UPLB Perspective Volume 37, Issue 1

NEWS NEW FACULTY REGENT page 02

FEATURES

Students lobby for check-and-balance mechanism

Roman Assessment

CULTURE

page 05

Uniberso 2

page 06

CEB members Prof. Vicente Ballaran (left) and Estel Lenwij Estropia (right) cast votes after the second dry run for the 2011 automated USC-CSC elections.

The Central Electoral Board (CEB) approved, last January 7, the proposal for the full-automation of the upcoming University Student Council-College Student Council Elections on February 23 to 24.

‘Lacks consultation’ The approval of the proposal for the elections “lacks consultation“ of the USC with the students as discussed in the CSL meeting last Jan. 13, where students reacted over the proposal to automate the USC-CSC elections.

liaison officer, the program has security features such as security key and authentication codes for each election officer logged in to the system. YSES was able to come up with the program Automated Student Council Election System.

Students, however, lobbied that there be print out of the summary of votes by the students as check-and-balance mechanism to establish the credibility of the program in its initial application in the automated elections, as also discussed in the fourth and fifth Council of Student Leaders meeting.

Some student councils and organizations, as well, claimed of not being consulted by the USC prior to the submission of the said proposal to the CEB for approval.

In the CSL meeting, former USC Chairperson Leo ‘XL’ Fuentes stressed the violation of Article 2 of the USC constitution, stating its duty to ‘uphold and ensure democratic participation and representations in any policy-making body which directly affects student rights and welfare particularly in the university’.

All computers that will be used for the elections are to be managed by election officers using their accounts. However, the interface containing the results will not be accessed by the election officer and YSES since the system is encrypted.

With this as agendum, the CEB convened last February 18 to deliberate on the necessity and possibility of the plan for checkand-balance mechanism. Logistical and financial concerns were taken into consideration as well.

EDITORIAL

“Sa ngayon, kinakaharap ng UPLB ang kauna-unagang isang full automated elections kaya’t umalma ang mga estudyante dahil sa kawalan ng check-and-balance o countercheck mechanism,“ said Diana Marie Mula, incumbent Vice-Chairperson and Officer in Charge of USC. She furthered that even the programmers, Young Software Engineers’Society approves of the check-and-balance mechanism to establish the credibility of their program among the students. She also cited the case of UP Diliman where the program for automated elections was tested for three years before it finally garnered the trust of the students.

Agreed within the board is for the USC to create a working budget proposal, canvassing guidelines, and other specific details as to how the proposal for having print out alongside automated elections will work.

The CEB, comprised of Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Director, Students’ Organizations Activities Division (SOAD) Head, College Secretaries, College Student Councils (CSC), USC, and the UPLB Perspective, is the body concerned with the preparation and conduct of the USC-CSC elections.

ANd the struggle continues page 12

words&photo | Kris Vernadette Domo layout | Trista Isobelle Gile

“Kung may bagong pamamaraan ng pagboto, hindi naman tayo tumututol doon. Pero, ‘yung konseho kasi ay nagbibigay premium sa democratic participation with regard to decision-making. Dapat ine-engage ‘yung mga mag-aaral, lalo’t malaking usapin ‘yung shift mula manual patungo sa automated elections, “Fuentes said.

Ernest Francis Calayag, USC chairperson (on-leave) said, on the other hand, “Siyempre, we’ll never disregard any opinion or take on the matter.

However, in the part of USC, this is a program that’s the sole purpose is to really serve the student body (sic).”

Elections Program In the deliberations on what program will be used for the elections, Calayag claimed to have sent invitations in making the program to computer programming organizations in the Institute of Compute Science (ICS), through which only YSES responded.

According to Alexis Marion Lagante, YSES automated elections development team project manager and

Dry-runs The first dry-run to test the program for automated elections was held at PC laboratory 5 at ICS last January 18, 2011, from 8 am to 12 noon, where 86 students participated.

However, the CEB requested for a second dry-run because the first lacked counter measure on checking the accuracy of the program since there were no ballots or other sources of data which can be used to check against the results acquired by the program.

The second dry-run was conducted last January 27 from 9am to 5pm, participated by 189 students at the College of Development Communication, College of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate School, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology as minor precincts, and College of Arts and Sciences at the Physical Science building as major precinct.

During the dry run, students were asked to log in using their Systemone accounts. An authentication was needed to proceed to the voting process. Pictures and names of the candidates were flashed on the screen where students can select their preferred

(CEB approves...p.03)

vo lu m e 37

issue 1 F EBRUARY 21, 2011

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NEWS

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

3 parties gear up for 2011 USC elections 1 candidate goes independent Three parties are vying for posts in the University Student Council (USC) for academic year 2011-2012.

Movement of Students for Progressive Leadership in UP (MOVE U.P.) is the new party going up against 15 year-old party-alliance Samahan ng Kabataan para sa Bayan (SAKBAYAN) and eight year-old political organization Buklod UPLB this year.

‘Not an offspring’ According to MOVE U.P. President Carlo Cruz, they started talking about forming a new political party early last year. They only formalized the party in time for the elections.

Re-electionists Ernest Calayag, BS Industrial Engineering ‘06 student is the front runner and Angelique Rivera, 4th year Biology student, is the candidate for the vice chairperson post from MOVE U.P. Both previously ran under Buklod UPLB. However, Cruz cleared that MOVE UP is ‘not an offspring’ of Buklod UPLB. He said that it was just a coincidence that ‘people who thought of starting MOVE UP are all [from] Buklod.’

“It’s just that ... [kung] may prinsipyo kang pinanghahawakan, and you belong to a group... but you get to think of something na mas pasok sa puso mo, e ‘di doon ka na sa mas pasok sa prinsipyo mo,” he added.

Cruz revealed that they look for potential candidates who believe in the same principles they [MOVE UP] believe in.

Asked about the preparations their candidates undergo Cruz said, “they undergo trainings in issues kasi they need to be aware... and they engage in discussions among ourselves (sic); the usual trainings ng any student leaders (sic).” He refused to dig deeper in their campaign plans as they are just revealing them in the campaign proper.

“We will formally announce din [ang plano] sa campaign period. Kasi medyo tinitimpla pa namin ‘yung waters, ang hirap ng bagong party,” Cruz explained.

‘Unite to fight’ SAKBAYAN gears for the coming elections with its overall theme “Unite to Fight.”

According to SAKBAYAN Chairperson Ma. Cristina Madeja, their platform revolves on a pro-student and pro-people education with additional budget for education and a democratic campus as their focus.

Madeja shared that they are currently working hard to give the students the right information they need to know.

“Hindi mo lang basta ibibida na iboto nyo kami, Sakbayan kami. Ipapaliwanag mo sa kanila [students] ang issues at kung bakit ganito ang stand ng mga estudyante, at kapag naliwanagan sila, mas magiging madali ang kanilang pakikiisa sa pinaglalaban ng SAKBAYAN,” Madeja answered when asked about their campaigns.

“The desire to run was our (SAKBAYAN) main basis for choosing our candidates, which mostly are from batch 2008,” Madeja added.

‘Service Intensified’ Buklod UPLB’s campaign theme for this year is “Service Intensified.”

According to Buklod UPLB Chairperson Jannah Melody Grace Agum, since their organization won in the majority of councils last year, they want to intensify their service to the students which manifests in their move to contend for positions in the College of Agriculture Student Council.

When asked on how Buklod UPLB find candidates, Agum said “Lahat naman ng parties, they scout for people who are in line and parallel with their principles. ‘Yung iba lumalapit sa amin pero basically, [we choose] those who are in line with our principles.”

words | Jonelle Marin With reports from Kris Vernadette Domo, Ladylove May Baurile and Lyka Manglal-lan

Buklod UPLB’s trainings include learning about the organization’s essentials, principles, what they’re standing for, public appearance, personality development, answering questions and team work.

“Tapos the past council [members] na nanalo sa Buklod, are also sharing their experiences and part of their [candidates] training is making their GPOA (General Plan of Action) at saka chinecheck namin yun.

“We also train them generally about politics and the politics that we would want for Buklod UPLB, like effecting positive change and making a difference,” Agum added.

State of independence Going against dorm fee increase is included in the campaign of the only independent candidate for a USC councilor post.

Third year Communication Arts (ComArts) student Narciso “Tres” Panganiban III is trudging the tedious campaign period not alone because he has his orgmates from UP Kabataang Alyansa na may Dugong TagaHilagang Kamarines (UP KAADHIKA) and fellow dormers in the New Dormitory, ComArts friends, former blocmates when he was still a BS Economics student and his parents.

“Tapos nagdadala na lang po ako ng megaphone para ‘pag maraming crowd, maipakilala ko yung sarili ko at saka nagpapaalam tayo sa mga lecturers para payagan tayong makapagcampaign sa mga large classes at ...mga small classes,” Panganiban said.

He cleared that being independent is not equivalent to not having stands on issues. He said that he is willing to support any party whom he believes has the right stand. According to him, he felt that the party’s slots were already full the day that he finally decided to run.

“Humihingi ako ng tulong sa lahat ng estudyanteng kinakampanyahan ko, na ikalat din nila yung balita na meron palang independent candidate,” Panganiban added. [P] Busied by the UPLB community’s excitement, Freedom Park glows as the sun sets for the first night of 2011 February Fair.

STCN members in military uniform carry a nipa hut symbolizing Oplan Bayanihan, a counter-insurgency program of the Aquino government, in a regional mob to condemn the seemingly unending trend of human rights violations.

1987 Mendiola masaker, ginunita TRL, panawagan pa rin ng mga magsasaka words

isang bahay kubong buhat ng mga nagbihis military na mga miyembro ng Southern Tagalog Cultural Network (STCN).

Malinaw pa sa alaala ni Mirriam Aledia, 41, ang sinapit niya at ng daan-daan pang mga magsasaka sa madugong Mendiola masaker.

Sa loob ng kubo ay may effigy ni Noynoy Aquino na sinasakal ang isang magsasaka na sumisimbolo sa pagsusulong ng OPLAN Bayanihan, ang kontra-insurhensiyang programa ng administrasyon.

Inilunsad noong Enero 20 sa NCAS Auditorium ang isang porum bilang paggunita sa ika-24 taon ng Mendiola Massacre, sa pangunguna ng Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK).

“Hangga’t hindi nabubuwag ang land monopoly at naipapamahagi nang libre ang lupa sa maralita sa kanayunan, walang signipikanteng magaganap sa bansa. At mahirap asahan ang isang pangulo na Haciendero na magpapatupad ng tunay na reporma sa lupa,” ani Axel Pinpin, pangkalahatang kalihim ng KASAMA-TK. Sinundan ang porum ng kilos protesta sa harap ng UP gate kung saan ipinakita ang

Hanggang ngayon, tunay na reporma sa lupa (TRL) pa rin ang panawagan ng uring magsasaka sa kanilang inilunsad na Lakbayan ng mga Magsasaka para sa Lupa at Hustisya noong Oktubre ng nakaraang taon. Dito isinagawa ang limang araw na martsa ng mga magsasaka mula Timog Katagalugan hanggang Gitnang Luzon na siya ring lumundo sa makasaysayang tulay ng Mendiola.

Enero 22, 1987 nang maganap ang Mendiola masaker kung saan marahas na dinispers ang mga magsasaka habang nagmamartsa sa tulay ng Mendiola upang ipanawagan ang tunay na reporma sa lupa sa rehimen ni Corazon Aquino. [P]

IBS prof is new FR Dr. Ida Dalmacio, professor of Microbiology at the Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS), won the Election Round of the Faculty Regent (FR) Selection held last Nov. 16-19. She was officially announced as the next faculty regent last Nov. 26 in the Board of Regents (BOR) meeting at UP Cebu.

Dalmacio got 764 votes out of the 1,741 voters.

She was followed by Dr. Teodoro Mendoza of the Institute of Crop Science with 623 votes.

Orgs, USC amend Feb Fair contract after a series of CSL meetings On February 13, however, the day before the 2011 February Fair started revisions on the Operations Agreement for February Fair 2011 were finalized in a Council of Student Leaders (CSL) emergency meeting.

Organizations were outraged during the CSL meeting last February 9 over the changes made to the agreement released by the University Student Council (USC) presented last January 14.

