UPLB Perspective Tomo 44, Issue 6

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Authorship of a National Story | editoryal 2

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UP implements new GE programs despite rushed K-12 policy

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Falsehood Factories

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Hypebeast

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opinyon

A Guide to Blending

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UPLB PERSPECTIVE MAYO - AGOSTO 2018

AUTHORSHIP OF A NATIONAL STORY The university welcomed more than two thousand freshmen – two thousand new souls. The university was casted with a spell of drought for two years, but it is now again filled with a pool of Freshmen. Their names are logged in the Registrar’s list and they will join the ranks of the many new authors of the Iskolar’s story.

But their stories will also be penned by hopes and dreams of their families and of the nation.

The blood of the victims of extra-judicial killings in urban and rural areas, the tears of an economically terrorized society, and the sweat of unfairly and undercompensated workers, will be the ink to which they will write their stories. Books baptized by their own, their families’, and the nations’ struggles, experiences, and dreams.

These two thousand lives will be greeted by an agitated urban society exhausted by continuous economic harassment and physical persecution by a defacto dictatorship, the neglected countryside angered by an unresolved decades-long armed conflict between multiple armed actors, and hungry media agencies repressed by an undeclared war on barkers of truth – all will await their response. Loud cries from the slums, the

rice fields, and the editorial rooms become whispers for address and redress for the injustices the nation is facing. The decision to act is upon the diligence of their hands and the benevolence of their hearts.

The downsizing of liberty and rights are not isolated in urban slums, rural communities, and indigenous tribes. They are restricted and withheld by state institutions who were expected to be vanguards of liberty and rights. This state university is no exception.

The provision of Free Tuition in the previous year was greeted with loud cheers and happy tears after decadeslong battle. But that landmark victory for students is threatened by the impending implementation of Return Service for all undergraduate programs. It is unjust – it

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Kasapi UP Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations (Solidaridad) at College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines Pamuhatan Silid 11, Pangalawang Palapag, Student Union Building, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Los Baños, College, Los Baños, Laguna , 4031

demands free and coerced labor from students who are supposed to be entitled to free state education. It is blind to the nuance that the two thousand lives live with – that maximization of time is essential when one must alleviate the family from poverty.

The two thousand souls chose this university because they chose freedom, yet they were welcomed by constrictions to their freedom to organize.

Organizations have been at the forefront in shaping the talents, personalities, campus culture, and most importantly the national discussion on issues, yet they have been generalized as poison for the new two thousand.

While there have been lapses and scandals that some organizations have been involved in, the benefit still stands that thousands of lives inside and outside the university have been touched a n d

changed by organizations.

There are still problems that organizations need to address but these problems such as potential heavy workload and culture shock can be remedied and not suffice for an outright blanket ban on recruitment. The ban extinguishes potential flames for students to shine – it constricts their development. It is true that academics will help a student live after graduation, but it is social involvement that breathes life to their deeds and works. It is just that the two thousand rises against any downsizing of their fundamental freedoms.

While they are in the first chapter of writing their stories, the imperative to act is already apparent – demand the provision of robbed freedoms we are all entitled to, and an emerging conclusion should be painted – reimagine our democratic system.

What is already written and will be written do not only tell a story but they set terms for how the UPLB youth imagines a prostudent university and a humane and just government.

Remember, the refusal of the good to participate in the creation of our narrative creates a blank page, and a blank page can be tainted by fetishes, fantasies, and follies of the evil.

It is in our hands to continue writing the story. [P]

Punong Patnugot Julianne Afable Tagapamahalang Patnugot Michelle Andrea Laurio, Charity Faith Rulloda Patnugot ng Balita Caren Malaluan Patnugot ng Lathalain Miguel Carlos Lazarte Patnugot ng Kultura Mac Andre Arboleda Patnugot ng Paglalapat Kristine Joy Orig Patnugot ng Grapiks Jandelle Cruz Patnugot ng mga Larawan Kristine Paula Bautista Mga Kawani Ranielle Averion ⋅ Paul Christian Carson ⋅ Monica Laboy ⋅ Lianne Rose Parajeno ⋅ Juvelle Villanueva ⋅ James Jericho Bajar ⋅ Patricia Echano ⋅ John Albert Pagunsan ⋅ Eunice Alexcy Senadoza ⋅ Juan Sebastian Evangelista ⋅ Maria Maxene Jaleco ⋅ Amrie Cruz Mga Apprentice Sonya Castillo ⋅ Beatrice Anonuevo Dibuho ni Jandelle Cruz

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UP implements new GE program despite rushed K-12 policy WORDS l AMRIE CRUZ

Amid a number of difficulties including incomplete training and lack of equipment, UP is thrust to meet the hopes of a rushed K-12 policy. The new UP General Education (GE) Program greets UPLB following the release of the Office of The Vice President For Academic Affairs (OVPAA) Memorandum No. 2017-78 which stated that only approved GE courses based on the revised framework can be taught starting First Semester 20182019.

Fast track The GE reform started in 2013 under the leadership of then Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Curriculum) Dr. Marilou Nicolas. The then current GE curriculum was reviewed to make changes attuned to the nature of the K-12 graduates expected to enroll come 2018.

After a change in administration, Dr. Alyssa Peleo-Alampay took over.

Several consultations and mini conferences at the constituent university (CU) level as well as three system wide conferences were held to develop the new GE courses.

The first Subic Systemwide GE Conference in May 2014 focused on how the courses were to be created.

The framework created by the Technical Working Group for UP GE Program Implementation, headed by Faculty Regent Dr. Patricia B. Arinto, was revised after the consultations held after the second GE Conference in Feb 2015. This served as the basis for the curriculum revisions made by university councils. The courses were not approved until 2016. By the third conference held in 2017, over 200 faculty members participated in putting together the course modules.

In July 11 to 13 2018, the UP System GE Teaching Conference was conducted in UP Diliman to discuss the manner of instruction for the 11 GE courses common across the UP system that were approved by the Board of Regents (BOR) in December 2017.

The 11 new courses are dubbed as Super GE courses.

UPLB is the only CU with a fixed GE requirement of 24 units plus PI 10 (The Life and Works of Rizal). Other campuses have

removed PI 10 from their GE list. Out of the 24, 15 units are the required courses which are the following: • History 1 (Philippine History) or KAS 1 (Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas) • STS 1 (Science, Technology, and Society) • ARTS 1 (Critical Perspectives in the Arts) • ETHICS 1 (Ethics and Moral Reasoning in Everyday Life) • COMM 10 (Critical Perspectives in Communication).

The remaining 9 units are to be taken from the elective GE courses which include the following: • SAS 1 (Self and Society) • WIKA 1 (Wika, Kultura, at Lipunan) • PHILARTS 1 (Philippine Arts and Culture) • MATH 10 (Mathematics, Culture and Society) • SCIENCE 10 (Probing the Physical World) • SCIENCE 11 (Living Systems: Concepts and Dynamics) Pedagogy and problems Dr. Arinto stated that the new GE pedagogy under the outcomes-based approach follows the principles of being learning-centered, resource-based learning and an interdisciplinary approach.

The expected outcomes

of the program have been determined by the Technique Working Group for GE Program Evaluation to be used in end of semester monitoring and program evaluation in 2022.

Working under the premise that education is a process, the learning-centered paradigm puts the responsibility of learning to the students.

Teachers are assigned to facilitate learning instead of being sources of information.

Instead of passively listening to lectures, the Flip Classroom blended learning instructional strategy demands that students have read the material beforehand and are prepared to discuss in class.

A Super GE course does not have a single text book as its primary source. With resourcebased learning enhanced by the Virtual Learning Experience (VLE), students can help collect learning materials for online courses that are supplements to the teachers’ face-to-face delivery of lectures.

