Nº 10

Nº 10
28 Ago 07
Opisyal na lingguhang
pahayagan ng mga
mag-aaral ng Unibersidad
ng Pilipinas - Diliman
news | 03
PUP students
nix 500%
tuition hike
Latha lain | 06
Luisita
farmers
go back to
basics
kultura | 08
Paper Trail
Si Tita Remmie sa
likod ng kanyang
copy machine
Deceiving
indigenous peoples
t h ro u g h IPR A
F e at u re s / 0 6
On its 85th year, the Philippine
Collegian looks back at eight
decades of headlines that
saw print on its pages & sent
ripples within and outside the
university.
24 Ago 1998
Alex
Icasiano,
19, hazing
victim
At about 5pm on Sunday,
August 16, Alexander
Miguel Josef Icasiano,
a third year Public
Administration student,
died in the hands of the
very people that were
to be his “brothers.”
Members of the Alpha
Phi Beta fraternity
took turns in hitting
his legs and shoulders
until he finally expired
from cardio-respiratory
arrest.
PhilippineCollegian Ika-85 taon
Blg. 10 Martes 28 Ago 2007
I
t is in the nature of
resistance to persist.
Two weeks ago, around
6,000 Polytechnic
University of the
Philippines (PUP) students
successfully impeded their Board
of Regent’s ( BOR ) attempt to
increase the university ’s tuition
rate by 500 percent. Although news
of the tuition increase proposal
came only the day before, PUP
students were able to rally such
a massive number to confront
the BOR in the Commission on
Higher Education building in Shaw
Boulevard.
The deluge of protests practically struck the tuition increase
proposal out of the BOR’s agenda.
That day, no parliamentary procedure could have overruled the
students’ will.
The triumph of the PUP students
portends two things: first , it
confirms the systematic nature of
shameless proposals to increase
school fees in state universities
and colleges; second, it bears the
necessity and potency of collective militant action to engage such
iniquity and thwart it.
The approval and subsequent
implementation of the 300 percent
tuition increase in UP is thus by no
means an accident nor an isolated
case. Prior to this, the UP admin-
istration has engaged in various
income-generating schemes such
as raising laboratory fee rates
and leasing its land to private
entities. Taking the cue from UP,
other SUCs are expected to follow
suit, as recently shown by the PUP
administration’s foiled attempt to
increase PUP ’s tuition rate.
Evidently, a tuition increase
is the culmination and supreme
testament of a malevolently drawn
government agenda: obscenely
cut state support to education in
order to channel more resources to
skewed national priorities such as
debt and military servicing.
Long-standing education policies have long pulled the strings.
The Long Term Higher Education
Development Plan and the Higher
Education Modernization Act, for
instance, impose the gradual and
dramatic reduction of government
spending in the higher education
sector. As the tuition increase in UP
reveals, the cited policies are in full
swing – unless stopped dead on its
track by furious resistance.
Students should have all the
impetus to mount it. The first few
months of the implementation of
the tuition increase in UP have
laid host to sordid accounts of
families resorting to loans in order
to enrol their sons and daughters
in UP or simply withdrawing
their enrolment applications. If
anything, the rebracketting of the
Socialized Tuition and Financial
In the face of
brazen
injustice, the
only recourse
is to resist
point blank
Assistance Program only served
as a smoke screen for the tuition
increase since it actually siphons
more from cash-strapped students,
who still comprise the majority of
the UP populace.
There is no gray area when
speaking of the atrocities inflicted
on our right to education. The
PUP students’ triumph serves as a
potent argument against myopic
assumptions that militant mass
actions are futile and “dogmatic”
means to confront the debilitating
policies pushed by the national and
university administrations. Outside
the dainty halls of parliamentary
procedures, no Malacañang lapdog
can possibly expedite proceedings
and move to vote against a rampaging sea of fists and dissent – such
is the daring assumption that is
constantly verified by practice.
Pe rha p s U P s t u d e n ts , w h o
historically led the most courageous
resistance to injustice, especially
during Martial Law, must now
learn from the boldness of the PUP
students. Their administration is
now cowering from the realization
that the students are standing
vigilant and posed to defy them
anytime in increasing numbers.
In such ferment, the word “futility ” loses its meaning. While the
tuition increase is already being
implemented in U P, we must
constantly open up possibilities of
resistance and gather our forces
to pounce on it through collective
militant action. Because in the
face of brazen injustice, the only
recourse is to resist point blank.
Philippine Collegian Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman
Punong Patnugot / Jerrie M. Abella • Kapatnugot / Frank Lloyd Tiongson • Tagapamahalang Patnugot / Karl Fredrick M. Castro • Patnugot sa lathalain / Alaysa Tagumpay E. Escandor
• Patnugot sa Grapiks / Ivan Bryan G. Reverente, Alanah M. Torralba • Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya / Melane A . Manalo • Mga Kawani / Louise Vincent B. Amante, Piya C. Constantino, Paolo
A . Gonzales, Candice Anne L . Reyes • 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 / [email protected] • Website / http://philippinecollegian.net, http://kule0708.deviantart.com • Kasapi / Solidaridad - UP System-wide Alliance of Student Publications
and Writers’ Organizations, College Editors Guild of the Philippines
tungkol sa pabal at dibuho: kendrick bautista. disenyo ng pahina: k arl castro.
Editoryal
janno gonz ales.
Possibilities of
resistance
PUP students nix
500% tuition hike
John Alliage Morales
T
he Polytechnic University
of the Philippines (PUP)
administration dropped
its plan to increase tuition
from P12 to P75 per unit after about
6000 students boycotted their
classes on August 14 as a sign of
their disapproval.
After the boycott, some 2000
students also staged a mass demonstration at the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) office in
Pasig City, where the Board of Regents (BOR) meeting took place.
PUP President and BOR Vice
Chair Dante Guevarra revealed that
he withdrew his proposals from the
BOR agenda, which were marked
“for approval and confirmation,”
to raise tuition by 500 percent,
miscellaneous fees by 100 per cent, undergraduate PUP College
Entrance Test (PUPCET) fee from
P300 to P500, and a fee for tutorial
programs administered by professors from P12 to P40.
The BOR , however, approved the
increase in graduate entrance test
fee from P300 to P750.
“ This is just a proposal. But
the students, pina-call off. So we
dropped the idea,” Guevarra said
in reference to his proposal to
increase the current P12 per unit,
which has not been adjusted “more
than 30 years now.” The increase
would only apply to the additional
incoming students PUP has planned
to admit next year.
The PUP administration had
pushed for three tuition hike proposals in the past 20 years, aimed
at raising the present P12 tuition to
P12.50 in the late 1980s, to P88 in
1996, and to P20 in 2004. None of
these proposals were approved following mass mobilizations and class
boycotts launched in protest of tuition and other fee increases (TFI).
“ Matindi ang suporta ng mga
estudyante laban sa (TFI) dahil alam
nila na ito’y anti-estudyante [at]
violation sa karapatan ng kabataan
sa edukasyon,” said Pia Prado,
president of the Central Student
Council.
Prado slammed Guevarra’s “outof-the-blue” TFI proposals as they
had not undergone student consultations or scrutiny by review
committees.
P100M budget for
10T students
Guevarra said the national government planned to give PUP an
additional P100 million budget
to admit an additional 10,000
freshmen students next school
year. He, however, said the additional budget will not be enough to
subsidize the tuition and improve
the facilities to accommodate the
additional students, so he proposed
a P75 tuition per unit.
PUP ’s current 8,000 freshmen
population would reach 18,000,
where the 8000 students ranked
according to PUPCET scores would
pay the current P12 per unit, while
the remaining 10,000 students
would pay the P75-tuition.
Meanwhile, Student Regent
Henrie Enaje, the lone TFI critic
in the BOR dominated by Malacañang appointees, said that when
UP raised its tuition from P300 to
P1000 per unit on December last
year, it set a precedent for the PUP
administration to propose a new
tuition scheme.
After UP ’s implementation of
its 300 percent tuition, many state
colleges and universities followed
suit, including the Eulogio Amang
Rodriguez Institute of Science and
Technology, Mindanao State University, Philippine Normal University and Technological University of
the Philippines.
Budget cut behind TFI
Guevarra said with the junking
of the tuition hike, the PUP administration had also dropped its bid to
admit another 10,000 students, as
its annual budget can only cover its
present 56,000 students. Moreover,
he pointed to the chronic budget
cuts as the primary reason for the
tuition increase.
Out of its proposed P1.3 billion
budget, the university received a
budget of P573 million this year,
which was mainly allotted for the
salary of employees and professors.
PUP had not received appropriation
for infrastructure since 2003.
L o r r e l y n O c a m p o, s p o k e s person of the Center for Nationalist
Studies-PUP, however, feared that
instead of subsidizing the tuition,
the P100 million promised by the
government would be spent for the
university ’s electricity and daily
expenses or for beautification projects, rather than for basic facilities
like computers and classrooms.
Prado said the average 21-unit
tuition for a semester costs around
P500, but with a P75 per unit rate,
it can go up to P5000. Based on the
council’s computations, the P75 tuition, including the miscellaneous
Philippine Collegian | martes 28 A go 2007
n Representative
Teodoro Casiño (below)
delivers his privilege
speech on August 23 at
the Batasang Pambansa,
drawing attention
to UP’s 300% tuition
hike. USC Chairperson
Shahana Abdulwahid
(right) together with
the Students and
Parents Against the
Rising Cost of Education
in UP (SPARE UP) also
lobbied for support from
the representatives for
a legislative inquiry on
the increase. Al anah
Torralba
Bringing the fight to Congress
continued on p.4
TFI review gets “favorable” response from BOR
Massive protests
halt UPB classes
Jerrie M. Abella
D
eemed an achievement
by various groups in UP,
the proposal to review
the newly-implemented
tuition and other fee increases
(TFI) reportedly earned “favorable”
response from the members of the
Board of Regents (BOR).
In the August 22 meeting of the
BOR in UP Baguio (UPB), Student
Regent Terry Ridon presented a
preliminary policy review of the
TFI, arguing that the board erred
when it approved the 300% increase
in tuition and the implementation
of new fees for freshmen across the
UP system.
The BOR , UP ’s highest policymaking body, approved the TFI on
December 15 last year based on a
recommendation of a committee
formed by UP President Emer linda Roman, amid protests from
students, faculty, and other UP
formations.
