12 U.P. News
march 2013
U.P. NEWS FEBRUARY 2013
Gender inequality persists in Phl politics despite minor gains, forum confirms Despite minor gains, gender inequality persists in Philippine politics. This was gleaned from a recent forum led by University of the Philippines College of Social Studies and Philosophy (CSSP) professor Jean Encinas Franco. During the forum dubbed “Women, Gender, and Philippine Politics: the 2013 Elections and Beyond” held last March 15 at UP Diliman, UP’s liberal tradition was cited as inspiration for gender advocacy. In her introduction at the forum, Franco said in the Philippines, at least two in 10 politicians are women. Since 1987, only 15 to 17 percent of those entering “formal” politics are women, she added. In UP, the women are gaining ground in student politics. Heart Diño, outgoing student council chair of UP Diliman, described the gender situation in the campus as “advanced,” citing the establishment of offices such as the Diliman Gender Office and the Office
Photo by Jun Madrid
By Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc
Atty. Alikpala talks about LGBT representation in politics as Royal, Prof. Franco, and Dr. Weiss listen.
of Anti-Sexual Harassment, as well as organizations like the UP Babaylan. Dino said UP had its first woman USC chairperson in 1980-1984--Malou Mangahas—now an investigative journalist. But it was only last year when a first openly-
UP profs, NGOs share views on women’s vote
gay person won, signaling an era where sexuality has become a non-issue in campus politics. This is particularly true, according to Diño, among vigilant alliances such as Alyansa, Kaisa, and Stand-UP, the three
political parties in UP student politics. Lawyer Raymond Alikpala, a nominee of Ang Ladlad Partylist, cited UP for leading the way in representation issues. According to him, Diño’s victory is a victory of Filipino youth. He said that Ladlad is the only lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) political party in the world and thus, its victory in the coming elections will have international ramifications. Quoting Justice Artemio Panganiban in Bagong Bayani vs Comelec (2001), Alikpala said that the partylist system is a social justice tool that must be used by marginalized groups and those discriminated upon because of gender issue. Dr. Meredith Weiss, a professor at the State University of New York in Albany and a visiting professor at UP Diliman’s Department of Political Science, proposed guide questions in dealing with the issue. Among the questions is “whether or not the same factors are involved in women and PAGE
Yahoo! Purple Thumb Forum By Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc with reports by Andre Encarnacion
University of the Philippines Diliman has launched a series of fora meant to determine the stand of candidates in the forthcoming elections on various important issues. Dubbed Yahoo! Philippines Purple Thumb Forum, the project kicked off last
By Stephanie S. Cabigao
March 21 at the Bulwagang Rizal in UP Diliman, with Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez and candidates Rizalito David of Ang Kapatiran, Baldomero Falcone and Christian Señeres of Democratic Party of the Philippines, independent PAGE
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Photo by Bong Arboleda
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Dean Carol Sobritchea, along with Mara Arevalo and Jhen Santos of Asociacion Paz y Desarrollo who narrated their experiences with women communities in Mindanao, narrated how women vote.
and could easily be distorted and co-opted, making it difficult for genuine party list groups to make a difference in such political environment. Franco also cited he proliferation of political dynasties whereby the female candidates commonly represent only the family’s male political interest and decisions. Another issue highlighted in the discussion was the increasing women’s participation in the elections. Julia Carlstrom, a Sweden national and intern at WeDpro Philippines, said that since the 1920s to the present, about 36 percent of women in Sweden participate in elections, but feminists in her homeland targeted 50 percentage points in the coming years. Carlstrom believed it is important for women to always push for women’s participation in suffrage and legislation so that women’s issues will truly be addressed. According to Sobritchea, such percentage is quite remarkable considering that the United Nations’ recommends figures within the 30 to 40 percent range. Meanwhile, Maya Tamayo of the UPCWS shared some interesting results of Pulse Asia Survey from the previous round table discussion at UPCWS. Tamayo said Pulse Asia also answered “No” to the same question, adding that the presentation showed how women voted in the 2007 and 2010 elections. The survey indicated that a significant PAGE
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Senatorial candidates Hagedorn, Falcone, Alcantara, Señeres, David, Montaño all give a thumbs down to an issue.
UP Diliman holds ‘Town Hall’ debates By Fred Dabu Photo by Misael Bacani
The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies (UPCWS) has wrapped up a series of round table discussions on women’s participation in elections in view of the upcoming May 2013 polls. The last of the conference, held last March 22 at the UPCWS Conference Room in UP Diliman, focused on the question “Is there a women’s vote?” The discussants were UP Diliman Political Science professor Jean Franco, Asian Center dean Carolyn Sobritchea, UPCWS deputy director for Research and Publications Program Eric Julian D. Manalastas, and several representatives from women non-government organizations such as the Asociacion Paz y Desarrollo, WeDpro Philippines, and Center for Popular Empowerment. Round table moderator Sobritchea opened the floor by asking the participants “Is there a women’s vote?” “No,” Franco answered. She explained that until the 2010 elections, the percentage of women’s participation in formal politics has remained at 18 percent considering the volume of women voters during elections. She attributed such low percentage to “structural and agencial (agency) reasons.” Franco said “structural” factors included incumbency of political candidates that are mostly males leaving the women no options but to vote for the men, lack of genuine political party such that the voters tend to choose personality over platforms, and the existence of a party list system wherein some parties appeared to to be facetious
Senatorial candidate Casiño explains a point while fellow candidates Villanueva, Falcone, Señeres listen.
Four senatorial candidates had their chance to present their respective legislative agenda held recently at the GT Toyota Auditorium in UP Diliman, Quezon City. The four candidates who were put on the limelight at the March 18 debate called “Town Hall: A PPCRV-Solar News Channel Senatorial Series were Bro. Eddie Villanueva of party list Bangon Pilipinas, Rep. Teddy Casiño of party list Makabayan, and Bal Falcone and former Rep. Christian
Señeres, both of Democratic Party of the Philippines. The “town hall” debates were patterned after a popular practice in the US where candidates are able to present their views and answer questions before a multi-sectoral crowd including students, members of advocacy groups, and local residents. The UP “Town Hall” was the fourth in a series of debates staged in separate PAGE
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