancing the genuine interests and democratic rights of the Iskolar ng Bayan and the Filipino people. As such, the Council shall, in all its efforts, endeavor to:

Mission The USC shall serve as catalysts of unity and collective action of the student body, the UP community and the Filipino people. It will relentlessly reach out to the student body through all channels of communication, actively arousing and educating them on the issues they, and the whole Filipino people, face. It will build political unities and foster alliances among various student organizations, fraternities, sororities, councils, publications and other institutions, together with formations and organizations from other sectors of the UP community and Philippine society. It will provide avenues for the mobilization, in all its forms, of the greatest number of students towards genuine change and the realization of their democratic rights and interests.

Through arousing, organizing and mobilizing the student body, the USC will be fulfilling its mandate of genuine service to the UP community and the Filipino people.

1. Defend our national sovereignty and patrimony against all forms of foreign incursions.

Call to end all unequal foreign military agreements. Oppose all policies that serve foreign interests at the expense of the Filipino people. Protect our natural resources from foreign plunder.

2.

Support the people’s struggle for national development and forward genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization.

3. Support the workers’ call for general wage increase and push for a national minimum wage. Fight for job security and defend all labor rights. Call to end contractualization in all its forms.

4. Fight for accessible social services and welfare. Oppose the privatization of basic social services, the deregulation of prices of basic commodities, and the liberalization of goods and services.

5. Defend all human rights and civil liberties. Call to free all political prisoners. Surface all victims of enforced disappearances. Fight for justice for all victims of human rights violations. Oppose the militarization of rural communities. Call to resume peace talks with all belligerent groups.

6. Defend the rights of all national minorities. Support their fight for their ancestral lands, protection of their culture, and their right to self-determination.

7. Advance the struggle of women and the LGBTQPIA. Fight for gender emancipation.

8.

Demand transparency and accountability from our government. Imprison all criminally liable government officials, including former president Noynoy Aquino, once found guilty.

9. Fight for our right to education and defend it from all forms of neoliberal attacks.

10. Oppose the foreign orientation of education. Junk K-12. Oppose the proposed GE Reform. Oppose neoliberal globalization in education.

11. Oppose the commercialization of education in all its forms. Oppose all tuition and other fee increase. Junk Socialized Tuition System and all Other School Fees. Fight for full state subsidy. Fight for the improvement and accessibility of student services.

12. Defend student democratic rights. Uphold organization rights. Uphold campus press freedom. Junk the Code of Student Conduct and all other repressive policies. Propose and forward concrete, pro-student and democratic alternatives. Review the UP Diliman Students’ Magna Carta. Oppose campus militarization.

13. Support the campaigns of the different sectors of the UP community. Reclaim UP’s public character.

14. Fight for a holistic and relevant UP education. Defend academic freedom. Support the pursuit towards culture, the arts, and athletics.

15. Fight for a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented education.

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THE OBLATION | THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

Isang mapanghamong pagbabalik sa pamantasan, mga Iskolar ng Bayan!

Hindi pa man naapula ang ningas na dinulot ng mga problema sa enrollment, kailangan na nating bumalik at harapin ang ating pamantasan.

Ang taguring Iskolar ng Bayan ay binibigay sa mga kabataang nabibigyan ng pagkakataong makapasok sa isang pampublikong pamantasan.

Kasama dito ang karapatang makatanggap ng subsidyo mula sa bayan at ang tungkuling paglingkuran ang mamamayang Pilipino. Ngunit sa patuloy na paglala ng krisis sa ating lipunan, patuloy na nilalayo sa atin ang ating karapatan sa edukasyon. Nariyan ang tahasang pagkamal ng kita mula sa mga estudyante at pagpapatupad ng mga reprisibong polisiya na nagpapahirap sa mga kabataan.

Ngayong taon, muli nating kinaharap ang kakulangan sa class slots at tinulak tayong pumila at makipag-unahan—ang iba pa nga ay pinipiling matulog na sa mga kolehiyo sa pagbabakasakaling makakakuha ng slots kinabukasan. Aminado ang administrasyon na ito ay epekto ng kakulangan ng mga guro. Dahil sa K-12 program, umasa ang pamantasan na kakaunti lamang ang mangangailangan ng mga asignatura sa General Education kaya hinayaan nilang umalis ang ilang mga guro. Sa halip na punan ng gubyerno at administrasyon ang kakulangan sa mga magtuturo, napipilitan tuloy ang ating mga guro na mag-overbook at mag-overwork para lamang matugunan ang problema sa GE slots.

Kinaharap pa rin ng mga dormers ang kakulangan sa dormitory slots.

Higit pa rito, naging malaking problema din ang pagsingil ng deposit fee bilang pangangailangan upang masiguro ang slot sa dormitory.

Napagtagumpayan man nating mailipat ang pagbabayad ng deposit fee sa Oktubre, nagpapatuloy pa rin ang mga problema sa mga dormitoryo katulad ng mataas na bayarin dulot ng pasasapribado ng mga ito.

Ginulantang din tayo ng panukalang ‘No Late Payment Policy’ kung saan kinakailangan nating magbayad matapos ang limang araw na registration.

Dagdag pa rito, pinipilit pa tayong umutang na lamang sa unibersidad nang sa gayon ay makapagbayad ng matrikula sa itinakdang panahon. Dahil sa ating sama-samang pagtutol at paglaban, nagiit nating mapigilan ang implementasyon nito. Ngunit, nakikita natin na ang mga ganitong polisiya ay isa sa mga eskema ng administrasyon upang siguruhin na makasisingil ng kita mula sa mga estudyante.

Isa sa pinakamalaking iskema ng pagkamal ng kita mula sa atin ay ang Socialized Tuition Scam. Sa loob ng halos tatlumpung taon, nakita ng unibersidad kung paano ito ginamit upang magtaas ng matrikula at pataasin pa ang pinapatubuang pera. Dahil sa pagsidhi ng sitwasyon ng mataas na matrikula at iba pang bayarin, patuloy na dumarami ang umaapila upang mapataas ang diskwentong nakukuha nila. Sinasabi lamang nito na dumarami ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan na kailangang magpatunay na sila ay naghihirap at karapatdapat na mabigyan ng ayuda ng kapwa Iskolar ng Bayan. ‘Ika nga, those who can pay should pay and those who cannot will be subsidized by those who paid’.

Sa 400 milyong piso na kinikita ng pamantasan mula sa ating matrikula, 8% lamang dito ang napupunta sa ayuda sa mababang brackets at mahigit 70% ang pinapatubuan sa bangko. Kung hindi man, ginagamit upang ipampatayo ng mga pribadong dormitoryo at establisyementong makakapaghuthot pa ng kita mula sa mga estudyante. Dagdag pahirap pa sa atin ang pagbabayad ng sobra-sobra, napakapamahal, at paulit ulit na other school fees. Para sa isang Bracket D na estudyante, halos 1/3 na ng

kanyang kailangang bunuin ay ang other school fees.

Ang lahat ng ito ay hindi na bago. Sa loob ng ilang dekada ng pamamayagpag ng neoliberalismo sa ating bansa, isa lang naman ang naging layunin nito, ang pababain ang sahod ng mga manggagawa at pataasin ang kita ng mga negosyante. Ngayon, tila ba nagiging pribadong korporasyon na ang ating pamantasan—nagpapatuloy na naninigil ng matrikula at napakamahal na other school fees. Ngayon, sinisiguro pa ng pamantasan na mababayaran mo ang lahat ng ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpapautang, ‘No Late Payment Policy’, paniningil ng isang buwang deposito sa mga dormitoryo, at iba pa.

Ngayon, babalikan natin ang taguring Iskolar ng Bayan. Paano tayo magiging mahusay na mga Iskolar ng Bayan kung ang turing sa atin ay mga produktong hinuhulma para sa mga dayuhang negosyante? Paano tayo makakapasok sa pamantasan kung patuloy tayong ginagatasan at pinagkakakitaan? Paano tayo magiging kritikal sa lipunan kung ginagawa tayong kimi at sunud-sunuran?

Sa kabila ng mga ito, kailangan nating alalahanin na ang taguring Iskolar ng Bayan ay may mahabang kasaysayan ng paglaban sa mga represibong polisiya ng pamantasan. Kaya nasa atin ngayon ang hamon upang tutulan at baguhin ang lahat ng ito. Patuloy na nabubulok ang kolonyal, komersalisado, at pasistang sistema ng edukasyon. Bagama’t sinasalubong tayo ng iba’t ibang mga atake sa ating karapatan sa edukasyon, hindi ito ang panahon upang manlumo at panghinaan ng loob. Marapat na lalong paigtingin ang alab ng ating pakikibaka upang pagtagumpayan ang isang makabayan, siyentipiko, at makamasang edukasyon. Sa ating mayamang karanasan ng tagumpay bunga ng sama-samang pagkilos, ngayon, higit kailanman, dapat nating ipagpatuloy ang pagpapalawak at pagpapatibay ng ating hanay. Patuloy tayong magmulat, mag-organisa, at kumilos upang ipaglaban ang ating mga batayang karapatan. Lagi nating iisipin, ang ating laban sa loob ng pamantasan ay hindi na lamang para sa ating mga Iskolar ng Bayan bagkus higit para sa lahat ng mga kabataang hindi nabibigyan ng pagkakataong makatuntong ng pamantasan.

