02
Editorial
MONDAY | 25 MARCH 2013
newsfeed
I
SANG MAINGAY NA PAGTANGIS
ang ngayon, at higit kailanman, ang
mamumutawi sa bawat sulok ng
Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP). Isang
paggunita sa mga Iskolar ng Bayan na
kinitilan ng estado ng karapatan nito
sa isang mapagpalayang edukasyon.
Patuloy
nating
pagtutulusan
ng
kandila ang malawakan at istrukturang
pangingitil
ng
sistema.
Gunitain
ang mga nasakal na pangarap, mga
nadurog na hamon ng kinabukasan –
lahat sa pitik ng pirma ng iilang hindi
karapat-dapat.
@carloshconde Based
on UP Manila chancellor’s
defense, I don’t think UP
understands the problem.
Bad attempt at damage
control. #RIPIskolarNgBayan
(Carlos Conde, journalist and
researcher, Mar 18)
Nailibing ng buhay ang mandatong itinalaga
sa institusyon. Magmula ng ipatupad ang
represibong Socialized Tuition and Financial
Assistance Program (STFAP), naging mitolohiya
ang isang Iskolar ng Bayan. Ito ay naging isang
konsepto; isang ideyal na mahahagap na lang sa
uhaw nating ilusyon.
Noong Agosto 12, 2012, isang memorandum
mula sa administrasyon ng UP Manila Manila,
Opisina ng Vice Chancellor for Academic
Affairs na pinamumunuan ni Vice Chancellor
Marie Josephine De Luna, ang inihatid kina
Assistant Professor Buenalyn-Ramos Mortel
at sa mga college secretaries. Nakasaad sa
nasabing memorandum na kung sinuman ang
hindi nakapagbayad matapos ang napalawig
na deadline na napagkasunduan para sa mga
hindi pa nakakapagbayad ng tuition ay marapat
lamang na kumuha ng Leave of Absence (LOA) sa
kadahilanang hindi sila officially enrolled at hindi
rin dapat sila tanggapin sa mga klase.
Ang ‘No Late Payment Policy’ na ito ay mas
malala pa sa mga polisiyang ipinapatupad
sa mga pribadong unibersidad. Sa walang
habas na polisiya ng administrasyon ng UP
Manila, nakompromiso ang kapakanan ng mga
estudyante.
Kamakailan, isang estudyante ang nawala sa
Unibersidad. Wala pang sapat na kaalaman
sa kung ano ba talaga ang pinag-ugatan ng
insidente, pero hindi maikakailang isa lang siya
sa laksa-laksang biktima ng mapaniil na sistema.
@rolandtolentino Ang
kasawian, parang election
debates: may sumbat, galit,
apila, ingay pero sa huli,
walang napapala.
(Dean Rolando Tolentino, UP
College of Mass Communication,
Mar 16)
Obituaryo
habang unti-unti tayong pinababayaan ng
pangunahing tagapagtaguyod ng Unibersidad
– ang gobyernong tanging manahimik lang
ang ginagawa. Sa katunayan, inaasahan ng
Department of Budget and Management
na makakalikom ng 1 bilyong halaga ng
internal income mula sa state universities and
colleges. Pangalawa, unti-unting nagbago ang
demograpiya ng Unibersidad na replektibo sa
klase ng socialization scheme na ipinatupad
ng administrasyon, dahil ang pilosopiya ng
“Ang tanging solusyon ay buwagin
ang sistema.”
Ano na nga ba ang kinalakhan niyang sistema?
Ang STFAP ay isang tuition at deregulation policy;
isa itong porma ng revolving fund, paiikutikutin ang pera para sa self-maintenance ng
Unibersidad, na taliwas sa alam ng lahat na
nakapako lang ito bilang isang subsidy system
kung saan ang mga nasa nakakataas na bracket
ay nagbibigay ng subsidiya sa mga nasa mas
mababang bracket. Ang maliit na porsyentong
nanggagaling sa pondo ng gobyerno ay
nagagamit lamang sa pasahod ng mga personnel
at capital outlay.
Sa gayong pagkagayak, walang dudang magiiba ang pampublikong karakter ng Unibersidad.
Una, isang kabalintunaan na kailangan pa nating
pumasok sa mga self-sustaining income projects
polisiya ay nakaangkla sa pagiging maykaya
ng lahat ng estudyante. Mayaman ang tingin
sa estudyante hangga’t hindi napapatunayang
mahirap. Pangatlo, walang kasiguraduhang
magiging maayos ang sistema ng klasipikasyon
ng mga bracket dahil hindi kailanman masusukat
ng burukrasya kung ano ba talaga ang estado
ng buhay ng isang estudyante; iikot lang ang
lahat ng ito sa kung anong mayroon at wala ka.
Hindi kailanman magagamit bilang porma ng
subsidiya ang STFAP sapagkat mitolohiya ang
kosepto ng sosyalisasyon. Nagkakaroon lang ng
konsepto ng libreng lower bracket dahil mataas
ang binabayaran ng mga nasa nakatataas na
bracket. Kung porma man ito ng subsidiya, mas
marami sana ang mga nasa mas mababang
bracket.
Ipinahatid ng administrasyon ang pakikiramay
kasabay ng pagbigay ng suportang pinansyal
sa pamilyang naiwan ng biktima. Suportang
pinansyal, na noong una ay tinanggihan
ng administrasyon ng UP Manila dahil nasa
kalagitnaan na raw ng semestre at hindi na sila
tumatanggap pa ng pag-aapila. Hayagan ding
isinaad ng rehimeng Aquino ang pagiging utakderegulasyon nito, na wala raw silang magagawa
at ang pagtaas ng tuition ay desisyon na lamang
ng mga nagpapatakbo ng unibersidad. Kasabay
nito, mariin din ang paghuhugas-kamay ng
CHED sa mga pangyayari. Papaimbestigahan
daw nila ang sanhi ng pagkamatay ng nasabing
estudyante. Matagal na tayong ginagawang
inutil ng mga nakakataas na ito.
@JohnPonsaran
Nagkakaubusan ng alcogel
sa supermarket sa dami ng
naghuhugas-kamay Try n’yo
muriatic acid...
(Professor John Ponsaran,
Development Studies Program,
Mar 16)
thecover
Huli na ang lahat. Patay na ang unibersidad ng
masa.
Ang pakikiramay ay sa paglaban at paninindigan.
Buhayin muli ang tunay na mandato ng
unibersidad – ang pagturing sa edukasyon
bilang karapatan at hindi pribiliheyo. Wala na
dapat pang magpauto sa alternatibo. Hindi
na madadaan sa kaunting usog, kaunting
pagbabago, at kompromiso. Ang tanging
solusyon ay buwagin ang sistema. Buwagin
ang ‘no late payment’ policy, STFAP at iba
pang instrumento ng represyon. Angkinin ang
karapatan. Panagutin at pagbayarin ang inutil
na estado—dahil katulad nila, nasa bituka ka ng
sistema—biktima ka ng sistema.
Tumangis at lumaban.
Illustration by Princess Pauline Cervantes
Habla and Lizette Joan Campaña Daluz
Editor-in-Chief Jesse Nicole Rubio Santos  Associate Editor for Internal Affairs Jeo Angelo Chico Elamparo  Associate Editors for External Affairs Aries Joseph Armendi
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News
25 MARCH 2013 | MONDAY
03
First year BehSci student commits suicide
UPM admin suspends ‘No late payment’ policy
THE NEWS TEAM
A
16-YEAR OLD FIRST YEAR BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES STUDENT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA (UPM) COMMITTED
suicide at around 3 AM on March 15. Corroborating reports state that financial constraints may have triggered the suicide as she was
forced to file for leave of absence prior to her demise, on March 13.
The UP Manila administration also stated
that it will be extending financial assistance
to the family and appealed to the public to
wait for the results of the investigation of the
case.
“As we continue the pursuit of excellence
and relevance in our programs and services,
we commemorate Ms. Tejada’s life as a
student even for just a short time and always
remember her desire to be a good student
and daughter,” the statement expressed.
A candle-lighting ceremony was held at
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) led by
the Department of Behavioral Sciences
faculty and CAS Student Council on the
night of the incident. Simultaneously, the
UPM administration held a press conference
regarding the matter.
After the candle-lighting ceremony, students
and faculty members marched to the Office
of the Chancellor, where the press conference
was being held, seeking a dialogue with
Chancellor Manuel B. Agulto, only to find
out that he and his company already left the
premises.
Consequently, the UPM community
organized and participated in a week-long
roster of activities in memory of the student.
March 18 was declared as the day of
mourning for the first year Behavioral
Sciences student, as the UPM Administration
declared a suspension of classes. Solidarity
mass and an interfaith vigil were held at the
PGH Chapel and CAS garden, respectively.
A symbolic masking of the Oblation was also
executed as a sign of black protest to the
administration and its implementation of the
‘No late payment’ policy.
On March 19, after the dialogue held with the
UPM administration, UP President Alfredo
Pascual gave his directive to suspend the No
Late Payment policy. The said dialogue was
attended by heads of the departments of
CAS and only selected students.
“This means that the no late payment policy
has been lifted. Any student with financial
constraints will no longer have any problems
with regard to tuition fee payment deadlines,”
as stated in the press release.
According to initial reports, however,
the No Late Payment policy will still be
discussed in the Board of Regents meeting in
April.
SC Halts RH Law
Implementation
THE NEWS TEAM
A
FTER GARNERING A 10-5 VOTE, A 120-DAY STATUS QUO
ante order has been issued by the Supreme Court (SC) against
Republic Act 10354 or the Reproductive Health (RH) Law on March 19.
The RH Law was signed by President Benigno
Simeon Aquino III in December of 2012.
Since then, eight petitions have been filed by
“pro-life” groups against the implementation
of the RH Law. Petitions include complaints
regarding the constitutionality of the
said law and the negative effects of its
implementation.
Among those who voted against the issuance
of the status quo ante order were Chief
Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Associate
Justices Antonio Carpio, Mariano del Castillo,
Estela Perlas-Bernabe, and Marvic Leonen.
Oral arguments for the petitions against the
RH Law will commence on June 18.
The order allegedly motions involved parties
to review the status quo before the RH Bill
was signed into law. The status quo ante
(which means “the way things were” in Latin)
order resets a present situation to its former
state.
KATARUNGAN PARA SA
ISKOLAR NG BAYAN AT
KABATAAN!
ANG EDUKASYON AY
KARAPATAN!
TURN OF EVENTS. (TOP) The parents of the first year Behavioral Sciences student showed to
the press the ID of their daughter, which was surrendered upon filing of a leave of absence due
to financial constraints. Photo by Ace Vincent Ponseca Molo. (MIDDLE) Lights from candles filled
the CAS Oblation Garden as the UPM community mourns the untimely demise of the student and
commences a week-long set of activities to remember her memory and to seek justice for her
death. Photo by Kerwin Poblete Lim. (BOTTOM) In light of the events that had transpired, the UP
System and UP Manila administrations held a press conference at UP Diliman. However, the press
conference had only served as a venue for the officials of the university to elude blame and deny
their involvement in the implementation of the repressive policy that made the student take her own
life. Photo by Honey Diane Gemoto Angeles.
04
News
MONDAY | 25 MARCH 2013
A-K standard bearers lead 35th USC
BIGKIS-UPM still holds the majority
KRISHNA JEANNE PADRE GODINO AND RONILO RAYMUNDO MESA
T
HE ALTERNATIVE STUDENTS’ ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS – KATIPUNAN NG MGA PROGRESIBONG MAG-AARAL NG BAYAN (A-K)
managed to unseat Bigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago (BIGKIS-UPM) from the top posts of the
University Student Council (USC) by winning the Chair and Vice Chair positions in the March 8 elections.
However, BIGKIS-UPM still dominates the
35th USC, securing nine out of the 16
positions in the council, with four councilors
and five college representatives.
Another Close Fight
A-K’s Maryliz Zubiri will head the 35th UPM
USC after defeating BIGKIS-UPM’s Sean
Vincent Aquilino by 19 votes. Although
Aquilino dominated five colleges, Zubiri’s
substantial number of votes from the
College of Arts and Sciences and the
College of Dentistry helped her clinch the
chairpersonship.
In retrospect, incumbent USC Chairperson
Jason Alacapa of BIGKIS-UPM beat
incumbent UP Student Regent Cleve Kevin
Robert Arguelles of A-K in the 34th UPM USC
election by 83 votes.
Meanwhile, A-K’s Vice Chairperson bet
Adrian Sampang won over his rival Maureen
Joy Turingan of BIGKIS-UPM by 874 votes.
Sampang garnered the highest number of
votes in all colleges except the College of
Allied Medical Professions.
Moreover, BIGKIS-UPM’s John Edward
Tanchuco is the number one councilor for
this year’s elections, edging second placer
Mark Romero of A-K by only nine votes.
Charmaine Camille Manilay of BIGKIS-UPM
placed third in the race for USC Councilor.
Raymart Macasaet and Nikolai Thaddeus
Mappatao of BIGKIS-UPM were also elected
in the council alongside Maria Allia Ysabell
Acosta and John Carlo Lorenzo of A-K. (See
Table 1 for breakdown of votes).
In an interview with The Manila Collegian,
incoming USC Chairperson Zubiri said that
she intends the USC to reach out to the
School of Health Sciences and campaign for
the issues concerning the Philippine General
Hospital.
of voters while the College of Public Health
(CPH) registered the lowest.
