ThePILLARS June-October 2017

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ThePILLARS Publication

June - October Issue

EDITORIAL

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ThePILLARS Since 1961

Raul Rodriguez, AB ‘63 First Editor EDITORIAL BOARD AY 2017-2018 EXECUTIVE BOARD Miguel Enrico Imperial Editor in Chief Donna Rose Fraginal Associate Editor Jhoan Villanueva Managing Editor Ralph Raye Filio Art and Design Director Angelica Rebeta Digital Media Director SECTION EDITORS Jaira Kim Linatoc News Editor Ramon Emmanuel Salvadora OIC Features Editor Jastine Escuro (on leave) Features Editor Mary Joy Gasis Inquiry Editor

Feel all fields The best movements are the ones that do not end. Umbrella issues like world peace, social awareness, and proper governance have issues under them; each intricately tied to each other.

In most cases, people just pick a couple of issues and forget that the rest exist.

One cannot fight for gender equality while disregarding Muslim discrimination; one cannot fight for human rights of drug addicts while disregarding the fallen soldiers in Marawi. “Cannot” may imply an either-or situation, but it actually is. The concept of betterment in society is like a puzzle; it is foolish to complete it with lacking pieces. It is either a complete puzzle or not.

Last July, Ateneans celebrated Pride Month with absolute color and vigor. An indicator of a “modern” Philippines: an LGBTQIA+ celebration inside a Catholic institute.

Empowerment was made through parade, poetry, and preaches, but after the festivity, did the fight continue or was it a one-time matter?

The danger with short-term

movements is that they become the easy alternative to dedicated movements. Cohesion is not achieved when people go on separate directions.

Current social arrangements are more than meet the senses; some are arranged because of how others are arranged. It is a sequence; an ecosystem within an ecosystem. That is why after parades and spoken poetries, never let the agitation fade. Problems always have a common ground.

Let that remind everyone that no issue is an island.

The Marawi conflict, the Martial Law extension, and the shameless Muslim discrimination go on – issues forgotten out of ignorance.

The problems need the same people who fight for awareness and acceptance – ultimately for peace. The island longing for autonomy is the same narrative as the girl-loving-girl longing for acceptance.

With clearer eyes, one can see how issues connect, crossroads emerge, and movements unite… or one will know about the cam-

pus guard who lost a relative in the clash.

The problem is the emotional proximity we have on these issues.

We cannot feel for the unknown, and this is where education plays a vital role. On 3 August, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Free Education Bill into law, making state colleges and universities tuition-free1, making education for everyone and not one for every 10 students2. But, does tertiary education, and its instructors, show how cruel our socio-economic and political factors are?

Ask yourself: when was the last time there was a dedicated classroom discussion to the question of poverty gap? And when was the last time you answered with vague motherhood statements?

“Stricter implementation of rules,” “livelihood programs,” and “donation of housing materials and water pumps.” The approach most students have on poverty is to see it as just a lack of tangible materials – even generosity has become materialistic and selfish. It should be taught in classrooms that problems do not just rise on their own.

They come into existence based on the preceding existence of the same matter.

ABOUT THE COVER

The problem with problems are that they narrow down vision. It becomes an exclusive ordeal: the person versus the problem. But in this world, such ordeal leads to a greater evil, apathy.

We will always have students separated from the marginalized as long as textbooks will deal with, for example, agrarian dilemma in passing, often crudely simplifying it to lack of technology and unpredictable climate.

Lessons should be inclusive. Let a fisherman teach or let the students fish for a day. Images and explanations work, but it is experience that sticks.

This is the challenge for students today: know the reality outside of their own. People will settle in their niches and see the problems in it as the only gap between them and a better society.

Niche activism gives purpose to people and specializes roles, but as graduate Remontados debater Franklin Berdin said, “[S]elective activism destroys the whole definition of what activism should really be.”

The call for student leaders is not anymore to promote social awareness among their constituents, but rather, to orient them of the inseparability of each issues.

We look up and it is the same umbrella we are all beneath in.

Sources: 1 http://cnnphilippines.com/ news/2017/08/04/president-rodrigo-duterte-free-tuition-bill-law.html

The key to sympathy is emotional proximity. To gain closer distance, one must recognize the similarities among issues. Then we change the ordeal: the people versus the Problems.

Words by Miguel Imperial | Artwork by Jan Joseph Goingo

Alexander Matthew Dy Research Director Kimberly Luciano Head Photojournalist Mel Norman Cortez Head Videojournalist EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jaira Kim Linatoc Angelica Rebeta Associate Managing Editors Jerahmiel Navo Associate Art and Design Director Alman Larcena Circulation Manager PUBLICATION STAFF Jason Clyde Bayta Rachel Ruth De Vera Pamela Stephanie Ferrer (on leave) Vanessa Trixie Leah filio Merialle Jardinel Jerry Pasobillo Writers Van Jose Martinez Nico Jeffrey Abendanio Photojournalists Mikko Jean Paragas Layout Artist APPRENTICES Christian Jessie Bala Dessa Mae Broncate Martin Cris Buenafe Jessie De Lima Athena Joie Pili Writers Kristel Nicole Beltrano Photojournalist

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https://psa.gov.ph/content/ out-school-children-and-youth-philippines-results-2013-functional-literacy-education-and

Issues like gender confusion and academic struggles – problems that the youth is constantly in battle with – often blind students of problems in the bigger picture. There is always a common theme that unifies problem that seem distant, and with the proper literature, exposure, and analysis, one may see it.

The writers, artists, and photographers behind this June-October issue seeks to present the theme which all problems adhere to. All 16 pages serve as a printed reminder that we students should look beyond our woes and connecting it with others’. Our contractual janitors, our impoverished neighbors, and our underpaid teachers, these people are among the many victims of selfish cultures, policies, and authorities.

Grace Margaret Jaucian Literary Editor

ThePILLARS IS ONLINE. Follow us on:

Ramon Emmanuel Salvadora Videojournalist Michaela Bitabara Jane Carla Ebalo Cartoonist Patrick Gutierrez Copyreader

instagram.com/thepillarspub twitter.com/thepillarspub facebook.com/thepillarspub thepillarspublication.com

SENIOR EDITORS Althea Abergos Jan Joseph Goingo Vince Sagala Moderator Dennis B. Gonzaga, M.A.

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NEWS

June - October Issue

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Pride celebration raises LGBT consciousness

By Alexander Matthew Dy

Radiant Revolt. June being declared as International Pride Month, students marched around the university signifying a movement towards better gender awareness.

Photos by Miguel Imperial and Jeffrey Nico Abendanio

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ance Center (CGC) have stated that there has been no recorded incident of discrimination against LGBTQIA+ students. “That’s why I perceive that Ateneo is supportive of LGBT’s concerns and issues,” CGC Guidance Counselor Elizaldy Raro emphasized. If there are unreported cases of gender-related bullying or microaggression, OSA Director Rodolfo SB. Virtus Jr. clarified, The Pride celebration was in “They really have to take courage line with the SSG Office of the Ex- in reporting because that’s the only ternal Vice-President’s plan to ini- time we can act on any complaint.” tiate events and programs every Another LGBTQIA+ 3rd year month for various advocacies and AB Political Science student exissues. pressed that there is no systematic attack on the LGBTQIA+ communiCelebrating pride To promote the Pride March, ty, only case-to-case incidences of the SSG reached out to different homophobia. “Siguro, the better school organizations that contribut- question is ‘What can we do?’ What ed to the bulk of the Pride March’s should we do,” he suggested. He participants. Discussing the signifi- also added that people who make cance of the Pride March, SSG Ex- homophobic or sexist remarks ternal Vice-President Karla Baduria should be reproached and that said, “Some people are saying that these instances should be used it’s just a spectacle. I think it’s very as opportunities to initiate discusimportant to emphasize the exis- sions. tence of safe spaces.”

Policies and progress As to the school’s policies, On the other hand, the SOGIE seminar, which was conducted at some SSG officials consider the no the Xavier Hall by Fe Din, a profes- cross-dressing policy as repressive sor from the Social Sciences De- and discriminatory. According to partment, tackled the myriad topics Mar Ampongan, Undersecretary of concerning gender, sexuality, and the Office of the External Vice-Presthe LGBTQIA+. Baduria assert- ident, prohibiting cross-dressing ed that one must first understand and having a prescribed uniform an issue that people are going for a particular gender suppresses through before they forward any a student’s right to freedom of exaction; a sentiment which was one pression. of the reasons behind the SOGIE “I do not think [that] it is a vioseminar. lation of their rights because it is a school policy. They can cross-dress Community’s condition “Para sako, Ateneo is generally during probably affairs or events accepting of the LGBTQIA+ com- but as a uniform, that cannot be munity in the sense na there is no done,” claimed Raro, explaining widespread overt discrimination,” that opinions on clothing may an LGBTQIA+ 3rd year BS Psychol- change but policies are policies ogy student said. However, she and should therefore be observed. observed the presence of “microMeanwhile, Baduria asserts that aggression,” which rampantly manifests itself in students or teachers the current state of school policies using words like “gay” or “bakla” in is indicative of its lack of support.

“You can’t just say that you’re proa derogatory manner.

LGBTQIA+ without it reflecting in Both the Office of Student Af- policies,” maintained Baduria. She fairs (OSA) and the College Guid- also explained that the school’s adn celebration of Pride month, the Supreme Student Government (SSG) held two events: the Pride March on 22 June and a Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) seminar on 30 June. Both of which aimed to increase awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community and promote their acceptance in the university.

ministration is merely tolerant and that in order for the university to be LGBTQIA+ friendly, it needs to be more progressive in its policies.

aside from its role of implementing school policies, can also move for revisions. However, he adds that they are still quite limited since there are other institutions Towards acceptance that have to be part of the deciTo make changes in policy, Vir- sion-making body. tus stated that the LGBTQIA+ community in the university needs to “The fact na merong committee, organize themselves to better ar- ang reading ko diyan, welcome din ticulate their concerns, and to for- ‘yung other ideas and concepts,” mally lobby for revisions in policy. Raro clarified when asked whether the administration should be open Virtus clarified that the OSA, to such changes in policy. He also

added that revisions should be consistent with the country’s existing laws and should thus be evaluated by the school’s lawyer.

However, Ampongan is optimistic about proposing revisions to the uniform policy, citing the admin’s enthusiastic support during the preparations for the Pride march.

He adds, “Para sakin, hindi hindrance ang religion sa pagsuporta sa kahit anong gender.”

Along with the call for peace

Ateneo prompts aid for Marawi

By Jerry Pasobillo and Merielle Jardinel | With Reports From Jaira Kim Linatoc

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records increased. Due to the ter- were facilitated by the SSG. ror that the war brings, some resi- Tagged as “Pray for Marawi,” the first prayer rally was held at PlaAs terrorist attacks dents even fled the city. za Quezon on 25 May wherein transpired in Marawi City, AteResponding to the war, the uni- students from other universities neo de Naga University stood in support of Marawi in fighting for versity created a relief operation, and colleges in Naga have also peace. The Ateneo community and promoted awareness of the Is- participated. outpoured its support through ac- lamic population in the Philippines. “[W]e want to show that the tivities organized to help the vicAll for Marawi Ateneo community and other tims of the war-torn city.

The Supreme Student Govern- Naga schools, colleges, and ment (SSG) opened a donation universities are one with Marawi The onset of terror It was on 23 May that the war- drive for the victims of the Marawi City,” Chancoco stated. fare in Marawi started when the conflict. The announcement was The second prayer rally was homegrown Maute terror group made online; the said project was burned down a few of the es- open for all who wished to drop off held at the Four Pillars on 16 June, led by outgoing University tablishments in the city. Later any donations.

