volume 37 special issue 1
J u ly 1 5 , 2 0 1 0
t h e O f f i c i a l S t u d e n t P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f t h e P h i l i pp i n e s Los B a ñ os Black ribbon. UPLB Persepctive unites with other member-publications of the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines in condemnation of the Maguindanao Massacre and other human rights abuses. May these incidents be always remembered and condemned. Uphold freedom of expression!
OUS: IN glORi WORDS Voltaire Abiog GRAPHICS Trista Isobelle Gile LAYOUT Aletheia Grace del Rosario & Trista Isobelle Gile
Most Filipinos described the nine-year rule of the Arroyo regime as the period of worsening poverty rates, human rights violations and corruption. For the youth, it was the era that left some 339 tertiary schools nationwide increase tuition rates. Even though she has left for legislation, the youth can still feel the repercussions of her regime’s plans, which claimed to ‘modernize’ the Philippine education. Education: A Right No More The magnitude of tuition increases under the Arroyo regime legalized the transformation of state universities and colleges (SUCs) into semi-corporations or institutions that become self-sufficient for selling a product to accumulate profit. In the Philippine system of education, this product would be an education, which supposed to be an inalienable right of the people, bought by the students through tuition and other fees. The tuition cap, a limit set by the government, was removed in 2008. Seventy-eight out of the 111 SUCs had tuition rates that are at par with 1,465 private higher education institutions. This measure, according to Commission on Higher Education, is to ensure the quality of education for every Filipino student, for reasons such as “quality education is expensive.” Students of today’s generation pay high tuition and exorbitant fees, and yet the quality of education falls. The high tuition caused the enrolment rates at SUCs to drop. The result: only 6 million out of the 30 million young Filipinos go to school this year. Twenty-three out of the 111 SUCs are required to have their own mechanism for Continued to page 6
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Nine years of education crisis unde r Arroyo regim e
Last January 12, Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco issued Memo 001, also known as the Large Lecture Class Policy (LLCP), converting all General Education (GE), bottleneck and foundation courses to large lecture class size of 160-250 students from then 25-35 students. About 800 students and faculty members protested and demanded to scrap the large lecture class policy last Jan 15. A signature campaign against LLCP also received 3,500 signatures.
Another walkout, initiated by Youth League for Advancement of our Democratic Rights, followed last Jan 29, where approximately 1,500 students and faculty members assembled to oppose the LLCP. Assistant to the Chancellor Emmanuel Abraham, who spoke to the protesters on behalf of Velasco, emphasized the advantage of the LLCP. Simultaneously, some UPLB students and faculty members attended the BOR meeting held at UP Diliman to raise the LLCP issue to its level. Student Regent Charisse Bernadine Bañez, Faculty Regent Judy Taguiwalo, Staff Regent Clodualdo Cabrera, and Alumni Regent Alfredo Pascual walked out from the BOR meeting after an attempt to unseat Bañez due to her alleged failure to file for residency. However, the meeting still proceeded. [P]
NEWSROUND-UP
Volume 37
The UPLB Perspective
SPECIAL ISSUE July 15, 2010
2
Students, faculty Velasco intervenes call to scrap LLCP annual protest fair
BUKLOD-UPLB leads USC-CSC elections
After SAKBAYAN’s four years in the USC, BUKLODChancellor Velasco released Memo 007 UPLB led the University Student Council-College stating the 7-point requirement for Student Council elections last Feb 24-25. Voter the University Student Council (USC) turnout for this year was at 44%. before conducting the UPLB Feb Fair. College Student Council party without competitors, The USC counteracted items number SAKBAYAN of CHE and CFNR, ADLAW of CEM, VMSA of 5 (only recognized organizations can CVM, and CEASE of CEAT, reached the required popularity participate), 6 (banning of private vote of 50% plus one of their college’s population to assume concessionaires), and 7 (submission of positions. last two years financial report by the Prior to the elections, BUKLOD-UPLB opted not to incumbent USC). Velasco, however, participate in the USC Miting de Avance due to alleged resolved to retain the provisions. mudslinging from SR Banez’s privilege speech during the A human barricade to “escort” USC Debate. In an attempt to settle the issue and push sponsors in to the university through with the Miting de Avance, the sponsors of the premises was formed consisting two consecutive events, the UPLB Perspective and the of more than 1,200 students. USC, together with Students’ Organizations and Activities Meanwhile, OSA officials Division Head Professor Vicente Ballaran, convened with directed non-recognized the concerned parties, BUKLOD-UPLB and SAKBAYAN. orgs to submit their However, BUKLOD-UPLB remained firm on their decision to form 5, list of pull out from the activity’s premises. [P] members and to pay a
Students, faculty mar BOR meet rental fee at Business The March 24 UP BOR meeting failed to push Affairs Office to legalize through as students prevented the entry of their participation in the UP Regents to the hall unless the SR Bañez is fair. The USC, however, allowed to sit as legitimate member of the BOR. remained firm that the Feb This effected to a discontinued meeting due to Fair is for all students. The USC, including lack of quorum. Fuentes, was placed under Meanwhile, UPLB Chancellor Velasco was preventive suspension for thrown paintbombs due to his denial to approve organizing the Feb Fair. The SR Bañez’s continuing residency and his suspension was lifted within the issuance of LLCP. Feb Fair week. Students protested against the additional Last Feb 5, three suspicious fees, LLCP, and recent appointment of Dr. male individuals were Enrique Domingo as director of Philippine caught allegedly distributing black propaganda materials. General Hospital. Fuentes identified one of Meanwhile, Commission on Higher the suspects as Eric Velasco, Education Chair Emmanuel Angeles Chancellor Velasco’s son. announced that there will be no tuition Samahan ng Kabataan para hike in the Polytechnic University of sa Bayan (SAKBAYAN) the Philippines after the students’ members and Fuentes insisted rally. The protesters condemned the for an investigation by the WORDS Mariel Valdez, 1,700% tuition and fees increase in University Police Force (UPF). and in, Sairah Mae Saipud However, the police proceeded PUP and demanded for emergency Beverly Christcel Laguartilla with setting the suspects free, and higher budget allocation to PHOTOGRAPHS UPLB while no information on their prevent tuition hike in 233 higher Zoom Out identity were conferred to the educational institutions. [P] LAYOUT Aletheia Grace del UPLB Perspective. [P] Rosario
Nasa karanasan ang pinakamagagandang talinhaga. Tumatanggap na ng mga kontribusyon para sa Pananaw Literary Folio ang UPLB Perspective. Idaan lamang sa opisina ng UPLB Perspective o i-send sa uplbperspective1011@gmail.com
OC appoints new EIC
O R G WATC H Orgwatch will be the first step to bring UPLB Perspective closer to you. Own this democratic space. Make it a billboard for their activities-for-the-month. To extend you publicity to a wider audience, please visit UPLB Perspective office and bring the list of your activities and proof of membership to your organization/group.
