Marking another year of the unsolved Balao Case

Campaigns to surface the

disappeared continues
Jarrel Benedict Cacdac camps for a possible trace of his of the indie film “Sigwa” was A Challenge to Aquino’s Admin-
whereabouts. organized by CHRA, Cordillera istration

C
ommemorating the sec-
ond year of his disappear-
ance, movements to know
the whereabouts of University of
the Philippines-Baguio alumnus
and First Quarter Storm survivor
James Moy Balao tightens.
Tireless Calls
Since his abduction two years
ago (September 17) in Tomay, La
Trinidad Benguet, his colleagues,
family and friends have not
ceased in holding activities and
campaigns to surface him.
“We have learned how to
CHRA also tried actions such
as looking for the assistance of the
courts, talking with top ranking
government officials concerned,
and writing letters and petitions
to surface.
“We called upon our elders
and indigenous leaders to invoke
our ancestors to help us. We
marched in the streets in protests
and condemnation. Our voices, as
it may seem, have fallen on deaf
ears but we have not lost hope,” he
added.
His father, Arthur Balao, even
in his sick condition, participated
Afong, College Editors Guild of
the Philippines (CEGP), and St.
Louis School Center(CLSC) held
at the Saint Louis Center Social
Hall last September 18-19.
Included in its first screening
is a short program to honor James
Balao and other Martial Law
activists. Gawad Marcelo H. Del
Pilar was also presented to the
family of James by the CEGP to
commemorate James’ contribution
in the field of journalism.
The event was attended by
approximately 500 audience
coming from different sectors of
Longid emphasized that James
is not an isolated case of this
matter, and all over the Philippines
and in Luzon alone, hundreds of
these disappearances occur.
“The enforced disappear-
ances must serve as a chal-
lenge to the present gov-
ernment. Even though
these things did
not occur in his
[Aquino] admin-
istration, he must
do something
about them,” she added.

Grapiks Aila Velasco

cope up with his disappearance.
Siyempre nalulungkot pa rin kami,
pero CPA (Cordillera People’s
Alliance) is still here. Tuluy-tuloy
pa rin naman ang campaigns para
mahanap siya. We are not going
to give up looking for him,” CPA
chairperson and Balao’s colleague
Beverly Longid said.
In an interview by the Northern
Dispatch with Jude Baggo,
Secretary General of Cordillera
Human Rights Alliance(CHRA),
last August 30, he stressed that
they tried searching military
in protests and rallies, speaking the community. Simultaneously,
before the media for the release of a photo exhibit was held on the
his son. CLSC grounds featuring his
“It pains us to note that James published articles on his college
Balao’s parents passed away while days.
their son remains disappeared,”
Baggo stated.
Commemorating his Contribu-
tions
As part of the campaign to
surface James, a special screening

Up Baguio
Opisyal na Pahayagan kultura
ng mga Mag-aaral
balita lathalain
buhaAy las-sais
ng Unibersidad ng
Pilipinas Baguio Roman’s term to end, BOR searches
When the ni
O sa
Tomo 37 Isyu 4 Setyembre 2010 for next UP President 2

ble
Ang U
t P sa
UPD Student Code, posibleng
aprubahan na 2 going gets ereyn p
ng tunostmoder
ggalia nong
n
Construction of student alumni
center due this November 3 tough
The government’s
CAC to build classrom in FA 3
faculty room 3 shortcomings on
disaster management page 4
Mismatched Agenda It was unusually windy that time. The trees
Pahimakas Youth sector claims for higher 4 were swaying as if they were to break any
Naglabas ang Outcrop ng artikulo tungkol state subsidy 4 minute. Our dog was frantically barking, her
sa ‘Silent Martial Law’ sa Nueva Ecija noong
Agosto 2006, na nagpapakita ng pasismo ng noise added to the furies of the wind. All of
administrasyong Arroyo. Nga lamang, na- a sudden, the local cables were overflowing of
nanatili ang ganitong uri ng pagpapatahimik
news with Metro Manila covered with heavy
sa mga kritiko hanggang ngayon sa adminis- 4 floods. And the whole scene came so fast... page
trasyon ni Noynoy Aquino III.
