SUCs Strike against budget cuts, Malacanang issues budget "insufficient" accdg. to SUCs

SUCs Strike against budget cuts,

Malacanang issued budget "insufficient" accdg. to SUCs

About 8.000 students from different State Colleges and Universities marched hand in hand to Mendiola last Friday fighting for greater state subsidy as well as against budget cuts.

Known as "The March for Education", the University of the Philippines, as well as member schools of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges marched from Diliman, Sta. Mesa, and others directly to Mendiola all against the policies laid by the government especially those of cutting its budget on education.

The protest even featured a mass planking of students in Mendola, that according to the organizers, a "record" as protesters converged and planked altogether as a form of protest. That, according to Raymond Palatino of the Kabataan Partylist, 20,000 students, teachers, and SUC officials took part in mass planking, walkouts and marches in nationwide protests.

"The nationwide strike embodies the outrage of our SUCs against the inaction of the Aquino administration to reverse the cuts and provide sufficient funding for our public universities," he said in a press statement Friday.

However, according to Malacanang, it has proposed a P5.54-billion budget for UP in 2012, higher than this year’s P1.39 billion but not enough as it goes far from the estimate P18 billion UP needed for its campuses according to student groups. The budget cut even likely to justify increase in tuition and other fees in SUCs same goes in Private schools who oppose yearly increases. The policy Malacanang made rather realizes its side effect as President Aquino in his budget statement last year stated that there were indeed cuts in SUC spending:

“We allocated P23.4 billion to 112 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in 2011. This is 1.7 percent lower than the P23.8 billion budget for 2010. We are gradually reducing the subsidy to SUCs to push them toward becoming self-sufficient and financially independent..”

Student groups meanwhile also said the budget “contains an overall cut of P569.8 million” for some 50 state schools. Some 220 SUCs will share the budget as enrollment increases in public tertiary schools amid rising tuition in private schools. Self sufficiency had limits, as it negates the essence of being a State-supported institution such as a university, that even other State supported entities such as hospitals also faced problems such as lack of medicine and supplies like those of Fabella Hospital in Sta.Cruz Manila according to Einstein Recedes in his speech.

Students who joined this week’s protest came from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, UP Manila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, Rizal Technological University, Bulacan State University, Philippine Normal University as well as Private schools such as University of the East and University of Sto. Tomas.

Treating Miscellaneous fees as "Minor Issue" is not minor for the masses!

Treating Miscellaneous fees as "Minor Issue"

is not minor for the masses!

Last June 9, 2011, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond "Mong" Palatino pushed for a revised set of guidelines that will regulate school fees especially what he called the “dubious and notorious” miscellaneous fees being collected by schools.

This kind of call, is a resonse to recent events concerning increase in Tuition and Other Fees and its negative impact as more and more students, parents, and other "Consumers" (according to the Government) are questioning concerning increases both in public and private schools, especially on “the rampant imposition of unjust, redundant, arbitrary and exorbitant miscellaneous fees in schools nationwide.”

Obviously, most private and public educational institutions are trying to justify their actions citing from "Education Act of 1982, CHED Memorandum 13 and other decrees, including "private schools as a business institution" or the recent Education Budget cut alibi that much infuriates the low-income majority in regards to them. In regards to state universities like U.P. or P.U.P., they should have been given subsidies being known much as "State Universities" and as for U.P. as a "National University" that is, a primary obligation of the State to give a large chunk of national budget instead of resorting it to obligatory payments of Tuition and Other Fees. It makes no sense to call a "State supported educational institution" if there are fees to be paid, or worse, an increase.

Well... according to Deng Xiaoping:

Making education universal and raising educational standards are the main issues needing to be addressed in the field of education. Our policy in this regard is that education should be made universal and educational standards raised and that we should not overemphasize one to the neglect of the other. If we only make education universal without raising educational standards, our science and culture cannot progress rapidly.

In the Philippines, a need for a universal education system should be addressed and its graduates be given real decent employment, domestically instead of being forced as migrants or be pressed into jobs that aren't important in regards to nation building, that, for example, a nation needs doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers working for the community instead of nurses or call centre agents working on behalf of a foreign entity. The current education trend still continues to dominate, that, as expected by many, steering the nation backwards through loss of brain and brawn in the country.Worse, that every student and parent are still facing the yearly tuition and other fee increases that, instead of generating more graduates be end up having some or few diploma-carrying individuals and more dropouts citing poverty as its main causes. The system, obviously, remained aloof at the current situation that they often evade or treating the matter as a minor issue due to its deregulated structure. Obviously, science and culture cannot progress rapidly if having a "Laissez Faire" in education be tolerated regardless of the so-called "reforms" and "measures" merely acted as a facade or propaganda. We've watched certain reports about students questioning the credibility of schools when it comes to paying fees. For example, E.A.R.I.S.T. obliged students to pay "Aircon fee" in pursuit of putting Air conditioners in classrooms, but isn't it obvious that kind of fee should be carried by the obligatory expenses under the tuition fee? Same as in Energy fee and other expenses, charges that obviously end up as sources of income.

However,

C.H.ED., in pursuit of appeasing students and administrators, attempted to create a set of guidelines in regards to paying Miscellaneous fees and the like; they separated into "Basic" and "Incidental" ones that most of it are rather supposedly to be carried by the Tuition itself; like "Medical and Dental fee" for instance, it is supposedly carried under the Tuition, same goes the "Cultural" and "Internet" fees. The "Student handbook" should even be fall upon "Student Publications" also; since how come a student handbook can't be a part of a publication of the institution? Or rather why not be a part of the Tuition also?

Well... the Studentry cannot be fooled by the dubious tactics of the pseudo-educators and crooks in toga. The Miscellaneous fees, alongside increase in Tuition is the manifestation of a "Legalized" extortion using such "reasons" like "development" and so fourth; if so then how come some rooms aren't been developed? Modernized? Improved? C.H.ED. may have tried much to justify and expand what fees are ought to be paid, and somehow the crooks in toga would create means to expand also, using the so-called "regulation", "guidelines", "statutes" that more and more students, particularly with working-class backgrounds would never, ever accept it. For sure some would say that "How come I need to pay additional fee for U.E. Today yet I got no issue of it?"

