TOMO
2018 • ENERO A IN H A P . 4• 12 XLIV • BLG
E P B UPL MGA AGAN NG Y A H A P A YAL N ANG OPIS
E V I T C E P S R
MAG-AAR
OS S LOS BAÑ A IN IP IL P G ERSIDAD N L NG UNIB
A
Kapayapaan sa libingan | editoryal 2
3
balita
USC and [P] funding still in question due to non-collection of student fund
6
KULTURA
Isko’t Iska 2017
8
LATHALAIN
Boundaries
11
opinyon
Magsulat, Maglingkod, Magpalaya
2 EDITORYAL
UPLB PERSPECTIVE ENERO 2018
UPLB PERSPECTIVE
BALITA
ENERO 2018
3
Kapayapaan sa Libingan Tuluyan na ngang tinanggal ng Pangulong Duterte ang kanyang makamamamayang balatkayo. Noong nakaraang taon ay nasaksihan ang pagdanak ng dugo sa siyudad dahil sa War on Drugs na kumitil ng buhay ng mahihirap habang ang mga malalaking drugs lords ay malayang nagpapakasasa sa perang kinita sa illegal na droga. Sa kanayunan ay dumadanak ang dugo ng mga katutubo sa patuloy na pang-gagambala ng militar at pagpapaalis sa kanilang mga lupang ninuno upang magbigay daan sa mga malalaking korporasyon na nais mamuhunan sa kanilang lugar. Ang mga sakahan sa kanayunan ay nadidiligan ng dugo mula sa mga magsasakang ilang taon nang ipinaglalaban ang kanilang karapatan para sa sariling lupang sasakahin. Nong nakaraang taon nga ay nakita natin kung papaano unti-unting tinalikuran
ress.com ctive.wordp uplbperspe ail.com gm e@ iv ct uplbperspe
R UPLB PE
ni Duterte ang kanyang pangakong pagbabago, ika nga niya, “Change is Coming.” Salungat sa pagbabagong pinangako, pinalala ng administrasyon ang pasismong makikita sa pagtaas ng bilang ng extrajudicial killings at human rights violations di lamang sa kanayunan ngunit pati na rin sa kalunsuran. Labas sa pagpatay ng mga mamamayan ay nararanasan din ng mga estudyante sa pamantasan ang pasismo mula sa gobyerno at sariling administrasyon ng kani-kanilang sariling mga unibersidad sa pamamagitan ng mga polisiyang mapanupil at di makaestudyante. Kalakip ng pagpapatupad ni Duterte ng all out war at crackdown laban sa mga rebolusyonaryo, ay ang pang rered-tag sa mga progresibong estudyante at student leaders. Kasabay nito ang pag-atake ng mga trolls at ng mga sumusuporta sa
VE SPECTI
S LOS BAÑO PILIPINAS RSIDAD NG L NG UNIBE RA AA GMGA MA ective YAGAN NG /uplbpersp AL NA PAHA issuu.com ANG OPISY ive
ct uplbperspe
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
gobyerno sa mga naturing indibidwal na nagpapahayag sa social media pati na rin sa mga pages ng mga organisasyon. Palakas nang palakas ang pagpapalaganap ng propaganda ng rehimeng Duterte sa pamamagitan ng pagbuo ng mass base sa social media na tila ba’y nag-uudyok ng bulag na pagsamba sa pangulo. Isa na rito si Mocha Uson na pinaka-kilala bilang isang tapat na tagasuporta ng presidente. Sa kanyang mga blog posts, makikita ang pag walang bahala sa katanggap-tanggap na katwiran, tuntunin sa moralidad, at pagpapahalaga sa katotohanan. Taliwas sa nais ng mga propagandistang umaanib sa makasariling interes ng administrasyon ay ang marangal na responsibilidad ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan na manatiling kritikal sa pagsusuri sa mga polisiya na ipinapatupad ng administrasyong Duterte. Kung susuriin ang mga ito at titingnan ang epekto nito sa mga mamamayan ay makikita kung sino talaga ang pinaglilingkuran ng ating Pangulo. Kapalit ng pagpabor ng Pangulo sa dayuhang interes ay ang pagdanak ng dugo sa kanayunan. Laganap ang pasismo ng estado sa kanayunan kung saan ang presensya ng pwersang militar at mga paramilitary groups ay nagdadala ng takot sa mga katutubo. Ang Oplan Kapayapaan na nagsilbing contra-insurhensya ng administrasyon ay nagagamit upang pagtakpan ang mga atake ng militar sa mamamayan. Isinasaad sa Oplan Kapayapaan na mananatili ang militar sa mahigit 500 na baryo dahil di umano’y ito ang kahilingan ng mga tagapamuno ng mga nababahalang barangay, ngunit sa pamamalagi ng mga pwersang militar sa mga baryo ay parami nang parami ang nababalitaang napapaslang ng mga elemento ng estado. Ang mga pangyayaring ito ay naghahasik ng takot sa mga mamamayan sa kanayunan. Naroon din ang umiiral na banta sa buhay ng mamamayan dahil kahit sino ay maaring maakusahan na may dalang armas o di kaya’y miyembro ng New People’s Army (NPA). Ang mga programang nagpapahintulot ng presensya ng militar sa kanayunan tulad ng Oplan Bayanihan ng Aquino Administration, Oplan Bantay Laya I at II ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at ngayong Oplan Kapayapaan ni Pangulong Duterte
ay nagreresulta sa pagpadanak ng dugo sa kanayunan na makikita sa pagtaas ng bilang ng mga extrajudicial killings (EJKs), enforced disappearance, illegal arrests, forced surrender at iba pang paglabag sa karapatang sibil ng mga mamamayan. Ayon sa datos mula sa Karapatan.org, sa huling anim na buwan ng Oplan Bantay Laya II at sa lima’t kalahating taon ng Oplan Bayanihan, may naitalang 333 na biktima ng EJKs; 625 frustrated EJKs; 29 enforced disappearance; 248 na kaso ng torture; 640 illegal arrests, at 108, 738 na sapilitang paglikas dahil sa matinding militarisyasyon sa kanilang mga komunidad. Ilang administrasyon na rin ang nagpatupad ng kani-kaniyang kontrainsurhenya ngunit hindi pa rin malutasan ang ugat ng armadong tunggalian sa bansa, maging sa Oplan Kapayapaan ng Administrasyong Duterte ay nagpatuloy ang pagdanak ng dugo sa kanayunan. Makikita ito sa patuloy na panawagan ng mga Moro at Pambansang Minorya para sa sariling pagpapasya at makatarungang kapayapaan. Naririnig sa kalunsuran ang kanilang mga panawagan sa pamamagitan ng Lakbayan na ginanap noong nakaraang taon. Mula Mindanao ay dala-dala nila ang kanilang mga istorya ng takot na naidudulot ng presensya ng militar sa kanilang komunidad at karahasan na harapharapang nasaksihan ng ilan sa kanila. Sa pagbati ng unang buwan ng panibagong taon, ang mga mamamayan sa ilalim ng kapritso ng administrasyong Duterte ay nakakaranas ng panibagong karaniwan. Ang karaniwang pamumuhay sa pagitan ng mga tabiking mapanganib at patuloy na naiipit hanggang sa katapusan ng nalupig na buhay. Ang panibagong karaniwan ay naghahandog ng kapayapaan, kapayapaang matatagpuan lamang anim na talampakan sa ilalim ng lupa. Ang pagtitipon ng mga aping natamasa na ang kapayapaan sa makamundong pangangailangan ay tila kumakalog mula sa ilalim ng lupa kasabay ang mga taong hawak ang daandaang listahan ng inhustisya ay sabaysabay sumisigaw at naniningil. Sumisigaw ng pananagutan at hustisya, pagbabago at kapayapaan, at patuloy na kumikilos upang ang kapayapaan ay di lamang matatagpuan sa kabilang ibayo ng lupang tinutungtungan.[P]
Punong Patnugot Julianne Afable Kapatnugot Vicente Morano III 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 Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya Deniel Sean Macapal Mga Kawani Ranielle Averion ⋅ Paul Christian Carson ⋅ Monica Laboy ⋅ Lianne Rose Parajeno ⋅ Juvelle Villanueva ⋅ Diana Jane Plofino ⋅ Karl Gabrielle De Los Santos ⋅ Patricia Echano ⋅ John Albert Pagunsan ⋅ Eunice Alexcy Senadoza ⋅ Juan Sebastian Evangelista ⋅ Maria Maxene Jaleco
tungkol sa pabalat Antipoor ni Juvelle Villanueva
LAND TO THE TILLERS KRISTINE PAULA BAUTISTA
On the 31st year of the Mendiola Massacre, justice remain elusive to the masses massacred in Mendiola, years after, farmers remain to be landless. UPLB students show that they are one with the farmers in their call for genuine land reform.
