UP Newsletter January 2012

U.P. Newsletter 1

Wired UP

Blog ng TWSC Makiisa sa Third World Studies Center sa natatangi nitong pag-aaral at pagsusulong ng mga alternatibong perspektiba ukol sa mga pangyayaring lokal, rehiyonal at pandaigdigan.

Aktibong idinodokumento ang mga gawain nito sa http://uptwsc.blogspot.com/.

University of the Philippines Community Newspaper V O L U M E X X XIII

UP helps Iligan

Chancellors announce plans Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

The last quarter of 2011 was the occasion for the new UP chancellors to bare their plans before their respective constituencies during the turn-over ceremonies in their campuses. All aligned their administrations’ roadmaps with the vision of President Alfredo Pascual for “one UP” and of “UP as a Great University” During a convocation in lieu of an investiture ceremony last December 8 at the UP Theater in Diliman, UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma focused on the academic and operational problems on campus and outlined his plans to address them.

The “academic realities” the Saloma administration will address include the insufficient number of PhD students, which creates problems of replacing retiring UP professors and of meeting the ideal number Dr. Sharon Madrinan from the UP Manila-PGH Department of Pediatrics examines a one-year of doctorate holders that the national old child who has cough and colds. university should be supplying the nation To aid in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in the wake of storm “Sendong” in based on the country’s growing population Northern Mindanao, UP President Alfredo Pascual formed the UP Padayon Disaster and need to move forward in the global Response Team last December 18. arena.

Over the holidays, Vice-President for Public Affairs J. Prospero de Vera III Saloma emphasized the need for convened a meeting of UP units capable of providing immediate, strategic and mentorship to address the problem, and long-term assistance to disaster-struck Iligan City. also announced UP Diliman’s plan to In coordination with Iligan city officials, the Mindanao State University-Iligan implement a “hybrid” general education Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Senator Koko Pimentel and local volunteers, program which will make a number of the team (originally called Task Force Sendong) conducted a medical mission, a subjects required, thus modifying the soworkshop on forensic procedures and a quick assessment of evacuation centers called cafeteria-style GE program currently and devastated areas during a three-day mission in the city from December 27 to prescribed system-wide which, among other December 29. Padayon’s activities and initial findings were presented to the media flaws, is suspected to have caused grade last December 30. inflation.

UP officials chose Iligan because the city had received less help compared to Saloma also mentioned such operational Cagayan de Oro which was more accessible to both relief providers and media at realities as the huge power and water bills that time. This was also the first time the UP System had mobilized in response to of the Diliman campus bloated mainly by a calamity. leaks as well as by the guaranteed-use policy

Photo by Arlene Agulto, UPM

Fred Dabu

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multo” kaya pilit na pinipigilan “ang galit ng sanlaksang mamamayang lumalaban para sa tunay na panlipunang pagbabago.” Dagdag pa niya, “Sawang-sawa na tayong makaranas ng kahirapan at krisis panlipunan. Sawangsawa na ang mamamayang dumanas ng matinding kahirapan, habang nagpapakasasa ang iilan.”

Ayon kay Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles, convener at tagapagsalita ng UP Manila (UPM) KILOS NA! at Pangalawang Tagapangulo ng Konseho ng mga Mag-aaral ng UPM, may kaltas sa pondo sa edukasyon sa Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

Pinahayag ni Rep. Raymond Palatino ng Kabataan Partylist ang pagdating sa susunod na mga araw ng mga batayang sektor upang makiisa sa panawagan ng mga kabataan para sa pagbabago. Dagdag pa niya, kung trabaho ng mga pulis ay manghuli ng magnanakaw, dapat nasa St. Luke’s sila upang arestuhin si dating Pangulong Gloria

(Continued on page 10)

Macapagal-Arroyo. Ang ilan pa sa mga dapat inaaresto ng mga pulis, ayon kay Crisostomo, ay ang Shell, Petron at Caltex na nagpapahirap sa mamamayan dahil sa taas ng presyo ng langis. Naging matingkad ang panawagang “pagbabagong lipunan” sa programa dahil “sawang sawa na” ang mga nagpoprotesta sa “bulok na sistema.”

Sa talumpati naman ni Charisse Bernadine Bañez, dating Student Regent (SR) ng UP at kasalukuyang Secretary General ng Anakbayan, binati niya ang mga lumahok sa kilos-protesta at sinabing ang kamao at ang puso ay magkapareho ng hugis. Sa kabila ng pagsikil ng mga pulis, hindi natinag ang mga nagpoprotesta.

Iginiit nilang makatuntong sa Mendiola kahit pa halos tatlong Naghahanda sa martsa patungong Mendiola (Sundan sa pahina 4) ang campers mula UPLB.

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OVPAA organizes first Scientific Writing Workshop in UP

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MBA donates five new professorial chairs to honor deans

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College of Science hosts forum on ‘Heroes and Science’

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NCPAG assesses the peace process under GMA

Photo by Tilde Acuña

Lumundo sa pagtatayo ng mga kubol sa paanan ng Mendiola noong limang araw na “Kampuhan Kontra Kaltas, Krisis at Kahirapan” na inilunsad ng CampOut PH na kinabibilangan ng KILOS NA! at iba pang grupong mula sa loob at labas ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (Makikita sa http://www.campoutph.com/time-totake-action/ ang ilan sa mga grupong sumuporta sa kampuhan).

Noong Disyembre 10 sa kabila ng matinding ulan, nakiisa ang CampOut PH sa paggunita ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng Karapatang Pantao, kasama ang libo-libong mamamayan mula sa iba’t ibang pormasyon mula sa Kamaynilaan at Timog Katagalugan (TK).

Paghahanda at Panawagan Bago pa man dumating ang Disyembre 6, na unang araw ng kampuhan, kumalat na sa social networking sites tulad ng Facebook at Twitter ang mga hashtag at katagang “sawang sawa na,” “occupy mendiola,” “occupy PH” at “campout PH.” Nanawagan sa pamamagitan ng mga bidyo sa YouTube ang iba’t ibang personalidad (http://www.youtube.com/ user/sawangsawanatayo). ). Bukod sa ‘‘pages’ sa Facebook tulad ng #strikelead, Occupy Philippines at SAWANG SAWA NA, nauna nang inilunsad ang website na http:// campoutph.com, kung saan matatagpuan ang iba’t ibang impormasyon tulad ng links sa livestreaming, livestreaming updates at iba pang pahayag tungkol sa kampuhan.

Kinaumagahan ng Martes sa Palma Hall, naglunsad ng maikling programa at indoor rally ang mga kasapi ng UP KILOS NA! upang maipaliwanag sa mga estudyante ang mga layunin ng kampuhan at makapagimbita pa ng mas maraming lalahok sa nasabing pagkilos. Bumiyahe sa tanghali ang halos 150 estudyante, kawani at guro mula sa UP Diliman patungong España.

Sumanib ang delegasyon ng UP Diliman sa iba’t ibang state universities and colleges (SUCs) at nagmartsa habang pinagpapasa-pasahan ang isang kubol bilang simbolikong banta ng kanilang pagkakampo sa Mendiola.

Hinarangan ng higit 100 pulis ang halos 1,000 delegasyon ng CampOut PH sa harap ng Far Eastern University sa Morayta ngunit narating pa rin ng mga ito ang kanto ng Morayta at Recto. Makalipas ang ilang saglit, binomba ng mga pulis ng tubig ang mga nagmamartsa.

Sa Recto pansamantalang inilunsad ang prog rama at inilahad sa mg a talumpati sa unang araw ng kampuhan ang mga layunin nito. Ayon kay Vencer Crisostomo, tagapagsalita ng KILOS NA! at tagapangulo ng Anakbayan, “desperado” ang gobyernong “takot sa sarili nitong

JANUARY 2 0 12

DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY

Read UP Newsletter online at http://www.up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php

‘Campers,’ simbolikong inokupa ang Mendiola Arbeen Acuña, Fred Dabu

NUMBER 1

2 U.P. Newsletter

january 2012

Research progress reports presented at symposium The Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) held a research symposium last December 5 that featured the progress reports of four projects funded by the UP Emerging S&T Fields Grant.

Dr. Raul Destura, director of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), National Institutes of Health, UP Manila (UPM) presented the status report of their study on the “Production of Immunotherapeutics, Diagnostics and Immuno-Nutraceuticals Derived from Avian Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) Technology.” Destura heads this collaborative project between the NIMBB and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the UPM College of Medicine.

Prof. Dulce Flores of the UP Mindanao College of Science and Mathematics then gave an update on her team’s research on “Angiotensin-1-Converting Enzyme (ACE1) Inhibitors.”

University researcher Medino Gedeun Yebron Jr., representing the director of the Animal and Dairy Sciences Cluster, Prof.

Cesar Sevilla, delivered the progress report on UP Los Baños’ (UPLB) “Optimizing Rumen Ecology of Indigenous Ruminants for Efficient Production.” Finally, Dr. Philip Ian Padilla of the UP Visayas (UPV) NIMBB and College of Arts and Sciences presented the status of the “Establishment of the Marine Microorganism and Tissue Culture Bank (MMTCB) in UPV-NIMBB.” Destura’s team continues to study IgY from yolks of chicken eggs in hopes that it will lead to the development of an oral rehydration immunonutrition solution (The ORinS Juice Project) for diarrhea caused by rotavirus as well as specificity and sensitivity assays and diagnostic kits for thyroid stimulating hormone, hepatitis B virus, and acute typhoid fever caused

by Salmonella typhi bacteria. He added that an offshoot of the UP-funded project is a collaborative study with Michigan State University on “Improved Detection of Mycobacteria tuberculosis in Respiratory Specimen using IgY-primed Magnetic Nanogold Particle.”

Flores heads the study exploring food sources of ACE-1 inhibitors, which are used to control the blood pressure levels of hypertensive individuals. The objectives of the study include the development of a screening assay for ACE-inhibiting activity, characterization of the ACE-inhibiting

activity of local food items and production of a cultured/fermented milk drink as an antihypertensive. She said that they are also screening local vegetables for another ACEinhibitor, nicotianamine.

The UPLB study’s main goal is to improve ruminant production by studying rumen ecology of indigenous cattle, carabao and goats—characterizing and identifying dominant rumen bacteria and protozoa; determining the changes in rumen microbial ecology, optimizing fermentation rates and metabolizable protein flow due to nutritional interventions; and determining changes in rumen ecology between cattle and carabao with cross-inoculated rumen contents. Yebron said that by taking a close look at rumen ecology, they are able to discover alternative, cheaper sources of additives/enzymes that will deliver the same or better results as expensive feed additives. This will lead to a decrease of feed cost for farmers. In addition, their study also explores the possibility of lower methane emission due to these alternative feed additives.

Padilla explained the significance of the MMTCB establishment at the UPVNIMBB. It will boost research capabilities because stored specimens “will be used for studies on cell toxicity, microbial sensitivity, viral plaque assays, microbial ecology surveys, taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships.”

This supply will also be accessed for the “development of drugs and vaccines against the different pathogens that are isolated” and “screened for active biomolecules that may be scientifically and commercially exploited to benefit the university financially.” It can lead to increased field application, especially on the “control of fish, algal and other aquaculture pathogens.”

The Emerging S&T Fields Grant was established in 2006 to “strengthen UP’s position as the leading research and development university in the country and in the region” and to fortify S&T programs in all UP campuses.

According to the OVPAA, initiatives under the grant “are meant to improve the quality, productivity and impact of scientific research for the generation of new knowledge expected of a National University in the 21st century.” The OVPAA research symposium is the first of a series of fora that aims to disseminate information about UP’s research projects.

Andre Encarnacion Photo by Jun Madrid

Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo

OVPAA organizes first Scientific Writing Workshop in UP

Dr. Diana Aga from the State University of New York at Buffalo advises workshop participants on the basics of publishing internationally.

“Be ready for heartbreaking reviews.”

This advice by Prof. Diana Aga of the State University of New York at Buffalo during UP’s first Scientific Writing Workshop was one of many lessons learned by participants in publishing in international peer-reviewed journals.

The workshop, organized by the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), was held at the University Hotel, UP Diliman last November 24 and 25 and involved 15 participants across the UP System.

The participants were taught the basics of how to write a credible research paper for international publication and briefed on the various pressures and frustrations a scholar may face along the way. They were also made to participate in hands-on writing exercises, which were then subjected to mock reviews in order to enhance their research skills and experience.

Aside from Aga who instr ucted participants on the ins and outs of writing for international publications, the workshop also had Prof. Gil Jacinto of the Marine Science Institute who advised them on the use of bibliographic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar Scholar.

