YOUTH ACT NOW!
February 22, 2008
A Call to the Filipino Youth to Stand Up for Truth
As the nation faces intense moral and political crisis, the Filipino youth is called upon to take up its role as bearers of the future and stand up for truth and accountablity in government. The Filipino youth must act now.
We are youth, students and professionals from different organizations, schools, colleges, universities, workplaces and communities. We unite in collective aspiration to knock on the conscience of our leaders and to awaken hope in the spirit of the Filipino people to bring forth a movement for truth and social change.
We commend Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, Jr. for divulging truths with regard to anomalies and corrupt acts in government. We admire the courage and determination he showed as he faced efforts of government forces to harass his person in order to stop him from testifying in Senate investigations.
We express our solidarity with various church groups, the business sector, people’s organizations and concerned Filipino citizens who have similarly expressed confidence in Mr. Lozada’s sincerity and credibility.
We believe that national leaders should be accountable to the people and that government officials should portray the highest standards of morality and integrity to be able to propel the nation towards genuine progress, justice and peace.
As young people moved with our conscience and aspirations for good governance and accountability for wrong deeds done, we condemn the following acts by government:
• The attempted cover-up and past and present whitewash of evidence implicating Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the First Gentleman and the First Family, along with Malacanang’s minions, in numerous issues of bribery and corruption and other shady deals of government;
• The gross and systematic plunder of the country’s coffers and resources for the benefit of a few influential government officials and cronies;
• The Arroyo administration’s shameless disregard of the intensity and effects of such allegations and its continuous brushing off of still unresolved issues of bribery and corruption despite overwhelming public clamor for morality, transparency and accountability; and
• The blatant and unabashed misuse of the administration machinery, including the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other agencies of government, to conspire in the further deception of the people and betrayal of public trust.
The government has lost its moral ascendancy to govern due to the long list of scandals, electoral fraud and corruption issues that have mired its rule. The Arroyo administration has long ceased to perform as a role model government for the youth. It has caused the widespread disillusionment among young people and have been a disappointment to the youth’s desire to instill reforms in government.
We call on the government of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop efforts to cover-up the truth and be accountable for its immoral and corrupt acts. The government’s desperate efforts to continuously cling to power have sown deep social discontent and division among the people.
We strongly believe in the sovereign right that rests on the people to change a morally bankrupt and corrupt regime with a conscientious leadership that can genuinely unite the nation and can bring forth meaningful social change.
YOUTH ACT NOW against a morally bankrupt government. YOUTH ACT NOW for truth, accountability and meaningful change.
YOUTH ACT NOW! (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now!)
National Union of Students of the
College Editors Guild of the
University of the
De La Salle Student Council
Ateneo de Manila Sanggunian ng Mag-aaral
University of the
University of the East - Manila Student Council
De La Salle College of
De La Salle Araneta Student Council
Philippine
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Student Regent
University of the
University of the East –
Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan
Student Christian Movement
Anakbayan
League of Filipino Students
Kabataang Pinoy
University of the
Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology Technozette
Philippine
The Philippine Collegian
2nd GAWAD MANUEL ARGUILLA
February 8, 2008 Join the 2nd Gawad Manuel Arguilla, College Editors Guild of the Philippines-La Union Chapter’s Annual Literary Contest.
Contest Rules:
- The contest is open to all members of the student publications within Region 1 and the Cordilleras (membership to CEGP is not a requisite) except current officers of the College Editors Guild of the
- There are two (2) divisions: English and Filipino.
- Translation of an entry submitted in one (1) division will not be qualified in the other division.
4.The contest has three (3) categories namely:
a. Short Story b. Essay c. Poetry
- The patriotic and democratic orientation of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) must be perceived in the entries.
- The entries should be original and must be solely written by the contestant. Writers should submit only one (1) entry per category.
- Only published works in their student publications during the first semester of Academic Year 2007-2008 and/or unpublished works will be accepted in the contest.
- All entries should consist of an original and three (3) copies.
- Entries must be computerized, double-spaced on a letter-size (8 ½ X 11 inches) white bond paper, with 1” margin on all sides.
- The page number must be typed at the bottom-center margin of each page (e.g. 1 of 15).
- The font style should be Times New Roman, Arial or Book Antiqua and the font size must be 12. A soft copy (CD copy with written category and title of the entry on the top) must be provided on each entry.
- All entries must be sealed in a letter-size brown envelope. Only the title of the entry, category, and division should be written or typed on the upper left portion of the envelope.
- The author’s real name and address must not appear on the entry. An entry form must be accomplished at the secretariat area during the registration of the Ammoyo 2008.
- All entries must be personally submitted not later than 10:00 pm during the first day of Ammoyo 2008.
- Submitted copies of all entries shall remain with, and will be the property of the CEGP.
- In the short story category, an entry must be at least five (5) but not more than fifteen (15) pages.
- In the poetry category, an entry must consist of a compilation of at least three (3) but not more than five (5) poems.
- In the essay category, an entry should be at least five (5) but not more than fifteen (15) pages.
- The Board of Judges shall have the discretion not to award any prize if, in its judgment, no meritorious entry has been submitted.
20. The CEGP has the right to assign the persons who shall compose the Board of Judges in each of the categories. The decision of the majority of the Board of Judges in all categories shall be final.
- Top three on each of the categories will be declared winners.
- The names of the winners and the members of the Board of Judges will be announced on the last night of Ammoyo 2008.
For inquiries, please contact Paola 09289829873.
Manuel E. Arguilla (1911-1944?) is an acclaimed Filipino short story writer as well as a patriot and a guerrilla hero.
