TAON 91 BILANG 16 MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 2013

PHILIPPINECOLLEGIAN

Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan

ng mga mag-aaral ng

Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman

Lupain ng Panganib at Ligalig

Dislocation:Examining the land use plan of UP Diliman

Lathalain

DAP contribution toeconomic growth ‘insignificant’Balita

3 7 8Kultura

6Indebted IskoTuition loans and the high cost of UP education

Lathalain

2 OPINYON PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 2013

PHILIPPINECOLLEGIAN

2013 - 2014

Punong Patnugot Julian Inah Anunciacion

Kapatnugot Victor Gregor Limon

Patnugot sa BalitaKeith Richard Mariano

Patnugot sa GrapiksYsa Calinawan

Emmanuel Jerome Tagaro

Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya

Gloiza Rufina Plamenco

Panauhing Patnugot Piya ConstantinoMargaret Yarcia

Mga Kawani Ronn Joshua BautistaMary Joy CapistranoAshley Marie Garcia

PinansyaAmelyn Daga

Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon Paul John Alix

Sirkulasyon Gary Gabales

Amelito JaenaGlenario Ommamalin

Mga Katuwang na Kawani Trinidad Gabales

Gina Villas

Kasapi UP Systemwide Alliance

of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations (Solidaridad)

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons,

Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon

Telefax981-8500 lokal 4522

Onlinepkule1314@gmail.com

www.philippinecollegian.orgfb.com/philippinecollegian

twitter.com/kule1314IN SHAMBLES Photo by Om Narayan A. Velasco November 19, 2009

91 The Philippine Collegian republishes distinguished photographs from its past issues that captured its tradition of critical and fearless journalism.

EDITOR’S PICK

YEARS

A resident of Old Capitol Site points to what was once her house, turned into a wreck by typhoon Ondoy in October 2009. The same damage caused by recent typhoon Yolanda claimed thousands of lives due to the government’s inadequate actions toward disaster preparedness.

THE CALAMITY THAT STRUCK western Visayas may have been the doing of super typhoon Yolanda, but the tragedy that followed it could only be the work of a government that has been consistent in its gross incompetence and neglect of the people’s welfare.

The government’s current line of response to the catastrophe of Super Typhoon Yolanda is telling. It has evidently shown how, despite countless tabs of previous experiences, Benigno Aquino III’s administration remain inutile in the face of natural disasters.

Indeed, the typhoon’s aftermath—communities and infrastructures leveled to the ground, endless mosaics of debris and dead bodies strewn across roads and pavements—yield depressing images of unimaginable proportions. The damages in Tacloban City and neighboring towns and provinces were, without a doubt, stunning even for a nation frequented annually by around 20 typhoons.

The timing couldn’t be more unfortunate. Barely two months have passed since nearby Visayan provinces began reeling from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. Year after year, stronger typhoons mercilessly unleash its brute force especially among the most vulnerable.

Yet, for all strife and miseries the nation have experienced, the government appears to learn nothing. Same issues on disaster preparedness clearly surfaced, like

the lack of preventive mechanisms that ensure civilian safety, and effective post-disaster strategies that quickly deliver relief to victims.

Even more agitating are scenes of survivors reduced to the basic of human instincts; desperately searching their own means of sustenance, dropping

any semblance of morality and clinging to dear life—opening opportunities for the prejudices of the condescending but actually indicative of the shortcomings of the government’s disaster preparedness.

Worse, Aquino opted to deploy soldiers and policemen in severely hit areas to supposedly counter what it labels as looting and protect private property, instead of heightening relief efforts to reach the broadest number of victims. When there remains unreached areas three days past the typhoon, is it not more practical to gather and provide the basic needs of these “looters,’” and stretch all available warm bodies for relief and rescue?

Responding to calamites after all, is never a question of whether the government is doing something, because it ought to in the first place. The more crucial question rather, is why the Aquino government still appears to be incapacitated on disaster preparedness despite the ugly experiences of the past.

Typhoons “Ondoy,” “Pepeng,” “Sendong,” “Pablo,”—even “Habagat”—are no longer mere names that have deeply scarred the nation’s narrative; each is a harrowing reminder of the Aquino’s government famed ineptitude in delivering services that directly benefit the people, disaster or not.

Indeed, Aquino’s government was too obsessed with improving

economic figures that do not bear concrete meaning in the lives of the majority. Halfway through his term, Aquino was more preoccupied with implementing policies that only push common Filipinos to further destitution: widespread unemployment, low wages, lack of decent housing and other public infrastructure such as roads, dikes, and bridges.

The extent of this tragedy—at the backdrop of the pork barrel controversies, of Aquino’s staunch defense of even his own pork funds—was clearly preventable, if only funds were prudently spent. When Filipinos are forced to suffer more so sharply during times of disaster, retaining the control of few politicians over public coffers is not only unacceptable, it is downright unjust.

As we mourn for all those lives that could have been saved, all those communities and settlements that once thrived with life but whose existence have been wiped off, we offer our silent prayers—then rage, against this socio-political system that has repeatedly spawned multiple tragedies and stripped every human dignity left off the Filipino people.

For the indomitable “Filipino spirit” must not merely triumph over the chaotic aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, but also that of the ultimate disaster: those social ills that have long thrown the country in perpetual devastation. ∞ Ukol sa Pabalat

Dibuho ni Ysa Calinawan

The tragedy of neglect

Rosette Abogado

OPINYON PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MARTES, HULYO 2, 2013 BALITA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 2013 3

CONTRARY TO WHAT PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III claims, the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) has not significantly steered the Philippine economy towards higher growth, according to research independent think tank IBON Foundation.

Defending the DAP from questions of its constitutionality, Aquino cited a World Bank report commending the program for supposedly contributing 1.3 percentage points to the growth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2011.

“DAP played an important role in our economic resurgence. Today, we can choose from a number of new labels: Asia’s fastest growing

economy, Rising Tiger, Brightest Spark,” said Aquino in a 10-minute speech on national television on October 30.

In the World Bank’s March 2012 Philippines Quarterly Updated, however, the 1.3 percentage points of the GDP growth came from government consumption and public construction, said IBON Executive Director Sonny Africa.

At P61.4 billion, DAP only

accounted for 19.8 percent of the total P309.7 government spending in the fourth quarter of 2011. The DAP thus only contributed one-fourth of a percentage point to the GDP growth at the most, explained Africa.

“Hindi totoong nabibigyang buhay ang DAP sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. Sa katotohanan nagagamit lamang ang DAP para bumuo ng mga bagong budget items nang hindi naisasalang sa budget deliberations,” said Erra Mae Zabat, councilor at the UP Diliman University Student Council.

Legal questionsThe expenditure program

of the current administration is funded through the realignment of government savings in the previous years. Since 2011, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a total of P137.3 billion through the DAP.

Section 25 (c), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution states that the President may be “authorized to augment any item in the general appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations.”

However, the Congress has yet to pass a law authorizing Aquino to realign and release funds under the DAP, said Kabataan Party-list Representative Terry Ridon. Ridon filed House Resolution 359 asking the House Committee on Appropriation and the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to probe into the legality of DAP.

“The DAP and the projects under it are nowhere to be found in the 2011 and 2012 General Appropriations Acts, thus by approving such, the Executive Department undermined with impunity Congress’ power of the purse,” the resolution read.

Presidential porkWith the reallocation of

government savings subject only to the president’s approval, the DAP has been criticized as a form of pork barrel.

Kabataan Party-list defined pork barrel funds as lump-sum discretionary allocations, which are vulnerable to corruption and political maneuvering. Any public fund not subject to audit is also considered as pork barrel, according to the youth party-list.

“The creation and implementation of the DAP vividly portrays the vast

discretionary powers of the President over public funds, as under the said mechanism, the President can fund programs and projects even without congressional scrutiny and approval,” said Ridon.

First implemented in 2011, the DAP has facilitated the release of a total of P137.3 billion. Other pork barrel funds under the president’s control include lump-sum allocations in the national budget such as the Special Purpose Funds (SPF), Unprogrammed Funds, and Automatic Appropriations.

Despite calls for the abolition of the pork barrel system, the House of Representatives (HOR) approved House Bill 2630 or the 2014 General Appropriations Bill with the presidential pork intact on third and final reading on October 22.

In the proposed P2.268-trillion national budget, the presidential pork may amount to as much as P1.5 trillion, according to Kabataan.

Aquino earlier announced the abolition of the PDAF following the P10-billion pork barrel controversy. However, the P25-billion pork of lawmakers previously placed under the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) remained in the House-approved budget bill, according to the Makabayan bloc of progressive party-lists including Kabataan.

