MORE INSIDE02 EDITORIAL Gapos03 NEWS Tuition hikes hit SUCs anew08 FEATURES Catching Fire11 OPINION Constant War12 CULTURE Tangis at Tugon

The Official Student Publication of theUniversity of the Philippines Manila

Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 - Monday

ANG KABABAIHANG DAPAT respetuhin at pahalagahan ay

patuloy na naghuhulagpos sa kadena ng imperyalismo at patriyarka na nakakabit sa kanilang leeg. Sa kabila ng sakit ng kanilang pagkakagapos, patuloy ang kanilang paglaban at pagkilos.

Ayon sa World Bank, noong 2014 ay 49.50 porsiyento o halos kalahati ng populasyon ng bansa ang kababaihan. Dahil sa dami ng kababaihan sa ating bansa, hindi na ganoon nakakagulat makakita ng babaeng drayber, pulis, at iba pang mga trabaho na dati ay tila pang-lalake lang. Mula sa pribadong sektor hanggang sa pandaigdigang entablado, patuloy na rin ang pagkamit ng mas matataas na posisyon at parangal ng mga Pilipina. Isang halimbawa lang ang sunod-sunod na pagkapanalo ng ating mga kandidato sa mga patimpalak gaya ng Miss Universe.Ngunit ang pribilehiyong makakamit ng ganitong mga parangal at maabot ang tugatog ng tagumpay ay nanatiling ganoon lamang – isang pribilehiyo. Sa kabila ng lahat ng parangal at papuring nakakamit ng iilan, milyun-milyong Pilipina – mga magsasaka, manggagawa, mag-aaral, at iba pa – ang patuloy na nahihirapan at nakakaranas ng diskriminasyon at pang-aabuso sa kanilang pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay.

Ayon sa 2013 National Demographical and Healthy Survey na sinagutan ng mga kababaihang edad 15-49, dalawampung porsiyento sa kanila ang nakaranas ng pisikal na pang-aabuso habang anim na porsiyento naman ang nakaranas ng sekswal na pang-aabuso. Higit pa rito, ang rape ay nanatiling pangatlong pinakamadalas na kaso ng violence against women mula 2004 hanggang 2012.Hindi lang pisikal o sekswal ang pang-aabuso na nararanasan ng mga Pilipina, sapagkat maging sa kanilang trabaho ay sila ang dehado. Base sa datos sa isang pag-aaral ng Asian Development Bank tungkol sa gender equality sa lakas-panggawa sa Cambodia, Kazakhstan, at Pilipinas, nanatiling nasa 40 porsiyento ang gender annual earnings gap o ang pinagkaiba ng kinikita ng mga lalaking manggagawa sa kababaihan sa kabuuan ng taon.

Ayon rin sa nasabing pag-aaral, mas dumaraming kababaihan sa Pilipinas ang pumapasok ng precarious work o trabaho na kaswal, panandalian, o pana-panahon lamang. Mula 2000 hanggang 2011 ay tumaas ang bilang nito mula 23.9 porsiyento hanggang 24.7 porsiyento.

Patuloy ring nakakaapekto sa pagsama sa lakas-panggawa ng kababaihan ang patriarkal na lipunang kasalukuyang mayroon ang Pilipinas. Ayon sa Department of Labor and Employment, noong 2011 ay 31 porsiyento ng mga Pilipina ang hindi makapagtrabaho dahil sa tungkulin nila sa bahay at pamilya.

Ang ganitong patriarkal na mentalidad ay

isa ring dahilan kung bakit kadalasan ay hindi pinapag-aral ang mga batang babae mula sa mga mahihirap na pamilya. Sa mga pagkakataong kulang ang pera ng isang pamilya, mas pipiliin ng karamihan na ang mga lalaking anak ang magpatuloy sa pag-aaral imbes na ang mga babae. Sa halip, pinatutulong nalang ang mga babaeng anak sa gawaing-bahay.

Maging ang mga kababaihang nakakapagtuloy ng pag-aaral hanggang sa kolehiyo ay patuloy na naapektuhan ng pagiging patriarkal ng lipunan. Ayon sa ng International Labour Organization, patuloy na mas maraming lalake ang kumukuha ng mga kurso tulad ng engineering, information technology, at architecture.

Ang mga paghihirap na pinagdaraanan ng mga kababaihan ay hindi hiwalay o iba sa mga paghihirap ng masa. Bagkus, tila dobleng pasakit pa nga ang pasan ng kababaihan sa kanilang pagharap sa kasamaan na dulot ng patriarka at imperyalismo.

Dagdag sa diskriminasyon na pinagdadaanan ng mga kababaihan ang hirap na dulot ng komersalisasyon ng edukasyon, pribatisasyon ng mga ospital at iba pang basic social services, kawalan ng regular na trabaho, at iba pa.

Matagal na itong pasan ng kababaihan,

at hindi na bago ang paggamit ng sama-samang pagkilos upang lumaban at lumaya. Sa panahon pa lamang ng mga Katipunero, ilang matatapang na Pilipina tulad ni Gabriela Silang at Teresa Magbanua ang nakiisa sa paglaban sa mga Espanyol. Noong simula naman ng ika-19 siglo, binuo ang Asociacion Feminista Filipina para kolektibong isulong ang mga karapatan at protektahan ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipina. Dagdag pa rito, noong 1989 ay unang binuo ang Philippine Development Plan for Women na may bisa hanggang 1992 at naglayong makamit ang pagkakapantay-pantay ng mga lalake at babae. Ang bagong bersyon ng PDPW ay ipinasa naman noong 1995 na may bisa hanggang 2025.

Ngunit, hanggang sa kasalukuyan, sa kabila ng dami ng mga bagong organisasyong naitatag at mga planong nabuo, patuloy parin ang laban ng kababaihan upang basagin ang patriarkal na pag-iisip at pabagsakin ang demonyo na imperyalismo na bumabalot sa ating lipunan.

At tulad ng pinapakita ng ating kasaysayan, tanging organisado at prinsipyadong kolektibong pagkilos lamang ang sandigan ng kababaihan. Ito ang tanging makakapagkalas sa kadenang sa kanila’y patuloy na gumagapos.

JAZMINE CLAIRE MARTINEZ MABANSAG

GAPOS

Ang mgA pAghihirAp nA pinAgdArAAnAn ng mgA kAbAbAihAn Ay hindi hiwAlAy o

ibA sA mgA pAghihirAp ng mAsA.

02 EDITORIAL Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

IllustratIon by MarIa CatalIna bajar belgIra

The Cover

College Editors Guild of the Philippines

Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications

and Writers’ Organizations

layout by PatrICk jaCob laxaMana lIwag andjoMa MIChIko Cruz kaIMoto

E D I T O R - I N - C H I E FCarlo Rey Resureccion Martinez

A S S O C I A T E E D I T O R F O R I N T E R N A L A F FA I R S

Patrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag

A S S O C I A T E E D I T O R F O R E X T E R N A L A F FA I R S

Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla

M A N A G I N G E D I T O RThalia Real Villela

A S S I S T A N T M A N A G I N G E D I T O RJennah Yelle Manato Mallari

N E W S E D I T O RAries Raphael Reyes Pascua

F E A T U R E S E D I T O RLiezl Ann Dimabuyu Lansang

C U LT U R E E D I T O RJose Lorenzo Querol Lanuza

G R A P H I C S E D I T O RJose Paolo Bermudez Reyes

N E W S C O R R E S P O N D E N T SPatricia Anne Lactao GuerreroAdolf Enrique Santos Gonzales

Eunice Biñas HechanovaRonilo Raymundo Mesa

Arthur Gerald Bantilan QuiranteSofia Monique Kingking Sibulo

F E A T U R E S C O R R E S P O N D E N T SChloe Pauline Reyes Gelera

Katrina Maria Limpiada PerolinoAngelica Natividad Reyes

C U LT U R E C O R R E S P O N D E N T SJosef Bernard Soriano De Mesa

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NEWS 03Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

COLLEGEBRIEFS

Throughout the months of March and April, students of the College of Arts and Sciences shall be having their Annual Medical-Physical Examination for S.Y. 2016-2017. For inquiries about the complete schedule of batches and courses, kindly check the UP Manila CAS Student Council Facebook page.

After talks held by the University Student Council with the University Library’s administration and staff, library hours have now been extended to until 8:00 PM on all school days until May 2016.

Students of Development Studies 122 and 155 shall be presenting “Hulalan 2016”, a short production on the upcoming May national elections. The said event shall be held on May 5, from 3-5pm, at the PGH Science Hall.

In line with their 10th anniversary, the University of the Philippines Musicians’ Organization (UP MOrg) brings you “MOrg Live X: Dekada”. It will be held at The Deck, Circuit Makati on April 8 and will feature performances from homegrown MOrg bands and guest bands Ang Bandang Shirley and Autotelic. Ticket price is at Php 200 inclusive of 2 complimentary drinks from Breezer. For tickets and inquiries, approach any MOrg member or contact Penny (09175010356).

