Tinig ng Plaridel - 6 November 2018

Year 40 Issue No. 1 6 November 2018

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When cries of hungry farmers are stifled with bullets

News

Proposed temporary org registration passed to CMC ad hoc comm

ABBYGAIL BOISER

By Kiana Cardeno

SOLIDARITY (above and below) Groups of female peasant farmers from across the Philippines march towards Mendiola in observation of World Rural Women’s Day, calling on the government to heed its promises on land reform, food security, demilitarization, and improved labor and living conditions for the rural poor.

News In Sagay, Negros Occidental, nine sugar workers are the latest victims of oppression against the landless Here are some of the greatest ironies about the Philippines.

The farmers who till lands from daybreak to noon are mired in decades-long landlessness. The peasants who grace our tables with food are dying from hunger. Rural workers remain the poorest population despite their back-breaking labor and rich production.

Sugar workers in Hacienda Nene, Sagay, Negros Occidental were simply asking for land last October 20, and in turn - they got bullets.

October was set as the Peasant Month by peasant groups to commemorate the continuous plight of farmers since the implementation of Ferdinand Marcos’ Presidential Decree (PD) 27, the first agrarian reform policy in the country, on October 21, 1972.

This year, farmers and fisherfolks, led by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), conducted a series of protest actions and forums nationwide, with its call for resistance against worsening peasant landlessness, hunger, and state-fascism.

But instead of addressing their legitimate calls, the state’s response is brutal repression.

Inside

PEASANT HARASSMENT AND KILLINGS The land being defended by the peasants is fortified with years of bloodshed of past peasant movements. From the massacres at the Hacienda Escalante and Luisita to the merciless slaughter in Sagay, farmers are hushed from asserting their rights through violent means.

The victims of the recent Sagay massacre, members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), were staging their “bungkalan” campaign, when some 40 unidentified assailants gunned them down.

All nine bore shots to the head.

Three of the bodies were doused with gasoline and set on fire.

Bobstil Sumicad, 52, survivor of the massacre and participant in the “bungkalan,” recalled how he found the body of his seventeen-year old son Marchtil a few meters away from their makeshift tent.

“When the gunfire ended and the attackers had left, I ran to our tent to find the lifeless body of my son,” Sumicad said, making an X with his arms, showing the position of his son’s dead body.

“All I could do was cradle him in my arms and weep. He was gone and there was nothing I could do,” → page 7 he said.

ABBYGAIL BOISER

By Abbygail Boiser

Opinion What are you most scared of? page 2

Feature Will it be the end of your favorite food haunt? page 6

Sports What’s next for the Men’s Basketball Team? page 8

The student council-proposed temporary organization registration process has been referred to the College Ad Hoc Committee by the UP CMC College Executive Board (CEB), College Secretary Teresa Congjuico said.

The CMC Student C ounc il (CMCSC) proposed a temporary organization registration process while discussion of the Faculty-Student Relations Committee’s (FSRC) organization registration guidelines remained within the College Ad Hoc Committee.

The College Ad Hoc is set to make recommendations before the regular faculty assembly in December. The body will either make a decision on the issue or defer depending on the discus → page 3 sion.

News

UP workers oppose new job order, calls on UP admin to act

By Kristel Limpot Around 500 non-contractual workers in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus are at risk of being transferred to private agencies first thing next year.

Joint Circular No. 1, which covers all government agencies including state universities, allows for the contract renewal of existing Job Order ( JO) and Contract of Service (COS) workers only until December 31, 2018.

JO and COS workers are defined as those who “cover piece or intermittent work for a short duration” or “undertake special jobs within a specific period of time”.

In UP, these workers include the special services brigade, street sweepers, messengers, research and laboratory aides, and teachers who have no existing employer-employee relationship with the university. → page 3

News

2

Year 40 Issue No. 1 6 November 2018

sada ng Kamaynilaan, at makikita na mas marami sila kaysa sa mga dyip at bus na pumapasada. Sa AADT ng MMDA noong 2016, 64% sa lahat ng mga sasakyang dumadaan sa mga pangunahing kalsada ay mga kotse, habang nasa 24% naman ay mga motorsiklo. Nasa 8% lang ang mga pampublikong transportasyon tulad ng jeep, bus, at tricycle.

“Habang tumatagal ay lalong nadadagdagan ang mga sasakyan dito sa bansa, habang ang imprastraktura ay nananatiling stagnant, hindi gumagalaw. Wala tayong additional roads pero dagdag tayo nang dagdag ng sasakyan,” ani Llavor.

Kaugnay nito, makikitang buhay pa rin ang bentahan ng mga sasakyan na kinakagat ng mga taong nagnanais ng maginhawang pagbibiyahe. Patuloy na dumarami ang mga sasakyan sa kabila ng kawalan ng pag-unlad ng mga kalsada.

“Kung gusto nating mag-improve talaga ang traffic…dapat kaakibat natin pati ang local government, DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), LTO (Land Transpornang pagod pa rin at walang naipon tation Office), DOTr (Department of na pahinga. Isang siklo na lamang Transportation), at LTFRB (Land ito sa pang-araw-araw nilang buhay. Transport Franchising and RegulatoPatuloy ang iba’t ibang mga ry Board),” ani Llavor ukol sa pagpaproyekto’t batas ng gobyerno upa- patupad ng mga proyekto ng MMDA. Habang patuloy na ginagawa ang ng mabawasan ang trapiko, kagaya ng pagpapatupad ng number cod- mga proyektong ito na dapat maging. Nakikita naman ang mga traffic papaunlad ng mass transport at imconstable sa gitna ng mga kalsada, prastraktura sa ilalim ng Build, Build at tinitiketan ang mga lumalabag sa Build Program, bukas umano ang batas trapiko. Nakahiwalay ang mga opisina ng MMDA sa mga suhestiyon trak sa isang lane, at may laan din upang mapabuti ang lagay ng trapiko sa Metro. para sa motor.

