02 ago 07 opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga panunulay sa

02 Ago 07

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

Nº 07

news | 03Tugon ng mga militante sa SONA ni Arroyo:

“Walang tunay na pag-unlad”

features | 08

The PretendersRevealing the intentions behind corporate social responsibility

grapiks | 06

Silab ng Pag-aaklas

sipat sa kalagayan ng mga pamayanan sa up

Panunulay sa kawalang-katiyakanVictor Gregor Limon

Mistulang langib ang mga komunidad sa paligid ng unibersidad, inaam-pat ang pagdaloy ng

dugo sa nagnanaknak nang sugat ng pamantasan.

Mula sa unang pagkakatayo nito sa Maynila noong 1908, inilipat ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa 493-

ektaryang lupa sa Diliman noong dekada ‘40. Buhay na noon ang mga komunidad sa paligid ng kampus, gaya ng Krus na Ligas (KNL) at San Vicente ( SV ). Subalit makalipas ang 100 taon, makailang-ulit nang tinangkang iguho ng mga ham-balos ng demolisyon ang mga ba-rung-barong ng mga pinagkaitan ng lupa.

Hambalos sa mga komunidadLiban sa mga estudyante at kagu-

ruan, itinuturing ding bahagi ng UP Diliman (UPD) ang higit sa 50,000

residenteng naninirahan sa walong barangay ng komunidad sa kaligiran ng UPD: Barangay UP Campus, KNL, SV, Old Capitol Site, Botocan, Culiat, Vasra, at Pansol.

Bagamat kinikilala ng pamaha-laang-lungsod ng Quezon ang mga sariling lokal na pamahalaan ng mga pamayanang ito, may mga lupa ritong pag-aari ng UPD, ayon sa ad-ministrasyon ng UP. Kaya’t sa bawat kautusang ibinababa ng UPD ukol sa paninirahan, pangunahing nagiging biktima ang mga residente sa mga lugar na ito. sundan sa p.5

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.

4 ago 1997

BOR approves CPDPThe UP Board of Regents, during its 1,111th meeting last July 31, voted 8-1 in favor of the Commonwealth Property Development Project (CPDP). The CPDP aims to develop 98 hectares in the Commonwealth areas to raise additional budget for UP. The University expects to generate at least P5.5 billion, which is the minimum bid price, to be invested in a joint venture corporation known as the Commonwealth Property Development Corporation.

Speech disorder

PhilippineCollegian Ika-85 taon Blg. 07 Huwebes 02 Ago 07

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

Punong Patnugot / Jerrie M. Abella • KaPatnugot / Frank Lloyd Tiongson • tagaPamahalang Patnugot / Karl Fredrick M. Castro • Patnugot sa graPiKs / Ivan Bryan G. Reverente, Alanah M. Torralba • tagaPamahala ng Pinansiya / Melane A. Manalo • mga Kawani / Louise Vincent B. Amante, Piya C. Constantino, Alaysa Tagumpay E. Escandor, Paolo A. Gonzales, Candice Anne L. Reyes • 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 • telefax / 9818500 lokal 4522 • email / [email protected]

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

Grand plans overshadow

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Editoryal

This year’s state of the nation address (SONA) was perfectly sensible.

I t h a s d e l i v e r e d exactly what the people

expected – grandiose rhetoric and glittery promises that eluded the issues currently hounding the administration. As SONAs go, this one sanguinely rendered the affairs of an ailing regime. It left no room for assessment and focused instead on feeble plans for the future. The speech certain-ly merited 106 rounds of empty, obligatory applause.

With the unabated spate of political killings, which continues to draw broad criticisms from both local and foreign entities, and the widespread mistrust towards government due to rampant corruption and public skepticism regarding this administration’s legitimacy, it is perfectly prudent for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to center on infrastructure.

Most of the speech was devoted to the enumeration of various infrastructure projects the Arroyo administration initiated or plans on initiating. Arroyo has even deemed large-scale investments on infrastructure as a means of achieving national reconciliation. Such belief cannot be dismissed as naiveté under such occasion since consistency has elevated it to the norm, which often translates to ominous state policy.

As each project was pronounced, t h e p r e s i d e n t u n a b a s h e d l y acknowledged political allies from various regions in the country. The SONA, evidently, proved to be an opportune moment to express gratitude to local politicians who contributed to the machinery of the

administration during the recently concluded election season. There is, indeed, wisdom in acknowledg-ing allies whenever the moment presents itself. Apparently, Arroyo’s notion of national reconciliation lies in luring various elements in government under the administra-tion’s banner through the promise of hefty amounts for infrastructure projects.

The checklist for infrastructure projects was long enough to buffer the delusion of achieving “first world” status by 2020. For this purpose, Malacañang proposes a P1.227 trillion budget for 2008.

Surely, a stable economy can be achieved by constructing a multitude of airports, bridges, and roads for these will be strategi-cally located for the expediency of foreign investments. This has consistently been the paradigm of the Arroyo regime: to further enhance the Philippine landscape according to the needs of foreign multinational companies. Genuine agrarian reform must be relegated to an afterthought since it compro-mises the presence of large corpo-rations in need of vast hectares of arable land to construct industrial complexes. Accordingly, industries must remain under the monopoly of foreign entities or dependent on foreign capital.

Various groups are quick to pounce on the feeble promise of first world status in the near future. For one, an international credit rating agency doubts if the government has enough funds for the SONA infrastructure projects given the absence of significant improvements in tax collection and unrestrained corruption in govern-ment. This naturally leads to more government debt and, subsequent-ly, less spending on social services in order to cope with it.

Human infrastructure must, thus, be shoved aside. As Arroyo gears towards building roads and bridges, the funds for additional school buildings must give way. Appropriately, she has conceded to the fact that the number of private schools glaringly outnumbers the number of public schools. She concluded that the government should instead allocate funds for scholarships instead of construct-ing more schools.

This direction that the govern-ment is currently threading has been gradually manifesting itself in terms of decreasing state subsidy particularly to educa-tion. Testament to this is when the university itself succumbed to government neglect by raising its tuition rate.

The SONA clearly defines the Arroyo administration’s priorities. Grand plans overshadow small but necessary details such as social development, which has been

found in a dire state throughout the duration of her term.

To wrap the speech up, Arroyo forcefully declares her political will. In consonance with legisla-tions such as the Human Security Act and other repressive state policies, her SONA was punctuated with a declaration that she “will not stand idly by when anyone gets in the way of the national interest and tries to block the national vision.” This, in simplest terms, threatens opposition and reveals the fascistic nature of her regime.

The SONA has underlined the possibilities of sustainable devel-opment not because of the sheer genius of Arroyo’s pronounce-ments, but because of her tragic ineptitude to achieve it – thus, for this reason, prudence rests in abiding by the contrasting shadow of her speech, in heeding the call of clenched fists instead of hollow applause.

PhiliPPine Collegian | Huwebes 02 Ago 07

Jan Merck a. Maguddayao

The UP Lady Maroons chalked its fourth consecutive win as they beat the Adamson University Lady Falcons,

57-43, in the University Athletics As-sociation of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Basketball on July 26 at the Far Eastern University Gym.

The undefeated Lady Maroons, fresh from a 56-55 squeaker against defending champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses, surged ahead in the first quarter, 16-11, with a fluid motion offense and back-door plays.

The game slowed down in the second quarter when both UP and Adamson entered the pen-alty situation in the six-minute mark, and scores came mainly from the free throw line. The first half ended with UP still leading, 27-21.

The second half started with the Lady Maroons’ tight halfcourt defense, forcing the Lady Falcons to commit three shotclock viola-tions in the third quarter. The Lady Falcons managed to cut the lead off to three early in the quarter with center Jennifer Almazan’s inside scoring. Maroon forward Sihaya Sadorra, however, scored eight

points off daring dribble penetra-tions, with UP increasing its lead at the end of the quarter, 41-32.

In the final quarter, the Lady Maroons upped its lead to twenty through a fastbreak attack led by guard Anna Asistio and center Silvana Marasigan, while the Lady Falcons passed the ball exclusively to Almazan. The Maroons ended the game with a 57-43 win.

“ We never gave up and we just followed the system of coach (Eric Castro). That’s why we pulled

through,” said Sadorra, who led the Lady Maroons with

12 points.According to Sadorra,

the L ady Ma-roons are aiming to r ea ch t h i s year’s finals and

to win the championship. “ We had our chance last year (to reach the finals) and we will really play our best to win the championship.”

The Lady Maroons barely missed the finals last season as they lost to the UST Tigresses in the Final Four. The Lady Maroons is currently sharing the lead with the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.

The Lady Maroons’ next game is against the National University Lady Bulldogs on August 4 at the Adamson University Gym.

Undefeated Lady Maroons scorch Adamson Falcons

Victor Gregor Limon

Protesta ang isinalubong ng taumbayan sa ikapitong paghahayag ni Gloria Ar-royo ng kanyang taunang

State of the Nation Address (SONA) noong Hulyo 23.

Halos 10,000 katao mula sa sektor ng mga manggagawa, mag-sasaka, kababaihan at kabataan ang lumahok sa kilos-protestang inilunsad sa Commonwealth Av-enue sa tapat ng Ever Gotesco Mall. Mahigit 10,000 pulis naman ang itinalaga upang harangan ang mga daan patungong Batasang Pambansa, kung saan idinaos ang SONA .