Paying additional fees, alongside increasing it and putting some interest, and justifying crisis outside rather makes the crisis worsen. And treating it as a minor issue is nonsense, for it is not minor to those who pay. Education, first and foremost, is a right of the majority; and it is the duty of the state to ensure the well-being of everyone in giving knowledge, reason, and livelihood.

Costly Education=Literacy loss

Costly Education=Literacy loss

by Lualhati Madlangawa Guererro

Today marks the opening of classes.

After a month long vacation and of enrollment, children are starting to wear again their school uniforms and taking again their responsibilities, as students, and of course, experiencing different kinds of repressive policies, ranging from direct contact to indirect ones-especially in terms of finances in midst of the crisis.

Proven by the current events involving the Education sector, parents, and the students themselves, Education nowadays is reduced to a commodity due to the recent policies detrimental to the growth of literacy rate in the Philippines as well as the policies enticing every Pilipino to do manual labour, to be in the poorhouse than to finish (with a diploma plus a degree) with full colours. People somehow expected much about this catastrophe as primary and secondary schools are expecting more and more students crowding in a cell fit for 40 persons while in Colleges are expecting people paying a bigger fee especially those who are returning.

However, there are some who kept on maintaining the policies of the rotten social order in regards to Education. For the sake of "Cheap Labour Policy" created upon to cater Foreign capitalists and to maintain the conditions of a dependent semi-feudal, semi-colonial society, created a series of so-called reforms in order to "uplift" the quality of Philippine Education that in fat, steering backwards.

How come?

The Education budget remained too little to face the biggest expense the administration ought to take upon. The Brigada Eskwela may had been "successful" as a propaganda montage, but the reality showed that the government issued a "Laissez Faire" policy issuing private entities to step-by-step controlling public education, especially in State Universities and Colleges like U.P. during the Arroyo administration. The Government even still insisted another level both Elementary and High School, plus a "Univeral Kindergarten" in order for the young to adapt the present policies issued by the order.

As expected, these policies meant expenses for parents. They may be good to hear at first, especially about having a mandatory Kindergarten and additional year level for both Elementary and High School, but for the sake of cheap labor seemed to be too stupid to implement upon it-especially imposing "Work Education" (a variant of Technology and Livelihood Education, or earlier, Technology and Home Economics) and to vent an alibi that "they wanted easy employment instead of having a College degree". For sure parents wanted to have a child earning a degree rather than working as a wielder isn't it?

And in regards to colleges, the never ending saga of budget cuts and tuition and other fee increases continue to prey upon to students, especially to the lower middle and lower class backgrounds, creating much discontent from the majority. In the University of the Philippines, the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program remained an object of criticism amongst students same as the Cafeteria-like Revitalized General Education Program. These both programs cater much to foreign and elitist interest and worse? Justifying the increase in fees in an institution the Government ought to take as a responsibility to educate the youth through having a bigger chunk of budget in it.

Once, according to IBON, that contrary to 58 Centavos going to Debt Servicing and 7 Centavos to the Military, only 1.6 Centavos goes to all 112 SUCs and one proposed higher budget is equivalent to only 2.2 Centavos. If that's the case then what kind of Government the people have as of these days having a small budget in Education despite paying taxes promising that these be allocated to the hope of the nation? Then wanting additional year level in Elementary and in High School plus a universal Kindergarten to all children? Again, isn't it foolish to do so?

Last time, workers had dismayed after a short increase in their wages, followed by increase in commodities as well as fares in Jeeps and in Buses, plus the M.R.T. and L.R.T. then this one?

Again, in U.P. There are certain changes in the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program; that The new changes have resulted in a 50 to 65 percent tuition increase. From charging P600 to P1,000 per unit, U.P. now charges P1,000 to P1,500 per unit according to Vencer Crisostomo. Will the ordinary student mostly coming from the lower class afford to study in a "National University" catered by the Government?

According to Bulatlat:

"In the S.T.F.A.P., students are categorized into five “brackets,” widely understood to be a ranking based on their reported household income. All students are assumed to be part of the “default bracket,” and submit themselves to a lengthy application process to qualify for other brackets with cheaper tuition rates. In the Diliman, Manila, and L.B. campuses, the brackets are P1,500, P1,000, P600, P300, and P0, with P1,000 being the “default.” In Baguio, Pampanga, Visayas, and Mindanao, the “default bracket” is pegged at P600."

But, according to Crisostomo:

“Starting this semester however, the default brackets have been changed to P1,500 and P1,000 per unit, respectively. This, in effect, is a virtual tuition fee increase from P1,000 and P600 per unit,”

The program affected most of the students who wanted to study in U.P., that a full 25 percent of all the U.P.C.A.T. passers this year chose not to enroll while some who did enroll, backed out after discovering how much the tuition- that is, the result of the program justifying the Tuition Fee Increase, after all Crisostomo said:

“Instead of providing access to poor students, the STAFP has become an instrument for tuition hikes,”

The Kabataan partylist even dismayed that 1,011 of the 3,826 U.P.C.A.T. passers this year did not confirm their slots in the university. Proven that a total of 303 who confirmed did not enroll. Meanwhile some of the 1,011 passers who chose not to enroll at U.P. received scholarships from other universities: Forty-one were granted scholarships at the Ateneo de Manila University, nine at De La Salle University, and one at the University of Sto. Tomas. These results again are the effects of the Program! Isn't it a foolish act to have few students enrolled despite more promising ones passed on that exam? How come U.P. got that very few pecentage of students while gaining A.D.M.U., U.S.T., D.L.S.U., and other "Class A" Universities?

