sandamukal

02 EDITORIAL
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
N
ow that the system is on
the brink of failure, we
will arise and do the most
important thing we can to
salvage our future – we will vote.
The system has sneaked behind our backs
and stripped us off our indisputable rights
as Iskolars ng Bayan. This is exemplified
by how the present Aquino administration
slashed a considerable chunk from what was
supposed to be the budget of the University
of the Philippines (UP), a university that
has always been the casualty of numerous
transgressions committed by the highest of
government officials. Consequently, these
occurrences paved the way for several other
atrocities to flourish and engulf the entirety
of the UP system.
In times like these, we need student leaders
who will genuinely battle the evils of the
system which afflicted us as stakeholders
of the university and the country. Thus,
in this crucial time, we are called forth to
descend our ivory towers and be involved in
this year’s quest for the next set of student
leaders who will save the system from failing.
We need leaders who are capable of
establishing unity amongst themselves
– a characteristic which the incumbent
University Student Council (USC) obviously
failed to achieve. Absolute unity engenders
collective action which is most significant in
times of great urgency such as the nearing
submission of the UP budget for 2013 to the
national government wherein for our clamor
to be heard and addressed, an amalgamated
student force is highly necessary. After all, it
is only through the leadership of a unified
body can a community comprised of diverse
individuals such as UP Manila be fully united.
We are in need of leaders who will advance
our interests and protect our rights from
being trampled upon by the system’s
authorities through their cunning ruses.
For one, they must be able to see how
ironic and ludicrous it is for UP Manila, a
public educational institution to conform
to the standards of Philippine Accrediting
Association of Schools, Colleges and
Universities, an accrediting organization for
private learning institutions. The next set of
leaders must not only be able to perceive
System Failure
how private accreditation bastardizes the
very foundation UP stands for but they
must also concretize their opposition by
transforming it into solid action.
eventually dictate what our situation will be
in the year to come. Since it is the mandate
of the USC to represent the students, we
must demand that we be represented well.
Above all, we need leaders whose principal
reason for contesting in the elections is
their desire to provide genuine service.
Now that a more daunting future looms
ahead of our university and country, there
certainly is no place in the council for
individuals who only seek to serve the
interests of their parties and treat their
bid in the USC as nothing but a potential
additional embellishment to their resume.
The USC is no child’s play, nor a venue for
politicking and muckraking. As such, it
needs leaders mature and decent enough
to know that the council was established
to provide leadership and offer services
not only to us but to the realm outside our
university.
Consequently, it is our duty to look
deeper into each candidate and determine
the ones worthy of our vote. We must
ascertain the authenticity of their so-called
passion to serve and drive to lead by being
aware of who among the candidates are
not only cognizant of but have also done
something about the series of unjust
incidences that plunged the people deeper
into destitution. A candidate should be
considered not by his or her capability to
pronounce and offer promises but by his
or her long-standing involvement in the
pressing issues that concern the people,
and his or her commitment to revamp
the system that permits these kinds of
atrocities.
But these student leaders would not be
able to help save the collapsing system if
they are not to be elected.
Our future is too important to not be
involved in the selection of the next set
of individuals who will lead and
represent us. In the end, there is only
one thing we can do to save the system
from failing completely. At this critical
juncture, we will vote, and we will do so
responsibly.
Thus, as Iskolar ng Bayan, it is our ultimate
responsibility to take part in the student
council elections for it is our future which
is at stake. Our involvement is necessary
for the outcome of this year’s elections will
“We need leaders whose principal
reason for contesting in the
elections is their desire to provide
genuine service.”
03
UPM Poll Automation in Full Swing
NEWS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
ANGELA MARIZ ULEP CAUDAL AND BEANCA JHANINE MULATO SAMIANO
F
ollowing the successful implementation of a university-wide fully automated Student Council (SC) elections in the previous year, the
University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) is set for another computerized voting process on March 2 as the UPM Society of Computer
Scientists (SoComSci) obtained a copy of the Halalan software from UP Diliman (UPD) Linux Users Group (UnPLUG) on November 2011.
SoComSci Takes Over
Developed by a UPD campus-based
organization, Halalan is the system
responsible for the employment of a UPM
automated election last year. Since 2006,
the said organization has been utilizing this
software for UPD SC elections to ensure
quicker and more efficient results.
During the 2011 SC elections, the full
automation was utilized and chiefly
facilitated by members of UnPLUG.
Serving as facilitators, they were assigned
to troubleshoot technical problems and
address student concerns in pursuit of
ensuring a more efficient election process.
This election, however, would be handled
by SoComSci under the supervision of
UnPLUG. With the goal of establishing its
own identity in operating technical projects,
UPM is set to institute its autonomy from
UPD. This would enable the SoComsci
members to familiarize themselves with the
system operation in preparation for their
complete independence in the 2013 SC
elections.
As maintained by Prof. Geoffrey Solano,
the new adviser of SoComSci, Halalan can
be fully relied upon. The software, which
was already tried and tested by local and
international universities, can secure
a minimal probability of disparity and
inconsistency. Apart from its advantage of
a quicker counting mechanism for a faster
voters’ turnout, it provides more visible
results to stakeholders.
Reaffirming Solano’s claim, SoComSci
President
Zach
Andrei
Marasigan
3 UP Studes Charged
with Bribery
mentioned that the software has a nominal
tendency for breakdown. Having personally
retested the viability of the software during
their organization’s election of officers on
December 6, 2011, Marasigan said that they
did not encounter any major technical error.
despite the fact that the election process
back then was still the tedious ballot
system. According to OSA, these were the
pressing election issues confronted by the
university for the past ten years (Refer to the
table below).
As of press time, the duties of SoComSci
members are yet to be finalized with the
Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) and the
University Electoral Board.
On the other hand, the number of students
who participated in the 2007 and 2008
elections increased to 60-61% only to
decline significantly in 2009 and again
increase to 63.58% in 2010. To boot, 2011
saw an even more drastic decrease in the
percentage of turnout, from 59.42 to 54.6%.
Declining Voters’ Turnout
Having its primary aim of achieving a higher
voters’ turnout defeated, the computerized
system of voting failed to deliver last year
as the voters’ turnout plummeted further.
As reflected in the previous election results,
the number of voters followed an increasing
pattern. With percentage ranging from 4050 during the 2000-2006 elections, students
who exercised their right to vote increased
Indispensably, OSA stated that the
escalating configuration of the abstained
voters for the past decade can neither be
attributed to the kind of voting system nor
the SCs’ efforts to reach out to students but
may largely depend upon the students’
awareness, involvement, and personal
views and concerns.
MON GABRIEL POSADAS DISTOR
T
hree University of the Philippines (UP) students are set to face the Student
Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) after the Office of the Student Regent (OSR)
charged them with bribery for allegedly attempting to induce members of
the UP Visayas School of Technology Student Council during the General
Assembly of Student Councils (GASC).
Dr. Celia F. Parcon, Dr. Jose Go and Prof.
Bernice Vania Landoy of UP Visayas, Prof.
Liberty Notarte and Prof. Laurence Castillo
of UP Los Banos, Dr. Nonilon Queano and
Dr. Giovanni Tapang of UP Diliman, Atty.
Nimreh Calde of UP Baguio, Dr. Honey
Libertine Labor of UP Manila, Dr. Evelina
Ayson of UP Mindanao, Dr. Jonnifer
Sinogaya of UP Cebu, and Prof. Flordeliz
Dacuyan of UP Tacloban will comprise the
investigation panel commissioned by the
OSR.
According to Student Regent Krissy Conti’s
online press release, the chairperson of the
UP Visayas Student Council was offered an
amount of P2,000 and free GASC registration
fee in exchange of voting in favor of certain
proposed amendments in the Codified
Rules of Student Regent Selection (CRSRS).
The amendments include a provision that
will pose a minimum academic standing
requirement for Student Regent (SR)
nominees.
Conti further stated that the three students
are affiliated with BUKLURAN, an alliance of
student political organizations across the
UP System.
“BUKLURAN has invested efforts into its
campaign regarding the rules for student
regent selection. As of its last count, 28
student councils reportedly will support
their position. I trust that…they will
attend the next GASC representing their
constituents, not political parties,” said
Conti.
The bribery was committed during the GASC
on December 20-21 while the assembly was
preparing for the election of the new SR on
April. The position of SR is critical as it is
the lone representation of the UP students
in the Board of Regents, the highest policymaking body of the UP System.
>>
In accordance with Article 458 of the UP
System Code, the students will be subjected
to disciplinary action which will be decided
and given by the SDT of their respective
campuses. The tribunal will be composed of
a chairman who must be a member of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and two
other members from the faculty or staff of
the university. The hearing shall commence
a week after the formal filing of the case.
Furthermore, SR Conti asserts that
BUKLURAN must respect the autonomy of
the student councils. She stated that “the
attempt corrupts the essence of student
council autonomy, independence and
integrity. The gist of the offense is the
criminal intent to undermine the proper
and orderly administration of the selection
of the student regent. The act is not
simply inappropriate – it is a deliberate,
illicit attack on the credibility of a
student process.”
IN FLUCTUATION. The graph shows the inconsistent trend in the voters’ turnout for
the past 12 years. Source: Office of Student Affairs and The Manila Collegian Archives.
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04 NEWS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang...
Lola Patola
H
ola hola veyveeeeehhh mga junanapows!! Feeling shexxxy and fureeeeeehh ang lola
niyo! Howzzz are all of youzz this Freshurd Fierzest Febreyrow na hellish month, as
in heller-fwedeng-pause-muna-sa-pagvigay-ng-tazksz-mga-proffiez?! Imvyerna na
ang mga afochibells ko, dagdagesh na rin wrinklies ko sa fezlaboomboom!! Pero anyway
highway baby I was born this way, it’s me, your veckyng vecky, voulez vous coucher avec
moi (ce soi?), and vack na Johann (E)Vach na Lola Patolahh!! Vringing you the sizzzzlingiest,
hottttezzzt, scandalouzzest, and mowzst kontroverzzzzhyallll gosszzips and fulungvulungans in all of da Yuniversitay of the Puny-Penis Manny-very-malandot, ezfezzhally na
fafalapit na ang most-awayyy-ted eleczion menstruation pferriowd!! Lavasan na itechiwa ng
vajoooo (ng pukelyas) ng mga incumming Shovrasainternal Conflictz offizarss! So ihanda
na niyo na ang mga radar, gaydar at kung ano fangg mga dar yan for a very berry dirteyyy
cumfaint pferriowd!! On your marks, get shet, vote (waislee)!
I-Can-Taste-Da-Tenzyown, Parating-na-ang-Elekzzhown Pak na Pak Storybelles Numvah
Unow: Imvyernang imvyernavols na nga ang mga affochibelles kong Schmeexxy Artisstass sa
kakahentai ng hard-on hard-earned cash-meres nila! Psssssssst! Psssssssst! Ohmygad Sweldo
Asaaaaaaaaaaan na?!?! Wagazz na wuhgguzz na wahguzzzzzzzzshshshshshshshhstttt sa fagkalate ang mga cash-meres ng mga affowzz ko!! Kwento sa atashi ng mga Schmeexxy Artisstass,
yung mga cash-meres nila na daffutt Octovarrks pa nila natanggap, last month lang giniveaway!!
