Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Dilman Tomo 90, Blg.

06 Hulyo 18, 2012

BALITA

MINING
ALTERNATIVES
Features

Miyerkules 27 Hunyo 2012

At first glance, President Benigno Aquino IIIs new executive order on mining appears to be the best resolution to the mining industrys dilemma. A deeper analysis of the new mining policy, however, reveals that the issues raised by mining communities and environmental groups remain unresolved, perpetuating the dismal state of the Philippine mining industry.

HIMIG NG SABWATAN
Muling pinatutugtog ng Kongreso ang kanilang paboritong himig ang usapin ng pagamyenda sa Saligang Batas. Lumang tugtugin na ang pagsalang ng mga panukala para sa charter change (ChaCha) sa bawat nagdaraang rehimen. At kamakailan lang, nagpahayag sina Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte na muling tatalakayin ng Kongreso ang ChaCha na naglalayong baguhin OPINYON OPINYON ang ilang probisyon sa Saligang BALITA Miyerkules Miyerkules Batas ng 1987 upang pahin27 Hunyo 18 Hulyo Miyerkules tulutan ang 100 porsyentong 2012 2012 27 Hunyo pag-aari ng mga dayuhan sa 2012 mga lupa at negosyo sa bansa, at gawing prayoridad ang militar sa alokasyon ng taunang budget. Nais ng Kongreso na baguhin mula 60 tungong 100 porsyento ang maaaring maging bahagi ng mga banyaga sa anumang uri ng ari-arian sa bansa. Sakaling magtagumpay ang nasabing amyenda, magbibigay-daan ito sa buong-buong pag-aari ng mga dayuhan sa mga lupain, institusyon ng midya, ibat ibang negosyo at kumpanya, at maging sa mga institusyong nagbibigay ng batayang serbisyo sa taumbayan. Dagdag pa rito, nais din ng Kongreso na bigyan ng pinakamalaking alokasyon sa pambansang badyet ang pondo ng militar, sa halip na maging prayoridad ang sektor ng edukasyon. Ayon kay Enrile, nararapat palakasin ang ating armadong hukbo sa panahong nagbabadya ang digmaan sa pagitan ng Tsina at Pilipinas dulot ng alitan ng dalawang bansa sa mga isla sa West Philippine Sea. Ngunit hindi sapat na dahilan ang posibilidad ng isang digmaan upang ilipat sa pagbili ng bala at pagsasanay ng mga sundalo ang pondong laan para sa edukasyon. Ang pamantayan ng isang maunlad na bansa ay ang kaunlaran ng kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan nito at hindi ang tikas ng militar, na maaari pang magamit upang lalong masupil ang mga progresibong pwersa ng lipunan, at magdulot ng daan-daan pang paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Sa pagsusulong sa mga naturang probisyon, mahihinuhang nagbabalak ang pamahalaan na talikuran ang dalawa nitong pangunahing tungkulin: ang pangalagaan ang soberanya ng
Punong Patnugot Kapatnugot Panauhing Patnugot

Patnugot sa Balita
Patnugot sa Lathalain Patnugot sa Grapix

Mga Kawani

Pinansya Tagapamahala ng Sirkulasyon Sirkulasyon

Mga Katuwang na Kawani

Pamuhatan Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman, Lungsod Quezon Telefax 981-8500 lokal 4522 Email kule1213@gmail.com Website philippinecollegian.org Kasapi Solidaridad: UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers Organizations, College Editors Guild of the Philippines Ukol sa Pabalat Dibuho ni Ysa Calinawan

bansa at isulong ang karapatan ng taumbayan. Samantalang abala ang Kongreso sa muling pagbubukas ng usapin hinggil sa pagrepaso ng Saligang Batas, nananatili namang kimi si Pangulong Benigno Aquino III. Aniya, pag-aaralan muna umano ng kanyang gabinete ang mga hunit himig ng isyu bago sumabay sa saliw ng ChaCha. Ngunit isang mahunang balatkayo lamang ang ipinalalabas ni Aquino. Kung susuriing mabuti, hindi nalalayo sa iminumungkahing himig ng Kongreso ang saliw ng mga ipinalalaganap na palisiya ng rehimeng Aquino. Isa sa mga sentrong proyekto ng gobyernong Aquino ang Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), na nagbubukas sa mga pampublikong serbisyo gaya ng kalusugan, pabahay, edukasyon at pampublikong imprastraktura sa dikta ng pribadong interes. Sa ilalim ng PPP, ilang bahagi ng mga ospital, presinto, at pamantasan sa bansa

ang pinangangasiwaan o di kayay pagmamay-ari na ng mga pribadong kumpanya. Isinusulong din ni Aquino ang mga palisiyang gaya ng Mining Executive Order 79 na hahawan ng mas kaaya-ayang sitwasyon para sa mga dayuhang negosyante upang mamuhunan sa bansa, kapalit ang higit pang pananamantala at pagwasak sa ating likas na yaman. Iisa ang ritmong iniindakan ng lahat ng sangay ng pamahalaan: ang pagkakanulo sa soberanya at pag-abandona sa mga batayang serbisyong panlipunan. Mahihinuhang nakabalangkas ang landas na pinipiling tahakin ng pamahalaan sa diktat sulsol ng Estados Unidos (US). Sa kagustuhang mapabilang sa proyektong Trans-Pacific Partnership ng US isang ugnayang magpapaigting sa free market na sistema sa pagitan ng mga pamilihan sa US at iba pang bansa sa Asya-Pasipiko, pinaluluwag ng gobyerno ang mga palisiya hingging sa pag-aari ng mga

banyaga, kahit pa isinasangkalan nito ang interes ng mamamayan. Kabi-kabila ang mga panlilinlang na hinahabi ng pamahalaan upang maisulong ang kanilang sabwatan sa US at iilang makakapangyarihan. Sa panukalang badyet para sa 2013, mistulang nagbagong-loob ang pamahalaan sa paggawad nito ng mataas na pondo para sa batayang serbisyong panlipunan. Ngunit sa malalimang pagtingin, malaking bahagi ng pondo para sa mga batayang serbisyo ang laan para sa PPPs. SamulingpagtugtogngChaCha sa Kongreso, lalong tumitingkad ang pagsasabwatan ng ibat ibang sangay ng pamahalaan upang isulong ang interes ng US at iilang nasa kapangyarihan. At sa panahong lantarang ipinagkakanulo ng gobyerno ang soberanya at interes ng mamamayan, umiigting ang pangangailangang makisangkot at makipagtunggali ng sambayanan.

Editors Note

Yet the most serious problem of the strike, and certainly the most difficult to solve is the problem of loss of faith. It is the complete breakdown of human relationship, the total lack of trust.
IT TAKES TWO
On the power of student strikes

Miriam Defensor July 24, 1969

As the Philippine Collegian celebrates its 90th year, we revisit lines from prized editorials that defined the publications tradition of critical and fearless journalism.

Hundreds of students walk out of classes to protest educ crisis

Barely a week before the presidents state of the nation address (SONA), an estimated 1,000 students walked out of their classrooms on July 13 and marched to Mendiola to call for greater state responsibility towards education. Sa administrasyong Aquino, patuloy ang hagupit ng krisis sa edukasyon, patuloy ang pagtaas ng tuition, ang komersyalisasyon ng edukasyon at ang mga solusyong hindi naman nakakatulong. Ang gobyerno na mismo ang sumisira sa ating pag-aaral, pamantasan at kinabukasan, said UP Student Regent Cleve Robert Kevin Arguelles.

BALITA Miyerkules 18 Hulyo 2012

MISPLACED PRIORITIES

In the past years, state universities and colleges (SUCs) have experienced a decrease in the subsidy from the government. In 2011 the budget for SUCs decreased by 5.2 percent, to P23.41 billion from the 2010 budget of P23.84 billion, according to the Department of Budget Management (DBM). For 2013, DBM approved a 42.3 percent increase for SUCs, from this years P26.29 billion to P37.4 billion next year. For UP alone, DBM approved 57.6 percent budget increase, from last years P6.84 billion to P10.78 billion next year. However, this is still not enough to cover SUCs needs and the budget increase this year may simply be a strategy to deceive people into thinking that the government had already done something for the students, said Arguelles. The P10.78-billion budget approved for next year is only 58 percent of the UP administrations original budget proposal of P18.4 billion.

PAGLIBAN AT PAGLABAN. Nagmartsa patungong Mendiola ang halos isang libong kabataang lumahok sa walkout noong Hulyo 13 bilang pagkundena sa ibat ibang palisyang patuloy na naipatutupad sa ilalim ng administrasyong Aquino. (main) Ilang araw bago ang State of the Nation Address ng pangulo, tinuligsa ng grupo ang umanoy tuwid na daang tinatahak ng pamahalaan kung saan patuloy na tumataas ang mga naitatalang kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao at patuloy na pagpanig ni Aquino sa interes ng US.
Airnel Abarra

Maaaring [ang pagtaas ng budget ng SUCs] ay paraan lamang ng gobyerno para pigilin ang lumalaking protesta nating mga estudyante laban sa hindi makatarungang pag-abandona ng gobyerno sa kanilang responsibilidad sa ating mga iskolar, said Kabataan Partylist Spokesperson Vencer Crisostomo. Youth and student groups also slammed the governments K to 12 (K-12) program, a program launched this academic year, which supposedly aims to increase students proficiency and employability after graduation. However, adding more years to the education curriculum is an ineffective way to improve education in the country and solve unemployment in the future, Crisostomo said.

