The Torch Publications TOMO LXXV Blg. 1

TABAS SA KABAN NG PUNLANG DUNONG

Ang Opisyal na Pahayagang Pangmag-aaral ng Pamantasang Normal ng Pilipinas KASAPI: College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) | Progresibong Lupon ng Manunulat (PLUMA-PNU)

Andrea Crisologo

Angelica Rago

Arianne Rosewell Maling

Dan Laurenz Sipalay

Ederlyn Terrado

Everlinda Olid

Fatima Guinto

Franz Lenard Ander

Fyra Tumimang

Gimelyn Luminate

Jenny Pabayos

Jose Franco Castillo

Justine Cawaling

Kristine Rose Anne Garcia

Lyra Ruth Leonardo

Maria Ashley Denise Barbosa

Mary Rose Salgado

Mhaigne Ahne Lucanas

Miguel Tuga

Patricia Anne Cleope

Theodora

Khyreen Flores

Bea Sophia Caratay

Eric Dela Peña Jr.

Eric John Dimasakat

TABAS SA KABAN NG PUNLANG DUNONG

Habang lumalala ang suliraning pang-edukasyon sa Pilipinas, mas lumalalim ang pinag-uugatan ng lamat sa dekalidad na pagkatuto ng mga mag-aaral na uhaw sa lehitimong atensyon mula sa estadong hindi sa kanila nakalingon.

KASAPI

College of Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

Progresibong Lupon ng mga Manunulat (PLUMA-PNU)

OPISINA

Rm. 304-A Main Bldg.,Philippine Normal University

Sa kabila ng panawagan ng mga guro’t mag-aaral na taasan ang badyet ng mga pamantasan bilang paghahanda sa muling pagbubukas ng face-to-face classes makalipas ang dalawang taon, 9.9% o P10.8 bil yong pisong budget cut ang naging tugon ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan sa ilalim ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 115 mula sa 116 na pampublikong pamantasan at kolehiyo ang kinaltasan ng badyet, habang anim naman mula sa walong mga pamantasan ang binawasan ng pondo sa Kamaynilaan. Malaking ba lakid ang idudulot ng tapyas sa pondong laan sa bawat pamantasan na maaaring pagmulan ng kaliwa’t kanang suliranin ng mga guro, mag-aaral, at mga empleyado ng mga apektadong pamantasan. Ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) ay kinaltasan ng P2.5 bilyon, at P893 milyon naman mula sa UPPhilippine General Hospital na tiyak na mas magpapalala sa lagay pangkalusugan ng mga pasyente at sa kalidad ng serbisyong publiko na maihahatid nito sa mga mamamayang Pilipino. P931 milyon naman ang ibinawas mula sa Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC), P13.8 milyon mula sa Rizal Technological University (RTU), P244 mula sa Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), P822 libo sa Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST), at P10.9 milyon mula sa Pamantasang Normal ng Pilipinas (Philippine Normal University, PNU). Kabilaang daing at panawagan ang patuloy na inilalaban ng mga magaaral mula sa mga pamantasang nakatanggap ng bawas-pondo dahil imbes na taasan ang pondo upang mabigyang-pansin ang mga kahingian ng mga mag-aaral ay tinapyasan pa ang kaban na dapat sana’y makatutugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral

at sangkaguruan. Bilang tugon sa mungkahing 2023 National Budget Deliberation, 22 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) ang kolektibong lumagda sa nagkakaisang pahayag upang manawagan sa pagbabalik ng ibinawas na pondo sa mga pamantasan at dagdagan ang pambansang pondong laan para sa mga SUCs.

Kung iuugnay ang budget cut sa kalagayan ng Pamantasang Normal ng Pilipinas (PNU), iniinda ng mga mag-aaral at kawani nito ang pagsasaayos ng mga imprastraktura na ilang taon nang isinasagawa ngunit hindi mabigyang kaganapan sa kabila ng kakulangan ng mga silid sa pamantasan. Bunsod nito, napilitang magtalaga ng iba’t ibang iskedyul ng pagsasagawa ng inperson classes ang mga kagawaran upang mabigyan ng pansamantalang solusyon ang suliranin sa aspeto ng imprastraktura. Sa katunayan, humaharap din sa suliraning ito ang kalakhan ng mga organisasyong pangmag-aaaral dahil walang maayos na opisinang maaaring gamitin para mas epektibong pagsasakatuparan ng mga proyekto at programa para sa masang PNUans.

Bilang hakbang upang malawakang manawagan, ang Philippine Normal University-University Student Council (PNU-USC) ay nagsagawa ng inisyatiba upang pag-isahin ang diwa ng masang PNUans upang ikampanya ang pagbabalik ng pondong inaasahang ibawas mula sa alokasyon para sa pamantasan. Kasama ang mga pangmasang organisasyon sa pamantasan, inilunsad ng PNU-USC ang petisyon upang itaas ang pondong laan para sa pagsasaayos ng mga imprastraktura.

Samantala, sa kabila ng kagyat na pangangailangan ng sektor ng edukasyon sa mga karagdagang pasilidad at kagamitan sa pagkatuto, pilit na isinusulong ni Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio ang mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps o ROTC sa mga senior high school,

kolehiyo, at pamantasan sa bansa. Ang programa ay inisyal na inihain upang maging ganap ang “disiplina” at “nasyonalismo” ng mga magaaral, na siya namang tinutulan ng mga mag-aaral dahil sa mga anomalya at korapsyon na kakabit ng programa noong 2001. Litaw ang pangangailangan ng mga pamantasan upang mas maging ligtas ang muling pagbubukas ng face-to-face classes, ngunit ang tugong programa na mandatory ROTC ay mas dumagdag lamang sa suliraning kinakaharap ng mga mag-aaral. Hindi ito maituturing na lunas sa suliraning kinakaharap ng mga kabataan sa pagkatuto, paglilinang ng angking talino, talento, at kamulatan sa mga isyung panlipunan na maaaring matutunan ng mas epektibo kung ituturo sa mga pamantasan.

Kaugnay ng ROTC ay ang mga isyung nagdulot ng pagbuwag sa implementasyon nito sa mga pamantasan, mga kasong nagpahirap sa buhay at kumitil sa mga pangarap ng mga biktimang mag-aaral. Ang walang awang pamamaslang kay Mark Welson Chua, isang kadete at mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas, matapos nitong isiwalat ang anomalyang nagaganap sa sistema ng ROTC sa naturang paaralan ay tanda ng mariing pagkondena ng mga mag-aaral sa pagpapatupad ng sapilitang serbisyong militar. Ngayong taon, parehong panawagan ang itinataguyod ng mga mag-aaral at mga guro upang supilin ang pagbuhay sa programang tumabas sa nakapunlang karunungan sa mga kolehiyo at pamantasan.

Nakaaalarmang banta rin ang dulot ng pagpapatupad ng mandatory ROTC sa kaligtasan ng mga magaaral dahil sa nagbabadyang militarisasyon kaugnay nito. Higit lalo sa mga mag-aaral na patuloy na lumalaban upang pandayin ang malayang pamamahayag at pagkilos laban sa mapang-abusong

Joseph Eli Occeño

OIC PUNONG PATNUGOT

Geline Despabiladeras

OIC KAWAKSING PATNUGOT SA FILIPINO

Abbie Joy Salon

OIC KAWAKSING PATNUGOT SA INGLES

Erica Mae Gozo

OIC PATNUGOT SA PAMAMAHALA

Monica De Vera

OIC KATUWANG NA TAGAPAMAHALA

Mark Joseph Tan

OIC PATNUGOT SA BALITA

Janina Rae Raymundo

OIC PATNUGOT SA LATHALAIN

Shania Faith Legaspi

OIC PATNUGOT SA PANITIKAN

Jonalyn Domdom OIC PATNUGOT SA PANANALIKSIK

Russen Jay Reyes OIC PUNO NG ARTS AND MEDIA TEAM

Cericos Malvar ISTAP

Elisha Nañola

Maria Carey Bigno

KORESPONDENT

King Hezekiah Proceso

ARTS AND MEDIA TEAM

Prop. Jasper P. Lomtong

KRITIKO SA FILIPINO

Dr. Joel Costa Malabanan

TAGAPAYONG TEKNIKAL

mga polisiya ng pamahalaan. Tulad ng isyung kinaharap ng UP matapos ang kontrobersyal na halalan ngayong taon, ang mga mag-aaral na nagpahayag ng saloobin hinggil sa mga iregularidad sa nagdaang eleksyon ay walang pakundangang inakusahan na may kaugnayan sa mga komunistang kilusan sa Pilipinas sa pangunguna ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict o NTFELCAC. Noong ika-6 ng Disyembre, pinahintulutan ng mga mambabatas ang panawagang ibalik ang pondong ikinaltas mula sa NTF-ELCAC sa naunang pondong ₱10 bilyon mula sa budget cut na tumabas sa kalahati nito. Dahil sa tahasang red-tagging sa mga pangmasang organisasyon sa pinamumunuan ng mga magaaral sa iba’t ibang pamantasan, hindi nalalayo sa panganib ang mga lider-estudyante. Repleksyon lamang ito na ang prayoridad ng administrasyong Marcos Jr. ay hindi nakasandig sa interes ng masang patuloy na ikinakampanya ang mas

BALITA

ligtas, inklusibo, at makamasang edukasyon matapos ang higit dalawang taon ng pandemya.

Liban sa paggiit ng pagbabalik ng mandatory ROTC sa mga pamantasan, ay mas binigyangprayoridad ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon (DepEd) ang pagpapaingay ng usapin tungkol sa propesyunalismo ng mga guro at limitasyon sa kaugnayan ng mga ito sa mga mag-aaral. Kamakailan, ipinatupad ng kagawaran ang DepEd Order No. 49 o ang Promotion of Professionalism in the Implementation and Delivery of Basic Education Programs and Services, na konstitusyonal na nagtatakda ng mga gampaning dapat tugunan at iwasan ng sangkaguruan. Sa kabila ng kakulangan sa kasanayan sa pagsulat at pagbasa ng mga kabataang Pilipino, naunang bigyang amyenda ang usapin ng kaugnayan sa pagitan ng mga guro at mag-aaral sa halip ay bigyang-pansin ang mga kahingian ng sektor ng edukasyon

sa pamamagitan ng dekalidad, aksesibol, at makamasang mga programa.

Taliwas sa tinatawag na pangangailangan ng mga magaaral ang bawas-pondo para sa mga pampublikong kolehiyo at pamantasan, maging ang panunumbalik ng mandatory ROTC. Ang tahasang atake sa mga mag-aaral sa iba’t ibang anyo ng panggigipit at opresyon ay repleksyon ng kawalang prayoridad ng pamahalaan sa kahingian ng sektor ng edukasyon sa bansa. Kasabay ng pagtaas ng kamaong lumalaban para sa karapatan ng kabataan sa mas inklusibo, progresibo, at mapagpalayang edukasyon, ay ang pagsibol ng nag-aalab na pusong uhaw sa konkretong solusyon sa mga isyung kinahaharap ng masang mag-aaral at kaguruan.