“Continuing assertion”
According to Ridon, the policy
review was a “continuing asser tion of the fundamental principles
of democratic access and par ticipation” in light of the drastic
decrease in enrolment in “unpopular” courses, citing the case in
UP Diliman (UPD) where enrolment
went down in almost half of all the
courses offered. He cited as an
example the zero enrolment in the
courses BA Filipino, BA Araling Pilipino, and BS Social Work in UPD.
Institutions giving out loans and
scholarships to a fixed number of
recipients, like the Department of
Science and Technology, will also
have to reduce their beneficiaries
to keep up with the TFI , Ridon
added.
Ridon disclosed that the policy
review was “well-received” by BOR
members, particulary Roman who
Other matters in the
August 22 BOR meeting
Additional funds for UPM, UPD
The BOR approved the yearly allocation of
additional P14 million and P10 million for UPD
and UPM, respectively, from the Special Endowment Fund for the centennial celebrations. According to Ridon, the need for these additional
funds of the two autonomous units remains
unclear in light of the “more important needs”
of UP. He cited the P3-million requested fund of
the College of Arts and Sciences of UPM for the
development and repair of laboratories, which
was not prioritized by the UP administration.
Roman, however, said the funds will be used to
increase the compensation of faculty members
who will receive awards.
AFP presence in UPMin
The BOR also upheld the memorandum
of agreement between UP Mindanao and the
Armed Forces of the Philippines for the military
to conduct tree-planting activities in campus.
Ridon described this agreement as a form of
militarization which violates the earlier accord
between UP and the Department of National
Defense to bar military forces in all UP units.
He said this will especially be detrimental to
student organizations tagged by the military as
terrorist groups, as military presence meanss
intelligence operations and explorations. Students and faculty members may also be caught
in military encounters with revolutionary forces
and separatist groups, Ridon added.
vowed to cooperate with the Office
of the Student Regent (OSR) and
other student groups in collecting
data for the review.
“[This is] a big step forward in
our campaign to prove to the students and the administration the
flawed premises of [UP ’s] tuition
policy,” Ridon said.
Roman, however, reportedly
said that the BOR is unlikely to
grant Ridon’s proposal to suspend
the TFI’s implementation next semester pending further scrutiny.
The final report on the policy
review is expected to be completed
in a week or two, which will then
be submitted for deliberation to
the BOR . According to Ridon, one
positive scenario is for the BOR to
suspend the TFI as soon as the final
report is completed.
UPB classes stopped
Meanwhile, morning classes
at UPB were paralyzed as about
800 students of UPB walked out
of their classes on the day of the
BOR meeting to protest the TFI,
continued on p.11
Philippine Collegian | Martes 28 A go 2007
Land survey sa RIPADA,
hinarang ng mga residente
Sudden surge
John Alliage Morales
n Lady Maroon Silvana Marasigan soars high against Amazon Rossan Marzan. Late
game three-pointers saved the Maroons from a possible second loss in the season, 65-62.
inarang ng tinatayang
200 residente ng Pook
Ricarte, Palaris at Dagohoy ( R I PA DA ) noong
Agosto 14 ang tangkang pagpasok
ng technical team ng Metro Manila
Development Authority (MMDA)
na inatasang magsagawa ng land
survey para sa proyektong pagpapalawak ng Circumferential Road
5 (C5).
Sinalubong ng mga nagbarikadang residente ang limang miyembro ng MMDA na dumaan sa
kalye ng Ricarte sa likod ng International Center bandang 11:30 n.u.
Tinututulan ng mga residente ang
land survey, na magtatakda umano
ng lawak ng lupang gagamitin sa
proyekto, habang walang konsultasyong nagaganap sa komunidad.
Iniutos ni Vice Chancellor for
Community Affairs Cynthia Grace
Gregorio noong Agosto 10 ang pagsasagawa ng land survey sa RIPADA
upang “maisakatuparan ng MMDA
ang kondisyon ng Board of Regents
(BOR) na magsumite ng ‘detailed
engineering plans’ ng ‘proposed C5
development project’” at itakda ang
lawak ng nasabing proyekto.
Inaprubahan ng BOR , pinakamataas na tagagawa ng palisiya
ng UP, sa pagpupulong nito noong
Marso 29 ang demolisyon sa RIPADA upang bigyan-daan ang pag-
H
Timothy Medrano
Lady Maroons conquer UE Amazons
Mikael Angelo S. Francisco
B
arely escaping a possible
second loss, the UP Lady
Maroons scored a pulsepounding 65-62 victory
against the University of the East
Amazons in the University
Athletic Association of the
Philippines Women’s Basketball Division on Saturday at the Ateneo
Blue Eagles Gym.
The Lady Maroons, showing a
fast playing style and excellent
passing techniques, grabbed the
lead early on with consecutive twopoint shots, 12-18.
UP ’s tight playing style and
strong offense, coupled with missed
shots by the Amazons, continued
during the second quarter, with
Lady Maroons Shreky Luna and
center Silvana Marasigan each
contributing four points to UP ’s
score. The first half ended with the
Lady Maroons maintaining a secure
lead, 30-16.
The 2nd half opened with an offensive play from the Amazons by
the tandem Rossan Marzan and
Cindy Resultay. Aggressive
style and tight defense, however, helped the Lady Maroons keep their
grip at the lead,
but Marasigan’s
serious leg injury,
rendering her unable to play for the
rest of the game, proved a setback
for the UP cagers. The third quarter
ended with the Amazons tremendously reducing the Lady Maroons’
lead, 42-45.
The last quarter was rife with
fouls and free throws from both
teams. Amazon Kris Manabat’s
three-point shot and a subsequent
two-pointer brought the scores to a
tie at 53-53, but three-pointers from
Lady Maroons Sihaya Sadora and
Anna Asistio reclaimed UP ’s slim
lead. The game ended with the Maroons securing a three-point edge
over the Amazons, 65-62.
Sadora and Asistio were the
game’s top scorers, each bringing
in 14 points, or almost half of the
Lady Maroons’ total score.
This latest win strengthened the
Lady Maroons’ impressive standing
at seven wins and only one loss. The
Lady Maroons are optimistic about
winning this year’s championship,
and are aiming to play their best
after losing their slot in the finals
to the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses last season, Sadora said.
papalawak ng C5.
Ang planong isang kilometro
at 40 metrong pahalang na pagpapalawak ng C5, na magdidikit
sa Katipunan Avenue at Luzon
Avenue, ay nangangailangan ng
mahigit tatlong ektarya ng lupa
ng UP na magmumula sa lugar ng
RIPADA .
Samantala, ani Kapitana Isabelita Gravides ng Brgy. UP Campus,
hiniling niya kay Quezon City Mayor
Sonny Belmonte noong Agosto 13
ang pagpapaliban ng nasabing
survey habang walang naisasagawang pag -uusap sa pagitan ng
MMDA at ang mga residente, subalit hindi ito napagbigyan.
Kung kinokonsulta man ng
administrasyon ng UP ang mga
residente sa mga nagdaang pulong noong Mayo hanggang Abril,
hindi naman umano nito natutugunan ang kanilang hinaing ukol
sa demolisyon at sa proyekto, ani
Gravides.
Dagdag ni Noli Anoos, residente
ng RIPADA at pangalawang tagapangulo ng All-UP Workers Union
(AUPWU), karapatan ng mga residente ng RIPADA na maisama sa
konsultasyon ng MMDA dahil sila
ang pangunahing maapektuhan ng
nakaambang demolisyon.
Bagamat hindi tumututol ang
mga residente sa proyekto, iginiit
nila na isagawa ang demolisyon sa
kondisyong kakaunting residente
lamang ang maapektuhan nang
Exiled
from p.5
Total number of OFWs who were able to register as absentee voters for the May 14
elections: 504,110
Number of registered OFWs who were actually able to vote: 78,360
Percentage of registered OFWs who were actually able to vote: 15.5 percent
Number of cases involving OFWs in jail who
may possibly be sentenced with death
penalty in 2006: 35
Number of these cases commuted to just
lifetime imprisonment: 11
Percentage of the cases commuted to just
lifetime imprisonment: 31 percent
Number of OFWs who came home dead since
2001, according to Asian Migrants Centre, international migrants group: 2 per
day
Percentage of the total Filipino population
who wants to migrate, according to a
Pulse Asia survey in 2006: 30 percent

SOURCES
National Statistics Office, Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration, Migrante International, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Philippine Daily Inquirer,
Bulatlat.com
hindi “mabura ang buong komunidad,” ayon kay Anoos.
Dagdag niya, mas mabuti
umanong ipatupad ang “Plan A” na
makaaapekto lamang sa mahigit 100
residente na naninirahan sa “gilid”
o malapit sa pader ng RIPADA , sa
halip na ang kasalukuyang “Plan B”
na gigiba sa mga kabahayan ng mga
residenteng nasa loob ng komunidad. Tinatayang may 1,500 residenteng naninirahan sa RIPADA .
Giit ni Clodualdo Cabrera, pambansang tagapangulo ng AUPWU,
hindi nangangahulugan ng pagunlad ang naturang proyekto na
magdudulot ng pagkawasak ng
komunidad.
Habang may nakalaang relo kasyon sa Amorsolo para sa mga
empleyado ng UP na kasalukuyang
naninirahan sa RIPADA , hindi pa
rin umano nabibigyan ng tiyak na
relokasyon ang mga di-empleyado
ng UP, dagdag ni Cabrera.
Samantala, ani Cabrera, malimit
na umano ang mga tangkang demolisyon sa RIPADA ng administrasyon ng UP. Noong 1985, nagkaroon
umano ng “Battle of Ricarte” nang
mahigit tatlong buwang nagbarikada ang mga residente upang
mapigilan ang planong pagpapaalis
sa kanila nang walang relokasyon.
Napigilan din ng mga nagpoprotestang residente ang nauna nang
tangkang demolisyon ng MMDA
para sa pagpapalawak ng C5 sa mga
komunidad ng RIPADA at Area 11,
na malapit sa UP Integrated School,
noong Abril 11.
PUP
from p.3
fees, is projected to give PUP an
annual income of only P18,390,000
million for the additional students
alone. The PUP administration,
meanwhile, has collected P119 million revenues from its total student
population.
