03Bañez confirmed as official SR-select

System Glitch: Cracking the code behind poll automation

Points of View: Rewriting Human Rights Violations

05 07

Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng unibersidad ng pilipinas - diliman TOmO 87 . blg 07 agOsTO 6, 2009

Treading the Student organizations hounded by restrictive policies

Pauline GidGeT R. eSTella

Student organizations in UP Diliman find their democratic space shrinking amidst

increasingly restrictive policies implemented by the administration.

Facing problems such as stringent recognition procedures, lack of tambayans, and high fees for the use of UP facilities, student organizations gathered to register their demands (see

sidebar 1) in an annual s t u d e n t

summit held on July 20.More than 100 student

organizations from UP Diliman and UP Los Baños (UPLB) attended the summit, which was organized by the Office of the Student Regent (OSR) and the alliance Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Mag-aaral Laban sa Komersyalisasyon (UMAKSYON).

The demands will be submitted next week to the University Council, then to the Board of Regents, the highest policymaking body in UP, said Ma. Cristina Brandares, head of the University Student Council (USC) Students Rights and Welfare

Committeee.In 2008,

students

compiled a similar list of demands, which UMAKSYON submitted to the BOR. Only two were met: the demand for student council elections in UPLB, and for the release of editorial exam results for UPLB’s official student publication, the Perspective.

Of the 16 demands which remain unaddressed, most stem from the complaints of student organizations, said Jaqueline Eroles, UMAKSYON convenor and USC vice-chair.

However, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Elizabeth Enriquez said in a July 23 dialogue with students that most of the demands fall under the jurisdiction of colleges, and that the administration is implementing “reasonable org recognition procedures.”

Starting June, several colleges

labyrinth

Cont on pg 3

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Bianca Bonjibod

Balita Philippine CollegianHuwebes, 06 ago 200902

MaRjoHaRa TuCay

Habang inilalahad ni Gloria Arroyo sa kanyang huling state of the nation

address (SONA) noong Hulyo 27 na “matatag ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas,” mahigit 15 libong katao naman mula sa iba’t ibang sektor ang nagpahayag ng patuloy na paglala ng kahirapan sa bansa.

“There is hardly anything strong about the republic or the economy,” ani Renato Reyes, secretary general ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

Magkasalungat na ulat sa bayan

ayon kay Gloria arroyo ayon sa tala ng mga piling institusyon

“The state of our nation is a strong economy.”

umabot na sa P1.29 trillion ang kabuuang fiscal deficit ng gobyerno mula 2001 hanggang Mayo 2009, tatlong ulit na mas malaki kaysa sa pinagsamang kakulangan sa pondo ng administasyong aquino, Ramos, at estrada, ayon sa tala ng iBon.

“Sa pagpapamahagi ng milyun-milyong ektaryang lupa, 700,000 na katutubo at mahigit isang milyong benepisyaryo ng CaRP ay taas-noong may-ari na ng sariling lupa.”

Mahigit 1.2 milyon sa 2.4 milyong magsasakang sinasabing nakinabang sa Comprehensive agrarian Reform Program (CaRP) ay papeles pa lamang ang hawak at walang pa ring pagmamay-aring lupa, ayon sa Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

“Bumaba ang bilang ng mga nagsasabing mahirap sila sa 47% mula 59%. Maski lumaki ang ating populasyon, nabawasan ng dalawang milyon ang bilang ng mahihirap.”

ayon sa pinakahuling tala ng Social Weather Stations, tumaas ang bilang ng mga pamilyang nagsasabing nakararanas sila ng pagkagutom dahil sa kahirapan, mula 2.9 milyong pamilya noong unang kwarto ng taon tungong 3.7 milyon ngayong Hunyo.

“namuhunan tayo ng malaki sa edukasyon at skills training.”

Bumaba ng halos anim na bahagdan ang halagang ginagasta ng gobyerno para sa bawat mag-aaral kada taon, mula P5,830 noong panahon ni dating pangulong joseph estrada tungong P5,467 sa termino ni arroyo, ayon sa national Statistical Coordination Board.

“nagtayo tayo ng 95,000 na silid-aralan, nagdagdag ng 60,000 na guro, naglaan ng P1.5 billion para sa teacher training, especially for 100,000 english teachers.”

Batay sa datos ng department of education, kulang pa rin ng 57,930 silid-aralan, 3.48 milyong upuan at 49,699 guro sa mga paaralang elementarya at sekondarya.

“Sa hirap at ginhawa, pinapatatag ang ating bansa ng ating overseas Filipinos. iyong padala nilang $16 billion noong isang taon ay record.”

ayon sa World Bank at international Monetary Fund, tinatayang bababa ang kita mula sa mga oFWs ng apat hangggang pitong porsyento ngayong taon, bunsod na rin ng pandaigdigang krisis pampinansiya.

“My term does not end until next year.”

nakatakdang magpulong ang mayorya ng Kongreso dalawang linggo matapos ang Sona upang pag-usapan ang constituent assembly, na sinasabing maaaring gamitin ni arroyo upang palawigin ang kanyang termino.

Sanggunian: national Statistical Coordination Board, World Bank, international Monetary Fund, iBon Foundation, Social Weather Stations,

Higit 15 libong katao, kinundena ang Sona

‘Ulat sa bayan, malayo sa katotohanan’

MaRjoHaRa TuCay

Starting next academic year, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) will include

a two-year program, to be taken before entering college, in the current tertiary curriculum, said CHEd Chair Emmanuel Angeles.

CHEd will adapt the “multi-track tertiary education system” proposed by the Presidential Task Force on Education (PTFE), wherein a current five-year course will be divided into two levels: a two-year pre-college program, followed by a three-year specialization course.

The first phase of implementation of the multi-track system will affect incoming freshmen taking up five-year courses with Philippine Regulation Council (PRC) licensure examinations, including accountancy, architecture, and engineering.

“We plan to implement this radical curricular reform next year, starting with five-year courses, [so that our] tertiary education [will] be at par with other nations that have 15 to 16 years of education,” Angeles said.

Once the multi-track system proves effective in five-year courses, CHEd will proceed to the second phase of implementation, wherein four-year courses will be included, said CHEd executive director Julito Vitriolo.

“In effect, the reform will add an

CHed to implement 2-year pre-college program

additional year of education for four-year courses,” Angeles added.

However, Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino said in a statement, “Tertiary education in the country is only partially subsidized by the government, and is largely dominated by the private sector. This would give unregulated private educational institutions another year of imposing onerous and dubious fees.”

Palatino also said that many families already cannot afford college education, and an additional year would burden students and force them to either drop out of school or not enter college at all.

‘Multi-tracking’Under CHEd’s multi-track

college scheme, high school graduates would be required to take a scholastic aptitude test (SAT). Based on the results, a student must either enrol in a pre-college program, or proceed directly to the three-year specialization course.

The pre-college program is composed of general education courses which will develop competency, occupational and computer literacy skills of students. The three-year specialization course, meanwhile, includes major courses and subjects in professional ethics.

Vitriolo said that graduating

from the pre-college program is comparable to earning a certificate degree, which some colleges offer. “This means that a student can work after the pre-college since he already earned an ‘associate’ title,” he said.

As of press time, UP President Emerlinda Roman refused to comment on the multi-track system. Angeles already mentioned the CHEd revision in the Board of Regents meeting last July 30, but consultations have yet to take place, she said.

Universities and colleges offering

courses covered by the curricular reform will need to provide facilities for the pre-college program through CHEd’s assistance, Vitriolo said.

“CHEd plans to subsidize all students who will enter the pre-college program, both in state universities and private higher education institutions,” Vitriolo added.

CHEd submitted a proposal to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) requesting an additional P1.5 billion subsidy, P10 million of which will be used to

Solemn mass

qManila Arcbishop Gaudencio Rosales blesses the casket of former Pres. Corazon Aquino at the Manila Cathedral on August 3. Aquino, who was earlier diagnosed with colon cancer, died last August 1. Her last public statement is a letter condemning Gloria Arrroyo's plans for charter change. This was read during a multi-sectoral rally against Congress' moves to convene itself into a constituent assembly. Om Narayan A. Velasco

implement the multi-track system.Once DBM approves the budget

proposal, it will be submitted to Congress for legislation.

‘Benchmarking’Angeles explained that

“benchmarking” — or keeping the education system of the Philippines at par with international standards — will improve the “global competitiveness” of Filipinos.

Cont on pg 11

Sundan sa pg 11

Aniya, malayo sa tunay na lagay ng bansa ang marami sa mga datos na laman ng SONA ni Arroyo. (Sumangguni sa sidebar)

“Every regime tends to redefine the term ‘poverty’—Arroyo has lowered the poverty threshold thereby artificially decreasing the number of poor people,” ani Reyes. Noong 2008, itinakda ng National

Statistical Coordination Board na ibibilang lamang na mahirap ang isang tao kung gumagasta siya ng P41 pababa sa loob ng isang araw.

Ani Sonny Africa, research head ng IBON Foundation, ang kawalan umano ng sariling industriya ng Pilipinas at patuloy na pag-asa sa dayuhang kapital ang dahilan

Philippine Collegian Huwebes, 06 ago 2009 03

Cont on pg 11

Balita

oM naRayan VelaSCo

After a four month delay, Charisse Bañez was confirmed as official

Student Regent (SR) during the Board of Regents (BOR) meeting last July 31 at UP Manila.