PNU-USC petitions for budget increase on infrastructure

THEADORA CERICOS MALVAR

On November 7, 2022, the lobbying for the National Expenditure Program (NEP) by the Senate resumed. With regard to the event, the PNU-University Student Council (PNU-USC) submitted a letter of appeal attached with a petition paper seeking to increase the capital outlay of PNU in the NEP. The PNU-USC submitted the letter of appeal accompanied by the petition paper under the collective name “Undergraduate Students of PNU” to the Senate during their deliberation on the NEP.

An increase in capital outlay, which is one of the three components of the approved General Appropriations Act (GAA) that concentrates on buildings and infrastructures, would make it possible for PNU to continue the construction of a 12-story building that could expand the number of classrooms and laboratories available.

“A maximized number of facilities yields an increased number of slots in catering to more students who can exercise their right to free and quality education,” said PNU-USC Chairperson Elisha Atayde. She added that the call for a budget increase on infrastructure could help stakeholders improve the investment in facilities for the entire PNU system and equip it in providing its students with innovative and more adequate facilities that are flexible enough to strengthen and support the modern learning needs of today.

However, limitations on funding and budget exist as an issue. “Due to the fixed funding in the component of capital outlay, it is important to strengthen our collective action, together with the PNU admin and staff, in calling for a budget increase. This form of initiative is among the demands of many State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in seeking to lobby for a well-deserved increase

in the middle of huge budget cuts in the sectors of education, health, and social services,” Atayde stressed.

To raise awareness of the petition, the PNU-USC released propaganda materials such as statements, daily updates on the percentage of signatures, and a story blast on Facebook. Additionally, efforts made by the Classroom Assembly (CA), as the basic subdivision of the PNU-USC, helped amplify the campaign through their respective sections.

From October 31 until November 8, the PNU-USC gathered a total of 2,033 (62%) signatures for its petition from PNUans who were more than willing to support the increase of capital outlay of PNU to invest in university facilities and further improve student services.

Prior to its submission, the Office of the President (OP) extended their recommendations on what the letter of appeal should contain, according to Atayde, including information regarding the proposed 12-story building and the current state of PNU’s budget in terms of capital outlay. “After days, the OP also suggested sending the letter to Sen. Gatchalian as the current Chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture; Sen. Escudero as

the current Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education; and Sen. Villanueva as the current Senate Majority Leader whose offices are connected to the education sector,” Atayde added.

As of this writing, the letter of appeal and petition have been acknowledged by the concerned Senate officials. As PNU awaits a response, students must continue to raise awareness towards better financial support that can contribute to adequate learning environments in the future, as well as enable

DIBUHO NI RUSSEN JAY REYES

Ang tahasang panggigipit ng estado sa kaganapan ng dekalidad, ligtas, at pangmasang edukasyon ay mas nagpapayaman lamang sa pagnanais na itaguyod ang laban ng masang patuloy na itinataas ang sektor ng edukasyon.

PNU issues full University Guidelines for A.Y. 2022-2023

MONICA DE VERA

Philippine Normal University released University Circular No. 11, s. 2022, the university guidelines for academic year 2022-2023 yesterday, October 15, three days before the official opening of classes.

Days before, students called for the release of the said calendar early on to give time for faculty members, students, and parents for the upcoming academic year. Headed by the PNU - University Student Council, updates regarding acade mic plans, learning modality, attendance policies, and class schedules were conveyed last September 6 and 19, respectively.

Meanwhile, the released academic plans and guidelines from the Board of Regents declared the institutionalization of KawayAralan sa Bagong Kadawyan, the university's response to the demands of the New Normal. In the released circular, the six blended learning models are developed, detailing the number of weeks alloted for online and in-person class sessions.

Model 1 (10-2 model): 10 weeks of class sessions are delivered online; 2 weeks of class sessions are delivered in-person. These sessions can be for midterm and final revalida.

Model 2 (11-1 model): 11 weeks of class sessions are delivered online; 1 week of class sessions is delivered in-person

Model 3 (9-3 model): 9 weeks of class sessions are delivered online; 3 weeks of class sessions are delivered in-person. These sessions can be for midterm, final revalida, and capstone projects.

Model 4 (8-4 model): 8 weeks of class sessions are delivered online; 4 weeks of class sessions are delivered in-person.

Model 5 (3-9 model): 3 weeks of class sessions are delivered online; 9 weeks of class sessions are delivered in-person.

Model 6 (6-6 model): 6 weeks of class sessions are delivered online; 6 weeks of class sessions are delivered in-person.

Moreover, the discretion on the application of the released models among the PNU Campuses will be chosen on what set-up works best for them. The modality of classes ‘must be pre-determined by the units prior to student enrollment in consideration of the faculty assignments, limitations in IT infrastructure of the University, movement of people inside the campuses, preparations on the part of the students, among others.’

The University Circular also included the plans for the first week of the academic year, which however caused confusion regarding the schedules intended for other 4th year students under other faculties and institutes. Specifically, only 4th year students from the Faculty of Science, Technology, and Mathematics (FSTeM) have a specified schedule for Term 1’s first week. As specified beforehand, the undergraduate classes are set to begin on October 18, Tuesday. The first week’s mode of delivery will be online and in-person as detailed in the circular, scheduled into the following:

October 17, 2022 (Online): Freshmen Orientation, Experiential Learning and Portfolio Development, and PathFit Orientation Program

October 18, 2022 (In-person): 2nd Year students and 4th Year students from the Faculty of Science, Technology, and Mathematics (FSTeM)

October 19, 2022 (Online): Student Re-Orientation

October 20, 2022 (In-Person): 3rd Year students and BPHED students (all levels)

October 21, 2022 (In-Person): 1st Year and 2nd Year Students

The in-person schedule for the graduate students in PNU - Manila was laid as well, specifying the modes of delivery across the weeks for Term 1. University activities such as the faculty meetings, assemblies, and administrative and academic council meetings were defined into in-person delivery and online sessions, depending on the decision of the head of the office.

PNU - University Student Council Deputy Officer Francesca Venisse Mayorga expressed her sentiments re the released full guidelines in an interview. Mayorga cited that the announcement brought her relief, confusion, and worries as there are only two days left for the community to prepare. “Karamihan ng bahagi ay nagbibigay kalituhan,” the deputy from the Office of the Chairperson stated. “Nananatili pa rin ‘yong pagkagulo at pagkabalisa upang harapin ang taong panuruan.”

Mayorga also noted that students’ decisions on different aspects such as their place of residence and current employment is highly influenced by the released guidelines. “Kagaya na lamang para sa katulad kong nasa malayong lugar, nakatulong ito kung maninirahan sa Manila o hindi,” the deputy stated. “Para naman sa kapwa kong mag-aaral

na naghahanap-buhay, tingin ko ay malaking salik din ito sa pagpapasiya kung paano ang mangyayari sa pagaaral at pagtatrabaho.”

On the other hand, some students found the guidelines confusing and insufficient, as details like the home distance of students’ current residence to the university. Working students raised concerns through the comment section of the launched post of the PNUUSC, garnering the sentiments and questions from the PNUans. “Parang hindi man lang inisip ang mga working students. Late nagbaba ng memo and schedules kahit nga profs hindi namin kilala,” a PNUan commented. “I have to choose one and for that I have to sacrifice the other one kasi nagbabaga ang oras ng shift ko sa oras ng pasok,” they emphasized.

“Sana magkaroon ng pagkakataon makapili ng schedule yung mga students lalong lalo na yung mga working students ng saganoon ay walang masasagaang oras ng pasok ng school at work,” a comment from another PNUan.

Students residing outside Metro

“Medyo off lang nung schedule ng mga faculties per week. Parang ang impractical kasi may 2-3 weeks interval bago mag F2F ulit,” a PNUan said.

“Hindi nabigyang-pansin ang mga estudyante at gurong malayo ang tirahan o kaya naman kailangan pang lumuwas ng probinsya para lang sa iisang F2F class,” a student stated in an interview.

The guidelines were also referred to as ‘short-noticed’ since the details with regards to the unsettled schedule in the student portal and e-PNU course classrooms. “Hindi ko alam kung makakapagprepare pa talaga,” another student emphasized. “I don’t personally know how the guidelines will help the students to clear the uncertainty circling in the students’ minds. We hope for a better and urgent final and clear guidelines from the university.”

We hope for a better and urgent final and clear guidelines from the university.

BALITA

Atayde elects as PNUNUSG Chairperson; second female to take position

ABBIE JOY SALON

The Philippine Normal University National Union of Student Governments (NUSG) recently elected its new Governing Board during the 5th Annual Convention last December 7 to 10 at PNU Visayas, Negros Occidental.

PNU University Student Council (PNU-USC) Chairperson Elisha Jesu Atayde was named as the new Student Regent and PNU NUSG Chair - the second female to hold the position in the history of PNUNUSG.

Led by the PNU Visayas Student Government and former governing board members of PNU NUSG, the convention was attended by the student governments across the PNU system. The student councils convene annually to elect a new set of the executive board for the next academic year.

Only the chairpersons of each student council are qualified to vie for a position on the executive board of PNU NUSG.

Atayde highlighted that the PNU community will see a more solidified relationship between the five campuses under her

Student Regentship. “Aside from materializing the nationalist, democratic, autonomous, and promasses principles of the National Union of Student Governments (NUSG), the PNU system should expect a more solidified relationship between the five campuses through campaigns and projects,” Atayde said in an interview.

Atayde added that this year’s Student Regentship will focus on the pressing issues that the university is facing at present, including gender policies and the implementation of NLEC. “This year's Student Regentship shall focus on safe spaces, most especially when it comes to campus policies and its implementation, and strengthening gender and development in the entire PNU System. Another is academic concerns in lieu of assessing the Normal Lecture Education Curriculum (NLEC) and the proposed institutionalization of straight programs for the next years to come,” Atayde said.

The elected governing board members for the academic year 2022-2023 are as follows:

Chair and Student - Hon. Elisha Jesu A. Atayde of PNU Manila Vice Chair for Academics - Hon. Ralph B. Original of PNU Mindanao Vice Chair for Internal Affairs - Hon. Jhunie Aquino of PNU North Luzon Vice Chair for External Relations and Advancement - Hon. Ricky D. Lubaton, Jr. of PNU Visayas Vice Chair for Finance and AdministrationPNU South Luzon

PNU celebrates President’s Day, student leaders raise concerns

JUSTINE JOY CAWALING

On the celebration of the third year anniversary of President Bert J. Tuga as the university president, the University Events Management and Public Relations Office (UEMPRO) conducted a dialogue with student leaders from different organizations inside the university, which centered on the various issues that the PNU community faces today, held at PNU Dagot Hall, Learning Commons last December 9, 2022.

