6 U.P. Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2011
Anwar analyzes legacies of Rizal, Ninoy
Lola Sela tumanggap ng 2011 Gawad Plaridel Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo
Andre Encarnacion Photo by El Bacani
Anwar gets interviewed by national broadcast media after his lecture, as Prof. Harry Roque of the UP Institute of International Legal Studies and former Senator Heherson Alvarez look on.
“Within a few centuries, when humanity has become redeemed and enlightened, when there are no races, when all peoples are free, when there are neither tyrants nor slaves, colonies nor mother countries, when justice rules and man is a citizen of the world…” Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, recalled this 1891 statement by Dr. Jose Rizal in his lecture on “Rizal, Ninoy and Asian Leadership” last August 5 at Malcolm Hall of the UP Diliman College of Law. Anwar acknowledged Rizal as one of the many who inspired him during his youth and incarceration. In his lecture, he analyzed the legacies of Rizal and former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and how the current Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leadership could benefit from their visions. “While in solitary confinement, I found myself gladly holding on to Rizal’s ‘Noli Me Tangere’,” he said, describing it as “a worthy companion, particularly for political prisoners.”According to him, Rizal’s democratic vision inspired him both as student and political prisoner. He also cited “Mi Ultimo Adios” as another text
from which he drew strength. “The message of Rizal is universal and even more relevant today,” Anwar said, and credited Rizal as being “the precursor of the Asian renaissance.” He detailed the influence of Rizal in the “reawakening of Asia” two centuries before, saying that “any honest student of history will acknowledge Rizal’s role.” Anwar also highlighted Rizal’s uniqueness, especially for his time, noting that “his courage is exemplary—one who dares speak the truth to power. Rizal is unique because he was also a man of letters: he composed beautiful and immortal work that is at the same time threatening and subversive to the powers-that-be.” So many were his virtues that Anwar acknowledged him as the “first cosmopolitan hero,” and in being so, he goes beyond the Philippines as the “pride of the Malay race”. Rizal’s values of freedom, justice and seeking an end to tyranny were, in Anwar’s words, things that “no leader worth his salt should ever lose sight (of).” He, however, warned of present situations in the region that run contrary to these such as the persistence of suffering under “ruthless and unscrupulous leaders.”
“Magsikap at huwag hayaang mamatay ang drama sa radyo.” Ito ang mensahe ni Eloisa Cruz Canlas nang tanggapin niya ang 2011 Gawad Plaridel sa Cine Adarna noong Hulyo 20. Kinilala ng Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyong Pangmadla, UP Diliman ang kanyang mga kontribusyon sa pagpapaunlad ng radyo sa bansa. Kilala bilang Lola Sela, si Canlas ay nagbigay din ng dalawang mahahalagang payo. “Paglingkuran natin ang ating bayan na malinis ang konsiyensiya” at “huwag matakot kung katotohanan ang ipinapahayag.” Simple at maikli lamang ang kanyang talumpati. Pero ito ay kinagiliwan hindi lang dahil sa damdaming nakapaloob sa kanyang mensahe kundi dahil sa ipinakita niyang galing sa pagbibigay-buhay sa iba’tibang tauhan at hayop gamit ang kanyang Courage of Rizalian proportions
As regards Aquino, whose family the Malaysian opposition leader knew, Anwar credited the late Senator for inheriting “Rizal’s struggle for freedom and dignity.” He lauded Aquino’s courage as being “of Rizalian proportions,” while also commemorating the sacrifice which claimed his life in 1983. “Why should you abandon a life of comfort to confront the assassin’s bullet? Why did Ninoy return from the security and comfort of Boston?” Anwar asked, while also saying that the song, “The Impossible Dream” was befitting Ninoy who went against “the unbeatable foe” in Marcos. “Do you think Ninoy wasn’t crazy to challenge Marcos?” he asked, “He was. Do you think Rizal wasn’t crazy to challenge the Spanish imperialists? He was crazy. So was Moses, Jesus and Mohammed.” While praising these men as those who possessed vision, courage and conviction, Anwar said that “it’s not enough to bury the ashes of the dead. You must rekindle its flame.” Without democracy, justice is impossible
Anwar said that Ninoy’s son, current President Benigno Aquino III, had the “moral capital to carry the torch of freedom and democracy, not only in the Philippines but also in ASEAN.” He, however, warned against the problems that hindered the progress of democracy in the region, which included a school of thought that “political stability ought to be protected more than
boses. Apat na dekada nang nagtatrabaho si Canlas sa radyo bilang katulong sa produksyon, artista, mamamahayag, manunulat, direktor at prodyuser. Ipinamalas din niya ang kanyang galing sa pagboses sa telebisyon, pati na ang kanyang mapanuring komentaryo sa mga nangyayari sa lipunan. Itinayo rin niya ang Tanghalang Parisukat Training Center noong 2004 na naglalayong palaganapin ang kaalaman tungkol sa radyo, paunlarin ang industriyang ito, hasain ang pagiging malikhain at linangin ang kakayahan sa pamamahayag. Ang Gawad Plaridel ay ibinibigay taontaon ng Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyong Pangmadla, UP Diliman sa mga natatanging manggagawa sa media. Una itong iginawad noong 2004. human rights.” “The desire to be free is a universal and perennial human question,” he said. “Without democracy, justice is impossible. Each ASEAN countr y wants to be prosperous: it is a legitimate desire but without freedom and justice, prosperity is unsustainable and at best limited to the powerful and well-connected elite.” “Political stability by itself is meaningless when it is not used to widen the practice of democracy and to enhance the institution of civil society.... If political stability is touted purely on the platform of economic prosperity...autocrats and dictators can get away with murder,” he said. S o m e i m p o r t a n t ke y s t o g o o d governance are, according to Anwar, an independent and impartial judiciary as well as a commitment by community leaders to balance minority interests with those of the majority. To the perpetrators of tyranny, Anwar challenged them to “look into themselves and as Rousseau once said, listen to the voice of conscience in the silence of the passions.” He added that “set against Rizal and Ninoy, these leaders come off as far below expectations if not altogether unmitigated disasters.” “As Asia moves on and more and more of its member nations embrace freedom and democracy, then these erring states will find themselves increasingly isolated and one day will succumb. Let’s hope that day can come sooner than later,” he said.
UP Visayas team wins global business challenge Anna Razel L. Ramirez
The UPV Scions composed of J.M. Cordero, Osonio, M.F. Cordero, and Dabad, with their mentor Prof. Barrido
The “Scions” of the College of Management of UP Visayas (UPV) are this year’s global champions in the 2011 Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Global Business Challenge held in Chengdu, China. The team from UPV is composed of senior accountancy students Jerard Megg Cordero, Marra Francillan Cordero, Dominique Dabad and Ordisi Osonio. Prof. Arthur Barrido, Jr. is mentor of the group. The CIMA Global Business Challenge is an international competition designed to bring out the best in the young business leaders of tomorrow. Stage one consisted of a case study analysis, a test of professional competence in the management of an accounting case study. The participants were required to analyze the case based on a given scenario and then submit a 2,000-word report. Stage two was the synopsis and presentation. Six teams were chosen to write a two-page synopsis and give an oral presentation. The Scions emerged as
the Philippine Champion during the competition at the Century Park Hotel last June 10. De La Salle University and Far Eastern University landed second and third, respectively. As the winning Filipino team, the Scions represented the country in the global finals, the third stage which consisted of a presentation. Seventeen countries participated in the competition: China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and the Philippines. Last year, the Scions placed third behind Hong Kong and Australia.