Last March 14, Bañez was unanimously chosen by the general assembly of student councils as SR-select of the BOR, the university’s highest policymaking body.

Bañez, given “observer status” in the past three meetings of the

Bañez confirmed as official SR-select

Rising up

qUP Lady Maroons shooting guard Andrea Stevens dwarfs the guards of the UE Red Warriors as she executes a jump shot at the FEU Gym on August 3. The Lady Maroons held a steady advantage over the Warriors until the last second, clinch-ing their 3rd victory with a score of 73-60. Chris Imperial

BOR, was not allowed to join deliberations or vote on issues discussed by the board.

The BOR refused to confirm Bañez until she fulfilled the board’s requirements.

Earlier, a discourtesy case was filed against Bañez by the UPLB Office of Student Affairs (OSA). The BOR required issuance of a formal apology, with which Bañez complied.

The UPLB OSA filed another case against the UPLB University Student Council (USC) for academic year 2008-2009, which was then chaired by Bañez, for failing to

settle their cash collections.As required by the BOR, Bañez

submitted on July 17 an audited financial statement for the UPLB-USC during her term.

UP President Emerlinda Roman said that after Bañez met the terms set by the BOR for her confirmation, there was no need for further deliberations by the board on the matter. The BOR only sought “compliance,” Roman added.

Bañez said that despite her confirmation as regent, the

MaRie GeRone Ba-anG

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons lost to the Far Eastern University (FEU)

Tamaraws in the first round of the UAAP Men’s Basketball tournament last August 1, 65-77.

A week after shocking defending champion Ateneo de Manila University at the Philsports Arena (ULTRA), the Fighting Maroons

Tamaraws trounce Maroons

Comparing current rules with the 2009 draft CSC provisions

Current rules on student organizations Draft 2009 CSC

Freshmen in Coe and CSSP are discouraged from joining student organizations.

art. Vi, Sec. 1 Recruiting a student who has not yet completed a one-year residency for membership in any organization [is prohibited].

in Coe, points are given to an organization based on the number of years of existence, population, academic standing of members and awards received by the organization.

art. Vi, Sec. 4 The use of a tambayan is considered a grant…the committee shall decide the grant based on the following: academic and extension activities; awards received; disciplinary record of the organization and its members.

in CMC and CHe, STand-uP chapters were not recognized because its activities are notpurely academic based on the discipline of the colleges and that a university-wide organization already exists.

in Coe, no more than 49 percent of the members of an organization should come from one college.

art. Vi, Sec. 3 a student organization seekinguniversity recognition must have a membership of at least .05 percent of student population…with no more than 49 percent coming from one college.

Cont on pg 10

Selected demands from the 2009 uP Student Summit1. Provide all student organizations in all uP units with fully-functional tambayans in the soonest possible time2. extend tambayan hours until 8pm in all uP units.3. Free use of all university and college equipment and facilities for student organizations’ activities.4. Revise organization recognition procedures in favor of a system-wide uniform policy5. Scrapping of 2009 draft CSC

Treading... from pg 1

have already started using policies “very similar to [those of] the 2009 Code of Student Conduct (CSC),” said Fermina Agudo, head of the Committee on Organizations, Fraternities and Sororities (COFS) of the USC (see sidebar 2).

Once implemented, the CSC will cover all rules and regulations governing student affairs from student discipline to rules on organizations.

Colleges can impose policies that are “stricter but not more lenient” than the provisions governing student organizations in the draft CSC, said Enriquez.

Rigid recognition process

The process of recognition for a university-wide organization became “more rigorous” this year, said Agudo.

Organizations are now required to apply for recognition online and to pass a hard copy of the necessary documents to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

Agudo said the USC has been receiving complaints from organizations calling the online application procedure “cumbersome,” because all documents have to be scanned and sent through DilNet.

Also, the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) did not effectively

started out slow and trailed by as many as 15 points during the first half.

The first quarter opened with the Tamaraws quickly racking up four points. UP’s forward duo Martin Reyes and Carlo Gomez sank two shots in rapid succession, bringing the game to a tie, 4-4.

But by the end of the first quarter, FEU gained a strong lead over the Maroons, 20-15, led by Tamaraw guard Jens Knuttel’s half-

court command and three-pointers.The second quarter started with

the Tamaraws increasing their lead over the Maroons to 11 points. It wasn’t until midway through the quarter that Arvin Braganza nailed two points for UP.

The Maroons stepped up with center Magi Sison grabbing rebounds and Woody Co’s two successful attempts in the free throw line. But

Cont on pg 11

disseminate the announcement for the deadline for the application for recognition, said Agudo.

Less than 20 university-wide organizations were able to meet the deadline. Around 100 more organizations filed for recognition after the deadline was extended, at the request of the COFS, from July 15 to July 30.

“The purpose of online application is efficient record-keeping,” said OSA Director Oscar Ferrer. The process of recognition is now easier because an interview with the members of the executive committee of the organization is no longer required, he added.

However, in addition to the original requirements, including the submission of a constitution and a narrative report of activities during the previous year, at least two members of the organization should also attend a gender-sensitivity and leadership training.

no freshies allowedThe CSC also imposes

“unnecessary qualifications” for membership in organizations, said Agudo.

The CSC requires a membership of at least 0.05 percent of the entire student population, or 80 members, for recognized university organizations. No more than 49 percent of the members should come from one college.

Under this provision, 168 out of the 279 organizations currently recognized by the university would already be disqualified from recognition.

“For the administration, the

only way to solve the problem of insufficient subsidy is to deny recognition to student organizations,” said SR Charisse Bañez.

In CoE, the number of members in department-based organizations should total 15 percent of the department population, while college-based organizations must post a total membership of one percent of the total college population of 1,988 students. This amounts to at least 20 members, excluding the executive committee.

Due to the high number of required members, many organizations were not given recognition, said Fajereeh Sapungen,

a member of UMAKSYON in CoE.The CSC also prohibits

freshmen from joining recognized organizations. Accordingly, freshmen are now discouraged from joining organizations not only in the College of Engineering (CoE) but also in the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, said Agudo.

CoE Dean Rowena Guevara said freshmen are discouraged from joining organizations because the activities of the organization might pull down their academic performance.

But USC Chair Titus Tan said student organizations promote “well-rounded development among students” in activities both academic and non-academic.

academic orgs onlySome organizations are not

recognized because they promote non-academic interests, said Bañez.

The College of Mass Communication (CMC) chapter of the Student Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy-UP (STAND-UP) was not recognized as a college-based organization for AY 2009-2010.

The college refused to recognize the CMC chapter because it is already under a university-wide alliance, a “bigger body having the same objectives,” said Prof. Lourdes

Grapiks Philippine CollegianHuwebes, 06 ago 200904

Ma s i g a b o n g palakpakan man ang madidinig sa bulwagan ng Batasan, hindi

nito maiigpawan ang silakbo ng damdamin ng taumbayan. Kasabay ng malakas na ulan ang pagbuhos ng protesta laban sa ika-siyam at panghuling SONA ni Gloria Arroyo. Sa bawat hagupit ng hangin, bitbit nito ang hinaing at paniningil ng taumbayan. Sa gitna ng pagragasa ng kasinungalingan, isang kolektibong pagtakwil ang sagot ng mamamayan sa rehimeng nais na nilang wakasan. q

Mga litrato nina Fruhlein econar, Candice anne Reyes, Timothy Medranodisenyo ng pahina ni Paolo C. Balajadia

aklasng Bayan

LathalainPhilippine Collegian Huwebes, 06 ago 2009 05

Philippine elections is set in a political landscape strewn with stories of patronage and

self-serving interests, of violence and fraud, and of nepotism.

Against this background, civil society groups and progressive organizations have intensified their calls for electoral reform. In response to the clamor for clean and honest elections, the government has turned to automation as a solution for the array of problems that has hounded national polls.

Shifting gearsThe 1996 elections in

the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao served as the government’s first venture in poll automation. According to news reports, the machines used were slow and had trouble counting wet or damp ballots, and could not detect valid from spurious ones.

The 1998 presidential elections became the next target for computerization, with the institutionalization of Republic Act 8436 authorizing an automated elections system (AES) for national level posts. The Commission on Elections (Comelec), however, did not push through with the project because the law was passed barely three months before the election proper.

Gloria Arroyo renewed automation attempts in 2002, with the MegaPacific consortium winning the bid for 2,700 ballot counting machines. However, information and communicat ions t e c h n o l o g y (ICT) groups argued that

The fundamental components of the election process —transparency and credibility of the poll body and the gov-ernment— remain the only assurance of successful polls

MegaPacific’s machines were vulnerable to tampering. The Supreme Court ordered Comelec to cancel the contract only a few months before the 2004 polls.

With the manual process still in place, the 2004 polls became the most violent and controversial elections in the country’s history.

digital ballot boxThe government plans to conduct

the first fully-computerized elections in 2010, following the signing of a contract between Comelec and ICT companies Smartmatic Inc. and Total Information Management (TIM) to take charge of 90 percent of poll operations.

Smartmatic-TIM will automate all parts of the election system, from voting, counting, consolidating, canvassing, and transmission of election results. The consortium is tasked to ensure that telecommunication networks, internet providers, cell sites, and road and sea networks are ready for the installation and

operation o f

the AES units.Yet legal and political issues

regarding the new AES abound. The contract was approved despite a motion for temporary restraining order (TRO) filed before the Supreme Court. The TRO was filed to prevent the Comelec from paying the winning bidders almost P3 billion before the machines were delivered.