Representatives from the Student Gender and Development Commission (USC-SGDC), Officebased Organizations (OBOs), Interest Clubs and University Chapter Organization Alliance (ICUCOA), Program-based Organizations (PBOs), and class representatives prepared a two-minute speech addressing their concerns and suggested solutions on the issues that the organizations and class representatives have presented.

After the student leaders raised their concerns, President Tuga responded to the issues laid out.

On the prolonged release of the academic guidelines by the PNU administration, President Tuga assured the PNU community that the admin would make the plans

available earlier so students would have more time to prepare for the approaching academic term.

Finding dormitories for students living in the province is also a problem. President Tuga expressed his dismay that Normal Hall Dormitory will not be accepting tenants until further notice as it was shown to exhibit possible dangers after being examined by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Concerns about organization budgets were also raised. Student leaders have expressed their frustration on the constant delays of the university offices in processing financial requests.

“We already noted the challenges in the processing of requests. OSASS is already looking at the step-by-step procedure and the requirements needed to support the request to ensure the very efficient processing and approval of your request,” President Tuga said.

On the issues of transportation services for athletes and performers, President Tuga mentioned that the university will be giving the student

athletes and performers greater support and that they need to be more exposed to more sports and cultural events.

“A minibus and van are coming next year for athletes and performers to use and we will be rolling out our sports and cultural program in the university, where we will be participating in a face-to-face event,” he added.

Laurence Aldrich “LA” Silao, President of the Interest Clubs and University Chapter Organization Alliance (ICUCOA), called on the PNU administration to take a clear stand on concerns about the revival of the implementation of the mandatory

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).

“We have the same position for that, give us your position paper and we will send it to the Senate and House of Representatives,” President Tuga said in the dialogue.

At the end of the dialogue, he asked for the patience and support of the student leaders in solving the issues present in the university.

“Ang tanging hiling ko lang ay maging patient kayo sa pag solve ng mga issues na ito dahil ang iilan ay hindi kayang lutasin agad-agad,” he said in his closing statement.

PHOTO courtesy of Elisha Atayde Elisha Atayde is the incumbent chairperson of the PNU-MANILA University Student Council and the elected PNUUNSG chairperson.

KUHA NI ABBIE JOY SALON

PNU opens admission for AY ‘23 - ‘24 PNUAT 2023

MARIA ASHLEY DENISE BARBOSA

After two years of waiving the Philippine Normal University Admission Test (PNUAT), PNU announced its comeback for the preparation of the next academic year 2023-2024, in which the application period for aspiring first-year students is scheduled to start on December 15, 2022.

PNU also released its 2023 Admission Booklet to guide the first-year applicants. According to the booklet, the requirements for admission are the following:

1. For Graduating Senior High School StudentsCertified True Copy of Grade 11 report card and latest Grade 12 report card with no grade lower than 80% or its equivalent in any subjects and with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 85% or its equivalent.

2. For TransfereesTranscript of Records/ Certification of Grades with no grade below 80% or its equivalent in any subjects, with a General Weighted Average of 85% and has no failed and/or incomplete subjects.

3. Completed Middle School or its equivalentCertification from Philippine Educational Test (PEPT)/ Alternative Learning System (ALS) or a Non-Formal Equivalency test both

given and certified by the Department of Education (CMO No. 10 S. 2018)

Students must also submit Certification from the School Principal/Certification of Enrollment/ Registration Form, 2x2 colored ID picture taken within 6 months, in white background and nametag, with neutral facial expression; must not be wearing eyeglasses or colored contact lenses, and with ears exposed (if religious customs do not prohibit).

First-year applicants must pass the three phases of admission procedure to be admitted in PNU: Philippine Normal University Admission Test Interview, and

CHED: Full distance learning sa mga HEIs, bawal na simula 2nd sem ng AY 2022-2023

JENNY PABAYOS

Hindi na maaaring magpatupad ng full distance learning ang mga Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ayon sa Commission on Higher Education (CHED), epektibo simula sa ikalawantg semestre ng pang-akademikong taong 2022-2023.

Batay sa CHED Memorandum Order No. 16 na inilabas noong ika-11 ng Nobyembre, ang mga kolehiyo at pamantasan ay maaari na lamang gumamit ng hybrid learning o full face-to-face classes bilang modalidad ng pagtuturo.

"Unless there is an approval from the Commission on Higher Education, an HEI cannot offer its recognized degree programs in full distance learning delivery, including fully online modality," saad sa Memorandum na pinirmahan ni Chairman Prospero De Vera.

Ang mga institusyon na magpapatupad ng hybrid na modalidad ay kailangang magtalaga ng 50% on-site classes base sa kabuuang bilang ng kanilang klase.

Ang matitirang bilang ng klase ay maaari nang gamitan ng distance learning gaya ng pagsasagawa ng online classes at paggamit ng learning modules.

Giit din ng CHED na ang mga pamantasang nais magpatupad ng distance learning at transnational education ay kailangan munang humingi ng pahintulot sa kagawaran, ayon sa RA 10650 o Open Distance Learning Law. Matatandaang ipinagbawal ang face-to-face classes noong 2020 para maiwasan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19. Noong nakaraang taon lamang muling binuksan ang mga paaralan para sa in-person classes at ngayong taon ay hinihikayat nang muli ang pagbabalik ng full face-to-face classes, lalo na sa mga kursong may OJT at apprenticeship programs.

PHOTO courtesy of PNU Office of Admission PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY ADMISSION TEST (PNUAT) is back! The Philippine Normal University, the National Center for Teacher Education, will officially start accepting applications for first-year students for the Academic Year 2023-2024 on December 15th 2022 until February 15th 2023.

KUHA NI HANNA RICAFRENTE

KUHA NI MA. TEOFILA JAVIER

KUHA NI JANINA RAE RAYMUNDO

Remulla, ibinasura ang SOGIE bill; panganib sa sektor ng LGBTQIA+

ELVIA NICOLE AGUACITO

Nanawagan ang iba’t ibang sektor para sa proteksyon ng LGBTQIA+ kasunod ng pagbasura ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla sa gitna ng mga panukala ng United Nattions Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) na ipasa ang Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Bill at mga hakbang na nagpapahintulot sa same-sex union. Iginiit ni Remulla na pinili nilang tanggihan ang mga mungkahing ito sa kabila ng mga panawagan dahil "hindi katanggaptanggap" ang mga ito sa isang bansang kilala sa nakararaming populasyon ng mga Katoliko, tulad ng Pilipinas.

Sa mga sektor na nagtataguyod SOGIE, ang panukalang ito ay kinikilala na ang bawat indibidwal, anuman ang kanilang kasarian, edad, klase, posisyon, kapansanan, relihiyon o pampulitikang paniniwala, ay may karapatan sa parehong hanay ng mga pangunahing karapatan. Ito ay nagpapahiwatig na ang batas ay nagbibigay ng proteksyon laban sa diskriminasyon para sa mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+. Ayon kay Rey Valmores-Salinas ng Bahaghari, and pambansang alyansa

Nobyembre 5, natagpuang patay si Benharl Capote Kahil, isang guro at kartunista, matapos mabaril ng hindi pa nakikilalang salarin pasadong alas diyes nang gabi sa Barangay Pasandalan, Sultan Kudarat.

KAHIL, KARTUNISTA, AT GURO

Si Kahil ay isa sa mga kilalang kartunista na gumagawa ng mga obra na may kinalaman sa mga napapanahong isyung panlipunan, ilan sa mga isyung ito ay ang bulok na sistema ng hustisya sa Pilipinas at ang patuloy na pagmamalupit ng rehimeng Marcos-Duterte sa mga Pilipino. Dahil sa natatanging mensahe, nagkamit si Kahil ng mga parangal sa mga kompetisyon na inorganisa ng Pitik Bulag at iChange Komiks. Umani ng papuri at pagkilala ang kanyang mga obra tungkol sa karapatan ng mga kabataan at kababaihan. Sa lahat ng kanyang nagawa, ang pinakatumatak sa isipan ng madla ay isang dibuho tungkol sa Batas Militar na nagwagi ng unang parangal sa 3rd Pitik Bulag Tagisan contest na ginanap noong buwan ng Oktubre.

Ayon sa hepe ng Lebak Municipal Police Station na si Lieutenant Colonel Julius Malcontento, isang huwarang guro ng Lebak Legislated National High School (LLNHS) si Kahil na kadalasang itinuturing na paboritong guro ng mga estudyante

ng LGBTQIA+, ang pagsasabatas ng SOGIE bill ay hindi lamang pumoprotekta sa komunidad ng LGBTQIA+ kundi para sa lahat.

“Wala pong special rights para sa LGBT. Kung mayroon man pong special rights dito, ang meron ay yung anak ni Remulla na nahuli ngunit binigyan ng due process, samantalang ang karaniwang Pilipino, pinapatay kaagad sa War on Drugs,” giit ni Valmores-Salinas. Bukod rito, binatikos ng Bahaghari ang paggamit ng administrasyong Marcos ng mga relihiyosong konteksto upang bigyang-katwiran ang pagtanggi nito sa mahahalagang batas na nagtataguyod ng pagkakapantay-pantay ng kasarian at karapatang pantao na isang lantarang paglabag sa konstitusyon.

“If Catholic faith is to be the basis anyway, the Marcos admin’s argument is moot. To be a good Catholic is to be for gender equality, to support laws on SOGIESC and marriage equality,” dagdag ni Valmores-Salinas.

Samantala, ayon sa LGBT Hate Crime Watch, kulang ang Pilipinas ng mga batas na nagpoprotekta sa komunidad ng LGBTQIA+ mula sa

sa lugar.

Buhat ng insidente, nagpaabot naman ng pakikiramay at simpatya ang mga kilalang grupo at organisasyon katulad ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), Panday Sining, at Pitik Bulag. Sumisigaw rin ng hustisya ang mga nasabing progresibong grupo ukol sa pagkamatay ng isa na namang mamamahayag sa kanilang hanay. Matatandaang nangyari ang krimen ilang araw matapos ilagay ng Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ang Pilipinas sa listahan ng mga bansa na may bulok na sistema ng hustisya pagdating sa mga krimen laban sa mamamahayag.

Isang linggo matapos ang nasabing krimen, naglabas ng saloobin ang mga kapwa-kartunista ni Kahil na sina Cartoonist Zach at Kevin Eric Raymundo, o mas kilala sa tawag na “Tarantadong Kalbo”. Kanilang kinondena ang nangyaring krimen na tila naging instrumento para takutin at patahimikin ang mga kartunista sa Pilipinas.

“Makipag-ugnayan sa inyong pamayanan. Kung may mangyari man sa akin, mas lalong palakasin ang tawag ng pagbabago. Tuloy ang laban,” mariing sinabi ni Raymundo.

lumalalang karahasan na may mga karaniwang tema ng diskriminasyon at krimen. Ang karahasang ito na nakabatay sa SOGIE ng isang tao ay nagtutulak sa mga miyembro ng komunidad na mamuhay sa takot. Ang mga datos na ipinagsamasama ng LGBT Hate Crime Watch ay nagpapakita na ang mga pagatake sa komunidad ng LGBTQIA+ ay nagiging mas marahas sa bawat taon. Mula noong 1996, 164 na LGBT ang napatay; 16 sa mga pagkamatay ay nangyari noong 2012. 16 na lesbian, 61 homosexual, 4 bisexual, at 26 transgender naman ang namatay dulot ng mga krimen sa pagkapoot. Karamihan sa mga pamamaslang na ito ay pananaksak at pamamaril.

