UP News March 2013

Vol.xxxiv no.3 diliman quezon city march 2013 2013

U.P.News

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University of the Philippines Community Newspaper

University cites OD Corpuz legacy

Excerpts from Eulogies

Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

Photo courtesy of Prof. Leo Abaya

professor Aurora Odette Corpuz Mendoza, who talked about the memory of her father and the family’s fond memories of living on the campus.

Dr. Corpuz (December 1, 1926-March 23, 2013) was the 13th president of UP and professor emeritus at the School of Economics.

He served as Education secretary from 1968 to 1971 and Minister of Education from 1979 to 1983. In 2004, he was named National Scientist for his Photo by Jun Madrid

The University of the Philippines (UP) paid its last respects to its former president Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz, who died last March 23 at age 87.

In necrological rites held on April 1, UP president Alfredo Pascual led the testimonials at the Church of the Holy Sacrifice, where Corpuz’s ashes were brought.

Those who gave testimonials were former UP presidents Francisco Nemenzo and Jose Abueva, former College of Social Sciences and Philosophy deans Leslie Bauzon and Cynthia Rose Bautista, retired College of Business Administration professor and former Budget Minister Manuel Alba, former School of Economics Deans Emmanuel de Dios and National Scientist Raul Fabella, professor emeritus Felipe Miranda, National Historical Commission chair and former vice president for academic affairs Maria Serena Diokno, National Artist F. Sionil Jose, UP Los Baños Foundation executive director and former College of Agriculture dean Cecilio Arboleda, and UP Diliman chancellor Caesar Saloma.

The service also featured the UP Singing Ambassadors.

The Corpuz family’s response was delivered by Department of Psychology

Official portrait of President Corpuz.

Prof. Corpuz-Mendoza recalls a life lived with her father.

scholarly contributions in the field of economics, history, political science, and public administration.

He was a product of public education, having studied at the Camiling Elementary School and the Tarlac High School. He finished his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in UP Diliman in 1950, then earned his Master’s degree from the University of Illinois in 1953.

He received a Master’s degree in Public PAGE

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“OD also left a legacy of service from which all of us may learn. In the darkest of times, even just one man with a candle can provide some light.”—F. Sionil Jose “His scholarly work in history should not be understood, therefore, as just a masterful web of fact and narrative— which it is—rather it is also a gentle but continuing exhortation… Implicitly he was telling Filipinos not simply to wallow in their present troubles, but rather to look at how they were, and what they dreamed then, in order to realize what they could still become.”—Emmanuel de Dios “By reading OD’s landmark books, successive generations of Filipinos will be enriching their collective memory as they struggle to build our Filipino Nation for the common good of all our people.”—Jose Abueva “The guy loved to sing… His favorite songs? ‘Hindi Kita Malimot’ and an old love song, ‘You May Not be an Angel.’ … Angels are indeed so few, but sometimes, one comes along. And indeed, OD was one angel that came along and did well and good for all of us, for the Philippines, for UP, and for all his friends and associates.”—Manuel PAGE

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Website for informed voting launched

Photo by Roehl Niño Bautista, GMA News Online

Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

The winning moves and attitude of the UP Street Dance Club.

UP dethrones La Salle for UAAP street dance title

By Celest R. Flores, INQUIRER.net

The University of the Philippines (UP) Street Dance Club outshone archrival De la Salle University to capture its first ever trophy in the UAAP street dance competition last March 23 at the SM North Skydome in Quezon City.

Clad in a get-up of maroon, grey and black, the UP street dancers impressed the judges enough to steal the championship from erstwhile back-to-back titlist De La Salle Company Street.

“We didn’t expect to win]. We just did our best. Malaki yung respect namin sa kanila [We have a big respect for them (La Salle team),” UP co-captain Kyle Sy said.

UP mustered a score of 91.17 percent,

besting seven other schools in the third year of the UAAP dancefest.

“This competition is different, even when there are other street dance competitions, outside, this one is different because it is the pride of our school that we carry,” said co-captain Denise Espiridion.

The UP victory snapped La Salle’s winning streak and delegated it to second place with a score of 86.75 percent, barely ahead of third placer Adamson Cast which had 84.25 percent.

Adamson Cast, its first time on the podium, made a mark with its patriotic theme featuring Filipino hiphop songs while dancing in sleeveless barongs.

The University of the Philippines (UP) has launched a website designed to provide comprehensible election-related data, expert research findings and analyses, and a platform for fact-checking.

The website was launched last April 2 in cooperation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the ABS-CBN Corp.

The website is found at http://www. halalan.up.edu.ph/.

UP spearheaded the pioneering project consistent with its mandate as public service university. It aims to promote clean, honest, empowering elections with the help of pooled university expertise.

UP president Alfredo Pascual formed a committee and a project team headed by UP vice president for public affairs J. Prospero de Vera III, to formulate a plan, direct, and coordinate with experts and sources for the website.

The website has 10 main sections.

“Know Your Candidates” presents the profile of senatorial and party-list candidates including their voting record and stand on issues based on a pre-set questionnaire.

“Voter Education” involves FAQ (frequently asked questions) format that presents practical information on what to do during elections day, the philosophy of voting, where to report election-related fraud, and issues affecting overseas absentee voting.

“Think Pieces” are short blog entries from UP professors and other members of the UP community.

“Multimedia” is a collection of videos and podcasts of election-related forums in UP, television interviews of UP’s experts, etc.

There is “News Tracker” or a repository of election-related news from major broadsheets and online news sites.

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A screen shot of the Halalan microsite

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Two UP professors get Gawad CCP Para sa Sining Photo from the CCP website

Dr. Fajardo

Fajardo was a Thirteen Artists Awardee of the CCP in 1992.

Santos, on the other hand, was recognized for his contributions to Philippine music.

“Dr. Ramon Santos’ outstanding contribution to Philippine music is comprised of his numerous Filipino contemporary compositions that reflect traditional and Asian music aesthetics which have been performed not only locally but also in different parts of the world. A leading composer of contemporary music, he is recognized by other composers in Asia for his works which have been showcased in festivals and conferences abroad. His scholarly research in Philippine music have been published in journals and books both locally and internationally, helping contribute to the understanding of Philippine and Asian music aesthetics.

His active involvement as officer of international music organizations has helped put the country in a prominent position in the field of contemporary music in the global arena,” notes the CCP.

Tolentino: Pagsulat para sa masa bilang pag-ibig

Photo by Misael Bacani

By Arbeen Acuña

Dean Tolentino

Bilang bahagi ng Panayam Lecture Series ng Institute of Creative Writing (ICW) sa UP Diliman, tinalakay ni College of Mass Communication Dean Rolando Tolentino ang “Pagsulat para sa Masa: Isang Balikat Tungong-tanaw sa Isang Pag-ibig” noong Marso 6 sa CM Recto Hall, Faculty Center.

Ayon kay Tolentino, pagpapatuloy na rin ang panayam na ito ng nasimulan ng Literature and Society (ni S.P. Lopez) na unang nagpalawak sa diskurso ng panitikan.

Pinag-iba niya ang masa sa mamamayan.

“Kolektibong asignasyon sa taumbayan” ang una, samantalang sa pamayanan naman ang huli.

Ku n g a n g m a m a m ay a n ay m ay tinatamasang karapatan sa liberal na demokrasya, ang taumbayan ay walang mukha—kaya sa teatro, hindi mapag-iiba ang “taumbayan 1 sa taumbayan 24, (na kapwa) bahagi lang ng koro,” ani Tolentino.

Maliit ang papel sa dula, at kailangan upang mamukadkad ang drama ng mga pangunahing tauhan,” dagdag pa niya.

“Ang taumbayan ay pumapatungkol sa

mga kasanib ng bayan na mas malalim na affinity kumpara sa bansa o pagiging global citizen.”

Matapos awitin ni Prof. Roselle Pineda ang “Ang Masa” sinabi ni Tolentino na ang huling linya (makibaka wag matakot) ay “chinachant, parang sa Sister Stella L. Hindi lang ito kanta dahil may mas malaking konteksto at may publiko kang nakikinig.”

Nagbalik-tanaw si Tolentino sa pagkakabuo ng PAKSA (Panitikan para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan) at kung paano nito itinaguyod ang panitikang “mula sa masa, tungo sa masa” at napalahok ang mga manunulat sa panahong iyon kahit tila taliwas ito sa praktikang manunulat.

“Ang Noli at Fili Fili, limited ang access, konti lang ang may kopya. Via oral literature lang napalaganap, kaya kailangan talagang may pormasyon ng isang kolektibo o komunidad ng writers.” Bilang pangwakas ng bahaging “Balik-tanaw” ng panayam, tinalakay ni Tolentino ang ugnayan ng pagsasabansa at ng panitikan.

Sa “Tungong-tanaw,” tinalakay ni Tolentino kung paano “tumitindi ang aspirasyon at pagpapahayag ng panibagong pagkamamamayan—prog resib na pagbabago at konserbatismo sa kabilang banda.” Inugnay niya ang mga ito sa akses ng masa sa teknolohiya—tulad ng cellphone at ng internet; at kung anong ibinunsod ng modernong mga pagbabagong ito sa panahon ng “communicative capitalism” (Jodi Dean).

Binigyang-pansin din ni Tolentino ang “facebook activism,” kung saan tampok ang “virtual mass action, black profile

Professors Maria Christine Muyco and La Verne DC dela Peña have been adjudged the “most productive and highly-regarded artists and arts researchers” in the University of the Philippines (UP) system.

Assistant vice president for academic affairs Antoinette Hernandez announced that Muyco was conferred the title Artist II while Dela Peña was declared Artist I under the 2011-2013 cycle of the UP Arts Productivity System.

Muyco has been one of the most active mid-career composers in the Philippines.

She is currently an elected member of the Executive Committee, along with Taiwanese, Singaporean, and New Zealander representatives of the Asian Composers League (ACL).

Her works for large orchestra, piano,

Photo courtesy of the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs

(Reprinted with permission from UP Diliman Information Office Office) Dr. Brenda V. Fajardo, professor emerita at the Department of Art Studies of the College of Arts and Letters, and Dr. Ramon Santos, University Professor Emeritus of the Composition and Theory Department of the College of Music were among the eight recipients of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Gawad CCP Para sa Sining for 2012.

The award, the highest given by the CCP, recognizes the recipients’ “outstanding achievements and contributions to Philippine arts and culture.” The awards were given in a ceremony at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo Theater on February 27.

Fajardo received the award for her contributions in the Visual Arts.

The CCP website stated that: “Visual artist Brenda Fajardo’s works carry strong historical and nationalist themes as folk and mythological tales. Fajardo participated in prestigious exhibitions both here and abroad and represented the county in various biennales notably in France, Cuba, Japan, the USA, Korea, Chile, India and Australia. Because Fajardo was not an artist contented with isolation, she explored her expression with other art organizations and institutions. She has been instrumental in founding or revitalizing artist groups bonded by a common advocacy such as art education, gender issues, and community enrichment programs. Her efforts at revitalizing her family’s farm through cultural awareness prove to be a further testimony to this vocation.”

Profs. Muyco and Dela Peña elevated to UP Artists

Prof. De la Peña

pictures o cover photos, pagpirma ng online petitions, kahit sa aktwal, hindi naman lubos ang bisa; grim and determined (GND) noon, ngayon, humanistic na at mas katanggap-tanggap.”

Kung “Ang Masa” ang tinalakay kanina, sa bahaging ito, “Para sa Masa” ang sinuri: “Sa guni-guni ng Eraserheads, ang rakstar mode ay pamamaalam sa kanilang masa.

Ang humanistikong hangarin ay bigyan ng masa ang sarili ng respeto.

Kabalintunaan, dahil silang dinambong ng sistema ang inaasahang mag-angat sa kanilang sariling estado. Ang mga biktima ang inaasahang magligtas sa kanilang mga sarili.”

Tinalakay naman ni Prop. Gonzalo Campoamor III ng Depar tamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas kung paano naging kakatwa ang ilang paglalarawan sa masa ng popular na midya at babasahin, kasama ang nasabing awit ng Eraserheads.

Ayon kay Campoamor, bagamat tungkol sa masa ang maraming pelikula, ang mga producer, artista, direktor at sumulat ay hindi masa, kaya hindi naunawaan ang pinagdaraanan ng masa.

