BOR appoints Guevarra as AP

BCR legitimacy, on question
Rumors of the alleged illegality of the program
Bachelor in Communication Research has put to an
end after concerned parties agreed that the issue was
resolved.
The BCR, the newest program offered by
the CoC, recently became a subject of inquiry as
spreaded rumors includes that the said course was
not accredited by the Board of Regents (BoR), and
the possible invalidity would result to dissolve the
BCR I-1 class.
CoC Student Council Vice President Bianca Lapuz
BCR/see p2
BOR appoints Guevarra as AP
Katherine B. Garcia
Due to another legal
impediment, the PUP Board
of Regents (BOR) resorted to
appointing Dr. Dante Guevarra
as the University Acting
President (AP) for four years,
in the latest BOR meeting held
last November 2 at the Hotel
Rembrandt.
The said decision was
m a d e a f t e r a Te m p o r a r y
Restraining Order (TRO) issued
by the Quezon City Regional
Trial Court (QCRTC) was
presented an hour before the
meeting, prohibiting the BOR
or any university official to
appoint a university president
and Dr. Guevarra from sitting
and voting as member of the
Board.
(November 2) should not be
upheld for the said proceeding
did not reach a quorum,
disabling the Board to act as
a body.
The BOR, according
to Ofilan has violated the
Commission on Higher
Education Law by counting Dr.
Guevarra, the representatives
of the National Economic
Development Autority (NEDA),
Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) and the
Chairmen of the Congressional
Committees on Education and
Culture as members of the
Board.
not to participate in
the voting and left the
Board room.
According to
Board Secretary Atty.
Estelita Wi Dela Rosa,
the four Regents
gave up their right
to vote, leaving the
Board with only five
remaining Regents.
The appointment of
Dr. Guevarra was
unanimous since the
remaining five all
voted for Guevarra.
The highest
policy making body
opted to appoint an
Favoring Guevarra
AP while there is a
Faculty Regent Anastacio TRO hindrance and
Gabriel, Alumni Regent Jose the other court rulings
Abat, Student Regent Henry are still unsettled, STILL NO LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT. Dr. Dante Guevarra was
Questioning legalities
The petition for TRO was Enaje, Private Sector Regent in order to suffice, appointed as the University Acting President for four years in the latfiled by Mr. Joel V. Ofilan, Eleuterio Coronel and BOR if not really answer est BOR meeting held last November 2.
Student Council President of Chair Dr. Carlito Puno all the urgent call of all
the College of Law.
favored for Guevarra to be sectors in the PUP community
“With Dr. Guevarra as should never forget that the
Ofilan cited in his petition appointed as the University for a legitimate president.
the Acting President, he now community is in need of a
that Dr. Guevara, being an AP.
has the authority to answer legitimate president, we have
Officer in Charge, has no voting
On the other hand, Regents Same powers
the pleas of all sectors in the to continue demanding for it,”
power in any BOR meeting for Graciano Yumul of DOST,
Dela Rosa also cleared PUP community but still we said SR Henrie Enaje.
he is not a Board member.
Atty. Roldolfo Noel Quimbo that although Dr. Guevarra
He also pointed that the of Senate, Atty. Armi Mina was only appointed as an
decision last October 16 to Dayot-Corpuz of Congress Acting President, he still has
finally appoint a president in and Representative of Rolando the same powers of a legitimate
the following Board meeting Tungpalan of NEDA decided president.
Robinson Lagunday
yells of “CoC Fight!” and “CoC,
The College of Communication Galing ng PUP”.
Pep Squad cheered all the way
“Siguro yung nagpanalo
to the top with its rhythmic sa’min ay yung spirit. Kasi inenjoy
Student Council President
The selection process was moves and awesome liftings namin yung competition,”
Ma. Elena Abundo once headed by OIC Vice President and pyramids executed in full Juancho Bejar, one of the
again brought pride and for Student Services Dante unison amid the uproar of the cheerleaders, said.
honor to the College of V.Gedaria. Those who passed CoC students at the jampacked
CoC dethroned the back
C o m m u n i c a t i o n a s the paper screening were PUP Gym, October 10.
to back champion PUP-Taguig
s h e b a g g e d t h e M o s t interviewed by the chosen
Dressed in white with who settled for a runner-up
Outstanding Student Pylon judges from Land Bank, green and maroon lining while College of Business
Award, the highest award Department of Education resembled to the CoC shirt, the finished a strong third.
given to the five most and Marco Delos Reyes, cheering squad had a month of
“Evident sa competition na
outstanding students in the National Union of Students preparation to conceptualize united and CoC. Nakuha namin
university.
of the Philippines (NUSP) the cheer that was supposed yung support from the CoC, Dr.
Abundo was chosen President. The selected to be held last September 29 Soriano, faculty, and students.
a l o n g w i t h t wo o t h e r students were interviewed but was postponed due to the Talagang laban ito ng CoC,” Bejar
students form College of according to their academic typhoon Milenyo.
added.
Office Administration and achievements, leadership
Getting the full support
Pe t e r A d e l b e r t h , J M
Business Teacher Education qualities and community of the CoC community, from Valenzuela and Terrence
(COABTE), one from College involvement.
College Dean Dr. Robert J a m i l l a n o w e r e t h e
of Science (CS) and another
T h e P y l o n Aw a r d Soriano, the faculty staff and choreographers of the cheer
one from PUP Laboratory was also given to the most the students, the Pep Squad together with the collective
High School (LHS).
outstanding faculty, employee came in high spirits at the ideas of the Pep Squad.
They were awarded at and student organizations in actual event and truly enjoyed
CoC last bagged the
Intelligence and Dedication. Abundo
proved that she has both after bagging the the Office of the President the university.
their performance with the championship crown way back
Pylon Award.
last October 2.
by Annabel Nuñez morale boosting chant and 2003.
COC Pep Squad Emerges Champ
SC Prexy, Pylon Awardee
PUP Cheering Competition held
PUP celebrates 102nd Founding Anniv
James Brian Ona poses beside his winning photo during the
6th Art Petron National Student Art Competition awards day.
Two COC students
prevail in Art Petron
Two College of Communication
students showed visual
artistry with the use of their
lens by winning in the 6 th
Art Petron National Student
Art Competition, Black and
White Photography which was
awarded last August 31 at the
Petron Mega Plaza, Makati.
Wi t h t h e t h e m e A l a y
Sa Sining Pinoy (Diwa ng
Pagkatuto) which focuses on
the indigenous arts of the
Filipino, James Brian K. Ona,
and Jophel Ybiosa was able to
depict the inherent creativity
of the Filipino in art through
images.
Ona (BJ 4-1) bagged first
place on the said category
with his photo entitiled
“Karunungan Mula Kay
Lola”. The picture portrays a
grandmother weaving a linen
cloth of Barong Tagalog while
her granddaughter watch
how the art of weaving was
forever woven to the fabric of
grandmotherly love.
On the other hand, Ybiosa
(RC 4-4) capped two runnerup prizes in his entry “Sto.
Niño ni Niña” and “Kultura ng
Kasuotan”. Ybiosa pictured the
innocent smile of Niña carrying
the icon of Sto. Niño while his
other entry depicts two men
wearing native textile cloth
with an attractive wall in the
background.
With a total of eight entry
in the competition, Ona was
thankful in winning in the
Art Petron. He said that he is
doubly happy with his outright
victory with only his first try.
“Sa tingin ko ang nagpanalo sa
akin ay yung choice ng subject ko
at saka syempre yung knowledge
ko about photography,” Ona
disclosed.
Though he didn’t have any
formal visual training, Ybiosa
proved that it is not a hindrance
in winning in the Art Petron.
Also a runner in the 4 th Art
Petron Tilt in Photography last
2004, he said that his continuous
joining on the said competition
is instrumental in obtaining
knowledge in photography.
“Yung distinguishing factor
ang isa sa mga hinahanap ng mga
judges at yung pagiging unique
ng photo ko ang sa tingin kong
nagpanalo sa ‘kin,” Ybiosa said.
