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The challenge and necessity for student activism is at its zenith and it is no longer an option to stay uninvolved. The Philippines is riddled with social and political issues concerning peace and order, the constitutionality of laws and the actions of those in power, and even the socio-economic effects on groups of people, especially in Mindanao. The Iskolar Ng Bayan cannot and must not remain in a safe, uninvolved stance. While the Iskolar ng Bayan must indeed be involved actively in such encompassing issues, he might be handicapped because he lacks identity. For years, an MSUan is branded with superficial things, associated with material and unnecessary stereotypes of being dark-skinned, pastilhungry, and strong-legged. He therefore lost his real identity, he has lost the essence of what an MSUan really is. In the absence of an identity comes the absence of a goal or a purpose, and as such, the MSUan has been basking in a pool of complacency while boasting of the glory of the excellence of select graduates of this school. This semester’s magazine issue of BAGWIS is about the search for this identity. Subsequently, it is also about being involved with the issues Mindanao, and the Philippines are facing. More than being an MSUan, we are also people of Mindanao. We must raise our voices despite the forces that try to muffle them, and aim for a better MSU and a better Mindanao. Browse through the pages of this issue, or you can check out the PDF copy online posted on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/msu. bagwis. May the libertarian streak prosper even more, and may we find who we really are, and may we stand up for the things we need to stand up for. David Jayson B. Oquendo Editor-in -Chief
Editor-In-Chief: DAVID JAYSON B. OQUENDO Associate Editors: JADE MARK B. CAPIÑANES SHELLA MAE PAJOTA Managing Editor: SHARLENE MAE H. LAPIZ Circulation Manager: KAREN MAE G. CRAMPATANTA Features Editor: MAYSHELLE PALMA Sports Editor: REMWIL G. MAXILOM News Editor: JADE MARK B. CAPIÑANES Photo Editor: JAYSON DEODOR Layout Artist: ERICKSON E. CAUYAO
ABOUT THE COVER
Cartoonists: FELIX D. ESIC JR. • JOSE JERRY R. TAYACTAC ROIEN CARL C. ROJO • JUPHETER FRANCO Videographer: JOSEPHINE U. TEJADA Advisers: PROF. RUFA CAGOCO-GUIAM • PROF. JESSE ANGELO L. ALTEZ Trainees: DIXTER GLENN C. TANDOG • RONNIE BARRIENTOS EDEN MAE SOMODIO • RAFAEL C. ROMERO KEVIN AUTOR • HANNAH MAE G. ORELLA RONALD II E. SURILLA • REYLAN JAY N. MAGNO JONALYN MEJELLANO • ANNA MHARIZE TANO NICOLE LAURENCE DE VEGA • EDWIN SALAZAR
This magazine issue’s cover features a photographer’s representation of the stereotyped MSUan—traversing the desert-like terrain with the ever iconic pastil in hand. This attempt to make a dramatic satire of how an MSUan is viewed if we sum up all of the stereotypes. (Photo by Jayson Deodor)
ophocles, in his magnum opus Oedipus Rex, taught us one thing: Not knowing who one really can lead to tragedy. Deep inside the heart of human existence lie a longing to know oneself and a desire to belong to a greater scheme of things. What is a person but a summation of self-definition and social belongingness? And in this social web of human survival, is there such thing or feeling as being alive without a sense of identity? This is to question, then, the ultimate nature of an MSUan in the context of self- and social identification: As MSUans, who are we? One, as expected, will always answer that an MSUan is someone who is lagom, hingaon og pastil, kusog mulakaw, dako og bagtak, lapukon og sapatos, kaspahon, and so on. Although it is undeniable that there are nuggets of truth—and, in a way, comedic value—in such characterizations, and that there seemingly is a consensus on the matter, they are only accidental and they fail to fully grasp the fundamental nature of an MSUan. They do not speak about what and who an MSUan essentially is. The question of identity and the search thereof do not operate on the level of superficiality. The aforementioned characteristics, furthermore, are just social structures—with the arbitrariness of a label and the rigidity of a stereotype—attached to us, which, in the long run, might lead to danger: Such arbitrary and stereotypical constructs create only a room where certainty and growth do not take place. So what could be the possible source of identity as MSUans—as individuals, and as an institution? The answer is simple: core values. Unfortunately, however, we do not have those. Commonly, core values, as well as the vision and mission of an institution such as a university, can be found in the student handbook. Tragically, we do not have a student handbook, either (or we do, but is still in the process of revision that seems to be taking an eternity). Core values, defined basically, are values that serve as foundations on which we anchor our actions as members of a group, an organization, or an institution. They also function as catalysts that drive the members to perform well to achieve a common goal. With this, core values as source of an identity is not
only confined in the domain of being: It also transcends to the realm of becoming. To further clarify what core values are, let us present some examples. The University of the Philippines (UP) has three: excellence, leadership, and service—all of which are represented in the three pillars of their Centennial Cauldron. The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), on the one hand, has five and are signified in each point of the star in their logo: integrity, ingenuity, industry, intelligence and internationalism. It is important to note that the fact that their core values are incorporated in their university symbols and logos suggests a totality, a deeprooted integration of their institutions. What does this mean? Not only do core values serve as foundations and driving forces but also as unifying forces. Moreover, the importance of the presence of something can be exemplified by the possible circumstances arising from its absence. The very absence of core values—values to live by and to live with; values that unify and drive us to a shared goal—leads to the inability to know oneself as a part of something bigger; and, in one way, brings forth a sense of alienation and separation: That we are not unified by a common social identification makes us merely individuals and not a part of an institution, of a greater cause. In a universe where values are stars, core values serve as the heart of a solar system, very much like the sun in our solar system; they are the primary source of light—so primary that despite the presence and the passage of other light sources, in times of darkness, we seek for and always look back to them. Knowing our identity, in the individual and social level, is a form of signification: It is when we find our individual and social meaning and purpose. Without core values, we are nothing but static fragments; with core values, we become a dynamic whole. In an ever-changing world, what remains intact is who we are—our identity. The problem arises when we don’t know what it is. For a very long time, we have been blinded by stereotypes and—frankly—have not known who we really are, as individuals and as an institution. Fortunately, however, unlike Oedipus, the moment we find our true identity, we won’t need to gouge our eyes out. For it is when we can finally see clearly.
LOST:
In Search of the MSUan Identity
by Jade Mark Capiñanes
Bagwis
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Boys Dormitory Main (BDM) outshined all dormitories of Mindanao State University-General Santos City during the celebration of their 15th Pasiklaban with the theme, “Strengthening the Spirit of Camaraderie and Building Harmony amidst Diversity” last February 25, 2015. The boys of dormitory main dominated in all the events of the whole day activity, showing unity and superiority in all the games. Games included darts, amazing race and volleyball (boys). BDM also won the Mass Dance contest and their representative was declared Mr. Pasiklaban 2015 during the culminating activity. BDM was declared champion and was followed by the Lady Dormitory Main (LDM). LDM gained points from scrabble, volleyball (Girls), hat and T shirt design and shined and won the Ms. Pasiklaban 2015 title. Lady Dormitory Annex (LDA) won the third place and led in the tug of war game, word factory and multi-media presentation while Boys Dormitory Annex (BDA) ranked fourth. They won a few games like chess and paint me a picture. Residents of all the dorms in the university (dormers) have organized the Pasiklaban on a yearly basis. It aims to promote unity and to showcase the different attributes of the dormers who come from different regions in Mindanao, with diverse cultures, religions, and personalities. This year’s celebration
included out-door activities (tug-ofwar, paint-me-a-picture, amazing race, and volleyball), as well as some in-door activities (chess, dart, scrabble and word factory) and Mr. and Ms. Pasiklaban 2015.