President Fr. Primitivo E. Viray, that evening, President Rodrigo “Aside from our social media ac- Jr., SJ. Participants stated their Duterte declared Martial Law in the whole Mindanao for not more counts, we gave letters to the pres- messages to end the war and idents [of various organizations], bring peace to all the victims. than 60 days. asking help from their members to Both prayer rallies concluded According to a Social Sciences give what they can and what they Department faculty, that kind of have,” former SSG President Kath- with a candle lighting event. terrorist attack stems from con- erine Chancoco said.

Aside from these, the SSG tention for territory in which reThe Center for Community De- also organized “Letters of sources could be obtained. velopment (CCD) also organized Hope,” in which they have col“[T]heir plan was to actually a donation campaign, “Agap At- lected letters and cards from the have an Islamic province in Lanao. enista: Tabang Marawi,” inside the Ateneo community that were So, ang pinakagusto talaga nila campus. The campaign, which last- sent to the displaced residents ay magkaroon ng sariling terito- ed until 16 June, collected a total and victims of the siege. Chanamount of Php43,100 which was coco explained that although ryo,” the faculty explained. then deposited to the Xavier Uni- they recognized the basic needs of the victims, words are also esAs the siege continued, more versity in Cagayan de Oro City. sential to empower them. civilians were being involved, and Moreover, two prayer rallies the number of victims and death >> page 5 e stand with Marawi.”

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ThePILLARS Publication

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NEWS

June - October Issue

University projects launched to improve Ateneo

By Jaira Kim Linatoc and Ralph Raye Filio

RFID transition The Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) system was introduced as a transition from the old barcode type IDs. According to Administrative Services Director Bro. Raymund Belleza, SJ, this is for the monitoring of the entry-exit procedure at the gates, and the centralization of the school records. It is dubbed as the University Integrated Information System (UIIS).

The expected changes will undergo different stages. In the implementation stage, the first function to be perfected is the entry and exit system which is expected next semester.

When students tap on the reader, their picture and basic information are displayed on the monitor.

With this, the guards are assured that the students are using their own ID when entering the campus. It was also explained that visitors will utilize the RFID within the campus.

Furthermore, the gates will undergo expansion and renovation to prepare for the installation of the RFID scanners. The Administrative Services also plans to place an RFID scanner at the center of the gates for use by drivers.

The implementation, however, raised some concerns. During the release of the printed RFID handled

by OSA, some students encountered complications. One was the typographical errors of names, and other erroneous information. Another concern was the double-charging of students who availed the new RFID earlier last year. OSA Director Rodolfo SB. Virtus Jr. clarified that if such issues occur, students should immediately drop by at their office to solve the matter.

The next phase is the integration of the systems. Belleza said that at present, the offices in Ateneo, such as the Registrar’s, Treasurer’s, and the Library, have their own systems. However, once the integration of the database is finished, it will be easier for offices to access student information, Belleza explained.

As an example, Belleza described what would happen to the student validation process after the UIIS’s completion: “[O]nce you pay already in your last enrolment…you don’t need to be validated already [at] Registrar.”

However, in the UIIS, privileges and access rights are observed for security purposes. “The accounts of faculty using the system can access only the data of their department. They can, for example, view only the list of students enrolled in their department,” MIS Head Ray

Vidallo clarified.

The first systems to be centralized will be the Registrar’s Office and the Treasurer’s Office.

For future iterations of the RFID and UIIS, the following changes are also expected: single sign-on, a unified employee web portal, a myAdNU library record integration, and Treasurer’s office, Human Resource Management Office, and O’Brien Library systems integration.

Lockers for rent To answer the demands for a secure storage area, the Administrative Services together with OSA introduced the student lockers. It was highlighted during “Osipon: Dialogue Series” held on 8 July 2016 at the Instructional Media Center that there would be 1,000 lockers as the initial target number.

However, only 20 cabinets equating to 300 lockers were acquired this semester. Out of these, 120 slots were availed by individuals and pairs who utilized the buddy system. The said project is open to both college and senior high school students. This is facilitated by OSA, contrary to the initial plan that the Supreme Student Government (SSG) would handle the lockers.

Communication student said that the stairs at the building are too narrow, resulting in congestion.

Flooding around the building was also a concern. Furthermore, he said that their classes were distracted because of the noise coming from the construction and the loud activities held at the covered courts.

Reacting to this, Belleza said,“Maybe the only solution is to regulate the activities sa covered courts.” He also asked students to be more patient.

Meanwhile, Belleza clarified some concerns regarding the features of Alingal building. According to him, everyone has the privilege to use the elevator but elders should be a priority. He also stated that the library was only intended for College of Law students. “It is also a requirement for the Legal Education Board that the Law students should have their own library,” he explained.

He also specified that the mock

hotel at the fifth floor is for Entrepreneurial Tourism students and for guests. Moreover, the building has a 350-seater conference hall, which opened last October.

plained that the cistern will store the water and will pump out from the Entrepreneur Building to the covered courts.

The Admin Services also signed Future plans and projects an 18-year rent-to-own contract in Belleza further discussed the purchasing a solar panel planned future plans and projects for the for installation. It is estimated to university. incur Php7 per kilowatt, with 100 kilowatts maximum capacity that It is proposed to replace the would power three to four buildprojectors in all the classrooms ings. The target buildings include in the university with flat screen Alingal, Bonoan, Covered Courts, televisions since they are less ex- and Burns. pensive. Belleza also stated that the implementation of this will be Meanwhile, Belleza confirmed gradual and done per building. that the wooden parts of the Main Right building will be demolished This proposition is supported soon as it was declared by the by a 2nd year BS Developmen- Bureau of Fire Protection as a fire tal Communication student. “Mas hazard: “Once…the senior high and magayon kaya sa mata ‘tong flat the college [students] would have screen kesa projector kasi mas their full complement, then I think malinaw,” he stated. we could already demolish it,” he asserted. He clarified, however, Meanwhile, with regards to the that its façade will be maintained. problem of flooding in the campus, the Administrative Services Lastly, the new Senior High decided to have a cistern pump School building is planned for conto resolve such issue. Belleza ex- struction in 2019.

OSA considered different measures to ensure the safety of students’ valuables, such as placing lockers near CCTV-equipped areas and distributing lockers per building. Another measure was the orientation for the locker subscribers about maintaining their compartment, safeguarding their valuables, and how shared lockers work for buddy systems.

In renting the lockers for a semester, a Php500 fee is paid in cash. To clarify why charging-toaccount was not utilized, Virtus explained the problem: “This is not going to be prioritized in terms of pagsingil. So, possibly na malugi ang Ateneo kasi last siyang sisingilin as there are many other charges.”

He also pointed out that the proceeds of this “profit-making initiative” will go to the student development fund to support future student services such as the possibility of acquiring more lockers with larger compartments.

Fr. Godofredo Alingal building “It was really the Alingal building. Marami pang area na hindi nalilinis at nahanda,” Belleza said, explaining the delay of classes during the start of the semester.

He said that construction of the building was delayed because of the typhoon that happened last December 2016. Because of this, the target date of finishing the building, 31 May 2017, was not met.

Issues and concerns were raised after the opening of Alingal building.

A 2nd year BS Development

Saving the rest. In response to the cut trees in front of Starbucks Coffee in Magsaysay, concerned citizens tie ribbons on trees marked for cutting. The local government, DPWH, and DENR Naga have given a go-signal to cut trees for a road expansion project. As of now, there is still a Temporary Environmental Protection Order protecting the trees for further cutting until a court decision is made.

Photo by Miguel Imperial

FROM THE DESK

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n line with the Corporate Plan (CORPLAN) 2020, the Administrative Services, in collaboration with Management Information System (MIS) and Office of Students Affairs (OSA), introduced the new projects for the university this academic year.

This semester proved to be eventful: the drug-related killings now surpassed 3,000, the invasion in Marawi that led to military rule implementation, and the first term of Fr. Roberto Exequiel N. Rivera, SJ, as the 4th University President.

All these have significantly shaped us and our coming years and it should be. The country, with frequent entry of a new or resurfaced controversial issue, needs citizens who are wary of what is happening around them; and inquisitive of the depths below.

The Philippines is now in a tumultuous time requiring the media in all its capacity and capability to rigorously keep an eye on democracy.

The editors and staff of ThePILLARS Publication would like to apologize for the late release of our June-October issue. We have encountered some unexpected problems on manpower and policy, and it will not be repeated again. Should you have any concerns, please let us know by messaging us on our Facebook page. Thank you.

We would also like to extend our sympathy to the friends and family of Jorge Bolalin. May his demise also serve as a reminder for everyone to spread mental health awareness.

ThePILLARS Publication

June - October Issue

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NEWS

RAYTERISTA 9 Region-wide Campus Press Convention Sun Valley and Jaass Beach Resort, Bacacay, Albay 12 -14 January 2017

INDIVIDUAL CONTESTS Renz Marion Benosa 1st place | Photojournalism (Filipino) Ralph Raye Filio 1st place | Editorial Cartooning (English) 2nd place | Digital Graphics Design 3rd Highest Individual Pointer Vanessa Trixie Leah Filio 4th place | Flash Fiction Van Jose Martinez 2nd Place | Photojournalism (English)

Remembering Jesse. Vice-President and wife of the late Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo released a white dove from captivity as a symbolism of peace and solitude on 20 August during his 5th death anniversary commemoation. The commemoration remembered Jesse’s simplicity, good governance, and honesty; values that every leader should have said the VP Robredo.

Photo by Miguel Imperial

>> page 3

On Martial Rule According to a Social Sciences Department faculty, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution states that there are only two grounds in declaring Martial Law. First, if there is an invasion; second, if there is rebellion and in case any of the two grounds threatens public safety. The faculty also believes that indeed the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao stands on a valid ground.

“Obviously, the public safety requires na magkaigwa ning sarong contingency from the government para ma-stop ‘tong uprising [invasion] na ‘to. Rebellion and public safety require that as of the moment,” the faculty explained.

However, according to umbrella organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Bicol), Martial Law is not the solution for the current situation

in Marawi. Spokesperson Nelsy Rodriguez added in their official statement that numerous all-out wars and counterinsurgency operations have also been imposed by past administrations, but that they never really catered in solving the problems of poverty and warfare in Mindanao.

Furthermore, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) - Camarines Sur Chapter, a nationwide alliance of student publications, strongly condemned the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao. According to CEGP, it never really benefited the country dated back in history. According to the alliance, it will just serve as a deterrent to citizen’s call for peace based on justice.

As for the Ateneo community, their call was to end the terrorism and have peace in Marawi.

The ADNU-SSG, on their of-

ficial statement, stated that although they recognized the declaration of Martial Law in Marawi as constitutional, they condemn the said declaration until it is proven justified and pro-people.

Call to Ateneans “There are a lot of ways Ateneans can help. ‘Yung matutulong na lang natin bukod sa physical donation, makialam pa sa bayan.

Kasi for how many years marami nang natulog sa kangkungan.

Kung aayusin natin ang pagtingin natin sa bayan, mas aayos din ang bansa,” a Social Sciences faculty said.

While military intervention is argued as effective for the government during times of terrorist attacks, the rate of deaths and damages in Marawi continued to increase. In solidarity with the families in Marawi, the Ateneo community and other institutions called for unity for the Muslim community.

GROUP CONTESTS ThePILLARS June-July Issue 2016 Tabloid Category Best Layout and Newpaper Graphics Best Opinion/Commentary Page

LUNDUYAN Luzon-Wide Press Convention Malayan College Laguna, Cabuyao, Laguna 5-9 April 2017 Grace Margaret Jaucian 2nd place, Opinion Writing Ray Duovani Regondola 3rd place, Editorial Writing Mary Joy Gasis Finalist, Gawad Eman Lacaba Maikling Kwento

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

Election of Regional and Provincial Officers 8th LIYAB Regional Arts and Journalism Festival Ateneo de Naga University 23-26 February 2017

Looking straight ahead. To show their utmost devotion to Ina as well as promoting unity and camaraderie, around 700 schools all over the Bicol region participated in the 2017 Regional Military Parade last Peñafrancia Festival held on 15 September in Plaza Quezon, Naga City.