5
2
balita
UPB Outcrop Tomo 37 Isyu 4 Setyembre 2010
UP president selection draws near
Nominees and Multi-Sectoral
Issues Pronounced
Ivah Yael Capinig
I
n preparation to the upcoming
University of the Philippines
Presidential election, a multi-
sectoral forum facilitated by
Faculty Regent Judy Taguiwalo,
Staff Regent Clodualdo Cabrera
and Student Regent Cori Alessa
Co was held at SOLAIR UP
Diliman last September 2 and 3.
Multi-Sectoral Issues
The forum focused on the
discussions regarding long-term
issues that each sector (Faculty,
Staff, Research, Extension and
Professional Staff (REPS), and
Student) experienced in general.
Such are discrimination regarding
rights, promotion and privileges
of the university staff; trend of
temporary or contractual workers
and lack of comprehensive
discussions for contentious issues.
Moreover, the forum
also talked of issues that
the whole system faces like
BOR’s authoritarian mode of
governance, militarization of some
campuses and privatization and
commercialization of the services
inside the university and UP as a
whole.
Along with the budget cut that
the students do not agree on, the
faculty also talked of problems
with tenures of the professors and
inequity of the benefits that the
staff and REPS receive versus the
benefits of the faculty.
These problems are currently
being addressed by different
sectors with studies and pursuance
of representatives of committees
of UP. Other means of attending
to these issues that the sectors
suggested are negotiations,
dialogues, consultations and lastly,
mobilizations and such.
Nevertheless, UP
administration answers these
sectors’ calls with further study and
budgetary constraints while some
issues are ignored and different
forms of harassment are enacted.
Kariton. Jesusa Paquibot
Extra Challenge
The sectoral staff also presented
solutions in the said forum that
the next president of the university
would hopefully do. They wished
for uniformed implementation
of policies regarding benefits like
leaves and promotions; junking
of Office Performance Evaluation
System (OPES; a system
for measuring the collective
performance of the individuals in
an Office or Division).
The staff also pleads for the
continuance of Certificate of
Service ; uphold and support
democratic governance in the
university; have a networking
relationship between college
universities and the viability of
organizing and mobilizing unions
and alliances in and outside of the
university.
Roman’s 2011 Predecessor
Also, with the announcement
of the nominees for the next UP
president, sectors of the faculty
together with the REPS, and
students evaluated the vision
papers and curriculum vitae of
each of the nominees.
The nominees are Consolacion
Alaras, a retired professor of
the College of English and
Comparative Literature in
Diliman; Dr. Patrick T. Azanza,
senior lecturer at UP college of
education and current CEO of
two private business corporations;
Leonor Briones, chairman to
the board of trustees of Siliman
University in Dumaguete City.
Along with these are
Esperanza Cabral, Independent
Director of the Manila Bulletin
Publishing Co.; Sergio Cao,
current Chancellor of UP Diliman;
Diliman Professors Benjamin
Diokno (School of Economics)
and Maria Serena Diokno
(College of Social Sciences and
Philosophy).
Completing the list of the
nominees are Raul Pangalangan,
also a Diliman Professor in the
College of Law; current Regent
for UP and president of the UP
Alumni Association Alfredo
Pascual; Virginia Teodoso,
Professor in the UP School of
Labor and Industrial Relations
and; current Chancellor of UP Los
Baños Luis Rey Velasco.
These nominees will undergo
fora with the different sectors
(student, faculty and staff ) that
will raise concerns that they would
like the next president to address.
The upcoming nominees’ fora will
be on September 20 (Los Baños),
24 (Diliman) and October 14
(Manila) 2010 will be shown live
to other UP campuses.
The Board of Regents
scheduled the elections on
November 17, 2010, Wednesday.