Shutanginamels divah!! Valita ko fah nga na yung iva, dis month lang natanggap ang mga cashmeres nila. Di ko to tanggap teh.jpg ang drama ng mga affochi kohh!! Dis kenat viii! Change
da system! Tsaka osaka, wiz pa sila nakakareceive ng vonuzz (load) vecozz di fa na-aaprove ni
Shamcey Chupchup itechiwa! WhattheMotherFuckingEff! Keribells pa ang one month, pero threzz
mariaz monthzz?!?! No no no no way! Sandamukal na nga ng mga jastuzzin, sobvrang delay pa
ang pag-ulan ng moolah, tulad lang ng mens ko! Tsk tsk tsk! Paano na ang foundation at press
fawderzz niyan! Juala agad famvilee! Lalavas ang frown marks at age lines ng mga afochi ko! Di na
makakasungkit ng lalafangin sa Malate! Kalerkaret!!
I-Can-Taste-Da-Tenzyown, Parating-na-ang-Elekzzhown Pak na Pak Storybelles Numvah
Dowsz: Hooomaigazzz! May kailangang ifa-frint ang mga affochi ko, pero BAM BOOM BAAM,
closed na closed at kailangan pang i-Abra-Cadabra-Avada-Kedavra ang
doorlaloos ng ComputerNiche!!! Jirits na jirits lagi ang mga affochibelles
ko sa mga vantay-vatas na naka-assign ditey! Mga vantays, Y U NO
FOLLOW DA SCHEDULE na nakapaskil sa doorlaloo?! Imvyerna tuloy
ang mga studyantezs!! Puyat ba kayo mga teh kaka-party sa Ad Hoc
para di makapag-abra cadabra on time!? Dios-mamma-mio! Gawin
niyo mga steve-jobs niyo! Paka-MIA ang peg niyo mga atembang!
Charot! Reklamo pa sa atashi ng affochibelles ko, wiz na kwenta
ang ComputerNiche kung wiz nafafakinavangan to da fulleszt ng
mga studyantezs itechiwa! Dagdag pa ng affochi ko, para sa mga
vantay-vatas raw ng CharoterasAngStars…Live! (TV show lang
ang peg!! Bet!), paki-X-Y-coordinate raw ang oras niyo sa buong
CharoterasAngStars becozz wiz raw tugmamatugs! Hassle sa mga
magrereturn of the kings ng bookelyas!! Hassle!! HASSLE!!!
I-Can-Taste-Da-Tenzyown,
Parating-na-ang-Elekzzhown
Pak na Pak Storybelles Numvah Threysz: Eksaheradang
eksaherada! Pag di ba taga-DabestsaPagandahanSexihanatMa
chohan, wiz na pwede tumamvvay sa lavazz nitey? Imvyernang
refort sa atashi ng mga affochibelles, tumatamvvay lang
raw sila sa lavazz nitey at nang bungangaan raw sila ng
atechi na taga-Opisina ng Daboss sa sovrang sikiff raw ng
daan! Teh! Laki-laki ng daan oh! Gugulong ka? Tsk tsk tsk
tsssssk! Tinanongech pa raw ang mga afochiz ko kung
saan raw defortmens niley! Pag taga-DabestSaSexihan at
DabestsaAgawanngChicos, di na pwede sa lavazz ng
DabestsaPagandahanSexihanatMachohan? Where
is da lovee?!?! Father, father, father help us! Send
some guidance from above!! Tatamvvayy lang
for lunch, aakyateshi pa ng turd floor ng
Rampahan Hall?!?!! How about no!!!! Nasaan
na ang academic fureeedaaaam nitey!!
Nasaan?!?!!! Public school po tayo teh,
di tayo LuZuhhl, Arrhneo, o YuEzzzTee!!
Charot!
I-Can-Taste-Da-Tenzyown, Parating-naang-Elekzzhown Pak na Pak Storybelles
Numvah Khuwathroh: Tinalo pa ni atechi si
da Hulk, Wolverine, Voldemort, at Mewtwo sa
paglalabas ng rage sa mga studyantezz, kahit
wiz naman ginagawang moszzomo ang mga
affowz ko! Citizen patrol ng mga affochiez ko,
kinabog sa panlilizzzik ng eyeballs ang mga ahas at
echoseras ang schmexxytary na itechiwa sa pagpasok
nila sa owffizz ng DaBigatenSexxies. Teh, magfafile
lang ng letter, liszik eyes at eternal bungangaan na
kaagad?! Eksaherada! Anechi ka, high-ranking proffie?!
Defortmens chairotera?! Divah schmexxytarush ka lang?!
Pa-roll-eyes roll-eyes ka pa, hilaan ng mga affochibells ko
eyelashes and eyeballs mo eh! Imvyerna ka to da highest
level~! Proffies nga at chairoteras, wiz tinatarayan ang mga
affochibelles ko, ikaw fah talaga ang may karapatan!? Taas
ng level mo teh! Di naman masamang ibaba ang paa sa
lupa teh, pero ingat lang, baka hilain ka pa pabababa,
papuntang impyernoez!! KalerQUI!!
I can reaaaaalllly taste da tenzyown, YuFiEm!!!
Fafarating na tologo ang elekzzhownss!!! Change da
system ang need na need ng ating Yuniversidadadad!
Pak na pak na change! Achib!! Keri!! Bet!! Kabog!!
Choba!! Agit!! Keriboomboom!! Magprefayyre
na kayo for a rowdy, rough, ragged, and royal
(c)rumble, mga affochibelles!! This has been a
friendly mudrakels reminder from yours truly,
your one and only Lola Patola. xoxo muah
muah chup chup la la oooh ahh urrrmhh
slurp. =P~
nalalapit na pagtatapos ng kanilang
1moSatermino,
ano ang gradong ibibigay
sa USC 2011-2012 at bakit?
Cinco. Wala ng ginawa kundi magbangayan nang
magbangayan ang Bigkis at AK. Kaya nga mayroong
USC para pagbuklorin ang students at parties/orgs
ng UPM. Walastik, kung sino pa yun nsa posisyon,
siya pang pasimuno. hay nako. Dear Gel, iMed ka
pa man din --- talagang matalino pero leadership?
Boooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Puro
ka
statement sa fb kulang naman sa aksyon. Linis
image ka kaagad eh noh?
-- AkoAngKanangKamayNiOble
Square root of negative one. Parehas sila ng grade na
ibinigay ko sa kanila. DOESN’T EXIST o IMAGINARY.
Wala silang ginawa kundi ang magbangayan sa
facebook. -- Malilimutanrinkita
4.00. Conditional failure. Di ko sila masyadong
naramdaman, except sa internal conflicts nila. Kaya
USC, magpa-removals na kayo! -- 2011-you-oughtnot-to-know-my-student-number, Medisina
inc. incomplete kasi sila, never ko pang naramdaman
na buo ang USC this year. -- calyx, BS Bio 2010-21xxx
From a scale of 1-10? 3. -- Leibog, 2007-21152,
AreaStud
4.00 INCOMPLETE ang presence
blockheadngblock*toot*, OrCom CAS
XD
--
4.0 away kasi nang away.pero kahit papano gumawa
naman ng mga projects. pero maraming dapat magremovals -- tensor fascia latae, BSPH, 10-36549
10. ang galing nyo. sa harap ng tao -- slytheringuard
Kwatro. Bagaman may mga proyekto at serbisyong
naihatid para sa mga estudyante, di pa rin nito
mapagtatakpan ang napakasidhing dibisyon sa loob
ng USC na nagpabagal sa kanilang mga gawain.
Gayundin ang mga isyung dapat ay internal na n...
ireresolba ay inilalabas pa. Tsaka sino na nga ulit
yung Chair? Kung di pa maibabalitang suspendido,
di ko makikilala. Masaya ang Bakbakan at Maganda
ang Panawagan para sa masmataas na budget para
sa UP, kaya may chance silang pumasa. Kailangan
nilang magremovals. -- angsusunodnausccouncilor,
bsp/badevstud, 1004496
Ay akala ko drop na? Madalas kasi nilang absentan ang concerns ng students at iba pang mas
mahalagang issues. Madals nilang unahin ang
kung anik anik na di pagkakaintindihan nila. Nahiya
naman ang mga nag-elect sainyo kung isnabin
nyo kami.... Di yan ang trabaho nyo dyan.
Kung ang gusto nyo pala ay mahasa ang skills
nyo sa pagdedebate e di sana di na kayo sa
USC tumakbo; bagkus sa Debate Cirlce kayo
sumali. *pasintabi sa Debate Circle, wala akong
koneksyon sa kanila. -- carrybells, BA PolSci
2.0 para sa kasipagan ni Kuya Cleve at ng iilan at
sa “hindi ko na-feel na presence” ng ibang USC... -BataKaPa / BA DS / 11-500**
Pwede na siguro ang 1.75. Passive ang USC ngayon
eh. Di na naramdaman ang aura nila. Dapat 2.00
nga lang eh, pero binigyan ko ng credits ang
napakakontrobersyal na facebook page issue nila.
Dun lang ata sila umingay. -- EksaheradaNgArea, BA
SocSci
2.5 Kuripot na kung kuripot, pero sa limang taon ko
sa UPM, ngayong taon ‘yung sobrang evident ang
bangayan sa USC. Alam naman natin na mahirap
talagang maging unified ang council sa UP Manila,
pero obvious na obvious naman ngayong taon....
Although alam kong maganda naman ‘yung
intentions nila at masisipag ‘yung iba, a divided USC
is a kulelat USC. -- The OrCommuter, BA OrCom
Uhh... Well, some were apparent to public, but I
really did not feel the overall presence of the “single
and united” USC for this year [or it’s just an illusion
that it will ever happen.]. And oh... How many are
in the USC exactly? For a 1 - 10 scale, I guess 2 is
considerably high enough. -- Raseac-kun || 201033377 || BS Pharmacy
Singko. (On a scale of 1 to 10 naman. Yung iba
iisipin, ang salbahe ko magbigay ng rating.) Tamang
USC lang. Hindi masyadong ramdam ang presensya,
pero may nagagwa naman. Yung tipong magiging
matunog sila kapang may iringan na nagaganap sa
loob. -- Buknoy supports FC Barcelona for the 20112012 UEFA Champions League Title, BA PS, 201068315
1.00. Umuuno sa internal conflicts!! Bravado!! -2011-you-ought-not-to-know-my-student-number
2.75. tapat na. wala nang tawad. Esguerra standards
pa yan. -- mocos-in-your-face, kilabot ng BSPT,
2011-49***
Kung bibigyan ka ng pagkakataong
2
tanungin ang mga kakandidato sa
student council elections ngayong taon,
ano ito at bakit?
“Do you guys know the definition of dirty politics?”
Enough said. -- AkoAngKanangKamayNiOble
Alam niyo ba ang ibig sabihin ng SERVE THE
PEOPLE? Eh yung SERVE THE STUDENTS? -Malilimutanrinkita
Ba’t di niyo ba kayang ayusin kaagad ang mga
pipitsuging away niyo to the point na kailangan
pa silang i-publicize? Nasaan ang professionalism
niyan?
-2011-you-ought-not-to-know-mystudent-number, Medisina
Mararamdaman pa rin ba namin ang presence mo
kahit tapos na election? Sure ka? Pano pag hindi?
-- calyx, BS Bio 2010-21xxx
Anong trip niyo? -- Leibog, 2007-21152, AreaStud
No comment :D -- blockheadngblock*toot*, OrCom
CAS
magkano budget mo para manalo? lol -- tensor
fascia latae. BSPH,10-36549
Naniniwala ka bang parehas lang ang pulitika ng
pilipinas sa pulitika dito sa UP? -- slytheringuard
What is the sexiest part of your body? Explain. Para
malaman ko kung ‘brain’ din ba ang sagot nila,
kagaya ni Sir Tius. (= -- angsusunodnausccouncilor,
bsp/badevstud, 1004496
May concrete plans and project ba kayo for UPM?
