November 2012 - January 2013
THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL
OPINION
5
Breaking the Law of Jante
You aren’t worth a thing. Nobody is interested in what you think. Mediocrity and anonymity are your best bet. If you act this way, you will never have any big problems in life.” This is the summarized Law of Jante which Paulo Coelho talked about in one of his blogs in his book Like the Flowing River. The Law of Jante originated from Scandinavian communities which deem one’s triumphs and achievements as unworthy. It discourages one to stand out and to speak his/her mind. True enough, like what Paulo reiterated in his blog, this law exists all over the world. And what do people normally do about it? Nothing. I experienced it. Surely, you experienced it. In one way or another, we have all been put down by this law. Look around. Social disparity is rampant. Justice is cruel. There is violence,
hunger, ignorance, fear, racism, abuse, pessimism; most people decide to follow the status quo instead of standing by what they truly believe in. Can you do me a favor? As you read along, think of one
change. It can be as simple as someone telling you you’re not beautiful or smart enough; or someone telling you that you will never succeed. It can be something on a macrolevel perspective, like seeing
“Would you just sit around and pray for change? Or would you live your life by your own rules, let your voice be heard and do something about the things you want to make right?” instance that the Law of Jante hindered you from becoming the best person you can be or discouraged you from thinking that you can actually make a
a documentary about the ongoing wars in Middle East or the widespread impunity that seems to rub us in the face every day. Savor the feeling. Hold into it at
this moment. Now, ask yourself. Would you let that feeling consume you? Would you let others tell you what you can and can’t do? Would you just sit around and pray for change? Or would you live your life by your own rules, let your voice be heard and do something about the things you want to make right? It is only you who can make that choice. When Paulo summarized the Law of Jante, he also made an Anti-law of Jante which goes,“You are worth far more than you think. Your work and presence on this Earth are important, even though you may
not think so. Of course, thinking in this way, you might have many problems because you are breaking the Law of Jante – but don’t feel intimidated, go on living without fear and in the end you will win.” May this piece serve as my way of breaking the Law of Jante. For those reading this right now, I have this to say: Do not be afraid. Make a stand. Do something that can make a difference…not only to yourself but to people around you and the society you live in. Break the Law of Jante and be proud that you did.
a public domain, full of so much information (regardless of the information being true or not), it is up to us to filter what we should believe in. It is also up to us on how we handle our reactions whenever we interact in cyberspace. That is where cyber ethics comes in, there wouldn’t be a cybercrime law if people would be more ethical on how they act/react online. Cyberbullying, identity theft, cyber scams, these are the reasons why cyber crime law exists, but to purely say that it’s there to regulate how we must and must not act online is alarming. Because shouldn’t ethical
actions be natural? What you say online, you should also have the guts to say in real life, that who you are online is a reflection of who you really are outside the World Wide Web. Instead of scamming, stealing somebody else’s identity or bashing someone, why not talk critically on issues, share meaningful insights on issues or posts where people get to read them and maybe make them realize the point on what you stand for, social media is the new revolution, it’s the new power that we can rely on for changes to start.
bago pumayag sa proyekto o polisiya ng administrasyon na makaapekto sa mga estudyante. Kahit isang beses, hindi ko narinig na nag-imbita ang LYCESGO ng isang pulong sa mga ordinaryong mag-aaral upang ikonsulta ang mga polisiya. May panahon pa para patunayang LYCESGO ay hindi kiling sa admin. May panahon pa upang makapag-iwan ng markang patunay na sila’y naglilingkod sa mga mag-aaral. Kung sakaling binabasa nila ito, sana’y pagnilayan n’yo. Kung ‘di dumudulog ang mag-aaral sa kanila, hindi ba’t mas maganda kung mismong LYCESGO ang lumapit sa kanila? Hakbang ito upang maramdaman ng libo-libong Lycean na nariyan ang LYCESGO. Tungkulin nila ang makinig at kumilos
para sa mga mag-aaral lalo’t nalalapit na naman ang panahon kung kailan magkakaroon ng “consultation” ang mga admin ng paaralan sa pagtataas ng mga bayarin. Hindi dahilan na pribado o autonomous ang LPU dahil may kapangyarihan ang mga estudyante. Naisip ko lang noong nakita ko ang mga poster na may katotohanan ang mga sinabi ng NUSP. Marahil laganap ang mga senaryong iyon sa ibang student council sa mga pamantasan at kolehiyo sa bansa na nagiging pugad na ng karerismo at oportunismo. Tila nawawala na ang tunay na esensya ng mga student council na dapat kumakatawan sa mga magaaral ng nagluklok sa kanila. Kung ‘di sila kikilos para sa kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral, sino?
