TAON 91 BILANG 8 MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013

Cine Anaesthesia

KulturaNews

Cash transfer

Features3 6 8

3Study group to assess UP admissions policyNews

Making the cut: A study group convenes to study UP’s current admissions policy in an effort to develop options for democratizing access to education in the national university.

PHILIPPINECOLLEGIAN

Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan

ng mga mag-aaral ng

Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman

‘MRT, LRT fare hike to serve corporate interest’

2 OPINYON PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013

PHILIPPINECOLLEGIAN

2013 - 2014

Punong Patnugot Julian Inah Anunciacion

Kapatnugot Victor Gregor Limon

Patnugot sa BalitaKeith Richard Mariano

Patnugot sa GrapiksYsa Calinawan

Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya

Gloiza Rufina Plamenco

Panauhing Patnugot Piya ConstantinoMargaret Yarcia

Mga Kawani Mary Joy CapistranoAshley Marie GarciaKimberly Ann Pauig

Jiru Nikko RadaEmmanuel Jerome Tagaro

PinansiyaAmelyn Daga

Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon Paul John Alix

Sirkulasyon Gary Gabales

Amelito JaenaGlenario Ommamalim

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

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Ukol sa PabalatDibuho ni Rosette Abogado

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

Photo by Richard Jacob DyDecember 6, 2011

Full throttle

THE METRO’S RAILWAY system will have a new stop next month. Everybody’s welcome to get on board—but only as long as they can afford the ticket.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address two weeks ago, President Benigno Aquino III has given the green light for a projected P7 to P10 fare hike for the Metro Railway Transit (MRT) and Light Railway Transit (LRT) systems. For a president who frets about subsidizing basic social services more than what he deems necessary, the end of the road is clear: Filipinos cannot expect to enjoy public goods without sharing the cost.

In the case of the MRT and the LRT, the price is in billions. In the last two years, financial statements of the MRT alone reveal that the government’s contract with private developers has fuelled a total of P16.8 billion worth of loan amortization expenses, including rental payments to firms who built the train line.

The MRT also incurred maintenance fees of P1.05 billion and P582 million, in 2011 and 2012, respectively—a period when

several incidents of service disruptions and accidents were recorded.

Yet rather than investigating why these shady deals are allowed to push our trains into onerous debts and sky-high operating costs, Aquino and his transport officials prefer to pursue

the fastest track towards a platform of guaranteed corporate profits. By simply hiking fares, the government keeps the favour of its private partners while leaving passengers with financing the cost of such a partnership.

In an attempt to justify the increase, Aquino even went as far as pitting taxpayers against each other, claiming that people in Mindanao are subsidizing the commuters of the MRT and LRT in Metro Manila. He failed to mention that all taxpayers, without exception, pay for questionable debts incurred by the government.

For more than a million workers and students who take the MRT and LRT lines everyday, this burden adds further to other woes perpetrated by the government’s complicity with big businesses. During the past few months alone, oil and utility companies freely launched a series of price hikes. Prices of commodities remained high, while wages were kept far below decent standards of living.

Similarly, for students, the cost of higher education

also shifted to high gear as the Commission on Higher Education unconditionally allowed private schools to increase tuition and other fees this June.

No wonder then that in the next weeks—as the Department of Transportation and Communciations (DOTC) conducts token consultations with the public—various transport groups and other sectoral organizations will take to the streets and stage demonstrations against the impending fare hike.

Aquino’s engine of supposed “economic growth” may now be in full throttle as he begins the latter half of his term with continued abandonment of social services. But if the spate of recent and future protests are any indication, the President should heed the demands of the people, or else—as he has done against demonstrators during his SONA—resort once again to employing the state’s means to quell dissent.

For the people, however, who have long been disenchanted by lame rhetorics of inclusive progress, the only option is to derail all attempts to attack their rights and welfare. ∞

Carl Aquino

EDITOR’S PICK

YEARS

A group of children in Hacienda Luisita pose in front of the camera

as they play in the fields, in this photo published on December 6,

2011, two weeks after the Supreme Court issued a ruling to distribute

Luisita lands to farmers. This month marks the fourth anniversary

of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with

Reforms since 2009.

BALITA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013 3

ABOUT 83,000 STUDENTS TOOK the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) this year, the most number of applicants by far. But only around 13,000 students are expected to pass the national university’s entrance exam, most of them coming from higher socioeconomic classes.

The “skewed distribution of [the] UP student population” has led a seven-member study group to assess UP’s current admissions policy and process.

In a July 22 administrative order, Pascual formally convened a study group headed by UP Los Baños professor Teodoro Mendoza to develop “evidence-based options for implementing the democratic access provision” in the 2008 UP Charter.

Other members include UP Manila (UPM) University Student Council Chairpersn Maryliz Zubiri, former Faculty Regent Roland Simbulan, UPD professors Danilo Arao, Ramon Guillermo, Fidel Nemenzo, and UP Diliman (UPD) research associate Perlita Raña.

Section 9 of the Charter states that the university should take “affirmative steps,” which include an “alternative and equitable admissions process,” to democratize access for deserving students from lower-income families.

At present, there are five ways of getting into UP. (see sidebar 1)

Under the current admissions system, however, the UP student population is unevenly distributed with more students in the Luzon campuses and higher socio-economic classes having greater representation (see sidebar 2).

A doctoral dissertation of former UP President Emerlinda Roman also concluded that, as early as 1989, the UPCAT “favored students of Metro Manila, public special, and private schools and those belonging to affluent families.”

“The goal of UP is to train the best minds from [both] the private schools and the lower income groups,” said former UP President Francisco Nemenzo Jr. The UPCAT discriminates towards public school students due to the uneven quality

of secondary education, he added.Passing the UPCAT, however,

is only the first obstacle to UP education, said Zubiri. A number of UPCAT qualifiers are eventually discouraged to enrol due to high tuition rates, she explained.

In UPD, a third of UPCAT qualifiers do not pursue enrolment on average. Of the 3,853 UPCAT qualifiers for UPD this academic year, 1,280 did not enrol. In their UPCAT forms, these non-enrollees had declared annual family

incomes which correspond to the paying brackets of the university’s Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program.

The study group met for the first time on August 5 to set the timeframe of the project.

“At the end of the study, we hope that the process of accepting students in the University become truly democratic,” said Eduardo Gabral, national chairperson of Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Magaaral sa UP. ∞

Study group to assess UP admissions policy Kira Chan

LOOMING UNCERTAINTIES Photo by Keithley Difuntorum

THE UP BOARD OF REGENTS (BOR) again failed to discuss the proposed reforms to the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) and amendments to the UP System Code during the BOR’s 1289th Meeting at Quezon Hall on July 29.

The university’s highest decision-making body did not deliberate upon the said topics as the topics are still being consulted with different constituent units, said UP President Alfredo Pascual.

The BOR instead discussed reports on the renaming of the UP Diliman College of Business Administration (CBA) to “Virata School of Business (VSB),” and the selecting of new deans and directors.

The regents also discussed the tenure of Professor Maria Victoria Raquiza of the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) among other academic, fiscal, and administrative matters.

‘Virata School of Business’Staff Regent Anna Razel Ramirez

presented a paper on the sectoral regents’ dissenting position paper alongside a petition of appeal to rescind the renaming and a personal letter from Ponciano River Jr., the President of UP Alumni Association.

The sectoral regents are against the renaming of CBA to VSB, saying UP should not be complicit in honoring Cesar Virata who served under the former President Ferdinand Marcos by naming its academic unit after such a man, according to the position paper.

One hundred seventeen members from all sectors of UP signed the petition to support the appeal to rescind the renaming of CBA to VSB. The petition however will be subjected to further discussion and the decision of the board has been deferred.

“Gusto nating marescind ang motion dahil sa ilang batayan: Una, malaking usapin ang political at moral implication nito sa UP. Ikalawa, ang renaming ay porma ng komersyalisasyon ng edukasyon,” said Student Regent Krista Iris Melgarejo.

On Board:

Hans Christian E. Marin

Reports on the July 29 Meeting

Continued on page 11

Relatives of University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) takers anxiously wait for examinees to finish during the UPCAT weekend, August 3 and 4, at Palma Hall, UP Diliman. This year marks the highest turnout in UPCAT history at 83,000. Incoming 2014 freshmen, however, face a flawed Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program and potential tuition and other fee increases stemming from continued state abandonment.

BALITA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 20134

THE IMPENDING FARE HIKE for the country’s metro rail systems will only be used to pay debts and to ensure the profits of private investors, according to progressive groups.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III announced a P10-fare hike in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT), with the first P5 to be implemented by the end of August.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) proposed the fare hike as early as January 2011. The impending increase is expected to generate P900 million in annual revenues, said MRT General Manager Al Vitangcol III.