Ngunit nadarama ba ang mga polisiya ng mga dapat makadama? At pa- UGAT NG TRAPIKO bor nga ba sila sa mga polisiyang ito? paggising sa umaga Hanggang Hati ang opinyon ng mga komyut- sa pagtulog sa gabi, hindi pa rin humuhupa ang trapik sa mga kaler sa mga patakaran ng MMDA. “Maayos naman ang pagpapa- sada. Nariyan ang mga nakaparatupad ng MMDA sa kanilang mga dang sasakyan sa mga espasyong polisiya,” sabi ni Mary Peñones dinadaanan dapat. Nagiging terming Caloocan, estudyante ng Po- nal ng mga mass transport vehicles liteknikong Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ang mga kalsada upang umabot sa Sta. Mesa. Kanyang binigyang-diin kanilang boundary. Marami pa ring ang pagpapatupad ng naturang nagdudulot ng paglala ng trapiko sa ahensya ukol sa mga “no parking Kamaynilaan, na bahagi pa rin ng isang mas malawak na problemang zones” at sa batas trapiko.

“Kung maaari, magsagawa pa ng kinakaharap ng lipunan ngayon.

Patuloy pa rin ang pagkasa ng mga proyekto na makakatulong sa kalagayan ng trapiko. Kasi hang- jeepney phaseout at jeepney modgang ngayon walang nagbabago. ernization na malaking dagok sa Kung mayroon mang ganap, paglala mga drayber ng mga dyip. Nakikita lamang ng kalagayan nito,” pahayag naman ngayon ang pagsulong ng gobyerno ng Build, Build, Build pronaman ni Cuenco.

Iminumungkahi naman ni Jhe- gram na sinasabing magpapaunlad nnalyn Madlangsakay ng Obando, sa imprastraktura ngunit dahil utang Bulacan at nag-aaral sa Philippine sa iba’t ibang bansa ang puhunan, Normal University na dapat mag- nananatili pa ring pasanin ito ng mga ing malinaw at patas ang MMDA sa mamamayan.

Hindi rin naman hawak ng estapagpapatupad sa mga proyekto at programa upang hindi maging ugat do ang mga pangmasang transporng kaguluhan sa pagitan nila at mga tasyon ng bansa tulad ng mga tren, kaya hindi rin kontrol ang pagtaas komyuter.

“Sana po, kayo na lang mag-adjust, ng pasahe na pasakit sa bulsa ng bakasyon na lang sana kayo gumawa mga komyuter. Dahil dito, arawng ganyang project para walang mga araw napipilitan ang mga Pilipinong estudyanteng maapektuhan,” aniya. makilahok sa isang laro kung saan sila ang taya, at gaya ng inaabangang jeep, nananatiling mailap ang solusyTUGON NG MMDA sakop ng mga kotse ang mga kal- on sa kanilang problema. TNP

GENE PAOLO GUMAGAY

Patintero

Kalsada ng Kamaynilaan ba’y simpleng perwisyo lamang para sa mamamayan, o indikasyon ng mas malawak na problema?

Ni Josh Avengoza

sitwasyong pantrapiko.

Ayon kay TEC Chief of Planning and Design at Head of Road Safety Unit Engr. Emilio Llavor, kasalukuyang ipinapatupad ang Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) upang ayusin ang trapiko sa Metro Manila. Ito ay mas kilala bilang number coding, Truck and Light Truck Ban, One-Truck Lane sa C5-Katipunan, Motorcycle Lanes sa mga piling kalsada, Speed Limit, at Clearing Operations sa mga sidewalk.

“Ang ating purpose naman parati ay kung paano natin mababawasan ang volume ng mga sasakyan sa EDSA kasi karamihan sa atin, sa mga commuters ay dumadaan sa EDSA,” ani Engr. Llavor ukol sa pinatigil na provincial bus ban sa kahabaan ng EDSA. Sa pag-aaral ng Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA) tungkol sa traffic congestion sa Pilipinas kamakailan, tumaas sa P3.5 bilyon mula sa P2.4 bilyon noong 2012 ang nasasayang dahil sa trapik arawaraw. Inaasahang lolobo sa P5.4 bilyon kada araw ang masasayang na pera sa 2035 kung hindi mapipigilan ang problema sa trapiko.

baHay, kalsada, eskwela, kalsada, bahay.

Umiikot sa mga ‘to ang bawat araw ng isang tipikal na mag-aaral na malayo ang bahay sa paaralan-ang lugar na kung minsa’y mas naituturing na niyang tirahan. Marahil ang nararanasan ng kalakhan ng mga Pilipino sa biyahe ay ‘di naiiba sa kanya; ang madugong pagpila, pakikipagsiksikan at pangangawit sa pagtayo, at paminsan-minsang paglagpas sa babaan dahil sa antok ay pangkaraniwan na lang sa mga komyuter.

Ang bigat na ito’y pinalalala lamang ng walang pinagbagong sistemang pantrapiko, na isa sa mga problemang kinakaharap ng Metro Manila.

Noong Setyembre 26, ibinalik muli ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ang mga provincial buses sa EDSA matapos ipatigil ang ban sa mga ito sa itinuturing na pinaka-congested na kalye ng Kamaynilaan, dahil hindi pa tapos ang ginagawang interim terminal sa Paso de Blas, Valenzuela.

Dahil dito’y maaari na ulit dumaan sa EDSA ang mga bus, at sila’y apektado na muli ng number coding BUHAY KOMYUTER scheme. Ngunit, nananatili pa ring “wala pa ako sa scHool, pagod na masikip ang daloy ng trapiko sa mga ako dahil sa sobrang bagal ng usad. pangunahing kalsada sa Metro Ma- Araw-araw nakaka-drain ang biyanila kahit noong kasagsagan pa ng he,” sabi ni Maria Angelica Cuenco, ban. estudyante ng University of the East Ayon sa 2016 Annual Average - Manila.

Daily Traffic (AADT) ng Traffic Nadarama ng libo-libong komyutEngineering Center (TEC) ng er ang hinaing ni Cuenco sa pagbiMMDA, mahigit dalawang milyong yahe. Nasasanay na lamang sila sa sasakyan ang bumabagtas sa mga lumalalang sistema ng trapiko sa pangunahing kalsada sa Metro Metro Manila. Nagiging normal na sa Manila kada araw. 14% ng mga kanila na makibagay sa kalagayan ng dumaraang sasakyan araw-araw ay mga kalsada ng Kamaynilaan, mula nasa EDSA habang 10% naman ang sa paggising nang maaga para hindi nasa Commonwealth Ave. kung saan maperwisyo sa trapik kahit puyat mas maigting ang pagpapagaan sa kakatrabaho, hanggang sa pag-uwi

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Proposed temporary org registration passed to CMC admin Continued from page 1 “This is not an FSRC decision, this is a college decision so all changes that will be made doon sa guidelines will have to be decided upon by the college as one body,” Congjuico said.

