LUSAK

Lumalalim na ang gabi

kaalinsabay ng panginig-butong ihip ng hangin

waring niyeyelo ang tila nangungulubot ng buko-buko

ng mamang ngayon ko lang nakita sa tanang buhay ko.

Ang pagbulusok ng hindi matinag na ulan

ay patuloy pa ring hinahagupit ng walang alinlangan

ang kanyang tampil-tampil na bahay na nakahandusay sa akasya

na kung iisipin mo na sa isang saglit’y kakapa na sa lupa.
 

Dali-dali niyang dinampot ang timbang na inaagnas

bakas ang mga taong pinagsisilbihan ang kugong bahay niya

patungo sa sahig na yakap na yakap ng basa

mula sa kisameng tadtad na ng butas.

  

Nagngingitngit ang paligid sumasabay sa kanya

isang pangyayari na lang hinihintay niya

upang umagos mga butil ng luha

mula sa malalamya ngunit patay ng mga mata. 

Nag-uugod ugod na hinarap ang inaalikabok na salamin

dati pang sinabit sa dingding ng anak na giliw

ngunit ngayo’y nilamon na ng gahamang ahas

bundat ang tiyan’t bulsa sa pang-aalipusta ng kapwa niya sakada.

Kalamna’y biglang tinawag ng rekatangulong lamesa

bulok, inaanay at ang isang paa’y putol na

ngunit nagdalawang-isip kung ipagpapatuloy pa

ang paghakbang ng dalawang paa, gayong walang

lamang pinggan ang alay ng hapag. 

Sa kakarampot na nwebe at sengkweta sentimos

sinusuhol niya sa kada araw na pag-aalay ng pawis at dugo

habang ang amo’y nakaupo’t nagtutungga ng pulang alak

Ano nga bang hapag inaasahan mo sa tuwina?

Nagbuntong-hininga at napapikit ng mata

lusak ng pait at hapding dala ng kahapon’y

tanikalang gumagapos sa pusong kahit labnos na ay umaasa pa ring

pakikinggan ng ganid na panginoong maylupa

na binalibag ang pahat niyang dalaga.

Hanggang ngayo’y si Satanas pa rin siya

sa di-makataong pagyurak sa kanila

Habang nakikibaka sa kalsada kasabay ng mga kasamahang

nananawagan ng agarang lunas at hustisya

hinablot niya mapuputing saplot ng minamahal na anghel.

Setentasais na siyang nanggagapas ng nagtataasang tubo

At setentasais na rin siyang hinihigop ng delubyo

Malawig na mga taong ginagahasa kanilang pagkatao

Hindi lamang ng masabang maylupa kundi

Ang semikolonyal at semipyudal na sistema minementena nito.

Noon pa ma’y lupang pinaglaanan ng mapupulang mga patak

Ang pilit pinagsisigawan sa sosyodad

At hanggang ngayo’y yun pa rin bukambibig

Ng mamang ngayon ko lang nahagilap

Ang mga inuusal ng bibig at gawi.

Sa maikling oras na sinilip ko buhay niyang yaon

di maikakailang isa lamang siya sa pagkarami-raming

proleteryat na kailangang manawagan at ipaglaban

ng mamamayang Pilipinong mulat sa kabulukan ng sistema

at pilit na humahawak sa prinsipyong paglingkuran ang mamamayan.

Akda ni:

MERILLE BENEDIAN

Pangkalahatang-Kalihim

ANAKBAYAN - UP Visayas Miag-ao Chapter

 

“Ito po ay bilang pagsuporta sa laban ng mga magsasaka hindi lamang sa HaciendaLuisita ngunit sa lahat ng mga magsasakang patuloy pa rin pong ipinagsisigawan ang genuine agrarian reform at lalung-lalo na po sa mga kapatid nating nakokontentong manahimik na lang sa isang sulok..panahon na po na tayo ay makisangkot! STP!”

Diin ikaw, 'pagbag-o'?

Sa aton paghuna-huna

Sin-o gid bala ang gilayon nga makatapna

sang nagkalain-lain nga krisis sang aton pungsod

sa edukasyon, sa ubra, sa duta kag sa pamalaklon,

Sin-o gid bala ang makasulbar?

Amo na ang pamangkot na 'kon.

Indi bala dugay na kita gadamgo sang aton pag-uswag?

Maka-ubra tawhay kag bayaran sang sapat,

Makakaon insakto para ang tutunlan indi mag-askad.

Indi lang puro asin nga tam-an kaalat.

Sa pila ka tuig nga pagduso sang pagbag-o,

Sin-o gid man bala ang makahimo sini sang insakto?

Ina gid man bala ang isa ka lalaki nga kuno insakto ang agi

Daw si sin-o nga maayo nga gulpi nalang nag-kari.

Pero kung ara gid man siya sa husto nga alagyan,

Ngaa ang iya duta indi ya malang mabuy-an?

Samtang ang mga imol nagapanawagan,

Ato to siya nagabungol-bungolan.

May paglaum gid man bala kita sang pagbag-o halin sa iya?

May mahimo gid man bala nga kaayuhan ang pagpungko ya?

Ukon asta lang man na siya sa hambal

Wakal lang nga wakal, nga daw damuhal.

Sa sini nga tini-on indi kita dapat maghipos-hipos lang

kinanglan ta pakigbatu-an ang sistema nga tiko kag kulang

Kinanglan ta isulong ang interes sang pareho ta nga kubos

Para ang tood nga pagbag-o makaptan ta sang lubos-lubos.

