Di natatapos ang lahat sa paghahanap ng katotohanan’

_{ibinahagi ni Anjo sa Bulwagang Juan Luna ng UP Baguio para sa symposium na "Hayag"}

_{mula sa panig ng mga kabataang mamamahayag
March 18, 2008}

Isang buwan at isang linggo na ang nakalipas, sa gitna ng kampanya namin para pigilan ang mga pagtaas ng matrikula sa Baguio, nang may di-kilalang tao na umagaw ng pansin sa telebisyon. Inagaw ng live news coverage ang mga pinanonood namin tuwing umaga, simula “Umagang Kay Ganda” hanggang bago mag-“Boy & Kris.”

Hindi problema ang ipapalit natin dahil ang ipapalit natin ay ang solusyon, at ito ang susunod nating babantayan. #

UNP Administration Fails to Unseat Tandem

Y ZOFIA LEAL

The Tandem, the official student publication of the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) has been struggling ever since the UNP administration barred its writers from entering the university premises at the start of the school year 2007-2008. The writers were then barred due to their stand against the tuition fee increase of the UNP.

Since then, the Tandem had to face the harassments and threats that they have received from the administration. These include the sudden appointment of a publication adviser who is known as a former military man criticizing the paper for publishing articles on national issues, the black propaganda accusing its staff of being scholars of the National Democratic Front (NDF) who were allegedly sent to wreak havoc on the university, suspension of the collection of the publication fee, and the closure of the publication office.

The latest of the attacks against The Tandem was the creation of a new student publication called The Blazers. In the letter of Student Affairs Dean Gilbert Arce to University President Dr. Lauro Tacbas in October 2007, the former suggests that due to the controversies concerning The Tandem, a new publication named The Blazers be installed in its place. The Blazers, according to Dean Arce was the name of the official student publication of UNP before it was named The Tandem.

By Nov.14, 2007, a referendum was held by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) asking whether the students still want The Tandem as their publication. However, The Tandem questioned said referendum. According to Criselda Diocena, the Editor-in-Chief of Tandem, “We were never given the chance to speak our side. We were caught off-guard (upon being informed) that suddenly, a referendum would be held.”  

The ballot form itself is questionable. Aside from asking students about the continuation of The Tandem, it included a brief explanation about the issue from the point of view of the administration. It read:

“Tandem, the publication of the students for the past years has not been complying with the requirements of the university for student publications. Among the requirements of the university that Tandem resisted to comply (sic) are: 1. non-submission of action plan, 2. non-submission of financial statements, 3. non-submission of accomplishment reports, 4. exclusion of the administration in the screening process. Lately, it was found out that the funds of Tandem were deposited in the name of its alleged Editor-in-Chief, Criselda Diocena and another alleged Tandem editor. It was also found out that Ms. Diocena failed in one of her subjects, but concealed this with their refusal to include the administration in the screening process. Consequently, the administration decided to suspend the collection of Tandem Fee.” The questions posted were “Do you want the Tandem to continue its operations?” and “If yes, are you willing to pay P40?”

“It was a clear manipulation of the OSA headed by Dean Arce,” Diocena said. “That was the first and I guess the last time that I would see a ballot with an explanation included.”

The allegations, according to Diocena are all baseless.

“We have the documents to prove that we did submit our action plan and accomplishment report,” she said. “With regard to the Financial Statement we had a difficult time looking for someone who would audit us.”  

The practice of the Tandem was to have their financial statement audited by the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) of the UNP. However, when Diocena approached the JPIA they said that they would first ask the OSA on whether to accept it or not. Diocena then relayed how the Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) they asked to audit for them would soon back out upon hearing about their conflict with the UNP administration. It would take them some time to find an accountant in Baguio City who would audit for them.

With regard to the bank deposit made in their name, Diocena said, “It is clear with the bank manager and to us that although our name is listed at the bank account holder, the account is with UNP Tandem Vigan. By the way, I also do not have a failing grade. Our documents are complete. We now have our audited Financial Statement. We also have proof that we did submit letters and operational plans to the administration to inform them about our activities.”

Last Feb. 24, The Tandem received news that the creation of The Blazers was included in the agenda of the Board of Regents (BoR) meeting with a drafted Editorial Policy and a list of Editorial Board members already prepared. Immediately, The Tandem spoke with Student Regent Warren Rafal regarding the implications of the creation of The Blazers and on how it would further curtail press freedom.

While Rafal was defending The Tandem to the BoR last Feb. 26 at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) office where the meeting took place, the students of the UNP in Vigan were also exclaiming that The Tandem is still their student publication.

After the BoR meeting, the creation of The Blazers was temporarily postponed until further consultation with the students.  

“We are grateful to Warren Rafal for making our voices heard in the BOR meeting even though we were not there. We are also thankful to the students for continuously supporting us even though they themselves are experiencing harassments from the administration,” Diocena said.   

