The Manila Collegian Volume 29 Numbers 05-06

The Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines Manila Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 v

MORE INSIDE

02 EDITORIAL Envisage 03 NEWS Manilakbayan ng Mindanao arrives in Manila 09 FEATURES Acquiescence 10 CULTURE Kasaysayang 15 OPINION Plus Two Letters

02 EDITORIAL

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

AS THE TIME FOR ACQUIRING a certificate of candidacy to run for public office comes to a close, citizens were surprised with the whopping number of people who intended to run for the highest administrative designation of this country with a record-high 130 bets filing for candidacy, many of whom are unfamiliar faces.

E DI T O R - I N - C H I E F Carlo Rey Resureccion Martinez A S S O C I AT E E DI 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 AT E E DI T O R F O R E X T E R N A L A F FA I R S Elizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla

It is saddening that people nowadays look at this process with prejudice, believing that only the names of “known” and “able” people are the ones that should be written in the ballots come election season. This is a complete ignorance.

Guidelines and provisions regarding the qualifications and requirements to run for public office were set and written in the Constitution. There are only five requirements for a person to be able to file his or her candidacy for the Presidency. You must be a natural born Filipino, a registered voter, able to read and write, 40 years of age at the day of the elections, and must have resided in the country for at least ten years prior to the elections.

This is the nitty-gritty of running for public office yet citizens are still poking at presidentiables whom many judge to be making a mockery of the highest office in the land. Before we judge these people, let us first analyze why they waste time in filling out forms and giving privilege speeches when they have nothing but the slimmest of chances of winning.

Before we dismiss them as nuisance candidates, let us reflect on this phenomenon in our society. We must seek the underlying reason behind the unusual number of people interested to run for presidency. Many of these people don’t have a political track-record yet insists on sitting in the Office of the President. They might be even wasting their time in showing how much they want to spark the change in the society, yet they were the ones who were brave enough to rise up and take the challenge to serve the people.

Recently, a presidentiable expressed his thoughts on the current situation of the country. He emotionally stated what he thinks the country needs today.

He challenged each and every person running for president on how they can change the system and lead the country.

Same as what most of the “nuisance” candidates want – to serve the people.

These supposed nuisance candidates have had enough of what’s happening to their society, so much that it forced them to make a step. They had enough of the anomalous DAP scandal, the Binay multi-corruption case, the AquinoRoxas capitalist partnership, and many other state-abandonment events. They want change.

M A N AG I N G E DI T O R Thalia Real Villela A S S I S TA N T M A N AG I N G E DI T O R Jennah Yelle Manato Mallari N E W S E DI T O R Ronilo Raymundo Mesa F E AT U R E S E DI T O R Liezl Ann Dimabuyu Lansang C U LT U R E E DI T O R Jose Lorenzo Querol Lanuza

JOANNE PAULINE RAMOS SANTOS

ENVISAGE These candidates could even possibly start cleaning the infamous trend during elections. One of the most familiar phenomenon during elections is the morally humiliating vote buying.

As voters, we should not commit to such acts as it is similar to lowering ourselves and accepting that we are run by paper bills.

The country is currently run by corrupt politicians and public servants in the ill and rotting system of government.

Many are blaming the system instead of the people. Some of them are victims themselves and it is known to many that what we need is one who will if

society. It is our prime obligation to help the President develop our country and we can do our job by voting. We have to realize that voting is not a mere act of shading the name of the preferred candidate. Voting is a very powerful act.

It will dictate the future of the country.

It will reflect the kind of voters our society has. It will dictate change. And as voters, it is our job to think critically who has the genuine intention of serving the people. We have to choose carefully the one who we will be electing for the next six years.

Don’t let another six years of possibility to make the country

A s responsible citizens, we have the most powerful weapon in changing the society. not partially, totally change the system to free this country which has full of potentials.

We don’t need someone who is wealthy. We don’t need someone who is intellectually-gifted. We don’t need someone who is a veteran in terms of public service. We need someone who is genuine. Someone who is truly passionate in serving the people.

Someone who will put the masses’ interest first before his. Someone who will stand with the masses and fight with them. Someone who will change the system. That is exactly what the country needs - a genuine, dedicated public servant.

As responsible citizens, we have the most powerful weapon in changing the

better slip away. Don’t let the country suffer for another six years.

The country has had enough. The citizens are stepping up. It’s your turn, as a voter, to begin the change the society always needed and the people always wanted.

And above all, the masses have an even greater power - the power to hold accountable the people they elect. Betrayal of public trust from the masses who seek justice and accountability through number and collective action will never succeed. Furthermore, as a democratic nation, it is always the people’s interest, welfare, and will that should prevail. Use the most powerful weapon wisely. Vote.

G R A P H IC S E DI T O R Lizette Joan Campaña Daluz N E W S C O R R E S P O N DE N T S Adolf Enrique Santos Gonzales Eunice Biñas Hechanova Arthur Gerald Bantilan Quirante Sofia Monique Kingking Sibulo F E AT U R E S C O R R E S P O N DE N T S Angelica Natividad Reyes C U LT U R E C O R R E S P O N DE N T S Josef Bernard Soriano De Mesa Pia Kriezl Jurado Hernandez Jamilah Paola dela Cruz Laguardia Gabrielle Marie Melad Simeon R E S I DE N T I L LU S T R AT O R S Maria Catalina Bajar Belgira Jamela Limbauan Bernas

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The Cover

Illustration by Jose Paolo Bermudez Reyes Layout by Patrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag

NEWS 03

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

COLLEGE BRIEFS The official list of nominees for deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Dentistry (CD), and School of Health Sciences (SHS) was released on the first week of October.

Nominees for CAS deanship are Dr. Leonardo R. Estacio Jr. from the Department of Behavioral Sciences, and Dr. Celestina P. Boncan and Asst.

Prof. Carl Marc L. Ramota, both from the Department of Social Sciences.

Meanwhile, the School of Health Sciences (SHS) has three nominees: Dr. Salvador Isidro B. Destura, Dr. Genelyn R. Herrera and Dr. Filedito D. Tandico.

CD has only one nominee, Dr. Maria Teresita C. Lara.

Qualifications for being nominated as a dean include commitment to academic freedom and the values and ideals of the university, distinction and outstanding academic credentials in his/her chosen field of expertise, leadership qualities and administrative or managerial capability, consideration of resource generation as an important function of deanship, and lastly, willingness to serve.

Manilakbayan ng Mindanao arrives in Manila PATRICIA ANNE LACTAO GUERRERO

Around 700 Lumads, peasant leaders and human rights activists from Mindanao participated in this year’s Manilakbayan ng Mindanao as they arrived in Manila on October 26 to raise awareness on the social injustices being experienced by marginalized sectors in the region, particularly the indigenous peoples (IP).

Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2015 is a people’s caravan and mobilization, starting from the rural communities of Mindanao and heading to Metro Manila to seek immediate action on the Lumad killings and the pressing issue of militarization, including plunder by big mining and agri-plantations.

This year’s Manilakbayan started on October 18 in Surigao City with a starting number of 400 Lumads accompanied by representatives of human rights groups and joined by hundreds of other delegates from South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Davao City, Davao del Norte, and Bukidnon.

NNARA-Youth UP Manila, ASAPKatipunan, and various progressive student organizations in UP Manila staged a hero’s welcoming of the “Manilakbayanis” as they stopped by the PGH Oblation Plaza on October 26 at around 9 am before going to Liwasang Bonifacio, Mendiola, and UP Diliman.

Consequently, Manilakbayan is camped at “Kampuhan sa UP Diliman”

on October 26-31, and at Liwasang Bonifacio on November 1-20.

Account on continuing attacks According to Kalumbay-Northern Mindanao, 144 Lumads have been victims of extrajudicial killings, 40,000 Lumads were displaced from their communities, and 87 Lumad schools are suffering from various forms of military attacks. “[The] gathering is to register the calls of the Lumads that there are continuing attacks on our schools, communities, and the harassment of people,” said Vennel Chenfoo, coordinator of Kabataan Partylist-Northern Mindanao.

In a statement released by Bay Ali Indayla, secretary-general of Kawagib Moro Human Rights, military operations such as the counterinsurgency measures implemented in the Lumad communities have disturbed their way of life by arming them and making them join the paramilitary groups.

In addition, 700 Lumads from Talaingod, Kapalong in Davao del Norte, and San Fernando, Bukidnon have arrived in Manila since May this year. Likewise, another 165 more Lumads displaced by alleged militarization from Barangay White Culaman, Kitaotao in Bukidnon arrived at Haran Evacuation Center, a facility run by the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP).

According to Jhong Manzon, secretarygeneral of Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organization in Southern Mindanao, unless the military pull out its troops, the Lumads vowed not to return to their communities.

“By allowing the military to oppress innocent civilians, it is becoming clearer that the government does not answer to the need of its constituents, and that the only answer to this problem is for the people to unite in resistance and forging of their own future,” Manzon added.

ORGANEWS In celebration of its 43rd year, Tau Omega Mu Fraternity and its Ladies’ Circle, in partnership with the University Student Council, will conduct W.I.S.H (What If Someone Helped?), an outreach program to bring the gift of happiness to children on November 14.

The UP Manila Dramatista presents Dramarathon 2015: “Wag Kang Matakot Matakot” on November 4-6, 2015, 4:30PM-6:00PM and 6:30PM8:00PM in the Dr. Romeo B. Espiritu Auditorium of Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal, Philippine General Hospital, Ermita, Manila. For tickets, contact 0927 225 5485.

Members of League of Filipino Students, Gabriela Women’s Party-Metro Manila, and Bahaghari LGBT Organization trooped to the Bureau of Immigration head office on October 21, 2015 to denounce the deportation order issued to US Marine Serviceman Joseph Scott Pemberton. The groups called for Pemberton’s conviction, adding that the latter already admitted to brutally strangling Laude.

The deportation order was issued on September 16, but was only announced on October 20. Photo by Ronilo Mesa

04 NEWS Incumbent PGH director delivers state of hospital report

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

ISKOTISTIKS

ANTON GABRIEL ABUEVA LERON AND RAM RENIEL PUSPUS SEVILLA

In line with the selection of the next Philippine General Hospital (PGH) director, incumbent director Jose Gonzales delivered on October 6 his last report addressing the hospital’s current state, citing improved infrastructure and services and enhanced fiscal conditions in the hospital.

Enhancement of fiscal conditions He emphasized that during his time, the budget of the hospital increased from P1.1 billion in 2009 to P5.3 billion in 2015, and the income from revolving funds rose by 79 percent,from P412 million in 2009 to P712 million in 2014.

Gonzales also mentioned that the percentage of the UP system’s budget for PGH increased from 20 to 39, as projected in the 2016 budget.

Moreover, he stated that the financial accounts of UP Manila and PGH were separated to ensure transparency between the two institutions.

He also reported that PGH’s P550-million debt to Meralco was fully paid within a year, and he noted the fact that the Social Security System debt interest rate diminished from 12 percent in August 2012 to 5 percent, and is expected to be fully paid in April 2016.

Meanwhile, the director added that the authorized allowance of employees was released on time and no debt was incurred for the distribution of incentive bonuses.

Improvement

of

infrastructure

and

services

Furthermore, the director asserted that the availability of PhilHealth services increased from 7 percent to 67 percent. He also explained that the allocated budget for drugs and medical assistance for indigent or Class D patients increased from P25 million in 2009 to P100 million in 2014.

With regards to infrastructure, he mentioned that there will be a new billing section, admitting section, pay emergency room, comfort rooms, and PhilHealth Ward (Ward 12). He also said that there is a plan of talks with SM Foundation for the renovation of the outpatient department.

Regarding the renovation of the PGH central block, he took pride in saying that no government funds were used for the said project.

Meanwhile, Gonzales claimed that he is asking lawmakers to add P1-billion in the proposed PGH budget next year, in light of the removal of the capital outlay component in the hospital’s 2016 budget because of the P3.1-billion CO allocation for PGH this year.

‘A dvancement of anti-patient policies’ On the other hand, despite the touted success of Gonzales’ term, his administration has been the center of controversy particularly when it comes to patient accessibility.

During his term, the PGH administration was met with harsh criticism over the

establishment of a private clinic, the Faculty Medical Arts Building, which was constructed in cooperation with the QualiMed health network. Moreover, many physicians and patients have expressed dismay over the charging of laboratory fees for tests conducted within the hospital.

In a report to the University Student Council (USC), Medicine Student Council representative Leonard Javier revealed that from 2011 to 2013, the number of pay patients increased from 2 percent to 68 percent while the number of class D patients diminished, suggesting that PGH is gearing towards income generation.