Aabot sa 300 estudyante at guro ng UP Diliman ang lumahok sa pag-kilos, ayon sa University Student Council.

Ang SONA ang taunang ulat

Tugon ng mga militante sa SONA ni Arroyo:

“Walang tunay na pag-unlad”kung saan inilalahad ng pangulo ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng bansa at ang mga tunguhin para sa mga susunod na taon.

Imprastraktura para sa kaunlaran

Pangunahing itinampok ni Ar-royo sa kanyang talumpati ang patuloy umanong pagpapatayo ng mga daan, tulay, daungan, at paliparan, pagpapalawak ng sakop ng mga batayang serbisyo gaya ng edukasyon at kalusugan, at pag-supil sa “terorismo.”

“Hangarin kong mapabilang ang Pilipinas sa mayayamang bansa sa loob ng dalawampung taon,” aniya.

Binaybay din ni Arroyo ang mga naitapos na proyekto sa ilalim ng “super regions,” ang kanyang plano ng pagpapalakas sa mga industriya ng turismo, agribusiness, teknolo-hiya, at pamumuhunan sa apat na

pangunahing rehiyon sa bansa. Ngunit, ani Danilo Ramos, pan-

gkalahatang kalihim ng Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), hindi mga magsasakang Pilipino ang nakikinabang sa pag-unlad na sinasabi ni Arroyo dahil mga banyagang kumpanya at mga lokal na hasyenda ang nagmamay-ari sa industriya ng agrikultura.

Ayon pa kay Rafael Mariano, tagapangulo ng KMP, lalong lum-alala ang kalagayan ng agrikultura dahil sa patuloy na pagpapataas ng bahagdan ng mga produktong agri-kultural na iniluluwas ng bansa.

Ngayong taon, inaasahang aabot sa $3.5 hanggang $4 bilyong halaga ng mga produktong agrikultural ang iluluwas ng bansa, ayon sa Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka.

Samantala, kinuwestyon din ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran ang umano’y anim na milyong traba-hong nalikha sa nakaraang anim na

taong panunungkulan ni Arroyo. “Hindi na ako naniniwala sa-

pagkat laganap ang kontraktu-walisasyon, [kaya] walang ka-siguraduhan ang mga trabahong binabanggit ni Arroyo,” aniya.

Tinatayang 8.2 bilyong Pilipino ang kasalukuyang naghahanap-buhay bilang mga nars, kasambahay at manggagawa sa mga pagawaan sa Estados Unidos at mga bansa sa Asya. Ayon sa Gabriela, karamihan sa mga Pilipinong nangingibang-bansa ay mga babae.

Batayang serbisyoAyon kay Arroyo, bumuti rin ang

pagtugon ng pamahalaan sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan gaya ng trabaho, edukasyon at gamot.

Para sa edukasyon, maglalaan pa aniya ang pamahalaan ng P150 bilyon ngayong taon, na mas mataas

pagsusuma sa sOnaJan Merck a. Maguddayao

Muling naibulalas ang matatamis na pan-gako sa ika-pitong State of the Nation

Address (SONA) ni Gloria Arroyo. Magiging “First World country” raw ng Pilipinas sa darating na 2020, at ang kaniyang adminis-trasyon ang maglalatag umano

ng daan tungo roon. Ngunit may mga

ilang nagdududa sa kakayahan

ni Arroyo na tuparin ang

kaniyang mga ipinangako, at sa

kabila ng kaniyang mga mariringal na plano, patu-

loy pa ring binubulabog ng iba’t ibang isyu ang administrasyong Arroyo, kabilang dito ang ma-higit na 4 na milyong mamama-yang walang trabaho at mahigit 800 biktima ng mga pulitikal na pagpaslang.

Makatotohanan ba ang mga sinabi ni Gloria arroyo sa kanyang ika-pitong sOna?

“her regime is still in a state of denial. [s]he simply parroted the recommenda-tions of the supreme court summit in-stead of repudiating oplan bantay laya, which has really been the cause of the increasing deaths of activists and com-munity leaders… as long the long-standing commercialization policy of education is in place, no substantial changes in facili-ties and instruction can ever be expected. instead, we shall see more budget cuts and income-generating measures on state educational institutions.”-Terry Ridon, Student Regent

“[p]arang recycled lang ang speech niya na derived from past sonas. ang mga tinukoy lang niya dito ay infrastructure projects tulad ng more roads, airports, and railways. sinabi niyang nag-add ng budget sa education pero hindi ito substantial upang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng education sector. her proposed projects are just confidence-building measures para sa foreign investors and are not real invest-ments para sa taong bayan.”-Shahana Abdulwahid, Chairperson, University Student Council

“i’m not sure if it captures the true state of the nation. there was only a token reference to the most important issue that confronts her administration, which is the issue of human rights and summary ex-ecutions and killings. di ba nakakatawa yung idea na magiging first-world country daw tayo by 2020? it’s nice to think about it but that requires a good deal of good governance and credibility on the part of n UP Lady Maroon point guard Camille Florence Tomelden goes for the steal against

an Adamson Falcon in the July 26 game at the FEU gym. The Lady Maroons won, 57-43, clinching their fourth straight win in the 70th UAAP Women’s Basketball. c a n di c e a n n e r e y e s

battle for possession

sundan sa p.5

sundan sa p.5


John alliage Morales

Even as the Supreme Court (SC) found cause to issue a writ of habeas corpus, the Armed Forces of the

Philippines (AFP) failed to pres-ent abducted Jonas Joseph Burgos before the Court of Appeals (CA) on July 27, saying they do not have Burgos.

The SC ordered the military to produce Burgos and show cause why the military should detain him, and asked the CA to hear the writ as there were questions of facts that need to be tried in the appel-late court.

The respondents, including President and AFP Commander in Chief Gloria Arroyo and her Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, snubbed the hearing at the Court of Appeals (CA) and instead sent lawyers to testify for the military on the writ filed by Jonas’s mother Edita Burgos on July 16.

The respondents are Arroyo, Es-peron, Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, 7th Infantry Division head Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces chief Maj. Gen. Delfin Bangit, Escort and Security’s Batallion Lt. Col. Noel Clement, 56th Infantry Battalion (IB) Commanding Chief Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano and Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Calderon.

Assistant Solicitor General Am-paro Cabotaje-Tang, who repre-sented Arroyo and other high-ranking military, argued that the AFP could not present Burgos be-cause he is not in the military’s cus-tody, which was reiterated in their written reply to the petition.

Jonas was allegedly abducted by six armed men and a woman on April 28 in Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Military mum on abductionIn an interview with the Col-

legian, Jonas’ brother, JL Burgos, said the military denied they have Burgos when asked by the CA why they could not produce his brother and investigate who his abductors are.

Edita, meanwhile, said that while she was not surprised that the military did not show his son at the first CA hearing, the hearing was the first time the military swore under oath that they are not re-sponsible for any abduction case under Arroyo.

The military earlier tagged Burgos as a member of the New People’s Army. Commission on

Military fails to show Jonas before Ca

kristoffer C. Reyes

After hours of heated de-bate, the University Stu-dent Council (USC) made its stand on July 17 urging

the Board of Regents to junk the 300 percent tuition and other fee increases (TFI) and the revised Student Tuition and Financial As-sistance Program (STFAP).

Officers of the USC agreed that the TFI restricts students’ access to education while the new brack-etting scheme under the STFAP is flawed as it now charges students who used to enjoy free tuition. The USC also proposes a policy review of the TFI and STFAP, which de-

USC finally speaks

‘Junk Roman’s TFI and STFAP’termines the tuition rate students pay and the stipends they are en-titled to.

“Kung may pangangailangan sa budget, bakit sa estudyante ipapasa ang burden? Dahil nga state univer-sity tayo, ipaglaban natin ang state subsidy,” USC councilor Vanessa Faye Bolibol said.

She added that UP ’s policy on TFI would cause other universities’ tuition hike. “Kasi kung ‘yung UP nga nagtaas, pwede nilang sabihing pati sila dapat magtaas na rin.”

The USC also unanimously de-cided to join the Students and Parents Against the Rising Cost of Education in UP (SPARE -UP) an alliance calling for the repeal of the TFI and the STFAP, which SPARE-

UP regarded as grounds for govern-ment to cut UP ’s annual budget and for the intensification of commer-cialization of the university.

Since the imposition of the TFI and the restructured STFAP on this school year’s freshmen, the USC has not issued an official stand. Last year’s USC also moved against the TFI, as it called for greater state subsidy to the university and the education sector.

“Sa ngayon, USC ng UP Diliman na lang ang hindi pa nagbibigay ng stand sa TFI at STFAP,” said USC chairperson Shahana Abdulwahid as she opened the council’s delib-eration. “Ang kawalan ng tindig ng USC ay nangangahulugan ng

shared Cause

n Edita Burgos [top], mother of abducted agriculturist Jonas Burgos, talks to the kin of abducted activists who gathered outside the Court of Appeals on July 27 after attending the hearing on his son’s enforced disappearance. Elizabeth Calubad [bottom], mother and husband of missing activists Gabriel and Rogelio, gets emotional after delivering her tirade against the military, which human rights groups claim to be behind the wave of political killings and abductions. a l a n a h tor r a lba

Chelsea de Leon and Joan Cyril abello up Vista

Some courses offered by the Division of Humanities in UP Visayas-Tacloban Col-lege (UPV-TC)

have not yet started due to the lack of teachers.