In protest of the FSRC organization registration guidelines (FSRC Manual), all CMC student organizations withdrew from the college recognition process in October 2017.

Provisions such as a grade requirement for officers, a 15-student membership – excluding the executive committee, and the restriction of leadership positions to CMC-enrolled students were said to limit students’ right to organize.

The College Ad Hoc Committee has been reviewing the FSRC document based on the consultations from the previous school year. The committee was created last year by the faculty assembly to resolve the ongoing issue. Members of the committee have not been disclosed.

ORG REGISTRATION PROPOSALS It was the FSRC committee, composed of faculty representatives per department, who had referred the council’s proposal to the CEB, Vice Chairperson Acee Rubinas said. “[The FSRC] had their small contentions on the details, but not necessarily the whole process. They are actually willing to work with us for it,” Rubinas said.

“Some [questions were] on why there is only one [representative] from the FSRC committee, reason for minimum number of members, and on how we would archive the submissions,” Chairperson Jason Jarabejo said.

They were unable to justify the number of representatives from the FSRC committee involved in the proposed process, Jarabejo added.

For the minimum number of members, the council argued that the university and college had a relatively lower number of students due to K-12. This makes recruitment a more difficult task for organizations.

The CMCSC plans to make a digital copy of the documents passed to them for easier and more accessible archiving.

Through the proposed temporary registration process, organizations would only have to submit the following: 1. List of organization members with their Form 5 or ID 2. List of organization officers, with contact details

3. Accomplished Organization Registration Form 4. Copy of the organization’s latest constitution or bylaws 5. List of events executed by the organization in the past academic year STUDENT DEMANDS UP Broadcasters’ Guild president Angela Buensuceso said that the proposal can still be improved to meet student demands.

“The [UP Broadcasters’ Guild] members still have questions regarding some of the guidelines, especially kung sino yung bubuo ng org registration committee. Gusto rin naming makita kung paano makakatulong ‘yung document sa pagpapalakas ng call for org spaces, tambayans,” Buensuceso added.

UP Journalism Club president Jane Bautista said the temporary organization registration process would not have bearing unless the admin acknowledges it.

“Sa ngayon, ang nakukuha lang namang benefit ng orgs ay magpa-reserve ng Student Activity Center (SAC) and CMC Auditorium.

Wala yung recognition itself na we’re CMC orgs,” she said.

As of now, there are no registered and recognized organizations in the College of Mass Communication.

The sole recognized bodies are the CMCSC and the Graduate Students’ Association.

Jarabejo said the CMCSC’s stand is still to junk the FSRC and push for a student-led document which contains student demands.

“If it were under council, the process would be very lenient to cater to the different conditions of organizations ... Organizations with special cases can send a letter to the council expressing their concerns, such as in terms of the number of members,” he said.

The council hopes that the student-led document would not only be recognized by the students but by the admin as well.

Union of Journalists of the Philippines – UP Diliman chairperson Jefferson Losito said that while it is a good sign the CMC administration acknowledges the demands of the students, the struggle for students’ right to organize persists.

“We have to fully demand the democratic rights of students bilang relative naman din yung effect ng temporary org registration process sa bawat org, given their different conditions and demographics,” he said. TNP

3

UP workers oppose new job order, call on UP admin to act Continued from page 1 The circular, which was released by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Commission on Audit (COA) in June last year, mandates government agencies to employ only agency-hired personnel starting January 2019. Thus, workers whose contracts have not been renewed within the year will be pressed to work under private agencies.

“Ang hindi maganda ‘pag napasailalim ka na sa agency, hindi sila nagbibigay ng tamang benepisyo,” Alliance of Contractual Employees in UP (ACE-UP) President Dionesio Villanueva said. “Dagdag dito ‘yung posibilidad ng hindi tamang pagpapasahod, at napakahirap din dahil nga nagkakaroon ng bidding every year.”

Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act requires the government to pick the private manpower agency with the lowest bid. Besides this translating to low salary on the part of the workers, Villanueva explained that such practice meant they are also not guaranteed stable jobs.

“Kung natalo ang employer mo sa bidding, wala ka na rin. Kung ‘di ka na magustuhan ng agency, pwede ka na hindi tanggapin. Sa kontrata, kahit ano na gawin ng agency, wala nang pakialam ang UP,” he said.

‘OUR JOB IS AS IMPORTANT AS THEIRS’ Non-UP contractual workers also decry the university administration’s silence on the job order which they tag as a mere “sub-contractualization” scheme.

“Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin nilalabas na pahayag ang administrasyon ng UP tungkol sa Joint Circular No. 1. Nangangamba na kami dahil dalawang buwan na lang ang natitira bago ito ma-implement,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva stated that in 2017, UP President Danilo Concepcion has made an assurance that he will turn 50% of these workers into contractual employees. A year later, however, 90% still remain to be non-UP contractuals.

“Itong mga non-UP contractual talaga kasi ‘yung mga nanganganib mapunta sa agency,” he said.

Many of these employees have worked in the university for several years, with some reaching decades of service and yet still not being granted regular employment.

Contractual workers have less or no access to the benefits enjoyed by regular employees, such as Social Security System (SSS) contributions, 13th month pay, and service incentive leave, while JO workers are entitled to none of the benefits at all.

Villanueva, himself, has worked as a laboratory aide at the UP Natural Sciences Research Institute since 1998. A function of his job inevitably exposes him to different kinds of harmful elements such as bacteria, and yet it was only in January this year—after nearly two decades of work, that he became a contractual employee and began receiving some benefits such as hazard pay.

“Ang sinasabi kasi sa kontrata namin no’n, ‘no employee-employer relation’, so hindi mo ma-e-enjoy kung ano ‘yung natatanggap ng regular. Pero syempre, hindi naman habang-buhay malakas ‘yung resistensya mo. Bacteria ‘yan eh,” he said.

He also pointed out that there are several other kinds of workers in UP who don’t receive additional compensation for engaging in what could be considered hazardous labor such as those working in the University Health Service.

Villanueva maintains that the jobs of these non-UP contractuals are as essential as those of the regular UP employees.

“Core and essential functions naman yung trabaho ng mga nonUP contractual, so bakit mo ipapasailalim sa agency?” he said, stressing that the joint circular will only further the suffering of workers already deprived of job security, decent wages, and benefits.