Overall, 11 percent of the patients received assistance from the Medical Social Service while the remaining 89 percent are paying service patients, the report added.

Moreover, the report, citing 2013 PGH data, indicated an increase in the number of contractual and job order workers opposed to the regular workers. (See Table 2) “We need a framework when evaluating the performance of a director of a large tertiary public hospital and for PGH, we need a director who brings out the best of PGH while also preserving its public character.

To preserve its public character, you need to make its services accessible...and if we evaluate Director Jose Gonzalez based on his ability to bring out PGH’s public character, we can say that his term has been unsuccessful,” said Javier.

According to him, Gonzales has been at the forefront of condoning anti-patient policies masked under efficiency or quality health care that ultimately sacrifice patient accessibility.

“Quality healthcare is meaningless if it is not accessible and PGH is a public hospital, people come here when they’ve exhausted all other options. Hence, one can expect that the patients of PGH have nothing. They do not have enough to sustain their own lives let alone enough for their own healthcare,” Javier emphasized.

Meanwhile, the MSC representative said that the next PGH director should uphold the mandate of the hospital in providing quality and affordable healthcare to the masses.

“We need a PGH that’s more consistent with its public character…so we expect that the next PGH director listens to all the different sectors comprising the institution such as the students, nurses, doctors, employees and especially the patients since they are at the heart of healthcare,” said Javier.

He also stressed that the next PGH director must not compromise patient accessibility since the problem should not be the patients versus the director, but rather all of

us against the ills of society.

“In the years to come, definitely we will not

tolerate another JoGon (Jose Gonzalez),” further stated Javier. Director Jose Gonzalez will be stepping down as director in 2016.

Table 1. PGH Medical Social Service Patient Classification Patient Classification Class A

Definition Patients admitted to the hospital private rooms as pay patient Patients admitted to the pay wards (3 or more beds) Patient or family who are the “working poor” with full time work but whose income is not sufficient to meet their treatment expenses in full, with income ranges from minimum wage and above(minimum wage/day of P466.00) Patient admitted to the charity ward with no permanent means of living and/or whose income below minimum wage

Class B Class C

Class D

Table 2. Status of Employment of PGH Workers (2012 and 2013 Comparison) 2012 Job Order Contractual Regular

1.7% 10.10% 88.2%

2013 5.6% 7.8% 86.6%

ACQUIESCENCE FROM PAGE 09 implementation of the K-12, the government made plans with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In 2009, a memorandum of agreement was signed in order to secure $86 million worth of assistance for educational purposes, highlighting the need for education in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the other far-flung areas in Mindanao. In truth, however, there was a greater caveat than the simple act of handing money in order to help. The inclusion of teachers and immigrants in the masterplan of helping out, as narrated by the USAID, served as a way to eradicate the culture and values embedded in the people of ARMM and replace them with those of Westerner pluralist democracy. During the course of the influence of the USAID on the Mindanao schools, ideas of privatization of education as well as switching curricula to a more US-pro curriculum was established.

With the educational policies and agreements that the different administrations have passed, including the K-12, the Philippine government is only proving how far it is willing to go in subjecting the country to the hands of imperialists. Apart from abandoning its mandate of making education accessible to the people, the government continues to establish a nation of well-skilled, but not well-educated people, who will only serve

not the nation but other countries, which will later enslave them.

With the lack of initiative in truly changing the already dire condition of the learning system in the country, the implementation of the K-12 has only worsened the existing problems of education. On the matter of seeing if it has been excellently implemented, the issues faced brought upon by the K-12 only surfaced the real situation in the country—the lack of educational facilities, competent teachers, and classrooms. If any, the process of implementing K-12 only proved that the government continues to be inefficient in solving such problems.

As the mechanism of the government, the K-12 curriculum merely serves to shove the leanings of labor export down the throats of its people while, at the same time, further enforces neoliberal policies to be the dominant framework in the country. Justice is not served to the youth, as the government continues to abandon its mandate of serving its people and upholding the basic right to education.

But the masses will never cease to fight for their right to genuine education—the kind of education that is mass oriented and nationalist, and the kind of education that will truly liberate the nation.

NEWS 05

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

Nominees for PGH directorship present flagship projects NIÑA KEITH MUSICO FERRANCOL

In line with the selection of the new Philippine General Hospital (PGH) director, a public forum and presentation of nominees’ flagship projects was held at the University of the Philippines (UP) PGH Science Hall on October 14, 2015.

The four official nominees for the next PGH director are Dr. Gerardo Legaspi from the Department of Neurosciences, Dr. Michael Tee from the Department of Medicine, Dr. Rolando Enrique Domingo from the Department of Opthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Dr. Benjamin Sablan from the Department of Pediatrics.

The nominees’ flagship projects generally focus on infrastructure development, health human resource development, upgrade of information system, and improvement of governance.

Vision and goals Legaspi’s presentation, entitled “PGH Nating Mahal”, emphasizes on his four main flagship projects: infrastructure development, computerization, strengthening of PGH as national university hospital, and improvement of governance. According to Legaspi, he thought of projects which have a low budget requirement and are attainable within the three years of service of a PGH director.

Tee, on the other hand, promises a leadership that will yield “academic and clinical excellence while innovating in an operationally efficient environment,“ maximizing the investment of the Filipino people to the hospital “through the implementation of an integrated management system.”

“Ang sentro ng ating serbisyo ay nararapat na nakatuon sa pasyente... ang pasyente na umaasa ng ligtas na lunas, respeto, katiyakan, asikaso at malasakit,” Tee said.

Similarly, Domingo said that he wants to enhance the role of PGH as the national university hospital in delivering high

Stand on nurse-patient ratio Legaspi: “I think its criminal to have a 1:20 ratio. So ang paraan ng pagbubuno ng kakulangan ay junk order maari ring magshuffle ng mga nurse sa ibang lugar para mapunta dito. Pero ang tunay na sagot ay ang pagbibigay ng gobyerno ng karagdagang katauhan para sa mga nurses. May mga panukala ang paying hospital ay gawing purely pay talaga at patakbuhin nanaghahire ng sariling nurse para lahat ang mga nurse plantilya ng paying hospital ay ilagay sa charity ward. Ito ay maaring pag-aralan at maaring maging solusyon sa kakulangan ng ating mga nurses. Mag-iiba ang pag-hahire sa pay hospital dahil ito ay magiging purely pay hospital na maaring maggenrate ng sariling pondo.”

Tee: “Kelangan nating ayusin yung team approach in health care delivery...pwede na nating magwa yung trabaho one time correctly. Wala ng nawawala sa translation.

quality care, particularly tertiary level specialized care, to the underprivileged in the charity ward and to the middle class who patronize the pay services.

for the future development of a smart, high performance and green building.” He also proposes to renovate the nurse’s home building.

Sablan, far from his co-nominees, shares a different perspective on creating flagship projects as a director. He said that he didn’t want to promise any projects because he believes that the whole PGH community should be the one crafting the projects which will be sustainable for the hospital.

Likewise, Domingo plans to renovate the hospital, providing a safe environment for the patients. Furthermore, he suggested the construction of a UP Medical Center, a “new PGH” that will be created through public-private partnership (PPP) and will be ran by UP professors.

Infrastructure development

“The solution I propose that the UP System and the UP Manila should consider is a new UP Medical Center, a true publicprivate partnership enterprise that will elevate health care all over the country,” according to Domingo.

Meanwhile, Legaspi proposes that the renovation of PGH should be done with the aim of highlighting the historical background of the hospital.

He also proposes for “greening” PGH through the use of alternative power supply such as solar panels and developing the garden areas to make it conducive to healing and socialization. He said that the whole hospital should resemble a private hospital, and that the infrastructure developments should generate more income for it.

“Let this lead to more income for the big hospital so that we can aim more funds for the charity patients which our social worker can very well manage for us, para mas maraming nabibigay na pera sa charity patients at madaling ibenta ang PGH, dahil bawat pisong binayad mo sa pay hospital, maaaring sisenta sentimos napupunta sa charity hospital,” Legaspi said.

Tee, on the other hand, presented his “Hospital Master Plan” which consists of projects such as a sewage treatment plant and a multipurpose building. He stated that “at the end of the 6 months assesment, UP Manila will have a 25 year physical plan, a master plan that will serve as the guide The nurses will became part of the team making rounds para habang ino-order pa lang, ang team ay makakagawa na mas mabilis.Ibig sabihin mas mahaba yung oras na makakapagpanhinga din. Pero di ko inaalis ang talagang kailangan natin namagkaraoon ng dagdag na budget sa plantillaposition...”

Domingo: “Hindi naman po pwede na expand ng expand at tanggap ng tanggap ng pasyente ng hindi dumadami ang ating staff...sa ngayon po strained pa talaga tayo at hangga’t di pa natin napapaganda yung ratio na yun hindi din natin dapat papangitin.

Sablan: “Isang malaking tulong is a system a hospital white system that will make our work lighter, what we can acturally do is work out a system para maging more efficient, lighter ang mga empleyado ng PGH so that we can actually do good services kasi yung budget might not come.”

Information system Furthermore, the nominees presented their plan to improve the information system in order to maximize operational efficiency of the health workers and other employees in the hospital. Legaspi proposes for hospitalwide computerization, which, according to him, is the backbone of development of the processes.

Comparatively, Tee sees the problem with the fragmented responsibility centers and suggested an “Integrated PGH Information System” that will allow for improved interunit and intra-unit communication.

Similarly, Sablan suggested a “hospital wide information system which will cover all areas including the internal and external community.”

Governance

than the existing PGH Board, that will ensure the continuation of long terms plans for PGH. “This will ensure that the changing of directors will not change the direction of the hospital,” according to Legaspi.

He also proposes to change the whole administrative system of PGH by dividing it into a charity hospital, pay hospital, emergency hospital, special institute, and out-patient hospital, and assigning codirectors for each hospital to increase efficiency.

Tee, comparatively, plans to improve administrative efficiency by maximizing the P3.1-billion budget from the capital outlay in the 2015 PGH budget.

Domingo, meanwhile, suggested that “new ways of improving the system should be explored,” such as getting a private provider for the needs of the pay patients.

“Alam na po natin na hindi natin kaya, wag na po nating pilitin. An option I think of is to get a private company to give what our pay patients need. Syempre may tubo pa rin po ang PGH. Hindi naman po natin iibibigay ng libre yun. So that our pharmacy ca concentrate on maintaining the lives of our patients in the charity ward and our opertating rooms,” Domingo stated.

In relation to this event, the search committee interviewed the nominees on October 16, and submitted a report on the whole search process to Chancellor Carmencita David-Padilla on October 26.

The next PGH director will be selected in the next Board of Regents meeting.

In terms of improving governance, Legaspi proposes to create a superstructure, other

Stand on PPP Legaspi: “Napatunayan na ang efficiency ng government facility ay nai-improve sa pagpa-partner sa isang pribadong organisayson na may mas kakayahan sa efficiency. Kung meron mang PPP na gagawin malamang ito ay sa ating private hospital. Hindi yung complete privatization.

Kundi ang partnership ang magpapatakbo ng isang hsopital na competitive sa mga hospital sa paligid niya. Ang isa pang PPP ay medical tourism. Ang world wide trend sa medical tourism ay ang University Hospital ay nagiging medical tourism facility kasi sa nakitang nangyayari sa ospital na pinupuntahan- ito’y pribadong ospital na walang university affiliation, mas malaki ang morbidity, mas malaki ang kumplikasyon.

That is an idea I think we should work on.”

Tee: “Ang isa sa argument para sa PPP ay pondo. Magi-infuse ang mga kapitalista ng pondo...Pero gaya ng nabanggit ko kanina

binigyan na tayo ng pondo. Meron na tayo 3.1B. Ito po ay kailangan lang nating pagyamin para sa ating core function.”

Domingo: “Ako naman po ang pangarap ko talaga ay magkaron ng PPP. Pero sa isa pang PGH. Hindi dito sa PGH na para sa masa, para sa ating mga kababayan. Pero as having said that we know na meron tayong services na sobrang manipis na, overextended that we cannot give what our patients need.... kung hindi naman po natin kayang ibigay lahat ng pangangailangan especially po kung yung ating mga paying patients ay willing naman magbayad sa ating pay ward, then maybe it could be good to explore a partenship with private laboratories.”

Sablan: “PGH should really retain its status as a public hospital...talagang PGH lang ang pupuntahan ng walang pera para sa serbisyong medikal..”