Marian Ramos from the UP Library also oriented the participants on how to get the best out of their research endeavors by using the library’s vast resources.

Other mentors were Prof. Zubaida Basiao of the Institute of Biology, Prof.

Jose Maria Balmaceda from the Institute of Mathematics and Prof. Cynthia Hedreyda of the UPD National Institute of Molecular

Biology and Biotechnology.

In a printed guide written with Prof.

Eduardo Padlan titled On Writing a Scientific Paper, VP Gisela P. Concepcion advised the Paper participants as to why they should publish: “Wanting to share our knowledge with the rest of the world is rooted in the most basic reason for doing science: we do science to help improve our world. We don’t work in a vacuum; we avail of the knowledge gained by others before us and we try to add to that knowledge. This is the most noble reason for publishing--and the most altruistic.”

The workshop saw the participants being taught the basics of publication including why one should publish, choosing where to publish, how to handle rejection and tips to aid the general writing process including writing a novelty statement of less than 100-words which aims to “convince the editors and reviewers why they would consider publishing your paper in their journal,” and in choosing the right journal to submit to, among others.

Aga stressed the importance of doing research with international relevance. “If you’re trying to publish your papers in international journals… kailangan nyong ma-convince yung editor na kahit nasa Philippine setting siya, it can be applicable internationally.”

The participants in the workshop included five from the School of Environmental Science and Management, Institute of Biological Sciences, and BIOTECH of UP Los Baños; two from the Department of Biology of UP Baguio; one from the Math (Continue on page 11)

UP Press launches second batch of books, e-books Filipino: Balangkasan by Resty Mendoza and Ricardo Ma. Duran Nolasco; Lagalag ng Paglaya by Rommel Rodriguez; Miss Dulce Extranghera: O ang Paghahanap kay Miss B by Sir Anril Pineda Tiatco; Sawikaan 2010: Mga Salita ng Taon, edited by Robero Anonuevo and Romulo P. Baquiran Jr.; The Rhetorics of Sin by Mary Jannette L. Pinzon; Things Fall Away: Philippine Historical Experience and the Makings of Globalization by Neferti X. M. Tadiar; Welgang Bayan: Empowering Labor Unions against Poverty and Repression by Rosario Torres-Yu. Committed to making Philippine books available around the world, the UP Press also launched its second batch of titles in ebook format. In cooperation with Flipside Digital Content Company, the UP Press has gathered these titles in literature and scholarship.

The second batch of e-books are: One Hundred Love Poems, edited by Gemino

Abad and Alfred Yuson; Sunday in Manila

by Robert Boyer; Defiant Daughters Dancing

by Rina Angeles Corpus; Selected Stories

by Jose Y. Dalisay; Forcing the Pace by Ken Fuller; Postcolonialism and Filipino Poetics by J. Neil Garcia; The Sky Over Dimas by Vicente Garcia Groyon; Five Years in a Forgotten Land by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo; Philippine Studies: Have We Gone Beyond St. Louis? , edited by Priscelina Patajo-Legasto; An Embarrassment of Riches by Charlson Ong; Ten Supernatural Stories edited by April Yap and Lara Saguisag; An Isteytsayd Life by Lorenzo Paran III; Mind Body Communication Technique: An Alternative Way of Learning and Teaching Confidence in Public Speaking

by Carmencita Del Villar; Life Before X and Other Stories by Angelo Rodriguez Lacuesta; Sikolohiyang Pilipino: Teorya, Metodo at Gamit Gamit, edited by Rogelia Pe-Pua. Visit amazon.com or flipreads.com to Prof. Taguiwalo presents a copy of her book Babae, download these books.

Obrera, Unyonista during the UP Press launch.

Photo by Jun Madrid

The UP Press launched 15 titles last November 25 at the Balay Kalinaw, UP Diliman. The books were by scholars here and abroad and literary work from the country’s writers.

The new UP Press books are: A Movement Divided: Philippine Communism, 1957-1986 by Ken Fuller; Almanak ng Isang Aktibista by Rolando B. Tolentino; Babae, Obrera, Unyonista: Ang Kababaihan sa Kilusang Paggawa sa Maynila (1901-1941) by Judy M. Taguiwalo; Balagen: Edukasyong Pangkapayapaan at Panitikang Pambata by Rosario Torres-Yu; Basics of Occupational Health and Safety: A Guidebook For Practitioners and Industries by Jinky Leilanie Del Prado-Lu; Bugtong ng Buwan at Iba Pang Kuwento by Will P. Ortiz; Dead Stars: American and Philippine Literary Perspectives on the American Colonization of the Philippines by Jennifer M. McMahon; From Wilderness to Nation: Interrogating Bayan, edited by Damon L. Woods; Gramatikang

January 2012

Balitang Unyon Balik-Tanaw sa 2011: Ulat ng All-UP Workers Alliance Sinarhan natin ang taong 2011 sa pagtanggap ng mga kawani, REPS at faculty ng UP ng P4,000 Christmas grocery allowance mula administrasyong Pascual bukod pa sa P10,000 ibinigay ng Malakanyang sa lahat ng kawani ng pamahalaan. Gayundin, nagalak tayo sa balitang nagbigay ang Administrasyong Saloma ng hindi bababa sa P2,500 para sa mga kontraktwal ng UP Diliman.

Sinasalamin ng dalawang magandang balitang ito ang dalawang isyung dinala ng ating mga unyon sa nakaraang taon—ang isyu ng mababang sahod natin, lalo na sa hanay ng mga kawani at REPS na nasa mababang salary grade at ang isyu ng lumalaganap na kontraktwalisasyon sa loob at labas ng UP. Ang mga isyung ito ay bahagi ng masiglang sama-sama at makabayang mga pagkilos ng ating mga unyon sa patuloy na pagsusulong ng militante, progresibo at makabayang unyonismo sa loob ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.

Inihahanay natin sa ibaba ang ating mga tagumpay sa nakaraang taon at ang mga hindi napagtagumpayan at kailangang patuloy na isulong.

Panimulang tagumpay para sa dagdag na 10 araw na leave credits para sa mga kawani at REPS

Naging pangunahing kampanya ng ating dalawang unyon ang pagbigay-wakas sa diskriminasyon sa partikular na laban para sa dagdag na 10 araw na leave credits para sa mga kawani at REPS na tinawag na Severance Recognition Pay (SRP). Taong 2007 pa dinagdagan ng noo’y administrasyong Roman ng 10 araw ang sick leave credits ng mga faculty at nagkaroon pa ng dagdag na limang araw noong 2009.

Maituturing na panimulang tagumpay ang pag-apruba “in principle” ng Board of Regents noong Abril 1, 2011, sa panukala ng noo’y Staff Regent Buboy Cabrera ng dagdag na 10 araw na leave credits para sa mga kawani at REPS. Ngunit hanggang ngayon, hindi pa naaaprubahan ang implementing guidelines at hindi pa natatamasa ang ganitong benepisyo na 2008 pa pinakinabangan ng mga nagretirong faculty. Kaya nga noong Lantern Parade, ang kahilingang ito ang laman ng ating parol bilang paalaala sa administrasyong Pascual sa nakabinbing isyung ito. Igigiit natin ang pag-apruba ng implementing guidelines ngayong maagang bahagi ng 2012.

Ilang tagumpay sa pagtaguyod ng demokratisasyon sa loob ng UP

Mahalagang tagumpay ng ating mga unyon ang paglantad sa mga kontrademokratikong mga hakbang at patakaran ng nakaraang administrasyon ng unibersidad at ang pagguhit na hindi lamang pangakademikong kahusayan ang katangian ng UP kundi kakambal nito ang demokratikong pamamahala bilang isang pampublikong pamantasan.

Muling naibalik bilang direktor ng Philippine General Hospital si Dr. Jose Gonzales pagkatapos ng isang taong laban sa korte at masiglang mga pagkilos sa UP Manila-PGH. Nagkaroon ng tenyur sina Prop. Sarah Raymundo ng UP Diliman at Prop. Roberto Basadre ng UP Cebu pagkatapos ng matagal-tagal ding paglalantad sa arbitraryo at kawalang batayang pagtanggi sa kanilang tenyur.

Napigilan ang pagpapasara sa University Food Service sa UP Diliman sa pamamagitan ng mga pagkilos, petisyon at negosasyon sa bagong administrasyon sa UP Diliman.

Sa UP-PGH, matagumpay din ang pagpigil ng balangay ng All-UP Workers Union sa pagpataw ng dagdag na bayarin sa mga serbisyo para sa mga pasyenteng indigents.

Nagkaroon ng apat na bagong Chancellor sa Diliman, Los Baños, Manila at Visayas sa 2011. Dinala sa kanilang mga vision statement at sa mga porum ang mga isyu ng demokratikong pamamahala, pagkilala sa ating mga unyon at ating mga CNA at ang pangakong pagwawasto sa mga patakarang nagdidiskrimina sa mga kawani at REPS. Bahagi ng pag gigiit natin sa demokratisasyon ang muling pagpulong ng Union Management Consultative Body (sa pagitan ng administrasyon at ng All-UP Workers Union) at ng Union Management Monitoring Committee (sa pagitan ng administrasyon at ng All-UP Academic Employees Union). Muling nabalikan ang matagal nang nakabinbing usapin ng Grievance Procedure para sa mga guro at REPS at nagkaisa na ang dalawang panel sa hakbang-hakbang na pag-aayos ng grievance.

Patuloy na pagpapalakas ng ating mga unyon

Idinaos nitong Abril 2011 ang ikapitong Pangkalahatang Asembleya ng All-UP Workers Union at ang ikaapat na Pangkalahatang Asembleya ng All-UP Academic Employees Union. Sabay na tinalakay ang mga usapin ng sahod, trabaho, karapatan at mga pambansang isyu na may kinalaman sa atin bilang mga makabayang unyon. Hiwalay na inihalal ang mga bagong Pambansang Konseho ng dalawang unyon na sabay na nanumpa sa harap ng mga kinatawan ng asembleya.

Dalawang beses nakapagdaos ng pulong ng Pambansang Konseho ang All-UP Workers Union at minsan naman ang AllUP Academic Employees Union. Inihanay ang mga plano kaugnay ng edukasyon, pagpapatupad ng CNA, mga pagkilos lalo na kaugnay ng mga benepisyo at pagsaayos ng ulat pampinansya.

Regular ang mga pulong ng National Executive Boards (NEBs) ng ating mga unyon, gayundin ang mga konseho ng mga unyon sa chapters sa mga kampus.

Masigla rin ang ginagawang office-tooffice na pag-iikot ng ating mga unyon para makipagtalastasan sa mga kasapi, magbigay ng mga pag-aaral hinggil sa mga isyu at para sa patuloy na pagparami ng ating mga kasapi.

Sahod, trabaho at karapatan, patuloy nating ipinaglalaban!

Nakiisa tayo sa iba pang mga kawani ng pamahalaan at mga pampublikong guro para sa paggiit ng mas mataas na sahod.

Malinaw na ang itinaas sa sahod natin bunga ng Salary Standardization Law 3 (SSL3) ay hindi nakasasapat para matugunan ang mga pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pang-arawaraw na bilihin at bayad sa mga serbisyo tulad ng ilaw at tubig. Lalong totoo ito sa mga kawani na kabilang sa Salary Grades 1

U.P. Newsletter 3 Makialam

Felix Pariñas

May Magagawa Ba Ako? Ano nga ba ang magagawa ko o maitutulong ko upang maitaas ang subsidyo sa mga SUC, partikular sa UP? Mahirap na madali ang tanong. Mahirap dahil hindi ko masasabing sapat na ang simpleng paglahok sa mga kilos-protesta bilang indibidwal. Madali naman ang sagot kung ako ay magiging kontento na sa pasibong partisipasyon.

Bilang kawani ng pamahalaan at unyonista, mahalaga ang aming papel sa pagpapalaganap ng kaalaman sa bawat kawani, guro at REPS hinggil sa tunay na kalagayan ng ating bayan. Dapat maipatampok sa bawat isa ang isyu ng edukasyon at serbisyong panlipunan bilang karapatan at obligasyon ng gobyerno na nauuna dapat sa priyoridad.

Kakambal nito ang pagbibigay ng sapat at wastong datos, mailapat ito sa kanilang katayuan at mailapit ito sa kanilang puso. Sa malaliman ay sikaping maantig ang kanilang kamalayan, organisahin at pakilusin.