“Common sense will tell you that
P12 is no longer relevant,” Guevarra
said, citing that the current tuition
rate can hardly reflect the “true cost
of PUP education” and keep up with
inflation.
Jesse Kristoffer Aspril, editor in
chief of PUP ’s The Catalyst, contended that the PUP administration
failed to consider that the stunted
family income and low wages of
Filipinos have not kept up with the
rising cost of living. “Kaunti na nga
ang nag-aaral dahil sa kahirapan.
What more kung itaas pa nila ang
tuition?” he said.
Enaje said that with the government gradually reducing PUP
subsidy, the university burdens
the students to shoulder the cost of
education in the form of TFIs, which
is reflective of a “commercialized”
education.
“ Hindi sagot ang tuition fee
increase sa bumabang state subsidy. Ang solusyon ay ang paglaban
mismo para sa mataas na subsidyo,”
Prado said.
Philippine Collegian | Martes 28 A go 2007
Exiled woes Summing
up the Filipino Diaspora
Green vs SLAPP
Victor Gregor Limon
R
n (from left)Journalist Ilang-ilang Quijano, Representative Teodoro Casiño, executive director of the Center for Environmental Concerns
Frances Quimpo, and Ifugao leader Lucas Buay slam the increasing cases of political harassment against green activists via strategic
lawsuits against public participation(SLAPP) in a press conference last August 20 at the office of environmental organization KalikasanPNE in Quezon City. (see related story) C andice Anne Reyes
ecent headlines told of 51
Filipinos allegedly trafficked into war-torn Iraq
to work in the construction of the US embassy in Baghdad.
Work conditions were described as
“harsh” and “inhuman,” but Labor
Secretary Arturo Brion
was quick to counter that
“nobody was forced to go
to Iraq.”
A s f i g u r e s b e l o w,
however, illustrate, this
image of Filipino workers
slaving under the hot
Middle East sun is but a
small part of the larger
and more depressing
picture of the situation of over seas Filipino workers (OFWs) who
cling to their hopes of a better life
“abroad.”
Total number of OFWs working overseas as of
2006, according to the Philippine Overseas
Environmental activists
now target of harassment
Number of lawsuits
filed against green
movements escalate
Noemi A. Gonzales
W
arning that the rise of
lawsuits filed by mining firms, oil companies and land-owning
families could be a dangerous
precedent to stifle opposition to
the interests of big corporations,
environmental advocates called for
a ban on strategic lawsuits against
public participation ( SLAPP ) in
a forum held in Quezon City on
August 20.
“SLAPPs are a form of litigation
filed against less financially-capable critics with the intention of
intimidating and silencing them
in the course of a lengthy and
costly legal battle. Lumalaganap
na yung phenomenon ng SLAPP
not so much as to convict [environmental advocates] kundi para
manakot,” explained Kalikasan
People’s Network for the Environ-
ment (Kalikasan- PNE) National
Coordinator Clemente Bautista.
Bautista said in the forum that
SLAPP suits ranging from libel to
conspiracy are filed by foreignbacked, large-scale mining companies or elite land-owning families
against environmental activists
who have decried the way these
companies have been endangering
the lives and livelihood of local
communities in the country.
Bautista revealed that since
1995, around 20 cases of SLAPP
were filed against environment
advocates.
Environmental
defenders SLAPPed
In the forum, Lucas Buay, an
Ifugao and chairperson of the
Council of Leaders of the Kasibu
Inter - tribal Response Towards
Ecological Development, revealed
that at least 24 indigenous leaders
in Nueva Vizcaya are facing threats
of arrest for opposing the entry of
mining company Oxiana Philippines Inc. and its foreign partner
Royal Co., Ltd. of Australia for
mineral exploration.
“Anim na libo katao ang apektado kapag pinayagang pumasok
ang Oxiana sa Kasibu. Masisira ang
aming kabuhayan dahil maraming
kemikal ang maiiwan sa lupa kapag
nagsimula nang magmina ang Oxiana,” Buay said.
He added that on August 16,
despite the lack of consultation
with the indigenous peoples of
Kasibu, Oxiana, with the Philippine
National Police and eight members
of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGU) went up to
Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, and tried to
forcibly bring in a bulldozer and six
dump trucks loaded with material
and drilling rig.
Two environmental advocates,
meanwhile, are facing libel suits
filed by multi-national corporations for publishing reports on
how these corporations have been
polluting the environment.
Ilang - Ilang Quijano, a jour nalist, and toxicologist Dr. Romeo
Quisumbing are awaiting the verdict on a libel case filed by Lapanday Agricultural and Development Corporation ( LADECO )
in Davao, owned by a large landowning family and exporter of
bananas to Japan, for publishing
a report on the detrimental effects
of LADECO’S pesticide use on the
environment and people’s health.
A P10-million libel suit was also
filed against Frances Quimpo, executive director of the Center for
Environmental Concerns, a nongovernmental organization, by
Australian-owned mining company
Lafayette Philippines Inc. ( LPI )
after publishing a report on LPI’s
irresponsible mining resulting in
the pollution of Rapu-Rapu Albay’s
coasts in 2005.
“ We assert that we are innocent
of the charges [filed by Lafayette].
[The publication] was distributed
in consideration of public interest.
We have to see beyond the harassments at [patuloy na] ipaglaban ang
aming thrusts,” Quimpo said.
Protection from SLAPP suits
Bayan Muna Representative
Teddy Casiño plans to legislate a bill
to define SLAPP in the Philippine
setting, and prescribe appropriate
penalties for those engaged in the
practice as well as compensation
for those victimized by SLAPP.
Cases filed against public interest advocates defending issues
of marginalized sectors, such as
continued on p.11
Employment Administration (POEA): 8.23
million
Estimated population of Filipinos in the country
as of 2006: 80 million
Total population of the whole Central Luzon,
comprising Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya,
Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, and Bataan:
8.03 million
Number of OFWs in the United States, the top
destination of Filipinos seeking jobs overseas: 2.73 million
Population of the US state of Nevada: 1.99 million
Total number of Filipinos hired
overseas in 2006: 308,142
Number of Filipinos newly hired
in 2006 as overseas domestic
helpers, factory laborers, and
construction workers: 177,725
Out of the total number of Filipinos newly hired overseas, percentage of the said blue-collar
job workers: 57.68 percent
Number of jobs generated in
2006, according to Gloria Arroyo,
in her State of the Nation Address this year:
1 million
Number of unemployed Filipinos in 2006, according to the National Statistics Office
(NSO): 2.6 million
Number of underemployed Filipinos: 7 million
Number of Filipinos who left the country to work
abroad in 2006, including newly hired and
rehired workers: 1.063 million
Estimate number of Filipinos who leave the
country daily, according to migrants group
Migrante International: 2,000
Estimated monthly salary of a local laborer who
receives the Philippines’ minimum daily
wage of P350: P10,500
Monthly cost of living in the Philippines of a
family of five, according to the NSO: P8,254
Daily cost of living in the Philippines of a family of six, according to the independent research group IBON foundation: P19,474
Estimated monthly salary of an 8-hours-aday laborer in the US who receives the US
minimum daily wage of $5.85 or roughly
P270 per hour (at current exchange rates):
P47,500
Number of Filipino nurses deployed abroad in
2006: 8,528
Number of doctors working as nurses abroad
from 2001-2004, according to the Philippine
Center for Investigative Journalism: 3,500
Estimated monthly salary of a doctor practicing
in the Philippines, according to the Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the
Philippines: $500 or about P22,500
Estimated monthly salary of a nurse practicing
in a developed country abroad: $3,500 or
P157,500
Total OFW remittances in 2006, according to
POEA: $12.76 billion
Average annual growth of OFW remittances: 20
percent
Fraction of the country’s Gross National Product which comes from OFWs, according to
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas: 1/12
Average total amount an OFW pays in government fees before he or she could work
abroad: P17,925
For every P10 spent by the POEA, amount allocated for the welfare of OFWs, according to
Migrante: P0.60
Amount an OFW pays as membership fee to the
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
(OWWA): $25 or about P1,000
Total amount of OWWA funds allegedly plundered by Arroyo to fund her 2004 elections
campaign: P8 billion
continued on p.4
Philippine Collegian | Martes 28 A go 07
Displacing the natives
Umpongan, one of the elder Aetas in the exhibit, professes that his ancestors were Subic’s original settlers.
He described his people to be friendly, ready to welcome
outsiders who sought their help. “Nung dumating yung
mga Amerikano, mga ninuno ko pa ang nagturo sa kanila
kung paano mamuhay sa gubat. Itinuro namin kung
paano maghanap ng pagkain at paano magsaing sa
buho,” he said.
Despite the amicable reception, the Americans
soon drove the Aetas away from their own lands. The
natives’ ancestral lands were converted to military
bases and urban areas, cutting the Aetas off from
their livelihoods. The colonizers brought with
them business firms, organizations, and armed
forces, conquering Subic with the old colonial
weapons of development plans, land titles, and
“divide-and-conquer” strategies.
Umpongan reveals the the Aetas were especially vulnerable to these strategies – carefully
planned tactics that sought to trample their
resistance by employing spies and traitors in
each tribe. “Naging iskwater na kami sa sarili
naming lupa,” he said in remorse, his forehead
wrinkled in frustration.
Spectacles of the exotic
By the late 1980s, the Subic local authorities
drafted a relocation plan for dislocated communities such as squatters. One of the plan’s
objectives was to provide displaced Aetas with
housing, training, and alternative jobs that
will replace their previous livelihoods. Thus,
together with other Aetas, Umpongan ended
up in Zoobic Safari. He lived virtually as a zoo
exhibit, working whole days and spending the
night in a small nipa hut he shares with the
rest of his fellow Aetas.
Although Umpongan feels a persistent
shame for serving as a mere spectacle for
tourists, he declares that Aetas like him hardly
have any other alternatives. “Kahit papaano, may
nakakain kami dito. Gustuhin man namin, wala
na rin kasi kaming mababalikan at maipaghahanapbuhay sa labas,” he explained.
Similar circumstances of displacement and
poverty have been decried by other members of
indigenous peoples (IP). Mangyan leader Tony Calbayog, chair of the Bigkis at Lakas ng mga Katutubo
sa Timog Katagalugan (Balatik), blames the systematic and worsening cases of land grabbing as one of
the major reasons for the IPs’ suffering.
