NEWS 03
Volume 29 Numbers 05-06 November 12, 2015 | Thursday
COLLEGE BRIEFS The official list of nominees for deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Dentistry (CD), and School of Health Sciences (SHS) was released on the first week of October. Nominees for CAS deanship are Dr. Leonardo R. Estacio Jr. from the Department of Behavioral Sciences, and Dr. Celestina P. Boncan and Asst. Prof. Carl Marc L. Ramota, both from the Department of Social Sciences. Meanwhile, the School of Health Sciences (SHS) has three nominees: Dr. Salvador Isidro B. Destura, Dr. Genelyn R. Herrera and Dr. Filedito D. Tandico. CD has only one nominee, Dr. Maria Teresita C. Lara. Qualifications for being nominated as a dean include commitment to academic freedom and the values and ideals of the university, distinction and outstanding academic credentials in his/her chosen field of expertise, leadership qualities and administrative or managerial capability, consideration of resource generation as an important function of deanship, and lastly, willingness to serve.
Manilakbayan ng Mindanao arrives in Manila PATRICIA ANNE LACTAO GUERRERO
Around 700 Lumads, peasant leaders and human rights activists from Mindanao participated in this year’s Manilakbayan ng Mindanao as they arrived in Manila on October 26 to raise awareness on the social injustices being experienced by marginalized sectors in the region, particularly the indigenous peoples (IP). Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2015 is a people’s caravan and mobilization, starting from the rural communities of Mindanao and heading to Metro Manila to seek immediate action on the Lumad killings and the pressing issue of militarization, including plunder by big mining and agri-plantations. This year’s Manilakbayan started on October 18 in Surigao City with a starting number of 400 Lumads accompanied by representatives of human rights groups and joined by hundreds of other delegates from South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Davao City, Davao del Norte, and Bukidnon. NNARA-Youth UP Manila, ASAPKatipunan, and various progressive student organizations in UP Manila staged a hero’s welcoming of the “Manilakbayanis” as they stopped by the PGH Oblation Plaza on October 26 at around 9 am before going to Liwasang Bonifacio, Mendiola, and UP Diliman. Consequently, Manilakbayan is camped at “Kampuhan sa UP Diliman”
on October 26-31, and at Liwasang Bonifacio on November 1-20.
Account on continuing attacks According to Kalumbay-Northern Mindanao, 144 Lumads have been victims of extrajudicial killings, 40,000 Lumads were displaced from their communities, and 87 Lumad schools are suffering from various forms of military attacks. “[The] gathering is to register the calls of the Lumads that there are continuing attacks on our schools, communities, and the harassment of people,” said Vennel Chenfoo, coordinator of Kabataan Partylist-Northern Mindanao. In a statement released by Bay Ali Indayla, secretary-general of Kawagib Moro Human Rights, military operations such as the counterinsurgency measures implemented in the Lumad communities have disturbed their way of life by arming them and making them join the paramilitary groups.
In addition, 700 Lumads from Talaingod, Kapalong in Davao del Norte, and San Fernando, Bukidnon have arrived in Manila since May this year. Likewise, another 165 more Lumads displaced by alleged militarization from Barangay White Culaman, Kitaotao in Bukidnon arrived at Haran Evacuation Center, a facility run by the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP). According to Jhong Manzon, secretarygeneral of Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organization in Southern Mindanao, unless the military pull out its troops, the Lumads vowed not to return to their communities. “By allowing the military to oppress innocent civilians, it is becoming clearer that the government does not answer to the need of its constituents, and that the only answer to this problem is for the people to unite in resistance and forging of their own future,” Manzon added.
ORGANEWS In celebration of its 43rd year, Tau Omega Mu Fraternity and its Ladies’ Circle, in partnership with the University Student Council, will conduct W.I.S.H (What If Someone Helped?), an outreach program to bring the gift of happiness to children on November 14. The UP Manila Dramatista presents Dramarathon 2015: “Wag Kang Matakot Matakot” on November 4-6, 2015, 4:30PM-6:00PM and 6:30PM8:00PM in the Dr. Romeo B. Espiritu Auditorium of Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal, Philippine General Hospital, Ermita, Manila. For tickets, contact 0927 225 5485.
Members of League of Filipino Students, Gabriela Women’s Party-Metro Manila, and Bahaghari LGBT Organization trooped to the Bureau of Immigration head office on October 21, 2015 to denounce the deportation order issued to US Marine Serviceman Joseph Scott Pemberton. The groups called for Pemberton’s conviction, adding that the latter already admitted to brutally strangling Laude. The deportation order was issued on September 16, but was only announced on October 20. Photo by Ronilo Mesa