Again, these are the products of policies detrimental to the increase in literacy rate of the Nation. Having a Costly Education results to losses especially in having educated individuals whilst the rest are nothing; one group even said that "Kung walang Knowlege, walang Epal" (Without Knowledge, there's no person to butt in), or even justifying S.T.F.A.P. as 'education being a right of the poor thru the charity of the rich' or any other sentiment, including justifying budget cuts and instead focusing on mere scholarships, that in fact dole-outs for the chosen few whilst the rest, despite passed in U.P. failed to reach the quota.

If Capitalist-inclined policies made by the profiteers continue to prevail, perhaps we're seeing parents paying too much for the sake of 5 year old kids being pressed for Kindergarten while some be end up being pressed to work than to pursue their goals-as future professionals of the Nation. As evidenced by the K+12 program to the S.T.F.A.P of U.P., as well as the usual Tuition and Other Fee Increases from both State and Private Colleges and Universities. Scholarships are not enough to support millions of students, nor the current Education budget supported the millions of needs, priorities for the Education sector.

The State needs a Patriotic, Scientific and People based Education before Losses in Literacy rates increases. If not, more and more protests will come in every major city, venting a series of grievances and rages in order for the System to stop their stupidity guised as reform and stability measure.

KM salutes student activists for revealing state of nation, exposing Aquino's lies-NDF

KM salutes student activists for revealing state of nation, exposing Aquino's lies*

Ma. Laya Guerrero
Spokesperson - Kabataang Makabayan
April 19, 2011


Calls on the Filipino youth to ‘Serve the People’ and join the revolutionary movement

As expected, Aquino trumpeted the “Conditional Cash Transfer” and the so-called efforts of his administration to stamp out corruption in government, and claimed these as his major accomplishments in his speech at the University of the Philippines Diliman graduation.

As if having a memory-gap of grand-slashing the social services budget this year, Aquino’s contrived flattery would later on fall flat on his face when UP Student Regent Jacqueline Eroles touted him as summa cum laude in budget-cuts and that the university’s recognizing him with honorary Doctor of Laws is an insult to the Filipino people.

The Kabataang Makabayan applauds UP students and SR Eroles for standing and not failing to remind Aquino, who earlier sat next to her, that the reality in Aquino’s pambobola is this year’s huge budget cuts not only to the premier state university and Philippine General Hospital but to other social services as well. Eroles’ chanting of “Edukasyon, edukasyon, Karapatan ng mamamayan!” (education is a people's right) signaled the standing of other graduates who also raised placards stating "Walang pagbabago sa ilalim ng administrasyong Aquino (Nothing has changed under Aquino)".

KM likewise salutes the brave graduating student of the UP Manila for holding a lightning rally during the graduation rites last week and calling attention to the plight of millions of Filipinos and new graduates who are either ending in the league of unemployed or are forced to migrate as the current government offers no decent employment programs for the people.

Aquino’s speech writer should have been smart enough. You could not delude the Iskolar ng Bayan and the entire people with the debt-funded CCT subterfuge as this is nothing but “dole-out” and breeds more patronage and corruption through to the lowest level of bureaucracy.

By dole-outs and anti-corruption antics, Aquino and his propagandists try to hide the real systemic inequality and root cause of social problems like poverty, hunger, unemployment, land monopoly, and US intervention.

Aquino’s shallow anti-corruption slogans are itself eaten away by his administration’s policies. Despite flagrant corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Aquino approved recently a whopping 11billion peso additional budget for weapons purchase and to appease the demoralized military.

What about the Kamag-anak Inc. who comprise his family and the biggest bourgeois compradors in the country like Danding Cojuancgco benefit? Is it a coincidence that Aquino is now sending the US troops and the AFP in the disputed Hacienda Luisita in the name of Balikatan Exercises to give medical and dental mission or to terrorize the farmers and dissuade them from militant struggle for land reform?

What about all the rhetoric that hinges on change? Aquino administration’s neo-liberal policies that mimic Arroyo’s, unmask his administration as truly allied to its comprador-landlord class and its US imperialist master.

Aside from Aquino’s CCT, Private-Public Partnership as his central economic policy is pushing for greater privatization, deregulation and liberalization of country’s economy. These have immediately resulted to further commercialization of education, diminishing budget to education and social services, sky-rocketing prices of oil products, food and basic necessities, rising transportation costs, attacks on urban poor livelihood and demolitions, wage freeze and anti-worker policies.

Aquino regime remains subservient to the dictates of US imperialism not just with the perpetuation of the Visiting Forces Agreement and implementation of Oplan Bayanihan after the US Counter-insurgency guide. It connives in burdening the people with pro-imperialist K12 education reform plan, and sells out the nation’s natural resources for the plunder and exploitation of multi-national corporations and big extractive companies.

Aquino’s incompetence and anti-people regime drives more youth to be awakened and that will hound Aquino with protests in wherever part of the country he goes in the coming days.

Thus, KM urges the students and youth to hold similar protest actions in your graduation rites and beyond. Being critical, the youth can speak truth by exposing the real issues of the day and the anti-people policies of the US-Aquino regime.

KM urges the youth and students to go to the basic masses, make-use of your energy, talents, skills, or whatever profession and hone them for the benefit and service to the people. The countryside is a vast area where we can learn that only through changing the current system, which breeds exploitation of peasants and workers, will there be a bright future for the Filipino youth and people. Only through genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization can the road of progress and justice be led to the people, and proceed to socialist transformation and construction.

So long as the rotten, corrupt and unjust semi-feudal and semi-colonial system pervades and maintained by US imperialism, the Filipino youth and student will continue to rise in bigger number, and together with the people seek for the revolutionary transformation in our country.

We welcome all progressive and freedom-loving youth to join the ranks of the revolutionary youth under the Kabataang Makabayan and embrace armed struggle of the people.

Filipino youth, go and learn from the basic masses!
Join the New People’s Army!

* Url:http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2011/04/km-salutes-student-activists-for.html

Let the hatred of the Studentry and the Masses fear the cohorts of the rotten social order!

