02 Editorial THURSDAY | 07 MARCH 2013

Editor-in-Chief Jesse Nicole Rubio Santos Associate Editor for Internal Affairs Jeo Angelo Chico Elamparo Associate Editors for External Affairs Aries Joseph Armendi Hegina, Ehcel Sañga Hurna Managing Editor YodHim GudEl Gepty Dela Rosa Assistant Managing Editor Aubrey Nicole Leones Arboleda News Editor Deonah Abigail Lugo Miole Graphics Editor Ace Vincent Ponseca Molo News Correspondents Christine Joy Frondozo Angat, Honey Diane Gemoto Angeles, Ezra Kristina Ostaya Bayalan, Angela Mariz Ulep Caudal, Mon Gabriel Posadas Distor, Mark Jason Santos Flores, Krishna Jeanne Padre Godino, Alyssa Nicole Cacho Gratil, Kathleen Trinidad Guiang, Romelyn Taip Monzon Features Correspondents Jewel Anne Masongsong Formeloza, Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari, Charlotte Porcioncula Velasco Culture Correspondents Angelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa, Ruth Genevieve Austria Lumibao, John Vherlin Canlas Magday Illustrators Ernest Jay Vico Cafino, Gerald Miranda Goco, Pia Charis Lumang Pojas, Noemi Faith Arnaldo Reyes, John Zeus Taller, Ariane Marielle Funelas Valle Photojournalist Kessel Gandol Villarey

Office 4th Floor Student Center Building, University of the Philippines Manila, Padre Faura St. corner Ma. Orosa St., Ermita, Manila Email themanilacollegian@gmail.com Websites mkule1213.deviantart.com | www.facebook.com/themanilacollegian | www.twitter.com/mkule | themanilacollegian.tumblr.com Member College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations

AS THE ELECTIONS FOR THE university and college councils

draw near, the task of every UP Manila student becomes more clear and simple: elect the student leaders who are espousing genuine leadership and upholding the interests not only of the student body but of the entire nation as well.

But what makes student leaders genuine?

Sheer dauntlessness is the mark of genuine student leadership. And dauntlessness is witnessed in how these self-professed leaders react to and initiate action against issues plaguing UP Manila in the past and until the present. Issues which assail the rights of the University’s primary stakeholders such as the private accreditation of certain colleges, students being forced to file for leave of absence because of financial deficiencies, and the continued inaccessibility of education in the University are leaving permanent dents on the public character of the University and all its constituents. Dauntless student leaders would not deny any or all of these struggles experienced by the Iskolar. Instead, they would come to the latter’s rescue and defend them from the unspeakable offences perpetrated by some of the University’s administrators.

Genuine student leaders are not only program organizers and project convenors; UP Manila must realize this now. There are always issues in the University waiting to be addressed and a multitude of masses waiting to be organized; these, above all superficial programs and projects, must be given due primacy as these alone will pave the way for genuine progress. Perhaps there is an urgent

need to revolutionize these councils, push it to its maximum capacity, and emancipate it from the shackles of liberal thinking – something that keeps the council from fulfilling its very mandate.

Student leaders who contribute to the further repression and constraints experienced by other student-based institutions in the university are not espousing genuine leadership. Not only are they doing a great disservice to such institutions but most of all,

@imBLKD simpleng-simple: iba yung wala kang maibibigay, kaya wala kang binibigay, sa meron kang maibibigay, ayaw mo pang magbigay! #OccupyDSWD(BLKD, Fliptop superstar, Feb 27)

@clevearguelles Aquino campaigning for senatorial candidates instead of addressing #Sabah standoff. President’s priority very telling of his leadership.(Cleve Arguelles, UP Student Regent, Mar 1)

@mongster tubbataha, semirara, padcal, pablo, tampacan. some of the green keywords which should be discussed in the campaign(Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino, Kabataan Partylist, Feb 21)

@JohnPonsaran Ang tunay na TEAM PATAY ay ang mga nagsusulong ng LaPiDa (liberalisasyon, pribatisasyon, deregulasyon)...(Professor John Ponsaran, Development Studies Program, Mar 4)

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MAGNA EST VERITAS ET PREVAELEBIT

thecover

they are propagating disempowerment and false thinking in the UP Manila community. To deny the autonomy and independence of student-led publications and college councils, let alone tarnish the reputations they have preserved for so long would be below the principles of genuine leadership.

Being critical is also an attribute genuine leaders must possess and being so would

mean looking beyond the promises and other shallow endeavours of the government. They must not settle for the mediocre and claim that the absence of budget cuts on the education and health sectors in the previous year is enough. Genuine student leaders must initiate intensified calls for higher state subsidy and must always be at the forefront of each battle.

Lastly, genuine student leaders must be the champion of the Iskolar. To be part of the

university or a college council is to represent the student body. To represent the students, student leaders must understand the plights and struggles of every student of UP Manila. And if the council truly understands the dire conditions its constituents are experiencing, it should never be selective in the issues it is campaigning for; neither should it limit itself only to the issues that appeal most to the students and issues that are convenient only for certain political parties in the University. To represent the common Iskolar is to prioritize the interests of the students and rise above pathetic politicking.

UP Manila must realize that the student councils are one of the few remaining bastions of student representation and activism in the entire UP System. Electing the wrong candidates would absolutely take away the power and potency of these last bastions.

The point of the student council elections has never been clearer. Now, more than ever, the students are tasked to choose genuine student leaders.

Only then can UP Manila be trulyrepresented.

Illustration by Angelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa

“To represent the common Iskolar is to prioritize the interests of the students and rise

above pathetic politicking.”

A Call for Genuine Leadership

03News07 MARCH 2013 | THURSDAY

KRISHNA JEANNE PADRE GODINO AND RONILO RAYMUNDO MESA

T HE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA (UPM) SHALL have its third automated university-wide Student Council (SC)

elections on March 8.The UP Society of Computer Scientists (Socomsci) will again facilitate the computerized voting process with an upgraded version of the system used in the previous automated elections.

HTTPS to Deliver Live Election Updates

The Halalan Team for Technical Protection and Security (HTTPS) of Socomsci will be operating Halalan, the system used in the 2011 and 2012 SC elections developed by the UP Diliman Linux Users Group (UnPLUG).

John Althom Mendoza, one of the heads of HTTPS, disclosed that one of the key features of the new Halalan system is its capability of delivering updates regarding the current percentage of voter turnout.

“This feature can help monitor kung ilan pa ba ‘yung mga kailangang ‘hanapin’ para bumoto. Syempre, gusto natin ‘yung 100 percent voter turnout diba?,” Mendoza said.

The live election updates will be posted on Socomsci’s Facebook fan page every hour on the day of the elections.

In addition, Mendoza indicated that HTTPS

EZRA KRISTINA OSTAYA BAYALAN

The Perspective has been experiencing fiscal autonomy issues and budget dilemmas for three consecutive years with the UPLB administration.

“The issue on fiscal autonomy of the UPLB Perspective is just one of the pressing situations in the university that every Iskolar ng Bayan should be aware of and is the main reason why the publication continues its struggle to be eye and the voice of UPLB students,” as stated in the online release.

In the statement, the UPLB Perspective revealed that the publication does not even have a decent office, nor do they own computers and printers. Also, the allowed time for presswork is only from 7 PM to 10 PM. The fiscal issues impeded the fortnightly release of the publication. Currently, new issues and announcements are only disseminated online.

In the academic year (AY) 2009-2010, then

director of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Vivian Gonzales forwarded a letter to Christian Ray Buendia, the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of UPLB Perspective for AY 2009-2009. It was a letter from the administration stating that it would no longer collect the student fund starting first semester of 2009-2010. This resulted to the budget deficit for the publication.

The student fund amounts to P45.50 per student, P40 of which is allotted for the school publication.

The former OSA director, however, suggested to the publication that it may acquire funds through paid advertisements. This suggestion was never considered by the publication for it upholds that it “was meant for the students’ interest only.”

Ultimately, this led to the drafting of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Perspective and the administration regarding a new scheme for the release of the publication’s funds.

UPM gears for 3rd automated SC polls

has already coordinated with the University’s Information Management Service (IMS), the official and secured server of UP Manila, to protect the system from possible hacking attacks.

Furthermore, the HTTPS will no longer be supervised by UnPLUG in facilitating this year’s SC election.

In preparation for the upcoming SC elections, the organization, in cooperation with UnPLUG conducted a training program for HTTPS volunteers on February 25 at the College of Arts and Sciences Cybernook. In line with this, a mock election was held on March 4.

Meanwhile, to ensure the organization’s credibility in facilitating the automated elections, Socomsci’s executive committee thoroughly screened the volunteer members and ensured that they do not have affiliations with any fraternity, sorority, or political party, according to former Socomsci president Zach Andrei Marasigan.

“Bawal magpakita [ang volunteers] ng pag-support, pag-promote, or ng choice of party or candidate. Kahit nga magsuot lang ng ‘party color’ na damit [hindi pwede]”, Marasigan furthered.

On the other hand, the former Socomsci head assured that the software can be fully relied upon.

“Theoretically, there is no perfect system. Pero in-ensure ng gumawa nito (UnPLUG) na

secured ang boto…According to UnPLUG, this system has already been used in some universities worldwide,” Marasigan emphasized.

Increasing Voters’ Turnout

Although there was a decrease in the number of voters in the SC elections for 2010 and 2011, there was an increase of nearly four percent for that of the 2012 elections.

Almost all colleges had an increased number of participating voters. Furthermore, the College of Pharmacy and the College of Public Health had the highest and the lowest voter turnout, respectively.

Meanwhile, the College of Medicine had a sudden increase of 11.71 percent in its voter turnout. (See table below)

UPLB Campus Press Funds UnreleasedOperations affected by Admin restraint

T HE PERSPECTIVE, THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OFthe University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), released an

online statement on February 14 indicating their public apology to the UPLB community due to the irregularity of their releases, and also the circumstances which have made them unable to function regularly.

The lack of proper funding, however, was not the last of the problems the publication faced. Until now, the MOA has not been signed by the UPLB administration. Instead, in AY 2010-2011, the publication was required by the UPLB administration to register in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), resulting to a further delay in fund issuing.