ORGANEWS

Tuition hikes hit SUCs anew EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA

Tejada was a first year BA Behavioral Science student from the University of the Philippines Manila who committed suicide in March 2013 after being barred in enrolling due to unsettled matriculation fees.

AnTi-STudenT PoliCieS

Previously in October 2012, the UP Manila administration imposed a policy barring students from attending classes and requiring them to file for a forced leave of absence (FLOA) upon failing to meet the deadline for payment of tuition. Moreover on March 12, 2013, UP System President Alfredo Pascual ordered the tracking of students who have not settled their enrollment fees.

However, Pascual instructed UP units to ensure that no indigent student is denied financial assistance. Prior to the death of Tejada, her appeal for consideration was denied. Tejada had also filed an application for financial assistance which was denied because it was already the mid-semester.

However, according to progressive groups, Tejada is not the only victim of the continuing commercialization of education.

“We have witnessed how tuition and other school fees skyrocketed in both public and private schools during his [President Aquino’s] term and how Kristel Tejada, Rosanna Sanfuego, Jhoemary Azaula, Nilna Habibun, and now Jessiven Lagatic were forced into desperation because of hopelessness in the education system”, stated College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) National Deputy Jose Mari Callueng.

Unable to renew his scholarship, Jessiven Lagatic, a BS Agriculture student from the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) committed suicide on February 11, 2016. Likewise, in 2015, Azaula, Habibun, and Sanfuego took their lives due to expenses and matriculation problems.

“Education has become so expensive under Aquino that many students become dropouts or are pushed to/ desperation like Kristel Tejada. “Literal na nakakamatay ang sistema ng edukasyon sa ilalim ni Aquino,” added Anakbayan national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo.

ineffeCTive SySTem

Meanwhile, Section 4 of the Education Act of 1982 states that institutions governing education are responsible for the regulation of tuition fees and their encompassing rules outside government supervision.

In line with this, protesters during the national walkout demanded the Aquino government to junk both the Education Act of 1982 and the K-12 program.

“GE reform is another scheme to sell UP and UP education to foreignors”, Crisostomo asserted.

“President Aquino’s ‘Daang Matuwid’ killed our right to education and crushed our future. Six years of ‘Daang Mauwid’ ushered the Filipino youth and students into the depths of despair which took the lives of our fellow students”, the League of Filipino Students (LFS) National Chairperson Charisse Bañez maintained.

Furthermore, in a statement in May 2015, Kabataan Partylist Representative Terry Ridon directed the cause of students’ suicides to the deregulation of matriculation fees. Ridon expounded that currently, tuition and other fees increase hinder access to education.

PrivATizATion of eduCATion

On the other hand, Section 6.1 of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum No. 3 series of 2012 (CMO 3) maintained that any changes in matriculation fees made by educational institutions should be consulted with the students.

In line with this, Bañez asserted that President Aquino and CHED are accountable for the unrelenting increase in matriculation and other school fees (OSF). Bañez furthered that there was a 30% to 100% increase in the income of private higher educational institutions from 2010 and 2015.

“This is a scandalous criminal act committed by the regime. While there are already 5 cases of student suicide because of high cost of education, the Aquino government still refuses to exercise its Constitutional responsibility to regulate tuition and other school fees,” Bañez stated.

Meanwhile, the protestors asserted that they will continue to raise their demands to the administration.

“We know what our rights are. We will make this government listen to our demands through collective actions. We are determined to push forward in order to stop tuition increase and junk all other school fees,” Bañez finished.

Nearing the 3rd death anniversary of Kristel Tejada, Anakbayan Party list Youth organized a nation-wide walkout with various activist groups to the Mendiola Peace Arch to protest the increase in tuition and other fees in state universities

and colleges (SUCs) as well as the General Education (GE) reform in the University of the Philippines (UP) on March 11.

Got sumvong?

I-spluk mo na, beh!

- Lola P.

04 NEWS Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

Holler to mah evah wuv wuv cutie patooties na mga afowz!!!!! Itech na me, sooo very very baby back ribs na!!!!! Still alive vat bearly breathing na buh ang peggy niyow?????!!!

Hihihi.

Na-shockers ka buh sa frontal nude pic ng Lola P mow????? Vonggang-vongga na kase ang jinit sa past few days, as in sooper lagatak talaga my fragrant paweees!!! Sobrang hot na hot na kasi sa YuFiEm, kaya hindi me maka-choosing ng gown na isusuot!!!!!

Charot!!! At dahil diyan, sumtayms ay hindi na me nagwewear clothes at home!!!!!!!!! Kalurkey diz heat!!!!!!!!

Pero kahit inet na inet na me, patuloy parin aketch maglilisten sa sumvhongs niyo, afowz!!!!! Ito na sila, boom pak chariz!!!!!!!!!!!

Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng nagjijisang

Lola Patola

Keeping up wid da chizmaxes sumvhong numbah wan: Unfairness

kay Froppie

KKLK naman itechiwa! Itech sumvong mula sa aking afows dahil sa isang unfeeeeeer na froppucino! Sovrang nakakaagit! Ye all know da feeling na kafag nag-exert (oh English yan boom pak!) ka ng vonggacious na effort, pero sa ending ay shorty got low low low ng gradezzz mwah???!!!!! Todo pagoda na ang aking afow in dis class, pero waley pa din!!!!! Sinetch itey froppie mula sa Department of Byuti and Seksi na sovrang vava magbigay ng grade???!!!

Addition pa ng afowz kow, sooper subjective daw mag-grading ni froppie!!! Porket junget daw yung sulat ng aking afow ay mavavavoomvoom na siya maggivelalu ng score!!! Abba abba froppie, hindi buh contents dapat ang checking mo, at hindi painmanship?????? Aneksung’s wrong wid yu, froppie???????? At hindi there nag-ending ang reigning of terrorism ni froppie!!!!! Eggspert din dawsung itey na mang-shaming ng afowz!!!!!!! Scoobs yan, froppie ha!!!!! Ayos ayos din.

Keeping up wid da chizmaxes

sumvhong numbah tu:

Jugal na Grade

Napacreycrey na ng vongga

KIM K EDITION!

ang mga afowz ko dahil may forever na sa tagal ng pagpost ng grades nila sa SIZE!!!! I wuz very shockadir nung shinare ng isa kong afow na halos two years nang na release ang kanyang gradez, pero wala parin itech sa SIZE!!!!! Like OMG, proper na itechiwa kong afow pero dehins pa din niya na-see ang grade niya sa isa niyang GE subject!!!!! Every enrollment na lungs ay road runner ang peg ng aking afow dahil sa pagfofollow up kay froppiechino and sa Opis ng Cool Sexytary!!!!!!

Hindi na alam ni afows kung sinetch ba talaga ang may kasalanan sa majugal na pagfost ng kanyang gradez!!!!!! At, not just one but meni more afowz ang nagjumvong sa akin na waley pa ring grade sila sa SIZE!!!!! Nakakastrezz naman dis type of froppies, sexytarys, and other staffs na kanya kanya silang contrivute sa majugal na pagposting

ng gradez!!!!! Plis nemern, ppl, make bilis!!!!! Saying nga ni mareng

Rihanna, work work work work work!!!!! Charot!!!!

Dat’s all por now, my dear YuFiEm afowz!!!!!

Magpapalamig muna me away from the

hot na hot weder!!!!! Kaya nemern my lobby dobby afowz,

always remembruh that yur Lola P. iz olweys here to listen to your s u m v h o n g s ! ! ! Don’t cha h e s i t a t e , oki????? C u soon! XOXO

ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA

Pwede ring ipadala ang inyong mga sagot sa pamamagitan ng pag-text sa 0917 510 9496 o sa 0917 539 0612! (Pero bawal textmate!)

1 Anong mAsAsAbi mo sA desisyon ng korte supremA nA pAyAgAng tumAkbo sA eleksyon

si grAce poe?

