The GUIDON - September 2019 Martial Law Special

Martial Law Special SEPTEMBER 2019 EDITORS: TRISTAN CHAN AND ANDREA MIKAELA LLANES LAYOUT ARTISTS: JASON T. MARIANO AND NEIL R. REYES TOP PHOTOS: ARCHIVED FROM THE GUIDON'S OCTOBER 1984 ISSUE BOTTOM PHOTOS: ZOEY IGNACIO, REGINE SALUMBRE, AND ZACH G. GARCIA

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Martial Law Special

BY THE NUMBERS INFOGRAPHIC

Martial Law Data sourced from the Martial Law Museum

6 OUT OF 10 FILIPINO FAMILIES suffered from poverty by the end of the Marcos regime.

POVERTY INCIDENCE THROUGH THE YEARS

41.0% 43.8% 51.5% 58.9% 1965

1971

75% Food prices increased from Php 100 in 1978 to Php 329.1 in 1986.

The price of non-food products also tripled in the last decade of Marcos’ rule, jumping from Php 100 to Php 387.3.

1975

1985

IN TOTAL WAS DEDUCTED FROM THE THE DAILY WAGES OF SKILLED AND UNSKILLED WORKERS from urban communities accumulated over the course of the Marcos era.

Farmers suffered a 30% drop in their real wages when Marcos was in power. Profit worth Php 100 in 1962 decreased to Php 70 in 1986.

IT HAS been nearly half a century since the day former dictator Ferdinand Marcos seized every television and radio set across the country to declare the national imposition of Martial Law. September 21, 1972 will forever be etched onto the minds of Filipinos as the day that marked an era of extreme censorship, corruption and human rights abuses. Barred from a variety of media and free thought, Filipinos were treated as prisoners in their own country.

On November 8, 2016, the Supreme Cou r t approved the Duterte administration’s motion to bur y Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani despite opposition from some government members and civilians who strongly condemned the proposal. Ten days after the executive ruling to grant the former dictator a hero’s burial, the Marcos family stole away under the public eye and rushed a covert funeral.

To this day, Marcos remains buried alongside recognized Filipino heroes and martyrs of freedom. The Supreme Court’s decision and the Marcos family’s continued success in recent national elections has made it apparent that the atrocities of Martial Law are in danger of not only being forgotten, but outright rewritten.

THE POLITICS OF MEMORY The country has witnessed the aggressive resurgence of the Marcoses into the public consciousness in the past

four years. In addition to their successful bid for Ferdinand Marcos’ “heroic burial” in 2016, the Marcos family clinched seats of power in the Senate and Congress, following the most recent national elections. Senator Imee Marcos notably urged critics of her family’s re-involvement in politics to “move on” from the atrocities committed during her late father’s dictatorship.

Aside from the Marcoses recent campaigns to bring their family into relevance, English Department professor Jocelyn Martin, PhD, mentions former edifices of the Marcos family that continue to stand and twist history in their favor. The so-called “Malacañang of the North” was the former residence of the Marcos family that was converted into a presidential museum. “That’s where you see their narrative of their presidency.

Everything there was successful.

Nothing about Martial Law was mentioned [in the museum],” she explains. According to Martin, allowing these institutions to stand helps shape national history and how it is taught in favor of the Marcoses. “We might think that memory is random, but it can be made. It can be fabricated, institutionalized. It can be canonized,” she warns.

The recent success of the Marcos family in haunting the country’s affairs continue to be exacerbated by social media pages that have shared false statistics and reports that glorify the Philippines under the Marcos regime. These manipulations and

distortions of history, commonly referred to as “ historical revisionism,” serve to further propagate the falsehoods that supporters of the Marcos family are reported to rely upon.

The online Martial Law Museum (MLM), a digital information hub on the history, data, and figures related to Martial Law, was recently established to combat these historical distortions.

Political Science professor and MLM administrator Arjan Aguirre explains the museum’s three goals: “Mag-aral (To study) means to make available the materials about ML and educate the people. Magturo (To teach) means that education has to be proactive. Materials must be turned into modules for the teachers. Manindigan (To take a stand) stands for a call to action.”

Fur ther more, A g uir re explains that the MLM seeks to be as objective as possible by moving past the narrow “Aquino vs. Marcos” framework of understanding by narrating Martial Law history from multiple viewpoints. “It’s a collective story… it shouldn’t be just one generation [or] political group dominating,” he says. Aguirre also mentions the danger of having one generation’s story being imposed on another generation’s perspective of Martial Law. “Is this the story of one group or for the nation?”

As for the youth, their indignation towards the attempts to revise the Martial Law narrative and the Duterte administration’s assent to the Marcos’ re-

emergence in national politics has been displayed through mass demonstrations along national avenues and even on basketball courts. The current generation does not only fight to remember history, but also to prevent the facts from succumbing to revisionism as well.

SOWN SEEDS The University’s student organizations ser ve as the lifeblood for student activism, keeping the fervent battle against historical revisionism alive within the campus. Between mobilizations in response to media censorship and collective stances in support of civil rights, many student groups within the Ateneo actively resist oppression in all its forms.

Matan gl aw in, a ca mpus publication founded during the time of Martial Law, is one such organization that acknowledges the importance of their rebellious roots. The organization was in itia lly established as a “mosquito press,” a term used to describe small publications that dauntlessly criticized the Martial Law government amidst harsh media censorship and journalistic suppression.

Matanglawin AY 2019-2020 Editor-in-Chief Caila Noche shares that the era of Martial Law played a pivotal role in the publication’s history as it helped in “shaping [Matanglawin's] branding and journalistic aims.” In line with this mission, the publication continues to release special issues about the

The GUIDON | September 2019

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Haunted by history

BY CAT AQUINO, JAY C. MUNSAYAC, AND MANOLO G. SOLIVEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY CARMELA B. MASIGLAT

human rights violations that Filipinos suffered under Marcos’ dictatorship. One such issue is titled “Bawal Makalimot,” which retells the stories of Ateneans who were tortured and killed during Martial Law. Noche explains that the purpose of publishing these issues is to “keep the memory of these events alive [and] to be sure they don’t slip back into history or become misconstrued.”

A nother youth g roup that attempts to quash the ongoing trend of Martial Law revisionism is Panday Sining Katipunan, an unaccredited student organization in Ateneo that asserts its use of art and literature to “promote a culture of active social involvement” within the campus. Panday Sining Secretary General Elise Ofilada stresses that the voice of the Ateneo student community is integral in sparking constructive criticism and positive social change. “Many of us attempt to bring back or revive the spirit of militancy ng mga kabataan noong panahon ni Marcos... I think it’s the best way we remember the time of Martial Law. Yes, it was a time when grave yung human rights abuso, grabe yung estado, but it was also the peak of resistance from the Filipino people,” Ofilada says.

[Many of us attempt to bring back or revive the youth’s spirit of militancy seen at the time of Marcos... I think it’s the best way we remember the time of Martial Law. Yes, it was a time when the abuse of human rights were grave

and when the state was cruel, but it was also the peak of resistance from the Filipino people].

Among other things, Panday Sining Katipunan has been critical of the University and its supposed ties w ith the Marcoses. Ofilada emphasizes the need for accountability on the administration’s part, especially with regard to the underly ing inconsistencies of their stances. She explains that although the University administration claims to support anti-revisionist Martial Law initiatives such as the ‘Never Again’ and ‘No to Martial Law’ movements, they also “get immediate Marcos members into its campus as though it’s no big deal.”

WARNINGS IN THE ECHOES The irony of the University’s stance against Mar tial Law recently manifested itself in an egregious incident within t he ca mpus g rou nds. La st April 4 , 2019, Irene MarcosAraneta attended the opening of the A reté’s A mphitheater.

The daughter of Ferdina nd Marcos was invited on behalf of Yael Buencamino, the Areté’s former executive director. The incident only became public in the succeeding days, when pictures of Marcos-A raneta posing outside A reté made rounds on social media.

Uproar within Ateneo soon followed, as the Sangg unian released a statement condemning the incident. The st udent gover nment ca lled

Marcos-Araneta’s presence a “vehement mockery to Martial Law sur vivors and martyrs.”

A s e p a r ate s t ate me nt b y various members of the Ateneo communit y a lso petitioned for a for ma l apolog y f rom the Universit y. On April 14 , Un iver sit y P resident Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ released a statement expressing regret for what had transpired and a n nou nc i n g t he volu nta r y resignation of Buencamino.

While Villarin’s statement m i g ht h a ve s i g n a le d t he e nd of t h i s c ont r o ve r s y, pu bl ic at te nt ion to w a rd s the invitation may have also brought to light that the Areté’s Amphitheater is named after Ignacio B. Gimenez. Ignacio B. Gimenez is the husba nd of Fe R o a G i me ne z , t he for mer Ma laca ña ng Socia l S ec re t a r y du r i n g M a rcos ’ administration. In Ja nua r y 2 016 , t he Gi menez fa m i ly was off icially recognized by the Sa ndig a nbaya n to have acquired a part of the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth.

Ateneo’s t ies w it h t he Marcoses should not be tolerated and can be considered quite embarrassing, especially since the recent incidents are not the first of their kind. Back in 2014, former First Lady Imelda Marcos was invited as a guest of honor to the 40th anniversary of the Ateneo Scholarship Fund. Villarin also issued an apology for this event, stating, “I would like to assure you that we in the administration have

learned our lesson to be more mindful of those we invite to our celebrations.” Unfortunately, it seems like the administration has not learned from their mistakes.

The administration’s previous interactions with the Marcoses contradicts its own advocacy to combat historical revisionism.

The school's condemnation of Martial Law's atrocities will prove hypocritical if it continues to af f iliate w ith the ver y individuals it speaks out against.

TORCHES FROM BONFIRES While the University may have failed to uphold the integrity of its stances against Martial Law and its perpetrators, it still possesses an institutional platform and responsibility to continue opposing the historical revision of Martial Law. Where political statements may dilute and administrative judgements may falter, the Ateneo’s students, faculty, and alumni community must continue to do its part in defending the truth.

On the 47th anniversary of Martial Law, we must commemorate the heroes who fought for our liberty by standing against tyrants who urge us to look away from the lessons of our history. Protests, critical literature, and performance art are only some of the many ways we can demonstrate our struggle against the suppression of our national memory. For as long as we fight to remember the truths of our past, we move a step closer towards understanding how history might never have to repeat itself again.

Yes, it was a time when the abuse of human rights were grave, and when the state was cruel, but it was also the peak of resistance from the Filipino people.

ELISE OFILADA PANDAY SINING KATIPUNAN SECRETARY GENERAL

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Martial Law Special

No room for revisions: Martial law in the academe

BY ANDREA MIKAELA LLANES ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREA GRANDA

To combat ignorance and apathy, educators instill in us why we must never forget Martial Law. WHILE THERE has been both boon and bane to Martial Law over the years, former President Ferdinand Marcos’s 10-year imposition of Martial Law has been dubbed as one of the “darkest chapters” of Philippine history.

During the implementation of Martial Law from 1972 to 1981, all government powers were transferred to the former president. Aside from strict curfew hours and the crackdown on pr ivately- ow ned med ia facilities, Marcos was keen on detaining anyone he deemed as a threat—be it student activists or prominent politicians who did not take his side.

However, more appalling than mass censorship were the brutal human rights abuses during the era. According to A merican historian and educator Alfred Mc Coy, t here were 3 , 275 i nsta nces of ex t r ajud icia l k i l l i n g s , not w it h s t a nd i n g t hose u n recorded; 35 , 0 0 0 reports of torture, some almost resulting in death; and 70,000 cases of wrongful seizure and imprisonment D e s pite t h i s d at a , t he Martial Law narrative remains contentious. With a growing generation of students who did not experience Mar tial Law f irstha nd, we rely on educators who are presented with the formidable challenge of encouraging discourse and asking the right questions.

These educators shoulder the responsibility of asserting that history must be remembered, regardless of others’ assertions to “move on.”

ONE FOR THE BOOKS T he not ion t h at s ome students may be unaware of the atrocities of Martial Law is not unfounded. One could look to viral videos of millennials being in favor of Martial Law and articles wherein they insist that it may have not been “as bad as you thought.” These instances have compelled people to

question whether the current curriculum has done enough to shed light on Martial Law and the atrocities of the era.

In fac t, for mer senators have called histor y textbooks that discuss Marcos’ Martial Law “one-sided” due to the narrative’s tendency to only tackle the positive aspect of the Marcos regime. Sources have pointed out how circulated tex tbooks only discuss t he mer its of t he Ma rcos presidency, while another says nothing about the dictatorship at all.

In add ition, t here have been concerns from educators about how there is no “uniform standard” on how Martial Law is taught, thus allowing professors’ personal preference to affect how they discuss the topic.

This, then, prompted historians to push for a review of existing materials on Martial Law. In turn, the Department of Education assured the public that the K-12 curriculum makes it possible for students to form critical assessments of Martial Law. Educat ion Secreta r y Leonor Briones claims that the K-12 curriculum is currently “prov iding students w ith a balanced perspective of the [Marcos] dictatorship” from which they can then formulate their own opinions.

Ho w e v e r, D e v elo p m e nt St ud ies P rog ra m Direc tor Jayeel Cornelio, PhD notes that K-12’s goal to produce more competitive laborers downplays critical thinking and democratic participation. According to Cornelio, this emphasis on competitiveness has bred a post-Marcos generation of disillusioned youth.

When it comes to the college context, History Department Professor Janet Estella points out that while Martial Law is discussed in sixth grade under Philippine History, there is still a need to educate students at the university level.

“[A] g r ade si x s t udent will have a different level of understanding and analysis compared [to] when you are already a first-year or secondyea r college st udent,” she insists. “[A nd] there are a

DEFINING DESENSITIZATION Hav i n g es t abl ished t he lapses regarding Martial Law education in our curriculum, P re side nt of t he A te ne o Assembly Shawn Ang points out t he inaccessibi lit y to

"[Discussing Martial Law] would mean delving into Philippine culture that prefers to move on rather than to feel discomfort, or to prioritize pakikisama (camaraderie) rather than public humiliation of other people, even if it is well deserved in the context of justice."

JOSE TIROL OFFICE OF ADMISSION AND AID DIRECTOR

lot of topics to be covered in Ph i lippine h istor y a nd contempora r y issues t hat, most of the time, Martial Law can just be a ‘passing topic’ for some teachers because of the ‘pressure’ to cover all the topics in this subject.”

balanced education vis-à-vis the wide reach of social media as a major contributor to the mixed opinions on Martial Law. As a free and open space to initiate discussions, the internet serves as a platform w he re m i si n for m at ion i s

not p ol iced or cor rec ted often enough. “People have different ideas of what it was like back then, and this could be attributed to either their education, their social media circles, [or] the information fed to them by supposed ‘reputable’ sources,” he says.

The digital age has proven to be a double-edged sword in the face of remembering history.

W hile some have taken to social media to assert that they have not “moved on,” there are inevitably some millennials who have still expressed indifference about the gravity of Martial Law. “Honestly, it really came to a point that I got really frustrated as a History teacher,” Estella admits. “Seeing your former students share fake news and memes [on] social media is really heartbreaking.”

WITHIN OUR OWN The question for educators then becomes: In today’s day and age, is there still room for objective discourse and discussion on Marcos’ Martial Law in the four corners of the Ateneo’s classrooms?

For educators such as the Office of Admission and Aid Di rec tor Jose T i rol, Ph D, d iscussing Ma r tia l Law in class can still be “a daunting task,” as it becomes required of them to “take apart the role of social memory.” Tirol delves into this by mentioning how the historical memory of different institutions can be heav ily inf luenced by personal agendas. “[Discussing Martial Law] would mean delv ing into [a] Philippine culture that prefers to move on rather than to feel discomfor t, or to prioritize p a k i k i s a m a (c a m a r a de r ie) r a t he r t h a n [t he] p u bl ic humiliation of other people, even if it is well deserved in the context of justice,” he says.

Nonetheless, Tirol insists that teaching Martial Law is a necessity because “[young]

F i l ipi nos have to ident i f y what is merely a histor ica l anomaly that does not recur, or a historical pattern, which if a llowed to persist, on ly becomes more difficult to deal with over time.”

Lim shares these sentiments, simply say ing in assurance, “ There is a lways room to discuss Marcos’ Martial Law, whether in a history or a politics and governance course.”

Even programs such as the Introduction to Ateneo Cultures and Traditions (InTACT) have found ways to touch on the topic.

One such example would be the plenary talks on remembering t he E D S A People Power Revolution held by the Office of Student Services Director Cholo Mallillin. He calls the plenary talk a “necessary component” of InTACT, insisting that it “should be a part of the Ateneo tradition to always be vigilant of all forms of persecution and [abuses] of power, and be in the forefront of movements that fight against oppression and injustice.”

Struggles and setbacks set aside, one t h ing still r ings tr ue: Though our educators carr y the burden of shedding light on the Mar tial Law era i n a ba la nced ma n ner, t he p r e s e r v a t i o n o f n a t io n a l memor y relies on those who go beyond tex tbook def initions and periodical exams. Within our campuses, our professors a re at t he foref ront of integ rating Ma r tia l Law in the academe; however, there is only so much that they can discuss before leaving it up to their students to discern for themselves.

“As academics discussing Ma rcos’ Ma r t ia l Law, ou r objec tive is not to instill propaganda either pro or anti,” Lim concludes. “But [instead] to really educate students on why Martial Law happened, [t he] c i rc u m s t a nc e s t h at allowed it to happen, and [the] circumstances that can prevent it from happening again.”

THE OFFICI A L STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE ATENEO DE M A NIL A UNI V ERSIT Y

FURTHER W ITH THE TRUTH

VOL. XC NO. 2

SEPTEMBER 2019

LSOGC, Sanggu face financial restraints despite Php 1 M mental health subsidy

BY LEIKA GOLEZ

MENTAL WEALTH. Last September 24 to 28, 2018, the Loyola Schools Office of Guidance and Counseling (LSOGC) celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), one of the initiatives that will be funded by the budget. | PHOTO BY LOYOLA SCHOOLS OFFICE OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING

LAST SEMESTER, the Sanggunian conducted a plebiscite where a Php 1 million investment fund for mental health initiatives was approved by the student body in a landslide victory. This fund will be handled by the Sanggunian in cooperation with the Loyola Schools Office of Guidance and Counseling (LSOGC).

However, Sanggunian Commission on Mental Health (CMH) Co-Commissioner Kaina Sera Jose (2 BS PSY) stated that only the investment’s annual interest will be utilized for the mental health subsidies.

According to her, the investment has been estimated to gain an interest of Php 30,000 to Php 40,000 annually. She said that by using just the interest, the subsidy will be “sustainable enough” to continue in the following years.

Sera Jose added that the CMH has yet to discuss the specifics of the budget allocation. To explain the projects that the budget will be used for, she cited Section 3 of Sanggunian Resolution No. 3 of AY 2019-2020 which states that, “The created fund shall be used for various mental health projects and initiatives that benefit the population within the Loyola Schools, including but not limited to: [Check-ups], assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.”

“As of now, our vision is to provide [a] subsidy for indiv iduals who are most in need of therapy and medic at ion t h at t he L S O G C cannot prov ide,” she said.

SETTING A COURSE OF ACTION To explain the source of the fund, Sera Jose said that the Php 1 million investment came from the Sanggunian budget last school year. Moreover, the fund will only be officially constituted when the Mental Health Investment Fund Demand Collection Balance account opens—though CMH does not have a target date for this yet.

Section 3.1 of Sanggunian Resolution No. 3 also states that the Sanggunian’s newly formed Mental Health Policy Technical Working Group will be responsible for handling the overall investment funds.

Sera Jose said that the Technical Working Group will be comprised of various members from the Sanggunian, namely representatives from the CMH, the Office of the Vice President, and each Loyola School’s Sanggunian. The respective presidents of student organizations Ateneo Peers and Ateneo Psyche will be included in the group as well.

Aside from this, Sera Jose added that throughout the CMH’s planning for the fund’s distribution, they will also be consulting with the LSOGC for their “expertise in developing effective solutions to existing problems related to mental health.”

“As of now, our vision is to provide subsidy for individuals who are most in need of therapy and medication that the LSOGC cannot provide.”