At present, however, even though the publication has already been registered in the SEC, the administration still refuses to sign the MOA. The administration expressed transparency issues involving the Board of Directors of the MOA, which consists of the 2011-2012 editorial board (EB) of the Perspective. The board of directors are no longer part of the incumbency.

In addition, the chief accountant of UPLB Joan Mendoza said that there were no official representatives from the administration in the Board of Directors of the MOA, thus the said MOA was not “legally binding”.

If the funds for the student publication were collected and released by the administration, The Perspective would have had an estimate of P2,692,707.78 for its regular release and operations, as of April 2012.

With such projected amount of funds, The Perspective was instructed once more by the administration to make a budget proposal

for it to continue its operations which started 39 years ago.

The proposal, however, has been modified several times. After a series of meetings with OSA and the Office of the Chancellor, the proposal was finally approved, but still awaits the signature from the administration.

The further delay has been caused by an outstanding debt incurred by the previous editorial board. The debt, amounting to P90,000 was made when the publication released two regular issues in May and June 2011.

For the administration to finally sign the budget proposal of the current editorial board, The Perspective must first settle its debt. The nature of the transaction between the previous editorial board and publishing house is unofficial, thus it is difficult to settle, according to the UPLB Office of the Chancellor.

The debt remains unpaid as the members of The Perspective no longer have contact with the previous editorial board. The publication has yet to receive its budget.

In line with this, The Manila Collegian supports the UPLB Perspective in its resistance against campus journalism repression.

TABLE 1. Voter turnout per college for the 2011 and 2012 SC elections. Source: The Manila Collegian Archives.

04 News THURSDAY | 07 MARCH 2013

heving the courage to run to serve my afows, fero yu shud do it with konsidereyshun, jerkey? Sa Rob nalang keye kayo mag-fractice, fara walang mag-reklamo na najijingayan sila? Wala mexedong ingay dun sa rob, eh. Kuuuunti-kunti lang. Harharhar!

Nag-fafaka-krokidayl-na-dafat-i-tame Ishu nember Twiii: Vaztooohz kamfanyyyeeeyy! May jisa fah akong sumvong na natangaf! Sooo hayaaan mazaya doheel may mga maga-artiar za klazrum ng aking afows. Lalo na kung voringga moringa ang klasey, evey, praise the roof at may artiar chevers na magaganaf. Pampauvohs oraz din. But but buttttt! May mga farang krokidayl na gurabey daw, saveh ni afow, wiz man lung magfaalam vago mag-artiar! Vaztah pazowk lang daw prom ze door! Ermigherd! Navaztoohz nemern si froppie at the whole klasey! Gravetey! Evey wag nemern genyen. R-E-S-P-E-C-T din mga ‘teh! Sige kayo, vaka doheel jaaan, mowolon kayo ng voterzzz. Tschk, tschk.!

My dear afoooows! Jelections are coming naaaa… exercise, ok? Hahaha exercise lang? I mean, exercise your right to boat! Ay, to vote fala. Hahaha. Mag-vantay sa mga krokidayls, at fagnilay-nilayan ng mavuti ang desishon! Sige nech mga afows, may mga krokidayls fa ako na kelangan i-teyk keyr of. At farang ‘tong Lolo Upo niyow, trif rin ata mag-fa-teym! Mygaliwaw. Hahaha. Ang maifafayo ko nalang sa inyez vefore I goooow, dafat maging tulad kayo ng inyown ever lovable Lola na suuuufer insfayrd ni Kuya

Keeeem: Mafagmatyag! Mafagmasid, Mafangahas! Matang-lowla! Hahaha

di vagay eh. Skyway, majuna na kows mga afows. Juzz kol me if yu need

anything…fero kung money, sige, kol niyo lang rin ako, kwentuhan lang tayo. Hahaha. Vavay dears!

Labyuuuuuuuuuu! Shamcey tsuptsup! :*

Hellows mga afows!!! How iz yah??? I hop yar OK-kokey! If yu are gunna ask meh, am payn, tengs! Yar Lowla P is kinda veesee. Veesee sa fanivago

kong fart-taym job, vukod sa fakikinig ng mga zumvongs ninyow, eh isa na rin akong certified krokidayl taaamuuurrr! Yez, my dearz, mukang epektib sa mga krokidayls ang charm ng lowla p ninyow na hindi kumukufaaaaaaas. Gocongwei, zo nat werry, kese I’m still here, making fakinig yur zumvongzzz. At nakech! Anubech! Eh farang mga krokidayls lang din naman yung mga zinumvong ninyow! Well-manuel-arcanghel, eto na ang jinyowng Lowla P, to da reskyeeeeeew!!!

At evey havey! Jelection sisown na nga telege lerk ermigeh. Geyt reydi na ren sa thrillz and splukz na matutungheyen! Yeheeeeeyy!

Nag-fafaka-krokidayl-na-dafat-i-tame Ishu nember Waaan: No Fi-Ih, No Watuuurrrr, Die Vegging!!! Avaaaaaaaaah! Mas gahaman fa ata sa isang krokidayl ang isang dya-guar na itechikeni! Zumvong ng jisa kong afow na talaga nemeng namumutla na sa juhaw, eh may isang dya-guar daw sa SoSweatyWalangCologne na todo-shoo-away sa mga afows kows na humihingi lang nemern ng konting ech-tu-who! Watdapat dya-guar, flease don’t vi such a krokidayl and make damot to my afows. Fero, kung talagang folicy yan ng SoSweatyWalangCologne, ava da ischudents shud be impormed fraferleeee, hindi yung vonggang-vonggang tinataboy sila having sumisigaw ng “HINDI SA INYO ANG TUBIG NA ‘TO, KAY ASIONG!!!” (di naman talaga nangyari yan, vutt, yu get may foint??? Hahaha) wag tayo madamot haaaa? Feel ko dafat na nating falagyan ng water disfenser ang kavuuan ng Yu-Fi-Em, like every 100m, may makikitang water disfenser sa daan…ufang wala ng ma-juhaw sa mga afows koooows! Mehuehuehue.

Nag-fafaka-krokidayl-na-dafat-i-tame Ishu nember Tuuu: Ang Jiiiiiiingaaaaaaaay! Tahimik-tahimik din, fag may taaaaym! Huuuuuu ang skeet talaguh sa headache! May nag-zumvong na jisa kong afows na sya raw hindi makafag-concentrate sa pagi-istadee sa kanyang zormitowree dehil may mga vangi-ingay raw na farang krokidayls na nagfa-fraktis ng kung hanu-hanong elekshun-relayted sa taas ng kanyang zorm! Kawawang afows…auditoree fatigue!!! Sana man lang ay nagfaalam sa mga fwedeng ma-jistorvo, my dzear runners. Mas kilala na keyow, mas ila-lurve fa kayechiness, divech??? Konting konsiderashun, dehil silang mga afows ko rin naman ang mga inyowng fagsisilvihan once yar jelected! Nawa ay wala ng magzumvong na afow kow avout diz, ok??? Or else, ako na mismo ang tatakvo…tatakvo fafunta sa inyow fara mafagsavihan na keyech ng fersonal! Ok? Ok. Kung magfa-fraktis, magfaalam, ha? O kaya mental fraktis nalang, fara silence means yes (anudaw? hahaha). I lurve yu ol, and t e n g y u f o r

1Ano ang masasabi mo sa naging termino ng ika-34 na University

Student Council (USC)?

It’s not me, it’s you. Lagi ka nalang hindi nagpaparamdam. O, balak mo nga bang magparamdam? - somebodythatyouusedtoknow

Ay. May USC pala. - CAS, 2012-0**95

It can be compared sa sagot na makukuha mo sa pagsolve ng slope of the line with points (3,4) (3,8) = undefined/indeterminate. - ANONYMOUS, CP, 2009-09189

USC who? - theonethatgotaway, CAS, 09-34694

Ok na sana kayo e. Kaasar lang yung ibang biglang sumulpot nung malapit na yung eleksyon. Asan ka nang buong taon? Living under the rock? - undertherock, 20**-*****

I don’t know, but publicity sure was apparent. It’s like (nah, scrap the “It’s like” part) there’s an attachment of *insert party name* in most, if not all, of the projects. Like, hello guys, usong gumawa ng project as USC. I don’t give a sh*t kung di kayo straight slate na na-elect, pero you really did not have to attach the party to the projects that immensely. - Lusecua || 2010-33377 || BS Pharmacy

Di ko kayo dama. - 2010-36898, CAS

Anong kalokohan yung pakana nilang logo ng USC na mas malaki pa yung “USC34” na lettering kaysa sa mismong logo/seal? - The Heartbreak Kid, CAS

Naging masalimuot ang termino ng ika-34 na USC. Natatandaan ko pa ang mga ipinangako ng noo’y mga kandidato para sa UPM studentry subalit iilan lamang ang naisakatuparan. Kagaya ng mga nagdaang pamumuno, hindi ko naramdaman ang presensya ng USC. Bagaman hindi visibility ang ganap na sukatan ng isang mahusay na pamumuno, hindi maitatanggi na isa itong mahalagang salik upang mabigyang-katiyakan ang mga estudyante na ang USC ay gumagampan ng kanilang mga tungkulin tungo sa ikauunlad ng interes ng mga estudyante. May iilang tapat na gumaganap sa kani-kanilang obligasyon at seryoso sa napiling tahakin subalit bilang isang grupo, ang kasalukuyang USC ay lubhang nagkulang sa pagkakaisa at koordinasyon. - John Raymond Jison, CAS, 2009-11209

May 34th USC pala? Charot! Pero seryoso, bilang freshie di ko sila na-feel. - Roseann Jonamae Rodriguez

*insert malutong na mura here* Anong serbisyo meron kay Ramon Bautista at Sen. Miriam? Anong representation yan? Na lahat ng UPM students, trip din kung ano ang uso? Trip din kahit mababaw? *insert mura here* - superhero ng ermita 11-11***

May USC vice chair ba ang UPM? hindi ko po kasi naramdaman si zazza. isama nyo na rin yung ibang USC councilors na sina john padaoan at mau turingan, pati si sean aquilino. tapos biglang susulpot pag eleksyon. ang galing galing. - BoyDS

lagi kong tinatanong kung anong nagawa ng nakaraang administrasyon dahil nagulat akong eleksyon na pala ulit. - Grace Dan Deudor, CAS

Parang latang yupi-yupi at walang laman. Bakit? Walang laman, kasi maingay, pero hindi lahat ng proyekto, may kabuluhan at hinayaan pa rin nila ang bagong default bracketing scheme, tuition deadlines at ang mga kaakibat nitong forced LOA na pawang mga anti-student policies na nakalusot. Yupi-yupi kasi hindi lahat

ng mga miyembro ng konseho ay naging visible at active (or in the most trapo way possible, noong bandang huli na lang ng term sila wagas mag-promote at magpabango ng pangalan) - Diehard.STP_RED.rebel.nars, CN, 20**-1*1*8

Lol ‘di ko na-feel yung ibang miyembro. Well, merong mga ultra lakas naman magparamdam. Uh, balita ko dapat lahat kumikilos e. Promises, promises. #harshtag - CAS, 2011-10070

2Ano ang gusto mong itanong sa mga kakandidato para sa USC sa taong

panuruan 2013-2014?