Photo by Kimberly Luciano

Jhoan Villanueva CEGP Bicol Chairperson Jastine Joy Escuro CEGP Camarines Sur Vice Chairperson

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

Election of National Officers 76th National Schools Press Conference and 38th Biennial Student Press Congress West Visayas State University, Iloilo City 3-7 August 2016 Jan Joseph Goingo CEGP Vice-President for Luzon

ThePILLARS Publication

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June - October Issue

FEATURES

When Three Reap from Where One Sows

F

rom showbiz to politics, the tabloids disclose information to information; you find yourself torn by the diversity of its impact depending on the audience.

Sometimes you come across articles with a word count of a thousand and more, tackling one sent e n c e state-

ments.

But then, they’re p o s s i b l y skewed into one particular p e r s p e c t i v e.

While there are a multitude of views existing, we come across these three in particular.

The Roosters’ Cackle and My Favorite Sickle are my Two Best Friends Before the roosters cackle for everyone to rise, they make sure that they themselves are awake first. They come out of their coop despite the darkness, they let me into my reveries for a little while before they “Tik-tilaOoOok!” to fulfill their service as a four a.m. wake up call before the sun starts to peek through t h e

By Grace Margaret Jaucian

horizon. The outlines of my little house in this village are still indiscernible, but I know the way to my crops by heart. By the time I finish checking the rice paddies, there is enough light to see the path back home. As soon as I have my coffee and stretch, my back feels better, free from the soreness of regularly hunching,

even with just a cup of morning placebo.

friend who is scrolling through her phone too.

“BREAKING NEWS: In a senate meeting, Senator Cynthia Villar stated that she is against Unli-rice because she wants to promote a healthy lifestyle for Filipinos and that over consumption of rice could make one diabetic.”

“I know right?! Mema lang ‘yan.”

I take a deep breath; I think my back ache is creeping in again. It must be my old and sturdy couch.

The

morning TV is no better either; s o m e politicians could trigger headaches.

“Good morning, po! I need to go to school now.”

My daughter offers me her hand, asking for her daily allowance. I reach for my pocket and hand her a 20 peso bill. I remind her to save up too, as always.

She never complains; she kisses me on the cheek to bid goodbye.

Maybe one day, I could reach my pockets for more than twenty peso bills. Proper salary is so rare these days, so are cheap fertilizers. It seems as if the only thing that could keep up with time is my aging.

Put Yourself in my 5,000-Peso-Shoes “My god!

These internet activists totally need to chill!”

I say to my best

She agrees to everything. I mean, the Senator has a point, health is a legitimate concern anyway. I really don’t understand why some people are so triggered about everything, they make the internet so toxic, and they also spam my time line away from the latest update about Game of Thrones.

Sometimes I wonder if she ever gets bored of sitting around, gossiping, and scrolling through our phones—I do. But it seems as if there’s nothing more entertaining these days, nothing to keep me from being idle. Oh well, at least I’m comfortable this way. I should be thankful—I don’t have to work my ass off on anything.

The Roots of Who I Am The four corners of our classroom hardly embody a class without a teacher around. It transitions into a fuss as rowdy as a market during a Christmas sale. I overhear my classmates yapping about their FB feeds again. Today, their topic is the Unli-Rice Ban. I think we need to understand that while others have to adjust their bour-

I see that their Twitter feeds must be outdated; people seem so woke there lately that political Olympics can now be easily found online. I don’t know— does their rage count when it’s only linked to the inconveniences they hate to suffer, sparing no thought for those farmers who will be affected? Or, has it always worked that way anyway?

“Cynthia Villar clarifies ‘Unli-rice Ban remarks.” I come across this headline while scrolling through Inquirer News, ““I just voiced out my concern that eating too much rice is one of the main causes of high blood sugar that leads to diabetes,” said Sen. Cynthia Villar, Senate agriculture and food committee chair, in a statement.”” My father must have sighed out of relief; I know I did.

An open letter to the moved and unmoved

By Miguel Enrico Imperial

S

ymbols empower those who seek it. Kian was one and still is.

The transition of the 17-year-old to a symbol and movement has shown us that all it takes to enrage each heart is a visual affirmation of what has always been pointed out by the critics. How come the others hidden behind cardboards and corners have failed to do so?

President Rodrigo Duterte’s War on Drugs has been wrong from the very start of its campaign – its name foretells the impending bloodshed, that war is the only way and collateral is the new necessity. But how about the lives ruined by illegal drugs, the mother on her way to execution? Her hope for a better life in another country ended up as a cocaine delivery trip – Mary Jane Veloso, 32, has become a symbol of hopelessness. Deceived or not, drugs have an influence to the financially stricken: It is a time bomb masked as easy money.

Does this justify the purging?

Barely. We are just 7,000 shy from having 20,000 deaths – think of 500 40-persons-each classrooms – while the biggest drug personalities remain secure in their rooms.

Artworks by Michaela Bitabara (top) Jerahmiel Navo (Bottom) Page Layout by Ralph Filio

geoisie lifestyles to have healthier ones, others are also struggling to be able to put a meal on their table for three times a day (sometimes, even just one—enough for the whole family to share). While some can afford to splurge on diet medication and liposuction, others have to walk under the sun and sell home-made snacks just to have something to fill their stomachs.

There is a danger to singling out Kian’s death as the reason for dissent; it can lead to a culture of selective response, but we should recognize it nonetheless. It is the actualization of all our fears, that people of rank whose sole duty is civilian safety, have now turned their backs against us. We are all part of a tyranny in the making.

I shall start the apology. Sorry to the 13,000+, for there was not a video camera to salvage your final moments. Sorry that your last words were not heard. Sorry that age greatly affects our reaction and that yours did not pass. Sorry that we waited for Kian.

But apologies are mere rhetoric without action. This letter does not promote the idea that drug addiction and pushing are external fault nor the idea that drug addicts and pushers are nothing but externalities; this is a statement of opposition to how we see the problem of drugs and criminality. The origins are multiple of descent, so too is the solution.

Symbols empower those who seek it. You can be too: choose what you represent.

Love, A person once unmoved

ThePILLARS Publication

June - October Issue

NEWS FEATS

Sigaw ng mga Katutubo:

Karapatan ng Minorya, Ipaglaban!

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VOX ATENEO Collated by Alexander Matthew Dy

By Donna Rose Fraginal

A

“

Anong nakikita mong sitwasyon ng Pilipinas sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte?

ng [Duterte] administrasyon ay hindi para sa mahihirap kundi para sa pagpatay sa mga Lumad” Ito ay mga kataga ng isang lider-Lumad ukol sa tunay na kalagayan ng mga katutubo sa Mindanao.

Mula sa rehiyon ng Mindanao, dumaan ang mga Lakbayanis sa syudad ng Naga noong 26-28 ng Agosto bilang parte ng pagdaraos ng Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya.

Inilunsad ang Lakbayan upang ipaabot sa gobyerno lalo na kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang mga isyu ng minorya tulad ng isyu sa kanilang lupang ninuno, ang Movement of the minority. Members of Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas are militarisasyon sa kanayunan, ang seen protesting in the streets of Naga along with Moros and other indigenous takot sa pagbobomba ng paaralan people during the Lakbayan on 26 August. ng mga Lumads, pagmimina, Batas Photo by Van Jose Martinez Militar sa buong Mindanao, at ang Peace Talks sa pagitan ng gobyerno at ng National Democratic Front Lumad sa gobyerno ay ang isyu sa no, ibalik ang kanilang lupang sinapagmimina. Ayon sa kanila, simu- saka. of the Philippines (NDFP). la ng pumasok sa kanilang lugar ang mga plantasyon at ang malalAng lupang namana pa nila mula ‘Peace Talks, ituloy’ aking korporasyon ng pagmimina, sakanilang mga ninuno, ngayo’y unti Ayon sa panayam sa Chairman ng Salabukan Nok G’taw Subanen nawalan na sila ng lupang sinasaka. unti ng nawawala.

(SGS) na si Denden, marami na ang “Meron pa kaming sinasaka na “Ibang tao na ang nagtatanim. mga sibilyan na nadadamay at nalupa.

Pero yung iba, wala na dahil Kami, nawalan na ng lupa.” papatay dahil sa kaguluhang nangyayari sa Mindanao—karamihan ay may mga pumasok ng plantasyon” Isa sa nabanggit ay ang patu- Mindanao sa laban ng droga mga Lumad at kanilang mga lider. loy na operasyon ng kompanya ni Ang kampanya laban sa droga ni David Consunji sa District 2, Sultan Pangulong Duterte ay nararamda“Hindi naman Martial Law ang solusyon sa problema sa Mindanao. Kudarat na kung saan may 150,000 man din ng mga katutubo sa MindAng solusyon ay Peace Talks,” saad hectares na lupa ang inangkin at ka- anao. May mga nagsialisan dahil sa kalbuhin. takot na mapaghinalaang sila’y nagni Denden. do-droga.

Nariyan din ang open-pit mining Nais ng mga katutubo na maiAyon kay Denden, kung mapaghtuloy ang Peace talks dahil para ng Sagittarius Mines, Incorporated sakanila, ito ang magbibigay ng (SMI) kung saan kakalbuhin ang inalaan na nagdo-droga ay huwag tunay na kapayapaan sa kanilang pinakamalawak na lupain o malal- sanang patayin agad. “Sobra na ‘yun. lugar—ang mga putukan at barilan aking kabundukan na kasalukuyang Hindi na makatarungan ‘yun.” ay maititigil na at ang takot nila ay nagsisilbing tirahan ng mga Lumad na B’laan at mga Moro sa paligid.

Giit niya at ng mga kasama niya, mawawala na. alamin muna ang totoo.

Sa kabilang banda, may mga Pawang puro takot ang narmaliliit na minahan ang mga Lumad Isang halimbawa na lamang ay aramdaman ng mga katutubo simula ng ipatupad ang Batas Militar sa sa kanilang lugar ngunit sila ay pi- ang naging karanasan ng kapwa Mindanao. Ang mga militar ay nag- naalis ng Department of Environ- magsasaka ni Denden na kung saan kalat at araw araw na rumuronda sa ment and Natural Resources (DENR) na-ospital ang isang kamag-anak. dahil di umano’y iligal ang kanil- Dahil sa walang sapat na pera kanilang lugar. ang gawain at nakasisira ito ng ka- pang-ospital, napipilitan silang kunin ang alok ng kung sino man ang Isang halimbawa na lamang ang likasan. magsabing ‘benta mo to, benta mo pagkwestyon ng militar sa mga Ngunit giit ng mga Lumad, kung yan’.

Lumad. Kapag ang mga Lumad ay pupunta sa sakahan, haharangin ang maliit nilang pagmimina ay naAni nila, kapag napagbintangan sila ng militar at hahanapan ng ID. kasisira ng kalikasan, bakit pinahinKapag hindi nakapagpakita ng ID, tulutan ng gobyerno ang mga malal- ay babarilin agad. Hindi man lamang sila ay paghihinalaang miyembro aking korporasyon na magmina sa inalam ang totoo kung bakit sila ay kanilang lugar? nasangkot sa sitwasyon. ng New People’s Army (NPA).

Wala sapat na pera ang mga Lumad upang makakuha ng ID tulad ng Voter’s ID at Barangay ID. Sila’y mga magsasaka at ang kanilang nakukuhang pera ay hindi sapat kahit pamasahe papunta sa bayan para kumuha ng mga nasabing ID.

Sinubukan ng mga Lumad na harangin ang mga ito dahil masisira ang kabundukan na pinagkukuhanan nila ng hanapbuhay, ngunit wala silang magawa dahil mayroon nang presensya ng militar sa lugar na iyon.

