MINING

Opisyal na lingguhang
pahayagan ng mga
mag-aaral ng Unibersidad
ng Pilipinas - Dilman
Tomo 90, Blg. 06
Hulyo 18, 2012
BALITA
MINING
ALTERNATIVES
Features
At first glance, President
Benigno Aquino III’s new
executive order on mining
appears to be the best
resolution to the mining
industry’s dilemma. A deeper
analysis of the new mining
policy, however, reveals
that the issues raised by
mining communities and
environmental groups remain
unresolved, perpetuating the
dismal state of the Philippine
mining industry.
Miyerkules
27 Hunyo
2012
HIMIG NG SABWATAN
Muling
pinatutugtog
ng
Kongreso ang kanilang paboritong
himig – ang usapin ng pagamyenda sa Saligang Batas.
Lumang tugtugin na ang pagsalang ng mga panukala para
sa charter change (ChaCha) sa
bawat nagdaraang rehimen. At
kamakailan lang, nagpahayag
sina Senate President Juan
Ponce Enrile at House Speaker
Feliciano Belmonte na muling
tatalakayin ng Kongreso ang
ChaCha na naglalayong baguhin
OPINYON
OPINYON
BALITA ang ilang probisyon sa Saligang
Miyerkules
Miyerkules
Batas ng 1987 upang pahin27 Hulyo
Hunyo
18
Miyerkules
tulutan ang 100 porsyentong
2012
2012
27 Hunyo
pag-aari ng mga dayuhan sa
2012
mga lupa at negosyo sa bansa, at
gawing prayoridad ang militar
sa alokasyon ng taunang budget.
Nais ng Kongreso na baguhin
mula 60 tungong 100 porsyento
ang maaaring maging bahagi ng
mga banyaga sa anumang uri
ng ari-arian sa bansa. Sakaling
magtagumpay ang nasabing
amyenda, magbibigay-daan ito
sa buong-buong pag-aari ng
mga dayuhan sa mga lupain,
institusyon ng midya, iba’t
ibang negosyo at kumpanya, at
maging sa mga institusyong
nagbibigay ng batayang serbisyo
sa taumbayan.
Dagdag pa rito, nais din
ng Kongreso na bigyan ng
pinakamalaking alokasyon sa
pambansang badyet ang pondo
ng militar, sa halip na maging
prayoridad ang sektor ng
edukasyon. Ayon kay Enrile,
nararapat palakasin ang ating
armadong hukbo sa panahong
nagbabadya ang digmaan sa
pagitan ng Tsina at Pilipinas
dulot ng alitan ng dalawang
bansa sa mga isla sa West
Philippine Sea.
Ngunit hindi sapat na dahilan
ang posibilidad ng isang digmaan
upang ilipat sa pagbili ng bala
at pagsasanay ng mga sundalo
ang pondong laan para sa edukasyon. Ang pamantayan ng
isang maunlad na bansa ay ang
kaunlaran ng kabuhayan ng
mga mamamayan nito at hindi
ang tikas ng militar, na maaari
pang magamit upang lalong
masupil ang mga progresibong
pwersa ng lipunan, at magdulot
ng daan-daan pang paglabag sa
karapatang pantao.
Sa pagsusulong sa mga naturang probisyon, mahihinuhang
nagbabalak ang pamahalaan na
talikuran ang dalawa nitong
pangunahing tungkulin: ang
pangalagaan ang soberanya ng
Punong Patnugot
Kapatnugot
Panauhing Patnugot
Patnugot sa Balita
Patnugot sa Lathalain
Patnugot sa Grapix
Mga Kawani
Pinansya
Tagapamahala ng Sirkulasyon
Sirkulasyon
Mga Katuwang na Kawani
Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang
Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas
Diliman, Lungsod Quezon
Telefax 981-8500 lokal 4522
Email [email protected]
Website philippinecollegian.org
Kasapi Solidaridad: UP Systemwide
Alliance of Student Publications
and Writers’ Organizations,
College Editors Guild
of the Philippines
bansa at isulong ang karapatan
ng taumbayan.
Samantalang
abala
ang
Kongreso sa muling pagbubukas
ng usapin hinggil sa pagrepaso
ng Saligang Batas, nananatili namang kimi si Pangulong Benigno
Aquino III. Aniya, pag-aaralan
muna umano ng kanyang gabinete ang mga huni’t himig ng isyu
bago sumabay sa saliw ng ChaCha.
Ngunit isang mahunang
balatkayo lamang ang ipinalalabas ni Aquino. Kung susuriing
mabuti, hindi nalalayo sa
iminumungkahing himig ng
Kongreso ang saliw ng mga
ipinalalaganap na palisiya ng
rehimeng Aquino.
Isa sa mga sentrong proyekto
ng gobyernong Aquino ang
Public-Private
Partnerships
(PPPs), na nagbubukas sa mga
pampublikong serbisyo gaya ng
kalusugan, pabahay, edukasyon
at pampublikong imprastraktura
sa dikta ng pribadong interes.
Sa ilalim ng PPP, ilang
bahagi ng mga ospital, presinto, at pamantasan sa bansa
ang pinangangasiwaan o ‘di
kaya’y pagmamay-ari na ng mga
pribadong kumpanya.
Isinusulong din ni Aquino ang
mga palisiyang gaya ng Mining
Executive Order 79 na hahawan
ng mas kaaya-ayang sitwasyon
para
sa
mga
dayuhang
negosyante upang mamuhunan
sa bansa, kapalit ang higit pang
pananamantala at pagwasak sa
ating likas na yaman.
Iisa ang ritmong iniindakan ng
lahat ng sangay ng pamahalaan:
ang pagkakanulo sa soberanya at
pag-abandona sa mga batayang
serbisyong panlipunan.
Mahihinuhang nakabalangkas
ang landas na pinipiling
tahakin ng pamahalaan sa dikta’t
sulsol ng Estados Unidos (US).
Sa kagustuhang mapabilang
sa proyektong Trans-Pacific Partnership ng US — isang ugnayang
magpapaigting sa free market
na sistema sa pagitan ng mga
pamilihan sa US at iba pang bansa
sa Asya-Pasipiko, pinaluluwag
ng gobyerno ang mga palisiya
hingging sa pag-aari ng mga
banyaga, kahit pa isinasangkalan
nito ang interes ng mamamayan.
Kabi-kabila
ang
mga
panlilinlang na hinahabi ng
pamahalaan upang maisulong
ang kanilang sabwatan sa US
at iilang makakapangyarihan.
Sa
panukalang
badyet
para sa 2013, mistulang
nagbagong-loob ang pamahalaan
sa paggawad nito ng mataas
na pondo para sa batayang
serbisyong
panlipunan.
Ngunit sa malalimang pagtingin,
malaking bahagi ng pondo para
sa mga batayang serbisyo ang
laan para sa PPPs.
SamulingpagtugtogngChaCha
sa Kongreso, lalong tumitingkad
ang pagsasabwatan ng iba’t
ibang sangay ng pamahalaan upang isulong ang interes ng US at iilang nasa kapangyarihan. At sa panahong
lantarang
ipinagkakanulo
ng gobyerno ang soberanya
at interes ng mamamayan,
umiigting ang pangangailangang
makisangkot at makipagtunggali
ng sambayanan.
Ukol sa Pabalat
Dibuho ni Ysa Calinawan
Editor’s
Note
Yet the most
serious problem
of the strike, and
certainly the most
difficult to solve is
the problem of loss of
faith. It is the complete
breakdown of human
relationship, the total
lack of trust.
IT TAKES TWO
On the power of student strikes
Miriam Defensor
July 24, 1969
As the Philippine Collegian
celebrates its 90th year, we revisit lines
from prized editorials that defined the
publication’s tradition of critical and
fearless journalism.
Hundreds of students walk out
of classes to protest educ crisis
Barely a week before the president’s
state of the nation address (SONA),
an estimated 1,000 students walked
out of their classrooms on July 13
and marched to Mendiola to call
for greater state responsibility
towards education.
“Sa administrasyong Aquino,
patuloy ang hagupit ng krisis sa
edukasyon, patuloy ang pagtaas
ng tuition, ang komersyalisasyon
ng edukasyon at ang mga
solusyong hindi naman nakakatulong. Ang gobyerno na mismo
ang sumisira sa ating pag-aaral,
pamantasan at kinabukasan,” said
UP Student Regent Cleve Robert
Kevin Arguelles.
BALITA
Miyerkules
18 Hulyo
2012
MISPLACED PRIORITIES
In the past years, state universities and colleges (SUCs) have
experienced a decrease in the
subsidy from the government.
In 2011 the budget for SUCs decreased by 5.2 percent, to P23.41
billion from the 2010 budget of
P23.84 billion, according to the
Department of Budget Management (DBM).
For 2013, DBM approved a 42.3
percent increase for SUCs, from
this year’s P26.29 billion to P37.4
billion next year. For UP alone,
DBM approved 57.6 percent budget increase, from last year’s P6.84
billion to P10.78 billion next year.
However, this is still not
enough to cover SUCs’ needs
and the budget increase this year
may simply be a strategy to deceive people into thinking that
the government had already done
something for the students, said
Arguelles.
The P10.78-billion budget approved for next year is only 58
percent of the UP administration’s original budget proposal of
P18.4 billion.
PAGLIBAN AT PAGLABAN.
Nagmartsa patungong
Mendiola ang halos isang
libong kabataang lumahok
sa walkout noong Hulyo 13
bilang pagkundena sa iba’t
ibang palisyang patuloy na
naipatutupad sa ilalim ng
administrasyong Aquino.
(main) Ilang araw bago ang
State of the Nation Address
ng pangulo, tinuligsa ng
grupo ang umano’y “tuwid
na daang” tinatahak ng
pamahalaan kung saan
patuloy na tumataas ang
mga naitatalang kaso ng
paglabag sa karapatang
pantao at patuloy na
pagpanig ni Aquino sa
interes ng US.