There was no extensive consultation regarding the changes made on the operations agreement prior to its release said Corky Hope

Maranan, President of UPLB Babaylan during the meeting. She emphasized the urgency of discussing with organizations items especially on the P 5,000 fine for violations. She furthered that the details on the violations are not specified in the written agreement.

Conversely, USC Councilor Marie Angelique Rivera, head of February Fair Committee, said that organizations were informed of the fine upon registration. She said there will be three warnings before the USC can conduct evaluation of the violations committed. She furthered that the USC will provide copy of specifications of the gravity of every violation.

words | Voltaire Abiog and Lyka Manglal-lan photo | Jonelle Marin

Maranan argued, on the other hand, that such specifications must still be incorporated in the agreement in order not to commit misinterpretations of any item at all.

Rivera said that there was no black and white copy of the 2010 Operations Agreement so the USC drafted a new one.

During the February 10 CSL emergency meeting, the body enumerated certain terms in the contract that they deem necessary to be revised especially on penalties for every violations, despite the request of Rivera and on-leave USC Chairperson Ernest Calayag to petition regarding the matter. [P]

| Jonelle Marin

“Hanggang ngayon, ramdam ko pa rin ang kulata ng M-16 sa hita ko...Hanggang Taft Avenue, hinabol kami ng truncheon.”

UPLB’s turn A graduate of BS Agriculture, Dalmacio started out as a research assistant before she became professor of Microbiology. She also held key positions at the College of Arts and Sciences in UPLB as college secretary, deputy director of IBS, and was a two-term director of BIOTECH. At the national and international level, Dalmacio was also executive director of Department of Science and Technology –Philippine Council for Advance Science and Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCASTRD).

The nominees were chosen from UP Los Baños based on the selection process’ practice of rotation among UP units. Incumbent FR Judy Taguiwalo is from UP Diliman. Her term ends December 2010.

Not yet official Some of the highlights of Dalmacio’s plan of action includes “assessment and rationalization of faculty recruitment, renewal, tenure and retention; faculty promotion and reward system; provision of additional faculty benefits and assistance; as well as [working] closely and [coordinating] with the staff and student regents.”

Asked about her stand on the issue of budget cut, large lecture class policy and the selection of new UP president, Dalmacio was still hesitant to answer as she has “not [yet]

words

| Joy Salvador

received any official notice that [she was] elected faculty regent.”

“Untested E-voting” According to FR Taguiwalo in her update on the Nov. 26 BOR meeting, the current voter turnout is 49 percent of the total of 3,582 qualified voters. This is 613 votes lower compared to the 2,354 turnout in 2008. Votes were casted through manual and electronic voting.

As stated in the Guidelines on the Election Round of the 2010 Faculty Regent Selection Process, “voters may choose to vote manually or electronically but not both. In the event of double votes cast by manual and electronic ballots, the manual ballot shall prevail.”

But critics are pointing out the untested electronic voting which was supposed to have a dry run from October 25 to 27.

FR Taguiwalo added that the discussions about the FR procedures were not formally approved by the university councils of each constituent universities before the UP Administration declared them as final and executory.

The critics are also pointing to the ban on campaigning as another problem, and this has been interpreted as one way of limiting the capability of such unions as the All U.P. Workers Union and the All U.P. Academic Employees Union to field a candidate and if the candidate is elected, to engage in mass actions against objectionable policies of the outgoing U.P. Administration, which typified the term of the outgoing FR Taguiwalo.

The whole system is run by the UP Computer Center under the direct command of the Office of the President which rise questions of the credibility of the faculty re gent election results. [P]

NEWS

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Admin requires SEC reg before MOA signing Perspective suffers limited funds The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the fiscal autonomy of the UPLB Perspective will be signed only after the publication has registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and thereby obtain its “juridical personality”, the Office of the Chancellor (OC) told the editorial board in a meeting dated October 4, 2010.

Meeting Both parties have already agreed on the contents of the MOA. The Perspective editorial board expected to have the MOA finally signed in the said meeting called for by the chancellor said Estel Lenwij Estropia, current editor in chief (EIC).

On the other hand, Atty. Damcelle Cortes, assistant and acting legal counsel to Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco, said that only if it is already incorporated through a SEC registration can the Perspective be able to sign any legally binding agreement with UPLB. Once incorporated, the editorial board shall act as the publication’s founding board of directors.

Cash advance Perspective requested cash advance for SEC registration fees and other pertinent expenses. The request is still going through the

old disbursement procedures as required by the UPLB administration.

“We’ve been through this since last semester but our request was not approved due to a certain COA (Commission on Audit) rule that cash advance requests are only granted to permanent employees,” said business manager Beverly Christel Laguartilla.

The request shall be granted only if a permanent employee signs as co-maker for the Perspective according to Chief Accountant Joan Mendoza.

Atty. Cortes informed the Perspective on Dec. 3 that the Office of the Students Affairs is willing to instruct Nicanor Calio Jr., one of its staff, to act as co-maker for the Perspective.

5-year implementation Meanwhile, despite previous verbal agreements between both parties, Atty. Cortes mentioned Chancellor Velasco’s contentions as regards termination clause in the MOA stating that the agreement shall persist until it is “terminated upon mutual agreement of the parties”.

Atty. Cortes related that Chancellor Velasco decided to rethink the clause after reviewing Section 21.b of the UP Charter of 2008 stating that the status of an official student publication must be “subject to due and comprehensive consultation with the students”.

words

Moreover, Chancellor Velasco is looking for an official statement attesting that The UPLB Perspective is the official student publication of the university.

“Perspective has ever since been the duly recognized student publication of UPLB by the UP administration and the studentry,” Estropia said in an interview. She added that Perspective, together with the University Student Council (USC) was officially mandated during the martial law by the Council of Student Leaders which comprised representatives from student organizations, fraternities, sororities, and other formations.

Furthermore, the publication is in possession of “Rules and Regulations Governing the Publication of the UPLB Perspective” which was honored and approved by the Board of Regents.

“Hindi dahil naipasa ang bagong charter, ibig sabihin ay back to zero [na ang] kung anuman ang naging tagumpay ng student movement. This interpretation is retrogressive and absurd,” USC councilor and former Perspective EIC Christian Ray Buendia concurs, “Ibig sabihin ba nito lahat ng student publication sa UP system katulad ng [Philippine Collegian] at Outcrop ay kailangang marecognize ulit?” he added.

The Philippine Collegian is the official student publication in UP Diliman while Outcrop is the counterpart in UP Baguio.

| Beverly Christcel Laguartilla

“For the sake of the students’ right to information, we opted to skip the unnecessary table battle and proceed to the solution. We need the student funds, now,” Laguartilla said.

‘For fiscal autonomy’ Perspective has been asserting for its fiscal autonomy for the last two and a half years. This long process caused Perspective 2009-2010 term to print only one issue. Also, it results to difficulty for the current term in acquiring funds for the printing of its issues that lasted for more than a year.

The panel created for the MOA, headed

by Dr. Roberto Rañola, vice chancellor for administration, already approved Perspective’s proposed disbursement scheme after a series of panel discussions.

The provisions of the memorandum stated that the administration will collect publication fee for Perspective. The collected fee will be transferred to the bank account of the publication and will be disbursed based on the approved guidelines in disbursement scheme.

If any of the involved parties violated any provisions, the agreement will be subject to termination but will not be automatically terminated due to the provision under mutual commitment. [P]

EJK cases rise under Aquino’s term

ST cultural worker, 24th EJK victim words

| Princes Bulaclac & Jonelle Marin

A 19-year old active member of the Southern Tagalog Cultural Network (STCN) died after being shot twice last December 23. Lester Barrientos was scheduled for a Christmas visit to his father in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro when the military fired the house he stayed in. Barrientos is the 24th victim of extra-judicial killings (EJK) under the seven month-old term of President Benigno Aquino III. OBL to OB Two hundred and four people were left missing (desaparecidos) and an estimate

UHO reviews dorm policies Students decry probable dorm fee increase Table 1. Criteria for the evaluation of new freshman applicants Ad Hoc Committee to Review UPLB Student Dormitory Policies, Rules, and Regulations and Fees held a forum and formal consultation on the revised Policies, Rules, and Regulations for Student Dormitories at UPLB last January 13.

Meanwhile, dormers expressed their disappointment with how the the ad hoc committee designed the flow of consultation regarding changes in dorm policies during the forum.

“Hindi pinapatapos ang mga estudyante sa pagsasalita at inaagawan pa ng microphone ang mga nagtatanong at sumusubok sa provisions ng polisiya,” said New Foreha Residence Hall Association President and Head of the Dormitories Alliance Kim Resa.

| Estel Lenwij Estropia

with reports from Liberty Notarte

Table 2. Additional criteria for evaluation of upperclassmen applicants

As of press time, final dorm fee rate for next school year is yet to be approved by the Board of Regents.

Venture back Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco formed the Ad Hoc Committee to “review the UPLB student dormitory policies, rules, regulations and fees, with the end view of improving dormitory services”.

Also, point system was made for the assessment of upperclassmen applicants in the same section as the previous, item 4.2.1.2 (See Table 2)

Table 3. Number of years per degree or non-degree program/course

Section 6.1 of Chapter VI includes that “The University (UPLB) reserves the right to adjust the dormitory fee from time to time upon consultation with the dormitory residents.”

The said committee was comprised of Dr. Calderon , Prof.

Rowena Carndenas and Bernadette Tiburan from UHO, Dr. Zenaida Sumalde from the College of Economics and Management, Atty. Florinida Blanca from Legal Office, Diane Siena from Women’s Residence Hall Association, , and Ernest Francis Calayag from the University Student Council.

Last Nov. 15, the committee spearheaded a consultation meeting where the initial findings that allegedly justify a revision of the code and an increase in dorm rate were presented.

One of the ad hoc committee’s rationale for the increase was the dormitories’ financial status for 2010. In the breakdown prepared by the Student Housing Division, the dorm acquires a total projected income of P11,818,000 and an actual deficit of P586,466.89. [P]

CEB approves...(from p.01)

of two cases of EJK per week in eight years were reported under Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) counter-insurgency program of former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo (GMA).

Oplan Bayanihan, on the other hand,

Insufficient funds Dr. Margaret Calderon from the UPLB Housing Office, appointed Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee stressed that , Rules and Regulations Regarding Accomodation in Student Residence Halls of 1997 states that “residence halls are intended to be financially self-supporting”.

“Even if we get to charge P650, it wouldn’t mean that we would be making profit. The current rate of Php 350 – Php 390 per person monthly has been in effect since 1997 and is already insufficient to run and to manage the dormitories,” she added.

Revisions Changes in the policies include point system, criteria for evaluation of new freshman applicants based on the distance of their residence from the university and STFAP income bracket specified in Chapter IV, Section 4.2 item 4.2.1.1. (See Table 1)

Furthermore, tenure of residency has already been included. According to Section 4.6 of the revised provision, undergraduate students enrolled in UPLB colleges are allowed to stay in dormitories for as long as they satisfy the criteria set for accommodation in the residence halls. A maximum tenure was based on the prescribed number of years per degree or non-degree program/course. (See Table 3)

words

is the new counter-insurgency program under Aquino, which for seven months resulted death toll of one killing per week.

Nine out of 24 victims of EJK since July last year are from Southern Tagalog region.

“Nagpapakita ito na hindi sinsero si Noynoy

Aquino

sa

pangako

niyang

pagbabago. Mas makikita ngayon ang kawalan niya ng kaibahan sa nakaraang rehimen,” said Axel Pinpin, Secretary General of Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid

sa

Timog

Katagalugan

(KASAMA-TK).

Recent fatalities Dr. Leonard Co, plant taxonomist, Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo were killed after having been allegedly caught in a crossfire between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and New Peoples’ Army on Nov. 15 at Upper Mahiao, Barangay Lim-ao. However, this claim was countered by a resolution submitted by Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano after a witness and member of Tongonan Farmers Association, Policarpio Balute said that no exchange of bullets was heard which may have indicated a crossfire.

The family of Co is said they will seek help from the International Science Community in their search for justice of the botanist’s death.

candidates. A summary of votes will appear for the student to review and cast. Copies of cast votes were printed for the students to review their votes and sign their ballots to ensure that the informaltion printed are correct. Before leaving, the students were asked to answer an evaluation form about the dry run.

