The travails of a political prisonerLathalain/08

7 Mar 08

Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman

Nº 26

On its 85th year, the Philippine Collegian looks back at eight decades of headlines that saw print

on its pages & sent ripples within and outside the

university.

Balita | 05

Feature writer is next Collegian EIC

EDitORialS | 06

Collegian editorial exam 2008

5 MaR 1955

Collegian suppression lifted by presidentPresses roll as Tan lifts ban; denies knowledge of suspension order

The suspension of the highly controversial issue of the Philippine Collegian carrying a story about charges being filed by Ms. Amelita Reysion- Cruz with the Board of Re-gents against President Vidal Tan, was officially lifted last March 3, with the permission of Pres. Tan to print the Collegian in full.

Balita | 03

Palengke sa Philcoa, giniba

PhilippineCollegian Ika-85 taon Blg. 26 Biyernes 7 Mar 2008

Philippine Collegian Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman

Punong Patnugot / Jerrie Magcuro Abella (on leave) • KaPatnugot / Frank Lloyd Tiongson • tagaPamahalang Patnugot / Karl Fredrick M. Castro • Patnugot sa lathalain / Alaysa Tagumpay E. Escandor • Patnugot sa graPiKs / Piya C. Constantino, Ivan Bryan G. Reverente, Alanah M. Torralba • tagaPamahala ng Pinansiya / Melane A. Manalo • mga Kawani / Louise Vincent B. Amante, Mark Angelo V. Ching, Ma. Rosa Cer M. dela Cruz, Glenn L. Diaz, Janno Rae T. Gonzales, John Alliage T. Morales, Archie A. Oclos, Candice Anne L. Reyes, Larissa Mae R. Suarez • Pinansiya / Amelyn J. Daga • tagaPamahala sa sirKulasyon / Paul John Alix • sirKulasyon / Gary Gabales, Ricky Icawat, Amelito Jaena, Glenario Omamalin • mga Katuwang na Kawani / Trinidad Basilan, Gina Villas • Pamuhatan / Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon • tele fax / 9818500 lokal 4522 • email / kule0708@gmail.com • website

/ http://www.philippinecollegian.tk, http://kule0708.deviantart.com • KasaPi / Solidaridad - UP System-wide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations, College Editors Guild of the Philippines

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Sustaining Intensities

It is a state that has

ceased serving its

citizens, a state

founded on deception

and lopsided interests –

therefore, a state inviting

the most intense

opposition

These days, it is hard to use truth in a single sen-tence without the words rage and upheaval.

S u c h i s h o w t h e current political crisis

is written. A single word can lead to many things. For a corrupt and illegitimate regime, the narrative can only lead to its downfall.

The clamor for Gloria Arroyo’s ouster has possibly reached its most intense volume. The February 29 interfaith rally in Makati registered around 75,000 participants, consid-ered the largest gathering of anti-Arroyo forces in years. A Pulse Asia survey, meanwhile, revealed that 16 percent of adults in Metro Manila are willing to join demonstrations against officials involved in the controversial national broadband network (NBN) deal.

It is because truth has the most distinct scent. No amount of suppres-sion can possibly hide its odor. That is why Arroyo’s Executive Order 464 only fuels the rage of opposi-tion forces, instead of calming it through elaborate lies and acts of concealment.

As such, engaging the regime at this point is centered on the demand for truth and accountability. Various sectors have formed alliances geared exactly for uncovering the truth behind the alleged corruption behind the NBN deal. The contro-versy should be the last among the many atrocities the Arroyo admin-istration has committed, including the spate of extra-judicial killings, the Hello Garci controversy, and a multitude of debilitating economic

policies. Among such groups are youth

al l iances such as Youth for Accountability and Truth, Advocacy for Sustained Accountability and Reform, as well as the university based Alliance Working for Arroyo’s Removal. Militant organizations, meanwhile, have been steadfast in their calls to remove Arroyo from office. Religious and professional groups have also joined the fray. Anti-Arroyo forces are more coher-ent than ever. Talks of a new people power permeate the avenues of dissent.

Government officials, however, are quick to remind the public to wait until 2010. Their pronounce-ment reeks of smugness, instead of humble appeal. While they arro-gantly impose such, they remain under the cover of executive privi-lege and other malicious mecha-nisms to elude accountability.

Indeed, the pronouncement is valid. We only have to wait two more years, after all. However, under the context of Philippine politics, waiting two more years assumes a malevolent form. Allegations of corruption behind the NBN deal pertain to the efforts to gather massive resources for an oligarchy Arroyo and her cohorts are trying to install. Therefore, Arroyo’s influ-ence may extend even beyond 2010, even if names and faces can change. It is this fact that compels the people to decisively hinder Arroyo’s political ambitions and uproot any oligarchy that plans to arrogate power during her term.

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f f i c i a l s ,

indeed, have been busy counter-ing the opposition with dubious pronouncements, instead of concrete evidence and testimo-nies. After all, the evidence of this regime’s iniquity can be found everywhere, from spiking oil prices to repressive, militaristic measures to quell dissent. It is a state that has ceased serving its citizens, a state founded on deception and lopsided interests – therefore, a state inviting the most intense opposition.

Part of this effort to hamper mounting dissent is asserting that the long wait for a revolt is a sign of people power fatigue. The notion has been wielded constantly to dispute the fact that the opposi-tion is on the verge of launching one, or that it has gained popular support.

The supposed fatigue, however, can be seen in a different light. It pertains to the skepticism of the

people towards the fruits of such an uprising. Two people power revolts have been successful only in changing the names and faces of administrations. The seeming distrust, as such, implies no less than the realization that merely changing the face of power is not enough. If anything, it implicates the very system that spurs a corrupt and repressive state. And when the time comes to engage such system, it will be decisive as it assumes the force of a true revolution.

It is said that no democratic upris-ing fails. Each step is a step towards the right direction. As long as we can sustain the fierceness of our clamor, the intensity of a raised fist, the regime will always cower. And from its ashes, we can always build the government of our ideals.

PhiliPPine Collegian | Biyernes 7 Mar 2008

BOR reappoints Cao as UPD chancy

n Giniba ng mga tauhan ng MMDA ang UP Wet and Dry Market sa may Commonwealth Ave. sa Quezon City noong Marso 5 alinsunod sa planong “road widening program” sa nasabing lugar. Marahas na tinugunan ng awtoridad ang mga estudyante at maninindang nagbarikada kung saan naiulat na apat na estudyante at sampung manininda ang nagtamo ng mga sugat. om n a r aya n a . V e l a s co.

agarang pagbaklasPalengke sa Philcoa, giniba18 manininda, estudyante nasaktanPatricia aireen sarmiento

Aabot sa 35 puwesto ng mga manininda sa UP Wet and Dry Market sa Philcoa ang giniba at 18 ang napaulat

na nasaktan sa demolisyong isi-nagawa ng Metro Manila Devel-opment Authority (MMDA) dito noong Marso 5.

Nagbarikada ang mga manin-inda ng kabuuang 70 puwesto sa palengke, kasama ang mga organ-isasyong Kadamay at Anakbayan, sa pagdating ng limang trak, na tinatayang naglulan sa may 300 miyembro ng MMDA , at aabot sa 50 pulis ng Quezon City Police District.

Ayon kay Bobby Esquivel, hepe ng Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group ng MMDA, giniba ang bahagi ng palengke dahil sa proyektong pagpapalawak ng Commonwealth Avenue. Aniya, hindi na rin umano kailangan ng court order para isa-gawa ang demolisyon dahil ito ay nasa “road right of way.”

Pinigil ng Task Force on Squat-ting Communities and Housing Utilities ng UP ang paggiba sa buong palengke, ngunit hindi umano sila pinakinggan ng MMDA dahil ipinag-utos na umano ni Bayani Fernando, tagapangulo ng MMDA , ayon kay Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Cynthia Grace Gregorio.

Ani Gregorio, walang paunang sabi ang MMDA sa UP hinggil sa isasagawang demolisyon, at kala-hati lamang umano ng palengke ang gigibain, sang-ayon sa pag-uusap ng UP at ni Cora Cruz, assis-tant general manager ng MMDA .

Nauna nang ibinalita na nag-padala ng eviction letter ang UP sa mga manininda noong Enero 16 upang kusang bakantehin ng mga manininda ang istruktura sa loob ng tatlong araw.

Ayon kay Heidi Mañoza, taga-pag-ugnay ng Pinag-isang Manin-inda ng Philcoa Multi-Purpose Co-operative (PMPMC), kinagabihan lamang ng Marso 4 ipinagbigay-

John alliage tinio Morales

Incumbent UP Diliman (UPD) Chancellor Sergio Cao was chosen to serve for another three years in office, despite

earning sectoral criticisms against his leadership in his first term.

During a special executive ses-sion on February 29, the Board of Regents (BOR), UP ’s highest decision-making body, selected Cao over former Vice President for Academic Affairs Ma. Serena Diokno through a voting by secret ballots. Through a single round of votation, the BOR decided “to give its unanimous vote to Chancellor Cao,” said Student Regent Shahana Abdulwahid.

Rainier Sindayen, student rep-resentative to the chancellor search committee, however, said that the committee report submitted to President Emerlinda Roman

alam ni Esquivel ang demolisyong gagawin sa palengke. Hiniling nila umano na bigyan sila ng tatlong araw upang maiatras ang mga stall, ngunit hindi sila pinayagan, dagdag ni Mañoza.

Nauna nang nagpahayag ng pagtutol sa demolisyon ang mga manininda dahil sa kawalan ng plano para sa kanilang relokasyon. Gayundin, pinuna ng mga manin-inda ang hindi pagsama sa mga gusali ng Development Bank of the Philippines, LandBank at Petron, na pawang kahilera ng palengke sa kahabaan ng Commonwealth.

Marahas na demolisyonIsinugod sa East Avenue Med-

ical Center ang mga nasaktan na pawang sa ulo tinamaan ng mga gamit ng MMDA sa demolisyon. Kabilang sa kanila ang apat na estudyante ng UP na miyembro ng Kadamay at Anakbayan.

Ayon kay Connie Laguezma, pangalawang pangulo ng PMPMC, nagtuluy-tuloy lamang sa pagpasok sa palengke ang mga miyembro ng MMDA, na ang ilan umano ay naki-tang may dalang mga ice pick.