Let the hatred of the Studentry and the Masses

fear the cohorts of the rotten social order!

another message for the Graduates

Nowadays, we've all witnessed at the halls of our every alma mater the call of reality. That, after studying for years, and witnessing all the facts of life, this time compels us to face and with our experiences and lessons be its means, a catalyst for a concrete, comprehensive, progressive, meaninful change that will serve the rest for generations.

Idealistic isn't it? But then everything is all come from what was and is going on in our rotten society. That the system itself, consists of those classified as the enemies of the laboring people, the despotic landlords, corrupt bureaucrats and capitalist profiteers steered us downwards and usually putting us into shame. That, despite finishing in our respective courses be compelled in becoming nothing but accept the fact that we to become as slave laborers abroad, be at the call centres, or to be a part of the massed ranks of the unemployed. The growing economic crisis both here and around the world counters such reforms and measures that, in fact as mere pieces of paper and toppings for repressive policies all in the name of "economy" and "order."

Students, people, accept the fact that we are been fooled enough by those sitting from above! The echelon called for changes, and yet the rotten features remained still and continues to creep in our minds their illusions and ideas just to counter our will. Yes, that will is inevitable, and that is the will to rebel.

That, as all of you are possibly starting to look for a job, earn little, setting up a budget or saving it, yes, it may consider it as a means to be productive, but regardless of our actions, still what we may have possibly had is "too little" for our needs even we save a lot or to buy cheap things that in fact, may also affect in price increases. We may tried much to improve ourselves yet is the society encourage that? No! But rather to force us to remain contented in mere things despite advancement. That buying low-quality goods is cheap and better ones as expensive as its norm, so is the increase in the prices of commodities and having low wages despite working overnight, especially for a worker.

And for sure in this endless cycle of repression the society runs against us compels us rather to vent our rage against them. It is not idealistic so to say, but an effect of our realities that became a part of our daily consciousness-that life sucks rather for the rest of us, regardless of our titles we carried in every institution. And that rage emanates from us accepts an inviolable truth-to see the world, our society, our history is a stage of struggles.

Since the gates of reality hath opened, and the gates of our institutions starting to close on us, let us remember that we, being the fooled by the system, the wretched of the earth to be, the social volcano is still starting to erupt. We may be starting to create our own lives, but still, the system paranoically limits our every move for the sake of order and their illusory peace, that only a tendency that is contrary to their norms is the solution.

Let the hatred of the Studentry and the Masses fear the cohorts of the rotten social order!

Let a real, comprehensive, progressive social change be commenced!

"A stronger unity against the system and the crisis"

"A stronger unity against the system and the crisis"

Message for graduation day

Graduates,

At first, we are profoundly greateful as all of us, after passing the trials in the four corners of the classroom end up having a citation. Grateful, that most of us have also opened our eyes to the realities of life that is, different from the dreams, ideals what is coming upon us.

True, that in this piece, speaks about the life of our society. The purpose of protecting our life, liberty and happiness of us and the rest who till, forge, work all for the betterment.

But that betterment as we expected nowadays are not the ideal betterment as those who control the society further steer the society backwards all despite the reforms they've been made and initiated. Such reforms and programs so to speak are not even concieved to uplift the people nor to steer into improvement, but as toppings for their prevailing repressive policies and ideas that pushed us the rest down all in the name of order. We may disregard it away yet we faced those things much from the paper to the T.V. otherwise, turing it to another channel, looking at the showbiz page or anything just to escape the realities that in fact, unhelpful and counter-productive.

But still, despite the apathy prevailing there are still those who are willing to counter the tide of repression, intolerance, crisis that is creeping and pushing us downwards regardless of what we are and our ideas with. We still sought demonstrations against the oil price increase, increase in the price of basic commodities, tuition and other fees and even policies that as if productive in appearance but destructive since it counters the will of the toilers and tolerates the will of the few. Such couragious people indeed are the ones who vent out protest, after all regardless of calling it a hindrance as the system speaks off, are the ones who experienced everything-that they till, forge, earn, save yet luckless as they meet prices and charges increasing.

For sure most of us are luckless nowadays even those who are with honours with shiny medals bear in our necks, still endure the crisis that individual ideas can't counter it. We may still tried enough to be like Neitzsche's Ubermensch but not enough as he himself insist in individualism, yet he understood how man itself is a matter, that has no value or dignity except as creator and transvaluator of cultural values whose creativity serves the future, of thinking that the individual as of instrumental value, yet having their function as essential, since they, and not institutions, systems create cultures.

But will that he, alone can fulfill in creating change even he started it? He may have started it, but still it is useless since it is merely from his own without any benefit nor value for others except as a creator. He may've changed his lifestyle but does it changed the society as well?

To tell frankly, this statement calls for unity as a means for change, but that unity is not like those shallow ones with less results. A guided, comprehensive one that, as Mao Zedong stated:

" If we study history, we find that all the movements that have occurred in the course of history, of whatever type may be, have all without exception resulted from the union of a certain number of people. A greater movement naturally requires a greater union, and the greatest movement requires the greatest union. All such unions are more likely to appear in a time of reform and resistance..."

Sorry to quote Mao Zedong, but his words mirror the fact that being a creator of history, a participant in an endless struggle called for a greater unity of every individual, of every Ubermensch (to use Neitzsche) in breaking the cycle that pushed us backwards, downwards all just to maintain order. That from the senses lies consciousness, ideas, action, reason, faith a la the scientific method. For sure most of graduates taught that method and create means to break age-old ones right? As we study History, Logic, everything lies the fact that as we exist meant facing repression, illusion, degredation, that the only solution is Revolution, and that Revolution requires unity, struggle, unity, struggle, and so forth as it advances.

Sounds weird isn't it? But still both history and reality wittnessed things that what the earlier statement Mao Zedong stated. Same as here:

"The decadence of the state, the sufferings of humanity, and the darkness of society have all reached an extreme. To be sure, among the methods of improvement and reform, education, industrialization, strenuous efforts, creation, destruction (of that which is bad and outmoded), and construction are all right, but there is a method more fundamental than these, which is that of the great union of the popular masses."