Dr. Maribel Dionisio-Sese, Interactive Learning Center (ILC) Director, said, “The uploading of the GE course materials in VLE. UPLB’s VLE is MOODLE [Modular ObjectOriented Dynamic Learning Environment] within the ILC website’s eCourses UPLB. In the said portal, there is GE Master Site listing all the current GE courses with their uploaded module study guides and reading materials. These

are available to the faculty concerned and their students upon proper registration/ enrollment to the site.”

However, not all faculty members were able to attend the MOODLE training workshops held last July 26 and 27. With only two batches of faculty trained, the Super GE courses are not yet full-blown MOODLE based considering that there are around 2500 new freshmen competing over slots for 11 GE courses.

The VLE is also met with difficulty as students are required to have steady internet access and the course sites are supposed to be hosted by ILC server. With a bigger demand from the server which already hosts a number of e-classes, the sites are not always accessible.

UPLB has qualified for a grant on the development of interactive instructional materials after conducting the prerequisite TrainingWorkshops on Development/ Application of Interactive Learning Materials. They were led by the ILC last July 30-31 and August 1-2. With a P1.5 million budget for the GE program, the council received an approval from the chancellor to use P1.4 million to secure a GE exclusive server as well as new computers.

Since the Super GE courses are multidisciplinary, the curriculum removed the domains and the course outline is less specific. With a 60/40

The revised flow chart for curricular proposals is sent along with the OVPAA Memo 2017-78 Approval of New and Reformulated GE Courses which was circulated in January 2018.

divide, 60 percent serves as the basic minimum of commonality for the course outline while 40 percent of material depends on the expertise of the campus and the instructor.

The chancellor released a list of equivalencies for continuing students who have yet to finish their RGEP requirements under particular domains. In an interview, Prof. Carson Cruz, a member of the GE faculty, stated that he believes that continuing students who enrolled in the old curriculum should take the RGEP GE courses since the substitutes which are tailor fit for K-12 graduates are not direct equivalents. Continuing students miss competencies from GE prerequisites for higher courses that have been removed. While there was an announcement of old GE offerings in the UP Open University, they have not yet been reconfigured.

Standards unmet The basis for developing the new GE courses was the college readiness standard released by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) which was supposed to measure the competencies of a K-12 graduate. This standard was made to match the Department of Education’s (DepEd) K-12 curriculum. Due to the lack of control in the implementation, the standard is unfortunately invalid. The results of diagnostic exams administered by UPLB showed that half of the college readiness standards were unmet by the new freshmen.

Dr. Rolando Panopio, UPLB GE Program Director, stated that the faculty must be gentle when handling the new freshmen since they are not the real K-12 graduates. They are victims of policies which assumed that they were taught under the K-12 curriculum from Grades 1 to 6. The teachers are now the new victims who are forced to address the inadequacies resulting from this lapse.

Moreover, new freshmen admitted that they were rushed to graduate. There are those who weren’t able to finish the courses. The time allotted was not enough and senior high is packed with activities that took hours away from class. The senior high teacher recruitment was also low and some of them

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were ill prepared for the job.

With the additional two years, they were high schools that did not have the buildings to Program-Prescribed and U n i v e r s i t y Constituent Total Core accommodate the rise in high Elective GE Courses Council Date University Units GE Courses school student population.

UP Manila 24-36 18 6-18 Feb. 9, 2016 “It was a political will na ituloy siya. I think the money UP Visayas 36 21 15 Feb. 17, 2016 was there kaya lang hindi UP Baguio 36 27 9 Feb. 29, 2016 ready yung maraming tao.

Yung kultura natin hindi ready.

UPOU 30 21 9 Mar. 8, 2016 Madaming mga family na, UP Cebu 36 24 12 Mar. 9, 2016 ‘Hala! High school pa ang anak ko hanggang ngayon eh hindi UP Mindanao 30 18 12 Mar. 28, 2016 ba dapat nagco-college na yan.

UP Los Banos 27 18 9 Apr. 15, 2016 Yung mga ganung culture ba.

So maraming naging problema UP Diliman 21-45 21 0-24 Mar. 20, 2017 pero mga birth pains ito na in Having different GE requirements per CU, the GE council is aware that the the end, sa tingin namin ay courses would not be enough to cater to the student population unless RGEP lesson ‘to. Di pwedeng basta courses are reconfigured. na lang tayo’y lumugmok dito dahil ganito ang nangyari. We have to rise above all of these,” Dr. Panopio added.

GE Program Curriculum Structure per CU

UP SCs and pubs condemn 2018 Collegian exams conduct, call to uphold press freedom WORDS l JULIANNE AFABLE

Adopting GASC 2018-001: “A Resolution Condemning Conduct and the Results of the 2018 Philippine Collegian Examinations and Upholding Press Freedom” via consensus in the 46th General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC) held last July, Student Councils (SCs) from UP units across the country stand with the Philippine Collegian and other campus publications in their call for a fair and democratic conduct of the recently conducted 2018 Philippine Collegian Editorial Exams.

During the 2018 UP Solidaridad Congress which was held just days before the 46th GASC, UP Solidaridad, an alliance of student publications and writers’ organizations in UP, also adopted a resolution calling for a fair and democratic editorial selection process, not just in Philippine Collegian but all student publications in the UP system Affirmation ceremony As Philippine Collegian staffers were at UP Visayas for the coverage of the 46th GASC and amidst protest from different student formations in UP Diliman, an affirmation ceremony for Jayson Edward San Juan who topped the 2018 Philippine Collegian Editorial Exams, was held at the Vinzons Lobby on July 26.

San Juan was officially proclaimed as the new Collegian Editor-in-Chief (EIC) even after the examinations were dubbed as anomalous since two Collegian staffers were barred from taking the exams over an alleged anti-student interpretation of the Philippine Collegian Rules by the Board of Judges (BOJ). The BOJ was headed by Dr. Elena E. Pernia, dean of the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication for her anti-student stances.

The Editorial Exams Marvin Ang and Richard Cornelio, two collegian staffers, were barred from taking the exams for their graduating status after the BOJ ruled them in violation of Article IV, Section 13 of the Philippine Collegian Rules which states that “the editor of the Philippine Collegian, while serving in the capacity, must continue to satisfy the same qualifications [of being enrolled in an undergraduate degree course carrying not less than the normal load prescribed for a regular student] and be free of the disqualifications governing eligibility to participate in the competitive examinations, as prescribed in these rules.”

Ang, Malikhaing Pagsulat student and Cornelio, a Metalurgical Engineering student, however, in an appeal to the BOJ, stressed their intent

to pursue further studies in undergraduate programs in the University. The two also cited Section 8, Article III of the Collegian rules which according to them, renders them qualified to take the Editorial Exams, ““[t] o be able to participate in the competitive examination, the applicant: (a) must be a regular student of the University with at least one-year residence therein and (b) must be enrolled in an undergraduate course carrying not less than the normal load prescribed for a regular student.”

However, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan upheld the BOJ’s decision to bar Ang and Cornelio from taking the editorial exams. In a written statement released on May 5, Tan says that the two students’ claims for enrolling to another degree is not assured. He wrote, “The two students argue that they are indeed graduating but could enroll in another degree when the school year starts.

This is an “if” though because admission into a new program is not assured.”

A Call to #DefendPressFreedom UP Solidaridad (UP Soli) together with its member publications and organizations also registered their support for Collegian in adopting Soli2018-01: “A Resolution Calling

It takes two to tango In the new teaching paradigm, the list of requirements for the course is a contract between the teacher and the students.

Being involved in the learning process, students can argue for a justified way of showing how they meet the desired outcome of a course. Student consultation is embedded in the instructional strategy.

With the collaborative approach, Dr. Panopio requested, “Kung sabi namin na be gentle with the students, dapat ang mga estudyante din ay be understanding of the teachers. Kasi it takes two to tango. Di pwedeng kami lang lagi ang mag-iisip. Dapat ang mga estudyante ay maging proactive din naman… Kung

tutuusin mo third year na ang mga estudyanteng pumasok diba? Pero kung mag-act sila para silang tunay na freshmen.