“The butchers left the corpses in spots where they can be discovered in all their horrific, inhuman glory— mutilated meat sacks displayed to strike fear and disgust in those who see it,” paglalarawan ni Marlon Toledo Lacsamana ng Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch.

Kamakailan naman ay binigyang pansin ng Bahaghari ang track record ng administrasyong Marcos patungkol sa karapatan ng LGBTQIA+. Giit ni Valmores-Salinas, sa unang State of the Nation Address ni pangulong Marcos, hindi nito ibinanggit at binigyang prayoridad ang pagbibigay ng proteksyon sa

sektor ng LGBTQIA+.

“Even during the campaign season, he has repeatedly been silent and refused to certify the SOGIESC Equality Bill as urgent despite persistent calls by LGBTQIA Filipinos. We have never been a priority for this administration,” pagdiin ni Valmores.

Samantala, ang mga miyembro ng komunidad ng LGBTQIA+ ay pinagtutuunan ngayon ng pansin ng Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Affairs, and Gender Equality, na kasalukuyang sinusuri ang iminungkahing batas upang isulong ang proteksyon ng sektor.

“While many claim that the Philippines is a country welcoming of the LGBTQIA+, news are rife of abuses and discrimination against them and these are just cases that land in the news, a tiny fraction of incidents that catch media attention,” pagbanggit ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

Para sa mga grupo, sa kabila ng mga hamon na kinakaharap ng LGBTQIA+ at sa gitna ng pagtanggi ng administrasyong Marcos sa SOGIE bill, patuloy na panawagan ng sektor na maging ganap na batas ang panukala at nang sa wakas ay maitatag ang pagkakapantaypantay ng kasarian sa Pilipinas.

PAGSALUNGAT SA AGOS

Gurong kartunista, patay sa pamamaril

Ayon sa imbestigasyon ng mga awtoridad kaugnay sa krimen na naganap sa naturang lugar, may iilang persons of interest na positibong kinilala ng pulisya. Madaming anggulo ang kinunsidera ng awtoridad ukol sa motibo ng suspek, ngunit itinanggi nila na may kinalaman ang pagiging kartunista ni Kahil sa kanyang pagkakapaslang.

Isiniwalat ng grupong Movement Against Disinformation (MAD) na biktima si Kahil ng red-tagging ilang araw bago ang nasabing krimen. Kinondena ng MAD ang red-tagging at pagkakapaslang na may kinalaman sa adbokasiya at mensahe ng pakikibaka na isinusulong ng nasabing kartunista.

Bukod pa rito, nagbigay ng babala ang grupong Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) sa pamamagitan ng kanilang tagapagsalita na si Kej Andres.

“Ang pagkakapaslang kay Kahil at ang lumalalang kultura ng kawalan ng kaparusahan para sa mga kriminal ay nagpaparating ng mensahe na ang mga tumitindig para sa katotohanan ay parating may banta sa kanilang buhay,” wika ni Andres.

DAN LAURENZ SIPALAY

Patuloy ang kabi-kabilang pag-atake sa mga mamamahayag sa ating bansa at patuloy rin ang pagkitil nito sa malayang pamamahayag. Pangatlo na si Kahil sa listahan ng mga mamamahayag na pinatay sa ilalim ng rehimeng Marcos Jr, nauna na dito ang pagpaslang sa mga batikang mamamahayag na sina Percy Lapid at Rey Blanco noong Setyembre at Oktubre. Ayon pa sa grupong CPJ, labing apat na kaso pa laban sa mga mamamahayag ang hindi pa nareresolba ng awtoridad simula noong Setyembre ng taong 2012 hanggang Agosto ng kasalukuyang panahon.

Ang pamamaslang sa mga miyembro ng midya ay paraan ng panunupil sa boses ng mga kritiko ng administrasyong Marcos Jr. Bilang mga mamamahayag pangkampus, sama-sama nating labanan ang patuloy na pag-atake sa mga mamamahayag, depensahan ang kalayaang magpahayag, at huwag hayaang mabaon sa limot ang mahabang kasaysayan ng pakikibaka at paglaban para sa bayan.

SIGAW PARA SA HUSTISYA

Green and red clouds seemed to swirl in the sky as 31 million people rejoiced for the inauguration of Bongbong Marcos on the afternoon of June 30, 2022. Six months into his regime, multiple sectors were raising their banners, marching the streets, bracing the heat, and singing together with their comrades to protest the rising prices, insufficient income and rampant corruption in the government.

"Ulam na tuyo't asin"

Filipinos are all too familiar with the crispy dried fish and salt as an affordable substitute viand. Juan, a low-wage earner with a family of five, could well describe every kind of tuyo he ever had since he was a child. If you were to ask him, poverty makes people lose their sense of taste. The blandness and stringiness of dried fish was always defeated by Juan's hunger. However, during the last six months, a ₱20 worth of tuyo can no longer feed a family of five. A kilo of rice was worth ₱40 to ₱60 instead of the promised ₱20. He knew he had to provide something to eat so the family could survive. Salt could season the rice but salt prices were forced to go for a hike, resulting in a retail price of six pesos per 100 grams. Juan’s wages would be enough to buy 3 kilos of rice, ₱30 worth of dried fish, and two packs of instant noodles per day. Money for cooking gas, electric and water bills, house rent, and his children's daily allowance for school has not yet been included. He imagined his children's stomachs talking as much as the teacher in class and thought sadly at the prospect of his children not finishing school.

The rising prices were indirectly caused by the oil price hike and the 8% inflation rate - the highest that the country has encountered since

November 2008. The Philippines ranked 3rd in inflation rate among South East Asian Countries after Laos and Myanmar respectively. Though Juan is not knowledgeable in the field of economics, his experiences were his education. One thing was clear: the people were earning less than the prices of goods and the government, a golden throne of apathy, smothers Juan.

"Ang singkwenta pesos sa maghapo'y pagkakasyahin"

The Philippine 50 peso bill is a rectangular paper of red and orange colors with Sergio Osmeñia's face in front and a picture of Taal Lake at the back. Juan may memorize what a ₱50 bill looks like but the ways to maximize its value for a day's meal would always be foreign to him. Just so, because he is trying to fit too much into something too little. He heard it while he was sitting outside a cafeteria of the factory he worked in but the direct effect of seeing the prices up close delivers a pang of pain in his chest and a relentless sense of dread. Even if he were to pick the most basic of meals to eat, he still wouldn’t be able to make ends meet. 1/4 kilo of Galunggong was at least ₱60, a dozen eggs go for ₱96, while the chicken meat that his children love so much is priced at least ₱190 per kilo. He would have to spend ₱212 for each member of his family to eat well. That would cost ₱1060 per day, leaving nothing for his children's school allowance. It is an understatement, then, that ₱50 was not enough when Juan's ₱400 could not even provide a healthy meal for his family. He can console himself that some products maintained their original prices but only at the expense of smaller portions and reduced quality. Juan remembered when a pack of 20peso bread buns contained 6 pieces of bread but now it seems to be missing two. If he had planned for a fruit salad for Christmas, the price hike of pack works and milk products

MHAIGNE AHNE LUCAÑAS

such as condensed milks made his plan fall through. To remedy this, he might want to consider walking home from work so he could save ₱20 bus fare that had been ₱15 before the oil price hike and even then it would not be enough.

Resiliency was all he had, trying to push forward amid the crisis, laughing out hunger and fatigue yet it is resiliency that slowly eats him away. It is this trait that is being romanticized by the government to justify immoral wages. If resiliency could take him as far as increasing his daily wages, Juan would have already been rich - or near enough to make a difference.

"Ang aking inay na may kayamanan isang kaldero na nagagamit lang pag ang aking ama ay sumweldo"

A parent's income is what puts food on the table. Wages determine how many meals would the family eat in a day, whether the children can attend school, or whether the mother must work and let the children fend for themselves. Juan has to shoulder this responsibility. To cope with the rising prices, he started working more hours than his usual six p.m. to one a.m. schedule. Four more hours hearing the noise of machines, bearing the searing heat of the engines, and soaking in sweat would give him a bonus of ₱200 to take home. He would be able to go home at six a.m, sleep for four hours, maybe try to apply for another job in another factory to earn more money. Juan knew the toll it was taking on his body but if it meant that he could afford another kilo of rice, then he would grudgingly carry on. More work hours, multiple jobs, fatigue, and hunger were the trend with underemployment rate at 15.40% which left 882,000 workers seeking additional income.

"Baka matanaw at baka matanaw ninyo ang tunay na kalagayan ko"

"Sahod Itaas, Presyo Ibaba" was the call of the people to the government. The Filipino people want the government to increase the national minimum wage and formulate a ceiling price for goods. Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s and Bong Bong Marcos Jr.'s regime both fooled the masses by labeling it as "Golden Age '' despite the fact that Marcos Sr.’s administration struggled with a price hike on goods and a worsening poverty rate which Jr. is now ineptly dealing with. The only thing golden then and today is the price of basic necessities, a gilded burden for Juan to bear. Alas, Juan is not one Filipino, he is all Filipino workers and farmers: the backbone of this country meant to bear inflation like carabaos under the sweltering sun. Workers enslave themselves for a few measly pesos which are still insufficient for their families to live well. Undeniably, every country in the world experiences inflation yet our government gladly prefers their rosetinted glasses, overusing resiliency to mask their incompetence and disinterest to aid the masses.

The government and the ruling classes are incapable of understanding the sentiments of the people. The clock is ticking and the people are weeping. Soon, these cries of anguish will turn into cries of rage. Instead of allowing people to turn into mush beneath the golden throne, we overthrow the people sitting on it and obliterate the throne itself.

The only thing golden then and today is the price of basic necessities, a gilded burden for Juan to bear.

DIBUHO NI JOSEPH ELI OCCEÑO

Kinilala bilang isang rebolusyonaryo, makabayan, at makata, si Jose Maria Sison, tagapagtatag ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP), ay tumindig at nagbigay daan sa pagsulong ng anti-imperyalistang adhikain na nagmulat sa mamamayang Pilipino upang mag-organisa at ipalaganap ang Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo laban sa mapanupil at mapagsamantalang sistema noong panahon ng batas militar.

“Matatag ang loob at alam ang daan”

Galing man sa naghaharing-uri na pamilya si Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, hindi ito naging hadlang upang kaniyang masubaybayan ang inhustisya sa bansa. Nagsimula sila Joma at ang kanyang mga kasabayan mula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa pagtutol sa mga pandinig ng kongreso sa pagsupil sa mga aktibidad at mobilisasyon, at walang habas na panggigipit sa mga Pilipinong bu malikwas sa inhustisyang umiiral sa bansa noong dekada ‘50, panahon kung saan ang mitsa ng pagiging aktibista ni Joma.