Instead of pursuing K-12, the government should be focused on attending to the current issues of education, that is, insufficiency in facilities, labor work and the worsening tuition hikes, said Crisostomo. In 2011, public high schools still lack 152,000 classrooms, 95.5 million textbooks, 103,500 teachers, 13.5 million chairs, and 424,600 water and sanitation facilities, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

BURDEN TO STUDENTS

Kalsada sa UPV, ipagagawa sa tulong ng militar

Nakatakdang maging katuwang ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa pagpapagawa ng isang kilometrong kalsada sa loob ng kampus ng UP Visayas (UPV) sa Miag-ao, Iloilo. Bahagi ang nasabing kalsada ng road network sa UPV at pag-uugnayin nito ang gusali ng UPV College of Arts and Sciences at ang bahaging kinatatayuan ng College of Management at School of Technology, ani UPV Vice Chancellor for Administration Nestor Yunque. Mahalaga ang pagpapatayo ng nasabing kalsada sapagkat mas mapapadali nito ang pagpapatayo ng iba pang gusali sa loob ng kampus, ani Yunque. Aniya, nakatakdang magpatayo ng mga bagong gusali para sa College of Management, Main Library, Student Union, Regional Research Center at School of Technology. Sa pangunguna ni Col. Crisanto Gutierrez ng 552nd Engineer Construction Battalion (ECBn) ng AFP, ilan sa mga gagampanan ng militar ang paglilinis, pagbubungkal ng lupa, at pagbubuhos ng semento. pines and policies of the present government which seem to provide lesser financial support to state colleges and universities, ani Yunque. Inaasahan umano ng pamunuan ng UPV na susuportahan ng Board of Regents (BOR) ang pakikipagtulungan sa militar at magpapasya sa pulong nito ngayon buwan na simulan na ang pagpapagawa sa kalsada. pamantasan at sa mga mag-aaral. It will have a positive result since longer roads can be constructed for a given amount of money, ani Yunque. Sakaling hindi aprubahan ng BOR ang kasunduan sa AFP, matutuloy pa rin naman umano ang pagpapagawa ng kalsada, dagdag ni Yunque. Tinatayang binubuo ng 1,200 ektarya ang UPV campus sa Miag-ao, pinakamalawak na kampus sa buong UP System.

KULANG SA PONDO

Nauna nang naglaan ng P10 milyon ang Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) para sa pagpapagawa ng nasabing isang kilometrong kalsada, ngunit maaaring makatipid pa ang administrasyon ng UPV sa tulong ng militar, paliwanag ni Yunque. Aniya, ang halagang matitipid sa kasunduan sa pagitan ng AFP ay maaaring magamit sa pagpapagawa pa ng dagdag na kalahating kilometrong kalsada. The option available in lieu of the aid from the army is bigger budget, which we believe is not forthcoming given the woeful economic condition of the Philip-

WALANG HALONG PULITIKA

Samantala, wala pa umanong konsultasyon na nagaganap sa pagitan ng mga estudyante ng UPV at ng administrasyon kaya tumanggi munang magbigay ng pahayag ang UPV University Student Council. Hindi pa umano nailalatag sa konseho ang nasabing panukala. Iginiit naman ng administrasyon na wala umanong pulitikal na aspekto ang nasabing proyekto sa

KASO NG PAGLABAG

Bagaman hindi pa pormal na nailalatag ng pamunuan ng UPV ang proyekto sa mga estudyante, binatikos na ng ilang mga lider mag-aaral ang pakikipagkasundo ng administrasyon sa militar. In UPV, militant and progressive organizations were red-tagged by the military. We cant imagine the Sundan sa pahina 5

The governments failure to allocate sufficient state subsidy for education has transferred the burden to students through tuition increases and other privatization and commercialization schemes, said Arguelles. This semester alone, the Commission on Higher Education granted approval for tuition hikes in 222 private colleges and universities. With the rising cost of education, government figures reveal that for every 43 students who will be able to finish high school, only 23 of them will be able to continue studying at the tertiary level and only 14 will graduate. Sa [Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)] walang sapat na pasilidad, libro, at mga laboratory para sa mas maayos na pag-aaral ng mga estudyante. Kung magpapatuloy na ganito, hindi magtatagal at wala nang mapapasukang pamantasan ang mga naghihirap na estudyante, said PUP Student Regent Helen Alfonso. Moreover, diminishing state subsidy prompted SUCs to generate additional income and augment their meager budgets through commercialization schemes such as land leases, said Crisostomo. In 2006, at a time when UPs budget was slashed by 6.5 percent Continue on page 5

Econ growth only felt by the rich IBON

While the Aquino administration boasts of sustained economic growth and political reform in the first quarter of this year, these achievements favor only the interests of the few while the majority of the Filipino people remain poor, according to independent think tank IBON Foundation. In its 2012 midyear Bird Talk, a semi-annual forum on the countrys economic and political conditions, IBON asserted that the governments economic policies and political agenda have failed to promote any real and inclusive reform. Because of the increasing unemployment rate, the country remains to be in a state of poverty, IBON reported. While the government estimated a poverty incidence of only 25.6 percent last 2009, this figure is not reflective of the current situation in the country as the government lowered the official poverty threshold to P46.10, effectively excluding more people living on the poverty line, IBON explained. The government said that with P46.10 a day, one will be able to live decently, which is incredibly unbelievable. What kind of life does the government suspect to be decent? said Balangue. IBON also criticized the governments public welfare programs, such as the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs. PPP aims to make partnerships with private companies to deliver public services. However, IBON argued that the intervention of private companies in the delivery of public services risks the availability of the services to the people. Due to PPPs, public services are now at risk of increasing costs, if not thorough privatization, IBON added. Similarly, the CCT, an anti-poverty program which provides household subsidies to poor families, does not push for a long-term solution as it is being implemented without complementary policies to create jobs and address land distribution, according to IBON. Reform (DAR) reveals that as of December 2011, only 23 percent of its national land distribution target was attained.

INTENSIFIED MARGINALIZATION
By implementing programs and policies that favored large businesses and foreign investors, the government has become instrumental in continuing the marginalization of various sectors of society, IBON reported. Economic growth should trickle down to the basic masses, Balangue said. However, the governments globalization policies and reliance to various volatile resources prove that current economic boom is not inclusive, she explained. Early this year, urban communities in Silverio Compound in Paraaque and Corazon De Jesus in San Juan were demolished to give rise to commercial complexes. In rural areas, the recent Mining Executive Order has risked the livelihood of communities by opening opportunities for other countries to exploit the countrys mineral reserves at the expense of the environment. The government similarly failed to meet its own land distribution goal, according to IBON. Data from the Department of Agrarian

POLITICAL MANEUVERING

ECONOMIC GROWTH?

BALITA Miyerkules 18 Hulyo 2012

The National Statistical Coordination Board recorded a 6.4 percent growth in the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2012 from 4.9 percent in the same period last year. However, this does not indicate that weaknesses in the domestic economy have been resolved, according to IBON. The GDP growth is brought about by sources dependent on external factors which the government does not control, such as foreign investment and overseas workers remittances, IBON explained. Only industries with low productivity and weak linkages to the domestic economy, such as the services sector, have improved, while growth in agriculture and other industrial sectors have slowed down, the think tank added. IBON also criticized the governments decision to lend one billion dollars to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last May. While the government claims that the Philippines is now considered a creditor nation with stable financial prospects, this should not be a basis for economic strength as the country continues to have debts of its own, said Glenis Balangue, senior IBON researcher. Instead of lending money to IMF, the government should instead use the funds to launch welfare projects, she explained. Also, the supposed economic growth does not necessarily indicate that the living condition of majority of Filipinos have improved, according to IBON. Data from the National Statistics Office reveal that the unemployment rate in the country has reached 6.9 percent by April 2012, 3.4 percent lower than IBONs estimated unemployment rate of 10.3 percent. While the government claims to have addressed unemployment by providing 1.02 million jobs, these jobs are mostly part-time, seasonal and low-paying, IBON explained. The wages of the labor force also remain low despite increasing prices of commodities. IBON explained that the current P426 minimum wage in the National Capital Region, even with the additional P20 living allowance approved in June, does not meet the P996 daily wage level needed to support a family.

Moreover, the administrations political agenda were designed to serve Aquinos own political interests, said IBON Media and Communications Head Rhea Padilla. To consolidate his bureaucratic power, Aquino systematically removed officials who were in position in the past government, including former Chief Justice Renato Corona and former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, and replaced them with officials who favor the governments policies, said Balangue. Meanwhile, the United States (US) intervention in the Scarborough

Shoal standoff provoked political instability, IBON said. By allowing US military presence in the country, the government merely ensured its stable relationship with the US in exchange for support in its economic and political agenda, according to IBON. Inclusive economic and political growth can only be achieved if the country would follow a development paradigm that will be biased for the nationalistic aspirations of the people, said Balangue. We should not be a country that is only dependent to foreign factors, nor should we only be in favor of the elites. We should be a country that holds on to its own resources and develops its local industries, we should be putting our people first, Balangue added.