Pinatunayan ng kasaysayan na ang organisado’t sama-samang pagkilos pa rin ang pinakamabisang sandata na ating maasahan. Napatunayan natin ito nitong nakaraang Setyembre 23 na dinaluhan ng libolibong kawani, REPS, guro, at estudyante.

Nakahamig din tayo ng ilang alyado sa Senado at Kamara de Representante.

Sa huli ay nais kong sabihin na ang tunay na susi para sa mas mataas na subsidyo sa edukasyon at serbisyong panlipunan ay ang pagpapakilos sa lahat ng sektor ng unibersidad, bilang komunidad ng UP na nagtatanggol sa edukasyon at serbisyong panlipunan.

hanggang 9 na nagkaroon lamang ng karaniwang pagtaas sa buwanang suweldo na P800 at binabawasan pa ng dagdag na buwis.

Kaya nga kabilang ang ating dalawang unyon sa Wage Fight Alliance kasama ang COURAGE (ang pederasyon ng mga unyon ng mga kawani sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan), ang Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ang samahang binubuo pangunahin na ng mga gurong pampubliko) at ang Alliance of Health Workers. Ipinaglalaban ng Wage Fight Alliance ang mga kahilingang P6,000 dagdag sa minimum na suweldo ng mga kawani sa pamahalaan, SG 16 entry level ng mga guro sa lahat ng SUCs at SG 15 entry level ng mga guro at nars sa mga pampublikong eskwelahan at ospital. Bahagi ng labang ito Si Felix Pariñas ay national president ng All-UP ang pagsuporta sa mga panukalang batas sa Kongreso na nagsusulong sa mga ganitong Workers Union.

Gusto mong makialam? Ipadala ang iyong kahilingan. sanaysay sa wikang Filipino (500-700 salita) sa UP Suportado rin natin ang panukalang System Information Office (upsio@up.edu.ph) batas sa Kongreso para itaas nang P125 ang minimum na sahod ng mga manggagawa sa Cocolife is new pribadong sektor. Hindi nakasasapat ang Provident Fund P448 (P422 minimum wage, P22 COLA) na arawang kita ng mga manggagawa sa insurance provider The UP Provident Fund has designated Kamaynilaan at lalong mababa ito sa labas United Coconut Planters Life Insurance ng Metro Manila.

Corp.

(Cocolife) as its new insurance partner Kaisa rin tayo sa pagtutol sa lumalawak na kontraktwalisasyon ng mga manggagawa effective January 2012. UP President and sa ating bayan. Ang ating mga kontraktwal UPPFI Chair Alfredo Pascual and Cocolife na kababayan, kabilang na ang mga President Atty. Alfredo C. Tumacder, Jr. kontraktwal sa UP, ay walang kaseguruhan signed the agreement last October 28.

The decision to change insurance sa trabaho, limitado ang benepisyo at walang providers was the result of the increases mga unyon para ipaglaban ang kanilang in the premiums required by the previous kapakanan.

Paglaban para sa dagdag na budget provider Sun Life. It was based on the ng UP, SUCs, pampublikong ospital request of both members and the Board of Trustees to scout for a better deal during at serbisyong panlipunan Markado ang partisipasyon ng ating the last General Membership Meeting held mga unyon sa serye ng mga sama-samang last June 11.

UPPF Management concluded that pagkilos para sa dagdag na budget ng ating pamantasan, ibang SUCS, pampublikong Cocolife presented better services, less ospital ang iba pang serbisyong panlipunan. stringent claims for requirements and Bilang bahagi ng UP Kilos Na, nag- longer time coverage of the insured at organisa tayo ng mga talakayan tungkol a reasonable price compared with two sa isyu ng pagtalikod ng pamahalaan sa other companies. The coverage remains mga serbisyong panlipunan at ang epekto at P100,000.

Members were requested to fill out nito sa sa pamantasan at sa mamamayan.

Sumali tayo sa unity marches sa loob ng the new form and update the proxy form.

UP at lumahok sa makasaysayang martsa Members were also requested to return mula Diliman patungong Mendiola noong the forms to the campus clusters or head Setyembre 23. At naki-planking pa sa office before January 2012.

In a related development, the Fund Mendiola bilang isang anyo ng protesta.

Limitado ang naging tagumpay natin welcomed its new trustees who won kaugnay ng dagdag na budget budget. Nagkaroon the online election held last November lamang ng dagdag na P200 milyon ang PGH 22. Alberto Arciaga and Prof. Ludendorffo at P600 milyon ang iba pang pampublikong Decenteceo now represent the UP Diliman/System/Baguio cluster while ospital.

Gayunpaman, masasabi nating tagumpay Ulysses Alama and Erlinda Naret represent ang pagkakaisang nabuo, ang mas malalim the UP Visayas/Cebu/Mindanao cluster. na pagkaunawa ng ugnayan ng ating They represent salary grades 1-15 and 16 sitwasyon sa UP at ang mga pambansang and above, respectively. Their terms of (Sundan sa pahina 5) office start January 2012.

4 U.P. Newsletter

january 2012

UPOU hosts ASEAN MBA donates five new professorial chairs to honor deans Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc Studies I & II Regent Magdaleno Albarracin has Engineering Deans Juan L. Tiongson organization or country is known for its five new professorial chairs to the (1949-1953), Oscar P. Baguio (1960-1970), leader. “Our deans have served as good integration meeting endowed College of Engineering of UP Diliman to Ruben A. Garcia (1985-1991), Francisco models for students and faculty,” he said.

They are of solid character, sharp mind and tremendous energy, Albarracin added. He said that efforts to fund more professorial chairs are continuing, as the faculty and the need to raise financial awards continue to grow.

He also said that the colleges could best serve the country by producing more graduates out of their students in an ideal rate of 95 percent. Currently, the college estimates an efficiency rate of around 600-800 graduates out of 1,000 students.

Board exam results are also an important consideration for him. He hopes the chairs would help the college accomplish such targets and come up with more research that are particularly useful to industry.

With the donation, Albarracin made good on his earlier challenge to the college to find donors for a number of professorial chairs, for which he would make counterpart donations. This arrangement resulted in some 15 new professorial chairs endowed by DMCI Homes, Maynilad and Albarracin.

Dean Aura Matias said 16 to 20 more Prof. Leopoldo Abis and Dean Aura Matias sign the deed of donation on behalf of the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation Inc. and the College of Engineering, professorial chairs are needed to cover all respectively, with the donor, Regent Magdaleno Albarracin. qualified faculty members. In the immediate future, there is a need to grant professorial chairs to 18 faculty members about to come (Dr. Sylvano Mahiwo, Philippines); to have garnered more than 10,000 views. back to the college after completing their “Colonization and Decolonization of The participants were treated to a PhDs abroad.

Southeast Asia” (Prof. Azhar Mad Ros, cultural presentation and a fellowship Malaysia); “ASEAN Open Regionalism” dinner on the second night of the event.

(Prof. Lawan Thanadsillapakul, Thailand); The UP Rural High School Dance Troupe and “Opportunities and Challenges of performed traditional Filipino dances for Economic Globalization to ASEAN” the participants.

(Prof. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong,Vietnam).

Prof. Jean Saludadez, director of the The lectures were live-streamed over UPOU’s Office of Academic Support Ti Similla the Internet and recorded on video to and Instructional Services (OASIS), produce learning objects that can be used in coordinated the meeting and moderated The UP Board of Regents (BOR) the courses. The webstream was reported the discussions after the lectures. approved during its 1,273rd meeting last September 29 the establishment of the NCTS spreads traffic impact assessment skills Otto Johns Scheerer Professorial Chair at Why and how is traffic impact at the Toyota Training Room. A total of for in each stage of the process. It provided UP Baguio (UPB). assessment warranted? This was among 15 participants from different professions them the tools with which to assess the In her letter to the BOR recommending TIA report submitted for different types the questions the UP National Center attended the program, which is intended the establishment of the professorial for Transportation Studies (NCTS) has for personnel of local government units of developments. The different techniques chair in honor of one of Baguio City’s been answering through its Traffic Impact and government agencies involved in and measures needed to mitigate the prominent pioneers, UPB Chancellor Assessment for Technical Evaluators approving urban and regional development impact on traffic of urban and regional Priscilla Macansantos wrote that UPB had developments were also discussed. training program. projects. received a donation of P1.5 million from The program consisted of nine modules Dr. Richard Scheerer, grandson of the late The center held the second part of the The training discussed the warrants for training program from November 15 to 17 TIA and what the evaluators should look and one workshop. The mentors were Otto Scheerer, for the establishment of the Research and Extension Fellows from the Otto Scheerer Professorial Chair at UPB. UP School of Urban and Regional Planning Prof. Otto Scheerer was an early settler (SURP) Profs. Ma. Sheilah G. Napalang of Baguio City and was provincial secretary (Mula sa pahina 1) and Cresencio M. Montalbo Jr.; Research of Benguet around 1901. Later in his career, beses silang tinangkang buwagin ng mga isang konsyerto para sa katarungan at and Extension Fellows from UP Institute he became known for his pioneering work pulis sa pamamagitan ng water cannon. karapatang pantao na pinangunahan of Civil Engineering Profs. Jose Regin F. in Filipino linguistics. Both he and his Nagpasyang magmartsa patungong Plaza ng UPLB Zoomout at Karapatan-TK, Regidor, Karl N. Vergel and Hilario Sean O. grandson, the donor Richard Scheerer, Miranda ang mga militante upang doon katuwang ang SAKBAYAN.” Dagdag Palmiano; Former Dean of UP SURP and had long-standing connections with the magpalipas ng gabi at upang simulan ang pa niya, “Ginanap (ang Himigsikan) sa former NCTS Director Primitivo C. Cal; university. Prof. Otto Scheerer was with the unang araw ng Kampuhan.

SU (Student Union building) lobby at and Transportation Planning and Traffic faculty of UP; Dr. Richard Scheerer earned Himigsikan at Martsa nilahukan ng sectoral delegates at mga Engineering and Management Laboratory his Medicine degree at the UP College of Medicine.

Ayon kay Carla Bertulfo, volunteer estudyante sa UPLB.” Tinatayang nasa head Engr. Aileen U. Mappala.

The first day consisted of lectures Dr. Richard Scheerer, who visited corps coordinator ng Samahan ng Kabataan 500 ang mga dumalo. Disyembre 8 nang on the institutionalization of TIA and Baguio City in June 2011 after many years, Para sa Bayan (SAKBAYAN), nagkaroon lumahok sa “puspusang workshop” ang mga transport planning via trip generation signed a memorandum of agreement din ng pagtugon ang mga estudyante ng estudyante ng UPLB upang makaluwas and distribution.

The second day of with the university in connection with the UP Los Baños (UPLB) sa panawagang at makasama sa pagkilos sa Kamaynilaan lectures featured the fundamentals of establishment of the professorial chair. magkampo. Dagdag pa niya, simbolikong kinabukasan, Disyembre 9.

TIA and components of TIA reports, The Scheerer Professorial Chair is the ginanap noong Disyembre 6 ang “Occupy Sabi ni Bertulfo, sumuporta rin ang mga transport planning via mode split and route fi rst private donation of a chair made directly UPLB” sa Humanities Building. Ayon kay estudyante ng UPLB sa Human Rights (HR) assignment, and technical discussions on to UPB though the UPCB Educational Bertulfo, “nagkaroon ng teach-in discussion” Week at sa HR Caravan na pinangunahan traffi c engineering determination of Level Foundation, and its establishment follows at “Occupy Mendiola ang pangunahing ng Karapatan-TK. Lumilibot na ang of Service (LOS). that of four professorial chairs funded tema.” Dagdag pa niya, “Kahalintulad sa caravan sa rehiyon ng Timog Katagalugan The topics on the third day included through UP Baguio’s recently established Occupy Wall Street (ang Occupy Mendiola). simula pa noong Disyembre 5, dahil “ang transport and traffic surveys for TIA, P50-million Research Endowment Fund.

Pinakikita nitong hindi na lamang sa pagkaltas ng budget sa basic social services services” transport systems management (TSM) and UP Baguio administration intends to Pilipinas mayroong krisis. Nararamdaman ay “pagsagka sa karapatang pantao (at) travel demand management (TDM), and award the chair in early 2012 to a UPB ito sa buong mundo.” sa pagkakaroon ng maayos at disenteng preparing a TIA checklist.

