News Culture Features Editorial

USC RESULTS USC INTERVIEW

RH BILL ENVIRONMENTALISM FEMINIZATION OF IN DESPAIR
MIGRATION
HIKES Page 6 to 7 Page 8 to 12
Page 2 to 5 Page 16
The Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines Manila | Volume 24 NumberS 19-20 FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2011
 NEWS Volume 24, Numbers 19-20

Fully-Automated SC Elections Concluded

AK, Bigkis-UPM Split USC Posts
T
he fully-automated University Student Council (USC) elections
in the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) was recently
concluded on March 4, yielding a slate having almost equal
members from the Alternative Students’ Alliance for Progress-Katipunan
ng mga Progresibong Mag-aaral ng Bayan or ASAP-Katipunan (A-K) and
Bigkis ng mga Iskolar para sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago
(Bigkis-UPM).
Fully-Automated Poll Results Bigkis-UPM and A-K acquired
three and four USC councilor seats,
respectively. A-K’s Benralph Yu
The chairpersonship of Bigkis- topped the slate, having more than
UPM bet Angeli Guadalupe was a hundred vote count difference
secured by votes from the College from Ferozza Simbulan of Bigkis-
of Medicine (CM), College of UPM, who came in second. They
Pharmacy (CP), College of Allied were followed by Katrina Ysabel
Medical Professions (CAMP) and Ortiguerra (Bigkis), Regina Gabriel
the College of Public Health (CPH). Decangchon (A-K), Johanne
Del Rosario (A-K), Madison
Dominguez (Bigkis), and Jose Mari
Meanwhile, A-K candidate Ellen Lanuza (A-K). (See table for tally of
Mariz Tayag acquired a significant votes.)
lead in the College of Arts and
Sciences (CAS), but still lost the
position to Guadalupe by a total The induction of the new USC
of 84 votes. Moreover, the College officers with UPM Chancellor
of Dentistry (CD) and College of When asked about the apparent show you unity despite adversity, “…Nag-automate tayo ng elections
Ramon Arcadio was held on March division within the USC, newly- kase para daw mapataas yung
Nursing (CN) delivered votes for despite the diversity.” Gaudalupe
15. elected chairperson declared that voters’ turnout pero yung nakita
Independent candidate Jaimee stated.
Marie Balgos. there will no longer be parties natin sa result, hindi naman siya
within the USC. Guadalupe tumaas. So at the end of the day,
Dichotomy in the USC
asserted that the USC’s General Diminished Voter Turnout it’s not about it being manual or
For the Vice Chairpersonship post, Plan of Action shall be revised to automated, it’s about involving
A-K’s Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles Neither party dominated the USC “have the best of both parties” in the students, reaching out, tsaka
won a landslide victory, from CAS, service of the UPM students. UPM’s first fully automated maganda rin yung napoint out niya
for the next academic year in
CN, CD, CAMP and CP, over Bigkis- elections held on March 4 resulted na napkaikli yung campaign period
terms of the numbers of positions
UPM’s Masaki Mitsuhashi. to a 54.6% voters’ turnout which is talaga, “ USC Vice Chairperson-
achieved.
“This year… we would really lower than last year’s 63.58%. elect Arguelles pointed out.

Dejectedly, the expected turnout college population voted.

for this year’s USC election was
not met by the meager 56.49 per

NEGLECTED RESPONSIBILITY:
Aside from the bloated figures,
cent over-all voters’ turnout in
projections of campaign managers,
spite the first-ever campus-wide
candidates and voters reveal
automation.
2011 USC ELECTIONS VOTES’ that one factor possibly affecting
the low turnouts was the short
TURNOUT SCRUTINIZED Unexplainable Downfall campaign period.
MARK JASON SANTOS FLORES AND ALYSSA NICOLE CACHO GRATIL

I
n the recently concluded polls of the 2011 university Student Council (USC) elections on March ***
The 2011 USC elections is a history
4, the overall percentage of voters in the University of the Philippines Maila (UPM) was 56.49 per because it is the first election that In spite of efforts to encourage
cent. It is 7.51 per cent smaller than the 2010 election voters’ turnout. This upsets one of the goals was fully automated. Despite some student participation in each USC
of incorporating a fully automated election which is to encourage the participation of the students technical difficulties – reverting elections, the graph still features
and improve the voters’ turnout in the university. some students back to the manual an unpredictable trend. The
way of voting – the automation students’ tendency to vote may
was generally successful. not depend on the USC’s effort
alone, but is also dependent on
other factors such as awareness,
Nevertheless, the assumption of involvement, among others.
a higher voters’ turnout for the
USC elections this year collapsed
due to inexplicable reasons. Many Participating in the 2011 USC
guessed that it may be because of elections is a way of exercising
academic tasks during the day of the students’ rights. Voting is
the elections, but others inferred crucial and necessary, for the USC
that majority of the students just will stand at the forefront of the
lost their interest on choosing new entire student body on various
Figure 1: In Ten Years’ Time: The graph shows the voters’ percentage in UPM for the past 10 years leaders. existing and forthcoming issues.
(Source: Office of Student Affairs) The governing body represents
the interests of the students, and
In addition, the overall turnout electing the right people is a duty
Through breaking down the voters’ be easily disregarded. (Refer to Starting in 2007, however, the also decreased because students of each and everyone.
turnout per year, it is observable Figure 1) voters’ percentage increased, taking up Masters and PhDs, who
that the trend is unsteady, having leaving good marks that almost were not allowed to vote, were
unusual inconsecutive positive reached the 95 per cent mark, the included in the total population. If the voting percentage will
and negative peaks. The fact, The table shows that in the early highest percentage acquired in the In the College of Public Health, the continue to decline, only the
however, that the year 2011 half of the time interval, only 40 span of ten years. The turnouts overall turnout released by OSA opinion of a few will be catered,
had an obvious drastic downfall to 50 per cent of the population in since then were dwindling around was 34.22% whereas students leaving the voice of the majority
compared to the past years cannot UPM participated in the election. an average of 79.95 per cent. claim that 81% of the whole unheard.