Ona received P30,000
check, an Art petron trophy
carved by National Artist and
Art Petron Chairman Napoleon
Abueva and souvenir form
Art Petron. Ybiosa pocketed
two P15,000 che an Art Petron
trophy and souvenir.
The National Competition
had six Grand Prize winners
and six runners-up. Art Petron
has the full rights on the
winning entries to be used in
the 2007 calendar and other
advertisements.
by Robinson Lagunday
In cooperation with Art.Kom
Student Attache holds
September Affair
Student Attache James Jan
Casumpang in cooperation with
Art.Kom and the Office of the
Dean launched last September
25-29 the second “An Affair to
Remember,” a weeklong activity
and seminar for CoC students
with the theme: Utilizing CoC
Strengths thru specialized
expositions.
The event, which was an
original concept by Bachelor
in Journalism students back
in 2001, was unfolded last
September 25.
The first day of the event
featured Music Video Festival
by the Second year Broadcasting
students.
Casumpang together with
Art.Kom introduced on the
second day of the event the Ad
Astra, the Official Newsletter of
the office of the Student Attache
and Art.Kom and Mind You
Project.
Heavy rains and typhoons
didn’t hamper the RC 4-1 aand
RC 4-3 to conduct the Aspects
of Film Production, an exhibit
and fashion show showcasing
the creativity and ingenuity of
broadcasting students in film
diorama, prosthetics make-up,
natural make-up, character
make-up, musical scoring, and
promotion and design.
Supervised by College
Dean Dr. Robert Soriano, the
highlight of the event is the
exhibit and the fashion show
of RC 4-1 and Rc 4-3 clad in
prosthetics and make-up.
The seminars on Graphic
Bringing a festive atmosphere
in the largest state university in
the country, the Central Student
Council spearheaded a series of
activities in celebration of PUP’s
102nd Founding Anniversary,
October 2-6, with the theme
“PUP Fairsident. We Want
You!”
The weeklong celebration
kicked off with a grand parade
participated by thousands of
PUP students.
Theme building activities
like the Obstacle Race and Laro
ng Lahi were also conducted
aiming to promote peace and
solidarity among the students.
Broad Circle
goes Radio
Voice of the Youth (VOTY), a
non-partisan, non-sectarian,
non-profit, civic, youth-led,
information and advocacy
yo u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n , h a s
recently invited BroadCircle
to join its roster of juvenile staff
in their youth-oriented radio
show, Voice of the Youth sa Radyo:
Ito Ang Tinig Mo!
This live radio talk show,
which is written, produced
and hosted by the people of
VOTY, discusses ordinary
youth issues with great impact
on the teenage populace. Every
episode, they invite guests to
share thoughts and opinions on
a specific topic. Other features
of the show are segments
such as Balitang Kabataan,
Voluntime, and E-Liham.
BroadCircle was made
known to VOTY through
Richardson ‘RS’ Mojica,
Chairman of BroadCircle
and also a member of VOTY.
“When they learned that I’m a
Mass Comm student and the
chairman of BroadCircle, they
requested me to ask volunteers
for the show, and so here we
are,” explains RS. Right now,
core group members of the
BroadCircle are exclusively
given the opportunity to be
on the show, a privilege for
the active members of the
organization.
T h e s h o w a i r s e ve r y
Sunday, from ten to eleven in
the morning, over DZME 1530
KHZ Radyo Uno.
by Jan Meynard Nualla
Design and Desktop Publishing,
English Proficiency and Lecture
on Media Management which
were postponed due to the
typhoon Milenyo are expected
to be conducted next semester.
The CoC Photo Mural-an
inauguration and exhibit of
the officials of CoC expected to
kick-off this semester.
Asked on how did he come
up with the second “An Affair to
Remember,” Casumpang said,
“It’s so hard for me to conduct
this activity because I’m only
one, so I lack manpower. What
I did is to look for organizations
to tie up with me. Also, this
serves as training ground for me
in my future as a good leader.”
by Robinson Lagunday
Ramon Josue
Mary Jane Mallari & Joanne Llobrera
The much awaited grand
finals of the PUP Idol ’06 was
held at the Claro M. Recto Hall
on October 3, making College of
Communication’s John Vincent
Decena as this year’s campus
singing sensation.
In cooperation of
Commission on Student
Organization Accreditation
(COSOA), a basketball
friendship game and
acquaintance party was held
on October 4.
To close the celebration,
the finals of the “Stop the
Killings! Start the Jamming!”
band festival was held on
October 6, featuring local bands
from PUP as well as from the
mainstream.
Prior to the weeklong
celebration, an academic
competition was also organized
by the administration
participated by different
colleges from the Branches
and Extensions.
BCR Legitimacy on question
from p1
made initial inquiry regarding
the matter as information
reached her the course is not
yet in good position.
Moreover, Lapuz talked
to BCR president Ebenezer
Bonbon to verify this claim and
suggested that the class should
make a letter of inquiry address
to the CoC Dean and the Vice
President for Academic Affairs
to stop the doubts and queries
of the program.
But even before the letter
is made, concerned parties
believed that the issue was
settled.
In a letter addressed to
Engr. Dante Gedaria, OIC-Vice
President for Student Services
and External Affairs, Dr. Robert
Soriano said in his letter that
the BCR issue was simply a
‘nuisance in communication’.
Dr. Soriano requested for
the copy of the minutes of
the May 8 Academic Council
Meeting to Engr. Gedaria which
Ms. Lapuz sought to clarify and
finally closed out the issue.
But the document is still to be
presented.
Ms. Lapuz also had a
casual talk with Prof. Randy
Alcantara faculty assistant
of Dr. Gedaria in which the
former inquired about the
possible implications if the
course had not been approved
by the BOR.
Prof. Racidon Bernarte,
one of the proponents of the
Communication Research
Course said that VPSSEA is
not the right office to inquire
but the VPAA.
The VPAA is accountable
for all new programs and
curricular revisions approved
by the body.
H o we ve r, M s . L a p u z
claimed that it was just a casual
talk.
Engr. Gedaria lent Ms.
Lapuz last September 7 a copy
of the proposed curricular
revision of COC at the
Academic Council Meeting,
also, the University Registrar
Prof. Melba Abaleda confirmed
that all new programs and
curricular revisions were
approved by the body.
And the COC Student
Council Vice president was
convinced. “Hindi magiging
legal kung hindi dumaan sa
proseso, approved ang BCR
ng Academic Council, VPAA at
BOR,” Prof. Bernarte said
“We just wanted to clear
out the rumors and we believed
that the issue was settled,”
Bonbon said.
The PUP is only the
second university to offer a
Communication Research
Course, next only to University
of the Philippines. by Robinson
Lagunday & Ramon Josue
CoC holds annual Sportsfest Intrams
In line with the theme,
“CoC: Soaring Higher Through
Sports”, the MassComm
students, faculty members
and administrators, with full
energy gathered for the annual
sports festival, September 5-9.
The five day celebration
was organized by the Student
Council, headed by Committee
on Cultural Sports Chair Franco
Tarnate Jr.
On the first day, Nelia
Arevalo of BBrC IV-3 emceed
the invocation to formally
open the sports activity in
the CoC car park. Each game,
which has been scheduled
daily, was participated by year
Basketball
Green Team
Volleyball
(M)- Green
(W)- Red Team
Badminton
(M)
levels. Color-coded scheme
was imposed throughout
the whole festival. Freshmen
were identified as Green team,
Sophomores as Yellow team,
Juniors as Blue and Seniors,
Red team. Due to lack of
equipment, table tennis was
pulled out from the game list.
