02
07.01.09
On third year of TFI implementation
Only 7 in every
1,000 UPD students
granted free tuition
Marjohara Tucay
O
nly 162 out of over 22,000 students enrolled in UP Diliman benefit
from free tuition this school year through the Socialized Tuition
and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP).
The 162 students who qualified for the lowest brackets in
both the numeric and alphabetic bracketing schemes (ABS)
of the STFAP constitute less than a percent of the total 1,463 students who applied under the program,
based on data recently obtained from the Office
of Scholarships and Student Services (OSSS).
(See table 1)
Following the implementation of
the revised ABS this year, which
expanded the family income
range of students in the lowest bracket E, students eligible for free tuition increased to 162 from
133 last year.
cont. on pg 3
03
Students meet BOR
with protests
05
Boarding Game
08
Paano maghanap ng
mga nawawala
02
Balita
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
Students
meet BOR
with protests
Philippine Collegian
Unanswered demands
SR-select still blocked from taking seat
Pauline Gidget R. Estella
S
tudent organizations from UP
Los Baños (UPLB) and UP Diliman gathered in Quezon Hall
during the June 25 Board of Regents
(BOR) meeting, to protest the still
pending confirmation of the new Student Regent (SR)-select and the noncollection of student fees in UPLB.
In a brief dialogue with the students, UP President Emerlinda Roman said Bañez can take her oath
in the next BOR meeting, provided
that she submits an audited financial
statement of the UPLB University
Student Council (USC) during her
term as chair.
Bañez, who was unanimously
chosen by the general assembly of
student councils as SR on March 14,
sat only as an observer in the last two
meetings of the BOR.
Meanwhile, the UPLB administration has stopped this semester the
collection of student fees, which fund
the USC and the Perspective, the official student publication of UPLB.
“The UPLB administration
should continue collection of the
P45.50 for the student fund within
the month of July,” said Vice President for Legal Affairs Theodore Te in
a memorandum issued on June 24.
Te added that May 8 memorandum of Student Affairs Director Vivian Gonzales mandating the noncollection of student fees should be
withdrawn once UPLB Chancellor
Luis Velasco signs an interim agreement with the students.
“Time is of the essence because the
UPLB USC and the Perspective cannot
function without funds,” said Te.
Breached agreement
Members of the USC and Perspective and Assistant to the Chancellor Emmanuel Abraham formed
in May an interim agreement stating
that the UPLB administration shall
continue the collection of student
fees during the first semester. However, according to USC Chair Pamela
Pangahas, no student fees were collected starting June 2, the first day of
registration.
The Perspective will lose an estimated P360,000 this semester, while
the USC will lose P45,000, if the student fees are not collected.
Perspective Editor in Chief Arbeen
Acuña said the administration has
breached the students’ right to information because of less space for critical
content in the paper. The publication,
whose first issue for the school year
consists of only five half page-sized
pages, is currently using the funds left
over by the previous term.
Abraham earlier said that the
UPLB administration stopped collecting student fees in accordance
with the provisions of the new UP
charter saying “autonomy in all matters of editorial and fiscal policy shall
be guaranteed” to student councils
and student publications.
Bañez said the scheme is “a wrong
interpretation” of the UP Charter,
adding that it has crippled UPLB’s
student institutions.
Threatened
representation
UPD USC Vice Chair Jaqueline
Eroles said the observer status of Bañez threatens student representation
in the highest policy-making body of
the university. The Board deliberates
on issues which bear most on students,
such as tuition increases, she added.
Gonzales earlier filed a formal
charge against the UPLB-USC for
academic year 2008-2009, headed by
then-Chairperson Bañez, for failing
to settle their cash collections for the
2008 Fair and for not drafting a budget at the start of the term.
Bañez said she could not give the
definite date on when she could submit the financial report, as the former
USC has yet to reconvene.
Another case was earlier filed
against Bañez by the UPLB Office of
Student Affairs for “deliberate discourtesy” during a discussion with
college secretaries. Bañez added that
she has already issued a formal apology, as ordered by the Student Disciplinary Tribunal.
Students in different UP units
will hold protest rallies during the
next BOR meeting in UP Manila on
July 31 to assert the confirmation of
Bañez, said Pangahas. q
UP President Emerlinda Roman parries
questions from Diliman and Los Baños
students after the BOR meeting at the
Quezon Hall on June 25. (Top) Earlier,
students, faculty and employees from
different organizations staged a picketprotest, demanding the BOR to confirm
Charisse Bañez as student regent and to
compel the UPLB admin to collecti student funds. They also called for an end
to all forms of harassment and repression to university students and to all its
other constituents (Left). Om Narayan
Velasco, Chris Martin Imperial
Tala-aralan: Lagay ng edukasyong tersyaryo sa Pilipinas
Marjohara Tucay
P
angako ng isang disenteng
trabaho at maginhawang buhay
ang nagtutulak sa mahigit
dalawang milyong Pilipinong
nagkokolehiyo
ngayong
taon
na
makatapos ng pag-aaral.
Laganap man ang tanggalan sa
mga kumpanya at kakaunti ang mga
trabahong maaaring pasukan ng mga
propesyunal sa Pilipinas, hindi hamak
na mas madali pa ring makakuha ng
trabaho ang mga nakapagtapos ng
kolehiyo, kung ihahambing sa mga
nakapagtapos
ng
elementarya
o
hayskul, ayon sa pandaigdigang ulat ng
Asian Development Bank (ADB) ukol sa
lagay ng ekonomiya noong 2008.
Ngunit nananatiling pribilehiyo
ang kolehiyo sa bansa dahil sa taas
ng matrikula, kakulangan ng mga
kagamitan at pasilidad, at patuloy
na pagliit ng pondong inilalaan ng
pamahalaan sa edukasyon.
Ihahayag ng mga sumusunod na
tala ang lagay ng edukasyong tersyaryo
ngayong lalong hindi nakasasapat
ang diploma sa mababa o mataas na
paaralan upang makakuha ng trabaho:
Limitadong pagpasok
Kasalukuyang populasyon ng Pilipinas,
ayon sa taya ng National Statistics
Office (NSO): mahigit 92 milyon
Bilang ng kabataang Pilipinong nasa
hustong edad na 15-24 na taon upang
makatuntong
sa
kolehiyo
noong
2003, ayon sa National Statistical
Coordination Board (NSCB): halos 16
na milyon
Bilang ng kabataang nakatatapos ng
hayskul ngunit hindi na nakatutuloy
sa kolehiyo, ayon sa 2003 Functional
Literacy, Education and Mass Media
Survey (FLEMMS) ng NSO: isa sa bawat
lima
Dami ng kabataang hindi nag-aaral
dahil nagtatrabaho na o naghahanap ng
ikabubuhay: 30 porsyento
Dami ng kabataang hindi nag-aaral dahil
sa mataas na gastusin sa edukasyon: 20
porsyento
Dami ng kabataang tapos ng hayskul
ngunit walang trabaho, ayon sa 2009
Labor Force Survey ng NSO noong Abril:
32 porsyento
Dami ng kabataang nakatuntong ng
kolehiyo ngunit walang trabaho: 22
porsyento
Dami ng kabataang walang trabahong
ngunit
tapos
ng
kolehiyo:
21
porsyento
Buwanang kita sa mga trabahong hindi
nangangailangan ng degree sa kolehiyo,
ayon sa National Wages and Productivity
Commission (NWPC): P5,000 pababa
Buwanang kita sa mga trabahong
nangangailangan ng degree sa kolehiyo:
P10,000 pataas
Mataas na bayarin
Halagang sinisingil ng mga pribadong
pamantasan para sa bawat yunit sa
kolehiyo, ayon sa tala ng National Union
of Students in the Philippines (NUSP):
mula P1,000 hanggang P3,700
Halagang sinisingil ng mga state
universities and colleges (SUCs), ayon
sa tala ng NUSP: mula P50 hanggang
P1,500
Arawang gastos ng isang pamilyang
binubuo ng anim, ayon sa NWPC: P917
Pagtaas ng halaga ng matrikula kada
yunit sa mga pribado at pampublikong
pamantasan sa bansa sa pagitan ng 2002
at 2008: mula P230 tungong P416
Itinaas ng laboratory fee at iba pang
bayarin sa mga pribadong pamantasan
sa National Capital Region ngayong
taon: hanggang 200 porsyento
Bilang ng kabataang nakatutuntong sa
kolehiyo ngunit di nakatatapos, ayon sa
FLEMMS: dalawa sa bawat 25
Bilang ng mga pribadong pamantasan sa
bansa noong 2007: 1,465
Kasalukuyang bilang ng mga pribadong
pamantasan: 1,538
Bilang ng SUCs noong 2007: 382
Kasalukuyang bilang ng SUCs: 111
Bilang ng mga pribadong pamantasang
nagtaas ng matrikula ngayong taon,
ayon sa Commission on Higher Education
(Ched): isa sa bawat lima
Itinakda
ng
Ched
na
limitasyon
sa pagtataas ng matrikula sa mga
pribadong pamantasan: wala
Bilang ng mga pribadong pamantasang
nasa Top 5,000 corporations sa Pilipinas,
sa tala ng Securities and Exchange
Commission noong 2000: 21
Pondong inilaan ng pamahalaan sa
SUCs ngayong taon, ayon sa General
Appropriations Act: P20.8 bilyon
Pondong inilaan ng pamahalaan sa
sektor ng edukasyon, mula primarya
hanggang tersyaryo, ngayong taon:
P178.8 bilyon
Pondong nakalaang ipambayad-utang
ng gobyerno: P252.5 bilyon
Halagang nararapat ilaan ng gobyerno
upang makapagbigay ng edukasyon
na may mataas na kalidad, ayon sa
rekomendasyon ng United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO): P280 bilyon
Walang trabaho
Bilang ng nagsipagtapos ng kolehiyo
ngayong taon, ayon sa CHED: 900 libo
Bilang ng mga walang trabaho ngayon,
ayon sa NSO: halos 700 libo
Tinatayang bilang ng mga mag-aaral sa
kolehiyo ngayong taon, ayon sa Ched:
2.6 milyon
Bilang ng magbubukas na trabaho
sa bansa ngayong taon, ayon sa
Department of Labor and Employment:
20 hanggang 30 libo
Bilang ng magbubukas na trabaho
pagdating ng 2010 sa mga kumpanyang
business process outsourcing (BPO),
ayon sa Ibon Foundation: 940 libo
Kasalukuyang bilang ng trabahong
magbubukas sa mga kumpanyang BPO:
320 libo
Kasalukuyang bilang ng Pilipinong
Cont. on pg 3
Balita
Philippine Collegian
03
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
On third year of TFI implementation
Only 7 in every 1,000 UPD
students granted free tuition
from pg 1
However, only four freshmen who
applied under the STFAP are entitled
to free tuition and will be receiving
stipends, lower than the record of 11
students last year.
Under the ABS, which applies
to students who first enrolled in the
university from 2007 onwards, students who do not apply for socialized
tuition pay the base tuition of P1,000
per unit. Fees and benefits applicable
to older students are determined
under the numeric scheme, with the
base tuition of P300.
The figures prove that STFAP is a
“mere token” for students affected by
tuition and other fee increases, said
National Union of Students in the
Philippines Chair Alvin Peters. “This
data has unmasked the real objective
of STFAP, which is to give credence
to a grand overhaul to tuition rates in
UP,” Peters said.
Splitting bracket E
As the new ABS splits bracket E
into two, the total number of students
in this bracket increased by almost
200 percent, to 137 from 47 last year.
Bracket E now covers students
with an annual family income of up
to P135,000, from P80,000 in the old
scheme.