He was born in Barrio Nagrebcan in Bauang, La Union on June 17, 1911. He was the fourth child of Crisanto Arguilla and Margarita Estabillo, hard-working farmer folk who owned a small piece of land. Aside from being a farmer, his father was also a carpenter; his mother, on the other hand, was an occasional potter.
When he was seven years old, he enrolled in a school in the neighboring Barrio Calumbaya, where he was taught the cartilla by Alfredo Abuan. Later, he transferred to the public elementary school in Bauang, La Union and graduated in 1926.
Arguilla was a brilliant and active student. Aside from excelling in academics at the provincial high school in
In 1926, he entered the University of the
After graduating, he taught at the
Arguilla did not remain a teacher for long for he believed that writers were born, not made, and that a talent for writing was an innate attribute that could never be taught or acquired. Before leaving his students, he counselled them to just read volumes of stories.
In 1940, he became the managing editor of the Bureau of Welfare newsletter, the Welfare Advocate. He worked at the Bureau for three years until the latter half of 1943. By then, the country had been under Japanese occupation for two years. He was appointed to the Board of Censors and was asked to serve in the Japanese propaganda agency. But Arguilla had also just become an agent of the Markings Guerillas. Thus, while apparently working for the Japanese, he was actually heading the “Porch,” the Markings’ counter-intelligence and propaganda unit operating in
It was not long before the enemy discovered his guerilla activities, and subsequently, had him arrested in February 1944. Along with his mother and a few relatives, he was incarcerated to
Arguilla the writer often portrayed the life of the ordinary Filipino, usually the rural Ilocano, in his more than 50 short stories that have permanently enriched Philippine Literature. The critic Leopoldo Y. Yabes cited him as “the best craftsman among Filipino fictionists in English, (whose voice) is the only really authentic voice. He is shamelessly Filipino.” His stories are still considered unrivalled in his depiction of the life of the Ilocano farmer.
In the prime of his life, Arguilla died a hero’s death. Yet he would not be forgotten. On June 12, 1972, Arguilla was honored with a posthumous award, the republic Cultural Heritage Award. He was cited for producing literary works that have “continued to influence Filipio fiction writing… and literary scholarship.” In his honor, a marker was installed in his hometown on August 25, 1983.
(Source: Filipinos in History, N.H.I publication., 1992)
INVITATION TO AMMOYO 2008
College Editors Guild of the
LA UNION CHAPTER
C/o the Office of the Lorma Highlights, Lorma Colleges, Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union
Email Add: ading_pugak@yahoo.com
www.theilocosguilder.i.ph
January 14, 2008
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FIRST WAVE INVITATION
Dear Colleagues:
Greetings from the guild!
The Provincial Executive Committee of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines-La Union is pleased to announce that it will be holding Ammoyo 2008, the chapter’s 7th Annual Student Press Convention and Congress on February 29 to March 2, 2008 at DMMMSU-NLUC, Sapilang, Bacnotan, La Union.
Ammoyo 2008 is the Guild’s yearly educational festival which serves as a venue to hone the journalistic skills and literary talents of the young student writers to develop them into an effective campus press responsive to the needs of the students. It is also an avenue to educate these young-blooded writers of contemporary socio-political issues relevant to our times. Moreover, it is the time for the various publications of the
Furthermore, the activity will feature the 2nd Gawad Manuel Arguilla, CEGP-La Union’s literary Contest for Poetry, Short Story, Essay,
In line with this, may we invite your publication to attend this important occasion. Registration fee is initially pegged at only Php400.00 which will cover food, kits, lodging and other expenses. For any inquiries, comments, suggestions or confirmation please feel free to contact us at the following numbers: 09289829873 (Pao); 09154226711 (Mai); 09204067477 (Rain).
We hope to see at the Convention. God Speed!
Sincerely yours,
Rose Mae Bagni
Provincial Executive Chairperson,
CEGP-La
Edna Fajardo
Editor-in-Chief
An open letter to our alumnus Speaker Jose de Venecia Sr.
Greetings of peace from the campus press!
On the night of February 4, the country witnessed how your revelations sent ripples in the Lower House and Philippine politics.
We believe that it takes someone not just courage but conscience to speak before the people’s representatives, where the majority is faithful to the person being assaulted by your speech. Your courageous speech inspired the young people but we beg to disagree when you say that Ms. Arroyo could still lead a “moral revolution.” How can a person hounded by issues of political killings and grave corruptions be capable of it?
We understand the hardships that you and your family are going through after the revelations of your son, because as everyone knows, to divulge something that will add heat to the already troubled presidency makes a person an enemy of the ruling regime.
And for this, we admire Joey; in spite of the consequences it will cost your family, he still chose to inform the public about another anomalous transaction that the government had entered into.
There is no reason to be embittered if you were ousted from a position that has ultimately been used only to protect the welfare of the president not of the people.
There is nothing to regret if you have burned bridges with a president who bribes to amass wealth from anomalous government projects.
The Filipinos will forever remember that night not because you lost your position, but the very reason why you had to lose it.
As a former member of the campus press yourself, we, the young journalists of our generation, hope that you will continue to stand for the principles that characterize our profession: to bring to light that which remains in the dark, to report the truth and ultimately, to serve the interest of the common people.
We support your call for a moral revolution.
For the truth,
Jose Cosido
President
Vijae Alquisola
Deputy Secretary-General
COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES
Rm 305, National Press Club Bldg., Intramuros,
Manila, Philippines
Tele Fax.: 524-3937
Email: cegpnational@ yahoo.com