Mukhang may bagong umagang parating para kay Grace Poe. Hindi na rin ako nagulat. - DiKoNaTalagaAlam 2013

OA na naman sa campaign funds yan! Kaloqua. - Panday, 2015

Tulad ng napanood kong video sa FB, sabi nga niya ay parang itinapon lamang ng SC ang halaga ng pagka-Pilipino. Bakit nga naman papayagang tumakbo ang isang taong minsang itinatwa ang kanyang nasyonalidad? At ngayong may hangad siyang posisyon sa gobyerno, tsaka niya ipangangalandakang Pilipino siya. Ganoon na lang ba ang pagka-Pilipino? Ipinagmamalaki mo lang sa oras ng pangagailangan at para lang sa pansariling interes? - CD, DDMMajorInHistory, 2014-xxnakaksnx

Okay lang kasi wala naman tayong magagawa kung ayan ang naging desisyon ng SC. Nasa tao pa rin naman kung sino sa tingin nila ang karapat-dapat na iboto. - MotherMimi, CD, 2014-26787

Proven na ba talaga kung anong roots ni Grace Poe? Kung sino ang pamilya nya? Kasi bakit pa may batas (yung mga criteria sa pagtakbo) kung hindi naman nasusunod? Oo tama ngang bahala na ang background basta may desire na paglingkuran yung bayan pero para saan pa yung mga batas kung ganoon? - PureBoostX, CD

Wala naman akong tutol sa desisyon ng SC. Dapat si Mar ang di payagan. Kasi di siya taga-Earth. Huhuhu - bracepoe, 2014

Ano na ang nangyari sa unconstitutional daw? - Pechenik, 2013

Para sa akin yung desisyon ng SC ay di katanggap - tanggap. Ito’y isang patunay na napakadaling baluktutin ng batas para mapaboran lang ang mga taong katulad niya. Isang malaking sampal sa sambayanang Pilipino kapag nanalo siya dahil kapag nangyari yun, ang pangulo ng bansa natin ay may pamilyang ni isa ay walang Filipino. - maxalvarado, 2014

I saw that coming. - qtp2t

They just allowed a person who once abandoned her Filipino citizenship run for the highest position in the country. Pero nasa mga botante pa rin yan, pinayagan man nilang tumakbo si Poe kahit taliwas ito sa sinasabi ng konstitusyon, wala pa rin namang kasiguraduhan na siya ay mananalo. - 3K, CD

Oks lang. - stan, 2014-****9

Hindi ako masaya, pero ano pa bang magagawa ko? - sacrificial, CAS, 2012-7*****

Okay na lang, para hindi ko na ulit marinig campaign jingle nya habang nagkakaklase. Jusq - clueless, CAS, 2014*****

Sakto lang - NinjaNgErmita, 2015 CAS

Hindi ko na alam talaga!!! Pero bkt ibinaba ang hatol pero to follow na lang ang paliwanag? - d-.-b

Keri lang. - EsengNgTondo, 2013

2sino o Ano Ang hAndA mong i-sAkripisyo sA mAhAl nA ArAw? bAkit?

Lovelife ko. Kasi di ko rin naman sya makukuha. - NinjaNgErmita, 2015 CAS

Si PNoy. We don’t deserve him. We never did. - d-.-b

Chocolate. I like chocolate more than I like most people. - Hays, 2013

Pagiging tamad. Jk. - EsengNgTondo, 2013

Ice cream peroooooo... huhu - Maria, 2012

Acads ko hahahaha tutal handa na akong isuko ang lahat. Lol. - DiKoNaTalagaAlam 2013

Chocolate Ice Cream. Lipat ako sa Vanilla. Hahaha - Panday, 2015

WALA NA! Lahat na naisakripisyo ko! Yung araw-araw pa lang na makita mo yung crush mo na may kasamang iba tapos ikaw nakamasid lang sa malayo, sakripsyo iyon besh! - CD,DDMMajorInHistory, 2014-xxnakaksnx

I dont observe mahal na araw :) - PureBoostX, CD

Pwedeng ako na lang? Isasakripisyo ko na lang sarili ko? Ganoon naman palagi eh. Palagi na lang akong nasasaktan at nahihirapan. Sanay na ako. - bracepoe, 2014

Igi-give up ko na ang pagreplay sa video na sinend sakin ng crush ko hahahaha - littleimee cd

Ang grades ko. dejk lang - Pechenik, 2013

Igi-give up ko na ang dota at clash royale kasi hindi na rin naman sapat yung kaligayahan na hatid nito sakin kahit sobrang daming oras ang inilalaan ko para dito. Hindi na nito ako nasusuklian ng dapat kong matanggap. - Cicinififi, 2014, CD

YUNG PROF KO CHAR HAHAHAHAHAHA - qtp2t

Yung sarili ko. I don’t want to live anymore. - stan, 2014-****9

Wala, at wala akong masabing rason - clueless, CAS, 2014*****

NEWS 05Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

EDSA Pearl Anniv prompts nationwide protests EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA

In tribute of the EDSA revolution’s 30th anniversary, several nationwide organizations and institutions throughout the country once again denounced the 20-year reign of former President Ferdinand Marcos as a pertinent reminder of the atrocities perpetrated by his administration.

never forgeT

Youth groups and martial law veterans alike came together to dispel the mythos surrounding the Marcos regime on the anniversary of the late dictator’s ousting last February 25.

The Kabataan Partylist (KPL), accompanied by other progressive and youth organizations, marched towards EDSA Shrine asserting the need of bringing genuine change to the nation. Moreover, KPL and the other groups reiterated that they fought for the release of political prisoners detained during the Marcos era, some of whom are still being held by the Aquino administration.

Meanwhile, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) also denounced the tyranny of Marcos.

“As campus journalists, the CEGP criticizes the government’s dressing up of the EDSA I uprising as mere historical milestone led by the few, when it is, at its core, more than the

sum of the angry cries of the masses against the dictatorship. Finally, the Guild recognizes the need to be inspired and to learn a lesson from the EDSA uprising—that mass action can create change in society—and calls for Filipinos everywhere to come together to fight government oppression, to resist neoliberal policies, and to clamor for true human freedom and liberty,” said CEGP National President Marc Lino Abila.

In an infographic released by Business World Asia, the Misery Index - a sum of both the national annual inflation and unemployment rates - was shown to be highest during the Marcos era, at one time even reaching a 57-point rating on the scale.

growing ThreAT

Despite the widespread criticism of the Marcos’ regime, a renewed interest in the family has emerged as the late president’s son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., has seen a surge in poll numbers in his current bid for the vice

presidency.

Consequently, hundreds of citizens gathered in the Bahay ng Alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman on February 4 to formally launch the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (CARMMA) several days before the formal start of the campaign period.

“Given the realities of Philippine politics and given the reality of the enormous financial resources he (Sen. Bongbong Marcos) has, he can continue to build up his personality and ambition unless this popular movement would become stronger,” said Satur Ocampo, a former Congressman and martial law victim.

In the same vein, individuals such as senatorial candidate Walden Bello criticized the high approval rating of the Marcoses with young voters, citing the failure of the state to educate its citizens on the horrors wrought by the dictatorship as a possible cause.

“Marcos, we now realize, is a vampire

that will periodically rise from the dead in periods of national crisis, tempting us with the authoritarian solution. The only guarantee we will not go down that dismal road again is if we push beyond the limits of the EDSA regime of elite democracy towards a truly just, truly egalitarian, truly caring democracy,” Bello stated.

Furthermore, Abila stated that the CEGP also denounces efforts by the Marcoses and their cohorts to dilute the true spirit of the EDSA uprising and to downplay it as a mere historical event. According to Abila, Bongbong Marcos’s vice presidential bid is allegedly a testament of how the Marcos family plans to recapture their wealth and power.

JuSTiCe denied

Until the present time, thousands of martial law victims are still denied justice. Dr. Aurora Parong, a member of the Board of Human Rights Victims Claims Board which was made to

Newest UP campus opens in BGC EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA

The University of the Philippines Professional Schools (UPPS) Henry Sy, Sr. Hall was turned over by SM Prime Holdings Inc. President Hans T. Sy to UP

President Alfredo Pascual last March 1.

The 17 campus of the UP system, the building was named after the founder and owner of SM, Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. It is a nine storey building composed of 29 classrooms, three laboratories, faculty lounges, a moot court, a multi-purpose hall, a study area, discussion rooms, office spaces, and an executive lounge.

Furthermore, the 12, 000 square meter land was donated by the state-owned Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), a government agency tasked to convert former military bases to civilian use. The construction was inked in a memorandum of agreement signed in 2014 between UP and SM wherein SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) donated P400 million.

As a Professional School, the latest unit will offer postgraduate courses starting next year from the UP College of Law, College of Business Administration, College of Engineering, School of Statistics, School of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, and College of Architecture.

“The UPPS will offer… programs needed for the professional development of personnel at the many corporate establishments,” Pascual stated.

Profiteering State University

Located in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a central hub for business, many student leaders expressed concern that the new campus serves as a venue to serve private companies since the administration targets private employees as students. Furthermore, they also raised the issue of even higher tuition.

"Nakita na natin na sa mga corporate tie-ups ng UP, gaya ng TechnoHub, laging interes ng mga kumpanya ang namamayani sa huli," stated by former UP Diliman University Student Council Student Rights and Welfare Committee Chair Aryanna Canacan.

Former UP Student Regent Cleve Arguelles manifested that instead of constructing a new campus, the administration should have focused on improving infrastracture and equipment of the other UP Campus.

“Nagpapakita lang ito na unti-unting ginagawang negosyo and edukasyon sa Pilipinas, partikular na ang UP. Ipinapahayag lang nito na ang UP na dating para sa mahihirap ay pagmamay-ari na ng mga mayayaman,” Cleve Arguelles said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Nagsagawa ng kilos-protesta sa harap ng tanggapan ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa Intramuros, Manila noong Marso 15 ang grupong Kontra Daya bilang pagbatikos sa pahayag ng Comelec at Smartmatic na maaaring magkaroon ng “failure of elections” sa Mayo 9. Larawan ni Ronilo Mesa

06 NEWS Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

Sektor ng kalusugan, nanatiling atrasado sa nakalipas na dekada ARTHUR GERALD BANTILAN QUIRANTE

Ayon sa isang pag-aaral ng Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies na inilathala noong 2011, nananatiling huli ang bansang Pilipinas kung ihahambing sa mga kalapit na bansa sa Timog-Silangang Asya at Hilagang Asya kaya naman isa pa rin ang isyu ng kalusugan sa mga patuloy na kinakaharap na

problema ng bansa.