After the closing of the voting process, the USC together with Prof. Vincente Ballaran Jr., Head of Students’ Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD) and Estel Lenwij Estropia, incumbent UPLB Perspective Editor in Chief, canvassed the votes.

The dry run included evaluation forms that rendered results of 95 percent user-friendly, interface, and election flow. One out of 189 students said that the results of the dry run were inaccurate, while 189 said they students would vote in the automated elections.

Carlos “Caloy” Rodriguez, president of Nag-

‘Cost-cutting’ According to Calayag, the Automated Elections was proposed to reduce costs and eliminate possible election frauds. ”Through the automated election, we are looking forward to cutting the cost down to 1/3 (of the previous amount) for the elections. Imbis na spend tayo ng 50, 000, 12, 000 na lang to cover for the food and supplies needed,” Calayag said. Around P 40, 000 to P 50,000 is spent for elections every year.

‘Advantage’ “Ang advantage ng automation, matipid, kasi wala ka nang papers, ballot boxes, cartolina, etc. [na gagamtin] tapos actual canvassing is a matter of seconds lang,” said Ballaran.

He emphasized that the automation of elections will be using 16-digit encrypted code for security. Every four-digit will be kept by four individuals chosen by the CEB. These are Dr. Vivan Gonzales, director of OSA, Ballaran from SOAD, Estropia from the UPLB Perspective, and Aya Mula ifrom the USC. He furthered that it is an advantage for the candidates because the software to be used in automated elections includes their photos so as there will be easier retention for the voters, no misspelled names of voted candidates, and void ballots unlike in manual elections.

Meanwhile, the proposal for the check-and-balance mechanism of the automated elections is yet to deliberated on February 21. [P]

kakaisang Lakas ng Manggagawa ng Calamba Water District was gunned down by two unidentified suspects in a motorcycle on Nov. 12. Five days earlier, Ireneo “Rene” Rodriguez, member of Samahan ng Magbubukid ng Batangas was killed after suffering from three gunshots in the head and chest.

“Pure lip service ang binitawan niya [Aquino] sa inauguration...dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi naman iniimbestigahan at napaparusahan si GMA...

Asahan ng mamamayan na papatindi pa ang human rights violations sa mga darating na araw,” Pinpin added. [P]

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FEATURES

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Mula pagtutok sa midya hanggang sa mga biglang-lingon laluna sa mga unibersidad sa Kamaynilaan, NO TO BUDGET CUT! ang pinakapopular na panawagan ngayon sa sektor ng edukasyon. Budget cut o pagkaltas sa ilalaang subsidyo ng gobyerno para sa edukasyon sa susunod na taon ang nagpaputok ng mga protesta sa mga pamantasan noong Disyembre.

LIYAB ng

Mitsa Ang subsidyong inilalaan para sa state universities and colleges (SUCs) ay binubuo ng tatlong komponente: ang Capital Outlay (CO) o pondo para sa pagbili ng mga bagong pasilidad at pagtatayo ng mga bagong imprastraktura; Maintenance and Other Operational Expenditures (MOOE) o pondo para sa pagmementina ng mga pasilidad, pagbabayad ng kuryente, tubig at iba pang bayarin ng pamantasan; at Personnel Services (PS) o pondo para sa sahod ng mga kaguruan at kawani.

Siyamnapu’t pito sa 112 SUCs sa bansa ang matatapyasan ng pondo sa MOOE (tingnan ang Talaan Blg. 2).

Mananatiling walang pondong ilalaan ang Administrasyon ni Pangulong Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III para sa CO. Samantala, tumaas ang kabuuang subsidyo para sa SUCs sa 2011 bunsod ng pagtataas ng pondo para sa PS mula P16.7 M hanggang P18.9 M na iniayon sa Salary Standardization Law of 2008.

Sa UP, bumaba mula P6.92 B tungong P5.53 B ang subsidyo. Ang P1.39 B kaltas sa badyet ay itinuturing na pinakamataas sa UP sa nakaraang dekada.

Tatlumpung porsyento o P 5.53 B lamang sa panukalang badyet na P 18.53 B ng UP admin ang ilalaan sa UP para sa taong 2011.

LABAN: Pagtupok sa mga tanong

Welga? Strike? Sino? Kailan? Paano? Bakit? words

| Mark Vincent Baracao | Trista Isobelle Gile

graphics&layout

Liyab (na tutupok) Sa

isang

Senador

talumpati Allan

Cayetano nito

ang

ni

Peter

binatikos rehimeng

Ningas Aquino maging ang “There appears to be a deduction. [But] the truth is, merong increase,” ani Senador Franklin Drilon. Nagkakamali umano ang mga welgista dahil “parang multo” mga “adviser” nito dahil sa ang kanilang pinoprotesta, ayon naman kay Senador Vicente Sotto III. Ngunit hayagang inamin naman ni Butch Abad, kalihim ng Department of Budget and misprayoridad sa pamumuno.

Management, na mayroong pagtapyas sa subsidyo para sa edukasyon dahil umano sa laki ng depisit sa pangkabuuang pondo ng gobyerno para sa 2011.

Aniya, dapat estudyante umano Hindi nagkaroon ng pagtapyas sa subsidyo para sa edukasyon; binawasan lamang ang para sa SUCs upang taasan ang para sa primaryang edukasyon, ayon naman kay Pangulong Aquino. Ito ay dahil umano sa kapasidad ng SUCs na magkaroon ng dagdag na pondo katulad ng Technohub sa UP o mga kasapi ng National Union of Diliman.

Students of the Philippines (NUSP) ang kunin Sa kanyang mensahe kalakip ang panukalang budget appropriations nito sa Kongreso, ipinahayag ni Aquino ang tangkang tapyasan ang nitong tagapayo. Ang NUSP ay isang alyansa ng mga pondo ng SUCs. Aniya, “We are gradually reducing the subsidy to [state colleges and universities] to push them toward becoming selfkonseho ng mga mag-aaral sa bansa. sufficient and financially independent, given their ability to raise their [own] income.”

Hunyo 30 nang ibandera ni Aquino ang islogang “Kayo (taumbayan) ang Para sa ilang mga kinatawan ng mga progresibong partylist sa Kongreso, samu’t saring “palusot” na lamang ang mga ito upang pahupain ang lumalakas na protesta laban sa budget cut. boss ko” kasunod ng kampayang dalhin ang bansa sa isang “daang matuwid.”

Tunay ngang tumaas ng 18 porsyento ang subsidyo ng Department of Education (DepEd) mula P175 B ngayong taon Ilang buwan mula nang mahalal si Aquino ng 15 milyong Pilipino, umabot pa sa welga tungong P207 B sa darating na taon. Ngunit hindi dapat pagbanggain ang primaryang edukasyon at kolehiyo dahil ang mga pamantasan para lamang itulak siyang magbigay ng paliwanag hinggil sa pareho naman ang interes ng dalawa na magkaroon ng sapat na subsidyo, ayon kay Raymond Palatino, kinatawan ng prayoridad nito sa kaban ng bayan.

Kabataan Partylist. Ayon sa kanya, “nominal increase” lamang ang itinaas sa badyet ng DepEd at kung tutuusin ay kulang Welga, boykot at walkout sa klase ang naging porma ng protesta ng libu-libong estudyante, pa sa aktwal na pangangailangan ng mga elementarya at sekundaryang eskwelahan (tingnan ang Talaan Blg. 3).

“Malayo rin ang subsidyo sa edukasyon [para sa 2011] sa anim na porsyento ng GDP na rekomendasyon ng United kaguruan at kawani at mga administrador ng mga pampublikong eskwelahan laban sa Nations na dapat ilaan sa edukasyon,” dagdag pa niya. “budget cut.” Isanlibo’t limang daan sa Polytechnic University of the Philippines, 3,000 sa Lubhang napakalaki ng pondo ang inilaan ng administrasyong Aquino para sa pagbabayad ng utang-panlabas UP Diliman, 1,000 sa UP Manila, at ilang libo pa sa Philippine Normal University, Rizal kumpara sa subsidyo nito sa edukasyon. Tumaas din ang ilalaan para sa pondo sa militar, pork barrel, lump sum, at Technological Univeristy at mga hayskul sa Kamaynilaan. Kasabay ng conditional cash transfer (tingnan ang Tala Blg. 4). mga nangyaring welga at walkout sa mga pamantasan Alab Ang tunguhin ng pagbaba ng subsidyo para sa SUCs sa ilalim ng Administrasyong Aquino ay kahalintulad ng tunguhin ng Long-term Higher Education Development and Investment Program (LHEDIP) ni Arroyo (tingnan ang Talaan Blg. 5). Layunin ng LTHEDIP na ipareho ang matrikula ng 50 porsyento ng SUCs sa mga pribadong pamantasan, itransporma bilang semi-corporation at itulak na magkaroon ng mga income generation ang 20 porsyento ng kabuuang bilang ng SUCs. Pagtataas ng bayarin ng estudyante ang nagiging direktang epekto ng budget cut. Sa tala sa pangkabuuang badyet ng UP halimbawa, ang mga estudyante ang nagiging istableng pinagkukunan ng pondo sa pamamagitan ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin (tingnan ang Talaan Blg. 6). Pinakakontrobersyal ang 300 porsyentong pagtataas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin sa UP mula pa noong 2007. Sa UPLB, nagpaputok rin ng malaking protesta ang panukala noong pagtataas naman ng bayarin sa dormitoryo dahil rin sa kakulangan ng sapat na pondo ng pamantasan. Upang makapangalap pa ng dagdag na pondo, itinutulak ng budget cut ang SUCs na magsagawa ng iba pang income generating projects tulad ng ecotourism projects, pribatisasyon at/o pagpaparenta ng mga ari-arian ng pamantasan, pagtatayo ng industrial parks tulad ng Technohub at iba pa. Nagpapasa naman ng austerity policies tulad ng Large Class Policy ang ilan pang pamantasan upang umangkop sa kawalan ng sapat na subsidyo mula sa gobyerno.

Sa halos P 1.64 T na national budget sa 2011, parehong mga ahensya at proyekto ng gobyerno ang makatatanggap ng pagtaas sa pondo tulad ng pagbabayad ng utangpanlabas at lakas-militar. Samantala, mababawasan ang subsidyo para sa iba pang social services. Makatatanggap ang serbisyong pang-agrikultura ng P66.1 B, mas mababa ng P23.2 B kumpara ngayong taon. Bumaba rin ng P1.4 B ang P38.6 B na pondo para naman sa serbisyong pangkalusugan.

Table 1. Ilang mga SUC na matatapyasan ng subsidyo para sa taong 2011, DBM, 2010.

Apoy Malaking papel ang pagsusuri sa estado sa pag-unawa sa krisis ng sektor ng edukasyon. Dahil sa pangangalap ng pondo ng mga pampublikong unibersidad sa tunguhing maging “self-sufficient” at hindi na kailanman popondohan pa ng gobyerno, natutupok na ang apoy para sa “intellectualization” ng sambayanan na pangunahing papel ng SUCs. Mayroong iisang tinuturong dahilan ang mga estudyante sa kanilang mga welga at protesta: ang neoliberalismo.

Neoliberalismo ang ideolohiyang sinasandigan ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, kung saan itinuturing ang edukasyon bilang isang “private good” sa halip na “public good” at batayang karapatan ng mamamayan, ani Antonio Tinio, kinatawan ng Act Teachers Partylist,.

Sa ganitong kalagayan, aniya, binabago ng neoliberalismo ang oryentasyon ng SUCs. Una, nawawala ang papel ng mga pampublikong unibersidad at kolehiyo sa demokratisasyon ng edukasyon o ang pagtitiyak na nakapag-aaral ang kalakhan, kundi man lahat, ng mga kabataan. Dahil sa neoliberalismo, natatransporma na lamang ang mga SUC bilang mga pribado o mala-pribadong eskwelahan sa pagkatali ng mga ito sa paghahanap ng pondo sa halip na pagpapa-unlad ng edukasyon.

Natatransporma ng kasalukuyang pandaigdigang neoliberalismo ang edukasyon tungong pagiging pribado, elitista at kolonyal.