They are so timid. Natatakot silang magtanong. Although, kasi naman first two weeks pa naman ng semester…

Pero dapat masabi sa mga estudyante na ang UP student di lang basta tanggap lang nang tanggap ng mga bagaybagay. Analytical dapat ang pag-iisip ng estudyante ng UP” The champions of the revised GE program hope that by monitoring the performance of the first batch of K-12 freshmen, they can show that it is possible to produce word class graduates through outcomes based education. [P]

for a Fair and Democratic Editor Selection Process for the Philippine Collegian and other student publications in UP”. Through the resolution, UP publications who attended the UP Soli Congress reiterated their stand to not recognize the results of the 2018 Editorial Exams and called to hold Dean Pernia, in behalf of the BOJ, accountable for the controversy that transpired.

Moreover, UP Solidaridad called for a review and amendment of the outdated Collegian rules in consideration of the interests of the publication and the students. The alliance also called to revise the composition of the BOJ which is to be democratically selected solely by the students.

Through the adopting the resolution, the nationwide alliance recognized that the UP Diliman administration’s decision on the Collegian Editorial Exams manifested

how the administration can intervene on the operations of the supposedly autonomous student publications.

“Student publications should always remain independent and free from any form of intervention from the administration. The flawed editor-selection process in the Philippine Collegian sets a dangerous precedent that enables all other university and college administrators to interpret publication rules against the students,” said UP Solidaridad National Chairperson, Beatrice Puente.

“What happened to the Collegian also endangers the freedom of all other student publications and creates a chilling effect to them because the administration could easily legitimize their direct hand over the operation of the pub,” Puente added. [P]

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Who are behind fake news accounts?

of accounts in the world affected by Cambridge Analytica’s malicious use of information. Mike Schroepfer, Chief Technology Officer of Facebook, released a Facebook Newsroom statement on April 4, 2018 announcing that 1,175,870 accounts in the Philippines have been compromised by Facebook to Cambridge Analytica.

The United States has the most number of accounts affected at 70.6 million accounts. The data harvested from the accounts are alleged to have been used in the U.S. elections for political campaigns. Indonesia is ranked third with almost 1.1 million accounts.

The United Kingdom, who voted on the Brexit in 2016 (a controversial referendum that allowed the British to decide whether to stay or leave the European Union), has almost 1.08 million accounts compromised. According to British media agencies - The Guardian and Independent, it has also been speculated that the Brexit vote has been heavily influenced by misinformation and deception.

The British Parliament initiated investigations and pressured Facebook to address the allegations that

to the Philippine elections.

Rappler claims that Strategic Communications Laboratory has listed Istratehiya, Inc. as their Philippine office. Official documents of the alleged Philippine office show that it is owned by Duterte friend and Davao lawyer, Rey Faizal Ponce Millan.

The current President is Jed Eva III. Rappler’s investigation leads to the visit of Alexander Nix, currently suspended Cambridge Analytica CEO, visiting the Philippines with Duterte allies in 2015. Istratehiya’s Eva confirms that Nix and him met for lunch in 2015 but such meeting did not produce any partnership.

Duterte’s campaign team members - Jose Gabriel La Vina and Peter Tiu La Vina, and Presidential Communications undersecretary - Joel Egco, were present in the lunch hosted by Vera in 2015 wih Nix. Malacanang has consistently denied the allegations that Duterte reached out to Cambridge Analytica or Alexander Nix for political communications support.

Dr. Cabanes’ research reveals that Public Relations (PR) and Media companies are behind the orchestra of disinformation. What fuels them to deceive?

Simply, money and adventure.

Dr. Cabanes claims that the executive management of involved companies are in the business because they see political communications and social media as a territory yet to be conquered and known. Executives test communication strategies and tactics in social media. If successful, executives or PR practitioners then utilize it in marketing consumer goods and services. More than knowing their audiences, the strategies and lessons from dissemination of misinformaton become valuable in the PR world.

Likewise, any information from marketing is also applied in distribution of misinformation.

Architects of misinformation in the middle and bottom of the pyramid are incentivized to stay and How is my data being harvested for do the work because of the high pay. These people misinformation? are either regular day workers committed to the job or employees who need extra Through social media and cash. Whatever cash they get smartphone applications, from the job - the use to either private data is harvested from alleviate ailing families or aid phone books, messaging their climb to the middle and WORDS | JOHN ALBERT PAGUNSAN platforms, location data, and upper classes. even galleries. The data then But where do they all work?

After the highly contested and controversial elections around the world in 2016 is used in psychographics.

Dr. Cabanes explains that these employees work in (including the Philippines and the United States), CollinsDictionary officially announced Psychographics is a call-center-like environments in 2017 that it will include “fake-news” in its dictionary. It eventually became word of method of analyzing an and are mostly found in the 2017. bustling metropolis of Manila.

For netizens, the conclusion of the 2016 elections was not the end of fake news and audience through qualitative data - personalities, beliefs, Dr. Cabanes explains troll accounts. It was just a teaser. that people in this industry UPLB Perspective presents an explainer on scandals involving fake news in the opinions, interests, and values. fictionalize or pretend to Philippines and around the world. This explainer includes recent UPLB lectures delivered This method is used to target either to be heroes, heroines, by University of Leeds Prof. Jason Vincent Cabanes (on his paper Architects of Networked users with misinformation. or villains in a popular Disinformation: Behind the scenes of troll accounts and fake news production in the What is being and can television series when they are Philippines) and Rappler journalist Stacy de Jesus. be done to address the out in the online battlefield. problem?

This role-playing influences the tone and content of their messages which are misinformation from Russian troll factories influenced Dr. Cabanes is critical of any legislation against the Brexit referendum. After the referendum, political the publication of fake news. For him, the judge of highly emotional in nature.

Obviously, the problem is bigger than the analysts and public intellectuals emphasized the fake news will be the government and governments’ influence of xenophobia in social media and in discernment on the “truth” of fake news can not Philippines.

Cambridge Analytica (CA), a British political public spaces on the referendum. be trusted because of its motivations and biases. communications consulting firm, has recently been Recently, the Philippines and Malaysia passed caught in the scandal of maliciously using private How affected is the Philippines? legislations against fake news. Such legislation can user data with the aid of Facebook. The data has impact news agencies critical of the government.

The problem is bigger than Mocha Uson, Sass Dr. Cabanes suggests that stronger and stricter been allegedly used to target populations’ biases and profiles to persuade or encourage them Sasot, and Thinking Pinoy. Numerous media legislation on disclosure of campaign funding and vote or not vote for a certain candidate based on agencies claim that the recent candidates in the spending from politicians need to be passed. He recent Philippine elections seeked the help of SCL says that money is a big factor in the proliferation of misinformation.

In the Philippines, Cambridge Analytica and its and CA. Dr. Cabanes says that his research has found fake news and monitoring campaign expenditures predecessor Strategic Communications Laboratory, that both the opposition and the government are is a way to check and balance politicians without Inc. (CA) are found to have a Philippine office located using misinformation to their advantage. hurting news agencies.

Quartz,a global news outlet specializing on in Metro Manila - Istratehiya, Inc. The chairman of Recently, Facebook shrinked fake news links in the Istratehiya is a Duterte-friend and Davao lawyer - the economy and owned by Atlantic Media, did a hope that users will miss the content on their feeds. report on documents dated 2013 retrieved from Also alleged to have allowed CA to access user data, Rey Faizal Ponce Millan.

Stacy de Jesus, a Rappler journalist, says that it is Cambridge Analytica’s predecessor SCL Elections. Twitter has released new privacy guidelines. not only politicians who are clients of architects of The documents showed that Cambridge Analytica’s The European Union has threatened tech giants misinformation. Private businesses employ not only research on private user data suggested that a such as Google and Facebook to aggressively effective persuasion through deception but also Philippine candidate should tweak his image as address fake news or they face stricter regulations in similar mudslinging tactics utilized by social media “man of action and no non-sense” from being the region. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump trolls against their competitors. De Jesus claims simply “honest and honorable”. The documents did has been constantly attacked with allegations of ties that a telecommunications giant has been a recent not pertain to a specific person. Southern China with Russia and involvement of Russia in the recent Morning Post claims that the documents are dated elections through the use of trolls and fake news victim of misinformation on Twitter.