Mr. & Ms. Pasiklaban 2015
Both representing the dormitory main, Mark Anthony Ayuban of BDM and Gesha Wynna Obero of LDM were crowned as Mr. and Ms. Pasiklaban 2015. They stood elegantly on stage as they were crowned with the title. Showing their charismatic, beautiful and handsome faces, they walked confidently with their colorful attires. Mark and Gesha took over the crown from previous Mr. and Ms. Pasiklaban 2014. Mark Anthony Ayuban was also named as the one who had the Best in Smart-Casual Attire and Best Formal Attire. On the other hand, Gesha Wynna Obero collected several awards such as Best in Creative Denim, Best in Interview and was chosen Ms. May 2015. Together with Mark and Gesha, there were three more partners who joined the said competition representing their dormitories. Regin Timothy Bazar of BDM received a number of awards that included the Best in Production, Best in Creative Denim, Best in Interview and Special awards such as Mr. Photogenic and Mr. May 2015 and was declared as 1st runner-up together with his partner, Arriane Tanbukong of LDM. Arriane was also proclaimed Best
in Production, Best in Smart-Casual Attire and Ms. Photogenic. The Best in Buhay-Dorm Attire was given to a partner from BDA and LDA, Ricardo Narvaiza and Nichaela Ayra Perin and also declared as 2nd runner-up. Nichaela has earned two more awards namely, Best in Formal Attire and Ms. Charmee. Syme Ray Benwaldo of BDA and Elaine Dubongco of LDA were the s 3rd r u n n e rup pair.
by Eden May Somodio
by Eden May Somodio Mindanao S t a t e UniversityGeneral Santos City celebrated the 1st EnviUdays through the initiative of Supreme Student Council with the theme, “Action for a Greener Cause: Uplifting Eco Ethics in MSU-GSC Community,” advocating Solid Waste Management and environmental awareness in the University, February 17-18, 2015. EnviUdays was supposed to be the University week celebration of MSU-GSC. However, University Administration warned that activities of last Intramural should not be repeated during U week. Thus, they focused their activity in environmental awareness and adopted
3 Bagwis | News
the Ecological Solid Waste Management Program (ESWMP) Act of 2000. “Solid Waste Management is the focal point of implementing EnviUdays. It is a way of mitigating sa atuang waste dire sa University. So through implementing SWM and then part na to siya sa educational awareness sa environment. Kumbaga it’s an innovative way of implementing SWM,” said Hon. Vanjo Belinda, SSC President, during the interview through cellphone call. Said event was a two day activity having various programs and contests include the Queen of MSU, held at MSU Gymnasium as the opening salvo, night of February 17. As for second day of activity, SSC conducted Clean up Walk at 6:30 am from Sarimanok to MSU Gymnasium which participated by 112 LTS Students from College of Education and College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Symposium on Environmental Awareness and Disaster Preparedness, and Pastil sa Kasadya. Other activities had conducted and the results as follow: Extemporaneous Speaking (English), Ronnie Barientos declared as the first placer, followed by Shiela Manucay (2nd placer) and Paul Genesis Montejo (3rd placer); Poster and Slogan Making contest winners were Janine Mae Magbanua as champion, Angelou Samillano (1st placer) and Jezza Mae Nunez (2nd placer); Jonalyn
Sioco (1st placer), Nathaniel Eigo (2nd placer) and Kimberly Navaja (3rd placer) won the Essay contest; the Team of 3rd year BSEd Biology namely, Mae Pearl Martinez, Jude Anne Mae Navarro and Cemalyn Ibrahim, claimed their victory in Eco-Quiz Challenge, Photography won by Jayson Cunanan (1st placer), Val Estal (2nd placer) and Jayson Deodor (3rd placer), and Maria Madel Palen shined in Infographic Making. As part of the celebration of EnviUdays, SSC awarded the top ten MSUan in Gawad Karangalan Para sa Iskolar ng Bayan based on their performance in academe. These Iskolar ng Bayan as follow: John Mark F. Miraveles, 4th year BSBA Economics with Grand Weighted Average (GWA) of 1.3597; Jean Claire P. Polancos, 2nd year BS Accountancy with GWA of 1.4239; Kaye Cristelle P. Lavarte, 2nd year BSEd English with GWA 1.4250; Fernnie M. Magalona, 5th year BS Civil Engineer with GWA of 1.4489; Carl Jay O. Gokotano, 3rd year BS Electrical Engineer with GWA of 1.4500; Aivee Ann H. Didulo, 2nd year BS Electrical Engineer with GWA of 1.4578; Rea Mae A. Hamiladan, 2nd year BS Biology with GWA of 1.4632; Ava Clarisse A. Santander, 5th year BS Accountancy with GWA of 1.4726; Rosaifa H. Radi, 2nd year BS Accountancy with 1.4819; and Alex R. Racines Jr, 2nd year Accountancy with GWA of 1.4855. Together with the mentioned top achievers, top ten of Dean’s Lister of every college of the said University has also been awarded.
by Karen Mae Crampatanta
“Magandang Gensan!” Heard anywhere in General Santos, this tagline will always be part of our ethos. It evokes of a beautiful place, and of people with diverse cultures and history; of a gentle home, that will always be a part of our system. From being tagged as “the dust city,” General Santos has evolved into a city of champions, into “the tuna capital” of the country. All of us are definitely proud of our diverse cultural heritage and in the pioneering spirits of our forefathers,. Such legacy has helped in forging an identity as a city of achievers. As we celebrate General Santos City’s foundation anniversary with the theme, “Kultura ko, Identity ko.” (My culture, my identity) we express our endless gratitude to our city pioneers and current leaders for having nurtured the spirit of cultural diversity , by paying tribute to the cultures of the indigenous peoples as well as the migrants who made this city their homes. Kalilangan–a Maguindanaoan word for “celebration,” aptly encapsulates our city’s foundation anniversary festival: a celebration of cultural diversity. The Kalilangan Festival is celebrated for at least one week, from February 22 to 27 every year. The culminating day of the celebration, February 27, has been declared a local public holiday. Gensan has won the Best Festival “Hall of Famer” award last year for the Culture and Arts- City Level Category. It was cited for having successfully retained its stature as the Country’s Best Festival- City level in the last three consecutive years since 2011. This award was from the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) –the implementing arm of Department of Tourism. ATOP collaborates with local government units and other tourism stakeholders nationwide. Several events were scheduled during
the entire Kalilangan festivities. Among its highlights were the Kadsagayan sa Kalilangan and the Parada ng Lahi. The kadsagayan was the grand street dancing competition that depicted the diverse cultural traditions, colors, through its music, dances and floats. The Parada ng Lahi was a memorial parade marking the historic landing of General Paulino Santos upon the city’s shores. It was participated by civilians, men and women in uniform, and academicians.. “We may have an amalgam of cultures and diverse backgrounds but this fusion, blend, and mixture help us become what we are today, an embodiment of success stories,” said City Mayor Hon. Ronnel C. Rivera in his speech in the opening program. “Now we have our own brand and identity, Kapag galing Gensan, Panalo ‘Yan! Magaling, Mahusay –We are building our future in the strength of these characteristic traits,” Mayor Rivera added. Other highlights of this year’s Kalilangan included the Pakarajan sa Gensan: Moro day; the Kadsengal (song writing competition); the 1st Kalilangan Debate; Kulay, a digital art competition; Rakrakan sa Gensan (a rock music concert); a Strings Acoustic competition; Sayawitan Alay sa Kalilangan, and Survive, an urban dance competition. Pakarajan is a Maguindanao word for festive gathering within a grand celebration. Pakajaran sa Gensan featured demonstrations of practices iconic of the city’s Moro constituents. The Kadsengal competition featured original music compositions of Gensan’s budding musicians. The members of the MSU-Gensan Debate Society were declared champions in the first ever Kalilangan Debate Tournament. The winning team included our very own David Jayson Oquendo, Bagwis Editor-in-Chief. Ms. Herlyn Faye de la
Rosa, of the College of Business Administration and Accountancy, led the winning Debating Team. The other member is Mr. Ronnie John Barrientos, of the Political Science Department, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, also a member of Bagwis. Ms. De La Rosa was also declared Best Speaker in the tournament, with Mr. Barrientos as the third Best Debater. This year’s Kalilangan also featured activities that have been the regular fare of the celebration, like the Agri-Live Stock Fair, Mini Zoo and Forest, Job Fair, Fun Run, Zumba, Traders Fair and Flea Market, Sports Events, Fashion Show, Ang Parangal Kasaysayan: Photo Exhibit, Karnabal sa Kalilangan, and the Mindanao-wide Battle of the Bands. During the closing ceremony, the organizers presented Kariktan, showcasing the city’s best and brightest artists in the Oval plaza stage, and this was preceded by a giant dance off in the city oval plaza grounds and a spectacular fireworks display. Organizers said the dazzling fireworks and other highlights of the closing ceremony were expressions of gratitude to all constituents of Gensan, to all “Generals.” Mayor Rivera said declared during the closing ceremonies that “Today we are no longer the last frontiers, we are now one of the premiers –one of the premier cities not only in Mindanao but also nationwide.” We should always remember our founding pioneers for we are now experiencing the gains and the fruits of what they have started more than 76 years ago. The success that the city is having now truly makes it deserving to have the tagline, “Magandang Gensan!”