Airnel Abarra
“Maaaring [ang pagtaas ng
budget ng SUCs] ay paraan lamang ng gobyerno para pigilin
ang lumalaking protesta nating
mga estudyante laban sa hindi
makatarungang pag-abandona ng
gobyerno sa kanilang responsibilidad sa ating mga iskolar,” said
Kabataan Partylist Spokesperson
Vencer Crisostomo.
Youth and student groups also
slammed the government’s K
to 12 (K-12) program, a program
launched this academic year,
which supposedly aims to increase student’s proficiency and
employability after graduation.
However, adding more years
to the education curriculum is an
ineffective way to improve education in the country and solve
unemployment in the future,
Crisostomo said.
Kalsada sa UPV, ipagagawa sa tulong ng militar
Nakatakdang maging katuwang ang
Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) sa pagpapagawa ng isang
kilometrong kalsada sa loob ng
kampus ng UP Visayas (UPV) sa
Miag-ao, Iloilo.
Bahagi ang nasabing kalsada
ng road network sa UPV at
pag-uugnayin nito ang gusali ng
UPV College of Arts and Sciences
at ang bahaging kinatatayuan ng
College of Management at School
of Technology, ani UPV Vice
Chancellor for Administration
Nestor Yunque.
Mahalaga ang pagpapatayo ng
nasabing kalsada sapagkat mas
mapapadali nito ang pagpapatayo
ng iba pang gusali sa loob ng
kampus, ani Yunque. Aniya,
nakatakdang magpatayo ng mga
bagong gusali para sa College
of Management, Main Library,
Student Union, Regional Research
Center at School of Technology.
Sa pangunguna ni Col. Crisanto
Gutierrez ng 552nd Engineer
Construction Battalion (ECBn) ng
AFP, ilan sa mga gagampanan ng
militar ang paglilinis, pagbubungkal
ng lupa, at pagbubuhos ng semento.
KULANG SA PONDO
Nauna nang naglaan ng
P10 milyon ang Commission
on Higher Education (CHEd) para
sa pagpapagawa ng nasabing isang
kilometrong
kalsada,
ngunit
maaaring makatipid pa ang
administrasyon ng UPV sa tulong
ng militar, paliwanag ni Yunque.
Aniya, ang halagang matitipid
sa kasunduan sa pagitan ng AFP
ay maaaring magamit sa pagpapagawa pa ng dagdag na kalahating kilometrong kalsada.
“The option available in lieu of
the aid from the army is bigger
budget, which we believe is not
forthcoming given the woeful
economic condition of the Philip-
pines and policies of the present
government which seem to provide lesser financial support to
state colleges and universities,”
ani Yunque.
Inaasahan umano ng pamunuan ng UPV na susuportahan ng
Board of Regents (BOR) ang pakikipagtulungan sa militar at magpapasya sa pulong nito ngayon
buwan na simulan na ang pagpapagawa sa kalsada.
‘WALANG HALONG PULITIKA’
Samantala, wala pa umanong
konsultasyon na nagaganap sa
pagitan ng mga estudyante ng
UPV at ng administrasyon kaya
tumanggi munang magbigay ng
pahayag ang UPV University Student Council. Hindi pa umano
nailalatag sa konseho ang nasabing panukala.
Iginiit naman ng administrasyon na wala umanong pulitikal na
aspekto ang nasabing proyekto sa
pamantasan at sa mga mag-aaral.
“It will have a positive result since
longer roads can be constructed
for a given amount of money,” ani
Yunque.
Sakaling hindi aprubahan ng
BOR ang kasunduan sa AFP,
matutuloy pa rin naman umano
ang pagpapagawa ng kalsada, dagdag ni Yunque.
Tinatayang binubuo ng 1,200
ektarya ang UPV campus sa Miag-ao,
pinakamalawak na kampus sa
buong UP System.
KASO NG PAGLABAG
Bagaman hindi pa pormal na
nailalatag ng pamunuan ng UPV
ang proyekto sa mga estudyante,
binatikos na ng ilang mga lider
mag-aaral ang pakikipagkasundo
ng administrasyon sa militar.
“In UPV, militant and progressive
organizations were red-tagged by
the military. We can’t imagine the
Sundan sa pahina 5
“Instead of pursuing K-12, the
government should be focused
on attending to the current issues of education, that is, insufficiency in facilities, labor work and
the worsening tuition hikes,” said
Crisostomo.
In 2011, public high schools still
lack 152,000 classrooms, 95.5 million textbooks, 103,500 teachers,
13.5 million chairs, and 424,600
water and sanitation facilities,
according to the Department of
Education (DepEd).
BURDEN TO STUDENTS
The government’s failure to
allocate sufficient state subsidy
for education has transferred
the burden to students through
tuition increases and other privatization and commercialization
schemes, said Arguelles.
This semester alone, the Commission on Higher Education
granted approval for tuition hikes
in 222 private colleges and universities. With the rising cost of education, government figures reveal
that for every 43 students who will
be able to finish high school, only
23 of them will be able to continue
studying at the tertiary level and
only 14 will graduate.
“Sa [Polytechnic University of
the Philippines (PUP)] walang sapat
na pasilidad, libro, at mga laboratory para sa mas maayos na pag-aaral
ng mga estudyante. Kung magpapatuloy na ganito, hindi magtatagal at
wala nang mapapasukang pamantasan ang mga naghihirap na estudyante,” said PUP Student Regent
Helen Alfonso.
Moreover, diminishing state
subsidy prompted SUCs to
generate additional income and
augment their meager budgets
through commercialization schemes
such as land leases, said Crisostomo.
In 2006, at a time when UP’s
budget was slashed by 6.5 percent
Continue on page 5
Econ growth only felt by the rich – IBON
While the Aquino administration
boasts of “sustained economic
growth” and political reform in
the first quarter of this year, these
“achievements” favor only the
interests of the few while the majority
of the Filipino people remain poor,
according to independent think
tank IBON Foundation.
In its 2012 midyear Bird Talk,
a semi-annual forum on the
country’s economic and political
conditions, IBON asserted that the
government’s economic policies
and political agenda have failed to
promote any real and inclusive reform.
ECONOMIC GROWTH?
BALITA
Miyerkules
18 Hulyo
2012
The National Statistical Coordination
Board recorded a 6.4 percent growth
in the country’s gross domestic
product (GDP) in the first quarter of
2012 from 4.9 percent in the same
period last year. However, this does
not indicate that weaknesses in
the domestic economy have been
resolved, according to IBON.
The GDP growth is brought about
by sources dependent on external
factors which the government
does not control, such as foreign
investment and overseas workers’
remittances, IBON explained.
Only industries with low
productivity and weak linkages to
the domestic economy, such as the
services sector, have improved, while
growth in agriculture and other
industrial sectors have slowed down,
the think tank added.
IBON
also
criticized
the
government’s decision to lend one
billion dollars to the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) last May.
While the government claims that
the Philippines is now considered
a “creditor nation” with stable
financial prospects, this should not
be a basis for economic strength
as the country continues to have
debts of its own, said Glenis
Balangue, senior IBON researcher.
Instead of lending money to IMF,
the government should instead
use the funds to launch welfare
projects, she explained.
Also, the supposed economic
growth does not necessarily
indicate that the living condition
of majority of Filipinos have
improved, according to IBON.
Data from the National Statistics
Office reveal that the unemployment
rate in the country has reached
6.9 percent by April 2012, 3.4 percent
lower than IBON’s estimated
unemployment rate of 10.3 percent.
While the government claims to
have addressed unemployment by
providing 1.02 million jobs, these
jobs are mostly part-time, seasonal
and low-paying, IBON explained.
The wages of the labor force
also remain low despite increasing
prices of commodities. IBON
explained that the current P426
minimum wage in the National
Capital Region, even with the
additional P20 living allowance
approved in June, does not meet
the P996 daily wage level needed to
support a family.
Because of the increasing
unemployment rate, the country
remains to be in a state of
poverty, IBON reported. While the
government estimated a poverty
incidence of only 25.6 percent last
2009, this figure is not reflective of
the current situation in the country
as the government lowered the
official poverty threshold to P46.10,
effectively excluding more people
living on the poverty line,
IBON explained.
“The government said that with
P46.10 a day, one will be able to
live decently, which is incredibly
unbelievable. What kind of life
does the government suspect to be
decent?” said Balangue.
IBON also criticized the
government’s
public
welfare
programs, such as the Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) and Conditional
Cash Transfer (CCT) programs.
PPP aims to make partnerships
with private companies to deliver
public services. However, IBON
argued that the intervention of
private companies in the delivery
of public services risks the
availability of the services to the
people. Due to PPPs, public services
are now at risk of increasing costs,
if not thorough privatization,
IBON added.
Similarly, the CCT, an anti-poverty
program which provides household
subsidies to poor families,
does not push for a long-term
solution as it is being implemented
without complementary policies
to create jobs and address land
distribution, according to IBON.
Reform (DAR) reveals that as of
December 2011, only 23 percent of
its national land distribution target
was attained.
‘INTENSIFIED
Moreover, the administration’s
political agenda were designed
to serve Aquino’s own political
interests, said IBON Media and
Communications Head Rhea Padilla.
To consolidate his bureaucratic
power, Aquino systematically
removed officials who were in
position in the past government,
including former Chief Justice
Renato Corona and former
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez,
and replaced them with officials
who favor the government’s
policies, said Balangue.
Meanwhile, the United States’ (US)
intervention in the Scarborough
MARGINALIZATION’
By implementing programs
and policies that favored large
businesses and foreign investors,
the government has become
instrumental in continuing the
marginalization of various sectors
of society, IBON reported.
Economic growth should trickle
down to the basic masses, Balangue
said. However, the government’s
globalization policies and reliance
to various volatile resources prove
that current economic boom is not
inclusive, she explained.
Early
this
year,
urban
communities in Silverio Compound
in Parañaque and Corazon De
Jesus in San Juan were demolished
to give rise to commercial complexes.