According to Divi-sion of Humanities Chair Irma Tan, the college is still waiting for the completion of the permit to teach and other supporting documents of three teacher -applicants who were approved for appointment only recently by the UPV Academic Personnel and Fellowships Com-mittee (APFC). “ They will be able to start teaching once the rel-evant papers are in,” Tan said.

When asked whether the delayed start of classes was due to the dif-ficulty in finding new teachers or because of very few applicants, Prof. Tan said, “It happened last semester… We have to do these certain bureaucratic procedures. It’s a slow [process] but there’s

Lack of teachers delays start of classes

U.P. VIsaYas taCLOban COLLEGE

The UP Visayas Tacloban Col-lege (UPV-TC) in Leyte was es-tablished on July 2, 1973. One of the four colleges of UPV, the college now offers eight degree programs: BA Communication Arts, BS Accountancy, BS Man-agement, BASS Economics, BASS Political Science, BASS Psychology, BS Biology and BS Computer Science. It has around 1,000 undergraduate students this semester.

MGa ULat MULa sa IbanG YUnIt nG U.P.

nothing we can do about it.”To hire new teachers, division

chairs request authority to hire from UPV before the college can announce the vacancies. Teacher-applicants are initially assessed by the APFC in the division and college

levels before their ap-plications are sent to the UPV APFC for approval of appoint-ment and permit to teach.

Students enroled in courses such as C o m m u n i c a t i o n Skills (Comm) 1 and I3, Communication Arts 102 and Physical Education 1 and 2 ex-pressed their displea-sure over the delayed start of classes.

“San-o man daw la ito magkaklase? Naremember mo an 9-point agenda ni Sir Sabalo last year? Included ngadto an enhancement of ad-

ministrative efficiency. Hain man ito? [When do classes start? The nine-point agenda of [Dean Vir-gildo] Sabalo last year included the enhancement of administra-tive efficiency. Where is it now?]” a student currently enrolled in Comm 3 said.

Aside from being behind in their lessons, students also have to con-tend with concerns over transpor-tation costs and the time that could have been used for more purposeful activities. “Nangyari na ito actually last year ha amon. First semester gihap, Comm class gihap. Nagkak-lase na kami mga September na or last week sa August. [This actually happened to us last year, A Comm class also.]” the Comm student added.

Other courses also started be-hind schedule, such as some classes in Humanities 1, which started only on the first week of July, and Eco-nomics 101, on July 16.

A number of faculty members in the college are also on leave this semester or have resigned.

cOntInued On p.11cOntInued On p.11

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umano ng P29 bilyon kaysa na-karaang taon. Mas marami rin umanong mga silid-aralan ang naipatayo noong nakaraang taon, habang tig-iisa na ng aklat ng mga mag-aaral ngayon, paliwanag ni Arroyo.

Dagdag pa ni Arroyo, pupunan ng pamahalaan ang kakulangan sa mga pampublikong paaralan sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng pa-mimigay ngayong taon ng 600,000 scholarship sa mga pribadong paaralan. May 50,000 guro rin aniya ang nabigyan ng hanapbuhay.

Ngunit, ani Raymond Palatino, pangulo ng Kabataan Party, du-maranas pa rin ng “underinvest-ment” ang sektor ng edukasyon kung titingnan ang mungkahing batayan na 16 porsyento na dapat ilaan para sa sektor. Aniya, kung tu-

Walang tunay mUl A P.2

whoever is going to run these programs.”-Prof. Emmanuel Esguerra, School of Economics

“hindi naman masama ang mga prom-ises ni gMa sa sona niya, it’s just that she has to address the controversies na pinu-pukol sa kaniya instead na takasan niya. it’s nice for her to aim na magiging first-world country tayo by 2020, actually we can reach that goal, as long as magkaroon talaga tayo ng genuine unity at huwag lang iasa lahat kay gloria ang mga problema ng bansa.”-Ricardo Lopez, student, College of Arts and Letters

“if she looked back in her first sona, she promised a ten-point economic agenda and that she will set an ethical and moral leadership pero nasaan na yung mga pro-grams niyang iyon? according to a pulse asia survey, 60% of Filipinos observed this year’s sona but 55% out of 60 did not react or comment about the sona… if majority of Filipinos are indifferent about the sona, ceremonial na lang ang speech na ito at wala nang significance.”-Prof. Prospero de Vera, National College of Public Ad-ministration and Governance

Bumagay ba kay arroyo ang suot niyang pulang terno noong sOna?

“the whole ensemble is very simple. it’s an empire cut, a-line terno [with] minimal accessories like stud earrings and a bangle bracelet, while embellishments were con-centrated only on the upper part of the ter-no. unlike in her past sonas where subdued yung color ng terno niya at mas detailed yung jewelry, her terno emphasized on the color which is red, which signified confi-dence or authority. the terno draped well to her body and it contoured her body in such a way that it made her stand-out.”-Ms. Christine Benet, Clothing Technology instructor, College of Home Economics

“the one-piece monochromatic red gown she wore didn’t flatter her petite figure… she should have worn something that will accentuate an asset of her body that will serve as the focal point, instead of the whole figure itself.”- Vianka Amurao, Clothing Technology Representative, College of Home Economics Student Council

Pagsusuma mUl A P.2

“Makataong” demolisyon umano ang lunas sa suliranin ng “campus squatting,” ayon sa UPD Policy on Squatters on Campus” na binuo ng Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA) noong nakaraang taon. Subalit ka-katwang sa pakikipagnegosasyon sa mga apektadong residente, hindi kasama ang pagbibigay ng relo-kasyon sa mga hindi empleyado ng UP.

Ayon sa administrasyon, hindi kasama ang mga pampublikong paaralan tulad ng UP sa Lina Law na nagtatakda ng pagbibigay-relo-kasyon sa sinumang apektado ng anumang demolisyong isasagawa ng pamahalaan. “UP is a learning institution, not a charitable [foun-dation],” ani dating VCCA Ida May La’O noong kanyang termino.

Bagamat pansamantalang pina-hihintulutang manatili sa kampus,

ang mga residente ng komunidad ay itinuturing pa ring “informal settlers” ng administrasyon. Liban sa mga residente ng mga pabahay sa UP tulad ng UP BLISS at UP Village, walang kontrata ang mga residente ng walong barangay para opisyal na manirahan sa lupang pag-aari ng UPD.

Ayon pa kay Special Police Cap-tain Ruben Villaluna, pinuno ng Task Force Squatting, Comunity Housing, and Utilities, anumang oras na mangailangan ang UP ng lupa para sa mga proyekto nito, maaaring mapaalis ang mga residente kahit walang tiyak na relokasyon.

salanta ng demolisyonNgayong taon lamang, higit sa

1,500 pamilya sa mga komunidad ng Ricarte, Palaris, at Dagohoy (RI-PADA) ang nanganganib mapaalis dahil sa nakaambang proyekto sa pagpapalawak ng Circumferential Road 5 (C5) ng Metro Manila Devel-opment Authority (MMDA).

Mariing tinutulan ng mga ape-ktadong residente ang proyekto noong una itong maiparating sa kanila noong Mayo. Iginiit nila ang karapatang magkaroon ng tirahan at mabigyan ng maayos na relokasyon pagkatapos ng demolisyon.

Paliwanag ni Kapitana Isabelita Gravides ng Brgy. UP, hindi ma-linaw ang mga detalye ng proyekto, gaya ng lawak ng magiging pagpa-palapad ng kalsada at bilang ng pamilyang maaaring masalanta. Bahagi ng Brgy. UP, pinakamal-aking pamayanan sa komunidad ang RIPADA .

Isang kumite na bubuuin ng Stu-dent Regent, UPD Chancellor, ilang miyembro ng Board of Regents, at

ng UPD University Student Council (USC), ang magsasagawa pa ng negosasyon kasama ang MMDA hinggil sa isyu. Walang kinatawan dito ang mismong apektadong komunidad.

Ilang araw lamang matapos ang kilos-protestang isinagawa ng mga residente ng RIPADA , nagkaroon naman ng demolisyon sa Pook Amorsolo. Ani All- UP Workers Union Vice President Noli Anoos, isinagawa ang demolisyon sa Amor-solo upang gawing relokasyon ng mga maaapektuhang residente ng demolisyon sa RIPADA .

Walang puwang Aminado si Gravides na bagaman

ang pangunahing hiling ng mga pi-nuno ng komunidad ay ipagkaloob sa mga residente ang lupang kina-tatayuan ng kanilang mga pama-yanan, tila malayong sumang-ayon dito ang administrasyon.

Ani Gravides, sana ay magbigay ang UP ng relokasyon sa lahat ng apektado ng anumang demolisyon, empleyado man ng UP o hindi. “ Walang problema sa mga develop-ment projects ng administrasyon, pero huwag sana[ng] maiwan [ang komunidad] sa sinasabing pag-unlad ng UP,” aniya.

Subalit kung hindi pa rin ito magagawa, hiling ng mga residente na magkaroon ng mas madalas na ugnayan sa pagitan ng administra-syon at ng mga lider ng komunidad para makapaghanda sa anumang demolisyon. Nauunawaan naman umano ng mga residente na may mga paglalaanang proyekto ang UP sa kanyang mga lupa at bukas sila sa anumang pag-uusap, dagdag ni Gravides.

