July- August Issue

Dios Mabalos JMR. The remains of Interior Secretary and former City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo being carried by the honorary guards to Imperial Crematory and Columnbary ANGELICA N. PEÑA after the state funeral. See related story on page 4

Studes question Intrams results

By Maolin S. Macatangay and Angelo T. Melgar

A

fter the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) was announced winner for this year’s Intramurals, some students raised concerns on the final decision and claimed that the Association of Bicol Business Students (ABBS) should have taken the top spot.

Doubts on the result did not only from the Department of ABBS. Some students from other colleges were not even sure if JPIA earned the championship title.

“Akala ko ABBS [ang champion] kasi mas marami silang napanalunan,” said a 2 BS Psy student.

ABBS asks for recount ABBS President Marymon Severina Florendo said she was aware of the rumors earlier mentioned and said that these cannot be avoided.

She believed that the students’ claims are justifiable.

“I think there is basis, especially nung awarding kasi laging tinatawag yung ABBS and nung last day, yung dalawang volleyball court, basketball court, and football field- andun yung ABBS for the championship [games].

Winning streak Despite the rumors, JPIA President Celdhon Nacario insisted that they deserve the championship title. “Yes, definitely,” he affirmed.

“Siguro napatunayan na ng JPIA kasi three consecutive years na kaming champion, including this year.”

He said that ABBS had the lead in terms of sports and that the department has become “stronger” this year.

Yet, he emphasized that there were also events and instances where JPIA excelled.

Asked of his comments on ABBS’s request for a recount, Nacario said, “Okay man lang sa amin mag pa recount, kasi confident naman kami na kami talaga ang champion.”

He said that in their tallies, JPIA was ahead ABBS for 11 points, different from the PE Department’s final result where JPIA won against ABBS by 28 points.

Scores aside, Nacario stressed that the Intramurals ran for three days and there were events where JPIA excelled and ABBS experienced problems.

He said that ABBS students got the idea because on the third day, most awards were given to ABBS; not taking into account the previous awarding on the first and second days where JPIA stood out.

Despite the claims, Nacario remained firm in his belief that JPIA deserved the trophy. page 5

turo na ‘yun ng Ateneo.”

Last 21 July, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)-Camarines Sur has once again held an annual accountancy quiz bowl in celebration of the Accountancy week.

Only schools within Camarines Sur can compete for the championship. Nacario said that there were representatives from University of Saint Anthony, University of Nueva Caceres, Universidad de Santa Isabel, Partido State University, and University of North Eastern Philippines, among others.

Three accountancy students from each school will be sent into the said regional competition. A preliminary elimination round will be conducted in the school and the topnotchers from each year level will comprise the three-person team.

In Ateneo, Dominic Ivan Acbang; Michelle Chua and; Russel Aaron Ailes consisted the triad, after

topping the preliminary contest for the second, third, and fourth year levels, respectively.

When asked what edge might have pushed the team to yearly success, “Actually, the same lang as last year. Kung baga, consistent na champion sa quiz bowl,” Nacario commented.

As to whether the team will advance to the regional level, “Feeling ko wala kasi wala namang nakasulat doon sa guidelines na kung ano ‘yung patutunguhan nung mga nanalo sa quiz bowl.”

The quiz bowl is just one of the many events organized by the regional wing of PICPA. The entire event was welcomed by a mass which started at around 6AM in Immaculate Concepcion.

After that, the participants walked until PICPACamarines Sur’s building in Magsaysay before going directly to the Arts Review Center where the contest was held.

“With that, you can say na may basis na pwede talaga mag champion ang ABBS kasi andun kami nung last day,” explained Florendo.

However, she did not affirm that indeed ABBS must be the champion, saying she would not make any statement on the matter unless tabulation sheets are released by the Physical Education (PE) Department who hosted the event.

“Siguro what we are thinking is to ask for a recount or the tabulations kasi walang pinakitang detailed talaga (na scores),” she said.

Students of ABBS also agree with Florendo’s request, seeing that it was the best thing to do under the situation.

“Kasi sa ABBS, may champions sa sports and sa cheer dance. Meron din kasi kaming page and updated sya sa mga win or lose. We were really expecting ABBS to be the champion. We need a recount,” commented a 2 Business Eng’g student.

PICPA QUIZ BOWL 2012

Ateneo teaches well, says JPIA Pres

By Christian S. Taduran

Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) President Celdhon Nacario has dragged Ateneo de Naga University’s name into the spotlight, saying that the school’s teaching standard is the reason for the “consistent” success of Ateneo in the provincial quiz bowl.

Nacario noted that despite the other schools’ initiative to bring their review materials during the event, Ateneo still won first place. “Nasa school siya… nakita namin ‘yung mga co-participants na may dala pa silang reviewers [at] nagbabasa pa sila habang nandun sa Arts review center. So, nasa pagtu-

News

Ignatiana ‘12 highlights culture, arts

page 3

|Features

A new storm

|Bikol

page 6

News Features FOR THE SECOND TIME

Cordero wins Palanca tilt

By Vicinto Bojdz Kenneth B. Tordilla

The 62nd Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature proclaimed Kristian Sendon Cordero as the 2nd Prize winner for Filipino Poetry– a second time for him; the first time was in 2006 when he was the 2nd Prize winner for Filipino Short Story.

His entry was entitled Pagsulat sa Pilat – a collection of ten poems with different themes embarking upon scars.

“Scars and wounds don’t only tackle in the physical aspect. This is a metaphor. Ang buong koleksyon ay nagtatangakang galugarin ang page 5

Ateneo URC instigates Php250k science project

By Archie H. Figura

Plants vs. diabetes. This is not a computer game. This is the highlight of the Php250,000 worth science research project funded by the University Research Council (URC) of Ateneo de Naga.

Authored by an Ateneo Biology teacher Ramona Serrano-Renegado, Ed.D., the said research is entitled “Hypoglycemic Properties of Leaf Extracts of four Indigenous Medicinal Plants in Mt. Asog, Iriga City, on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice.”

The study attempts to find the prospective values of four plant varieties to cure

Blogger na si Kadunong

page 5

page 8

2

3

ThePILLARS|July- August 2012

Ignatiana ‘12 highlights culture, arts

By Sean Marben P. Guinoo

Raul Rodriguez AB ‘63 First Editor EDITORIAL BOARD A/Y 2012-2013

AdNU-HS alumni hold ‘Concert for a cause’

Rica Rose V. Pacardo Editor in Chief

By Alvin Mae M. Badong

Christian S. Taduran Associate Editor

Its first of two series started with entertainment as the sole purpose. Now for the second time, Spin that Sheet Concert happened, for the first time with a cause, last 7 July at Sadi Baloy Bar and Resto.

“Na-encourage kami magsecond instalment kasi successful ‘yung event pero libre ‘yung una. This time naghanap kaming sponsors,” said one of the organizers, Leo Paulo Imperial of Ateneo de Naga High School (AdNU-HS) Batch 2005.

As to how the series of events started, Imperial said that it began with their group of friends who as well are members of local musical bands. Instead of just performing

Rachel Vivien P. Griego Managing Editor Sean Marben P. Guinoo Englebert A. Villegas News Editors Jeremy M. Badong Features Editor Kristiana Michaela P. Embate Inquiry Editor Alvin Mae M. Badong Community Editor

Christine Mae E. Mariano Bikol Editor

page 7

Consumer groups tackle power issues

Harvey T. Bislumbre Art and Design Director Archie H. Figura Research Director

By Paul C. Lompero

A roundtable discussion on consumer groups’ struggles with the Camarines Sur II Electric Cooperative’s (Casureco II) brought together various stakeholders last 25 July at the James O’Brien Library.

According to Social Sciences Department Chairperson Rolan Jon Bulao, “Casureco [II] consumer groups have been in constant battle against the management and board of directors of the cooperative.”

Bulao furthered that the area coverage of Casureco II particularly Naga, Minalabac and Milaor has suffered from countless brownouts, increasing power rates and unreliable power distributions since February

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jeazally Joy S. Quiros Circulation Manager Ian Mar P. Nebres Lee Web Administrator Ellen Mae L. Fajardo

Associate Managing Editor Layout Artist STAFF Vicinto Bojdz Kenneth B. Tordilla Maolin S. Macatangay Writers

page 7

Paul C. Lompero Angelica N. Peña Photojournalists

Jeff Rey T. Sto. Domingo

By Kristiana Michaela P. Embate and Rey R. Barlizo

MODERATOR

College Editors Guild of the Philippines IGNITE Ateneo Alliance of Campus Journalists Member

The afterglow of the President’s words seems to signify hope. And so as to make this hope appear even more vivid, he went on reckoning with his experience of oppression under Marcos’ dictatorship, thereby proudly calling himself an ally of the oppressed. He went on reckoning with the “specters of the lost decade” under the Arroyo regime that incessantly “haunted [Aquino] from the first day of [his] office”, thereby pompously posturing himself as the longed-for messiah.

President Aquino’s SONA says it all—he has come to redeem the nation, to give hope to the oppressed just like a messiah who has been anointed to bring back the nation’s lost glory. And just like a messiah, Aquino speaks out as a humble servant of his “boss,” willing to suffer and go the distance for the sake of justice and progress.

To expound on this messianic embodiment (and perhaps to bring it into perfection), the President has aptly given signs of hope. Aquino’s third SONA teemed with figures which, as he put it, can easily be grasped through simple math: Our bubble economy boomed, placing the Philippines as one of the emerging tigers in Asia. Our credit rating soared and it is “no mere luck.” A higher number of beneficiaries were registered in the cash transfer program while the number of those enrolled in PhilHealth rose to 85 percent. Dengue cases plummeted be-

Of lines and stories Another activity sponsored by the Ateneo Center for Culture and Arts is the art exhibit entitled “StoryLINES: Narratives in Sequential Line Art”.

It features works of Stephen Prestado, 3 BSE English and Dennis Gonzaga, Faculty member of Social Science Department.

In cooperation with Ateneo Digital Arts Society (DARTS), these works were displayed at the Bonoan Walk last 23 to 30 July.

According to Gonzaga, the theme for the gallery

Collaboration of talents The exhibit also included masterpieces by Jansen Valenzuela, Vina Penaserada and Sam Baranda— all are students of AdNU. Asked on how the contributors were selected, Gonzaga reasoned that he is acquainted to them and he has seen their styles which is quite similar to his.

“Jansen is actually an independent comic book illustrator and has already showcased his works in two local comic book conventions.

“Pen is already quite established as a graphic designer with an impressive portfolio of commercial graphic designs.

“Sam was a former student of mine and a DIA senior,” he said.

Accessible form of Art Gonzaga also explained that line art, in this case, is executed in the form of “doodling.”

According to him, the said style was chosen because it is accessible compared to other forms of visual arts and it is a genre that anyone can do since the materials are relatively easy to procure.

Prestado added that their media are close to the students, “gel pen lang saka illustration board or oslo paper, pwede ka nang makagibo nin magayon na piece.”

Minor drawbacks There were also minor problems encountered during the exhibit.

“It is always difficult to set up a public gallery since the traffic if people is quite unpredictable.

We actually had to take down the entire exhibit in the evening and set it up again the next day. The elements always pose a problem.

“In fact, we had to take down some of the works when it rained last Thursday evening. It would be great if the Ateneo can provide at least a wellventilated room as a dedicated gallery,” expressed Gonzaga.

‘Modest success’ Prestado concluded that the Ateneo Center for Culture and Arts has served its purpose.

Because of the exhibit, there were many viewers who were encouraged to make their masterpieces, too.

“Maogma ako kasi nagkaigwa akong opportunity page 7

Orgs’ Fair 2012 modifies tradition

By Anne Bernadette E. Estipona

This time, the organizations’ festival seemed to have a different setup.

The Program Officer for Student Development and Student Organizations Trish Araña reported a positive outcome regarding the Orgs’ Fest. She said that a lot of organizations joined and participated.

With the theme “In Every Color, In every Hue, Renewing our Commitment to Sustainable Development and Environment”, the activity ran from 9 to 13 July.

The Orgs’ Fest is held annually for the student organizations to promote themselves by means of Income Generated Projects (IGP’s).

On selling goods, they were able to raise funds and invite students to join their organizations.

Clustered On 15 June, The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) already distributed letters to each organization during the General Assembly of Ateneo Leadership Development Program (ALDP).

The guidelines were indicated in the letter. These include the equipments needed, contact persons, and booth reservations.

The early ones that registered had the privilege to choose their booths.

OSA clustered the different organizations to head the programs each day. Co-curricular organizations such as those in College of Business and Accountancy belong to the first cluster while organizations from Computer Studies, Nursing and Education belong to the second cluster.

Socio-civil volunteer groups and Arts, Culture and Sports, on the other hand, belong to the third cluster.

Finally, Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences and other co-curricular organizations comprised the fourth group.

Students’ remarks The IGP’s of various organizations showcased special food and beverages which attracted more audience.

Other eye-catching highlights were the performances of various organizations in promoting their respective advocacies for recruitment purposes.

Furthermore, the IGP’s made the organizations to become self-sufficient. page 7

Dugong Atenista breaks Wikimedia, Mozilla “reach out” to users previous record, makes By Maolin S. Macatangay and Vicinto Bojdz Kenneth B. Tordilla Reaching out for young internet junkies, WiBoard of Trustee and Project head Joseph history

SENIOR EDITOR

Rolan Jon G. Bulao, M.A.

Bikol First Part of the week-long celebration, the center launched “Libros Y Recuerdos” Bikoliana Exhibit last 23 July at the James O’ Brien Library.

Ateneo Press Director Fr. Wilmer Tria led the ribbon cutting, together with organizers Stephen Henry Totanes, Phd and Kristian Cordero.

According to Creative Writing Program Committee Head Kristian Cordero, the exhibit itself aimed to let students see their origin as Bikolanos.

“Bikol nguna,” as Cordero said. It also aimed to give students and the Ateneo community as well an artistic development.

“Dai huri sa sining asin kultura,” he added. He also compared arts and culture not just as a seasoning but a major ingredient.

As an educational institution, Cordero believes that Ateneo must have a wider perspective on arts and culture, that which is essential to students’ formation.

The Creative Writing Program Committee of the Ateneo Center for Culture and Arts aims to provide programs that will deepen our appreciation for the Bikol language. Cordero also said that since there is no reading culture in the Ateneo, their committee plans to develop programs that will drive Ateneans to read not because reading is a requirement.

is based on two principles; first, the choice of line art as the primary genre; second, the folklore is the inspiration for the works.

Messianic hope “What was once impossible is now possible,” thus proclaims President Benigno Aquino before his “boss.” “This is not my State of the Nation Address (SONA). You made this happen. This is the SONA of the Filipino nation.” cause of more mosquito traps. Backlogs in the education sector are being addressed. The BPO sector helps provide employment to the people. Savings have been made in infrastructure through the DPWH. The tourism department has lured more tourists. Then there went figures concerning agriculture, crime rate, military modernization program and the like.