Taong 1964, inorganisa nila Joma at ng kanyang mga kasamahan ang mga mag-aaral mula sa iba’t-ibang unibersidad na isulong ang anti-imperyalistang adhikain. Mula dito ay naitatag ang Kabataang Makabayan bilang pangmasang organisasyon ng sektor ng kabataan na ang tu nguhin ay palayain ang kaisipan at magpakilos ng marami pang kabataang Pilipino laban sa diktadurya ni Marcos Sr.

“Ang Pilipino ang siyang dapat na may hawak sa demokrasya,” ito ang pinanghawakang paniniwala ni Joma. Ang mga Pilipino ay dapat na may layang mag-isip, kumilos, mag-organisa, at makibaka upang isulong ang pambansang interes laban sa tatlong ugat ng kahirapan: ang imperyalismo, pyudalismo at burukrata kapitalismo.

“Gaano man kadilim ang gabi” Siya ay naging biktima ng pagpa pahirap sa kamay ng diktaduryang Marcos. Naging bilanggong pulitikal si Joma matapos itong iligal na arestuhin noong Nobyembre 10, 1977 kasama ang kaniyang asawa na si Juliet at tatlo pang mga kasama. Bilang pagpigil sa lumalalang kondisyon ng lipunan sa Pilipinas at kaliwa’t kanang mga protesta, naglabas ng banta si Marcos na patawan ng parusang kamatayan si Sison. Ang mga sumunod na araw ay mas lalong nagdilim matapos ang kaniyang pagkakadakip nang makaranas ito ng labis na pagpapahirap sa kamay ng mga militar.

“A pistol was always pointed at me by one of the two men who said from time to time that I would be dis-

posed of the following day. He kept on kicking at the foot of the cot,” pagsalaysay ni Sison.

Ngunit sa kabila ng mga pinagdaanan nitong pang-aabuso sa kamay ng militar, personal nitong ipinagsawalang bahala ang mga pananakot at pagbabanta sa kaniyang buhay.

“It was obvious to them that I was not intimidated. They would curse whenever I told them to let me sleep or to learn methods of investigation from Hawaii Five-O,” dagdag nito.

“Magkaisa’t ibagsak ang paghahari ng lagim”

Para kay Joma, ang malawak na ha nay ng masa ang siyang maglalagay sa mga pasista’t naghaharing-uri kung saan sila nararapat. Bilang rebolusyonaryo, naniwala si Joma na ang organisadong demokratikong rebolusyonaryong pwersa ay patuloy na lumalakas at sumusulong. Para sa mga sektor ng pesante’t manggagawa, kinilala ang mga mahahalagang kontribusyon ni “Ka Joma” sa kaniyang pagsusuri sa lipunan bilang isang malakolonyal at malapyudal na sistema bilang paraan upang maisakatuparan ang kabuuang pagpapalaya ng masang anakpawis mula sa mga naghaha ring-uri.

“Sa aming mga manggagawa, napakalaki ang ambag ni Ka Joma sa lakas-paggawa. Nanguna siya sa pagbubuo ng mga unyon. Tinalikuran ni Ka Joma ang uring kanyang pinagmulan at nakipamuhay sa batayang sektor ng ating lipunan bi lang tunay na proletaryado,” pahayag Bong Labog ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

Sa lalong tumitinding pamamasismo mula pa noong Batas Militar hanggang sa nakaambang panganib sa pagkakaupo ng tambalang Marcos-Duterte, ang legasiya na iniwan ni Ka Joma sa pagsusuri ng lipunan ay lalong nagpalakas ng panawagang tutulan ang walang habas na intimidasyon at red tagging, isang uri ng pampulitika na pananakot kung saan tinatawag ng mga awtoridad ang mga aktibista bilang "komunista", isang klasipikasyon na kadalasang humahantong sa kamatayan. “Walang mali sa paglaban; may mali kaya may lumalaban. Hangga’t nananatiling mahirap at pinagsasamantalahan ang kalakhan ng ma mamayang Pilipino, hindi natatamasa ng mga inaaping sektor ng lipunan ang mga batayang karapatan nila,” ika nga ng Anakbayan.

Pinatunayan ni Joma mula sa kaniyang tula na ang kagitingan hanggang huling hininga ang bumubuhay sa martir nang higit pa sa kaniyang kamatayan. Para sa kaniya, ang ganap na kalayaan ng bansa, gayundin ang demokratikong partisipasyon ng

mamamayan ang dapat na maging pa ngunahing layu nin upang makamit ang tunay na lipunang mapagpalaya. Kasabay nito, ang pagnanais na matuto nang higit pa tungkol sa lipunan at ang mga hamon na kinakaharap nito mula sa tatlong ugat ng kahirapan ay ang magpapanatiling buhay ng kanyang buong pag-iral.

Iba’t ibang Himig

Lupa’t buhay na maluwalhati Ang ayuda, tunay na reporma Araw-araw tanim punla ng hustisya… Pasensiya’y nalagot kaya kami’y nagmamartsa

Taong nagdaan, babae ay libangan Ngayon ay pasko, huwag nating kalimutan Humayo't umalpas sa dikta ng lipunan

Martsa! Martsa! Martsa, babae ka! Ang iyong lugar ay sa pakikibaka

Martsa! Martsa! Bakahin sistema, Pagka't pasismo'y naghahari pa.

Martsa! Martsa! Mga rebolusyonarya, Pag-alabin ang militanteng adhika!

Malamig ang himig ng hangin, Sa buntong-hininga ng mga natatangi. Aawit pa lamang ng kanilang karoling, Sa mapagmataas na tinig, 'tawad' agad ang isinambit Ng naghaharing nais silang pa tahimikin.

Pagpapatigil sa kanilang himig, ‘di natapos sa ‘patawad’. Naghaharing buwaya ninanakaw ang pinagkakakitaan ng natatanging Nag-aagaw-buhay, ‘pagkat pinapatay karapatan sa lupang pinoprotektahan! Inaabuso’t minamata, estado’y itinatanggi kanilang halaga! Natatangi’y walang laban, ‘pagkat isang bala ang wawakas ‘pag nagpumiglas. Ngayo’y tahanan ng kapitalista’y kumukutikutitap. Patay, sindi—tulad ng sitwasyon ng mga natatanging Pinapatay ang karapatan sa edukasyon at pagkakakilanlan! Na ‘pag lumaba’y magdudulot nang pagsindi sa kandila ng alaala ng kapamilyang bumalikwas sa baluktot na sistema.

Maalinsangan ang simoy ng hangin, Sa panaghoy at poot ng mga natatangi.

‘Pagkat galit ang nagpapatapang at nagpapakilos, Sa natatanging nagkakaisa at ‘di nag-iisa!

‘Pagkat kasama ang masa sa pagsulong ng karapatan at kalayaan!

among all the ringing of bells and melodic carols there stood in the middle of all the heroes seemingly forgotten— the ones in neat scrubs under white coats

In a time when airports are brimming with people, with their luggage and handful of pasalubong, our hospitals are also full of professionals in different hues holding a similar question in their minds— 'When will it be our time to be welcomed by our families?'

The bags under their eyes grows heavier, than the salary delivered in their trembling hands. Their vision clouded by the loss of comrades, Their blood, sweat, and tears they had to substitute. Their promised compensation turned to dust—repeatedly unkept.

As the pandemic sheds light to an old wound festering, until when will those in position turn a blind eye

From these heroes going to battle without enough protection? Forced to face their invisible foe with unkempt armors— A problem shrugged too often from slothful kings’ shoulders

As the heroes take off their masks worn all day, we shall stand together and cast down the decadent.

Amplify the voices of those whose throats has gone hoarse Speak their isolated truth, a gift of higher wages and greater support for our nation’s savior and hope.

Raise your fist, Unsheathe your tools, And, break from the chains! Marching and raging against the system, Now the workers' strike has begun.

What a dire time, It’s the right time, To increase the minimum wage! While exploitation swells over time, Labor unions will always stay!

Giddy-up, working class, Let’s stand on our feet, Gather around the streets, To fight for humane working conditions. That's the revolutionary spirit!

DIBUHO NI BEA SOPHIA CARATAY PAGLALAPAT NI RUSSEN JAY REYES

Dahil sa lumalalang krisis sa lipunan tulad ng pagtaas ng mga bakas ay tanda ng pagmartsa ng mga

Himig sa Lansangan

bilihin, hindi na kagaya dati ang festive na diwa ng Pasko. Ang mga sektor (o “pangangarolin]g”).

Dinggin ang hinaing ng bayang dumadaing, Kolektibong susulong, pagsulat ang magbubuklod, Sa himig ng tinig, lipuna'y maghihimagsik.

Sa pagsulpot ng mga naghaharing kontrabida, Pagsupil sa kalayaang ilathala mga tunay na ulat, Reputasyon nila'y binabahiran ng putik, Mga tagapagtanggol ng karapatan, Lumalaban, anumang oras kailangan.

Paggapos at pagkitil, Red-tagging bilang pahiwatig. Subersibo at Oportunista, Madalas ibintang sa bawat alagad ng midya, Dugo'y dumadanak sa pagbalikwas.

Sa huling gabi ng misa, Patuloy na isisiwalat ang katotohanan, Titindig kasama ang bayan. Titintahan ang pluma, At paglilingkuran ang masa.

Mapapansin ang pagbabagong-anyo ng mga silid-aralan, At mababakas sa mukha ng lahat ang kagalakan, Sa isang simple ngunit espesyal na handaan.

“Hindi pa naibibigay ang sapat,” bulong ng aking isip. Sa tinig pa lamang ni Inay, Na maihahalintulad sa mga nangangaroling sa ‘ming bahay, Bawat himig ay nagbibigay-buhay, Sa aming mga isip na natutulog at minsa'y pasaway.

“Mahalaga si Inay,” sigaw ng aking isip sa mga Pilipino. Dahil sa tuwing gusto kong pailawin ang bituin sa puno ng pasko, Tahakin ang mataas na daan tungo sa pagiging guro, Ay tumatambad ang pagkabigong mukha ng mga Pilipino, At ako‘y pinagbabalaan pa sa pagbibigay liwanag dito.

Lumuluha, nanghihina, at nawawalan na ng kislap, Ang adhikaing pataasin ang pagtingin kay Inay, Binabalot na ng kadiliman ang adhikaing maibigay ang nararapat, Nang hindi gumagapang, nanlilimos, o lumuluha, Boses at pagkilos ng mamamayan, kailangan na ng mga kaguruan!

Maging kislap ng lumuluhang adhika! Tayo’y magsalo-salo, magsama-sama! Sa paggamit ng himig sa pagpapaingay, Na kasing-halaga ng ibang propesyon si Inay, At makataong sistema sa edukasyon, atin nang itagumpay!