Mga Iskolar ng Bayan, sama-sama tayong lalaban, sama-sama tayong magtatagumpay, sama-sama nating babawiin ang Pamantasan ng Bayan!

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THE OBLATION | THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

DENIAL OF SERVICE ON JULY 29, hundreds of UPLB students camped out at great risk to their personal safety simply to enroll their classes for the coming semester. This was brought about by the implementation of the Student Academic Information System (SAIS) in the campus, part of Pres. Pascual’s flagship multi-million peso eUP Project, an effort to supposedly modernize and streamline bureaucratic processes inside the university.

SAIS eventually failed to provide its advertised services, leading to the inhumanity experienced by UPLB students and the suspension of enlistment periods in a total of 4 constituent UP units.

Days later, the eUP administrators issued a statement blaming the failure of enlistment to a Denial of Service (DoS) attack. A DoS attack is an attack wherein a computer hacker spams a server, in this case, the servers of eUP, with automated requests for website access. The overloaded server then collapses under the sheer number of requests, leading to the general inaccessibility of the website to the public. Their

quoted number of 4M hits over the past 2 days, however, is much too small to be considered as a DoS attack; for context, the CRS receives at least 2M hits a day during the peak of enrollment and it does not collapse despite using a server from the mid2000s. Eventually, they issued a new statement, quoting 34M hits in a single day, and conducted a press conference to discuss their findings.

This sudden change of data raised many eyebrows among the software development community.

Furthermore, despite the press conference, they continue to refuse to release legitimizing proof concerning the DoS attack, such as a more fine-grained web request history. The new statement and the details released during the press conference continue to be inconsistent and racked with flaws, such as the claim that the security software Cloudflare was able to detect but not block the incoming DoS attack, and the fact that 34M is still too small a number given the capabilities of modern hardware. The only thing clear from the recent statements

of the eUP administrators is that they are not revealing the whole truth of the incident. Instead of defending the welfare of the UP community and seeking accountability from its private partners ePLDT and Oracle, the UP administration instead chose to defend these private partners by releasing misleading statements, even going so far as to accuse eUP detractors as the instigators behind the so-called DoS attack.

All these reveal the true nature of the eUP Project - that it is a privatization scheme aggravating the commercialized nature of UP education by prioritizing private profits at the expense of the welfare of the UP community.

The experiences of the UP community with the eUP Project mirror the experiences of the general commuting public with the privatization of the MRT and the LRT. Like the eUP Project, the commuters faced attacks on their general welfare with the near doubling of fares for train rides. Meanwhile, there was no true improvement in the quality of service provided with the privatization of the

transportation service; in fact, a general deterioration of quality became headline news with repeated train breakdowns and the reduction of the number of train cars. The MRT/LRT fiasco was also racked with anomalies, with administrators releasing misleading numbers that conceal the general failure of the privatization effort. It is clear that the premise that improving social services can only be done by handing it over to the private sector is ultimately flawed. The private sector will never prioritize improvement of service; instead, they will find and execute all means to maximize their profits, even at the expense of our democratic interests. Thus, the rotten quality of the multi-million peso IT service we purchased from Oracle and ePLDT is unsurprising. The issue with the eUP Project is not just misimplementation. The issue here is that the UP administration followed the dictates of a puppet regime pushing neoliberal policies such as privatization to the detriment of its students and workers.

As a result, our fundamental right to education is denied.

This past registration period, the complete denial by the UP administration of this right can be clearly seen by the chronic lack of class slots available to the students. Instead of investing in additional faculty items to solve the crisis, the national and UP administrations instead chose to redirect university resources to the profits of private companies. They then provide us with a system that is not up to par with our previous enlistment systems, causing great hardships to students already harassed by the long lines needed just to enlist classes. We have already raised the abject failure of the eUP Project countless times to the UP administration but they still refuse to listen. Clearly, the only option we have left is to strengthen our unity, expand our ranks and militantly assert the junking of the eUP Project and defend our democratic rights.

There was no true Denial of Service attack against the eUP Project. The only clear denial of service here is the continued commercialization of education and privatization of basic student services.

UPD alliance convened to support peace talks UP DILIMAN Chancellor Michael Tan, University Student Council (USC), Congress for Teachers and Educators for Nationalism and Democracy in UP (CONTEND UP) and other progressive groups convened an alliance that supports the peace talks between the Duterte administration and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) - New People’s Army (NPA) - National Democratic Front (NDF) on July 15, 2016 in a press forum at Balay Kalinaw.

The alliance, named Kalinaw from the Visayan word for peace, shall serve as a venue for the members of the UP Diliman community to not only show support for the peace process but also to forward their calls for necessary reforms such as the ending of contractualization, better benefits for workers and teachers, and free education at all levels.

By Arvin Alba

“It is high time that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines resumes the peace talks between the CPP-NPANDF in order to address the root cause of the armed conflict.

This conflict is fueled by the worsening crisis of Philippine society and can only be resolved by ending poverty and social inequality in the country,” said USC Chairperson Bryle Leano.

The continuation of the peace process means the Duterte administration and the CPPNPA-NDF shall work towards providing basic social services and instituting pro-people reforms under the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER).

The press forum concluded with the convenors holding up placards in the shape of puzzle pieces bearing their calls. The puzzle pieces were then assembled

to form a peace symbol.

“The different puzzle pieces represent the Missing Peace in our country. This symbolic action is meant to reiterate that a genuine, just, and lasting peace in our country can only be achieved if the fundamental problems of our society are addressed and if the people have access to their democratic rights” said USC Councilor Ben Te. Kalinaw-UP Diliman, which also includes Alliance of Contractual Employees in UP (ACE UP), the All UP Workers Union and Save Our Schools Network – UP Diliman, pledged to join the People’s SONA mobilization on July 25 to strengthen their calls.

The CPP-NPA-NDF has been leading the revolutionary armed movement in the Philippines since the late 1960s.•

Lumad leader Kernal Fanagel puts his “puzzle piece” calling to dismantle monopolies, during the Kalinaw UP launch held at UP Diliman last July 15. Calls from various sectors are written on the pieces to complete the symbolic “Missing Peace.”/ Mikhaela Dimpas

42nd GASC unites...

committed to campaign against the eUP project, oppose campus militarization and to abolish the ROTC, forward a Student Agenda for the next UP President, and to mobilize the students against all forms of neoliberal attacks on education.

“The GASC merits a great significance in the advancement of the struggles of the Iskolar ng Bayan. Through these unities we are preparing our student leaders to face each and every challenge

we may encounter as we serve the students and the Filipino people,” said Manuel, who took his oath as student regent on July 28.

He further called on the members of the assembly to stand firm amidst the challenges and to have faith in the collective action of the students.

The Student Regent represents more than 55,000 students in the 11-member Board of Regents – the highest policy making body in the UP System.•

THE OBLATION | THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

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USC: Support peace talks, free political prisoners By Ben Te

Representatives from various sectors present their own Agenda for Change during the National People’s Summit held at UP Diliman last June 29. / Efren Ricalde

Diliman Demands to be part of People’s Agenda

By Donn Bernal

THE UNIVERSITY Student Council (USC) along with the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) represented the youth contingent at the People’s Summit held on June 29, 2016 at the University of the Philippines Film Institute.

The People’s Summit, which was attended by more than 2,500 people of different sectors across the country, aimed to forward the People’s Agenda to the members of the Duterte administration including DAR Secretary Raphael Mariano, DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and other progressive government leaders.

The People’s Agenda is a 15-point document drafted by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and other progressive national and sectoral organizations that details reforms necessary for achieving genuine and lasting social change. It tackles issues such as economic and foreign policies, land reform, national industrialization, gender emancipation, access to social services, protection of the environment, peace, and national sovereignty.

The USC led the drafting of the Diliman Demands to be integrated in the overall People’s Agenda. The Diliman Demands iterated the calls of the UP community including the end to privatization and commercialization of education, increased benefits for UP workers and faculty, greater state funding, and free education at all levels.

It was drafted by the UP MultiSectoral Alliance to unite the campaigns of the different sectors within the UP community.

“We cannot expect President Duterte to give the change we need without the strength of the mass movement. It is not through the benevolence of government leaders that the people win the struggle for their rights. Even if the government is now more open to progressive change, our struggle in the streets must continue to ensure the triumph for genuine and radical change” said Taguiwalo, who is also a retired UP professor and former Faculty Regent.

The summit was concluded with the different sectoral leaders committing to hold a rally during the inauguration of Duterte on June 30.•

MORE THAN 200 UP students and faculty joined the lightning rally led by the University Student Council (USC) during UP Diliman’s 105th Commencement Exercises on June 26, 2016.

“This year’s protest is meant to express support for the peace talks between the Duterte administration and the CPPNPA-NDF. We recognize the importance of the peace process as part of our struggle for pro-people reforms,” said USC Chairperson Bryle Leano as he addressed the graduates in his speech.

