February 2012
BALITANGTASYO The official publication of the University of the Philippines Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo
EXXIT: THIS WAY was the theme of UP KAPITAS' 21st Anniversary Celebration.
KaPiTas Celebrates 21st Anniversary Night Timothy Manuel Carido July 29, 2011 marked the Anniversary niversary week. It was held at Spazzio party games like Pinoy Henyo and Enu-
Night celebration of the University of Grill in Maginhawa St, Quezon City. the Philippines Kabataang Pilosopo Ta- The night served as a simple gathsyo, culminating organization’s 21st an- ering of present members, alumni and some applicants to have fun and relax after the week-long celebration.
What’s Inside?
Anniversary Exhibit Spellbound Tasyo Bags 4th Update on Joebert SIPAT Green Philo Major Syndrome Mind-Work Digging Deeper Christopher Lao Actualizing Rationality
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meration which the members and the alumni enjoyed. After dinner was served, the semestral Hemlock Awards were announced by the Membership Committee. Sophomore member and Academics Committee Secretary Carlo Sevilla won the Tasyo of the Month award for his excellent performance as a member. Other minor titles given included Tambay King and Queen, KaPiTas Loveteam, Green Lantern, Thor, Miss Congeniality and other for-fun-only awards.
Present alumni were Rudolph Rabago, Abram Lumbang, Princess Soliman, Andrew Adriano, Chabely Esguerra, Paola Banez, Ramle Mayo, former KAPITAS Supremo Anna Lopez, recent graduates Russel Jocson and Paolo Magno and present UP Philosophy instructor Bernard Caslib. After the awards portion, the members and alumni ended the night The program was hosted by singing their favourite songs on the the KAPITAS Membership Committee karaoke machine. Overall, it was a Head Erin Gonzales and Secretary Tim- simple and fun conclusion to the orgaothy Carido. Supremo Mia Lua opened nization’s foundation celebration. the program. The night was filled with
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EXPOSED winners and invisible-ink notes were the highlights of this year's anniversary exhibit.
UP Kapitas Launches Anniversary Week Exhibit John Daniel Item Roland Paul T. Junio from UP bagged first place and the most like award with his entry entitled Against the Light. It shows a man looking far outside the window, which is the only source of light in the photo. Charmaine P. Octiva, also from UP, secured the second spot with her entry Hope Against Hope, which shows a panoramic shot of a pier with light emanating from the sky. Third place goes to Karl Raymund K.
To further celebrate its 21st year, UP
KAPITAS launched an exhibit based on the theme EXXIT: This Way at the Palma Hall Lobby last July 27, 2011. It showcased details about the current status of the organization, its history, and the winners of the photo contest hosted by the organization entitled Exposed, wherein participants submitted photos based on the theme: How do you see reality?
Catabas from DLS-CSB with his entry, Hagdan, which depicts an everyday situation of people walking in public places. The winners were awarded Php 2 000, Php 1 000, and Php 500 respectively, plus free photography workshops from Imagine Nation Photography for the first and second placers. All of the twelve entries are posted online at the Exposed page on Facebook.
The University of the Philippines Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo is a socio-academic College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) - based organization pursuing the following objectives: (1) to strive for the development of a Filipino Philosophy relevant to Philippine society, (2) to provide philosophy students with a venue for their philosophical endeavors, (3) to promote philosophy as a discipline. It is guided by the following principles: (1) Critical and Analytic Thinking, (2) Academic Excellence, (3) Moral Integrity and (4) Economic Viability. For more information, visit us at updkapitas.tumblr.com. For questions and suggestions, you may email us at upd.kapitas@gmail.com.
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Spellbound: A Magic Show and Symposium Jose Carlo Sevilla For its 21st anniversary, UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo wanted to open everyone’s eyes to the truth and to free them from deception. With the theme EXXIT: This Way, UP KaPiTas celebrated its anniversary through different activities which helped students to uncover reality. One of which is Spellbound, a Magic Show and Symposium.