KAINA SERA JOSE COMMISSION ON MENTAL HEALTH CO-COMMISSIONER

will charge around Php 3,500 for one session and that even the least expensive rates range from Php 2,000 to Php 2,500.

Mae,* a student who recovered from severe clinical depression, said that her LSOGC counselor referred an off-campus psychiatrist for her diagnosis. When she regularly visited the psychiatrist, she spent Php 3,000 per session and had to purchase “pricey” medications.

With that, she said that it could help to allocate a portion of the budget for hiring an on-campus psychiatrist. However, Faustino mentioned that though this would be too expensive due to the retainer fees, it remains a possibility given a bigger budget and a longer time frame. Faustino also explained that the allocation would be helpful in cases wherein parents refuse to pay for their child’s treatments.

“There are some parents who will not finance [treatments] because they do not believe in [mental health],” he said.

In instances like these, Faustino said that the LSOGC would write to the Vice President for the Loyola Schools Maria Luz C. Vilches, PhD for a financial request to shoulder the student’s treatment. However, some of these requests do not get approved because a student’s parents are deemed to have the financial capacity to shoulder the treatments themselves.

PHOTO BY TRINA CAMACHO

LS admin deliberates proposal for reduced school week

BY FRANCHESCA FAJEMOLIN AND MICAH AVRY GUIAO

UNIVERSITY REGISTRAR Joaquin Julian B. Agtarap, along with Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA) Josefina D. Hofileña, PhD, has been working on a proposal that aims to reduce the number of school days for the Loyola Schools from six to five.

Although there have been discussions as early as 2006, Agtarap was the first to introduce a proposal on the five-day school week. He presented it to the School Forum, which is comprised of all faculty members as well as the Loyola Schools A d m i n ist r ator s Cou nc i l.

NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE On a campus level, one of the problems students face when seeking help for mental health issues is the lack of in-house psy-

chiatrists at the LSOGC. Sera Jose stated that although the LSOGC’s counseling services are free, the lack of psychiatrists means that students who need medication are referred to external institutions that require fees.

LSOGC Director Gary Faustino shared his worries about the “very small amount” of the investment fund’s interest and how this may not be enough to cover treatments and services.

“It might not be sustainable with Php 30,000 a year,” he said.

Faustino claimed that the more experienced psychiatrists

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The initial proposal converts one-hour classes on Mondays and Wednesdays to the 90-minute class format of Tuesday-Thursday schedules. Weekday activity hours for extracurricular work will be collectively moved to the empty day—tentatively Friday—which will then become the “activity day.” Meanwhile, Saturday classes will retain the same schedule scheme.

W hile other universities have already implemented a reduced schedule, this proposal for the Ateneo still holds the same provisions in the suggested schedule since its formation in AY 2017-2018.

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News

Poor workers’ conditions prompt KAKAMPI to take action

BY JILLIAN LOPEZ

K A B A ATA NG K A K A M PI ng Mang ga gawang P ilipino (K AK A MPI), a newly established unaccredited political organization in the Ateneo, is working closely with the Sangg unian to address and bring attention to labor issues within and outside the campus.

Established by Jomelle Wong (5 BS PS), the organization is geared towards advocating for Filipino workers’ rights.

Accord ing to K A K A M PI member John Lazaro, the student organization encourages youth support for labor rights amid issues of contractualization and poor treatment of workers.

He added that the organization is currently in the process of gaining accreditation from the Office of Student Activities (OSA), which would ensure institutional support, recognition, and mentoring from OSA. Lazaro said that hav ing their ow n projects will be possible once they are granted accreditation.

The organization plans to prov ide oppor t u n it ies for Loyola Schools (LS) students to become more involved with the labor sector through various talks, film showings, and visits to picket lines, among others.

THE FIGHT FOR WORKER RIGHTS According to Wong, the desire to organize K AK A MPI began over a year ago due to a recent inf lux of strikes that inspired him and a number of Ateneo alumni “to mobilize students for these causes that were [silenced] for several years because of clear anti-labor policies.”

W hen a ske d a b out t he context of the organization’s for mation, La za ro pointed out t he u nrest a mong t he laborers in the Philippines that has existed for decades.

“This is the first time we have seen sustained waves of strikes over [two or three] years or so.

A lot of these strikes are because of worsening labor conditions, the exclusive growth of contractualization, the institutionalization of contractualization, and all of these different labor schemes,” Lazaro said.

Citing the 2019 Global Rights Index by the International Trade Union Confederation, he added that “the Philippines is one of the worst countries for labor rights [and] treatment of workers,” garnering a rating of five, which indicates “no guarantee of rights.”

Lazaro added that the countries listed in the index commonly “fail to guarantee protection for workers, whether it be through the letter of the law or in the implementation of laws currently in course.”

A lt h o u g h v a r io u s s e c tor-based organizations have provided avenues to address youth concerns, Wong noted that there are no political organizations on campus that primarily advocate for laborers.

“It’s hard to get help from the students kasi there is no dedicated group of students for the workers. So it started from there: Ako lang and eventually it reached the radar of other people,” Wong said.

PARTNERING WITH SANGGU As an unaccredited organization, KAKAMPI is partnering with the Sanggunian to execute projects that are open to the student body. Among their successful projects was the Zagu picket line visit at Kapitolyo, Pasig City, last August 17. The workers’ strike was organized to protest against Zagu’s practice of “illegal contractualization and union-busting.”

“In order to work with and w ithin Ateneo, we need to

KAMPIHAN. Student delegates engage with Zagu employees at the Zagu picket line last August 17, at Kaptiolyo, Pasig City. | PHOTO BY CRISTINA BATALLA

work with an Ateneo partner a nd [t he] Ateneo pa r t ner that we’re more concerned [with] is Sanggu...because we [know] they [can] do something about it,” Lazaro added.

K AK A MPI has also signed a fe w Me mor a ndu m s of Agreements with the Sangg u n ia n to collabor ate on la st mont h’s Z a g u picket contingent and the “Boycott Zag u” ca mpa ig n, which is yet to be approved by OSA. SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT In line w ith K A K A MPI’s main thrust to raise labor awa reness a nd encou ra ge youth support, Lazaro said that a student delegation was sent to the Zagu picket line so that they could engage with the workers themselves and deepen their understanding of the laborers’ conditions.

“Especially now at a time where Ateneo and other schools and a lot of youth are concerned about human rights...what doesn’t get said a lot, but is just as important is that labor rights are human rights and that we need to uphold them if we say that life is sacred,” Lazaro said.

Sanggunian Vice President Jb Bejarin shared that the visit to the Zagu picket line was done as part of the Sanggunian’s initiatives for socio-political development. He added that there was a need for a more holistic and strategic approach to the formation of the Ateneo community in order for them “to be aware and [to] critically think on the issues affecting our country.”

“We foresee socio-political development [on] campus as

a long and tedious process, but Sanggu will not give up on its commitment to nation-building and support of the University’s mission to form its students,” Bejarin said.

A move towards this is the Sa ng g u n ia n’s decision to partner w ith K A K A MPI in creating a directory of John Gokongwei School of Management Student Enterprise Center (JSEC) workers in view of issues with contractualization, which Wong described as the “status quo in the entire countr y.”

“There’s a whole conversation about how [the trend of direct hiring employees from manpower agencies] disempowers workers and we see that directly in JSEC,” he said.

Wong added that the security of tenure is a “constitutional right” of the people, as reflected in Article XIII Section 3 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Lazaro shared that a direc tor y of JSEC employees is among the foundation initiatives for a future JSEC ow ners’ association.

In view of workers’ unfair lab or cond it ion s i n t he countr y, Lazaro added that the point of labor rights is to “secure the well-being and liberty of every single person,” h i g h l i g ht i n g t h at publ ic support is needed for workers to hold successful strikes.

“If we were to stand on the sides and just watch people suffer as labor conditions... continue to deteriorate, then are we really standing for these human rights that we, as the Ateneo community, are so ardent about?” he added.

PHOTO BY CRISTINA BATALLA

A lot of these strikes are because of worsening labor conditions, the exclusive growth of contractualization, the institutionalization of contractualization, and all of these different labor schemes.

JOHN LAZARO KABATAANG KAKAMPI NG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO MEMBER

COVER-UP. A Zagu truck attempts to mask the front of the Zagu workers’ picket line in front of their head office at Pasig City. | PHOTO BY CRISTINA BATALLA

EDITOR: MICAH AVRY GUIAO | LAYOUT ARTIST: NEIL R. REYES

3

Sanggu to create a commission for persons with special needs

BY FRANS G. REGALA

BELONGING. The Ateneo Sanggunian seeks to address problems faced by Persons With Special Needs (PWSN) by establishing a commission that focuses on the needs of the sector and fostering inclusivity in the Loyola Schools community. | PHOTO BY JERRY FENG

IN AN EFFORT towards inclusivity and awareness, a Sanggunian commission for persons with special needs (PWSNs) in the Ateneo is in the works. On August 4, 2019, the Sanggunian announced that the commission will be established as a unit under the Sanggunian Office of the President’s Department of Student Rights in partnership with the Ateneo Special Education Society (SPEED).

While the memorandum states that its current name is the “Commission on Persons with Special Needs Inclusion,” Sanggunian President Quiel Quiwa has clarified in an interview that this has yet to be finalized.

The commission’s primary goals are to instill a mindset of inclusivity in the Ateneo community and to lobby for policies and facilities to increase accessibility for PWSNs in the Loyola Schools (LS).

Moreover, the memo mentioned that the commission ser ves as a foundation for the Sanggunian’s long-term goal of establishing a PWSN sector as a member of the C e nt r a l A s s e mbl y (C A).

INITIATIVES FOR INCLUSIVITY Although the Sanggunian is still organizing the commission, there have been previous efforts for PWSN inclusiv it y in the Ateneo.

In 2001, Rosselle Ambubuyog (BS MA ‘01) became the first, and so far the only, visually-impaired Atenean to graduate from the University, finishing as the valedictorian of the Class of 2001.

During her stay in the school, she was provided with several resources, such as learning materials in braille, to make it easier for her to attend and participate in classes despite her disability.

A BusinessWorld article by former Political Science Chair A lma Salvador, PhD stated that Ateneo’s collaboration with partners in the Institute on Disability and Public Policy has paved the way “for strengthening its nation-building thrust through accessible a nd inclusive educat ion.”

Via Bautista (4 BS LM), one of the two PWSN undergraduates currently studying in the Ateneo, affirmed that the University has improved with regard to inclusive facilities since her freshman year.

For instance, she recalled how the ground surfaces on campus were once “too bumpy” for wheelchairs. Now, the roads have been tarred and there are pavements and speed tables that allow her to get to class with ease.

On the other hand, she emphasized that while lifts are available, they can only accommodate one person at a time. Furthermore, she said that there are elevators only in some campus buildings such as the PLDT Convergent Technologies Center, the John Gokongwei School of Management building, Leong Hall, New Rizal Library, Areté, and the Manuel V. Pangilingan Center for Student Leadership.

Although ramps are more common on campus, they can still only be found in select places like Berchmans Hall, Mat teo R icci St udy Ha ll, Faura Hall, Gonzaga Hall, and the three Science Education Complex buildings, aside from the aforementioned structures.

PARTNERING WITH THE COMMISSION In spite of previous initiatives for PWSN inclusivity and awareness, Quiwa and Department of Student Rights Head Moirah Isabelo said in a joint interview that there have not been any previous efforts to establish a PWSN commission or sector.

According to Quiwa and Isabelo, sectors take part in the decision-making process in the whole LS. They have a vote in the CA, allowing them to lobby for policies. Meanwhile, commissions are not autonomous and instead fall directly under a specific Sanggunian department.

Quiwa recalled in an interview that the creation of the commission was prompted by Ignacianidad 2019: Sonder, an annual leadership summit that invites student leader delegates from different Jesuit universities. He said that Ateneo SPEED President Mary Chow was the first person

to come forward when there was a call for ideas on how to improve the LS community for PWSNs. Chow said that Ateneo SPEED urged the Sanggunian for representation for the special needs sector. However, she said that since it would take longer to form this, they agreed to lobby for a commission for PWSNs to begin their joint plans for making the campus more PWSN-inclusive this year.

Several plans for the commission were discussed among the members of the Sanggunian and Ateneo SPEED’s Executive Board. These initial plans include new course offerings or free electives such as sign language, appeals to offices for better facilities, increased faculty training and sensitivity, policy-making, and campaigns to increase PWSN awareness such as integration to the Introduction to Ateneo Culture and Traditions modules and the “Disability Awareness Week.”

RECOGNIZING A NEW SECTOR Quiwa ex plained that alt hou gh t he impor ta nce of PWSN considerations in the Ateneo com mu n it y is u nquestionable, the initiative for heig htened P W SN i nclusiv it y cannot be r ushed. “ They ’re a minor it y that [ have] been overlooked for qu ite some time,” he sa id. “ It ’s i mp or t a nt to re pre sent all kinds of Ateneans.”

For Is a b elo, she hop e s that the st udent body w ill suppor t t he ne w com m ission. “The more people rally behind this, the easier it is to establ ish it ,” she sa id .

Chow reiterated t hat a lthough Ateneo already encourages PWSN inclusiv it y, she is hopeful that these efforts will be pushed further because there is still much to be done.

“Hopef u lly t h rou gh t h is commission, we w ill be able to reach more people a nd form more advocates to passionately and actively ser ve [a] sector that deser ves to be hea rd a nd to be included in societ y,” Chow sa id.

FILE PHOTO BY REENA C. PINEDA

Hopefully through this commission, we will be able to reach more people and form more advocates to passionately and actively serve [a] sector that deserves to be heard and to be included in society.

MARY CHOW ATENEO SPECIAL EDUCATION SOCIETY PRESIDENT FILE PHOTO BY REENA C. PINEDA

4

News

LSOGC, Sanggu face financial...

WORKING AROUND LIMITED FUNDS To make the fund’s budget larger, Faustino suggested investing Php 900,000 and reserving the remaining Php 100,000 for the Sanggunian’s use throughout the school year. However, Sera Jose stressed the importance of keeping the invested money untouched for sustainability, even if the interest is small.

“It is important for us in the Sanggunian that our projects do not only have an impact during our term, but are also sustainable enough to take effect for a long period of time,” she said.

Faustino suggested that the LSOGC use the fund’s budget for food, venue reservations, speakers’ fees, flyers, and the like.

Mae* agreed with this idea and suggested using the money for seminars that “teach [students and teachers] how to handle situations related to mental health.”

Despite the limitations of the budget, Faustino still said that the interest is necessary “if you

want to have some flexibility.”

For example, he explained that for smaller event purchases the additional money will still be useful.

However, Faustino said that even without the investment, the LSOGC can simply use their internally-generated funds for said programs, as they had been doing so for the previous years.

He then concluded that overall, the investment should be treated as an emergency fund for students who need it. He also proposed that the money should only be loaned to students in order to maintain the budget.

Sera Jose had similar thoughts, saying that with “limited” funds, they could only help those “who are in most need of financial assistance.” She also clarified that everything is still under tentative discussion between the CMH and the LSOGC. STRIDES FORWARD Monetary concerns of the fund aside, Faustino mentioned that making people aware of the Sang-

gunian’s mental health projects and getting students to actually participate is another problem for them to solve in the future.

As for Faustino’s thoughts on the Sanggunian’s mental health-related initiatives, he said that he was satisfied with the Sanggunian’s recent projects for mental health awareness, particularly the mental health subsidy and the formation of the CMH. Sera Jose mentioned that the Sanggunan’s initiatives for taking care of the students’ mental health “have come a long way.” Though she admitted that they still have much to do, especially since the goal of the CMH this year is to take concrete actions to implement the investment. With that, Sera Jose hopes that the Ateneo community continues to help each other make the campus a more conducive space for taking care of one’s mental health. *Editor’s note: The name of the interviewee has been changed at their request in order to protect her identity.

SELF-CARE. The Loyola Schools Office of Guidance and Counseling annually sets up interactive booths at the Social Sciences Building foyer to celebrate Mental Health Awareness week. | PHOTOS BY IZZA ZAMORANOS

LS admin deliberates...

Further studies to improve the proposal are still ongoing.

TEN MINUTE BREAK. Students fill the Red Brick Road as they walk to their classrooms. There has been much talk within the Loyola Schools administration about adopting a five-day school week as opposed to the current six-day system. | PHOTO BY TRINA CAMACHO

POSSIBLE COMPROMISES Although such a proposal has been sought after by students, Vice President for the Loyola Schools Maria Luz Vilches, PhD stated that both faculty and students should be willing to deal with various adjustments like striking changes in class schedules.

This entails starting classes as early as 8:00 AM since several classrooms are vacant at that time slot. However, she noted that this could be a difficult compromise as “some faculty members do not want to come that early.”

Agtarap elaborated that piling up the schedules would lead to pushing class hours way into the night. In the initial proposal, the latest classes would end at 10:30 PM, which was deemed “unacceptable” by various forums.

However, Hofileña noted that the reduced school week would be “beneficial” for students who have classes on Saturdays since the proposed schedule would give them a one-day break as opposed to having classes six days a week.

However, she also admitted that changing thrice-a-week classes to a twice-a-week schedule may have implications on students’ learning.

“Questions that were raised also had to do with the pedagogical [effects of the reduced work week]. What will be the impact on learning?” Hofileña added.

“LUKEWARM” RESPONSE According to Vilches, the proposal was met with “luke-

warm” reactions from students when it was f irst disc u s s e d i n AY 2 017 - 2 018 . “[We asked the Sanggunian] to do a survey [on] the students.

I’m not sure if they did. Nothing came back to us kasi nga lukewarm sila. That’s what happened at that time,” Vilches said.

Former Sanggunian President Ia Marañon stated that an initial consultation with around 20 students later prompted the Sanggunian to conduct a survey, which revealed the proposal was “not well received.” Marañon shared the students’ sentiments, saying that Ateneo is “already hectic at the current si x-day work week set-up.”

According to Vilches, students were “uninterested” in the proposal due to the fact that they found it “inconvenient” to go to campus on the empty day just for their or g a n i z at ion a l a c t i v it ie s .

Marañon further recalled that the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo was also against the proposal since it would be implemented at the expense of the bi-weekly activity hours held on Mondays and Fridays, 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Additionally, Agtarap mentioned that the faculty seems to be pushing for the five-day school week more than the students. For faculty, this fiveday work week entails a much shor ter teaching schedu le. “[ I ] t h i n k t he y w a nted to be g iven a sim ila r a rr a n gement t h at ou r peer schools are given,” he said.

LOGISTICAL CONCERNS The public’s response aside, Agtarap said that the main factor being taken into consideration is the limited number of classrooms Ateneo has. He said there would be a need for classrooms that will both fit within the number of subjects that is offered every semester as well as the number of students in those classes.

Vilches also mentioned that by the time the student population is normalized in AY 2022-2023, there will be a need for more classrooms.

“Right now we’re okay because there are two cohorts [of batches] that are small,” she said, referring to the third and fourth year batches.

“But then when we get bigger, when we get normalized, what’s it going to be like in five years time?”

Furthermore, Hofileña questioned whether there will be enough slots for the School of Science and Engineering laboratory facilities.

According to Agtarap, one solution to this is to build more classrooms to accommodate more students without having to end classes late.

Vilches also shared that the addition of classrooms is already under discussion. She clarified that this discussion does not pertain to the construction of new buildings, but to the addition of more floors to the already existing ones.

“In a year or so, we are building two additional floors for classrooms and science labs in the [Science Education Complex],” she said.

Agtarap was asked by the faculty to come up with an inventory on the specific use of classrooms upon

the announcement of his proposal.

Although the University Registrar handles the scheduling of classes in most classrooms, there are also some academic departments that handle their own classroom and conference room scheduling that need to be counted in the inventory.

According to the Office of the Registrar, the data for this inventory will be gathered throughout AY 2019 -2020.

“Right now, not all of the variables are under my control,” Agtarap said. “Until we’re able to get the inventory, I can’t [improve upon the initial proposal] yet.”

“Questions that were raised also had to do with the pedagogical [effects of the reduced work week].

What will be the impact on learning?”