The training professor interested in doing research “Kinabukasan ng gabi,” dagdag ni pamumuhan na tinutugunan dapat ng program culminated in a workshop on in the Philippine/Cordillera history of Bertulfo, “nagkaroon ng Himigsikan, estado.” Noong Disyembre 9, dumating applying the TIA checklist for a sample linguitics—two areas of particular interest (Sundan sa pahina 5) TIA report. to Otto Scheerer. honor five previous deans.

Albarracin (EE ’56 and MBA’64), a former College of Business Administration dean, will donate P600,000 per year for five years to fund the chairs in honor of

‘Campers,’ simbolikong inokupa ang Mendiola

L. Viray (1991-1993), and Reynaldo B. Vea (1993-1997). Profs. Viray and Vea were present during the launch at the newlyconstructed faculty lounge of the college.

Albarracin said that nor mally an

Photo by Jun Madrid

The UP Open University hosted the ASEAN Studies I and II Integration Meeting from November 22 to 24 at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.

The meeting was attended by course writers from the Universitas Terbuka, (Indonesia), Open University of Malaysia, UPOU, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (Thailand) and Hanoi Open University (Vietnam), collectively called OU5.

The meeting was part of a series of discussions among the five open universities to develop an online master’s degree in ASEAN studies. It was designed for course writers to discuss and finalize the content of the program’s foundation courses – ASEAN Studies I and II. The ASEAN Studies program is part of the internationalization efforts of UPOU. Since its founding in 1995, the university has adopted and adapted international best practices for developing and delivering programs at a distance through partnerships with well-established distance education institutions in different parts of the world.

During the opening program, UPOU Chancellor Grace Alfonso reaffirmed the university’s commitment to this partnership.

“We see this joint program as an opportunity to strengthen our partnership with likeminded universities in the region. In pursuing this partnership, we are in a better position to respond to the challenges of global education brought about by the increasing mobility of ideas, people and organizations.”

T he UPOU also org anized the “Lectures on ASEAN Studies” last November 23 where the course writers who are the experts in ASEAN studies delivered the lectures “ASEAN in the Meta-Nation State Interface Dynamics”

Otto Scheerer professorial chair established in UPB

January 2012

U.P. Newsletter 5

UP High School in Iloilo transfers to new building Anna Razel L. Ramirez, UPV-IPO

through civic action and community service programs.

The keys to the various classrooms were turned over by the donors and their representatives to the class presidents and class advisers. The following donors furnished the different classrooms: 1) NB 1 – First Year Kanlaon – Go Family represented by Atty. Joseph Go 2) NB 2 – First year Madyaas – Class 1971 represented by Prof. Ma. Joji B. Tan 3) NB 3 – Second Year Busay – Divinagracia Family represented

by Ellen Divinagracia who turned over an additional amount of P200,000.

4) NB 4 – Second Year Tuburan The UP Diliman College of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science and Accenture Philippines – Recto family and represented by jointly launched the Accenture Ideas Exchange Room on the second floor of the UP Alumni Engineers Centennial Hall last November 29. In photo from left to right: UP College of Engineering Dean Aura Atty. Cyril Regalado Matias, UP Department of Computer Science Chair Adrian Roy Valdez, Accenture Senior Executive 5) NB 5 – Third Year Lubi – donated Sponsor for Corporate Citizenship Nescel Asuncion, and Accenture’s Delivery Center for Technology

by Class 1958 represented by Prof.

Lead in the Philippines George Son Keng Po. Llena Buenvenida 6) NB 7 - Ilawod - Class 1972 represented by UPV plants trees on P r o f . M a y D. Pison future site in 7) NB 8 Miagao campus - Ilaya - Class Lyncen M. Fernandez, UPV-IPO 1978 represented UP Visayas’ (UPV) College of

by Dr. Marovi Celis th and classmates Management (CM), in its 30 founding 8) Guidance anniversary, planted 30 saplings on Office - Class 1981 its future site in the main campus in represented by Miagao last December 10. The activity Marjorie Gadong was part of the three-day celebration Also present of the college starting December 7. during the transfer CM Dean Joy Lizada and College were College of Secretary Romana Villareal led the Arts and Sciences faculty, staff and students in the uphill Dean Ma. Luisa trek from the national highway to the Mabunay; UPHSI site. The 10-hectare site overlooks the Principal Evelyn coast of Miagao and the UPV Diwata Baylocon; Batch Shore Aquascape, an aquarium still ’61 representative being constructed to showcase tropical Azucena Pestaño and marine living species endemic in and her classmates; the Philippines. different alumni The personnel of the UPV Miagao batches; and Reforestation Project provided the PTA officers and saplings and prepared the site for members.

Vegetables such as kangkong were planted at the UP Diliman College of Law grounds by a group of law students and representatives planting.

Photo courtesy of UPD College of Engineering, Office of the Dean

The UP High School in Iloilo (UPHSI) transferred to its new building last December 8 at the UP Visayas (UPV) Iloilo City campus. The building was completed with the help of UPHSI Batch ’61, which has Senator Franklin Drilon as member.

UPV Chancellor Rommel Espinosa expressed his appreciation to the alumni for the completion of the new high school building.

He also mentioned that his administration plans to involve the alumni more in the year-round affairs of UPV, emphasizing that their involvement will no longer be on a seasonal basis. With alumni president Cyril Regalado, the chancellor is exploring ways to make the alumni visible in the university

Photo by Jun Madrid

from the Philippine Information Agency and Foundation for Development Alternatives last December 13.

‘Campers,’ simbolikong inokupa ang Mendiola

(Mula sa pahina 3)

(Mula sa pahina 4)

sa Kamaynilaan ang delegasyon ng TK at ng UPLB upang lumahok sa kampuhan at makiisa sa Pandaigdigang Araw ng Karapatang Pantao.

Sa UP Visayas (UPV), pinangunahan ng Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP) ang pagtitipon sa mga organisasyong kabilang sa UPV KILOS NA!, at Kabataan Partylist-Panay naman ang nagtipon sa SUCs upang makilahok sa pang-rehiyong pagkilos at makiisa sa pambansang panawagan.

Ayon kay Angeli Louise Cando, pambansang tagapangulo ng KASAMA sa UP at Liaison for UPV Iloilo ng Office of the Student Regent (OSR), naglunsad ang sektor ng edukasyon ng martsa-protesta noong Disyembre 8. Inabot diumano nang tatlo hanggang apat na oras ang martsa bago idaos ang programa. Dagdag pa niya, “Sa ibang SUCs sa Panay at Guimaras, iba’t ibang mga porma ng pagkilos ang ginawa.

May mga nag-black-ribbon tying, massive

Balitang Unyon

signature campaign, candle-lighting symposium at nagpa-misa laban sa budget cuts.” Ang All -UP Workers’ Union (AUPWU) at student councils ng UP Visayas, West Visayas State University (WVSU) at Western Visayas College of Science and Technology ay kabilang din diumano sa pagkilos na suportado ng chancellor ng UP Visayas at ng presidente ng WVSU. Bago ang araw ng martsa, naglunsad ang UPV KILOS NA! ng mga “fora at FGDs (focused group discussions),” ayon kay Cando. Matapos ang mga diskusyon, nagpasyang ang panawagan ay “tutulan ang budget cuts sa edukasyon, kalusugan at serbisyong panlipunan. Noong Disyembre 9, naghanda ang UPV para sa multisektoral na paggunita ng rehiyon nila sa Pandaigdigang Araw ng Karapatang Pantao kinabukasan.

Pagkondena sa Karahasan Ikatlong araw ng Kampuhan, Disyembre, 8 nang magdaos ng press conference ang UP KILOS NA! sa Palma Hall Lobby, UP (Sundan sa pahina 6)

patakaran at ang positibong karanasan ng ating sama-samang pagkilos. Ang tagumpay na ito ang ating tuntungan para sa mas masiglang laban kaugnay ng budget para sa 2013.

Paglingkod sa ating mamamayan at pakipag-aralan sa kanila

Ang mga unyon natin bilang mga unyon ng mga kawani, guro at REPS ng bayan ay naglunsad ng mga aktibidad na pagtulong at pakipag-aralan sa ating mga kababayan.

Nag-ipon tayo ng pinansya at kagamitan para sa mga nasalanta ng mga bagyong Pedring at Quiel noong katapusan ng Setyembre at para sa mga biktima ng bagyong Sendong nitong Disyembre.

Nakisalamuha rin tayo sa mga katutubo ng Mindoro at ng Cordillera, sa mga manggagawang bukid ng Hacienda Luisita, sa mga magsasaka ng Nueva Vizcaya.

Natutuhan natin ang kanilang mga suliranin kaugnay ng pagmamay-ari ng lupang

sinasaka, ang pagkawasak ng kapaligiran bunga ng malalaking minahan at pagtotroso at ang pagwasak ng kanilang kultura bilang mga pambansang minorya ay matitindi at nakaugat sa mga isyu ng pangangamkam ng lupa, ang pagsasamantala ng mga dayuhang namumuhunan at pakikutsabahan ng mga opisyal ng pamahalaan.

Pagtanaw sa 2012

Ngayong 2012, makakaasa ang mga kawani, REPS at guro ng UP na patuloy na titindig ang All-UP Workers Union at All-UP Academic Employees Union para sa dagdag na sahod, benepisyo at mga karapatan; para labanan ang lahat na anyo ng diskriminasyon sa loob ng pamantasan; para isulong ang demokratikong pamamalakad sa loob ng UP; para sa paggigiit sa dagdag na budget sa mga pampublikong serbisyo at mga institusyon; at sa walang sawang pakikiisa sa mga manggagawa at magsasaka para sa pagkamit ng mas disenteng pamumuhay sa ating bayan.

6 U.P. Newsletter

january 2012

Photo courtesy of UPLB-OPR

Dadufalza awardee discusses catalysts, challenges, change AP Dominguita

Prof. Mendoza delivers her lecture.

“Do not be afraid of change. Change is inevitable.” These were the parting words of Professor of Plant Breeding Evelyn Mae T. Mendoza in her lecture “Transformations” that she delivered last December 13 during the Concepcion D. Dadufalza Award for Distinguished Achievement ceremonies.

Mendoza was chosen as recipient of the UP System-wide award for 2010 for her outstanding accomplishments in teaching, research and extension in both the national and international spheres and for remaining true to the UP ideals of excellence, dedication and integrity.

Transformation and mentorcatalysts

During her lecture, Mendoza shifted from the concept of transformation in her field—that which involves recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering— to transformation in life, the challenges and changes that go with it and the catalysts that help make it possible. She noted that

‘Campers,’ simbolikong inokupa ang Mendiola (Mula sa pahina 5)

pangkalusugan. Nagpahayag din siya ng pakikiisa sa kampuhan ng mga kawani ng PGH, dahil biktima rin sila ng masamang epekto ng pribatisasyon.

Binahagi ni Tesa ang karanasan ng mga ginamot na campers sa PGH, kung saan inasikaso sila kahit malaki ang kakulangan sa mga gamot at mga gamit. Ayon kay Tesa, kamay ang napuruhan sa kanya dahil ito ang ginamit niya upang protektahan ang ulo, at may estudyante daw na kinailangan ng labindalawang tahi sa ulo matapos ang pandarahas ng pulisya noong nakaraang araw. Binasa ni Prof. Danilo Arao, assistant vice president for public affairs at direktor ng UP System Information Office ang pahayag ni UP President Alfredo Pascual na nananawagan ng pagpapalaya sa mga inarestong estudyante.

Ibinahagi ni Prof. Sarah Raymundo ang pagkukop ng mga simbahan sa campers, ang simbolikong pagsalubong ng kabataan sa batayang sektor, ang pagtatanggol ng campers sa hanay at ang iba pang detalye kung paano nalampasan ng kabataan ang makapal na hanay ng mga pulis na gumamit na ng dahas.

Sa isang pahayag, ang karahasang ito ay binatikos din ni Elmer Labog, tagapangulo ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). Kinondena at tinawag niyang “overkill” ang naganap na pandarahas sa mga militante. Kinagabihan (Sundan sa pahina 7)

welfare,” Mendoza added.

Upon her return to the Philippines, she taught at the Department of Biochemistry at the UP College of Medicine. Here she learned the importance of preparing or lectures, discussing test questions, structure or relevance, clarity, and being prepared to answer the questions that the students might ask after a lecture.

She left after two years, lured back to UP Los Baños to join the newly established Institute of Plant Breeding. “I had to build a research laboratory and a research program,” she said. At IPB, she learned short-term and long-term research planning, goal setting and working to achieve them, as well as the value of team and interdisciplinary research work. She eventually taught plant biochemistry, an undergraduate course, as well as analytical biochemistry and protein chemistry, both graduate courses, in UPLB. Teaching MBB courses followed at the turn of the second millennium.