2 • 01 APRIL 2011 • FRIDAY


Libu-libong Pilipino Nanindigan sa Araw ng mga Kababaihan
Photo by: Luis Liwanag
Mga Pagkilos Laban sa
“Price Hikes,” Pinaigting
Pag-ibsan sa Pasanin ng Mamamayan, Ipinanawagan
I
ba’t ibang grupo sa bansa ang nagpahayag ng kanilang pagtutol sa sunud-sunod na pagtaas ng
presyo ng mga bilihin, pag-akyat sa singil sa pasahe, paglobo ng mga bayarin sa iba pang batayang
pangangailangan, at sa mga nag-aambang pagtaas ng matrikula sa mga unibersidad at kolehiyo sa
paparating na akademikong taon.
Pinakamaigting sa mga nasabing
pagtaas ang mabilis at madalas na
pag-akyat ng presyo ng langis, na
sinasabing nagbunsod ng sunud-
sunod na pagtaas ng halaga ng ibang
mga bilihin, ayon sa maraming grupo
at sektor.
Patuloy na Pag-akyat ng Presyo ng Langis
Patuloy ang mabilis na pagtaas ng
presyo ng langis at krudo simula
pa lamang noong Disyembre ng
nakaraang taon. Ayon sa Bagong
Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN),
ang presyo ng langis sa bansa ay
overpriced ng P6.72 kada litro sa
pagsasara ng 2010.
Ngayong 2011, tinatayang P0.68 ang
magiging pag-akyat ng presyo ng
diesel at P0.65 sa presyo ng gasolina
kada linggo.
Nito lamang Marso 8, nagkaroon
ng pagtaas sa presyo ng langis ang
mga kompanyang bumubuo sa “Big
3,” ang Chevron, Pilipinas Shell, at
Eastern Petroleum, ng P1.50 kada
litro para sa diesel, P1.25 kada litro
NEWS
ACE VINCENT PONSECA MOLO
para sa kerosene at P1 kada litro
para sa gasolina.
Bukod sa langis, tumaas rin ang
halaga ng liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG), ng P1 kada litro o P11 sa
bawat tangke ng LPG, ayon sa LPG
Marketers Association (LPGMA).
Paggiit ng mga Dagdag-Pasahe
Noong Enero, inaprubahan ng Light
Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) at
ng Department of Transportation
and Communication, may-hawak
sa MRT-3, ang dagdag-pamasahe sa
Lines 1 at 2 ng LRT at sa MRT-3. Ayon
sa LRTA, piso ang kanilang idaragdag
sa boarding fee, na mula P10 ay
magiging P11, at piso rin ang dagdag
sa bawat susunod na kilometro. Ang
dating P15 na “maximum one-way
ticket” sa tren ay aabot ng hanggang
P30.
Liban sa pagtaas ng pamasahe sa
LRT at MRT, kamakailan lamang
ay pinayagan na rin ng Land
Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ang
BEANCA JHANINE MULATO SAMIANO
B
ilang paggunita sa ika-100 anibersaryo ng Araw ng mga Kababaihan noong ika-8 ng Marso,
libu-libong mamamayan mula iba’t ibang sektor at organisasyon sa bansa ang nakiisa sa
militanteng pagkilos sa Mendiola, sa pangunguna ng Gabriela, Migrante, Bayan, at Kilusang
Mayo Uno.
Ani Liza Maza, kinatawan ng
Gabriela na siyang tanging partido
na representante ng mga kababaihan
sa Kongreso, "…Nararapat lamang
na sa espiritu ng tradisyon ng Marso
8, ating ipagpatuloy, itaas, at isulong
ang militanteng pakikibaka ng mga
kababaihan.”
Panawagan sa Gobyerno
Ang nasabing militanteng pagkilos
ay nagsilbing panawagan sa
administrasyon ni Pangulong Benigno
Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino tungkol
sa estado ng bansa. Ipinahayag ng
mga ralyista ang matinding pagtutol
sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin,
paninindigan sa katarungan para
sa mga nakaranas ng pang-aabuso,
at pagsuporta sa Comprehensive
Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill).
Naging mabigat na problema ng
bansa ngayon ang sunod-sunod na
pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin,
transportasyon, at iba pa. Sa kabila ng
mga pagtataas na naganap, nananatili
pa ring nakapako ang minimum wage
sa 370 piso kada araw.
Ayon kay Nenita Gonzaga, bise-
presidente ng Kilusang Mayo Uno para
sa Kababaihan, ang kasalukuyang
pisong dagdag-pasahe sa dyip
sa buong bansa. Sa Luzon, ang
mimimum fare ay itinaas sa P8
mula sa dating P7, at sa Visayas
at Mindanao, itinaas sa P7.50 ang
dating P6.50 na minimum na pasahe.
Noong Enero 1, ipinatupad ng
Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) ang
karagdagang bayad sa toll sa mga
pangunahing tollways ng Luzon, ang
North Luzon Expressway (NLEx),
South Luzon Expressway (SLEx)
at Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
(SCTEx). Kasunod nito ang paghingi
ng 30 hanggang 50 sentimo kada
kilometro na dagdag-pasahe sa
mga bus na naglalakbay sa Metro
Manila at Timog Luzon. Kasabay rin
nito ang pag-apruba ng LTFRB sa
pagpapatupad ng P40 na flagdown
rate sa mga taxi mula sa dating P30.
Sunud-sunod na Pagmahal ng Bilihin
Ayon kay Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) Undersecretary
Zenaida C. Maglaya, dala ng pagtaas
ng halaga ng mga produktong
petrolyo, tumaas rin ang presyo ng
mga produktong agrikultural tulad
Volume 24, Numbers 19-20
minimum wage na ito ay kulang
kung ibabawas ang bayarin sa bahay,
kuryente, tubig, at iba pa.
Maliban sa pagtaas ng presyo ng
bilihin at transportasyon, nais din
iparating ng naturang pagkilos
na pagtuunan ng gobyerno ang
karapatan ng bawat kababaihan.
Upang higit na maisulong ang
karapatan ng mga kababaihan
sa bansa, patuloy ring iginigiit sa
Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso
ang Panukalang-batas 1434, o
“Women Empowerment Act of
2010”, na naglalayong madagdagan
ang bilang ng posisyon ng mga
kababaihan sa gobyerno.
Pakikibaka para sa RH Bill
Kasama sa layunin ng kanilang
pagkilos ay ang pagsasabatas ng
RH Bill, isang panukalang-batas na
matagal nang ipinaglalaban ng mga
progresibong organisasyon at mga
kababaihan. Ang RH Bill naglalayong
magbigay-kaalaman ukol sa birth
control at maghandog ng serbisyong
medikal para sa mga buntis.
Sa kasalukuyan, ang RH Bill na inihain
ng tinapay at gulay.
Idinagdag pa ni Maglaya na dahil sa
tumataas na halaga ng harina at trigo
at sa bumababang suplay ng asukal
sa bansa, dalawang piso ang itinaas
ng presyo ng loaf bread at piso
naman sa bawat sampung piraso ng
pan de sal. Tumaas rin ang presyo
ng gulay sa hanggang P80 kada kilo
sa ilang pamilihan, dahil rin sa pag-
akyat ng halaga ng gasolina.
Higit pa rito’y mayroon ring 12
porsyentong pag-akyat sa bayarin
sa tubig, 5 hanggang 10 bahagdang
pag-akyat sa presyo ng gatas at
kaugnay na produkto, at pag-akyat
ng presyo ng asukal sa P64 kada kilo.
Nag-aambang Pagtaas ng Matrikula
Ayon sa datos ng National Union of
Students of the Philippines (NUSP),
mayroong humigit-kumulang
400 mula sa 2,180 unibersidad
at kolehiyo sa buong bansa ang
magtataas ng matrikula ng lima
hanggang labinlimang porsyento
sa paparating na akademikong
taon. Ito ay sa kabila ng pangako ng
Commission on Higher Education
(CHEd) na iilang paaralan lamang
ang magtataas ng matrikula sa
Hunyo.
Sa Metro Manila pa lamang, lima
hanggang sampung porsyentong
pagtaas sa matrikula ang ipapatupad
ng mga pribadong unibersidad tulad
ng University of Sto. Tomas (6%),
Far Eastern University (4.5%),
University of the East (5%), Trinity
University of Asia (10%), College
FRIDAY
sa kongreso 16 taon na ang nakararaan
ay hindi pa tuluyang naisasabatas
dahil na rin sa magkasalungat na
pananaw ng Simbahang Katoliko at
ng gobyerno.
Ayon sa Gabriela, sinusulong nila ang
naturang panukalang-batas upang
mabigyan ng sapat na serbisyong
pangkalusugan at proteksyon ang
mga kababaihan. Sa pamamagitan
nito, inaasahan nila na mababawasan
ang maternal death rate sa bansa na
halos 11 kada araw.
Sinabi ni Dianne Lyneth Alavado, bise-
tagapangulo ng Gabriela-Unibersidad
ng Pilipinas Maynila (UPM), na
binabasag lamang nila ang naunang
maling pananaw ukol sa RH Bill. Ayon
sa kanya, ang RH Bill ay nagtataguyod
ng gender equality…at nagbibigay
daan para maiwasan ang mataas
na antas ng pagkamatay ng mga
kababaihang ina sa Pilipinas sanhi ng
kakulangan sa kaalaman, kagamitan,
pasilidad, mga "trained and skilled
health workers" at iba pang serbisyo.
Ayon pa kay Alavado, “Ipinapakita
natin sa lahat ng mga institusyon
na ito na may boses at kakayahan
ang kababaihan na dapat nilang
pakinggan.”
of St. Benilde (5%), Technological
Institute of the Philippines (9.6%), at
Lyceum of the Philippines University
(7%).
Ayon kay CHEd Executive Director
Julito Vitriolo, kailangang magtaas
ng mga bayarin ang mga unibersidad
at kolehiyo ayon sa inflation rate
na tutugon sa mga suliranin ng
pagpapasahod sa mga guro at
pagsasaayos ng mga pasilidad.
Sa gitna ng nakaambang pag-
akyat ng bayarin sa mga paaralan,
ipinahayag ni Vencer Crisostomo,
tagapangulo ng Anakbayan, na
nararapat tugunan ng pamahalaan
ang krisis na ito sa pamamagitan
ng pagpapatupad ng moratorium sa
pagtataas ng matrikula at ibang mga
bayarin.
Pagtutol at Pagkilos
Sari-saring grupo mula sa iba’t
ibang sektor, sa pangunguna ng mga
grupong Strike the Hike Movement
at Riles Laan sa Sambayanan
(RILES Network), ang nagsagawa
ng mga militanteng pagkilos na
nagpapahayag ng pagtutol sa serye
ng pagtaas ng presyo, pamasahe
at matrikula sa ilalim ng bagong
administrasyong Aquino.
Simula pa lamang noong Enero,
marami nang mga kilos-protesta
ang isinagawa upang pigilan ang
mga nag-aambang price hike,
pangunahin ang mga protesta sa
mga istasyon ng LRT at MRT at ang
walkout ng sektor ng kabataan sa
public consultation ng DOTC hinggil
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
• 01 APRIL 2011 • 3
 NEWS
Nominasyon para UPM Chancellor Approves 22.3M CAS Fund
sa Susunod na SR, PAASCU Involvement Foreseen
Inumpisahan na
OSR Umaasa sa Patuloy na
Pagtindig ng mga Mag-aaral
YODHIM GUDEL GEPTY DELA ROSA
B
ilang paghahanda sa nalalapit na pagpili ng susunod
na rehente ng mga mag-aaral (SR) ng Unibersidad ng
Pilipinas (UP), ang Office of the Student Regent (OSR),
sa pakikipagtulungan nito sa iba’t ibang mga progresibong
organisasyon at mga konseho ng mga mag-aaral, ay masuring
sinimulan ang nominasyon para sa susunod na kinatawan ng mga
mag-aaral sa Board of Regents (BOR).
Paghahanda sa Nominasyon
Upang lubos na makapaghanda
at masiguro ang partisipasyon ng
mga mag-aaral para sa pagpili ng
susunod na SR, ang mga konseho
ng mga mag-aaral ng UP Diliman
at Kolehiyo ng Agham at Sining ng
UP Manila ay nagpahayag sa OSR
ng kanilang pagnanais para sa mas
mahabang panahon ng paghahanda
sa nominasyon. Bilang tugon,
itinakda ng OSR na sa Mayo 10 ang
huling araw ng deliberasyon ng mga
nominado para sa mga kolehiyo ng
UP, at Mayo 16 naman para sa buong
pamantasan.
Ang General Assembly of Student
Councils (GASC) ay magaganap sa
UP Mindanao mula Abril 4-5, upang
kolektibong maihalal ang susunod
na rehente ng mga mag-aaral.
Ang mapipiling SR ay inaasahang
maglilingkod at kakatawan sa mga
mithiin ng mga mag-aaral sa loob ng
isang taon.
Pagpili sa Susunod na Rehente
Ipinahayag ng kasalukuyang rehente
ng mag-aaral na si Jaqueline Joy
Eroles ang kanyang mga inaasahan
para sa susunod na mapipiling
rehente. Ayon sa kaniya, nararapat
lamang na katawanin ng rehente ang
interes ng mga estudyante ng UP at
magsilbi itong tulay upang buuin
ang pakikiisa ng mag-aaral sa iba
pang sektor ng pamantasan at bayan.
“Inaasahan na sa lahat ng tindig at
aksyon nito, isinasaalang-alang lagi
ang kapakanan at karapatan ng mga
mag-aaral at mamamayan. Partikular
na inaasahan ang matapang at
walang-paumanhing pagtindig nito
para sa interes ng nakararami,” ani
Eroles.
Nilinaw ni Eroles na hindi
magiging madali ang trabaho ng
susunod na SR dahil ang trabaho
nito ay pamalagiang nakalubog sa
BOR kung saan matindi ang mga
tunggalian sa usapin ng pagtaas ng
bayarin, pagpapaggamit ng mga
4 • 01 APRIL 2011 •
Volume 24, Numbers 19-20
lupain ng UP upang pagkakitaan
ng mga pribadong kumpanya,
at usaping pagpapaunlad ng
demokratikong pamamahala sa
pamantasan, nararapat lamang na
ang mga magiging posisyon at tugon
ng susunod na rehente ay kakatawan
sa interes ng mga mag-aaral.
Inaasahan rin niya na ang sususnod
na ipagpapatuloy ng sususnod na
SR ang mga proyektong maaring
hindi matapos sa kaniyang
panunungkulan. Ilan sa mga ito ay
ang panawagang ibasura ang refund
deposit fee, pagtutol sa large lecture
classes ng UPLB, at panawagan para
sa mas malawak na partisipasyon
ng estudyante sa pamamahala sa
pamantasan.
Pagtugon sa Responsibilidad
Ayon kay Eroles, bagamat pitong
buwan lamang ang kaniyang
naging termino bilang SR , naging
makabuluhan naman ito dahil
nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon
na katawanin ang mag-aaral ng
pamantasan sa mga napapanahong
isyung kinaharap nito.
Binigyang pansin din ng rehente
ang pagsasabalik ng oryentasyon ng
OSR bilang institusyon ng mga mag-
aaral at hindi lamang isang puwesto
na nagpapalit ng namamahala taun-
taon.
Hinaharap ng termino ni Eroles
ang pagsasaayos ng kakayanan at
kagalingan ng OSR upang mas lalo
pang matugunan ang hinaing ng mga
mag-aaral. Isa sa mga plano niya
bago matapos ang kaniyang termino
ay ang koordinasyon , pakikipag-
ugnayan at pagtatalaga ng mga
katuwang ng OSR sa lahat ng yunit
ng UP.
“Sa hinaharap, inaasahang
makapagtalaga ng mga coordinator
ng OSR sa bawat kampus. Sa ngayon
ay pinag-aaralan kung papaano
makakapagdagdag ng mga posisyon
sa ilalim ng OSR na magiging
katuwang ng SR sa malawak na
gawain nito” dagdag ni Eroles.
FRIDAY
JOANNA MARIE ICASAS UDARBE AND ANGELA MARIZ ULEP CAUDAL
A
s the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) Chancellor Ramon Arcadio approves
the Php22.3M budget for the renovation of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), several
progressive groups claim that the said renovations is in preparation for Philippine Accrediting
Association for Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) accreditation.
The said fund would be utilized
for the construction of a student
center, purchase of laboratory
equipments, renovation of 12
classrooms and reconstruction
of the Department of Behavioral
Sciences (DBS) faculty room.
Agenda for Renovations Questioned
Despite claims that the renovations
are solely for the improvement
of CAS, the reconstructions to
be carried out are deemed as
preparations for the July PAASCU
affirmation.
In response to these allegations,
CAS Dean Reynaldo Imperial
asserted that the renovations
in CAS are not connected to
the PAASCU accreditation.
Furthermore, he implied that
prior to the issues on private
accreditation, the fund was
I t a n o n g K a y ?!
?
? Isko’t Iska ?
!
1 - Ano ang masasabi
mo sa naging resulta
ng eleksyon sa UPM?
ok naman...mabilis naman sya kasi
automated....at mababait yung
mga UEB sa college namin....
- 2009-xxx33
Andaming abstain, parang
mashadong madali mag-abstain
kasi automated :P -unplug
eh. okay lang. tamang ano lang.
basta hindi ako nagabstain pwede
na. – summersanshayn
Okay lang. Kaso ang daming di
bumoto. Sayang talaga.
-2009-0**4
kahit ano pang resulta meron ang
eleksyon, ganyan pa din ang up
manila..walang pagbabago..ilang
taon na kong nasa upm pero ganun
at ganun pa din naman.
– CODENAME
Wala naman akong reklamo
sa resulta. Ang mahalaga, sana
already proposed by the different
departments of the college
beforehand.
On the other hand, the CAS website
clearly defined that Chancellor
Arcadio’s recent approval of the
Php 22.3 million appropriations
for CAS is for the improvement
of the college’s facilities. Several
progressive groups in UPM deem
this as the administration’s
support for the CAS’ initiative for
external accreditation.
CAS SC Firm against PAASCU
Meanwhile, the CAS Student
Council remains firm on their
stand against the PAASCU
accreditation. “[PAASCU] will
trample academic freedom with
standards set by accreditors
from private institutions,”CAS SC
Chairperson Ellen Mariz Tayag
tuparin nila ang mga pangako nila.
-strawberriesandchampagne
Maayos lang. . – knight in shining
armor
sayang yung boto nung mga hindi
bumoto.- iloveCHOCOLATES
basta ang alam ko, hindi ko
inaasahan na ganun yung magiging
resulta~ 2010-****2
hanep, mabilis! kaso, sana lang
resulta iyon ng lahat ng isko at
iska. marami kasing hindi bumoto.
kung anu-ano ine-exercise nila,
pero yung karapatang bumoto
hindi nila inexercise. sayang
talaga. -- the-one-whose-name-is-
on-your-desk
k... sana lang maging at peace sila
:) - [insert name here]
Isa lang ang masasabi ko, buti na
lang at gagradweyt na ako. (sana.
shet.) -fightnight
keri naman. mabilis. parang
kakaupo mo lang tapos na agad.
stated.
Tayag emphasized that this
accreditation inevitably entails
higher funds for the improvement
of facilities and equipments.
Likewise this would mean another
looming tuition fee increase, an act
of rechanneling the burden to the
students.
Furthermore, Tayag asserted that
the funds for CAS should have been
given even without the program or
institutional accreditation from
PAASCU.
“Kailangan ba ng PAASCU to give
the college what it needs? Hindi
ba dapat lang namang bigyan ng
budget ang isang state university
regardless of any external
accreditation? I firmly believe
that any private accrediting
body is inappropriate for a state
university, more so, the national
university,” Tayag mused.
maayos din. sana nga lang mas
maraming estudyante ang sumali.
hindi tuloy nila na-experience
ang eleksyong paclick-click lang.
---soundeffect
Hindi ko matanggap na nanalo
siya. :( -number11
Whatever happens, heto lang ang
masasabi ko... I would just keep
an eye on them... literally! Ayusin
ninyo... because I am watching
you!- 20**-***25 BAPS
hmm. i think ung elections maayos
naman. mabilis. wala na sa system
ung problema. sa tao na since sabi
nga na konti ang turn out. atchaka
nainis lang ako kasi di nanalo
ung kandidato na gusto ko.:))
-inextremis
Walang pinagbago sa dating
elections. Hindi naman lahat
bumoto eh. - adik sa kape
Nakakagulat ang resulta. Hindi ko
ineexpect - Anonymous
Fair naman. At least may diversity
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