Sinusuportahan naman ni UPD

Panunulay sa kawalang-katiyakanMula sa p.1

tuusin, nadaragdagan lamang ang pondo para sa edukasyon upang umayon sa tumataas na halaga ng mga bilihin.

Dagdag ni Palatino, pagpapagawa pa rin ng mas maraming pampub-likong paaralan sa halip na pa-mimigay ng scholarship ang pang-matagalang solusyon sa problema sa edukasyon. Hindi rin umano ini-hayag ni Arroyo ang dumadausdos na kahusayan ng mga estudyante sa agham at matematika, malaking bilang ng mga hindi nakakapag-tapos ng pag-aaral, at ang patuloy na pagtaas ng mga bayarin sa mga paaralan, ani Palatino.

‘terorismo’ at karapatang-pantao

Ihinayag din ni Arroyo na lala-banan niya ang “terorismo” upang mapanatiling mapayapa at de-mokratiko ang pamumuhay sa bansa gamit ang kapapatupag pa

lamang na Human Security Act (HSA).

Ngunit kinuwestyon ni Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo ang sin-seridad ni Arroyo sa pagtugon sa usapin ng dumaraming kaso ng pagpaslang at paglabag sa karapa-tang-pantao sa bansa.

“ Tahimik lamang si GMA sa rekomendasyon ng Korte Suprema na gumawa siya ng categorical ac-tion bilang may hawak ng command responsibility upang itigil na ng Armed Forces of the Philippines at Philippine National Police ang pulitikal na pamamaslang,” ani Ocampo.

Kinundena naman ni Carol Araullo, tagapangulo ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, ang pag-suporta ni Arroyo sa HSA . Aniya, sasagkaan ng HSA ang mga de-mokratikong karapatan ng mga mamamayan at titiyakin nito ang

pananatili ni Arroyo sa puwesto. “Matagal nang gusto ng gobyerno

ni Gloria na magkaroon ng legal weapon to illegalize people’s orga-nization and to persecute political opponents of the Arroyo regime,” ayon pa kay Araullo.

Dagdag pa ni Ocampo, “Nag-sisilbing pamalit ang HSA sa nai-basurang Anti- Subversion Law ni Marcos upang ihanay bilang internal enemies ang mga organi-sayong kritikal sa pamahalaang Arroyo.”

Ani Araullo, “ The only answer of the people to defend themselves against [HSA] is by questioning [its] constitutionality, bring the fight into the streets, and push eductaional campaigns so that people will become aware of their deserved rights.” May mga ulat mula kina Alaysa Escandor, Alliage Morales, Mini Soriano, at Shely Rose Maling

n Residents along railroad tracks in Sampaloc, Manila protest the ill effects of the government’s debt policy on social services on July 30, the same day that International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato arrived for a two-day visit. Government spending for education and health has consistently decreased, with an average of only P5 a day allocated for education and P0.45 for health per Filipino this year, according to IBON Foundation. a l a n a h tor r a lba

Derailed services

University Student Council Chair Shahana Abdulwahid ang laban para sa seguridad sa paninirahan ng komunidad. Aniya, layunin ng konseho na hilingin sa adminis-trasyon na ipagkaloob na sa mga residente ang mga lupa ng UP na kinatitirikan ng kanilang tahanan.

Dagdag ni Abdulwahid, umaasa ang konseho na sa patuloy na pag-tatampok ng mga suliranin ng komunidad sa ugnayan ng konseho sa administrasyon, maipapanalo rin ang matagal nang laban para maituring na ganap na bahagi ng pamantasan ang komunidad.

Samantala, hindi pinaunlakan ni VCCA Cynthia Grace Gregorio ang ilang ulit na hiling ng Collegian para sa isang panayam.

ang mga pinagkaitanHindi lamang tumutukoy sa

pisikal na paninirahan ng mga di-akademikong residente sa kampus ang usapin hinggil sa ugnayan ng UPD sa komunidad nito. Higit pa rito, mahalagang papel rin ang gi-nagampanan ng komunidad sa iba pang aspeto ng pamantasan bilang akademikong institusyon.

sundan sa p.10


Sanlaksang Kalampagn Humigit-kumulang 10,000 katao ang lumahok sa protesta sa SONA ng pangulo noong Hulyo 23 sa may Commonwealth Avenue. Sa loob ng Batasang Pambansa, inilatag ni Arroyo ang kanya umanong mga naisakatuparang programa sa loob ng nakaraang taon. Sa labas, inihayag ng mga raliyista ang tunay na estado ng bansa.

Bantay-Saradon Pasikat pa lamang ang araw, nagkaroon na ng tensyon sa pagitan ng mga nakaantabay na pulis at mga mambubukid mula sa Timog Katagalugan na nagtangkang tumulak patungong Kongreso. Halos 10,000 na pulis ang itinalagang magbantay sa araw ng SONA. Simula nang magtalumpati si Arroyo, dalawang beses nirasyunan ng pagkain ang kapulisan habang nanatili sila sa kani-kanilang mga puwesto buong maghapon.

“Reyna ng Kadiliman”n Pinaliyab ng mga raliyista ang effigy ng “manananggal” na si Gloria. Sinisimbolo umano ng manananggal ang papel na ginagampanan ni Arroyo sa patuloy na pagpaslang at pagdukot sa mga aktibista.

Mga Mukha ng Protestan Iba-iba man ang gayak ng libu-libong nakiisa sa pagkilos, iisa pa rin ang imaheng nais nilang ipakita: ang papatinding diskuntento sa kasalukuyang administrasyon at kolektibong panawagang patalsikin si Arroyo sa pwesto.

Mga litrato nina Paolo a. Gonzales • Candice anne L. Reyes • Chris s. agrava • timothy a. Medrano • alanah M. torralba d i s e n y o n g p a h i n a n i k a r l c a s t r o


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On the onset of the 1996 World Cup, a scandal rocked the corporate world when it was discovered that the Nike balls that would be used in the sporting event were hand-stitched by chil-dren in appalling condi-

tions in impoverished villages in Pakistan for less than a dollar a day. The expose which came out in Life Magazine came with a striking photograph of a 12-year-old boy surrounded by pieces of a Nike soc-cer ball which he would sew for the rest of the day for 60 cents.

Activists across the world warned, if you go to a shop to buy your child a new soccer ball, there is a very good possibility that the ball has been made by someone his age, or even younger.

In an effort to appease the global uproar that followed the revela-tion, Nike built schools in the vil-lages where these sweatshops were found, sent the child workers to school, and taught the women in the villages, mostly the chil-dren’s mothers, to stitch the balls instead.

In a talk in a recently held expo, John Winkett, Deputy Executive Di-rector of Charities Aid Foundation Australia, a group that manages charities, lauded this move and called it a “win-win situation for Nike.” Scandals such as these, he asserted, are but triggers for com-panies. In addition, they present good opportunities to reexamine their values and “stimulate internal discussion about threats and op-portunities.” For others, however, the events exposed the real char-acter behind the highly glorified phenomenon that is corporate social responsibility (CSR).

the Malampaya caseAccording to Winkett, CSR refers

to a range of practices that a busi-ness might adopt to ensure that it operates in a manner that meets and exceeds the ethical, legal, com-mercial and public expectations that society has for business. This, he said, is grounded on the belief that business does not exist in iso-lation from the rest of society.

Meanwhile, a similar “trigger” occurred in the Philippines three years later. In 1999, Shell Philip-pines began the construction of its Malampaya electric power plant in Palawan. Bound to supply the country with 2,700 megawatts of

Revealing the intentions

Behind CoRpoRate

soCial ResponsiBility

Glenn L. Diaz

electrical power for over 20 years, the project entailed the construc-tion of a 500-kilometer pipeline from Malampaya to an onshore plant in Tabangao, Batangas. From the shores of Palawan, the pipe-line traverses South China Sea to Southern Luzon cutting across the Mindoro island. When the con-struction reached Calapan City, the project threatened the livelihood of families living in 70 to 80 barangays whose only source of living was fishing.

Akin to the strategies initiated by Nike, the incident gave birth to a slew of projects geared to remedy the harms it caused in the first place. The affected fishing commu-nities were taught “coastal resource management,” locals were trained to become “entrepreneurs,” and fishing households were trained to “generate alternative sources of income.” Specifically, the women and youth of Calapan City were trained in garment livelihood proj-ects and the fisherfolk were taught hog-raising.

While seemingly laudable, the steps which Shell undertook to rec-tify the injurious outcome of its ac-tions—providing the fisherfolk forms of livelihood different from what they were used to—have brought unnecessary disruption to their lives and ultimately forced them to do something else apart from what they were accustomed to.

the real scoreExperts on the field, for their

part, do not deny that CSR is es-sentially a business move and an investment. In fact, Dr. Victoria Jar-diolin, College Secretary of the UP College of Business Administration and coordinator of its Civic Welfare Training Service program called “Paying It Forward,” enumerated three reasons why companies do CSR. Chief of these is creating a fa-

vorable image for the corporation, the brand, and the owner, which will hopefully translate to goodwill, sales, and, therefore, profit. In ad-dition to this, CSR projects also reduce the tax burden of compa-nies. Finally, they are borne out of a genuine desire of companies to partake in national development.

In the words of Natalie Jorge, director of a corporate foundation, “why settle for something that does little more than make money when you can create something that makes a lasting contribution? In the end, those who make a lasting contribution make more money in the long run.”