REGULARIZATION, NOT SUB-CONTRACTUALIZATION In the face of this looming threat, however, the UP and non-UP contractuals persist in their fight to put an end to any form of labor contractualization.

Among other steps, they continue to hold discussions in UP campuses nationwide to amplify the issue, in the hopes that their calls would not fall on deaf ears.

ACE-UP has also sent formal letters to the UP administration, requesting for a dialogue as well as support in denouncing agency-hiring. Still, with only two months left before the implementation of the circular, they have yet to receive a response.

“May ibang mga ahensya na, gaya ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at Department of Transportation (DOTR), na naglabas ng waiver na hindi muna nila susundin yung Joint Circular No. 1. Kaya gusto rin namin na ang UP ay magkaro’n na ng posisyon tungkol dito,” said Villanueva.

“At the end of the day, porma parin ang Joint Circular No. 1 ng kontrakwalisasyon. Ang gusto namin ay regularisasyon sa UP, at hindi ang mapasailalim sa agency,” Villanueva added. TNP

4

Opinion

Spirits in power, both present and past

Editorial

Yumi Paras

T

here is an old ghost story, if you know it, that begins with three spirits.

The first spirit is cunning and cruel. He takes hold of a country with his iron fist, and wrings blood out until it splatters across the ground like rain. The spirit steps over bodies, both murdered and missing, as he makes his way to his skeleton throne. His beloved sits beside him, clad in the country’s gold. His castle reeks of both money and rotting corpses, of gunpowder and dust and so much blood it floods your every sense. Peace in his land is synonymous with silence; where his spirit is, so are the fish bones stuck in your throat.

(We walk past monuments established against him as his descendants come to inherit their palaces. The graveless turn.)

And there is another spirit: quieter, seemingly more subdued. This spirit sneaks into power and uses it for her own gain, and when threatened with its revocation does everything to hold on to it. She has a Huntsman, who is only as corrupted and cold as his Queen, and for her, he will do anything––especially when it comes to silencing those who oppose her. She came into power without grace and left it with a vengeance, and years later we hear her now, clearer than ever before.

(We hear her “I’m sorry” as “Start over.”

Wipe the slate clean; that blood exists no longer.)

The last spirit is loud. He is crass; he is vulgar. He makes good on no promises but one: to rid streets of infidels beyond high on a substance, to criminalize victims by any means necessary. He takes and takes and takes in all regard, from women and children and families; swears at authorities higher than himself without a second thought –– he will do his fucking job the way he pleases.

Days go by, and cardboard labels litter street corners. No birthday songs are sung; only those of mourning –– and his loyal subjects spread falsities like wildfire, all too willing to burn anyone in his path, dead or alive.

(It is more the former than the latter, these days.)

There is an old ghost story, except it’s not old, and there aren’t ghosts, and this rings not like a horror story but a cruel, twisted joke: A dictator, a cheat, and a killer walk into Malacañang, and we welcome them with applause.

We call these people spirits, as if they linger and brush against our lives like feathers, but the weight on our shoulders is millions of people who never once again got to see the Sun. These days, we’re no longer frightened by the monsters under our bed, nor the ones that lurk inside our closets.

Those that sit in white Palaces are much more frightening. TNP

Year 40 Issue No. 1 6 November 2018

Kababalaghan sa Halalan Mga Multong Nagbabalik Mula sa Nakaraan John Patrick Manio Jemelle de Leon

H

indi naman kabilugan ng buwan noong ika-11 ng Oktubre, pero nag-umpisa nang magsilabasan ang iba’t-ibang klase ng halimaw simula noong araw na iyon.

Nariyan na naman ang mga multong nagbabalik mula sa malagim nating nakaraang hindi pa rin nananahimik. Mayroon ring mga nagsulputang bagong halimaw na wala naman gaanong pinagkaiba sa kanilang nariyan na. Matagal na silang nagmamasid at umaaligid, nagpaparamdam na bago pa man sumapit ang undas.

Sa isandaan at limampu’t dalawang aspirante na mag-aagawan sa labindalawang upuan, ilan sa kanila ang mga hunyangong gumagamit pa rin ng gasgas na linyang nais nilang paglingkuran ang bayan. Sila ang mga multo at halimaw na nagbabalik at nagpaparami pa, at opisyal na nilang naihain ang kanilang balak na muling paghahasik ng lagim sa senado.

Isa sa kanila ang matandang babaeng tinatawag na manang na kinahuhumalingan ang pagpapabata, kayamanan, at kapangyarihan—hindi naman katakataka kung kanino siya nagmana.

Nabubuhay siya at ang pamilya niya sa kasinungalingan at kasakiman, pati na rin sa debosyon ng mga taong naloloko nila. Kilala ang angkan nila sa kakayahang gawing bulag ang mga tagasunod nila at baliktarin ang katotohanang pagnanakaw, pagpatay at pagyurak sa mga karapatan ng mamamayan noong administrasyon ng kanyang diktador na ama.

Hindi naiiba sa kanya si lolong halos isandaang taon na ang inilalagi sa ibabaw ng lupa ngunit tila hindi pa rin nagtatanda.

Naakusahan siya sa pagbubulsa ng halos dalawang daang milyong piso mula sa kaban ng bayan pero dahil sa katandaan at bumabagsak na kalusugan, pinayagang magpyansa kaya nakalabas sa kulungan.

Hindi matukoy kung nag-uulyanin lang ba o sinungaling lang talaga itong si tanda. Sa isang one-on-one interview kasama ang kapatid ni manang, sinabi niyang ‘di tunay ang dami ng mga pinatay, inabuso at iligal na kinulong noong Batas Militar. Wala rin raw nangyaring masaker

sa nasabing panahon. ‘Di kalaunan, binawi rin niya ang mga pahayag ngunit meron pa ring pangangatwiran at idinahilan pa sa katandaan.

Nagbabalik rin ang mambobolang si Mr. Palengkengkanto na sa tamis ng mga salita at malumanay na pakikipag-usap ay aakalain mong dalisay ang kanyang pakay.

Dilaw ang kulay ng engkantong ito tulad ng kanyang tropang elpi na laging nag-aayang bagtasin ang sinasabi nilang ‘tuwid na daan”. Pero sa kinahinatnan ng administrasyon ng kanyang matalik na kaibigan, napatunayan na ang daang iyon ay wala namang magandang pinatunguhan.

