fb.com/ujp.updiliman | Ikalawang Semestre, T.A. 2014-2015 | Isyu Blg. 13 | Martes, Mayo 5, 2015 | twitter.com/ujp_up COLLECTIVE ACTION. Labor groups and other sectors stormed the streets of Manila as they call for a P16,000 national minimum wage and justice for neglected workers.
Photo by DAVID TRISTAN YUMOL
May the force be with the youth Youth groups slam educ policies on Labor Day
by KEILAH DIMPAS and HAZEL LOBRES
THOUSANDS OF RED-CLAD PEOPLE RODE jeepneys with banners to the streets of Manila, fists raised and flags held up high, demanding the revamp of Filipino workers’ conditions in the country and abroad. The 10,000-strong crowd gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio to call for the increase of the national minimum wage to P16,000 monthly, and swift justice and accountability for overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso’s case. Youth alliances, including Youth Act Now, Young Cwhristian Workers of the Philippines and students from various universities, thickened the mob of private and public employees in the All Workers’ Unity for Labor Day, May 1. They also called for educational reforms that affect students’ future labor conditions. Drained dropout Jhoannalyn Baltazar, 18, dropped out of college two years before going on stage and receiving her diploma. The lack of drive
to study and her finances pushed her to working as a call center agent instead. “Nakakapagod siya, nakakadrain rin ng utak,” Baltazar said, “pero wala ka namang makitang ibang trabaho dahil wala kang diploma na mapapakita.” Baltazar is just one of the thousands of students who, even with the regular educational system, opted to drop out and start getting half-baked jobs instead. Dropout rates have consistently increased since 2007, according to the Department of Education (DepEd). In 2013, 126,368 public school students dropped out of the elementary level, while 236, 222 have discontinued their studies in the secondary level. Only 23 out 43 high school graduates enroll in college, and just 14 of these enrollees graduate.
Baltazar also noted that the new K to 12 educational system will not benefit those who do not have enough money for the two additional school years and will be more tempting for the students to leave school. The K-12 Program will extend the span basic education from 10 years to 12 to provide students enough time to master concepts and skills. It offers four tracks for students: academic, technical-vocational-livelihood, sports, and arts and design. “Mas nakaka-tempt na wag naring magcollege dahil pwede ka ng magtrabaho after nung highschool mo,” Baltazar said, “pero yun nga lang, anong klaseng trabaho?” One way ticket to the world? With the recent approval of the K-12 system, several groups and lawmakers have lobbied for its suspension and, instead, demanded for better educational facilities in the country. “Nasa side kami ng gustong i-suspend ang
K-12, dahil ang ating pamahalaan ay walang kahandaan,” said Luzviminda De Vera, member of the Board of Directors of Quezon City Public Schools Teachers Association (QCPSTA). She said the lack of facilities, school buildings and teachers should first be addressed before going full-force with the K-12. De Vera also said the main reason behind the implementation of this system is labor export because most of the skills being honed in K-12 are designed for employment abroad, such as housekeeping. Low or the lack of educational attainment, combined with the poor working conditions in the country, leave Filipinos no choice but to work abroad instead - as per the case of the recently reprieved Mary Jane Veloso and thousands of other OFWs. Valdez said one of the reasons why Veloso went abroad is because of her low educational attainment. “Yung commercialized education, yun yung
nagtutulak sa ating mga kababayan na hindi na mag-aral at mag-abroad na lamang,” she added, “at dahil doon nabibiktima sila. salat sila sa edukasyon.” The odds may be in our favor For first timer Lance Espejo, a student in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, he believes the sincerity of intentions and a hunger for change can enable anyone, even students like him, to fight problems with the workers. “Ilang taon na lamang, papasok na tayo sa labor force, at mararanasan rin natin ang mga nararanasan ng mga manggagawa,” said UP Diliman student Jag San Mateo, “dapat na nating intindihin ang sitwasyon mga manggagawa sa bansa at sa buong mundo.” As the saying goes, the youth is the hope of the nation. And as long as the youth is critical, empowered, and armored with courage, the nation will never slave in darkness and in fear.