Akda ni:

Jordana Mari Jaco

Tagapangulo

ANAKBAYAN - UP Visayas Miag-ao Chapter

*Ito ay isang akdang ginawa upang ipakita ang aming pakikisangkot sa laban ng mga magsasaka at mga manggagawang bukid ng Hacienda Luisita, Inc.

May Pag-asa Pa Ba?

Sa isang lipunang puno ng mga api

Na ang mga dukha'y kawawa't walang kakampi

Busabos, maralita at masang anak pawis

Lugmok sa kahirapan, nagugutom, sa twina'y nagtitiis.

Bakit ayaw ipamudmod ang kayamanang para sa kanila?

Ilang taong pinaghirapan at ang iba'y nagpa-alila.

Nagbuwis ng buhay at masigasig na nakipaglaban.

Kailan kaya ang tunay tagumpay ay matitikman?

Matagal na panahon na ang ating iginugol

sa demokratikong pakibabaka laban sa mga polisiyang napakasahol.

Nagdudulot ng mabibigat na pasanin sa mga taong bayan,

Karamiha'y nagdurusa, naghihirap at naghahangad ng kalayaan.

Ang kay Juan ay kay Juan at ang kay Pedro'y kay Pedro.

Ngunit sino nga ba si Juan at Pedro kung mayaman ang kalaban mo?

Sa panahong ang pera ang makapangyarihan

May pag-asa pa bang ang hustisya ay makamtan?

Akda ni:

Jordana Mari Jaco

Tagapangulo

Anakbayan - UP Visayas Miag-ao Chapter

*Ito ay isang akdang ginawa upang ipakita ang aming pakikisangkot sa laban ng mga magsasaka at mga manggagawang bukid ng Hacienda Luisita, Inc.

Ipinagkait na Yaman

Daan-daang taon man ang lumipas

Tunggali-an ng uri’y di malulutas

labanan ng mga naghahari at pinagsasamantalahan

kontradiskyong laganap sa buong kapuluan

Ekta-ektaryang lupaing may bakud

Sakada’y pababang hinuhugot

Kaunting pahinga’y buong araw na pagod

Isang taong trabaho sahod ay kakarampot

Nagsisiksikan ang mga tao sa lungsod

Mga mayayama’y sa yaman ngpapalunod

Ipinagkakait ang lupa na di sana’y palayan

Ginagawang subdibisyon ngunit di naman napagkakakitaan.

Uring proletaryo’y magbuklod at magkaisa

Mamamayan, kabataan, manggagawa’t magsasaka

Panahon na ngayon, tayo’y mag-alsa at lumaban

Sa ikalalaya ng lupa ay ikalalaya ng bayan.

Akda ni:

Jose Ma. Nolen Marc P. Lasaga

Vice Chairperson

ANAKBAYAN - West Visayas State University Chapter

*Ito ay isang akdang ginawa upang ipakita ang aming pakikisangkot sa laban ng mga magsasaka at mga manggagawang bukid ng Hacienda Luisita, Inc.

Militant youth provokes city gov’t to immediately act on dengue issue

“That is so imprudent. Even if the cases now are less than that of last year, aren’t they alarmed of its increasing number? How many should be infected of it and how many should die before the city government act on this?”

Militant youth provokes city gov’t

to immediately act on dengue issue

August 17, 2010

Press Release

Comprehensive and militant youth organization ANAKBAYAN is agitated by the ‘no-action’ scenario of the city government on the issue of dengue.

“There has been an increasing rate of dengue cases and casualties in Iloilo City,” says James Saguino, Anakbayan Panay Regional Spokesperson and convener of OPLAN KONTRA DENGUE, a broad alliance of organizations to combat dengue led by Kalipunan ng mga Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY-PANAY).

The cases of dengue have reached its record to more than 300 with almost 10 casualties already.

No concrete actions taken yet

Saguino added “However, as we can see, it seems that the city government is not alarmed by this dilemma. As of now, no concrete actions can be seen from the ranks of the city officials to address the actual needs of the people.”

He said that immediate actions should be done as these present figures may still rise up because rain nowadays is very frequent.

He also slammed a pronouncement of a city councilor that the city cannot declare a State of Calamity because to declare such, there should be at least 20% of the population who are affected by that certain case. There were also other pronouncements from other councilors that they are not going to support any action now putting the city under a State of Calamity or State of Eminent Danger.

They claim that this declaration is not necessary because the figure this year, as of the last report of the Department of Health, is lower than last year, and there was even no declaration on the latter.

“That is so imprudent. Even if the cases now are less than that of last year, aren’t they alarmed of its increasing number? How many should be infected of it and how many should die before the city government act on this?” says Saguino. 

He added “And, let us recall why there was no declaration last year? It was because no one from the bureaucracy ever took the matter of dengue seriously despite that Iloilo City ranks on top in Western Visayas lat year.”

Gov’t failed to escalate people’s basic issue

He also exposed negligence of the government in securing the right of every Ilonggo to health services especially those who are economically-deprived.

He stressed “At this point, we can assess to which interest the city government is up to. If it can invest hundreds of thousands up to millions to projects that are not even the direct interest of the Ilonggos, why can’t they allocate supplemental or calamity fund now, knowing that health is a basic right of every citizen?”