Meanwhile, the government continues to formulate
policies for “development for the common good,” while
failing to provide integrated programs that will accommodate the lifestyles of national minorities. These policies include the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA),
which was signed by then President Fidel Ramos in 1997.
Calbayog decries the pretentious nature of the law, as it
claims to protect the rights of IPs yet lacks the necessary
provisions to punish land grabbers and business corporations
that encroach upon ancestral lands.
Toothless law
The IPRA states that “the State shall recognize, respect and
protect the rights of the indigenous cultural communities to preserve and
develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions.”
A closer scrutiny of the law reveals, however, several features
that run counter to the interests of IPs. For instance, the IPRA
requires that IPs must first obtain a Certificate of Ancestral
Domain Title (CADT) before they can claim their ancestral
lands. However, the Balatik stresses that this feature
of the law violates their inherent rights by destroying
their traditional communal practice of land ownership
and forcing them to name their lands under a single
private entity. Moreover, the CADT makes it easier
for mining and business organizations to employ
“divide-and-conquer” strategies by singling out
targets that can be coerced to sell the land.
IPRA also claims to recognize the free prior
and informed consent (FPIC) of IPs, stating
that in the absence of such a clear consent ,
any development projects, such as mining
and dam construction, cannot proceed.
However, the required FPIC can be
cheated, bypassed, or ignored by inter ested mining companies. One such case
was the mining development in Mt. Canatuan by Toronto Ventures Inc. (TVI),
a Canadian- Filipino owned mining
company, which proceeeded with their
operations in 2004 without the consent
of the Subanen people.
TVI claimed to have the support
of the Subanen community’s alleged
“Council of Elders,”which was, as it
turned out, comprised of non-clan
members and some tribesmen who
were promised rewards for their
cooperation. TVI has also recruited
a Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary
(SCAA) reportedly used to quell the
Subanen opposition through intimidation. To date, more than 500
of the 6,500 hectares covered by the
CADT for the Canatuan Subanens
have been freely taken and operated
on by TVI.
Meanwhile, the violation of IPs’
rights continue to this day, with
more than 130 recorded murders of
IPs since 2001. The tolls of ethnocide
continue to rise with the seizing
of the lands on which IP culture is
rooted.
Dabet Castañeda
Bulatlat.com
H
Continuing resistance
Despite its seemingly good intentions, IPRA has consistenly failed to
protect the rights of IPs, such as the
Aetas, Subanens, the Southern Tagalog
tribes, and countless others. According
to Kilusan ng mga Kabataang Kordilyera para sa Demokrasya at Kaunlaran
Spokesperson Dennis Longid, the law is
used to pacify the IPs by making its provisions appear to protect their rights, but
is, in reality, only a tool to give business
entities the power to grab lands.
“IPRA is not the solution to the Indigenous Peoples’ problems,” Kalipunan ng
Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas National
Coordinator Nonoy Gobrin said in a report. “ We
see nothing more in its substance and much less
in the manner it is being implemented.”
Meanwhile, Umpongan shifts to dancing a war
ritual. He aims his arrow at a fellow Aeta as they
both encircle each other. Their eyes squint, not with
despondency, but with rage. They know their real enemies: their age-old subjugation and the very system
that supports it.
acienda Luisita, Tarlac (125
kms. north of Manila) – The
small dikes that separate
the parcels of farmland
are all wet and muddy. The
newly planted rice stalks
are bent in different directions. The stalks of string
beans are jumbled alongside a
forest of tall grass while a stretch
of kamoteng kahoy (cassava), miniature eggplants and green chili are
scattered just beside a hut.
It is only the second day of the
planting season for 71-year old
Perfecto Versola, or Mang Pering,
and his family. It coincided with
the second day of Typhoon Egay,
the strongest storm to hit the
country so far this year, and the
farm workers are all soaked up including Mang Pering who has been
suffering from asthma for the last
two days. Even his grandchildren
who just came from school that
day join the farm hands rebuild
the small dikes that have eroded
while the old man’s polio-stricken
daughter help out in the
weeding process.
The Versola family
started to cultivate 2.2
hectares of land here in
Barangay Balete March
this year planting vegetables for a start. It is
the first time since more
than five decades ago
that farm workers in Hacienda Luisita are able to
produce food crops for
their own consumption.
“Nung araw, kahit kulitis hindi namin pwedeng pitasin,”
Mang Pering said. “Hindi rin kami
pwedeng magtanim kahit sa loob
ng bakuran namin.” (Before, we
could not pluck even the wild
amaranth. We were also prohibited
to plant anything not even beside
our homes.)
placed under the government’s
agrarian reform program through
a new scheme known as the Stock
Distribution Option (SDO). This
paved the way for the Cojuangcos to
convert the 6,000-hectare hacienda
to a 4,000-hectare family-owned
corporation (the Hacienda Luisita,
Inc. or HLI) and gave farm workers
shares of stocks instead of actual
land parcels.
The SDO scheme combined with
the mechanization of the sugar
farm process has led to decline of
the farm workers’ basic pay which,
since the early 1990s, has dwindled
to a suffocating P9.50 ($0.20 at
an exchange rate of $1=P46.60)a
day and has resulted in the re trenchment of hundreds of farm
workers.
To die for
In 2004, HLI farm workers and
mill workers of the Central Azucarrera de Tarlac (CAT), also owned
and operated by the Cojuangcos,
staged a simultaneous strike to
demand the reinstatement of union
leaders and members who were
not even paid their separation pay,
and the revocation of the SDO and
pave the way for actual
land distribution to farm
worker beneficiaries.
Th e s t r i k e c a u gh t
national and international attention when on
Nov. 16, 2004 or exactly
10 days into the strike,
s e v e n f a r m w o rk e r s
lay dead in front of the
gates of the CAT sugar
mill after state security agents and snipers
who were suspected to
be members of the Cojuangcos’ private army opened fire
at the strikers in what is now known
as the Hacienda Luisita Massacre.
Mang Pering ’s and his family
was there during the massacre. His
daughter, Flor, was hit at the back
while one of his sons was hit on the
buttocks.
After the massacre, the farm
workers painstakingly rebuilt the
picketline. Harassments and intimidation continued, though, resulting in the deaths of their union
officers – CAT president Ric Ramos
and HLI Director Tirso Cruz - and
staunch supporters – massacre
witness Marcelino Beltran, Tarlac
Councilor Abel Ladera, Fr. William
Tadena, Bishop Alberto Ramento,
among others.
When the strike was finally lifted
Luisita
farmers
go back
to basics
What
is more
redeeming...
is the actual
cultivation
of the land
that is
rightfully
theirs
art work: kendrick bautista. page design: k arl castro.
T
he Aetas moved with subtle dexterity, spreading their arms in imitation of
the dragonflies that signal the coming rains. Their footsteps descended
rapidly upon the wood, creating a cacophony that resembled the
fluttering of the insects’ wings.
For P395 per head, tourists may avail themselves of Zoobic Safari’s
commercial package, which features not just animals but also members of the Aeta tribes. An exhibit, dubbed “Aeta’s Trail,” entertains
visitors with a grand show of native dances and war rituals.
Behind the contrived performances, however, lies a deeper
story: one of continuing abuse against a marginalized culture
that has faced oppression throughout history.
Sugarland
It was in 1957 that the Cojuangco
family of Tarlac, clan of former
President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, acquired the 6,000-hectare
sugar producing hacienda from its
Spanish-owners, the Compania
General de Tabacos de Filipinas
( Tabacalera) using government
funds.
In 1988 during Pres. CojuangcoAquino’s term, the hacienda was
Cojuangcos shelled out a P5 million bond.
Starting all over again
It took almost two years for Flor
and her family to return to their
home in Barangay Balete, one of 11
villages comprising the hacienda.
“ Mahirap, parang nagsisimula
ka ulit,” (It is difficult to start all
over again.) Flor told this reporter
in an exclusive interview with Bulatlat right in the middle the 2.2hectare sugar land which has been
converted to a rice and vegetable
farm.
The farm workers in the hacienda are literally starting from
scratch since the strike has been
lifted more than two years ago, HLI
union president Boyet Galang said
in a separate interview. Galang has
had to flee the hacienda, too, since
he has been a long time target for
assassination. He now also stands
as the president of the Ugnayan
ng mga Manggagawa sa Asyenda
(UMA or Association of Hacienda
Workers), a national network of
farm workers.
Using funds provided by management as part of the final agreement ending the strike, Galang said
their union has built a cooperative
aimed at helping the farm workers
and their families to start planting
rice and vegetables in stead of sugarcane. Since two years ago, almost
half of the hacienda (or an estimate
of 2,000 hectares) has been converted to rice and vegetable farms.
The union cooperative provided
for the construction of deep wells
for irrigation and the acquisition
of farm inputs. The cooperative,
Galang said, is also starting to acquire farm machineries such as kuliglig (hand tractor) and thresher.
Rewarding
in October, scores of families had
to leave the hacienda fearing for
their lives. That included Flor ’s
family as she has been a target of
a series of black propaganda and
continued harassment for being an
active member of the farm workers’
union.
Distribute the land
On September 30, 2005, the
Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) recommended the revocation of the SDO aftera thorough
investigation of its implementation
in HLI and its severe implications
on the lives of farm workers.
In December 2005, the Presidential Agrarian Reform Committee
(PARC) decided with finality the
revocation of the SDO in HLI and
ordered the DAR to distribute parcels of lands of Hacienda Luisita
to its rightful owners – the farm
workers.
The Cojuangcos, however, asked
the Supreme Court (SC) for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).
The request was granted after the
Planting vegetables has been
rewarding, Flor said. She sells them
to neighbors and earn at least P500
($10.72) in three days, a far cry from
their P9.50 ($0.20) daily pay from
HLI years ago. “Basta matyaga ka
lang, kikita ka na may libreng ulam
ka pa kasi yung tanim namin, yun
na din ang pagkain namin,” (For as
long as you are industrious, you can
earn and at the same time provide
for your food from the harvest.)
Flor said.
But more than the monetary
compensation, what is more redeeming, Flor said, is the actual
cultivation of the land that is rightfully theirs.
