Nº 12

Nº 12
14 Set 07
Opisyal na lingguhang
pahayagan ng mga
mag-aaral ng Unibersidad
ng Pilipinas - Diliman
news | 03
In light of the
investigation on
Cris’s death
10 SR
members
snub NBI
probe
kultura | 08
Ang mabuhay
sa kapatiran
Pagbabalik-tanaw ng
isang dating neophyte
opinyon | 09
Notes on a
conviction
Musings on the
Erap verdict
On its 85th year, the
Philippine Collegian looks
back at eight decades of
headlines that saw print
on its pages & sent ripples
within and outside the
university.
15 Set 1991
Laban sa
imperyalismo
ilulunsad
Kaakibat ng patinding
kampanya laban sa
pananatili ng mga
base militar sa bansa,
nakatakdang ilunsad
ngayong linggo ang
Kongreso ng AntiImperialist Movement
(AIM) of the Youth.
PhilippineCollegian Ika-85 taon
Blg. 12 Biyernes 14 Set 2007
T
he manner by which
Prof. Jose Ma. Sison
was arrested belabors
the underlying political impetus behind
it. On August 27, the
Dutch police summoned Sison to
their precinct to “procure” documents, which Sison assumed to
be related to the investigation
on the assassination plot against
him in 2000. Upon arrival, however, he was arrested on charges
of ordering the murder of Romulo
Kintanar and Arturo Tabara in
2003. He was then brought to the
Dutch capital The Hague, where he
is currently held incommunicado.
Concurrently, Dutch authorities
searched and ransacked the office
of the National Democratic Front
Philippines (NDFP) International
Information Office, where hard
drives, CDs, and DVDs containing confidential information were
confiscated.
If the series of events are to be
closely analyzed, one will discern
that the arrest was politically motivated. First, it is baffling why the
Dutch police had to deceive Sison
to think that he was summoned
simply to “pick up” documents. The
profiles of Kintanar and Tabara,
meanwhile, have been consistently neglected by the mainstream
media, hastily assuming that the
two are mere pedestrians caught
in the crossfire of the war between
the state and the communist movement. A mere archival research
would have linked the two to a
failed assassination attempt on
Sison in 2000, as Col. Reynaldo
Berroya, a police official, admitted
to media.
Sison, who left the country in
1988 after his Philippine passport
was cancelled due to subversion
charges, remains a key figure in
the peace negotiations between the
NDFP and the Philippine government. The New People’s Army,
which claimed responsibility for
the assassination of Kintanar and
Tabara, insistently denies Sison’s
control over the movement’s operations and decisions. Given Sison’s
international prominence and the
cited organization’s predisposition towards collective author ity, it seems unbecoming of the
underground movement to confer
sole administrative powers to Sison
who, after all, is currently working
“aboveground” as chairperson
of the International League of
Peoples’ Struggle and political
consultant of the NDFP panel in
the peace talks.
Sison’s arrest, by all means, is
symbolic and symptomatic. By
jailing Sison, a figure closely associated with the Left, the government is implying that its all-out
war against the communist insur gency is in full swing. Such a move
naively assumes that by jailing
an influential personality in the
revolutionary movement, its capabilities will be severely weakened.
Moreover, it portends the government’s desperate maneuvers to
completely crush the communist
insurgency by 2010.
Such a move
naively
assumes that
by jailing an
influential
personality
in the
revolutionary
movement, its
capabilities
will be severely
weakened
Resumption of peace talks are
also hinged on the recent turn of
events.
To begin with, the government’s
sincerity in pursuing peace negotiations had been doubtful. Given
the various attacks this government continuously enacts to eradicate any form of opposition, it is no
surprise the cessation of hostilities
remains an unviable scenario. But
such violence, symbolic and otherwise, only points to the intrinsic
weakness of this regime. To stay
in power, it must quell dissent in
all its form and intensity. It eludes
reason that this government would
rather waste billions on funding
an all-out offensive against revolutionaries when it could have
used these funds to address the
very cause of their rebellion. Soon
enough, this regime’s unabashed
abuse of power will lead it to its
downfall.
Sison’s arrest, more impor tantly, implies that the state has
blurred the line distinguishing
underground and aboveground
resistance. Such is how we may
put light to the unabated spate
of political killings and enforced
disappearances under the Arroyo
regime. This is how we may situate
the tenacity of the government
to pursue legislation and other
policies which curtail basic civil
liberties. The current impetus of
the state, as it seems, is to ensure
the political survival of the ailing
Arroyo regime by crook and no
less.
The government fails to recognize the nature of the rebellion.
It is its persistent shadow. As long
as it remains corrupt, brutal, and
mindful only of the interests of a
few, the insurgency will never lose
steam.
Philippine Collegian Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman
Punong Patnugot / Jerrie M. Abella • Kapatnugot / Frank Lloyd Tiongson • Tagapamahalang Patnugot / Karl Fredrick M. Castro • Patnugot sa lathalain / Alaysa Tagumpay
E. Escandor • Patnugot sa Grapiks / Ivan Bryan G. Reverente, Alanah M. Torralba • Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya / Melane A . Manalo • Mga Kawani / Louise Vincent B. Amante, Piya C.
Constantino, Candice Anne L . Reyes • Pinansiya / Amelyn J. Daga • Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon / Paul John Alix • Sirkulasyon / Gary Gabales, Ricky Icawat, Amelito Jaena, Glenario
Omamalin • Mga Katuwang na Kawani / Trinidad Basilan, Gina Villas • Pamuhatan / Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon • Tele­fax / 9818500
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and Writers’ Organizations, College Editors Guild of the Philippines
tungkol sa pabal at dibuho: piya constantino.
Editoryal
janno gonz ales
Devil’s advocate
Philippine Collegian | Biyernes 14 Set 2007
In light of the investigation on Cris’s death
10 SR members snub NBI probe
John Alliage Tinio Morales
T
en members of the Sigma
Rho (SR) fraternity failed
to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to shed light on the death
of UP public administration student
Cris Anthony Mendez who died on
August 27 in a hazing allegedly by
the fraternity.
SR members Ariel Paolo Ante
and Fuzzy Clemente snubbed the
order asking them to appear before
the NBI on September 6, while SR
Grand Archon Raul Grapilon and
members Reggie Agustin, Crispin
Calimson, Ryan Bacay and neophyte
Andoni Santos did not show up for
questioning the following day.
Meanwhile, SR members Francisco Miguel Cruz, John Fajardo and
Miko Borra were a “no-show” at the
NBI on September 10 to clear their
involvement in Mendez’s death. Six
SR members are also requested to
appear on September 13 and 14 for
interrogation by the NBI.
Ante, former chair of the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG)
Student Council ( SC ), allegedly
recruited Mendez, an NCPAG councilor, to join the fraternity, said
NCPAG Dean Alex Brillantes.
Ante and Clemente reportedly
attended the initiation rites on August 25 and 26 in a house in Pasong
Tamo, Quezon City, which is owned
by Gan Borra, mother of Miko and
Ina Borra, an alleged member of
SR’s affiliate sorority Delta Lambda
Sigma, according to an NBI source
who was not authorized to discuss
the matter. Santos allegedly underwent initiation rites with Mendez.
Law freshman Cruz, meanwhile,
is the son of Dr. Francisco Cruz,
who attempted to give the victim
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
Fajardo’s father Atty. Beda Fajardo
owns the car that was used to take
Mendez to the Veterans Memorial
Medical Center (VMMC), where he
was pronounced dead on arrival on
August 27.
Cris’s mother Cristina Mendez
filed on August 31 before the NBI
a complaint asking for the investigation of the death of her son. In
a Collegian interview, Atty. Carlo
Vasquez, executive officer of the
NBI Anti-Terrorism Division, said
that the refusal of SR members
to cooperate with the NBI delays
preliminary investigations and
could be a ground for filing cases
of obstruction of justice.
The NBI hopes to finish its investigation within this month to
start the filing of formal charges
before the Prosecutor’s Office of
the Department of Justice, Vasquez
added.
Joselito Rivero, lawyer of the
Mendez family, said the criminal
case would be based on alleged
violations of the Anti-Hazing Law
with a maximum penalty of life
imprisonment. He said any member
of the fraternity could be charged
provided that they participated in
or were aware of the hazing.
The UP administration, Rivero
warned, could face possible sanctions should the administration be
found to be negligent in preventing
the use of physical violence in initiation rites. The Anti-Hazing Law
states that any organization should
secure a permit from the school
administration before conducting
initiations.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Elizabeth Enriquez pointed
that fraternities in reality have not
been securing permits or informing
the administration about their internal activities, particularly their
initiation process.
Tell us the truth
“Matapang nilang (mga suspek)
ginawa (ang pagpatay). Matapang
din silang humarap na sabihin ang
katotohonan,” said the mother of
Cris in a mass held at NCPAG on
September 7.
Enriquez said that the UP Diliman ( UPD ) administration has
also started its preliminary investigation on September 4, but refused
to divulge details. Anyone found
guilty could be expelled from the
university, she said.
University Student Council Chair
Shanaha Abdulwahid added that
the unwillingness of SR members
cooperate with the police only
strengthens speculations on the
fraternity ’s involvement in Mendez’s death.
Six fraternity members have
been killed in hazing incidents,
while five have died in fraternity
rumbles since the first recorded
hazing death in 1954. Mendez is the
latest NCPAG student to become a
victim of fraternity violence after
the death of SR member Dennis
Venturina in a rumble in 1994 and
Alexander Miguel Icasiano in a
hazing by Alpha Phi Beta in 1998.
SR to sue UP admin
Facets of a crisis
The SR fraternity, meanwhile,
threatened to sue the UP administration if it refuses to withdraw the
30-day preventive suspension order
meted against the fraternity’s four
high-ranking officials, according to
a September 3 letter signed by the
lawyers of SR officials.
The fraternity claimed that the
officials were suspended while
formal complaints have yet to be
filed. The administration sus pended Grapilon, Ronald Chua,
Andrew Selah Dela Rosa and Armand Lorenze Sapitan.
President Emerlinda Roman
maintained that the suspension
order was reasonable and did not
violate any university rules. “If they
want to file [a case against UP], we
cannot stop them,” she added.
Enriquez added that resorting to
legal remedies has been the “tactic”
of fraternities to intimidate the
university to stop pressing charges
against them.
Ante’s expulsion
recommended
n Cristina Mendez (top photo, second from left) called on fraternity members allegedly
involved in the hazing of her son Cris to come forward. Also present in a memorial mass
on September 7 at the NCPAG were (from left) Former Senator Francisco Tatad, Vice
Chancellor for Student Affairs Elizabeth Enriquez and NCPAG professor Leonor Briones.
Meanwhile, representatives from various fraternities (bottom) sign a declaration against
campus violence at the Bahay ng Alumni on the same day. Timothy Medrano and C andice
Ann Reyes
Meanwhile, the NCPAG faculty
council, the college’s highest decision-making body, recommended
the expulsion of Ante from the
university for his alleged involvement in the incident, according to
Brillantes.
The NCPAG SC also removed
Ante from his office for his abandonment of service, as he reportedly went into hiding since August
27. Likewise, SR members have not
been seen at the College of Law
where the fraternity is based, according to college employees.