Last year kasi very minimal lang yung mga projects
or ‘hindi ko lang nalaman’... sana this year meron na.
:) -- BataKaPa / BA DS / 11-500**
“Kung mahahalal ka sa posisyong tinatakbuhan mo,
anong klaseng pang eeksena ang gagawin mo?” O
diba? Para itest kung gaano nila kagustong angkinin
ang limelight! >:) -- EksaheradaNgArea, BA SocSci
Kaya niyo bang magtrabaho nang maayos kasama
ng mga taga-kabilang partido? O lalamang nanaman
ba ‘yung agenda ng bawat partido kaysa sa progress
para sa mga mag-aaral? -- The OrCommuter, BA
OrCom
“What am I supposed to do when the best part of
me was always ___?” [Fill in the blanks na lang. =))]
-- Raseac-kun || 2010-33377 || BS Pharmacy
Would you change your religious beliefs to marry
the person that you love? Why or why not?” -Buknoy supports FC Barcelona for the 2011-2012
UEFA Champions League Title, BA PS, 2010-68315
Alam kong hindi naman ‘to masyadong importante
pero, diba dapat ang school fairs ang talk of the
town? Parang sa Diliman ang bongga bongga ng
school fair nila, isang buong linggo pa ngang may
concerts eh, tapos sa’tin, erm, can’t you make our
school fair like theirs? Kasi honestly wala akong
nararamdaman na papalapit na ang CAS at USC fair.
Better planning please. -- 2011-you-ought-not-toknow-my-student-number
choco na gatas o gatas na choco? (coz me no like
mainstream) -- mocos-in-your-face, kilabot ng BSPT,
2011-49***
Kung mamamatay ka bukas, bakit hindi ka dapat
mamatay ngayon? HOHO. :} -- dynasticcycle, 2009*****, BA Social Sciences
STANDARD BEARERS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
JASON ALACAPA
CLEVE ARGUELLES
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE
USC CHAIRPERSON CONTENDER
BA POLITICAL SCIENCE
USC CHAIRPERSON CONTENDER
MARK ANGELO ROMERO
INTEGRATED LIBERAL ARTS AND MEDICINE
USC VICE-CHAIRPERSON CONTENDER
I’m against the implementation of
1precisely
PAASCU standards upon UPM education
because of the fact that it is against the
character of UP as a state university that values
liberal ideas. Specifically, the degree programs in
UP Manila are, for example, Development Studies,
Political Science, Philippine Arts are so much
engrained in its soul. It speaks so much for itself
that even the slightest intrusion to its content and
curriculum would mean a lot to the character and
soul of UP as a whole. And also mainly because, we
will not gain much from it since this recognition is
only on a national level and local level, it could not
make us at par with international standards or the
greatest schools in the world and in addition to the
fact that we would not gain much from it, we would
also lose much of our substance of a free institution
like they may be minimal but there would be stricter
implementations of uniforms, a little suppression of
the campus press and even the implementation of
a seemingly unnatural order and discipline among
the students. That precisely is going against the
character of UP as a public and liberal institution.
The fact that we would not gain much from it and
the fact that we would lose a substantial part of UP
goes with my opinion that I am against PAASCU
accreditation.
I would give a grade of 2.75. It, in some way,
2
achieves the baseline expectations we have on our
University Student Council, that of managing events,
organizing annual happenings in the campus. But
a lot of dismay from the studentry comes from the
fact that there has been a lot of miscommunication
going on around the USC, which I believe could
have been resolved with a simple face-to-face talk
with each, with the councilors themselves. Their
internal strife has caused a lot of division inside
the USC as to inhibit it from actually achieving its
goal of serving the students and making the lives of
students here more meaningful and richer. That gap
in communication is why I give it a 2.75.
I have principles and that is why, precisely why,
3believe
I’m in my party, in ASAP-Katipunan ‘cause I
in its principles, though at times it may
not be implemented in the most perfect ways
possible, it is the core principles in ASAP, its belief
and democratic and nationalist struggles that I
really take into heart. I also have the sincerity, I
believe I have the really most sincere intentions and
because I believe, I can fill a niche in the USC, of
steering it to another course apart from managing
and organizing annual events. My flagship concern
is actually of bringing the colleges together and
partnering the colleges with local communities and
barangays here in Ermita and Malate so that we can
make sustainable communities with which we can
translate our classroom theories into changes that
impact lives. That is my sincere goal, my sincere
passion, that in community development, that is
my sincerity which I run with in my post, and I have
the vision, that is my vision of the USC of actually
producing something, impacting communities and
of making the USC more transparent by actually
webcasting, podcasting and putting on YouTube the
GAs of the USC. And I have hard work.
MGA TANONG
PARA SA USC CHAIR
1
Yung three biggest issues ng UP Manila
community ngayon, I think, first, syempre
yung issue on budget cut. The issue of the
declining state subsidy has been a major problem,
really, of this university, so yun nga parang
madami talaga siyang naco-compromise doon sa
ating nature, yung public character natin, yung
democratic access, and even yung mandate natin
as national university. I think yung pinaka magiging
solusyon natin, 2010 ginawa natin yung makakaya natin,
by September, nag-ingay tayo. 2011, by August, nag-ingay
tayo. This time, the start of the budget process magkaroon
na agad tayo ng boses. Hindi pa man nada-draft yung
budget, makikialam na tayo. If we will start earlier and
talagang makikialam tayo, and we will unite our ranks for
this fight, I think masosolusyonan natin yung fight against
budget cut. I think yung second biggest issue natin ay yung
private accreditation of all the colleges in UP Manila. I think
marami pa ring hesitant doon sa idea nung accreditation.
Madami siya kasing nire-raise na questions doon sa ating
nature as a public state university, yung thrive for academic
freedom, etc. etc. I think yung pinakamagandang magiging
solution dito is an exhaustive and comprehensive student
consultation. If the adminstration can provide an avenue
for the students to be consulted and really, we can ask
questions, we can direct our concerns to the administration
and fully answer our questions, I think magiging maayos ang
accreditation process, if we should go for this o dapat natin
itong tutulan. Lastly, I think, the issue of campus security is
also a big issue now in the UP community. Madali siyang
masolusyonan, madali siyang i-link doon sa issue ng budget
cut. Kasi makikita natin doon sa study through the years na
declining state subsidy natin, bumababa din yung number
of security guards. You may be implementing stricter
security policies like CCTV, pero yung CCTV kasi, hindi siya
preventive. Pwede ka nang masaksak, mahuhuli lang yung
sumaksak sa’yo. The security guard can actually prevent that
from happening. Haharangin sa gate kung sinumang yung
may dalang panaksak. Syempre, supposedly, pag sasaksakin
ka, pipigilan ka. Yun yung nakikita kong three biggest issues
ng UP Manila, and I think yung common solution for all of
these are unity, to take a stand, and to actually be united in
solving these issues.
2
Sa banggaan ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino at ni Chief
Justice Corona, wala po tayong pinapanigan sa kanila
dahil nakikita natin na parehas naman sila ay hindi tapat sa
pagbabago. Si President Noynoy Aquino po, nangako siya
sa’tin siya ng madaming bagay pero until now, we cannot
see the change na kanyang pin-romise. Si Chief Justice
Corona po, malinaw na malinaw po na isa siyang stumbling
block doon sa ating pagpapanagot kay former President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo doon sa kanyang mga kasalanan
sa mamamayan. Between this two, wala po tayong choice
kung hindi, hindi mamili. Parehas po silang may maling
ginawa, at parehas silang dapat managot sa mamamayan.
3
Kung ayaw niyo po ng isang Univesity Student Council
na buong pusong maglilingkod sa mga Iskolar ng Bayan
at sa mamamayan, kung ayaw niyo po sa isang University
Student Council that will actually take part in all these local
and national issues, and yung ending point nito, kung ayaw
niyo ng isang student council na for the past thirteen years
ay naging tapat sa pagbabago, hindi niyo po ko iboboto.
Pero dahil gusto niyo iyon, sigurado po ako that on March
2, ibibigay niyo po ang boto niyo sa isang konsehong tapat
sa pagbabago. Iyon po ang konsehong ino-offer sa inyo ng
inyong lingkod at ng buong ASAP-Katipunan.
ang tatlong pinakamalaking problema na kinaharap ng UP Manila sa
1 Ano
kasalukuyan at paano mo masosolusyonan ang mga ito?
banggaan nila Pangulong Benigno Aquino III at Punong Mahistrado
2 SaRenato
Corona, kanino ka pumapanig? Ipaliwanag.
3 Bakit ka hindi dapat iboto?
05
Ang tatlong pinakamalaking problema
1nakalipas
na kinaharap ng UP Manila sa
na taon ay: una, ang budget
FEROZZA DELIA SIMBULAN
cut, pangalawa, ang isyu ng pagtaas ng
BA PHILIPPINE ARTS
laboratory fees ng ating Class D indigent
USC VICE-CHAIRPERSON CONTENDER
patients sa PGH, at ikatlo, ay ang PAASCU
accreditation sa ating unibersidad. Ano ba
ang tatlong ito? Simulan natin sa isyu ng
budget cut. Dahil tayo ay isang state university,
dapat ang gobyerno ang may pangunahing responsibilidad
Our stand in BIGKIS UPM is that, we are
na bigyan ng pondo ang ating paaralan. Ngayon, paano ko
pro-accreditation but not necessarily
ito bibigyan ng solusyon, rather, paano natin ito bibigyan ng
pro-PAASCU. So hindi naman porke’t tagasolusyon? Sosolusyonan natin ito sa pamamagitan ng patuloy
UP tayo ay masasabi na natin na “Ay, kaya
na pakikipag-usap sa ating UP Manila administration, UP System
administration pati na rin ang pagkakaroon ng mga kampanya,
na natin ito kasi UP naman tayo.” Kahit
rally, signature campaign, pakikipag-usap, lobbying sa senate at sa
yung ibang matataas na unibersidad tulad
ating congress. Number two, ang isyu ng Class D patients sa ating
ng Harvard University, kahit sila kailangan
unibersidad. Dapat nating maisip na ang UP Manila ay kasama
ng external na tulong. Tayo sa UP Manila,
dito ang PGH at isa sa mga isyu ay ang pagtataaas ng laboratory
fee n gating Class D patients o yung mga indigent patients. At
ang mga nagkaroon na ng accreditation ay
nanguna ang BIGKIS-UPM sa kampanyang ito na ipaglaban ang
College of Nursing at College of Medicine
karapatan ng ating mga pasyenteng maralita para sa libreng
dahil ang PAASCU naman, ang tinitignan
services ng PGH. At ang mga solusyon na ginawa ay nagkaroon
nila ang mission at vision ng per college.
tayo ng lobbying, senate dialogue, meron tayong white shirt day,
mobilization sa harap ng PGH at iba pang kampanya. Panghuli
Halimbawa, ako po ay mula sa Kolehiyo ng
ang PAASCU accreditation na naganap sa nakalipas na taon sa
Agham at Sining, kung ire-review ng PAASCU
College of Nursing, College of Arts and Sciences, binisita rin ang
ang ating mission at vision ay hindi talaga
College of Allied Medical Professions. So ngayon ang BIGKISpasok na tayo ay pro-PAASCU accreditation.
UPM ay naglabas ng stand regarding PAASCU Accreditation.