Ako'y may kinukubling sikreto. Hindi pwedeng malaman ng kung sino.

Maging ng pamilya ko.

Hindi ikaw, kundi tanging ako.

Sa pagsapit ng pasko, Hindi kasiyahan ang ramdam 'ko. Sa puso ko'y may pighati.

Walang tuwang namumutawi.

Tanging katuwang ang aking sarili.

Ako'y hindi basta-basta bakla o bading lamang.

O lesbiyana niyong hinuhusgahan at ginagawang katuwaan.

Bisexual o transexual na kinulong sa esteriotipo.

Higit pa kami sa aming kasarian

At sa dikta ng ating lipunan.

Ang aming komunidad ay iba-iba ang larangan.

Makulay at walang pinipiling pangalan.

Sa aming samahan, ika'y aming kaibigan.

Kabahagi namin kahit hindi kilala.

Kasama ang lahat sa pagtuwid ng sistema.

Kahit hindi man ay pasko, isa ang tanging hiling 'ko. Sogie Equality Bill, marapat na aprubahan niyo!

Ipaglalaban ang aming karapatang pantao! Ang pagkakapantay-pantay, ikaw man o ako.

Halina't kumilos para sa lipunang inklusibo!

Pagdiriwang ng kapaskuhan, Ayaw ko mang ikumpara Ngunit ibang-iba sa aming maralita Habang mararangya’y nagpapatayugan ng Christmas tree At nagpapagarbuhan ng kanilang mga piging Pinagtitiyagaan naman namin ang mumunting salo-salo Na pinagsikapang pag-ipunan Sa mga araw na himalang naitawid

Kaming mga maralitang, Binansagang hindi nagsisikap Kung titingnan ang katotohanan, Pagkakataong umahon Abot-kamay ba’t makakamtan?

Panahon na upang pagbayarin, Mga politikong sinungaling Noong kampanya'y namakyaw ng boto, Ngayo'y naglahong parang bula, Binaon na sa lupa ang mga pangako

Kami ang Barikadang Bayan! Karapatan sa tirahan at kabuhayan ay ipaglalaban Hindi patitinag sa walang abisong demolisyon, Taas-kamaong babalikwas sa mapanupil na polisiya, Susulong hanggang maging malaya!

As someone who entered the university at the height of the pandemic, I could never relate to my upper

ing 'innovative and transformative' teachers and will only serve to foster a static culture of teaching.

PNUans on gender-based issuesHowmuchcanyou ofer?

the gradual progress of our institution in breaking free from the clutches of century-old beliefs by permitting tattoos, piercings, and any form of coiffure, what still troubles me is that despite these changes only a few of PNUans are willing to actively participate in discourses on social media or bringing their calls on the street. Recently, the Gender and Development Commission launched the LAKAPATI 2022: GAD Festival highlighting PNUans’ talents relevant to the theme of gender development. This included storytelling, songwriting, spoken poetry, drawing, photography, logo-making, and the highlight of the event - a drag show. Student-led activities like this is a big leap for PNU to ensure that we create a space where one can celebrate gender equality and diversity. When I arrived at the venue, I was welcomed by students holding their banners to exhibit their support to their friends, and hoarse voices cheering as they cheered for the contestants they were supporting. As the event continued, I was elated to see many PNUans keen to be engaged in activities that foster gender inclusivity.

Truly, activities like LAKAPATI encourage PNUans to involve themselves in gender-based issues, but we should bear in mind that ours is the start of a long fight for inclusivity and acceptance inside and outside the university. Finally, we are admitting that enforcing traditional values is the stark opposite of generat-

the 1990s, the Philippines made history when the gay community led a march in Quezon City in honor of the Stonewall riot in America, making it the first nation in Asia and the Pacific to have a Pride march parade.

Our fight for justice should not be incarcerated in the walls of the Audio-Visual Room or along the Catwalk, it is undertaken outside our streets. True enough, PNUans hold progressive beliefs that favor the welfare of their fellow students, but these beliefs are merely rooted in their personal values. However, broader societal issues tend to be shrugged off by PNUans, a trait brought forth by petit-bourgeois tendencies. In Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, he calls for dialogue as an act of emancipating ourselves from the chains of oppression. According to him, people must be willing to engage in a dialogue where there is an act of mutual learning and understanding. Hence, to encourage our fellow PNUans to become part of the bigger movement, it is important that we create a safe where we allow them to learn the material conditions, our struggles that perpetuate the system that subjugates the masses, including themselves.

As the National Center for Teacher Education, our university is in the vanguard of the educational scene and has an influence on education policies. As the NCTE, it’s a sigh of relief to hear that the administration

versity space, it bothers me how the implicit bias and internal homophobia toward the LGBTQIA+ community could spring from the professors, and in worse cases, they are the harassers themselves. One of my friends at the university shared how his femininity has become a laughingstock for a particular professor. He said that the professor was bothered that there is an increase in male students who are comfortable with expressing their femininity. My friend, who told me the story added, “...ta’s minata pa ako, ang lambot daw.” In cases like this, I am confident that the Gender and Development Commission will proactively respond to gender-based harassment inside the university. However, the GAD Commission alone has little power to sanction professors who assault their students, it is collective action that has the power to do so. It is time for PNU to recognize that it has become a host for problematic professors and hold them accountable for their actions. If not, PNU will be labeled as a hypocritical institution that endorses progressive policies but lacks the will to safeguard safe spaces. It is in cases like this that PNU’s warped conservative values are revealed: they would choose to stay silent on issues that could ruin their reputation. If so, maybe

in the same system that stymies the enactment of inclusive gender policies in educational institutions. Our struggles may come in different shapes, they are all interconnected. PNUans should realize that there is a need for us to organize and collectively mobilize in amplifying our call for more inclusive, just, and effective policies that would safeguard our basic human rights.

We can only create genuine safe spaces if we recognize that this systematic oppression links to other structural forms of oppression such as conservatism and patriarchy. Certainly, our fight for acceptance was never all roses and butterflies. It can never be confined to just drag shows. Our LGBTQIA+ community lives with a constant fear of being discriminated against or murdered because of the prejudice that the patriarchal norms have inflicted on our society. As long as the cultures of patriarchy and conservatism live with us, the community may never be accepted. We have come this far only because of queer activists like Marsha P. Jonson, the courage in every Pride March amid deadly discrimination, and the acknowledgment that our liberty comes from aggressive resistance against the oppressive system. After all, red is the first color of the rainbow.

PHOTO courtesy of PNU - USC Student Gender and Development Commission

PHOTO courtesy of PNU - USC

Student Gender and Development Commission

The Philippine Normal University - University Center for Gender and Development (UCGD) and Student Gender and Development Commission (SGDC), in collaboration with GABRIELA Youth PNU PNU-Kabataang Urduja PNU Katalonan KADIPAN PNU-Manila PNU TEKSTURA - Tagpuan ng Edukasyon, Sining, at Kultura Physical Education Majors’ Society-Manila and ACES - Arts and Culture Educators’ Society - PNU Manila, bring you the most anticipated, vibrant event this academic year, “LAKAPATI: GAD Festival 2022” with the theme Gender Empowerment.15th 2022 until February 15th 2023.

holds progressive standpoints on political and societal issues, but paying lip service while doing nothing

PNU should start to reassess one of our core values and ask if we still genuinely uphold our commitment

The Philippine Normal University - University Center for Gender and Development (UCGD) and Student Gender and Development Commission (SGDC), in collaboration with GABRIELA Youth PNU PNU-Kabataang Urduja PNU Katalonan KADIPAN PNU-Manila PNU TEKSTURA - Tagpuan ng Edukasyon, Sining, at Kultura Physical Education Majors’ Society-Manila and ACES - Arts and Culture Educators’ Society - PNU Manila, bring you the most anticipated, vibrant event this academic year, “LAKAPATI: GAD Festival 2022” with the theme Gender Empowerment.15th 2022 until February 15th 2023.

On Hair Colors, Piercings and Cross-Dressing

JOSEPH ELI OCCEÑO

PNU seems proud that it now allows its students to wear colors in their hair, sport multiple earrings, and even cross-dress. Multiple pats were given to each other - pagpupugay, pagbati. (I’m pretty sure the GBOs were the ones who pushed for this but…) Good for you, PNU. As a former suki for dress code violations, I was, of course, just a tad bit salty. When I was a freshman, it was unwise to petition this fossilizing institution to abandon its century-old traditional aesthetics. Why? Let us discuss.

College students generally desire to have some autonomy over their person. Growing up to the white-drill uniforms, barber’s cut hairdos, and the no piercings/hair color policy have chafed us. After all, this was not the era of our grandparents, where the women were expected to wear flowing dresses and the men donned those tight collar suits and black slacks. This is the modern world! Everyone was free to wear what they liked! We had long discarded the timidity always associated with the conservative, traditional, prim, and proper Dalagang Filipina… right? But alas, Inang Pamantasan was the Dalagang Filipina; she runs a strict household and demands that her children follow in her footsteps.

Students of Inang P have always evoked an image of propriety, and it is an image that has been cultivated by the university in the one hundred and twenty years that it has stood.

From Monday to Friday, students are expected to wear their uniforms at all times: the white polo and black slacks for boys and the likewise white blouse and skirt for girls. Male students were not allowed to wear piercings while female students were allowed one pair for each ear, and only to be sported on their earlobes and nowhere else. Dyeing your hair was frowned upon and had been like wise prohibited. Wednesdays have become a sort of treat for PNUans as it is the only day of the week where they can dress with elan, albeit still within the dress code of the school. At first glance, you might think that there was nothing amiss and that PNU, like every other institution, had every right to enforce a strict uniform policy and to require her students to wear the university-pre scribed uniform – a normal univer sity, pun intended. Normal in that it follows the conventional, conforms to the standard, keeps to the usual, and sticks to the typical - a prob lematic trait given that PNU’s façade hides a convoluted culture of racism, inferiority complex and a peasant ti midity present amongst Filipinos.

On August 13, 1898, the Americans occupied Manila and from there they took upon themselves the White Man’s Burden as, according to then-president William McKinley, there was nothing left for them to do but to ‘educate and uplift and civilize and Christianize us and do the very best they could by us’. The popular notion was that the Americans supposedly uplifted us from provincialism. More progress under the Americans in 50 years than 300 under Spain! What followed then was a whirling tango of puppeteered political emancipation followed by economic imperialism. But politics and economic history aside, it is the aesthetics of this era which reveals the fundamental changes in our society.

The pre-Hispanic Filipino wore clothes with elaborate designs and flamboyant colors and were naturally excellent weavers exemplified by the T’nalak of the Tiboli and the Panubok of the Panay Bukidnon. Even when the Spaniards conquered us for the Cross, decimating our cultures and acculturating traditions (in the case of fashion: the hybrid Barong Tagalog and Maria Clara), our culture of wearing colors of vibrant designs hadn’t ceased. The fashions of our culture symbolize our own unique identities. However, all throughout the Ameri

color of our skin, we simply don’t look good wearing colors. And how meekly had we submitted to this sartorial transformation like a doll for darling America to play with. Had there been perhaps any protests when the Philippine Normal School had not only acquiesced but had propagated this racist doctrine? No! Of course not, for how quickly we were flattered and blushed when the Thomasite complimented our bronze skin which made such a fine contrast to our white clothes, white suit, white collar and tie.