Ayon sa kanila, kapag pinaghihinalaang NPA, pinapaalis ang mga Lumad sa kabukiran. Pero hindi ito magawa ng mga Lumad dahil ang kabuhayan nila ay nasa bukid.

Kapag ang isang korporasyon ay nagpatayo ng plantasyon, may mga kasama itong mga militar. Ayon sa mga Lumad, paikot ikot sa lugar ng plantasyon ang mga militar at pinapaalis ang mga Lumad.

“Wala kaming pinag-aralan.

“Dun namin nalaman na yang Mababa lang. Pag dito [sa syudad], mahihirapan kami. Pag sa bukid, gobyerno na yan, yang DENR hindi mabubuhay kami. Andun lahat ng para sa mahihirap.” kailangan namin.”

Kasabay ng iba pang mga panawagan, isa sa pangunahing isiPamana sa Katutubo Isa pang nais iparating ng mga nisigaw ng mga katutubo sa gobyer-

“Ang mahihirap ang madalas na biktima,” ani ni Denden.

“Ang opinyon ko sa martial law is karapat-dapat lang na magkaroon ng martial law kasi nagkakaroon yung tinatawag na revolt ba, nagkaroon ng insurhensiya.

Kasi nasa constitution natin yan na once na magkaroon ng rebelyon o kaya insurhensiya sa ano mang panig ng bansa, kinakailangan natin ng martial law.”

- Niño San Juan, Security Guard

“In the first place, in my opinion, it should not have been declared. From the extension up to December of this year is too much for us also to experience…

It’s not just Martial law in Mindanao, we always take into account the whole of the country. Even if it’s declared there, we are still concerned about the people.”

- Manny Deduque, Philosophy Department Chairperson

“Hindi ako against sa Martial law sa Marawi kasi hindi naman pwedeng walang gawin yung gobyerno para sa mga taong nandun. And siguro yun yung best way ng Pangulo para maprotektahan yung mga tao.”

- Cyril Camacho, Marketing Saff, University Press

“I agree to the extension kasi dun wala na tayong magagawa.

Na invoke na yung Martial Law. Pero kung all in all, hindi talaga ako payag. Kasi there are a lot of ways you could’ve handled this kind of situation hindi yung bigla bigla mo nalang isasalpak na martial law na dun sa area na yun.”

- Joshua Villamor, 3 BSBA FM

What is your opinion on the Magsaysay Avenue tree-cutting?

“I am actually not in favor of cutting of trees, well there is a purpose for cutting of trees for the street expansion but there are some trees located in some areas that are not actually along the way that might deter construction workers from placing concrete roads.It’s not just, it’s not easy for us to plant trees right away. Hindi siya..it will take time for us to recover what we have destroyed.”

- Virna Villanueva, Language and Literature Studies Department Chairperson “For me, very ano siya, disadvantage[ous] siya sa atin since may ano na nga, yung social issue natin regarding global warming is malala na.

We should be the steward of our ano environment...of our mother earth.”

- Raymond Francis Delos Reyes, 3 BS Nursing “Nakakastress kasi first of all yung mga poste di nila tinatanggal pero yung trees na

Isa sa mga inaasahan ng mga ‘Save our schools’ Lumad para sila ay makapag aral Nang tanungin ukol sa sistema ay ang mga paaralan para sa mga ng edukasyon sa kanilang lugar, ang Lumad. kanilang sagot, “Sa ngayon, mahirap talaga ang sitwasyon.”

Ngunit sila ay nangamba ng sinabi ni Duterte na kanyang bobombaMayroong mga pampublikong hin ang Lumad Schools. paaralan sa kanilang lugar ngunit ayon sa kanila, magastos pa din ang “Sabihin ko diyan sa mga lumad mga ito. ngayon, umalis kayo diyan. Bobombahan ko ’yan. Isali ko ’yang mga “150 pesos lang sahod sa isang istruktura ninyo,” saad ni Pangulong araw. Magkano ang isang kilong Duterte sa isang press conference bigas? Kung anim kayo sa pamilya, noong ika-25 ng Hulyo. dalawa hanggang tatlong kilo ang kailangan. Magkano na lang ang tira?

Kanilang panawagan, huwag Tapos magpaparal pa. Kaya [konti] bombahin ang mga paaralan. talaga ang mga Lumad na nakakatapos sa pag aaral.”

ilang years doon—mas matanda pa siguro yun saakin—tapos pinutol nila...para saan?”

- Shine Reburiano, 4 AB Communication “Para sako ok man to tanganing dai maka ano sa trapiko nganing maghiwas ang tinampo. Pero maray man kutang may kahoy tanganing may ano malimpoy mapresko.”

- Virginia Opeña, Janitress

“Para saakin ok lang na mag cut ng trees as long as makakatulong doon sa road widening project. […] yung typhoon nung nakacause siya ng damage pati dun sa roads tapos nakacause pa siya ng too much traffic dahil dun. So ako personally gusto ko ok ako dun sa hindi ako kontra sa pag cut ng trees as long as makaka ano makakatulong yun sa road widening.”

- Lenny Golles, Adminstrative Assistant to the University Librarian

“Sana hindi nya gawin iyon.

Dahil alam din nya na konti lang ang nakapag aral samin. Yan lang po ang inaasahan namin para matuto kami sumulat at magbasa.”

Lakbay ng magsasaka Hindi nagtatapos sa Lakbayang ito ang pagkilos ng Pambansang Minorya; marami pang mga susunod na hakbangin upang maipagpatuloy ang laban.

At ngayong ika 22-25 ng Oktubre, bitbit ang mga panawagan sa usapin ng lupa, muling magkakaroon ng paglalakbay patungo sa Maynila—Ang Lakbayan ng Magsasaka.

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ThePILLARS Publica

June - October Issue

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hat is a Filipino symbol has its roots from American heritage: our humble 22-seater jeepney. Its iconic build comes from refurbished leftover US military jeeps written off in WW2 and the Vietnam War, including surplus engines and diesel from Japan. Behind its loud colors, individualistic facade decorations, and unique vehicular bodywork, we cannot deny the fact that it is a manifestation of the country’s lack of an automotive industry to improve on it. While administrations, both past and present, have tried to develop the jeepney’s technology, history has witnessed to how numerous transportation modernization programs in the country have failed.

COMMUNI help decongest the country’s exhausted roads and make commuting a more alluring transportation option.

Additional burden The DOTr’s order does not only consist of the modernization program, it also includes some pol-

crisis as PUJs only compose 2% of total registered vehicles in the country, contrary to DOTr and LTFRB’s statement that the modernization program will help decongest the country’s exhausted roads.

Another policy is the Fleet

A number of PUJ drivers and operators have expressed their sentiments regarding how anti-poor this policy is because of the high cost of jeepneys. Meanwhile, the LTFRB and DOT jointly stated that a major component of the PUVMP is the financial scheme available to PUJ operators and drivers

From Face to Phaseout: Unseating the Philippine Icon

By Jhoan Villanueva With Reports From Athena joie Pili icies that are questionable, especially to the stakehold-

who wish to avail of new units through the financing of government institutions such as the Develo p -

Run down Hidden beneath the veil of the government’s jeepney ‘modernization’ program, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Order No. 2017-011 (Omnibus Guidelines on the Planning and Identification of Public Road Tr a n s p o r t a tion Services and Franchise Issuance), sets the phase out of

The government perceived that it was timely to implement this program because of the environmental effects and poor passenger safety standards brought by aging jeepneys. According to a DOTr report last 2016, vehicular traffic is responsible for 37% of air pollution in the country; out of this, jeepneys contribute 80%. Another reason why the government wants to push the program is to

A transport group striked for two days last May to disagree and oppose the program. According to Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), drivers have no means to cough up a million for a unit, let alone for 20 units, given that many are still paying off loans for their jeepneys.

Existing drivers cannot take up this burden a s

they have no financial resources. “Ang kakalabasan niyan ‘yong bubuhayin na lang natin ‘yong supertubo at komisyon ng mga manufacturers, Land Bank at middlemen sa loob at labas ng gobyerno. Pagtutubuan ka big time ng gobyerno thru Land Bank may patong na interes 6% sa bawat unit,” PISTON National President George San Mateo argued.

San Mateo believed that the government will just turn them into milking cows of big business cronies.

Furthermore, the group also fears that despite the financial support that will be given by the government, it might not be enough to cover all operators and drivers. “Sabi ng gobyerno Php80,000 pautang sa bawat operator sa 250 lang na operator. Buti kung mapabilang kayo sa 250 operators na ‘yan na papautangin ng kakarampot na Php80,000,” San Mateo added.

jeepneys aged 15 years and older to be replaced by electric drive and/or combustion engines that comply with Euro 4 emission standards.

According to a Manila Bulletin report last June, 220,000 aging and “inefficient” jeepneys nationwide are expected to vanish from the streets. A total of 600,000 drivers and 200,000 operators will be affected by this according to a CNN Philippines report last October. Millions of commuters who rely on the cheap Php8 fare will also be affected.

up their old jeepneys to buy a new one. Debts will be the death of these drivers.

e r s : the driver, the passenger, and their families.

One of them is the Route Rationalization, which aims to remove and change the present routes of public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Transport associations and federations will not be consulted about this; instead, DOTr alone will decide the designation of routes.

According to No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition (NJPC), this scheme will set lesser PUJ routes to favor private vehicles and business-owned Bus-Rapid-Transit.

This will also not ease the traffic

Management System, wherein an operator will be now unnecessary. Instead, the operator will be managed by a corporation, especially if operators cannot carry off the high cost of the units. To have a permit to operate, a corporation should at least own a minimum of 20 units by 2017 and 40 units by 2019. In addition, there is a Php7 million show money that should be presented aside from the what the corporation spent for the units.

ment Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines. “The financing package…endorsed by the Department of Finance (DOF) is at 5% equity, 6% interest, and [has] a repayment period of seven years. On top of this, government will offer a Php80,000 subsidy per unit to cover the equity payment. Moreover, because of zero or low maintenance cost of new units in the first three years, savings thereon will be translated to income, with an increased confidence and capability to meet loan obligations,” they explained.

Yet, no amount of financial bonus or interest breaks will remove the fact that drivers are forced to give

According to San Mateo, a single e-jeep would cost Php1.6 million each, almost at the same price range of new SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicle). “P800 times 30 days is P23,000. Times 12 months, that’s P288,000 in a year. Times 7 years, P2 million. Overpriced pa kasi ang unit mo P1.6 million,” said Mateo in an ABS-CBN report,.

Assistant Secretary for Commuter Affairs Elvira Medina countered San Mateo, saying that he is just focusing on one foreign supplier without considering local manufacturers.

The fees do not end there.

Another policy is the Shepherd Badge or PUV Drivers ID, which is a new type of license that will be issued by the LTFRB. In order to get an ID, a driver should undergo a training for 26 days in Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) that costs Php7,500 plus the Php1,500 testing fee. The LTFRB also set limitations for the violations that could

ILLARS Publication

June - October Issue

MMUNITY be committed by the owner of the badge ID, when the driver reaches the limitation, she/he will be automatically banned from driving.

The DOTr is also planning to have a synchronized traffic system run by a single authority without interference from the local governments. Only the DOTr has the power to designate parking areas, loading and unloading zones, terminals, and traffic violation fees.

There will be an assigned Traffic Chief that will be in charge of the management of franchises, permits, and licenses in the agency and local government units where he is placed.

The Omnibus Franchise Policy or the Sale and Transfer prohibits operators and drivers from renewing their PUJs’ franchise. The only units that will be permitted to renew are bio-gas, solar, e-jeepneys, and Euro 4 engine jeepneys. This is in accordance with the aim to have greener emissions.