Dagdag pa rito, kahit na nagkaroon umano ng malaking pagbabago sa nakalipas na tatlong dekada, bumagal pa rin ang pag-usad ng ang estado ng kalusugan sa bansa sa mga nakalipas na taon.

Kakulangan sa pasilidad

Sa nakalipas na dekada, tila kulang-kulang pa rin ang mga pangunahing pasilidad para sa kalusugan sa ating bansa. Ito ay base sa datos ng naunang nabanggit na pag-aaral kung saan 60% ng mga ospital sa bansa ay pribado.

Dagdag pa rito, karamihan ng ospital sa buong bansa ay nananatiling sentralisado sa mga kalunsuran. Nangunguna sa bilang ng ospital ang National Capital Region (NCR) at Region IV-A (CALABARZON) na bumubuo nang pinagsamang 17% ng kabuoang bilang ng ospital sa buong bansa. Kabilang din sa kakapusan sa sektor ng kalusugan ay ang pagkamit ng sapat na bilang ng “hospital beds” sa nakatakdang bilang ng populasyon. Ayon sa Republic Act No. 1939 o batas na tumutukoy sa pagkakaroon ng sapat na bilang ng hospital bed, kinakailangang mayroong 1 hospital bed sa bawat 1000 populasyon.

Sa kabila nang pag-iral ng ganitong

batas, nananatiling malayo ang agwat ng bilang ng hospital bed sa populasyon o bilang ng tao ayon sa nabanggit na pag-aaral. Dagdag pa rito, nananatili ring nakatambak sa mga lungsod ang hospital beds kung saan 36% ng kabuuang bilang ay nasa mga rehiyong nabanggit.

Ayon naman sa 2012 Philippines Health Service Delivery Profile, isang kolaborasyon sa pagitan ng Department of Health (DOH) at World Health Organization (WHO), 4 lamang sa 17 rehiyon sa bansa ang nakakatamasa ng karampatang hospital bed to population ratio.

Sa kabilang banda, isa ang Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) sa mga rehiyon na pinakakapos sa bilang ng ospital at mga kaukulang pasilidad sa buong bansa kung saan mayroon lamang 20 ospital sa rehiyon. Hindi rin nakamit ng ARMM ang karampatang hospital bed sa bawat 1000 populasyon. “Kahit anong sabi ng gobyerno na malaki daw ang in-allocate this year, it could not hide the fact na yung sinasabing pondo na yun ay napakalayo pa rin sa hinihinigi o prescribed ng WHO na 5% ng ating Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” ayon kay Jossel Ebesate ng Alliance of Health Workers.

Sa kabilang banda, bigo rin ang DOH na magtayo ng national health information

systems dahil sa kakapusan ng pondo. Ayon sa nasabing pag-aaral, siyam na Rural Health Unit (RHU) lamang sa Luzon ang mayroong computer habang pito sa Visayas at walo sa Mindanao.

Kakulangan sa lakas-paggawa

Hindi rin nalalayo ang isyu ng kakulangan sa lakas-paggawa o healthcare professionals sa sektor ng kalusugan. Ayon sa pag-aaral, nars at komadrona ang may pinakamaraming bilang ng propesyonal sa larangan ng kalusugan. Isa umano itong dahilan kung bakit maraming nurse na ang hindi nakakahanap ng trabaho dahil sa sobrang bilang ng mga nagsisipagtapos sa nasabing kurso taon-taon.

Ipinakita rin sa pag-aaral na mas maraming propesyonal gaya ng doktor (+858), nars (+235), at dentista (+150) ang nagtratrabaho sa mga pribadong ospital kompara sa mga nagtratrabaho sa pampublikong ospital.

Ayon kay Leah Paquiz ng Ang Nars party list, ang pagiging regular na empleyado sa mga pampublikong ospital ay mas maigi kung ikokompara sa mga programa na panandalian lamang na sinasagot ang kakulangan sa health care personnel.

Dagdag pa rito, mas maraming manggagawang pang-kalusugan ang

nasa kalunsuran kung saan 72.7% na mga doktor, nars, dentista, at komadrona ang nakadestino sa NCR habang 42.9% naman sa CALABARZON. Pinakamababa pa rin ang distribusyon ng mga propesyonal sa Mindanao kung saan 9.2% lamang ang mayroon sa ARMM habang 12.2% sa CARAGA.

Isiniwalat din sa pag-aaral na ang Pilipinas ang may pinakamalaking bilang ng mga manggagawang nangingibang-bansa sa iba’t ibang larangan kung saan nasa milyon na ang nagbabanat ng buto sa kasalukuyan. Pangunahing pinatutunguhan ng mga manggagawa, partikular na ang nurse, ay ang Gitnang Asya sa mga bansang Saudi Arabia, UAE, at Kuwait.

Sakit ng kasalukuyan

Isa rin sa mga ugat ng problema sa sektor ng kalusugan ay ang kakulangan sa pondo. Ayon sa pag-aaral na inilabas ng Universal Health Care in the Philippines Gains and Challenges, nasa 4.2% lamang ng kabuoang Gross Domestic Product o GDP ang inilalaan sa sektor ng kalusugan.

Sa kasalukuyang taon, 4.2% lamang ng pambansang badyet ang inilaan ng administrasyong Aquino para sa kalusugan, mas mababa kompara sa 7.7% na inilaan noong 2015.

IPAGPATULOY SA PAHINA 11

Liberal Party (LP) formally endorsed on March 28 its candidates for Manila’s local election including former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim who is running again for the city’s highest administrative position. Photo by Ronilo Mesa

Supporters of incumbent Manila mayor Joseph Estrada gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio on March 28 for the latter’s proclamation rally wherein he also reiterated his support for Senator Bongbong Marcos’ bid for vice presidency. Photo by Ronilo Mesa

CULTURE 07Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

MANGGAGAWA

Maghapon akong "nakangiti" para sa isang sweldong batid kong hindi ko naman makukuha.

Ngalay na ngalay na ang binti ko sa maghapong pagkakatayo sa department store ngayong araw. Ngunit, pagod man sa halos siyam na oras na pagtatrabaho mula Martes hanggang Linggo, masasabi kong mas gusto ko na ang trabaho ko ngayon kaysa sa mga nakakaraan. Dati ay napasok ako sa isang malaking supermarket chain. Maayos sana ang trabaho kung hindi lang ako inaabot ng halos isa't kalahating oras sa pagba-biyahe. Napasok na rin akong saleslady sa isang mall, ngunit hindi naging maganda ang karanasan ko doon sapagkat sa bawat labas namin ng mall o pagpunta sa palikuran ay maya't-maya ang pagkapkap nila sa aming mga katawan na para bang kayang itago ng maiikli naming mga palda ang isang malaking tv o isang pares ng medyas-pambata.

Ngayon naman ay isa akong "promo girl" na walang sawang nangungulit sa mga mamimili hanggang magsawa sila sa matinis kong boses. Dalawampu't apat na taong gulang pa lamang ako pero halos sampung trabaho na ang napasukan ko. Minsan, pakiramdam ko ay nakasakay ako sa isang tsubibo na tumitigil sa pag-ikot kada limang buwan, at ibinababa ako sa isang panibagong trabaho. Bukod sa magastos ang tuwinang pag-aadjust ng aking buhay sa isang panibagong trabaho, pakiramdam ko ay nauupos na rin ako sa tuwinang pag-aalala kung saang kamay ng Diyos ko naman kukuhanin ang panggastos sa matrikula ng aking kapatid at sa pambayad sa renta ng aming bahay sa bawat pagtatapos na naman ng limang buwan.

Sabi ko noon nang nagsisimula pa lamang ako, ang hirap palang mabuhay sa isang lipunang may matinding pagpapahalaga sa college degree. Pero nang lumaon at makita kong minsan ang kalaban ko sa posisyon bilang saleslady ay nakapagtapos ng BA Business Management, napagtanto kong mas mahirap palang mabuhay sa isang lipunang walang pagpapahalaga sa pagsisigurado ng maayos at ligtas na trabaho para sa kanilang mga mamamayan. Totoong matalino ang mga nakaisip ng limang-buwang kontraktwal na mga trabaho para sa mga Pilipino dahil sa pamamagitan nito ay hindi obligadong gawing permanente, at bigyan ng mga benepisyong pangkalusugan at pambahay, ang mga empleyado ng mga kompaya. Ngunit hindi ko alam kung paano sila nakakatulog sa bawat gabi ng batid na sa ilalim ng iskema na ito ay mistulang mga produktong may "expiration date" ang mga manggagawa; mga produktong ibinebenta kada limang buwan bago matutong lumaban, at magkaroon ng isip at kamalayan sa kanilang kasamaan.