Nariyan rin ang iba pang mga lamang-lupa na nahuli nang nagnakaw ng kaban ng bayan pero may lakas ng loob pa ring humarap sa mga nagluklok sa kanila sa puwesto.

Nariyan ang mga magkapatid na nuno sa punso na ang mga pangalan at palayaw ay nagsisimula sa letrang J, na umabuso sa pinagkatiwalang pondo sa pamamagitan ng pangunguwalta at pandarambong.

Kaparehas nila ang tinaguriang “pogi” na kahit nasa likod pa ng rehas dahil sa parehas na kaso ay nagawan pa rin ng paraan upang maipaabot doon sa Intramuros ang balak. Kumpara sa kanila, masasabing mas malakas na ang loob nila aleng V na laging naka-kahel at Lapid-a na action star na tila wala ng bahid ng kasalanan.

Noong 1998 pinaratangan si Aleng V at kanyang asawa ng pandarambong kaugnay sa di-umano’y mapanlinlang na kasunduan sa Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, ngunit nalinis ang kaso noong 2010. Pinaratangan ng parehong kaso si Lapid-a kaugnay naman ng iskam sa pondo ng pataba noong siya ay gobernador pa lang, ngunit ibinasura rin ang kaso dahil sa labis na delay sa pagiimbistiga ng ombudsman.

Kung mayroong mga nagbabalik, mayroon ring mga bagong salta na nagpapatindi pa ng nangyayaring kababalaghan.

Nariyan ang kalbong asong ulol na kahol nang kahol at sunud-sunuran sa kanyang amo.

Alkalde pa lang ang pangulo, saksi na siya sa mga patayang nangyayari dis-oras man ng gabi o sa ilalim ng tirik na araw. Nang naging hepe, lumawak ang nasaksihang pagdanak ng dugo sa buong bansa.

Mayroon ring maiingay at nakakairitang mga

Opinion CLARIST MAE ZABLAN

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7 monsters to watch out for Gabe Santos Jo Comuyog

H multong sumusulpot na parang kabute kung saan-saan.

Ang isa sa kanila ay imbis na ‘boo’, ‘maa ngaa bo bo!’ ang laging bukambibig. Pero sa kanyang mga palatutol na kilos at kontra-Muslim na pahayag, mukhang ang tinutukoy niya lamang na bobo ay ang sarili.

Ang isa naman, dalawampung taon nang tapat na naglilingkod bilang assistant ng pangulo. Nagsabing walang interes sa kahit anong posisyon, ngunit ibinalandra ang mukha at pangalan kung saan-saan. Kamakailan lang, naimbistigahan na nakakuha ng maraming kontrata ang kumpanya ng kanyang ama at kinakapatid mula sa Kagawaran ng Pagawaing Pampubliko at mga Lansangan.

Nariyan rin ang mapang-akit at mapanlinlang na sirenang puro kasinungalingan at poot ang kinakanta. May hipnotismo ang kanyang nakakarinding boses at milyon-milyon na ang nahulog sa kanyang patibong. Kailan lang ay nagbitiw sa pwestong di karapat-dapat sa kanya, at binalak pang dalhin ang laban sa Kongreso.

Kasama niya ang isa pang alipores na ang dating trabaho ay pabanguhin ang mga basurang lumalabas sa bibig ng pangulo. Pero noong hindi nakakuha ng suporta, parang tiyanak siyang asal-sanggol na nagtampo, bumaba rin sa puwesto, tumakbo at kinain lahat ng kanyang sinabing pagtatanggol sa dating amo – nagmamakaawa na siya’y tangkilikin ulit.

Marami pa silang mga multo’t halimaw na nagbabalik upang maghasik ng lagim at nagbabalak na baguhin ang takda ng katotohanan. Ang masaklap, ay marami rin sa atin ang madaling makalimot at ipagsawalang bahala ang kasaysayan.

Magpapatuloy lamang ang pagdurusa natin kung patuloy lang rin nating babalewalain at kakalimutan ang nakakagimbal nilang mga kasalanan. At iyon ang pinaka-nakakatakot – kung ‘di tayo magigising at habambuhay ay mapapasailalim sa walang-hanggang bangungot.

Sa huli, tayo lang ang makapagliligtas sa mga sarili natin. Ang kaliwanagan ng isipan at tunay na pagmamahal sa bayan ang siyang sasagip sa atin mula sa kadiliman.Hindi man natin sila kayang pigilan sa pagtakbo, pero may kakayahan tayong hindi sila iluklok sa pwesto. TNP

alloween season is afoot, and if you’re brave enough, it is the time to pay close attention to the monsters that haunt the nation.

Filipino mythology is more than the common stories about tiyanaks, tikbalangs, aswangs, and mananggals feeding on the human flesh; local folklore can introduce creatures far more terrifying and dangerous than what horror films portray. And these creatures are more familiar than we expect. the house by a 1. Inhabiting river, this creature washes

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his hands of his own dirty work by ordering others to do it for him. By employing his very own death squad, he sits back, relaxes, and waits for his people to bring him the daily quarry.

This Aswang is popular in the Bicol province, going by the name Agalon Hayopan but doesn’t the entire world know him by his controversial remarks and uncouth mouth?

This witch can talk. With her twisted words, she casts evil spells on humans and their perception of the truth. With a large cult of avid followers, she can start plagues so sickly, it’s almost like cancer. Known in the Tagalog, Ilokano, and Pampanga regions as the Mangkukulam, this creature serves only the weak minded and power hungry.

This family of creatures is one we all have to watch out for. They’re wealthy and they own animals ordered to harm, steal, and kill on their behalf. These creatures have the power to command their sigbins to do just about anything for their own gain. Known in Waray as the Sigbinan, these creatures hold their sigbins in the palms of their hands. Powerful on their own, even more when they’re together, be wary

of these creatures who are making their way back to more wealth and control, trying to clean their name, get college degrees for programs they didn’t finish, and deny their past atrocities all under our noses.

These creatures are a classic breed of the self-interested. Dubbed the Laman Lupa in Luzon, Omayan in Bagabo, or Tawang Lupa in Mindanao, these invisible people live in clans and own large plots of land, which they only allow to be used by people under certain circumstances. Be wary for they like to receive offerings before and after planting and harvest and require gifts lest they render the land unusable by humans.

The Tagalog Bungisngis is a one-eyed giant who is seen always laughing.

Spotted usually in forests and woods, this monster is strong but dim-witted and tends to have a happy and playful demeanor to those who encounter him.