Best compliment

“The best compliment that I get come from students who tell us that we are their favorite teacher or email us to express appreciation for the course that had just ended,” Mendoza shared. She is aware, however, of her reputation – that she gives difficult exams. But she is always quick to tell her students that exempting them from these exams is not going to be fair to her former students.

In the last two years of her career, what she considered her greatest challenge was teaching the GE course on exploring biotechnology not only to science students but also those taking communication, biology, engineering, human ecology. Now on her fourth semester teaching the course, she still would like to improve the delivery of the course and to improve the activities to attain its goals.

She headed what she said was the biggest curricular committee composed of 15 members to develop the interdisciplinary MS in molecular biology and biotechnology and later the PhD program. Both were approved by the Board of Regents (BOR).

At the College of Agriculture, she headed a committee to develop the BS Agricultural

Biotechnology program and the GE course on biotechnology which were instituted in 2009.

Mendoza went through another transformation when the biotechnology debate came to Philippine shores and she accepted the challenge of going around the country to explain biotechnology to everyone including farmers, politicians, students, academics and people from industry. She said that she felt that it is part of her social responsibility as a scientist to share her knowledge and to explain to the general public science and technology issues.

Challenge

The greatest challenge and mission, she said, is transforming students. She said that in her 37 years in the university, she had been fortunate to have advised and graduated many BS, MS and PhD students.

She said that she had just realized that she has been applying the best practices of mentoring that she learned from her own mentors.

Mendoza recognizes, however, that the key is to learn first that students are different from each other and the technique that worked with one may not work with another. She said that some students need more guidance but others can be on their own. “But I think that at the start, students should be closely guided.”

She noted that as duties and responsibilities multiply, there is a need to share mentoring responsibilities with other mentors in a laboratory, in the division or in the college. In so doing, those who are more junior will become prepared to be fullfledged advisers and mentors themselves.

“One day we will find ourselves archaic.

Our ideas will be challenged even by our students. But when that time comes, when our students have become better than us, then we can say we have done our job,” Mendoza said.

The award was established by the BOR in 2000 to honor Prof. Concepcion D. Dadufalza, a former professor of English in UP. It aims to recognize individuals of distinction and to keep alive Dadufalza’s vision and values.

Photo by Tilde Acuña

Diliman upang kondenahin ang marahas na pagbuwag sa hanay ng mga nagpoprotestang kabataan sa may paanan ng Mendiola noong nakalipas na mga araw.

Ayon kay dating UP Faculty Regent Judy Taguiwalo ang nangyari noong ikalawang araw ng kampuhan, ay ebidensiya ng karahasan ng mga pulis. Nakarating ang campers hanggang sa kanto ng Legarda at Mendiola ngunit pinaghahampas sila ng nakabarikadang mga pulis. Ayon kay Taguiwalo, ulo ang tinatarget hampasin ng mga ito.

Limang campers ang inaresto. Bukod sa mga inaresto, may ilang lider ding sinampahan ng kaso. Sugatan ang maraming nagpoprotesta, kabilang ang mga estudyante ng UP na sina RG Emmanuel Tesa, pangkalahatang kalihim ng Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP) at convener ng UP KILOS NA!; at Kate Castrence, estudyante sa Kolehiyo ng Arte at Letra (KAL). Agad isinugod sa UP-PGH ang ilan sa mga lubhang nasugatan. Ikinulong ang mga inaresto sa Manila Police District (MPD) sa UN Avenue. Napilitang umatras at tumigil pansamantala sa harap ng simbahan sa kalye Bustillos ang campers.

Ayon kay Student Regent Krissy Conti, walang batayan ang sinampang kaso.

Binanggit ni Staff Regent Jossel Ebesate ang pangangailangan ng karagdagang pondo para sa edukasyon at serbisyong

transformation “makes life challenging and helps us achieve our goals but how we transform ourselves or our lives depends a lot on catalysts or enzymes personified by mentors like Prof.

Dadufalza and how we choose our paths.”

Mendoza graduated from the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in chemistry, cum laude, and pursued her MS and PhD degrees in biochemistry at the University of Massachusets-Amherst (UMass).

She talked about her mentors’ being catalysts of transformation, her transformation in school, initiation into research, her own development as a research program leader and manager, her transformative years in teaching and curricular development and fulfilling her social responsibilities as a scientist, and finally the greatest challenge of them all, transforming students. “All through our life and career, we will be guided by mentors.”

Mendoza paid tribute to her parents, Domingo and Concepcion, whom she said were hardworking and honest common folk who taught her industry, love for work and honesty. There were also her teachers at the Maryknoll School Saint James Academy who challenged her to think and inspired her to do her best; and a professor at MIT who was instrumental in her entry into research.

She was transformed by her initiation into research when Dr. Bienvenido Juliano, a young senior scientist at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), recruited her as a research assistant.

At UMass, her adviser was Dr. Edward Westhead, considered by students as number one among the faculty. “He was also very considerate and never failed to show his concern about his students’

Dating Student Regent Jaque Eroles at mga campers ng UP Diliman

January 2012

(From UPM-IPPAO)

Former UP President receives 2011 TOFIL award

Photo by Bong Arboleda

Destura, UP Manila’s Newest TOYM Awardee

Dr. Raul Destura, director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology under UP Manila’s National Institutes of Health, was one of seven recipients of the T he Outstanding Youngman (TOYM) Award for 2011.

President Benigno Aquino c o n f e r r e d t h e awa r d i n ceremonies held at the Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace last December 7.

Destura, an infectious disease specialist and molecular Dr. Destura briefs the university about his current research during a recent symposium in UP Diliman. biologist, was recognized for his contributions to medical science. As a involves the use of a device with which returning scientist from Virginia, USA, he nucleic acid amplification technology is came back to pursue researches that would applied. It is simply plugged into an AC benefit the people. He focused his studies port or a car battery which then emanates on two dreaded diseases prevalent in the heat. On the device, a solution is mixed with the extracted blood sample and the Philippines – dengue and tuberculosis.

His team of researchers is the proponent change in color will indicate if a person is of Project One which invented a device negative or positive for dengue.

The Dengue Lamp test kit is currently that cuts the days for diagnosis of dengue from a week to only two days from the with the Department of Health and is onset of fever. The project, he said, expected to be out in the market first

‘Campers,’ simbolikong inokupa ang Mendiola (Mula sa pahina 6)

(Sundan sa pahina 11)

Former UP President Emerlinda Román received The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) award last December 6, a report by the UP Diliman Information Office said.

She was cited for her “accomplishments, not only for being the first woman president of the University of the Philippines, but also for being a model educator for more than 30 years.

Now in its 24th year, the TOFIL awards was conceived by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Senate Philippines in 1988 to pay tribute to the country’s men and women, aged 41 years and above, who have contributed significantly to the upliftment of the lives of their fellow quarter of 2012.

Dengue and TB are only two of the health problems where 21 innovations are being studied by Destura’s team for use in health research and development. Through his own work on diagnostic technologies, he hopes to encourage Filipino scientists based abroad to come back and help the country in any way they can.

Conferred by the Junior Chamber International Philippines, TOYM is a

Filipinos in particular, and humanity in general.

Román was joined by Dr. Jesus Estanislao, former finance secretary during the term of former President Corazon Aquino (for Governance); Jose Pardo, concurrent chairman of the Board of the Philippine Stock Exchange (for Business); Dr. Ramon Nery, acting chief of Misor Provincial Hospital-Balingasag, Mindanao (for Government/Public Service); and Sylvia Pendon, matriarch of the organic food movement in Palawan (for Entrepreneurship) as this year’s TOFIL recipients.

The honorees will join the roster of 116 other Filipinos who have been recognized as Outstanding Filipinos. (Report by H.C.P.,

UP DIO citing http://www.tofil.ph/) / /)

search for young men and women aged 18-40 years whose achievements in their respective fields of undertaking have enabled them to serve the community and their fellow Filipinos and effect positive change in their lives.

Since the award was first given in 1959, more than 30 recipients were graduates and/or faculty of UP Manila, mostly in the field of medicine. (With report from the TOYM 2011 Souvenir Program Program)

CHITS wins Best Health Market Innovation Award

The UP Manila website has announced national vertical health programs. With the for the purpose of replication and the award of “Best Health Market persistence of its program implementers, implementation on a larger scale; pro-poor Innovation” to the UPM’s Community delays for accessing of health data were orientation to meet the health needs of the Health Information Tracking System minimized giving more time for health people in lower income groups and those (CHITS), the country’s first electronic workers to give care to patients at the with insufficient access; and adoption of medical record system for government health center.” appropriate technology that is interesting, health facilities.

The others programs recognized during unique and pioneering.”

The award was given by the Philippine the ceremony were Tarlac’s Wireless Access UP Manila-NTHC’s BuddyWorks Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) for Health (WAH), National Kidney and Telehealth Project also made it to the top in partnership with the Center for Health Transplant Institute’s Hemodialysis Center 20. Ms. Lucille Nieverra, World Health Market Innovation (CHMI) through the Fresenius Medical Care Lease Agreement Organization Representative from the Galing-Likha Kalusugan Awards held and the Franchise Networks of Generics Philippines, lauded BuddyWork’s project at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Pharmacies. The four rose above the 117 “to deliver health care despite barriers Intercontinental Manila early November. health programs “in health care service of distance” in her opening message. In Presenting the award were Health delivery, financing, facilitation, regulation addition, NTHC was also cited in the Secretary Enrique Ona, Aurora Corazon and promotion that have creatively award given by WAH of the Provincial A q u i n o A b e l l a d a , P h a r m a c e u t i c a l addressed problems that plague health care Government of Tarlac. and Healthcare Association of the in the Philippines.”

CHMI is an international global Philippines President Reiner Gloor and The top four programs were chosen network that researches and documents Galing Likha Kalusugan Awards Project based on “impact on many agents or innovative health programs that have Steering Committee Chair Dr. Alejandro principals with the overall effect deemed significantly changed how health is Herrin. Dr. Portia Fernandez-Marcelo, to be positive for the society; sustainability delivered in the marketplace. director of UP Manila National Telehealth Center (NTHC), along with the CHITS project manager Dr. Marie Irene Sy and project coordinator Noel Bañez, RN received the award.

According to the news item, CHITS was recognized for its significant contribution to improving health care delivery in government health centers. “Nurses and midwives who usually record health data on Writers Night: National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera talks to the Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award paper were trained nominees during the UP Writers Night on December 9. Lawrence Lacambra Ypil won for his poetry collection, T The to use the system Highest Hiding Place,published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press. The other nominees were Jose Marte to generate timely Abueg for his book of poetry, Bird Lands, River Nights and Other Melancholies(UP Press); Carljoe Javier for his work of creative non-fiction, And the Geek Shall Inherit the Earth (Milflores Publishing); Robin Lim for her novel, Butterfly reports for DOH

Photo by El Bacani

ng ika-apat na araw ng kampuhan, pinalaya ang mga kinulong na estudyante at ibinasura na ang kasong “inciting to sedition” laban sa kanila. Sinalubong ang mga ito ng ibang campers pabalik sa kanilang hanay.

Kinaumagahan ng Disyembre 9, nagmartsa ang campers mula Bustillos papuntang Plaza Miranda at matapos maglunsad ng programa ay nagmartsa patungong Liwasang Bonifacio kung saan sila naglunsad ng gabi ng mga pangkulturang pagtatanghal at mga mensahe ng pakikipagkaisa. Sa araw na ito, sumama na rin at nagpalipas ng gabi ang mga estudyate ng UPLB sa kampuhan, at lumahok sa paghahanda para sa Pandaigdigang Araw ng Karapatang Pantao kinabukasan.

Panawagan sa Pagbabago Sinimulan ng kabataan ang huling araw ng kampuhan sa ehersisyong halaw sa Capoeira, isang sayaw-martial arts mula sa Brazil. Nag-agahan at naglunsad ng ilang palaro at maikling programa ang campers bago magmartsa na mula Liwasang Bonifacio hanggang P. Noval para sa salubungan kasama ng iba’t ibang batayang sektor na tutulak sa Mendiola upang idaos ang Pandaigdigang Araw ng Karapatang Pantao.

Sa kabila ng matinding pagbuhos ng ulan, nakiisa ang campers sa libo-libong militante mula sa KMU, Bayan Muna, Gabrela, Anakpawis, Migrante, Alliance of Concerned Teachers at marami pang delegasyon mula sa iba’t ibang sektor.