Depensa ni Esquivel, makikipag-

usap muna sana sa mga manininda ang MMDA hinggil sa mga stall na uunahin. Ngunit, aniya, agad nanlaban ang mga manininda at miyembro ng iba’t ibang organ-isasyon, kaya “minabilis” na nila ang kanilang trabaho.

Ilang manininda rin ang nag-ulat na ninakawan ng mga kag-amitan at pera, kasabay ng paggiba sa kanilang mga puwesto, ayon kay Estrella Ugalino, miyembro ng PMPMC. Aniya, tinanggal din ng MMDA ang mga wire at mga metro ng kuryente.

“Tatayo ulit kami,” ani Laguezma, kasabay ang hiling na makapag-simula muli ang operasyon ng mga manininda sa mga susunod na araw.

Ayon kay Gregorio, hahayaan ng administrasyon ng UP na patuloy na gamitin ng mga manininda ang natitirang mga stall. Kasama, aniya, sa usapan ng UP at MMDA ang pag-sagot ng MMDA sa pagsasaayos sa natirang parte ng palengke na naa-pektuhan din ng demolisyon.

Ngunit ayon sa PMPMC, hindi sapat ang natirang espasyo upang mapaglaanan ng lugar ang humigit-kumulang 35 manininda.

painted a “bad light” against Cao’s leadership based on the results of sectoral consultations with the students, faculty members, and administrative personnel.

“Cao and Diokno somehow have similar programs for the students. The advantage of Chancellor Cao is that he serves as incumbent chan-cellor and knows the problems of the unit,” said Abdulwahid.

Sectoral criticisms vs CaoAmong the criticisms made by

the sectors on Cao’s administra-tion were the long bureaucratic processes, fewer programs for the advancement of student’s welfare, ambiguous classification of re-search, extension and professional staff (REPS) as “administrative staff,” and fewer employment op-portunities for administrative em-ployees, said Sindayen.

The search committee, which functions as a consultative body,

commented that the current pro-grams of Chancellor Cao are geared more towards contributing to the welfare of the faculty, rather than equally addressing the needs of other sectors such as the students, REPS and administrative em-ployees, Sindayen said.

Meanwhile, Cao was credited for the creation of doctoral incentives and sick leaves for faculty, and the adoption of the new admissions policy which emphasizes “excel-lence over equity.”

Sindayen lamented that the BOR “categorically” discards the grievances of the sectors, as the appointing body has ignored the results of the consultations, the sole mechanism for the sectors’ representation in the selection process. He recommended that UP communities also be consulted as they are a “majority sector” in UPD and face perennial demoli-tion woes.

Calls for more democratic consultation

Meanwhile, Prof. Melania Abad, chair of the All UP Academic Em-

ployees Union-Diliman, and Clodu-aldo Cabrera, national president of the All UP Workers Union, both urged Cao to institutionalize a democratic consultation mecha-nism that will ensure multi-sectoral representation in UPD committees which handle policy matters.

Abdulwahid likewise said, “It will be a challenge to Chancellor Cao to ensure that his vision-mis-sion will materialize.” Abdulwahid asked Cao to address the problems of limited student housing and lack of facilities for student use.

Cabrera also urged Cao to utilize UP ’s idle assets to build adequate public housing, improve non-wage benefits for UP employees and provide transportation services for employees who live outside the campus. He added that Cao should stand against the UP System ad-ministration’s commercialization policies, and privatization and contractualization schemes.

Abad also demanded Cao to reinforce the role of UP as social critique by allowing the university to take an institutional stand on national issues. http://kule0708.deviantart.com

Download the Philippine Collegian in PDF!

PhiliPPine Collegian | Biyernes 7 Mar 2008

n Lumahok ang humigit-kumulang 85,000 katao sa Interfaith Rally noong Pebrero 29 sa Makati. Naging sunud-sunod ang mga protesta sa pagpapanawagan sa pagbaba ni Gloria Arroyo mula sa kanyang pwesto gawa ng pagkakasangkot diumano niya at ng kanyang pamilya sa maanomalyang $329 milyon ZTE-NBN broadband deal. c h ris im pe ri a l

"litany of woes"

toni tiemsin

Different sectors of UP joined the calls to oust Gloria Arroyo from pres-idency, and expressed

their “outrage and disgust” over the “morally bankrupt regime.”

In separate statements, the Uni-versity Student Council (USC), All UP Academic Employees Union ( AUPAEU ) and All UP Workers Union (AUPWU) “condemned” the Arroyo government and asked her to relinquish the presidency.

The UP Diliman University Council, composed of professors, earlier released a unanimously ap-proved statement on February 27 saying that “Arroyo has no basis to continue in office.”

On February 29, about 500 stu-dents, faculty and staff joined the protest action for “truth, justice and change” in Ayala, Makati where crowd was pegged at 50,000 to 75,000.

The “interfaith rally” according to Renato Reyes Jr., secretary-gen-eral of the Bagong Alyansang Maka-bayan (Bayan), is the “strongest rejection yet of Arroyo” since the national broadband network (NBN) project controversy broke out.

UP community ‘condemns’ arroyo government

Jodee agoncillo

UP emerged third placer in the 70th season of the University Athletic As-sociation of the Philip-

pines (UAAP), garnering a total of 239 points and participating in all fifteen events.

The University of Santo Tomas bagged the first place with 321, while the Far Eastern University, which participated in ten events, se-cured the second spot with only a point lead over UP.

The UP men’s swimming team in its fifth time straight win stroke another gold while the UP Judo Team still dominated as the men and women’s divisions got their second and third time golds in the event. The UP Softball team also won first place via sweep in the ten games played.

While UP placed second in the

UP lands 3rd at UAAP tilt

Reyes agreed with former Presi-dent Cory Aquino that there is a “long way to go” before generating the critical mass needed for an-other “people power,” but he said, “It is indeed a big boost in the fight to remove the morally bankrupt Ar-royo regime.”

Bayan Chair Carol Araullo added in a statement that “the real strength comes from the people’s unrelenting resolve to achieve truth and justice and their collective action to bring about regime change.”

The militant alliance Gabriela said protest actions against the Arroyo regime’s desperate grip on power will be held in commemora-tion of the International Women’s Day on March 8.

‘No moral ascendancy’The USC, along with 49 other

university student councils, stu-dent publications, and militant organizations, expressed that “the government has lost its moral as-cendancy to govern due to the long list of scandals, electoral fraud and corruption issues.”

The signatories under the um-brella group Youth for Account-ability and Truth Now condemned Arroyo and her family’s “attempted cover-up” of the “numerous issues

of bribery and corruption and other shady deals of government,” “the gross and systematic plunder of the country’s coffers and resources for the benefit of a few,” and Arroyo’s “shameless disregard of the intensity and effects of such allegations.”

“ The government’s desperate ef-forts to continuously cling to power have sown deep social discontent and division among the people,” the alliance added.

AUPWU said in a statement, “Ha-bang tumatagal ay lalo [lamang] dinudungisan [ni Arroyo] ang dangal ng pampublikong serbisyo. Pinai-igting ng [kontrobersiya sa NBN] ang katotohanang may mga elemento sa lipunan na ginagawang negosyo ang dapat ay tapat at taus-pusong paglilingkod sa sambayanan.”

Meanwhile, College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) President Jose Cosido called on the youth to play the role in exposing the truth behind the “lies, dishonesty, and corruption” of the Arroyo regime.

“ The continued plunder of the nation’s wealth truly imperils the future of the young Filipinos,”

CEGP said in a statement.

‘Rotten government’AUPAEU said in a statement that

the “rottenness of this government cannot be concealed any longer even from those who refuse to be involved.” The government, they added, “negates all the values of principles and integrity that we as-siduously teach our students.”

“Arroyo, besides being an illegit-imate president, is an intellectual pretender who boasts of economic success, with dubious statistics, while the majority classes are mired in misery and hunger,” the faculty union said.

Meanwhile, AUPWU President Clodualdo Cabrera, said that of the 219 who participated in their as-sembly meeting, 73 percent voted to call for Arroyo’s resignation.

A recent study of Pulse Asia Survey showed that 76 percent of Metro Ma-nila residents distrust Arroyo. Of the 300 respondents interviewed from February 21 to 24, 97 percent said they are aware of the NBN controversy.

Read the Philippine Collegian on the World Wide Web!http://www.philippinecollegian.tk

last UAAP season, UP Diliman Var-sity Director Edwin Barber said their campaign this season was still successful as UP athletes were competitive in all the events they participated in. Barber added they are getting ready to vie for cham-pionship next season, which UP will host.

UP athletes need facilities, support

“ UP players performed well despite the limitations like lack of facilities and

financial support from the admin-istration,” said Barber.

Men’s volleyball Coach Vip Isada said having only one gymnasium to be shared by the regular students and the 26 teams under the varsity program is a main problem of the athletes.

“ The gym UP was donated by the Americans early 1950s yet no improvement has been made since then,” said Isada. He stressed the need to fix the gym, especially the leaking roof during the rainy season.

Barber added that UP athletes also need a better physical condi-tioning area. He said the weights room at the College of Human Kinetics (CHK) is used not only by the athletes but also by other UP students, which decreases the athlete’s training time.

According to Barber, medical tapes used for injuries are only given to teams in season and are still subjected for request. Medical reimbursement to injured athletes is also limited, he said.

Judo team member Francesca Guevarra said athletic supplies are not available to players not lined-up for the event. She added, “ The only service bus we have has malfunctioned and the mats we are using are already obsolete.”

While athletes get support from the CHK , softball coach Francis Diaz said they need food sub-sidy and a housing facility. “Like in [softball], the bulk of players comes from the not so economically stable; it will help a lot if they get such subsidy.”

For a season, UP players receive P3,000 for practice allowance, or P50 per day, and P1,600 for game allowance.

Diaz suggested that academic support for the athletes be insti-tutionalized, as in the Diliman Learning Resource Center, to help players cope with their studies.

“Hopefully, the whole UP com-munity supports all the games in the UAAP and break away from the notion that if UP lose basketball, UP loses in the UAAP,” said swimming team member Jasper Laguitao.