Some of the graduates stood up bearing placards and chanted after the speech of UP Pres.

Alfredo Pascual, this year’s commencement speaker, to voice out their grievances against his administration.

“Under the Pascual administration, we saw the death of our fellow Iskolar ng Bayan as well as the death of UP’s public character. Aside from the Socialized Tuition System, we saw the renaming of the College

of Business Administration, the Academic Calendar Shift, the anomalous eUP privatization scheme, the implementation of the repressive Code of Student Conduct, the GE reform, widespread contractualization of UP employees, and more neoliberal policies,” said Leano.

He said students must speak out against the Pascual presidency as it was marked with dozens of commercialization and privatization schemes “effectively deteriorating UP’s public character” and has committed too many sins against the Iskolar ng Bayan.

“We must remember that Kristel Tejada would have also been graduating this year, but she was deprived of this opportunity because of the Socialized Tuition Scam and the commercialization of education,” said Leano, who is among the 4,500 graduates this year.

The lightning rally, which was held after the graduates made their alumni pledge, urged the graduates to take an active role in struggling for social

change. It also strengthened the call to free the more than 500 political prisoners in the country, including UP Film student Maricon Montajes, who has been detained for more than 6 years. She was charged with illegal possession of explosives and accused of being a member of the New People’s Army.

It was also meant to commemorate the tenth year since the enforced disappearance of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, who were abducted while they were doing community work with the farmers of Central Luzon.

“The Iskolar ng Bayan and all the graduates are challenged to utilize the knowledge we have learned in our university to address these social ills,” he said.

Lightning rallies have become a traditional part of every graduation program with activists calling on the graduates to live up to the role of the Iskolar ng Bayan in serving the Filipino people.•

Systemwide actions launched against UP SAIS fiasco By Hazel Lobres STUDENT LEADERS and organizations condemned the UP administration for implementing “commercialization schemes” and “inhumane” enrolment processes such as the No Late Payment Policy, Student Academic Information System (SAIS) and the Socialized Tuition System (STS) in a two-day protest on Aug. 3 and 4.

“It’s just the first week of enrolment but here we are, protesting at the halls of UP because the services we deserve are being turned into profiteering mechanisms by the admin,” said UP Diliman USC Councilor Ben Te. SAIS, which has already been implemented in UP Los Banos, UP Manila and UP Baguio, is part of the eUP project under UP Pres.

Alfredo Pascual’s administration.

In a statement by the UPLB University Student Council, they said “the SAIS online portal remained inaccessible to a vast majority of students who are in dire need of units to be enrolled” during the scheduled registration date. On July 30, UPLB students were also

forced to camp out at their campus to enlist subjects because SAIS was only made accessible within the area.

“Homegrown platform like the SystemOne delivers a satisfactory job when the registration comes.

It is worth noting that the system operated under a miniscule budget in comparison to eUP. Indeed, SystemOne was the pride of the University community for its collaborative character and the optimization of the registration process,” said the UPLB USC. During the protest at the eUP press conference on Aug. 4, Chancellor Michael Tan said if the administration implements SAIS in UPD, he will stand with the students in opposing it.

Aside from the “utter wreck” of the online registration in the three campuses, the students also protested the No Late Payment Policy implemented in UPD which forbids students from paying their matriculation fees past Aug. 5.

“The UP administration doesn’t care about our academic rights because their top priority is to

gain profit from the students,” said Student Regent Raoul Manuel.

UPD USC Chairperson Bryle Leano condemned the Socialized Tuition “Scam” and the limited class slots faced by UPD students every semester which forces them to also camp out just to make sure that they would be the first to get in line the following morning.

“Until now, there are still hundreds of pending STS appeals.

We have already established that, for the longest time, it is nothing but a profiteering scheme,” he said.

After a dialogue with the UPD USC last week, the Office of the Chancellor released a memorandum extending the registration period to Aug. 10 and the deadline of payment to Sept. 7, 2016. The USC said in a statement that this is another victory of the collective action of the students.

Thousands of students from UPLB, UPB, UP Manila and UP Miag-ao also organized protest actions from Aug. 1 to 4 against the eUP project and other neoliberal policies in education.•

THE OBLATION | THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

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Radical Student Leadership A short history of the UP Student Council (1913-1988)*

By Mong Palatino IT IS wrong to equate the history of the University of the Philippines Student Council (USC) with the history of student activism in the Philippines. But it should be noted that the USC played a major role in radicalizing student politics in the country.

The USC has been recognized as an activist institution even during the pre-war years. In fact, there has been no period in the history of the USC when it did not confront university and national leaders over certain policies.

The USC was consistent in fighting for an independent student council.

It has always championed student rights by advocating the lowering of school fees, greater autonomy of student organizations, and democratic reforms in the campus.

It challenged the status quo and clashed with the repressive instruments of the state. It promoted not only the welfare of the student body but also of other sectors, especially the downtrodden.

This is precisely the reason why the USC gained credibility as an important student group articulating the people’s interests.

Various political forces have tried to dominate the leadership of the USC. But the national democratic movement seemed to have the greatest success in influencing the politics of the USC. No wonder the USC has always been linked with leftist causes.

The USC has a historical tradition which is intertwined with the history of the revolutionary movement in the Philippines. Although the USC has had hundreds of oppressors and reactionaries, the USC has also produced revolutionaries, and patriotic sons and daughters of the people.

Independent student council The USC was first instituted 1913 under the auspices of UP President Murray Bartlett.

Manuel Tabora of the College of Law was the first chairman of the student council. The USC as an institution was suspended three times by university and national authorities: during World War II; during UP president Vicente Sinco’s term; and during martial law.

To counter the dominance of a religious group in campus, President Sinco issued an administrative circular in 1958 which limited the representation of any student organization to one representative only in each of the student councils.

The order was challenged in the Supreme Court but the latter dismissed the petition on technical grounds. Hence, there was no USC from 1958-1960.

The Board of Regents (BOR) approved the creation of a Student Union in 1961 which would coordinate the cultural and social activities of the student body. The USC was revived two years later. In 1970, the USC was renamed Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral in line with the Filipinization of the university. After the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, the government banned the USC and other student councils in the country.

In 1973, UP President Salvador Lopez created the Consultative Committee on Student Affairs whose members came from designated representatives of recognized organizations. On that year, the campaign started for reviving an autonomous, democratic, and representative student council.

The USC gained prominence as an institution which tirelessly espoused people’s concerns.

The USC has always challenged national leaders to be sincere in serving thee people.

In 1975, UP President OD Corpuz created a Student Conference in response to the petition for the revival of the USC. The Collegian and other student groups objected to the resolution raising the question of representation, autonomy of the Conference from the UP administration, and the vagueness of functions of the Conference.

On September 18. 1975, the elections for the Student Conference marked the first time that elections were held in a major institution in the country after the imposition of martial law. During the start of the school year in 1977, the UP administration issued a memorandum that created the UP Metro Manila Student Welfare Board. But the students and the League of College Councils still pressed for the restoration of an autonomous USC. In 1979, almost a hundred organizations and student leaders formed the Task Force Ibalik ang Sanggunian. By August, they transformed it to Student Alliance. At the end of the year, the UP administration announced the restoration of the USC after seven years of forced inactivity.

On September 5, 1980, more than six thousand students voted in the first USC elections after eight years. Malou Mangahas won, becoming the first female USC chairperson. On August 27, 1981, the first ever plebiscite in the history of UP was conducted.

More than seven thousand students approved the USC Constitution.

School fees The issue of affordable school fees has always been raised by the USC. The first protest action of freshmen students in the campus was held on March 12, 1918 as students petitioned the BOR to extend their scholarship. In 1929, the USC objected to the increase of fees and the rigid rules of the Department of Physical Education.

During the summer period of 1984, protest activities escalated when word spread that a tuition increase would be imposed.

Students threatened a no-pay

enrollment campaign. On May 8, 1984, then Education Minister Jaime C. Laya met with students at the Palma Hall to convince them about the fairness of a tuition increase.

A month later, students formed the Students’ Coalition against the Rising Cost of Education.

On September 20, 1984, the USC led students in barricading the university to protest tuition increase. The protesters padlocked many academic buildings and blocked the roads leading to UP Diliman. It was the first barricade in Diliman after martial law.

A week later, students planned a more massive barricade to paralyze the operations inside the university. More than 5,000 students formed and attended the human and physical barricades.

Democratization The USC has also advocated reforms to democratize UP education. On January 20, 1969, the Committee on Public and National Affairs of the USC initiated a movement to present the state of the university to the UP president Lopez. The UP administration held an eight-hour dialogue and negotiation with the students who presented him with 77 demands. Lopez requested the students to pare down the list of demands; the students complied and reduced the most urgent issues to only 18.

On February 4, 1969, the USC together with other activist groups in the campus successfully led a general strike by the students. Lopez was forced to issue an executive order which granted greater autonomy to all student organizations in the handling of funds collected by UP. Lopez also agreed to make the appointment of faculty of advisers for student organizations and publications optional.