plained the philosophy behind the magic show. Prof. Gerald Franco gave his talk on Plato and his theory of forms. Plato is most famous for his theory which explains how non-material abstract forms, and not the material world of change known to us through sensation, possess the highest and most fundamental kind of reality. Prof. Franco also related the magic show to Plato’s Allego On July 28, 2011, UP ry of the Cave wherein KAPITAS held a magic show he compared the magic and symposium entitled Spellshow to the shadows that bound. The magic show aimed the prisoner’s in the cave at providing students with the saw. In the allegory, there basic concepts of magic and to were people bound inside show them a form of decepthe cave who could only tion which we commonly sucsee the shadows casted cumb to for the sake of enterby the light and the things tainment. For the magic show, behind them. Prof. GerUP KAPITAS invited Ms. Giald showed how, just like nelle Petterson and her father, the people in the cave, Mr. Ronni Petterson who are we take the shadows both members of the MAGFI (by extension, the magic or the Magician’s Foundation show) as the truth. And Incorporated. Ms. Ginelle, when we get a chance to performed mostly card tricks see what is really makas this was her specialty; Miss Ginelle Petterson performing close-up magic with an audience member. ing these shadows, or while Mr. Roni used several when we are confronted tools and items to aid him in his performance. The presenta- with the fraudulence of the magic show, we still choose tion of the magic show was important as it highlighted the to believe it, we still choose to be bound inside the cave. essence of UP KAPITAS’ 21st anniversary theme. Through such magic shows, we tend to accept the unreality of the ma- Prof. Lumberto Mendoza focused his talk mainly gician’s illusions. We tend to consciously trick ourselves and on the ethics of belief which is a topic in philosophy which accept such deceptions as the truth. This problem not only gives focus on man’s formation of beliefs. It questions the occurs in magic shows, but it also manifests itself in real life. rightness or wrongness of belief formation found on insufficient evidence, which is much like the magic show, where After Ms. Ginelle and Mr. Roni finished with their in people acquire an unwarranted certainty regarding magic tricks, professors from the University of the Philippines, tricks despite the fact that the only obvious clue that they Diliman Department of Philosophy took center stage and ex- have is that the whole thing is simply a trick. He thoroughly explained the nature of magic shows and how it can push people to fool their selves in believing that these tricks are true. He then relates it to what is happening today, as people are ‘fooled’ by everyday occurrences. Regardless of a huge Christopher Porras lack of evidence, people still choose to believe in things.
UP KAPITAS Holds Annual Grand Pakain
Last July 27, 2011, the UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo held its annual grand pakain in line with their 21st anniversary celebration. At around 12:30 pm, members and applicants of the organization went to the AS Lobby. Food and beverages such as pizza, shanghai, pansit bihon, and juice drinks were served to UP students, faculty and staff.
Generally, the whole symposium was a great success. Aside from being able to provide students with a superb display of magic tricks and show, UP KAPITAS was also able to accomplish the objective of its 21st anniversary celebration: enlighten students with the truth that surrounds them and help free themselves from self-deception.
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Tasyo Bags 4th in PHAP Essay-Writing Contest Joanne Sheana Baltazar In November of 2011, the Pharmaceu- to all other people that the healthcare tical & Healthcare Association of the problem here in the country cannot be Philippines (PHAP) sponsored an essay- found in numbers or in statistics, but are writing contest with the theme “Universal Healthcare: What is it in the eyes of the youth?” It was an essay-writing contest that aimed at checking the awareness of the youth regarding the problem of healthcare present in the Philippines. Carlo Sevilla, philosophy sophomore and current Academics Committee Head of UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo, won fourth place with his piece entitled “The Battles Fought in Streets, Overpasses, and MRT Stations”. According to Sevilla, he meant this piece to Sevilla with his family in the PHAP Essayserve as an eye-opener to the youth and Writing Contest Awarding Ceremony.
manifested daily on the streets where students like him regularly encounter disavantaged people who have to struggle bitterly for their health. Says Sevilla: “Yung problem sa healthcare program dito sa Philippines ay hindi makikita sa mga statistics or numbers. Para sa mga youth, yung problem sa healthcare program ay nagmamanifest sa streets kung saan laging dumadaan ang mga students katulad ko, kung saan nanlilimos ung mga may sakit para may pampagamot.” The awarding ceremony was held on October 21, 2011 at the Mandarin Oriental. Sevilla took home a plaque of recognition and a check prize.