Philippine Collegian | Martes 28 A go 2007
Sa paghihintay ng bus, sa
pagsakay ng jeep, sa pag­
lalakad sa mga lansangan
ng lungsod at kanayunan
– nalulunod tayo sa dagat ng mga mukha. Milyun-milyong
kababayan ang unti-unting umuukit ng kanilang pangalan sa ating
lipunan. Sa Anonimo, pangangalanan namin ang mga mukha at
bibigyang-mukha ang pawang mga pangalan lamang.
apag may kulay ang papel na ginamit
sa photocopy at may kakabit pang
maikling dasal, madali nang mapagtanto kung saan ito nanggaling.
Mula alas-otso ng umaga hanggang alassingko ng hapon, matatagpuan si Remedios
Ferranco, o mas kilala bilang Tita Remmie,
sa likod ng photocopying machine ng Filipiniana Section ng Main Library. Sa yayat
niyang mga kamay dumadaan ang sanlaksang
papel na pinagpapagurang basahin ng mga
estudyante.
K
Colored copy
Naging tanda na ni Tita Remmie ang
makukulay na papel na ginagamit niya sa
kanyang pagpo-photocopy. Iba’t ibang kulay
ang pamimilian – asul, berde, dilaw at rosas.
Mas mahal man nang walong piso kada rim
kaysa karaniwang puting papel, patuloy pa
rin niyang ginagamit ang kanyang makukulay
na papel. Para kay Tita Remmie, isa lang itong
simpleng pagkakawanggawa.
“Color gives life. Dahil hindi puti [ang mga
papel] at colorful ‘yung mga papers niya, in a
way, binibigyan niya ng kulay ang otherwise
walang buhay na mga readings.” ayon sa
isang estudyanteng madalas nagpapa-photocopy kay Tita Remmie.
Bagamat nagpalabas ang Business Concessions Office ng kautusan na puting papel
lamang ang dapat gamitin ng lahat ng nagpophotocopy sa UP, ipinagkikibit-balikat lamang ito ni Tita Remmie. Aniya, “ What the
students like are the colored ones to remove
boredom.” Ipinagpapalagay niya na kahit
papaano’y naiibsan nang kahit kaunti ang
hirap ng mga estudyante sa pagbabasa ng
sandamukal nilang babasahin.
Preface
Dala ng kahirapan, hindi na nagawang
tapusin ni Tita Remmie ang kanyang kursong
AB English sa UP Manila. Maaga rin siyang
nagkaanak at bumuo ng sariling pamilya.
Paglaon, minabuti niyang ipagpatuloy ang
kanyang pag -aaral sa pagkuha ng kur song Sekretaryal. Sa bilis na 81 salita kada
minuto sa pagta-type, kinuha siya ng Office
of the Student Affairs (OSA) bilang office
assistant.
Pagkalipas ng limang taong pamamalagi
sa OSA , pinili niyang lumisan dulot ng mga
panghahamak na natanggap niya dahil wala
raw siyang natapos.
Nagtrabaho muna siya para sa 19711972 Constitutional Convention hawak ang
isang supervisory position. Ngunit sadyang
malakas ang hila ng unibersidad. Kinalaunan, bumalik siya at nagtrabaho
nang 12 taon sa School of Economics
(SE) bilang administrative assistant. Dito rin niya sinimulan
ang kanyang trabahong
pagpo-photocopy.
Back to Back
napag-aralan,” sabi niya.
Sa haba rin ng panahon ng kanyang
pakikisalamuha sa mga estudyante, hindi
iilan ang umiyak at naglabas ng problema
sa kanya. “May nami-miss ang pamilya, may
kaaway ang nanay, at iba pa. Hindi naman
iba ang turing ko sa kanila, parang pamilya
na,” kuwento niya. Sa mga pagkakataong ito,
hindi siya nauubusan ng payong pang-alo sa
mga ito.
Masasabing bihasa na
rin si Tita Remmie sa pakikitungo sa mga estudyante.
May mga pagkakataong
hindi marunong maghintay
ang ibang nagpapa-photocopy; pinipilit sumingit
dahil kaunti lang naman
ang ipapa-photocopy. Sinasagot na lamang niya ito
ng, “Kahit wala rito ang mga
may-ari ng mga librong ‘yan, sa tabi nandiyan
naman yung mga mata nilang nakapaligid
lang at para akong sasaksakin. If you don’t
want to wait then you can go upstairs and
have it xeroxed there,” mahihiya ang nagpipilit sumingit, aalis, at mapapangiti na
lamang si Tita Remmie.
Bukas din siya sa pagpapautang sa mga
estudyante basta’t may maayos na dahilan.
Halimbawa nito’y kung naabutan na ng oras
ng pagsasara, walang panukli, o sadya talagang kapos sa pera ang estudyante.
Matindi ang malasakit ni Tita Remmie sa
mga estudyante gawa na rin marahil ng pagkabigo niyang makapagtapos. Kaya’t ginagawa
niya ang lahat ng paraan upang maipadama
sa mga estudyante ang pagsuporta niya sa
kanilang pag-aaral. Patunay nito ang mga
“Student’s Prayer” na inaabot niya kasabay
ng mga makukulay na photocopy. Laman
ng dasal ang paghingi ng pagpapala’t gabay
mula sa Diyos.
Marahil, sa
pagsisilbi sa
mga estudyante
niya nakikitang
umiinog ang
bawat araw niya
kahit sa pagtanda
Sa loob ng 29 na taon niyang
pamamalagi rito sa unibersidad,
marami na rin siyang naging hindi
magandang karanasan. Nariyan
ang minsa’y hagisan siya ng nakalamukos na pera ng isang estudyante sa hindi malamang kadahilanan. Kasama na rin dito ang
impit na hinanakit ni Tita Remmie
sa mga pambubuskang natanggap
niya dahil wala siyang pinanghahawakang bachelor’s degree.
Sa kabila ng mga ito, hindi naman siya
nagkimkim na sama ng loob. “Masaya naman
ako rito sa UP, 95 percent ‘yung masaya at
five precent naman ‘yung hindi. ‘ Yung five
percent, ‘yung iniinsulto ako kasi wala akong
Copy machine
Pawang may matatatag nang kabuhayan
ang apat na anak ni Tita Remmie. Dalawa sa
mga ito ang nasa ibang bansa na. Maluwalhati siyang nakatira ngayon sa bahay niya
sa Loyola Heights kasama ang anak niyang
babae at apo.
Kung tutuusin, wala na rin naman talagang
rason para gawin niya ang trabahong ito
dahil tumatanggap na siya ng sustento mula
sa kanyang mga anak at pensiyon mula sa
SSS. Bukod pa rito, pagmamay-ari rin niya
ang photocopy machines sa mga seksyong
Filipiniana, General References, at Social
Sciences ng Main Library.
Subalit aniya, “ You must work until you
go to the great beyond and you don’t know
when [that will be].” Marahil, sa pagsisilbi sa
mga estudyante niya nakikitang umiinog ang
bawat araw niya kahit sa pagtanda.
Para kay Tita Remmie, magpapatuloy siya
hangga’t kaya pa ng butuhan niyang mga
kamay na magbuklat ng libro at magpatakbo
ng photocopy machine.
litrato: timothy medrano. Disenyo ng pahina: ivan rerente at mark angelo ching.
Shely Rose G. Maling
Ngunit nang magkaroon ng sariling kooperatiba ang SE, kinailangan niyang lisanin
ang kanyang posisyon bilang administrative
assistant. Nadestino siya sa unang palapag
ng Main Library bago tuluyang namalagi sa
Filipiniana section, kung saan nasa ika-12
taon na siya ngayon bilang operator ng photocopying machine.
Philippine Collegian | martes 28 A go 2007
Taga-pitik
E
y, may demolisyon ngayon sa Amorsolo, pede ka ba magco­ver?”
Teks sa’kin ng editor habang
nasa klase ako. Walang ibang makakapagcover noong mga oras na ‘yon. Ilang
minuto lang ang demolisyon at isang oras
pa bago matapos ang klase. Kapag hindi
ako nagpunta agad ay mawawala ang balita,
lalampasan ako ng mga sandali at wala
akong litrato - walang katuwang na biswal
ang balita. At iyon na nga ang nangyari.
Hindi ko naabutan ang mga armadong blue
guard na nang-harass sa mga residente,
hindi ko nakuhanan ang mga shotgun na
nakasabit sa kanilang mga balikat at kung
paano nila giniba ang isang dampa habang
may tao pa sa loob. Kung walang kamera
ang isang residente doon, hindi mabibigyang-kulay ang balitang mababasa. Nabigyan man kami ng kontribusyong litrato,
nanghinayang ako na sana ako ang nakakuha noong mga oras na ‘yon. Tinandaan
ko: kung matulin ang oras, ang taga-pitik ay
kinakailangang mas mabilis din.
Hunyo 9, 2006, Mendiola
Unang assignment ko ang rali na iyon.
Unang beses ring nabugahan ng water
cannon ang Canon ko. Wala akong nagawa
kundi umilag at pumitik nang pumitik sa
kamera habang walang-awa at harap-harapang binubugahan ng marumi at mabahong tubig ang mga rallyista. Nalaman
Hiraya
lang ni ermat na naroon ako noong makita
niya sa Kulê ang kuha ko nang sumunod na
linggo. Hindi niya alam kung matutuwa
siya o hindi dahil iyon ang unang litrato
kong nalathala. Bakit daw ako kailangang
kumuha doon, eh marami namang ibang
balita. Nakalulungkot na nagiging normal
na sa paningin ng karamihan ang mga
ganoong eksena na sa dinadami-dami ng
balita ay hindi na nabibigyang-pansin.
Nakalulungkot at nakagagalit ding isiping
kahit isinasalpak na sa mukha ng marami
ang mga larawan ng karahasang tulad nito,
h i n d i p a r i n i to
tumitigil. Ngunit
patuloy rin sa pagpitik ang mga litratista. Dahil ang
kamera ay hindi lamang isang gamit
na pang-dokumento ng mga okasyon o
paglalakbay o masasayang eksena, kundi
sandata na nagpapaliwanag at nagpapadama ng katotohanan at naglalantad sa
mga itinatagong kasinungalingan. Naroon
ang litratista hindi upang maging saksi
lamang kundi bigyan ng pagkakataon ang
mas maraming tao na maging saksi. Sa madaling salita, ang mga litrato ay nagsisilbi
ring panggising, pangkalabit, pambatok
o pangyugyog sa tumitingin. Noong mga
sumunod na rali sa Mendio, natikman ko
na ang truncheon, shield, at sapilitang
kung
marahas ang
panahon, ang
taga-pitik ay
pangahas din
For Chris S. A.