Tayo po ay pro external accreditation but no to PAASCU. Pro to
So tayo naman sa BIGKIS-UPM, tayo ay
external accreditation dahil tayo ay naniniwalang kailangan natin
nakipag-usap sa ating Chancellor at Vice
ng external body, ng third person na titingin sa nangyayari sa
Chancellor na kumbaga magkaroon ng
loob ng UP para magkaroon ng improvements. No to PAASCU
isang memorandum of agreement na kung,
sapagkat nandito ang conflict of interest sapagkat alam natin na
pumasok ang PAASCU sa panahon ni Chancellor Ramon Arcadio
if ever man, magkaroon ng accreditation,
na incidentally, siya rin ay board member ng PAASCU. So, iyan ang
ay masisiguro sa mga estudyante na hindi
aming stand at gusto ko lang din naming linawin na hindi porket
magtataas ang ating tuition fee dahil iyon
tumaas ang tuition fee, nagkaroon ng repression of rights sa ibang
naman ang sa tingin ko ang pinaka-iniisip o
schools, mangyayari iyan sa atin. Sapagkat ang PAASCU ay nage-evaluate based on our own mission-vision at bilang panghuli,
ipinag-aalala ng ating mga estudyante.
konkretong aksyon. Ngayon ang BIGKIS-UPM ay nakipag-dialogue
sa Chancellor upang magkaroon ng Memorandum of Agreement
K ung bibigyan ko ng marka ang ating
na given na ma-approve ang PAASCU, walang tuition fee increase,
walang repression of student rights at walang repression ng
USC, bibigyan ko ito ng dos. Dos, isang
academic rights.
grado na talaga namang pinaghirapan.
As an incumbent USC councilor and head
Sa laban ni Pangulong Aquino at impeachment process ni
of the Committee of Culture and the Arts,
Chief Justice Corona, sino ang aking papanigan? Wala akong
papanigan sa kanilang dalawa, sapagkat ang aking papanigan ay
masasabi ko na tunay na nagkaroon tayo
ang interes ng taumbayan na naghalal kay Pangulong Aquino, at
ng ilang conflicts sa loob ng USC, pero
kung saan accountable silang dalawa. Alam natin na ngayon may
kung pagbabasehan natin ang General
impeachment trial na nagaganap, may walong kasong isinampa
Plan of Action ng incumbent USC, masasabi
kay Chief Justice Corona. At ngayon naniniwala tayo na dapat
mag-proceed ang impeachment process. Ngunit dapat nating
natin na ang proyekto naman ng ating mga
tandaan na ang Rule of Law ang dapat na mamagitan, ang dapat
councilors, ng ating chair, at ng ating vicena mangibabaw. Hindi yung nagaganap ang impeachment
chair ay natugunan naman nang maayos.
process, parang may ina-assume na tayo na guilty. Sa panig
naman ni Pangulong Aquino, gusto nating iparating na sana
hindi siya nagiging public relations war, na kumbaga para lamang
Ano nga ba ang mayroon si Zazza
ma-promote ang kanyang kampanya for good governance, pilit
Simbulan as compared to her, sa kanyang
siyang nagpu-push ng iba’t ibang kampanya na against sa side
kalaban? Masasabi ko na bilang incumbent
ni Chief Justice Corona. Sa huli, kung sakali mang ma-impeach
USC councilor, meron akong experience
si Chief Justice Corona, papalitan naman siya ng appointee ni
Pangulong Aquino. Panghuli, kung ngayon mapalitan ang lahat
sa loob ng University Student Council
ng chief justice, ang mangyayari naman niyan ay magkakaroon
na naranasan ko personally kung paano
tayo ng Supreme Court na pinangungunahan ng mga appointees
nakakataba ng puso ang makapagpasaya
ni Pangulong Aquino. So gusto nating i-uphold again ang
o makapagsilbi ng tapat sa ating mga
independence ng executive branch ng ating government, maging
ang justice branch ng ating bansa.
Iskolar Para sa Bayan. Above all these, sa
tingin ko ay, yung passion na mag-serve
Bago ko sagutin ang tanong na iyan, gusto kong malaman niyo
o magsilbi sa ating mga Iskolar ay isa sa
ang rason sa aking pagtakbo. Ang rason sa aking pagtakbo
mga maipagmamalaki ko bilang isang
ay masa-summarize sa isang salita: Passion. Passion for service.
Bago dumating ang taong 2012, hindi ko nakit anag sarili ko
estudyante-lider.
na tatakbo sa posisyon ng USC Chairperson. Subalit, maraming
taong ang kumausap, maraming tao ang patuloy na nanindigan
sa akin, na naniwala na kaya kong magsilbi para sa buong
unibersidad. Sabi ko naman, nagawa ko sa Medicine Student
Council, bakit hindi ko magagawa sa buong unibersidad? Kung
di niyo ako dapat iboto, siguro ako ‘yung kandidato na hindi ko
siya pinangarap. Hindi ko siya pinangarap na maging USC Chair
talaga, pero nandito ako, tumatakbo bilang USC Chair dahil
alam kong may magagawa ako. May magagawa tayong lahat.
1
2
2
3
3
MGA TANONG
PARA SA USC
VICE-CHAIR
1
Anong marka ang ibibigay mo sa USC 2011-2012 sa pagtatapos ng
kanilang termino? Ipaliwanag. 2
Anong meron ka na wala sa iyong katunggali at paano ka nito
matutulungang gampanan ang iyong posisyon? 3
Sinusuportahan mo ba ang PAASCU Accreditation ng mga kolehiyo sa
UP Manila? Bakit o bakit hindi?
06 COUNCILORS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
ABRAHAM BAYAN, JR.
BS SPEECH PATHOLOGY
committee na tintakbuhan ko ay environment. Nag-start ako
1sa Ang
na gumawa para dito noong first year kung saan sumama ako doon
group, environmental advocacy ng United Nations na tinatawag na
“Seal the Deal: Silent Screams of Climate Change” kung saan kumuha
kami ng enough signatures para sa campaign against climate change.
Last year, ako ang project head ng Paskil Pa-gwAPO ng Alpha Phi Omega
kung saan kami nag-post ng posters, placards na nakalagay na “Clean
As You Go” kung saan pinost sa buong UP Manila para mas malinis ang
komunidad. Ako din ay logistics head ng Freshman Interblock Debate na
ang topic ay Climate Change na nakatuon sa Rio 20 na nagaganap ngayon.
2
Kung pipili akong kanta ni Whitney Houston, ang pipiliin
ko ay “Greatest Love of All.” Ang advocacy ko ay for the
environment. This is a personal advocacy for me, and I love
doing this. “Greatest Love of All,” I will not stop advocating
for the environment as long as people would believe
me and alam kong may nagagawa ako for the people’s
awareness and for them to take action for the environment.
Magpapatuloy ako dito, that is why “Greatest Love of All.”
NEIL FIDELLE LOMIBAO
BS PHARMACY
BA ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
the Freshman Block Coordination Program nagkaroon tayo ng chance
1 ofThrough
para magserve sa mga freshies this year at makilala sila since their first day
enrollment, nakasama na nating yung mga freshies at hanggang ngayon
magtatapos na ang taon patuloy pa din natin silang kasama. At nagiging
isang parent rin tayo, nagiging isang tatay para sa kanila, tulungan sila sa
kanilang adjustment, at through FBC na rin isa tayo sa mga nag-organize
ng Handog 2011, kung saan ito’y isang malaking cultural activity para sa
mga freshies. Kaya, dito talaga nahasa ang ating skills sa pag-oorganize ng
cultural activities.
So, kung may isang kanta ni Whitney Houston na sumasalamin sa
2
aking plataporma ito ay “One Moment in Time,” dahil ngayon sa ating
pagtakbo bilang USC Councilor ito’y magandang experience para sa aking
upang maglingkod sa ating kapwa Iskolar ng Bayan at ito’y isang magandang
oportunidad para ipamalas kung ano yung ating natutunan sa Unibersidad
ng Pilipinas. ‘Dun din sa kanta, sinasabi na ito na yung tamang panahon,
you’re just a heartbeat away. So, sa tulong na rin ng ating kapwa
iskolar ng bayan sana tayo’y palarin upang mapaglingkuran pa
ang ating mga kapwa Iskolar ng Bayan. Sa aking plataporma,
wala nang iba pang magandang panahon kundi ngayon upang
palakasin ang mga freshies at itaguyod ang kultura ng UP
Manila.
CID RYAN MANALO
BS PHARMACY
1
It is more of a personal reason po, kung bakit Academics
Commitee, Academics Affair ako pupunta. It’s because ‘yung block
namin and the IP block. ‘Yung block namin is, more than half is nadelay na during nung first year, second sem pa lang. E usually, nadedelay ang mga Pharm students the end of third year. And sa IP mismo,
5 na lang yung naging regular. And naging concerned ako sa academics
and I consulted the administration together with the Student Regent and
talked about the formulation of the student code which I would like to
apply here in UP Manila. That’s why I would like to build an alliance or the
University Student Academic Assembly.
ako ganung kapamilyar kay Whitney Houston pero I
2the‘Di
think yung “I Will Always Love You,” because for me I love
students, to serve the students in UP and the people in
the Philippines, kaya sasabihin ko na “I Will Always Love
You” because I love them.
SA
AN A P-KATI
PU
NA
AP
AS
ATIPUNAN
P-K
AS
A
AP
AS
N
N
N
PU
I
AT
K
SOLOMON PETER JOHN INES
I have been affiliated with ASAP-Katipunan for two years now. I am USC
1naman,
Councilor for National and Local Solidarity, and yung ASAP-Katipunan
lagi naman kritikal at makamasa sa assessment nito sa iba’t-ibang
issue. Bukod po doon, naging miyembro na rin po tayo ng student council
at syempre isang mahalagang bahagi ng konseho yung paki-alaman natin
at pakilusin natin yung ating constituents sa mga issue na kinakaharap
nila, budget cuts, at syempre sa College of Pharmacy, yung mga academic
delinquency, yung mga hindi maka-estudyanteng polisiya ng administrasyon.
I believe I must take it to the next level at sana mapaglingkuran naman yung
kabuuan ng uniberisdad.
kanta ni Whitney Houston na sumasalamin sa plataporma ko,
2 Ang
“When You Believe,” kasi bilang National and Local Solidarity naman
yung committee na tintakbuhan ko, kapag may sumusulpot na issues
doon lamang naman tayo iikot sa estudyante at meron po tayo ng
plataporma na Ronda UP Manila na we involve the students at
syempre magiging maayos lang naman magyayari yung project
natin kapag may involvement ng students. I believe yung UP
Manila, I believe the students na handa silang kumilos para sa
iba’t-ibang issue ng lipunan, ng pamantasan, and iyon naman
ang ikakatagumpay ng ating mga proyekto sa USC.
NOREEN SAPALO
BA DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
IPUNAN
-KAT
AS
A
PK
ayun, bilang miyembro po ng LFS, GABRIELA Youth and NNARA Youth,
1 Somasasabi
ko po na I have been campaigning and I had been advocating
for the rights of the students by means of mobilizing them. For example po,
nung strike po last year sa budget cut and yung nangyari po na PAASCU
accreditors’ visit then yung recently lang po naganap na unfortunate
event kay Lordei Hina na maattribute po natin sa kawalan po ng budget
ng UP System na masasabi natin kailangan po ‘yun kasi karapatan
po ‘yun ng estudyante, the right to secure school environment. Ayun
po, dati po, nung mga nakaraang taon, I had been with the students
in fighting for their right. And right now, kung papalarin po ako na
manalo na USC councilor I will be at the forefront of every campaign
and advocacy to fight for the students’ rights.
kanta ni Whitney Houston na sumasalamin sa plataporma ko
2andAng
ay dahil nga po I’m running for USC councilor for students’ rights
basic services. Ayun nga, dahil nga councilor po ako for students’
basic rights and services, ang kanta po ni Whitney Houston para
sakin na sumasalamin sa plataporma ay yung “If I Don’t Have
You,” kasi nga ang linya po nya dun ay yung “I have nothing,
nothing, nothing if I don’t have you”. Kasi po ang dami ko
pong plano para sa UP Manila as USC councilor and if I
don’t have the vote of the students and their support,
mababalewala po yun.