Even when we saw other acculturated peoples of color going against this racist aesthetic by popularizing the brightly colored zoot suits to express non-conformity against the dominant white society, we had done the exact opposite and rutted in the white-drill uniform. We sought our new colonial masters’ approval and so we made them our role models; we wanted to be considered their equal and so we tried to achieve it on their terms. And so, the lesson we got from history is this: a nasty inferiority complex that we paint as conservatism actually reveals our nation’s submission to foreign powers.

Today, of course, we would scoff at the mere suggestion that we shouldn’t dress in certain clothes

udice. Inang P taught her children to dress to the white man and to reject their own diverse cultural identity. What was a Western racist view of Filipinos had evolved into self-inflicted Orientalism: racial prejudice we hold against our own people. Evident in the forms of a university guard remarking how the saplung looked ugly on the uniform, along with a visitor of the school heatedly telling the student to remove it, reminding: ‘taga PNU ka pa naman’, (whatever that meant) and a professor snidely commenting that indigenous people still wore loincloths today anyway.

To be fair, this wasn’t wholly the University’s fault; no, no, it was merely the manifestation of nearly four hundred years of subjugation, racist policies, and foolish acculturation. However, the significance of exposing what lurks behind this conservative identity we tout cannot be stressed enough for the issue of how we are supposed to dress goes hand in hand with how we are supposed to act. The teacher can be heard bemoaning that the youth of today had become rather rowdy, loud, and had generally become disrespectful (the usual argument is how we had started to question age-old traditions), and not at all like they were when they were in their youth. One cannot help but wonder if it was not actually an improvement compared to the days when the youth were seen but not heard. Compared to a timid generation known for their silence, the forthright and outspoken youth of today would no doubt come across as “disrespectful”. Today, it is true that students have become rowdier and louder but only because they became more vocal with societal issues, more engaged in politics and more questioning of the system. Would Inang Pamantasan continue to cling to static provincial values, gag us under the guise of propriety, inhibits our expression of identity in the name of respecting her heritage, even if that heritage is founded on an inferiority complex, a peasant timidity, and a self-inflicted Orientalist view of our people’s culture? On that, we have no answer just yet. What I do know is that the Student Handbook is currently under revision and there we must fight for our rights (fashion rights is an example of freedom of expression). We must learn to free ourselves of these shackles for this is the revolution we must undertake: the revolution against routine timidity, inherent passiveness, and meek submissiveness!

pulso:

SIPAT NG PNUANS SA MGA USAPIN TUNGKOL SA NLec, NO FULL ONLINE MODALITY, AT INFLATION

Pasko na kaya may pa-noche buena si Kabute sa masang PNUans. Sa taong ito ay inihahandog ng publikasyon ang sipat ng PNUans sa mga samu’t saring isyung panlipunan na ating kinakaharap sa

kasalukuyan. Muling pinulsuhan ng publikasyon ang boses ng mga susunod na guro ng bayan sa mga napapanahong isyu gaya ng pabago-bagong moda sa pagkatuto (implementasyon ng NLEC at ang “no full online

modality”) at ang patuloy na implasyon na nararanasan ng masang Pilipino. Matapos ang isinagawang online survey, narito na ang PULSO ng PNUAns sa mga isyung nabanggit:

QUESTION 1: Bilang unang batch sa ilalim ng Normale Lectures o NLec, masasabi mo bang epektibo o matagumpay ba ang pagkatuto sa bagong course delivery ng pamantasan? Sa paanong paraan?

I-6 @Sigwá

“Una, ramdam namin na isa itong hilaw na curriculum na pilit na pinasak sa aming batch. Magmula sa syllabus na nakadisenyo pa rin sa OBTEC, mga propesor na nalilito sa sistema, at mga estudyante na hindi kinakaya ng gadget at device ang user traffic sa Google Meet. Hindi rin nakadisenyo para sa isang interactive classroom ang NLEC. Dahil sa dami ng mga estudyante sa isang virtual space (na umaabot ng 250 hanggang 300+), agawan at sapawan ang nangyayari upang makapag-recite. Bilang pangulo ng aming klase, nakikita ko kung paano nawawalan ng gana ang mga kaklase ko na makilahok sa discussion dahil napakaliit ng tiyansa na matawag. “

I-4

@Skiettles

“Para sa akin, epektibo ang pagkatuto sa bagong course delivery. Ang oras na nailalaan para sa mga aktibidad ay karampatan lamang upang makapagpasa sa oras ang mga estudyante. Marami rin estudyante sa bawat section na nagtutulungan sa mga gawain. May mga tumutulong sa pagsscreenshot ng mga powerpoint, tumutulong sa class officers sa kanilang gampanin, at may mga natulong din sa ibang mga kaklaseng hindi naunawaan ng husto ang lessons.”

I-8 @Pogi

“Oo at Hindi. Oo dahil naniniwala akong ang team teaching ng course professor ay effective para sa akin dahil nagiging maganda ang discussion, iba iba ang natutuklasan kong estrahiya at atake sa pagtuturo. Hindi dahil nagiging limitado lang ang participation ko bilang estudyante, i cannot give my all since sobrang daming gustong magsalita, sobrang daming nauuna mag recite.”

I-3 @Jah

II-16

@magic

“Sang-ayon ako sapagkat mas iba talaga ang natutunan ng isang mag-aaral kapag s’ya ay nasa loob ng silid-aralan. Para sa akin mas epektibo pa rin and pagkatuto sa loob ng silid-aralan kesa sa online. Maraming hadlang pag-online lalo na kapag hindi masyado malakas ang inyong wi-fi, nandiyan din ang pagsusurfing sa iba’t ibang social media platforms kesa makinig sa guro sa online class. Iba pa din ang engagement ng mag-aaral sa loob ng silid-aralan kesa online.“

IV-8 @PB

“Hindi, dahil hindi pa sapat at akma ang mga iba’t ibang kondisyon upang maisagawa ang pag-aaral ng mga estudyante pabalik sa F2F. May problema sa transportasyon, sa pagtaas ng bilihin at iba pang mga aspetong nakakaabala o nakaaapekto sa kakayahan ng mga mag aaral upang sila ay makapasok at makapag-aral sa kani-kanilang mga paaralan.”

II-1 @10

“Malaki ang epekto ng inflation sa aming pamilya. Mas lalo nitong pinahihirapan ang araw-araw na pamumuhay ng aming pamilya. Mas nahihirapan na pagkasyahin ang kita para sa mga pangangailangan. Bukod sa pinansyal, nakaaapekto rin sa sikolohikal at mental na aspeto sapagkat pinatataas nito ang pangamba para sa gastusin sa araw-araw na sya namang maaaring maging sanhi ng kawalan ng pokus sa mga gawain gaya ng pag-aaral.“

III-2 @Gaea

“Malaki ang epekto nito sa lahat ng aspeto ng aking pamumuhay lalo na as a student dahil mas mahirap maka-keep up at mas nagreresort lagi sa alternatives instead of actually buying what’s good and healthy. Good example is food na dati ay makakakain ka na agad with just 25 pesos pero now ang minimum na ay 50 pesos which is very costly especially sa katulad ko na nagcocommute. Kadalasan, we buy to-go foods from convenient stores since mas mura na unhealthy kapag inaraw-araw. Still, I am thankful sa mga karinderya around the campus. Literal na life-saver ngayong college para sa amin.”

CALL TO ACTION

Sa isinagawang pagsipat ng PNUans sa mga napapanahong isyung panlipunan, napatunayan muli na kritikal pa rin ang mga kabataan sa pakikisangkot at pagtindig para sa inklusibo at dekalidad na edukasyon at pamumuhay - para sa sarili, sa pamilya, at sa bayang pagsisilbihan sa hinaharap.

Sinasalamin ng PULSO na ito ang mga karanasan ng mga susunod na guro ng bayan sa mga pagbabagong isinasagawa ng Pamantasan at pamahalaan bilang tugon pa rin sa hamon ng pandemya. Kasabay ng mga pagsang-ayon, pagsalungat, at pagdaing ay ang sama-

IV-18 @Zico

“Bilang isang mag-aaral, natatakot ako sa aking hinaharap kung kakayanin ko bang maisakatuparan ang mga personal kong plano. Malungkot lang din na kahit ang mumunting luho o pagbibigay ng “reward” sa aking sarili ay mukhang hindi na rin abot-kamay.

Sa aking pamilya naman, lalong bumabaon sa utang ang aking pamilya. HIndi lang naman kasi sa pagkain nakatuon ang isyu na ito katulad na lamang ng presyo ng gasolina (na pangunahing isipin ng mga PUV drivers).

sama ring pagtambol at pagkalampag sa Pamantasan at sa pamahalaan na magkaroon ng konkretong plano at mas makatarungang pamamalakad kung saan panalo ang masang Pilipino at hindi ang interes ng mga naghaharing-uri at mga kapitalista. Kaya naman, isang dekalidad, inklusibo, at ligtas na edukasyon at pamumuhay ang hiling ng masang PNUans ngayong kapaskuhan, kasabay pa rin ang patuloy na pagsigaw para sa makataong pasahod para sa mga manggagawa ng iba’t ibang sektor upang matamo ang nasabing kahilingan.

TOMO LXXV Blg. 1

QUESTION 3: Paano nakakaapekto ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin sa iyo bilang mag-aaral, sa iyong pamilya, at sa iba pang aspeto ng iyong pamumuhay?

As children, we were introduced to the concept of rainbows as a form of positivity. When we see it appear after every rain, its vibrant colors never fail to make any person smile. For the LGBTQIA+ community, the rainbow is the banner that heralds their struggle - their fervent wish for triumph against oppression. But unfortunately, there are some who would wish nothing more than to smother those colors in a field of oppressive grey.

Establishing a Rainbow

LGBTQIA+ students should be given protection inside the university. The Republic Act 11313 or Safe Spaces Act serves as the backbone of this idea and through it, the Philippine Normal University – University Student Council Gender and Development Commission (PNU USC-SGDC) was born. This act ensures student protection against sexual violence and sexual harassment as well as genderbased harassment. The SGDC is took this further by working to foster gender and development inside the institution and advocate for gender equality, women empowerment, and secure a safe learning space for PNUans. Along with this, the mission of this group is to attain a gender-fair community, community advocates, and gender-responsive teachers through the spreading of gender awareness.

A colorful beginning at Philippine Normal University

On the 11th of October 2022, GAD proposed a position paper that aims to achieve an inclusive education on campus. It demands the recognition of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual characteristics, as well as the revision of the policies on hair color, piercings, and tattoos; it also indicates the compliance with the Manila Anti-Discrimination

Ordinance.