Perspective’s immediate task PerspectiveandtheUPLBadministration are currently settling on a mutual agreement to set a new disbursement process for the publication funds.
Laguartilla mentioned that it will be “history for Perspective and other student publications” if the new disbursement process regulating the publication’s full fiscal autonomy becomes amenable for Perspective and the UPLB administration. “Ipagpapatuloy ng termino ngayon ng Perspective ‘yung nasimulan nang pag-aayos ng disbursement ng nakaraang termino. Isa rin naman ako sa mga nakaranas ng pagputol sa lifeblood ng Perspective kaya ganito na lang kalaki ‘yung pagpapahalaga na ibibigay ko sa aspetong ito ng pangangasiwa ng dyaryo. Rest assured, magiging malaking consideration din sa’min ‘yung mga darating pang mga termino,” Estropia said. [P]
Matapos uminom ng formalin,
Estudyante natagpuang patay Neil Darwin Feleo Cabuyao “Sorry papa. Sorry God.” Ito ang mga huling salitang binitiwan ni KS bago siya nagpakamatay, ayon sa inang si Gng. Lilibeth Tendero. Si Karolina Sol “KS“ Tendero, 19 taong gulang, BA Communication Arts senior student ay natagpuang patay ng kanyang ina noong Hulyo 11 matapos malason dahil sa pag-inom ng formalin. Naisugod pa umano ng kanyang mga magulang si KS sa ospital kung saan siya idineklarang dead on arrival. Pagdadalamhati Ayon kay Gng. Tendero, matapos humingi ng tawad si KS sa kanyang ama at sa Diyos, pumunta na raw ito sa kanyang kwarto at hindi na nila muling nakausap. “Biglaan kasi. Ang pinakamasakit pa mas nagparamdam pa siya sa kanyang mga kaibigan at hindi sa aming mga magulang niya. Kung pwede sana ako na lang ang umako ng lahat, kaya lang
talagang hindi pwede. “Sana’y matuto tayo lahat na magbigay ng panahon sa taong humihingi nito, kausapin natin ang nais makipag-usap sa atin dahil hindi natin alam kung huli na ito,” pagpapatuloy ng ina. Pakikiramay Noong Hulyo 12, pumunta si UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco sa burol ni KS at nagpaabot ng pakikiramay sa naiwang pamilya. Samantala, noong Hulyo 14 naman bumisita ang mga kaibigan, kaklase at guro ni KS mula sa Kagawaran ng Humanidades. Sa Hulyo 17, Sabado, alas-nuebe ng umaga gaganapin ang necrological service para kay KS. Nagpasya ang kanyang mga magulang na ipacremate ang mga labi ng kanilang anak. [P] (Maaaring mabasa ang kabuuang balita ng pagkamatay ni KS at ilan pang mga guro ng UPLB sa unang regular na isyu ng Perspective na nakatakdang lumabas sa huling linggo ng Hulyo).
NEWS
UPLB COMARTS SOCIETY Yabang ComArts (shirt designing) July 1-26 Anniversary Exhibit Synergy July 12-16 Seminar series July 17, 24, 26 and 28 Jologs Quiz Show July 21 Open Tambayan July 31 UP FILM CIRCLE ACTIVISTA (filmshowing) in cooperation with DAKILA BLITZKREIG (Quiz contest) ANAKBAYAN, LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS, GABRIELA YOUTH, CENTER FOR NATIONALIST STUDIES AKLAS – Alternatibong klase (Educational Discussion) Featuring Struggle for National Democracy series, Lipunan at Rebolusyong Pilipino series and Marxist – Leninist – Maoist classic articles 4pm and 5:30pm, Mondays to Fridays, assembly at Humanities Steps SOLIDARIDAD UPLB Journalism Skills Training, July 31 to August 1, 8am – 5pm at Makiling Ballroom Hall (tentative) Open for all writers’ organization and newsletter’s staff of traditional organizations For details, contact Jonelle (09168785153) SAMAHAN NG KABATAAN PARA SA BAYAN (SAKBAYAN) In celebration of and continued service on its 14th anniversary. For detailos, contact Carla (09159887093) - Forum on Education Crisis, July 21, 1 to 5 pm, CAS auditorium (tentative) - With Student Regent Cori Alessa Co, Sociology Professor Sarah Raymundo, Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond palatino and Bayan Muna Representative and UPLB Alumnus Teodoro Muna Exhibit, July 20 to July 30 - Sakbayan Congress and Alumni homecoming, July 31 (8am) to August 1 (8am) - Sa Ibang Klase (SIBAK): Alternative Class Learning Experience, August 3 to August 6 THE PARLIAMENT: UPLB DEBATE SOCIETY 2nd Luzon Intervarsity Debate Championship, September 4-6, 2010