UPV freshie dies in road mishap

A BS Public Health I freshman student and a security guard of UP Visayas (UPV) were killed after two consecutive six-wheeler trucks rammed the tricycle they were on board near the university campus in Miag-ao, Iloilo, on July 13. UPV freshman Alyssa Marie Naranjo, 17, was declared deadon-arrival at Guimbal District Hospital. Meanwhile, Carlito Muzones, who was driving the tricycle, passed away while being treated for his injuries in West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC). A father of four, Muzones was a security guard of UPV College of Union Building and part-time tricycle driver. Naranjo, on the other hand, is the eldest of three siblings. Two other Public Health I freshman students, who were also on board the tricycle, are in critical condition after suffering serious injuries from the accident, said Office of the Student Regent Liaison Officer for UPV Angeli Louise Cando. Jimel Tolentino, one of the students critically injured, was unconscious for almost 12 hours after sustaining damage in one side of his brain, said Cando. Tolentino is already showing stable vital signs, she added. Beaulou Patrish Galupo, meanwhile, remains confined in WVSUMC and currently needs blood transfusion after sustaining pelvic fracture. Other Public Health I first year students Ariel John Caspillo, Marvyn Kerziel Estanda and Carl Laurenz Deala suffered minor injuries from the accident. The six UPV first year students were heading for their dormitories in Muzones tricycle after attending an acquaintance party of a UPV student organization when the accident happened, said Cando. The tricycle was crossing the National Highway towards the main gate of the UPV campus, when an allegedly over-speeding six-wheeler delivery truck crashed against the tricycle at around 10:30 in the evening, according to police reports. Another delivery truck hit the tricycle shortly afterwards, added the reports. Police officers of Miag-ao Municipal Police Station detained the truck drivers, who were identified as Ranyl Jiracaya and Vicente Casiple. Jiracaya and Casiple currently face charges for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide,

MISSED OPPORTUNITY. UP Fighting Maroons forward Alvin Padilla moves the ball downcourt as he struggles to get past DLSU defenders in the opening game of the 75th season of UAAP at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on July 15. UP led the game by one point in the last 44 seconds, only to be trampled down by a 6-point run by DLSU, ending the game at 68-73.

physical injuries, and damage to property. Meanwhile, UP Visayas Vice Chancellor for Administration Nestor Yunque said the university administration is currently inspecting the accident site, which has been considered an accident-prone area, for a possible overhaul of the sites traffic management.

The UP Visayas Miag-ao Student Council and Sandigan para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan Party Alliance, among other student formations, are raising funds for the hospitalization of the students and the security guard. For donations, you may deposit through any Landbank of the Philippines branch under savings account number: 0366-2006-57.

Bagong sistema ng pasahod, tinutulan ng mga manggagawa

Mariing tinututulan ng mga manggagawa ang 2-Tiered Wage System (2TWS) o bagong sistema ng pasahod na inaprubahan ng Deparment of Labor and Employment (DOLE) noong Mayo 18 at inaasahang ipatutupad sa buong bansa sa mga susunod na buwan. Sa ilalim ng 2TWS, nakabatay ang sahod ng mga manggagawa sa dalawang antas. Una, itinatakda ng gobyerno ang floor wage o ang pinakamababang halaga na dapat kitain ng isang manggagawa. Sa ikalawang antas, maaaring tumanggap ng productivity-based pay (PBP) o karagdagang sahod ang isang manggagawa ayon sa antas ng produksyon ng kumpanya o industriya. Nauna nang ipinatupad ang two-tiered wage system sa National Capital Region (NCR) sa bisa ng inilabas na wage orders ng Regional Wage Board (RWB) noong Abril. Sinundan ito ng Region IV-A (Calabarzon), Southern Tagalog, at Cordillera Autonomous Region. Pangunahing layunin umano ng 2TWS na paigtingin ang global competitiveness ng bansa at pataasin ang sahod ng mga manggagawa, ani DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz sa inilabas na pahayag ng DOLE noong Hunyo 10. Iginiit naman ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), grupong nagsusulong ng mga karapatan ng mga manggagawa, na kontra sa interes ng mga manggagawa at pabor lamang sa mga may-ari ng mga kumpanya ang 2TWS.

MINIMUM WAGE VS FLOOR WAGE

Batay sa Republic Act (RA) 6727 o Wage Rationalization Act of 1989, itinatakda ng lumang sistema ng pasahod ang minimum wage gamit ang mga salik na tulad ng presyo ng bilihin, pangangailangan ng isang pamilya, at kakayahang magpasahod ng mga kumpanya. Samantala, sa 2TWS, pangunahing batayan na sa pagtatakda ng

floor wage ang poverty threshold kada rehiyon o ang pinakamababang halagang kailangang kitain ng isang pamilya upang hindi maituring na mahirap. Noong nakaraang taon lamang, binabaan ng administrasyong Aquino ang poverty threshold mula P52 patungong P46 kada araw. Sa pagpapatupad ng 2TWS sa Calabarzon, itinakda sa P255 ang floor wage, mababa ng P82 kumpara sa dating P337 na minimum wage sa rehiyon. Batay sa bagong sistema, ang mga manggagawang kumikita ng mas mababa sa P255 ay makatatanggap ng dagdag na P2 hanggang P90 sa loob ng limang taon. Wala namang pagbabago sa basic pay ng mga manggagawang

kumikita ng mas mataas sa P255. Maaari lamang makatanggap ang nasabing mga manggagawa ng P12.50 na umento, habang hindi pa naitatakda ng kumpanya ang anumang dagdag na sahod sa porma ng PBP.

PAGTIGIL SA UMENTO

Ayon sa Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER), layunin lamang ng DOLE na pababain ang mimimum wage ng mga manggagawa upang maakit ang mga dayuhang negosyante. Batay sa suri ng EILER, ipinapako ng 2TWS ang sahod sa floor wage sa loob ng limang taon, dahil maaari lamang tumaas ang pasahod kung babaguhin ng goby-

Kalsada sa UPV, ipagagawa sa tulong ng militar

mula sa pahina 3 military putting camps inside the campus, ani Angeli Louise Cando, Office of the Student Regent liason officer. Hindi rin alisunod ang nasabing proyekto sa Sotto-Enrile Accord o ang kasunduan sa pagitan ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of National Defense at administrasyon ng UP noong 1989 na nagbabawal sa pagpasok ng militar sa loob ng mga kampus ng UP, ani dating Student Regent (SR) Kristina Conti. Iginiit naman ni Yunque na lilimitahan ng pamunuan ng UPV ang operasyon ng militar at hindi sila pahihintulutang tumungo sa mga lugar pang-akademiko sa kampus. The army will be limited to the construction site only and will have no contact with students in the academic areas, hence, student harassment is not possible, paliwanag niya. Gayunman, nararapat pa rin umanong mas bigyang-pansin ng pamunuan ng UPV sa sunod-sunod na kaso ng karahasan ng militar laban sa mga estudyante ng UP, lalo pat may pagtingin umano ang militar na may simpatya ang

erno ang itinakda nitong poverty threshold. Samantala, wala rin umanong aasahang tiyak at tunay na umento sa pasahod iyong mga kasalukuyan nang kumikita ng mas mataas sa P255. Bukod sa iba-iba ang antas at batayan ng produktibidad sa ibat ibang pagawaan, may-ari pa rin ng negosyo ang magtatakda ng karagdagang sahod, paliwanag ng EILER. Yung [PBP naman ay] nakasalalay sa generosity ng management. Alam naman natin na hindi magiging generous ang isang kumpanya. Kung tutuusin yung natanggap mong incentive nanggaling sa dugo at pawis mo, lugi ka pa, ani Soluta. Dahil hindi mandatoryo ang PBP, kumpanya pa rin ang magdedesisyon kung magbibigay ng dagdag na sahod, paliwanag niya. Sa halip na ibigay ang matagal nang hiling ng mga manggagawa para sa makabuluhang dagdag sahod, pinapaliit at pinapanatiling mababa ni Pangulong Aquino ang sahod ng mga manggagawa, pahayag ni Roger Soluta, pangkalahatang kalihim ng KMU, sa piket na isinagawa nila sa tapat ng DOLE noong Hulyo 9. Pinapawalang bisa din ng 2TWS ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga manggagawa sa mga may-ari ng kumpanya, ani Soluta. Tinatanggal ng 2TWS ang right to bargain collectively ng mga manggagawa, sapagkat solely management na lang ang magpapasya.