USC , [P] funding still in question due to non-collection of student fund Due to non-collection of the P45.50 Student Fund last semester, the University Student Council (USC) and UPLB Perspective relied on the excess funds collected from the past terms to shoulder the institutions’ expenses for the previous semester. Following UP President Danilo Concepcion’s memorandum, PDLC 17-218, no tuition fee and other school fees were collected from students eligible for free tuition in accordance to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or Republic Act 10931. Alongside this is the non-collection of the P45.50 Student Fund where P40.00 goes to UPLB Perspective trust fund, P5.00 goes to the USC trust fund, and the remaining P0.50 goes to a ‘community chest’ fund. Source of fund After years of the publication’s inability to access its funds due to stringent and tedious bureaucratic procedures, it was during former
Editor-in-Chief Jil Danielle Caro’s term in A.Y. 2014-2015 when the publication was again able to access its fund to release its first tangible copy after three years of online releases. The last printed copy of Perspective before Caro’s term was from EIC Samuel Jay Pasia’s term in 2011. Funds that accumulated from the academic years 2011 to 2014 and excess fund from previous terms are the current source of funding of Perspective. The publication utilizes these funds from the past terms to pay for printing of newspaper issues, procurement of equipment, and salary for the Administrative Aide who does the office and paper works for the publication. Although the publication has funds from the past terms, the publication is likely to run
WORDS l CAREN JOY MALALUAN out of funds if the non-collection of student fund continues. Meanwhile, the USC utilizes funds from Fund Raising Activities (FRA),
Student fund breakdown
10931 did not include any provision for the student fund. However on the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (UniFAST), the overseer of funding for free tuition, orientation on December 19 last year, the UniFAST Board suggested that a mechanism should be implemented where the administration would release funding for the student fund based on the submitted financial statement of each student institutions. As of now, the suggested mechanism is still vague on how the administration will provide funding for the student institutions. Current EIC of Perspective, Julianne Afable, said on the matter of collection of student fund that it is better for the administration to collect student funds from the students rather than the administration funding the student publication as it would affect the
P 40.00- UPLB Perspective P 5.00- University Student Council P 0.50- Community Chest Fund Total: P 45.50 and sponsorships done by council members. By the students, for the students The crafted Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the R.A.
integrity of the student paper. Afable also explained that the reason why it is called a ‘student’ publication is because it is by the students and for the students, and it is just reasonable if it is also funded by the students. “Ever since it was established, Perspective has been a publication for and by the students, nararapat lamang na estudyante ang mag pondo sa Perspective, sa pamamagitan nito talagang masasabi natin na dyaryo ito ng estudyante. Bukod dito, iniiwasan natin ang admin intervention sa pagpapatakbo ng publication at sa lalamanin ng dyaryo, kung sa admin mangagaling ang pondo natin, maaring magkaroon sila ng kapit sa editorial freedom ng dyaryo” Afable said. The UPLB Perspective Editorial Board in coordination with the USC will coordinate with the UPLB Administration with regards the funding of the student institutions. [P]
4
BALITA
UPLB PERSPECTIVE ENERO 2018
OSA limits accommodated SAs for 1st Sem WORDS l PATRICIA ANGELA ECHANO, DENIEL SEAN MACAPAL
With the implementation of Memorandum No. PDLC 17-21B last August 2017, tuition fees, along with the students’ miscellaneous fees, have not been collected for the first semester A.Y. 2017-2018. In light of the alleged lack of funding to sustain the Student Assistantship (SA) of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) this semester, a new memorandum order has been released by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA). SA requirements and qualifications In an interview with the Scholarship and Financial Assistance Division (SFAD), when asked about the requirements and qualifications for student assistantship, those who wish to apply had to be continuing students, eligible to enroll during the term when appointed as SA. For freshmen students, they must have secured at least one (1) semester in their respective College/Unit (CU). For students below 18 years old, they must have secured prior written consent from a parent or guardian to
TAAS KAMAO MAC ANDRE ARBOLEDA
serve as an SA for a term. They must not also be enrolled in more than twenty-one (21) units during the semester of appointment and do not have a pending disciplinary case in the university. Work hours of student assistants (SAs) per month will depend on their registered academic load for the current semester. Those with 12 to 21 units are allowed to have a minimum of 30 hours per month. The amount each SA received was maintained at P60.00 per hour. They are allowed to work up to six hours per day. “This is to allow them adequate time to attend to their academic responsibilities and obligations,” SA Coordinator Ferdie C. Ocampo stated. SA funding and Memorandum No. 2017-04 “The units and offices requesting for SA of the CU shall allocate slots based on the prospective workload of the student, and [must be] within the budget allocated by the CU,” Ocampo explained. However, just how much the allotted budget was for the SA program was not disclosed.
