Wherehave

feesgone?

V O L U M E 3 5ISSUE 3

October 16, 2008

NEWSIt’s 12-0 in favor of SAKBAYANpage 2

CULTUREIsang rebyu sa Isko’t Iska 2008page 7

OPINIONBangungotpage 10

FEATURES:

Where...ON PAGE 6

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GRAPHICS KERVIN GABILO“In a government-subsidized (or is it now

decreasingly so?) institution of higher learning, students still have to wrangle with that perennial boon called fees. Indeed, these fees – some of them redundant and others exorbitant – might as well be the university’s truest and greatest equalizer.”

As you register for another semester, you must go through 10 (to 11) windows and pay (PhP 1000 per unit for batches 2007 and younger) before your Form 5 is stamped with REGISTERED. Though paying more does not entitle you more right to question where your money is going, it would certainly give you a greater deal of headache if you were to discover that your money is straying too far from where it should go. After all, as the old admonition says, your parents do not plant money-bearing trees right on your own backyard.

And so we have to ask, where have all those fees gone?

“Anything to do with student fees is never used for salaries...anything to do with student fees dapat bumabalik din sa inyo [students] fully.” –Dr. Roberto Rañola, Vice Chancellor for Administration

“Deposit fee [is] being refunded to students upon clearance from the university.” -Prof. Myrna Carandang, University School Registrar

WINDOW #1: Deposit Fee

Keen observers must have wondered where that PhP 100 deposit fee (and guess what, PhP 130 for the batch ’07 and younger) they paid in their first semester as a UP student went. Though these observers – keen or otherwise – are already bordering on extinction, their doubts must have been a little misplaced: this fee, you see, is perfectly reimbursable after graduation. You just have to accomplish a voucher and follow it up on a multi-level bureaucracy, to the point that even the administrators will discourage you from refunding it and you just have to make the university a hundred - peso richer by donation.

“No more late registration fee for the last three years.” -Prof. Myrna Carandang, University Registrar

PHOTO ESSAYSilip sa Kabutepage 5

WORDS LIBERTY NOTARTE

all the

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BAÑOS

COUNTED IN HISTORY.UPLB students flocked polling precints in the most widely-participated USC-CSC elections in years. The two-day election period has paved the way for the successful ratification of the plebiscite and the long-awaited election of UPLB’s Centennial student leaders.

PHOTO PAUL ANDREW MANUALES

NEWSUPLB Perspective2 VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008

Victory for the 1984 Charter

The Samahan ng Kabataan para sa Bayan (SAKBAYAN) clinched all 12 University Student Council (USC) positions in what could be the most participated elections in UPLB’s history.

Outgoing USC Vice Chairperson Charisse Bernadine Bañez will lead the Centennial batch of student leaders after securing 4,590 votes as against the 1,530 votes earned by Steven Gatacelo of BUKLOD-UPLB. John Mark Violeta, former USC councilor, will serve as USC Vice Chairperson after gaining a lead of 989 votes over BUKLOD-UPLB’s Ernest Calayag.

Likewise, candidates from the SAKBAYAN slate will occupy all 10 councilor positions. Mark Vincent Baracao, Ira Olivia Garcia, John Lloyd Balon, Reynaldo Araja Jr., Odraude Alub, Jose Alberto Nuez, Christian Kevin Latiza, Maricris Cynthia Delos Santos, Andrianne Mark Ng, and Adrian Miki Macalanda will complete this year’s USC and will serve until the student council elections in March next year.

For the second time in a row, SAKBAYAN swept the USC elections since BUKLOD-UPLB first dominated the student councils in 2004. Outgoing Chairperson Leo ‘XL’ Fuentes, together with Bañez and the 10 outgoing councilors, ran under SAKBAYAN’s banner last 2007 student council elections.

CENTENNIAL LEADERS“Habang nagbibilangan, for

one thing, preoccupied ako dun sa status ng buong slate at lalo na ng buong partido-alyansa, kung anong status ng mga lokal na kolehiyo,” Bañez related.

Even at the early stages of the canvassing of votes, Bañez has consistently led over Gatacelo in most of the voting precincts. Though SAKBAYAN maintains its own quick count, it was only when the official tally sheet was posted did Bañez felt certain of her winning.

Meanwhile, College Student Council (CSC) parties without contenders from the College of Agriculture, College of Development Communication, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, and College of Veterinary Medicine, were able to reach the required 50 percent plus one confidence vote to assume the position. Also, the Graduate School was able to re-establish its CSC this year, the first since 1995.

The newly elected USC and CSCs were officially inducted last Sept. 26 at the Makiling Ballroom Hall, Student Union Building. UP President Emerlinda Roman, Student Regent Shahana Abdulwahid, Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco, and College Secretaries of the different colleges attended the program.

IRREGULARITIESThough there were no formal

protests regarding the conduct and results of the elections, there were reports of irregularities such as the unexpected withdrawal of the candidacy of Sarah Salamat and Andrea Nagit for the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) councilor position less than a week after the start of the campaign period.

Faith Lumicao, BUKLOD-UPLB’s campaign manager for CAS, said they immediately removed the names of the two from their sample ballots and posters after they expressed their intention to withdraw from running.

Janet Dolor, head of the Student Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD), said Salamat and Nagit failed to submit a formal letter of withdrawal addressed to the CEB. As a result, their names were retained in the official list of candidates.

Meanwhile, Fuentes said the election started late during the first and the second day because of the delayed distribution of the ballot boxes, even while students have already lined up in the polling precincts to vote.

Dolor, however, refuted this and said that SOAD was set to deliver the ballot boxes as early as 7:30 a.m. the second day, but failed to do so because there were no volunteer students who will watch and guarantee for the “clean” transfer of ballot boxes. [P]

It’s 12-0 in favor of SAKBAYANOn USC-CSC elections,Christian Ray Buendia

2008 USC Elections Official Canvass of Votes

Bañez, Charisse Bernadine 4,590Gatacelo, Steven 1,530

Violeta, John Mark 3,389Calayag, Ernest Francis 2,400

Vice Chairperson

Chairperson Total Votes

CouncilorsBaracao, Mark Vincent 2,869Garcia, Ira Olivia 2,869Balon, John Lloyd 2,807Araja, Reynaldo 2,789Alub, Odraude 2,736Nuez, Jose Alberto 2,728Latiza, Christian Kevin 2,694Delos Santos, Maricris Cynthia 2,655Ng, Andrianne Mark 2,612Macalanda, Adrian Miki 2,552Javier, Samantha 2,121Cruz, Carlo Angelo 2,058Barrosa, Paul John 1,911Marasigan, Paul Christian 1,807Aves, Reynaldo Bernabe 1,741Frio, Adrian Angelo 1,729Sebastian, Mark Allan Paul 1,610Manalang, Karen 1,533Relente, Marvin Joseph 1,521Sopeña, Christopher Kenneth 1,521

70.54 percent voter turnoutone of the highest in recent history

Students made history last Sept. 10-11 in what could be the most participated election in UPLB’s post Martial Law years.

The plebiscite for the 1984 UPLB Student Council (SC) Constitution has achieved a 70.54 percent turnout with 7,261 total student participation, which surpassed the required 50 percent plus one votes for it to be valid.

Out of this turnout, 6,850 students cast an affirmative vote, 117 voted for “No” while 188 students abstained. The official turnout has included the 88 missing ballots from the plebiscite as based from the election ballots and accounts for the total student participation.

The 95.5 percent affirmative votes successfully ratified the 1984 SC Constitution. It exceeded the results of the plebiscite in

Rogene Gonzales August 1984, the first plebiscite held to ratify the 1984 SC Constitution, which gained 94.89 percent affirmative votes from 1,760 students.

With the success of the plebiscite, the Board of Regents approved the 1984 SC Constitution last Sept. 29 in UP Diliman.

SUCCESS OF THE PLEBISCITEFormer USC Chairperson

Leo ‘XL’ Fuentes stressed that though the ratification of the SC Constitution indeed spelled victory for students, support from the students should not end in merely “having a constitution.”

“Hangga’t nariyan ang komersalisasyon ng edukasyon, pagpapalayas [sic] sa tambayan, hindi pagrerecognize sa mga orgs, paglilimita sa aktibidad at iba pang isyung pangkampus, higit kinakailangan ng konseho ang

suporta ng mga estudyante,” he said.

As agreed upon by student leaders and the UP administration during the Aug. 4 dialogue in UP Diliman, the election ballots will be counted only upon ratification of the 1984 SC Constitution. Also, only after the release of the official tally for the plebiscite, which was on morning of Sept. 12, that the canvassing of the election ballots proceeded.

HIGHEST TURNOUT IN YEARSThis year’s voter turnout

increased by 29.57 percent from last year’s 40.97, making it the highest since the student council was re-established in the 1970’s.

Among the colleges with the highest turnout were the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR), College of Development Communication (CDC), and College of Veterinary Medicine

(CVM) with 81.77, 81.67, and 80.94 percent, respectively.

Student Regent Shahana Abdulwahid said the turnout could be the highest in recent history of the UP System.

“Pinatunayan ng UPLB na ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan ay nakikilahok sa mga issue na kinakaharap nila,” Abdulwahid stressed. She added that the UPLB students, through voting, have truly advanced student democratic rights.

Meanwhile, Fuentes said the repressive policies of the UPLB administration could be a factor for the increase in student participation. He also pointed out that students could not afford to lose student leaders who defend their rights.

“Isa itong patunay na hindi totoo ‘yung sinasabi ng UPLB admin na walang pakialam [ang mga estudyante],” he furthered.

Victory...ON PAGE 5

PAGTUDLA SA NAKARAAN.Muling ibinahagi ng mga miyembro ng mga militanteng grupo ang kanilang karanasan noong kasagsagan ng kapangyarihan ni Marcos. Nangangamba sila sa maaring pagkabuhay muli ng batas militar sa pinaplanong Charter Change ng rehimeng Arroyo.