News | Bagwis
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T
he recent Mamasapano incident (call it massacre, or “misencounter”, or whatever you like), one which will be forever remembered in the annals of this country’s history, recalls to mind two things. First is that the high-risk operation conducted by the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) could be a nod to Indonesia’s Densus 88 (Detachment 88). The Detasemen Khusus 88 is the Indonesian police’s elite special forces unit heavily specialized in counter-terrorism ops, and which has been considerably successful in disrupting Central Javan terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah’s activities by capturing or killing (mostly killing) top JI operatives and leaders. Similar to our SAF’s 84th Special Action Company, Densus 88 was trained by various US and Australian intelligence agencies. Unfortunately, the famed Densus 88 raids in Poso and Surakarta were conducted in urban environments, and not in swampy sanctuaries deep inside the territories of heavily-armed insurgent groups. The second thing is that Oplan Exodus turned out more like the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. Here, US Army Special Forces contingents mounted an operation to capture a local Somali warlord’s lieutenants during a meeting at the Bakaara Market, at the heart of the warlord’s territory, using air assault/ aerial insertion by helicopter and mechanized ground maneuver. The mission was initially successful, but not before stirring the hornet’s nest – hundreds of Kalashnikov-toting militia soon surrounded the Americans, shot down two helicopters and trapped them for the night before the crisis culminated in a dawn rescue by US/UN tanks and a retreat on foot. This Pyrrhic tactical victory, which we now know as “Black Hawk Down”, cost the lives of 18 American soldiers, led to the US withdrawal from Somalia and even influenced (or haunted) US foreign military policy until 9/11. Mamasapano, by virtue of its socio-political impact, could very well be the Philippines’ equivalent to Mogadishu. Though no helicopters w e r e actually downed, t h e death toll of 44 among the elite
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police commandos (with one unit, 55th SAC, almost having been wiped out to a man) proved too high a casualty rate and sparked both national mourning and outrage, fueled even more by leaked footage of desecration and pilferage of the dead commandos’ weapons and personal effects, as well as the battlefield executions of the wounded. Focus of the heated debates nationwide has been largely pointed at finding those accountable for the debacle, both at the tactical and strategic level, from the operational realm to that of the political. First is the tactical (or battlefield) error committed during the operation. One would be baffled as to how they even considered entering an area that serves as the bailiwick and sanctuary for hair-trigger heavily-armed groups (read: the BIFF 1st Brigade and the MILF 105 and 118 Base Commands). These units have been known to be aggressive and impetuous, and understandably they wouldn’t take kindly to intrusion of their territory of any kind, especially one that comes in the dark of dawn. It is known that the SAF commandos got pinned down in a cornfield, with basically no cover, while they were being picked off by treetop snipers. The 105th Command is notorious for being the “largest and best equipped of the MILF’s various field divisions”, with recent footage showing marksmen in their ranks sporting local versions of the .50 caliber Barrett rifle - which explains the gruesome head injuries sustained by those killed, apart from those executed. (We also know that Ustadz Kato, the BIFF leader, once commanded the 105th before he and his ilk took their own path at insurgency, which tells a lot. The BIFF could’ve “borrowed” 105th BC weapons which were used to deadly effect against the commandos. Both camps w e r e also, at the
time, co-located at a very neighborly distance from each. Secure haven indeed for the mad bomber-man Marwan.) There is also the debate regarding as to why the military failed to mount an overwhelming response to the besieged SAF men. The Army quickly pointed its finger to both the cease-fire agreements and policies in place at the time, to which a general described as, “having their hands tied by ceasefire mechanisms”, as well as the fact that the military was plain unaware of the operation. (The SAF had this legit fear that informing the army or coordinating agencies would tip off the MILF or BIFF.) To be honest, had the military came in Leeroy Jenkins-style – with artillery support and chopper gunships blazing – the intervention would have been enough break the ceasefire. Then more people would die. Pragmatic move then, it may seem, but we would like to assume that it was still very painful for the military to witness the bloodbath of fellow men at arms whilst being compelled to pretty much stay put because of wider politicomilitary realities and consequences. But the controversy over Mamasapano which probably takes the cake is the shocking revelation that disgraced police General Alan Purisima was actually calling the shots for Exodus, despite being suspended from the post of chief of police, without the knowledge of both the Interior Secretary and then OIC police chief. The pot-bellied general had become a household name throughout t h e
Philippines for: the controversy surrounding a multimillion villa in Nueva Ecija, and his complete and utter obstinacy or stubbornness to take account or explain for the controversy. Now, it was revealed, he was calling the shots for a high-risk operation that went horribly wrong. It defies logic and understanding as to how a disgraced general “on leave” or “preemptive suspension pending investigation” managed to usurp and bypass current chains of command to mount his own covert, unilateral wet-dream operation. No wonder a lot of people are very pissed off. Admit it, we pretty much were amused or enjoyed listening to firebrand Senator Miriam unleash a no-holds-barred verbal Ilongga beatdown on Purisima as it was being broadcast on live radio and television. It can be surmised that only Purisima might have been given crucial US intelligence information, but Miriam was probably correct in telling Purisima that “had he not dipped his fingers in the pie, the 44 could have lived.” The squabble over who really messed up could continue well into the future. Heads may eventually roll for this disaster, but unfortunately even that could not bring the fallen commandos back to life. And neither would all-out war. What happened at Mamasapano has opened up another wider dimension for national debate: the ongoing peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front; and the issue of the Bangsamoro. Doubts have now been cast. The drums of war rumble loudly, and we can hear them on the grapevine, in media and more importantly, on social media. From the looks of it, one might be tempted to see that the conflict is presented in the “Christian versus Muslim” sort of dichotomy – as it has always been. But if one tends to look closer, it would turn out that it is more “Northerner (Luzon/Visayas) versus Southerner (Mindanao).” Where else, after all, does the McCarthylike haranguing senator – whose is both utterly shameless and obstinately unapologetic for his disrespect and ignorance – hail from? Certainly
by Rafael Romero
not from the South. Where else do all those who cry out for “all-out war” come from? Surely, not from Mindanao. The warmongers who at least try to make their argument of trashing the peace process look smart, on one example, exhort people to learn from the “Sri Lanka Final Peace Process (SLFPP).” That thing should be made required reading for everyone in the Philippines. Sri Lanka this, Sri Lanka that. The majority Sinhalese Sri Lankan government, after all, did beat the living snot out of the rebelling Tamils for good. Never mind that Google never yields a SLFPP as it were a real thing, and reading on the Sri Lankan Civil War in Wikipedia reveals that tens of thousands of civilians died in the crossfire and atrocities during the 2009 final assault. But hey, at least they managed to wipe out the troublemakers and bring peace to the island! Never mind that Mindanao is a wholly different case from Sri Lanka. Never mind that the Moros are a totally different bunch from the Tamils. Never mind that the Moro issue goes way back, and that the Moros have been fighting for centuries. Fighting for domination, or at least self-determination? Who then, is to blame for a people’s psyche of independence borne out of a different cultural background? Because it is very easy to surmise that many Northerners, especially the vociferous ones, are pretty much ignorant of history and the situation over in the South. We couldn’t be far from the truth if we’ll say that they look at Mindanao and its issues as a mere bane to their existence. At least we Southerners learned a bit from our History 3 classes. Never mind making Histo3 nationwide: the Northerners would only see it as history tainted, twisted and manipulated by Moro propaganda. All-out war, they clamor up North. Set things on fire to save us? When the retaliation for all-out war comes, it would be us who would be paying the price, not those clueless Northerners. We will bear the brunt of the bombings, the strafing, ambuscades, assassinations and abductions. They can call it out so loud because war will never touch them there. Would we
expect Bulakenyos or Pampangos to become bakwits themselves because of all-out war? Will we expect widespread bombings in malls, marketplaces and transportation in the north? Never. That’s why they’re so much into egging the armed forces to conduct all-out war. “Kill all the rebellious Moros! Shoot the damn relatives who’ll support them too!” If this is the general sentiment, then we can assume that Northerners in general are calling for genocide. Now, if their premise of scrapping peace talks and launching all-out war, regardless of collateral damage, is borne out of their fear of an ISIS-like genocide from Moros, what makes those Northerners different from them? Didn’t the troublemaking groups themselves gain at least some credibility among their own people because of some distant Northerner polity trying to impose the centralist dictum of “One Nation, One Law” for so long? Didn’t the Moros espouse the struggle for self-determination because they were tired of groveling to some distant central authority for handouts, groveling to an “august” body dominated by Northerners who couldn’t even understand the Moros and their grievances? Weren’t they tired of that overly-clingy big brother from the North who forces them to play under his rules in spite of the fact that the two grew up in very different sociopolitical environments? That is why we Southerners could sometimes look to our Moro neighbors with a hint of sympathy when the Northern dogs of war are baying for blood, for war hidden ostensibly in the cloak of “justice” and “retribution”. We know more than any Northerner that the reason why they are calling, praying fervently for the success of the peace process and the avoidance of a return to war is because they are so much tired of playing bakwit, tired of the sounds of gunfire, tired of the prospect of having your relative killed and your properties or livelihoods all turned into ashes. In the end, we don’t need the opinion of ignorant Northerners to decide what happens to us Southerners. “Are we ready for democracy?” Screw your Northerner “democracy” if that is the case.