JOSEFINA D. HOFILEÑA, PHD ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

The GUIDON | September 2019

5

Lupang Hinirang

by Archie Oclos (Winner, Fernando Zóbel Prizes for Visual Art)

Super Nardo: False Profits

by Keb Cerda

Isla Inip by Doktor Karayom (Winner, Embassy of Italy Purchase Prize)

ATENEO ART AWARDS

Ateneo Art Gallery recognizes recipients of the 2019 Ateneo Art Awards WRITTEN BY FRANCHESCA FAJEMOLIN PHOTOS BY ALDO SANTIAGO

ON AUGUST 18, the Ateneo Art Gallery (A AG) recognized the winning writers and artists of the 2019 Ateneo Art Awards (AAA) at the Suthira B. Zalamea Lobby in Areté.

The event opened w ith a message from Universit y President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, who explained that art must lead its audience towards transcendence, saying “our experience of art is an experience

of ecstasy, [of] being taken out of this stasis.”

For the past 16 years, the A A A has contributed to this artistic experience by “[giving] recognition to contemporary artists and art writers.” With over 85 submissions, the event awarded grants and prizes to two writers and five visual artists.

From four shortlisted essays, the P ur ita Ka law-Ledesma (PK L) Pr ize jurors, which

consists of editors, artists, and professors, selected two pieces for the award.

John Alexis Balaguer’s essay “Everywhere is Here: The Museum as Heterotopia in Mark Lewis Higgins’ Gold in Our Veins” received the PKL Prize in Art Criticism: Art Asia Pacific Magazine.

Meanwhile, Mariah Reodica was chosen for the PKL Prize in Art Criticism: The Philippine Star for her essay entitled

“Saltwater Trajectories: Bisan Tubig Di Magbalon, and Viva Excon as Cartographer.”

Balaguer and Reodica are currently set to contribute to their award’s sponsor publications.

On the other hand, the Fernando Zóbel Prizes for Visual Art went to Costantino Zicarelli for “Years of Dust Will Build A Mountain,” Keb Cerda for “Super Nardo: False Profits,” and Archie Oclos—also the winner of this year’s People’s

Choice Poll—for “Lupang Hinirang.” The artworks ranged from art installations to murals, among others.

Oclos, Zicarelli, and Cerda were also awarded eligibility for inter nationa l a r tist residenc y g rants f unded by the Ateneo A r t Galler y and its pa r tner instit utions La Trobe University in Australia, A r tes a n G a l ler y + S t ud io in Singapore and Liver pool

Hope University in the United Kingdom, respectively.

For h is inter ac tive a r t installation “Isla Inip,” Rasel Trinidad, better known as Doktor Karayom, obtained the Embassy of Italy Purchase Prize. This award gave his piece a place at the Italian embassy’s Philippine Contemporary Art Collection.

The shortlisted artworks will be on display at the third floor of the AAG until October 27, 2019.

6

Opinion

VOLUME XC, NO. 2 SEPTEMBER 2019

Founded 1929 by Rev. Frank O’Hara, SJ First Editor-in-Chief, Manuel C. Colayco, AB ‘30

PURPOSE To serve as a record of Ateneo history in the making; to serve as an organ of journalistic expression; to serve God and country.

Alithea C. Soriano, AB COM ‘20 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Margarita C. Gonzalez, BS PSY ‘20 ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jyra Zoe T. Ang, BS LM ‘20 MANAGING EDITOR

Jason T. Mariano, BS ITE ‘21 DESIGN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY MIKHAELLA NORLIN MAGAT Micah Avry L. Guiao, BFA CW ‘21 NEWS EDITOR

Kirby G. Jalandoni, BS ME ‘20 Joaquin Josemaria A. Santos, BS ME ‘20 SPORTS EDITORS

Danielle Margaux R. Garcia, BS CTM ‘21 BEYOND LOYOLA EDITOR

Andrea Mikaela B. Llanes, AB COM ‘22 FEATURES EDITOR

Kenneth John Tristan R. Chan, AB LIT (ENG) ‘21 INQUIRY EDITOR

Zoe Arianna T. Andin, AB IS ‘21 Annicka B. Koteh, BS ME ‘20 VANTAGE MAGAZINE EDITORS

Tatiana L. Maligro, AB COM ‘22 Patricia Anne D. Villoria, AB COM ‘21 BROADCAST NEWS EDITORS

Ana Sofia Ignacio, BS LfSci ‘21 Ronaldo Gabriel J. Santiago, BS MGT ‘20 PHOTOS EDITORS

Carmela B. Masiglat, BFA ID ‘22 Neil Christian R. Reyes, BS CH-MSE ‘23 GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITORS

Mariana D. Gardoce, AB COM ‘22 VIDEO PRODUCTION EDITOR

Beatrice R. Bacason, AB COM ‘22 VIDEO PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Frances Isabella D. Martin BFA ID ‘20 Jacob Uriel R. Quintos, BS CS ‘21 DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT DEPUTIES

John Matthew G. Yuching, AB COM ‘21 EXTERNALS MANAGER

Bianca Mae R. Aragones, BS PSY ‘20 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

Deana P. Pagtalunan, BS ME ‘20 Bryce R. Rubi, BS ME ‘21 SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS

Koji Bryant P. Baui, BS ME ‘20 Francine Jemima C. Tan, BS ME ‘20 RESEARCH MANAGERS

NEWS Franchesca Fajemolin, Leika Golez, Jillian Lopez, Franchesca Regala

SPORTS Apa D. Aquino, Joseph B. Banaag, Neal R. Beltran, Jeremy L. Chua, Ally S. Crespo, Jaime D. David, Nielbert A. Dy, James B. Gavina, Gio P. Guinto, Gerrick C. Limsiy, Miguel G. Policarpio

BEYOND LOYOLA Jasey C. Cruz, Raphael C. Dela Cruz, Carlo O. Fernandez, Zachary C. Gonzales, George D. Kho, Frances C. Roberto

FEATURES Benjamin Bernal, Russell Louis Ku, Eala Nolasco, Genesis Tan

INQUIRY Cat Aquino, Danie Cabahug, Manolo Soliven

VANTAGE MAGAZINE Natalie R. Gavino, Justin Ginete, Therese Hipol, Arnald Paguio, Beatriz C. Reyes, Caitlin Anne Young

BROADCAST NEWS Cristina Batalla, Joaquin Salazar, Kathleen U. Yap PHOTOS Trina Camacho, Julia Carpio, Jim Dasal, Jerry Feng, Ralph Lim, Gabriel Medina, Bruce Ong, Cristina Sim, Kelly Veneracion, Paolo Yaptinchay, Izza Zamoranos

GRAPHIC DESIGN Tan Yu Ling Fabro, Andrea Granda, Mikhaella Magat, Denev C. Ng

VIDEO PRODUCTION Lou del Rosario, Denise Tumaliuan, Rafa Mikael D. Villon

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT Keith I. Bartido, Davin Cuaso, Zekie Ordoveza, Jonathan Talbot EXTERNALS Marina Patricia B. Peneyra, Donna Ramirez, Jorge Alfred R. Taruc

HUMAN RESOURCES Margaux Andrea G. Arcinas, James Vincent Natera, Karl R. Salvador

RESEARCH Azequiel P. De Luna, Earl Christian L. Yu

Luz R. Rimban MODERATOR

For comments, suggestions, and contributions, email:

desk@theguidon.com

The art of negotiation PEACE IN the Negros region was tested in a spate of killings that began late July this year and victimized public officials, police, and lawmakers alike. One of these victims was Canlaon City Barangay Captain Ernesto Posadas whose house was marked with the words “Mabuhay ang NPA (Long live the NPA),” and “traidor sa NPA (traitor to the NPA).”

Although the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) has denied their involvement in the killings, the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) provincial hub in Negros Oriental named the group as one of their suspects.

Amidst these allegations, the Commission on Human Rights stressed the need for an objective investigation into the Negros killings.

The PNP must first conduct an investigation to determine if the CPP-NPA is really behind the reported attacks. Pointing fingers at the CPP-NPA will only cause the group to lose trust in the government and

decrease the possibility of non-violent negotiations.

THEIR FOUR CENTS The back and forth spates found its origins in Negros, a hotspot for CPP-NPA activity, when Jose Maria Sison founded the group in 1969, during the Marcos regime. Roberto Benedicto’s redistribution of the sugar industry’s wealth to Manila and abroad left farmers in Negros with little-to-no income when sugar’s world prices dropped to four cents per pound in 1984. Despite pressure from international entities like the World Bank to demonopolize the sugar bloc, Marcos turned a blind eye to these demands.

As a result, dissatisfied sugar farmers who were overworked and underpaid banded together to form the CPP-NPA. In 1972, Marcos implemented Martial Law, justifying his decision by stating that a sizeable number of communist insurgents—including the CPP-NPA—sought to overthrow the government. He also

CHALK MARKS

Once upon a time, I was a scientist

BY INEZ PONCE DE LEON

I THOUGHT I knew everything.

I specialized in molecular biology, which holds that molecules > basis of life > knowledge of all life > knowledge of everything.

I worked long hours in the laboratory, most of them spent wondering where my childhood dreams of discovery and exploration had gone. Don’t get me wrong: I love the sciences.

However, there was something about the process that made it feel more like a chore than a blessed routine. I kept rationalizing why I wanted to remain in the field, but it always came down to “because I want to talk to people about how fun science is.”

Today, I am in science communication, an interdisciplinary field that examines the philosophical foundations of the scientific discipline, the identities of the many audiences that have been

mislabeled as “masa” for so long, the processes by which scientific information is used in decision making. Spoiler for that last one: It hardly ever is.

Is science communication as simple as I once thought? Not at all; but it’s a field that’s fun to teach, and even more fun to do research on. I love my colleagues and our banter, my students and our crazy class discussions. I might be tired when I get home at night, but I can’t wait to jump out of bed every morning and do everything all over again⁠—even if this wasn’t the career I thought I would have.

The move to science communication was difficult. It was like someone had uprooted me using a Signal #5 tropical cyclone, thrown me to the skies, and slapped me down in a parallel universe where everything was complex, complicated, and compounded by the presence of people.

That’s the thing about the storms of life, though: They toss you about; they throw you

established a task force in 1984 for counterinsurgency efforts against the CPP-NPA in Negros by sending troops to combat the group. However, a report released by the United States Central Intelligence Agency noted that the said task force made no significant progress in putting a stop to rebel forces. Local politicians’ seeming disconnect to the realities of the working class have also allowed the CPP-NPA to form shadow governments in some areas of Negros.

Had Marcos brought the necessary reforms instead of implementing Martial Law and responding with violence, there would have been better, livable conditions for farmers. Enacting these reforms would have also encouraged productive dialogue about the needs of both sides.

COMING TO A COMPROMISE The government’s avoidance of negotiation continues with President Rodrigo Duterte’s permanent halt to peace talks with the CPP-NPA. Instead of dialogue, three Martial Law ex-

tensions in Mindanao have been implemented since May 2017 on the basis of rampant rebel activity that the administration associated with the CPP-NPA. So far these extensions have served as an ineffective solution to the long history of violent altercations between the two groups. Despite the Martial Law extensions, 193 clashes between the CPP-NPA and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been reported in Mindanao in 2018 alone.

Repeated accusations against the CPP-NPA and the lack of government-initiated dialogue will only aggravate the situation in the region. If both parties are unable to find an avenue to voice out their grievances, issues such as land distribution—the cause of the rebellion years ago—will remain unresolved. If the government ceases to invest in accessible social service programs, positive dialogue, and non-violent negotiations, the CPP-NPA cycle of rebellion will only continue.

In the past, similar negotiation efforts have proven to be successful. A 2015 journal from Princeton

University states that negotiations between governments and rebel groups are proven to result in peace if there is a tangible exchange between two parties. An example would be negotiations between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republican Army, a rebel group that fought to retake the British province of Northern Ireland. After 30 years of violence, negotiation between the two parties resulted in the Good Friday Agreement, a bond that allowed Northern Ireland to remain in the UK as long as its residents are allowed to select their country of residency.

At the end of the day, the lack of peace in the region is rooted in grievances over workers’ rights.

Although the country’s working class deserve equal opportunities, many continue to struggle and, rightfully, hold the government accountable for their plight. Listening to the workers and their concerns will not only help resolve issues of land reform and fair wages in Negros, but also put an end to the very resentment that started the armed conflict.

out; they push you up into space where you will feel most solitary, most alone.

That’s when you really, truly meet the darkness. And it is in the darkness that you really, truly see the stars.

I might speak comfortably about the shift now, but back then, I needed guidance. I received the usual adages from my mentors, plus or minus a few synonyms and spins: Nobody gets it right the first time; it’s never too late to change careers; enjoying the hard work is a good sign; all first steps are difficult; all great dreams require great effort to fulfill.

The advice, however, answered the question “Is it ok to leave my science career?” or “Is studying something new supposed to be this hard?”

It didn’t answer the question “Am I really where I am meant to be?” or on a deeper level “Is this really the hand of God guiding me?”

To answer those questions, I had to go through four years of research, readings, and questioning. I had to let go of the notion that I knew everything.

Most importantly: I had to let go of the notion that my career was all about me.

To discern the voice of God, to know if my decision was truly inspired, I had to look outward and examine the fruits of my efforts.

It happened one winter morning on campus, as I interviewed the first respondent for my dissertation. She was a middle-aged woman, with gray curls curving around the eyeglasses perched on her head, and eyes that crinkled when she smiled. She sat me down, handed me a cup of hot coffee, and asked if I really was once a scientist.

She clapped her hands in delight when I said yes.

It was one of the most joyful interviews I had ever conducted.

She felt like a straight arrow, this tall woman with a head of silver and a lab gown that looked like it had gone through the wash with rusty nails. It appeared as though she had never tired of her path.

At the end of the interview, she took my hand in hers and pressed it with motherly strength.

“Thank you,” she said. “I never thought of all these questions and I feel so inspired. It’s like looking at my field for the very first time. I’m so excited to work again.”

I never knew that an innocent research interview could do so much. It kept happening with each scientist I spoke with;

one even called it “academic therapy” and thanked me for making him see how his field meant so much to him.

That was the answer to my question.

Was I in the right place? Yes. I could inspire people to see the joy in their world, to be happy, to be their best selves.

Once upon a time, I was a scientist and I thought I knew everything.

That’s the problem with looking inward too often, though. You tend to forget that you have the power to change your life, write your story, carve new paths. My shift to science communication also taught me that a career—and life—isn’t always about what brings me joy, or what makes me inspired, or what makes my life easier. It’s about the joy I bring to others, how I inspire them, how I can open their eyes to see the world in new ways, and how I can make them ask questions and be curious about that same world again.

Asking questions—isn’t that what real science is all about?

Inez Ponce de Leon is an assistant professor at the Communication Department. She may be reached at 0915 332 8225 and iponcedeleon@ ateneo.edu.

The GUIDON | September 2019

BLUE JE A NS

Faith in a hypocritical Church

BY CRISTINA BATALLA

MAMA RAISED me a Catholic. I wasn’t forced or coerced to like it, but instead inspired by my mother’s example of piety and devotion.

In high school, I observed how she constantly sought spiritual direction, offered her work to God, and heard mass daily without fail.

Wherever she went, Mama strived to fulfill apostolic duties with a diligent heart.

She bravely lived out her beliefs when she spoke online against social injustices. Without flinching over personal attacks, she always lived her truth with dignity and

Indelible PATRICIA VILLORIA

Priority check I DID not vote, much less register to become an eligible voter for the 2019 Midterm elections last May. Apart from disappointed comments and sighs from friends who found out, the results were punishment enough.

The irony is that I had my list of candidates I wanted to vote for. I participated in school surveys that gauged the supposed “youth vote.” I followed the heated Senatorial Debates through social media and streams. I dutifully liked, shared, and retweeted campaign material to get the word out for my bets.

And in the end, I did not vote.

I always promised that I’d register later. There was always a later because my life is comfortable enough to make me think that registering for the elec-

Ownership ALDO SANTIAGO

Open waters CHINA HAS been slowly building its destructive military bases over coral reefs despite how the Philippines won its claims over the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippine Sea through the recognition of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea. Despite this victory, China continues to develop multiple artificial islands on the Kalayaan Islands. Moreover, the Republic of China has dismissed legal and proven claims by multiple countries over the disputed islands and has refused entry to those areas.

China’s unlawful acts should be our driving force to stand our ground in claiming what is ours.

As early as the term of former President Fidel V. Ramos, the Chinese were already asserting their claim over the West Philippine Sea islands by building small nipa huts made for Chinese fishermen.

Today, these small nipa huts have been transformed into military bases—thick concrete buildings that house thousands of Chinese. Moreover, anti-ship and anti-air missiles, radar equipment, multi-story buildings, basketball courts, football fields, piers, and runways were built all over areas such as Kagitingan Reef, Subi Reef, and Panganiban Reef.

compassion. I loved that about my mom—carrying interior strength and good for the people around her.

Two years ago, Mama passed away—10 years after my father died, too. Only after these deaths did I realize how faith kept our family alive amidst pain and grief.

Through these experiences, I eventually discovered a deeper purpose to the Catholic faith, especially in Mama’s life.

In retrospect, this is the image of Catholicism I grew familiar with in the confines of my home.

Faith was my anchor, my compass.

With this upbringing, I learned to believe that the Catholic church is the only paragon of good.

PREVAILING TRUTH Today, I am learning this is a problematic belief. As a man-made institution, the Catholic church is sorely imperfect, as are its people. Embedded in its doctrine are filthy secrets disguised in centuries-old traditions of moral teaching. Regrettably, dust has accumulated through genera-

tions of the Church and we can no longer keep sweeping it under the rug.

In hindsight, there’s no doubt the Catholic church strives to lead the fight for social justice. It is evident in our history of revolution against tyranny, such as EDSA People Power, and the present—a critical time to combat the looming fascism of the Duterte regime.

Since his presidency began, Duterte’s unapologetic perpetration of his “War on Drugs” has been collectively opposed by Church leaders. Convinced the Church must be punished for their dissent, Duterte is unashamed about using their own scandals against them.

He knows the Catholic church is plagued with cases of financial corruption, sexual abuse cases, and hateful discrimination of the LGBTQ+ community. For the President, the institution that believes in repentance for sins is bound to receive the brunt of his backlash.

Is Duterte entirely wrong for pointing out the Church’s ills? Not quite. While I believe his foul tirades

tions was less important compared to my other responsibilities at that moment. It’s so easy to become apathetic when you are privileged. And the thing is, I am not the only one lucky enough to live this way.

I’m not discounting the many voters with an age and economic background similar to mine. In fact, so many of my own friends voted. But, the significant number of us who did not vote are equally responsible for the results of the last elections, too.

Just how responsible are we? Let’s put it into perspective with numbers.

International IDEA cites that as of 2019, a total of 65,771,984 Filipinos are of eligible voting age. Of that population, 61,843,771 are registered to vote.

And of those who are registered, the official voter turnout dips to 46,314,800.

Between the 65 million eligible voters and the 46 million turnout is about 19 million people who, like me, could have made a difference.

I had hoped that candidates from the opposition would win, but none of my bets from Otso Diretso’s slate managed to nab a “Magic 12” seat in

the Senate polls. The closest to the coveted spots was former Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV at rank 14th. According to the official results released by the Philippine Commission on Elections, the margin between him and Senator Nancy Binay who was hanging at the 12th spot was a meager 360,013 votes, just a tiny fraction of the 19 million that did not vote–and it has made all the difference.

It’s useless to cry over wasted votes at this point. At the very least, I can be comforted by the fact that we are still a democracy and that it will not be the last elections held in the country.

As early as now, we can register to vote in the 2022 National elections where we will decide who our next President will be. The registration period started last August 1 and will end on September 30. After that, another registration period will open in 2020.

The only thing I need now is a valid ID and to finally stop saying later.

It is very important to note that these islands are 200 nautical miles away from Palawan and are still part of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). On the other hand, China’s claims ownership of these islands through the vague “Nine-Dash Line” which is drawn around almost the entire South China Sea. They have stuck to this claim of territory while other countries follow the EEZ law.