3NEWS UPLB PerspectiveVOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008

Forum laban sa Cha-cha idinaosYves Christian Suiza

Isang forum ang idinaos ng Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties (MCCL), sa pakikipagtulungan ng mga progresibong grupo at mamamayan, upang ilahad umano ang mga “makasarili” at “mapanirang katotohanan” sa likod ng Charter Change (Cha-Cha) na isinusulong ni Gng. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Ang MCCL ay isang grupong binubuo ng mga mamamayan mula sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan na naglalayong protektahan ang interes ng mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan.

Pinamagatang “Cha-Cha: A Dictatorship in the Making,” ginanap ang forum noong ika-18 ng Setyembre sa Makiling Ballroom Hall sa Student Union Building.

Ilan sa nagbigay ng pahayag ukol sa Cha-cha ay sina dating Pangalawang Pangulong Teofisto Guingona at ilang miyembro ng Tagaytay 5, na naging biktima ng karahasan sa ilalim ng administrasyong Arroyo.

Dumalo rin sa nasabing forum ang tatlo sa mga estudyante ng Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) na inakusahan ng rebelyon. Pinaratangang rebelde sina Catherine Rufo, Eugene Nollas, at Jerome Obligar matapos maglabas umano ng mga pekeng litrato ang mga miyembro ng military.

Inilahad ni Guingona ang mga pangyayaring panloloko umano ng rehimeng Marcos na hindi

nagkakalayo sa pamamaraan ng rehimeng Arroyo sa pagmamani-obra na matuloy ang Cha-Cha sa kasalukuyan. Nangolekta umano ng pirma ang rehimeng Arroyo upang maipasa ang Cha-Cha ng hindi ipinapaliwanag sa mga pumirmang mamamayan ang implikasyon nito.

Ayon kay John Paulo Bautista, Deputy Secretary General ng ANAKBAYAN-TK, ang rehimeng Arroyo ay isang “hindi deklaradong Batas Militar,” hindi tulad ng rehimeng Marcos.

Ayon naman kay Glen Malabanan, Secreatary General ng KARAPATAN-TK na dinudukot, ginugulpi, at kinakasuhan umano ang mga nangangahas pumalag sa rehimeng Arroyo.

Nabanggit ni Axel Pinpin, miyembro ng Tagaytay 5, na ang unang magagawa at dapat gawin ng estudyante bago makialam ay umalam. Ito umano ang magiging basehan ng mga estudyante sa pagbuo ng konkretong desisyon.

Ayon kay Aries Sarmiento, nagtapos ng BS Agriculture sa UPLB at miyembro ng Tagaytay 5, walang nagbago umano sa mga polisiya ng panunupil na ipinapatupad ng estado mula noong diktaturyang Marcos hanggang sa kasalukuyan. “Kung may nagbago man, siguro ‘yun ay kung dati lalaki ang pangulo natin, ngayon ay babae na,” pabiro niyang binanggit.

“Kung ano ‘yung lala ng sitwasyon sa ilalim ng 1987 Constitution, higit pa itong sasahol kapag nagkaroon ng Cha-Cha,” dagdag pa niya.

Habang namumulat ang mga estudyante, malaking papel umano ang ginagampanan ng mga ito sa pagmumulat ng buong bayan, pahayag niya.

“Ang Cha-Cha mismo ay banta sa kabuhayan ng buong lipunan, banta sa karapatan ng buong sambayanan, at banta sa nalalabing patrimonya ng bansang Pilipinas,” diin ni Sarmiento.

Bilang pagtatapos, nagdaos ng isang candle lighting ceremony ang mga lumahok sa harap ng Humanities Building bitbit ang panawagan ng grupong tutulan ang Cha-Cha. [P]

GS to increase tuitionnext academic yearEstel Lenwij Estropia with reports from Andrea Velasquez

Disappointed by promotion resultsAcademic staff appeals to RomanYves Christian Suiza

PHOTO KARL SUMINISTRADO

The Graduate School (GS) administration is set to implement a 20-percent-per- unit increase in tuition starting academic year 2009-2010.

Dr. Maria Cristeta Cuaresma, GS College Secretary, said the initial plan was to base the increase on the ‘popularity’ of the courses being offered, which means that courses with a larger number of enrolees would have higher increases.

However, after a series of consultations with GS students last Aug. 13-27, the administration has decided to implement equal tuition and other fees increase (ToFI) regardless of the course graduate students are taking.

Cuaresma said inflation is one of the reasons for implementing ToFI. “Yung actual cost na binabayad nila dati, kung baga ngayon, hindi na sufficient to cover prices na dapat sinusuportahan ng tuition fee,” she related.

She said the ToFI of the GS came after the implementation of the tuition and fees increase of the undergraduates. The tuition of graduate and undergraduate programs in UPLB is currently pegged at PhP 1000 per unit.

In terms of miscellaneous fee, the undergraduates pay PhP 2000 while the graduate students pay 1016 Php, almost half of what the undergraduates are paying according to Cuaresma.

“Mas malaki talaga ang expense in putting up a graduate class than an undergraduate class,” she stressed.

Cuaresma also said that they compared the actual cost in other

institutions that are offering the same programs as the GS of UPLB.

In UP Diliman, the tuition fee of graduate students ranges from PhP 1500-2000 per unit while in UP Manila, graduate students pay 990 Php per unit.

Prior to the increase, there has already been a ToFI in academic year 2003-2004. From PhP 600 per unit, the tuition increased to PhP 800 by the first semester of 2003, followed by another PhP 200 increase by the first semester of 2004, making it PhP 1000 per unit.

Bert Salang, who is taking up his doctorate in Soil Science, said graduate students have been consulted even before the plan for the increase has been submitted.

He said those who were able to attend the consultations agreed with the conditions incorporated in the ToFI since they deemed them justifiable.

He said the current tuition fee of the GS in UPLB is lower compared with other private institutions of higher learning such as Ateneo De Manila University and De La Salle University.

Salang also pointed out that 85 percent of the 903 graduate students found the increase acceptable because they have scholarships.

However, Lizt Soriano, MS Development Communication student, said some graduate students were unaware of the consultations conducted and find the ToFI plan a burden especially those who are not grantees of any scholarships.

“Bihira lang ang population ng walang scholarship. Napakaliit lang ng voice namin if ever magprotest kami,” Soriano stressed. [P]

Headed by the All-UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU), faculty and staff of different colleges expressed disappointment on the changes made in the promotion system for academic personnel.

AUPAEU President Theodore Mendoza said he finds the promotion procure “unfair and should not be applied on all faculty and staff.” He added that it was “non-transparent” and “non-flexible” for all faculty members.

Mendoza said the promotion procedure heavily concentrated on research works and publication releases of faculty members, which is inapplicable to other faculty members’ line of work.

“For instance, in CAS (College of Arts and Sciences), they (faculty members) have heavier teaching load compared to other colleges such as CA (College of Agriculture). How else would they do research, which had been a huge basis for promotion?” he said.

Dr. Corazon Rapera, an associate professor at the College of Economics and Management (CEM), said a “change of rules in the middle of the game” arose because changes were made only after the documents of faculty members have been submitted. Faculty members did not have enough time to respond to these new requirements, she said.

She added that during the promotion process, the Academic Personnel Board (APB), the evaluator in the promotion process, did not present any document or progress report. Rapera explained that the APB released the documents too late for those who were affected to appeal.

Mendoza and Rapera would like the recommendations from departments and colleges to be given more consideration by the APB in evaluating promotions since the division knows more about the scholarly merits of their constituent’s works.

Dr. Enrico Supangco, Vice

Chancellor for Research and Extension and a member of the APB, stated that their College Academic Personnel Committees (APC) are informed about the problems regarding the documents of the faculty and staff who were considered for promotion.

Concerning the incompatibility of the criteria on all faculty, he said, “We know that not all faculty members could comply, that is why we formulated equivalents that relates to their line of work.” As an example, Supangco, said that in CAS, if faculty members cannot publish a journal, they must have an equivalent of at least five lead roles in plays.

Last May 29, the Office of the Chancellor released the guidelines for promotion of faculty members having the criteria for Teaching, Scholarly or Creative Work (Research), Service or Extension (participation and activities), and Professional growth.

Supangco said these Disappointed...ON PAGE 5

NEWSUPLB Perspective4 VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008

Parties relate campaigns strategiesOn the most widely-participated electionsNikko Angelo Oribiana with reports from Yves Christian Suiza

Behind the 70.54% voter turnout in the elections, students may wonder how the two political parties had been able to push through successfully with their campaigns. And for you to get to know better how the student leaders prepared for the election campaign, Perspective interviewed BUKLOD-UPLB and Samahan ng Kabataan para sa Bayan (SAKBAYAN).CHOOSING THE TORCH BEARERS

BUKLOD-UPLB Elections Committee Head Charis Madelaine Ebao said BUKLOD is a “political organization apart from [being a] political party. All these leaders are already trained, even whether they will enter campus politics or not.”

Also a head of BUKLOD Elections Committee Laarni Tellano related that “they interviewed the candidates and asked them why they are interested to run.

Meanwhile Maria Elena Carlos, College of Arts and Sciences SAKBAYAN campaign manager, said that their candidates were chosen not only because they fit to the qualifications for candidacy but also based from their willingness to embrace and push for SAKBAYAN principles. Further, she mentioned these principles by saying, “‘yung

tutulan ang mga polisiyang represibo [at] tutulan ang komersiyalisasyon ng edukasyon natin.”

Carlos added that SAKBAYAN candidates conducted educational discussions to sharpen their views on issues in and out of the university.

APPROACH TO STUDENTSFor the elections to be

successful, the two parties utilize various means such as giving out fliers, placing posters, sending text messages, and conducting room-to-room announcements to achieve the widest student participation in the elections.

Likewise, both parties presented their General Program of Action (GPOA) to the students which summarize their ideals and plans.

The BUKLOD candidates formulated the GPOA as

their framework on how they will serve the majority of the students.