True to say so, that what makes everything possible to create a good future is the great unity of the people, but is it the entire people in general? Including the oppressors and slanderers of our kind? A shallow unity so to speak without any result except that "we are united?"

Few amongst them may likely to understood and remold to join us, but the rest remained aloof and trying to be ignorant all despite the coming change starting. That though this great unity within the sphere of struggle lies tremeandous result. For sure all of us are wanting peace in our homes, good life and complete everything for our well being, but will these be fulfilled in a system that is rotten, dilapidated and repressive?

We've faced the trials of our daily lives regardless of our social status-increasing tuition and other fees, rampant student repression, increase in commodities yet low in wages, corruption amongst government officials and foreign intervention in our society. Isn't it too contrary to our so-called dreams that perhaps, becoming impossible to realize all despite haivng high grades and the like?

Well, we cannot deny an inviolable fact that the history of this world is primarily a complete struggle. And through our experiences, there's only one solution-taking up the weapon and join hand in hand in dismantling the rotten system and to build a bright future better than the past and our present. That our struggle as a nation is also moving towards the struggle between ourselves and our backgrounds, of realities and dreams, and our unity against the society.

Graduates, the gates of reality hath open, prepare to meet thy doom as crisis, repression, degredation, awaits us!

THE STENGTH AND TOMORROW IS IN US!"

"THE STRENGTH AND TOMORROW IS IN US!"

A message in support of Progressive-leaning studentry against the rotten system

By Lualhati Madlangawa Guererro

Alongside the opening of the year is the start of the student council elections in different colleges, universities in the Philippines. And one key objective of every student is to be active in the electing the next student leaders of their respective institutions.

However, despite the promises, discourse and speeches laid upon to them, we must recall the important events in history in order to know the victories of its past, the challenges of the present, and the directions needed to take upon for tomorrow. It is also important to know who's really active, having a strong stand in regards to the problems and willingness to serve the people, particularly the students and its rights and welfare.

As of this day, most progressive student political parties, like STAND UP, ASAP KATIPUNAN, SAMASA, KBPA and TNSPA of UE Recto and Caloocan, ACT NOW of UST and DARE ARELLANO, shown its defiance against the system from opposing yearly tuition increases to massive student repression and state terrorism. And its collective strength, with the help of the students and perhaps their respective communities itself lead to greater victories as it actively defending the studentry and the people in the middle of direct attacks against their right to education, progressive instruction, and other aspects of academic freedom and welfare.

From the 1.39 Billion Peso budget cut in UP, as well as similar ones in other SUCS, to the yearly increase in tuition and other fees in Private Schools laid widespread opposition amongst students all despite massive harassment and coercion by the administration and some faculty members allied in it. Worse, being responded with actions like those in PUP and once in UE-that led to expulsions. Sorry to say but these actions manifested how crisis affected the studentry and of course the laboring people while the profiteers, educator compradores insist in increaseing profits alongside the use of Fascism in their respective institutions. Yet continuously being resisted by collective efforts laid by the studentry-leading to victories like the additional 110 Million Peso in maintainance and other operating expenses budget of SUCs, the 226 Million additional budget for UP, and even scrapping of such attempts detrimental to the studentry like the "No Long Hair Policy" in UE.

We must also remember that attempts for budget cuts in education and social services as well as yearly tuition and other fee increases are a part of the system's program to appease the profiteers and the growing trend of Globalization, Commercialization, Privatization and other "Ions" that is pleasing for their personal ambitions like giving away public owned land to private corporations and telling to the studentry like "improvement" as an alibi like Ayala Technohub and other similar projects in collaboration with private institutions. Same as in private schools, wherein the increase in tuition and other fees resulted to increase in dropouts, all coming from the lower middle and working classes.

So is the actions laid by the administrators against those who oppose their policies contrary to the basic rights and welfare of the students:

In UP Visayas and Los Banos, rampant militarization violated the UP-MND accord and other agreements respecting academic freedom and non intervention from state elements, especially the military.

In PUP, that we've also noticed how intelligence agents and other members of the military, using alibis and actions in order to enter premises in order to harass, coerce the studentry, especially activists who continuously oppose state repression and antipeople policies. Only to be responded with capture and even beatings from the studentry itself.

In UE, the "No long hair policy" attempt, was strongly opposed by the studentry, particularly the LGBT sector until it was scrapped despite justifications coming from the administrators itself, saving face as expected.

Other actions, such as harassing fraternity members and even activists, members of progressive student parties fuel discontent and opposition as the system continuously insisted...and responded by student power.

In national and international matters, we've witnessed the rise in commodities and expenses all despite Aquino's "reforms" in the economy and the society. Last time, we've witnessed the rise in MRT-LRT fares, SLEX and NLEX tolls, prices of oil, sugar, even bread and other basic commodities that may also affect the daily budget of our families and of course ourselves who used to work long hours as part time employees with salaries not enough for our standing. There are still certain attempts to increase tuition and other fees, as well as creating measures just to extract more profits from the majority itself. We've also witnessed the tragic events in which the poor people hath suffered greatly for many years. Demolitions in urban poor communities like San Roque and in San Juan, the failure of "land reform" programs, low wages for the working class and constantly increasing number of victims of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and other forms of human rights violations made us open the real state of the nation what the system tries to hid it from our very eyes.

It is clearly to know that most of our rights, especially to have a decent education, experienced a difficult challenge courtesy of the system; along with intensification of the general crisis of the society. And thus, it is why most students challenge the people in general to integrate all our strength to strength over the vast number of citizens to create a genuine, militant and patriotic change.

Today, we must continuously fight for and defend student's rights and welfare same as the Pilipino people in general. We must also continue the struggle for the advancement of our democratic rights and welfare and a Nationalist, Scientific, mass oriented education system. We must also take the opportunity to be a part of the process in which genuine social change is ought to be commenced.