06 NEWS

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang

Lola Patola

Homaygad! Homaygad! Kalurkeeeey! Mga afowz, NLLK na ba kayow sa hells3m na itezzz?! Ugggh. Kaimbyerna na ang lahat ng huffeningzzz! Haggardo Versoza na us forevs! Yung mga non-YuFi dabarkadz niyo, wa na ma-ispluk bc dey r bekeysiyon-ing na! They so Lucky Manzano! Kaa-czar! Nakakajirits na rin yun mga toxick at terrorbells na froppies niyow na sinabayan pa ng pabebe blockm8s niyow!!! Poinsettia nemern oh!!!!!!

So ayern na nga mga bae! Sa pagnanais kow na mag-changesung diz world, diz gurl iz on fayyyr ang peglaloo ng Lola niyowz sa 2016 erectionz!!! Itigil niyo yan dahil aketch ang totoong pangulow!!!!! Charot! Hihi. But Sirius-ly afowz, kaguimbal-guimbal yung 130 candeedeyts 4 prezident!!! Ang dameee-dameee tuluguh! Kaya nemern nido na nido kow ang helpsung at ma-intensive na supporting niyo afowz!!!!! Anek kamo ang course ko sa YuFi Dilimen?!? Home echosnomicz!!! Char!!!!!! Eklat lungs, afowz! Bipor I get taken away, let’z g your sumvhongs na!!!

SEL HOPE KANGKONG SUMVHONG NUMBAH WAN: Door-a the Explorer Wiw! Wiw lungs tuluguh ha!!! Diz wan afowz made sumvhong tu me about this hawkwardity in a library!!!!! Super confusionism tu da maxzimum levelings ang huffenings sa may pintong itechiwa!!!

Like, who is going tu meyk nakaw ba da bookings and other literapture dat r older than your Lola P nuh?!? Da who?!?!?

Additioning pa ng afowz ketch, keribells sana kung sa may entrance ni-putting ang scannerz sa library na itech, but no no no daw!!! Anek?!?

May mega pa-balloons pa silang decordecor sa door-a na ito!!! Kalokaaaa! Bortdey ba nitech?!? Wherelaloo na yung cake?!?

Char! Nabobother bear lungs daw tuluguh ang aking mga afowz sa newly instowlled scannering chenez hanashkels na yan!!!

Inuna pa itech ng adminz instead of new haircons!!!!!

Hell sem na nga, hell library pa buh?!? Juzkolerd!!!!!

SEL HOPE KANGKONG SUMVHONG NUMBAH TU: Froppie Stress Wiz na wiz ko kering i-Kempee de Leon ang na-smell kong sumvhong na itez!!!

Diz wan froppie daw from da CAScasan Department of Achoocoo Chenes iz like a brand new kindergarter teacheeer!!!

Mega saway to the max daw siya lagi sa mga afowz kow. Share pa ng isang ishtudent niya, always all days daw siyang bad mood!

Nag-dancing queen na sa Philippine Arena si Yaya Dub, bad

mood ka parin froppie?!? Why oh why nemern?????

Addition pa here, mas let’s get loud pa raw ang The Voice ni Tinkerbell sa The Voice ng froppieng nitech! Hindi ka na mahearsung ng afowz kow!!!!! Kawewe nemern siluh froppie! Huhuhu.

Halaaa! Mga afowz, call me maybe na akez ni Lolo Upo niyow! Excited na daw siyang maging first gentle-lolo!

Char! Assumering masyadow ang Lolo niyooo! So let’s waitsung nuhlung kung anong feels ng Comelec-ek-ek sa Lola P niyowz! If Ever Bilena, makapasok aketch, suffort suffort ol da way to Malacharñang!!! Hihi. In the mintaym, keep making padala your bonggang bonggang sumvhongz lungs oki?????

Labyu ol afowz! Lola P for Prezie!!!!!

XOXO

HOR pushes P3-trillion national budget amid disapproval EUNICE BIÑAS HECHANOVA

The 2016 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), also known as House Bill 6132, was approved by the House of Representatives (HOR) on October 9 after President Aquino labeled the proposition as urgent.

According to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., the bill will most likely be passed into law by the end of 2015.

Excuse for corruption Previously, the bill was slammed by various lawmakers, including Abakada Party-list representative Jonathan dela Cruz and Buhay Party-list representative Lito Atienza who criticized the administration’s classification of the proposal as immediate. Dela Cruz also said that the cancellation of further examination blocked them from holding some officials responsible for their management of funds.

Consequently, Bayan Muna partylist Representative Neri Colmenares pointed out that over P758 billion in the proposed national budget had questionable allocations. “The Aquino administration is just perpetuating the pork barrel in the national budget and this will also continue in the supposed daang matuwid,” he added.

Colmenares stressed that huge lump sums in the approved funds originally intended for the recent calamities in the country were directed to unprogrammed expenditures.

Kabataan Party-list representative Terry Ridon, on the other hand, elaborated that the savings provision enacts the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). Likewise, he mentioned that the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) Program provided funds for regions that had massive voters and domains of politicians.

Not for the people In line with this, Ridon condemned the misalignment of the priority of the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“The 2016 Appropriations Act is called the ‘legacy budget’ of the Aquino administration. However, we can characterize House Bill 6132 as a budget clearly designed for corruption; a budget allotted for the implementation of anti-people programs and projects; and a budget that will only benefit big business and allies, all at the expense of Filipino taxpayers,” declared Ridon.

Furthermore, Ridon filed an amendment for the P477.8 million that was cut from the 2016 allocation to be returned to the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of state universities and colleges (SUCs).

The amendment was partially approved with 42 out of the 59 SUCs with MOOE cuts to be provided additional funding, according to Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, chair of the House committee on appropriations.

Ridon also called for the abolishment of the special provision permitting SUCs to hire college students as construction workers with a meager salary of P25 per hour. “Congress should let schools practice academic freedom and let them prepare appropriate practicum programs for students,” he asserted.

The youth lawmaker also filed several amendments to the provisions on the BUBs, in order to keep the Congress coordinated with the actions of agencies in projects under GAA. “Ang laman ng 2016 budget ay basically 4Ps: pang-pork barrel, pambayad-utang, panuhol sa eleksyon, at pangpuhunan ng malalaking negosyante. Wala sa equation ang taumbayan,” Ridon ended.

Read and download MKule issues at issuu.com/manilacollegian Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ themanilacollegian Follow us on Twitter: @MKule

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA

1

Anong

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

SOFIA MONIQUE KINGKING SIBULO

aksyon ang dapat gawin ng administrasyon ng UP ukol sa insidente ng military surveillance sa UP Diliman?

klase ng surveillance dahil baka mah mapahamak nanaman. Sigurado kasi na may kinalaman ito sa mg Lumad na nagpunta para sa Manilakbayan. - TM, 2013, CAS

Kailangan maghigpit sila ng security sa Diliman. Dapat di nangingialam ang militar. At dapat lumaban ang admin. Waddle, CP, 2014

2K

Dapat ay maagapan ito kaagad upang makahinga ng maluwag ang mga tao at dapat siguraduhin ng administrasyon ng UP na walang Lumad, estudyante, o kahit sino na manganganib. #StopLumadKillings, CAMP, 2014-xxxxx

Si crush :> Partners in crime kami e Waddle, CP, 2014

Mas mahigpit dapat ang security nila lalo na’t dadagsa ang mga tao doon para sa Manilakbayan. - zzz, CAS, 2013-xxxxx Separation of ((armed forces)) and ((SUCs)) -guinea pig, CAMP, 2014-xxxx Dahil ito ay harap-harapang paglabag sa nakaraang kasunduan sa pagitan nng DND at UP, makatarungan lamang kung magsasampa ng kaso laban sa mga militar na sangkot sa sinasabing paglabag. - CD, 2013-xxxxx Mariing kondenahin ng UP Admin ang nangyaring insidente. Balikan at rebisahin din ang mga kasunduan sa pagitan ng militar at ng mga iskolar ng bayan, nang sa gayon ay maipatupad pa ito ng mas epektibo at mas nasusunod. BrainlessScholar, 2014-09xxx, CD Letter siguro? Na papaalalahanan ung kapulisan na merong batas na nagsasabi na wala silang kapangyarihan sa loob ng UP diliman, or sa lahat ng campus ng UP? Parang warning ganun. Or kahit sabihan man lang sila kung anong purpose ng pagbisita nila sa campus, para hindi nawiwindang ung staffs and students. - cd, 2014-21xxx Kailangang magkaroon ng pormal na imbestigasyon ukol sa kaganapan. three2one, CAMP, 201x-014xx Siguro dapat pangutin kasi may agreement pala e tsaka isa itong porma na naman ng militarisasyon na dapat ay tutulan.

Inutang na dugo ng berdugong militar, singilin, singilin, pagbayarin! - Omegirl, CAS Hold the chief person in charge responsible. Make demands. Have them compromise for the breach of contract. Alien, 2013, CAS Dapat papanagutin nila tungkol dito kasi nilabag nila yung agreement eh. Dapat din ipaalam sa mga tao yung totoong nangyayari sa likod ng mga aksyon ng militar. Siguraduhin na walang gaanong

NEWS 07 Farmers protest Aquino’s failure on land reform

ung tatakbo ka para maging presidente ng Pilipinas, sino ang nais mong maging running mate? Bakit?

Si The Flash kasi mabilis tumakbo. #StopLumadKillings, CAMP, 2014-xxxxx intergalactic ambassador para makakateleport ako sa iba’t-ibang parte ng bansa kapag may nangangailangan ng tulong. - Alien, 2013, CAS Ang hirap mamili ng running mate kasi wala namang maayos talaga sa mga tatakbong bise presidente. Pare pareho silang may kakulangan. Pwede bang independent. Haha! - TM, 2013, CAS I am a strong, independent... presidentiable. Anec. - 2013, CAS

Progressive peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), together with hundreds of farmers and other progressive groups, marched to Mendiola on October 21 to condemn the failure on land distribution of the Benigno Aquino administration.

According to KMP, at least 8.26 million hectares of land are yet to be distributed to tillers, including 4.59 million hectares supposedly being distributed to farmerbeneficiaries by the Department of Agrarian Reform since 2013, but in actuality are still locked in more than 800,000 agrarian cases of exemption.

In relation to this, the KMP is asserting for the passage of House Bill 252, or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB), which seeks the nationalization and free distribution to landless tillers of agricultural lands.

“Aquino’s failure on land reform is catastrophic. It is worse than typhoon ‘Lando’ in terms of perpetuating land monopoly in the country,” said KMP chair Rafael Mariano.

“The sham CARP that expired in June 2014 miserably failed to break land monopoly and address landlessness.

A new and truly distributive agrarian reform program embodied in GARB is the only solution to the centuries-old land problem,” Mariano explained.

Marc Segundo of KMP also recalled a bogus land distribution scheme five years ago through the tambiolo system in accordance with the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The lands remain undistributed up to the present, according to Segundo.

Meanwhile, in light of the upcoming presidential election in 2016, the protesters also called on presidential bets to face the issue of free distribution of land, which, according to KMP, is the biggest challenge to presidential aspirants.

Kung okay na health ni miriam, i’ll pick her. Her qualifications exceed most of the politicians that are running this election.

- Skittles, CAS Gusto ko running mate ‘yung crush ko tapos lagi kaming may close door meetings. - Omegirl, CAS si Mar, para goodshot kay Korina, baka sakaling mabigyan pa ko ng tsinelas since wala akong tsinelas. - barefoot, 2014-xxxxx, CD Ang mga minions dahil solid silang katulong. - three2one, CAMP, 201x-014xx Gusto ko si Binay para pag nagcampaign kami masasabihan ko siya ng “nognog, pandak, laki sa hirap..yan si Binay.” - cd, 20xx-xxxxx Duterte siguro. Kasi sobrang kulang na sa disciplina ang mga pilipino. Sabihin man nating parehas siya ni marcos na marahas magpatupad ng batas, pataykung patay, hindi naman siya katulad ni marcos na ninanakaw ang kayamanan ng pilipinas para sa pansariling interes. Hindi naman siya katulad ni marcos na pumapatay (?) ng walang dahilan. - cd, 2014-21xxx Si Barney. Para I love you, you love me, and togethee we’re a family. - BrainlessScholar, 2014-09xxx, CD

Hundreds of farmers led by progressive peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) marched to Mendiola on October 21, 2015 to condemn the Aquino administrationís failure on land reform, describing it as worse than typhoon Lando in terms of perpetuating land monopoly in the country. Photos by Patricia Anne Guerrero

08 FEATURES

A

ng mga manggagawa ay nagmimistulang pinapadaan sa makinarya --- pinipiga ang lakas at itinuturing na materyal; nakagapos sa isang mapaniil na sistemang walang paggalang sa karapatan at pawang nagsasamantala sa lakas-panggawa.