Para sa nag iisang Independent USC Councilor: Anong opinion mo sa University Rule? - bashingmachine, CN, 09-*****

Paano nyo gagamitin ang konteksto ng FOI sa pag-address ng problema sa late cancellation of classes? - theonethatgotaway, CAS, 09-34694

“Ikinabetter person mo yan?” (Abnasan, 2013) Yeah, I needed to cite since bumenta talaga yung statement. - Lusecua || 2010-33377 || BS Pharmacy

Pano niyo mapagbubuklod ang CAS sa mga white college? Obvious naman na may tensyon eh. Anong pwede niyong gawin para mawala/mabawasan ito? - Roseann Jonamae Rodriguez

Anong meron ang partido mo na wala ang kalaban mong partido? - The Heartbreak Kid, CAS

Ano sa tingin nyo ang hindi niyo magagawa sa termino ninyo kung kayo ang mananalo? - undertherock, 20**-*****

paano nyo masisisgurong di kayo lalamunin ng maduming sistema ng pulitika? - 2010-36898, CAS

Sinong sunod na dadalhin niyo? One Direction? Ha? USC35? Magiging mababaw rin ba kayo tulad ng mga event organizers na yun? - superhero ng ermita 11-11***

Ano ang inyong tindig sa pribatisayon ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan sa UPM-PGH? Bilang mga lider-estudyante, paano ninyo mabibigyang-kalutasan, kung hindi man ay makaaaambag sa kalutasan, ng isyung ito? Magbigay ng mga kongkretong programa. - John Raymond Jison, CAS, 2009-11209

Dahil unti-unti nang nawawala ang makamasa at pampublikong karakter ng UP dahil sa mga repressive, privatizing, anti-student at revenue-generating na schemes ng gobyerno at maging ng admin ng UP mismo, what CONCRETE and REALIZABLE ACTIONS will you do para tugunan ang mga schemes na ito at ma-prevent ang tuluyang pagbabago sa image at demography ng UP? - Diehard.STP_RED.rebel.nars, CN, 20**-1*1*8

Uhh... ano peg ninyo para sa darating na 35th USC shit ninyo? :> - Bhiebhiegurl, CAS, 09-****7

Para sa first year Nursing na tumatakbong independent for USC Councilor: Bakit may mga posters ka na sa mga Colleges before campaign period a.k.a Young Wild and Free? - spongebob, CN

Anong meron kayo na wala ang counterpart niyo sa USC34? - blockheadparinngblock*toot*, OrCom, CAS

Maibabangon niyo ba ang sangka-yufiem-an at maimumulat ang mata ng student body? Hindi naman ba kayo puro salita lang? - unasacapuntas, CAS, 2011-10070

Ano ang una ninyong gagawin kapag nanalo kayo, maliban sa magpasalamat, mag-celebrate at sumigaw? – somebodythatyouusedtoknow

What can you do to improve the facilities/laboratories/equipments used by biochem and comsci students? sobrang kulang kasi ang lab equipments, chemicals at bulok/sira sira naman ang mga computers. - concerned DPSM citizen

ITANONG KAYISKO’t ISKA

MGA FULUNG-VULUNGAN NG NAGJIJISANG

LOLA PATOLADa Krokidayl Taaaaamuuuurrrr edisheeeen :*

05Standard Bearers Eleksyon 201307 MARCH 2013 | THURSDAY

1 Kinikilala po natin na siyempre ang pinakauna pa rin pong problema ng UP Manila, kasabay po ng ibang UP Campus, ay yung kakulangan po sa subsidiya na nanggagaling sa gobyerno. So kahit na tumaas ‘yung ating UP budget, it increased for around 4 billion, kinikilala natin na iba po yung issue

ng pagtaas o pagbaba sa isyu ng kung sapat ba ito. Kaya naman po ang offshoot nito ay nagre-resolve po tayo sa privatization and commercialization scheme, which is ang ating pangalawang problema. Makikita po natin ito sa pag-i-implement ng STFAP, ng no late payment policy, kung saan kumikita po yung administrasyon doon po sa mga interes na binabayaran ng mga estudyante mula po doon sa interes na binabayad nila sa student youth board. And last but not the least, ‘yung lack of facilities, na alam naman nating lahat yung Courtzone incident, kung saan nakita natin na na-compromise ang security ng mga estudyante dahil sa kakulangan ng pasilidad.

2 We in ASAP-Katipunan firmly believe that education is a right. However, we see that the government believes otherwise. It treats education as a commodity, as a product to be sold to those who can only afford it. Kaya ngayon, tumataas yung tuition fee not only of private schools

but also of public institutions, such as the state universities and colleges. A concrete example of that would be UP. Kaya naman makikita natin na hindi lahat ng pumapasa sa UPCAT ay tumutuloy sa unibersidad sapagkat kinikilala nila na mataas yung tuition fee at marami pang ibang gastusin na kailangang bilhin para magkaroon ng access to education. Kwinekwestiyon natin ang government kung talaga bang public university pa ang UP kung hindi na siya nakaka-cater dun sa mga masa, dun sa mga manggagawa, at dun sa mga magsasaka na gustong makapag-aral sa ating unibersidad.

3 Sa tingin ko ay iyong kumakatawan sa’kin ay si Pi, galing dun sa Life of Pi. Sabi nga nila, kinonquer niya yung fear. Kahit na hindi niya alam kung ano yung mangyayari, tuloy

parin siya ng tuloy. Doon sa journey niya, napagbuti niya yung pagkatao niya, atsaka naging mabuti siyang tao, atsaka nakita niya kung ano yung pinaniniwalaan niya talaga. Kumbaga,

nagkaroon siya ng self-identity.

1 Okay. So, for the first issue I wanna explain is the STFAP/budget cut. So, medyo related ‘to because we want higher state subsidy. So we tackle this directly by directly going to the Department of Budget and Management. Actually, we did this last year, Budget Watch

Alliance, that forwarded the issues directly to the Philippine Department of Budget and Management at dahil dito tumaas ang education budget natin. The second issue is the sports center/research building. Actually, we already have funding for this. Tumigil lang siya because of the election ban. So, actually, si Dr. Menchie Padilla yung naghahawak ng money ngayon. Kailangan lang natin tutukan ‘to kasi this money, kailangan lang natin bantayan yung implementation. Syempre, third issue, hindi mawawala yung personal issues ng bawat UP Manila student because we all have our needs and our wants that have to be addressed by the University Student Council. Di ba? So that we get what we rightfully deserve. Syempre, this is the USC. Kasama ka namin.

2 So, the demographic of UP Manila is, we are very very diverse. I can tell you that we are the most diverse university in the Philippines. We have representatives, we have students, I mean, from all over the Philippines. Meron tayong taga-Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. Meron

tayong jeje. Meron tayong matalino. Actually, lahat tayo matalino. Yun nga. We are the microcosm of the Philippines, but medyo skewed to the intellectual side. So, paano ito nakaka-influence sa pampublikong karakter ng ating unibersidad? Being a microcosm nga because we are very very diverse. This defines the character of the university and because of this, we want to hone this. We want to enhance the skills of every UP Manila student na kahit iba-iba tayo, tayo’y nabibigkis with one common goal which is we do things para sa university, para sa UP,

at para sa bayan. The USC would be that vehicle for you.

3 The fictional character that I can relate myself with, maybe, is Batman. Gusto ko si Batman kasi normal person lang siya sa totoo lang. He just pulled all his resources. Tapos, he made use all of his resources very well in order to further his advocacy. He is just a

normal person na ginagawa niya lahat para sa tao.

1 As Vice Chairperson, ‘yung pamumuno po natin kasama natin, kasama ang mga estudyante ay i-fifit natin sa ating platform entitled ONE, which is building alliance of organizations. Kasi parang wala pa tayong mga alyansa ng mga acting, singing, dancing orgs from different

colleges. Why not link them all together and build projects that are for a cause. Ngayon narealize din natin na mahalaga ang parte ng LCSC sa pagmobilize ng mga estudyante kaya kukuhanin po natin yung mga isyu ng mga estudyante per college at idudulog natin sa administration which shall be the voice of the students to the administration.

2 Sa ASAP-Katipunan po naniniwala tayo sa collective action so sa pamamagitan ng LCSC hindi lamang po natin idudulog yung case nung mga na-forced LOA, sasamahan natin sila every step of the way. Naniniwala po tayo na there is strength in numbers at lalo na kapag na-

organisa ang mga estudyante: Ibig sabihin may mali, dahil sila, tayo ang nakakaalam ng social issues, at kapag nagsama-sama tayo, kahit ang unibersidad ay hindi maikakaila ang mga isyung ito, hindi ang admin, hindi ang gobyerno.

3 Siguro ito yung magtiwala nang lubusan. Kasi you also need to protect yourself from whatever may come your way. Kaya dapat before you engage in something, you should also save something for yourself kasi kapag nagtitiwala ka nang lubusan, may

tendency na masaktan ka…nang sobra.