Binagtas ng delegasyon ang daan patungong Mendiola. Sa dinaos na programa, binatikos ni Crisostomo ang marahas na pagpigil ng pulisya sa campers at hinayag ang pangangalap ng pulisya ng intelligence reports mula sa nilunsad na facebook pages para sa kampuhan bilang batayan ng panghaharang.

Pinahayag naman ng ilang tagapagsalita, tulad ni Cristina Palabay, convener ng End Impunity Alliance, ang paniningil sa mga katulad ni Arroyo at mga sundalong may

U.P. Newsletter 7

People (Anvil Publishing); and Clarissa Militante for her novel, Different Countries (Anvil Publishing).

8 U.P. Newsletter

january 2012

College of Science hosts forum on ‘Heroes and Science’ Andre Encarnacion age to better contextualize the scientific acumen of one of the nation’s great generals in his presentation “Si Antonio Luna at ang Pagtitinang ng Kamalayan ng Bayan.”

According to Vallejo, even while enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas, Antonio Luna was already a devoted student of tactics and military science. His scientific-mindedness on the battlefield, however, owed greatly to his training in the sciences, particularly as a pharmacist, in the University of Santo Tomas; an education which he would continue in both the University of Barcelona and the Universidad Central de Madrid.

The scientific atmosphere he was immersed in, however, according to Vallejo, was not a backward one, but one that stood in the tradition of National Historical Commission Chair Ma. Serena Diokno speaks at the College of Science devoted scientists such as the Jesuit Auditorium. botanist and healer Georg Joseph Despite this, he also made several Kamel and Federico Faura, who founded of both science and the country, including the Manila Observatory. Vallejo then Dr. Candido Africa, Drs. Salvador and enemies during his time and his reputation narrated how he found work as a chemist Fe del Mundo, Maria Y. Orosa, and Dr. declined even further due to his favoring at the Laboratorio Municipal de Manila and his Deogracias Villadolid, while asking an of the English language and the United subsequent revolutionary activities during important question to those in the audience: States, especially with his establishment the Philippine-American War. His treatise “Kailangan pa ba natin ang agham sa pagpapalaya of the Federal Party. Historian Teodoro on Malaria ‘El Hematozoario del Paludismo’ ng bayan?” (Is science still important to our Agoncillo even remarked that “Pardo de Tavera should have been shot for his was well received, contributing even more nation’s freedom?)

The issues of freedom and heroism betrayal of the Revolution.” to his scientific stature. were equally a part of History Prof.

“You have to be careful to put him in In his presentation, Vallejo also Mercedes Planta’s presentation “Trinidad a particular context,” Planta warned those mentioned the great scientists and medical practitioners of the age who lived in service Pardo de Tavera, 1857 – 1925: The Premier who would assess his controversial political Filipino Filipinist.” She opened up her views. account of one of the most controversial Prof. Perry Ong from the UPD Institute figures in Philippine history by describing of Biology gave his views on Rizal from a him as “defying easy classification” and a biologist’s perspective in his presentation “man of the world.” According to Planta, “Jose Rizal: A Panoramic Naturalist.”

Arbeen Acuña despite applying himself to the life of the According to Ong, his first instinct was to mind, he did not receive public adulation. compare Rizal to the “hero of biologists,” The UP Diliman Gender Office Ma. Rosalyn Mesina, coordinator Though he was praised by figures Charles Darwin, after which he claimed (UPDGO), in coordination with the of “Take Back the Tech Campaign” like Jose Rizal and former UP President that Rizal “was no Darwin.” It was after College of Engineering (CoE), College of of Foundation for Media Alternatives Salvador P. Lopez, Pardo de Tavera was reflecting on this answer that he discovered Mass Communication (CMC) and Gabriela (FMA), discussed the “ICT context in the distrusted by his peers for being critical that he knew very little of Rizal.

Youth, held the “Secured Social Networking Philippines and Emerging eVAW forms.” of the Spanish colonial government, but He realized that the general attitude Forum” at the CoE Auditorium last Quoting the Magna Carta of Women of equally critical of Filipinos in his belief towards Jose Rizal was influenced by the November 25, the International Day for 2008 and Beijing Platform for Action, she for a time that the country was better off fact that the study of his life and works the Elimination of Violence against Women said that Violence Against Women (VAW) with the United States. He was thus “cast are mandated by law, by the opinions by (VAW). is any “act of gender-based violence that as a villain in nationalist constructions,” scholars like historian Renato Constantino In her welcome address, CoE Dean results in, or is likely to result in: physical, despite his intellectual accomplishments in “Veneration Without Understanding,” Aura Matias, said the college was glad sexual, or psychological harm or suffering being recognized. and several misconceptions about his life to host the event because engineering is to women” that includes “threats of such “To study him,” Planta said, however, and character. “partly responsible” in the making of issues acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of “we must not only study the man. To study “He has an eye for nature,” Ong said, concerning technology. She also said that liberty, whether occurring in public or in him is to study a particular instance in noting his early desire to become a scientist. technology “is not neutral” and “can be private life.”

Philippine history.” Greatly inspired by the He then drew parallelisms between Rizal harmful.”

Relating it to the role of technology, liberalism then prevalent in France where and Darwin, from their degrees in medicine UPDGO Coordinator Prof. Yolanda Mesina said that VAW “embedded in, he stayed, Pardo de Tavera participated (Rizal) and theology (Darwin), their travels Ealdama, in her opening remarks, said that mediated or facilitated by ICTs” is eVAW. in several discussions with key historical around the world to study societies and “ICTs (information and communication Emerging forms of VAW in the ICT Age, figures about the nature of freedom and nature respectively and their revolutionary technologies) are supposed to be neutral according to Mesina, include cyber / mobile the Filipino people. He was considered a ideas and works (Darwin’s descent with and harmless” but “have become a medium harassment, cyber / SMS harassment, cyber formidable mind and published several modification and Rizal’s application of of violence.” / mobile stalking / surveillance, involuntary important works on a variety of subjects liberty, equality and fraternity to common cyber sexwork / prostitution from botany to linguistics to zoology and people). / trafficking, online (child) beyond, including the Plantes Medicinales “He wanted a Philippine society based pornography, unauthorized de Filipinas which was released in 1892, on science,” Ong said after giving a recording, reproduction and Biblioteca Filipina, El Sanscrito, and the background of Rizal’s contributions to distribution of images and videos, Contribucion Para El Estudio de los Antiguos science, particularly during his tenure in violation of women’s privacy Alfabetos Filipinos.

Dapitan. rights on social networks and other ICT mediated/facilitated VAW such as rape, assault and audience to visit the recently launched well as pose security threats. Cinco warned indirect means like gaming iVOWtofightVAW website (http://www. that all things uploaded via Facebook (FB) m) and commit to fight belongs to FB, and that the US may ask m through “exploitative portrayal ivowtofightvaw.com) violence against women.

While the forum FB to submit the profile info of suspected of women’s images in electronic is ongoing, a signature campaign was being terrorists. Cinco said that FB is hands-off and online games.”

Kamil Manangan of Gabriela held outside. Those who took the “vow to when it comes to harassment.

Cinco urged the audience to be vigilant Youth presented an overview fight VAW” symbolically alleviated the pain of the VAW tracker and cited of the woman on the tarpaulin by rubbing on the privacy policies of social networking domestic violence, rape, limited off a portion of her bruises with their sites such as FB and Google. CMC Dean access to reproductive health, sex thumbs and using the gathered smudge as Rolando Tolentino closed the forum by challenging the audience to take part in trafficking, sexual harassment, thumb marks beside their signatures.

Technolog y for Activism Trainer advocating social change and in changing discrimination, and state violence Cheekay Cinco discussed how social the status quo which favors the patriarchy as the seven deadly sins against networking may both advance a cause as that legitimizes violence against women. women. She encouraged the Ma. Rosalyn Mesina discusses VAW in the ICT age.

Photo by Bong Arboleda

Gender Office holds forum on eVAW

Photo by Bong Arboleda

“Don’t think of us as a one-dimensional group of nerds.”

Prof. Jose Maria Balmaceda of the Institute of Mathematics and dean of the College of Science, both at UP Diliman, stressed the multidisciplinary nature and open-mindedness which marked the college’s forum Our Heroes and Science. The forum was held last November 28 in celebration both of Rizal’s s sesquicentennial and in anticipation of Andres Bonifacio’s birthdate on November 30.

“We have an active interest and healthy appreciation of things outside of science,” Balmaceda said. True enough, individuals representing several other disciplines other than the hard sciences went to the College of Science Auditorium to hear experts discuss the scientific pursuits and influences of our country’s heroes.

Guests from outside the college included History professor and National Historical Commission Chair Ma. Serena Diokno who commented on the importance of the forum; Lisa Bayot, great-grandniece of Dr. Jose Rizal; and Maite Gallego, a relative of Rizal contemporaries Maximo Viola and Felix Resureccion-Hidalgo.

“Ano nga ba ang agham ng huling dekada noong panahon ng mga Kastila?” (What was the state of science in the last decade of Spanish rule?) This question was phrased

by Prof. Ben Vallejo from the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology as he recreated the intellectual milieu of the

January 2012

U.P. Newsletter 9

UP Law Centennial Lecture highlights emerging trends in Family Law “There may be more ground now, the classification of children The Philippine legal system has to keep because of changing mores, increasing into legitimate and illegitimate, abreast of the changes in family law that industrialization of society, modernization depending on whether they modernization and rapid technological that are now exerting so much pressure on were conceived and born during developments are bringing about; otherwise our people,” Romero added. wedlock. However, scientific we risk being left behind by other countries While absolute divorce is prohibited under and medical developments in in Asia and the world. law, Romero cited a so-called “loophole” in reproduction such as artificial This was the advice of former Supreme the law inserted as an attempt “at liberalizing insemination have opened up Court Associate Justice Flerida Ruth the grounds for terminating a marriage,” that new issues for legal systems to Romero, former director of the UP Law is, of cutting the marital bonds. This novel deal with.

Center, secretary-general of the 1986 way of terminating a marriage is based only In the case of the Family Constitutional Commission and member on one ground—psychological incapacity Code, Romero said that “we have of the UP Law Centennial Commission. of one of the contracting parties to comply already anticipated that artificial Romero was guest lecturer during the 10th with certain marital obligations existing at insemination would bring in its wake UP Law Centennial Lecture last December the time of the celebration of marriage even so many perplexing problems,” 8 at Malcolm Theater, UP Diliman with the if such incapacity becomes manifest only and a provision in the Family Code theme “Concerns and Emerging Trends in after the solemnization of the marriage. does state that children conceived Related Laws on Family and Children.”

The term “psychological incapacity” has through artificial insemination are UP College of Law Dean Danilo not been clearly defined in the Family Code legitimate, provided that both Concepcion said in his welcome remarks so as to allow judges to use their discretion spouses ratified and authorized that “Changing attitudes and technological as well as the inputs of psychological i n s e m i n a t i o n i n a w r i t t e n advances are challenging traditional notions experts and make their decisions on a instrument executed and signed of gender, marriage and family... These case-to-case basis. Among those factors by them before the birth of the child. trends…raise questions on the relevance not considered grounds for psychological She also discussed the ramifications and applicability of our current system of incapacity are infidelity or philandering, of other developments such as cryofamily law.” sexual perversion, habitual alcoholism, preservation, fertilization clinics and “We have not let pass any opportunity to abandonment, emotional immaturity, surrogate mothers and “wombs-for-rent,” extol the place of the family in our society. irreconcilable differences, irresponsibility, which are uncharted territory for our legal In full accord with the Universal Declaration refusal to look for a job, etc. Among systems. On the other hand, procedures such of Human Rights…the Constitution of the the factors that fall under psychological as DNA analysis have also served to make Philippines likewise incorporates in its state incapacity are inveterate, pathological lying, paternity and filiation cases easier for the policy (recognition of) the sanctity of manifestations of a psychopathic personality, courts. And finally, with regard to the issues family life and (the protection of) the family infliction of physical violence (which may of the juvenile justice system—especially as the basic autonomous social institution,” also be grounds for legal separation), drug in light of the recent rash of crimes Romero said. addiction and psycho-sexual anomalies. committed by the Bukas Kotse Gang— She recalled the history of Family Law With regard to issues of paternity and Romero recommended that government in the Philippines, beginning with the filiation, the Family Code has simplified should increase the budget allocation for pre-Spanish era which allowed polygamy and divorce among married couples, to the stringently Catholic Spanish Civil Code, to the brief American period when absolute divorce was allowed, to the revised Andre Encarnacion Civil Code of 1950 which updated the “To succeed in the peace process, you negotiating peace panel with the MILF, Spanish Civil Code yet retained many of its provisions and finally to Executive Order need the trust of the people. Otherwise Ferrer painted a picture of an embattled every move you do… every good intention and conflicted regime which in the end 209 or the Family Code of 1988. could not capitalize on its early gains due Romero was Director of the Civil Code you (have), will be (questioned).”