The Pangkilan coming from Palawan is a powerful breed of female aswang which can turn into big black boards. Cunning, strategic, and sly, these creatures are so powerful that they can corrupt humans and turn them into fellow aswang only with a kiss.

Known to reside in old, large trees, this beast takes the form of an old man who eventually turns into a white rooster that can tower over humans. Known in Pangasinan as the Bantay, he is seemingly invincible and immortal, able to prevent humans from going near his tree or blocking his path.

Are you spooked yet? Whether or not you recognize these monsters, be wary of the rest of the menacing creatures that lurk our streets – the beasts ready to take our taxes, ravage our homes, or claim our lives. God knows many of them are more powerful than we think. TNP

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Since 1978 Agatha Gregorio Editor-in-chief Arry Asiddao Associate Editor, Print John Patrick Manio Associate Editor, Broadcast Kristel Limpot Managing Editor Rat San Juan News Yumi Paras Features Selina Jo Paredes Sports Joaquin Astilla Chief Photographer Paul Gumagay Art and Layout Abbygail Boiser Kiara Cardeno Raevien Pintang Annabella Garcia Audrey Kho Jedd Pagaduan Gabe Santos Jo Cumuyog Jemelle De Leon Clarist Mae Zablan Clarizzah Tualla Contributors Tinig ng Plaridel is the Official Student Publication of the UP College of Mass Communication, published since 1978 in Diliman, Quezon City.

TNP is a member of the Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications in UP (UP Solidaridad) and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines. facebook twitter instagram tinigngplaridel globe tinigngplaridel.net

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Features

6

Year 40 Issue No. 1 6 November 2018

Arry Asiddao looks at the hurtful effects of price increases on the food stalls of Area 2

T

JOAQUIN ASTILLA

Killing us softly he lives of UP students are penetrated by Duterte’s economic policies in almost every aspect, from their daily commute to the food they eat.

As if simply getting by did not pose enough difficulties as it is, UP students are now faced with the grim reality of harsher financial conditions that came with the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

These are greatly manifested in what products they can no longer afford. And while students may opt not to buy the average Kopiko 78 to cope, most Filipinos have more immediate needs they cannot ignore.

For some, it is their livelihood at stake.

In Area 2 where students go for affordable food choices, most establishments also have to grapple with the effects of the current economic situation in ways they know how.

ADJUSTMENTS IN YOUR AREA Bambie*, 32, owner of 7-year-old Ralzarap or Ralz, admitted they had to adjust their serving size due to increases in prices of food, especially meat.

“We used to be generous when it comes to our serving portions, but we had to reduce them because we couldn’t just increase our prices,” Bambie said.

From the moment it was conceived, the TRAIN law, one of the key legislations pushed by the Duterte administration, had been heavily criticized for allowing the price increase of basic commodities such as fuel and sugar-based products. It is also said to have caused the surge in the prices of other basic commodities.

This movement of prices and services is referred to as inflation,

NIGHTCAP A man toils away at his meal in the last hours of this food haunt in Area 2, UP Diliman, where owners and patrons are starting to feel the effects of tax reforms.

a term that has become almost as pervasive as the phrase ‘extrajudicial killings (EJKs)’ was during Duterte’s first years in office.

A recent report by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) revealed an average inflation rate of 6.2% in the third quarter of 2018, higher than the government’s forecast of 4.8% to 5.2% inflation for 2018, which has already been adjusted from the original 2% to 4% forecast.

Despite our low wages, we choose to [not raise our prices] so we can help the students.

Dondon Staff, Balay Salu-salo Prices of food items such as fish, meat, rice, and vegetables are said to have significantly contributed to the inflation spike.

“Before, a sachet of juice would only cost us PhP8, but now it has gone up to PhP16 to PhP17. We cannot afford it, so instead of increasing our prices, we just stopped giving it for free,” Dondon, a staff of Balay Salu-salo said.

Under the TRAIN law, sweetened beverages are subjected to higher excise tax, prompting price hikes on popular sugary drinks.

Aside from free drinks, Balay Salu-salo was also forced to cut out some ingredients and condiments such as oyster sauce.

Spam More, which has been operating for four years now, makes sure nothing goes to waste to minimize the effects of higher inflation to their business.

“There has been a drastic increase in the prices of the ingredients in our main dishes, such as chicken and spam. The price of spam, for example, has risen

to PhP175 from PhP130,” said Mae Anne, 23, one of Spam More’s staff.

Lola’s Eatery, on the other hand, chose to start adjusting the prices of some dishes in their menu, particularly their fish and vegetable meals.

The price of their vegetable dish has increased from PhP25 to PhP30.

According to Philippine Statistics Authority data, vegetables had the highest price increases among other food items, with the average price of vegetables being 19.2% higher in August than last year.

LOWER SALES, LESS STAFF In order not to drive away consumers, many eateries in Area 2 opted to keep price increases minimal, if any at all. Yet, this helped little in combatting lower revenues.

Balay Salu-salo’s daily sales, for instance, used to range between PhP15,000 to PhP20,000. Now, they only generate a total of around PhP8,000 to PhP9,000 daily.

“We didn’t raise our prices because our customers, particularly students, would complain and ask why. But if we don’t increase our prices, what will happen to us? Despite our low wages, we choose to continue with this so we can help the students,” Dondon said.

While these changes in terms of sales have been felt as early as last year, owners and staff said that the impact of inflation hit them the hardest these past few months.

“Our profit started dropping last June or July. I made the decision to increase the price of our dishes just last month,” said Delia, 55, owner of Lola’s Eatery.

Delia attributed this move to the sudden spike in prices of vegetables after heavy rains ravaged vegetable farms in the north.

“I just accepted that our income

has decreased. What matters is that we still have customers,” Delia added.

Bambie said that compared to their sales in the past, Ralz is now earning just enough to sustain the business, but nothing more.

“If you are going to deduct our expenses from our income, you’ll see how little will be left,” Bambie said.

Because there is not much extra income to spend, Bambie only buys supplies to replace what has been used in the kitchen, unlike before where she would always buy in bulk.

Bambie also had to reduce the number of helpers in her business from four to two last year, although this was partly because there had been fewer students entering the university since K-12 was implemented.

Balay Salu-salo had also let go four of their staff, some of whom had chosen to leave on their own volition because of low wages. Dondon, who is also tasked to manage the business’ day-to-day operations, had considered leaving himself.