In a briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda called on the public “to bear with the rate adjustments” because the 1.5 million daily commuters of MRT and LRT will be the “ultimate beneficiaries.“

Investors’ gains However, a study by Riles Laan

sa Sambayanan Network revealed that P5.3 billion of the P8.5 billion DOTC spent in 2010 went to guaranteed profits for investors and P1.16 billion to debt payments. The agency only spent P1.18 billion to cover maintenance costs and P880 million for other expenses.

The construction of the metro rail systems was funded through local and foreign private investments. The government guaranteed private investors of payment and

a 15-percent return of investment annually, according to independent think tank IBON Foundation.

The government deal with private investors, however, was “onerous,” said Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. For instance, the owners of the financer-banks were the same contractors for the construction of MRT in 1998, explained Reyes.

It is then questionable why people should shoulder the debts,

because these were incurred from onerous contracts made by private companies, said Rhea Padilla, media and communications head of IBON.

‘Precedent’ Aquino, however, said the fare

hike would allow the government to decrease subsidy to the metro rail systems and channel it to other social services. The whole country subsidizes the MRT and LRT, but the people benefitting are from Metro Manila, said Aquino.

“Such reasoning sets a dangerous precedent for social services subsidized by the government,” said Kabataan Party-list Representative Terry Ridon.

If Aquino’s logic is to be followed, funds of hospitals in Manila must be slashed with state schools that cater to provinces, explained Ridon. “It is clear that the government wants to pass the burden to the people; even twisting logic is used to defend its position.” ∞

Jem Aizen Guhit

‘MRT, LRT fare hike to serve corporate interest’

BAGAMAN GUTOM AT PANGANIB ang patuloy na kinakaharap, hindi pa rin natitinag si Jose Pepino, 50, isa sa mga manggagawang kasalukuyan pa ring nakapiket sa harap ng pabrika ng Pentagon Steel Corporation sa Kaingin Road, Balintawak, Quezon City.

“Habang hindi kami na sesettle, tuloy ang laban [at aming] paninindigan,” ani Pepino, na 20 taong nagtrabaho sa nasabing pagawaan ng asero. Halos limang buwan nang nasa piket si Pepino kasama ang may 134 na manggagawang tinanggal sa trabaho noong Marso.

Nakatakdang buwagin ang picket line ng mga manggagawa nang matapos noong ika-27 ng Hulyo ang 60 araw na palugit bago ipatupad ang “temporary injunction” laban sa umano’y “strike” ng mga dating trabahador.

Giit naman ng mga manggagawa, hindi “strike” ang kanilang inilunsad. Napilitan lamang umano silang gawin ito, matapos biglaang matanggal sa trabaho, ani Pepino.

Hiningi umano ng pamunuan ng Pentagon sa National Labor Relations Council ang temporary injunction upang protektahan ang interes ng kumpanya laban sa mga nagpipiket na manggagawa, dagdag ni Pepino. Sa ilalim ng nasabing injunction, ipinagbabawal ang anumang gawaing hindi bahagi ng pormal na pag-uusap at paglilitis sa kaso.

Gayunpaman, hindi natuloy ang nakatakdang pagbuwag sa hanay ng mga manggagawa, dahil walang

dumating na mga pulis, ani Pepino. “Walang nagpakitang pulis,

[pero] may mga nakamotorsiklong sibilyan na panay ang balik sa harap ng Pentagon, na sa tingin namin ay padala ng pulisya upang tingnan kung marami ang nasa piket,” ani Nedy Gonzaga, opisyal sa campaign department ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

Sinubok kapanayamin ng Collegian ang Station 1 Precint ng La Loma upang alamin kung bakit hindi natuloy ang demolisyon, ngunit hindi pa rin makapagbigay ng komento ang mga opisyal sa nasabing estasyon.

Kinundena naman ng mga manggagawa ang pakikialam umano ng lokal na gobyerno ng Lungsod ng Quezon, dahil ang usaping “labor dispute” ay dapat na sa pagitan lamang ng Pentagon at ng mga manggagawa nito.

Samantala, mahigit isang linggo nang natigil ang operasyon sa pabrika ng Pentagon, matapos sapilitang bigyan ng dalawang buwang “temporary leave” at P3,000 hanggang P5,000 “compensation” noong ika-27 ng Hulyo ang may 80 natitirang manggagawa sa Pentagon.

Gayunpaman, tuloy pa rin ang protesta ng mga manggagawa hanggang makuha ang hinihiniling na permanenteng trabaho, maayos na pasahod, at makataong kondisyon sa pabrika, ani Pepino.

“[Sa] mga manggagawang nakasubaybay sa aming [laban], huwag tayong magpasupil sa [mga] management [ng ating mga pinagtatatrabahuhan]. Ang ating mga karapatan, kung hindi natin ipaglalaban [ay] hindi maipagtatagumpay.” ∞

Franz Christian Irorita

Arra Francia

Protesta ng Pentagon workers, tuloy pa rin

TWO MILITARY OFFICIALS accused in the kidnapping and illegal detention of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan will remain behind bars until proven guilty.

In an eight-page decision on July 12, Malolos Regional Trial Court Judge Teodora Gonzales denied the bail petitions of Col. Felipe Anotado Jr. and Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio because of the strong evidence of their connection to the abduction of Karen and Sherlyn more than seven years ago.

Anotado and Orsorio have been detained at the Army Detention Center in Fort Bonifacio since

December 2011, while two other co-accused are still at large: Retired General Jovito Palparan and Master Sgt. Rizal Hilario.

Karen, a Sociology major, and Sherlyn, a Sports Science major, were abducted while doing research and community work in Hagonoy, Bulacan. Karen had been a member of League of Filipino Students and Sherlyn of Anakbayan, both militant youth groups.

According to eye-witness Wilfredo Ramos, Osorio dragged and hogtied Karen, Sherlyn, and three others, including Wilfredo and his father William. He then boarded the students in a jeepney at 2 AM on June 26, 2006. Another eye-witness, Raymond Manalo, testified that Anotado brought Karen and Sherlyn to Palparan.

Hans Christian Marin

Jul Mar Esteban

No bail for Karen-She abductors

HURDLEPhoto by Kimberly Pauig

A man jumps over the fare gates of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) North Edsa station when it refused to accept his card. Labor groups Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Riles Laan sa Sambayanan (RILES) Network staged protests on August 5 in various stations of the MRT and LRT to spark the start of weekly Monday protests against the planned fare hike. Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing that the MRT management and DOTC will hold public consultations before implementing a hike.

“The positive testimonies of our witnesses proved the fact of the disappearance of the victims and that the accused were responsible for [Karen and Sherlyn’s] abduction, custody, and consequent torture,” said Department of Justice prosecution panel head Juan Navera in a statement.

“Ang paghingi nila ng bail ay upang makatakas. Maaaring mangibang bansa sila. Walang magagawa ang court kung ganoon,” said Concepcion Empeno, mother of Karen. She also added that there should be no VIP treatment, that Anotado and Osorio be put alongside ordinary criminals.

Continued on page 11

Sa gitna ng bantang pagbuwag sa piket

BALITA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013 BALITA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013 5

SA GITNA NG SERYE NG MGA demolisyon sa Kamaynilaan, nakakulong pa rin ang 10 sa 33 residenteng dinakip ng pulisya sa demolisyon ng komunidad ng Silverio Compound sa Parañaque mahigit isang taon na ang nakararaan.

Hindi pa rin umuusad ang paglilitis sa kaso laban sa sampung residenteng inaresto matapos ang dispersal sa mga nagbarikadang pamilya sa 9.7 ektaryang sakop ng Silverio Compound, ika-23 ng Abril ng 2012.

Tinaguriang “Silverio 10,” hindi pa rin nakakauwi sa kanilang mga pamilya sina Johary Smith, Alberto Gallemit,

Edwin Bustamante, Dennis Cabunot, Vicente Tiongson, Alex Casanova, Ronel Amor, Melvin Mohana, Mark Gil Borbe, at Dick Etrata.

Tinatayang hindi bababa sa 14 ang nagtamo ng tama ng baril mula sa mga M16 at armalite rifle ng mga pulis at ahente ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Parañaque, habang isa naman ang kumpirmadong patay.

Abril 10 ng 2012 nang makatanggap ng sampung araw na demolition notice ang may 25,000 pamilyang naninirahan sa Silverio Compound. Ayon sa mga ulat na natanggap ng mga residente, nabili umano ng SM Development Corporation (SMDC) ang Silverio Compund at balak itong patayuan ng mga condominium, bagaman itinanggi ng SMDC ang nasabing lupain.