PhiliPPine Collegian | Biyernes 7 Mar 2008

Patricia aireen sarmiento

Philippine Collegian feature writer and incoming third year journalism student La-rissa Mae Suarez will serve

as the editor in chief next school year, after topping the editorial ex-amination on March 1.

Suarez garnered an aggregate score of 86.00 percent, beating seven other examinees. Suarez also obtained the highest scores in editorial writing with 63.00 per-cent and in news writing with 17.00

Feature writer is next Collegian EIC

n Students from all political organizations await the USC election results during the canvassing of votes in Vinzon’s Hall. Third Bagro of ALYANSA clinched the Chairperson post while Airah Cadiogan of STAND-UP won as Vice-Chairperson (top). Earlier, students trooped to voting centers for the USC Elections. Voter turnout slightly increased this year, with 10,168 registered voters from a student population of 22,148 (left). timot h y m e dr a no a n d om n a r aya n a . V e l a s co

new set of leaders

stand UP, nanguna sa halalan sa UsC

percent.Collegian Associate Editor Frank

Lloyd Tiongson ranked second with a score of 83.40 percent, followed by law student Ryan Oliva with a score of 76.60 percent. Collegian feature writers Jan Marcel Ragaza with a score of 74.40 percent, and Ma. Rosa Cer dela Cruz, 72.80 per-cent, came in at fourth and fifth place. (See editorials on page 6)

Tiongson gained the highest score for page design with 9.20 percent.

The overall score covers 70 per-cent for editorial writing, 20 per-

cent for news writing, and 10 per-cent for page design. For this year, the theme for the editorial was “ The prospects and implications on the Philippines of an Obama win in the November 2008 United States (US) Elections.”

In her editorial entitled “Balance of Power,” Suarez wrote of the prob-able repercussions of US Senator Barack Obama’s ascent to presi-dency on the spate of killings under Gloria Arroyo’s term, the constant hike of oil prices, and the Philippine economy and US trade policy.

“ Inevitably, Obama shall be staunch and uncompromising in his protection of American in-terests. Thus, Filipinos must be equally staunch, equally uncom-promising, in pushing for our own

development,” Suarez wrote.In an interview, Suarez said that

the Collegian under her term would continue its “tradition of critical dissent as an alternative publica-tion.” Suarez added that the pub-lication should intensify its “pro-student and pro-masses stance” as “re-affirmation of the core values of UP in its centennial.”

The Board of Judges of the edito-rial examination was composed of College of Mass Communication (CMC) Dean Elena Pernia as chair, faculty members Marichu Lambino from CMC and Victor Emmanuel Nadera Jr. from the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), and students Sierra Mae Paraan from CAL and Federico Carlo Magno Hipol from the School of Economics.

SUNDaN Sa P.10

Exams may be taken anytime at the Kulê office, Room 401, Vinzons Hall. Freshies are most welcome! For questions, text us, +639062315207 or email kule0708@gmail.com

bUkas Pa rIn ang kUlê Para sa Mga bagOng retratIsta, layOUt artIst, Web staff, IlUstraDOr, at Mga ManUnUlat sa balIta, lathalaIn at kUltUra

PhiliPPine Collegian | Huwebes 6 Mar 08

Balance of Powerlarissa Mae suarez 2nd year, BA Journalism

The die has been cast.

Senator Barack Obama, initially the underdog in the United States elections, has become the front-runner in a race most political pundits agree

the Democrats will win. Barring any unexpected turn of events, the young Democrat will, against the odds, become the first black President of the U.S. A .

Two major issues have come into play in these elec-tions. The first is the American economy, vacillating in the shadow of a looming recession. Another key concern is the vastly unpopular Iraq War. The resounding defeat of Republicans in the 2006 midterm elections—and indeed, the projected victory of Democrats in the 2008 presidential elections—has been blamed on the unfavorable percep-tion of Republican President George W. Bush, who sent American troops to Iraq. Democrats are quick to note the links between America’s economic woes, its ballooning foreign debt, and the billions ill fimds poured by the Bush administration into the war.

These issues are crucial, for the U.S. elections have a tremendous global impact. America leads the international arena in practically every aspect, from economic power to military strength.

The Philippines, then, must focus on planning a strategy for advancement in this American-dominated arena, marked by our status as a developing nation and America’s supremacy as a global superpower. At the outset, and even with their current problems, we must learn to operate at

a disadvantage, for the scales of Philippine-U.S. relations are tipped heavily in the latter’s favor.

Consider how an Obama victory would affect the Philippines.

The presidency of Gloria Macapa-gal-Arroyo has seen a rising toll of victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, a harsh reality attested to by no less than the United Nations. Obama, who has always been a staunch defender of

human rights, would probably prove less forgiving than Bush of the human rights violations under the Arroyo administration.

Moreover, part of Obama’s appeal is his firm vow to immediately end the discredited Iraq War, leading foreign leaders in the Middle East to express their support for him. This implies that Obama may be able to stabilize the conflict-ridden Middle East, which will in turn help sta-bilize spiking oil prices. The Philippines would definitely benefit from such a situation.

Yet Obama has also been critical of existing trade agree-ments, which allow American companies to outsource cheap Asian labor, resulting in fewer jobs for U.S. citizens. Call centers have provided plenty of jobs for Filipinos, and Obama may push for new policies that will adversely affect this trend. In addition, should Obama manage to improve the U.S. economy, it might halt the strengthening of the peso against the dollar - unless the Philippine economy improves at the same pace.

Clearly, in this game of politics, every move America makes ripples out across the world to the Philippines.

Inevitably, Obama shall be staunch and uncompro-mising in his protection of American interests. Thus, Fili-pinos must be equally staunch, equally uncompromising. in pushing for our own development.

The die has been cast. Despite the dismal rule of their current president. Americans are moving forward. Let Filipinos do the same, working with them, and if necessary, despite them. Let us establish a balance of power.

Claiming the Possiblefrank lloyd tiongson 4th year, BA Comparative Literature

It is difficult to use hope in a single sentence without the words persistence and possibility.

In the same way, it is hard to conceive Barack Obama’s campaign for the United States presidency without the principle of empowerment.

For Obama’s candidacy rests on such auspicious ideal. He has appealed to the aspirations of the grassroots, the people who have often been marginal-ized in legislation and policy-making. And it is due to this that he currently leads the surveys and the primaries in the US presidential race.

The world is tuned in. It is the first time that a woman and an African-American vie for the presidential seat. For

a history that is marred with oppres-sion based on race and gender, it signifies, most of all, the changing of the times.

The people of the Philippines, in their quest to realize the same democratic ideal, have much to learn from these developments in the US presidential elections.

During the early 20th century, women in the US were not even allowed to vote. Now, a woman is

running for president. During the 60s, countless African-Americans were brutally stifled during their campaign to supplant racial segregation. Now. an African-American stands with the highest probability of winning the US elections.

It is persistence that prompted this historical rupture. It is their steadfast struggle that took them as far as a prob-able seat in the White House, touted as the most powerful position in the democratic world. The Filipino people. correspondingly, must not relent in their pursuit of a more representative and empowering government, especially during times when such ideals elude us, as shown by the current political crisis.

An Obama win would entail dramatic shifts in US for-eign policy. His triumph would serve as a critique to the Bush administration’s policies, particularly its military intervention in the Middle East. His victory implies the disillusionment of the American people towards a Republi-can-led government—which has siphoned off the country’s resources to finance a war instead of social services—especially in light of the US economic recession.

Obama’s presidency then, would also reflect heavily on the Philippines’ priorities. The country, after all, was one of the first countries to express support for Bush’s war against terrorism. It is the same discourse, however, that has been employed by the Arroyo administration to silence legitimate dissent. An Obama win, therefore, would also serve as a critique of the Arroyo administration, which has been visibly subservient to the policies adopted by the Bush administration. It would possibly reflect primarily in the government’s allocations in the military.

Obama’s campaign, after all, is based on the very ideal democratic states are based on—empowerment. The possibility that it prompts is a government that is truly representative of the people. It is a possibility that must be continuously imagined. if the people of the Philip-pines persist in hoping that a progressive leadership is still possible.

Victory as Vindication ryan Oliva 1st year, Bachelor of Laws

The ascent of a black man into the highest office of a country where it once had separate buses, schools and housing for black and white people is a vin-dication of faith against disbelief, hope against

despair and peace against war. Sen. Barack Obama’s vic-tory is not only for the Americans, but for the world and the Philippines as well.

Our history has been -- and still is -- intimately con-nected with the history of the United States. This relation-ship has proved to be suffocating at many times, especially

when we enter into unconscionable agreements with the US. We, as well as the rest of the world, blindly follow where the US wants us to go.

When Pres. George W. Bush urged us to support the war in Iraq against terrorism, we heeded his call. Other nations also followed. However, the US’s moral ascendancy to call for a war was eroded when it became obvious that is not a war against terrorism; it is a war for oil.

On November, Obama’s victory will end that war. Ending the war in Iraq is a departure from the old Republican political economy -- the war economy. It will be a message of faith and hope. For Obama, war is not the answer. And this simple yet powerful belief can change the way US deals with the members of the global community.

A change in US economic policy also affects its foreign policy. The war economy heavily relies on the demand for arms. For the Bush administration, it was profitable to engage the world and the Philippines in the anti-terrorism effort because it amounts to a captive market for its guns. Ending the war on terror will diminish the demand for arms. Thus, an Obama presidency which is averse to war will instead choose to initiate talks when global tensions arise.

What is in it for the Philippines when Obama wins? The Obama presidency will bring peace to Mindanao.

This will be a result of a newUS foreign policy where war is indeed not the answer. The war in Mindanao only prospers because the Republicans support it.

The Obama presidency will change the way the US renders aid to the Philippines. Instead of the Balikatan military exercises, the US will be more willing to extend assistance in terms of education, cheap housing and the preservation of the environment. Obama is determined to change the way things are done in his country. Definitely, this will extend to us.

The Obama presidency will change the way the US looks on us. Recently, Obama expressed support for the bill on the benefits ofthe Filipino World War II veterans. This is an acknowledgement that Filipinos deserve respect, not a mere pittance.

Sanga-sangang daan JM ragaza 3rd year, BA Journalism

Umiinog tayo ngayon sa isang panahong magpa-pasiya kung magpapatianod tayo sa daluyong na pasulong, o tatahaking muli ang landasing paurong.