Ayon naman kay Prop. Gerry Lanuza ng Departamento ng Sosyolohiya, may mga nagsusulat na ang layunin ay hindi maintindihan upang tumaas ang kanilang “cultural o intellectual capital” tulad ng ilang mga pilosopo; samantalang may mga kumakatha “para sa masa pero binababoy, binubusabos ang masa, tulad ng mga nagsusulat sa Tiktik.”

Sinipi ni Lanuza si Che Guevarra at sinabing ang rebolusyon ay tungkol sa pag-ibig. Ani Tolentino, “Ang pag-ibig ay pagpili, pagpanig at paninindigan.

Gaya ng tanong ni Bonifacio tungkol sa makabuluhang pag-ibig: aling pag-ibig ang hihigit sa pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa? Na sinagot niya rin: wala na nga wala.”

choir, chamber opera, strings, Japanese koto, percussion, and winds, have been widely performed in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world.

At present, Muyco is a tenured professor at the UP College of Music, and chair of its Composition and Theory Department. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree (cum laude) in Composition at UP and completed laude her Master of Music (Composition) degree at the University of British Columbia. She finished her PhD in Philippine Studies at UP in 2008. UP gave her a grant to take Ethnomusicology and Dance Theory courses at the University of California-Los Angeles.

She was recently awarded the “Best Film Scorer” by Cinemalaya and Gawad Urian for the film “Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa” or “Dance of the Two Left Feet.”

She has done community service by organizing composition workshops in the country through the project Abot-Dinig of ACL-Philippines; and has established a series of musical instrument construction workshops through the Panay Bukidnon Festivals since 2004 up to the present.

On the other hand, Dela Peña obtained his PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Hawaii. His research areas included Benguet Kankana-ey, Tagalog, and Filipino hip-hop.

He has presented papers and lectures on burial rites and prestige feasts in Buguias, Benguet as well as repartee singing and drinking events in Sariaya, Quezon.

De la Pena got his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in composition from UP. He has written for various media, including chamber, choral, dance and theater.

His works have been published and performed in Asia and America. His most recent work is Balung-an, a piece for various Asian instruments and dance which premiered in Bangkok in 2012.

De la Pena teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in World Music, Philippine Music and Musicology, and has given lectures and seminars on the same areas in the country and abroad.

He is also music director of Tugma (Tugtugang Musika Asyatika), a student ensemble specializing in Philippine and Asian music.

As producer and host of the weekly DZUP radio program “Tunog at Tinig,” he has received a special citation for best entertainment radio show from the 2011 Catholic Mass Media Awards.

De la Pena is chairman of the UP Department of Musicology, member of the Advisory Board of the UP Center for Ethnomusicology and the Philippine Musicological Society, editor of the Musika Jornal of the Center for Ethnomusicology, member of the National Music Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts from 2005 to 2008, and secretarygeneral of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) from 2002 to 2007.

The current committee members of the UP Artists Productivity System (APS) are National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, Professor Emeritus Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, Professor Emeritus Gemino Abad, Professor Emeritus Ramon Santos and Professor Emeritus Basilio Villaruz. The committee is chaired by Vice President for Academic Affairs Gisela Concepcion and cochaired by AVP Hernandez.

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Myanmar info planners get insights on Phl press at UP-CMC By Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Photo by Jun Madrid

The University of the Philippines UP continues to perform its role as a regional university with the College of Mass Communication (CMC) providing insights for the architects of Myanmar’s information liberalization plan on the Philippine experience to regain press freedom.

The CMC, led by its former dean Elena Pernia, met with a delegation from the Public Service Media Governing Body (PSMGB) of Myanmar last March 6 at the Executive House in UP Diliman. The Philippine visit by PSMGB delegates Ye Tint, Kyaw Zaw Naing, and Tin Kha was sponsored by the Philippine Daily Inquirer Inquirer.

Also present to welcome the Myanmar guests and the CMC faculty to UP Diliman was UP vice president for public affairs Prospero de Vera III. The Myanmar Ministry of Information is gradually transforming the country’s national media from government-owned and –controlled to privately-controlled and self-regulated industry.

Myanmar delegates U Ye Tint, U Tin Kha, U Kyaw Zaw Naing listen to UP professors discussing the Philippine experience of regaining freedom of the press, business of journalism, and UP’s research and graduates contributing to the growth of the information sector.

The PSMGB, which was created to implement the reform, believes that the Philippine experience is an exemplary example of press freedom

in the ASEAN. The PSMGB is particularly interested in the transition period after martial law to the EDSA revolution.

UP Diliman fetes 2013 Oblation scholars

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Why should college freshmen who graduate on top of their high school classes, choose to enroll in the University of the Philippines (UP)?

The answer can be summed up in the acronym ERA, which stands for excellence, resourcefulness, and academic freedom.

During a luncheon held last Feb. 23 at the Executive House, UP Diliman. in honor of the 2013 Oblation Scholars, five speakers—four accomplished UP scholars and one nationally and internationally recognized scientist-researcher—talked about the experiences and challenges to look forward to while in UP. In the audience were the scholars, their parents and families, and UP officials and academicians, including the chancellors, deans and representatives from UP Diliman, UP Manila and UP Los Baños.

The first speaker was John Gabriel Pelias, who graduated summa cum laude in 2011 with a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.016, the highest in UP history after World War II. Pelias, currently a faculty member of the UP Diliman National Institute of Mathematics, spoke about his passion for Mathematics, and how Mathematics crosses and transcends all other disciplines.

According to him, UP offers a healthy breeding ground for all academic disciplines.

“When we say UP education is holistic, we really mean it,” Pelias said. “No other university can ever give such a complete learning package: the theory, the actual skills, the creative precision, the training to become responsible and diligent, the pressure that enables one to achieve more, the preparation for the life of a working man.”

Engineer Jhud Mihael Aberilla, himself an Oblation Scholar and a DOST-SEI Merit Scholar 2006-2011, talked about the diversity of courses, people and experiences one encounters in UP. Aberilla, also a Gawad Tsanselor sa Natatanging Mag-aaral Awardee and a summa cum laude graduate in Chemical Engineering, declared that UP education is “fun, creative, challenging, and fulfilling.”

Currently a teacher at the UP College of Engineering, Aberilla expressed hopes that four or five years in the future, each Oblation scholar would “see the line of sunflowers adorning the University

Photo by Bong Arboleda

By Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta

Oblation scholars from Philippine Science High School

Avenue.”

So much like Aberilla, the third speaker, Engineer Nicole Andrea Yazon, currently a Technologist at the Shell Tabangao Refinery, who was also an Oblation Scholar, a DOSTSEI Merit Scholar, a Gawad Tsanselor sa Natatanging Mag-aaral Awardee, and a summa cum laude graduate of Chemical Engineering.

Yazon said “picking the right school is about who you are and what you want to become,” adding that UP is generally the top in most fields.

She said the “top three things I love about UP” are the academic freedom the University offers; the diversity that such freedom fosters; and UP’s excellence driven by that diversity, which includes the ability to go beyond limits, to work around constraints, to be resourceful, creative, strong and street-smart.

The fourth speaker, Physics instructor and PhD student Mikaela Irene Fudolig, entered college when she was only 11 years old, and graduated summa cum laude in Physics at the age of 16.

Fudolig shared her own experiences as a UP student with “a five year head start”, relating how she chose to study diligently because she believed in a dream and was driven by an “inner fire” to work hard for it.

She urged the Oblation scholars to follow their own dreams, and take responsibility for their own decisions, including the choice of whether or not to enter UP. “Some people can get by with just talent, and some people can get by with just passion. If you have both the talent and the passion for what you are doing, the possibilities are limitless…You have the talent. The only question is, whether

you have the passion.”

Dr. Corazon de Ungria, head of the DNA Analaysis Laboratory of the UP Diliman Natural Sciences Research Institute and Program Director of Forensics and Ethnicity at the Philippine Genome Center, capped the words of wisdom for the Oblation scholars by reiterating the three reasons an outstanding young student would pick UP—excellence, resourcefulness and academic responsibility.

More than that, a talented individual in search of a meaningful life would find support in UP. As the eldest among the speakers, Dr. De Ungria also addressed the parents of the scholars, recalling her own parents’ greatest happiness as she received awards and recognitions for her outstanding work and service to the country. “That’s what makes parents very proud, when we put into realization our potential. And this is what UP offers us: a nurturing environment to be the best that we can be, and once we are the best that we can be, we can make a difference.”

In his message to the scholars, UP president Federico Pascual said compared to last year, the number of female scholars has increased, with 31 males and 19 females.

UP Diliman is the most popular choice of campus among the Oblation Scholars, with 46 out of 50 expressing preference for Diliman, and two each for UP Manila and UP Los Baños.

“Being an Oblation scholar requires focus, persistence and passion for academic excellence,” President Pascual said in his message. “But I’m sure that with your innate abilities, and with the guidance of your elders both at home and in school, you will easily triumph…The University is here to give you encouragement and support. I PAGE

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UP has new facility for studies on maritime affairs, law of the sea

By Fred Dabu

With the Philippines locked in territorial disputes with China on one hand, and Malaysia on the other hand, providing a center for academic discussions on maritime affairs and the law of the sea could not have come at a better time.

Last March 15, the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (UP-IMLOS) was formally inaugurated in ceremonies held at the Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law, UP Diliman campus, providing a most appropriate venue for public debates on ticklish issues involving maritime affairs and law of the sea.

The new facility aims to be “an inter national center of excellence in research, teaching, legal advice and consultancy, training and capacity building, and publication in the fields of the law of the sea, maritime matters and territorial studies.”

The UP-IMLOS was set in motion with a series of discussions last January, featuring presentations from the Institute, UP Asian Center, and UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.

Its programs and activities included maritime territorial issues research program, maritime industry law reform program, annual institute on the Law of the Sea, Maritime Law internship program, Maritime Affairs symposium series, domestic interagency and international networking, publication of occasional papers and books, and dissemination of informational materials.

UP-IMLOS director Jay L. Batongbacal said the institute was created to respond to the needs of both public and private sectors in fishing, shipping and many other marinerelated industries, as well as to provide support to Philippine government on issues of national and international concern.

Territorial issues such as the disputed Bajo de Masinloc and the more recent Sabah crisis, were cited in line with UP-IMLOS legal and policy support roles in helping Filipinos deal with evolving economic and geopolitical relations with other governments and foreign corporations.

UP President Alfredo E. Pascual expressed full support for the institute covering marine environment protection, maritime boundaries, maritime law enforcement, maritime security, and territorial studies of the Philippines’ nearly 600,000 square nautical miles of maritime territory.

UP Law Dean Danilo L. Concepcion hailed the long-awaited creation of the Institute.

Former Solicitor General Estelito P. Mendoza and Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio shared their wisdom and experience in government service and law.

Mendoza was a member of the Philippine delegation to the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, which paved the way for creation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Justice Carpio penned the decision upholding the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 9522, the new baselines law enacted in 2009 to comply with salient provisions of the UNCLOS. Sen. Edgardo Angara and Justice Carpio were cited for proposing the creation of a highly specialized academic research institution devoted to maritime affairs which was subsequently approved by the UP Board of Regents last January 2013, giving rise to PAGE

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UPOU marks 18th year

Sago takes center stage in UP Min 18th year rites

By Rene Estremera

The UP Open University (UPOU) turned 18 last Feb. 20 with day-long activities highlighted by a launch of former UPOU chancellor Felix Librero’s book, “Writing Your Thesis: (A Practical Guide for Students),” and recognition of the facility’s institutional partners, among other activities.

“The establishment of the UP Open University is probably one of the best policy decisions made by the Board of Regents in UP history,” said UP president Alfredo Pascual in a speech read for him by UP vice president for development Elvira Zamora.

Pascual said the UPOU continued to be “aware of the changing times and the needed paradigm shift in viewing higher education.”

UPOU chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso said open and distance e-learning has public service at its core, aiming to “spread the benefits of higher education to more people.”

She also noted that UPOU has been making significant headway in the creation of open educational resources through the UPOU Networks, a web-based platform for sharing education resources in rich media.

In addition, UPOU was also looking at the delivery of educational materials through massive open online courses, where discussions with potential partners are underway, Alfonso said.