After almost a decade of implementation
Faculties, Students and Alumni Reviewed RGEP
Ivan Emil Labayne
I
n an effort to assess the
current Revitalized General
Education Program
(RGEP) after almost a decade
of implementation, chosen
teaching professors, non-GE
teaching professors, alumni,
faculty members and students
participated on a Focused Group
Discussion last September 20. The
participants were divided into two
groups: the first one is composed
mainly of faculty members while
the second one is comprised of
faculty members and students.
RGEP for a Cause
RGEP’s model states four
objectives, at least three of which
must be addressed by every subject:
(1) broaden intellectual and
cultural horizons (2) awareness of
various disciplines (3) integration
of knowledge and skills and (4)
foster nationalism balanced with
internationalism.
The program also states that
GE courses must be taught only
by senior faculties, those teachers
KALIWANG
SULOK
Una sa anim. Inilahad ni Pang. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III ang mga plano ng
kanyang administrasyon sa kanyang unang State of the Nation Address noong
Hulyo 26. Naging malaking usapin ang kanyang mga panukala para sa sektor
ng edukasyon. Philippine Collegian
who occupy the upper half of the
teacher’s rankings. However, only
20% of the faculty population of
UP are senior faculty members.
As of now, RGEP has two
frameworks. The first one is what
UP Diliman is adapting while
the second is the framework that
is being applied in all the other
constituent universities. The two
differ in terms of the competencies
that the program seeks to address.
The Diliman framework only
has two target competencies; that
is, development of critical thinking
and independent learning, the
second framework adds a third
target competency, the oral and
written communication. Moreover,
unlike the second framework, the
framework in Diliman requires
their students to take up at least six
units of Philippine studies. During
the FGD, a suggestion to require
three units of indigenous studies
in UP Baguio was brought up.
FGD: An Evaluation
The FGD serves as a way to
assess of the RGEP in terms of
its effectiveness to the students,
as well as to the instructors. “The
group will talk about the concepts
of the RGEP by means of the
qualities of the teacher,[and]
objectives of the RGEP, and also
concerning about the class size,”
said Lorelei Mendoza, a professor
from the College of Social
Sciences (CSS).
The individuals of the group
will have a chance to state the pros
and cons they see about RGEP.
Similar FGDs are being done in
all the other campuses of UP. All
the transcripts of each discussion
will be centralized and will be used
in the assessment of the program.
The Advent of a Commendable
Curriculum
It was under the administration
of UP Pres. Francisco Nemenzo
when the RGEP was approved
by the University Council. The
incoming freshmen and transfer
students of AY 2002-2003 were
the first batch of students to
experience the implementation of
the said program particularly in
UPD.
Prior to the RGEP, there was
the General Education Program
(GEP), which required certain
subjects like Comm 1/Kom 1 and
Comm 2/Kom 2 and History 1 to
students. Any student who fails to
take all the required subjects will
not be allowed to graduate.
In response, RGEP was
conceived in the spirit “freedom of
choice.” Its proponents claim that
this can make the students more
enthusiastic in learning, as he is
to take subjects which he himself
chose. Based on the university’s
website, “The RGEP framework is
to require students to take 15 units
under each domain of knowledge-
-Arts and Humanities, Math,
Science and Technology, and
Social Sciences and Philosophy.”
In defense of the RGEP,
Nemenzo then stated that he
saw the need to give students
more “leeway and flexibility.” He
observed that the old GEP failed
to realize its objective of cultivating
a capacity for independent,
critical and creative thinking,
since students are “forced to take
subjects they have no interest in.”
With the implementation of
the RGEP, one infers as to where
the path of this program is leading.
Because of the “freedom of choice”
on the selection of the desired
courses, the process of enlistment
was more likely compared to a
market, with the students being
the buyers and the courses playing
the role of the commodities. A
student chooses a subject that he
thinks is needed. With this fact in
mind, the students are not disposed
in learning other disciplines of
knowledge, concentrating solely
on their area of specialization.
Thus, in reality, the objectives for
which the RGEP is made for are
not serving their purpose.