Mahigit anim na dekada makalipas ihayag ng Es-tados Unidos (EU) ang kalayaan ng Pilipinas, nanana-tiling mahigpit ang taling nag-uugnay sa Amerika at sa Pilipinas. Taunang isinasagawa ang Balikatan Exercises na diumano’y alinsunod sa pandaigdigang digmaan ng Amerika laban sa terorismo. Nakasandig din ang ating pambansang ekonomiya sa mga ipinapadala nating mga manggagawa sa Amerika na siyang may malaking kontri-

busyon sa magagandang numero ng ekonomiya sa nakalipas na taon.

Ang ganitong tunguhin at oryen-tasyon ng di-mapugtong ugnayang EU-Pilipinas ang nagbunsod sa na-gliligalig na pag-aasam ng mga Pili-pino na antabayanan ang darating na halalan sa Amerika. Bagaman hindi tayo tuwirang makikibahagi sa halalan, nasa atin ding harapan ang maraming mga daang inilatag ng mga kandidato bilang pangulo,

partikular sa nangunguna ngayong si Barack Obama. Kapwa ipinapangako ni Obama at ang mahigpit nitong

katunggali na si Hillary Clinton na wawakasan nila ang digmaan sa Gitnang Silangan. Kapwa sila nagmumula sa isang partidong pulitikal. Ngunit sa isang aspeto mistulang nakakaangat si Obama—ang kanyang pagiging African-American. Kung dadalumatin ang kasaysayan, hindi pa pinangunahan ng isang African-American ang tinatayang pinakamakapangyarihang bansa sa daigdig. Hindi pa rin naman pinamunuan ng isang babae ang EU, ngunit ang isyu ng kulay at lahi ay tila isang tanikala kung saan nais makahulagpos ng maraming bansa.

Ang isyu ng diskriminasyon sa lahi ay isa sa mga pangu-nahing sagka sa mapagpalayang pagbabago ng maraming bansa. Bagaman ang isyu ng kababaihan sa ating patri-yarkal na lipunan ay hindi pa rin tuwirang natutugunan, mahalagang tingnan na maiigpawan lamang ang mapaniil na kondisyong ito kung mabibigyang solusyon ang pangu-nahing mga suliranin ng lipunan.

Hindi maitatatwang ang diskriminasyon, lalo’t higit sa hanay ng mga manggagawa na bumubuo sa kalakhan ng mga Pilipinong nagtutungo sa Amerika, ay isang na-kakarimarim na kalagayan. Marami nang mga Pilipino ang dumanas ng pang-aalipusta mula sa kanilang mga dayuhang pinaglilingkuran. Ang kasalukuyang krisis pang-ekonomiya ng Amerika ay sinasabi ring nagpapahirap sa maraming Overseas Filipino Workers at magpapahina sa industriya ng call centers sa bansa.

Sa ganitong mapagpasiyang kalagayan hinahamon ang mamamayan kung ang daang inihapag ni Obama ang maghahatid sa atin sa tamang paroroonan.

No victory for the Philippines Ma. rosa Cer dela Cruz 2nd year, BA in Broadcast Communication

A country’s fate lies on the hands of its people and the decisions they make. However, the current emerging culture, especially in politics, has be-come geared toward individual and personal lev-

els. Most politicians choose to define themselves through affiliations and popularity instead of presenting their stands in relevant social issues and platforms.

The 2008 US elections demonstrate this emerging trend. Despite the fact that discriminations based on gender and race has been abolished in the US, the results of the current rivalry between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton belie the idea of equality in their country. Clinton is defined as a woman, Obama as a black American, and their nominations are considered victories for the aforementioned sectors.

As a result of the sensationalism of the inequality issues, the US elections remain secluded on the local level.

However, due to these issues of race and gender in-equality, social issues remain unaddressed. The sensa-tional angle remains at the individual level of the candi-dates’ affinity and origin. Popular vote, then, goes to the one who gets the majority’s sympathy and assent, not to the one who upholds his principles.

This sensationalism also clouds the relevant issues and principles the candidates should have been discussirig. Thus, it is impossible for other countries to see the essential difference between the two candidates, relevant to their relationship with the US.

The Philippines, for instance, has little concern for the currently sensationalized issues of gender and race inequality in the US. We are more concerned with Obama’s political and economic platforms

for the future, as our country depends on US for economic growth and stability. Meanwhile. the US considers the Philippines an important asset as well, as a source of raw materials. a market for finished products in economic aspects and a faithful ally in politics.

Thus, whoever is elected to office, acting on the best interest of the US, will simply forge new ties with the Philippines and retain the status quo where the US is at an advantage. Obama’s victory will not improve or affect the Philippines’ currently dire state. After all, a black victory is still an American victory, and not a Filipino one.

The Philippines will remain in the peripheries of growth as long as it depends on the US for stability. It should learn to protect its own interests instead of giving its service to other countries such as the US and create its own stability and growth. Its focus should be upon its own needs and how to achieve them without outside help, and not on pondering how to pledge a new alliance on the next leader of the US to ask for help.

Only upon realizing that it must stand on its own feet will the Philippines emerge as a powerful nation.

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21

The

prospects and

implications on

the Philippines

of an Obama

win in the

November 2008

United States

elections

Th E 2008-2009 Ph I lI PPI n E COllEgI A n E DITOR I A l ExA m s

artwork: archie Oclos Page Design: karl Castro

PhiliPPine Collegian | Biyernes 7 Mar 2008

keeping score: political prisoners today(January 1-October 31, 2007)

Illegal Arrest — 129•Illegal Detention — 116•Held Incommunicado — 7•Denial of Counsel — 3•Criminalization of Political •

Offense — 7Source: Karapatan

The travails of a political prisoner

A group of peasant leaders and activists gathered in a training center in Bago City, Negros Occidental,

for a conference on genuine agra-rian reform. One of those present was Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis, deputy secretary-general of the militant peasant organization Ki-lusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, and a consultant in peace talks for the leftist coalition National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

During the consultations, armed men showed up to arrest Echanis. He was charged with 15 counts of murder of suspected government spies within the communist New People’s Army (NPA) during 1984,

which led to the discovery of alleged mass graves in Leyte.

It was January 28, mere days after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo extended the term of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Her-mogenes Esperon, who had vowed to render the communist insurgency “inconsequential” by 2010. He de-clared that the next few months would be “bloody,” and called the capture of Echanis “a big blow to the communist movement.”

Crime and politicsEchanis is not the only political

prisoner of the Arroyo regime (see sidebar). There are currently 240 prisoners in detention by the count of Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at para sa

Amnestiya (SELDA), an organi-zation dedicated to helping

political prisoners.S E L D A d e -fines political

p r i s o n e r s as “men

a n d

women who, as a consequence of their political work and organiza-tional affiliations [are] arrested, captured or abducted, tried… and sent to prison.”

During Martial Law, antiquated policies like the Anti-Subversion Law (ASL) tagged activism and po-litical dissent as “subversive” acts punishable by imprisonment. En-acted in 1957, the ASL was junked under President Fidel Ramos, al-though the Arroyo administration later tried but failed to revive it.

Donato Continente, SELDA spokesperson and a political pris-oner for 16 years, pointed out that crimes against persons are easier to fabricate than crimes against the public order, leading to a growing number of “criminalized” political prisoners. “Rebellion” under the revised penal code entails “rising publicly and taking arms against the Government,” which excludes unarmed and legal leftist organiza-tions. Thus, the Arroyo administra-tion takes a different tact, filing criminal charges like murder against political foes of the government.

This was illustrated in February 2006, at the height of Arroyo’s de-clared State of Emergency. Over 50 leftist leaders, including Echanis, were charged with rebellion. The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the charges with finality in July, stressing that even if the accused were indeed members of the Communist Party of the Philip-pines (CPP) — which was never actually proven — “mere mem-bership in the CPP does not constitute rebellion.”

This violates a landmark 1956 ruling by the SC — known as the Amado Her-nandez doctrine, named after the defendant in the case — which prohibits the prosecution of a person for committing a common crime in alleged further-ance of rebellion.

Serving timeIt was not the only time

that Echanis was targeted for state persecution.

He has been arrested thrice since he first began

working as a peasant organizer in the countryside. The first time was in 1983, under then President Ferdi-nand Marcos. Echanis was arrested without a warrant, held in solitary confinement for years, and released after the EDSA Revolution.

Dozens of his fellow political prisoners stayed imprisoned, how-ever, and dozens more were detained under the new president, C o r a z o n A q u i n o, prompting Echanis to join SELDA .

In 1990, Echanis was arrested for viola-tion of PD 1866 or the “illegal possession of firearms in further-ance of rebellion.” State elements report-edly subjected him to physical and psycho-logical torture.

His wife Linda Lacaba-Echanis asserts that this was due to his af-filiation with legal organizations critical of the Aquino administra-tion. It would be two years before the Makati Regional Trial Court dismissed the case against him.

Now, as Echanis is detained yet again, human rights organization Karapatan notes that his arrest vio-lates the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, which stipulates that official delegates to peace talks between the government and the NDFP are immune to arrest.

Meanwhile, Continente said, “ Wala akong nakitang totoong pag-babago mula nang pumasok ako sa kulungan noong 1989 hanggang sa nakalaya ako noong 2005”. The tactics have changed, he said, yet ac-tivists like Echanis are still being im-prisoned for their political beliefs.

all-out warEven as Arroyo allows her po-

litical opponents to languish in prison, however, she grants pardons to criminals like convict Norberto Manero, who murdered Fr. Tulio Favali, an Italian priest and alleged communist sympathizer, in 1985. She even pardoned former President Joseph Estrada, in a move her critics say was intended to allay opposition from Estrada’s supporters.

“This shows that Ar-royo is not serving the interests of the people, but her own,” said Con-tinente, adding that a disturbing aspect of Arroyo’s protection of her own interests is her intolerance for opposition.

This was seen in the extension of Espe-

ron’s term, which has been decried by leftist congressmen as illegal. In addition, many of the Arroyo ad-ministration’s counterinsurgency strategies, from Oplan Bantay Laya I and II to the Human Security Act of 2007, permit the classification of leftist groups as “terrorists.” These tactics operate on the premise that

an ideology like communism, which opposes the status quo, necessitates swift and even vio-lent suppression.