Bracket E2 entitles students with
family incomes of P80,000 or less to
free tuition and other fees, and a semestral stipend of P12,000. Students
under bracket E1, with incomes ranging from P80,001 to P135,000, enjoy
only free tuition.
Out of the total 1,399 students
who applied under the new ABS, 114
qualified for Bracket E1 and 23 for
Bracket E2.
According to the OSSS, of the total 2,297 freshmen who applied under
the new STFAP, more than 46 percent
were assigned to bracket C and will
pay P600 per unit. Almost 30 percent
of freshmen, meanwhile, fell under
bracket D and would be paying P300
per unit. (See table 2)
Meanwhile, of the 64 applicants
from pg 2
15 taong gulang pataas na walang
trabaho, ayon sa Labor Force Survey ng
NSO noong Abril: 4.4 milyon
Dami ng estudyante sa kolehiyo
ngayong taon na kumukuha ng
agriculture, forestry, fisheries at mga
kaugnay na kurso: 5,200
Dami ng Pilipinong tali ang kabuhayan
sa agrikultura, ayon sa huling tala ng
NSO noong 2002: 5.5 milyon
Kasalukuyang bilang ng mga trabaho
para sa mga propesyunal sa bansa,
ayon sa NSO: 1.6 milyon
Kabuuang bilang ng mga estudyanteng
kumukuha ng mga kurso para sa mga
in-demand na trabaho sa labas ng
for the numeric scheme, only 25 students were assigned under brackets
1 to 5 and will not be paying tuition.
The remaining 39 students will be
paying P75 to P300 per unit under
brackets 6 to 9.
As of June 11, the total number of
STFAP applicants for both alphabetic
and numeric schemes decreased by
almost 23 percent to 1,463 from 1,901
last year. According to the OSSS, the
total does not include applications
still being processed in July.
Cutting subsidies
Student Regent-select Charisse
Bernadine Bañez said the decreasing
number of stipend grantees shows
the “commercial thrust of the university” that seeks more revenues while
decreasing the spending alloted for
student subsidy.
Bañez said, “Ang nararapat nating tingnan ay hindi ang pagtaas
ng bilang ng nasa bracket E, [kung
hindi] ang pagbaba ng bilang ng mga
nabibigyan ng stipend.”
Engineering professor Edgardo
Atanacio and economics professor
Emmanuel Esguerra recommended
the current STFAP ABS in a January
report, as “it entails the least increase
in total subsidy for students among
other options [for the revision of
STFAP], and has a moderate financial
implication on the university.” According to the report, ABS decreases tuition revenue of the university by only 9 percent, compared to
other options which would slash 7 to
11 percent of the university income
from tuition.
ter, the lowest turnout since 2006.
(See table 3)
Out of 18 colleges in Diliman, 11
registered lower freshman enrolment
this semester. The Asian Institute of
Tourism registered the sharpest decrease, from 52 freshmen last year to 27.
Five degree programs in UP
Diliman had no freshmen enrollees,
namely, Home Economics, Physical
Education and the three courses of
the Filipino department.
As of press time, UP President
Emerlinda Roman refused to comment on the decreasing turnout of
freshmen enrolment, saying the administration is already studying its
cause and the findings are expected
to be released in July.
Bañez said the decrease in freshman enrolment shows that UP is
“no longer the default university of
choice.” Most students would prefer to
enrol in private universities with better facilities than UP, but with “almost
the same tuition rates,” she added.
“The downward trend in enrolment is a strong manifestation that
students can no longer afford UP
education,” Peters said. He added
that the real solution would be to
rollback the tuition and not to revise
the STFAP. q
Table 1: Number of Diliman students with free tuition
Bracket
1-5
(old numeric
scheme)
Total
students
with free
tuition
Total
enrolment
Students with
free tuition:
total
enrolment
Year
Total
STFAP
applicants
2007-2008
1,450
177
30
207
25,581
0.81
2008-2009
2009-2010*
1,901
1,463
86
25
47
137**
133
162
23,763
22,000***
0.56
0.74
E
Source: Office of Scholarships and Student Services, Office of the University Registrar
*as of June 11, 2009
**total of brackets E1 and E2
***estimate
Table 2: Result of STFAP bracketing for freshmen
Year
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010*
A
42
24
16
B
176
166
77
C
668
653
258
Bracket
D
110
88
162
E
34
25
-
E1
45
E2
4
Total
1,030
956
558
Source: Office of Scholarships and Student Services
*as of June 26, 2009
Table 3: Freshman enrolment, 2006-2009
Year
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
Number of UPCAT
Qualifiers
4,480
3,825
3,826
3,826
Number of
Enrollees
2,939
2,411
2,330
2,297
Percent of qualifiers who
enrolled in UP
66
63
61
60
Source: Office of Scholarships and Student Services, Office of Admissions
Grim warning
Downward trend
While the total number of enrollees for UP Diliman has yet to be
determined, freshman enrolment for
this year has decreased nominally
from 2,330 last year to 2,297, according to the data recently obtained from
the Office of the University Registrar
(OUR).
Of the total 3,826 high school
students who qualified for Diliman,
only 60 percent enrolled this semesbansa (nursing, education, information
technology at maritime), ayon sa tala
ng Ched noong Hunyo: 2.2 milyon
Bilang ng mga Pilipinong lumuwas
sa ibang bansa noong 2008 upang
magtrabaho,
ayon
sa
Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration:
1.4 milyon
Dami ng Pilipinong lumuluwas sa ibang
bansa matapos magkolehiyo, ayon sa
ulat ng NSO noong 2007: mahigit 10
porsyento q
Sanggunian: National Statistics Office, National
Statistical Coordination Board, Commission on
Higher Education, National Union of Students in the
Philippines, Functional Literacy, Education and Mass
Media Survey, General Appropriations Act of 2009,
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, United Nations Human Development
Report, Department of Labor and Employment, Ibon
Foundation Inc., Securities and Exchange Commission,
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
qRep. Mong Palatino of the Kabataan Partylist warns students on the consequences of changing the charter in a forum held
by Kabataan Kontra Chacha at La Salle - College of Saint Benilde on June 23. Kabataan Kontra Chacha, a youth alliance against
charter change, calls for the youth and citizens to oppose chacha and unite for genuine social change. Chris Martin Imperial
04
Balita
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
Philippine Collegian
Over a year after initial deliberations
Raymundo's tenure still uncertain
Hannah Chan
M
ore than a year and a half
after her initial application
for tenure, assistant professor Sarah Raymundo’s status remains
uncertain, as the Sociology Department remains silent on the official
reason for denying her application
despite her fulfilment of all the academic requirements for tenure.
The College Executive Board
(CEB) and the Office of the ViceChancellor for Academic Affairs
(OVCAA) have endorsed to the
chancellor the granting of tenure to
assistant professor Sarah Raymundo,
despite the sociology department’s
vote against it.
Raymundo narrated in her June
24 letter to Chancellor Sergio Cao
that members of the College of Social
Sciences and Philosophy CEB voted
7-1 in June in favour of granting her
full tenure. The OVCAA stated in a
June letter to Cao that “there should
be no obstacle to her tenure based on
[her] records,” Raymundo added.
To be given tenure, an assistant
professor must meet the minimum
requirements of a master’s or equivalent degree, a satisfactory or better
teaching performance, and sole or
lead authorship in a refereed journal.
The tenured faculty of the professor’s department sends a recommendation for tenure to the CEB, which
then endorses and forwards it to the
OVCAA. The grant must then be
approved by the chancellor, the UP
President, and the Board of Regents.
As of press time, the result of the
June 29 meeting regarding Raymundo’s tenure between the chancellor
and representatives of the sociology
department has yet to be disclosed.
The CEB and OVCAA released
their endorsements after the March
2009 decision of the sociology department not to recommend Raymundo
for tenure. Department of Sociology
Chair Randolf David said Raymundo
failed to secure two-thirds of the vote
of the tenured faculty, with five members voting in her favour, four against,
one abstaining, and one in favor of
waiving the decision for a year.
Earlier, in June 2008, the department had recommended Raymundo
for tenure with a 7-3 vote, Raymundo
stated in her letter to Cao.
Those who voted against the grant
of tenure sent a separate report to the
OVCAA detailing their reservations
about Raymundo’s performance in
the department, Raymundo narrated
in her letter.
Following the order of the
OVCAA for those who voted in her
favour to justify their position, the
tenured faculty questioned Raymundo in July last year regarding her participation in a press conference held
about disappeared students Karen
Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan. She
was also made to explain her involvement in statements released by CONTEND and All UP Academic Employees Union-Diliman (AUPAEU).
In November 2008, Raymundo
added in her letter to Cao, then chair
Clemen Aquino of the sociology depart-
Looking at the missing
B
qStudents view mounted photos at Gallery I, Faculty Center on June 26 during the
opening of an exhibit commemorating the third year anniversary of the involuntary
disappearance of UP students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan.
Contributed photo
W
orkers of the University
Hotel (UH) are calling
for a P2,000 across the
board salary increase after rejecting
the profit sharing scheme which its
management proposed in a January
15 meeting, held to renegotiate their
2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The proposed increase per employee will be given in installments,
with P800 in the first year of implementation, P700 in the second and
P500 in the third, said Melchor Madrideo, president of UH Workers’
Union (UHWU).
The 28-year-old hotel is “a semiprivate establishment” which does
not receive any subsidy from the
government and is a special incomegenerating project of the university.
The hotel turns over two percent of
its gross income to UP.
Under profit sharing, meanwhile,
the UH Board of Overseers will determine the percentage of the hotel’s
net profit for the year to be distributed to the 45 workers. Each employee
will receive a share proportionate to
their monthly salaries, which range
from P7,000 to P15,000.
UH Residential Manager Martin
Gregorio said the management prefers
profit sharing because the hotel would
incur losses if it tries to sustain even
half of the increase requested by the
union, which would total more than
P22,000 annually for all the workers.
The management and UHWU
are yet to reschedule their next renegotiation meeting after it was can-
celled on June 25.
But profit-sharing focuses only on
maximizing profits for the hotel at the
expense of workers’ interests, said former UHWU president Alejandro Jaca.
“Kailangan na ng dagdag-pasahod dahil hindi na sapat [ang] kinikita namin upang tugunan ang mga
pangangailangan ng mga pamilya
namin, lalo pa’t tumataas ang presyo
ng mga bilihin,” said Madrideo.
Not premature
Gregorio said the Union’s proposal for the salary hike is too early
because the existing CBA is only halfway through its five-year effectivity.
Jaca, however, said the proposal
for the increase is timely as the workers can no longer manage their family
expenses within their salaries amid
Cont. on pg 10
sity rules explicitly prohibit the use
of non-academic criteria in deciding
the matter of tenure. Doing so would
amount to nothing less than a trespass against academic freedom.”
On the reversal of the earlier decision in favor of Raymundo’s tenure,
David declined to further explain details of the reservations of the tenured
faculty with regard to Raymundo’s
“performance in the department and
her contribution as a teacher.”
AUPAEU President Ramon
Guillermo questioned the criteria for
the non-recommendation and said
that Raymundo has the right to be
informed on the bases for the department’s decision against the granting
of her tenure. q
Badya ng Panganib
JM Ragaza
Univ Hotel workers demand
wage hike, not prof it sharing
Pauline Gidget R. Estella
ment informed her that the tenured faculty decided on non-recommendation.
Aquino issued an order for Raymundo not “to show up for classes until further notice.” Raymundo was not
given a teaching load this semester.
“Tenure is not only a matter of
votes, numbers or accepted departmental practices; it is also a matter
in which fairness and transparency
must be ensured,” Raymundo said in
her letter to Cao seeking clarification
regarding her tenure.