Our summon to uphold public health, other basic social services

“We call on the city council to immediately pass the resolution being proposed by Councilor Lyndon Acap putting Iloilo City in the ‘State of Eminent Danger’ on their session this Wednesday, and shall lead to the release of a fund that will help dengue-infected patients,” he says.

“Dengue fever is a poor man’s disease. Although anyone regardless of class can possibly be infected, majority, if not all, whose case becomes worse are from the lower ranks of the society because of their financial incapability to shoulder high costs of laboratory and medical requirements to identify that he or she has been infected by dengue,” he added.

“Poor housing services, solid waste management and drainage system are also key factors to this case increase,” says Saguino.

“People especially children who live in crowded and thick communities have high risks of being infected with dengue.”

“We challenge the government to review the basics of public service. From the perspective of the youth, we are very much saddened by these actions. The government should set its priorities according to the call of times. It should at all times abide with the interests of the people.”

He stressed some basic rights of every Ilonggo that the government and the people per se should uphold: right to education, water, food, shelter, health and other basic social services. #

For reference:

JAMES SAGUINO

Regional Spokesperson

ANAKBAYAN PANAY

anakbayanpanay@gmx.com

09182143454

Militant youth group denounces first EJK, dares P-Noy

Press Release

July 7, 2010

Iloilo City---Comprehensive and militant youth organization Anakbayan strongly condemns the assassination of Bayan Muna Partylist Aklan Chairperson and Lezo, Aklan SB Member Fernando Baldomero last Monday.

61-year old activist is the first victim of extrajudicial killing (EJK) since the day President Benigno Aquino III took his oath of office.

According to the initial reports, Baldomero was at the front of his house in Brgy. Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan around 6:30 in the morning and was about to bring his 12-year old son to school when two armed men shot him to death by three gunshots in the head and neck.

“This is a big slap to P-Noy’s face. Things are clear in here. Even though former president and currently Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo had already bid her farewell from presidency, EJKs are still possible to occur,” says Anakbayan Panay Regional Spokesperson James Saguino. 

He added, “This slaying case happened after the announcement of the new counter-insurgency plan of the newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David.”

Anakbayan called Gen. Mabanta ‘idiot’, criticizes OBL

AFP, in their statement last Tuesday, then denied their involvement in the said case, nevertheless predicted it as a result of a communist purge.

"We are possible suspects. But do not forget that on the other side, purging continues to be a strategy if only to tell their members that we can kill you or we can neutralize you any time," said Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta.

“When there are usually killings of, let’s say anti-government activists, one of the easier people to blame are the military," he added.

However, Anakbayan National Vice-Chairperson Anton Dulce called Mabanta an idiot and was under the mistaken belief that the public is even dumber than he [Mabanta] is which would be the only possibility for them to believe such a discredited claim.

“Yet again, we hear it straight from the horse’s mouth: the AFP and its bullets do not differentiate between unarmed civilians and armed rebels” he said.

“Through Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL), the [past] Arroyo administration is conducting an inhumane war which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians and legal and underground organizations. Unless the Filipino people act to stop the killings, Philippine society will degenerate into something worse than Martial Law, not worthy of being called civilized,” said Benjie Oliveros in his article in Bulatlat as he described OBL as Arroyo’s inhumane war.

Saguino expressed disappointment to the Aquino administration. After 1190 cases of EJK, 1028 victims of torture, 205 cases of desaparecidos and more than hundreds of thousands were forcibly displaced in rural areas as a result of military operations, P-Noy has not yet presented his plan of action on how to stop political killings and enforced disappearances or at least condemn such inhumane acts.

Youth challenges P-Noy

Saguino restate the youth’s call for justice. P-Noy should bare his concrete plan or stand on this issue of political killings and other forms of human right violations.

“P-Noy should not only stop ‘Wangwang’ but also ‘Bangbang’ as soon as possible,” he said. The AFP has been the strongest perpetrator of the different cases of human rights violations in the Philippines.

The military’s power point presentation entitled ‘Knowing Your Enemy’ that tagged left-wing organizations as legal front of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) is one of the proofs that makes us point our fingers to them [AFP]. 

Different entities, including the Supreme Court on 2008 and UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights on 2007, alleged the AFP liable of the various cases on human rights.

He added that P-Noy enticed us to follow him in his ‘Daang Matuwid’.

Anakbayan Panay challenges P-Noy to prove it by making appropriate steps concerning this issue. Killers should be punished and these killings should be stopped. The objective of a ‘straight path’ cannot be achieved if justice and peace are yet on question.

“P-Noy should be serious on this matter. As what he said in his previous speech, ‘I will set the example.’ Now do the move,” Saguino added. # (with articles from Anakbayan Phils, Anton Dulce, Benjie Oliveros of Bulatlat, KARAPATAN and BAYAN)

Sources:

James Saguino

Regional Spokesperson

ANAKBAYAN PANAY*

anakbayanpanay@jamessaguino.4t.com

09182143454

*Anakbayan is one of the founding organizations of KABATAAN Partylist, the sole youth representation in Congress.

Iloilo Students Junk Exorbitant Fees

Press Release

June 8, 2010

Gain Victories through Protest and Dialogue with CHED
 

Militant students from several universities and colleges in Iloilo today greeted the opening of classes with an indignation protest in front of the Commission on higher Education (CHED) Region 6 Office.

“The students are indignant about the worsening education situation in the country. The people’s right to quality yet  accessible education suffered the worst attacks under the Arroyo regime,” said KABATAAN Partytlist Panay Regional Coordinator Lean Redino Porquia.