And despite ju-dicial reaffirma-tions of the right to freedom of belief, leftist groups con-tinue to be treated as “enemies of the state.”

The recent arrest of Echanis is a prime example. He was in detention during 1985, the time that military witnesses claim the CPP “purge” took place. Yet he is currently imprisoned in the Leyte provincial jail for those murders.

Indeed, since the military dis-covered them in 2006, the Leyte mass graves have served as a pretext for filing murder charges against prominent leftist leaders like Rep. Satur Ocampo and exiled CPP founder Jose Maria Sison — the same people who escaped charges of rebellion during the 2006 State of Emergency.

Such moves are in line with Ar-royo’s declaration of an “all-out war” against rebellion, and serve as the groundwork for political persecution by undermining basic rights like the freedom of speech and assembly.

The growing number of political prisoners under the Arroyo regime is symptomatic of the deteriorating situation of human rights in the country, marked by a broad spec-trum of violations that includes extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. KMP has spear-headed the Free Randall Echanis movement, and its members have vowed to continue fighting not only for Echanis’s release, but for the ouster of Arroyo, whom they charge with “politically motivated” human rights violations.

For in the end, it is not only Echanis who must be freed from jail; the people themselves must be freed from the chilling fear instilled by flagrant state persecution. The true “enemies of the state” are not the critics of the Arroyo admin-istration, but the perpetrators of widespread and unrelenting human rights violations. article: larissa Mae suarez art: Piya Constantino

Page Design: Mark angelo Virly Ching

The growing number of political prisoners under the Arroyo regime is symptomatic of the deteriorating situation of human rights in the country

PhiliPPine Collegian | Biyernes 7 Mar 2008

Chris S. AgravaN

aaalala mo pa ba nung bata pa tayo? Ako, katulad ngayon ay patpatin pa rin at ikaw naman ay may katabaan. Hindi tayo

magkamukha pero madalas tayong tina-tawag na kambal ng mga kaeskwela natin dahil bihira ang magkapatid na mag-kaklase. Marami tayong pagkakapareho noon, parehas na mga pangarap at pare-has na hilig sa pagguhit. Mas matanda ako sayo pero hindi ko naramdaman yun kahit minsan, at sa maraming pagkakat-aon ay parang ikaw ang mas kuya sa ating dalawa. Ikaw kasi ang mas matapang at dahil sa payat nga ako ay ako ang laging mas mahina. Madalas akong takot sa maraming bagay pero natututunan kong maging matapang kapag nandyan ka.

Pero isang araw may humarang na mga bata sa ‘tin habang tayo’y pauwi. Hinihingan nila tayo ng pera, at sa kabila ng takot ko ay tumanggi pa rin akong magbigay. Hinablot nila yung polo ko at tinakot tayo na bubugbugin nila. Alam mong hindi nila tayo padadaanin kaya nagbigay ka ng pera. Sa ating paglalakad ay sinabi mong nainis ka sa ‘kin, tinanong mo kung bakit hindi ako nagbigay kahit may pera naman ako. Ang sabi ko sayo nun ay dahil hindi tama. Tiningnan mo ‘ko nun at sinabing, “yan ang magpapa-hamak sayo.” Hindi na tayo masyadong

nag-usap pagkatapos ng araw na yun.Sa pagpasok natin ng hayskul ay hindi

na tayo naging magkaklase, nagkaroon ka na ng ibang mga kaibigan at ganun din ako. Dumami ang mga pagkakataon na hindi na tayo nagkukwentuhan at madalas ay nagdadaanan na lang tayo sa bahay. Hindi na tayo katulad ng dati, at sa maraming pagkakataon ay nagkakaroon tayo ng alitan. Hindi mo na nalaman ang mga nangyayari sa akin noon, wala

ka nang alam s a m a r a m i n g beses na ako’ y napagtripan at napagtulungan. Lagi akong takot pero hindi ako pumapayag na bumigay sa mga n a n a n a k o t s a ‘kin. Parati akong

nagtatanong kung bakit ganon ang mga bagay at sa mga pagkakataong iyon ay iniisip ko kung ano ang gagawin mo kung ikaw yung nasa kalagayan ko.

Dumaan ang ilan pang taon at na-katuntong na tayo sa kolehiyo, katulad ng karamihan, isa ka sa mga tumutol na pumasok ako sa UP at kunin ang kursong gusto ko. Sinabi mong hindi mahalaga ang gusto ko, ang mahalaga ay kung may

kikitain ba ‘ko kapag nakapagtapos ako. Nakapasok ako sa UP at naging ilustrador sa Kulê; marami akong natutunan sa pag-pasok ko dito pero halatang ayaw mo sa mga pagbabagong nakikita mo sa akin. Naiinis ka kapag nakikita mo ang mga iginuguhit ko. Tinanong mo ‘ko kung bakit ba ‘ko masyadong nakikialam, ano ba naman ang alam ko.

Dun ko lang napansin na wala ka pa rin palang ipinagbago, katulad ng dati ay hindi ka magtatanong kapag may napansin kang mali, at mas madalas ay pipiliin mong manahimik na lang at magsawalang-kibo. Pero hanggang kelan ka magiging ganyan? Sana kahit minsan lang ay maging matapang ka katulad ng madalas mong ipinapakita. Kahit minsan lang ay matuto ka sanang makialam dahil alam mong hindi totoo na hindi ka naaa-pektuhan ng mga bagay na nakapaligid sayo. Sana matuto kang mangarap muli katulad ng dati na gusto mong gumawa ng mga pagbabago. Matuto ka rin sanang magtanong kung para kanino ba ang mga laman ng mga iginuguhit mo. Lagi pa rin akong takot katulad ng dati pero mas pinipili kong gawin ang alam kong nararapat. Magkaiba na nga tayo ngayon, ngunit hindi naman palaging kailangang ganoon.

Mga PagbabagoIvan reverente

alaM MOng hInDI tOtOO na hInDI ka

naaaPektUhan ng Mga

bagay na nakaPalIgID

sayO

Taxi Cabs

It has to be one of those days when you chose the convenient route.

Last Friday, instead of commuting, I decided to hail a taxi in order to get to school at the soonest possible time. I was assigned to report on a novel and was run-

ning late for class. Let me then introduce Ser, the driver of the taxi

I hailed. He was quiet most of the time, except when we got caught in traffic along Katipunan. I always eluded political conversations these days. I really don’t have the heart to endure too much frustration. I’m tired of always making a point, and burdened by this tendency to wallow in sheer helplessness, like screaming at the top of your lungs with no one listening.

“Grabe ‘yung UP ‘no? Biruin mo, naniniwala kay Lozada,” Ser said, breaking his silence. I retorted that even Miriam and Ateneo do, since we were passing them along the way, quite nonchalantly. “Nakapag-aral naman sila,” he stressed. At this point, I was appealing to him silently: “please don’t pursue the point, please don’t pursue the point.” He said that the case against officials behind the NBN deal should be brought to the proper venue such as the Ombudsman or the DOJ and that Lozada didn’t have evidence to support his allegations.

Raul Gonzales came to mind, and I had to draw the line somewhere. “Gusto mong si Gonzales ‘yung humawak ng kaso? O kaya si Guttierez na kaklase ni Mike Arroyo dati?” I asked. Taken aback, he affirmed his position, those people are indeed the proper officials to handle the case. I asserted that those institutions have been under-mined by Arroyo, that while it is true that they are mandated to handle such cases, their constitu-tional responsibility has been subverted to serve only the interests of the regime. This is also the point when I started addressing him as Ser.

Hell, he drove me all the way to UP arguing why we shouldn’t make any effort to topple the regime, with the vigor and ruthlessness of Ermita. There are no viable alternatives, he said. It’s either we sup-port Arroyo or sink into chaos. I said that there are possibly millions of alternatives, we could install a caretaker government or a transition council that would prepare the next elections. He didn’t buy it. I’m just a kid, for god’s sake. He probably thinks I should just sit still and read my books.

Everything I’ve said belonged to the realm of ideals, he said. What is important is reality, he added, with that annoying smirk that’s the surest sign of someone patronizing you. Ser, if the reality is that I can steal millions and get away with it, I’d rather spend my lifetime dreaming. Then I’d do anything just to be deluded.

So I had to go the Makati rally to vent off the rage I felt after one hell of a taxi ride. Just to make sure that I’m not alone, dreaming of a better state.

And when anti-riot police blocked the path of marching UP students and professors in Philcoa on the way to Makati, I took my place in the front row, with seething eyes, challenging them to bring it on.

Nothing can be resolved inside taxi cabs anyway.

Habang kinacram ko ang col-umn na ito nagkacram na ang mga kaklase ko sa FA para sa plate namin sa visual design

class na ipapasa na bukas at hindi ko pa nasisimulan. Habang gumagawa ako ng draft kanina para rito sa tinatype ko ay matagal nang nakapagconceptualize ang mga kaklase ko para sa contest/plate sa graphic design class –sa sunod na linggo na yun. Habang pinipiga ko ang utak ko para lamang may maitype ay pabawas na nang pabawas ang posible kong maging grado sa plate naming komiks sa klase ko sa figure drawing. Matagal na ang pasahan at hindi ko pa rin tapos. Habang nagkukumahog ako ngayon sa tapat ng kompyuter ay pinoproblema ko ring kai-langan ko nang matapos ang column na ito kaagad, para makabili ng 100 ASA film bago pa gumabi’t maabutan ang paglubog ng araw – kukuhanan para naman sa klase ko sa photography. Habang kanina pa inaantay ng mga editor sa Kulê na maie-mail ko na ito agad ay inaanatay na rin ng group leader ko sa isa pang klase ang akala nila’y tinatapos ko na, pero hindi pa, na sticker design.

Dahil sa pressure, lahat na yata ng pangit at masasamang salita ay naibulyaw ko na sa loob-loob ko – ingat na ingat na ‘wag lumabas sa bunganga ko’t marinig

ng nanay kong nagpapahinga. Naalala ko tuloy, wala pa akong halos tulog dahil sa pagtapos naman ng editorial cartoon para sa isyu ring ito. Ipinagpaliban ko rin nga ang basketball game namin kagabi na pinakaaabangan ko pa naman, para bigyang-daan naman ang mural painting na required naming salihan dahil il-lustrators kami ng Kulê. Paulit-ulit ko nang tinanong sa sarili kung ano na ba itong pinag-g a g a g a w a k o. I s a n g r e s p o n s i -bilidad lang naman ito bilang staff dito sa Kulê, pero damay ang respon-sibilidad ko na ma n s a mga magu-lang ko para m a g - a r a l ng mabuti. Hindi naman sa ignorante ako sa pinasok ko, kaya nga pigil ako sa paghikayat ng mga kaibigan kong sumali rin sa Kulê, sa takot na sisihin nila ako kapag narito na sila.