2016 and the candidate the documents are referring against Trump’s rival Hillary Clinton.[P] to are President Rodrigo Duterte.

Who are affected?

The documents and SCL Elections’ website have The Philippines has the second largest number erased the documents and any material pertaining

Falsehood Factories

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The The UPLB UPLB Freshie Guide Guide 2018 2018 WORDS WORDS AND AND LAYOUT ll JANDELLE JANDELLECRUZ CRUZ

Congratulations Congratulations and andwelcome welcometo toUPLB, UPLB,new new Isko Isko and and Iska! Your Your first firstyear yearinside insidethe thecampus campus can can bebe a bit a bit complicated complicated andand terrifying terrifying if you’re if you’re lost lostand andanxious. anxious.But Butdon’t don’t worry! worry! Your friendly friendlyneighborhood, neighborhood,UPLB UPLBPerspective, Perspective, is is here here to to assist assist and and help help you you out out with with the the basics. basics.Check Checkout outthis thisfreshie freshie guide guide to get some some tips tipsand andaabit bitmore moreofofwhat what you you might might need. need.

Isko / Iska Isko is a contraction of the Filipino word iskolar. It has become the generic term for UP students since we are subsidized by the people’s taxes and therefore being an “Iskolar ng Bayan Para sa Bayan.” We don’t just study hard and graduate, we should also serve the people and be advocates of individual and holistic growth and development.

Student number and SAIS number Your student and SAIS numbers are the identification numbers assigned to you upon your registration to UP. Both are used to identify students as an alternative for their name, especially when viewing scores and grades in exercises, projects, or exams and when requesting official documents. The main difference between these two is that the student number starts with your batch number followed by a hyphen and five more numbers while the SAIS number is generated and can be viewed using the said online registration site.

Oble The Oblation is one of UP’s symbols. It is a statue of a naked man standing with its arms outstretched and symbolizes “a selfless offering of the self to the country.” The Oblation you see in UPLB is actually a replica sculpted by National Artist Napoleon Abueva. It is found in front of the Old Humanities Building. According to a popular UP myth, students who take pictures with Oble will be delayed to graduate. But don’t worry! It’s up to you if you’ll believe it or not.

Freshie tip: You can take pictures with Oble. But it’s better safe than sorry!

Another freshie tip: In December, there is an annual event called Oblation Run where male students from a fraternity run completely naked within the campus. It serves as a protest to national and social issues.

SAIS The Student Academic Information System is the main data management system that covers the entire student lifecycle: from admission, registration, and enrollment, to graduation and alumni tracking.

It keeps track of the student’s academic records and financial data. It also allows you to enlist and pay for the required fees in their preferred classes.

You can view your records and update your personal information.

UPLB ID You must wear your ID upon entering buildings and establishments within the campus, especially in the main library and admin building, so you can access services and facilities. Some professors might require you to present your ID during examinations to verify your identity as a registered UP student. Just bring your Form 5 to the main library and get the validation sticker to validate your student ID.

Block A block section is a group of students with the same degree programs. In UPLB, it only happens during your first year. Students in the same block would most likely be classmates in most or all of their subjects.

Blue book UP blue books are special notebooks that only have very few pages. These are often used during exercises, quizzes, and exams only so you don’t need them during the first day of classes unless your instructor advises you to buy them. Blue books are relatively cheap –stores sell them for three to five pesos while some organizations give them for free!

Freshie tip: Attend orientations and programs for freshmen so you can get free blue books. Keep them for future use.

Registration form or Form 5 Even though you don’t have to pay fees for your UP education now, you still need to get and bring your registration form. It shows the subjects, sections, and number of units you currently take and the breakdown of fees. It is mostly used during the registration period and to validate your ID. Some professors require you to bring your Form 5 at the first to second week of classes to verify if you are truly part of their class. You can get your Form 5 from the Cashier’s Office, OUR, or in your respective OCS. UPLB WIFI Free internet can be accessed via the UPLB WIFI; however, malicious and pornographic sites are inaccessible since you are bound by the policies implemented by the University with regards to internet access within the campus. UPLB WIFI can be used within 60 buildings across the campus, including the dormitories and libraries. It also provides students free access to journals, government online portals and other academic services.

You can visit the Information Technology Center at the admin building to get your login credentials or for assistance.

GE GE is the acronym for General Education. Courses or subjects under GE are interdisciplinary and drawn from three domains: arts and humanities (AH), social sciences and philosophy (SSP), and mathematics, science and technology (MST). All students are required to take GE courses and electives. Before, students needed to get 45 units of GE courses but because of the implementation of K to 12, the required number of GE units decreased to 21.

There two types of GE courses: the core and elective.

Core courses are necessary or required for all students to take so that despite having different areas of specialization or majors, they can have a shared experience.

These subjects are always in-demand and freshmen usually take these on their first semester. Elective courses are subjects that allows students to pursue their interest in a specific domain.

Kaliwa, Kanan, and Forestry Org Org Org Orgisisthe thecontraction contraction for for the word word “organization”. “organization”.ItIt Jeeps with the Kaliwa sign turn left as they enter the refers refersto tostudent student organizations organizations recognized recognizedby byOSA OSA UPLB main gate. These jeeps pass by the Math building or St. Therese Chapel, CEAT or engineering, AnSci, and andclassified classifiedaccording according to their their type type or orpurpose. purpose.

Baker Hall, and the university dorms. Jeeps with the OSA OSAclassified classifiedthem them as as the following: following: academic academicor or Kanan sign, however, turn right from the main gate and cultural culturalorgs, orgs,fraternities fraternities and sororities, sororities,varsitarian varsitarian ororinternational internationalorgs, orgs, political political or or religious religiousorgs, orgs,and and passes by Raymundo Gate, CEM and CSI, Westbrook Residences, the back of the Main Library, and in front socio-civic socio-civicorgs. orgs.As As we we know, learning learning isisnot notlimitlimitof the graduate school parking lot. If you want to go to ed edtotothe thewalls wallsof of the the classroom classroom so so orgs orgsorganize organize and andparticipate participatein in extracurricular extracurricular activities activitiesinside insideor or UHS, CPAF, or anywhere in the upper campus, take the outside outsidethe theuniversity. university. Each Each has their their own ownadvocacy, advocacy, jeeps with the Forestry sign. If the jeep does not have mission, mission,vision, vision,goals, goals, and and culture culture that that might mightinterest interest any signages, you can also find out if it will go to the you youto tobe beaamember member or or participate participate in in their theirprograms. programs. upper campus if you point your index finger upwards.

If the driver nods or stops in front of you, the jeep will surely go there. Otherwise, it won’t.

Orgs Orgsusually usuallyhave have their their own tambayan tambayanor orhangout hangout spot spotwhere wherethey they can can organize organize meetings meetingsor orgeneral general assemblies assemblies(GA).

(GA).An An org org tambayan tambayan can canbe beone oneof ofthe the There are also jeeps that can pass by IRRI and UP Rural. makeshift makeshiftbenches benches without without the UPLB UPLB logo, logo,aadesigdesig- Passengers can wait in front of the Maquiling School Inc. (MSI) behind the admin building. These jeeps do not nated natedarea areainside inside aa college college building, building,or oraaspecially specially have signages so you’ll have to tell the driver where you designed designedshed. shed. want to go.