Ito ay ang isang prinsipyong nagbibigay ng pagpapahalaga sa malayang kompetisyon ng mga pribadong korporasyon sa merkado. Binuhay nito ang kapitalismo pagkatapos pumutok ang pandaigdigang krisis at pagtatagumpay ng mga rebolusyon sa iba’t ibang bansa tulad ng Rusya, Tsina at Vietnam. Sa kasalukuyan, pinag-iibayo ng mga mayayamang bansa, pangunahin na ng Estados Unidos ang pamamayani ng neoliberalismo hanggang sa mga kolonya, neo-kolonya at mga mahihirap na bansa tulad ng Pilipinas.

nitong Nobyembre ang mga malalaking protesta sa iba’t ibang bansa tulad ng Amerika, India, Pakistan, Britanya at Alemanya na nananawagan din sa pagtataguyod ng karapatan sa edukasyon.

Ang nasaksihan ng buong bansa na serye ng mga protesta ay apoy na likha ng pagkakaisa – lumiliyab sa gitna ng mga isyung panlipunan – tutupok sa anumang magiging hadlang sa pagtamasa ng batayang karapatan ng mamayan. [P]

Table 3. Paghahambing ng subsidyo ng UP sa panukalang budget nito,Kabataan Partylist, 2010.

Table 4. Paghahambing ng mga pangangailangan ng mga elementarya at hayskul at ng target na mailaan ng administrasyong Aquino sa 2011, Act Teachers Partylist, 2010.

Table 5. Ilang mayor na punto sa proposed 2011 national budget, IBON foundation, 2010.

Table 2. Mga SUC na matatapyasan ng mahigit sa kalahati ng pagkabuuang subsidyo sa MOOE para sa taong 2011, DBM, 2010.

Table 6. Tala ng subsidyo (GF) ng gobyerno sa UP at kita nito mula sa matrikula ng mga estudyante (RF) [sa thousand php], UP System Comparative Report, 2010.

Figure 1. Porsyento ng subsidyo ng gobyerno at internal fund mula administrasyong Cory Aquino hanggang kasalukuyan, Philippine Collegian, 2010.

FEATURES Roman Bequests Assessing the past years of an expensive UP THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

The objective situation of the University of the Philippines shall speak of where the Roman legacy has led the University to after almost six years.

By looking back at her vision paper which she has written and spoken of in front of thousands of UP constituents, the Perspective assesses Roman legacy.

Former President Emerlinda Roman finally stepped down to make way for UP PresidentSelect Alfredo Pascual.

Knowing the Main Player Roman replaced Francisco Nemenzo in 2005 having been selected by the Board of Regents in 2004. Roman is the former Chancellor of UP Diliman in the years 1991-93. She also served as the unit’s Vice-Chancellor for Administration as well as the university’s Vice-President for Administration.

Dean Rolando Tolentino of the College of Mass Communication described her as a quickly responsive and decisive administrator. She was a constant critic of commercialization schemes proposed by then-UP President Emil Javier in 1997, particularly the Commonwealth Property Development Project (CPDP).

Javier wanted to convert 98.5 hectares or 20 percent of the total land area of UP Diliman into a commercial space. The project’s aim is to generate more funds for the university. Tolentino said that Roman became furious of Javier for that kind of treatment to UP. In an interview dated 2006, Roman said of the CPDP,”...we were among those that opposed it because it was really commercial. What we are envisioning for the same area... is a science and technology park, which is not really commercial but more consistent with the character of a university.”

Commodifying the University The Board of Regents then approved the tuition increase for the coming academic years that will follow 2006. Tuition fees have increased three times.

From P300 per unit, the rate has been increased to P1000 per unit. In 2008, her vision for the cyberpark that would be built in the grounds of UP pushed through, it was the UP-Ayala Technohub.

She also determined the price of studying in UP at the time, P40,000 and, depending on the campus, P42,000. This range is affected by inflation rates. On the tuition increase, students like Ariane Tuazon, BS Nutrition ’07 are questioning the use of the tuition increase. “Yung reagents na ginagamit namin sa lab ay nagkukulang pa rin kahit na mahal ang binabayaran ng mga kaklase ko,” Tuazon said.

“The tuition increment or the proceeds from the tuition increase, is spent on building dormitories which will be used for commercialization instead of being used for the improvement of academics,” said the Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP, who made the study on where the funds go. Their sources also pointed out Roman’s plans for building a dormitory in UP Diliman that would charge rents as high as P1000 per month with investments coming from the tuition increment.

The Technohub, on its contribution to the income generation of the University, is generating P170 million annually. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad pointed out its effectiveness in making UP a self-sufficient university, but Rainier Astin Sindayen, UP Diliman University Student Council Chairperson argued, “Para mapunan ang kakulangan ng budget ng Unibersidad, kailangang magtayo pa ng sampung Technohub ang Ayala.

Changing the Strategies The UP Charter was said to promote transparency and accountability from the different offices of the University. The charter also stated the promotion of modernization in the facilities. The new charter may have installed the Staff Regent, the newest member of the BOR, but it paved way for the Codified Rules for Student Regent Selection (CRSRS) to be reviewed.

In 2008, more than 90 percent of the students voted for “Yes” in the CRSRS referendum, ratifying the said version. Following the success of the campaign for CRSRS ratification was another struggle for student representation.

Last year, one of the most important days in history of Roman’s term was when the student representation in the highest policy making body of the University was challenged. Former Student Regent Charisse Bernadine Bañez’ membership in the BOR was not recognized by the three former Malacañang appointees: the late Abraham Sarmiento Sr., Nelia Gonzales and Francis Chua. Her vote for Dr. Jose Gonzales as the next director of Philippine General Hospital was revoked by the majority, including BOR Cochair Roman.

There was no second SR nominee that was eligible to sit as a replacement for Bañez on her absence. Bañez, who is a Communication Arts student, applied for a residency in UPLB but her application was denied by the CAS College Secretary’s Office and saying that Chancellor Velasco can help her with her residency. The Office of the Chancellor, in turn, also denied her permit for Leave of Absence.

words

| Voltaire Abiog

In 2004, she was nominated to become the next president. Her vision paper, comprised of the five point agenda namely: academic excellence, quality and efficiency of UP’s programs, resource mobilization and diversification, autonomy, and transparency in academic and financial relations. She was the strongest contender among other candidates, outshining even the famed Economics Professor Emeritus Solita Monsod. She swore in as president in February of 2005.

Talking about her win she quipped, “It took a hundred years before UP elects its first woman president.” She also admitted that the university is having funding problems. In 2006, UP’s proposed budget was pegged at P7.8 billion but the government only funded P4.5 billion.

The university is suffering from a 60 percent budget deficit.

When asked if she raised money for the University, she replied,”Yes, we raised money for the system… Again, I’m not at liberty to tell you how much because we’re still negotiating.”

She also spoke of a committee on tuition policy review, which she formed in March 2006.

“I know that the public education system has really declined. The quality of education has declined. And what’s the difference between public and private? It’s, I guess, the financial aspect of it so siguro talagang—I would not want to say nane-neglect—but support is not enough,” Roman said of the General Education system in the Philippines.

Her term has been hounded with annual budget cuts, for this year, UP is yet to face its biggest budget cut in the history estimated at P1.39 billion.

In response to the budget deficit the University faced, the administration moved for the closure of UP Cebu High School in 2009 and the relocation of the Integrated School in Diliman. She also presided on the implementation of the Large Class in UPLB. Aside from this, she also planned to commercialize the strategic portions of UP-Philippine General Hospital. The managing firm was unqualified as per standards. The contract used in the dealings with the firm is also contrary to Republic Act 9500 or the 2008 UP Charter.

Assessing her Legacy She was the first president to witness UP’s centennial, which was decorated by decreasing budget and lowered quality of academics. And with her departure, is a challenge to the new president of UP; to advance the students’ agenda and democratic rights above all else. [P]

Sources: Inquirer Entertainment Staff, Roman’s Empire I and II, Philippine Daily Inquirer, published June 4, 2006.

Rolando Tolentino, Pasintabi: Hindi Magiging Mabuti ang Kasaysayan, Pinoy Weekly, published March 25, 2010 UP System, 2004 Search for UP President: http://www.up.edu.ph/oldsystem/search_candidates.htm/, retrieved December 4, 2010 ______, Editorial: Unless the 3 Malacañang Midnight Appointee Regents and the Alumni Regent Step Down, the so-called Process for the Search of a new U.P. President is nothing but a legal fiction, Diliman Diary: http://diliman-diary. blogspot.com, retrieved December 4, 2010

5

6

CULTURE

o s r e 2 b i n U

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Bilanggo

Ladylove May Baurile

Ayaw mo na Sa ‘Kin B

Ayaw mo na sa’kin?

Pwes ayaw ko na rin Akin lamang ididiin Hindi ka akin (Pwede ka nang umalis.)

Ayaw mo na sa’kin di’ba?

Sabihin mo na!

Para wala nang drama At wala nang hintayan pa (Bilisan mo’t sayang ang oras!)

Ayaw mo na sa’kin, oo nga.

May kasama na ‘kong iba Paalam, dating sinta Hindi ka na kailangan pa.

(Salamat.)

Ako’y isang punlang hangari’y tumubo Mula sa mabagsik at lasong likido.

Ako’y isang punlang hangari’y tumakas Mula sa patalim ng lupang pangahas.

Ako’y isang punlang laging naghihintay Ng isang prinsipe’y sakin ay dumamay.

Ako’y isang punlang twina’y umaasam Ng isang Macheteng ako’y ipapasan.

Dumaan ang bagyo sa mundong ibabaw, Pati ang paglagas ng daho’y sumabay.

Ngunit, nananatili akong nakalubog, At malansang uod ako’y binubugbog!

Ika’y paru-parong nagpalipad-lipad, Sa taas ng lunan kong ‘di nagpapaawat.

Ika’y paru-parong pakpak ay matibay, Sa burak na rehas ako ay tinanaw.

Ika’y paru-parong sa aki’y nagligtas, At nagpakita ng mundo mong kay lawak.

Ika’y paru-parong sadyang matulungin, Ako’y tinulungang ganda’y palabasin.

You and the Revolution Sisa Andrada

Dekadente

When I think of you, I think of the revolution.

Marcus

Gusto kong idampi ang aking hintuturo Sa kuntura ng iyong mukha Katawan at pababa Dahil sa pagguhit ko sa iyong pigura Unti-unti kitang nakikilala Hindi mo kailangang ipaalala Na mababaw itong pag-ibig Dahil kapag naganap Ang balat sa balat Sasabihin mong malalim ang lahat Pipihit ang mga lente Wari’y sasabog ang mga pitik Patawad kung mata’y tumirik Pakipihit yaring katawan Ah! Kaydumi nitong isip.

Ngumiti’t bilugin ang iyong mga pisngi Biloy ay palalimin Ako’y inisin, asarin, galitin Para ako sayo’y mahulog Bihagin ako ng labi mong maalindog Sa pag-ibig na dekandente Walang tsokolate’t rosas Tula’t liham na mala-posas Ang sasapat at magsasabing dapat Ang magbibigay ng tamis at alat

Like placards in the streets, Red flags, worn faces of the poor, Statistics of the killed and disappeared, You challenged my weakness.

Like the boastful sound of waters And strong current of water in the streams, Dimming flash lamps, harsh paths To safer zones, slippery rocks in Cabangahan, You trusted my fragile clenched fist.

Like the epic tale of hardships, Rejections, and unity, Marxist, Leninist, Maoist ideologies, Tales of martyrs, the ordinariness of death, The frequency of displeasure, You allowed my internal struggles.

Like the injustices of status quo: The ivory towers of bureaucrat-capitalists, worm-infested, reek of political gamble, temporary shelter of the urban poor, You kept me asking.

When I think of you, I think of the revolution – Of gunshots nearing As we speak of our avowal in the mountain, Bullets clamped in our palms, Expressions of love Lingering in every zone, Running before death and understanding the possibility of it behind.

Isang gabi man ang hinahanap Parang buong buhay ko ang napasarap

If, in my dying day, I stop thinking of you, And the revolution continues I must leave our children chasing the death of the murderers of fairness.

Hindi ko [na] siya kilala namin gabi-gabi? ‘Yung vitamins mo ha, huwag mo kalimutang inumin.”