In the House-approved budget, the pork barrel was distributed among six agencies (see sidebar). These funds, however, were still set aside for the infrastructure projects of the majority of the 289 members of the House.

A member of the HOR is allotted P70 million of pork barrel funds while each senator gets P100 million.

Meanwhile, the Senate is currently deliberating on the 2014 national budget. A bicameral conference meeting will convene to reconcile differences in the House and Senate versions of the budget bill before the president signs it into law.

“Dapat na tigilan na ni Aquino ang pagpapanggap na siya ay matapat sa paglilingkod sa mamamayan. Kung tunay ang sinasabi niyang paglilingkod nararapat na mailaan ang perang ‘di man lang napapakinabangan ng masa sa mga batayang serbisyo tulad ng kalusugan, edukasyon, pabahay, trabaho,” said Zabat. ∞

Keith Richard D. Mariano

DAP contribution to economic growth ‘insignificant’Kira Chan

HINIHINALANG PINASLANG NG mga ahente ng pamilya Cojuangco-Aquino ang isang lider ng mga magsasaka sa Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac, matapos matagpuang patay noong ika-1 ng Nobyembre sa kanyang kubo, ayon sa Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA).

Nabagsakan ng isang poste ng kuryente ang kubong tinitirhan ni Dennis Dela Cruz, 39 na taong gulang, sa “bungkalan” ng mga magsasaka sa Barangay Balete, isa sa 11 baryong sakop ng Luisita.

Isa si Dela Cruz sa mga magsasakang tutol sa pangangamkam umano ng lupa ng Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO), kumpanyang pagmamay-ari rin ng pamilya Cojuangco, ayon sa AMBALA.

Kabilang dito ang ilang mga lupain sa mga baryo ng Balete, Cutcut, at Mapalacsiao at mahigit 600 na ektarya ng mga lupang sakahang nasa tabi ng Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway at

BAGONG PASANINPhoto by Keithley Difuntorum

Napipilitang magtipid si Aling Minda Francisco, 40 taon at may apat na anak, dahil sa nakaambang PhP 1.24 / kWh pagtaas ng singil ng kuryente ng Meralco ngayong Nobyembre. Kung dati rati ay pinaplantsa pa ni Aling Minda ang mga damit, ngayon ay pinapatuyo na lamang niya ang mga labada para makabawas sa gastusin.

Lider-magsasaka sa Luisita, hinihinalang pinatay

Hans Christian Marin Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.“Ang lupa na noong 2005 pa

pinagpasyahan ng AMBALA na gawing bungkalan ay bigla na lamang inaangkin ng TADECO nitong Hulyo lamang,” ani Estrada.

Ilang araw bago ang pagkamatay ni Dela Cruz, tatlong beses nang pinagsabihan ng mga guwardiya ng TADECO si Dela Cruz na lisanin ang kubo dahil nakatayo umano ito sa lupaing pagmamay-ari ng nasabing kumpanya, ayon sa ulat ng AMBALA.

Naatasan si Dela Cruz na mamahala sa paggawa ng kubo ng alyansa na kanya ring pinamamahayan matapos itong mawasak ng bagyong Santi. Si Dela Cruz din ang namamahala sa bungkalan kung saan nakatayo ang kubo.

Nais naman ng pamilya na ipa-autopsy ang katawan ni Dela Cruz at iulat sa pulis ang pagkamatay ng kanilang kaanak, ngunit natatakot silang paghigantihan ng mga Cojuangco, ayon kay Estrada.

Samantala, nakaamba ngayong sampahan ng TADECO ang may

81 magsasaka sa Cutcut ng kasong “unlawful detainer” o ang pananatili sa lupaing hindi na niya pagmamay-ari, ayon sa Media Officer ng Unyon ng mga Manggagawang Agrikultura na si Aurello Estrada.

Dagdag ni Estrada, pinagbawalan na ng mga guwardiya ng TADECO na magbungkal ang mahigit 100 magsasaka sa Cutcut at Balete. Nagpatayo ang TADECO at Luisita Realty Corporation ng bakuran upang palibutan ang mga lupaing pagmamay-ari umano ng nasabing mga kumpanya.

Sinakop na rin ng mga guwardiya ng TADECO ang apat na bahay sa Balete at pinigilan ang mga magsasakang nakatira rito na kumpunihin ang kanilang mga bahay na nasira sa nagdaang bagyo, ayon sa AMBALA.

Binawal din nila ang mga naninirahan sa Barangay Mapalacsiao na magtanim ng palay at gulay at mula pagtatanim hanggang pag-aani lamang maaaring gamitin ng mga residente ang kanilang mga lupa

Ang pagpaslang kay Dela Cruz at pananakot sa iba pang mga magsasaka ng Luisita ay

Reallocation of the Priority Development Assistance Fund

Source: 2014 General Appropriations Bill

Continued on page 11

BALITA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 20134

NEARLY HALF OF UP DILIMAN (UPD) students applying for student housing this semester were unable to get a slot due to delays in the ongoing renovation of the university’s residence halls.

Only 295 out of 545 applicants were accepted in dormitories this semester, bringing the total number of students with on-campus housing in UP Diliman to 2,559 this academic year (see sidebar).

Prior to the renovations, 3,385 students are accepted every academic year. The number of slots, however, decreased by more than a thousand this year with nine out of 12 dormitories undergoing renovations since summer. Only the Centennial dormitories and the International Center were not renovated.

The renovations were originally to be completed by the end of the first semester. However, weather conditions and deviations from the original plan which required additional paperwork prolonged the time period for renovations, said Office of Student Housing Director Gerry Lanuza.

Most of the residence halls will not open additional slots until the next semester, said Lanuza. Only the dormitories of Kamia and Sampaguita were finished by the end of the first semester. Renovations in Yakal and Ipil will be completed in the middle of the semester.

The renovations include the repiping and retiling of bathrooms, reroofing, and repainting. An open air multipurpose hall, which

Ongoing renovations deny half of applicants of dorm slots

students may rent, will also be built in Ilang-ilang Residence Hall.

Some of the dormitories have not been renovated since the 1960s due to lack of funding, said Lanuza. The ongoing renovations, which cost P50 million, were funded through the Commission on Higher Education.

Once the renovations are completed next semester, the dormitories will return to full

capacity. The Acacia Residence Complex, a co-ed three building dormitory opposite the Shopping Center, will also likely open next semester, said Lanuza.

A total of more than 4,000 students, or a fifth of the student population in Diliman, may then be housed within the campus.

One building in Acacia will be exclusive to Law students. Alumni of the college donated P43 million

WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN unannounced 33-percent tuition hike confronted students taking a second degree at the College of Fine Arts (CFA) during this semester’s registration period.

The CFA administration, however, denied that there has been an increase in tuition rates. “There was probably a glitch in the system, kasi yun talaga ang lumabas sa Computerized Registration System for [second-degree students],” said CFA College Secretary Jamel Joseph Obnamia.

Under the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), students taking up a second degree are automatically

assigned to Bracket A, dubbed as the “millionaire’s bracket,” with a tuition rate of P1,500 per unit.

During the first two days of enrolment this semester, however, tuition for second-degree students increased by P500 to P2,000 per unit. At this rate, a student would have to pay around P36,000 for an 18-unit credit load.

Because of the system glitch, the assessment of fees for CFA second-degree students was halted on the second day of enrolment at 1PM. The glitch was fixed the next day, said Obnamia.

The CFA Student Council (SC) then notified all students who were “overassessed” to undergo a reassessment, said Obnamia. Students who paid for the overassessed tuition were

Kira Chan

STUDENTS OF THE UP Integrated School (UPIS) start their third quarter in their new building on November 12 even as a number of facilities remain incomplete.

The acoustics of the school’s auditorium, the roof of the multi-purpose gym, and the sinks in science rooms have yet to be installed, said UPIS Principal Ronaldo San Jose.

UPIS was transferred near the College of Education after the university administration leased its 7.4-hectare East Campus property along Katipunan Avenue to Ayala Land Inc. (ALI). East Campus was the land previously occupied by the UPIS, leased to ALI for the construction of “mixed-use” retail establishments, including the UP Town Center.

As part of the 25-year lease agreement, ALI shouldered the costs of constructing the new UPIS building. UP is projected to earn P8.5 billion from the lease with an up-front payment of P220 million.