Alam kong inaasahan ko na naman ang

mga pangyayaring tulad nito. Sa katu-nayan nga ay nakapagtatakang hindi pa rin ako nasanay na inuuna ko ang gawain dito sa dyaryo bago ang tambak na gawain sa majors ko. Siguro dahil rin alam kong malalampasan ko naman ang mga ito pero hindi ng walang dinadaanang hirap. O kaya naman, siguro kaya ko inuuna ang responsibilidad ko rito, hindi dahil takot akong madismaya sa akin ang mga katra-

baho kong kapwa mga estudyante, pero dahil mas gusto ko itong ginagawa.

Siguro para talaga akong nasa impi-yerno kapag weekends dahil iyon ang press work naming mga illustrator. Lalo pa kung dadaan ang Sabado at Linggong hindi ko pa rin natatapos ang nakatoka sa aking gawain; para akong kinukutya ng mga kampanteng ngiti ng mga kak-lase ko sa FA , dahil nagawa na nila ang assignment noong weekend samanta-lang makikipaghabulan pa ako sa oras para simulan ang akin. Yun na yun ang nangyayari ngayon, at wala na akong pakialam. Basta alam ko na sa dulo ng linggong ito, aabangan ko na naman ang

rasyon ng Kulê sa mesa ng security guard sa FA . Kukuha ako ng kopya’t maamoy ang bagong imprentang dyaryo, at bawi na ang lahat.

sIgUrO kaya kO InUUna ang resPOnsIbIlIDaD kO rItO, hInDI DahIl takOt akOng MaDIsMaya sa akIn ang Mga katrabahO kOng kaPWa Mga estUDyante, PerO DahIl Mas gUstO kO ItOng gInagaWa

CrammingJanno gonzales

Get free publicity! Email us your press re-leases, invitations, etc. DON’T TYPE IN ALL CAPS and, go easy on... the punctuation!? Complete sentences only. Dnt use txt lnguage pls. Please provide a short title. Be concise, 100 words maximum.

PhiliPPine Collegian | Biyernes 7 Mar 2008

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0 9 0 6 . 2 3 1 . 5 2 0 7Non-UP students must indicate any school, organi-zational or sectoral affiliation. WARNING: We don’t entertain textmates.

CONtiNUeD ON P.11

MaKiKiisa Ka ba sa isang PEOPLE POwER ngayOn?

oo,pro kung hngng pgpunta lng sa klsda ang dfnition ntin ng people power,hnd,ang people power ay hnd lmtdo sa gnung bgy,sa tngin ko kya hnd ngtgumpy ang unng 2 people power(oo ngtgumpy sila sa pgpptlsik sa mga corrupt n lider pro hnd sa pgbbgo ng sistma)ay dhil ip-naubya nlng ng tao ang pghubog ng sistma sa npiling mmu2no,sna ay hnd n gnito ang mngyri kung skli mn n mg people power 06-73479 ariel ba polsci

ppl powr? tma na. let’s hv a bloody revoltn. W/o blodshed, der wud be no absolut realiztn fr real change. lives hv to b sacrficd. 87-04288

i won’t join the people power because it’ll will always have a tragic ending for our country like before. damn those opportunist leftists, church-men @ trapos! they’re all the same, abusing their rights their rights like the arroyo regime! 04-30686

hindi ako para makiisa sa panibagong peo-ple power dahil masyado nang naabuso ang de-pinisyon nito. We should stop pointing fingers; instead, focus on proposing concrete solutions if we want real change. hindi ako pabor sa kati-walian, pero tingin ko, walang mnaidudulot na kabutihan ang mga pagkilos laban sa kasalu-kuyang administrasyon. nga pala, napakalaking joke na maging guest speaker si erap sa isang anti-corruption rally. 04-37158 jeloryle

mkiki2sa aq dhl nppnh0n x..tsupr ang tatay q at hbng nkup0 ung nunal s mlknyng,p2loy kming mghi2rp dhl ang liit tlga ng knka ng tatay q.. 06-45935

KUng iKaw si aRROyO, baKiT ayaw MO Pang bUMaba sa PUwEsTO?

“am i nuts?dmi q kayang kickback sa p0si-sy0n q. tska kht na mgingay kau jan, mdame qng ‘secret techniques..’ “ heheh..sucker bitch mentality tlga! 07-12605 gogz

der is no nid 2 step down. d invstors r com-ing in, w/c creates jobs! if she’l step down, d cuntry wil b polticly unstble! mgbbck out mga negosynte! mrmi mwwln ng trbho! bbgsk plitn ng piso vs. $! mas mhl n ang pgbili ng langis! p|g mhl ang lngis! mgmmhl pmshe! mgmhl bilihn! think ppol nngyri n yn! 06-10415

e bkit aq ba3 s pwest0?! may c0ncrete evi-dnces b? pul0s alleg8ions lng nman lhat un.. at bkt ndi nla smpahan ng kas0 ung mga tnutur0 nlang my kasalanan? ang mhrap kc s ating mga pilipin0, wla taung knkla2ng s0vereign p0wer, kya ndi tau ngka2isa. sbi nga n plat0, wlang per-fect s mund0.. ang perfect ay nasa after life. s0, qng idealistic ka mgpkmatay k. sbi nga n h0b-bes, kya my g0vernmnt ay pra mgkar0on ng peace.. tp0s wla taung knkla2ng g0v’t?! sana mga 0pisyal tgnan muna ntin ung resp0nsibili-ties ntin as ctzens and students, ang smun0d s batas at mgaral..tska, sna tgnan muna ntin ung mggng effects ng ggwin ntin.. s0cially, p0liti-cally, and ec0n0mically. un lng. cnxa n mhba. sna ilagay nio s kule. Wg tyo one-sided. ty. 07-53948 purpledin0saur

haha, kung ko c gma!, hndi ako ba3! bkt ako mgre2sgn eh msarap hmiga s pera! haha! gl0ria s (n0w) the r00t of ol evil! >=p 06-30900

Xmpre nandun n k0 sa pwes2 na un eh..ba’t pa k0 ba3?! ka2mkamin k0 muna lhat ng kaban ng bayan..hahahaü julie ann casis novaliches hs

nrami pa kasing nasa pwest0 na panig kay gma. |isa pa,hati-hati ang opiny0n ng mga against sa kanya. Wala rin silang maihaing mat-in0ng pamalit kay gma. 07-52240

kng hnd si erap ang ila2gay s pwesto why not? pero kng xa, no thanx. 06-31599

xe more d pa q bababa xe hndi pa q masaya sa negosyo namen.. di pa kme tpos mangura-kot! ;p 06-15606 em mbb

f im pgma,i wont step down kc i thnk im do-ing gr8 being d presidnt of d country..filing q 4 d ppol lht ng gngwa q and im not doing anythng

wrong 07-23963kung aq c arr0y0,d aq ba3 sa pwest0 dhl mg-

papakamatay nlng aQ!.. hahaha.. 05-3337111kc mrami p aqng maku2hang pera!! grbe

tlga xa!! corrupt@ gnagmit ang utak pra mk-pandaya! hay.. kramihan p naman s pmaha-laan, galing s up.. kya sna lng.. please.. think of morality dn..(so sad...) i go 4 knowledge + virtue! 06-78636

COMMEnTsgus2 q lng ipaalam na mali ung mga info sa

eksenang peyups no.25 hindi c sir los baños ung ngsabi ng hav u ever boderd reading plato klasm8t nmin ngsabi at cl150 class un pakip-ublish mahiya kyo s prof namin na suporter p nman cia ng standup 06-38840

mgnda ung halalan standard bearers.. gal-ing ng mga gumawa ng tan0ng! hehe.. ntwa aq s mga j0ke nila.. at dhil din dun, nkta q ung mga ibo2to q.. tnx! 07-65064

ewan q lng ha.pero bkit parang ang ”biased” ng kule sa ‘party profiles’ secti0n ng last issue? 06-59148 nina pol sci

banit hndi sinag0t ng tama nina stepht tan at jerrie abella unh 3rd questi0n? <bkit ndi cla dpat ib0t0?> gust0 ny0 lng iligaw lang un mga mamb2sa per0 asa!,d kme b0bo!,nakita na-men kung pan0 ny0 iniwasan ung tn0ng. dahil ba wla kay0ng maisip na dahilan lban sa mga sarili ny0?,neknek ny0! 07-52240

ang sakit sa ulo ng mga opinion ng mga kan-didato tungkol sa tanung na kung dapat bang mappalit ng bihis si oble. ganyan ba ang sagot ng mga gustong maging lider? utang na loob, umaayos nga kayo. 06-78449

naluha ak0sa lihim na linya ni rica d. namb0ngga. peram ng linya m0 rica ah. 04-41700 mimi

s komix: nkrl8 aq, syng muntk n qng mgdrop, pro ung prof q ayw aqng pgdropin. agony. new chrctrs. 05-72540

waah! bkt aalis n c chris agrava? love ko p naman xa..:c mami2ss q mga artcles nia.. ma-mi2ss q xa..:c chris, wg k n alis, d2 k n lng, pls..:c 05-19497

mr. agrava insinuated in his article “conver-sations w/shark boy,my split personality” that individuals with math,science and engineering courses dwell in the realm of “irrelevance.”as expected from someone who flatters himself too much,mr. agrava delivered a generalization an-chored on his remarkable conceit.if einstein,gauss,riemann,euler,Fermat,cantor,etc “belong in the bowels of anonymity,” i wonder if mr. agrava exists at all. 06-42553 kennrukia :)

For some reasons e naaalala ko si Warren del mundo kay chris agrava. asan na kaya siya? sana magsulat uli sa siya. sa mga andto na sa up nung 2003 , tanda nyo ba kung anong title ng column nya? 03-51723 kalbo

