UPLB Perspective Volume 38, Issue 2

UMAAPAW. Hindi lamang ang buhos ng ulan ang dumagsa kundi maging ang mga mag-aaral na nakiisa sa pagdiriwang ng ika-150 kaarawan ni Dr. Jose Rizal na ginanap sa D.L. Umali Auditorium, Hunyo 21.

PHOTO | EJ LAGRIMAS

Students demand STFAP clarification WORDS | BEA MANALO

Dr. Gisela P. Concepcion, Vice President for Academic Affairs, sent a new memorandum last June 6, 2011 for some clarifications on Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) Memorandum No. 2011-09 which brings about changes on the bracketing of the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP).

STFAP is a program devised by the University to help less fortunate students with their tuition fees. Students accomplish a form from the Scholarship and Financial Assistance Division (SFAD) and a committee will evaluate the student’s socioeconomic standing based on the documents that they will submit and assign them on a particular bracket. It has an Alphabetic Bracketing Scheme (ABCDE) that is used to determine the tuition fee rate that a student must pay

or the stipend that a student must receive. Students must accomplish certain documents (e.g., Income Tax Return, electric bills, residence vicinity map, declaration of assets and liabilities) to prove that they are incapable to pay their tuition fee and are deserving to receive discounts and stipend from the University.

Supposedly, STFAP is not designed to be an income-generating scheme for the university. Instead, it was meant to help needy students to obtain accessible education through the assistance of those who can truly afford it.

Clarifications

OVPAA Memorandum No. 2011-18 was issued this month to clarify the issues and confusion that it brought upon its issuance last April. One of the biggest questions is the change of the default bracket

from Bracket B to A which is denied by the new memo saying that ‘There is no change in the STFAP Bracket schedule and there is no tuition fee increase under the said Schedule.’

It emphasized that Bracket A students still pay PhP1, 500/unit and Bracket B’s still pay P1, 000/ unit in the constituent universities (CUs) of Diliman, Los Baños and Manila while the other CUs pay PhP600. It also stressed that the controversial memo applies only to Batch 2011 freshmen and transferees who submitted a Bracket B Certification. In addition to that, it underscored that the certification need not be notarized.

STFAP: Smokescreen for TOFI

Since the issuance of the memorandum about the changes in the STFAP bracketing, the

Kaarawan ni Rizal, ginunita ng UPLB WORDS | SAM PASIA (WITH REPORTS FROM MAT DAYAPERA)

Aktibong nakiisa ang UPLB sa mga gawaing kaugnay ng pag-alala sa ika-150 anibersaryo ng pagsilang ng pambansang bayani, si Gat Jose Rizal.

Kinilala ng mga mag-aaral, kaguruan, at tagapamahala ng Pamantasan ang ambag ng anak ng Calamba sa pagkakamit ng pambansang kasarinlan.

2008, ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Los Baños noong 2009, at ika-150 taong kapanganakan ni Dr. Jose Rizal ngayong 2011,” ani Tsanselor Luis Rey Velasco sa kanyang pambungad na mensahe.

Sa pagtutulungan ng Tanggapan ng Tsanselor, Kolehiyo ng Agham at Sining at Upsilon Sigma Phi, itinampok ang talento at kasanayan bilang pagdiriwang sa kaarawan Rizal sa pamamagitan ng isang programang pinamagatang Anak ng Bayan: Si Rizal sa kanyang ika-150 Taon. Ang nasabing programa ay may temang Karunungan at Liwanag na ginanap noong ika-21 ng Hunyo, 7-9 ng gabi sa D.L. Umali Auditorium.

Itinampok ang mga espesyal na bilang mula sa iba’t ibang grupo at indibidwal: UPLB Chorale Ensemble, Harmonya (The String Ensemble of UPLB), UPLB Filipiniana Dance Troupe, UP Rural High School Glee Club, Prop. Ivar Fojas, Jaime Almora, Jerome Dulin, Riselle Ahillon, Sarah Mae Guan, Laurence Castillo, Adel Mariano, Imelda Tandang, Rey Vincent Generales, at Prop. Alleli Domingo.

Anak ng Bayan

“Itinuturing kong isang karangalan na nakapaloob sa aking pamumuno ang naganap na sentenaryo ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas noong

Dagdag niya pa ay isang hamon sa mga kabataan, “ang ating kapantasan, ang ating talino, ang lahat-lahat sa atin ay para sa bayan.”

Ang kabuuang pagtatanghal ay idinerehe ni Prop. Dennis Gupa, mula sa Departamento ng Humanidades, UPLB. Nagsilbi namang tagapagpadaloy ng programa sina

Jomar Rabajante ng Departmento ng Matematika at Ross Castelo ng Departamento ng Agham Panlipunan.

Dinaluhan ng humigit-kumulang 1,800 mag-aaral at ibang panauhin ang nasabing komemorasyon, dahilan upang hindi lahat mabigyan ng espasyo sa loob ng bulwagan. Ayon sa isang estudyanteng tumangging magpakilala, “Hasel kasi wala na nga kaming maupuan dito, di namin marinig ang sound, umuulan pa.”

Calamba 7/UPLB 5 Samantala, sa mismong araw ng kapanganakan ng pambansang bayani, gumawa ng alingawngaw ang pagkakahuli sa walong indibidwal matapos magpahayag ng disgusto sa kasalukuyang palakad ng administrasyon sa ilalim ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III. Dumalo si Aquino

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UP Administration headed by President Alfredo Pascual earned many protests from various student organizations.

According to Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan Chairperson, the first implementation of STFAP in 1989, the tuition fee in UP Diliman increased from PhP40 to PhP200 per unit. When STFAP was first revised in 1992, tuition fee again augmented from PhP200 to PhP300. The latest was in 2007 where UP’s tuition fee rocketed from PhP300 to PhP1, 000/unit.

This year, another threat to every Iskolar’s rights is yet to come. OVPAA Memorandum No. 2011-09 appears to assume that all students belong to the millionaire’s bracket. And those who wish or need to avail a lower or discounted tuition fee will have to submit a Bracket B Certification form or undergo the process of the

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Orgs, OSA settle recognition issues WORDS | MAC POLANCOS

Dr. Vivian Gonzales, Director of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) did not allow around 50 organizations’ heads to attend the Leadership Training Seminar (LTS) last June 6, 2011 because of tardiness. Being one of the requirements for recognition and as a crucial learning activity for the heads of student organizations, Dr. Gonzales scheduled a strictly 7am to 5pm seminar. Some of the heads came a close 10-15 minutes late. However, according to Dr. Gonzales herself, with discipline as one of the goals that the seminar aims to impart to the organizations, she would not tolerate tardiness. Failure to attend the said seminar can be a ground for the disapproval of an organization’s application for recognition.

Appeal for Replacement

Driven by the desire to carry out the goals of their respective organizations, many of the org heads tried to think of a sound replacement for the missed seminar to have a chance for the recognition.

Twenty-eight organizations signed and submitted a letter to Dr. Gonzales asking for the

OSA Director’s approval to let them replace the missed requirement. Stated in the letter are the activities that the organizations are willing to do to replace what they have missed: 1) giving blood for the blood drive and 2) donating books to Textbook Exchange Resource (TERC). Unfortunately, Dr. Gonzales disapproved the letter. However, she offered a new alternative, the Stet VIP Seminar in which she herself will conduct.

Stet VIP Seminar

Forty-three organizations attended the Stet VIP Seminar last June 13, 2011. Some of the topics included in the seminar were the VIP Framework for Understanding Human Dignity and the LIFE (Leadership, Integrity, Faith and Excellence) packet from Victory Los Banos.

Essentially, the seminar was meant to help the attendees understand themselves better to be able to serve as a good leader and follower not only in their respective organizations but also in the University and

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Low turnout, high abstain rate mark first USC-CSC automated polls

UPLB students elect three-colored USC WORDS | Sam Pasia (with reports from mojo Jordas)

Mechanisms, checks and balances of the first-ever automated University Student Council – College Student Council (USC-CSC) elections spearheaded by the former USC Chairperson Ernest Calayag may have faced criticisms, but the results went unquestioned. Within the allowable period after elections, no protests were filed to debunk the credibility of the February 23-24 UPLB polls.

The program utilized in the elections was designed by the Young Software Engineers’ Society of UPLB. The overall head of the efforts to fully automate the process is former College of Arts and Sciences Representative to the USC Mark Allan Paul Sebastian.

Contradiction

According to former Student Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD) head Vicente Ballaran, the manual count of the 100 percent printouts proceeded but was not finished. The aforementioned 100 percent printout check and balance scheme was pushed forth to assure that there will be no irregularities in the counting of the UPLB students’ votes.

“Bilang kandidato, nagtiwala tayo na aalagaan nila at sisiguraduhin nilang ganun talaga ang bilang ng mga boto dahil nga hindi sila kampante sa mekanismo ng automated elections.

So dahil nga hindi nila tinapos ang pagbibilang ng mga printouts, parang hindi fair,” thus commented former USC Councilor Gab de Juras. De Juras placed as the last USC Councilor in the last elections but resigned due to her heart condition.

Dip in voter’s turnout

During the USC-CSC Miting de Avance held last February 22, then USC Officer-in-Charge and Vice Chairperson Aya Mula claimed that the UPLB community was not ready for an automated elections, logistically and financially. However, automation proponent Ernest Calayag countered Table 1. Voters’ Turnout per College

that he already did all the necessary preparations before he went on leave in preparation for his reelection bid.

Also, costs of the elections, according to Calayag, will be minimized with the implementation of the automation.

The most recent elections was hounded by low voters turn-out of 34.5 percent, registering an 8.2 percent drop in reference with the 2010 USC-CSC Elections. The Committee on Elections was tasked to disseminate information on the new election guidelines and to educate the voters on what to expect and what to do in the automated polls. The Committee was headed by Mula and former USC Councilor CR Buendia.

(See voters’ turnout from different colleges in Table 1)

Leaving Graduate School behind The ideal case, that is, the 100 percent automation, was not achieved in the recently concluded polls. The Graduate School (GS) experienced a delay in the USC-CSC elections. Majority of GS students do not have a SystemOne account, a primary requirement for participation in the automated elections.

After holding an emergency meeting personally requested by GS Dean Oscar Zamora, GS students’ participation was ensured via manual elections. However, only 118 GS students exercised their right to vote.

Very high abstain votes

Samahan ng Kabataan para sa Bayan (SAKBAYAN) took the USC helm once again with Pura Valle, Master of Science in Forestry student, obtaining 1,676 votes against her sole contender, Movement of Students for Progressive Leadership in UP (MOVE UP) candidate and former USC Chairperson Calayag who got 1,481 votes, enough to secure the USC Chairperson post.