Aside from outright income-generating objectives, Jardiolin called foundations “tax shelters.” For instance, corporate funds spent on Gawad Kalinga projects or scholarships are tax deductible. Indeed, according to Fely Soledad, Executive Director of the Philip-pine Council for NGO Certification, one chief advantage of setting up a foundation is tax exemption, on top of improving a company’s relation with the government and reducing regulatory intervention.

Another integral part of a “stra-tegic” CSR program is “reporting.” On this subject, Jardiolin main-tained that “only saints do their

work anonymously and only saints do not have cost-benefit ratios.” She said it would be “naïve” to expect “profit-oriented entities” such as businesses to do charitable work in secrecy. One of its twin objectives, after all, is improving company image to the public.

For this reason, companies spend huge sums of money on grandiose, often tearjerkers of advertisements, principally aimed at publicizing its efforts in society. Winkett went as far as saying that companies should “drive the media” to ensure that consumers know that the company is doing something.

Filling in the gapIn the Philippine CSR Report

2007, Marilou Erni, President of the League of Corporate Foundations

and Executive Director of Petron Foundation, reveals that the private sector’s total expenditure for pov-erty reduction increased from P7.6 billion in 1997 to 2002 to P12 billion in 2002 to 2006. Almost half of this amount, or over P9 billion went to human services development, including education.

The resurgence of CSR pro-grams by companies in the country is indicative of the weakness of the government that is supposed to provide basic services to the people. The fields where most com-panies focus on are the same areas in society that lacked government support. As a case in point, the start of the crisis in basic education saw the outpouring of over P9 billion from the private sector.

It is unclear, however, why the same corporations that constantly harp on the need for the business sector to contribute to society via poverty alleviation and education continue to oppose genuine moves to do so in a much grander scale. In the same manner, the same companies that publicize granting hundreds of scholarships to chil-dren from poor families are the same ones that tirelessly lobby to block any increase in the minimum wage and practice repressive labor policies such as union-busting and contractualization.

In the end, experts on the field admit that the CSR phenomenon is primarily a business tool, a mar-keting strategy whose first purpose is to generate a return on invest-ment via juxtaposing the company’s name and image with seemingly socially responsible activities. Rig-orous, and at times false, publicity of their altruistic projects, however, leads people to believe that, for once, companies have something else other than profit on their agenda.


Chris S. Agrava

“Sa iyo, hangang hanga ako, sa iyo, natuto ng husto, sa iyo, matu-tupad ang mga pangarap ko…”

“ACLC Assoc. Grad gets the job!” “ The future is right here, right

now. Evolve!”

The advertisements are le-gion, invading the airwaves and enticing the nation with sweet promises of

fulfilling dreams, masking their profit-driven schemes under the illusion of providing Filipinos the means to achieve their ambitions.

Institutions like the AMA Com-puter University, STI College, ABE International, and others claim to accomplish this through “world-class” computer-based education. The cited schools promote the use of the latest technology to provide accessible IT expertise and various “marketable” degrees.

These promises, however, are merely confined in the realm of marketing and promotions. Con-cerns have been raised continually over the apparent expediency with which the said institu-tions conduct their edu-cational programs. And with the expensive price tag that comes with it, various groups have dismissed the claim to computer-based educa-tion as a mere commer-cial venture.

Hollow promisesVirgil*, a BA Philip-

pine Studies graduate currently taking up MA Philippine Studies, was once offered a teaching position as Online Instructor in one of the cited institutions. He eventually resigned after realizing that the school’s intentions were purely profit-driven.

He used to teach Humanities, Filipino and Art Appreciation in front of a camera, which was broad-cast to the student populace. His other activities included uploading reading materials, quizzes, and exams to a designated website. He lamented that he was not given any time or system to evaluate if his stu-dents actually learned anything.

Aside from being able to save on the cost of maintaining salaried faculty, the system may also enable the administration to keep tabs on the instructor’s lectures, making sure that they stick to an expedient curriculum.

“Sa simula pa lang, nagdududa na ako sapagkat hindi pa sinasabi ang rate namin, magpipirmahan na ng kontrata,” Virgil recalls. “Ineexpect ko na magiging mataas ang rate ko dahil magkaka-mas-teral na ako maliban sa iba ko pang qualification. Pero one week bago magsimula ang klase, nalaman

kong P180 per hour lang ang rate.”

Students who belong to poorer demographics, m o r e o ve r, we r e l e f t to grapple with the technological divide without adequate sup-port from the university, Virgil stressed. Approximately 13 out of 24 computer units per room were functional, which is atypical for an institution whose programs rely heavily on computer resources.

Virgil added that copiers were broken, and that the cultural fee rendered by the students was only used for very rare events. If the high tuition and assorted fees pay

for unfelt and insuffi-cient services, and the salaries of the faculty are relatively low, it only leaves the students to wonder what they are actually paying for.

“ Nagdududa ako… kung paano nila nakikita kung natututo ba talaga ang mga estudyante nila.Sabi nila they are using state of the art tech-nology, kaya maraming dagdag na bayarin. Pero

kung titingnan mo, sa mga teacher, sobrang baba ng bayad nila. Wala nga silang maayos na library. Wala silang maayos na lesson plan. Wala talagang maayos na pagsinsin sa mga materyal ng mga guro. In short, wala silang pakialam. Gusto lang nilang kumita,” Virgil concluded.

corporate MachinationsRizza Ramirez, national presi-

dent of the National Union of Stu-dents of the Philippines (NUSP), noted that the increasing participa-tion of private entities in tertiary education reveals the profitability of the education sector. Currently, there are 1,231 private higher edu-cation institutions (HEIs) as op-posed to 111 state universities and colleges (SUCs). During the last 14 years alone, 595 private HEIs have been established.

Ramirez declared, “Given how private school owners earn huge profits, private HEIs appear like mushrooms.”

Some of these schools even op-erate without government permits, meaning these institutions have not been evaluated or inspected to as-sess if their facilities and programs are sufficient or at least fall under

standard quality. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Execu-tive Director Roger Perez himself revealed that 26 schools offer 49 programs without government per-mits. ABE International has been deemed the most delinquent, with its branches in Las Pinas, Taft and Caloocan offering four programs without permits.

The absence of these permits may also imply the poor perfor-mance of their students and the flaws in their programs. To illus-trate, 115 HEI’s registered 0 to 5 percent passing rates in various licensure exams from 1997-2001.

Moreover, these institutions charge exorbitant fees and justify the prices by claiming that the cost of quality education is expen-sive. CHED’s Report on Tuition Increase for 2002-2003 revealed that a regular 21-unit semester’s tuition in these colleges costs an average of P22,930 excluding du-bious miscellaneous fees such as postal fee, cultural fee, athletics fee, “Smart fee” and copier fee at the AMA Computer College, and many others.

In light of CHED’s memorandum 13 stating that no consultation is required to impose such increases, these HEI’s are given unrestrained and dangerous freedom in im-posing fees. Combined with the fact that they operate without even being evaluated and permitted by the authorities and regulating bodies, these HEI’s are in the per-fect position to bank on the profit-ability of private education without any real aim to provide quality education.

enticingly dangerousWhile the advertisements may

be grandiose and the jingles catchy, the real score remains bland and trite.

The supposed advantages of computer-based education have been blurred by commercial in-terests. In this sense, promoting technology as a catch-word to at-tract would-be students is nothing more than a marketing scheme, designed to lure prospective clients to a substandard education.

The presence of such educa-tional institutions highlight the evident crisis facing the education sector instead of underlining tech-nological advancement. Expedi-ency often takes over quality and the primary trust becomes profit-ability instead of accessibility. In this condition, the mushrooming of a multitude of computer col-leges cannot be attributed to a healthy education sector, but to an ailing, commercialized educational system.

* not his real name

flaws ofcomputer-based

education

on the

John Raphael Fulgar

“Nagdududa ako... kung paano nila

nakikita kung natututo ba talaga ang mga

estudyante nila”

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Contact us! write to us via snail mail or submit a soft copy to Rm. 401, Vinzons Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. ••• email us [email protected]. Save Word attachments in Rich Text Format, with INBOX, NEWSCAN or CONTRIB in the subject. ••• Fax us 9818500 local 4522. Always include your full name, address and contact details. ••• Contributions We are open for contributed articles from

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state of abandonment

T he tuition and other fee increases (TOFI) is not the first, nor the last, time the UP administration

has made money out of stepping on the rights of students. In 1989, the STFAP was first implemented. While the UP administrationistration claimed it was to let the rich students subsidize their poor schoolmates, it became a measure to actually increase the number of stu-dents paying full tuition rates.

In 2005, the administration attempted to evict the UP Manininda and replace them with concessionaries who would charge higher prices, and net higher profits. Virtually every year, the UP ad-ministration has ordered the demolition of communities within UP to make way for projects that have no educational purposes (call centers, anyone?). If the demolition of the RIPADA area pushes through, it will violate the right of thou-sands of families to a secure home. There has even been a plan to replace the af-fordable TOKI and IKOT jeepneys with a shuttle service. Again, a move meant to garner more profits.

Through the years, the Arroyo regime has reduced the budget of UP and other state universities and colleges (SUCs). Through the years, the administration has tried to make it seem that its various schemes, including the TOFI, are cor-rective measures for the lack of budget. Through the years, many iskolars ng bayan have untiringly exposed that it is in fact the other way around: These measures are being implemented to justify the shift of budget from education to foreign debt servicing.