However, according to IBON Foundation, a non-profit research, education and information-development institution, aiming to have less emissions and more efficient mass transport is laudable, but the blame must not be put on jeepneys alone. Once caught for smoke-belching, no one tells them solutions. Section 11 of the Clean Air Act mandates the government to make all information and best practices on pollution control available to empower motorists on making good choices. But this cannot be fully implemented as Section 15 on Air Pollution Research remains unfunded. If the administration is indeed serious with their anti-air pollution concenrs, they should start by appointing the proper persons for the proper environmental offices.

What the ment preachas an improvement appears to be exclusive, as they put the masses at a disadv a n tage.

governe s

In locality The planned modernization program does not only affect the metro, the effects are also felt in the provinces, specifically in Camarines Sur. Aside from the phaseout, their main concerns also include the lack of terminals for jeepneys. According to Condor-PISTON President for Camarines Sur, Joel Pillogo, jeepneys—especially those going South—do not have a permanent terminal where they can pick up passengers. “Sa parte kan S bound na mga jeepney, dai talaga sinda natatawan ning talagang terminal ninda kung sain diyan na talaga sinda mahatod ning pasahero. Diyan na sinda maghahalat ta kung mahihiling ta kaya sinda sa pakikipagulay ta sainda garo round round lang sinda, maagi lang sinda digdi sa Naga tapos ma-pick up ning pasahero dyan sa agihan,” Pillogo explained.

Another concern of Condor-PISTON is the proposed monthly salary of jeepney drivers. Pillogo said that a monthly income is not feasible because most drivers really rely on a daily income. “Ang sarong drayber na dai na nakakakapot ning kwarta kada byahe niya, dai na siya makakauli sa harong para mag-intriga kay misis niya at pangangaipo kan mga aki niya kung bulanan ang sahod niya.

Duman lang sinda makakan pag nagsahod sinda,” he argued.

The program will also likely be prone to contractualization and regionalization of wage.

“Kaya mas mababang kita o

minimum wage ang kakaharapin ng mga drayber lalo na sa mga lalawigan,” PISTON National President George San Mateo explained.

Despite the risks, most commuters support the program, some believing that the modernization program is a sign of the country’s upward development. “Gusto ko kaya ‘yong matino kumbaga parang nakikita naman na umuunlad ang Pilipinas kahit pakonti-konti.

Maliit na sakripisyo lang yan, pero kung titingnan natin ‘yong kagandahan niya in the long run, mas okay naman kung papalitan,” a commuter elaborated.

Another commuter seconded it and added that old jeepneys should be phased out because the safety of the passengers is at risk, “Duman kaya sa lugar namin, halos ang mga jeep duman, mga luma na kaya pag nagbibiyahe kami, pirmi na lang kami nararaotan. Buko iyang safe sako.”

However, some aired their disagreement on the program. “Inot, dae ako pabor kasi bako man gabos na driver afford ninda ang bagong jeep. Papano kung ang jeep ninda luma-luma na pero iyo lang talaga ang kaya ninda? Papano kung i-require ‘ta ang mga bagong jeep na dae ninda afford?” said a commuter.

Who loses? Who gains?

According to Crispin B. Beltran Research Center, there are more or less 270,000 jeepneys nationwide and about 650,000 jeepney drivers that will be affected by the program. The biggest losers are not just these drivers and operators but the riding public which climbs to a total of 9 million. Because of the high cost of acquiri n g t h e DO-

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Tr’s “modern” jeeps, it is inevitable that transport fares will increase.

they are pushing will only lead to higher costs to the consumers.

Its certainty increases the more that the transport industry gets into the hands of a few big capitalists, which the DOTr jeeney modernization order clearly seeks to do. Foreign corporations monopolize the technology, as well as other corporations with deep pockets, by financing the requirements of the “modernization” program. Those with an interest in the program include the following: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments, Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Company, Ayala Corporation, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures. This was confirmed in a statement released by DOTr earlier this month.

According to NJPC, the government can start by taking back the MRT and LRT from the Ayalas and Pangilinans and improve its operations to cover the riding public mass transport needs.

“The government’s turnover of the LRT 1 operations and maintenance to a private corporation resulted in the assurance of fare hikes for the private operator,” IBON Foundation stated. In return, Filipino commuters suffered the consequences.

Big corporations’ monopoly is a vantage on jeepney and public transportation systems and will result in fare hikes to ensure returns on their investments. The fare hike is expected to go as high as 50% or from the current Php8 (Manila rate) to as much as Php20.

Yet this Php20 will not benefit the drivers; this will just be used to pay for the high initial fees.

Every driver’s income with their new jeepney for their first years will just be credit.

Calls Instead of the phaseout, transport groups are calling out that rehabilitation should take place to ensure the safety and roadworthiness of PUVs. Aside from this, the ownership should not be removed from small transport operators so that PUVs will remain as the cheapest and most affordable mode of transportation.

It is expected that the government should give their full support in developing our local jeepney industry and manufacturing. Public transportation is a social service that the government should provide to its citizens at a free or affordable cost.

But the corporatization of mass transport that

Modernization of the country’s PUV system can be more achievable if it integrated with a plan for national industrialization. “Sa long term, ang tunay na modernisasyon ay dapat nakabalangkas sa pambansang industriyalisasyon na nakabase sa tunay na reporma sa lupa,” Mateo argued.

This will create an integrated steel mill industry that will also create modern machinery in transportation, agriculture, and other industries in the rural and urban areas.

Aside from the machinery for modernization and mechanization of agriculture and other industries, it will also give birth to the country’s own manufacturing for automotive, railway, aeronautics, and shipping industry. By developing our own transport industries, we will be able to develop strong links between industries.

While indeed, there is a need for a modernization program in the country, a program that does not directly answer to the people’s clamor will not produce optimum results. We do not develop for development’s sake. There are lots of factors that should be considered in making such decisions, most of which should not be made at the expense of the marginalized and the poor.

Sources: h t t p : / / b u l a t l a t .c o m / m a i n / 2 0 1 7 / 0 5 / 2 2 / jeepney-phaseout-joblessness-drivers-bankruptcy-operators-higher-fares-commuters/ http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/ nation/577027/tugade-wants-single-authority-lgu-powers-suspended-to-solve-ncr-traffic-woes/story/ h t t p : / / w w w. r a p p l e r. c o m / n a tion/173888-puv-modernization-program-anti-poor http://www.manilatimes.net/will-benefitsjeepney-phase/311227/ https://business.mb.com.ph/2017/05/01/financing-program-for-jeepney-operators-tobuy-new-units-launched/ https://www.rappler.com/nation/115175-dotcplans-2016 h t t p : / / w w w. p h i l s t a r. c o m / b u s i ness/2017/07/11/1718329/new-face-philippine-jeepney https://businessmirror.com.ph/shouldjeepneys-undergo-a-phaseout-or-a-face-lift/ No To Jeepney Phaseout Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) AGHAM - Advocates of Science and Technology for the People https://business.mb.com.ph/2017/06/26/ new-jeepneys-to-replace-old-ones-to-costless-than-p1-m-per-unit-lopez/ http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/17/17/ dotr-official-says-puv-modernization-wontlead-to-higher-jeepney-fares

Artworks by Michaela Bitabara

Patrick Gutierrez Page Layout by Ralph Filio

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ThePILLARS Publication

OPINION

20 Homegrown Cynicism Miguel Enrico Imperial

Pop is Where the Pure Is

B

ite-size snazzy, animated, three-minute videos illustrating different theories, systems, ideologies, and thinkers often get hated for being too simple, not enough to showcase the grand history and explanation behind them. For the uninitiated, these videos are godsend, because truth be told, being critical and curious take a lot out of us. We just want new knowledge without compromising our routine.

Clockwork Chronicler Grace Margaret Jaucian

More Than Morphemes and Metaphors

L

anguage can connect people in the same way that it can separate them. According to Simons, Gary F., and Charles D. Fennig (2017), there are 7,099 languages spoken today. There is still a struggle to have a single one dominate and proliferate in

Stirring the Stigma Mary Joy Gasis

Coloring Monochromatic Minds

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rows met.

I passed by three street children laughing, pointing fingers at a street man perfectly seated along the bridge under the intensity of the sun. His cry sounded like a three-year-old child after his lollipop had been snatched when the kids shouted “loko-loko!”

The word “crazy” bothers me more than the bullying side of the

For the initiators, sometimes the old discussion and persuasion is just not doing it. Time to innovate: Politicize pop culture (and all the underrated fields).

Popular culture is the periodical surface-level trend of a certain group: SONA 2017 “Putang Ina” drinking game, Kat Galang’s “Stupid Love” cover, “Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimb,” etc.

Philippine pop culture has always been personal and intimate; we like matters that feel at home. It is also a distinguishable replica of the West’s, but a fake bag is still one of its kind.

The downside is that it lacks the influence coming from the academe, experts, and progressives; and the last thing that a developing country needs are trends and gimmicks ignorant of society’s illnesses.

“Woke” or “Stay woke” are terms used to express one’s being politically aware – sometimes satirical in purpose like knowing that alt + f4 is a shortcut to a computer’s shut down

the world, a universal language or characteristica universalis, we could call it. There seems to be a false dichotomy: Language creates barriers, so therefore, we all should have a single medium for it—English.

There is blatant disregard over the value of celebrating the linguistic differences that we have, which is why, somehow, particular nations are still caught up being the imperialist lords of language, claiming that theirs is the universal language, imposing their ways in every aspect possible. It is something that evidently took effect post-colonization, wherein people have gotten to and are still patronizing some Western cultures.

But celebrating and using our language difference is one step in the process of having our own culture in its rightful level on the

picture. And now, I find myself writing this column. Today, compelled by overwhelming situations, we choose to understand only what is pressing and empathetic for us, so other factors are left behind unnoticed.

Let us get things straight. It seems that the Philippine government absolutely claims drug addiction being the highest crime on earth, where a swelling casualty day by day defines a successful economy. They focus more on the issues that aggregate atrocities, but they lose sight of other issues like mental health, which brings the same betrayal to people. They choose to destroy the people rather than prevent the people from destroying themselves.

Mental illness, ranked third of the most common disabilities in the country and affecting one of five of the 100 million Filipinos, still lacks attention. People with mental disorders still rove the

commands. Mix this with a fastpaced rhythm, multisyllabic lines, and a structured beat, and you will have rappers like BLKD and NINNO making the Filipino audience woke one bar at a time.

Look at BLKD’s Bente from his album Gatilyo. The track tells the passing of a P20 bill; Baby got the bill as a change from Bhoy, a jeepney driver, but was robbed from her by Ben. Familiar characters right? 1

Si Baby ay sales lady High heels, low pay, 8 ho¬urs daily Kontraktwal, kada anim na buwan Mangangaso na naman ng mapapasukan Ngayon kabuwanan na ng kanyang kontrata At ng kanyang pagdadalang-bata Wala pa namang katuwang na asawa Kaya’t lumuluha syang pumara

June - October Issue

Third-world labor system in eight bars. It is catchy, it is gospel. ¬¬ In a country where a quarter (yes, 26 million) of the population is below the poverty line 2, the mainstream can be both a cause and an effect of unawareness.

This 26 million and the unaware share a common culture: the raw mainstream. It is produced by a steady flow of everything dictated by the influential. This now becomes the collective front page, society’s natural self where all things and thoughts are made both normal and popular. There is a spacious room for interpretation to more pressing pursuits.

Pop culture is most accommodating to electronic music, selfharm dares, and witty breakup one-liners. But as unique ideas and movements mark their place in the mainstream, there is also a pop culture where discourse and anal-

pedestal.

Before our languages decreased to 7,099, we had about 10,000 languages, but globalization, colonization, and ethno-purging happened – these are just some of the products of imperialism, a way for powerful countries to increase their wealth and extend their control all over the world. In this decline, the bad guys we know as superpowers have robbed people of so many things that were vital to their existence, like territory and resources, including their distinct languages.

in the Philippines. I know someone, a Filipino who is more knowledgeable regarding the French, Chinese, and Cuban Revolution, but when I asked him, “Bonifacio or Rizal?” without hesitation, he answered, “I don’t care about them.”