Incoming CPH Representative to the USC
CANDIDATE
AQUILINO, SEAN VINCENT L.
ZUBIRI, MARYLIZ SB.
CAS
CD
CM
CN
CP
CPH
MANUAL
TOTAL
BIGKIS
168
361
95
A-K
100
795
119
15
52
13
259
140
215
173
72
164
114
18
34
153
121
1512
89
19
1531
19
21
286
USC VICE CHAIRPERSON
SAMPANG, ADRIAN V.
TURINGAN, MAUREEN JOY P.
A-K
133
792
110
299
133
241
129
64
1901
BIGKIS
114
303
95
163
61
117
106
68
1027
36
113
22
84
36
55
26
29
401
148
550
98
325
124
205
200
79
1729
ABSTAIN
USC COUNCILORS
TANCHUCO, JOHN EDWARD O.
ROMERO, MARK ANGELO R.
MANILAY, CHARMAINE CAMILLE D.
ACOSTA, ALLIA MARIA YSABELL I.
BIGKIS
A-K
101
675
116
353
100
214
97
64
1720
BIGKIS
170
405
123
265
121
203
220
79
1586
A-K
91
751
144
117
94
155
106
27
1485
MACASAET, RAYMART S.
BIGKIS
215
396
83
187
120
139
159
107
1406
MAPPATAO, NIKOLAI THADEUS Q.
BIGKIS
164
307
74
184
102
339
142
76
1388
A-K
101
768
74
88
78
157
74
19
1359
LORENZO, JOHN CARLO C.
ESTADO, BRIAN LUIS G.
INES, SOLOMON PETER JOHN L.
MAGLASANG, GLENN MICHAEL J.
BIGKIS
159
367
101
198
102
163
160
73
1323
A-K
116
678
126
64
78
85
72
34
1253
BIGKIS
161
359
89
178
93
159
145
60
1244
IRAL, VIEL B.
A-K
75
695
91
69
71
105
47
17
1170
BOA, PATRICK D.
A-K
59
559
59
51
74
55
28
10
895
LEE, JI YOUNG B.
IND
57
201
64
135
68
78
69
32
704
DELA CRUZ, ERWIN JAMES A.
A-K
20
363
47
45
31
31
19
6
561
5
34
11
27
12
10
11
13
123
ABSTAIN
TABLE 1. Breakdown of votes in the 2013 USC elections. (Source: UP SoComSci-HTTPS)
90%
The next USC strives for a more transparent
council wherein students will be informed of
the discussions in their General Assemblies
and will be more involved in pressing
national issues.
50%
In all of the seven colleges, the College of
Pharmacy registered the highest number
CAMP
ABSTAIN
80%
On the other hand, the voter turnout
increased by 2.14 percent from 58.54 percent
during the 34th USC election to 60.36
percent during this year’s poll. (See Figure
1 for comparison of the past year’s voter’s
turnout).
PARTY
order to solve this problem, Cabana plans to
maximize the representation of the graduate
students in her term.
USC CHAIRPERSON
When asked regarding the matter of
attendance, the next council believes that
this is mandatory; however, it is not enough
that they are present in every meeting, they
should participate in every discussion as
well.
Improving Voter Turnout
Charmaine Joy Cabana pointed out that
the continued low voter turnout in the
college is due to the unawareness of CPH
graduate students of their right to vote. In
81.97%
70%
60% 56.17%
59.19%
62.24%
52.12%
55.50%
58.06%
60.79% 61.98%
85.68%
64.97%
58.54% 60.36%
59.39%
38.67% 37.50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
CAMP
CAS
CD
CM
CN
FIGURE 1. Voter turnout per college and total voter turnout for the 2012 and 2013 SC elections.
(Source: The Manila Collegian Archives and UP SoComSci-HTTPS)
CP
CPH
TOTAL
News
25 MARCH 2013 | MONDAY
05
Women Unite Against Imperialist Abuse
Gabriela, KMU, and Kabataan Partylist Lead Protest
CARLO REY RESURRECCION MARTINEZ
I
N LINE WITH THE 102ND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ON MARCH 8, MORE THAN A THOUSAND WOMEN, LED BY WOMEN’S RIGHTS
group General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership and Action (GABRIELA), marched to the US Embassy,
Liwasang Bonifacio, and Mendiola demanding the Aquino administration to “stop the rape of the motherland.”
Gabriela’s mobilisations in Metro Manila
were joined by Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)
and Kabataan Partylist, while its regional
and provincial chapters also held protests in
some provinces and cities, such as Baguio,
Laguna, Batangas, Iloilo, Bacolod City, and
Davao City.
Pablo Survivors
Storm DSWD Office
Occupy DSWD Leader Shot Dead
GHISLYNNE DEI-ANNE LAMADRID ANDAYA
T
HOUSANDS OF TYPHOON PABLO SURVIVORS STORMED THE
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Davao
headquarters on February 26 in protest of the agency’s failure to
distribute relief goods.
Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kilusang Magbubukid
ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Kilusang Mayo Uno
(KMU), among others protested for the
distribution of 10,000 sacks of rice to the
hungry Pablo survivors.
“We continue to assist the typhoon victims.
We need to, however, be prudent, we need
to know who they are, who should receive
[aid]. And there is no reason why we should
resort to violence,” Lacierda said.
Carrying bamboo poles and tarpaulins, the
residents erected tents and firmly said that
they will remain outside the agency until
their demands are heard and provided by
the Aquino administration.
On another note, Cristina Morales Jose,
one of the leaders of Barug Katawhan, was
gunned down by an unknown gunman on
March 4.
According to Karlos Trangia, spokesperson of
Barug Katawhan, an organization of typhoon
Pablo victims, the protest is a manifestation
that the people in typhoon-devastated
towns have not felt significant government
presence and assistance in their villages.
Jose was village councilor of Binondo,
Baganga municipality, Davao Oriental and
was shot after attending a barangay session
that tackled human rights violations in their
area, according to initial reports gathered
by Karapatan-Southern Mindanao Region
(SMR).
“It is very ironic that the people who are
supposed to be attended by the government
are now marching from the provinces to the
city to demand from this administration
things that should have been given to us a
long time ago. This is people power,” Trangia
said.
Karapatan-SMR Secretary General Hanimay
Suazo said that Jose intended to go back to
Davao City to complain about the harassment
experienced by those who joined the
barricades in Montevista, Compostella Valley
on January 15 and the camp out at the DSWD
regional office on February 25 to 27.
Furthermore, Trangia demanded that the
DSWD should release the 10,000 sacks of rice
promised by DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman
during the barricade last month.
“Just as they arrived back in their community
(after the barricade last week), Kagawad
Jose and all those who participated in the
Kampuhan at the DSWD were harassed by
the Barangay Captain and the military from
the 67th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army.
Supposedly, she was on her way to Davao
City after the session to report the cases of
human rights violations, but she was brutally
killed,” Karapatan-SMR said in a statement.
On the other hand, according to the DSWD
inventory, the protesters allegedly looted
around 600 boxes of noodles, 3,000 food
packs and 150 boxes of coffee. The only
guard-on-duty was not able to stop the
protesters. DSWD regional director Prescy
Razon says each pack is worth P250.
Malacañang condemned the incident and
supported the DSWD in the filing of charges
against the looters.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
also appealed to the victims not to resort to
violence because the government is doing
everything it could to help those affected by
the calamity.
Elmer Labog, KMU chairperson, said the
killing of Jose will fail to scare the people of
Mindanao into submission and weaken their
protests.
“As long as poverty, hunger and suffering
continue to intensify, protests will also
intensify and leaders like Jose will continue
to emerge from the people’s ranks,” Labog
said.
“Today, International Women’s Day, we
demonstrate our outrage as well as our
commitment to the struggle against the
heightening oppression and exploitation
that women experience as a result of US
imperialist domination and the Philippine
government’s subservience to its imperialist
masters,” Gabriela Secretary-General Joms
Salvador asserted.
only violence against women, but also to the
exploitation of the Philippines.
Imperialist Dominance
Additionally, Kabataan Partylist’s Mindanao
Spokeperson Bai Ali Indayla condemned
the exploitation of the Philippine’s natural
resources by multinational companies.
Aside from asserting the rights of women,
the protesters also called on the Aquino
Administration to scrap the Visiting Forces
Agreement and Mutual Defense Treaty.
They also assailed the arrival of the USS Blue
Ridge, the flagship vessel of the US 7th fleet,
on March 7 for a four-day visit.
“Women are leery of the sailors’ announced
goodwill missions in communities and
schools because these soldiers will likely
leave a trail of prostituted women and
children. And after leaving port, what secret
missions in our waters will they be up to, or
what mishaps will they inflict this time?” said
Salvador.
In addition, Salvador slammed President
Aquino for failing to hold the United
States accountable for the destruction of
the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO-declared
national heritage site. She also mocked
the offer of the US to pay for the damaged
corals.
“Offering a measly compensation for
the destruction of Tubbataha is not at all
different from rapists offering payment to
their victims to avoid their day in court,” she
argued.
On the other hand, KMU’s Vice-Chairperson
for Women’s Affairs Nitz Gonzaga asserted
the importance of the country’s sovereignty
in the midst of the Sabah dispute.
“The Aquino government’s surrender of the
country’s sovereignty over Sabah is part
of its subservience to foreign dictates that
have kept the majority of Filipinas poor and
hungry.”
Furthermore, Kabataan Partylist President
Atty. Terry Ridon called for an end to not
“On Women’s Day, we seek not only to end
all violence perpetrated against women
but also to address the primordial roots of
violence in our country – the continued
and intensifying foreign exploitation of our
sovereignty and environment.”
“Indeed, what foreign multinational
corporations have done in our country’s
forests, mountains, and seas is rape of
the highest order. Big firms and business
interests have caused massive destruction
not just of mineral reserves, but of thousands
of innocent lives,” Indayla said.
Moreover, Gabriela Partylist Representative
Luzviminda Ilagan added that surveys
conducted on hunger incidence in the
country indicate that 21 percent of the
population, or more than 10 million Filipinas,
experience moderate to severe hunger.
Other issues and policies condemned by
these protest groups are the Philippine
Mining Act of 1995, the dumping of toxic
wastes in Subic Bay by a US naval ship, the
privatization of government hospitals,
the displacement of indigenous people’s
communities, and the continued attacks on
women’s welfare.
“AquinObama” Tyranny
The protest ended with the burning of a
large wanted poster of “AquinObama”, a
representation of the Filipina’s most wanted
tandem for the rape of the motherland. The
burning of this poster was conducted in the
Chino Roces Bridge.
“We hold the US-Aquino regime responsible
for the wretched situation of Filipina women,
for the plunder and destruction of our
economy and natural resources and the
massive attack on women’s economic and
political rights and welfare. We deplore the
poverty and the violence that we are being
subjected to,” Salvador asserted.
MANINDIGAN PARA SA IYONG KARAPATAN
BILANG ISKOLAR NG BAYAN!
NO TO REPRESSIVE,
ANTI-STUDENT POLICIES!
06
News
MONDAY | 25 MARCH 2013
Sabah Crisis Still
Unresolved
At Least 60 Dead in Sabah Conflict
HONEY DIANE GEMOTO ANGELES
B
ACKED BY FIGHTER JETS AND HUNDREDS OF TROOPS, THE
Malaysian forces’ stand-off with the Filipinos in Sabah has left at
least 52 suspected Filipino militants and eight Malaysian policemen
deaths. As this territorial clash erupted in violence, the Philippine
administration remains reluctant in affirming the claim of the
Philippines over Sabah.
A Journey Back Home
situation,” Ban’s spokesman said.
An estimated 100-300 armed followers of
the Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III dubbed as
the “Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate
of Sulu and North Borneo” landed on the
shores of Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu
Town, Sabah on February 11. This group led
by Rajah Mudah (Crown Prince) Agbimuddin
Kiram left Simunul Island in Tawi-Tawi in
speedboats and headed for Sabah.
Call for Surrender
Agbimuddin stressed that their occupation
of Sabah was not an act of aggression but “a
journey back home.”
“We came here in peace. We are not to wage
war… We will never bring war to our own
territory, much less to our own people,”
Agbimuddin declared.
Ceasefire Offer Rejected
A few days after their landing, Agbimuddin
admitted that their group was surrounded
by Malaysian police and special forces. Three
extensions of the February 22 deadline
for Filipino forces to leave had expired, yet
Agbimuddin refused to leave.
Moreover, a firefight began between
Malaysian policemen and Kiram’s followers
on March 1.
“The intruders fired at us, then we returned
fire,”Agbimuddin stated.
Meanwhile, the Sulu Sultanate, staying in
Maharlika Village in Taguig City, called for a
ceasefire as more of its armed followers are
being slain by Malaysian troops. The call
for a ceasefire, according to the Sultanate’s
spokesman and secretary-general, Abraham
Julpa Idjirani, was to avoid more bloodshed.
“The call for ceasefire is in view of deaths of
followers in Sabah,” Idjirani said. “This was
to show the world that the sultan and the
sultanate are observing Islamic tolerance,”
he added.
Amidst the standoff in Sabah, President
Benigno Simeon Aquino III orders Kiram’s
group to “unconditionally surrender.”
“The right thing to do now is order your
followers to return home as soon as possible.