Declared as the overall
champion for the CoC Olympics
’06, Green Team cheered for the
victory. “Naging successful
naman yung celebration ng
sports fest, kasi suportado sya ng
students as well as professors,”
Tarnate disclosed.
by Lovely Temporada &
Ma. Victoria Conde
Single- Green
Doubles- Green
(Aljohn Agunday and
Hector Agano)
Chess
Red (Leonard Hutulla
RC IV-1)
Scrabble
(W) Asia Carigma (RC II-4)
Word Factory
(M)Robinson Lagunday
(BJ IV-1)
(W)- Angelica Arra de
Jesus
Editorial
S
LEADERS
Editorial Board 2006-07
tudent leaders of this college should be reminded
on to whom they are really for.
The move by the CoC Student Council last August
to once and for all clarify the appropriate functions
of the Communication Society has heaved concerns
not only from the members of the organizations in
CoC but also from the whole studentry as well. For
what it’s worth, it has brought back the long over due
issue on who should be the governing student body
in the college.
For the record, student governance is not, and
should never be the role of an academic organization
or even by a student appointee, may it be done by the
highest ranking official in the college. Leave the job
to the Student Council. They are, in the place, voted
by the students.
But this is not just an issue on who should have
the mandate and authority. It’s inadequate to just
look at things that way. If there’s anything that the
CoC students should learn from the issue, it is to
look beyond the surface of everything that’s being
spoon-fed to them by their leaders and even by the
administrators. Primarily because in everything
that’s happening within the confines of this college,
the students are primarily the ones accumulating the
effect, may it be on new policies or political bickering.
It is about time they get involved. There should be no
place for passivity, especially when their rights and
welfare and of the people around them, are at stake.
Complacency impedes development. In this
case, it has led to years of malpractice, resulting to
more conflicts between organizations. Overlapping
functions are the proper term. More so, it has bred
confusion from the ranks of the studentry. Such thing
that student leaders must never do –to mislead the
students. If so, their credibility will be put on the line
thus, losing the trust of the students.
Most importantly, student leaders hold their
respective positions not for their own gratification
(shame on them if they do so), but because they are
committed to serve their fellow students. Rendering
service in its truest sense. No more. No less. A true
student leader does not isolate himself from the rest
of his class. He lives and breathes with them. He
serves not for prestige, but because that’s what he
ought to do.
More than three months have passed, and the
issue is gradually dying down. But let it not be
forgotten. The very same people who not once but
for many times have wronged the students are still
in this college. But this time, the students must know
on what should be done.
Acting Editor in Chief Katherine Garcia
Acting Associate Editor Annabelle Nuñez
News Editor Robinson Lagunday
Features Editor Ronalyn Paderes
Literary Editor Sanipilip Umaguing
Culture Editor Ian Emmanuel Urutia
Ma Victoria Conde
Juliet Capili
Jerome Philip Ricamata
Mary Jane Mallari
Jan Meynard Nualla
Joanne Llobrera
Staff Writers
Artists Edryan Lorenzo
Karenina Claire Ramos
Photographers
James Brian Ona
member
College Editors Guild
of the Philippines
(CEGP)
Alyansa ng Kabataang
mamamahayag
(PUP)
Pagharap sa panibagong kabanata
Ronalyn Paderes
Hindi ko maipaliwanag kung ano ang nagtulak sa
akin upang sumali sa isang institusyong sinasabing
ang kasaysayan ay tila higit pa sa isang alamat
– isang pahayagang dumaan sa represyon, matagal
na nanahimik, halos patay sa loob ng dalawang
taon, napagkaitan ng karapatang magpahayag,
makapaglingkod at makapagbalita ng ayon sa
katotohanan dahil sa mga usaping may kaugnayan
sa “hindi raw pagiging opisyal nito” at dahil na rin sa
kawalan ng pondo mula sa mga estudyante…
Muling nagbalik ang pahayagang inaakala ng
iba na nabubuhay na lamang sa nakaraan matapos
ang mahabang kasaysayan ng represyon. Ito na ang
pangalawang isyu mula noon. Ngunit sa pagkakataong
ito’y hindi lang bilang isang hamak na publikasyong
sumubok bumangon, dahil sa mga oras na ito’y
nakamit na namin ang noo’y tila suntok sa buwan
na pangarap – ang kilalanin bilang Official Student
Publication ng College of Communication (CoC).
Noon, naiinis ako sa katotohanang ang College
of Engineering ay may tinatawag na Spectrum. Wala
akong hinanakit o kahit na anong negatibong puna sa
nasabing pahayagan, nakakainis lang ang sitwasyon.
Masakit lang para sa akin na kung sino pa ang mga
engineering students ay s’ya pang may opisyal na
pahayagan at malayang nakakapaglabas ng diyaryo
nito.
Bilang journalism student dito sa CoC, nakakahiya
para sa akin na wala man lang tayong sariling
pahayagan noon, na animo’y wala tayong sapat na
kakayahan upang magsulat at maglathala.
Subalit sa totoo lang, higit na nakakainis at
nakakalungkot na tila walang masyadong pakialam
ang karamihan sa estudyante ng CoC. Hindi naman
masama ang magpakadalubhasa sa pagsayaw,
pagkanta, pag-arte at paghubog pa sa ibang
kasanayan. Ayos lang din ang magpakahenyo’t
magsunog ng kilay upang magtamo ng mataas na
marka pero sana naisip din ng iba ang kahalagahan ng
official student publication, hindi lang dahil ang ibang
kolehiyo sa PUP ay meron nito.
Mahalagang mayroon tayong ganito, hindi para
makipagsabayan sa iba, hindi lamang dahil ang isang
pahayagan ay nararapat sa ating kolehiyo bilang
tahanan ng mga susunod na media practitioners
at hindi lang dahil insulto sa atin ang kawalan nito.
Importanteng meron tayong sariling pahayagan dahil
ito’y bahagi ng ating karapatan at kalayaang magsulat,
magbalita, at makaalam ng kung anong kaganapan at
isyu hindi lamang sa apat na sulok ng silid-aralan, sa
loob ng CoC at PUP bagkus maging sa kung ano ang
kalagayan ng lipunang ating ginagalawan.
Ngunit ilan lang ba ang nakaisip na mahalaga ito?
Ilan lang ba ang nakaisip na magtayo ng pahayagan?
Ilan lang ba ang lumaban para sa Dakom? Ilan lang
ba ang natira para hindi sumuko sa kabila ng katiting
na pag-asa para sa muling pagbuhay sa institusyong
ito?
Hindi ko sasabihing isa ako sa mga nanatiling
matatag. Hindi ako magbubuhat ng sariling bangko
at sasabihing may nagawa ako para sa muling
pagbuhay nito dahil wala ako sa mismong simula.
Marahil ay hindi sapat ang aking nagawa kumpara sa
tila pagsuot sa karayom na ginawa ng ilan sa aking
mga kasamahan at ng iba pang taong tumulong sa
amin. Ngunit magkagayon man, natutuwa akong
maging bahagi nito. Hindi ko na iisipin kung sapat ba
ang aking naiambag, ang mahalaga’y sinubukan kong
kumilos kasama nila.
Hindi ko na rin iisipin kung ilan ba ang sumuporta
sa Dakom, kung ilan ang lumaban at nagsulong ng
karapatang magpahayag sa CoC o kung ilan ba ang
nagkaroon ng pakialam sa kawalan natin ng opisyal
na pahayagan. Ang mahalaga’y heto na’t nakamit na
ang pagkakaroon nito. Pero salamat na rin sa mga
estudyanteng pumirma sa pinakalat naming signature
campaign noon upang kilalalanin ang Dakom bilang
official student publication at sa panawagang labanan
ang paniniil sa campus press freedom.
At sa mga taong umalis at bumitiw sa Dakom
sa pag-aakalang wala nang natitirang paraan upang
buhayin pa ito o sa kahit ano mang personal na dahilan,
salamat na rin sa kanila dahil gaya nga ng paniniwala
ng dati naming patnugot, “ang pag-alis nila ang s’ya
ring nagtulak upang muling magpatuloy”. Hindi nga
pala tamang kitlin ang isang mabuting adhikain dahil
lamang sa paglisan ng ilan. May mga pagkakataong
dapat ka pa ring umusad at ituloy kung ano ang
nararapat. Ang pagtalikod at pag-alis ng akala mo’y
maaasahan ay hindi nangangahulugan ng pagtigil
ng inog ng mundo at ‘di dapat maging dahilan ng
pagkalimot sa kung anumang pinaglalaban mo.