T h e B at t l e s F o u g h t i n S t r e e t s , Ov e r pa s s e s , a n d M R T S tat i o n s
(An Excerpt)
by Carlo Sevilla An official entry to the PHAP Essay-Writing Contest ...This old lady waits for every wave of leaving passengers and hopes that at least one would pay her valuable attention. She stands along the stairs of the MRT Station holding a crumbling piece of cardboard with the words: "Konting barya lang po para sa mga mata ko" (Spare change for my eyes). Apparently, due to some sort of eye illness, this old lady's eyesight is waning. The middle-aged man, on the other hand walks on top of an overpass while holding a dirty plastic bag which is taped to his open stomach. He asks for even the smallest amount of money as some yellow coloured fluid oozes from his stomach into the plastic bag. Obviously, this man is ill and in pain but he braces the overpass in search for someone who could and who would help him. Both of them are experiencing serious sickness, but instead
of seeking professional medical help in hospitals, they bring their battles in streets and inquire help from people they don't know. Such is the face of medical care in our country. Due to the great inaccessibility of public health facilities, Filipinos are forced to scour the streets and to wander in overpasses to somehow combat the sickness that has stricken them. ...Due to the obvious lack of funds, most public hospitals in the country have donned commercial images. Through such transformations, medical care was made even more inaccessible to the people. Nowadays, even the most basic health related procedures will require a regular Filipino to shell out a significant amount of hard-earned peso which could have been spent on more pressing needs like food or shelter. Basic needs should be made
available to those who are in most need of it, not just to those who can pay for it. Due to this kind of restricted healthcare system, Filipinos have developed a peculiar philosophy on health: “Bawal magkasakit!” (Being sick is inacceptable). This philosophy, although ideal, is definitely impossible. Instead of restricting the body from working too hard in fear of getting sick, it would be more productive for people to work knowing that if they do get sick, medical care would be close at hand. ...A good healthcare program will relocate such battles where they truly belong; not in streets or stairs but in hospitals where doctors and other medical professionals could help so that these battles would produce a much more triumphant outcome.
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Kapitas Continues to Aid Joebert, Now in First Grade John Kevin Arcenas It was only a year ago when UP Kabataang Piloso- well-being. Being socio-academic in nature, UP KAPITAS po Tasyo decided to become a World Vision Child aims to respond to the problems present in society today, esSponsor and started to help out a child named Joe- pecially education, which the organization firmly believes in. bert, who is now in his first year of elementary school. For only 5 pesos from each member a day, the orga Through his handwritten letters, UP KAPITAS wit- nization is able to provide Joebert and his family some asnessed Joebert’s progress as a student, which was evident in sistance which the organization hopes will add up in the fuhis improved penmanship and math skills. With his continued ture, enabling him to create changes in his life and make enthusiasm and hard work, the organization is confident of its improvements on his self and on the people around him. achievement of the objective which prompted its venture into this project in the first place. It is a privilege on the part of the organization to help children like Joebert who, despite being in a state of poverty, never forget the value of learning. This semestral project of UP KAPITAS started as an effort to uphold one of its principles, moral integrity. The organization pledged six hundred pesos a month to World Vision in order to assist Joebert and his family with his education and
A drawing Joebert sent the organization December 2011.
Unang SIPAT, Inilunsad Joanne Sheana Baltazar Noong ika-28 ng Setyembre, 2011, isinagawa ng UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo (UP KAPITAS) ang unang SIPAT: Silip sa Ililimbag na Papel Akademiko ni Tasyo sa CAL AVR, Faculty Center, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman mula ala-una hanggan alas-tres ng hapon. Ang SIPAT ay isang pagtatanghal ng papel na naglalayong ipakilala at ipaalam sa mga propesor at estudyante ang mga kasalukuyang paglilinang na ginagawa sa disiplinang Pilosopiya at tumulong sa pagpapalalim ng paglilinang na ito sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng talakayan tungkol sa paksang napili. Sa unang semestre nito ay itinampok ang mga bagong usapin at kaganapan sa larangan ng Pilosopiyang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ni Prop. Perseville Mendoza sa kanyang akdang pinamagatang “Ang Konsepto ng Pahiwatig sa Paggamit ng Baybayin: Isang Pagsusuri sa Pilipinong Pag-aabstrakto”.
Sinimulan ang programa ng
suprema ng UP KAPITAS na sa Maria Carmela Lua na nagbigay ng kanyang pambungad na pananalita. Sinundan naman siya ng pinuno ng lupong pangakademiko ng KAPITAS na si Joanne Sheana Baltazar na siyang nagbasa ng abstrak ng papel ni Prop. Mendoza at nagpakilala sa kanya. Sumunod agad ang presentasyon ni Prop. Mendoza. Sa kanyang pagtatanghal ay kanyang tinalakay ang sinaunang anyo ng pagsusu-
Si Prop. Mendoza habang nagtatanghal ng kanyang papel sa SIPAT.