Meanwhile, 11 fraternities, including SR , signed on September
7 a manifesto to “collectively denounce all forms of violence in our
CONTINUED ON P. 10
Ending
fraternity
violence
Victor Gregor Limon
T
he death of graduating
public administration
student Cris Anthony
Mendez is only one in
the long line of casualties of fraternity-related violence. Since
UP Diliman (UPD) was founded,
seven UPD students, including
Mendez, have died in supposed fraternity initiation rites, while
six have died in
alleged gang
wars between
rival fraternities.
From 1991 to 1998
alone, there have been
245 cases recorded involving
hazing, gang wars, and other
forms of fraternity aggression,
according to a 2000 study by
sociology professor Ricardo
Zarco.
What should be done to end
fraternity-related violence?
“We would like a set of guidelines
that would operationalize our declaration
[against ending campus violence]... I also
intend to go around the UP campuses and
speak with all the heads of fraternities and
discuss with them what we can do to avoid
fraternity wars and physical initiation.” –UP
President Emerlinda Roman
“Gagawa ang USC ng campaign regarding fraternity-related violence, so future
applicants can make intelligent choices...
Kahit may [fraternity guidelines], hindi naman nito totally napipigilan ang physical initiation. Dapat alam ng mga future applicant
ang safeguards nila when they choose to join
a fraternity. Dapat alam nila na sinuman ang
lalabag sa guidelines ay mapaparusahan.
Kulang ng information dissemination about
this.” –UPD University Student Council
Chair Shahana Abdulwahid
“Mahaba at mahirap na proseso ang
pagtapos sa fraternity-related violence.
Kailangang bumalik ang mga fraternity at
sorority sa orihinal nilang orientation: ang
magsilbi sa kapwa estudyante at sa lipunan. Ang tanging kaaway naman ng mga
estudyante ay hindi ang isa’t isa kundi ang
mga sumasagka sa kanilang mga karapatan,
gaya ng tuition increase at mababang subsidyo ng pamahalaan para sa edukasyon...
Hindi sagot ang pag-abolish sa fraternities.
Lalo lamang silang hindi mababantayan
dahil mas magiging palihim ang bawat kilos
nila kapag napilitan silang maging “underground.” –Vanessa Faye Bolibol, Chair,
Student Alliance for the Advancement of
Democratic Rights in UP
“[We would publish] weekly updates
on Mendez’s case, kasama na yung general
opinion namin, so that UP students would
CONTINUED ON P. 11
Philippine Collegian | Biyernes 14 Set 2007
EARIST, TIP campus pubs
decry admin repression
Noemi M. Gonzales
C
ampus press freedom violations hound the student
publications of Eulogio
“Amang ” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) and Technological
Institute of the Philippines (TIP),
as intervention by their school
administrations threaten both
publications’ autonomy.
EARIST admin
withholds pub fund
EARIST Technozette (Technozette), which comes out thrice
every semester, has not published
a single issue this semester due to
the school administration’s withholding of the publication fund, according to its editor in chief (EIC)
Morris Orbe.
Orbe revealed that the administration refused to release the
publication fund because they
allegedly failed to submit the fi-
nancial statement for last school
year. Orbe contended that the editorial board ( EB ) submitted the
publication’s financial statement
in July this year.
The EB of Technozette has only
been asked to submit a financial
statement since 2005, when the
student paper started publishing
articles critical of the administration, Orbe added.
EARIST President Caillo also
threatened the Technozette staff
of a “non-mandatory ” collection
of publication fund if the Technozette EB refuses to appoint a faculty adviser who will “guide” the
publication.
Administration intervention
After staging a protest action
demanding for the release of the
publication fund on August 29, the
staff members of Technozette, along
with some 60 EARIST students,
were denied entry to the campus for
violating school rules which have
not been specified by the adminis-
Steadfast defiance
tration, Orbe said.
In reaction to the protest action,
Orbe disclosed that Caillo met with
the Technozette staff on August 31
and guaranteed the release of the
publication fund, but only if the EB
allows the appointment of a faculty
adviserby the administration.
“Harassment talaga ang pagpupumilit ng admin na magkaroon
pa ng adviser ang Technozette bago
i-release ang pondo ng dyaryo. We
fear that the guidance will translate
to censorship. Dalawang taon nang
walang adviser ang dyaryo dahil
napatunayan naman na may kakayahan ang mga staff na pamahalaan ang publication,” Orbe said.
The Campus Journalism Act of
1991 states that at the tertiary level,
the EB may have a publication adviser only with the approval of its
members.
Orbe suspected that the administration intervention is because of
Technozette’s publication of articles
condemning the implementation
of tuition and other fee increases.
EARIST implemented a 560-percent
tuition increase and a 230-percent
increase in miscellaneous fees last
school year.
“ Nangyayari ang ganitong uri
ng campus press freedom repression sa height ng campaign ng
students laban sa mga issue sa
loob ng campus gaya ng pagtaas ng
matrikula,” explained Jose Cosido,
College Ediotrs Guild of the Philippines National Chair.
Orbe and Cosido said they would
conduct a massive campaign to
force the EARIST administration
to release the publication fund
unconditionally.
TIP Voice silenced
The TIP Voice editors, meanwhile, were “unlawfully” removed
from their positions in the publication following the administration’s
intervention in the selection process of Voice’s editors and staff,
said Ronoriedo Roxas, EIC from
2005 to 2007.
Roxas said that on May 11 this
year, a committee, composed of the
Vice President for Student Affairs
and Student Services (VPASS), the
chair of the Humanities and Social Sciences department and the
publication adviser, terminated
the whole staff and administered a
screening process in search for the
new EB and staff of Voice.
The committee declared that
all former Voice editors and staff
who did not participate in the
screening process are automati-
cally expelled from the publication,
Roxas explained.
According to a resolution prepared by the office of the TIP President, during the second meeting
of the new voice staff in June 18,
majority of the Voice staffers decided to elect among themselves
the EB as well as section editors.
Ephraim Jerusalem was elected as
Voice EIC.
Roxas maintains that the
screening process and the election
of Voice editors are illegal, saying
that according to the constitution
and by-laws of Voice, a competitive
editorial examination will deter mine the editors of Voice.
Moreover, a semestral competitive editorial exam will only be
conducted if any editorial position
is vacated, which happens when the
incumbent editor graduates from
the college or resigns from the post.
In the case of Voice, no competitive
exam should have taken place because the editorial positions were
not vacant, Roxas said.
Roxas added that the incumbent
editors and staff of Voice were not
informed of their termination and
the screening process.
The new staff of Voice, headed
by Jerusalem, continues its bimonthly publication.
The CEGP has documented at
least 60 cases of campus press
freedom violations nationwide
since October 2006, ranging from
meddling by advisers to withholding of funds.
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MMDA: Tuloy ang pagpapalawak ng C-5
Kristoffer C. Reyes
I
n Militant groups march toward the Dutch embassy in Makati on September 7 to denounce
the recent arrest of Prof. Jose Ma. Sison. The protest action was held simultaneously with
Sison’s hearing in the Netherland courts. Rouelle Umali
tutuloy na ang pagpapalawak
ng Circumferential Road 5 (C5) na magdurugtong sa Katipunan Ave. at Luzon Ave. sa kabila
ng pagtutol ng mga residente ng
Ricarte, Palaris at Dagohoy (RIPADA), ayon kay Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA)
Chair Bayani Fernando.
Nagpatawag ng pulong si Fer nando noong Setyembre 3 sa kanyang opisina upang sagutin ang
mga katanungang inihapag ni University Student Council ( USC )
Chair Shahana Abdulwahid mula
sa mga residente ng RIPADA para
sa MMDA at Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH).
Ani Fernando, wala pang eksaktong petsa ng pagsisimula o malinaw na plano ang pagpapalawak
ng C -5 dahil hindi sila makapagsukat ng lupa sa RIPADA at hindi
nila matiyak ang bilang ng mga
tao sa lugar.
“[ W ]e will do a table survey.
We will continue with the plan
base sa mga available na data,”
ani Fernando. Sa inilabas na datos
ng MMDA , mahigit 60,000 metro
kuwadrado ang kabuuang sukat
ng lupang kakailanganin para sa
proyekto.
Sa naunang konsultasyong ginawa ng MMDA , DPWH at National
Housing Authority (NHA) noong
Agosto 25, nagsagawa ang mga
residente ng noise barrage upang
tutulan ang nakaambang demolisyon at survey na magbibigay-daan
sa proyekto.
Sa pagpapalawak ng C -5,
mabibigyan umano ng kabuhayan
ang mga residente sapagkat magiging sentro ng komersyo ang
kanilang lugar, ayon kay Fernando.
Binigyang-diin din niyang dapat
nang masimulan ang proyekto
upang maiwasan ang pagbigat
ng daloy ng trapiko sa Katipunan
papuntang hilagang bahagi ng
Luzon, at upang masimulan na rin
ang panibagong proyektong C -6
na magdurugtong sa Antipolo at
Bicutan.
“Hindi naman pakikinabangan
ng mga residente ang proyektong
C -5. Mga negosyo lang naman
ang makikinabang doon,” ani Noli
Anoos, pangalawang pangulo ng
All UP Workers Union ( AUPWU )
na k ab i l a n g s a S ave R I PA DA
movement.
Hindi rin nalinaw ni Fernando
ang planong relokasyon para sa
mga residente ng RIPADA . Nauna
nang sinabi ni NHA Undersecretary
Froilan Campitan noong Agosto 25
na kailangan ang pagmamapa at
census upang malaman kung ilang
residente ang maapektuhan sa
gagawing demolisyon.
Ayon kay Anoos, magsasagawa
ang mga residente ng RIPADA ng
isang malawakang pagkilos sa Setyembre 14 upang tutulan ang pagpapalawak ng C -5 at ang nakaambang
demolisyon sa kanilang lugar.
Fewer public school
grads pass UPCAT,
qualify for Diliman
New admissions
policy cited as
cause of decrease
Victor Gregor Limon
T
he UP College Admission
Test ( UPCAT ) this year
drew more applicants from
both public and private
high schools than last year, but
fewer public school graduates actually passed the UPCAT.
According to data recently obtained by the Collegian from the
Office of Admissions ( OA ), the
percentage of actual qualifiers
from public schools out of the
12,053 UPCAT passers dropped
by 5.2 percent, from 32.3 percent
last year to a six-year low of 27.1
percent this year. Public school
graduates are those from public
general, barangay, and vocational
high schools.
The number of applicants from
public schools who qualified for UP
Diliman (UPD) also dropped from
932 last year to only 271 this year.
This registered a 13.7 percent decrease, from 20.8 percent last year
to a six-year low of 7.1 percent.
The total number of applicants
who chose UPD as their first or
second choice of campus also increased from 39,095 last year to
39,475 this year, but the number
of public school graduates who
applied to UPD fell by 2.9 percent,
from 10,656 applicants last year to
only 10,345 this year.
The number of private school
graduates who applied to UPD,
however, climbed by 1.2 percent
from 24,696 applicants last year to
24,991 this year.
More UPCAT passers
from private schools
Conversely, the percentage of
qualifiers from private schools
grew by 2.9 percent from 46.3 percent last year to a six-year high of
49.2 percent this year.
The number of applicants from
private schools rose by 3.19 percent
from 40,946 last year. The number
of UPCAT applicants from public
high schools rose by 2.9 percent
from 21,227 last year.