And if all these were not yet enough, and if simple math were still incomprehensible, Aquino exhorts the doubting Thomas to take remedial classes so as to improve his computing skills.

Fortunately, however, the real state of the nation has been tempered with these tempting good figures, not to mention the administration’s unwavering efforts to maintain a good image to the public.

The President, as though a messiah, has taken these figures as tangible signs of hope, that which lay the foundations of his tuwid na daan but nevertheless do not translate into reality.

All the more, this messianic hope which the President wishes to bestow upon the people is merely a sham. Aquino’s SONA rather gives a bleak picture of bogus hope to the people. To Juan dela Cruz, to the street vendor, to the farmer, to the laborer, to the iskolar ng bayan, Aquino’s SONA is nevertheless far from being a real indication of hope.

Let alone Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment, let alone ongoing cases against corrupt

officials of the previous regime, nothing else remains of the Aquino administration. And if that is not “noynoying,” the Filipino people have every right to render judgment on his two-year old presidency.

Essentially, every form of messianic hope must be anchored on realism. It is in terms of this realism that the SONA is rated. A 6.4 percent GDP growth then will make no sense if only the businessmen make use of it. The cash transfer program will make no sense despite the growing number of beneficiaries if the real beneficiaries are not the ones who receive the aid, and it will make no sense if it were just a band-aid measure with no lasting effect. Corona’s impeachment will make no sense if it were only for a show and the motive is revenge and not justice.

More so, problems in the education sector will not be addressed even if a million classrooms are built so long as the curriculum remains oriented towards the interest of foreign powers.

It is not false messianic hope that the nation needs but an overturning of the rotten system. It is not anymore simple math but simple logic which commands the president to focus on the grassroots.

Aquino himself is far from being a messiah to the Filipino people; it is imperative then that he go back to reality, that he provide a genuine account of the state of the nation. The people would have also wanted to hear about the state of human rights in the country,

the ways through which there will be primacy of people’s welfare over capitalist interests, the concrete long-term solutions the president had made for the past two years and how he plans to sustain them.

But then, given the present state of the nation, the Filipino is left with no choice but to keep on chasing Aquino’s tuwid na daan which leads nowhere. Arroyo herself is now at large, so what sort of redemption will Aquino offer and flaunt to the Filipinos yet again? Messianic hope.

“But then, given the present state of the nation, the Filipino is left with no choice but to keep on chasing Aquino’s tuwid na daan which leads nowhere. ”

In celebration of the Ignatiana, the Office of Students’ Affairs (OSA) conducted the 11th Dugong Atenista last 28 July.

Gathering a total of 304 donors, this year’s activity successfully surpassed the previous year’s record of 265, thus, making a history.

Dugong Atenista Program Coordinator and OSA Director Rodolfo Virtus said that the turnout was a “fulfilment” of this year’s theme “Dare to be A Hero: the Dugong Atenista Challenge.”

Aside from surpassing the record of last year, the activity’s target this year was to “maintain or improve” the balance between the regular donors and the new donors.

“They [number of regular and new donors] are indicators of the success as well. The number of regular donors is an indicator of the sustainability of the activity,” said Virtus.

He added that an increase in the number of the regular donors indicated that “we are successful to convince them that they [students] have understood the importance of the activity.”

On the other hand, Virtus said that the increase in the number of new donors meant that their campaign was also effective.

It meant that this year, the program has once again attracted donors who had no experience yet in blood letting activites.

Community of Heroes Virtus said that the activity encourages the Ateneo community to “respond to ordinary heroism.”

“I see the program as a formative one which supports the essence of the Ignatiana,” said Virtus.

He added that the activity is also in accordance to Ignatian Spirituality because one is encouraged to “give something to others wherein di mo na kailangan gumastos, o magabayad kasi na sa’yo na ang maibibigay mo.” page 7

kimedia Philippines and Mozilla Philippines conducted the “Open Web Day” at the James O’ Brien, S.J. Library’s Electronic Resource Center last 30 June with the theme “Filipino ako. Firefox ang browser, Wikipedia ang iniedit ko.”

According to wikimedia.org.ph, “Wikimedia Philippines, Inc. is a non-stock, not-forprofit, volunteer-run corporation supporting the creation and promotion of free and open content reference tools.”

Mozilla Philippines, on the other hand, is under the international site’s umbrella. It aims to localize the different tools and software that they will to have local and relevant interactions between users.

F. Ballesteros said that their main basis for having the event was to look for contributors for Wikipedia. He also emphasized how important Wikipedia is in terms of research.

“Very useful siya kasi dati, ang tagal kapag nagre-research ka pero ngayon, isang click mo lang, okay na!” he said.

Reaching Out A forum was conducted in Ateneo to deepen the discussions on the two sites. It had also entertained different questions and concerns on the reliability of Wikipedia.

Queries were mostly on how to identify correct sources and if the edits were true or tampered with. page 7

StoryLines. On the advent of Ignatiana, Bikol Mythological characters were showcased to promote a visual literary.

ANGELICA N. PEÑA

INTRAMURALS 2012 SCORE SHEET

ThePILLARS Publiction accepts comments, suggestions, and contribtions in any form.

Please idicate your name and student number when complaining especially on our columists and the administrtion.

Submit them in hard or soft copy at ThePILLARS Publications Office, 2nd Floor Student Center, Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Naga University

For the first time, the Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA) collaborated in providing different programs and activities for this year’s Ignatiana celebration, highlighting the promotion of Bikol culture.

Geared to uphold activities that aim to deepen one’s experience and formation, the center featured various activities which lasted from 23 to 30 July 2012.

CCA Director Noel Volante, in a letter, thanked all the college students for their Culture and Arts Development Fee of Php50.00 to finance various activities.

ThePILLARS|July- August 2012

5

Studes question intrams results FROM PAGE 1

“Considering na malakas ang kalaban this year, napatunayan lang namin na kami yung mas magaling, yung pinakamagaling. Napatunayan na namin yan for three consecutive years,” he said.

Ateneo mourns for a great loss;

Honors an outstanding alumnus

By Rica Rose V. Pacardo

O

n the 18th of August, members of the press broke an alarming news to the public.

It was the day when Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo was rushing back home to be with his family. It was also the day when the plane carrying him crashed on the sea of Masbate.

Robredo’s aide fortunately survived but the Secretary was nowhere to be found.

Holding on to nothing but possibilities, his supporters conducted numerous vigils for his safety.

Days and nights went on without finding Sec. Robredo and the two pilots. Yet, in Naga where he was truly longed for, hopes were still high and prayers did not cease.

Not until 21 August, three days after Robredo’s disappearance—the plane which carried him was found—there, inside, was Robredo’s body, lifeless.

This saddened the entire town, including his High School Alma Matter, Ateneo de Naga University.

Embedded memories One of the highlights of Robredo’s governance was involving the different sectors in the city’s development; that is why the Naga City People’s Council was created, said Torres.

The City Ordinance No. 95-092, which is otherwise known as the Empowerment Ordinance of Naga

The winner But PE Department Chairperson Mariam Jocylin Orbita-Saavedra did not regard the claims as an issue.

She said that rumors cannot be avoided especially with something as big as the championship.

“Parang hindi matanggap ng iba na talo nga sila, pero siguro kulang lang sila sa paliwanag,” stressing that the students just needed an explanation on the turn out of the scores.

Saavedra emphasized that there was no doubt that

“Okay man lang sa amin mag pa recount, kasi confident naman kami na kami talaga ang champion.” -Celdhon Nacario, JPIA President See side bar Intramurals 2012 Score Sheet on page 3

Red or white? In a basketball game between ABBS and ANSA, players of ABBS set for rebound. The

said game was on the second day of Intramurals 2012.

ANGELICA PEÑA

Ateneo URC instigates Php250k science project FROM PAGE 1

For better or worse Right from the day of the incident, the Ateneo community held hands in praying for Sec. Robredo.

On 20 August, a vigil mass offered for his fast recovery was held at the Christ the King Church. The day after, Ateneo once again held a mass for Robredo, this time for the eternal repose of his soul.

On 23 August, the Ateneo community marched to the Archbishop’s Palace where Robredo’s body was laid. Around 1000 students and staff participated, according to Graduate School Dean and temporary Officer-in-Charge for Presidential affairs Dr. Rebecca Torres.

What’s with Jesse Asked what the Ateneo wants its students to reflect on, Torres said, “We want them (the students) to know the life of Jesse—a very simple person even when he has attained such stature and has accepted a great responsibility for the country.”

Torres said that it is important that students know how Jesse started as a public servant. According to her, Jesse worked first with the corporate world. Yet, he was so inspired by the people’s movement during the Martial Law. It turned out that Jesse was enthused with the country’s transition from Martial Law to a free country during the time of late President Corazon Aquino.

“He left his lucrative job at San Miguel and decided to be a public servant. Later he realized that it’s not just enough that he became the Bikol River Basin Director “He realized that the LGUs (local government units) are the key to real transformation. He believed so much in the barangays, he believed so much in the LGUs,” shared Torres.

Studes in favor of ABBS Queries on who should be the champion were raised based on students’ observations during the awarding of the sports competitions.

“Akala ko ABBS ang mananalo kasi halos kua ninda gabus kan mga awards, lalo na sa sports,” shared a fourth year student from JPIA. “If you would compare the competitiveness of JPIA and ABBS, as well as the amount of winnings, it’s obvious enough [to show] that ABBS does deserve to win,” agreed a 2 AB PolSci student.

JPIA was the overall champion.

“Hindi masyado malapit [ang scores]. Lamang talaga ang JPIA,” she confirmed.

However, she admitted that she also assumed JPIA would be losing the title.

“Honestly speaking, nakikita yung labanan ng tatlo: ABBS, JPIA, at ACE (Ateneo College of Engineering), sa simula pa lang. Nag hope din naman ako na iba na, hindi na JPIA. Baka ABBS, baka ACE, yun talaga ang nakita pero yun nga sinasabi nila, ‘bilog ang bola.”

In the official scores of the Intramurals, JPIA has garnered a total of 567 points and ABBS a total of 548.

“JPIA deserves the championship [title] because not only did we put up our best, we have also showed unity, which was one of the factors for bringing home the bacon,” said a 2 BS A student.

City, made possible the participation of Nagueños in all government programs.

However, according to Torres, Robredo did not win her vote the first time the former ran as City Mayor in 1988.

“I knew that he was attached to traditional politicians,” she explained.

But few months after Robredo’s administration, she was awed by how the man fought jueteng in the city.

“After his first term, I became one of the supporters of Jesse. I told him, ‘Jess, I did not vote for you for the first time you ran.’”

With a sigh, Torres recounted his thoughts of Robredo, she said, “Hay, I remember him really as a very simple person and I can greet him anywhere.”

Torres also shared, “Jesse’s a parlor mate because he goes to Didith and Aristocrat. He would have his haircut there but sometimes he would also have his nails cleaned.”

She continued, “In Didith, he would usually go there at Sunday morning and I will also go there and we would greet and he was really just even to the manicuristas and the beauticians in the parlor. Very simple person.”

Torres also mentioned that Robredo has been an excellent public servant. Not only because he fought the illegal activities in the city but also because he cared so much for his people like they were all his own.

She shared that for her, the most striking memory of Robredo that won the heart and support of the then Fr. President [Raul] Bonoan was when Naga City was hit by Typhoon Rosing.

For the first time, the city experienced flash floods. “We saw a mayor shoveling the dirt out of the streets—really modeling for many that we can do something if we put together our efforts.”

Last march with Jesse After his first term, Robredo gained the support of

a multitude of Nagueños, including Dr. Torres.

The later enthusiastically narrated that the second time Robredo ran, his opponent was then “using money, guns and goons.”

With the slogan “Ang kwarta sa bulsa, ang boto sa balota,” the kick-off rally for Robredo’s Meeting de Avance was made in AdNU, becoming one of the significant schools to Robredo.

“That was the first time I marched with Jesse,” said Torres.

In 2007 when Robredo’s citizenship was again questioned by his political rivals, another rally was held for him. That was the second time Torres marched with Robredo, along with then Fr. President Joel Tabora.

With a shaky voice and a note of melancholy, Torres ended, “If there will be a funeral mass for him, this will be the third and the last march that I will have with Jesse.”

ANGELICA N. PEÑA & KEVIN M. MILLA, contributor

diabetes.

The project ran from April 2010 to March 2011 and was introduced through a public paper presentation last 25 July at the Richard Fernando Hall.

and to avoid harmful effects caused by overdose.

The overdose of Mitrephora lanotan cf. (Blanco) Merr. (Lanotan), for example, has a damaging effect on the liver of an Alloxan-diabetic mouse; which may also happen to humans.

Beneficial values from natural hues Renegado shared that through experimentation, she found out that four indigenous plants contain hypoglycemic properties that can potentially help treating Diabetes.

These plants are Cordia dichotoma (Anonang), Datura metel (Kalampunay), Friesodielsia sp.

(Pamugtongon) and Mitrephora lanotan cf. (Blanco) Merr. (Lanotan).

The said medicinal plants can commonly be found in Mt. Asog, Iriga City.

According to her, the hypoglycemic extracts from these plants can reduce blood glucose level.

This was tested using a group of mice that were artificially induced by Alloxan, a drug that makes an organism diabetic.

Specific kind of leaf extract was injected into the mice, then, the blood glucose level dropped.

There was no formal testing of the medicinal values to humans yet. She clarified that food and technological processing is still necessary before the leaf extracts can be clinically consumed by humans.

Nonetheless, Renegado said that the plants’ hypoglycemic effect can “optionally” be utilized by extracting its leaves.

Moreover, she advised the persons to follow the correct dosage of the leaf extracts in order to be safe

Posing the Purposes: Posing a history When asked about the purpose of the study, Renegado said, “Biologically, the purpose is for people to know that the plants we have around have hypoglycemic properties. They can use it as medicine.

“Second is for environment. We have to preserve (mga) plants in mountain, eco-system, especially mga indigenous plants.

“Third, this is a baseline study for future researches.”

Renegado also mentioned that the said study with such research type is the pioneer in Ateneo under URC; but not the first in the Philippines.

Php250K-cost: justified, just not in public Renegado, explaining the budget used for the study, said, “I think the budget approved for that study was about 300 [thousand]. However, may excess amount which I think is nearly 40 thousand which I returned to URC… So siguro mga 250 thousand the most.”

Aside from the usual expenses incurred during a research, Renegado said she also had to pay the services of a specific doctor and a consultant.

The expenditure included the use of some equipments in the University of the Philippines which are not available in Ateneo.

Renegado emphasized that the financial concern is merely between the URC and the author; that’s why she did not show it in any public presentation.

“In order for your proposal to be approved, you have to stipulate there the funds. I mean, the amount needed for you to finish the study… It is the URC fund,” she added Share the paper Renegado added that there has been a previous presentation of the said study in the Biology Teachers Association (BIOTA) National Convention last April.