lat ng mga pre-kolonyal na Pilipino na tinatawag ng karamihan na baybayin. Kanyang inimungkahi na sa pag-aaral ng Pilosopiyang Pilipino ay nararapat tingnan din ang sinaunang alpabetong ito sapagkat maaari itong magbigay ng pahiging sa paraan ng pag-aabstrakto ng mga Pilipino. Napag-alamang ang pahiwatig ay gumaganap ng malaking papel sa paggamit ng baybayin— isang konsepto na masasabi nating may malaking papel na ginagampanan sa kabuuan ng kaisipang Pilipino. Matapos ang pagtatalakay at pagtatanong ay inihandog ng UP KAPITAS kay Prop. Mendoza ang kanyang Plake ng Pasasalamat. Isinara ng konsehal ng kolehiyo at kalihim ng KAPITAS na si Virginia Mara Favis ang programa, habang pinasasalamatan ang lahat ng dumalo ng maiksi at makabuluhang pagsisimula ng tradisyon na iyon na siguradong ipagpapatuloy sa mga susunod pang semestre.
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Green
Karenn Joy Callosa That’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear this theme. Trees. Tall oak trees, or pine ones that reach the sky. Why do we need to “establish” the role of our species in this dynamic earth? Isn’t it a given that we are part of this so called environment? Have we changed so much as a species that we have to “reunite” ourselves with it? How long have we gotten involved with our own selves, the things we can create with our hands - the skyscrapers, the buildings, the metals, the iPhones, the Angry Birds, and all? Why does it seem so distant, this so called “Environment” to us that we have to establish our role in it? Sure, people say we must “preserve” it. But what does that mean really? Paulo Coelho has a good insight on this one. He says that it is arrogant of man to think he can “preserve” nature. What he doesn’t understand or fear, is the fact that he can be extinguished as a group if we don’t work on the conditions which makes us alive. True enough, even without us, life will go on. The earth will continue to adapt and live on without us. Sure, we pollute the earth, but really, aren’t we just afraid to admit that we are actually in need of making the conditions livable for our kind? Man. It takes someone of great spirit, discipline and honor to be called a Man. “You just have to be a Man about it.” What does that mean? What difference does the word have with “Human” or “Boy?” To be a Man means you are responsible and you can stand on your own two feet. Only a Man can be a real Father. Only a Man can be told of great things. He stands for something, he stands for his family, and now, he understands that he must take care of those that he cares for. A Man understands that he must protect his family at all costs. it also takes a Man to understand that he is a part of the world and nature to be someone who knows he has a role in the “Environment.”
Human beings are selfish by nature. They they learned how to plant, they took a step tokeep the nourishing existence that he has, he caters to his needs. (continued on page 7)
stole and plundered and preyed. When wards becoming Man. If man is to will protect the Environment that
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GREEN... (continued from page 6) It is so arrogant of the human species to think that life will just offer itself to him or it is for his taking. Man understands that he needs to preserve his Environment if he wishes to keep the status quo that he has with everything that relates to him. Sometimes, he needs to rock the boat so that he can preserve the Environment. He needs to make changes and shake his fellowMen to stop the destruction they are doing. Preserving something doesn’t mean putting it in a bottle storing it away or keeping it
from others. Preserving nature means allowing it to grow healthily and with care. It’s a mutual existence. You have to shake others into the realization that they have to stop the plunder and the prey if they all wish to survive and live. It is being conscienti ous. It is being a “Man of Honor”. You don’t preserve something like Kimchi, stored away at the back of the fridge. It’s about maintaining the Earth like you would a small tree. A Man is someone that is different from nature. This is because he has intellect. He is conscious of his existence
Philo Major Syndrome Marjorie Anne Yoro
When I tell people that I’m a Philosophy major, I usually get this reaction: 1) “Oh really? Wow! That’s deep.” 2) “So… what exactly do you talk about?” 3) “What kind of job will you have after you graduate?” To which, I patiently reply: 1) It is. 2) Fundamental questions, and 3) Law, education or government-related jobs. And that’s that. Of course, as a Junior, I have learned to cope with the “Philo Major Syndrome” over the years. If I hadn’t, I would have answered instead: Actually, we talk about everyday concepts like ethics, beauty, God, politics. These are simple and common concepts. So, it’s not deep at all. It’s just that we discuss it in depth. Did you know that there are two branches of ethics, metaethics and normative ethics? It’s not Beauty; it’s Aesthetics. Well, there’s St. An-
and of others. And that makes him responsible. A Man is responsible enough to care for his existence that he preserves the Environment - precisely because he is conscious of what it means and what it can do to him if he doesn’t. Preservation is not a jar of pickles in a fridge. Preservation is about maintaining a sustainable forest that will keep him alive and live a good life. The Environment is always changing. So does he.