In rural areas, the recent Mining
Executive Order has risked the
livelihood of communities by opening
opportunities for other countries
to exploit the country’s mineral
reserves at the expense of the
environment.
The government similarly failed
to meet its own land distribution
goal, according to IBON. Data
from the Department of Agrarian
POLITICAL MANEUVERING
Shoal standoff provoked political
instability, IBON said. By allowing
US military presence in the country,
the government merely ensured
its stable relationship with the
US in exchange for support in its
economic and political agenda,
according to IBON.
Inclusive economic and political
growth can only be achieved if the
country would follow a development
paradigm that will be biased
for the nationalistic aspirations
of the people, said Balangue.
“We should not be a country
that is only dependent to foreign
factors, nor should we only be in
favor of the elites. We should be
a country that holds on to its own
resources and develops its local
industries, we should be putting
our people first,” Balangue added.
UPV freshie dies
in road mishap
A BS Public Health I freshman
student and a security guard of UP
Visayas (UPV) were killed after two
consecutive six-wheeler trucks
rammed the tricycle they were on
board near the university campus
in Miag-ao, Iloilo, on July 13.
UPV freshman Alyssa Marie
Naranjo, 17, was declared deadon-arrival at Guimbal District
Hospital. Meanwhile, Carlito Muzones, who was driving the tricycle,
passed away while being treated
for his injuries in West Visayas State
University Medical Center (WVSUMC).
A father of four, Muzones was
a security guard of UPV College
of Union Building and part-time
tricycle driver. Naranjo, on the other
hand, is the eldest of three siblings.
Two other Public Health I freshman
students, who were also on board
the tricycle, are in critical condition
after suffering serious injuries
from the accident, said Office of the
Student Regent Liaison Officer for
UPV Angeli Louise Cando.
Jimel Tolentino, one of the
students critically injured, was
unconscious for almost 12 hours
after sustaining damage in one side
of his brain, said Cando. Tolentino is
already showing stable vital signs,
she added.
Beaulou
Patrish
Galupo,
meanwhile, remains confined in
WVSUMC and currently needs
blood transfusion after sustaining
pelvic fracture.
Other Public Health I first year
students Ariel John Caspillo,
Marvyn Kerziel Estanda and Carl
Laurenz Deala suffered minor
injuries from the accident.
The six UPV first year students
were heading for their dormitories
in Muzones’ tricycle after attending
an acquaintance party of a UPV
student organization when the
accident happened, said Cando.
The tricycle was crossing the
National Highway towards the
main gate of the UPV campus,
when an allegedly over-speeding
six-wheeler delivery truck crashed
against the tricycle at around 10:30
in the evening, according to police
reports. Another delivery truck
hit the tricycle shortly afterwards,
added the reports.
Police officers of Miag-ao
Municipal Police Station detained
the truck drivers, who were identified
as Ranyl Jiracaya and Vicente Casiple.
Jiracaya and Casiple currently face
charges for reckless imprudence
resulting to multiple homicide,
MISSED OPPORTUNITY. UP Fighting Maroons forward Alvin Padilla moves
the ball downcourt as he struggles to get past DLSU defenders in the
opening game of the 75th season of UAAP at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on
July 15. UP led the game by one point in the last 44 seconds, only to be
trampled down by a 6-point run by DLSU, ending the game at 68-73.
physical injuries, and damage
to property.
Meanwhile, UP Visayas Vice
Chancellor for Administration Nestor
Yunque said the university
administration is currently inspecting
the accident site, which has been
considered an accident-prone area,
for a possible overhaul of the site’s
traffic management.
The UP Visayas Miag-ao Student
Council and Sandigan para sa
Mag-aaral at Sambayanan Party
Alliance, among other student
formations, are raising funds for the
hospitalization of the students and
the security guard. For donations,
you may deposit through any
Landbank of the Philippines branch
under savings account number:
0366-2006-57.
Bagong sistema ng pasahod,
tinutulan ng mga manggagawa
Mariing tinututulan ng mga
manggagawa ang 2-Tiered Wage
System (2TWS) o bagong sistema
ng pasahod na inaprubahan ng
Deparment of Labor and Employment (DOLE) noong Mayo 18 at
inaasahang ipatutupad sa buong
bansa sa mga susunod na buwan.
Sa ilalim ng 2TWS, nakabatay
ang sahod ng mga manggagawa sa
dalawang antas. Una, itinatakda
ng gobyerno ang floor wage o ang
pinakamababang halaga na dapat
kitain ng isang manggagawa. Sa
ikalawang antas, maaaring tumanggap ng productivity-based
pay (PBP) o karagdagang sahod
ang isang manggagawa ayon sa
antas ng produksyon ng kumpanya o industriya.
Nauna nang ipinatupad ang
two-tiered wage system sa National Capital Region (NCR) sa
bisa ng inilabas na wage orders
ng Regional Wage Board (RWB)
noong Abril. Sinundan ito ng Region IV-A (Calabarzon), Southern
Tagalog, at Cordillera Autonomous Region.
Pangunahing layunin umano
ng 2TWS na paigtingin ang “global competitiveness” ng bansa at
pataasin ang sahod ng mga manggagawa, ani DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz sa inilabas na pahayag ng DOLE noong
Hunyo 10.
Iginiit naman ng Kilusang
Mayo Uno (KMU), grupong nagsusulong ng mga karapatan ng mga
manggagawa, na kontra sa interes
ng mga manggagawa at pabor
lamang sa mga may-ari ng mga
kumpanya ang 2TWS.
MINIMUM WAGE
VS FLOOR WAGE
Batay sa Republic Act (RA) 6727
o Wage Rationalization Act of
1989, itinatakda ng lumang sistema ng pasahod ang minimum
wage gamit ang mga salik na tulad ng presyo ng bilihin, pangangailangan ng isang pamilya, at
kakayahang magpasahod ng mga
kumpanya.
Samantala, sa 2TWS, pangunahing batayan na sa pagtatakda ng
floor wage ang poverty threshold
kada rehiyon o ang pinakamababang halagang kailangang kitain
ng isang pamilya upang hindi
maituring na mahirap. Noong nakaraang taon lamang, binabaan
ng administrasyong Aquino ang
poverty threshold mula P52 patungong P46 kada araw.
Sa pagpapatupad ng 2TWS sa
Calabarzon, itinakda sa P255 ang
floor wage, mababa ng P82 kumpara sa dating P337 na minimum
wage sa rehiyon.
Batay sa bagong sistema, ang
mga manggagawang kumikita ng
mas mababa sa P255 ay makatatanggap ng dagdag na P2 hanggang P90 sa loob ng limang taon.
Wala namang pagbabago sa
basic pay ng mga manggagawang
kumikita ng mas mataas sa P255.
Maaari lamang makatanggap ang
nasabing mga manggagawa ng
P12.50 na umento, habang hindi
pa naitatakda ng kumpanya ang
anumang dagdag na sahod sa
porma ng PBP.
PAGTIGIL SA UMENTO
Ayon sa Ecumenical Institute
for Labor Education and Research (EILER), layunin lamang ng
DOLE na pababain ang mimimum
wage ng mga manggagawa upang
maakit ang mga dayuhang negosyante.
Batay sa suri ng EILER, ipinapako ng 2TWS ang sahod sa floor
wage sa loob ng limang taon, dahil maaari lamang tumaas ang
pasahod kung babaguhin ng goby-
Kalsada sa UPV,
ipagagawa sa
tulong ng militar
‘DI MAKATARUNGANG
PASAHOD’
mula sa pahina 3
military putting camps inside the
campus,” ani Angeli Louise Cando,
Office of the Student Regent liason officer.
Hindi rin alisunod ang nasabing
proyekto sa Sotto-Enrile Accord o
ang kasunduan sa pagitan ng Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG), Department
of National Defense at administrasyon ng UP noong 1989 na
nagbabawal sa pagpasok ng militar sa loob ng mga kampus ng UP,
ani dating Student Regent (SR)
Kristina Conti.
Iginiit naman ni Yunque na
lilimitahan ng pamunuan ng UPV
ang operasyon ng militar at hindi
sila pahihintulutang tumungo
sa mga lugar pang-akademiko sa
kampus. “The army will be limited to the construction site only
and will have no contact with
students in the academic areas,
hence, student harassment is not
possible,” paliwanag niya.
Gayunman, nararapat pa rin
umanong mas bigyang-pansin ng
pamunuan ng UPV sa sunod-sunod na kaso ng karahasan ng militar laban sa mga estudyante ng
UP, lalo pa’t may pagtingin umano
ang militar na may simpatya ang
erno ang itinakda nitong poverty
threshold.
Samantala, wala rin umanong
aasahang tiyak at tunay na
umento sa pasahod iyong mga
kasalukuyan nang kumikita ng
mas mataas sa P255. Bukod sa
iba-iba ang antas at batayan ng
produktibidad sa iba’t ibang pagawaan, may-ari pa rin ng negosyo
ang magtatakda ng karagdagang
sahod, paliwanag ng EILER.
“’Yung [PBP naman ay] nakasalalay sa generosity ng management. Alam naman natin na
hindi magiging generous ang
isang kumpanya. Kung tutuusin
‘yung natanggap mong incentive
nanggaling sa dugo at pawis mo,
lugi ka pa,” ani Soluta.
Dahil hindi mandatoryo ang
PBP, kumpanya pa rin ang magdedesisyon kung magbibigay ng
dagdag na sahod, paliwanag niya.
“Sa halip na ibigay ang matagal
nang hiling ng mga manggagawa
para sa makabuluhang dagdag
sahod, pinapaliit at pinapanatiling mababa ni Pangulong Aquino
ang sahod ng mga manggagawa,”
pahayag ni Roger Soluta, pangkalahatang kalihim ng KMU, sa
piket na isinagawa nila sa tapat
ng DOLE noong Hulyo 9.
Pinapawalang bisa din ng 2TWS
ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga
manggagawa sa mga may-ari ng
kumpanya, ani Soluta. “Tinatanggal ng 2TWS ang right to bargain
collectively ng mga manggagawa,
sapagkat solely management na
lang ang magpapasya.”