And as time goes by, with the student council elections draws near, students, both state and private must choose those who are "genuine, militant, and patriotic" enough and seriously willing to serve the students and the community faithfully being adherents of student power and participant in people's democracy; and with the help of the students and the people, we must collectively adhere, support, defend the rights and welfare, not just the students, but also the entire nation.

ATIN ANG LAKAS, ATIN ANG BUKAS!

THE STRENGTH AND TOMORROW IS IN US!

Happy Birthday, Tomas!

Happy Birthday, Tomas!*

Made in commemoration of the 400 years of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila

via the "Varsitarian"

By Lourd Ernest C. De Veyra

What birthday? Birthdays are for six-year-olds whose parents feel a happy obligation to bring sweet spaghetti and ice cream to the whole class. The 400th birthday is a lame phrase. The number beams with tectonic magnificence, conjuring images of monumental cliffs, mountain peaks vanishing in feathery clouds, the sun, the slow-dance to the rhythms of the geological clock. “Birthday” smacks of silly party hats and parlor games.

We never use “birthday” when referring to manifestations of nature’s might. The Rock of Gibraltar, the cliffs of Dover, the Arctic glaciers. For me, it is much easier to imagine the sounds and smells of the Pleistocene era than to imagine UST being born, being constructed. Don’t ask me why. Perhaps it is because the university feels older than the earth itself—even with the presence of a McDonald’s and a KFC. There’s just something in the air, the trees, the bricks, even if the brick had been laid just last week. For me, the university has been there for as long as the stars and the sky have been there. For grace unending is grace without beginning.Of course, I am aware that behind each stone, each brick, each nail—ancient or otherwise—lies the mark of human toil. But like Beethoven’s fifth and ninth symphonies, the “Toccata” of J.S. Bach, Picasso’s “Guernica,” the Sistine Chapel, Citizen Kane, Joyce’s Ulysses, the Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds,” the Christo Redentor in Brazil, the Great Wall of China, Machu Pichu, the Taj Mahal,Michael Jordan’s final jumpshot against Utah, these go beyond human provenance and enters the realm of the divine.

Divine, yes, even if sometimes we see the occasional teen idols from ASAP dancing here every now and then. Even if a lot of students taking on the choreography of noontime-show harlots replete with thumping pelvises and jiggling mammaries. Even if it has charlatans and traitors equaling the number of heroes and geniuses on its list of alumni. The University transcends all these, just as the earth is beyond the middling and the trifle. But then again, I understand the value of commemoration and history, so by all means, uncork the champagne, roll out the red carpet, launch the fireworks, ribbon-cut the exhibits, gather the intellectuals for the endless string of symposia, unveil the new, expensive pieces of sculpture. But a force of nature, both human and celestial, like the school deserves a much more solemn, more pagan celebration, like worshipping stones, chanting, ritual sacrifice on the football field—oh, wait. Sorry. This is a Catholic institution.

The University has been there for 400 years and will be there for another 400—assuming that the ancient Mayan astrologers are wrong about the world ending in 2012.

So stop this “birthday-birthday” business already. The word does not do justice to the sheer grandeur of the number. So pardon, if you will, this absence of sentimentality and gushing expressions of cheer and felicitation. You’re 400 years old. You’re a big boy now.

* Url:http://www.varsitarian.net/literary/20110126/happy_birthday_tomas

Getting inspired by the Thomasian grandeur and Katleah..

Getting inspired by the Thomasian grandeur and Katleah...

Regarding the writer's visit to the University of Santo Tomas

in its commemoration of 400 years, and the drawing of Katleah, this time as a Crusader

I was quite amazed by the majestic appearance laid by the University of Santo Tomas community in their 400th year celebration last January. And as I looked upon it, it was Espana y Pilipina rolled into one as most of its audience, the students, friars and members of the entire community, paid respects to their patron saint, as well as the Spanish Dominican founders, and famous ex-alumnos who made USTe feel to its peoples "an unending grace."

And as I enter its premises, I personally again think about a maiden named Katleah.

I don't know why upon entering the Espana campus lies recalling her appearance-from the brown to gold hairstyle, Sino-Hispanic like features, well-good body built and semi-boyish attitude (based on my description), Katleah again once more became an object of artworks-perhaps because of getting inspired by the events happened in USTe.

And that time, acting as a "Crusader" in my set drawings, whether with her sword raised or with the retinue of Friars garb in old Dominican habits and laymen in Mediaeval garb, Katleah is described most as "deviant" to the typical female of the age old times-like those of Jeanne d'Arc and Queen Elizabeth I of England. For information, these personalities also served as an inspiration for my artwork, in creating Katleah as a warrior maiden (that started years ago).

And personally to say that because of the events happened, first after seeing them via the window of bus and on the last day, going directly to meet my colleagues; even reading one of their coffee table books describing UST's history and the like, or even my ancestor's pictures and anecdotes (I am not a Thomasian so to speak, but I pay tribute to my ancestors although I defied their suggestion to study there), served as a factor in creating Katleah-this time under the Auspices of the Black and White, yet remained Red and defiant against the rotten order (like those from ACT NOW!).

Well...

Perhaps I was being compelled by the surroundings to draw that's why. And once even compared Benavides's statue with those of Lenin's, and on one article made by L. M. Guererro about the Quattromondial to the one based from the Soviet Union!

The Rose vignette, used by the institution till 1909 even reminds of tattoos since Roses are sometimes being drawn on the back or on the chest, as well as the band "Guns and Roses" whose logo includes red roses as its design. To tell frankly, too "Gothic" so to say. Same as the coat of arms one I recognized before the current one, that seemed to be "suitable" as a "greater coat of arms" while the current one as the lesser.

And cut the long story short, the grandeur of what is, Thomasian, left profound memories of experiencing the nostalgia being shared to its legions, being imbued with unending grace.

Continue the protests! Continue the Storm!

Continue the protests! Continue the Storm!

By Katleah Iskre Ulrike

Last time, militant students around the Philippines celebrated the commemoration of the valiant resistance of the Students, Faculty, and members of the University of the Philippines, Diliman community against State Fascism and the crisis prevailing during the Marcos regime.