With the fast development of China’s military bases in multiple islands in the Philippines, the presence of the Chinese in the country is increasing. Filipinos, especially fishermen, are left unable to benefit from the resources of their own territory. It is confusing how China claims that these construction efforts are for peaceful purposes, yet those who wish to enter these areas receive violent threats on the radio that force them to turn back where they came from. Their military presence near our country sparks fear and brings the safety of our citizens into question. Driving them away with brute force will surely not work knowing that their military power is stronger than ours.

Our sovereignty is at stake in these so-called “open” waters. The fight continues as other nations try to gain their rights to islands and zones in the South China Sea. Although China is a founding member of the UN, its outright disregard of UN laws makes a mockery of the organization’s ultimate goal of international peace and security. The Republic of China should begin extracting its resources out of their “claimed” areas before all countries lose patience with peaceful means.

High Chair TRISTAN CHAN

Dinnertime politics DINNER IS the only time at home when my whole family can sit together. Despite their preoccupation with work and their social lives for the rest of the week, my parents and both my sisters come home by 9:00 PM sharp every night so that we might end the day together. Our cozy routine continues from there with banter and eager feasting framing all dinner conversations and their inevitable turn towards the discussion of politics.

Dinner has, undoubtedly, become the worst time to be at my house.

My family represents each inch of the political compass, and therefore, none of them can stand being anything less than true north.

Squabbling and squawking to put markets to shame, my family only ceases their dinnertime arguments when I might venture an opinion.

Incredulously, they’d all turn to me: “What could you know about any of it?”

For this reason, I’ve learned to bite my tongue numb and still at the dining table. I’m expected to recount the day’s work and mumble thanks to God for the food on my plate—otherwise, not a breath must pass my lips. The adults are talking.

I don’t believe my political hesitation is unique, nor is my family distinctly harsh in rejecting me from their discussions. I’d even

are irrational, it resurfaces important issues that must be addressed.

I have seen them for myself and heard it in the news. For instance, a bisexual friend told me how they cried out to God, asking if the choice to love someone of the same sex was so wrong. Like them, many of the LGBTQ+ community still cannot come out to their Catholic families out of fear of being disowned.

Through an Ateneo student leader, I learned of a Theology professor who claimed that gender equality is “not even Catholic” and shouldn’t be prioritized in Loyola Schools campus policies.

Globally, there are stories of impregnated rape victims who were shamed by Catholics for attempting abortion and cases of child molestation by clergy members, as testified by victims who were almost too afraid to speak. I myself have met priests who preach about generosity, but use donations for personal luxuries.

The hypocrisy is pervasive.

The Church that taught me what it means to love, fight systematic

Iris KOJI P. BAUI

Hold on or let it go?

IT HAS been months since we had a decent conversation. Scrolling back through our old conversations, I saw that the timestamps were further apart and the messages were shorter. Years of memories were slowly fading away. Alas, the strong connection that we once had was gone. At that moment, it was time to ask the question that I have been dreading my whole life.

The phrase “let it go” has baffled me for ages because I did not know what it meant or exactly how to do it. I have to admit--I never liked the idea of dumping my best friend because I always hoped that we could fix the problem no matter what. She

argue that everyone in my generation has felt infantilized when trying to engage in social concerns.

However, it is important to take care not to correlate older age with graver disrespect for youthful engagements in politics.

In fact, living in an age of social media has also made us familiar with peers calling us out for our socio-political stances.

Instead, the hostile portrayal and practice of political conversations are what make social engagement difficult, especially for the youth. As Filipinos, we must actively welcome the youth into conversations about developing the country.

On this note, we must challenge the notion of “civility” that is encouraged when discussing politics.

The social norm of “civil conversation” is nothing more than parties accommodating the first strongly worded political opinion despite clear disagreement. The exchange of ideas festers into neutral statements and stances, and no meaningful progress or synthesis is achieved.

Truly civil discussions must be urged back to the errand of civility: To socially engage, dialogue, and form new ideas. We must perpetuate the idea that disagreement is the very soul of political discussions, for in this conflict we might find the potential to intersect and learn from one another.

What remains for my peers and I who are shut out of mealtime politics is to converse wherever we may about the country’s progress. We may not find our seats at the long tables overnight, but we cannot afford to lose our ideas and voices over the whine of screeching forks and raised voices during dinner.

oppression, and believe in the inalienable dignity of man—is the same institution that has trampled on others’ freedoms and rights. This is not the image of Catholicism I grew to love. Or have I been blinded?

QUESTIONS OF CHANGE What happened to our “Catholic nation”? It’s gone. Perhaps, we were never really one. The thought that Catholicism possesses collective power over the country has become an outdated belief that calls for transformation. And yet, why am I still here?

I remain because of hope—a strong belief that the Catholic church still can and must change with humility over its faults. In a society that is no longer “Catholic,” we must constantly question how our enduring traditions are affecting contemporary society.

Our religion isn’t perfect and it never will be. Still, we must continue to believe in its potential to be a force for good, not a weapon for oppression. was a person and not an object that I could throw away.

Needless to say, I was clueless about what my future would be without my best friend guiding me. She was my light and support. In fact, I needed her more than she needed me.

Born in a family of lawyers and engineers, I was raised into a culture of certainty. Every crossroad that I stumbled upon had an optimal solution for me to take. Logic would dictate that I should discard the friendship, but my heart said otherwise.

While waiting for her replies, a part of me craved for attention. Since I was not receiving anything from her, I was forced to socialize. It was tough to start conversations, especially for an introverted geek like myself. Some stayed as acquaintances, but others became friends. We shared new experiences and shed a few tears. Slowly, they filled a gap and provided what I was yearning for: Love and acceptance.

Meeting new people made me realize that letting go is an invitation to surrender unhealthy relationships. Nothing was more convenient

Regista JOAQUIN A. SANTOS

I used to love H.E.R. (and still do) I MET this girl when I was 10 years old, but what I loved most: She had so much soul.

That’s how Common opens his song, “I Used to Love H.E.R.” (1994). It’s one of the seminal rap songs of all time—a 4:39 history of rap told through a love story.

For all fans of the music, that story runs a little different. Some are blessed enough to tell their own. For me, whose rap career consists of scribbling a few clever lines, I’ve learned to love rap by listening to them tell it.

When I get ready in the morning, I like to play Doug E. Fresh’s “La-Di-Da-Di” (1985). It narrates a day in the life of Slick Rick, featuring a regretful ex-lover and a jealous older woman. I don’t have women fighting over me, so I can’t really relate. I love it because he spends half of the song rapping about his own morning routine as I go through mine.

That, in a nutshell, captures my connection with rap. I’m a 21-yearold man born and raised in Manila.

I don’t own Gucci underwear like Slick Rick, nor do I play Monopoly with real cash like Jay-Z. Yet, listening to their stories doesn’t stretch the gulf between us; it shrinks it.

When the rapper turns narrator,

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Church, it’s time we hold ourselves accountable for those we have hurt and oppressed. Let’s ask the right questions now: How might we create more inclusive spaces across all genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic levels?

How can we build a community for all and not just the privileged few?

Ultimately, how shall we love the way God does?

This institution is wounded and imperfect, but so is every one of us. I have inherited a broken religion, and yet within it I found a kind of faith that endures in hope of a better future for all. I am still here because I believe the Catholic church is worth fighting for, as much as every human being is worth living for.

I know Mama would have said the same.

Cristina Batalla is a 3 AB Development Studies major and a Broadcast News Staffer of The GUIDON. She may be reached at crsbatalla@gmail.com. than making a conscious effort to free toxic attachments so that I could spend my life with people who treasure me the same way I do. Letting go meant accepting inevitable realities in life so that I could stop holding on to problematic issues. In other words, I learned to accept “what is” and let go of “what was.”

It was difficult to walk away from a relationship that I was accustomed to; I wanted security and assurance, and cutting ties with her was not a clear way to achieve those. Although it was painful, I let her go. I had to find my light and support myself.

It was quite hard to move on, but once I started trying, I slowly felt the emotional tension loosen from my shoulders. Instead of feeling down and blue, I just felt glee with the new people I met. I felt better once again.

Life is short, after all. There are so many dreams and opportunities that are waiting to unfold. Maybe we were not meant to last, but it does not mean that I should not try something new.

Looking back at these things, I am quite sure that I made the right choice.

he wields the rare power to share specific, personal experiences in a way that the listener can make their own. The slang and curse words that make it seem crass give it the color necessary to see what it means to share.

I start my day with Slick Rick.

Walking to school, I play Nas’ “The World Is Yours” (1994). If my day chews me up, “Runnin’” (1995)

by The Pharcyde is the medicine.

A Tribe Called Quest’s “Oh My God” (1994) does the trick on a night out. If rap is Common’s muse, rap is my most loyal friend and my wisest mentor.

What rap lacks in apparent musicality it makes up for with rhyme, cadence, and literary devices curated to marry the music, such that the rapper’s voice blends as another instrument. The works of Rakim, Biggie, Outkast can stand up to any song or literary work, in terms of detail and technique.

These characteristics allow rap to be an effective medium for any message. It broadcasts the activism of Black Star and N.W.A., soulful movements like Tribe and De La Soul, and the raw emotion of ‘Pac in a way that entertains and triggers reflection.

But more than anything, rap is the listener’s roadmap to life—the same way it guides me through my morning routine, matches my stride on the way to school, and picks me up to go at the world again.

Mos Def has a line that goes, “Speech is my hammer, bang the world into shape; now let it fall.”

Rappers are our urban poets, telling the world one story at a time. All we need to do is Hear Every Rhyme.

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News

Atenean Voice This September 21, Filipinos mark the 47th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law under former President Ferdinand Marcos. What can we learn from this part of our history?

PHOTO BY ZOEY IGNACIO

Terrence Villalon 3 BS ME

“I’m sure many were afraid when Martial Law was declared back in 1972. In such tumultuous times, we ask ourselves what’s going to happen and since we don’t know the answer to that question, we become paralyzed by fear.

But the Filipinos of that generation had more than fear—they had hope. They asked themselves what they want to happen for their nation and their countrymen. They knew their answer, so they set off to make it a reality.”

Maria Victoria Tenido 1 BS MIS-MSCS

“It’s a concrete proof and reminder that the people can be a force to be reckoned with if only we unite. Alone, one’s voice would drown in the sea of whatever the majority decides it wants to talk about at the moment. It can easily be silenced in a snap. When we see that injustice is happening and [when] we realize this [and] express our dissent together, that voice becomes so much louder.

This is especially more relevant now in times when activism and disagreeing with the government almost automatically gets one labeled as a terrorist—and that’s if you’re lucky.

I think it’s high time people also learn not to overlook crimes against humanity just because the government seems to be making the progress it wants. We have to understand that it’s not a matter of being pro or anti-government; it’s about being pro-Filipino.”

Adriana Quimpo Chiu 1 AB POS

“History, especially political history, is highly subjective and prone to influence and revision. Because of this, we as individuals must be objective and make a point of being aware of past and present realities. Accountability is enforced by this awareness; we citizens are responsible for our collective choice and action and holding accountable those we put in power. Recognize the times when the balance between the people and the state is disturbed. It is history repeating itself.

In the 70s, it was the youth who opposed the Marcos dictatorship. Now, 47 years later, we are pushed to fill the shoes of those who came before.”

Meldrick Tin 1 BS CTM

“After 47 years since the declaration of Martial Law in the country, we Filipinos have learned to be more united and resilient as one country. In this modern day and age wherein Filipinos are more involved with politics and the government, we must not remain silent and oppressed. Instead, we should continue to fight for what we believe is right both for us and the entire nation.”

Hannah Zhuang 1 BS CTM

“Martial Law was declared due to political unrest to achieve order and security.

But what it achieved instead was the unrest of the people, the civilians. With the power solely in the hands of Ferdinand Marcos, people were bound to be scared for themselves and for their country. I guess what we can learn from this part of our history is that there is always a reason behind an action. The former President saw it fit to [implement] Martial Law because of the opposition and rallies against the government that also affected civilian lives. Martial Law was supposed to be a solution [to] chaos. What was wrong about it was the mistreatment of the people who were tortured and jailed. What was also wrong were the attacks of the activists against the people of their own country. They should be able to express their disagreements, but they should not resort to violence and mistreatment of others. There are always two sides to a story. Both sides had reasons for their actions, but both had faults in their actions, too.”

Sophie Co 2 BS HS

“Time, as well [as] Philippine governance, make it easy to forget that the declaration of Martial Law [led] to some of the darkest and most horrific moments in Philippine history. However, these horrific stories have to be told over and over again until we learn that freedom is our most precious heritage and the freedom we have now came at the expense of people who lie in unmarked graves.”

Meg Genuino 3 AB COM

“History is something we must remember as stories about Martial Law are still being told through the years. Atrocities committed at that time [would still be] swept under the rug if not for the firsthand accounts, documentaries, and literature we have now. We tend to forget how difficult it was to speak your mind then, and a lot of today’s youth aren’t accurately informed about what happened during Martial Law under Marcos. Anyone who spoke against the government disappeared, including students and journalists. It’s easy to take our freedom of speech for granted. Despite not being born in that period, Filipinos should be more sensitive and engage in open discussions and not be quieted into a state of indifference.”

Aljohn Josef Austria 2 AB EU

“We can learn that having to fight for human rights shouldn’t be a thing. Human rights must never be perverted in any way as [they] had been during that part of Philippine history.”

Czarina Recalde 1 BS CTM

“We Filipinos should fight and stand up for our freedom and democracy when we are being oppressed. We must bear in our minds and hearts the devastating events that took place during Martial Law as it serves as a reminder that we can always unite as a nation and get through the dark days.”

Matthew Sapugay 2 BS LM

“Numerous atrocities have been committed by the government in order for Ferdinand Marcos to stay in power. These atrocities have then sparked courage in the hearts of our countrymen to stand up against the regime instead of cowering in fear. Today, countless Filipinos are standing up against another person in power. We protest, write articles, rally, and even spread awareness about the tyranny of our current government.

We learned to fight back. All the inhumane and unacceptable actions committed by the government aren’t ignored. We criticize the government and are not afraid to speak up against the mistakes of the government. What we learned and what we can learn from this part of history is that there will always be a ruler or a leader who will lead a country into the abyss. But at the same time, there will always be people who will fight for what’s right, and that our power and will as united citizens can achieve great things.”

Rhaine Luciano 3 BSM AMF

“Just because Martial Law is done [it] does not mean the fight is over. The wounds caused by the iron fist should never be forgotten, even after 47 years. I’ve learned that even if our generation did not experience it firsthand, we must stand as strong, if not stronger, [than] our parents and grandparents did.”

Bryan Ferrer 2 BS ECE

“In general, thinking critically is difficult to maintain, but it was especially difficult in those times. We must never forget to take a second to think about the information being given to us.”

Josh Isleta 2 AB Dip IR

“We learn that the fight doesn’t end when the victory is won. Martial Law left a stain in our history, our culture, our bloodline, and who we are as Filipinos. We need to continue the fight and that doesn’t mean removing the stain. Rather, we educate ourselves how to avoid these stains and prevent the memory from being lost in future generations.”

Glimpses COA holds two-day convention for student leaders

Ateneans head to the Schneider Electric Go Green in the City 2019 Grand Finale

Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) Central Board members gathered student organization leaders together at CTC 413 on August 1 and Faura AVR on August 2 for the first-ever COA Convention. The convention aimed to prepare student leaders for handling challenges in their respective organizations, such as project and finance management, member engagement, and the “quantity-over-quality mentality,” among others.

Department of Chemistry instructor Erika Kirsten Vocal and Hirayang Kabataan Co-founder Carlo Africa also gave leadership formation talks on the first and second day, respectively. Although originally planned as a three-day affair, the event’s culminating day was canceled due to inclement weather. COA Vice President for Special Events Enzo Pisig stated that as a result of the cancellation, COA’s Central Board created a rough list of possible resolutions on the aforementioned challenges based on what was discussed during the first two days of the convention. FRANCHESCA FAJEMOLIN

On August 22, Gabby Ozaeta (4 BS CH-MSE) and Yumi Briones (4 BS CH) won the Schneider Electric Go Green in the City 2019 Asia Pacific Regional Finals, which was conducted via video conference call at the Schneider Electric Office in Taguig City. The competition is a global business case challenge that seeks ideas on “efficient energy management in a city environment.” After winning the Philippine finals on July 12, the the company’s experts mentored the pair so that they could polish their proposal for Rainshine, a device that generates renewable energy from the sun and rain. Ozaeta explained that Rainshine aims to tackle energy consumption and power outage issues. “We didn’t invent the technology or the idea of a sun-rain energy device, but we did try to create a unique design for it and a business model that addresses issues in the country,” she said. Following their victory, Ozaeta and Briones shall proceed to the Grand Finale in October at the Barcelona International Convention Center in Spain. FRANCHESCA FAJEMOLIN

OSA hosts the Ignacianidad 2019 Leadership Summit

Kar Yen Leong, PhD probes Indonesian occult rituals in Kritika Kultura lecture

The Office of Student Affairs hosted this year’s Ignacianidad 2019 Leadership Summit: Sonder, which took place at the Rizal Mini Theater on July 26 and at the First Pacific Leadership Academy in Antipolo City on July 27 to July 28. 100 student leaders from five Jesuit universities across the country, including Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Davao, and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan attended the event. In line with this year’s “Change narratives” theme, the event’s talks and activities emphasized that leadership is a mission to serve the people and improve their stories, especially those of the marginalized. Among its speakers were human rights lawyer Attorney Chel Diokno, Teach Peace, Build Peace Movement President and Chief Mission Keeper Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, and ABS-CBN News journalist and University alumnus Jeff Canoy. FRANCHESCA FAJEMOLIN

Tamkang University Department of Global Politics and Economics assistant professor Kar Yen Leong, PhD presented a lecture entitled “Keepers of the Grave: Ritual Guides, Ghosts, and Hidden Narratives in Indonesian History” at SEC-B 201A on August 6 as part of the Kritika Kultura lecture series. Using a political and historical lens, Leong discussed the ignored narratives of violence in Indonesian history that are kept alive by the juru kunci, the custodians of sacred graveyards in Indonesia. According to Leong, as the juru kunci were also former communists and political detainees, they keep contact with and allow the souls of slain communists “to speak through them.” Specifically, the juru kunci oppose the Indonesian government’s “enforced silence” on the anticommunist mass killings in Indonesia in 1965. FRANCHESCA FAJEMOLIN

The GUIDON | September 2019

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACH G. GARCIA

IN GLORIOUS VICTORY. UAAP Season 81 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Maxine Esteban cries out in victory after winning the Women’s Sabre Individual event, 15-9, to secure a crucial gold medal for the eventual champions, the Ateneo Women’s Fencing Team. | PHOTO BY JASON T. MARIANO

GALLERY OF E AGLES

THE QUEEN EAGLE: Maxine Esteban

BY ALLY CRESPO

BEFORE SHE became the countr y ’s fencing prodig y, Maxine Esteban tried to live the ambition of many young girls: To become a figure skater.

At the age of six, she began to spend most of her days in the skating rink, gliding and vying to be the next local ice skating talent. When the SM Megamall Ice Skating Rink closed down in 2009, Esteban was determined to continue skating and tried training at another rink in the SM Mall of Asia. However, because of heavy traffic and the mall’s distance from her house, the frustrated figure skater was forced to find a new sport that would allow her to live out her athletic dreams.

Esteban tried other sports, but nothing particularly interested her. However, af ter seeing tarpaulin advertisements for fencing on her way to a tutor in Xavier School, she immediately knew that she had to try the sport. Her intuition proved to be right and Esteban quickly fell in love with fencing. “[Fencing] really made me happy—not just the sport, but also the environment,” Esteban shares.

Unfor tunately, Esteban’s fencing career almost ended before it even fully bloomed.

One rainy day when she was 16 years old, Esteban was carrying three glass bottles when she accidentally slipped on the wet floor and fell. It was at this moment when tragedy struck: Her right hand absorbed her fall and the shards of broken

glass. Esteban’s hand suffered 12 damaged tendons and two damaged nerves, requiring surgery and months of physical therapy.

The injury hampered Esteban’s day-to-day life—she was barely strong enough to lift a feather.

More crushing, however, was her doctor’s advice: Esteban was told that she should not fence anymore. But the fencing star did not—and could not—take no for an answer.