I
n hindsight, Chris S. Agrava seemed
fortunate. That column on a banal
space on the right side of this page
regularly comes out every week. He
doesn’t have to contend with issues of
withholding of funds. No campaigns to
participate in, no repressive bidding laws
to wage a word war with. Chris definitely
has a lot to thank for.
It thus irks me that all he blabbers about
is how he was sent to the States in spite of
himself, or how he has lost all his passion
for his youthful convictions, or how the
spectacle of his former love seems to be
haunting him. He dishes out articles so
bitter I can almost taste it.
Unlike me, who was constantly under
pressure to craft “relevant” narratives. We
wouldn’t want to waste last year’s precious
Kule issues, especially in the face of the
violent conditions we lived through (and
continue to live in). You can check those
precious issues (18 all in all, including two
double issues, one four-page special, and
a Rebel Kule, not to mention a horde of
statements and news release). My regular
column System of a Down was one of the few,
if not the only significant, most enlightening segment in the last term’s editions.
paghatak ng pulis kahit pa suot ko ang press
ID. Kaya’t tinandaan ko: kung marahas ang
panahon, ang taga-pitik ay kinakailangang
pangahas din.
Halos lahat ay may kamera o cameraphone ngayon; kahit sino maaaring
kumuha, kahit sino maaaring makasagap
ng balita. At tuwing nasa mga coverage ako,
nakalulula ang mga naglalakihang kamera
at lente ng mga beteranong litratista sa
paligid. May ilan sa kanila na dating Kulê
at nagsimula rin sa simpleng mga gamit.
Mayroong mas mahalaga at makabuluhang
dapat kuhanan at mga istoryang kailangang
ilahad. Kaya’t tinandaan kong hindi lamang
kamera ang ginagamit sa pagkuha kundi
mata. Mapanuring mata.
Pagkausap nang walang salita
Kung ang pagkuha ng litrato ay paghahatid ng kuwento o damdaming hindi
madadaan sa mga salita, ang mismong
mga karanasan sa pagkuha ay hindi rin
mailalahad sa iisang litrato. Nagsisimula
pa lamang ako, kaya’t tinandaan ko na
ring kung karanasan ang pagbabatayan,
hindi nabibilang ang aral na dapat tandaan
kapag pumapasok sa isang larangan. Hindi
lamang sa teknikal na aspeto, kundi kung
paano isasabuhay ang mga inilalarawang
prinsipyo.
Noel Pacis Hernaiz
And you can only imagine my rage upon
finally meeting him. “Oh, so you’re the one
I replaced. Naka-ilang column ka nga ulit?”
That freakin’ tower of a guy with his belly
sticking out like it’s got a life of its own.
He was drunk, apparently, and his editors
had to apologize to me on his behalf. I was
told he writes brilliantly when he’s drunk.
“ Unlike you, who was always sober. Maybe
that’s why you weren’t too popular,” the
monster added with condescension so
thick I could cut it
with a knife.
Or perhaps I
could’ve just stuck
that knife into his
beer belly. I imagine
all his juices, creative or otherwise,
oozing out of his alcohol-ridden system.
Then he would kneel before me, white,
spotless paper on his trembling hands, and
ask, with all reverence, “ Where the fuck do
you get your inspiration?” I imagine him
still drunk even in that sordid state.
And what could I have told him? I
could’ ve asked to him to stare at the
mountains of Rizal from the window just
beside the only computer we have in the
I could’ve
told him,
for all I
care, that
he could
just perish
Chris S.
Agrava
Wala sa pana yan, nasa Indian yan.
office. Or stretch his oversized head out
and gaze at tricycle drivers quietly dozing
off while waiting for tireless commuters,
or vendors mechanically scooping out
spaghetti-flavored pansit and pansit-flavored spaghetti. I could’ve told him he
could wander around the campus at 3 am,
catch sex-crazed couples red-handed, pick
newly-transplanted sunflowers along the
University Avenue, smoke weed on the
stone benches while waiting for the rising
of the sun. I could’ve told him, for all I care,
that he could just perish.
I couldn’t blame him though. We all
have our own material conditions that
subsequently shape our consciousness.
And if Chris’s brand of writing is one of
inappropriately channeled rage and misplaced nostalgia, then let him be. I could’ve
told him to write a fuming article on the
anabated political killings, or a moving
piece about the two missing UP students, or
an engaging manifesto against the tuition
increase. Knowing Chris, however, it is sure
to sound differently.
On second thought, I could ask him to
lose some weight.
Violent Details
Tonight they draw their last breath,
because we are exhuming the dawn
from the grave of memories.
M
asyadong violent, a classmate said. “ You can achieve
change without the use violence naman ‘di ba?” another one asked. My seatmate
concluded, “ Marxism is
trite, not really the stuff for poetry.”
Julio Iluminado is deluded if he thinks
he can pull off a poem like that in a creative
writing class. Lucky for him the professor
suggested that everyone use a pen name
when submitting their pieces for a workshop
session.
Those last lines where simply too optimistic, nobody believed in a peasant uprising
these days. Why couldn’t he just talk about
the “void” or rant about commuting? Heck,
just put in a lot of sexual connotations and
he’s all set. Well, he can still write about the
“struggle” all he wants, he just needs it to fail
in the last instant. The more uncommitted,
the better. Let us fill in the blanks, I have a
rubber stamp for the word “futility.”
Maybe he’s still lured by the possibilities? I, for one, cannot blindly implicate
violence. He was talking about war, after all.
The language of the masses is inherently violent. When trying to claim the land from an
usurping landlord, a peasant may suddenly
lose all sense of etiquette and forget to say
“please.” After being paid a paltry sum compared to the billions amassed by his boss, I
don’t suppose a worker can even think about
pleasantries. It’s in black and white, they’d
want to wage war.
Of course, I don’t want to think so. Living
in a logically coherent world would be so
discomforting. It’s more comfortable when
things don’t make sense. Otherwise, I’d always be furious. I’d feel naked violence from
the compulsion to wake up every morning to
follow a daily regimen designed to drag me
to a pedagogical institution geared to train
me to become a humorless blob who couldn’t
care less if he is fairly compensated for his
work as long as he gets to eat three meals in
order to return to work the next day still as
a lifeless blob.
Julio Illuminado should have known
better. He got kicked out of the department
of political science because he was furious
all the time. He abandoned his parents in
the States because he’s angry every waking
moment.
Philippine Collegian | Martes 28 A go 2007
Contact us!
write to us via snail mail or submit a soft copy to Rm. 401, Vinzons Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. ••• Email us [email protected]. Save Word attachments in Rich Text Format, with INBOX ,
NEWSCAN or CONTRIB in the subject. ••• Fax us 9818500 local 4522. Always include your full name, address and contact details. ••• Contributions We are open for contributed articles from
student writers, subject to the approval of the Editorial Board. All submitted articles should have a maximum length of 400 words.
Of art, commerce
and freedom
Send in your opinions and feedback via SMS! Type:
KULE <space> YOUR MESSAGE <space> STUDENT
NUMBER (required), NAME and COURSE (optional)
and send them to
0915.941.4460
I
t all started with the unfurling of a
streamer saying “No to 50-50 share in
Art Fair!” Upon being notified of the
streamer’s contents, College of Fine Arts
(CFA) Dean Florentina Colayco quickly
ordered it removed, while the organizations responsible were making rounds
inviting students to a college assembly.
The CFA Student Council was holding
a special assembly at their office last August 24 when the Dean came and asked
if the Council had anything against the
Art Fair—a fund-raising activity initiated
by the CFA Administration involving an
exhibit by alumni, faculty and students,
primarily to construct FA org tambayans,
among others. Apparently, many students opposed the cut in shares of
artworks: 45-45-10, for the participating
artist, the project’s proceed fund, and
tax, respectively.
Based on the survey conducted by
the artists responsible for the streamer,
most of the FA students either did not
know about the 50-50 cut in shares, or
disagreed with such division. Upon the
arrival of the students who posted the
streamer, along with several students
recognizing the commotion, a heated
debate ensued. Points arose from the 5050 share being unjust (since even commercial galleries charge at a 60-40 cut at
most, for the artist and owner of gallery,
respectively), the inappropriateness of
required classes participating in the Art
Fair to base their grades on the sale of
artworks, rationalization of withheld tax
as the Fair shall be using College facilities, to the Dean being “disappointed”
with the protesting students as they,
she assumed, “don’t want to share” their
talents for a good cause. In the end, it was
agreed upon that participating students
in the Fair and the CFA Administration
set a meeting to resolve the percentage
share on artworks.
This is not the first dialogue and
protest between the CFA Administration and the students this year. Last
July, CFA College Secretary Romanlito
Austria proposed the abolition of the
CFA Freedom Wall and its subsequent
conversion into an “Art Wall.” As per
the proposal, interested parties, to be
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.
allowed to paint, must submit 3 studies
for “review and approval” of the dubious
Faculty- Students Relations Committee,
not to mention that no one can paint over
it for at least a month. It was approved
by the Dean.
It can be surmised that this action
did not come out merely for “timely UP
Centennial celebrations.” It is highly
possible that the origin of this censorship was the reprimand handed down
by the UP Administration for having
allowed “electioneering” when the wall
was painted with a political endorsement last May.
The Freedom Wall, however, is a
symbol of our cherished right to freedom
of expression. It has contained everything from doodles, adverts for student
activities, and even protest murals—one
of which even graced the front page of
the Philippine Daily Inquirer in February
2006 with its condemnation of PP 1017.
Ironically, our Dean defends this policy
by saying “there is no absolute freedom
in the world.”
Recently, a suspension of overtime
work was implemented after a student
painted the words ‘freedom wall’ across
the CFA administration’s pristine whitewash. Cost-cutting was also cited as a
reason for the suspension. Absurd and
vague as it is, students cannot help but
concede, especially when prodded by a
machine-gun-toting guard to leave the
CFA grounds.