Naghain na ng petisyon upang hayaang makapagpiyansa ang mga pamilya ng mga biktima, subalit tatlong beses nang ipinagpaliban ang hearing dahil hindi humaharap sa korte ang mga saksing magpapatunay umano sa mga akusasyon sa Silverio 10. Ika-11 ng Hunyo ngayong taon nang maganap ang huling pagdinig sa kaso.

“Delaying tactics lang ang nagaganap. Paulit-ulit na sinasabi ng judge na may witness daw na lalabas, pero pagdating ng hearing ay magdadahilan sila na hindi ito makakarating,” ani Niki Gamara, kawani ng Tambuli ng Mamamayan na sinusubaybayan ang pag-usad ng kaso ukol sa Silverio 10.

Sa ika-29 ng Setyembre magaganap ang susunod na paglilitis, kung saan inaasahan nang lalabas na ang mga saksing ihaharap ng prosekusyon.

“Huling pagkakataon na ito upang mapakita nila ang witness. Kung hindi talaga darating ay dapat iresolba na yung petition to post bail para makalaya na ang mga nakakulong na kung tutuusin ay wala namang kasalanan,” ani Gamara. ∞

Silverio 10, higit isang taon nang nakakulong

OUTLASTED Photo by Kimberly Pauig

UP’s Sheerose Luna squeaks past UE defenders for a scoop in in a match at the San Juan Arena on August 6. The Lady Maroons ignited a 9-0 run in the last two minutes of the first half, keeping the Lady Warriors at bay and eventually winning the game, 67-55.

THE UP ADMINISTRATION HAS yet to disclose the report of a fact-finding committee on the alleged misuse of the National College of Public Administration’s (NCPAG) Graduate Tuition Fee Increment (GTFI) trust fund, even after Dr. Maria Fe Mendoza has been appointed as the new dean of the college.

Created on January 10, the said committee investigated allegations that former NCPAG dean Edna Estefania Co misappropriated GTFI funds for a curriculum review of the BA Public Administration program. The event was instead turned into a team building activity in April.

The committee was formed the same day as the Commission on Audit issued a notice “disallowing” the appropriation of funds to the activity for violating the government’s austerity measures.

According to NCPAG professor Joyce Cuaresma, Mendoza informed a group of senior NCPAG faculty in an August 5 dialogue that the report has yet to be turned over to the NCPAG dean’s office.

UP President Alfredo Pascual initially agreed to show to the said group the contents of the report on June 24, explained Cuaresma. On the same day, however, Pascual told them the report will be available after a new dean has been selected to replace Co, whose term ended on July 31.

The public disclosure of the report, however, must be done as immediately as possible, said Eduardo Gabral, national chair of the Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP, the alliance of student councils across the UP system.

“Imperative na mailabas kaagad yung report, lalo na pera ng mga estudyante ang pinag-uusapan. May karapatan ang mga estudyante na malaman kung saan napupunta ang kanilang pera,” explained Gabral.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Collegian, Mendoza said she hopes that the report be released to her office soon, as the report

would help the college in its efforts to create rules and guidelines for the use of the GTFI. Mendoza also said her office plans to release relevant sections of the report in consultations with the students, faculty, and other sectors of NCPAG.

Creation of the draft guidelines would help affirm transparency within the college and prevent these

sorts of issues from recurring, said Mendoza. These guidelines could also be used as a template by other colleges for their own GTFI funds.

“Hopefully, maibigay na sa amin ‘yung report. It’s a lesson learned at makakatulong siyang makapagbigay ng kalinawagan sa isyung ito, lalo na at polarizing issue [ito],” added Mendoza.∞

TWO YEARS FROM NOW, UP students might start their first semester in August instead of June should the administration approve a proposal to revise the academic calendar.

In a policy proposal drafted in June, UP President Alfredo Pascual proposed to shift the academic year from June-March to August-May as a response to the “globalization” of education systems in South East Asian countries (see sidebar).

The proposal was introduced to the Board of Regents (BOR), the highest policy-making body in UP, in their July 29 meeting. The Board, however, has yet to reach a decision on the policy proposal.

The internationalization of UP is in accordance with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) effort to foster economic cooperation in the region by 2015. “It is inevitable that it will involve human resources and capacity and their movements in the region,” read the proposal.

According to Pascual, the differences in the academic calendars of ASEAN member countries’

currently prevent UP students from participating in the globalization.

The said proposal, however, is a disappointing manifestation of the university administration’s prioritization of global competition over many of the country’s existing problems, said Eduardo Gabral, national chairperson of Katipunan ng Sangguniang Magaaral sa UP, the alliance of student councils across the UP system.

“If we really want our students to be globally competitive, we have to improve first the situation in our country,” Gabral explained.

Aside from facilitating the academic opportunities of UP students in universities abroad, the proposed academic calendar addresses frequent class suspensions, because it avoids the typhoon-prone months of June and July, said Pascual. The shift will also allow high school graduates to prepare themselves for college during the long gap between March and August, he added.

Besides the approval of the BOR, however, the students should also be consulted, said Jules Guiang, UP Diliman Student Council Vice Chairperson.∞

Report on misused NCPAG tuition fund still undisclosed

UP mulls over shifting school opening to August

Franz Christian D. Irorita

Arra B. Francia

Jul Mar Esteban

Sidebar: Shifted Acad Calendar

www.philippinecollegian.org

VAST ARABLE LANDS, RICH biodiversity, a climate suitable for farming, and a determined and hardworking people could have very well spelled economic progress for the Philippines through agriculture.

Sadly, the sector had always been wanting of government support, and a recently passed legislation might even worsen the situation. In May, President Benigno Aquino III signed into law Republic Act (RA) 10574, allowing foreign companies to own rural banks in the country for as much as 60 percent.

Supposedly established to develop the agriculture industry, rural banks are now on their way to foreign control.

BankruptAiming to develop rural

industries such as farming, fishing, and forestry, rural banks largely cater to farmers from the provinces, providing them basic financial services.

The Rural Banks Act of 1992 or RA 7353 mandates them to provide loans and agricultural assistance, such as capital for the purchase of equipment and fertilizers, “to farmers, fishermen or farm families owning or cultivating land dedicated to agricultural production.” The agricultural, fishery, hunting and forestry sectors, in fact, are the main recipients of the banks’ loans, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

As of March 2011, there are 595 rural banks all over the country, most of them located in the prime agricultural provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Nueva Ecija. Over the years, however, financial and management problems forced many to close. Just this year, six have shut down, further trimming down the number of remaining rural banks to only around 550.

BSP reports that the worsening performance of rural banks can be attributed to insolvency or the lack of financial resources. In fact, they posted the highest number of unpaid loans worth P14.5 billion in 2012, BSP adds.

Foreign aidLegislators have since turned to

foreign capital as the only option to address the challenges faced by rural banks. Senator Sergio Osmena III, the main proponent, then pushed for an amendment of the terms of ownership under RA 7353.

Only Filipino citizens can wholly own rural banks, RA 7353 states. But after over a year of deliberation, the amendment RA 10574 was approved. Now, “non-Filipino citizens may own, acquire or purchase up to 60 percent of the voting stocks in a rural bank.” The government deems foreign capital inflow will address the financial instability of local rural bank investors.

“When you talk about banks, you always need two components — good governance and capital. At least, capital portion may be addressed by this legislation”, says Edward Leandro Garcia, President of Rural Banks Association of the Philippines (RBAP), a non-stock corporation of rural financial institutions, in an interview with BusinessWorld.

Independent research institution IBON Foundation, on the other hand, doubts that the move will respond to the needs of the country’s agricultural sector. “This act is only in furtherance of liberalization, of opening up the most vulnerable aspect of the economy at the exploit of foreign companies,” said senior researcher Xandra Casambre.

Casambre then pointed to the mining industry, which proved that cases of foreign turnover of industries does not always usher development. The mining sector allows 100 percent foreign ownership of mining businesses with only five percent tax. But while the total worth of mineral products exported reach up to P22.33 billion, less than 2 percent, or only P393.9 million, had been earned by the government from taxes and royalties. Many mining companies have also left once pristine lands denuded and polluted, and the owners simply returned to their countries, profit from the operations in tow.

By limiting ownership to Filipinos, Casambre notes, the government will promote accountability of the businesses, and ensure that earnings remain in the country to benefit the community.

Reorienting developmentIf the mining experience

teaches us a lesson, it is that foreign ownership of rural banks will not guarantee the growth of an industry. Instead, progress entails providing full support to the grassroots who serve as its backbone – in the case of the agriculture sector, the toiling farmers.

“[The] slow growth of the agricultural sector [is a] reflection of its low-income [and] backwardness. Kung hindi naman masigla ang economic activity sa [rural areas], saan kukuha ang mga magsasaka ng [pambayad] nila sa utang?” says Casambre. Farmers in the rural areas, in fact, only earn a daily minimum wage of P230 to P280, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.