She cited recent student initiatives such as the creation of a student paper and the establishment of a student council, as well as plans to construct a UPOU Community Hub at the headquarters in Laguna.

T he str ucture would house alibrary, learning center, Information office, multimedia museum, business concessionaires, and spaces for public gatherings. Future renovations on learning centers across the country are expected to be guided by the design ideas of this hub.

As envisioned, the hub would be a “green” or environmentally-sustainable structure. In fact, energy-saving measures have been in place at the UPOU headquarters, including timed use of air

UPV heightens Internet connectivity

By Francis Dimzon

Due to increasing and pressing demand, the University of the Philippines (UPV) has acquired additional Internet connection for its Miagao campus.

Since last February 22, local internet service provider SITELCO has been providing an additional 12 Mbps bandwidth to enhance the UPV’s existing PREGINET connection.

The recent improvement in Internet access is expected to be further enhanced once the system-funded upgrade of existing PREGINET connection from 4 Mbps to 10 Mbps takes effect, giving the Miagao campus 22 Mbps aggregate Internet bandwidth.

Meanwhile, Internet connection at the Iloilo City campus has been upgraded from 6 Mbps to 10 Mbps and will soon have an additional 2 Mbps connection from PREGINET.

*Prof. Francis Dimzon is Assistant to the Chancellor for Data and Information Systems Program and a faculty member of the Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences

Photo courtesy of UPMin Office of the Chancellor

By Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo

BS Food Technology students prepare pizza with Prof. Dulce Flores and Engr. Santillan of Caraga State Univ. looking on

GCEB rehab gets funds from Sen. Legarda’s PDAF

By Anna Razel L. Ramirez

University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) and the Office of Sen. Loren Legarda through the Iloilo City government have forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) providing for the grant of P500,000 from the senator’s Priority Development Fund of (PDAF) to finance the repair and rehabilitation of the school’s Graduate and Continuing Education Building (GCEB).

The MOA was signed last on March 26 at the UPV Iloilo City campus by UPV Chancellor Rommel A. Espinosa and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog representing Sen. Legarda.

The accord stipulated that UPV would take full responsibility in the “proper disposition and disbursement of funds for the implementation of its program in conditioning, four-day workweek scheme, and installation of solar-powered LED lamp posts.

The anniversary celebration also featured the conferment of citations to 23 faculty members, administrative staff, and research, extension, and professional personnel for their dedicated and outstanding service to the UPOU. The UPOU partners were identified as the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), UPOU Foundation Inc., the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Australian Agency for International Development.

Four memoranda of agreement were also signed during the day. UPOU’s partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. was meant for the development of

accordance with the laws and COA rules and regulations.”

The city government, for its part, would transfer the full amount of P500,000 and closely monitor and inspect the progress of project implementation, as well as verify the utilization of the funds.

UPV vice chancellor for administration Nestor G. Yunque and Melchor Tan of the Office of the Iloilo City Mayor witnessed the MOA signing.

The P500,000 was the first tranche of a total grant of P1 million from Legarda’s PDAF for the rehabilitation of GCEB. The structure was built during the time of chancellor Ida M. Siason. Its construction was funded by the countrywide development fund of then Sen. Nikki Coseteng. courses on Android mobile applications and “technopreneurship.”

Its accords with the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the International Rice Research Institute-UP Los Baños chapter covered the conduct of a seminar on e-commerce for government transactions. The two other agreements were with the Gawad Kalinga Los Baños Ville and the Foundation for Advancing Wellness, Instruction and Talents, Inc., both non-stock, non-profit organizations involved in community development through various projects.

The UPOU was established as the University’s fifth constituent unit on February 23, 1995 to provide wider access to quality higher learning through distance education.

Sago-based foodstuffs took center stage last Feb. 15 with the launch of the UP Mindanao’s Sago Foods Pilot facility during the school’s 18th anniversary celebration and a milestone in its Biotechnology program.

Prof. Dulce Flores led the opening ceremony with UPMin Chancellor Gilda Rivero.

Guests toured the flour milling machine and storage area, observed the baking process, and tasted the pizza and ice cream cones made from sago flour.

They noted that food items made from sago were crunchy and tasty.

The launch was held in conjunction with the “2nd National Sago Symposium: Inventory of Wild Sago Stands in the Philippines and Campaign for their Conservation and Utilization”.

In her welcome remarks, Flores narrated how the sago research program started in UP Mindanao, and connected this to the Biotech Program Phase 2 aimed at creating a ruralbased large scale sago-starch industry.

She said research will focus on the utilization of sago starch for the production of ethanol, lactic acid and biodegradable plastics; assessment of existing sago stands, suitable sites for commercial plantations; and mass propagation of clones and pilot-scale production.

Flores gave a lecture titled “Greening Asia: Let’s Conserve Sago” wherein she walked her audience which included indigenous tribes, through an inventory of sago palms in Southeast Asia, and the yield of starch and glucose per year.

Flores cited the contribution of sago palms in environmental protection through its carbon dioxide sequestration, protection of swamps and dry lands, and prevention of floods and forest fires.

She also said sago flour could help the country attain provide food security.

Flores also discussed the traditional ways of processing the sago flour, and the advantages of mechanized extraction, among them zero waste and waterless processing.

She advocated the use of “green chemistry” in the production of high-value products notably ethanol and lactic acid using a biotechnological process.

Prof. Sylvia Concepcion presented her market research, enumerating the competitive imported products. She said the challenge for the Philippines is to develop the sago flour industry through better harvesting, transport, de-pithing, and processing it into flour, as well as to develop modern machinery and technology for each stage of the production process.

UP Diliman fetes...

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hope you will enjoy the excitement of UP life and find meaningful ways of sharing yourselves to the country and the world, especially to our underprivileged mga kababayan,” Dr. Pascual said.

This year’s Oblation Scholars are: Rudolph Angelo David Encarnacion, Ron Gabriel Oconer Navarro, Mark Agustine Payeo Cruz Awingan, Valerie Abby Mission Lagura, John Paul Magoncia Jacosalem, Edward Joseph Canots Ofilada, Marco Gabriel del Valle, Miriam Celine Jimenez Miciano, Lyonel To Tangangco, Christian Ong Go, Lorenzo Gabriel del Rosario Quiogue, Pia Cassandra Cabataba Patron, Jose Sandino Abelardo Bandonil, Ann Mikaela Lynne Ong Co, Shanaia Esthelle Joy Pagba Daguit, Marie Gabrielle Madrinan de Luna, Ronilo Jubacon del Rosario, Jem Marie Patalingjug Golbin, Lowelyn Ann Micaros Itang, Adrian Jude Wong Jumangit, Regiel Christian Quiao

Mag-usara, Peter Nicholas Saquido Onglao, Alyssa Beatrice Carreon Poblete, Roider Soriano Pugal, James Christian Ofaga Relampagos, Godfrey Angelo Rodriguez Robeniol, Gian Paolo bagarino Sepulveda, Aeron Lester Navarro Syliongtay, Olin Joseph Soriano Tamayo, Kristine Larissa Bernardo Yu, Mikaela Rei Aquino Africa, Chari Kaye Abuyan Caja, Anjanette Ricafrente Canales, Christian Zeta Carino, Marc Patrick Cruz Celon, Renz Elli Jasa Chavez, Deany Hendrick Ravina Cheng, Kimerly Louise Yu Co, Ana Samantha Dominique Barretto Concepcion, Ernest Pahuyo Delmo, Buen Jefferson Dahlen Gayo, Brendon Matthew Di Go, Christian Jerrera Jetajobe, Angelo Riel Camacho Limbo, Jeremy Jay Beltran Magdaong, David Marco Marasigan Magpantay, Bianca Mae Chavez Malaluan, Abigail Laureen Chua Sy, Clare Feliz Syjuco Tan, Justin Edric Go Yturzaeta.

Among the 50 Oblation Scholars, the top three passers of the UPCAT are: Kristine Larissa Bernardo Yu, Clare Feliz Syjuco Tan, and Lorenzo Gabriel del Rosario Quiogue

Myanmar info planners... ◄PAGE 3

In UP, the CMC faculty members cited situations and current trends that made the Philippine press viable business ventures.

They also discussed the implications of social media and the accessibility of the internet, which have greatly affected the journalism sector.

The group’s itinerary included the Ateneo de Manila University, the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, and the Senate. The delegation is also scheduled to visit Hong Kong and Japan.

march 2013

U.P. News 5

UP Baguio, UN help Benguet folk gear up for disasters UPLB launches ‘UPLB Ko, Bantay Ko’ UP Los Baños (UPLB) officially launched last March 13 at the NCAS Auditorium a community-based security and safety consciousness campaign called “UPLB KO, BANTAY KO.” The drive, initiated in cooperation with the Laguna Police Provincial Office and the People’s Effort Action and Community Empowerment (PEACE) Inc., aims to educate and train citizens of the UPLB community on the various aspects of security, and make safety a way of life.

Dr. Enrique Tolentino, UPLB vice chancellor for community affairs, welcomed the participants to the project launch, highlighted by the signing of a covenant among the organizers and stakeholders.

In his remarks as keynote speaker, police Supt. Benito C. Estipona, PNP Region IV-A director , underscored the significance of the project.

As part of the campaign launch, two separate activities were held, including a security summit and a children’s safety awareness program.

The security summit featured notable key speakers including Gerry Ilagan, crime prevention head of the Metro Manila Volunteer Corps under the Metro Manila Development Authority, who discussed the concept of crime and anticrime measures, volunteerism, as well as disaster preparedness and emergency management.

Jones Lim, training director of TXTFIRE Philippines, focused on fire incidence management and basic radio communications; while Enrico de Guzman, chief operating officer of Peace Inc., talked about basic campus security management.

The Child Development Laboratory (CDL) under the College of Human Ecology, hosted the children’s awareness and recreational education on security and safety program with De Guzman as presentor.

Facilitated by the UPLB students, the program sought to promote awareness and enhance the knowledge of pre-school children about disasters and security risks.

Activities were conducted to teach them what to do when faced with emergency situations. Security and safety tips were presented through animation and games.

(MJC de Roma)

By Dymphna Javier and Alice Follosco

UP Baguio hosted last March 14 a multisector meeting meant to assess progress of disaster preparedness and response (DPR) initiatives being implemented in Benguet province in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP).

The meeting also identified challenges and future steps that may be taken in furtherance of the project, as well as set up coordinating mechanisms among the participants and other stakeholders.

Present were UN WFP representatives led by Michelle McGonagle who acted DPR Programme coordinator; the mayors of Atok and Tublay towns, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) representatives from the municipalities of Atok, Kapangan, Kibungan, and Tublay, and Benguet province; project managers from the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation; UP Baguio project leaders and researchers; and future partners from Buguias and Baguio City.

Participants from the various institutions

or government units have been advancing efforts towards building disaster resilient communities in Benguet, a province identified as having the highest risk to landslides.

These initiatives covered capacity building seminar workshops, preparation of DRRM and contingency plans, generation of hazard and risk maps, procurement of automated weather stations, global navigation satellite system receivers, two way radios, and internet connections.

UP Baguio is implementing three research projects funded by the UN WFP DPR Programme. Prof. Dymphna Javier leads the project to enhance stakeholders’ capability in utilizing rainfall data for an early landslide warning system in Tublay. It will conduct science seminar workshops, deploy automated weather stations, and provide an inventory of landslides through the use of a high resolution satellite image and geographic information system.

Dr. Teodora Balangcod oversees the

BALITANG UNYON National Council Meeting ng All UP Academic Employees Union Matagumpay na Idinaos Matagumpay na naisagawa ng All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) ang pulong ng National Council (NC) nitong nakaraang Abril 4-5, 2013. Dumalo at masiglang lumahok sa NC ang mga opisyal na kinatawan mula sa halos lahat ng mga tsapter ng AUPAEU. Ang Pambansang Bise-Presidente para sa REPS na si Ms. Guillermina Panizales ang nagbigay ng pambungad na pananalita at pagpapahalaga sa pagpupulong. Pagkatapos nito ay nagbigay ng mga situationer na pambansa at pangUnibersidad ang Pambansang Presidente ng AUPAEU na si Prop. Ramon Guillermo.