A dispute between the Comelec’s corporate polling partners jeopardized the automation project. Earlier, local company TIM threatened to bolt out of the consortium because it will have bigger liabilities than the Barbados-based Smartmatic, even if TIM’s contributions in the automation would only be minimal. Under the law, foreign companies can only own up to 40 percent of a Philippine-based venture.

If only the Comelec is credible enough to handle the automated elections, from the voting, canvassing and examination of machines and software to be used, then computerized polls will definitely be a step towards democratization, adds ICT journalist Anthony Ian Cruz.

‘Trust the machines’Comelec, however, maintains

that “Automation means clean elections.”

I C T professor

Brendan Luyt observes that distrust in the manual and obsolete electoral system spawned the prevailing notion that a technical solution — the computerization of all or parts of the election process — is the best available course of action to solve electoral problems.

“Palibhasa bulok, mabagal at corrupt ang gobyerno, ipinagkakamali ng ilan na automation ang susi para maging maayos ang halalan,” says Cruz.

Cruz clarifies that the computerization of elections will indeed result to faster counting and easier voting processes. But while there is an increase in Internet and computer use in the Philippines, the level of computer literacy of Filipinos, especially among the poor, indicates that the country is not yet prepared for high-tech voting, he adds.

The need to embrace automation becomes more appealing and urgent given that the manual system is seen as “a relic of the past,” says Luyt. The reality of automated elections in

Cracking the code behind poll automationArticle: JM Ragaza . Illiustration: Archie Oclos

Page Design: Bianca Bonjibod

some developed countries, however, shows that poll modernization alone is not the only component of electoral reform.

Western countries have even reverted to manual elections or partial automation because electronic voting poses various problems. In the Netherlands, electronic voting machines were banned because they could be easily hacked. Technological glitches, meanwhile, occurred during the 2001 US presidential race. Thousands of names of Florida voters were erased from voter lists, contributing to George Bush’s win.

The claim that an AES can eliminate or reduce the incidents of election fraud is based on the premise that machines cannot be manipulated by man, and that reducing the degree of human contact will also reduce the possibility of human intervention.

However, this “dubious

assumption” cannot be true since creating, installing, and maintaining the required software and hardware constitute significant human intervention, and therefore, opportunities for fraud, explains Luyt.

RebootIn its study on the current AES,

UP-based public policy organization Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) has

identified at least 30 vulnerable spots in the system. While some of these system glitches could be machine-generated, they can result from the manipulation of election operators who intend to control the outcome of the balloting, CenPEG experts assert.

“Technology is ‘cognitive neutral’—it will work according to the operator’s command,” according to CenPEG.

Thus, despite the attractive features of modernized polls, the fundamental components of the election process —transparency

and credibility of the poll body and the government— remain the only assurance of successful polls. Unless the government rectifies the present electoral problems of the country, the automated elections will become as flawed as the manual process.

Ultimately, it is beyond the scope of present computer science and engineering principles to design an electoral system that will serve the people’s interest and choice. Whether automated or not, democratic elections will only occur if the vicious cycle of electoral fraud and violence is terminated. It is up to the electorate, to ensure a victory for the people. q

Reference:luyt, B. (2007). The hegemonic work of automated election technology in the

Philippines. journal of Contemporary asia. 37 (2): 139-165

Kultura Philippine CollegianHuwebes, 06 Ago 200906-07

Dahan-dahan ang aking paghakbang, takot matisod sa lugar na di nakasanayan.

Sa libu-libong nag-asam makapasok sa UP, pinalad akong mapabilang sa bagong batch ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan. Tila doble pa ang swerte nang mapabilang ako sa Bracket D ng STFAP. Kumpara sa Ateneo, La Salle at UST, ang laki ng matitipid ng magulang ko sa tuition ng UP. Magagaling daw ang mga propesor at matatalino ang mga estudyante dito. Kinasabikan ko ang unang araw ng aking buhay kolehiyo.

B r o a d c a s t Communication ang inilagay kong first choice sa UPCAT form, pero sa second choice na Journalism ako nakapasok. Okay lang, di naman ito magkalayo. Basta UP, kahit ano sigurong kurso, ayos lang. Ang mahalaga, isa na akong Iska.

Pagpasok ko sa UP campus, si Oble ang una kong nakita – hubad at nakatingin sa langit. Naisip ko bigla ang Oblation run na napanood ko sa TV noong nakaraang Disyembre. Ano na lang ang sasabahin ng mga madre sa dati kong high school tungkol sa scholar nila kung malalaman nilang balak ko panoorin ang Oblation run nang malapitan?

Kilala ang UP bilang liberal na pamantasan kaya siguro okay lang ang mga frat at pagtakbo ng nakahubad dito. Malaya ang mga mag-aaral magpahayag ng mga opinyon at saloobin kaya marami ring aktibista. Sabi ng ibang tao, matalino man ang mga taga-UP, pasaway naman ang mga estudyante nito. Hindi tuloy nakagugulat na maging estatwa na simbolo ng pamantasan, nakahubad. May kalayaan daw sa UP, at gagawin ng mga taga-rito kung ano ang tingin nila’y tama—salungat man ito sa iniisip ng iba.

Sa Palma Hall ang una kong klase. Matagal kaming naghintay pero walang dumating na prof. Sabi ng isa kong kaklase, kapag 30 minutes na ang lumipas at wala pang prof, wala nang pasok. Ang aga ko pa man din nagising para hindi ma-late, absent naman pala ang guro. Kung ganito ang magiging kalakaran sa susunod na mga araw, parang tinapon ko lang ang P300 per unit, pamasahe, at baon na ibinigay ng magulang ko. Kaya nga ako pumasok, para matuto.

Para hindi masayang ang ipinunta ko ng UP, nilibot ko na lang ang campus. Sakay ng Ikot jeep, napansin kong marami rin palang magagarang kotse sa Academic Oval. Mukhang mga estudyante ang nagmamaneho. Ang swerte naman nila, hindi na nila kailangang makipagsiksikan sa loob ng jeep o maglakad ng malayo para sa susunod na klase. Kahit pala mayayaman, pinipiling mag-aral sa UP. Marahil habol din nila ang pangalan ng unibersidad, mahalaga raw kasi ito sa paghahanap ng trabaho.

Sa loob ng jeepney, tiningnan ko ang Form 5 ko. May klase pala ako bukas sa CAL. Naisip kong puntahan na rin ito para hindi ako maligaw kinabukasan.

Bumaba ako sa FC at sinundan ng tingin ang papalayong Ikot jeep. Maliban sa Oblation, simbolo rin ng UP ang Ikot at Toki. Hindi ko alam kung totoo ang balitang aalisin na raw ang mga jeepney na ito at mapapalitan ng mga shuttle. Parang hindi bagay sa campus. Sayang naman kung hindi aabutan ng susunod

bagong salta

A certain darkness follows her despite the glare of camera lights. Her arms are free, but seem bound by cuffs that chafed her

skin. Her voice shakes while telling a story of violence.

Filipino-American Melissa Roxas is a member of the US chapter of progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan as well as the cultural organization, Habi Arts. A poet and film artist, she recently enlisted in exposure trips to the Philippines to know more about her parents’ homeland and gather material for her works. While here, Roxas volunteered in healthcare programs in rural areas.

On May 19, in a medical mission in Central Luzon, Roxas was abducted by alleged agents of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). She was detained in a military camp, periodically suffocated with plastic bags and threatened with death. She remained blindfolded throughout her capture, except when she took baths.

Her story is familiar, yet shrouded in controversy and mystery. Emerging from the dark, Roxas sheds light on the state of human rights violations (HRVs) in the country.

Narrative of captivityUnlike other HRV victims, Roxas lived to tell

her tale. She was released six days after her abduction and was brought to her uncle’s house in Quezon City. She flew back to Los Angeles soon after and held a press conference to discuss her ordeal. Recently, she returned to the Philippines to press charges against the AFP, despite threats to her life.

From the beginning, her case has been closely monitored by the media, renewing public interest on the country’s human rights situation. DJ Acierto, public information officer of human rights watchdog Karapatan says that there is a great need to educate people on the alarming HRVs in the count r y. This

ARTICLE:Dianne Marah SayamanILLUSTRATION: Nico ZapantaPAGE DESIGN: Patricia Joyce

Basmayor

HRVs are part of a systemic violence,

manifesting

in more

than a

thousand

HRV cases in the past nine years.

n a m g a

estudyante ang makukulay na sasakyang

bahagi ng buhay-UP.Habang naglalakad mula FC patungong CAL, nakasalubong

ko ang ilang grupo ng mga foreign students. Nagkalat sila sa campus. Iskolar din kaya sila ng Bayan? Ang swerte rin pala nila,

nakapag-aral pa sila rito. Ang iba kong nakasabay na kumuha ng UPCAT, hindi pumasa. O kung nakapasa man, tumuloy sa ibang

pamantasang mas mura ang tuition gaya ng PUP. Mayaman siguro ang mga foreigner na nag-aaral sa UP. Mayayaman kasi ang mga

Pilipinong nakakapag-aral abroad.Pagdating ko sa CAL, pinatigil ako ng guard. Hiningi niya

ang ID ko. Form5 ang inilabas ko dahil sa susunod pang linggo ang appointment ko para magpagawa ng ID. May narinig akong

nagreklamo sa likod ko. Hindi naman daw kailangan ng ID dati para makapasok ng building. Nakakaabala nga naman kung kailangan pang

ipakita ang ID kapag naghahabol ka ng oras. Bakit nga ba kailangan pang magpakita ng ID? Kung tutuusin, pera

naman ng mamamayan ang ginamit sa pagpapatayo ng mga gusali, kaya’t

bukas d a p a t ang mga pinto nito

sa sinumang nais pumasok.