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BALITA/OPINYON
Martes, Mayo 5, 2015
Editorial
Mood swing
One day, netizens all over the world, especially her fellow Filipinos, expressed their sympathies and wished that Mary Jane Veloso, an overseas Filipina worker convicted for drug-trafficking, be spared from death through firing squad in a foreign land. Mary Jane asserted her innocence in the case, claiming how she was framed by recruiters who sent her to Indonesia. Days after miraculously the execution was delayed, though, the #SaveMaryJane tweets were quickly replaced by #BitayinNaYan, #BitayinSiVeloso and #FiringSquadforCeliaVeloso. This was after Celia, Mary Jane’s mother, denied President Aquino’s role in her daughter’s reprieve and spoke of the government’s inaction in the five years the trial went through. Social media users slammed the family, denouncing their being ungrateful for not recognizing the government’s efforts that saved Mary Jane in the final minute. These media users blurted out how they have lost their sympathies with the family, and even wished to execute not only Mary Jane but the rest of the Velosos. Not long after, major media outfits, which earlier committed a grave error of reporting the execution in their banner stories, picked up the online trends. As if adding fuel to the fire, they have reported incessantly about the tweets containing the malicious and spiteful remarks towards the Velosos. Publishing the tweets in the headlines and not providing context and background in their stories are but utter disregard to the principles of balance and sensitivity. Accurate reporting should never be compromised, even with the value of speed in breaking the news. Further, journalists must never put anyone’s life in danger and at all costs minimize harm in reporting. If there’s anyone who
DELAY
should empathize with the Velosos in how they scrutinized the government, that is the press. Justice Malcolm clearly elucidated, “Complete liberty to comment on the conduct of public men is a scalpel in the case of free speech. The sharp incision of its probe relieves the abscesses of officialdom.” To become critical and to ensure that the government is doing its job is the duty of the press to its people. Such is the essence of being a watchdog. To be able to do this, journalists must put behind any other interests than that of the public they ought to serve. But the way the corporate media responded to the criticisms raised by the Velosos is not at all surprising. Dominant media, which is run like a business entity, itself banks on stories that sell, and serves to protect the interests of its owners. The abrupt change in the people’s thinking regarding the case of Mary Jane can only speak of the class they belong. The tendency to side with the conditions that offer them their hedonistic aspirations, is typical of the middle class. The sentiments they shared with the Velosos are quickly forgotten when Celia stood firm one sunny day and told the President that they will fight for their rights, a claim that poses dangers to the comfort-loving middle class. A lower class daring to shake the structure is a sure poke on their revered position prompting them to quickly change their mind. The challenge is for them to see beyond what the dominant media is feeding, to recognize the larger struggle of the toiling masses. To side with the oppressed majority where they, the middle class, are part of, and to choose to stand with them, to remain with them, until they reclaim the rights they all deserve.
CMC dean nominees eye curriculum revision University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) deanship nominees aim to revise the the undergraduate programs’ curricula for the next three years. The nominees, Dr. Elizabeth Enriquez (Broadcast Department), Dr. Reynaldo Guioguio (Journalism Department), and Dr. Elena Pernia (Communication Research Department), presented their plans for the college in a public forum Apr. 29 at the UP CMC Auditorium Though being done on a regular basis, Dr. Pernia said that there is a need to revise and review the college’s offered program. This, she said, is to adjust to both K-12 basic education system and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Integration this year. Meanwhile, Dr. Enriquez said there is a need to review the college’s educational practices. “This curricular review is expected to be more radical in light of the changes in the educational environment in our country,” she said. On the other hand, Dr. Gu-
by JOHN RECZON CALAY
ioguio proposed the development of a two-year associate of science degree in telecommunications which will be taught jointly with the College of Engineering. He also presented a broadcast journalism undergraduate program which will focus on news and public affairs training. Dr. Enriquez served as UP Diliman Vice-chancellor for Student Affairs from 2005 to 2011, while Dr. Pernia was appointed dean of the college from 2006 to 2009. Meanwhile, Dr. Guioguio is a political adviser of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Plans of action Dr. Pernia shared a smooth transition from the outgoing dean and “connectedness” as her vision for the college. She said collaborations among the undergraduate programs in the college can be done in light of the internationalization endeavors. Dr. Guioguio, meanwhile, seeks to build a CMC News Museum to show the contribution of the college in the
Philippine media industry. He also looks to elevate the Journalism, Broadcast, and Communication Research departments to institutes. These platforms are aligned to his ‘PATH’ (Professionalism, Accomplishments, Technology, History) vision for the college. Looking for more scholarships, financial assistance and other resources for students is Dr. Enriquez’s suggestion to help sustain the students’ studying in the college. She wants to continue the existing projects to support the students such as the access to a free and better Wi-Fi connection, a clear program of staff development for their promotion. However, senior journalism student JS Fiestada noted that his concern of having the college a center of discourse and medium of service to the community was not raised by the nominees. “Parang nawalan ito ng emphasis at naging parang institution na lang siya (CMC) ng production ng mga researches and production of learned students,” he said.
Komiks ni SUPER MARIO
Issue No. 13 Second Semester, A.Y. 2014-2015 Martes, Mayo 5, 2015 Gerv Tacadena, April Benjamin EDITORS Hazel Lobres, Judielyn Agua, Shane Dela Cruz, John Reczon Calay, Keilah Dimpas STAFF WRITERS Luigi Naval CARTOONIST Gabby Endona LAYOUT ARTIST