BALITA Miyerkules 18 Hulyo 2012

DI MAKATARUNGANG PASAHOD
Matagal na ang krisis na dinadanas ng aking pamilya dahil sa sahod na hindi sapat. Kahit na may unyon ang aming pabrika at may maayos na sahod, benepisyo, at karapatan, di pa rin ito sumasapat sa pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan ng aking pamilya, ani Reden Alcantara, na 15 taon ng nagtatrabaho bilang laboratory assistant sa isang kumpanya sa Timog Katagalugan. Hindi makabubuti ang ganitong sistema dahil isa ito sa mga neoliberal na palisiyang na makadayuhan, anti-manggagawa at mamamayan. Ang pinakamabuti, mag-unyon at sama-samang ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mga manggagawa upang makamit ang makabuluhang sahod, ani Alcantara. Hindi malilinlang ng gobyerno ang mga manggagawa sa panukalang bagong sistema na nasa anyo ng dagdag sahod, ani Soluta. Patuloy na bibitbitin ng mga manggagawa ang laban na ito sa nasyunal [na antas]. Patuloy naming igigiit ang makabuluhang dagdag na sahod na P125 acrossthe-board, ani Soluta.

PAYING LAST RESPECTS. Friends and relatives of Margarita Maita Gomez walk along a corridor clad with flowers as they visit her remains at La Funeraria Paz in Sucat, Paraaque on July 15. Rising to fame after winning the Miss Philippines-World title in 1967, Maita Gomez shocked the country when she chose to join the armed struggle over living the glamorous life of a beauty queen during the Marcos regime. Despite her return to mainstream society after Martial Law, Maita still held her advocacies, eventually founding and involving herself to various progressive groups like Gabriela, until succumbing to heart attack at age 65.

mga mag-aaral ng UP para sa mga rebelde, ani Conti. Nitong Hulyo lamang, personal umanong pinuntahan ng isang miyembro ng AFP ang magulang ng isang estudyante ng UPV upang pagsabihan ukol sa pagsali ng kanilang anak sa isang militanteng organisasyon, ani Conti. Aniya, may mga ulat din ang ilang mga mag-aaral na pinagsabihan sila ng kanilang mga guro sa klase ng National Service Training Program na huwag sumapi sa ilang mga progresibong organisasyon sa UPV. I think yung danger ng proyektong ito sa UP students ay surveillance, harassment and red-tagging, and vilification, ani Conti.

Hundreds of students walk out of classes to protest educ crisis

continued from page 3 from P4.45 billion to P4.16 billion, the university administration inked an agreement with real estate company Ayala Land Incorporated (ALI) for the establishment of the UP-AyalaLand Technohub, which now hosts several commercial establishments. This year, ALI is set to establish another commercial complex in the former site of the UP Integrated School along Katipunan Avenue. Meanwhile, a part of the shoreline in UP Visayas in Miagao, Iloilo, which was formerly used for research by the universitys College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, is in danger of becoming a resort, Arguelles said. This is the real state of the nation. We, the youth will stand to the call of our time. By next week, the youth from the universities and even high schools will launch protests condemning the idleness of [Aquinos] regime to give longterm solutions to the needs of his people, said Crisostomo.

President Benigno Aquino IIIs highly anticipated mining policy is as his administration describes the best compromise the government can afford to ensure environmental sustainability without gravely harming the mining industry, and consequently, the economy. [Executive Order (EO) 79]allows an extractive industry for national development without sacrificing the environmentit shows we can go for ecological conservation without stifling economic growth, says Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje in a press statement. However, the release of new policy drew flak from various environmental groups, local governments and peoples organizations, all of whom are quick to point out that instead of resolving the minFEATURES ing industrys dilemma, EO 79 seems to even aggravate the situMiyerkules ation.
18 Hulyo 2012 GRANTING FAVORS

EO 79 is primarily based on the provisions initially forwarded in the Philippine Mining Act (PMA) of 1995. Various groups have deemed the PMA controversial as it allows for the 100 percent foreign ownership of capital from mining activities while limiting the excise tax to only two percent. Under the PMA, mining companies can also apply for permits which allow them to operate in a maximum area of 324,000 hectares. As a result, as of March 2011, the government has approved 785 mining agreements coveringthree percent of the countrys total land area, according to the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC). To address the governments perceived revenue loss, amendments in the new EO include the increase of excise tax from its current two percent rate to more than five percent, and the imposition of a five percent royalty tax. Such rates are still considerably lower compared to countries like Indonesia and Australia, which charge 10 and 30 percent excise tax respectively. According to EO 79, the government will only grant exploration permits at present, while no new extraction permits will be granted until new laws for revenue sharing are put into place. However, the 771 permits issued for largescale mining operations issued prior to July 6 are still considered valid, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Large-scale mining companies may apply for five types of permits. Unlike the other permits which allow the extraction, utilization and transport of minerals, the exploration permit only allows mineral exploration activities. The continued issuance of exploration permits will only serve as a cover-up to continue a modicum of extractive activities, says Frances Quimpo, secretary-general of Kalikasan Partylist. These permits can easily be upgraded

to allow extraction in the future, Quimpo explains. In fact, the new EO has even made the permit application easier, as Environmental Compliance Certificates need not be secured when applying for exploration permits. With the use of the programmatic environmental impact assessment (PEIS), the new policy also allows companies to conduct mining operations on whole areas instead of on a by project basis. This translates to lesser involvement from the local government units (LGUs), as program consultations under the PEIS are deliberated on a regional level, says Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan Peoples Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE). Also, as the EO mandates LGUs to confine themselves only to the reasonable limitations on mining activitiesthat are consistent with national laws and regulations, ordinances and resolutions set by LGUs to impose mining moratoriums may be disregarded, Bautista explains. As of March 2011, a total of 16 cities and provinces have mining moratoriums.

DESTROYING LIVELIHOOD

Even the livelihood of communities with small-scale miners is at a losing end, with the new EO instituting stricter guidelines for small-scale mining (SSM) operations. The Aquino government has placed these guidelines as it attributes most mining accidents to SSM activities, explaining that largescale companies are more equipped to prevent and reverse environmental damage than SSM, according to Kalikasan-PNE. Under the new EO, SSM operations sites shall only be allowed within declared Peoples SSM Areas. Areas for SSM are limited while foreign largescale players are given more areas for the expansion of their operations, says Quimpo. SSM operations have also been strictly prohibited to use mercury to extract

minerals. However, since no new technology is provided to help improve SSM operations, miners may still resort to using mercury, says Bautista. Such directive, in turn, actually pushes for more environmentally harmful large scale mining operations such as the open pit mining method and submarine mine tailing disposal, Bautista explains. In many mining accidents, the role played by large-scale mining activities is downplayed, according to CEC. For instance, small-scale miners were largely blamed for the Pantukan landslide in January 2012, with authorities ignoring the possible role of largescale mining firms such as Russel Mining and Minerals Inc. and Nationwide Development Corporation in the incident. To ensure that SSM operators will comply to the new Mining EO, Aquino created the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), an interagency forum composed of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and Economic Development Cabinet clusters. The MICC may seek the assistance of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure strict compliance. With the MICCs power to use force, armed assaults against communities may be considered legal, says Alliance of Concerned Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio. In fact, increased militarization is already observed in provinces with strong opposition against mining. According to CEC, nine environmental defenders were killed from November 2010 to March 2012 alone.

PARADIGM SHIFT

The governments very strategy of raising taxes to gain more revenue clearly underscores the states view of the mining industry: a potent sector that at-

tracts foreign investments rather than a key driver for national selfdevelopment. The relatively low tax rates imposed in the Philippines foster favorable conditions that can invite more foreign mining corporations to do business in the country, at the expense of displacing thousands of SSM from their livelihood. Recently, the leadership of both houses of Congress has even renewed talks for constitutional change to allow 100 percent foreign ownership of land and open the countrys vast mineral resources to multinational corporations. In the absence of domestic industries to process minerals that could be used for national industries, increased mining activities only assures the wholesale export of finite minerals, but not economic growth and development, says Quimpo. Hence, EO 79s major flaws stem from its inability to reorient the mining industry from its extractive nature to one that supports national development. While the EO invokes the language of national industrialization, it will operate in the framework of Aquinos economic strategy, the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan (PDP)a clear hypocrisy, Kalikasan Partylist argues, since the PDP embodies the very factors that designed the countrys mining industry to serve foreign interests through large-scale mining and favorable incentives for investors. Indeed, EO 79 fails to recognize that transforming the mining industry requires more than token environmental concessions and reforms in revenue sharing. At best, the mining EO merely quells popular dissent against the widescale plunder of the countrys mineral wealth without addressing the industrys core problems. For the government to create a policy that truly resolves the mining industrys dilemma, it must work outside its current paradigm, which puts premium to profits of foreign corporations over the environment and the people.