Kwentong

Freshie N

aalala ko ang aking pagbabyahe noong unang araw ng pasukan. May nakasakay akong isang lalaki, mukhang taga-UPLB at NF din. Kasama niya ang kanyang nanay.

Pati tatay, ate, kuya, bunso. Buong pamilya.

Napagawi ang tingin ko sa kanyang nanay na naluluha, hindi ko alam kung bakit, baka dahil sa pagtungtong ng anak niya sa kolehiyo.

Kasabay ko silang bumaba ng dyip pagdating sa kampus. Habang naglalakad ako papalayo sa kanila nauulinigan ko ang naglalahong boses ng mga paalala: “Anak, ‘yung pawis mo. Gusto mo ba dalawin ka

Mukhang maaga ako sa klase ngayon – ganun daw kasi talaga kapag first day, masyadong excited. Tinabihan ko si Tin, kaklase ko nung high school. Kapag madalas na sobrang agang pumapasok, madalas din akong tumutulala at bigla na lang nakikipagtalo sa sarili kung ano ba ang mas makatutulong: manghula o laktawan ang mga tanong na hindi ko alam ang sagot. Halos sumabog na ang utak ko. Hindi lang dahil sa mga tanong kundi dahil din sa nanunuyot na lalamunan sa sobrang uhaw at gutom. Pagkatapos kong magsagot saka ko lang naalala na may baon nga pala akong pagkain at tubig. Marahil nawindang lang ako sa mga nangyayari. Pagkatapos ng UPCAT hindi ko alam kung papasa ba ako o hindi ibinaon ko na lamang ito sa limot para iwas-stress. Napakaraming tao sa lecture hall.

Si Tin ang katabi ko sa kanan at sa kaliwa – parang namumukhaan ko, parang, tama, siya ang lalaking kasabay ko sa dyip

kanina – “Rupert,” ang kanyang sagot nang itanong ko ang kanyang pangalan. Hindi niya ibinalik ang tanong sa akin.

Dumating na ang professor namin.

Namigay ng mga papel. Quiz na ba agad?

Naku! Bakit nga ba wala akong ballpen?

Wala rin daw extra si Tin. Napatingin na naman ako sa kaliwa ko, napaisip ako, baka si kuya meron. Habang inaabot niya ang ballpen tinanong ko ulit, “Ano nga ba ulit pangalan n’yo po?”

“Rupert.”

Maraming nagpapakilala sa akin pero madalas hindi ko natatandaan ang kanilang pangalan. Tiningnan ko ang papel na sasagutan – personal information pala ang ilalagay.

Tapos na ang klase pagkatapos ng ilang minuto. Ang aga, hindi ko tuloy alam kung saan ako pupunta. Bigla akong tinanong ni Rupert kung ano daw ang sunod kong klase,

“Bot 1 ikaw ba?” “’Yun din.”

“Patingin nga ng schedule mo.”

Pag-abot niya sa akin ng schedule niya, biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Hindi lang dahil laminated iyon pero dahil din magkaklase kami sa lahat ng subject.

words

| Genesis Jarilla

Naging kaibigan ko siya. Nagkasama kami ng ilang araw, nagkukwentuhan at nagtatawanan kasama ang iba pang kaibigan.

Pero hindi iyon nagtagal. Nagsimula iyon sa pagdating ng ikalawang semestre. Hindi ko na siya kaklase, nakakasalubong ko siya sa campus.

“Hi.”

“Nakasakay kita sa dyip kanina, ‘di ba?

Ikaw yung tingin ng tingin samin,” tanong ni Rupert.

“Eh talaga? Hindi ko alam.” Wala na akong pagpipilian kundi umarteng walang alam.

“Haha. Life is full of surprises,” sabi niya.

“Ah, oo nga eh. Nakakatuwa nga, may kasama na ako lagi,” pabiro kong sinabi. Pagkatapos noon ay nagkuwento na siya nang nagkuwento at lumabas na kami sa napakalaking lecture hall; paglabas namin ng pintuan naitanong ko: “Ano nga ba ulit pangalan mo?”

“Hello.”

Ganito na lang kami magkumustahan ngayon dahil sa sobrang pagmamadali. Ngunit dumating din sa punto na wala talagang pansinan. Ilang araw pa ay mayroon na siyang bagong mga kaibigan. Para bang hindi na siya ang Rupert na nakilala ko noon sa napakalaking lecture hall. Hindi ko naman siya masisi; marahil ay nagbago na siya. Pero hindi ko din naman sinasabing kailangang samahan at magpansinan palagi. Naalala ko tuloy yung sinabi ng isa kong kaibigan, “Love changes, who says friendship won’t.” Alam ko naman na mas masaya siya sa kanyang bagong kakilala, kaya doon na rin ako masaya. [P]

CULTURE 7

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Buhay Dyarista

Pulang Rosas

Lyka Manglal-lan

Ladylove May Baurile

Sagana ang almusal natin Nariyan ka Kasabay sa bawat pagnguya habang Nakaupo sa Punong-punong hapag at masayang Nakikipagpapalitang-laway Pumipintig ang kubyertos, baso, Plato

Sa dulo ng pila

sketchpad

| Marcus Auberbridge

pagtuturo. Hindi na ako nakisatsat sa huntahan dahil meron pa akong problemang dapat tapusin — hindi pa ako reg.

“C

lass is dismissed,” mabagal na sambit ng prof ko sa isang SSP subject sa pagtatapos niya sa unang araw ng aming klase. Parang premier night ng isang entry sa MMFF paglabas ko ng lecture hall. Ngunit sa halip na pag-aanalisa sa itinuro ng prof ang ginagawa ng mga estudyante, puro pamimintas sa kung gaano kabagal magsalita ang prof at kung gaano nakayayamot ang magiging isang buong semestre sa kanyang

Ngunit nang ang langit iyong nakamit, Paru-parong pares pinalipad sa taludtod kong pangarap, Biniyayaan bubuyog ng nektar na sakop, At sa aki’y itinira brilyanteng burak!

Trisobelle

words

Madalian kang tumubo sa tabi ng kubo, Habang umiihip habagat na tigib, O irog, unti-unting lumalabas brilyante mong balat!

Ako’y dagliang niyakap at higad harinawang hinamak.

Nang nimpa’y naakit sa milagro mong malupit, Nilanta’t dinuhagi dahong akong-ako!

Ika’y dagliang nagpapitas sa reynang mapangahas, “Prinsipe ko, bakit tuyong tinik tinusok sa’king nagdurugo ng puso?”

phics

Sa hapuna’y Iilan na lamang ang Nasasarapan sa Pait Asim Pakla Ng tinimplang kapeng Wala ng Asukal Wala na rin Ang amoy ng mainit at Bagong-lutong ulam At ng sinaing

Paris mo prinsipe’y ‘sang pulang rosas, Ika’y nag-ugat sa lupang luwad, Tuwina’y dinidiligan ng mabalasik na ulan, At minimintina ng apoy na bola.

Amalgams.Cravings.Love|gra

Pagsapit ng tanghalian Tila Nababawasan ang laman, Ang kanin, ulam Ang tao Nawawalan Na Ng Gana, Pan.la.sa Ti.wa.la

Sa kalderong puno ng mabangong pandan Pero mahal ko Mahal ko Mahal ko Ang kakarampot ng kanin sa hapag Ang kapiranggot na ulam At ang natitirang mga kasabayan Sa pagnguya Matamis man O mapakla Habang saksi ang amoy ng alikabok sa papel, tuyong pahina ng lumang librong Puno ng alaala mga agiw sa hapag, sa kisame, Sahig at Utak Na kailangang walisan At maghanda na muli Ng almusal Para sa susunod Na bukang-liwayway Kung saan Sana muling maging sagana ang almusal natin

Kahit na bagsak ako sa Math 17 nung huling semestre, normal load pa rin ako ngayon: 19 units – Math 34 at limang GE. Para tuloy akong BA student na muntik nang maging Major in GE. Saktong 8:20 ng umaga. Maulan-ulan pero mataas ang araw. At ang naglalarong imahe ng mahabang pila sa Landbank ay isa palang realidad — abot hanggang Vega

ang pila. Mapipilitan tuloy ako nitong hindi pumasok sa susunod kong klase kung gusto ko talagang matapos itong registration; hindi ko alam pero may kakaibang pakiramdam kapag inaabot ko ang class card tuwing unang araw ng klase habang hindi pa kayang magbigay ng iba. Naalala ko tuloy nung dumaan ako sa 7-Eleven para mag-agahan galing Men’s Dorm. Naroon at sanga-sangang pila na ang nakikita ko, at ang blocrep namin na hindi alam kung ang linyang pinipilahan ay para ba sa STFAP o para sa SLB. Heto na ang pila. Maghahanap sana ako ng kakilala, para, baka sakali,

mapasingit. Pero hindi na lang. Kunsiyensiya ko pa sa mahigit isandaang pares ng mata ang masamang tititig at isandaang dila ang pupulupot sa aking tenga para paringgan ako at murahin hanggang sa matapos akong magbayad, hanggang sa matapos ang araw.

Parang ‘yung large class ko sa Nasc 3 nitong huling sem: tinawag ako, hindi ako nakaimik, at sinabihan ng “try listening to my lectures next time.” Badtrip lang.

Agaw-pansin naman ang parang anghel na naka-summer dress at Havs na lumabas sa (room kung san nagbabayad). Summer hat na lang ang kulang. Lahat ng mahigit isandaang pares ng mata na sana’y tititig sa akin ang

nakuha niya. Animo’y runway ang hallway habang palabas siya ng bangko.

Pagsara ng puting kotse na kanyang sinakyan, may nahulog na puting card sa baba ng pinto. Class card. At tumungo ang kotse palabas ng campus. Dahil nasa dulo ng pila, malaya akong umalis doon para pulutin ang class card. Parang tagpo sa Cinderella na sa halip na isa sa dalawang glass slippers ang naiwan, class card naman. ‘Marigold Abbatha Viste,’ basa ko habang bumabalik sa pila.

Ang gandang pangalan. Sa bandang ibaba ng class card ay nakabilog ang isang hindi ko inaasahang numero. ‘Singko.’ Saka nagulat sa ‘di inaasahang paglabas ng salitang iyon sa aking bibig. Saan? Dali-daling natanaw ng mga mata ko ang ‘Math 11.’ [P]

[P 8 NEWS

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011 Ang hirap palang magkarga ng diyaryo

mula

Forestry

papuntang

Agronomy!

Shangaps, ako si [P]ipoy, ang residenteng newsboy ng [P].

Habang binabasa niyo ito, hindi ko pa

naibibigay ang 200 plus na kopya ng

Paglusong PagSuLong

Pero mabuti’t nandito kayo, samahan niyo

ako ngayon sa pamimigay ng diyaryo. Para

ang mayamang kasaysayan ng bawat kopya ng Perspective na hawak natin. Tara!

Paglusong

Kahit may kaunting takot dahil sa batas militar,

nakakapag-meeting pa rin kami noon ng ilan pang mga kasamahan naming nakaligtas sa mga alipores

Sigwa at ang [P]

Natatandaan ko noon, ang dala ko pang

diyaryo ay Aggie Green and Gold (AGG). Ito ang unang pangalan ng [P] - dekada sisenta ‘yun, panahon ng mga hippie,

Vietnam

War, at rock and roll. Iyon din ang dekadang maraming organisasyon ng kabataan at

mamamayan ang itinayo gaya ng Kabataang Makabayan at Student Cultural Association of

UP. Rakrakan to the max ang mga kabataan at ang masa noon para sa edukasyon,

mataas na sahod ng manggagawa, at repormang agraryo.

industriyalisasyon’

ni Marcos. Council of Student Leaders ang tawag sa mga katropa ko na binubuo ng mga orgs at

para

sistema

ng

paunlarin produksyon,

ang at

‘makabayang edukasyon’ na sagot naman sa elitista at komersyalisadong edukasyon.

AGG. Kaya hindi rin kayo papaiwan sa mga happenings hangga’t nandito kami.

ligalig. Pangalawang termino ni Marcos. Ang at

nawawala

Madaming sa

si Sir Romel Daya ng DevCom.

hindi papayag ang nasa kapangyarihan para

pinaplano ang pagbabalik ng USC at ng dyaryo.