Science high school graduates
comprise 15.6 percent of the 2007
UPCAT passers, while state high
schools constitute 4.9 percent. UP
high school graduates and foreign
students form 2 percent and 0.5
percent, respectively.
As UP ’s annual entrance examination for aspiring freshmen,
the UPCAT this year attracted over
70,000 aspirants. From 2002 to
2007, the number of UPCAT applicants increased at an average
annual rate of 1.2 percent.
Meanwhile, private school graduates continue to form the majority of the current crop of UPD
qualifiers, with a six-year high of 63
percent of UPD qualifiers coming
students from private schools,
instead of setting a premium on
equity. “Mas malala pa kung iisipin
na kaunti na yung pumapasa from
public [schools] taun-taon, hindi
pa sigurado na makakapag-aral
sila sa UP dahil sa tuition increase,”
she said.
Meanwhile, there was an increase in the number of public
school graduates who qualified for
the campuses in Baguio, Pampanga,
Los Baños, and Mindanao. The increase was largest in Baguio, where
the percentage of qualifiers from
public schools rose by 2.3 percent
from 38.4 percent last year.
In UP Manila, on the other hand,
22 percent of its qualifiers came
2007 UPCAT qualifiers by HS type System-wide
49.2%
Private HS
15.6%
Science HS
4.9%
State HS
2.0%
UP HS
0.5%
Foreign students
27.1%
Public HS
SOURCE: Office of
Admissions
from private schools this year. This
translates to a 10.7 percent increase
from 52.3 percent last year.
The percentage of UPCAT applicants from private schools who
qualified for UPD rose by 2.8 percent, from 2,343 last year.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Amelia Guevara underlined
the university ’s commitment to
excellence, saying UP exists to provide the best education possible to
the most deserving students, rich
or poor.
But UPD University Student
Council Chair Shahana Abdulwahid
said these data reveal that UP caters more and more to privileged
from public schools, 4.5 percent
lower than 26.5 percent last year.
New admissions policy
Former Student Regent ( SR )
Ken Leonard Ramos said the sharp
decrease in public school graduates
who qualified for Diliman may be
attributed to the implementation
of a new admissions policy for UPD,
the UP Admission Index ( UPAI ).
Ramos was the SR when the UPAI
was approved by the UP Board of
Regents in 2006.
In the 2006 UPCAT, the UPAI
replaced the Equity-Excellence Admission System (EEAS) as the UPD
CONTINUED ON P. 11
Philippine Collegian | Biyernes 14 Set 2007
Race against time
n Members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines jog around the Academic Oval on
September 9 in protest of the worsening repression of civil rights. Timothy Medrano
Students push for
educ reforms
Noemi M. Gonzales
S
tudent leaders from different universities and colleges proposed legislative
solutions to address gaps
and shortcomings in the country’s
policies on accessibility and quality
of education at the Young Leaders’
Summit held at the Benitez theater
on September 4.
Rising cost of education
Kabataan Party Chair Raymond
Palatino called for the amendment
of the Higher Education Modernization Act ( HEMA ) of 1997,
which outlines the annual reduction of government subsidy on
maintenance and other operating
expenditures, capital outlay and
personal services of state colleges
and universities (SUC) until 2010.
Palatino said HEMA pushes SUCs to
venture into corporate tie-ups and
increase school fees.
Einstein Recedes, University
of the East Student Council chair,
also slammed Education Act of
1982, which legalizes tuition hikes
without the Commission on Higher
Education’s (CHED) approval.
National Union of Students of
the Philippines (NUSP) Secretary
General Alvin Peters, meanwhile,
proposed the review of CHED ’s
policies on accreditation of private
colleges. “ Education in private
schools must be watched carefully as there are tendencies that
the schools lean towards income
generation alone and not serve its
academic purpose,” Peters said.
Palatino and Alliance of Con-
cerned Teachers (ACT) Chair Antonio Tinio agreed that the rising
cost of education results in the
decline of enrolment in the elementary, secondary and tertiary
levels.
In elementary and high schools
nationwide, the number of dropouts have increased from 1.5 million
in 2002 to 2.5 million in 2006, while
the number of out-of-school youths
have increased from 2 million in
2001 to 3.5 million, according to
ACT. Only 56 out of 100 students
finish elementary, while 56 out of
1000 students finish secondary
education, Tinio said.
Tinio added that the only way to
educate all elementary-age children by 2010, which is part of
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s medium
term development plan, is to guarantee that education is free.
Higher budget for education
“ Education is not Congress’
priority,” Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro
Casiño also said. “Out of the 148
bills signed at the 13th Congress,
none of them were directed towards education reforms or youth
development.”
Palatino revealed that the Department of Education’s budget this
school year is only 11.30 percent of
the national budget, compared to
13.62 percent in 2004-2005. He said
that a third of the annual budget
goes to debt servicing, about P340
billion of which are for interest
payments alone.
Palatino also proposed the review of the Local Government Code
to provide for an automatic apCONTINUED ON P. 11
Philippine Collegian | Biyernes 14 Set 2007
Sik l o N g K a r a h a s a n
Kabalintunaan ng Karangalang Pangkapatiran
N
nilang aplikante. Kung gayon, mas nagagawa
nila na ipakitang higit silang dominante
kanino man.
Dagdag ni Azurin, hazing ang simbolong
nagbubuklod at nagpapatibay sa mga kapatiran dahil sa iisang pasakit na pinagdaraanan nila. Subalit nagiging sanhi ng
kamatayan ang simbolong ito (tingnan ang
sidebar 1), na kumakatawan sa isang bahagi
ng pyudal na lipunan: ang neophyte bilang
tagasunod at ang mga kasapi ng fraternity
bilang panginoon.
Gayunpaman, ani Azurin, mahirap pigilan ang tradisyong ito na malaon nang
pinagpasa-pasahan.
gayong taon, muling hinambalos
ng karahasan ang Unibersidad
ng Pilipinas (UP). Sabado, Agosto
27, nang bawian ng buhay si Cris
Anthony Mendez, mag-aaral ng National
College of Public Administration and Gover nance (NCPAG), matapos sumailalim sa hazing mula sa umano’y sinalihang kapatirang
Sigma Rho (SR).
Kumikilos ang mga kapatiran sa sinasabing prinsipyo ng paglilingkod sa sambayanan, akademikong kagalingan at magiting
na pamumuno. Ayon sa mga pag -aaral,
Resbak
karangalan umano ang mapabilang sa isang
Hindi natatapos sa hazing ang karahasang
fraternity, kaya’t “barbaro” kung ituring ang
sinusuong ng isang neophyte sa fraternity. Sa
mga hindi kaanib ng anumang kapatiran.
susunod na muling may sasali sa fraternity,
Datapwa’t sa tala ng kasaysayan, malaon
nang iniluluwal ng ilang kapatiran ang karahasan sa loob at 1. Mga Namatay sa Hazing
labas ng pamantasan.
Fraternity na Nagsagawa
Taon
Pangalan ng Estudyante
Brod
ng Hazing
1954
Albert, Gonzalo Mariano
Upsilon Sigma Phi
Taong 1918 nang itatag ang
1967
Tabtab, Ferdinand
Alpha Phi Omega
kauna-unahang Greek-letter fra1984
Liwag, Arbel
Beta Sigma
ternity sa loob ng pamantasan.
1992
Hernandez,
Joselito
Scintilla Juris
Kaakibat ang serbisyo bilang
1995
Martin, Mark Roland
Epsilon Chi
pangunahing adhikain, itinuturing na “honor society ” ang
1998
Icasiano, Alexander Miguel
Alpha Phi Beta
mga fraternity, ayon sa dating
dekano ng Pangmadlang Komu- 2. Mga Namatay sa Fraternity Violence
nikasyon na si Prop. Luis Teodoro.
Taon
Pangalan ng Estudyante
Kasaping Fraternity
Sa kasalukuyan, umabot na sa 17
1969 Perez, Rolando
Upsilon Sigma Phi
ang bilang ng mga ito.
1977 Abad, Rolando
Alpha Phi Omega
Eksklusibo lamang ang pagsali
1994 Venturina, Dennis
Sigma Rho
sa mga fraternity sa mga na1999
Calinao,
Niño
Hindi kabilang sa frat
piling imbitahan ng mga kasapi.
2000 Reyes, Den Daniel
Alpha Phi Beta
Paliwanag ni Dr. Arnold Azurin,
isang political anthropologist, Sanggunian: UP Forum
“ Fraternities are trying to prenagkakaroon ng pagkakataon ang isang brod
serve their prestige as much as possible.”
na ipadama sa neophyte ang sakit na dati na
Ani NCPAG Dean Alex Brillantes, yaong
niyang naramdaman. Ani Azurin, nagiging
mga “prize catch” ang napipisil isali ng mga
siklo ng karahasan ang ganitong kalakaran
kapatiran gaya ni Cris na magaling sa klase
sa loob ng fraternity, at hindi maiiwasan sa
at lider-estudyante ang madalas anyayahan
isang tao na ipaghiganti ang kanyang sarili
sa mga fraternity.
mula sa parusang una niyang natanggap.
Malimit na kumpetisyon ng mga kapatiran
Gayundin, nagsusukatan ng pagkalalaki
ang pagkamit ng mga posisyon sa konseho
ang mga fraternity sa pamamagitan ng mga
ng mga mag-aaral at maging ang patnugutan
marahas na sagupaan sa mga kalabang
ng Philippine Collegian, opisyal na pahayagan
kapatiran. Madalas itong nagaganap sa
ng pamantasan. Malaking tulong ang mga
mga matataong lugar bilang pagpapakita sa
“prize catch” upang mapalawig ang kontrol
madla ng kanilang pagiging mas malakas
at kapakinabangan ng kapatiran sa uniberkaysa kalabang kapatiran. Ani Dr. Ricardo
sidad, ani Azurin.
Zarco, propesor ng sosyolohiya, “ The
Initiation
macho tough reputation is for evSubalit bago tuluyang maging kasapi, saeryone to see.”
sailalim sa hazing ang isang neophyte bilang
Dagdag ni Zarco, “ When the
ritwal ng pag-anib. Ibababa niya ang kanyang
frat engages in a fight, members
sarili at susunod sa anumang ipagagawa sa
unite.” Lagi ring may kasunod na
kanya ng mga kasapi ng kapatiran. Ayon
paghihiganti sa naagrabyadong
sa isang miyembro ng fraternity na ayaw
kapatiran. Ani Azurin, “ Violence
magpakilala, nakapiring na tatanggapin ng
acts as a reinforcement of brothaplikante ang mga suntok sa tiyan, hambalos
erhood because without the vicng tabla sa mga hita, binti, at likod. Sa gitna
timization of the other, nothing
nito, dapat manatiling malinaw ang isipan
will cement them as kins or as
ng neophyte upang sagutin ang mga tanong
brothers.”
ng mga kasapi.