Ika nga nila, buwis naman ng

mamamayan ang nagpopondo sa UP. Nang mapagod ako sa

kalilibot ng campus, naisipan ko nang umuwi. Natapos ang unang araw

ko sa UP pero wala akong napala kundi ang karanasang makasakay ng Ikot jeep at makapasok ng

AS at CAL. Sakay ng biyaheng Philcoa, natanaw ko ang paliit na paliit na Oble.

Tila ibang iba ang UP sa isip ko noong naghahanda pa lang ako para sa UPCAT at ang UP na pinasukan ko ngayon. Unibersidad ng Pilipinas nga kung tawagin, pero parang hindi naman nagsisilbi ang pamantasan para sa karamihan. Gusto kong makita ang UP na ikinuwento sa akin noon – bukas para sa lahat,

mahirap o mayaman, may suot na ID o wala. Higit sa lahat, isang UP na hindi nakalilimot sa bayang dapat

nitong pinaglilingkuran.Sa patuloy kong pagsulong at paghakbang,

umaasa akong makikilala ko rin ang daang tinahak na ng libu-libong Iskolar ng Bayan. Sana, may klase

na bukas.q

bagong salta

Disenyo ng Pahina:Pichie Basmayor, Bianca Bonjibod

Artikulo:Richeline MascariñasDibuho: Nico Zapanta

Disenyo ng Pahina:Pichie Basmayor, Bianca Bonjibod

task, she adds, falls to the media, which can stir public opinion condemning such acts.

News coverage of Roxas’ case presents an avenue for public awareness and discussion on the state of HRVs in the country. Roxas’ story also supports claims of other human rights victims about state-perpetrated violence.

However, the motives of mainstream media in covering Roxas’ story leads to a shallow understanding of HRVs. Philippine Studies professor Michael Francis Andrada says that media works largely for “press release politics,” or a profit-oriented coverage of current events. The excessive media exposure of certain issues such as political squabbles and petty crimes reduces the audiences’ interest to such trivial matters. These are reported, not for their relevance, but for their mass appeal which rakes in profits for media outfits.

As such, stories about obscure people forcibly disappeared or executed rarely earn a slot in primetime news or the front page of newspapers. The public’s apparent lack of knowledge on these issues, therefore, is a consequence of the nature

of mass media.

Media, however, has shown interest in Roxas’ case. Her release, accounts of torture, and her American citizenship have made her story engrossing as a human interest piece.

In this sense, HRVs are reduced to mere stories of drama and individual experience. The media fails to show that HRVs are part of a systemic violence, manifesting in more than a thousand HRV cases in the past nine years.

Alternative journalists though, offer a different reportage of HRV stories. Their alternative views that recognize the role of media in social c h a n g e

r e s u l t to fearless coverage

of HRVs. As such, they fearlessly implicate the government on such matters despite threats to their own safety.

According to her affidavit, Roxas shouted her name as she was forced by her assailants inside the van. At the prospect of being another

nameless human rights victim, she asserted her identity. Upon her release, Roxas

speaks out on behalf of those forcibly silenced.

Recurring theme of violence

During a congressional hearing, Roxas testified that her captors reveled in their previous torture of other victims. They insisted

that she was a member of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed

component of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The CPP has been

tagged as a terrorist insurgent group by the government in light of the US global war on

terrorism.It is thus contradictory, says Andrada,

that the government and media projects a “depolitical population,” or a people devoid of political thoughts and struggles. Instead, the media focuses on seemingly neutral issues like entertainment to hide ideological opposition. However, this myth is easily debunked by a society fragmented by economic and political strife.

Acierto adds that the illusion of a depolitical population is intertwined with human rights

problems . In denying or

downplaying the severity of HRVs, the government and mainstream media suppresses the people’s rights to be informed of relevant issues like HRVs. Amidst pretenses of economic progress, HRVs depict the cruelty of the state in imposing its rule. While the mainstream media works to maintain its hold on profit, the state quells suspicions in its involvement with HRVs by distorting facts on HRVs.

Increasing awareness on HRVs has thus been countered with campaigns discrediting human rights victims. Since Roxas’ testimony, videos of what appears to be her training in an NPA camp have circulated online. This incident can be seen as the state’s calculated effort to transform public perception of Roxas from victim to an outlaw. It is crucial to note, however, that, humane treatment of all persons, including rebels against the state, is imperative in a just society.

Acierto adds that Roxas shows courage in revealing her story. More than a protest at the injustice done to her, her fight reflects the justice sought by human rights victims and their families.

Blindfolded and handcuffed for most of her captivity, Roxas was rendered helpless by her captors. In her quest for justice, she shows her captors that strength arises from their brutality. Violence, after all, only breeds new forms of resistance. q

Source:Adorno, T. , Horkheimer, M. [2002] Dialectic of

Enlightenment. Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press.

Sakay ng Ikot jeep, napansin ko

ng

maram

i ri n

palang mag

agaran

g ko

tse sa Acad

emic O

val

May angas ka ba sa klase mo? Ito ang Youngbladder ng Kulê. Kaya’t paputukinna ang inyong pantog. Gusto naming marinig ang inyong pakikipagsapalaran sa loob ng apat na sulok ng paaralan

Lathalain Philippine CollegianHuwebes, 06 ago 200908

Sa kabila ng matinding sikat ng araw, mala-kas na buhos ng ulan, at higit 50 kilomet-rong layo, tumulak ang higit isang libong

magsasaka mula Timog Katagalugan (TK) tun-gong Maynila upang makiisa sa kilos-protesta sa State of the Nation Address (SONA) noong Hulyo 27.

Tinaguriang Lakbayan, isinasagawa ng mga magsasaka o Lakbayani ang malawakang pagmamartsa mula pa sa kanilang mga sakah-an sa kanayunan patungong kalunsuran bilang isang uri ng kilos-protesta, lalo sa mga kagana-pang tulad ng SONA.

Bakas ng pag-aklasNaghahanda na ang mga Lakbayani higit

isang linggo bago ang SONA. Sa pakikipagtu-lungan ng Katipunan ng mga Samahang Mag-bubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK) sa Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), nangyari ang pag-uusap sa pagitan ng mga lider noong Hulyo 20 upang sinsinin ang plano para sa Lakbayan.

Kinabukasan, nagtipon ang mga Lakbayani sa tatlong iba’t ibang probinsiya — sa Laguna, Cavite at Rizal. Handa na ang lahat ng gagami-tin sa martsa-protesta, mula pagkain hang-gang dibuho at mga plakard ng kanilang mga panawagan. Sapagkat may kalayuan ang Cav-ite at Laguna, nauuna sila ng isang araw sa Rizal sa pagsisimula n g Lakbayan.

Sa kanilang paglalakad, maram-ing balakid na ki-nakaharap ang mga magsasaka. Umulan o umaraw, kailangan nil-ang ituloy ang martsa, at humihinto lamang sila upang magpahinga pagsapit ng gabi. Tanging mga inilatag na karton at ban-ig lamang ang n a g s i s i l b i nilang tu-

Ang Lakbayan ng mga magsasaka ng Timog Katagalugan

Para sa mga magsasaka, isang mabisang paraan ang lakbayan upang maiparating nila ang ka-nilang mga panawagan sa mga kinauukulan

Artikulo: Kevin Gomez . Dibuho: Janno Gonzales Disenyo ng Pahina: Bianca Bonjibod

lugan bago muling maglakad kinabukasan.Liban pa rito, nakararanas din sila ng pa-

nanakot mula sa pamahalaan tuwing hinaha-rang sila ng mga pulis sa checkpoint upang hingan ng permit. Ganito ang nangyari sa mga Lakbayaning mula Cavite. Hindi sila pinadaan hangga’t hindi nasusunod ang ilang mga kondi-syon, tulad ng pagbibigay ng pangalan ng mga kasamang dayuhan ng mga magsasaka.

Gayunman, matagumpay na nakarating sa Liwasang Bonifacio sa Maynila ang mga Lakbayani noong Hulyo 24, at sa Mendiola kinabukasan, kung saan sila nagdaos ng ilang maikling programa

Isang araw bago ang SONA, nagtungo sila sa UP Diliman, na karaniwan nilang tinutu-luyan pagdating sa Maynila. Hindi alintana ang masungit na panahon, nagdaos ng vigil ang mga Lakbayani kasama ang ilang mag-aar-al bago umalis ng madaling-araw kinabukasan para magtungo sa Batasan.

Sa kabila ng hirap na inaabot ng mga mag-sasaka sa Lakbayan, laging umaabot sa higit isang libo ang bilang ng lumalahok dito. “Pi-nananatili nila ang kanilang malaking bilang sa pamamagitan ng pagsasalit-salitan ng mga magsasakang nadadaanan ng Lakbayan,” ani Lita Mariano, tagapagsalita ng Pambansang Pederasyon ng Babaeng Magbubukid at dating Lakbayani.

“Maraming dahilan upang mag protesta: laganap pa rin ang mga pangunahing

problema ng lipunan, at lubhang apektado nito ang hanay ng

mga magsasaka,” ani Willie Marbella, deputy secretary for internal affairs ng KMP.