Editorial | Bagwis
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kooperasyon atkumpetisyon ASEAN INTEGRATION
ni Kevin Autor
Nakararanas ang Pilipinas ng samu’t saring krisis panlipunan. Nangangandarapa pa ang ating Senado sa paghahanap ng katotohanan sa mga nangyari sa Mamasapano. Dahilan din ito kung bakit kasalukuyang kinakaharap ng ating Pangulo ang isyu ng pagsasampa ng impeachment. Patuloy pa rin sa ngayon ang laban tungo sa kapayapaan dito sa Mindanao. Sa kasalukuyan marami pa rin ang ating mga kababayang lumalangoy sa putik ng kahirapan. Sa kasagsagan ng pangangapa natin upang umahon sa lahat ng mga ito, marahil ay hindi na natin nabatid na isinasampal na naman pala sa atin ang responsibilidad at pagsubok sa pagsasakatuparan ng mga layunin ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Integration. Taong 2003 nang napagkasunduan ng 10 na estadong kasapi ng ASEAN na bumuo ng single production base at market pagdating ng taong 2020. Sa muling pagpupulong ng mga lider ng mga estado, napagkasunduang mas madaliin ito sa taong 2015. Inasahan ng ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) na sa pagtutulungan ng mga bansang Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pilipinas, Singapore, Thailand, at Vietnam magkakaroon ng isang matatag at maunlad na rehiyong kayang makipagsabayan sa mga bansang higante ang ekonomiya sa mundo. Kakambal nito ang pagkakaroon ng pagkakapantay-pantay na paglago ng ekonomiya, pagtuldok sa kahirapan, at iba pang pagpapaunlad sa iba’t ibang dimensyon ng lipunang nasasaklaw ng rehiyon. Kung tuluyan ngang maisasakatuparan ang mga layunin ng AEI, magiging madali na ang pagpasok at paglabas ng mga produkto mula sa bansang kasapi ng rehiyon. Binibigyang diin nito ang pagtutulungan upang punuan ang kakulangan ng mga miyembro. Halimbawa ang kakulangan ng bigas sa bansang Pilipinas ay maaring punan ng bansang Vietnam na kasapi rin ng samahan. Samantala ang paglabas ng bansa ng mga Pilipinong manggagawa patungo sa mga bansang Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, at iba pa ay mapapadali dahil ituturing na tayong iisa. Dito naman sa Mindanao, lalong-lalo na sa Lunsod ng Heneral Santos, ang AEI ay inaasahang magpapalakas sa dati ng Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-MalaysiaPhilippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-regional cooperation. Ang Mindanao Development Authority at Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Mindanao ay bumuo na ng Mindanao Trade Policy Center upang maging katuwang sa pagbuo ng koneksyon sa mga kalapit na bansa, at upang maiangat na rin ang estado ng pagpapalitan ng produkto, turismo, at iba pang usapin sa pananalapi. Ngunit ang pagpasok ng Pilipinas sa bansang ito ay hindi lamang magdudulot ng epekto sa ekonomiya. Dahil sa napipintong kooperasyong ito, magkakaroon din ng malaking epekto sa yamang tao ng bansa dahil na rin sa katotohanang ang ating mga manggagawa ay isa sa mga bumubuhay sa ating ekonomiya. Ang pagpapalitan na nabanggit sa rationale ng AEI ay hindi labang limitado sa ating mga produkto, kasama na rin dito ang inaasahang paglobo ng bilang ng mga dayuhang papasok sa bansa hindi lamang dahil sa pagpapaunlad ng ating turismo kundi dahil na rin sa ang mga dayuhan ay mabibigyan din ng pagkakataong magtrabaho sa bansa. Dahil dito nakikita ng ating pamahalaan na hindi lamang kailangan ng bansa ang reporma sa mga polisiya sa ekonomiya at nangangailangin ding repasuhin ang mga kakulangan sa sistema ng edukasyon upang ang mga Pilipino ay hindi mapag-iwanan ng mga dayuhang papasok sa bansa. Bilang paghahanda sa kaganapang ito, naipatupad na ang K-12 apat na taon na ang nakararaan. Sa mga bansang kasapi kasi ng ASEAN, ang Pilipinas na lamang ang mayroon lamang 10 taon sa elementarya at hayskul. Parte na rin ng paghahanda ang hakbang na ginawa ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at iba pang mga paaralan sa Maynila sa pagbabago ng pasukan. Mula sa nakasanayang Hunyo hanggang Mayo, ay naging Agosto hanggang Hulyo na. Inaasahan din naman na ang hakbang na ito ay susundin ng iba pang mga State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) gaya ng Mindanao State University System na kinabibilangan ng ating unibersidad. Kung layunin lamang ang pag-uusapan, walang dudang dapat lamang na bigyan ng pagpupugay ang ating mga lider na nanguna sa kanilang mga inisyatibo sa pagpapaunlad ng rehiyon. Ngunit kagaya nga ng isang batas na
7 Bagwis | Editorial
hindi naman naipatutupad, nangangailangan din ang programang ito ng maayos na implementasyon. Dahil kung hindi mauuwi lang din naman ito sa wala. Kawangis ng isang mabangis na hayop ngunit wala naman palang pangil, magmumukha lang itong katawa-tawa. Dito sa Pilipinas,maraming mga eksperto pa rin ang naniniwala na ang pagkamit sa mga layunin ng AEI ay nananatili pa ring suntok sa buwan. Lumalabas sa pag-aaral ng The Economist noong taong 2013 na nasa 6.3 bahagdan lamang mula sa bilang na 147 kumpanya sa SEA ang naniniwalang makakamit ang AEI ngayong taon. Ito rin ang kinalabasan ng pag-aaral ng Asian Development Bank at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Nanatiling matatag naman ang positibong paniniwala ng National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) at ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sa kabila ng salungat na pananaw ng ilang mga negosyante sa bansa. Ang kooperasyon kasi na dala ng AEI ay kakambal din ng kumpetisyon sa negosyo, edukasyon, at iba pang larangan. Nanindigan si Nestor Tan, pangulo ng BDO Unibank Inc., na hindi pa handa ang industiya. Ito rin naman ang paniniwala ng Standard and Poor’s na nanatiling banta ang katotohanang mapag-iiwanan ang mga lokal na bangko dahil hindi nito kayang makipagsabayan sa nakaambang na kumpetisyon. Dagdag pa ni Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Gunigundo, kahit pa pagsama-samahin ang lahat ng ari-arian ng mga bangko sa Pilipinas, katumbas lang nito ang isang malaking bangko sa Malaysia. Kung pagiisahin naman ang tatlong pinakamalalaking bangko dito sa bansa, katumbas lang nito ang isang bangko sa Thailand. At nakapanlulumo mang aminin, ang pinagsama-samang kapital ng buong Philippine Banking System ay baka hindi pa kayang mapantayan ang isang bangko sa bansang Singapore. Inaasahang kulelat din ang bansa sa larangan ng edukasyon. Sa susunod na taon pa lang kasi magsisimula ang programang K-12 na nasimulan na ng ibang mga bansa ilang dekada na ang nakararaan. Sa mga pananaliksik naman ng Quacquareli Symonds, nangangamote ang UP kung ikukumpara sa National University of Singapore. Ano naman kaya ang magiging implikasyon nito sa ating mga MSUan? Maituturing mang tanyag ang Mindanao State University – General Santos City dito sa ating rehiyon, ngunit hindi maikakailang nananatili pa ring pilay ang pundasyon ng sinasabing kaledad ng edukasyon na ibinibigay ng unibersidad kung ikukumpara sa UP, at lalong-lalo na sa iba pang tanyag na paaralan sa Southeast Asia. Kung mabibigyan ng kalayaan ang mga dayuhan na sa pagpasok at pagtatrabaho ng bansa, mas malaki ang posibilidad na mas pipiliin sila dahil sa kaledad ng edukasyong kanilang natamo. Katotohanan itong masakit man isipin, ngunit hindi natin kailanman matatakasan. Bilang mga MSUans at tinagurian na ngang Iskolar ng Bayan, ang tinatawag na kooperasyon ng mga kasaping bansa sa ASEAN ay nangangahulugan din ng kumpetisyon. Kaya ba nating makipagkumpetensiya sa kanila? Kung pasilidad lang din naman ang pag-uusapan, tiyak na dehado tayo sa labanan. Marami pa ring mga silid-aralan ang kailangan ng pagkukumpuni. Ang ating library, na tinagurian mang pusod ng institusyon, ay hindi pa rin napapakinabangan sa ngayon. Sa mga aklat naman ay nahuhuli din tayo kung ikukumpara sa mga kalapit na unibersidad sa lunsod. Nakakatuwa mang isipin na kasalukuyan ng ginagawa ang IT laboratory at Engineering laboratory, pinaniniwalang salat pa rin ang mga bagay na ito upang marating natin ang tugatog ng sinasabing kaledad ng edukasyon. Kung susumahin, isang malaking hamon ang AEI sa mga mag-aaral ngunit mas malaking responsibilidad ang nakapataw sa balikat ng mga tagapamahala ng paaralan. Ang katotohanang ito ay dapat na magsilbing hamon din sa mga kinauukulan. Kung hindi tayo kikilos ay patuloy tayong mapag-iiwanan ng iba at mananatili na lamang nakakulong sa tanikala ng disyertong ating pinanggalingan. Kung patuloy tayo sa pagsasawalang bahala ay kawangis na rin ito sa atin mismong pagtalon sa kumunoy na hihigop sa atin upang hindi na makaahon pa. Wala namang MSUan na bobo at mangmang, nakakalungkot lang na tayo’y nananatiling nakagapos pa sa mga kakulangan ng isang institusyong hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin pinupunan. Nakakapanlulumong isipin na ang mga taong may hawak ng susi sa kung ano mang nakagapos sa ating aking kakayahan ay ayaw naman tayong pakawalan.