Parang kailan lang, hindi ko alam na may Dakom
na tinatawag. Parang kailan lang, naiinis ako sa
kawalan natin ng opisyal na publikasyon. Tila kay ikli ng
dalawang taon ngunit sa totoo lang ay napakahabang
panahon iyon ng kawalan ng boses at pananahimik.
Kay bilis na lumipas ng panahon, hindi nga
lang ito naging kasing bilis ng muling pagbuhay sa
Dakom. Pero ang importante nga’y nakabalik na ito.
Gayunpama’y hindi dito nagwawakas ang pangarap.
Dapat tayong magkaisa upang matigil na ang paniniil
at pagkitil sa kalayaan nating magpahayag ng
katotohanan. Nawa’y magtuloy-tuloy na ito. Ito’y simula
pa lang ng panibagong kabanata at ng pagharap
dito. Maraming pwedeng mangyari. May lilisan ngunit
may darating din na iba. Isang panibagong daan ang
tatahakin ng Dakom – maputik man ito, mabato o
maraming hadlang, hindi pa rin dapat basta-basta
hayaang muling maglaho ang tinig at sa isang iglap ay
payagang magwakas ang kabanatang ito.
Ronalyn Paderes & Sanipilip Umaguing
Patuloy na lumalala ang krisis
sa sistemang pang-edukasyon
ng bansa. Ang pag-asa na
magkaroon ng edukasyong tunay
na Pilipino, nasyonalistiko at
makamasa na s’ya ring huhubog
sa bawat kabataan ay tila untiunting naglalaho at gumuguho
dahil narin sa pagsibol ng mga
anti-estudyanteng polisiyang
ipinapatupad ng gobyerno.
Ang pagkakamit ng dekalidad
na uri at maayos na sistema ng
edukasyon at mataas na badyet
para dito ay tila sa pangarap na lang
nabubuhay, malayo sa katotohanan,
malabo na animo’y nababalot sa
karimlan, lalo na ngayong sumisidhi
na ang krisis pang-ekonomiya at
pampulitika ng bansa Idagdag pa
rito ang ginawang pagtalikod ni
Pang. Gloria Macapaagal-Arroyo
sa kahalagahan ng edukasyon at
pagtanggal dito bilang pangunahing
prayoridad mula pa noong siya’y
maupo sa pwesto.
UGAT SA KRISIS:
MISPRAYORITISASYON
Malinaw na nakasaad sa Saligang
Batas ng Pilipinas 1987, Artikulo XIV
Sek. 5, Tal. 5 na, “The state shall
assign the highest budgetary priority
to education...” Subalit, taliwas dito
ang ginagawa ng pamahalaan at sa
halip ay binibigyan nito ng malaking
prayoridad ang pagbabayad sa utang
panlabas at militarisasyon.
At dahil nga dito’y hindi man
lang mapunan ang malaking
kakulangan ng mga klasrum na
ngayo’y tinatayang umabot na sa
74,114, teksbuk na lalagpas sa apat
na milyon at iba pang mga pasilidad
sa mga pampublikong paaralang
pang-elementarya at hayskul.
Ayon sa Alliance of Concerned
Te a c h e r s ( A C T ) , t i n a t a y a n g
P190.49 B ang kailangang idagdag
sa badyet para sa DepEd upang
ganap na matustusan ang lahat ng
pangangailangan nito.
Kamakailan lamang ay naglaan
si PGMA ng P1B pondo pambili ng
bago at dagdag na armas para sa
Philippine National Police (PNP) at
Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP), para di umano sa “Counter
Insurgency Program” na nalalayong
sugpuin and New People’s Army
(NPA) at Communist Party sa loob
ng dalawang taon. Bukod pa dito
ang P72B inilaan para sa “Regional
Development Program” kaugnay ng
all out war.
Maraming aktibong kabataan
ang nagtatanong kung bakit may
p o n d o a n g g o b ye r n o p a ra s a
pambayad sa utang panlabas, giyera
at pagpatay, pero ang edukasyon na
dapat pangunahing prayoridad nito
ay wala?
PAGTAAS NG HALAGA NG
EDUKASYON
“If you want quality education,
you have to pay for it.” Ito ang
sinasabi ng pamunuan ng paaralan at
ng dating pamunuan ng Commission
on Higher Education (CHED). Ngunit
ang dekalidad nga bang edukasyon
ay makukuha at masusukat sa
mataas at patuloy na pagtaas ng
presyo nito?
Sa kasalukuyan, mayroong
1,428 Philippine Higher Education
Institutions (PHEIs). Tinatayang 390
dito ang nagtaas ng matrikula nito
lamang Mayo 2006 at 196 dito ang
nagtaas ng tuition fees na katumbas
o mas mababa sa kasalukuyang 8.4
inflation rate ng bansa at 194 naman
ang nagtaas ng higit sa inflation
rate.
Ayon sa tala ng CHED, 66 sa
244 kolehiyo at unibersidad sa Metro
Manila ay humingi ng pagtataas.
Ang Mapua Institute of
Technology (MIT) ay 6.75 % increase,
mula P1,244.18 per unit patungong
P1, 302.91; De La Salle University,
3.14%, mula sa dating P1, 645.47
per unit ito’y naging P1696.97; Saint
Scholastica’s College, 6%, dati’y
P1, 260 ang singil per unit ngayo’y
naging P1, 335.60.
Hindi lamang sa mga pribadong
paaralan patuloy ang pagtaas ng
halaga ng edukasyon. Maging ang
mga paaralang pampubliko ay
apektado kahit na pinahayag ng
Malacañang na wala di umanong
pagtaas ng matrikula sa mga State
Colleges and Universities (SCUs)
sa buong bansa. Sa Unibersidad ng
Pilipinas (UP) halimbawa, itinaas
ng 100% ang library fee mula P400
patungong P800.
Bukod pa rito’y patuloy ang
paniningil ng ibang bayarin at
maanomalyang ladderized tuition
fee at pagbuo ng mga Income
Generating Projects (IGPS) sa
iba pang mga SCUs. Gayundin sa
mga pampublikong elementarya at
hayskul na prinoklamang libre ang
edukasyon ay nanatiling magastos
sapagkat may mga bayaring gaya ng
PTA, sports fee, club fee, mga raffle
tickets at iba pa.
At a n g r e s u l t a , m a ra m i n g
bilang ng mga kabataan ang hindi
nakakapag-aral. Ayon sa Kabataan
Party 2.5 milyong kabataan ang
hindi nakakapasok sa kolehiyo,
samantalang 10 milyon naman ang
kabuuan ng mga kabataang hindi
nakakapag-aral. Sa tala naman ng
CHED 50% ng bilang ng estudyante
ang tumigil sa pag-aaral ngayong
taon.
CMO # 14: Suhol sa Kapitalista
Edukador?
Itinuturing na isang
napakagandang negosyo dito sa
Pilipinas ang Edukasyon. Noon
taong 2003, ilang Private Higher
Education Institutions (PHEIs) ang
napasama sa Philippine’s Top 1000
Corporations. Kabilang dito ang
National Teachers College (NTC),
Centro Escolar University (CEU),
Manila Central University (MCU),
University of the East (UE), MIT, Far
Eastern University (FEU), at Feati
University.
Ilang malalaki’t sikat na
negosyante rin ang ngayo’y
kumikita ng malaki mula sa sektor
ng Edukasyon. Isa na rito si Emilio
Yap, ang chair ng Philippine Trust Co.,
publisher ng Manila Bulletin at mayari ng Manila Hotel na may control
din sa 55% stocks ng CEU.