DELTA LAMBDA SIGMA SORORITY In celebration of Delta Lambda Sigma’s 54th anniversary August 3-6 Open Exhibit, CAS Annex 2 August 3 Open Tambayan August 11 Trivial Pursuit August 28 Alumni Homecoming August 31 Thanksgiving mass UPLB ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY This august, eclipsing SOON is * UPLB Astronomical Society’s launching activity, A Night with The Stars: An Astronomy Camp. Be with us and have the closest look at the stars of the night skies using telescopes that the members and guest astronomers will provide. Tentative date: August 13, 2010 YOUTH LEAGUE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS (YOUTH LEAD) Campus-wide WALKOUT (to protest against Large Class Policy), July 29 (simultaneous with the UP Board of Regents Meeting) Love academic freedom. Scrap large Class Policy. Wear Black every Friday. Sign the Manifesto! For details, contact PA (09166195788) UPLB ENGINEERING SOCIETY PagalENGan at SOCatan ng Talino: A General Education Quiz Contest Maximum 3 members per group. For more info, text Chris (09162679666) or Jam (092674164838) UPLB CHORAL ENSEMBLE The UPLB Choral Ensemble would like to thank the UPLB community for supporting its Fundraising Concert last July 9, 2010 in DL UMALI Auditorium. In addition, we would like to express our healtfelt gratitude to the production staff led by Ms. Angel Dayao and Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco. GAMMA SIGMA SORORITY Gamma Sigma Sorority celebrates its 35 years of glorious existence with the theme “Upholding and living women’s spirit”. Watch out for different activities we’ve prepared for this year long celebration. “I am a woman of worth. I am a proud Lady Scorpion”. Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics THE 6th IMSP Research Colloquium: Building a Strong Diversified Collective Intelligence in Conquering Research and Academic Oddities, Physical Science Lecture Hall–B July 19, 2010 9:00 am - 9:45 am
The ad hoc committee called its first meeting only on May 6. The committee initially set the examination on June 7. Despite oppositions from the student representative, the date of the examination was moved to June 19 since only three applicants are qualified to take the examination. “Masyado nang matagal [ang exam]. Ang Perspective ay nasa critical point ng pag-aayos ng fiscal autonomy nito and [the publication] cannot afford more delays. Nahahamper na ang normal operations ng dyaryo,” Perspective’s Business Manager Beverly Christcel Laguartilla said.
Contact Mark (09153672255 or 09182052824)
New process This year, the ad hoc committee subjected the applicants to a student forum. In the student forum, each applicant presented his/her plans for the publication
Delayed examination The examination last June 19 was delayed for three months in consideration of the arrangement set in Article 2 of the publication’s Rules and Regulations that stipulates the guideline for the examination to be administered a month before the end of classes. Del Rosario acquired her appointment on April 15, three days later than its issuance on April 12, when she checked it with the Office of the College Secretary of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Ako pa noon ang pumupunta sa SESAM at kinakamusta ang adhoc committee. Pagpunta doon ng isang [Perspective] staff saka lang kami nainform na wala pala contact sa amin (student representatives) ang chair ng committee. Ang buong akala namin ifoforward na ng OC ang [adhoc] application form namin sa committee chair since siya na ang hahawak sa amin,” del Rosario pointed out.
KISAME SA SAHIG. Tuluyang bumagsak ang kisame ng Institute of Biological Sciences Building-Wing A matapos hagupitin ng bagyong Basyang ang buong Laguna noong Hulyo 14. ROMAE ZEN ARGANDA
wag mo lang basahin! gawin mo na! :D
From the new EIC Estropia emphasized the urgency for the new leadership of UPLB Perspective to put the affairs of the publication into proper order. “Every act of congratulation serves as both pleasure and pressure to me, especially that the UPLB Perspective is still in the process of reviving from grave damages due to the non-collection of student fee and other issues the publication encountered,” Estropia said. She also stressed the needh to continue advancing student’s right to information as the university faces a lot of controversial issues. “After I got my appointment letter, I instantly said to myself, this time, the service I’ll do will have to be more intense than what I’ve rendered for my last two years in Perspective,” she furthered.
and answered questions from officials of the UPLB USC and students. The student forum was considered for the scoring of the interview component of the examination. Estropia said that the student forum drove her to concretely formulate her plans for the publication. “Nagulat ako na biglang may ganito nang requirement dahil wala naman siya sa original arrangement. However, nakatulong siya sa akin na talagang ilagay ‘yung sarili ko sa framework ng pinakamataas na posisyon sa dyaryo,” she furthered.
Dear Scholars of the People, Mahal namin ang mga apprentice. Nag-eexam sila ngayon. Please keep quiet. Ikaw ba mahal mo ang freedom of expression? Take the [P] exam! pwede rin ang Freshies!
and Management, Aletheia Grace del Rosario, UPLB Perspective, and Odraude Alub, UPLB University Student Council AY 2009-2010.
NABASA MO NA BA 'TO?