The new UPIS building was originally planned to be completed July this year, said Cristopher Stonewall Espina, director of the Office of Design and Planning Initiatives. The turn-over of the building, however, was delayed for five months after fire hazard inspectors required the installation of a water sprinkler system to comply with safety guidelines, said Espina.

The lease agreement did not include the procurement of furniture and the installation of the school auditorium’s acoustics, the roof of the multi-purpose gym and sinks in science rooms, said UP Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora.

Some of the old furniture from the old UPIS campus were instead refurnished, said Zamora. The UPIS administration then conducted fund-raisers to provide for their need of new furniture.

Meanwhile, there are still no official plans on when and how the gym’s roof, the acoustics of the auditorium, and the sinks of the science could be provided, said Zamora.

The lack of furniture in the agreement compared to ALI’s large gains shows that the contract is one-sided, said Charlotte France, UP Diliman (UPD) University Student Council (USC) councilor. “Habang patuloy na nagpapayaman ang ALI, napakaraming mag-aaral naman ang naantala ang pag-aaral at nagdurusa dahil sa kakulangan ng pasilidad.”

The university continues to enter into partnerships with the private sector because of the lack of sufficient state subsidy, said UPD USC Vice Chair Juliano Fernando Guiang.

The UP administration proposed an average of P17.87-billion annual budget from 2010 to 2014. However, the government only appropriated P7.2 billion to the university.

Income generating schemes such as land leases justifies the government’s resolve to make state universities and colleges (SUCs) become self-sufficient, said France. In his 2011 budget message, for instance, President Benigno Aquino cited the capacity of UP to generate its own income from land leases to justify cuts in the budget of SUCs.

In the meantime, the UP administration should exert their authority as lessor to get the most out of ALI in providing for remaining facilities and equipments needed by the UPIS students, said Guiang. ∞

Facilities in new UPIS only partially completed

Franz Christian D. Irorita

Sidebar: Dorm slots as of the second semester

* exchange students will check in mid-semesterSource: Office of Student Housing

for the construction of the P205.2-million residence complex.

Meanwhile, half of slots in the Centennial Dormitories are allotted for Engineering students under a priority system. The construction of the dormitories were funded through a P40-million donation from the Philippine Investment-Management, Inc, the UP Engineering and Research Development Foundation, and the UP Alumni Engineers.

With the lack of subsidy coming from the government, the university relies on donations for the delivery of student services such as housing, said Charlotte France, University Student Council Student Rights and Welfare Committee head.

Such a scheme allows donors to set conditions such as prioritizing students from certain colleges in the allocation of slots in dormitories, added France. ∞

also notified of their eligibility for a refund.

A graduate from the College of Education and currently taking up her second degree as a Visual Communication major, Precious Jewel Gamboa was one of those who complained about the system glitch on November 5.

“[It was] utterly unfair. None of the second-degree students were made aware of this. They didn’t even give an announcement or a memorandum,” said Gamboa.

Not even professors in the college knew about any increase in tuition, said CFA SC Chair Judith Camille Rosette. The CFA SC even had to browse through various UP administration websites to see if any announcement has been made, added Rosette.

According to the 2008 UP Charter, only the Board of Regents, the highest policy-making body of the UP system, can fix tuition rates in the university. ∞

System glitch prompts ‘tuition hike’ in FA

Arra B. Francia

BALITA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 2013 5

THE NUMBER OF CRIMES reported within the UP Diliman (UPD) campus in the first semester increased by 17 percent from the same period last year.

Ranging from theft and robbery to physical injuries and sexual harassment, a total of 55 security related incidents, were recorded from June to October, based on data obtained from the UP Diliman Police (UPDP).

In October alone, 13 incidents were reported, including the robbery of UP Political Science Professor Perlita Marasigan-Frago in broad daylight on the 17th. Three suspects handcuffed Frago inside her car and drove her around while carrying out the robbery. The robbers then withdrew P29,000 from the professor’s ATM card and took her iPhone and watch.

The UPDP has identified Ylanan Street, University Avenue and Magsaysay Avenue as crime prone areas. These are areas near entry and exit points, UPDP Officer-in-Charge Ruben Villaluna explained.

Since 2009, the number of crimes committed within the campus has been increasing except last year, based on data obtained from UPDP. From the 97 incidents reported in 2009, the number increased to 107 in 2010 and 127 in 2011.

The UP System administration implemented tighter security measures in 2012 after a spate of crimes occurred in the university’s Los Baños and Diliman campuses.

In October 2011, a third year Computer Science student was

sexually assaulted and killed near the UPLB campus, while Political Science student Lordei Hina was attacked inside the UPD University Student Council (USC) office in February 2012.

“Maaring na-observe na ng mga crime elements ang ating mga security measures and schedules. Nakapag-adapt na sila kaya nakakapag-abang sila ng mga possible victims,” said Chief Security Officer John Baroña.

Tighter security measuresAfter the barrage of security

related incidents, the UP system administration is implementing new security measures, such as the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

Barrier gates were also put up as early as summer this year. The boom gates, however, will only become fully operational after the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System is completed, said Baroña.

The RFID system will identify and limit the number of vehicles entering the campus. Baroña, however, maintained that the university will still be “open to all” despite the tighter security measures, said Baroña.

More security personnelAside from the installation of

boom gates and CCTVs, increasing the number of security personnel must be a priority, said USC Student Rights and Welfare (STRAW) Committee Head Charlotte France.

“Batay sa mga naganap na konsultasyon ng STRAW, may mga kolehiyong patuloy pa ring nananakawan bagamat may mga CCTV na. Ang kailangan natin ay warm bodies na mga kasama sa pamayanan

na handa talagang protektahan ang seguridad ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan,” explained France.

At present, 279 security guards, 52 members of the Security Services Brigade and 31 unifrormed UPDP personnel patrol the 494-hectare UPD campus.

In the 2012-2016 strategic security plan of the university, the UPD administration recognized the need to hire new police officers.

The meager salary of police officers in the campus, however, has become an impediment in the recruitment process, said Villaluna. A Special Police Officer I, for instance, only earns P11,600 every month in basic salary, he added.

“Sa sobrang pagtitipid ng UP administration, nananatiling kapos sa security guards ang UP. May ilang mga kaso na isinara na lamang ang gate o kaya naman ay napipilitang magpataw ng mas maagang curfew sa ilang mga gusali dahil sa kakulangan ng security,” said France. ∞

Crime rate in UPD rise by 17% last sem

Johnwyn Ace B. Fornal

MORE THAN 10 PERCENT, OR 495 out of 4,698 students, who applied for the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) in UP Diliman asked for their reassignment to lower brackets this academic year.

The University Committee on Scholarships and Financial Assistance (UCSFA), composed of university officials, administrative staff and student leaders, deliberated on the appeals on October 21. However, only 104 appeals were approved in time for the registration period this semester.

The Office of Scholarships and Student Services (OSSS), which facilitates the socialized tuition program, is still conducting home visits to most students who appealed their bracket assignment, said OSSS Officer-in-Charge Aristeo Dacanay. The UCSFA will again convene in December to deliberate on the remaining appeals.

The appeal period already ended last semester. With the calamities that devastated parts of the country,

1 in 10 STFAP applicants appeals for lower bracketArra B. Francia however, the OSSS is considering to

open the application for appeals, said Dacanay.

Among the STFAP applicants with pending appeals is Isabelle, a second year Journalism major. Isabelle’s annual family income qualifies her to pay P600 per unit under Bracket C. However, she still appealed for Bracket D, with tuition pegged at P300 per unit only.

“Despite our family income falling under the Bracket C, the STFAP fails to determine other factors. Hindi lang naman kasi tuition ang binabayaran ng estudyante,” said Isabelle, who has three other siblings in school.

‘Flawed tuition system’The STFAP is a bracketing system

that determines a UP student’s capacity to pay tuition based on socio-economic indicators including both family income and expenses.

Students with an annual family income of more than a million, for instance, are assigned to Bracket A and pay the full cost of tuition at P1,500

per unit. Meanwhile, families earning less than P135, 000 annually enjoy free tuition under Bracket E.

However, the STFAP has been criticized by various sectors as flawed. “Nagpapatunay ang dami ng bilang ng appeals na maraming mag-aaral ang hindi nakakakuha ng akmang STFAP bracket kung ang kanilang lehitimong estadong pang-ekonomiya ang pagbabatayan,” said USC councilor Charlotte France.

The number of appeals is not even reflective of the actual number of students unsatisfied with their bracket assignment, since most are discouraged from undergoing the lengthy process, said Eduardo Gabral,

national chairperson of Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP .

In a survey conducted by the Office of the Student Regent in 2011, 90 percent of 1,808 respondents across the UP System said they should have been assigned to lower brackets.

“This only goes to show that the system is flawed and beyond repair. We fail to recognize that the problem here isn’t just the technicalities of this income-generating policy but the mere existence of high tuition cost in UP,” said Gabral.

Smokescreen for tuition hike?The STFAP was first implemented

in 1989, the same year when the base tuition in UP was increased from P40

to as much as P300 per unit. Students were then classified into nine numeric brackets with five non-paying brackets.

In 2007, the number of brackets were collapsed into five alphabetic brackets along with the 300-percent tuition increase. In the restructured program, only students classified under Bracket E enjoy free tuition. The non-paying bracket was further divided into E1 and E2, limiting the granting of stipends to the latter.

From 1989 to 2006, around half of the STFAP applicants enjoyed free tuition. After its restructuring,

Continued on page 11

ON BOARDReports on the October 25 BOR meeting

Hans Christian Marin

THE HIGHEST POLICY-MAKING body in the university dedicated its October 25 meeting to discussing the separate proposals to revise “anti-poor” provisions of the UP Code and to reform the UP Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP).

Other policy issues such as the integration of information systems across the UP system under President Alfredo Pascual’s “eUP” program were included in the agenda. However, the Board of Regents (BOR) was only able to tackle the proposed revisions in the UP Code and STFAP.

Proposed UP Code amendmentsThe proposed changes in Articles

330, 430 and 431 of the UP Code were first presented in the Board’s September meeting. The revision of the Code aims to operationalize the BOR-approved policy which states that “no qualified student shall be denied access to UP education due to financial incapacity.”

Former Student Regent Cleve Robert Kevin Arguelles originally asked the BOR to repeal the articles in April, following the suicide of Kristel Tejada days after filing a

HULING MISAPhoto by Karl Aquino

Dinaluhan ng mga kapamilya at kaibigan ang misang idinaos para sa aktibistang pari na si Jose “Joe” F. Dizon sa Diocese of Imus, Cavite noong Nobyembre 9. Pumanaw ang pari, na nakilala sa kanyang pagtindig laban sa Batas Militar, sa edad na 65 dahil sa komplikasyon sa baga at bato.

Continued on page 11

Classes in new building begins November 12

LATHALAIN PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 2013

THE NEWS OF PASSING THE UPCAT is often greeted with joy in many homes. Here comes a Filipino youth’s ticket to realizing his dreams, the chance to improve his family’s lives through free and quality education. He would be called an iskolar ng bayan.

However, students would come to know a much different version of their UP dreams come enrolment. Just as how Business sophomore Miguel* thought it would be a smooth sailing journey, they will realize that in UP, without enough money, they are bound to be indebted scholars.

ReliefMiguel’s UP story may as well

have ended three semesters ago. Since first year, Miguel had been taking out student loans to pay for tuition because both his parents are unemployed.

Miguel’s father, who used to be a public attorney, now simply provides freelance consultancy services to old colleagues after being laid off in 2008. Miguel’s mother, on the other hand, stays at home with his two grade school siblings. On lucky months, his father may earn around P10,000 to P40,000. But as consultancy gigs are rare, most of the time, they simply live on borrowed money, Miguel shares.

Whatever they earn from consultancies is spent not only on Miguel’s family of five but also on close relatives who had just been deported from their jobs abroad.

Despite this, Miguel was classified under Bracket A of the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) and given the burden of paying P22,500 for every 15-unit semester even though they declared an annual income of less than P500,000. With the nagging possibility of having zero income, Miguel had no choice but to be part of the three-floor queues in Vinzons Hall to loan from the Office of Student Services and Scholarships (OSSS). “[Otherwise,] I would have had to take a leave of absence,” Miguel says.

Unfortunately, his father’s employment situation did not improve come his sophomore year and Miguel was forced

to take out a loan again. To pay for his tuition, Miguel had to borrow

large sums of money from one of his professors and even work

tirelessly as a shop assistant every night to avoid being buried in

debt at the OSSS. “My matriculation in UP

has become a debt cycle… Kaya ngayon, nagbabayad pa

rin kami ng utang,” Miguel laments.

This semester, Miguel has again borrowed from

the OSSS. And as his father struggles to find a stable

job, he knows that he may be facing the same

predicament again.

Sky-high tuition Tuition problems

like Miguel’s are not new to UP. In fact, the

situation has become an alarming trend

overtime. According to the OSSS, the number

of loans have surged to 5,391 last year from a

mere 2,077 in 1991.Miguel is even

relatively lucky to have other financing sources

for his loans. Latest figures show that only 1,218 out

of 2,992 students who had tuition loans last semester

were able to pay before the release of grades.

If Miguel’s situation is any indication, students are forced to apply for

loans primarily because tuition rates are out of

their reach to begin with. After tuition hikes in 1989

and 2007, UP’s base tuition now stands at P1,500/unit from P40/

unit and P300/unit, respectively. Under the STFAP, students are

given tuition discounts, ranging from 40 to 100 percent with stipend, supposedly to cushion these tuition hikes. However, this feature to ‘equitably’ adjust the rates of each student has proven faulty over time.

In 2012, half of the undergraduate

population of 18,164 paid tuition under bracket B

(P1,000/unit), while one-fourth were in bracket A

(P1,500/unit) – rates much higher than the national

average of P590/unit. Only 74 of 3,823 STFAP applicants

received free tuition with stipend.

“[H]indi nasisipat ng STFAP na mahal na ang tuition sa UP,

kaya patuloy ang pagdami ng mga nag-loloan,” says

Student Regent Krista Melgarejo. USC Student

Rights and Welfare Committee head

C h a r l o t t e France adds

that for the STFAP to be

able to give ‘discounts’ to

less than a fourth of the student

population, it must overcharge the rest.

Such a tuition system has hindered potential students

to start their UP journey. Mark,* a 2012 UPCAT passer for instance,

is now enrolled in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines which has a

remarkably lower tuition of P12/unit. “Hindi na ako tumuloy sa UP dahil sa bracket B

ako nilagay samantalang minimum wage [earners] lang [pamilya ko],” he

shares.This year, STFAP’s failure has

even reached a lethal point, with a UP Manila freshman committing suicide due to

unpaid tuition.

‘Hands tied’As reports of STFAP

woes mount, UP has recognized the need to

revise its policies regarding loans.

This April, UP’s highest policy-making

body Board of Regents ruled that “no qualified

student shall be denied admission into the university

due to financial incapacity.” This led UP to allow students

to apply for loans even with an existing balance at the OSSS

and borrow 100 percent of their tuition subject to their

Chancellor’s approval. “We adopted these policies

in line with the [BOR’s new ruling]. Hindi mo na pwede

i-dahilan na hindi ka na pwede mag-enrol kasi ‘di mo kaya

ang tuition kasi [pwede ka na humiram muna],” explains UP President Alfredo Pascual, who also claimed that rising loan figures were simply the

result of mismatched paydays and enrolment schedules.

Yet, the multi-sectoral Justice for Kristel Alliance argued that these

reforms have only addressed one level of the problem. To be truly consistent with

the BOR’s ruling, the alliance proposed amending ‘anti-poor’ articles 330, 430, and

431 in the UP Code that effectively bars students unable to afford UP’s tuition from

enrolling. However, a review committee under former UP Diliman Vice Chancellor

for Student Affairs Elizabeth Enriquez rejected these amendments.

“If matriculation will not be required, who among the students

will opt to pay tuition to get a degree? UP has never received sufficient subsidy and without funds from tuition, UP will no longer be able to provide quality education,” the committee reported.

The committee report, thus, affirms one thing: UP’s hands are tied.

Historically, UP only receives one-third of its proposed budget every year.

As the government continues to deprive UP of vital funds, it is no surprise then

that UP depends on such sources of revenue like tuition and other income generation

schemes (see related article) at the cost of corrupting its public character. In fact, the

Aquino administration has praised UP for collecting an average of P476 million from tuition

to compensate for an P11-billion annual budget deficit.

“[H]indi talaga nakadisenyo ang edukasyon sa bansa para maging abot-kamay. [Itinuturing] itong kalakal na pwedeng pagkakitaan,” France explains.

Instead of upholding it as a basic right and a tool for nation-building, the government has consistently treated education as a commodity that comes with a hefty price. In so doing, it has effectively prevented the democratic access to quality education and only ensured the survival of the richest.