On the other hand, Jaime Almora,

Bachelor of Science in Biology student, of BUKLOD-UPLB won the three-way race for USC Vice Chairpersonship with 1,189 votes against MOVE UP’s Gel Rivera with 1,097 votes and SAKBAYAN’s RN Lumasag’s 943 votes.

The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson race in the USC was marked by a high number of ‘abstain’ with 605 and 519 votes, respectively.

USC Councilors’ race An independent candidate topped the USC Councilors’ race. Tres Panganiban, Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts student, won a seat in the council with close to 1,800 votes.

Other elected councilors include Paul Cruz (BUKLOD), Noah Correa (BUKLOD), Ynik Ante (SAKBAYAN), Nolan Sitchon (SAKBAYAN), Anna Mae Lamentillo (MOVE UP), Daryll Montoya (BUKLOD), Raks Mijares (SAKBAYAN), JM Jose (BUKLOD), and Gab de Juras (MOVE UP).

However, a few changes were noted after de Juras’ resignation and Sitchon’s dismissed academic status.

In effect, Gama Javier (MOVE UP) and Jamie Fiel Madrilejos (SAKBAYAN) took over the vacated seats.

As of press time, [P] is still checking on the academic standings of other elected USC Councilors to note further changes in the composition of the Council.

Local Elections

Held simultaneously was the CSC elections for College of Agriculture, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Development Communication, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, College of Economics and Management, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, College of Human Ecology, College of Human Ecology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Graduate School.

(For results in Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Representative for local elections, please see Table 2) [P]

SALUBONG. Sa kabila ng malakas na pag-ulan, naging matagumpay ang unang pagbati ng UPLB organizations, fraternities, at sororities sa mga bagong Iskolar ng at para sa Bayan.

PHOTO | EJ LAGRIMAS

UPLB DSS classifies PI 100 as GE WORDS | JAT TABANGIN

Table 2. Local Election Results

The Department of Social Sciences (DSS) proposed that the legislated course, PI 100 (The Life and Works of Jose Rizal), be reclassified as a required General Education (GE) Course under the SSP domain and renamed it as PI 10.

The prerequisite that a student has to be of Junior standing in order to take the course has been abolished; even students with New Freshman standing can take the course. The course content, however, will still be the same, but will be taught in accordance with the GE framework.

Rizal...mula pahina 1 sa pasinaya ng pinakamalaking rebulto ng pambansang bayaning inilagak sa tapat ng Bulwagang Panglungsod ng Calamba.

Ang walong idinetene sa kasong alarm and grave scandal ay kinabilangan ng limang mag-aaral ng UPLB: Mikel Mozo, Cathy Gigantone, Bhen Aguihon, Ynik Ante, Ruffa Solano; 2

kasapi ng Anakpawis at isang walang kinabibilangang samahan. Daglian ring pinalaya ang isang di kabilang sa anumang samahan.

Kinundena ng mga progresibong grupo ang nasabing pagdakip sa kadahilanang pagsaklaw ito umano sa karapatang magpahayag ng opinyon.

Nagsagawa ng condemnation rally at vigil ang mga grupong kinabibilangan ng mga mag-aaral ng UPLB upang mapalaya ang grupong kinilala bilang Calamba 7 kung saan kabilang ang

UPLB 5.

Inisyal na kondisyong binigay upang mapalaya ang Calamba 7 ay piyansang nagkakahalaga ng Php 6,000 bawat isa. Gayunpaman, ayon kay Pau Bautista ng Kabataan Partylist, “We will not give in to these conditions that only disregard the heroic role of the youth.”

Hunyo 21, Martes, pinalaya ang Calamba 7 matapos magbayad ng PhP 12,000 piyansa. [P]

Republic Act 1425, or the Rizal Law of 1956, is the legislation that gave birth to the PI 100 course.

This law requires all universities and colleges in the country to teach a subject about the national hero in order to preserve his legacy and instill his ideals upon the Filipino youth.

DSS sees the need to teach the life and works of Rizal not only because it is mandated by law but also because they recognize that Rizal’s life and works left an imprint on the educational framework of our University. The department believes that the University should not only adhere to the legislation but should include Rizal as an integral part of the University’s programs.

Aside from the reclassification of PI 100, the department also proposed that the course prerequisite be changed. The stipulation in the Rizal Law that states that the course on Rizal ought to be taught “...during the formative and decisive years in school” is the rationale behind the junior standing prerequisite of PI 100. However, the Rizal course is seen as a fitting method to introduce to incoming students the ideals of UP. Therefore, it could also be taught during the students’ earlier years in college.

This reclassification would entail some minor changes for the students’ GE curriculum. With PI 10 (SSP) as a required GE subject under the SSP domain, students would only be choosing 2 or 4 (depending on their courses) more other subjects to complete their GE requirements for the said domain.

The reclassification of the subject is not a system-wide movement.

The reclassification was made

by UPLB DSS as part of the department’s celebration of Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary.

A memorandum is still to be issued as to determine the full implementation details of the proposal.

[P]

Local colleges grab mandate of offering NSTP from Pahinungod WORDS | GEL RIVERA

National Service Training Program (NSTP) offering is decentralized from the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod (Pahinungod) effective this first semester AY 2011-2010.

NSTP was previously handled by the Pahinungod, the Official Volunteer Corps Program of UP, for the past 9 years. Pahinungod in UPLB has long been considered the most active, if not the only active Pahinungod unit in the UP system. With the new system in place, NSTP is now based on the different colleges in the University and are handled by local college NSTP coordinators.

Pahinungod Director Dr. Rowena Baconguis mentioned that the rationale of the decentralization is to enhance the implementation

STFAP issue... protests and confusion among the students from different campuses.

Effective this semester, the administration required all freshmen students of Batch 2011-12 to notarize their Bracket B certification and submit a proof of the family income in the form of their parents’ Income Tax Return (ITR) or overseas contract plus a vicinity map of the applicant’s residence. Students classified under Bracket B should pay PhP1,000/unit while those under Bracket A or students with a “millionaire’s income” are assigned to a PhP1,500/unit scheme.

During a dialogue between UP Kilos Na and some UP officials, President Pascual insisted that there would be no ‘default bracket’ for those who will fail or refuse to accomplish the Socialized Tuition Fee Bracket B Certification

of the program because of the shortage of professional teaching staff. The administration made it necessary to base it in local colleges to further improve its execution since the teachers would be directly under the colleges.

She added that the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod is under the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension while the NSTP is under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Instruction, headed

by Dr. Rita Laude, who happens to be the NSTP director.

“The program is with the OVCI, [and] not with the Pahinungod and we are the implementing unit.

But organizationally, Pahinungod is not under the OVCI we are under OVCRE. It is also a matter

from page 1 with the required attachments; however, it remains unanswered on which Bracket will they be classified.

President Pascual further clarified that there are no policy revisions in the STFAP mechanism. He denied the alleged change of the default bracket from Bracket B to A. He also said that the requirement of submitting the parents’ ITR aims to get the ‘true’ socio-economic standings of the students, thus giving more opportunity for less capable students to get a lower bracket.

President Pascual ensured that there will be no tuition fee increase in UP under his administration in a press conference last May 13. In addition, an evaluation of the STFAP scheme is scheduled for more efficient implementation.

[P]

of aligning the organizations”, Dr. Baconguis added.

Moreover, according to Dr. Baconguis, the decentralization was designed to ensure that the capabilities of the students will be utilized accordingly. For example the NSTP in the College of Development Communication will be dubbed as ‘NSDC,’ in the College of Veterinary Medicine, ‘NSVM,’ and in the College of Arts and Sciences, ‘NSAS,’ to mention a few.

Before the NSTP was decentralized, they had two summits last April 13 and May 13, 2011 to discuss and deliberate the processes and mechanisms of efficiently transferring it from Pahinungod to the local colleges.

From 2002 to 2010, Ugnayan ng Pahinungod gathered student vounteers to facilitate the Civil Welfare training Service (CWTS) 1 and CWTS 2 and Literacy Training Service (LTS) 1 and LTS 2. The same office drafted its own modules for NSTP to uphold the mandated two thrusts: volunteerism and literacy.

“Now that it has been decentralized to [the different] colleges, it would be different because it will be considered as a regular teaching course handled by teachers [and] not by volunteers.” Dr. Baconguis mentioned.

Now that NSTP is no longer under the Pahinungod, the office is now refocusing its efforts on volunteer work, the same as the activities established before such as Affirmative Action Programs, Gurong Pahinungod projects, and literacy programs. This year, Pahinugod will continue gathering volunteers to sustain more effective and service-oriented programs.

[P]

Org recognition...

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compromise met by OSA and the student organizations. Mr. Chico helped the org heads in negotiating with Dr. Gonzales, thus resulting to a compromise that is both beneficial to both parties. The organizations were given a chance to be recognized while the Office of the Student Affairs will still be able to carry out their responsibilities to ensure that the heads will be effective leaders to their particular organizations.

In addition to that, Mr. Chico also devised a new system for a fast and more efficient recognition process.

OrgsUP

OrgsUP is an online registration system for an easier, faster and more efficient recognition of student organizations in UPLB. The point person, usually the secretary of the organization, should first prepare the following information: 1) list of members (student numbers, designations, and last names); 2) adviser information (full name, address, employee number, department, college, office number, mobile number, email address, position/rank, specialization, consultation hours); 3) organization profile; 4) semestral report (past

WORDS | BEA MANALO

Elpidio ‘Jojo’ Malinao, 49, was shot dead by a gunman in a motorcycle last May 9 in Bay, Laguna. According to the UPLB Police Force report, Malinao was killed shortly after attending a court hearing about the violation of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines with two of his colleagues from the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME).

Forest Guard in the Line of Duty

“Frustrating yung nangyari kasi very little attention is given to people who put their lives on the line to protect the forest. Napapansin lang sila pag may masama nang nangyari,” Chndyli Rogel’s immediate response when asked about her opinions regarding Malinao’s death. Chndyli Rogel is a BS Development Communication student living in a residence area in Forestry.

According to an interview with College of Forestry and Natural Resources Dean Rex Cruz, Malinao was one of the most hardworking forest guards known for not easily being intimidated. In fact, Malinao was one of the forest guards who had filed the most number of cases against illegal loggers and settlers in Mt. Makiling.

PHOTO | EJ LAGRIMAS

When all of the members have already confirmed, the point person will log in again and click Prepare Forms. He will then print, sign, and submit the forms to SOAD-OSA before the deadline (June 30, 2011).

Organizations can also visit http://magtanong.soadosa. org/.

With coordination and good communication between SOAD and OSA and the students, a good and a more effective working relationship will never be a problem.

[P]

Forest guard dies in line of duty

Malinao was a witness in the case filed against two illegal settlers in Mt. Makiling, Armando Javier and Napoleon Oliveros. After leaving the courthouse in Bay, Laguna, Malinao went to a tarpaulin shop at around 2:30 in the afternoon where the gunman, wearing a helmet and a facemask, shot him twice in the head.