Former news editor Estel Lenwij Estropia is the new editor in chief (EIC) of the UPLB Perspective, after receiving her appointment from the Office of the Chancellor (OC) last July 1. Estropia, BS Development Communication junior student, bested three other applicants for the highest post in the publication. Jonelle Marin, BA Communication Arts ‘08; Liberty Notarte, BA Communication Arts ‘07; and Raymond Jose Paraiso, BS Civil Engineering ‘07. The examination of the applicants, according to the provisions of the Rules and Regulations Governing the Publication the UPLB Perspective, is divided into four parts: editorial writing (40 percent); news writing (30 percent); front page layout designing (15 percent); and interview (15 percent). The ad hoc committee, formed by the OC to administer the search for the new UPLB Perspective’s EIC, was headed by School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) Dean Maria Victoria Espaldon with Professor Rosa Pilipinas Francisco, College of Development Communication, Dr. Gideon Carnaje, College of Economics
The UPLB Perspective
Mark Vincent Baracao
Volume 37 SPECIAL ISSUE July 15, 2010
3
After three-month delay in exam,
FEATURES
Volume 37
The UPLB Perspective
SPECIAL ISSUE July 15, 2010
4
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a isang araw, walo hanggang 12 “state-of-the-art presentation techniques” upang maging maaaring hindi niya maranasan kung magpapatuloy ang kanyang pa beses nagbubukas ang mga lecture interesante pa rin sa malaking bilang ng mga estudyante ang klaseng pinapasukan din ng higit sa 100 pang Isko’t Iska. Ayon kay Christian Ray Buendia mula sa Konseho ng mga halls upang ibuhos ang mahigit bawat aralin. 160 estudyante na dadaluyong sa iba’t Ngunit sa karanasan ni Precious Marie Aranja, BS “Naiintindihan ko na mayroong mga freshman na nagiging pasi ibang lugar sa kampus. Sari-sari rin ang Statistics ’07, taliwas ang probisyong ito sa kasalukuyan ang pagtingin sa LLCP. Una, dahil wala silang panghuhugutang k sa small class na setup sa isang subject na itinuturo sa UP, mahira kanilang itsura: may mga nagtatawanan niyang dinaranas sa large class. kasama ang maraming kaibigan, may “Ang problema kasi ‘yung mga nasa likod [ng klase] magkaroon ng paghahambing. Pangalawa, dahil na rin sa matindi at nagpupunas ng kumayat na laway dahil hindi sila masyadong maka-relate sa mga dinidiscuss nang krisis sa edukasyon sa bansa, pagsang-ayon at pagtango na l sa pagtulog at may mga nakakunot ang kasi hindi nila makita ‘yung powerpoint. So sa quizzes, ang naging pagtugon ng kalakhan ng mga kabataang Pilipino.” Tinutuntungan na ng administrasyon ng UPLB ang kawalan ng kons noo dahil sa mga tanong na hindi nasagot medyo nagkakaproblema dahil hindi nila makita [‘yung o kaya naman’ y hindi naitanong. presentation] tapos ‘yung iba naman natutulog na kasi ng ibang mag-aaral sa academic freedom. Hindi na ito ipinararanas At sa paglabas ng 160 na estudyante nga hindi naman nila nakikita or naririnig si ma’am,” ani administrasyon maging sa bawat klasrum sa pamantasan upang hin rin malaman ng mga Isko at Iska, lalo na ng mga freshmen, ang esensya sa bawat lecture hall, may magtitipon Aranja. muling 160 sa parehong silid upang Nang tanungin naman si Ian Resuello, BS Chemistry ‘ nito na napagtagumpayan na ng matagal na panahon. “Ibig sabihin malalim ang pinaghugutan ng ganitong pananaw ng makipagkwentuhan, makatulog at pilitin 10, kung ano ang pipiliin niyang class size na aangkop ang mga sariling matuto. sa kanyang mga GE courses ngayong semestre, pinili mga freshman sa LLCP. Ngunit hindi natin sila masisisi dahil sila rin Mahigit limang buwan na mula ng niya ang small- sized class, “Kasi‘pag small class, ay mga biktima. Kaya kailangang maipaliwanag sa kanila ang mga abisuhan ng administrasyon ng UPLB mabibigyan ng focus ‘yung bawat estudyante, so ‘yung batayang isyu tungkol sa polisiyang ito, na higit sa pagpapataas ang mga estudyante at kaguruan sa weakness ng estudyante na ‘yun, mapapansin ng ng absorptive capacity ng UPLB, kailangan pa ring bigyan ng premium ang kalidad ng edukasyon,” dagdag ni Buendia. balak nitong pagpapadami ng bilang instructor.” ng estudyante sa bawat klase ngayong semestre. At kahit dalawang beses nang Academic freedom para sa mga bagong Patuloy na paghakbang para sa de-kalidad na edukasyon nag-walkout ang dalawang sektor na panganak ito mula sa kani-kanilang klase upang Ang kalayaang pang-akademya na siyang Sa tinagal na ng panawagan ng mga estudyante at guro sa tutulan ang anila’y polisiyang kikitil sa mahalagang salik sa pagkatuto ng bawat Iskolar ng pagbabasura sa LLCP at sa mas matagal nang pagkikibitacademic freedom ng UP, nanatiling tutok Bayan sa UP ay naninigurong mayroong malayang balikat at pagbibingi-bingihan ng administrasyon ukol sa sa pagraratsada ng implementasyon ng talastasan sa pagitan ng guro at ng mag-aaral sa mga sentimiyento ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan, mahihinuha polisiya ang administrasyon ng UPLB. bawat klase at ang kalayaan ng guro na pumili nating hindi lamang noong ipinatupad ang LLCP namatay ng paraan ng pagtuturong epektibo para sa isang ang diwa ng kalayaang pang-akademya sa pamantasan. Sa panahong proposal pa lamang ang LLCP noong 2006, LLCP at