PAYING LAST RESPECTS. Friends and relatives of Margarita “Maita” Gomez walk along a corridor clad with flowers
as they visit her remains at La Funeraria Paz in Sucat, Parañaque on July 15. Rising to fame after winning the Miss
Philippines-World title in 1967, Maita Gomez shocked the country when she chose to join the armed struggle over living
the glamorous life of a beauty queen during the Marcos regime. Despite her return to mainstream society after Martial
Law, Maita still held her advocacies, eventually founding and involving herself to various progressive groups like Gabriela,
until succumbing to heart attack at age 65.
mga mag-aaral ng UP para sa mga
rebelde, ani Conti.
Nitong Hulyo lamang, personal
umanong pinuntahan ng isang
miyembro ng AFP ang magulang
ng isang estudyante ng UPV upang
pagsabihan ukol sa pagsali ng kanilang anak sa isang militanteng
organisasyon, ani Conti. Aniya,
may mga ulat din ang ilang mga
mag-aaral na pinagsabihan sila ng
kanilang mga guro sa klase ng National Service Training Program na
huwag sumapi sa ilang mga progresibong organisasyon sa UPV.
“I think ‘yung danger ng proyektong ito sa UP students ay surveillance, harassment and red-tagging,
and vilification,” ani Conti.
Hundreds of students walk out
of classes to protest educ crisis
continued from page 3
from P4.45 billion to P4.16 billion, the university administration inked an agreement with real
estate company Ayala Land Incorporated (ALI) for the establishment of the UP-AyalaLand Technohub, which now hosts several
commercial establishments.
This year, ALI is set to establish
another commercial complex in
the former site of the UP Integrated School along Katipunan
Avenue. Meanwhile, a part of the
shoreline in UP Visayas in Miag-
ao, Iloilo, which was formerly
used for research by the university’s College of Fisheries and
Ocean Sciences, is in danger of
becoming a resort, Arguelles said.
“This is the real state of the nation. We, the youth will stand to
the call of our time. By next week,
the youth from the universities
and even high schools will launch
protests condemning the idleness
of [Aquino’s] regime to give longterm solutions to the needs of his
people,” said Crisostomo.
“Matagal na ang krisis na dinadanas ng aking pamilya dahil
sa sahod na hindi sapat. Kahit na
may unyon ang aming pabrika
at may maayos na sahod, benepisyo, at karapatan, ‘di pa rin ito
sumasapat sa pang-araw-araw
na pangangailangan ng aking
pamilya,” ani Reden Alcantara,
na 15 taon ng nagtatrabaho bilang laboratory assistant sa isang
kumpanya sa Timog Katagalugan.
“Hindi makabubuti ang ganitong
sistema dahil isa ito sa mga neoliberal na palisiyang na makadayuhan, anti-manggagawa at
mamamayan. Ang pinakamabuti,
mag-unyon at sama-samang
ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mga
manggagawa upang makamit
ang makabuluhang sahod,” ani
Alcantara.
Hindi malilinlang ng gobyerno
ang mga manggagawa sa panukalang bagong sistema na nasa
anyo ng dagdag sahod, ani Soluta. “Patuloy na bibitbitin ng mga
manggagawa ang laban na ito
sa nasyunal [na antas]. Patuloy
naming igigiit ang makabuluhang
dagdag na sahod na P125 acrossthe-board,” ani Soluta.
BALITA
Miyerkules
18 Hulyo
2012
President Benigno Aquino III’s
highly anticipated mining policy is
– as his administration describes
– the best compromise the government can afford to ensure environmental sustainability without gravely harming the mining
industry, and consequently, the
economy.
“[Executive Order (EO) 79]…allows an extractive industry for
national development without
sacrificing the environment…it
shows we can go for ecological
conservation without stifling economic growth,” says Department
of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje in
a press statement. However, the release of new
policy drew flak from various environmental groups, local governments and people’s organizations,
all of whom are quick to point out
that instead of resolving the minFEATURES
ing industry’s dilemma, EO 79
seems to even aggravate the situMiyerkules
ation.
18 Hulyo
2012 GRANTING FAVORS
DESTROYING LIVELIHOOD
Even the livelihood of communities with small-scale miners is
at a losing end, with the new EO
instituting stricter guidelines
for small-scale mining (SSM)
operations. The Aquino government has placed these
guidelines as it attributes
most mining accidents
to SSM activities, explaining that largescale companies are
more equipped to prevent and reverse environmental damage
than SSM, according
to Kalikasan-PNE.
Under the new EO,
SSM operations sites
shall only be allowed
within declared People’s SSM Areas. Areas for SSM are limited
while foreign largescale players are given
more areas for the
expansion of their operations, says Quimpo.
SSM operations
have also been
strictly prohibited to use
mercury
to extract
minerals. However, since no new
technology is provided to help
improve SSM operations, miners
may still resort to using mercury,
says Bautista. Such directive, in
turn, actually pushes for more
environmentally harmful large
scale mining operations such as
the open pit mining method and
submarine mine tailing disposal,
Bautista explains.
In many mining accidents, the
role played by large-scale mining activities is downplayed, according to CEC. For instance,
small-scale miners were largely
blamed for the Pantukan landslide
in January 2012, with authorities
ignoring the possible role of largescale
mining firms such as
Russel Mining and
Minerals Inc.
and Nationwide Development Corporation in the incident.
To ensure that SSM
operators will comply to
the new Mining EO, Aquino
created the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), an
interagency forum composed of
Climate Change Adaptation and
Mitigation and Economic Development Cabinet clusters. The
MICC may “seek the assistance of
the Philippine National Police and
the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure strict compliance.”
With the MICC’s power to use
force, armed assaults against communities may be considered legal,
says Alliance of Concerned Teachers’ Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio. In
fact, increased militarization is already observed in provinces with
strong opposition against mining.
According to CEC, nine environmental defenders were killed from
November 2010 to March 2012 alone.
PARADIGM SHIFT
The government’s very strategy of raising taxes to gain more
revenue clearly underscores
the state’s view of the
mining industry: a
potent sector
that at-
in
Min rn
alte
EO 79 is primarily based on the
provisions initially forwarded in
the Philippine Mining Act (PMA)
of 1995.
Various groups have deemed
the PMA controversial as it allows for the 100 percent foreign
ownership of capital from mining
activities while limiting the excise
tax to only two percent.
Under the PMA, mining companies can also apply for permits
which allow them to operate in a
maximum area of 324,000 hectares. As a result, “as of March
2011, the government has approved 785 mining agreements
covering…three percent of the
country’s total land area,” according to the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC).
To address the government’s
perceived revenue loss, amendments in the new EO include the
increase of excise tax from its
current two percent rate to more
than five percent, and the imposition of a five percent royalty tax. Such rates are still considerably
lower compared to countries like
Indonesia and Australia, which
charge 10 and 30 percent excise
tax respectively.
According to EO 79, the government will only grant exploration
permits at present, while no new
extraction permits will be granted
“until new laws for revenue sharing are put into place.” However,
the 771 permits issued for largescale mining operations issued
prior to July 6 are still considered
valid, according to the Mines and
Geosciences Bureau.
Large-scale mining companies
may apply for five types of permits. Unlike the other permits
which allow the extraction, utilization and transport of minerals, the
exploration permit only allows
mineral exploration activities.
The continued issuance of exploration permits will only serve
as “a cover-up to continue a modicum of extractive activities,” says
Frances Quimpo, secretary-general of Kalikasan Partylist. These
permits can easily be upgraded
to allow extraction in the future,
Quimpo explains. In fact, the new
EO has even made the permit application easier, as Environmental
Compliance Certificates need not
be secured when applying for exploration permits.
With the use of the programmatic environmental impact assessment (PEIS), the new policy
also allows companies to conduct
mining operations on whole areas
instead of on a by project basis.
This translates to lesser involvement from the local government
units (LGUs), as program consultations under the PEIS are deliberated on a regional level, says
Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s
Network for the Environment
(Kalikasan-PNE).
Also, as the EO mandates LGUs
to “confine themselves only to the
reasonable limitations on mining
activities…that are consistent with
national laws and regulations,” ordinances and resolutions set by
LGUs to impose mining moratoriums may be disregarded, Bautista
explains. As of March 2011, a total
of 16 cities and provinces have
mining moratoriums.
g
at
ive
s
tracts foreign investments rather
than a key driver for national selfdevelopment. The relatively low
tax rates imposed in the Philippines foster favorable conditions
that can invite more foreign mining corporations to do business
in the country, at the expense of
displacing thousands of SSM from
their livelihood.
Recently, the leadership of both
houses of Congress has even renewed talks for constitutional
change to allow 100 percent foreign
ownership of land and open the
country’s vast mineral resources to
multinational corporations.
In the absence of domestic industries to process minerals that
could be used for national industries, increased mining activities
only assures the wholesale export
of finite minerals, but not economic growth and development,
says Quimpo. Hence, EO 79’s major flaws stem from its inability to
reorient the mining industry from
its extractive nature to one that
supports national development. While the EO invokes the language of national industrialization,
it will operate in the framework of
Aquino’s economic strategy, the
2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan (PDP)—a clear hypocrisy, Kalikasan Partylist argues, since
the PDP embodies the very factors
that designed the country’s mining
industry to serve foreign interests
through large-scale mining and
favorable incentives for investors.
Indeed, EO 79 fails to recognize
that transforming the mining industry requires more than token
environmental concessions and
reforms in revenue sharing. At
best, the mining EO merely quells
popular dissent against the widescale plunder of the country’s
mineral wealth without addressing the industry’s core problems.
For the government to create a
policy that truly resolves the mining industry’s dilemma, it must
work outside its current paradigm,
which puts premium to profits of
foreign corporations over the environment and the people.