Sa likod ng mga hakbang

Sa kasalukuyan, mga magsasaka ang tumatang-gap ng pinakamaraming

pang-aabuso mula sa pamahalaan, ayon sa praymer ng KMP.

Sa kabila ng pagka-karoon ng batas sa repor-mang agraryo sa nakara-

ang dalawang dekada, malaking bahagi pa rin ng mga l u -

p a n g

Lakad-Pr o t es t a

sakahan ang hindi naipamamahagi sa mga magsasaka. At sa pagkakapasa ng Comprehen-sive Agrarian Reform Program extension with Reforms (CARPER), inaasahang “ipagpapatu-loy lamang nito ang mga kamalian ng [nau-nang batas na] CARP,” ani Marbella.

Higit pa rito, nakararanas din ng di-makataong panunupil ang mga lider-mag-sasakang nagtatangkang igiit ang kanilang karapatan. Mga magsasaka ang bumubuo sa 54 na bahagdan ng kaso ng pulitikal na pama-maslang sa bansa mula 2001. Laganap din ang pagdakip at paniniktik sa kanila. Isang hal-imbawa ang kaso ni Randall Echanis, dep-uty secretary-general for external affairs ng KMP, na kasalukuyang nakapiit sa Manila City Jail. “[Ang kaniyang kaso] ay pawang gawa-gawa . Ito’y pakana upang isalegal ang represyon ng estado,” ani Marbella.

Sanhi nito, karaniwan nang nakatali ang mga panawagan ng Lakbayan sa mga suliran-ing ito ng mga magsasaka. Subalit noong huling Lakbayan, higit na naipatampok ang pagtutol ng mga magsasaka sa nakaambang charter change na isinusulong ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagbubuo ng constituent assembly sa kongreso.

Kasama sa mga probisyong isi-nusulong ng charter change ang

pagpapahintulot sa 100 bahag-dang pagmamay-ari ng lupa ng mga dayuhan.

Kapag naipasa, mas matinding pagpapahirap

lamang a n g

idudulot nito sa mga magsasakang walang lupa.

“Pinili naming mapagod at magtiis ng ilang araw kaysa madagdagan pa ang kasalu-kuyang kahirapang aming dinadanas sakaling maipasa ang Cha-cha,” ani Imelda Lacandazo, tagapagsalita ng KASAMA-TK.

Para sa mga magsasaka, isang mabisang paraan ang Lakbayan upang maiparating nila ang kanilang mga panawagan sa mga kinauu-kulan. Ani Mariano, malaki ang natatanggap

na suporta ng mga magsasaka tuwing Lakbayan dahil marami ang naba-bagtas nilang mga lugar sa haba ng martsa. Sapagkat nakikita ang kanil-ang pagpupursigi

sa mahabang paglalakad, marami sa mga na-kasasaksi sa Lakbayan ang handang mag-abot ng tulong.

Karaniwan ding napupukaw ng mga mag-sasaka ang atensyon ng media sa ganitong uri ng kilos protesta.

PagsusulongSa huli, tunay na reporma sa lupa pa rin

ang kanilang panawagan.Para sa mga Lakbayani, mahalaga na mar-

ating nila ang Maynila dahil ito ang sentro ng pamahalaan. Nakikita nilang epektibo ang mismong paghahatid ng kanilang mga sulira-nin mula kanayunan patungo sa mismong mga ahensya ng gobyerno. Sinisimbolo nito ang nagkakaisang masang tahasang kinakalampag ang pamahalaan.

“Pinapakita ng Lakbayan ang malakas at malawak na masang handang tumutol sa patuloy na pagpapahirap sa kanilang uri,” ani Kristel Gomez, miyembro at dating tagapan-gulo ng National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates-Youth Sector.

Natapos na ang huling Lakbayan noong araw ng SONA at nagsibalik na ang mga Lakbayani sa kanil-

ang lupang sinasaka sa TK. Subalit hindi ito nangangahulu-gang tapos na rin ang kanilang pakiki-

paglaban. Hangga’t di naipatutupad ang mga

isinusulong nilang pag-babago, laging mayroong

mga magsasakang handang suungin ang anumang hirap upang mak-

ilahok sa mga kilos-protesta tulad ng Lak-bayan. q

Opinyon

P ao lo C . B a l aj a d i a

g u T T e r T a l k sP i ya C o n s ta n t i n o

K u b e

le T T e r f r O m a p a w n

As always, reality smacks and leaves a sting you can either nurse or endure and go on in

spite of

It’s like entering a cave with a sword in hand, expecting to fight a dragon

Philippine Collegian Huwebes, 06 ago 2009 09

If every street were to be personified, this grimy road would have the character of a pimp: a discreet, suspicious predator at

night, and an overfriendly thug in daylight. And as with pimps calling out from dark corners, the only recourse is to ignore its crudeness – to pretend not to see sly smirks on faces of shirtless tambays, to step around coins of children claiming the street as their playground, to silently nurse a hangover worsened by the racket of the AM radio turned on full blast at the neighborhood Pares House at 5 in the morning.

The grey, littered sidewalk between the Lotto branch where lines form everyday and the 24-hour stall that sells suspiciously cheap burgers at ‘buy one, take one’ was the space we claimed as ours. Three feet from the house you grew up in and where you were absolutely nothing but a regret was the place where you formed dreams to veer away from it.

You’d finish a whole pack of cigarettes and still not run out of plans to escape the shithole behind us and all the people within it; to one day return if only to see their expression as you stood before them, successful and happy despite their putdowns. The ever-present tambay you knew by name would never fail to pass by and give a thumbs-up sign with a smirk on his unshaven face, the meaning of which I knew but never bothered to react on.

It was our tradition, these sidewalk talks.

Yet I forgot, for once in nine years, to go to your street on the eve of your birthday and listen as you again made plans to not be there the next year. But as always, you forgave and waited one night at the curb along the street leading to our house, beside the bank where guards listen to old music trickling from their equally old radio as they nod in efforts not to fall asleep.

I’ll walk you home this time, I said, and we

walked two and a half hours to your street as you recounted everything that had happened to you in my absence – same old shit, except you were already numb. How do you romanticize the life of a highschool graduate who has to work in a call center to keep himself and his siblings afloat? It has almost become a joke to still talk about endless dreams that had never even seemed to be within your grasp.

Not much has changed in nine years, except that everything has gotten older. The ‘Lotto/ play here’ sign is in dire need of cleaning, and seems to mock the sordid street with its promise of money. Children harangue passersby for coins to gamble with on the street. A gaping pothole where Boy Bawang wrappers float in muddy foam has formed in

front of the sidewalk outside your house, and we could not even sit at our spot lest jeepney tires splash us with otherwise stagnant muck.

As always, reality smacks and leaves a sting you can either nurse or endure and go on in spite of. Dreams have to be let go of in the presence of siblings tugging at your pants, asking for lunch money. Entering the world of adults, you have to admit defeat, at least for now, and choose to remain in the place you

hate the most, even when you already have the chance to turn your back and pursue your own self-centered plans.

Your mother, carrying her newest baby, peered down at us from the second floor window and waved unsurely as I smiled up at her. Your brother, who walked home from college since your salary could not cover both his tuition and his daily fare, gave me a highfive before going inside. Your father smiled awkwardly as he went out the door in hopes of earning money playing in bars. You called out to the ever-present tambay, now with a long, braided goatee, and introduced me to him. He said hello and gave his usual thumbs-up sign. And for the first time in nine years, you took my hand and asked me to come inside. q

Studying in UP has been an experience that has taught me so much that I cannot replace; I probably would not have opted

to study in any other school, and I am grateful for having made that decision. But I have been in a slump lately. I have tons of things to do

that just can’t seem to get done. An incomplete here, an unfinished thesis proposal there, and a couple of illustrations and projects that have been held up due to time constraints and uncontrollable urges to procrastinate. It’s presumably (or should I say hopefully?) the last year of my college life, which is all the more reason I should probably be worried. Especially after a mishap that had almost prevented me from enrolling this year.

I think it might be because I’m no longer sure about what I want to do after all this that makes me drag these baggages behind.

Maybe because most of my expectations and preconceived ideas about what to do post-graduation have been thrown out the window. Or maybe it’s because I had never even thought about the possibility of failure before.

What’s anyone supposed to do at this

point anyway? You stop and contemplate about all the shit you have gone through during your stay and think of all the factors that have gotten you there. You think about how much more ready you could have been if you had only done things differently. You try to convince yourself that it’s okay, but when you take a good look around, you know that there must be something wrong with things, or at least with you. You think about all the people that had pushed or helped you get to where you are and all the expectations they had placed on your shoulder. You think about

everyone else who had taken the same journey as you but are either doing well or at least are not crying about their situation; how everyone else is moving forward while you are still in the process of desperately trying to keep your feet planted on that spot you have grown familiar with. Then you realize that there’s nowhere else to go but forward anyway, and finally decide to throw caution to the wind.

It’s like entering a cave with a sword in hand, expecting to fight a dragon. Except you reach the other end of the cave and see other people with their own swords, fighting each other instead. Perhaps it doesn’t matter. Maybe we all face the same fate anyway; that even when you emerge victorious, you are still but a pawn with a sword that has even been deemed worthless with the death of your worst enemy. Or maybe it’s just me. Me and my silly quest for that dragon that had never even existed in the first place. q

ikaw na nga!umakyat lamang sa rm401 Vinzon's Hall at maghanap ng sinumang taga-Kule.Magdala ng bluebook at ballpen para sa news, Feats at Kultura sections at ng karagdagang portfolio of works para sa Grapix. Kapag may katanungan o nais maka-phone pal, tumawag sa 0917.896.7610 o 0927.496.0224

May pinagluluksaan na naman ang bayan.