Known much by the media as the "Diliman Commune", the acts laid by the UP Diliman community, from the barricades to the creation of self-igniting Molotov cocktails and Pillboxes, shown opposition-first from the increase in oil prices, to the repressive actions laid by the rotten State. It even intensified interest in the study of Pilipino Nationalism and Revolution, all based from the conditions prevailing at that time.

And through the years had passed since the downfall of the Marcos regime, there are still same old problems continue to prevail in the Philippines-that as of 2011, most Pilipinos are affected by the crisis such as oil price hikes, tuition fee increases, increase in commodities, and even the increase in mass transport fares. Most students, and the people in general, respond it with sporadic protests, venting grievances against a regime whose leader nowadays brags his own Porsche and Lexus automobiles. The Philippines was and is, remained poor due to its conditions as a semifeudal, semicolonial country; and with the intensification of Commercialization, Globalization, and State Terrorism, all sponsored by the oligarchs lies enough reasons to continue the protests and armed struggle against them similar to the Diliman Commune and earlier, the First Quarter Storm.

Also last time, people also wittnessed the events in Tunisia and in Egypt, as protests erupted against the regimes of Zine el Abidine ben Ali and Honsi Mubarak. The former had been toppled away but the latter still clings to his post as the head of state. These events, all in response from repression, corruption, price hikes and the like, unveils how people, being the creators of history and the society, and not the government dominated by the privileged few decides in regards to National affairs. And as expected, most are even solidarizing with their Arab comrades from statements to protests condemning the actions made by ben Ali and Mubarak-the way what the First Quarter Storm and the Diliman Commune solidarize with the Vietnamese, Chinese and even Cuban peoples for Antiimperialism and National Liberation.

In Egypt, we expect more and more protests to be seen-that may also manifest the revival of Arab liberation like the days of Nasser against Farouk. In Tunisia, the events after the downfall of ben Ali remained as-it-is as protests against the interim government continuously prevail in Tunis. These two Arab countries, like the actions laid by the Pilipinos, are not absolutely in response to their ruler's repressive actions, but of course, the conditions these people endured, but opportunists take it as a means to topple a ruler without changing the system in general!

After all, back to the topic, the actions of the people, whether in the Philippines, Egypt, Tunisia, even Nepal and India shows that the power will always be in the people-the way sovereignity is vested upon to them according to the laws, and of course, it is an inherent right to be rebellious against the order, therefore, to make the long story short:

IT IS RIGHT TO REBEL! BOMBARD THE HEADQUARTERS!

The Quattromondial Monument and the Left

The Quattromondial Monument and the Left

by Lualhati Madlangawa Guererro

While I went in the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, I sought a monument that is, modern and strikingly different from the age-old cement and iron-casted statues of the past. I found it nice so to speak, but on the other hand, lies a different interpretation that I had to think.

Quattromondial Monument

This Monument, inaugurated last Friday, said that it was to symbolize the University’s legacy to the nation, the Church, and the family. And it features four human figures carrying a globe, all representing the major groups of the Thomasian community—the male student, the female student, the mentor, and the monk-scholar.

But on the other hand, I also think that this larger-than-life 10-meter monument made of bronze and glass by rendered by Ramon Orlina, may also carry a different perspective-especially of a Left-wing one.

One of the models for the Proposed Lenin's Tomb in Russia

Why?

That monument seemed similar to one of the proposed models of Lenin's tomb in Moscow. Made by an unknown architect and designer so to speak, it shows a globe being carried by four people like the monument in UST, but it all represents the major groups of a Socialist community what Marx and Lenin envisioned-the male Worker, female Peasant, Soldier and the Student. Carrying a globe of the word with a red star on top, signifying Socialism and its initiator, Russia.

The Quattromondial monument, according to UST's Varsitarian, also stated that the globe being carried by the four beings stands for globalization, an inevitable event in the 21st century. And the image also displays the University’s concern for the adverse effects of progress and its efforts to adapt to change.

Good to say to, but Globalization can't be an inevitable event as more and more People around the world are getting tired of what Globalization set so. The Philippines, being a Third world country, remains in a state of poverty all due to its present conditions as a Semifeudal, Semicolonial country, and Globalization, being an idea of the modern-day oppressors, doesn't support humanity, but of course, exploiting it. Since the Dominican Friars spoke of Globalization as inevitable, so is the masses's struggle for Internationalism, that is, far greater than the former; and as the tide of progress continues in this century, of adapting certain changes to ensure stability, lies doubts that involves contradictions-such as the conservatism of the Dominican Order and the progression of the studentry and even the young members of the Order itself. We must also remember that since they are moving in the signs of the times, may possibly come forth the ideas involving Faith and the Society such as Liberation theology, Christian Social Teaching, National Democracy, even Modernism and other products of the Enlightenment-that is, detrimental to the conservatism laid upon by years. They may've speak of "Globalization" yet will they accept the Theology of Liberation, of genuinely ensuring the rights and welfare of the students, like scrapping a decree regarding long hair and the like?

Well...

After all, that monument in UST, personally to say is a homage to the original monument according to the drawings laid for the late Lenin's grave.

Education in the Philippines: To Enlighten or just to Consume?

Education in the Philippines: To Enlighten or just to Consume?

By Lualhati Madlangawa Guererro

From the University belt to the halls of Diliman and every other temples of education around the Philippines, carries a problem that is, difficult to be solved upon, as well as an object of protests-especially when it comes to financial reasons and worse? On the status of Education in general in the country-if it is to Enlighten or just to Consume.

I, like any other student, think about this kind of problem regarding the Education situations prevailed nowadays. That we are compelled much to take this and that, to pay big, to endure anything as expected just to earn a degree and to wear a black toga for the picture. But, are we sure that what we study made us to Enlighten? Or being pressed by the system to Consume and after finishing, having a job contradictory to the profession? Sounds desperate as expected!