Freshie Freshietip: tip:Within Within the the first first two months monthsof ofthe the semester, semester,some someorgs orgs hold hold orientations orientations to tointroduce introduce Freshie tip: You can wait for Forestry jeeps at the yellow lane near DL Umali Hall. The jeep might be nearly full themselves themselvesand andto to recruit recruit new members. members.They They usually usuallyoffer offerfree free dinners. dinners. Other orgs orgs also alsohold holdopen open of passengers by the moment it passes by there so tambayan tambayanevents events where where they let let non-members non-memberswithwith- remember to be quick to get on. ininthe thepremise premiseof of their their tambayan. tambayan. During Duringthis thisevent, event, C-Park, O-Park, and F-Park everyone everyoneenjoy enjoylistening listening to live bands, bands,eating eatingfree free These places are not buildings or offices but open spacfood, food,and andwinning winning prizes. prizes. es where people can conduct events and recreational activities.

Pigeon Pigeonhole hole Pigeon Pigeonholes holesaren’t aren’t holes holes for birds. birds. These Theseare areboxes boxes orordrawers drawersthat thatfunction function as your professors’ professors’mailboxmailbox- The C-Park stands for Carabao Park located in the front of the campus, after the main gate, and in between the es esor ordropboxes. dropboxes.You You put put your homeworks, homeworks,exerexerCDC and admin buildings. It has carabao statues, two cises, cises,papers, papers,letters, letters, or or projects projects inside insidewhen whenyour your empty fish ponds, and nearby benches where you can professors professorsinstruct instruct you you to do so or or ifif they theyare arenot not around. around.These Theseare are usually usually located located in in specified specifiedrooms rooms sit or hang out. Mass organizations or the USC would often organize mobs or rallies and perform solidarity ororatatthe theentrance entrance of of departmental departmental offices. offices. speeches in this area.

Prerog Prerog IfIfyou youfailed failedto toget get full full units units or your your required requiredsubjects subjects The O-Park stands for Oblation Park since this is where the popular UP symbol is located. Facing Oble, the during duringyour youronline online registration registration schedule scheduleand andyou you badly badlyneed needto totake take those those within the the semester, semester,you’ll you’ll former Physical Sciences Building is at its left-side while have haveto toresort resortto to manual manual enlistment enlistment or orwhat whatwe wecall call NCAS, OUR, and CAS Annex 2 buildings are on its right-side. The Old Humanities building stands behind “prerog”. “prerog”.You Youwould would need need to approach approachaasubject’s subject’s instructor instructorso soyou you can can be be enlisted enlisted in in his hisor orher herclass. class. it. There are also benches around where you can sit and ItItisisthen thenthe theinstructor’s instructor’s prerogative prerogative ifif he heor orshe shewill will watch people taking pictures with Oble or students accept acceptyou, you,suggest suggest you you to other other classes, classes,or orturn turnyou you organizing mobs. down. down.

The F-Park stands for Freedom Park. Since this is the largest open field in the campus, F-Park is mostly used GI GI GI GIisisthe theacronym acronym for for Guidance Guidance Instruction.

Instruction.ItItisisusuusu- for outdoor and recreational activities like field sports, ally allypart partof ofyour yourclass class schedule schedule and and is is only onlyavailable available picnics, team buildings, and zumba sessions. There are also benches around the area but you can just sit or lie during duringthe thefirst firstsemester semester of your your first first year. year.GIs GIsare are not notrequired requiredbut but OSA OSA highly highly encourages encouragesfreshmen freshmen on the grass while looking at the majestic view of the Carillon tower and DL Umali. The UPLB February Fair totoparticipate participatein inthis this activity activity because because this thisisiswhen when you’ll you’llget getto toknow know your your blockmates blockmates and andthe thecampus campus and the annual commencement exercises is also held here. and andvolunteers volunteerswould would give give you survival survivaltips tipsand and essential essentialfacts factsabout about UPLB. UPLB. Freshie tip: You can access the UPLB WIFI even in these areas so you might see students stopping by more Freshie Freshietip: tip:Attend Attend GIs! GIs! They’re fun fun and andinteresting interesting often. especially especiallybecause because you’ll you’ll get to bond bond with withyour your blockmates blockmatesand andother other batchmates. batchmates.

Yellow lanes Yellow lanes are specified loading and unloading bays within the campus. If you want to get off and the jeep is not on one of these lanes, drivers won’t let you do so. These yellow lanes are often found in strategic places where main buildings and establishments are nearby so you don’t need to worry about the long walks (or runs) and tired feet, unless your destination is somewhere inaccessible to jeeps.

Readings and handouts Professors often provide or require reading materials that can be printed or accessed online. Others might ask you to get printed handouts from certain photocopying centers or computer shops. These are very essential if you forget to write notes and you have to review for upcoming examinations. If you want to save money and papers, it’s best to ask upperclassmen if they still have their old handouts from their previous subjects.

[P] The UPLB Perspective is the official student publication in the campus since 1973. Its office is located at Room 11, Second floor, SU Building. [P] covers and participates in almost all of the events and happenings related to the university, students, Los Baños community, and the masses. Staff members would usually give out monthly papers or leave them at popular corners in every building. They also train apprentices through journalistic skills trainings, educational discussions, and basic mass integrations.

Freshie tip: Make sure you grab a copy every month so you can be updated and be aware of the issues not just inside the campus but also in the country.

USC / CSC The University and College Student Councils are the representatives of the student body. The USC office is located at Room 10, Second Floor, SU Building while CSC offices are found within their respective colleges.

It protects the rights and welfare of UPLB students and the Filipinos by developing social awareness and responsibility and ensuring democratic participation.

They represent the student body in dialogs with the higher ups and meetings with the other student councils from other campuses or universities.

Sablay Sablay doesn’t mean failure in UP. Sablay means tagumpay because you can wear it for the first time when you are finally graduating! It is the official academic costume of UP, replacing the traditional cap and toga. It is a hand-made indigenous loose garment with geometric shapes, ukkil, and some characters in Baybayin. It symbolizes our nationalism and the importance we put upon our indigenous culture so it is exclusively used for formal occasions such as graduation ceremonies. Students must strictly observe the provided pointers regarding the use of Sablay.

(Sources: UPLB Official Website, UP Official Website, UPLB Facebook Page, USC Facebook Page)

7

8

KULTURA

Siguro ay narinig mo na ang salitang HypeBeast at malaki rin ang posibilidad na

nakakita ka na ng ilan. Siguro ay alam mo na ang kanilang mga itsura. Sanay ka na rin sa kanilang mga gimik at mga linggo-lingguhang pagtitipon. Mahilig silasa hip-hop at pagsayaw, lagi rin nilang ibinibida ang kanilang streetwear na porma. Masasabi ng ilan na sila ay maingay, at nagsisilbing istorbo lamang sa mga pampublikong mga ispasyo. Kamakailan lamang ay tinutuligsa at tinutugis sila ng mga awtoridad sabagkat nakikita sila bilang mga sagabal sa kapayapaan. Madalas silang naakusahan na mga bargas, pasikat, at batugan, matalas ang tabas ng mga dila at walang respeto sa ibang mga tao. Iba’t iba ang uri ng mga grupo ng HypeBeast.

Merong mga mahihilig sa away, at meron naman na ang slogan ay ‘fashion not war’, merong mga di aktibo at meron namang araw-araw matatagpuan sa mga malls. Masasabi na ang mga miyembro ng HypeBeast ay may mukha sa likod ng kanilang mga damit.

UPLB PERSPECTIVE MAYO - AGOSTO 2018

ekspresyon, ngunit alam ng kaniyang kaibigan na matingkad din ang kaniyang diwa. Masasabi na siya ang pinakamaingay at pinakamaraming baong mga tugon. Ang kaniyang mga talak ay tila meron din na katapat. Sa harap ng kaniyang ina na palagi siyang pinagagalitan, tameme na lamang si Aika. Masasabi na di sumasagot si Aika sa kaniyang ina simula nung nagbago ang ugali nito nung namatay ang kaniyang nag-iisang kapatid ni Aika. Nagsisilbi ang kaniyang gampanin bilang ‘nanay’ sa grupo na panakip sa sugat na dulot ng kawalan.

KULTURA 9

UPLB PERSPECTIVE MAYO - AGOSTO 2018

Si Kalbo ay tinatawag na totoy sa kanilang bahay at Mozart ng kaniyang mga kamag-anak.