Many government policies spell out the true intentions of the regime. Take for example, the Long Term Higher Educa-

tion Development Plan. It declares that by 2010, 70 percent of all SUCs must have tuition rates similar to private schools. Or that 20 percent must no longer receive any funding from the government.

The TOFI has also opened the way for stepping on the rights of our fellow youth in private schools. In the National Capital Region alone, 88 schools have increased their tuition this semester, justifying their moves by stating that if UP increases tuition fees, so should they. If the CHED was forced to admit that at least a million students dropped out last year due to the rising cost of education, by how much has that figure risen now?

If UP is being used as the example for justifying state abandonment of educa-tion, then UP must also be the example for rolling back such anti-student and anti-people policies. Our being iskolars ng bayan demand nothing less. There is no better time for us to earn this honor-able title through defending our rights and serving the people. Today, let our voices be heard!

TOFI AT STFAP ni ROMAN, IBASURA !

OPPOSE THE COMMERCIALIZA-TION OF EDUCATION!

FIGHT FOR GREATER STATE SUBSIDY!

UP Diliman University Student Council

Get free publicity! Email us your press releases, 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.

aCCELERatE OUR FIGht FOR OUR RIGhts

The University Student Council invites you to the Alternative Classroom Learning Experience entitled “ACceLErate our Fight for Our Rights: Defy Conventions. Serve the People.” Aug 16 (Thursday), 1-5pm. Sub-mission of ACLE proposals still accepted. Contact Bang Dizon 0927.451.5169 for details.

stUDEnt LEaDERs’ assEMbLYThe University Student Council and the

Office of Student Activities invite all heads and faculty advisers of organizations, fra-ternities, sororities and student alliances to the Student Leaders’ Assembly on Aug 8, 9am-12nn, Bulwagang Tandang Sora, College of Social Work and Community De-velopment. For inquiries, contact Pajo Daep 0915.448.8125.

UP kaLILaYan at 32! Thriving through and through, UP Kali-

layan @ 32! Thanksgiving Mass at the UP Church on Aug 2, 6pm & Photo Exhibit on the 2/F AS lobby from Aug 13-17. Open Tambayan (Middle Kiosk, AS East Wing, 5:30pm) and Free Ikot on Aug 14. “An Inconvenient Truth” on our ACLE, Aug 16. Alumni Homecoming at the University Ho-tel, Aug 18. Text Erwin 0906.416.4570 or Paulo 0919.835.9398.

aPO UPCat sERVICE PROJECtThe UP Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, in co-

ordination with the UP Office of Admissions, will conduct the 2007 UPCAT Information and Assistance Project on Aug 4-5. More than 10 APO information booths will be located in strategic places on campus to assist examinees, parents and UP officials. For inquiries, proceed to the info booths of Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity.

nEIL DOLORICOn’s saLUnGatCFA professor Neil Doloricon will hold

a solo exhibition of digital prints entitled Salungat (Filipino for “opposing” or “con-trary”) at the Kaida Art Gallery, 2/F GFO Building, Kamuning Road, Q.C. Doloricon’s collages express political statements on issues like the current US-Iraq war, the 19th century Philippine-American War, and the 1960s Vietnam War—all relevant to contemporary political problems. He also dwells on icons like Jesus, Mao Zedong, Lenin and various Greek sculptures.

nanInIWaLa ka ba sa sOna nI aRROYO?

ndi dpat paniwalaan ang sona.panguuto la-mang ito sa mga ta0.lantarang kasinungalingan na pinupulbusan pa ng mgapalakpak n ibinibi-gay bago,habang,matap0s at maging kahit wala pang sinasabing kasinungalingan. 06-57612 ra-diohead speechc0m

Mhrp tlga pnwalaan ang sona n arr0yo, based on past sonas, d tlg n2pad lht2 ng cnbi niya.. pro sna mali ak0.. sna,my pgba2go.. 07-50617 marlon, bs stat

s0na ni gMa?!,..same old st0ry..pur0 nman ksinungalian!. sna nman mbgag0..ipri0ritize nman nia ang quality educati0n. asa c0nsti-tuti0n kya un. 06-01831

anung paniniwalaan dun n halos lahat ata s knyang speech puro mgma2laki s knyang rehi-men! kawawang up charter, hindi npabilang s pri-orities n gloria.:< 05-68791 raffy usa bass ps-3

oo mganda s0na mganda ung power point presentation! last yir i called sona, state of illu-sion adresa ngaun state of halucination adres next yir state of calamity n! yen, upissi

hindi ako naniniwala s sona dahil isa lang itong malaking kasinungalingan upang mapagtakpan ang tunay na kalagayan ng ating kinakawawang bansa. 06-45935

well pers0nally hnd ako nani2wala sa s0na n gma, pero nkkng prn ako and tntgnan ko kung 220 ung mga cnsbi nia,. 06-01379 bsche

hindi na ako umaasa dahil alam ko namang wala akong maaasahan. 05-32088 pam ba philo

saan PInaka-bEt kUMaIn sa UP? saan hInDI?

sa econ lounge at ba caf! beachouse nrn pati chokiss nang jimmys, good food talaga sa up. 05-36391

nvr eat s cs cnteen, an mhal n d nman ksara-pan, best beef ang s math, 2ron ng bowl&platter, shake ng gloria’s <18 lng ang large> at s katag ok dn 06-64685

masarap ang fud sa cMc cafeteria, sosyal ang lounge sa econ, nka2nosebleed ang env-ronmnt sa law caf, at nka2pagod mgpnta sa ba canteen 05-47678

d best ang nisMed canteen, msrap ang fud especly d strawberyy cupcake!! 07-01192

sa educ cantin, 25 lng my kanin at ulam k n. sa latasia fusion kng vegetarian k astig dun. chow. 04-04743 jho

sa fishballs atbp. ni mang nestor sa fine arts! yeah! Mura n msarap p.. 06-78584 leila

s baroque’s s my sc,asteeg ung sizlng beef sk aristocrat,mura lng.ung vnzons nmn,same lng ung porkchop,iba lng ung sauce. 05-13020 mon,cba

sarap sa lutong bahay. affordable at pwede ka pa makinood ng tv nila. hindi ko gusto sa chocolate kiss. Masarap nga kaya lang can’t afford kaming hindi mga “elite”. hehe.. peace. 06-26946. remz bacl

sa lb,msrp pagkain pangt ambiance. sa casaa prang sauna! ok sna coop cantin kya lng msungit ung matabang mkapal ang make up! 04-59185

para sken d bst ang lb(lu2ng bhy) sa lhat. Mura d2, msrap ang pgkain, pdeng manu0d ng tv at mbaet ang ngttnda. Msrap p ang shake. pwede dn sa coop kantin, mura’t msrap dn. wg kaung ka2in sa kainan sa Mb. Mhal na, d pa ms-rap. kng my ba0n ka, wg kang ppnta sa nismed. d rn budget-frndly ang kainan sa cs, gnt0 kc ang fud dun. Mas ok pa ngang kumain n lng sa isawan sa tbi ng philp0sst kysa d2e, hehe. eto n lhat ng suwestyon q.. 06-30345,leo,math

kumain?..xmpre dun s a4dble..2lad ng casaa and bch house!..=)..pr0 qng pgkain n rn lng ang hnap ng mga isko’t iska,xmpre dun n s isawan n mang larry!..hahaha..auko dun s cho-col8 kiss..ginto ang mga pagkain dun!..waah!.

07-18608 ramkrodic’s the best paren,haha..lalo n porchop-

clog nla..super dko gusto dun sa kub ng jap food resto sa sc..dko maexplain un lasa ng food don!eek! 07-04530 viatch

sa casaa!!da best dun sa may mga nkas-abit n umbrella.pamatay ung r0ast beef nla with mash potat0es ska rice.mura pa.w0rst,sa kainan s knl.lasang laway 06-57162

latasia Fusion,mlapit s guard outpost s ro-mulo hall,dun s pnapasukan ng mga ssakyan galing katipunan. sinisuguro nla na masustan-sya ung mga inihhanda nlang pagkain. nkkapa-nibago s unang tikim,pro msarap at magaan s bulsa. vegan dishes at fruit shakes ung special-ty nla. astig mga pagkain dun. 04-45680

sulit kmain s starbak,esp. kna ate rose.solb k n s 20,my credit lyn p!ung s nigs nman prang g8way fudcort,wlang fri h2o,tas ung cnigang at kare2x nla puro talong. 04-44025

try ni0ng kumain s tearum c0llege 0f h0me ec0n0mics. parang ch0kiss ang level (hehe) pr0 mas mura. kht san s up,masarap kumain.Mapa-fishbol stand,ki0sk, cafeteria, chateau, 0 kht san pa,, s0lve ka 03-25601

saGUtanpara ky 04-46450, wla k bng nkktang prob-

lema s mga pobreng estujanteng wlang pang-pa-id na 2luyang nasisita ng guard,sa mga hnd nkpgenroll n gus2ng magsit in,sa binibreed na paranoia ng no id no entrypolicy mo?at kng paghinto2 ng ikot, pakisagot naman ang png-b0undary ng mga jeep driver na sinusungitan mo. 05-00394