Sa Usapin ng Represyon Ang Campus Press ay isang direktang ekspresyon ng Press Freedom sa isang kampus, may sariling kapangyarihang pamahalaan ng mga estudyante at kumikilos ayon sa layuning nais makamit. Gamit ang kapangyarihang garantiya ng Campus Journalism Act of 1991, sinisikap ng bawat pamahayagang pangkampus na maisiwalat ang katotohanan para sa saklaw nitong mambabasa. Subalit kung oobserbahang mabuti ang kapaligirang saklaw ng Campus Press sa ating unibersidad, masasabi nga ba nating nakamit natin ang Press Freedom? Ayon pa sa Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution, may demokratikong karapatan tayong makapamahagi at makatanggap ng impormasyon at mga ideya sa tulong ng kahit anong midyum, ito ay ang Press Freedom. Hindi rin maikakaila ang talamak na aplikasyon ng Press Freedom sa social media at maging sa mga usap-usapan ng mga estudyante pero kung titingnan ang kalagayan ng pamahayagang pangkampus ng mga kolehiyo at ng unibersidad bilang kabuuan, nakakamit nga ba ang diwa ng Campus Press Freedom? Naipapahayag nga ba ng mga publikasyon ang kanilang mithiing maging boses ng mga nabubusalan? Oo. Ang pamahayagang pangkampus ang boses ng kanyang nasasakupan at nagsisilbing gwardiyang tagapagsita sa mga kamalian sa buong unibersidad. Kaagapay ng bawat mamamahayag ang probisyon ng Campus Journalism Act of 1991 na walang estudyanteng mamamahayag ang maaaring isuspende o patalsikin sa pamantasan base sa kanyang mga isinusulat. Masasabi nating makapangyarihan ang bawat salita at tintang sagisag ng ating kamalayan ngunit sa likod ng probisyong ito ay nagkukubli ang masidhing pagyurak sa pinaniniwalaan nating kalaayan. Ito ay ang mga Campus Press Freedom Violations.
cpfv
ni Sharlene Mae Lapiz
Kabilang na rito ang censorship o ang pagpipigil sa pagpapalabas ng katotohanan, pamamagitan ng administrasyon ng unibersidad, di makatarungang pangingialam ng advisers sa mga gawain ng pamahayagan, withholding of funds, libelo, panghaharas, suspension o expulsion at marami pang iba. Nakakapanlumo na hindi lamang isa o dalawa sa mga paglabag sa karapatan sa pamamahayag ang nagiging mitsa sa diwa ng campus press freedom, marahil lahat sa mga ito’y naranasan na ng bawat indibidwal sampu ng lahat ng pamahayagan sa kampus. Ang mas nakakapanlumo pa rito, walang penalty clause ukol sa mga Campus Press Freedom Violations na nabanggit sa unahan. Ang Campus Journalism Act of 1991 ay hilaw pa upang tuluyang mawakasan ang opresyong bumabara sa pag-usad ng katotohanang karapatang malaman ng lahat, naghihintay pa ng amendasyon. Kung susuriing mabuti, maraming balakid ang hinarap ng pamahayagang pangkampus noong mga nagdaang taon na humamon sa tatag ng pamahayagan. Kabilang na rito ang paghawak ng pondo ng isang adviser na kung saan, dapat ay pinamamahalaan ng Managing Editor ng pamahayagan. Ito rin ang nag-ugat upang hindi maipalabas ang dalawang magkakasunod na issue ng pamahayagan sa taong iyon. Hinarap din ng matinding opresyon ang mga manununulat mismo na kung saan kontrolado ang mga artikulong nailalathala sa pamahayagan. Subalit ngayon ay iba na ang ihip ng hangin. Ngayon ay unti-unti nang binibigyang-buhay ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag, ito ang dahilam kung bakit nababasa ninyo ngayon ang artikulong ito. Hindi na lingid sa ating kaalaman ang mga balakid na kinaharap ng ating pamahayagang pangkampus at ng mga pamahayagan sa bawat kolehiyo. Iilan lamang sa mga ito ang napabalita nang pagka-unsyami ng pagpapalabas ng dalawang
semestreng isyu ng pamahayagang pangkampus dahil sa mga paktor na maihahanay bilang Campus Press Freedom Violations. Layunin ng mga estudyanteng mamamahayag na maging bihilante sa mga pangyayari sa kampus at magpaalam ng tamang impormasyon subalit paano nila ito magagampanan kung ang kapalit nito’y pananakot mula sa mas nakakatanda’t may kapangyarihan sa pamantasan? Ang takot na baka hindi makapagtapos sa tamang oras dahil sa opresyong natamo mula sa layuning maisiwalat ang pawang katotohanan? Ang bawat pamahayagang pangkampus, bilang instrumento ng malayang pamamahayag sa isang pamantasan, ay nagsisikap na matugunan ang layuning magpaalam dahil ito ang rason ng kanilang pagkakatatag. Kung titingnang maigi, hindi itinatag ang pamahayagan upang kalabanin at mamuna lamang ng mga gawain sa administrasyon ng pamantasan at pangkalahatang isyu ng bansa, ang pamahayagan ay nariyan upang maging boses ng katotohanan at magpabatid ng maaaring solusyon sa mga suliranin. Kung ang pamahayagan ay nakatali sa walang pundang na opresyong maisakatuparan ang kanilang layunin, paano nito magagampanan ang tungkuling magpahayag? Ang pamahayagan ay hindi isang puppet ng pamantasan. Ito’y hindi isang brochure na ipinapakita lamang kung ano ang kanais-nais. Ang katotohanan ay dapat manaig at ang kasamaan ay dapat masupil. Kung tayo ay kumikilos ayon sa etiko, wala tayong dapat na ikatakot. Hindi lamang umiikot ang relasyong pampahayagan sa pamahayagan at sa mga mambabasa, may responsibilidad din ang administrasyon at lahat ng nasasakupan nito na suportahan ang pamahayagan sa pagpapalabas ng tamang impormasyong hindi dumaan sa represyon.
Editorial | Bagwis
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DOTA to be banned in GenSan?
City councilor Richard Atendido in an interview said that he proposes to pass an ordinance banning Defense of the Ancients, better known as DOTA, in the local internet cafes because of its negative effects to the youth. According to the councilor, the addiction
causes the students to skip classes and be absent just to be able to play the game. Moreover, profanity and swearing are also some of its evident ill effects. The said game was first banned in Brgy. Salawag, Dasmarinas, Cavite due to the death of two young students. The ordinance
imposed a penalty and would eventually result to closure of the internet shop if proven to have this game in their files, or if they are shown to have allowed young students play DOTA in their shops.
HIV cases on rise among young professionals 7 more cases in 3 weeks! Health authorities in General Santos City are alarmed with the increase in the number of young professionals who were diagnosed as infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). If not treated early, this will result to the condition Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Alarmingly, most of the confirmed HIV/ AIDS cases in the city included 99 males and 30 females and mostly are among male professionals in the 22-25 age bracket who engage in “risky sexual behaviors.” Dr. Mely Lastimoso, coordinator of the City Health Office’s (CHO) Social Hygiene Clinic, raised the apprehension as she disclosed
that seven more residents have turned out to be positive of HIV in the last three weeks, bringing the total incidence in the area to 168 from 161 in October 2014. “Our new cases all involved young professionals and that has been the trend these past months”, she said in an interview over a local television station.
Agri and Fish top list of in-demand courses On March 2014, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has released the official list of in-demand and priority college courses for A.Y. 2014-2015 and A.Y. 2017-2018. Agriculture and Fisheries on the areas of Agricultural Engineering, Agribusiness/ Management, BS Fisheries, and Agricultural Economics topped the list of the most in-
demand college courses for 2014-2018. Engineering ranked 2nd, Science and Math in 3rd, Information Technology in 4th, and Teacher Education in 5th. In a series of inter-agency meetings conducted last September 30 and October 24 of 2013, the representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), and Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) agreed that students should be encouraged to take the following priority courses in the next five years.