“I have abided by the rules for
tenure... I have consistently worked
towards being granted such. And yet,
I am uncertain about my status in the
University,” she added in her letter.
In an open letter released in June,
AUPAEU-Diliman stated, “Univer-
atbat ng pagkabahala at
pagbabanta ang pagsisimula
ng ikatlong kwarto ng taon.
Pangamba ang hatid ng
muling pagbubukas ng sesyon sa
Mababang Kapulungan,
hindi lang dahil sa
empleyado nito ang
unang naitalang kaso
ng
pagkamatay
bunsod ng swine
flu, kundi dahil
rin
tuluyan
nang
maisusulong
ang
Charter Change ng
mga
kaalyadong
kongresista ni Gloria
Arroyo.
Nag-aagawan
sa mga pahina ng mga
pahayagan ang cha-cha
at swine flu, ngunit kapwa
hatid ng dalawang usapin ang
hindi magagandang balita, ayon sa
ilang sektor.
Ano
ang
pinakamalaking
implikasyon
ng
isinusulong
na
Charter
Change
ng
pamahalaan isang taon bago ang
pambansang halalan?
“The cha-cha issue has so far
largely revolved around Pres. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo’s apparent intent
to remain in power and escape
accountability for accumulating sins
and controversies. This is critical
but the regime’s redoubled chacha offensive threatens to cause
damage even beyond this. It aims
to further open up the economy to
imperialist plunder which further
jeopardizes already poor prospects
for development. It also sets back
the little progress made towards
democracy
and
the
people’s
sovereignty
with
proposals
to
constrict freedom of expression and
right to protest, expand the state’s
martial law powers, and remove
restrictions on the presence of
foreign troops and bases.” –Sonny
Africa,
Research
head,
Ibon
Foundation
“Lumilitaw ngayon na may seryosong
banta na manatili sa pwesto si
PGMA lagpas sa 2010. Magagawa
ito sa pamamagitan ng pagbabago
ng porma ng gobyerno tungo sa
isang parliamentary system. Oo
nga’t magkakaroon ng eleksyon sa
2010, kaya lang [ay] lalahok si GMA
bilang kandidato sa 2nd District ng
Pampanga. Ito ang tungtungan niya
para kinalaunan ay maging Prime
Minister for life. Ito na ang Gloria
Forever na plano nila.” -Renato
Reyes,
Bagong
Alyansang
Makabayan
“Isa sa pinakamalaking implikasyon
ng charter change na isinusulong ng
pangkat ni Gloria Arroyo ay masayang
ang milyun-milyong pondo na
inilalaan
ng
gobyerno
para
sa
diumano’y
modernisasyon
ng
pambansang halalan.
Aanhin
pa
ang
pagsisikap
ng
mamamayan
para
sa pagpaparehistro at ang
pagbili ng Commission
on Elections ng mga
kagamitang
pangeleksyon kung hindi
rin naman magkakaroon
ng pambansang halalan
sa 2010! Hindi na ito
nakapagtataka
sapagkat
ang ubod at buod ng
makaisang panig na charter
change ay mapanatili ni Arroyo at
ng kaniyang mga kasapakat ang
kanilang hawak sa pampolitika,
pangkultura at pang-ekonomiyang
kapangyarihan ng bansa.” –Michael
Francis
Andrada,
National
Treasurer,
All
UP
Academic
Employees Union
“Arroyo and her militarist-thinking
advisers are now attempting to
douse public outrage by sowing an
atmosphere of panic and chaos in
protest actions, then a possible no-el
(no elections) or failure of elections
scenario come 2010 because of all
these brouhaha. Whichever way we
look at it, Arroyo’s motive is to extend
her term and evade accountability
for her numerous unresolved cases
of corruption and human rights
violations.”
–Rep.
Raymond
Palatino, Kabataan Partylist
Dapat bang ikabahala ng buong
komunidad ng UP ang A(H1N1) virus
matapos umakyat sa anim ang
bilang ng mga biktima nito sa
pamantasan?
“Ang paglaganap ng A(H1N1) ay
hindi dapat isinasawalang-bahala.
Ito
ay
isang
pangkomunidad
na suliranin kung kaya’t ang
lahat ay dapat na mag-ingat at
maging responsable sa pagharap
sa problemang ito. Hindi naman
siguro kailangang mag “panic”—ang
kailangan ay mag-ingat at sundin
ang payo ng mga mas nakakaalam
tungkol sa sakit na ito. Self
quarantine, ang pag-iwas sa mga
Cont. on pg 10
Lathalain
Philippine Collegian
Step 1: Submission
The summer before the first
semester of the academic year marks
the beginning of dorm hunting for
students.
Dormitory applications are
accepted until the last week of April.
Aspiring dormers must bring a
long brown envelope containing
ID pictures, their parents’ income
tax return, dormitory clearance,
an application form filled up and
downloaded from the internet
and their Form 5s for the past two
semesters — everything they need to
be considered eligible for admission
into one of UP’s dormitories.
Step 2: OSH Deliberation
For the deliberation of dormitory
admissions, the OSH uses the
following point system: the place of
origin has a weight of 45 percent,
while the student’s Socialized
Tuition Fee and Financial
Assistance Program (STFAP)
bracket accounts for 55 percent.
More points are given to a student
whose point of origin is very far from
Metro Manila, and who is classified
into a lower bracket under the STFAP.
This process takes a month to
complete. The students play the waiting
game, hoping to be among the chosen
few who are accepted into a dormitory.
Capacity
Rate per person
exclusive of food
P3,000.00
P350.00
P500.00
78
P250.00
P270.00
P290.00
P250.00 (males)
P350.00(females)
P300.00
P250.00
P225.00
P450.00
322
542
378
378
he game is on.
For thousands of high school students from all over the Philippines,
many coming from places far removed from UP Diliman, passing the UP
College Admissions Test (UPCAT) is only the first step. Faced with the increasing
cost of education, the students must now try to find affordable housing within
the vicinity of the university — and since such spaces are limited, students must
engage in all manner of tactics to secure a slot.
The game, however, is one that most of the players will inevitably lose. According to the University Student Council, around 50 percent of the 22,000 UP
students come from regions outside the National Capital Region (NCR). Thus,
there is high demand for dormitories. As of 2008, however, the nine dorms of UP
only had a capacity of 2,720, or 11 percent of the student population, according
to Office of Student Housing (OSH). This figure excludes the International Center
(see sidebar).
The insufficiency of dormitories compels students to resort to other options.
The cost of staying at expensive boarding houses or apartments
further adds to the already bloated
cost of education.
Yet, though the odds are stacked
against them, students
have no choice but to play. q
BOARDING GAME
Article: Mila Polinar
Illustration: Nico Villarete
Page Design: Bianca Bonjibod
Option 5: Appeal
Re
Ac sult
ce 1
p :
acc The tan
ce
is ept
ed li
las relea app st o
t w sed lic
an f
eek
of Mon th ts
ay. e
Option 1: UP
Dormitories under
the single fee system
(Kalayaan, Molave,
Ilang-ilang)
Transportation: P0-P25/day
Food: P85-P150/day
Laundry: P250-P600/month
Board and lodging:
P250-P500/month
Total: P2200-P6350/month
Option 2: UP
Dormitories not
under the single fee
system (Ipil, Yakal,
Sampaguita, Kamia)
Transportation: P0-P25/day
Food: P130-P180/day
Laundry: P250-P600/month
Board and lodging:
P225-P350/month
h
t
i
2: n w ions r Total:
lt io s at he
P4400-P7100 /month
su ect dent plic d ot ring P
e
p
u
n
j
U
u
R e St d a fi d
R
te en tay in
jec st th to s e
e
r u es tim
m lac r n.
p ei ma
th ili
D
Option 1: Daily
commute
Rejected applicants may file an appeal
with the OSH. The results come out mid-June,
and are final and non-negotiable. Game over.
Result 1: Acceptance (see above)
Result 2: Rejection (see above)
Some students, upon rejection,
opt to continue living at home or at
the house of a relative, going back and
forth from the university every day.
Own house
(Greater Manila Area):
Transportation: P60-P150/day
Food: P0-P100/day
Total: P1800-P7500/month
Option 4:
While boarding houses charge cheaper fees
than commercial apartments, the security they
provide is “unreliable,” some students say. They
opt for commercial apartments, and share the
expense with their co-tenants.
Commercial apartment/condominium
(within Quezon City):
Transportation: P30 to P50/day
Food: P130-P180/day
Laundry: P600-P1000/month
Board and lodging:
P5, 000-P20, 000/month
Total: P10, 400- P27, 900/month
05
Option 3:
Due to their proximity, boarding houses
within UP tend to be filled easily. Some
students must then resort to boarding houses
situated outside the campus.
Boarding house off campus
(within Quezon City):
Transportation: P30-P60/day
Food: P130-P180/day
Laundry: P600-P700/month
Board and lodging:
P1000-P4000/month
Total: P6100-P12400/month
Option 2:
Apart from the convenience brought by
smaller board and lodging fees, many students
also want to live within the campus. Thus,
rejected students seek the next best thing to
dorms — boarding houses on university land.
Boarding house within campus:
Transportation: P0-P25/day
Food: P130-P180/day
Laundry: P250-P600/month
Board and lodging:
P1500-P2500/month
Total: P5650-P9250/month
O
Fig ffice
fo ure of Sou
lo od s
dg , on Stu rces
d
l
fro ing aun tra ent :
m ex dr y nsp H
in pe , b o ou
st ter v nse oa rtat sing
ud ie s
r
io
en w ob d an n,
ts s w tai d
n
ith ed
Type of
residence hall
Coed
Coed
Coed
(graduate students)
Coed
Coed
272
420
284
284
Source: Office of Student Housing
*Dorms operating under the single fee system
Ladies
Ladies
Ladies
Ladies
(graduate students)
Dormitory Capacity and Rates
Name of
residence hall
Ipil
Kalayaan*
Kamagong
Molave*
Yakal
Sanggumay
Ilang-ilang*
Kamia
Sampaguita
T
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
06
Miyerkules, 17 Hun 2009
Kultura
Philippine Collegian
*
m
s
i
r
e
t
s
A
]
s [***
k
s
i
r
ste
ree a des.
national phen
h
t
.
1
om
ece
n.
r
u
pride the sym enon. Worn by celebritie
p
o
t
n
i
]
bol em
s and
e
g
m
By wearing it anates is further impres even political figures, th
riz-uh to a passa
sed on the pu
e national
em
h
s
w
u
it
h
t
th
community.
blic.
[asThis sense of is symbol, one gains a fe
tion
m
n
s
e
el
i
id
in
t
en
at
r
g
io
ti
t
of
n that preven
ty
Filipino iden
ts the emerge , however, underscores th
tity and
*aste o draw a
emblem sym
e socio-econ
nce of true na
akt
e
bo
omic situliz
d
n
es
ti
e
on
ne
s
ho
t
gl
ec
od
—
ts
n
.