“I was supposed to leave this October, but my cousin, the owner of this establishment, asked me to stay because no one would manage the place.”

Lola’s Eatery had not cut down their staff, but increased their wages instead.

“They need to earn. I have also experienced being a worker, so I understand their situation. When prices are going up, you cannot just cut their pay,” Delia explained.

Unfortunately, the government remains out of touch with its people’s realities and has only gotten more creative in coming up with new methods to end lives. Like a serial killer, it seems to have taken pleasure in watching its citizens die a slow, painful death. TNP

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UP chases Final Four bid with win against NU

When cries...

BOGUS LAND REFORMS forty-siX years after marcos’ implementation of PD 27, along with other agrarian reform programs of succeeding administrations, prominent clans and foreign corporations still retain monopoly of lands.

In 1988, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) was enacted by the Aquino government, supposedly guaranteeing total land distribution to farmers.

But upon failing to actualize the promise, President Joseph Estrada extended it for another 10 years. It was later renamed as Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extensions with Reforms (CARPER) by the Arroyo administration.

Seven out of ten farmers still till lands they do not own, said KMP. The 70-30 division of revenue in favor of the landlords are still pervasive in many haciendas.

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones admitted that an approximate 500,000 covered by CARP are yet to be distributed. He said that most of these land are located in Isabela, Quezon, Bicol, Leyte and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

No law has taken effect in replacement of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program since its expiration in 2014.

“The Duterte government has no agrarian reform agenda,” Zenaida Soriano, chairperson of the National Federation of Peasant Women (AMIHAN) said.

Hence, as a mechanism against the lack of government aid, farm workers initiate ‘bungkalan’ ’ or collective cultivation of idle lands for their survival during ‘Tiempo Muerte’ or ‘dead’ seasons.

“Bungkalan is our response to resonate ourr campaign for free land distribution... especially with a regime that has no land reform program to offer. ” NFSW said in a statement.

Peasant groups are also strengthening campaigns to pass House Bill No. 555 known as Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB), which renders inclusive and complete distribution of land to farmers.

POVERTY AND RICE CRISIS data from tHe pHilippines Statistical Authority showed that farmers and fisherfolks still posted the highest poverty incidence in the country. Sugar workers are paid the lowest, receiving a paltry P10 per day, said Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA).

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law aggravated the conditions of poverty-stricken peasants, Soriano said.

“The soaring prices of agricultural facilities such as diesel, fertilizer, and pesticides, in contrast to the low prices of agricultural products and high usury, exacerbate the brunt carried by farmworkers,” Soriano said.

Marlon Gueta, chairperson of National Network of Agrarian Reform (NNARA) Youth, also said that the Philippines’ entry to the World Trade Organization Agreement on Agriculture (WTO-AoA) turned the country even more import-dependent.

“The WTO-AoA limits the direct aid of the government to the local agricultural production.” Gueta said. “It surrenders the rice industry to private foreign rice traders who may dictate the rice supply and distribution in the country.”

Under the WTO-AoA, RA 8178 or Agricultural Tariffication Law shall be implemented, espousing the lifting of restrictions on rice importation.

This law encourages unlimited importation of rice despite reports that only a total of .001% of the 19 million metric tons of rice produced by local farmers were procured by the National Food Authority.

Rice farmers are subject to slashing down of wages because of the expected four-peso increase in the price of Palay. They are also forced to sell their rice products to private traders for steeper prices.

This burden is doubled among women peasants as gender discrimination persists in the countryside.

Cathy Estabillo, spokesperson of AMIHAN said, “Despite the contribution of peasant women in land preparation and harvesting, their wages are inferior to men’s.

They receive an approximate PhP 150 compared to the PhP 170 men receive, forcing them to resort into desperate jobs such as prostitution and housemaid work.” TNP

By Selina Jo Paredes witH tHe race to tHe semifinals Heating up, tHe University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons send the National University (NU) Bulldogs on the brink of elimination and claim solo fourth, 82-71, last Saturday, November 3, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The first period saw a series of deadlocks with both squads trading buckets to which UP ended the quarter up by two, 17-15.

It was no different in the first few minutes of the second frame, but the Bulldogs were quick to take advantage of UP being in the penalty with Shaun and Dave Ildefonso and Issa Gaye frequenting the charity stripe four consecutive times where they made 5/8 free throws to cut the Fighting Maroons’ lead to one, 31-30.

State U countered with a 9-0 run topped off by a buzzer beater layup from captain Paul Desiderio that extended UP’s lead to 10, 40-30, to end the first half.

The Fighting Maroons never relinquished their lead against NU in the second half extending it by as much as 16 points in the third quarter. However, the Bulldogs once again gave UP a scare in the fourth frame as the rookie Ildefonso scored two threes as well as Troy Rike banking in a shot that cut State U’s lead to just seven, 78-71.

Desiderio did not allow the game to slip away as he put UP back up nine, 80-71. With 16 seconds left, David Murrell secured the win for the Fighting Maroons with a controversial dunk, 82-71. “‘Sakin yung iniisip ko na yun nga yung magandang ending namin, kumbaga habang may chance pa kaming mag final four, ibubuhos talaga namin, yun yung naging motivation namin.” Desiderio said on the win.

Gelo Vito added, “Bago kami mawala dito, bago namin tapusin UAAP careers namin, gusto namin mag final four and for that, na binibigay namin yung best namin … last two games na namin in the season, we wanna make it count.”

MVP frontrunner Bright Akhuetie packed his usual double-double with 21 points and 10 boards, Paul Desiderio scored 12 points, and Juan Gomez De Liano and Gelo Vito both racked up 10 points, respectively.

Dave Ildefonso led NU with 24 points.

UP hopes to strengthen their final four chances as they go up against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers on Saturday, November 10, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. TNP

CLARIZZAH TUALLA

Continued from page 1 Also killed that night were Eglicerio Villegas, 36, Rommel Bantigue, 41, Angelife Dumaguit Arsenal, 47, Paterno Baron, 48, Morena Mendoza, 48, Rene Laurencio Sr., 53, Marcelina Dumaguit, 60, and Jomarie Ughayon, 17.

Under the Duterte administration, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and peasant network Tanggol Magsasaka have documented 172 peasant killings, 27 of which were women, while eight were minors. The majority of victims were peasant leaders and farmer activists.