FAMILIARIZATION. Through the campus tour spearheaded by the Student Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD), UPLB New Freshmen were briefed by upperclassmen from various student organizations.

semester and projection for current semester) and 5) financial statement. The point person should then register his organization to OrgsUP by logging in to his SystemOne account and going to www. soadosa.org. Then, the point person should go to My Forms ˃ Register an Organization.

After accomplishing the said requirements, members of the organization will also log in to OrgsUp, again using their SystemOne accounts. They are tasked to confirm their membership, provide the date of their membership, fill out their profile, and upload a 2 by 2 photo with a white background.

Dean Cruz said that Malinao’s work as a Forest Technician I, responsible in citing law violators such as illegal poachers and settlers in the forest reserve, is a possible motive for his death. UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco believed that a large group of people, that Malinao might have threatened because of the nature of

his work, was behind his murder.

Malinao, after Leonard Co, was the second UP employee killed because of his work as a protector of the environment. Leonard Co was a botanist killed in the Leyte province while collecting plant samples last year.

Gunman Still at Large

According to Bay Police Chief Inspector Joseph Laureta, they are still investigating on whether the motive behind Malinao’s death was workrelated. But the gunman was already identified by a witness thru a crime photo gallery as Roberto Canobas. A case was already filed in the Calamba regional trial court but the suspect remains free.

Malinao: Environmental Advocate and an Activist for Workers Rights

According to Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) national chair, Malinao was the vice president of the UPLB Chapter of the Organization of Non-Academic Personnel of UP (ONAPUP) and a national council member of the union.

According to PM’s press release last May 13, Malinao is the third PM leader killed in the CALABARZON area since the group’s foundation in 2001. The other two PM leaders are Andrew ‘Bok’ Inoza of Alaska Milk in San Pedro, Laguna and Chairperson of PM-Laguna and Emmanuel ‘Cosme’ Ibe, union president of Liwayway Manufacturing Corp. in Imus Cavite and a founding member of PM-Cavite.

The group expressed its condolences for Malinao’s family.

PM also calls justice for Malinao’s death and appeals to the government and the authorities to investigate and exhaust all means to find the motive and the mastermind behind Malinao’s killing. [P]

[P]atuloy ang hamon Paninindigan ng UPLB Perspective ang papel nito bilang tagapamandila ng iyong tindig at tagapagtampok ng iyong tinig, Iskolar ng at para sa Bayan.

Ikaw ang solong tagapaglimbag ng iyong opisyal na pahayagan, kilala rin bilang tagapamandila sa larangan ng pamamahayag sa Timog Katagalugan. Kaya naman, walang ibang ipaglalaban ang [P] bukod sa iyong karapatan. Sa gitna ng dilim na dulot ng rehimeng diktadurya, nagawang lampasan ng [P] ang limitasyong dulot nito sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay-liwanag at pagpapatuloy sa paghahayag ng katotohanang pumatid sa uhaw na kamalayan ng mga mag-aaral at ng mga kababayan.

Kalakip ng prinsipyong maging balanse, mapagmatyag, kritikal at makatwiran ay ang pangakong walang ibang itataguyod at pagsisilbihan kundi ang interes at karapatan ng mga magaaral at mamamayan. Ihahapag ang mga napapanahong isyung baskagan ng reyalidad na ating ginagalawan maging sa loob ng Pamantasan, bilang mikrokosmo ng kalakhang lipunan. Sapagkat hindi kailanman naging hiwalay na reyalidad ang tinatamasa natin sa kondisyong kinasasapailaliman ng sambayanan.

Matapos ang tatlumpu’t walong taon, hindi pa rin kumukupas ang paninidigang panghawakan ang hamon ng makabayan at prinsipyadong pamamahayag tungo sa sa paggapi sa kawalan ng pakialam ang pagsasawalang-kibo. Patuloy ang pagtindig ng [P] sa hamong maging mata, tenga, at tinig ng mag-aaral at ng kalakhang mamamayang Pilipino.

Ngunit, hindi madaling magsilbing mata sa mga nagbubulagbulagan, tenga sa nagbibingi-bingihan, at lalo’t higit maging tinig para sa mga hindi naman nais magbulalas ng opinyon o saloobin.

Ang paghahayag ng opinyon at paninindigan, kailanma’y hindi maituturing na isang krimen. Kaya naman, hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng iyong opisyal na pahayagan na hindi dapat matapos sa pagtanggap ng hamon ang lahat. Nararapat lamang na ang hamong siyang tinatanggap at isinasabuhay ay ang parehong hamong siyang ginagamit na pampukaw sa kaalaman at gunita ng bawat Iskolar ng at para sa Bayan.

Hindi sapat ang panonood. Higit sa lahat, ang kailangan ay ang aktibong pakikilahok sa paggigiit ng karapatang ipinagtanggol at ipinaglaban ng mga nauna sa atin. Sabay-sabay nating dinggin at gawan ng nararapat na pagkilos ang hamon ng kasaysayang umaalingawngaw sa bawat dako. Ngayon, higit kailanman, kinakailangan ang ating masinsinan at malapitang pagmamatyag. Kaya naman, ang hamon ay nananatili – magaral, magsuri, makiisa, at makialam. Sapagkat sa kahulihan, ang kahihinatnan ng pamantasan at bayan ay nasa ating mga kamay.

Patuloy ang paggulong ng kasaysayan. Markahan natin ito ng makabuluhang pagbusisi at paninindigan sa mga namumutawing reyalidad at katotohanan sa loob at labas ng ating Pamantasan. [P]

RJ PARAISO

The Real Deal v.1:

| The ‘Unsuccessful’ Automated WORDS ERNEST CALAYAG Elections

In the previous years, UPLB was left behind by other UP units when we talk about automated elections.

Several irregularities were noted through the years of conducting manual student elections. Every year, the University Student Council would have to spend an amount ranging from thirty to fifty thousand pesos just to run a five- to six-day election and canvassing process. Manpower from staff and administrative personnel was needed, at the expense of them leaving their duties in their respective offices, just to facilitate

the manual counting of votes. Not to mention that this “extra service” is done voluntarily. It is also important to note that there was an instance in 2009 when a candidate for CAS Chairperson anomalously won the seat but after a recount, discrepancies in the canvassing surfaced and his opponent was declared the official winner in the said electoral race.

During the last 2011 USCCSC Elections, all difficulties, inefficiencies and irregularities which normally accompanies a manual election has come to pass as the very first automated elections was implemented in UPLB. The budget for the elections was cut down to more than half the usual, the system ensured that no human error will occur during the canvassing, and the three to four days allotted for counting votes was shortened to a few seconds. These were the benefits of the automated election and this should have been maximized if only the members of the USC during those times prioritized the implementation of the said

“But sadly, it is not acceptable for someone who holds his idealism intact to see that there are trapos in the campus political terrain who are fond of eating their own calls after attaining the victory, which serves as their primary, if not, sole aspiration. “

project rather than politicizing the mechanism of the automated elections.

This was supposedly one of the major breakthroughs under the previous term, but more than a week prior to the elections, when there was a need to appoint former USC Vice Chair Aya Mula as Officer-in-Charge in order to avoid issues of conflicting interests, the thrust was shifted from full implementation of the automated elections to executing the project side-by-side a printout check and balance mechanism which will be canvassed and shall serve as basis of the official result.

Indeed, the desire to ensure the integrity of the elections is noble enough in itself, but those people left behind in the previous year’s student council who have decided to produce printers over computer units to be used for the elections has clearly missed the essence of automating the elections.

There is a need to backdate a month prior the elections when the USC conducted a dry run

continued on

page 5

The war within

War. War never changes.

In 1898, there was a Treaty of Peace signed by Spain and the United States of America wherein Spain sold the Philippine territory for the sum of 20 million US Dollars.

The territory sold includes the controversial Spratly’s Island. In the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, our Exclusive Economic Zone was declared to extend to 200 miles around the coastal state, which includes a large part of the Spratly’s group of Islands.

Since the start of this year, there were already six reported incidents that the Chinese Military and oil exploration teams were seen navigating around the Philippine territory dropping-off military and building equipment on our claimed Philippine territory. There were also

reports that Chinese vessels even fired and harassed Philippine oil exploration vessels. The Chinese government denies these incidents but it is obvious that they are violating the rules regarding territories and agreements made by previous conventions. In ancient times, trespassing is a sign of waging war.

Though our government already made an action by seeking international diplomatic help regarding the issue, the question still remains -- that is, if when the time comes that it cannot be resolved, are we ready to go to war?

In the course of Philippine history, we waged war when the Spaniards landed on our shores. To cut the long story short, we lost that war.

When the Americans came again, we waged war, and we lost again. When the Japanese came, we waged war, and still we lost. Now, China is trying to trespass our territory, are we ready to engage? Yes, the possibility of loosing war to China and facing another tyrant may not come in this time, but are we prepared as a nation?

“Though Filipinos are known to be territorial because of the country’s archipelagic structure, of all the wars we have been through, we showed that we are strong as a nation by fighting for our independence every time there are conquerors.”

Though Filipinos are known to be territorial because of the country’s archipelagic structure, of all the wars we have been through, we

WORDS| REGIE MONTAÑA showed that we are strong as a nation by fighting for our independence every time there are conquerors.

Heroes emerge from these wars, which are written in our history books that define our nation today.

In the situation of our country today where in political views, religion, and interests are diverse, are we ready to face war carrying only the weapon of nationalism in our hearts and minds simply because we are all Filipinos?

Do we really need to seek help from other strong countries such as the United States of America for our protection or can we defend our own country by ourselves?

In the case when war emerges, will the Filipino Christians and Muslims work hand in hand? Will the activist groups such as the New People’s Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Government work together? Can people with different political views and interests set aside their differences and fight for one goal?

We may say that we have already seen it during the two EDSA revolutions but fighting in a war for the country that involves possible bloodshed and death with another nation is very much different as written in the history books.

This is the war that we should first settle and conquer before we learn how to truly defend our nation from other nation.

[P]

1. Ikaw ba ay Pro- o Anti- RH Bill?

Anti-RH Bill ako, kasi hirap na nga ang gobyerno na mag budget ng pera para sa iba’t ibang departamento nito, lalo na sa edukasyon, tapos gagastos pa ng milyon sa pagbili at pamimigay ng condoms at contraceptives. Kurapsyon ang problema sa Pilipinas, at hindi sakit ang pagbubuntis.

Mariz Quilnat, BS Applied Mathematics ‘09 Pro-RH bill ako, dahil ang paglaki ng pollution ay lubos na nakakaalarma. Ang pagpasa ng rh bill ay magpapalaganap ng malawakang pagtuturo ng sex ed[ucation]. Alam kong matalino ang mga Pilipino at kung turuan man ang bata sa elementarya ng sex ed.