COMMEntselitist or not, mr.ponce s a up s2dnt,s he

not?i thot d collegian ws suposd2stand up for d collective views of d s2dnt.its unfair2gang up on ponce,and odrs who thnk along hs lyn,just because he espouses diferent views&cmes4rm a diferent background.we r ol entitled2our ideas.we’re free2thnk outsydpopular opinion.mr ponce’s guts n expressing hs seemingly unpopular views s commendable. hail 2d free exchange of ideas! -05-78986 carmela,law

kule para naman maipakita nyo ang pagka unbiased nyo make a write-up of the forteen slain soldiers in the most recent encounter with the rebels. thank you. 07-04173

kule..ang gnda ng ed2rial nung jul 19 ish..da bst..i thnk dt frats shud n0t tnk dat deir astg or kul dhl frt cla..it d0esn’t give dm d ryt 2 hurt oder pp0l..i thnk br0thrhud s n0t lyk dat..Maawa cla s pmlya ng mga cnsktn nila..Mhl2 ng tuixon taz g2nunn lng nila..nice wan kule..kip on writ-ing.. 07-46600

ung mga kule kc,mejo l8 dumating sa ncpag minsan.so mdalas,sa as n lng kme kmukuha.ung july 13 na issue,wla n tlgng kmukuha sa c0lej ng c0py,kc hal0s lhat,mer0n na.i d0nt knw kung an0ng dpat gawin pag ganun,pro tingin q,ndi nman “palihim na itinambak sa opisina ng k0nseho ng ncpag”ung mga kule..its kinda unjust 2 assume kgad n tntago dhil lng sa sr ung chair dun. 05-21402, ba pa

keep up the g0od w0rk! sana lang bawat is-sue may articles about sex! hehe. 05-49586

‘2 n rn ang bnasa ko mula last week pero wla p rn ako nkktang article 2ngkol s pagpanaw ng isang magiting n propesor s sikolohiya n c dr.Fredegusto daVid,ay ngtu2ro p rn cia s unang bahagi nit0ng sem.dpat ay retired n cia pero ngp2loy cia. nmatay cia n0ong july 13. sna may maisulat kyo 2ngkol s knya s nxt issue.’ 04-12181 ba psychology

nExt WEEk’s QUEstIOns1. ano ang mensahe mo para sa mga mag-u- upcat sa darating na agosto 4-5?2. alin ang mas kakayanin mong tiisin, walang tubig, walang kuryente o walang dangal?

Panunulay mUl A P.5

pakshet, naka-ilang isyu na ang kulê, may blank space pa rin?!

ang kulit mo kasi, ayaw mo pang mag-apply bilang layout artist! kaya akyat na sa kulê opis! hanapin si karl o noel and show off

your adobe skills! :)


Buntong-hiningaPhilip Rizalino

Tila kaylayo na natin ngayon sa isa’t isa.

Dati, madalas tayong mag-kasama sa alinmang lakaran. Sa

Taft Ave., sa Roxas Blvd., sa Quiapo, sa Dil-iman, sa Commonwealth, at sa kung saan pa tayo dalhin ng ating mga isip at paa. Ni-tong huli nating pagkikita, nagsabay lang tayo sa dyip. Pagdating sa ating binabaan, naghiwalay tayo’t sinamahan ang ating mga grupo. Lumipas ang mga oras mula noon ay hindi na tayo nagkita sa bunton ng mga taong naghahatid ng hinaing sa tinaguriang Reyna ng Kadiliman.

Napakainit ng araw na iyon. Tulad ng mga taong nagpupuyos ang damdamin sa mga kasinungalingang winiwika ng Reyna. Iniisip ko na sana’y may pananggalang ka sa init ng araw upang hindi masunog ang iyong maputing kutis. Subalit, matagal na nating pinili na makiisa sa kanilang mas nahihirapan sa buhay, sa lipunang itong batbat ng kontradiksyon. Na maliit na bagay lamang ang masunugan ng balat kumpara sa pagpapakita ng mga taong ito na sila ang lakas, sila ang dapat na mag-pasya sa ikabubuti ng lahat.

Hindi ko tinapos ang pagtitipong iyon. Sabi mo’y may mga kasama ka naman pag-

uwi. Mabuti naman dahil malayo pa ang iyong uuwian. Subalit…

Tila kaylayo na natin ngayon sa isa’t isa.

Alam kong ibig mo nang lisanin ang buhay dito’t doon na sumama sa kanila. Ilang beses na rin kitang pinigilan upang tapusin muna ang dapat na tapusin dito. Alam kong nagalit ka sa akin. Naiintin-

dihan kita, alam mo iyan. Subalit wala naman akong magawa dahil ang a l a m k o’ y ma s mabigat ang mga dahilan ko. Na-sasayangan lang ako sa pera na ib-

inabayad ng taumbayan para makapag-aral sa itinuturing ng marami na malayang pamantasan. Ayaw kong matulad ka sa mga bumibitiw sa pag-aaral at ginugugol ang oras sa pag-oorganisa. Alam kong mabuti ang kanilang mga ginagawa sub-alit dito tayo laging pinupukol ng mga kaaway. Kaya, masama ang tingin sa atin ng maraming tao. Gusto kong magkadi-ploma ka bago mag-organisa ng mga tao. Ipakita nating hindi lang hanggang sigaw

ang ating kaya.Ipinangako ko namang magkaibigan

tayo hanggang dulo. Nagkaroon lamang ako ng pakiramdam na lampas sa ina-sahan ko. Hindi ko naman maaaring sisihin ang aking sarili dahil naging desi-syon ko iyon. Nakapagpasya ka rin naman na may hangganan dapat ang mga bagay. At pinagkasunduan natin iyon.

May mga panahon nga lang na iniisip ko, kung hindi nangyari ang lahat ng mga tagpong iyon kasama ka, ano kayang kinahinatnan ko sa mga panahong iyong hindi ikaw ang kasama ko? O kung ako’y nag-iisa sa mga sandaling iyon? A , kay-hirap. Tila nakaukit na sa aking gunita ang retrato ng iyong mukha.

Hindi ko lang alam kung ano ang kahi-hinatnan natin matapos ang araw na ito. Nang minsang nag-usap tayo tungkol sa mga gusto nating gawin, wika ko’y gusto kong magka-Ph.D. sa ibang bansa, at matulad kay Ka Bien na nagsisilbi pa rin sa nakararami. Ikaw nama’y makapagsilbi sa mga lugar na pinagkakaitan ng pagkain, ng trabaho, ng kaunlaran, ng karapatan.

Bakit nga ga nagkaganito ang ating buhay at ng iba pa?

Hay.

nakaPaG-PasYa ka

RIn naMan na MaY

hanGGanan DaPat anG

MGa baGaY

Pagbabalik(was)

Ibinabalik ako ng pagkakataon sa mga lansanga’t lunang maingat kong ini-iwasan, sa mga haplit ng nagtutunggal-ing galit at pag-ibig na malaon ko nang iwinaglit.

Mistulang mapa ang balat kong puno ng pantal noong nagtungo ako sa Com-

monwealth, hindi bilang aktibista, kundi bilang retratista. Sa ilang minutong inilagi ko sa isa sa mga batong upuan, naliliyo sa usok ng tingi-tinging yosi at madalang na pagdaan ng mga tao’t sasakyan, hindi ko na maalala kung ilang higad ang naglakbay sa braso’t leeg ko. Pahiran ko raw ng suka upang mawala ang pangangati, sabi ng editor ko, pero naisip ko, ayokong mag-maasim sa espesyal na araw na ito.

Hindi ako nagpaumanhin/magpapaumanhin na hindi ako nakadalo sa SONA ng nakaraang taon. Nagtatrabaho ako noon bilang tagatanggap ng tawag sa isang malaking pamilihan sa US, at naiwan ko sa Pilipinas ang karaniwang poot na nagtulak sa akin noong makilahok sa mga pulitikal na pagkilos.

Kaya’t walang dahilan para ipagpaliban ang di maiiwasan. Hindi sapat ang mapa ng mga pantal sa aking katawan upang pigilan ako sa pakikiisa sa kanila, kahit man lang sa pamamagitan ng aking mga kuha.

At sa pangalawang pagkakataon, nakita kong nagkatawang-tao ang panaginip/bangungot ko. Sa lente ng aking kamera, sa larawang hindi ko sinadyang ikulong sa retrato, sa dagat ng nagngangalit na mga tao, nakunan ko ang mukha niyang lagi’t laging bitbit ang halinhinang pakikibaka’t pag-ibig.

Kumusta ka, maayos naman ako, ikaw, maayos din naman, <ngiti> kailan ka pa dumating, noong June lang, ang tagal nating hindi nagkita, oo nga eh, babalik ka pa ba doon, hindi na, sana <ngiti>.

Itinulak ako marahil ng tensyonadong tereyn na iyon upang sa huli’y lapitan siya. Maikli-ma-habang pangungumusta’t pagbati; ako, tangan ang aking kamera, at siya, hawak ang pulang bandilang nagugurlisan ng mga katagang oust Gloria. Gusto ko sana siyang tulungang tan-ganan ang bandila, pero sabi ko nga, nagpunta ako roon hindi bilang aktibista, kundi bilang retratista.

Sige mauna na ‘ko, hanapin ko lang ‘yung mga kasama ko sa Kulê, sige ingat ka, dalaw ka naman minsan, oo ba <ngiti>.