Ilang ulit nang nagbunga
Ayon kay Azurin, sinusukat umano ng
ng kamatayan ang ganitong
hazing ang determinasyon ng neophyte na
kalakaran (tingnan ang sidebar
sumali sa fraternity. Para sa kanila, kung
2). Bunga ng karahasang ito,
mas determinado ang aplikante sa kabila ng
ibinaba noong 1995 ang Repagpapahirap, mas naipakikita niya ang kanpublic Act 8049 o Anti-Hazing
yang pagkalalaki. Sa paraang ito, nasisiguro
Law upang maparusahan ang
ng fraternity na matibay ang tatanggapin
sinumang sangkot sa pananakit
Ang
M a b u h ay
sa
Isang
K a pat i r a n
Laya Nocum*
Reclusion
perpetua
Taong ilalagi sa
kulungan
Sa kabila ng pagdami ng mga nasasawi sa
karahasan dulot ng hazing at awayan, patuloy
pa rin ang ilang mag-aaral sa pagsali sa mga
fraternity. Malaking dahilan ng pagsali nila
ang pagkakataong magkaroon ng koneksyon
sa pulitika, negosyo at trabaho.
Masasabing tinatangkilik ng sistemang
“padrino” ang mga fraternity. Kung may
mataas na posisyon sa trabaho ang isang
kasapi ng kapatiran, mas pipiliin niya sa
isang bakanteng posisyon ang kapwa brod
kaysa ang hindi.
Ayon sa pag-aaral ni Zarco, nakatutulong
din ang koneksyon ng fraternity sa hudikatura sa mabilis na paglutas sa mga kasong kinasasangkutan ng mga miyembro nito. “ The
more affluent fraternity from the government
and/or the private [sector] immediately provides financial and legal assistance to those
held responsible, ignoring the suffering of
the victim’s survivors.”
Sinabi ng isang propesor mula sa Kolehiyo ng Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiya,
na tumangging magpakilala, malimit niyang mapansing ginagamit ng ilang mga
mag-aaral ang kanilang kapatiran upang
makalamang sa klase sa pamamagitan ng
pangongopya sa mga pagsusulit o pagpapagawa ng mga papel sa kapwa brod. Aniya,
nilalabag nito ang esensya ng karangalan at
If death, rape, sodomy or mutilation
results therefrom
17 – 20
If the victim shall become insane, imbecile, impotent or blind
14 - 17
If the victim shall have lost the use of
speech or the power to hear or to smell,
or have lost an eye, a hand, a foot, an arm
or a leg or have lost the use of any such
member have become incapacitated
for the activity or work in which he was
habitually engaged.
12 – 14
If the hazing victim shall become deformed or have lost any other part of his
body, or have lost the use thereof, or have
been ill or incapacitated for the performance on the activity or work in which he
was habitually engaged in 90 days.
10-12
If the victim shall have been ill or
incapacitated for the performance on
the activity or work on which he was
habitually engaged for a period of more
than 30 days.
8-10
If the hazing victim shall have been ill or
incapacitated for the performance on the
activity or work on which he was habitually engaged for a period of 10 days or
more, or that the injury sustained shall
require medical assistance for the same
period.
6-8
If the hazing the victim shall have been ill
or incapacitated for the performance on
the activity or work on which he was habitually engaged from one to nine days,
or that the injury sustained shall require
medical assistance for the same period.
4-6
If the hazing the victim sustained physical injuries which do not prevent him from
engaging in his habitual activity or work
nor require medical assistance.
Reclusion
temporal
D
alawang taon na akong kasapi
ng isang sorority. Sa dami na
ng nagawa ko bilang miyembro,
hindi ko na maalala ang mga
hirap na pinagdaanan ko bago ako naging
tunay na “sis.” Subalit nang mabalitaan
ko ang pagkamatay ni Cris Mendez sa
hazing, rumagasa sa aking gunita ang literal na sakit ng alaala ng aking pagsapi.
Naghahanap ako noon ng grupong
maaaring aniban nang maimbitahan
akong sumali sa sorority. Tinanong ko
pa kung gaano katagal ang kanilang
aplikasyon, at sinabi sa akin na dalawang linggo lamang ang kailangan kong
bunuin. Agad akong naganyak na tanggapin ang kanilang imbitasyon sa pagaakalang madali at mabilis lang ang
dalawang linggo.
Dinala ako sa tambayan ng taong nagimbita sa akin para sa isang oryentasyon,
kung saan pahapyaw na ipinakilala sa
akin ang kapatiran. Masaya ang naabutan
kong mga tao sa tambayan - nagbabaraha
habang naghuhuntahan, ang iba naman
ay naglalaro sa laptop. Naisip ko noon
na ito na nga ang hinahanap kong grupo,
kaya agad akong tumango nang tanungin
nila ako kung desidido na akong sumali
sa kanilang kapatiran.
Upang maging pormal na neophyte,
nagpakilala ako sa mga miyembro. Inutusan nila akong tawaging “lady ” at
“master” ang mga kasapi bilang tanda
ng paggalang sa mga unang nakapasok
sa kapatiran.
Kinailangan kong tapusin ang apat na
diskusyon - kasaysayan ng sorority, konstitusyon nito, kalagayan ng edukasyon
sa bansa at kasaysayan ng Pilipinas - para
Prison mayor
Prison
correccional
Resulta ng hazing
Life imprisonment
Panatiko
Sa aking mga “sis” at “brod”,
Hindi ko man binanggit ang pangalan
ng ating sorority at fraternity sa artikulong
ito, alam na ninyo kung sino ako. Maaari
ninyo akong itakwil bilang kapatid. Wala
akong magagawa kung ako’y inyong kundenahin matapos kong balewalain ang isa
sa ating pinakamabibigat na prinsipyo.
Ngunit mas pipiliin ko pang ako’y inyong
talikuran. Natuto na ako na walang mabuting idinudulot ang pananahimik, at
sana’y ganun din kayo.
Patawad at salamat.
Ritwal ng Pag-anib
dibuho: ivan reverente.
disenyo ng pahina: noel pacis hernaiz.
o pagpatay sa isang neophyte habang ginagawaran siya ng initiation rites (tingnan ang
sidebar 3). Ayon din sa batas, anumang porma
ng pisikal, mental, emosyonal at sosyolohikal
na pagpahirap ay itinuturing na hazing.
Sa mga iringan, hindi naiiwasang madamay maging ang hindi kasapi ng anumang
kapatiran. Taong 1999 nang mabaril sa kainitan ng away ng SR at Scintilla Juris fraternity si Niño Calinao, mag-aaral ng UP. Ayon
sa kanyang mga kamag-aral, napagkamalang
target ng hinihinalang inupahang gang ng SR
si Calinao. Dekada ‘80 din nang mamatay sa
sagupaan ng mga fraternity sa Bulwagang
Palma ang isang police officer ng UP.
Hatol
s i m b o l o n g i t o n g k um a k a t a w a n
s a i s a n g b a h a g i n g p y ud a l
n a l i pu n a n : a n g n eop h y t e b i l a n g
t a g a s u n od a t a n g m g a k a s a p i n g
f r a t e r n i t y b i l a n g p a n g i n oo n
katapatan na dapat panghawakan
ng kapatiran.
Hindi malayong masundan pa
ang pagkamatay ni Cris. Pinatutunayan lamang ng karahasang dala
ng karamihan sa mga fraternity
kung sino ang tunay na “bar baro.” Sa patuloy na pagluluwal
ng kapatiran ng karahasan, isang
kabalintunaan ang adhikaing
maglingkod sa sambayanan at patatagin ang
akademikong kagal-
sa malalimang pag-alam hindi lamang ng
mga bagay sa sorority kundi pati na rin
sa lipunan. Makabubuti raw na intindihin
at tandaan ko ang mga diskusyong ito
para na rin sa ikadadali ng aking Final
Rites (FR).
FR ang huling bahagi ng aking pagiging neophyte. Pinaalalahanan nila
akong mag-shorts, magdala ng piring
sa mata at isaulo ang konstitusyon ng
kapatiran. Naalala ko ang namamagang
hita ng aking kaibigan matapos magdaan
sa FR , at sinagian ako ng takot.
Una nilang ipinagawa sa akin ang military crawl nang halos isang oras. Nang
makuntento na sila, pinatayo naman
nila ako at pinag-jumping jack nang
higit isang oras. Pakiramdam ko noo’y
babagsak na ang katawan ko sa pagod,
ngunit mas matindi pa pala ang sumunod
na mga pangyayari. Pinaluhod naman
nila ako sa asin at munggo habang may
nakapatong na libro sa kamay. Kasabay
nito’y tinalakay ang konstitusyon ng soro,
kaya’t halos isang oras at kalahati akong
napako sa ganoong posisyon. At dahil
hindi ko lubusang naisaulo ang kopyang
ibinigay sa akin, bulyaw ang inabot ko
at walang patumanggang pamamahiya.
Matapos ang pagtalakay sa konstitusyon,
tinanong naman nila kung ilan ang kaya
kong himuking pumasok sa kapatiran
kung sakaling tanggapin nila ako. Sabi
ko, apat, at tig-dalawang malalakas na
sampal ang tinanggap ko sa magkabilang
pisngi. Nabasa ang piring ko ng mga luha
dahil hindi maintindihan kung bakit nila
ginagawa iyon sa akin.
Pinatayo nila ako at kinuha ang kaliwa
kong braso. Sundan ko raw ang mga
salitang babanggitin nila at naramdaman
ko ang maiinit na patak ng kandila sa
aking braso. Akala ko’y tapos na aking
kalbaryo dahil pinanumpa na nila ako
bilang kasapi, ngunit kinuha nila ang
isa kong daliri, tinusok ng karayom at
pinisil upang lumabas ang dugo. “Ayaw
dumugo,” narinig kong sabi ng isa at
tinusok nila ulit ang daliri ko hanggang
sa mamanhid ito. Ginabayan nila ako sa
pagpirma sa isang papel gamit ang nagdurugo kong daliri. Ito na ang katapusan,
tinanggal nila ang aking piring at niyakap
at kinamayan; tanda na kasapi na rin ako
ng kapatiran.
Pakiramdam ko noon, iyon na ang
M a r i i n a n g p a g t u t o l n a m i n s a i b a ’ t i b a n g u r i n g k a a p i h a n , s u b a l i t m i s mo n g s a l oo b n g a k i n g s a m a h a n , t i l a n a h i r a t i n a k a m i s a w a l a n g s a y s a y n a k a r a h a s a n
Kristoffer C. Reyes at Mini U. Soriano
3. Seksyon 4 ng RA 8049
ingan ng pamantasan. Ang pagbalik sa gampaning maglingkod
sa sambayanan at ang pagbalikwas sa siklo ng karahasan ang
makapagwawaksi sa masamang
imaheng nakakabit na sa mga
kapatiran.
Sanggunian
Olin, Jesus. “Mga Kilos, Galaw at Wika ng Fratmen
sa UP.”
Shoemaker, Donald at Zarco, Ricardo (2000).
“Report on Student Organization Conflicts: University of the Philippines, Diliman.” University
of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City
pinakamahabang gabi sa buhay ko. Kapag binabalikan ko ang gabing iyon sa aking gunita, tila
nararamdaman ko pa rin ang mga butil ng asin sa
aking tuhod. Naisip ko, paano nila ako nayakap
pagkatapos nilang gawin sa akin ang ganoong mga
bagay? Hindi man ako na-ospital o namatay gaya
ng iba, pakiramdam ko, dinahas pa rin ako nang
walang kalaban-laban.