She assumed that the study is somehow disseminated to the entire Philippines due to the participation of Biology teachers.

When asked about the start of its clinical development, Renegado pointed out that Ateneo is incapable of the processing needed to develop the leaf extracts into therapeutic drugs.

It still has to be submitted to an agency responsible for the formulation of drugs.

Acquiring and applying knowledge According to Renegado, the most recognizable advantage that Ateneo can get from the study is purely on theoretical aspects.

Patenting the research’s products or selling it could also bestow benefits upon the University.

“Well, it’s part of the contract ng URC that once the project is finished, the URC has the property of that project,” she expounded.

The important matter in a research is the

For the second time Cordero winds Palanca tilt

NEWS FEATURE acquisition of knowledge, Renegado reiterated.

She even held that once people have adequate knowledge, they can immediately apply it.

“But they have to be very careful—that’s what I emphasized in the public paper presentation,” she continued, “na studies like that is somewhat a reminder to people na it’s not good for us to just take any plant around and, boil it and drink it because there could be side effects.”

Ateneo: despite the problem on facility Renegado raised that Ateneo does not have an animal laboratory appropriate for the study.

She instead used the Chemistry Laboratory to conduct some parts of the experiment.

She cited that URC should strengthen their programs like having higher budget allocations so that there could be more beneficiaries as research is an integral part of learning.

Notwithstanding the problem, the science research project was a success, she instilled, because of the attainment of its objectives.

“To finish a research is a big break and is a big accomplishment,” Renegado proudly shared after finishing three studies in the past.

One of which has been presented in an international conference in Bali, Indonesa before.

Among the researches she finished, Renegado admitted that this is the heaviest and the most successful because of the paper’s wide exposure.

About a hundred viewers attended the public presentation.

NEWS FEATURE

FROM PAGE 1

pilat bilang imahe o simbolo na maaaring paglunsaran ng pagmumuni-muni,” Cordero explained in relation to his work.

Saga of Palanca The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature is an annual literary award-giving body in the Philippines and therefore tagged to be our own adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize.

This prestigious competition is being joined by professional and non-professional writers, including students, from all over the country to showcase their competence in terms of writing.

It was instituted in 1950 to honor the legacy of Don Carlos Palanca, Sr., one of the most known Filipino-Chinese businessmen and humanitarian in the American era, who instilled the value of education in his children.

His heirs thought it appropriate that his memory be commemorated in a venture which would help enrich the country’s cultural heritage.

The first formal procedure of the awarding was instigated in 1951.

Currently, the Carlos Palanca Foundation includes 527 short stories, 366 collections of poetry, 208 essays, 344 one-act plays, 182 full-length plays, 60 teleplays, 54 screenplays, 148 stories for children, 34 futuristic fiction stories, 77 student essays, 36 novels, and 16 collections of poetry for children in its entire assemblage.

Through this annual affair, the family of Don Carlos sought to keep his name alive alongside his legacy of discipline and diligence as well as to deepen the nation’s cultural inheritance.

What about Him? Everybody calls this man ‘Sir KC’ and perhaps knows him for his unique way of teaching, strong personality, and his great passion in writing with different languages and dialects, most especially his lingua franca, Bikol.

“Why am I being identified as a Bikol writer? Because I chose to be. It’s an identity that I can continue to work on, an identity that I continue to despise, an identity that I continue to fight with,” said Cordero.

Coming from the city of Iriga, he is deemed to be one of the most prominent Bikolano writers.

At present, Cordero instructs at the Ateneo de Naga University and is a faculty of the Department of Social Sciences. He is also the Chairperson of the Center for Culture and Arts in Ateneo.

He writes for Bicol Mail and Vox Bikol, two weeklies inside the region.

Awards Prior to Palanca Through the years of his unwavering conviction towards writing, he produced numerous works of literature; some of which won in prestigious national literary award-giving bodies.

In 2006, Cordero captured two national literary awards.

He clutched his ever first Palanca Award for winning 2nd Prize in the Short Story (Filipino) with his winning piece Langaw.

After which, Cordero’s collection of poems in Filipino entitled Mga Tulang Tulala: Piling Tula sa Filipino, Bikol at Rinconada, was recognized as the winner in the 6th Madrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award.

First published by GoldPrint Publishing House in 2007 and republished by AdNU Press (2009), his third book, Pusuanon: Mga Bersong Bikol (With Selected Translations by Marne L. Kilates and H. Francisco V. Peñones Jr.), was a finalist in the 27th National Book Awards for Best Poetry Title.

Cordero also won in the poetry for Bikol category in his project Segunda Mano in 2008.

He also received awards from Premio Tomas Arejola for the category Literaturang Bikol, Home Life Poetry Contest, and the 2009 Maningning Miclat Poetry Prize.

62nd Palanca Awards The literary competition was opened to all Filipino [or former Filipino] citizens with the exclusion of the current officers and employees of its organizing body, the Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. It was officially opened on 1 March 2012 and the deadline for submission of all the entries was set last 30 April, 12:00 midnight.

The process of choosing the winners depends on the set of judges selected by Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. in each category.

The panel is composed of three judges, one being the chair. They will only meet twice to talk about the entries sent and deliberate those.

All the winners and the name of judges for each category will be recognized this coming 1 September.

Winning entries and its authors will receive cash prizes.

From Glitches to Riches Ever since, Cordero has that different ‘spark’ as a

writer. From the hardships he faced to attain his dream, now, his passion brought him to fame and tagged him to be one of Bikol’s outstanding writers.

Cordero narrated that he began joining the Palanca Awards since High School (1999) for it was one of his long-time aspiration. He used his typewriter to produce his work for that year.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to send his entry because he did not have any money to pay the courier and he did not know how to mail.

But it gave him a thrill that, on the other hand, Palanca sent him off a copy of the guidelines together with the entry form. Through which, he said, “Para na rin akong nanalo nun when Palanca sent me those!”

That event was one of Cordero’s most unforgettable experiences.

“My writing is in a tradition that of Jose Rizal, that of Dante, that of Shakespeare, that of Balagtas! Yung makita ng Bikol writer ang isang manunulat sa Bikol na kapag nagsusulat siya ay tinatahak niya ang isang napakalungkot na landas at maaari siyang limitahan ng kanyang karanasan, ng kanyang nababasa,” Cordero concluded after being asked about his point on writing.

Asked what he has to say to fellow Bikolano writers, he said, “Mas marhay na panahon ini na magsurat sa sadiri tang tataramon, an magsurat dapit sa Bikol. Write in the tongue of language you are trying to own.”

Sources: http://www.palancaawards.com.ph/ http://en.wikipilipinas.org

6

ThePILLARS|July- August 2012

ThePILLARS|July- August 2012

7

Ignatiana ‘12 highlights culture, arts FROM PAGE 3

na maka-inspire nin iba pang artists. During the exhibits, dakul na-encourage na mag-drawing din,” he said.

“Igwa kaming nagkadiriscover na talento, mauurag din magdrawing and nagkusog an boot ninda na iluwas an art ninda ta nahiling ninda na may place din sa gallery an gibo ninda,” added Prestado.

Gonzaga, on the same hand, said that the activity was a “modest success.”

“There were many students who expressed interest in visual arts, with some even requesting for another run so that they can also contribute their pieces,” he said.

Because of these positive feedbacks, the team is already planning for a sequel in about two months entitled “StoryLINES: Series Two”.

A different Storm How did an ambitious technopreneur, a group of Atenean programmers and a weather enthusiast changed the course of forecasting typhoons, and subsequently stir up the country’s software industry?

Serendipity was playing on their side.

When Magno Edilberto III and Mike Padua packed for Manila to launch iTyphoon, the brainchild typhoon-tracking mobile application of the duo, a low pressure area was encroaching in the West Philippine Sea. That same low pressure area will later become one of the country’s most destructive typhoons claiming over a thousand lives and ironically will set the tipping point for iTyphoon’s success as the world’s most popular typhoon app in Apple’s iTunes What’s Hot List.

The irony of a blessing in disguise “Nagbibibro lang kami [noon] na don’t pray for typhoons sa launching kasi live [demonstration ng app] yan,” recounted Magno addressing in jest the Rotary Club of Midtown Quezon City.

The club invited him and Mike Padua of Meteomedia Philippines Corporation—a private weather company from Switzerland—to present iTyphoon to the club back in 15 December 2011.

As fate would have it, Magno’s words would become true. Picking up tremendous force, the local pressure area morphed rapidly to become typhoon Sendong—internationally named Washi.

“Sendong was a turning point for our app because of our update number 8,” explains Magno.

The typhoon update on 16 December was a pivotal update of iTyphoon that could have set the difference between life and death for people in Mindanao.

The 6 AM forecast of iTyphoon foretold Sendong to hit Surigao Del Sur, and cross northern Bukidnon passing “very close to Cagayan de Oro”. Later that day, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan took the brunt of Sendong, setting in motion relentless downpours and ravaging flashfloods.

Sendong’s destructive aftermath claimed more than a thousand lives and displaced many more as waters from the overflowing Agusan river swallowed low lying areas.

Consequently, the country’s official weather bureau went under fire as public backlash rained the bureau due to inconsistent Sendong forecasts.

“Nauna kami ng about 18 hours. We said na tatamaan si CDO and Iligan [ni Sendong]. Yung ibang weather bureau ang sabi sa Visayas tatama,” Magno related about their update number 8 for Sendong.

However, Magno, the CEO and President of Nueva Caceres Technologies Solutions Incorporated (Nueca)—arguably the first software company based in Naga City and owner of iTyphoon—clarified that they are not competing with PAGASA. Despite people vilifying PAGASA due to the forecast blunder, he said that PAGASA did their best with what limited resources they have.

He added that Sendong was a complex catastrophe. “It’s not fair to blame it to PAGASA. As a matter of fact you don’t need typhoons to come up with disasters sa country. Ang daming baha, wala naman bagyo. At the end of the day, both parties would just want to give whatever they’ve got,” Magno explained.

After Sendong, iTyphoon was thrusted into the limelight when users and the national media caught wind of new typhoon app that predicted the deadly path of Sendong. Ironically, the same thing that ravaged and destroyed much of CDO and Iligan is the same thing that feeds the popularity of iTyphoon among users.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a blessing kasi you know naman kung how terrible the result is. Typhoon is good

for the app but not for the people,” Magno added. To date, iTyphoon posts around 18,000 users worldwide, a feat that has brought attention to Naga’s capacity to develop a software industry.

Starting from scratch According to Magno, there were two reasons for iTyphoon’s inception: the advent of the monsoon months; and Padua’s request for help with his typhoon site, www.typhoon2000.com However, during the early stages of iTyphoon, Magno had two dilemmas. One was how to sustain the project development. And two, was how to fund it. “We thought it was gonna be easy. But we found out na bako,” Magno admitted.

The software development was a big hurdle for the team of Magno and four Atenean Computer Studies students who had no experience in mobile applications development.

“However, the students that we have [in Ateneo] are really smart,” explained Magno. The team was able to learn mobile application development for Android and iOS. Money matters, but not always “I’m an entrepreneur, so basically when I was conceptualizing it, [I thought,] how can we make it sustainable?” Magno said. The team was facing major monetary problems, a factor that would affect the development of the app.

When things seem to fall out, Magno was able to secure a meeting with SMART’s marketing team, where they proposed to the telco giant to fund the development of iTyphoon. By this time, the app only had 90 downloads.

SMART was skeptical because the team was already asking for a couple of hundred thousand pesos.

“You have to imagine that you are becoming part of something that is going to be very big,” Magno had told SMART. He also guaranteed that the app would hit a thousand downloads, but the numbers were against them and there was no deal.

Right then and there, it would’ve been easier to drop the idea. But Magno turned left instead of right.

He knew iTyphoon was going to be big, and nothing could ever have derailed him from the track he was taking.

Determined, he went to Nueca Technologies’ board of directors to fund the apps development.

Despite some raised eyebrows, the board agreed.

When asked if what he would have done had his company refused the venture, Magno said he was prepared to fund the app himself. “Put it this way, even if you spent that much money, look at what you’ve been into. You discovered [that] it can be done. I think that’s the most valuable lesson there.

Yun nga lang it took you this much money (half a million) just to learn that lesson, but it’s all part of it,” Magno said.

Magno remains steadfast not to sell iTyphoon, “You want to be safe? Babayaran mo ang kaligtasana mo?” he said.

Magno’s team wasn’t really out for making a profit from the app, they were leaning more on the satisfaction of being saving lives of their countrymen.

The user experience The concern was that releasing specific and technical updates on the storm would be tricky to understand immediately, so the team decided to show the typhoons’ behaviors through images and icons.

By Jeremy M. Badong and Maolin S. Macatangay

Magno understood that today’s generation needed yung product, and it’s essential. Yes, 20 thousand is to see a picture in order to get the idea. The design something to celebrate compared to the 90 [downof the app is intuitive in its features, making use of loads] that was turned down by the Smart, but your people’s preferences on visual rather than text. numeric should tell you that you’re not there yet,” Through the images, the people would know if said Magno clearly seeing that the app is going nothere was a typhoon or not. The app’s picture simply where but up. changed depending on where the typhoon was.

Filipinos make up some 80% of the people who The app takes on a very local feel, incorporatuse iTyphoon. The other 15% are distributed among ing images usually seen in the Philippines to show Americans, Japanese, Singaporeans and Taiwanese typhoon activity. Images such as the Mayon Volcano users. That baffled Magno at first, considering that tyindicate that there is no typhoon. If the app shows phoons are only found in the western pacific region. an image of the ocean or rainfall, it means that the But according to him the people using the app typhoon is over the ocean or that it has hit landfall. are mostly overseas Filipino workers who use it to Typhoon icons, on the other hand, tell the users keep tabs on their relatives in the country during a the strength of the storm. Like if the eye was small, typhoon. the typhoon is strong and if the eye is growing large, The app was far more than a typhoon tracker, at it means the typhoon is growing weak. that point. It gave them something more than the loiTyphoon has received a lot of praises. In terms of cation of the typhoon, it gave them security. “They’re negatives, there were times when the system failed worried for their family,” Magno added. to work because of so many users, but that was easily The app has become one of the biggest contribuside stepped. tions to Filipino preparedness. It has surpassed all “Feedback is generally positive,” said Magno. odds and has become one of the best innovations “May mga negative [din] kasi yung unang version Naga City has yet to produce. It has proven useful to walang tracking, kumbaga [hindi] makikita yung more than 20,000 Filipinos and a couple of foreigners path,” said Magno. as well.