in Min rn alte

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Blaming the victim

Ronn Joshua C. Bautista

WE LIVE IN A WORLD GOVERNED BY ADULTS. FROM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TO THE OPERATIONS OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, GROWN-UPS WHO ARE PRESUMED TO HAVE SUPREME AUTHORITY AND MATURITY, TAKE CHARGE. YET EVERY GROWN-UP INDIVIDUAL WAS ONCE A CHILD, WHO EXPERIENCED PLAYING IN THE STREETS, CHASING BUTTERFLIES OR GETTING WOUNDED BY SHEER MISHAPBUT NEVER PRESUMED TO BE A COMMON CRIMINAL.
The media is rife with stories of crimes perpetrated by children, painting a generation of snatchers, law breakers and trouble makers. As such, legislators led by Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero filed House Bill 6052, which seeks to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12, effectively amending Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (JJWA). Authors of HB 6052 believe that the rapidly increasing incidence of juvenile delinquency nationwide since 2006, translates to the growing discernment of CICLs at an early age. In 2011, only 3,856 of 176,703 or 2.86 percent of crimes committed nationwide were perpetrated by children, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) data. We choose to highlight or sensationalize a few cases of GROWING BACKWARDS crimes committed by children to Filed in the House of Representajustify the premodern practice tives on June 4, 2012, HB 6052 is curof locking up children in prison rently pending deliberation in the cells says Kabataan Partylist Rep. Senate after approval by 214 legislaRaymond Palatino. tors from the Lower House, a clear PNP data also show that 1,734 of majority over the 9 votes that opthe 3,856 or 44 percent of juvenile posed its passage. cases nationwide are theft a If enacted into a law, HB 6052 poverty crime. will be the second revision to the Nagnanakaw ang mga bata para countrys juvenile justice system may mga maiuwi silang pera sa (see sidebar 1). JJWA succeeded mga pamilya nila asserts Foronda. Ferdinand Marcos Presidential Decree Furthermore, the estimated 3.6 million (PD) 603, raising a childs minimum poverty-stricken children roaming age of criminal responsibility from the streets nationwide become 9 to 15. vulnerable pawns to criminal Child advocates worldwide syndicates, Foronda adds. commended the passage SIDEBAR 1: For instance, in of JJWA for its Quezon City last year, JUVENILE LAWS adherence to the the police rescued United Nations C o n v e n t i o n PD 603 (1974) A Marcos-era law that pre- 11 children who for the Rights sumes all CICLs above 9 to have acted with stole side mirrors discernment and therefore can be from passing of the Child legally prosecuted. vehicles along (UNCRC), which outlines RA 9344 (2006) A bill influenced by the UNCRC E. Rodriguez internationally which raised the minimum age of criminal Avenue, but were unable to cap-accepted responsibility from 9 to 15. ture the syndiprinciples that advance the HB 6052 Proposes to lower the criminal cate that pushed these CICLs into age from 15 to 12 due to rising rights and welfare stealing. The station juvenile participation of children. in crime rates. commander noted that Unlike PD 603, JJWA these children were experts in shuns detainment of Child in doing such jobs they could dismantle Conflict with the Law (CICLs) as the a side mirror in just two to three primary means to enforce juvenile seconds during traffic stops. justice and instead employs Hindi natin makuha ang mga alternative means of character pasimuno [ng mga krimen]kaya reinforcement (see sidebar 2), as mas madali [para sa gobyerno] na prescribed by the UNCRC. magkulong na lang ng mga bata, Supporters of HB 6052 argue says Foronda. that reducing the minimum age Such a case clearly illustrates for criminal liability is a timely and the very flaw of HB 6052, where the necessary policy move [to counter] juveniles age hardly matter in the children exploitation by criminal capture of the true perpetrators of elements and cite the increasing the crime. rate of child-perpetrated crimes Lowering the minimum age nationwide. Rep. Roilo Golez backs of criminal responsibility will not up this claim by mentioning statistics solve anything when it comes to in Paraaque where juvenile crime the crime situation in our country rates increased from 11 cases in 2006 Even if we set 12 as the minimum to 842 in 2010. age for criminal responsibility, According to Golez, the increasing criminal [elements] will only hire number of children younger than children below 12 years old in their 15 involved with criminal groups operations. We are not solving illustrate the exploitation of the anything, says Palatino. legal immunity of children below the The UNCRC makes no mention age of criminal responsibility. of a specific criminal age, delegating Still, Doan Foronda, a social the determination of domestic worker from the Department of criminal responsibility to signatory Social Welfare and Developmentcountries like the Philippines as National Capital Region refuses long as they consider the childs to accept the justifications of conduct based on his or her age and HB 6052s proponents, pointing maturity, as provided by Article 12 that majority of the CICLs the of the Convention. congressmen were quick to judge, Indeed, proponents of HB 6502 are not acting to their own will but clearly neglect the socio-economic manipulated by adults who have roots of crimes perpetrated by ill-intentions.

TAGGING THE CULPABLE

juveniles, that CICLs instead of being conscious criminals, are clear victims of the different social ills prevalent in the country. More so, lowering the criminal age does very little, if any, in addressing the issues brought by the rising number of juvenile delinquencies.

RESTORING RESPONSIBILITY

While parents have the primarily role in ensuring that children grow into productive members of society, the government which has the authority and means to mobilize resources for programs that enhance child development, is not absolved of culpability. We fail to see the epic failure of the state to respect the essential FEATURES human rights of our childrenWe desire and demand the punishment Miyerkules of children criminals but what 18 Hulyo about the punishment for the direct 2012 and indirect perpetrators of crimes against children? asks Palatino. Also, the staggeringly insufficient budget allocated by government to social services like education and health care in previous years, could not be more telling. For the longest time, Filipino children as the most vulnerable sector in our society have long been suffering from extreme poverty, hunger, homelessness among others. Short-term na solusyon lang ang paghuli sa mga bata, ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ay ang mga root causes, says Arlene Brosas, secretary general of child advocacy SIDEBAR 2: group Akap Bata. REFORMATIVE JUSTICE
CICLs below the age of 12 Child is absolved of all legal charges CICLs age 15 to 18 committing a minor crime without discernment Child is subjected to an intervention program where he is under constant supervision of a social worker. CICL age 15 to 18 committing a minor crime with discernment Child is subjected to a diversion program where he is bound by contract to be under supervision in a repository institution. CICL age 15 to 18 committing a heinous crime Child is presumed to have acted with discernment and may be legally prosecuted

As an alternative solution, child advocates assert that the government must instead strengthen the implementation of the JJWA and related laws that foster a more reformative approach in executing juvenile justice. In a country where government programs are rarely felt and justice rendered fast, children bear the brunt of the social system perpetrated by adults. For children are also citizens entitled with rights and social services, not merely passive recipients of failed policies and utter state neglect.

Olympian Challenges
IN TWO WEEKS, NATIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL BE SENDING DELEGATES TO THE 2012 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN LONDON. IT WILL BE A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION, TO UNIFY COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD IN THIS SPIRIT, AND TO TEST THE METTLE OF THE ATHLETES WHO WILL BE PARTICIPATING.

Anton Chua

OPINYON KULTURA BALITA Miyerkules Miyerkules 27 Hunyo 18 Hulyo Miyerkules 2012 2012 27 Hunyo 2012

The magnificent 200-hectare Olympic Park stands at the geographical center of the Olympics, where many new facilities have been constructed to prepare for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. It will be overlooked by the ArcelorMittal Orbit, a twisting, 115-meter-high sculpted mass of steel that is the largest piece of public art in Britain. Rounding out preparations for the London Games will be surface-to-air missile turrets mounted near the complex, as well as the services of a private security contractor, part of whose duties had to be filled out by the UK military because of a personnel shortage. Despite these enthusiastic preparations, however, they are all made for an event that has lost its meaning over the years. Once upon a time the Olympics were about supporting athleticism, and bringing peace through friendly competition. Now, this vision is gone, and the Games have been subtly repurposed to support greed and conflict between cultures.

THE HISTORICAL GAMES

The Olympic Games trace their roots to ancient Greece in around 776 BC, where city-states set aside time to lay down their arms and compete at the athletic level. The Games were of religious importance as well, with events marked with ritual sacrifices to the various Olympian gods. The games maintained their popularity throughout the sixth and fifth centuries BCE, until the rise of Roman culture led to a reduction of their importance that culminated in 393 AD when the

Roman emperor declared an end to pagan practices. The Olympics rose again in 1859, after the Greek War of Independence brought back interest to such a peace-loving sporting event. In 1890, however, a French nobleman founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which drafted such ideas as rotation of host city, four-year cycling among others which mark the modern Olympics. The first Games held under the IOC were those in 1896 at Athens. Since the 1896 Games, certain nations have had a clear dominance over the Olympics. These nations appear to be Western, economically powerful, and culturally influential. The United States has won 2,549 medals since it started attending the Games in 1896. Its athletes have acquired more gold medals than the total number of medals ever earned by Great Britain, fourth in the descending list of medal-winning nations, the top twelve of which all reside in Europe.

THE LOST OLYMPIAN PURPOSE

One of the characteristics of the ancient Games was the sacred truce, a truce that was held among hostile city-states for the duration of the Games. The Olympics no longer continued to symbolize peace in modern times, even as its supporters maintain that it does. After the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, the United States and many other allied nations boycotted the 1980

The athletic field, which should be an arena to showcase the physical prowess of individual competitors, has become the arena where international culture and economics collide, mirroring the bloodless new world war that has been waged with money and ideas rather than guns or bombs.