1 So aside from having ‘yung relevant issues of leadership wherein nagsisimula pa lang, tatanungin na natin ‘yung mga estudyante kung ano ang gusto nila when it comes to campaigns or services, mas palalakasin pa natin ang UNO, ang United Network of Organizations, wherein this year, magkakaroon

tayo ng sub-clusters. So ilan sa mga sub-clusters na ito ay may involve ang different colleges, wherein ‘yung different colleges and different their advocacies, ipagsasama-sama natin ‘yan. Through the different clusters, like for example all the health organizations, all the environment organizations, all the culture organizations, even the different fraternities and sororities, na through this, organizations from the same mission, vision, goals and objectives, pagsasama-sama natin ‘yan. And then magkakaroon din tayo ng unity project, wherein under the same advocacies, ay maibibigay natin sa different organizations.

2 So first of all, the LCSC involves all the student councils. From the chairperson down to the representatives. As for that, the LCSC can help the students by sending the different information that we can from the start of every semester. And from the start pa lang, maibibigay na

natin not only the deadlines but also the different things that students can do to help with their tuition, for example, ‘yung different loans, we will make that available to them and I think it’s important na these kind of information will be disseminated sa lahat ng students through the different college chairpersons, college vice-chairpersons, all the officers of student councils since in every college, this will link the students from the colleges to the USC. And likewise, from the USC to the students.

3 So since it was my first time last year, medyo nabigla ako sa lahat ng nangyari, not just with the load but the responsibilities. And I took it upon myself na there are certain responsibilities na, honestly, hindi ko siya masyadong na-delegate, di ko siya nabigyan ng

proper work management or time for each, kasi parang, ‘yun nga, I took it sa sarili ko. But this time around, having a bigger network and having more people around me, I feel na I can delegate tasks better, and since di ko yun nagawa this year, I think it will be better for me to do so this year para mas maging effective.

(1) Magbigay ng tatlong isyung kinakaharap ng UPM sa kasalukuyan. Paano mo ito matutugunan?(2) Ipaliwanag ang komposisyon ng demograpiko ng UP Manila at kung paano nito naaapektuhan ang pampublikong karakter ng Unibersidad.(3) Sinong fictional character ang sa tingin mo ay kumakatawan sa iyong kandidatura sa pagka-USC Chair??

(1) Bukod sa pagiging convenor ng LCSC, paano mo gagawing mas makabuluhan ang iyong pagiging Vice Chair?(2) How can the LCSC be of help to the students who are forced to file for LOA due to the inability pay their tuition on time?(3) Bilang miyembro ng papalabas na konseho, ano ang ginawa mo dati na hindi mo na gagawin ngayon??USC

VICE CHAIR

USCCHAIR

06 Eleksyon 2013 Councilors THURSDAY | 07 MARCH 2013

1 Kung mahalal po tayo bilang USC Councilor for Gender Rights and Issues, tayo po ay magiging

tunay, palaban, at makabayan. Ipaglalaban natin ang tunay na kalayaan ng kababaihan at ng mga may piniling kasarian, at tayo po ay magiging palaban. Ilalaban po natin ang kanilang karapatan at interes, at kinikilala po natin ang kanilang parte sa ating lipunan.

2 Ang akin pong senador para sa susunod na eleksyon ay si Teddy

Casino dahil isa po siyang V-men ng One Billion Rising. Yung One Billion Rising po ay naglayon na ipaglaban yung karapatan ng kababaihan. Strike, rise, and dance to end violence against women at si Teddy Casino po ay kinatawan itong adbokasiyang ito, kaya po siya ang aking senatoriable.

1 Bilang USC councilor for students’ rights and basic welfare services, aking pangungunahan

ang mas masigasig na pangangampanya upang makamit ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan at ng mga susunod pang mga Iskolar ng Bayan ang isang edukasyong mas makabuluhan at mas maka-masa.

2 Si Alan Peter Cayetano, kasi nung 2010, isa siya sa mga nakisali sa mobilization sa

budget cut noong 2010. Isa siya doon sa mga nakiisa sa ating mga Iskolar ng Bayan

dito mismo sa ating pamantasan para masolusyonan ang

problema sa patuloy na pagbaba ng ating state subsidy for the university.

1 Syempre, kekwestyunin natin kung sino ang makikinabang sa mga proyektong ating

ihahain. Siyempre, sa ASAP-Katipunan, kami ay naniniwala ang education ay isang karapatan, na kung saan magiging konkreto lamang ito kung aming ipu-push ang mga proyektong pro-

students na hindi lamang relebante sa loob ng UP Manila pati na rin sa labas ng ating

lipunan.

2 Bilang tayo ay sumasandig sa masa, para sa akin

pinaniniwalaan ko si Teddy Casino dahil para sa akin siya

ay isang maka-masang tao na naniniwala sa mga problema

ng lipunan na kinakaharap natin ngayon kung saan siya ay nagsusulong ng mga plataporma na alam natin ay makaka-benefit ang ating lipunan.

1 Ang ASAP-Katipunan ay naniniwala lang naman sa dalawang bagay: Una, na ang edukasyon ay karapatan ng bawat kabataan, at pangalawa, na hindi

kaiba ang pinagdadaanan ng estudyante sa mga pinagdadaanan ng bawat mamamayan sa lipunan. Paano natin iko-concretize iyong paniniwala nating ito? Una, palalakasin natin yung ating kampanya at serbisyo para sa ating mga estudyante at hindi natin hahayaang magkaroon ng repressive policies dito sa ating unibersidad.

2 Ang senatoriable natin ay si Teddy Casino dahil naniniwala tayo na kailangan nating ipanalo ang karaniwang tao. At sa ating konseho ito ang gagawin natin,

hindi lamang estudyante ang ating ipaglalaban kundi ang bawat mamamayan ng ating bansa.

1 Naniniwala ang ASAP-Katipunan na ang mga isyung kinahaharap ng bawat Iskolar ng Bayan ay hindi hiwalay sa mga kinakaharap

na isyu ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino. Kung ako po ay mahahalal na USC Councilor for Culture and Arts, isa po sa proyekto natin ay ang UP Manila Live, UP Manila Live! Hindi lamang po ito isang talent show kundi isho-showcase din po natin ang isang week-long fair ng mga indigenous people, ng kanilang mga struggle, at iba’t iba pang isyung panlipunan na maikokonekta sa kultura.

2 Bilang miyembro ng Kabataan Partylist, naniniwala tayo na si Teddy Casino ayng pinakatamang maluklok sa senado dahil

siya ang pinakakumakatawan sa masang Pilipino at siya ang nagsusulong ng dapat ipinaglalaban ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino. Kasama na rito ang karapatan sa edukasyon, sa health services, at sa basic services na dapat tinatamasa ng bawat Pilipino.

1 Pinapaniwalaan po ng ASAP-Katipunan ay yung education is a right, at siyempre, kasama na po ng

education is a right is yung karapatan po natin sa mga dekalidad na pasilidad gaya po ng mga laboratories,

classrooms, kasama na po yung gymnasium. Isa po sa mga projects bilang USC Councilor for Sports

is yung Oplan Push for Gym Now Na kung saan maglulunsad po tayo ng mas masigasig na

kampanya upang bantayan po yung bawat kilos ng ating UP Manila administration para po sa progress ng ating UP Manila gymnasium.

2 Si Teddy Casino po yung pinaka-kumakatawan sa plataporma ko kasi

naniniwala po siya, kaisa po namin siya sa paglaban ng edukasyon at karapatan,

at bilang yung plataporma ko nga po ay karapatan po sa dekalidad na pasilidad, kasama narin po dito yung karapatan sa edukasyon at iyon din

po ay isa sa mga ipinaglalaban ni Teddy Casino.

1 ASAP-Katipunan has always upheld its bias for the masses, and in working with the masses.

So for the health committee which we envision to head in the next school year, we would like to bring health services to the urban poor communities in the proximity of UP Manila. That is my way of bringing health to those who need them most.

2 I believe in Teddy Casino’s work with the masses and I’ve always held him

in high regard as to his advocacies for land reform, for wage increase, for the accessible education for all, and for comprehensive healthcare for all. So, he is my senator since he is the nationalist senator which I someday aspire to be as a leader.

(1) How would you translate your party’s ideology into concrete action in the fulfillment of your duties

as a councilor, if elected?

(2) Sinong kandidato para sa Senado sa pambansang eleksyon sa 2013 ang kumakatawan sa plataporma

mo? Bakit?

} }

07Councilors Eleksyon 201307 MARCH 2013 | THURSDAY

1 So basically there are five pillars from Bigkis-UPM and the pillar I embody the most, I believe so is

holistic management. And I believe that this can be translated in the committee I’m currently running for in my advocacy which is to unite UPM, and I do believe that the activities in the sports committee perfectly capture the essence of my advocacy, for example Bakbakan, this is the best avenue, in my opinion, to unite all the students and it requires holistic management.

2 In the coming senatorial elections I believe that Dick Gordon

is the most, for me siya ung pinakagusto ko sa lahat ng kandidato, being my brod actually he is a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi, we all went through the same initiation process where were instilled different ideologies and principles, I believe that he and myself share the same ideologies, one of them would be brotherhood, integrity, excellence, leadership and service.

1 Naniniwala po kami sa Bigkis-UPM sa progressive multi-perpective activism. Kami

po sa Bigkis ine-exhaust po namin lahat ng ways para masolusyonan ang isang problema, and bilang USC Councilor po isang pong proyekto ko ang STRAWLING (Student’s rights and welfare) isa po itong STRAW caravan na pupunta sa iba’t ibang kolehiyo upang alamin ang problema ng bawat kolehiyo, pupunuin ng suhestyon, opinion, at reaksyon ng bawat estudyante, lahat po ito ay i-incorporate natin para masolusyonan

yung problema ng bawat kolehiyo.

2 Para po sa akin si Sen. Risa Hontiveros pero hindi ko

po sinasabi na affiliated po ako sa Akbayan kasi po

dinadala ko sa aking Students Rights and Welfare Agenda yung STRAW Bill at isa siya sa mga proponents nito bilang isa po siyang miyembro

ng Akbayan partylist.