Until UP education becomes truly accessible, until public higher education is truly recognized

as a basic right and not a privilege, iskolar ng bayan can only be a “loaned” title, a mere token that

only a few can afford. ∞

Indebted Isko

Tuition loans and

the high cost of UP

education

As the government continues to deprive UP of

vital funds, it is no surprise then that UP

depends on such sources of revenue like tuition

and other income generation schemes

at the cost of corrupting its public character

Ronn Joshua C. Bautista

Illustration : Ysa CalinawanPage design : Jerome Tagaro

Such

a tuition system

has hindered potential

students to start their UP journey.

6

LATHALAIN PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MARTES, AGOSTO 23, 2013 7LATHALAIN PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 2013

THE GLASS DOORS OPENED to a buzz of activity: teenagers excitedly slurping up the dregs of their chilled coffee and milk tea while discussing the latest must-reads and must-haves, the Friday night gimmick, the weekend plans. There is an unmistakably laidback vibe wherever you look, urging you to join in the fun. This is the new ‘it’ place.

Except that this hip, new hangout, the UP Town Center, stands where a learning institution once had been. It stands in the stead of the old classrooms, the libraries, the spacious playing grounds. Its loud extravagance has drowned out the calm of the school lessons and the carefree laughter of the students who had come to call the UP Integrated School (UPIS) their second home.

But UPIS is not the first—and would most likely not be the last—building to be demolished to make way for a commercial facility. It is merely a part of a series of changes outlined by the UP land use p l a n .

BlueprintAssessing UP’s real estate assets

began in 1994. Land properties were plotted on a map, indicating which portions are allocated to what purpose. In the 1994 plan, academic units were given the most space, their classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and research facilities, taking up 22 percent of UP’s land area. Commercial development and open spaces followed at 17.8 and 17.1 percent, respectively.

However, as UP’s budget dwindled, the University administration found a need to reevaluate its land use plan. It

was finally revised and

approved by the Board of Regents in 2011, as the land use plan of 2012, to show which parts were the most “marketable”.

“We have formulated a strategic plan at the start of our term and one of the pillars is financial stability. We were very clear in saying that we are going to develop our existing properties to be able to generate additional resources,’’ UP President Alfredo Pascual explained in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Aside from the Town Center, many other changes can be expected, as suggested by the Board of Regents. The list includes the possibility of putting a fence around the UP property, having a mixed-use of land, and solving the problem of UP on informal settlers through the help of developers.

These proposed changes are not a far cry from the development we now call the UP-Ayala Land Technohub.

Labeled in the land use plan as a science|

and technology park, it now houses several high-end restaurants and cake and tea shops, along with

a call center hub.

Unsurprisingly, it has become the hangout of higher bracket Iskolars ng Bayan.

CompromiseEven as its foundations were

being laid, the UP Town Center has met with criticism from within and outside the UP community. A former UPIS student, Hiyas*, laments: “It hurts to see my former school being torn down to be replaced with a mall. It surely sends the wrong message to the next generation – that commercialism takes primacy over education.”

Even worse, UP’s public and academic character has been compromised, with the shop-and-dine vibe promoted by the UP Town Center going against the University’s pro-people ideals and academic raison d’être.

UP Student Regent Krista Melgarejo points to the government’s role in forcing the University to resort to own income-generating projects, “There should not be an SUC which is self-sufficient and has an expensive tuition. An SUC is called as such because it is funded by the government and must cater to the poor.”

For his part, UP President Alfredo Pascual explains that income generating projects will not be enough to keep the University going, hence the continued call for state subsidy. “Our Charter says that whatever is generated by the development of these assets will not in any way reduce the commitment of the government to provide it with budget appropriation,” he adds.

From and for the people The UP Land Use Plan was

supposedly created to work for the benefit of the entire UP community.

Andrea Joyce A. Lucas

It seeks to reveal key infrastructures now existing in the campus, indicate which areas are to be used for resource generation, and serve as a guide for future infrastructure development.

It follows that the stakeholders of the University should be consulted with before any plan could be approved. But this did not happen, as Melgarejo confirms in an interview with the Collegian, “In drafting the said land use plan, the organic sectors of the University were not involved.”

“The BOR [has] suggested to increase the Resource Generation Zones,” says Professor Maureen Araneta, the director of the UP Diliman Information Office. She explains that the designation of these areas is consistent with Section 22.c, of RA 9500 (Act to Strengthen UP as National University) which outlines the decisive power of the Board of Regents over the implementation of land leases.

Section 22.c states that such mechanisms and arrangements shall “sustain and protect the environment in accordance with law, and be exclusive of the academic core zone of the campuses of the University of the Philippines: provided, further, that such mechanisms and arrangements shall not conflict with the academic mission of the national university.”

These are words that are easier to put on paper, than done. Meanwhile, UP Town Center continues to draw people to its fine dining restaurants – a world so far removed from UP’s views of service, honor and excellence.

*not their real names

DISLOCATION:Examining the land use plan of UP Diliman

Illustration : Karl Aquino

Page design : Ashley Garcia

HALOS ISANG ORAS ANG biyahe mula sa resort na pinuntahan ng Kule para sa pagpaplano ng mga gawain at pagtatasa ng nakaraang semestre. Dahil walang tulog simula noong nakaraang gabi, pinilit kong umidlip. Matapos ang ilang oras, pumasok na ang amoy ng palay at tubo sa loob ng dyip. Kalauna’y, may naririnig akong tilaok ng manok at tunog ng kambing— nandito na pala kami.

Sa isang kalye ng Barangay Balete makikita ang hanay ng mga sementadong bahay na kaiba sa mga bahay-kubong makikita sa aklat ng Hekasi. Pagdating ng dapithapon, halos kainin ng anino ng isang malaking pader ang mga bahay ng mga magsasaka. Umakyat ang isang babae sa poste at tinanaw ang lupain sa kabilang bakod. Doon natanaw niya ang ilang ektarya ng taniman ng tubo. Abot-kamay sana ang mga ito, kung hindi lang dahil sa nakapagitnang bakod.

Asyenda ng panlilinlangDapithapon na nang tumungo

kami sa Barangay Bantog, isang baryo na sampung kilometro ang layo. Hindi biro ang biyahe dahil sa mabatong daan at malaking pagitan ng labing-isang barangay sa isa’t isa. Halos umaabot ng P140 ang pamasahe para lang makalabas-pasok sa asyenda. Pinagsamang Pasig at Makati daw kasi ang Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI)—lupaing kinakamkam ng angkang Cojuangco-Aquino.

Iniwang walang kuryente ng bagyong Santi ang HLI kaya tanging ilaw ng kandila ang gabay namin patungo sa bahay ni Nay Mely, isang residenteng 40 taon nang naninirahan sa Bantog.

Sardinas at kanin ang aming hapunan na tila ba may kakaibang sangkap kaya ginanahan kaming kumain. Hindi rin matatawaran ang sarap ng kanin at ang sardinas na binili gamit ang perang madalang dumaan sa kamay ng mga magsasaka. Mas may kakayahan palang magbigay ang mga magsasaka na kumikita lamang ng P 9.50 kumpara sa milyon-milyong kita ng Cojuangco-Aquino.

Habang kumakain, nagsimula kaming magkwentuhan. Isa si Ka Clay sa mga aktibong lumahok sa talakayan. Saksi siya sa mga nangyari sa Luisita sa nakaraang apat na dekada—mula sa pagbuo at pagbasura sa SDO, masaker, tambiolo, at ang pamamahagi ng mga kopya ng Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA).

Isang malaking palaruan ang dating pagtingin niya sa asyenda noong bata pa siya. Ngunit hindi maikukubli ng kaniyang inosenteng imahinasyon ang kagimbal-gimbal na katotohanan. Nakita niya ang mukha ng katotohanan sa pagdalo sa mga pulong ng unyon, sa hapis na mukha ng kaniyang ama tuwing manggagaling sa bukid, sa kaldero ng kanin na hindi napupuno at sa lupang sinasaka na kahit minsan’y hindi nila napakinabanagan.

Nang lumaon minana niya ang karit at araro, buong araw na

nagtatanim sa bukid, matiyagang naghihintay sa panahon ng anihan, naghahanap ng trabaho’t panghihiram ng kapital, ang pag-oorganisa sa kapwa mga magsasaka upang ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan sa lupa, at higit sa lahat ang pag-iwas sa panganib tuwing may kilos-protesta.

Lunduyan ng ligaligKinabukasan, binalikan ni Ka

Clay ang nangyari noong Nobyembre 14, 2004 kung saan mahigit 5,000 katao ang lumahok bitbit ang mga plakard at galit na naipon sa mahabang panahon. Samantalang tear gas at bala naman ang naging tugon ng mga pulis at militar na kumitil ng 14 na katao.

