02 NEWS
Volume 28 Numbers 13-14 March 30, 2015 | Monday
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UP System commemorates Tejada’s death
COLLEGE BRIEFS
Students slam skyrocketing tuition nationwide ARTHUR GERALD BANTILAN QUIRANTE
Students from the University of the Philippines (UP) System staged a blackout protest and a walkout for education and justice following a week-long commemoration of the 2nd death anniversary of the late UP Manila student Kristel Tejada, March 9-13. In line with this, University of the Philippines-Manila (UPM) students held their own recognition for Tejada who committed suicide allegedly due to incapability of paying her tuition fee. Local movement On March 9-12, UPM University Student Council (UPM USC) posted signages across Rizal Hall (RH) and Gusaling Andres Bonifacio (GAB) stating “No Money, No Entry,” “One death is one too many,” and “Never Forget” to highlight their campaign. Consequently, organizations,
various student fraternities, and
sororities spearheaded a mobilization at the RH lobby last March 13 followed by a walkout to Padre Faura to organize a street protest and voice out the root cause that may have triggered Tejada to take her own life. According to UPM USC, the deaths of Tejada and Rosanna Sanfuego, a Cagayan State University freshman, manifest the gross neglect of the present administration to basic human rights. They also added that the worsening state of skyrocketing tuition and other school fees (OSFs) in both private and public higher education institutions, legitimized by state policies and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) memorandums, pushes the Filipino youth to abandon their dreams. Lastly, the USC called out for UPM community to stand in solidarity with a nation that tirelessly seeks the truth
and accountability, as well as link arms in an active quest for genuine justice and lasting peace. United action Aside from UP Manila, six other UP units across the country joined calls for accessible education to seek justice for Kristel and her family, and to prevent any untoward incident similar to Tejada and Sanfuego from happening again. UP Diliman, UP Los Banos, UP Cebu, UP Mindanao, UP Visayas, and UPV Tacloban took part in the nationwide blackout protest and walkout for justice and truth on March 13, in solidarity with the youth and the people condemning the present administration for injustice to the Mamasapano bloodshed and the continuing manifestation of commercialized education in the country.
Iskolar ng bayan, nagpakamatay dahil sa hindi mabayarang matrikula
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Student Council, in partnership with the Office of Student Services and Gender Program, presented USAPANG BEKI – The LGBT Monologues, at the CAS Little Theater on March 24. The said forum tackled stories and issues regarding the culture of homosexuals. The College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP) Student Council, in collaboration with UP Manila Office of Student Affairs and University Gender Steering Committee, organized “Strength in Adversity and Disability,” an educational talk aiming to raise awareness in the UP Manila community about the contributions of women with disabilities in modern society. The event held on March 19 at the PGH Social Hall featured Christine Balaguer, a renowned model and beauty queen with hearing deficiency, and the story of how she overcame the challenges in the modelling industry due to her disability.
ARIES RAPHAEL REYES PASCUA
Isang mag-aaral ng Cagayan State University (CSU) ang nagpakamatay sa kadahilanang hindi umano siya nakakuha ng midterm examination na dulot ng kakulangang pinansiyal ng kanilang pamilya. Kinilala ang mag-aaral bilang si Rosanna Sanfuego, isang respiratory therapy student na nasa unang taon. Sa ulat ng pulisya, nagbigti si Rosanna sa kanilang bahay sa Abulug, Cagayan at agad na idineklarang patay. Sa ulat naman ng medico-legal, depresyon ang tinuturong dahilan ng pagpapakamatay ni Sanfuego. Ayon sa mga kamag-aral ni Rosanna, nagkukuwento umano ang dalaga ng kaniyang pagkagipit sa pera na nagbigay-daan upang hindi niya mabayaran ang kaniyang matrikula at tinutuluyan sa Tuguegarao. Sa kabila ng “no tuition fee policy” ng CSU, nagkaroon pa rin ng outstanding balance si Sanfuego na nagkakahalagang P3000 dahil sa other school fees (OSFs) na ginagamit umano sa pasilidad at serbisyo ng
unibersidad. Pagkawala ng “iskolar ng bayan” Nagpakamatay si Sanfuego ilang araw bago ang ikalawang anibersaryo ng pagkamatay ni Kristel Tejada ng University of the Philippines–Manila. Maaalalang sa parehong dahilan nagpakamatay si Tejada kaya’t tinawag ng ilang grupo ang kaso ni Sanfuego na “Kristel Tejada of Cagayan.” “Ngayon, may Kristel na rin dito sa Cagayan… dahil sa pagpapabaya ng estadong ito sa karapatan ng bawat isa sa edukasyon,” pahayag ni Liana Acuzar, chairperson ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Cagayan Valley. Ayon kay Prop. Roland Simbulan, propesor sa Department of Social Sciences (DSS) ng UP Manila, ang pagtataas umano ng matrikula ay nagpapakita ng sagad-sagarang komersyalisayon ng edukasyon at nagpapatunay sa tuluyang pagpanaw ng “iskolar ng bayan.”
Samantala, nagkaroon naman ng candle-lighting activity sa UP Manila noong Marso 6, 2015 bilang pag-aalala sa buhay nina Tejada at Sanfuego. Dinaluhan ito ng ilang mga organisasyon sa UP Manila tulad ng League of Filipino Students, National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates - Youth, Sigma Kappa Pi, Rise 4 Education Alliance, at Minggan-UP Manila. Nagsagawa rin ng walkout ang mga mag-aaral ng UP Manila noong Marso 13, 2015 bilang bahagi ng kanilang panawagan na bumaba si Aquino sa pagkapangulo. Kinondena rin dito ang walang habas na pagtaas ng matrikula sa mga pamantasan na naging mitsa ng pagpapakamatay nina Kristel at Rosanna.
ORGANEWS The Sigma Delta Pi Sorority presents “Victim Blaming, Stop the Shaming,” a forum to be held at the CAS Little Theater on March 30, 1-4pm. Guest speakers Kat Alano and Carla Ocampo will discuss ensuing sexual harassment in our society and will enlighten the audience regarding rape culture. The UP Pharmaceutical Association Student Council (UPPhA SC) brings BULAGAAN 2015, a search for Mr. and Ms. Pharmacy with the theme “Elementrios.” The event will happen at the Girl Scouts of the Philippines Building, Padre Faura Street on March 28.
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