1 Mayroong dalawang ideology ang BIGKIS na talagang natamaan ako... hindi naman

natamaan. Parang sobrang tagos sa puso ko. Kasi, close to my heart. Kasi yung una is holistic management. Para sa akin, dapat well-balanced palagi ang isang Iskolar. Hindi lang tayo puro aral. Kasi, di ba sobrang toxic naman noon kung puro aral tayo? And syempre, dapat balanse

tayo. Dapat may culture and arts din para mas matuto tayo about sa ating cultural

identity and Filipino heritage.

2 For senate, sa candidate, sa ngayon, wala. Kasi, last time

naman nung nag-eleksyon, eto rin yung ginawa ko.

Inaral ko muna lahat nung candidates na pwede kong iboto. Gusto ko munang alamin kung ano yung plataporma nila, gusto ko alamin yung track record nila, kung kaya ba nilang gawin ito tsaka kung ano na ba yung

nagawa nila sa area kung saan yung platform

nila, kung saan yung sakop niya. So I have to study all of

them first.

1 Isa sa pillars ng BIGKIS-UPM ay ang academic excellence at ito ay nababagay sa aking committee na academics and research

committee sapagkat hindi lang tayo students at hindi lang tayo leaders, tayo ay student leaders at ilan sa mga proyekto ko ay strengthened scholarship drive at ang University Wide Research Contest na naglalayong mas maging accessible and education to all at maipakita natin na may impact tayo sa society sapagkat tayo ang Health Sciences Center of the Philippines.

2 Sa BIGKIS-UPM ay hindi lamang kami naba-box sa isang committee kami ay flexible din na maging leader sa ibang

committee at ang naiisip ko ay si Dick Gordon dahil bilang Public Health student alam ko na ina-advocate niya ang health

and academics and research na rin dahil nabibilang rin sa health cluster and research.

1 One of the pillars of BIGKIS-UPM is progressive and multi-perspective activism. So, I believe multi-perspective meaning kinoconsider namin ang lahat ng

views ng constituents na involved sa isang issue. Kapag ako’y nanalo, bilang isang Councilor, susundin ko ang pillar na ito ng BIGKIS UPM, ang pagiging multi-perspective. Meaning, dahil nga ang theme natin ay “Kasama Ka!” lahat ng voices, lahat ng hinaing ng mga estudyante, ay isasali at ikokonsider natin sa pagpropose, pagdevelop, pag-implement ng mga projects.

2 Dick Gordon or Richard Gordon will be my candidate because alam naman natin na matagal na niyang inaadvocate ang health simula pa noong siya ay

mayor ng Olongapo City. At iyon din ang gusto ko. We share a vision of a healthy Philippines.

1 BIGKIS-UPM believes in the mobilizer leader. In the fight for gender equity, we will do

the Five Star Leader Gender Agenda “Stand UP Proud.” It is a five-point agenda that addresses the need for gender equity, not equality.

2 The senator that is running that embodies my platform is Senator

Loren Legarda because she is a women’s rights advocate and a champion for the

environment.

1 My ideology is a USC that is from the student, by the student, for the student. Kaya doon

po pumapasok ang mga plataporma ko po na para po lahat iyon sa estudyante: Ang unLee connection , unLee rewards at ang unLee service.

2 The senator that best represents me siguro po ay si Alan Peter Cayetano. Kasi

una po sa lahat isa siya sa pinaka-young na senador na mayroon tayo ngayon. At the same time, pinapahalagahan niya po ang mga estudyanteng tulad natin. Kasama po natin siya sa panawagan para sa mataas na budget sa education.

(1) How would you translate your party’s ideology into concrete action in the fulfillment of your duties

as a councilor, if elected?

(2) Sinong kandidato para sa Senado sa pambansang eleksyon sa 2013 ang kumakatawan sa plataporma

mo? Bakit?

} }

Eleksyon 2013 THURSDAY | 07 MARCH 201308

DIVERGING LENSESProfiles of Parties in UPM Politics

Party politics remains prevalent in the University. Choosing which side to take, which color to brandish, after all, determines our character as a State University.

The University needs a council that is firm and consistent with its resolve. But most of all, the students need a council that will stand beside them in addressing their needs.

It is only through looking beyond colors and prejudices that one can truly figure who can give what they rightfully deserve.

RUTH GENEVIEVE AUSTRIA LUMIBAO AND KAREL JIAAN ANTONIO GALANG

“Participative and inclusive democracy” – this is what Bigkis

ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago – University of the Philippines Manila (BIGKIS-UPM) offers to the UP Manila studentry, as stated by Joshua Young, the Chairperson of the organization.

Bigkis-UPM, founded in the summer of 2007, is an organization formed by the students from the College of Medicine with the aim of providing the students of UP Manila an alternative brand of leadership described as “progressive and multi-perspective activism.”

“Multi-perspective activism” is defined by Bigkis-UPM as being open to the multiplicity of perspectives, and not enclosing ourselves to just one ideology. The organization does not subscribe to a fixed ideology or stance, and instead, has guiding principles to ensure unity within the organization. This is reflected in their five core principles, also known as SHAPE: Service and Empowerment, Holistic Management, Academic Excellence, Progressive Multi-perspective Activism, and Enduring Integrity.

Bigkis-UPM’s five core principles embody not only a foundation on how members could act and perceive national and university-based issues, but also their definition of a student leader. It is a requisite for Bigkis-UPM student leaders to pass at least fifty percent of their subjects in each semester. They believe that part of academic excellence is the motivation and willingness to strive to be more than just a regular student, to allow a balance between academic responsibility and student leadership. This balance between the two ensures that members of the organization will demonstrate good academic performance, while allowing time

for service and leadership.

They have demonstrated their presence in the university by pushing for reforms in the Standardized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP), and mobilizing against the inequity in the health care system in PGH, specifically the case of Class D patients. They believe that all people should have access to quality and affordable education and health care. Also, Bigkis-UPM has voiced out its opinion regarding issues such as the forced leave of absence (FLOA). The organization asserts that FLOA does not exist, on the basis that it cannot be found in the student handbook, and that the USC has exhausted all possible means to address the issue.

In terms of national issues, Bigkis-UPM has advocated for the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) and Freedom of Information (FOI) bills, and the imposition of Sin Tax. While focusing on national issues in 2012, Bigkis-UPM now concentrates on university issues. In guiding their members on how to act and perceive these problems, they continue to assert their subscription to multi-perspective activism. Reflective of its multi-perspective stance on different issues, they have engaged in various means to assert the concerns of the community such as lobbying and correspondence, and mobilizations and rallies as a last resort.

“We offer concrete results and we offer relevant projects that the university wants and needs,” Young asserts. Bigkis-UPM would like to provide the University a different perspective; by taking different ideas from different sides before taking a stand, and exhausting all possible means, UPM can attain the goal of a better and progressive community.

BIGKIS-UPMBigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago - University of the Philippines Manila

ASAP-KATIPUNANAlternative Students’ Alliance for

Progress - Katipunan ng mga Progresibong Mag-aaral ng Bayan

“U sing the genuine, nationalistic, and militant type of leadership,” The

Alternative Students’ Alliance for Progress – Katipunan ng mga Progresibong Mag-aaral ng Bayan (ASAP-KATIPUNAN) has never faltered at being at the “forefront of fighting for the rights of the students and the Filipino people”, quoting their campaign manager, Joanne Udarbe.

ASAP-KATIPUNAN is an alliance of progessive groups, fraternities, and sororities. In its fourteen years of existence, it has produced three student regents, and a current nominee for Kabataan Partylist. ASAP-KATIPUNAN has never been complacent in advancing the interests of not only the students, but also the masses, which is reflective of how they perceive a student leader.

It is guided by three doctrines: pro-student, pro-people and pro-enviornment. These reflect the way they act and the stand they take in various issues ranging from university-based to national affairs. They are against the Standardized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP), and in relation to this, they assert the existence of cases of forced leave of absence (FLOA). The essence of the FLOA comes from the idea that a student is forced to file a leave of absence because of his or her inability to pay his or her tuition fee on time.

Evident in its pro-people stance is its stand against the Cybercrime Law, which they believe violates the freedom of the press, and even the freedom of speech. Besides believing in the right to education and the right to free speech, ASAP-KATIPUNAN also advances the right to accessible, quality and affordable health care. And as such, they were also at the forefront when there was an ordinance charging fees on Class D patients

in PGH.

Their militancy, however, should not be misunderstood as equivalent to violence. What they mean by having a genuine, “militant” and nationalistic type of leadership is being critical and not immediately bowing down to authority. In these times of adversity, ASAP-KATIPUNAN ensures us that they will be one with the struggle of the students and the Filipino people. They will assert the people’s rights to education and health, and that basic social services should be attained by the majority of the Filipino people. They guarantee that they will remain at the forefront of fighting for the rights of everyone, guided by the principles of being pro-student, pro-people and pro-environment. And they believe that they can achieve this through genuine leadership and collective action.

“Sa sama-samang pagkilos, sama-samang magtatagumpay” - this is what ASAP-KATIPUNAN can offer the students of UP Manila. They want the students to be involved in fighting for their rights. To make their constituents feel involved is tantamount to making them fully understand the situation.

For ASAP-KATIPUNAN, concrete actions should not translate into mere band-aid solutions. They assert that what the people need are solutions that solve problems permanently.

In this time of colors and promises, The Manila Collegian calls on the Iskolar to be vigilant and critical. The ideologies of the respective parties will influence the brand of leadership their candidates will enforce, once elected. This in turn would affect the direction that UP Manila will take. And the students have the right to demand the genuine service they so rightfully deserve.

References:Interview with Joshua Young, chairperson of Bigkis-UPM, February 27, 2013 | Interview with Joanna Udarbe, campaign manager of ASAP-KATIPUNAN and incoming chairperson, February 28, 2013

Features07 MARCH 2013 | THURSDAY 09

PAGHAMOK

“So basically, the USC34 brought the students to a state… parang holistic approach kasi eh. Kasi this year actually we have tried to, mayroon kaming mga inopen na mga documentation ng mga campaigns and basic services to offer the students. And kapag nire-review ko talaga siya, tinitignan ko talaga siya, it’s way holistic, concrete siya” – Jason Alacapa, USC Chairperson

Mahihinuha mula sa masalimuot na kasaysayan ng pamunuan ng mga mag-aaral sa pamantasan ang pagkukulang ng mga nagdaang konseho. Mula sa mga aral na itinuro nito, sinimulan ng kasalukuyang USC ang kanilang panunungkulan sa pagbuwag ng mga magkakaibang prinsipyong naghihiwalay sa kanila. Ngunit ang pagtatangkang ito na pag-isahin ang kanilang mga ideolohiya ay napaibabawan lamang ng ibayong tunggalian.