U
IP
AT
N ASAP-KAT
NA
IP
U
NA
ADRIAN SAMPANG
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE
1
Simula noong undergrad ako, malapit na sa puso ko yung usapin
ng health, lalung-lalo na-expose ako sa kalagayan ng mamamayan,
in general, at pati na rin ng mga pasyente sa PGH. Noong undergrad
ako, I and the orgs that I have joined participated in activities that
promoted health or somewhat health related. Now, I am currently in
Medicine so I think I am in the best position to use the seat to make
tangible solutions to the problems I have seen before. As you know,
I came from CAS so I have social science background. Now, I will try
to merge it to medical interventions, so it is a holistic attack or holistic
frame of mind that I am putting up the table to answer what is needed to
provide for the council of the students.
You Believe kasi I have never been part of any
2butWhen
political party or I have never been engaged in politics,
now, I am hoping to get a seat in the USC so I can
serve. If the people place their choice to me as they come
to believe that I can do something, that I can make a
change, I will transform that trust into something
possible.
RICHARD TIU
BS PHYSICAL THERAPY
Since elementary, sobrang interested ko na sa sports. Grade 1, Grade
1competition
2, Grade 3, I already started joining in Wushu. Nanalo po tayo sa
at exhibition ng gold at silver medal. Tapos noong high
school, naging varsity player po tayo ng volleyball. This year lang sa UP
Manila, nag-organize tayo ng Wushu workshop kasi gusto natin gawing mas
holistic, mas maging diverse yung sports na ino-offer ng UP, so nag-hold
tayo ng Wushu workshop.
Kasi yung platform ko, I’m running for USC Sports and
2kumakatawan
Wellness Committee. Ang song ni Whitney Houston na
sa platform ko is “Greatest Love of All.” Kasi
yung love is, hindi ba sabi sa lyrics, learning to love yourself is
the greatest love of all. Kasi kapag minahal mo ang sarili mo,
mabibigyan mo siya ng importansya. Ito yung basehan mo
kung bakit ka magsu-sports kasi nga it will make you well.
U
KIS-UPM BIGK
ISBIG
UP
PM
07
SEAN VINCENT AQUILINO
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE
M
IS
GK
BI
UP
M
M
UP
S
KI
-UPM BIGKIS-
B
S-U
KI
IG
BIGKIS-UPM B
IG
KI
S-
COUNCILORS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
BIGKISPM
UP M
BI
G
CHARMAINE CAMILLE MANILAY
BS PUBLIC HEALTH
Ang BIGKIS UPM ay hindi nag-assign ng committee para sa aming mga kakandidato
1committee
bilang USC councilors dahil wala rin namang kasiguraduhan na mapupunta samin yung
na ‘yun kapag nanalo kami. Tulad nung nangyari sa current USC na si Ms.
Zazza Simbulan at si Mr. Jay Del Rosario ay parehong nangampanya sa Culture and the
Arts pero pareho silang nanalo at napunta kay Ms. Zazza ang committee na ‘yun.
Kaya kami sa BIGKIS-UPM, gumawa kami ng konsepto. Yung BIGKIS-UPM FiveStar Leaders for JuanUPM. Yung Five-Star Leader na ‘yun, ‘yun ay characteristic
ng isang holistic leader: may servant leader, scholar leader, manager leader,
mobilizer leader, integrity-bound leader at napunta sa’kin ‘yung pillar na
integrity-bound leader. Bawat pillar na ‘yun, kahit na manalo kami ay ayos
lang sapagkat kami, naniniwala kami sa BIGKIS-UPM na flexible kami so
kahit anong committee ang mapunta sa’min kung nanalo kami.
Houston, siya ‘yung one of the best singers of all time at
2ko SisaangWhitney
kasawiang palad, namatay na siya. Sa plataporma ko, maibababagay
kantang “Miracles.” Dahil sabi nga ‘dun sa lyrics ‘dun, “There can
be miracles when you believe.” Parang sabi sa Psych na ‘self-fulfillingprophecy’, kasi ‘pag naniniwala tayo na kaya natin, magagawa natin ang
isang bagay. ‘Pag sinabi kong kaya ko ‘to, kahit anong mangyari, kahit ano
mang pagsubok, magagawa ko yung plataporma ko, ipapatupad ko
‘yun. Kahit na, dahil ako, bilang kandidato, may passion ako para
sa service. Kaya ako tumakbo para pagsilbihan ang mga students
para maging mas maayos at mas makabuluhan ang UP Manila
at dahil naniniwala ako sa sarili ko na kaya kong gampanan ang
mabigat na responsibilidad na ito, alam ko na maipapatupad ko
yung plataporma ko.
INDEPENDENT
RYAN PAUL NARVAEZ
Since we are running not for a committee but for a pillar that we stand for. So yung
1I done,
pillar napunta sa akin ay ang academic, academic leadership. So basically, what have
I have led the College of Science, I am the College of Science Chairperson sa
Diliman, and being a student because I believe that we are all student-leaders. We are
students first before we are leaders. Syempre inasikaso ko muna yung pagka-student ko
before anything else. Actually, I was able to publish my thesis in an international journal
and during my time as the Chairperson of the College of Science, I was also able to push
for academic campaigns and advocacies using our academic knowledge. So sa tingin ko
lalong-lalo na dito sa UP Manila, sobrang useful nito kasi andami nating alam sa health
sciences, ‘di ba? So how can we affect change sa community so I think we should
use our knowledge and make creative outputs out of our knowledge to let
the general public know what is best for them. Kunwari, HIV information
video, that’s a good advocacy since ito rin naman ang kailangan ng times
natin, ‘di ba? So something like that.
“When you Believe” - There can be miracles when you believe.
2Council
Inaamin naman natin na a position in the University Student
is not easy. Full time student ka na nga tapos kukuha ka pa
ng trabaho na, ano ba talaga ang perks nito, wala naman talaga, ‘di
ba? So para kang kumuha ng bato tapos ipinukpok mo sa ulo mo.
Pero iba talaga ‘pag iyon talaga ang gusto mong gawin. I went to the
medical profession because I really want to serve, help the people. Sa
tingin ko, hindi naman kailangan magsimula iyon upon graduation. Sa
tingin ko even as a student, dapat simulan na natin ang advocacy natin
sa buhay. So, even though you are against all odds, siyempre bata ka
pa, can you really affect change in your community at this age?
But if you really put your heart into it and you believe, then
you will achieve. I guess that’s the lyrics. Kung ginusto mo
talaga, may magagawa ka. And if you don’t, then you know
nagawa mo lahat ng kaya mo. No hard feelings. Wala
‘yung feeling na “Sayang wala akong nagawa.” At least
you tried.
JOHN JOSEPH PADAOAN
BS PHYSICAL THERAPY
So basically sa BIGKIS kasi, ‘di namin pina-package ‘yung sarili namin sa committees
1sa’tin,
‘cause we believe na dapat, kasi councilor, dapat flexible tayo na whatever ang napunta
we can deliver ‘yung work. So we related this to qualities na which can cover what
the grade there is, so napunta sa’kin is service and empowerment. As an incumbent ViceChair of CAMP, service, okay, that speaks of service, because being a Vice-Chair, serve the
CAMP in delivering projects such as the Talent Show, Freshie Orientation and others that
improve the students of CAMP. Tapos para naman sa empowerment, being a
CAMP resident, we put it hard on the PWDs or Persons With Disabilities.
So ‘yun, as Vice-Chair, nagkaroon ng projects such as the EMPOWERUN
which is a fun run para sa PGH Rehab Ward. And then of course, during
the Disability Week, we posted tarpaulins around including the rights
of the PWDs and the bills which protect them physically.
So ano, si Whitney Houston, parang sikat siya, and she recently
2
passed away. And like before, like when Michael Jackson died,
people strived to remember them through their songs, relive their
memories and their past once again. When I was a kid, one of the
songs na nagustuhan ko e ‘yung “Greatest Love of All,” ‘yung “I believe
the children are our future,” something like that, and I can relate this to
my advocacy which is to promote gender equality, gender sensitivity and of
course, the rights of LGBT community. So basically, sinasabi ‘dun sa song, na
‘pag bata ka, may potential ka and ‘di dapat natin ‘yun hini-hinder, and
sa kasalukuyan, ang society natin dahil minsan mapanghusga tayo
at sinasabi na hindi kaaya-aya ang pagiging bakla, tomboy at
kung ano pa man. Dapat instead na hini-hinder natin sila,
dapat tinutulungan ‘yung mga bata na ito to grow as a
person and so that they will become productive part of the
citizenship of the Philippines.
BS BIOCHEMISTRY
As a newcomer and independent candidate, but an ordinary student,
1alternative
isa akong founding member ng UP Saribuhay. Ito po ay isang
environmental organization sa UP Manila. Our candidacy
to the USC represents a good opportunity to raise the environmental
concerns, agenda for our Panda Project. Yung Panda Project po kasi
ay yun yung GPOA ko which is human assistance, advocacy for nature
and development of the arts. So magfo-focus ako doon sa advocacy
for nature. Ayun, focused nga ako doon through universities and
inter-university, level with the help of UP Saribuhay and other existing
environmental organizations.
2
“I Will Always Love You.” So bakit yun? Bilang independent
candidate ulit, I will create balance that the USC needs.
So, if ever naman na ‘yung composition ng USC natin ay
mahati, may iba-ibang kulay, so I can work with them
and be an instrument of understanding, diplomacy and
professionalism. Kaya ako nandito is spread ko ‘yung love
and peace, in and out of the USC.
1
2
MGA TANONG
Ano ang iyong nagawa para sa
committee kung saan ka tumatakbo?
Anong kanta ni Whitney Houston ang
sumasalamin sa iyong plataporma?
Bakit?
MAUREEN JOY TURINGAN
BA BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
So this year, BIGKIS is advocating “Five-Star Leaders for JuanUPM,” and we say five stars
1scholar
because we designate each star with different pillars, as we always say in our RTRs:
leaders, servant leaders, manager leaders, integrity-bound leaders and mobilizer
leaders. I’m focused more on being a manager leader. We have these so that we can show
that we are flexible, and holism is of course there. And as a manager leader, I wish to be one
of those who will be a good manager, of course, also when it comes to good governance,
when it comes to planning, directing and when you have, for example, different funds,
we’ll make sure that no one gets extra, or over-priced, or something like that. If ever I
do get a seat and get elected, I would focus my projects on sports and culture. Being an
international champion in Taekwondo and having a myriad of accomplishments when it
comes to sports, like basketball, badminton and bowling and billiards, I know what it’s
like to be an athlete, so one of my projects would be the Bakbakan, wherein we will try
to have it per season. As I’ve said, knowing what it is to being an athlete, if we have them
simultaneously, it may create fatigue or hard coping skills for the athletes, that’s one of
them. And being an advocate of different advocacies, three different organizations, I have
spearheaded a project wherein the funds will go to these and of course to different sports
clinics, and I’d like to have for those three organizations. So, I was able to raise
money and use that. Even if it’s outside school, I would like to be using my fresh
ideas to inject into the old ones, so I may help the school.