Brynne Beriel B. Uri Pro-RH bill ako. Kaya nga tayong mga Pilipino ay naghihirap dahil sa hindi makontrol na paglobo ng ating populasyon. Mas tumataas tuloy ang unemployment rate natin. One more thing, ke may free condoms, ke wala, hindi maaapektuhan ang moralidad natin. Morality is not a skill. It is a habit.

Sheena Mae Salva Quilang, BS Food Technology ‘11 Anti [ako]. Hindi hadlang ang populasyon kung magkakaroon ng tamang diskarte ang gobyerno at ang contraceptives ay unhealthy, nakakasira ‘to ng reproductive system.

Pauline Sanchez, BS Chemical Engineering ‘11

2. Magbigay ng hamon kay Student Regent Krissy Conti.

I hope that our new student regent will carry out her responsibilities well and lean all her endeavors to a pro-student principle. She should also connect the students’ struggle to the struggles of the Filipino masses and the struggles/problems of the Philippine society as a whole. A plus if she visits our campus.

Lemuel Lemence, BS Industrial Engineering ‘10 Simple lang. Serve with integrity, serve beyond colors.

Paul Cruz, BA Sociology ‘07

3. Alin ang mas masarap, Papu’s Siomai o Siomai Fudhaus?

Ipaliwanag.

Siomai Fudhaus. Mas malasa yung meat, kung meat man yun.

Tracy Quila, BA Comarts ‘07 ‘Di ko pa kasi alam kung sa’ng lupalop ng LB ‘yun, unless may mag-tour at mang-treat sa’kin sa dalawang un.

Jonjon Salamanca, BS Food Technology ‘11 Siomai FudHaus. Masarap, as in iba siya sa lahat ng siomai sa mundo.

Hahaha. Soft yet firm and juicy.

Regine Abby Delicano, BA Communication Arts ‘07 Abangan sa susunod na isyu!

Freshman Fever “Ate, san po ba yung TBA?” “Saan po yung CAS Annex 2?”

“May mabibilhan po ba ng school supplies dito sa loob ng campus?”

Ilan lamang ito sa mga tanong na karaniwang maririnig natin sa pagbukas ng unang semester ng taon. Hindi na nakapagtataka na maraming bagong mukha sa UPLB sa simula ng klase. Iba’t ibang kulay ng kutis, may kapansinpansin ang pananamit, may simple, may ilang hindi nakakapagtakang nanggaling sa mayamang pamilya, may maingay, at may mahiyain – lahat ng ito, makikita sa ‘first day of classes’ kung saan unang beses tatapak sa silid-aralan ng UPLB ang mga tinatawag nating Freshies.

Para sa mga upperclassmen ng UPLB, hindi maipagkakaila na bibo ang mga Freshmen o kung tawagin natin ay NF. Kahit bago pa lang nilang dinadama ang pagiging bagong Iskolar ng at para sa Bayan, pinakikita nila ang kanilang determinasyon upang maging

“Nakakita ka na ba ng laminated form 5?

Oo. Merong ilan na gumawa nito.”

Makilahok sa CAMPUS FORUM ngayon!

WORDS | GEL RIVERA

matagumpay sa buhay.

Kapag upperclass ka, madali mong mahahalata kung sino sa mga kaklase mo ang Freshies.

Kadalasan, sila ang masisipag sa klase, hindi madalas umabsent at mahilig sumagot sa recitation.

Bawat isa sa atin ay dumaan sa pagiging NF. At lahat tayo ay may kakaibang karanasang kalakip ng pagiging ‘baguhan’ sa unibersidad.

Ang mga bagay na ito, kung minsan, ay nais na lamang nating itago kahit na sa loob ng malilikot na isip ay pinagtatawanan natin ang mga ito.

Nakakita ka na bang laminated Form 5? Oo. Merong ilan na gumawa nito. Pinapa-laminate ang Form 5 para nga naman hindi madaling masira. Meron ding ‘standing ovation’ kapag tinawag ng prof. Tumatayo kapag nagre-recite sa klase. Kung sa bagay, ganoon naman talaga ang kinaugalian nung hayskul. At wala rin namang nagsabi na dito sa UP, na hindi na kailangang tumayo tuwing sasagot sa tanong ng teacher. Kadalasan, kapag may nagmamadali sa pagtatanong kung saan ang daan papunta sa isang room, malamang ay naliligaw na siya. Mahirap din naman hanapin ang mga klasrum dito lalo na kung may kakabit na salitang ‘annex’ sa room number.

Ang iba, paunahan sa klase.

20 mins. bago mag-time, may

makikita ka nang nag-aabang sa labas ng room para sa kasunod na klase. Ang aga hindi ba?

Samantalang pag upperclass, kadalasan, lima o sampung minuto na bago magsimula angklase, saka pa lamang maglalakad patungo sa kaniya-kanyang gusali. Meron ding ilan na sumasali sa larong ‘paramihan ng bonus’. Marami sa mga NF ang pumapatos sa lahatng bonus. Minsan binabansagan silang mga “GC” o grade conscious.

May mga natatandaan ka bang ginawa mo nung NF na katulad ng mga ito? Kung oo, malamang napailalim ka sa freshman fever.

Masaya naman diba? At kung tutuusin ay hindi kumpleto ang buhay Elbi mo kung wala ang mga ito. Sa una ay nakakahiya, pero pagdating ng panahon ay tatawanan mo na lang ang lahat ng ito.

Gayunpaman, ang mahalaga ay bahagi ka ng unibersidad na ito.

Sa bawat umpisa, hindi maiiwasan ang mga pagkakamali na di magtatagal ay magbibigay aral sa atin. Simula sa unang pagtapak sa unibersidad, hanggang sa pagmamartsa sa DL grounds, dala natin ang mga karanasang unang nagmulat sa atin ng buhay sa loob ng UP—ang unibersidad na magtuturo sa ating tumayo sa sarili nating mga paa at maging matatag anupamang pagsubok ang dumaan sa buhay nating mga Iskolar ng at para sa Bayan. [P]

1. Kung sakaling pumutok ang issue tungkol sa Spratly’s, handa ba ang Pilipinas para sa gyera laban sa China?

2. Anong mga katangian ang dapat na taglay ng susunod na UPLB Chancellor?

3. Ikaw ba ay pabor sa Divorce Bill?

I-post ang iyong sagot sa Facebook page ng [P] (facebook.com/ uplbperspective1112) kasama ang iyong pangalan, course, at batch.

The Real Deal... from page 4

of the automated elections, and during the parallel count, a very small discrepancy was noted which was unanimously attributed by the student council itself to the inefficiency brought about by manual counting.

Another point that we should look into is the result of the count based on the print outs or better yet, let us ask, did the parallel count even reach an end? The sad, but true answer is no. It’s very disappointing how a noble call led by Ms. Aya Mula and Mr. CR Buendia, then USC Councilor, transformed into a mere lip service. Is it because their two different parties bag majority of the USC seats? A question, not even we can answer.

When we were introduced to UPLB campus politics, we were told that it’s a microcosm of what is happening in the national terrain.

But sadly, it is not acceptable for someone who holds his idealism intact to see that there are trapos in the campus political terrain who are fond of eating their own calls after attaining the victory, which serves as their primary, if not, sole aspiration. These are the people who have left their advocacy and allowed it to go down the drain since it will no longer benefit their interest.

The real deal is that the very first conduct of the automated elections was successful mechanically, but meeting the essence and heart of conducting an election was not at all attained because the supposed sacred process was politicized. [P]

Talking to Padeys or Deo Cajano is like taking a trip down the UPLB student memory lane

wears simple clothes to school; where the interaction and friendship foundation is formed u decent hellos to each other’s Facebook wall. For freshmen students who would want to kn Padeys is an epitome of the reality of how much fun is in store for you and how goin Padeys who?

Deo Paulo Revilleza Cajano his friends fondly call him field of Theater Arts. He Pedestal (2005), BaBe Monologues (2007) Chronicles (2010), E played the title

Today, [P] is ge hands and ma portray the role

Passiona

When aske drama sa r tinitirhan n ng Lagim. voices and a chance sports. Unti

Padeys’ fir nung tea Dun na

BaBeBiB back in theat reco

Des Po

he id cry eve

Some k But Pade and also instead. H audience.

Persona

What keep

“Bahay lan activities dur meet friends w

And just like any UP. When asked kaibigan ko, hind Ayan. Nasabi ko n ngayon. Sana!”

He admitted that his academics sinc excel in both. Despit

Padeys have three org Circle, and an honorary

In five years’ time, he sees simple mansion. [P]

WORDS | KRISTINE ARAGUAS PHOTOS | DANIEL RICHARD LAYOUT | MEGAN OCLARINO

e where students are far from being conformists, who upon making small talk face to face rather than posting now what is in store for them upon entering the university, ng after your passion makes everything worthwhile.

o was born to Deogracias Cajano and Agnes Cajano on November 23, 1986. Padeys, as m, is a BS Biology ’03 student majoring in Wildlife Biology whose passion is clearly in the e appeared on numerous plays in UPLB such as Miss Philippines, A Musical (2005), Suso sa eBiBobo (2007&2008), Tarugolette, Whatever that Means! (2007), Icebag 8 (2007), Fairtrade ), El Laberinto dela Verdad (2008), Elbi Pie 9 (2009), Icebag X (2009), Elbi Pie 11 (2010), Canton Elbi Pie 12 (2010), Boy Pogi at ang mga Sireyna (2010), Boy Pogi Resureccion, wherein he e role and Strange Pilgrims (2010).

etting down to business to unveil Padeys in his best role to date, to say lines written by his own ake gestures that he naturally feel, to laugh and get lost in a moment in his own cue and to e of no one, but himself.

ate Padeys on Acting

ed how he got into acting, he answered “Feeling ko dahil lumaki ako ng nakikinig sa mga radio.” Padeys lived in a simple home when he was young and shares, “Wala kaming TV sa namin, eh. Laging tutok sa DZRH.” His favorite radio drama series are Negra Bandida and Gabi He was amazed hearing the voices of the dubbers back then. He even imitated the dubbers’ d came to realize that he has a passion in acting and to exaggerate things. He was first given to act during his elementary days. He also added that he enjoyed doing it since he is not into il now, he enjoys acting and playing different roles.

rst theatre experience is when he narrated a skit back in Grade 2. He said, “Napansin yata acher na ang OA ko mag-emote e narrator lang naman ako. So after nun, pinaarte na ko. nagstart.”