When asked about the source of the funding for the SAs or whether there was any need to allocate a new source of funding for the SAs stipend, the office gave no answer. Meanwhile, in an interview conducted with a Student Assistant (SA) of the previous semester, the regulations included that a student must have been enrolled in at least 12 units to have qualified for student assistantship. The applicant must have also had a Landbank account, and must have attended one SA orientation. SAs were reported to have received a stipend of P60.00 per hour during this time. As of November 2017, SAs still
receive P60.00 hourly and are allowed to six hour maximum shifts per day. “This is to allow them adequate time to attend to their academic responsibilities and obligations,” says SFAD. In accordance with Administrative Order No. PAEP 15-84 which tackled the Consolidated Rules and Regulations for Student Assistants and Graduate Assistants (SAGA CRR) issued last August 14, 2015, those who had an STS bracket of PD80, FD, and FDS were the first to be considered in SA selection. As of the 18th of September 2017, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) had released Memorandum No. 2017-04 regarding
the selection of SAs for the current semester which stated that “one of the criteria in selecting student assistants and graduate assistants is the financial need of the applicants.” The memo further instructed that the selection of the SAs must prioritize those with an STS bracket of either PD80, FD, or FDS and “must limit the choice of student assistants” to the said three brackets, further restricting those qualified for student assistantship. [P]
LB-AAW calls to adopt remaining dogs WORDS l MONICA LABOY
Threatened by the local municipality to have the dogs euthanized if not adopted before summer, the Los Baños - Advocates of Animal Welfare, Inc. (LB-AAW) are looking to find ‘furever’ homes for the remaining 23 dogs in the pound. According to LB-AAW, the Los Baños municipal government wants to euthanize the dogs for fear of diseases like rabies, which they are more prone to during summer months. The municipality is also said to be cutting expenses for the allotment of other
projects and that they are making room for a new batch of dogs in the pound. Reignier Guerrero, LB-AAW Public Relations Head, stated that although the municipality said that there is a big amount allotted for dog food in the 2018 budget proposal, the amount is not disclosed to their organization. Additionally, he said that before their organization volunteered to help the pound, the dogs were not being fed. The food given to the dogs in presentday come from LB-AAW and their donors.
The municipality have long been saying that the dogs that are not adopted will be euthanized. However, it was only last January 13 when they gave their definite word that the current dogs in the pound will be given until before summer to find a home. Their campaign #Savethe58 started out with 58 dogs that were up for adoption. With LB-AAW’s continuous efforts to find them new homes, more than half have already been adopted.
Student leaders in the 45th General Assembly of Student Councils at UP Mindanao raise their fists for former Student Council member Jo Lapira who died in an encounter at Batangas. In a tribute to Jo Lapira, UPLB USC says, “Kung tatanungin tayo ng ‘how far can your militancy go?’ ang sagot natin kagaya dapat ng kay Jo Lapira, ‘hanggang sa kamatayan.’
UPLB PERSPECTIVE
BALITA
ENERO 2018
LB dog pound violates law After finding homes for the remaining 23 dogs, LB-AAW wants to have the dog pound closed due to violation of the guidelines set by the Bureau of Animal Industry. “Bagsak sila sa maintenance of facilities. Walang food for the dogs. Walang vet na nagche-check sa dogs. Hindi rin sumusunod sa required facilities ng cages, dapat stainless steel.” Guerrero explained. According to Guerrero, there had been a case where a dog died from tetanus because of rust in its cage. The dog pound is right beside a Material Recycling Facility, also known as a dumpsite, which Guerrero said provides for an unhealthy environment for dogs. He said that the municipality told them that there is no other land available to be converted into a dog pound and the current pound only serves as a temporary shelter. Guerrero cited the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 which provides that animals in the shelter should have five basic freedoms: freedom from thirst, hunger, and malnutrition; freedom
from physical discomfort and pain; freedom from injury and disease; freedom to conform to essential behavior patterns; and freedom from fear and distress. An adoption fee of Php 300 paid to the municipality should be used to improve the facilities of the pound but Guerrero observed that with the number of dogs adopted in the previous years, no improvements were seen in the pound. Not all stray dogs are rabid In an interview with ABS-CBN last January 18, OIC Municipal Agriculturist Cheryll Gonzales explained the risk of stray dogs with rabies. Although they want the dogs to be in a better place, she said, they also do not want to risk the chances of rabies spreading and citizens being bitten by the rabid animals. “Ang rabies kasi, in a few weeks, magmamanifest na dapat ang symptoms sa aso. If the dogs have rabies, it should have died or exhibited the symptoms,” Guerero explained that the dogs in the pound do not have rabies.
Animals infected with rabies die 10 days after the development of its symptoms. #Savethe58 LB-AAW advocates to rescue and find new homes for stray cats and dogs which, according to them, are only victims of irresponsible pet ownership. From 2015, LB-AAW volunteers have helped in maintaining the dog pound—cleaning cages, feeding, bathing, and taking care of the dogs and cars. Since there is no municipal veterinarian, LB-AAW contacts local or private veterinarians for the animals that need immediate medical attention. Since 2015, more than 50 cats and dogs have been adopted. If interested to adopt, LB-AAW requires the submission of an application form, an interview, and a visit to the dog pound. For more information, see the guidelines and reminders in LB-AAW facebook group or contact Reignier Guerrero at 09978539393. [P]
No live streaming for the 45th GASC despite clamors for #TRANSPARENCYsaGASC WORDS l CHARITY FAITH RULLODA
On January 7-8, 30 out of 52 student councils from UP units across the country convene for the 45th General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC) at UP Mindanao to discuss compelling issues and pressing concerns of the Filipino people, particularly the students. Objecting to the approval of the House Rules, UP Diliman University Student Council (UPD USC) raised a request made by the League of College Councils (LCC), an alliance of the college student councils in UPD, to have a live Facebook streaming of the entire GASC “in order for both the constituents and the other council members to have an idea of the proceedings during the General Assembly”. The request was stated in a letter addressed to the OSR dated January 4, 2018 and was signed by the chairpersons of 16 UPD college councils. UPD LCC posted photos of the said letter on January 5, 2018 via Twitter. The tweet has reached 67 retweets, 159 likes, and created a social media clamour through tweets containing the hashtag #TRANSPARENCYsaGASC. Objecting to the motion of the UPD USC to live stream the assembly, UP Manila USC questioned the grounds for live streaming since the presence of student publications’ live tweets and the minutes of the GASC provide the necessary information and updates to the constituents. UPM USC also asked the UPD USC if they doubt their representation in the venue, in which the latter responded that “the issue here is not representation but transparency.” Also, UP Visayas College of Arts and Sciences Student Council (CASSC) supported that live streaming is not necessary and manifested that not all student leaders are brave enough to be seen in the live stream, reiterating that live streaming would limit the