Another issue regarding
the RGEP is the the inability
or insufficient preparations of
students. This struggle was also
noticed by the professors of the
university. With the students poor
foundations of the subject, they
tend to fall short or fail.

Budget para sa militar at pambayad utang, tataas
Subsidiya para sa SUCs, kakaltasan
Levi Glen Ingente
H
indi pa man natatapos
ang taon, isang
dagok na naman ang
nagbabadyang muling sumubok
sa kalagayan ng mga mag-aaral at
maging mga kawani ng iba’t-ibang
State Universities and Colleges
(SUCs) para sa taong 2011.
Kulang na kulang
Ayon sa budget proposal
ng administrasyong Benigno
STFAP Bracketing
Release Deferred
Computer System fails
Kaisa Aquino
D
ue to an unpredicted
difficulty with the
computer center based in
UP Diliman, the supposed release
of the third batch of Socialized
Tuition and Financial Assistance
Program (STFAP) bracketing has
been delayed for months now.
What happened?
Like every other year, the
information from the STFAP
office here in UP Baguio is sent
to the Office of Scholarship and
Student Services (OSSS) and to
the computer center which holds
not only data from the STFAP
but of the administration, registrar
and library records of the entire
UP system.
But this time, according to
Ma’am Crispina Facunla, Head
of the Office of Student Financial
Assistance, the computer
unexpectedly crashed and since it
contains a lot of important data, it
cannot be interfered.
The STFAP brackets were
expected to be posted last August
but until now, no result is out
despite submitting the data earlier
than the deadline - July 30, 2010
“Pero wala tayong magagawa
dahil sa system yun, sa mismong
computer. Buti sana kung tao,
baka pwede pa… at hindi pa
siya nangyari before…” Ma’am
Facunla stated as she expressed
her sympathy on the affected
applicants.
The problem with the computer
center was not anticipated which
is why they did not know what to
do with the system, prolonging the
posting of the STFAP brackets.
First aid
Regardless of how risky making
a promise is, Ma’am Facunla also
assured that the bracketing will be
released before the enrollment for
the second semester.
“Dapat sana may other
ways… Dahil nag-aalala na ang
mga estudyante kasi bayaran
nanaman,. Tapos mahirap pa kasi
wala dito mismo sa campus yung
problema, nasa Diliman pa… Pero
meron naman tayong alternative,
tulad nung student loan,” Ma’am
Facunla said, who is troubled with
the problem on the bracketing.
At any rate, the STFAP
bracketing will still be effective
for the next semester despite the
trouble encountered.
“Noynoy” Aquino III, P23.4
bilyon lamang ang ilalaan para
sektor ng edukasyon mula sa
mahigit P1.6 trilyon na kabuuang
budget ng gobyerno. Wala pa ito
sa kalahati ng inererekomenda ng
United Nations (UN) na paglalaan
ng 6% ng Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) para sa edukasyon.
Ang panukalang budget para
sa taong 2011 ay bumaba ng
P4 milyon kumpara sa budget
na inilaan ngayong taon na
paghahatian pa ng 112 na SUCs
sa buong bansa. Dahil dito, 25 na
SUCs ang kakaltasan ng pondo
partikular na ang University
of the Philippines system na
mababawasan ng P1.39 bilyon.
Kaugnay nito, 15 lamang
na pamantasan ng kabuuang
bilang ng mga SUCs ang hindi
maapektuhan ang budget para sa
Maintainance and other Operating
Expenses (MOOE) na ang
kabuuang pondo ay mababawasan
ng P1.1 bilyon. Ang pondo para
sa MOOE ang ginagamit sa
pagpapatakbo ng mga serbisyo at
pasilidad ng mga kolehiyo gaya na
lamang ng scholarships, pambayad
sa kuryente at iba pa.
Sa katunayan, ilan sa mga
SUCs ay lagpas 50% ng budget
ang kakaltasin tulad na lamang
As P-Noy plans to abolish SK
Kabataan PL Rep. Palatino
introduces HB No. 1963
Levi Glen Ingente and
Ivah Yael Capinig
I
n response to Benigno
“Noynoy” Aquino III’s plan
to abolish the Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK), Kabataan Partylist
Representative Raymond Palatino
files House Bill No. 1963 also
called as the SK Reform Act of
2010.