selm’s proof of God’s existence but St. Aquinas’ Five Ways makes the most sense. I’ve gone Nietszche about the whole issue. Justice, you say? While I admire The Republic, I think the most feasible structure of a good society is one founded on Rawlsian Contractarian theory. I’m not trying to be a know-it-all. Socrates himself said, “All I know is that I know nothing.” I’ve just been trying to examine what we think we know. And, no, I don’t know what I’m going to do after I graduate but I’m not worried about material security because I’m currently in an existential vacuum where I constantly reflect about the meaning of my life and what it means to be truly happy—of which even a hefty paycheck cannot provide. Alas! I have learned to resist this tendency to ask too many questions, to over-analyze my answers, to reference too many dead people and to vomit melodramatic quotes while informing a listener of my course. But, like a deplorable itch, the urge is always, always there.
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8 Mind-Work Maria Carmela Cyril Lua
Three days to go! If you could talk to the Roman god of desire, what would you say? The University of the Philippines Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo presents LETTERS TO CUPID: A Valentine's Letter Writing Contest
from January 9 - February 13, 11:59pm. 4. The entries will be judged ac1. This letter-writing contest is open to cording to the following criteria: all students in the Metro Manila area. 2. Letters submitted must have a miniContent 40% mum of 100 words and a maximum of Originality 30% 500 in either English or Filipino. As Creativity 20% it will be featured publicly, the parAudience Impact 10% ticipant may opt to use a code name. = 100% 3. One entry per person. 5 The top three entries will be selected B. Submission of Entries as First Place, Second Place, and Third Place, respectively, and shall be fea1. Send your letter in .doc format to tured in the Letters to Cupid Wall at upd.kapitas@gmail.com (Subject: Let- the AS Lobby from February 14 - 17. ters to Cupid Submission). The email 6. Winners shall receive the following prizes: should contain the following details: 1st Place: P 1000 Name of Participant: 2nd Place: P 700 Codename: Third Place: P 300 University/College: Contact no.: 7. Judging of winners shall be on February 14, 2012. Winners will be noti2. Once submitted, your letter will fied through text messaging and e-mail. be uploaded to the Letters to Cupid 8 Winners are given 30 days to Facebook Page. Thereafter, you can claim their prizes at the UP KaPiask your friends to ‘like' your entry. Tas tambayan. Unclaimed prizes af3,. The submission of entries will be open ter 30 days are considered forfeited. A. Eligibility
I always (not sometimes, not often, not mostly, but always) get this urge to write. However, along with this unrelenting desire to concretize my thoughts is this constant feeling that what I will be writing will never measure up to what is actually going on inside my head, regardless of the crucial and painstaking process of making sure that what I would write will completely capture my ideas, from the minutest detail to the largest picture, from the most superficial observation to the deepest realization. How many times have I caught myself thinking aloud about how I badly want a device that can automatically save the exact contents of my mind. It strikes me as odd that in most cases, though, my ideas come in the most bizarre forms. I hear them as unintelligible swooshing sounds, but not with my ears. Or I see them as flashes of lines and colors, but not with these poor eyes. It’s crazy. What’s sure is that I understand them (weirdly enough), but they don’t make it easy for me to make them understandable to others. They seldom come in words, for crying out loud. I have this theory that they are pouring in way too fast to the point that my brain gives up on trying to box them in the realm of language. It’s like a stampede. You don’t give out name tags to people in a stampede. I can’t sustain a thought long enough to give me time to find a pen and a paper, or to open Evernote, or to Compose a Message, so that I may jot it down. That’s because it gets replaced by yet another fresh (or maybe just a persistent) topic. It would be tolerable if the replacement takes place in a linear manner, but no. There is overriding, clashing, overlapping, and disjunct of ideas all in the same head, all at the same time. It’s safe to say that the most chaotic place in the world for me is my head. It gets tiring - a working mind. The worst thing is that one cannot bring about the cessation of the process. It continues as long as one is awake. The irony is that the process is what keeps me from sleeping.
Philosophy
Digging Deeper
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Timothy Manuel Carido The Earth is full of beautiful and useful natural resources. Throughout history, the environment served as the backdrop of the events of human civilization. Often times, the environment itself plays an important role in the course of our history. Calamities such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, forest fires, typhoons and other destructive forces that brought disaster to human lives are examples of how the environment affects mankind. On the other hand, the environment also serves as resources for the industrialization and modernization of civilizations. People use the products of nature as tools and ingredients for the progress of technology, which in turn greatly helps in the development of societies. Man’s concern for the environment could come from different reasons. Some want their surroundings to look better for aesthetic purposes. Some want to care for the environment to maximize their resources. Some see the concern for it as either a religious or civic task. There can be other reasons, however noble or ignoble.
ness and happiness. It may also involve concepts of virtue and character. There are many ethical theories that have been used to approach different situations. Most of the approaches seems to take into consider mostly the good of man only. The judgment of the actions is usually focused on how they affect human lives. The pressing problems in the environment call for deep ethical approaches. In this field, we can talk of fundamental ideas that can be used to address these problems.