Tinalakay naman pagkaraan ng dating Rehente na si Dr. Judy Taguiwalo ang mga usapin at detalye ng pagsasagawa ng bagong negosasyon para sa isang Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA). Ang Pambansang Pangkalahatang Kalihim na si Ms. Perlita Rana ang naglagom sa mga napag-usapan sa pagpupulong.

Nagkaisa ang NC sa sumusunod na mga resolusyon: (1) Buhayin at gawing aktibo ang mga komite ng unyon sa bawat tsapter at tiyakin ang paglulunsad ng mga regular na pulong; (2) Tutulan ang lumalaganap na kontraktwalisasyon sa Unibersidad; (3) Ipatupad ang mga probisyon ng CNA; (4) Maglunsad ng mga pananaliksik hinggil sa mga isyu na may kinalaman sa kapakanan at karapatan ng mga guro, kawani at REPS; (5) Pasiglahin ang gawaing pang-edukasyon sa mga tsapter; (6) Palawakin ang pamantayan ng mga kondisyong pangkalukusugan para sa maagang pagtanggap ng Service Recognition Pay (SRP) sa edad na animnapung taon; (7) Tuluy-tuloy na pagbantay sa implementasyon ng eUP ng administrasyong Pascual; (8) Suportahan ang tindig ng mga mag-aaral hinggil sa Socialized Tuition Fee and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP); (9) Patuloy na panawagan para sa tunay na career path para sa mga REPS; (10) Tutulan ang Productivity Based Bonus (PBB) ni Pangunong Aquino at ipaglaban ang bonus na across the board; (11) Igiit ang lalong madalang pagpulong ng Union-Management Monitoring Committee (UMMC).

efforts at soil stabilization by revegetation of natural landslides in Atok. The project was meant to establish soil baseline characteristics in landslide areas, identify and test suitable indigenous and economically valued plant species for both revegetation and livelihood purposes, and establish nurseries for selected plant species.

Dr. Alejandro Ciencia, Jr. spearheads the establishment of a Knowledge and Training Resource Center at UP Baguio.

The Center is envisioned as a repository of learning materials on climate change and DRRM, and as a learning resource center and University-based training center in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The Cordillera Studies Center manages the three projects with a total funding of close to P8 million.

McGonagle reiterated the call for proposals on small-scale but high-impact community projects that address disaster risk mitigation and climate change adaptation.

DSS-CAS holds forum on international education and assessment

By Alfie Anthony Neodama

The Division of Social Sciences of the College of Arts and Sciences (DSSCAS) and the Office of the Continuing Education and Pahinungod (OCEP) of UP Visayas have sponsored a public-lecture forum entitled “Framing the K-12 Policy: New Trends in International Education and Assessment.”

The event, held last February 20 at the Training Rooms 1-3, GCE Building in UPV, Iloilo City, was attended by 134 teachers from all educational levels across Iloilo province.

It endeavored to provide an international context to the K-12 policy of the Aquino administration, and to generate insights on how teachers can be best prepared with the new policy.

Dr. Heinz Wolf, lecturer of History at the DSS-CAS, spoke about the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), as mentioned in an article “You can’t improve what you can’t measure” written by Dr. Grace Shangkuan Koo and published in the newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer on Nov. 20, 2011.

PISA is a test taken by 74 countries across the world Website for informed... with Mathematics, Science ◄PAGE 1 and Reading Competency as its major components.

“Research” features a compilation The Philippines is of academic research on elections with not a participant in the short summaries accessible to nontest, but the successful academic audiences. educational policies in the Through “Fact Check,” citizens top performing countries may verify the truthfulness of the in the PISA testing (China, candidates’ claims.

Ta i wa n , H o n g Ko n g , A “Data Blog” include registered Singapore, South Korea, voters’ profile per province, candidates’ and Japan) provide a demographic and legislative profile template for the success (cross-referenced to “Know Your of the Philippines’ K-12 Candidates”), party list profile, political program. parties profile, political dynasties Wolf suggests caution map. in adopting PISA standards Election-related tweets are updated as the test does not measure in real time, with links to Facebook and creativity as well as research Youtube channels. and innovation in individual countries. He emphasized Premier Asia universities share insights on teaching. Officials from the National University of Singapore (NUS) meet with UP oral achievement and officials and faculty in the Board of Regents Conference Room at UP Diliman March 25, 2013 to explore programs for developing teaching and consistency of subjects. learning of students, faculty members, and researchers. NUS Center for Development of Teaching and Learning Director Lakshminarayanan Samavedham discussed the proposed program to build a teaching, learning and leadership culture with Vice President for Academic Affairs Gisela Concepcion, Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero de Vera III and Vice President for Legal Affairs Danny Uy.

6 U.P. News

march 2013

UP Diliman hosts multi-sector Sabah forum

Ex-diplomat says gov’t may have dropped Sabah claim

By Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

By Fred Dabu

Photo by Bong Arboleda

A for mer ranking official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has expressed belief that the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., father of President Benigno Aqunio III, may have promised to drop the Philippine claim to Sabah in exchange for Malaysian support to oust then President Ferdinand Marcos.

T his explains the two Aquino administrations’ passive stance on the issue, erstwhile DFA executive officer Hermes Dorado said during a University of the Philippines (UP) forum on the Sabah issue.

Dorado noted that while the 1937 Philippine Constitution indicated that Sabah historically belonged to the Philippines, the provision was deleted in the 1987 Charter that was drafted under the presidency of Corazon IIS Dean Julkipli Wadi facilitates discussions during a separate forum at the Asian Center held the day after the consultative forum Cojuangco Aquino, Ninoy’s widow. at Bulwagang Tandang Sora.

Dorado also showed a map of the In a bid to help government build a who articulated the Aquino administration’s Magallona, lawyer Leonard de Vera, retired Philippine territory as adopted by the first framework to address the Sabah controversy, position on the Sabah issue.

General Raymond Jarque, retired Coronel Philippine republic prior to American the Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS), with The Sulu Sultanate was represented by Armando Gatmaitan, Ligaya Amilbangsa, colonization, saying this could still aid in support from the Office of the UP president its spokesperson, Abraham Idjirani. and Prof. Abubakar Mohammad. defining the country’s territorial sovereignty. and other quarters, hosted an open forum Other political leaders and peace IIS dean Julkipli Wadi facilitated the The forum dubbed “Understanding on the issue last March 18 at the Bulwagang advocates present included for mer discussions, while Prof. Bobby Tuazon of the Moro People and Philippines Claim Tandang Sora of UP Diliman. senators Teofisto Guingona and Santanina Cenpeg acted as synthesizer. on Sabah,” held at The University Hotel The affair also drew experts on the Rasul, Human Rights Commissioner Jose The proceedings, according to Tuazon, in UP Diliman last March 12, served as an issue from the House of Representatives Manuel Mamauag, and Social Welfare and gathered consensus points and a wide opportunity for the Kiram family and patriotic Committee on Muslim Affairs and the Center Development Assistant Secretary Ted spectrum of inputs that may be submitted groups to expound on the legitimacy of the for People Empowerment in Governance Romo. for government consideration. decades-long struggle to regain Sabah.

(Cenpeg), political leaders, peace advocates, There were also representatives of There was an emerging consensus The participants said the Aquino and Mindanao stakeholders. various non-government organizations that the government need not undertake administration’s ambiguous response to Among them were Presidential Assistant and civil society groups such as the Sulu additional studies because there was already the Moro people’s assertions resulted in for Muslim Concerns and peace panelist People’s Congress, the Islamic Society of a slew of historical research, legal papers, the ongoing crisis with the Malaysian Yasmin Busran Lao; Rep. Tupay Loong, the Philippines, and the Volunteers Against and accounts supporting the Philippine government. claim to Sabah that might be used to The issue reached crisis proportions chair of the House Committee on Muslim Crime and Corruption.

Affairs; and National Commission on Expert insights and analyses on the formulate policies for a peaceful resolution when armed followers of the Sultanate of Muslim Filipinos Secretary Mehol Sadain Sabah claim were provided by Dean Merlin of the conflict while upholding the dignity Sulu led by Sultan Jamalul Kiram III sailed of the Sulu sultanate. to Lahad Datu in Sabah reportedly to assert The participants criticized government’s their proprietary rights. silence on the treatment of Filipinos in Various sectors accused the Aquino organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan not for their own gain.

She stressed that their family has been Sabah, the alleged presidential snub of the administration with mishandling and (Bayan), said Sabah was snatched from the worsening the issue, instead of swiftly Moros, then given away by the British to the fighting for their “proprietary right,” the Kirams, and President Aquino’s “apparent post-colonial Malaysia. government must also assert its “sovereign deference” to Malaysia. resolving it through diplomatic channels.

Sadain asserted that the Sabah issue and She also expressed belief that President right.”

Abraham Idjirani, spokesperson of She lamented the death of many the Bangsamoro Accord could be resolved the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, Aquino has virtually dropped the claim on Filipinos due to the alleged excessive military separately, particularly with respect to presented their historical and legal bases for Sabah. territorial sovereignty.

Araullo urged the people to pursue the force used by Malaysian authorities. claiming what was part of their sultanate.

Lao underscored the necessity for Jacel also criticized the Aquino He said they are “tired of fighting and Sabah claim “despite all geopolitical motives administration’s “mishandling” of the issue. “disaggregation” and the need to preserve wish only to develop Sulu.” He added preventing it.”

Princess Jacel Kiram, daughter of Sultan To watch the video playlist “Understanding the gains of the talks with the MILF. that aside from being part of their ancestral domain, they believe that the mineral-rich Jamalul Kiram III, said they wanted to reclaim the Moro People and Philippines Claim on Both resource persons expressed land could help in the economic growth of Sabah for “every Filipino to benefit from its Sabah,” please click http://goo.gl/fM0z4 or openness to receiving and considering wealth.” http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX inputs of the consultative group. the entire country.

She said they are fighting for principles, YznFqU6nCJs3kxyAn9kYyvJ1r9Y1ttu Carol Araullo, chair of the multi-sectoral The discussants shared the observation that the ongoing peace process and the Sabah territorial claims must be addressed together.

By Andre Encarnacion “How can we talk about Mindanao if we left out Sabah?” Idjirani inquired.

“Despite language and communication the Filipino nurses under the controversial nurses.

It was also proposed that international barriers, Filipino nurses are gaining ground bilateral accord.

One of the biggest challenges they and continue to give tender loving care to The symposium featured speakers encountered, according to Añonuevo, was mediation, particularly by the UN, the their Japanese patients.” from Japan’s Nagasaki University, Seisen the language and cultural barrier – both in Organization of Islamic Conference, and the University of the Philippines Manila University and Tokyo’s Eisei Hospital, the national licensure exams and in their ASEAN, must be seriously considered.

UP vice president Prospero de Vera (UPManila) professor Cora Añonuevo together with researchers from UP Diliman everyday duties as nurses. made this observation during a symposium and UP Manila.

In fact, examinees generally found articulated the school’s position on the issue held last January 24 at the GT-Toyota Asian The event was made possible through questions on nursing fundamentals and through a speech he delivered in behalf of Center in UP Diliman. a collaboration between Nag asaki biostatistics to be “easy”, but had trouble UP president Alfredo Pascual.

Pascual pointed out that no administration During the symposium, Anonuevo University, with the UP Asian Center. It with nursing situations written in long narrated the successes—and frustrations— had distinguished guests like the Japanese Japanese paragraphs. Several of the nurses has dealt with the issue definitively because of the Filipino nurses in Japan under the embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Anonuevo interviewed still had language of various reasons; adding that a basis for Japan-Philippines Economic Agreement Kezo Takewaka, and representatives from problem, particularly with Kanji characters. government action on the Sabah issue has Partnership (JPEPA), the Commission on Higher Education, “Whatever I lack in verbal communication, been drawn through the discussions.

With this opportune moment, UP can The event titled, “Migration of Filipino the Philippine Overseas Employment dinadaan ko nalang sa lambing – through feeling help the republic is marshaling resources Nurses under the Japan-Philippines Administration, the Board of Nursing and and touch” said one interviewee.

Economic Par tnership Ag reement the Japan Foundation.

“I feel bad when I don't understand to help shape a strategic view and make a (JPEPA): Trends and Challenges” featured Añonuevo’s presentation detailed the what others say in Japanese, for instance reasoned response, Pascual said.