,
In
T
i
th
he
a
e economic
countr y bese
equality w
pr
rs
r ts
and political
hich the
t with too m
st a
becomes mer
shi
e tokenism, a any social problems, wea division of the people.
to an d
l
,
a
s
m
ri
ng
ea
n
s
ns
While the po
na
c ap s u n
tio pularity of th to avoid the more urgent tionalistic apparel
na ncep
timent, com
e products m
demand for ac
e
rom s a n d
m
e
od
i
h
ay
if
F
ti
ication redu
t
b
sciousness in
ces the peop signif y a growing nation on.
of e r it s s t o
ve . t h ou
a
to
s
m
le
al
’s
er
r
h
e
senin
m
d
t
te
erchandise.
nt to build a
a
a
f
Through popu
national conu s t y of
b a n u r y a ap p e
la
r
r
m
cu
t
lt
ur
o
i
ti
e,
t
t
ty into profit
businesses tu
l
w
.B
te s a c .
ico cen no
one’s sense of uying these marked prod rn the demand for a nati
e
e l a om e a n a o e d b a n a i n e s
h
h
t
onal idenna
ucts becomes
t
ti
r
c
f
d
p
t
synonymous
tal, at the expe onal identity. National
y o Ka d i l y b e M i n a n d ore t h h i l ip
r
pr
e
to buying
ns
id
e
e,
o
of
in
n
th
t
this sense, be
e histor y and
e
s
the native Fi
s t e d e n a n d lu e m e P
comes the ca
meaning behi
Hi y th or its ,
lipinos’ resist
s
pi’
h r i s s u d y a s , t h e b e n on o l , t h
nd
b
f
l
th
o
c
an
e sy
establish a na
l
l
ce to colonize
c i l u s e d o s e n at a
tion, blurs ag
rs, and their mbol. For instance,
ave la ha Visa lete nom ymb
n
h
o
g
ai
bl
su
h
ns
em
bs
,
p
t
s
e
equent effort
.
the popular
Ag o s e n c n i n
h ip a n i on om p h h e
nationalism
s to
e
carried by th
The extent of
liz s
n d s , M h Lu z t o c u r a l i n g t .
oro m t h e b e e m e a
o
a
d
e emb
t
o
th
o
o
o
t
n
g to
e
t
v
l
n
Fi
g
r
lip
e
r
n
a
u
in
n
f
n
m
tr
u
g
os
y’
u
o as
s histor y and
’
T ag
i
e
t
y
s h ve
g.
its present di struggle for nationhood
y ou t a h ro e s l e c s p
s s re s i s
derstanding
f l a n e f l st ar u n h a
smal state. To
re
he , and out t do’s d onab eople s and
t a r re p s . T h
e
s
of
d
i
na
day, the Filpin flects the couns
n
ti
m
onalism ride
pi i l ipp n a n a n d
individuals lik
re e d s u n n i z e r f ro d
os’ desperate
e r s l l i n g u i n a l f a s h i of p e s t a r
s
p
up
h
i
on
l
th
t
e
e
u
d
i
h
consciousnes Manny Pacquiao and Cha international achievemen uns p i o A g m e a nt i t y t h r e
P h h e P t h e s s t a r s e s . t t h e - r ay e c o l o l u d e n f i l e
e
s
ts of
ri
r
is
i
c
t
ce
a
t
h
e
e
le
h
a
s
Pe
t
ft to such devi
x
s
t
il
h
e
u de
co
idea beyond
ces, our nation mpengco. If our national
t o o n o f s t t h a h at t h u r p o t e t h e e i g p a n i f e l t e v e b
m
Em as b e e er q n un
ou
n
r
o
gr
d
as
al
a
a
p.
r
p
id
S
t
i
entity will re
h tio
h
o
st
th e
ge
Genuine nati
sf m
ic
t i o k i n ut
main an
gh ys
onalism is ne
lu been evol ns sug s claimsthet ooks , and nst th ao wh e sun
i n o mbl e
f l a n. B ne na
su
p
pe
o
it
he
rf
i
ic
r
b
i
s
ia
l
e
bo
e
h
lit
n
ug
v
k
i ic e
y
a o o e a e x t on g a d a o t
ht
t
of
h
i
no
m
ed
F
r
t
e
o
t i o ly o
so
r
ia
-induc
ld. It transcen
n es
t
ing the right
l
5,
b
to
a s nt r
er l t
isi s a in
ds th
clothes or faw ed trends confining nati
tr u
tiar y has trac er his ther for m choo ic div arm nd M rays
199 ce
onalism to w e
ve d g - c e
ning over cele
s
a
l
na
n
ti
d
e
on
p
i
O
o
s
e
al
l
n
h
earid
br
l i s t o e o p o t c e . l a g g h ap h k u a s a a d
s alo
en
it
’
a
ie
ti
s
ty
s.
,
T
i
n
th
e
he pursuit of
en,
D hg
d
u
demands th
C H o P h i l e c a n h e f h i o g r t o o s ay e o r
ly d Ta
e subversion
a s p h o p m at c y
i
d
i
t
t
g
s
e
n
f
i
.
a
w
n
V
i
i
n
g
e
of conditions
i
a
,
s
ly
to
f
n
r
ev
nn
ip
th
d
s& i
bi
F i l u n a n i c s i g d e d t a r y m aj o z o n v e s o t o r r i o u s s e e m u p p o
t a r l d H r t e Ma e d
nation to its nding the
3 S Wor rs spo rstar k-ey o
colonial past
‘
t i p a s o n r e a d e m e n r e e f Lu n a t i t i o n s n s e d g e s t h e s
c
.
n
d
i
and harsh real
e
6
e
la
ta
M d we ll, el ’s th ces o d by Peti take gru ced l.
it
t it l 0 0 l l s s up B i l ip g
pursuit, ther ies. In this
a n S t i nt r y o v i n t e s t e i o n . e v e r o n a l b r a m b o g e n e i n 2 i n e A i n g r o u p h e F e n c i n r e
e is no need
m
i
r
u
x
t
y
n
g
n
u
T
n
e
p
u
a
g
s
o
o
p
l
m
for a patrioti
c
s o a l ip
t
B op
d
e
a s re
c o nt
l.
n f u lt
sm
the e eigh was prese sue w 000, abroa ng th rap ame n , Phi run. hiph pare ter, i lar c
to inked fa limited
a
i
p
f
2
8
u
s
s
e
n
r
g
h
a
brics and
a
t t i o a l r e i ar an d e a s e d h e 2 0 0 i n c an d
p
o
d
skins. q
n o t i o n u t t h h e y e t r y c t s b e l e a i t h t a n d w i n n m e r i s p i r e l ow e n d p
a
n
r
l
b
u
t
a
w
o
n c e , m e c ou ro d M n e 0 0 6 h e i r f A g - i n fo d i a
dt
sin C o r the ing p ncis ing li for 2 in t Apl o g f la soon s me ol.
ut e for
b
a
s
i
l
o
s Fr o t h n s b o
h
r
d
a
n
o
ov e h a
w n ar i o a M — c
at t a r c l o l
a l l p u r c e l at e d a c a m p i s y m - g r o s w e a b r w e l l . o f i t
b e e s e e of g m e
a
d
n
by T h e n e n c h h t h a n g a r d a n s a s a n c e
Th ac Co
ca
ay i n o s . t h e f i n e d n s t o
o p t i t i o w i t mp i l l b o nt r y r d e r e a r
d
n
o
a
a ed
p
e
g
t
a
e
t h m p h i r t s n d P e d b c o u e b o e ap
i l ip t i n a m e
lism as F rtan n’s Imas a affirm ava
C o g t - s a o a g r a c t h e s k at o r t h
n
p o rs o t y
is beh rt i o it y
i n c qu i ot h n e i n an d m —
n a d e nt r e i m n d e e nt i nt i t y o n s , o r d e d
f
Pa as b sce kers alis
i a b ine
o ir i mo t A l id de
i
c
d it
ty
f
Pe phop o roc ation
a r i t h e e v e n n e d i t i on a on a l s , t r a u s e s l l - d e
l
i
n
n
u
s
o
e
i
a at i l u e s p w e
h l ip
m es
i
p
e
r
B
n
o
s
i
d
.
f
Fi s ma
a W
cri ing p to af ecom pora ce of ity. N ld va rket e le, a tion. ial re
a
y
b
s
g
c
g
e
a
h
re g h i
t i t e r s i r e i t y d i a i c a n mu n l y h l m i n f n a s o h a s
en he em’s de ident ssive signif com mon globa ures mnse o with isis, e
c o d u ro l e
d
I
T ut h n a l m a h e
m nt
lt
s e le d cr er
of
ns ce wi th
yo atio and ns t ense of co urre gn cu one’s coup te of it, th f
e
i
c
i
s
n
n
h
,
t e’s ion pla n’s tio he ore ain ce l sta laim se o
ci s ng e
o n l i z at e s e x at i o i c u l a n c e t n d f o r e t e r i e n e t u a r e c s s e n t po
ou t
ba niti e a n e art s. Si cal a ans t exp perp er to one’ ecrea
h
sn e na pu
m u l i d at h t h l t u r e e l o m e n i a l n a
o r d l at e o r r p l e
va roug d cu wher y is a ’ colo tr y i ty. In rticu ting e peo
es p ti la
t h s , a n r l d e nt i t i n e s o u n e nt i t o a c r e a u n i t
s eo on rit
ior s wo al id ilipp the c o’s id ays by al to
in p a y
lem
l e s t i o n e P h i n g l i p i n e w w y s i s e nt i
l
to le
mb l e
o
e
a T h e e p F i e n w a p ot
n
s
b
r
t
e
s t a on a
s k t h c re a t h e s e e t h e
m ’s s e n f t
tie e d
nd fashi ides
a
a l i c t u r e d t o e o f t h av
er in t he
su n to
r ov
f ra a ne . On s t ha .
e te im p
h e f l a g re p i on a l
t
l
n
n
s
o
i
g
u
m n e ro
b
io n
lt
at
tio
na g sym a nat sposi ppine ar cu e’s n sible
er t nt d
l
i
n
s
n
n
l
n
u
i
o
i
i
p
h
po
uc
s
tra h
ch to ,
w it B y h e P e , p o pre s g it i d e on
co ts
t d i s e x k i n pr
an
l
n
o
a
m
f r o e r c h a nu e t w m t i o n a
di bu m m
o
a
e
m av y, n ’s n
Arti
se ild mo ay
c
a n e nt i t o n e .
Illu le by: R
d
d
i d we ar e e ve
s
stra
a
if ig
re
l
s
o
u
tion egina S
Pag
t
s
t
’
ine
c
e De
t
b
na ica ni
on
fa lisma has ucts
sign y: Piya arr Abe
u
a
lard
ti tio fy
by:
C. C
an n edi o d d
o
M a t i o s s m d pr n a n m
Pao
on n
lo C onstan
N Ma u r n e e s u b l e a
t
. Ba
al
h
t
m
laja ino
d
h t rs e o
dia
d e e w i t s t a i nt
T
Kultura
Philippine Collegian
S
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
07
a hagdan ng overpass sa Philcoa ipinapaskil ang larawan ng mga
nawawala. Madalas, print-out o photocopy lamang ito ng lumang
litrato, kasama ang salitang MISSING o NAWAWALA sa ilalim. Sa
tabi ng larawan, nakasulat ang kanilang pangalan, edad, tirahanaddress,
at ang lugar at panahon na huli silang nakita. Naroon din ang contact
numbers at pangalan ng naghahanap sa kanila.
Bakit laging nakangiti ang litrato ng mga nawawala? Baka dahil ang
kanilang ngiti ang palatandaan kung bakit kailangang ipagpatuloy ang
paghahanap. Sa likod ng bawat poster ay ang kaibigan o kamag-anak na
naiwanan, nagtatanong kung nakita mo ang taong ito.
Binagalan ko ang lakad ko, sinulyapan ang mukha ng bawat taong
mapadaan. Ni isa, walang tumitingin pabalik, hindi man lang pinapansin
ang mga nakangiti sa mga poster na iyon. Lahat, nagmamadali. Lahat,
nawawala sa kani-kanilang mundo ng abala at problema.
Madali kasing malihis sa dami ng billboards ng artista, advertisement
ng politiko, pangako ng TV. Iisa lang ang ngiti ng mga kilalang tao. Pero
mas malaki ang mga poster nila, kaya sila ang laging napapansin.