“Nag-meet lahat ng mga kandidato, nag-brainstorming one night, actually for several days and they came up with the platform,” she added.

BUKLOD adopted as its general propaganda line this year “Activism redefined,” which standard bearer Steven Gatacelo explained thus: “sa ika-isandaang taon ng UP pansin natin may kumulang, may sumobra at ‘yun yung inaaddress natin sa activism redefined. Through the changing context of the Philippine setting, gusto nating mabago yung approach ng individual in addressing questions in the society.”

Meanwhile, SAKBAYAN over-all campaign manager Rula Yael Gongora said the contents of

their general program of action (GPOA) did not change much since last elections.

“Basically naman parehas pa rin ‘yung problema sa edukasyon, parehas pa rin ‘yung situation ng education system [kaya hindi masyado nagbago ng GPOA],” she furthered.

She added that their propaganda line “Tuparin ang daantaong hamon sa mga Iskolar ng Bayan: Itaguyod ang demokratikong karapatan at edukasyong naglilingkod sa sambayanan,” aims at challenging the students to defend their democratic rights to education as UP enters its second century of existence.

ELECTIONS ASSESSMENTEven with different ways of

analyzing and addressing campus issues, the two parties became united on convincing students to

participate in the elections.Gatacelo said the elections

had not only been the fight of the parties but also the fight of the entire studentry for democratic rights. Even with the conflicts and the hardships in reaching out the students, he related that the election is still a successful one.

While for Charisse Bernadine Bañez, standard bearer of SAKBAYAN and now the University Student Council Chairperson-elect, the voter turnout manifest that the students want to have an autonomous, democratic, and representative student council.

“Ang sagot lagi’t lagi sa pagpapakilos ng mga estudyante ay ‘yung paglubog mismo o ang pagintegrate mismo sa mga estudyante, hindi naman natin sila napaboto dahil sa mga poster at teasers, napaboto natin sila dahil sa personal na pagpapaabot sa kanila,” she added. [P]

SAKBAYAN calls for‘Defend Chaba’ campaignNikko Angelo Oribiana

The complaint of “gross misconduct and deliberate discourtesy” filed by five college secretaries against University Student Council (USC) Chairperson-elect Charisse Bernadine Bañez has elevated to a formal charge.

Bañez received the formal charge on Sept. 12 together with the notice for hearing dated Sept. 18.

CALL FOR SUPPORT.Outside the walls of the Student Disciplinary Tribunal, the USC Chairperson-elect calls on students to uphold the gains of UPLB in its recent elections. Bañez was a keyplayer in the students’ campaign that lead to the successful ratification of the 1984 UPLB Student Council Constitution.

In response to this complaint, supporters of Bañez held a picket simultaneous with the Sept. 18 hearing of the Student Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).

DEFEND CHABAThe Samahan ng Kabataan

para sa Bayan (SAKBAYAN) organized the picket, calling for the SDT to junk the formal charge

filed against Bañez.Former USC Chairperson

Leo ‘XL’ Fuentes said the formal charge lacks basis because the CEB meeting follows parliamentary proceedings where everyone is given equal footing to guarantee democratic and intelligent debate.

Students that attended the picket peaked at 50, which

included former USC and CSC councilors and volunteers and student organizations such as League of Filipino Students (LFS), Anakbayan-UPLB, Gabriela Youth, Kapatirang Plebians, Computer Science, Applied Physics, and Statistics (CPS) Triangle, and Computer Science Society (COSS).

Fuentes added that the purpose why students hold picket simultaneous with a dialogue or proceeding is to add pressure to the administrators.

“Hindi sila (administrators) pwedeng gumawa ng maling hakbang, para parusahan, gipitin, [at] i-harass si Chaba (Bañez), kasi lagi’t lagi nandiyan ‘yung mga estudyante na kanyang nirerepresent,” Fuentes said.

He added that this case is “politically motivated” given that Bañez has just been newly elected as USC Chairperson.

Laurence Marvin Castillo, BA Communication Arts ’06 and a member of Kapatirang Plebeians from which Bañez is also a member, said that “sana suportahan natin yung mga ganitong pagkilos kasi para rin naman ito sa mga kapwa nating estudyante, at ipinaglalaban lang naman nating mga estudyante kung ano ang sa palagay natin ay tama.”

COMPLAINT TO FORMAL CHARGEAs of press time, the SDT is

set to resume its cross examination

of witnesses on Oct. 13. The SDT has held it preliminary cross examination last Oct. 6.

Bañez’ charge stemmed from the Feb. 6 Central Electoral Board (CEB) meeting, which followed the parliamentary procedure, where she allegedly “disrespectfully addressed members of the CEB.”

The five college secretaries who filed the complaint are, Prof. Myra Borines (CEAT), Dr. Benjamin Reuel Marte (CVM), Dr. Agnes Banzon (CEM), Dr. Mutya Manalo (CFNR), and former college secretary Prof. Lolita Vega (CDC).

In the July 11 preliminary inquiry for Bañez, the formal charge was scheduled on August. However, among the five college secretaries, Borines was the only one who was able to attend.

BAÑEZ’ STAND

According to Atty. Capulong, Bañez’ legal representative, the university should appreciate student leaders who can explain and defend the principles of the 1984 USC constitution.

Bañez said that “naninindigan tayo na wala naman tayong ginawang mali doon sa CEB meeting at hindi talaga dapat panghinaan ng loob dahil tumindig lang tayo doon sa constitution and therefore dun sa popular will ng mga estudyante ng panahong iyon.” [P]

PHOTO KARL SUMINISTRADO

h

5UPLB PerspectiveVOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008NEWS

DAY TWO TURNOUT BOOSTAt the end of the first day of

voting, quick counts revealed only 36 percent turnout. Surprisingly, the turnout improved on the second day of the elections despite only four remaining hours for voting.

Maria Theresa Ortiguero, BS Civil Engineering ’05, emphasized the massive number of text messages she received from fellow students during the night of Sept. 10 calling for students to vote for the elections.

“Masayang malaman na

may pakialam pa rin ang mga estudyante although ‘yung Feb[ruary] Fair lang talaga concern ng iba noon,” she explained.

However, Yka, who requested anonymity, said she failed to vote because she was not informed that the second day of elections was only up to 12 noon.

COLLECTIVE EFFORTBUK-UPLB standard bearer

Steven Gatacelo said that the ratification of the 1984 SC

Victory...FROM PAGE 2

Mussaenda hybrid named after RomanCzarina Mae Lajara with reports from Yves Christian Suiza

A new variety of Mussaenda flower was named after UP President Emerlinda Roman by the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) in a program of recognition held last Aug. 26.

Mussaenda ‘Emerlinda R. Roman’ was officially released in celebration of UP’s Centennial and in honor of the university’s first female president.

Mussaenda is a flowering shrub that usually grows in tropical countries and thrives in a wide range of soil may it be on pots or directly on the soil. It blossoms all-year round and is used by landscape artists in most tropical countries, IPB described.

According to Dr. Monina Siar, a professor in the College of Agriculture (CA), Mussaendas are bred and traditionally named by the IPB after the Philippine First Ladies, affixing the term ‘Doña’ to them.

Varieties named after first ladies are Mussaenda Doña Aurora, named after First Lady Aurora Aragon-Quezon, Mussaenda Doña Leonila after First Lady Leonila Dimataga- Garcia, and Mussaenda Doña Evangelina after First Lady Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal.

Mussaendas are also labeled after Filipino names like ‘Paraluman’ and ‘Lakambini’ to show nationalism.

Last 2006, a hybrid of Mussaenda was named after Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Mussaenda ‘Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’ was the first hybrid named after a Philippine president.

Based on online UPLB CA reports, Mussaenda ‘Emerlinda R. Roman’ is a flower-bearing shrub officially registered in the National Seed Industry Council. Its parent-plant is the Mussaenda ‘Doña Esperanza’.

The plant produces many stems with large white bracts surrounding the cadmium orange flower in the center and has medium-green leaves.

“I was deeply honored na ipinangalan sa akin ‘yung halaman. Ang halaman, continuing iyan, hindi nalalanta, hindi nawawala sa uso. One of the highest honors that a person can get is to have a plant named after you,” Roman said.

Dr. Siar also described the Mussaenda as having characteristics similar to that of Roman’s.

“Very sturdy [‘yung bulaklak]. ‘Yung iba kasing Mussaenda, kapag humangin o naulanan ng malakas, lupaypay na. Siya hindi, nakatindig pa rin siya,” Dr. Siar related.

The CA started breeding Mussaenda varieties in 1948 and was continued by the ornamental breeders of IPB. [P]

Campaign on student agenda intensifiesKatrina Elauria

Supangco said these guidelines were the same guidelines used in the past promotions. “Before the process, there was a review of guidelines by all colleges, why did they not react [then]?” he added.

“The only change i can remember is the request of CAS to add equivalents for certain criterion for fairness to all faculty members,” Supangco clarified.

He added that resolution will be presented to Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco to evaluate each candidate depending on the quality of work done by all candidates for all position.

Last July 28, the AUPAEU sent a letter of appeal to UP

Disappointed...FROM PAGE 3President Emerlinda Roman regarding the merit-based promotion process.

Stated in the appeal were demands for changes in the promotion procedures and criteria for it to be made more democratic and not implemented on short notices.

Roman responded through a letter saying that the merit promotion was based on previous decisions made on the allocation of the promotion fund. She said the promotion process will have flexibility design to the faculty member’s own compensation structure through the new UP Charter. [P]

Constitution was a “collective effort where everyone did their part.”

“Grabe ‘yung consciousness na meron ang mga estudyante… alam ko ‘yung mga ilan doon ay hindi sila bumoto for the election itself, ‘yung iba bumoto na lang for the plebiscite,” he said.