Hugas-Kamay
Ayokong isipin na puro karahasan lang ang ginagawa ng kinaaniban kong kapatiran. Nang nasa
loob na ako, nalaman kong may “mabubuting”
bagay din namang ginagawa ang aming samahan.
Ipinaunawa sa akin na hindi lamang mga pansariling ganansya ang dapat naming tunguhin, kung
hindi paglilingkod din sa iba at sa lipunan.
Agham ang una sa aming mga layunin dahil
nakabase ang aming sorority at fraternity sa isa
sa malalaking kolehiyo sa unibersidad. Nagagampanan namin ang layuning magbahagi ng aming
kaalaman sa pamamagitan taunang pagrerebyu
sa mga mag-aaral sa ikaapat na taon sa pampublikong hayskul bilang paghahanda sa pagpasok
nila sa kolehiyo. Isinusulong ng aming sorority
ang pantay na karapatan ng mga kababaihan
sa mga kalalakihan, at kinukundena namin ang
iba’t ibang opresyon. Naging aktibo kami noon sa
pagsubaybay sa nangyaring Subic Rape Case at
patuloy na nakikiisa sa paghahanap ng hustisya
para kay Nicole.
Aktibo rin kami sa kampanya para sa pagbasura
sa tuition and other fee increases, na sa paniwala
ng samahan ay sumasagka sa batayang karapatan
ng mamamayan sa edukasyon. Naglulunsad din
kami ng mga diskusyong tumatalakay sa kalagayan
ng UP at ng bansa.
Sisterhood/Brotherhood
Hindi ko pa rin lubos na gagap ang pinirmahan
kong sumpa noong neophyte pa lamang ako at
ang koneksyon nito sa pandarahas na naranasan
ko bago maging kasapi. “Pinaniniwalaan na ang
kapatiran ay sa paglilingkod sa sambayanang Pilipino at tutulong sa pagpapaunlad ng Kapatirang
_____. Buong puso ko ring inihahandog ang
aking sarili hindi lamang sa _____ kung hindi
na rin sa aking mga kasamang neophytes.” Ipinaliwanag ng aking mga sis at brod na tradisyon
ito ng aming kapatiran. Ngunit hindi pa rin ito
sapat upang bigyang-katwiran ang pagpapahirap
na dinaanan ko. Mariin ang pagtutol namin sa iba’t
ibang uri ng kaapihan, subalit mismong sa loob
ng aking samahan, tila nahirati na kami sa walang
saysay na karahasan.
Hanggang ngayo’y lagi pa ring ipinaaalala sa
akin ng mga brod at sis na may mga bagay na hindi
maaaring ilabas sa kapatiran. Pero pakiramdam
ko, lalo lamang kaming nagmumukhang masama
sa tuwing nananahimik na lamang kami. Sawa na
akong manahimik na lamang; kailangan ko nang
magsalita at tutulan ang karahasang wala namang kabutihang naidudulot. Ang pananahimik,
sa dulo’t dulo, ang pinakamalaki pa rin nating
kaaway.
May mga gawain man kaming para sa kabutihan
ng iba, natatakpan lamang ito ng siklo ng karahasang naranasan ko at patuloy na dinaranas ng
iba pang umaanib sa mga kapatiran. At hangga’t
hindi nakaiigpaw ang mga kagaya kong kasapi
ng kapatiran sa ganitong kabalintunaan, hindi
magiging huli si Cris sa humahabang listahan ng
mga biktima ng hungkag na kapatiran.
*Kasalukuyan pa ring naghahanap ng totoong grupong mabibilangan si Laya Nocum. Ngunit hindi pa rin niya iiwan ang kanyang
kapatiran.
Philippine Collegian | Biyernes 14 Set 2007
wall,’ through the administration’s literal and
figurative whitewashing, was implemented
even before it was approved.
Silencing the Wall
Silencing
the CFA’s
‘Freedom
Wall’
ists. It was thus an insult that Prof. De Jesus
announced that the rest of us could create
our own artworks, but only in the peripheries;
the spaces left in the fringes.
Nika E. Aguilar
Writing on the Wall
I
‘Wall of Fame’
In preparation for the annual FA Week,
rows of squares were painted across the wall,
Even before the ‘ Wall of Fame’ was inaugurated, a student had already ‘vandalized’ over
the artworks, painting the word FREEDOM
in apparent outrage at the requisition of
the wall from students of the college. Prof.
De Jesus severely condemned the act as one
of ‘vandalism’ and the person(s) responsible
for it as ‘vandals.’
But the fact that it was a
‘freedom wall;’ that there existed no rules and restrictions
regarding it, contradicts this. It
had even been previously demonstrated how anyone may freely
paint over anyone’s work without
prior consent when the mural
that students had made was, in a
sense, erased.
That it is now
called an ‘art
wall’ calls for
a questioning
of what they
mean by ‘art’
‘Freedom Wall’ to ‘Art Wall’
with students’ names on some of them. Those
whose names were on the wall were allowed
to paint within the square adjacent to their
name. As then- College Secretary Ruben De
Jesus said during its inauguration, those
whose names appear on the wall are the
representatives of the CFA .
This contradicts the idea of a freedom wall
which, by allowing anyone to paint any subject and by using the public space to exhibit
such artworks, had always been an antithesis
to the privilege and exclusivity attributed to
museums.
Those chosen to paint on the wall were
those who had had exhibitions and/or had
garnered awards and recognitions as artists. That only a chosen few were given the
privilege to paint seems to be a microcosmic
demonstration of what Pierre Bourdieu calls
the ‘fetish of the name of the master,’ referring to how works of art are considered so
because they were made by recognized art-
Early this July, current College Secretary Romanlito Austria proposed that the
‘freedom wall’ be converted into an ‘art wall.’
Prior to painting on it, the Faculty- Student
Relations Committee must first grant its
approval based on three studies to be submitted. Prof. Austria sees the ‘art wall’ as a
project that may be endorsed by the Office
for Initiatives for Culture and the Arts (OICA)
and /or the National Council for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA), and may even be opened
to sponsorship. The proposal, which Prof.
Austria writes is one that is “timely for the
UP Centennial Celebration,” was approved
by Dean Florentina Colayco.
But, as CFA Representative Angela Rae
Sombillo stresses, the exclusivity of the ‘art
References
Althusser, Louis. “Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses,
‘Notes Towards an Investigation.’” In Cosin, B.R., ed. Education:
Structure and Society. England: Penguin Books, 1972.
Bourdieu, Pierre. “Outline of a Sociological Theory of Art Perception.”
In Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Mass:
Harvard Univ. Press, 1984.
Hertz, Richard and Norman Klein. Twentieth Century Art Theory:
Urbanism, Politics, and Mass Culture. NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990.
art work: piya constantino. page design: k arl castro.
t is not merely nostalgia that prompts
students to recall the days when walls
of classrooms at the College of Fine
Arts (CFA) could still be freely painted
on; when no memos yet warned of sanctions
against vandalism precisely because it was
not yet an act of vandalism to do so. I, though,
am not one of those who can recall such days,
for painting on classroom walls was prohibited long before I entered the college.
In 2001, the ‘freedom wall,’ which faces the
street in front of the college, was inaugurated
as a substitute to classroom walls, which
were sanitized of the countless layers of
paintings. That it was coined ‘freedom wall’
imposes no limits on who may paint on it, or
what they might choose to paint. And since
its inauguration, the murals painted there
had always taken on a political theme, be it a
call for artists to get involved, or much more
specific calls to challenge and oppose.
The first, and perhaps last, wall-painting
I attended was in late January of this year,
wherein students collaborated to create a
mural opposing the recently approved 300%
Tuition and Other Fee Increases ( TOFI ).
Cans of paints were laid out in front of the
wall, and students were urged to add their
own artworks. This continued well into the
night, with students coming and going to
watch the mural’s progress and to add to its
completion.
By early February, though, the mural was
covered with white paint. This was the first
time that the administration had encroached
on the students’ public canvas.
Recent conflicts between students and
the CFA administration seem to primarily
revolve around the battle between art for
art’s sake and art as an ideological weapon.
That it is now called an ‘art wall’ calls for a
questioning of what they mean by ‘art.’ It
suspiciously seems to be a return to pure aesthetics, if such a thing does exist. Or rather
a judgment more based on formal aesthetics
than on ideology, or perhaps a preference of
subservient ideology than that which challenges and opposes.
After all, to propose an artwork which
would, in a sense, sell; i.e. be endorsed by
OICA and/or NCCA and sponsored by other
groups, already requires much compromise
with regard to theme or topic. Likewise, for it
to become a project in connection with the UP
Centennial Celebration further limits what
the murals may dwell on; chances of politically-themed murals, or specifically protest
art, would practically be nil.
Murals have historically belonged to
what are called agitational-propaganda
(agit-prop) art dating back to the Mexican
Revolution in the early 1900s. Public space
and traditional media are employed to depict
resistance, founded on the idea that, as Herbert Marcuse puts it, “as its distances from
the norm evaporates, art becomes appreciated solely for its decorative value.”
But, as Louis Althusser posits, Ideological
State Apparatuses such as schools which
teach ‘in forms which ensure subjection to
the ruling ideology” also “function secondarily by repression” through punishment and
censorship. The current CFA administration
has shown a propensity to suppress its students’ willingness to use their art
for protests in relation to issues
by which they are affected either
as students or as members of a
larger society.
When the lantern parade became a protest march against
TOFI this past December 2006,
the effigy created by a group of
students was barricaded by cars
which were parked along the college’s entrance. Dean Colayco, armed with a
megaphone, urged students not to participate in the parade. And it is now, according
to rules and regulations, an act of vandalism
to paint or write on any college property.
The ‘freedom wall’ has been turned into an
‘art wall’ exclusive to those who have been
granted permission to use it.
As experience teaches us, the word ‘vandalism’ is used to refer to writings and artworks that question and oppose, and which
are easier to dismiss as mere defilements
than to answer and contend with. And, much
as how ‘ MMDA Art’ relentlessly conceals
graffiti of a political nature, any acts of ‘vandalism’ will immediately be painted over.
Philippine Collegian | Biyernes 14 Set 2007
Nakamamatay na kalakaran
B
umulaga sa atin nitong huling
linggo ng Agosto ang malagim na
kamatayan ni Cris Mendez, magaaral ng Public Administration na
inaasahang magtatapos ngayong taon at
isang neophyte ng Sigma Rho (SR), sa kamay ng mga ituturing niya sanang kapatid
sa UP. Isa namang pangalang idadagdag
sa tala ng mga namatay dulot ng hazing ng
mga fraternity. O isa na namang pangalang
naghihintay ng kasunod?
Nang makita ko ang mga larawan ng
walang buhay na katawan ni Mendez,
hindi ko maatim na ganito ang kasasapitan ng isang neophyte. Baling braso’t
binti at namagang mukha. Malayong-malayo sa mga nakangiting imahe ni Mendez
na nakapaskil sa NCPAG ngayon.
Agosto rin, taong 1998, nang gulantangin ang UP ng pagkamatay ni Alex
Icasiano sa kamay ng Alpha Phi Beta.
Tandang-tanda ko pa ang katahimikan sa
APB tambayan sa AS nang araw na iyon at
ng mga sumunod pa. Si Manong Janitor
lamang ang lumapit doon para linisin ang
mga nakakalat sa paligid ng tambayan.