Pagkatapos ng karumaldumal at madugong karahasan, umigting ang presensya ng militar sa buong HLI. Sa bawat pagdaan ng militar, takot ang tanging nararamdaman ng mga residente sa asyenda. Kapag may mga pulong, kultural na pagtatanghal at payak na salo-salo sa bukid, matatanaw sa hindi kalayuan ang mga unipormadong kalalakihan.

Sa isinagawang tambiolo, naging isang palabunutan ang pamamahagi ng lupa at CLOA. Kalat ang mga militar at pulis sa asyenda. May mga gabi nga raw na hindi makatulog si Ka Clay dahil sa outpost ng pulis sa tabi ng bahay niya.

Labis na pananakot at pandarahas ang ginagawa ng mga militar sa magsasaka sa asyenda. Maging mga bata, ginagamit nila para ituro ang mga lider ng unyon kapalit ng kapirasong kendi. Pati cultural workers tulad nina Ericson Acosta at Kerima Tarima ay dinakip na rin. Kamakailan lamang may pinatay na lider ng magsasaka sa Balete sa kasagsagan ng nagdaang barangay eleksyon.

Bilang tugon sa pag-uulit ng kasaysayan ng karahasan sa HLI, bumuo ng kilusang unyon ang magsasaka para labanan ang ugat

ng paghihirap ng magsasaka: ang pagkimkim ng Cojuangco-Aquino sa lupang sakahan.

Ngunit kahit sa panahon ng ligalig, nakabuo sila sa tulong ng mga progresibong artista ng isang rebolusyonaryong kulturang hawig sa mga nabuo ng mga magsasaka ng Tsina, Russia, at iba pa.

Ang pangunahing lohikang nagpapaandar sa kulturang ito ay ang paniniwalang ang nagbubungkal ng lupa ay siyang dapat may-ari nito.

Sa kanilang mga kultural na pagtatanghal, tampok ang mga kanta at tulang kalimitang isinulat ng mga makatang tulad nina Acosta at

Alan Jazmines. Mayroon ding mga sayaw na naglalarawan ng tunggalian ng uring maralita at panginoong maylupa. May mga art camps rin tulad ng Lakbay Sining na nagsasagawa ng palihan. Sa hinaharap, magkakaroon ng komiks tungkol sa kasaysayan nito hanggang sa kasalukuyang desisyon ng Korte Suprema na ipamahagi ang lupa sa magsasaka.

Ang mga ito ay ginawa para makabuo ng naratibo ang sambayanan tungkol sa pamumuhay at pakikibaka ng mga magsasaka.

Paggising at paglayaBago lumisan, pinagmasdan

kong mabuti ang aking kapiligiran. Nilanghap ko ang hangin, pilit pinapasaulo sa aking isip ang amoy upang habangbuhay na baunin ang aking karanasan. Pagbalik sa Maynila, mas nakilala namin ang klase ng lipunan na aming ginagalawan.

Hindi nalalayo ang pakikibaka ng magsasaka at ng mag-aaral. Nagsisilbing pisikal na paalala ang HLI na hindi dapat tayo makuntento sa mga programang patuloy na nililinlang at pinahihirapan ang mga kababayan nating magsasaka.

Isang malaking sampal ng katotohanan ang saglit na pagdalaw sa HLI. Kahit nasa harap na ng Cojuangco-Aquino ang katotohanang ito, nagbubulag-bulagan sila dahil higit na nakakasilaw ang salapi na kanilang kinamkam gamit ang pagmamayari sa asyenda. Hindi nila inisip ang hirap at gastos ng pagsasaka at pagtatanim ng tubo, ang pagsusumikap na magkaroon ng masaganang ani, at suklian ang pagod at dugong inaalay sa tubuhan – sa ngalan ng pera.

Hanggang ngayon, tila walang balak ang mga Cojuangco-Aquino na tunay at ganap na ipamahagi na ang lupa sa magsasaka. Hindi pa rin nabibigyang hustisya ang mga namatay sa masaker. Ang paglilinlang at huwad na pangako ay pakitang-gilas ng mga Cojuangco-Aquino upang hadlangan ang pamamahagi ng hustisya’t lupa.

Ngunit ang paggising ng kamalayan ay hindi kailanman naging komportable. Ito ay isang proseso ng sakripisyo at pagsisikap para makamit ang katarungan at kalayaan. ∞

Photo : Karl AquinoPage design : Jerome Tagaro

igaligLupainng

anganib P at LJulian Bato

Nagsisilbing pisikal na paalala ang HLI na hindi dapat tayo

makuntento sa mga programang

patuloy na nililinlang at

pinahihirapan ang mga kababayan

nating magsasaka

8 KULTURA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 2013

9

Illustration : Patricia RamosPage design : Jerome Tagaro

CROWDS FILL EVERY AVAILABLE space, taking shelter under tarps and mausoleum roofs. In a small corner among day-old roses burns a solitary candle, standing tribute to the silent resident of the grave beneath. It’s these sights that fill cemeteries during Undas, a holiday treated as a celebration and a reunion in itself, where one could catch up with both the living – and the dead. The very nature of these celebrations has evolved over time, shaped by local customs and foreign influences.

Influenced traditionsAll Souls Day is a Catholic Church-

instituted holiday for the honoring and visitation of departed relatives, known as Araw ng mga Patay or Undas in the Philippines. Although held on November 2, many Filipinos choose to celebrate days before, including All Saints Day and its bisperas, known as Halloween in western traditions. It is considered a Catholic holiday, as not all other religions strictly adhere to the practice. Some Protestant Christian groups as well as the Aglipayan Church have maintained the observation in their own beliefs, joining Catholics in cemetery visits.

Filipino traditions on death, among these being the beliefs and rituals

concerning burial and

visitation, are a mix of pre-colonial and colonial Catholic traditions. In the death of a relative, one can observe the myriad traditions reasoned with vestiges of Catholic doctrine, such as pasiyam or the nine-day novenas and the observation of the 40th day after death. These practices stem from Spanish influences over their occupation prior to the turn of the 20th century. Even then, indigenous traditions are still observed today, one example being panag-apoy in Sagada, Mountain Province, where families would burn blessed pieces of pinewood over graves during Undas, a practice originating from Kankaney groups in the area.

Western influences perpetrated through foreign films, television, comics and other popular cultural forms brought Halloween traditions as well as western stories of monsters and the supernatural into our collective consciousness. This adapted itself into local popular culture, with local media showcasing movies and TV specials not unlike their western counterparts, featuring localized ghosts and creatures. News programs such as ‘Magandang Gabi Bayan’ were known for their Undas episodes involving creatures and supernatural experiences from around the country. This perpetrates a western element of horror among Undas traditions, ultimately striking fear in the audience.

These popular ghosts and creatures have merely been adapted into our culture from western media and influences, often contrary to our own cultures. As noted in the essay ‘Imported na Katatakutan’ by Luna Siy, creatures such as the dwende and kapre maintain European and imperialistic influences in their manner of dressing and disposition.

Other creatures directly contradict local institutions, such as that

of the babaylan or village healer being rebranded as a bruja or witch. Influences like

these only serve to alienate us from our

cultural heritage, p o p u l a r i z i n g symbols reminiscent of our colonizers many years ago.

The price of festivitiesPeople slowly fill cemeteries

readied for the occasion. Tents are pitched to shield families outside from the heat of the sun as they gather around their family plots to eat, pray, and talk, all part of keeping vigil over the dead. While the atmosphere of the area could be described as festive, the solemnity of the grounds still remain, with prayers said at the vigils, while children and adults engage in activities, such as playing games, sharing stories, and reuniting with once separated members.

In mausoleums and among graves outside, children could be heard shouting in play, engaging in either field games or playing with toys, seemingly fueled on Halloween candies from the night before. Gone, however, are the devilish costumes of the western tradition, leaving the inner childlike spirit among them. For most families, the vigil would extend well into the night, often prompting stories of ghosts and monsters, popularized by commercial media.

The throngs of people present at Undas attract many ventures bringing their products and services to the cemeteries. Manufacturers of products such as candles, food products, and flowers increase production to meet the demand from the holiday, often at the expense of their own workers. Large flower shops and malls price small bouquets or half-dozen roses at P500 to P1,000, a two to four-fold increase compared to buying from distributors in flower markets, such as Dangwa in Manila, where the same six roses would cost no more than P200 in the days leading to Undas.