ang kakulangan sa ‘family kurso. planning’ Ngunit, iba ito sa kultura ng akademyang wala ni isang estudyante ang natanong sa kanyang Ipinatupad ang Full Implementation ng inabutan ng freshie na si Philip Valenzuela. opinyon. Dito pa lamang mahihinuha ang kawalan ng Large Lecture Class Policy ngayong semestre Nang tanungin kung paano siya nag-adjust respeto sa sektor ng mga mag-aaral at kaguruan – isang alinsunod sa Memorandum 001 na inilabas mula sa bilang ng kanyang mga kaklase noong bagay na magbibigay-daan sana sa pagpapahalaga mula sa Opisina ng Chancellor noong Enero high school sa bilang ng kanyang mga kaklase sa panig ng dalawang sektor na bumubuo sa 12, 2009. Isang desisyong walang kaukulang sa isang large class, wala siyang nabanggit na pinakamalaking porsiyento ng populasyon sa UP. “Hindi na nakagugulat kung mapapansin nating pagpaplano kasama ang lahat ng miyembro problema. ng komunidad ng UPLB. “Ayos lang naman siya kasi aatend ka lang salamin ng LLCP ang pangkalahatang katangian Ayon sa pahayag ng Konseho ng mga Dekano, naman dun sa loob [ng lecture hall]. Umaatend ng mga polisiya sa UPLB. Kung sa isang large Komiteng Tagapagpangasiwa ng UPLB at lang ako tapos nasanay na din kasi nakikinig class natatakot ang isang estudyante na lumahok sa diskusyon dahil kapos sa enabling Komite sa Pangangasiwa ng Large Classes, naman din ako,” aniya. ang UPLB, bilang isang constituent yunit Sa pananaw ng isang bagong Isko sa UPLB, environment, sa UPLB naman hindi na ng pambansang unibersidad, ay kailangang ang pakikinig lamang sa itinuturo ng kanyang naririninig ang mga dissenting opinions dahil dagdagan ang kakayahan nitong magbigay ng guro ay sumasapat na bilang partisipasyon hindi na ito itinuturing na mahalagang salik de-kalidad na edukasyon sa mas nakararaming niya sa isang klase – isang sa paggawa ng mga desisyon at polisiya,” ani kabataang Pilipinong karapat-dapat dito. bagay na malayo sa tunay Buendia. Bukas at sa susunod pang mga araw sa At ang pagpapalobo ng bilang ng mga na esensya ng estudyante mula 25-35 patungong 160-250 k a l a y a a n g buhay nila Precious, Ian at Philip, ang siyang tanging nakitang epektibong p a n g - muli nilang papasukin ang paraan ng administrasiyon ng UPLB upang akademya, kanilang klase at haharapin ang sumunod sa pamantayan ng isang pambansang n a sistemang lumalapastangan sa kanilang karapatan sa unibersidad. de-kalidad na edukasyon. At katulad ng isang paslit ‘Solusyong’ nagluwal sa suliranin na natututong maglakad, Dahil sa matinding disgusto sa polisiyang importante ang bawat hindi demokratikong kinonsulta sa sektor ng hakbang. [P] mga mag-aaral at kaguruan, nanganak ito ng dalawang araw ng pagkilos. Nagwalkout ang mahigit-kumulang 800 na mga estudyante at guro tatlong araw matapos ilabas ang memorandum. At nasundan ang kilos-protestang ito noong Enero 29 na dinaluhan ng mahigit 1,500 ang pinakamalaking mobilisasyon sa UPLB pagkatapos ng OUST ERAP movement noong 2001. Ang panawagan ng mga estudyanteng ibasura ang polisiya o kahit mas masusing pag-aaral at konsultasyon patungkol sa pagiging mabisa nito sa UPLB ay hindi tinugunan ng administrasyon – patunay kung gaano kaliit ang pagpapahagalaga nito sa demokrasyang kikitilin ng LLCP. Bagaman naipatupad ang LLCP ngayong semestre, hindi pa rin humupa ang mga sentimiyento ng mga estudyante ukol sa polisiyang ito. Ayon sa Lessons and Prospects ng Large Class Size Projects Statement mula sa admin, magbibigay daw sila ng mga
Campus Forum
A A N N U IIM M na N N sa A A Ta PP tl UU o N N ng G G Ba A A ha N N gi A A K K
agpasok sa mga
a Mag-aaral, ibo na lang karanasan ap silang t chronic lamang
IISS A A N N D D A A A A N N S
ila
o Isk
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Bago pumasok, [ang] impression ko, una, parang medyo natatakot, syempre UP eh and lahat bago, ika nga nila, UPLB, presko, marami akong madidiscover at syempre walang kapantay mga matututunan ko dito. At hindi naman ako binigo ng impression ko na ito, although nahihirapang magadjust, may mga ate at kuya naman na handang tumulong. ~Ivy Jasmine Olipernes, BS Nutrition ‘10
Ipamigay niya ang Hacienda Luisita na ilang taon na[ng] ipinaglaban ng [mga] magsasaka. Unahin ang agrikultura kasabay ng pagpapaunlad ng industriyalisasyon. ~Riki, BS Agricultural Economics ‘08
Bago pumasok, sobrang taas ng tingin ko sa UPLB. Ngayon, napatunayan ko na mataas nga ang standards ng school. Disappointed lang ako sa large class policy. ~Paoloregel Samonte, BS Computer Science ‘10
n
n yo s e
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At first mukhang mahihirapan akong i-take lahat ng subjects since this is a science-oriented campus compared sa Diliman which was actually my first choice. Sino ba naman ang ‘di duduguin na student who came from an art-oriented school? Pero kakayanin naman. Hirap lang dahil wala pang permanent friends na kasama all throughout your sched. Astig ang UP kasi masisipag ang teachers, tipong walang patapon kasi lahat henyo! Tapos napaka-free ng mga students! Magwelga ba naman ang iba without being arrested? ~Shea Alpine Montaras, BA Communication Arts ‘10
A A TT
septo s ng ndi a
Freshie, ano ang first impression mo sa UPLB bago ka pumasok dito? At ano ang pagkakakilala mo sa UPLB ngayong nakapasok ka na?