More than 50 students massed up in Jaro Plaza by 4PM and from there marched to the CHED Region 6 Office with their streamers, placards, and a huge school card bearing outgoing president Arroyo’s failing grade for her educational policies and programs.

Student leaders dialogued with new CHED Region 6 Director Virginia Resurreccion as the protesters continued the picket and held a die-in on the CHED Region 6 Office parking lot.

“Arroyo’s policies directly encouraged less education spending, budget cuts and austerity measures in state universities, and tuition and other feesincreases in both public and private schools. This ye ar alone, 399 tertiary colleges and universities nationwide are raising their tuition. 24 higher educational institutions are having tuition increases in Region 6,” Porquia

added.

Concrete Victories through Collective Action

The indignation rally and dialogue with Director Resurreccion yielded concrete victories for the student sector in the province of Iloilo and the whole of Region 6 with CHED agreeing to the following student demands:

- CHED committed to issue a memorandum making the payment of Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) fees non-mandatory for students.

- CHED committed to create a monitoring body that will investigate the implementation of the tuition hikes in the 24 tertiary educational institutions in Region 6 that raised tuition in the present school year.

- CHED committed to include progressive student groups in this monitoring body.

“Through our protest we proved once more the potency of collective action,” said Leo Carlo Andrew Balidiong, West Visayas State University (WVSU) - University Student Council (USC) Vice Chairperson and National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) Iloilo member.

“We were able to expose that the government agency supposedly tasked with protecting the students’ right to education as nothing more than a rubberstamp that only takes note of fee increases by universities,” added Balidiong.

“CHED should exercise its regulating powers. CHED should not leave it to school owners to indiscriminately hike tuition and other fees. Repressive policies like the CHED Memo 13 that allows unregulated tuition increases should be junked. Education is a right and not a privilege for the financially capable few.”

KABATAAN Partylist Panay and the Iloilo chapters of the Anakbayan, the League of Filipino Students (LFS), the National Union of Students (NUSP), and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) led today’s protest.

Mapulang Paglalakbay

Kaysarap pakinggan ang mga huni ng ibon,
Ang agos ng batis habang pumapatak sa talon
Hindi ko na alintana ang daang mabato at maputik
Napapawi ng layunin ng pusong pumipitik.

Nasaan? Nasaan ako? Bakit ako naririto?

Hindi ito ang aking nais nang tinungo ang Iloilo.

Tiniis na malayo sa pamilyang lubog sa dalita

At mag-isang hinarap ang hamon gabay ng pananampalataya.

Patuloy ang paglalakbay sa matirik na bundok

Buong saya na iniisip, nawa’y marating na ang tuktok.

Ngunit nakatatlong oras na, paglalakbay ay tuloy pa rin.

Kailan kaya mawawala ang pagkabitin nitong damdamin?

Nang marating ang tuktok, naging malalim ang paghinga.

Pamamanhid ng tuhod ay aking dinama.

Saka muli ay tumayo at nilingon ang likuran

Nakaraan ay naaalala, ito na ba ay pamamaalam?

Sa aming pamamahinga kahit sa maliit na saglit

Hindi ko maiwasang mata ay ipikit.

Isipan ko rin ay nasa malayong paglalakbay.

Ano nga ba ang makapagbibigay ng kasaganaang tunay?

Aking naaalala noong bago ako lumisan

Isang mabigat na pangako ang aking binitiwan

Malagintong diploma at desenteng kabuhayan

na siyang maibibigay na bunga ng mahal kong pamantasan.

Subalit may kaakibat ang pagpasok sa yaong paaralan,

Maliban sa estudyante ka, Iskolar pa ng bayan.

Pinag-aral ako ng masa gamit ang kanilang buwis.

Buwis na ang pinag-ugatan ay dugo nila at pawis.

Nagin hamon sa akin, ang masa ay paglingkuran

Nagising ang kamulatan, pinag-aralan ang lipunan

sa sistemang malapyudal at malakolonyal na pamayanan

Na naging dahilan ng pagsasamantala sa malawak na hanay ng mamamayan.

Matagal nang nakakulong ang masang Pilipino

Hindi makatakas sa dayuhang matatalas ang kuko

ang hamon sa atin ay paano matatapos

ang ganitong sistema nila ng pambubusabos.

Sa gitna ng kahirapang nararanasan ng sambayanan

ang pananampalataya sa Diyos ay atin pa bang maaasahan?

Ilang siglo na tayong nakaasa sa tadhana?

Ang buhay ng tao ba'y gulong ng palad nga kaya?

Biglang napahinto ang paglalaro ng aking isip

Ipagpapatuloy na ang naudlot na paglalakbay

Mamaya na lang ulit kapag ako ay naidlip

sa pagod ng paglalakad, makakatulog nang matiwasay.

At narating nga namin ang aming patutunguhan

sa isang liblib na baryo sa malayong bayan,

Sa masang anakpawis, lulubog nang isang linggo

at ang paglulubos panahon ay nasa baybayin ng pagkalito.

At ako nga'y narito ngayon sa bingit ng pagpapasya.

Ipagpapatuloy pa ba ang pagpasok sa pamantasan ng burgesya?

Alam kong ito'y hindi sagot para mapalitan ang sistema.

Kailangang sumama't mag-organisa sa manggagawa't magsasaka.

Gagampanan ko na ang obligasyon bilang anak ng bayan

Tulad ni Oble, sarili ko ay aking huhubaran.