ORGANEWSATION
e Lola Patola
Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang...
The UP AdHere, in cooperation with the Unilab
Pharmaceutical Company, invites you to join a video
blog competition entitled ‘Quality Choice Challenge’. Halluer halluer halluer mga
Prizes include 15,000php for the grand prize, 10,000php afows. Ahaaaaaaaym back! It is
and 5,000php for the first and second runner-up. Also, samertaym na! Uso na naman
itey mga halow-halow at family
winners will be receiving special gift packs from Unilab.
get togetherness sa mga beaches
All entries will be shown on March 21 and 22, during all ober the Philippine are of
the 2-day quality fair to be held at CAS Little Theater resposivility! At dahil samertayms
Quadrangle. na, end na naman ng jisang
hakademiiik year. Hava! Matatafos
na nga ang hakademik yiiir ay
The UPM Ugnayan ng Pahinungod is calling for summer mmay mga fasaways far in insayd
immersion service program volunteers to participate YuFiEm!!! Havey na havey na
in their 2011 community immersion to be hald at naman ng mga issue makers ang
Marinduque, Zambales and Romblon on March 23 to April ma-vroadcast to the whole wide
27. For inquiries, contact JC at 09491391713. world kamunduhan ng Pilipinas
ang kanilang mga ehemers! Hey
tow na!
Volume 24, Numbers 19-20
Ga-gradweyt na nga lang eh! Ang
tarush!
NEWS
CONGRATSHULUMEYSHONESSSS!!!
Ayan, gradweyting na kayooow!
Nalamfasan niyo ang mga
pagsubok na only in YuFiEm
makikita. Kahit na you’re making
go-go na, olweyz rememver laheyt
ng mga itinuro ng inyong mga
prowfs inside the four corners ng
klasrumey. Perdermore, huwag
na huwag as in never na never din
ivaon sa limot hang mga natutunan
awtside the klasrums. Herkaaaaay?
That’s soooo imfortant! Dapat rin
na dehins mawala sa inyo yung
fagiging malavan! SERVE THE
PEOPLE, SERVE THE COUNTRY.

COLLEGE BRIEFS
Lagiiing tandaan na dapat you’re
olweyz der fara sa mga kavavayan
natin. Ang di knows lumingon ka
TsunaChismis Numero lang sa finanggalingan, dehins
Uno: FROPuccino says maganders ang kinavukasan.
COLLEGE OF ALLIED MEDICAL PROFESSISONS “Graduates, grad WAIT!” Klapeypey-klapeypey sa inyo!
The UP College of Allied Medical Professions Class of Anetch itech mga kumakalat
2010-11 and CAMP Volunteer Corps invite you for a photo kalat na naman at nadaig fa ang It’s taym na! May flight pa
contest and exhibit entitled Lens for Change: Transcending mga cutttieee cats sa CASpus? kame ng inyong Lolo Upo!
Barriers of Disability on March 17 -18 at the CAS LT Walk. Ang hava hava naman ng Fufunta kames a aming to the
hairlaloo nitong sumvong nth time na honey moon! YEY!
sa akin ng aking mga Hay em soho happy! Haveeey
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE dearest afows na meron na naman! Nakakalurkey
at there exists yung mga na summer bakasyowness.
In their support to Brotherhood, Leadership, Scholarship prowfs na ang demanding
and Service, the UP College of Medicine Mu Sigma Phi Enjoy niyo everything- the
and hebrything! Havaianas! Itey waters and the food and the
Fraternity has celebrated a series of events entitled mga prowfs na itey ay making pa-
4MULATION from March 7 to 11 which includes Big luuuuuurrrrrrvvvvvveeee! See
delaaay sa mga ibang gradweyting you all next sem! Chikichikikoooo!
MUrienda at the hut—a kick off food and drink sale, Ball for istudyents. Not so Gooodddiiie
the Glory; a game for basketball and futsal, Bloodletting I love love lalalalalalab you all!
Ever prowfs! Sovrang fillet na fillet Mula sa sa sovraang talino at masa
basic life support course, Great MU grill off and the Grand ang mga ito na kulang-kulang ang T s u n a C h i s m i s
draw for the iTouch Lives raffle promo. All benefits will Numero Dos: Batch mataaas pa sa summa cum laude
mga requirements ng mga afows kaya hanggang today ay dif a rin
go to the UP-Philippine General Hospital Department of ko kahit dehins naman. Ano va TWENTEYELEBEN,
Emergency Medicine. disisorporyu! Winner na pinakakawalan ng YuFiEm, Lola
ang need niyo? Halaaaaa. Why o Patola.
why? Hasan ang konsiderasyones? winner na naman!
NEWS Itanong kay isko’t iska...from page 4
cards sa malamig na casino – init sa summer :b - hot daw Ibabad ang ulo sa isang timba
amongst the different parties. does it? ^^ - Ginnie Carandang summersanshayn ng tubig for one minute... 10
-Mara Mercado, 2nd yr BehSci
repetitions, 8 counts... repeat till
So i take it na maglalaho nanaman Hindi ko papawiin ang init na dala fade... :))) - 20**-***25 BAPS
Sa air conditioned na mga kwarto ng bakasyon. Buong loob ko itong
For me, the first ever automated ang USC nyan? Tsk, sana nag-aral ng CAS. May class ako sa summer
elections in UP Manila was a na lang kayo, tutal dun naman dadamhin. - fightnight
eh :))) -2009-0**4 Magsi-swimming ako araw-araw
successful one. Kudos to all of kayo di ba magaling?. Yung lang. -
sa manila bay, hehe joke! magpapa-
those who took part in the process. BEACH
hindi muna ako dadaan ng upm. aircon sa mall, magsi-swimming
However, it remains a big challenge edi magbanat ng buto buto tapos baka may bigla akong makita. iinit kung kakayanin at mag-a-icedrop
to encourage every UP Manila maligo. –CODENAME lang lalo ang summer at kukulo pa araw-araw :D -adik sa kape
student to exercise their right to
vote. Hopefully next elections we’ll
2 - Paano mo balak bakit kailangang pawiin? ang dugo ko. ~ m&m
get a good voters turnout. - BEN10 pawiin ang init na dala lez enjoy the summer heat!
-strawberriesandchampagne I plan to spend my summer in
ng summer? nagtitinda kasi kami ng ice tubig at Davao City. I want to take care of
yelo sa bahay eeh. so, sa tingin ko... my mother. She’s a bone cancer
Akala ko ba kaya automated na ang
Maghahanapbuhay para may ako ang papawi sa init ng summer patient (stage 4). In fact, she’s
eleksyon ay para tumaas ang voter sana magkatsunami ng malamig pambili ng halu-halo. - Knight in ng iba ;)) ---soundeffect recently been admitted to the
turnout? Ang dami pa ring nag- para siguradong tanggal ang init... shining armor. hospital. Being the son closest to
abstain. Yung sa resulta? Sige, e joke lng....-2009-xxx33 her, I’d like to make her summer
ganun talaga. Ang mas importante pawiin ang init na dala ng summer.
Depende sa anumang klaseng init warmer with the warmth of a son’s
ay tuparin ng mga na-elect yung mag chill out lang sa bahay o sa
‘yan :> - Mara Mercado, 2nd yr magbabantay ako dun sa gotohan tender loving care. - BEN10
mga pangako nila. Diba? :)))- mall since di ako makakabakasyon
BehSci namin. tapos hihingi ako sa
fyeahfyeah dahil sa summer class.:))
lola ko ng sweldo. may pambili
na ako sa chocolate spoon. ~ makipaginuman din minsan sa Magkukulong ako sa loob ng ice
Hmm.. Maliligo mayat maya :)))) - iloveCHOCOLATES mga barkada.:)) - inextremis plant na may aircon. Haha. :))) –
Fair naman ung election eh, nanalo
Anonymous fyeahfyeah
ung binoto ng tao. -Piatos
mag-swimming ako doon sa resort Chill, chill lang sa harap ng electric
magkulong sa ref..ahaha -tikgirl na galing sa bundok yung tubig. fan. Basta ala ng school works Haha! I'm planning to spend the
ok lang... -tikgirl
LAMIIIIIG!! yehey! ~ 2010-****2 solve na lahat. - Piatos entire summer dancing sa All Stars
Happy ako sa election results. ^_^ summer workshop, so maiinitan
Well, um, considering first year ko Sa mindoro, practicum :P -polsci talaga ako sa ayaw at sa gusto ko
palang sa UPM kasi Diliman girl student iiwas ako kay ________. --the-one- bibili ako ng ice tubig –vocalchords XDDDDDDD – Ginnie Carandang
ako the first four and a half years of whose-name-is-on-your-desk
my univ life, my opinion regarding
this doesn't really count for much, nescafe ice plus maglaro ng Magswimming sabay tapat sa I like beaches, to the point that I’m
pano nga ba? eh ako ang nagpapa- aircon. -Isabella Vincent, BA BS one. -BEACH