The choices and consequences are yours. If
you choose not to cooperate, the full force of
the laws of the State will be used to achieve
justice for all who have been put in harm’s
way,” Aquino said in a press conference.
“May I remind you as well that as a citizen
of the republic, you are bound by the
constitution and its laws,” Aquino added.
Furthermore, Aquino said that Kiram’s group
may have violated Article 2 Section 2 of
the Constitution which provides that “the
Philippines renounces war as an instrument
of national policy.”
On the other hand, when asked about the
Philippines’ claim to Sabah, Aquino said he
himself was confused about the historical
antecedents that led to the standoff.
“If we say that we agree that the Sultan of
Sulu owns Sabah, does that also mean that
they own Sulu?” Aquino raised.
Aquino, however, admitted an oversight on
their part, for not reacting to Kiram’s letter
sent to his office back in 2010.
The lost letter of Agbimuddin contains his
desire to seek the president’s counsel in
asserting the Sabah claim. The letter also
indicated that the president should express
the sultanate’s stance in claiming Sabah in
international gatherings.
However, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib
Razak said that “there is no grace period
for the group to leave… Do not test our
patience, our patience has reached the limit.”
“I have just been made aware that a letter
to me, from you, was sent… in the very first
weeks of my term, when we were organizing
the government. Unfortunately, this letter
was lost in the bureaucratic maze. Let me
make clear that there was no intention to
ignore your letter. Knowing this now, will you
let your mistaken belief dictate your course
of action?” said Aquino.
Additionally, United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-Moon has appealed for the
Sabah assault to stop, emphasizing that
the matter should be resolved peacefully
through dialogue.
Aquino promised to have a dialogue with
the Sultan once the group arrives in the
Philippines. He added that there is an
ongoing study to determine the strength of
the claim of the country.
“The Secretary-General is closely following
the situation in Sabah. He urges an end to the
violence and encourages dialogue among all
the parties for a peaceful resolution of the
Solid Claim
Moreover, as then congressman and
chairman of the Legal Committee of
COLLEGE
BRIEFS
Here are the official results of the 2013
College Student Council (CSC) Elections.
COLLEGE OF ALLIED MEDICAL
PROFESSIONS (CAMP)
Chairperson: Enzo Bueza
Vice Chairperson: Jerome Baseleres
Secretary: Marci Nañagas
Treasurer: Jae Villon
Public Officer: Tasha Jacinto
3rd and 4th Year Representative:
Guia Rabacca
2nd Year Representative:
Sarah Caguimbal
Intern Representative: Gia Bolaños
CAMP Representative to the USC:
Iska Dalangin
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND
SCIENCES (CAS)
Chairperson: Psalmuel Chan
Vice Chairperson: Rodel Cahiyang
Councilors: Cid Manalo, Jhaypee Naco,
Lyod Novales, Juris Banzuela, Keith Araullo,
Mc Rivera
Batch Representatives:
Kea Bravo (4th Year), Regh Alzaga (3rd
Year), Al Omaga (2nd Year)
CAS Representative to the USC:
Cristina Tabag
COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY (CD)
Chairperson: Anthony Quitay
Vice Chairperson for Internals:
Kenneth Ritua
Vice Chairperson for Externals:
Sarah Jessica Liao
Auditor: Karina Co
P.R.O.: Mario Antonio Carpio
Secretary: Francesca Celina Fajardo
Treasurer: Florentino Kurt Lozano
CD Representative to the USC:
Rebekah Faith Tuparan
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (CM)
Chairperson: Michelle Castillo
Vice Chairperson: Noel Bernardo
Secretary-General: Keanu Fontanilla
Treasurer: Franco Macaspac
Publicity Officer: Alla Tan
CM Representative to the USC:
Jose Paolo Albaño
the Philippine Delegation to the AngloPhilippine Talks, former Philippine senator
Jovito Salonga highlighted in his speech
in London on March 30, 1963 that the
Philippine claim over Sabah is solid.
His speech served as a rebuttal to the speech
of then Senator Lorenzo Sumulong berating
the Philippine claim to North Borneo.
Salonga presented and traced the historical
facts proving that Sabah is Philippineowned.
Sabah thus cannot be part of the Federation
of Malaysia as “conceived, inspired, and
COLLEGE OF NURSING (CN)
Chairperson: Keith Roger Serrano
Vice-Chairperson: Clemarl Salvador Reyes
Secretary General: Samantha Baylon
Finance Officer: Kathlyn Sharmaine Valdez
CN NSC Representative: Lika Mizukoshi
CN Representative to the USC:
Venice Marie Dee
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY (CP)
President: Charles Mandy Ayran
Vice President: Kate Angeline Tan
Secretary for External Affairs:
Ma. Krystle Marianne Yap
Sec. for Internal Affairs:
Theresa Marie Cagaoan
Sec. for Finance: Carla Solina Guico
5th Year BSIP Batch Rep:
Mark Christian Gutierrez
5th Year BSP Batch Rep:
Tricia Charmaine So
4th Year BSIP Batch Rep: Khristelle Enano
4th Year BSP Batch Rep: Helena Selene Co
3rd Year BSIP Batch Rep:
Sharmaine Kae Po
3rd Year BSP Batch Rep:
Mathew Lawrence Que
2nd Year BSIP Batch Rep:
Kathrine Mae Garcia
2nd Year BSP Batch Rep:
Bianca Leizelle Samiran
CP Representative to the USC:
Romeo-Luis Ramirez
COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(CPH)
Chairperson: Kyle Patrick Eugenio
Vice Chairperson (Internals): Moira Larin
Vice Chairperson (Externals): Patricia
Marie Lusica
Secretary: Yves Miel Zuniga
Treasurer: Kyle Lendl Wong
Auditor: Jewel Amor Catubag
Second Year Batch Representatives:
Danee Coline Mangilag (Block 22)
Patricia Sy (Block 23)
Third Year Batch Rep: Kesha Gem Morada
Fourth Year Batch Rep:
Abigail Ann Guinez
DrPH Rep: Chris Erwin Mercado
CPH Representative to the USC:
Charmaine Joy A. Cabaña
sponsored” by the British.
In 1962, then President Diosdado Macapagal
filed a claim over Sabah after the House
of Representatives unanimously passed a
resolution urging him to recover the island.
“The claim for North Borneo is not of
the President, the Liberal Party, nor of
his Administration, but a claim of the
entire Republic, based on respect for
the rule of law, the sacredness of facts,
and the relentless logic of our situation
in this part of the world,” Salonga
concluded.
MAY NA-MISS KA BANG ISSUE NG
THE MANILA COLLEGIAN 2012-2013?
Download lang mula sa mkule1213.deviantart.com
News
25 MARCH 2013 | MONDAY
ISKO
TIS
TIKS
F
Adding Insult to Injury
DEONAH ABIGAIL LUGO MIOLE AND CHRISTINE JOY FRONDOZO ANGAT
Numerous consultations regarding STFAP
implementation were held from 2011 to 2012.
The Board of Regents earlier recommended a
review of the STFAP scheme after it rejected
the motion to remove the said policy on
September 20, 2012.
13253
12252
3888
2000
0
AY
2007-2008
AY
2008-2009
AY
2009-2010
AY
2010-2011
AY
2011-2012
AY
2012-2013
(as of Nov 2012)
FIGURE 1. Annual number of STFAP applicants from all UP constituent universities.
(Source: UP Office of Scholarships and Student Services, 2012)
According to Assistant Professor Richard
Philip Gonzalo, organizer of the draft
document, the said proposal was a product
of insights from numerous administrators,
including UP President Alfredo Pascual, Office
of Scholarship and Student Services (OSSS)
SEC CLUSTER
Maximum
None
1,262,001
None
B
500,001
1,000,000
631,001
1,262,000
C
250,001
500,000
315,501
631,000
7, 8
D
135,001
250,000
170,371
315,500
5, 6
E
—
135,000
—
170,370
1, 2, 3, 4
afford the rates of the assigned bracket.
Gonzalo states that students have a reduced
capacity to afford UP education which results
to the annual increase in the number of STFAP
appeals.
4
5
The ABS, which was retained from the
current STFAP, is divided into five brackets
and is adjusted against the Consumer Price
Index (CPI). On the other hand, the SEC is
divided into nine clusters and is based on
the aggregate expenditures of Philippine
households. The expenditure of a household
will be determined through the nine variables
set under the SEC method.
As seen in Table 1, each SEC cluster has
corresponding expenditures and income.
This cluster is combined with the ABS
to differentiate the expenses within the
income bracket. For instance, a student
who has household income of P196,000
and expenditure of P179,000 qualifies under
1
2
3
38,522
66,138
99,196
137,478
178,579
231,351
304,060
444,432
818,890
Income
39,065
67,707
103,546
146,141
194,321
256, 802
345,794
519,799
976,027
6
7
8
9
TABLE 1. Household Income and Expenditure corresponding to each SEC cluster. (Source: MORES and National Statistics Office, 2012)
Blatant Setbacks
The STFAP, which emerged in 1989, was
implemented to allegedly promote fairness
and social justice in the University by requiring
the rich to pay more in order to subsidize the
poor.
In the STFAP, the students are classified into
income brackets based on their financial need
and capacity to pay.
The current system is called the Alphabetic
Bracketing Scheme (ABS) which has six
different clusters: A, B, C, D, E1, and E2.
Students who are in higher brackets pay more
in order to financially support those in the
lower brackets.
Since its implementation, however, issues
regarding its effectiveness and ability to
provide access to education to qualified
students have been raised. The numerous
paperwork, tedious application process,
long lines, mismatched brackets, inadequate
Maximum
1,000,001
Expenditure
personnel, and Office of Student Affairs (OSA)
directors.
Minimum
SEC
CLUSTERS
A
reformed STFAP puts forward two bracketing
schemes: the ABS based on the students’
means to afford the educational costs, and the
alternative bracketing scheme based on the
Socio-economic Classification (SEC) method.
6095
4000
Minimum
CPI-ADJUSTED STFAP
INCOME RANGES
9
9
T(Source:
h e UP Office of Scholarships and Student Services, 2012)
8143
8000
PRESENT STFAP
INCOME RANGES
TABLE 2. The conversion of SEC clusters to the ABS STFAP brackets.
10335
10000
CURRENT
BRACKETS
The STFAP became a mechanism that
deregulates Tuition and Other Fee Increase
(TOFI) and denies access to those who cannot
12000
Furthermore, in the STFAP revision
consultation held in UP Manila in February,
Gonzalo disclosed that the UP Administration
degree programs.
benefits, and slow appeal system undermine
the value of the STFAP scheme in UP.
14000
6000
On the other hand, to address the issue of
inadequate benefits, the proposed STFAP
reform is complemented with a new STFAP
Benefit Structure. Academic and
living
allowances have been added to the benefits
in the STFAP.
A Look Into the Proposal to Revise the STFAP
OLLOWING THE ISSUES IN THE CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED SOCIALIZED
Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), a proposal to revise
the STFAP and other financial assistance services was drafted and
presented by the University of the Philippines (UP) administration.
07
Deceptive Reforms
The amendments to the STFAP were
proposed as a response to the issues raised
regarding the policy. Under the new STFAP, all
undergraduate students will be categorized
not on the basis of their income but on their
Bracket D and cluster 5. The cost equivalent
to this bracket is the amount the student will
pay.
According to Gonzalo, this mechanism aims
to address the problems of delay and tedious
application process and to reduce the number
of appeals for reassignment.
SOCIALIZED TUITION
plans to first implement the revised STFAP
scheme in UPM.
Flawed Assistance
Although the proposed revisions of the
STFAP appears to respond to the financial
and procedural problems the current STFAP
scheme has, it still upholds the unequal
treatment UP offers to its constituents and
promotes the widening dichotomy between
the rich and the poor.
The STFAP is flawed to its very core. The very
essence of the program which dictates that the
rich subsidize the poor, and the poor depend
on the compassion of the rich to subsidize
their education is an injustice, especially
considering that UP is a state university whose
subsidy should be appropriately given by the
government.
Furthermore, since its implementation, the
STFAP has reduced the accessibility of UP
education to the unfortunate. It has been
reported that the percentage of the student
population who have enjoyed free education
in UP has decreased from 20 percent in 1991
to less than one percent at present.
Apparently, the government sees the
STFAP policy as a sufficient reason for
not appropriating greater subsidy for the
education sector, most especially for state
colleges and universities (SUCs).
The Aquino administration blatantly displayed
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 >>
LIVING ALLOWANCE
ACADEMIC ALLOWANCE
Lodging Allowance
STFAP
BRACKETS
Tuition Cost
Tuition Cost
(UPD, UPM,
UPLB)
(UPEPP, UPB,
UPV, UPC,
UPMin)
Lab and
Misc Fees
Monthly
Stipend
E
Free
Free
Free
D
300/unit
200/unit
C
600/unit
B
A
Book
Allowance
GWA-based
Allowance
2,500/mo
4,000/sem
1,250/sem
Waiver of
lodging fees
2,500/mo
4,000/sem
None
None
Waiver of
lodging fees
2,500/mo
None
None
At cost
None
None
None
None
None
At cost
None
None
None
None
None
For UP
Dormitory
resident
For non-UP
Dormitory
resident
4,000/mo
Waiver of
lodging fees
At cost
2,000/mo
400/unit
At cost
1000/unit
600/unit
1500/unit
1000/unit
TABLE 1. Household Income and Expenditure corresponding to each SEC cluster. (Source: MORES and National Statistics Office, 2012)
means to pursue and finish their chosen
08
Culture
MONDAY | 25 MARCH 2013
Ipaglaban Mo,
Babae...