Revision Project established in 1979, a UP Diliman Political Science Prof. to a variety of reasons. committee whose work in revising the 1950 Miriam Coronel-Ferrer was addressing “The President and the Peace Process” Civil Code resulted in the signing into law attendees at the UP National College of was part of the “UP Assessments on the of EO 209.

Public Administration and Governance Presidency and Administration of Gloria Marriage, according to her, occupies a (NCPAG) Center for Leadership Citizenship Macapagal-Aroyo (2001-2010)” series dominant place in Philippine family laws, and Democracy and UP Diliman public which surveyed the achievements and with marriage defined in the Family Code lecture on “The President and the Peace problems of the Arroyo administration on a as a “special contract of permanent union Process” last December 2 at the UP variety of issues, NCPAG Professor Erwin entered into in accordance with law for the NCPAG Assembly Hall.

Gaspar Alampay said during the opening. establishment of conjugal and family life.”

The lecture drew individuals from He was later joined by Professor Emeritus As it stands, the Family Code’s definition of a variety of sectors to listen to Ferrer’s and former UP President Jose Abueva who marriage as a “permanent union” prohibits assessment of the Arroyo administration’s gave a brief history of the assessments. absolute divorce; and the provision that the track record on the peace process, “The period that we’re looking at contract of marriage must be between a particularly its dealings with the National spans… an extraordinarily long nine years,” “man and a woman” rules out the possibility Democratic Front (NDF), the Moro said Ferrer. Arroyo’s term, according to her, of gay marriages under our current law Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and was marked by low net approval ratings system. the Moro National Liberation Front and lots of “backtracking,” “forward Neither is there any law recognizing (MNLF). movement,” and “flip-flopping.” changes in gender or sex reassignment A member of the g over nment “We have a situation where the legitimacy whether through surgery or hormonal treatments, as according to the law “the determination of a person’s sex made at the time of his or her birth, if not attended by error, is immutable.”

Romero also discussed proxy marriages, common-law marriages, the presumption of good faith in the contracting of marriages, and the age of consent of men and women who enter into marriage. Romero also cited the “liberalizing trends” in laws affecting marriages, which “open wide the doors of legal separation.” From the two grounds for legal separation under the 1950 Civil Code—adultery on the part of the wife or concubinage on the part of the husband, and the attempt to take the spouse’s life—the Family Code expanded the grounds to include physical violence, the final judgment of imprisonment on one of the spouses, homosexuality and lesbianism, bigamy, sexual infidelity and perversion and Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer discusses the nuances of the peace negotiations at the NCPAG. abandonment.

Photo by Bong Arboleda

Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta

activities and programs dealing with juvenile offenders, including raising the salaries of social workers and other personnel, training law enforcers on handling juvenile offenders, and open up more children and women desks manned by skilled and sensitive police officers familiar with the applicable laws. “All these reforms,” she added, “need comprehensive planning, not an ad hoc (response).”

Reactors to Romero’s lecture were former Family Court Judge Rosalina Pison and Prof.

Sedfrey Candelaria of the Ateneo Law School. UP Law professor Patricia Salvador Daway introduced the guest speaker.

Photo by Jun Madrid

NCPAG assesses peace process under GMA of the president has seriously been put into question for most parts of her term, especially beginning in 2004 until 2010,” remarked Ferrer, to give sufficient context to the highs and the lows which undid a lot of the hard work done during the Arroyo administration.

She argued that the peace process under Arroyo had an auspicious beginning, as Arroyo immediately reopened the negotiating table at the beginning of her term, in contrast to her predecessor Joseph Estrada’s more hard-line stance. She also noted that the entire peace infrastructure was virtually set in place during her first term. “Her clarion call for a strong republic, her slogans especially in the early years of her administration... defined by strong institutions and communities... means the peace had to be won to put reforms on the ground.”

Along the way, however, Ferrer noted that the process was hijacked by the former President’s legitimacy crisis. The talks and her earlier reform agenda were compromised by her political survival needs and the “conflicting thrusts of her lieutenants.”

Ferrer also talked about a paradigm shift in global security brought about by 9/11, and the Philippine inclusion in US President Bush’s “Coalition of the Willing” which ironically led, not to an all-out war against Islamic groups, but against Communists.

“The 9/11 situation created a context where GMA tried to locate herself amidst challenges from opposition groups—loyalists of Estrada and leftist organizations,” Ferrer said. She also added that when the government tried to pass the Human Security Act, the main intention was to target opposition

(Continue on page 11)

10 U.P. Newsletter

january 2012

CMC, COMELEC encourage youth to vote Arbeen Acuña

Comelec acknowledgement receipt.

Besides registration, other electionrelated procedures Olaño enumerated were the transfer of registration records, change or correction of entries in the registration records, reactivation of registration records, reinstatement of one’s name in the list of voters and validation.

He encouraged students to register as early as possible, as the registration period is only until October 31, 2012.

CMC Student Council Chair Norman Lee Riego related the national situation to the electoral process. He also encouraged the students to vote, citing the Ampatuan

massacre, the atrocities of for mer president Gloria Arroyo, among others, as consequences of traditional politicians’ being elected into power.

When asked regarding flying or ghost voters and how to assure that there will be no discrepancies come election time, Olaño said that there is no way to totally eliminate cheating. However, measures may be taken to prevent them. He emphasized the importance of biometrics, the process by which thumbmarks are compared and verified through a technology called “automated fingerprint identification system.”

UP Law produces textbook on credit transactions Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc The UP College of Law launched last December 15 a textbook on credit transactions as part of its centennial celebrations.

Launched was Prof. Stephanie GomezSamora’s Credit Transactions: Notes and Cases Cases, Volumes 1 and 2.

Credit transactions is one of the most useful subjects in private practice, said Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, a member of the UP Law Centennial Commission and a professor of credit transactions.

He recalled the days the author was his student and colleague in private practice.

Carpio praised her book for including insights on such cases as that of Lehman

Brothers and on credit instruments.

The author (UP Law ’87) said that in her book, the laws on credit transactions are presented in the order that actual cases are dealt with and are diagrammed. Its focus is on contract language. “I believe it will help students see [credit transactions] more clearly and understand [them] more precisely.”

The textbook project encourages the Law faculty to write on their fields of expertise and to promote legal scholarship in the country, according to Law Dean Danilo Concepcion. Former Law Dean Marvic Leonen added that the project is intended to have the most impact among the college’s centennial projects.

constituents and the public.

In his acceptance speech during the turn-over ceremonies, UP Los Baños Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz proposed “strategic actions that will optimize our human and material resources.”

Since his nomination for the UPLB chancellorship, Cruz has expressed support for UP Charter mandates calling for an admission process enhancing the access of marginalized sectors to UP education; the optimal use of the Makiling Forest Reserve and other real properties of UP; and the better delivery of technical and expert services to government and society.

Included in his plans to integrate academic and operational excellence are an Environment and Green Development Committee, a Resource Generation Office and one-stop marketing shops for university products. Also being explored are the institutionalization of student health and accident insurance; the enhancement of the UP Graduate Mentoring and Apprenticeship Program; and a cultural and sports development program.

Cruz will enhance academic excellence through the “UPLB Growth” and transdisciplinary programs and will extend the reach of UPLB for “Visibility, Partnership and Nation-Building.”

Research and publication will be the primary focus of the administration of UP Visayas Chancellor Rommel Espinosa.

He reiterated his proposal for the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension to let go of its extension function and to focus entirely on research and research-related activities and foster stronger collaboration across the colleges.

The Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Development will be the one to focus on extension and community affairs, Espinosa said.

He also agreed with outgoing Chancellor Minda Formacion on the need to review all of UPV’s academic programs and announced his support for the projects that the former chancellor was implementing.

(With reports by Mervin John C. de Roma, UPLB and Lyncen M. Fernandez, UPV UPV)

Chancellors announce plans (Continued from page 1) of Meralco which the administration is renegotiating. He proposed an updated land-use plan to better address the problems of illegal settlers, security and diminished state subsidy.

Saloma also proposed using money saved to fund resource-generating and -saving projects such as Olympic-class sports facilities and CCTV security cameras.

For his part, in his inaugural speech, UP Manila Chancellor Manuel Agulto enumerated the recent achievements of his campus and proposed the strengthening and expansion of past administration achievements. “The vision and mission of our UP Manila team is to go beyond the status quo of being the best teaching and research university. Let us surpass ourselves and be an entrepreneurial national university through a partnership between the university and private organizations as practiced in Europe and North America.

UP Manila, the health sciences center, must lead in developing globally competitive health process services that will attract foreign patients and investors.”

Agulto also talked about full UP Manila campus computerization; harnessing real estate properties in Baguio, Tacloban, and Koronadal; and developing affordable health maintenance organizations for its

The Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing is accepting submissions for possible inclusion in the sixth issue of Likhaan: The Journal of Contemporary Literature.

Likhaan, the countr y’s leading literary peer-reviewed journal funded by the Office of the UP Diliman (UPD) Chancellor and published annually, showcases the best of new and unpublished Philippine writing in English and Filipino. Submissions to the journal undergo a strict pre-screening and blind refereeing process by both the editors and a panel of referees composed of eminent writers and critics from within and outside UP. The ICW fellows and associates take turns serving as its editor.

Previous editors of the journal are ICW director Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, former ICW director and former UP Vice-President for Public Affairs Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, award-winning writer Pedro ‘Jun’ Cruz Reyes and Prof. Roland Tolentino, dean of the UPD College of Mass Communication. Likhaan 6 will be edited by Dr. Gémino H. Abad. Associate editors will be National Artist Virgilio S. Almario (for Filipino) and Prof. Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo (for English).

For its sixth issue, Likhaan: The

Journal of Contemporary Philippine Literature 6, will accept submissions in

Photo by Bong Arboleda

The College of Mass Communication (CMC) of UP Diliman (UPD) and the CMC Student Council, in partnership with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), organized the forum “The Youth and Elections: Harnessing youth participation for people empowerment through responsible voting,” last December 1 at the CMC Auditorium.

CMC Dean Roland Tolentino encouraged the youth, despite their being skeptical with the electoral process, to register for the first time. Elias Yusoph, Voter Education Champion and Comelec Commisioner, said that besides absentee voting and automation, among the efforts of Comelec to protect the civilian right to vote is the decentralizing of the voters education program. “I am for the revised omnibus election code,” said Yusoph.

Lawyer Rafael Olaño said that the right to suffrage is not absolute and that registration has “indispensable preconditions,” among them being 1) a Filipino citizen; 2) at least 18 year of age come the election time; 3) a resident of the Philippines for at least a year; 4) a resident of a locality for at least six months; and 5) not disqualified by law to vote. Olaño said that people who have been sentenced to at least one-year imprisonment, who have been “disloyal” to the government, and who are declared “insane” or “incompetent” cannot vote, though there are requirements and procedures to regain their right to suffrage.

Olaño also discussed the procedure that requires personally appearing before Comelec and the presentation of identification documents that contain a photograph and a signature. He added that after the Comelec personnel checks whether or not one has previously registered, the would be voter has to : 1) fill out the registration forms; 2) have his or her digital photo, signature and finger print taken; and 3) sign the Comelec logbook, after which the voter receives a

Likhaan Journal 6: Call for submissions

the following genres, in both English and Filipino: ● Short stories ranging from about 12 to 30 pages double-spaced, in 11-12 points Times Roman, New York, Palatino, Book Antique, Arial or some such standard font. (A suite of short prose pieces will be considered.) ● A suite of four to seven poems, out of which the editors might choose three to five. (Long poems will be considered in lieu of a suite.) ● Creative nonfiction (essays, memoirs, profiles, etc.), subject to the same length limitations as short stories (see above). ● Critical/scholarly essays, subject to the same length limitations as short stories (see above) ● Excerpts from graphic novels, or full short graphic stories, for reproduction in black and white on no more than 10 printed pages, 6” x 9.” (Excerpts should be accompanied by a synopsis of the full narrative.)

All submissions must be original, previously unpublished, and must be accompanied by a biographical sketch (no more than one or two short paragraphs) of the author, including contact information (address, telephone number, e-mail address).