Bantog ang mga nakaraang pamunuan sa pagiging hati at taliwas sa mga desisyong kanilang ginagawa. Pinag-isa man ng boto ng mga mag-aaral, nanaig pa rin sa kanila ang magkakatunggaling prinsipyong isinasabuhay sa kanya-kanyang mga partido. Kilala ang Alternative Students’ Allegiance for Progress – Katipunan ng mga Progresibong Mag-aaral ng Bayan (ASAP – Katipunan) sa militanteng pakikipaglaban para sa karapatan ng mga mag-aaral at ng mamamayan. Sa kabilang banda, ang Bigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago – University of the Philippines Manila (BIGKIS – UPM) naman ay tanyag sa ideolohiyang “progressive multi-perspective activism”, kung saan ang turol ng kanilang pag-aanalisa ay

hindi lamang naka-angkla sa isang aspekto ng isang isyu at ang pagtugon ay hindi lamang natatapos sa militanteng pakikibaka. Ang pagbabanggaan ng mga adbokasiya ng mga miyembro ng konseho ang siyang nag-udyok sa kanila na gumawa ng isang hakbang upang mapagtagpo ang interes ng bawat miyembro nito: ang reorganisasyon ng mga komite sa USC.

Sinasabing ang reorganisasyon na ito ay isang tugon ng kasalukuyang konseho upang mas maging organisado at mas maayos ang pagtugon ng USC sa mga isyu ng mga estudyante ng UPM. Ngunit sa halip na makatulong ang nasabing hakbang ay nagdulot pa ito ng mga internal na problema sa konseho. Binanggit ni USC Councilor Adrian Sampang sa panayam ng MKule na lalo lamang nagpahirap ang pagbubuklod ng pitong komite sa apat: Academics and Research, Issues, Student Rights and Welfare and Gender o Istrawg, Health, at Culture and Sports. Inamin nila na ang pagsasama-samang ito ay nagdulot lamang ng dibisyon sa pagitan ng mga miyembro ng komite. Nagdulot ang nasabing reorganisasyon ng pagpasa-pasa ng mga tungkulin na lalo pang nagpabigat sa kani-kanilang mga trabaho. Higit sa lahat, dahil na rin sa panloob na suliraning ito, ilang mga proyekto rin ang hindi naisakatuparan.

Ang kasalukuyang mga nanunungkulan ay patuloy na naghahangad ng tunay na pagkakaisa. Ngunit sa ganang hindi pantay-pantay ang pagtrato sa adbokasiyang kanilang ipinaglalaban, muli lamang nilang ipinakita na ang interes ng dominanteng partido ang siya pa ring nangingibabaw sa konseho.

Para sa mga kasalukuyang miyembro ng USC, tila naging isang malaking aral ang kawalang-pagkakaisa ng sinundan nilang konseho. Bilang naging matunog ang pagkakani-kaniya ng nakaraang USC, hindi maitatanggi na sadyang pinagsumikapan ng kasalukuyang konseho na makamtan ang pagkakaisa – na sa kabila ng ilang hindi pagkakatugma-tugma sa paniniwala ay pinilit pa rin nilang makapagtrabaho nang matiwasay.

Bagama’t buong paninindigan nilang sinasabing mayroon silang pagkakaisa, ito ay tila hindi naman makatotohanan pagdating sa paggampan nila sa kanilang mga tungkulin. Bunga ng kawalang-pagkakaisa at mariing pagtindig sa sari-sariling paniniwala, ang mga proyekto nila ay nagkukulang sa kaayusan na nagiging sanhi upang ito ay hindi ganap na mapakinabangan ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan.

Samakatuwid, hindi sapat ang sinasabing pagkakaisa ng konseho, sapagkat hindi nito lubusang natugonan ang pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral na dapat nilang pinaglilingkuran.

Sa naging panunungkulan ng kasalukuyang USC, hinahamon ang susunod na mga miyembro ng konseho na buuin ang isang ganap na pagkakaisa – pagkakaisang hindi umiikot lamang sa mga personalidad, kung hindi para sa kapakinabangan ng mga mag-aaral na dapat nilang pinagsisilbihan. Maliban dito, hinihimok rin ang susunod na USC na palawakin pa ang pag-unawa nito ukol sa tungkuling dapat nitong gampanan. Inaasahan na kanilang mauunawan na ang pagiging isang konseho ay hindi natatapos sa paglalatag nga mga proyekto para sa mga Iskolar ng Bayan, kundi ito ay nagpapatuloy din sa pagsisilbi sa mas nakararaming mamamayan sa labas ngpamantasan.

PAGKALAS NG KALAKASANPagsusuri sa Panunungkulan ng ika-34 UPM University Student Council

JEWEL ANNE MASONGSONG FORMELOZA AT ERWIN SANCHEZ COLCOLLARAWANG KUHA NI KERWIN POBLETE LIM

Ang kanilang panunungkulan ay isang malaking paghamok para sa pagkakaisa.

Sa panunugkulan ng University Student Council (USC) ngayong taon, kinaharap nila ang iba’t-ibang isyu sa unibersidad at sa bayan. Sa patuloy na paglaganap ng mga problemang lumalansag sa unibersidad, nasubok ang katatagan at dedikasyon ng konseho sa paglilingkod at pagtalima sa mga karapatan ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan.

Gayunpaman, sa panayam ng The Manila Collegian (MKule) sa kasalukuyang USC, buong pagmamalaking ipinahayag ng konseho na ang kanilang pagkakaisa sa bawat hakbang na kanilang ginawa ang naging malaking pagkakaiba nila sa mga nakaraang konseho. Ngunit dahil na rin sa kanilang masikhay na paghamok para sa pagkakaisa, nahulog sila sa mga nakalatag na patibong kaalinsabay ng kanilang naiibang marka ng liderato.

Sa mga nakahahalinang pananalitang kanilang binitawan at sa di-umano’y pagkakaisang namayani sa bawat miyembro ng konseho, naging matibay ang kasalukuyang USC sa pagtupad sa kanilang mga pangako. Ngunit sa likod nito, masisipat kung tunay ba nilang napagtagumpayan ang mga isyung kinaharap ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan at kung naging tapat ba sila sa kanilang mandato na pagsilbihan ang mga estudyante at ang sambayanan.

PAGKUKULANG

“Maganda talaga na project-based talaga ang USC ngayon, but there’s more to be done when it comes to raising issues. I believe na mas present dapat talaga ang USC.” – Jerson Taguibao, College of Pharmacy Representative to the USC

Sa isang buong taon ng kanilang panunungkulan, hindi maikakaila na maraming napasinayaang proyekto ang USC. Nariyan ang mga proyektong pangkalusugan tulad na lamang ng pagbabakuna sa murang halaga; ang mga pagpupulong na nagpapakita ng suporta sa mga Gender Advocates; ang Bakbakan na taon-taong ginagawa; ang pagkakaroon ng Freshie Student Council, at marami pang iba. Subalit, kung susuriin ang mga proyektong ito, masasalamin ang katotohanang ang mga benepisyong hatid nito ay pawang panandalian lamang. Sa kabila ng dami ng mga proyektong ito, bigo ang naturang konseho na mailapit at maipabatid sa mga Iskolar ng Bayan ang papel na dapat nilang gampanan sa mga usaping lubha silang apektado. Katulad na lamang ng pag-amin nila na walang nagawa ang kasalukuyang konseho ukol sa pagsasabatas ng Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Nabigo rin ang konseho na pormal na tiponin at pangunahan ang League of College Student Councils, ang katipunan ng mga konseho na dapat sana ay isang pormal na mekanismo na tutugon

sa mga suliranin ng mga estudyante sa kani-kanilang mga kolehiyo. Ang mga kabiguang ito ay lalo pang pinalalala ng pagpili ng konseho sa mga isyung kanilang ilalatag sa mga mag-aaral.

Maliban sa mga proyekto, ang isa pang pamantayan ng tagumpay ng USC ay ang kakayahan nitong makagawa ng marka sa mga mag-aaral. Sa usaping ito, mayroon muling pagkukulang sa parte ng USC bilang mas pinagtuunan ng pansin ng konseho kung paano nila mapabubuti ang kanilang trabaho sa internal na aspekto, kaysa sa kung paano nila mas mapapaayos pa ang serbisyong ibibigay nila sa mga mag-aaral. Tulad na lamang ng sinabi ni CAS Representative to the USC Reggie Soriano, marami pang kailangang ayusin o pagbutihin ang konseho, lalo na sa pagdating sa mga kampanya. Ayon sa kaniya, dapat ay mas nakikita pa ng kanilang mga kapwa mag-aaral na sila mismo ay kumikilos at hindi lamang sila panay salita. Halimbawa na lamang, dagdag pa niya, sana ay nagsagawa sila ng mga RTR bilang USC, upang matunghayan ng mga mag-aaral na sila ang nangunguna sa mga usapin upang isulong ang mga isyung dapat paglaanan nila ng kanilang partisipasyon. At bilang ang mga ito ay hindi ganap na naisagawa, hindi gaanong naramdaman ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan ang konsehong kanilang iniluklok sa puwesto.

*Ang buong transkripsyon ng panayam sa USC ay mababasa sa Facebook page ng The Manila Collegian.

Features THURSDAY | 07 MARCH 201310

The exigencies not addressed by previous student councils should have already defined the requisite of a council that will provide genuine representation and service to the students. It is about time that such a council exist, one that is not born from the proliferation of black propaganda, prevalence of personality politics, and promotion of misguided campaigns. For the manifestation of a student council that will once and for all be true to its mandate of serving the students and the people may be the ticket to the development o f the political maturity of t h e c a m p u s ’ voting populace. The bar m u s t be raised once again, to the battle of ideologies in a time w h e n the arena is forced to be at ground zero, where the battle is for power, and not for the power to serve.