He said that Mike Padua was a central “The moment a typhoon breachfigure in the development of iTyphoon, “Kami mga geeks we gave it our best on the geek es the Philippine’s area of responaspect. But mike is also giving his best on the sibility, the team puts it under its meteorological aspect. It’s both parties giving their best [which resulted to the app’s sucradar and feeds the information to cess],” Magno said smiling.

its users. It aims to prevent deaths

Reaching number one like the thousands brought on by Serendipity was close when Magno submitted the app to the Apple store. That same evening Sendong. It aims to save lives.” was the game of Ateneo’s Golden Nights and Naga College Foundation’s Tigers. And as the Knights dribbled and shot their way through the The moment a typhoon breaches the Philippine’s game, the app had maneuvered its way to top three. area of responsibility, the team puts it under its By half time, it took top two. radar and feeds the information to its users. It aims By the time the Knights had slain the Tigers in to prevent deaths like the thousands brought on by the court, the iTyphoon had conquered apple’s top Sendong. It aims to save lives. downloads list and stayed there for two months.

Its success was something Magno had predicted Magno said that the success of the app was inthe moment he decided to create iTyphoon. But there fluenced after SMART and GLOBE had released the was something more to it than meets the eye. It was, iPhone and the iPad. Because of that, the number of for Magno, proof that it can be done. iTyphoon was downloads for IOs overtook Android, where it got its proof that a start-up software company can make it 20 thousandth download as of press time. in Naga City. It was proof that Ateneans are capable “Naisip ko [na] it will go this big kasi magayon of doing it.

Blockbuster Hits Pelikula Piyesta was the title of Center for Arts and Culture Film and Creative Communications Program Committee’s event offering in celebration of IGNATIANA 2012.

The Festival had run last 23 to 25 July at the Instructional Media Center which mainly featured films produced by students. These were among the outputs of production researches last year by senior students under the Department of Media Studies On the first day, “Kikik” and “Sa Pamayo kan mga Bareta” were shown while “Silbato” and “Le Rouge

Music for the Soul Performed at the Arrupe Convention Hall last 25 July, the “Hibang sa Awit” (Ignatina Pop Concert) coincided with the University Dress-Up Day. The Ateneo Chamber Ensemble and Ateneo de Naga University Choir performed at the show, in cooperation with the Center for Arts and Culture

Music Program Committee.

There were three segments, each with different theme, of the program –the lively collection of songs at the first part, comic songs at mid-show and the serious, grand pop-rock songs to end the musical with a big bang.

According to UC Director and Committee on Music Chair Joseph Reburiano, the problems they encountered were the conflict of schedules concerning different exhibits and programs of various offices around the campus; the allocation of the place for rehearsals; and utilization of a bigger sound system.

Reburiano, however, made clear that their show was “very successful and very fulfilling even performed with a new genre.”

Also, UC President Ann Rosslyn Tan shared, “Most student see us [UC] na parang sa ‘church’ lang, but we can stil go out of the box. Maayroon pa kaming maibibigay. Versatile kumbaga. Para kaming working students…have to balance our time and effort sa rehearsals, sa academics, but when people learned to appreciate us, the fruits of our labor turn out to be so rewarding.”

In the meantime, Reburiano disclosed, “The [viewers’] reviews were great and others were quite shocked kasi libre ‘yung concert namin. Gusto nga nila ng ‘repeat performance’ impossible pero dahil nga sa mga expenses.”

Dugong Atenista breaks previous record, makes ROUND UPS history AdNU HS alumni holds ‘Concert for a cause’ FROM PAGE 3

Soliciting volunteerism and student participation, the OSA tapped students from the College of Nursing in assisting to the Donor Care and in helping the volunteers from the Bicol Medical Center (BMC).

Also, volunteers from the Ateneo Dance Club participated in documentations and assistance.

“To help others,” said a 3 BS A student and blood donor when asked what her purpose in participating was. “Sa simpleng pagtukaw, pag-donate mo, nakakatabang ka na,” she added.

Extending help The OSA Director also said that the conduct of the Dugong Atenista this year would benefit not only the Ateneo community but also those outside the school premises through the On-Call Donors Syrtem.

He said that the proceeds of the activity will be deposited to the blood bank that is intended for the Ateneo community and its immediate families. However, Virtus clarified that the benefit is also extended to the community outside Ateneo.

The OSA will record and sort the profiles of donors by blood type. Meantime, BMC, the official authority, will determine the appropriate blood type for each beneficiary.

Virtus clarified that the system is “not limited to the dispersing of blood to those who are in need.” He said that in this system, “walang discrimination… an magiging patient is unknown meaning, background or socio-economic status is not important.”

He furthered that the system “is a response to cases such as dengues and others because we all know they are blatant nowadays.”

Major adjustments Unlike the previous semesters, this year’s Dugong Atenista was conducted on a non-Sunday.

According to Dugong Atenista staff Mary Grace Villar, OSA took the measure because they deemed it advantageous to have the blood-letting during a regular class day, in this case, it was conducted on a Saturday.

“Nahiling mi na matao and dakol an ma-participate,” she added.

When asked if there were problems encountered during the activity, “aside from the rainy weather since yesterday, there was nothing major because mataas na rin ang awareness ng staff.”

Orgs’ Fair 2012 modifies tradition FROM PAGE 3

However, there were still some remarks coming from other students.

“Yung akala mo ang mumura pero dito pagdating mo, oh my god,” a student mentioned.

“Ang mahal ng mga paninda,” a 2 BSBA student commented.

Although this had been the case, she was glad about the outcome of the Orgs’ Fest and nonetheless believed that “the Orgs’ Fest 2012 was successful and quite entertaining.”

Photo source: http://www.nueca.net

Ballon (The Red Balloon); and “The Mission” were exhibited on the second and last day of the program, respectively.

According to Committee on Film and Creative Communications Chair Victor Dennis Nierva, “The festival was a way of finding God in all things, as St.Ignatius urges us to do. The films were opportunities to wonder and wander in the beauty of art as manifestation of Divine presence and love. “ He added that “the home-made films were there so that we can appreciate our culture, language and our consciousness as a unique people.”

Also, he informed that “magis can be seen in the never-ending quest for knowledge in the critical discussions of the films because the festival was not simply a film showing, but a way of intellectualizing art.”

“This is the start of a more heightened effort of elevating consciousness and sensibilities of the members of the university community as far as Bikol culture and Art are concerned,” Nierva furthered.

FROM PAGE 3

individually, “why not organize our own event?”

Imperial said.

The first time they did it was on March 2012.

It was then typical where bands would play but the second was fused with social involvement that later became one of their batch projects.

Imperial mentioned that they partnered with the University’s Center for Community Development (CCD) to find a beneficiary for their event. The organizers then chose Punta Tarawal Elementary School from CCD’s partner community, Calabanga, Camarines Sur. On the day of the event, the number of audience exceeded the expected number of 200 to about 275. Among the bands that participated in the event were Asan ka Hulyo, Lies, Radioclyde, Locus, Idlepitch, Fidorchi, Karakul, A Man Show, Find Your Height, Million Shots to Uranus and Kalye Dose.

These are Bicolano bands mostly coming from Naga and Legazpi City. This, according to

Imperial, is one way to revive the Bicolano music scene that is at the brink of decline.

“Dakol artsists pero mayong opportunity para makatugtog sinda. Dakol ang pool of talent [saka] potential pero mayong venue,” Imperial added.

He furthered that if they can find other musicians from Catanduanes or Masbate, they would invite them in the next session.

Asked about the problems encountered, he said, “At first maganda sana kaso may mga unexpected difficulties like the power interruptions.

Pero dae ta na man kapot ‘yan.” Also, some of the bands from Albay were not able to make it to the event because of conflict with other commitments.

Nevertheless, Imperial considered the event successful because of the number of attendees.

He hopes that they will be able to organize more events with social involvements as such. He expects that the next probable date will be on September this year.

Wikimedia, Mozilla “reach out” to users FROM PAGE 3

In response, representatives from Wikimedia explained how the users needed to take note that Wikipedia is not the only source available.

“Do not make Wikipedia as your sole source. Make Wikipedia your starting source,” said one representative of Wikimedia.

Ballesteros even stressed that the articles’ dependability could be measured in their external sources. He said that every article must have at least three sources to be considered reliable.

Meanwhile, Mozilla Philippines Community Manager Eusebio Barrun, Jr. said that Mozilla Philippine’s was in search for possible administrators of the site.

They intend to keep the locality, adding that “having Mozilla in the Filipino language is good in terms of preserving our mother tongue and helping others to understand the different articles and stories better.”

Barrun and Ballesteros, same with the students’ remarks, agreed that the affair was successful and that the participants’ enthusiasm to learn was something to be commended.

“Sa event na ito, na-realize ko na ang Wikipedia [ay hindi] tool for plagiarism. Mediator siya to help students with their research. Ang nakakapasama lang naman, kung nag-rely tayo completely sa Wikipedia. Walang masama sa Mozilla and Wikipedia.” shared a 2 AB Philo student.

On the senate hearing on 2 August at the Naga City Coliseum, Cam. Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Jr. speaks in behalf of the Bikolanos against the house bill creating the Nueva Camarines.

PAUL C. LOMPERO

Move and Groove The University Celebration Committee and the Center for Arts and Culture Dance Program Committee, chaired by Mariam Jocylin Saavedra, collaborated with Ateneo dance groups in pursuing the event entitled Cultural and Contemporary Dances.

Fire N Ice and Ateneo Dance Troupe were the two performing factions during the affair, with the theme “Dancing: People’s Heartbeat,” last 26 July at the University Gymnasium.

Fire N Ice founder and moderator Dr. Tess Consulta-Francisco revealed that their activity had no absolute connection with the celebration of IGNATIANA 2012.

“Magkaibang fields din kasi ang dalawa: religion and arts, at activity sana namin ‘yun kaso napagkasunduang isabay na lang sa Ignatiana para isahan na lang,” said Dr. Francisco.

She added, however, that the program can still be linked to Ignatiana.

“Because in relation din sa mga turo ni St. Ignatius [of Loyola,] ‘yung love, hardwork and pag-hone ng skills are simple ways to help the community at ‘yung entertainment show naming brought happiness to the audience…’yun ang mahalaga,” ended Francisco.

With reports from Rachel Vivien P. Griego, Rica Rose V. Pacardo and Englebert A. Villegas

Consumer groups tackle power issues FROM PAGE 3

this year.

During the discussion, stakeholders also talked about how difficult it was to ask for efficient and more effective management of the cooperative. Issues regarding the purchase of SUV’s and cellphones only for the benefits of the members of the board of directors were also tackled.

“There are occasional [power] interruptions even during fair weather conditions. It’s understandable if we experience [these interruptions during] storm or heavy rains just as what happened last February.” Bulao added.

Sponsored by the Social Sciences Department, students under political science and economics classes also participated and voiced out their own opinions.

“Despite the struggles faced by the consumers, there are also some remedies that the society can do to address the problems,” Bulao ended.

ThePILLARS|July- August 2012

Bloggerna si Kadunong Ika an makanta kaini kadugnong nin siring karahay asin man kagayon mga roropon na kadakol-dakol nakatarago sa rona kan Bikol.

-hale sa Ibalong, dakit-tataramon ni

Ni Christine Mae E. Mariano

Kan inapod an mga makuapo ni Kadunong, sinda an nagsirimbag. Alagad bako para magsaksi sa sarong pakikidulak kundi para magwasiwas nin sadiring mga sundang sa sarong laban na dae pigkokondusir sa maalpog na arena, bako man sa pisikal na kinaban, kundi sa flat screen.

Ini an saindang istorya.

Anong bagό?

“May bago daa sa internet, haloy ko nang nadangog.

Blogging. Arog kaining ginigibo ko ngunyan. Yaon ako sa bago. Sa laog kan kinaban na mahihiling sa kwadradong bintana,” surat ni Rea Robles sa saiyang blog na “May Bago”, ipinost sa paglayog.wordpress. com kan ikatolo kan Mayo taon dos mil dose.

Dae lang nahahaloy kan poonan ni Rea an paggibo nin blogs sa pang-aagda nin mga kapuwa parasurat asin amigo. Istorya niya, naghahanap siya kaidto nin mga Bikolnon na rawit-dawit sa internet alagad kadiit sana an saiyang nasumpungan. Kaya naisipan niyang dagdagan an sadit na koleksiyon nin internet kan sadiri niyang mga gibo.

Puwera sa rawit-dawit, naglaag siya nin haralipot na saysay manongod sa manlaen-laen na tema na isinurat sa lenguwaheng Filipino o Ingles alagad partikular na sa Bikol.

“Bako ta sa Bikolana ako kundi mas magayon magsurat sa tinudan, mas mahalnas sa dila, mas mahamis, mas masiram,” surat niya pa sa blog kan 10 Hunyo, 2012 na may titulong “Bikolana”.

Si Rea, parasurat asin estudyante kan Ateneo de Naga, saro sana sa mga bloggers kan modernong panahon na minakurapot sa mga guramoy kan internet para sa pagpapabayubo nin literatura, bako sana nin literaturang kolonyal, kundi nin literaturang nagugat, nagbuswak asin nagtalubo sa rona na saindang pigdakulaan—an Bikol.

Nawara na Dae Nanumpungan An mga istorya ni Juan Osong asin Kalugkog, Ibalong, mito kan Mayon, Lake Bato asin nagkapirang mga rawit-dawit, tigsik, kansyon asin patood mahigos na nagpabarubalyo sa nguso nin mga gurangan poon kadto hasta nunyan kaya puwede nyato sindang mabulatlat sa mga suanoy na libro. Sinda an minabuo kan kabilugan nin oral Bikol literature.

Kadto, kun maisipan sindang isurat, sa dahon o kawayan sana piglalaag asin an mga pinalad na mailiwat sa papel, nagtarapo, binukbok o nabasa nin uran, naging alpog na pigwarak kan paros sa bilog na rona. Wara.

Ngunyan, dawa ngani yaon an kabutan na ipadagos an oral literature dae na gayod ini nin pag-asenso.

Pano kaya, mayo naman nin oras an mga magurang na magtipon kan saindang mga aki para sa diit na iriistorya. Yaon na an TV para maggibo kayan. Mayo naman nin panahon an mga aki na magdangog sa saindang mga magurang.Banga an saindang atensyon sa cellphone, TV, computer asin iba pang porma nin teknolohiya.

An marhay na bareta?

An teknolohiya na minahuma sa pagkayaon kan literatura, tibaad iyo man an magsalba igdi parayo sa dagos na pagkawara.

An Ataman na Pugita An internet, garo pugita, minaunat kan saiyang mga guramoy tanganing man-aling sa banwang minaataman saiya. Karibay kan saiyang pagtinir an maging tesorero—tesorero nin mga kabtang kan kada panahon, kada lugar, kada agi-agi, kada tawo magpoon sa saradit hasta darakula.

Imbes na hilingon na sarong olang, nahiling kan nagkapirang mga indibidwal an internet bilang

instrumento nin pakikipag-olay, nin ekspresyon asin koneksiyon. “The Internet has become the medium of choice for a great deal of cultural production,” sambit ni Paul Conrant, Dean of Libraries sa University of Michigan.