For six months, she went to physical therapy twice a day and trained her non-dominant hand for competition. Esteban e vent u a l ly g a i ned enou g h streng t h to compete using her left hand while her right was recover ing. Despite her doctor’s adv ice and the possibility that her preferred hand may never recover, the headstrong athlete returned to the piste at full strength. “[ The inju r y] made me stronger as a person,” recalls Esteban. “[It gave me] the fight to treat a minor setback as a major comeback.”

LUNGE After an illustrious high school career that included seeding number one in both the junior and senior divisions for fencing in the entire country, Esteban had to decide where she would

spend her university years.

Many schools around Metro Manila courted her, but no one committed to giving her a spot on their fencing teams. It wasn’t until Ateneo Women’s Fencing Team Head Coach Walter Torres approached her that she became convinced to fence for the Blue and White. “[Coach Torres] said that he would really help and give me lessons every day to make me a better fencer. I really saw that he wanted me to be on the team— unlike the other schools that offered lang,” recalls Esteban. “He really treated me like a daughter.”

Esteban fondly remembers her rookie year in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UA AP).

“We didn’t expect to win. The [University of the East Lady Warriors] were very strong. They had been champions for 13 years and we were [only few] in the team [so it seemed] hard for us to get the championship,” Esteban says.

Despite lacking the skills on paper to match the Lady Warriors, Esteban and her team’s heart gave them the strength to win the championship. She ended her rookie year in outstanding fashion, garnering three gold medals, one bronze medal, the Rookie of the Year award, and the Most Valuable Player trophy.

PARRY This season, Esteban is the lone veteran on the Women’s Fenc i n g Te a m . A lon g side her are a cluster of fencers: Esteban’s fellow sophomores who are only about to begin their UA AP fencing journey this year. Esteban admits that a twopeat might be a difficult feat due to the team’s inexperience, but she is confident that they will fight tooth and nail to defend the crown.

However, Esteban has bigger goals for Ateneo Fencing beyond Season 82. With four more years of eligibility left in the UA AP, Esteban is determined to pull off a five-peat.

“I don’t think Ateneo has [ever] been five-peat champions, let alone back-to-back [champions], so I would want to defend our title as much as we can,” Esteban says.

ALLEZ Not on ly does Esteba n don the Blue and White, but she also carries the nation’s f lag. This December, she will be participating in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games which w ill be held in the Philippines. Having represented the Philippines in the SEA Games two years ago, Esteban says the stakes are much higher this time around.

“It was the first time [for a Philippine Fencing Team] to join the SEA Games, so there was no pressure for us [then],” says Esteban. “But because we’re hosting [this year] and we won two years ago, the pressure is much, much bigger. Our coach is telling us that we have to win.”

Esteban also has her eyes set on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics— the most prestigious sporting event in the world. With the qu a l i f y i n g sea son i n f u l l sw ing, there are three ways for Esteban to seal an Olympic spot: Be among the top 16 in the world, be the number one ranked fencer in Asia, or to w in gold in the Oly mpic Qualifiers. Esteban is focused on being number one in Asia at the moment, as she is currently seeded fourth in the category.

If she is unable to achieve this, she still has a good chance in the Olympic Qualifiers.

The path to Tokyo will be difficult—only an incredibly small number of people in history can call themselves olympians— but Esteban’s perseverance in overcoming every hurdle she has encountered bodes well for her chances. At just 18 years old, it is safe to call Maxine Esteban the future—both for Ateneo and Philippine fencing.

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Sports

PHOTO BY REENA C. PINEDA

S P O R T S O P I N IO N

Between interference and inspiration

BY JOSEPH B. BANAAG

THE ROLE of the University Athletics Office (UAO) is a facet of Ateneo sports that many students and casual fans find difficult to understand and appreciate. Usually, the UAO is seen as a plug for tickets to a big game, but what happens on the playing field is not possible without the administrative support of the UAO. According to the office’s description found on the University’s official website, the UAO “strives to provide an environment supportive of the values formation and development of character and athletic prowess of varsity athletes in their pursuit of excellence...”

All participating teams in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), as well as official sports clubs and non-UAAP teams, receive support from the UAO in the form of enlistment assistance, finances, and collaboration with team managers. Given the University’s dependence on the UAO’s support for its sports program, the office greatly impacts the landscape of Ateneo sports. Therefore, there is a need to make sure that the athletic coordinators who work within and around the teams have the athletes’ best interests in mind.

The recent appointment of Nemesio Que, SJ as Assistant to the President for University Athletics means that he will serve as the interface between the University President and the UAO, thus sparking the conversation about athletic management even further.

The pressing question when it comes to handling athletics for the University is this: Is an athlete, coach, or team manager better suited to handle athletics for a university than a priest, professor, or businessman with a different expertise?

BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL For one, having an “outsider” work within close quarters of the team—like Fr. Que, who as a priest can offer spiritual formation—may contribute to the athletes’ growth beyond the playing field. An athletic coordinator from a different field can evaluate decisions from an alternative perspective or apply complementary expertise to inform choices more thoroughly.

These coordinators can also utilize their networks in fields outside the sports circuit to secure partnerships and assist in building a more well-rounded team around the talent.

Although, when it comes down to it, managers from different fields offer perks (e.g., holistic formation) that are not necessarily part of an athletic coordinator’s job description. Besides, studentathletes are still entitled to receiving holistic formation through many different avenues available in Ateneo such as the PR A XIS programs, student organizations, and other offices that cater to student welfare and formation. If anything, the availability of formative activities outside the athletic program suggests that athletic coordinators should and can

afford to focus primarily on the performance of the team.

TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE It’s in enhancing a team’s performance that those groomed in sports management are best equipped to deliver. Knowing the day-to-day strain of university athletics firsthand produces a grasp of its ins and outs that is difficult to replicate. As athletic managers, team management and development are integral to their job description, and their background in training, strategy, and administrative work will allow them to fulfill these duties to a standard that other fields cannot match without the same experience or specialization.

Most impor ta ntly, their understanding of the nuances of student-athlete life enables them to give meaningful and empathetic advice specific to the team’s needs—something that a third-party coordinator will not be able to provide.

While both archetypes have their unique advantages, athletic coordinators who specialize in sports management are best suited to handle athletics for the University because of their understanding of the studentathlete experience. Having them directly handle the team to serve as exemplary and empathetic figures will go a long way towards meeting the athletes’ physical, mental, and emotional needs.

Meanwhile, those with other expertise can take on roles as consultants to complement the athletes’ development outside the athletic setting.

GENERATIONS OF CHAMPIONS. Star rookie Ianiko Limfilipino (left) and senior veteran Aldo Batungbacal (right) pose for a photo after bagging key medals during the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Swimming Tournament. | PHOTO BY AGA OLYMPIA

The GUIDON | September 2019

Ateneo Men’s Swimming: Taking the dynasty forward

BY APA AQUINO

THOUGH THE waves of past legends such as Jessie Lacuna, Aldo Batungbacal, and A xel Ngui have long dissipated from collegiate waters, the five-year championship legacy they left behind still remains. In a season full of turnover, the next generation of Ateneo Men’s Swimming is on a mission to protect the dynasty.

AKI CARIÑO Elite backstroke specialist Team Captain Aki Cariño will be charged not only with bringing in the talent

to win, but also with schooling an exciting crop of young swimmers about the FAST traditions that have propelled the team to success.

IANIKO LIMFILIPINO Last season’s prized rookie and distinguished freestyle and medley powerhouse now has another year of training and experience under his belt. Look for Limfilipino to emerge as one of the team’s upcoming stars whose strong per formances will anchor the team’s title bid.

RIAN TIROL Current University Athletic Association of the Philippines Ju niors 20 0m Breaststroke r e c o r d h o l d e r a n d 2 0 19 Southeast A sian Games candidate R ian Tirol is one of the team’s most vaunted rookies this season. Hailing from the Ateneo Senior High School, Tirol is no stranger to FA ST a nd is pr imed not just to help f ill the void, but to stake his claim amongst a long list of FAST icons as well.

New rookies boost the Blue Babble Battalion lifters

BY GIO GUINTO

FOLLOWING THE departure of several veteran Blue Babble Battalion lifters, the team welcomes six rookies to retool their eleven-man lineup. After finishing 7th in last year’s UAAP Cheerdance Competition, Babble has its sights set on climbing up the standings. Among their clutch of debutants this Season 82, two notable freshmen are expected to hit the ground running.

JOHN JOSEPH A. HERRERA Her rera , a recr u it f rom Taguig Science High School,

was a member of his school’s cheerleading team since the seventh grade. Despite his age, Herrera is expected to inject experience into the squad after his f irst-place f inish in the 2018 Japan Open Cheerleading C h a mpion sh ip i n Tok yo.

CHRIS JOHN A. PAGULAYAN A rmed with a background in g y mnastics, Pag ulayan’s ex per tise on the mats has ea r ned him a f ull athletic scholarship alongside Herrera.

Pag ulayan, a fellow Tag uig

11

Ateneo Sports

Watchlist Undefeated Pauline Lopez bows out of Season 82

BY JEREMY CHUA

FOR THE past three years, Pauline Lopez has bannered the Ateneo Women’s Taekwondo team and powered their rise as a perennial contender for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UA AP) crown. Since winning Rookie of the Year honors in Season 79, she has stamped her dominance on the playing field, leading their Silver medal run in Season

80 and boasting a personal undefeated win-loss record in her collegiate career thus far.

H o w e v e r, u n c e r t a i n t y shrouds the Lady Jins after Lopez decided to sit out Season 82. Lopez competed in the Asian Open in Vietnam last August 15 and is set to train in Korea from October 20 to October 30 for the 2019 Southeast Asian

Games in December. These international bouts also serve as a foundation for her bid to represent the Philippines in the 2020 Summer Oly mpic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Without Lopez’s powerhouse presence on the Lady Jins’ roster this UA AP season, their hopes for a podium f inish w ill hinge on their response as a unit.

Science High School alumnus, w ill be key in a id ing t he lifters’ stunts and tumblings.

A side f rom t he prom ise shown by these rookies, Babble Lifters Team Captain Shawn Nagrampa points to a deeper sense of family and trust to drive success. “A lot of the rookies in the team feel more involved. Something that makes this team dif ferent is that we’re a united front. We’re in this together,” says Nagrampa.

FAIRY TALE. The Blue Babble Battalion energizes the Mall of Asia Arena crowd with a dazzling Disney-themed performance that got them out of the bottom of the standings after six years in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition. | PHOTO BY REYNEAL VARGAS

UNDEFEATED. Ateneo Lady Eagle Pauline Lopez (right) strikes her opponent as she maintains her historic undefeated record during the UAAP Season 81 Women’s PHOTO Taekwondo COURTESY Tournament.

OF GB PANLILIO | PHOTO BY AND ZOEY BIANCA IGNACIO BRAZA

EDITORS: KIRBY G. JALANDONI AND JOAQUIN A. SANTOS | LAYOUT ARTIST: TAN YU LING FABRO BETWEEN INTERFERENCE AND INSPIRATION

Sports

Two distinct archetypes characterize the role of athletic coordinators in the Ateneo, but which one is more fitting for the job?

Courts of justice

BY JAIME D. DAVID AND MIGUEL G. POLICARPIO

MIXING SPORTS and politics is a regular topic of debate in the politically-charged climate we live in today. On one hand, sports can serve as an escape from the bustle of reality, but others may see it as a powerful medium to further engage in a larger discussion. Along this fine line reads this question: Should sports be colored by the greater context of society outside the lines?

Pundits and commentators demand that athletes stick to sports and leave these issues to the experts, or as journalist Laura Ingraham put more crassly: To just “shut up and dribble.”

Closer to home, University of the Philippines (UP) Executive Vice President Ted Herbosa asserted a similar position in 2018 when he called Ateneo and UP’s black-shirt protest a “stupid idea.” He further argued that the protest was disrespectful and had no place given the magnitude of the Universit y Athletic Association of the Philippines (UA A P) Season 81 Men’s Basketball Tournament Finals game between the two teams.

These comments reveal the crux of the argument against activism in sports: A respite from the problems of the world, athletic competition must be protected from the stain of the very problems it shields us from.

AN INVITATION FOR UNITY As of late, some local athletes have joined in the debate by showcasing how sports can be an avenue to tackle salient sociopolitical issues. In fact, Ateneo and UP’s stand against injustice wasn’t the first of its kind. In 2016, the Ateneo Men’s Basketball team and the Blue Babble Battalion decided to use sports as an avenue to contribute to the national discussion. Faced with a former dictator’s potential burial in a resting place for heroes, an act that threatens to rewrite history books, these Ateneo teams stood in front of thousands in defiance.

In a UAAP Season 79 match against archrivals the De La Salle University Green Archers on October 4, 2016, the Blue Eagles donned black warmups in protest of the possible burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Two months later, in a Final Four duel with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws that was held after the burial pushed through on November 18, 2016, the Blue Babble Battalion revealed the words “Not A Hero” painted on their shirts during their halftime performance.

Despite both teams’ best efforts to unite sports fans, these demonstrations received mixed reactions. Many did not heed the invitation to wear black during the Ateneo Men’s Basketball team’s first match-up against DLSU for UAAP Season 79 out of the belief that sports and politics should

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DRUMS OF JUSTICE. The Ateneo Blue Babble Band beat their drums in solidarity with the student protesters during the height of Marcos burial controversy in 2016.

FILE PHOTO BY JOHN P. ORANGA

PLAYING FOR MORE. The Ateneo Men’s Basketball team donned black shirts in unison with nationwide protests against the burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. during the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Basketball tournament game versus the De La Salle Green Archers. | FILE PHOTO BY JOHN P. ORANGA

not mix. To gain more insight into this debate, The GUIDON caught up with current and former members of the teams that took a stand: Men’s Basketball skipper Isaac Go, former Blue Babble Battalion Captain Jovic Sosito, and Babble member Leno*.

DEAFENING SILENCE “When you wake up and find out that Marcos was buried at the Libingan [ng mga Bayani]—we wanted to act right away,” says Leno. “We wanted to use [the game] as a platform to say, ‘We can’t and will not stand for this.’”

As bold as the statement was, Sosito, the brains behind the Blue Babble protest, expressed that he felt uncertain about the

effect of their demonstration.

“It could have been a dangerous time to do something like that because [the government] could have targeted Ateneo, or even us as individuals,” he adds.

For the Ateneo Men’s Basketball team, their October grudge match in 2016 against the streaking Green Archers would have dominated the headlines on its own, but the team saw it as a chance to send an important message. In the eyes of these players, the possibility of a Marcos burial was too serious an issue to be swept aside. Thus came the decision to swap blue for black in the warmups before tipoff, a subtle yet powerful show of dissent against the former dictator’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

NEVER FORGET. The Ateneo Blue Babble Battallion unveiled the words ”Not A Hero” painted on their black shirts to protest the burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. during the half-time show of the semifinals against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws during the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Basketball Tournament. | PHOTO COURTESY OF LEO LOPEZ

MORE THAN AN ATHLETE When asked about the effects of their protest, Go confided that though the team was reeling after a blowout loss, it took nothing away from the clarity of their message. “It really showed the school’s stand and what we all believed in,” says Go. Because of their unique position, UAAP athletes have a spotlight they can shine on different issues.

Sosito put it best in saying, “As a student, you are given the tools to think critically about these things, and as an athlete, you have the platform to express what you have learned. As a student-athlete, you have the power to do both.”

Sosito also recognizes sports as an avenue to make a difference.

“Some things are just bigger than sports. When you use sports as an excuse to forget these issues, it becomes a bane to discourse and change,” he explains.

Some may continue to believe that sports is no place to voice dissent against society’s ills, but student athletes have begun to reject this dated way of thinking by maximizing their platform.

Demonstrations by the likes of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball team and the Blue Babble Battalion have proven that athletic competition can be a powerful medium to deliver an impactful message. At the end of the day, being a sportsman not only obliges one to play fairly on the court, but to seek fairness and justice within and beyond the confines of its lines as well.

*Editor’s note: The identity of the interviewee has been changed at their request in order to protect their identit y and pr ivac y.

Faced with a former dictator’s potential burial in a resting place for heroes, an act that threatens to rewrite the history books, these Ateneo teams stood in front of thousands in defiance.

EDITOR: DANIELLE R. GARCIA | LAYOUT ARTIST: TAN YU LING FABRO

Beyond Loyola

Infrastructure’s consequences: The case of Kaliwa Dam

BY JASEY C. CRUZ AND RAPHAEL C. DELA CRUZ

SINCE THE 19 70s, t he Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (M WSS) h a s b een at tempt i n g to pursue damming projects in the provinces of Rizal and Quezon, particularly in the K a l iw a-K a n a n-A gos R iver Basin where the Kaliwa Dam is set to be constructed. The dam would serve as a solution to intermittent water shortages in Metro Manila.

For years, environmental advocates and indigenous peoples have lobbied against the construction of any dams in the area, blocking any proposed projects. Despite this, last November 20, the MWSS officially signed a loan agreement financed by the Export-Import Bank of China to fund the construction of the Kaliwa Dam portion of the New Centennial Water Source Project (NCWSP).

The NCWSP is a system of two dams—Kaliwa Dam and Laiban Dam—which aims to meet the increasing demand for water in Metro Manila. Amounting to USD 211 million, with an interest rate of 2%, a management fee of 0.3%, and a commitment fee of 0.3% per annum, the fund will cover 85% of Kaliwa Dam’s total construction cost.

Some of the more controversial aspects of the agreement include a provision indicating that a Chinese contractor, China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited, has been preselected for the project. In a statement to Rappler, former Congressman Neri Colmenares expressed his disapproval of the loan agreement, stating, “This is a violation of our procurement laws, as well as [a] violation of the Constitution that mandates a preference for Filipino contractors and workers who are equally, if not more than, qualified.”

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS While the loan agreement raises concerns regarding its constitutionality, there are also environmental risks that conser vation organizations such as the Haribon Foundation

have pointed out. According to Haribon’s 2018 report, the Kaliwa Dam project is a threat to the ecological systems and rich biodiversity of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Based on their calculations, the dam’s construction will potentially destroy the habitat of at least three critically endangered species, 31 endangered species, and 240 vulnerable species.

Me a nw h i le, C enter for E n v i ron me nt a l C onc e r n s (CEC) Research and Advocacy C o ord i n ator L i a A lon z o mentioned concerns regarding the str uctural integrit y of the Kaliwa Watershed. Citing CEC’s analysis of the National Economic and Development Authority’s feasibility study on the NCWSP, she explained that ensuring the longevity of Kaliwa Dam will require the construction of another large dam in the area. Since the ground surrounding the watershed is not sound, it will have a tendency to gradually fall into the water, eventually filling the water basin in a process called sedimentation.

“Since the watershed is already degraded, upon operation there would be heavy sedimentation. It is expected that the dam would only function from 10 [to] 20 years due

to sedimentation if the Laiban dam won’t be constructed,” Alonzo said.

In addition to the dams, the NCWSP also requires the construction of a 25 kilometerlong tunnel that will transport the collected water between t he da ms a nd t reat ment plants. As per the M WSS’s plans, the tunnel will be built u nderg rou nd, “[tr aversing through the] mountain areas of Tanay, Baras, [and] Teresa, Rizal,” further altering Sierra Madre’s natural landscape.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RESISTANCE Besides being a threat to the ecological systems and biodiversity of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, the damming project w ill a lso endanger the way of life of indigenous communities in the area. As such, Dumagat tribes have been vocal in their opposition of the Kaliwa Dam construction.

Research and Documentation Officer of Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Katribu) Joan Jamie expressed that the indigenous population is protesting against Kaliwa Dam because the structure will trample upon their ancestral domain—lands that the

A NEW BROOM SWEEPS BUILDING STREETS RESILIENCE CLEAN The chaosAssessing is not disorderly Marikina mayhem, City’s but rather it isdisaster symbolicmitigation of the idiosyncrasies strategies that give the cityinitsthe own eyes distinct of political charm—which theory.

Palma sees in the stall-lined streets of Manila.

04

ANCESTRAL GROUNDS. Indigenous groups that live along the Sierra Madre Mountain Range are in danger of losing their lands and livelihoods to the construction of the Kaliwa Dam. The dam is expected to cause a high rise in water levels which will eventually disrupt the fish ecosystem. | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL PERFECTO

community considers to be both communal and sacred.