Hindi masisisi si Mendez, at ang mga
tulad niya, sa kanyang pagsapi sa isang
fraternity. Batid niyang may ganitong mga
patakarang dapat pagdaanan para mapabilang sa isang prestihiyosong kapatiran.
At upang maging madali ang paghahanap-
buhay dahil sa koneksyon ng alumni brods
nito na nasa iba’t ibang sangay ng pamahalaan at maging sa pribadong sektor. At
dito pa lang sa loob ng unibersidad, iba
na ang dating at asta kapag may tatak ng
isang fratman. Matindi pa ang kompetisyon
ng fraternities sa mga larangang kanilang
kinabibilangan, tulad ng ungusan sa board
at bar exams. Madalas din nilang tinatarget
ang matataas na posisyon sa University
Student Council, College Councils, at ang
editorship ng Philippine Collegian.
Maging ako
noo’y inimbitahan
nang sumali sa
i s a n g f r a t e r n i t y.
Wala naman akong
nakitang problema
noon dahil marami talagang sumikat mula
sa fraternity na ito. Hanga ako sa dedikasyong ibinubuhos ng mga nag-imbita sa
akin at iba pang kasapi nito. Lalo na nang
ibida nila sa akin ang kanilang fratgirls.
Sa madaling sabi, kapag fratman ka,
astig ka. Parang untouchable.
Subalit, kahit sino sa kanyang katinuan
ay hindi makita ang katwiran sa ganitong
karumal-dumal na sinapit ni Mendez. Sa
bawat pagtanggap ng hambalos ng paddle
sa hita ay nagpapakita ng lakas at pagnanais ng isang neophyte na mapabilang sa
Sa madaling
sabi, kapag
fratman
ka, astig
ka. Parang
untouchable.
Notes on a conviction
T
here has been much fanfare during
the last phase of Joseph Estrada’s
trial in the Sandiganbayan, which
concluded with his conviction for
plunder. Wednesday proved to be a field
day for the media as reporters, photographers, and cameramen hustled to substantially cover the so-called “trial of the
century.” Gracing television screens, a host
of showbiz personalities have expressed
their utmost sympathy for the deposed
president. In the streets, protesters were
shown throwing fits of rage and unleashing
cries of indignation over the guilty verdict
on their “idol.”
Days before the conviction, analysts
have already pondered the political implications of both an acquittal and a conviction -- always in relation with legitimacy
issues hounding the Arroyo administration. Quite expectedly, the scale of “justice” was skewed towards the latter. The
administration has too much at stake in
an acquittal, after all.
An acquittal, most political analysts
feared, could have led to a question on the
validity of EDSA II, a popular uprising fueled by the outrage over Estrada’s plunder
of government coffers. Corollary to this,
particularly in today’s political situation,
an acquittal would necessarily bolster the
suspicions against the Arroyo regime’s
legitimacy and could also imply having a
Louise Vincent B. Amante
kapatiran. Subalit piring ang mga matang
tinatanggap nito ang mga suntok, tadyak,
at mura ng mga ituturing na brod, at pagtanggap din ito sa kahinaan ng indibidwal.
Ilang ulit na ring kinundena ng mga tagaUP ang patuloy na hazing ng fraternities
subalit naririto’t namamayani pa rin ang
balighong patakaran ng karahasan sa
tungki ng ilong ng mga Anti-Hazing Law.
Ang nakapagtataka pa rito’y nakabase
sa Kolehiyo ng Batas ang SR , maging ang
iba pang kilalang fraternities ng UP. Sa
kolehiyong ito galing ang mga de-kalibreng
manananggol at mambabatas ng bansang
ito. Subalit sa nangyari, isang malaking
palaisipan kung magagampanan ba ng mga
kasapi ng SR at ng iba pang fraternities ang
nakaatang na tungkulin sa kanila matapos
nilang lisanin ang Kolehiyo. Kung ganito
nang ganito, hindi malayong madadala
nila ang pagpapahalaga sa karahasan sa
mas malawak na lipunan upang umangat
at mamayani rito.
Dapat nang muling suriin ng fraternities
ang kanilang pag-iral sa UP at ituwid ang
kanilang mga pagkakamali. Kahit kaila’y
hindi pruweba ang karahasan upang ipakita
ang lakas, dahil ito’y kabaligtaran sa katunayan. Dahil ang paggamit ng dahas ay
pag-amin sa sariling kahinaan, ng isang
namamatay na kalakaran.
Frank Lloyd Tiongson
figurehead of the opposition moving freely
to reorganize his supporters.
Administration lackeys, of course, are
all smiles -- which would prompt one to
rethink the apparent merits of the court’s
decision. They call the landmark ruling as
a “triumph of the judicial system,” harking
on the virtues of honest governance and
the logic of the rule of law. So why, then,
is no one jumping for joy except, perhaps,
the peons in Malacañang? Instead, we
see the outpouring
of sympathies.
This is because,
inevitably, the court
ruling cannot cleanse
i ts e lf o f po l i t i c a l
color. Whether we
like it or not, Jinggoy and Erap hit it right
in the kisser -- the decision, as they claim,
was “politically charged.” In a conviction,
which is the case, the prosecution can always claim that the decision was based on
the merits of evidence while the defense
can always cry foul over covert Malacañang
pressure. Under this condition, one cannot
elicit any sort of vindication.
We must, then, recognize this whole
spectacle for what it is – a political farce.
The trial is, and has always been, geared
towards Arroyo’s political survival. Estrada’s conviction has been meted out six
years ago during EDSA II, upon the will of
Perhaps
we are
asking
the wrong
questions
the people who marched and indignantly
clamored for his ouster. This, of course,
is based on the merits of concrete and
substantial evidence. The guilty verdict
has long been served. As an article in the
progressive publication Pinoy Weekly put
it, the trial is no longer “People of the Philippines versus Erap,” but “Arroyo versus
Erap.” Hence, a conviction at this point is
moot and academic.
The Arroyo regime has been known to
demolish opposition in all its form. Such is
what the trail of blood, from the murder of
activists, and the harassment of opposition
figures constantly remind us. Meanwhile,
the onslaught of economic policies devised
by the administration has even exacer bated the plight of the people. Corruption,
far from being curbed, persists unabated
in deals such as the National Broadband
Network project and a plethora of shady
government dealings.
How long will a clear-cut, final decision
be meted out after appeals? Will Estrada
entertain the option of accepting government pardon? Will a conviction brew more
hostilities? Is there hope for national
reconciliation?
Perhaps we are asking the wrong
questions.
This time, we should ask: when shall we
drag Arroyo to the stand?
Chris S.
Agrava
Nightwalker
N
ights I furiously walk the deserted
streets of the campus, in fits of
rage and depression, as if my
unstable emotions were actually
beads of sweat I could easily wipe
off my forehead with a neatly
pressed piece of cloth. Always, the futility of the
act assaults me.
On such nights I bolt out of room 401, cigarette between my trembling fingers, random
thoughts swirling in my head the way black ink
spreads itself in water. In seconds everything
will turn pitch dark, and the stained water will
force itself out through my blood-shot eyes. By
then I would have been standing in front of the
cream-colored, high school-ish BA building,
reeling with uncertainty as to how I got there.
You would find me seated on my favorite
stone bench fronting the building, teetering
precariously on the edges of sanity, lighting one
stick of Winston Lights after another at the advent of a smoking ban in campus, smarting from
the suspicious looks of those SSB persons. At
least five sticks, and then thoughts would start
forming a coherent narrative, and I would know
what exactly is pushing me to the borders.
It could have been the vicious cycle of weekly
pressworks, only to hear an unsuspecting student claim that the UP Forum is more ‘respectable.’ Of course, such assertions are not without
reason, for this paper you are reading now has
been notorious for finding the most malevolent
conspiracies in things as seemingly mundane
as fashion. Always, people would claim the
Collegian has never been a pleasant reading. It
was never our foremost intention to please you,
dear readers, especially in the usual concept of
‘pleasant’ as ‘positive’ or ‘bright’ or ‘upbeat.’ In
the state of emergency that defines the conditions we live in now, we can almost always do
away with the pleasantries.
It could have been the freakin’ Sigma Rho
people, and how its members allegedly involved
in the death of Cris have brazenly ignored the
NBI’s orders for their appearance in inquiries,
and how they had the fucking nerve to sue UP
for suspending their fucking officials without
formal complaints. Talk about due process. Fuck
them all. If only words could kill, I’m sure their
fucking bodies are rotting now.
It could have been the relentless rains, or
the setting of the sun, or the yellow umbrella,
all torn and lying desolate on the stairs, or the
fact that Karen and Sherlyn are still missing, or
that I only have 50 pesos on my pocket, barely
enough for two bottles of Red Horse Stallion. It
could have been life altogether. It could have
been her.
Always, however, the sun would rise, and I
would have to return to the monotony of things.
Still, it’s a vicious cycle, and no furious walks
could be escape enough.
PS
I am certain to feel lonely/enraged this Saturday night. Wallow
with me in my favorite bench, 11 pm. Unless, of, course, it rains.
Philippine Collegian | Biyernes 14 Set 2007
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Justice for Cris
Mendez! —ISC
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0915.941.4460
T
he Inter - Sorority Council (ISC)
unites with the whole UP Community in the quest for justice for
our fellow student Cris Anthony Mendez.
We deeply mourn the passing of a loving
son and a dedicated student leader who
could have done so much for his family,
the University, and the country.
Cris’ death, which is allegedly caused
by fraternity hazing, should be investigated with utmost urgency by the proper
authorities and the UP Administration.
As an alliance that aims to unite sororities toward academic excellence and social responsibility, the ISC denounces the
mindless violence that negates the noble
objectives of fraternities and sororities.
Every fraternity and sorority, though they
might each differ in specific goals, has
always advocated excellence and service,
not violence towards its members.
We call on other sororities and fraternities to condemn violence by continuing
the tradition of excellence which they
Non-UP students must indicate any school, organizational or sectoral affiliation. WARNING: We don’t
entertain textmates.
We welcome questions, constructive criticism,
opinions, stands on relevant issues, and other
reactions. Letters may be edited for brevity or
clarity. Due to space constraints, letters must
have only 400 words or less.
are known for, and channel their efforts
to more pressing concerns in and out of
the campus.
The ISC urges students, regardless
of affiliation, and the whole UP Community to remain vigilant until justice
for Cris’ death has been served, and take
necessary steps in ensuring that no such
incident would happen again.
Justice for Cris Mendez!
UPD Inter-Sorority Council
Adelfe Enu Crea, Alpha Phi
Omega, Delta Pi Omicron, Phi Delta
Alpha, Pi Sigma Delta, Sigma Alpha,
Sigma Beta, Sigma Delta Pi
Itigil ang karahasan! —UPEPP-SC
M
ariing kinukundena ng Sangguniang Mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Pampanga
(UPEPP- SC) ang patuloy na karahasang
umiiral sa Unibersidad, na nagdulot ng
kamatayan sa kapwa natin iskolar ng
bayan na si Cris Anthony Mendez. Nakikiisa ang UPEPP - SC sa panawagang
magkaroon ng hustisya ang walang
saysay na kamatayang ito dahil sa sinasabing fraternity hazing.