In this crucial time in politics, the call for genuine leadership and student representation is more alive than ever.

a bureaucratic and networked student council, under inclusive leadership. They espouse national unity, but that premise would only be attained by strengthening first the institutions in the university through a cooperative environment of students, thus, the ‘Kasama ka sa Pagsulong, Kasama ka sa USC’ resolve. Their vision of a BIGKIS-led student council holds all institutions clustered and networked under a centralized council, particularly obvious with their United Network of Organizations (UNO) and All-Leaders’ Network policy.

While they strive for campus development, it seems that the party alienates the students from the issues outside the university. Last year’s USC has been critiqued for their implementation of short-term programs and activities, despite boasting accomplishment records. The party has been criticized for selecting issues for their campaigns and this can be manifested in the incumbent USC led by BIGKIS-UPM.

Prognosis

This year is a recurrence of a classic political clash – where the underdog challenges the domination of the ruling class.

Zubiri equalizes Aquilino — her credentials are at par with Aquilino’s, removing from the ground an old contention: the recurring issue of academic delinquency. A-K, for too long, has been hounded by the question of the relevance of being a student first before being a leader. The primacy of academics over servitude reflects the political culture being upheld by students of UP Manila. And if this premise would still hold true, Zubiri might be able to garner significant votes from the discerning voter.

Zubiri is the underdog, without sufficient machinery as compared to Aquilino’s. Zubiri only has her party and herself. Having steered the largest college unit in CAS, as both councilor and chairperson for a span of two years, she has clearly established her presence in the college. The positive evaluation of her term as the CAS Chairperson would be affirmed if CAS would deliver votes for its incumbent chairperson come election day, and would prove once again that CAS remains A-K’s stronghold.

Despite all these, she is basically unheard of unlike her opponent. Having focused too much on establishing CAS, her party has not efficiently built her up as a university-wide leader, unlike Aquilino.

Aquilino, meanwhile, banks on incumbency and besides his party, his strong political machinery. Also, financial support in the form of online endorsements works well to increase Aquilino’s popularity. The 34th USC’s most heard and remembered programs have been brought by the Academics and Research Committee, headed by none other than Aquilino himself. This conception has been fairly evident during the last days of the past council, bringing Ramon Bautista and Miriam Defensor-Santiago to increase the acknowledgment of the committee.

Aside from banking on his academic credentials which paved the way for him to become the number one councilor last year, the values that he espouse would also prove to be a point of leverage. As a university leader, he has been immersed to the incumbent USC’s hierarchical and cooperative form of governance. This experience, coupled with his pragmatic and technocratic nature, exudes the appeal of a balanced student community. An Aquilino USC is a larger step in the refurbishing of a new university character, whether positive or not.

The race for the vice-chairperson post relies on the premise of visibility as both candidates are incumbent councilors. Adrian Sampang, who is a co-head of the incumbent USC’s committee on health, has been visible in campaigning for health issues and instigating blood and vaccine drives. Sampang’s role in this year’s race is to deliver the votes from the health colleges to Zubiri and to accentuate the premise that this year’s A-K tandem boasts of being effective both in the local and university levels. If CAS would deliver votes for Zubiri, it might not be a far possibility that the largest college in the

university would also favour Sampang. On the other hand, Mau Turingan, who is a co-head on the USC Committee on Culture and Sports, has also delivered projects such as Bakbakan, Va-Va-Voom and the Pasiklab. Her role in the BIGKIS-UPM slate is to secure CAS votes for the party’s standard bearer posts. In addition, her popularity stemming from her hosting stints would attract votes.

A large part of the results of the elections would be the offshoot of the most particularly the votes garnered from the two largest colleges: CAS and College of Medicine (CM). The potentiality of a Zubiri-Sampang USC tandem would be resoundingly high in CAS, the A-K bailiwick. CAS, despite attempts of the blue party to establish stations there, has been difficult for Aquilino and Turingan to penetrate. On the other hand, it has been established in past elections that CM votes for CM; it is therefore likely that the college will deliver an Aquilino-Sampang tandem that also has the possibility of being defunct, considering that Zubiri, who boasts of an excellent academic record, was once accepted as an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) student, and has expressed a strong desire to enter the college once finished with her undergraduate degree. This would be especially true if the college truly places a premium on academic integrity.

Despite the claim that BIGKIS-UPM is

dominated by members from white colleges, this year’s elections contend a new ground: the gradual lineation of the ‘swing’ colleges, College of Pharmacy (CP), College of Nursing (CN), College of Dentistry (CD), all neither the turf of the two parties, towards Zubiri and Sampang. However, it has been proven time and again that a delivery by CAS or CM alone is not enough to win the race. The combination for a winning candidate or slate will always include clinching the majority of votes from one of the two biggest colleges, and a large number of votes from the swing colleges. These swing colleges are CP, CN, and CD that do not predictably deliver for any one party during election season. The strength and weaknesses of each party will still determine the clinching of votes from these colleges.

The College of Public Health’s (CPH) turnout might be divided, but would deliver an Aquilino-Sampang win. CAMP, meanwhile will always be BIGKIS-UPM’s bailiwick; a landslide, or at the least, a huge vote discrepancy from the college would obviously favour Aquilino and Turingan.

On the other hand, it is highly probable that a mixed slate with regard to the councilor posts will be formed. This has been the trend for the past elections, with the top councilor posts achieved by the perceived strong and popular candidates during the campaign period.

>> PROGNOSIS / FROM PAGE 12

ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN ZEUS TALLER

Opinion07 MARCH 2013 | THURSDAY 11

ELECTIONS TURN THE COUNTRY INTO A CIRCUS where everything is indiscriminately bathed in mud. And

as the University of the Philippines (UP) is the microcosm of society, our election period is no different.

Quite recently, an aspiring USC Councilor remarked that my course, BA Development Studies, is irrelevant. He claimed that it was not his personal notion but that of other people. He argued that he merely wanted to emphasize the manifestation of the under-appreciation of courses within the University which he plans to address. Yet, his actions, be it to only cite misconceptions or not, does not change the fact that he is spreading the divergence through his campaign. Instead of stressing the need for unity in spite of diversity, his statement only emphasized the existing dissent between courses and colleges.

As a student leader running for office, he is considered as a public figure that can be held accountable for whatever he says to the student electorate. Instead of advocating for changes to eradicate these stereotypes, he only created a hype that does nothing to solve the issue at hand. If such perception is wrong, he should advocate for the enlightenment of students about the relevance and importance of each course. After all, discrimination against courses - as well as the disparity between the health-related colleges and the College of Arts and Sciences - is nothing new.

This is more than a result of a different ideology, a misquoted statement and, clouded judgment. By saying a course is irrelevant or insignificant he may be legitimizing mere comments from other people. Like it or not, those examples that he used for his campaign insulted the very people he was planning to serve. What he said

was offensive and a blatant disregard of the respect students deserve. Furthermore, twisted words and circular reasoning cannot circumvent the truthfulness of the accusations thrown at him.

The worth of each course is not determined by its name or popularity – but by its contribution to the university, society and the masses. As Prof. Roland Simbulan stated, “Development Studies is a multi-disciplinary field of study that includes an understanding of the economic, political, social, technological and cultural

aspects of social change especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. It contributes to policy-making by seeking solutions and strategies to address problems and obstacles

to genuine human development. These issues are examined within a historical, comparative and international perspectives, taking into account the countries’ specific circumstances, history and culture.”

Being a Development Studies major has encouraged me to be aware, critical and vigilant. It taught me that a person should not merely sprout theories but should apply these to real life. And, with this in mind, students should realize that a course’s true worth lies in how effectively it hones and produces students who will serve the people.

*A la folie means to insanity

A LA FOLIE*AUBREY NICOLE LEONES ARBOLEDA

In Defense Of Development Studies

SANDALI NA LANG. KAUNTING TIIS NA LAMANG. Malapit na ang wakas.

Apatnapu’t walong araw na may pasok na lamang daw ang natitira bago magsipagtapos ang Graduating Class of 2013. Ito ang sinabi noong dumalo tayo ng graduation orientation ng Kolehiyo ng Agham at Sining noong Enero. Magkahalong saya, pagkasabik at pag-aalala (sa paparating na mga gawaing pang-akademiko at mga gastusin) ang naramdaman ng karamihan sa dumalo noon. Sino bang ‘di magiging maligalig sa usapin tungkol sa pagtatapos, lalo na’t pihado, ilang hakbang, kembot, tambling, at kung ano pa, malapit nang mapasaiyo ito?

At mayroon din namang nakaramdam ng kaunting kirot sa puso. Nalungkot dahil bilang na ang araw kung saan makakapiling niya ang kanyang pinakamamahal na mga kaibigan na naging kasama niya sa hirap at saya sa apat o mahigit pang taon ng pag-aaral sa unibersidad. Isa na ako doon sa nakaramdam nito.

Dahil sa mga hindi inaasahang pangyayari sa buhay kolehiyo, sa halip na matapos ang kursong tinahak sa apat na taon, ako’y mananatili muna rito. Ako’y makukuntento muna sa panonood sa matatalik kong kaibigan habang sila’y nagdurusa sa pagtapos ng kanilang mga thesis at ibang pang-akademikong papel, sa pagkandarapa nila sa paggawa ng iba pang kinakailangan sa kanilang mga major, sa paghahabol sa mga kinauutangang propesor at guro, sa pagkumpleto ng kanilang clearance, at iba pang paghihirap na kailangan nilang danasin dahil uso talagang maging sadista ang tadhana kapag malapit mo nang masaksihan ang wakas.

Marahil naibubulong niyo o namutawi na mismo sa inyong mga bibig ang mga katagang ito: Buti ka pa, hindi ka ganito ka-toxic. Buti ka pa, hindi mo pa kailangang gawin ito. Buti ka pa, wala pang masyadong presyur sa iyo. Buti ka pa, may panahon ka pa para maka-avail ng student discounts (hindi yata ito applicable sa mga mag-aaral pa muli pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng graduation)!

