STUDENTS’ LOST HOPE

JAN LATRELL DAVID

ews of the distribution of educational cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development headed by Erwin Tulfo motivated students and parents who were in dire need in terms of financial responsibilities to apply and flock the nearest satellite offices of the DSWD hoping to be blessed by bits of monetary aid from the government. While the intention may be good, it didn’t produce a favorable result, for the students of Tarlac State University and Tarlac Agricultural University were left in shock when an announcement was made, removing the eligibility of enrolled students from the aforementioned universities from the list of qualified recipients. What would be the reason?

The reason is that they are studying in state universities and colleges, therefore benefitting from the Republic Act 10931, known as the Free Tuition Act. The organizers must’ve thought that students from these universities would no longer need the money because they won’t pay for their tuition and demanded that some few who already received theirs before the restriction must refund the cash they had acquired.

Most of the eligible and indigent students based on the guidelines released by the DSWD who applied for the said cash assistance were also the same students who are studying in state universities to have a better chance of finishing college due to limited funds. They opted to enroll in state universities where free tuition is accessible simply because the non-payment of tuition would help them appropriate their cash to other equally important matters such as bills, basic commodities, and anything relevant for their survival. As stated by none other than the principal sponsor of the Free Tuition Act himself, former Senator Bam Aquino: "Many of them face the choice between working to help their family or sacrificing the education of other siblings so that one may be sent to college."

In addition, tuition is not the single burden of students and parents. In general, pursuing education is not only dependent on tuition fees. Some students would need cash to sustain their daily needs when going to school. They pay for transportation, for their educational materials, usage of facilities and equipment necessary for learning, and other requirements. Some who live too far from their schools would see it necessary to rent a dormitory. These all need money. Not to mention the rising prices of almost everything due to inflation. The cash aid would’ve been a great help for those indigent and underprivileged en- rolled in those two universities in Tarlac to lessen their burden in paying for the above-mentioned bills and fees

Removing their eligibility to apply for the supposed cash assistance defeats the purpose of the cash assistance itself, all because majority of those in need of it are in state universities and colleges. It is like saying only students enrolled in private schools are qualified to receive this cash grant. Majority of students enrolled in private institutions are clearly well off and have the means to provide for their educational needs, while the remaining few rely on scholarships from private educational institutions they are currently enrolled. Would an indigent, poor, or financially challenged student dare to enroll in a private educational institution? Probably yes, but the most obvious and quick answer would be no.

Local organizers of this distribution of financial aid should rethink of their decision not to include bonafide students of TSU and TAU from receiving such, and it is but a contradiction of their primary purpose – DSWD’s help for students in crisis which they can use for their needs in terms of education, as what Tulfo himself stated in his video announcement that gained millions of views from hopeful students and parents.

Due to a challenging life characterized by high costs of living and golden prices of almost everything, a vast majority of students struggle to look for alternatives for work and parental sustenance such as scholarships and cash grants from the government. Agencies and departments should look deeper into the situation before deciding and implementing guidelines to see if their action would indeed help those in need instead of becoming a beacon of false hope for people whose only want is to reach the peak of their dreams. nswering the call of journalism in a country with a long history of assaulting and slaying the bearers of the said profession indeed requires a lot of courage. In the recent news, another journalist in the name of Percival Mabasa also known as “Percy Lapid” was killed by an assassin’s bullet which led to domestic and international outcry for expedient justice. This incident is a strike to the press which only do their main task in investigating any kind of anomaly existing in our government and society and informing the people on these pertinent facts which they deserve to know. Thus, this case of journalist being killed is a peculiar instance in a democratic setting and a savage move in attempt to conceal the truth through the use of violent means. In his death, it proves once again that in this country those who used pen instead of sword in fighting against injustices, corruption, and usurpation, should expect that they may end up mixing their own blood to the very ink they used to unleash the truth.