JOHN VHERLIN CANLAS MAGDAY AT JAMILAH PAOLA DELA CRUZ LAGUARDIA
S
a likod ng bawat sakripisyo ay ang mas malalim na kwento. Sa likod ng
bawat pagmartsa nila ay ang mas malawig na adbokasiya.
Hango ka sa kanyang dugo’t laman, ngunit sa pagkatao’t gampanin niya ay isa
kang dayuhan. Pinaramdam nila sa iyo ang kanilang pagiging maalaga at malambing,
habang taglay ang angkin niyang kayumian at kagandahan. Ngunit, marahil ay hanggang
dito lamang ang hangganan ng iyong nalalaman, dahil, sa kasamaang palad, sinamantala
ng iilan ang mga nakakubling kwentong ito upang baluktutin ang imahe ng kababaihan sa
lipunan.
Ngunit ang babae ay unti-unting kumakawala sa tanikalang ikinabit ng lipunan sa kanyang
katauhan at kasaysayan, at dahan-dahan niyang binubuo ang pundasyon ng kanyang tunay na
pagkatao. Unti-unti nilang minumulat ang mga mamamayan sa kanilang tunay na kalagayan.
Patuloy nilang binabago ang mga nakasanayan upang bigyang daan ang mga adbokasiyang
tunay na nagsusulong ng kanilang karapatan pati na rin ang karapatan ng mga mamamayan.
Sila ang kababaihang patuloy na lumalaban tungo sa pagkakapantay-pantay para sa isang
mapagpalayang lipunan.
...ANG PAGTUTUWID
SA BALUKTOT NILANG
MGA PANINIWALA AT
PANANAMANTALA
Tumatagos ang epekto ng
panggagahasa
hanggang
sa
kaibuturan ng pagkatao ng isang
babae.
Hindi na bago sa pandinig ang
mga balitang ang tema ay tungkol
sa panggagahasa. Gayundin, hindi
na bago ang naging palagiang takbo
ng mga kasong may kaugnayan dito –
may nanggahasa, may nagahasa, may
nagsuplong sa pulisya, inaresto ang suspek,
dininig sa korte, nahatulan, at kalauna’y
nabulok na ang insidente. Sa kalauna’y
nasanay at namanhid na rin ang marami sa
pagkakadinig sa mga ganitong uri ng mga
balita.
Ngunit,
ang
inakalang
isang normal na insidente, ay isa palang
kwento ng matinding paglalapastangan –
isang uri ng paglalapastangang tinatapalan
ng mga maling argumentong, makakayang
pagtakpan ang mga krimeng tulad nito.
“Ginusto niya rin ‘yun!”, “Lalaki lang ako!”,
“Inakit lang niya ko!”, “Eh talaga namang
mare-rape siya dahil sa kilos at suot niya
eh!” – ilan lamang ang mga ito sa mga
ginagawang panakip butas sa tunay na
depinisyon ng panggagahasa. Sinsisi ang
biktima sa isang krimen kungaan siya na
mismo ang nilapastangan. Sa katunayan,
nagiging bilin ang mga nasabing kataga
kung kaya’t lumalabas na, upang hindi
magahasa ang isang tao, hindi dapat niya ito
gawin. Subalit, ito ay isang kabalintunaan
– hindi naman tunay na pinipigilan ng
pagsusuot ng mga konserbatibong
kasuotan o pagtanggi sa mga rapists ang
kaso ng rape. Samakatuwid, isa lamang
itong mekanismo na nagtatago sa tunay na
may sala.
Hanggang ngayon, pinapaniwalaan na
ang konsepto ng rape ay nangyayari
lamang kapag pinilit ang isang biktima na
makipagtalik o may pagtutol dito. Ngunit,
kailangang maintindihan na ang rape ay
hindi lamang sex without consent – ito ay
isang uri ng pagsasamantala na nangyayari
sa kagustuhan ng isang taong magkaroon
ng kapangyarihan at kontrol sa isa pang
tao, sa pamamagitan ng paghahangad
nitong magkaroon ng kontrol sa katawan
ng indibidwal na ito. Kung ang pananaw ng
lipunan ay makakahon sa maling kahulugan
ng panggagahasa, maraming mga babae
ang hindi makatatamo ng hustisya. Bukod
pa rito, nasasawalang-bahala ang ibang
gawang may sekswal na konotasyon dulot
na rin ng mga mali’t baluktot na pananaw
ukol sa kultura ng panggagahasa.
Isa
pang
kabalintunaan
ay
ang
paniniwalang ang mga indibidwal na
sangkot sa panggagahasa ay kadalasang
‘yung ng mga taong hindi natin kilala,
at mga taong may kulang sa pag-iisip, o
nasa impluwensiya ng ipinagbabawal na
gamot, at ang rape ay nangyayari lamang
sa mga babaeng magaganda ang mukha
at hubog ng katawan – mga imaheng
ipinapamudmod at napupulot
sa midya. Subalit ang
malupit na katotohanan
niyan ay ang rape
ay maaaring
mangyari
s
a
Culture
25 MARCH 2013 | MONDAY
lahat
n
g
babae
at
maaari
itong
gawin
ninuman.
Napatunayan na rin sa ilang pag-aaral na
ang rape ay madalas nangyayari sa pagitan
ng isang babae at isang taong kilala o
malapit sa kanya – mapa-asawa, kapatid,
kaibigan o kapamilya man.
Nakakubli at nalilingid na sa kaalaman
ng nanunuod na madla ang parusang
pinapasan ng babae – ang gabi-gabing
pakikipagtalo sa sariling konsensya, ang
tuwinang pagkabaliw sa isang hindi
matapos na bangungot, at sa araw-araw
na pagsikil sa pagsususol ng isip na tapusin
ang sariling buhay.
Hindi kailanman pinangarap ng isang
babae na may lumapastangan sa kanya
at magkaroon siya ng sugat na tatagos
hanggang sa kanyang kaluluwa at
lalamon sa kanyang hinaharap at mga
pangarap. Hindi niya kailanman ginusto
ang mawalan ng pagkabirhen sa isang
masahol na insidente at pandirihan ng tao
sa kasalanang hindi niya ginawa.
Higit sa lahat, kailanman ay hindi
magpapasindak ang kababaihan sa mga
baluktot na argumento at lalaban para
sa hustiyang ipinagkait sa kanya ng
mapagsamantalang kultura ng lipunan.
...ANG IYONG SARILI MULA SA
PANG-AABUSO
Hindi nasusupil ang pang-aabuso laban
sa kababaihan hanggang ngayon, dahil
ang depinisyon mismo ng pang-aabuso ay
inaabuso.
Ang konsepto ng sexual
harassment ay hindi na
bago sa pananaw ng
lipunan. Hindi na ito
bago sa mata ng
masa dahil na rin
sa
sunod-sunod
na pagsusulputan
ng
iba’t-ibang
mga institusyon,
programa
at
alyansa
para
t u g u n a n
ang
mga
isyung
may
kaugnayan
r i t o .
Gayunpaman,
tila
hindi
malinaw ang
konsepto
ng
sexual
harassment.
harassment ay ang ideya na ang pangaabusong ito ay naisasagawa lamang sa
pamamagitan ng pisikal na pamamaraan
tulad ng aktuwal na panggagahasa. Subalit,
hindi dapat malimitahan sa ganitong
paglalarawan ang pang-aabusong sekswal.
Maging ang simpleng kilos tulad ng
mabulaklak na salita, pagbibiro ng green
jokes o ang pagsipol ay nagiging uri ng
pang-aabusong sekswal, lalo na kung
nakakaramdam ng pambabastos ang isang
tao mula rito. Mahihinuha na ang ganitong
mga sitwasyon ay maaaring magpahiwatig
ng intensyong makuha ang loob ng babae
upang ito’y makipagtalik sa kanya.
Iba’t iba ang
interpretasyon
at paglalarawan
ng iba’t ibang
kultura upang
maituring
ang
isang sitwasyon
bilang
sexual
harassment. Ngunit
malinaw sa ganitong
kalagayan na may
iba’t ibang aspektong
nagagamit
upang
abusuhin ang isang babae,
o kahit anong kasarian pa man
– pisikal man o hindi. Sa paglipas
ng panahon ay sinimulan nang ikabit ang
konseptong ito ng pang-aabuso sa ilan
pang mga ideya, na imbes na magligtas
sa mga tao upang makaiwas sa pangaabusong ito, lalo pa silang inilalapit sa mas
maraming disgrasya.
Dahil ang sekswal na pang-aabuso ay hindi
ganoon kadaling gapiin, sapagkat isa itong
uri ng pananakit na hindi ganoon kaagad
napapansin, at maaaring magpatuloy
hanggang ang lipunan ay ignorante sa dala
niyang panganib at trahedya.
Ipinapalagay na sa isang kaso ng pangaabusong sekswal, ang babae ang
naaabuso, samantalang lalaki ang nangaabuso. Bukod pa rito ay ang paniniwalang
hangga’t hindi ipinapalagay na pangaabuso ang isang sekswal na pagkakataon
– tulad ng panggagahasa – ay hindi ito
ituturing na pang-aabusong sekswal.
Subalit hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay
ganito ang sitwasyon.
Sa katunayan, walang pinipiling kasarian,
edad, o antas sa lipunan ang ganitong
mga uri ng pang-aabuso. Samakatwid,
lahat
ay
nasa
panganib
upang
mapagsamantalahan. Bukod pa rito ay
hindi rin ligtas sa mga pang-aabusong
sekswal ang mga hindi tuwirang sangkot sa
pang-aabuso gaya ng mga saksi, sapagkat
kahit sila ay nakadarama ng pangamba at
takot. Kahit hindi sila ang tuwirang inabuso,
nagdudulot pa rin ito ng sama ng loob o
sakit sa mga saksi. Dagdag pa, ang trauma
sa insidente ay nagpapahina sa loob ng
mga saksi kaya’t kadalasan ay hindi na sila
tumetestigo sa takot na mangyari rin iyon
sa kanila. Ito ay taliwas sa depinisyon na ang
sexual harassment ay dinaranas lamang ng
isang biktima – at sila lamang ang nakakapagsabi kung sila ba ay na-abuso.
Isa pang paniniwala pagdating sa sexual
Upang lubos nating mabigyan ng mga
konkretong solusyon ang mga suliranin na
may kinalaman sa pang-aabuso, marapat
na maintindihan muna natin ng mabuti
ang kabuuang konsepto nito, at linawin ng
maigi ang mga elementong naglalarawan
sa isang sekswal na pang-aabuso.
...ANG KARAPATAN MO
LIPUNANG PANTAY-PANTAY
SA
Pagkakapantay-pantay
–
ito
ang
pangunahing hangarin ng mga kaisipang
feminista sa gitna ng isang patriyarkal na
lipunan.
Hindi lingid sa karamihan ang patuloy na
pagtindig ng mga kababaihan laban sa lahat
ng uri ng opresyon. Sa lahat ng aspekto ng
buhay ay masasabing mayroon na rin silang
partisipasyon. Ang malaking bahagi nito ay
dulot ng feminismo, kung saan isinulong ng
mga kababaihan ang kanilang karapatan at
hangarin para sa isang pantay na pagtrato
sa lipunan.
Ngunit may ilang napupulaan ang tunay
na intensyon ng kilusang ito. Sa maraming
mga kuro-kuro at kritisismo sa feminismo,
pinakamabigat ang nagsasabing nais
umano ng feminismo na pabagsakin ang
kalalakihan upang umangat naman ang
09
kababaihan sa lipunan dahil na rin sa
matagal na pagkasadlak ng kababaihan
sa opresyon at diskriminasyon. Ang iba
naman ay tinitignan ang mga feminista
bilang isang kilusang ipinagdidiinan ang
pagkakaroon ng patriyarka.
Bukod pa sa mga nabanggit ay
kinukuwestiyon din ang kahalagahan
ng feminismo sa panahon ngayon sa
pamamagitan ng pagpapatunay ng ilan
na nasa parehong antas na sa lipunan ang
mga lalaki’t babae pagdating sa pagtamasa
ng mga karapatan. Malaya na umanong
nakikilahok ang mga kababaihan sa
politikal, ekonomikal, at panlipunang mga
isyu. Nakukuha ang mga mahahalagang
posisyon sa gobyerno at iba pang mga
organisasyon.
Sa kabila nito, patuloy na pinaninindigan
ng maraming feminista na ang kanilang
hangarin ay hindi ang pabagsakin ang
kalalakihan kung hindi ang matamasa
ang isang pantay na pagtingin sa
lipunan. Patuloy nilang ipagdidiinan ang
pamamayani ng patriyarka sa lipunan
dahil ito ang gumagawa ng harang sa mga
kakayahan ng isang babae. Higit sa lahat,
kung ano man ang kalayaang natatamasa
ng kababaihan ngayon ay hindi magiging
tunay hangga’t patuloy na lumalaganap
at nakatatak sa isip ng mga tao ang
diskriminasyon at opresyon, konkreto man
o hindi.