Sa tulad kong patuloy na nangingibig, may kakabit na pagbalikwas ang pagbabalik sa lawas ng alaala.

Chris S. Agrava

Military frOm P.3

UsC frOm P.3

philippineCollegian nº 07Huwebes 21 ago 2007

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Maria Carmela trono torres

Sa paghihintay ng bus, sa pagsakay ng jeep, sa pagla-lakad sa mga lansangan ng lungsod at kanayunan – nalulunod tayo sa dagat ng mga mukha. Milyun-milyong kaba-bayan ang unti-unting umuukit ng kanilang pangalan sa ating lipunan. Sa Anonimo, pangangalanan namin ang mga mukha at bibigyang-mukha ang pawang mga pangalan lamang.

Ipininid mo ang pinto ng isa sa mga cubicle sa ladies’ room. Ibinaba ang panloob kasabay ng pag-upo sa trono. Hindi inaasahan ang pagdalaw ng iyong

bisita. Isang pangalan ang naibulong mo at dagling naisigaw: Ka Omeng!

Pagtapak sa palikurang pambabae sa unang palapag ng Palma Hall upang dinggin ang tawag ng kalikasan, ito ang sasalubong: mga libro, pantawid-gutom gaya ng kendi, biskwit, chichiria, pamatid-uhaw, pamugong ng buhok, polbo, gamot, tisyu, at napkin. Subukin mang humakbang palayo at muling basahin ang karatula sa pinto, walang du-dang nasa tamang lugar ka. Sa isang sulok ng malawak na silid na napapalamutian ng tiles, may isang tindahan.

toilet KingdomAnim na taon na ang nakalilipas nang mag-

tayo si Ka Omeng ng isang munting tindahan sa loob ng ladies’ room sa unang palapag ng AS o Palma Hall. Isa siyang utility personnel sa nasabing gusali ng unibersidad.

Tatlumpu’t walong taon nang nakikipag-unahan sa pagsikat ng araw si Ka Omeng sa araw-araw na pagtatrabaho sa UP. Mula sa pag-ekstra-ekstra sa mga trabaho sa kampus, pormal siyang itinalaga bilang utility personnel sa Faculty Center noong 1969. La-bing-apat na taon siyang naglinis ng ladies’ room doon at nasaksihan niya ang paghahati sa dating College of Arts and Sciences upang gawing College of Arts and Letters, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy at College of Science. Taong 1983 nang ilipat siya sa Palma Hall na nagsilbing ikalawang tahanan niya hanggang sa kasalukuyan.

Humigit-kumulang 13 libong maghapon ng kaniyang buhay ang inilagi niya sa maya’t mayang pagkuskos ng tiles, pagpupuno ng tubigan, pag-eeskoba ng inidoro, at pagpa-pakintab sa salamin sa ladies’ room. Kasabay ng mga gawaing ito ang pagbuo ng maliit ngunit di malilimutang pakikipagkaibigan sa mga estudyanteng tumutuloy sa kaniyang kaharian.

comfort RoomAng pagsibol ng mga pagkakaibigang ito sa

apat na sulok ng palikuran ang nagtulak kay Ka Omeng upang magbukas ng isang maliit na tindahan sa loob mismo ng ladies’ room.

“Alam ko ang [pangangailangan] ng mga estudyanteng babae. Pang-monthly, dahil ako nagkaroon din di ba? Para hindi na sila takbo nang takbo kung saan-saan, hanap nang hanap… makatulong lang. Hindi naman talagang hanapbuhay.”

Sari-saring karanasan na rin ang mayroon si Ka Omeng sa pamamalagi niya sa unibers-idad. Naroong takbuhin niya ang CASAA para manghingi ng mainit na tubig upang maibsan ang sakit ng puson ng isang estudyante. May-roon ding hindi inaasahang nagkakaroon ng buwanang dalaw at kinakailangan ng napkin. Isang tawag lamang kay Ka Omeng, naroroon

siya upang mag-abot ng isa. Bukod sa pagtulong sa mga dinaratnan,

nagsisilbi ring tagapag-ingat ng kagamitan ng mga estudyante si Ka Omeng. Kadalasan, kapag may mga di sinasadyang naiiwang gamit sa ladies’ room, matatagpuan ito sa pangagalaga ni Ka Omeng.

Umabot na rin sa puntong nakahuli ng magnanakaw si Ka Omeng. Aniya, “[d]inala ko s’ya sa dean’s office… ayaw pa ring aminin dun, kaso ‘yung jacket n’ya… dun pala nakabalot ‘yung cellphone. Kaya nung kunin n’ya… nalaglag ngayon ang cellphone... nabuking s’ya.” Kaya abut-abot din ang pag-papaalala ni Ka Omeng sa mga estudyante na ingatan ang gamit at huwag basta iiwan sa harap ng salamin kung gagamit ng inidoro.

Rest(less) RoomAng tiwalang nabuo sa loob ng palikuran

ay minsang nasubukan nang ireklamo ang tindahan ni Ka Omeng at pagtangkaang tang-galin. Ilegal umano ito at hindi patas sa mga maninindang nasa labas ng gusali. Kumilos ang mga estudyante at naghapag ng petisyon upang tutulan ang tangkang pagpapatanggal sa kanyang tindahan.

Nagtagumpay ang petisyon kaya naman hanggang ngayon, sakaling makaramdam ng tawag ng kalikasan ang mga estudyante, naroon si Ka Omeng sa loob ng ladies’ room at patuloy na naglilinis kasama si Ate Christy na siyang tagapagbantay ng tindahan. Dito na rin sila dinadalaw ng mga kaibigang prope-syonal at may kani-kaniyang pamilya na.

Tulong na umano ng dekano kay Ka Omeng ang pagpayag na siya ay magtinda sa loob ng ladies’ room. “Kaunting tulong lang sa akin ni Dean ‘yan, dahil pambili ko nga ng gamot.” May sakit sa puso si Ka Omeng at sumasai-lalim siya sa gamutan. Subalit sa buwanang sweldo niyang P7,000.00, P200.00 lamang ang natatanggap niya linggu-linggo. Kung su-sumahin, nagkakahalaga lamang ng P800.00 kada buwan ang naiuuwi niyang sahod.

“E syempre may loan ka. Nangungutang ka, anong kakainin mo kung hindi ka man-gungutang? Ang daming deductions… insur-ance, tax, ang dami-dami.” Dahil sa sakit, kinakailangang buwanang bumili ng gamot si Ka Omeng na nagkakahalaga ng P2,200.00. Sa kaniyang kinikita, palaisipan kung paanong napagkakasyang lahat ng gastusin upang patuloy na buhayin ang sarili at paminsan-minsa’y abutan ng pera ang tatlong anak-anakan at limang apo.

closing timeMistulang masaya man at walang reklamo

si Ka Omeng sa silid kung saan siya ang naghahari, hindi maikakailang waring bihag din siya ng mismong kaharian. At katulad ng napakaraming kaharian, hindi nawawala ang banta ng pagbagsak.

Sa mga susunod na buwan, wala nang katiyakan ang tindahang minsan nang ipi-nagtanggol ng maraming estudyanteng napamahal na kay Ka Omeng. Pagsapit ng ika-12 ng Nobyembre, ika-65 taong kaarawan ni Ka Omeng, awtomatikong retirado na siya sa kanyang serbisyo sa unibersidad.

Sa sandaling lisanin niya ang UP, may matatanggap naman umanong pensiyon si Ka Omeng. Gagamitin daw niya ang benepisyo upang magsimula ng maliit na negosyong pandagdag-kita. “Kahit magtinda ako ng mais araw-araw… magtinda ng mani, tutubo ka naman siguro, kahit P50.00 isang araw, hindi ba?”, ani Ka Omeng.

“Nagpapasalamat nga ako umabot pa ako ng 65 (anyos) rito”, ani Ka Omeng. Halos kalahati ng kaniyang buhay ay inilagi na niya sa unibersidad at magiging napakahirap para sa kanya ang iwanan ito. “Dumadaing nga ako, kahit isang taon lang [upang manatili]. Mahirap naman ‘yung nakatigil ka agad sa bahay. Kung meron pang isang taon dito, kahit na ‘kako wala akong sweldo, ako na maglilinis.”

Nangangamba si Ka Omeng na sa pag-upo ng bagong dekano at sa nalalapit niyang pagreretiro, mapipilitan siyang iwan ang unibersidad na naging saksi na sa bawat pag-sikat at paglubog ng araw ng kanyang buhay. Gayunpaman, panatag siyang hindi siya pababayaan ng mga estudyanteng minsan na siyang ipinagtanggol. “Sigurado ‘yun. Tutulungan ako ng mga estudyante… mga kaibigan na namin silang lahat dito.”

Sa apat na sulok ng ladies’ room sa AS, naroroon ang munting tindahan ni Ka Omeng na ilang buwan mula ngayon, katulad ng mga alaala ni Ka Omeng sa UP, mananatili na lamang na isang malikmatang inakalang nakita mo sa salamin. Guguho ang kaharian kung saan ilang ulit mo mang ihiyaw ang Ka Omeng, maaaring wala nang tatakbo upang iabot ang napkin sa ilalim ng pinto na iyong ipininid.

Sa kahilingan ni Ka Omeng, sadyang hindi binanggit ang tunay niyang pangalan. Tumanggi rin siyang magpakuha ng retrato.

02 ago 07 opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga panunulay sa

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