Nagluwasan an mga blogger, nabilog an blogging community. Asin kabali igdi an mga Bikolanong parasurat na kun saen sa pag-otob kan saindang dakulang obligasyon na sumpayan an literaturang winalat kan mga kagurangan, naging ayuda nanggad an internet. Yaon an hagbayon. wordpress.com ni Jason Chancoco, harangkanlegazpi.blogsot.com ni Angelito Madrilejos, karangahanonline.blogspot.com ni Jimple Uy Borlagdan, santigwar.blogspot.com ni Kristian Cordero, makuaponihandiong.blogspot.com ni Vic Nieva asin dakol pang iba.

Laog kan mga siring na blog an mga saysay, rawit-dawit, istorya asin horop-horop na isinatitik sa Bikol o dawa dae alagad minaduta sa Bikolnon na identidad kan mga parasurat, sa saindang mga agi-agi asin pinag-agihan, sa kultura kan rona kun haen sinda nagdakula asin nakaduman.

Pagkatapos man kan Pagsurat Bikolnon 2012 na pigkondusir igdi sa Ateneo, ginibo ni Jay Salvosa, saro sa faculty kan Language and Literature Studies an project blog na “Kanto ni Bantong”. Laman kan Kanto ni Bantong an mga critical essays asin literary reviews manungod sa literatura asin kulturang Bikolnon. Alagad sabi ni Salvosa,“nasa ‘prototype stage’ pa siya ta naghahanap pa ako nin mga contributors.”

Instant Noodles, Instant Coffee, Instant Publishing?

Totoo na dae maipapasipara an dakol na oportunidad na pigsusubol kan internet lalo na sa lado ni pagsurat. Orog na sa pagiging channel ka saindang mga boot iosip, naging parapadara an internet kan anuman na lenguwahe na boot gamiton kan mga parasurat sa saindang blogs.

“Pag ang Bikol language pighalo mo siya sa something uso, nagiging cool na din,” patotoo ni Rea sa dakulang impluwensya kan internet.

Kaya kun an akda nasusurat sa Bikol o gibo nin sarong Bikolano, sobra duwang bilyon na internet users an puwedeng makahiling, makabasa asin makaaram kun ano an igwa sa literaturang Bikolnon. Dawa ngani nasusurat ini sa mga diyalektong dae nasasabutan kan kadaklan, maray na kun may makabasang Bikolano na mayo sa sadiring rona asin maaagimadmad na dae pa gadan an literatura kan saiyang banwang pighalean.

Padagos lang. Padagos lang.

Sarong dakulang adbentahe man kan blogging an interaksyon, kumbaga “readers can talk back”.

Bakong arog sa mga libro asin akdang isinurat sa papel kun saen limitado sana sa mga kritiko an makukuang opinyon kan parasurat manungod sa saiyang gibo, sa blogging itinutugot na makapagkomentaryo an dawa isay dawa katatapos niya pa lang na mabasa an blog.

Sosog sa sarong pagkukumpara ni Walter Ong, sarong literacy asin publication scholar, “Print culture was marked by a focus on closure

and fixed space contrasting it with electronic or posttypographical culture which was becoming more openended and collaborative.”

Dae naman nin takot na mawara, mabasa nin bagyo o maipasipara sa sarong gilid an mga akdang Bikolnon nin huli ta sa net, pirang click sana an pagsaray asin pagheras kaini.

Hasta dae pigpupura kan may kagsurat, matinir an mga akdang Bikolnon sa virtual world, garo mga lichen na nakadukot sa mga data bytes, mga ebidensya kan paghale asin pag-abot, kan mga luma asin uso.

surat ni Jusan Misolas sa saiyang saysay na Poetika asin Birtud nin Paghalat.

Para kay Stephen Prestado, estudyante ning Ateneo asin saro man na blogger, importante an paghilomlom nin mga akda nin huli ta kung isasaray mo an saimong gibo asin babalikan matapos an bilang na panahon, mahihiling mo ini sa bagong perspektibo asin puwede mo pa ining mabago.

Istorya pa ni Prestado, “Dati kan nagsusurat ako diretso type. An pirming nangyayari sakuya kun dae may salang spelling diyan, may salang punctuation, dae ko gayong nahihiling si organisasyon... medyo sabog siya. Bakong arog kan sinusurat muna sa papel, pirang beses ko siya hinihiling, pigbabasa ulit. “ Sa kinaban kan internet kun saen instant an gabos, minalaog an parasurat sa estado kun saen

Oops. Oops. Halat lang.

Alagad sa ibong kan mga siring na mga kagayunan, yaon an nagkapirang huma.

Enot an plagiarism. Nin huli sa hiwas kan net, madaling mag-arog nin mga akdang Bikolnon kun kinakaipuhan sa eskwelahan. Asin an “Pwede tang apudon an mga blogmanunurat, mayo man nin kontrol sa mga siring na gawe. Dae niya pa gers asin iba pa man na parasurat sa masususog kun isay an nagpurbar na icopy-paste an saiyang gibo. Dae niya kontemporaryong panahon bilang maaraman kun igwa na palan naghaha- mga Kadunong—mga tagabalanbas sa saiyang mga tataramon.

Sabi man kan ibang mga parasurat, gibog nin mga agi-agi saenman na naoolang kan internet an inaapod na surok kan ronang Bikol.” writing process nin huli ta sa pagmamadali na ipahiling an gibo sa iba, hona nya ayos na an saiyang gibo . Mala ta huri ina-upload muna ini bago magsairarom sa higot na na bago maagimadmad na dae palan maninigong revision o pagpakaray. Nin huli kaini, napapasipara ipahiling sa publiko an saiyang mga sinurat. Iyo, puan inaapod na nesting o paghilomlom sa mga obra.

“Igwa nin makusog na pagkamuya na mahiling ko tulos an kabilugan kan obra. Habo ko nin ‘fragments’.

Habo kong maghalat. Kaipuhan ko nin laptop tangarig ma-revise ko na, tangarig mapost ko na. Iyo na gayod iyan an peligro kan rikas na pig-uungit kan teknolohiya. Kadaklan na beses nai-escalate kaini an mga emosyon asin dahil sa rikas, mayo nang panahon tangarig paagihon ini asin I-reevaluate,”

wede man na huguton pabalik an blog alagad nahiling na kan nagkapira kaya ano pa an sirbi kun nakapaghusgar na sinda sa pagkatao asin orag kan parasurat? “...Since mayong editor[para sa mga self-published na gibo], dapat maglikay an mga blogger sa kung ano man an isurat sa mga blog ninda, lalung-lalo na kun posibleng kontrobersyal. Dapat may filter. Dapat pag-isipan muna ninda nin pirang beses bago ninda pindoton an publish button,” abiso ni Salvosa.

An Modernong Ibalong: Bersyon kan Blogger na si Kadugnong Kun igwang alternate setting an Ibalong, iyo na ini. Kita mga karakter sa sarong nagbubuswak na sibilisasyon sa puro kan Luzon asin ini an istorya kun pano kita nagtugdok nin mga sementadong harong, nagbungkal nin daga tanganing sementohon, nagbutingting nin mga metal para makabuo nin manlaen-laen na kasangkapan, nakipagdulak sa mga dayo tanganing proteharan an dagang ipinamana kan mga gugurang.

Nanggaba muna kita, ipigsikwal an mga suanoy bago nagampon nin mga bago asin bagong-uso kaya kita nakaabot sa kung ano an igwa kita ngunyan. Nasa irarom pa kan parehong konbersyon an literature—hale sa print pasiring sa net.

Pwede tang apudon an mga bloggers asin iba pa man na parasurat sa kontemporaryong panahon bilang mga Kadunong—mga tagabalangibog nin mga agi-agi saenman na surok kan ronang Bikol.

Gamit an teknolohiya, minasunsay sinda nin bagong literatura na puwedeng ipangalad sa saenman, kiisayman, magBikolano o dae. Dara-dara ninda an responsibilidad na mag-arkibo nin mga obrang Bikolnon asin syerto, madakula pa an saindang hukbo.

Gusto mo man magbale sainda?

9

Ini an dalan sa Pagsurat Ni Vicinto Bojdz Kenneth B. Tordilla

Hona mo daw may sekretong recipe an pagsurat? O na ini kasabay na ipigduhol sa pagpangaki nin sarong umboy, arog kan maputing kublit o halangkaw na dungo o gayon nin boses? O na ini dae maaabot nin sarong simpleng indibidwal, nin sarong ordinaryong tawo, nin arog mo?

Sa totoo lang, an pagsurat bakong dipisil. Alagad bako man na pasil. Saro ining pagsadol kan satong boot asin pagpasabot.

Enot, an pagsurat dai sana nangangaipo nin ballpen asin papel. Dai ta man puwedeng bayaan na kusang maggibo ini nin obra; dai ini madalagan pasiring sa mga linya kan papel tanganing mapano nin tinta asin maapod na sinurat. Bako tabi.

An pagsurat, kaipuhan nin kumpiyansa na magbiklad kan saimong sadiri. Kaipuhan na pirming bukas an saimong mga mata tangarig magin rigmat sa mga agi-agi kan panahon.

Nangangaipo nin katanosan an saimong mga sinasambit asin kaimbodan sa pagtukar nin gabos na bagay.

An pagsurat bako sanang pagtukaw sa laog kan harong, kan eskwelahan, kan opisina o kun haen ka man; dai sana basang na pagtunganga sa kawaran tanganing halaton an impluwensya nin kun siisay na mutya. Kun magtinir ka sana sa saimong personal na espasyo, may maisusurat ka man. Alagad limitado sana sa saimong sadiring mga agi-agi asin nahiling kaidto pa.

Kaipuhan mo man na magluwas asin magtagalakaw-lakaw sa kun sain ka dadarahon kan saimong mga bitis: pwede sa 7 Eleven, sa Bubble Town, sa E-mall, sa SM, sa McDo, sa Avenue Square, sa West Park, sa Club Mate, sa Moon Leaf, sa Blue Bar, sa Sadi Baloy, sa Tribo

Grill, sa The Tent, sa Basilica Minore, sa Cathedral, sa Bichara, sa Master’s Square, sa Hong, sa Unitop, sa Plaza.

Pwede na magduman ka man sa ibang rona: sa Calabanga, sa Pili, sa Ocampo, sa Baao, sa Tinambac, sa Bato, sa Iriga, sa Legazpi, sa Daet, sa Manila, sa Baguio, sa Palawan, sa Cebu, sa Bacolod, sa Batangas, sa Pampanga, sa Negros Occidental, sa Ilocos Sur o Norte, o kun sain ka man maiabot kan pagal mong mga bitis dawa pa sa karayo-rayuan kan banwa.

An totoo, dawa anong lugar puwedeng maging gikanan kan saimong boot isurat.

Puwede man na makikisusuan sa kadakol na tawo asin dawa dae mo magiromdoman an saindang mga lalawgon ni maaaraman an saindang ngaran, siguro maririsa mo man an saindang manlaen-laen na ekspresyon: nakangirit, nakamurusdot, nagduduwa-duwa, natatakot, namumula mantang nakikibaylehan an maitom asin maating haso hale sa mga tambutso sa panganoron nin saimong mga ideya.

Bako lang yan an saimong aabuton. Makarigos ka nin ganot asin madukot ini sa bilog mong hawak, mapurulot, maaalang asin masangaw an daing datang bata. Mabubutod an saimong tulak hale sa mabatang kapalibutan kun sain ka nakatuntong asin hihilohon man kaini an saimong pagkasabot hasta sa maisipan mong magsurat manungod sa batá kan saimong palibot.

Dangugon mo an tataramon kan tinampo, an preno kan mga behikulo, an kurahaw kan mga tawo asin an iba pa man na tanog nin huli ta gabos yan may binubuong istorya, naghahalat lang na madangog mo asin mailipat sa papel.

Pakakalayuhon mo an saimong pagusip asin paluluksuhon mo an saimong namamate tangarig maatid an gustong ipasabot kan saimong nahihiing, kan saimong nadadangog.

Maduman ka sa saindang pigeerokan asin hihilingun mo kun ano an yaun. O puwede man na hilingon mo sana an saimong sadiri asin mahihiling mo an kabilugan kan humanidad. Ika na an bahala.

Malakaw-lakaw ka. Maglakaw-lakaw.

Saro ining pangangaipo mantang mayo ka pang naisusurat, mantang mayo pang minabayubo sa saimong pag usip, mantang dai pa minakalayo an saimong pagmate.

Padagos mo ining aaguihan, diri-diretso, daing preno, hasta sa makaatubang ka sa antipara nin totoong giya na minapalaad kan saimong alang na daghan asin matubis na pagusip.

Dakol na bagay an mapainit sa saimong pamayo hasta mamate mo an dakulang kabootan na isurat an saimong mga nahiling asin namate.

Padikit-dikit, mahihiling mo ini asin saimong maaatid an linyang, “Ini an sakuyang isusurat!”

Isusurat mo an tinampong baraliko asin dakul uka na haros dai na maaguihan, an mga behiku-

long dai naaati sa pauro-utrong pag agi sa may tinampo. Ibubugtak mo si paratindang esperma sa may Cathedral asin Basilica, si mga magkairilusyunang Atenista na minalakaw pasiring centro, si mga Colegiala na maghapon sa may 7 Eleven.

Yaun pa diyan si mga prostitute sa may plaza na minahalat kun may makuang kostumer, si mga aking yagit asin paralimos na minakiblit sa saimo makahagad lang pambakal pangkakan, si mga drayber kan dyip asin tricycle na buong aldaw minakayod para sa mga uulian ninda, si mga saleslady asin salesman kan SM, E-Mall, Hong asin Unitop na pirming nakatindog asin minaenggayar sa mga kostumer, si mga minahanap nin hustisya asin katalingkasan sa saindang pagbuhay.

Sinda an saimong gigibuhan nin suraton. Iibanon mo sinda sa banwaan nin mga tataramon. Gigibuhon mo sindang panalmingan tangaring masadol mo an esensiya nin pagsurat.

Kamo an maibanan sa harong kan saimong pangiturugan. Ilalaog mo sa kwarto nin saimong pagkasabot. Huhubaun mo an maating gubing na minasaklob sa saindang pagkatawo. Lilinigan mo nin marhay na pakasabot hale sa saimong daghan. Bubulusan mo nin mga bagay na saimong inaguihan asin kasakitan.

Luway-luway mong papakarhayun an badong ipigtahi kan saimong mga mahamis na tataramon. Intero mo sindang ilalangkaw sa banwaan kan saimong pangiturogan. Ika an masarumsom kan saindang mga hinihidaw pasiring sa sarong magayon na banwaan na ika mismo an may gibo huli kan saimong maurag na mga kamot, pag usip asin pagmate.

Gabos na ini, dai mo paglingawan nin huli ta ika an minabayubo, ika na nagpagal, ika na nagpasipara, ika na naggibo. Nunka mo sindang iwalat kun ika man magsurat.