STAND regains SSC top posts MSU-GSC STAND party continues its way of leadership as all of its major candidates plus a majority of its candidates for councilorship won in the recently conducted Supreme Student Council (SSC) Elections, March 13. Chatto-Doroja-Parcon (STAND) team won
against Amadora-Agang-Melicor (ASAP) tandem for the top 3 posts--President, Vice-President, and Secretary-General respectively. For the posts of councilors, Reyes, Diaz, Bazar, de Jose and Labrador from STAND won.
Meanwhile, Belonio and Simeon from ASAP secured seats in the council. The sole independent candidate for councilors, Tacbil, also won in the elections.
Miting de Avance highlights Donna Jane Simeon, ASAP’s candidate for councilor, was obviously irritated when asked about her resignation in her Presidential post in the PESO Office in time for SSC Elections and her evident participation in the organization’s recent event even after her resignation.
“Yes, I resigned. Pero hindi ako nang-iwan sa ere.. tinapos ko yung mga activities na pinlano namin ng mga kasama ko.” SSC Presidentiable of STAND party, Sharene Joy Chatto, mistakenly used the word “plantsado” in her reply to ASAP’s Presidentiable, Jordan Amadora’s question
during the so-called ‘Versus Round’ where each candidate was given a chance to ask one question to his/her adversary. “...hindi naman kami magbibigay ng financial statement na hindi plantsado.”
News| Bagwis
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MSULOGY
Photo and Caption by Jayson Deodor
See no hate, see no love, and reflect truth. The windows of the soul, the eyes of this young boy begging for alms in the corners of GenSan Public Market glinted curiosity and innocence as they begged for this young boy’s future. Alms will allow him to survive, but education will let him live.
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A thumping of feet is heard in the hallway. The door opens. ‘’Hey, where is your father!?’’, he asks you. One question. One question, one sentence—of five words that you wish you have not heard. “But why?” He sits on the couch, and your heart pummels fast as he comes near you. Damn. You didn’t know that this man condemns homosexuality. Even worse, you’re in a relationship with his son, which is certainly the reason of his startling visit here. ‘’To talk about morality, dear,’’ the man responds in a very simple yet sarcastic tone. The Smiths are profoundly known as strong and dignified soldiers. Belonging to this family, and as your father’s one and only son, you are expected to be one. Following the orders of your father, of your family, has always been regarded as a traditional duty. Your eyebrows meet. “I’ll break up with him instead. Just promise
me you won’t say that to my father.’’ ‘’How would I know that you’re telling the truth? You know, that relationship is seriously immoral.’’ The secrets you have kept for a long time will soon be revealed and will subsequently be the reason why your father would disown you . He’ll disown you for being gay. Tears fall on your face. “Oh, Sir, please. Don’t tell him. I still have duties to do. I don’t want to let him down. And I don’t want him to see me fail.’’ ‘’Face your weakness like a soldier,” he says before he darts through the door. “I’m sorry.’’ The loud monstrous sound of the 45-calibre gun reverberates in the whole neighborhood. Blood splattered all over the place, painting it bloody red . Then, in a moment, he sluggishly turns his body towards you, with an odd expression in his face. Then, he collapses. “No, dear. You’re not going to say a damned thing to him.’’
Pabalik-balik ako sa silid na una kitang nakita. Babalik ka rin kaya? Lilingonin mo ba ako? Pero ‘di mo ako kilala. Pero ‘di mo ako maalala.
Malamig na ang kape. Yumao na ang usok nitong dapat ay nasa kalamnan ko na. Maging ang bolpen at papel ay pinag-isa na ng tintang pumalahaw rito. Nagmanhid na ang daliri ko’t hindi magawang sumulat. Uminit na nga ang puwit ko sa kauupo. Mata ko ay nakatuon sa wala habang naaagnas ang aking ulirat.
Masalimuot na itim na buhok at yumayakap na kahabaan nito sa iyong balikat. Mapupungay na mata, maputlang pisngi at malarosas na labi. Iyan ang nakakintal sa aking puso. Lahat ng iyan na pilit ikinukubli ng mapusyaw na lila mong tandong.
Kislot ng iyong labi ay talinhagang kay hirap liripin. Hindi ko alam ang nais mong ipabatid. Ngunit kung may pagkakataong tayo ay magtatagpong muli, magtunggali ang ating paningin sa iisang puwang at saglit kang madungaw mula roon, marahil ay susupling ang talinhaga ng iyong ngiti.
Paano ko ba sisimulan ang sulat? Mahal? Sinta? Iniirog? Liyag? Ano ba ang tamang pambungad? Tik-tak, tik-tak, tik-tak... Sana ay may pag-ikot din ang oras. Sana ang nakalipas ay daratal pa lang.
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sayaw ng mindanaw Camille Grace Tapec
Niyog ang tanging hiling, hawak ang pathaw Ang dagta nitong pinakamamahal ng dugong bughaw Nalapatan ng makulay na sapat ng kapakinabangan Na nagsilbing lamat, at tinakpan ang katuturan Taong lunod sa kahinaan ngunit balot ng katapangan Sisirin mo ang dagat ng makapat na dugo Pahiran mo ng pilyego, ang sugatang Pulo Upang mailigtas ang mga nakaka awang sangkot Sa engkwentrong, sayawan ng lirikong paikot ikot Na ang tanging hangad lamang ay kapirasong bunot Bungang inaasahan na magkaloob ng katarungan Gayunpaman ay nagbigay ng daan sa karahasan Dahilan ng pag amoy sa napakabahong kahirapan, Na kahit takpan pa natin ang mga sugat ng katotohanan, Di alintana ang nakakaawang kahihinatnan ng ating bayan Ligaw na bala ng ugat ay di lasap na mga Pilipino ‘Di maipangalandakan ang kapayaan na nakakalito Mabuhay ka pa rin bang tukuyin, Oh Pilipino? Nahati sa dalawa ang pintig ng iyong nasyonalismo Nararapat ka bang ipagbigay? O ilatag lahat ng ito sa hinto?
INTOXICATED Mayshelle Palma
gasps, solid moans your lips against mine breaking, I am against the strength of your persistence honey, galaxies; expanding we melt we blend into one sweet melody amidst the humdrum night we breathe silently passion lust love? daybreak chills I woke a plucked flower a woman. You- placid, bland washed from alcohol you reek of apathy, of pride, of manly stance the sight of your back screamed forget about me Hormones. Lust. I cry I break I stand I say “Fuck you.” then break again
Gumasa Sunsets Jade Mark Capiñanes
We, sitting on Gumasa’s white sand strand, saw Time slowly strolling alongshore. Time walked in gentle paces, with feet as the waves, and foam its footprints. I, looking upon the heavens, pondered over the setting sun hiding behind thick five o’clock clouds: I, in sooth, need not see the sun to witness the beauty of a sunset.
Nagahis ako ngayon ng panghihinayang maliban sa hiya. Ba’t kasi hindi ko nahagilap ang pangalan mo. Sana ay isinambit ko na ito sa harap ng Maykapal. Sana ay naisigaw ko ito mula sa kalayuan. Sana naman ay maibubulong ko ito habang pinapanaginip ka. At kung mangyari mang pagbigyan, Sana’y di maging balakid ang nahihiya mong tandong...
You, beside me, beaming like a thousand Gumasa sunsets; And you gently showed yourself, bright, ray by ray, as the sun hid itself from us. It was when I thought that I didn’t have to wait for tomorrow to see the sunrise.
Tik-tak, tik-tak, tik-tak... Subalit ito ang katotohanan. Walang paglalaanan itong aking liham.