It would be “One Moment in Time,” not only because it’s also the theme
2course,
song of the 1988 Summer Olympics, which I would like to advocate, of
for sports. I’d also like to be, as a leader, or as we can say, first-time
leader in UP, but not ever, since I have had my experiences in school before
UP. I’d like for the students to give me a chance and one of the lines say,
“Give me one moment in time.” Racing with destiny, I think that it is my
destiny to serve, as what I have been doing, as I’ve said, outside the
school, where all of my dreams are a heartbeat away. And I’ve had my
dreams fulfilled, and I’d like to make the dreams of students come true,
through my platforms, of course, if they want to voice out different
things. These will be taken care of by the council. One of my projects
is M, “May Boses Ka,” that’s under MTV, wherein we will ask the
students what they want to say to the administration. And some
would be also “Va-va-voom,” that would fall under the letter V,
wherein we would like to showcase different cultural movies.
I ask for students to give me one moment in time, and this is
my time to shine, hopefully, so that I can hear them out, and
there voices will be heard as well.
08 ELEKSYON 2012
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
skolar Para sa Bayan - this is
Ithen
what BIGKIS-UPM stands for,
until now.
ASAP-KATIPUNAN
Alternative Students’ Alliance for Progress -
Founded in 2007, Bigkis ng
mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan
Tungo sa Makabuluhang
Pagbabago – UP Manila
(BIGKIS-UPM or simply
BIGKIS), is a socio-civic
organization
turned
ith its striking red color, the Alternative Students’ Alliance for Progress - Katipunan ng mga Progresibong
political
party
Mag-aaral ng Bayan (ASAP-Katipunan or A-K) has painted parts of the UP Manila campus since its inception
established
by
a
more than a decade ago.
UPM student as an
alternative to the older
In an interview with party-member and University Student Council (USC) Vice Chairperson Cleve Arguelles, the history and position of
political
parties,
A-K on different issues were revealed.
ASAP-Katipunan and
the now-defunct Iskolar
A-K was formed thirteen years ago as a result of the alliance of two progressive student organizations, ASAP and Katipunan, as
Student Alliance. Since
they recognized the similarities of their socio-civic and political orientations. The convergence of the two organizations is written in
2008, BIGKIS has been
the history of the campus politics as the broadest and oldest alliance of student leaders and organizations in the University of the
participating in every
Philippines Manila (UPM). Alllied organizations, fraternities and sororities have also joined the cause and became a crucial portion of
student
council
the alliance throughout the years. This student formation was strengthened by its belief that education is a right and that the youth
elections held in the
should unite with the other sectors of the society in order to achieve genuine change. It is also in this belief that A-K took part in
university. And throughout
the founding of Kabataan Partylist.
its course as a party, BIGKIS
members have dubbed
A-K’s first three guiding principles are represented by the three colors in their logo: pro-student (red), pro-people (yellow), and
themselves as Iskolars para
pro-environment (green). Their pro-student stance is visibly seen in the political arena as they resort to parliamentary ways of
sa Bayan, a term signifying a
voicing out concerns relevant to the students. This is exemplified by their support to progressive party lists and lawmakers,
UP student’s way of giving back
which serves as the intermediary between the Congress and the students. They also vehemently show disapproval against
to the people through national
issues such as budget cut and private accreditation.
service.
The second guiding principle of the party is that of being pro-people. They try to find common points that would
In its five years of existence, BIGKIS
lead to solutions and would benefit the society in general. This is seen in the way they have stood with farmers
was able to produce two University
of Hacienda Luisita in the aim of having the infamous land redistributed. They are also pro-environment in
Student Council (USC) Chairpersons –
the way that they redefine environmentalism. In this sense, according to them, the segregation of wastes
Ramon Lorenzo Luis ‘Renzo’ Guinto in
is only a band-aid solution. Instead, what must be addressed are the root causes of environmental
2009-2010,
and
incumbent
Chairperson
problems such as the various industrial factories that produce toxic wastes which, in turn,
Angeli ‘Gel’ Guadalupe. Both chairpersons were
harm people and the environment.
students from the College of Medicine.
A-K’s second three guiding principles are featured in their
An alternative student council is what BIGKIS desires and campaigns for. It has always
tagline – tunay, palaban, and makabayan. They claim
expressed its stark contradiction from the opposing party’s militant mode of activism by the way
to be a genuine party that stands for the rights
it addresses national and local issues. Members of the party believe that every person has an “innate
of various sectors. They, however, cleared that
capacity for affecting positive change in this struggling world,” which denotes that there are other socially
their being militant does not mean that
acceptable channels in tackling different issues in the university, as well as in the country.
they take up arms, but that they do not
easily bow down to authority.
BIGKIS is guided by its five pillars composed of service and empowerment, holistic management, academic
excellence, progressive multi-perspective activism and enduring integrity. Furthermore, the party also claims that
To further expand its legacy, A-K
their advocacies are dynamic and proactive, geared towards unity and change. These are exemplified by their steadfast
continues to participate in the
involvement in local and national causes as such their initiative of condemning fraternity violence, being a staunch
UPM student elections. For
supporter of environmental and public health reform in the local level, their involvement in national issues such as with the
the past thirteen years, the
Sumilao farmers and their advocacy for concrete reforms in debt servicing.
party was able to produce
6 USC chairpersons and
In relation to the various issues currently faced by the university, BIGKIS has also undertaken steps to address such matters.
vice-chairpersons. Indeed,
The party has shown its opposition on the issue of budget cut and calls for a higher education subsidy by launching programs
through the years, A-K
such as the Up the Budget Campaign and Taft 1000 Signature Campaign and Lobbying.
has produced strongwilled student leaders
On the other hand, relative to the issue of the College of Arts and Sciences taking the necessary steps to be accredited by the
who passionately fight for
Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU), BIGKIS asserts that it is for external
various causes.
accreditation but not for PAASCU. According to BIGKIS Chairperson Jason Alacapa, the party has undertaken concrete actions that
include the lobbying for a “memorandum of agreement that no TOFI [tuition and other fees increase] and repression of
A-K’s
member
academic and student rights shall happen as a consequence of accreditation process with the UPM Central Administration.”
organizations
include
Alpha
Phi
Omega
Fraternity,
Alpha
Phi
Omega
Sorority,
ANAKBAYAN, GABRIELA Youth, KARATULA, League
of Filipino Students, NNARA
Youth, Pre Law Society, Tau
Omega Mu Fraternity and
its Ladies Circle, and Student
Christian Movement.
Katipunan ng mga Progresibong Mag-aaral ng Bayan
W
BIGKIS-UPM
Bigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan
Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago University of the Philippines Manila
THE CULTURE TEAM
FEATURES
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
BETRAYAL
OF TRUST
ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE USC 2011-2012
I
t has been a tumultuous year for the
Iskolar ng Bayan, as persistent issues
and perennial problems wracked the
very foundation of the University of
the Philippines Manila (UPM). Amidst
all these struggles, the very institution
which heralded itself as the leader of
the student body, the University Student
Council (USC) 2011-2012, largely failed
in actualizing the service it promised to
provide, as a result of the incapability
of its members to be united, in spite of
disparities in ideology. This did not only
affect the leadership it provided, but
also caused dissent among the students.
And in this case, it would hold true
that the type of leadership of a certain
government can be reflected in the
characteristics of the constituency.
In an interview conducted by The Manila
Collegian with the USC, the only officers
in attendance were USC Vice-Chairperson
Cleve Kevin Robert Arguelles, and
Councilors Regina Gabriela Decangchon,
Johanne Joseph Del Rosario, and Jose
Marie Lanuza, and the College of Arts
and Sciences (CAS) Representative to
the USC Teresa Trazona – all of them
part of the Alternative Students Alliance
for Progress - Katipunan ng mga
Progresibong Mag-aaral ng Bayan (AK). USC Chairperson Angeli Guadalupe
informed The Manila Collegian that she,
along with College of Medicine (CM)
Representative to the USC Jegar Catindig
and College of Public Health (CPH)
Representative to the USC Joshua Young,
will be unable to attend the interview, but
it must be noted that all other members
of the USC failed to attend as well. In the
middle of the interview, Guadalupe sent
a message to Lanuza, asking whether
the questions could be sent online, to
which the publication declined as the
purpose of the interview was to gauge
the performance of the USC as a whole.
As such, the failure of the other members
to attend the interview would mean
that their positions on certain matters
discussed will not be published, as it was
not obtained in the first place.
As far as judgments go, herein lies an
evaluation of the performance of the
USC of 2011-2012 that is unapologetic,
uncompromised and most of all, truthful
– all in the service of the students who
did not gain what they expected and
deserved from their student leaders.
Probing the Dissent
Partisan politics played a huge role in
the performance of the USC this year, as
the dichotomy between the two political
blocs became even more apparent. It
faced controversies which exacerbated
this dissent, and in turn, devalued the
service it rendered to the student body.
The members of both parties, A-K and
Bigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan Tungo
sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago - UPM
(BIGKIS), strongly clung to the ideologies
their parties espoused, to the point that
one decision for the entire body became
impossible to reach. Instead, internal
conflicts determined the path the USC
treaded for most of the academic year.
In light of these problems, the USC
admittedly
professed
the
same
sentiments. Partisan politics evidently
took its toll on the service the body
was supposed to provide to the
students. These differences, however,
are inherent in every student council,
or any governing body for that matter.
What makes the dissent unique for this
council would be that around halfway of
the term, efforts to still present a united
front were abandoned in order to fulfill
what each party wanted to be the USC’s
goal. These internal matters became the
focal point for much of the term, and
instead of being resolved internally first
through apt lines of communication,
these were heavily publicized, with the
different views of each party clashing in
statements released online.
Demarcating the Line
Enemy lines are supposedly blurred in
the event of the emergence of a single
council. Yet, as what the outgoing USC
proved, it became an arena where party
interests gained dominance.
Illustrative of the aforementioned point,
the USC this year manifested that it
scored some triumphs that will serve as
their legacy of servitude to the student
body. For one, they have commenced the
first Freshie Night under the Freshman
Committee of the council. Another
successful project of the council would
be its initiated campaigns to address
pressing issues in the university and
the nation like the budget cut on
social services and typhoon Sendong.
09
THE FEATURES TEAM
PHOTO BY KESSEL GANDOL VILLAREY
The maneuvers shown by the council
in tackling the critical issues at hand,
however, are reflective of the red and
blue ideals ingrained in the council. In
doing so, the council has proven that
the camaraderie that it has established
is gravely volatile and undoubtedly, party
politics remains to be a force at play.
The victories of the council are eclipsed by
the setbacks that sought to create cracks
on its foundation. In the interview of The
Manila Collegian to assess the term of this
year’s USC, the officers shed light on the
perceived failures that have subdued the
council. Lack of coordination was seen
as a grave predicament in the council
as for instance, members of the USC are
incognizant of projects, statements and
decisions carried out under the banner of
the USC. Consequently, USC projects are
partnered with their own parties without
the knowledge of the other council
members. Another inefficient practice
that has been pervasive in this year’s term
is the absence of its members in meetings
and general assemblies. This proved to
be problematic as the council was only
able to conduct few general assemblies
during their entire term as a result of a
lack of quorum, notwithstanding all the
disputes related to the attendance in
such meetings.