USC Chairperson-elect Charisse Bernadine Bañez stressed that the turnout manifests that the UPLB students reaffirmed their support to the student councils. [P]

Last Sept. 23, University Student Council (USC) Chairperson-elect Charisse Bernadine Bañez, along with student leaders from Diliman, Manila, and Baguio presented to UP President Emerlinda Roman the collated student agenda from each UP unit.

The UPLB student agenda has been included in the final report submitted by the search committee for UPLB Chancellor selection. The Office of the Student Regent (OSR) raised the agenda during the Sept. 29 Board of Regents (BOR) meeting in UP Diliman where Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco was selected as the next UPLB chancellor.

Prior to this, the OSR submitted to the BOR a list of 18 student demands last July 31. Roman, despite declaring that she could not directly intervene with the issues presented, and that it should be discussed with

the Chancellors of the different UP units, expressed her support on the demands of the studentry. UPLB was then clamoring for the immediate conduct of council elections. Roman had also noted then that the list had been found to lean much on the concerns of UP Diliman students, and not of the whole UP System.

The UPLB-USC and College Student Councils (CSCs) conducted a series of college-based consultations that started last August to collate issues and demands of students, student organizations and institutions that constituted the student agenda.

Some of the issues students raised during the consultations are the problems regarding large lecture class, tambayan phase-out, non-recognition of student organizations and autonomy of student institutions.

Former USC Chairperson Leo “XL” Fuentes said, “Mahalaga

‘yung student agenda dahil tampok doon [‘yung mga] napapanahong issue na kinahaharap ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan [na] nangangailangan ng immediate na pagtugon ng administrasyon.”

Some of the major concerns discussed in the Sept. 23 dialogue were the issues of student organizations like the execution of the 2005 UP Code as a basis for the policies of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), high rental rates of university facilities, and tambayan phase-out. Other issues that were brought up include the need for student representation in executive committees of the university and the proper use of laboratory fees to compensate for the maintenance and acquisition of facilities.

Last Oct. 8, the USC convened with the OSA Director Severino Cuevas to comprehensively tackle the content of the student agenda and present them to Velasco.

As of press time, the USC is requesting for a dialogue with Velasco regarding the student demands. [P]

SILIPSAKABUTENi Karl Suministrado

Noong ika-11 ng Setyembre, iniutos ng Calamba City Regional Trial Court ang malawakang demolisyon ng komunidad ng Barangay Real, Sitio Kabute. Sa kabila ng kanilang mga kilos-protesta, kinamkam pa rin ng Metrobank ang lupain. Nitong ika-13 ng Oktubre, humigit-kumulang 200 residente ang tuluyan ng nawalan ng tirahan makalipas ang halos tatlong dekada nilang pamamalagi sa Kabute. [P]

FEATURESUPLB Perspective6 VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008

Window #2: Late Registration FeeFor the last three years students

were liberated from paying a late registration fee. Perhaps, you just don’t bother to ask where now are the payments you paid before (at least from batches before the years the said fee was removed), for it would provide another reason for you to scratch your head in exasperation.

“...Ang Change of Matriculation Fee ay 200 plus yata...siguro sa mga maintenance (electric fan etc.) napupunta...”-Prof. Mabini DG Dizon

WINDOW #3: Change of Matriculation Fee

A student who never laid eyes on a Form 26 must truly be a rara avis, what with the constant dearth of teachers and classrooms in the university. Those who belong to dissolved sections, or those who cancelled subjects, as well as those who have to showcase talent to earn the teacher’s favor must pay for a change of matriculation fee – and, again, contribute to the maintenance of facilities in the campus. “Basta ang energy and internet fee, on hold pa kasi may binigay na memo ang UP president (Roman) na ‘wag muna ‘yun gamitin sa ngayon.” –Ms. Joan Mendoza, UPLB Chief Accountant

WINDOW #6: National Training Program Fee

The components of National Service Training Program (NSTP) are the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and Literacy Training Service (LTS). You must take up least one of these components and pay P 1,500 for it; yet, you still have to pay for things like insurance (that is actually required in the course), film showings and play tickets. However, Medina said the latest tickets paid by students for a play are investment for next years’ equipment.

WINDOW#4: Energy FeeIncluded in the increased

miscellaneous fee is the energy fee (that is currently on hold). By far, only the UP administration knows and handles the keeping- and you, you see, can do nothing but ask as you wait for the next power interruption.

“Yung LOA fee ay P 150... kalimitang nag-avail (ng LOA) ay ‘yung may mga problema financially...”-Prof. Mabini DG Dizon

WINDOW #9: Leave of Absence Fee

When time comes that you find your pocket already emptied by augmented fees, you’ll decide to temporarily leave the academe and find some source of income to shore up your schooling if ever you decided to come back. Accomplishing papers for a Leave of Absence (LOA), however, is not as fast and easy as taking order in a fast food restaurant. It is not something that can be attained through plain papers and signatures for even by the time you try to free yourself from payments you can no longer afford, still, you are required to pay.

WINDOW #10: Pay and RegisterA form 5 is a piece of paper that

is provided neither only to be folded and inserted in a wallet nor only to be presented to professors and instructors during the first week of classes. As you lay your eyes on your Form 5, you must ponder the weight of the amount you brought out from your wallet for your own education. Consider the money pulled out from the emptying pockets of the Filipino people in paying taxes that should definitely, like these fees, be fully returned to them. After all, the admonition about not having money-bearing trees in your backyard resounds to convey government’s deteriorating subsidy for education. [P]

WINDOW#8: HUM 2 Laboratory FeeIt’s just amazing and quite

intriguing that there are students who were able to pass the course without being able to touch even an LCD projector or a CD player in a HUM 2 class, aside from being able to sit in an air-conditioned classroom.

“Kasi hindi naman lahat 200 o 300 kung tutuusin nga dapat ito (fee for Devcom 140) gagawin na naming 500, eh. Kasi magastos ‘yon, ‘yung training napakagastos n’yan. Kasi nga nire-revise nga siya in such a way na digital na.” –Dean Cleofe Torres, College of Development Communication

WINDOW #7: Fees for DevCom Writing Laboratories

The dean of the College of Development Communication said the unused writing laboratories fees are used to defray the high cost of DevCom 140 class equipment and supplies such as chemicals, film and other photography stuffs. It is inevitable though, at least for those who are spending less than the amount they paid, to ask why they have to subsidize higher laboratory subjects through their payments.

WINDOW #5: Internet Fee If you think that your Internet fee

in the main library is a spare from your payment, you’re thinking wrongly. For the moment, you should wait as to when and how this fee will be utilized – or think if it will be availed the same way as the band aid 20-hour free internet being given for one whole semester (for batches ’07 and present).

“Hindi namin ginagastos ang pera [NSTP fee] para sa Pahinungod-related projects kasi may sarili naman kaming pondo at hindi rin kami papayagan na gamitin iyon para sa Pahinungod kasi para lang iyon sa mga estudyante...ang pondo ng ROTC, LTS, at CWTS ay hawak talaga ng admin. Hindi sila pumapayag ‘pag hindi related sa NSTP.” –Dr. Jose Medina, Bahay ng Pahinungod (BNP) Director

Wherehave all the

feesgone?

Where...FROM PAGE 1

GRAPHICS KERVIN GABILOWORDS LIBERTY NOTARTE

LAYOUT ALETHEIA GRACE DEL ROSARIO

“Generally, ‘yung mga equipment and papers na kailangan ng students, basically, doon napupunta ‘yung mga fees na ‘yun; at sa maintenance din ng equipment like LCD projectors, CD and DVD players and aircon...” –Prof. Maria Teresa Arejola, Head Music and Visual Arts

ANG BANTA AT HAMON SA MGA BAGONG ISKOLAR NG BAYANIsang rebyu sa “Isko’t Iska 2008: Tuition Impossible”

Sa pagkuha pa lamang ng UPCAT, pinili na ng isang estudyanteng maging bahagi ng pambansang unibersidad ng Pilipinas. Bahagi

nito ang pagkilala sa kulturang mayroon ang unibersidad. At

sa pagtuntong niya sa UPLB, may panibago at mas mabigat na

desisyon siyang kailangang gawin: Ano nga ba ang maaari kong gawin upang pagsilbihan ang unibersidad na kumupkop sa akin?

Ang pagtatanghal ng Isko’t Iska ay hindi

lamang nagsisilbing “survival guide” para sa mga estudyante; ito rin ay nagmumulat ng kamalayan sa

kung ano talaga ang nagaganap sa unibersidad.

Sa malikhaing pagtatampok ng mga isyu, naipaintindi

sa mga manonood

ang kanilang mga

kakaharaping suliranin sa magaan na

pamamaraan.Sa ika-30

na produksyon ng Isko’t Iska, pinaksa dito ang saya at

mga suliranin ng isang

7CULTURE UPLB PerspectiveVOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008

SALITA JONELLE MARIN | DISENYO NG PAHINA SALVATORRE DE VINCE OLANO| DIBUHO CHINO CARLO ARICAYA

freshman sa UPLB. Tinalakay din ang maaaring maging problema ng mga estudyante sa mga susunod na taon ng pamamalagi niya sa unibersidad tulad ng pagkuha ng prerog at pagreregister gamit ang SystemOne. Ang lalaking bida na si Isko ay nanggaling sa isang kapus-palad na pamilya, kung saan kinailangang ibenta ang kanyang mga alagang kambing para lamang may pantustos sa kanyang matrikula sa UPLB. Samantalang ang bidang babae na si Iska ay nanggaling pa sa taong 2108 kung saan ang UPLB ay isa nang larawan ng makabagong teknolohiya ngunit kahirapan para sa mga guro.

Sa pagbabalik ni Iska sa taong 2008, nakiusap siya sa Isko ng kasalukuyan na kumilos upang mapigilan ang tuluyang pagkasira ng unibersidad. Ito ang nagsisilbing panawagan sa lahat ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan na kailangan nang masolusyonan ang mga kasalukuyang suliranin upang hindi ito matulad sa kinahantungan ng UPLB sa taong 2108, ayon sa palabas.