Outside these ‘essential’ products in the observation of Undas, families still have to pay for the upkeep of their plots year round. Well-off families can hire caretakers to maintain their mausoleums. In the Manila North Cemetery, these caretakers live among the dead all year round, but are only paid P600 a year for their services. On the opposite end, families who are unable to pay for rent and maintenance risk having their dead evicted from their crypts. In the same cemetery, a number of empty,

open graves are visible, while plots of common graves can be found tucked away near the fences. Other cemeteries are demolished for development: one in San Juan, Batangas was made to relocate its graves to make room for a private access road to a resort, to be utilized only by those who can afford it.

The ‘great equalizer’This exploitation of private

enterprises of what are supposedly public services and infrastructure affect the living as well: in the exodus of people to the provinces, both motorists and commuters shoulder high toll fees for traffic-laden highways, an effect of the private management of government services and infrastructure, leaving citizens at the mercy of capitalist hegemony. Major access roads such as the privately managed South Luzon Expressway have seen toll increases of 300 percent in a matter of years.

The rich can get preferential treatment over their remains, while the rest risk losing a final resting place, disturbed only to serve the interests of business, which they or their families may never be able to utilize or benefit from. Even the dead have not completely escaped the problems of society, and, with the living, are not exempt of the abuses of capitalist dicta. This class divide extending to the already dead contradicts the notion of death as the great equalizer.

The realities of commercial and private exploitation don’t receive as much attention as ghost stories told during Undas. These don’t just haunt ordinary consumers and workers, as even the dead are still subject to the whims of private interest. The very state of our own cemeteries as well as the treatment of the dead themselves is eerily reflective of our state today, and the treatment of our own people. Sometimes, dead men do tell tales. ∞

Micholo Medrana

In

KULTURA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 2013

Mem

oriam

Urban Evil*Ronn Joshua C. Bautista

Yet beneath all

that hunk of

glass and steel

lies a glaring

contradiction

that has plagued

the university for

years: that public

assets meant

for academic

purposes are

being used

for profit

Aftermath*Ma. Rosa Cer Dela Cruz

They, who never knew desperation as we now know, refuse to see the reality of our situation

OPINYON PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 201310

STEP ASIDE, NEW PHILCOA overpass. A bigger, badder monstrosity is in town.

Dazzling everyone with its modern architecture and wide variety of fancy restaurants, the UP Town Center has just opened for business along Katipunan Avenue. From an outsider’s perspective, Ayala Land Inc.’s latest addition to their portfolio may seem like any other mall: big, posh, and buzzing with new thrills.

One could almost hear the clinking of coins flowing into the Town Center’s cold embrace as students are lured into a doughnut-eating, fine-dining trance. This is no surprise when it stands in the strategic location near three big universities where our homegrown UP Integrated School (UPIS)was built—that is, until it was demolished.

The UP administration earlier struck a deal with Ayala which allowed the corporation to build a mall on UPIS’ 7.4 hectare of land in exchange for rent and a “replacement” facility. This, the administration trumpeted, will supposedly help the university augment its perennial lack of funds to carry out projects such as renovating

the old UPIS building among other things.

Yet beneath all that hunk of glass and steel (part of which apparently fell from the ceiling this weekend) lies a glaring contradiction that has plagued the university for years: that public assets meant for academic purposes are being used for profit.

They did it before in 2000 and 2008 when 5 hectares of the South Science and Technology Park area along C.P. Garcia and 38 hectares of the North Science and Technology Park across Commonwealth Avenue were leased to Ayala as well. And even though both establishments have obviously become mere call centers and restaurant hubs, the administration still insists that these are for “research and development.”

Now, as if UP can’t get enough of Ayala, the university has ventured into another partnership. This time, at the cost of demolishing its own laboratory school and sweeping it into a smaller cramped space where Narra dormitory used to be. The university boasts of hitting two birds with one stone, but simple facts betray the lies behind this uncanny scheme.

For months now, UPIS has been asking for donations to acquire

furniture for its new building. Apparently, Ayala’s contribution for the new building was not enough to buy desks and chairs, causing classes to be delayed for at least a semester. Moreover, while UP is guaranteed P34 million every year from Town Center’s lease, UP’s average budget deficit amounts to P11 billion annually.

As such, in exchange for a few million, UP has willingly let itself be a tool for the billions Ayala will soon reap from unsuspecting wallets. And for a building more, UP has further become Ayala’s quarry.

At this time when a whopping P1.43 billion budget cut looms over UP, we can only expect the expansion of Ayala’s empire on campus. For as the government continues to approve less and less funding for the university every year, UP will continue to resort tapping profit-seeking corporations for some spare change. Thus, it becomes all the more imperative that we strengthen our call for greater state subsidy before our university, our home turns into one big Ayala Mall. ∞*apologies to my classmate Cza’s viral blog post

THEY CALL US LOOTERS, among a dozen other names with derogatory connotations.

They speak as if we’ve committed the most offensive, unforgiveable crime. And for what? A handful of dirt-ridden goods, some packs of noodles and junk food that we intend to bring to our starving families—or at least, what’s left of them. Unfortunately, thousands are still missing, but it’s not like they really care about finding them.

The reporters say we’re unruly, out-of-control, in chaos. They say we’ve ransacked not only dry goods and food, that we’ve also taken a lot of valuables—television sets, dysfunctional chest freezers, and other items that, for the present, hold no real value to us.

They call us thieves, of the highest order, opportunists without any scruples. And they’ve brought a whole army to stop our thievery. 300 soldiers. Imagine that.

It’s not officially a martial rule, but from that figure alone I think we can assume that military rule is in place here. They send an entire army down to stop us from taking other people’s stuff, yet they can’t

send enough supplies to aid us in our hunger and desperation.

Do we prefer to do this? Do we prefer to be robbed of the last shred of human dignity and resort to take something that’s not ours?

We grieve the loss of our loved ones. We suffer from hunger and thirst. Everyday we pass by the dead who litter the streets—a constant reminder of what lies ahead for us if we fail to find some food to fill our empty stomachs.

Typhoon Yolanda has robbed us of our dignity, we say. But I think it has also robbed the nation of its humanity. People everywhere judge us from what they hear on the news. They laud the government’s efforts to restore law and order here. They, who never knew desperation as we now know, refuse to see the reality of our situation.

The state itself has taken sides: by choosing to protect private property over saving the lives of many, the message loud and clear. It’s not true that natural disasters create a “levelling” effect between the rich and the poor. The rich recover quickly, and they can even protect themselves from further harm.

We, the poor, are left to our own devices, to look for our own means of survival, dependent on the crumbs of sympathy we can get from our more charitable fellowmen. Always, we are the victim, unable to stand for ourselves.

Perhaps we are not asking for just dry goods and clothes—a big help in the here and now but not a long-term solution for future disasters. Instead, we’re also asking you to extend your help a bit longer by helping shape and change our society into a better one, where the government isn’t a self-serving pompous monstrosity that pretends to care.

Help make our country a place where effects of large-scale disasters can be prevented and minimized not only through disaster preparedness, but also by preventing the destruction of our natural resources. Let’s work towards a future where the government truly serves the people. ∞*A message that could have been written by the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, if they were ever offered an opportunity to say their piece, apart from sensationalized images of hysteria and chaos.

the Marketing and Opinion Research Society of the Philippines Socioeconomic Classification (MORES 1SEC) instrument will be considered.

Pascual also proposed to update the income cut-offs of Brackets A, B, C and D by 30 percent based on inflation. For instance, only students with an annual family income of at least P1.3 million will be assigned to Bracket A. The present program assigns student with an annual family income of P1 million to the bracket.

To avoid delays in the processing of applications, meanwhile, the president recommended the automation of the application.

“[Sa kabila ng mga pagbabagong isinusulong], hundi nasasapol ang totoong problema ng students which is the high cost of tuition,” said Student Regent Krista Melgarejo. ∞

OPINYON PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, NOBYEMBRE 13, 2013 11NEWSCAN

The Kule Files Edishun!

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I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE, mga birdies… ang inyong paboritong echosera ay mamumulaklak muli! Simulan na ang pagchuchuva sa mga anonymous at blind items na na-Superman mula sa The Diliman Files - este, ang original na Jane Fonda ng mga chika, ang Eksenang Peyups!