This year’s council has scored major
victories but has incurred graver setbacks
that questioned the legitimacy of the
USC as an institution that genuinely
serves the interests of the students. The
uncovered inefficiencies of the council
have not only shunned the triumphs of
their programs and campaigns but more
so, these blunders could be seen as the
consequences of the student leaders’
staunch adherence to party ideals. For it
is when loyalties to the parties intensify
that the mandate to serve the students
is imperiled.
Exacerbating the Divide
When the prime mover encounters an
insurmountable force that threatens its
disposition, turmoil is an unavoidable
occurrence.
For a governing body to function
effectively, it must be headed by an
effective leader. Discussions about the
problems of the USC often point to the
incapacity of Guadalupe to unite the
council under her rule. There are also
reports that Guadalupe does not inform
the others of certain decisions she carries
out, that the members are not wellinformed of the activities of the USC.
While the failures of the USC cannot
be entirely blamed on the Chairperson,
Guadalupe nevertheless failed to
maximize the potential of the position
to foster cooperation within the council
in further accomplishment of its duties,
and this largely constitutes ineffective
chairpersonship.
The disunity of the USC can be reflected
in one of the most contentious issue
that the student council has faced – the
suspension of the USC Chairperson.
The interview conducted by the Manila
Collegian shed light on the case as the
student leaders who were present in the
interview affirmed that Guadalupe was
truly suspended. They clarified the issue
and said that the decision took effect, for
there was no formal appeal or intent to
appeal the ruling. By using the name and
logo of the USC without the knowledge of
the whole council, Guadalupe committed
violations against a prescribed rule in the
USC Constitution.
Instead of giving proper solutions to
these predicaments, the USC Chairperson
denies the violations that she actually
committed. And more so, she had
lambasted and tarnished the integrity
of The Manila Collegian by tagging it as
partial when it only published the truth.
Amidst all the turmoil caused by
stark differences and seemingly
insurmountable
divides,
there
remains the ultimate goal that
transcends
the
boundaries
entrenched by the aforementioned
problems – that of providing genuine
service to the Iskolar. To unite the
UPM community is truly a duty that
must be realized; however, a united
USC must exist first before this
objective to be achieved – that is
another challenge that the incoming
USC must take into consideration.
From the ashes left by the term of
the USC 2011-2012, there will rise
another. It would do well to learn
from the mistakes of the past.
10 FEATURES
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
>> PROGNOSIS | FROM PAGE 12
A-K: Fanning the Flames of Revival
The Alternative Students Alliance for Progress
– Katipunan ng mga Progresibong Mag-aaral
ng Bayan (A-K) has something to bank on for
the forthcoming elections - that of the visibility
of its candidate for Chairperson, Cleve Kevin
Robert Arguelles, as the USC 2011-2012 ViceChairperson to the extent that most students
even believed that he was the Chairperson.
This becomes an advantage for the party, as
visibility is a key factor in not only gauging the
efficacy of an officer, but also in determining
the possible support that a specific candidate
would gain.
Also, A-K is known for its militant stance
on certain issues. Staunch activism did not
proliferate with the leadership of this year’s
USC, unlike last year under Cesarie Ann
Santos’ rule. A-K’s ability to promote students’
rights on a year-round basis not only as a
political party, but also as a mass organization
may serve to quench the student body’s
thirst for a council that would effectively act
on student concerns and important matters.
As such, this, combined with the public’s
perception of Arguelles as the incumbent USC
Vice-Chairperson, constitutes A-K’s visibility –
a strong foundation to build its political future
on.
Nearing the elections, the Sigma Kappa Pi
(EKIT) fraternity and Sigma Delta Pi (EDIT)
sorority decided to leave A-K. Alleged disputes
between the two camps over which people to
promote as candidates that escalated over
the years is supposedly the reason behind
the split. It is difficult to gauge where exactly
such Greek organizations would stand in the
elections, but what may be certain is that this
split did not necessarily deal a heavy blow
to A-K, for as far as alliances go, Tau Omega
Mu renewed old severed ties with the party.
A-K may survive with the current members
of its alliance, and with its aforementioned
advantage of visibility.
In the face of all these, options must be
weighed and considered. Another of A-K’s
strengths in this year’s elections may be its
quite unusual capability to field candidates
from colleges other than CAS. A-K has
been staunchly supported by most of the
population of the College of Arts and Sciences
(CAS), but it lacked the ability to appeal to the
rest of the colleges, which is considered one
of its major impairments. This year, however,
the A-K slate is composed of newcomers, with
only three candidates from CAS. This is a new
tactic to apparently gain the recognition and
support of the other colleges.
More notable than this new strategy, A-K
has also been promoting a more varied
composition of its platforms than what it
offered previously. Its militant activism has not
been compromised nor altered, but in addition
to the tagline of “Tapat sa Pagbabago”, and true
to that same promise, new programs are being
promoted, possibly
in
the
hopes of attracting
more supporters
and
voters.
The
accommodation of changes in the party
highlights its very need to do so to appeal to
a wider range of voters, and possibly, this can
also partly be attributed to the entrance of
new blocs in the alliance.
BIGKIS: Rising
Destruction
from
the
Ashes
of
Ascending to victory after battling in the
historic three-way USC chairpersonship battle
last year, Bigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan
Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago (BIGKIS)
now faces the challenge of preserving its clout
and dominance in the council. BIGKIS, which
has started as a socio-political organization in
June 2007, has proven that it is a formidable
power to reckon with. The blue party’s
influence in the UP Manila political arena
is evidenced by its two successful bids to
the USC chairpersonship, first with Renzo
Guinto in 2008 and last year’s victor, Angeli
Guadalupe. In addition, the party has secured
the majority of the number of seats in the USC
and college student councils, save for CAS.
The victories of the party could be attributed
to the various stratagems and ideals that are
being employed by BIGKIS. For one, they won
the votes of the student body through fielding
articulate and spotless student leaders that
boast both good scholastic standing and
academic achievements. Second, the party is
known to adopt multi-perspective activism
which is a stark contradiction to the opposing
party’s militant mode. In turn, these resulted
in a drastically altered UP Manila political
landscape.
The aforementioned manifestations of their
power, however significant, do not guarantee
a repeat of their victory last year. The political
waters this year tread rougher for BIGKIS as
various issues threaten the smooth sailing of
the party towards victory. For one, Guadalupe’s
leadership in the USC, which is supposedly the
saving grace of the blue party, proved to be a
liability rather than an asset in maintaining the
status quo of supremacy in the council.
The BIGKIS dominated USC this year was
widely perceived as problematic and
inefficient as numerous setbacks threatened
the Guadalupe leadership. These issues were
perceived negatively by the students which
might affect the votes for the party in this
year’s elections. Furthermore, the students
might blame the one holding the highest
position, as the unity of the council rests on
this person’s own exercise of power to unite
the irreconcilable internal divide—further
endangering the hold of BIGKIS on the aspired
ascendance to victory.
The ability of BIGKIS to establish the healthrelated colleges as those that will comprise
their political stronghold remains their biggest
advantage against the red faction. Guadalupe’s
win last year reinforced this notion and this
year, it might prove very crucial as the votes of
these colleges shall spell the victory for Jason
Alacapa, a Medicine student and the BIGKIS
standard
bearer.
The
College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP)
remains its biggest vote source and securing
the student council positions in the other
health-related colleges will assure BIGKIS that
the scales would continue to tip in their favor
once again. It is evident in this year’s BIGKIS
slate that it only fielded four candidates but
the party’s strength is drawn on its complete
set of college representatives. Yet the failure
to secure the votes of these colleges would
guarantee a crushing defeat for the political
party, also considering that the opposing
party, A-K, managed to obtain candidates
from these colleges as well.
party could gain the majority of the votes
of the students, in light of the different
techniques used and changes concretized.
The failure of the incumbent USC to appear
as one council amidst differences between
the members becomes the primary reason for
the student body to demand a council that
could effectively overcome such differences,
and be of genuine service to the Iskolar and
the community. Perhaps this may also be the
rationale behind the introduction of many
newcomers to the USC political arena, those
that are not tied to the incumbent USC, with
the exception of Arguelles and Simbulan.
The BIGKIS success formula for this year’s
elections is once again based on their proven
mix of fielding academically outstanding
and articulate student leaders, promoting a
platform grounded on uniting the colleges,
through their juanUPM slogan and upholding
their ideals through polishing their images as
“five-star” leaders. The efficacy of the formula
however, will be reflected if the students would
opt to vote for the Iskolars para sa Bayan on
election day.
A BIGKIS win in the elections would manifest
the notion that the student body still
believes in the capability of the blue party
in leading the USC, despite the setbacks
that the Guadalupe-led council have faced.
Their victory would prove that the students
in UP Manila would remain to veer away of
the established militant activism that UP has
been known to promulgate. The party’s ability
to secure its clout on the health colleges will
remain as their advantage and hopefully, will
be enough to spell victory for the blue bloc.
The political tactics of the BIGKIS this year is
more aggressive than its last year’s campaign
strategies and this might aid to the party’s
supremacy.
PROGNOSIS
Both parties, A-K and BIGKIS, offer
candidates for the Chairpersonship and ViceChairpersonship coming from CAS and CM.
It will be a battle between Arguelles from
CAS and Alacapa from CM for the position
of Chairperson, and Mark Angelo Romero
from CM and Ferozza Delia “Zazza” Simbulan
from CAS for that of Vice-Chairperson. This
manifests each party’s attempt to hitch
votes from the two colleges, with such votes
largely determining the outcome of the USC
elections. CAS holds the largest population of
the student body in UPM, while CM dominates
in terms of perceived influence and prestige,
strengthened by the fact that it is the oldest
college in the whole UP system. While securing
the majority of the votes from both colleges
would not necessarily lead to a sure win, it
would nevertheless comprise a large share
of the votes that could possibly be gained. In
addition, it could be observed that A-K offers
a complete roster of candidates while BIGKIS
has only four candidates. The number game in
the USC is but an important facet to a party’s
dominance, with the assurance that even if all
four of BIGKIS’ USC councilor candidates win,
the two other spots are available to A-K or the
independents for the taking.
Obtaining the support of specific colleges is
a crucial factor to gaining the upper hand in
the elections. BIGKIS was known for gaining
the support of the health-related colleges,
but A-K managed to produce a slate with
members coming from colleges other than
CAS. It is then more probable that the votes
will deliver a landslide win for A-K due to the
number of its candidates.
Also, the traditional party politics employed
by both camps seen in the previous elections
would not necessarily be the sole factor in
gauging the results of this year’s elections.
What will matter
now
would
b
e
which
The ascendance of Arguelles on the other
hand, is anchored on his image as a honed
political stalwart as evidenced by his influential
political positions in the college and university
levels. Visibility will prove to be his ticket
towards victory in the two-way race for USC
Chairpersonship. This notion is reinforced by
the fact that his influence far more eclipsed
that of Guadalupe during his term as the
Vice-Chairperson. A-K’s win in its bid this year
might be possible if Arguelles’ influence could
boost the image of the other A-K candidates
who need to establish their respective marks
in the UPM political arena.
More than a battle of principles, this year’s
elections present itself as an arena where
supremacy, and not servitude, prevails.
The forthcoming elections do not only
exhibit the ensuing clash of ideologies
between the two blocs that polarize the UP
Manila political spectrum, but more than
anything, it defines how far the red and
the blue factions would go to be hailed as
victors. As dominance becomes the rule of
the game, it has become evident that the
maneuvers of both political parties have
changed in so far as to ensure their victory.
The assurance of genuinely serving the
students as a result, is downplayed.