Sa ganitong kalagayan ay hindi katakatakang magpumiglas na ang mga manggagawa ng Tanduay Distillers Inc. Ngunit, ang kanilang paggiit ng karapatan ay tinapatan rin ng mahigpit na pagsakal at pandarahas sa kanila ng pamahalaan ng Tanduay.

A ng Paggapos Sa sugal ng kahirapan at kawalan ng trabaho, buhay ang itinataya ng mga manggagawa.

Ang pagmamanupaktura ng alak na Tanduay ay nagsimula pa noong taong 1850 sa Hagonoy, Bulacan, hanggang sa inilipat sa Isla de Tanduay, sa pagitan ng Quiapo at San Miguel sa Maynila, dulot ng pag-iiba sa pagmamay-ari.

Noong taong 1988, nabili ni Lucio Tan ang pagmamay-ari ng Tanduay at mula noon ay sinimulan na nitong ilipat ang pagawaan sa Cabuyao, Laguna.

Dulot nito, ang Tanduay Distillery ay napabilang sa malawak na pagmamayari ng nabanggit na negosyante sa ilalim ng kanyang Lucio Tan Group kung saan kasama ang Asia Brewery, Eton, Philippine Air Lines, at Philippine National Bank.

Sa paglilipat ng pagawaan ng Tanduay sa Cabuyao, nagsimula na ring mag-retiro ang mga dating regular nitong mangagawa at nagsimulang palitan ng mga batang kontraktwal sa ilalim ng mga bagong polisiya ng pamamahala ni Tan. At mula sa humigit kumulang dalawang dekada hanggang sa kasalukuyan, masalimuot ang kalagayan ng mga manggagawa ng Tanduay.

Patuloy na nagtatrabaho ang mga manggagawa sa kabila ng mga peligrosong kondisyon at kawalan ng benepisyong tinatanggap. Ang mga kontraktwal na manggagawa ay sumasahod lamang ng P315 kada araw na mas mababa sa minimum wage na P362.50. Ang mga kagamitang pamprotekta ng mga manggagawa mula sa mga panganib ng pagawaan na dapat ay ipinagkakaloob sa kanila ng kompanya ay ikinakaltas rin sa kanilang sahod. Ayon pa sa Tanggulan, Ugnayan at Daluyang Lakas ng Anakpawis sa Tanduay Distillery (TUDLA), higit

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

400 na manggagawa ang pinaalis at nawalan ng trabaho mula nang lumipat ang pagawaan ng Tanduay mula sa Maynila patungong Laguna. Sa kabilang banda, 397 namang manggagawa ang nananatiling kontraktuwal sa kabila nang higit 11 taon na nilang pagtatrabaho sa kompanya, higit na malaki kumpara sa 40 lamang na regular nitong manggagawa.

Ipinagbawal din ng pamamahala ni Tan ang pagbuo ng unyon o samahan ng mga manggagawa.

Malinaw ang mga paglabag sa karapatan ng mangagawa ng Tanduay at lahat ng ito ay nag-uugat sa ‘di makatarungang polisiya ng kontraktuwalisasyon.

Ang mga manggagawa ng Tanduay ay 5 hanggang 11 taon nang nagtatrabaho sa kompanya subalit hanggang sa ngayon ay nananatili pa rin silang kontraktuwal at walang natatanggap na sapat ng mga benepisyo. Hindi maitatanggi na ito ay isang tahasang paglabag sa itinatakda ng batas, lalo na sa makatarungang pagturing sa mga manggagawa.

Higit pa, tunay na labag sa katuwiran ang pagpapanatili ng mababang sahod at kalagayang kontraktwal ng higit 90 porsiyento ng mga manggagagawa ni Tan gayong siya ay ikalawa sa pinakamayamang negosyante sa bansa.

Dulot ng mga pagsasamantalang ito, nagsimulang tumindig ang mga manggagawa para sa kanilang mga karapatan. Ang mga protestang isinasagawa ng mga manggagawa ng Tanduay ay kasalukuyang nagmimistulang apoy na nagbibigay liwanag at nagpapakita sa kalakhan ng populasyon sa tunay at malawakang kalagayan ng mga kontraktwal na manggagawa sa buong bansa.

A ng Pagpiglas Sa bawat pagpiglas upang makaalpas ay ang lalong paghigpit ng hawak ng mapagsamantalang pamamahala ng Tanduay.

Ang pag-aaklas ng mga manggagawa ay nagdulot ng pansamantalang ligalig

sa pamamahala ng Tanduay Distillers Inc. Bagaman, imbes na harapin nito ang mga mangagawa, ay dahas ang kanyang ipinamalas. Sa kagustuhan ng kompanya na lansagin at patigilin ang mga manggagawa, kumuha ito ng mga “goons” upang harangan at dahasin ang mga nag-aalsang manggagawa.

Piket Line Paglantad sa Kalagayan ng mga Nag-aaklas na Manggagawa ng Tanduay CHLOE PAULINE REYES GELERA DIBUHO NI DANIE RODRIGUEZ

Ayon sa grupong TUDLA, ilang beses silang dinahas at binasa gamit ang mga trak ng bombero. Kasama ring nabasa ang mga poste ng kuryente malapit sa mga manggagawa kung kaya’t naging sobrang delikado ang lugar. Binabato rin sila ng mga bato at bubog mula sa mga binasag na bote ng Tanduay.

Tinatayang higit 50 na ang nagtamo ng mga sugat at pasa dahil sa pagtatangkang pigilan at pahintuin ang pagaaklas ng mga manggagawa.

Ang higit na nakalulungkot pa ay ang pagsasawalang bahala lamang ng mga awtoridad sa mga nangyaring karahasan, at sa halip na pigilan ang kompanya sa mga gawain nito ay hinahayaan lamang nila ito. Kabiguan ngang maituturing na ang mga alagad ng batas na dapat sana ay kakampi at tumutulong sa mga manggagawa upang tamohin ang kanilang mga karapatan ay ang mismong pumili na kalabanin sila at maglingkod sa mga mapaniil na pamamahala ng Tanduay.

Dagdag pa, pagsubok din para sa mga manggagawa ang ipakalat ang kanilang kalagayan sapagka’t hindi nila malapitan ang naglalakihang istasyon ng midya dahil isa si Lucio Tan sa malalaking kliyente ng mga ito.

Sa kabila ng pagkakasadlak sa pilit na pagpapatahimik at limitadong paraan upang matamo ang kanilang mga karapatan, sama-samang nagpupumiglas at lumalaban ang mga manggagawa ng Tanduay. Nananatili mang bingi ang mga taingang dapat sana ay nakikinig, at nananatili mang mahigpit ang pagkakasakal ng berdugong kompanya, kolektibo namang sumusulong ang mga manggagawa.

Ang suporta ng taumbayan at samasamang pagtindig ng hanay ng mga manggagawang pagal na sa pagkaalipin mula sa mapang-aping sistema, higit sa lahat, ang bubuwag sa kinakalawang na nitong tanikala.

FEATURES 09

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

ACQUIESCENCE ASSESSING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTS OF THE K-12 CURRICULUM KATRINA MARIA LIMPIADA PEROLINO ILLUSTRATION BY JAMELA LIMBAUAN BERNAS

I

n an administration that fails to address the problems of the country, even enacted policies remain futile in upholding genuine education, as they continue to aggravate the current educational system of the nation.

Grades 11 and 12 will also not be given a high school diploma. In both of the provisions covered by the curriculum, it is apparent that the government did not seek to address the basic problem that education isn’t being accessed by all, especially the poor.

Such failure has been mirrored by the implementation of the K-12 curriculum, which has made considerably adverse consequences in the sectors of education, economy and the labor force. Its repressive nature has distanced accessible education from the grasp of the masses, who have always treasured schooling and regarded it with great value. Rather than serving the people, the K-12 only continued the recurring thread of oppression that is evident in the treatment of Filipinos.

The tracks offered under K-12 have also become the means in further exploiting the youth. Out of the three tracks offered under SHS, namely Academic, TechnicalVocational-Livelihood, and Sports & Arts, the government placed emphasis on technical and vocational training. While the other two tracks incline students to pursue college degrees, a student who completes the vocational track may already obtain a National Certificate Level II (NC II), given that he/she passes the competency-based assessment of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

While giving the impression of allowing the students to pursue their tracks of interest, the government has crafted a legitimate way to subject the poor to the path of semiskilled work. This is so, since many of the poor who cannot afford to further sustain tertiary education will be left with no choice but to succumb to seeking jobs with only competency certificates and high school diplomas in their hands. The government has again failed in seeing and addressing the root problem; in a country where decent jobs are scarce even for college graduates, these K-12 graduates will encounter further difficulties in securing employment.

In effect, K-12 does not resolve the most basic of problems of Filipino education – rather, it remains a faulty structure of broken promises and hidden agendas.

TH E I M P L A N T AT I ON The new curriculum has been ingeniously crafted to foster false hopes in a nation deprived of its rights on education.

Four years ago, the bill for the K-12 curriculum had been passed under Republic Act No. 10533. The K-12 curriculum ought to enhance the basic structure of education comprising of kindergarten, six years in the primary level, and four years in the secondary level. Another key difference from the old curriculum is the addition of two years of Senior High School (SHS), in which students were to take classes for respective specializations. Working under the premise of strengthening the skills and competency of the youth, the K-12 offers three tracks under SHS that the students can choose from—some of which supposedly serve as alternatives that will give the student the option to not pursue college.

The idealistic goals of the policy, however, seem to only mask the flawed structure of the whole new curriculum.

The Republic Act No. 10157, or the Kindergarten Education Act, for instance acknowledges Kindergarten as a prerequisite before being admitted to Grade 1. Such a policy only bars the impoverished from obtaining education even more— in fact, in a 2012 study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), it was observed that children from impoverished families are less likely to be sent to Kindergarten. Under K-12, students who will not be able to finish

The curriculum working under the façade of ensuring further mastery of the youth of the skills needed for employment and entrepreneurship belies the real agenda of the government. The K-12 curriculum does not guarantee the production of excellent and well-educated individuals, but rather the breeding of entry-level workers contented in working at or even below the minimum, due to the lack in educational attainment. In crafting such a policy, the government remained blind to the existing problems on education, such as the lack of basic facilities in many of the schools in the country.

Having fallen short on catering to the real needs of the Filipino children, the curriculum has only proven to be an awaiting trap for the youth of the nation.

TH E REGRES S ION The implementation of the K-12 curriculum has catalyzed the exacerbation of the existing problems on the sector of education.

Before the implementation of the K-12, the problems of lack of materials, rooms, and teaching staff were already evident in many of the country’s learning institutions, particularly state and public schools.

With the government’s failure to address these existing problems, the preparation and implementation of the K-12 itself has become an added burden for many schools in the country.

Problems regarding the lack of learning materials in schools were still evident in 2014, three years after the implementation of the curriculum. K-12 Program Coordinator Elvin Uy from the Department of Education (DepEd) himself has admitted the delay in the distribution of reference materials designed for the new curriculum. Evident proof of the poor preparation and little concern involved in the implementation of K-12 is also reflected further in the far flung areas. The current situation in Pasonanca National High School in Zamboanga and Oeste National High School in Samar evidenced the inadequate preparation involved in the implementation of the curriculum, where classrooms were propped up on bare grounds, with no facilities conducive for learning. On a larger scale, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) stated that as of 2015, there is a shortage of 112,942 classrooms, with 4,281 still lacking water supply because of the failure to implement the building of budgeted classrooms and water supply projects last year. With the lack of facilities and learning materials which constitute the most basic needs of learning institutions in the country, the K-12’s promise of fostering competence in the students remains questionable and not feasible.

Instead of making education more accessible to the people, the government, through the K-12 curriculum, has forced education to come with a price.

Approximately 2.2 million students are expected to enter senior high school, but Secretary Armin Luistro has admitted that only 800,000-1.1 million can currently be accommodated in public schools. To address the possibilities of some students having to transfer to private schools, the K-12 policy has included the Voucher Program, where beneficiaries could receive vouchers ranging from PHP17,500 – PHP22, 500. However, such financial aid remains insignificant compared to the expenses of the cost of tuition fees in private high schools that they will still need to shoulder, and not everyone is guaranteed to receive aid. Due to many of the problems in shouldering

tuition and other fees in private schools, the dependence of secondary education on private institutions would result to a further decline in numbers of enrollees and educated Filipinos—a converse outcome of what has been initially promised by the K-12 curriculum. Thus, apart from the government’s immobility in addressing the lack of basic necessities and public schools, it has left education to become a profiteering scheme by private institutions.