Just a month ago, seven young Tausug farmers were slain by the 55th Infantry Battallion-Philippine Army (IBPA) as they were harvesting lanzones and durian. Reports state that they were tagged by government troops as members of Abu Sayyaf.

Last May 26, Beverly Geronimo, a member of Tabing Guangan Farmers Association (TAGUAFA) was killed by suspected members of the 25th IBPA. Geronimo and her 8-year old daughter were on their way home when they were halted by unidentified men and were immediately fired upon. Geronimo sustained seven shots – one in the head, which caused her instant death.

Aside from killings, peasants also face other human rights abuses in the form of harassment, surveillance, illegal detention, and illegal arrests.

Since 2016, 200 peasants have been illegally arrested under trumped-up criminal charges. Two of the most recent victims are Montevista Farmers Association (MONTEFERMA) member Adelaida “Nanay Ede” Macusang and Gabriela-Misamis Oriental Chairperson Merlita Dorado, who were arrested last October 4.

“Farmers are the biggest casualties of Duterte’s rising tyranny and despotic rule.

Farmers who fight for their right to the land and resist local and foreign land grabbing have become victims of state-sponsored violence and abuses,” KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos said.

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COMMAND UP MBT Captain Paul Desiderio during the game against NU last Saturday.

SPORTS

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Year 40 Issue No. 1 6 November 2018

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Palpable hype.

Confidence in the new rookies. Trust in the vets. Unanimous, unadulterated support.

Yet the UP MBT still couldn’t get a ball in.

What happened?

What can be done now?

CLARIZZAH TUALLA / Photomontage: GENE PAOLO GUMAGAY

Haunted

by Woes

By Jedd Pagaduan wHen you Hear names of HigHlytouted players from the Fighting Maroons, names such as Bright Akhuetie, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano, and Paul Desiderio are usually the ones that come to mind.

Not only is the roster filled with topshelf talent, it is also filled with solid role players, led by Jun Manzo.

With the addition of Akhuetie this season, along with expected improvements from Manzo, the Gomez de Liano brothers, not to mention the reliable presence of Desiderio, the Fighting Maroons were expected to take a step forward, with most pundits considering them a strong contender for a Final Four spot.

Last year’s Fighting Maroons had a 4-4 record through 8 games.

This year? A 3-5 record.

As of October 17, 2018, why have they scuffled to a mediocre 3-5 tally despite Akhuetie, averaging 15.7 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, leading the MVP race? The reigning Rookie of the Year, Juan, has made a leap in year two as well, placing 5th in the MVP race, pitching in 16.3 points per game.

What exactly has gone wrong for them despite having two MVP-

ANGUISH Jun Manzo.

caliber players?

spend on the court with one anoth- against Ateneo in the first round. er, the more they understand each He also attracts double-teams, makCHANGES IN PLAYER ROTATION others’ tendencies on the court, and ing him an ideal offensive hub; they coacH bo perasol loVes tinker- the more chemistry they can build. should run more of the offense ing with his lineups – sometimes through him. When the ball gets to the team’s detriment. He loves GREATER OFFENSIVE dumped to him, his primary goal is giving spot minutes to rookie James MOVEMENT AND CREATIVITY to score, but he should be allowed Spencer and transferee Jaydee it’s no secret tHat tHe maroons to flex his playmaking even more.

Tungcab, raw players who are yet to love to force turnovers and go out When faced with zone defenses, make an impact in the UAAP. Rookie in transition – Juan is a blur on the the Maroons should allow Akhuetie David Murrell plays with high ener- open floor, and Desiderio and Man- to go to work down low while begy, but he is far too raw offensively zo are a lethal one-two punch on ing surrounded by four shooters, so to be in the starting five, and Perasol the break. It’s when they are un- when the help defense comes, he knows this, demoting Murrell to the able to run the fastbreak that their can swing the ball out leading to an bench the past two games. offense grinds to a halt. There is so open three.

Gelo Vito needs to play more. He much stagnation when it comes to Gomez de Liano and Desiderio is a heady defender, a reliable pres- their halfcourt offense. are lethal three-point marksmen ence on the interior, and he also has There is a general inability for UP – they shouldn’t be settling for an outside shot. to create from dribble penetration. contested heaves from deep. A Will Gozum deserves more min- Their strength in the pick-and-roll series of dribble handoffs at the utes as well after earning a start in game is neutralized by the zone top of the key from the Maroon the past first-round loss against UST. defense, but they are unable to big men are all it should take to get He was the NCAA Juniors MVP, after counter due to the lack of outside them open. They should be running all. He is a solid rebounder and fin- shooting and poor off-ball move- around off-ball screens more often isher inside, and he is also capable ment. This leads to poor shot se- when the defense plays man-to-man. defensively. lection, most of those shots being There is unquestioned talent in Staggering of minutes can work. contested pull-up jumpers. the roster, but they shouldn’t just Leaving one of Juan and Akhuetie There is an argument to be made coast on talent. They should put on the floor for each of the 40 that Akhuetie, the younger Gomez that talent in the best position to minutes of the game allows the de Liano, and even captain De- succeed. Asking them to create oneteam to have an offensive fulcrum siderio have so much more to their on-one is fine from time to time, but on the floor at all times. games than what they’ve shown so if your offense relies on dribble penUnpredictability has its benefits, far. etration and one-on-one play, a la but so does predictability and conAkhuetie is a strong passer, as Houston Rockets, you’re just shoottinuity. The more time these players seen in his 10-assist performance ing your team on the foot. TNP

UAAP Season 81 UP Athletic Standings Here are tHe team finisHes of some of the University of the Philippines (UP) Varsity teams from the month of September to November in the UAAP Season 81 Tournament.

The young bloods have immensely proven themselves by bannering their respective teams with Kyle Legaspi of the Men's Badminton Team securing the Rookie of the Year award as well as Justnin Macapuno and Geraldine Guyo of the Women's Chess Team nabbing the Board 4 silver medal and Board 3 bronze medal, respectively.

So far, UP now has a total of five podium finishes out of eight sporting events. TNP

Category Season

M 80

81

W 80

81

Chess Badminton Table Tennis Beach Volleyball

7th 2nd 4th 3rd

6th 2nd ★ 6th 6th

3rd 2nd 3rd 6th

2nd ★ 2nd ★ 3rd ★ 3rd ★

★ denotes podium finish Compiled by Selina Jo Paredes and Gene Paolo Gumagay