Puspusang mag-oorganisa, puspusang makikibaka,

Buhay ko man ang kapalit para sa ganap nating paglaya.

Tutuparin ko pa rin ang mga pangako sa pamilya

Hindi man sa paghandog sa kanila ng aking diploma

Mas bibigyang diin ang nais na kasaganaan.

Itataas ang kaliwang kamao, ang masa ay hawak sa kanan.

Ngayon ay magpapatuloy ang aking talambuhay

Pangarap ay aabutin, hindi man pluma't papel ang bitbit sa kamay

Pulang bandila ay aking dadalhin at iwawagayway

Hanggang sa matapos ang paglalakbay at matatamasa ang kalayaan ng ating buhay.#

*Marami nang pagbabago ang nagawa sa akdang ito.

Pagpasidungog (para kay Ka Bitoy)

Sa kada tion sa imo nga kabuhi
Imo ini nga ginhatag kag ginhalad
Sa masa nga imo ginpalangga.

Sa imo pagbyahe sa malapad nga dalan
Pirmi mo ginasinggitan
Ang kinamatarong sang mga mamumugon
Kag tsuper na adllaw kag gab-i nga nagapasada

Kag yara ikaw naga-organisa
Sa masa nga anakbalhas
Imo sila gina-updan sa pungsudnon nga paghimakas.

“Untat biyahe! Welgang bayan!
Suportahan! Suportahan!
Presyo sang langis, panubuon!
Sweldo sang mamumugon, pataason!”

Ang mga ini ang pirmi mabatian
Sa mainit nga dalan
Nga ginhimo mo nga opisina kag puluy-an
Indi matungkad ang imo pag-alagad
Sa masa nga ginahimuslan
Sa luyag mo nga sila hilwayon
Sa kadena sang kaimulon.

Gani, bisan sa imo pagtaliwan, Ka Bitoy
Ang imo nga singgit kag limog
sang paghimakas magapabilin sa amun
Pirmi namon ini mabatian sa amun tagipusuon
Ang imo ginasinggitan, amun ipadayon!

Sa imo kaisog kag panindugan
Ikaw amun subong ginahanduraw sa imo atubangan
Bitbiton kag pagapadayunon
Ang inaway-banwa nga ginsuguran.

Paalam, Ka Bitoy!
Apang indi ini ang katapusan.
Hasta nga may pagpamigos kag pagpanghimulos sa banwa nga natawhan
Ang paghimakas sang pumuluyo magapadayon
Tubtub nga maagum ang matuod-tuod nga kahilwayan
Kag tubtub nga maagum naton ang kadalag-an!

Ang ini nga binalaybay  ginahalad sang mga pamatan-on sa pagtaliwan ni Ka Bitoy, isa ka dungganon nga lider sang PISTON-KMU-Anakpawis diri sa Panay.

Thank you.

My work in Antique has came to its end. Three days turned two weeks. Haha.

Challenges. Fears. Pressures. Stress. Acquaintances. Friendships. Stories. Integrations. Inspirations.

A part of what we call Life.

 A part of what we call 'struggle'.

Kruhay! Padayon ang paghimakas para sa kaaraydan kag kahilawayan kang pumuluyo!

Serve the people!


(Dinot, Pol, Tito Boy, Tito Nash, Pastor Ric, Tito Horace, Tita Susan, Rheca & Ruth, Cedie, Maam Kathy & Sally of NAMFREL, at sa lahat ng nakasalamuha ko, SALAMAT at SALAMAT. Hanggang sa Muli.)

LFS, KABATAAN SUMMON U.P. ADMIN TO STOP COMMERCIALIZATION OF EDUCATION NOW!

The soul of being a national university of the University of the Philippines, as mandated by Republic Act 9500 also known as the “UP Charter of 2008”, has been part of the surrealism being upheld here in this academic institution as the government continuously fails to perform its responsibility to the citizens in providing sufficient budget allocation for education.

With UP’s implementation of the 300% Tuition and Other Fee Increases (TOFI) last December 2006 and another storm of almost 700% TOFI last year in several undergraduate and graduate programs, the administration again reaffirms commercialization to education through its new proposal to implement increase to different fees on Physical Education courses.

In the proposal disseminated by UP Visayas Chancellor Minda Formacion with an attached copy of the excerpt from the minutes of the 256th meeting of the UP President’s Advisory Council held on November 16, 2009, it states: “The policy of not charging fees [tuition or laboratory] has given a rise to as situation where some constituent universities have had to look for other sources to maintain PE facilities and to purchase PE equipment and supplies [once the athletic fund] runs out]. The cost of maintaining PE Facilities and acquiring or replacing equipment and supplies keep on increasing and has therefore become a funding problem. It has affected the [quality] of teaching given the very limited facilities that are made available to the PE students.”

UP Visayas ‘proposed to charge P250.00 or P100.00 for selected PE courses’ and an increase of 81.82% increase in Athletics Fee, from P55.00/sem to P100/sem according to Memorandum No. 2010-03-23 issued by the Chancellor on March 8, 2010. It also states ‘the collections will be used solely to support the regular PE course offerings and to rehabilitate and maintain PE facilities and equipment and to purchase supplies such as balls and pool chemicals.’

The LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS and KABATAAN PARTYLIST strongly oppose this proposal of the administration. There was no ‘due and comprehensive’ consultation with regards to the said proposal, as required by RA 9500 Section 13 (m).