Moscow Olympics. In the next Games, the Soviet Union boycotted Los Angeles 1984 in response. Such an exchange of hostile gestures falls out of character for an event that once had a sacred truce associated with it. Even if the Games maintained their original purpose today, there is no longer a concrete war between nations. Now, the war is between cultures and economies, in a globalized world where the geographic and cultural separations between nations are fading. Globalization has visible effects on the Games. The athletic field, which should be an arena to showcase the physical prowess of individual competitors, has become the arena where international culture and economics collide, mirroring the bloodless new world war that has been waged with money and ideas rather than guns or bombs. With globalization comes migration, as seen in the various ethnicities of the athletes who participate. In the 2004 Athens Games, 30 members of the US Olympic team were born in other countries. Importation of foreign or mixed-race athletes into a countrys teams sends a message of devaluation of local talent, and somehow dampens the competition of nations that the Olympics stand for. Today, with official shoes and an official sports drink, the Olympics cannot distinguish themselves from other contests that are less about unity and more

about money or politics. They are no different from any other sporting event with a corporate logo emblazoned across its banners. Indeed, with so many competitions that are similarly commercialized and exposed in the media, the Olympics seem to be nothing unique, besides the fact that they come every four years.

THE RACE TO CHANGE

Times have changed, and continue to change at a breakneck pace. Commercialization runs rampant as corporations gain power over the consumer, through mass creation of needs and powerful brand advertising. Now is a time of relative peace between nations, but the cultural and financial conflict has risen to take the reins of war. In response to this change, the Olympics have become part of the problem they once sought to fix. They have been exploited for greedy marketing of products and national identities. Their execution is the product of billions of dollars of affluent spending, in a time where an economic recession is one of the central conflicts of society. They are upheld because they are now yet another tool for companies to exploit, from which nations might earn a quick buck in tourism and merchandise. For the Olympics to regain its meaning, it must go back to its roots, where the focus is not who wins but who plays, where nations dont fight against each other but fight alongside each other, unified in the competitive spirit. RDAA

The UP Cine Adarna theater was packed with an audience of around 800 indie fans and casual moviegoers on July 7 for the Philippine premiere of Emerson Reyes full-length film debut. The film, MNL 143, was disqualified from joining this years Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival after the film festivals organizing committee disagreed with the directors casting choices for the lead actors. Cinemalaya claims to be a film festival which fosters artistic freedom and an organization whose very existence seeks to

provide alternatives to traditional contemporary filmmaking. However, the case of MNL 143 opens up a relevant question: how faithful can filmmakers remain to their own vision of independent filmmaking without risking their chances in the festival?

Making the Cut

ARTISTIC FREEDOM AND RECOGNITION IN THE CINEMALAYA FILM FEST
competence, suitability to the role, and greater audience acceptability, according to the letter sent by Cinemalaya Competition Chairperson Laurice Guillen Feleo to MNL 143 producer Nestor Abrogena. Creative control over the film was not part of the general agreement of the 8th Cinemalaya. But as the provider of the seed grants, Cinemalaya is in partnership with all the films participating in the event, hinting suggestions towards a more remarkable festival, Guillen explained. Reyes, however, did not comply with Cinemalayas casting recommendations, eventually resulting in his films disqualification from the festival. The films slot was consequently replaced by Gino M. Santoss The Animals. For certain Cinemalaya officials to insist on replacing the directors choices with their own [cannot] be countenanced because it strikes at the core of the filmmakers freedom to pursue his original artistic vision, according to UP Film Institutes statement on the issue. Cinemalaya was envisioned as a track for beginning filmmakers by providing them with the freedom to employ their artistry in their craft. Should the festival committee insist on intruding into artists creative processes, Cinemalaya will no longer be pushing for a free Philippine cinema.

DIRECTORS CUT
As an independent filmmaker, Reyes has the artistic license to meld his film in what he thinks is best. MNL 143 promises to be nothing like a stereotypical indie film with high contrast, low saturation, and shaky camera shots that unabashedly exploit images of third-world poverty. In one sequence, the film romanticizes the Metro by showcasing in full colors the main character Ramils last trip as an FX driver around Metro Manila. He plans to return abroad as an OFW after five years of hopelessly searching around Manila for Mila, a woman he left behind when he left the country to work abroad. The film explores the concept of space in the context of the Filipino urban experience. Filipino commuters grudgingly share the limited space of public vehicles every day, providing involuntary contact among strangers, and making themselves accidental characters in each others stories. The fragments of the passengers lives, overheard conversations, silent tears, and hypocrisies all define the social setting, allowing Ramiland the audienceto take a wider look at the reality outside the cramped space of the FX. Romantic films typically feature an attractive, young couple as lead actors. In MNL 143, Reyes attempts to go against this expectation by casting Paule and Viado in what was supposed to be realistic love story. This casting decision is central to the films message: that feelings of longing and heartbreak is a universal human experience, regardless of social class or even physical appearance. In a third world city, romantic quests like that of Ramils may seem to be the least of the peoples priorities. However, tales of romance remain popular, especially among people looking

EDITORS CUT
Already in its 8th year, Cinemalaya has attracted aspiring filmmakers through its reputation of encouraging freely conceptualized films by local filmmakers. Every year, 10 film projects are chosen, funded with a seed grant of P500, 000 and allotted 12 months to be completed. Early this year, Cinemalaya made headlines because of its selection c o m m i t t e e s objection to Reyes preferred actors for the lead roles. The committee did not favor the casting of a c t o r s Alan Paule and Joy Viado, believing that these actors do not suit the characters of the film. The basis of our interest in casting is that we want

for escape from their harsh everyday realities. The films romantic tone contrasts sharply with the bleak city as its backdrop. However MNL 143s skilfully edited highly saturated composition presented an unnaturally fantastic take of Metro Manila. By distorting reality, MNL 143 seems a form of escape. The directors original vision in his material and cast were evidently unheeded by Cinemalaya.

FINAL CUT
Originally intended to be a nonprofit, non-government organization that supports the artistic growth of Philippine independent cinema, Cinemalaya seems determined to pull in audiences this year. Besides the disqualification of MNL 143 over casting choices, prominent actors like Dennis Trillo, Iza Calzado, Coco Martin, and JM de Guzman also grace this years line-up of films. This issue may have played a role when film critic Francis Joseph Cruz resigned from the Cinemalaya selection committee in February, saying he can no longer work for a system he no longer believes in. The film festival is funded by Cinemalaya Foundation Chairperson Antonio Cojuangco, Jr. with the support of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Econolink Investments, Inc. Its films are entered into different international film competitions such as the Cannes Film Festival. While Cinemalaya claims to encourage filmmakers artistic freedoms, profit remains an important aspect in this business. The relative unpopularity of independent films and the lack of venues willing to risk showing these films inevitably lead to limiting the films access to Metro Manila and select urban centers. While most independent films point their lenses at marginalized sectors of the Philippines that are hardly explored by mainstream cinema, the core audience of independent films are still middle class academicians, critics, and the cultured elite. Local mainstream cinemas are flooded with romantic comedies and fantasies that are specifically designed for a transitory entertainment purpose. At this age of an audience-oriented cinema, there is a dire need for independent films in the country that takes risks in creating innovative art, a far cry from the profit-based mainstream cinema. Cinemalaya must uphold this purpose.
Screencaps at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1oWIYRoaEE

KULTURA Miyerkules BALITA 18 Hulyo 2012 Miyerkules 27 Hunyo 2012

KINAKAPOS
Ulol. Tila pinutakte na ang araw ko ng mahiwagang salitang ito, mula sa aking paglalakad palabas ng bahay hanggang sa pagsusulat ko ng aking unang kolum. Madalas ko mang bitawan ang salitang ito, dala ng bisyo o sadyang kinapos na lamang ng pambalik insulto, hindi ko pa rin talaga alam kung ano ang totoong ibig sabihin ng salitang ito o kung saan ito nanggaling. Tulad ng lahat ng responsableng mag-aaral, naghanap ako ng kahulugan nito sa internet. Aking napag-alaman na ang kahulugan pala ng ulol ay tanga, hibang, nababaliw o nasisiraan ng ulo. Dagdag pa, kalimitan daw itong ginagamit na pantukoy sa mga asong may rabies. Isa sa mga nakita kong pakaOPINYON hulugan, may larawan pa ng asong BALITA Miyerkules bumubula ang bibig habang nang18 Hulyo Miyerkules hahabol ng mga bata. 2012 27 Hunyo Ulol, sabi ng nanay ko. Ang 2012 lambing-lambing talaga niya, pinabaunan pa ako ng matatamis na salita habang palabas ako ng bahay. Nag-aaral pa daw ba talaga ako, o kumekerengkeng na lang. Bakit daw ang dalas ng pamamalagi ko sa opisina habang wala naman akong napapala sa pagsusulat ko para sa diyaryo. Ni hindi pa daw sapat na baon ang nakukuha kong honorarium. Siguro nga may sira na ang ulo ko dahil nilayasan ko lang siya at pinagbagsakan ng pintuan. Ulol, sabi ng isang estudyante sa mga aktibistang nagyayaya sa kanilang lumabas sa silid-aralan upang sumama sa isang protesta. Natawa naman ang buong klase, tila pagsang-ayon sa kanyang sentimiyento. Bakit nga naman sila lalabas ng kanilang silid-aralan? Bukod sa mamarkahan silang absent, hindi nila maririnig ang makabuluhang leksyon na inina, maaaring makapagsiwalat ng mga natatanging kontradiksyon at kabalintunaan. Sapagkat hindi ito simpleng pasaring o insulto, isa itong diagnosis, sandig sa namamayaning pamantayan ng katinuan ng sinumang sumasambit nito. Kung matino kang estudyante, hindi ka dapat lumiliban sa klase kung walang matinong dahilan, tulad ng masamang panahon at pagkakasakit. Marapat ding magpakita ka ng utang na loob sa pamahalaan dahil sila ang nagpapaaral sa iyo, at taliwas dito ang pagsama sa mga kilos-protesta. Kung matino kang anak, dapat umuuwi ka sa bahay sa tamang oras at naghahanapbuhay na sa tamang edad. Lantad na lantad ang mga pamantayan ng maayos na pamumuhay kaya naman baliw na lang talaga ang hindi susunod sa mga ito. Mas marapat tayong matakot sa mga pamantayang ito at sa mga taong nagtatakda sa kanila. Bukod sa pagpapalaganap ng ilusyon ng kalayaan, pag-unlad at pagbabago na kaakibat diumano ng katinuan, tahasan nitong ikinukubli ang katotohanang itinakda ito upang magsilbing mekanismo ng pagdidisiplina sa lipunan. Sa paghahari ng ganitong pamantayan, mas nanaisin ko na lang sigurong maging isa sa mga hibang.