manifestations of some student leaders with regards to their critical views on national issues and disdain against the fascist administration. On the other hand, UPD USC argued that live streaming would not limit the manifestations of the student leaders as student leaders have always been vocal about their views ever since. UPD USC Chairperson Benjie Aquino highlighted that the request is for the students - to further enhance transparency. On this note, UPD Business Administration Council (BAC) moved to divide the House on the suggested addition to the House Rules proposed by the UPD USC’s. 7 SCs voted in favor of the live streaming while the remaining 23 SCs objected. One of the councils who voted yes was the UPLB USC saying that “This is not an issue of transparency as all SCs in the GASC already utilize the existing venues reach out to their constituents. But then, nandito tayo sa Davao to make a statement, and we believe in maximizing our reach.” Calling to “launch campaigns geared towards the full realization of our right to uncompromised education, draw inspiration from the practice of national minorities forwarding a nationalist, scientific, and mass oriented alternative to the current colonial, commercialized and fascist system,” the UPD CESC authored Resolution 2018-001. On this resolution the UPLB USC manifested, “Naniniwala tayo na hindi lamang natatapos sa free tuition ang libreng edukasyon, nakaangkla sa libreng edukasyon ang iba’t iba pang kailangan ng estudyante. Doon tayo sa edukasyon na tunay na tumatangan sa tunay na pangagailangan ng masang Pilipino.” The second resolution adopted by the body is Resolution 2018-002. It aims to “junk repressive policies by
the administration which are futile machinations of the administration to pacify and control the students.” The resolution aired debates about the UP Diliman students’ Magna Carta which, as stated on its Section 2, aims to define, defend, promote, and enforce students’ rights and welfare. On the arguements against the Magna Carta, the UPD USC stated that the council has lobbying efforts to further safeguard the rights of the students and stated “Sana yung mga councils ay tutulong. Hindi hiwalay ang student movement sa Magna Carta; pwede mag-rally and have mobs while having the Magna Carta, I hope we don’t demonize it.” UP Baguio USC made a direct response to this statement and said “Who does the Magna Carta serve? It serves the Philippines’ semi-feudal and semi-colonial society. Not everyone can afford education; that is why the increase of fees is battling the lobbying of free education.” UPD CSWCDSC presented their approved resolution, Resolution 2018-003. It states that the MDP is a university policy that must undergo assessment and be reviewed unless overhauled. Various SCs shared how the MDP is currently affecting their unit. In addition to this, UPD Architecture SC said that “Gina-guise ng UP administration ang mga ito into academic spaces ngunit ginagawa namang commercial spaces. Gumagawa ng bagong structures ang UP admin ngunit hindi naman namemaintain ang mga existing structures ngayon.” Also approved by the body is the Resolution 2018-004 authored by UPB USC. The GASC adopted the resolution via consensus. Fifth resolution approved by the body is Resolution 2018-005 authored by UPV Tacloban SC. The resolution calls for the GASC to “unanimously
stand to demand from the present administration what is due of the people; that is to prioritize the long overdue rehabilitation of Yolanda victims and other victims of calamities.” UPV USC added, “Yung climate injustice natin ay nakapaloob sa social injustice. Hindi nagtatapos sa climate injustice ang laban natin. Habang sinasalanta tayo ng bagyo, nagkakamal ng kita ang mga naghaharing uri sa pamamagitan ng Disaster Imperialism.” Resolution 2018-006 was authored by UPV Tacloban SC, the sixth resolution adopted by the body. The SC specified that various human rights formations in the Eastern Visayas region have reported cases of human rights violations (HRVs) such as encampment of the military inside schools, harassment of students and teachers by forcing them to be military intelligence, and implantation of land mines within school premises. UPM College of Medicine then said, “Lahat na raw ikino-connect natin sa state fascism. Bilang student leaders, we have the responsibility to educate our constituents na hindi tayo paranoid at may basis ang campaign natin against state fascism.” Also, Resolution 2018-007 which was co-authored by all three student councils in UP Mindanao has been passed with no objections. For the eighth resolution, UPM USC authored Resolution 2018-008. According to the resolution, the noble death of Jo Lapira and 14 other martyrs was used by the AFP to advance their propaganda of massive murders and HRVs, propagate fake information and red tag progressive individuals. The authors of the resolution Resolutions in the 45th GASC
5
highlighted, “Jo Lapira teaches us that a true feminist is anti-imperialist, against all systems that are against the insubordination of women. Si Jo Lapira ay isang student leader na tinanggap ang hamon ng panahon at ehemplo sa lahat ng estudyante at kababaihan.” On this note, UPD CALSC added, “Ang pagiging babae ay walang katapusang pakikibaka para maging malaya.” UPLB USC authored Resolution 2018-009. The resolution calls for junking and an end to the Duterte administration due to “ the worsening political condition through widespread state fascism that kills Filipinos and their democratic aspiration, and Duterte Admin policies like Oplan Kapayapaan, jeepney phaseout, and Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN).” It also states that the GASC shall call for the overthrow of President Duterte to make him liable against the crimes against the Filipino people and address the causes of injustices. Resolution 2018-010, the tenth and last resolution, was co-authored by three student councils in UPV. With regards to the tenth resolution, UPB USC said that “only through militant struggle can the best of youth emerge”. “Remember Marcos regime? Hindi iyon tumigil - nagpatuloy iyon. Pinapakita na sa atin ng media, nasa harap na natin na si Duterte isang pasista at papatayin niya kayo. Labanan natin ang rehimeng ito, for only through militant struggle can the best of youth emerge”, said UPB USC. [P]
6
KULTURA
UPLB PERSPECTIVE ENERO 2018
UPLB PERSPECTIVE
KULTURA
ENERO 2018
7
Isko’t Iska 2017:
Landas ng Pagbalikwas LITRATO| Pat Echano at Cyril Chan Paglalapat| Jandelle Cruz
KA NARDO: Ako’y isang Manobo, nakatira sa kabundukan Tanging pangangaso’t pagkakaingin ang kabuhayan Payapa ang aming buhay, hanggang sa dumating Mga armadong lalaki sa munting bayan namin Naghasik sila ng takot, armalayt ay itinutok Tinadyakan sa tagiliran at hinampas pa nga sa batok Sabi ko ser di po kami NPA, Manobo lang po ako Pero ang sagot nila’y suntok dagok at pagputok At tawa, nagmamakaawa na kaming mag-ama Na itigil na nila ang kanilang ginagawa Pero pinilit pa rin nila kaming ituro raw muna Ang mga rebelde’t kung san sila nagkukuta Kaya isang gabi, nang di na namin matiis Ginising ko mga kasama’t nag-impake nang mabilis Nagorganisa, naglakbayan nagtungo sa kapatagan Upang palayasin ang militar sa kanayunan
KA CESAR:
Ako ho si Ka Cesar, isang Datu sa Mindanao Naglakbayan nang makapagbahagi sa inyo ngayong araw Tungkol sa aming Lupang ninuno, na aming lupa doon Sa aming munting bayan, doon sa Bukidnon Pinagpala ang bundok at matamis rin ang mga bunga Tamis na hanap rin pala ng dila ng mga banyaga Kaya ng ito’y mapag-alaman, dali-daliang kinamkam Daan-daang traktora ang nagpatag ng daan Kinalbo nila ang gubat at pananim ay pinalitan Sabi ko “Hindi naman ganto ang amin panglamang-tiyan” Sabi nila “Wag kang magreklamo, Datu ka lang namang Mamang Dinala sa gitna ng bayan, pinahiya’t hinubaran Kaya nandito upang tayugan ang pagkakatindig Hangga’t may inaapi’y hindi titigil ang aming bibig sa pagsigaw ng mga karapatan naming mga Lumad upang kamtin ang sariling pagpapasyang hinahangad
Noong Nobyembre ay nasaksihan ng UPLB ang taunang dulang mula sa masa, tungo sa masa, ang Isko’t Iska na sa kasaysayan ay ginaganapan ng mga Freshman, ngunit ngayong nasa transisyon ng K-12 ang unibersidad, binuksan sa lahat ang pag ganap sa dula. Ipinakita ng Isko’t Iska 2017 ang karahasan sa kanayunan at ang gampanin ng kabataan na makipamuhay upang magagap ang tunay na kalagayan ng masa at lalong lalo na ang lumaban para sa pagbabago kasama ang masa.