Indeed, times have changed. Sadly,
even artists are curtailed of their freedom
of expression. It seems that policies from
administrative offices are getting more
and more commercialized—and wittingly
or not, repressive.
Angela Rae N. Sombillo
College of Fine Arts Representative
University Student Council
‘There was no hoarding’–NCPAG SC
I
t has come to our attention that, in
the editorial of the July 20 issue of
the Philippine Collegian, our Student
Council and its officers were imputed
with involvement in the alleged hoarding
of copies of the previous July 13 issue.
According to the editorial, “Nakatanggap
din ng ulat na ang mga kopya ng pahayagan ay palihim na itinambak sa opisina
ng konseho ng National College of Public
Administration and Governance.”
Contrary to what was stated, no
hoarding took place in the NCPAG. In
fact, both guards on duty that day did not
record any incident of hoarding nor any
other related event, as may be verified
in their respective logbooks. On the day
of the release of the said issue, copies
were available on the desk of the security
guard located at the front entrance of
our college. Until the afternoon of July
13, students were free to get copies. The
guards are available for the verification
of our averments.
Our Student Council respects the Collegian’s opinion in light of our Chairperson’s fraternal affiliation with the Sigma
Rho; however we wish to note and clarify
that he was out of the country when the
alleged hoarding happened. Apart from
the fact that hoarding the Collegian is
a despicable and abhorrent act, which
cannot and should not be condoned
by anyone, we wish to stress that our
accountability lies solely to the NCPAG
community and we cannot and shall not
allow ourselves to be influenced, much
less be used as a tool of parvenuism, of
any other organization. Our conscience
cannot allow us to betray the ends and
purposes of the Collegian in nurturing a
constantly aware, informed and vigilant
ANONG MASASABI MO SA
UMANO’Y MGA MALI NG PUBLIC
SCHOOL TEXBOOKS?
Get free publicity! Email us your press releases,
invitations, etc. DON’T TYPE IN ALL CAPS and,
go easy on... the punctuation!? Complete
sentences only. Dnt use txt lnguage pls.
Please provide a short title. Be concise, 100
words maximum.
acle moved to sept 4
The Alternative Classroom Learning Experience with its theme “ACceLErate Our
Fight for our Rights” is rescheduled on Sept
4 (Tues). Opening program at AS lobby, 12
pm. For any inquiry, please contact Bang
Dizon 0927.451.5169.
personal finance seminar
The University Student Council, together
with Colayco Foundation, invites all students to the free finance seminar “HATCH”
on Aug 29, 9 am.-12 pm, at the School of
Economics Auditorium. Free Hatching kits
to all atendees. For inquiry, please visit the
USC office, 2/F Vinzons Hall.
DUP’s “As You Like It”
Dulaang UP, on its 32nd theatre season,
stages William Shakespeare’s “As You Like
It” as well as its Filipino translation by the
late National Artist for Literature Rolando
Tinio, “Paano Man Ang Ibig.” Directed by
José Estrella, the romantic comedy features Richard Cunanan, Gary Lim, Mailes
Kanapi, Paolo O’Hara, Randy Villarama and
Nathasia Garrucha. The play runs Aug 29Sep 16 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater,
2/F Palma Hall. For more info, please contact the DUP office 926.1349 or 433.7840,
or Sir Anril Tiatco 0917.858.0734.
Rollie Abad Service Week
The UP Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity will
be holding its annual Rollie Abad Service
Week this Aug 27-31 in memory of the late
Rolando Abad, ’73. Featured service projects include: Aug 28 (Tue) – Engineering
Library Book Shelving and Donation Project
for the Needy (both run til Aug 31); Memorial mass for Abad and Tabtab • Aug 29
(Wed) – Gawad Kalinga; Palma Hall Fumigation • Aug 30 (Thu) – Marikina Boy’s
Town Outreach Program • Aug 31 (Fri)
– Tree Planting Activity.
studentry.
Inasmuch as the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press allows
journalists a wide latitude in the conduct
of reportage, we only sincerely desire
that published opinions will not unduly
besmirch our Student Council’s good
reputation and influence the readers’
thoughts and beliefs, without us being
able to voice out our part on the present
issue. Again, we denounce this alleged
act of hoarding and pray that our good
name be preserved lest substantial evidence, and not mere hearsay, is shown
to taint it.
We extend you our deepest gratitude in allowing us the opportunity to
be heard.
National College of Public
Administration and Governance
Student Council
Hnd lng mga public skul pati ibang priv8
skuls gumagamit dn ng mga txtbuks na hnd
karapatdapat inimprenta in d 1st place. Consider d history buks na mor on d surface events
lng ung nkalagay.Puro dates at names , ni wla
man lang sinasabi 2ngkol sa signfcance ng mga
kaganapang dniscus. Sana naman ayusin ang
mga aklat na gnagamit at taasan ng DepEd ang
kalidad ng mga txtbuks lalo na ng mga public
skuls otherwise di maiiwasang maging ‘tanga at
mangmang’ pa rin kahit ang mga nakakatungtong sa eskwela. 05-58905
d natl book devt board under DepEd shud
make necessary actions rgardng d mstakes on
r public buks. Such smple thngs matter as dey
may lead 2 a broader miseducation of d Filipinos.D issue had becum so pressing years now
nd yet ders fily no sgnficant efforts 2 addres
such. 05-29580
Dapat aksiy0nan yan ng DedEd kc kawawa
naman ung mga mag-aaral. Asan n ung sinasabing ‘quality education’? Paan0 pa makakapasok sa UP ung mga nasa public schools? Sabagay, tuition p lng problema n. 04-45133
Nbsa q s inquirer ung hul page artcle 2ngkol s mga mali s txtbuk, grbe npkasubtle ng mga
mali pro pwd mtatk s icp ng mga bta. Icpin ni0
tatak n pla ng pgkmalikhain ng mga Pilipin0 ang
pglu2to ng bangus?! 04-10115 bs stat
Mxad0ng bnbgyang pancn ang mga pagkakamali txtb0oks n bhirang gamitin at d rn
mxad0ng nbbgyang pncn s l0ob ng mga klase.
mas dapat pgtuunan ang mga gur0 n hndi lmang
bumababa ang dami kundi pti n rn ang kalidad
ng knilang pgtuturo. 06-57162 anneholic
Sa 22o lang..Nta2wa n lng ak0 s mga err0rs..
Parang.. H0w pathetic nman ung mga auth0rs
nun.. Kng gnun lng e g2wa nlng ako ng sarili
k0ng mga libr0! Yayaman pk0..^_^ 06-27393
Para sa mga MALI SA PUBLIC SCHOOL TXBOOKS! *@!ï how could you that! Anung karapatan nyo! 05-36391
ANO NGA BA’NG MGA MILAGRO
ANG NAGAGANAP SA UP
PAGSAPIT NG GABI?
may: 1 lumalabas n whyt lady,2 ngku-quickie s lagoon,3 humihithit s sunken,4 mgkaholdng-hands s oval,5 nghoholdap s ikot, 6 ngsspray
paint para s 1 bagong lipunan. 04-38113
me mga nagjujutes sa gitna ng sunken. 0560507
dito sa Kamia, kahit hindi pa gabi, bigla nalang tumutunog ang fire alarm at kusang namamatay . Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin malaman
kung ano ang misteryo sa likod ng pangyayaring ito. 04-61750
d lng s gbi my mlagro s UP, ultmo tnghaling
tapat my nggnap ding mga mlgro.mula lap2pan
s CASAA hngang c0ncrt s my CR.mas tlmak yang
mga yan s gabi! 05-14407
Andami ngmmake0ut at ngeexchage ng
sticky fluids..hehehe. is dw s mga fam0us n nahuling ngmmake0ut ay0n sa pr0f nmin e c mirriam santiago and h0rny bf then,narciss0..ewwww..disturbing. 06-57162 punky_and_chiko
wala na ‘kong nasesense na milagro sa may
sunken, bwal na kcng chumova dhl may curfew
nang ten pm. to hell!anu nman gagawn ntn dun
db? Gusto lng naming magpicnic! 05-00394
Wushu.. Itong kule tlga pa-iNosente epek
pa.. Alam n alam nman nila kng an0 ngya2ri pg
gabi! 06-27393
Sa sunken at sa lag00n lal0 Naku! Madulas
daw ang daan pagsapit ng umaga. Haha. 0413812, eng’g
Wla nmn mxdong mlgro s up pgspit ng gbi.
Minsn nga lng my inumn, tgyn, pulutn, asrn,
sun2kn, 2buhn, skskan, ptyn, dukutn, meron
ding hwkn, hlikan, hipuan, pasukn at kantu... Un
lang nmn. Wla na ata? 05-72362 omaydbest
nakunaku. Kung naghahanap ka ng milagro
sa lagoon ka na pumunta. Left, right, front, back
may couples & from their silhouettes obvious ang
kanilang ginagawa. Minsan parang gusto ko na
sila sigawan ng ‘get a room!’. Haha. 07-03984
Maraming milagro sa UP pg gbi. I should
know. Haha i enjoy them though i dnt do any.
Haha 05-36391
COMMENTS
guys dont u thnk na sobrang nega ng “aura”
ng kule? I alrdy have 4 kule issues and whnvr i
c dm on my dsk and start rereading them, i fil
dprsd. 06-55312
Mr.Glenn Diaz, a more thorough research
wud reveal that economics highly values educ
as a long term nvstmnt for a c0untry nd its people to succeed – n0t a ‘mere obligatory,money.