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‘’Napatawad mo na ba siya?’’ Tanong ng babaeng may himig ng pag-aalala. Hindi siya nakaimik. Biglang nanoot sa kanyang kamalayan ang mga salita ng babaeng itinuturing niyang kapatid. Masakit, mahirap at nakakapangilabot ang hatid ng mga salitang kanyang narinig. Nanumbalik sa kanyang gunita ang isang gabing puno ng pagtataka. ‘’Nay, mahal po ba ako ni tatay ?” tanong ng musmos niyang katauhan. ‘’Siyempre naman ‘nak. Lahat ng ginagawa ng tatay ay para sa kapakanan mo.’’ Sagot ng ina habang sinusuklay ang buhok ng inosenteng anak. ‘’Kaya niya po ba ginagawa yun?’’ Kumunot ang noo ng ina. Tinitigan niya ang anak. Bakas sa mukha nito ang pagkabalisa. Tila may pinagdadaanang mabigat na hindi pangkaraniwan sa murang edad. ‘’Hayaan mo na anak. Lagi mong tandaan na mahal ka ng tatay. Kaya magpakabait ka at sundin mo lagi ang utos niya. Maliwanag ba yun?” ‘’Ok po,’’ nakayuko niyang sagot. Kinukubli ang luhang dumadaloy sa kanyang pisngi. ‘’Nay, dito na po kayo matulog sa kwarto ko. Baka po may pumasok, natatakot po ako.’’ Pagsusumamo niya. ‘’Huwag kang mag-alala nak, sasamahan ka ni tatay uli mamaya.’’ ‘’Ikaw po ang gusto ko nay.’’ Sabay yakap ng mahigpit sa inang sinusuyo. ‘’Sige na nak. Matulog ka na. Wala kang dapat ikatakot. Babantayan ka ng panginoon sa iyong pagtulog.’’ Kinuha ng ina ang kumot at ibinalot sa munting katawan ng anak. Hinimas ang noo’t malambing na hinagkan. Pinatay ang
ilaw at dahan-dahang lumabas. Naiwang kumakabog ang dibdib ng munting anghel. Ibinabalot sa buong katawan ang kumot na nagsisilbing pangharang sa sakit na paparating. May bumukas ng pinto. Yabag ng mga paang papalapit ang kanyang naririnig. Lalong bumilis ang tibok ng dibdib. Nanlalamig ang kanyang katawan. Nais niyang tumayo, magwala at tumakbo ngunit hindi sumusunod ang kanyang katawan. Naramdaman niya ang haplos ng mga palad na dahan-dahang tumatanggal sa kumot na nagtatanggol sa kanya. Madilim. Hindi niya maaninag ang mukha ng bumibisita sa kanya tuwing gabi. Ngunit di man makita ng mga mata, nakikilala naman ng kanyang ibang pandama. Ang bawat bulong ng pagbabanta, mga yakap ng pagnanasa at halik na walang-awa - lahat ay kilalalang-kilala. ‘’Bakit?’’ Ang tangi niyang tanong. “Dahil mahal kita.” Sagot nitong walang pag-aalinlangan. Dahan-dahan nitong isinagawa ang kanyang pakay. Habang walang tigil sa pagluha ang mga mata ng musmos, tahimik na nawawasak ang puso ng inang hindi makaimik sa kabilang dako ng dingding. Lumipas ng ilang taon, ngayon ay nakayuko siya sa isang kahon. Sa loob nitoy tinititigan niya ang mukhang nagtatago sa kadiliman noong mga gabing iyon. Ngunit ngayon ay walang luhang umaagos sa kanyang pisngi. Walang bakas ng takot ang kanyang anyo. Walang ibang nagiging tanong kundi, ‘’tay, bakit mo nagawa iyon?’’ Lumapit ang inang naghihinagpis. Niyakap ang anak na puno ng galit. ‘’Patawad anak, wala akong ginawa.’’ Namanhid ang buo niyang katawan.
3 am. A faceless black figure sat down and talked to her: You are going to be very sick in the next years of your life. You will have lung cancer- your sweetest lover. She will pin you to bed and love you the hardest she could. You’re going to love her back anyway… masochism was your thing right? I realized that when you told me you’re a chainsmoker. Remember that baby you once had when you were 20? Oh right she never really had much choice to become a fully developed human being since you didn’t really want her. She was lucky - the sewers accepted her wholeheartedly. Heck, I will strangle you if you dare say you miss her… you don’t have the right to feel that anymore. Do I hear you right? You regret doing that? Back off, she’s mine now. Your mother? Why do you care? You left her to fend for her own after your father died from working his ass off. He just had to get you through college and have you graduate on time… Had you not spent your precious time on drugs and casual sex with men who did not even see you as a woman, you could have graduated. Your father could have lived a little bit longer… Ah but don’t worry, your good parents are in the hands of the “powerful” one. Just in case you end up wanting to see them, don’t sweat it. You’re not going up there. When you’re gone, no one will bother anyway so cheer up. The friends you once had will cry a little but move on with their lives after a week or so. Trust me when I say it’s that fast. After all, you
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didn’t matter anyway. To the world, you are just some passing bug, small and very insignificant. Your intelligence will fail you. As you study for your next career, you are going to screw things up and get caught in a passionate affair with a married man. Hell, you have been wanting the guy for years, your first guy to have sexual affairs with… so when he returned to Cebu after years of being away from his wife, the blow was so hard on you. You are going to be so distraught it will ruin almost everything you’ve worked for. You’ve always been stupid, you have always been dumb, in matters of the heart. Desperation in seduction. So you became the mistress of a married man with two kids. His wife will find out sooner than expected but she will just cry over it every night. Her tears will feed your ego, her suffering will sustain you… Hey… do you know what they call women like you? A slut. Not that you care about it… And then you’re going to be pregnant with his son and just like before, you are not going to want him… youShe stopped him in mid-sentence…. I will prove you wrong. Your fake story of my future won’t work for I am the captain of my ship… the master of my soul. 3:15 am Five years later. An open window. A note on the fridge. A positive pregnancy result. A disfigured body of a woman on the road… and a faceless dark figure calmly sipping tea across the table.
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T
a n g i n g katahimikan ang kasama ni Rina sa kanyang silid habang makailang-ulit niyang inalala ang senaryong nagdulot sa kanya ng isang buwang bangungot… pero pinilit niyang buhayin ang nalalabing tapang at sinimulan itong tipunin, ibinuod sa mga talatang magiging mitsa ng kanyang buhay. Si Rina Sanchez ay isang mamamahayag. Batid ng kanyang mga kasamahan ang peligrong dala ng kanilang propesyon. Kahit sa matinding opresyon hinggil sa pagsisiwalat ng baluktot at bulok na mga sistemang nanlinlang sa mga taong napinsala nito’y di sila nagpatalo sa kahit na mumunting pagiimbot upang maipahayag ang katotohanan. Para sa kanila’y isang pangangailangan ang pagsisiwalat ng katotohanan kaya’t buong tapang silang nangangalap ng makahulugang impormasyong sasagot sa mga isyung pangkomunidad at politikal habang tumutuligsa sa sinumang mapatunayang nagkasala. Sila’y walang patumangga, subalit sa likod ng mga mababangis na Leong handang lumapa gamit ang pangil ng katotohanan ay nagkukubli ang isang Pusa;
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siya’y si Rina. Noong nakaraang buwan ay maayos na naibalita ng Saksi, ang local broadcasting company pinagtatrabahuan ni Rina, ang naganap na pagpaslang sa isang mamamahayag sa kabilang bayan. Ang Saksi lamang ang tanging naglakas-loob na nagsiwalat sa pagkadawit sa mayor ng bayang iyon sa nasabing pagpatay at ito’y ayon sa isang ekslusibo’t sikretong pahayag ng eye witness na si Sui, ang Editor-inChief mismo ng Saksi. Tandang-tanda pa ni Sui ang walang habas na pamamaril sa mamamahayag na halos ikabutas na ng katawan nito. Kumbinsido si Sui na opresyon sa pagsisiwalat ng talamak na korupsyon ang puno’t dulo ng pagpatay subalit hindi siya natakot na isiwalat ang senaryong nasaksihan niya dahil alam niyang ito rin ang nais ng nasawing mamamahayag, at ito rin ng nais niya. Matapos ang insidenteng iyon ay agad niyang isiniwalat sa kinauukulan ang pangyayari’t ngayon ay nahaharap na sa isang pagdinig ang krimeng ikinakaharap ng mayor. Subalit makalipas ang ilang araw magmula nang unang pumutok ang balitang iyon ay natagpuan na lamang ang ulo ni Sui sa harap ng kanilang bahay. Ang ibang parte ng katawan ay di pa matukoy kung saan o marahil ay pinaglalapa na ng mga asong kalye. Subalit higit kaninuman, walang ibang nakakaalam sa matinding takot na ininda ni Sui matapos niyang isiwalat ang krimen noong nakaraan kundi si Rina. Si Rina ang palagiang kasama ni Sui sa mga lakad niya. Maliban sa matalik silang magkaibiga’y magkaklase rin sila sa kolehiyo. Batid ni Rina ang depresyon ni Sui matapos ang hearing dahil sa mga death threats na natatanggap niya arawaraw subalit nasaksihan niya rin kung paano ito nilalabanan ni Sui. Datapwat mapagkakatiwalaan daw ang hanay ng mga pulisya’t kinauukulang umasikaso sa krimen ay hindi kapani-paniwala ang lumabas na
resulta sa pagkamatay ni Sui. Ayon pa sa kanila’y pinatay siya ng isang negosyanteng nasangkot sa pagtutulak ng Marijuana na kanya ring nakabanggaan sa mga nakaraang balita’t editorial, subalit ang nasabing suspek ay natagpuan na lamang na palutang-lutang sa estero makalipas ang dalawang araw. Hindi niya pinaniwalaan ang mga bukambibig dahil sa kaibuturan ng kanyang konsensya’y nakahimlay ang katotohanang ilang linggo nang umuusig sa kanya. Ang katotohanang nasaksihan mismo ng kanyang mga mata bago pa man gumulong ang ulo ni Sui sa lupang mamasa-masa pa ng kanyang sariling dugo. Ang mala-demonyong halakhak ng mayor sampu ng ibang kasamahan mula sa isang dipang layo sa ulong napapaliguan ng dugo. Matapos ang insidenteng iyon ay nagkaroon ng masidhing pagbibingibingiha’t pagbubulag-bulagan sa bayan, maging ang Saksi’y “Magnanakaw ng sinampay, nahuli” ang headline. Nanatiling duwag ang pamahayagan dahil sa takot na mapagbalingan, nagsipagtakbuhan ang mga huwad na Leon. “Ako ang Saksi”, ang tanging naisambit ni Rina sa loob ng tatlong oras na ginugol sa pag-iisip sa lahat ng mga pangyayari noong nakaraang buwan na nagpaiba sa takbo ng kanyang buhay. Ilang minuto niyang tinitigan ang enter key sa keyboard ng kanyang laptop ngunit sa bandang huli’y pinindot din ito. Kinabukasan ay natagpuan na lamang ang bangkay si Rina sa sariling bahay. Ito ay napapalibutan ng mahigit sa 15 basyo ng bala. Nabulabog din ang social media ng ilang re-uploads, libu-libong likes at share ng video ng pagpatay mismo kay Sui na kuha ng cellphone ni Rina. Matagumpay niya itong nai-upload sa sariling blog, Facebook account at website ng Saksi kasama ang huling news article at editoryal na kanyang naisulat noong nakaraang gabi.