FRIDAY • 01 APRIL 2011 • 5

Culture V 24, N olume 19-20
umbers
Calamities do not choose its victims, and so do businesses. Somebody must do something.
Drastic earthquakes, killer typhoons,
Countless proofs of the imminent “end” of the world through
raging tsunamis, and massive landslides
– these are among the supposed
the destruction of the environment are seen everywhere. These evidences that the end of the world
are seen in numerous documentaries made to the blockbuster is near. Destructive forces threaten to
films which explored the possible outcomes that we are running end millions of lives in one blow. This
out of time. These trigger the rise of awareness among the masses is apparently how nature answers our
which leads the monopoly of solutions to natural phenomena. lack of responsibility to Mother Earth,
We see these problems addressed through the media and our or at least how the media projects
government with famous personalities campaigning for the it. Through media propaganda, we
salvation of the Earth. It is a big deal. But the world-view which realize something must be done. We
fixates on climate change and environmentalism as the big issue cannot sit idly while our resources
is certainly dishonest. If it is to be the basis for action, then the are depleting, our forests are burning,
agenda of climate change should be critically examined, as and our lives being at risk. But once
fomenting panic of a coming apocalypse may not really be the the shock passes, the fear disappears
most interesting direction in which to move. and the drive that pushes us is gone,
we go back to our daily lives forgetting
that something must be done. We
look at people who are in power
to lead the rescue mission. We
urge businesses to supply
us with materials to address
the needs of the victims of
disaster. Yet, we are unaware
that through supplying this
false consciousness, the media
earns profit.
We are what we have.
As we look for the answer to all our
environmental problems that are posed
by the media, we encounter solutions
that are proposed by politicians and
businessmen. They propose projects,
products, activities and movements
that they benefit from. They urge us
to buy recyclable bags, eco-friendly
appliances, plant trees, and join events
like fun runs that seemingly aim to save
the Earth. These fun runs, however
innocuous, are aimed to raise fund for
tree-planting activities. In this scenario,
the tree is commodified. It is, indeed,
anomalous that people have to pay
hundreds of pesos when people can
simply plant seeds from the fruits and
vegetables we eat.
Aside from the fact that these
merchandise do nothing to the
environment, the means of producing
these products also harm the
environment and exploits the masses.
We must remember that the pollution
that is generated from the factories of
these environment-friendly companies
Surviving “Green” and P
actually destroys the environment. It is
The People’s Struggle in the Context of
AUBREY NICOLE LEONES ARBOLEDA AND CRISELLI LAGONOY ENDAYA
6 • 01 APRIL 2011 • FRIDAY
ironic that they sponsor and promote
environmental activities when they
own the very companies that destroy
the Earth. In short, they provide
deceiving solutions for the problems
they, themselves, created.
The anomaly is, we let them modify our
concept of caring for the environment.
We are blinded by the chance to
do something for the world that we
immediately follow their lead. We
believe that these actually create a
big impact on the environment when
in fact; these are mere scapegoats
for the grand plot of exploitation. We
support them thinking that they are
leading the path to survival. This only
led us to make changes to ourselves
and stay under the influence of those
in power. What we have that are
promoted by these people defines us
and slowly gains control of our lives. It
means that false needs are imposed on
the individuals. These needs are both
created and satisfied by the capitalist
system which is their way to keep the
masses under control.
The oil burns, the forests burn, the sun
shines, the world turns. People eke
out a living, institutions consolidate
their power. Climate change leaves
the atmosphere, the forests and the
icecaps behind and becomes twisted
and mangled by capitalistic institutions
and ends up a creation of their market
needs. Our perception of it cannot be
isolated from their manipulations, and
if we use their concept then we run the
risk of simply serving their agenda and
reproducing their desires.
Being green isn’t enough.
While participating in massive
worldwide reduction of consumption
has helped in raising the awareness
and mobilizing the masses, it is of little
impact in our present world where
consumption equals development.
So far our efforts to reduce electrical
use, Styrofoam and plastic in our
everyday living has only accounted
for our individual responsibility. More
saddening is the fact that we advocate
for ecological change and saving
the environment through wearing

statement shirts and buying products
which in reality does not help in solving
even the environmental problems, let
alone societal problems. If we only aim
to change our way of living instead
of changing the way we live, we can
realize how important our role is in
the class struggle we are participating
in. The influence of our actions and
individual endeavours should not be
limited to the extent of our way of life.
We must initiate a social perspective
campaigning not only for going green
but also for addressing the improper
use of resources and distribution of
resources utilized by an elite few and
inequality of rights and power in the
society.
Furthermore, the story remains the
same: Individuals making moral choices
will transform society. What is hidden
within that narrative is an assumption
that we are not one story: we are a
multiplicity. We are not made up of
environmental heroes and bystanders,
we are the combination of those who
created capitalism and those who are
oppressed by it.
We are not helping ourselves.
In a nation where the welfare of the
masses should be one of the top
priorities, it is quite ironic that our
lives are exchanged for the survival
of Mother Earth. We advocate for
the supposed preservation of the
environment nearing doom to the
point that some problems that are
immediate and which leads to greater
struggles are neglected, and sometimes
excluded. Those who are poor remain
poor. For example, instead of making
more projects for the masses, we focus
our attention to projects promoted by
the media. We join these activities, and
we are content that we have “done
something” for the greater good, and
at times, people stop there. Fact is that
this form of “social action” diverts the
masses’ attention, emotively pushing
them to fight beyond any motivation
coming from a kind of motivation
which is more of a form of exploitation:
not much for social change but to save
their own threatened survival. That
pushes them to adapt to the reasoning
Profiteering:
leading to the conservation of the
f Environmentalism
Volume 24, Numbers 19-20 Culture
=
P
present social order and to the profit of
some institutions. We forget that being
“environment-friendly” does not really
cure major social problems. It only
intensifies the situation of those who
live in poverty since their needs are
juxtaposed to created need of these
environmental propagandas.
The masses are not aware of the fact
that they are exchanging their ability
to act for pressing issues not for the
sake of a shared environment but for
the grand plan of the businessmen.
The businessmen then use this lack
of knowledge to further lure the
masses into their trap. The masses
are campaigning for something that
capitalists twisted to their advantage.
Going green has always been flaunted as an attribute with
capitalistic endeavours. However, most of these advocated steps
Earth first means prioritizing the are just mere steps to a more environment-friendly Earth in a
people. society that is ingrained with tyranny.
It is common knowledge that the global
ecological crisis we are struggling to
Our pursuit to save the environment should have been our first
fight against is becoming a component
priority and our innate duty to the Earth. But instead, our desire
of our daily lives. Coupled with this
for rapid economic development is causing changes in our
struggle is our continuous fight for the
environment that threatens to destroy the ecological foundations
worsening conditions of living in the
of the economy. We use every chance we get to exploit the fruits
country. To know that the powerful
of the Earth and turn every resource as a chance to benefit profit.
force which urges us to change are the
Now, we are retracing the steps which led us to this disaster by
people who lead the oppression of the
encouraging everyone to participate and do their duty in saving
deprived. To be aware that the same
the Earth. It is ironic that there is a call for collective action when
people who create the need to save
it comes to the preservation of our resources but not when it
the Earth from being doomed are the
comes to the issues of inequality. Just as the claim that we are
ones who will eventually destroy our
all inhabitants of this Earth therefore we should all take part in
environment. We are suffering from
caring for the environment, we should open our minds to the fact
exploitation of work, inequality of rights
that however flawed our political and economical system is, we
and an unjust social system. Until we
are nevertheless participating, and perhaps, reinforcing it.
realize that our struggle for the Earth
is connected with our struggle for the
society, we will continue to see only a We fail to show our unity when we discuss issues in the society
fragment of the problem that each of that are actually essential to human life. We are advocates for
us is facing. Equal rights and the equal the salvation of the environment through various industries that
distribution of resources in the society promote environment-friendly products. Yet we do not realize
affect the environment and not the that these industries are the major deterrents of the environment.
other way around. Our surroundings We support something that eventually destroys the environment.
only respond to the way we live in and In short, we are leading ourselves to our own graves.
develop our societies. We become so
focused in saving the environment that
we forget that we must first direct our Yet even in that we fail, for even as we reverse and try to patch
attention in saving ourselves from the the damages we have caused the fact remains that our goal is
dictating rule of the powerful few in to make everything work to our advantage. Large companies
society. Focusing on the consequences advertise environmental propagandas making it into a big craze
of our actions will not help in making it in order to earn more profit. Our government, too, is preoccupied
easier to create the impact necessary with making the issue of environmentalism a business to benefit
for revolutionizing our society and from.
salvaging our environment.
If we continue to immerse ourselves in this demented dream
that we can reverse everything through sheer determination and
hope, the end is not too far. The only way to save ourselves is to
change our perspective and the way we view living. It is not too
late to realize that we can still help the world by starting with
ourselves and changing the way our society sustains our needs
and greeds. Environmentalism should not be limited to caring for
the environment, just as the potentiality of action is to be limited
to the planting of commodified trees.
FRIDAY • 01 APRIL 2011 • 7
Herstory:
FEATURES Volume 24, Numbers 19-20

JEO ANGELO CHICO ELAMPARO AND ARIES JOSEPH ARMENDI HEGINA

ILLUSTRATION BY KATRINA JOY CAPULONG

The Plights of the Filipina Migrants Overseas

T
cooks, receptionists and entertainers.
he changing times have posed inevitable and unforgiving episodes that This domination of women in these
epitomize the modern human struggle—that which shatters families and fields has seen its boom from 1990
concludes relationships all in the name of modern-day slavery. This till 2005 wherein, the ages of sixty-
event that deliberately derails the Filipino family culture has first two percent of these women migrants
ranges from as young as 15 to 34. The
served a noble purpose: to provide sustenance for every family. However, the mass exodus of Filipinas into these
repercussions that resulted from this unfortunate picture of migration have fields can be traced into the fact that
reached the point of obscuring the true values of heroism. these sectors are not covered by labor
laws, making these jobs more open for
labor. The bleak reality also dawns
Harsh as it is, migration has successfully taken most of the Filipinos, particularly upon those who are working in these
the Filipinas, who are one of the pillars of their own home and brought it to industries: their fates mainly rely on the
offer service to others abroad. Despite this, the modern Filipina tried to exercise mercy of their employers.
her choice to be a provider for her family and her power to be free by laboring
in the other parts of the world. Yet , as what it has turned out , she became
vulnerable and weak under the different forms of abuses, maltreatments and The Filipina has shown that she can
sexual exploits. maneuver her own fate and is willing
to sacrifice when the turbulent times
call for her. Through exercising her
She was taught by the society that the materialization of her aspirations for freedom and will, she proved that she,
her family’s comforts lies on the mercy of the opportunist foreign powers. too, is a potent catalyst that would able
to materialize change in the prevailing
system. Yet, this freedom rendered her
Tracing Vitality in her Face The year was 1992 when the country and unconscientious powers. Delving vulnerable to the exploitative blows and
could not anymore seclude the reeking deeper into these figures, only three subtle attacks of her foreign masters.
smell of reality—the income generated million are experiencing permanency in And on these masters’ hands, the
She has endured too much, and by a single breadwinner in the family their jobs while more than four million Filipina migrant’s noble aspiration is
such is her drive to brave dangers is not sufficient enough provision. Filipinos are in danger of being removed put into jeopardy.
in other lands. The further impoverishment of the at any moment in their work and the
Filipino family was the result of the remaining number are undocumented
Philippine government’s venture into workers. These numbers only Mending Malevolence in her
The Post-Marcos regimes saw how the partnerships with private businesses. elucidates what really is the priority Body
Filipino labor culture has drastically These partnerships, on the other of the Philippines government—
altered and gave in to modernization. hand, are caused by the boom of trade that is to capitalize on its people and
From having the notion that only the liberalization after it was introduced to unabashedly disregard the daunting She only wanted to provide
males of the family should toil, due the country by Western superpowers to ill-effects of such move to every Filipino sustenance but what she obtained
to worsening living conditions and safeguard their control over the world home. The government has turned its was desecration.
escalating crises in the national level, the through globalization. The aggravating ears deaf to the impasse of its people
women are forcibly rooted from their state of the republic pushes the so-called and this is reflected by the promotion
accustomed lives. There is no problem beacon of light of every home to leave of human resources as the Philippines’ The Filipina migrants have braved the
in the growing number of Filipinas in her motherly-duties and make sacrifices greatest export product—a stark irony seas in search for a greener pasture
the labor force; it was lauded in fact as only to give her family a life that is stable of the country as it is unable to develop to graze on. They have yielded the
it became a form of women liberation yet engulfed with uncertainty. and bank on agricultural products it is comforts in living in the confines of
from the chains of the distorted norms known for. their homes to labor in the lands of
of the society. The problem arises on the strangers. Fighting the isolation to
inadequate opportunities and pitiable At present, fifteen million Filipinos are realize their aspired alleviation, that
safeguards the Filipinas are receiving laboring in more than two hundred Filipina migrants have been known and is their driven force to work arduously
from the Philippine government. countries in the world. This illustrates have dominated the domestic services overseas. However, the road leading
that twelve percent of our population and entertainment sectors. This is to that fabled utopia was not all paved
are packaged as commodities and to be exemplified by the jobs Filipinas abroad and perfect as it was sought to be.
feasted upon by neoliberal economies are enduring—domestic helpers, The migrants fell into the inequitable
caregivers, factory workers, waiters, system of the bureaucracy being run
by pervasive masters and in the spell of
unfortunate vents. What they saw was
a paradise transformed into a hell hole
for the vulnerable Filipina.