Blaming the victim
Ronn Joshua C. Bautista
WE LIVE IN A WORLD GOVERNED BY ADULTS. FROM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TO THE OPERATIONS
OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, GROWN-UPS WHO ARE PRESUMED TO HAVE SUPREME
AUTHORITY AND MATURITY, TAKE CHARGE. YET EVERY GROWN-UP INDIVIDUAL WAS ONCE
A CHILD, WHO EXPERIENCED PLAYING IN THE STREETS, CHASING BUTTERFLIES OR GETTING
WOUNDED BY SHEER MISHAP—BUT NEVER PRESUMED TO BE A COMMON CRIMINAL.
The media is rife with stories of
crimes perpetrated by children,
painting a generation of snatchers,
law breakers and trouble makers.
As such, legislators led by Sorsogon
Representative Salvador Escudero
filed House Bill 6052, which seeks to
lower the minimum age of criminal
responsibility from 15 to 12,
effectively amending Republic Act
9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (JJWA).
TAGGING THE CULPABLE
Authors of HB 6052 believe that
the rapidly increasing incidence of
juvenile delinquency nationwide
since 2006, translates to the growing
discernment of CICLs at an early age.
In 2011, only 3,856 of 176,703 or
2.86 percent of crimes committed
nationwide were perpetrated by
children, according to Philippine
National Police (PNP) data.
“We choose to highlight or
sensationalize
a few cases of
GROWING BACKWARDS
crimes committed by children to
Filed in the House of Representajustify the premodern practice
tives on June 4, 2012, HB 6052 is curof locking up children in prison
rently pending deliberation in the
cells” says Kabataan Partylist Rep.
Senate after approval by 214 legislaRaymond Palatino.
tors from the Lower House, a clear
PNP data also show that 1,734 of
majority over the 9 votes that opthe 3,856 or 44 percent of juvenile
posed its passage.
cases nationwide are theft – a
If enacted into a law, HB 6052
poverty crime.
will be the second revision to the
“Nagnanakaw ang mga bata para
country’s juvenile justice system
may mga maiuwi silang pera sa
(see sidebar 1). JJWA succeeded
mga pamilya nila” asserts Foronda.
Ferdinand Marcos’ Presidential Decree
Furthermore, the estimated 3.6 million
(PD) 603, raising a child’s minimum
poverty-stricken children roaming
age of criminal responsibility from
the streets nationwide become
9 to 15.
vulnerable pawns to criminal
Child advocates worldwide
syndicates, Foronda adds.
commended the passage
SIDEBAR 1:
For
instance,
in
of JJWA for its
Quezon City last year,
JUVENILE LAWS
adherence to the
the police rescued
United Nations
C o n v e n t i o n PD 603 (1974) A Marcos-era law that pre- 11 children who
for the Rights sumes all CICLs above 9 to have acted with stole side mirrors
discernment and therefore can be
from passing
of the Child
legally prosecuted.
vehicles along
(UNCRC),
which outlines RA 9344 (2006) A bill influenced by the UNCRC E. Rodriguez
internationally which raised the minimum age of criminal Avenue, but were
unable to cap-accepted
responsibility from 9 to 15.
ture
the syndiprinciples that
advance
the HB 6052 Proposes to lower the criminal cate that pushed
these CICLs into
age from 15 to 12 due to rising
rights and welfare
stealing. The station
juvenile participation
of children.
in crime rates.
commander noted that
Unlike PD 603, JJWA
these children were experts in
shuns detainment of Child in
doing such jobs they could dismantle
Conflict with the Law (CICLs) as the
a side mirror in just two to three
primary means to enforce juvenile
seconds during traffic stops.
justice and instead employs
“Hindi natin makuha ang mga
alternative means of character
pasimuno
[ng mga krimen]…kaya
reinforcement (see sidebar 2), as
mas madali [para sa gobyerno] na
prescribed by the UNCRC.
magkulong na lang ng mga bata,”
Supporters of HB 6052 argue
says Foronda.
that “reducing the minimum age
Such a case clearly illustrates
for criminal liability is a timely and
the very flaw of HB 6052, where the
necessary policy move [to counter]
juvenile’s age hardly matter in the
children exploitation by criminal
capture of the true perpetrators of
elements” and cite the increasing
the crime.
rate of child-perpetrated crimes
“Lowering the minimum age
nationwide. Rep. Roilo Golez backs
of
criminal responsibility will not
up this claim by mentioning statistics
solve anything when it comes to
in Parañaque where juvenile crime
the crime situation in our country…
rates increased from 11 cases in 2006
Even if we set 12 as the minimum
to 842 in 2010.
age for criminal responsibility,
According to Golez, the increasing
criminal [elements] will only hire
number of children younger than
children below 12 years old in their
15 involved with criminal groups
operations. We are not solving
illustrate the exploitation of the
anything,” says Palatino.
legal immunity of children below the
The UNCRC makes no mention
age of criminal responsibility.
of
a
specific criminal age, delegating
Still, Doan Foronda, a social
the determination of domestic
worker from the Department of
criminal responsibility to signatory
Social Welfare and Developmentcountries like the Philippines as
National Capital Region refuses
long as they consider the child’s
to accept the justifications of
conduct based on his or her age and
HB 6052’s proponents, pointing
maturity, as provided by Article 12
that majority of the CICLs the
of the Convention.
congressmen were quick to judge,
Indeed, proponents of HB 6502
are not acting to their own will but
clearly neglect the socio-economic
manipulated by adults who have
roots of crimes perpetrated by
ill-intentions.
juveniles, that CICLs instead of
being conscious criminals, are clear
victims of the different social ills
prevalent in the country. More so,
lowering the criminal age does very
little, if any, in addressing the issues
brought by the rising number of
juvenile delinquencies.
RESTORING RESPONSIBILITY
While parents have the primarily
role in ensuring that children grow
into productive members of society,
the government which has the
authority and means to mobilize
resources for programs that
enhance child development, is not
absolved of culpability.
“We fail to see the epic failure of
the state to respect the essential FEATURES
human rights of our children…We
desire and demand the punishment Miyerkules
of children criminals but what 18 Hulyo
about the punishment for the direct 2012
and indirect perpetrators of crimes
against children?” asks Palatino.
Also, the staggeringly insufficient
budget allocated by government to
social services like education and
health care in previous years, could
not be more telling.
“For the longest time, Filipino
children as the most vulnerable
sector in our society have long been
suffering from extreme poverty,
hunger, homelessness among others.
Short-term na solusyon lang ang
paghuli sa mga bata, ang dapat
pagtuunan ng pansin ay ang mga
root causes,” says Arlene Brosas,
secretary general of
child advocacy
SIDEBAR 2:
group Akap
Bata.
REFORMATIVE JUSTICE
CICLs below the age of 12
Child is absolved of all legal charges
CICLs age 15 to 18 committing a
minor crime without discernment
Child is subjected to an intervention
program where he is under constant
supervision of a social worker.
CICL age 15 to 18 committing
a minor crime with discernment
Child is subjected to a diversion program
where he is bound by contract to be
under supervision in a repository institution.
CICL age 15 to 18
committing a heinous crime
Child is presumed to have acted
with discernment and may
be legally prosecuted
As an alternative solution,
child advocates assert that the
government must instead strengthen
the implementation of the JJWA
and related laws that foster
a more reformative approach in
executing juvenile justice.
In a country where government
programs are rarely felt and
justice rendered fast, children
bear the brunt of the social system
perpetrated by adults. For children
are also citizens entitled with rights
and social services, not merely
passive recipients of failed policies
and utter state neglect.
Olympian Challenges
IN TWO WEEKS, NATIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL BE SENDING DELEGATES TO THE
2012 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN LONDON. IT WILL BE A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF
COMPETITION, TO UNIFY COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD IN THIS SPIRIT, AND TO
TEST THE METTLE OF THE ATHLETES WHO WILL BE PARTICIPATING.
Anton Chua
OPINYON
KULTURA
BALITA
Miyerkules
Miyerkules
27
18 Hunyo
Hulyo
Miyerkules
2012
2012
27 Hunyo
2012
The magnificent 200-hectare
Olympic Park stands at the geographical center of the Olympics,
where many new facilities have
been constructed to prepare for
the 2012 Summer Olympics in
London. It will be overlooked by
the ArcelorMittal Orbit, a twisting, 115-meter-high sculpted
mass of steel that is the largest piece of public art in Britain. Rounding out preparations
for the London Games will be
surface-to-air missile turrets
mounted near the complex, as
well as the services of a private security contractor, part of
whose duties had to be filled out
by the UK military because of a
personnel shortage.
Despite these enthusiastic
preparations, however, they are
all made for an event that has
lost its meaning over the years.
Once upon a time the Olympics
were about supporting athleticism, and bringing peace through
friendly competition. Now, this
vision is gone, and the Games
have been subtly repurposed to
support greed and conflict between cultures.
THE HISTORICAL GAMES
The Olympic Games trace
their roots to ancient Greece in
around 776 BC, where city-states
set aside time to lay down their
arms and compete at the athletic
level. The Games were of religious importance as well, with
events marked with ritual sacrifices to the various Olympian
gods. The games maintained their
popularity throughout the sixth
and fifth centuries BCE, until the
rise of Roman culture led to a reduction of their importance that
culminated in 393 AD when the
Roman emperor declared an end
to pagan practices.
The Olympics rose again in
1859, after the Greek War of Independence brought back interest
to such a peace-loving sporting
event. In 1890, however, a French
nobleman founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC),
which drafted such ideas as rotation of host city, four-year cycling among others which mark
the modern Olympics. The first
Games held under the IOC were
those in 1896 at Athens. Since
the 1896 Games, certain nations
have had a clear dominance over
the Olympics. These nations appear to be Western, economically
powerful, and culturally influential. The United States has won
2,549 medals since it started attending the Games in 1896. Its
athletes have acquired more gold
medals than the total number
of medals ever earned by Great
Britain, fourth in the descending
list of medal-winning nations, the
top twelve of which all reside in
Europe.