a aw g a at
pr re n ng syo a n n it ate g a ng as k is
Bago ako pumasok sa UPLB: for me, ang UPLB ay one of the best schools sa Philippines. Puro welga dahil sa ang mga students dito ay pinaglalaban ang kanilang rights. Mahilig mag-aral ang studs at walang time for social gatherings dahil kilala ‘to sa pagiging dekalidad na skul. I thought [na] ‘yung mga studs ‘pag kinausap mo ay puro makata at mga seryosong tao. Then nung pumasok me sa UPLB, I’m right! One of the best schools talaga kasi first sem pa lang ng first year, sinasala na talaga ang studs. At ‘di lang puro aral ang alam ng tao sa UPLB, marunong din pala silang tumawa at maki-ride sa jokes. ~Mary Catalyn Malipol, BS Biology ‘10 First impression? UPLB – radical. Afterwards, life-changing in a sense na it forms you to be an independent thinker. ~Rubyann Robelle Polido, BS Biology ‘10
Ano ang hamon mo kay Pangulong Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III bilang bagong pangulo ng ating bansa? Kung ayaw niya ng wangwang, gumising siya ng mas maaga para di siya laging late! At huwag niya masyadong pasalamatan ‘yung mga nag-campaign sa kanya na bibigyan niya ng posisyon! ~Jewel Sario, BS Food Technology ‘07 Dapat masunod niya ang plataporma nya. Sana mabawasan ang korapsyon kung ‘di man maalis totally. Dapat maging matatag siya na panindigan ang mga desisyon niyang alam niyang tama at matuto siyang tanggapin kung magkakamali man siya. ~Eunice Abadicio, BS Biology ‘07
Just transform what he said in the campaign into reality (e.g. Hacienda Luisita Land Distribution), and ‘wag sanang pairalin ‘yung greater than one member of a family sa gobyerno, lalo na’t nangampanya pa sa kanya (e.g. Butch Abad and daughter). And so far, feedback ko, he’s good. Keep it up. ~Abraham Llave, BS Computer Science ‘08 Pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga mahihirap na tao para mabawasan ang mga nangingibang-bansa at maging patas ang laban ng mga mayayaman, middleman at kapus palad. ~Earl Nicholas Rada, BS Civil Engineering ‘07 Gawin niya ang pinangarap ng ama niya na hindi nagawa ng ina niya. ~Emmanuel Casubha, BS Development Communication ‘03 Pakinggan niya ang mga tao. Pinapayuhan ko siya na i-take yung mga hamon sa kanya ng mamamayang pilipino. Kung ang kabataan, ang isinisigaw ay higher education budget, kung ang mga magsasaka ay isulong ang GARB, kung ang mga manggagawa ay 125 akros da board wage increase, sana masagot niya ang mga iyon. ‘Wag na siya yumupapa sa US kung gusto niya talaga maglingkod sa mayorya. ~Ronalyn Franca, BS Development Communication ‘09
Tanong para sa susunod na isyu:
1 2
Sa tatlong salita, kamusta ka sa Large Class mo?
Pabor ka ba sa pagpapatupad ng DepEd ng Sexuality Education sa kurikulum ng elementarya at hayskul sa bansa? Bakit? Opinyon mo’y mahalaga. Ipadala ang iyong sagot sa 09153672255 o 09182052824. Ilagay ang buong pangalan, batch at kurso.
V ita l S TAT istics Alloted budget for education, percent GDP: Malaysia 4.7% Thailand 4% Philippines 2.5%
Alloted budget for education per year: 2008 P138.2B 2009 P158.2B 2010 P161.4B
SALITA Jonelle Marin DIBUHO Diego Gabriel Torres DISENYO Aletheia Grace del Rosario at Sairah Mae Saipudin
National higher educational institutions average tuition rate per unit 2001 P257.41 2010 P501.22 Percent increase 94.72% NCR higher educational institutions average tuition rate per unit 2001 P439.59 2010 P980.54 Percent increase 23.06% UP Administration budget proposaln for 2010 Approved budget for UP for 2010
UP Administration budget proposal for 2011
P18.5 B
Proposed UP budget division for 2011 Constituent units P8.3 B Philippine General Hospital P3.3 B Capital outlay P8.8 B Personal services P5.9 B Maintenance and other operating services P3.7 B Approved number of proposed UP Diliman laboratory fee increases in last BOR meeting 37 Proposed UP Diliman PE fee P100-P400 Proposed UP Baguio graduate tuition in Management program P600-P1000
References: Tucay, M. (2010, June 9). BOR approves new lab fees in Diliman, Visayas, Philippine Collegian, p3. Tucay, M. (2010, June 17). UP seeks P18.5-B budget for 2011. Philippine Collegian, p4. P18.24 B Praymer sa Sistema ng Edukasyon sa Pilipinas. National Union of Students of the Philippines. June 2010. P6.9 B
Budget Deficit: Tracing the Culprit The measly government spending on basic social services such as education, housing and health has saved the government billions of pesos which they allotted to debt and military servicing. According to a study of Ibon Foundation, Arroyo government spends P6.85 per Filipino per day while it spends P21.75 per day on servicing the debts that did nothing but to worsen the country’s budget deficit, which (in the first place) is the main reason why the government files for loan. But after all these years of transacting with the foreign institutions that claim to offer rehabilitation, the people felt no real relief and development from the funds that the government has lent and paid for decades. The appropriation of these funds to basic social needs could have, at the very least, unleashed the potential of the Filipino people. The government has also intensified its military to combat insurgency and terrorist threats in the country. Adding P55 billion to their operating expenditures, the army is very well-funded. To simply put, the government has been spending P14-16 for every bullet of an M-16 rifle. These rounds, unfortunately, were fired by the military against their fellow citizens. While the army is well-equipped for the local war on terror, the health sector could not even start waging the war on diseases. With P1.22 per capita spending of the government on health and 1000:1 ratio of patients to hospital beds, the
patients die before they are given medical attention. It is a sad fact that the military becomes more powerful with government spending, while being more like machineries for the security of the rich and powerful, as well as human rights violators, than protectors of the people’s welfare. P-Noy: Challenges from the real “Bosses” With the dawn of the newly-inaugurated Aquino administration, the president is expected to initiate the change that the country needs. His electoral promises of fighting corruption and poverty are his vow to the people. His first 100 days has already begun: a chance to prove his worth has opened. But the youth, more than ever, will continue to hope for Aquino’s positive response on subsidizing the educational system. They will not solely hope though, for change can only be achieved through progressive actions. Aquino should bear in mind, that choosing to follow the footsteps of his predecessor would break his promises to the people and that breaking promises of his ‘Daang Matuwid’ would be his road to perdition. [P] References: IBON Foundation. (2010, July 14). Vital Signs. Retrieved July 14, 2010, from IBON Foundation: http://www.ibon.org/ibon_vitalsigns.php?page=govdebt National Union of Students of the Philippines. (2007). Mis-Edukasyon: Talk on the Present State of the Philippine Educational System. National Union of Students of the Philippines. (2010, June). Praymer sa Sistema ng Edukasyon sa Pilipinas.