Making venture’. Never generalyz econ0mists
as ‘narrow minded’ jzt becoz u disagree with
Neri. Choose ur words mr.Diaz. 04-53271
On the article “Kupas-Angas”: [Ate] Shelly got
me thinking twice about statement shirts. Personally, I don’t find these shirts bad, except for
those ones that are sexually inspired. I actually
like them because somehow in my opinion, it reflects something about me although I am aware
of the fact that I may not be the only one who
may have that shirt. I think [Ate] Shelly was just
so negative about statement shirts, as a whole. I
think there are some sensible statement shirts
presents, but compared to the “angas” containing shirts, it’s just a fraction of a percent. Thanks
for the insight anyway. It’s a great help for our
group report. I love Kule forever! 06-21637,.blinx.
looove your kultura section for the aug16
ish. 06-52961
ilove ur Trend settng artcles. Made me sing
along wd Xtina Aguilera too.. I am beautfl n every
single way.. Boohoo to people trying en dying
2b wt dey r not en hail to those hu love hw dey r
created! – 03-27175 cha, ait
mga ate at kuya,ka2tpoz q lamang pong mgbasa n kule,at lam nyo po,naapreciate q p0 lhat
ng cnuculat ny0, spexialy po ung k0mix s huling
part ng kule, even th0ugh nd po aq nagaaral s
UP,nai2nthdhan q naman po kau.. So,kip up d
g0od work mga kua at ate,,break a th0usand
legz! tga QCPU po aq.. Tanx po.. Zaichoo_dzZAIZ
Kay chris agrava, iba ka.Kras ka ng utol ko.
05-00394
Kule tlga ang d best..Klang ang buhay isk0
pg wla sya.. Sna nman tanung ny0 next kng ano
ung magi2ng reaksy0n ng up students kpag
binara ng mga tga ibang skul.. Alam ny0 n un..
06-27393
Astig nman ng kule! Kht nila2it n ng haraphrapan ung mga artcles nd stuff, nila2gay nyo
pa rin s c0mments! Go Kule! Btw, sna ung
eksenang peyups bwasan ung gay lingo, hndi kc
mxad0ng maintindhan. 05-71925 k0sh bsme
SAGUTAN
To 06-07841: Anong unity ang pinagsasabi
m0? Ayaw mag give way ng UP admin kaya 4
unity’s sake, papayag nlang tau sa TOFI? Ang
galing. Tell that 2d freshmen. 03-21181 cswcd
To 06-11298: s ssunod lgyn mo ng lock or
alarm ang payong mo pra d mwala. Hehe. Hahaha. Joke! 06-24054
PANAWAGAN
ung kumuha ng payong n lyt blue
(2folds,black handle)s PH224, pakibalik s
pinagkuhaan mong chair!pls lng.same sked
kng klan mo knuha,para wlng kumuhang iba.o
kya iwan mo s sampa res hall ksma ng stud no.
ko. 04-38113
nEXT WEEK’S QUESTIONS
1. Sa tingin mo, nakatutulong nga ba ang ‘holiday economics’ ni Gloria Arroyo?
2. Ano’ng masasabi mo sa pagbabalikan nina
Ruffa at Yilmaz?
Philippine Collegian | Martes 28 A go 2007
Choz Edichon
Choz Prof
So kakaiba ang level ng wafez ng prof na
itech! Itago natin siya sa pangalang Jimineel
Nivineel. Ang fatal, di na nagbago ng syllabus
sinz kopong-kopong! At mas fatal pa, nagwrite ng 2,000-page novelah at ni-require
ang mga utaw sa klashe niya na i-read at
i-review ang kanyang obra maestrang nakaka-haggard at walang katapusan! Ten
years from now, di pa
rin nila siguro taposh
basahin.
Choz na Choz!
May isang friendship ng friendship
ko, avah, hindi nazenz na kulettian ako
— grabush manlait ng
nagkasabay kaming
kumuha ng kulet!
Friendship of my
friendship (FOMF): Bakit sorta kinda like-a
may pagka-negative ever ang mga balitah?
Me: Kasi —
FOMF: Kasi sinetch ba naman yang mga
kulettes? Minority lang sila sa peyups devah?
Me: Pero —
FOMF: Balaj! Parang walang good newz
sa universe!
Me: Kulette ako.
FOMF: Ah... uhm... er... nakakatawa yung
komix noh?
Mini-Choz
Environmental from p.5
During ze baha dahil kay bagyong Hegay, may vaklang lokang pabanjing-banjing
sa akad oval, parang ballerina ang dramah
kung tumip-toe sa sidewalk. Chikaz niya sa
friendship niya, “It’s like nagtapon ako ng
P200 sa bashurah! Goodbye pedicure!”
Wala lang... sharing...
LA Z Y D AYS
candice anne reyes
Choz na Bagong Regulation
Totoo ba ito?! Walang tigil to da max
ang dagsaan ng e-mail, binabalitang bawal
na daw magyozi ang mga utaw sa peyups!
Haller! Magiging usok-freeh na daw ang ating
campush. E devah ang lawakish ng lupa, at
may mga private communities sa loob? So
never ever na silang pwede magyosi in their
own tahanan? Anuveh naman naman naman! Gawin batash daw ba ang yozi ban?
Good luck sa pagpigil sa mga ishko’t ishka
sa pagyozi, e super duper walang kasing
stressful ng buhay peyups. Nakadagdag pa
itech sa stress, magyo-yozi na nga lang, kailangan pang i-hide from da aushorichies!
L al a L afayet te
Bukas pa rin ang Kulê para
sa mga bagong layout
artist, ilustrador, web
staff, at mga manunulat
sa balita, lathalain at
kultura
[ W r i te r s ] Bring two bluebooks,
a pen, and a portfolio of sample works (may be
submitted later). You may join News, Features, or
Kultura. Filipino and/or English writers welcome.
[ A r t i sts ] Submit a portfolio
of your works. Illustrators, bring bond paper and
art materials of your choice. Web staff and layout
artists, bring 2 bluebooks and a pen. Exams may
be taken anytime at the Kulê office, Room 401,
Vinzons Hall. Freshies are most welcome! For
questions, text Jerrie 0920.308.2303 or email
[email protected]
TFI from p.3
Philippine Collegian Nº 10
Martes 28 Ago 2007
D
ISCLAIMER: This work
is written subject to the
condition that it shall
not, by any way of trade
or otherwise, be sold or otherwise
circulated without the writer’s and
publisher’s prior consent in any
form of binding or cover other than
that in which it is published and
without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on
the subsequent reader.
People are in line, waiting for
their turn. The woman operating
the photocopying machine is
working double time. Skilled
fingers work their way through
the book, page by page. Soon she
will have finished making the 23rd
copy of the book that a professor
assigned for his class. She hands
the copy to the student standing
in front of the counter and after
receiving payment, immediately
starts working on the
next copy.
For many students
and professors, the
photocopying machine
is indispensable. The
“xerox” (a brand name
used erroneously as a
generic name) machine
takes care of problems
such as unavailability
of books and sky-high
book prices.
by virtue of Republic Act 8293 or
the Intellectual Property Code.
Photocopying machine operators
in the SC are aware of this as well.
However, they claim that they do
not reproduce entire books - only
chapters - and that they only reproduce books that are assigned
by professors.
Last December, for instance,
police reportedly raided one of
the photocopying stalls in the SC
where a law book was allegedly
being reproduced. Establishments
were quick to deny reproducing
such published works, hastily commenting that “’di kami nagxe-xerox
ng law books dito kasi alam naming
bawal yun” and “hindi kami nagphophotocopy ng buong libro dito,”
when asked to confirm the prevalence of the practice.
Mirror image
It is easy to situate the condition
that prompts students and professors to rely heavily on photocopying
instead of availing themselves of the
original copies of various texts. Struggling
students cannot be
expected to purchase
an expensive book
which will most likely
be used sparingly
during the course of
the semester. A single
book in the library,
meanwhile, is always
elusive since students
are often competing to
score a copy.
Unrepentant, the student then
goes to the photocopying stalls for
a cheap reproduction. Unwittingly,
he/she imbibes the predicament
of so-called “ Third World” intellectuals. The student, evidently,
does not picture himself/herself
as the author of such books which,
in the future, might end up in the
photocopying stalls of the SC. The
pursuit of an academic degree,
after all, is only a means to gain a
competitive edge when trying to
secure a self-sustaining job under
such condition.
It is through this that the “ Third
World” condition becomes ap parent. The term “ Third World”
underlines a systematic state of
It is through the
photocopied
material that
the Third World
intellectual is
alienated from
his material
conditions
No copying
Located in the heart of the
academic community, the UP
Diliman Shopping Center (SC) is
a haven for establishments that
offer these services. Libraries also
provide photocopying services
for books, especially those that
cannot be checked out. Photocopying volumes of books has
indeed become the norm despite
laws that prohibit the unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted
works.
The Intellectual Property Office ( IPO ) has taken measures
to regulate the reproduction of
published works. It has been
ensuring the strict observance of
legally reprinting authors’ works
destitution exemplified mainly
by an economy that is import-dependent and export-oriented. The
Third World intellectual, in this
sense, imports expensive academic
outputs in the form of books and
eventually exports his/her cheap
labor to serve as infrastructure
for developed countries’ academic
pursuits.
Photocopying seemingly be comes the means to negotiate
with such condition. It is through
cheap reproductions that students
acquire knowledge. Hence, it is
through the photocopied material
that the Third World intellectual is
informed of or alienated from his
material conditions.
Copy cats
Among the many books usually
lined up for photocopying is Terry
Eagleton’s, a prominent Marxist
critic. As he succinctly explained,
the mode of production by which
literary works are made factors
heavily in the study of literature
itself. The copies of his work and
the evident unavailability of the
original bolster the cited position.
Writers, apparently, are caught
in the fabric of a profit-driven publishing industry. Under this condition, the dominant mode of literary
production is governed mainly by
capitalist relations. As long as this
is so, writers and academicians remain dependent on compensations
and royalties from the sale of their
books either for their very survival
or for the maintenance of their
status as revered intellectuals.
Photocopying, however, strips
the author of his institutional power
– his degree and position. Photocopying essentially “objectifies”
the literary field, which, following
sociologist Pierre Bourdieu’s position, compromises the illusionary
function of the author who holds
the symbolic capital in the cited
field. He is no longer god and,
subsequently, becomes like the
book itself: summoned at will,
manipulated, even bastardized
in reproduction. In the photocopying stall, bare necessity is
exalted as the higher deity.
The photocopying machine
spits out the last two pages of the
book, photocopied on one page to
save money. The operator’s lithe
hands flip through the pages,
making sure that there are no
blank papers inserted between
copies. He piles them, aligning the
pages by stacking them against
the counter swiftly as if he has
done it at least a thousand times.
The student next in line hands out
two hardbound books from the
library, the pages are all marked to
indicated the pages to be copied.
The queue shows no sign of exhaustion.
art work: ivan rerente. page design: mark angelo ching.
Mikael Angelo S. Francisco