TANGIS AT TUGON MULA SA PAHINA 12

At sa lahat ng ligalig at sama ng loob ng mga kontraktwal na empleyado sa bansa ay hindi pa rin kumikilos ang pamahalaan para tugunan ito. Ang problema sa mababang kalidad ng trabaho ay ipinabahala na nila sa balikat ng mga trabahador, at ipinagmalaki sa kanilang mga talumpati ang "masaganang" kondisyon ng mga trabaho sa bansa.

Hanggang sa patuloy na nananatiling bulag ang pamahalaan sa ganitong pandadahas, ang mga katulad kong inaabuso ng

kontraktwalisasyon ay walang ibang pagpipilian kundi ang ngumiti, mangalay ang mga binti, at lakasan ang aming boses sa pagbebenta ng isang panibagong produkto sa merkado.

KANLUNGAN

Animnapung araw ang diumano’y iniatas na palugit upang kami’y mag-alsabalutan. Tatlong buwan ang lumipas, nagsihagisan ang bato at molotov sa ibabaw ng nagsasagupaang mga ulo. Salpukan ng pillbox sa panangga, itak laban sa batuta. Sumirena ang ambulansiya. Wala kaming palag sa sinaboy nilang tear gas. Kung pumayag na kami noong umpisa pa lang na damit at kasangkapan ang tanging tatanganin sa inihain nilang “bagong lilipatan", hindi na dapat umabot pa sa barikada ang pagtangka nilang pagtaboy. Hindi ito pagmamatigas; matagal na dapat nilang kinilala na tinuring namin itong lugar bilang tahanan.

Tanungin mo ang kasaysayan ng ilan sa amin, malinaw pang mailalarawan ang aming pinagmulan. Nawalan kami noon ng pinagkakitaan sa pangangamkam ng mga

ganid sa lupa. Pinagkait ang mga binhi’t patubig sa presyong nagpalubog sa amin sa utang. Sa lagim ng kalagayan sa lalawigan, natural lang na may mag-alsa. Nang gwardiyahan na ng militar ang sakahan, dito kami natulak makipagsapalaran sa siyudad. Pagdating ng Maynila, lalong nawala ang aming pagkatao. Kontraktwal ang trabahong ginugugolan ko ng higit sa kalahating araw. Suwerte ang makaipon kasi ipagkakasya pa namin sa isang araw ang kapiranggot kong sahod.

Para saan ang tulong-pinansiyal kung pababalikin lang kami sa kanayunang minsan na naming nilisan? Masasabi bang tanda ng pag-unlad ang relocation site, gayong panginoong maylupa pa rin ang kumikita sa tinataniman? Ang lakas ng loob ng pamahalaang mag-utos ng demolisyon, binayaran lang ng korporasyon. Atat silang palayasin kami kasi ang totoo, banta kami sa pagpapayaman nila. Para saan ang

patatayuin nilang mall kung magpapabigat lang sila ng bulsa habang binubutas

naman ang amin? Kung kaunlaran ang “paglilinis” sa amin, m a p a g - i i w a n a n tayong bansa dahil ultimong serbisyo-

publiko ay winaglit na alang-alang sa

pagyukod sa pera.

Kung umpisa pa lang ay maginhawa na ang buhay-probinsiya, walang rason para lumuwas sa kalunsuran. Ninanais din naming makauwi, ngunit pinalalapit kami sa kapahamakan bunsod ng kasakiman. Maunawaan sana ng lahat na hindi lang pantay na pagtrato ang aming hinihingi. Ang paglago ng ekonomiya ay nagsisimula sa pag-unlad ng kalagayan ng tao, hindi sa mga establisyamentong magpapaigting lang ng panggigipit sa masa. Matutupad lamang ang tunay na pag-unlad kung sa kanayunan pa lang ay pinamahagian na kami ng lupa

at pinagtuonan ng pansin ang aming edukasyon nang sa gayon ay mapaangat ang aming estado.

KATUTUBO

Basag ang katahimikan ng gabi sa pamamayani ng kadiliman. Pilit kong pinatahan ang aking mga anak kahit ‘di ko tiyak kung saan nanggaling ang alingawngaw ng baril. Dilat ang mga matang nagtatanong kung sino sa aming pamayanan ang walang habas na pinaulanan ng bala. Walang takas sa kaba kung pati eskuwela’t sakahan ay bantay-sarado ng mga sundalo. Makailang-ulit na kaming pinalilikas. Proteksyon raw mula sa mga rebelde kung gayong kami ang pinag-iinitan. Paanong hindi kami mamumuhi kung ang biyayang minana pa ng aming mga ninuno’y pinagkait sa nararapat na magmay-ari nito?

Likas na mayaman hindi lang ang aming kultura, kung hindi pati ang aming lupain. Kaya ganun na lamang pinahintulot ng pamahalaan ang pagdumog ng mga dayuhang kompanya na isa-isa nang nangamkam ng mga mineral. Magbubukas raw ito ng mga trabaho’t magpapapasok ng malaking tubo sa ekonomiya. Wala pang taon ang itinagal, sinagad nila pati pagkalbo sa gubat na nagbigay-daan sa garapal na pagtotroso’t paglawig ng pagbubutas sa lupa. Bahain tuwing bagyo; maalikabok tuwing tagtuyot. Nagsikalat ang tira-tirang pulbos mula sa mga mina tungo sa ilog at kapatagan, dahilan para maubos ang mga isda’t dumami ang mga may hika.

Suhulan man ng mga korporasyon, hindi matitinag ang mga katutubong lider dahil hindi kailanman mapapantayan ng

bilyong salapi ang halaga ng tinubuang-lupa. Hindi kataka-takang matutulak kaming mag-organisa laban sa kanilang kawalan ng paggalang sa aming sagradong teritoryo. Kung ibig sabihin nito’y armadong pakikibaka, tanong ay: mali bang harangan ang yaman mula sa pambubusabos ng

maykapangyarihan? Ang mga sundalo’t paramilitar siyang tunay na terorista

dahil sila ang umuubos sa lahi namin. Maipagtatanggol lang ang lupa

kung aarmasan ang aming mga sarili. Walang ibang paraan kung hindi armadong pakikibaka.

Ang hinaharap naming suliranin ay hindi naiiba sa pagtuligsa ng masang Pilipino laban sa pang-aaping dala ng korporatismo at kabuktutang hatid ng pabayang administrasyon. Ang pakikiisa sa aming pakikibaka ay gampanin na marapat lamang paigtingin ng lahat dahil hindi sapat ang pagmamalasakit sa kapwa o paglahad sa publiko ng bulok na sistema. Ang lupang inaangkin ng naghaharing-uri ay buhay na walang saysay, kaya handa naming ipadanak ang dugo sapagkat tanging buhay ang kapalit upang ipaglaban ang kalayaan.

08 FEATURES Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

The inutility of the government in delivering due services to the nation only serves to douse the flames of optimism that the people hold as they hope for national progress.

Different administrations have passed, but the plight of the masses remains the same, if not aggravated. At present, basic social services still remain inaccessible, while the right to education remains compromised amid its rising cost. Despite promises to eradicate corruption, government officials still enjoy innumerable bonuses and perks while the common Filipino struggles to make it from one day to the next.

To this day, people are unable to seek treatment for their ailments as the public health sector continues to favor the wealthy. To this day, one out of every eight Filipino youth is forced to drop out of school as constant budget cuts and tuition increases bar them from pursuing the education they deserve. To this day, the government continues to reap benefits from the masses’ day-to-day earnings, while the nation is left with making ends meet.

To this day, the right to a decent life is a privilege enjoyed only by those on top of the economic ladder, as the cries against the dire living conditions in the country remain to fall on deaf ears.

The Flicker

Three years after Kristel Tejada’s untimely death, nothing has changed in the system, as Rosana Sanfuego, a student from Cagayan State University and most recently, Jessiven Lagatic, a student from Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, took a similar course of action due to a system that deprived them of their rights to education.

It could be deemed ironic that while similar tragedies increase in number, state universities and colleges (SUC) throughout the entire country continue to experience monumental budget cuts and the rising cost of education. Though the current administration claims that government expenditure has steadily increased the budget of state universities, Kabataan party list representative Terry Ridon has stated that the “increase” presented by the 2016 budget plan is deceptive at best. According to Ridon, personal service outlays (PSO) are given bigger funds while capital outlay (CO) and maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) receive lower budgets, resulting to a net loss in allocations for SUCs. Essentially,

this means that while employees in universities receive more wages, the actual allotment meant for maintenance costs and school spending is decreased. While the government continues to maintain the illusion of “bigger educational budgets”, the MOOE decrease will amount to a total of P477.8 million and a CO decrease of P4.14 billion despite the administration having at least P582.7 billion to designate. With regard to this, at least 40 schools will incur budget cuts even when the government has the capability of increasing the budget for education, thus making it affordable and accessible to the masses.