THE LOST OLYMPIAN PURPOSE
One of the characteristics
of the ancient Games was the
“sacred truce,” a truce that was
held among hostile city-states for
the duration of the Games. The
Olympics no longer continued to
symbolize peace in modern times,
even as its supporters maintain
that it does. After the invasion of
Afghanistan by the Soviet Union,
the United States and many other
allied nations boycotted the 1980
The athletic field,
which should be
an arena to
showcase the
physical prowess
of individual
competitors, has
become the
arena where
international culture
and economics
collide, mirroring
the bloodless new
world war that has
been waged with
money and ideas
rather than guns or
bombs.
Moscow Olympics. In the next
Games, the Soviet Union boycotted Los Angeles 1984 in response.
Such an exchange of hostile gestures falls out of character for
an event that once had a “sacred
truce” associated with it.
Even if the Games maintained
their original purpose today,
there is no longer a concrete war
between nations. Now, the war is
between cultures and economies,
in a globalized world where the
geographic and cultural separations between nations are fading.
Globalization
has
visible
effects on the Games. The athletic field, which should be an
arena to showcase the physical
prowess of individual competitors, has become the arena where
international culture and economics collide, mirroring the
bloodless new world war that
has been waged with money and
ideas rather than guns or bombs.
With
globalization
comes
migration, as seen in the various
ethnicities of the athletes who
participate. In the 2004 Athens
Games, 30 members of the US
Olympic team were born in other
countries. Importation of foreign
or mixed-race athletes into a
country’s teams sends a message
of devaluation of local talent, and
somehow dampens the competition of nations that the Olympics
stand for.
Today, with official shoes and
an official sports drink, the Olympics cannot distinguish themselves from other contests that
are less about unity and more
about money or politics. They
are no different from any other
sporting event with a corporate
logo emblazoned across its banners. Indeed, with so many competitions that are similarly commercialized and exposed in the
media, the Olympics seem to be
nothing unique, besides the fact
that they come every four years.
THE RACE TO CHANGE
Times have changed, and
continue to change at a breakneck pace. Commercialization
runs rampant as corporations
gain power over the consumer,
through mass creation of needs
and powerful brand advertising.
Now is a time of relative peace
between nations, but the cultural
and financial conflict has risen to
take the reins of war.
In response to this change, the
Olympics have become part of
the problem they once sought to
fix. They have been exploited for
greedy marketing of products
and national identities. Their
execution is the product of billions of dollars of affluent
spending, in a time where an
economic recession is one of the
central conflicts of society. They
are upheld because they are now
yet another tool for companies to
exploit, from which nations might
earn a quick buck in tourism and
merchandise.
For the Olympics to regain its
meaning, it must go back to its
roots, where the focus is not who
wins but who plays, where nations don’t fight against each other but fight alongside each other,
unified in the competitive spirit.
RDAA
The UP Cine Adarna theater
was packed with an audience
of around 800 indie fans and
casual moviegoers on July 7 for the
Philippine premiere of Emerson
Reyes’ full-length film debut.
The film, MNL 143, was
disqualified from joining this
year’s Cinemalaya Philippine
Independent
Film
Festival
after the film festival’s organizing
committee disagreed with the
director’s casting choices for the
lead actors.
Cinemalaya claims to be a film
festival which fosters artistic
freedom and an organization
whose very existence seeks to
provide alternatives to traditional contemporary filmmaking.
However, the case of MNL 143
opens up a relevant question: how
faithful can filmmakers remain to
their own vision of independent
filmmaking without risking their
chances in the festival?
EDITOR’S CUT
Already in its 8th year,
Cinemalaya has attracted aspiring
filmmakers through its reputation
of encouraging freely conceptualized films by local filmmakers.
Every year, 10 film projects are
chosen, funded with a seed grant
of P500, 000 and allotted 12
months to be completed.
Early
this
year, Cinemalaya
made
headlines because of
its
selection
c o m m i t t e e ’s
objection
to
Reyes’
preferred
actors for the
lead roles. The
committee did
not favor the
casting
of
a c t o r s
Alan
Paule
and Joy Viado,
believing that
these
actors
do not suit the
characters of
the film.
“The basis of
our
interest
in casting is
that we want
Making the Cut
ARTISTIC FREEDOM AND RECOGNITION IN THE CINEMALAYA FILM FEST
competence, suitability to the role,
and greater audience acceptability,”
according to the letter sent by Cinemalaya Competition Chairperson
Laurice Guillen Feleo to MNL 143
producer Nestor Abrogena.
Creative control over the film
was not part of the general agreement of the 8th Cinemalaya. But
as the provider of the seed grants,
Cinemalaya is in partnership
with all the films participating
in the event, hinting suggestions
towards a more remarkable festival,
Guillen explained.
Reyes, however, did not comply
with Cinemalaya’s casting recommendations, eventually resulting
in his film’s disqualification from
the festival. The film’s slot was
consequently replaced by Gino M.
Santos’s The Animals.
“For
certain
Cinemalaya
officials to insist on replacing the
director’s choices with their own
[cannot] be countenanced because
it strikes at the core of the filmmaker’s freedom to pursue his
original artistic vision,” according
to UP Film Institute’s statement
on the issue.
Cinemalaya was envisioned as a
track for beginning filmmakers by
providing them with the freedom
to employ their artistry in their
craft. Should the festival committee
insist on intruding into artists’
creative processes, Cinemalaya
will no longer be pushing for a free
Philippine cinema.
DIRECTOR’S CUT
As an independent filmmaker,
Reyes has the artistic license to
meld his film in what he thinks
is best. MNL 143 promises to be
nothing like a stereotypical indie
film with high contrast, low saturation, and shaky camera shots
that unabashedly exploit images
of third-world poverty. In one
sequence, the film romanticizes
the Metro by showcasing in full
colors the main character Ramil’s
last trip as an FX driver around
Metro Manila. He plans to return
abroad as an OFW after five years
of hopelessly searching around
Manila for Mila, a woman he left
behind when he left the country to
work abroad.
The film explores the concept
of space in the context of the Filipino urban experience. Filipino
commuters grudgingly share the
limited space of public vehicles
every day, providing involuntary
contact among strangers, and
making themselves accidental
characters in each other’s stories.
The fragments of the passenger’s
lives, overheard conversations,
silent tears, and hypocrisies all
define the social setting, allowing
Ramil—and the audience—to take
a wider look at the reality outside
the cramped space of the FX.
Romantic
films
typically
feature an attractive, young couple
as lead actors. In MNL 143, Reyes
attempts to go against this expectation by casting Paule and Viado in
what was supposed to be realistic
love story. This casting decision is
central to the film’s message: that
feelings of longing and heartbreak
is a universal human experience,
regardless of social class or
even physical appearance.
In
a
third
world
city,
romantic quests like that of Ramil’s
may seem to
be the least of
the
people’s
priorities.
However, tales
of
romance
remain popular,
especially among
people looking
for escape from their harsh everyday realities.
The film’s romantic tone
contrasts sharply with the
bleak city as its backdrop.
However MNL 143’s skilfully
edited highly saturated composition
presented an unnaturally fantastic
take of Metro Manila. By distorting
reality, MNL 143 seems a form
of escape. The director’s original
vision in his material and cast
were evidently unheeded by
Cinemalaya.
FINAL CUT
Originally intended to be a nonprofit, non-government organization that supports the artistic
growth of Philippine independent
cinema, Cinemalaya seems determined to pull in audiences this
year. Besides the disqualification
of MNL 143 over casting choices,
prominent actors like Dennis
Trillo, Iza Calzado, Coco Martin,
and JM de Guzman also grace
this year’s line-up of films. This
issue may have played a role when
film critic Francis Joseph Cruz
resigned from the Cinemalaya
selection committee in February,
saying he can no longer work for
a system he no longer believes in.
The film festival is funded by
Cinemalaya
Foundation
Chairperson Antonio Cojuangco,
Jr. with the support of the Cultural
Center of the Philippines and Econolink Investments, Inc. Its films are
entered into different international film competitions such as
the Cannes Film Festival. While
Cinemalaya claims to encourage
filmmakers’ artistic freedoms,
profit remains an important
aspect in this business. The relative
unpopularity of independent
films and the lack of venues willing
to risk showing these films
inevitably lead to limiting the film’s
access to Metro Manila and select
urban centers. While most independent films point their lenses
at marginalized sectors of the
Philippines that are hardly
explored by mainstream cinema,
the core audience of independent
films are still middle class
academicians, critics, and the
cultured elite.
Local mainstream cinemas are
flooded with romantic comedies
and fantasies that are specifically
designed for a transitory entertainment purpose. At this age of an
audience-oriented cinema, there
is a dire need for independent
films in the country that takes
risks in creating innovative art,
a far cry from the profit-based
mainstream cinema. Cinemalaya
must uphold this purpose.
Screencaps at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1oWIYRoaEE
KULTURA
Miyerkules
BALITA
18
Hulyo
2012
Miyerkules
27 Hunyo
2012
LAKAS TAMA
KINAKAPOS
Ulol.
Tila pinutakte na ang araw ko
ng mahiwagang salitang ito, mula
sa aking paglalakad palabas ng
bahay hanggang sa pagsusulat ko
ng aking unang kolum. Madalas
ko mang bitawan ang salitang ito,
dala ng bisyo o sadyang kinapos na
lamang ng pambalik insulto, hindi
ko pa rin talaga alam kung ano ang
totoong ibig sabihin ng salitang ito
o kung saan ito nanggaling.
Tulad ng lahat ng responsableng mag-aaral, naghanap ako ng
kahulugan nito sa internet. Aking
napag-alaman na ang kahulugan
pala ng ulol ay tanga, hibang, nababaliw o nasisiraan ng ulo. Dagdag
pa, kalimitan daw itong ginagamit
na pantukoy sa mga asong may rabies. Isa sa mga nakita kong pakaOPINYON
BALITA hulugan, may larawan pa ng asong
Miyerkules bumubula ang bibig habang nang18 Hulyo hahabol ng mga bata.