“We know that is already the end of the school year but our struggle for campus press freedom and our democratic rights is still not over. We will not stop until we have opened the publication door once more. The students know that their voice and the Tandem’s voice are one and we will not bow down to the administration. We will continue to struggle with the students,” asserted Diocena. Bulatlat

Peasant groups call to junk CARP extension, support GARB

San Fernando City, La Union (March 6) – Support for House Bill 3059 otherwise known as the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) echoed the halls of the SLC gymnasium during the public hearing of the proposed bills for the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Members of the peasant alliance Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (Stop Exploitation) lead the delegates of progressive  organizations in calling for the ratification of the GARB authored by the progressive Partylist block in the House of Representative. This call is concurrent with the group’s call for the junking of the extension of CARP.

There are currently ten bills proposing for the extension of CARP which will end on July 10 this year after 20 years of implementation. It was first extended for another 10 years in 1998 after the lapse of its original 10-year program. Criticizing its failure to give lands to farmers, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela proposed HB 3059 (GARB) in lieu of the passing of a CARP extension bill.

“The CARP was a failed program right from the beginning. It was designed to fail in order to deceived the farmers and safeguard the interest of big landlords of the country. We support the passing of HB 3059 or otherwise known as GARB which will advocate true and agrarian reform”, Avelino Dacanay of STOP Exploitation explained.

Bayan Muna Representative Ka Satur Ocampo attended the Luzon-wide Public Hearing to explain the proposed HB 3059. He was received with loud applauses from the audience coming from different regions of Luzon. Together with him were resource speakers from the national peasant organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) representing the various regions who shared their bitter experience with the implementation of CARP and persuaded others to junk proposals to extend CARP and instead support HB 3059.

Youth Groups, Anakbayan and College Editor Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) also showed support to GARB by conducting a picket-rally outside the Saint Louis College campus and in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Office but they were violently dispersed by elements of the San Fernando City Police Force lead by a certain Bersola.

“We criticize the ongoing Luzon-wide Public Hearing right now. It is good that there is a public hearing but the hearings should be done locally in the different regions to facilitate the more effective participation of those who are affected by the law. We also condemn the violent dispersal of our peaceful rally. This only goes to show the fascist character of the government”, Joel Bilog, Chairperson of Anakbayan-La Union said.  

The Public Hearing was concluded with the delegates hopeful Congress will pass a new agrarian reform bill that will truly serve the peasant masses.

Women’s group call for GMA’s ouster

San Fernando City, La Union (March 8 ) - Prayers, chants and candle lights for truth, accountability and change in the government highlighted the celebration of the International Working Women’s Day by the Gabriela Women’s Alliance together with other progressive organization in front of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

“This activity is simultaneous with other activities conducted today in celebration of Women’s day nationwide. We chose to celebrate this day in protest of the growing immorality of the present government. We as women are very disappointed of Mrs. Arroyo and her and family’s involvement in the ZTE controversy. She does not exemplify the kind of women we advocate Filipino women should be”, Linda Caluza, Spokesperson of Gabriela-Ilocos Region said in an interview.

Chants extolling women as militant and palaban together with such calling for PGMA’s ouster echoed throughout and in between speeches of the different orators of the affair. The passersby and motorists were also asked and challenged to join in the protest action. The various passing motorists answered positively by honking their vehicles and receiving the statements being distributed, others even applauded the efforts of the protesters.

Members of various youth organizations under the broad alliance Youth for Accountability and Truth Now (Youth Act Now!) also joined the activity in solidarity with the plight of women and the public clamor for truth and change in government. They said the latest ZTE-NBN controversy are just the latest in the long list of reasons why Arroyo should be removed from office.

“The Campus Press have been under constant attacked since the Mrs. Arroyo assumed power in Malacanang. The deterioration of the state of campus press freedom and freedom in general in the country could be attributed to the malevolence of this government to the press. Many student publications have been either closed or threatened closed under the rule of Mrs. Arroyo most recent of prominent of which is the case of Tandem, the official student publication of University of Northern Philippines “, Paola Espiritu, Ilocos Regional Coordinator of College Editors Guild of the Philippines shared.

The activity was concluded with a symbolic candle-lighting for truth and accountability in which the participants made their lighted candles spell the word ‘TRUTH” in the sidewalk in front of the UCCP church.

“The immoral and corrupt acts of this government is not a good example for the youth of today. The Filipino youth has taken a stand to light the way for truth and meaningful change. We challenge many others to stand and be counted. The protest action today in La Union is a testament that the people in the National Capital Region is not alone in the clamor truth, accountability and change in governance. The people in the provinces are united in the stand against immorality, corruption and fascism”, Louie Santos of Youth Act Now stressed.

Forum hosts Freedom lyrics and lines

Agoo, La Union (March 7) – To relive the spirit of patriotism, Forum, the official  student publication of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-South La Union Campus hosted an invitational music and poetry jam.

Vincent Josue, Editor-in-Chief of the Forum, gave lectures on patriotic poetry while Louie Santos of the Youth Act Now! shared inputs in poetry writing and patriotic music.

A series of workshops on poetry writing and poetry reading was conducted. In addition, patriotic and progressive songs were performed by the officers of the local chapter.

“Campus journalists should write not only about themselves but the society they live in”, shared Jason Necida, participant.

 The guild encourages other publications to conduct same activities or other creative and alternative forms of educating their members and other interested students.

Members of Lorma Highlights, DMMMSU Forum,  PCLU Scribes and officers of the local chapter attended the said activity.