Aside from dubious government budget appropriations, the payment schemes of state universities themselves also remain to be a part of the problem. Apart from having to pay for tuition, students have to face the burden of being charged with exorbitant other school fees (OSF). For instance, while some state universities such as the Cagayan State University (CSU) claim to be “tuition free”, the cost of education is channeled into other school fees (OFS), which could range from P2,000 to P4,000. The University of the Philippines (UP) itself shares its myriad of problems. Despite the implementation of the Socialized Tuition Scheme or STS — a program that, according to President Pascual, is “more accurate” than the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) it replaced – students continued to suffer discrepancies in the bracketing system, with only 3% of students being fully exempt from paying their tuition. Moreover, the high price of education for a state university such as UP still remains evident, with tuition fees remain exceedingly steep, and with the university’s costs rivaling that of private institutions. Such conditions only reinforce the fact that tertiary education remains inaccessible to the masses as a social service and a right, while the government patterns the path of SUCs to further commercialization.

Tertiary education is but a portion of the problem in the overall picture, as the masses are further subjugated to the rising costs of secondary education. Despite the claims of the Department of Education (DepEd) regarding Philippines being “K-12 ready”, only 48% of public schools have been submitted for K-12 funding and construction, meaning 52% of public schools are still ineligible to run the required curriculums. Thus, around 800,000 to 1 million students will be displaced, and will be forced to either drop out or to enroll in private schools capable of implementing K-12.

The confluence of the aforementioned policies, which are disguised under the premise of increasing the country’s competitiveness in education, only

gears to package well-skilled but not necessarily well-educated individuals. The illusion of K-12 helping the youth to be self-sufficing without pursuing a college degree, along with the rising cost of tertiary education, also treats the latter as a privilege and not a constitutional right. Despite the clamor and need for accessible education, the pleas of the masses continue to fall on deaf ears as the government continues to put a premium on the right to learn, making it a mere privilege for the wealthy.

As the government compromises the country’s educational system to make its people a commodity fit for the labor market, it only keeps on depriving the minds of the very people it is meant to nurture.

The Fuse

Apart from divesting access to public education, the government further creates an inferno out of the living conditions in the country by bereaving the people of due health services.

Another fell victim to the continuing deterioration of the supposed quality services for the welfare of the people as Roger Benigno, a 45-year old construction helper in Isabel, Tuguegarao, chose to end his life upon seeing his hospital bill costing up to more than a hundred thousand pesos. His case is one of the several manifestations of the state deserting its role of addressing the need for affordable and quality health services, which should have been catered to every Filipino.

Under the premise of subsidizing healthcare, Republic Act 7875 was passed, mandating the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to provide “health insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available and accessible health care services for all citizens of the Philippines.” However, such benefits have not been properly amassed by the citizens, specifically in far-flung areas. For instance, according to the survey conducted by the Philippine Health Nursing Association in 2013, almost 70% of Filipinos’ health spending still had to be paid for by patients. Such data were collected from impoverished families located

CATCHING FIRE

Scrutinizing the Delivery of Basic Social Services in the Philippines

Scrutinizing the Delivery of Basic Social Services in the Philippines

PAOLO MIKHAIL PASCUA BUTED, MARILOU HANAPIN CELESTINO, AND KATRINA MARIA PEROLINO

ILLUSTRATION BY PAULINE SANTIAGO TIOSIN

FEATURES 09Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

in Sorsogon, Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, Mindoro Oriental, Eastern Samar, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. Furthermore, interviewees stated that apart from having to shell out money for medicine, they had to purchase medical equipment not provided for by the hospitals, such as syringes, breathing tubes, and dextrose.

Despite the apparent lack of proper facilities in many public hospitals,

the Aquino administration claims that such institutions are already being geared towards achieving self-sufficiency by 2020. This only entails the further corporatization of hospitals and decreases in their respective subsidies. In the case of Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the P3.2-billion budget allotted to it has been omitted

in the proposed 2016 budget of UP Manila under the claim that it was already modernized.

Meanwhile, the costs incurred by the people in availing health

services are ever gradually increasing, as bigger fees have

been brought to the shoulders of the constituents. In 2011, ousted

PGH Director Jose Gonzales released a memorandum regarding changes in

the payment scheme which stratified patients according to their income. Class D patients, who have originally availed an 80-100% discount on clinical examinations and exemptions on for diagnostic x-rays, are now expected to pay fees ranging from P15 to P390 for clinical examinations and P20 to P340 for diagnostic x-rays. With even the Class D patients (whose monthly family incomes fall under a meager P7,500)

charged with hospital fees, it is only evident how public hospitals

such as PGH have been closing their doors from the masses supposedly being able to access such services.

As the inefficiency of the government in ensuring

proper service delivery spreads like wildfire even to the health sector, the marginalized are left subject to their own death sentences.

The Flames

The Filipino’s hope is a flame that burns bright in the midst of

adversarial challenges and hurdles, but amid infinitesimal progress and development, that flame is threatened to burn out and fade into darkness.

Section 1, Article XIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution clearly asserts that it is the duty of the

state to give the “highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good.” But whereas its supposed mandate should promote equal opportunities for the people, the contrary is seen in the actual roadmap and plans of the government for the country.

The sectors of education and health are only two of the many basic social services that are being continuously reshaped for commercialization, as the state continues to abandon its duties and leave such sectors to the profit-minded private corporations. Budget appropriations are gradually decreasing, and yet the root of many social, political and economic problems in the country remains as rampant as ever—corruption. Trends in the Corruption Perceptions Index suggest fluctuating patterns. From being ranked as the 94th during the 2013 Survey, the Philippines went down to the 85th place out of 175 countries in 2014. However, the country seemingly only reverted back to its past state in the 2015 Survey, where it ranked 95th.

The horrid corruption in the bureaucracy could be exemplified during the issues of discretionary funds being embezzled by both the executive and the legislators. For instance, while the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) was presented as an ideal way of decentralizing funding for policy-making, legislators have found ways to circumvent the scheme for their own interest. The PDAF, as a discretionary fund, was given and divided into generous lump sums, with allotments of a minimum value of Php70 million for members of the House of Representatives and Php200 million for members of the Senate. But whilst the PDAF was declared as a fund distributed for the assistance and aid to the people of the Philippines, it was not used to help the people whatsoever. Instead, it has been used as various sources of kickbacks, characterized by under-the-table dealings disguised by the supposed funding of different non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Such NGOs in turn came out to be faux organizations designed by the likes of Janet Lim Napoles.

Rather than focusing on efficient service delivery and allocating the nation’s budget to the different sectors that genuinely need subsidies, the administration has chosen to apportion the funds that will only further their own economic progress and not the country’s. Instead of allocating the money in the channels that need it most, such as education and transportation,

the budget has been brutally cut along with the various social services that have been pushed to the side, in order to make way for the PDAF and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). The DAP on the other hand, which has been considered as a presidential pork barrel, worked as under the reason of maximizing public spending, yet all it has brought to the table are increased deductions in budgets following the bulk release of money to the hands of the greedy officials. Having been affirmed as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, the DAP has also given the executive the power to usurp the functions of the legislative, as it allowed the president to issue a special budget for government projects without the need for Congress approval.

The plans of the government with regard to public spending merely sent a great chunk of the people’s money to the pockets of officials and authorities, instead of being used to improve the lives of the people or the state of the nation. While fiscal responsibility is a substantial solution to the problems of the Philippines that the government has yet to embrace, the current administration has done nothing to relieve the Philippines of its problems on securing public transparency and accountability in service.

Blood has been shed, lives sacrificed, and yet the Filipino people continue to live in darkness—an uncertainty of what tomorrow holds for hungry stomachs and hopeful hearts that burn. The Filipino is more than an entity symbolic of change—but of hope as well—struggling to push for the administration to solve the real problems and create real, lasting change that will improve the lives and further the progress of the masses. However, justice remains nonexistent, as the prevalence of the corruption continues to shroud the country under dismal living conditions.

But the masses stand hand in hand, asserting what should have been theirs all along—and they fight. They do not only fight for the fallen hopes of Kristel, Rosana, Jessiven, and Roger. They fight for the ones who have been rejected a hospital room or the rights to studying under the mandate of the government, for the farmers who have lost the land that they have tilled, and for the various sectors kept marginalized by the government.

They ceaselessly fight for the different services and rights that they should amass—and they spark an enduring struggle.

CATCHING FIRE

Scrutinizing the Delivery of Basic Social Services in the Philippines

Scrutinizing the Delivery of Basic Social Services in the Philippines

PAOLO MIKHAIL PASCUA BUTED, MARILOU HANAPIN CELESTINO, AND KATRINA MARIA PEROLINO

ILLUSTRATION BY PAULINE SANTIAGO TIOSIN

10 GRAPHICS Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

vowed to cater to the needs of poor but deserving students is doing nothing but maintain these repressive and oppressive policies. These students are deprived of their rights to education, a social service that the government is expected to uphold. While this issue certainly seems so long ago, it deserves reiteration because it remains quite relevant, prevalent, and unresolved. Why? Well, I realized that not much has changed. Repressive and oppressive policies are still existent and have even gotten worse - especially now that a new system that presumes a student is rich unless proven otherwise is in place. I hope that we will never forget, not just what had happened, but also what we must do. We owe it her and countless others who had suffered and continue to suffer because of the high cost of education and the government’s apparent disregard of the importance of education. Now is the time to take a stand and ensure that justice will be served. #NeverForget

REMEMBRANCE PAGE 11

Noong 2013 naman, pang-anim lamang ito sa mga kagawaran na may pinakamataas na badyet habang umangat ito nang bahagya noong 2014 kung saan ito’y naging panlima.