FEATURES
Volume 37
The UPLB Perspective
SPECIAL ISSUE July 15, 2010
6
Education crisis...from page 1
income generation. Whether it is through forging a business partnership like the case of UP-Ayala Land TechnoHub or making the admission more expensive like the PUP College Entrance Test, which had a registration fee raised from P300 to P500, what matters most is that these SUCs would be prepared for budget cuts for the next years to come. The high tuition already violates Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that everyone has the right to education. Budget cuts in the SUCs brought about lack of facilities and lack of educational materials. The next step of the schools to mitigate this problem would be charging the students with laboratory and exorbitant fees. Laguna State Polytechnic University- San Pablo City, for instance, would charge their students with environmental and technological fees which costs P50 and P100 per semester respectively. Other SUCs even resort to charging the students with fees for test papers and comfort room usage, a sign that the state cannot support even the barest of the students’ necessities. According to UNESCO, six percent of the total GDP is the recommended spending on education. The Arroyo government spent only 2.5 percent, not even close to half of what the education sector direly needs.
B
COMICS
PAGMAMATYAG sa pagtalima Unang Isandaang araw ng panunungkulan ni Aquino at ang pagmamatyag ng mamayang Pilipino
Tapos na ang pagdiriwang. Isinabog na ang mga papuri at pinagpugayan na ang pangulong di umano’y tutuldok sa siyam na taon ng panunungkulan at pagpapahirap ng rehimeng Arroyo. Sa panahong maaaring magbalat-kayo ang bawat galaw sa anyo ng “pagbabago”, ang mamamayang pinangakuan at pinaulanan ng retorika ang siyang dapat magmamatyag at magsusuri sa bawat hakbang ng mga niluklok nila sa posisyon. Ang unang isandaang araw ang patikim ng administrasyon sa susunod pang mga taon ng kanilang panunungkulan: kaninong interes ang kanilang bibitbitin, anong uri ang mangingibabaw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk339Bvpl9g&feature=fvw
Day 1: July 1, 2010 mamamayan Nagtayo ng kampuhan sa Mendiola ang mga magsasaka, sa pangunguna ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), kasama ang ibang sektor bilang tugon sa hindi pagharap ni Pangulong Aquino sa kanila at hindi pagtanggap sa kanilang liham-kahilingan ng kahit isa man sa kanyang administrative staff. Kabilang sa liham ang agarang pagsasabatas ng Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) at ang pamamahagi ng lupa sa mga magsasakang nagbubungkal nito. Nagmula ang mga magsasaka sa timog katagalugan at gitnang Luzon. Nagsimula ang kilos-protesta sa kanilang martsa mula Department of Agrarian Reform, Welcome Rotonda, patungong Mendiola.
P-Noy Nanumpa sa harap ng libu-libong mga Pilipino at foreign dignitaries ang panglabinlimang pangulo ng Pilipinas, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III sa Quirino Grandstand. Sa kanyang talumpati, sinigurado niyang magiging bukas ang kanyang administrasyon sa mga hinaing at hiling ng kanyang mga pinagsisilbihan. “Kayo [mamamayang Pilipino] ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo.” Matapos manumpa ay hinarap ni Aquino ang 110 mga foreign dignitaries sa Malacañang. Nagtapos ang araw ng pangulo sa isang street party sa Quezon Memorial Circle na dinaluhan ng 120,000 katao kasama ang mga sikat na artista. Kinantahan pa ng pangulo ang mga nagsipagdalo ng dalawang kanta: Watch What Happens ni Frank Sinatra at Estudyante Blues ni Freddie Aguilar.
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Congratulations to the new apprentices! Romae Zen Arganda (Features) Jose Angelo Bagamano (Production) Kris Vernadette Domo (News) Adrian Espiritu (News)
Everjoy Mones (Features) Kelvin Bryle Meneses (News) Arianne Patricia Onte (Culture) Neil Darwin Feleo Cabuyao (Culture)
Welcome to UPLB [P]erspective!