Dahil mahirap kumilos ng malaya, nagmi-meeting

pa kami sa bubungan ng SU. Tapos meron pang

naggagandahang mga gwapings, na nakabihis-

babae. Grabe, bawat gabi nangangatog tuhod

tira-tirahin sila ng [P]. Kaya, marami pa rin

sa amin mas pinili nang mag-NPA para patas ang laban— para protektahan ang masa sa mala-Hitler na rehimeng Marcos.

namamatay

iba’t-ibang

lugar

sa

Pilipinas dahil sa pagtuligsa nila sa rehimeng napatunayang nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan. ‘Yun ngang palagi kong kalaro noong bata pa kami at kasabayan ko sa AGG, ang tagal nang hindi nakita mula noong hinuli siya ng militar.

Maliban sa pagsusulat, madalas nang makita ang mga manunulat ng AGG sa mga rali, pakikipamuhay sa masa at mga tinatawag naming ED o educational discussions. Naging kabahagi rin sila ng First Quarter Storm ng 1970.

Sumasama ako parati sa kanila para makirali, makikain, at makisama sa mga kagaya kong mahihirap sa paglaban sa aming mga karapatan. Kaso magmula nang ipataw ang Batas Militar noong 1972 at ipinasara ang opisina ng University Student Council (USC) at AGG, natigil ang paghahatid ko ng dyaryo.

Sarado rin ang karamihan sa mga midya noong batas militar. Ang bukas lamang noon ay ang mga istasyon ng radyo at telebisyon na hawak ng gobyerno.

Walang pinalagpas noon na mga aktibidad.

Halimbawa,

porum

sa

ED na pala. Pagkatapos ng lahat ng sakripisyo, kinaya nang magpareferendum para sa pangalan ng bagong dyaryo ang mga estudyante ng UPLB. Naging The UPLB Perspective na ang AGG.

noon.

namigay ng mga polyeto at ikinalat sa lahat ng building ang peryodikit o ‘yung dyaryo na dinidikit sa buletin.

Dahil

medyo

matapang-tapang

na ulit ang [P] noon sa pag-abot sa mas maraming estudyante, ang [P] ay

binansagang

mosquito

press:

isang tatak para sa lahat ng mga dyaryong “maliit ngunit matindi kung mangagat.” Tulad ng inaasahan, tinatanggal ng mga pulis ang mga wall news namin. Kinukumpiska din ang mga polyetong nilalabas namin at kung anu-ano pa para kontrahin at puksain ang

“lamok”

na

sila

Ang pinakauso: ang hindi

graphics&layout Trista Isobelle Gile

pagpili ng Editor in chief o EIC na nag-top sa editorial exam.

natuloy

ang

klase.

Ang

galing

Nagpunta

binubuo ang admin para pumili ng EIC. Binubuo ito ng isang chairperson, dalawang propesor, at tig-isang representante ng USC at [P]. Sila ang magbibigay ng editorial exam at pagkatapos irerekomenda nila ang topnotcher ng exam sa chancellor. Ang chancellor naman, i-a-appoint dapat niya ang nirekomenda. Kaso iba pinipili ni Chancy.

Sa ganitong lagay, hindi magkasundo si Chancy at ang Ad noong panahong ‘yun, may lumalabas na Rebel Perspective na pinamunuan ng topnotcher ng editorial exam at dapat na pinili ni Chancy.

kami

2006 at 2009 nang hindi pinili bilang EIC ang top scorer na si Christian Ray Buendia.

kasabay ng dialogue. Tagumpay kami dahil una, naigiit naming itayo ulit ang konseho ng mag-aaral at ikalawa, ipinabasura namin ang Grants-in-Aid na scholarship ng gobyerno para sa mahihirap, para ‘yung STFAP, at huli, tinanggal na ang kontrol ng OSA sa [P], wala nang censorship!

Pagsulong ‘Yung tunay na campus press freedom sa wakas natamasa rin ng mga estudyante pagkatapos ng walkout noong 1978. Mula noon, malaki na ang iniunlad ng [P].

Okey naman ang laman ng MOA: buong-buo na itong pangangasiwaan ng [P]. Pagkatapos ng ilang buwan, okey na din sa dalawang panig ang bagong paraan magpipirmahan na ng MOA, biglang dapat pala ay nakarehistro ang [P] sa Securities and Exchange Commission. Kaya ayun, balik sa pag-aayos ng papeles para sa cash advance ang mga utaw ng dyaryo. Ang hirap nga Kahit ang mismong pondo panlabas ng isyu at pambili ng gamit sa loob ng opis, hindi ganoon kadaling ibinibigay. Hamakin mo, noong nakaraang linggo, walang ilaw ang opisina ng [P]. Pundido na kasi ang lahat, e, ayaw namang aprubahan ‘yung paghingi ng pondo para dun. Isa lang ‘yun. Wala rin Hay! Nakakalungkot talaga.

Maliban pa nga sa panggigipit sa EIC at sa pondo, biktima rin ang [P] sa tinatawag nilang red-tagging at black propaganda.

hoc committee, kaya pati ang editorial exam at ang appointment ng EIC, delayed na rin! Kaya hindi ka dapat magtaka kung delayed ang dyaryo. Eh, paano ba naman, delayed ng isang buwan nang matanggap ni Estel Lenwij Estropia, kasalukuyang EIC, ang kanyang appointment noong July 1.

panggigipit,

at kalaban ng gobyerno! Desperado lang talaga ‘yun, lalo pa’t wala silang pruweba

tsong!

O ayan, siguro naman napakilala ko na ang [P] sa’yo. O, sige, magdadala muna akong dyaryo sa iba namang universities.

Tama!

Hangga’t

kaya,

sinisikap

nating

makapagbigay ng kopya ng [P] sa ibang universities sa buong Southern Tagalog. Kasi tayo ang tinatawag nilang tagapamandila ng campus press freedom sa buong rehiyon.

Pati

sa

konseho.

Pero hindi kami nasiraan ng loob. Sinuportahan pa nga kami ng mga estudyante, e. Naglunsad kami noon ng Piso para sa [P] project, dito nanggaling ang karamihan ng aming pondo.

Isinama na rin ng mga writers noon ang kalahati ng kanilang baon para lang makapaglabas ng dyaryo. At ayun, nakapaglabas pa kami noon ng walong dyaryo! Pero kasingliit ng tinuping short bond. Ang cute no? Hindi lang ‘yun, balik peryodikit din kami noon! Tapos noong Setyembre 2009, nakapaglabas pa kami ng isang regular issue na tabloid size dahil sa ipon natin. Ang galing, mararamdaman mo talagang tuwang-tuwang tanggapin ng mga estudyante ang kopya nila ng [P]. Aba, sa tagal din nilang ‘di nakahawak nun, e.

ang dating mga writer at EIC na mga terorista

para patunayan ‘yun!

Kadalasan pa, delayed ang pagbuo ng ad

pagkolekta nila ng pondo ng dyaryo at sa

sa

Paano ba naman, binansagan ang [P] at

Hindi lang ito minsang nangyari. Nangyari rin ito noong

na ituring na serbisyo sa estudyante ang

Admin building para magprotesta

(MOA)

ni isang kompyuter o printer ang dyaryo niyo.

kami na raw ang mangolekta imbes

hindi nun!

Eto kasi ‘yun: may Ad Hoc Committee na

USC at [P]. Ang gusto ng admin noon

at

agreement

kasi nakukulong sa teknikalidad ang dyaryo.

pinanggagalingan ng pondo ng

1978, UPLB

Masakayan ng Philosophy, at EIC noong 2002.

noong 2009 ‘yung student fund na

nagprotesta ang buong

i-a-appoint ng Chancellor,” sabi ni Sir Nicolo

pondo. Hindi kasi kinolekta ng admin

rin sila umubra.

Noong

na ang highest scorer [ng exam] ay ang

ang

Pero hindi pa

of

pagitan ng [P] at UPLB admin.

ng pangangasiwa ng pondo. Kaso nang

“Problema dun ay hindi naipapakita

Hindi lang sa pamimili ng EIC makikita

mismo ang nagluwal.

memorandum

kokolektahin na ng admin ang pondo at

Hoc Committee. Sa huli, nahirang ang gusto ni Chancy. Kaya

Nilibot namin noon ang kampus at

nito. Binubuo pa rin hanggang ngayon ‘yung

kaming pinagdaanang pagsubok words Voltaire Abiog

namin, kasi kapag natutunugan kami, bigla-bigla nakakulong o kaya’y patay na. Kaya ‘yung iba

Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nagagamit ng [P] ang pondo. Kaya iginigiit namin ang tunay na kalayaan ng [P] sa pangangasiwa

Pero kahit pa wala nang censorship, siyempre

lang ng mga estudyante pero palihim nang

Linggo ng Wika na sa katunayan ay

Taong 1969 nang magsimula na ang noon!

kwento sa ’kin ng isa sa mga kawani sa Produksyon noong 1992,

mga indibidwal na kunwari’y simpleng jamming

Hindi na sila nawawala sa mga balita ng

gulo-gulo

“Hindi matatapos ang editoryal ng Perspective hangga’t hindi ito dumadaan sa mahabang debate na inaabot ng umaga,”

may nawawala, tapos malalaman na lang naming

Sikat din ang mga katagang ‘pambansang atrasadong

]

Tatlong Dekada at Pitong Taon sa Pananaw ni [P]ipoy

Perspective na buhat ko. Ang bigat kaya!

kwits tayo, hayaan niyong ikwento ko sa inyo

at

Para sa mas maraming kwento, samahan niyo ako sa mas marami pang paglalakbay, o kaya’y abangan niyo ako sa bawat isyu. Oo, makikita niyo na ako lagi dito sa Perspective.

Kita-kits! [P]

GRAPHICS

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

CAMPUS FORUM

STEP by

1

Magbigay ng tatlong katangian ng isang student leader na gusto mong taglayin ng susunod na mahahalal sa University Student Council (USC).

STEP

“He or she shouldn’t use his or her position for his or her own welfare, responsable at may initiative.”

Cherry Ann Fajardo, BS AgEcon ‘07 “Matalino, marunong umintindi ng mga pangangailangan ng estudyante at mahaba ang pasensya.”

Leo delos Reyes, BS ComSci ‘10 “Responsable, nauunawaan ang mga kapwa estudyante, at makapagoorganize ng magandang Febfair next year.”

Polly Pascual, BS ABM ‘10

Proposed process for the

2011

“Approachable; aware of everything that happens in and out of the university; has knowledge of what he or she is entering (politics).”

Grizel Serrato, BS CE ‘10

Automated elections

2

Anong masasabi mo sa isyu ng korupsyon sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at paano ito nakaaapekto sa sektor ng edukasyon?

“Yung dapat naaallocate sa edukasyon ay napupunta pa sa departamentong ‘di naman ginagamit ang budget sa tamang paraan.”

Kelvin Coreega, BS AgEcon ‘08

by the University Student Council, UPLB Perspective, CFNR College Council and SAKBAYAN

“’Yung malaking budget sa AFP ay dapat napupunta sa edukasyon sapagkat wala rin naman nangyayare sa sandatahan ng Pilipinas.

‘Tas ‘yung sweldo nung sa armforces dapat napupunta sa mga public teachers para mas mamotivate sila.”

Dianne Annette Gonzales, BS Agri ‘09 “Dahil nga kinocorrupt yung pera, hindi napapapunta ang pondo na dapat ay sa edukasyon. Ang nangyayari, bumababa ang antas ng edukasyon ng bansa. Hindi nabibigyan ng pansin ng pamahalaan ang mga pangyayaring ito na nagiging dahilan ng kakulangan ng kaalaman ng mga estudyante dahil sa kawalan ng kagamitan.”

Chariz Sayat, BSDC ‘10 “Mas malaki yung funds nga nila ‘tas sila yung dapat pumoprotekta sa’tin ngunit yung funds naman na napupunta sa kanila ay ‘di nagagamit ng maayos at walang nakikitang bagong kagamitan pangdigma... ‘yung perang yon kung napunta na lang sa edukasyon mas nagamit pa sana ng marami dahil lahat tayo ay dumadaan sa pag-aaral.”

Marenz Solomon, BA ComArts ‘10

3

Sa tatlong salita, kamusta ka sa Large Class mo?