LAKAS TAMA

Paano nga ba maglaho?

May mga pagkakataon sa buhay kong ginusto ko na talagang magpatiwakal. Hindi ito katulad ng mga kaklase ko noong hayskul na naglalaslas, naduduwag at saka ibinabandera sa mga tao ang guhit ng namumuong dugo sa kanilang mga pulso. Pero hindi ko rin naman masasabing suicidal talaga ako. Siguro mahilig lang akong tumakas. Dalawang linggo na akong hindi pumapasok sa kahit alin sa mga klase ko; lagi akong naghahanap ng dahilan para lumiban. Nagising nang late (kahit na sa UP Village lang ako nakatira), walang homework (kahit na pwede namang i-cram ang isang 2-page essay), patay na si Dolphy (kahit hindi naman kami magkakilala). Sa tingin ko nagsumbong si Lolo sa nanay ko, kaya pinagpaliwanag ako ni Mama kung bakit madalas akong napipirmi sa bahay. Wala namang silbi kung magsisinungaling, kaya inamin ko na lang: wala na talaga akong ganang mag-aral. Naiintindihan iyon ni Mama. Tatlong beses siyang nag-shift bago napunta sa Architecture. Alam niyang gusto kong lumipat sa CAL o sa FA, pero tinatamad ako kahit sa pag-asikaso ng mga papeles. Hindi ka ba masaya sa Kule? tanong niya. Kuwento niya kasi, parehong good at bad influence ang pagkakaroon niya ng malalapit na orgmates noon. Good, kasi sila ang dahilan kaya nagkaroon siya ng lakas ng loob ng mag-shift sa Arki. Bad, kasi inabot siya ng walong taong pagtitiis sa kolehiyo. Ayos lang, sabi ko. Sa isang banda, parang nasusulyapan ko ang buhay ng isang buong pamilya kapag nagpi-presswork ako sa Kule tuwing weekend. May editor na parang nanay kapag tinatawag ang buong pangalan ng writer niya. May dalawang illustrator na parang magkapatid kung magtalo kung sino ang dapat unang maligo. May palitan pa ng, Ikaw ang mauna, ikaw ang mas matanda! at Ikaw dapat, mas mabaho ka! Pero may kanya-kanya ring problemat isyu sa buhay ang mga taga-Kule, at ayoko nang hilahin pa sila sa sariling kong existential na kaartehan. Sabi nga ng isa, Maybe we should all just perish. Siguro nga. Siguro nga dapat na lang talagang maglaho para tuluyan na akong mabingi sa hindi matapos-tapos na gera sa kokote ko. Ayaw kong subukan ang overdose sa pill o droga marami na akong nasaksihang kaso ng OD at marami sa kanila ang nagigising pat bumabalik sa mundo ng problema. Ayaw ko rin sa mga paraang mag-iiwan ng karumal-dumal na imahe sa utak ng nanay ko basag na bungo at kalas na balakang kung tatalon ako sa building, o di kaya maputlang mukhat lawlaw na dila kung magbibigti ako sa kwarto. Sa huli, aminado naman akong hindi sapat ang angas at tapang ko para magpakamatay. Kaya ko rin kayang magsulat tungkol dito, kaya handa akong magbahagi sa mga taong nadadako sa bahaging ito ng dyaryo. Alam kong maraming tao ang handang makipagpalit ng buhay sa akin, ang handang problemahin ang kawalan ng gana sa pag-aaral kaysa kawalan ng makakain sa araw-araw. Alam kong malaking kabalintunaan na kahit naniniwala akong karapatan ang edukasyon, tinatamad na lang talaga akong mag-aral. Sa mga pagkakataong tulad nito, ipinagpapasalamat kong naimbento ang yosi.

Sapagkat hindi ito simpleng pasaring o insulto, isa itong diagnosis

handa ng kanilang propesor. Siguro nga may sira ang ulo ng mga aktibistang ito dahil kahit hindi sila pumapasok sa klase, humihingi sila ng dagdag budget sa edukasyon. Apat na letra, dalawang pantig, sanlaksang pakahulugan. Sa kanyang iksi, sadyang madaling bitawan at tila dumudulas sa bibig. Ngunit kapag napakawalan

BAKIT WALA PA RIN SI SUPERMAN?

Totoo ba talagang tao si Superman? Kung oo, nasaan na siya? Bakit hindi pa rin siya lumalabas para ipagtanggol tayo sa masasama? Tanong ko rin yan sa sarili ko mula nung maliit pa ako hanggang sa tumanda ako at makilala ko siya. Oo, buhay na buhay siya at nagtatrabaho pa rin siya bilang reporter sa isang pahayagan. Hindi ko na ipapaliwanag kung pano, kailan o saan ko siya nakilala basta noong minsang nagkakwentuhan kami at naitanong ko yan sa kanya, hindi ko naintindihan agad ang sagot niya. sitwasyon ng tao. Ang unang rason niya kung bakit hindi siya lumalabas bilang Superman ay baka masyadong dumepende ang mga tao sa kanya, tipong hindi na agad reresponde ang mga pulis o ang ambulansya dahil darating naman siya at ihahatid pa ang biktima sa ospital. Dagdag pa niya, kasunod ng paglabas niya bilang Superman ang paglitaw ng mga taong magkaka-interes sa kapangyarihan niya. Kabilang na rito ang mga nasa kapangyarihan na nanggigigil sa pagkakaroon ng higit pang kapangyarihan. Isang tanong din kung saang bansa ba siya dapat unang lumabas, dahil maaari itong tingnan ng ibang mga bansa bilang parte ng isang politikal na agenda. Sa kasalukuyan, nasa kamalayan na ng lahat na buhat si Superman sa Amerika bilang doon nanggaling ang unang mga tekstong bumabanggit sa kanya. Ngunit kung sa Pilipinas o sa ibang bansa man siya unang magpakita, maaaring isipin ng Amerika na bahagi siya ng isang proyektong nagtatangkang magdomina sa mundo. Maaari itong pagsiklaban ng mga gera, at bilang isang superhero na hindi maaaring pumili ng panig, kailangan niyang gumawa ng paraan upang matigil ang gera ngunit hinding-hindi niya magagawang walang masaktan sa mga sibilyan. Hindi naman daw ibig sabihin ng hindi niya paglitaw na hindi na kailangan ng mundo ng isang superhero o di kayay ayaw niya lamang gampanan ang tungkulin niya. Kung lagi na lamang siyang makikialam sa mga problema ng mundo, mawawalan na ng urge ang mga tao na magdesisyon at matuto sa kanilang mga pagkakamali. Namamangha nga daw siya sa mga tao dahil kahit na wala silang espesyal na kakayahan, kaya pa rin nilang maging superhero kung paanong ang isang maliit na tinig ay umaalingawngaw upang maging tinig ng isang lahi, kung paanong ang maliliit na gawain sa kanilang pagsasama-sama ay nagiging dakila, at kung paanong ang isang ordinaryong tao na may dakilang damdamin ay nagiging isang alamat. Isa lamang ang hamon na ipinapaabot niya sa mga makababasa ng akdang ito: ang gampanan ang tungkuling maging isang superhero sa sarili nilang paraan, tulad ng pagganap niya rito, hindi bilang Superman, kundi bilang isang mamamahayag. Sa pagtatapos ng maliit naming kwentuhan, lubos na tumaas ang respeto ko para sa kanya. Papaalis na naman si Superman para takbuhin ang bagong balitang i-cocover niya.