Dr. Joy Lizada, Dean of College of Management in UP Visayas, conducted a ‘consultation’ but maximum student participation was not achieved because it was announced the day before the event, and Chancellor Formacion set the deadline on March 15 for the college to submit the result of the consultation. This shows that the administration is really rushing the implementation of the said proposal even without the participation of the students.

We register our strong opposition to the privatization and commercialization scheme of President Roman so as to generate additional budget for UP, even collaborating with the government in pursuing the commercialization of UP education, rather than assert and pushed for higher budgetary education. The Roman administration has been a staunch defender and implementer of government’s policies on education.

WE HAVE TOO MUCH OF TUITION FEE INCREASES FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

We call on all constituents of this institution to forbid these anti-students policies of the university that seek to tolerate government’s negligence in providing basic social services to the people like that of education.

The University of the Philippines is owned by the people to serve and offer quality education to those who are financially unstable. We should not allow any form of commercialization inside this institution. The Constitution stipulates that 'the state shall promote and protect every Filipino's right to education at all levels'. We should remind this government in its forgotten responsibility. We should demand to the government greater investment in education.

OPPOSE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LABORATORY FEES FOR P.E. COURSES!

ROLLBACK TUITION NOW!

STOP COMMERCIALIZATION OF EDUCATION!

UPHOLD THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION!

U.P. FIGHT FOR GREATER STATE SUBSIDY!

LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS
KABATAAN PARTYLIST

STRUGGLE FOR REPRESENTATION! STRUGGLE FOR OUR RIGHTS!

Official Statement Regarding the Non-Recognition to SR Bañez

Issues of threats to ‘student representation’ in the Board of Regents (BOR) are not unusual scenario here in UP, especially in this epoch where the Philippine Educational System is fast deteriorating, and on the other hand, patriotic students summon the government for greater investment on education.

The University of the Philippines is a facade of the whole Philippine society. It depicts the concrete situation of the Filipinos caged in a semi-feudal and semi-colonial dungeon. In an academic institution, of which we, students, preponderate the population, we are highly deprived of freedom and of our democratic rights.

What occurred during the BOR Meeting last January 29 was a clear manifestation of how desperate the administration is in asserting their selfish interest even if other important matters are highly compromised.

The issue on the status of Student Regent Charisse Bernadine “Chaba” Bañez was first raised on the meeting of the board last December before the deliberation and appointment of the new Philippine General Hospital (PGH) director. President Roman moved that Chaba be put to an ‘observer’ status because she is not enrolled this second semester. However, other sectoral regents argued to the motion. The board voted against Roman’s motion, thus, allowing Chaba to remain in the meeting as a regular member with voting power. Dr. Jose Gonzales, who was not the choice of Pres. Roman, won as the new PGH Director, 6-5, with Chaba voting.

President Roman and her cronies (mostly are Malacañang-appointed regents) were contending against the appointment of Dr. Jose Gonzales as the new PGH Director. She [Roman] was in her fight to reappoint Dr. Carmelo Alfiler, who is backed-up by Malacañang and is in favor of the privatization of the PGH.

Regent Abraham Sarmiento filed a protest to nullify the appointment of Dr. Gonzales last December 18 because of the status of Chaba of her failure to enroll for residency or apply for Leave of Absence. Actually, Chaba has applied already for residency and is now pending at the UPLB Office of the Chancellor.

These events are very malicious. The administration is so desperate that it utilizes technicalities to assert outrageously their interest compromising the decisions made by the board last December 18 Meeting (appointment of Dr. Gonzales and for Chaba to remain as a voting member).

This is not the first time that the Roman administration and her cronies in the BOR attempted to stop Chaba in representing the studentry because of her background of being a strong critic of the policies and actions of the administration like that of the Tuition and other Fees Increases (TOFI), campus repression, commercialization of education, non-collection of student fund in UPLB, etc.

It took almost four months, after Chaba was unanimously selected as SR by all of the UP units, before she was confirmed as such by the BOR and took her oath of office.

UP Los Baños Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco is only one of those people who are desperate in stopping Chaba from assuming the position of SR, and even two years ago, when she [Chaba] was still the Chairperson of the UPLB USC, wherein the USC had assumed office only during the second semester.

From the different superficial cases filed against her to the red baiting of the organizations to which Chaba is affiliated, Velasco, as the head of an autonomous unit,does not give any shame to his office amidst the presence of such repression within his constituency, but instead uphold and preserve such doings against the studentry.

Chancellor Velasco filed a case against Chaba and other members of the UPLB student council, including the Editor-in-Chief of Perspective, the Official Publication of UPLB, for their failure to issue a financial statement. Recently this December, a sanction of 'suspension' was given to them despite the fact that they were able to issue a financial statement before their term ended. The sentence of suspension given can be use as a ground for Velasco not to approve Chaba's application for residency.

Chaba's weakness is being used by the administration to get rid of the students voicing out their democratic aspirations.

Compromising the power of the student regent in the BOR does not only compromise the Office of the Student Regent but the whole student populace in this institution.

The Office of the Student Regent has been the forefront in asserting student demands in the BOR, the highest policy-making body of the university. Ousting the SR deprive almost 50,000 UP student across the archipelago from being represented. Even for a single second, we cannot afford putting the position of SR in vacancy. At this point, the presence of an SR is in great demand for the term of Roman is about to end yet she is still in great desperation of her programs of commercialization in UP.