Sa kabilang banda, hindi pa rin naaabot ng Pilipinas ang layunin nitong mapababa ang “child mortality rate” alinsunod sa itinakdang Millenium Development Goals (MDG) ng United Nations. Bigo pa ring pababain ng Pilipinas sa target na 67% child mortality reduction matapos mapababa lamang sa 49% noong 2012 ayon sa pag-aaral ng Asian Development Bank.

Ayon kay Vanessa Tobin, kinatawan ng United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund o UNICEF sa bansa, malabong makamit ng Pilipinas ang MDG na maternal mortality ratio (MMR).

Sa kabuuan, nananatili pa ring mabagal ang pagtakbo ng sistemang pang-kalusugan dahil sa samu’t-saring salik na nakaaapekto dito gaya ng kakulangan sa pasilidad, kakulangan sa manggagawa, at kakulangan sa pondo ng administrasyon.

recognize and help the victims seek justice during the martial law period, has now received 75,730 cases to review.

“It’s a long delayed justice, but still I want to give my all,” said Parong, who had also joined the Amnesty International as head of its Philippine desk.

On the other hand, Anakbayan Party list compared the present Aquino administration to the past Marcos regime stating that there was no difference between the two administrations.“With the persistent human rights violations, lumad killings, corruption, cronyism, unabated tuition and other fee hikes, and puppetry to foreign powers, we can say there is no real difference between the Marcos dictatorship and the Aquino administration,” said Anakbayan National Chairperson Vencer Crisostomo.

EDSA PEARL ANNIV... PAGE 05

SEKTOR NG KALUSUGAN 06

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Famous Last WordsAriA HernAndez

REMEMBRANCE

Repressive and oppressive policies that go against the Filipino students and youth’s right to education should be condemned and wiped out.

A few years ago, I heard about a student in the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila who committed suicide after failing to pay her tuition on time was forced to file for a leave of absence (LOA). From what I gathered, they were in a dire financial situation and she had made numerous attempts to appeal for late payment and apply for loans. However, all her efforts had been futile because all of it had been spurned by the administration.

What is worse is the fact that the mainstream media trivialized her suicide and her reasons for doing so. They completely ignored the truth in favor of the version parroted by quite a number of government officials and personalities who do not truly understand the struggle of students and the youth.

Now, while I did grow up in an affluent household, I am quite aware that expensive tuition fees places huge burdens on students, especially those from underprivileged families who struggle to earn money enough for a single meal. I often heard our kasambahays discussing how they budget their modest income so they can send their children to school. But, I do admit that I paid no heed to their stories then, because I couldn’t relate to their lives and concerns.

Like countless students before her, I learned that this student had struggled to remain in UP, not just to learn from the brightest minds of various generations, but to also overcome poverty and financial incapacity. I think she believed that UP, as the premier state university funded by Filipinos, was her salvation until she realized that profit still triumphs over her welfare in this University.

Based on my research, the true culprit here is the existing system in the University, stemming from the government’s inadequate support for public education, which remains profit-driven. This issue is also rooted in the fact that the government has been slashing the budget for education in favor of the demands of big businesses to prioritize their wants and needs. This is why I think that it hardly seems fair that the government who had

OPINION 11Volume 29 Number 12April 4, 2016 | Monday

OF PAPAW AND BURGERSEPHEMERAL LIBERTIESLiezl Anne Dimabuyu Lansang

I could still remember the past Valentine’s Day clearly.

To give a spoiler, it was not about chocolate and flowers and cheesy pick-up lines, but rather feeling the comforts of home after a late two-hour bus ride from Manila. It was tiring, but merely seeing them as they opened the doors for me made me smile because I knew that they were waiting for me, so we can all feast on the take-outs they bought from a certain Chinese restaurant.

The similar set-up remained to be the cycle during all the times I retreat to them that I almost know it like the back of my hand. My grandparents would always scold me with the perils of commuting home at such a late time (at least 9-10 PM is considered late for them), but they would always end the sermon by asking if I’d already eaten. And I know that they had some dish prepared, even if I didn’t ask. My grandmother would usually go back to her bedroom after watching me pick something to eat and my grandfather would accompany me to the dining room to ask if I’m okay with school. And when I climb back to my childhood bed to call it a day, I would always wish that my grandparents could see many, many

more years to come.

I’m probably extra sentimental when it comes to talking about the elderly, because my grandparents served as my mother and father when things went haywire between my mom and dad. But I guess it’s mostly just because the cliché ‘you never realize the worth of something or someone until they’re gone’ has become very applicable at an age where we sometimes forget to look back to our roots.

It’s not new information, but it’s sad when relatives overseas would talk about their jobs, and that is mostly making a living out of taking care of elders who have been chucked to nursing homes—some not even bothered to be visited by their children anymore. It’s sad—how the bond of caring between a parent and a child becomes a one-way street at times, and how parents tend to get overlooked once their duties are done. He may have taken over the Internet by

storm now, but if there was one thing I picked up from the story of Papaw and his burgers, it’s the fact that we don’t have to have reminders telling us when to visit our elderly. We’re more likely to have decades ahead, but they only have years in counting, so they tend to cherish the little things such as short visits or phone calls or greetings. Drastic as it may sound, these are moments that can never be replaced, when they’re already six feet beneath the ground. We may not guess how many more years we are entitled with to spend with them, or how many chances we’ve got, but I think it would be nice to make the most out of it.

‘Happy Grandparents Day’ may still be on September, but here’s to all the grandparents who go the extra mile just to know if their grandchildren are doing okay. Maybe they aren’t as visible as our parents, but it’s a comfort to know that they’re always there for us in one way or another.

And just like Papaw, who finally got visited by his grandchildren, I wish the same for those still waiting for theirs to come home.

drAstic As it mAy sound, these Are moments thAt cAn never be

replAced, when they’re AlreAdy six feet beneAth the ground.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

people who give us the illusion of it. We keep waiting for love that we become pessimistic and cynical of it. We wonder if it’s even real. We become distrustful of others and worse, ourselves too. We keep waiting for love that we become impatient and tired and end up having waited for nothing.

But don’t you think you should stop waiting and start looking at what’s around you instead? Love is just around the corner. And you’ll only find it once you stop being in a constant war with

yourself. And there is no perfect time but now – go on and raise the white flag, put down whatever armour society and media is using to harm your perception of who you are, and start to love yourself despite what others are saying about you, despite what others are dictating you to be.

Love yourself. Fall in love with every bit, every fiber, and every piece of who you are. Be madly in love with yourself. Love every scar, every stretch mark, every inch of your waist line, every

CONSTANT WARSOMEWHERE IN BETWEENJustin Danielle Tumenez Francia

If there is one thing I’m certain of about who I am, it is that I’ll never submit to what anyone wants me to be unless I want it for myself. Because why should I? Why should somebody do so? Is the fact that you only get to live life once not enough to be controlled by another person? And aren’t we absolutely and perfectly entitled to controlling our own lives?

Social media nowadays has done all sorts of promotion for self-hatred, such as romanticized suicide and false body image standards. Depression or feeling unimportant and unloved is pictured as something beautiful and poetic with quotations about it in a black and white background. And with all of these influences that society has brought us, some people see hatred for themselves as something that works like a relief, like an escape.

Some of us don’t feel deserving of love because we don’t receive it; we feel oblivious to it. We keep waiting for love from others that we become wholly dependent on them. We keep waiting for love that we confuse the nearest possible emotions for it – infatuation, obsession, pity, and maybe even pain… because that’s what they say, right? That to love is to experience being hurt, that love hurts. We keep waiting for love that we hurt ourselves just to keep the

pound of your weight, every mole, every freckle, every imperfection there is in you. Love what you do, love who you are, and really, love everything about yourself. And dwell in that. Love yourself so deeply that you would be capable of loving others as well. Love yourself so that you can see your flaws as something that makes you more unique and wonderful, love every single flaw until you can finally say that no one can use them against you. Love yourself so you can learn to put your trust in others again. Love yourself so much that you would not waste another moment being controlled by someone else. Love yourself so you would not wait to be loved. Love yourself so you would never force your dinner to come out. Love yourself so you would never hit the pavement. Love yourself so you can move on. Love yourself to realize that love and the people who ceaselessly give it never run out. Love yourself to have a better experience of the beauty of life, because after all, we only get one shot at this. Love yourself to understand that love should never hurt at all times, that it is not always resentment or pain. Love yourself.

Love yourself because of all the love there is in the world, there is no doubt in my heart that you deserve your own the most.

becAuse thAt’s whAt they sAy, right? thAt to love is to

experience being hurt, thAt love hurts.