Nagpunta ako sa unang araw ng public viewing ni Cory sa Manila Cathedral.

Alas-kwatro pa dapat ang simula ng pagbisita kay Cory, pero maaga pa lang ay dagsa na ang mga taong gustong makakita sa kanya. Libu-libo na rin ang bilang ng mga taong naghatid sa kanya mula sa Greenhills patungo rito sa Manila.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ang simula ng pila. Kahit saan ako tumingin, nakalulunod ang dagat ng dilaw. Binaha nito ang batu-ba-tong lansangan at mga pader ng Intramuros. Bukod sa marami ang mga taong dilaw ang suot, nagkalat din ang mga dilaw na lobo at tali na inilalako sa mga bumibisita.

Ibinalita kanina sa TV na bibista rin ang pamilyang Marcos at si Gloria Arroyo. Dagdag pa ng newscaster na kailangan din nilang pumila katulad ng iba.

Sinundan ko na lang ang alon ng mga ta-ong naglalakad papunta sa isang direksyon. Marami ang mga nakita kong kasama ang ka-nilang mga pamilya, o di kaya mga kaibigan sa pagpunta roon. Sino nga ba naman ang gus-tong pumila doon mag-isa ng ilang oras? Sa isang banda, kolektibo naman ang paglikha sa imahen ni Cory noong EDSA People Power I. Kaya mas mainam lang din siguro na kolektibo rin ang pag-aalala at paggunita sa kanya.

Kakapanganak palang sa akin noong nang-yari ang EDSA I. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari maliban sa mga tala ng mga librong pangkasaysayan. Hindi malinaw para sa akin ang lahat ng nalalaman ko tungkol kay Cory.

Bukod sa naging simbolo siya ng nangyar-ing pagkilos laban kay Marcos, ang ilan lang sa mga naaalala ko ay siya ang nagpauso ng brown out sa Pilipinas, siya ang dahilan kung bakit dilaw lang ang kulay ng mga taxi noon sa Manila, at kung bakit nagkaroon ng pakahulu-gan na “laban” ang pagbuo ng letrang L gamit ang kamay.

Alam ko, marami pa akong dapat maalala tungkol kay Cory. Mga bagay tungkol sa kanya na di-hamak na mas importante kaysa sa mga nabanggit kong tanging natira sa memorya.

Sabi nila, madalas ang mga masasayang kaganapan ang nanatili, at muling nahuhugot mula sa memorya. Dito siguro nagmumula ang kakayahang magpaubaya – dahil kusang hinuhugasan ng panahon ang mga bagay na nais na nating kalimutan.

Naglalakad pa rin ako papunta sa dulo ng pila. Marami ring bata ang nahila na sumama sa pagbisita kay Cory. Ang ilan ay may suot pang t-shirt na may mukha ni Cory sa hara-pan. Suot naman ng karamihang mga bata ang pagkawalang-muwang sa mga nagaganap. Kilala kaya nila si Cory? Paano kaya nila siya maaalala? Ano kaya ang maaalala nila mula sa karanasan na ito?

Patuloy ang pagdagsa ng mga tao at um-aagos ang pagdadalamhati ng mamamayan. Ganun pa man, ang pananatili nito ay walang katiyakan. Tanging panahon ang kailangan para makalimutan ang lahat-lahat. q

Sa kamatayan, lahat magkakaibigan

Get free publicity! email us your press releases, invitations, etc. don’T TyPe in all CaPS and, go easy on... the punc-tuation!? Complete sentences only. dnt use txt lnguage pls. Please provide a short title. Be concise, 100 words maximum.

luKSanG Bayaniniimbitahan kayo ng mga na-

tional artists na sina Ben Cabrera, Bien lumbera, Rio alma, F. Sionil jose, arturo luz, Salvador Bernal na makilahok sa isang luksang bayan para sa pagpanaw ng makabulu-hang national artist awards. ang luksang bayan para sa kamatayan ng national artist awards ay maga-ganap sa august 7, 2 pm sa CCP, Roxas Boulevard.

Pinakikiusapan ang lahat na mag-suot ng panluksang damit.

esPReSSo: ang nakapapasong panukalang Right of Reply Bill

With the aim to equip campus journalists with information and knowledge on the issues besetting the country, the College editors Guild of the Philippines will be or-ganizing a round table discussion entitled esPReSSo: ang nakapapa-song panukalang Right of Reply Bill, on august 7, 2009, Friday at Kape Tasyo, anonas, QC.

For this particular event, the im-pact of Right of Reply Bill and how Philippine media is affected will be discussed. For queries, you may contact Karla 09273930753 or Trina 09104803098.

lino BRoCKa FilM FeSTiValThe Pandayang lino Brocka Po-

litical Film and new Media Festival will open on august 5, 2009 at 10am with a talk on “The Chal-lenges in Political Film Produc-tion.” The speakers for this talk are dr. Rolando Tolentino, dean of the uP College of Mass Com-munication and Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, director and memebr of the Freedom expression Philippines. The film festival will run from au-gust 5 to 28, 2009 in schools, com-munities and workplaces. Talks, workshops and screenings will be held in the schools: august 5 and 6 at the uP diliman Cine adarna and august 10 at the asia Pacific Col-lege. admission is free.

Send in your opinions and feedback via SMS! Type: Kule <space> youR MeSSaGe <space> STudenT nuMBeR (required), naMe and CouRSe (optional) and send to 0908.690.3385 or 0927.419.2853 non-uP students must indicate any school, organizational or sectoral affiliation. WaRninG: We don’t entertain textmates.

We welcome questions, constructive criticism,

opinions, stands on relevant issues, and

other reactions. letters may be edited for brevity or clarity. due to space constraints, letters must have only 400 words or less. Send the letters to kule0910@gmail.com.

Opinyon Philippine CollegianHuwebes, 06 ago 200910

The NUJP condemns the attempt on the life of Ilocos Norte weekly columnist Steve Barreiro

on Friday night.News reports said a grenade was hurled at Bar-

reiro’s garage as the columnist for the Ilocos Times was about to enter his house in Rizal St, Brgy. 23 after he had parked his vehicle around 11 p.m.

The reports quoted Barreiro as saying that the gre-nade apparently landed inside a water-filled jar, thus dif-fusing the blast and sparing his life, although his house-boy, Michael Diza, was wounded in the eye by shrapnel.

“The blast was meant for me and this has something to do with my work,” Barreiro was quoted as saying.

“I have an [idea] as to who might want to get me but

I am declining to name names until further investiga-tion,” he added.

In an interview, Barreiro said the attack may have had something to do with recent columns he has been writing about a politician. He added that he had hired security aides last month after he was told by a local of-ficial that he had been targeted for assassination.

This latest assault on a member of the media is clear proof that the enemies of press freedom continue to op-erate with impunity.

And it is clear that this remains so because of a gov-ernment that has failed to send a clear signal to the en-emies of press freedom by acting forcefully to stop the attacks, solve the killings and ensure that the perpe-

trators and, most importantly, the masterminds, are caught, prosecuted, convicted and jailed.

While there are some offices that have shown progress in trying to solve the murders and other at-tacks on journalists, unless the center of power itself,

Malacañang, and its occupant send an unequivocal mes-sage to stop the killings and other attacks on the press, unless this administration shows a true appreciation and respect for the role media play in preserving our rights and liberties, whatever efforts have been undertaken will amount to nothing. q

nujP statement on the recent attack against columnist from ilocos norte

Lumad Leaders Demand Accountability for GMA’s Crimes Against Indigenous Peoples

In her 2001 SONA speech, GMA said that 100 Cer-tificate of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) will be dis-tributed every year, but after eight years all she said was “Sa pagpapamahagi ng milyun-milyong ektaryang lupa, 700,000 na katutubo at mahigit isang milyong benepi-syaryo ng CARP ay taas-noong may-ari na ng sariling lupa.”

First, she can’t say this smiling and “taas noo” if this is measured against the possible number of indigenous peoples that could have been covered by the implemen-tation of the original target of 100 CADTs per year. There are only 107 approved CADTs as of May 31, 2008.

Secondly, the 700,000 beneficiaries is such an in-credulously low output for eight years work when weighed against the 11-13 million indigenous peoples population in the Philippines.

Third, indigenous peoples own their lands and these were never, and have never been, for the govern-ment to give away.

During the three day State of Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA2009), the lumad leaders were passionate in their consensus that this should be GMA’s last SONA. These are men and women who had lived in fear, anxiety and insecurity for the future of their people and territo-ries during the past eight years of the Arroyo presidency. These are individuals who had seen the discrimination against their family members, the displacement of their communities, the destruction of the environment, and the death of their fellow resisters and defenders.

The SONA told of a government that is not of the lumad, told by a president that is not of the lumad.

What they know of the Arroyo government is the neglect in the delivery of basic social services, the deceit and force used against them to open up their lands for corporate exploitation; the loss of livelihood and depri-vation of economic opportunities, the physical and eco-nomic dislocation of their communities, repression and

v i o l e n c e against their struggle and resistance, and the corruption and the lies of the president.