There are traditional ethical theories that can be used for addressing the care for environment. Consequentialism would be the theory that would count the benefits of taking care of the environment. Deontology could see the task as a moral duty for everyone. Virtue ethics would see it as the practice of good behavior and development of virtues. Then there are also theories that would deal with concepts of biocentrism and ecocentrism. These ideas involve the consideration of environment-focused approach (taking care of the Earth for its sake and value) rather than taking care of it for man’s resource. Then there are also Eastern Climate change has been a recurring topic to- philosophy approaches that may involve cultural concepts. day because of its significance to the lives of the present and future humankind. There has been news of its nega- These are just introductions to some of the ethitive effects to people such as the unusual occurrences of cal approaches on environment. However we argue for the weather disturbances and drastic changes of some physi- care for the environment, it is a good thing to dig deeper cal characteristics of the Earth. There are claims that this to the more fundamental concepts and issues that could be change is caused by the neglect for the environment and raised. We see that philosophy can play an important role the ignorance by the people. There are now more advoca- on how we look at the environment in terms of our treatcies for the care of the environment to avoid the changes. ment of it. Philosophy serves as a tool for a better understanding of man’s role in the care for the environment be Ethics is the field of philosophy that deals with the cause of the interplay of fundamental concepts raised. morality of actions. It involves concepts of right, wrong, good-
ACTUALIZING... (continued from page 12) Examination--through its Second Philosophy Convention, aiming to give its audience a deeper grasp of what our role is on a particular societal issue: environmental deterioration. From the theoretical lectures provided by two professors from the UP Diliman Department of Philosophy, it proceeds to calling for Action through the aid of individuals experienced in the application part.
A disease not properly diagnosed is good as incurable, but it cannot be diagnosed if in the first place, it is ignored. A problem unidentified is good as unsolvable, but it cannot be identified if it remains unadmitted. There has to be a realization that there is a need for an examination, and with this comes the understanding that beyond the knowledge of what has to be done is the urgency of its being done. In this world where we claim to be superior, we apparently have an
obligation concerning those which we constructed to be inferior to us. So one asks, “An obligation to whom?” Definitely not to the rocks, or the river, or that cow to be slain and become my dinner. The duty is ultimately to ourselves, so that we may help ourselves. For a lack of a better term, it is a favor to our own species that we think, and that we think before we act.
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KAPITAS Celebrates Christmas Through Song Erin Grace Gonzales After an activity-filled one and a half semester, UP KAPITAS celebrated its Christmas party with a joyous feast accompanied with some singing, games, and Heml o c k awards last December 16, 2011 at Red Box in Eastwood City. T h e party was held during lunchtime, which was a first for the orgaMembership Committee Head n i z a t i o n . Jhek Arcenas hands out the With the Hemlock Awards. great food
in the all-you-can-eat buffet, it can be said that not one left the party with an empty stomach. Along with the great food, the members enjoyed the three hours of karaoke and also games such as Pinoy Henyo prepared by the Membership Committee where they showed their competitiveness and talents for singing.