Leftism, activism, and other ideologies and movements emerged to oppose oppression. When we talk about these things, there is an automatic association with what happened during the Chinese and other foreign revolutions despite having our own mass struggle here

How little is the room for discourse regarding our own history in the academe when our own people are more inclined to debate on foreign matters like the Charlottesville attack where a Neo-Nazi movement supporting white supremacy recently took place. Don’t get me

streets, still battle personality disorder, and are caged like pigs in their homes. Mental disorders may or may not be physically apparent, but one thing is common to all of their victims: They are deprived of basic human rights and protection, they are seen as burdens of society. Unfortunately, they receive the least of the services and rights but most of the discrimination.

shooting people, locking himself in, and then burning himself alive in a room—all of which, obviously, are not something that a healthy mind would choose. His case adds to the flourishing number of unresolved cases of addiction and mental illnesses in a country that slipped without noticing suicide cases due to mental health problems that counted 2,558 in the year 2012 alone.

It does not take a psychiatrist to know that something is wrong with a person’s mental health; the actions taken and their aftermaths would speak for themselves, especially if they deviate from the norm and harm a system or a body. Addiction is a mental disorder, whether of substance or activity abuse.

The renowned Resorts World Manila was attacked by high-roller gambler, Jessie Carlos, who reckoned 105 casualties, 38 dead, and 67 others injured. Highly indebted to banks due to uninhibited casino gambling, he finds himself “out of control,” stealing casino chips,

And there are these open questions regarding Jose Rizal’s political leaning amidst the Spanish period: Is he a reformist or a revolutionary?

Did his books spark the revolution?

Does publishing something that possibly inspires a revolt ultimately makes a person a revolutionary?

The Philippines has had an existing Mental Health Policy since 2001 to provide policies on health service delivery systems, but it does not wholly cover what is expected of equitable mental health legislation. Thus, people with mental disorders remain unrecognized in the slums of this society.

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2007 report on Mental Health System in the Philippines, we have inadequate human resources such as social workers and psychiatrists to accommodate the increasing number of patients and there is an uneven access to

ysis strive. Once a noble pursuit gets in the mainstream, they get peer-reviewed, and once it reaches peek pop, it attracts action and assembly.

Enter pollution: The topic is hard to politicize and popularize.

Imagine people getting hooked to carbon emission, methane buildup, poverty trap, etc. But essentially, people pollute a lot; anti-pollution campaigns usually fail because they end up as guilt-trips. More importantly, it is a multilevel topic: governance, economic, social, and of course, environmental. People get stuck on the environmental aspect and clean-up drives do not extend to discussions like why, for example, despite numerous rewards for competence, Naga City has a problematic “controlled” open dumpsite.

But it can be done. People do not need to know the why at first; the what is enough to get them

wrong; while these matters are important, there is still a call for us to be aware of our own issues.

Literature has always been golden. It is something that will never stale as time passes. There is rebirth, recurrence, and retainment. Some literary pieces are just ever encompassing, with the ability to play through syntax, morphology, and different aspects of language and the capacity to express rage with socially pressing issues which your heart is encapsulated by. For example, we could take in Bienvenido Lumbera’s poem “Himala” from his book Poetika/ Politika: Dumadaluyong ang mga salita, Inaanod ako sa daloy ng wika, May isinasampa sa pampang ng dila,

mental health facilities across the country. This is an indication that due attention and facilities were not properly delivered to the greater vulnerable sectors of society – the young and the poor.

Concerns on suicide are not distant from this. According to the WHO 2017 fact sheet, suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds, and 78 percent of global suicides occur in low and middle-income countries like the Philippines. Prevention and promotion could be initially established in schools where the youth are amassed. It is time to observe mental health check-ups in schools and universities along with medical and dental check-ups because the words “out of control,” “stressed out,” and “anxious” (words considered indications of mental disorder) are overly used by students and are penetrating today’s fast-paced world.

Going back to Jessie’s case, the Resorts World Manila shoot-

ThePILLARS Publication

June - October Issue

“

Once noble pursuits get in the mainstream, they get peer reviewed, and once it reaches peek pop, it atrract action and assembly.

“

Celebrating and using our language differences is one step in the process of having our culture in its rightful level in the pedestal.

OPINION

participating. The “They Grey, We Green” campaign of SALOG, a local organization for the local environmental, showed an effective method of politicizing (small and big group discussions before, during, and after the event) and popularizing (acoustic serenade) to the city-wide and approved massive tree-cutting.

On a bigger scale, mass media needs to be tapped. Imagine if Ang Probinsyano dedicated an episode on Cardo battling huge multinational mining companies raping our land, water, and air.

Viewers will picture that mining does not just mean scraping rocks, getting the goods, then leaving. Companies may leave, but their mark will always be there: infertile lands, fish kills, and citizen displacement. Young audience’s idea of villains will not just be limited to leather jacket-toting men or overly sexy cyborg ladies. Heroes need villains to become one.

Lunday na may lulang babasaging tula.

Laot ng hiwaga’y tila wala hanggan, Karatig ng langit ang tubig na bughaw, Sa aking ulunan, halos abot-kamay Ang sutlang bandila ng isang balangaw.

Subalit, ay, aba ang kristal na tula Tulad ng balangaw, kay daling mawala.

Malikmata yatang sindupok ng bula, Kasisilay lamang, mamaya’y gunita.

Halina, hiwaga ng mga salita, Nais kong malunod sa inyong himala!

There are times when we deem art as useless, not only poetry but other forms of literature too. We

choose “toThey destroy the people than to prevent the people from destroying themselves

ing would not have come to existence if only he and his family were aware of his mental status.

He could have undergone treatment and counseling so that his addiction to casino gambling was prevented. This is where awareness and education come in.

This is where Mental Health Law is needed to address the stigma surrounding mental health. Unfortunately, the low priority on mental health and the high cost of treatment and counseling are significant barriers to its progress.

People with healthy minds are the best-suited to occupy seats in congress, positions in academes, and roles in families. That said, mental health should be realized as a legitimate public concern.

We should adapt a mental health law like that of Europe, which emphasizes anti-discrimination and gives rights to patients to make their own choices of treatment.

It is good to hear that Philippines is opening its senses to this issue (a bill proposing a national Men-

21

Ideas get more support when introduced in different fields in different mediums. Awareness is an infinite act. It continually requires itself to be spread, and more importantly, become viral and digestible.

Everything and everyone can be a tool in subtly (or not) promoting social awareness, or what some would call “agitating the masses.”

Some see these kinds of alternative methods as weak since they water down the intention, prettying the filthy status quo: a purist stance on awareness. But elitist commands on change leads to singular response; and a healthy culture has never strived on singularity. The revolution will not be televised, but it should be.

Sources: 1 https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/ BLKD-feat-UMPH/Bente 2 h t t p : / / n e w s i n f o . i n q u i r e r. net/775062/12m-filipinos-living-in-extreme-poverty

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CONGRATULATIONS! Fr. Roberto Exequiel N. Rivera, SJ

ThePILLARS Publication would like to extend its

warmest greetings to Rivera for being elected as our 4th University President on 30 September.

Also, the publication would like to extend its deepest

appreciation to Fr. Primitivo E. Viray Jr., SJ, for his passionate and memorable service to the Ateneo community in the last six years.

+AMDG+

have the beauty of Philippine literature ignored because we are too caught up with foreign media.

However, the more we immerse ourselves in our own language and literature, the more we get to know our culture and the independence that we fought and are continuously fighting for.

Our ignorance regarding our own history makes our resistance weak towards the deafening and blinding tour de force of foreign oppression. Amidst the struggle to have a unifying means of communication, in the diverse world of languages, we should work on utilizing our unique roots. Having this mindset take effect in literature would soon have Filipinos reflecting better patriotic qualities.

tal Health Act was recently re-introduced in Congress and policymakers are starting to deliberate a reform on mental health policy), but legislation alone cannot make it progress across the nation; society’s proper attitude towards mental health is essential to alleviate the stigma.

If we were to give the same acts of primacy to mental health, then there will be less room for addiction, corruption, treason, and murder; and peace will not be far from reach. We do not have to choose either a world without drug addicts or a world with no mental disorders, but we might want to choose between a disorderly society and a harmonious community.

Start noticing what seems overlooked, irrelevant, untimely, light, and other issues usually chosen to fall beneath the cracks.

(Comics by Piwi; Taken from the archives)

ThePILLARS Publication

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June - October Issue

OPINION

Clipping Path Jhoan Villanueva

Paradigm Shift

W

atch your news diet: Consume junk mainstream media with caution.

We would all be healthier if we curb our diet of synthetic news from processed facts produced by mainstream media. I feel a bit wholesome now that I broke my habit of eating junk and shifted my news diet with the alternative.

The mainstream media is known for its consistency, but this characteristic seems to be its point of contention. With the spread of fake news and the rising number of self-proclaimed journalists, an article’s integrity should be questioned. Today, the mainstream media is controlled by political and economic interest groups, such as the ABS-CBN Broad-

Silence in Clamor Donna Rose Fraginal

casting Company Channel 2 and GMA Network Channel 7, which are owned by the Lopez family and the Gozon-Duavit-Jimenez family, respectively. These are two of the wealthiest families and business tycoons in the country.

And being corporate-driven, these groups are focused on profitability, or at least the minimization of losses. They often choose to sidestep the issues and either do not report or water down the news, especially if it goes beyond their agenda.

Look at the plague of Lumads and other indigenous people (Ips).

If it were not for the violent dispersal that happened at the US Embassy in October last year, it would not have been reported that the IPs have been facing bombing of schools and militarization in their communities, causing them to troop in the metro and seek redress for their grievances.

And while there are unilateral ceasefire declarations from both the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), fully armed soldiers still conduct military operations in communities.

“Sana magbigay ng direktiba si Pangulong Duterte bilang Commander-in-Chief na mag pull out ang AFP sa communities na katutubo at ihinto ang pambobomba, ang all-out war sa Mindanao,” said

I can say that sexual harassment is no stranger to me.

Sexual harassment is a big issue, a crime that the society has long been trying to combat. Like the Republic Act No. 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 which was created to help fight the existing matter.

But still, some people take it as a joke today.

Storyline

Just take the behavior of our president as an example, when he cat-called a reporter during a t’s okay. press conference. Based on onI’ll just touch you…there. line articles, supporters of PresiDon’t move. dent Duterte defended him, sayOr this will hit you. ing that it is a form of freedom of It is a story of a young girl who ex- expression. perienced such terrible encounter, According to Civil Service and has to carry the burden of trauCommission Resolution No. 01ma until life surrenders to her.

0940, under section V, forms of It is a story of a girl who found sexual harassment include gescourage to write her piece, to be tures with lewd insinuation. heard.

I guess catcalling falls under Memories still vivid, I could still re- this. write my story.

True, we are all entitled to have I am just one, out of millions of vic- this freedom, but would one still consider it as freedom of exprestims; I am just one of them. sion when the act that you do perverts our human rights?

Yes, I was sexually harassed.

I

Once? No. Not even twice.

Also, just because one is sitting in a high position, may it be

Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organizations Chairperson Kerlan Fanagel. Instead of coverage on the ceasefire and peace talks, the mainstream media should ponder more on reports on why there is an armed conflict and the need for ceasefire to strengthen the peace talks.

Moreover, news about political prisoners in the country was also neglected. We have not heard any news about the death of an ill political prisoner who was about to be released as charges against him were dropped one by one. And only a few heard about angry and disappointed human rights advocates calling out for the release of political prisoners.