Clichés: The Cybercrime law and a new revolution It was on October 2, 2012 that Facebook users all over the country changed their profile pictures into black as a protest to the Cybercrime Law. It is the libel clause within the said law that made every netizen furious. In effect, simple acts on social media like tweeting, liking; sharing or commenting becomes an offense punishable by imprisonment. Furthermore the cybercrime law grants power to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take down any website, blog or posted online information, violating freedom of expression within the constitution. According to Article 360 of the Revised Penal Code, “Any person who shall publish, exhibit, or cause the publication or exhibition of any defamation in writing
or by similar means,” is held responsible for libel. It is specified that “the author or editor of a book or pamphlet, or the editor or business manager of a daily newspaper, magazine or serial publication is responsible for
posting a simple status on a social networking site or commenting on a trending story could have you end up behind bars, or worst the DOJ shutting down your long time personal blog where you’ve shared nothing but your
“Cyber-bullying, identity theft, cyber scams, these are the reasons why cyber crime law exists, but to purely say that it’s there to regulate how we must and must not act online is alarming.” the defamations contained therein to the same extent as if he were the author thereof.” Imagine a world where
insights about various things about life and issues that merited you to react. The World Wide Web is
Bukod sa mga concert at party, ano pa? “Ang Student Council ba ay Pro-Tuition fee Increase?” “Ang Student Council niyo ba ay tagaorganize lang ng concert?” “Ang Student Council niyo ba ay Admin’s Pet?” “Ang Student Leader ba ay defender ng Students Rights and Welfare?” “Ang Student Council ba ay CONSULTATIVE?” Ilan lamang ito sa nakalagay sa isang serye ng mga poster ang nakita ko sa internet na mula sa Facebook page ng National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), isang pambansang alyansa ng mga student council/government/union na nagtataguyod ng mga karapatang demokratiko at kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral. Pangungunahan ko na kayo: Ang kolum na ito’y hindi naglalayong manira. Ang mga isasaad dito ay mga obserbasyon ng isang mag-aaral na tulad mo na bumoto noong halaan sa Mabini Hall, na sinuri ang bawat kandidatong niligawan ang boto ko, na nagnanais marinig ang boses. Ito’y pumupuna sa
mga ginagawa at ‘di nagagawa ng Lyceum Central Student Government (LYCESGO) para sa mga mag-aaral ng LPU. Miting de Avance noong Pebrero 2012 sa LPU Quadrangle, nagtanong ako sa bawat partido, kabilang ang isang independent candidate: “Kung sakaling kayo’y manalo, ano ang gagawin n’yo sa patuloy na pagtaas ng matrikula
s’ya nanalo. Tugon ng isa, “Wala na tayong magagawa d’yan, desisyon ‘yan ng admin.” Nadama kong uminit ang aking mga tainga nang marinig ko ito. Isang nagnanais maging liderestudyante, ngunit hindi tunay na kinikilala ang kapakanan at karapatan ng kapwa Pilipino sa edukasyon. Ang pagiging lider-estudyante
“Ang pagiging lider-estudyante ay hindi lamang palamuti sa curriculum vitae. May mas malaki silang tungkulin kaysa pag-aayos ng mga concert at party.” sa LPU?” Isang kandidato ang sumagot na may magagawa ang student council, pinalakpakan ko s’ya. Sa kasamaang palad ay hindi
ay hindi lamang palamuti sa curriculum vitae. May mas malaki silang tungkulin kaysa pag-aayos ng mga concert at party. Kritikal dapat na sinusuri ang mga bagay