CHURIMAE:
Ako po si Churimae, ako po ang inyong beb greyd payb na po ako, doon sa ALCADEV payak lang naman po ang pangarap ko at yun ay ang maging isang guro
Kaya kinabukasan, pamilya ko po ay nagbakwit Hindi ko po maintidihan Sir-Colonel-General Bakit kelangan lisanin bahay, ekswela’t munting aklatan sinasabi pang mali raw ang aming pinaglalaban?
Paano kame mag-aral kung walang paaralan Kung ang klasrum nami’y ginagawa nilang himpilan Sila, sila, silang hatid raw ay kapayapaan Ngunit sa karimlan, mabigat ang katahimikan
Sabi ko ser, di ba po pag-asa raw kami ng bayan? Pero bakit po binobomba niyong aming skwelahan? Sabi ko ser, di ba po tagapagtanggol raw kayo ng bayan? Pero bakit po iba atang inyong pinagsisilbihan?
LUDY: Ako ho si Ludy, Maranao na galing Marawi Nagpunta po ako rito, para sa inyo ay ibahagi Ang hirap na aming nararanasan doon Sa lupang pinangakong, nilalapastangan ngayon Ang anak ko po ay mayroong ispesyal na kondisyon bata kung mag-isip, kahit na dalawampung taon na, ngunit pinagbintangan pa rin nilang maute Binuhusan ng kumukulong tubig mula sa takure Sinabi nila sa amin na mabuti raw ang Martial Law Upang ang bayan namin ay mailayo nila sa gulo Ito raw ang magdadala ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao Ngunit payapa ba kung sa kahirapan di ka iigpaw Kaya nagtungo dito para aming ipanawagan Ang Batas Militar ay wag pahintulutan Dahil ang kapayapaan ay kapayapaang nakabatay sa hustisyang---hustisyang panlipunan
On Potok Sasabog na naman sasabog na naman sasabog na naman ang paaralan Lilikas na naman, lilikas na naman, lilikas na naman sa aming tahanan Silid aralan ay ginawang himpilan Pagkatapos kamkamin, bobombahin nang tuluyan. [P]
8
LATHALAIN
UPLB PERSPECTIVE ENERO 2018
Boundaries WORDS l ALBERT PAGUNSAN LAYOUT | JANDELLE CRUZ
Every night, Emmanuel religiously portions his daily earnings to put food for seven on the table, to send five to get attractive college diplomas, and to pay for the house’s water and electricity.
LATHALAIN 9
UPLB PERSPECTIVE
ENERO 2018
“H’wag sana kaming pabayaan ng gobyerno. May lima akong anak na nag-aaral. Kung mawawalan kami ng pangkabuhayan, saan pupunta mga anak ko? Hindi na namin kakakayanin yun (I hope the government does not abandon us. I have five children who are studying. If I lose my livelihood, where will my children go? We can not absorb that),” says Ruel. “Hindi kasya yung kita namin ngayon at dadagdagan pa nila yung pahirap (Our earnings are insufficient and they’ll add to our burden),” says Emmanuel.
Ruel and Emmanuel make roughly around PhP500 daily as drivers.
The issue of money awakened the creases on Ruel’s face. It did not matter to him if he lost count of the attempts jeepney drivers did to demand dialogues with the government as long as he will not see the day counting his daily earnings to pennies as few as his fingers because of debt.
In jeepney modernization program by the government, Ruel and Emmanuel have to feed one more mouth - debt.
Ruel can not count the number of words they heard from the government with regards to their plight but he could vividly recount the words Duterte threw to jeepney drivers.
Environmentally friendly but anti-poor “Bibilhin daw nila yung jeep namin sa halagang PhP30,000 tapos bibilhin namin sa kanila yung higit PhP1.5 milyon bagong jeep tapos may tubo pa yun kaya aabot ng PhP2 milyon (They say they will purchase our jeep with PhP30,000 and we will acquire the new jeeps for PhP1.5 million but if you add interest it will be worth PhP2 million),” Ruel describes the scheme. Under this scheme, jeepney drivers will only receive PhP30,000 as salvage fee for their old jeepneys which the government will dispose. Drivers will also receive PhP80,000 as subsidy from the government for the acquisition of new jeepneys. However the PhP110,000 they receive is still peanuts compared to the amount of PhP1.5 million they will be paying in 7 years. According to IBON, a progressive think tank, the current jeepneys cost only PhP200,000PhP400,000. The current jeepney costs almost one-seventh of the new jeepney. Jeepney units include non-air conditioned, air conditioned, solar powered, and produce lower emissions. The new jeepney units are Euro 4 compliant meaning they emit less smoke and pollutants. Currently the jeepneys that dominate the Philippine roads are only Euro 2 and 3 compliant. The government claims to lessen pollution, the country needs to transition to new jeepneys. The government says that it will provide loans to jeepney drivers. However, Ruel and Emmanuel think that the price of environmental protection are their livelihoods. They pay the daily boundary or rent of PhP450-500 and usually bring home PhP500. In the new scheme, they have to pay PhP800 as boundary to compensate for the incurred debts. With the new jeepneys, Emmanuel says the costs of purchasing new jeepneys are also passed down to consumers who will have to pay a minimum of ten pesos to ride the jeepney. Emmanuel estimates the minimum fare will be around PhP10, higher by PhP3 from the current regular fare. “Lalaki pa huhulugan namin araw-araw (Our daily contributions will balloon),” Ruel is pertaining to the interest they have to pay every day to compensate for the possible debts to be incurred. Jeepney drivers are made to choose between transition to modern jeepneys or loyalty to old jeepneys at the cost of their registration. While fireworks and ringing bells will greet many Filipinos during New Year’s Day next year; announcements of revocation of jeepney registration will knock the doors of many jeepney drivers on New Year’s Day.