Si Lucio Tan naman na itinuturing
na pinakamayamang negosyante sa
bansa ay nagsimulang mamuhunan
sa UE noon pang 1999. Siya rin ang
may-ari ng Fortune Tobacco, Asia
Breweries, Allied Bank, at Philippine
Airlines.
Ang MIT naman na dating
pagmamay-ari ng pamilya ni Don
Tomas Mapua ay nabili na ng
Yuchengco Group of Companies na
siya ring nagmamay-ari ng Malayan
Insurance, Great Pacific Assurance
Life Corporation at Rizal Commercial
Banking Corporation.
Si Henry Sy na isa rin sa
pinakamayamang tao sa buong
Asya at Chairman ng SM Group of
Companies ay namumuhunan sa Asia
Pacific College.
Ang Gokongwei Brothers naman
ay sa School of Management sa
Ateneo de Manila.
Pinahintulutang magkaroon
ng 8.4 tuition fee increase sa mga
PHEIs ngayong taon alinsunod na
rin sa nilalaman ng CHED Memo #
14 o ang Guidelines and Pocedures
to be observed by PHEIs intending
to increase tuition and other school
fees and introduce new fees.
Nakasaad sa CHED Memo 14
ang paglalagay ng ‘tuition cap’ o
hindi paghintulot sa mga pribadong
paaralan na magtaas ng matrikula
na lagpas sa kasalukuyang tantos
ng implasyon. Nililigalisa rin ng
patakarang ito ang taunang pagtataas
ng matrikula ng mga PHEIs kahit na
walang maganap na konsultasyon
sa mga magulang at estudyante
kung ang pagtaas ay di lalagpas
sa tantos ng implasyon. Kasama
din sa saklaw nito ang iba pang
panukalang pagtaas sa mga bayarin
sa eskwelahan (miscellaneous fees)
bukod sa matrikula.
MALAKOLONYAL NA SISTEMA
Sa kurikulum pa lang ng
elementarya at hayskul ay mababakas
na ang malakolonyal na sistema ng
pagtuturo sa mga estudyante.
Dahil sa Restructured Basic
Curriculum (RBEC), malaki ang
nabago sa sistema ng edukasyon.
Lima na lang ang core-subject ng
mga estudyante: English, Science,
Math, Filipino at Makabayan na
kung saan ay pinagsama-sama ang
Araling Panglipunan, Musika, PE,
Health and Technology, and Home
Economics. Hindi nakasentro at hindi
napagtutuunan ang pagtuturo sa
kasaysayan at lahing Pilipino at ito’y
nakakapagpatingkad sa kolonyal
na oryentasyon sa edukasyon sa
bansa.
Bukod pa dito, nagsulputan
din ang mga paaralang nag-aalok
sa kursong Nursing, Care Giving
Courses, at Medical Transcriptionist
kasabay na rin ng pangakong
madaling makapangingibang bansa
at pag-asang magtamo ng mataas
na kita. Nariyan din ang mga
paaralang may mga Telemarketing
Courses na sumasabay sa biglaang
paglobo ng call centers sa bansa
na pinagsisilbihan ng pinoy ngunit
ang mga negosyanteng dayuhan na
namumuhunan sa bansa ang higit na
nakikinabang.
Itinuturing din na banta sa
edukasyong Pinoy ang panukulang
Charter Change (ChaCha) dahil
bukod sa magaganap na pagbabago
sa sisteng pulitikal ng bansa,
maaamyendahan din ang mga
batas sa 1987 Constitution gaya ng
probisyon na nagdidiin sa papel ng
kabataan sa lipunan at sa pagbibigay
ng prayoridad, gayundin sa kanilang
mga karapatan at pangangailangan
pangunahin na ang edukasyon.
Ibubukas din ng ChaCha ng halos
100% sa dayuhan ang mga kolehiyo
at unibersidad na maaring magdulot
ng higit na mataas na halaga ng
edukasyon, pagsasapribado at higit
sa lahat ay magpapalala sa kolonyal
na oryentasyon nito.
PUP: SALAMIN NG EDUKASYONG
PINOY
Sa PUP at CoC mismo
masasalamin ang krisis sa edukasyon.
Ang mga sira-sirang typewriter,
kakulangan sa mga gamit, kompyuter
at sub-standard na pasilidad ay
larawan ng paghihirap ng ating state
university.
Ang hindi matapos-tapos na
CoC theater, hindi gumaganang
ceiling fans, kawalan ng speech lab,
computer laboratory, at iba pang
kagamitan na nararapat sa mga CoC
students ay matibay na repleksyon
na hindi sapat ang pondong binibigay
ng gobyerno.
Sinang-ayunan ng Dekano ng
Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyon na si Dr.
Robert Soriano na mababa talaga
ang natatanggap natin badyet mula
sa pamahalaan. Ngunit hindi daw ito
dapat maging dahilan ng pagkakaroon
ng mababang kalidad ng edukasyon
dahil ang pagkatuto ng estudyante
ay hindi lamang nakadepende sa
kung anong pasilidad meron tayo.
Sa kabilang banda patuloy
pa rin ang sigaw at panawagan ng
mga progresibong mag-aaral upang
bigyang pansin ng pamahalaan ang
sumisidhing krisis ng edukasyon sa
bansa at itaas ang pondong nakalaan
para sa edukasyon.
Ian Emmanuel Urutia
Once a major film clamor in Asia, the Philippine
Cinema has lagged behind its neighboring
countries. No longer are Singapore, Malaysia,
China, and other Oriental countries stunned
by the flesh-and-blood cinematic apparitions
of Brocka and Bernal. Because at this point in
time, they are starting to weigh importance on
their culture’s new visionary machina, film.
The plight of Philippine Cinema
Philippine Cinema is on the verge of
losing its competence. The number of films
produced yearly decreased from less than a
hundred. Producers and movie outfits suffered
from piracy, competition with Hollywood and
foreign movies, and the lack of support from
government incentives. Even the legendary and
most celebrated Sampaguita Pictures already
closed its doors in producing yet another
flopped flick.
And what’s worst, the eminence of film
quality has lost its sparkle. We see the same
old theme; the clichés of teenybopper slash
masa sensibilities, the carbon copy-story lines,
the unconvincing portrayal of characters, and
the injection of pop music on background. The
idea to create movies today is to sell. It’s an
excuse, since economically we’re screwed and
the producers are loitering on ways to cash-in
some money for purposeful interest.
Who needs films that wear the cloak of
pretentious glory? Box office rates are good,
but making films is not all about raking sales
and hypnotizing gullible moviegoers to feed on
digestible crap. It is merely telling captivating
stories through thematic and aesthetic concerns.
Moreover it is a never-ending quest for realistic
escapism and it toes not only to the safe,
conventional subjects like love, teenage drama,
Fernando Poe-clad gang wars and slapsticks. It
excavates into the deep and incautiously breaks
into the controversial, the dark and the reality
that goes beyond the multi-hues of life.
The Indie as the savor
Luckily there are few ones who’d rather
gamble their money just to express their craft
of filmmaking. 2004’s Duda, the first digital
full-length feature to have full theatrical run in
the country was made with a measly budget
of P200,000. And it reached the one million
mark several months after the release. Director
Cris Pablo recounts that since he worked on
a very tight budget for this film, Production
Management was very crucial. Shooting days
had to be minimized and costs such as foods
were to be augmented by X-deals with other
companies. But on a lighter note, Duda gained
profits through international distribution deals
and exhibition on major film festivals abroad.
Notwithstanding the sweat, blood and tears of
producing a powerful film that could transcend
into people’s consciousness, Duda commenced
what could’ve been a solution to the cloying,
local movie scene. And the new breeds of
talented, young filmmakers followed its heroic
route, traversing to the winding road of low
budgets, improvisation and compromised
deeds from friends and even the people behind
the production. They discovered the art of
independent filmmaking.