The quandary of the Filipina workers

overseas depicts the joys and sorrows
of human existence. They have had their
share of good times through success
stories in their conditions abroad or
declarations filled with fear and despair
by those who are facing death sentences

8 • 01 APRIL 2011 • FRIDAY


and victims of defilement. Yet, what
is unique in the experience of human
workers overseas is that they are
casualties of abuse and violation solely
because of their gender.
Filipinas who are desecrated abroad
have not only has their taste of the
common injustices being exposed
to their male counterparts but also
of different kinds of abuse and
maltreatment such as starvation,
physical violence, overworking and
being imprisoned in their rooms. Sexual
offenses are also rampant such as rape,
molestation and harassment. These
untoward incidents reflect the heavier
burdens rested upon the shoulders
of Filipina migrants. Their lives are in
constant threat to the violating motives
of their masters on foreign soils.
They, however, have decided to keep
their silence regarding the numerous
violations inflicted upon them for they
doing otherwise will lose them their
jobs and will bring them back to the
Philippines where job opportunities are
but scarce commodities.
move. The mandatory pregnancy test
only duplicates the test which has
been already a part of the required
medical check-up ergo, another milking
cow for funds. Lastly, the removal of
direct hirers lessens the chances to be
employed and induces middlemen to
control the workers. These issues and
predicaments, adding to the abuses and
maltreatments inflicted on the Filipina
migrants are the hurdles that hamper
the realization of their dreams.
The Filipina workers are caught in the
clutches of a scrupulous system being
implemented by scheming factions
both in the government and their fellow
citizens. They are subjected to abuses
that are unique to them because of
their gender. Despite of all the setbacks,
the modern Filipina has remained
composed and steadfast in obtaining
what she yearns the most—that of
providing ample provisions for the
people she holds most dear.
Volume 24, Numbers 19-20
Inculcating Stance in her
Heart
She had been violated and the time
has come for all the atrocities to
cease.
As time went by, the Filipina has learned
not to remain mum and silent in her
ordeal of being abused in the hands of
her overseas employers. She has learned
to fight for her right to be treated in
humane means and has developed her
standpoint of what she knows is right.
Some of the achievements and causes
of the Filipina migrants abroad
included saving fellow Filipinas that are
stranded and lobbying for the ceasing
of repressive measures of certain
governments. Five hundred women
workers from Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia were saved from being stranded
in the Overseas Workers Welfare
FEATURES
Administration (OWWA) Shelter in
Jordan. The repressive state policies
being imposed by the Philippine
Overseas Employment Agency in Hong
Kong and Canada were stopped due to
mass protest actions. Six thousand out
of the thirty-four thousand workers who
were caught in the Lebanon War were
able to be flown back to the Philippines
and the corruption that prevails inside
the OWWA was also exposed. The
retrenched women workers in Taiwan
due to the Global Financial Crisis were
able to refund their tickets and an
investigation is even still ongoing for
their claims. The Filipina workers’ plight
in different countries uncovered the
intensified Labor Export Program policy
by the detested Arroyo regime. Ongoing
campaigns for the benefit of Filipina
workers includes helping the Annasban
workers who have been victimized by
illegal recruitment, probing the twenty
plus rape cases in Saudi Arabia and
sex trafficking in Sabah, and aiding the
stranded women migrants who are in
deportation cells in Lebanon.

Abuse and violence are just some of the
issues that Filipina migrants are facing.
Predicaments that also plague their
conditions are being contributed by the
agencies that have employed them and
the promulgated policies of the national
government. The recruitment agencies
implemented unfair measures such as
contract substitution, nonpayment of
wages and illegal deduction on salaries.
They are also forced to pay huge sums
of money before they can go abroad
which make them largely indebted.
On the other hand, the concocted policies
of the government further suppress
and extort Filipinas who want to go
abroad such as the Supermaid program,
Mandatory Pregnancy Test and removal
of direct hiring. The Supermaid program
is a one year certificate course required
to be taken in her expense if a Filipina
wants to be a domestic helper overseas.
The program however, teaches skills
that are already known by the would
be migrant such as how to use the
dishwasher and cleaning bed sheets
among others, making it a measure
that serves as a mere money generating
Women have exercised her will to give the life that her family deserves yet the
struggles and repressions from the exploitative classes in society are the things
that have been returned to her. For food she endured beatings, for success she
lost her dignity.
The impasse of the Filipina workers only reflects the glaring evidences of
persisting repression and exploitation of the ruling class. The women of our
kind should not be treated in a lesser stature. Equality has become more of a
wish than being a fundamental human principle which is to be upheld.
Women do not deserve to be desecrated and their still-uncertain freedom
from exploitative factions only exemplifies the freedom that the masses in turn
yearned to achieve. The struggle continues as the deserved conditions of our
women migrants are not yet fully achieved. The road to take to be able to
realize equality in society is still a long way ahead.
The modern Filipina may be clasped in the chains of repression and be wounded
by the attacks of her oppressors but this does not mean even a tinge if giving
up for her fundamental rights as a person and as a woman. The fight is still
to be won, and when that day has finally come—the women who have been
assailed and bruised would attain the equity she is entitled for.

FRIDAY • 01 APRIL 2011 • 9

FEATURES
RENOUNCING THE DISSONANCE
The merger of the two long-
established party systems in
the University of the Philippines
Manila (UPM) University Student
Council (USC) sparks another
gripping series of traditional
reform agenda and collective
service for the student body
this upcoming school year. The
same old rhetorical tricks of
collaboration and camaraderie
arbitrate the opposing viewpoints
of multi-perspectivism and
military activism; the challenge,
however, still remains in leading
the direction the national
university will take.
In an interview with The Manila
Collegian, the newly elected
student leaders unfolded their
expectations and plans, stood by
their principles, and attempted
to create unity within despite the
onset of a revival of a party-based
rivalry.
REVIVING THE DISSENT
As the turn of the tide ushered
in a change of administration,
the same adversities haunt the
newly elected USC officers. As the
past USC failed to overcome the
dichotomy of parties within, the
same may hold true for the new
council as the divide is as stark
as ever, with the addition of a
split-ticket between the Chair and
Vice-Chair, and the almost equal
number coming from both parties
elected in the USC.
As expectations from both parties
were revealed, past sentiments
resurfaced. Despite apparent
efforts to create a unified council,
staunch differences in ideology
manage to surge through. The
capacity to successfully transcend
the boundaries of divergence
would be an arduous task for
10 • 01 APRIL 2011 •
Volume 24, Numbers 19-20
JORE-ANNIE RICO AND JESSE NICOLE RUBIO SANTOS
A new USC rises. But as the shift of power materializes, former ills
wrack its very foundation.
the entire slate. It now becomes
a question of how the council
would attempt to overcome
these difficulties and fulfill
their intended purpose instead,
considering the unsuccessful
attempts of the previous destroy
of the dichotomy.
The Manila Collegian (MC): It
is apparent that the previous
USC experienced problems with
the dichotomy of parties and
ideologies within the council.
How would the newly elected
USC overcome the same issue?
Angeli “Gel” Guadalupe (USC
Chairperson): Unang-una,
pagpasok na sa USC, wala nang
parties dapat dito. Pati yung
GPOA, irerevise namin to have
the best of both parties, to have
the best of both worlds nga. It
would really deliver to students
who voted for us. Kasi, ang petty
eh. We don’t need drama in life.
Siguro nahirapan kasi we left it
within ourselves to make friends
with each other and try to work
things out. But this year sa USC
meron tayong success, as yung
sinabi nating Smart University
Student Council Evaluation
System wherein we’d leave greater
transparency to the students.
Kung pwede ngang every month
na yung report, hindi na lang
every semester para makita nila
yung every meeting. Magpo-post
din kami sa website ng minutes
ng every meeting para makita nila
kung sino ang nagko-contribute
talaga from ideas to efforts. So
makikita ng mga students dito
ang totoong serbisyo na ino-offer
ng mga nakaupo sa USC ngayon.
Jegar Catindig (CM Rep to
FRIDAY
the USC): One of the greatest
challenges is of course yung ipairal
ang professionalism. No matter
what the party, no matter where
we’re from or what college we’re
from, we all have a job to perform
and we’re gonna do the best
possible that we can to perform
our jobs regardless of our party.
Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles
(USC Vice Chairperson): For us
naman from ASAP-Katipunan (AK),
dun sa mga past mobilizations,
past actions natin regarding
national and local issues, nakita
natin that AK is united and one
with the students. And now the
challenge is, and the question is:
Will Bigkis UPM be united and be
one with the students this time for
us to deliver a better USC that will
stand up for their lives?
MC: Ano ang expectations ng
magkabilang partido sa isa’t-
isa?
Catindig: I expect the ASAP-
Katipunan to always be vigilant to
the students’ rights and be the first
to sound the alarm. Every time
there’s an issue, ang bilis magreact
ng AK and that’s what I admire
about them. But also, syempre
from Bigkis UPM, we will also not
just go for street parliament but
also multi-sectoral lobbying in the
street and also with the congress,
with the senate and above and
beyond especially on matters
to health and environment and
syempre students’ rights of which
we are serving.
Regina Gabriela Decangchon
(USC Councilor): Let me just
correct what he said. Tayo naman
po sa ASAP-Katipunan, hindi
naman po tayo diretso sa streets
agad. Naglo-lobby po tayo, nag-
aassert tayo para sa karapatan
ng mga estudyante, sa senado,
tulad po nung sa budget cut. So
we expect po mula rin sa Bigkis
UPM naman that nung experience
ko sa CAS Student Council na
nagtutulungan talaga lahat hindi
lang sa mga programa at syempre
sa mga projects and umattend
talaga regularly ng GA para
marami talaga tayong nagagawa.
And yung pag meron talaga tayong
ipinaglalaban, maging united
talaga tayo dahil sa atin talaga
umaasa yung mga estudyante para
sa mga karapatan nila.
Arguelles: For us in ASAP-
Katipunan, I think yung
expectation namin from the other
party, Bigkis UPM, is that sana po
ay hindi maulit yung ginawa nila
last year na hindi sila present the
whole year, that they were not
there when the students needed
them. Sana this year ay maprove
nila sa mga students that they are
student leaders whole year round
and not just for election season,
and that they prove that they are
one with the students in every
fight.
Guadalupe: So siguro na-clarify
naman naming sa miting de
avances, sa pre-election issue ng
Kule na Bigkis UPM has been there
since June last year. Siguro kulang
lang kami sa publicity or whatever.
Pero yun, as a chairperson, I ask
from everybody here na let us
work altogether, let us forward
yung mga strengths natin, and
yung mga weaknesses natin, we
should ask help from each other.
So primarily, ‘pag may issue,
tignan nating issues-based tayo,
tignan natin both sides of issues,
all sides of issues for the students.
REINSTATING THE
DISCONTINUITY
With the start of a new regime, it
is but necessary to create a new
image projected to the student
body. This year’s USC still does
not have a consensus as to the
actual method by which they
would operate, despite similarity
in goals. Nevertheless, promises
were declared and actions are
highly expected to unfold.
It would be exigent for the USC
to manage to instill differing
ideologies in the pursuit of similar
goals, without actually sacrificing
principles. Still, the council’s
promise remains as such. The
students will be the judge of
the eventual performance. The
USC must create bridges amidst
irreconcilable divides.
MC: Ano ang bago sa USC
ngayon?
Guadalupe: This year, we would
really show you unity despite
adversity. Syempre, ito ang naging
dream namin sa Bigkis UPM
last year pa. And sana this year,
marealize na sana namin ang
goal na ito for the students who
believed in us. And of course, we’re
going to promote UP Manila as the
premier health sciences center of
the country and not just another
UP campus.
Decangchon: Last year po, medyo
hinanapan po talaga ng estudyante
ng mga activities yung USC. So this
year po, yung USC talaga, magiging
mas marami talaga yung projects
niya, specifically sa committee
ko po talaga-yung Bakbakan ay
talagang makukumpleto yung
games. And more than yung
traditional projects po talaga, this