Samantala, may nagtatanong kung nakita mo ang taong ito.
Lahat tayo’y nawawala.
N
iregaluhan ako dati ng kaibigan ko ng kuting. Kulay itim ito kaya
mahirap hanapin kahit nasa harapan ko na dahil tumeterno siya
sa anino.
Isang gabi, hindi ko mahanap ang kuting. Binuksan ko ang ilaw sa
bawat kuwarto ng bahay. Gamit ang flashlight, sinilip ko ang lahat ng
sulok.
“Ba’t ang daming ilaw?” tanong ng Tatay ko. “Para tayong Pasko.”
“Taas-taas na nga ng bayarin sa kuryente,” parinig ng Nanay, pero
hindi ako nagpaawat. Kailangang mahanap ko ang kuting.
Wala. Nawawala ito.
Alas diyes ng gabi, lumabas ako ng bahay dala-dala ang flashlight.
Sinilip ko ang ilalim ng mga nakaparadang kotse sa kalsada, pati mga
imburnal. Parang tanga, sinabayan ko ang “balooot,” ng mambabalot ng
aking “miaw, miaw” sa pagbabakasakaling matuksong magpakita ang
kuting. Hindi ako mapalagay.
Umuwi akong hindi nahanap ang alaga. Baka nasagasaan na, o hindi
maalala kung paano bumalik. Hindi ako mapakali.
Mamaya lang ay kumatok ang mambabalot sa pinto ng bahay namin.
Hawak-hawak niya ang kuting. Nakita raw niya ito sa kabilang kanto,
ngumangawa para bigyan ng pagkain. Mabuti na lang daw at nabanggit
kong nawawala ang itim kong kuting. Kung hindi ko raw nasabi sa kanya,
baka raw hindi niya nakita. Itim kasi. Magaling magtago sa anino.
H
atinggabi sa jeepney pauwi. Nakainom ako noon, kaya naupo
ako sa may bukana nang makasandal. Tatlo na lang kaming
pasahero.
Pikit-mata muna para mawalan ng amats. Yakap-yakap ko ang bag ko
para hindi ko malimutan. Malayo pa naman ang aking bababaan.
Pesteng pasaherong ‘to, kitang ang luwag-luwag ng jeepney, sa akin
pa tumabi. Iyong isang pasahero naman, nandoon sa kabilang dulo,
naka-plug sa tenga ang earphones at walang pakialam sa mundo. Bakit
kaya hindi pa ako tinatawagan ni Nanay? Gabing-gabi na, di pa niya ako
hinahanap.
Biglang pumara ang katabi ko, bumaba.
Ako na lang ang maunang mag-text sa Nanay para di na siya mag-alala.
Dahil malamlam ang ilaw sa jeepney, kamay na lang ang ipinanghanap
ko ng cellphone sa loob ng bag. Di masalat ng aking palad. Sa halip,
natagpuan ng aking mga daliri ang malinis na hiwa sa gilid ng bag ko.
Butas. At nawawala ang aking cellphone.
“Putang inang pakshet ka!” pahabol na sigaw ko sa kabababang
pasahero. Kumakabog ang dibdib ko noon. Tinangay na nga ang cellphone
ko, winarak pa ang bag ko. Gaano katagal kaya siya sa tabi ko, may hawak
na patalim at palihim na nanlalaslas? Kung napansin ko kaya at pumalag
ako, ano kaya ang nangyari?
Tiningnan ko ang natitirang pasahero ng jeepney. Nakatingin lang
siya sa akin, tumutungka ang ulo kasabay ng musikang siya lang ang
nakaririnig.
Paano
magha
nap
ng mga
nawaw
ala?
Teksto M
ixkaela V
illalon
Disenyo
ng pahin Dibuho Nico Z
ap
a Bianca
Bonjibo anta
d
S
ino po?” kunot-noong sukli sa akin ng isang fresh-faced freshie nang imbitahan ko ang grupo nila sa tribute concert sa July 3, para kay Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan.
“Si Karen at She,” sagot ko. “Tatlong taon nang nawawala. Para sa kanila ang concert na ‘yan, pero imbitado
tayong lahat.”
“Kaano-ano po ninyo?” tanong ng freshie. Natigilan ako sa tanong niya.
Paano ba dapat ipabatid ang kawalan na dapat nadarama nila, ngayong wala naman sila noong panahong dinukot
ang dalawang kapwa naming Iskolar ng Bayan? Sophomore ako noong kinuha ng mga pinaghihinalaang ahente ng
militar sina Karen at She. Di nalalayo ang edad ko noon sa mga freshmen na kausap ko ngayon. Pero tatlong taon na
rin akong kasama sa paghahanap.
Hindi ko kaano-ano sina Karen at Sherlyn. Sapat nang dahilan ang kanilang patuloy na pagkawala para palakasin
lalo ang pagtatanong kung may nakakita sa kanila.
Tatlong taon na nang nahiwalay sila sa mga kaibigan at kamag-anak na naghahanap sa kanila. Samantala, dalawang
batch na ng Freshmen ang nakatuntong sa UP. Hindi na nila kilala sina Karen at She. Hanggang pangalan na lang
siguro. Ilang taon pa, baka mawala na rin ang pangalan nila sa alaala ng mga kapwa Iskolar ng Bayan. Paano na kaya
maghahanap ng alaala?
Si Karen at She, gusto ko sanang ipaliwanag sa freshie na nagtanong sa akin, pero para rin itong noong sinigawan
ko ang kabababang pasahero sa jeepney. Malayo na, lumipas na, Si Karen at She, nawawala ngayon dahil may hinanap
sila-- katotohanan, katarungan, kalayaan, at iba pang dapat naman ay hinahanap din ng ibang Iskolar ng Bayan. Pero
paano ba maghanap ng mga bagay na hindi nakikita, hindi mahawakan?
Nawawala sila ngayon kaya tungkulin pasanin ng mga naiwanan ang paghahanap sa kanila. Sa pagpapatindi ng
ating paghahanap, kailangan yanigin ang mundo ng mga nagsasariling-mundo. Pangangailangan ng panahon na makialam at hindi mawalan ng pag-asa. Kung ang bawat isa ay may flashlight o sulo, matututukan ng ilaw ang bawat madilim
na sulok. Mahahanap ng sama-samang liwanag ang lahat ng nagtatago sa anino. q
08
Lathalain
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
Taming
the
Alternative
The Philippine Partylist System
– change or capitulation?
Article: Samantha P. King . Illustration: Nico Zapanta . Page design: Bianca Bonjibod
T
here is no denying the need, the absolute
necessity, for, at the very least, electoral
and political reform where a congress
of multimillionaire caciques creates laws for a
country of the dirt-poor.
In an historic move, the Supreme Court
ruled last April 21 to secure “the broadest
representation in Congress” by increasing the
partylist seats from from 22 to 54. The new
ruling discards the three-seat cap previously
used in the allocation of partylist seats, allowing
sectoral groups to comprise 20 percent of the
total members of the Lower House.
There has been a rich harvest of partylist
groups since May 1998, when the system was
first introduced to the Filipino electorate. Still,
the novel promise of sectoral representation
has been weighed down for two main reasons
– first, the quantity of partylist representatives
are puny in legislature, where numbers is key
to passing national policy; and second, the
practice of compromise has tainted many
partylists, bolstering the perception that this
supposed “alternative” has become just as
soiled as its traditional counterpart. Whether
the Supreme Court ruling provides remedy,
the answer to that, as Bob Dylan phrased, is
blowing in the wind.
No numbers
A partylist system is any system of
proportional representation in which voters
choose among parties rather than among
candidates. Because parties are elected rather
than individuals, programs and platforms are
emphasized more than personalities (Heywood,
2007). In the country, partylists have advanced
programs for the marginalized sector they
supposedly represent, such as women’s
rights and worker’s welfare. ¬
For all its flaws, the partylist system
makes possible concessionary changes in
congressional composition, so that policymaking is no longer completely in the
domain of the privileged but now include,
however limited, workers, women,
youth, and other marginalized sectors.
Yet precisely because Philippine politics
remains largely an arena of and for the
privileged, the powerful and wealthy can and
will contest changes which constitute threats to
their elite position, the partylist system being
among the said threats.
Victor Villanueva, chairperson of
Kabataan Party-UP Diliman, concedes that,
despite the Supreme Court ruling, the partylist
system is “no doubt still a limited form of
accommodation, and is not enough, even
if operationalized at maximum, to provide
significant and genuine representation to the
majority of Filipinos.”
Even if all partylist seats are filled by
sectoral representatives, “20 percent is still just
20 percent,” says Judge Cleto Villacorta, senior
fellow of the Center for People Empowerment
in Governance, a public policy center.
Legislation is still very much in the hands of
the country’s political bosses.
Compromised
Today, there is widespread
disenchantment
with
partylist groups. Instead
of serving as the “social
justice tool” described
by the Supreme Court,
the partylist system has
become, in many aspects, an
extension of the ruling class.
Philippine Collegian
“Traditional politicians, the dynasts and its influence and hold in Congress.”
their surrogates very early on realized that the
system could be used as one more entry point Still, an alternative
In this context, one greets with understanding
into Congress,” explains Prof. Luis Teodoro,
deputy director of the Center for Media and no extraordinary surprise the malicious
presence of methods of compromise in the
Freedom and Responsibility.
Indeed, in 2004, the Commission on partylist process, including but not limited to
Elections (COMELEC) proclaimed as partylist corruption, vote-buying, wheeling and dealing,
winners VFP (Veterans' Freedom Party) and guns and goons, and the willful relegation to
ALIF (Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino), personality instead of platform politics.
For many, there is a sense of frustration
groups publicly endorsed by Pres. Gloria
Arroyo. Likewise, in 2007, the COMELEC over the seeming capitulation of a system that
allowed groups identified and allegedly funded was intended and perceived as an alternative.
by Arroyo, such as Bantay and Kasangga, to There is no denying, however, the enduring
presence of select partylists that genuinely
participate in the partylist elections.
And just recently, the same Supreme represent the marginalized sectors, and it is
Court ruling that increased the allocation of from their ranks where the administration
partylist seats in Congress has also paved the recognizes and receives the most threat. This
way for retired military general Jovito Palparan enmity is manifest in the “Batasan 5” incident
Jr. to sit in the Lower House, supposedly as a and the harassments, both legal and illegal, that
representative of the military and paramilitary have hounded the likes of Reps. Satur Ocampo,
“sector.” Palparan is one of the most contested Liza Maza, Rafael Mariano, Teddy Casiño, and
figures in the Philippines for being linked the late Crispin Beltran.
Perhaps the integrity of the partylist system
to torture, political killings, enforced
disappearances and other gross violations of shall be guaranteed, not through the confines
of institutional
human rights.
In
the
The practice of compromise and traditional
parliamentary
face of intense
has tainted many partylists, process, but
discontent,
the
it.
elite-dominated bolstering the perception that outside
After
all,
the
system is “striving this
supposed “alternative”
first stirrings
to
preserve
has become just as soiled as for genuine
itself,” says Sonny
democracy
Africa, research its traditional counterpart.
t h r o u g h
head of IBON
s e c t o r a l
Foundation Inc.,
an independent think-tank. Consequently, representation, among others, began with an
“Malacañang-backed partylists,” says Gabriela active mass movement, and it is from the same
Secretary General Cristina Palabay, “have where the partylist shall be preserved and
bastardized partylist representation by extended as a genuine alternative. q
nominating individuals who are not members
Reference: Heywood, A. (2007). Politics
of marginalized sectors…in order to enhance
(3rd ed.). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Opinyon
Philippine Collegian
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
09
H u l i n g B a l i ta *
Paolo C.