Jaime added that the planned construction of infrastructure on ancestral lands also raises the communities’ fear of relocation. According to Jaime, “Hindi ma-imagine ng mga Dumagat na mang yayari sa kanila na nandoon sila sa isang bahay na pare-pareho raw yung sukat (The Dumagat population cannot imagine the possibility of being placed in houses with the same dimensions).” This is to say that living in relocation sites, characterized by repetitive architecture and confined spaces, is unimaginable for the indigenous community who is accustomed to living in the natural landscapes of the Sierra Madre mountains.

The cultural identity of the Dumagat tribes, like many other indigenous peoples, is intrinsically linked to the land that they inhabit. Jaime explained that the indigenous community acts as stewards of their ancestral domain, relying on it for survival, food, and medicine, while protecting and preserving it for the good of future generations.

Jaime also pointed out the disconnect between business interests and the needs of the indigenous peoples. “Lahat na [lamang] nilagyan ng monetary

value, at lahat na [lamang] pinagkakitaan. Contrary ‘yan doon sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan, pangangailangan ng mga katutubo, at yung tingin nilang [kumon na paggamit] sa lupa,” she said.

(All things are given a monetary value and profited from. This is contrary to the needs of the people, the needs of the indigenous communities, and the idea that land should be used for the common good.)

Alonzo agreed that the dam’s construction will interfere with the livelihood of the local community. As the dam redirects the flow of the river, upstream residences and sacred sites will be flooded, while lowland farming areas will no longer have adequate irrigation. The dam will also bar passage between bodies of saltwater and freshwater, cutting short the lifespans of migratory fish, which are essential in the diet of the indigenous community, and eventually causing extinction.

THE ONGOING FIGHT D e s p it e p r o t e s t s , t h e government’s commitment to pursuing the Kaliwa Dam project as a solution to Manila’s water crisis seems to be set in stone. In the face of MWSS’s signed loan agreement and the

project’s priority status as a part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Build Build Build program, the project’s completion seems inevitable.

Yet, the government cannot begin construction without the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) of the local community, one of the documents required for the project to push through in accordance with Section 7c, Chapter III of The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 or Republic Act 8371.

Jaime reported that heav y militar y presence has been deployed in the area, causing intimidation and confusion among the tribes. Aside from this, Special Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit troops hired by the Chinese construction company were stationed in the area. These troops claimed that their presence is a security measu re a g a inst possible New People’s Army activity.

According to Jaime, these factors have made it difficult for the Dumagat leaders to give their genuine FPIC. Faced with the Duterte administration’s determination to complete the construction of the Kaliwa Dam by 2022, environmental advocates and indigenous communities continue to protest against the project.

Alonzo and Jamie emphasized their groups’ desire for the government to take a deeper look into alternative solutions to Metro Manila’s water crisis.

One of the alternatives recommended by Alonzo is mentioned in a review by the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People or Agham, which asserts that the utilization and maximization of existing water sources can supply the water demands of the whole of Metro Manila.

On Metro M a n i l a ’s contr ibution, A lonzo and Jaime agree that strong public opposition against the dam’s construction could be the deciding factor that will halt the process, as it did with the controversial Chico River Dam project set to be constructed in the Cordilleras in the 1980s.

“Sa tingin namin, ang decisive talaga diyan ang mga tao (In our opinion, the decisive factor is t he people’s opin ion),” concluded Jaime.

2

Beyond Loyola SIDEBAR

Beyond land-related agrarian reform

BY FRANCES C. ROBERTO

FARMERS POUR BLOOD, sweat, and tears into lands they do not own. Reforms from those in seats of power typically tackle such issues of land ownership.

The centerpiece agrarian program of the government, for example, has been the Comprehensive A grarian Reform Program (CARP) which, among many things, is an initiative towards ensuring “a more equitable distribution and ownership of land.”

It seems that CARP’s success on that end is already unpromising: Landowners are normally uncooperative and refuse to transfer their shares of the land, and farmerbeneficiaries of the law are made to acquire ownership of these tracts at steep prices.

Even more work has to be done to address the Filipino far mers’ other problems.

One of t hese hu rd les is t he Ph ilippines’ poor ir r ig at ion s y stem wh ich ha mpers produc tiv it y in the agricultural sector. In 2018, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was able to irrigate 60.35% of the 3.128 million hectares of irrigable lands in the country.

Despite this, the Philippine Institute for Development St ud ies (PIDS) repor ted t he continued subpa r per for ma nce of nationa l irrigation systems with many having water quality issues, inadequate water supply, and deteriorating canals and canal structures.

Another PIDS study found a lack of collaboration between farmers and engineers. Structures made under f lagship irrigation projects tend to be “too sophisticated” for farmers to operate. For instance, engineers working on the Upper Pa mpa ng a River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS) designed a double-gated water control

mechanism that farmers did not know how to utilize.

Projected gains from the agricultural credit system are also lagging. Signed in 2009, the Agri-Agra Reform Act (R.A. 10000) mandated that banks allocate 25% of their loan portfolio to agriculture and fisheries, at least 10% of which should be set aside for agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Even then, banks are not entirely compliant, perceiving farmers to be high-risk borrowers. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that in the first eight months of 2018, the combined allocation of agrarian reform funds within financial institutions is only 13.74%, significantly below the 25% requirement. At the end of 2016, the Agricultural Policy Credit Council (ACPC) documented the credit gap in the agriculture sector to be at Php 367 billion.

Protesting these problems, farmers face the worst of them all: Violence. Since 1950, 11 major incidents have occurred around the country—the most recent being the massacre of 14 farmers in Negros Oriental on March 30.

Few incidents of violence against farmers have been brought to justice. The Mendiola massacre of 1987 remains an open case with no suspects being held accountable since the incident transpired 30 years ago; soldiers involved in the killing of 17 people— including farmers—in the 1987 Lupao massacre ended up acquitted; charges against police and military respondents responsible for the Hacienda Lu isit a ma ssac re were ultimately dismissed.

Many of the issues that currently beset the agricultural sector are ones that have existed for decades. Reforms, wherever these have been implemented, are either slow-moving or incomplete. Despite efforts made by every administration that has come and gone, farmers’ lives are as tough as ever.

Many of the issues currently besetting the agricultural sector are ones that have been there for decades.

“How much longer?”

The uphill battle of coconut farmers

BY GEORGE D. KHO AND FRANCES C. ROBERTO

IN THE HUSH before dawn, life in the city seems perfect. Roads are free from the whirring sounds of a thousand engines. Drawn cur tains in t wo-stor y homes stave off the day’s work a little longer. Hardly anyone is awake to worry about what tomorrow holds.

Miles away in the countryside, coconut farmers out in the fields find no such illusions in the twilight. The past four decades did not gain them much ground in their drawn-out battle against plunder, and still, new challenges are mounting.

Currently, a horde of problems hounds the coconut industry.

Steep drops in prices of coconuts, a lack of infrastructure support, and increasing vulnerabilities to crop destruction by calamity or infestation are only some of the pressing issues confronting coconut farmers.

Corruption is another. Dating back to the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos, the coconut levy scandal has not seen any successful measures taken towards its resolution, with billions of pesos generated from the program still locked in national treasury. In 2018, farmers believed their claims to the funds would finally be granted following the passage of the Coconut Farmers and Industr y Development bill in Congress. However, the measure was ultimately vetoed

by President Rodrigo Duterte last February over a lack of legislative “safeguards,” pushing farmers back to square one.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN The controversy around the coconut levy fund unfolded upon the enactment of the Coconut Investment Act or Republic Act 6260 (R.A. 6260) in 1971.

Effective from 1972 until 1982, the law imposed a tax on coconut farmers equivalent to Php 0.55 per 100 kilograms of copra, Php 0.50 of which was to be funneled into the Coconut Investment Fund. The outstanding balance of Php 0.05 was allocated to the Philippine Coconut Administration and the Philippine Coconut Producers Federation (COCOFED).

In addition to these provisions, R.A. 6260 also established a

ILLUSTRATION BY TAN YU LING FABRO

Coconut Investment Company (CIC) to capita lize a nd administer the collected funds.

RA 6260 conferred to the CIC the objectives to “accelerate the growth of the coconut industry” and to ensure “stable and better incomes” for coconut planters.

Throughout his administration, Marcos ordered the creation of several other funds that levied taxes on coconut farmers, issuing decrees thereafter every so often to amend their structure and functions. Among these ensuing funds, the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) was most significant.

Instituted through Presidential Decree 961, the CIIF was siphoned by businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. and his associates into 14 holding companies whose assets included 47% of San Miguel Corporation (SMC). At the time, Cojuangco notably served as the president and chief executive officer of the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), the administrator of the CIIF. From 1971 to 1983, around Php 9.8 billion was collected from farmers as part of the coconut levy program. Excluding those pending litigation, assets relating to or acquired through the coconut levy were estimated by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to be worth Php 93 billion.

In 2018, two proposed bills were ratified by Congress that many hoped would finally return that sum to the coconut farmers. The first bill, also known as House Bill 5745, aimed to create a Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CITF) “which shall be for the ultimate benefit of coconut farmers and the coconut industry.” The second bill, House Bill 8552, would strengthen the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

These t w in bills would allow a reformed PCA to manage t he tr ust f u nd a nd wou ld f ield si x coconut fa r mers a nd one coconut industr y representative as members of the PCA board aside from government agencies. The bill would also use Php 5 billion e ver y yea r f rom t he coco lev y fund for various farmer benefits such as scholarships, s h a r e d f a c i l it ie s , h e a lt h benefits, farmer organizations, and farm improvements.

Initially, the Malacañang was concerned over the idea of farmers making up most of the PCA board members, calling for a dominant government presence rather than civilians running the fund.

However, even after Congress adjusted the bill in favor of a bigger government makeup in the PCA, the President still rejected the bill, reasoning that the measure lacked “vital safeguards.”

NO END IN SIGHT With both bills vetoed and copra prices still on the low, coconut farmers see no end in sight to their hardship. All over the country, farmers are struggling to make ends meet.

From 2017's farmgate price of Php 38.70 per kilogram of copra and last year's Php 22.38 per kilogram, the average price per kilogram of copra between January this year until June is roughly at Php 14.50.

“It’s as if [copra] has no value anymore. Theft on coconut has disappeared because even thieves don’t think they’re worth it anymore,” Kilusan para sa Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan or Katarungan Secretary-General Dan Carranza said.

With copra being the primary and usually only product that coconut farmers know how to produce, they are finding it hard

to breakeven due to the lack of alternative products.

“Coconut fa r mers don’t know what else to produce other than copra and walnut,” Carranza said. “Coco sugar, virgin oil, coco jam, vinegar, cookies–there are so many products you can make [from coconut].”

Carranza mentioned that the distribution of the coco levy fund could open up those alternatives and opportunities for farmers like himself. This would not only save them during the present time of crisis, but also improve the industry in the long run.

“It may take five or six years for farmers to be able to market different products to different communities,” he said. “But first, you need to use the coconut levy funds to provide [farmers] access to technology and capital for making vinegar, coco sugar, and other products that the local market can use.”

“That way, the market is developed and they’ll have more income,” he added. However, instead of providing that support, Carranza said the present administration might be vying to use the funds for the Build, Build, Build program, its flagship infrastructure initiative.

“The government doesn’t see [coconut farmers] as the real owners [of the fund],” he asserted.

“I think [the distribution of the fund] has been delayed because what Duterte is after is the usage of the fund in the way that he wants, not in the way that coconut farmers want.”

In his 2019 State of the Nation Add ress, President Duterte once again called for the passage of the coco levy bill, but many farmers and sectoral groups like Katarungan may be skeptical of the President’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign promise of restoring the coconut lev y funds after he vetoed the measure.

“Coconut fa r mer s feel sidel i ned . T he P resident promised that within six months, the funds would be made available to us, but nothing has been achieved on that end,” he said. “Nothing has changed.”

The GUIDON | September 2019

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WRITTEN BY GEORGE D. KHO INFOGRAPHIC BY ANDY GRANDA

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Beyond Loyola

Paying a way to higher education

BY CARLO O. FERNANDEZ AND ZACHARY C. GONZALES

ON AUGU S T 3 , 2 017, President Rodr igo Duter te signed the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or Republic Act 10931 (R.A. 10931), a law that would provide free tuition for students in 112 state universities and colleges (SUC), 78 accredited local u n iverst it ies a nd colleges (LUC ), a nd a ll tech n ica lvocat iona l educat ion a nd training programs registered under the Technical Education a n d S k i l l s D e v elo p m e nt Authority (TESDA). Under this law, the state will cover tuition for all classes within a semester along with miscellaneous and other school fees. Furthermore, it will create affirmative action programs, subsidies, and loan programs for students.

In 2018, the law faced many problems in its implementation, such as a decrease in benefits covered by Student Financial Assistant programs and the lack of budgeta r y policies.

Republic Act 10931 remains as CHED’s most impor tant mandate, aiming to remove the barrier to education for the youth and to foster better careers and skills for teachers.

However, the goal of redefining Ph i l ippi ne educat ion goes beyond tackling access problems. It also demands that policymakers treat education’s challenges as a complex system in order for this law, and all succeed i n g ende avor s , to further education.

POLICY VERSUS REALITY One of the most persistent barriers for Filipinos to attain education is the high cost

of enrollment—exclusive of miscellaneous fees. W hile R.A. 10931 eases the financial burden with free tuition and subsidies for other school fees such as library and laboratory fees, other hidden costs such as housing, commute, and meals still prove to be an impediment for the majority of Filipinos.

A paper presented by Roberto de Vera and Jennifer Tan in the 11th National Convention on Statistics in 2010 showed that the average yearly cost of a public high school student who studies in Metro Manila was Php 4,560 in 2015. This amount does not account for emergencies such as family members falling ill, inciting that the cost of education is more than just tuition.

Prompted by the extravagant costs for education, Ateneo de Manila University Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Anne Lan K. Candelaria said, “In fact, it is a problem of inequity.

The gap between the rich and the poor.” She explained that the perspective of R.A. 10931 assu mes equa lit y bet ween Filipinos wherein “everyone has the same [financial] starting point.”

State universities require students to pass their entrance e x a m s a s t he m i n i mu m requ i rement. W it h publ ic schools’ lack of teachers, facilities, and high dropout rates of two hundred to four hundred thousand, students who attended private schools have a substantial advantage in these tests. Furthermore, the new K-12 system—formally institutionalized through the Basic Education Act of 2013— imposes an additional t wo years of high school that most public school teachers, whose arrangement is to teach basic

subjects but not higher subjects, are unequipped to teach. “It’s more than just simply giving free education: It’s also about t he idea of what is fa ir,” Candelaria said.

C a ndel a r i a t r a c e s t h i s problem of mismatched targets back to the polic y ma kers. “ Pol it ic i a n s k a s i t he y ’re not t r a i ne d for m a l l y i n policymaking,” she explains.

“Policy making is obstructed by politics w it h ever y administration redesig ning the system, undoing the work of the previous administration.”

For example, the K-12 system undoes years of work w ith regards to the old curriculum while also demanding more facilities and teachers. “It’s ver y toxic. So parang ever y t i me t here’s a cha nge of leadership, the tendency is to totally destroy the previous a d m i n i s t r at ion — w h ic h i s not helping t he cou ntr y,” Candelaria added.

TACKLING A COMPLEX SYSTEM While R.A. 10931 aims to improve all aspects of education, it appears to be a solution only for surface level problems.

Candelaria argues that proper investment in basic education should be the government’s primar y focus as it affects more Filipinos rather than in tertiary education, which only the privileged few can attend.

She elaborates on two primary avenues for improv ing the current state of our education: Teachers and infrastructure.

Investing in infrastructure may address the inf lux of students brought about by the new K-12 curriculum. Likewise, an increase in educators’ salaries incentivizes more individuals to work at public schools and

encourages current instructors to increase overall productivity.

Though their sa lar ies are expected to increase under the Salary Standardization Law, the lack of teachers’ welfare remains a central issue in Philippine education. Better living and working conditions unburden some tasks and help retain educators—which the Philippines unfortunately lacks.

S e c o n d l y, Candelar ia advocated for con necting e d u c a t i o n t o i n d u s t r y.

Connecting to the industr y allows students to be more engaged with education by exposing them to potential employers in fields of their interests.

“Part of the infrastructure that’s necessa r y to rea lly improve the quality is that we improve our relationships as well on the ground—with the community,” she said. Projects such as Brigada Eskwela achieve this goal by connecting alumni, civic groups, local businesses, non-government organizations, t e a c he r s , s t u de nt s , a nd individuals through volunteer work in repairing elementary and secondary public schools.

T he ne w K-1 2 s y s tem restructures senior high school to emphasize this relationship w it h i ndu s t r y p a r t ne r s .

“Students are prepared to move to college, and then you have a cohort that’s prepared to move to the industries,” Candelaria explained, emphasizing how beneficial it is for both students and the industries to establish a good relationship early on. “ We have to look at education

[as] a system that’s connected,” she added.

A FIGHT FOR FILIPINO EDUCATION Currently, CHED is increasing the number of schools covered under R . A . 10931.

However, Candelaria encourages policymakers to take on a more holistic view towards education. She emphasized that education should be a learning experience consistent for all students by being grounded in an efficient and fair system.

“The government should think of education that way: That the journey for a Filipino

student should be seamless,” she said.

Only by producing students who are able to think critically can Philippine society be reenvisioned. “It’s about time that we really discuss what matters to us as a nation and chart our own path. If this is the kind of nation we want to be, if this is the kind of society we want to produce—the next generation—then we do it,” Candelaria stressed. However, until more reformations are made to the education sector, R.A. 10931 remains beyond arm’s length from providing consistent quality education to all Filipinos.

ILLUSTRATION BY DENEV NG

A new broom sweeps streets clean

BY CARLO O. FERNANDEZ AND ZACHARY C. GONZALES

THE MONTH of July saw Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno circling the city, exercising swift justice to issues dotting the country’s capital. Following the mayor’s inspection of streets, the street vendors crowding Manila’s arteries such as Recto and Carriedo were next on the chopping block. As certain streets became markedly devoid of its signature stalls, some have questioned the fate of the vendors now that they’re deprived of their only means of livelihood.

Moreno’s venture in organizing the street vendors en masse is geared towards his vision for a greener Manila. However, while he intends to resolve one dilemma,

his lack of a plan for what comes after has birthed another predicament on the future of displaced street vendors. This has piqued the attention of environmental planning experts and advocates in the country.

A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH In her opinion pieces for CNN and Rappler, former United Nations Human Settlements P rog ra mme ( U N-Habitat) Local Economic Development Consultant Ragene Palma shared her disgruntlement towards the displacement caused by Moreno's clearing efforts.

Commenting on the state of our urban fabric in an interview with The GUIDON, she candidly said that it is indeed “chaotic.”

However, she also added that there is “beauty in the chaos.”

Expounding further, she said, “If you say chaotic, many people say “panget” pag sinabi mo (it is ugly if you mention) urban chaos; but [chaos actually] gives character to the city ."

The chaos is not disorderly mayhem, but rather it is symbolic of the idiosyncrasies that give the city its own distinct charm— which Palma sees in the stall-lined streets of Manila. Tagum City resident Louie Lapat echoed her sentiments when he described his first visit to Binondo as “vivacious, chaotic, [and] always moving.”

He added, “[Although Manila is] often tagged as a chaotic urban hub, its charm is magnetic.”

Lamenting the misconceptions people have on urban planning such as holding infrastructure to a higher regard than residents, Palma stressed, “[People] think

CLEAR THE STREETS. As per the new law implemented by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, the police of Manila aid in removing illegal stalls that have been set up along the roads of Divisoria. | PHOTO BY MICHAEL PERFECTO

planning is about… infrastructure when it’s actually about people… it’s primarily about people.”

Palma then questioned the public’s notions about street vendors as obstacles to the city’s design. “[Street] vendors are people. How could they be an obstacle in a city when they are people who use the city? When they’re supposed to be part of the planning?” Palma griped. “[Were] they actually given d ig n if ied spaces? ” Pa lma asserted further. “[Are] they obstacles, or [did] our urban design not provide for them to be able to cope within the city?”