Bobo was the first play he auditioned for. It was a project of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod n 2007. He claims that he was never rejected in any audition since he started acting in tre inside the university. “Normally yung mga Prod na sinasalihan ko ay may role kagad or niommend ako ng isang kaibigan or naka-trabaho ko na yung director.”

spite the several characters that he portrayed in different plays, acting up on stage as Boy ogi is his most memorable one. “Pakiramdam ko after nun wala na akong gusto pang i-portray eh. Napaka-challenging nung role kaya pinagtuunan ko talaga ng atensyon.” It was a major role that he performed at the DL Umali Stage. The cast and crew of that particular play are his friends thus, he shares, “Nakakapressure talaga. Good thing okay ang chemistry ng casts and staff. Hilahan ng energy pataas. Suportahan. Pyesa ng multi-Palanca winner na si Ma’am Lallie, sa direksyon ng napakagaling na actor at director na si Sir Rufo tapos kaeksena ko pa ang charismatic na si Tracy Quila na parang kapatid ko na.” For Padeys, an actor like him couldn’t ask for more. He reminisced the play’s last night when he saw and eard how the audience applauded for him. He remembered his number one supporter and dol who was also an actress, the late Speech Commmunication instructor, Ms. Diana Emlano, ying at her seat and cheering up for his well-done performance. He felt the sense of fulfilment erytime he hears people call him Boy Pogi inside and outside the campus.

known actors and actresses have their own unique rituals before performing on stage. eys seemed different from them. He has no unique rituals. He usually does vocal exercises puts his own make-up. He sets aside those and keep in mind his responsibilities as an actor He always assures that he gives his best when delivering the lines and performing in front of an .

al Padeys

ps a typical Padeys busy when stage lights are off? Padeys reveals to [P] who he is backstage:

ng. Aral. Tulog. Net. Tambay. Party pag meron or hangout anywhere.” Those are Padeys’ ring his spare time. During weekends, he does his own laundry, does the house chores, and whenever he has extra budget.

y college student, it’s normal to sometimes receive a low grade especially when you are in about the lowest grade that he has ever received, Padeys openly answered, “Sabi ng isang di mo naranasan ang tunay na hirap ng buhay sa UPLB kung hindi ka nakatikim ng singko. na. Singko. Excessive absences malamang. Kulang sa motivation. Pero okay na naman

he is not that good in juggling extracurricular activities and studies. Sometimes, he sacrifices ce he allots most of his time in prod than going to class. Though, there are times that he can te this, he enjoys his stay in the university and gaining lots of friends is also a factor.

ganizations where he actively participates: The UPLB Genetics Society, the UPLB Thespian y member of the UPLB ComArtSoc.

s himself as a teacher and an adviser of Drama Club, a foster parent of 2 children living in a

Q & As with

padeys

[P]: What is your favorite movie?

Padeys: ‘Yung all time ay Kramer vs. Kramer. Mahilig kasi talaga ako sa mga touching na movies eh. Sobrang tumatak sakin dun ung scene ni Dustin Hoffman at nung son n’yang si Billy habang nagluluto sila ng French toast.

[P]: How would your friends/colleagues describe you?

Padeys: Motherly! Pero totoo ‘yan. Sa mga kaibigan ko kasi sobrang maalaga ako. It comes with age na din siguro.

[P]: What are you known for?

Padeys: For my passion in theater acting, I suppose. Sabi ko nga, priority ko lagi ang pag-arte san man ako mapunta. At s’yempre sa pagpaprioritize ko lagi sa happiness ng mga kaibigan ko over my own happiness. Hindi ako madamot. Alam nila ‘yan.

[P]: What is your dream role?

Padeys: Dream role siguro ang kahit anong role na malayong malayo sa pagkatao ko sa totoong buhay. Babaeng balingkinitan, aso, gamu-gamo. Ganyan. Basta kahit anong mapapakunot noo ako pag nakita ko yung piyesa.

[P]: Actor/s that you want to play opposite with. Why? Padeys: Kahit sinong member ng Sipat Lawin Ensemble o ng Tanghalang Pilipino. Mahihimatay ako panigurado ‘pag nangyari yun. At s’yempre si Meryl Streep! In my dreams! Hindi masamang mangarap.

[P]: What makes you stand out?

Padeys: My talent I guess? Plus the fact na tina-tyaga ko ang Bio course ko despite the fact na nasa theater ang puso’t damdamin ko. Malamang madaming ganung tao pero bihira yung tulad ko. Tumanda na sa University for the love of his craft.

[P]: Where can you be found on a typical Friday night?

Padeys: Jungle Java, Café Antonio, Elbi Square, or some tropa’s house socializing.

[P]: If you would be a dessert, what would you be?

Padeys: Banana split!

[P]: What’s your best pick-me-upper?

Padeys: Chismisan with orgmates and close friends. Wala nang mas nakakabuhay pa ng dugo kesa sa mga juicy kwento mula sa mga kaibigan.

[P]: Who influenced you the most in UPLB? Padeys: Madami. Pero siguro magbabanggit na lang ako ng ilan. Like Prof. Lallie Bucoy and Sir Elmer Rufo. Idol ko silang dalawa. Sila ang nagpakilala sakin ng tunay na teatro sa UPLB. Mentors kumbaga.

And having said that, it’s no wonder that Padeys is as real as he can be and is playing his best role to date. [P]

Pagtudla kay Pepe

WORDS| SAM PASIA

Kahit lampas isandaang taon na ang nakalipas simula nang mamatay ang ating pambansang bayaning si Dr. Jose Rizal, hanggang ngayo’y wala pa ring kupas ang bawat kontribusyon niya sa pambansang kalayaan, literatura, medisina at agham. Kahit na maikli lamang ang naging buhay niya, sadyang masasabing kahanga-hanga at siksik sa mahahalagang pangyayari ang kanyang buhay na masasabing tunay na dapat tularan.

Ika-19 ng Hunyo, isandaan at limampung taon na ang nakalipas nang unang sumilay sa daigidig ang ating

pambansang bayani. Sa araw ring iyon unang sumilay ang liwanag ng kalayaan sa bansang tigang sa pag-ibig at diwang makabayan.

Sa Calamba, Laguna siya

inalagaan at pinalaki ng kanyang mga magulang.

“Jack of all trades” – yan ang ating pambansang bayani.

Nagawa niyang magbasa

sa napakamurang edad sa paggabay ng kanyang butihing ina. Sa murang edad na siyam, pumasok siya sa Ateneo de Manila.

Nag-aral rin siya ng Pilosopiya sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas. Kumuha rin siya ng kurso sa land surveying, muli, mula sa Ateneo upang pagbigyan ang kanyang ina. Kahit na pinipigil na siya ng kanyang ina na magpatuloy pa sa pag-aaral, hindi na siya nagpatinag.

Ayon sa kanyang ina, sapat na ang natutunan ng anak na si Jose dahil kung madadagdagan pa ito, mapuputulan na siya ng ulo. Nang malaman niya na nabubulag na ang kanyang ina, minabuti pa niyang kumuha ng kursong medisina.

magtungo nang patakas sa Barcelona, Espanya.

Doon na nagsimulang masira ang kanyang pagtingin sa Espanya.

Malamig at, walang pakialam sa isa’t isa ang mga taong nasa paligid. Ngunit kung may natutunan man siya, ito ay ang mapagpalayang diwang liberal. ‘Di gaya sa Pilipinas, sa Espanya ay malayang nakapagsasalita ng kani-kanyang kurukuro, opinyon, saloobin at nasasaisip ang bawat tao na walang takot na maaari siyang parusahan.

Dahil nalaman niyang hindi sasapat ang edukasyong kayang ipagkaloob ng Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas para siya’y makapanggamot, kinailangan niyang

Kahit na nasa puso ng ibang bansa, sariling bansa pa rin ang kanyang nasasaisip. Sinulat niya ang mga nobelang Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo sa ibang

Doon niya nakilala ang iba pang mga ilustrado na gaya niya na sina Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena at marami pang iba. Inalok siyang maging pinuno ngunit siya ay tumanggi. Sinabi ni Jose Rizal na mapapapayag lamang siya na maging pinuno kung walang sinumang magiging oposisyon sa kanyang pamumuno.

bansa. Nakakatawang isipin na unang nailimbag ang mga ito sa ibang bansa, pero matindi ang naging epekto nito sa mga naninirahan sa ating bansa. Ito ang isa sa mga pangunahing nagdala ng diwang mapagpalaya.

Nagbigay ito ng inspirasyon sa lahat ng mga Pilipinong naapi. Ang mga ito rin ang nagdala sa pambansang bayani sa kanyang katapusan.

Isa sa hindi malilimot na pangaral ni Dr. Jose Rizal ang kasabihang “Ang mga kabataan ang siyang pagasa ng ating Inang Bayan.”

Kagaya niya, sa kanyang murang edad, marami siyang napatunayan.

Hindi kailangan pang tumanda o magkaedad upang patunayan na kayang maging dakila.

Ang mga katagang ito ay hindi lamang binitawan upang pataasin ang tingin ng kabataan sa kanilang mga sarili, bagkus, ito ay isang hamon. Isang hamon upang ang kabataan ay kumilos at makiisa sa solusyon, at tayo bilang mga Iskolar ng at para sa Bayan, kasama ang lahat ng kabataang Pilipino ay inaasahang tumugon sa hamong ito. [P]

Bragging Rights

WORDS | GARRY DACASIN GRAPHICS | RJ PARAISO & MAC POLANCOS

The Philippines was once considered as the only Catholic nation int Asia. Today, South Korea and East Timor have already joined us, being officially declared as dominantly Catholic nations in the Orient.

children for the development of these interest groups’ concern is the main thrust of the state as it addresses reproductive health and health care. At the same time, it has the capability of protecting the rights of children and the youth, in general.

The state likewise assures a propeople, at the same time being more accessed planning and use to legally safe, affordable, quality methods, planning and health

care services with the help of Yes, being a Catholic nation proper education and instruction. in the Far East is definitely a The state also has assured its bragging right since majority of constituents of the following: the our neighboring countries have right to make decisions which Islam as their faith. But, right now, are plainly not subjected to any we are caught in the middle form of coercion, rights regarding regarding our belief in the Holy reproductive health and welfare Scriptures. And, since the word of of any person, and effective health God is the ever “authentic” guide care services that will ensure child to righteousness of most Filipinos, and maternal health, which these people strongly condemn our health in accordance to promote right other countrymen who have shown is proper health, responsible support to a more, say, pro-people to especially for the and more open-minded group who parenthood and the marginalized goes for the passage of these bills. women sector, as it is a basic part of providing quality health care.