Balajadia
P au l a S i l a n g
N
arinig mo na ba ang huling balita
Tungkol kay Mang Kardo, isang
manggagawa?
Sa tuwing naririnig ko ang kantang ito na
una kong narinig noong mapanood ko ang
Rights, koleksyon ng advocacy ads tungkol sa
mga desaparecidos, kayo ang naiisip ko. Tatlong
taon na mula nang huli kayong makita, nang
dukutin kayo ng mga alagad ng militar sa isang
bayan sa Bulacan.
Hindi ko na pasusubalian ang katotohanang
ito, sapagkat di iisang pares ng mata ang nakasaksi sa uri ng pambababoy na ginawa sa inyo
sa loob ng panahong dinukot kayo hanggang
makatakas ang magkapatid na Manalo. Sila
mismo ang nagkwento ng mga bagay na ginawa
sa inyo, na hindi ko na isasalaysay sapagkat walang salitang sasapat upang ilarawan ang sinapit
ninyo.
May ilang buwan nang siya’y hinahanap
Ng mga kaibigan at mga kamag-anak
Ano na nga bang nangyari sa inyo? May
mga haka-hakang tuluyan na kayong pinatahimik ng mga dumukot sa inyo. Samantalang ang
mga naiwan ninyo, hanggang ngayon, patuloy
na naghahanap sa pag-asang matatagpuan kayo
— buhay man o malamig nang bangkay, ang
mahalaga, makita na nila kayo makalipas ang
tatlong taong bangungot.
Hanggang ngayon, mahirap pa ring paniwalaang regular nang nagaganap ang sapilitang pagkawala at pulitikal na pamamaslang sa
bansa. Hindi ko kailanman naunawaan kung
bakit maraming inosenteng buhay ang nabubuwis para lamang panatilihin ang naghaharing
sistema. Para lang manatili sa pwesto ang mga
ganid sa kapangyarihan.
Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung paanong
naging “demokrasya” ang umiiral na sistemang
pampulitika, lalo na’t lantaran na ang represyon
sa mga tinaguriang “kaaway ng estado.” Sino ba
ang dapat magdikta ng tama o maling paniniwala? Kung naniniwala ba ang karamihan sa
umiiral na sistema, tama na ba itong maituturing?
Nakapagtataka, nakapagtataka
Pagka’t si Mang Kardo nang huling makita
Subalit ang di nila nauunawaan, hindi kailanman sasapat na dahilan ang takot upang
manahimik. Kung kaya, kahit ilan mang tulad
ninyo, Karen at She, ang dukutin nila o paslangin, hindi titigil ang mga naghahangad ng pagbabago, ang mga bumabalikwas at lumalaban.
At sa halip na takot, iiral ang galit sa pagkawala
ninyo, at lahat kayong biktima ng karahasan ng
estado.
…Siya ay patay na, katawan ay tadtad
Ng tama ng balang sa kanya’y umutas
At ang sabi ng mga awtoridad
Hindi kailanman mapupunan ang kawalang naiwan
ninyo, subalit magsisilbi itong mitsa sa aming
patuloy na paglaban
Kasakay sa kotseng may ilaw sa tuktok
Nang ilang armadong handang magpaputok
Siguro nga, sadyang marahas ang lipunan.
At hindi madaraan ang lahat sa mabuting usapan at santong dasalan. Nakapanlulumo lang
ang katotohanang maraming patuloy na nagiging biktima ng represyon at karahasan dahil
lang sa kanilang ipinaglalaban.
Maraming nagsasabing malaking kabayaran
ang buhay at kaligtasan para lamang sa isang
adhikain. Maraming nagsasabing dahil sa nangyari sa inyo, at patuloy na nangyayari sa kasalukuyan, dapat na tayong tumahimik at panatilihin na lang ang status quo. Malinaw namang ito
ang mensahe nila: na matutulad sa inyo ang mga
taong mangangahas sumalungat.
Lawas
Itong si Mang Kardo’y nagtangkang tumakas
Hindi ko na alam kung nasaan na kayo, at
kung matatagpuan pa ba kayo. Hindi kailanman
mapupunan ang kawalang naiwan ninyo, subalit
magsisilbi itong mitsa sa patuloy na paglaban —
hindi lamang para sa mga iniwan ninyo, kundi
maging ng mga taong patuloy na tumutuligsa sa
tagibang na sistema.
At sa halip na manghina sa inyong pagkawala, ayon nga sa isang magsasaka nang minsang
madalaw kami sa Hacienda Luisita: “Sa bawat
kasamang mawawala o mapapatay, papalitan
natin ng lima.” q
*Para sa mga pamilya at biktima ng sapilitang pagkawala at pulitikal na pamamaslang
(Pasintabi kay Jess Santiago)
n g m e m o rya *
M at e o M a n a n s a l a
1
.
Naaalala ko pa ang araw nang simulan
kitang kamuhian. Wala pa akong limang
taong gulang noon at ang tangi kong alam sa
mundo ay ang mga batayang kaalaman: na ang
wika natin ay Filipino, na ang kabisera ng Pilipinas ay Maynila, at na ang pamilya ang batayang
yunit ng lipunan na binubuo ng ama, ina at ng
mga anak.
hinahabol ng isang kriminal, mala-Calvento
files. May hawak ka ba namang kutsilyo. Nagawa naming makatakas at magpakalayo sa iyo.
Simula noon, sa mura kong edad, natutunan
kong mabuhay nang hindi ka kinikilala bilang
tatay. Ngunit sa bandang huli, natagpuan na lamang namin ang aming mga sarili na kasama
kang muli. Marahil, mas mainam nang tiising
makasama ka kaysa mamamtay sa gutom.
Hindi ko alam kung anong sumanib sa akin at
naibulalas ko na lamang ang aking galit, hindi
lamang sa pagtataksil mo kay nanay kundi sa iyong
kabuuan -sa lahat ng aspeto ng iyong pagkatao
Kay nanay ko lang nalaman na maaari
palang may saling pusa, na ang kahulugan ng
pamilya sa itaas ay hindi angkop para sa lahat.
Umiiyak siya noon habang tumutugtog sa radyo ang awiting Pasumpa-sumpa ni Boy Sullivan. Pasumpa-sumpa ka pa t*ng-ina ka. Ang galing mong mambola t*ng-ina mo. Dahil mukhang
sirang plaka ang nanay sa kasasabing dedicated
iyon sa iyo, ako na ang naghatid ng kanyang
mensahe. T* ng ina mo daw sabi ni nanay.
Kung nagawa mo kaming tadtarin ng mura,
hindi mo naman kayang makatanggap ng kahit isa. Palibhasa’y isa kang mama’s boy. Galit
na galit ka noon at batid kong may gagawin
kang masama sa amin. Hinatak ako ni nanay
upang tumakas. Naghabulan tayo sa buong village hanggang sa mawala ka na lamang sa aming likod. Naisip ko na lang na para kaming
2.
Naaalala ko pa ang araw nang mawaglit
ang pagkamuhing ito. Ika-75 kaarawan ni lolo
at engrande ang naging pagdiriwang. Habang
malakas ang tugtugan at halakhakan sa labas,
nakakulong tayo sa ating kuwarto nina nanay at
ate, hindi nagpapalitan ng anumang salita maliban sa mga tinginang nagbabadya ng magkahalong alinlangan at ligalig. Binasag ng pagtunog
ng iyong celphone ang katahimikan ng gabi.
Nagtext na naman ang girlfriend mo.
Hindi ko alam kung anong sumanib sa akin
at naibulalas ko na lamang ang aking galit, hindi lamang sa pagtataksil mo kay nanay kundi
sa iyong kabuuan—sa lahat ng aspeto ng iyong
pagkatao. Ngunit nagulantang na lamang ako
nang sinabi mong wala akong karapatang mangialam sa iyong mga pinaggagawa. Noong ga-
bing iyon, natanggap ko mula sa iyo ang pinakamatinding pananakit na matatanggap ng isang
anak mula sa kanyang ama. Ngunit wala akong
naramdamang sakit o pasa. Manhid na ang aking katawan sa panghahagupit ng sinturon o sa
bigat ng iyong kamao. Sinanay na ako ng ilang
taong karahasan sa loob ng ating tahanan.
Noong gabing iyon, natutunan kong huwag
nang magalit sa iyo. Sapagka’t kung patuloy pa
kitang kamumuhian ay magpapatangay lamang
ako sa ilusyong magbabago ka pa para sa amin.
Nagagalit lamang ako sa mga taong binibigyan
ko pa ng kahit kaunting malasakit.
3.
Naaalala ko pa ang araw nang simulan kong
kamuhian ang aking sarili dahil sa iyo. Napagtanto kong umiinog na ang aking buhay sa pagkamuhi sa iyo. Ibinabase ko ang aking bawat
galaw sa kung ano ang hindi mo gusto. Dahil
avid fan ka ng Lakers, ipinagdasal kong manalo
ang Magic kahit pa paborito ko si Pau Gasol.
Naging tibak ako noon, hindi lamang dahil sa
tingin ko’y akma ang kanilang pagtatasa na mala-kolonyal at mala-pyudal ang lipunang Pilipino, kundi dahil ipinaliwanag din nila kung
papano nagma-manifest sa loob ng tahanan
ang ganitong sistemang panlipunan — pyudal
ka, sa pamamalakad ng tahanan, sa pakikitungo
sa kapwa, sa akin.
Salamat, dahil malaking bahagi ng aking
pagkatao ay hinubog ng galit at poot. Salamat.
q
* Sa aking tatay, belated happy Father's day.
Trip
P
asado alas singko ng hapon
nang magdilim ang langit at
nagsimulang bumuhos ang ulan.
Naalimpungatan, ginising ako
nito mula sa isang pagkakaidlip,
na mas pinagod lang ako kaysa natulungang
ibsan ang nanakit na ulo. Wala itong babalang
pinakawalan ang bigat ng langit.
Mistulang nanahimik ang buong paligid
sa pagkakalunod ng mga ingay at tunog ng
lansangan sa pagkalampag ng ulan sa bubong.
Natulala ako sa pakikinig, at nagsimulang
lumutang ang isip. Natauhan na lamang ako
mula sa pagmuni-muni nang marinig ang mga
batang nagtitilian at mga magbabarkadang
naghihiyawan – galak na galak sa pagpawi sa init
at paghugas sa dumi at kalat ng Krus na Ligas.
Mukhang dumating na talaga ang tag-ulan.
***
Kanina, umuwi akong hapung-hapo mula
sa isang MST class. Napakainit noong tanghali.
Sira pa ang aircon kaya maalinsangan ang
buong silid. Siksikan kaming higit animnapung
pawisan na mga estudyante, pinipilit gisingin
ang mga sarili at makinig sa isang propesor
na mukhang wala na ring pakialam kung may
nakikinig sa kanya.
Ang iba’y nakikipagdaldalan na lang
sa mga katabi. Ang iba, kanya-kanyang
paraan nang pagtulog. May mga lantaran at
walang pagpapanggap na nakanganga, ang
iba’y nakapalumbaba, at ang iba naman ay
nakahundasay na lamang sa kanilang mga upuan.
Ang sarap panuorin ng mga taong
natutulog sa klase. Mas nakakatuwa pa
yung mga pinipilit na labanan ang antok.
Yung pinipilit mag mukhang gising pag
lumalakas o tumataas ang boses ng guro,
pero talagang hindi na kaya. Pagmamasdan
mo sila, tapos lilingunin mo ang propesor na
patuloy lang sa pagsasalita. Ibabalik mo ang
tingin sa kaklaseng natutulog, sa kanyang
inaantok na itsura, sa kanyang pagpupumilit
na magmukhang gising, sa dahan-dahang
pagsuko ng kanyang mga mata.