She adds that if only the farmers till lands without any

Gloiza Plamenco rent to pay for, then they will have the capacity to return the loans they avail in rural banks. Land reform in the country, however, is taking too slow. “Sa bansa natin, may kabayaran ang land reform. It’s not free distribution at all, and from that point, [the farmers] are already required to have money, eh wala nga silang resources in the first place,” Casambre says.

In lieu of the failing agrarian reform in the country embodied by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, farming groups have constantly called for a genuine agrarian reform, or the free distribution of lands to farmers.

“Kailangan ng tunay na reporma sa lupa, para umunlad ang produksyon sa kanayunan at totoong umunlad ang ekonomiya

nang hindi umaasa sa mga imports,” says Antonio Flores, Secretary General of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, an alliance of farmers in the country.

In the end, tapping foreign entities to ‘save’ the country’s rural banks will only put the country at a disadvantage, and turn our heads away from the more pressing problems that beset the agriculture sector.

To improve the rural economy, the government needs to create more sustainable livelihood opportunities, support the local industries, and uphold genuine agrarian reform. Only then can there be true and lasting economic development for Filipino farmers and our agriculture industries. ∞

Cash transferExamining the new ownership regulations for rural banks

LATHALAIN PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 20136

Illustration : Ysa Calinawan

Page design : Jan Andrei Cobey

7BALITA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN BIYERNES, HULYO 12, 2013 LATHALAIN PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013

St

ate of Terror

A TEMPEST BREWS ALONG Commonwealth Avenue.

With raised truncheons and metal riot shields at the ready, thousands of policemen form an impenetrable blockade to crush the advance of protesters towards Batasan Complex.

It was the day of the State of the Nation Address, and Pres. Benigno Aquino III was reporting his accomplishments and plans for the country. For ten minutes in his one and a half hour speech, Aquino shared his administration’s efforts to bolster the police and military forces, but did not touch on pressing issues, especially the price hikes for oil and basic commodities, the privatization of healthcare services, and the declining state of public education.

Outside the halls of Congress, battle lines were drawn once again in the streets. The men in uniform have their commander at their back, but on the other side, the militant farmers, workers, women and youth only have each other.

Locked and loadedHistorically, the government has

always provided a large share of the national budget to its security forces: the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), so that they can fulfill their constitutional duty of “securing the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of national territory” and “preserving peace and order.”

From 2006 to 2013, their combined funding has constantly amounted to one-tenth of the national budget, according to government data. Moreover, as the national budget increases over time, the government never fails to hike AFP and PNP‘s share, even tripling their budgets to P77.01 billion and P67.4 billion in 2013 from

Ronn Joshua C. Bautista

P22.84 billion and P35.17 billion in 2006, respectively.

In addition to their annual appropriations, the government also allots a separate yearly budget solely for acquiring more advanced equipment and ‘improve services’ for its security forces.

The Ramos administration was first to do so, giving the AFP an initial budget of P50 billion for 15 years to ‘upgrade’ its capability. The Estrada and Arroyo administrations continued to lobby for a higher budget for modernization through amending the law but were unsuccessful. The PNP has likewise been assured by law in 2004 of an annual P2 billion modernization fund for purchasing guns and equipment.

Under the current administration, the police and military are given further priority. Just last year, Aquino renewed the AFP modernization law and gave the military a budget of P75 billion to use for the next 5 years,

P15 billion of which is planned for release this year. At the same time, Aquino also hiked this year’s PNP modernization fund from P2 billion to P9 billion.

“Layon nitong tiyakin na hindi napag-iiwanan sa uri ng gamit at armas, at nakakasabay sa antas ng kasanayan ang ating Sandatahang Lakas [para] protektahan ang sambayanan laban sa anumang banta sa ating soberenya't kaligtasan,” Aquino says.

If the generous allocations are any indication, it is clear that the government places a premium on its security forces. As it does so however, the people unwillingly pay a hefty price for it as state priorities ultimately shift away from their welfare.

At the same time Aquino renewed the AFP modernization law in 2011 and boosted the PNP modernization allocations in 2012, state universities and colleges (SUCs), the National

Housing Authority, and public hospitals

received zero capital outlay, or the budget allotted for buying equipment and building new facilities. Moreover, almost one-third, or an average of P9 billion of the proposed budget of SUCs colleges (SUCs) were not approved. SUCs have been asking for an average of P32 billion every year since 2006. Finally, back-to-back budget cuts of P1.2 billion and P200 million in 2011 and 2012, respectively, plague government healthcare.

To serve and protect (the elite)“In theory, defense and security

is a public good where everyone is supposed to benefit. It’s too expensive and dangerous for the private sector, so the state has the responsibility of the armed forces [and using it to protect citizens],” says UP political science professor Herman Kraft.

That said, the police and military merits proper allocation of resources for them to fulfill their role to ‘protect’ Filipino citizens. However, the state’s policies regarding the use of its security forces send a different message.

For example, in 2009, the Arroyo Administration established the Investment Defense Forces which allows private corporations to request state elements, at their expense, to safeguard their businesses.

“Kailangan maipakita natin ang peace and order [ng Pilipinas] para dumating ang mga investors…There is no development without peace,” explains P S/Supt. Noel Baraceros, deputy chief of the Police Information Office.

Such development, though, appears reserved for the private sector under Aquino’s economic policies of dependence on foreigners and the elite, argues Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of human rights group Karapatan. Furthermore, the

police are ordered to carry out missions that clash with

the people’s interests, as in the case of the violent

dispersals of protesting Pentagon Steel workers

and informal

settlers of Agham Road in Quezon City.

In this sense, the state’s security forces then become instruments for the elite to use – contrary to the spirit of service enshrined in their mottos of ‘To serve and protect’ and ‘At your service, across lands’

Quelling dissentConflict between the people

and the state’s security forces is inevitable, especially when the police and military are used for private interests. More often than not, dissent is punished gravely.

On the morning of October 18, 2012, the body of pregnant mother Juvy Capion and corpses of her two children lay outside of their hut in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur – their skulls smashed and carcasses peppered with gunshots.

Earlier that day, soldiers of the 27th Infantry Battalion of the AFP had stormed their house looking for Juvy’s husband, Daguil, a leader of the indigenous B’laan fighting the mining operations of Xstrata in their ancestral land.

Along with the 137 other extrajudicial killings that Karapatan recorded since the start of the Aquino administration, this massacre clearly illustrates the deadly consequences of the state’s iron fist – with the Marcos dictatorship and Martial Law being the ultimate reminder that such iron fist has never benefited the people.

“Dito pumapasok yung sinabi ni [Karl] Marx na ginagamit lang ng naghaharing uri ang estado, and by extension, the state’s security forces for their own interests,” Kraft explains.

Moves to increase their budget would then mean that the administration will continue to use and rely on the police and military to create a climate of fear to silence opposition.

“Takot kasi sila magising at kumilos ang mga mamamayan,” explains Palabay.

In the end, regardless of supposed commitment to human rights, the police and military will remain institutions mandated to deliver the orders of the state and elite. And when a government is all too aggressive in efforts to boost its forces, it can only show that it also acknowledges the rising dissent and unrest among its people. ∞

Photograph : Kira Chan & Jiru Rada

Page design : Jan Andrei Cobey

AGENTS OF

VIOLENCE

UNDER AQUINO

8 KULTURA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013

Illustration : Rosette AbogadoPage design : Jerome Tagaro

Suot ang makulay na damit na burdado ng sining ng kanyang lahi, diretso ang tingin ng matandang babaeng katutubo sa lente ng kamera. Kung tititigan nang mainam ang maiitim niyang mga mata, panandaliang maaaninag ang kasaysayan ng kanyang tribo. Naka-ukit sa kaniyang kulukulubot na balat at sa mga linya ng ugat sa kanyang noo ang masalimuot na kasaysayan ng kanyang lahi.

Halos walang tao sa kwartong lulan ang photo eksibit na ito para sa Indigeous Peoples. Nakakulong pa rin sa frame ang imahen ng katutubo—pinagmamasdan—habang laganap sa bawat sulok ng Pilipinas ang lantarang pambubusabos sa mga karapatan ng mga katutubo.

Lupang TinubuanMatindi ang koneksiyon ng mga

katutubo sa kanilang lupa’t teritoryo na halos kasingkahulugan na ng kanilang identidad.

“Kapag inalisan mo [kami] ng lupa, parang inalisan mo na rin [kami] ng lahi. Ang lupa ay buhay,” ani Aling Kakay, isang Dumagat.