Si Lenon Mozart ay aminadong nanggaling ang pangalan sa isang coffee table book tungkol sa musika. Tinatawag siya na kalbo ng kaniyang mga kaibigan dahil simula pa nung tumigil siya sa pag-aaral ay di na siya nagpapahaba ng buhok. Di maamo ang kaniyang mukha at nilalagi niya ang mapagbantang postura ngunit may pagkahinhin siya labas sa kaniyang mga kaibigan. Di nakatuntong ng hayskul si Mozart, kaya naman ginugulo niya ang mga usapang teknikal sa kanilang grupo. Si Mozart din ang nagsisilbing ‘admin’ tuwing Sabado at Linggo tuwing wala si Jasper. Di mabilang sa daliri kung ilang beses niyang sinasabi sa mga kaibigan na kaya niyang talunin si Magnus Carlsen kung nagpatuloy siya sa kaniyang p a g aaral at sa pagiging varsity ng chess.

HYPEBEAST

Si Jasper ay kilala bilang lider o ‘admin’ ng HypeBeast San Jose. Edad labing anim, pangalawa sa apat na magkakapatid at nasa ikatlong taon na sa sekundaryong paaralan.

Ang tunay niyang pangalan ay Justin Christopher ngunit ginawa niyang Jasper para mas madaling tumugma sa mga lirikong likha.

Walang problema sakanya ang pagsama sa mga ‘GT’ o get together dahil pinapabayaan siya ng kaniyang ama na laging nasa langgaan.

Dahil na rin sa tanggerong ama na minsan lamang magtrabaho at naghihirap na ina, pinauubaya niya ang pagiging admin sa i b a tuwing Sabado at Linggo upang tulungan ang ina sa paghahanapbuhay sa kanilang lugawan sa bukana ng San Jose. Si Jasper ang naghihimok sa kanilang grupo na ‘wag magambala sa mga kritismo at panghuhusga sapagkat fashion at samahan lamang ang kanilang layunin. Nagsisilbi rin siya bilang sandalan ng mga kaibigan, kaya’t pinipilit niya ang sariling maging metatag, at marahil na rin dito kaya’t aktibo ang kanilang grupo.

Si Aika ay kilala sa kanilang grupo bilang ‘Nanay.’ Siya ang nagsisilbing tagapagpanatili ng kapayapaan, nangaawat sa mga panahon na may pag-iinitan sa isa’t isa ang mga miyembro.

Labing pitong gulang na si Aika at nasa ika-limang taon na sa pangsekundaryong paaralan. Nais na niya sanang magtrabaho at kumita pagka’t di na niya matiis ang pagkagipit sa mga bagay na gusto niyang makuha, ngunit naipilit ng kaniyang ama na magpatuloy siya sa senior high. Sa loob ng grupo, natatangi ang kaniyang hilig, pansin ang mga matitingkad niyang mga damit at mga pulseras, lalo na’t ang kaniyang mga kaibigan at madalas na mga kasama ay mahihilig sa maiitim na mga kulay. Sa isang iglap ay masasabing makulimlim ang hulma ng kaniyang mga

Eljohn ay ang Si pinakamatanda sa kanilang grupo. May trabaho na pero di ito naging hadlang upang siya ay maging aktibong miyembro ng HypeBeast San Jose. Kahit malaki ang pagitan sa kanilang edad, naging matalik siyang kaibigan ni Jasper. Nakagawian na rin nilang magtalo kung ano nga ba ang pambansang awit ng mga HypeBeast. Dahil siya ay sumesweldo, nagkakaroon siya ng mas maraming pananamit kaysa sa ibang mga miyembro. Dahil dito, nagsisilbi siya bilang inspirasyon sa ilan upang makapagtapos.

Madalas ay tahimik lamang si Eljohn ngunit marami siyang baong kwento.

Sa mga pagkakataong nagsisimula na ang kwentuhan, di mapeprenuhan ang bibig ni Eljohn. Siguro ay dala na SALITA l JUAN SEBASTIAN EVANGELISTA DIBUHO | MARIA MAXENE JALECO

Si Mary Grace ay bago lamang sa grupo, pero pakiramdam niya ay matagal na siya sa kanilang grupo. Maykaya ang pamilya ni Mary Grace, kaya naman ay mayroon siyang mga orig na mga get up. Spoiled siya kanilang tahanan, pero wala siyang gaanong makausap doon.

Tapatang magsalita si Mary Grace at ayaw niyang naiaayon ang sariling pangalan sa ibang tao. Bagama’t baguhan, pinakamatapang si Mary Grace sa kanilang grupo at lagi niyang ipinagtatanggol ang mga ito sa ibang mga tao.

Mapilit siya sa mga bagay na gusto niya, isa na rito ay ang kagustuhan niyang Mary Grace lamang ang tawag sakanya at ayaw niyang binibigyan siya ng ibang palayaw. Pinaplano niya na maglayas sa kanilang bahay pagka’t lilipat na ang kanilang pamilya papuntang Canada.

rin ng mahabang karanasan sa buhay kung bakit siya ay maraming nasasabi. Ngunit sa dami-dami ng kaniyang sinasabi, di pa niya naikekwento ang mga abuso na kaniyang naranasan mula sa sariling ama.

Ang HypeBeast ay isa sa mga kulturang umusbong dahil sa impluwensiya ng banyagang pananamit. Masasabing naging daan ito upang magkaroon ng paraan ang ilan sa piling populasyon upang magtipon-tipon at maipakita sa publiko ang kanilang mga interes. Maari na sabihin na sila ay naghahanap ng samahan, ng pagkakakilanlan sa isa’t isa, at pagkakatanggap.

Ang mga mukha sa likod ng mga miyembro ng HypeBeast ay matagal nang nasa lipunan. Marami sa kanila ay nakakaranas ng kagipitan, kawalan ng hustisya, di pantay-pantay na oportunidad, at iba pa, ngunit mas nakilala sila bilang mga HypeBeastmga tinaguriang grupo ng mga kabataan na may kakaibang mga pananamit, maiingay, istorbo sa kapayapaan, di kumu-kumporme sa nakagawian at masasakit sa mata. [P]

Screenshot from Youtube/Dissidenz

a clash of clans ‘WOMEN OF THE WeEPING RIVER’ PORTRAYS RIDO IN MINDANAO WORDS | MAC ANDRE ARBOLEDA

If the primary role of cinema is to entertain, Sheron Dayoc’s Women of the Weeping River (2016) informs and compels its viewers to educate themselves further. Set in a remote village in the island of Sulu, Mindanao, the film portrays a family feud between two Tausug clans who have been fighting over land. The spotlight follows Satra, a young mother who had just lost her husband in the war against the rival clan, and the many other women affected by this culture of violence that has been raging for generations in the southern Philippines. She seeks revenge, sees and experiences the consequences of the escalating feud with her own eyes, and later on decides on her intent to end the vicious cycle. As we watch the film, we learn that the family feud is only a small fraction of the many problems Satra and people in her region have to deal with. Out of all these problems, there seems to be no end in close sight.

Depictions of Mindanao is seldom seen; mainstream news, popular literature, and cinema don’t often talk about issues happening in the southern part of the Philippines, especially those that involve the Muslim Mindanao. As a person who was raised and lived in San Pedro, Laguna, an urban municipality next to Metro Manila, in a predominantly Catholic, middle-class upbringing, stories and places like Satra’s almost seem unreal. For most of my life, I had only needed to speak and understand two languages: Filipino-Tagalog and English. In the film, they spoke the language of the Tausug. In a scene in the Women of the Weeping River, a picket composed mostly of women and children were holding signs and calling for the government approval of the Bangsamoro Basic Law granting autonomy to their region. “Let us unite the voices of our tribes for equality,” one shouted. “With the Bangsamoro Basic Law, our children will have a better future.”