Pero bihira akong makakita ng mga
natutulog ngayon sa klase. Sa dalawang major
subject ko kasi, tiyak na magagalit ang propesor
kapag nahuli kang natutulog sa klase nila. Sa apat
na GE subjects ko naman, karamihan ay mga
freshie. Palibhasa mga pabibo at nagpapakabait
pa kaya hindi pa nangangahas na gumawa ng
kalokohan.
***
Malakas pa rin ang buhos ng ulan.
Naisip kong lumabas at kumain ng mainit na
ginataang bilo-bilo sa tapat. Masarap painitan
ang katawan sa ganitong klase ng panahon.
Baka sa meryenda madaan ang nanakit na ulo.
Hindi na ako nagdala ng payong dahil
kaya namang takbuhin ang tindahan. Habang
papalabas ng eskinita, iniwasan ko ang mga tagas
sa bubong at talsik ng ulan mula sa gilid. Pagdating
ko sa bukana, isang bata ang tumatakbong
papasalubong sa akin. Kasabay ng mga halakhak
niya ang ritmo ng paligid. Maya-maya pa,
dumating ang mga kabarkada niyang may mga
dala-dalang tabo at bote. Huli na ang lahat para
makaiwas ako sa sumunod na pambabasa.
May mga sadya palang maagang nakikilala
ang kalokohan. q
10
Opinyon
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
STOP CON-ASS. NO TO CHA-CHA.
A Unity Statement from the Youth
e are today’s generation of Filipino youth, expressed opposition against any attempts of the
W
young, vibrant and spirited, transcending Arroyo administration to extend her term.
professions, cultures and boundaries, and to whom
We oppose the convening of a constituent asthe hopes and aspirations for the nation’s future is
bequeathed.
Together, we vehemently oppose all attempts by
the ruling Arroyo clique and its cronies in Congress
to tamper with the Constitution and perpetuate itself in power. We denounce in the strongest possible terms the blatant abuse of power and treachery
that have come to characterize this regime.
The youth have always played a pivotal role in
ushering in significant changes and junctures in
history. We have always been at the forefront of uprisings and revolutions every time the social, political and economic conditions in society become too
intolerable for Filipinos to endure.
Today, we have a moral and sacred duty to perform. We cannot remain silent or with our arms
crossed. We cannot remain indifferent while our
own future as a people and a nation are being compromised for selfish political ambitions. The stakes
are too high for us to take a pass.
We express our solidarity with various church
groups, the business sector, people’s organizations
and concerned Filipino citizens who have similarly
sembly and Arroyo’s charter change on the following grounds:
* Any attempt at charter change by the Arroyo
administration would only serve to extend President
Arroyo’s regime. Arroyo is desperate because she will
inevitably have to answer to all the cases filed against
her once she is removed from position;
* No different to what Ferdinand Marcos did,
charter change can be used by Arroyo to remove
the 60-day limit covering the President’s declaration of martial rule and to suspend the privilege of
the writ of habeas corpus thus allowing the State to
arrest anybody without a warrant. Alternately, the
power of Congress to revoke the President’s declaration of martial law or the power of the Supreme
Court to review the bases of a declaration of martial law can be removed;
* Charter Change will worsen the economic
and social crises plaguing the country. All past attempts of charter change have pushed to amend
economic provisions barring 100 percent foreign
ownership of lands, social institutions, and basic services, industries and infrastructures in the
UPHOLD THE STUDENTS’ MANDATE!
DEMAND IMMEDIATE CONFIRMATION!
he Board of Regents (BOR) refuses to con- leaders system-wide are subjected to open and coT
firm Student Regent (SR) Charisse Berna- vert machinations that aim to cripple student opdine Bañez. There are no grounds for her disquali- position against commercialization and privatizafication, having complied with the two conditions
ordered by the BOR: to issue an apology to the
UPLB College Secretaries and to present the UPLB
USC financial statement. In its meeting last June
25, however, the BOR now wants to have the UPLB
USC financial statement audited either by a University or an external auditor.
Clearly, the Board of Regents (BOR) has no
intention to swear in a new SR. The BOR’s actions
have revealed that it is allergic and afraid of the
prospect of having as its member a student leader
who enjoys the unanimous support of all student
councils in the system.
The BOR insists that while the students can select an SR, it can, at its whim, refuse confirmation.
Such logic, however, disregards the Codified Rules
for Student Regent Selection (CRSRS), the sole and
independent document that binds all parties in
matters and questions pertaining to the selection
of the SR.
The continued non-confirmation of SR Bañez
is a manifestation of the systemic campaign of repression of the state and the Roman administration
to thwart dissent in the University of the Philippines. Student formations, institutions and their
Univ... pg 4
the economic crisis. He added that
the proposal is not premature because
the CBA provides for a renegotiation
after three years.
UH prefers “proposals in the
form of non-cash benefits that are not
[permanently] binding, as opposed
to fixed obligations such as [salary]
increase,” said Gregorio.
Gregorio said 55 percent of the
hotel’s earnings go to employees’
salaries. He added that the employees
already receive most of the benefits
they earlier requested through the
CBA such as the gratuity pay.
UH workers also receive noncash benefits such as meal allowances
and salaries higher than those of government employees, said Gregorio.
tion schemes.
In UP Diliman, the proposed 2009 Code of
Student Conduct denies the following rights from
student organizations: official recognition, holding activities, using University facilities and tambayans. It also takes away student representation
in trials before the Student Disciplinary Tribunal.
Meanwhile, the right to assemble and protest is in
peril because of vague provisions on “breach of
peace”.
In UP Los Baños, several student leaders including SR Bañez have been charged with baseless
cases to force them to silence. Last enrollment, the
UPLB administration did not collect the P45.50
student fund intended for the operations of the
different student councils and the publication, Perspective. Student organizations were threatened
with non-confirmation for pushing through with
the traditional welcome activity for freshmen, the
Almusalan, which was earlier cancelled by the administration.
In UP Visayas Tacloban College, the Student
Council is unconfirmed because of the administration’s demand for requirements not provided in the
Student Council’s constitution. In UP Visayas in
‘Old excuses’
However, Madrideo said the management had also feared income losses
in 2005 with the granting of the P1,050
increase then pushed for by the union.
Yet, UH was able to spend on capital
outlay, such as a P6 million generator,
even after the increase was approved.
UHWU had to request for the
National Conciliation Mediation
Board under the Department of Labor as the third party in the negotiations for the first increase because
they had reached a “deadlock” with
the management, said Madrideo.
The workers proposed the first
increase also because their salaries
were already insufficient to cover the
cost of living, Madrideo said, adding
that the 2005 increase was the first
since the hotel was established. q
Philippine Collegian
country. Such a revision will only give way to further foreign exploitation and plunder of our natural resources, indigenous knowledge systems, and
domestic human resources;
* Charter change will aggravate the colonial,
corrupt and commercial characteristics of Philippine culture, education and mass media; and
* Charter change can allow further foreign intervention and exploitation by allowing one-sided
treaties detrimental to national development and
progress.
We call on all democracy-loving youth and
citizens to stop efforts to change the Constitution
before the 2010 elections. The government’s desperate efforts to continuously cling to power have
sown deep social discontent and division among
the people.
We strongly believe in the sovereign right that
rests on the people to change a morally bankrupt
and corrupt regime with a conscientious leadership
that can genuinely unite the nation and can bring
forth meaningful social change.
Get free publicity! Email us
your press releases, invitations,
etc. DON’T TYPE IN ALL CAPS
and, go easy on... the punctuation!? Complete sentences
only. Dnt use txt lnguage pls.
Please provide a short title. Be
concise, 100 words maximum.
Kabataan Kontra Cha-Cha
Visit kabataanpartylist.com or check Kabataan
Kontra Cha-Cha in Facebook for the list of
supporting organizations, institutions,
and individuals.
We welcome questions,
constructive criticism,
opinions, stands on
relevant issues, and
other reactions. Letters
may be edited for
brevity or clarity. Due
to space constraints,
letters must have only
400 words or less.
Send the letters to
kule0910@gmail.com.
M i a g - a o, Iloilo officers of the University Student
Council were summoned and scolded by a University official for campaigning against the unjust
Electric Bill Adjustment fee charged to dormitory
residents.
While such attempts to repress have become
a fixture in the University, the students and their
respective organizations and institutions can never
be stopped. Ultimately, the justness of their unified call for accessible and quality education will
continue to attract numbers and gain in strength.
While the state and the administration may find
numerous ways to deny us of our right to organize
and to be represented in policy- and decisionmaking bodies like the BOR, the students’ militant
and collective action remains the decisive weapon
against such maneuvers.
Let our ever stronger and powerful collective
action be our potent response!
Fight
for
our
democratic
rights!
Defend our student formations!
Uphold the Students’ Mandate! Confirm SR
Bañez without Condition!
Continue the fight for tuition rollback!
KASAMA sa UP
Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa
Unibersidad ng Pilipinas
Badya... pg 2
lugar masisikip at maraming tao,
ang pagiging malinis—sa pagsunod
ng lahat sa mga tagubilin na ito,
tayo ay makatutulong upang hindi
lumaganap ang sakit. Ang pamunuan
ng mga constituent university ay
handa
sa
anumang
pangyayari
kaugnay ng A(H1N1).” –Emerlinda
Roman, Pangulo, Unibersidad ng
Pilipinas
“Sa tingin ko, hindi [dapat ipangamba
ang A(H1N1) virus] basta tiyakin
lamang ng administrasyon ng UP na
sapat ang mga kagamitan at gamot
na mayroon ang University Health
Service. Sa tingin ko, panahon na
rin naman upang bigyan ng diin ng
administrasyon ng pamantasan na
tiyakin na mahusay ang serbisyong
pangkalusugan na ibinibigay nito sa
mga mag-aaral, kaguruan, empleyado,
at ipa ba sa loob ng UP.” -Charisse
Banez, Student Regent
“Kailangan ituloy ang information
drive
[hinggil
sa]
A(H1N1)
at
kailangang bigyan ng pansin nang
maigi para maiwasan ang pagkalat
nito, but not to the extent of
[imposing] other schools’ measures.
Ang dapat na mas iniinvolve ay
mga students sa information drive,
para may bahagi sila sa kampanya,
hindi ‘yung tumatanggap lang sila
ng impormasyon.”
–Titus
Tan,
Tagapangulo, University Student
Council.
“Kung ang pagkalat ng A(H1N1) virus
ay maayos na nakokontrol ng mga
kinauukulan at naiiwasan naman
sa ibayong pag-iingat, wala tayong
dapat ikabahala. Ang nakababahala
ay ang ginagawang pagmamadali
ng Kongreso sa pagko-convene ng
Con-Ass. Ang sakit ay nagagamot at
naiiwasan. Pero walang bakunang
pupuksa sa mga implikasyon ng
pagbabago ng Konstitusyon.” –Rupert
Francis Mangilit, Tagapangulo,
College of Mass Communication
Student Council
Erratum
ATANG once more
Due to positive reviews and feedback, Dulaang UP is proud to bring
back Floy Quintos’ ATANG: Dulang
may Musika, directed by Alexander Cortez on July 1-12, 2009. For
more information, please contact
09228124938 or 9261349.
HULING BALITA 2 concert
moved to July 3
Huling Balita 2: A Tribute to the
Missing has been moved from June
26 to July 3. The event, which aims
to raise awareness on enforced disappearances, is organized by the
UPD-University Student Council and
Student Christian Movement.