Kun hasta ngunyan nawawara ka pa, dae mo pa makua an gigikanan kan saimong mga boot isurat, magpoon ka kung haen ka ngunyan asin hale diyan, maglakaw-lakaw.

Maglakaw-lakaw ka.

-adaptasyon kan “Kung Susulat Ka” ni Jose T. Villarin, SJ

10

11

ThePILLARS|July- August 2012

Asia Pivot...

FROM BACK PAGE

Vox Atene o: Voices, N oti

ons

Colorado shooting Incident

he Tenvironment, economy,

“ The benefits of mining should always outweigh the costs and that no direct negative effect should happen to the people.”

I

t was SM Baguio that first planted the seeds of environmentalist outrage this year when it tried to sweep a 1.1-hectare land of its pine trees last April. The supermall found growing a parking lot more beneficial than growing trees. Then the fight grew even wider than the huge track of land in Luneta Hill and even taller than the trees out there. From the budding protests in Baguio, the clash blossomed and began taking root in social media stage before eventually withering in the next few months.

But last 9 July, nationwide environmentalist sentiments have again perked up as President Benigno Aquino III signed the new Executive Order (EO) 79 on mining in a bid to balance the interests of the industry and environmental advocates. But just as the critiques of the new EO have predicted, it is still far from reaching a compromise.

RA 7942 toughened up The EO 79 does not supersede the existing Philippine mining law but actually strengthens Republic Act (RA) 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. The outdated provisions in RA 7942 pushed the Aquino administration to issue the new EO. It has also been the answer of the Aquino administration to the calls of different mining stakeholders to re-align various local ordinances on mining to national laws.

The mining industry has so far raised concern over the decision of some Local Government Units (LGU) such as those from South Cotabato, Davao, and Albay to ban open-pit mining in their provinces.

Global firm Xstrata particularly—whose $6-billion copper-gold Tampakan project in South Cotabato has been delayed due to the ban—said that such ordinances are illegal under RA 7942.

And so, under Section 12 of EO 79, the government orders the LGUs to use their powers and functions in such a way that they are consistent with the national laws. They are also to only confine themselves to the

“reasonable limitations on mining activities conducted within their territorial jurisdictions” provided that they are again conforming to that of the existing mining law. But fear not, says the EO 79, the Aquino administration also orders the “timely release of the share of the LGUs in the National Wealth” and that concerned government agencies like the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) shall mull over the possibility of increasing the LGUs’ share.

With the release of the new EO, the government also tries to subdue the environmental impacts of mining by expanding the list of restricted zones for mining. The list of prohibited areas was expanded to include the 78 tourist destinations, agricultural lands, and island ecosystems. Specific sites of these areas will be identified by the Department of Tourism, Department of Agriculture, and National Integrated Protected Areas System, respectively.

The EO 79 also “strictly prohibits” small-scale miners from using mercury—a heavy silvery toxic used in most mining sites as a fast way, however underhanded, to extract gold from gold deposits. The use of mercury in small-scale mining is second to burning fossil fuels as the major source of mercury pollution in the world. Not only does EO 79 remind small-scale miners to comply with RA 7076 or the “People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991,” it also limits small-scale mining within areas included in the “Minahang Bayan.” And there’s more: “small scale shall not be applicable for metallic minerals except gold, silver, and chromite, as provided for in RA No. 7076.”

On the good side, the EO 79 orders the DENR not to approve new mining contracts until a new legislation on mining spells out a revised revenue sharing scheme and mechanisms. The Aquino administration has been very vocal about its intention to increase the taxes imposed on miners which currently stands at 2 percent (%) only.

For existing mining agreements, however, the DENR is tasked to review them “for possible renegotiation of the terms and conditions of the same, which shall in all cases, be mutually acceptable to the government and the mining contractor.”

A separate council, called the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), is created to oversee

and the EO 79

Words| Christian S. Taduran Art| Paolo Ramon S. Padayhag

“Dahil Education major ako, we cannot just judge people just because of what they did.

Obviously, he is psychologically disturbed, so if you will put him in a detention cell, would you think that that person will get better? So, yes, I prefer hospitalization, ‘di ba? The person who really is proven of medical care and support should really go to a place where he can have those things.”

-MIRIAM VICTORIA RUIVIVAR, AB BSE English 3 “If dai ako naniniwala kay God, mas gusto ko ang death penalty para saiya , but, may due process, he shall be put into a detention facility or in a mental hospital… for his own benefit.”

-4 BSA “Kaipuhan siyang makulong, pero dapat maaraman na kung may psychological disorder siya , baka ginagamit niya lang ito (ang psychological issue). Pero dapat, panagutan niya man ito sa mga biktima niya.”

-3 BSBA CMA “If the suspect has a psychiatric condition, so I think, that before (the US Court) penalizes the suspect, he shall undergo further psychiatric assessments. On how he will be dealt, and kung hospitalization ba, or sa jail siya. But, if he is just acting just to lower his sentence, I think yung pinakamataas because it’s murder.”

-4 AB Pol Sci President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) I can say na maganda, di ba? But I was able to see kung ano yun, esp. for educ. Yan ang hinihintay ko… I will become a future teacher, and I shall know kung ano yun na magagandang benefit, para sa amin, and I can see, magiging okay yun ( mga plano ni PNoy) -KATHLEEN MARIE CERVAS, 3 BEED ECED-SpEd

the implementation of EO 79. They are likewise directed to issue other industry reforms.

Criticisms abound As early as June, criticisms against the draft of the EO were raised by some 40 governors who banned openpit mining and large-scale commercial mining in their provinces as well as the majority of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Led by Albay Governor Joey Salceda, the governors expressed their worry about the order of the Aquino administration to uphold national laws over local ordinances. While the order seems legitimate, it was seen as a move to counteract the ban in mining in several provinces, including South Cotabato.

Salceda is an ally of Aquino but one of the most unswerving critics of mining.

But soon enough, it was no less than Aquino who swooped down straightaway on the nascent hums of protest among LGUs, effectively giving the idea that he has, in fact, sided with the mining industry. “The Constitution I think is very, very clear on that. First, their ordinance-making powers are limited… More than that, all of it has to be—there’s a clause there— consistent with national laws.” And should LGUs have anything to say on the new EO, “by all means, they can go to the appropriate courts.”

However, despite such order, South Cotabato Governor Arthur Pingoy and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said that the ban on mining will stay no matter what and that they are ready to defy the EO 79 and take it to the courts for the sake of a mining-free province anytime.

The CBCP echoed the sentiments of LGUs, saying that the provision on the primacy of national laws over local ordinances would create a conflict between the national government and LGUs. According to CBCP, the current ban imposed on several provinces will be in danger, thus jeopardizing local autonomy which might result to violence in mining areas.

“The policy is actually the same, if not worse than the other mining polices because everything will be dictated by the national government,” said Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes.

Ateneo School of Government Dean Antonio La Viña also expressed concern over the heated provision. “It (Section 12 of E.O. 79) is wrongly articulated

and could be illegal. I think there is no conflict between national and local government.

Both have powers that can stand separately from each other.” He added that instead of bolstering supremacy, the Aquino administration should have aimed for “harmonization” between the two.

Why mine?

There is no doubt that the Philippines is rich in natural resources. The Philippines is considered 5th most mineralized country in the world; 2nd in gold and; 3rd in copper. Out of the 30 million hectares of land in the entire Philippines, 9 million is considered rich in mineral resources. That’s why foreign and local investors have started extractive businesses here in the country since time immemorial.

“We’re very rich in natural resources.

Wouldn’t it be ironic and sad that if faced with all these richness, we’re not able to develop it?” said Philex SVP for Corporate Affairs Mike Toledo said during an interview with Maria Ressa on Social News Network Rappler. “As our chairman (Manuel Pangilinan) eloquently said, mining is not the enemy, poverty is.”

The mining industry claims that there are massive socio-economic benefits in mining.

One comes in the form of higher income taxes for the government. “Mining in Australia contributes US$142 billion each year; in Canada, $37.5 billion; in the US, $1.9 trillion, and in Brazil, $24 billion,” said Pangilinan. A portion of the national wealth comes from the revenues in the mining industry. The industry also claims that it has yielded jobs for the communities.

Good if mining doesn’t affect the community around it, says ABS-CBN Managing Director Regina Lopez. Among others, the mining industry polluted and destroyed the environment in which extractive businesses have set up. Not only small-scale mining, but also large-scale mining “has the ability to wreak massive large-scale havoc,” she said. page 11

As president for two years, actually, it’s hard to assess his accomplishments via SONA. But I am quite satisfied at his leadership performance, although he didn’t address the real problem, it is a step by step procedure, he is doing the right thing.

-JACOB FRANCIS ABAYON, 1 BS BSE Physics May efficiency naman yung leadership niya, based sa SONA, better than the previous admin. Pero kaduda-duda ang mga statistics sa SONA. As in tig-gegeneralize na niya ang stats for 2012, but 6 months pa lang ang nakalilipas.

-2 BS A

ang pagpili sa bagong CJ, para maayos na ang judiciary –2 BS Bio Ok lang naman (yung process). At least informed ang public kung paano siya naging CJ. Kung magkaaberya, kasalan na man ninda PNoy asin JBC yan. They shall take time.

-3 BSBA CMA Masyado nang mabusisi. May mga ibang qualifications na parang hindi naman ganoon ka-significant (money matters, seniority), pero isinali dahil sa issue ng pagpili sa bagong CJ. -CHARLEYMAINE VENUS BELMONTE, 1 BS BSE

What programs or activities should the Supreme Student Government implement?

Pwede suggested na maiimprove ang activities? Halimbawa, sa orgs fest, mas maganda sana kung sa park ang venue hindi sa Xavier para mas ma-feel ang pagiging “Orgs Fest” tulad sa ibang universities na sa open grounds tapos may guest bands na tumutugtog.

-JAN KEIFER JAIM, 3 BS IT

Maganda daw kung meron ding “Pistaym” dito sa university natin para daw mas mainvolve din ang mga non-players during intrams. 1 week activity yan na nirequire sa Ateneo High.

May mga games na dapat salihan ng mga students.

-MARICRIS MORANO, 4 BS Entrep “Dapat may libreng pasakay sa Ateneo Avenue pag baha tas inon-uniform day na ang Friday.”

-SHOJIMAR YOSHIDA, 3 BS CoE Siguro ano, mas magayon kung may consultation per department. Para maisakat ang issues sa dean, tapos kay Fr. Viray. Di ba kaya sinda ang dapat na nagvovoice out kang concerns kang common na estudyante?

-MARK JORGE RUFO, 4 BS ECE

Issue no. 5: Temporary Liberty of GMA

Cover-up lang ang kaso ni GMA. Fault lang ng government lahat. Not GMA’s. Tigbi-blame lang siya. Right niya man ang mag-bail.

-3 BS A Garo Nababayadan man sana ang mga Pilipino. Ta nagsorry na siya, then may kaso, then papalayaon for 1M? Injustice yan.

-3 BSBA CMA

During the meeting in the Cambodian capital, Clinton told the foreign ministers that “the United States has a stake in ASEAN’s success.”

Clinton, as noted by the reporters during the ministerial meeting, was alleged to be pursuing one of the purposes of the US which was to exert “influence” in the fast-growing economic region.

Moreover, Clinton emphasized that Asia has been a priority region of the Obama administration. She also shared that “a central pillar of that strategy is to work more closely with Asean to “deepen our economic, strategic, and people-topeople engagement.”

Now, the US was the first non-Asean country to establish a mission to Asean. Moreover, it also deepened and expanded its bilateral relations with most Southeast Asian nations such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. This certain act was done after Southeast Asian nations have earlier claimed that the US attention is “episodic.”

Hence, the importance of US participation for the first time in the East Asia Summit (EAS) as a full-fledged member this past November in Indonesia was considered. By engaging ASEAN nations, both multilaterally and bilaterally, the US is dispelling the widespread belief in the region that it does not have a sustained commitment to Southeast Asia in helping to address both regional and global issues.

Meantime, during the ministerial meeting, Clinton did not directly address the issue pertinent to the standoff over the islands in the South China Sea. However, she shared that the US will respond to “concerns and priorities” extended by the Southeast Asian nations.

“What we have heard from you is that ASEAN and the countries of the Asia Pacific are seeking greater American engagement across the board; that you are particularly focused on areas where our presence, at times, has been underweighted.”

Versus China More evidently is to observe that America’s “strategic pivot” is timely when it is experiencing massive domestic instability such as high rates of unemployment, rising national debt, deteriorating economic scale, and global recession, among others.

It can also be noted that US posturing with the Asean triggered an outpouring of anti-American sentiment in China. This is so because with US bases distributed to the different Asian nations, China, its primary rival in economic success and stability, would be surrounded and thus be vulnerable to attacks.

According to reports from Military.com, the move will urge the Chinese government to respond to a US strategy that seeks to prevent China’s reemergence as a great power.

For the past decade, China has experienced a considerable development in its economy. Over the past ten years, the annual real growth of the country’s gross domestic product averaged 10.5 percent (%), which is 8.8% larger than that of the US. Moreover, during the first half of 2011, the Chinese economy increased at an annual rate of almost 10%, compared with a rate of less than a percent in the US.

Filling the post for Supreme Court Chief Justice

Lapa talaga ang Justice system sa Pilipinas, GMA is a controversial figure, If she’s guilty, then it is a must ( to jail her) -2 BS A

The economy, the environment and the EO 79

Dai ko maaraman kung bias or dai… pero sana dai mabahiran nin political preferences

Nasa Judiciary Branch ng Pilipinas ang maaaring ituring na problema. Sadyang hindi lang talaga ganoon ka-firm ang branch na nabanggit. Na minsan ay may mga maling decisions. Hindi rin doon ekesmpted ang kaso ni GMA. -Charleymaine Venus Belmonte, 1 BS BSE Math

And besides, there is little economic benefits being sourced from the mining industry to begin with, Lopez furthers. According to her, the mining industry contributes only 1.3% in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and only 0.36% in employment. “For all the billions of dollars that is poured into the country from mining - how much is NET to the country after we subtract the cost of their activities?”

She also believes that tourism and agriculture can generate the same, if not higher amount of income.

And that’s not destroying the environment.

I want to believe that fair ang pagpili sa bagong CJ. For being the highest position sa SC, the new CJ shall be free from bias, and credible.

Transparent din dapat siya. And also ang process, transparent naman, so far.

-4 BS A

FROM PAGE 10

Serve the people Facts from both sides have been presented and firebrand speeches have been dished out in countless conferences and debates but unless the communities and the environment which are being truly disturbed by such businesses are still left in their sorry and unheard state, no amount of change, economic or societal, can ever happen to the country. The benefits of mining should always outweigh the costs and that no direct negative effect should happen to the people.