May limitasyon ang lahat ng tao, mapalalaki man, babae, o ano pa mang piniling
kasarian. Ngunit kung patuloy na igigiit ang
superyoridad ng iisang kasarian kaysa sa
iba, hindi nito natutulungan ang lipunan sa
pag-uugnay ng bawat pagkakaiba. Bagkus
ay nagdudulot lamang ito ng matinding
lamat na siyang sanhi ng iba’t ibang uri
ng opresyon at diskriminasyon. Kung
hindi kikilos ang bawat isa, hindi lamang
ang mga feminista o mga babae, walang
mangyayaring magandang pagbabago sa
sistema ng pagkakaisa ng mga kasarian.
Dahil nasa sama-samang pagkilos at
pag-uunawaan ang tunay na daan tungo
sa pagkakapantay-pantay sa kabila ng
pagkakaiba.
A
ng ng isang pagkakamali, ay kailanman, hindi maitatama ng isa
pang pagkakamali. Ang pagkakait sa kababaihan ng kanilang mga
karapatan ay hindi maiintindihan kung hindi bubuksan ang mata at isipan
ng lipunan sa katotohanan ng kwento at kasaysayang pinagdadaanan
ng mga babae. Bago magsimula ang lahat ng pagbabago, kailangan
munang solusyunan ang pinaka-ugat ng suliranin, at saka magtayo ng
isang mas matayog at matibay na pundasyon na pwedeng kapitan sa
gitna ng pakikipaglaban – ito ang pagsisiwalat at pagtatama ng mga
mali at baluktot na hinuha sa katauhan at katayuan ng mga babae sa
lipunan.
Ngunit, ang pagtindig para sa adbokasiyang ito ay hindi natatapos
sa pagtatama lamang ng mga kamalian. Marapat na kabalikat pa rin
nito ang mga kongkreto at mabisang aksyon, gaya ng malawakang
partisipasyon mula sa mga kababaihan at mula sa masa, gayundin
ng malawakan at matinding pagtataguyod at paglaban para sa isang
mapagpalaya at pantay-pantay na lipunan.
Dahil ang babae ay gagawa ng bagong kasaysayan – isang bersyon na
walang bahid ng kasinungalingan, at pawang tungo sa mas malayang
lipunan.
10
Features
MONDAY | 25 MARCH 2013
P A G T A T A S A
S A
13-2014
20
IL
C
*
N
U
O
C
T
EN
D
U
ST
TY
SI
ER
IV
NYUHAYUN
BA
P A U N A N G
SEKSYON NG LATHAL AIN
MGA LAR AWANG KUHA NI PAT
RICK JACOB LAX AMANA LIWAG
dig para sa mga mag-aaral.
guyod ng isang konsehong titin
gta
apa
mak
ang
gut
ana
pan
an ay ang
-aaral
aakibat ng panibagong pamunu
alaan at iniluklok ng mga mag
r-estudyante ang pinagkatiw
lide
ing
a
mg
mag
ng
ng
on
upa
lup
ang
g
lam
gon
i
iba
hind
uyang konseho, pan
dent Council (USC)
aluk
Stu
kas
sity
ng
ver
ino
Uni
35
term
ikang
ng
lar
ang
pos
an
Isko
Sa pagtata
kaharap ng mga
mga Iskolar ng Bay
pagtindig sa mga isyung kina
Maynila (UPM). Itinalaga ng
at
as
pin
aan
Pili
tun
ng
alin
d
kab
sida
a
ber
mg
Uni
sa
ng
sasawata
g hindi upang manguna sa pag
kanilang mga kinatawan, kun
pino.
Bayan at ng mamamayang Pili
arang proyekto at
a naiwan at hindi naisakatup
mg
sa
alo
sas
ng
siya
ang
d na USC, kung hindi
ong pamunuan
ng dapat kaharapin ng susuno
termino, masisipat na ang bag
isyu
ng
ang
alit
aisa
pap
kak
pag
sa
pag
n,
sa
a
ama
par
Gayonp
paghamok
o. Dahil dito, hindi lamang ang
serbisyo ng papaalis na konseh
ndang konseho.
sinu
ng
n
ikai
adh
lang
ng mga nasimu
John Tanchuco (USC Councilor): Siguro for
pati na rin ang pagpapatuloy
us in Bigkis-UPM, we just want that we have
PAGSUSUMIKAPANG ADHIKAIN
to be faced, and they need to play a greater
healthy discussion, that yun nga, we are able
role in nation-building. Pero siyempre, hindi Bago ang kanilang pagkakahirang bilang to work together, we want the same thing.
PRINSIPYONG BUBUHAYIN
natin makakalimutan ang mga projects, mga susunod na miyembro ng USC, hindi We want to serve the students, the students
Naging kapuna-puna ang kawalan ng tsaka kailangan talaga. Of course we will do maikakaila ang wari’y pagtutunggalian ng of UP Manila. We are under one 35th USC.
aksyon ng nagdaang konseho sa mga our best para tugunan yung needs nila as dalawang magkaibang partidong kanilang
isyu at suliraning pumukol hindi lamang well as we believe na kagaya sa speech ko kinabibilangan. Ngunit bilang batid nila na Charca Manilay (USC Councilor): And I
sa mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad kung na it will be a student council that will be the kanilang kinakatawan ang mga Iskolar ng think siyempre na magkakaroon tayo ng
hindi pati na rin sa mga mamamayan. Sa voice of the students to the administration, pamantasan, hindi nalilimutan ng bagong ilang debates about some, kunwari gagawa
pagbabago ng liderato ng USC, inaasahan so please expect that not everything that the halal na USC ang pangangailangan para sa ng ibang projects, but I think at the end
of the day, we should come up with one
ang mas pinaigting na pagkilos tungo sa administration says will be the stand of the pagkakaisa.
decision, and that is the decision of each and
pagkamit ng mga karapatan hindi lamang student council. I think it’s time that we put
ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan kundi pati na rin ng the policy in deconstruction, and really state Bagaman ang adhikaing pagkakaisa ay every one’s.
masang Pilipino. Pinapangako rin ng bagong kung ano ba yung implication nito sa mga taon-taon na lamang ipinapangako ng
konseho ang isang mas malinaw na landas students. So hindi lang siya parang nagiging mga miyembro ng USC, nananatili pa rin MZ: We should work for the betterment of
na tatahakin ng pamunuan nila, bitbit ang bridge between the administration to the ang mabigat na kahalagahan nito. Ito ay sa the students.
students, but rather a critical stand kung ano kadahilanang ang pagkakaisa nila bilang
kanilang mga prinsipyo at simulain.
ba talaga yung mangyayari dun sa policy na isang konseho ay hindi lamang para sa DAKILANG TUNGKULIN
Bagamat hindi maikakaila ang pag-asang yun and expect the USC to challenge the pagkakaroon nila ng matiwasay na relasyon
dala ng mga matatamis na pananalita ng administration to be a more student- friendly sa bawat isa, kundi higit lalo na, ito ay para Ang kanilang pagiging isang konseho ay
bagong halal na konseho, inaanyayahan and a more student-biased institution.
sa kapakanan ng mag-aaral at mamamayang nangangahulugan ng kanilang tungkuling
pagsilbihan nang tapat ang mamamayan at
ang bawat Iskolar ng Bayan na manatiling
kanilang paglilingkuran.
ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan.
maging mapagmatyag at mulat ukol sa mga Adrian Sampang (USC Vice Chairperson)
usaping may malaking kinalaman ang mga (AS): Wag din kayong mag-worry kasi baka MKule: Bilang kayo ay binubuo ng mga
isipin niyo na puro prinsipyo lang ang ipu- miyembro mula sa dalawang magkaibang Habang naglalayag sa ilog ng samu’tmag-aaral at mamamayan.
push. Di naman natin kakalimutan ang ating partido, paano ninyo pananatilhin ang inyong saring ideya ang ating pamantasan, ang
konseho ay dapat maging matatag sa
The Manila Collegian (MKule): Sa tingin mga proyekto kasi nire-recognize natin na pagkakaisa bilang isang konseho?
bilang student council, may pananagutan
pagsisiwalat sa mga tunay na nangyayari sa
niyo, what is the direction of this year’s USC?
tayo primarily din sa students so expect niyo Carlo Lorenzo (USC Councilor) (CL): Siguro lipunan. At sa pagtupad ng mandatong ito
Mariz Zubiri (USC Chairperson) (MZ): Gaya na din yung mas malalaking project, mas yung pag-upo ko sa USC, yung pag-upo naka-angkla ang turol ng uupong USC na
ng nasabi ko kanina, sa tingin ko, ito na nga katulad ng mga councilors at ng mga rep na mo sa USC hindi na siya yung pag-upo para binubuo ng mayoryang galing sa BIGKISyung panahon para ang USC ay magbitbit magbi-bridge sa atin kung ano yung mga dun sa party mo eh. Pag-upo na yun sa UPM at pinamumunuan ng tagapangulo
ng campaigns at activities and services, at gusto ng bawat local council
pagrerepresent ng pitong kolehiyo pati yung at pangalawang-pangulo na galing naman
sana hindi lang nakukulong dun sa Pedro
extension campuses, campus extension sa ASAP-Katipunan. Ngunit, hindi lamang
Gil at Padre Faura yung ibig sabihin natin Mark Romero: (USC Councilor) (MR) schools dun nga sa Coronadal, Baler, at sa natatapos sa paglalapit ng mga isyung
ng UP Manila. It’s time that we extend Results oriented...
Palo. Sa tingin ko iisa lang naman yung goal panlipunan sa mga estudyante ang gawaing
our efforts to reach the School of Health
namin that is to serve the students and the dapat matugonan ng uupong konseho. Higit
Sciences, and more integration with the UP AS: Results-oriented pa rin naman pero people.
Manila students na kailangan na iparating karagdagan dun, prinsipyo.
sa kanila na these are the issues that need
K
UDENT COUNCIL
SITY ST
ANG IKA-35 UP MANILA UNIVER
co
(USC Councilor), John Edward Tanchu ),
to the USC), Allia Maria Ysabell Acosta
rson
Rep
irpe
MP
Cha
(CA
(USC
ngin
iri
Dala
Zub
a
yliz
cesc
Mar
Fran
),
mart Macasaet (USC Councilor),
ian Sampang (USC Vice Chairperson
Nasa larawan, mula sa kaliwa: Ray
n Carlo Lorenzo (USC Councilor), Adr (CAS Rep to the USC), Rebekah Faith Tuparan (CD Rep to the USC), Jose
Joh
),
USC
the
to
Rep
(CP
irez
Ram
(USC Councilor), Romeo-Luis
Councilor), Ma. Cristina Tabag
ncilor), Mark Angelo Romero (USC
Charmaine Camille Manilay (USC Cou rmaine Joy Cabaña (CPH Rep to the USC)
Cha
Paolo Albaño (CM Rep to the USC),
ito, ngunit sila ay nagpabatid sa The
the USC) ay dumalo sa interview na
to
Rep
(CN
Dee
ie
Mar
ice
Ven
at
deus Mappatao (USC Councilor)
Mula sa Patnugot: Sina Nikolai Tha os ang interview at umalis nang mas maaga.
atap
mat
Manila Collegian na hindi nila
Features
25 MARCH 2013 | MONDAY
na mas makikita sa pagkakaluklok ng isang
minoryang tagapangulo ang hamon na
pag-isahin ang isang Unibersidad na hati sa
paniniwala at prinsipyong ipinaglalaban.
sana hindi lang maging project-centered
or event-centered, kung hindi ito na yung
panahon para magbitbit yung USC ng UP
Manila ng mga issues at mga kampanya
MKule: Bilang isang council, anong
magagawa niyong mechanism para
maparamdam sa mga estudyante ng SHS na
bahagi pa rin sila ng UPM?
MZ: So una, sa tingin ko, may mga projects
dun sa GPOA, as well as yung Bigkis, so wala
namang masama kung pagsasamahin yun
kasi una, yung mga... I believe yung caravan
ba? Tama ba? So, ayun. So, kasama siya
hand-in-hand, so I think na... Ayun, sino ba
yung may project ng caravan?
Raymart Macasaet (USC Councilor):
STRAW caravan? STRAW na gender? Yun.
So, STRAW caravan na lilipat-lipat sa ibang
colleges. So, ito-touch din natin yung School
of Health Sciences, yung three nga. Ididiscuss yung issues nila doon sa school nila,
and of course, issues ng side nila.
hindi lamang sa university, kung
hindi pati na rin sa PGH bilang tayo naman
ang Health Sciences Center at labas na rin sa
university at sa UP students.