Nationwide hunger strike also intensified, but only a number of reports, mostly from Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, and alternative media outlets, showed this. Despite of all these events, the spotlight focused on news about the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Despite of all these events, the spotlight focused on news about the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Decades of false balance,

clickbait news and dishonesty laid a fertile ground for fake news; hence, the likes of Mocha Uson were born.

Uson was appointed as the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary last 8 May. She was involved in a controversy wherein she posted a photo of a Honduras police force on her Facebook page, claiming that the men were Filipino soldiers. She then defended herself saying that it was just a symbolism of what she wanted to depict. But no one is exempted from following the core principles of journalism. It is a must to strive for accuracy, give all the relevant facts, and ensure that they have been checked.

The PCOO serves as the primary communicator of policies of the administration. Now, when we have the likes of Uson in the government, it will be difficult for the administration to communicate its real intent and message to the public. If things such as misinformation happens inside the government, what more inside the mainstream media, which is corporate-driven?

balance, clickbait news, and dishonestly laid a fertile ground for fake news; hence, the likes of Mocha Uson were born.

There is a dearth in reliable information, and this is a crucial time for journalists to shed light.

It works this way. A girl gets catin government or any institution does not mean one has the right called by simply being a girl. to break rules or laws.

Much more catcalls are given Surely, some people just don’t with the way a girl dresses. know where to draw the line of Oh, yes. This thing with how what they do. women dress up is also a growing Going back to RA No. 7877, issue today. Dressing up is expressthis law constitutes work-relat- ing oneself, right? It’s also a form of ed or employment environment freedom of expression. And people and training or education envi- would often say, “Be yourself. Wear ronment cases of sexual harass- whatever you want.” ments. However, this does not But when a girl wears something include the cases of ‘street’ hashort, like a dress or a cropped top rassment. or even shorts, she gets nothing The streets and any public ar- but malicious looks, whistles, all eas are open sources of sexual forms of callings. harassments but up to this date, What’s even worse? Victim there is no concrete law yet that blaming. is created to address the issue.

But Senator Riza Hontiveros has filed a Senate Bill with regards to this. Senate Bill No. 1326 or also known as the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017 is said to be a bill that would give protection to all gender—women, men and the member of the LGBT community against the sexual harassments on the streets and any public areas.

“ Decades of false

A few people will throw all the blame to that girl. A few people would judge that girl, for being what? For being just herself, for wearing just what she wants.

Seriously, in this kind of scenario, who would adjust?

Well, going back to my story.

I was just a kid. When the guy attacked me, I was just a small girl. I This should be passed as a was too weak to not defend myself, law, to give everyone the right to too weak to not cry out for help. be protected from all forms of haYes, I was weak, but because I rassments, even from the smallwas scared. In that moment, how est form of catcalling.

A few “ people will throw all the blame to that girl. A few people would judge that girl, for being what?

For being just herself, for wearing just what she wants.

paper.

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June - October Issue

There is more happening in the Philippines than those being reported by the mainstream media, and those can be read through alternative news outfits that provide a different view.

During the Martial Law (ML) era, Ferdinand Marcos issued a number of Presidential Decrees that directly negated the essence of a free press. With the rise of his regime, the system of media collapsed. These triggered the creation of alternative media outfits, including publications of religious and cause-oriented organizations like Signs of Times, university and college newspapers like the Philippine Collegian, and covert press of the Left-underground movement like Taliba ng Bayan.

Despite of the presence of some news outfits, the public did not take the risk to rely on them because of the emergence of the so called “crony press.” These crony press were under strict government supervision, inspected by military censors, and were instructed by the Mass Media Council to not report controversial and critical stories that could defame the government. This pushed the public to bank on alternative media instead.

OPINION

ing faced by Mindanao, especially since the declaration of ML last 23 May. News from the area shows that the situation is in control by the government. But locals say that the situation is a stir of chaos and horror, parallel to alter media’s reportage. Much like of the ML way back the 70’s, the spread of fake news came from the mainstream media itself and censorship intensified, as well as media blackouts of the real events happening.

It is time to welcome a new space for journalists to be heard and to operate beyond traditional media frames of diversity. The dominant media, given its corporate interests, can never be expected to perform the function of journalism well, which is to serve the interest of the public. If the public serves as the primary audience of the alternative media, it is reasonable to invest on such media considering its essential function to mobilize the grassroots communities.

The media should not only serve as a watchdog of democracy, more importantly, it should be the ringleader of a public discourse immersed in the sorry condition of the audience that it vows to fortify.

Fast forward today, the media holds a big role on the crisis be-

can one fight back if the person is using force to do sexual things to you. The person can do anything, even threaten you with a knife, a knife that touches your belly and at any moment, it could dig deep under your skin.

I was scared. With the knife, with his threats, with the things he can further do to me.

Same goes with the other victims, with women especially. Women are seen as weak, that women do not have the strength to defend herself. Again, victim blaming it is.

Well, let me tell you this. Women are strong. In this generation, women can do extraordinary things. But with sexual harassment incidents or cases, blames should not be thrown upon the victim, instead, see that the victim is at a pure disadvantage. Especially when violence is used up against the victim.

I found courage to write my story—this is not for you to pity me, rather, this is my way of telling you that be more mindful of what you say, be more cautious of your actions. These little playful things that you do may affect the moral being of a person.

You’ll never know, maybe the person right next to you is also a victim.

13

Kaya mo bang punan ang espasyong ito?

Sumali na sa ThePILLARS Publication!

The Knight as Katutubo

By Grace Margaret Jaucian

L

ong ago, back in ancient times, there was a wanderer along our school’s hallways and classrooms. Sometimes, it stayed put at the main gate. But as soon as people set their eyes on it, soon holding the wanderer close, they possessed within themselves something powerful; they embraced all the diverse thoughts and collective feelings that it contained. That wanderer was called “TheKnight.”

TheKnight is ThePILLARS Publication’s official literary portfolio. Its history dates back to the 90s, with literary works including political prose and poetry during the height of the Marcos era. TheKnight has cultivated the creativity of Ateneo de Naga University’s campus journalists as well as tackled social issues.

“No particular theme had been asked of the writers. Thus, the articles here reflect their beliefs and opinions about any issue concerning this generation of writers,” Cheryll Sereno, former editor of TheKnight, stated. Themes help organize and narrow down our thoughts, strokes that we need to preserve, but a theme often surfaces without having it imposed. Now

a new motif has emerged.

This the

year, with t h e m e “Katutubo,” TheKnight aims to produce a literary portfolio that contains works stretched out, delving into the indigene, the native, and the beauty of ori-

gins.

Watch out this 2nd semester of S/Y 2017-2018 for a collection of poetry, prose, essays, photographs and artworks. After several years of disappearing into the void, TheKnight has once again knocked on the doors of ThePILLARS Publication! This time, ThePILLARS Publication needs help before it can share TheKnight to the Ateneo community again.

With this, we are opening submissions from the Ateneo student body and alumna.

“If you want to revive the portfolio, you want to make things into consideration. One is, I think it’s important to plan not only for this but for succeeding issues. Make it a regular thing, because that way, you promote a strong literary foundation among those in the community,” Dennis Gonzaga, a past moderator of TheKnight and the current moderator of ThePILLARS Publication, suggested.

ThePILLARS Publication stands not solely as an institution that promotes campus press freedom, social awareness, and journalism but also one that cultivates the Arts.

Kapitan, Sa a Quince Eric Po Sa a quince Kailangan Ng kakapitan Ni kapitan Para makakapit Muli sa pagkakapitan Para makakupit Muli sa pagkukupitan Ang kapitan Kakapit Para makakupit Dahil gipit Pero pag si kapitan Ang kakapitan Para makakapit Dahil gipit Ikaw pa ang kukupitan Naknangtokwangmganaknamputasa Pulitika Putikan Talaga Sa a quince Ang mga poster ng kapitang kupitan Ipampupunas ko na lang Ng puwet (taken from the archives)

ThePILLARS Publication

14

Shots Fired: “Birdshot” Shoots on the Endangerment of Social Justice

By R. Emmanuel N. Salvadora

E

xcellent talent in filmmaking and bold social commentary—these are the bread and butter of Birdshot director Mikhail Red. At a young age of 24, Red, son of Raymond Red, a pioneer figure of modern Filipino alternative cinema, has made a film that not only serves as a channel and revelation of his filmmaking prowess, but also tells a gripping commentary on the dangers lurking in our current society.

The film tells the story of an aging caretaker of a land around a bird sanctuary named Diego (Manuel Aquino) who lives with her daughter, Maya (Mary Joy Apostol). Maya, with her juvenile innocence, wants to prove that she could take care of herself. However, Maya misguidedly shoots and kills a Haribon, which is considered the national bird of the Philippines and is currently on the brink of extinction.

The Haribon’s death coincides with the story of an optimistic novice policeman named Domingo (Arnold Reyes) who is partnered by their precinct commander De la Paz (Dido de la Paz) with a Mendoza (John Arcilla), a pessimistic cop who has been in-service for quite some time. Before being forcibly assigned to investigate the death of the Philippine eagle, they were already investigating the sudden disappearance of a bus, which they did not know contained farmers

P

lumes of thick, black smoke wafted above, planes circled around to fire bombs, the sound of gunfire crackled in the distance, large chunks of downtown reduced to ruins—this is the view that the people of Marawi watched as the deadly spectacle unfolded in the city.

The Philippine military had pounded the lakeside town of Marawi with rockets and bombs as it tried to wipe out Maute group militants in some of the fiercest urban combat this volatile region has seen in decades.

Bicolanos are known to be courageous, fearless, and robust. Having these features, one of the Bicolano marines who fought the Maute group is Cpl. Sumagpang.

Now he arrived at Villamor Air Base as a war hero —in a shabby metal casket, in an unforgivingly dark night, and a pitiful piece of paper to his name. But that paper cleared the blur between another metal box and a character whose deeds benefit an identity, him and all his other fallen comrades. On the paper was his full name: Rolan H. Sumagpang.

While rest of the nation was working themselves like clockworks to their routines, he had been wiping sweat and rubble from his brows, in a battle for the heart of Marawi. After his sacrifice, it was his family wiping off tears when the fallen soldiers arrived and soon received a proper ceremony at Fort Bonifacio.

In honor of the fallen marines, the Palace publicly declared 13 to 16 June as Days of National Mourning, nothing short of a gesture to immortalize those men as heroes who fought for the country.

However, while all the medals and special mourning hours merit Sumagpang the title of a hero, it still denies to answer the question that raises him from the relevant to the familiar: Who was Rolan Sumagpang?

June - October Issue

FEATURES

headed to Manila to voice out their concern about the unjust treatment by their landlord.

With the tragedy that transpires, all of the characters seem destined to meet. Little do they know that when their tracks converge, they are headed to a murky and violent destination.

The pacing of the film is a slow boil.

For people who are not used to slow cinema, this can feel sluggish. But the careful pacing appears to be of intent by the director for the audience to cautiously focus on the development of the characters over time. That said, the film flows smoothly while drawing the characters’ confrontations unavoidable.

The visuals can also hastily show the contradictory world of Maya and Domingo. Domingo gradually turns from a dedicated officer to a pessimistic policeman on the cusp of making a heavy decision: break his morals to fit in with the system or stay devoted and true to his occupation’s motto, to serve and protect. On the other hand, Maya’s juvenile inquisitiveness to see the world spirals downwards as she sees the broken system slowly creeping towards her and her father.

Birdshot relies on the natural sounds from the environment for its mood. The earthly colors used by the film go well with the contrasting red A national purpose Sumagpang was a Bicolano, a native of the municipality of Ocampo in the Camarines Sur province.

His uncle, Rolando Hernandez, described him kindly. Sumagpang avoided smoking and only occasionally dipped his lips in liquor. More so, he was helpful to his parents, Evelyn Hernandez Sumagpang and Edmundo Sumagpang (who is now deceased), who respected him likewise. More still, he had been the one financing his youngest sibling’s schooling. His other family was his wife, Abegail. They were two families whom he lived for.

accent that highlights the film’s important materials. Also, the commendable usage of lighting and camera movements help the film instill tension and suspense to its scenes. These bits of aesthetic finesse prove why the film is a powerhouse when it comes to its technicality.