Elections present a perfect opportunity to
decide the track that the university and the
students will traverse. The leaders who will
emerge as victors in the elections epitomize
the aspirations of the student body. For
each vote that will be cast by the Iskolar ng
B a y a n
would
ultimately
shape
the character of
t h e
university in the
years
to
come.
OPINION
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012
A BOX OF CHOCOLATES
Jesse Nicole Rubio Santos
T
his is for everything that happened in the past
eighteen years.
I loved. I laughed. I cried. I was hurt. I suffered. I fought. I hid. I
lied. I told the truth. I failed. I succeeded. I believed. And I still
do. But most of all, I learned to accept the consequences of
my actions, because only in so doing would I ever trust myself.
To say that a lot has changed over the years would be an
understatement. Sometimes I lie awake in the middle of the
night thinking how I ever got here, how I ever came to this
point in my life, and what exactly am I trying to accomplish.
Questions about the future are overrated ones, and still, I
haven’t found the adequate answers. I couldn’t see two feet
in front of me, and I couldn’t make sense of those behind me.
It Goes On*
about these, because as vague as the reasons may be, there
are reasons. Even that slight knowledge may be enough to just
have something to hold on to.
It might not make sense now, but it will someday. That a song
you just heard would eventually inspire you to create your very
own masterpiece – not exactly the greatest, but well-received,
because they know what you’re rambling about. That hellish
class with the merciless professor that CRS forced you to enlist
in would one day equip you to handle even more difficult
obstacles in life. And when that day comes, you’ll be thankful
that you didn’t cry under all the pressure, because you know
what it feels like, and how to deal with it. That idol of yours who
disillusioned your idea of humanity – that people change into
someone they said they never will – would make you realize
that you can do better, because that person once taught you to
be better than that. And that your very belief about life would
change, because life itself changes, and nothing stays exactly
the same forever.
Life took me to places I never expected. My eight-year-old
self wanted to be a scientist, and never would have imagined
that I would become a Political
Science major. I never thought
is to say, we should not
that I would one day deny my
erhaps that’s the best thing about That
merely accept things just the
religious beliefs just to dodge
life;
that
you
have
absolutely
no
clue
way they are and wait for things
street sellers of overpriced icons,
to happen. We have the power
yet martyrs were persecuted for as to what would happen next.”
to determine our own paths,
refusing to betray theirs. My
and we can choose our own
former overeager self would
directions in life. We can choose
have been horrified at the very
idea of my desire to skip classes from time to time, just because to break free from the incarceration imposed by societal
I don’t think these are worth attending. The characters from norms and dictates, and forge our own way of life. The key
the stories I wrote when I was in 5th grade would have been is to distinguish between those we can control, and those we
proud that I now write pieces that transcend the spring bound cannot.
pages of a journal, even if these are not exactly literary ones.
Some things amount to something greater, and account for
And there are those that still surprise me. I’m one of the few something better – these are not simply brought about by
who managed to enter UP without a valedictorian credit sheer circumstance. The past and the future are entwined in
to my name, and I’m still trying to fit in among the sea of that convoluted and confusing manner; that what may happen
overachievers. I may also be the only one who became part of tomorrow somehow takes root in yesterday, and some of
the publication without ever having any journalistic experience what happened yesterday would eventually be understood
in high school, and I’m still grappling with the workings of the tomorrow.
craft. I was utterly clueless, driven by what I thought I wanted
and could attempt to achieve. The only thing I could offer was I’m still looking for the answers to the same questions. I still
all that I am. And all I could ever hope to accomplish would be haven’t figured it all out yet. And I’m not even certain if I am
where I want to be. But what I am sure of is that, so far, I am
to do my best, in the way only I know how.
where I need to be.
Perhaps that’s the best thing about life; that you have
absolutely no clue as to what would happen next. We have See where life takes you. The next unexpected detour may
guesses and predictions, but I’ve learned that these only do so just be the best one yet.
much as to make one worry even more – pointless and timeconsuming. While decisions produce outcomes, the outcomes
are not certain. Either it happens, or it doesn’t. Either there’s *The only three words that Robert Frost needed to describe what
something, or there isn’t. And there is no point in fretting should be learned about life
“P
A LA FOLIE*
Aubrey Nicole Leones Arboleda
will start this off with my confession: my growing
Idisplay
anxiousness and aggravation, caused by the blatant
of injustice, cannot be quelled by just about
anything.
For almost two years, I have been a student assistant (SA).
Suffice to say that I really have no regrets being an SA. It was,
and still is, worthwhile and memorable. And no, I am not
planning to quit just yet. My fellow SAs became one of my
closest friends because of our shared interests. I gained another
family, and while bickering never grows old, no one really takes
offence. Free food, on the other hand, is never amiss which I
am so grateful for. Special occasions and even the dreariest
afternoons turn into feasts as we celebrate as a family.
Confessions of a
Student Assistant
As an SA, I wanted the perks not just the experience. It should
not be a surprise then that I am a bit peeved every time
wages are delayed. Things then, that I have to purchase, got
backlogged. Most of the time, I just let it slide. I was told that
we cannot really rush the people in charge of our salaries. But
then days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months.
Countless calls inquiring for updates suddenly seemed so tiring
that I almost stopped caring. Well, almost.
I realized that it is not really an option to wait for something.
Fighting, be it figuratively or not, really is inevitable when
it comes to what you want or what you need. I was able to
recognize the parallelism of my situation to what most workers
experience. They have to endure hours of arduous work for
meagre incomes.
To tell the truth, I will never
SAs, myself included, only
forget the fact that I applied
ome SAs, myself included, only Some
rely on their wages to pay for
for the post at the same time I
rely on their wages to pay for their their needs. I use my income for
decided to apply as a writer for
photocopying tons of readings,
The Manila Collegian. It was needs.”
paying for project contributions
unnerving, no doubt, trying to
and other miscellaneous stuff.
juggle the two on top of my
The plight of SAs has to be
school work. In fact, when I first
started out, I have to admit that I was so stressed out. As time recognized and addressed accordingly as we are students as
passed, however, I was able to sort my priorities and balance well as workers.
my tasks. And I’ve been doing just fine until now.
Since last year, at the start of the term, salaries for student
Perhaps, one of the reasons I decided to become an SA is the assistants have been delayed. In fact, the wages for last
fact that it is compensated, amounting to thirty pesos per hour. November was just released this February. It makes one wonder
This means that every hour of my free time counts as much as because even before I started, wages are only a month delayed.
Now, it is clearly a different story.
the amount of work I am able to finish.
“S
Since I started out, it has become a habit of mine to look at the
bulletin boards posted near the cash registrar office in OUR.
Every time, I would look at the papers posted and hope that
maybe this time, I can finally see what I have been waiting for.
Perchance, I will not have to wait for countless minutes, days
and hours. Maybe I can finally see another payroll and not of
the previous month that I already claimed and spent. Mayhap,
I can finally claim the salary that I worked for. But I was wrong
a lot of times.
11
FIXING A HOLE
Denise A. Salvo
Songs to Love and Die By*
Track 1: I Forgot to Remember to Forget by Elvis Presley
But something sure is wrong, ‘cause I’m so blue and lonely. I forgot to
remember to forget.
So many sleepless nights haunted me. I lay awake, thinking, just
randomly musing. In times like these, music has been my only refuge.
There are so many memories, all filled with deepest of emotions. It
seems that with all that has happened I may never learn to forget. I
forgot to remember to forget all that has been. Perhaps I never will.
Track 2: World Spins Madly On by The Weepies
I thought of you and where you’d gone. And the world spins madly on.
Since that fateful night, I haven’t seen Sam anywhere. Rumor has it
that she and Alex broke up, that it was allegedly due to cheating on
Sam’s part, only they did not know that it was with me. She might
have had the good sense to avoid me entirely after what happened,
and I haven’t spoken with her since. Only one note surfaced after her
disappearance, a note posted hastily on the back of the door, which
read, “This is goodbye. Sam.”
Track 3: Somewhere Only We Know by Keane
I was crushed the last time I saw Alex. His words still ring in my ears,
and it pains me to see him between classes, without so much as a
hello to get me through the day. All that we have is all that we had.
And I may be the only one who keeps on looking at our disastrous
relationship in retrospect. Even I feel like it’s ending, somehow, it has
ended. But if by an impossible twist of fate, you suddenly decide to
have everything back, for even just a minute, I’m only here, in that
place that only we know. I’ll be waiting.
This could be the end of everything. So why don’t we go somewhere
only we know?
Track 4: Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns n Roses
I can play the guitar riff in my head, even if I don’t hear the song.
That’s how much I recognize it, long for its familiarity even, as before,
I knew that my Dad was in the living room every time I would hear
it. My Dad introduced me to music, way back when everything was
seemingly alright. It was he who taught me all the beautiful things
that the ear can possibly hear. And until now, even if he doesn’t,
music gets me through.
I was not the sweet child he thought he brought me up to be. I
would not compromise my identity for anyone, especially not for
my parents who are supposed to love me in spite of everything that
I am. But despite everything that happened, I still love them. I just
hope that they feel the same way.
Where do we go now?
Track 5: All Downhill From Here by Amy Kuney
Can’t pull myself from out of the bed, it’s 12 o’clock inside my head.
The people outside feel so far away.
Out of all the things that could possibly go wrong in my life, this
has to be the most expected. It’s not that I never cared much for
academics, but that I couldn’t care less. Grades can never measure
a person, and insofar as mine are concerned, I’ve stood by this
principle. I tried, but somehow, failure always creeps up on me. And
yes, I think, my grades would never again see the light of day.
Track 6: Swim by Jack’s Mannequin
There are days when you have to have something to believe in. There
has to be something to get you through, amidst all the struggles you
had and have to face. Because life will never work out in the way that
you want it to and the world will never give you what you want in
the easiest way possible. And if you’re still fighting for the very thing
you desire the most, even for just that tiny glimmer of hope, then
this is for you.
Swim for the music that saves you when you’re not so sure you’ll
survive.
Track 7: You Get What You Give by New Radicals
The rights and welfare of the student assistants are clearly
being derailed. And I, like the others, are left in the dark
waiting and wondering why on earth it is taking so long. It
is only a matter of time before enough is enough. And
waiting listlessly is no longer an option.
And mourning over what your life has become cannot bring you
anywhere but where your fat ass sits right now. Unless you decide to
be on your feet, take a cold shower to awaken your senses, dress up
with all your best clothes and strut your way to where you want to
be can moving forward and starting anew be possible. Sure, your life
has been nothing but tragedy. But every morning brings promise
of a new beginning, one more chance to make it right, another
opportunity to believe that amidst the debacles, there is hope.
*A la Folie means to insanity
Don’t let go, you’ve got the music in you. One dance left, this world is
gonna pull through. Don’t give up, you’ve got a reason to live.
*My apologies to 8mm.
P
ast University Student Council (USC) elections
in the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM)
were marked by intense rivalries between parties
rooted in clashing ideologies and methods. This
year, however, boasts of an arena where old tricks
and trades of the game would no longer possess
the bearing it once commanded. The failure of the
previous USC to be united in its endeavors afforded
the electoral hopefuls to start not with a clean slate,
but with the potential to define the standards of
the game. And apparently, the electoral blocs are
utilizing all that they hold in their arsenal to gain
supremacy in the battlefield.
As a result of the employment
of different schemes and tactics
with past events influencing the
current set-up, the fight to be
won is the fight between who
will gain maximum leverage.
Each political bloc would deal
with the coming elections in a
manner of
c
E
R
on
NAi
SSa
NcE
PROGNOSIS
The 2012 University Student Council Elections
THE FEATURES TEAM
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 >>