President Ferdinand Marcos came to the university and held a dialogue with student leaders. He was able to resolve the student demands by releasing more funds for the university. The visit was the second time the president of the republic came to UP to discuss vital matters with students and

faculty members. The 18 demands were substantially met as greater student autonomy was granted.

All documents and papers of accounts of UP were opened to all parties. An agreement was forged with the Quezon City mayor that the police would not enter the campus without a written request from UP. On October 5, 1970, the students confronted Lopez anew with their 57 demands which were grouped into five mass headings: democratization, Filipinization, academic affairs, student welfare, non-academicaffairs, and faculty welfare.

On December 16, 1983, USC Chairperson Leandro Alejandro led 200 students who picketed a CMT Parade as a protest action against intensifying militarization of Philippine society. They were threatened with suspension for disrupting a university activity.

National politics The USC gained prominence as an institution which tirelessly espoused people’s concerns. The USC has always challenged national leaders to be sincere in serving thee people. Many times the USC clashed with police forces during student rallies near Malacanang Palace.

On December 15, 1917, the first student protest was held against a Manila police captain and his men for arresting Victoriano Yamzon during the first University Day. The police had mistaken the 1st editor of the College Folio as part of an unruly crowd.

On January 18, 1933, students held a rally in support of the HareHawes Cutting Act. President Manuel Quezon disapproved of the rally saying that students should be studying for their examinations instead of participating in political affairs. Students also held a rally on the same year protesting the bill that would reorganize government personnel but not including legislators. Lawmakers who visited the university were booed and heckled. Four years later, UP students and faculty campaigned for the right of the Filipino women to vote.

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On March 29, 1951, the first UP Diliman student rally to Malacanang Palace was led by the USC. Together with other student clubs, the rally was conducted to express support for UP president Bienvenido Gonzales who invited Senator Claro M. Recto, arch critic of then President Elpidio Quirino, to deliver the commencement address at the UP graduation rites. UP president Vidal Tan eventually replaced Gonzales. But the students won the right to listen to Recto on their graduation and to have Gonzales sign their diplomas instead of Tan. On November 30, 1952, USC chairperson Rafael Salas led students in a rally in Malacanang protesting the policies of President Quirino. In 1962, the Student Union protested President Diosdado Macapagal’s offer to Carlos P. Romulo to become UP President. The Union said “UP is not an auction bloc at Macapagal’s personal disposal.”

Union chairperson Voltaire Garcia led the UP students in a rally in front of Quezon Hall, affirming support for and trust in BOR, the sole body tasked to choose UP president.

Rise of the national democratic movement During the early 60’s, the national democratic movement became a strong political force in the campus. In 1964, the USC initiated a jeepney campus boycott until the fare for campus rides was reduced to five centavos from 10 centavos. On September 11, 1966, USC chairperson Voltaire Garcia led a mammoth demonstration near Malacanang

Palace to protest the senseless shedding of Filipino blood for the US in Vietnam. The following month, the USC led a historic strike of students from Quezon City to the Manila Hotel, where the Manila Summit was held.

Five thousand students protested the continuing American intervention in the Vietnam War. Police violently dispersed the protesters. Scores were hurt. The USC called for inter-university indignation rallies. The October 24 Movement was formed. Also on the same month, the USC sponsored a National Students’ Congress for the advancement of nationalism.

Five hundred student leaders attended the event.

On July 1968, the USC, Philippine Collegian, Katipunang Makabansa, Pagkakaisa, and the Partisans led 14 busloads of students to the Congress building to oppose the Second Philippine Civil Action Group bill on the involvement of the country in the Vietnam War. Two months later, Senator Lorenzo Tanada, head of the Movement for the Advancement of Nationalism, protested the Americanization of UP. USC became more active in leading demonstrations on issues such as the Vietnam War, Philippine participation in the war, oil monopolies, implementation of the retail trade nationalization laws. and US Imperialism.

The storm On January 7, 1970, students of UP Manila and Diliman boycotted their classes to denounce police brutality and the illegal detention for eight hours of UP students

Renato Ciria Cruz, Gary Olivar, and Jorge Sibal during the antiAgnew rally in December of 1969. The USC, Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan, the AS Student Council, and fifty faculty members led by Dean Cesar Adib Majul issued a joint declaration of concern over the “repressive tolerance towards organized dissent.”

On January 26, 1970, UP students joined 40,000 students in front of the Congress building during the state of the nation address of President Marcos.

The peaceful demonstration turned into a bloody riot when the police reacted strongly when a mock coffin was hurled at the party of the President. The following day, the USC called for a boycott of classes for the rest of the week. President Lopez then told a group of students in front of Quezon Hall that he would suspend classes.

On January 29, the first faculty march of the university towards Malacanang was led by President Lopez to present the declaration of faculty regarding the bloody incident on January 26. UP met with the faculty of the University of the East at J.P. Laurel Street.

The USC charged the faculty with elitism because the planned indignation rally was scheduled on January 30. The USC also did not want to have a dialogue with Marcos. In protest, they led the students to march at Quezon Hall, while the faculty and administration officials were inside the Malacanang Palace.

The USC turned the flag upside down, removed the plaque under the picture of General Romulo, and covered the Oblation with a sack.

The following day, UP students joined a peaceful indignation rally in front of Congress building that ended at 5pm.

Then the group started marching towards Malacanang, and they stormed the gates of the Palace with a firetruck. The “Battle of Mendiola” lasted the whole night with four students killed including UP freshman Ricardo Alcantara. 117 people injured, 293 arrested, including USC chairperson Fernando Barican, and 131 charged with sedition.

During the graduation ceremonies of that schoolyear, militant students who graduated with honors, led by USC chairperson Fernando Barican, Victor Manarang, Orlando Vea, Vicente Paqueo, Ericson Baculinao, and Rafael Baylosis held a protest action while carrying placards exhorting students to “serve the people” and denouncing “American cultural aggression.”

The eighties On December 1, 1980, USC chairperson Mangahas was arrested by military for subversion.

Two thousand s t u d e n t s attended the boycott rally on December 4. More than ninety percent of students skipped their classes.

On January 14, 1982, USC led a mass walkout to commemorate the fake lifting of martial law.

More than 1000 students joined the protest action.

On August 26, 1983, three thousand members of the UP community, including the USC, joined the peace march and prayer rally in protest over the murder of Senator Ninoy Aquino and the continuing violation of human rights. On July 6, 1984, UP students were the first to march again at Mendiola since 1972. Students were protesting the tuition fee increases in private schools, low budget for education, IMF-WB meddling in government, oil price hikes, and disregard for students’ democratic rights.

On February 17, 1986, students and faculty met at the AS steps to discuss and plan a localized civil disobediance, and a new of

education following the rigged snap polls. USC formed the Task Force Civil Disobedience. Three days later, UP students marched to Malacanang demanding that President Marcos immediately vacate the palace.

Student leaders for the people Over the past century, the USC has strived to fulfill a progressive brand of student politics. It is a leadership that reflects the idealism of the youth and their aspiration for a more meaningful future. USC leaders resisted the temptation to limit their advocacies to the parochial concerns of the university. They demanded reforms in the campus but, at the same time and more significantly, they criticized the faults of national leaders. USC leaders became social critics of a backward and oppressive Philippine society.

As the university looks forward to another new century, it is wise to look back and celebrate the radical tradition of the USC. Past members of the USC who are now influential m e m b e r s of the elite society should remember and relive the principles they espoused during their college years. A dose of radicalism is very much needed today.

It is a leadership that reflects the idealism of the youth and their aspiration for a more meaningful future.

References Alfonso, Oscar, ed. “UP: the first 75 years: A Diamond Jubilee Publication.” University of the Philippines Press, 1985.

Aquino, Belinda, ed. “The University Experience: Essays on the 82nd Anniversary of the University of the Philippines.”

University of the Philippines Press, 1991.

Feliciano, Gloria, ed. “The University of the Philippines: University for the Filipinos.”

UP Institute of Mass Communication, 1984. *Originally published in “SERVE THE PEOPLE: Ang Kasaysayan ng Radikal na Kilusan sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas” by IBON Foundation, Inc. and Congress of Teachers and Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND), 2008.•

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Student leaders decry UP enrollment crisis

Photo from Tinig ng Plaridel

By Shari Oliquino UP DILIMAN USC Councilor Donn Bernal said this semester’s enrollment could be worse because aside from very limited class slots, students are also facing the newly implemented No Late Payment Policy.

“Every registration period, students are forced to line up for hours because of the glaring lack of available class slots,” said Bernal in a press conference organized by the USC and the Office of the Student Regent on Aug. 3, 2016.

“The No Late Payment Policy

RISE AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA THE UPD USC is one with the victims of the deadliest mass shootings the US has ever known, which caused 53 injuries and took 50 innocent lives. Even in the Philippines, there have been reported hate crimes committed to transgender individuals and recent reports of public figures maligning homosexuals have surfaced the mainstream media. This is not just an act of terror on the LGBTQ+ community. It is an act of terror against humanity as a whole.