2 chris a. tama ang 9th paragraf. pde aq na lng pumalit sau? 06-26956 charley

anak ng tipakl0ng.punyetang mga freshies n nagmamaganda!lal0 n ung mga nag.k0k0-ment0 sa kule.punyeta ky0.dpt ky0ng sunugin ksma ang elitista d2 s up. nais q lng ibhagi s mundo ang nrrmdaman q s mga elitista ng ating unibersidad.nsktan kc aq ng sinabi ng isang c0ny0tic friend n fav0rite ang c0l0r green n nkakainis daw ang mga tibak dahil lagi silang nanggugul0.ndi man aq isang tibak,nbwict aq s kung gaan0 kkitid ang utak ng elitistang it0.ndi n nga xa sumusp0rta, ngglit p xa s mga tibak?paan0 kya kung ibahin ntn ang sitwasy0n, kung cgur0 ksma sa up chater ang pag-ban ng k0tse ng mga estudyante bka mgp-kmtay n ang mga elitista o kya ay psbugin ang quez0n hall.punyetang mga elitista. 06-49465

sagUtanto 07-68950, elfermin mallari, eic ng sigaw:

if you are to write an article ab0ut kalai, what

UP arChIteCtUre fOrUM Presents arkWIZ 2008

The University of the Philippines Archi-tecture Forum in partnership with Partas Transportation, The Manila Bulletin, and Boysen The No. 1 Paint bring you Arkwiz 2008-an architecture quiz show with the theme: The Great Minds of the Renaissance on Wednesday, March 12 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Juguilon Hall Building 2, E.Delos Santos St., UP Diliman, as part of the UP College of Architecture’s Haraya. For inqui-ries and sponsorships, contact Jaypee at 0917-885527. This event is also brought to you by Aromin & Sy + Associates Structural Firm, Miel Garments, Clubber’s Guide Tomas Morato, RX 93.1, The Coffee Experience and Arkishop.

DsCta- eVOlVIng anD InVOlVIngIn line with the UP centennial, the De-

partment of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts (DSCTA) will once again hold its annual Speech and Theatre Festival with the theme “DSCTA – Evolving and In-volving,” showcasing the talents of DSCTA students in field of speech communication and theatre arts.

The event is open to all UP students and high school sophomore and junior students, but reservation is required due to space limitations of some venues. For inquiries, call the DSCTA at 924-8589 or 924-3224, or contact Dr. Antoinette Bass-Hernandez at 09178951640 for reserva-tions and sponsorships.

WanDerIng, WOnDerIng, WOnDerfUl WOMen

18th International Women's Film Festival March 10-13, Cine Adarna Features women-directed films on Fili-

pino women overseas and winning entries of the IWFF international short film compe-tition. For the festival duration, there will be forums on women and migration with lec-tures by women directors, and festival mu-sic concerts by Cynthia Alexander, Bayang Barrios, Engkantada and UP music bands. The UP Film Institute women faculty will also mount a multi-media exhibit on SENSE AND WANDERING at the Ishmael Bernal Hall for the whole month of March.

UP lakan 20th annIVersary exhIbIt

Inihahatid ng UP Lakan (Samahan ng mga Bulakeñong Iskolar ng UP Diliman) at ng Fuji Xerox ang photo exhibit para sa ika-20 anibersaryo ng pagkatatag ng or-ganisasyon. Dumaan lamang sa Melchor Hall Lobby hanggang March 7.

Chairpersonherminio bagro iii, ALYANSA

Vice Chairpersonairah cadiogan, STAND-UP

Councilors

Viktor lorenzo Villanueva, STAND-UProse angelique dizon, STAND-UPFahima tajar, STAND-UPsherry mae tismal, ALYANSAlauryel castillo, Independentstephen larcia, ALYANSAnemesio cañete, STAND-UPmico angelo maestro STAND-UPjaqueline joy eroles STAND-UPmikhail lennin bueno STAND-UPjoseph miguel gutierrez, ALYANSAbeverly lumbera, ALYANSA

College representatives

architecturemarc angelo Virtucio, ALYANSA

arts and Lettersisabelle therese baguisi, stand-up

asian institute of Tourismmarck bryan david, KAISA

business administrationnorberto geraldez jr., ALYANSA

Educationarmando cris abulencia, STAND-UP

Engineeringrashell cabrera, ALYANSAbryan ace castillo, KAISA

UsC Election ResultsFine artsmanuel mesina, STAND-UP

Home Economicsrinno ray camilit, KAISA

Human Kineticslester yupingkun, KAISA

Lawsophia monica san luis, Independent

Mass Communicationruth anne miguel, STAND-UP

Public administration and governanceraquel perez, ALYANSA

school of Economicspierre martin reyes, ALYANSA

school of Library and information sciencehazel mary rodelas, STAND-UP

school of statisticsjeyson ocay, ALYANSA

sciencedyan pearl hatague, KAISA

social sciences and Philosophyjames ryan bagcal, ALYANSA

social work and Community Developmentma. carmela julita lagang, STAND-UPangelo hernan melencio, Independent

halalan MUL a sa P.5

kung oo, at kung bibo ka rin sa page de-sign, akyat ka na sa kule office at pakitaan mo kami ng iyong galing sa paggamit ng pagemaker/indesign at photoshop!

p.s.: sana hindi lang ito ang font na alam mo ha?

aU

RO

Ra

, CU

ba

Ocandice anne reyes

PhiliPPine Collegian | Biyernes 7 Mar 2008

txtback MUL a sa P.10

Kah... kah... kah...Pauhmanhinh mahn kuhung halinhghing,

este, hingahl akho ng hhingal... Pahgohd na pahhgohd na kasi akohh sa kahkah-in and out. Pagh-in sah mga bahlitahh aht pag-out ngh mgah tsihsmis ha, indeh ‘yuhng ihniihsip mohh. Ikhaw hah, baastos kah...

Kayah toh muhna, pa-hihngah muhuna akoh dihto. Usahp muhna tay-ohh ha? Bohoy Abuhun-dah bah, yuhung kahlbo? hahahaha ubohh, ubohh.

Unah, sihnoh kayahh itohng USC couhncilohr/chocolovah cahndidate nah mahihlighh, as in mahhiiiilig, mahkipag-kahmay sah lahaht ng hot na hot nah mga botahnte (para bumoto) tahpohs magpupuh-nas ng kahmay sa pahnts niyah. Diri-dirian/linis-linisan effect bah? Tagoh ka namahn next time parah wahlah mahkakitah sa’yoh ha? Yucky eh, germs.

Heh, sinoh namahn kayah etohng isah pahng USC cahndidate nah nag-bumbilya/light bulb mode sa pagdescribe niyah sa sahrili niyah sa kanyahng mga leaflets? Ayohn sa ubehrr asuhl niyahng papehl, "she literally radiates" dahw. Abah inehng, matahgal pa Disyembreh, 'wahg ka munah mag-astahng Christmas lights! Fee-hling stahr ka yatah, bakah mas pwedeh falling stahr, heheh.

Aht sinoh namahn ‘tohng ehx-college chair nah nag-ahngas ahngas ng fahtale sa mihting de ahvance sah collge niyah in dehfense pahrah sah mgah ka-party niya? Tsikah ng mga bub-wiht koh (nah uber cute, try n’yoh silahh) eh pinag-duduroh duroh (as in point-point) niyah rahw ung isahng taga-kabihlang pahrty with matchihng taahs taahs ng boses! Tarahy mode to the nth powehr! ‘dih ko sasahbihin kuhng sinoh siyah ha? Yeeee-hah!

Tapohs sihno namahn kayah itohng dala-wahng girlalets nah suhpah ahnlabo puhmili ng isusuhlaht sa bahlotah? Overheard ng isahng mahKulet nah writehr, tihnanong raw ni Girl 1 ang kahtabi niyah: “Sino ba ang bet na ibotong vice-chair?” nah sinahgot nahng uber witty and very so intehllectuahl niyahng friend ng: “Ito na lang si *bleep* kasi ang guwapo guwapo niya.” Hanlahbo ‘di ba?

Hahy naku galihng nilahh bumotoh ha? Pah-rahng akoh, magahlinghhhh... ahh ohh anhg gahhling kohhh... sigeh pahh ohhhhhh ayahn naaaaahhhh...

Chika lang.

Hingalinghing Edisyohn

keniken ken

sh0uld it c0ntain? sangayon nman aq s cnsbi mu, pero differ-ent pers0ns have different experiences, different persepective.. kung gnyan dn ung mssbi mu s article ab0ut kalai, i enc0urage you to make an article better than ms.anicia’s and pass it to kule or just let your w0rds be just w0rds w/o action.. the choice is yours.. 07-65064

to 07-10283: ndi ksalanan ng kalay qng maging pasiv ung mga residnte, nasa mga residnte na un na mkhnap ng paraan na mgng inf0rmed, di lng nman tv ang nagha2tid ng balita ah?,kya nga may dyary0 nd other means ng media eh. bitter ka lng kc di ka mkpn0od ng lobo. 07-52240

to 07-60097: gago ka ba? Wla ka sigurong alam sa issues noh? kawawa ka naman kasi wala kang malasakit sa k0muni-dad na dapat nga ay iy0ng pinaglilingkuran! isa kang dakilang s0mething, nakakaloko ka. 06-55761 coi

to 06-15131: kung mer0n mng dpat pgtawanan, wlang iba kundi ikaw un.sang planeta ka galing?feeling m naman bayani ka at maililigtas m cla s pgtawa m?o c0me 0n!paano m nasig-ur0ng ginusto nla un?kw na rn ang ngsbi,kesa naman s Wala.dat means wla na silang ibang ch0ice!oo nga,wlang mwawala sa knila dhl wla rn nmang ibnbigay sa knla.wag ka na lng mgsalita ng tungkol sa sukatan ng dangal dhl mukhang wla kang udeya sa cnasabi m. bnbgyan namin ng kahulugan ang mga bagay dhl kritikal kming mag-isip.hndi mbbaw ang bagay na to.sabaw ka lang siguro. 04-32096

to 06-15131: so tingin mo ikaw na ang pinakamagiting na su-perhero nyan dahil nung tnawanan mo sila e kumita sila? Waw, san ba nakakabili ng ganyang katabinging lohika? sabihin mo sa aking kung saan nang maiwasan. andami mong sinabi, tsong. la-hat ng iyon nakapanlulumo. sana hindi dumami ang mga katulad mo. gusto ko sanang maawa sa’yo pero dahil mukhang di mo na-man deserve yun, etong sa’yo raaarrr! 03-51723 kalbo