HHindi lamang bagyo o pandemya ang nagbibigay pasakit sa ating bansa ngayon. Higit na mas umaaray ang mga Pilipino sa tumataas na presyo ng mga pangkaraniwang bilihin dulot ng paghina ng halaga ng piso na sintomas ng implasyon. Ang isyung ito ang may pinakamalaking aspetong nag-uugnay sa kagutuman at kahirapan at ang mga nasa laylayan at ordinaryong Pilipino ang lubos na naaapektuhan. Hindi lang basta-basta ang gagawing paghihigpit ng sinturon ng bawat isa. Ngunit paano pa natin hihigpitan ang ating sinturon kung ito ay sagad at nakakasakal na?

Lalo pang nanghina ang halaga ng piso na nagkakahalagang P58.97 sa kalakalan ng merkado ngayong Huwebes. Ayon sa International Monetary Fund (IMF), ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ay patuloy na babagal dahil sa problemang pinansyal na kinakaharap natin. Ang mababang halaga ng piso kontra dolyar ay nagpapahina rin ng “purchasing power” ng piso lalo sa pagbili ng mga inaangkat na produkto tulad ng langis. Kaya sa pamasahe pa lang ay nabubutas na ang bulsa ng mga drayber at pasahero na umaasa lang sa pagsakay sa mga pampublikong sasakyan. Kasabay nito ay ang pagtaas din ng “transportation costs” ng mga pagkain na inaangkat tulad ng mga gulay na galing sa Baguio, karne ng baboy, at bigas. Ang mga Pilipino ang talo rito, sa madaling salita, ang mahinang piso ay parusa sa importers o sinumang gumagastos ng dolyar at biyaya naman iyon sa mga exporters na kumikita ng dolyar.

Sa unang tingin ay may magandang dulot ito sa mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) at sa kanilang mga pamilya. Bagama’t malaki ang palit ng remittances ay hindi pa rin maikakaila ang pagkamahal-mahal na presyo ng mga bilihin sa Pilipinas—mula sa litro ng diesel na halos P100 na sa ibang lugar, lumolobong singil sa kuryente, lumiliit na serving ng mga pagkain, at pagaan...

The pen of journalism in this country has long been stained by the blood of those who use it. In fact, our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal who chose to fight using correspondence have endeavored show to other European countries on how oppressive the Spanish government was in the Philippines - and the cost of this attempt was his own life. In 1983, a former Korean war correspondent and senator, Ninoy Aquino Jr. who was known for his bravery in opposing the iron tight rule of the Marcos Regime tragically died in assassination. However, the most shocking which made headlines globally was in 2009, when 39 journalists who tries to cover the election in Ampatuan, Maguindanao which was prominent at that time for having violent related cases every election were ambushed and mercilessly killed by the armed men of Ampatuan family – this is the Maguindanao Massacre. Apparently, just this year three more journalists died before Percy Lapid, these are Renato Blanco, Frederico Gempesaw, and Jaynard Angeles, this tally was according to UNESCO. All of these are just a few in a long list of similar cases which have similar patterns. Whenever someone dared to investigate and disclose a matter regarding corruption of the officials in the government, injustices, usurpation of some twisted politicians, and anomalies in the system, they usually received threats, harassment, and worst possible scenario is the same as the fate of those aforementioned

Bloody Ink

JAN KENNETH ARCILLA

names. Cases like these were a proof that the savagery of those desperate in concealing the truth is indeed beyond our imagination, however, those people who orchestrated these fiascos and murders must remember that the truth will not be forever concealed, as independence was still gained after Rizal’s death, democracy was still restored after Ninoy’s assassination, and as election still continues after the death of those victims, because change and truth will always inevitably prevail regardless if its is written in a bloody ink.

As John F. Kennedy once said that correspondents bear heavy responsibility in informing the public on the things they deserve to know. However, this responsibility of the press will be more exacerbated due to the possibility of disclosing information about the corruption, injustices, and sometimes cruelty of those who are in power, which may toll their own lives. According to Transparency International this 2021, the Philippines was at 117th spot, out of 180 countries in the whole world regarding corruption index; Being a country inflicted by rampant corruption equivalents to a lot of things to disclose to the public. And with this, the press in our country is the one who pay the heavy price, a total of 113 journalist were killed just in a span of 2 decades according to UNESCO. With all the blood and lives they have sacrificed in the search for truth and for the sake of public service we can now see that our country’s wall of information and history is most of the time written using the ink of truth with a mixture of blood of those who risked their lives in the name of journalism. Unfortunately, majority of these cases are still pending and sometimes forgotten. Recently, in the 13th year anniversary of Maguindanao Massacre the families of victims still cries out for justice, but this is not the only case which still asking for an expedient justice, there are a lot more.