Manifesto of Unity Against Large Class Policy We, concerned students, alumni, faculty and staff, oppose UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco’s Memorandum No. 001 Series of 2010, which sets the full implementation of Large Class Scheme in all General Education, bottleneck and foundation courses in UPLB beginning first semester AY 2010-2011. We believe that: 1. Large Class scheme is: •Anti-student. Large Class policy will cause the decline of the quality of education. It will change the teaching approaches, lessen student participation and critical discussion. •Anti-faculty. Large Class policy will indeed lessen the teacher’s units but will increase their workload. •Anti-academic freedom. The Large Class policy, despite being widely criticized, has been decided upon unilaterally. The decision-making process is founded on unsubstantial study, making such process undemocratic and not consultative. 2. It is undemocratic and morally perilous for UPLB to carry the burden of this year’s P11 B UP budget deficit primarily caused by the very low budget allotted by the former Arroyo administration for UP and the education sector; 3. Asserting a higher government subsidy through the rechannelling of budget to education as a basic social service is the strategic solution for this lack of fund. Therefore, we demand that: 1. In principle, The Large Class Scheme should not be implemented. We demand that all pilot large classes should undergo a thorough scientific study and investigation on the effectiveness of the scheme; 2. The Regent’s review committee formed by the UP Board of Regents should conduct its review of LLCP immediately within the semester; 3. Memorandum No. 001 should be scrapped immediately, thus, scrapping the full implementation of Large Class Scheme in all GE and foundation courses in UPLB for the second semester of AY 2010-2011; and 4. Class sizes for all affected courses should revert to the sizes approved by the Board of Regents prior to the implementation of Memorandum No. 001. NO TO LARGE CLASS IN UPLB! Sign the manifesto. For details, contact PA (09166195788).
- Youth League for the Advancement of Democratic Rights (Youth LEAD)
GRAPHICS
SALITA AT LARAWAN Jonelle Marin
Letter to the Editor
The UPLB Perspective
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ni Trista Isobelle Gile
Volume 37 SPECIAL ISSUE July 15, 2010
7
EDITORIAL
Because UP is not a market This academic year witnessed the birth of another course in UPLB. Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology (BS ABT) is now officially instituted as part of UPLB’s College of Agriculture. Under the endorsement of UP President Emerlinda Roman, UPLB recognized “the potential and actual benefits of biotechnology,” thus, the new course. In line with this, the rationale for the new program includes its capacity to “link the skills and talents of new graduates into the mainstream of global development in modern agriculture and environmental science.” This shows how BS ABT may help produce multiple advances in the field of biotechnology, agriculture, and environment. However, like in other instances, it does not suffice to only peek on the façade of statements because beyond its goals could be more important affairs—far more than global competitiveness, global excellence, and global whathave-you’s—to be addressed. The course’s rationale and goals resort to satisfying global needs (or the rich country’s needs) rather than maintaining loyalty to the needs of the country. States cannot avoid the perplexities of growing interdependence among themselves, but its inescapable consequences leave poor countries like the Philippines in the losing end; thus, assessing
the framework of the country in the context of the world, one can see how this new program can cater more to the interests of other nations, especially those with booming economies supported by transnational and multinational companies. A more promising premium goal of the course could have been to utilize it as a milestone to revolutionize Philippine backward farming. Or as a training ground for future agrobiotechnologists armed with the “emerging scientific concepts” to use these to help the Filipino farmers, who comprised 70 percent of this country’s population and who patiently paid taxes to contribute for every UP student’s (and BS ABT student’s) education.
Diego Gabriel Torres
market-driven course: the path of tolerating—consciously or unconsciously— the abandonment of education sector by a government which only could have served to manage the people’s taxes to deliver social services such as an equally accessible education as mandated by the Highest Laws of
“
and demands of transnational and multinational corporations. The interrelation of the global purposes of BS ABT and the anecdotes of state abandonment of education sector, hand in hand, vent the very foundation from where this university rises and flourishes.
because beyond its goals could be more important affairs—far more than global competitiveness, global excellence, and global whathave-you’s—to be addressed.
And in this event, a harsh, yet realistic message is sent: that the UP education is gradually reduced to what’s marketable. The more it sells to other countries, the better the product is.
What is more terrible is the growing trend that comes with such institutionalization of a
this Land, Article 3 Section 14 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Little by little, UP thrives such path of tolerance that later becomes a paradoxical ground for it to operate within the structure
This does not intend to throw cynicism over the course and its possible wonders for the academe and the nation. It has a broad leeway to prove its merit; and, the students and faculty members under the program to opt to transform the course into a more significant academic exercise for the Filipino people first. In unraveling the market inside UP, we do not attribute
all its manifestations to the institutionalization of BS ABT. Every article in this special issue: Large Lecture Class Policy, tuition fees increase, and 100 proposed exorbitant fees, are materializations of such market. In the same ways, the most effective way for UP to prove its tag as the national university is to relive its nationalist ideals. This arms the university enough bravery to crumble the market inside it. In the face of the contradiction of being turned into a market-driven university, UP must always uphold the nationalist spirit that has been its fuel for its glorious past. It is through this spirit that decision makers and even constituents of the university be able to think, not as entrepreneurs more than willing to prioritize other nations for market’s sake, but as Filipinos who put the nation’s welfare in the frontier of their every move. After all, UP is not a market.[P]
Editor in Chief Estel Lenwij Estropia • Associate Editor Liberty Notarte • Managing Editor, News Editor Jonelle Marin • Business Manager Beverly Christcel Laguartilla • Features Editor Voltaire Abiog • Culture Editor Mark Angelo Ordonio • Production Editor Aletheia Grace del Rosario • Research and Education Editor Mark Vincent Baracao • Culture Mariel Valdez, Lyka Manglal-lan • Graphics Trista Isobelle Gile, Diego Gabriel Torres • Photography Karl Suministrado • Layout Sairah Mae Saipudin • Apprentices Romae Zen Arganda, Jose Angelo Bagamano, Kris Vernadette Domo, Adrian Espiritu, Everjoy Mones, Arianne Patricia Onte, Neil Darwin Feleo Cabuyao A member of the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines and Solidaridad - the UP-systemwide alliance of student publications and writers’ organizations Editorial Office: Rm. 11, 2/F Student Union Bldg, UPLB, College, Laguna • e-mail: uplbperspective1011@gmail.com • website: UPLB Perspective fanpage on Facebook
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