PanaWaganbkt gnun ang triage nurse s uhs,ang sungit2.nkkwlng gna

2loy mginquire kc pg nrng mo mga isa2got nya.prng llo kng mgkkskt.sna nmn nxt tym,ms approachable nd patient cl s mga gs2ng mgpcheck-up s uhs. tnx. 06-15603

to kalai residents: grbe, nkakahiya ung forum ng mga usc candidates sa kalai.. tanungin ba nman ung mga candidates w/ questions wc/ may lead 2 st8ments dt may be percievd as per-sonal attacks.. ano ba gusto nyo, mag.away at mag.bangayan cla dun?.. gusto nyo rin ba na lumaki ung conflict btween sa mga parties?.. nde mgiging productive ung usc pag ngyari un.. as in nkakahiya sa mga cndidates.. 07-63273 tga.kalai

haiz. nkkdpress sa ec0n. d m0st c0ny0tic of dem ol na ang mga susun0d na officers. stand up, pkiinvade nman ang ec0n. nakkaaWa eh. 06-17161 kulangot

guys,aucn natin r ris0ns,y we d0nt want mging m0n ang break.F we’l say kc n d ntin n kya,prng cnabi n ntin n r learning cpacity ay inferi0r c0mpare 2 skuls n my gnung sched.F we’l say n d tau mkkpg-cram,nmn,sch0lar tau ng bayan.We shud do better dn dat.d tau ppkinggan ng admin nyan. Ü 04-21402 camilla

next Week's qUestIOns1. ano ang masasabi mo sa pag-lift ni arroyo sa eo 464? 2. sino kaya ang mananalo kina annabelle rama at lolit

solis sa suntukan?

SAPhilippine Collegian Nº 26

Biyernes 7 Mar 2008

rebyurock Musical

EJ: Ang Pinagdaanang Buhay nina Evelio Javier at Edgar Jopson

Akda ni Ed MarananDireksyon ni Chris MilladoProduksyon ng Tanghalang Pilipino

Rock is cool… but the struggle is better. – in digo gir ls

Sawa na raw ang mga Filipino sa korupsyon ng pamahalaan. Sawa na raw tayo sa isa pang pagpapatalsik sa isa na na-

mang tiwaling Pangulo na naluklok dahil sa Edsa 2. Hayaan na lang daw natin na manaig ang Saligang Batas sa ganitong pagkakataon. At mula mismo sa kaniyang bibig, “hindi pa-tatawarin ng mundo ang Edsa 3.”

M a p a g - u u s a p a n s a p u n -tong ito kung alin nga ba ang mas makatwirang solusyon: ang paglahok ng mabubuting tao sa eleksyon upang mapalitan ang mga tiwali o isang himagsikang nagla-layong mapalitan ang kasalukuyang nabubulok na sistema? At sa matagal nang usaping ito, nais makapag-ambag sa diksurso ang rock musical na EJ: Ang Pinagdaanang Buhay nina Evelio Javier at Edgar Jopson.

LandasKilala sina Jopson at Javier bilang

mga tumutol sa diktadurang Marcos, ngunit magkaiba ang kanilang landas. Hindi sang-ayon si Gob. Javier ng Antique sa batas militar kaya’t gipit ang lalawigan sa pondo mula sa diktador. Si Jopson nama’y isang aktibistang mag-aaral noong Sigwa ng Unang Kwarto ng 1970 at kapagdaka’y lumahok sa armadong pakikibaka. Bagaman pareho silang nasa Ateneo de Manila Uni-versity noong huling bahagi ng 1960s, hindi nagkakilala ang dala-wang martir.

Sa rock musical na E J, pinagtagpo nina Ed Maranan at Chris Millado ang mga daki-lang Atenista sa kabilang buhay. Pinag-uusapan nina Jopson (Jett Pangan ng The Dawn) at Javier (Ricky Davao) ang kinahinatnan ng kanilang naging paglaban matapos nilang pumanaw. Nagbabalik-tanaw rin sila sa mga pangyayari noong malupit na panahon ng batas militar. Na sumunod sila sa turo at panini-walang Atenista na “maging tao para sa kapwa,” sa magkaiba nga lang na paraan. Si Javier, sa pagiging gober-

ang Pinagdaanang buhay nina Evelio Javier at

Edgar Jopson

PAGSAMPAnador, sa loob. Si Jopson, sa pagiging rebolusyonaryo, sa labas. Mahusay na naipakita ng EJ ang ganitong magkahiwalay na landas ng pakikibaka ng dalawa.

Ngunit may pagkakatulad rin sina Javier at Jopson. Naglunsad si Javier ng mga proyektong pangkabuhayan para sa kaniyang mga kababayan. Nakikikain siya sa hapag ng mga sakada’t dumaan. Minahal siya ng mga taga-Antique dahil rito. Si Jopson nama’y nagpalalim ng kaniyang pakikisangkot nang maka-pagtapos sa Ateneo. Naugnay siya sa unyon ng mga manggagawa, naging organisador, at naging kasapi ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas. Pinagsunod ang mga tagpong ito sa EJ upang ipakita na may malasakit ang dalawa sa mga tao.

PanahonNapaghugpong ng EJ ang buhay at

pakikibaka ng dalawang martir. Bukod sa huntahan ng dalawa sa kabilang buhay, napagtagni ni Jun Yango (Bong Cabrera) – na tila isang dark angel o agent provocatuer– ang kapalaran nina Javier at Jopson. Nagsilbi ang tauhang ito sa dula bilang si Marcos, militar, at pragmatikong kritiko ng dalawa.

Nakadadagdag pa sa emosyon ng dula ang musika ng The Dawn sa mga dramatikong tagpo ng dula. Ginamit nila rito ang kanilang mga awit tulad ng “Harapin,” “Salamat,” at “Iisang Bangka” bukod pa sa nasa iskrip. Aminado ang banda na hindi sila maituturing na pulitikal na rock group subalit nakita nilang ang ilan sa mga awit nila’y angkop sa dula. “Salimpusa” ang nagsilbing awit sa tagpong idineklara ni Marcos

ang Batas Militar (Sa-limpusa!/ Bumaba ka sa trono mo!). May mga bi-nago sa areglo at liriko sa mga awit ng grupo, at pinagaan ang tunog upang maging angkop sa damdaming nais ipa-hatid ng isang tagpo.

Bukod sa malikhaing imahinasyon nina Ma-ranan at Millado para sa EJ, hindi banyaga sa kanila ang naging panahon at pakikibaka nina Javier at Jopson. Na g i n g a k t i b o r i n ang dalawang drama-

turgong ito sa mga grupong tu-mutuligsa sa diktadura. Tulad ni Jopson, naging political detainee si Maranan. Nahubog naman sa dulansangan ng UP Repertory Co. si Millado.

PangarapKakaiba ito sa mga dulang nasa

anyo n g protesta at progresibo s a p a n a h o n nina Javier at Jopson. Sa pagsasa-dula ng buhay ng dalawang martir, hindi ito tahasang nagsasabi kung ano ang dapat gawin ng manonood sa nangyayari sa kasalukuyan. Kahit sa huling imahinatibong pag-uusap nina Javier at Jopson, nagkakasundo ang dalawa na mag-kaiba ang kanilang landas ngunit para sa katiwasayan ng bayan. Kapwa nila nakita ang kabulukan ng kanilang panahon. Kapwa nag-aatim ang dalawang martir ng pagbabago para sa mga tao.

Hindi nga lang sila pinalad na makita ang kaganapan ng kanilang mga pangarap, lalo na ang pag-papababa kay Marcos na naging Edsa 1. Binistay ng 37 punglo si Javier habang papunta sa plaza ng San Jose, Antique, sa kasagsagan ng kampanya para sa malinis na 1986 snap election. Ikinakam-panya ni Javier si Corazon Aquino. Nakubkob naman ng mga militar

si Jopson at mga kasama nito sa kanilang underground house sa Davao. Siyam na punglo ang kumitil sa kaniya.

Para sa mga pragmatiko’t kon-serbatibo, nasayang lang ang talino’t galing, lalo na ang buhay, nina Javier at Jopson. Sa kanilang pagtuligsa sa isang diktador ay naghanap sila ng batong ipinukol sa kanilang mga ulo. Subalit sa mata ng mga anti-diktadura’t re-bolusyonaryo, hindi nasayang ang kanilang mga ipinunla. Sa imahi-natibong pag-uusap nina Javier at Joson, kapwa sila nagtanong na “saan ba napunta ang ating mga pinagpaguran?” na pagtatanong na rin sa mga manonood.

Sa isang banda’y maaaring aku-sahan ang EJ ng pagroromantisa la-mang sa naging marahas na dekada 70 at pakikibaka rito ng mga su-malunga. Walang pagdududang

naging dagdag na namukadkad na mga bulaklak sina Javier at Jopson sa karimlan ng panahong iyon. Ngunit maaari ring tingnan na ang dulang ito’y itinanghal upang muling mamukadkad ang ating mga pang-arap sa gitna ng muling pagdilim ng kasalukuyang panahon.

“Kailan magbabago/ ang ihip ng panahon?” Isa ito sa mga tanong na iniwan ng EJ. Maaari itong sagutin sa pag-aaral ng buhay nina Javier, Jopson, at iba pang tulad nilang tumuligsa sa diktadura. Na hindi isang mesias ang kailangang hin-tayin. Na hindi magagawa ang pag-babago ng iilang may dakilang hangarin para sa bayan. Na ang pagbabago’y magagawa sa pa g-likha ng bagong kasaysayan. Na isinasaalang-alang ang kabutihan ng nakararaming mamamayan. Na ang makibaka’y makatwiran.

PANATA

Ang dulang ito’y itinanghal upang muling mamukadkad ang ating mga pangarap sa gitna ng muling pagdilim ng kasalukuyang panahon

Dibuho: Piya Constantino Disenyo ng Pahina: Mark angelo Ching

litrato: tanghalang Pilipino artikulo: louise Vincent b. amante