We all might still have to endure another year of GMA as president, but we will stand with the indige-nous peoples in making sure that she leaves next year, that there won’t be any charter change or martial law, and that GMA finally be held accountable for her crimes against the people.

legal Rights and natural Resources Center

on the occasion of the State of the indigenous Peoples address (SiPa)

noW na!

anonG MaSaSaBi Mo Sa Sona ni GMa?

wlng kwnta ang Sona ni arroyo. puro kcnungalngan lng mga pngssbi nya. alam nmn ntn n nahaharap s mt-ndng krisis ang bnsa ntn pero kblgtran lng pngssbi ni arroyo. Pngmalaki pnya n our economy didn’t shrink. e panu mgsshrnk e mliit nga. Pti ndi nya dpt pngpslamat pgkkluklok s knya kc alam nmn ntng lht na ndi xa nangdaya. un lng. – 09-21828 BS Ce

akala ko b “state of d nation” ad-dress? e mukhang “state of GMa’s imagination” naman ung tinalumpati nung pandak n un a. nka2inis. – 09-31237

the Sona sucked big time. – 07-40960

ang sona ni GMa, walang pinagbago. a speech written to convince the arroyo administration itself that they did some-thing that helped our sickly country. The president might have accomplished some of her goals. But her oath to serve the people was never fulfilled. Sana huli na ito. Sana tunay na makabayan at ta-pat na lide na ang susun0d na iluklok nating mga botante. at sana ang bawat boto ay taimtim nating pagisipan. – 09-13742

maganda ang Sona ng president. nakakasawa ng maging negative, na-kakabobo. let’s be open-minded about things.ü good luck, Philippines. let’s not make a big deal about GMa and others. gobyerno lanG yan,psh. 06-41324

Talk to my hand, Gloria. – 04-62868, Renier louie B. Bona Ba Philosophy

mglit na kayopero ntuwa aq s Sona nia . hahaha..mliban s nkgala aq nun..haha. ang sarap blangin nung plakpak..at ung pgh2ntay nya s palakpak..ang obvious kc..galing dn nia.kbsdo b un? parang d xa 2mtngin s papel qng meron man.haha. at lastly..state of d nati0n db? ksmab dun ung buhay nya? parang puro luvlyf nia wid hs critics ung nrinig q eh..haha – 09-12511 dnai14

ang Sona ni Gloria ay isang joke na hindi nakakatawa. : | kung si vice ganda na lang ang nag Sona malamang ay mas marami pang matutuwa. bukod sa mga walang kwentang statistics at patama sa mga bumabatikos sa kanya, wala akong ibang narinig kundi palak-pak. rawr. – 09-31844 BS tourism

bakit ganun, puro magagandang bali-ta yung sianbi nya. hindi naman narere-flect sa present situation ng bansa. nako sinungaling talaga. – 07-06132

Para sa akin ang Sona ni GMa ay maganda –magandang halimbawa ng panlilinlang. - 09-04101

Para lang akong nanuod ng awards night. Hinihintay kong lumuhod siya sa stage para mag-sorry sa taongbayan at sabihing iyon na ang huli niyang Sona hiyang-hiya na siya sa panloloko niya sa bayan. Kaso hindi na siya makikita pag nakaluhod, saying naman ang purple outfit niya – 07-03881

GuSTo Mo na BanG MaTa-PoS anG ‘TayonG dalaWa’?

sheeps! sana matap0s na yung tay0ng dalawa, asar kcng twist over twist over twist..nahilo lang ako eh! – 05-14252

an0ng pake q s tay0ng dlwa? Ms mgn-da panuorn ang adik sayo. Korni ang isto-rya ng tay0ng dlwa. tsk. ndi q trip suby-byan. un lng. - 09-21828 BS Ce

sna tlga mtpos n ang Tayong dalawa, hbng tumtgal, palabo nang palabo ang mga characters, minsan tanga-tangahan n cla, nkakaasar lng…l, - 06-08504

oo! Gsto q n mtapos ung tay0ng da-lawa. Pnapahaba lng ung kwento, eh 4 sure c jr at audrey ang mgka2luyan. at nka2sawa n mukha ni kim! – 112764 yayey psba-mnla

Sana wag n mtap0s ang tayong da-lawa dhl ang sarap panoorin ni lola getz at ram0n n umarte! Haha per0 c kim chiu, alisin nio n! – 08-00153 bs ce

ay0k0 pa!! Pan0 k0 pa makikita si Kim my l0ve pg natapos na ang ‘Tay-ong dalawa’? Siya na nga lang ang bu-mubuo sa araw k0ng sinira na ng aCads e!^_^ - 08-00259, BS Mate

CoMMenTS:nice Balajadia-san, winking at your

critics. :) 06-42553, iMath major, where i^2=-1

july 27 issue was d best so far. Way to go. ang gaganda ng tagalog articles. Chris agrava style of writing should come back. ais, bs psych 06-17880

db evri yr pnplitn ang lay ouT ng kule?uP studes e dpt mnsn mgc0n4m sa pgbBGo sa kule, hnd ung lgng kule ang mgaadjust. PRamis, mgnda ung dting f0nt. – 08-15459

ang kyut nung drawing s centerfold ah..hehe..mgnda naman ung ibng ar-ticles ah..forme.mgnda naman..pncn nio wla na ung dting font.haha.kwawa naman

PanaWaGan:sna “next week’s Q” ung ‘anong na-

sa2bi m sa pagtalo ng up sa ateneo’? Sagot ko: yehba!! Keri lng ket d na maulit.,,ateneo na un e..haha..:) – 05-09950

SaGuTan:to 09-23746: grabe k nman..ndi

nMan harassment ung pgbgay ng negative c0mments eh..mdami lng ang c0ncerned na mpganda to..owkie??and i don’t thnk they will need t0 swallow their w0rds, kule sh0uld digest them..db??nbgay ko b ung th0ught??ö peace..ö 08-19918

to 03-18492: nahuli mo! e2ng c 07 16577, puro satsat re: sa walkout, wala naman nalalahukan. Btw, c0ngrats sa mga tga uP na smama sa People’s Sona. – 03-21181

to 09-23746: hnd naman s cnsb namin n pangit ang kule,,it’s just that for sum of us, bumaba ung quality..lalo n ung layout..ang dami white spaces..d maganda tingnan ..wel, un lng ..gudluk kung mag-kukule k..- 08-62675 BS Coe

to 06-43690: dpende lng ata yan dai..smen kc ung bulad ay tuyo!!leyte at samar ganun!bka iba lng tlga s inyo, tgasan ka? haha – 08-54853

nexT WeeK'S QueSTionS:1. ano ang naging epekto sa'yo ng

pagkamatay ni Cory?2.Kung dilaw ang kulay ni Cory, ano

ang sa'yo at bakit?

the Tamaraws still maintained a 15-point advantage, 41-26, at the end of the quarter.

The Maroons tried to get back on track during the start of the second half, as guard Mark Lopez scored a basket, followed by two 3-pointers from Reyes. The Maroons also lessened their errors and brought the deficit down to ten points. But they never came close to the Tamaraws, whose lead remained strong by the end of the third quarter, 59-44.

Reyes opened the fourth quarter by landing a 3-point shot for UP. Alvin Padilla also thrilled the UP crowd, sinking two consecutive half court shots and two field goal shots, closing FEU’s lead, 71-65.

But the Tamaraws managed to keep the ball to their court sending the Maroons home with a 12-point loss.

Maroons... from pg 3

Despite their defeat, head coach Aboy Castro remained optimistic. “I really liked the way that we continued to fight regardless what the time, score and situations are… we just look forward to having better [games] next week,” said Castro.

The Maroons will square off with the University of the East Red Warriors on August 6 at the Araneta Coliseum. q

collegiannews.mutiply.com

Grapiks

Outpour

Treading... from pg 3

Philippine Collegian Huwebes, 06 ago 2009 11Portus, head of the CMC Faculty and Student Relations Committee.

STAND-UP has “met all requirements for org recognition,” said Absalom Eligio, STAND-UP CMC Chair. He also noted that two out of 14 slots offered for recognized orgs in CMC remain vacant.

The CMC policy on student organizations, which holds that recognized organizations should be based on the academic interests of the four departments of the college, aims to “disenfranchise” political organizations, said Eligio.

“Hindi binibigyan ng recognition ang karamihan sa mga political orgs dahil madalas [nilang] binabatikos ang mga maling palisiya ng [administrasyon],” said Bañez.

Enriquez said in a June 4 dialogue with students that “org recognition does not equate with the right to organize.” However, according to the UP Student Guide currently in effect, only recognized organizations can avail of facilities in the university, such as venues for student activities.

Privilege, not rightOnly recognized organizations are

entitled to apply for the use of tambayans, according to the student guide.

Despite this provision, OSA records show that 83 recognized organizations, or 30 percent of the total number of recognized organizations on campus, still have no tambayans.

Moreover, under the draft 2009 CSC, the tambayan is changed from a right to a “grant.” The tambayan is provided based on the awards received by the organization, its academic and extension activities, and the members’ academic standing or disciplinary record, according to the code.

Tambayans are essential because they serve as definite venues for meetings and other activities, “strengthening ties among the members of the organization,” said Eroles.

In the CoE, tambayans are provided

to organizations under a point system, which Guevara said was implemented “to harmonize with the [2009 student code].”

However, because points are awarded based on years of existence, budding organizations automatically lose their chance to occupy tambayans, said Sapungen.

The point system also limits academic freedom in the college, added Sapungen. Organizations prioritize members with high grades, because points are given based on the academic standing of members, she explained.