Madaming dull moments. Ma. Estrella Valle, BS Nutrition ‘08 Humihikab, nagdadaldal, giniginaw. Clarissa Escasinas, BS Economics ‘10 Bad, worse, worst! Clinton Ronquillo, BS Forestry ‘10

Academic freedom died. Tristan Gian Pascual, BS Civil Engineering ‘10 ‘Di ako kilala. Janica Gan, BS Mathematics and Science Teaching ‘10 Boredom kills me. Christine Joy Flores, BS Economics ‘10 Definitely not fine. Alexander de Guzman, BS Biology ‘09 Hindi siya effective. G. A. Ilagan, BS Human Ecology ‘08 Boring ang LLCP. Dian Belleza, BS Nutrition ‘09 A total crap. Lhaie San Diego, BS Development Communication ‘08 Ayoko lang magmura. Bezaleel Gonzales, BS Electrical Enginnering ‘10 Tinatamad, inaantok, naboboringan. Neil Abuel Morada, BS Civil Engineering ‘10 Mostly failed grades. Eyz Peralta, BS Forestry ‘10 Wala akong natututunan. Trixia Leigh Pacris, BS Human Ecology ‘09 Nilalamig. Naaantok, Bored. Alyssa Solon, BS Food Technology ‘10 All the better. George Lucas, BS Chemical Engineering ‘08 Nilalamig. Inaantok. Tinatamad. Leng de Chavez, BS Human Ecology ‘10 Nakakaantok, walang matutunan. Mark Darell Diasanta, BS Food Technology ‘10 Masakit sa bumbunan. Mark Anthony dela Cruz, BS Chemical Engineering ‘09 Malayo. Nakakatamad. Nakakaantok. Janine Carla Reyes, BS Nutrition ‘07 Nakakaantok pero challenging. Luigi Dahonog, BS Applied Physics ‘10 Klasmeyts: hirap kilalanin! Czarina Atienza BA Communication Arts ‘10 Such a boredom. Wielson Factolerin, BS Mathematics ‘09 Masaya, nakakaantok, at enjoy! Nathaniel Diaz, BS Human Ecology ‘10 Nakakadami ng tulog. Micah Sementillo, BA Communication Arts ‘10 Malapit nang maimbyerna. Lady Razen Singson, BA Communication Arts ‘10 ‘Di ako maka-interact. Nicole Ardil Pagulong, BS Agricultural Engineering ‘10 Hindi ako natuto. Therese Aquino, BS Chemistry ‘10 Diskonektado, tahimik, hirap. Lean Lleva, BS Human Ecology ‘09 zZzz..zZzzzZ..zzzZZz.. Aries Fodulla, BS Applied Mathematics ‘08 I hate it. Jil John Glendo, BS Agriculture Comfortable, yet inefficient. Jerine Katigbak, BS Matheematics and Science Teaching ‘10 Sobrang inaantok ako. Alexa Fajardo, BS Development Communication ‘08 Natututo kahit papaano. Glenn Oca, BS Agricultural Engineering ‘10

ang hindi marunong tumingin sa dinadaanan, madadapa.

9

10 OPINION

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

lies in exchange of freedom mumblings With rules, I am made.

With rules, I was robbed.

I am born to be free, to explore the world and learn as much as I could. I am born to fly, to swim and to live, reaching every corners of the world. But I am jailed by the rules. And what I mean with rules are the unwritten ones. The ones made by my parents.

Having an outgoing personality, having parents who are in the hippy oldies side would be my major dilemma. I love the night; they hate me going home late. I love to go to parties but I’ll just get tired just by asking permission. I want to travel; they don’t know what leisure means. I want an English-based course but then I found myself learning about Economics. It was really hard. But then I found ways to get what I want.

Lie, the answer to my problems.

Lie, the medicine that I need in order to have fun with friends. Through lies I was able to attend parties of my friend. My friend won’t usually allow me to go to swimming party because they are afraid that I’ll drown. But the catch is they pay for my swimming lessons.

What’s the use of those lessons when they don’t allow me to swim with my friends? How can I prove that I can be on my own and take care of myself if they won’t let me go on my own?

Lie, the key to the door of experiences.

My parents do not know yet that I joined an organization. My org gave me knowledge, though in an indirect manner, on how things go in this university. They made me a stronger person and made me discover things about myself. Things that I didn’t realize I can do were discovered.

They also gave me instant happiness from their wholesome up to their green jokes. It makes me feel relaxed and makes my stay in UP enjoyable without too many pressures.

Lie, the threshold to my dream. I also joined the student publication of UPLB. Why? For I really dreamed to be a writer but as I told you earlier I’m studying Agricultural Economics.

What inspired me to join this pub is the glowing promise that it gave me an experience on writing news. And it did teach me a lot. Not only in writing but getting of resources. Through that pub I learned that I am for literary writing rather than news. These realizations gave me ideas and a more vivid view of what I really wanted and who I really am. I became aware of the issues inside the university. Although I’m not active on their participation with other activists group, I still can say that they let me see through things, that things aren’t just what they seem, that there are bigger issues behind simple things.

Lie, the doorstep to freedom. It gives me freedom to choose what path I’ll take. To decide for my own, to discern things and at last the freedom to fall without regret for it’s my decision.

No regrets for I learn. As they say you learn from your mistakes. Because of lies I often fall but from that fall I was able to gain experience and was able to teach myself to be stronger and to be profound on my decisions.

It’s really hard to lie but as far as I know lies keep me happy. Lies make me to be who I really am. Lies give no restrictions. Through lies,

I learned to explore the world outside my shell.

Through lies I was able to be happy and gained friends. Through lies I was given the chance to choose my own path. Through lies I was able to gain a vast number of knowledge.

I know as you read this, you’ll say I am bad and have no conscience at all for I also feel it each day. I’m guilty as charged. I guess, my parents are protective of us and want us to really focus on our study because at my mother side, my cousins had a family at an early age without graduating at college or high school.

And maybe they are afraid that we will follow their footsteps. Although I can understand their fears, I was also hurt by the fact that they cannot trust us to choose the right decisions. I always want to say or to even want to scream that I’m different. I always want to tell them that I have bigger dreams in life and marrying at an early age is not one of them.

But of course lying has its perks. The part of my life filled with lies isn’t completely happy or might I say easy. I live with my family unlike others who are living in a dorm. And so it’s even hard to lie or make “palusots”. There was also

words

| Joy Salvador

the pressure and the constant uneasy feeling whenever I went home late for I fear they’ll scold me again. Though these days, I think my parents became accustomed of my going home late and I wish soon they’ll allow me to go on overnights.

And hopefully they’ll give me the freedom to be who I want to be.

Overall, I don’t think I’m that happy with what I am today. I’m studying with a course I can’t relate that much. Instead of studying what I really want I was force to face realities that it’s not at all times when that dreams come true for it happened to me. I really had my life planned out back in high school but I guess plans are just constructive scratches of your life, for you really need to expect the unexpected. It might not be the time but certainly in the future I can pursue what I really want. Hopefully, the shadow of my parents constantly following me and holding my back with whatever I want to do will be gone and instead they became my advisor. By then, by that time, I’ll be free to choose. [P]

NO fury

SO LOUD

• words | Jonelle Marin hodgepodge

Sinong mananagot?

Dear Mr. President*

words

S

Ginoong Pascual, Marahil ay marami na rin ang nagsulat ng liham sa inyo upang magpaalala, dumulog ng tulong, maghain ng hamon o magi ng close sa inyo.

Ngunit nais kong sumulat sa inyo ukol sa isang inang nakasalamuha ko nung nakaraang taon.

Nakausap ko siya. Huling araw noon ng filing ng applications sa STFAP. Halos buong araw daw siyang nasa pila ngunit pagpatak ng alas-singko, hindi na tumanggap ang OSA ng iba pang aplikante. Napaiyak siya. Sa ilang araw na inilaan ng administrasyon para sa STFAP, isa siya sa hindi pinalad.

Sa tingin ko, hindi lang siya ang lumuha dahil lalong lumaki ang posibilidad na hindi na maipagpapatuloy ng kaniyang anak ang pag-aaral sa UPLB. Marami pa ring umiyak sa kani-kanilang mga bahay habang ipinaliliwanag sa kanilang anak na hindi na matutupad ang pangarap nilang mag-aral sa unibersidad na nais nila. Gusto ko sanang malaman, ano ang tingin mo?

Kung ako ang tatanungin, okay na rin na hindi natuloy ang anak niya sa pagpasok sa UPLB. Dahil kung sakali, hindi rin niya makukuha ang dekalidad-kunong edukasyong binibili niya sa halagang mahigit sa P 18,000 dahil sasalubungin siya ng large classes sa GE courses. Tiyak na iiyak din siya sa kanilang bahay o sa dorm dahil magmi-midterms na pero hindi niya pa rin maintindihan kung ano ang tautology at pinagkaiba ng précis at paraphrase.

At gagastos din siya sa pamasahe pa-UP Diliman o National Library sa T.M. Kalaw dahil wala siyang makitang libro sa main lib na susuporta sa pag-aaral niya ng causes and effects ng stage fright para sa Library Research paper niya sa Eng 2. Kailangan niya ring ipa-photocopy ang anumang librong mapipili niya sa National Lib dahil bawal maglabas ng libro doon.

Maaari din na sa dorm, panay noodles na lang o proben with half rice ang makain niya dahil hindi ganoon kalaki ang baon niya sa isang linggo.

At pangangambahan niya ang mga tanong sa isang survey form na tungkol sa kung magkano dapat ang ibinabayad ng mga residente ng dorm kada buwan, at sa mga pagpipilian, walang mas mababa sa kasalukuyan nang rent fee. Kasabay pa sa kanyang gastusin ang mga ipapaphotopy na handouts na kung mamalasin, doon pa iiwan sa photocopy center na 0.75 cents per page.

Sa paulit-ulit na pagkabigo ng kanyang mga expectations sa primyado daw na unibersidad sa Pilipinas, manlulumo siya. O kaya ay maiisipan niyang magbasa ng mga pulyeto ng mga organisasyong nagpapaliwanag ng kasalukuyang kalagayan ng UP at SUCs. Sa mga panahong iyon, maaaring isa siya sa sumama sa walkout o rally na ginanap noong kasagsagan ng isyu sa naka-ambang budget cut sa SUCs, noong napili kang maging pangulo ng UP. At dahil sumama siya sa isa o dalawa o tatlong rally, mababansagan siyang aktibista, o mas malupit, komunista. Mababasa niya ang kanyang pangalan sa listahan ng mga taong dapat iwasan. Susundan din siya ng ilang taong grasang laging nakangiti, hindi pumapayat at lagi pang nakakapagpagupit, may dumi lang sa tuhod pababa o madalas manghalungkat ng basurahan kahit wala naman itong laman. At pagpasok niya sa isang klase, may kakatok na student assistant o college staff na mag-aabot ng sulat galing student disciplinary tribunal na nagsasabing may kaso siya.Ito ang mga panganib na maaaring naghihintay sa kanya sa pinakamamahal niyang Unibersidad.

Kahit mga guro niya na tumitindig para sa dekalidad na edukasyon ay bibigyan ng notice na nagsasabing gamitin daw dapat ang oras sa pagtuturo ng kurso kaysa pagdadaldal tungkol sa masasamang implikasyon ng budget cut at large class.

Noong huling araw ng filing ng applications para sa STFAP kung saan may isang inang napaiyak dahil hindi umabot sa deadline ang application ng kanyang anak, maraming maaaring umalo sa kanya at magpayo sa susunod niyang gagawin.

Noon, bukod sa isang mahigpit na yakap, sinabi ko sa kanyang mag-iwan ng numero upang mapaabutan ng balita kung sakaling ma-extend ang admission ng applications sa STFAP. Sa kasamaang palad, hindi iyon sapat para masiguradong makapagpapatuloy makapag-aral ang kanyang anak sa UPLB. Hindi ako makapangyarihan kaya simpatya at kaunting tulong lang ang naibigay ko sa kanya. Habang abala kami sa mga strike, walkout at rally laban sa education budget cut, pinili kang maging susunod na pangulo ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. Sa darating na Pebrero 9, pormal ka nang makapagsisimula.