year sa USC patuloy pa rin po yung
paninindigan natin sa karapatan
ng bawat Iskolar.
Catindig: Yung bago dito is yung
iba sa amin ay nanumbalik sa
council. Tapos, what am I saying
to you is we’re bringing you an
experienced council that although
we do not come from the same
party, we’ll be striving to work
together for a better USC, for a
better UP Manila.
Arguelles: More than siguro
sa unity, because we believe na
united naman ang UP Manila,
kagaya naman po ng sinabi ng
AK, hyped up yung mga activities
natin, that means na yung mga
activities natin ay maramdaman
ng bawat estudyante, and to
serve their needs. And secondly,
yung unity natin is that unity to
continue our fight for our right to
education, and of course our fight
for the increase in state subsidy.
Johanne Joseph Del Rosario
(USC Councilor): Siguro yung
bago sa USC ngayong 2011 ay
mas marami yung mga councilors
galing sa AK. Unlike nung mga
nakaraang taon na USC councilors
ay nagmula sa Bigkis UPM na hindi
talaga nakita katulad na lamang
nung committee na pinamunuhan
nung galing sa Bigkis UPM na ni-
minsan ay hindi natin nakitang
mag-RTR para i-mobilize yung
mga iskolar ng bayan laban sa
budget cut, laban sa iba pang
mga mapanggipit na polisiya ng
ating administrasyon sa UP at
siyempre yung administrasyon
sa pamahalaang gobyerno. At
siyempre, mas makakaasa ang mga
iskolar ng bayan na mas maraming
proyekto na tradisyunal, at
siyempre patuloy na maninindigan
ang inyong councilors mula sa AK
para sa karapatan ng mga iskolar
ng bayan.
MC: Paano titindig ang USC sa
issues na kinakaharap ng UP
Manila?
Catindig: I acknowledge that AK
and Bigkis have different ways
of dealing with an issue. But as
the council is, as here said by the
Collegian, composed almost of
half and half, there’s a concrete
platform, we would be threshing
how to deal with the issues
in a holistic manner of going
grassroots as AK has always done.
And of course that is being to
multi-perspective activism which
Bigkis responses—which means
that, we’ll not just go through it
head-on, we’d also go through it
from the ground-up and from the
top to bottom. So I think it’s also
an advantage that this council is
not dominantly of either color, of
either party, because it is a chance
to really work out differences in
issues.
Benralph Yu (USC Councilor):
We’re composed of almost half
and half coming from both
parties. I would take that as an
opportunity to reflect on, we have
different mechanisms in terms
of addressing an issue. I hope
we’ll take this as an opportunity
to reflect on which type of
mechanism yields positive results
at the end of the day. Case in point:
budget cut. Yes, we can easily say
there’s multi-perspective activism.
But we take that opportunity to
believe in collective action and
see what a collective action can
do against an issue. Because yes,
I know for a fact, naging first
year student din ako, may stigma
on going to the streets, they call
it street parliament. But at the
end of the day, which mechanism
or which system delivers more,
diba? Which mechanism yields
a result at the end of the day? So,
sana maging open tayo, diba? We
say na, dito kame because pag
you choose a side, masyado kang
blinded on the other side. But
presented na yung dalawang side,
now is the time to see and to prove
which mechanism is effective.
Tessa Trazona (CAS Rep to
the USC): Dapat yung issue,
hindi tayo naghe-hesitate kapag
dumating yan. And dapat, kapag
may issue na dumating, hindi tayo
maglalabas ng ating action after
nakagawa na nang or nakapag-
deliberate na ng positive solution.
For example yung budget cut,
diba? After maglabas nang result
yung congress natin na meron
nga tayong budget cut, saka lang
naglabas ng statement yung other
partry. Sinabi muna nila na pinag-
aralan muna nila, but again dapat
day before na nagkaroon ng issue
ng budget cut dapat inaral na nila
‘yon. And nakita natin na kung
hindi kumilos yung AK, walang
mage-gain na positive action dun
sa ginawa nila.
Jose Mari Lanuza (USC
Councilor): Wag na nating
pagtuunan ng pansin kung ano
yung pagkakaiba ng approach
“dito.
Pagpasok na sa USC, wala nang parties dapat
Pati yung GPOA, irerevise namin to have
the best of both parties, to have the best of both
worlds nga. It would really deliver to students
who voted for us.
-Angeli “Gel” Guadalupe (USC Chairperson)
nung dalawang partido. Sana
ang tanong niyo, kung paano
ia-approach na USC yung mga
student issues. Hopefully, ang
isasagot ko, kung ano yung paraan
na result-oriented, kung ano yung
paraan na mas convenient, hindi
sa student leaders kung hindi sa
student body.
MC: Ano ang hamon niyo sa
bagong magiging UP Manila
Chancellor?
Decangchon: Firstly, sana hindi
siya member ng PAASCU Board.
Jon Sergei Aclan (CAMP Rep to
the USC): Sana matulungan niya
kaming maipasa yung Physical
Therapy (PT) and Occupational
Therapy (OT) law or bill. Patuloy
naming itong ipinaglalaban.
Ngayon, wala kaming sponsor
sa congress or I think, di ko alam
kung sino, meron na yata recently.
Pero sana matulungan kami ni
Chancellor na bilang isang major
sa university, sana matulungan
niya kaming ma-improve yung
aming courses—yung PT and
Volume 24, Numbers 19-20
OT. And of course, mapush na rin
yung, nagkakaroon na rin kasi ng
Speech Pathology Bill. So sana
the issues regarding the courses
in the College of Allied Medical
Professions, sana matulungan
kami.
Del Rosario: Sa ano naman, bilang
council for culture, iniexpect natin
dun sa susunod na chancellor na
yung mas mataas na pagtingin
para sa sining at kultura sa UP
Manila. At siyempre, tutulungan
niya tayo sa pagsusulong natin
sa pagkakaroon ng UP Manila ng
”
sarili niyang Office of Tradition,
Culture and the Arts dahil sa
buong UP System, yung UP Manila
lang ang wala nun.
Catindig: Ang hamon ko sa
next chancellor ng UP Manila is
yung tungkol sa issue ng FMAB.
Kasi yung Faculty Medical Arts
Building, alam ko na it’s kinda
viewed as privatization and that
a lot of things are very unclear
about how it was put into being,
who contracted, etc., marami pang
flaws. So I want the next UP Manila
Chancellor to please set the records
straight, kung ano ba talaga, who
does it serve and how will PGH
benefit from it because as of now,
wala tayong clear idea mangyayari
sa PGH kasi diba magkakaroon ng
two sets of diagnostic centers so
anong mangyayari sa kiknikita ng
PGH mismo na dapat ay ginagastos
para sa taumbayan? Tsaka yung
implementation nung mga rules
regarding dun sa pagtakbo ng
FMAB, maihanda niya lalo na
sa mga estudyante, lalo na sa
mga health sciences courses na
FRIDAY
FEATURES
magtatrabaho ‘don.
Trazona: Dapat yung chancellor
na mae-elect next, alam niya
dapat kung ano ang ipaprioritize
at yun ay yung basic services,
for example yung isang issue
na lang natin ay yung museum.
Yung museum, hindi naman siya
directly mapakikinabangan, well
in fact, pwedeng i-improve ng
ating administration yung mga
laboratories, yung mga beakers,
hindi dapat yan manggagaling sa
pera ng mga estudyante. Dapat
pinondohan muna nila yun bago
nila inuna yung museum. So it’s a
challenge for prioritization of the
services to the students.
Arguelles: Siguro, challenge to the
UP Manila Chancellor na, unang-
una, sana yung susunod na UP
Manila Chancellor ay tumayo para
sa pagbabago na gusto ng mga
estudyante at ng mga mamamayan,
at kaya niyang maki-march with
the next set of university council
for the students. May several
challenges tayo para sa next UPM
Chancellor. Sana, una, mabigyan
niya ng isang USC office na closer
to the students. Secondly, sana
maitindig niya yung Philippine
General Hospital as a Ospital ng
Bayan, sana mapanindigan niya
yung public character ng PGH,
hindi lang nun gating pamantasan.
Pangatlo, sana yung CAS
Student Center na matagal nang
kinakailangan dahil halos lahat ng
students ay nakakapunta sa CAS,
yung decent cafeteria man lang for
the College of Arts and Sciences
ay magkaroon. And next, yung
PAASCU Accreditation, sana gawin
• 01 APRIL 2011 • 11
Features Volume 24, Numbers 19-20
niyang democratic yung issue dito. Kasi,
like from Chancellor Arcadio, nagrelease
na agad siya ng accreditation without
the knowledge of the students and even
without consulting the USC at napakalaki
nun. And lastly, sana ayusin niya yung issue
sa TOFI kasi four years na ‘yan, nakatago
lang sa trust fund, hindi na-uutilize ng mga
students. Hence, bakit na-late yung salary
ng ating mga faculty, hence, bakit walang
laboratory equipments na maayos yung
mga UP students?
Guadalupe: Sana si Chancellor mismo ay
magreach out sa mga students. Kasi yun
nga, yung ibang mga students hindi alam
kung saan yung office ni Chancellor, yung
iba parang “wow, eight floor, PGH pa”.
Minsan lang nakikita ng ibang students si
Chancellor. They don’even get to talk to him
unless they are part of the student council
or bibong student. Sana, si Chancellor
mismo as a person, not just a chancellor
himself or herself, sana as a person, siya
mismo ay genuine, mabait at talagang
makikinig kahit sa sinong student man na
lalapit sa kanya. Na talagang makikinig siya
at hindi lang lalabas sa kabilang tenga para
talagang mangyayari at ma-aaddress yung
ifoforward nating lahat sa kanya.
Lanuza: Una, sana sa magiging bagong
UP Manila Chancellor, sana hindi uso ang
red tapes. At pangalawa, sana mas student
oriented siya katulad na lang ng pagharap sa
issues tulad ng kawalan ng pondo o quality
education ng ating mga extension schools,
kawalan ng corums ng mga medical interns,
problema din yun sa kanilang medcourt
na ginagawang parking lot. At siyempre
naman, ang patuloy na pagsulong sa higher
state subsidy for UP Manila and PGH dahil
yun naman talaga ang kailangan nating mga
mag-aaral at ng mga mamamayan. Rest
assured na makikita niyo ‘yan dun sa banner
project ko na One More Chancy which is
addressing the students needs and giving
them to the chancellor. Makikita niyo yun,
magmamaterialize yun.
RESTRUCTURING THE
DISORGANIZATION
Being a minority Chairperson and ruling
over a mixed slate, Guadalupe faces a tough
challenge in consolidating the council
and ensuring its proper functioning. Her
leadership skills will be gauged and tested,
as these additional trials await her term.
Moreover, the direction that this council and
in turn, the University will take would be
determined largely in part by Guadalupe’s
performance as its Chairperson.
MC: How do you plan to lead the USC?
Guadalupe: Ako kasi, siguro masasabi ng
iba na mabait ako, kwela ako, pero when it
comes to business, todo na, you don’t want
to see the true side of me pag magagalit
ako. Kung kailangan talaga, I’m gonna step
up high and kasi nga walang naging sistema
yung USC kasi nga it’s difficult yung parang
ikaw lang mag-isa when you feel na you have
the burden of uniting everybody when in fact
it’s everybody’s work. It’s not just everybody
in the USC’s work; it’s every student’s work.
REBUKING THE DISCRIMINATION
The stench of desperation was pervasive
in the USC elections of 2011, as black
propaganda once again swarmed the media,
particularly a certain social networking site.
And as far as black propaganda manages to
elicit deceit at the expense of every known
person in the electoral arena, personal
aspects were not spared. However, this time
around, the most popular resurgence of
black propaganda came in the form of an ad
hominem attack against a Vice Chairperson
candidate, Cleve Arguelles.
Bombarded with an online black
propaganda which aimed to hitch the votes
of the student body during the election
period, Arguelles remained firm in asserting
the need to serve rather than focusing
on the released malicious deathblow. As
discrimination becomes the focal issue prior
to his victory as the USC vice chairperson,
liberalized principles of the Iskolar played
a pivotal role in reaffirming the divergence
between public accountability and personal
preference.
MC: Paano haharapin ni Cleve Arguelles
ang mga Iskolar ng bayan pagkatapos ng
hagupit ng black propaganda?
Arguelles: Hindi ko alam kung saan
nanggaling ‘yon, ewan ko. Ang intent
siyempre is to malign yung pagtakbo ko as
the USC Vice Chair and to discredit me as a
student leader. But I think haharap ako sa
mga iskolars ng bayan that I am not a less
of a leader, not a less of a student and I am
not less of a human being. Kasi, diba, anong
problema? Siguro ‘don sa issue na ‘yon, wala
namang nagbenefit. May nagbenefit ba?
Natuwa ba kayo sa nakita niyo o naharass
kayo? Hindi ko alam. Nalihis lang yung
issue na dapat na mga pinag-uusapan
natin instead of student issues, napunta sa
personal na issue na hindi naman talaga
dapat pag-usapan. Last thing, gusto ko
magpasalamat kasi, madaming nag-effort
na magstatus for me against dun sa black
propaganda. Madami din nagmessage,
madami akong natanggap na text message.
Siguro I think yung mga students, mga true
UP students sila. At sabi nga ni Jegar, non-
issue talaga siya. So okay lang naman siya.
Joshua Young (PH Rep to the USC): Just
to add, Bigkis UPM released a short note
a while ago in Facebook, I tagged Manila
Collegian in it, I guess by now nakita niyo na
iyon. So I suppose that everyone is united on
the stand against gender discrimination and
we need to encourage them to develop more
gender tolerance.