Bañez said most colleges deny recognition to qualified organizations because of insufficient subsidy from the colleges to construct more tambayans.

Many tambayans are funded by the private sector, because students must resort to “external means” to finance the construction and maintenance of tambayans, said Ferrer.

The “poor condition” of tambayans in several colleges also remains unaddressed, said Bañez.

Organizations in CMC and College of Fine Arts do not have tambayans. Meanwhile, those in CoE only have tables as tambayans, with boundaries between different organizations marked with masking tape on the floor.

Moreover, since 2006, members of university performing organizations (UPOs) such as the Kontemporaryong Gamelang Pilipino have no longer been getting incentives, said Agudo.

Members of UPOs used to receive tuition cuts to recognize the organizations’ “massive contributions in promoting cultural and artistic interests” in the university, said Agudo. For instance, the members of UP Repertory were last given a 20 percent tuition discount in 2006, she said.

In effect, the administration imposes stifling policies that kill the students’ right to organize, thus violating academic freedom in the university, said Bañez. q

CHed... from pg 2

The Philippines has the shortest duration for basic education in Asia, spanning only 14 to 15 years, as compared with the global standard of 16 to 17 years, according to CHEd,

The “inadequacy” of the 10-year basic education program in the Philippines and the low passing rate in licensure examinations are the primary reasons behind the implementation of the reforms, the PTFE stated.

CHEd data shows that out of every 100 pupils who enrol in Grade 1, only 14 will graduate from college. Meanwhile, the PRC also recorded a low 38.2 percent passing rate across disciplines in the 2007 licensure examinations.

Higher state subsidyThe curricular reforms sought by

CHEd is reflective of the government’s focus on “satisfying the global demand for cheap labor,” said Ma. Cristina Brandares, chair of the University Student Council students’ rights and welfare committee.

The government continues to urge “globally-competent graduates” to work abroad to cover for its failure in generating jobs and just compensation in the country, said Brandares.

Student Regent Charisse Bañez said that problems in tertiary education, such as low passing rates and increasing tuition rates, can be rooted in the “meager” budget allocation for education.

“Sinasabi ng gobyerno na gusto nitong maging globally competitive, pero ang pondong inilalaan nito sa edukasyon ay hindi naman umaayon sa global standards,” Bañez added.

At present, the government allots less than 3 percent of the gross domestic product for education, half of the 6 percent standard set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. q

constituents of sectoral regents should remain vigilant. The BOR may impose requirements before confirming sectoral regents which goes against the autonomy of the selection process, she added.

The BOR earlier required the Faculty and Staff regents to resign from their posts as officers of their respective unions before confirming them as official regents.

Under the new UP Charter, the BOR has the power to craft internal rules. According to Section 13 Article T of the Charter, the BOR has the power to “prescribe rules for its own government… and to enact for the government of the national university… general policies, rules and regulations.”

This provision may be used arbitrarily by the BOR in confirming sectoral regents, interfering with the autonomy of the selection process, Bañez said.

Student concernsWith her confirmation, Bañez plans

to raise the issue of non-collection of the student fee in UPLB during the next BOR meet, scheduled on August 28.

In a memorandum last June, Vice President for Legal Affairs Theodore Te gave the standing opinion that the UPLB administration should continue collection of P45.50 per student per semester, as the “UPLB USC and the UPLB Perspective cannot function without funds.”

Despite Te’s memorandum, the UPLB administration has not yet collected the student fund.

UPLB Perspective editor in chief Arbeen Acuña said that the UPLB administration should start collecting student funds instead of resorting to technicalities in avoiding its responsibility.

The actions of the UPLB administration are a deliberate attempt to cripple student institutions, Acuña added. q

Bañez... from pg 3

ulat... mula sa pg 2

kaya’t walang sapat na trabahong mapapasukan sa Pilipinas. Sa tala ng IBON, 4.2 milyong Pilipino ang nananatiling walang trabaho samantalang mahigit 6.6 milyong Pilipino naman ang hindi kumikita ng sapat sa kanilang trabaho. Ayon sa SONA technical report, nakalaan para sa social services ang halos sangkatlo ng badyet ng gobyerno para sa 2009, kung saan pinakamalaking bahagi ang para sa edukasyon.

Subalit ayon sa 2009 General Appropriations Act, mapupunta sa pagbabayad ng interes at amortization ng utang panlabas ang mahigit kalahati ng badyet ng Pilipinas habang halos 16 na porsyento lamang nito ang nakalaaan para sa edukasyon. q

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Punong Patnugot Om Narayan A. Velasco • Kapatnugot Larissa Mae R. Suarez • Patnugot sa Lathalain Ma. Rosa Cer M. dela Cruz • Patnugot sa Kultura Mixkaela Z. Villalon • Patnugot sa Grapiks Piya C. Constantino, Janno Rae T. Gonzales • Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya Dianne Marah E. Sayaman • Mga Kawani Maria Bianca B. Bonjibod, Chris Martin T. Imperial, John Francis C. Losaria, Archie A. Oclos, Jan Marcel V. Ragaza, Nicolo Renzo T. Villarete • Pinansiya Amelyn J. Daga • Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon Paul John Alix • Sirkulasyon Gary Gabales, Ricky Icawat, Amelito Jaena, Glenario Omamalin • Mga Katuwang na Kawani Trinidad Basilan, Gina Villas • Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon • Telefax 9818500 lokal 4522 • Email kule0910@gmail.com • Website collegiannews.multiply.com • Kasapi Solidaridad - UP System-wide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations • College Editors Guild of the Philippines

Philippine Collegian . Tomo 87 . Blg 7Huwebes, 06 ago 200912Opinyon

editoryalS h a m e f u l p l u g

Piya C. Constantino

The public expected the usual catchphrases and tall tales from Gloria Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) – her last, provided that she does

not undermine morality and legality. After almost a decade of malevolence, there is no reason to believe that this regime can provide anything more beyond what has become its usual fare: lies and deceit. And indeed, the nation received only more of the same.

Arroyo proclaimed her “bias for the teaching profession,” highlighting her accomplishments in the past eight years in the realm of Philippine education. She claims that her policies, many of which were based on the Long Term Higher Education Plan (LTHEDP), have improved the quality and accessibility of education.

This claim is one of her most skewed. In all her years in power, there was no reprieve from the onslaught of tuition and other fees. In UP alone, tuition increased by 300 percent, from P300 per unit to P1,000. The university’s facilities, services, and worker/faculty compensation have languished because government has refused to enact a larger budget.

It comes as a surprise, therefore, that the UP Administration praised Arroyo for making education a top priority through

a paid advertisement in the national daily, where a full-page ad costs more than P150,000. The ad appeared days before Arroyo delivered her SONA.

What is repulsive is that precious university funds were squandered on a frivolity when this amount could have been used in other necessary projects for the university. What is doubly repulsive is the blatant lie which exemplify the ad, especially because UP’s dismal conditions is itself a testament of Arroyo’s neglect.

In a fit of amnesia, the UP Administration declared in an ad that UP has much to be grateful for under the Arroyo rule. Yet nothing can be further from the truth. For indeed, recent events both within and beyond the walls of the university demonstrate the continued degeneration of education. If anything, the miserable state of state universities and colleges (SUCs) should break the illusion that things have been for the better in the last eight years.

To a forgetful UP Administration, here are a few reminders.

First, there is a strong vocal opposition by the UP community to Arroyo. Both the University Council and the University Student Council have released statements condemning her rule and her plans to stay in power. Thus, the UP Administration by

praising Arroyo has acted in isolation from the rest of its constituents.

Second, budget allocation for SUCs continues to decline while debt servicing and military spending enjoy an upward trajectory. Increases in social service spending are, at best, nominal and isolated.

The effect is devastating for public education. As fees rose, the participation rate in formal elementary education dropped from 96.8 percent in 2001 to 85.1 last school year. In UP, trends show a significant drop in freshmen enrollees the year following the implementation of the tuition increase, while the number of student loans and scholarship applicants has increased at a higher rate since 2006.

To compensate for the shortfall in government subsidy, UP has entered joint ventures with business corporations, a sign of the creeping commercialization of a public institution.

Third, the passage of the 2008 UP Charter was hailed as one of the finer points of Arroyo’s legacy to UP. Yet, the contents of the much-celebrated 2008 UP Charter reflect a conspiracy of neglect from the government.

The Charter creates a managerial stratum with no less than the UP president at the top of the pecking order, serving as the “chief executive officer” of the university. The Charter specifies, quite disturbingly, private

entities that will make up the Independent Trust Committee whose function is to recommend “appropriate investment objectives and permissible investments.”

Meanwhile, the Charter classifies the entire territory outside the academic core zone of the university as a commercial area, which corporations can lease for years. Also, UP’s designation as “state university” was modified to “national university,” a dangerous replacement since the General Appropriations Act limits the granting of government subsidy to SUCs only. The elimination of the term “state university” follows the logic of the LTHEDP, which aims to reduce SUCs by 20 percent in 2010.

Such policies do not merit lavish, full-page advertisements, but outrage and utmost condemnation. Indeed, the UP Administration’s shameless show of gratitude to Arroyo is not only misplaced, it defies logic.

Instead of wasting the university’s funds on a full-page advertisement of thanks, the UP Administration should have released a position paper to denounce the reigning regime and her recent attempts to extend her term through charter change. For such display of gratitude to a president who brought more bane than boon is not only unreasonable but also deceitful. q