Sana’y maging aral ito sa ibang mga
kapatiran na magpasahanggang ngayon
ay nasasadlak sa ganitong gawain. Sana
ay matigil na ang karahasan. Huwag
na nating hintayin na magmula pa sa
ating mga hanay ang susunod kay Cris
Mendez.
Sa mga kapatiran namang kumuku-
ndena ng ganitong gawi, ang nangyari
ay naging isang malaking hamon para sa
atin. Patunayan natin sa buong mundo
na hindi lahat ng kapatiran ay salot
sa bayan. Mas pag-ibayuhin natin ang
mahalagang papel na ginagampanan ng
mga kapatiran sa pagbabago ng lipunang
ginagalawan.
Ang UPEPP-SC ay kumakatok sa lahat
ng mga mag-aaral, guro, organisasyon at
kapatiran sa buong sistema ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas na makiisa sa panawagan para sa agarang pagresolba ng
kaso, at katarungan para sa pagkamatay
ng isang tunay na iskolar ng bayan.
Alwin Palad
Tagapangulo, Sangguniang
Mag-aaral ng Unibersidad
ng Pilipinas Pampanga
Not another statistic –ALYANSA
A
nother life has been claimed by alleged fraternity-related violence.
Another life has been snuffed out
by men, claiming to be brothers, yet
inflicting pain like beasts. Another life
has been sacrificed, killed by a senseless
ritual that degrades humanity.
It is ironic to think that our University,
hailed as the best hope for our country’s
future, can be the same place where
these hopes end. Some inflict pain, maim
and even kill fellow students, all in the
name of brotherhood. It is absurd these
barbaric acts exist side by side with the
University ’s lofty ideals, an aberration
that escapes our intellect.
What makes it worse, is when the
indignation and protests have faded,
this death will be another statistic in
the vicious cycle of campus violence.
Forgetfulness and tolerance will replace
indignation and protest, until another
victim has been claimed.
We are one with Cris Anthony Mendez’s
family in their time of grief. Cris’ death is
not just their loss; it is also ours, as fellow
Iskolars para sa Bayan and members of
the UP community. His death is also the
nation’s loss; every scholar killed is a part
of the country’s hope gone.
We vow not to forget, as we vow to
seek justice. Our administration and
justice system must ensure the perpetrators of this senseless death pay for their
crimes. More importantly, we vow not to
let our indignation slip into tolerance.
We declare enough. Enough of this violence. Let this death be the last.
Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa
Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran
PAANO MAWAWAKASAN ANG
FRATERNITY-RELATED VIOLENCE?
Get free publicity! Email us your press releases,
invitations, etc. DON’T TYPE IN ALL CAPS and,
go easy on... the punctuation!? Complete
sentences only. Dnt use txt lnguage pls.
Please provide a short title. Be concise, 100
words maximum.
Int’l Coastal Clean-up Day
The League of Youth for the Environment
(LYFE) invites organizations to participate
in the International Coastal Clean-up Day
this Saturday, Sept 15 at Islang Puting
Bato near Tondo, Manila. Orientation and
Environmental Situationer on Thursday,
Sept 13, 5 PM at the UP Ibalon tambayan
(Lorena Barros Hall, Vinzons Complex, UP
Diliman), For more info, contact USC Environment Committee Head Ralph Peñafiel
0919.689.7144
Stat-SC’s SPSS seminar
The UP School of Statistics Student
Council (UPSSSC) invites you to attend
“SPSS: Bang-Aid to your Statistical Needs,”
a seminar on statistical data analysis using SPSS, on Sept 19 at the Statistical Computing Laboratory 1, School of Statistics.
Open to all non-Stat UP students. There will
be two sessions: 8:30-12:00nn and 1:004:30p. There will be a fee of P150 per participant inclusive of snacks, hand-outs and
an eval copy of SPSS v15. Each session is
limited to 20 participants only. For reservations, contact Vlad at 0915.804.3419 or
visit the UPSSSC room.
Ilonggo Acquaintance Party
UP Silak, in celebration of its 35th anniversary and together with UP Silab, is
inviting everyone who can speak and/or
understand Hiligaynon to the “Certified
Ilonggo: Ilonggo Acquaintance Party. Jam
the night of September 21 with your fellow
Ilonggos at the Balay Kalinaw, 5 pm. For
questions, contact Eena 0921.207.6783
or Dinah 0915.321.9347.
10 SR
from p.3
Bukas pa rin ang Kulê para sa mga bagong retratista, layout artist,
ilustrador, web staff, at mga manunulat sa balita, lathalain at kultura
[ W r i t e rs ] Bring two bluebooks, a pen, and a portfolio of sample works (may be submitted later). You may join News, Features, or Kultura. Filipino
and/or English writers welcome. [ A r t i s t s ] Submit a portfolio of your works (to be returned, don’t worry). Illustrators, bring bond paper and art
materials of your choice. Photographers, web staff and layout artists, bring two bluebooks and a pen. Exams may be taken anytime at the Kulê office, Room 401,
Vinzons Hall. Freshies are most welcome! For questions, text Jerrie 0920.308.2303 or email [email protected]
Mwwkasan ang frat relatd violence kpg
wlang sasali sa knila.Pro cnvincing cla, kya dpat
whole yr&persistnt ang kmpanya laban sa frat
violence,ifeature ang mga buhay n cnra ng mga
frat lalo n sa pgbbukas ngklase pra malaman ng
lht.Proactive dpat di reactive. 04-52458
Pag wla ng frat. Ang duduwag nila e. 0565951
Mhirap wkasan ang frat-relatd-violence. We
olredi hv anti-hazing law yet p2loy p rin ang
hazing.Khit ipgbwal p ni Miriam ang frats,dey’d
stil exist. 00-78511
simple lng..kng ako lng masusunod wla ng
mga frat e..Peo my nkkta naman akng mgagandang naidudulot kya wg nlng.Nd I dnt thnk we
cn stop frat violence..no amt of threatening cn
stop thm..03-28574
mta2pos lng ang frternity rlated violence
kng ttngalin ang kultura ng mga frat pgppsperience ng mga senior mmbrs s neophytes ang
knlng mga d mgndang krnasan s knlang pgsali
s smahan.dpat nlang al2hanin n hndi pisikal n
kata2gan ang sukatan ng isang tunay n lingk0d-bayan. sa frat wars nman,pgusapan ang
prblema n prng tunay n mga lalaki,kng d mdaan
s usapan,ipa sa dios nlang ang kung ano mng di
pgka2inthdihn. 06-47601
Nasa mga fratmen na yun. Kahit na ipagsigawan natin ang NO TO FRAT-RELATED VIOLENCE pero patuloy pa rin sila sa kanilang pride
at “brotherly love,” walang mangyayari. Ako,
hindi na ko mangangarap pang sumali sa frat,
para mamuti nga mga mata nila. No neophytes,
no more hazings, wars, & deaths! 04-61750
Fraternities must be legally disbanded,
outlawed and if necessary, their former members monitored by police to end their violence
06-15095
ANO’NG MASASABI MO SA “HELLO
PAPI” SCANDAL AT ANG UMANO’Y
PANDARAYA SA MGA TV GAMESHOW?
Mdya nMn tlga ang mga game sh0ws, nta0n
lng na nahuli ngaun..so n0w alm n ntn ang real
score behnd this.. 05-36305
Hello papi scAndal? 4 me,wla naman tlgng
scndal. Its dat aswipe joey de leon’s plan 2 make
news pra mgng ckat xa 4 once. I knw pipol hu
knw willy ntim8ly,nd he’s a gud guy..he dosnt
deserv any of these thngs..i bliv abs’ claims
of a gltch.tao lng dn yng mga yan, ngkakamali
dn..03-28574
kalokohan. Binabase lang nila ung papremyo sa itsura nung c0ntestant.E bkt kaya ndi
nlang kaya sila mgng fair at bgyan nlng ng extra
pera un mga gusto nilang bgyan na mukhang
nangangailangan. yan tuloy,nabuko pa sila.
Kalokohan din na magpalitan sila ng mga salita
sa mism0ng gameshow.E kung nag-uusap nlan
sana sila. 07-48084
that action is irreversible and no amount of
public apology and pseudo-charismatic actions
can retain wowowee’s (uhh) credibility.but
those in the law should not go into ths much,as
there’s still that ‘hello garci’ scandal – whch is
way way way more important. 06-20277 barry
CMC
isa aqng certified kapamilya.at ang mssbi
ku lan ay isang error lan ang ngyari sa ‘wilyonaryo’ porxn ng wowowee.c’mon,obvious na ndi
ito pandaraya.bwt wheel ay my based na ‘zero’
at pnpatungan lan nla ng ‘2’ or ’1’ at ng iba pang
mga prcs.umver lan cguro ang pghila ni papikya
pti ung ’2’ e ndala.hehe,di mbbwasan ung twla
ku sa wowowee! :) 05-42293
kpg b ntanggal ang w0w0wee an0ng
mngyyari aftr?mrming taong mhhrap ang
umaasa s gmesh0w.mxado nplaki ung isyu at
mrmi lng nkkskay. 04-66144 bianca
COMMENTS
Commendations to the 04 Sep 07 Philippine
Collegian (Issue No. 11), particularly on the
Editorial ‘Spiral of Violence’, M. Manalo’s News
Report on the SR Hazing, G. Diaz’s ‘MALlformation’, & C. Agrava’s ‘News of a Death’ (although
I would disagree—in part—with Mr. Agrava’s
concluding statement. ) Keep up the good work,
Kule. 03-78694, Karen
himala mukhang hindi bumanat si mr.agrava
sa mga sinabi ni mr.hernaiz..tama ba naman
kasing mag-angasan sa KULE? 07-31712
Ang hsay tlga ng kule!Tlgng mlmn ang mga
blta at mka stdyante! Sna p2loy nyong ipdma
smin ang rspnsblidad blng mga iskolar ng byn!
06-36267 adrian VETMED
to Ivan Reverente,I hav d same sentiments
as u do..Wen I was reading ur article,it was lyk
reading my own story..:-( 04-22823 perh
andaming nngyyaring s0brng bgat n mga
isyu s lipunan. Pero gus2 ko lng mgc0mment s
article na pamamaalam.. I was sobbing in tears
nung nbsa k0. 03-16431
Kung ngpadala ang kaisa or alyansa ng st8mnt s inbox abt cris’ death, ippublish kaya un
ng kule? 06-30422 [See left. –Ed.)
d print quality of kule is getn worse!As in.D2
sa txtback,lyt gray p ata ink nyo.Dpat s cntributions prtion d lng puro articles hingn nyo sa
stdnts..pera! 07-78143
sana next issue ng kule isa s mga tan0ng
related nman s pep squad ntin since super lapit
na ng compet nila.sana po.plsss. 04-47250
bekoi101
Pde po b mgkarun kau ng article abt xa
mens bsketbol team ntn pde hngan nyu ng
pahayag ung coaches at plyers abt xa saloobn
nla xa stnding ng team qng bkt ala p tau pnalo
06-57113
Mas gusto q ung mga articles ng uplb
Perspective,llo n ung mga story s loob mismo
ng up lalo n ung column n ‘underground’..Puro
kasi pulitika ang lamn ng kule,wch I cud alrdy
read thru tbloids. 04-40004
Sana naman mainbestigahan ng kule at ng
UP admin ang alleged ‘palakasan’ system at
corruption na nangyayari sa admission ng CHK.