He was optimistic that a policy a formidable list of scholars and health typical day-to-day challenges of Filipino when they take verbal orders from doctors,” framework resulted from the inter-agency workers from both countries, who came nurses or kangoshi from their beginnings the nurse added. together to discuss the current plight of as on-the-job trainees to regular hospital Communication has been one of the consultation.

Asian Center forum cites Pinay nurses in Japan

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march 2013

U.P. News 7

Solon, physician score Pnoy’s ‘Budget of Empowerment’

Photo by Bong Arboleda

By Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta

Anti-sexual harassment on campus. The Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH) of UP Diliman launches on March 25 a public awareness campaign in cooperation with the Diliman Gender Office, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, Office of Community Relations, and the UP Transport Alliance. Driver Freddie Isidro posts a sticker on his UP– Pantranco jeep, which says “Ang Sexual Harassment ay Isang Krimen – panghihipo, paninilip, sextexting, bastos na pananalita – Magsumbong!” and contains the UP police and OASH hotline numbers: (02) 928-3615; (02) 981-8500 local 2465/2466.

Asian women’s studies gain ground, face up to challenges

By Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta

Seventeen years after the Beijing Conference for Women and five years after the inaugural meeting of the Asian Association of Women’s Studies, significant progress has been made in the struggle to advance women’s status, promote gender equality and develop and strengthen women’s studies, leadership and network in Asia.

These achievements by the Asian women in studies and advocacy for women’s rights and gender equality, as well as the tasks still needed to be done were identified and discussed during a symposium entitled “Building the Korea-ASEAN Women’s Studies and Leadership Network.”

The two-day symposium, held at the GTToyota Asian Cultural Center last Nov.30 to Dec.1, gathered together professors and heads of women’s studies, programs and institutions, along with women leaders and women’s rights advocates from all 10 ASEAN countries, plus Korea and Japan.

On Day One of the symposium, keynote speaker Ambassador Rosario Gonzales Manalo, chair of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, presented as a context, the state of the ASEAN+3 Cooperation Vision, which focuses on cooperation among the ASEAN plus China, Japan and Korea.

Manalo recalled the negotiations over the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, cautioning the participants that the ASEAN document, with its cultural relativism, must be read alongside Paragraph 3 of the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.

The Phnom Penh document guaranteed that the declaration will be carried out in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action.

Manalo also presented a summary of the UN World’s Women Report of 2010.

“There have been changes in terms of advancement of women in the various spheres mentioned in the Beijing Platform of Action—education, politics, governance, economics, socio-cultural and other sectors and institutions, but there are still many things that we have to overcome,” the envoy stressed.

The challenges, she said, included the continuing assertion of fundamentalism; the intensification of transnational crimes; the people’s inability to control or contain environmental degradation; the continuous

spread of communicable diseases in Asia, particularly HIV-AIDS; and poor governance and corruption. “We must take into account the various challenges of a globalized world when we do this review (of women’s studies and leadership), and even try to effect a better gender studies program.”

During the symposium, ASEAN and Korean representatives presented papers on the state of women’s studies, women’s rights, and gender equality from their respective countries. This was followed by workshops wherein the achievements and challenges of each country were discussed, and later synthesized by Dr. Carolyn Sobritchea, dean of the UP Asian Center.

Among the country-level gains shared by the participants were the passage of laws and action plans for women deemed affirmative action and gender integration approaches to policy-making; the promotion of cooperation and partnership building among communities and NGOs at local, national, regional and global levels of engagement; and capacity-building of various government agencies and NGOs to protect women from discrimination, harm and abuse; the provision of various services for vulnerable women and youth, such as counseling, shelter, legal services, Development of advocacy programs to influence legislation and service programs; the conduct of research on various women’s issues; and the establishment of monitoring and evaluation systems and mechanisms. For school and education-based initiatives, the accomplishments include the establishment of women’s/gender studies centers or offices; Development of women’s studies courses; mainstreaming of gender or women’s topics with disciplinal courses and p r o g r a m s s u ch a s s o c i o l o g y, psychology, business management, etc.; the establishment of programs and services for vulnerable women, especially for female students and school personnel; and research, publication, advocacy and networking in women’s studies.

On the other hand, the challenges included the current socio-economic, political and environmental conditions that pose new threats and challenges to women, especially those who live in high-conflict areas; and major issues such as human trafficking, sexual abuse and rape, domestic violence, and threat to life and livelihood due to calamities and disasters.

President Aquino’s so-called “Budget of Empowerment” came under attack from a lady lawmaker and a healthcare expert during a women’s forum held recently at the UP College of Mass Communication auditorium.

Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan of the party list GABRIELA criticized as a misnomer the label “Budget of Empowerment” tagged by the Aquino administration on the recently enacted P2.006-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2013.

Ilagan and Dr. Gene Nisperos, vicechair of the Health Alliance for Democracy, were resource speakers at the forum “The Women’s Agenda” jointly organized by the UP Diliman Gender Office and GABRIELA Youth last Dec. 3 at the UP College of Mass Communication auditorium. .Ilagan said many features of the national budget were inconsistent with the goal of prioritizing public services to provide jobs, educate and ensure the health of the people, and empower each Filipino.

Ilagan offered an analysis of the 2013 national budget to “find out whether the contents of this budget are really beneficial to women because women constitute half of our population, and the women are most concerned whether the budget can really trickle down to the community.”

For one, she said the budget allocated for housing was insufficient for the targeted 8.8 million houses.

Ilagan also said under the government’s center-piece private-public partnerships (PPPs), informal settlers were being forced to vacate government lands to make way for structures erected through collaboration between the government and private business.

Ilagan also cited the contrast between the government’s motivation to serve the people, and private business’ objective which is mainly profit. “It’s a neoliberal budgeting, actually, catering to the demands outside, and then we sacrifice the real needs of our people.”

While education receives the biggest slice of the budget pie, Ilagan said the allocation was still insufficient for the Department of Education *DepEd) to truly serve the educational needs of the people, particularly the 1.73 million children

expected to undergo early childhood learning or kindergarten program.

Ilagan also took issue with the K+12 program. “Wala Wala namang problema if the purpose is to improve the quality of our education. But if the question is quality, quantity is not the answer,” she said.

According to her, the budget for additional classrooms and teachers was also inadequate. “In short, the system is not ready. The DepEd is not financially ready to have the K+12 program, so why go into that?” Ilagan asked.

Ilagan likewise slammed the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program designed for the so-called “poorest of the poor” being implemented through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

According to the legislator, even families above the marginalized sector benefitted from the CCT. To make things worse, she said the money given through the CCTs did not come from government coffers, but was insteadborrowed from the Asian Development Bank, thus adding to the next generation’s burden of debt.

“So we see that our budget is not an empowering budget because if it really empowers, then there should be a response to the needs of our people. And the needs are simple—health, housing, education… jobs,” Ilagan said.

In his talk entitled “Privatization in P-Noy’s Politics of Palliatives,” Nisperos noted that the country’s health care system was unable to meet the health needs of the people, particularly the women in lowincome and rural areas.

According to Dr. Nisperos, the government’s health agenda of Universal Health Care consisted of three aspects; attaining the Millennium Development Goals; health facilities and equipment, which refer to PPPs; and financial risk protection which is simply PhilHealth coverage.

The DOH listed three of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)—reducing maternal mortality, reducing infant mortality, and reducing HIV-AIDS. Under the MDG, one way of reducing maternal mortality is to require skilled PAGE

Challenges in the context of academic institutions included the persistence of sexist policies, curricular programs and services in schools; and continuing resistance of faculty and school administrators to the need for women’s studies and women’s rights advocacy.

The recommendations for country-level issues included policy advocacy, or the need to advocate for the review and amendment of laws and policies to eliminate existing biases against women; capacity-building and training, or the need to continue capacity building initiatives and partnership building with local, national and regional organizations that promote the human rights of women; and partnership building, or connecting grassroots with national, regional and international levels to further raise awareness and understanding, as well as encourage immediate actions on issues and concerns of women.

The discussants also a need for women’s studies academics, women leaders and advocates throughout Asia to maximize and take advantage of media to shift public opinion, to raise awareness about gender

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issues and human rights, and to use social media and the Internet to promote easier sharing of and access to research and data about women.

For schools and universities, the participants recommended the establishment of collaborative training activities and other related capacity-building measures, and more collaborative research and publication projects among the ASEAN, Korean and Japanese women’s studies offices, institutes and researchers.

The two-day symposium, held in connection with the Korea-ASEAN Cooperation Project (KACP) on Education and Exchange Program for Young Scholars in Women’s Studies, was hosted by the Asian Association of Women’s Studies, in cooperation with the ASEAN University Network (AUN), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Office of the UP President.

Among the organizing institutions were the Asian Association of Women’s Studies, the UP Center for Women’s Studies, the Asian Center for Women’s Studies, and the Ewha Women’s University of Korea.

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march 2013

UPCM struggles to save rare, time-worn Philippine music manuscripts

By Stephanie S. Cabigao

Photo by Jun Madrid

As one of the main proponents of this program, Buenconsejo was also charged with the coordination of tasks, progress monitoring, and budget appropriation for Phase I. Santos and Baradas shared the responsibility of identifying the nature of materials as to format, volume, and bibliographic data, as well as determining the extent of damage (torn pages, infestation), testing for ink solubility because the manuscripts contained original handwritings and signatures of the composers, and determining paper acidity (pH level reading).

In Phases II and III, Dean Cabbab and Dr. Yra Buenrostro-Cabbab supervised Senior student trainees perform the meticulous restoration work. the student archivists through every sheet’s the necessary chemical solutions, which are acquire skills and techniques of restoring complete restoration process. aside from paper,” she said, adding that The basic preservation actions in Phase said to be expensive.

He explained that the most of the funds she might even put up her own restoration II involved refoldering, reboxing, copying/ company in the future. duplicating, dust cleaning, humidifying/ was spent on expensive chemicals.

Corral-Piquero cited limited working Cabbab sees the restoration project flattening the manuscripts, removing of fasteners, segregating the termite-infested space as another challenge for the team. The as an opportunity to contribute to the materials, and reserving the sheets for small space at the UPCM Library allotted country’s rich music history and culture. working area could only accommodate a Cabbab revealed that the SLIS “remains to treatment. be a premier institution of Library Science During the third phase, the restorative small batch of manuscripts to work on.

For Corral-Piquero, archiving is information management in the country.” conservation treatment involved a more He said the SLIS leads in providing complex approach with the use of chemicals, important because “it serves as a channel to Dr. Cabbab said, adding that the process also the past, making information from the past library management and information systems training and service to various UP required fumigation, surface cleaning, de- useful to the present and to the future.”

“It is my goal to pursue a career as a units, other government agencies, as well acidification using archival mist composed of distilled water with calcium/magnesium restorer and conservator. I would like to as to private institutions. carbonate solution), paper strengthening using methyl cellulose paste, and mending/ strengthening/ support using filmoplast, cellulose paste, and polyester film.

S e n i o r SLIS student Va l er i e D a r l Corral-Piquero expressed enthusiasm in their task. While the restoration methods were sophisticated, Corral-Piquero admitted that there was pressure there “because the Vanguard is 91. President Alfredo Pascual (right) joins former President Fidel Ramos (second from right) and family members m a n u s c r i p t s of the honorees in the 91st Anniversary of the UP Vanguard on March 16. The Vanguard is the country’s oldest Reserved w e r e o l d e r Officer Training Corps unit and has produced a Philippine president and other national leaders. than my grandparents.”

“But I am confident with my job as Sago takes center... an archivist and restorer, and I have no ◄PAGE 4 intimidations whatsoever,” she said.

Santos and Baradas cited the “brittle According to her, the world market has In the open forum facilitated by UP and deteriorating state” of the most of the a very high demand for starch products Mindanao Profs. Annabelle Novero and original musical scores as the root-cause of that could be converted to other high-value Vlademir Shuck, the indigenous peoples the different challenges encountered by the by-products,, and sago has the potential to groups and industry experts were one in restoration team. supply part of the world demand. calling for the project to move forward in the Santos said “the sensitive condition of Results from field surveys on existing wild development of the sago industry. the copies made the restoration process to sago palm stands in Leyte, Aklan, Cebu, and Contact information were gathered be more tedious and time consuming.” She Mindanao were presented by Dr. Marcelo and exchanged among the participants, added that it took several weeks to digitize Quevedo of Visayas State University and Dr. including Aklan State University president only a hundred out of roughly around Lelisa Teodosio of Aklan State University, Danilo Abayon, Manobo Datu Kamaleg, five hundred compositions of Nicanor Engr. Meriam Santillan of Caraga State Mansaka Datu Lindaan, Dibabawan Datu Abelardo’s works alone.