Ang espasyong sosyal, ani isang Marxistang Pranses na si Henri Lefebvre, ay isang produkto ng lipunan. Bawat lipunan—at mga baryasyon nito—ay mayroong kanya-kanyang moda ng produksiyon na lumilikha ng kaibang espasyo at sistemang sa lipunang iyon lamang maaapuhap.

Bilang isang lipon ng tao, naiiba ang mga IP dahil sa pagkakaroon nila ng tribal system. Ito’y nagbibigay sa kanila hindi lamang ng karapatan pang-indibidwal kundi pati ng karapatan bilang isang kolektib na tribo.

Nais ng mga katutubo ng ekslusibong espasyo upang ilulan ang kanilang mayamang tradisyon. Sa mga hindi kabilang sa espasyong ito, kadalasa’y nagiging biktima ang mga katutubong ito lalo na ang mga kabataan, ng mga maling kuro-kuro mula sa labas ng kanilang teritoryo.

Biktima ng pagkamkam ng lupa, napipilitan ang mga kabataang katutubo na lumuwas sa espayong hindi lulan ang kanilang mga tradisyon ayon sa Katipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP). Madalas ay puntirya sila ng diskriminasyon sa kanilang komunidad at sa mga siyudad. Kamakailan lang ay pabirong binansagan ni Candy Pangilinan ang mga katutubong Igorot bilang mga taong “may buntot” na ikinagalit ng mga katutubong Igorot.

Isa sa mga porma ng diskriminasyon, ayon sa KAMP, ay ang diskriminasyon sa trabaho. Isang halimbawang naitala ng KAMP ay ang kaso ng dalagang katutubong hindi natanggap sa isang fast food chain dahil umano sa kanyang malalaking binting katangian ng kanyang tribo.

Sa ganitong lente, ang kanilang teritoryo ay maituturing hindi lamang bilang pagkukunan ng pamumuhay kundi isang ligtas

na kanlungan ng kanilang mga paniniwala’t kasarinlan. Sa patuloy na pagkamkam ng mga pribadong kumpanya sa mga lupain ng mga katutubo, lalong mawawalan ang mga kabataang katutubo ng kanilang pagkakakilanlan at karapatan.

Dulot ng DahasMula sa diskriminasyon sa anyo’t

pamumuhay, humaharap sa mas matitinding pang-aalipusta ang mga kabataang katutubo.

Biktima ng maraming human rights violations ang marami sa mga katutubong lumalaban para sa kanilang lupain. Isa na rito si Jordan Manda, 11 taong gulang na anak ng isang Subanen chieftain na si Lucenio Manda na tumanggi sa pagkamkam ng Toronto Ventures Inc. sa kanilang katutubong lupain sa Mindanao.

Sa kabila ng ganitong mga pambubusabos, lalo pa ring dinadagdagan ng administrasyong Aquino ang pasakit sa katutubo. Isinasagawa ang patuloy na militarisasyon sa mga katutubong lupaing may kakayahang maging project sites ng pamahalaan. Isang malaking banta ito sa pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay ng mga kabataang katutubo mula sa sakahan hanggang sa paaralan, ani Kakay.

Sa mga Teduray ng Mindanao, 70 ang bilang ng mga estudyanteng nagsisiksikan sa isang silid aralan, ayon sa Manobong gurong si Melissa Comiso, na may kalayuan sa nayon ng kanilang tribo.

Dahil sa kakulangan ng suporta mula sa pamahalaan, tulong-tulong na nagtayo ang mga tribo ng Mindanao ng 87 na paaralan sa buong Mindanao. Mga miyembro ng mismong tribo ang nagsisilbing mga guro at hango sa pangangailangan ng tribo ang kurikulum ng mga eskwelahang ito.

Maliban sa kakulangan sa kalidad ng edukasyon, patuloy ang banta ng dahas sa mga paaralan. Ilan sa mga paaralan rin ng mga katutubo sa Saranggani ay naipit sa matinding militarisasyon noong 2010 kung saan hinarrass ang mga guro’t estudyante.

Hindi mawawala ang pagtataka sa pagpipinansiya sa mga paaralang ito na kadalasa’y tinatatakan nila bilang “NPA-sponsored.” Sumasailalim sa interrogation process ang marami sa mga kabataang katutubong pinaghihinalaang mga kasapi ng NPA, dagdag ni Comiso.

Ilusyong UtopiaSa tindi ng banta sa kaligtasan,

edukasyon at land grabbing, prayoridad pa rin ng administrasyong Aquino ang kanyang mga proyektong pagkukunan ng geothermal na enerhiya ayon sa kanyang nakaraang State of the Nation Address.

Nakasunod na magsapraktika ng prayoridad na ito ni Aquino ang Chevron na makaaapekto ng tatlong probinsiya sa Cordillera. Sa malagim na kasaysayan ng madugong pakikibaka ng mga katutubo para sa Chico River mula sa pamahalaang Marcos, hindi na natuto ang

Huwad na Paggunita

pamahalaan na nagnanais ipatupad ang proyektong ito.

Kalakhan ng mga kabataang katutubo ay hindi pa mulat sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng kanilang lahi. Sa pagkawala ng kanilang teritoryo, kasabay ng kawalan ng sapat na social services, napipilitan ang mga kabataang katutubong makipagsapalaran sa mga lungsod upang maghanap ng bagong kabuhayan na dati’y kayang sustentuhan ng kanilang lupaing ngayo’y nakamkam na, ani Kakay .

Hindi rin mainam ang kundisyong hatid sa kanila ng lungsod. Dahil sa kawalan ng babalikang lupa’t lahi, malaki ang posibilidad ng paglimot ng mga kabataang katutubo, wika ni Kakay.

“Labanan,” ani isang magulang na Kankanaey nang tanungin kung ano ang tugon nila sa mga paparating na proyektong yayarok sa kanilang lupain.

“Handang magsakripisyo ang mga magulang para sa kanilang mga kabataang anak,” dagdag pa niya.

Gaano man karaming forum at mga kumperensiya ang ilaan sa mga kabataang katutubo, patuloy pa rin ang pag-iral ng mga pangunahing isyung kinakaharap ng mga katutubo.

Sa pagtatapos ng huwad selebrasyon ng pagpapakita ng pag-alala sa mga katutubo ngayong Agosto, nananatili pa ring estranghero ang mga kabataang katutubo sa kanilang sariling lahi. Sakop pa rin ang kanilang lupang tinubuan ng mga pribadong interes at ng isang pamahalaang walang pagmamalasakit sa sarili nitong mga katutubo. ∞

Inah Anunciacion

CINE

ANAESTHESIA

KULTURA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013 KULTURA PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013 9

Illustration : Karl AquinoPage design : Jerome Tagaro

CINE

ANAESTHESIA

Tumambad sa malaking screen ang katawan ni Greg (Alex Medina) na nanlalagkit sa pawis. Kasabay ng kanyang pag-indayog na tila may sinusundang ritmo, ang may pagnanasang pagtingin niya Sa nakabanderang suso ng isang babae sa kanyang computer monitor. Walang kamalay-malay, ginulat ng palabas ang mga manonood nang may tumalsik na tamod sa desktop screen.

Isa lamang ito sa mga eksena ng “Babagwa,” na tampok sa ika-9 na Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, isang organisadong pagtatanghal ng mga independent films na kadalasang tumatalakay ng mga mapangahas na paksa tungkol sa lipunang Pilipino.

Taong 2005 nang unang itanghal ang Cinemalaya sa pangunguna ng Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. isang non-profit at non-government na organisasyong sumusuporta sa paggawa ng mga pelikulang indie at humihikayat sa mga Pilipinong na magpamalas ng kanilang talento sa paglikha ng mga pelikulang magtatanghal ng bagong kaisipan at karanasan na nakabatay sa nagbabagong-bihis na panahon.

“Cinesthesia: Synergy of the Senses,”ang temang ginamit ng Cinemalaya ngayong taon. Mula sa salitang synesthesia o halo-halong emosyon, pangunahing tunguhin ng 25 na pelikulang tampok na pukawin ang damdamin ng mga manonood.

Kumintal man sa isipan ng mga manonood ang eksena sa pagtatapos ng pelikula, iniwanan nito sa mga manonoood ang pagpapasya sa kung anuman ang kahihinatnan sakaling malaman ni Greg na naloko siya ng kanyang biktima sa facebook scam.

Pagbubukas ng tanghalanMadalas tinatalakay ng mga

pelikulang indie ang mga isyu tulad ng kahirapan, kawalan ng sapat na edukasyon, mga kwento ng paglabag sa karapatang-pantao, sapilitang pagkawala (desaparecidos), sekswalidad, at iba pang mga isyu bibihirang ipinapakita ng mga pelikulang mainstream.