In the face of persisting dissonance and clash of political ideologies between the two factions, the steadfast
effort to maintain solidarity and cooperation remains. The will to serve the studentry and the society must
subsist in the face of unconstructive differences. Nonetheless, the promise of change and reform must not
solely be relied on the effort of the USC. Moves for change should not only be sourced from the USC, rather
each Iskolar must contribute to this effort.
The council must remain resolute amidst the hordes of injustices plaguing the student body. While the call to
be unified for the USC is as resilient as ever, the same holds true for the need to be vigilant and critical of the
Iskolar.
The USC of 2011-2012 must now go forth in fulfilling their set promises and ideals, as the stakes become higher
due to the problems UP is facing. And above all, the will to sufficiently address the issues of the University and
the passion to serve must transcend personal and ideological boundaries.
The student body gave its verdict. The challenges were presented. The trials have been laid. All that remains
now is the actual governance.

12 • 01 APRIL 2011 • FRIDAY

 The Manila Collegian Volume 24, Numbers 19-20 Freestyle

Dibuho ni Abie Miole

Latag ni Joan Udarbe
I S A N G T A O N N G P A G P A S YA A T P A G T I N D I G

The Manila Collegian office

People’s SONA (August 26, 2010)

National Day of Action for Education (July 16, 2010)

UPM on STRIKE!
(November 26,
2010)

MKule Sections:
News, Feats, Cult,
Grfx

Mkule Christmas Party (December 17, 2010) Last genmit for AY10-11 (March 16, 2011)

National day for Walkout against budget cut

(September 26, 2010)

Magna Est Veritas Et Prevaelebit... The Truth is Mighty • 01 APRIL

FRIDAYand shall2011P 13 !
• revail
Graphics Volume 24, Numbers 19-20
NEWS Hikes...from page 3
sa pagtaas ng pamasahe sa LRT at MRT noong
Pebrero 4.
“The MRT-LRT fare hike shows us that Noynoy
is pimping the Philippines and it is the Filipino
people who are bound to suffer. This is a direct
jab in the face of workers as he shows that his
government prioritizes the interests of big
business over that of the people. The people
could just hit him back – and harder,” ani Roger
Soluta, Secretary General ng Kilusang Mayo
Uno (KMU) hinggil sa pagtaas ng pamasahe sa
MRT at LRT.
Noong ika-28 ng Pebrero, nagdeklara ang
sektor ng kabataan ng National Day of Action
Against Price and Tuition Hikes, kung saan
maraming mag-aaral ang nag-walk-out mula sa
kanilang mga klase upang sumali sa miltanteng
pagkilos sa Mendiola at ipinahayag ang sama-
samang pagtutol sa pag-akyat ng mga presyo at
matrikula.
Ayon kay Anakbayan Secretary General
Charisse Bañez, “We cannot tolerate that
while the government ultimately favors
profits of big foreign companies, the increases
in commodities unjustly burden the poor
majority of the Filipino people.”
“In fact, the rise in the rates of tuition and other
school fees, transportation, and the prices of
basic commodities will have grave effects on
the already dire situation of the millions of
the Filipinos facing poverty and hardships,”
wika ni Terry Ridon, tagapangulo ng League of
Filipino Students (LFS).
Ayon naman kay Trina Federis, tagapangulo ng
College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP),
“Why do the fares keep on rising, but the wages
of employees remain stagnant? If President
Aquino is so gung-ho about hikes, he should
be able to give this gift to workers. If there’s
anyone who can afford the hikes, it’s the rich
businessmen and women.”
Kabilang sa mga susunod pang pagkilos laban
sa mga nasabing pagtataas ay ang Multi-
Sectoral March patungong Mendiola sa Marso
18 at ang Nationwide Transport Strike laban sa
oil price hikes sa Marso 31.
14 • 01 APRIL 2011 • FRIDAY
TN
he Congress of Teachers/Educators for
ationalism and Democracy call on our
colleagues and students to take a unified stand
Imperialist Troops Out of Libya, Now!
on the United States-lead war of aggression
against the people of Libya. U.S. President Barrack Stop the Slaughter in Libya!
Obama’s military operations in Libya “to prevent
human catastrophe” is a worn-out imperialist ruse
to convince the whole world that the United States Statement of the Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism
and Democracy-University of the Philippines (CONTEND-UP)*
and its imperialist allies are all out to export
democracy to places where it does not exist.
First of all, any democratic regime deeper crisis. And the cycle repeats Ghadafi is no saint for his country.
can only be spawned by the people’s itself at the expense of thousands But that can never justify all forms
struggle for national sovereignty. upon thousands of peoples who are of imperialist attacks against
Freedom from imperialist control supposed to assimilate America’s the people of Libya. They, like all
of all forms is a necessary condition brand of democracy. The cost of which non-westerns, deserve the right
for the construction of genuine is nothing less than these peoples’ to struggle against all forms of
democracy. In the case of Libya, lives. corruption and dictatorship in
President Obama merely re-enacts their own land as a free people. In
the fatal schemes of former President the spirit of international solidarity
Bush in the well-directed slaughter Third, the U.S. maintains its power with all progressive and anti-
of the people of Iraq soon after 9-11. over its semi-colonies and control imperialist movements around the
Clearly, the current US president over the United Nations through its world, we call for the immediate
who talked about change is now preservation, expansion and assertion ceasefire on the attacks of the
the architect of intransigent foreign of military power. To this day, it finances Western coalition against Libya.
policy that is poised to claim human its own military forces scattered
strategically around the globe. Apart
lives and enforce the worst kind of
societal destruction. from the billions that it allocates for
its military forces in the home front, Down with fascism that
the Obama regime, no different from hides behind western liberal
Second, America’s interest in oil its predecessors, drowns its semi-
democracy!
is no longer a secret agenda in colonies with foreign debt dedicated
its imperialist engagement with to military servicing to ensure that Down with Imperialism!
“war against terror.” Imperialism’s military operations in strategic nations Down with Imperialist Wars!
strategy of accumulation requires are in line with imperialist schemes.
wars to be launched against nations This is why at a moment when people Stop the War in Libya!
like Libya whose profitable oil in Libya are being bombed to death, Justice for the Libyan People!
resource potentially serves America’s no head of state nor any branch of
own economic crisis due to its government outside of Mission Creep’s
expansionist interests and methods. direct victim has released a statement *CONTEND-UP is a member
of UP Kilos Na, an alliance of
Imperialist America’s economic against the human slaughter that
interests and its obstinate drive to is happening in Libya as we speak. student, faculty, staff, community
realize these have caused the nation Imperialist America has led the world organizations in the University of
to be locked up in a vicious cycle of to a situation where military power the Philippines.
its own drive for profit accumulation reigns supreme over a democratic
that leads to imperialist expansion, claim to civilian supremacy.
and which inevitably leads to