University and Prof. Nilo Oponda of UP Tumatabang, businessmen in the milling Cabbab emphasized that such a condition Mindanao. industry, Agusan del Sur provincial officials demanded not only time, but also money.

Prof. Myfel Paluga of the Department and representatives from the Department He said that to completely restore each of Social Sciences illustrated how the sago of Trade and Industry, the Department of copy in quality condition, it must undergo stands played a vital role in the survival of Science and Technology, and the National Phases II and III with the application of indigenous tribes in the hinterlands.

Commission for the Indigenous Peoples.

Photo courtesy of Florinda Santos

The UP College of Music (UPCM) and the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) are currently undertaking a project to preserve and restore manuscripts of rare and original Philippine music manuscripts.

Unknown to most people, the UP College of Music Library in Diliman houses large volumes of music artifacts regarded as one of the country’s national treasures.

SLIS dean Dr. Igor Cabbab has taken it his life’s passion to preserve these cultural jewels as part of the national heritage.

“The death of OPM (Organisasyon ng Piliinong Mang-aawit) has nothing to do with this project, though the initiative to conserve (our) music heritage seems parallel to it. The restoration of national heritage is a duty of any public intellectual who cares for the common good,” Dean Jose S. Buenconsejo of the College of Music stressed.

He also talked about his involvement as a music archivist leading the current collaborative project between the UP College of Music (UPCM) and the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) that focuses on the preservation and restoration of rare original Philippine music manuscripts.

A team of music archivists headed by Dr. Jose Buenconsejo (UPCM), Dr. Igor Cabbab and Dr. Yra Buenrostro-Cabbab, both of the UPSLIS, spearhead the project that also aims to breathe new life to the aging manuscripts.

The project started in 2010 through a funding assistance granted by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development. It was directly involved with the “room-use only” original music sheets of prominent artists such as Nicanor Abelardo, Antonio Molina, Antonio Buenaventura, Julio Nakpil, Lucio San Pedro, Francisco Santiago, Rosendo Santos, and Ramon Tapales.

Some of the over thousands of manuscripts dated as far back as the 1920s and 1930s.

In a UP Music concert held last January 29, the real-life opera couple UPCM alumna and world class tenor opera singer Noel Espiritu-Velasco and world class mezzosoprano opera singer Gigi Mitchell-Velasco, along with equally famous UPCM alumna and pianist Augusto Espino, showcased some of the compositions taken from the rare Philippine manuscript collection.

Velasco sang Nicanor Abelardo’s (18931934) Mutya ng Pasig. The Velasco couple also rendered a powerful duet on Francisco Santiago’s (1889-1947) Sakali Man. The Abelardo Hall Auditorium was filled with artifacts of the country’s legendary Filipino and some of the internationally acclaimed German and French composers such as Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) and Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).

Crucial to the restoration process are the efforts of the other music archivists that are part of the team—Florinda Santos, head librarian of the UPCM Library, UPCM university researcher Josie Baradas, and onthe-job senior student trainees from SLIS. According to Dean Cabbab, every manuscript undergoes three major phases of restoration; material evaluation, basic preservation actions, and restorative conservation treatments.

Dean Buenconsejo elaborated on his job with the help of Santos and Baradas covering Phase I of the restoration process that involves the digitization of the scores and compilation in PDF files.

march 2013

U.P. News 9

Dostoyevsky bust finds new home in the UP-BnD Photo by Jun Madrid

The bust of Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky was formally unveiled and turned over to UP Diliman (UPD) in a simple ceremony on March 12at the Bulwagan ng Dangal (BnD).

The bust was a creation of Russian sculptor Gregory Pototsky, known for his gallery of bronze portraits of outstanding contemporary figures. The 47.5x25.5x29 cm. bust was made of bronze.

At the ceremony, Prof. Jose Danilo A. Silvestre, UPD Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (UPDOICA) director and UP Theater Complex (UPTC) officer-in-charge, said Pototsky was known for his generous donations of artworks, having donated eight of his works to the Philippines.

Silvestre said the donations included busts of Alexander Puschkin, Leo Tolstoy, Dr. Jose Rizal, and former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Elpidio Quirino.

“Perhaps an amusing collection of names, all of them share one thing in common. Gregory Pototsky’s donations of sculptures to the Philippines cover these names. He is not new to the Philippines.

His first donation was a sculpture of Alexander Puschkin (2010)…He also created and donated a sculpture of Jose Rizal now in Las Piñas (2010) and of Leo Tolstoy (2010) which is now in Cebu,” Silvestre said.

Pototsky was an internationallyrenowned artist and member of leading international organizations such as the International Union of Artists at UNESCO, the International Academy of Infor matisation and member-

Ambassador Kudashev (third from left) and President Pascual (third from right) unveil the bust portrait as (from left) OICA Director Silvestre, NCCA Chairman de Leon, artist Pototsky and UP Diliman Chancellor Saloma stand witness.

correspondent of the Pedagogical Academy, among others.

Silvestre said Pototsky’s philosophies in life and art are based on the principles of kindness and gratitude, and which, “have governed his generosity and governed the largeness of his heart through his endowment to groups and countries all over the world.”

Meanwhile, H.E. Nikolay Kudashev, Russian Federation Ambassador to the Philippines, said he was pleased that the Dostoyevsky bust has found one more home.

Kudashev said he believed that Dostoyevsky’s philosophy is still very much alive, as “it addresses many threats and challenges of modern times created by progress and globalization; it forms the

UP Diliman hosts launch of cultural magazine

Photo by Bong Arboleda

By Andre Encarnacion

Copies of the ‘Perro Berde’ issue on display during the launch

“A publication that brings out facets of the histories and cultures of Spain and the Philippines, which at one moment in the past, intersected in an exciting drama.”

This was how UP president Alfredo Pascual described the Spanish-Filipino cultural magazine Perro Berde, at the launch of its third issue last February 20 at the Executive House, UP Diliman.

The magazine, which was described by the Instituto Cervantes in Manila as “a venue of interaction for Spanish, Filipino and Latin American writers and an opportunity for cultural exchange” features Filipino literary works in Spanish,” as well as other media that celebrate the role of the Spanish language and culture in the Philippines.

The title “Perro Berde,” which literally means “green dog,” not only highlights the ease with which Spanish and Tagalog blended, but also the manifested the rarity of Filipino literature written in Spanish.

“Perro Berde, which our invitation says

refers to an eccentric person, I was told, can also mean the unusual, the uncommon, a rarity,” Pascual said. “I imagine that this cultural magazine seeks thoughts beyond the commonplace. That which confronts truth and realities that enrich the human spirit.”

Also at the launch were Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines Jorge Domecq, Christian Clay Mendoza of the Mexican Embassy, and National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, who was featured in the latest issue of “Perro Berde.” They were joined by National Historical Commission chair Maria Serena Diokno, Mapfre Insular president Javier Warleta, and students and faculty members of the UP College of Arts and Letters.

The events also featured poetry reading

by Daisy Lopez, Francis Macansantos, Marlon Sales and Ramon Sunico – all contributors to Perro Berde, in addition to musical performances by UP Himig Kultura.

powerful moral space reflecting existential problems of humankind facing a difficult choice between individualism and dictates of conscience and faith.”

For the ambassador, UP is Dostoyevsky’s “new home where these problems are understandable and the choice is clear—in favor of humanity in the human being.”

In response, Pototsky said; “You (UP) did not give (Fyodor) Dostoyevsky a house, you gave him a home. Thank you.”

UPD received the bust from the NCCA earlier this year.

Dostoyevsky’s relevance

Dostoyevsky is a Russian novelist whose works explore the human psychology of the 19th century Russian society. His memorable works include The Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment Punishment, and The

In his remarks, Domecq recalled the history of Perro Berde as a project initiated by his predecessor, but something he had to “support and further promote.” He lauded the multifaceted approach of the magazine, citing it as a “growing platform” for poets, filmmakers, photographers and historians alike to hone up their craft.

Domecq also noted that while La Solidaridad was the platform for Filipino ilustrados to air their views and concerns during the Philippine revolution against Spain, he expressed hopes that Perro Berde would find a similar function in the present age. “I hope that Perro Berde will become a space for a new generation of ilustrados painters, writers, photographers, academics with a critical view of reality and the will to make a difference.”

“That will bring about as in La Solidaridad Solidaridad, not the independence of the Philippines this time, but the independence of mind to be able to judge the present reality.”

The same optimism was echoed by Mapfre president Warleta, whose company is a partner in the revival of the magazine.

He related how the Spanish envoy need not lobby hard to gain his assistance, given Mapfre’s corporate social responsibility – an aspect of which, he said, was to support culture and the arts in all their forms.

“It is a bridge that brings two countries-Spain and the Philippines—close to each other,” Warleta said. “It connects two old friends linked by their historical, political, and cultural common ground to look at each other in the same way that we look at ourselves every morning.”

“And it’s not a coincidence that Mapfre uses bridge in its corporate image. As I said, Mapfre and Perro Berde, being a bridge made of culture and language, are indeed a perfect match.”

Idiot Idiot.

UP president Alfredo E. Pascual said the bust was not simply a representation of a great man, but an encapsulation of Dostoyevsky’s life’s work, “the union of the context in which his literature emerged and the context in which it is being read today.”

Pascual said Dostoyevsky and UP share the same advocacy of striving for social equality and justice anchored on the values of honor and excellence (and) of service to the country.

“Dostoyevsky’s words continue to resonate within and beyond the walls of the academe… His relevance remains, echoing the same struggles with himself, with the people around him and with global communit. Dostoyevsky’s personal struggles allowed him to expose the plight of the often unrecognized sectors of society his focus on the intricacies of their lives brought to light and opened the door to the conveniently unrecognized yet noteworthy social problems,” Pascual said.

“He challenged social stigma by focusing attention on the poor, the oppressed and the imprisoned,” the UP president added.

Organized by OICA, the by-invitation only ceremonies was attended by the Mexican Ambassador to the Philippines Tomas Javier Calvillo Unna, the UP System and Diliman officials headed by UPD Chancellor Caesar A. Saloma, members of the UP faculty and staff, members of the OICA Board, art aficionados and members of the press.— MDJ (Reprinted with

permission from UP Diliman Information Office)

Palihan para sa reporma ng opisina ng NSTP-UPD

By Stephanie S. Cabigao

Pinangunahan ng National Service Training Program (NSTP) ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman (UPD) ang paglulunsad ng tatlong araw na palihan at talakayan hinggil sa planong pagbubuo ng sentralisadong opisina para sa programa ng NSTP sa Diliman.

Ang nasabing palihan ay isang konsultasyon para kumalap ng mga mungkahi na kabibilangan ng buong unibersidad sa pangunguna ng Office on the Vision, Structure and Function ng NSTP-UPD at ng NSTP Common Module ng UPD. Naganap ang unang bahagi ng talakayan noong nakaraan Enero 28-29 sa Sentro ng Pagpapaunlad sa Impormasyon at Teknolohiya sa UP Diliman (UPITDC).

Dinaluhan ito ng mga kinatawan ng mga sangay na may kaugnayan sa opisina ng NSTP-UPD at ng iba’t ibang kolehiyo sa UP Diliman.

Naroon din ang mga kinatawan ng sektor ng ehekutibo at tagapagtupad ng NSTP mula sa Opisina ng Tsanselor sa Diliman (OC), Opisina ng Bise-Tsanselor para sa mga Gawaing Pangmag-aaral (OVCSA), Opisina ng Bise-Tsanselor para sa mga Gawaing Pangkomunidad (OVCCA), at ang Opisina ng Rehistrador ng Unibersidad (OUR), gayundin ang mula sa Kagawaran ng Agham at Taktikang Pangmilitar (DMST), Opisinang Pambatas ng Diliman (DLO), Opisina ng Badyet at Akawnting sa Diliman.