A CELEBRATED CULTURE It may appear as if the in for ma l sec tor—street vendors included—do not play a significant role in the economy, but the revenue and contribution they funnel into economic growth are outstanding given t heir circu msta nces. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) pegged Php 5.013 trillion as the contribution of street vendors to the Php 14.48 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016—more than a third of the country’s total GDP that year. “ St reet vendors g reat ly contribute to a city's culture and economy,” urban planner Patrick Jalasco said. “In terms of local economy, supporting this kind of neighborhood ‘moma nd-pop -shop’ commercia l con f ig u r at ion is a much better alternative to malls as Metro Manila's main areas for commercial activity since

it's a step towards promoting walkability in our cities.”

Apart from their economic value, street vendors play a significant role in Philippine culture as well. In a roundtable discussion by People Make Cities, a group of urbanists, urban planner Julia Nebrija mentioned that “[It’s] the people that make the place alive.” The roundtable, which consisted of planners such as Nebrija, Palma, and urban planner Paulo Alcazaren, added how apart from being convenient, street vending provides a sense of character, community, and vibrance to cities.

Indeed, our capital is endowed with vibrant cultural hubs such as Divisoria and Binondo. “[During] Chinese New Year, everyone goes to Binondo. If there’s WW (Christmas) everyone goes to Divisoria,” Palma said. “Everyone goes there… yet now, [even the people are seen as] obstacles,” she added.

Palma f ur ther stressed, “[There’s] a certain value to [culture] in a place… [a] value that we do not capture because it’s not formal; but people use it [and] people need it.”

COMPLICATIONS AND COMPROMISES The removal of street stalls comes at the expense of not only the area’s culture, but also the livelihood of millions of Filipinos. “For someone… earning Php 20 to Php 30 a day for food… Php 1000 a month, what do they do for three months?” Palma said. Plans

for the displaced vendors’ per ma nent relocation a nd organization are currently being laid out—though even that is met with criticism, Palma said.

“It’s the same when you relocate them to...[a National Housing Authorit y] site in Bulacan.

They will just come back… It’s ineffective when you remove them from where the markets are,” she explained.

As the issue faced by street vendors seems to spiral deeper, a healthy compromise, Palma suggested, is conversing with the vendors. In Liberia's capital Monrovia, embattled street vendors organized, earned respect, and eventually worked alongside city officials—serving as proof that street vendors can indeed collaborate with their local government.

Giving Moreno the benefit of the doubt, however, Jalasco said, “[Indeed] evacuations should be done as a last resort action by the government. But for the sake of fairness, we should also look at the context of where Mayor Isko is coming from. [Env ironmental] and health hazards… a very limited time of [three] years to f ix Ma n ila it… becomes more understandable why'd he resort to such drastic actions.”

Regardless, Jalasco concluded that Moreno needs to formulate a plan for the livelihood of the displaced vendors in Manila.

“I've yet to see a plan coming from his office and I seriously hope that he makes the right decisions with this one,” he said.

EDITOR: MIKAELA B. LLANES | LAYOUT ARTIST: CARMELA B. MASIGLAT

Features Hashtag boycott

MORE THAN JUST A HOT MINUTE

Courtside reporters continue to aspire to break the glass ceiling by proving that there is more to them and their craft.

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While companies that contract workers remain largely unopposed, the hashtag boycott movement, amidst questions of its effectivity, attempts to serve as a voice against unjust worker conditions.

BY BENJIE BERNAL AND GENESIS JACINTH TAN

FOR THE past few months, t he Jollibee in f ront of t he A te ne o c a mpu s h a s b e e n under renovation; and so, for the mea ntime, the Atenea n com mu n it y has lost access t o t h e f a s t fo o d c h a i n’s si g n at u re “l an gh ap s arap ” chicken, among other things on its menu. However, a larger i s s ue t h a n it s te mp or a r y closure calls the community’s attention, causing consumers to f lock elsewhere: The food giant’s looming labor issues.

The Jollibee Fo o d Cor poration (JFC) employs the most contractual workers in the cou ntr y w ith 1 4 ,0 0 0 unreg ularized employees as of 2018. In light of this, the D e pa r t ment of L ab or a nd E mplo y me nt orde re d J F C to reg u la r i z e 6 , 0 0 0 of its contractual employees in April 2018. However, JFC manages to evade absolute compliance b e c a u s e t h e y c i r c u m v e nt labor-only hiring prohibitions by hiring contractors who then acquire contractual workers for their stores.

La st yea r, up on hea r i n g ne w s ab out m a s s lay- of fs and JFC’s continual practice of contractualization, netizens condemned the food giant’s actions through the #BoycottJollibee trend on social media.

T he r ise of t he i nter net and social media have made it e a sie r to c om mu n ic ate messages to wider audiences.

A s such, t h is has prov ided another platform for boycott movements to thrive.

L o c a l ly, h a sht a g b oycot t s against companies that have v iolated worker s ’ r i g hts — such as #BoycottNutri Asia— a re a mong t he notable movements that have gained traction online. Despite the growing movement, some are skeptical of the effectiveness of boycot ts a nd its on l i ne s upp or t , cla i m i n g t h at at t he end of t he d ay, t hese do nothing to sha ke up those in power.

THE "WHY" OF THE CRY For me r Matanglawin Editor-in- Chief and student ac t iv is t Jes sic a G ayo (A B LIT ENG ‘19) believes t hat boycot t i n g is a met hod of protest t h at h a s a u n ique i nt r i n sic v a lue . “ B oycot t s are sig nif icant in the w a y t he r i g ht to vote i s si g n i f ic a nt ,” she s ay s . “ It

NO PHOTOS HERE. A private security personnel of Zagu attempts to stop The GUIDON's photographer from documenting the picket line during the Zagu workers' strike last August 17, 2019. | PHOTO BY CRISTINA BATALLA

g ives t he major it y—t he people —t he power to hold accou nt able a nd ques t ion whether the governing body that is supposed to protec t t hem is doi n g its job.”

However, John Gokong wei School of Ma nagement Representative Mica Torres notes that a major hindrance to t he b oycot t movement i s t he l a c k of a w a re ne s s about the power of collective protest. “ For me , p u bl ic p ol ic y and well-disseminated [information] campaigns are more ef fective in cha ng ing p eople ’s v ie w s by m a k i n g them naturally opt for other alternatives instead,” she says.

“If we want people to be on board and join the good f ight, we need to make them realize why t he y must join in t he f irst place.”

W hile such protests t y pically manifest in person, technological advancements have proven that the movement c a n b e c a r r ied over to a different platform. With the internet br id g i n g t he g ap be t ween communication and information dissemination, it ’s no wonder w hy t here ha s been a su rge i n political movements.

WHEN "#NO" ISN'T ENOUGH The public’s use of socia l media has recently expanded from sharing personal

mundanities to disseminating a nd org a nizing va r ious political movements. “Workers [used to] rely on their wordof-mouth or their connections with the unions,” Agham Youth memb er A lab Ay roso s ay s regarding the changes in how boycotts operate. “Now, with social media and the internet, it's easier for them to get the word out , esp ec ia l ly w it h students who are integrating with them and people from the academe to spread the word.”

Online information dissemination then becomes an impor tant component in ensuring a boycott’s success as its streng th often relies on nu mbers. Hashtag boycot ts l i ke #B oycot t Jol l ib ee a nd #Boycot tZag u a re only t wo of t he m a n y t r e nd s t h a t h ave g a r nered si g n i f ic a nt support on the internet.

However, there have been some c r it ic isms reg a rd i n g people’s capabilit y to follow t h rou gh w it h t heir cla ims.

Though many tweet in support of boycot t movements, t he supposed repercussions from these trending hashtags rarely ref lect on the compa ny ’s over a l l prof its.

It has been pointed out that people's willpower to actually boycot t a product tends to be wea k, especially if their only platfor m to sympathize with such causes is on the internet. This is aff irmed

b y J F C s t o c k h old e r a n d lon g t i me st udent-i nvestor Jolo Gutierrez (4 A B MEC), who says that boycotts “hardly ma ke a dent i n t he stocks of JFC.” G a y o s a y s t h a t it ’s diff icult to gauge how many p e ople a re re a c he d w he n d issem inating in for mation a b out a c e r t a i n b o y c o t t , emphasizing that the traction g a ined by hashta g boycott movements does not g ua ra ntee t hat t he genera l masses are aware and informed of the situation and its sever it y. She re-a f f ir ms that there is no way of knowing i f e ver y socia l i nter ac t ion truly translates to support for the boycott in real life.

LOGGING OFF AND TAKING THE LEAD W h i le h a sht a g b oycot t s ta ke the lead in advocating for workers’ r ights, t here’s more to b e done b e yond rally ing on the streets and on the screens. Political Science Department professor M ig uel R iver a ex pla ins that boycot ts that sta r t a nd end online a ren’t effective in helping laborers because socia l media is not w he re t he b at t le l ie s for w or ke r s ' r i g ht s — i n s t e a d , he says t hat it lies in ne g ot i at ion s b e t ween t he employee and the employer.

R i ve r a el a b or a te s t h a t , in order for workers to be reg ularized, they themselves have to organize and demand reg ularization.

A l l i n it iat ives besides t he aforementioned—from g o v e r n m e nt i nt e r v e nt io n to hashtag boycott movements—“only [ play] a supportive role.”

However, Ay roso believes i n t he power of nu mbers. “ [ B o y c o t t s] w i l l on l y b e successful to help the strike if a lot of people wou ld do it a nd [ i f ] t h e c omp a n y notices that the workers are on strike,” she says.

At the end of the day, it’s still up to a company’s higher-ups to ma ke administrative changes. Gutierrez points out a harsh realit y: Shareholders tend to only ever ca re about whet her or not t heir i nvest ments a re ma k i n g a prof it . O ne such i nst a nce wou ld b e w hen Jol l ib e e 's s to ck s went up fol low i n g President Rodrigo Duter te’s decision to veto the Securit y o f Te n u r e B i l l . D u e t o t he d ism issa l of t h is bi l l, c omp a n ie s a re no lon g e r requ i red to i ncrea se t hei r costs for pay i n g benef its. “[Sometimes] what’s good for business isn’t exactly good for people,” Gutierrez says.

Nonetheless, there are still in-government mechanisms w h e r e u n ion s c a n g o to s e ek s upp or t .“A r bit r at ion happens a lot in labor disputes.

T he y g o to t he Nat ion a l Labor Relations Commission to s e t t le t h i n g s ,” R i ve r a explains. However, he points out that because workers are

easily replaced in a societ y where high school graduates a re plent i f u l a nd jobs a re sca rce, ma king dema nds at the expense of getting f ired is a r isk lab orer s c a n not afford to take.

"If we want people to be on board and join the good fight, we need to make them realize why they must join in the first place."

MICA TORRES JOHN GOKONGWEI SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE

A t t he end of t he d ay, socia l media a lone is not enou g h to i nc ite t he cha n ges t hat ou r workers need . W h i le so c ia l med ia may ser ve as a ca ll to ac t ion, t here is st ill much more that we can do beyond t he echo cha mbers of t he i nter ne t . T h rou g h actively par ticipating i n p h y s ic a l p r o t e s t s , w e a re able to ex tend ou r suppor t and f ight the good f ight of f line— on the streets where the workers’ ongoing bat tle truly manifests.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREA GRANDA

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Features

UAAP SEASON 81 AND 82 ATENEO COURTSIDE REPORTER FRANNIE REYES PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA TAN

More than just a hot minute Courtside reporters prove that there’s more to them than just reporting from the sidelines.

BY ROBERTO A. OROSA AND ANDREA MIKAELA LLANES

I T ' S NO sec ret t hat t he Philippines is obsessed w ith college basketba ll. W it h e ver y Un iversit y At h let ics Association of the Philippines ( UA A P) season t hat comes and goes, avid fans of the sport go through various measures to indu lge a nd immerse themselves in the experience.

Howe ver, aside from getting to know the actual t e a m s , f a n s a l s o l i ke t o familiarize themselves with another UA A P mainstay: The courtside reporter.

Oftentimes, these reporters t a ke on t he f ront l i ne of spor ts jou r na lism wh ile repor ting from the sidelines of a game. Tasked to deliver bot h live updates a nd pregame news, they are expected to h ave not on ly a k n ack for repor ta ge, but a lso knowledge of the sport and the players t he y a re to repor t a b o ut . W h i le t he r ole i s not lim ited to one gender,

cour tside repor ters at t he colleg iate level a re mostly women.

Ta k i n g on t he role h a s b e en s e en a s a pr i v i le g e , but for many female correspondents, there still exists the risk of obje c t i f ic at ion onc e t he y c ho o s e to b e i n f ront of t h e c a m e r a . A n nu a l l y, these repor ters become t he subjec ts of a r ticles such as “ W ho’s This Yea r ’s Prettiest Courtside Reporter?” a nd loca l for u ms that openly speculate about their personal lives.

Regardless,courtside repor ters continue to a s pi re to bre a k t he g l a s s ceiling by prov ing that t here is more to t hem a nd their craft.

PRE-GAME SENTIMENTS Most cou r tside repor ters realize their calling for sports jou r n a l ism f rom w atch i n g s p o r t s b r o a d c a s t s , w h i le s ome p oi nt to t he l a r g e r scene of Philippine media as a motivator.

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball Leag ue cour tside repor ter Gianna Llanes

UAAP SEASON 79 ATENEO COURTSIDE REPORTER DENICE DINSAY FILE PHOTO BY JOHN ORANGA

(A B C OM ‘ 18) s h a r e s how she g rew up in Ca nada a nd had lit tle ex posu re to F i l ipi no tele v ision . “I n a l l honest y, I entered t he enter ta i n ment i ndu st r y at the age of 18 where I didn’t know much,” she says.

On the other hand, Ateneo’s Sea son 81 a nd 82 UA A P c ou r t s ide r e p or te r Frannie Reyes knew her calling for the court early on. “It was a l o n g t i m e j o k e [a n d ] d r e a m fo r m e t o r e p o r t i n t h e UA A P. I g r e w u p w atch i n g t he UA A P a nd I wa nted to be a pa r t of i t ,” R e y e s s a y s . “ I w a s scared, of course. This was something new and uncharted for me.”

Ateneo UA A P S ea son 79 cou r tside rep or ter D en ice Dinsay (A B COM ‘18) shares si m i la r sent i ments: “It wasn't by cha nce that I got accepted to be a cou r tside repor ter. I've always sought a nd pr ayed for my c a reer path, so this was an answered prayer.”

Regardless of the var y ing reasons as to why they in itia lly got into cou r tside repor ting, the three women ex press that they felt

similar apprehensions pr ior to b e c om i n g me d i a p e r s on a l it ie s . L l a ne s a nd Reyes mention how they both felt ne r vou s a b out b e i n g put in a position where they wou ld not b e i m mu ne to jud g ment ; D i n s ay a f f i r m s t h is b y t a l k i n g ab out her initia l introversion a nd her a n x iet y about her ne w fou nd resp on sibi l it ies as a public f ig ure.

“The moment you are [in] t he spot l ight a nd people 's eyes are on you, there i s a r e s p on s i bi l it y to b e more mindf ul of your words a nd ac tions because you have a w ider [reach],” Dinsay says.

No n e t h ele s s , t h e t h r e e p er se vered . “ I t hou g ht to my s el f, I h a d not h i n g to lose, and [so I] went for it,” Reyes says.

OFF-CAMERA SETBACKS W h i le p er si s tenc e a m id p er s on a l i n s e c u r it ie s a nd screening processes has g iven these cour tside reporters the spotlight, these women cont i nue to face a v a r iet y of cha l lenges e ven a f ter they have secured the mic. Issues such as objectification and m i s r e p r e s e nt a t ion pl a g u e

w o m e n i n t o d a y ’s m e d i a la nd sc ape, a nd t he sp or ts s c e n e i s , u n f o r t u n a t e l y, no exception.

Llanes expresses her views on being a media woma n in a male-dominated industr y. “ W hen I f irst beca me a cou r tside repor ter for t he UA AP, I found [that] we [were] a ll compared by our looks,” she laments.

Similarly, Dinsay goes on to cite the common stereot y pes t h a t c o m e w it h b e i n g a courtside reporter; more often than not, there is a str uggle for women to prove t hemselves capable a nd credible beyond the surfacele v e l p e r c e p t io n s p e o p le m a ke of t hem . “ Sm a r t or c a p a b le i s n o t t h e f i r s t t h i n g t h at comes to one 's m i nd ,” she s ay s . “I'm not generalizing ever yone, but t here is t hat t h i n k i n g t hat I got t he position because of [my] ‘looks.’”

Llanes adds to this by mentioning specif ic instances, such as how it was more likely for he r to re c e i ve c om me nt s on her physica l appea ra nce t ha n on t he content of her repor ts. “I tel l people that being a female cou r tside repor ter in a male-dominated spor ts i ndu s t r y i s ver y d i f f ic u lt and I still see some c o m m e n t s s a y i n g 's h e ’s pre t t y ' or 'she h a s a n ice sm i le ' over 'she h a s g o o d content in her repor ts,' but it ma kes me work ha rder to somed ay m a ke my m a rk ,” she explains.

On the other ha nd, Reyes says she ex periences things t h a t a m a n m i g ht n e v e r have to; most women have to de a l w it h t he me d i a’s overa ll obsession w ith face va lue, t hus add ing to t he ch a l len ge of b ei n g ta ken ser iously in what has been criticized as “a boysonly playground.”

In a profession as exacting as repor ting, all three w o m e n a g r e e t h a t i t ’s best to su r rou nd you r sel f w ith supportive and u pl i f t i n g p e o ple . D i n s a y, for i nsta nce, gets by w it h t he help of t he re p or t i n g communit y that f irst welcomed her to the cou r t.

“It 's h a rd to brea k out i n this industr y and even ha rder when you're fema le [ because] you have to work harder to be recognized and respec ted. It helps to have p e ople w ho b a c k you up, e n c o u r a g e , a n d e mp o w e r you,” she says.

THE BALL IN THEIR COURT The platform of a courtside r e p o r t e r a l lo w s t h e m t o

leave a n impact on v iewers nationw ide—a pr iv ilege t h at shou ld not b e t a ken for granted.

Reyes ack nowledges t h is responsibilit y and practices honest y as a repor ter. “[At] the end of the day, I have this opportunit y to tell the truth about something, even if that’s just the lives of athletes or what’s going on in the games,” she says.

Dinsay, on the other hand, v a lues d iplom ac y most of a ll. “ We must be w ise a nd graceful with our words as we have the beautif ul priv ilege to shape people's minds and beliefs,” she says. “I t h in k people should always pursue the truth. We need to be more v ig ila nt t ha n e ver because this is a time of [relativ it y] a n d s u b j e c t i v i t y — i t 's a dangerous thing.”

Llanes ties it all together by emphasizing the importance of perseverance in the name of representation. " I t h in k it’s important to have women working in media now more than ever because it’s about time,” she says.

As the women of the local spor tscast ing scene aspire to prove that the cour t ca n b e sh a re d b y a l l , we a re reminded of the even bigger sig nif icance of hav ing fe m a le r e pr e s e nt a t ion i n spor ts journalism. A lthough prog ress i n t he press box cou ld s t i l l b e con sidere d p r e t t y slo w, c o u r t s ide repor ters a re some of t he f i r s t to i n si s t t h at t he re is room for e ver yone —it ’s time to eliminate a ge- old stereot y pes a nd i n stead g ive c red it w here it’s due.

"I think it’s important to have women working in media now more than ever because it’s about time."

GIANNA LLANES MAHARLIKA PILIPINAS BASKETBALL LEAGUE COURTSIDE REPORTER

" Despite bei ng told t hat they have no place in media, [women] have to cont i nue to w r ite, to spea k , a nd to s h a r e w h a t t h e y b el ie v e t he world s hou ld k no w,” Llanes says. “When [women] a r e r id ic u le d , t h e y t u r n that opposition a rou nd by show i n g t h at t he y a re powerful too."

The GUIDON | September 2019

3

Stalemate: After closing time sales Bakeries play an increasingly vital role as food waste becomes a prevalent issue.