Since the prices of digital cameras are
becoming somewhat low and the accessibility of
editing software has reached into comfort zones,
independent filmmaking set the challenge
for amateurs and plain storytellers to freely
express themselves and be heard. As Aurelius
Solito, director of the critically acclaimed Ang
Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros states it,
“Now even small producers and independent
filmmakers can enter the arena formerly
controlled by big and established producers and
have a fighting chance.”
Awards vacuum
Solito’s breakthrough film, Ang Pagdadalaga
ni Maximo Oliveros not only made “Maxie” an
etched word in the gay lingo, but also elevated
the local indie scene by winning countless of
awards including the Golden Zenith Award for
best film at the Montreal World Film Festival,
the GMA Special Jury Prize at Cinemalaya
Independent Film Fest and Competition, the
best Feature Film award at the Imaginative
Festival in Toronto, the grand prize in the
Asian Festival of First Films in Singapore and
the top nods at the Berlin International Film
Festival. Aside from Solito’s masterpiece, other
independent digital films that caught the yes
of the international critics are Masahista, Mga
Munting Tinig, Imelda and just recently the
Jeffrey Jeturian film Kubrador – delighting
foreign audiences with the delicate Filipino
touch on celluloid.
Indies towards distribution deals
Through the efforts of Cinemalaya and
other independent film festivals to introduce
the potential marketability of digital indie films,
major multimedia outfits such as Star Cinema
and Viva Entertainment tried their luck on the
distribution (so as to share profit) of the so
called “indies” to nationwide cinema. Now it’s
not only the whole Imperial Manila that cooks
out the finest, local discoveries. Even the
Igorots of the North and the Badjaos of the
South can stand the chance to go cuckoo on
the touching but riveting Ang Pagdadalaga ni
Maximo Oliveros, the untold realities of Ilusyon
and the Quentin Tarantino-parodies of Big Time.
Beyond any single doubt, accessibility could be
the key answer to mass acceptance, and may
perhaps change the passivity of moviegoers.
Hitches of Indie
Independent filmmaking has its own set
of repercussions. The technical aspects of
the film alone leads into mediocrity because
of insufficient budget. So to attain on the
level of aesthetics, one must learn the art of
improvisation. Nap Jamir, cinematographer of
Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros used car
lights instead of luminous halogens during night
sequences to produce clearer visualization.
Jamir also used lighting improvisations like the
lights emitted from the television and Christmas
lights. He even made use of illustration boards
and white sheets to aid the lighting on the
actors; using the black parts of the illustration
board to darken and white sheets to lighten the
actor’s faces. Evidently, the cinematographer
was working on a tight budget.
Most film critics believed that visual
elements of the location such as the background,
atmosphere and lighting are great influences in
the artistic integrity of filmmaking. Special visual
impacts are attained when all of the elements
in design evolve together simultaneously and
successfully. However, when working on limited
budgets – streets, apartments, slums and the
like are the only places indie filmmakers can
provide. Compare these to the production
design of blockbuster giants such as Spiderman
and The Matrix; or on local perspective, to
Mano Po or Enteng Kabisote. Other elements
like musical scoring, sound mixing, editing are
triggered by small budgets. Creativity sans the
aid of financial back-up is useless in the world
of cinema. But creativity is not settling on the
existing grounds. It further excavates and finds
ways to properly execute the crisp visions, the
edible sounds and the most receptive mood.
Because independent filmmaking is all about
taking risks.
The vital key to success
Recently, Vic Del Rosario of giant multimedia
outfit, Viva Entertainment suggested to give a
five-year holiday tax for independent digital
films and be able to push its envelope to the
mainstream market. Two great solutions, but
indie being mainstreamized can be yet again
another precursor for sell-out accusations.
Creativity and exceptional story would definitely
have a hard time balancing its pendulum
with the necessitous packaging to sell and be
embraced by the masses. But the pro here is
that more and more people would be exposed to
stories that veers away from the rotten formula
that people tend to absorb.
Isn’t it time to educate the masses? To
introduce them to ingenious concepts and to
let them accept the independent digital film’s
quirky orientation towards reviving the dying
Philippine Cinema? A critic once said that there
are two types of acquired taste. It’s either you
have taste or you don’t simply have. Bottomline
is, are we really up for the drastic change? If
not, then maybe there’s truth behind the critic’s
statement.
Constant Craving
A
Showbiz
Jerome Philip Ricamata
n inevitable change
“Ganon talaga, change is inevitable” I
overheard the conversation of two call center
agents and got an earshot of this one-liner inside an
MRT coach. I still stood there wobbling while gripping
onto a safety handrail. It took a while before it sank
in. Then I started to ponder their dialogue. If change
is really inevitable why isn’t it happening on my
surroundings? On our country? How can an inevitable
abstract be so elusive?
Change…
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines
has fought long and strived hard for four years to
have a legitimate president. An OIC is not an answer
to the university’s long plea. Still, this change is yet
to come. After controversial years of it’s existence,
the appointment of a legitimate president is not yet
initiated. “When will this long yearning end” says
a classic song. When will this yearning last? An
institution without a permanent president is like a
jetplane with a blind aviator. How can we achieve our
goals without a guide to look forward to?
Change...
As a student writer and a future media practitioner
my heart is always filled with shrieks when I hear news
about journalist killings. Hundreds of journalists have
been killed and still counting. The Philippines is now
considered as one of the most dangerous country for
media. As a closely-knit industry, I am not wondering
if after a few decades that real and noble journalists
and broadcasters will extinct. This has to change. How
can the society live without hipocrisy and lies if the
watchdog of truth has muzzled voices?
Change...
In a democratic country like the Philippines, it’s
not unusual if many people will speak their minds
in search for change. But sadly people who long for
changes are slowly losing its plight. Political killings
flutter in every part of the country. Today, 756 Filipino
died and 184 are still missing. Activists and suspected
leftists are abducted and killed to stop their process
of change for the betterment of the society and
the country. It’s so unfair that righteous and noble
persons must deserve this kind of treatment from
the government . Shame to them and to their various
programs like “oplan Bantay laya”. An irony, a country
that has freedom of speech and expression but active
participants of this feedom are silenced. How can we
progress if progressive groups and organizations are
to slowly die?
Change…
Monthly worker’s wages are diminished by the
taxes that the government imposed. These taxes are
the fuel that runs the engine of the government. But
are these taxes they are paying tantamount to the
benefits people are receiving. A big NO! most of taxes
paid goes to the hungry pockets of corrupt politicians
instead of going to the hungry minds and mouths of
the impoverished Filipinos. If not overpricing costs for
infrastructures, they use the country’s machineries and
budget for an upcoming election. Seeing poor Filipinos
die of simple sicknesses, juveniles working on the
streets and glutton officials eat and spend the citizens
equal share from taxes really sadden me. How can
future professionals be professionals if their last resort
are engulfed wholly by those greedy politicians.
So many questions, so many changes, but when
can it be answered? They say changes must start
within us but what if we have changed and morphed
so many times. Yet, it’s still not happening. How many
years will we wait? One, two, three, fourty. I don’t
know. For as long as the tuko in the palace is there, all
we have to do is wait and fight. Fight for a better and
substantial change. Not a change in constitution but
a change in the system and a change of the people in
the system.
Breaking the Idea of Curiosity
Ramon Josue
“Student leader. Student body. Institution. A big
no!” You’re asking what is it all about? Well, actually,
those are some of the ideas coming out from the
residents of our college when topic is moving closer
to “Student Attaché”. I, myself got to think about it
too, because it’s really intriguing and so I conducted
a research about it. I could never blame the people in
making an idea of curiosity, an idea of doubtness, and
a matter of scrutinizing.
What about the student attaché? What is its
function? Where can we classify it in the College’s
Organizational Structure? Is it a separate body or a
removable element that can be replaced anytime? How
about its duties and responsibilities? Is it making any
conflict among Student Council and CommSoc? Is it a
student leader? A student body? Or an institution?