Ang pangingibabaw ng isang prinsipyadong
konseho na taglay ang dalisay na
kagustuhang magsilbi sa mga estudyante at
sa mamamayan ang siyang magpapasiya sa
tagumpay ng konsehong uupo sa puwesto. AS: Siguro bilang vice chairperson din,
Sa laksang mga balakid na kinakaharap ng bilang convener ng LCSC, nandito yung
UPM sa kasalukuyan, tanging ang serbisyo mga reps natin, ang paiigtingin po nating
ng lideratong nakasandig sa kapakanan, mga kampanya ay hindi lamang po Kolehiyo
hindi lamang
ng Agham at
ng mag-aaral
Sining
ang
kundi pati ng
magiging
mamamayan,
mulat sa mga
“...SANA MAGING PANAHON
ang
siyang
panawagan
magpapatotoo
para sa mataas
NA SANA HINDI LANG MAGING
kung
ang
na state subsidy
PROJECT-CENTERED OR EVENTu u p o n g
sa kalusugan at
CENTERED, KUNG HINDI ITO
k o n s e h o
sa edukasyon,
NA YUNG PANAHON PARA
ay
isang
k u n d i
MAGBITBIT YUNG USC NG UP
konsehong
hahamigin,
magsusulong
i s a s a m a
MANILA NG MGA ISSUES AT
n
g
natin sa ating
MGA KAMPANYA...”
makabuluhang
kampanya ang
kaunlaran.
mga kolehiyo
MARYLIZ ZUBIRI
na
nasa
INCOMING USC CHAIRPERSON
MKule:
Sa
Pedro Gil kasi
tingin niyo, ano
naniniwala po
ang bago sa
ako na hindi
USC ngayon?
naman
sila
apathetic kundi kulang lamang po sa pagAS: So obviously, makikita niyo naman abot, kulang lamang sa paglapit ng tunay
na for the past two years, Bigkis has been na kalagayan. At kung magawa po natin
the dominant party in a sense that they yun, nakikita ko po na sama-sama po tayong
were able to clinch the standard bearers’ magtatagumpay sa anumang kampanya na
position, but now natutuwa tayo na ang ating ilulunsad.
Iskolar ng Bayan ay binalik ang konseho na
tunay na magsisilbi sa masa, hindi lang para MR: So apart from that, I actually want to
estudyante kung hindi para sa bayan.
advocate meaningful and sincere working
relationships among the councilors, apart
MZ: Sa tingin ko po, isa pang bago sa USC from our previous councils.
ay I believe, na sana maging panahon na
MZ: Yung sa AK naman, after ng STRAW
caravan ni Raymart ay magd-dwell din tayo
sa mismong integration ng mga UP Manila
students at SHS students. So, if possible sana
magkaroon ng exchange between the two
11
campuses. And well, kung ano talaga kung
ano yung natututunan ng different uhm...
Paano ba ‘to? Campuses or universities sa
isa’t isa. So yung specific plan of action
siguro, mapagmimitingan naman pagdating
ng semestral planning pero I believe, I’d
like to believe na as much as possible na
magkakaroon ng equal spaces sa lahat ng
projects kasi after all, we are after maximum
service to the students naman.
Bords Albaño (CM Rep to the USC): And
I think that includes Koronadal City, the
School of Health Sciences. I think that’s the
biggest respondent.
CL: Dagdag po dun sa mga concrete
projects namin nung 35th USC, siguro kapag
nagkaroon ng mga bagong polisiya o kahit
anong makakaapekto sa kanila, dahil part
pa rin naman po sila ng UP Manila, ipu-push
po natin na magkakaroon talaga ng student
representation mula sa kanila, at maririnig
po yung bawat boses sa Koronadal, sa Baler,
Aurora, at tsaka po sa Palo, Leyte.
H
indi nagtatapos sa pagkakahalal ang gampanin ng bagong konsehong
napili ng mga mag-aaral ng UPM. Sa pagsisimula ng kanilang termino sa
susunod na pang-akademikong taon, inaasahan ng bawat Iskolar ng Bayan
ang katapatan ng buong konseho sa pagsasakatuparan ng mga mabubulaklak
na salitang kanilang binitiwan bago ang kanilang pagkakaluklok sa puwesto.
Ang pagiging pula o asul ng bagong konseho – maging ang kanilang mga
pansariling layunin – ay hindi dapat makaapekto sa kanilang pagdadala
ng tapat na serbisyo sa bawat mag-aaral ng Unibersidad. Ang bawat
isyung noon ay nalimutang tugunan at ang bawat suliranin na gumagapi
sa karapatan ng bawat Iskolar ng Bayan ay inaasahang masosolusyonan sa
kanilang panunungkulan. Ang ika-35 USC ay inaasahang magiging sensitibo
sa pangangailangan ng bawat Iskolar na kanilang kinakatawan.
*pagsasalin sa Filipino ng salitang ‘metamorphosis’
12
News
MONDAY | 25 MARCH 2013
MGA FULUNG-VULUNGAN NG NAGJIJISANG
LOLA PATOLA
Oh-oh, Oh-oh, Oh-oh, Oh-no-no…Crezzy in laaaab Edishoooooown!
H
ellow-sagoow mga afows! Here na me na naman ang inyong evaaah loveliest
and seksiyest lowlaaaaah! Avaaaa! And noooow, ze end is near, as in berry berry
near. Malafeet na matafiws ang acadehmic yir twenteytwelb- twenteyterteen! Gagraduateshonens na naman ang iva kong mga afooooows! Taruuuush! At kahit
patapause na ang sem, may mga humahabols fa sa Shupfer Bouwlh ng mga ever
pasawayzzzz. Nakakalurkeeeeey! Katulad kaya siley ng oh-not-really-beautiful-liars
na adminishtreyshonens ng YuFiEm? Or eff na eff lang niley ang feeling na they run
the wooorld?! Here it gooseeee. :)
If ya layk it den yah shoulda put a ring on
it chismaaax numvah one: Push na push na
dicriminachonens ng UbermakapangLait
Guardzilla! Anetch itey nakakalurkeeey na
sumvong sa akin ng aking mga afows tungkol
sa jisang UbermakapangLait Guardzilla?!
Sey ng aking mga afows, nasa lavas sila ng
leybrery at magjijiwan ng vag. Ang iva naguusap, yung iva nagtatawanan fero dehins
naman naka-loud ang peg ng volume. Tapos
vigla-viglang saveeeh ng guardzilla, “Magiingay nanaman kayo sa loob. Yang mga ugali
niyo sa Pharm dadalhin niyo ditto, andami
daming nagrereview dito, Medicine pa, tapos
magiingay kayo sa loob.” Syempre in shock ang
peg ng aing mga afows. Dahil mej mej nagalit
ang aking jisang afows, nung pagfasok niya
ng finto ay medyo napalakas pero di naman
yung farang Hulk na lakas. Dehins naman
nagkaroon ng disturbiang sound at di naman
vumukas ng maximum level. Nung naka-upo
na ang aking mga afows sa loob, pinuntahan
sila ng guardzilla. Ang sumunod na ganap,
tinatanong ni guardzilla kung nagalit ang aking
afows. Sabi naman ng jisa kong
afow oo dahil iniinsulto
niya yung mga
ishtudyante.
Nanakot
ang
guardzilla
na
kukunin
niya
ang ID ng aking
afows.
Willing
naman si afow na
ibinigay fero nichallenge niya si
guardzilla na pati
siya ay irereport
niya. Dahil waley
na ma-sey si guard,
vinalik niya ang
usafan sa malakas na
pagvuvukas ng pinto
and so on. In the end,
nag-retreat si guardzilla.
Makapang-away ng mga
afows kong taga-Pharm,
guardzilla? At wait, sa
pagkakaalam ko, bawal kunin
ang ID ng estudyante kahit
sa mga ganyang sitwasyon?!
Uh-oh. Tsk tsk. Be careful,
guardzilla.
Respetows
naman para sa aking mga
afows.
If ya layk it den yah
shoulda put a ring on
it chismaaax numvah
two: Push na push ng
jisang JohnFRATs na
ma-pepito-manaloto
ang
kanilang
vrotherhood kahit
tapos
na
ang
elekshooowns! I
tot tapos na ang
mga elekshown
issue -tissues.
Pero wit, may
nagfafahavol
pa!
Chikaa
minute sa
jakin ng
jisa kong afows, meron daw jisang johnFrats
na pume-peg na mag-file ng lavan-lavan
sa jisang nanalong UberSaControvershii
kawnsilorness. Itey nanalong kawnsilorness
kasi ay napavalitang nang-harass ng jisa pang
kandideyt noong elekshowns. Ang johnFrats
na itey ay kinavivilangan ng jisang na-lost-inlove, as in na-lot-lot de leon sa elekshowns. Ang
chikaa, kafag na-diskwalipay or ma-impeaach
itey vagong kawnsilorness, makakafasok na sa
UberSaControvershii ang ka-vratherhood ng
johnFrats na itey. Ang masaklap fa, parehas
silang nasa jijisang farty. Avaa avaaa! Nafakadiverse nga nemen ng jinyong farty! Kahit
na magka-fartido eh nagkaka-agawan sa
pwestooo! Farang Philippines and Malaysia
lang na nag-aagawan sa Sabah! Jusmeee! Itey
namang johnFrats, witchikels pakialam kung
sino yung masasagasaan vasta makafasok ang
kanilang vrotherhood! Yung tunay? Anong
gustong ganap ng mga feefool?
If ya layk it den yah shoulda put a ring on it
chismaaax numvah three: See na see na ang
flaws ng ShiTyFAkityPolishy! Ivasuraaa
na yeeeeeeen kasama ng Nuhuh Leyt Fayment Polishy! Jisang
malungkot na valita ang nagpacreycrey sa akin ang kwinento sa
akin tungkol sa aking jisang afows
na nag-commit ng suicide, oh no,
finatay ng vulok na sistema ng YuFiEm
na jitago na natin sa namesung na Nuhuh Leyt Fayment Polishy. Jirap na jirap na
ang family ng aking afows pero dehins
siya na-admit sa Bracket E2 kungsen
waley na siya ipe-pay na tuition fee. But
wit, vakit may ishtudents na kahit may
iphone, ipod, at imac na lappytoppy
ay napunta sa vracket D? Kalurkeeeey!
VRACKET D?! Najiya naman ang
lowlah mo sa mga kagamitan
mo, at take note minsan baka
nakita fa kitang nakaSanuk na footwear! Sa
sovrang
fagpapakitey
nito ng flaws ng
S h i T y FA k i t y P o l i s h y ,
jijisipin ko fang may
kafit ang mga ganitey sa
admin.
Nakakalowkaaa!
Nasisira ang vangs ko sayo!
Sa adminishtreyshen, assess
assess rin ng mavuti. Be fair! And
givshung niyo nemen ang dafat
talaga natatanggap ng mga
deserving na ishtudents!
Nakaka-highbloood!
Nakakalurkeey! Presscons,
presscons
ebriwheeeere!
Ang daming nagaganap
kahit fatafows na jitey
academic
yir!
Eyen.
Shigeeey! Vavaaay na muney.
Manunuod fa ang inyong
irreplaceable na lowlah niyo
at ang inyong Lolo Upo ng
Must Be… Love fara makita si
Deeeeeeejaaaaaaaaaaaay!!
Charito! Hanggang sa
muli, aking mga afows
and fans! Labyu ol.
XOXO, Lola P.
ITANONG KAY
1
ISKO’t ISKA
Kung ikaw si Pangulong Aquino, ano
ang gagawin mo patungkol sa isyu sa
Sabah?
kung ako si PNOY ay.ipapadala ko si Ronaldo
Balkman para siya ang manakal nang mga
Malaysian. - kapitantutero, course na wala daw
kwenta
Sa halip na ipamudmod sa mga Moro ang
mga salitang “SURRENDER NA, OLATS TAYO SA
KALABAN.”, puspusan kong ipapatampok ang
mahusay na pag-uusap sa Malaysia upang igiit
na teritoryo natin ang Sabah. Kung mapilit pa rin,
magpapadala ako ng mga tropa upang samahan
ang kampo ni Sultan Kiram. Laban lang ng laban!
Tutal “efficient” pa rin naman, gagamitin ko ang
mga kasunduang nagpapatunay na obligasyon
dapat ng US na samahan tayo sa ganitong uri
ng labanan. ‘Yun nga lang, hindi Spratlys ang
Sabah. Baka hindi intersado ‘yung mga Kano. –
Ruby Tuesday, College of Medicine
Korapsyon, oo, korapsyon ang problema ng
ating bansa, kayo ang boss ko oo kayo nga
(ignores issue’ just being pangulong aquino) pilyongKERUbin
Dadalhin ko ang kapatid kong si Kris Aquino
para doon maipit sa bakbakan at mamatay. superhero ng ermita, 11-11***
Suriin ng maigi ang sitwasyon, kung wala na
talagang magagawa upang mabawi ang Sabah,
kausapin ang Sultan ng Sulu at pilitin siya na
huwag nang umatake pa, bilang ganti ay bigyan
ng incentives ang Sultan. Hindi natin kailangan
ng mas maraming kaguluhan. Pero kung ako si
Noynoy at matapang ako (o ayos lang na may
gulo sa taas, may gulo pa sa baba ng teritoryo
ng bansa), ipapa-imbestiga ko kung bakit
nagbabayad pa ng renta kung sa kanila na nga
talaga yung mahiwagang isla. Kung atin yun,
atin yun. – 2012-10202 whattheheyhey CM
kung ako si PNoy, ipupush ko ang claim ng
Pinas sa Sabah at hindi magduduwagduwagan
sa Malaysia. ipupush ko din ang claim ng Pinas
sa Spratly at hindi magduduwagduwagan sa
China. – ergo, Comsci
gagawin kong maruya – iskalawag, CAS
This is sparta. Laban
LegendaryShogun, CAS
2
kung
laban.
–
Ano ang inaaasahan mo sa bagong
USC?
This year’s USC will most likely be an active one.