But most people remained apathetic about it-especially as they enter the four corners of the institution, paying higher tuition fees just to reach their dreams regardless of the difficulty and inconveniences they had to endure. Yes, that they even experienced water dropping from the ceiling and chalk dust from the board.

And yet they still continue to pay regardless of the increasing percentage of fees just to pursue. Most of them came from the working class, and most of them end up stopped out of financial reasons and other related issues being said so; some tried to return but still, end up as expected.

Sorry to say about these words but to tell frankly, that Education nowadays in the Philippines are far from its objectives. They are just obliging the youth to take subjects to consume than to enlighten-all thanks to the West, who sponsors education as a tool for modern-day slavery, all in aguise of enlightenment, but not really as expected nowadays.

Speaking of education just 'to consume' than 'to enlighten'? Of Western interference in Educational as well as in Socio-Cultural affairs in the Philippines? Where does it all started?

According to Zureta, the globalization of education began in Asia with the University of Santo Tomas taking the lead 400 years ago in the year 1611. That the Spaniards, with their God, Gold, and Glory, nearly destroyed the Philippine Civilization and replaced with their Civilization, that according to them as advanced and far reaching just like their motto "Plus Ultra" or Further Beyond. And UST, being the first Church and State supported Institution, alongside from other religious orders spread the use of Religion and Education as a tool both to enlighten and to forcibly consume by the natives in their "Civilizing" the entire archipelago.

Natives are deeply affected by these: their traditions were burned after being accused as Satanic or Witchcraft related, that they forced to pay tributes and do forced labor, that the Colonizers tolerated ages-old elitism of the Maharlikas made them compel to revolt yet failed since they are scattered and more into specific issues until the advent of Gomburza, Rizal, and the Proletarian Bonifacio. Other ones such as Bayot, Novales, are more into the Insular and of the Mestizo gentry that, like the natives, end up defeated by their Castilian superiors.

Same as during the American period. The Americans really emphasised on Education all through Public, Secular kind of Education being imposed to by the State. Numerous public schools are being built on the purpose of training them into Teaching personnel, future members of the State Machinery, and as expected, Semi-Skilled workers like those in PUP, then as PCC. The University of the Philippines posed as a Secular alternative to the Religious-centric Ateneo and UST, that they created members of the State Machinery willing to serve the Colonial Government followed by the Commonwealth. And again, the Americans imposed decrees trying to stunt the growth of People-centric Patriotism, whilst tolerating Conservatism and Patriotism that was catered to the Elite like those of Quezon and Osmena.

Until today, the repressive conditions on Education marks the continuation of that tradition. That the West tolerated it, this time fueled by Commercialization, Golibalization, Deregulation, Privatization or even Monopolization of every educational institutions by the Elite; imposing such actions that is, detrimental to the Studentry and to the People as well. The increase in Tuition fees, Exorbitant fees, even charges that seemingly end up in the coffers than for development. If there is, like in the University of the East for example, are rather for painting walls instead of major overhaul since they got much profits into it out of their 5 % increase.

Most people are expecting this hell of a kind mess set forth by the rotten social order when it comes to the Education problem. That a wave of protests lies in response to budget cuts and increase in Tuition and other fees, followed by Scholastic fascism and other related acts detrimental to Academic freedom and to the Studentry in general. Education nowadays really meant not to enlighten the youth, that in a policy wherein putting emphasis to cheap labour and making the Nation backward, education is as if a packaged good to be consumed-that knowing how to read and write, to obey without critical thinking as a requirement for the modern-day slave trade.

Yes, and how come?

In the University of the Philippines, the Revitalized General Education Program insisted Students to take what is what being "served" by the College instead of through free will. One anecdote said:

"...But such was not the case, as I discovered the moment I saw the course outline for the BS Applied Physics program which identified each and every subject that I had to take. I was disappointed, to say the least, and I even questioned why I had to take certain subjects like Kas 1 (Philippine History) and Kas 2 (World History), when I had already taken classes which more or less covered the same topics all throughout high school. Apparently, the “cafeteria style” of college general education, as it is called, while popular in universities in other countries such as the United States, was unheard of in UP. The only choice UP college students had, with respect to their college subjects, was the few electives they were allowed and, generally, how to schedule their classes."

Like in America as what the writer said, UP tried to emulate the "Cafeteria style" approach when it comes to General Education, but seems that, like in a Cafeteria, what is served is being served, no other menu except what is being written. And the subjects? Aside from a rehash from their previous years, are rather acting as requirements just to earn a diploma, ready to be consumed than a means to enlighten.

As another writeup said:

"A UP student is required to take at least 45 units of GE courses, ideally before taking major courses. These are divided into 15 units each in Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Philosophy, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics. These courses are intended to enable the student to live meaningfully and to contribute to society."

Yup, that 45 units may have been equivalent to bigger amounts to be paid by an individual since UP imposed its tuition increase and on the advent of budget cuts what every UP student angered about with. Yes, that GE subjects are beneficial in its appearance, yet, like the others, are being forced to be consumed by the students all for the sake of earning a diploma! After all, are we studying in a school or in a prison wherein forced feeding is implemented?

And after graduation, what conclusion will that ex-student will be? Will that person easy got a job? Ya, but what kind of job? In a call centre? Abroad? or to be a part of the massed ranks of the unemployed? The Educational system the West and the system encouraged got its long term effects as we noticed. Yes, there are jobs as a conclusion, but are they really high paid and suitable for their vocation according to their course major?

Well...

Whether you are in Public or Private, Iskolar of the Nation or Thomasian imbued with Unending Grace, the Education you attained are to be consumed than to enlighten. That you pay too much fees and endure the long hours for the goddamn sake of good grades, diploma, and honours-while ending up in a massed ranks of unemployed, semi-skilled workers, or slaves with portfolio. The system tolerates this, but are you willing to tolerate it?

We'll expect more arduous protests imbued with Struggle this time. as the UST hymn saidth: "Ever your valiant Legions, Imbued with Unending Grace!"

The masses are thy Legions, and their struggle for National Democracy is their unending Grace!