With the government’s futility in acting on its promise of a more competent educational system in the country, the sector was left to further regress, leaving it with little room to grow and even less room to prosper.

THE AGGR E SSION The K-12 curriculum has only furthered the entrenchment of the Filipino youth into oppressive hands.

The K-12 curriculum was only one of the many policies constructed not with Filipinos in mind, but the reinforcement of colonial ties and the need for global cheap labor. In a nation whose economy is largely dependent on remittances from overseas work, the Philippines continues to provide for and satiate the need of the neoliberalist countries through the strengthening of its labor export policy. With the lack of jobs in the Philippines, Filipinos are left with no choice but to find jobs in other countries, despite the risks of abuse, exploitation, or trafficking on an extreme level. By promising an abundance of graduates capable of technical and vocational skills, the K-12 tailor-fits the youth to the labors qualifications of other countries, which on the other hand specifically require such skills on workers.

The K-12 was not built around the idea for progress of the Philippines as a nation, but for the capitalists masking neoliberal ideas with education. Using education as a means, the incumbent government looks forward to using the Filipino workforce as a resource for sustaining the economy. It succumbs to the need of most capitalist countries, whose main goal is to import human resources from third-world countries such as the Philippines, due to the need for workers.

Even more than the K-12, the government has continuously manipulated the masses under the guise of improving the education in the country. For instance, before the CONTINUED ON PAGE 04

10 CULTURE Lolo, Paano po kayo noon?

Ngayong araw na ito ay ipinasok na nila ako sa Institute of International Trade Education-Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Sa papel ay parang ang sarap-sarap pakinggan ng aking kurso – Pharmacotherapy Development Technology. Sabi no’ng staff ng paaralan ay galingan daw namin sa exam dahil ang magiging balik naman ng “biyaya” kapag nagka-trabaho na kami ay higit na napakalaki – mas malaki kaysa sa matrikulang ibinayad namin na halos umubos na ng ipon ni Papa sa rural bank. Kahit papaano ay nabigyan naman ako ng pag-asa – baka sa huli ay mahigitan ng laki ng ipinagmamalaki nilang “biyaya” ang mga masalimuot na gabing titiisin ko dito sa kursong hindi ko naman talaga gusto.

Iba po ang kursong aking gustong kuhanin. Nang malaman ko kina Papa na kayo ay kumuha noon ng BA Economics, lalo akong nagkaroon ng dahilan para ipaglaban sa kanila ang kursong kukuhanin ko sa kolehiyo ay ‘yong may kinalaman sa agham panlipunan. Pero kung gaano katalim ang aking mga katwiran, ay gayon din katalas ang mga naging sagot nila sa akin – “Bobo ka ba? Hindi mo man lang ba naisip ang kahihinatnan ng magiging pamilya mo balang araw? Makakabili ba ng diaper ang mga ideolohiyang matutunan mo?”, katwiran nila. Hindi ko alam kung ako pa ba ang pinagagalitan nila o ang kanilang mga sarili.

Ang pangarap ko po sana ay kumuha ng isang pre-law na kurso, at balang araw ay makapag-abogasya. Ngunit ganoon na lamang po ang aking pagkadismaya nang malaman kong wala nang Humanities o Social Science na kurso sa paaralang aking papasukan – pawang mga kategorya sa ilalim ng Home Economics, Industrial Arts, at Information and Communications Technology na lamang ang pagpipilian. Kung sabagay, madidismaya rin yata ako sa pag-aabogasya, sapagkat bali-balitang ang magiging pokus na rin daw ng abogasya ngayon sa bansa ay para sa pagpapayabong ng corporate sector ng ekonomiya.

Mahirap nga namang makipagsapalaran sa isang mundong ikaw lamang ang naiiba – pinipilit mong mabuhay pero pinipilit ka naman nilang pinapatay. Sa lipunang aming ginagalawan ngayon, kapag hindi ka nakapagtapos ng kursong may kinalaman sa Agham o Matematika, at tanging mga teorya at ideolohiya ang laman ng iyong ulo, para kang isang ketongin na kailangang ihiwalay. Kung sabagay, mahirap nga namang kalaban ang sikmurang nagmamaktol – makasarili raw at mapanghati ang mga pangarap ng isang indibidwal kung hindi naman nito matutugunan ang pagkalam ng sikmura ng lipunan. Kaya ang lahat ng gagawin, “Para sa Ekonomiya,” sabi nga nila.

Umiitindi sa aming pinagdadaanan, Andrew

KASAYSAYANG JAMILAH PAOLA DELA CRUZ LAGUARDIA

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

Lolo, Ganito na po kami ngayon – isang lipunang binubuo ng mga katawang kumikilos para sa pera.

Gaano ba kahalaga ang maging “perpekto”? Natagpuan ko ang aking sariling itinatanong ito, kasabay ng paghagip ng aking kamao sa panga ng aking kaklaseng ipinahiya ang kaibigan kong bumagsak sa aming pangatlong pagsusulit. Mabuti raw na bumagsak siya, at hiling niya’y mapaalis na nga ito sa kolehiyo – mas kakaunting “kompetisyon” kasi para sa kanila ang kanyang magiging pag-alis.

Gaano ba kahalaga ang kompetisyon? Napagmumuni-munihan ko ito sa tuwing nag-eeksperimento kami sa laboratoryo, makikita kong parang mga robot sa isang pabrika ang galaw ng bisig ng aking mga kasamahan. Lahat ay nag-uunahang masapawan ang isa—nagkukumahog na mahigitan ang nadiskubre ng isa nang hindi man lamang itinatanong kung bakit at para kanino o saan ang ginagawa naming gamot.

Gaano ba kahalaga ang memorization? Bawat gabi ay ipinipilig ko ang aking ulo sa tuwing pumapasok sa aking isipan ang katanungang ito, at pinipilit ang aking sarili na sabayan ang mala-bubuyog na pagsasaulo rin ng aking mga kasama sa dormitoryo sa kanilang aralin. Ang lahat ng recitation at pagsusulit namin ay nakukulong sa pagkabisado sa kahulugan ng medicine, health, pharmacy, o therapy – wala man lamang kahit essay na parte na magtatanong kung pisikal pa ba o higit nang masidhi ang sakit ng lipunan na dapat lunasan.

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

Gaano ba kahalaga ang maging mapagmasid at mapagtanong? Sa tuwina ay lagi akong natutuliro sa katanungang ito. Nito ngang nakaraan ay tinanong ko ang aking propesor kung bakit ‘di pamilyar sa amin ang mga sakit na aming pinag-aaralan; ang mga sakit tulad ng heat stroke, tipus, dengue o leptospirosis na pumapatay ngayon sa lahat halos ng Pilipino ay wala. Nanggagalaiti niyang sinabi sa akin na may dahilang kung bakit may salitang “international” sa pangalan ng aming paaralan – sa madaling salita, ang lahat ng aming mga kaalaman ay nakareserba na para sa ibang bansa.

Maging ang istorya rin yata ng kasaysayan ng bansa ay naka-disenyo na rin “for export” – mas mahalaga na malaman ang pangatlong babae sa buhay ni Jose Rizal, kaysa malaman kung ano ang pananaw niya mismo tungkol sa pag-ibig. Lalo ring nayakag ang aking mga kaklase na magpunta sa Amerika sa kanilang pagtatapos, dahil hangang-hanga sila sa naging pagtulong nito sa ating bansa mula sa mga Espanyol, sa mga Hapon, at nito ngang nagdaang taon ay sa Tsina.

Ang kasaysayan daw ay isang hindi matitibag na bersyon ng katotohanan, sabi ng aking dating propesor sa History na napatalsik mula sa unibersidad dahil sa kanyang radikal na pag-iisip. Ngunit, habang tumatagal ako dito sa paaralang ito, unti-unti kong napagtatantong may iba’t-ibang bersyon din pala ng katotohanan – at kung saan mas pirmi ang pang-ekonomikong kalagayan ng tao, doon siya papanig.

Umuunawa sa kasalukuyan, Andrew

CULTURE 11 Lolo, Bakit niyo po hinayaang maging ganito?

Pagkatapos ng tatlong taon kong paninilbihan sa mga botika ng gamot sa Amerika, umuwi ako sa Pilipinas.

Bahagya akong natuwa nang makita ko ang naglalakihang mga billboard ng mga pelikula sa Quiapo. Talagang naging mahalagang baul ng mga pelikula ang Wattpad; ligal na rin pala muli ang pornograpiya sa bansa ngayon. Pero higit ang naging aking pagtataka sa slogan na may logo ng gobyerno na nakadikit sa mga billboard ng pelikula: “Pamper yourself! Relieve Your Stress in an Instant!” Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang maisip na ito na ang bagong opyo ng masa na panandaliang lilibang sa kanilang mga pagkabigo sa lipunang ito – opyong ang usok ay lalong maglalayo sa kanila sa tunay na mga suliranin sa lipunan.

Nagsulputan din ang iba’t ibang mga unibersidad ngayon sa buong kapuluan na ang karakter ay tulad ng dati kong pinanggalingan. Ngunit ngayon, ang mga kursong kanilang inihahandog ay nakadepende na sa bansang gusto mong pagtatrabahuhan – mayroong pangangailangan ng weapon maintenance workers sa China, mayroong demand ng horticulturist sa Japan, at iba pa. Tila ba nagtayo na ng kani-kanilang teritoryo sa Pilipinas ang iba’t-ibang bansa – ‘yon nga lang hindi na lupa o dagat ang kanilang pinag-aagawan, kundi ang mga Pilipino na mismo.

Inasahan kong makakakita rin ako ng mga naglalakihang tarpaulin ng mga politiko dahil sa nalalapit na ang eleksyon sa Pilipinas. Ngunit wala man lamang akong makita na balitaktakan sa telebisyon tungkol sa mga kakandidatong opisyal at kanilang mga plataporma. Sa katunayan ay iisa lamang ang nakita kong ibinabalita sa lahat ng media outlets, at ito ay ang pagpababango sa kasalukuyang pinuno na 12 taon nang nasa pwesto.

Ganito na kami ngayon—isang malaking pabrika ng mga propesyonal at manggagawang for export—isang lipunang nakapokus sa pagdebelop ng isang uri ng edukasyong nakatuon sa pagpapaunlad sa pang-ekonomikong kalagayan ng Pilipinas, at ng pampinansiyal nitong posisyon sa buong mundo. Ang pag-iisip na ang edukasyon ay pag-aaral para sa dalisay na paghahangad ng kaalaman para sa sariling pagpapaunlad at para sa bayan, ay pag-iisip na matagal nang nilamon ng kapitalismo.

Gusto kong sisihin ang henerasyon niyo na walang nagawa para ipaglaban ang inyong mga pinagmulang kurso – ang Humanities at Social Sciences. Ang kritikal at mapanuring pag-aaral sana nito sa pag-unlad ng pilosopiya ng lipunan ang magiging susi para ang salitang “kaunlaran” ay hindi lamang bigkasin sa indibidwalistiko at pang-ekonomikong diyalekto, kundi maging sa pangkalahatang pagpapaunlad sa politikal na isip ng lipunan.

Dahil walang hilaw o hinog na panahon para sa paghuhubog ng kaisipan ng lipunan – mula sa inyo hanggang sa aming henerasyon, ang totoong propaganda para sa kaunlaran ay lagi nang kulay pula, hasa ang talim, at matalas ang tingin sa lahat ng isyu.

Panahon na ng paghuhubog.

Umaasa sa pagbabago ng hinaharap, Andrew

Isang Pagtanaw sa Pag-alis ng Humanities at Social Science Courses sa Kolehiyo DIBUHO NI JAZMINE CLAIRE MARTINEZ MABANSAG

12 CULTURE

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

“Kung ano ang itinanim, ay siyang huhugutin.”

iba’t ibang intensyon. Malinaw na nabibigyan ng importansya ang kultura ng hugot sa tulong ng social media at teknolohiya na kahit sino ay maaari nang magpahayag ng damdamin sa porma ng hugot. Mahihinuha natin na ang hugot ay isang epektibong mekanismong kayang manipulahin at gawing pino ang pinakamatitinding simbuyo ng damdamin upang maging isang dalisay na porma ng sining.