It is in our collective grief that we realize our efforts to educate against homophobia and discrimination are woefully insufficient. Moreover, the few protective mechanisms we have for vulnerable groups remain flimsy at best.

Hence, despite this act of unspeakable terror, we must not cower.

We must continue to honor the lives of those we lost today by committing to live our lives for love and acceptance and not hate and discrimination. We must be committed to raising awareness in our

is just another mechanism for the university to ensure that they maximize profit from the students,” he said.

Last July, the administration released a memo prohibiting students to pay for matriculation beyond the set deadline on Aug. 5. Bernal said

Statement on the recent Orlando Shooting incident 14 June 2016 communities, too, that homophobia propagates hate. We must hold our leaders accountable for failing to pass laws and implement policies that protect the LGBTQ community. We must demand for the passage of an Anti-Discrimination Bill to further advance our call on creating a country of equality and acceptance more than just mere tolerance.

We must stand against all forms of violence perpetuated against the LGBTQ community. Whether it be the brute, physical violence of this act of terror, or the structural violence that many members of the LGBTQ community face which prevents them from attaining a safe, stable livelihood and way of life.

It is well past time that we realize that homophobia is a matter of life and death.

It is well past time that we look hatred and discrimination in the eyes and claim: We will rise against homophobia, always.•

if the students are unable to itself. Aside from delaying the pay on time, they are advised enrolment process because of to apply for a tuition loan. its system failure, we see how USC Chairperson Bryle SAIS and the eUP project Leano added that aside from the as a whole is just another No Late Payment Policy and the privatization scheme of the UP class enlistment, students are also administration,” said Student having a hard time applying for Regent Raoul Manuel. dormitory slots.

What’s worse than the rally at the Palma Aug. 4 tothe “Until today, weStudents are hold stilla snake inconvenience itHall haslastcaused condemn repressive policies such as the No Late Payment policy, receiving a lot of complaints from students, Manuel said, is that STS, SAIS and eUP. / Tinig ng Plaridel students who have not yet been millions of taxpayer funds are granted dorm slots. While other allotted for the profit of ORACLE students who are granted slots and ePLDT while students are in the Centennial and Acacia deprived of their academic rights Residence Halls are requesting to and student services. be transferred to cheaper dorms “These problems experienced because of the expensive dorm by the students reflect UP’s fees,” said Leano. deteriorating public character The Centennial and Acacia and the worsening neoliberal Residence Halls are semi-private attacks on education. More than dormitories in UP with a rent of anything, this is a challenge for 1,500 pesos and 3,000 pesos per the Iskolar ng Bayan to advance month respectively. the struggle for our right to Across the UP System, education and to reclaim the students are also outraged University of the People,” said because of the implementation USC Councilor Ben Te. of the Student Academic The student leaders Information System (SAIS), a concluded the forum by part of the eUP project of UP calling on the students President Pascual that aims to protest in the coming to integrate the Information days to junk the No Late Systems of the all UP units.

Payment policy and other “SAIS is a failed system in commercialization schemes.•

On the Midyear Registration Woes 14 June 2016

THIS MIDYEAR registration, the USC received around 200 complaints and grievances on the general lack of class slots for this Midyear term.

The students once again faced the chronic lack of class slots, especially for several Math subjects, where a petition reached more than 130 students. Due to the lack of available class slots for these subjects, many students are in danger of being delayed in their degree programs.

Glaring is the plight of cross-registrants; several regional campuses, including UP Mindanao, opted not to offer classes for the coming term due to lack of funding. Many students from these regional campuses went to UP Diliman with hopes of being able to cross-enlist for their needed subjects.

However, they faced an administration unable to provide enough classes for everyone, leading to time and money wasted and the danger of being unable to graduate on time.

These registration woes are a repeat of the fiasco that marred the first semester of this academic year, and its root causes are the same.

Funding from the national government for the country’s national university remain inadequate for providing the needs of the students. There is not enough support for the faculty leading to the shortage of classes being offered.

Me anwhile, our Univer sity prioritizes the implem entation of ne olib eral refor ms ge are d towards privatization and commercialization, while negle cting the tr ue ne e ds of the student b o dy. Note, too, the significant increase of freshies admitted this academic year without increasing Continued to page 12

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#STRESSTS Pahayag hinggil sa Socialized Tuition System 9 July 2016

NOONG NAKARAANG linggo, naging tampok sa social media ang mga hashtag na #StressTS at #JunkSTS matapos ilabas ang resulta ng Socialized Tuition System (STS) applications para sa darating na pang-akademikong taon. Gamit ang mga katagang ito, isiniwalat ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan ang kanilang matinding pagkadismaya sa kasalukuyang sistemang iniimplementa sa loob ng pamantasan. Naririyan ang mga pahayag ukol sa di makatwirang mga katanungan sa aplikasyon at ang kritisismo hinggil sa mahal na bayaring kaakibat ng bawat yunit.

Kung babalikan ang kasaysayan, mapapatunayan na ang pagkakaroon ng socialized tuition ay may pangunahing layunin na magkamal ng kita mula sa mga Iskolar ng Bayan sa pamamagitan ng patuloy na pagtaas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin. Noong 1989, unang inimplementa ang Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) kung saan tumaas mula Php 12.00 tungong Php 40.00 kada yunit ang sinisingil sa mga estudyante.

Mula rito ay nagkaroon na ng serye ng pagtaas ng matrikula at sa taong 2006, ang base tuition ng mga mag-aaral ay umabot na sa Php 1,000.00. Pagdating naman ng taong 2014, inimplementa ang panibagong Socialized Tuition System (STS) kung saan nagbabayad ng Php 1,500.00 kada yunit ang mga mag-aaral na napapabilang sa pinaka-mataas na bracket.

Liban dito, kada taon ay kumikita ang pamantasan ng humigit kumulang na Php 400 Milyon sa Socialized Tuition System ngunit maliit na bahagi lamang nito ang ginagamit para sa stipend ng mga mag-aaral.

Para sa pang-akademikong taong 2015-2016, Php 36.36 Milyon lamang ang nagastos

para bigyan ng tulong pinansyal ang mga mag-aaral na nasa pinaka mababang bracket.

Matutunghayan din mula sa ulat ng Philippine Collegian na sa 13,820 na mag-aaral ay 7,307 ang nasa Bracket A. Ito ang pinakamataas na tala sa loob ng walong taon mula 2007. Liban pa diyan, 54 lamang sa 2,187 na freshman noong 2014 ang nakatanggap ng libreng matrikula. Sa pangakademikong taong 2015-2016 naman, isa sa sampung mga estudyanteng nag-apply sa STS ang nangangailangan ng student loan.

Sa darating na July 14, kasama ang Konseho ng Magaaral sa pulong ng Diliman Committee on Scholarship and Financial Assistance (DCSFA) upang dinggin ang mga apela hinggil sa STS. Patuloy na igigiit ng Konseho ang paglalagay sa mga estudyante sa Bracket E2 kung saan libreng matrikula ang kanilang matatanggap.

Gayunpaman, hindi sapat na pumapayag na lamang tayo sa pagkakaroon ng masmataas na discounts, bagkus ay mananatili tayo sa ating tindig hinggil sa isyu ng Socialized Tuition System.

Patuloy tayong mananawagan para sa pagbabasura sa sistemang ito na naglalayong pag-ibayuhin ang pagkamal ng kita sa mga Iskolar ng Bayan. Manipestasyon ang STS ng pagkakaroon ng isang komersalisadong anyo ng edukasyon sa bansa kung saan itinuturing itong negosyo sa halip na isang batayang karapatan.

Ang Konseho ng Mag-aaral ay nananawagan sa lahat ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan na tumindig laban sa Socialized Tuition System at sa kumersyalisasyon ng edukasyon. Tanging sa sama-samang paglaban lamang natin mapagtatagumpayan ang pagkamit sa ating karapatan sa edukasyon.•

Students gather at the AS Lobby last Aug. 3 to protest against the worsening enrollment process in UP. / STAND UP

Padayon!

PAGPUPUGAY MGA KAPWA ISKOLAR NG BAYAN! Ang araw na ito ay pagdiriwang ng tagumpay ng lahat ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan na nagsipagtapos.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng hirap at pagod ay nagawa pa rin natin na magpursigi at sa huli ay magwagi.

Oras na ngayon para harapin ang mga hamon sa paghantong natin sa panibagong yugtong ating mga buhay.

Alalahanin natin ang lahat ng pinag-aralan sa loob ng pamantasan at gamitin natin ito sa buongpusong paglilingkod sa bayan. Ang lahat ng kaalaman na ating natutunan, sa loob o labas man ng silidaralan, ay mahahalagang mga sandata tungo sa pagkamit ng tunay na panlipunang pagbabago.

Ngunit hindi dapat mawawala sa ating mga puso at isipan silang mga hindi natin nakasama sa tagumpay natin ngayon. Sa taong ito rin dapat magtatapos si Kristel Tejada. Ngunit napagkait sa kanya ang pagkakataong ito dahil ninakaw ang buhay at kinabukasan niya ng isang kumersyalisadong sistema ng edukasyon. Kasama ang napakaraming mga kabataan na hindi natatamasa ang kanilang karapatan sa edukasyon, batid natin ang pagkamatay ng pampublikong karakter ng ating pamantasan.