The soon-to-be, if ever approved, Reproductive Act of 2011, also gives an assured proper commonly known as the RH Bill, has Itmethod of education and instruction been recently a hot issue ranging which have been proven to be from personalities of varying pro-life, safe, and effective, in prominence. According to history, accordance with the internationally this bill rooted from House Bill and scientifically-based standards 8110 which was also a nationsupported by internationally known dividing issue way back in 1999. institutions such as the World Health Since then, there have been a lot Organization, and the Food and of revisions and modifications to Drug Administration. this bill which has been able to secure a strong foundation and While maintaining a pro-life support base from various sectors family planning, provision of health and organizations. care will be a joint responsibility of National Government and Presently, two popular versions Local Government Units with the are in circulation in the legislature, obligation to promote, respect, namely: House Bill 4244 maintain the right to health. In introduced by Representative Edcel and with this, there will be Lagman, and Senate Bill No. 2378 connection active participation by different initiated and authored by Senator an non-government, and women Miriam Santiago. From these, children’s organizations that Senate Bill No. 2865, an act which and willing to help address the will be known as “The Reproductive are needs of the people concerned, Act of 2011” once approved, is women, children, and said to guarantee the human rights especially marginalized. The state then and gender equality of all persons, the has the responsibility of ensuring may it be in the form of right to proper allocation and utilization of equality, human development, resources in providing basic health right to proper health, and care. proper exhibition of knowledge in support with their spiritual and As stated on the bill, it does cultural beliefs, and responsible not amend the law regarding parenthood. abortion; the government is still tasked to ensure that women who As stated in the bill, the state have undergone post abortion and assures proper implementation have sought help shall be treated of gender equality, women and in a humane way. children’s rights and dignity as health, human rights concern, and On the other hand, another bill has social responsibility. Also, since it been on its way of claiming fame, leans more toward women and

and making a strong point regarding our views on marriage – Divorce Bill. But, before discussing the main points of the bill, there is indeed a refreshment of mind as we talk about marriage. Literally, marriage is a sacred union and family nourished in the sacrament of marriage is strong in foundation of love and guidance.

Basically, marriage was introduced to us formally by Spaniards dating back to Spanish era in the Philippines. It is considered as a union between a man and a woman for love, support, and procreation. Basically, it is also known to be a life-long commitment, assuring “unity” even in times of doubt. However, right now, frankly, there have been a majority of what people call as “failed marriages.”

Failed marriage comes from a previously fruitful relationship which might have been weakened due to distrust, and adultery.

Sometimes, wrong decisions were also the case that made marriage experience chaos. Because of that, marriages which are unable to work and having problems are already available for termination via annulment process. Article 36 of the Family Code, more commonly known as annulment, which has been formally legalized on August 3, 1988, is a process which invalidates a marriage and considers it null and void. The only catch is that, one would not be permitted by the Catholic Church to get married again in the church.

The only available method for people like such is a civil wedding, a way not too traditional and cultural for Roman Catholics. Based on facts, from the different causes of violence and abuse against women recorded in the year 2009, wife battery got the highest percentage at 72 percent (6,783) according to report submitted by the Philippine Nation Police (PNP).

In support to this, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also noted the same crime as the highest

garnering a total of 1,933. In addition to this is a report by the police reporting husbands being a majority of suspects.

Right now, we, Filipino people are enticed to look upon getting divorce legalized in our country.

Yes, there’s an assurance that group of people which would go against it, but we are now given the chance to know more about it.

Divorce Bill is a current issue being debated nationally. It was formally introduced by Gabriela in support with the data it has gathered regarding abuses experienced by women from their partners. Given the events like women battery taking place, this bill is told to assure the innocent of continuous total human development and life, not being terminated. The bill is said to give assurance of protection of various sorts as compared to annulment.

As stated on the bill, there should be five grounds to formally execute divorce. It is included in the permanent failure of a marriage and “total” non-performance of marital obligations. It permits one to file a petition for divorce, only when the petitioner has been separated from his or her spouse for at least five years and reconciliation is already unworkable at the time of the application for petition, or when the petitioner has already been legally separated for at least two years from the filing of the petition.

Petition for

divorce also sets to be applicable when spouses suffer from “irreconcilable differences” that have cause the breakdown of relationship, and

they are required to present their marital contrarieties in court and they would be used to judge the possibility of a divorce.

Another ground for divorce is the “psychological incapacity” to perform basic marital obligations.

Such ground will initially repeal Family Code 36, since they are both exhibiting the same scenario.

As a main importance, the bill resolves the mentality of the husband forgiving the partner, which is sometimes evident due to economic or social conditions they are in. With this issue, a decree of divorce initially dissolves the absolute or conjugal gains.

Likewise, they will be equally divided to both parties. Also, as an addition, the spouse who is not beneficially employed has the title of being supported by the other side until she sufficiently supports himself. Lastly, custody of children may be known with regard to the best interests of the children in accordance with the Family Code.

The moral, emotional, and other damages shall be awarded to the aggrieved in proper supervision with the civil code on damages.

Based on the last part of the bill, the sanctity of marriage is not based on number of marriages, but on the quality of marital relationships. It gives us the chance to have an option of filing a divorce.

RH and Divorce Bills have definitely got a big impact in our society since we all want a positive change.

These bills are present not to imperatively ask us to be with them, or vice versa, but to remind us to be aware. We all

have to think of the two sides. It is purely a decisive matter which we all “might” have to decide on since we would be their past, present, and future.

[P]

Chapter 1

No other love Ni Lallie

“Her name sprang to my lips at moments in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand. My eyes were often full of tears (I could not tell why) and at times a flood from my heart seemed to pour itself out into my bosom. I thought little of the future. I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, if I spoke to her, how I could tell her of my confused adoration.

But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires.”

Ilang segundo na ring natapos ang pag-quote sa short story na Araby ni James Joyce ng isa sa mga estudyante n’ya bago nakapagsalita si Vic. “Good,” ang tanging nasabi n’ya.

Tatlumpu’t limang pares ng mga mata ang nakatitig sa kanya, naghihintay sa susunod n’yang sasabihin. Gusto sanang itanong sa kanila ni Vic: “Magaling naman akong teacher di ba?

Magaling din namang akong chairman ng Humanities Department di ba? Loyal naman ako sa university at more than twelve years na akong nagtuturo rito, di ba? Karapat-dapat lang naman akong suportahan ng dean para sa scholarship ko sa Amerika, di ba, class?”

Pero naunahan ang kanyang dila ng pagtaas ng kamay ng isa n’yang estudyante. “Yes, Ms. Nuguid?” pagacknowledge ni Vic sa estudyante.

“E Sir,” simula ng estudyante. “Hindi pa ba po love ‘yung nararamdaman ng character?”

“Ha?” Bago pa man mabuko ng mga estudyanteng lumilipad na ang pag-iisip ni Vic, bumalik sa kanya ang dini-discuss nila sa klase. “Ah, yes in Araby,” sabi ni Vic. “And why do you say that the character is in love?” “’Yung sa binasa pong lines kanina.

Saka eto pa po: ‘All my senses seemed to desire to veil themselves and, feeling that I was about to slip from them, I pressed the palms of my hands together until they trembled, murmuring: ‘O love! O love!’ many times.’”

Kumunot ang noo ni Vic. Sumeryoso ang

GRAPHICS | MAC POLANCOS

kanyang mukha. “Don’t you think you’re taking it literally, Ms. Nuguid?

Not because love is mentioned, the character is already in love.”

May ilang estudyanteng natawa.

Napaismid naman si Ms. Nuguid.

Ngumiti si Vic. “I’m just kidding. Well yes, maybe the character is in love. What do you think, class? Do you agree with Ms. Nuguid?”

Nakita ni Vic ang pagtango ng karamihan sa mga estudyante. Nguni’t may mangilan-ngilan din s’yang nakitang umiling. “Yes, Mr. Garcia? You seem to disagree with Ms. Nuguid.”

“E Sir,” nag-aalangang sabi ni Mr. Garcia. “Tingin ko di naman love ‘to e.”

“If it’s not love, then what is it?”

“I guess it’s just infatuation. Sorry Tin.” Tumango si Ms. Nuguid kay Mr. Garcia.

“Iba naman po ‘yung in love sa infatuated lang, di po ba?” patuloy ni Mr. Garcia.

Napansin ni Vic ang pagtingin ng ibang estudyante sa mga suot na relo.

Ang iba sa kanila’y tinago na sa bag ang mga notebook at ballpen. Ang iba nama’y tumitingin na sa may pintuan.

Tiningnan din ni Vic ang suot na relo.

“I think we’ll have to answer that next meeting. Time na pala. You may go.”

Nagsimulang mag-ayos ng mga gamit sa mesa si Vic. “But Sir,” narinig ni Vic ang tinig ni Ms. Nuguid.

Nilingon ni Vic si Ms. Nuguid sa kinauupuan nito. “Yes, Ms. Nuguid?”

“Infatuation nga lang po ba o in love na talaga ‘yung character?”

Tiningnan ni Vic si Mr. Garcia. “I guess Mr. Garcia can enlighten us.”

Nakatayo na ang ibang mga estudyante, ang ilan sa kanila’y nasa may pintuan na habang may mangilan-ngilan namang nakalabas na ng pintuan. Nakita ni Vic na naglingunan sa kinauupuan ni Mr. Garcia ang

lahat ng estudyante. Ang mga nakatayo na’y dahan-dahang bumalik sa pagkakaupo, ang mga malapit na sa pintua’y tumigil sa paglalakad, at ang mga nasa labas na’y unti-unting pumasok muli sa classroom.

Marahang natawa si Vic. “Mukhang interesting topic ‘to sa inyo, ha?

Mukhang love is in the air.”

Panunuksong “uuuy” ang sinagot ng mga estudyante kay Vic. “Am I missing something here?” tanong ni Vic. Napansin n’ya ang halos magkasabay na pagtungo nina Ms. Nuguid at Mr. Garcia. “Tin? Kiko?” tanong muli ni Vic. Lalong lumakas ang tuksong “uuuy” ng mga estudyante. Natawa si Vic. “Mukhang alam ko na.”

“Sir kasi,” biglang nasabi ni Mr. Garcia. “Pwedeng gustong-gusto n’yo ngang makasama ‘yung girl, ‘yung wala na kayong iniisip kundi ‘yung girl. ‘Yung lahat na lang ng may kinalaman sa girl mahalaga na sa inyo, ‘yung tipong mabanggit pa lang ‘yung pangalan ng girl di na kayo mapakali.”

“Tin,” sabi ni Vic. Napatingin si Ms. Nuguid kay Vic. “Sir?” “Hindi, hindi kita tinatawag.

Tinitingnan ko lang kung hindi mapapakali si Mr. Garcia.”

Nagtawanan ang mga estudyante.

Napatungo si Mr. Garcia. “Oh, nag-ba-blush ka ata,” puna ni Vic kay Mr. Garcia. “Go on, as you were saying.”

Napangiti si Mr. Garcia. Bumulong naman sa kinikilig na katabing kaklaseng babae si Ms. Nuguid. “Pero kahit na halos umikot na sa babae ‘yung mundo n’yo,” patuloy ni Mr. Garcia. “Pwedeng hindi pa rin love ‘yon. Pwedeng infatuation lang.”