Kaya mo bang limutin nang basta-basta ang mga matatamis at mapapait na pangyayari sa iyong buhay? Marahil, para sa iba’y oo ang sagot, ngunit para sa nakararami’y hindi madaling lisanin ang nakaraan, bagkus ay kinakailangang mailabas ang naipong damdamin. Sa imbensyon ng hugot, nagkaron ng isang panibago at malikhaing paraan ang mga tao upang makapaglabas ng emosyon at maikonekta ang sarili sa lipunan.

Step 2: #HUGOTSearchForThePerfectGroup “Kung saan-saan ka naghahanap, narito lang naman pala sa tabi mo.”

Ang nirerepresentahan ng iyong hugot ay hindi naman palagiang mga tao sapaligid mo. Pangunahin ang sarili mo—kung nailalarawan nga ba nito ang damdamin mo, at kung ito ba ay nagpapatotoo sa mga pangangailangan at hinaing ng kalagayan mong pang-emosyonal.

Step 1: #HugotPaglitawNgDamdamin Ang forever lang pala sa boyfriend mo ay ang pambababae niya, inaway ka ng iyong kaibigan nilaglag mo raw siya sa prof niyo noong di siya pumasok, o di kaya naman ay nanakawan ka ng bagong biling iPhone 6—iilan lamang ang mga iyan sa milyunmilyong karanasan mo sa pangaraw-araw na buhay na maaring pagkunan ng hugot.

Sa pagbugso ng iyong damdamin, minsan ay nakapagbibitiw ka ng mga salitang may malalim na palang pagpapakahulugan, at hindi mo namamalayan, humuhugot ka na pala. Sa kabilang banda naman, kung gusto mong gawing sadya ang paggawa ng hugot, nararapat mong tandaan na hindi mo kinakailangang maranasan ang isang situwasyon upang makagawa nito. Bagkus, kinakailangan mo lamang na maging malikhain at witty upang makapukaw ng atensiyon ang gagawing hugot.

Sa paghugot, madalas na paksa ang isang karanasan sa buhay mo na makabuluhan at may malaking epekto sa iyong pagkatao.

Ipinapares ito sa isang simbolong madali o eksaktong makakapaglarawan ng nais mong iparating. Ang resulta nito ay kailangang matalas, hindi paligoy-ligoy, at witty. Mula sa mga hakbang na ito, masasabing ang magagawang hugot ay isang manipestasyon ng paraan ng pag-iisip at pagkatao mo.

Sa kasalukuyan, popular ang mga hugot na isinasama sa mga sining na hindi pangkaraniwan o may pagka-surreal, tulad ng makikita sa berlin-artparasites, dahil mas nakatuon ito sa paggising sa mga emosyon at damdamin ng makakakita kaysa sa pagpapakita ng realismo. Mas pinasisikat pa ng social media ang kultura ng hugot sa pamamagitan ng madaliang pagpapakalat, hashtag, at mga hugot contests na ginagawa ng mga page gaya ng Utot Catalog.

Walang forever, sabi nga nila. Lahat ng bagay ay may hangganan, maski ang mga hugot na iyong ginagawa. Kahit nagkapatong-patong na ang eyebags mo kakaiisip sa tamang hugot na maglalarawan ng iyong emosyon, hindi pa rin nito mahuhuli ang tunay na esensya ng isang damdamin o pangyayari sapagkat makukuha lamang ito kung ikaw mismo ang makararanas nito. Samakatuwid, ang isang obra maestrang hugot ay masasabing anino lamang ng tunay na karanasan sa buhay.

Bilang sining, ang hugot ay binubuo ng mga pananaw mo sa buhay na magbubunga sa

#Hugotserye Pagtanaw sa Gampanin ng Hugot sa Indibiduwal at Lipunan

PIA KRIEZL JURADO HERNANDEZ AT DEINZEL ROBLES UEZONO DIBUHO NI MICHAEL LORENZ DUMALAOG RAYMUNDO

Bilang isang tao, natural sa ‘tin ang maghanap ng referent group kung saan makararamdam tayo ng sense of belonging.

Masasabi na ang paghugot ang nagsisilbing tulay ng indibidwal sa kanyang maaaring kinabibilangang grupo. Sa mga grupong ito’y malalaman mong marami pala kayong naghahanap sa kanya-kanyang mga sarili, na ‘yung situwasyong akala mong ikaw lang ang mag-isang nahihirapan ay naiintindihan din pala ng iba. Katulad na lamang sa love life mo, akala mo ikaw lang ang manliligaw niya, ‘yun pala eh talo niya pa ang iPhone sa pagmumulti-task—sampu kasi kayong pinagsasabay-sabay niya.

Mahalaga para sa isang indibidwal ang hugot dahil labasan ito ng sama ng loob, ng sobrang katuwaan, ng lungkot dulot ng kabiguan at ng kung ano-ano pang emosyon; isang daluyan ng mga mabibigat mong damdamin. Sa pamamagitan ng paghugot, maiiwasan mong tuluyang malamon o malugmok sa kumunoy ng iyong mga emosyon at damdamin. Sa madaling salita, isa itong mabisang paraan ng pagmo-move on.

Ang ideya ng hugot ay isang armas laban sa paniniwala ng lipunan na kahinaan ang kadramahan. Kapag madrama raw kasi, nalulunod na sa emosyon ang dapat na lohikal at rasonableng takbo ng pagiisp. Nilalabanan nito ang ideyang hindi makabuluhan ang paglalabas ng saloobing dulot ng mga laban at paghihirap natin sa buhay. Samakatuwid, pinapahalagahan ng hugot na likas sa mga tao ang maging emosyonal; isa itong magandang paalala na tao lang tayo—hindi manhid, at nasasaktan.

“Linawin mo agad, ‘wag puro pambobola lang.”

Habang tinatapos ang hugot mo, kailangang masusing pag-isipan at linawin ang magiging sadya ng hugot mo—kung ito ba’y pamukaw-atensiyon, pagpapaalala sa ating nakaraan, testamento ng saloobin, o pambasag lamang sa normal na buhay ng tao.

Isaisip na malaking bahagi ng pag-unlad ng buhay ng tao ang pagkakaroon ng iba’tibang emosyon at damdamin. Ang psyche

ng tao, kahit gaano pa kahirap unawain ay madalas pangunahan ng emosyon. Ang damdamin ng isang tao ang kalaban ng kanyang kaisipan, at sa pamamagitan ng paghugot na ginagamitan ng masusing pagiisip, nababalanse nito ang malakas na hatak ng emosyon sa iyong pagkatao.

Step 3: #HUGOTPag-ugnaySaLipunan “Ako ngayon. Ako pa rin ba bukas?”

Hindi kumukupas ang hugot, kaya nama’y nagiging isang bahagi na ito ng pang-arawaraw na buhay. Ipinapakita nito na hindi lamang pagrepresenta sa emosyon ng indibiduwal ang nagiging tungkulin ng hugot kundi ay pati sa kasalukuyang estado ng lipunang kaniyang ginagalawan.

What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine. Sa konteksto ng pagpapahayag mo ng damdamin, may mga hugot ka kung saan marami ang makaka-relate at makadarama ng mga dinanas mong paghihirap, at may mga hugot naman ang iba kung saan ikaw naman ang makaka-relate. Patunay nito ang pagshare ng mga tao sa mga post ng isa’t isa gaya na lamang ng sa berlin-artparasites, betsin-artparasites, at Utot Catalog.

Tulad ng unrequited love mo, ‘di lahat ng hugot mo ay tiyak na makakapukaw ng kaparehong damdamin sa ibang tao.

Malaking salik ang emosyon at tonong ibinabahagi sa pangkalahatang dating ng isang hugot. Pwedeng sabihing, “What’s ‘hugot-able’ for you may not be so for others”. Ganyan naman madalas, ginawa mo na ang lahat pero sadyang may mga taong kasing manhid ng kalyo mo at hindi marunong umintindi.

Dahil madalas nating hindi pinapansin ang mahahalagang bagay sa paligid natin, magandang tingnan ang hugot na higit sa isang social at cultural trend. Sa kalawakan ng sakop nito, nagiging instrumento rin ito ng pagmulat sa kamalayan ng lipunan sa mga isyung hinarap ng mga Pilipino.

Halimbawa, “Ang pagmamahal mo sa’kin ay parang budget cut—kulang na nga, tinitipid mo pa,”. Sa ganitong paraan nagiging mas malinaw sa mga makatatanggap kung ano ang nangyayaring isyu sapagkat naikokonekta ito sa emosyon at karanasan nila sa buhay.

Samakatuwid, nagbibigay ng basehan at alternatibong paraan ng pagpapahayag ang hugot sa mga paksang kinakailangang bigyang ng atensyon tulad ng mga isyung kinahaharap ng ating bansa at ng ating lipunan.

Sa paglipas ng panahon, ang kultura ng hugot ay hindi malabong umusbong bilang isang makabagong pamamaraan ng mga indibidwal upang maiugnay ang kanilang mga sarili sa ibang tao at sa lipunan.Sa pamamagitan ng paglikha ng serye ng mga sining na nagpapakita ng kanyakanyang nararamdaman, nagkakaron ng isang ugnayan ng mga emosyon kung saan maaaring maging bahagi ang bawat isa.

CULTURE 13

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

EPALitiks

PAGKILATIS SA KULTURA NG “PANLILIGAW” NG MGA KANDIDATO

AGATHA HAZEL ANDRES RABINO AT JOSEF BERNARD SORIANO DE MESA DIBUHO NI ABIGAIL BEATRICE MALABRIGO

KANDIDATO posted: “Maitim man ang aking balat, maputi naman ang aking kalooban. Laki man akong Isteyts, mananatiling para sa 'Pinas ang aking puso. Handa na po akong ipagpatuloy ang nasimulan ng aking mga magulang. Tatakbo ako bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas!”

Hayop. Hindi mo inakalang may mas malaking sinungaling pa pala kaysa sa ex mo. Liligawan ka, bibitawan ka ng matatamis na mga salita’t pangako, at pagkatapos mong iboto’y iiwanan ka sa ere nang gutom para sa tunay na pagbabago.

Nararapat lamang na maging maalam at kritikal ka sa pagsuri ng mga kandidato nang sa gayo’y sa susunod na ika’y kanilang ligawan, hindi ka na agad-agad mapapasagot ng oo, bagkus ay puspusan mo muna silang kikilatisin.

Row, Row, Row Your Vote!

Daig pa ng mga political dynasties natin dito sa Pilipinas ang mga dinastiya ng Tsina.

Hindi maikakailang sentral sa ating kultura ang konsepto ng pamilya, dahil narin sa ito ang pinakamaliit at pinakamatibay na yunit ng lipunan. Sa loob ng isang pamilya, kadalasang makikita ang pagkakaisa, pagiging tapat, at pagtutulungan sa pagitan ng mga miyembro. Ngunit kung ang konsepto ng family solidarity ay ipapasok sa politika, magreresulta lamang ito sa nepotismo at monopolyo ng kapangyarihan.

Isa sa mga pinakamatitinding suliraning kinakaharap ng Pilipinas ay ang mga political dynasties. Tila ba’y naging “kapamilya system” na ang politika kung saan ang mga kandidato ay may kanyakanyang pinanggagalingang tanyag na pamilyang matagal na sa “negosyo” ng politika. Dahil wala o kakaunti lamang ang gustong kumalaban sa mga ganitong “bigating” kandidato, ang mga botante ay walang ibang pagpipilian kung hindi iboto ang mga ito. Upang mabuwag ang ganitong siklo, nararapat na matuto ang mga botante na suriin ang kaibuturan ng prinsipyo ng mga politiko—dahil sa oras na malaman nating hungkag ang kanilang mga binitiwang salita’t pangako, walang ibang dapat gawin kung hindi ibagsak ang mga dinastiyang ito, na kung tutuusin, sa simula’t simula pa lamang ay hindi dapat umiiral.

Maliban sa pagkuha ng suporta mula sa kanyang pamilya, ginagamit rin ng mga politiko ang internet upang kumuha ng

suporta sa mga netizens.

Ang pagiging Social Media Capital of the World ng Pilipinas ang naging susi sa mas malawak na page-endorso ng mga politiko sa mundo ng social networking. Halimbawa na lang ay ‘yung mga nagkalat na litrato na nagpapakita ng pagiging try-hard ni Mar Roxas o Jejomar Binay na maging isang makamasang tao. Tila ba’y may birtwal nang ugnayan ang mga kandidato at botante kung saan nakikita na bilang online celebrities ang mga kandidatong maraming pauso at pakulo.