Ngayon pa lang, nagsisimula na silang maglibot
sa buong UPM (in my point of view). So far, I
don’t feel any air of tension between them. I do
hope everyone in the USC does the job well. Axl’s tuning fork | BS Pharmacy | 2010-33377
GUSTO NANG ORAL SA USC. MAGORAL-AN SILA
MAGHAPON MAGDAMAG BEYBEH yay go Mariz
and Adrian! – kapitantutero, course na wala daw
kwenta
Inaasahan ko na ang bagong USC at CSCs ay
mas magiging visible at magsasagawa ng mga
may silbi at konkretong proyekto. Isa pa, sana
naman mapatunayan nung mga nanalong
artistahin na hindi lang sila puro looks at may
sense yung pagkapanalo nila. Oh well, mahirap
mag-expect, baka masaktan lang tayo. AW.
-AsyumerangDilag, CAS PolSci, 2012-*****
Militante at prinsipyadong pamumuno, push
natin ‘yan! – Ruby Tuesday, College of Medicine
Kung madami kayong “balak” na gawin at
pabutihin sa ating institusyon ay wag lang
natin paabutin hanggang sa “balak” na lamang
okay? Hindi uso ang kumilos, kaya kayo binoto
ng madla para kayo ang magpa uso nito –
pilyongKERUbin
harlem shake naman diyan bago magtapos ang
taon. - superhero ng ermita, 11-11***
Na gagawin nila ang mga sinasabi nila at kahit
hindi man tuluyang ma-PUSH ang mga hangarin
ay tapat na ipagtanggol ang karapatan ng mga
iskolar ng bayan at iba pang pinaninidigan ng
organisasyon – 2012-10202 whattheheyhey CM
Ayokong umasa. Baka masaktan lang. Lalo na
kay vc.. ayyyyy! Hehe chikabells - zZzzzz, 1211xx1, CAS
sana mas maayos ang AZ(Adrian-Zubiri) ngayon
kesa sa AZ(Alacapa-Zazza) last year na biglang
nagMIA yung “Z”. -ergo, Comsci
wag silang tumulad dun sa nakaraang AZ. –
iskalawag, CAS
Umaasa-6cyclemind. – LegendaryShogun, CAS
>> ISKOTISTIKS / FROM PAGE 7
its abandonment of the state’s responsibility
to educate its people by pushing SUCs to
find ways to generate their own funds. This,
in turn, can be considered as permission from
the government for SUCs to impose tuition
increase.
“For State Universities and Colleges like UP,
self-sufficiency and financial independence
means lesser budget from the government
and higher internally-generated income in
the form of increase in tuition and other fees,”
said Student Regent (SR) Cleve Kevin Robert
Arguelles in a speech he delivered in a public
consultation on the STFAP and Financial
Assistance Services revision proposal.
Additionally, SR Arguelles asserted in his
speech that the revision of the STFAP policy is
not the solution to the problem of UP.
“STFAP reinforces state abandonment causing
us to be disillusioned that it is indeed our
responsibility to finance education of those
who cannot afford. So, believe me or not,
in the long run, the real solution for UP is to
lessen its tuition cost and dismantle its STFAP
policy in the context of demanding greater
state subsidy from the government.” Arguelles
stated.
The STFAP also became a mechanism to
smokescreen tuition increase. In the previous
years, incoming students were placed under
the default Bracket B (P1,000 per unit), and
are only categorized under lower brackets
when they apply and have been approved for
STFAP appeals.
Recently, the default bracket has been raised to
Bracket A (P1,500 per unit), or the millionaire’s
bracket. All students are presumed to be
able to afford such and are further forced to
pay more for tuition until they are proven
otherwise.
The proposal to revise the STFAP does not
assure that the right to education will be
upheld. Although the proposal includes many
added benefits, it does not promise to cater
to the underprivileged.
Revising the said policy is not enough. The
real solution is to eradicate the policy from
the system and rollback the tuition fee.
The STFAP implementation is a failure.
Paradoxically, it aims to “financially assist”
students when education should have
been free and accessible. It is an insult to
the public character of UP.
14
Opinion
WANDERLUST
ACE VINCENT PONSECA MOLO
I
HAVE NEVER THOUGHT THAT ONE
can learn so much about things outside the
classroom within its concrete boundaries. I
have never known that life’s unseen lessons
can be discovered while listening to lectures
and discussions twice a week. I have never
imagined that a professor can be the greatest
adviser and life coach that one can ever have.
MONDAY | 25 MARCH 2013
CODE BLACK
2.25*
JEO ANGELO CHICO ELAMPARO
We have failed not only ourselves. More
especially, we have failed you. Then I began the
true value of hard work, especially in a world run
by hierarchy, meritocracy, and competition. We
must remember, time and again, that academic
superiority will never be enough for a person
once he/she is immersed in the real world. Time
and again, working hard will pay off in the future,
and will get you through the hardest life’s playful
trials.
Following the popular philosophy that grades are
just numbers and do not define one’s character
and capability, I should not be making a fuss You have imparted to us that virtue and
about these digits that might actually destroy righteousness is determined neither by faith
the dream of a one-point-something GWA, or nor economic capability, rather by the sincerity
provide relief that one is not only just merely of one’s desire to help and uplift others. Your
pasado. This may be the lowest of the grades unwavering commitment to inspire and educate
that I got from your subjects, which are the most street children, and recently, your effort to help
‘dreaded’ majors in our curriculum, but I see this the victims of the repressive ‘no late payment’as the most precious and fruitful one — it saved forced LOA policy of the UPM administration,
my life, literally and figuratively. Not only did it became an epitome of selflessness and
compassion.
gave me an assurance
I
admire
that I will wear a
LIFE NEVER ALWAYS GIVES AN UNO
your untiring
sablay this April, but
pursuit
to
ANYWAY.
it saved my life from
educate each
its
superficialities,
one of us on
particularly
that
the value of
of
ignorance,
history,
the
appreciation of our own
complacency, and mediocrity.
culture, and the honor of being a Filipino. Beyond
You have taught us that life is not as simple as belief in the law of karma and the ‘ripple effect,’
it seems. Having passed the UPCAT, graduated you have made us realize the great task that we
with honors from high school, and at the same were meant to do: to serve the nation, to serve the
time, having unemployed parents, I firmly held underserved, and to serve the people. It is of no
the logic that graduating from UP with honors is wonder why you always say that you are happy
synonymous to a good career and therefore, an and contented with your life, in the face of its
easy life. However, you have made us realize that simplicity and modesty. To follow your example
life goes otherwise. One must know as early as is a formidable challenge, which is immortalized
now that life itself, especially that of after leaving by your question at class: “Kumakain ka ba para
the realm of the university, is a great battlefield. Yet mabuhay, o nabubuhay ka ba para kumain?”
in this war that we are destined to face, one must
not be armed by good grades or honors alone. So there are reasons why I should not be ranting
Passion, dedication, determination, patience, and about this grade. This grade is the culmination
sometimes, sacrifice, should become the better of the three semesters that I have been under
weapons against the cruel demands of life. In your instruction, but those three semesters gave
the case of your subject, the passion of and need me important learnings beyond lessons on the
for reading seemed to have evaded me, and I histories and cultures of the Philippines, India
deserved to suffer the consequence. Life never and East Asia. Now that I am about to leave the
world that is UP Manila, I will always treasure your
always gives an uno anyway.
words of advice and wisdom, which are truly
You have made us work very hard because valuable, unforgettable, and irreplaceable. This
you believe that we should not settle for less, article is not an attempt to suck up to you or to
or yet, that we should be the best. As Iskolars change anything. But on a serious note, I would
ng Bayan, we are given the very rare privilege to like to take this chance to extend my deepest
study in the country’s best university, and that gratitude to you and your undying passion to
opportunity must not be put to waste. Having teach and to inspire.
the pride of studying at UP entails a responsibility
to be the best that we can be, for what we are as Sir E, thank you, and you will always be my
scholars ultimately dictates the direction that the favorite professor.
nation will take. Your tireless effort in shaping
us to be the scholars that we are supposed to
be is your way of giving back to the nation and *Since this is the last time that I will be writing for
the institution that witnessed your exemplary The Manila Collegian, I would also like to take this
intellect. Guilt had stricken me, because you had opportunity to thank the Filipino people, who have
to see the worst of us. Despite your constant been the reason for my education and to whom we
reminder to work hard, we have done otherwise. offer our cause. Serve the people!
D
EAREST ADMINISTRATORS, AFTER
hearing your statements during the UP
press con that happened on the 18th of March
at UP Diliman, it is obvious that you need to
be reminded of what really happened with
the recent “isolated” suicide case and what
the multitude of Iskolar ng Bayan think about
it and demand that you do. Let me clarify
that this letter is not pointing fingers. But
our devastation had triggered us to address
the lamentable situation and the prevailing
culture of repression in the University
under your watch. Hence, this open letter.
To the UP Manila
administrators
common problems the common Iskolar ng
Bayan endures. Poverty exists and this deeplyentrenched social problem can render the
parents of UP students incapable of paying for
their child’s matriculation. Maybe you would
refute this statement by saying that poverty does
not always have to be an excuse. But maybe too,
you don’t know what it is like to be poor.
But despite your outburst and tear-shedding
stunt during the much-publicized press con
and despite the entire UP community’s outrage
over her death, you remain adamant against the
absolute repeal of your no late payment policy.
Let us start with the incident itself and work our Where is the humanity in continuing to employ
a policy that slaughtered an innocent student?
way down to its ugliest repercussions.
How many more deaths must occur for you to
On March 15, at around three in the morning, believe that you are not only denying students of
while most of the students of UP Manila were fast their access to quality education but also taking
away
their
asleep, an unfortunate
fundamental
incident occurred: a
right?
Just
first year Behavioral
HOW MANY MORE DEATHS MUST
how much is
Science student took
OCCUR FOR YOU TO BELIEVE THAT
enough
for
her own life, allegedly
YOU ARE NOT ONLY DENYING
you?
to end all the pain and
STUDENTS OF THEIR ACCESS TO
suffering she has been
QUALITY EDUCATION BUT ALSO
But
dear
enduring ever since
TAKING AWAY THEIR FUNDAMENTAL
administrators,
she was “advised”
RIGHT? JUST HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH
the
student
to take a leave of
did not die in
FOR YOU?
absence from the
vain. She is
University. As you can
but a concrete
remember, she tried to
testament
fight for her right; she
youths yearn to be
even brought her parents to literally beg for the to how the
extension of your deadline. But everything was in educated against the dire conditions. Her death
vain. Deadlines are deadlines, you told her, so she represents all that is criminal and rotten in the
had no choice but to comply with your “advise” education system in the Philippines, and how
as per the memorandum you’ve circulated (dated UP and its students are greatly affected by such.
October 23, 2012). Nevertheless, to her, and to Her death exposed to the public how cruel a
the rest of us who remain critical of your actions, state university and its administrators can be
what that memo tries to convey is crystal clear: to poor but absolutely deserving students.
those students who cannot afford the price you And unfortunately, her death also proves how
put on education will be “advised” to leave UP difficult it is to call the attention of the UP Manila
administration to pressing matters; if anything,
immediately.
this incident tells the students that before they
Indeed, you have argued several times that there are noticed by their university’s administrators,
is no such thing as “forced” LOA, only “voluntary” one of them must die first.
because the operative word in your unmerciful
memorandum is “advised.” But then again, are you Just like your memorandum, what the UP
really attempting to fool UP students? “Forced” community asks of you, dear administrators is
and “advised”, if used by the highest policy- also crystal clear: repeal your no late payment
making body of an institution have the same policy, help address the financial constraints
denotation. Let us now refrain from filibustering experienced by a number of UP Manila students,
and employing dilatory tactics as the debate and enact policies that will genuinely cater to
over the existence of such a repressive policy has the interests of the students. Plain and simple.
already ended: FLOA exists and it killed a student. If you choose not to adhere to these, then you
might as well prepare to hide again in the secret
It is extremely disheartening that those who are passageways of PGH as more infuriated UP
trying to erode the public character of UP and students, faculty and workers will come storming
bar the students from entering the premier state your offices.
university are the administrators themselves
‘UP
Naming
Mahal’
goes,
– those who were appointed to maintain the As
tinig
namin,
sana’y
inyong
decade-old maxim of the University. Dear “ang
administrators, you were once UP students but dinggin.”
it appears that you are not acquainted with the
IBALIK ANG PAMANTASAN NG BAYAN!
IBALIK ANG U.P. SA BAYAN!
SCRAP STFAP!
ROLLBACK THE TUITION!
Opinion
25 MARCH 2013 | MONDAY
A BOX OF CHOCOLATES
Insert Transition*
JESSE NICOLE RUBIO SANTOS
S
O HERE IT IS – THE TRUTH ABOUT MY JOURNEY
through hell and back.
To say that this academic year has been rather difficult is a gross
understatement. I realized that along with the physical exhaustion
from everything I had to do came emotional stress that is even
more taxing to bear. I’ve been constantly in the middle of the tugof-war, with my academic requirements pulling me to one side,
and my fear of not finishing to the other. And I’m still sitting here,
writing this, while half of my mind is thinking about my half-baked
thesis that I’m forcing prematurely out of the oven. And I haven’t
even mentioned the challenges that my term in the publication
faced.
to hear it. The Iskolar ng Bayan is taught to be critical and vigilant,
but never ignorant. The contradictions in society have to be seen
for what they really are. In times like these, cowering to idiocy
is never an option. And action is the necessary consequence of
perceiving unfair realities.