UP VARIATES Applicants'
Orientation
UP Variates invites you to its applicants' orientation on July 8, 2009 at
exactly 6 pm at the School of Statistics
Parking Lot. For more information,
please contact Cess at 09166159531
or Julie at 09053760532.
Send in your opinions and
feedback via SMS! Type: KULE
<space> YOUR MESSAGE <space>
STUDENT NUMBER (required),
NAME and COURSE (optional)
and send to 0908.690.3385 or
0927.419.2853 Non-UP students
must indicate any school,
organizational
or
sectoral
affiliation. WARNING: We don’t
entertain textmates.
Next week's Question:
1. Ngayong napasa na ang
panukalang Con-Ass, ano sa
tingin mo ang mangyaayri?
2. Ano ang masasabi mo sa
bagong look ng Kule?
In the article "Kahit Anong Mangyari" published last issue, there was an
error regarding Ms. Maureen Gaddi dela Cruz' position in the National Union
of People's Lawyers (NUPL). Ms. dela Cruz is not one of its founding members,
but one of the first law students who joined NUPL. Moreover, she will only
graduate from the UP College of Law this academic year. We apologize for
the error. – Ed.
Philippine Collegian
Grapiks
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
11
Ang totoong first issue
in july edishun
Matapos ang unang isyu in tinapa paper [siling labuyo paper to be
more precise], heto na naman ang iyong all-time favorite Kule para
maghatid ng medyo slight na nakakatawang balita for your happiness
and more.
Episode1: What if
Matapos ang isang rally sa may casa-A.
girl1: Friend, like what if Cholo* is, you know, tibak?
girl2: Erm, like what’s tibak?
girl1: Tibak, like you know, activists..
girl2: Ooh that. Erm, I’d be scared...
girl1: Eh, what if he’s gay?
girl2: Oh that i don’t mind.
*hindi niya tunay na pangalan
Episode 2: close encounters with the metaphysical
Sa pagtitipon ng mga makapangyarihan sa buong UPam.
UPam power: what is maglagay kayong
mga utrez ng Student Regency na wiz
naman student?
namumulang bata: ma’am wiz na natin
gamitin ang mga metaphysical examples.
Yun lamang para sa ngayon. At para
sa mga nagtataka as to why matagal
nakarelease ulit ang kule, isa lang ang
masasagot namin: Me pila kasi.
Huling hirit: Dahil nasira ang phone ng
kule, walang nailathalang tsismis, angas,
komento o mensahe ng sinuman sa isyung
ito. Magtext na lamang sa 09086903385
o 09274192853 at ipakita ang iyong angas at for sure lalabas na ito sa susunod na
isyu! [pwede din namang umakyat ng kule
at mag-exam for more]
U n dere xp o se d
Ikaw na nga!
Umakyat lamang sa rm401
Vinzon's Hall mula June 23
hanggang July 2 at maghanap
ng sinumang taga-Kule.
Magdala ng bluebook at
ballpen para sa News, Feats
at Kultura sections at ng
karagdagang portfolio of
works para sa Grapix.
Kapag
may
katanungan
o nais maka-phone pal,
tumawag sa 0917.896.7610 o
0927.496.0224
Chris Ma rtin Imp e ria l
Opinyon
12
Philippine Collegian . Tomo 87 . Blg 2
Miyerkules, 01 Hul 2009
Archie Oclos
S
Editoryal
M g a s i g n o s n g pa n l a l a n s i
a kamakailang pagkapasa ng
panukalang Constituent Assembly
(ConAss) sa Kongreso, may
dalang babala ang mga susunod
na mga araw.
Sa Hulyo 27, muling magbubukas ang
sesyon ng Kongreso kasabay ang ikawalong
State of the Nation Address ni Gloria
Arroyo. Ito rin ang araw na maaari nang
buuin ng mga kongresista ang ConAss at
magkaroon ng kapangyarihang baguhin
ang Konstitusyon.
Ngunit ngayon pa lang, nakasungaw
na ang panganib. Dapat alalahanin na
dahil sa napasang panukala, may ganitong
kakayahan na ang Kongreso bago pa man
magsimula ang SONA. At dahil ibinasura
ng Korte Suprema ang petisyon na
ipawalang-bisa ang ConAss, hinahamon
tayo ng panahon na maging mapagmatiyag
at tutulan ang napipintong pagtuligsa sa
ating demokrasya.
Hindi na bago sa ating mga Pilipino
ang pagpupumilit ng mga administrasyon,
nagdaan man o sa kasalukuyan, na
maipatupad
ang
Charter
Change
(ChaCha). Saksi ang kasaysayan sa patuloy
na paglalako sa ChaCha bilang isang
solusyon sa palagiang krisis at malubhang
kalagayan ng ating bansa.
Isang taon matapos ipatupad ang Batas
Militar, nilikha ni Marcos ang Konstitusyon
ng 1973 upang lutasin umano ang suliranin
sa insurhensya. Sa pamamagitan ng isang
Constitutional Convention (ConCon),
kung saan ang mga delegado ay inihahalal
o pinipili mismo ng pangulo, inalis ni
Marcos ang mga balakid upang magbigay
daan sa kanyang ikatlong termino.
Sa panahon ni Ramos, itinulak ang
pagbabago sa sistema ng pamahalaan
patungong parliyamentaryo upang mas
magkaroon umano ng pagpapatuloy,
pananagutan, at responsibilidad sa
pamamahala na wala sa umiiral na sistema.
Ito rin daw ang magpapabilis sa pag-unlad
ng ekonomiya ng Pilipinas na naiwan na
ng ibang bansa sa Timog-Silangang Asya.
Ngunit katulad ni Marcos, naging
malinaw rin ang layunin ni Ramos na
magtagal sa puwesto nang iminungkahi
rin nitong alisin ang limitasyon sa muling
pagtakbo ng mga nakaupo. Ginamit ni
Ramos ang paraan ng People’s Initiative
(PI) kung saan bubuo ng isang plebisito
upang ihain ang mga nabanggit na
pagbabago sa Konstitusyon.
Gayunman, ang mga malawakang
protesta ng mga tao kasabay ng pagbasura
ng Korte Suprema sa petisyon para sa isang
PI ang tuluyang tumapos sa mga planong
pag-amyenda ni Ramos.
Sinundan naman ito sa termino ni
Estrada sa paggamit sa Constitutional
Correction for Development (Concord)
upang maisulong ang ChaCha. Iminungkahi
ang mga amyenda sa mga probisyong
magpapabilis sa pagpasok ng dayuhang
mamumuhunan sa bansa na lulutas umano
sa suliranin sa ekonomiya. At katulad
ng mga nauna, malakas din ang naging
pagtutol ng taumbayan sa planong ito ni
Estrada na nakita ang mga amyenda bilang
paglabag sa pambansang patrimonya.
Sa pagpasok ng termino ni Arroyo,
walang nagbago sa puspusan nitong
pagsusulong ng ChaCha. Hindi na umano
epektibo ang kasalukuyang sistema kaya’t
nananatiling atrasado ang pag-unlad ng
bansa. Inirekomenda ng kanyang binuong
Consultative Commission (ConCom) ang
pagbabago ng anyo ng gobyerno tungo
sa isang parliyamento, ang liberalisasyon
ng ekonomiya, at ang desentralisasyon ng
pambansang gobyerno sa tulong ng isang
sistemang federal. Pinilit isulong ang mga
amyenda na ito sa pamamagitan ng isang
PI, ngunit ibinasura din ng Korte Suprema
noong 2006 ang kanilang petisyon.
Tulad ng nabanggit sa mga naunang
termino, lumang tugtugin din ang
isinusulong na ChaCha ni Arroyo. Isang
panakip sa mga problema’t suliranin ng
bansa na ang kanyang sariling rehimen din
ang lumikha.
Gayunman, nakalusot ang ConAss ni
Arroyo sa gitna ng malawak na oposisyon
ng mga tao. Ipinasa rin ito sa kabila ng
nakapanlulumong krisis sa ekonomiya ng
bansa sa kasalukuyan.
Kung gayon, tama lang na itakwil ang
kahit na anong hakbang na mapanatili ang
administrasyon at ang mga palisiya nitong
patuloy na nagsasadlak sa mamamayan.
Sa halip, walang ibang pinatutunayan
ang pagpupumilit ni Arroyo sa ChaCha
maliban sa pagiging desperado ng kanyang
rehimen. At gaya ng ibang pagtatangka,
nagbabadya ang mga implikasyong
magpapahirap sa buong bansa.
Sa ekonomiya, iminumungkahi ang
pagpapahintulot ng buong pagmamay-ari
ng mga dayuhang mamumuhunan sa lupain,
pampublikong
institusyon,
paaralan,
at serbisyong panlipunan ng bansa.
Nangangahulugan ito ng panghihimasok
ng dayuhang interes sa batayang serbisyo
ng mga Pilipino na dapat ibinibigay ng
pamahalaan. Partikular sa edukasyon,
lilikha ito ng pagbabago sa tunguhin ng
isang paaralan na magsilbi para sa interes
ng dayuhang nagmamay-ari nito.
Tumatampok naman ang paglihis
sa demokrasya ng mga napipintong
kaganapan sa pulitika.
Pinakamaigting ang posibilidad sa
pananatili sa poder ni Arroyo. Ang ganitong
pagkapit sa kapangyarihan ay nagmumula
sa kanyang takot na malitis at panagutin
ng sambayanan: mga kaso ng malawakang
pandaraya sa eleksyon, pagnanakaw,
korupsyon, at mga pagpaslang at pangaabuso sa karapatang pantao.
Mainam tandaan na nababalot sa
panlilinlang ang pagkapasa sa ConAss ng
mga kongresista. Ipinuslit nila ito, isang
gabi na hindi pangkaraniwan ang dami ng
mga dumalong kongresista sa huling araw
ng sesyon, at habang nakatutok sa radyo’t
telebisyon ang sambayanan sa pinapadaloy
at pinang-aaliw na mga balita.
Sa ganitong pagtatakda, muling
umiigting sa atin ang responsibilidad na
magpatuloy sa kolektibong pagkilos at
pagiging mapagmatiyag. Nararapat na
magpatuloy ang malawak na pagtutol ng
sambayanan. Sapagkat sa napatunayan sa
kasaysayan, ito ang epektibong panglaban
sa ChaCha at sa mga nagbabadyang
panlalansi ng pamahalaan. q
Cover photo: Piya C. Constantino, Cover page design: Bianca Bonjibod
Ph
i l i pp i n e
Co
l l e g i a n
o p i s ya l
n a
l i n g g u h a n g
pa h aya g a n
n g
m g a
m a g
-
a a r a l
n g
u n i b e r s i d a d
n g
p i l i p i n a s
-
d i l i m a n
Punong Patnugot Om Narayan A. Velasco • Kapatnugot Larissa Mae R. Suarez • Patnugot sa L athalain Ma. Rosa Cer M. dela Cruz • Patnugot sa Kultura Mixkaela Z. Villalon • Patnugot sa Grapiks
Piya C. Constantino • Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya Dianne Marah E. Sayaman • Mga Kawani Maria Bianca B. Bonjibod, Janno Rae T. Gonzales, Chris Martin T. Imperial, John Francis C. Losaria, Archie A.
Oclos, Jan Marcel V. Ragaza, Nico Villarete • Pinansiya Amelyn J. Daga • Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon Paul John Alix • Sirkulasyon Gar y Gabales, Ricky Icawat, Amelito Jaena, Glenario Omamalin • Mga
Katuwang na Kawani Trinidad Basilan, Gina Villas • Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon • Telefax 9818500 lokal 4522 • Email kule0910@gmail.
com • Website collegiannews.multiply.com • Kasapi Solidaridad - UP System-wide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations • College Editors Guild of the Philippines