I want to end this now, Albert said to himself, shaking, pointing a gun directly to his head, around 3 o’clock in the morning. Albert was a contemplative, if not brooding, man. He wanted to find the answers to life’s most pressing questions. A famous author, he was renowned for his rapier wit merged with philosophical depth. But little did his avid readers know about his dilemma: Despite his fame, he felt something was still missing in his life. He could clearly remember his excitement during the first class of his introductory subject in Philosophy when he was still in college; he was, however, so disappointed when his professor’s first question was “Does this chair exist?” “I am here to know the meaning of life and of it all,” he complained, “and not to argue whether or not that goddamn chair exists.” His professor, angered by Albert’s rude behavior, threw the chair to him and exclaimed: “It hurts, doesn’t it? That is how you prove that that chair exists!” Albert, then, dropped the subject; and, in the years to come, he would learn philosophy himself. “Love is silly,” he would always say. He was a bachelor. One time, a friend told him: “You know, perhaps you will find the answers in love. Thomas Aquinas said that to be fulfilled, one must love.” “Yeah right,” Albert answered, “that’s why Aquinas had so many wives.” Despite the fact that he was a learned man, equipped with extensive knowledge on philosophy and letters, he still did not find the answers. He viewed life in a pessimistic lens and grew old with a firm conviction that life is absurd. In one of his most famous novels, entitled The Absurdity of Life and Love, he wrote: What is life but a string of cycles of momentary happiness and extended sadness; and a constant struggle and failed attempts to have a date? One moment you are happy being single and alone, watching a movie in a cinema, assured that you can have all of your popcorn and that no one will snatch some, but the next thing you know, there’s a couple torridly kissing nearby, and you’re jealous. He was born as a Catholic; he was, however, not
a religious man. For him, religion did not also give him the answers. Actually, he despised religion, as reflected in his book Food and Religion: Religion, in a nutshell, is just a set of dietary laws. Eat this or that, and you’ll wind up barbecued in hell; Catholicism has more tolerance on this matter, though. But all religions teach the same: do this, and you’ll go to heaven; do that, and you’ll go to hell. Can’t we do good things not for its reward? Can’t we avoid doing bad things not for its punishment? Karl Marx once said: “Religion is the opium of the masses.” Indeed: religion makes one so high to the point of seeing the image of Christ in a burnt bibingka. Attempting to finally pull the trigger, Albert remembered a conversation he had earlier that day with Fr. Soren, which, incidentally, was the very first time he had a talk with a priest: “I’m lonely. Very lonely,” Albert said. “Why, my son?” the priest asked. “I don’t know. It seems that there is a gaping hole in my heart, in my very being. I know so many things, but I feel like I don’t know anything.” “That’s the problem. You know too much. And you depend too much on what you know.” “Does life have any meaning? If yes, what is the meaning of it all?” “Albert, I cannot give all the answers to you, but let me ask one thing: Do you believe in God?” “I refuse to believe in a God who does not know how to dance.” “I see. You’re a Nietzschean. Did Nietzsche know how to dance?” “Uh—“ “Well, I take that as a no. Following your logic, I won’t believe in Nietzsche, too. But the question of God doesn’t operate in that line of reasoning. Albert, I myself doesn’t know if God really dances. But I believe He does. Faith is not knowing, Albert. It is believing.” “But if only He would give me a sign! Like, making me see Him dance to the beat of Gimme Gimme. Or, making me win the lottery!” “Do you play the lottery?” “No.”
“Then, how would you win?” “That’s His problem! He can do miracles, can’t He?” “Yes, He can. But, you cannot demand it. When you ask something from Him, you cannot just say, ‘Gimme this, gimme that, gimme gimme gimme!’ He doesn’t do it that way, Albert. God doesn’t dance that way.” No! He doesn’t dance! Albert broke the reminiscence. I’m pulling the trigger now. I’m pulling the trigger now— The gun clicked. As fate would have it, Albert had forgotten to load the gun. Frightened, Albert involuntarily threw it. A click of a gun, Albert said to himself, is more frightening than a gunshot. A gunshot is the sound of death; a click of a gun, on the other hand, is the sound of death being around, lurking, looming. What is life, then, but constantly hearing that click? A ray of light peeked through the window. It was already morning. He looked outside and saw a leaf falling, drifting through the wind, as if dancing to the music of the singing of the birds. Perhaps, he said to himself, I need to be like that leaf. He, then, took his journal and wrote: Today, I attempted to commit suicide. I did it not because I was tired of living: I did it because, ironic as it seems, I was afraid of dying. I was so afraid of dying—of death grabbing my life stealthily—that I wanted to do the job with my own hands. Unlike the question of the chair my philosophy professor once asked, the question of God does not revolve around His existence or whether or not He exists: It is whether or not you believe in Him. Do I believe in God? I am not sure, but I feel that I must. I have to; otherwise, how could I take away this fear of death? Does He dance? If He does, then, perhaps, His dance has this unknown, complicated choreography. Albert closed his journal and decided to go out for a walk. While walking, for some moments, he felt like he was Rilke, the poet he idolized, and, alluding a line from one of Rilke’s poems, he thought: I am grasped by what I cannot grasp.
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I heard claps. I heard laughs. It seemed everybody was having fun. I hit something and I felt someone scurry towards me, then I opened my eyes. What’s going on? Am I flying? Do I have wings? How could it be? I lifted my head to see who grabbed me. It was Torrey, my best friend. She seemed happy. “Hey Torrey, what’s going on? How could this be happening? How could we be butterflies? Then she replied, “Hey, how do you know me?” “What? You’re my best friend. How could I not recognize you? We grew up together. I know everything about you. Now, tell me what’s going on?” She stopped and told me, “You don’t know me. Nobody does. Even I myself don’t know who I am really. We only know people through how society defines us, Claire.” She left me startled and puzzled. The breeze changed drastically. It’s very powerful that nobody could escape. I screamed and screamed, and then mother woke me up. It was just only a dream. I strolled, thinking of what I’d dreamt of. It seemed real. It was so strange. I sat underneath the big mango tree. While I was filled with curiosity, a mango leaf suddenly fell before me. It was not an ordinary one, something was written on it. “All the world is a stage.” “What does it mean?” I asked myself. “Just think about who you were without culture and laws.”
The voice came from above me, so I looked up. It was a bird. A bird could talk? I was debilitated that I couldn’t even move, couldn’t shout but my ears were very active. Is it real or surreal? But I just let it be. “Your mother taught you what must and must not to do. If you disobeyed, you will receive sanctions,” the bird continued. “We play the roles what society has given to us. Our culture taught us what to do. Follow the script and act excellently to amaze your audience,” an old man passed by and said. “He is right. But sometimes actors and actresses improve themselves through the roles they have chosen. Pretending was their expertise but they learned from that and applied it to themselves,” a rabbit suddenly interrupted. “Who was he?” I asked. “Irvin Goffman. Why bother? You don’t exist anyway,” a bird talked again. The man was gone. The bird flew. The rabbit disappeared. The trees were dancing with the wind. “Run! Run! Run!” I heard another voice but now from behind me. “What happened?” I asked. “The hunters are looking for their prey. Stop daydreaming. Run and save your life. Damn reindeer!” Despite of things bothering me, I was once a butterfly, then a human and now a reindeer! Even if I don’t understand, I followed the animals. With my four legs, I ran as fast as I could.
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