It is this disparity that would lead viewers to read more about sociopolitical situation in Muslim Mindanao and the Moro struggle for autonomy. It takes a quick Google search to find out that the film’s lead actress Laila Ulao, also from Sulu, drew inspiration from her own experiences that were similar to her role: her father was shot and another relative was burned.

You learn about the history of the Moro peoples and their forced inclusion and neglect from the Manila-centric government. For the longest time, their lands, which were ruled by political dynasties, was ridden with corruption, clan wars, military occupations, and chronic poverty. You learn that it’s difficult to find steady income in the region; either you work in agriculture or find a government job that would require you to choose among the clans that siphon the people’s wealth.

You learn that traditional values of family honor and prestige, machismo still matter after decades and decades of bloodshed. That even if these women could choose their fate, the lives that have been taken and the consequences of their actions cannot possibly be reversed. You learn that wars are never won. [P]

LATHALAIN

UPLB PERSPECTIVE MAYO - AGOSTO 2018

do not know. But it doesn’t matter, anyway. The syllabus is already complete and K12 should have already taught the basics by now, so surely they do not have to cover it in class.

But we don’t know. Our foundations are shaky, if we are even privileged to have some.

K12 graduates from all over the country that have converged to study in UPLB face their own set of problems: How do you name nomenclatures? How do integrals work? What is oxylase, what does it do, and why is it being mentioned so much in class without prior explanation?

The list of subjects you have to catch up on gets longer and longer, but the topics you take up in class also get more difficult with each meeting. Understanding the current lesson is impossible because you cannot even grasp the basics. The worst part is, you don’t have time to sit down and

dedicate an hour to one subject because you have all of your subjects to worry about.

It is a matter of time management. But you can spend hours trying to learn and still not learn. If K12 is such a successful experiment, then why do even science high school students struggle to survive?

I do nothing but try to keep up.

I am a month behind on the media I consume—the things I read, the shows I watch, and news from my family. They are suspicious of what I do because they barely hear from me, but it is so hard to spare them the time when a promised five-minute conversation becomes a long string of family members queuing up on the phone to talk. I sacrifice so much of my time trying to study with my hectic schedule that I barely know who I am anymore. I am less interesting now than I was before I started college because I was

SKETCHPAD Kape, Dyaryo, at Trabaho

WORDS l JOHN ALBERT PAGUNSAN

not confined to this bubble of academic inadequacy.

Only a week ago did I learn where OPark was because my days went from 7AM to 7PM nonstop.

Am I only allowed to be who I really am in the two months of summer break? Is this what K12 prepared us for, a future where this generation is always scrambling to live up to what is expected of them?

I would have liked to take the same subjects from the previous curriculum even if it meant more units before I could even dream of purchasing a sablay. I would have chosen more units if it meant that I would understand what was

“

It is a matter of time management. But you can spend hours trying to learn and still not learn. If K12 is such a successful experiment, then why do even science high school students struggle to survive?

being taught in class. It is as if everyone is speaking a different language and you are 18 years too late in learning it. If I squint and look for comfort, it is in the similar struggle that everyone faces: we all do not understand.

But even if our papers are marred with mistakes, as all humans do, we will learn. It is a slow process, but we learn. [P]

WORDS l JUAN SEBASTIAN EVANGELISTA

papapiliin ka.

“Busing!” narinig ko habang ako ay nagmumuni muni sa waiting area ng presinto.

“Busing!” umulit ang sigaw.

Napatingin ako sa paligid at sumalubong sa akin ng isang pulis na bata-bata pa ang itsura.

“Ah, baket ser?” tugon ko.

“Fred po” aniya, sabay alok ng ng kamay na agad ko naming tinanggap. “ah, baket po?” aking inulit nang walang pagpapakilala.

“Ay boss… me’ tip lang ‘ko senyo, dun kayo magimbistiga sa ano, sa… lugar nila Kiko, alam naman dito ng mga tao na bayolente talaga mga durugista.”

“Ser, ginagawa ko lang naman po trabaho ko, wala na ‘kong magagawa diyan.”

“Tip lang naman boss, baka kasi mapa-ano ka kasi galet mga tao dito sa mga durugistamapagkamalan ka pang isa sa kanila” sabi niya kasabay ang ngisi.

Di bihira sa akin na makatanggap ng mga ganitong mga babala. Alam ko naman na di ito tip, kundi pananakot ng mga pulis sa akin. Minsan, nag-aalok pa sila ng malalaking halaga, minsan, buhay ko ang kanilang tinataya.

Pagdating ng hapon ay nagtagpo muli kami ni Meling sa kanilang bahay.

“Kumusta ka na ngayon?” tanong ko sakanya para masimula na ang usapan.

“Mabigat pa rin pakiramdam ko” malumbay niyang sagot.

“Pero salamat sa Diyos at makukuha ko na ang hustisya.”

Kamakailan lamang ay nabigyan si Meling ng video footage ng pagpaslang ng isang lalaki sa kabilang barangay. Di man niya mamukhaan ang lalaki, ngunit malinaw na malinaw ang itsura ng mga kapulisan na pumaslang dito. Alam ni Meling na ang hepe rin na iyon ang pumaslang sa kaniyang asawa. Inabot niya sa aking ang ebidensya para makasuhan na ang mga ito. Bumigat na naman ang aking loob, marahil ay paminsan ay naiisip ko rin ang sarili kong kaligtasan, para na rin sa aking pamilya. Sa mga ganitong panahon ay pinipilit ako ng mundo na maging mapagpasya. Kadalasan, sa aking pag-aalala ay kumakausap ako ng kung sinu-sino para mapagaan ang mabigat na damdamin.

Matapos ang mahabang usapan ay nagpalaam na kami sa isa’t isa.

Our university has been celebrated as a safe space for people of different identities to pursue their aspirations. This image continues to be dominant in many public discussions outside the university through citing members of the UP community as more likely to be liberal and progressive than students of other institutions. We continue to be loud to affirm that the university and its students are bastions of liberal and progressive thought while we continue to be blind and silent about the on-campus struggles and discrimination of many members of the LGBTQIA. The discrimination faced by members manifest through microaggressions or the subtle and indirect discriminatory statements and actions directed towards a minority.

Transgender students report conservative teachers commenting on their daily outfit as inappropriate. They still get inappropriate remarks from students such as them as not “real women and men”. Gay students

get unwanted comments from teachers such as “Sayang ka, bakit ka naging bakla?” and “Ang pangit na nga ng make-up mo, sinosobrahan mo pa pagkabakla mo.” The role of the university is to continuously sustain orientation and training for students and teachers to make the university a safe and healthy space for the LGBT to pursue their passions.

The daily unwanted comments and subtle discrimination creates a mentally abusive and toxic environment for the LGBT. Student councils, institutions, and organizations are not absolved from contributing to these microaggressions. These powerful groups’ silence and inaction make them complicit to the culture of discrimination inside the campus. Their power can be invested in creating awareness campaigns, SOGIE educational discussions within organizations and coalitions, student-led support groups for the LGBT, and student-initiated policing and monitoring programs for oncampus discrimination. The local

Pride march can be an avenue to highlight and emphasize these struggles than simply anecdotes of ignored and unresolved incidents of verbal assault and discrimination.

A very important medical issue that affect all students that goes ignored in the university is the prevention of transmission of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Safe sex campaigns are unheard in the campus except those initiated by classes on health and sexuality. The country is about to witness an HIV epidemic if the government continues to treat HIV-AIDS as a minor issue. Among students, a notorious “food web” exists and “hook-up culture” is prevalent which mean that students engage in sexual activity. The administration, student councils, and organizations’ silence on this issue puts many students who did not receive rigorous sex education in high school at risk of engaging in unsafe sex. This issue is important to many LGBT in the campus as they are at the

most risk given the rise of HIV cases related to men who engage in sex with other men.

O t h e r health issues such as mental health significantly impact the LGBT sector differently from other sectors.