AL DENTE Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?*
ALLANA RUTH GARCIA DELA PEÑA
T his is the story of how a person was bestowed an honour of her
generation, how she did only good. It tells of how she was invincibly
strong when she fought for what was right, she stood for what
was true. It ends with a themed march, with medals and proud smiles
as years of work are finally ending and promises of a more challenging
future is beginning. This story happens to be lying.
I could, if I want, write it that way. I had been told that I had a knack at being convincing,
but my impenetrable convictions could perhaps only go so far as this term ends, or how
people will remember it afterwards. The fact, however, that I am here divulges that I
was not here to write what I want, but to to write of stuggles and necessities outside of
one’s self; an unselfish offering to the masses and embrace their sufferings that the petty
bourgeois could only examine in a distant theoretical eye. Reality, most of the time, turns
out to be lacking from expectations.
I will not venture forth in ranting my frustrations, just to say how difficult it was for me
and my staff to deliver an issue in the midst of the tug-of-war between our personal
doubts and desires and social responsibilities. I will not delve into details anymore on
how each release was like bimonthly giving birth to a child, not merely requiring love
but labour of sleepless nights and hard grit. It will not be good to dwell on the gloom
we felt when members quit due to the pressure of academics or because they felt that
the publication asked too much from them. I never had sympathy for quitters, although
I always undestood laggards too well— MKule writers could attest to that. Perhaps, I
justified myself too much, put weight in goodwill and intentions a bit too many times.
In the end, apologies will always be futilities. I would like to believe that tomorrows hold
utopias that are never bound to materialize anyway, just as the splendor of superheroes
and the Nietzchean idealized self are bound to be farcical— only to exist in pulp paper
pages of comics and softbound fictions. For one, I wrote in this same column a year ago
how I sulk at the thought of a day job in ubiquitous suits in cold square cubicles. It was
a heart-breaking experience to apply for such a job, only a week ago, out of the sheer
necessity of financing another five-year education in law school. More than the sting
in my scalding feet due to the steepness of stilletos, looking back, it was the feeling of
MONSTER KILL
S a nalalapit na pagtatapos, kasing-halaga ng
bawat oras ang pagtanaw sa nakalipas.
Ginulat ako ng katotohanang hindi lamang puro pag-aaral ang aking aatupagin sa
unibersidad na ito; makikipaglaro rin pala ako. Maaaring magtime-out nang panandalian,
ngunit ang kabuuan ng laro’y walang katapusan.
Langit-lupa. Pamilyar sa sambayanan ang alituntunin ng laro. Papanhik lamang sa
kahit anong mataas na bahagi ng isang lugar ang hindi taya; ganito kadali. Kalaban ang
oras at pagod, ang taya nama’y nasa ibaba – kakaripas sa paghabol hangga’t makahuli
ng kalarong nasa langit; ganito kahirap. Ang salawahang katangiang ito ng langit-lupa
ay sadyang nakababahala. Hindi maitatangging palaging kawawa ang taya sa lupa, at
malayong pagurin ang mga naghihintay lamang sa langit.
Isang maalab na repleksyon ng naging karanasan ko sa loob ng unibersidad at ng
Kule ang larong langit-lupa. Ngunit isang mas maalab na repleksyon ng larong ito ang
tunggalian sa lipunan.
Una kong inilapat ang aking mga paa sa mataas na bahagi ng pamantasan – sa langit,
hindi ako taya. Hindi ko ginustong mataya, sino nga ba ang may gusto? Ngunit ang paglagi
ko sa langit noo’y nakabuburyo pala. Bingi ako sa maraming mahahalagang kaalaman.
Bulag ako sa katotohanan.
Sa kalagitnaan ng mga ito, sinubukan kong pumasok sa Kule. Nagpamaliw sa
marurunong na aking pinagkakatiwalaan. Napakaraming pinagdaanan. Tinimbang
ang mga pinaninindiga’t pinaniniwalaan. Kinalaunan, ang lahat ng bagay sa paligid
ay nagkaroon ng nagsusumigaw na kahulugan. Lahat ay naging malinaw, naging
makabuluhan: ang animnapu’t walong paitaas na hakbang patungong opisina, ang tindig
sa likod ng hindi magamit na kubeta, ang kagandahan ng Book Antiqua. Bonus pa ang
mga tunay na kaibigan. Mahirap ngunit masaya. At nitong huli ko lang napagtanto na sa
mga oras palang iyon, ako’y isang ganap na taya na.
Volume 24, Numbers 19-20 opinion
hopelessness that pained me. In half-contemplation of how to impress corporate bossess
for the job interview, in that posh waiting room, my thoughts wandered to half-baked
articles I left at the MKule office, and the educational discussions I failed to attend that
day. In that crowded room was emptiness, of the hollowness of that kind of future for
myself and for thousands who shall graduate this summer. What happened to the youth of
tomorrow? Can they not do better? Can I? The job interviewer, at the end of our session,
commented that I was too idealistic. I almost laughed, partly in exasperation and in part,
an overwhelming relief. I was idealistic still. I liked that.
I felt I could do better. Heck, I know we could do better. The potency of the youth as a
catalyst lies in that conviction in a better future, the great story perhaps, behind one
student’s late papers and attendances, the eyebags which served as battle scars from her
overnight struggles: the sacrifices of an ordinary student who had that nerve to serve.
That, I knew I gave, at times queasingly, but always wholeheartedly. There should be a
word for the things we do, not because we want to, but because we want to be the kind of
person who wants to. It is as tragic to lose ideals, as to cease being the kind of person who
aspires for that ideal.
This is the story of how a person was bestowed an honour of her generation, but there
were screw-ups. She was not invincibly strong, but the perception of necessity drove her
to fight for what was right and to stand for what was true, with what she could exhaust of
herself. The promise of tomorrow does not end with a themed march because as she grows
old, she will surely be replaced with another who shall rise from the mistakes of the past
and who will hold that same promise: that is the beauty of it all. There could be no perfect
ending to a history of sweat and sacrifices than that of a continuity of the struggles of the
past and present generations which will transcend disappointments and setbacks. In her
case, it transcends age and jadedness, broken dreams and hopelessness. Tomorrow will
never cease to end.
*My apologies to Alan Moore, and to those accorded with broken promises and inevitable
failures. We shall overcome. Padayon.
Langit-lupa*
ANGELO LUNA MURILLO
Ang iba man ay nasa mas mataas na lugar at ako’y nakalubog, naging malakas ang kutob
kong magiging mas kritikal ako dulot ng pagpapanibagong-hubog.
Hinabol ko ang mga nasa langit sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulat. Gamit ang bawat titik at
pahina ng pahayagan, sinubukan kong manaya at magmulat. Ang lipunan ang nagsilbing
tinta ng aking pluma. At hawak ang panulat na ito, ako’y naghatid ng balita at nakibaka.
Katulad nga ng nasabi, “Sumulong, sumulat! Manindigan at magmulat!”
Naging malupit ang institusyon sa aking pag-aaral at personal na buhay. Ang sukat ng
handa kong ibuwis bago ako sumali’y malayong malayo pala sa tunay na hinihingi ng
institusyon. Hanggang sa huling mga oras bago ang aking pagtatapos ay nananatili pa
rin akong taya sa larong ito. Sila’y kampante sa itaas at halos walang magawa, ako’y
naiipit sa paghahabol ng oras at mga gawaing itinakda. Sa kabila ng mga ito, patuloy kong
pinaniniwalaan na ang paglagi ko sa lupa ay isang mahalagang sakripisyo. Na sa bawat
isyung inililimbag ng Kule ay kahit papaano, may nahahabol at natataya ako. Na sa bawat
pahinang inilalapat, may isang kalarong namumulat.
Sa mahigit isang dekada ng aking kamalayan, nakagisnan nang kutyain at kaawaan ang
mga taya sa langit-lupa; palaging nasa ibaba, naghahabol sa minsa’y halos wala. Ngunit
matapos ang ilang taong inilagi ko sa unibersidad at institusyong ito, nalaman kong mas
nararapat kaawaan yaong mga nasa langit. Angkin man nila ang kaginhawaang hindi
pagpawisan, hawak naman ng mga nasa lupa ang katotohanang lunan ng tunggalian.
Sa huli’t huli, ang mga naging taya lamang ang nanindigan. Manalo o matalo, sila lamang
ang mga tunay na naglaro at lumaban.
*Matapos ang tatlong taon sa institusyon, ito ang aking huling artikulo sa Manila Collegian;
isang alay sa mga taong humabol at tumaya sa akin sa larong ito. Kilala ninyo kung sino
kayo.
FRIDAY • 01 APRIL 2011 • 15
Editorial
In Despair
T he Philippines, along with the rest
the world, is in despair.
The Middle East crisis and the
looming interventionist war
in Libya, the unprecedented
natural disasters, the execution
of three overseas workers in
China, with the booming oil
and price hikes in the country
had resulted into a confluence
of events which turned out
to dampen the spirits of the
Filipino even before the end
of this year’s quarter. We are
besieged with worry and fear
because the global contraption
that the Philippines finds itself
trapped in is warped in the
failures and self-interest of
each nation. For a country that
has been lodged at the bottom
of the international food chain,
the future is a bleak and grim
picture of conspiring events
that the Philippines was never
prepared to surmise, much
more, to overcome.
The bottom line should be
evident at this point. To put it
simply, that the “matuwid na
daan” was never bound to be
the nation’s saving grace. It
was a convoluted concept to
begin with, and a year of the
yellow presidency was allotted
to bark at the corruptions of
the previous term while hiding
the dingy truth that the poor
will have the same and even
less than what they began
with in this administration.
The biggest farce of the year is
not the stories of corruptions
within the military ranks
and the galling tirades of the
Ombudsman on the issue of
her impeachment—it was that
the present administration
played the angst of the
masses to fill their stomachs
despite the reality of another
stunted administration and
anti-poor governmental
policies. The starkness of
the commonplace injustices
towards the underemployed
and contractualized workers,
of the deprived and abused
farmers, and of the trickeries
toward the ordinary consumer
should never be underplayed
to the big names which are
being grilled on national
16 • 01 APRIL 2011 •
Volume 24, Numbers 19-20
of
television. Even without the
“kurap,” when the abuses and
iniquities towards the common
tao are ignored and unheeded,
the “mahirap” will never cease
to be prolific.
Concurrently, the fact remains
that the current head of state
refuses to be free from the
pushes of his class interests
and his foreign masters. “Tuwid
na daan” was laid down indeed
for the wealthy capitalists
to protect their interests
in their newly-designated
government positions, for
traditional politicians through
the revolving doors in the
bureaucracy, and for the
flourishing of privitization,
deregulation, and liberalization
to the glee of foreign
multinational exploiters.
It is uncannily inane that a
government refuses to see the
evils of such policies when the
people fervently react to each
blow the market unsparingly
delivers. For one, when oil
prices brutally surged due to
speculation and monopoly in
the world market, the people
were left unprotected to carry
the burden of value added
taxes and deregulated prices
while the government called
for energy conservation,
President Aquino drove his
Porsche and Lexus using
tax-subsidized gasoline, and
foreign imperialist countries
once again cheated on Juan
Dela Cruz from when the
Philippines gave up the huge
chunk of its national budget to
debt servicing.
More than the lessons from the
supposed war of democracy
turbulently being waged in
the region, Libya could deliver
a strong point for us. For
forty-two years, the people
of Libya have learned to live
with extreme poverty, tolerate
profuse nepotism in public
office and stomach rampant
corruption. However, the
success of the major revolts
in other Arab countries
FRIDAY
inspired them to wage their
own war against their ruthless
potentate, Muammar Gaddafi.
But in the midst of the Libyans’
THE M ANIL A COLLEGIAN
struggle for liberation, Western
nations led by the United
States have entered the Libyan
battleground, presenting
themselves in the name of
humanitarian goals. Yet, it
would reek of deceit because
akin to the war in Iraq, it had
little to do with the name
of democracy and more to
do about the reassertion of
dominance and reaffirmation
of vested interest: to keep their
stronghold over Libya and
safeguard their control over its
most precious resource – oil.
This is brazen interference in
the context of a people seeking
to overthrow a dictator, who
struggle for self-determination.
Likewise, the imposition of will
by the superpowers is existent
in the Philippines, through
the government’s shackled
embrace of neoliberalistic
policies that only serve to
impoverish us. In the end, the
Libyans can only strengthen
their resistance forces in order
to overthrow Gaddafi. But
while doing so, they should also
assert their independence from
the intervention of the Western
superpowers for to accept the
so-called “aid” of the foreigners
is to agree for another era of
renewed oppression.
Libya deserves nothing but
genuine emancipation, not
another form of repression. So
do us.
We could despair, or rally our
discontent of this vicious cycle
of false hopes and failures
that only hasten the decay
of this system in which the
Filipinos cope with foreign and
government imposed hurdles
in the battle for everyday
survival. Let the emancipation
begin.
Magna est veritas et prevaelebit
ALLANA RUTH GARCIA DELA PEÑA
Editor-in-Chief
A N G E LO LU N A M U R I L LO
Associate Editor for Internal Affairs;
News Editor
M A R I E K R I S T E L A N T O N I O G A B AWA
Associate Editor for External Affairs;
Culture Editor
JOANNA MARIE ICASAS UDARBE
Managing Editor
EHCEL SAÑGA HURNA
Graphics Editor
J E O A N G E L O C H I C O E L A M PA R O
Features Editor
C R I S E L L I L A N G O N OY E N DAYA
Office and Circulations Manager
A N G E L A M A R I Z U L E P C A U DA L
YO D H I M G U D E L G E P T Y D E L A R O S A
M O N G A B R I E L P O S A DA S D I S T O R
A LY S S A N I C O L E C A C H O G R AT I L
DEONAH ABIGAIL LUGO MIOLE
News Correspondents
ARIES JOSEPH ARMENDI HEGINA
J O R E -A N N I E R I CO
JESSE NICOLE RUBIO SANTOS
Features Correspondents
A U B R E Y N I C O L E L E O N A S A R B O L E DA
Culture Correspondent
K AT R I N A J OY C A P U L O N G
Illustrator
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