Dinaluhan naman ang pangalawang yugto ng palihan noong Pebrero 4 na idinaos muli sa UPITDC at nakatuon sa NSTP Common Module ng UPD ng mga PAGE

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10 U.P. News

march 2013

By Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta

The shrill sound of a siren rips through the mid-morning atmosphere at the University of the Philippines campus, signaling an incoming strong earthquake.

Instinctively, students, faculty and staff assume the Drop, Cover and Hold (DCH) position they have learned in a previous earthquake/fire exercise.

With the tremor gone, people paraded towards the exits of the buildings, onto designated evacuation areas at the parking lots of the National Institute of Geological Sciences and the Centennial Hall.

A team of “First Responders,” consisting of trained faculty members, staff and students, assisted in the evacuation, while an on-scene Commander alerts the UP Police, the UP Health Service (UPHS), the UP Campus Maintenance Office (CMO), and the Army’s 51st Engineering Brigade.

Like actors in a play, everybody knew what to do, and things moved so fast you’d get dizzy just by being a fence-sitter.

Meanwhile, six students were reported

“missing.” The police secured the three buildings, while the CMO set up a Triage and Treatment tent as the UPHS ambulance wheels in.

Damage assessment teams immediately begun structural assessment, as Search and Rescue teams scoured for people who might have been inside the buildings.

The siren screamed anew to announce the arrival of a strong “aftershock,” and the rescue teams and evacuees once more assume the DCH position.

A series of explosions also shook the campus, followed by a structural fire, The rescue crews attending to three injured students were compelled to leave the second floor of the building through a manlift provided by the CMO. Two members of the search and rescue team who were earlier reported to have been trapped inside a building, have fled to the roof deck.

However, one of the ‘victims” reportedly “died,” while the other was ‘seriously

Asian center forum... ◄PAGE 6

Philippine government should be more proactive in supporting Filipino nurses in Japan. “Most of them said that Japanese hospitals participating in JPEPA should have uniform or standard terms and conditions of work.

J I C W E L S ( Ja p a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l Corporation of Welfare Services) should work hand-in-hand with the employers to make sure that provisions in the contract are faithfully followed.”

The nurses also suggested that a safety net be put in place for those who fail the licensure examination for a third time.

Añonuevo's data showed that 235 nurses were deployed from 2009 to 2012, and out of these only 15 passed.

The nurses also urged the POEA to screen Japanese hospitals hiring Filipino

Photo courtesy of Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili

biggest stumbling blocks for Filipino nurses in Japan, Añonuevo said, adding that it formed a major factor not only of their exams, but also in their interactions with co-workers and patients particularly the older persons.

Compounding the nurses’ woes was the “tiring” art balancing studies with their duties as trainees.

Although candidates were given three days to study and familiarize themselves with medical terms in the Japanese language, not all healthcare facilities in Japan had the same arrangement.

Most of those interviewed by Anonuevo had a fairly positive assessment of JPEPA, saying the agreement “has helped unemployed Filipino nurses”.

They suggested, however, that the

UPAA-SF courtesy call. The newly inducted UP Alumni Association of San Francisco (UPAASF) officers called on Consul-General Marciano Paynor Jr. at the Philippine Consulate last March 14. The group briefed the Filipino diplomat on their new projects for the benefit of FilipinoAmerican youth, including the establishment of a Philippine Heritage Learning Institute and a Mentoring Program in Science and Technology. They also announced their two-week Filipino Cultural Immersion Camps for the Fil-Am students this summer in San Francisco and the East Bay. Photo taken during the courtesy call shows Consul General Paynor (center) flanked by the |UPAA-SF leaders (from left) Joe Santos, board member; Cecile Gregorio Ascalon, press relations officer, Letty Quizon, president; Noli Banzon, and Gil Ongchangco, both board members; and Gabby Moraleda, immediate past president.

U.P. NEWS J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III Editor in Chief DANTE M. VELASCO Editorial Consultant JOSE WENDELL P. CAPILI Issue Editor JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC Managing Editor JIMMY MONTEJO Copy Editor ARBEEN ACUÑA, STEPHANIE CABIGAO, FRED DABU, ANDRE ENCARNACION, CELESTE ANN CASTILLO LLANETA, JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC, KIM QUILINGUING, ARLYN VCD P. ROMUALDO Writers BONG ARBOLEDA, MISAEL BACANI, JONATHAN MADRID Photographers OBET EUGENIO Editorial Assistant TOM MAGLAYA Circulation The U.P. NEWS is a monthly publication of the UP System Information Office, Office of the Vice-President for Public Affairs. We welcome contributions from the faculty, non-academic staff, REPS and students. Please send your contributions to: THE EDITOR U.P. News Mezzanine Floor, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City 926-1572, 436-7537 e-mail: upnewsletter@up.edu.ph upsio@up.edu.ph

injured.”

The army rescue unit extricated the two victims by lowering them from the roof to the ground using ropes. Finally, all team leaders report their missions completed, while all “injured victims” have been transported to the UP Infirmary for medical treatment Still, there was no cause for alarm.

Everything was just part of a second Fire/Earthquake Drill and Simulation Exercise conducted at the UP Alumni Engineers Centennial Hall, the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute building, and the Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering building located in the south side of UP Diliman.

Operatives saw a hole through the wall to The exercise was done with the assistance rescue trapped victims and training from the Rescue Unit of the during the simulation.

51st Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army, as well as units under the UP Campus Maintenance Office.

Diliman Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Compared to the first Fire/Earthquake Community Affairs (OVCCA)—the UP Drill and Simulation conducted by the Health Service, the UP Police, and the UP College of Engineering last year at Melchor Hall, the second raised the stakes by making things more realistic.

“For the second fire drill, we are trying to simulate three simultaneous buildings,” nurses on a per manent, rather than contractual, basis. They also pushed for College of Engineering Dean Aura Matias more psychosocial and Japanese language said.

“Unlike in Melchor Hall before, it was assistance, even for those who had already just one contiguous building. But we are passed the exams.

Añonuevo herself saw signs for moving to the other side of the campus, and optimism despit believed that agreements here we have separate buildings. We’re going like JPEPA are designed to boost public to see how well they’re going to do with three confidence, to make healthcare more buildings ongoing, simultaneously, with three accessible, and to facilitate the mobility of different scenarios,” she added.

Also unlike the first Fire/Earthquake health workers.

The provisions of such agreements, Drill and Simulation, the second exercise had a “fatality,” played by a member of the 51st however, could create controversies.

“This symposium attempts to clarify these Engineering Brigade. Another difference:, issues and concerns and hopefully present the First Responders and rescue teams recommendations to rethink some of the had to deal with the aftermath of a strong provisions in JPEPA and its implementation, aftershock. particularly on the movement of natural This second exercise effectively address persons,” Anonuevo said. certain concerns experienced in the first drill, including the lack of communication lines among the players, Dean Matias said.

Palihan para sa...

“So now, we have more radios on-hand. ◄PAGE 9 We bought our own rescue and medical kinatawan at administrador mula sa iba’t equipment, like the stretchers and the ibang kolehiyo at opisinang ehekutibo (OC, backboard. Our plan is, each building must OVCSA, OVCCA, OVCAA, OUR, DMST) have a survival kit of sorts—they have their ng Diliman. own backboard, stretchers, a steady supply May mga 50 kinatawan ang dumalo sa of first-aid materials, [their] own First tatlong araw na kumperensiya.

Responders....Each building must be selfKabilang sa kanilang tinalakay ay ang sufficient,” Matias said. pagkilala sa mga mungkahi tungkol sa She hoped that with the second pagkakaroon ng sentralisadong Opisina ng Engineering Fire/Earthquake Drill and NSTP-UPD at ng NSTP Common Module; Simulation, and with the help of the ang pagkalap ng mga komento, panukala 51st Engineering Brigade led by ROTC at rekomendasyon mula sa iba’t ibang Commandant and UP Engineering alumnus kinatawan ukol sa mga inihaing mungkahi, Col. Silvino Alcabasa Jr, the UP will come up pagkalap din ng mga datos sa paggawa with lessons and templates that the campus ng burador sa implementasyon ng mga can replicate for other buildings and sites. magiging tuntunin ng NSTP sa Diliman, Other UP Diliman units such as the maging ang pagbabago sa NSTP Common College of Social Work and Community Module para sa UP Diliman ayon sa isa sa Development, the College of Education, mga Opisyal ng Ugnayang Pangkomunidad and the UP Integrated School have taken the ng OVCCA na si Dennis Raymundo. initiative to hold their own drills.

Nakasaad sa batas ng NSTP Act of Meanwhile, the OVCCA will 2001 o Republic Act 9163 ang pagtutulak distribute posters and leaflets detailing what ng pagbuo ng maunlad at sentralisadong to do in the event of a disaster. In addition, mekanismo para sa NSTP. building administrators from the different Ayon kay Prop. Roselle Pineda, UP Diliman buildings were invited to kinatawan mula sa Kolehiyo ng Arte at observe during the College of Engineering Literatura at tumatayong direktor ng Opisina fire/earthquake drills. ng NSTP-UPD, “sa pagtahak ng landas “Sana maging mapaghanda tayo, so susubukan ng kumperensiya sa temang ‘Serbisyong nating magkaroon ng Diliman-wide [fire/ Tatak UP’ naging layunin ng palihan ang earthquake drill],” VCCA Melania Flores pagtitiyak ng isang komon na modyul na said. “Pero habang walang ganon, sana magkaroon maglalaman ng mga kurso’t talakayan na din ng initiative ang mga estudyante, faculty at magtatalaga sa bawat estudyante kung ano kawani na magkaroon din ng (kani-kanilang) ang serbisyong tatak UP.” pag-aaral pag-aaral.”

Photo by Misael Bacani

College of Engineering holds fire and earthquake drill

march 2013

U.P. News 11

University cites OD... ◄PAGE 1

Excerpts...

Solon, physician score...

◄PAGE 1

◄PAGE 7

Alba

Photo from A University for Filipinos (1984)

“When the time comes for scholars to revisit the Marcos years with less animosity and greater objectivity, I am sure Dr. OD Corpuz will earn the nation’s gratitude for the congenial aspects of that despicable regime.”—Francisco Nemenzo

Corpuz during his term as 12th UP president

Administration from Harvard University in 1955, where he also got his PhD in Political Economics and Management a year after.

Dr. Corpuz was also conferred an honorary doctorate by the University of Chulalongkorn in 1976.

His works included Bureaucracy in the Philippines (1957), The Roots of the Filipino Nation (1996), and Economic History of the Philippines (1997).

Gender inequality persists... ◄PAGE 12

LGBT in political participation.”

She also asked if it is sufficient to be represented, or is it better to be empowered and represent oneself ?

Weiss said that sexuality is just one of the many identities of a person, which may not be politically salient.

Tin Royal, a youth organizer of Burma’s Chin National Party narrated how their country’s civil war among eight big ethnic groups has placed women in even more difficult situations.

Royal said 30 percent of Burmese women were uneducated and very few venture into politics because of the common belief that politics is simply not for the womenfolk.

Royal also believes that the Burmese people do not know whether Aung San Suu Kyi would do good in politics and be able to fill her father’s shoes.

“We honor Dr. OD Corpuz tonight, not just as an academic who wrote and taught about the Philippines, but as someone who lived out and shaped history.”— Alfredo Pascual “Above all, OD nur tured that conception of liberation which has something to do with the sense of connectedness of things. This in turn has to do with going beyond narrow presentmindedness, so that the UP students would have the power to deal not only with the present world but also with the world that to some extent still unfolding as we face the future.”—Leslie Bauzon “OD made a spor t of putting presumptuous ignorance up to ridicule.

He was especially disdainful of people who insist on divorcing truth from facts…

Unfortunately, and what saddened him most, is that some of these people are entrusted with the nurture of young minds in and by the University.”—Raul Fabella “OD is for all seasons everyman’s Man, examining and living not only the much-vaunted life of the mind, but rising to a greater challenge—willfully living a purpose-driven life in service of his

candidates Edward Hagedorn and Ramon Montaño, and Samson Alcantara of Social Justice Society.

The event was organized by Yahoo!