Mula sa “termite-infested” na dormitoryo, “amoy-amag” na mga libro sa library, hanggang sa Tuition and other Fees Increase (ToFI) at komersalisasyon ng edukasyon, naibuod ng programa ang mga kakaharapin ng mga estudyante ng UPLB. Ngunit tulad ng mga libro at dormitoryo, patuloy na aamagin at aanayin ang mga isyu na ito kung hindi pakikialamanan. At ang isang malinaw na mensahe ng produksyon ay ang matagumpay na kahahantungan ng sama-samang partisipasyon at pakikialam na nag-uugat sa magandang hangarin para sa unibersidad at sa mga kapwa iskolar.

Ang isa pang kabutihang dulot ng programang Isko’t Iska ay ang pagtulong nito sa pagdedesisyon natin kung ano ang ating maibibigay sa unibersidad

kapalit ng edukasyong ating tinatamasa mula rito.

At malinaw itong naipahayag ng

produksyon. Ito ay ang aktibong partisipasyon sa lahat ng hakbanging tuwirang makaaapekto sa ating mga iskolar ng bayan, ngayon at sa mga susunod pang henerasyon – bagay na hindi matutumbasan ng kahit na anong halagang dagdag sa matrikula. At ang partisipasyon at pakikibaka upang mas mapabuti ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng unibersidad ay isa lamang sa marami na maaar i at dapat nat ing gawin upang masukl ian ang mga mamamayang P i l ip inong nagpapaaral sa at in.

Kung sa ganito kaagang panahon namumulat ang mga estudyante sa kahalagahan ng edukasyon at partisipasyon, marahil ay abot-kamay natin ang pagbabago. At kung ang ituturing nating simula ng pagbabago ay ang kasalukuyan, marahil ay hindi na maituturing na banta ang mga isyung ating kakaharapin, bagkus ito ay hamon na patuloy nating

pagtatagumpayan. [P]

Kasabay ng dumadagundong na palakpakan at tawanan sa bawat linyang binitawan ng mga nagsipagganap sa “Isko’t Iska 2008: Tuition Impossible,” sumalubong ang mga mabibigat na isyu sa mga bagong Iskolar ng Bayan. Sa pagsisimula ng kanilang pananahan sa UPLB, magsisilbing parehong banta at hamon ang mga katotohanang ito na kanilang haharapin bilang mga Iskolar ng Bayan ng bagong henerasyon.

CULTUREUPLB Perspective8 VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008

*Mahilig Akong Umupo sa Ilalim ng Puno

Is Megan insane? Who killed Sid? Will this be the end for the Backseat Kiss? There must be an explanation for all of this.

“You must be kidding!”

I didn’t know that I still have the strength to shout after all that had happened. It has been a long day for all of us and this is the by far the weirdest day of my life. And by this time, I am very, very tired.

All fingers point to me. Getting into an argument with them would be useless and I don’t have the energy to do that either.

Bitterness feeds on fear. Of things that was long ago locked away in the darkest room inside people’s heads. It delves on things kept in the deepest, darkest, corners of that room — broken objects that one can’t get rid of.Bitterness remembers to forget what seems to be impossibly forgettable.

Now the question is: Whose bitterness killed Sid? I am pretty sure it was not his own.

There are two people who died in this room today. Obviously, the first was Sid. Poor boy. Stabbed to death with a blunt object. Yes! I agree. Bitterness is the bluntest object I know. I laughed again. I don’t know how I found humor in Sid’s death. Bitterness is surprisingly funny at times.

Bitterness Killed Sid

They must have gone insane.

After all these years of working together I can’t believe the Backseat Kiss did this to me. I laughed a little as snapshots of happy memories flood my mind. No! This is not the time to reminisce.

All of them must think I have gone mad.

I laughed more.As I breathed in, the air tasted like pure black coffee, the kind I drink during long nights of gigs, as I waited for the band to finish performing. Oh! The bitterness in the room — the succulent smell that will eventually suck all the sanity out of us. Maybe this killed Sid —the very same bitterness that I am breathing right now and is lingering in my mouth.

The other person would have to experience death everyday, enduring stabs by the very same blunt bitterness that killed Sid.

“Megan, aren’t you going to defend yourself?”

I was violently jolted back to reality. It was Ian. I didn’t notice that I was just standing there for a couple of minutes.

“Defend myself from what? It wasn’t me. It was Bitterness who killed Sid.” [P]

-----*Mahilig Akong Umupo sa Ilalim ng Puno is in awe of grass. Bitterness once killed her but Profound Love, the Creator of grass and all thingswonderful saved her.

Plano ko noong mag-aral sa isang prestihiyosong film school sa Cebu o kaya naman ay mag-aral ng musika sa

isang unibersidad sa Espanya na madalas bahain. Sa totoo lang, mas napaghandaan ko pa ang pagbagsak sa UPCAT kaysa ang pagpasa rito.

Naniniwala akong may dahilan kung bakit napapadpad ang isang tao sa kanyang kinaroroonan. Kung kaya, parehong nakatutuwa at nakatatawa ang pagbabalik- tanaw at pagbibilang ng mga dahilan kung bakit nandito ako ngayon sa unibersidad.

Magkasalong kahel at rosas ang kulay ng kalangitan nang sumakay ako ng bus mula Ayala pabalik ng Cavite. Inaasahan ko na ang isang nakababagot at mahabang biyahe dahil siguradong mabigat ang daloy ng trapiko. Rush hour kasi. Hindi ko alintana ang ganitong klase ng biyahe. Malamig naman sa loob ng bus, tamang-tama para sa ilang oras na pagtulog.

Usap-usapan noong hapong iyon ang paglabas ng resulta ng UPCAT. Ngunit natalo ng pagod ang kabang nararamdaman ko. Kinanlong ng masikip na upuan ng bus ang aking katawang gusto nang magpahinga. Nagsilbing uyayi sa aking pandinig ang mga ingay sa loob ng bus mula sa mga taong nagkukwentuhan at sa pelikulang “Interview with the Vampire” na ipinapalabas sa loob nito.

Naputol ang sandali kong pamamahinga nang tumunog ang aking cellphone. May isang mensahe mula sa kaeskwela ko noong high school.

“F8, pending case k s UP.”Pending case. Isang katagang hindi ko agad

naunawaan. Nang lumaon, nalaman ko na kung bakit ako napabilang sa may mga ganoong kaso. At nang matanggap ko nga ang sulat mula sa Office of Admissions, napatunayan kong pending case nga ako at may mga grado pa akong kailangang ipasa upang malaman kung natanggap ba talaga ako sa unibersidad.

Ilang beses din akong nagpabalik-balik sa Diliman para alamin kung sa aling campus ako papasok at kung ano ang aking kurso.

Nakapapaso ang sikat ng araw sa pangalawang beses kong pagpunta sa Diliman. Nalaman kong nilipat nila ang Office of Admissions sa isang lugar na hindi dinaraanan ng parehong Ikot at Toki. Noong umagang iyon, naranasan ko ang hindi

pangkaraniwang pagod. Kakaiba ang UP dahil sa pinakaunang pagkakataon sa buhay ko, nakadama ako ng pag-iisa sa gitna ng maraming tao. Dito ko nakita ang unang imahe ng UP.

Pupungay-pungay pa ang aking mga mata nang magsimulang

masira ang aking araw. Sadyang hindi ko

maunawaan kung ano man ang itinuturo ng propesor na nasa

unahan. Nakita ko ang aking sariling nakaupo sa isang malaking silid kasama

ang mahigit sandaang estudyante. Iisa lang ang propesor at umaasa lang siya sa tulong ng kanyang PowerPoint presentation upang maituro sa lahat ang mga konsepto ng mga letra’t numero. Alam kong hindi ako papasa sa klaseng ito. Hindi na ako nagulat nang natanggap ko ang una kong singko.

Sa pagkakataong ito, nakita ko ang pangalawang imahe: ang imahe na nagpakita na hindi pala madali ang mga bagay-bagay sa unibersidad. Mataas ang standards. Hirap na hirap akong umintindi ng mga numero, mas pinahirap pa ito ng large lecture class set-up.

Sa pangatlong imahe, nakatayo ako kasama ang mga taong nakaitim at taas- kamaong isinisigaw ang mga katagang nagpapahayag na salot ang naipatupad na Tuition and Other Fee Increases o ToFI. Nagsilbing alaala sa aking pakikibaka ang markang “Junk ToFI” sa aking kaliwang braso.

“Tuition fee increase ni Roman: Salot. Talagang salot. Kasalut-salutan!” Isinigaw ko ang mga salitang ito ng buong puso at buong lakas—buong araw. Nagmarka hindi lang sa aking braso kundi pati sa aking isip ang pinakauna kong rally

FAITH ALLYSON BUENACOSA

Sa pagdiriwang ng sentenaryo ng UP, magbalik-tanaw tayo sa mga karanasan nating mga nagiging bagong iskolar ng bayan --ang mga freshman. Ating halukayin ang mga

natatagong kwentong nagpapatotoo sa samu’t-saring karanasan mula sa paghahanap ng TBA rooms, hanggang sa pagpila sa SU para sa diskwento sa matrikula.

Isang Taong Dami

ng mgaImahe sa

Unibersidad na

Minarkahan ng Pagtaas ng

Matrikula

KWENTONG FRESHIEat ang pakikibaka ng mga kapwa ko estudyante upang ipakita sa Board of Regents ang pagtutol sa ToFI.

Sumama man sa pagtatapos ng araw na iyon ang rally na aking dinaluhan, hindi natupok ang apoy na sinilaban ng araw na iyon sa aking kamalayan. Maaring natapos ang mobilisasyong iyon ngunit iyon ang silbing simulain ng mahabang pakikibakang patuloy na sumasagupa sa mga isyung katulad ng ToFI. Mula noong araw na iyon, iba’t-iba at napakarami ng mga imahe ng unibersidad ang aking nakita. Mula noon, hindi ko na ipinikit ang aking mga mata.