It has been decades that we are asserting out right to education. We, Iskolars ng Bayan, continue our struggles for this goal — embracing wholeheartedly the 'essence of militancy' and in our commitment to 'Serve The People'. This goal shall be at risk if we lose our sole representation in the body that governed this institution — the sole representation that upholds the interests of the students in particular, and of the whole society in general.

The LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS stands firm as we summon Roman administration to give honor to the mandate given by the students to SR Bañez. Together with whole UP System Studentry, we strongly condemn this administration in its despairing actions to assert selfish interest against that of the studentry, who is the main reason of the continuing existence of UP.


UPHOLD STUDENT REPRESENTATION!
DEFEND THE OSR!
STOP CAMPUS REPRESSION!
STRUGGLE FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS!
STOP COMMERCIALIZATION OF UP!
UP FIGHT FOR GREATER STATE SUBSIDY!

Maglingkod!!!
Mag-aral!!!
Mapangahas na makibaka!!!

LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS
University of the Philippines Visayas- Iloilo City

DEFEND UP HIGH!!!

The University of the Philippines – Visayas is once again facing another challenge. Despite the resistance of many of the Iskolars ng Bayan, faculty and community, the scheme of gradually phasing out the UPV Cebu High School has been railroaded.

Last 8 January 2010, the UPV Cebu College Dean Enrique Avila wrote a letter to U.P. President Emerlinda Roman stating that "…the College shall soon propose the gradual phase out of the high school effective first semester of school year 2010-2011. With this, the high school admission test proposed for March 2010 will consequently be cancelled."

This letter was then followed by a memorandum issued by the Dean himself to the Professional Education Department (PED) Chair Rosario Montaño on the suspension of the acceptance of High School Admission Test (HSAT) of U.P. Cebu High School. The memorandum states that due to the lack of faculty resources, the profile of the current faculty complement servicing the high school, the refocusing of the College's academic programs and plans and the priorities set by the UP System and the new UP Charter of 2008, the UPV Cebu College is no longer in the position to sustain ably the implementation of the high school. Moreover it enunciated that the acceptance of applicants for the proposed HSAT on March be suspended due to the pending resolution of the proposal to phase out the high school gradually.

The desperate moves of the Dean to abolish the high school did not go through apt process of consulting the students and the faculty and does not hold ample basis to act upon.

Since the establishment of the U.P. Cebu High School, it has been faced threats of closure because of the lack of budget. But it still continued to exist because of its mandate of Democratized Access to Education wherein, under this policy, all U.P. High Schools is a program that helps economically destitute but intellectually deserving students gain access to tertiary education. Moreover, it also serves as a laboratory high school for innovative teaching strategies premeditated to better prepare these deserving students for access to tertiary education, particularly in University of the Philippines, where they can avail quality college education at a low cost.

As Iskolars ng Bayan, we have always played a crucial role on shaping momentous changes and junctures in our history. We remain steadfast in all our endeavors, whether it is a national or local issue that affects the nation. We never faltered even in the midst of Martial Rule. Instead, with our arms linked together, we faced every struggle and continued our immeasurable commitment of serving not only the students but also the people.

Today, we, the Iskolars ng Bayan, have a vital and decisive task to act upon. We cannot stay unvoiced and unresponsive while our future and our rights as students are being compromised for untimely and contemptible scheme that deflects the primary purpose of our University.

The Iskolars ng Bayan are wide awake and are ready to lead the fight for asserting their right to accessible quality yet affordable education. Once again, time has brought us into the arena where the secret weapons to triumph are critical minds and unity.

We believe that U.P., as an insignia of freethinking education, must uphold its commitment in uplifting quality education which is non-discriminating and is accessible to all. Thus, we recognize the role of U.P. High Schools in advancing the value of nationalism and freedom among its students for a more developed and progressive Philippine society.

We greatly convey our unity to the Students, Student Councils, Student Organizations, Faculty Members and all the constituents of the University of the Philippines – Visayas Cebu College who have spoken their opposition to Dean Enrique M. Avila's ploy on the gradual abolition of UPV Cebu High School. We contest the moves of phasing out the UPV Cebu High School on the following grounds:

• The attempt of phasing out the UPV Cebu High School by Dean Enrique Avila does not serve the interest and welfare of the students, the faculties and the community. UPV Cebu High School, for many years, has served as an institution that provides the youth affordable, accessible and quality education through its mandate of Democratized Access to Education. With this step of phasing out the high school, U.P. therefore closes its doors to those who want to avail a quality education which U.P. can offer.

• Phasing out of UPV Cebu High School is a step railroading further commercialization of U.P. Education. This plan can be linked to the gradual state abandonment among State Colleges and Universities. With the budget proposed by the Department of Budget and Management to U.P. and the whole education, which was cut from the previous year's budget, it can be drawn out that the government may be making steps to slowly desert their responsibility of allotting greater state subsidies to its SCUs which results to disbanding of other state-owned universities in the country.

• This move by Dean Enrique M. Avila does not undergo due process of consultation among students and faculty members. Moreover, the High School Faculty has not received a copy of the proposal by the dean. This is an apparent move ignoring RA 9500, also known as the new U.P. Charter as of 2009, in which it was stipulated under Section 3 (h) that "As the National University, the University of the Philippines shall provide democratic governance in the University based on collegiality, representation, accountability, transparency and active participation of its constituents. " Moreover, pursuant to Section 13 (c) of the charter, only the Board of Regents (BOR) has the power to approve institution, merger or abolition of academic programs upon recommendation of the University Council of the constituent university. Furthermore, the letter dated last 8 January 2010 to President Emerlinda Roman by Dean Avila did not even pass through proper channels by having it pass first to the UPV Chancellor. With this, the bid of phasing out U.P. High School in Cebu without due process and ample grounds is a despicable move that does not recognize the rights and welfare of its constituents.