Submissions may be e-mailed to likhaan.journal6@yahoo.com, or posted to The Editors, Likhaan Journal, UP Institute of Creative Writing, Rizal Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101. They should be received (whether by e-mail or post) no later than March 30, 2012.

Writers whose work will be accepted for publication will receive a substantial cash payment and a copy of the published journal. The editors reserve the right to edit any and all materials accepted for publication.

Inquiries may be directed to the editors at likhaan.journal6@yahoo. com.

January 2012

UP artists call for voluntarism Photo courtesy of VSO Bahaginan

UPIS powers Team NCR to Milo National win Rene Matias UPIS athletes powered Team NCR to a second-place finish in the Milo Little Olympics National Championships held from November 18 to 20 in the Narciso Ramos Civic & Sports Center, Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Swimmers Pricila Aquino and Joy Rodgers contributed a total of five golds, a silver and a bronze to the team’s medal harvest. Aquino, won two gold medals in the 800 meter free style and 200 meter individual medley, a silver medal in the 400 meter free style and a Bronze in the 200 meter free style. Rodgers won three gold medals in the 200 meter breast stroke, 100m

breast stroke and the 4 x 100 meter relay.

The Track and Field athletes composed of Jaime Immanuel Mejia, Bryan Morales and Melvin Sangalang added a total of four silver and one bronze medals. Mejia accounted for two silver medals in the 400 meter dash and 4 x 100 meter relay. He also bagged a bronze medal in the 200 meter dash. Morales won a silver medal in the 800 meter run while Sangalang snatched another silver medal in the 4 x 400 meter relay.

Accompanying the athletes to Pangasinan are Track and Field Head Coach Jun Potenciano and Assistant Coach Mark Reyes.

‘Campers,’ simbolikong inokupa ang Mendiola

Prof. Malto represents the artists of Art for Voluntarism.

in partnership with the International Model Forest Network (IMFN) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The project focuses on the sustainable management of the Carood Watershed in Bohol and the Ulot Watershed in Samar.

VSO Bahaginan suppor ts local organizations through sustainable and volunteer-based development interventions in the environment. Together with their partners, VSO Bahaginan and volunteers work in ecotourism and enterprise development, capacity-building of people’s organizations, the establishment of local volunteering groups and the organizational development of watershed councils.

“The Model Forest project does not only address environment-related issues but greatly contributes in transforming the lives of those in the community. The project hopes to see the communities flourish, where its dwellers are committed in protecting the environment because have experienced the benefit that it brings to them,” added Jacinto.

The activity was made possible with the support of Globe Telecommunications, Inc., Pioneer Insurance and American Data Exchange Corporation. Also extending assistance to the event are Riego de Dios Law Offices and Voyage Studios.

The artworks are on exhibit at the Ayala Museum in Makati City.

(Mula sa pahina 6)

maraming kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Nanawagan rin ang delegasyon ng pag papalaya sa mga bilang gong pulitikal. Naging tampok sa programa ang simbolikong pagwasak sa kubong may markang “Oplan Bayanihan” bilang pagkondena sa paglabag sa karapatang pantao ng rehimeng ito at ng militar.

Dagdag pa ni Crisostomo, “Sa ilalim ng sistemang ito, naghihirap ang taumbayan sa mga pagsasamantalang pinatitindi ng kasalukuyang administrasyon. Mula sa

pagkaltas ng badyet sa batayang serbisyo, demolisyon sa mga komunidad, kawalan ng tunay na reporma sa lupa hanggang sa tahasang represyon at pagpaslang.”

Nagpasalamat ang campers sa suporta ng batayang sektor at ibinaba nila ang mga kagamitan mula sa van ng AUPWU na kasama nilang nagkampo sa Liwasang Bonifacio noong nakaraang mga gabi.

Simbolikong binawi ng campers ang Mendiola sa pamamagitan ng pagtatayo ng mga kubol.

OVPAA organizes first Scientific Writing (Continue from page 2) Workshop in UP Department, Science Clusters of UP Cebu; five from the Departments of Agriculture, Food Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Management, and Public Health, and Institute of Aquaculture of UP Visayas;

one from the Department of Chemical Engineering of UP Diliman; and one from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital.

Photo by Jun Madrid

Several UP artists during an exhibit and online auction of their works extolled voluntarism and becoming agents of change.

The group joined VSO Bahaginan, a development organization in the Philippines and a member of the international organization, in mounting the first “Art for Voluntarism” charity exhibit and auction.

The activity brings together 17 academics and professional visual artists from various universities in the Philippines.

They include Prof. Nestor Vinluan, Prof.

Benjamin Cabangis, Prof. Marco Ruben Malto, and Jonathan Olazo of the College of Fine Arts (CFA) faculty; CFA alumni Prof. Noell Farol, Zean Cabangis, Randy Solon, Daniel Coquilla, Pablo Baens Santos and Riel Hilario; and UP Psychology alumnus Ferdinand Cacnio.

Through the sales of the charity exhibit tickets and part of the sales of the art pieces, the artists’ group raised funds for volunteer programs aimed at transforming lives.

“With VSO, every peso you share brings people together to spark a chain reaction. You will help make life better not just for an individual or a family, but for a community or even a country,” said Malou Pantua-Juanito, executive director of VSO Bahaginan.

The group programs include Model Forest Projects in Ulot, Samar and Carood, Bohol. The environment program is

U.P. Newsletter 11

NCPAG assesses peace process under GMA

(Continue from page 9)

groups, particularly those challenging her legitimacy as president.

A n o t h e r e ve n t o f n o t e w h i ch characterized the muddled state of affairs was the junking in 2008 of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). The signing ceremony of the MOA-AD was aborted due to the injunction filed against it in the Supreme Court on constitutional grounds. The MOA-AD was claimed to be an affront on national sovereignty that would have led to the dismemberment of the country or the installation of a repressive Islamic regime.

According to Ferrer, many saw the MOA-AD as a “stepping stone for the President to change the Constitution so she can stay in power and the resulting hostilities including the decisions by the Arroyo-appointed Supreme Court as an excuse to declare a state of emergency.”

Because the many things it promised mostly required constitutional change, many believed that the initiative would allow Arroyo to shift to a parliamentary system

and stay on as prime minister. “In this context, the MOA-AD was exposed to the public and the public tied the two initiatives together… the link was clear.”

When assessing Arroyo’s peace process initiatives, Ferrer also gave an in-depth assessment of the former President herself.

“GMA took over as president with a clear desire to settle the armed conflict in Mindanao,” she said, noting the prominent role played by Mindanao appointees in her regime. “She was focused on leaving a legacy for the future. Peace in Mindanao was supposed to be that legacy. Unfortunately it did not happen…”

Ferrer said that while Arroyo possessed a “sharp mind” and a “clear understanding of the issues,” she could also be “impulsive, sometimes out of context, superficial, and simply populist in her decisionmaking.” When combined with the differing trajectories of her lieutenants, numerous scandals, and the contested status of her legitimacy, this led to the stagnation of several of her initiatives.

Buhay UP

Christmas skies at UP Diliman: Spectacular fireworks light up the sky above the Oblation and Quezon Hall as finale to the Lantern Parade last December 16, marking the official start of the students’ Christmas vacation.

12

U.P. Newsletter

january 2012

Photo by Prof. Ferdie Llanes

UP helps Iligan

Photo by Fred Dabu

Vice-President De Vera and Iligan City Councilor Frederick Siao (extreme left) view operations being conducted by AFP units at a disaster site.

Photo by Prof. Ferdie Llanes

Orchid Homes Subdivision in Barangay Santiago, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte

Photo by Prof. Ferdie Llanes

Vice-President De Vera meets with the team.

President Pascual leads the press conference on report of UP Padayon Disaster Response Team with Vice-President De Vera, Prof. Mahar Lagmay and Prof. Carlos Gundran. Assistant VicePresident Danny Arao presides over the presscon.

(Continued from page 1)

Included in the mission were medical doctors, emergency medical staff, psychiatrists, engineers, geologists and DNA analysts with experience in disaster relief and response.

As the national university, UP is mandated “to provide various forms of community, public and volunteer service, as well as technical assistance to the government, the private sector, and civil society” (UP Charter of 2008, RA 9500). Furthermore, the university has the scientific and policy research capabilities, as well as the network of key organizations and individuals, that can improve the prevention and management of disasters in the country.

The devastation in Iligan City was massive, with 484 people missing, 2,992 injured (source: Department of Health - CHDNM Operation Center - Iligan City, as of December 28, 2011), 460 dead, 79,780 affected, 11,088 in evacuation centers, and 17,000 houses either damaged or destroyed (source: National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, updated on January 4, 2012).

Groundwork: Relief, data gathering, training and evaluation

UP sent four teams of specialists from UP Diliman and UP Manila to assess the city’s health, sanitation, forensics and geo-hazard concerns last December 28.

The team of community doctors and volunteers, headed by Dr. Eric Talens of UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital, conducted a medical relief mission in Barangay Digkilaan, one of the underserved areas in Iligan. The team brought in a total P400,000 worth of medicines and was able to serve 1,440 residents. Upper respiratory tract infections and gastro-intestinal disorders were found to be the most common ailments among residents, while several cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and one patient with leptospirosis were referred to local health agencies for immediate treatment.

Approximately an hour away from the city center, Digkilaan could only be reached using an all-terrain vehicle or military truck. The community has a population of 5,000 residents and lists 27 dead and 28 missing after the deluge.

The public health specialists, namely Profs. Buenalyn Ramos-Mortel of UP Manila, Harold Aquino and Daniel de Luna of UP Diliman; and Dr. Anselmo Tronco of UP Manila-PGH visited several evacuation centers and interviewed the officers-in-charge with the aim of evaluating the organization, needs and facilities in those centers, and coming up with recommendations on how to improve the water and sanitation conditions, as well as the management protocols in centers that are to be used over long periods of time.

They assessed how operations proceeded at the DOH-CHDNM Operation Center, Juan Actub Lluch Evacuation Center (528 evacuees), Ubaldo Laya Evacuation Center (1,299 evacuees), MSU-IIT Evacuation Center (1,030 evacuees) and other temporary evacuation areas. Varying levels of organization while a common uncertainty for the most basic needs were reported, such as the adequacy of drinking water, food provisions and water for bathing, sanitation and toilet facilities.

UP’s forensics specialists Dr. Raquel Fortun of the UP Manila-College of Medicine (UPM-CM), Dr. Corazon de Ungria of the UP-Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI) DNA Analysis Lab, Dr. Maria Cecilia Lim (UPM-CM) and staff members of UP-NSRI DNA Analysis Lab Gayvelline Calacal and Minerva Sagum offered their expertise to the local government and hoped to work with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the collection of specimens and identification of cadavers. The team conducted a whole-day workshop for local health personnel and NGO volunteers on the proper retrieval, handling and identification of the dead. Classroom discussions were held at the MSU-IIT while hands-on training on autopsy and specimen collection was done at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes.

Fortun, the country’s first forensic pathologist, noted that although there have been some improvements in the way authorities handle and identify cadavers, they are still far from ideal. She said we should train more personnel at the local level who should be capable of proper handling of recovered bodies. De Ungria, head of the DNA Analysis Lab, reiterated the urgency to create a database of missing persons, which hastens the identification of missing, dead or rescued persons after such disasters.

Dr. Mahar Lagmay of the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences led the geohazards team in data gathering and analysis. The geologists conducted an aerial inspection of the pathway of destruction and the city.

They interviewed survivors in the most devastated areas, such as the Orchids Homes Subdivision and the communities near Mandulog Bridge.

Lagmay said that the water build-up from heavy rainfall rapidly flowed down Mandulog River like a tsunami, carrying mud, logs and debris which ravaged the barangays on its path.

The geo-hazards team will work with urban planners and the Iligan city government in evaluating possible resettlement sites and the overall reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

The four teams will prepare a consolidated report to be presented to both national and local policy makers.

U.P. NEWSLETTER PROF. DANILO ARAÑA ARAO Editor-in-Chief JO. FLORENDO B. LONTOC Managing Editor PROF. LUIS TEODORO Editorial Consultant ARBEEN ACUÑA, 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 ARBEEN ACUÑA Layout OBET EUGENIO Editorial Assistant TOM MAGLAYA Circulation The U.P. NEWSLETTER 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. Newsletter ewsletter Mezzanine Floor, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City 926-1572, 436-7537 e-mail: upnewsletter@up.edu.ph upsio@up.edu.ph