“January 1, if you can’t modernize that, leave. You’re poor? Son of a bitch, go ahead, suffer in poverty and hunger, I don’t care.” Duterte said this while addressing soldiers in Marawi last week. “Binoto namin siya dahil gusto namin ng pagbabago sa ekonomiya (We voted for him because we wanted change in the economy),” Ruel admits he and his friends voted for Duterte. “Hindi niya tinupad ang pangako niya na tulungan ang mga mahihirap (He did not fulfill his promise to help the impoverished),” says Emmanuel while repairing his jeepney. Ruel nods in frustration. If the government would shoulder all or half the PhP1.5 million, Ruel and Manuel said they will support the modernization program. “Kung nakakagaan po ng buhay namin at ng iba, susupportahan namin ang gobyerno (If it eases our life and other people’s lives, we will support the government),” said Ruel. Students weigh Paralyzed by nationwide strikes and disappointed with the recent national events, students have weighed their sentiments against the government policy. Denouncing it as ‘non-inclusive’ and ‘favoring only the elites’. Clarenz Ocampo, a junior human ecology student, thinks that the program is “unfair” as jeepneys are coerced to transition in a very short amount of time without ample government aid. “Mababawasan yung ratio of passengers to jeepneys thus mahirap makasakay. Pangalawa, Mas mahal na bayad para macompensate yung gastos of the “modernization” plan (The ratio of passengers to jeepneys will be lower which worsens commuter experience. Secondly, a higher fare will be imposed to compensate for the cost of the modernization plan),” says Ocampo. Christian Dulay, a senior agribusiness student, says “It’s a bold and progressive move, but it’s not inclusive. There is a great trade off once it is implemented. For sure implementation would be the greatest bottleneck of the program. I’m not entirely against the mandate of the program, but it is not viable as of the moment.” It’s not only the drivers who will be affected by this abrupt transition. Students and ordinary workers have to shell out extra for their once affordable jeepney rides. “Mas mahihirapan kami, wala talaga kaming kakakayanan (We’ll be overburdened, we really do not have the capacity to go against it),” Emmanuel says while tears crawled down his cheeks. Emmanuel touches the rosary, says a prayer under his breath before his next journey. He finally says, “Sana hindi matuloy. (I hope it does not succeed)” [P]
OPINYON
UPLB PERSPECTIVE ENERO 2018
As a freshman, I spent most of the race against time, fearing the usual semester travelling between our house penalties of a latecomer in class. With and the campus, as I did not settle with my naivety as a freshman, I only realized a place to stay within the campus up soon thereafter that my personal until the latter part of the semester. angst in transport were products of The experience that I gained from my my inability to properly gauge time. everyday travels gave me a degree of While I was bereft of understanding know-hows on transportation, albeit of the usual behavior of the drivers, ineffective in the face of the ills that plague our roads. It occurred to me that their Through casual long pauses in the loading zones observation, I began to establish the quagmire with the hopes that the person in jeepney travel that is twenty paces away would ride on the extreme discomfort are their way of maximizing their derived from the mundane livelihood, with fears that failure packages coupled with my to accommodate a number of everyday trips, with that of the occasional low ceilings, passengers would not be enough intolerable tight spaces to sustain them and their families, and sluggish speed. I also as the circumstances in life remains found the long pauses at unforgiving towards them. the loading areas as part of my grievances because I usually find myself in a
WORDS l MIGUEL CARLOS LAZARTE
I soon found myself in the front seat, having dialogues with manong about the intricacies in life, and occasionally, about their profession. It occurred to me that their long pauses in the loading zones with the hopes that the person twenty paces away would ride on are their way of maximizing their livelihood, with fears that failure to accommodate a number of passengers would not be enough to sustain them and their families, as the circumstances in life remains unforgiving towards them. We all have travelled long before our stay in UPLB. In my then neophyte status as a student of the university, I was familiarizing myself with the routes and places of the campus. The Kaliwa and Kanan routes, the requests to dorms or the Student Union building soon became familiar. It was the jeepneys for me that served as benefactor of familiarization of the university premises.
“
“
SKETCHPAD
I found the aesthetic of the campus enthralling, more so when inside a jeepney, as travelling the usual routes to capture the different scenarios and breathing in fresh air that is abundant in the university with the help of the open periphery of the jeepney. It may be at a happenstance that we observe, but at the times that we do, it is very rewarding. With their tenure as jeepney drivers in UPLB, they have provided service which may be inadvertent to their cause but is delivered nonetheless. I dare ask, if they also find appreciation in their profession, if they find the beauty of the university less enticing through their countless circumnavigations of the campus. But the thing that is certain for me is that it is a necessity for them to perform their tasks as jeepney drivers else they find themselves in with an empty stomach. [P]
SALITA l JUAN SEBASTIAN EVANGELISTA
AWANGGAN ang kakaibang dami ng mga tauhan at ang kaisipan na may layunin pa sa pagbangon- na karamihan pa ay nakasibilyang pananamit. ang hustisya ay kaya pang makamit. Makalipas Nilisan ko ang eksena at agarang tumungo ng ilang oras ay nakatayo na rin ako. Nagtatalo sa aking sadya. Nakasalubong ko si Edgar, ang namamanhid kong braso at ang planong ang aking sadya, habang hinahatid si Kiko masinagan ng araw. Sinusumpong pa ang aking sa opisina ng hepe. Napatigil si Edgar at bewang pero kinalimutan ko na ang pisikal sinenyasan na si Kiko na tumulot. Bago umalis na nararamdaman at bumangon, marahil ay ay sinulyapan naniniwala ako na ang ako ng binate. hustisya ang palaging Katangi-tangi nagtatagumpay. “Si Kiko yung pumatay sa at kakaiba Patuloy na umaandar ang kaniyang ang kamay ng orasan, asawa mo, Meling.” Di na niya pagtingin sa akin. ngunit di pa rin nag-iiba pinatagal pa ang usapan. Siguro na rin ay ang kalakaran ng daloy niya ng aking buhay. “Tumakas nung nahuli namin. naiintindihan ang kahirapan na Nakabihis ako Nanlaban, ayun patay.” Bumigat ang dinaranas. nang magarbo pagka’t Nginitian