Among the issues that were raised in the position paper are the non-use of pronouns, gendered uniforms, and hair-length restrictions. In addition, the position paper reiterated the Safe Spaces Act and the protection it gives from all forms of gender-based sexual harassment. The GAD Committee suggested to Dr. Bert Jazmin Tuga that the RA 11313 should be included in the student handbook. Furthermore, the university should take immediate steps to address the issue of sexual jokes and sexual comments to the students. The university should also adopt and develop a protocol for reporting gender-based sexual harassment or sexual assaults. This position paper was signed by Elisha Jesu A. Atayde, the Chairperson of PNU-USC Central Student Council (PNU USC-CSC), Alyssa P. Nanquil, the Chairperson of PNU-USC Student Gender and Development Commission (SGDC), Emmanuel M. Lasquite, Punong Katalonan of PNU Katalonan, Catherine R. Samson, Chairperson of Gabriela Youth-PNU, and Jehaziah Reuel A. Dela Rosa, President of Kabataang Urduja-PNU.

After the ratification of the position paper on October 16, 2022, PNU students were informed by the Office of Student Affairs (OSASS) through their personal emails and through a post on the school's Facebook page. The Facebook post drew attention, reaching the news organization of Pilipino Star Ngayon Digital.

The Colorful Programs of GAD

For the university to be more diverse and inclusive, GAD aims to launch programs that would make PNUans freely express their gender and sexuality.

On the 21st of October 2022, Gender and Development launched the I

GAD Chu infographic, which shows the different PNU policies and legislations that aims to protect PNUans against gender-based violence. It also introduces PNU's gender-based organizations like PNU Katalonan, Gabriela Youth, and Kabataang Urduja. The PNU Katalonan has also established a chapter at PNU North Luzon and now plans to spread this genderbased structure across the PNU system.

On the 7th of November 2022, PNU was recognized by the Philippine Commission of Women as the Best Practice in Gender and Development Mainstreaming in the educational sector. The Executive Committee of Gender and Development Commission organized a convention last month, on November 11 and 12, with student leaders from the mother organization, and the USC councilors. This conference was conceptualized in the year 2021, which aims to expand to other organizations that would monitor gender and issues within the university.

They arranged a schedule of seminar-workshops for this twoday event. They centralized their seminar on the themes of SOGIES 101 and gender basis streaming and gender-sensitive leadership which caters to a wider audience, including pre-service teachers, workers, LGBTQIA+, and women. Following the success of the GAD conference, other organizations also established their own GAD committees.

In connection with the convention, the GAD organized the first ever LAKAPATI: GAD Festival that took place on December 7, 2022. The goal of this is to showcase the PNUans' skills through various talents relevant to the theme of gender development, gender equality, gender positivity, and empowerment. Furthermore, the highlight of the event was the drag show, to which professional

drag queens and PNUan drag queens were invited. According to Mx. Daniele Guevarra, the Vice Chairperson of PNU-USC Gender and Development Commission, “Seeing alumni express themselves that they have found their own profession where they are happy.”

On the 14th of December 2022, the Gender and Development launched a free HIV testing program for PNUans, faculty, and staff, in collaboration with Love Yourself, an organization that advocates for HIV awareness, testing, and treatment around the Philippines. They also held seminars on HIV/AIDS that talk about basic information, breaking the stigma, and discrimination against HIV-positive people.

Beauty After the Storms

As storms wreak havoc before the rainbow, GAD was also built on underlying issues previously unrecognized and festering. Even now, the commission struggles with several issues one of which was the planned celebration of Pride Month. Allegedly, part of the conflict was due to the event being too political for the university's aesthetics. Additionally, the commission's lack of manpower hinders them from implementing their planned programs since there are only eight commissioners during their first year of implementation. Another issue is the bureaucracy within the university that leads to the slow progress of papers and delay of plans.

But despite this, the collateral beauty from collective effort shines myriad colors. As the successful events and implementation of new guidelines for the LGBTQIA+ progresses,community GAD continues in the fight for every PNUan and all of the students part of the community.

DIBUHO NI JOSEPH ELI OCCEÑO

Point of view: nakiisa ka sa Spotify Wrapped at ang lumabas na Top Artist ay si Mareng Taylor Swift. Another point of view: isa ka rin sa nagabang para agad-agad na mapakinggan ang album niyang Midnights kung saan tampok ang mga kantang naglalarawan sa mga gabing binabagabag siya ng iba’t ibang ideya. Sino ba naman ang hindi makaka-relate sa kanyang mga kantang may iba’t ibang hits home na hugot at pinartneran pa ng saliw ng musika. Idagdag pa ang mas madaling kaparaanan ngayon sa pakikinig, tiyak na mag-eenjoy ka at makakahugot din sa ilang oras na pag-stream sa iba’t ibang music platform.

Tulad ni Mareng Taylor, ang bawat sektor din sa lipunang Pilipino ay may kanya-kanya ring hugot. Mga hugot na binabaka ng masang Pilipino hindi lamang tuwing midnight. Kaiba sa mainstream na madaling mapakinggan, ang panawagan ng bawat sektor ay nangangailangan pang isulat sa mga kartel at paulit-ulit na isigaw sa kalsada sa ilalim ng tirik na araw upang makita at mapakinggan ng kinauukulan.

Track 5: You’re on Your Own, Kid

sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes

Sa madaling salita, magsikap dahil sa huli, nasa iyo lamang nakasasalay ang iyong kapalaran. Sa unang pakinig ay madadala ka at maniniwalang anuman ang iyong pinagdaraanan ay bunga ng iyong mga desisyon at kilos lamang. Ngunit kung susuriin, iba ito sa lagay ng malawak na hanay ng Pilipino lalo na ang mga magsasaka. Maghapon mang magsaka at mapuno man ng kalyo ang kamay at paa, dugo at pawis man ang puhunan, hindi sila umuunlad dahil sa pyudal na sistemang umiiral sa bansa. Dagdag pasakit pa ang mga polisiya na hindi nakasalig sa interes ng masa tulad na lamang ng Rice Tariffication Law at ang pagpaprayoridad ng estado sa mga imported na bigas kaysa sa pagpapatatag sa sektor ng agrikultura sa Pilipinas.

Track 7: Question…?

‘Can I ask you a question?’

Isa sa mga batayang karapatan lalo na ng mga kabataan ang pagtatamo ng dekalidad na edukasyon. Subalit, hindi ito natatamasa dulot ng limitadong oportunidad at maging

KULTURA

ANDREA CRISOLOGO

ng matinding komersyalisasyon ng edukasyon sa bansa. Idagdag pa rito ang mga polisiya na hindi lubusang nakakontekstwalisa sa pangangailangan ng sektor at patuloy na pambubusal sa hanay ng kabataang namulat at nangmumulat. Marapat ding pagtuunan ng pansin ang kataka-takang confidential funds na talaga namang dapat kuwestiyunin. Kaya naman kung sasambitin ng kabataan ang lirikong ito, malamang ay hindi papansinin o kaya naman iilingan nang nasa posisyon.

Track 8: Vigilante Shit ‘Ladies always rise above Ladies

ERICA MAE GOZO

mind sa mapang-abusong sistema na patuloy nilang tinitiis masigurado lamang na naibibigay ang pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral.

Track 12: Sweet Nothing

Track 20: Dear Reader ‘Dear reader

If it feels like a trap, you're already in one’

Kaiba naman sa hangaring makapaghiganti ng awiting ito, ang kababaihang nasa pakikibaka ay lumalaban para sa pagkakapantay-pantay. Kasama nila ang malaking hanay ng mamamayan lalo na ang LGBTQIA+ community. Patuloy na sumusulong ang sektor upang itaboy ang inhustisya at opresyon sa mapang-abusong patriyarkal na lipunan. Saksi ang kasaysayan sa kung paanong ang kababaihan at ang LGBTQIA+ ay nakikibaka upang humubog ng isang kinabukasang malaya. Kaya naman, ladies always rise above hanggang sa tagumpay!

Track 9: Bejeweled

‘Best believe I'm still bejeweled

When I walk in the room I can still make the whole place shimmer’

Tulad ng Track #9 sa album na Midnights, ang mga guro ay patuloy na nagniningning sa araw-araw na baon nilang husay at galing pagkapasok sa klase. Subalit, sa likod nito ay ang mga overtime at administrative works na ginagawa lampas sa oras ng trabaho, dagdag pa ang hindi naibibigay na mga benepisyo at suporta na mula sa estado lalo na sa pagbabalik ng harapang klase. Pinatindi pa ang lugmok na kalagayan ng mga guro sa kasalukuyan dulot ng 8% inflation rate na higit na pinaliit ang dati nang hindi nakabubuhay na sahod ng sektor ng kaguruan. Mapapasabi na lang ang kaguruan na, baby love, I think

I've been a little too kind. Didn't notice you walking all over my peace of

Sweet nothings’

Tiyak na marami rin ang paulit-ulit na pinakinggan ang musikang ito. Sino ba naman ang ayaw na magmahal at mahalin? Pero sa lagay ng mga manggagawa, hindi na uubra ang sweet nothing lalo na kung literal na halos wala na silang maiuwi sa kanilang binubuhay na pamilya. Imbis na pagmamahal at pag-aaruga, ang tanging natatangap lamang ng manggagawang Pilipino ay nagmamahal na presyo ng mga bilihin. Kasabay ng pagtaas ng inflation rate sa bansa ay ang pagtaas din ng mga bilihin at halaga ng pamumuhay ng bawat pamilya. Ngunit sa kabila nito, nananatiling PhP 570 ang minimum wage sa National Capital Region (NCR), kalahati ng PhP 1,140 na kinakailangan upang disenteng makapamuhay ang pamilyang may limang miyembro, ayon sa IBON Foundation. Bukod dito, ang mga manggagawa sa labas ng NCR ay higit na nilugmok ng inflation dahil higit na mababa ang kanilang arawang sahod kung ikukumpara sa lungsod.

Ngayong nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng pandemya at higit na lumalala ang krisis sa ekonomiya ng bansa, ang mga suliraning pasan ng bawat sektor ay higit na bumibigat dulot na rin ng sistemang umiiral. Ang mga hamong ito ay bunsod nang mapaniil na sistemang sumisipsip ng dugo sa naghihikahos at patuloy na nagbababa sa nasa laylayan. Kaya naman hindi na sapat na napakikinggan lamang, kundi dapat itong patuloy na ibaka at matamo ng masang Pilipino.

Bilang magiging guro ng bayan, habang nakikinig kay Taylor Swift, mahalagang makiisa tayo sa pagtatambol ng panawagan ng iba’t ibang sektor upang maisulong ang mapagpalayang adhikain, lipunan, at kinabukasan.

‘From

I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this’

know what people want

Someone sweet and kind and fun The lady simply had enough’

‘They said the end is coming Everyone's up to something I find myself ru nning home to your

DIBUHO NI BEA SOPHIA CARATAY

DIBUHO NI ERIC JOHN DIMASAKAT