Transgenders on hormones deal with mental health issues that are invisible to the community. Homosexuals and bisexuals who face hostility and discrimination from their families are not only physically, mentally, and verbally abused by their families but also face the risk of financial deprivation and isolation because of their sexual orientation. If the UPLB LGBT student runs to an underfunded and ineffective counselling unit and health services. Oftentimes, these issues are underreported,

“

It is not only acceptance that we clamor but a redress for the subtle verbal and sexual assault we continuously experience, and response to the health issues we are battling as a community.

underrepresented, and ignored in the public discussion for mental health.

It is the mandate of the university administration, student councils, and institutions to respond to this invisible crisis that many LGBTQ face. It is not only acceptance that we clamor but a redress for the subtle verbal and sexual assault we continuously experience, and response to the health issues we are battling as a community. The local Pride march should address these issues.

Your acceptance is nothing without justice. [P]

UNDERSCRUTINY Deterioration of a Sham Democracy WORDS l EUNICE ALEXCY SENADOZA

Pa g l a k a d ko patungong sakayan ay nakita ko ang isang matanda na nag-iisang nakaupo sa tabi ng kalye at nakatitig sa aspalto. Agad kong namukhaan ito.

“Ikaw po ba yung tatay ni Kiko?”

“Oo” maikli niyang sinagot habang nakadiretso pa rin ang tingin.

Sinamahan ko siya sa pag-upo.

Tinignan niya ako nang saglit at bumalik agad sa pagtitig.

“Masahol sa akin ang tadhanapag umaray, patay. Pero wala naman tayong magagawa.”

“Di naman po totoo na wala tayong magagawa, tignan niyo po si Meling, sumasama na nga siya sa mga protesta laban sa kawalan ng hustisya.”

Tumawa siya nang saglit “Si Meling na nasiraan na ng ulo?

Wag mo ‘ko itulad sa kanya, parehas nga kami na nawalan ng kapamilya, pero ako, patuloy pa rin sa trabaho para sa pamilya ko.”

“Eh si Kiko… Ano na ba ng nagawa mo para sa kaniya?”

“

May dahas at dugo sa kanilang mga mata, pero kailangan mo paring tumindig at hindi magpatinag

“

“Lintik na ‘yan, sinasabi mo bang kami ang pumatay kay Kiko?”, “Nak’namputa naman… ginagawa naming nang marangal ang trabaho namin dito, tapos ganyan pa iaakusa niyo sa amin?”, “Kung ako sainyo, ayusin niyo trabaho niyo kasi ginagawa namin ang samin!’ Umulit nang umilit na parang sirang plaka ang mga salita ng hepe sa aking tenga, di dahil sa bigat nito sa aking damdamin, kundi dahil sa lakas ng kaniyang galit na boses.

May kasiguraduhan ang kaniyang boses, ngunit nakikita ko na may halong kaba ang kaniyang pananalita. Siguro naman ay di talaga halata at sanay na siya sa kaniyang pagsisinungaling, pero sa tagal ko na sa trabahong ito, alam ko kung sino ang may tinatago sa wala. Mahirap talaga ang trabaho ng isang imbestigador ng karapatang pantao, maliban sa panganib sa buhay, kailangan mong tignan sa mata ang mga taong walang awang pumapatay ng kanilang kapwa. May dahas at dugo sa kanilang mga mata, pero kailangan mo paring tumindig at hindi magpatinag sa mga higanteng mamamaslang, pero may mga panahon talagang

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mahinahon kong sagot sa kaniyang mapait na tinig. Tumayo siya para umalis, pero nakita ko ang pumapatak niyang luha.

“Tulungan mo kaming makamit ang hustisya” bigkas niya bago maglakad palayo.

Tumingin ako pataas sa kawalan.

“Ano ba ng ginagawa ko para sa kanila?”

Hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa aking sakbat na naglalaman ng mga papeles at ebidensya.

Kasama ang nagpanumbalik na resolba, nagpanigurado akong di ako patitinag. Hustisya ang dapat manaig. [P]

With the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno comes an addition to the string of attacks by Duterte on PH democratic institutions.

Officials of constitutional bodies and commissions who have been reported to be critical of the Duterte administration are beleaguered by threats of impeachment: Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Chito Gascon, and Commission on Elections chairperson Andres Bautista.

Critics argue that this series of impeachment complaints is a scheme for President Rodrigo Duterte to control the other branches of government.

The 1987 Constitution describes the Philippines as a democratic and republican State because “sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.”

In an ideal world, the Philippine government represents the interests of its citizens through the representatives it has in the legislature but with the crackdown on Duterte’s critics, the legislative and judicial branches

become nothing more than echo chambers for the whims of our President. After Bautista resigned as Comelec chair due to a feud with wife and a scandalous impeachment trial, Comelec became open for Duterte appointees. The Comelec is crucial for the President as he pushes for federalism, something that will require a plebiscite led by the poll body. On another hand, the Ombudsman butted heads with the President as she announced that she would be investigating the alleged hidden wealth of the Duterte family. Enraged, the President pronounced his desire for Morales to be impeached or investigated for “partiality.”

He accused the Ombudsman of applying “selective justice,” delaying the cases filed against former president Benigno Aquino III, who appointed her. The Ombudsman is an independent office responsible for investigating and prosecuting officials accused of graft and corruption and other crimes. It is a pillar institution that should not be subjected to threats and intimidation, most especially by the president.

We also hear a lot about the CHR as it is often subject of Duterte’s tirades and it is unsurprising that impeachment complaints were lodged against its Chairperson.

According to Chairperson Gascon, the Congress has threatened him with a reduction on budget if he do not resign. Such an act is an egregious violation of our right to have an independent constitutional office that would ensure our right to human life is protected. Lastly, Chief Justice Sereno, an impeachable officer, was ousted from the Supreme Court using a quo warranto for not truthfully disclosing her earnings in her SALNs. This is despite the fact that impeachment complaints against her were already being deliberated in the Congress during that time. Critics dubbed this ouster as a step closer to the “overall deterioration” of PH rule of law. Even the Integrated Bar of the Philippinws urged the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling and affirm that the only way to oust a chief justice is through impeachment.

Looking at these instances

i n d i v i d u a l l y, we might just see several instances that have nothing to do with each other. But we do not live in a vacuum devoid of political context. When looking at a bigger picture at these impeachment complaints, threats, and ousters, what we actually see is a President who benefits from democratic institutions purged of his critics and filled with allies or sycophants. This might all sound like a conspirancy but I suggest you look at the signs. The Constitution might tell you that we are a democratic state, but it is the kind of democracy where the people who decide for a tax reform law would never have to worry about the additional excise taxes on goods and people have who never worked a day on a farm

“

In an ideal world, the Philippine government represents the interests of its citizens through the representatives it has in the legislature but with the crackdown on Duterte’s critics, the legislative and judicial branches become nothing more than echo chambers for the whims of our President.

“

Before the sun breaks the sky, I must already be up and ready to leave the dorm. A new exciting life is ahead of me—new jeepney routes to learn, new buildings to explore, and new people to meet.

Like most freshies, my classes start early. Pretty soon, my skin turned brown and the days became longer.

A month later and I have forgotten how the sun felt on my skin. All my days are spent inside classrooms spanning different colleges, and on the rare days that I have an hour of vacant time it is spent cramming last minute lessons for class the next day.

Entering PhySci brings a sense of dread that looms over me for the three hours that I have to spend there, sitting and pretending to understand. It is an everyday anxiety of failing and clambering to catch up. Professors are befuddled; they are not sure of what we do know and what we

OPINYON

MAYO - AGOSTO 2018

MUMBLINGS Invisible Wars of the UPLB LGBT

WORDS l BEATRICE ANONUEVO

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KWENTONG FRESHIE A Guide to Blending

UPLB PERSPECTIVE

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yet own majority of its earnings.

Add to these “representatives” who are out of tune to the needs of their people is a President who instigated and orchestrated attacks to our democratic instutions.

Our democracy was already a sham but our President continues to chip away at the remaining semblances of authenticity. [P]