ko siya pumayag ako sa hiling ang aking damdamin. Di ito ang ngunit nakalingon ng media na ako’y hustisyang hinahangad ‘ko. na ang binata. makausap hinggil sa mga Naiwan ako nangyari. Nais daw nila na kasama si Edgar. maihatid sa publiko ang Siya ang nakatoka aking panig. Pero yun at ‘yun pa rin ang aking sa pagiimbestiga sa pagpaslang kay Ador. bukambibig, ang aking kamangmangan at ang Agaran niyang sinabi na wala na naming usad paghahanap ng hustisya. Inuulit ko nang inuulit ang imbestigasyon. Tila palayo na nang palayo marahil ay wala na akong ibang pang hangad pa ang aking alaala sa masiglahing kamay ni Ador. maliban sa aking karapatan- ang malaman ang Tinungo ko kaagad ang aking bahay katotohanan. pagkatapos. Di ko na ginawa ang mga Rutina ko na ang maging masagot sa kada nakaraang gawi na magtanong tanong sa araw na ako ay lalabas. Pinipilit ko ang aking mga mga karatig. Kumupas na rin ang pasensya ko ngiti pag ako ay may nakakasalubong. Tinatago dahil magkakamukha lang ang mga porma ng ko ang lungkot ko dahil mas mahirap para sa tsismis kong nasasagap. Pangkaraniwan din akin na mapa-alahanan ng kanilang mata na ako na tinuturo nila si Gina dahil naniniwala sila na ay natalo sa laro ng buhay. alam ni Gina ang lahat. Pambihira. Nung unang Kinahapunan ay pumunta ako sa estasyon ng linggo na nawawala si Ador, halos maniwala pulis. Hinatid ako ng mga nag-interview sakin ako sa mga kakaibang balita, siguro dahil na kaya nakamenos din ako sa lakad. Natunton ko
“
“
Patuloy na umaandar ang mga kamay ng orasan. Tick tock, tick tock, dumaan na ulit ang matalas na guhit sa tuktok, ngunit di pa rin nag-iiba ang kalakaran ng daloy ng aking buhay. Paulit-ulit. Paulit-ulit... Habang nakahiga sa sopa, napansin ko na naman na katulad kahapon, ako ay nagmistulang isang gulantang balo na nakahilantay. Nagmistulang iskulturang bulaklak ang aking katawan, nagaabang ng pagdating ng liwayway upang malagas ang marmol na bumabalot sa aking anyo. Sa sopa na ako natutulog dahil nakasanayan ko nang bantayan ang pinto, nagbabakasakaling may pumasok at bumati sa akin ng ‘magandang umaga, miss byutipul!’ at halikan ang aking pisngi habang ako naman ay ngumingisi at naghahandang gantihan siya ng halik. Marahil na rin ay iniiwasan ko ang nakasanayang higaan, kasi mas mabigat ang lungkot na aking nadarama ‘pag ang mga nakaraang ala-ala ay bumubuhos sa’kin habang nakahiga sa mabakanteng kama. Nakadilat ang aking mga mata at minamasid ang kisameng tila may naiwang mga diperensya. Pano ba naman, lumiban nang lumiban ang nangakong karpintero. Baka nga tuluyan na niyang di magampanan ang kanyang responsibilidad. Dyusko! May kurot siyang maabot sa akin. Habang ang aking diwa ay tumatakbo sa iba’t ibang sulok ng mga aburidong lumipas na at paminsan ay ito’y tumatambay sa banta ng kinabukasang malumbay. Paminsan sa ang aking pagpikit at pagbabakasakaling lahat ay isang masamang panaginip lamang, ngunit ako ay napapamulat ulit at nararamdaman na ang kirot sa puso ay tunay. Tunay na tunay. Naghanap ako ng lakas para bumangon sa aking kinalalagyan. Pinipilit ko ang sariling
11
NO FURY SO LOUD Magsulat, Maglingkod, Magpalaya
WORDS l JUAN SEBASTIAN EVANGELISTA
Kaliwa’t Kanan Some say that travelling is the gamut of human experience. Through our travels, we find scenarios foreign to those that we are usually exposed of. We are enriched by the fruits of our travel and we acquire, in a great magnitude of some sorts, a broader understanding of the physical world. But in the everyday affairs of a student, travel had become a habit, as students do not have the luxury to see the grandeur in the aridity of the all too familiar routes towards the same place every now and then. It takes a lot of effort, or maybe peers that we are accustomed to, to make the frequent journey enthusiastic. In the university, our local jeepneys are our preferred gateway to our classes far away from each other, save for those who have other means of their own. With the constant to and fro, we became all too familiar with the jeepneys and we, at times, see them solely as mediums for our transportation.
OPINYON
rin ay isang taon nang kakaiba ang iskedyul ng trabaho ni Ador simula nung nagpalit siya ng trabaho. ‘Di muna ako pumasok sa bahay at umupo ako sa bangketa sa tapat. Grupo-grupo ang pagdaan ng mga tao kasi magsisimba sila. Tinitignan ko ang kada mukha ng mga dumadaan at kinikilala kada isa. Di ko agaran napansin ang sumulpot anyo na tumatakbo salungat sa daloy ng mga tao. Lumiko siya sa kanto malapit sa aming bahay, at bago naglaho sa aking pananaw ay nagtagpo ang aming mata. Napansin ko ang pamilyar at malungkot na mata na ako lamang ang nakakita. Di ko rin namukhaan kasi sira ang ilaw ng poste dito samin, di pinapaayos ng kapitan, malayo kasi sa pulutong ng angkan nila. Maya maya lamang ay nagsidatingan ang mga tauhan ng estasyon. Nagtatanongtanong sila sa mga tao papuntang simabahan. Napansin ko si Edgar na papalapit sa’kin. Sinabi ko na may napansin akong tumakbo na mistulang hinahabol nila, at tinuro ko ang direksyon na tinungo ng binata. Pinagpalad ako, pagka’t nakabawi ako kahit papaano kay Edgar. Nagretiro na ako sa mga ganap at tumuloy na sa loob ng bahay para magpahinga. Pagsapit ng umaga, lumabas ako at humdyat ang nagaabang na si Edgar. Binalita niya na natukoy na nila ang manunulsol ng pagpaslang sa aking asawa. Nakaamoy ako ng anomalya sa balitang nais ihatid ni Edgar. “Si Kiko yung pumatay sa asawa mo, Meling.” Di na niya pinatagal pa ang usapan. “Tumakas nung nahuli namin. Nanlaban, ayun patay.” Bumigat ang aking damdamin. Di ito ang hustisyang hinahangad ‘ko. [P]
Kamakailan lamang ay ating nabalitaan ang pagbawi ng Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ng lisensya ng Rappler dahil sa di umanong pagmamayari ng dayuhan sa naturing online news media na lumalabag sa mga nakapaloob sa konsitusyon. Dagdag pa rito ay ang nabalitaang pag rekumenda ng National Telecommunications Commision (NTC) na ipasara ang 30 estasyon ng radyo sa Davao region dahil sa di umanong paglabag sa mga probisyon ng communications and broadcasting laws. Kinikilala ang Pilipinas bilang isa sa mga ‘world’s freest media’, ngunit sa pag atake ng administrasyon sa mga mamamahayag ay ika’y mapapaaisip kung nararapat pa ba ang bansag na ito sa Philippine press. Hindi lamang ito atake sa pahayagang Pilipino kundi atake ito sa pambasang demokrasya. Ito lamang ay isa sa mga paniniil ng mala-diktaduryang gobyerno sa patuloy nitong pagpwersa sa naisin
na patahimikin ang mga malayang mamamahayag ng katotohanan para sa mga mamamayan.
sa karapatang pantao, makikita na rin ito sa kalunsuran sa porma ng extrajudicial killings at human rights violations na pinaigting ng War on
mapatahimik ang media, mainstream man o alternatibo, na sumasalungat sa propaganda ng estado.