But while films are initially praised for their aesthetics and techniques, a film’s social relevance is also of measure for it to be called a good piece of cinema. Watching the film’s trailer, one would think that it is only a story of a girl killing a Haribon and being chased by cops. But as the film unfolds, it also uncovers the agonizing world of injustice, with police brutality and problems about land reform being its primary subjects.

Social justice, much like the endangerment of the Haribon, seems to be at the brink of extinction in the current state of the Philippines. The War on Drugs that has been implemented by President Rodrigo Duterte has led to the deaths of 12,500 people with an estimated 3,500 being killed in police shootouts, which policemen often claim to be self-defense, labeling the victims—most of which are slum-dwellers—as “nanlaban.” Minors, like Kian de los Santos & Carl Angelo Arnaiz, are also not exempted to the brutal hands of the police. Although the police are saying that the victims were responsible for their own demise a heavy rain of his own. Hot lead was the first dialogue, and it only escalated into a far bitter strife.

Where they went, the stories followed. Once, their military efforts yielded handsome prospects, the green kind.

In a report by Inquirer , his team led

by First Lt. John Frederick Sevellano was securing the street in Barangay Saduc. In one of the buildings where the Maute snipers made nest, they recovered Php52.2 million in cash and Php27 million worth of checks. It was a labor that Sumagpang hardly hesitated to share to his mother.

by carrying or selling drugs, proofs such as CCTV footages and eye witnesses tell a different story. This has produced a questionable reputation for the country’s justice system by letting the killings go uninvestigated and be neglected. But that is only one of the possible allegories from the film.

References, although ambiguous in nature, from the Hacienda Luisita have also been shown in the film.

The farmers seeking for land reform in the movie have a resonance with the problems that farmers still face at present, specifically, genuine land reform and land grabbing.

The enduring quality of the issues resulted in several attempts to overcome the challenges. One of them is Republic Act 6657, better known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which enables the redistribution of public and private agricultural lands to farmers who are landless. However, despite the law’s implementation, strongholds of feudalism remain rampant in the country which barricades the pursuit of land reform.

“Gusto niya na mag sundalo talaga. Yan talaga yung hilig niya.”

Sumagpang’s mother knew this well. She described him the same, a soldier that wore his coat with pride.

Soon after his schooling at Ocampo National High School, he joined the ranks at the age of 19.

Seven years later, he was a newly promoted corporal in the Philippine Marine Corps. He stayed long in Mindanao, shuffling between Cotabato and Sulu. But soon he would find himself with smoke and fire in the besieged city of Marawi.

Storm in Marawi While the North exchanged, and in some cases, dodged arguments about the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, Sumagpang was in the South, dodging a frenzy of bullets, firing

However, despite the movie being a tough pill to swallow, it evokes a new-found feeling of optimism, not just for the audience of the Philippine cinema, but also for the country that has been struggling to keep the elusive and endangered social justice alive.

“Ma, kami nakakuha nung mga shabu, ‘yung pera,” Hernandez recalls. Sumagpang called his family to tell them himself despite of, or perhaps because of, the headlines already publicizing the success.

The soldier’s legacy Now, Sumagpang’s townsfolk recognize him as a hero. And perhaps, with his story now here, more people would think the same. But what did he really want to be in the end?

But the next success was itself a high price, his life included.

Before he perished, he sent his sibling his last regards; he wanted to help and acquire them a proper land.

Their finest hours On the last Friday of his life, June 9, Sumagpang’s team moved deeper into Marawi’s heart of darkness.

There the enemies lay, their bullets trembling violently in the shadows of the mosques.

By Martin Cris Buenafe & Athena Joie Pili With Reports From Jesse De Lima

Sumagpang had family, but in a soldier’s life, time is not a luxury. However, it was the life that he wanted since youth, Hernandez recalls, and his interests could only be reduced to that instinct.

By visualizing social matters to the movie-goers rather than stirring escapism, Birdshot, aside from being the Philippines’ official entry to the Best Foreign Language Film category for the 2018 Academy Awards, is one the most remarkable films to debut in Philippine cinema to date. It offers an avenue to awaken the minds of the public, not only to appreciate great cinema, but also to pay attention to the harsh social reality of life.

The combat clearing operations had to proceed to limit the area of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group, but it meant confronting more aggressive force. Lt. Colonel JoAr Herrera, the Army’s First Infantry Battalion spokesperson was quoted in an article from Philippine Star, saying, “[M]ilitants used civilians as human shields…and also positioned themselves in the city’s many mosques.”

Sumagpang was at his final hours.

His fight lasted for more than half a day until an RPG crippled his defenses. Still, he remained standing. But above and away, a 40 caliber sniper raised its sight on him; and lo, it took the trigger that finally collapsed him to the ground.

He and 12 other marines fell. But their title, “13 Marines,” made headlines above stones and the nation would lament their death. Or would only their family remember?

“Sabihan mo si mommy, ‘Babawi ako.’”

The boy wanted to be a soldier, but in the end, he was a son. A soldier’s sacrifice is a family’s sacrifice.

His mother said that pain and sadness filled their hearts, but that the heroism and the honor of Sumagpang for the country measured more than their loss.

According to Inquirer, his widow cannot accept what happened to her husband. However, she believes that President Rodrigo Duterte will help her and other widows of the fallen soldiers in Marawi. She hopes that the clashes would cease.

At Ateneo, another one of the family remembers the son. He stands by the gates, keeping guard, boiling the hours as one of the University’s security officers: Rolando Hernandez.

Hernandez remembers his nephew with pride, he says. To him, it is enough that his family and townsfolk remember Sumagpang. To the rest, their routines continue while more soldiers clash in combat, more sons and daughters, more departed. The rest shall live, but it is their choice to remember the fallen.

Artwork by Michaela Bitabara Page Layout by Ralph Filio

ThePILLARS Publication

June - October Issue

BERIBENTOT

BERI IS FOUND! M ga orbs! Heller, heller mga makuapo! Yaon na ang pinakapuwetmalu, ay petmalu palan, nindong lodi!

Abang haloy kitang dai nagkakaurulay-ulay ah, mala baga kaya ta natokhang ako kang Marso, pero tinkyu Papa God ta nakasurbayb ako. May purpose pa kaya daa ako, to bring the latest and hottest cheka in and out of the unibirsiti to all of you mga kyah!

Eneweys, kumusta lamang si finals nindo mga orbs? Mapasa man? Hahahaha. Iyo yan, nagshare man garo kamo kaitong lucky sugok sa peysbuk asin lucky Migs, ano?

Tamang-tama ang comeback ko ngunyan ta nagkairipon-ipon si mga cheka sa satuyang unibers.

Igwa pating mga explosib and intriging eksposey akong nagkaararaman! Kung napalingaw na kamo, tara, rewind kita!

Bonggacious naman talaga ang satong unibers. Akalaon mo may bago na naman kitang building, itong Alingal Building. Pero ang cheka daa, hali na naman ito sa utang from other unibers, hayst dai pa lamang ngani ako duman nakagamit kang elebeytor man ngaya. Raot na pati tulos si sa second floor. Baka bawion na naman sa twishen fee ta, gigil si acoe! “NO TO TFI!!!” Charot, napaamay ako, aber ta abangan ta iyan next sem.

15

mga brodie and mga sisteret na miyembro kang LGBTQIA! Sana magpadagos pa ito and sana dai lang kita sa laog kang satong belabed unibersiti, sana sa tinampo of Naga kita para pak na pak. Love is love, ganern!

Sa buong sem na ini, aram nindo kung sain ako pinakashookt?

Ito bagang pagresign ni Si-Si-G president!! Kalurkey daw ito, ata na kakamata ko pa sana, ito nagsalubong sakuyang bareta, aywow breakpast in bed mga lodi. Ang sad pa duman, dai talaga malinaw on both sides kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari.

MAYGAD! I deserve an explanation! I deserve an acceptable reason! Charot. Feeling nasa pelikula. Eneweys, sana dai macompromise ang mga activities kan SiSiG dahil lang duman.

Bati nacancel pa si ACP! Aw ano na sana, mag music fest na lang kita kada week? Huhuhu i’m sooooo sad, bimbyyyy. Ano na mga lodi? :( Pero dawa kaito, thumbs up man giraray sa mga activities kang SiSiG lalo na si mga socially relevant.

#ComebackIsReal

labed uniberisiti. Laban! More werpa!

May saro pa palan na balita na mej nashookt ako, may bago na kitang Father President sa unibersiti ta! Hali pa siyang Seyber Unibersiti, abangers na lang kita mga kyah ta madali ta nang mameet siya.

Babay Father Vi, we will mishu so mats!

By the way, bago palan

ako magpaaram, hoy magtaga-ingat ingat tabi mga makuapo ta dyan sa Arneyow Ave kadakol mga lespu na nakatambay, mga pabibo, ata na pinagbabawalan sindang pirang kilometer away from the unibersiti, aw ta dai nauuntok.

Baka tighahanap na naman ako ajujuju, ata natokhang na ko, baka maEJK na ako sa sunod, my gahd, *makes katok sa kahoy* wag naman sana. Basta maging matanglawin kita ngunyan mga lodi, iyo?

Well, dis is all por now mga makuapo! Bawi na lang ako next release sa mga cheka, nasa recovery stage pa kaya ako ta na-trauma talaga ako, kamo man daw matokhang! Ajujujuju. Hapi bekeyson mga lodi! Tagabawi man turog tsaka pagkakan ngunyan na sembreak ta aram kong may micronutrient deficiency kamo kang kralasehan. Hahahaha.

P.S. Mabalik na palan itong The Knight Literary Folio mi next semester! Oh si mga makakata “man daa” dyan, si mga paJuan Miguel Severo, si mga artsy, si mga pa-edgy (charot, joke lang), dai na masupog mag submit nin entries! Nag-accept kaming tula, essays, maiikling kwento, mga piktyur (bawal ang selfie), mga artworks, sardinas, noodles, bagas, ay iba na palan yan. Hahahaha. Basta mga lodi, abangers na lang kita sa mga posters around d campus! Babayuuuu!

Haaay. Kung ano man init kang payo nindo kapag nauubusan mojacko, iyo man ang init kang panahon. Kaya inda daw kung anong naiisip kang satuyang El-Ji-Yu ta pigpurutol pa si mga puno sa Magsaysay. Parking daa para sa Istarbax! Shushal!

Pero aside dyan, naparansin man nindo itong pagbabago sa mga gates ta? Lalo na sa first gate, bongga ay, maabot ang panahon na disuruswipe na kita kayan kang mga ID ta! Oh si mga sigeng subli diyan kan bako man ninda ID, pumurupakarhay kyah! Hahahaha.

Nagirumduman pa baya nindo si naganap kan Hunyo? Itong nagparada kita diyan sa may Four Peellars and around around the campus habang nagkukurahaw na “Makibeki, Wag Mashokot” and with matching kolorpul na mga ribbon ribbon. Abang ugma ko daw kato! Nag-awra pati ako duman, support kung support ang lola niyo!

Paynali nagkaboses ang satuyang

Ta m a yan mga brodie ta saro talaga yan sa mga trabaho nindo. Petmalu talaga!

Bigyan ng jacket!

Napapansin ko daw, dakol na pasabit ang satong unibers sa Four Peellars, paiba-iba pati lalo na kun may bagong soshal ishu. Sana dai lang yan pangdisplay kun may bisita and sana dai lang pagpilion ang mga issue na susuportahan, dibuuuh? Stay woke my be-

Layout by Ralph Filio Artwork by Ray Ubaldo (taken from the archives)