Dalang-dala man ang iba sa ganitong istilo, marami rin nama’ng pinipiling hindi kibuin ang panunuyo. Liban pa rito, laganap sa Facebook ang mga pages kontra-epal, memes, at parody Twitter handles. Marami rin ang hinihimok na gumawa ng puspusang background checks. Sa gayon, garapal man ang pang-eepal, sa tulong ng mga political memes at background checks ay namumulat ang botante hinggil sa kredibilidad at tinatagong baho ng mga kandidato.

Nguni sa kabila nito, bad publicity is still publicity, ika nga. Wala nang masyadong pakialam ang mga kandidato kung gawin man silang katatawanan at tuligsain ng ibang tao, kaya nama’y patuloy pa rin sila sa pagpapakita ng kanilang pekeng personalidad sa TV at sa pagpapaskil ng mga posters ng kanilang nakakaumay na mukha sa mga poste’t pader.

Upang mas madaling makuha ng mga kandidato ang loob ng masa, ipapakita nilang sila’y may pakialam at nakikiramay sa pang-araw-araw nating pakikipagsapalaran sa buhay: sa ating tila ba’y “killing me softly” na feeling habang naghihintay umusad ang daloy ng trapiko, sa ating buwis-buhay na pagsakay ng tren tuwing rush hour, at sa panonood ng pag-arte ni Kris Aquino. Alas para sa kanila na maipakita’t maipadama sa’tin na kalebel lang din natin sila—na katulad natin, sila ay mahihirap din. Ngunit kung kasindalas ng isang himala ang kanilang pagka-Mesiyas, kasindalas din nito ang kamulatan ng masa sa mga huwad na personalidad ng mga politiko.

Sa umpisa ma’y madali tayong madala sa mala-teatrikong pagpapaandar, ang walang kalatoy-latoy na mga pangakong nilakip sa ngiting inukit sa hangin ay katumbas na rin ng pagpapakain ng bulok sa handaan. Kung tikman ay malasa, kung lulunin ay lason.

Sa paglaon ng kampanya, lumalabas ang madungis na mukha ng panliligaw ng mga

politiko. Isa na rito ang vote-buying na siyang pinakamabisang taktika sa pagkalap ng suporta. Libreng bigas man o pera, ang pananamantala ng mga politiko sa tawag ng sikmura at pangangailangan ng ilang mga botante ay isang tuwirang eksploytasyon ng mga mahihirap.

mga politikong kada minuto’y lumalabas sa tv, ‘yung mga alam nating anak ng dating politiko, ‘yung mga alam nating may kaso ng pandarambong; hindi na natin kayang tukuyin at ibukod kung sino ‘yung mga tunay na naghahangad ng pagbabago mula doon sa mga naghahangad lamang na mangg*go.

Sa pagpapatikim ng kaunting ginhawa sa mga nangangailangan, napipilitan ang ibang isakripisyo ang kanilang dangal at kumapit sa patalim; kaya nama’y ang suhol na panandaliang pupunan ang tiyang kumakalam nang kulang pa isang linggo ay ang siyang mas pinipili kaysa sa tatlo o anim na taong panunungkulang hinding-hindi masisikmura. Ayon kay Nick Joaquin, sa isang banda’y masasabing may pagkukulang din ang mga botante. Makikita kasi sa kultura ng pamimili ng boto ang mentalidad na ‘utak-barya’ ng mga Pilipino, kung saan inuuna ng karamihan ang agarang pagpaparaos imbis sa pangmatagalang benepisyo.

Hangga’t hindi namumulat ang kaisipan ng mga mamamayan, patuloy tayong magiging biktima ng tuwirang panloloko’t eksploytasyon ng ating mga iniluklok sa pwesto. Kung ninanais nating tuldukan ang kultura ng pang-eepal at trapo, samasama dapat nating isulong ang voter’s education, hindi lang para sa mga botante, kung hindi para sa lahat. Sa gayon, habang tayo’y nagiging mas kritikal sa pagtasa ng mga kakandidato, sila rin ay mapipilitang patotohanin ang talas ng kanilang kabatiran.

Sa pagpili ng kandidato, hindi dapat nakukulong ang botante sa pamba-bash sa mga gimik ng politiko o sa pagbabasa ng infographics at survey polls. Batid rin nila dapat kung ano at papaano lutasin ang mga krisis na patuloy na tumitibag sa ating lipunan – mga dapat isinasangalang-alang kapag kailangan nang itiman ang bilog sa balota.

Rock the Vote!

Ano nga ba ang mas pipiliin mo, ang tuwid na daan ni P-Noy o ang ipinapangako ng mga nuisance candidates na tulad ni Allan Carreon, na kinikilala ang kanyang sarili bilang “Ambassador of Intergalactic Earth”?

Saksi ang kasaysayan sa patuloy na hindi pagkakasundo ng interes ng mayayaman at mahihirap.

Ito ang nagtulak sa ilang mga ordinaryong mamamayan na maglakas-loob tumakbo bilang presidente ng Pilipinas. Mga ‘nuisance candidates’ sila kung tawagin, ngunit masasabing ang iba sa kanila’y mas tunay pa nga at makabayan, sapagkat bitbit nila sa kanilang mga puso ang pagnanais na maiahon ang bansa mula sa libingang hinukay ng mga ganid na politikong walang ibang niyukuran kung hindi ang salapi.

Kung tutuusin, ang mga politiko pa nga natin at hindi ‘yung mga ordinaryong mamamayang tumatakbo bilang presidente ang maituturing na nuisance candidates.

Ngunit malabong mapagtanto pa natin ‘to, sapagkat nasanay na tayong ibinoboto ‘yung

Marapat ding habiin sa ating basic education ang mga salik sa paghubog ng isang demokratikong lipunan tulad ng interaksyon ng kasaysayan, ekonomiks, at politika sa isa’t isa. Sa ganitong paraan hindi lang matitimbang kung sino ang karapat-dapat na manungkulan sa mga susunod na taon, higit pang magkakaroon ng pagkakataon ang masa na ipamalas ang kanilang kapangyarihan sa pagsulong ng isang gobyernong panig na makinig sa daing ng taong-bayan.

Dahil sa pagsisikap na kumilatis ng mga tatakbo nang may sikhay, nasasala natin ang husay ng mga kandidato sa kung sino ba sa kanila ang may bayag na makipagtalastasan at makipagdebate. Imbis na dumulog sila sa walang katuturang panghahalina, natitimbang natin ang kanilang political will, na hindi lang sila handang mag-alay ng sarili upang makalikha ng pagbabago, kung hindi may pagkukusa rin sila para kumilos.

Hindi sapat na mangako ang mga kandidato kung hindi rin naman kayang panindigan. Wala ring saysay ang bango ng plataporma kung hindi naman nito taglay pambansang interes.

Higit sa isang araw na pagboto ang trabaho bilang isang botante. Marapat na bantayan buong termino silang mga pinagkatiwalaan nating humawak sa hinaharap ng bayan. May karapatan tayong mamuna sa sandaling mabigo silang maisakatuparan ang kanilang tungkulin dahil simula’t sapul, masa ang siyang may hawak ng kapangyarihan.

14 GRAPHICS

MANG DENIS - C.O.C.

JAZMINE CLAIRE MARTINEZ MABANSAG

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

COMING PT. 2

SAME OLD STORY

CZARINA CATAPANG TUAZON

PAGE 15

awareness, this can lead to more action and support from people, particularly on worthy causes such as helping indigenous people who left their homes and farmlands because of militarization.

Signos

Yes, the so-called solution is merely a bandaid solution. It does not even solve the real problem of Lumads. But, the fact is that they recognized that there is a problem and thought that what they were supporting could provide the solution. It is now the duty of those who know better to make the rest of society realize that they should be doing so much more. The accountability does not rest on their shoulders alone.

I did not accept defeat by choosing to rationalize the actions of those who are doing less than what should be done for society. No, I wrote this piece to make people realize that sometimes, it pays to approach people without antagonizing them to support advocacies. As my friend from one of my biology classes used to say, not everyone is dismissive of political issues. Those who believe in the cause just need to present the issue in the way that others can understand and relate to it especially if those people are not directly affected by the said issue. Because of that, they can be mobilized to act and think of concrete steps to address pressing issues when the time comes.

How about you? Are you courageous enough to do the same?

SISTEMA

Kyla Pasicolan

AUTO-FATED ELECTIONS FROM PAGE 16 The same trend in the past elections recurred and could be observed during the 2013 polls. For instance, the source code was again not immediately released for public testing, which took away from the people the chance to see if elections were to be held with fully-functioning machines. After the elections, the Comelec itself admitted that a substantial number of CF cards have been corrupted, resulting to delays in the transmission of results. Again, the accuracy of results have been compromised just like in the past elections, but rather than choosing a more competent provider, the Comelec remained reliant on SmartmaticTIM. This 2016, the Smartmatic-TIM and the Comelec have again signed the contract for the coming elections—this includes a P6.3-billion dealfor the lease of 70,977 optical mark reader (OMR) machines.

The new machines were said to serve as the replacement, since Comelec failed to refurbish theold PCOS machines. While the adoption of an improved technology ought to please the electorate, it remains a question if such “improvements” will indeed deliver in the upcoming elections.

Also tracing back on the history of the ventures between Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM, it could be observed that they have signed many deals regarding the lease of machines and other essentials needed to pursue a supposedly competent automated elections. Many of these deals involved huge expenses—deals that resulted to waste in billions of money, as Comelec remains immobile in holding Smartmatic-TIM responsible for the supply of many defective machines and parts.

With the lack of competence shown by the supplier, it is ironic that Comelec still keeps

on signing contracts with SmartmaticTIM instead of finding a better provider.

Given this, it can be seen that Comelec not only continuously failed in guaranteeing a successful automated electoral process, but by still keeping deals with the same incompetent provider, it has also failed to secure the quality supply of necessities needed to ensure smooth automated elections from the very start Being that it is the aggregate voice of the people, the elections is a vital procedure that guarantees the popular selection of the leaders who will serve the country.

Thus, the technicalities of the whole electoral process must not be undermined, in order to uphold the accuracy, not only the results, but also the integrity of the people’s votes.

However, justice continues to be deprived from the electorate, as elections remain to be vulnerable to fraudulence.

Technological advancements under the shift from manual to automated elections serve as a façade of the bureaucracy, as Comelec fails to secure the competence of the new method in electing. With the lack of security measures in assuring that the PCOS machines are tamper-free, many politicians with the resources to access the polls remain at an advantage in circumventing the results. But while the system reeks of deceptions, the people remain firm in making those at fault accountable.

Powered with the need to surface the true leaders that they believe capable of truly serving the country, the masses will continue to seek due genuine transparent elections.

OPINION 15

Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday

KISAPMATA

PLUS TWO LETTERS

Aries Raphael Reyes Pascua “Buti pa si *insert name here*, kaya gawin ang lahat!”; “Tignan mo nga si *name*, ang galing-galing na, ano bang ginagawa mo sa buhay mo?”; “Alam mo ba si *name*, nakagawa na raw ng ganito, parehas lang kayo, ‘di ba?

Anong nangyayari sa ‘yo?!”; “Bakit si *name* kaya namang gawin ito, bakit ikaw, hindi?!”; “Kailan ka ba matututo ng mga ganito, bakit si *name*, marunong na?!”

“Wow naman! Teka nga lang, totoo ba ito? Bakit ba kayo kompara nang kompara sa akin sa ibang tao. Gusto niyo rin bang ikompara at ibatay ang halaga niyo sa kakayahan ng iba?! Gets niyo ba yun?”, iyan ang sagot ko sa tuwing makaririnig ako ng mga pahayag na pilit naghahambing sa akin sa ibang tao upang iparamdam sa akin na hindi pa sapat ang aking pagsisikap sa buhay upang marating ang gusto kong marating.

Hindi lang nakaririnding pakinggan ang mga ganitong pahayag, nakapagpabababa rin ito ng moral ng isang tao. Dahil sa mga ganitong sentimyento ng iba, mapapa-isip ka na lang, “Oo nga, ano? Bakit nga ba? Bakit nga ba hindi ko rin kaya?”

Ang pinakaayaw ko sa lahat na gagawin sa akin ng ibang tao ay ikompara ako

sa iba. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero lubos akong naapektuhan sa tuwing may gumagawa sa akin nito. Marahil ay nasanay ako na ako ang gitna ng mundo ko noon, ako ang laging napapansin noon, ako ang bida noon, at sa akin ikonokompara ang mga tao noon.

Nagbago ang lahat noong pumasok ako ng UP. Wow lang, ang laki pa pala ng mundo - mundo na hindi ko nakita dahil sa pagkasilaw ko sa “liwanag” na taglay ko, noon.