• Closure of U.P. High is not the answer for the lack of budget and aging facilities of the college. It is not as well an obstruction to make UPVCC a constituent university of UP. It must be regarded that the budget for the university has been gradually cut each year. However, this must not be the basis of imposing policies that can downbeat the constituents. Instead of eliminating a significant limb of the University, being in an educational institution, University officials, together with its constituents, must assert and fight for greater state subsidy to answer the call of insufficiency.

• This step of phasing out the UPV Cebu High School will aggravate the colonial, commercialized, repressive and fascist characteristics of U.P. and education. As a bastion of democracy, the University of the Philippines must provide an affordable, accessible and quality education among its students and to all. It must also cater the interest and welfare of its constituents – the students, faculty, staff and the community. Phasing out an academic institution that serves the interest of the people such as U.P. High steals not only the right of the people to education but also their right to have a bright future.

We call on all students, student organizations, student leaders, teachers, staff and all UPV constituents to avert the dire steps of phasing out the UPV Cebu High School. The desperate moves of Dean Enrique Avila to discontinue the existence of U.P. High in Cebu despite the honor and service that the high school has given to the University and the community have set profound disgruntlement among the students, teachers and the people in the community.

We strongly deem the sovereign right that lays on the students, the youth and the people to totally succeed the struggle to overpower the ambitious ideas that undermine the interests and the welfare of the people with irrefutable principles that can genuinely unite the students and the people and can bring forth meaningful victory.

Signed by (As of 22 January 2010):

Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa U.P.
UPV College of Arts and Sciences – Student Council
UPV College of Fisheries and Ocean Science – Student Council
UPV School of Technology – Student Council
Yupihay
National Union of Students of the Philippines
KABATAAN Partylist
League of Filipino Students
Anakbayan
Pagbutlak, Official Publication of CAS
College Editors' Guild of the Philippines
Sandigan ng Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan
Samahan ng Mag-aaral at Kabataang Kababaihan
UPV Oikos

PGMA shuns judicial acts, covers malicious deeds

The LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS strongly opposes the president’s issuance of Proclamation No. 1959 last December 4, 2009 putting most of Maguindanao under Martial Law and suspending the privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus.

Where is rebellion?

In the report made by the Office of the President addressed to the two chambers of the Congress, she cited Section 18 Article VII of the Philippine Constitution.

“Article VII Section 18. In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law.”

We believe that this act of PGMA is unconstitutional, citing Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code.

“Rebellion or insurrection - How committed. - The crime of rebellion or insurrection is committed by rising publicly and taking arms against the Government for the purpose of removing from the allegiance to said Government or its laws, the territory of the Republic of the Philippines or any part thereof, of any body of land, naval or other armed forces, or depriving the Chief Executive or the Legislature, wholly or partially, of any of their powers or prerogatives.”

In this stipulation, it is clearly stated the definition of rebellion, which is a basis for the president, as the ‘Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces’, to declare Martial Law, and is not seen in the said brutal massacre in Maguindanao last November 23.

Gov't unable to solve the crime, declares ML

The Arroyo administration is trying to deviate from the judicial procedures that should be practiced whenever any act contrary to law occurs. However, it has been obvious that the government is incapable of doing such, given that justice has not yet been served though the massacre had happened more than two weeks ago and the respondents can be immediately identified.

If we really view it critically, PGMA cannot really touch the Ampatuans under the judicial process because the Arroyos and Ampatuans are strong political allies.

Most of the scandals and issues that are related to the Arroyos occurred in Maguindanao. Recall the Hello-Garci Scandal, the 2004 Presidential Election where GMA crushes FPJ in the vote counts and the 12-0 slide of the administration's senatorial slate. The Ampatuans has an ‘alas’ over the Arroyo.

ML is a test for public

The action for martial law declaration had been alleged years ago to protect the power of the Arroyos. The issuance of PN 1959 without lawful bases is just a trial of the administration to test the acceptability of martial law to the public.

PGMA declared Martial Law having a presumption that the said massacre is an act of rebellion, though it was not, citing again Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code. Because of this kind of action done by PGMA, it is not impossible for her to put the whole nation under Martial Law given the rampant crimes, extrajudicial killings, deceparicidos and other election-related violence.

Also, the Commission on Election (COMELEC) recently released a list of different places in the Philippines tagged as ‘hot spots’ for having a numerous cases of election-related crimes and violence.

This could be use by PGMA to put the entire country under Martial Law to remain in power avoiding the different frauds and scandals her family has been facing.

Lift PN 1959!

The League of Filipino Students calls for the government to lift Proclamation No. 1959 now. We call for transparency of the investigation on the massacre. We demand the government for a faster action to serve justice to more than 60 victims.

We also call to the general public, especially the youth and student populace of this society, to be vigilant and critical with regards to the actions taken and to be taken by the Arroyo administration.


LIFT Proclamation No. 1959!
JUSTICE for the Victims of Maguindanao Massacre!
Uphold democratic rights of the people!
Continue the militant struggle for National Democracy!!!

LEAGUE OF FILIPINO

STUDENTS

^{Official Statement on the Issuance of Proclamation No. 1959}