Hindi lamang Rappler ang Hindi maipagkakaila na ito natatanging news media na ay sumasalamin sa nangyari ...pinapakita lamang na hindi ito noong panahon ng Batas Militar nakatangap ng atake sa karapatan ng malayang pamamahayag, panahon ng pananahimik ngunit ni Marcos. Sa pagsulong ng kundi pati na rin ang iba pang ito na ay panahon para sa mas ‘national security’ ng Armed mga alternatibong pahayagang paigtingin na mga panawagan at Forces of the Philippines (AFP) tina-tag ng Pangulo bilang mga ang pagtulak ng censorship at maging mas kritkal sa pagsusuri ay komunista o miyembro ng New pagsasara ng maraming media mga polisiya ng ating institutions at pati na rin mga People’s Army. Dagdag pa rito ay sa administrasyon. ang pang haharass ng mga trolls student councils. Sa malinaw sa mga progresibong indibidwal na hangarin ng Pangulo na na nagpapahayag sa social palawakin sa buong bansa ang media. Drugs ng Administrasyong Duterte. Batas Militar ay dapat na mabahala Ang atake sa mga media institutions Sa patuloy na pag-supil sa mga ngayon pa lamang at manindigan ang ay isa lamang sa mga pamamaraan pahayagan na kiritikal na naghahatid mga Pilipino laban dito. ng administrasyon upang mabaluktot ng balita at may mga pahayag na Sa panahong harap-harapan nang ang katotohanan. Sa hangarin sumasalungat sa administrasyon binubusalan ng administrasyon ang nitong maisulong ang diktadurya, ay unti-unting nagiging klaro ang mga mamamahayag at mamamayang napakaraming buhay na ang nakitil pagnanais ni Duterte na mamonopolya Pilipino, pinapakita lamang na hindi ito at dumanak na dugo, dagdag pa ang katotohanan. Patuloy ang pag- panahon ng pananahimik ngunit ito rito ay ang unti-unting pagpatay sa gapos, pagpiring, at pagputol ng na ay panahon para sa mas paigtingin mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng dila sa ating kalayaang magsalita at na mga panawagan at maging mas gutom at pangigipit – hindi na lamang maghatid ng balita. Tila mahapong kritkal sa pagsusuri sa mga polisiya ng naroon sa kanayunan ang pagatake ginagamit ang lahat ng paraan para ating administrasyon. Sa panahong
“
UNDERSCRUTINY
harap-harapan nang tinatangalan ng karapatan sa malayang pamamahayag at inaatake ang ating mga demokratikong karapatan, ang mga media institutions ay mas paiigtingin at papalakasin ang boses ng mamayan at mga estudyanteng kanilang nirerepresenta. Ang UPLB Perspective, bilang isang pahayagang umusbong sa karimlan ng Batas Militar ay patuloy na magsusulat, maglilingkod, at magpapalaya, dahil may kalayaan sa katotohanan. Kasama ang masa at iba pang institusyon ng pamamahayag – sa larangan man ng imprenta, brodkast, o online – patuloy ang UPLB Perspective sa militante at progresibong pagtuligsa at paglaban sa tiranya, pasismo, at namumuong diktadura ng rehimeng Duterte.[P]
WORRDS l EUNICE ALEXCY SENADOZA
What Sustains Duterte’s Populism A recent Social Weather Station survey showed an 18-point drop in President Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction rating, declining to “good” from a previous “very good.” This might be the start of the Filipino people’s disillusionment to the kind of politics and rhetoric that Duterte has shown during the campaign period. Or is it? To answer this question, it’s important for us to understand the source of Duterte’s popularity and what does it mean for people’s disposition to liberal democracy. We may remember the controversial speech he delivered in the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City wherein he recalled the story of a prison siege in Davao City 27 years ago. He recalled the fate of a 36 year-old Australian missionary named Jaqueline Hamill. During the siege, the woman was raped and brutally murdered and in Duterte’s usual rambling, he said, “I got angry. That she was raped? Yes, that too. But it was that she was so beautiful – the mayor should have been first. What a waste.”
Such remark may have ended the race for Duterte but the electorate was undeterred. He may have drawn the ire of human rights advocates but it did little to hurt his popularity. Such popularity is sustained by the narrative he created. Duterte espoused a kind of populism that relies on the people’s frustrations with the previous administration and use them to paint a vision of progress that is hinged upon the crushing of an unseen enemy. His populism was shrewdly constructed to create an antagonism between “the people” and what he perceives as the “dangerous other.” In our case, it’s the drug addicts and drug peddlers. Duterte has demonized them and stripped them of character and humanity. He painted them as plagues that kill and rape our daughters, they corrupt our sons, and they deserve swift and unforgiving retribution. Reports of drug busts and criminals caught while high on shabu were already part of the popular imagination, folded into the Filipinos everyday reality but they were not the focus of political conversations.
When he put the issue of drugs at the center of discourse, it resonated with the people because it confirmed a latent problem that was rendered invisible by the country’s main concerns. Duterte was the only presidential candidate who tried to address this issue, which fueled the absolution of his crass behavior and speech. “No matter that he’s disrespectful to the Pope and to women, he said that he’s going to eradicate crime in 3-6 months and solve our drug problem.” This narrative of intolerance to drugs is consistent with Tatay Digong’s machismo and misogyny and the people’s forbearance of it. These are central to the populist performance of crushing the “dangerous other” in order to save the nation. We have to be tough on crime. We must punish the scums of our country swiftly and harshly even if it means compromising our due process. Praise Tatay
“
Digong for bringing the change we desperately needed. Then, the dead bodies started to fill our morgues. Some of them were kababayans, some of them were people our friends knew, our neighbors, our relatives. The deaths
innocent people are reported to have been a case of mistaken identity, a case of being in the wrong place in the wrong time. This isn’t just about the fallibility of police officers. It’s also about the culture of impunity that Duterte has created, his willingness to vouch for erring officers. This is what his rhetoric created. And while it’s possible that the drop to Duterte’s satisfaction rating is an indication of us “seeing the light” as Senator Antonio Trillanes IV interprets it or it could just very well be what Senator Win Gatchalian calls a “cycle of politics” wherein ratings of newly seated Presidents drop after their first year. If it’s the latter, we’re in a very grim situation.[P]
Then, the dead bodies started to fill our morgues. Some of them were kababayans, some of them were people our friends knew, our neighbors, our relatives.
“
KWENTONG FRESHIE
UPLB PERSPECTIVE
ENERO 2018
“
10
are getting nearer and more frequent and suddenly, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to sentence the addicts and the pushers to death instead of sending them to jail. Fourteen thousand bodies and the death toll continues to rise. More and more
Ilang mukha ng pambansang minorya
Maging graphics contributor ng [P]. Kontakin ang 09958506111 para sa dagdag na detalye.