Sa ligaya natin dahil natapos ang ating mga thesis, alalahanin natin ang Film student na si Maricon Montajes. Si Maricon ay kinulong dahil pinagbintangan siyang miyembro ng New People’s Army habang nagsasagawa siya ng kanyang thesis sa Batangas. Anim na taon na siyang nakakulong at kabilang siya sa mahigit 500 na bilanggong-pulitikal sa bansa ngayon.

Sa araw rin mismo na ito, sampung taon ang nakalipas, ay dinukot sina Karen Empeno at Sherlyn Cadapan habang sila ay nakikipamuhay kasama ang mga magsasaka ng Gitnang Luzon. Sila rin ay mga kapwa natin Iskolar ng Bayan na piniling ialay ang kanilang dangal at husay para sa bayan ngunit nakatamasa ng pandarahas at pasismo ng estado. Sa dami ng taon na hinintay ng magulang natin na tayo ay makapagtapos, higit doble na ang tagal ng paghihintay ng mga magulang nina Karen at She para matagpuan ang kanilang mga anak.

Sa kabila ng napakaraming mga suliranin na kinakaharap ng ating bansa, nariyan ang mga kabataan upang tumindig bilang mga pag-asa. Taglay natin ang kakayahan upang pandayin ang kinabukasan at baguhin ang ating lipunan. Ngayon higit kailanman ay may pagkakataon tayo na humayo at itanghal ang ating giting at tapang bilang mga pag-asa ng bayan.

Sa paglabas natin sa ating pamantasan, hinahamon tayo na patuloy na lumaban para sa ating mga karapatan. Patuloy nating ipaglaban ang karapatan sa edukasyon at iba pang mga serbisyong panlipunan. Ating ipanawagan ang ating pagtutol laban sa kontraktwalisasyon, kawalan ng trabaho, at sa di-makataong sahod.

Nariyan din ang hamon na isulong ang makatarungan at pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng pagsuporta sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng Administrasyon ni Duterte at ng CPP-NPANDF. Mahalagang usapin ito upang matugunan ang ugat ng armadong pakikibaka. Ito rin ay mahalagang tuntungan para makapagkamit ang mga mamamayan ng makabuluhang mga reporma sa balangkas ng pagkamit ng kapayapaan.

Ang panahon natin sa loob ng pamantasan ay tiyak na inihanda tayo upang harapin ang napakaraming hamon sa ating henerasyon. Bilang mga Iskolar ng Bayan ay namulat tayo sa katotohanan ng lipunan at sa lakas ng ating sama-samang pagkilos. Nagkamit tayo ng tagumpay sa ating pagtatapos. Ngunit para kanino ba ang tagumpay na ito? Sama-sama tayo ngayon sa pagtangan sa ating makasaysayang tungkulin bilang mga pag-asa ng bayan. Tahakin natin ang landas ng paglilingkod at kamtin ang higit pang tagumpay - ang tunay na kalayaan ng bayan.

Hustisya para kay Kristel Tejada!

Ipaglaban ang karapatan sa edukasyon!

Hustisya para kay Karen at She! Palayain si Maricon Montajes at ang lahat ng bilanggong-pulitikal!

Suportahan ang usapang pangkapayapaan!

Mabuhay ang mga Pag-asa ng Bayan!

Paglingkuran ang Sambayanan!•

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THE OBLATION | THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

STATEMENT ON THE GRP-NDFP PEACE TALKS 14 June 2016

Bicol contingents march to Batasan for the SONA ng Bayan last July 25 to call for the resumption of the peace talks. / Mikhaela Dimpas

USC Councilor Ben Te puts his “puzzle piece” calling for an effective public transport system in the country, during the launch of Kalinaw UP last July 15. / Mikhaela Dimpas

THE UP Diliman University Student Council expresses its strong support for the resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

The two parties held initial exploratory talks in Oslo, Norway on June 14 - 16.

Their agenda included the honoring of all past agreements, such as the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), the release of all political prisoners, and the possibility of a joint ceasefire.

We laud the incoming Duterte administration for their successful agreement with the NDFP peace panel to resume the formal peace talks next month.

This is in stark contrast with the previous administrations’ path of all-out war through their counter-insurgency programs.

STATEMENT ON THE ACQUITTAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT ARROYO 28 July 2016 LAST JULY 19 2016, the Supreme Court voted to Bantay-Laya, her counterinsurgency program, were acquit former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ugly aspects of the system of violence which her of all plunder charges filed against her in relation to administration fostered, a system that led to the the misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office extrajudicial killings of more than 1,200 people.

Funds, for lack of sufficient evidence.

Her presidency also led to the disappearance of This acquittal is symptomatic hundreds of Filipinos, including of the culture of impunity “It speaks of a system Karen Empeno and Sherlyn that has been a consistent Cadapan, UP students who are element in Philippine society. that allows the wanton missing until today.

The anomalies in the use of killings of the poor The Ampatuan Massacre, the PCSO funds were just among Hacienda Luisita Massacre, the the many, many injustices and marginalized rampant arrests and murders of committed during Arroyo’s activists and her political critics for petty crimes, but presidency. were just a few of the many acts of Beginning with the Hello prevents the rich and terror which Arroyo sanctioned Garci Scandal of 2004, which and promoted against the Filipino implicated Ms. Arroyo in large- powerful like Arroyo people. scale electoral fraud, her term and her cronies like Gen. The acquittal of Arroyo was marked by the consistent for plunder charges is a gross and shameless betrayal of public Jovito Palparan, from perversion of justice. It reflects trust. From the NBN-ZTE Deal answering for their the miserable failure of the to the Fertilizer Scam, Arroyo’s previous administration to reign was characterized by the crimes.” lead a genuine anti-corruption wanton theft of public funds campaign. for the personal enrichment of herself, and her It speaks of a system that allows the wanton friends and family, and the institutionalization of killings of the poor and marginalized for petty corruption. crimes, but prevents the rich and powerful like In 2008, IBON Foundation estimated that Arroyo and her cronies like Gen. Jovito Palparan, over 7-billion pesos was lost because of Arroyo’s from answering for their crimes. corrupt practices. Her attempt to legalize the AntiThe UPD USC condemns this ruling, and urges Terror Bill of 2007, deemed by certain legislators the active call for accountability from every public as “virtual declaration of Martial Law”, and Oplan official that betrays the public’s trust.•

These programs, such as Noynoy Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan, have aggravated the armed conflict in the country and resulted to rampant human rights violations.

Under Oplan Bayanihan alone, human rights groups have recorded more than 300 cases of extrajudicial killings, 28 enforced disappearances, widespread militarization of rural and indigenous communities, among many other violations.

Moreover, there are currently 509 political prisoners in the country, including UP Diliman film student Maricon Montajes.

These violations of human rights and existing peace agreements became major hindrances to the peace process.

The initial talks will hopefully accelerate the general track for the peace talks, including the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER).

The armed conflict in the country is directly rooted from the worsening social crisis that has stratified the population between the ruling elite on one end and the impoverished masses on the other.

It is thus necessary to institute reforms such as agrarian reform, national industrialization, and the provision of basic social services through the CASER to address the growing social unrest.

The special track also includes confidence building mechanisms such as the General Amnesty for Political Prisoners and the Unity for National Development, Truce and Alliance (UNDTA).

These mechanisms enable us to advance our calls even before the conclusion of the CASER. We see the need for the Iskolar ng Bayan and the Filipino people to support the peace process as an opportunity to gain substantive reforms that address poverty and structural injustice. It is important for the people to remain vigilant to ensure that the terms of the peace talks are fulfilled and that they are not derailed by the previous failed peace negotiators.

We recognize that it is necessary to address the roots of armed conflict if we are to realize a just and lasting peace. Ultimately, the people’s clamor for peace shall advance the overall struggle for genuine social change.•

On the midyear... the resources necessary to address their academic needs.

This is a clear non-recognition of our inalienable right to education.

In response, the USC collected from Diliman’s local college councils a list of students needing additional slots from their college. The data will be presented to the Chancellor of the University, in the hope of adding additional classes as resources allow and to ensure that such problems will not happen again.

We will also be requesting an extension of the registration period for students in order to accommodate those who are unable to enlist.

Likewise, the USC along with the College of Science Student Council was able to meet with Dr. Marian Roque, Director of the Institute of Mathematics, yesterday to address the concerns regarding the lack of Math classes. Resolutions were made towards opening

new classes subject to the final approval of concerned faculty.

Students that have already paid but were purged from the class list were readmitted to their classes and more students were allowed to enlist in Math 53 classes. Efforts are currently being made to accommodate more cross-registrants and opening more math classes.

Clearly, however, providing genuine and long-term solutions to these problems means strengthening our collective struggle against the commercialization of education.

Our task as Iskolar ng Bayan is to ensure that the administration prioritizes the needs of the students and the Filipino people.