A Student Attaché is “a link”, “a connecting
tool”, “a little dean” that serves as an ambassador,
serves as an official representative of the Dean’s office
in order to facilitate implementation of the student’s
programs. As a little dean it also goes and supports
student empowerment in campus. More specifically,
a “student link” of the college that has to have all
the connections among all student groups inside the
college to support and also to hear their laughs and
cries then report it directly to the dean.
Furthermore, it is an appointee of the dean. It
is requested by the dean to OIC Dr. Dante Guevarra
and other officials of the university and was approved
and acknowledged. The Student Attaché is requested
to help the Dean itself in implementing his projects,
helps hear the voices of students and disseminates
the message of the dean. Logically, he will function
according to what the dean instructs and says.
He is not a student assistant because he functions
without compensation but will be provided technical
support from the college in terms of providing space
and use of office supplies allowable by the dean’s
office.
He is not a student leader. A student leader
must be elected by the student. He’s not even a
student body, because a student body must consist of
numbers of persons, a group of leaders and followers,
an organization or an institution. But he’s not more
likely an institution. An institution is autonomous,
independent and it has a separate law regardless
of instructions coming from an adviser. In the case
of the Student Attaché, the Dean is his adviser
because based on the endorsement letter submitted
to the OIC, he will function according to the dean’s
instructions. Moreover, in our college, there are only
two living institutions; the Student Council and the
Publication.
Talking about his functions, they are so limited to
the point that his presence can be set aside by every
student body conducting a conference, meeting and
an assembly, more especially if it’s too confidential.
His limited functions include not to have an external
implementation, and an example of this is a class
activity, it can be regardless and worthless if the class
decided not to use his name. But he can help actually,
when it comes to sponsorships and external affairs
using his contacts and links.
Logically, when we turn the issue on interference,
a clash of duties and responsibilities among SC and
ComSoc, have nothing to worry about; it’s not crossing
over or stealing it. It’s up to the Attaché himself if
he’s going to over-cross and extend his limitations.
However, the Dean is there to watch his every step
– forwards and backwards. And anytime, he can be
released from function if the appointer himself sees
it’s not functional, not in inclination and not workable
anymore. That’s why the organizational structure
doesn’t consider it as a permanent element. When
you look at it, Attaché has a discrete line connected
to the Dean.
But the big question is, why James? What are
his qualities that he was chosen to be? What are
the qualifications of a student attaché? Well, maybe
the dean sees him as a hard-working and a well
Sanipilip Umaguing
A
ng masscom na nga siguro ang pinakamaingay na kolehiyo. Hindi buo ang araw
ng walang sumisigaw, sumasayaw sa daan,
nagpra-praktis umiyak para sa play o kaya naman ay
sumusulat ng mga kwentong paulit-ulit lang--- paikotikot--- walang katapusan.
Kultura na nga siguro ng ating kolehiyo ang mga
ito. Kinokonsidera na tayo ang isa sa mga outstanding
college sa ating unibersidad. Tila nanonood ka lagi
ng isang continuous na pelikula sa dami ng drama
at aksyon; parang may mga nakatutok na kamera
sa bawat isa. Maraming naka-pose, maraming ring
conscious--- konti lang ang obvious na nagpapakatotoo.
Subukan mong umupo sa lobby (na ginagawa ko
ngayon) at matutuwa ka… babaha ang istorya ng
buhay… involve nga lang ang lahat. Pangarap nga
yata ang ng halos lahat ng estudyante ng kolehiyo
na maging artista. Cool at nakakatawa, suggest kong
tumambay din kayo sa lobby minsan.
Malinaw naman siguro kung saan nagmumula
ang drama ng Masscom. Lahat halos ng mag-aaral
dito ay mga nanggaling sa mahihirap na pamilya,
gustong makatulong sa mga magulang, at pag-aaral
lang ang alam na susi para matupad ang mga ito.
Sumugod sa isang tahanan na siguro nga ay hindi
natin maintindihan minsan---ngunit dito ka rin naman
matututo ng isang libo’t isang aral sa buhay.
‘DRAMA SPECIAL’
Marami ang nakakapuna sa mga taga-ibang
kolehiyo sa kakaibang atraksyon na ito sa masscom.
Bugbog nga tayo ng mga positibo at negatibong
reaksyon. Cool nga daw ang ating kultura sabi ng
iba. Mayroon din naman akong naririnig na kumento
dati na “mas alam pa daw yata ng mga taga- masscom
ang beauty pageant breakdown kaysa sa national at
political issues.” Siguro nga ay totoo, sa halip na tayo
ang dapat unang makakaalam ng mga bagay na ito
dahil sa future communication experts tayo ay parang
hindi ganon ang kinalabasan. Kakaiba nga siguro ang
special college natin… outstanding din ang mga remarks
na natatanggap natin dahil dito.
ANO NGA BA, KUYA?
Malaki ang papel na ginampanana ng pagiging
independent college na hindi naka- attach sa PUPMain kaya tayo nagkaroon ng Social Identity. Halos
labing apat na taon na nang lumipat ang kolehiyo
natin dito sa compound na ito. Dahil na rin sa
impluwensya ng mga faculty at pagsalin-salin ng
personalidad ng ating kolehiyo mula sa bawat taon
na dumadaan, tumitibay ang iisang pagkakakilanlan
ng ating kolehiyo. Kaya nga ngayon ay tila nagsabog
ng tawa si Dolphy, ng iyak si Julia Roberts, ng action
moves si Wesley Snipes at ng mala-institusyon na
pilantik ng daliri si John “Sweet” Lapuz sa buong
lugar. Kaya nga tila naging ‘cultural melting pot’ ng
glamour ng showbiz ang masscom ngayon.
FAIRY TALE CONCLUSION
Sumisigaw ang impormasyon sa bawat sulok ng
PUP ukol sa pangangailangan ng ating unibersidad.
Siguro nga, mahirap nang burahin ang nakasanayan
ng pangingiliti o humor ng pamamalagi natin dito sa
ating kolehiyo. Sana lang, mas maging ‘vigilant’ tayo
sa lahat ng impormasyon na dumaragsa sa atin sa
araw-araw.
Mas maganda nga siguro and ‘tagged’ na bibo,
matalino at updated tayo hindi lang sa pagkapanalo
ni Ms. Puerto Rico kundi pati na rin ang labanang
Lebanon/-Israel at maski ang lumalalang ‘heatwave’ sa
California.
Hindi rin naman kasi mabubuo ang bawat
araw ko kung wala akong maririnig na humihiyaw,
umiindak, humahagulgol at sumusulat ng kwentong
umuulit lang---tila walang katapusan.
dedicated individual who’s willing to work without
any compensation. But still, for me, if it’s so needed,
maybe we must have first the approval of students
– an election. Besides it’s not for the officials, it’s for
the students, right?
Well, anyway, I’m glad that there’s someone acting
like a dean to serve as a “connecting tool” among all
points of the circles. How I wish that he not crosses
over or else….
voice out
“Only God can taketh what was
given.”
This is not what the Arroyo
regime has in mind in its aim to turn
their critics into a mute and cripple
the discontented masses with fear.
786 extra-judicial killings while 188
others are still at the thick of their
disappearance since Arroyo’s seat to
power, that’s too much for a proof.
Unsurprisingly, the killings have
graced the newspaper stories more
often than oil price hikes.
In her State of the Nation
Address held last July, Pres. Arroyo
condemned the political killings
in her harshest possible term. But
just a moment before that, she
extended retired Major General
Jovito Palparan her warmest
appraisals that brings the thought of
a mastermind giving her mercenary
a pat on the back and saying, “a
job well done.” It can be said that
wherever Palparan is designated,
the killings and human rights
violations reach an all-time high.
What we are witnessing is
When GMA plays God
not just another spate of killings
of activists and journalists, but it
can be considered as a massacre. A
massacre not just to the progressive
ranks and the freedom of the press
but also to the democracy that
serves as the masses’ remaining
domain.
If only our prayers can keep
them from aiming their gun’s
nozzles at militant leaders and only
if prayers can hold off the pull of
their trigger. But this administration
and its military is keen on doing
something else, to protect the
interests, not of its people, but of
themselves and the system we are
all enslaved.