P i n a t u t u n a y a n lamang nito ang malaking potensyal ng mga likhang-sining sa pagbibigay ng kritikal na puna sa mga usaping panlipunan. Sa pagpapalabas ng mga pelikulang may mga temang nakakabagabag, sinasalungat nito ang mararahas na kondisyong napalalampas na lamang sa pangaraw-araw.

Sa kabilang banda, hindi naman nawawala ang mga kwento ng pag-ibig sa iba’t ibang anyo, tulad ng pelikulang Ang Dati, na pangunahing tinatangkilik ng mga manonood.

Malaki ang bahagi ng usaping pinansiya sa kalayaang natatamasa

ng Cinemalaya sa pagpili at pagpapalabas ng mga pelikulang may kritikal na tema. Dahil walang pondong nagmumula sa gobyerno, hindi natatali ang mga pelikula ng Cinemalaya sa mga tema’t ideyang sumasalamin sa paninindigan at pinahihintulutan ng estado.

Kaya’t hindi maiiwasan ang pagpasok ng mga progresibong pelikula tulad ng Dukot, Sigwa

at Burgos sa Cinemalaya na direkta at mapangahas na

hinahamon ang posisyon ng gobyerno sa lipunan.

B i n i b i g y a n g pagkakataon rin ng Cinemalaya ang mga baguhang artista na gumanap sa mga pelikula. Kaya kadalasan hindi

kilalang personalidad ang gumaganap sa mga

pelikula subalit ngayong taon pinagbidahan ng

mga malalaking pangalan sa showbiz tulad nina Paolo

Avelino, Gretchen Barreto at Vilma Santos ang ilang mga pelikula sa Cinemalaya.

Malaki ang inaasahan mula sa mga tampok na indie films, lalo na’t layunin ng Cinemalaya na pukawin ang damdamin at konsensiya ng mga manonood. Naiiwan sa mga indie filmmaker ang pagpapasya kung ang kanilang mga likha’y nais manghimok na gumawa ng mga hakbang upang solusyunan ang mga isyung tinatalakay ng mga pelikula.

Subalit sa pagdaan ng mga taon, tila unti-unting umaayon ang mga paksa at katangian ng mga indie films sa mga pelikulang mainstream. Sa pag-usbong halimbawa ng genre na “maindie,” mistulang nawawala ang malinaw na kaibahan sa pagitan ng dalawang anyo.

Kung patuloy na umaangkop ang mga indie films sa mga pamantayan ng mga malalaking pelikula, hindi malayong lumabnaw ang mga ito at tuluyang mabigo sa pagpukaw ng mga damdamin.

Salamin ng karanasanIkinagulat ng mga masugid

na tagahanga ng Cinemalaya ang tuluyan nitong pag-iwan sa maliit na teatro ng UP Film Institute at pagtungo sa Ayala malls. Dating kabilang sa mga isponsor ng Cinemalaya ang UP Cineastes’ Studio at UPFI, subalit pinalitan ito ng Ayala Malls ngayong taon.

Paliwanag ni Millado hindi na umano ipinalabas ang Cinemalaya sa UPFI dahil nakakuha sila ng mas malawak na lunan para maabot ang mas malawak na manonood. Matagal nang hinaing ng institusyon ng Cinemalaya ang kakulangan sa badyet kaya’t hindi na nakagugulat ang pagtanggap nito ng komersyal na isponsor.

Sa pagpasok ng mga pelikula ng Cinemalaya sa mga Ayala Malls— Greenbelt, Trinoma, Alabang Town Center—hindi maiwasang mabahiran ng komersyal na interes ang mga likhang-sining na sana’y may matayog na mithiing magsilbing matalas na kritisismo sa lipunan.

Mula Cinemalaya tungong “CinemAyala,” pinasok ng mga kalahok na indie films ang lugar kung saan itinuturing itong karaniwang produkto o kalakal sa merkado. Naihahanay ang mga ito sa mga pelikulang mainstream kaya’t nawawala ang tunay nitong layunin sapagkat higit na nangingibabaw ang layuning kumita.

Mistulang naiwawaksi ang mapanuri’t kritikal na katangian ng mga indie films kapalit ng pinansyang matatanggap mula sa mga komersyal na isponsor—isang kompromisong hindi maiiwasan.

Dagdag pang makikita sa paglipat ng Cinemalaya sa mga mall ang pagtingin kung sino ang kanilang target na manonood “na nais maabot”—ang panggitnang uri o middle class pataas. Maaaring dumami ang bilang ng mga manonood ng Cinemalaya sa mga mall subalit lagi’t laging mapag-iiwanan ang mga taong walang kakayahang pumunta sa mga mall.

Bagaman maraming mga indie filmfest sa Pilipinas katulad ng Cinema One Original Film Festival, CineFilipino, at CinePambansa

nananatili pa ring pinakatanyag ang Cinemalaya kaya’t

maaari itong magsilbing mitsa upang tuluyang

yakapin ng indie films ang komersyal na katangian ng mga pelikulang mainstream.

Marami mang napoprodyus na indie film sa bansa, watak-watak at hindi ito organisado para patatagin ang mga likhang-sining na kanilang pinagyayaman. Bunga nito walang alternatibong pamamaraan sa unit-unting paglamon ng komersiyal na interes sa kanilang mga likhang-sining.

Napakakipot na lugar ng mga filmfest upang magtagpo sila kaya’t itinuturing na bansot ang industriya ng indie films—kung industriya man itong maituturing.

Taliwas sa layonWalang pakundangang

ipinalalabas sa Cinemalaya ang mga eksanang labis na nagpapakita ng pagnanasa, pakikipagrelasyon sa kaparehong kasarian at kung ano-ano pang mga paksang hindi katang gap-tang gap—bagaman tunay na nangyayari—sa mapanghusgang lipunan.

Binigyang-diin ng Cinemalaya ang pagbuo

ng isang damdaming gigising sa kaisipan ng

mga manonood upang b i g ya n g - k a h u l u g a n ang pagbuo ng mga pelikulang indie—katangiang tila kinalimutan na at kaialngang muling

ipaalala.Samantala, kung

patuloy na tutunguhin ng Cinemalaya ang komersiyal

na landas hindi malayong mawalan rin ito ng kredibilidad

bilang tagapagsulong ng alternatibong porma ng pelikulang Pilipino. Malililhis ito sa paglikha ng kontra-diskurso ukol sa mga bagay o kaisipan na tila ba pangkaraniwan na laman, ginagawang manhid ang pandama ng mga manonood.

Sa pagpasok ng Cinemalaya sa mundo ng komersiyo, tila nagiging pangkaraniwang kalakal na lamang ang mga karanasang nagtataglay na nakagigimbal na mga katotohanan.

Bagaman hindi hayag, instrumento ang mga indie films sa pagsasanay sa kaisipan ng mga manood na tingnan ang mga eksenang hawi sa tunay na buhay na kinatha upang maging libangan o pampalipas-oras. Sa halip na magpalaya, tila ginagawa lamang normal ang karahasan sa lipunan; minamanhid ang pandama, sa halip na pukawin.

Sa huli, hindi masusukat sa laki ng produksyon, kasikatan ng pelikula at mga artista ang tagumpay ng Cinemalaya at indie film sa bansa, kundi sa pag-aambag nito sa pagsulong ng pagbabagong panlipunan—paggising sa natutulog na kamalayang matagal nang minanhid ng sistemang mapaniil. ∞

Mary Joy Capistrno

Malaki ang potensyal ng mga likhang-sining sa

pagbibigay ng kritikal na

puna sa mga usaping

panlipunan

Sa halip na magpalaya, tila

ginagawa lamang normal ang

karahasan sa lipunan;

minamanhid ang pandama,

sa halip na pukawin

American junkDamian

The country would have to allow the US to occupy its territory in order to assert its rights on the disputed islands off the West Philippine Sea

Dream JobAli

May mga masasayang simula na nauuwi sa hindi maiiwasang pagwawakas

OPINYON PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 201310

As tensions continue to rise in its waters on the west, the Philippines is standing up to China’s military supremacy with—guess what—a 46-year old warship.

President Benigno Aquino III personally welcomed BRP Ramon Alcaraz as it docked in Subic on August 6, after a two-month voyage from the United States.

Aquino claims BRP Alcaraz would boost the Philippine military’s capability to defend the country’s territories—that is, as soon as the newly acquired warship gets repainted at the least.

The 378-foot BRP Alcaraz is a Hamilton-class cutter first commissioned in 1967 for the US Coast Guard until its turnover to the Philippines in 2012. In other words, not only is the warship second-hand but might as well obsolete relative to China’s fleet.