The making
According to his explanatory
note posted on their website,
Palatino emphasized that
President Aquino’s suggestion to
abolish the SK may be amended. It
is for the whole institution not to
suffer because of the performance
of the few.
Palatino also noted that the
SK should not be abolished for it
is the chief representative of the
youth. It is the government’s way
to youth empowerment, education,
as well as an access to give basic
services to the youth.
Allegations that the SK has
thus far received were collecting of
kickbacks from SK projects, and
with this, SK officials collaborate
with barangay officials that share
same interests and, buying of votes.
To address such allegations,
Representative Palatino gathered
the SK National Executive Board
and various SK officials in the
country. It has been agreed that a
new bill be created to amend and
further monitor SK actions.
UPB Outcrop Tomo 37 Isyu 4 Setyembre 2010
ng Southern Philippines Agri-
Business & Marine and Aquatic
School na mababawasan ng
66.27% ang pondo para sa
MOOE.
Dagdag pa rito, binanalak din
ng administrasyong Aquino ang
hindi paglalaan ng pondo para
sa Capital Outlay o ang budget
na inlalaan para sa mga bagong
pasilidad at imprastraktura ng
isang ahensya ng pamahalaan.
Unti-unting pag-iwan sa
kabataan
Samantala, ipinahayag
naman ni Kabataan Partylist
Representative Raymond Palatino
ang pagtutol niya sa panukalang
budget para sa susunod na taon.
Ito ay pagpapakita umano ng
pag-abandona ng gobyerno sa
tungkulin nitong mabigyan ng
mataas na kalidad ng edukasyon sa
murang halaga ang mga kabataan.
Ayon kay Palatino, ang mga
budget cuts na katulad nito ay
magdudulot lamang ng pagtaas
ng matrikula ng mga SUCs
dahilan para tumaas ang drop-
out rate at bumaba ang bilang ng
mga kabataan na makakakuha ng
tertiary education.
Dahilan din ito upang
mapilitang makipagsosyo ang
The objectives of the bill,
to name a few, are regulating
seminars and discussions for SK
members, filling of vacancies (in
case of refusal of an elected official,
convicted of a felony, et. al.) and,
establishing a common process in
releasing and regulating SK funds.
Along with these, the general
intentions of the proposed bill
are to bring back the trust and
faith of the people, especially the
youth and to affirm SK as the
main government unit inclined to
help and put forth services for the
youth. Officials of the Sanggunian
are also expected to be efficient in
regards with their responsibilities
and obligations inside and outside
the SK.
The pending amendments
The bill, entitled Sangguniang
Kabataan Reform Act of 2010,
is composed of 22 sections all
amending and/or reinforcing
Republic Act No. 7160 or known
as “The Local Government Code
of 1991.”
In response to the allegations,
allotment of finances of the SK
will be monitored and regulated
by Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK)
and the Annual Barangay Youth
Development Plan (ABYDP). All
budgets suggested by the SK must
be agreed upon with the majority
of the KK and be approved by the
ABYDP. Funds must be deposited
in the nearest government-owned
bank or in the municipal treasurer.
The act also states that KK
mga SUCs sa mga pribadong
sektor na magdudulot ng pagiging
semi-privatized ng mga ito. Higit
itong magpapababa ng tiyansa na
makapagpatuloy pang makapag-
aral ang ilang mga kabataan.
Siksik, liglig at umaapaw
Matatandaan na binigyang-
diin ni P-Noy sa kanyang State
of the Nation Address na hindi
gagastos ang estado para sa Public-
Private Partnerships ngunit ayon
sa budget proposal ng kanyang
administrasyon, maglalaan ito ng
humigit-kumulang P15 bilyon
para rito.
Bukod pa rito, pinakamalaki rin
sa kasaysayan ang iuukol na pondo
ng gobyerno para sa pambayad
utang na aabot sa P823.27 bilyon.