Confession 1: Si ateng from the Kalakal College, na-excite to the max sa darating na pachukan, kaya pagkatapos ng kanyang assessment ay gumora siya sa SM of North Manila para bumili ng mga chipipay, este, ’economically viable’ na mga damit. Sa kanyang excitement ay hindi niya namalaysia na sinequester na pala ng mga taga Bracket A-yala ang tanging source ng mga bilihin! Sa halip, Bracket B ang givenchy ng STFlop kay ate, kaya hindi na niya afford ang ine-eyeball niyang mga blusa na splotch sa kanyang disposable income na pangtweet-twition sana. Napa-MMK pa si ate sa gitna ng daan! Ayutch, nasagasaan ng dyip en route to Pantrancs. Chos, nakakaawa nga ang pagcrayola ni ate, hindi naman kailangang abalahin ang land transportation office. Kaya fly away na, little birdie!

Confession 2: Si koya naman, na-golf sa isang subject, kinailangan niyang mag-consult sa kanyang prof. Si prof naman, Kinati Perry sa good looks ni koya, at nagyaya na magberangju sa Magins. Payag si koya! Kwatro o kwarto na nga ba kamo? Sa gitna ng paglaklak at hithit din ng bugarette, nagawa ni prof na maglapchukan kay koya! mukhang may magaganap na kababalaghan!

Continued from page 3

Lider-magsasaka sa Luisita...

mga taktika umano ng pamilya Cojuangco upang pigilan ang pagtutol ng mga magsasaka sa kasalukuyang pamamahagi ng lupa sa pamamagitan ng sistemang tambiolo o palabunutan, dagdag ng AMBALA.

Ayon kay Estrada, mahigit 100 na mga armadong sundalo at guwardiya ang nakahimpil ngayon sa Cutcut at Balete. “Sa [paggunita] ng Luisita massacre sa ika-16 ng Nobyembre, [dapat nang] mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga biktima [at] matuloy ang laban para sa tunay na reporma sa lupa,” ani Estrada. ∞

students under the non-paying bracket dropped to only 10 percent.

Under the present administration in 2011, a new system for classifying students to Bracket B was introduced. Students with an annual family income of less than P1 million must now submit a Bracket B Certification along with their Income Tax Return and a vicinity map. Failure to submit these requirements would automatically assign students to the millionaire’s bracket.

The stricter rules on Bracket B certification then led to an upsurge in the number of freshmen paying for the full cost of tuition under Bracket A, from 29 in 2010 to 900 students in 2011.

“Ang bumabahang appeal sa STFAP, napakahabang pila sa [tuition] loan, tambak na appeal for late payment of loan and tuition ay sanhi ng mataas na matrikula sa ating pamantasan na siyang ibinubunsod ng patuloy na pagkokomersyalisa ng edukasyon,” said France. ∞

Continued from page 5

1 in 10 STFAP applicants...

ON BOARDContinued from page 5

leave of absence from UP Manila due to unpaid loans.

Pascual instead formed a review committee to propose amendments to the Code. Three other proposals from the Justice for Kristel (JFK) Alliance, UP Diliman and UP Los Baños were later considered.

The proposed revision of Article 330 still requires students to be “registered” before they could attend classes. It only added that students who are unable to pay for their tuition may avail of loans.

For Article 430, the president proposed that only students who are unable to settle their loans will be notified of their “past due obligations.” The proposal did not specify when such loan accounts are due. In the existing provision, loans must be settled a month before the final examinations.

Meanwhile, the revision recommended for Article 431 would allow students with existing accountabilities to enrol in the following semesters. At present, students have to settle their loans before they could enrol.

Proposed STFAP reformsReforms in the STFAP are also proposed

to further operationalize the 2013 BOR policy promoting democratic access to the national university, said Pascual.

The revision of the socialized tuition program is included in the 2011 to 2017 UP Strategic Plan of the Pascual administration. The proposed changes in the STFAP were first presented to the Board in April.

Four indicators are currently used to assign students to brackets: the applicant’s desired bracket, declared household income, predicted income and special indicators such as gadgets owned. Under Pascual’s recommendation, only the declared household income and

Nakakaloka, I swear! Pero, nakakaintriga pa ang sumunod:

totoo naman na wala namang interes si koya kay prof: all for the grade nga kamo, nung dumapo ang kamay ni koya — hindi sa dingdong ni prof, charingdingding!—kundi sa filecase niya, na may gradesheet! Sa quick at lightning reflexes ni koya (Atat major ata), nacompute niya ang totoong grade niya na pasadong pasado naman! Huli si Prof! Kung sakali ma-Jejomar Binay ka, gawan mo ng paraan, pero ‘wag lang makinose sa grades! Charot.

Confession 3: Isa pang koya ng College of Sayang, nagpa-loanshark sa Wency Vinzons dahil sa mala-diamond na buhay ngayon. Habang nakahapay sa mga polyblock ay napatingin si koya sa isang YooEysSiyah gorlie na rumarampa sa hallway. Na-starstruck si koya! Candy Crush niya kasi si gorlie noon pang nagjojogging pa siya for college rep. Jumohn Lloyd si koya at lumapetch kay gorlie nang may nagbells sa grievance desk ng YooEysSiyah office; sa isang tibok ay gone in a flush si ate, habang si koya naman ay na-‘grievancezone!’ Biktima ka lang ng sistema, koya!

Napasobra na ata ako sa mga blind items ngayon; pabayaan na po si Lucrecia Kasilag. Sa susunod na lang, mga birdies! Choragu! ∞

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Next week’s questions

2. Ano ang resolutions mo para sa panibagong semestre?

1. Ano ang masasabi mo sa naging tugon ni Aquino sa pagresolba sa problemang dulot ni Yolanda, lalo na sa Tacloban?

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NAIS NAMIN KAYONG anyayahang dumalo sa mga aktibidad na pangungunahan ng Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) at Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang-Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) bilang paggunita sa ika-9 na taon ng Hacienda Luisita Massacre.

Sa Nobyembre 14, Huwebes, gaganapin ang isang porum-talakayan na kasabay ng paglulunsad ng nakalathalang komprehensibong ulat (comprehensive report) hinggil sa kalagayan ng Hacienda Luisita, ganap na ala-1 hanggang 4 ng hapon sa College of Mass Communications Auditorium (CMC Auditorium), UP Diliman, Lungsod Quezon.

Maaari rin po kaming kontakin sa opisina ng UMA, tel. # 4269442 o kay Ka Angie (09087624520).

Maraming salamat po! TULOY ANG LABAN!

A Ray of Light Shinesby Sheena Jamora

It's not all bad news. Last November, five UP students were each granted a P10,000 interest-free loan to help pay for their tuition fees. With so many students struggling to pay for their education every semester, five is by no means a big number, but it's a start.

One student, Mark*, is a Mechanical Engineering freshman. His father is a farmer in Isabela. He had hoped to be categorized under Bracket E and have his full tuition waived, but this didn't happen. Desperate for another solution, Mark found Sinag.

Sinag Microfunds is a non-profit start-up aimed at supporting financially struggling students like Mark. Through their website, Sinag.org, they allow ordinary people to pitch in to support their cause. If you would like to be a part of the Sinag mission, just send an email to info@sinag.org.

*not his real name

NOWHERE MAN

Alan P. Tuazon

A PUFF, JUST A FEW PUFFS.After a sembreak-long nicotine

ban at home, I savored every gust of calm that surged down my throat. Unlike everyone else in the office who prefers menthol and lights, I especially love Marlboro red: I like the aftertaste of bitterness.

New post-its, a wrecked city, empty notebooks, and booming headlines on thousands of deaths: these welcomed the start of another semester. Many of my classes—just as everyone else’s classes—were cancelled last week, so this week—just as everyone else’s weeks—is the official start of my semester.

It has been a while since we talked. I remember you making a list of the best post-apocalyptic movies in my old planner, most of which I already watched: Omega Man, Dr. Strangelove, Zombieland, among others. How unreal they all seem when contrasted with the raw video coverage on the fatalities of the recent typhoon Yolanda.

Another puff. I was not able to watch the

television the whole weekend due to presswork. Or was it my constant fear of death and dying? I had always feared death. I feel myself to be unprepared and unaccomplished. The “after” is uncertain—a concept I am too cowardly to subscribe to and commit my life principles to.

How thin is the line of morality that separates right and wrong, good and evil, anyway?

At the height of scarcity of food and other necessities in Tacloban City—relayed through my Facebook newsfeed—prejudice among some “friends” against the so-called mobsters who looted stores forced me to unfriend such “friends.” Theft—to what extent is it prohibited?

Calamities transform decent men into scoundrels. People stripped off their basic necessities are labeled thieves. Maybe, one should ask: why are these people looting anyway?

School is about to start, yet more typhoons are likely to occur. ∞

A question of morals