02-61512
Correction sa 4sept07 issue p.7 3rd paragraph.”...more than 40 towns in Basilan and
Sulu have been vacated...”18 ang towns sa
Sulu at 7 sa Basilan,a total of 25.Bkt nging 40
lahat?San galing ang 15? 04-52458
[We meant “communities” instead of
“towns.” Our apologies for the oversight. –Ed.]
Stick to d facts! It’s 233.33% tofi increase.
Exaj tlga pg tibak! 06-01454,econ
[Indeed, the 233.33% increase applies to
Diliman. If you check the new tuition rates in
other UP units, however, you will find that the
300% increase is very much factual and not an
exaggeration. –Ed.]
Aba! Walang Eksenang Peyups sa issue11
a! Kala ko pa naman titirahin nila yung shigma
rhot this week.Sayang!Anyway,pag balik, paki
bawasan na lang yung gay lingo! 06-03962
SAGUTAN
To 07-30923: alam mo, hndi solusyon ang
b0yc0tt sa problema ng t0fi.. Pg ngb0yc0tt ha,
eah di sinayang mo din ung mahal na tuition
na binayaran mo db? Haiz.. Msxado kang mapus0k! 04-30511
to 07-38848: Ilang kule n b nbsa m.? Prng
ang tgal m ng nk2bsa ng kule ah. 06-38841
to 06-07841: paano cla magmimit halfway
when in d 1st place, unequal ang relati0ns between ng rich and po0r? Mahirap magsalita ng
puro theoretical lang! 03-21181
NEXT WEEK’S QUESTIONS
1. Ano’ng masasabi mo sa guilty verdict kay
Erap?
2. Kamusta ang performance ng UP Pep Squad
sa UAAP cheerdance competition?
Philippine Collegian | Biyernes 14 Set 2007
t om a
candice anne reyes
Halu-halo sapin-sapin sari-sari (or the Various Artists Edition!)
Lala Lafayatte: Huwat! Gawa ako ng ee-fee? Tse!
May Maarte: Huwat? No way jose!
Kami Kasheh: Pakyu. Ayoko nga.
Editor: Gusto niyo bang mag-perish? Now na!
Colors of the Windang
Shet naman, pare. I was, like, online,
shopping for Whey Protein when I, like,
came across this bloggash of a friend,
pare. Si Bro kasi — itago na natin sa pangalang “Jem Topaz” — was, dude, making
balaj; este... making-harsh... este... wala
namang ganyanan pare. Anyway, Jem
was, like, making-tira the articles of Kulê,
pare. Too red na raw kami — as in literally, why daw RED naman lagi da covers?
Shet pare, di naman ken afford ang Rainbow sa covers — ano ‘to, Nips? Kalokah!
Ehem. Ano gusto niya color of activism?
Turquoise? Pucha Pink? (K.K.)
Olats
Sobrang di ko na ma-take ang performance ng
basketbola team! As in breaking all past records sa su-
Ending per balaj na 0-13 losing streak — di ko na ma-face ang
ibang baklush from da other schools, devah? Like, kapag
nagte-text ang friendships ko from da University of the
Echas about da vasketvoll games, stay quiet na lang me
from shobrang shame. Buti na lang talaga may cheering
fa to look forward to. Gogogo cheerleaders!
(M.M.)
War of ze Words
Ang balaj! Ivah na talagah ang tension
ditech sa kulette. Si C.S.A. ay emo, si N.P.H.
ay maangas, at clash to da max ang kanilang
personalities. Open plea na itech for zem,
mula saming mga co-kulettians nila, make
lab not war, go for friendship over fighting,
kasi — choz! Ang fatal fatal na ng shagutan
niyo e! Nagkakashawaan na ang mga utaw
sa wafez na mortal combat niyo. Zubukan natin i-shtop. Mag-sex na lang kayo! (L.L.)
KK: Tapos na?
LL: Tapos na…
MM: Tapos na!
Fewer from p.5
from p.3
Students from p.5
Philippine Collegian Nº 12
Biyernes 14 Set 2007
MAXIMIZING PROFIT
Poor Labor Conditions Inside
Export Processing Zones
I
t is almost midnight. The
picket line in front of PhilsJeon Garments Factory, Inc.,
a transnational corporation
(TNC) inside the Cavite Economic
Zone (CEZ), is nearly deserted.
Some 130 workers are on strike
due to the management’s refusal
to bargain, forced leave of regular
workers and illegal termination
of their union president. Aling
Norma*, a Phils- Jeon worker, is
inside a makeshift tent with a
co-worker when bonnet-wearing
men entered their tents. “ Tinali
kami [ng mga lalaki], piniringan
at binusalan. Pagkatapos, isinakay
kami sa sasakyan kasama yung
mga gamit namin. Inupuan kami
para hindi kami makita ng bantay.
Maya-maya ibinaba kami sa labas
ng CEZ,” Aling Norma recounts.
The CEZ is one of the country ’s export processing zones
( EPZs), employing over 80,000
workers. EPZs are categorized as
special economic zones ( SEZ ),
or “selected areas which have
the potential to be developed
into agro-industrial, industrial,
tourist/recreational, commercial,
banking, investment and financial
centers,” as stated in the Special
Economic Zone Act of 1995. At
present, there are 262 factories
inside CEZ, about 240 of which are
partly or fully-owned by foreign
investors, among them Phils-Jeon
and Chong Won Fashion, Inc.
The Lure of Incentives
Business establishments inside
SEZs enjoy fiscal incentives that
are exclusively granted by the
government. For instance, while
corporations outside SEZs are required to pay a 32 percent income
tax, the companies in SEZs are
exempt from paying taxes, with
the condition that five percent
of the annual gross income of all
establishments inside the zone be
remitted to the national government. Any capital equipment or
machinery used in production is
not subject to real property tax,
while other establishments have to
pay taxes for equipment bought and
owned. Also, losses in operation for
the first 10 years are deducted on
the taxable income for the six years
following the year of loss. However,
since TNCs are concentrated in
SEZs, these incentives usually benefit foreign investors alone — to the
detriment of local industries whose
small capital cannot compete with
big corporations.
Aside from these incentives,
SEZs have strategic positions in
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal,
Quezon and similar areas where
goods are traded through a network of international seaports and
airports. The Philippine Economic
Zone Authority (PEZA), the governing body of SEZs, ensures that
there are no trade disruptions by
monitoring the performance of
workers.
Labor leaders, however, contest the composition of the PEZA ,
which includes representatives
of the Department of Trade and
Industry, Department of Finance,
Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Interior and
Local Government, National Economic and Development Authority,
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and
the ecozone business sector. Meanwhile, SEZ workers are unrepresented in the regulating body.
Labor leaders further assert that
both the national government and
PEZA seek to maximize the labor
market through flexibility schemes
that allow the expansion of TNCs.
Among these flexibility schemes
are depressed wages, excessive
quotas, poor working conditions,
and union busting.
Exploitative Procedures
The minimum wage in the CEZ is
Ruling Violence
President Gloria MacapagalArroyo’s Medium Term Development Plan for 2004-2010 equates
harmonious labor relations with
fewer strikes and more settlements
or voluntary arbitration. Thus,
some factories inside CEZ employ
an unwritten ‘No Union, No Strike’
Policy. The workers who take part in
unions are illegally terminated or,
as in Aling Rina’s case, given more
difficult jobs. From being a sewer,
she became a trimmer who had to
remain standing while she worked.
She was also moved to a place with
little ventilation, along with some
of her co-workers who are active
in NMCW.
“On the government’s part, the
main device used to prevent strikes
is what is called the assumption of
jurisdiction (AJ),“ KMU spokesperson Prestoline Suyat said. “ The
government uses the AJ to stop
strikes instead of investigating
what triggered these. In the end, the
disputes are resolved in a manner
that favors the capitalists.”
N MCW and KMPJI launched
their strikes simultaneously on
September 25 last year. Two days
after, KMPJI members were violently dispersed by PEZA’s Jantro
Guards, and the CEZ police, injuring 13 workers. Last June 10
to 11, NMCW members were harassed by men wearing bonnets.
“Ang nakapagtataka, mahigpit ang
checkpoint noon sa CEZ, paano sila
nakapasok?” asks Aling Norma.
Meanwhile, the violent dispersal
of workers remain unexamined.
The strikers were even sued by the
management for slight physical
injuries supposedly inflicted on the
dispersal group.
Continuous Struggle
After having been dispersed repeatedly and violently, the workers,
including Aling Norma and Aling
Rina, were forced to abandon
their picket lines. The issues
have now been brought to the
courts: various cases have been
filed against the managements
of Phils- Jeon and Chong Won,
including unfair labor practice,
forced leave, illegal termination,
slight physical injury, and grave
threats. Chong Won has filed a
declaration of bankruptcy in a
trial court in Imus, Cavite. PhilsJeon is still in operation.
Phils-Jeon and Chong Won are
not the only companies guilty of
unfair labor practices. Electronic
factories, for instance, use chemicals hazardous to health without
the knowledge of the workers. The
effects of these chemicals vary
from allergies to more serious
cases of tubercolosis and cancer.
In another case, a union leader
of a CEZ factory is nearly killed
by an ambush. There are also
many cases of accidents due to
lax safety precautions.
At present, CEZ workers continue their struggle not only against
their employers, but also against
anti-labor policies and directives
issued by the government. For as
long as the government favors
these companies, the workers
inside SEZs are left with no choice
but to battle mechanisms which
obstruct them from what are supposedly their rights.
*not their real names
photos: worker’s assistance center. page design: mark angelo ching.
Ma. Rosa Cer M. dela Cruz
pegged at P272, an amount based
on the needs of the workers and the
capability of the capitalists to pay.
Despite this, some factories inside
the CEZ pay 25 percent less than
the minimum wage for contractual
workers. However, according to
the National Wages and Productivity Commission, a family of six
in Cavite needs a daily income of
P669. Thus, even with both husband and wife earning a minimum
wage, their combined income will
still fall short of the required daily
income.
In addition, some factories require the laborers to work beyond
the regular working hours. Aling
Rina*, a worker in Chong Won,
relates how she has to work up to
48 hours nonstop to reach a daily
quota of 1,500 to 5,500 pieces of
clothing articles.
Aling Rina adds that they are
not allowed to eat, drink or use
the toilet during working hours or
even during overtime. Thus, urinary
tract infection, usually caused by
irregular urination, is common, as
well as respiratory problems. Two
of her co-workers even died — one
by over-exhaustion and another by
asthma attacks.
To combat these unfair labor
practices, the workers formed
unions that will represent them in
collective bargaining agreements:
Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng
Chong Won (NMCW) and Kaisahan
ng Manggagawa sa Phils-Jeon, Inc.
(KMPJI). Their employers retaliated
by forming a union of their own and
by refusing to hold a certification
election, thereby obstructing the
legalization of the two unions.
According to Antonio Tujan, Jr.,
Executive Director of IBON Foundation, the formation of unions is
discouraged by TNCs since bar gaining agreements tend to raise
wages and prevent the extension
of working hours. Unions also facilitate the organization of strikes
and protest actions.