Miyerkules
2012
27 Hunyo
Ulol, sabi ng nanay ko. Ang
2012 lambing-lambing talaga niya,
pinabaunan pa ako ng matatamis
na salita habang palabas ako
ng bahay. Nag-aaral pa daw ba
talaga ako, o kumekerengkeng
na lang. Bakit daw ang dalas ng
pamamalagi ko sa opisina habang
wala naman akong napapala sa
pagsusulat ko para sa diyaryo.
Ni hindi pa daw sapat na baon
ang nakukuha kong honorarium.
Siguro nga may sira na ang ulo
ko dahil nilayasan ko lang siya at
pinagbagsakan ng pintuan.
Ulol, sabi ng isang estudyante
sa mga aktibistang nagyayaya sa
kanilang lumabas sa silid-aralan
upang sumama sa isang protesta.
Natawa naman ang buong klase,
tila pagsang-ayon sa kanyang sentimiyento. Bakit nga naman sila
lalabas ng kanilang silid-aralan?
Bukod sa mamarkahan silang
absent, hindi nila maririnig ang
makabuluhang leksyon na ini-
Sapagkat hindi ito
simpleng pasaring
o insulto, isa itong
diagnosis
handa ng kanilang propesor. Siguro nga may sira ang ulo ng mga
aktibistang ito dahil kahit hindi sila
pumapasok sa klase, humihingi sila
ng dagdag budget sa edukasyon.
Apat na letra, dalawang pantig, sanlaksang pakahulugan. Sa
kanyang iksi, sadyang madaling
bitawan at tila dumudulas sa
bibig. Ngunit kapag napakawalan
na, maaaring makapagsiwalat
ng mga natatanging kontradiksyon at kabalintunaan. Sapagkat
hindi ito simpleng pasaring o insulto, isa itong diagnosis, sandig
sa namamayaning pamantayan
ng “katinuan” ng sinumang sumasambit nito.
Kung matino kang estudyante,
hindi ka dapat lumiliban sa klase
kung walang matinong dahilan, tulad ng masamang panahon at pagkakasakit. Marapat ding magpakita
ka ng utang na loob sa pamahalaan
dahil sila ang nagpapaaral sa iyo, at
taliwas dito ang pagsama sa mga
kilos-protesta. Kung matino kang
anak, dapat umuuwi ka sa bahay
sa tamang oras at naghahanapbuhay na sa tamang edad. Lantad
na lantad ang mga pamantayan ng
“maayos na pamumuhay” kaya naman baliw na lang talaga ang hindi
susunod sa mga ito.
Mas marapat tayong matakot
sa mga pamantayang ito at sa mga
taong nagtatakda sa kanila. Bukod
sa pagpapalaganap ng ilusyon
ng kalayaan, pag-unlad at pagbabago na kaakibat diumano ng
“katinuan”, tahasan nitong ikinukubli
ang
katotohanang
itinakda ito upang magsilbing
mekanismo ng pagdidisiplina sa
lipunan. Sa paghahari ng ganitong
pamantayan, mas nanaisin ko na
lang sigurong maging isa sa mga
hibang.
BAKIT WALA PA RIN SI SUPERMAN?
Totoo ba talagang tao si Superman?
Kung oo, nasaan na siya? Bakit hindi pa rin siya lumalabas para ipagtanggol tayo sa masasama?
Tanong ko rin ‘yan sa sarili ko
mula n’ung maliit pa ako hanggang sa tumanda ako at makilala
ko siya. Oo, buhay na buhay siya
at nagtatrabaho pa rin siya bilang
reporter sa isang pahayagan. Hindi ko na ipapaliwanag kung pa’no,
kailan o saan ko siya nakilala basta noong minsang nagkakwentuhan kami at naitanong ko ‘yan sa
kanya, hindi ko naintindihan agad
ang sagot niya.
Namamangha nga siya
sa mga tao dahil kahit
na wala silang espesyal
na kakayahan, kaya
pa rin nilang maging
superhero
Matagal
niya
rin
daw
itong pinag-isipan bago siya
nakapagdesisyong
huwag
ipaalam sa mga tao ang tunay
niyang katauhan. Mahirap daw
kasing timbangin kung ang paglabas niya ba ay mas makatutulong o makakapagpalala pa sa
sitwasyon ng tao.
Ang unang rason niya kung
bakit hindi siya lumalabas bilang
Superman ay baka masyadong
dumepende ang mga tao sa kanya,
tipong hindi na agad reresponde
ang mga pulis o ang ambulansya
dahil darating naman siya at ihahatid pa ang biktima sa ospital.
Dagdag pa niya, kasunod ng paglabas niya bilang Superman ang paglitaw ng mga taong magkaka-interes
sa kapangyarihan niya. Kabilang na
rito ang mga nasa kapangyarihan na
nanggigigil sa pagkakaroon ng higit
pang kapangyarihan.
Isang tanong din kung saang
bansa ba siya dapat unang lumabas, dahil maaari itong tingnan
ng ibang mga bansa bilang parte
ng isang politikal na agenda. Sa
kasalukuyan, nasa kamalayan na
ng lahat na buhat si Superman sa
Amerika bilang doon nanggaling
ang unang mga tekstong bumabanggit sa kanya.
Ngunit kung sa Pilipinas o
sa ibang bansa man siya unang
magpakita, maaaring isipin ng
Amerika na bahagi siya ng isang
proyektong nagtatangkang magdomina sa mundo. Maaari itong
pagsiklaban ng mga gera, at bilang isang superhero na hindi
maaaring pumili ng panig,
kailangan niyang gumawa ng
paraan upang matigil ang gera
ngunit
hinding-hindi
niya
magagawang walang masaktan
sa mga sibilyan.
Hindi naman daw ibig sabihin
ng hindi niya paglitaw na hindi
na kailangan ng mundo ng isang
superhero o di kaya’y ayaw niya
lamang gampanan ang tungkulin
niya. Kung lagi na lamang siyang
makikialam sa mga problema ng
mundo, mawawalan na ng “urge”
ang mga tao na magdesisyon
at matuto sa kanilang mga
pagkakamali.
Namamangha nga daw siya sa
mga tao dahil kahit na wala silang
espesyal na kakayahan, kaya pa rin
nilang maging superhero — kung
paanong ang isang maliit na tinig
ay umaalingawngaw upang maging
tinig ng isang lahi, kung paanong
ang maliliit na gawain sa kanilang
pagsasama-sama ay nagiging dakila, at kung paanong ang isang ordinaryong tao na may dakilang damdamin ay nagiging isang alamat.
Isa lamang ang hamon na ipinapaabot niya sa mga makababasa ng akdang ito: ang gampanan
ang tungkuling maging isang superhero sa sarili nilang paraan,
tulad ng pagganap niya rito, hindi
bilang Superman, kundi bilang
isang mamamahayag.
Sa pagtatapos ng maliit naming
kwentuhan, lubos na tumaas ang
respeto ko para sa kanya. Papaalis
na naman si Superman para takbuhin ang bagong balitang i-cocover niya.
Paano nga ba
maglaho?
May mga pagkakataon sa
buhay kong ginusto ko na
talagang magpatiwakal.
Hindi ito katulad ng mga
kaklase ko noong hayskul
na naglalaslas, naduduwag at saka ibinabandera sa mga tao ang guhit
ng namumuong dugo
sa kanilang mga pulso.
Pero hindi ko rin naman
masasabing suicidal talaga ako.
Siguro mahilig lang akong tumakas.
Dalawang linggo na akong hindi pumapasok sa
kahit alin sa mga klase ko; lagi akong naghahanap ng
dahilan para lumiban. Nagising nang late (kahit na
sa UP Village lang ako nakatira), walang homework
(kahit na pwede namang i-cram ang isang 2-page
essay), patay na si Dolphy (kahit hindi naman kami
magkakilala).
Sa tingin ko nagsumbong si Lolo sa nanay ko, kaya
pinagpaliwanag ako ni Mama kung bakit madalas
akong napipirmi sa bahay. Wala namang silbi kung
magsisinungaling, kaya inamin ko na lang: wala na
talaga akong ganang mag-aral.
Naiintindihan iyon ni Mama. Tatlong beses siyang
nag-shift bago napunta sa Architecture. Alam niyang
gusto kong lumipat sa CAL o sa FA, pero tinatamad
ako kahit sa pag-asikaso ng mga papeles.
“Hindi ka ba masaya sa Kule?” tanong niya. Kuwento niya kasi, parehong good at bad influence ang pagkakaroon niya ng malalapit na orgmates noon. Good,
kasi sila ang dahilan kaya nagkaroon siya ng lakas ng
loob ng mag-shift sa Arki. Bad, kasi inabot siya ng walong taong pagtitiis sa kolehiyo.
“Ayos lang,” sabi ko. Sa isang banda, parang nasusulyapan ko ang buhay ng isang buong pamilya kapag
nagpi-presswork ako sa Kule tuwing weekend. May
editor na parang nanay kapag tinatawag ang buong
pangalan ng writer niya. May dalawang illustrator
na parang magkapatid kung magtalo kung sino ang
dapat unang maligo. May palitan pa ng, “Ikaw ang
mauna, ikaw ang mas matanda!” at “Ikaw dapat, mas
mabaho ka!”
Pero may kanya-kanya ring problema’t isyu sa buhay ang mga taga-Kule, at ayoko nang hilahin pa sila
sa sariling kong existential na kaartehan. Sabi nga ng
isa, “Maybe we should all just perish.”
Siguro nga. Siguro nga dapat na lang talagang
maglaho para tuluyan na akong mabingi sa hindi
matapos-tapos na gera sa kokote ko.
Ayaw kong subukan ang overdose sa pill o droga —
marami na akong nasaksihang kaso ng OD at marami
sa kanila ang nagigising pa’t bumabalik sa mundo ng
problema. Ayaw ko rin sa mga paraang mag-iiwan ng
karumal-dumal na imahe sa utak ng nanay ko — basag na bungo at kalas na balakang kung tatalon ako sa
building, o ‘di kaya maputlang mukha’t lawlaw na dila
kung magbibigti ako sa kwarto.