BY EALA JULIENNE P. NOLASCO AND RUSSELL LOUIS KU

PHOTO BY JULIA CARPIO

MOR NINGS IN the Philippines a re of ten associated w ith the scent of freshly baked pan de sal. With its distinct taste, smell, and affordabilit y, it’s no wonder that customers do what they can to snag a warm bag of pan de sal f rom loca l ba ker ies; once you’ve secured your f ix, t hough, it becomes easy to forget what happens to the ba ker ies ’ u nsold produc ts after they put up their “Sorr y, we’re closed” signs.

Leftovers at the end of the day a re inev itable, even for in demand staples like bread.

Before looking into how the Filipino favorite contributes food waste, a concer n t hat currently plagues the countr y, we must f irst delve into the phenomena’s local beginnings.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT A lot can be said about how much we love Filipino food.

Histor y Department professor Kristine Santos points out how t y pica l Filipino mea ls have rice as a staple; it’s usually the ulam or viand that switches up and we tr y to have a different one per meal. “I think our food culture is ver y vibrant, and it’s ver y abundant, even amongst the most meager of dishes,” she says. “Our food culture celebrates our abundance in terms of agriculture.”

"Proper planning and optimization is the key to creating a sustainable solution to food waste problem."

JERICKO GARCIA MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING ASSOCIATION VICE PRESIDENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY

She goes on to ta lk about how F i l ipi no food c u lt u re can be ref lected by our love for f iesta s and our trends in consu mption. According to Santos, Filipinos enjoy f iestas because of its buffet aspect, where one has “free will to get as much as you want.” Santos s a y s t h at w he n F i l ipi no s have to think of a good meal, their minds often go straight to big food g ather ings that Filipinos often have.

W he n it c ome s to ho w Filipino consumption practices have changed over time, Santos expresses worr y over how dependent Filipinos are on protein. “Regardless of where you go in terms of the humblest of car inder ia to the fanciest of restaurants, more of ten t ha n not you’ l l f i nd limited options in ter ms of vegetables, but you’ll always have lots of options in terms of protein,” she laments.

Sa ntos ca lls t he issue of l i m ite d ve g e t a ble opt ion s interesting, possibly because of w h at it re f le c t s a b out ou r d ie t s . T he Fo o d a nd Nutrition Research Institute presented in Febr ua r y 2018 t h a t F i l ip i n o s ’ c o m b i n e d per capita consu mption of f r u its a nd vegetables is le s s t h a n h a l f of w h at is recommended by the World Hea lt h Org a n ization; in contrast, Filipino consumption of meat and eggs have gone up. As the Filipino palate cha nges, it’s wor th look ing into how much the issue of food waste has changed along with it.

In a repor t by t he A siaPacific Economic Cooperation in 2015, it was found that 33% of the Philippines’ total food produc t ion goes to w a ste; i n cont r a st , a 2 018 World Hu nger Repor t ref lec ts t h at t here a re nea rly 1 4 . 2 million under nour ished F i l ipi nos a nd 13 .3 m i l l ion F i l ipi no s w ho ident i f y a s “ food-i nsec u re.” Stat ist ics show that Filipinos annually waste an average of 3 .29 kg of food per year, which could feed a n e s t i m a t e d 4 .3 m i l l ion F i l ip i n o s i f n e e d e d . T h e disparit y shows that despite t he abu nd a nce we so of ten celebrate, much of ou r mea ls still get trashed a t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y.

OUR DAILY BREAD A s w e r e - e v a lu a t e o u r disposal practices, it’s worth lo ok i n g i nto w h at we do w ith our bread. Historically, bread has ser ved to augment hunger in low-income families. Santos notes how the pan de sal, in particular, came to be a Filipino favorite. “[For] t hose who w a nt to have a ta ste of bread— somet h i ng t hat ’s ea s y or accessible — [ it] wou ld h ave b e e n t he

cheapest bread you could buy,” she says.

Today, commercial bakeries ma ke up 20.3% of the 3 ,000 manufacturing establishments in t he cou ntr y. A long w it h it s h i s tor ic a l t ie s , b r e a d ha s e volved i nto a d ieta r y s t aple i n t he Ph i l ippi nes; eaten out of convenience as an a lter native for r ice or as a snack. With this, ba keries have to ensure that the bread they sell is being presented as something filling and ready for immediate consumption.

A s com merc ia l b a ker ies e x p a nd , t ho u g h , s o do e s the problem of waste. There a r e v a r io u s r e a s on s w h y commercial bakeries prioritize selling fresh bread daily and dispose of unsold bread, one of which is edibilit y. Santos notes t hat a s stored bread is ex posed to humid env i ron ments , it b ecomes prone to developing mold or hard texture.

Meanwhile, other bakeries are concerned about ensuring prof it and ma i nt a i n i n g t he leg ac y of the ba ker y ’s brand. Jan,* an of f icer who is in cha rge of a loca l com mercia l ba ker y that branches from a s u p e r m a r ke t o w ne d b y a F i l ipi no mu lt i-m i l l iona i re, sha res t hat bread d isposa l is pr ac t iced on t he d a i ly.

Jan adds that unsold breads were directly thrown i nt o t h e t r a s h b i n s a n d covered w ith powdered soap on it to ensure that the disposed products would not be re-sold or taken from the trash.

S a nto s emph a si z e s t h at ba ker ies a re businesses that “respond to their com mu n it y.

If the commu n it y ca n not even a f ford [ bread], then there’s a g reat likelihood that [t h e b a ke r y] w i l l c lo s e .”

T hu s, ba ker ies mu st lea r n to adapt to consumers’ consumption patterns while leav ing minima l bread waste at the end of the day.

SHARING THE LOAF Not all bakeries prioritize profit at the cost of food waste; one such exa mple wou ld be the closing time sales, where ba ker ies ma rkdow n the pr ices of t heir pastr ies

before t he end of t he day.

Santos notes that, among the com merc ia l ba ker ies, T he French Baker was one of the f irst to adopt this practice.

Today, other bakeries have found innovative methods to sell unsold bread and reduce food waste. Butcher ’s Ca fe Katipunan Store Super v isor Dianne Rubi says that in the scena r io t hat t he bread on sa le still does not get sold, the bread would be repurposed to p r o du c e o t h e r g o o d s .

“Usually ang hindi n a sosold is pan d e s a l , so y u n g p an d e s a l g i n a ga wa namin siyang buttered pudding,” she adds.

(Usually, pan de sal does not get sold out, so we turn them into buttered pudding.)

W it h t he i s s ue of fo o d w a ste at ha nd , t he Hou se of Representatives has re c e nt l y a ppr o ve d Hou s e Bill 8873 , also know n a s t h e “ Fo o d R e d u c t io n A c t ,” wh ich requ i res food establishments to donate lef tovers and ma ndates t he creation a nd reg u lat ion of foo d ba n k s .

Th is bi ll a ims to pave t he way for fur ther involvement of compa nies a nd cha r ities in tackling the issue of hunger while reducing food waste due to leftover food.

Therefore, there is a need for commercia l ba ker ies to ex plore i n it iat ives be yond

PHOTO BY JULIA CARPIO

s a le s i n orde r to le s s e n fo o d w a s t e .

These could include engaging in cha r itable causes to solve t he societa l problem of hu nger. Notable ef for ts include the ReFood project in Portugal wherein volunteers col lec t lef tover food f rom food establishments to prov ide for t he poor in their communit y.

The practice of donating lef tover food—not lim ited to bread—to cha r it y is already being done locally to some ex tent. Santos recalls her ex per ience work ing for a n inter nationa l cof fee cha in: “[One] of the things [t h a t t h e o w n e r s] t o l d [employees] is t hat, at t he e n d o f t h e d a y, p u t the bread together and…donate it to the nearest charit y.”

MOLDING NEW PRACTICES D e s pite t he d i f f ic u lt ie s ba ker ies f ace i n en su r i n g zero food waste and maintaining product qualit y, bread continues to play a n impor ta nt role towa rds for ming Ph ilippine cu lt u re a nd s o c ie t y a s it a dju s t s to their social and economic need s a nd s t at u re . W h i le b a k e r ie s v a lu e c u s t o m e r satisfaction a nd prof it, there is more at sta ke to be considered w ith ever y slice of bread.

Food w a ste is def i n itely not limited to our commercial ba ker ies; t he phenomenon

is one that ex ists on a more m ac ro sc a le, w it h i n t he c onte x t s of b ot h t he consumer and the producer.

W het her it stems f rom t he food we end up w ast ing at f u l l- spread bu f fe ts or t he p er ish ables pro duc t s t h at bigger enterprises purchase, t he concer n of food w a ste demands immediate preventive action.

“I think that throw ing away u nsold food is a signif ier of lack of optim ization w it h in t he establishment,” Vice President for S u s t a i n a bi l it y for t he M a n a g e me nt E n g i n e e r i n g A ssociat ion Jer icko Ga rcia say s. “A side f rom t he fac t t hat t h row ing away u nsold food creates food waste, it a lso shows the inef f icienc y of t he establish ment in its production of goods.”

Garcia asserts that proper planning and optimization is a sustainable s olut ion to ou r c onc e r n s w it h fo o d w a s te; he add s that the root cause of t he problem shou ld be identif ied in order to cra f t holistic solutions.

While bakeries take a step tow a rds elim inat ing w a ste a nd improv ing customer experience, more innovative a nd inclusive solutions a re needed in order for ever yone to enjoy a sl ice of f resh ly baked bread. *Editor’s Note: The name of the inter vie wee has been changed at their request in order to protect their identit y and pr ivac y.

EDITOR: TRISTAN CHAN | LAYOUT ARTIST: CARMELA B. MASIGLAT

lnquiry Drawing the line Between personal motivations and political convictions, leaders shape their communities around who they are as individuals.

BY JEAN MANGALUZ

ILLUSTRATION BY ANDY GRANDA

OV E R T H E y e a r s , t h e question of whet her or not t here is a l i ne b e t ween a leader's personal and political life has risen to prominence.

This can be seen in prominent politica l persona lities such as A ndres Bonifacio, Corazon Aquino, and even the current President Rod r igo Duter te.

The lat ter in pa r ticu la r has a grow ing list of controversies, g iven h is penchant for making inf lammator y remarks towa rd va r ious g roups and individuals.

Accord ing to Politica l S c ie n c e I n s t r u c tor A r j a n A g uirre, a leader ’s personal aspects include “educational background, [ beliefs, p h i l o s o p h y] , religion, characteristics, [and] personal at t r ibutes,” a mong ot hers.

Concurrently, he says leaders also have attributes that are considered to be public i n nat u re. “For exa mple, if he is a member of a pol it ica l par t y, he has to embody the principles and ideologies that [the part y] embodies.”

Ag uirre stresses that these t wo a spec ts a re i ne v itably i nter t w i ned . “Don’t forget that the person [who] occupies the of f ice is still inf luenced by the ver y qualities inherent [to] or embedded in his or her body,” he says.

PERSONAL TO POLITICAL A g u i r re c ite s P re s ide nt D uter te a s a n e x a mple to i l lu s t r a t e h o w a le a de r ’s p er s on a l qu a l it ie s “ sh ap e [t h e i r] office” and their public lives.

“Personal attributes niya, y u n g m g a b e l ie f s y s t e m , yung kanyang macho disposition, misog y nist tendencies, nadala sa of f ice ( He brou g ht a l l of his persona l attr ibutes, belief systems, macho disposition, and misog y nist tendencies to t h e o f f ic e),” h e s a y s .

A f t e r a l l , i t ’s P r e s i d e n t Duterte’s strong feelings about cer ta in topics that ig nited the in fa mous “ Wa r on Dr u g s.”

F rom t h is, it is clea r t hat leaders are motivated

by persona l beliefs in some shape or form.

C loser to home, for mer Sanggunian President Hy acent h B end a ñ a sh a res some of the inspiration behind t h e p ol ic ie s s h e e n a c t e d du r ing her ter m. She notes how her plat for m “[w a s] a resu lt of a n ent ire yea r of talking to indiv iduals and an entire year of conversations w ith random people w ithout a political agenda.” According t o B e n d a ñ a , h e r v a r io u s ex per iences w it h st udents with mental health problems, as well as su r v ivors of sex ual harassment are what paved the way for t he S a n g g u n i a n’s increased focus on mental health.

Like Bendaña, other leaders may have v a r ious persona l motivations while in of f ice, but t he s e a re not a lw ay s rooted in noble intentions.

“Remember yung mga corrupt, i to y u n g m g a e x a mple n g na-consume ng kanilang personal ( R ememb er, t hose who a re cor r upt a re e x a m p le s o f p e o p le w h o have been consumed by the per son a l), ” say s A g u i r re.

Filipinos habit ua lly see how this ma nifests as cor r uption continues to be a pressi n g problem i n t he Ph i l ippi nes . For i n st a nce, t he Ph i l ippi ne C enter for Invest ig at ive Jou r na lism began probing Duterte’s family wea lt h last Apr il, to wh ich Duterte told them that it was none of their business. Such a response is not warranted, especially w ith transparency and accountabilit y in mind.

PERMEATING SIDES W h i le it is p ossible for t he p er son a l to i n f luence t he politica l, t he impact of a politician’s career on their p e r s on a l l i ve s c a n no t b e ig nored . A n ex a mple f rom nationa l politics wou ld b e d e L i m a ’s s t r i n g o f controversies in 2017—like her a lleged lin ks to illeg a l d r ug trades—which led to he r i mpr i s on me nt a nd inability to attend family events such as her son’s graduation.

Politics is a lso k now n to a f fe c t a le a de r ’s phy sic a l health. Medical professionals A nd rew Olensk i, Mat t hew A b ol a , a nd A nup a m Je n a conducted a study that shows that there is a “substa ntia l increase in mor ta lit y r isk” for elec ted heads of states “compa red [to] ca nd idates in nationa l elections who never ser ved” due to t he st ress of leadersh ip a nd polit ica l life. This can be seen in the interest in Duter te’s health, w h ic h h a s b e e n put i nto question over the last few years.

He has stated multiple times that he w ished to step dow n b ec au se he w a s t i red a nd stressed. A lthough he has yet to follow through on any of these remarks.

A person’s mental health is also ver y much at risk when taking on leadership positions.

W hen asked about how p ol it ic s h a s a f fe c te d he r personally, Bendaña recounts tremendous a mou nts of pr e s s u r e a nd e mp h a s i z e s t h at e ven st udent le ader s of the Ateneo are not im mu ne to t he scr utiny of their persons. She descr ibed her position a s “ t w o f o l d .”

W h ile it g ave her power, she felt as if she had been str ipped of her “humanit y.”

Bendaña recalls an instance wherein she w as cr it icized for expressing a more human, but less political side of herself.

“I was sha r ing cute a nima l pic t u res on T w it ter w hen a ne t i z en c a l led me out ,” she recou nts. “ The y sa id I made it look like I didn’t care at a ll about [ou r cou ntr y ’s] national issues.”

She f u r t her a sser ts t hat people of ten t reat leaders a s i f t he y a re incapable of making mistakes. “As people who are placed in leadership positions, we don’t receive comp a s sion ,” she s a id .

Bendaña cites how ever y thing fe lt l i k e it b o i le d d o w n t o h e r. “ It ’s p r e v e n t i n g people from actually leading because you will be over whelmed w ith the fear of being hated upon,” she adds.

Bendaña urges that ot hers shou ld be more compassionate with on e a n o t h e r, to h elp each other “instead of pulling e a c h ot he r do w n .” W he n a s ke d i f t h i s c omp a s s ion shou ld be ex tended to n at ion a l leader s, she say s “ we’ ve ex tended it fa r too much, to be honest. The f irst demand of love is justice, and on t he nat iona l le vel, t hat demand is the one we should be asking for.”

PUBLIC EYE Through their intert w ined personal and political f a c e t s , le a de r s i ne v it a bl y de velop t he c om mu n it ie s they ser ve according to their indiv idua l motivations.

According to A g u ir re, a politician’s personal life can f a s c i n a t e p e ople b e c a u s e of how relat able t he y a re to t he masses. He says that there is a “personalization of public of f ice” to ma ke a p ol it ic i a n more rel at a ble , pa r ticu la rly if a leader is a populist.

To h i m , p opu l ism is “ a people- or iented k ind of reg ime or r ule or thinking.”

R ic h a r d Ja v a d He y d a r i a n details this f ur ther in h i s 2 018 a r t ic le for T h e Wa sh i n g ton Po s t ent it le d “ Unde r s t a nd i n g D ute r te ’s mind-boggling rise to p ower.” He st ates t h at “ the appea l of popu lists a nd strong men...lies in their uncanny abilit y to tap into collective frustrations—most especially a mong aspir at iona l m idd le classes— over the inef f icacy of state instit utions to a c c om mo d a te ne w voic e s a n d p r o v id e b a s ic g o o d s and ser vices.”

Ag uirre obser ves that “this is a lso t he phenomenon of ou r moder n contempor a r y m e d i a c u lt u r e .” He s a y s that “ these days people like spontaneit y [and] sincerit y.”

T he p a s t fe w y e a r s h a ve seen t he r ise of p opu l ism partly due to the advancement of technolog y, a l low i n g p opu l is t s to u se socia l med ia to boost their own platforms.

To a v o i d t h e p a t h o f populism, media and jou r na l ism shou ld prov ide t he venue a nd mea ns for a more cr itica l a nd in for med d iscou rse. P ubl ic sc r ut i ny facilitated by the media can hold leaders accountable for the policies they implement.

A ccord i n g to A g u i r re, t he pur pose of the media is “ to a lways ma ke su re t hat t h is person is doing his or her job.”

Being critical of communit y leaders can help ensure that t he power g ra nted to t hem is not u sed to on ly ser ve their own personal interests.

H o w e v e r, m i s i n f o r m e d scr utiny can have its downsides, particularly when it beg i ns to be u nc r it ica l, focusing on sensationa lism rather than the indiv idual’s impact on the public.

A g u i r re b el ie ve s t h at t he p e r s on a l i z at ion of pu bl ic of f ic e h a s le a d to a “ T V Phenomenon ,” w herei n leaders become somet h i ng a k in to rea lit y sta rs rat her tha n public ser va nts. Their personalities are highlighted over their work.

Ag uirre points out another f law in local media: “It is not independent [or] autonomous.

It is...captured by the market i n t e r e s t .” H e t h e n c i t e s la rge media compa nies like G M A a nd A B S - CBN, b ot h of wh ich prof it f rom pa id adver tisements. A g u ir re states that these wea k st r uc t u res a re “ t he reason w hy we cont i nue to elec t people who a re not f it. We continue to elect people who betray us.”

FINDING THE BALANCE Given this danger of politics d i lut i n g i nto c onte s t s of personalit y and popularit y, is it still possible to draw a line— albeit a ver y thin and fragile one—bet ween the persona l and the political?

“I actually think you cannot separate the personal from the political. W hatever is personal is also p ol it ic a l a nd v ic e ver s a ,” says Bendaña.

A g uirre af f irms this, say ing that t he persona l a nd pol it ica l shou ld instead be made

equal. “Kailangan balanced.

Hindi puwede y ung personal [w ill] def ine the public life or y ung public lifei-tratrample y u ng mi s mong persona l (It needs to be ba la nced . The persona l ca nnot def ine t he politica l a nd the public life cannot trample the personal).”

Thus, while it is common for people to debate whether t he persona l shou ld be separated from the political, perh aps a be t ter quest ion to ask is what ca n be done to en s u re t h at t he s e t wo aspects are balanced.

T h i s b a l a n c e i s d i f f ic u lt to achieve and we mu s t le a r n h o w t o h old ou r leaders accou ntable w ithout vent ur ing into political persecution.

"To avoid the path of populism, media and journalism should provide the venue and means for a more critical and informed discourse."

ARJAN AGUIRRE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR

A t t he e nd of t he d a y, t h e r e i s no s i l v e r b u l le t that w ill solve the problems brought about by t he clash of t he t wo a sp ec ts . A side f rom choosing leaders w ith honorable motivations, there is a lso a need to s t re n g t he n me d i a out le t s t h a t s p a r k i n for me d a nd productive discourse a b out q u a l it y le a de r s h ip.

I n it iat ives l i ke t hese w i l l help ensure that the personal a nd t he p ol it ic a l a s p e c t s are kept in check by i n for med memb er s of t he communit y themselves.