Mula nang pumasok ako sa UP hanggang sa kasalukuyan, pinipilit kayanin ng aking pamilya ang pagbabayad ng matrikulang nagkakahalaga ng mahigit P20,000 kada semestre. Tatlong semestre na itong kinakaya ng aking pamilya at walang kasiguraduhan kung hanggang kailan namin ito kayang gawin. Mapalad na ako sa lagay na ito. Ang iba kong batchmates ay maaga nang nagpaalam sa pangarap nilang edukasyong UP dahil sa hindi nila kayang bayaran ang sobrang mahal na matrikula.

Nakalulungkot na naging marka ng Batch 2007 na aking kinabibilangan ang pagbabayad ng mataas na matrikula, kasama ang mga hirap at pasakit na idinulot nito.

Ang sentemyentong ito ay hindi lamang para sa akin kundi para rin sa karamihan, kung hindi man sa lahat, na kabilang sa Batch 2007 na halos naglaho ang pag-asang makapag-aral sa UP dahil sa mataas na matrikula. Isa lamang ito sa libu-libong kwento ng aking batch. Ang iba sa mga kwentong ito ay isinapubliko upang magsilbing pagtutol sa nagaganap na komersyalisasyon ng edukasyon. Ang iba naman ay inilihim lamang na tila ba sinusubukan ang kakayanan ng bulsa at pamilya. Samantala, ang iba sa mga ito ay hindi na maririnig kailanman dahil wala na sa unibersidad ang mga taong dapat ay nagkukwento nito. Maaring lumipat na sila sa ibang mas abot-kayang pamantasan o kaya naman mas pinili nang magtrabaho.

Sa UP, maraming imaheng makikita. Sa paglalakbay sa isang unibersidad katulad nito, ang pagtingin at pagkilos batay sa mga imaheng nakikita ay mahalaga. Kaya nararapat lamang na panatilihin kong bukas ang aking mga mata. Hindi pwedeng magpalinga-linga, hindi pwedeng kumurap. [P]

SKETCHPAD

9GRAPHICS UPLB PerspectiveVOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008

“Mas tumutok siya sa beautification ng campus and hindi sa quality ng education.” - Diane Fajardo | BS Development Communication ‘07

“Kung ikukumpara siya sa term ni David, mas parang naging strict ‘yung reaksyon ng mga estudyante sa ginagawa niya. Kasi andaming pagbabago [at] andaming naging reaksyon ng mga estudyante sa mga ginawa niya. Yun lang, parang binago niya ‘yung mga konstitusyon.” - Jessa Jarbonillo | BS Applied Mathematics ’02

“Para sa ‘kin, okay naman term ni Chancellor Velasco in terms of campus security and facilities like street lights and motivation of lecture halls. Bigyan din sana niya ng priority [‘yung] pag-acquire ng bagong books. Kumpara kasi sa UP Diliman, panay old nagagamit natin. Kailangan pa minsan dumayo sa UPD para lang sa mga books. Sana pati lab facilities. Kaya apektado din pag-aaral natin. Pati rin sana safety ng bawat buildings, like madalang ‘yung may maayos na fire alarm, exit and extinguishers sa dorms, PhySci at BioSci.” –Kim Alvin Datoc |BS Food Technology ’06 | 092665*****

“Feeling ko pinababa niya ‘yung kalidad ng UPLB. Kasi kahit bago lang ako dati, naririnig ko lagi ‘yung campus repressison, TOFI, saka ‘yung pagiging sister school ng Trace. Although ‘di naman siya bunga ng lahat ng problems today sa UPLB, ‘di naman din siya nagbigay ng solution para mabawasan man lang ‘yung mga problema. Parang fog lang ‘yung dating ng term niya, nakikita mo nga, di naman nararamdaman.” - Solidarity Baybay | BS Mathematics and Science Teaching ’08

“Pareho lang naman silang dalawa ni PGMA, nakakasawa! Parehong pamumuno, parehong pamamalakad, gaya-gaya. Wala namang kwenta ang mga adhikain para sa unibersidad, para sa kanya kung anong galing sa taas iyon ang tama. ‘Di iniisip kung sinong ayaw at mahihirapan.”–TSE BSAE | 092940*****

Ano ang masasabi mo sa Termino ni Chancellor

Velasco?

“Dapat i-uplift nila ‘yung kalagayan ngayon ng buong UPLB, ‘yung mga estudyante, para kasing lumalabas na wala nang pakialam ‘yung ibang estudyante. Dapat mahikayat nila na at some point maging involved sa mga nagaganap [ang mga estudyante].” - Ella | BS Food Technology ’07

“Ineexpect ko na makita at tsaka malaman nila ‘yung bawat side ng mga estudyante ng UPLB, ma-voice out nila kung ano ba ‘yung dapat ipaglaban ng bawat estudyante [at] syempre ‘yung maging maayos ‘yung buong patakaran at pamamahala nila sa buong UPLB.” - Obet | Pre Vet ’06

“Sana daanin sa mabuting paraan ang lahat. Hindi lahat nakukuha sa ‘rally-rally’.” - Carole | BS Biology ’05

“Personally, ineexpect ko talaga ‘yung improvement, [that] it’s better than the other years. ‘Yung generic na type na maganda ‘yung feb fair, maayos ‘yung patakbo nung bagong naratify na konstitusyon. I expect improvent talaga from those cases tsaka ‘yung dati nang mga issues sa USC dapat ayusin.” - JP Asis | BS Computer Science ’06

“Sana maging huwaran silang lider at mag-aaral na pupukaw at bubuhay muli sa natutulog na kamalayan naming kapwa nila mag-aaral. Maging visible at radikal sa campus issues pati na rin sa bansa at tumulong sa ikauunlad nito.” – Ailyn | BS Mathematics and Science Teaching ’06

“Inaasahan ko na ang mga mahahalal na opisyal ng konseho ng mga mag-aaral ay may gawin. ‘Yung talagang gawain na tatatak sa puso at diwa ng mga estudyante (something that can change the world) ng UPLB na wala ng pakialam kung hindi ang pumasa. (gaya ko)” - 092752*****

Ano ang inaasahan mo sa mga bagong nahalal na mga opisyal ng konseho

ng mag-aaral?

CAMPUSFORUM

Opinyon mo’y mahalaga. Mag-text sa 09164298055/09295085076

1. Saan mo kukunin ang iyong pangmatrikula para sa second

sem?

2. Ano ang masasabi mo sa pagtakbo ni Bayani Fernando

sa 2010 presidential elections?

NI CHINO CARLO ARICAYA

transactions with our country which dated back from the pre-colonial period. Today, most of leading businesses in the country are owned by the Chinese community that enables them to influence economic conditions.

At present, it is as if most of the products Filipinos are consuming are imported from China.

Essentially, the problem boils down to the underlying connivance of factors dictated by globalization and colonial orientation of the Filipino people. More often than not, an average

Filipino looks at an imported good as superior over any of its local counterparts. However, now that pirated and substandard goods are cheaper, the poor consumers have no choice but patronize such products and consciously sacrifice quality. A lot of Filipinos intentionally buy products even if such are known to be fake. This is for the reason that the Philippines is an export-oriented and

OPINION

HODGEPODGE

Abala ako sa pag-aayos ng aking mga subject para sa darating na semestre. Ito na kasi ang huling

taon ko rito sa UPLB – huling taon para buhatin ang bigat ng responsibilidad na iniatas sa akin mula nang ako’y makapasok sa UPLB. Nangiti ako sandali.

Napalitan ito ng pagkadismaya nang wala ang PI 100 sa mga naka-enlist na subjects sa schedule ko. Pero hindi ito naging problema dahil ang pagpi-prerog pati pagbabayad ng matrikula ay maaari nang gawin habang naka-online ako. At narinig din nila ang mahigit limang taon ko nang dinadaing sa ganitong pamamalakad sa SystemOne. Downloadable na pala ang Form 5, at mga prof at instructor na ang magbibigay ng mga classcards. Dahil dito, hindi ko na kailangan pang pumila sa OUR at sa Admin at masarhan ng opisina pagdating ng alas-tres ng hapon.

Kasabay nito, naging abala naman ang unibersidad sa pagbibigay-daan sa mga pagbabago ngayong bakasyon.

*****Nagmamadali akong pumasok sa aking

klase sa PI 100 ng ika-pito ng umaga. Noong araw ko lang makikita muli ang UPLB kaya buong mulat ang aking mata sa mala-parkeng aking nakita. Ang NHB pala sa aking Form 5 ay New Humanities Building. Salamat sa mga bagong elevator nito at hindi ako nahuli sa aking klase sa fourth floor. Nadagdagan daw ng mga silid bilang

pagbati sa mga bagong GE ng AH at SSP.Pagkatapos kumain ng meryenda,

inilaan ko muna ang mga bakante kong oras upang busugin naman ang aking mga mata sa mga pagbabagong gustong ipamulat sa akin ng UPLB.

Tapos na pala ang mahigit dalawang taong pagbuo sa Japanese arch sa tabi ng Thai Pavilion. Gayundin ang retaining walls sa SU Building na winasak ni Milenyo ilang taon na ang nakalilipas. May mga bagong lightpost na rin mula Engineering hanggang IRRI at sa Dirt Road, at gaya ng inaasahan, may mga surveillance cameras na nakabantay. Ah, at ilusyon na lang yata para sa mga jeepney driver ang pagbalik ng ruta ng jeepney. Sa ngayon, mas iisipin pa nila kung paano magdudoble-kayod sa pagpapasada kaysa bumuo ng mga hinagap na balang araw, muli silang gagawa ng ingay sa tapat ng PhySci at NHB.