Kasalanan ko na

lumaban pa rin kahit na sigurado ang pagkatalo.

Noong hayskul, basta may patimpalak o kahit na anong laban sa labas ng paaralan, ako ang agad tinatawag at madalas nama’y pinapalad na manalo.

Ngayon, tila wala nang nagtitiwala sa akin, maski ang aking sarili ay nagdududa na rin sa aking kakayahan. Noon, basta may ipagawa sa akin, kaya ko, pero bakit ngayon, parang lahat na lang ay mahirap gawin? Noon, napakataas ng tingin ko sa aking sarili. Ngayon, ang toreng sa tingin ko’y kinakatayuan ko, ay tila naging buhangin at tuluyan na ngang bumagsak. Naiisip ko nga, dalawang letra lang naman ang dinagdag, pero bakit napakadaming nag-iba sa buhay ko?

MEMENTO MORI

It has been seven years since our first meeting. Back then, it would have taken me years of familiarity before considering someone a friend. But for some reason, it felt so natural opening up to you. There was an instant connection.

Over the years we have become only more comfortable with each other. Even the most trivial of things seem fun.

With you, I could let loose. I could be my most eccentric, irritating self and you would not bat an eyelid. When I rant about my frustrations in life, you would listen despite how busy you are.

And despite how different the paths we have decided to take, you would let me see into your world, sharing stories about your friends, your adventures and misadventures.

At times, I know I get on your nerves.

I must confess that sometimes, I deliberately try to. It is some kind of test for me to see how far I could go without you leaving me. I am such a

Oo, dahil wala naman talagang ibang taong pilit na nagpapabagsak sa akin, wala namang ibang taong nagkokompara sa akin sa iba, wala namang talagang ibang taong maliit ang tingin sa akin.

Ako lang talaga itong nag-aasam ng mas mataas na puwesto sa buhay. Aaminin ko, ako lang naman itong naiingit sa kagila-gilalas na kakayahan ng iba, at ako lang naman itong nagtataka bakit nagagawa nila ang isang bagay, pero ako, hindi. Ako lang naman itong nagsasabi sa aking sarili na siya’y mahina. Ako lang din naman ang nagpapababa sa aking sarili.

Oo, ayaw kong kinokompara ako ng ibang tao sa ibang tao, ngunit isang kabalintunaan at kalokohan na ako mismo ang gumagawa noon sa akin.

Ako at wala nang iba.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

Maria Catalina Bajar Belgira

We made it through high school, and are now in our final months in college.

How fast time flies.

Sigurado ako, kasalanan ko rin.

Kasalanan ko na hindi ako makatakas sa kulungan na binuo ng tayog na kinalagyan ko noon. Kasalanan ko na hindi ko mabitawan ang ninakaw sa aking tiwala sa sarili. Kasalanan ko na hindi pa rin magpatinag sa kabila ng mga pagsubok na nagnanais na magpabagsak sa akin. Kasalanan ko na lumaban pa rin kahit na sigurado ang pagkatalo. Ngunit, kasalanan ko nga ba?

mess sometimes that I wonder how you manage to put up with it.

College has been a long and arduous journey. It would have been more so without you. All the nagging have helped somehow. I know it is your way of showing how much you care and I appreciate it.

Back then, it would have taken me years of familiarity before considering someone a friend. But for some reason, it felt so natural opening up to you. There was an instant connection.

There are times when we disagree and argue. Our personalities clash. But it is what I like about us – how we balance each other out.

I would always treat those times we spent, staring at the ceiling, talking about anything and everything as some of the best moments in my college years.

You asked me if people would find our friendship weird because of how

our conversations would venture too “deep” – those that are unabashedly personal, thought-provoking. I cannot say for sure since that is what I think friendship should be.

I cannot exactly remember the countless conversations we have had, but I will always remember how it made me feel. So as we pass our sevenyear mark of friendship, I just want to express my gratitude to you for all the times you have been there for me, for understanding – or at least trying to.

If this is any indication of the years to come, then I look forward to the future. I will be there for you because, I know, you will be there for me too.

Got sumvong?

I-spluk mo na, beh!

- Lola P.

Famous Last Words Aria Hernandez SAME OLD STORY Whatever you do, do not stop thinking.

For the past few days, I had been exploring every avenue and possibility to escape this turmoil. I had no plans of attending a benefit concert with my mother to help communities all over the country. It was the usual cause that I recently developed an allergic reaction to. The problem was my ideas were not flowing rapidly, so I was stuck. I had no choice but to join her while she mingled with people from the upper echelons of society.

I tried to blend into the background and thought of the piles of homework waiting for me back home. I had always felt that events such as this one were merely shallow and deceptive. It was a clever guise to justify the inaction and the excessive consumerism of the few Filipinos who were better off. These people are just supporting worthy causes without joining marches or dedicating their lives to a cause. But, I came to realize that even if armchair activism would not be the norm, we should not disregard it completely.

In this day and age, this kind of activism, aided by the internet, has become an effective means of spreading knowledge and awareness about almost everything under the sun. It has been connecting and reaching out to people, engaging people on a superficial level, making them involved and emotionally invested to care enough, and believing that they are making a huge impact in society.

I admit, I lived my life that way. Initially, I did not shun this type of activism. We were rich and I was not yet aware of the fact I was capable to do so much more for the country.

I mean, I was taught by my mother to think and act a certain way. In other words, I did not know any better; but now, I do. I learned that people should be able to see the bigger picture, to think for themselves, and to take action when needed. At the same time, I came to realize that people should be able to analyze issues in society - not to accept them as is without thinking. I had written for the Manila Collegian before I realized that.

The thing is that each person in society thinks and acts in a different way. Undoubtedly, there are a lot of people who are quite ready to implement concrete actions that would make more impact and change in society.

Others, on the other hand, are content to stay confined to their way of thinking. They believe that everything would be okay if they just donated or ‘supported’ a cause to help those in need. While this certainly terrifies me because this might prevent them from acting in the real world, those who are involved in such acts should not be patronised, antagonized, or branded as stupid.

Being engaged in this sort of activism does not mean that all hope is lost and Filipinos would not be able to build a society for the people. Given the right amount of time and CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Section 1, Article II of the Philippine Constitution clearly states that: "The Philippines is a democratic and republican state. Sovereignty resides in people and all government authority emanates from them." Being a democratic state, the Philippine government comprises of officials that have been elected under the popular decision of the people. Giving the sovereignty to the people, the state should recognize the right of the electorate to be involved in governmental and societal affairs.The occurrence of elections is only a minimal, yet a supposed powerful manifestation of democracy within reach of the people.

The very process of the Philippine elections, however, has been taken advantage of by the corrupt in order to preserve power. Such could be seen in pushing for technological advancements which have only further deceived the electorate as they worked under the guise of improving elections.

With the continuing manipulation of the corrupt and the greedy, even the minute form of democracy held by the citizens remains to be deprived from them.

T h e M a ndat e The mandate of the past and present administrations in pushing for smooth and transparent elections has been superseded by their incompetence.

In 1997, Republic Act No. 8436, which contained the authorization of “the Commission and Elections (Comelec) to use an automated election system in the May 11, 1998 national or local elections and in subsequent national and electoral exercises, providing funds therefore and for other purposes", was implemented and was expected to materialize in the following year's elections. In line with this, Section 6has also authorized the Comelec to be responsible in purchasing the equipment needed for automation—this will be through a provider who will win the public bidding.

However, due to the lack of preparation, time and funding, the 1998 automated elections was only observed in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).It is in compliance with Section 6 that if the automated election system is not completed by February 1998, the automated poll process will only take place in ARMM and the rest of the nation will conduct the elections manually. Thus, only in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi was the automated process been used. Since the 1998 automated elections failed to take place, the succeeding years were used for “technological improvements” not only in the voting process, but also in the profiling of voters. By 2003, the Comelec had purchased data-capturing machines worth $18-M that will compile a list of registered voters and validate voter registrations.

However, automated vote counting had resorted again to the manual method due to

crashes in the system and the exclusion of several registered voters from the new list created.

In 2007, RA 8436 was amended with the passage of another law—Republic Act 9369, or the Poll Automation Law.Under RA 9369, Comelec is again given the power to prescribe and choose the use of the “most suitable” technology which will be utilized and the funds needed for the Automated Elections System (AES). The enactment of the new law was expected to finally give way to a transparent and automated electoral process in the 2010 national elections.

However, the call for developing the Philippine automated elections could only be observed in papers, for the government, through the Comelec, has continuously proven itself inefficient in implementing such laws. In the end, the approval of the RA 9369 has only allowed electoral fraud to ensue further.

While the law mandated the administration to uphold an improved and transparent electoral process, the latter only did the opposite—it continued to aggravate the fraudulent elections in the country.

Th e Selection The selection process of a provider that was expected to ensure the best technology in preventing electoral fraud only resulted into more controversies concerning the country’s elections.

On May 4, 2009, the Comelec started the month-long bidding process regarding the Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS) machines to be used in the 2010 automated elections. Out of the seven bidders who appealed after being initially disqualified, four were reconsidered, including the Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp.

(SmartmaticTIM) joint venture. Having won the bidding,Smartmatic-TIM signed the P 7.1 billion AES contract for the 2010 elections.

However, the contract was held ready and has been signed without the assurance of having the source code. A source code is a series of commands assembled into an executable computer program. It is the main command that ensures that the only task of the machine is to read and count what is indicated in the ballot and that no other alterations will take place. Under RA 9369, the source code should be opened for review by interest groups or political parties at least 90 days before the elections, in order to ascertain that no digital manipulation would take place.

Believing that it is the right of the people to examine, review, and even test the technology which will eventually be used in the elections, the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) requested to have a copy of the source code. However, the Comelecstated that there was yet to be an available source code, because the Smartmatic-TIM had not given it to them. The Comelec explained that the source code was set for completion on

AUTO-FATED ELECTIONS The Fraud Behind the Philippine Automated Elections MARILOU HANAPIN CELESTINO AND JUSTIN FRANCIA ILLUSTRATION BY MARIA CATALINA BAJAR BELGIRA

November 2009 and was good for release on February 10, 2010 after customizations and a series of tests. In October 2009, the Comelec hired SysTest Labs to test and review the source code. Yet, it was said that the completion of the source code would be done and completed late in 2009 or early 2010. With Comelec asserting that no source code was available for release and review, CenPEGwas skeptical that the commission will hire a testing agency promptly.With this argument, the CenPEG filed a petition to have the source code immediately released since field testing of the machines, which will be used in the elections, should be done and such process requires a proper source code review. The same problems were observed in 2013, wherein the source code was only delivered a week before the elections, due to disputes between Smartmatic-TIM and its software provider, Dominion. In both instances, SmartmaticTIM and Comelec not only failed to comply with RA 9369, but they also failed to assure the public of a tested technology that will function properly during elections.

process but a process more vulnerable to fraud. The incompetence of SmartmaticTIM and Comelec in safeguarding the automated system could be seen with the election watchdog AES Watch raising observed issues such as ‘pirated’ software and unfixed bugs in PCOS machines, ballot design and CF cards data mismatch, lack of digital precautions against election return tampering (e.g. digital signing), hardware problems including faulty and damaged machines, and errors in transmission programs, during the 2013 elections.What remains more alarming is that both the 2010 and the 2013 automated elections pushed through, with the same problems encountered.

Another vital defect has also been observed in the 2010 elections. It could be remembered that Comelec had recalled the 76,000 compact flash (CF) cards due to ballot reading failure, just a few days before the elections itself. The CF cards are important, since they allow the PCOS machines to be configured to a certain municipality or district. Apart from that, they also contain the names of the candidates and the positions of their ovals on the ballot.Thus, any defect of the CF cards could lead to miscalculations on the overall tally and results of the elections.

The supposed step towards electoral reform has only resulted to mistakes that continue to hound the forthcoming elections.

With Comelec choosing a provider that failed in supplying the most essential parts of the machines, what materialized out of the selection process was not a more competitive electoral

Beyond the process of selecting a provider that supplied a more advanced method in voting procedures, the nature of the elections remain the same—far from reaching accurate results, and still vulnerable to manipulation.

Th e Af te r m a th

Comelec launched the first automated elections in the country back in 2010 and boasted of the fast counting of votes through the PCOS machines, but it failed to see the larger picture, for the question regarding the accuracy of the results remain a controversy. Issues of double counting, tampering of CF cards, various glitches, malfunctioning, transmission failures, and lack of security measures that would safeguard the results in the PCOS machines have not been accounted for.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14