EDUKASYON

Nangyari na nga ang kinakatakutan ko. Titigil na ako sa pag-aaral.

Pauwi na ‘ko sakay ng jeep. Hanggang ngayon ay tumutulo pa rin ang luha ko. Nag-file na ‘ko ng LOA kani-kanina lang. Noong nakaraang linggo kasi, sinubukan naming umapela sa administrasyon ng unibersidad na baka pwede naman ay mabigyan pa ako ng palugit sa pagbabayad ng tuition. Pero ‘yun nga, sa kasawiang-palad ‘di kami pinayagan. Strikto raw sila sa pagsunod ng mga patakaran ng unibersidad.

Naaalala ko pa ‘yung pagmamakaawa namin ni mama sa presidente ng unibersidad. Noong nakita ko ang mga patak ng luha ni mama, lumuhod na ako sa harap ng tanging taong makapagsasalba sa’min mula sa desperasyon. Nagmakaawa ako na sana’y mapagbigyan ang tanging kahilingan kong makapag-aral ulit nang walang inaalalang bayarin at nang walang pangambang hindi ako pahihintulutang pumasok sa mga klase dahil hindi pa ako nakakapagbayad ng matrikula. Ngunit kung gaano kalamig at katigas ang sahig na niluhuran ko, ay ganoon na lamang din ang puso ng taong tinitingala ko ngayon. Nasaan kaya ang kanilang puso’t konsensya?

Paglabas namin ni mama ng opisina, halong lungkot at galit ang naramdaman ko. Lungkot,dahil pinatunayan ng nangyari na ang tulad kong dukha ay walang lugar at mabubulok lamang sa isang lipunang pinapaikot ng bulag na pagsamba sa doktrina ng kapitalismo, at galit dahil ang mismong mga inaasahan kong magtatanggol sa pagiging karapatan ng edukasyon ay ang siya pang naniniil sa mga nagnanais magkamit nito. Pero naisip ko, hindi lamang ang administrasyon ng aking unibersidad ang dapat na makatanggap ng lahat ng nararamdaman kong poot at pagkamuhi dahil sila rin naman ay biktima ng baluktot na sistemang pinaiiral ng isang inutil na gobyerno.

Hindi natin dapat palampasin ang gobyernong manhid sa mga biktimang tulad ko ng lumalalang krisis sa edukasyon. Ang panggigipit ng gobyerno sa badyet para sa edukasyon ay isang matinding pruweba ng pag-abandona nito sa responsibilad na tustusan ang pinansyal na pangangailangan naming mga estudyante at mga pamantasan. Sa oras na talikuran ng gobyerno ang mandato nito sa paggarantiya ng karapatan ng lahat na magkamit ng libreng edukasyon, sa pamamagitan lamang ng isang masikhay at masigasig na kolektibong pagkilos natin makakamtan ang isang tunay na siyentipiko, makamasa, at makabayang edukasyon.

KALUSUGAN

Kapag salat ka sa buhay tulad namin, ang pagtatrabaho hanggang sa kamatayan na lang ang masasabi mong sandata mo upang mabuhay.

Bata pa lang ako ay malabo na ang mata ko, pero habang tumatagal ay lalo akong nahihirapang makakita. Katarata na raw ‘to, sabi nila. Baka raw tuluyan na akong mabulag kung hindi ko pa ito ipapatingin sa doktor, ngunit dala na rin n g

kakarampot kong suweldong galing sa construction, mukhang kahit check-up ay malabong panaginip. Sa estado namin sa lipunan, biyaya nang maituturing ang makakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw. Milagro na siguro kung may pera pa akong magagamit sa pagpapagamot, lalo na kung halos bumigay na ang katawan ko kakakayod malagyan lang ng laman ang tiyan ng pamilya ko.

Nasabi nila sa akin noon na kung gusto ko ng libreng check-up ay dumayo ako sa mga pampublikong ospital. Ngunit sa bagal daw ng pag-usad ng mahabang pila doon, mukhang masasayang lang din ang oras ko sa pagbabakasakali. Mas gugustuhin ko na lang na gamitin ‘yong nasayang na oras sa pagtatrabaho sa construction. Hindi rin lahat ay nagkakaroon ng pagkakataong magpatingin, puwera na lang daw kung may pera kang pangpa-admit. Karaniwan ding magkaubusan ng gamot. Sa ngayon, mas mahalaga sa akin ang may maiuwing pera sa

araw-araw, kaysa atupagin ang sakit na alam ko namang dadating din sa hinaharap.

Nakatira na tayo sa isang lipunan kung saan madalas gawing hanapbuhay ng mga nasa itaas ang pagkakaroon ng puwesto sa gobyerno upang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang negosyo. Hindi pa sapat na pagkakitaan ang lahat ng materyal na bagay, naisip din nilang patungan ng presyo ang karapatan

natin sa pagkakaroon ng de-kalidad at libreng serbisyo

publiko. Sa panggigipit na ito ay napipilitan kaming mamili sa pagitan ng dalawang ‘lunas’: ang

hindi pagpapagamot o ang pagdulog sa

mga pribadong ospital. Ngunit alam din namin

na ang pagpili sa alinman sa mga ito

ay siya r i n

n a m a n g maglalagay ng

taning sa buhay namin paglaon.

Ang ganitong klase ng pamamalakad ay lason sa buhay ng masa sapagkat ito rin ang magsisilbing taga-hukay ng ating libingan pagtagal. Ano pa man ang estado natin sa buhay, sa huli, gobyerno pa rin ang dapat sumagot sa ating mga pangangailangan bilang mamamayan, lalo na kung buhay na natin ang nakataya.

KABABA IHAN

Hindi ata matatapos ang araw ng isang babae nang hindi siya sinusutsutan ng mga lalaki sa daan.

Ano pa mang isuot ko, lagi silang may mahahanap na bagay na mapagpapantasyahan. Siguro nga, kahit garbage bag na ang suotin namin, hindi pa rin kami lulubayan ng mga malisyosong mga

Pa k i k i b a k a n g I b a’ t I b a n g S e k t o r n g L i p u n a n pa r a s a K a r a pata n

ngiti at mga nakakakilabot na bulong ng “Hi, miss.”, “Uy, sexy!”, “Mamansin ka naman!” o ‘di kaya’y “Gusto mo bang paligayahin kita?”

Ang pananaig ng patriyarkal na lipunan ang siyang nagturo sa karamihan na mas mababa ang antas naming mga kababaihan kaysa sa kalalakihan. Nasanay ang madla na tignan kaming mga babae hindi bilang mga tao kundi mga bagay na puwedeng ariin at gamitin para sa pansariling interes. Sa media pa lang, talamak na ang ‘pagbebenta’ sa katawan ng kababaihan. Paniguradong tampok sa maraming commercials at maging sa mga magazines ang mga babaeng nagpapakita ng balat kahit na wala itong kinalaman sa produktong kanilang ineendorso.

Sa perspektiba ng karamihan, marahil walang mali sa mga ganitong mga marketing strategy. Marahil ay nakatanim na kasi sa isipan nilang mas mababa talaga ang antas namin. Hindi pa kasi siguro nila nararanasan ang takot sa paglalakad sa gabi sa pangambang may nakaabang na rapist o ang hiya na nararamdaman namin sa tuwing tinatrato kaming parang “karne” na puwede kainin, o kaya naman ay “tropeo” na puwedeng ipagmayabang sa lahat. Pinalala ng mga kompanya ang tingin sa amin sa lipunan nang ginamit at pinagtagpi-tagpi nila ang katawan namin upang makabenta ng mga produkto nila. Nakikita kami sa lipunan bilang mga kagamitang makakatulong sa pagpaparaos at pagtanggap ng panandaliang

sarap.

Marahil ay tunay lang kaming makakalaya mula sa ganitong pagtingin sa amin kung

maitatanim sa isipan ng lipunan na, imbis na ikahon kami kasama ng mga materyal na bagay, ay tignan at pahalagahan nila kami bilang tao at mamamayan. Kung bibigyan nila kami ng kaparehong mga karapatan na tinatamasa ng mga kalalakihan – ang pagkakataong makapag-aral at makapagtapos, magkaroon ng pantay na sahod sa aming mga propesyon, at higit sa lahat, mapakinggan ang aming mga saloobin at hinaing – makalalabas kami mula sa seldang tumatapak sa aming dignidad.

Hindi lang sa pagtamo ng iilang mga karapatan natatapos ang paglaban namin para sa pantay na pagtingin at pagtrato sa amin ng lipunan. Sa huli, mahalagang malaman ng lahat na kahit kailan, hindi dapat maging basehan ang kasarian sa pagdetermina ng dignidad at kakayahan ng isang mamamayan na makapagdala ng pagbabagong tutulong sa paghulma ng lipunan.

IPAGPATULOY SA PAHINA 07

TANGIS AT TUGONTANGIS AT TUGON SEKSYON NG KULTURA

DIBUHO NINA DANIE RODRIGUEZ AT LIZETTE JOAN CAMPAÑA DALUZ