But give it a chance, the Palace says, since it costs $15 million—yes, in dollars—to revamp the 46-year old ship. BRP Alcaraz will even have two machine gun systems soon.

Well, not really. It is absurd that the Aquino administration is actually spending billions in acquiring hand-me-down ships to “modernize” the Philippine military.

In the last State of the Nation Address of Aquino, it was quite apparent that the current administration has a keen inclination towards patronizing American junk. The president, it seemed, would rather spend P1.58 billion in constructing houses and classrooms than buying a brand new fighter jet.

That would have deserved applause if not for the paradox. The government has already spent P27.62 billion for the supposed modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the first half of Aquino’s six years as president.

More billions would even be appropriated in the next 15 years, as the AFP Modernization Act requires so. Yet, the Aquino administration would still settle for the Hamilton-class cutters of the US.

Maybe we should not lose hope. The US might just send more advanced warships, fighter jets and weapons to Subic; the two countries are allies after all. We cannot be sure though if they really are for the interests of the Philippines.

Aquino’s supposed hesitation to spending extensively on the modernization of the military came just a few days after his defense secretary announced a proposal to reopen military bases in the country to US.

Thus, what Aquino really meant in his SONA was: if the Philippine government cannot rely on its own armed forces, then let somebody else do the work.

Such move, however, creates another paradox. The country would have to allow the US to occupy its territory in order to assert its rights on the disputed islands off the West Philippine Sea.

And in the end, the Philippines would be left disadvantaged. ∞

MAituturing kong “dreAM job” ang naganap na internship ko nitong nagdaang summer.

Mahigit isang taon din akong naging tagahanga ng brand na ito, at ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na papasok ako bilang intern dito sa darating na summer classes. Sa kabutihang palad, hindi nauwi sa pagtitimpla ng kape at pagphotocopy ng mga papeles ang dalawang buwang nilaan ko para sa internship na ito.

Noong unang araw ko sa opisina, isang mahabang listahan ng mga gawain ang ibinigay sa akin ng boss ko. At dahil naging bibo ako panandalian, may ilan rin akong natapos sa listahan. Saktong-sakto ‘yung internship ko, sabi nila. Nangangailangan daw kasi sila ng graphic artist tulad ko.

Sa kalagitnaan ng internship, nahikayat ang tatlo ko pang kaklase na mag-apply. Naging mas exciting ang tila dumadaming trabaho at oportunidad para sa akin.

Nakapunta ako sa iba’t ibang lugar, maging sa mga parties kasama ang boss ko. Binibigyan nila ako ng minimum wage bilang allowance, kasama na ang tanghalian. Pamasahe na nga lang sa MRT at traysikel ang pinagkakagastusan ko araw-araw. Sinong hindi matutuwa sa ipinangakong trabaho pagka-gradweyt?

Maliban sa amin, may ilan pa akong mga nakilalang interns din na Information Technology ang kurso. Nakakapagtaka lang na habang babad kami kakagawa ng mga posters at publication materials, nagbibilang lang sila ng resibo at nag-iimbentaryo ng mga produkto. Mayroon din daw silang allowance, ngunit hindi kasing laki noong sa amin. Dahil ba mas nakikinabang sa amin ang kumpanya? Kahit internship ito, may bayad o wala, sana patas ang turing sa lahat, kahit ano pang trabaho nila o saan sila galing.

May mga masasayang simula na nauuwi sa hindi maiiwasang pagwawakas. Unti-unti kaming bumitaw ng mga kasamahan ko—nawalan kami ng gana dahil sa naging pagtrato ng kumpanya sa mga interns nito. Maraming oras ang nasayang sa paggagawa ng mga bagay na hindi naman gagamitin. Hindi na rin naging sapat ang “allowance” dahil sa kaunting oras na ginugol para sa trabaho.

Mas maswerte pa ‘yata silang mga nagbibilang ng resibo, hindi nila inisip ang magkaroon ng kinabukasan sa kompanya. Hindi sila umasa tulad namin. From interns to part-timers, titulo lang ito. Aanhin ang promotion kung walang nagbago sa sistema. Pero kahit pala pinangarap ko ito, dumating rin ‘yung araw na pagsasawaan ko rin ang lahat dahil hindi na ako masaya. Mananatili na lang na nakaukit ang masasayang sandali sa matamis naming uno. ∞

11OPINYON PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN MIYERKULES, AGOSTO 7, 2013

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Send in your opinions and feedback via SMS! Type KULE <space> MESSAGE <space> STUDENT NUMBER <required> NAME and COURSE (optional) and send to:

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Next week’s questions

2. Kung ikaw si Anne Curits, sino ang gusto mong maka-duet ng “With or Without You”?

1. Sang-ayon ka ba sa pag-abolish ng pork barrel? Bakit o bakit hindi?

CONTACT US!

Write to us via snail mail or submit a soft copy

to Rm. 401, Vinzons Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Email us at pkule1314gmail.com. Save Word attachments in Rich Text Format, with INBOX, NEWSCAN or CONTRIB in the subject. Always include

your full name, address and contact details.

CALLING ALL WRITERS AT HEART!The CommiTTee on CulTure and the Arts presents “Panulaan sa Daan” a literary project where your written work gets the chance to be posted in Ikot Jeeps around UP Diliman. Just submit any work written in English or in Filipino with 100 words or less at usc.cca1314@yahoo.com. please indicate your name, course, and year.

For inquiries just contact CAL Rep to the USC Aliona Silva (0906.243.2409) or CFA Rep to the USC Carlo De Laza (0906.243.2409).

STFAP! Repeal or Revise?leT us know whaT you Think through this year’s much-anticipated special debate tournament organized by the UP Pi Sigma Fraternity and the University Student Council

Joining’s easy! Just form a group of 3, determine which side you’re on, and submit your position paper to updusc1314@gmail.com! Deadline is on August 16.

The final list of accepted teams will be released on August 18. A maximum of 3 teams will be chosen, and will battle it out on August 23!

Sounds good? Join now, and we’ll see you there!

For questions and/or clarifications, feel free to contact us through +639178725396

TIME TO MAKE A SPLASH!This auGusT 10, leT’s sPlash it all out as we party at UP Swimming Pool - Aqua Zumba style!!!!

ParTy sTarTs aT 4Pm registration: 3pm

This event is brought to you by:Swimming Enthusiasts Association,

University of the PhilippinesSponsored by:

Jamba JuiceYolo TeaUSANA

OPEN TO ALL!SEE YOU AT THE POOL!

The Google Student Ambassador Program of UP Diliman brings you

“GooGle weekenD!” Where: Kalayaan Residencer Hall (TV Area)When: August 10, 2013 (Saturday, 1-4 pm)

Get to know more about the Google Apps for Education and have a Saturday afternoon filled with awesomazing Google stuff!NOTE: Please bring your fully-charged laptop before coming to the event.

AGENDA:1:00 – 1: 25 Google Search w/ Christine Balili1:25 – 2:00 Gmail w/ Ryan Steven Caro2:00 – 2:45 Google Drive w/ Christine Balili & Jas Tolentino2:45 – 3:30 Google Sites w/ Jas Tolentino3:30 – 4:00 Google+ w/Christine Balili

For inquiries and additional details, please go to: tinyurl.com/googleweekend

See you!

It’s time to pass on the skill!TeaCh kiDs how To reaD proficiently by volunteering for UP CRAdLe’s Project Pass-A-Book.

Volunteers’ Orientation: August 12, 1PM at UP CRAdle’s Tamabayan, Vinzons Hill

If interested, contact Vino (09176671320)

Sang-ayon ka ba sa pag- abolish sa SK? Bakit o bakit hindi?

Dapat ay i-abolish na yang SK. Stepping stone to corruption. Tuwing paliga pag summer ko lang naman nararamdaman yung SK sa amin. Sayang ang pinapasweldo sa kanila. Chura nila. 20**-786** Renz

hi Kule! Di po ako sang-ayon. Ang kailangan ng SK ay renovation. Charot. But srsly, not barangay level pero town level na lang. And emphasis on transparency and accountability please. 2010-68904 Frost

I’m not pro-SK abolition since it will deprive d youth their much needed representation. Mas kailngan ma-empower ang youth dhil s knila mnggagling ang future leaders ntin. 20123*129 Faye

Tama lang yun. Dhil ang SK ay SKK na ngyon: “Samahan ng mga Kumag na Kabataan”. Ang bata bata, tinuturuan ng magnakaw sa bayan 13-***49 Sopoorman

Bakit hindi ka crush ng crush mo?Maria Urduja Jean, Bakit nga ba

hindi? 2013-13071 Mathew Naral BS Civil Eng’g

kasi may crush syang iba..marami syang crush actually..diiii nyaaa ako typeeeee....booooo laman lang habol nya sakin..chos hi kian :* 0836690

Kasi di kami talo. she will never get attracted to me just because I’m a girl :| Lol -hi stat girl :) 2009-34953

Hindi ako crush ng crush ko kasi bata pa daw ako :) pero kahit na. crush ko pa din sya. 2011780** MAKI

Bakit di ako crush ng crush ko? Kasi girlfriend ko na sya ngayon! Haha. #labo 2010-68904 Frost

Dahil hindi kami talo. </3 2011-01***Naiintinidate kasi siya saken kasi sa

UP daw ako nag aaral tapos siya sa Yellow University out there huhu . 2012-00527 Nigel Angelo BS Materials Engineering

Hindi ako crush ko kasi focus daw muna sya sa acads. 2012-23037 Antukin STAT

‘Di ako crush ng crush ko kasi hindi naman n’ya alam na nag-eexist ako! Ajuju. 2012-08xxx Louise R.