Philippines with Pilipinas 2020 and PolSci 150 students under Prof. Ranjit Singh Rye. The forum consisted of three segments, the first of which featured questions from Yahoo! users over the internet. The second segment is called “Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down” where particicpants raise a thumbs up or thumbs down card on a particular person or issue. They may or may not explain their answers. Issues included the Reproductive Health Law, President Benigno Aquino, Jr., and divorce, among others.

The third segment was essentially an open forum.

During the first segment, Jimenez talked about how social media and the inter-activity between the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the public helped spread responsibility for keeping the elections clean.

“We are increasingly relying on the public to help us enforce (the) rules. The “Sumbong Ko” campaign is where we have ordinary citizens reporting violations of campaign rules to us. And that process has so far

“ “Ang pagsuri sa ating nakaraan at ang ating pagkabansa ay ang magkatambal na tema ni Prop. Corpuz. Sadya niyang sinulat ang salaysay ng ating “pagiging o di pagiging bansa,” isang kasaysayan na hindi madaling isulat at nananatiling gampanin ng bawat henerasyon.

Kung magawa natin ito, higit na matutuwa si OD.”—Maria Serena Diokno “My memory of OD will always be that of a scholar, making up for lost time in producing significant contributions within an extremely short time to our cultural and intellectual heritage as a nation. He belonged with other great intellectuals of the University to an era we feel nostalgic about.”—Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista “…We considered the years that the College of Agriculture enjoyed under the watch of President Corpuz as the Golden Years of the UP College of Agriculture.”—Cecilio Arboleda “…[H]is critical works of research and scholarship are his enduring contribution to nation building. These works will serve to enlighten and guide many generations of Filipino scholars and students to come and enabling them to form a more accurate understanding and a more deserved appreciation of our own history and culture.”—Caesar Saloma

health professionals to render midwifery services, resulting in high neonatal mortality rates.

Citing studies made by the UP College of Medicine and former Health secretaries, Nisperos said Philhealth enhances economic inequalities by benefitting the rich, not the poor, especially those living in far-flung areas.

He also claimed that Philhealth coverage of healthcare costs was insufficient, with out-of-pocket expenses amounting to over 50 percent of medical costs, while government share is 27.7 percent and Philhealth share around 7.2 percent.

Philhealth coverage has also been used as a political tool to serve the agenda of various politicians.

Nisperas pointed out some flaws in the PhilHealth program. “First of all, it has its own problems. It has no membership count. They [in Philhealth] do not know how many members they have. All they have are estimates.”

Nisperos also said that the coverage support from Philhealth is limited.

Nisperos called on the government to enact a comprehensive and progressive health care for all Filipinos; to put a stop to the policy of privatization and corporatization; to deal with the issue of the brain drain of our health personnel, who are mostly women nurses, and to raise the salaries of nurses in government service; to address the total determinants of health, that is, jobs, land reform, humane wages and poverty; and to ensure freedom and democracy.

UP Diliman holds... ◄PAGE 12

locations where senatorial candidates discussed their platforms to address the various issues confronting the country.

Under time pressure, each candidate should respond to questions asked by

Yahoo! Purple Thumb... ◄PAGE 12

people… A layunin that focuses on his struggling people, and in his own words in The Roots of the Filipino nation, ‘on the long road to becoming, or failing to become, the nation that they can be.’”—Felipe Miranda

resulted in several cases of disqualification against candidates who are running for national office,” Jimenez said.

On the issue of assuring clean and honest elections, Jimenez said “the lynchpin of our campaign for clean elections is really the automation of the election system…But like I said, there are other challenges that remain.”

He added that the remaining challenges involved the behavior of voters. “Principally I’m talking about vote buying.”

The third leg, he said, has to do with politicians. “A lot of politicians are very quick to condemn cheating… but in the end, faced with the ideas that their opponents will cheat, they cheat as well.”

Jimenez advised the youth to actively support the candidates they choose.

“Conversely, you can campaign negatively against other people that you don’t like.

Write a blog, Tweet, put it on Facebook: this is why I will not vote for this particular candidate.”

“Be an advocate for that candidate to make sure that your choice becomes a viable choice for everyone else—not just for you.

Second, make sure that your candidate stays honest,” Jimenez stressed.

expert panelists and audience participants, notably on such issues as mass poverty, unemployment, taxation, political dynasties, foreign relations, and education.

Two of the main panelists were UP Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero De Vera and School of Economics Professor Ernesto Pernia.

More than 1,000 students and political observers from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), the University of Santo Tomas (UST), and other major schools in Metro Manila attended the debates.

Acting as hosts were newscaster Pia Hontiveros and Paris Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) media and communications director Ana de Villa Singson, “Town Hall” was presented by Solar News Channel and PPCRV in cooperation with the UP Economics Towards Consciousness, UP Diliman Asian Center, UP Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, Sky Broadband, Theta Epsilon Sorority, PUP Economics Research Society, Akbayan Youth, CSSP Students, College of Education Student Council, FEU Economics Society, Adamson University Society of Economics Students, UP Palawenos, UP Debate Society, Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers - UP Student Unit, School of Economics Student Council, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, DZUP 1602, ClicktheCity, Inquirer.net, and C&E Publishing Inc.

UP has new ... ◄PAGE 3

the creation and full implementation of the UP-IMLOS as a part of the UP Law Center.

Policy studies on maritime affairs were previously done by the UP Law Center’s Institute for International Legal Studies (UP-IILS).

UP profs, NGOs... ◄PAGE 12

number of women voted for Loren Legarda and Pia Cayetano, but at the same time also voted for Ralph Recto, Francis Pangilinan, Chiz Escudero, and Tito Sotto.

On the other hand, these women reflected low votes over police and military men such as Antonio Trillanes, Gringo Honasan, and Ping Lacson.

Tamayo pointed out that it is vital for agencies especially education institutions to address literacy on women’s votes.

Other issues raised in the discussion include making the women’s vote an informed vote, the role of personality politics on women’s choices, and women’s vote as a single issue vote vs. a whole range of assessment of a candidate.

Admitting the lack of time for women voters’ education in the upcoming elections, the participants formed a consensus to spearhead a women voters’ education project starting this year in preparation for the next elections in 2016.

12 U.P. News

march 2013

U.P. NEWS FEBRUARY 2013

Gender inequality persists in Phl politics despite minor gains, forum confirms Despite minor gains, gender inequality persists in Philippine politics.

This was gleaned from a recent forum led by University of the Philippines College of Social Studies and Philosophy (CSSP) professor Jean Encinas Franco.

During the forum dubbed “Women, Gender, and Philippine Politics: the 2013 Elections and Beyond” held last March 15 at UP Diliman, UP’s liberal tradition was cited as inspiration for gender advocacy.

In her introduction at the forum, Franco said in the Philippines, at least two in 10 politicians are women. Since 1987, only 15 to 17 percent of those entering “formal” politics are women, she added.

In UP, the women are gaining ground in student politics.

Heart Diño, outgoing student council chair of UP Diliman, described the gender situation in the campus as “advanced,” citing the establishment of offices such as the Diliman Gender Office and the Office

Photo by Jun Madrid

By Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

Atty. Alikpala talks about LGBT representation in politics as Royal, Prof. Franco, and Dr. Weiss listen.

of Anti-Sexual Harassment, as well as organizations like the UP Babaylan.

Dino said UP had its first woman USC chairperson in 1980-1984--Malou Mangahas—now an investigative journalist.

But it was only last year when a first openly-

UP profs, NGOs share views on women’s vote

gay person won, signaling an era where sexuality has become a non-issue in campus politics.

This is particularly true, according to Diño, among vigilant alliances such as Alyansa, Kaisa, and Stand-UP, the three

political parties in UP student politics.

Lawyer Raymond Alikpala, a nominee of Ang Ladlad Partylist, cited UP for leading the way in representation issues.

According to him, Diño’s victory is a victory of Filipino youth.

He said that Ladlad is the only lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) political party in the world and thus, its victory in the coming elections will have international ramifications.

Quoting Justice Artemio Panganiban in Bagong Bayani vs Comelec (2001), Alikpala said that the partylist system is a social justice tool that must be used by marginalized groups and those discriminated upon because of gender issue.

Dr. Meredith Weiss, a professor at the State University of New York in Albany and a visiting professor at UP Diliman’s Department of Political Science, proposed guide questions in dealing with the issue.

Among the questions is “whether or not the same factors are involved in women and PAGE

Yahoo! Purple Thumb Forum

By Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc with reports by Andre Encarnacion

University of the Philippines Diliman has launched a series of fora meant to determine the stand of candidates in the forthcoming elections on various important issues.

Dubbed Yahoo! Philippines Purple Thumb Forum, the project kicked off last

By Stephanie S. Cabigao

March 21 at the Bulwagang Rizal in UP Diliman, with Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez and candidates Rizalito David of Ang Kapatiran, Baldomero Falcone and Christian Señeres of Democratic Party of the Philippines, independent PAGE

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Photo by Bong Arboleda

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Dean Carol Sobritchea, along with Mara Arevalo and Jhen Santos of Asociacion Paz y Desarrollo who narrated their experiences with women communities in Mindanao, narrated how women vote.

and could easily be distorted and co-opted, making it difficult for genuine party list groups to make a difference in such political environment.

Franco also cited he proliferation of political dynasties whereby the female candidates commonly represent only the family’s male political interest and decisions.

Another issue highlighted in the discussion was the increasing women’s participation in the elections.

Julia Carlstrom, a Sweden national and intern at WeDpro Philippines, said that since the 1920s to the present, about 36 percent of women in Sweden participate in elections, but feminists in her homeland targeted 50 percentage points in the coming years.

Carlstrom believed it is important for women to always push for women’s participation in suffrage and legislation so that women’s issues will truly be addressed.

According to Sobritchea, such percentage is quite remarkable considering that the United Nations’ recommends figures within the 30 to 40 percent range.

Meanwhile, Maya Tamayo of the UPCWS shared some interesting results of Pulse Asia Survey from the previous round table discussion at UPCWS. Tamayo said Pulse Asia also answered “No” to the same question, adding that the presentation showed how women voted in the 2007 and 2010 elections.

The survey indicated that a significant PAGE

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Senatorial candidates Hagedorn, Falcone, Alcantara, Señeres, David, Montaño all give a thumbs down to an issue.

UP Diliman holds ‘Town Hall’ debates

By Fred Dabu Photo by Misael Bacani

The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies (UPCWS) has wrapped up a series of round table discussions on women’s participation in elections in view of the upcoming May 2013 polls.

The last of the conference, held last March 22 at the UPCWS Conference Room in UP Diliman, focused on the question “Is there a women’s vote?”

The discussants were UP Diliman Political Science professor Jean Franco, Asian Center dean Carolyn Sobritchea, UPCWS deputy director for Research and Publications Program Eric Julian D. Manalastas, and several representatives from women non-government organizations such as the Asociacion Paz y Desarrollo, WeDpro Philippines, and Center for Popular Empowerment.

Round table moderator Sobritchea opened the floor by asking the participants “Is there a women’s vote?”

“No,” Franco answered. She explained that until the 2010 elections, the percentage of women’s participation in formal politics has remained at 18 percent considering the volume of women voters during elections.

She attributed such low percentage to “structural and agencial (agency) reasons.”

Franco said “structural” factors included incumbency of political candidates that are mostly males leaving the women no options but to vote for the men, lack of genuine political party such that the voters tend to choose personality over platforms, and the existence of a party list system wherein some parties appeared to to be facetious

Senatorial candidate Casiño explains a point while fellow candidates Villanueva, Falcone, Señeres listen.

Four senatorial candidates had their chance to present their respective legislative agenda held recently at the GT Toyota Auditorium in UP Diliman, Quezon City.

The four candidates who were put on the limelight at the March 18 debate called “Town Hall: A PPCRV-Solar News Channel Senatorial Series were Bro. Eddie Villanueva of party list Bangon Pilipinas, Rep. Teddy Casiño of party list Makabayan, and Bal Falcone and former Rep. Christian

Señeres, both of Democratic Party of the Philippines.

The “town hall” debates were patterned after a popular practice in the US where candidates are able to present their views and answer questions before a multi-sectoral crowd including students, members of advocacy groups, and local residents.

The UP “Town Hall” was the fourth in a series of debates staged in separate PAGE

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