And so whether there is mining in the Philippines or not, the drive of the mining industry and the government should always work towards the welfare of the Filipino people. And that includes the environment in which they live. What good is the EO 79, the MICC or even RA 7942 if these benefit foreign countries more than they benefit the Filipinos? What good is the Filipino government if they don’t serve the Filipinos?

Hence, the so-called “strategic point” will make it easier for the Obama administration to ramp up the pressure on China with an increasingly antagonistic policy, in a scheme to contain rising Chinese economic and military influence.

On the other hand, China, despite its exercise of restraint and diplomatic approach to disputes, seemed to be matured enough to understand that the Obama administration’s prompt strategy is ineffective. The US “must understand that returning to Asia by way of militarily flexing its muscle and diplomatically intervening in bilateral disputes is wrong and short-sighted,” according to Xinhua, China’s official news agency.

Malaise lies US citizens’ net worth has fallen 40% since 2007, making progress toward recovery slow and less probable throughout the run-up to November’s presidential and congressional elections. This was according to the US Federal Reserve.

Given this, the Obama administration may take non-economic issues to invigorate his campaigns.

The act of making more naval troops situated in the Pacific is timely when the US is preparing for a change in leadership.

The administration believes that rigidness toward China will generate sympathy and support from the Americans.

During a security conference held at Singapore, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta pointed at the military buildup conducted by the US. Eventually, Panetta went to Vietnam, allegedly for a discussion regarding the US Navy’s use of Cam Ranh Bay, which was an American Base during the Vietnam War. Greater battle The Philippines has been used to having the US as a backup. It has been always the situation wherein the Philippines is the inferior and that it cannot move alone without the “greater power.”

This is what Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, during the regular forum called Kapihan sa Senado, pointed out so that the Philippines can “remedy” its smaller build in the dispute against the “dragon” that is China. She said that the Philippines should, therefore, use its “wit” and resort to “power politics.”

However, the biggest barrier to fighting for something that is supposed to be Philippines’ is countering the restricted dependency that the country has been trained to hold— that is, its dependence to US. Meanwhile, the US has the confidence to enter into a new pact with the Southeast Asian nations because of its power and behest over the countries involved. But more importantly, it must be considered that the most affected countries—whether with regards to the “Asia Pivot” or the increasing dispute over Scarborough Shoal—are the smaller countries.

For when all else fails, these small countries will bear the brunt of the clash as they do not have the economic edge to contain any damage unlike the US and China.

The moot issue will not rest with recognizing that several countries are in dispute. Because beyond merely settling the current dispute, it should be recognized that the greater battle for the Philippines is the struggle for a long-term success and most especially independence from foreign meddling.

12

ThePILLARS|July- August 2012

ThePILLARS|July- August 2012

13

WASHDAY WA S H DAY

More than placards

By Allan Rey Camata, ThePILLARS alumnus & contributor

Here are doubts Is it justice for ALL or is it justice NO MORE? What do we get from superheroes on films? We get nothing but a ‘dream on’ phrase; a forever fantasizing of hope. You got a pessimist here. I just hate Superman.

Films are sort of a reflection of the reality. But here, you’ll get to solve a case after a traumatic noway-out story. I once believed that I should learn things the hard way in order to get them done perfectly. And maybe that’s the very reason why conflicts are made—to create an effective impact on scenes that we see and to see how tough our lives can get.

But this one’s different. Nobody’s even sure if this puzzle could be solved before any life ends.

It was 2006 when Karen Empeño and Shirley Cadapan disappeared. They were fourth year college students at that time, at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, followed by Jonas Burgos in 2007.

These names are just three of the 339 victims of extralegal killings and enforced disappearances under the Arroyo administration. And who can ever forget the hideous crimes in Maguindanao? A massacre that killed 58 lives in one night.

The most dreadful arena for activists is when they decide to serve the people and to seek the truth.

What can be worse than finding out that our own “Martials” who are meant to defend the citizens are also the group behind these enforced disappearances? Reports say that former Major General Jovito Palparan, Jr., together with Sgt. Rizal Hilario; Lt. Col. Felipe Antado; Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio and; two other officers who appeared and were transferred to military custody, were the ones who abducted Empeño and Cadapan.

The military personnel’s involvement was strongly asserted by Raymond Manalo who was also tortured and abused while in a military camp with his brother, Reynaldo. While in the camp, he was able to see and talk to Cadapan who did not just suffer from torture but has also been raped and abused by the involved military men.

A certain female named ‘Lt. Fernando’ was also said to be one of the initiators of Burgos’ capture.

Mrs. Edita Burgos, Jonas’ mother, is hopeful of a witness statement and that she might finally see his son.

But the Court of Appeals refused showing at least a photographic sketch of this suspect. Worse, the Writ of Habeas Corpus which she petitioned in 2008 was dismissed and that the Philippine National Police (PNP)-CIDG strongly stressed that the military is not considered suspect yet, even if it was found out

Kaput that a military vehicle was identified as the getaway vehicle of Burgos’ abduction.

In March 2012, as what appeared to be the falling action of any story, a House Bill 98 or “An Act Defining and Penalizing Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance and for Other Purposes” was passed, though it has yet to be approved. Meantime, the Human Rights Watch and Desaparesidos, a group of relatives of the victims of enforced disappearances, would keep an eye on at least improving the trials of their filed cases.

Enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings simply show that the Philippines and its officials are not competitive enough to justify the rights of these student activists. Today, under the Aquino administration, we have seven who are still missing, while four persons have re-surfaced and one was found dead. And we hear no improvement until today. The administration just keeps on saying that it is in the process of ‘searching.’

A reduced number of desaparecidos is not a sign of better governance; we don’t just aim to reduce cases of enforced disappearances here; we demand justice. It should always be proving to the people that the Philippine constitution is above anybody else.

How come, that for so many years, no one in the Philippine military has been convicted despite the pieces of evidence given by the victims’ relatives?

I am a student and once chose to become active.

True enough, I’m afraid to face the consequences of pushing others to eliminate hypocrisy and apathy. We are a democratic country anyway, with laws defining people’s rights and with a government and justice system that serve. But such consequences, in fact, prove how worse the state of our future journalists and outspoken activists may encounter in the future.

Consistently, we’ll see documentaries, newscasts and columnists urging the government to uphold transparency and forcing the people to move or at least be aware of even the slightest detail in the society. But because we are amused by the happyever-after stories that, sometimes, we limit ourselves to them. Sometimes, try to tweet, post, or share a thought that makes sense.

Maybe, your eyes are tired of this; maybe, you’re fed up by being reminded of the importance of these things. Let’s just see how far this story can go. Hoping of finally seeing the desaparesidos one day should always be a motivation to continue pressing for judicial reforms in a nation we call democratic.

No right place and right time Candor.

Most people refer to candor as being truthful and fearless. That is to openly say your side in the most genuine and direct way. It’s always effective especially when you just want others to realize things and to improve those. However, frankness becomes real effective only when there is good intention and proper timing. That is when things are said at the right place and at the right time.

On the 25th Anniversary of ABS- CBN’s news program, TV PATROL, where His Excellency Benigno Simeon Aqino III was invited as a guest of honor, frankness challenged its purpose.

As the whole management of the network celebrated its 25 years of journalistic service to the Filipino people, Aquino seized the opportunity to bash news anchor and Ex- vice President Noli de Castro. Saying that de Castro as an opinion-maker must be responsible as to what he is saying since he is seen every night on news. However, was the president became just in his blatant criticism to the anchor?

The issue here is not really about Aquino vs. de Castro. Anyway, they are both politicians mudslinging at each other. More than that, the issue here is the President’s negligence of his actions despite his position as head of the state. How come a president can pour down all his sentiments to a disliked person in the most inappropriate time and place? As noted, this wasn’t the first time that the president did this. It was December 2011 when he also criticized former Chief Justice Renato Corona who was seated only meters away from him.

Aquino may be right when he said that de Castro, having been the ex-vice president, had once had 6 years to eradicate the problems which the Aquino administration has inherited from the Arroyo

regime. De Castro could have been a catalyst of change. The thing is, to say all this on an anniversary occasion, where politics should be far-fetched for a meantime, is definitely not usual for a president to do. Has the president already forgotten decency?

That because he is the president, he can just criticize anyone he dislike at any place and at any time?

Aside from bashing de Castro, Aquino also complained about the media’s bias to negativism which would instead pull down the supposed progress of the nation and its people. He said that if Juan de la Cruz’s supper would always be bad news, he will really be disheartened. That bad news probably made certain number of tourists to cancel their vacation in the country and that many Juan de la Cruz lost their soon-to-be jobs.

Aquino’s desire to control what is being released in the news, I believe, is suspicious. Thinking about it, where do these “bad news” even came from?

Truth is, the media do not invent bad news. They are all over us and it is just to be aware of it. As a mass, would we rather perceive good news just to pacify ourselves, the president and the foreign people even if there’s much to know than these good news?

If good news will always be seen in the news, what will media practitioners do then with the bad news? Dump them? Then, where would the truth be?

This is too much, PNoy. What if instead of bashing and criticizing, why don’t you just prove to all of us that you can really do more than that?

Instead of throwing back the blames to de Castro, why don’t you show him that you can be better in leading the nation? Why not use his criticisms for self improvement? No more washing of hands. Be our president and stop bashing.

Give the Scarborough shoal to China then.

That was the nasty and twisted suggestion Senator Gregorio Honasan spit out over the media on the eve of Fil-Am Friendship Day. “We have to ask the US: Do they believe that the Scarborough Shoal belongs to us?” He tells a slew of reporters, adding that we should get a “categorical answer” from the United States (US). There was a sense—or nonsense for that matter—of categorical stupidity and fear when he belittled the Philippine stand on the delicate case of the Scarborough shoal to a stand of a foreign imperialist country several nautical miles away from the actual flashpoint. “If they say it belongs to China, it’s over. Let’s go home,” he suggests.

But alas, his nasty and twisted glib talk doesn’t stop where it should. The horrors of the Chinese hegemonic nightmare have apparently caught with his reality: “They’ll be the ‘barangay tanod.’ They’ll be the police. They will monitor everything. Any movement of naval and air assets in the area will be monitored by the US.” The US should also beef up its presence in the shoal by deploying troops and building structures there, he says. These comments came harrowing with pride in the aftermath of President Benigno Aquino III’s interview with Reuters. Aquino earlier saw the possibility of asking the US for spy planes that will monitor Chinese activities in the shoal. But monitoring isn’t enough, goes the senator. He also wants the US to send a carrier task group to the shoal if ever there is unwanted movement in the area.

It’s not news that the Philippines is dragging the US into its affairs. Undoubtedly, there is the mutual defense treaty—which forces Filipino soldiers to fight in the wars of the Americans but not the other way around—that everyone keeps citing as a pretext for allowing the US to dip its white hand on Filipino waters. And it has certainly created ripples, mind you.

That’s the same strange story every year, eventually culminating on the 4th day of July, eventually reminding the Philippines how much stranglehold the US has on it. Because it’s a puppet-master relationship, they say. Not friends on equal footing. Not now; and probably, not ever. So, it’s not news that the US has repeatedly expressed its neutrality on the issue. You can’t expect it to pull its weight out there and defend the Philippines for free. Although it has indeed extended a few help to the Philippines in tilting the scales a little bit.

But one swift look at how much money and attention China has been putting into its military and you’d realize that no amount of foreign help can ever “level the playing field.” That the Philippines has been continuously wedging the US flag into the picture despite incessant warnings from China against any form of multilateral approach is not levelling the field, but actually showing weakness in what appears to be an unbalanced fight between a developing country and an economic powerhouse. The Philippines has practically laid out all the cards for everyone to see, including the player directly in front of it.

In a fight, unbalanced or not, the rule is to never show weakness. You don’t tell a potential rapist driver in the middle of the night that you don’t have any idea where he’s taking you. You don’t tell an armed enemy that you have ran out of ammos either. In a

Yesterday when I was attending the opening ceremony of StoryLINES I can’t help but notice a certain number of students with placin Aurora. On the third of July, he was shot dead ards on their necks walking around the venue when two armed men forcefully entered the office of of the exhibit. It somehow read that they want ABI. to be a member of a certain organization in According to ABI chair Joseph Canlas, Wilhelthe Ateneo. However, it felt wrong on my part mus’ work for oppressed farmers could have led to somehow offending to a certain point that his death. The police, however, perceive the case as a they submit themselves to such attention. simple robbery despite the death threats sent to the I was also a member of an organization victim months before the crime.

Beng, Chris, Gerry and Wilhelmus are only few a few years back. I am all familiar of these of the many victims of extrajudicial killing (EJK) things and how you are “initiated” within the in the Philippines. Too many that we got used to it; organization you are trying to go into. Back too many that it began sinking to the consciousness then maybe out of my naiveté and eventual of Filipinos that EJK’s are “usual”. Too many that it weakness to belong, I have submitted to such became the “fate” of every activist and militant to be things like wearing a ribbon to tell everyone killed. Too many that the victims became a part of the data, the shallow history. Like what Joseph Stalin that I was a pledgee or a neophyte. I had to said, “The death of one man is tragedy, the death of bow or greet senior members and submit to millions is a statistic.” their orders from time to time. But we were In all areas, this behavior becomes very disturbnever required to wear big placards on our ing. The Commission on Human Rights itself admitted that no single human rights violator was arrested necks telling people that we are currently under initiation. nor jailed. Wilhelmus Geertman is the 13th victim of EJK under the administration of President Benigno It is dismaying to see such things still Aquino III, 322nd only from 2001. proliferate up until the time of Facebook and The Human Rights Watch, a human rights group the social network of today, in which we have based on New York, sees the Philippines a favorite thought that people have been more critical of subject of study because in this country, crimes are such small slights on the human person and snubbed and killers are free. his ability of free will. A look back in history, There were many names, there were different in Nazi Germany, Jews were made to wear stories. But all of those lurked under the rack of unsolved cases, forgotten through days and years. placards on their necks. It says “Juden” or But that’s definitely not life and that’s not the Jew and they were usually subject of ridicule way it should be. We shall not take it as it is. Settle and insults from the populace they were in not with figures and history, because the death of by that time. Most of them were barred from one man is tragedy but the death of millions is an entering certain establishments and denied abomination. of certain rights so to speak. People didn’t do anything because it was the established order, it was policy and it seemed right. At the end of World War II a million Jews were either displaced, missing and eventually were dead.

That was the policy, that seemed normal, that was the established order.