Sa ating dalawa alam natin kung sino na ang maaaring makapagpabago ng kapalaran ng mga magulang at anak sa susunod na pasukan. Alam kong kaya mo yan. Sana makatulong ito sa mga desisyong iyong gagawin. Pagbati.

Gumagalang, J.M. [P]

| Voltaire Abiog

*Paumanhin kay Pink

imulan natin sa mga tanong: saan ba dapat pambansang badyet, ayon sa mga pahayag ng Auditor magsimula, hanggang saan at hanggang kailan at testigong si Heidi Mendoza. matatapos ang isang “maingat” na imbestigasyon?

Sa kabilang banda, tuluy-tuloy sa pagkamal ng Hindi pa natatapos ang pagdating ng mga balita milyun-milyong ‘pabaon’ at ‘pasalubong’ ang mga hinggil sa anomalyang kinasasangkutan ng AFP heneral ng Armed Forces of the Philippines. Ito ay nang biglang matuon ang atensyon ng media sa para sa kanilang mga benepisyo at iba pang mga pagpapatiwakal ng dating kalihim ng Department of hindi-maipaliwanag na pribilehiyo na hindi bababa sa P50 milyon hanggang P150 milyon.

National Defense na si Angelo Reyes.

Si Reyes ang itinuturong protektor ng mga hepe ng J6 o Communications Electronics and Information Systems Unit katulad nina Ret. Maj. Gen. Garcia at matalik niyang kaibigang si Jacinto Ligot, na parehong sangkot sa mga kaso ng misdeklarasyon at hindi maipaliwanag na yaman gayundin ang pag-iwas sa mga pagtugon sa imbestigasyon ng kamara. Nagiwan ng mas marami pang katanungan ang biglaang pagpanaw ni Reyes na wala nang pagkakataon pang mabigyang-kaliwanagan. Sa halip na mapalalim ang usapin, nalambungan pa ito ng mga haka-haka at agam-agam na lalong nagpalayo sa pagtuklas ng katotohanan. Sa pagkakasentro sa isyu ng biglaang pagpanaw ni Reyes, kailangan na raw maging maingat ang mga senador sa pag-iimbestiga upang ‘maiwasan’ ang pagkakaroon ng mga dagdag pang insidente ng pagpapatiwakal.

Sino nga ba ang mananagot sa mga tanong, halimbawa ukol sa pagkamal ni Garcia ng limpaklimpak na salapi sa loob at labas ng bansa, mga benepisyo diumano bilang Deputy Chief of Staff ng J6 o Communications Electronics and Information Systems unit?

Bago pa man ang siyam na taong termino ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, relatibong malaki na ang badyet na inilalaan sa gastusing pangmilitar sa layunin ng gobyerno na maprotektahan ang seguridad ng estado.

Samantala, malaki rin ang papel ng hudikatura sa paghahanap ng katotohanan. Sa paglitaw ng anomalya sa AFP hindi nawawala ang iba pang mga kasong dapat dinggin katulad ng Maguindanao Massacre, NBN-ZTE Broadband Deal, Euro Generals scandal, ang higit sa 1,000 kaso ng torture, sapilitang pagkawala at pampulitikang pamamaslang sa ilalim ng rehimeng Arroyo at iba pang mga hindi nabigyang-linaw na kaso ng kawalang-pakundangan at tahasang paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Tila napakabagal ng hustisya sa ilalim ng sistema ng hudikatura.

Gayunpaman, nagdulot pa rin ng kalituhan sa mamamayan na kahit malaki ang badyet ng gobyerno sa militar ay marami pa ring sundalo ang namamatay sa sakit dahil sa kawalan ng pambili ng gamot para sa natamong pinsala sa mga operasyon, walang sariling bahay na inuuwian o panustos sa batayang pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya tulad ng edukasyon para sa kanilang mga anak at pagkain sa araw-araw, at mayroon ding hindi na katatanggap ng sapat na benepisyong laan sa isang regular na empleyado ng gobyerno.

Maraming sources ang pera, may galing sa pondong ipinadala ng United Nations, handog ng gobyerno ng Estados Unidos para sa Balikatan exercises at ang

Mangangamba tayong maaaring lumala pa ang kuropsyon sa loob ng AFP sa halip na maresolba kung mananatiling mahina ang lehislatura sa paghawak ng mga imbestigasyon. Sa usapin ng dapat, ipinapadala sa Senado ang imbestigasyon upang makapanayam, hindi patahimikin, ang mga taong sangkot. Sa pagkamatay ni Reyes, nahaharap sa isa pang problema ang lehislatura; dumami lamang ang mga ispekulasyon at mga posibilidad ang lahat ng produkto ng imbestigasyon.

Ang magandang sagot sa tanong na kung paano ba ang maging maingat ay ang pag-ayon sa kung paano dapat hawakan ang mga anomalya. Na hindi ito simpleng pagtuturo sa mga tao bilang salarin kundi pagbibigay-lalim sa testimonya at/o ebidensya ng anomalya. Ang pagiging maingat ay dapat ding isagawa ng mamamayan, lalo pa’t nandiyan ang pagkakataong makalimutan na lang ang kaso at makatakas na lang ang mga salarin. [P]

OPINION 11

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

GRAPHICS

Batu-bato sa Langit

comics

| Trista Isobelle Gile

UNDERSCRUTINY

Losing no

Perspective

words

| Jonelle Marin

P

erspective office at the second floor of SU has housed hundreds of writers and artists and has witnessed increasing trend in poverty in terms of office equipment through the years.

However, Room 11, once a working place with two computer units, an air conditioner and functional supply of papers, has now been reduced to mere venue for staff meetings and temporary shelter from rain.

The current state of Perspective is abysmal. Every step seems to transcend the logic of bureaucracy from its assertions for fiscal autonomy to the utilization of its office. There seems to be inevitable damages to the internal structure and relationship and operations of the publication.

Much as we would want to explain further what’s causing the delay, the status of Perspective is not the only one suffering from the repercussions of how the administration sees YOUR perspective: little to nothing.

Now, we have to enumerate. Dating back to 2006, the Board of Regents (BOR) deliberately increased tuition without any student consultation. There was a motion to conduct the meeting outside the supposed closed venue and to where students could see how decisions were deliberated. It was only fitting as these regents were deciding upon the ‘fate’ of future ‘Iskolars’ ng Bayan. But, the request was denied and they even changed the venue of the meeting without informing then Student Regent Raffy Jones Sanchez and then Faculty Regent, Roger Simbulan.

The tactic was purposeful and the motive was clear: to let the students carry the burden of education expenditures to cover up for the delinquency of administrators who are by then, and even now, ignorant of how increased tuition takes away the right to be educated of the less privileged and deserving youth.

The removed tambayans of organizations, fraternities and sororities, prohibition of ambulant vendors and rerouted UP jeepneys to “pave the way” for alumni plazas, heritage trees and the infamous bangas helped the administration make history of crafting UPLB as an ecotourism spot, completely changing the course from a supposed student-centered university to a profitoriented one.

Assuming that the administration is generating profit for the university, we may ask where do funds go? Certainly, the students are not on the receiving end as an austerity measure was implemented in the form of Large Lecture Class Policy. Instead of having eight to ten teachers teach one course, and eight to ten classrooms generate electricity at the same time, the admin thought of converting those eight classes into one – and consistent with its feudal characteristic, the administration did not genuinely consulted the students.

With all those student issues mentioned and unmentioned because the pages were only restricted to eight, we can conclude that the current state of students as a sector in the UPLB community is abysmal. The thing is, being at rock-bottom is not something that was bestowed upon us. It’s the result of what we did or didn’t do as a sector. It’s also a matter or what we are doing or what we have stopped doing.

The issues mentioned in this column are not closed cases. They deserve to be mentioned many times as long as we, the students believe that we have the final nod in policies directly affecting us.

The Perspective’s streak of not publishing student paper for several months has finally come to an end. We apologize if it took us too long to finally defy all the time, financial and man power constraints barring us to produce our premiere institutional task.

Perspective has never lost your perspective alongside with its physical ebb. After all, limited access to student fund does not change the fact that Perspective is your publication.

Thus, we will strive harder in making sure that students’ views will be made known, that student issues will not stop from appearing in its pages until the issues are resolved, that it will never stop from informing and educating the students despite difficulties. With Perspective, you will never be voiceless. [P]

12 EDITORIAL

THE UPLB PERSPECTIVE : VOLUME 37 : ISSUE 1 : FEBRUARY 21, 2011

And the struggle continues Despite the lag in the operations due to

The numbers of extra-judicial killings,

limited access to its funds for almost three

especially from ranks of progressive groups

years now, a militant Perspective remains.

and even civilians in the country, seem to

graphics

| Diego Gabriel Torres

speak of how hostile the two regimes are As it hopefully nears the attainment of

fiscal

autonomy,

the

to critiques of the opposition.

Perspective

celebrates its 37 years of continued

Include to these various issues of

operation despite grave administrative

corruption of Arroyo such as the NBN-ZTE

attacks that hinder the fulfilment of

deal and fertilizer scam which up to date

unwavering duty to serve the students

remain unresolved. Meanwhile, Aquino

and the people.

saw a raging youth as various schools, including UP, launched strikes against P

The UPLB community was overwhelmed with

a

folded

A4-sized

newspaper

“

290 M for state universities and colleges in the country.

released. Not even former UP President Roman endured seeing

Amid

these

hefty

A changes, it is UPLB Perspective’s utmost duty significantly smaller after Perspective to deliver information OSA Director Gonzales and assessment of these issued Memorandum No. unbiased in the sharpest and most 1 in 2008. even to the updated manner, with clear bias to the students But as may be students is a as they are the reason considered inevitable, all aspects of the with the noble advocacy stone eternally for publication’s existence. of serving the people came the resistance to floating This is alongside our new policies such as that on waters goal of influencing a on large lecture classes. the

Perspective

Our

limited

turn

”

resources

forced us to push beyond

the actions Aquino and

incoming UP President Alfredo Pascual

dorm-hopping became a habit – we

are to make and is ready to take a step

never settled.

higher at defending their rights.

Philippines and its premier

the UPLB Perspective, in turn, expects support from the various sectors in the

one governance to another at the same

campus such as the students, faculty,

year.

and staff by being involved in issues in

the

Election Proper | February 23 Tuesday and February 24 Wednesday | 8AM - 4PM Filing of Election Protest | February 28 Monday Hearing of Election Protest | March 2 Wednesday

In light of the attainment of this goal,

university had to face transition from

that

Miting de Avance | February 22 Tuesday

studentry that is vigilant of

the limits of mere prints – room-, org- and

It is rather curious and coincidental

Schedule of Activities for 2011 USC-CSC Elections

Submission of Election Results | March 3 Thursday

and out the university, through opening Gloria

Macapagal

Arroyo

formally

ended her nine-year term as president

the publication’s pages for their opinions, suggestions, and queries.

June this year, with President Benigno Aquino as replacement. This transition,

A Perspective unbiased even to the

happy

students is a stone eternally floating on

ending for Arroyo nor good beginning for

waters. For, in the midst of all the issues the

Aquino, as the country has to claim back

university and the nation has to keep keen

much from both of their regimes.

eyes on, silence becomes sin and struggle

however,

signalled

neither

a

becomes mission. [P]

Ang susunod na MGA tanong para sa Campus forum ISSUE 2:

1

Ano ang masasabi mo sa naganap na Feb Fair?

2

Kamusta ang large class mo?

I-text si Mark! 09153672255

Editor in Chief Estel Lenwij Estropia • Associate Editor Liberty Notarte • Managing Editor Jonelle Marin News Editor Julien Urrea • Research and Education Editor Mark Vincent Baracao (on leave) Business Manager Beverly Christcel Laguartilla • Features Editor Voltaire Abiog Culture Editor Mark Angelo Ordonio • Production Editor Trista Isobelle Gile Staff Kris Vernadette Domo, Lyka Manglal-lan, Diego Gabriel Torres, Mariel Valdez (on leave) Ladylove May Baurile, Princes Bulaclac, Genesis Jarilla, Ana Genesis Salvador Editorial Office: Rm. 11, 2/F Student Union Bldg, UPLB, College, Laguna e-mail: uplbperspective1011@gmail.com website: UPLB Perspective fanpage on Facebook