We also call on the faculty and administrators of the university to unite with the students in the fight for our right to education.

We must build greater unities towards reclaiming our university as the university of the people.•

THE OBLATION | THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

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THE LEAGUE OF COLLEGE COUNCILS’ MANIFESTO FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 30 June 2016

The League of College Councils is at the forefront of the struggle for the full realization of human rights. As the next set of national leaders has been inaugurated, the LCC is united in forwarding the demand to the government to surface desaparecidos, release political prisoners, and call for just and lasting peace in the country. They will ensure that the struggle for the attainment of rights will not falter.

Desaparecido. Political prisoner. Such are not household terms that we often hear, especially in a society that prides a “democracy” that supposedly respects and upholds human rights. Yet, there are hundreds of them in our country, and thousands more who are victims of human rights violations.

Maricon Montajes, a film student, along with Ronilo Baes and Rommiel Canete (collectively known as the Taysan 3) was caught and detained by the military during an exposure trip for her film project in Taysan, Batangas on June 3, 2010. With their petition for bail recently granted, the three are in the Batangas Provincial Jail.

Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, were in Hagonoy, Bulacan on June 26, 2006 when they were disappeared by elements of Ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan’s people. According to eyewitnesses who were able to escape custody, the two were severely tortured (despite Sherlyn being pregnant that time). Their whereabouts are still unknown.

To date, there are thousands of unnamed and nameless victims that continue to struggle for justice.

In year 2014, Palparan was “arrested.” Today, this retired military “butcher” is detained in a military camp instead of where detainees are kept--a clear sign of impunity in the country.

We, the students of the University of the Philippines, are united in calling for the release of all political prisoners and the surfacing of all desaparecidos. We condemn the systemic violation of human rights through state elements such as the military. We abhor the thriving of injustice in a supposedly democratic nation.

The many resistances and insurgencies that we experience show that the Filipinos are thirsty for genuine societal change. We recognize that the response to a call for this genuine change is not through suppression, which victimizes even the innocent people, but by addressing the needs and democratic rights of citizens--land, education, health, employment, and other services.

We will ensure to unite and fight for the attainment of justice of all victims of human rights violations. We will not let the struggle falter.

We call for the release of Maricon Montajes, the Taysan 3, and all the political prisoners, including Guilly Cadano and Geary Salonga, in the country.

We call for the surfacing of Karen Empeno, Sherlyn Cadapan, and all desaparecidos.

We call for the imprisonment of Retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan.

We call for the resumption of the peace talks.

We demand for the incoming administration’s commitment in attaining justice for the victims and upholding human rights.

Signed, Bryle Leaño, USC Chairperson Beata Carolino, USC Vice Chairperson Jose Monfred Sy, CAL SC Chairperson Eric Loyd Hilario, CE SC Chairperson Benjie Allen Aquino, BAC Chairperson Danna Espinosa, CFA SC Chairperson Carlos Cabaero, SE SC Chairperson Paolo Dominic Macariola, LSG President Tonic Madulid, ASC Chairperson Jethro Malimata, CS SC Chairperson Judith Valdes, CHE SC Chairperson

Patrick Wincy Reyes, SS SC Chairperson Anjo Cabading, CHK SC Chairperson Jomar Ochoa, AIT SC Chairperson Yanni Robeniol, CMu SC Chairperson Almira Abril, CMC SC Chairperson Hael Mendoza, ESC Chairperson Tiffany-Anne Uy, NCPAG SC Chairperson Clarisse Peralta, CSSP SC Chairperson Mark Macapinlac, CSWCD SC Chairperson Bryan Yao, SLIS SC Chairperson

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hazel Joy Lobres WRITERS Arvin Alba, Donn Bernal, Shari Oliquino, Ben Galil Te, Lakan Umali CIRCULATION MANAGER Arvin Alba LAYOUT ARTISTS Pauline Dominique Caparas, Mikhaela Dimpas PHOTOS Office of the Student Regent, USC UP Diliman, Philippine Collegian, STAND UP, Mikhaela Dimpas, Tinig ng Plaridel, Efren Ricalde GRAPHICS Nikki Esguerra THE OBLATION is the official publication of the UP Diliman University Student Council.

CONTACT fb.com/USCUPdiliman | twitter.com/USCUPdiliman | updusc1617@gmail.com

THE OBLATION | THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

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STATEMENT ON THE SPATE OF SUMMARY KILLINGS 29 JULY 2016

EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS have long been a disgusting presence in Philippine society.

Past administrations have consistently used state power and resources to silence and kill its critics and citizens. More than a thousand Filipinos have been victims of extrajudicial killings in the past decade alone, while their perpetrators remain free and unpunished.

The Duterte administration has promised change. But with the inauguration of a new president comes the continuation of cycles of violence.

We recognize the administration’s efforts to halt the nation’s significant drug problem. However, since the beginning of Duterte’s term, there have been over 429 people killed in police operations and 182 other drug related killings. The question of whether or not these people are drug pushers or addicts is irrelevant.

What we see now is a gross abuse of power by the Philippine National Police and other state institutions, and an inhumane disregard for human life and well-being. What we see now is a bloody, quick-fix attempt to solve the drug problem in our nation, one that opts for the blatant violation of human rights, instead of creating humane, long-term solutions to drug addiction and proliferation.

Efforts to solve the local drug problem should be targeted towards rehabilitation of drug addicts, and the apprehension and arrest of big-time drug lords and However, what is syndicates.

H o w e v e r , happening is a brutal what is happening is a brutal and savage and savage war launched war launched against the against the poor. poor.

Wanton k i l l i n g will not solve the social conditions that have led to drug addiction, nor does it address the root cause of poverty.

Instead, extrajudicial killings further worsen the culture of impunity, which allows those in power to commit these crimes without prosecution. Extrajudicial killings are a terrible manifestation of state betrayal and structural abuse.

The government that is mandated to protect its citizens instead breeds an environment that exercises power through murdering the most vulnerable of its people.

We wholly condemn all forms of extrajudicial killings and summary executions.

As president of the Philippines, Duterte’s word is followed by millions. We urge President Duterte to condemn all extrajudicial killings and summary executions, and launch investigations into the hundreds of drug-related deaths since the beginning of his term. We urge Pres. Duterte to enact the People’s Agenda into practice. Part of enacting this agenda is addressing the root cause of social ills, including genuine agrarian reform, national industrialization, and the end of contractualization. We continue to fight for justice and stand firm that it must side with the poor and marginalized.

Killing drug addicts and suspected criminals does not address the root cause of drug addiction, a social issue which is caused and worsened by other social issues, such as poverty, a lack of education, a lack of employment, and other forms of state abandonment.

We cannot end this culture of impunity with another culture of impunity, a culture of impunity that murders the vulnerable and marginalized while allowing big-time drug lords to escape justice. As Iskolar ng Bayan, we are mandated to be continuous and unrelenting in our fight towards a genuine and democratic society.•

Kabataan Para sa Pagbabago is a national youth movement for change. It is comprised of youth organizations, student councils, campus publications, community youth groups, and individuals who all seek to make a difference – not only through clamoring for change, but also being at the forefront of struggling for genuine change.

UNITE FOR CHANGE

The Filipino youth’s pledge to be at the forefront of societal change We, Filipino youth and students, along with our national, regional, and local organizations, alliances, student councils and governments, campus publications, and other formations unite to foment genuine change under the banner of our movement, KABATAAN PARA SA PAGBABAGO. We recognize the pivotal victory of President Rodrigo Duterte in the past national elections, a victory that signals the people’s deafening clamor for change. We recognize his progressive stances, including his commitment to stop crime and corruption, his seriousness in resuming peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, his strong commitment to free all political prisoners, end contractualization, raise workers’ wages, attain food sufficiency, increase employment, return coco levy funds to farmers, fight the drug cartel, and craft an independent foreign policy.

In the same breath, however, we also recognize that change cannot and should not rest on the shoulders of a single leader. To foment change, we must unite to make it happen.

It is in this light that we, the youth – hope of the nation and future of the Philippines – pledge our energy, our time, our resources, and our full commitment towards struggling to achieve the following fundamental changes in our society: 1. Uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity 2. Respect human rights and give full play to democracy 3. Reassert economic sovereignty and conserve national patrimony 4. Carry out national industrialization as the lead factor of economic development and as the key to solving unemployment, poverty, and underdevelopment 5. Implement land reform as a matter of democratic right and social justice, as the foundation of economic development and as a method of liberating the landless tillers, releasing capital, promoting rural development and creating a domestic market 6. Improve the wage and living conditions of workers, protect and promote all possible means of livelihood and raise the people’s standard of living 7. Expand social services, especially in education, health and housing, and improve public utilities 8. Stop plunder and all forms of graft and corruption and punish the perpetrators; end the pork barrel system and channel government funds to economic development, infrastructure development, and expansion of social services 9. Reduce militar y expenditures and channel the savings to economic development and social ser vices 10. Promote a patriotic, democratic, scientific, and progressive system of education and culture 11. Uphold gender equality in all fields of social activity and combat gender/sexual discrimination 12. Ensure wise utilization of natural resources and protection of the environment 13. Respect the rights of national minorities to self-determination and development 14. Resume GPH peace negotiations with the NDFP and complete those with the MILF 15. Pursue an independent foreign policy and develop closest cooperation with all neighboring countries for the purpose of international solidarity, peace and development To this end, we commit to trailblazing the path towards the youth’s empowerment and enlightenment on primordial issues that our society is facing. Armed with the basic tools to analyze society, the youth can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the nation.