Totoo, may panahon pa ako para makapag-avail ng student discounts, ngunit bukod diyan, tingin ko’y ‘di lubos na totoo ang ibang nabanggit. Darating din ako sa ganyan, matatamasa ko rin ang ganyang ka-toxican pagdating ng panahon. Idagdag niyo pa ang pagka-dismaya sa sarili, at kalungkutan na ako’y maiiwan muna.

Masakit ang maiwan, lalo na’t hindi mo naman intensyon ang

magpa-iwan. Mahirap tanggapin para sa akin noong una na delayed na ako ng isang taon. Nahirapan akong tanggapin ang realidad na sa pagbukas ng bagong semestre, hindi na kayo ang lagi kong kasama, hindi na kayo ang aking mga kaklase, na may mga araw na kakain ako nang mag-isa, o makakarating o tatambay sa ibang lugar nang wala kayo o manahimik sa isang sulok at magpaka-GC. Pagpasensiyahan niyo na ang aking pagka-clingy, pero parang di ko ata kakayanin ang matinding emosyon ng pangungulila sa inyo.

Marahil kaunti lamang kung ikukumpara sa iba ang mga alaala natin. Tulad noong nakamit natin ang panalo at tinawag ang ating lupon bilang “Best Batch”. Tulad noong mga araw na

n a m o m r o b l e m a tayo sa ating practicum. Tulad noong nag-eensayo tayo para sa isang pagtatanghal nang may nagpatugtog ng isang kanta ng F4, na

kahit gahol na tayo sa oras noon ay nagawa pa nating itigil ang mga gawain at magkantahan muna. Tulad noong wala tayong maisagot sa pagsusulit sa isang major. Maraming mapapait at masasayang alaala, at siguro ang mga alaalang ito ang magsisilbing sandata ko laban sa matinding kalungkutan dala ng pangungulila sa inyo.

Subalit aking napagtanto na mas mahirap nga kung tutuusin ang kalagayan ninyo bilang mga mag-aaral na magtatapos. Tulad nga ng sinasabi ng mga nakakatanda sa atin, mas malawak at mas mahirap ang mundong ating papasukin paglabas ng unibersidad. Mas kinakailangan ng matinding pagdedesisyon, mas kinakailangan ang todong pagbabanat ng buto. Walang mangyayari kung hindi ka kikilos.

Pipilitin kong kayanin ang isang taong di kayo kapiling, sapagkat sa paglabas niyo dito sa unibersidad, alam kong mas mahirap ang sasalubong sa inyo, at wala namang maitutulong ang aking pagdadrama dito. Tiwala akong kakayanin niyo iyon. Samantala, pagbubutihin ko pa lalo ang aking pag-aaral nang ako’y makahabol na sa inyo. Hanggang sa oras na iyan, nandito lang ako’t nanonood habang kayo ay gumagalaw padayon, sumusuporta sa inyo.

At habang may nalalabi pang ilang araw, lubos-lubusin na natin ang bawat sandaling kapiling natin ang isa’t isa.

STUDENTS SHOULD REALIZE THAT A COURSE’S TRUE WORTH LIES IN HOW EFFECTIVELY IT HONES AND PRODUCES STUDENTS WHO WILL SERVE THE PEOPLE.

USO TALAGANG MAGING SADISTA ANG TADHANA KAPAG MALAPIT MO NANG MASAKSIHAN ANG WAKAS.

WHO IS THE REAL ENEMY HERE?

Lately, I’ve heard reports of a particular campus political party building the capacity to attract the majority of the first year students. And not only that, but it also used this avenue to desecrate the character of the official university publication. It’s as if everyone in the University is so eager to put down the not-yet-launched campaign of the publication for the increase of the student fund which would then increase its own budget. But at the heart of this attempt to kill the messenger even before it delivered the message is unadulterated hatred and repulsion; halting its progress for the mere sake of halting it. And in doing so, followers and campus supremacy would be obtained. Right then and there would be the ultimate end game.

And as the columnist of said publication, I felt the need to defend this institution, if only as a meager attempt to understand the real situation of politics in UP Manila.

Since I reignited my supposed thirst for a college education in this particular campus, I noticed a lot of things that those who have stayed longer on the inside would fail to notice. Habituation could mean the death of genuine evaluation, thereby rendering habituated individuals the blindness it takes to actually see what’s wrong and what’s right. I’m not trying to tell you what should be done and undone in the University. Who am I exactly to do such preaching? But in essence, I would like you to know that there are particular things about this arena that are disturbing and downright absurd. And as students, we should not take it so lightly.

To start off, I always found it so interesting that students grill the candidates during election season. But inasmuch as we all would like them to be genuine leaders, the students themselves sleep off the entire year, ignoring whatever progress or retrogression their elected council has created for the University. It’s bad enough that most councils also slack off during the entire year, being contented instead with posters of themselves, crappy slogans, and misunderstandings of their real place in campus. The students themselves deserve better than this, and they should demand it.

As another point I would like to stress, there exists a great divide between the white college and the supposed red college. The great divide, akin to the parting of the Red Sea, greatly intensifies during election season. True, the usage of the color white originated from the white uniforms, but the usage of red for that lone college could not have the same origin. White might as well be replaced with blue for that matter. Perhaps courses determine the ideologue, with a few exceptions. Alienation and discrimination are not foreign concepts in the campus. I’ve thrown a lot of things on the table regarding this topic, but I guess any reader from UP Manila might deduce where I’m going with this.

And lastly, I wouldn’t end this without mentioning the publication. In my relatively short stay here, I grew quite fond of it: the bunch of misfits, the heavy deadlines, the gridlocks, the pressure, the dirty mattresses, and the mountain of trash in the outer office, and everything that comes with it. It pains me to see that most of the students do not understand its place in the University. Sure, they might understand the potency of it, the potential to influence using its raw and mandated power, but they don’t understand its real purpose. I had a chat with some of my friends from other campuses and they were surprised to learn that the publication honorarium is questioned here, along with the quantification of the service the publication provides, as if you have to earn the meager funds from the students, and not as if you have the right to use it for their benefit. UP Manila might just as well ask for it to shut down entirely; after all, they’re contented with the subpar councils always unbelievably elected year after year.

Much as the publication tries, most students do not also exert the effort to understand it. The publication should not have to explain why it is different from a council, why its members need training once in a while, why it has to publish hard copies and not online ones, and why it continues to serve the UP Manila community.

Anna taught me to always believe in the people, to believe in the masses that the Iskolar ng Bayan should be serving. But I’ve found that the struggle itself is not much of a struggle; it becomes bearable after you’ve fully internalized the fact that you’re here to do just that. The hard part is in believing that it’s worth it, that the people you’re supposedly fighting for are worth it. Therein lies the real struggle.

Searching for the Real Struggle

HAPPY HAIRDEONAH ABIGAIL LUGO MIOLE

Mula sa Maiiwan...

Here lies again the annual slugfest. Motored by brandished stratagems and newfound rhetoric, both factions derive survival only from one thing: the annihilation of each other. One’s strength is another’s weakness

– dissent is primordial.

This is more than stretching each colour’s wavelength: the divide is above reproach. This is more than domination: this is despotism. This is more than a quest for legitimacy: this is hubris. The coming elections is simply a warfare for glory—and in this brigandage, where else would the battle zone will be? The students will be the arbiter in this fight for power which would lie on

Ground ZeroPROGNOSIS: THE 2013 UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS

THE FEATURES TEAM

ASAP-Katipunan: Retribution

In its 14 years of existence, the Alternative Students’ Alliance for Progress-Katipunan ng mga Progresibong Mag-aaral ng Bayan (A-K) has been known for mobilizing the Iskolar

ng Bayan towards asserting their rights as well as taking a progressive stance on

issues in and out of the university. It has been the vanguard of

dissidence against the oppressive measures

imposed by different a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s .

Their adherence to this kind of

leadership i s

highlighted by their current tagline “Palakasin ang Usapin, Suriin at Hamunin!”

However, this militant approach seems to be one of its present constraints in getting the support of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila students. While A-K has consistently adhered to its ideologies and principles, the changing demographics of UP Manila students seems to show a desire for a different approach of activism, breaking away from the methods being employed by A-K since more than a decade ago. The party is confronted by a new generation of students who do not approve of their ideological standpoints.

The two consecutive years of domination of its rival party in the University Student Council (USC) also added to the deterrence of A-K to expand and gain more support from the student body. A-K’s candidate, Mariz Zubiri,

is often addressed as the disadvantaged in the USC chairpersonship battle.

Since the USC chairpersonship is transforming into a battle

of popularity instead of ideologies and principles,

it would be difficult for a candidate from

the College of Arts and

S c i e n c e s ( C A S )

Student Council to muster the support established by her USC incumbent rival.

The ultimate challenge for A-K is to relay to the students that militant activism is still relevant and its continued adherence to an ideology that has been tested to yield far-reaching results would fare better than subscribing to the other party’s offered shift in perspectives of leadership and governance. It is now a challenge for the red alliance on how will they be able to manage abiding on their principles while playing along with the tactics imposed by their rival party.

BIGKIS-UPM: Supremacy

BIGKIS ng mga Nagkakaisang Iskolar Para Sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago-UP Manila (BIGKIS-UPM), remains to be the dominant party. Since their resurgence last year, the party’s momentum still resounds within the student community. By expanding their reach through creating networks and affiliates from the various organizations, the party planted enough legitimacy and consciousness that some if not most students deem it as the

only relevant party in the university.

Jason Alacapa surely utilized the incumbency of his party to widen their scope and mobilize their party effectively. The Alacapa-led USC tended to be hierarchical – one which rigidly adheres to structures and rules – and in turn, reflected a unified council. This image of an ideal council would translate into votes as the students are offered to invest into a campus-friendly ideology. BIGKIS-UPM banks on debunking the notions of militancy and dogmatism, as they assert that issues can be addressed through pragmatic and compromising means. Thus, continuing the legacy of the USC model espoused by Jason Alacapa proves the foundation for Sean Aquilino’s campaign for this year.

Assessing their General Program of Action, this year’s slate continues to strive for

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