The justice system in our country is indeed as a turtle’s speed, slow whenever the cases involve wealthy and powerful individuals which unfortunately most of the time, the opponents of our journalists. Despite this, the battery of murder cases targeting journalist is reprehensible considering our country as a democratic one. In our constitution’s preamble states that we ask for the Almighty God in order for us to build a just and humane society, but with all these ruthless measures of some in concealing their shameless conduct truly a humane society? Our journalists work to promote the common good, yet they were murdered in doing so. We have emphasized that we should secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and regime of truth and justice, but those who search for truth for the benefit and welfare of the Filipinos were now also asking for justice. Sadly, the vistas of having none of these murder cases involving journalists is still far from us, for as long as our country ranked high in corruption index, the bloody pen of journalism will continue to pass and will still inscribe truth with an ink mixed with sacrificial blood of those who heed to the call of journalism.

In the death of Percy Lapid, we should not ask who pulled the trigger but who paid for the bullet, and to all other journalist who died in doing their profession. They die for the sake of public welfare and service, but they were obliterated by the malevolent forces in our country in attempt of concealing their shameless deeds. Their actuation is reprehensible and worthy of indignation of the Filipino people who lives in a democratic country. Those masterminds with all these cases of murders must bear in mind that there is no hidden truth and for as long as the truth and change come in our country the sacrifices of all the journalists who have spilled their blood to the ink and pen of journalism will still pays off. [In the end of the day we can say they die honorable.

saan aabot ang piso mo...

...nang pagaan na grocery bag. Hanggang pangako na rin ata ang dalawampung pisong bigas?

Ang mapait na reyalidad na ito ay dama natin mula ulo hanggang paa at pati na rin sikmura. Paano pa kaya ang mga nasa laylayan at mga manggagawa na kakarampot ang sahod? Paano pa nila maitatawid ang pang araw-araw nilang pangangailangan? Kulang na kulang pa rin kung ang bente pesos o singkwenta na pang-kain ay pagkakasiyahin. Hindi na nga makakabili ng tatlong itlog ang bente pesos dahil mula sa anim na piso noon ay siyam na piso na ito ngayon. Pagbili ng de lata ay pahirapan na rin dahil sardinas ay mahirap na ring abutin. Hindi na nga makakabili ng dalawang pirasong fishball ang ating piso. Taliwas naman ito ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) na ang disiotso pesos kada kain ay sapat na para sa isang tao. Hindi naman ata ito nakaangkla sa katotohanan dahil ang bawat takal nga ng kanin sa karinderya ay kinse pesos na. Saan naman aabot ang tres pesos? Toyo? Hindi ba’t mas lalo atang mapapagastos sa pagpapagamot kung sakaling magkasakit sa sobrang katipiran? Tuluyan na ata tayong magdidildil ng asin habang ang mga kawani ng gobyerno’y masarap na pagkain ang nilalantakan.

Nararapat lamang na patuloy nating gisingin ang gobyerno. Dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng bilihin, ang ating lipunan at buhay naman ang pababa. Hindi naman mga pulitiko ang magdurusa, dahil kung magpagpapatuloy ang ganitong sistema, ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino ang mabibigatan at patuloy na mahihirapan. Kahit araw-araw ka pa makipag-buno ng braso sa hirap at krisis kung mababa pa rin ang pasahod, umaasa pa rin tayo sa import ng mga dayuhan kahit kaya naman ng bansa natin magprodyus, at kung wala pa ring komprehensibo at kongkretong plano upang sugpuin ang sakit na ito, baka ang “inflation” ay tuluyang mauwi sa “recession”. Sana tuluyan nating maramdaman ang pag-unlad at tunay na pagkakaisa. Dahil sa lipunan na ito, ang mga nasa laylayan at mga ordinaryong mamamayan ang nag-iisa.

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