And this should come to us
as a reason not to tremble, but to
be challenged. As future media
practitioners, let us show that their
vicious acts would not thwart us to
fear but bring us more motivation
to seek the truth to further serve
the people. As young Christians
armed with prayers and vigilance,
let us expose and oppose the
immorality and disservice of this
current administration. And as
students coming from a university
with a rich tradition of militancy, let
us unmask the fascist shade of the
Arroyo regime and bring back the
democracy that should reside with
the people.
We at the Student Christian
Movement, condemns this present
slaughter to our people. But we
would not let this all pass with mere
condemnation for we always believe
that faith without action is dead.
Stop all Political and Media
Killings!
Oust the fascist Arroyo
regime!
F o l l o w C h r i s t , S e r ve t h e
People!
Erwin M. Lozano
Chairperson
Student Christian
Movement
SCM-COC
CONGRATULATIONS!
Venus Aphrodite Casupanan (B
Anne Dominique Santos (BJ II-Irreg)
Lesther Baldamero (BBRC II-Irreg)
Amado Ocampo (BJ BJ III-1)
For passing The COmmunicator
qualifying exam.
Visit our office for your orientation.
The Communicator
editorial board exam
Examinees must be bonafide COC
student with atleast one year
residency in the college.
The examination will be held on
December 8, 2006 at COC Audio-Visual Room from 1:00-4:00 pm.
Bring your registration card.
TANONG KOMUNIKASYON
tinipon ni Ronalyn Paderes
“Anong masasabi mo sa ginawang
pagsasaayos ng mga classrooms
at iba pang pasilidad dito sa CoC
para sa accreditation?”
Puro panlabas ang naire-repair. Puro pintura at
linis. Mas mahalaga yung paglalagay ng mga libro
sa library. Ang pagpapagawa ng mga facilities
ay hindi dapat sa mga accreditors kundi para sa
serbisyo sa mga estudyante.
-Penny BJ 3-1
KOMIKS . KOMIKS . KOMIKS. KOMIKS . KOMIKS. KOMIKS. KOMIKS . KOMIKS
WANTED
Ploplo
Nagagalit tatay ko. Ba’t daw parang hayskul. Sa
estudyante pinapaayos dapat gobyerno gumagawa
at gumagastos. Kulang na lang magdala ng floorwax
at walis tingting.
~Ms. Watson 4th Year
Maayos sya. Talagang pinaghandaan ng CoC ang
accreditation. I’m sure makakapasa ang CoC.
~Aubrey RC 3-1
Ok lang kasi isa din ako sa nag-aayos saka para sa
accreditation naman eh.
~Margo BCR 1-1
Kaplastikan. Bakit tuwing may accreditation saka
lang inaayos. Dati init na init mga estudyante
kasi walang electric fans tapos ngayon lang nila
pinapaayos.
~Pasaway 4th year
Nag-iimprove ang CoC. Pero kahit maganda na
yung paligid, dapat panatilihin pa rin ng mga
estudyante.
~Jemma BJ 2-1
Ok naman. Mas maganda kesa dati. Para sa isang
university kahit publis lang naging mas ok na.
~Mary Belle BJ 2-2
ASIN
Karenina Claire Ramos
Maganda yung ginagawa para sa accreditation kaso
harsh sa mga estudyante kasi magastos. Bakit may
blinds wala namang aircon?
~Marvin RC 3-2
Inaaayos ba? Bakit ngayon lang ginagawa?
Napakaplastic naman! Show off lang talaga!
~Diosa, RC Cola
Napakamahal ng binabayaran sa tarpaulin pati sa
pintura. Sana hindi sa estudyante kinukuha ang
mga gastusin dito. ‘Yung ibang prof. ginawa na
lang na midterm at final exams yung pagbabayad.
Di magandang gawi!
~Winner, BJ
Kalayaa’y kagalakan,
kalungkuta’y kasawian
Ramon Josue
Malaya bang maituturing ang isang paniki
Kung ito’y mulat sa gabing sawi
Ngunit gising sa umagang makinang
At tinutugis ng mga nakatataas na nilalang?
“Mas Malaya pa ang mga kuting ng mabangis na
pusa
Kahit balot ng takot na baka mawaglit sa ina
Sapagkat gamay nila ang kaligtasa’t pagsinta
Sa piling ng kabangisan ng kanilang kuta.”
Ang mga mambabatas?
“Marahil ay bilanggo rin ng sariling batas
Kung ila’y sinususian sa tuwing kailangan
lamang,
Gaya ng mga alipin na pinahihirapan na sa dulo
nama’y
Iyaki’t kasangkapan;
Gaya rin ng bawat pinunong ‘tuta’ ng bulong ng
kasakiman.”
Ang mga manunulat?
“Sila’y malalaya habang lumilipad ang kanilang
isipan
Kasabay ng pluma’t dugong umaanod sa lawak
ng kawalan,
Sumisisid sa kaibuturan ng mga kaisipan,
Humahapon sa ginto, humahalukay sa taniman,
Umaabot sa kahutukan at tumataga sa bato
At bumubutas sa mga dimensyong sarado.”
BILANGGO!
“Iyan ang singhal ng ilan.
Oo, bilang g o kung sila’y hinaharang at
nilalapastangan
Sapagkat kinatatakutan sa lason at lunas nitong
tangaan
-multo sa lason, anghel sa lunasSila’y mga nananatiling malalaya sa iyak ng mga
kapatiran
Na nakikiluha sa kanilang dakilang lathalaan.”
Ang isang mangingibig?
“Malaya ito habang may sistema
-patuloy sa pagpapakita ng kanyang kalooban
Kahit ba walang mapipitas mula as puno ng
palitanMagiging bilang g o lamang ito kung ang
pinaglalaana’y papaderan
Ang yaring kalayaan at ipinaglalaban, sisiilin at
yuyurakan;
Kutyain na kami ngunit huwag lamang igiit
Na makulong kaming malalaya sa madilim na
kalungkutan.
1204
*Katarina
If it’s really true that I could have
anything that I want,
then you’d be sitting right here beside me,
enjoying the sweet taste of hash
as we inch by inch
lose our senses
while staring at the specter
of the city night sky.
But enough of the wishful thinking.
This night is mine,
with or without you.
Then maybe, if the forces
of the universe would grant,
perhaps I would find the finest passerby,
share the night with him
and better yet, convince him to run
to the nearest church with me.
Maybe we could have
a perfect family, after all.
No laughing trip.
Just chronic depression as I hear
louder drum rolls from my chest.
I’d really not prefer to die this way,
the easiest, most non-sense way.
I envy Sylvia Plath for her spectacular
madness,
Maybe I could die like her.
I’d put my head inside an oven
to literary burn my baggage of memories of
you.
The night is coming to an end.
The stars would soon fade,
like techni colored valiums
losing their glow and flavor.
Pardon my inability to find better words.
The metaphors are not making any sense.
May everything just go away along
with my deep exhales.
Then maybe I could stay like this forever,
Finding art in every fiber of pain.
Then shoot more dope.
Afterall,
Time is nothing.
Waiting is nothing.
i.xiii.mmvi
jumar mendoza
nais kong saktan ang langit
upang siya ay tumangis
at madiligan ang lupang uhaw sa pag-ibig
ng kanyang luha
nais kong parusahan ang lupa
upang siya ay yumanig
at gumuho ang buong itinayo
sa pagkaguho ng iba
nais kong hiyain ang hangin
upang ako’y kanyang tugisin
maging ang kapalit nito’y ang kasawian
ng mga naghihintay lamang
nais kong galitin ang araw
upang tumindi ang kanyang ningas
nang sa gayo’y maabot
ng kanyang liwanag at init
ang pinakamadilim na sulok
ng ating pusong malamig
subalit ako’y isang makata
na ang ibigin ka lamang
ang tanging nagagawa