Sa huli, aminado naman akong hindi sapat ang
angas at tapang ko para magpakamatay. Kaya ko rin
kayang magsulat tungkol dito, kaya handa akong
magbahagi sa mga taong nadadako sa bahaging ito ng
dyaryo.
Alam kong maraming tao ang handang makipagpalit ng buhay sa akin, ang handang problemahin
ang kawalan ng gana sa pag-aaral kaysa kawalan ng
makakain sa araw-araw. Alam kong malaking kabalintunaan na kahit naniniwala akong karapatan ang
edukasyon, tinatamad na lang talaga akong mag-aral.
Sa mga pagkakataong tulad nito, ipinagpapasalamat kong naimbento ang yosi.
Newscan
Textback
ANONG MASASABI MO SA 2013
PROPOSED BUDGET NG DBM?
Yay. Worth the wait ang kule! Hehe.
Medyo vague naman ng unang
tanong. But well, kulang pa rin un.
Hindi man lang pasok sa tres ung percentage. 2011-36480
Nice tumaas ang budget allocation for
next year! Sana naman maramdaman
namin ang epekto nito sa pamamagitan ng pagbaba ng tuition. 1126368
ec.ChE
SUMALI KA BA SA WALKOUT?
Oo. Di ako sumali last year, pero ngayon, kahit na mataas na yung budget
allocation compared to the past years,
talagan kulang parin. 1120863
oo,nag walk out ako pero nakakalungkot lang kasi parang wala ng pakialam yung mga estudyante. Hay. At
ang saya, nagsulat na muli si delfin
mercado!namiss ko siya! Haha. 1020098
COMMENTS
saan po napupunta yung mga issue na
di kinukuha ng students? siguro better
kung babawasan (kung di pwede alisin)
ung binibigay sa dorms, since meron
naman per college.
yung sa page 13, sabi for 10 years of
operations. baka di lahat pumayag na
magbayad, dahil di na nila maaabutan.
GB! 1026884#lerler
hello. ang galing, consistent na may issue every week, pero parang nagiging
magazine na ang kule. be professional.
un lang. 1026884#lerler
Nagbalik si Delfin Mercado! I’m so
happy for him, CMC na pala siya. :D
I missed his articles. Feel ko tuloy
magtravel from point A to B. Char
lang! 2011-09***
wah.bbalik n b c d.mercado.namiss q ung article nya.mas ok xa
ngaun,kumbaga tamang timpla.sana
mgsulat xa ulit.<3 q ung”AT D DISTANCE” nya. 08-78469 #bsCE
OMG!!! Delfin Mercado bumalik ka na
sa wakaaas! I miss you too. Journ din
ako! Hahaha. Super kumpleto na talaga
ang Kulê! Thanks Kulê dahil bumalik
na si Delfin. :-) 201065868 Lavilyn, BA
JOURN
Refreshing ang article ni delfin mercado na At A Distance. Good for him
if his acads is doing well. Good for us
kasi he graced kule with another great
read. :) 1030057
welcome back Delfin! Sana magsulat
ka pa sa kule. Lupit mo! 0831556
I MISS YOU MORE DELFIN MERCADO! Haha. Thanks for writing again.
Ang galing mo. Makikilala din kita
someday. Haha. 0918644
yey! May column si delfin mercado.
Nxt issue ulit. 10-79290
Buti naman nagparamdam na si Delfin
Mercado. Sana tuloy-tuloy na yan.
201142809 #math
Finally! An article of Delfin Mercado!
Been waiting for this! And yes, we really miss you! I hope you can write a
column regularly. More power to everyone at Kule! :) 11-07217 BS.ChE
Ang ganda ng sinulat ni Delfin Mercado. Damang dama ko lang :) 0851451
Infernez ganda ng layout. Kaya lang
parang nasobrahan sa design. College paper po ang Kule. Sana magmukhang mapagkakatiwalaan. Hindi
katanggap-tanggap yung paggamit ng
hand fonts sa editorial page. Pero bet
ko yung asterisks sa end ng articles ha.
-200501587
Wow, nagsulat n uli ng article si Delfin
Mercado. Nakakatuwa naman. Nagkaroon uli ako ng rason para kumuha at
mag-uwi ng sarili kong copy ng Kulé.
Thanksies :D 200816849
Hi Kule! Binabati ko kayo sa mahusay
na pagsulat ng mga artikulo! Sana lang,
may sagot yung mga nakaraang puzzle sa ss. na Kule! Hirap e. Hihi. 20118MCDO. LOL
SAGUTAN
To 200716399: the ph govt already paid
its debt to the imf in 2006.
To 2012-70572 and 2012-35115: correct. bsp is banned from funding devt.
projects. in this case, i advise people to
read more business news. :) -201021023
NEXT WEEK’S QUESTIONS:
1. Pabor ka ba sa cha-cha?
2. Sa tingin mo, sino ang
magiging susunod na Comedy King
ng Pilipinas?
Key in KULE <space> MESSAGE
<space> STUDENT NUMBER
<required> NAME and COURSE
(optional) and send to
AIESEC UPD’S JUAN YOUTH
JUANdering how to spend your July 21st? Well, there’s only JUAN
thing to do! Attend the biggest and most exciting volunteer event that
ever hit UP Diliman: Juan Youth!
Juan Youth, organized by AIESEC UPD, is UP Diliman’s official entry
to Garnier’s Get Active Campus Challenge. The project aims to empower all facets of youth—privileged or otherwise. It gives a chance for
both high school and college students to spend time with underprivileged children. For more details, feel free to visit our Facebook page:
facebook.com/JuanYouth2012 or contact Jeh Hofilena (09273892023).
UP EMC2 FORUM ON STEEL AND MINING
NATIONAL INDUSTRIALIZATION
The UP EMC2 Fraternity, along with the National Economic
Protectionism Association invites you to the first of its series of fora
entitled Steel and Mining National Industrialization on July 26 at
the College of Engineering Theatre from 1-5 pm. The fora series aim
to build a framework of economic independence and educate fellow
students to take part in formulating concrete step towards economic
development through national industrialization. For more information, please contact Fra at 09175813018 or email [email protected]
LORDEI N’ NIGHT
Help raise funds to assist friends and family of fellow UP student
Lordei Hina in paying her hospital bills.
Lordei n’ Night, a fund raising and cultural event that includes
various activities such as bazaar and food sale, will be held on July
20 at the CHE Atrium and Tearoom. There will also be performances
featuring Bibeth Orteza, John Lesaca, UP Streetdance, UP Music Circle,
KARATULA and more beginning at 7 pm. Dinner and artwork sale
tickets are sold at P3000, while cake raffle entries are sold at P50.
For inquiries, contact Krissy Conti at 09298207000 or Eds Gabral
at 09273841392.
PASONA: A SEVEN DAY COUNTDOWN
TO THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS
18: Aklas (Alternatibong Klase) sa AS-CAL, 7 am-5pm
: Solidarity for human rights (forum and candlelighting),
4pm & 5:30pm
19: Contend forum, CM Recto 8:30am-12nn
SonART: workshops, in front of AS 1-4pm
Educ4allmarch (unity march & flash mob),
around the Academic Oval 4 pm
20: Save our university (human chain along Katipunan Ave), UPIS 3 pm
21: Run against K-12 & contractualization, AS Steps 8 am
: Quezon City Sttae of the Youth Address, Amoranto Hall 9am-12nn
23: Almusalang bayan, 7 am; People’s SONA Program going to
Commonwealth Ave Quezon Hall, 10 am
Non-UP students must indicate
any school, organizational
or sectoral affiliation.
JOIN THE PEOPLE’S
SONA
07 / 23 / 2012
Eksenang
Peyups
ZE BALIW-BALIWAN EDISHUN
Kumusta naman ang linggo
niyo mga ateeeey? NKKLK! Pakipulot naman ang puso ko after
that mini heart attack na dulot
ng game ng UP Maroons keriii?!
Kaloka talaga!
Baliw-baliwan #1 Cuuuuhrazy!!! Nagpadala na naman (oo,
na naman) si Kuya Unknown
kay Kuluterang maputi ng rose
na maputi rin! Ka-inggit to the
bones!!! Sino ba si koya? After
mag-imbestiga ng mga chismoterang Kulutera, ito ang nahita naming cluez: moreno (not
German Moreno a), mediumbuilt at naka-cap. Si Kuya Guard
ba ito?! Charaught!
Baliw-baliwan #2 Sino itey
na koyang from machikang
college na lutang to the max
ang brains one afternoon. Gumana ang kanyang awkwardness/bitchy mode, bigla na lang
nagsabi sa kanyang mga nasasalubong to this effect: “Sige alis
na kayo, puntahan niyo na mga
klase niyo” Ay koya, sino ka sa
buhay ko?! Kalurkey!
Baliw-baliwan #3 Sinetch
itech na ilang beses natamaan
ng bola sa ulo ng mga berdeng
manlalaro? How green of them!
Nang tanungin ng mga nakatabing puto seko ng “okay ka
lang?” itong si girlash ay umemote ng “Sino ako?” Ayyyy. Iba
si girl! Umeksena raw ba? Baliw
to the nth level!
Baliw-baliwan #4 Remember
si koyang naghahanap ng majojorder na fudams sa website ni
Kenny “the singer” Rogers? Ay
te, may isa namang soupy moment ang bruha! Aba’y mag-soliloquy (o ha, kaya kong i-spell!)
ba naman ng, “I wanna eat spaghetti with basil leaves.” Bah-sil
leaves daw o! As in Basil Valdez!
Kalokaaa, may fetish yata sa
mga songers na tanders!
Tekaaa a. Pupulutin ko muna
ang utak ko sa floor. Jusko.
Nakakabaliw palang magkaroon
ng eyes and ears everywhere.
OPINYON
Miyerkules
18 Hulyo
2012