*****Tirik man ang araw ng hapong

iyon, nasanay na rin ang aking balat sa nagsusumigaw na init na labas-pasok sa aking katawan, gayundin ang mga nag-uunahang butil ng pawis sa aking likod. Wala ito sa mga taong may hawak na streamer at placard na tumatawag ng pansin sa mga nakaririnig sa kanilang sabayang pagsigaw. Iisa ang gusto nilang sabihin: matapos na ang pagtapak sa

karapatang pantao.At tulad ng iba, isa ako sa mga hindi

sang-ayon sa ganitong paraan ng pagdaing sa pamamagitan ng kilos-protesta. Dahil doon, hindi ko ginugol ang aking oras para makihalubilo at makialam sa mga ganitong pagtitipon.

*****Papunta na

ako sa aming tambayan para sa lingguhang GA (general assembly) ng aming hindi recognized na org nang makatanggap ako ng text na hindi na matutuloy ang GA. Kagaya ng mga orgs sa BioSci, ipinagbawal na rin pala ang paggamit ng mga tambayan sa tabi ng New Humanities Building.

Ngayon, kabilang na ang aming org sa mga gumagamit ng “removable” tambayan mula sa banig na nakalatag saan mang sulok namin matipuhan.

*****Nasasakal ako. Pagkatapos ng mahigit

limang taon, nasasakal pala ako. Sa dami ng mga isyu na hinaharap ng

unibersidad, ngayon lang ako namulat sa masasamang epekto ng mga mababangong proyekto na makakapagpabago raw sa ating sistema, para sa ikabubuti ng lahat. Sa tagal ng panahong nag-aaral ako rito ay ngayon lang ako namulat na nasasakal na pala ako. At anumang dami ng mga isyu at tagal ng pamamalagi ko rito sa UPLB, hindi ko lubos maisip kung bakit ngayon lang ako namulat na nasasakal nga ako.

*****Nasa harapan ko na ang bagong prof

sa Stat 1 Lec nang naabutan niya akong tulog sa gitna ng kanyang nakakaantok na paraan ng pagtuturo sa klase. Oo, nakatulog ako sa klase niya. Nakakapigil-hininga ang mapanlait na titig ng mahigit isandaang estudyante sa lecture na iyon.

Sa aktong iyon, parang buong UPLB ang nakatingin sa akin. Para na rin akong tinatanong kung nararapat nga ba ako sa UPLB. Hindi magandang rason ang pagkakaroon ng makakapal na readings sa Hum 1 at midnight paperworks sa iba’t ibang lab para tulugan ko ang klase niya, dahil walang magandang dahilan para takpan ang pagkakamaling

ito. At wala ring makabuluhang dahilan para isantabi ang pagbibigay-pansin sa mga isyu sa ating unibersidad. Kasama ng acads (kung meron ka nito) responsibilidad ng bawat isa sa atin na makialam sa mga nangyayari sa ating unibersidad.

*****Ang responsibilidad na nakaatas sa

atin bilang Iskolar para sa Bayan ay hindi lamang sa pagpapakita ng gilas sa loob ng apat na sulok ng lecture hall o laboratory room, dahil sakop ng tungkuling ito ang pakikialam natin hindi lang sa mga nangyayari sa ating unibersidad kundi lalo sa ating lipunan. [P]

”“ At wala ring makabuluhang dahilan para isantabi ang pagbibigay-pansin sa mga isyu sa ating unibersidad.

NOFURYSOLOUD

”“Importers splurge us with a bounty of leftovers.

BangungotMARK ANGELO ORDONIO

TaintedCHINO CARLO ARICAYA

Dairy products and other imported goods from China are being randomly selected

from the market to be tested for melamine contamination; and if any of these products are to be proven positive of melamine, it would be pulled out of the market immediately.

Melamine, a chemical used in manufacturing plastic wares, was identified to be present in some Chinese dairy products after making 53,000 Chinese children sick and four dead. The reason behind the inclusion of the said nitrogen-rich chemical was to raise protein content of milk products.

China is one of the leading players in the global market. After some controversies from the past, such as toys with high lead contents, defective food, drugs, etc. China now faces yet another scandal that worsens its already tainted manufacturing reputation.

Being one of the main trading partners of the Philippines, China had established its roots of business

import-dependent country. We have all the manpower to produce quality products of our own but we don’t have the industry to support us--this is where capitalists enter the limelight. They take advantage of buying our raw materials at very low costs and sell it back to us as manufactured goods. We cannot make our own products so we have no choice but import items that are dictated to us as necessities.

As the Philippines explores various opportunities in the global market, the country gives priority to exporting high quality products as demanded by the international market. Unfortunately, our country is treated by other countries the other way around. Importers splurge us with a bounty of leftovers. Some of these products are surpluses that are of low quality sold in unbelievably low prices. By disposing these products, some of us think it’s the greatest deal. But the more we prioritize these kinds of items, the more we increase our chances of encountering problems now experienced by China.

The government guaranteed that there have been no reports of any melamine affected children or adults in the country. Good news for now. However, we can never be sure because melamine takes time to accumulate to produce cute plastic jewels in our kidneys. Perhaps, there could have been cases of melamine poisoning in the country still unreported. The assurance of a melamine free Philippines is still blurry, as blurry as the competing chance of local goods in the global market. Until the government realizes the need to subsidize and invest upon local industries, other nations like China will always win over the country.

As a foreign capitalist goes richer; a local small-scale business dies. It’s hard to accept the fact that an average Filipino factory worker finds it hard to afford the items that he had made. Products that are made by hardworking Filipinos should be used by Filipinos. If there is anyone who would benefit most from these products, it should be us. [P]

UPLB Perspective10 VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008

11OPINION UPLB PerspectiveVOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008

ilang kalihim sa noo’y USC Vice-chairperson na si Charisse Bernadine Bañez.

Nakalulungkot isipin na ang pagpupunyagi ng mga lider-estudyante upang isulong ang karapatan ng mga estudyante ay maaring sagutin ng mga kasong walang malinaw at kongkretong basehan. Sa ginanap na pagdinig ng kaso ni Bañez, pinatingkad ng sistemang namamayani sa loob ng pamantasan ang pagtatanggal sa karapatan ng mga estudyante upang magpahayag at manindigan. Sa huling pagdinig ng kaso nitong Oktubre 6, lumabas ang hindi kahandaan ng mga nagsampa ng kaso dahil maging ang ‘deliberate discourtesy’ ay hindi malinaw na naipaliwanag. Gayundin, hindi rin naikonsulta sa University Prosecutor ang kaangkupan ng pagsasampa ng kaso na isang manipestasyon ng kasigasigan ng awtoridad na pilayin ang hanay ng estudyante sa kahit anupamang paraan. Gayong ikinikintal sa atin ang pagiging kritikal at aktibo, isang malinaw na kabalintunaan ang ganitong mga supresyon sa paglago ng kamalayan ng mga estudyante.

Sa katatapos na USC-CSC elections at kampanya ng plebisito, buong-buong ipinakita ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan ang patuloy na pakikibaka para isulong ang kanilang interes at kagalingan.

”“Nakalulungkot

isipin na ang pagpupunyagi ng mga lider-estudyante upang isulong ang karapatan ng mga estudyante ay maaring sagutin ng mga kasong walang malinaw at kongkretong basehan.

UNDERSCRUTINY

MUMBLINGSI live in a flat with nine wonderful girls and a cat. At night, when everyone is busy

reviewing their lessons, whispers of scientific names and newsroom terms can be heard as well as laughter from jokes cracked. At times, as young girls do, we talk about boys, heartbreaks and relationships all linked by a common theme—my dreaded L-word. During all these conversations I cringe and drop sarcastic remarks and thanks to one of my flatmate’s imagination, they started calling me “hater.” From then on, I was the flat’s official hater.

I couldn’t remember when all this “hating” started. But I think what caused it was the going away of the romantic in me. Romantic. Typing the word makes me cringe. Or when I look at my situation with a little bit of sunshine, I can say that it all started when my take on romantic love changed.

*****

I am disgusted with primetime television. The sight of Fredo kissing Dyesebel and professing his love for her makes me want to throw-up what I had for dinner (which is usually isaw and rice) and slam the television to the wall. This is how television programs sell their shows. No primetime program will ever

survive if the characters and the story would not be romanticized.

This goes for the music industry as well. Songs about breaking up, finding love, and going back to love occupy the top spots of music hit charts. And

this small four-letter word fattens-up the pockets of those who own mass-media firms.

Like everyone else, I grew-up believing that romantic love is as familiar to me as the clothes my mom used to wear when I was little.

But when my heart started going to places that even I can’t control, I felt emotions that I wasn’t able to identify from the love that I watched in the movies and listened to in the songs. It is sad that mass media that had access to show people what romantic love truly is tweaked its picture, changed the color and made it prettier. And with it, romantic love has become so alien to me -unidentifiable to my own feelings. Perceptions of love have become distorted and love was reduced to kissing, hugging and getting laid.

With the picture of love that they made, they made profit because love comes with a huge price tag and those who cannot afford to buy it end up sad and alone. With mass media firms selling love as a commodity, it resulted to this love-deprived society. And although this fact is extremely obvious, not everyone realizes it because they are busy studying their Math 11 notes

hoping to pass the subject this time. All for the hopes of being able to purchase love in the future.

*****Despite my disappointment, I

still see every day as an opportunity to love and serve as a manifestation of my Saviour’s enduring love. I take every chance to reach out to unknown faces and embrace them despite my dislike on how this world views love. I keenly observe those who build and break relationships to convince myself that despite the dictates of media, there is still “true” romance that exists through the people around me. And of course, I still do hope that in the right place and time, I will get to know the person to whom I will share the warmth of mornings with.

Whenever my mind wanders away when I get bored in class, I go to a place where love is unselfishly given. I wish that everyone can go with me there. [P]

”“Perceptions of love have become distorted

and love was reduced to kissing, hugging and getting laid.