As a soon-to-be graduate of this university, I’m stricken with grief
at the thought that I may be leaving UP Manila in shambles. For
the past week, it mourned and grieved not only for the loss of one
of its students, but also because of the dire situation it has been
forced to thrive in.
Hope is real and tangible. The worst place to be in is the state
of uncertainty, and this academic year is filled with uncertainties.
I found myself always
Let’s just say that when I heard “Everything is
looking for the light
Alright” by Motion City Soundtrack after the EIC
at the end of the
exam, I did not expect that this is where I’ll be ten
THE CHALLENGE THEN IS TO
tunnel, but it’s just
months after.
REVEAL THE TRUTH, EVEN IF IT IS
as elusive as my
INCONVENIENT OR EVEN IF THEY
diligence is when
Senior year is like a test of sorts. There’s the test
it comes to thesis
DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT. THE
of stamina, or how many requirements due
writing. Just when
the following day will it take to knock you out.
ISKOLAR NG BAYAN IS TAUGHT TO BE
everything
seems
There’s the test of faith, or how much failure and
CRITICAL AND VIGILANT, BUT NEVER
lost and chaotic,
disappointment can you handle. There’s the test
IGNORANT.
there’s always hope.
of skills and ability, or how far can you go in the
There’s always the
race. There’s the test of endurance, or what are you
next chapter. After
willing to do in order to finish. There’s the test of
the impossible possible.
beliefs, or whether you’ll compromise your principles along the all, we were built to make
way. There’s the test of strength, or how firm can you stand amidst
all the brazen and undignified attacks against those you love the You get what you give. This is the best song by the best band to
most. But most of all, there’s the test of character, or the test rather ever become a one hit wonder (I just had to say that). It is true, in
of what the four years in the University has shaped you into, and the sense that no deed goes unpaid, and everything has its due.
What you do now matters.
prepared you for.
***
Along with those tests come the most significant of lessons.
Not all battles are easy. There are some you have to fight more
than once to win. Challenges keep on coming, raining down hard
like it never did before, and creating its own version of hell week
that is seemingly unprecedented in cruelty. I made mistakes, some
of which I’ve made perennial excuses for. But on the other hand,
these also meant the birth of opportunities to do better, and to
learn. Every crisis is necessary for growth.
I received a grade of Incomplete in my thesis proposal class. And
when I did remove that Incomplete mark, the feeling of relief is
unmatchable.
Some people view this world selectively, in the way that they
want to see it, and not as how it really is. The challenge then is to
reveal the truth, even if it is inconvenient or even if they don’t want
I’m thankful for the people I’ve known and the experiences I’ve
had in this journey. I’m thankful for the transition in between
paragraphs. I may be bloodied and bruised afterwards, but I made
a promise to emerge alive. We will emerge alive.
Y: The Last Man’s Agent 355 said that endings have to be earned. In
the few days left that would determine my future, I have yet to
earn mine.
*I always reprimanded staff writers who fail to write transitions in
between paragraphs, like you can just jump from one discussion to
the next. In the same way, transitions in life are important; there has
to be something to lead you to something else. That’s why the journey
matters so much. That’s why you’ll never forget. That’s why you’ll learn.
SIGNOS
LIWANAG NG KATARUNGAN
KUHA NI KERWIN POBLETE LIM
15
The Trouble with Women
I
NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD WOMEN.
In my more than two decades of existence, I’ve been with
different women. I fooled around, played around and toyed
around with them. I may not have taken all of them seriously
but God, I did give everything that I could offer to some of
them, maybe even much greater than what I really could.
And that’s just about the irony of my whole puny existential
being: despite their perceived antagonism toward me, there’s
no denying that I still fall in love with the female human
species. Over and over and again.
Where am I going with all this, you ask? Well, for one, I am still
in the process of trying to figure out the entire Ivy fiasco. For
another, I cannot help but be bothered by the fact that every
woman I have taken seriously and loved has left me.
And again, I ask the heavens why.
The Valentine’s Day incident, as I fondly refer to it, saw me
reeling from a loss. I barely had the courage and strength to
lift myself from the cold floor of my condo’s roof deck and
stand on my feet. But I did. After all, it is but necessary that
I do. The following day, I tried calling her phone but it’s as if
she threw it away for reasons only she is aware of. I went to
her house but it was abandoned and locked from the outside.
I talked to random people who might know her but they were
just as clueless as I am. I revisited the places we used to go
to but there was no trace of her, not even her scent which I
am now learning to not remember. As hours turned into days
and days into weeks, I grew more tired and devastated. Things
became crystal clear and I have come to my realization: indeed,
a person who does not want to be found is impossible to find.
Maybe that is Ivy’s goal: to tire me and stop me from searching
her.
But why, I ask myself, did she leave me hanging on? Is this just
one of her occasional outbursts (they were plenty when she
was still here, I tell you)? Is this just a part of her swift change
in temperament? Are women really like that? Do they just take
the hearts of men in their palms, leave and never return again?
Am I still being reasonable or am I only filling this page with
sheer rancour because of Ivy’s sudden departure?
More than two weeks have passed and the gaping hole inside
my body still refuses to be stitched shut. It’s like the car crash
all over again, with the person I love leaving me for good. Yes,
Pablo’s metaphysical hole is still gaping – it yearns for the truth
to be known, for the whys to be answered, for the uncharted to
be traversed and for the secret to be revealed. It wants to listen
to Ivy’s reason, understand her, and then learn to let her leave.
For good. Slowly. Unlike what is happening right now.
But maybe that’s the deal about Ivy and the rest of the women
out there: they are too complex to be understood. Every mood
swing and every change of opinion will amount to something
eventually. I never really understood women but maybe it’s
because it is pointless. After all, we are who we are, right?
Maybe I need to cope without Ivy and her reasons.
Maybe it’s really the end of our story.
Maybe I’ll end my year-long column here.
Maybe that’s how it is with life: we win some and then we lose
some.
P.S.
As to why women leave me, I still don’t know. But maybe I’m
the problem, not them, if you know what I mean.
16
I
Features
MONDAY | 25 MARCH 2013
n a society where the government abandons its sworn duty to serve the
interests of its people, the citizens have no choice but to obtain justice
using their own hands.
Such is the case of Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram, heir of the Sultan of
Sulu and his 200 followers who crossed from Tawi-Tawi to Lahad Datu,
Sabah in Malaysia to assert their rightful claim as owners of the said
territory. The Sultanate of Sulu, led by Sultan Jamalul Kiram asserts that
his lineage and consequently, the Philippines, has the right to claim Sabah
as supported by historical accounts.
As the Aquino government became passive on the Sabah claim, lives are
endangered as the Malaysian government chose to adopt violence in
flushing out Kiram’s followers. And through this calloused move, Filipino
civilians are indirectly affected. Since the start of the bloody skirmish on
March 1, 62 Filipinos have been killed, and hundreds of Filipino civilians
were displaced. More so, the Aquino government’s spineless actions in
addressing the Sabah issue exemplify how the current regime is willing to
sacrifice the nation’s sovereignty in appeasing another country.
Clearly, in the face of the inability of a government to be of service to its
people, there is nothing to be done except for the oppressed to stand up
and fight their own struggle.
ASSERTION
In order to contextualize the circumstances
that led to the Sabah crises, it is imperative to
discuss the main premise of the issue – that
is, the historical claim of the Sulu Sultanate
on Sabah.
Sabah, also known as North Borneo, is a
territory which has the total land area of
29,000 square miles; if compared to the
size of the island of Mindanao, Sabah is
slightly larger by 8,000 square miles. Sabah
is 29 kilometers from Tawi-Tawi and is 1000
miles from the Malaysian capital, Kuala
Lumpur. Historically, the Philippines and
Borneo comprise a single economic, political
and cultural entity and thus, according to
scientific experts, the people from the two
territories comprise only a single population
which has similar characteristics such as
skin color and have the same set of cultural
norms and traditions.
Historical accounts explain that in 1704, the
Sultan of Borneo gave Sabah to the Sulu
Sultanate as a reward for the Sulu Sultanate’s
aid of fighting the enemies and squashing
a rebellion for the ouster of the former. The
Sulu Sultanate has acquired the rights of the
land since then.
In January 22, 1878, the Sultan of Sulu rented
Sabah to Baron de Overbeck and Alfred Dent
for 5000 Malaysian dollars and eventually,
increased to 5300 Malaysian dollars. In
this 1878 meeting, a lease agreement was
crafted between the parties which stated
that Dent and Overbeck are just leasing
(padyak) North Borneo. It should be noted
that the 1878 agreement stipulated that
from 1878 onwards, the Sultanate of Sulu
should be paid the said amount. Thus, the
Sultanate of Sulu receives 5,300 ringgit
(which roughly amounts to P77,000) every
year from the Malaysian Embassy. Overbeck
eventually sold the rights for the territory
to Dent where the latter formed the British
North Borneo Company. In 1881, the British
North Borneo Company was recognized
by the British Crown and the company was
given administrative powers to govern the
territory. In 1903, the British North Borneo
Company prodded the Sultanate of Sulu
to re-affirm the 1878 lease agreement by
requesting a re-issue of the said agreement
and to increase the rent for the territory. In
1946, the rights of the British North Borneo
Company to Sabah have been transferred
to the British crown. Since then, the British
government maintains that Sabah is now
under their sovereign jurisdiction. Also,
according to the heirs of Sultan of Sulu,
the British crown wrongly interpreted the
payment of 5,300 ringgit as cession money
rather than for lease—which is now one of
the main premises of the assertion of the
Sultanate on Sabah.
The Philippine government under the
Diosdado Macapagal administration has
initiated various efforts to assert the claim
of the Philippines over Sabah. In June 1963,
leaders from the then Malaysia, Philippines,
and Indonesia released a document which
affirms the Philippines’ claim over Sabah. In
1964, various dialogues transpired between
the three nations in Bangkok, Thailand
and Phnom Penh, Cambodia to tackle the
claim of the Philippines over Sabah. And on
January 12, 1968 during President Ferdinand
Marcos’s administration, Marcos and Minister
Rahman of Malaysia released a document
which states that talks for the acquisition
of Sabah should be done immediately. This
has been the last documented effort of the
Philippine government with regard to the
acquisition of Sabah.
Since the Marcos regime, all succeeding
terms did not initiate any efforts to claim
Sabah.
The recent standoff between the followers
of the Sulu Sultanate and the Malaysian
government is supposed to be the wakeup call for the Aquino administration
to initiate a review of policy regarding
the country’s claim on Sabah. Historical
documents and accords inked by leaders of
concerned parties suggest that the right of
the Philippines on Sabah is just. Historically,
groups of Mindanao descent such as the
Tausug and Maranao have inhabited the
island long before the territory was ceded to
the Federation of Malaysia. History has and
has always been in favor of the country in
claiming Sabah; the government should not
cower in fear and not be a lapdog of a foreign
power by not exercising any concrete move
for the acquisition of Sabah.
STRUGGLE
The Sabah standoff is not only limited to the
assertion of the Sabah claim but it is also
a manifestation of issues that perennially
plagues the Philippines. For one, the
sizable Filipino population in Sabah is now
threatened to be displaced by the Malaysian
armed forces. It is said that the population of
Filipinos has ballooned during the time when
the Moro National Liberation Front and
the Philippine government waged war
Axes of Power
SCRUTINIZING THE ISSUES IN THE SABAH CONFLICT
ARIES JOSEPH ARMENDI HEGINA
ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL JOHN GALINATO ESTEMBER
on each other. This is only a manifestation
of the volatile peace situation in Mindanao
which the government fails to resolve until
now. Moreover, if the government is serious
in adapting a holistic and encompassing
peace framework for Mindanao, the Aquino
government should have included the
demands of Kiram and his people.
Another issue that is being highlighted
by this event is that of the said “double
standard” of the Aquino administration in
addressing territorial claims. It could be seen
that the current government has been very
vocal in asserting the right of the Filipino
people to claiming Panatag Shoal and the
Kalayaan Group of Islands while on the other
hand, it is deliberately avoiding to taking
a stand on the Sabah claim. The interest of
the government in the oil and natural gas
deposits on the aforementioned territories
has far eclipsed its sworn mandate to serve
the Filipinos living in Sabah. Secessionist
moves instigated by a stronger Muslim
Mindanao stemming from the possible
annexation of Sabah may be averted
as a result of the deliberate and
tactical passivity of the Aquino
government on the Sabah issue.
The Sabah standoff is the
climactic episode of the
continuing struggle of the Moro
people for self-determination.
The Sultanate’s followers
traveled to Sabah in the
hopes that the justifiable
claim
of
t h e i r
lineage
o v e r
Sabah
will be
recognized.
H o w e v e r,
the
inutile
g ove r n m e n t
only responded
that theirs is a
hopeless cause.
The government
should exert all
efforts to assert
its
claim
over
Sabah. That move
would only be the
feasible and justiciable
action for this
government to adopt if it is serious in
affirming its mandate to be of service
to its citizens.
Inaction does not translate to
neutrality. Rather, it is the affirmation
of the abusive status quo. In this case
where the government continues to
remain passive on the issue, the
people should be the first ones to
instigate calls for the government to
forward the nation’s interest.