Bakit di ako crush ng crush ko? Kasi love niya na ko. As in kami na. Hehe :”> shet ang lhondz XD. 2013-14746 (pa-hide:D) Derpina McHerpson BS Love Science

kasi hindi niya alam na nag-eexist ako.. Huhu =(( 2013-35275 chinen G.Eng’g

Bakit hindi ako crush ng crush ko? Kasi may girlfriend na sya. Huhuhu. XD. 2013-78590 Aphrodite (abangers. LOL)

Hindi niya ko crush kasi d nya alam,:-DXD...pag nalaman nun,magigng crush na dn nya ko,XD! 2013-39***

Kasi hindi niya lang ako crush, crush na crush niya ako! 20**-****7 Anika

Kasi nalaman niyang may crush na akong iba. Akala niya di na ako makakahanap? Kawalan niya ako :> 1101517

Hindi ka crush ng crush mo kasi pang friendzone k lng. :( 2013-00*80 Raina BS CE

Comments:Cool ‘yung “Hanggang saan aabot

ang bente pesos mo?”. Maganda ang pagkakalahad nito sa pamumuhay ng isang tipikal na mag-aaral ng UP. :) 2012-23037 Antukin STAT

Pabati:Ewan kung kailan mapa-publish ‘to,

haha, pero best wishes sa magte-take ng MetE (LERIS) boards this month! Sana maikasal tayo lahat sa license card o kung anuman. Andaw? Haha! Meow 2008-30718 BS MetE

Miss ko na si Ninalyn Uy. Ano na kaya nangyari sa kanila ng kanyang boylet at ang proverbial kalasiao? 201*-***63

Kasi love na niya ako. XD (assuming!) I love you “Pooh”!!! Okay lang kahit di mo kayang aminin

sakin to. Remember what I said before, para

kang feel good song: you make me smile. 201224363

The disapproval of the bail is good news to the families of Karen and Sherlyn, even if the prosecution team expected the decision due to strong evidence against all accused, including Palparan, said lawyer Atty. Edre Olalia. “Palparan [and his accomplices] should have every reason to cringe in fear of being locked away for a long time once justice has caught up with him,” added Olalia.

The next hearings for the case will be on September 2 and October 7 this year.

Karen and Sherlyn are among the 206 cases of enforced disappearances under former President Gloria Arroyo’s term, which remain unresolved even under Benigno Aquino III’s administration, according to human rights group KARAPATAN. ∞

Attached also in the BOR’s provisional agenda is the letter of Magdaleno Albarracin Jr. to Pascual stating that he will donate P40 million to the school should the renaming be approved and finalized.

“I request that the P20 million payment be made within two weeks thereof and a final payment of P20 million be due within three months from approval of the renaming,” said Albarracin.

‘Appointment of New Deans and Directors’

BOR confirmed the appointment of six nominees for deanship and one for institute directorship based on recommendations from UP Diliman (UPD) Chancellor Caesar Saloma.

In UPD, the Board selected Dr. Aura Matias as dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Miguela Mena as dean of the Asian Institute of Tourism, and Dr. Jose Buenconsejo as dean of the College of Music.

The BOR also confirmed Dr. Michael Tan as the College of Social Science and Philosophy and Dr. Maria Fe Mendoza as the NCPAG dean.

The Regents also appointed Dr. Annabelle Novero as dean of the UP Mindanao College of Science and Mathematics and Dr. Carlo Arcilla as the Institute Director for the National Institute of Geological Sciences. ∞

No bail for Karen-She abductors

ON BOARD

Reports on the July 29 Meeting

Continued from page 4

Continued from page 3

Da Long Weekend Edishun!naGmamaGanDanG araw mGa STFAP ka-brackets! Kumusta ang allowance? Down to the last coin na ba? Grabe rin kasi sa dami ng mga rainy days this past week right? Hindi tuloy ako makapaglakad to make tipid sa pamasahe. In addition pa sa pabente-benteng gastos sa mga jeepney rides inside the campus, sobra rin ang hassle sa pagcocommute! Jusko, early morning palang eh wet look na ang aking peg. Anyway, I am obliged to give you the latest chikas na hindi niyo maooverheard. Obliged talaga kasi helloooo, I’m your traditional chikadora from the land of bekilandia!

Chika#1. Sinetch itey mysterious kuya from UP ******** who always make tambay near the Kolehiyo ng Maaarte at Literatrulala na pinagkakamalang Alien Peter Cayetano raw. Alien as in like our friend Kokey from another planet. Paano ba naman, kuya from UP ******* has no concrete background history according to reports from our local alien proweba team. Kuya doesn’t want to use his real name daw for no specific reasons and every midnight raw ay George W. Baboosh na ang kanyang peg. He’ll just return in the wee hours of the morning just like any other kahinahinalang character sa movies. Nakakaloka na ang conspiracies na nabubuo, they are spurting up like se*en este mushrooms, and the biggest of them all is that kuya alien hides his space shuttle under the org’s tepee!

Chika#2. Koya from Enggcantadia loves to FckDeliver and the FckDeliver agent called him to cuntfeerm his order. Everything is smooth just like his arms, but wait until you reach his elbow, after a minute or so, the usapan went baku-bako and funny! Ate asked koya to confirm the delivery room number so koya replied with “D3.” Ate was a bit Confucius and reaffirmed koya, “Sir, B as in Bravo, right?” Nahawa yata si koya ng Confuciunism at natarantula when he blurted out “D as in… DIVA.” Bongga ka koya. Nakakaloka at ang sakit sa bangs ha. Of all the words starting in D, Diva pa! Pwede namang D*ck or Dirty. Hahaha I smell the letter pink coming from your closet. Kalurkey.

Chika#3. Tambling na lang ako mga beks when I heard this meaty chika that someone fed someone the wrong kind of food. Google niyo kaya mga gurl ng malaman ang mga ganap sa kanila anek? Hihihi medyo lurky kasi. Sana dinala niyo na lang yan dito sa opis ng mga Kulutero kasi you know naman, we are patay gutoms and below the poverty line every presswork! Last niyo na yaaaan ha.

Midterm hell week fragrance is still in the air. But don’t worry STFAP ka-brackets dahil ze long weekend is up ahead. Makakabawi na din ng tulog at more time to raket to replenish our f*ckets! Labia everyone! ∞

AFTER THE DREADED week-long presswork, I promised myself resolutions which I know I would eventually dismiss.

I told myself and the entire office that I would quit smoking however hard it was to fill the emptiness that only you and a packet of Marlboros can suffice. My lungs were in an unpretty shape based on the last check up I had. I also forced myself and the rest to stop buying food from the clown and the bee. It alarmed me at the normalcy of having at least four to five fastfood deliveries each presswork night.

Another thing I promised myself was to avail the escape travel bag I prepared at the office two weeks ago. It was a fantasy, yes, to plan escaping from reality in the middle of the week to a province I never visited before. The bag was a summary of my life. All it needed was for me to actually use it.

Inside it was a Kitkat bar, my black moleskin journal and Gtech pens; two shirts I received from an anonymous Kris Kringle last year; Canon DSLR with prime 50mm f/1.8 lens; my seven year old iPod containing music from the 90s and below, mostly from the 60s which I consider to be the greatest era in music history; my tattered wallet containing all the cards of my life (ATMs, debit, Fully Booked and SM advantage cards, my press, student, my voter’s, and driver’s ID), a picture of the first girl I kissed, a few receipts, and a rosary I never used; my condo and car keys; an infamous Jack Kerouac book; and a lighter with an empty pack of Marlboro. I did not include a mobile phone in the bag.

The escape bag waits, unused. One of these days, I would pick it up to temporarily escape from this mess of a reality for a day or two. Maybe I could share it with someone else who would want to escape with me. ∞

NOWHERE MAN

Alan P. Tuazon

A Temporary Escape