Nakita ni Vic ang pagdapo ng lungkot sa mukha ni Tin. Napahawak ito sa braso ng katabing kaklaseng babaeng pinawian na rin ng kilig sa katawan.

“Ang love po kasi, Sir,” sabi pa ni Mr. Garcia, “para sa akin, ‘yun ‘yung nakita mo na ang lahat ng kapangitan ng babae: hitsura, ugali, pag-iisip. ‘Yung nagkalat na s’ya sa buhay, pinahiya ka na, pwedeng ninakawan ka pa, siniraan, ginawan ng kung ano pang masama.

Pero sa huli, wala ka pa ring gustong gawin kundi ang yakapin s’ya.”

Naglabas na ng panyo si Tin at pinahid sa mga mata. Inakbayan na s’ya ng katabing kaklaseng babaeng nilambungan ng lungkot ang mukha.

“Well,” ang sabi ni Vic. “Honestly, I’m a bit surprised to hear that coming from a sophomore student like you. But it’s a pleasant surprise. It’s a rather mature take on love.”

“It was just a kiss.”

Bahagyang nagulat si Vic sa narinig mula kay Ms. Nuguid. Gusto n’ya sanang patigilin na ito at pauwiin na ang mga estudyante pero desidido si Ms. Nuguid na magpatuloy.

“Birthday ng best friend mo, Kiko. I just kissed him bilang pagbati ng happy birthday.”

“E di magsama na nga kayo,” ganting sagot ni Mr. Garcia.

Nagtaas ng kamay si Vic. “Ooops.

I think this is already a private matter between the two of you.”

Tumayo si Mr. Garcia. “Hindi po,” sabi nito. “Ito po ‘yung point ko.”

Nagtinginan ang lahat kay Mr. Garcia. Tuluyan namang yumakap na sa katabing kaklaseng babae si Ms. Nuguid.

“Kung mahal ko s’ya, uunawain ko s’ya. Matatanggap kong wala lang ‘yung paghalik n’ya sa best friend ko. Aaminin kong maaaring nagalit ako at nagselos. Pero ‘yun nga e. Matapos ko s’yang makitang makipaghalikan sa best friend ko, naisip kong ayoko na sa kanya, may mali sa kanyang di ko matanggap. Naisip kong ‘yun lang pala at naanod na ng limot ang lahat ng naramdaman ko para sa kanya noon. Hindi ‘yon pag-ibig.

Infatuation lang pala. Dahil kung pag-ibig ‘yon, magagawa ko pa rin s’yang yakapin, ano man s’ya, ano man ang nagawa n’ya.”

Naputol ang kanilang diskusyon nang kumatok na sa pintuan ang janitor ng building.

“Sir,” sabi ng janitor,

“magsasara na po.” *** Pasakay na si Vic sa kanyang kotse nang hinabol s’ya ni Ms. Nuguid. “Ms. Nuguid,” sabi ni Vic. “I’m sorry. Hindi ko alam na may problema pala kayo. I’m really sorry.”

“Totoo po ba ‘yon?”

“I’m really sorry.”

“Totoo po bang hindi na n’ya ako mahal dahil lang do’n?”

Napabuntong-hininga si Vic. Kilala s’ya sa university bilang favorite teacher ng mga estudyante. Tatlong ulit na

s’yang naging Outstanding Teacher para sa College of Arts and Letters dahil sa sobrang taas ng student evaluation n’ya. Bahagi ng pagiging popular n’ya sa mga estudyante ay ang pagiging tunay n’yang sensitibo sa mga suliranin ng mga ito maging pang-akademiko o personal man.

Kilala s’yang takbuhan ng mga estudyanteng naghahanap ng guarantor upang makapag-student loan. Kilala rin s’yang takbuhan ng mga dati at kasalukuyan n’yang estudyanteng nagkakaroon ng mga problema sa magulang, sa mga kaibigan, at lalong lalo na sa usapin ng pag-ibig.

Approachable at tunay na accommodating si Vic sa mga estudyante. Mataas din ang credibility rating n’ya sa mga ito dahil bukod sa magandang academic background n’yang kinabibilangan ng pagtatapos ng summa cum laude sa kolehiyo at pagkakasama sa Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines nu’ng s’ya’y nag-aaral pa, tatlong libro na rin tungkol sa literatura ang napa-publish n’ya, dalawang nobela, at apat na refereed journal. Hindi na naging nakakapagtaka kung bakit sa murang edad na 32, apat na taon na rin s’yang chairman ng kanilang departamento.

Higit sa lahat, larawan ng masayang pamilya ang pamilya ni Vic. Nagtuturo naman sa Department of Visual Arts and Music ang kanyang asawang si Margaret. Ang panganay nilang anak na si Albert ay dalawang ulit nang na-accelerate kung kaya’t first year high school na ito kahit na sampung taong gulang pa lamang. Kilala rin itong magaling na batang piyanista at nakatanggap na ng mga scholarship offers mula sa iba’t ibang eskwelahang kilala sa musika sa loob at labas ng bansa.

Ang kanilang bunso namang si Tasha ay consistent first honor mula kinder hanggang ngayong nasa Grade III. May dalawang sinulat na rin itong tulang lumabas sa isang panglingguhang magazine. Nakakagawa na rin ito ng pangalan bilang pinakabatang makata.

Seryosong tiningnan ni Vic si Ms. Nuguid. “Love is very complicated,” sabi n’ya. “May iba’t ibang klase ang love, iba’t ibang dahilan, iba’t ibang epekto.

Maaaring tama si Kiko. O maaari rin namang mali. May iba’t ibang intensity rin ang love. Sa huli, I guess, the more tests love survives, the more assured you are that it is genuine love.”

Habang nagmamaneho si Vic, nabura sa kanyang isipan ang naganap sa kanyang klase. Bumalik muli ang pagtanggi ng kanilang dekanang suportahan s’yang makuha ang scholarship upang makapag-aral sa Amerika. Dalawang linggo na ring dinadala ni Vic ang masasabi na ring tampo sa kanilang dekana.

Ilang ulit din n’yang pinigilan ang sariling sumbatan ang kanilang dekana. Gusto n’ya sanang isumbat ditong nagiging makasarili lamang ito dahil alam naman sa buong university ang plano ng mga faculty sa kanilang kolehiyo na matanggal ito sa pwesto.

Ilang departamento na rin ang nagkaisang gumawa ng open letter sa presidente ng university upang hingin ang pagpapatanggal sa dekanang tinawag nilang diktador at walang puso.

Alam ni Vic na ang departamento na lamang nila ang hindi pa sumasama sa nagkakaisang pwersa ng ibang departamento. Alam ng dekanang ang paggalang kay Vic ng mga faculty ang dahilan kung bakit napigilan sila ni Vic, bilang chairman, na makisama pa sa paghiling sa pagpapatanggal sa dekana.

Hindi magawang hayaan ni Vic na matanggal ang kanilang dekana. Alam n’yang hindi man ito popular sa mga faculty, ang mga desisyon naman nito’y laging para sa kabutihan ng kolehiyo.

Ilang ulit ding nakamtan ng dekana ang paghanga at respeto ni Vic lalo na sa mga desisyon nitong nakakasagasa man sa ibang faculty member ay nanatili namang makatarungan kung ilalagay sa

konteksto ng kapakanan ng kolehiyo.

Ilang grants at ilang requests na rin ng kung ilang teachers ang ni-reject ng dekana. Nasaktan man ang mga teachers, diretsahan naman ang pagsasabi ng dekanang hindi popularity game ang pamamalakad sa isang kolehiyo, hindi sila university of friendship. Hindi s’ya lumalaban bilang Ms. Congeniality. Dekana s’ya, excellence lamang ang kinikilala, merit lamang ang tinitingnan.

Inisip tuloy ni Vic na ngayong nasa lugar na rin s’ya tulad ng iba pang teachers na hindi sinuportahan ng dekana, s’ya ba’y tulad din nilang walang excellence at merit? Hindi n’ya matanggap ‘yon.

“May mga achievements naman ako kahit paano,” sabi n’ya sa sarili.

Dalawang linggo na ring nagtatalo sa isipan ni Vic ang posibilidad na baka nga naman ayaw lang s’yang suportahan ng dekana para sa scholarship sa Amerika dahil kung mawawala si Vic ay mababawasan na rin ang kokonting kakampi nito sa kolehiyo at ang posibilidad naman na baka totoo nga naman ang sinabi sa kanya ng dekanang higit na kailangan muna ng Humanities Department ang isang magaling na chairman sa susunod pang dalawang taon kaysa magpaaral sa Amerika.

“Kung sabagay,” sabi na naman ni Vic sa sarili. “Ang sabi naman ni Dean, give the department two years muna, tapusin ko lang muna itong second term ko, then saka na ako mag-aral uli.”

Naipasok na ni Vic ang kanyang kotse sa kanilang garahe. Napabuntonghininga s’ya. “Mabuti na lang hindi agad ako nagpadala sa emosyon,” pag-congratulate n’ya sa sarili. “Kung nagkataon, baka kung ano pa ang nasabi o nagawa ko, mapahiya lang ako kay Dean. Lagi pa naman n’yang sinasabing, ako man ang pinakabata sa lahat ng department chair sa buong kolehiyo, ako naman ang pinakaginagalang n’ya dahil hindi ako padalos-dalos sa mga desisyon at

higit sa lahat, wala akong ginagawang magpapahiya sa akin.”

Sa paglabas ni Vic ng kotse, narinig n’ya ang tunog ng piano mula sa kanilang bahay. Tumigil muna s’ya sandali at pinakinggan ang tinutugtog.

“Chopin’s Etude,” naisip n’ya. “No Other Love.”

Nagmadali s’yang pumasok sa kanilang bahay. Iniwan na n’ya sa sasakyan ang kanyang brief case at iba pang gamit. Hindi n’ya pinansin ang pagbati sa kanya ng anak na si Albert habang pinagmamalaking may piyesang Bach na naman na nakaya na nitong tugtugin. Hindi na n’ya pinansin ang bagong nasulat na tulang iwinawagayway sa kanya ni Tasha.

Dire-diretso si Vic na lumampas sa kanilang sala at pumunta sa ilalim ng kanilang hagdan kung saan naroon ang kanilang piano. Si Margaret ang tumutugtog, tulad ng hinala n’ya. “Si Mommy lagi na lang si Chopin ang tinutugtog,” ang laging puna ni Albert noon.