In every town and city, in every province and island, we commit to mobilizing the youth and galvanizing our ranks to collectively strive towards achieving a future wherein the 15-point People’s Agenda has become a tangible reality.

Together, let the youth be at the forefront of the struggle for change!

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T H E O B L AT I O N | T U E . A U G . 9 , 2 0 1 6

Making a living with excellence and honor

Text from Alfredo E. Pascual’s “Message of the President at the 105th UP Diliman Commencement Exercise”

Making a living is something everyone needs to do, whether it is to help uplift the economic condition of your family, to pay your own bills and purchases, to prove your mettle to your elders and peers, or simply to affirm your status as a productive member of society.

That is why, by all means, make a living and earn your keep. Use everything you learned in the University to do your work well and eventually excel in your endeavor. Being the best in what you do is a great tribute you can offer to UP and to our nation and people. It does not matter whether you are a corporate employee, a professional practitioner, a striving artist, an academic, a social worker, or an entrepreneur.

But in your pursuit of excellence, do not overlook honor. Honor determines the value of excellent work. Being ethical in your professional dealings, and moral in your personal interactions, is the honorable way of living that I hope you learned in the University and will live by in the real world.

I know it is hard to be honorable amidst the temptations of fast money and instant fame. But holding yourself up to high standards of behavior when you pursue excellence is what builds your integrity. This word, integrity, comes from the Latin word ‘integer’,meaning intact or whole.

With no exception, honor is in tandem with UP’s tradition of excellence. Dangal at husay, as we say in Filipino—they go hand in hand. Both, together, will make you whole and define your integrity. You have integrity only when your sterling façade is a true reflection of your inner core.

You need to connect. Connect with your boss, workmates, peers, and clients.

More importantly, connect with our people. That is because you studied in UP not to become this nation’s privileged intellectual elite—but this nation’s hope.

Making a life of giving and service In my investiture as UP President in 2011, I proclaimed: We in UP must succeed not because we have a reputation to keep but because we have a country to serve.

I’m sharing this imperative again today because we must keep returning to such kind of mindset—a mindset that makes your UP education extraordinary. Placing the country above self is what makes you extraordinary.

You are called to soar, Pumailanlang, because you are now equipped with what it takes to advance yourselves in any endeavor you choose to pursue. By soaring, you place yourselves in a better position to serve our nation (paglingkuran ang bayan).

So I hope that as you make a living, you will also consider service as your investment in what this nation can be. I hope you will commit to a life of giving and service. It is a commitment to a better nation and a better world for everyone to live in.

Making a life of service may not be as happy. You may become overworked, underpaid, and even unappreciated. People may, and often will, forget to thank you along the way. Yet for people who have dedicated their lives to the Filipino people, fulfillment is not in the happy prospects of money, fame, or power. More than happiness then, service is about attaining a sense of meaning and purpose.

THE OBLATION | THURS. SEPT. 15, 2016

CHALLENGE FOR CHANGE THE COMING of the new administration presents new tasks and challenges to the Filipino people. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s election as President is a manifestation of the growing discontent of the people with the impoverishing neoliberal policies, rampant corruption, puppetry to US interests, and gross incompetence of the outgoing Aquino administration.

As such, it is imperative that the incoming President heeds the people’s calls and institutes much-needed socio-economic and political reforms. We, as Iskolar ng Bayan, have a duty to join the broad masses of the people and play an enormous role in calling and fighting for genuine social change.

There are early, encouraging signs. He is is willing to resume the peace talks with the country’s various belligerent groups, such as the MILF and the CPP-NPA-NDF. The armed conflict was brought about because of the intensifying crisis in Philippine society that led to rampant poverty and underdevelopment.

Through the peace talks, muchneeded socio-economic and political reforms will finally be discussed, including the prospect of a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented education.

Several victories for the people may be won through the peace process alone, especially if the ruling elite fails to sabotage this welcome development. The promise to release all political prisoners shows a willingness to honor previous agreements in the peace process, something that the Aquino administration failed to do with their policy of all-out war through Oplan Bayanihan.

USC CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Furthermore, his appointment of progressives, such as Prof.

Judy Taguiwalo and Ka Paeng Mariano, to the Cabinet, and his vow to end the attack on Filipino workers that is contractualization show a willingness to heed the people’s calls.

Nevertheless, his other pronouncements serve as causes for concern. His eightpoint economic agenda is merely a repeat of the same neoliberal policies under the Aquino regime. These policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization have, through the decades, only deepened the country’s endemic poverty under the flawed concept of trickle-down economics.

His change of heart with regard to the K-12 program, a neoliberal restructuring of the Philippine education system mostly designed to serve foreign interests over the true needs of the Filipino people, is thus unsurprising. With the K-12 program, the neoliberal agenda of pressing down wages and increasing corporate superprofits through the creation of a large pool of excess semi-skilled and docile labor is fulfilled.

Meanwhile, his pronouncements on catcalling and media killings only strengthen the country’s deep-rooted culture of impunity and patriarchy.

Catcalling is sexual harassment, and his defense of it as freedom of speech is especially insulting given his previous statement justifying the murder of the country’s journalists.

By justifying catcalling, he is painting women as mere objects of pleasure for men, ignoring the vital role women play in society.

Statement on the Prospects and Challenges Under the Duterte Administration What he should instead do is to institute reforms that will lift women’s status in society, ending discrimination and contractualization in the workplace, providing land to women farmers, and ending harassment and violence against women.

His justification of the murder of journalists, meanwhile, only worsens the country’s situation as the world’s second most dangerous place for journalists and ignores the vital role journalists play in a functioning democracy.

In the end, the Filipino people will reject a regime rife with human rights violations.

For the Duterte administration to move forward and be remembered as a genuinely propeople regime, he must address the root causes of poverty inside the country. He must heed the people’s demands, putting an end to decades long neoliberal policies, distributing land to the peasants, increasing wages and ending contractualization for workers, and providing free basic social services, including education, to the people.

Weeks before taking office as the President of the Philippines, there are both signs of encouragement and concern. It is important that we organize our ranks and unite with other sectors of society to conduct mass actions and encourage Duterte to heed our demands.

Only through our militant, organized, collective action can we ensure the fulfillment of our democratic rights and interests, for it is not Duterte who will bring forth genuine change, but the mass movement.•

Aug. 23 - Katipunan: Organization and Community Fair Aug. 24 - UP Situationer forum Aug. 25 - Board of Regents Meeting Mobilization Aug. 27 - ALPAS: Leadership Training Seminar Sept. 2 - Hala Bira! Freshie Fiesta Sept. 3 - Student Leaders Convention Sept. 8 - Rise for Education General Assembly Sept. 15 - Student Summit Sept. 21 - National Day of Action Against Neoliberal Education

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Join the People’s Service Corps!

The People’s Service Corps is the official volunteer arm of the University Student Council. It aims to enjoin the students to take part in the campaigns and activities of the USC and to instill a genuine desire to serve the students and the people. Join the PSC! Contact Micah at 09151240080 for details.

Join the Rise for Education Alliance!

The Rise for Education Alliance aims to unite the most number of youth, students, organizations, councils, publications, fraternities, sororities, and all other formations to fight for the right to education.

Through the alliance, we are able to strengthen our ranks and intensify our struggle for free and accessible education at all levels. Join R4E! Contact Shari at 09363479599 for details.

Join the Office of the Student Regent Corps of Volunteers!

The Student Regent is the sole student representative in the Board of Regents, the highest governing body of the whole UP System. The Student Regent ensures that the rights and welfare of the students and other sectors are well-represented and forwarded to the BOR. The strength of the SR does not merely rely on institutional processes but more so on the student movement. Thus the Office of the Student Regent calls for volunteers in order to fully serve its mandate to defend the democratic interests of the students and the entire UP community. Contact HM at 0936 938 9634 for details.

Join the Philippine Collegian!

As the official weekly student publication of UP Diliman, the Philippine Collegian has always been at the forefront of providing alternative media content to its readers. Popularly known as Kule, its tradition of critical journalism can be traced back even under the Martial Law era, where majority of the press suffered censorship and forced closure.

As the Collegian enters its 94th year, its pages will continue to follow the struggles faced not only by the students but also of the peasants, workers, and other sectors of the society. The publication vows to serve the interests of its readers and dares to lead a radical stand on issues.

Join us as we create another history of critical and alternative journalism! The Collegian is in need of writers, illustrators, photographers, and layout artists.

Just go to Vinzons Rm. 401 with two blue books, pen, and sample works. Contact us at phkule@gmail.com, 981-8500 loc. 4522 or 09056726240.

join the walkout for the national day of action against neoliberal education on sept. 21!