Yesterday, when I was observing those students I’ve mentioned above I can’t help but wonder how it feels like to have that big piece of cardboard on your neck telling this and that. Is it equally justifiable to undergo that that children who receive corporal punishment may much attention so that you can be assessed as resort to more physical aggression, substance abuse, a worthy candidate for that organization? crime and violence later on in their lives a thing rampant but neglected in our country. The only I have always believed that everything advantage of having the corporal punishment is the should be based on merit and value and not immediate solution to correct whatever behavior the some whimsical and capricious display of parents wanted their children to change, based on arrogance that should be the basis of seleca comprehensive dissertation published by Ria Mae Verdolaga, a medical student at the University of the tion for these candidates. The leaders of this Philippines College of Medicine with her other fellow organization should reassess their principles “sisters” in the Mu Sigma Phi sorority on September and the mission of the organization especially 2011 issue of H&L (Health & Lifestyle) magazine. they are in the Ateneo. Can they qualify that In addition to my disappointments, the antiaction under the four C’s that the school subcorporal punishment bill banning all forms of mits itself under? humiliating and degrading punishment for children, Yes, there is free-will and the freedom of is still languishing in the senate for quite a long time choice but choices with merit and standards already. Shame on people who don’t do anything about it. and not of ridicule and the whimsical to a few.

I knew all of these after I had the guts to report We had gone a long way in seeing things, the another incident of castigation against my niece by internet and social media has made our world her mother on a particular weekend. I could not a more connected space. Ideas, concepts, facts bear it anymore. That’s why, while trembling, I took a and information abound at our disposal, on short video clip of it, went to the police station, and our fingertips. presto, summoned a blotter adjacent to my cousin’s The question now lies if we have enough act. I also reported it to Bantay Bata which, after few days, checked the situation of my niece and talked to wisdom in us to make my cousin regarding child abuse. use of these things Quite relieved, my shame plummeted. It downin looking into our graded to a mere guilt. I attempted to wash my hands; however, I forgot the other parts of my being. humanity. Let’s start asking ourOn that same weekend, I recalled that in our place, selves if we are more than child abuses, there are existing drug possessions, illegal water and electric connections, and more than docile rampant gambling. Worse, that same weekend, one sheep meant to of my friends might have beaten a kid by a wood be branded paddle. But I didn’t react upon being aware of these paraded yet. Shame on me. around and I am weakened by my utter realizations of how eventually incapable I am to respond on these things. Weeks passed, but it took me a single weekend of witnesssubjected to the ing a child being beaten in order to respond and carnage of public eliminate my apathy. Still, to contribute a grain of so- mockery and lution to the society as a weakened man, I need more charade. witnessing, more realizations, and indeed, more Last time I checked weekends. For the nth time, I can still tell myself: this is the Ateneo, shame on me. not Nazi Germany.

Remembering

fight, unbalanced or not, the rule is to project confidence no matter what. Now, the China is taking advantage of the situation: that the enemy is already in nationwide panic and scrambling for foreign backup.

Now, the Philippines is creating a perfectly lousy image of itself, made even perfectly lousier by the order of Aquino to retreat from the shoal last June. The last thing the Philippine government should want now is to reveal areas which it has found wanting. Honasan’s suggestion should be thrown into the closest trash bin and not in the next cabinet meeting. Saying that the Philippine ownership of some parts of the South China Sea depends on the “categorical answer” of the US is putting the very essence of sovereignty in a state of confusion. Philippine territory is Philippine territory regardless of whatever country says.

If there is any fact to the claims of the Philippines, then it should be the basis and not some unsolicited go-signal from another country. Now why the US decision has to ride roughshod over the Philippine’s own stand, it’s still a secret. Either there was disruption not only in his communicative abilities but also his thinking abilities or that he’s hinting on the imperialist hand of US over a supposedly free country like ours.

The next step forward is to stop being such a chatterbox and start zipping it. But for months, the Philippine government has been very talkative on the steps the Philippines is taking on the territorial dispute with China. You see, that’s one of the factors that might have spoiled the negotiation. Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang did it. Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Raul Hernandez did it. Honasan did it. Aquino himself did it. Not too long ago, the most basic strategy that everyone often forgets has finally been achieved, however; the Philippine government, after much controversy which arose in the wake of the US spy plane issue, chose to keep it shut. It’s a good idea to keep things secret for now anyway; at least for information that threatens national security.

Although too many beans have already been spilled for the past two months, it’s better late than never.

For the dispute to be solved, diplomacy is the only option the Philippines currently has. It is so because the military has been gathering dust and rumors of corruption for too long. It is so because China can virtually pulverize us in a matter of seconds, which is a fact. But then again, diplomacy is also an option China must consider. The spoils it will collect are not even half of the cost of a war. Both countries will take a hit on the economy and human development. At the same time, it will galvanize international stability. And China has to put on a fake smile to the international community if it ever plans to be a global leader as well. In other words, it has to follow international rules at the very least, which apparently doesn’t include pulverizing an entire country.

Whether the US believes it or not, the Philippines should have a go at it peacefully. Turn the table around and argue from a legal standing; not only because that’s the right thing to do but also because there’s no other available standing at the moment.

Either that or we let ourselves be pulverized, kaput, in one single strike. I wonder what sounds better.

Sighing, I began to write this note. I just got home from visiting a friend at Funeraria Imperial. After months of battling Liver Sorosis, her dad passed away.

I don’t intend to write about him since all I know is that he’s a friend’s father. It was the first time I saw him then; he was inside the coffin, lying, breathless.

I don’t intend to write about death either but it speaks of something disturbing. Oftentimes I would ask myself what if it’s my turn and why does one have to die. Lazy of finding a decent answer, I’d just say, ganun yata talaga. That’s life and that’s just the way it is. Take it as it is.

So here I am, left with wonders. How does it feel losing someone not because he was sick, not because he had to leave but because he was deprived of living.

Because he fought for something, his life was taken without hesitations. This, I never felt. But the pain might be like tearing you limb by limb.

There were many names I knew, there were different stories I heard. Sometimes they call them leftists, propagandists, the state’s enemy, pests. I call them brave, martyrs, movers, victims. Let’s call them Beng Hernandez, Chris Hugo, Gerry Ortega and Wilhelmus Geertman.

There were many names, there were different stories. But all of those lurked under the rack of unsolved cases, forgotten through days and years.

Ganun yata talaga.

All stories are worth the tell. I will give you theirs.

In 2002, Benjaline (Beng) was the Vice President for Mindanao of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP). She was from Ateneo de Davao and a literature student. With a heart and spirit of an Atenean, she also worked as the Deputy Secretary General of the human rights group Karapatan-Southern Mindanao. On the fifth of April, Beng, along with

three others, were brutally killed while conducting a research on human rights situation in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato. They were allegedly shot by members of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu). 10 years later, still no one was sent to jail.

On his way home on March 2006, Chris was shot by two unknown assailants. He was then 20 years old and an active student leader in Bicol University.

A journalism student and a pronounced activist, he involved himself in fighting for the rights and welfare of his fellow students. Rallies and commemorations were held, the case was never surrendered, but six years later, no one was sent to jail.

Last year, an environmentalist and radio commentator named Gerry was also added to the list of names under unsolved extrajudicial killings. He consistently opposed large-scale mining in Palawan and was lauded for his campaigns against corruption.

One morning after his radio broadcast, he was about to prepare to launch the “Ten Million Signatures for the Banning of Mining in Palawan” in Manila when two men riding in a motorcycle shot him at the back of the head. Rodolfo Edrad Jr., former bodyguard of ex-governor Joel Reyes, confessed to having directed the killing of Ortega and pointed Reyes as the mastermind. But a year later, the noise of justice vanished, the suspects are still at large, no one was sent to jail.

Last month, Wilhelmus, a Dutch missionary living in the Philippines for four decades, was not able to escape the claws of fascism. He served as the executive director of Alay-Bayan Luson Inc (ABI), a non-government organization helping communities in Northern and Central Luzon. He is also described as an anti-mining and environmental activist. For this, he helped natives in their issues on land. Wilhelmus has also been vigilant on the case of big logging

Shame on me “The world is a dangerous place to live in; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”Albert Einstein There’s a girl who used to cry aloud. She’s always beaten, hit, and spanked not by the military, not by the criminal, not by the syndicate, but rather by her own mom. That said girl is my niece, a three-year old child.

For the past weeks, I’ve been hearing that child’s cry. I’ve been attending the school like before. I’ve been becoming so numb as well. For the past weeks, I should have been ashamed of myself.

While I was busy researching about stuff like Corona’s trial, Scarborough Shoal, Kto12, Oil Deregulation law, Freedom from Religious Act, Higgs Boson, Conrado de Quiros and Randy David’s columns, among others, I also became unconsciously aloof with this child who often sobs at the corner, bearing the pain caused by her mother’s so-called disciplinary act. Shame on me.

While I get easily agitated by social issues I mentioned, I am hardly provoked by this experiential conflict that I am aware of. While I get easily provoked to speak against the government failures, I hardly spoke for an innocent child who’s being castigated by her mother, by my own cousin. I tolerated this happening despite the fact that we’re living under the same roof. Again, shame on me.

After my father passed away last 26 May due to cancer, my female cousin, along with her daughter and live-in partner, has been residing in the house owned by our aunt wherein I myself also reside at.

My aunt, my late father, and my cousin’s late father are siblings.

Since then, there have been tears in our house, tears from a typical child who’s being beaten.

Weakened, she weeps but there’s nobody to wipe her tears away. Her mother frequently plays bingo and gambles all day. By “frequently,” I mean almost every day. She gambles with my other two pregnant teenage cousins and with our other jobless neighbors inside our house. Most of the players are housewives. They gamble while sitting on the floor and while their kids (at the age bracket of 1 to 4) are playing around.

When their children become too naughty, their mothers immediately scold them in a violent manner.

They hit, spank, slap, pinch, or beat them either by their hands or other tools such as stick, broom, slippers and belt. These kids would of course automatically cry like pigs on a slaughterhouse. The parents would tell these kids to stop crying, or else they’ll get beaten again. It’s so annoying to hear at first, but appears ordinary as it repeatedly happens. This is the sad reality, at least a norm. The sadder thing is that I have tolerated this to happen for the past weeks (and years perhaps). Well again, shame on me.

I suddenly remember that I am a writer and an education student who is against violence. I also remember how my advocacies, one by one, slapped my face when I saw myself allowing my cousin to physically abuse her own daughter. I realized that while I was busy solving calculus III equations, I could not even solve a problem rooted in the place I live in. I realized that while I’m fond of getting statistic reports in my head, I really never cared to digest the figures.

Statistically, Filipino children experience punishment at home 85 percent (%) of the time and that 65% of them have received spanking as a form of castigation according to a study conducted by Save the Children Philippines, a nongovernmental organization crusading against child abuse. During my childhood years, I have also experienced similar atrocity for many times that those seemingly became normal.

Albeit, when a person experiences the statistics in his life, at least a part of it speaks “Hey now, you already knew that I am real.” I am also fond of reading about laws and bills. They were plain dead jargons before; however, after that child touched my sleeping empathy, these laws and bills suddenly turned into zombies that haunt me till I sleep at night, particularly laws about children’s rights.

Regarding this, I did a research and got dismayed that in spite of the existing laws against child abuse, spanking is still an accepted form of disciplinary act here in the Philippines. In a 1996 study, the researchers reported that children who experience corporal punishment are more likely to become temperamental as adults, who also use spanking as a form of disciplining their own children in the future. They tend to strike their spouses more, and experience marital discord.

In another study, it was also similarly reported

INQUIRY

T

he dispute had now begun to heat up in earnest. Ever since the standoff between China and the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal, all things had been drowned in a grey turbid, through which only the dim outlines of the claimants loomed. However, the United States, at the start of its visiting to different nations, even heaped the pressure on both countries with its bellicose, stealthy posture.

In 2011, amid the increasing tensions, US President Barack Obama announced that the US needed to make “a strategic pivot”—also called the “Asia pivot”—in its foreign policy, where the planned dynamic will be to downscale the United States’ presence in the Middle East and Afghanistan, and to invest more and pay greater attention to the AsiaPacific, particularly Southeast Asia, over the next decade.

Much of this means refurbishing US bases that were abandoned since World War II or since the Vietnam War. The so-called “Asia pivot” is a policy enforced by the US that involves surging American military presence throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines.

However, a recent report from the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS), a public policy research institution dedicated to analysis and policy impact, said that “signs of potential harsh reaction are already detectable.”

There have been an outpouring of anti-American protests in China. These even triggered the country’s reaction on the issue at a time when China is preparing for a new leadership. Hence, the new leadership will be torn between squaring off its shoulders and

standing up to the US or to succumb.

In effect, the China will bolster its force against the weaker countries which it can “bully”—such as the Philippines— now that the Scarborough Shoal dispute is still at peak.

This even heated up when the US took a spot in the issue during the Scarborough Shoal dispute, not as a mediator, but a party with an unsolicited intervention.

Peppered Bases The Asia- Pacific region is a major part of the worldwide network of US bases and facilities. Also, the region is considered “strategic” because it enables the US to extend its reach far beyond its own shores.

Indeed, countries like Hawaii, Guam, Philippines, South Korea, and Japan, being among the transit points for troops and military supplies for wars where US is involved, have been key training grounds for the Iraq War. In the Philippines, Clark Air Base which is situated in Subic is a former US Air Force (USAF). It became an American military facility from 1903 to 1991. However, on the same year, following the departure of American forces, the base eventually became the site for Diosdado Macapagal International Airport and the Clark Freeport Zone.

Meantime, the US Naval Base Subic Bay became the largest US Navy installation in the Pacific and

Asia Pivot: Why US move

is a bomb waiting to explode Words| Kristiana Michaela P. Embate Art| Lorenzo Luna, contributor

was the largest overseas military installation of the USAF. Eight years after the closure of US military bases in the Philippines in 1991, the Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) entered into force on 27 May 1999. It eventually governed the treatment of US servicemen in military units and defense personnel who are in the Philippine territory for joint military exercises, approved by both the Philippine and US governments.

Cultivation prospect While the idea is to have the US bases peppered throughout the region, CSIS said that the “Asia pivot” has increased the tensions between China and its weaker neighbors like the Philippines because of America’s underlying motive, aimed at beating China over cultivating the region’s raw materials which is fast becoming scarce in the Middle East.

Potential prospects of gas, minerals, and most especially, oil in the Scarborough Shoal increased the value of the territory for the several countries which have been claiming it even from the outset.

The territory is one of the heavily-traveled maritime lanes and rich fishing grounds.

With the natural wealth embedded in the region and the mineral resources in the Middle East scarce, the Scarborough Shoal is one territory prospect for a new cultivation of minerals. Argu-

ably, the US will make use of its allies throughout the Asia-Pacific region with its military bases situated near the region to effectively cultivate the potential resources.

Scheming with Asean Since 2011, the US increased its relations with Southeast Asia in a number of symbolic and important ways.

Most recently, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) ministerial meeting this year in Phnom Penh, carrying with her the will of the US to push for closer ties with the Asean.

The action serves as the reaffirmation of the US to its commitment to Southeast Asia. Furthermore, it vowed to pursue greater involvement in various areas of concern across the region.

Clinton, though not directly mentioning the ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China, has urged Asean “to clearly outline its position on the Scarborough Shoal” and to “complete a regional code of conduct in a timely fashion.” This was according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs last 12 July. page 11