as the highest and most notable award. Beside the Tasyo of the Month award, the Tambay Queen award was noticed as the two-year record of KAPITAS Suprema Mia Lua as Tambay Queen was broken by PR Head Erin Gonzales. After the program, the members of the organization participated in the Lantern Parade, to represent the department When it came to exchang- and to support Academics Commiting gifts, the system was to describe tee Secretary and Philosophy Departthe one you have picked prior to giv- ment Representative Geca Atanacio. ing their gift. All had a great time listening to what the others had to say From the great food to rock about whomever they have picked, n’ rolling in karaoke, the 2011 Christfor it showed how close and bonded mas party was one to be remembered, the members were with each other. along with all the notable successes not just for the semester and a half of AY Another highlight of the event 2011-2012, but the whole year of 2011 was the Hemlock awards, wherein Carlo as well. For the first time, rather than Sevilla, head of the Academics Commit- just a night, it was a day of festivities for tee for the current semester, was awarded KAPITAS, a day spent with family. Tasyo of the Month, which is regarded
Overdose: KAPITAS Parties for a Cause Marjorie Anne Yoro Last November 26, 2011, the UP Ka- the free-flowing drinks, the party was a bataang Pilosopo Tasyo (UP KAPITAS) success. The Five Minutes of Darkness, co-sponsored Overdose, a party organized by the UP Association of Political Science Majors (APSM) held at Club Circa, Eastwood. With the theme, Pulse: Celebrating Vitality through Youth Unity, the party was part of a two-pronged project in a celebration of community health and well-being by bringing together youth efforts. Proceeds from the party went to the second part of the project, Politikalusugan, a medical mission held in Brgy. Pansol, Balara, Quezon City, where almost 400 patients were served. The event combined fun and social responsibility in one night. With over 200 attendees partying to the infectious beat of DJ Master Jon and DJ Itch Iwey, not to mention
Globe’s all-night Photo booth, Syringe, Test tube and Jello shots, beer pong and beer chugging games made the event unique and memorable. Abegail Lerios, a member of KAPITAS, said after the party, “I’m really glad that we’re doing something fun for a good cause because our events are mostly academic, often blandly so. It’s nice to see that our org can fit in the party scene as well!” Aside from UP KAPITAS, the APSM’s partner organizations for the event were UP Kasaysayan, UP Statistical Society and UPM Junior Marketing Association. It was also sponsored by Globe Telecom, San Miguel Beer Corporation, ClickTheCity.com, Bartenders at Work, Safety Plus Erectors and Development Inc., Innerwheel Club of Caloocan, PCSO and Circa.
News
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Christopher Lao Informs Iskos and Iskas about Cyberbullying Joanne Sheana Baltazar The afternoon of January 20, 2012 marked the university’s annual Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE). This semester, UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo (UP KAPITAS) placed the issue of Cyberbullying at the center, with a film showing of the movie Cyberbully (starring Emily Osment) followed by a discussion by Mr. Christopher Lao. Christopher Lao rose to fame in 2011 after being interviewed by a reporter following his car floating in an attempt to cross a flooded street in Quezon City. His video, since then dubbed as his famous “I should have been informed” stint, garnered critical response online and went viral on YouTube and various social networking sites. Recently, he has been spotted starring in a BPI Auto Loan Insurance commercial. Held at Palma Hall 312-314, the program started at around 1:15 pm, with the viewing of the 2011 film Cyberbully, a movie covering the struggles of teenager Taylor Hillridge (Emily Osment) as she was subjected to the painful flogging of cyber bullies. Cake, coffee and tea were served during the screening. A short discussion on the present cyber bullying phenomenon was then made by KAPITAS Finance Committee Head Marjorie Yoro, which included the showing of viral videos which stirred the wrath and countless opinions of numerous internet users. At 3:15, Christopher Lao began his talk by pointing out that he was “once a Taylor too”, referring to the many instances of cyber bullying he received following his flood video. Lao then recounted his experiences during that difficult time. After the incident, Lao underwent depression and isolated himself for a while to recover from the stigma. First he tried to look for legal remedies to his predicament. But, according to him, “the primary step to my recovery was rediscovering
my inner peace.” And this he found—in of Mass Communication (CMC) shared the Buddhist monasteries of Thailand. intelligent opinions to the audience afterwards. Jan Kevin Rivera says: “We have “Life is tough,” Lao announces. the power, let us not use it to break [other And so we have to ask ourselves: What people’s] reputations. Joan Cordero, from makes us happy? What makes us wake up the Philippine Collegian notes two probeveryday? “Fuel runs out sooner than you lems following the Lao incident: wrong use think. Why are we survivors? What is it of media, and wrong practice of journalthat we value most?” According to Lao, ism. Says she: “Let us be critical of media. we must examine our values. In Thailand, Wag natin hayaan na lamunin tayo nito.” “monks didn’t [care] about what other people think. [You should] pin your hap- Christopher Lao ended his talk piness on something eternal, on some- by saying that present society is so comthing that others [do not] control. Happi- plex that “we are hampered from pursuness is a choice—no one can tell us how ing our dreams. You will be discouraged. and when to be happy. Love and respect You will be prevented from being hapfor oneself is more permanent.” Chris py.” His advice? “Stop being controlled Lao advises us to always move forward. by the people around you. No matter how discouraging the facts are, you Lao adds: “I am here to represent have to fight for your dreams. Never setthe underdogs.” Since the event of his betle for anything less than what you want.” ing subjected to various forms of verbal abuse, he has dedicated himself to the fight KAPITAS Supremo Carmela against cyber bullying. This being his adLua and Academics Committee Head vocacy, he lobbies by speaking in various Carlo Sevilla presented Mr. Lao with fora, campaigning for safe study spaces his tokens of appreciation after his talk. and work places, and the passing of the AnFinally, Pangalawang Supremo Timoti-Cyber Bullying Bill in the upper house. thy Carido closed the program with Student reactors from the College his synthesis and words of thanks.