Namamangha nga siya sa mga tao dahil kahit na wala silang espesyal na kakayahan, kaya pa rin nilang maging superhero

Matagal niya rin daw itong pinag-isipan bago siya nakapagdesisyong huwag ipaalam sa mga tao ang tunay niyang katauhan. Mahirap daw kasing timbangin kung ang paglabas niya ba ay mas makatutulong o makakapagpalala pa sa

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Eksenang Peyups
ZE BALIW-BALIWAN EDISHUN
Kumusta naman ang linggo niyo mga ateeeey? NKKLK! Pakipulot naman ang puso ko after that mini heart attack na dulot ng game ng UP Maroons keriii?! Kaloka talaga! Baliw-baliwan #1 Cuuuuhrazy!!! Nagpadala na naman (oo, na naman) si Kuya Unknown kay Kuluterang maputi ng rose na maputi rin! Ka-inggit to the bones!!! Sino ba si koya? After mag-imbestiga ng mga chismoterang Kulutera, ito ang nahita naming cluez: moreno (not German Moreno a), mediumbuilt at naka-cap. Si Kuya Guard ba ito?! Charaught! Baliw-baliwan #2 Sino itey na koyang from machikang college na lutang to the max ang brains one afternoon. Gumana ang kanyang awkwardness/bitchy mode, bigla na lang nagsabi sa kanyang mga nasasalubong to this effect: Sige alis na kayo, puntahan niyo na mga klase niyo Ay koya, sino ka sa buhay ko?! Kalurkey! Baliw-baliwan #3 Sinetch itech na ilang beses natamaan ng bola sa ulo ng mga berdeng manlalaro? How green of them! Nang tanungin ng mga nakatabing puto seko ng okay ka lang? itong si girlash ay umemote ng Sino ako? Ayyyy. Iba si girl! Umeksena raw ba? Baliw to the nth level! Baliw-baliwan #4 Remember si koyang naghahanap ng majojorder na fudams sa website ni Kenny the singer Rogers? Ay te, may isa namang soupy moment ang bruha! Abay mag-soliloquy (o ha, kaya kong i-spell!) ba naman ng, I wanna eat spaghetti with basil leaves. Bah-sil leaves daw o! As in Basil Valdez! Kalokaaa, may fetish yata sa mga songers na tanders! Tekaaa a. Pupulutin ko muna ang utak ko sa floor. Jusko. Nakakabaliw palang magkaroon ng eyes and ears everywhere.

ANONG MASASABI MO SA 2013 PROPOSED BUDGET NG DBM?

Yay. Worth the wait ang kule! Hehe. Medyo vague naman ng unang tanong. But well, kulang pa rin un. Hindi man lang pasok sa tres ung percentage. 2011-36480 Nice tumaas ang budget allocation for next year! Sana naman maramdaman namin ang epekto nito sa pamamagitan ng pagbaba ng tuition. 1126368 ec.ChE

SUMALI KA BA SA WALKOUT?
Oo. Di ako sumali last year, pero ngayon, kahit na mataas na yung budget allocation compared to the past years, talagan kulang parin. 1120863 oo,nag walk out ako pero nakakalungkot lang kasi parang wala ng pakialam yung mga estudyante. Hay. At ang saya, nagsulat na muli si delfin mercado!namiss ko siya! Haha. 1020098

COMMENTS
saan po napupunta yung mga issue na di kinukuha ng students? siguro better kung babawasan (kung di pwede alisin) ung binibigay sa dorms, since meron naman per college. yung sa page 13, sabi for 10 years of operations. baka di lahat pumayag na magbayad, dahil di na nila maaabutan. GB! 1026884#lerler hello. ang galing, consistent na may issue every week, pero parang nagiging magazine na ang kule. be professional. un lang. 1026884#lerler Nagbalik si Delfin Mercado! Im so happy for him, CMC na pala siya. :D I missed his articles. Feel ko tuloy magtravel from point A to B. Char lang! 2011-09*** wah.bbalik n b c d.mercado.namiss q ung article nya.mas ok xa ngaun,kumbaga tamang timpla.sana mgsulat xa ulit.<3 q ungAT D DISTANCE nya. 08-78469 #bsCE OMG!!! Delfin Mercado bumalik ka na sa wakaaas! I miss you too. Journ din ako! Hahaha. Super kumpleto na talaga ang Kul! Thanks Kul dahil bumalik na si Delfin. :-) 201065868 Lavilyn, BA JOURN Refreshing ang article ni delfin mercado na At A Distance. Good for him if his acads is doing well. Good for us kasi he graced kule with another great read. :) 1030057 welcome back Delfin! Sana magsulat

ka pa sa kule. Lupit mo! 0831556 I MISS YOU MORE DELFIN MERCADO! Haha. Thanks for writing again. Ang galing mo. Makikilala din kita someday. Haha. 0918644 yey! May column si delfin mercado. Nxt issue ulit. 10-79290 Buti naman nagparamdam na si Delfin Mercado. Sana tuloy-tuloy na yan. 201142809 #math Finally! An article of Delfin Mercado! Been waiting for this! And yes, we really miss you! I hope you can write a column regularly. More power to everyone at Kule! :) 11-07217 BS.ChE Ang ganda ng sinulat ni Delfin Mercado. Damang dama ko lang :) 0851451 Infernez ganda ng layout. Kaya lang parang nasobrahan sa design. College paper po ang Kule. Sana magmukhang mapagkakatiwalaan. Hindi katanggap-tanggap yung paggamit ng hand fonts sa editorial page. Pero bet ko yung asterisks sa end ng articles ha. -200501587 Wow, nagsulat n uli ng article si Delfin Mercado. Nakakatuwa naman. Nagkaroon uli ako ng rason para kumuha at mag-uwi ng sarili kong copy ng Kul. Thanksies :D 200816849 Hi Kule! Binabati ko kayo sa mahusay na pagsulat ng mga artikulo! Sana lang, may sagot yung mga nakaraang puzzle sa ss. na Kule! Hirap e. Hihi. 20118MCDO. LOL

AIESEC UPDS JUAN YOUTH

JUANdering how to spend your July 21st? Well, theres only JUAN thing to do! Attend the biggest and most exciting volunteer event that ever hit UP Diliman: Juan Youth! Juan Youth, organized by AIESEC UPD, is UP Dilimans official entry to Garniers Get Active Campus Challenge. The project aims to empower all facets of youthprivileged or otherwise. It gives a chance for both high school and college students to spend time with underprivileged children. For more details, feel freeto visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/JuanYouth2012 or contact Jeh Hofilena (09273892023).

UP EMC2 FORUM ON STEEL AND MINING NATIONAL INDUSTRIALIZATION

The UP EMC2 Fraternity, along with the National Economic Protectionism Association invites you to the first of its series of fora entitled Steel and Mining National Industrialization on July 26 at the College of Engineering Theatre from 1-5 pm. The fora series aim to build a framework of economic independence and educate fellow students to take part in formulating concrete step towards economic development through national industrialization. For more information, please contact Fra at 09175813018 or email f.viray13@gmail.com

OPINYON Miyerkules 18 Hulyo 2012

LORDEI N NIGHT

SAGUTAN
To 200716399: the ph govt already paid its debt to the imf in 2006. To 2012-70572 and 2012-35115: correct. bsp is banned from funding devt. projects. in this case, i advise people to read more business news. :) -201021023

Help raise funds to assist friends and family of fellow UP student Lordei Hina in paying her hospital bills. Lordei n Night, a fund raising and cultural event that includes various activities such as bazaar and food sale, will be held on July 20 at the CHE Atrium and Tearoom. There will also be performances featuring Bibeth Orteza, John Lesaca, UP Streetdance, UP Music Circle, KARATULA and more beginning at 7 pm. Dinner and artwork sale tickets are sold at P3000, while cake raffle entries are sold at P50. For inquiries, contact Krissy Conti at 09298207000 or Eds Gabral at 09273841392.

PASONA: A SEVEN DAY COUNTDOWN TO THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

18: Aklas (Alternatibong Klase) sa AS-CAL, 7 am-5pm : Solidarity for human rights (forum and candlelighting), 4pm & 5:30pm 19: Contend forum, CM Recto 8:30am-12nn SonART: workshops, in front of AS 1-4pm Educ4allmarch (unity march & flash mob), around the Academic Oval 4 pm 20: Save our university (human chain along Katipunan Ave), UPIS 3 pm 21: Run against K-12 & contractualization, AS Steps 8 am : Quezon City Sttae of the Youth Address, Amoranto Hall 9am-12nn 23: Almusalang bayan, 7 am; Peoples SONA Program going to Commonwealth Ave Quezon Hall, 10 am

NEXT WEEKS QUESTIONS:

1. Pabor ka ba sa cha-cha? 2. Sa tingin mo, sino ang magiging susunod na Comedy King ng Pilipinas?

Key in KULE <space> MESSAGE <space> STUDENT NUMBER <required> NAME and COURSE (optional) and send to

Non-UP students must indicate any school, organizational or sectoral affiliation.

SONA

JOIN THE PEOPLES

07 / 23 / 2012