Nakapikit si Margaret, nakatingala habang bumabaybay sa mga teklado ng piano ang mga bihasang daliri. Niyakap ni Vic ang asawa. Hindi tumigil ang mga daliri ni Margaret sa mabilis na paghalik sa mga teklado ng piano. Hindi rin dumilat ang mga mata nito. Nanatili si Vic sa pagkakayakap sa asawa. Hindi na n’ya pinansin ang malulungkot na tingin ng mga anak na nakatayo sa kanilang sala at tinitingnan sila. Nakita ni Vic ang pag-akbay ni Albert sa nakababatang kapatid at ang pagyaya nitong umakyat sila.

Marahan nguni’t mabigat ang mga yapak ng dalawang bata habang umaakyat sa hagdan. Alam na nila ang routine. Sinanay na sila ni Vic. “When you see me hug mommy tightly while she’s playing Chopin’s No Other Love, go to your rooms. It means mommy is sick and daddy is the one to cure her.”

“But you’re not a doctor,” pagtataka ni Tasha noon.

“Yes, but there are some sickness of a mommy that only a daddy can cure.”

“What if she plays Chopin’s real Etude? Or Chopin’s other pieces? She’s great with Fantasae Impromptu anyway,” ang tanong naman ni Albert.

“Only ‘No Other Love,’ the song actually, not the entire Etude, just the song.”

Naroon man ang pagtataka sa mata ng mga anak, naging masunurin naman ang mga ito. Sa mga pagkakataong tatanungin s’ya ng mga ito tungkol sa sakit ng ina, sinasabi n’ya ang totoo: bipolar disorder.

“There are times when mommy is so happy and there are times when mommy is so sad.”

Sapat na ‘yon sa kanyang mga anak. “I don’t want mommy to be sad,” sabi ni Albert. “I want mommy to always be happy,”sabi naman ni Tasha.

Alam ni Vic na nahihirapan ang mga anak nila sa tuwing inaatake ng depression si Margaret. Hindi nito kinakausap ang mga anak, magagalitin ito’t, hindi lamang minsang napagbuhatan ng kamay ni Margaret ang mga anak sa height ng kanyang depression.

Nitong nakakaraa’y lalong dumadalas at grumagrabe ang mga mood swings ni Margaret, pakiramdam ni Vic, hindi na umeepekto ang iniinom na niresetang olanzapine sa asawa.

Kung kaya’t nitong mga nakakaraa’y bukod sa matinding pang-unawa’y tanging pagyakap na lamang ang ginagawa ni Vic kay Margaret.

Naramdaman ni Vic ang pagtigil ng paggalaw ng mga daliri ni Margaret.

Tumigil na ito sa pagtugtog. Dama ng mga bisig ni Vic ang panlalambot ng katawan ng asawa. Hinaplos n’ya sa pisngi si Margaret.

“You wanna rest?” tanong ni Vic. Umiling si Margaret. Kumawala s’ya sa mga bisig ni Vic. Bumagsak ang kalahating katawan ni Margaret sa piano. Ilang ulit na pinalo ng mga kamay nito ang mga teklado ng piano. Yakap pa rin ang naging tanging sandata ni Vic upang pigilan ang asawa. Humahagulgol si Margaret. Iniuumpog na rin n’ya ang

kanyang ulo sa mga teklado.

Sa wakas ay nagtagumpay din ang pagyakap ni Vic. Nanginginig man ang katawan ni Margaret sa pagitan ng mga bisig ni Vic, tumigil na ito sa pagtira sa mga teklado. Humarap si Margaret kay Vic. Halos walang humpay ang paggapang ng mga luha sa pisngi ni Margaret.

“Ang sama-sama ko,” sabi ni Margaret.

Masuyong pinahid ni Vic ang mga luha ni Margaret. “Magpahinga ka na.”

“I called the Dean,” sabi ni Margaret.

“Sabi ko sa kanya, dapat makuha mo ang scholarship. Sabi ko, kasi ma-didepress ka ‘pag hindi e. Tapos ayaw n’ya. Nagalit ako. Sabi ko sa kanya she’s one self-absorbed bitch. And then I sang, I sang terribly. Ang sama-sama ng boses ko. Pero kasi masama rin naman s’ya e, kaya dapat masama rin ang pagkanta sa kanya. I sang ‘No other love can warm my heart, now that I’ve known the comfort of your arms.’”

Marahang inilapat ni Vic sa kanyang dibdib ang ulo ni Margaret. “It doesn’t matter,” sabi n’ya sa asawang nagsimulang kantahin ang No Other Love.

Nagpumiglas si Margaret at nagpatuloy sa pag-awit. “’No other love.

Oh the sweet contentment that I find with you, every time, every time.”

Buong pag-iingat na tinayo ni Vic si Margaret. “Sing with me,” utos ni Margaret. “Sing our song, with me.”

Ngumiti si Vic. Sinabayan n’ya ang pag-awit ni Margaret. “’No other lips could want you more for I was born to glory in your kiss. Forever yours I was blessed with love to love you, ‘til the stars burn out above you, ‘til the moon is but a silver shell, no other love, let no other love know the wonder of your spell.”

Tinitigan ni Margaret si Vic. “May kulang,” sabi nito.

Alam ni Vic na sa pagtatapos ng kanilang kanta’y hinahalikan n’ya si Margaret, pero sa pagkakataong ‘yon, naaninag ni Vic na nakaupo pala sa

hagdan ang kanilang mga anak. Nakita n’yang umiiyak si Tasha habang tulala namang nakatingin sa kanila si Albert.

Di man n’ya marinig mula sa mga anak, alam ni Vic na natakot ang mga ito dahil narinig nila ang ilang ulit na pagtira ni Margaret sa mga teklado. Alam ni Vic na di man magawang makahugot ng mga salita mula sa kanilang bokabularyo ang mga anak, nasasaktan ang mga ito dahil nasaksihan nila, kahit paano, ang di maunawaang pagwawala ng kanilang ina.

Dama ni Vic ang awang bumabalot sa mga anak para sa kanilang ina at ang pagnanais nilang makatulong sa paraan at sa problemang hindi nila nauunawaan. Dama n’yang binigo n’ya rin ang mga anak, “Daddy will cure mommy,” ang sabi n’ya noon sa kanila.

At ngayo’y tinitingnan s’ya ng mga anak, naghihintay sa mahika ng panggagamot na tanging ang daddy lamang ang makakapagbigay sa mommy.

Di man n’ya aminin sa mga anak ang kawalan n’ya rin ng kapasidad na gamutin ang kanilang mommy, sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, kitangkita ni Vic mula sa tinging itinatampol sa kanya ng mga anak na alam na rin ng mga itong maging s’ya, ang kanilang daddy, ay wala ring magagawa upang mapagaling ang kanilang mommy.

Sa pagitan ng mga nakamasid na anak at ng asawang tila tinakasan ng katinuan ang mga mata habang nakahiwalay ang mga labing naghihintay sa nakasanayan nang halik sa pagtatapos ng kanilang ‘No Other Love,’ rumagasa sa isipan ni Vic ang pagkaanod ng paggalang ng kanilang dekana. Kinubabawan s’ya ng takot sa maaaring sabihin nito tungkol sa tawag ni Margaret at pagkanta nito sa telepono.

Sa dami ng mga naglalaro sa isipan ni Vic, di na n’ya nagawang halikan si Margaret. Nguni’t tulad ng nasabi ni Mr. Garcia: Pero sa huli, wala ka pa ring gustong gawin kundi ang yakapin s’ya.

At niyakap n’ya si Margaret. [P] Itutuloy sa susunod na isyu...

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UPLB Perspective A.Y. 2011-2012 (Official)

Shit.

Yosi Break Ni Kris

Nakita ko s’ya. Feeling ko nga nakita rin n’ya ako. Sa dinami-dami ba naman ng pwede kong makita bakit s’ya pa. Hindi ko namalayan na gan’ung kabilis ay naubos ko kaagad ‘tong yosi na hinihithit ko.

T*ng ina.

So, tumingin na lang ako sa iba. Kitang-kita ko na andun s’ya sa kabilang kalsada. Iniisip ko kung ano na ang susunod na gagawin ko.

Tatawid ba ako at lalapitan s’ya? Hintayin ko kaya s’yang tumawid at saka ko lapitan?

Hasel.

Bakit naman kasi walang dumadaan na jeep na kahit ano, pakanan, pakaliwa o kahit pa-Forestry, malamang halatang halata na n’ya sa kunot kong noo na nag-iisip ako. Na siya ang iniisip ko.

“Tol!” At lumingon ako, nakita ko si Matthew, housemate ko.

“Anong tinatanga-tanga mo dyan?”

“Gagu!”

“Mas gago hitsura mo. Ang layo ko pa lang kitang-kita nang malalim ang iniisip mo. Ganyang-ganyan ka rin mo n’ung nagbreak…”

Aaminin ko. Gago rin naman kasi ako. Hindi ko rin naman kasi akalain na mahuhulog kaagad ng loob ko sa kanya. Tandang-tanda ko pa n’ung una ko s’yang nakita, suot n’ya ang bestidang ‘yun. Nasabi ko talaga sa sarili ko, “T*ng ina ang sarap naman tawaging girlfriend nito.”

‘Yun ata ang una naming pagkikita. Tanda ko sa party ‘yun ng common friend ng kung sino mang common friend at sa gabing ‘yun, d’un ko s’ya nakilala.

Kakabreak lang namin ng ex-girlfriend ko at maraming linggo na rin akong nagmumukmok at panay ang laro ng DOTA. Pinilit lang ako ni Matthew na samahan ko daw s’ya at d’un ko nga s’ya nakilala.

Halos marami na ang lasing n’un at napagtripan namin ang sumayaw.

Pareho na ata kaming tipsy n’un. Naalala ko panay ang aming tawanan nang gabing ‘yun, hanggang sa naisip naming umupo. Kinuha nya ang kanyang pantali sa buhok at akmang itatali ang kanyang buhok dahil sa s’ya ay naiinitan.

“Wag” sabi ko. “Mas gusto kong nakalugay ang buhok mo…”

Ang bango ng buhok nya. Tandang tanda ko na kahit puro usok na sa kapaligiran n’un, amoy na amoy ko pa rin ang bango ng buhok nya.

Mula n’un ay naging textmates na kami.

‘Yun. Isa pa. Namimiss ko na makita ang number nya sa inbox ko.

Namimiss ko makatanggap ng Good Morning at Good Night sa kanya. Hindi n’ya kasi alam na hanggang ngayon s’ya pa rin ang una kong naiisip pag mulat ng aking mga mata at ang aking huling minumuni-muni bago ako matulog. I-text ko kaya uli s’ya? Bahala na.

“Tara na nga!” Sabay madaliang yakag paalis. Hindi ko na inalam pa kung nakita nga ba n’ya ako.

At kinuha ko ang aking telepono sabay send ng:

Namimiss ko nang marinig ‘yung tawa niya. Namimiss ko ‘yung nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa kanyang mga mata habang hawak ang kanyang mukha.

Magre-reply kaya siya?

“Kumusta ka na?”

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