Mr. Chris Lao with members of UP KAPITAS. (From L-R) Third Row: Nat Malit, Mara Favis, Chris Lao, Vitto Baviera, Enzo Mendoza. Second Row: Erin Gonzales, Mia Lua, Mai Salanguit, Marjorie Yoro, Carlo Sevilla. Front Row: Shayne Baltazar, Gail Lerios, Jhek Arcenas, Tim Carido
Editorial
Actualizing Rationality
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Maria Carmela Cyril Lua
Go back centuries ago and one will see that there has not been much difference with the way man takes pride in being a man as compared to how he views himself superior to the rest of the world these days. The keyword is rationality. For countless times, we have matterof-factly set ourselves apart from everything else by claiming how only we have the capacity to reason, to have a concept or good or bad, to not be completely under the control of our appetites, to communicate and be elegant at it, to express through art, to engage in scientific research and technology. The list can go on and this claim to superiority has rarely been challenged. It has usually served as an excuse for our actions which may be deemed rather unfair when seen from a perspective where no such imagined hierarchical structure takes place. Animal and environmental exploitations become warranted by their consequence: namely, our well-being at their expense. Widespread is the view of the world in which we are at its center and the rest can be justifiably taken for granted in the name of convenience and profit, health and satisfaction. It seems that everything was created, came into existence, or conspired (it depends on what theory you believe in, actually) for us. Entitlement is the operative term. We are rational so we are better. We are better so we are entitled. My logic professors would have instantly given me a singko at the sight of that non-sequitur, yet this line of argumentation has unfortunately been effective in excusing ourselves from our [wrong]doings.
called life) would pause and ponder on whether this thinking, this sureness of entitlement, this certainty of superiority, is true, or founded, or valid at the very least. A mindset left unexamined, pardon me for the rash conclusion, would, in one way or another, imply a set of actions themselves unexamined. This follows from the train of thought that our actions are brought about by our reason, which, moreover, follows from our claim that we are rational. Now one might say that the obvious thing to do is to proceed with examining. Socrates would have loved that, but let us not get ahead of ourselves.
One has to decide to leave the comfort zone and get out of the cave. See the creature for itself, and find that it’s deadly and that you have to either run away or kill it. Analyze the candidate’s speech, and find that it’s a professor’s perfect teaching module for his lesson on fallacies. Know that these exist, so that one may be wary of them.
Analogously, this is where “a life worth living” comes into fulfillment. Examine. Examine how we as humans are brimming with the potential to be rational creatures, how we as autonomous beings do have the *** freedom to exercise reason or not, and how we as limited cannot always First step: Realization be reasonable, therefore making it our duty to strive to be one with as much The society is ill and it does not effort as our humanity would allow us. even know it. When one has grown accustomed to the shadows on the wall Examine how this potential to (read: Plato’s allegory of the cave), be rational should serve, not as a mere there is a tendency to remain ignorant excuse, but as a reason for the entitleof the fact of the beyond. A thing harm- ment we self-righteously claim to have. less [now] is most often disregarded An actualized rationality would reveal as something that should be paid at- that what sets us apart from the rest tention to. The shadows can’t seem is what gives us a task to protect it. to harm me. A lax mindset appears to be rather irrelevant, incapable of hurt- The step after the next: Action ing. However, the shadow cast by a certain creature will never show the Right action springs from sufhunger in its stance and the danger of ficient amount of right information. UP its presence. An uncritical mind can- Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo, in its goal not warn me of the detriments of vot- to preserve and augment philosophy’s ing for the popular guy who speaks of relevance to society, celebrates its 21st utopia like it was nobody’s business. anniversary enabling students to take Most of the time, we forget that there the necessary steps mentioned earliis more to things than harmless shad- er. Realization - through its conducted ows and pretty words. Let us admit. Symposium demonstrating how realWe must be doing something wrong. ity has been elusive and how some And we’ve got to stop not minding. people prefer to remain prisoners of their own made-up worlds, where I doubt whether a regular per- Next step: Examination deception is god and truth is just one son busy with his routine (sometimes of the options. (continued on page 9)