In loving and hating*MAHILIG AKONG UMUPO SA ILALIM NG PUNO

Sa panahon ngayon, ang pangangatwiran ay isa sa mga kailangan ng bawat Iskolar

ng Bayan upang makipagsabayan sa mundong kanyang ginagalawan. Bilang parte ng malawak na sektor na nagsusulong sa demokratikong karapatan at mithiin ng mamamayan, higit sa pagiging kritikal ang hinihingi sa atin. Ang kakayahang sumuri, makialam, magpahayag, at bumago ng lipunan ang ilan sa mga responsibilidad na nakaatang sa ating mga balikat. Sa mga pagkakataong ang interes ng mga estudyante ang tinutunggali, higit sa anupaman at kaninuman ang mga estudyante ay hinahamong tumindig at makibaka. Sa panahong paggalang ang usapin ng tunggalian, ang ideyang magpapanatili ng pantay at demokratikong karapatan ang tanging prinsipyong dapat pinapanigan at isinusulong.

Nitong nakalipas na Pebrero 6, nagpulong ang Central Electoral Board (CEB), isang lupon na layong bumuo ng kwalipikasyon para sa mga kandidato sa konseho ng mga mag-aaral. Binubuo ito ng OSA Director, SOAD Head, mga College Secretaries, representante mula sa mga konseho ng mga mag-aaral, at ang UPLB

Perspective. Gamit ang pamamaraang parliyamentaryo, ang mga pagpupulong ng CEB ay isang lugar para sa pantay na pagtingin sa mga miyembro nito. Ang nasabing pamamaraan ay nagbibigay-diin sa kalayaan ng bawat miyembro na magpahayag, makipagdebate, at makilahok sa mga talakayan. Ang pamamaraang parlamentaryo kasama ng matalas na pakikipagargumento ng mga lider-estudyante ang tanging sandata ng malawak na hanay ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan upang mapanatiling demokratiko ang mga kwalipikasyon at magbibigay ng pinakamalawak na partisipasyon ng mga mag-aaral.

Naging mainit na isyu ang pagkakaroon ng grade requirement para sa mga kandidato na mariing tinindigan ng mga lider-estudyante bilang isang iskema upang limitahan ang partisipasyon ng mga estudyante sa isang aktibidad na para sa mga estudyante. Taliwas sa inaasahang pantay na pagtingin sa mga miyembro nito, ang matalino at matalas na prinsipyo ng mga lider-estudyante ay ginawang sangkalan upaang paratangan ng kawalang-galang sa mga awtoridad. Sa kabila ng malinaw na pagsunod sa parlamentaryong proseso, isang kaso ng ‘gross misconduct and deliberate discourtesy’ ang inihain ng

Ipinakikita hindi lang ng istatistika kundi maging ng UPLB Student Agenda, isang kalipunan ng mga panawagan sa hanay ng mag-aaral, ang marubdob na hangarin upang mapanatili ang oryentasyon ng UP bilang pampublikong pamantasang nagsisilbi sa estudyante at sambayanan. Bagama’t matagumpay na naidaos ang eleksyon, hindi pa ganap na napagtagumpayan ang ating

pakikibaka dahil sa nakaambang kaso kay Bañez, kasalukuyang UPLB-USC Chairperson.

Hindi buong-buong matatamasa ng estudyante ang ganap na tagumpay hanggat pilit tayong itinatali sa moral na usapin ng

paggalang at ginagamit ito bilang salalayang prinsipyo ng mabuti at karapat-dapat na relasyon sa awtoridad.

Nakasalalay sa pagkilos ng mga estudyante ang pagkamit ng ating buong-buong tagumpay at lubusang pagpapaupo kay Charisse Bernadine Bañez bilang representasyon ng patuloy na pagkilos ng mga estudyante bilang ambag sa panlipunang pagbabago. [P]

Kongkretong basehanRICK JASON OBRERO

OPINIONVOLUME 35 | ISSUE 3 | October 16, 2008UPLB Perspective12

EDITORIAL

Christian ray Buendia, Editor in ChiEf; Faith allyson BuenaCosa, Managing Editor; Beverly ChristCel laguartilla, BusinEss ManagEr; Karen lapitan, CulturE Editor; liBerty notarte, fEaturEs Editor; rogene gonzales, nEws Editor; sugar Marie Baula, Copy Editor / produCtion Editor;

niKKo angelo oriBiana, nEws; MarK angelo ordonio, CulturE; liBerty notarte, fEaturEs; Chino Carlo ariCaya, Kervin gaBilo, JaCoB laBita, graphiCs; salvatorre de vinCe olano, paul andrew Manuales, layout; harriet Melanie zaBala, BusinEss;

ellysa rosales, yves suiza, estel lewinJ estropia, Katrina elauria, Jarienill naMit, Mara angeli Cadiz, Czarina Mae laJara, saMantha isaBel Coronado, andrea velasquez, MiChael angelo ClaBita, aletheia graCe del rosario, Karl suMinistrado, apprEntiCEs

uplB pErspECtivE is a MEMBEr of thE CollEgE Editors guild of thE philippinEs and solidaridad - up systEMwidE allianCE of studEnt puBliCations and writErs organizationEditorial Office: Rm. 11, 2/F Student Union Bldg, UPLB, College, Laguna | e-mail: uplbperspective0809@gmail.com | website: http://uplbperspective0809.deviantart.com

the oFFiCial student puBliCation oF the university oF the philippines los Baños

Pikit-matang desperasyonIpinapakita lamang ng pagratipika ng Senado

sa kontrobersiyal na Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) noong ika-8 ng Oktubre ang pagkatali ng kasalukuyang administrasyon sa mga neo-liberal na polisiyang iniluluwal ng globalisasyon. Malayo sa ipinapangakong kaluwagan mula sa kasalukuyang krisis pang-ekonomiya, ang kasunduan ay mag-uudyok lamang sa patuloy na pag-iral ng kaayusang pumapabor sa interes ng mayayamang bansa at ng ilang piling tao sa pamahalaan.

ELYS

SA R

OSA

LES

Hindi maitatanggi na ang mismong pag-apruba ng nasabing kasunduan (ilang minuto lamang bago sumapit ang ika-11 ng gabi), ay nagpapakita lamang na walang gulugod ang ating pamahalaan upang tugunan ang umiiral na problema ng bansa katulad ng kakulangan sa trabaho at pagkain. Sa halip na “ayusin mula sa loob” ang nagaganap na krisis, mas pinipiling sumandig ng administrasyon sa mga tratadong halatang maka-isang panig at may panandaliang benepisyo lamang.

Maraming mga tanong tungkol sa Jpepa ang lumitaw mula pa lamang noong maipresenta ang nasabing kasunduan sa House of Representatives. Maraming mga progresibong grupo ang agad na umalma at nagsabing lumalabag umano ang kasunduan sa ilang probisyon sa Konstitusyon. Maging ang ilang mga environmentalist ay nagpunto na bagama’t magbibigay ito ng karagdagang trabaho para sa mga Pilipino – pangunahing ibinabandera ang kapalit na trabaho para sa 200 hanggang 300 nurses at caregivers taun-taon – malalagay naman sa peligro ang ating kalikasan.

Kung ang pagtanggap man sa Jpepa ay isang desperadong

”“Ang ganitong mga maniobra ay sumasalamin lamang sa tunay na katangian ng

pamamahala mayroon ang ating bansa.

hakbang upang iligtas ang bansa mula sa pagkakalugmok ng ekonomiya nito, hindi naman natin maipagkakailang nagbubulag-bulagan si Gng. Arroyo sa mga kapalit ng kasunduang ito. Bagama’t inamin ng ilang senador ang kahinaan ng Jpepa sa usapin ng pagpapayabong ng agrikultura at turismo, pikit-matang niyakap ng mga mambabatas ang panganib

nito sa 16-4 na boto pabor dito.

Ang ganitong mga maniobra ay sumasalamin lamang sa tunay na katangian ng pamamahala mayroon ang ating bansa mula nang matali tayo sa kolonyal na gapos sa pagkakatatag ng

Unang Republika at nagpapatuloy, sa hindi tuwirang kaanyuan, hangggang sa ngayon. Sa katunayan, hitik ang kasaysayan sa mga ehemplo ng tila pikit-matang paglunok ng gubyerno sa mga kasunduang inihahain ng mga mayayamang bansa. Laganap ang takot na maaaring maulit ang “waste scandal” ng 1999, kung saan sa halip na mga “recyclable” na mga materyales ang dalhin sa bansa ay lumabas na 2,700 tonelada ng mapanganib na mga basura ang itinambak sa

atin ng Japan, bukod pa sa hindi pagpapataw ng tariff o buwis sa ganitong transaksiyon. Sa pagtingin dito, tila hindi natututo ang pamahalaan mula sa mga karanasan noon pa man.

Tipikal sa mga ito ay ang pagpasok natin sa World Trade Organization at General Agreement on Tariff and Trade, na tahasang pumapanig sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng mga mayayamang bansa tulad ng Estados Unidos at Japan, at nagpapahina sa local na industriya, particular ng sektor ng agrikultura, ng mga papaunlad at mahihirap na bansa. At kahit mismo ang pag-utang natin sa mga pandaigdigang banko katulad ng World Bank at International Monetary Fund ay may kaakibat na mga neo-liberal na kondisyong lalong nagpapabansot sa ating pambansang industriya.

Isang halimbawa nito ay ang Long Term Higher Education Development and Investment Program, na lumulundo sa pag-abanduna ng pamahalaan sa mga State Colleges and Universities sa pamamagitan ng komersiyalisasyon at pribatisasyon.

Kung gayon, isa lamang ang Jpepa sa marami at susunod pang mga kasunduang pinasukan at papasukan pa ng bansa sa ngalan ng “pagliligtas sa ekonomiya at paggigiya sa bansa tungo sa isang matatag na republika.” Ngunit kailangan nating matuto mula sa kasaysayan upang hindi tayo malunod sa mga polisiyang kung pikit-mata mang sinang-ayunan ng ating mga pinuno ay mas pinasahol pa ng ating pikit-mata at pasibong pagsang-ayon. [P]