Ito ang pinagsamang pambayad
na P357.09 bilyon sa interes at
P466.18 bilyon para sa prinsipal.
Muli na namang tataasan ang
ilalaang pondo para sa militar
na aabot sa P104.7 bilyon at ang
pork barrel mula P10.9 patungong
P24.8 bilyon.
Ang mga pagtaas ng subsidiya
ng mga ito ay sa kabila ng “austerity
measure” ng administrasyong
Aquino upang pagkasyahin ang ‘di
umano’y kulang na budget para sa
lahat ng serbisyong panlipunan.
shall be the highest decision-
making body in the barangay and
official consultant of the SK. KK
will be composed of the youth of
the barangay. Specifically, those
that are no less than 15 years of
age and not older than 21.
KK will then produce a body
with officers chosen among
them. This body will be the ones
responsible for closer coordination
with other organizations of the
youth.
Another fact that was
introduced in this bill was the
annual celebration of Buwan ng
Kabataan. The activity is mainly for
election for young counterparts of
the local or municipality’s officials.
Those that are elected shall hold
office and shall do tasks and duties
that may be provided by the order.
One of the privileges that a
SK official will receive is that
during an official’s term, he/she
will receive free tertiary education
given that the official is currently
enrolled in a state university or
college. Another privilege is that
an incumbent official is exempted
to take the course National
Training Service Program – Civil
Welfare Training Service (NSTP
– CWTS).
The last section of the act
orders that this bill will take
effect 15 days after its publishing
on newspapers or any general
circulations. With reports from Julian
Inah Anunciacion
3
balita
Red Letters
The Humblest of all
Kitty Maria
T
his I say with a tempered
bitterness and the feeling that
I might have been robbed of
the freedom to defend myself. Amidst
conclusions and concealed sneers, this is
the last place I can see as a resort: I need
to stay in this space.
This semester was seemingly
brought by a tornado, although it
has shaken my world several times,
it was fleeting. What happened in
the whirlwind of events from June to
September? Besides the bombastic
events, whether in Audi or in Conve, the
exams, the failures, the humiliation and
the learning to grow up? I saw myself
committing to this paper, exchanging
an excess of free time for a monthly
space of strewing banal phrases that
only a few take notice of. There were
good moments in Acads, a rare source
of motivation in the daily routines of
musing and doubting if I will ever play
that Adele song again. The passing of
this semester has been quite fast, and I
am grateful that I have kept my being
low-profile despite these red letters.
Outside the box where I am the
only dweller, events also happened fast-
paced, not many of them escaping my
flair for spotting things to speak tartly
of.
I have seen the world turning their
heads, frantic and stupidly anxious,
towards the greatest drama of the year,
the one in Quirino Grandstand. It was
our nature to mind things happening
around us, mundane or not, significant
or not, only to prattle and end up hot-
headed. We know how to speak about
the ugly side of things yet our inaction,
or our mere commenting or sermonizing
also paint ugliness. More than that, that
issue has been exaggerated, or exposed
too much in the news, in the papers,
overshadowing the other issues, the
equally, if not the more important ones
--like the impending budget cut on
education. Go google that later, before
you check your Facebook account.
I have seen Jejemon spread like a flu
virus, only to fleet as well. When it is in
the limelight among issues, we all have
something to say about it. However
petty, however commonsensical,
however reactionary, we have things to
say, perhaps to convince ourselves that
we are not being indifferent. Even this
paper thought of asking something
about it in the monthly Alingawngaw.
But the complexity of the issue was
not fully exhausted, remaining only as
a hot topic that primarily the media is
supposed to simplify for us. But it is
rarely a smart medium, and we, failing
to exhibit greater smartness, offer our
conviction on them.
And then in the midst of it all,
my editor told me that I am not being
effective. That I, like the ones which I
so gallantly criticize in this space, is also
a pretentious know-it-all, do-it-all. It
happened in a muted 7pm, in the shyest
wood place in the campus, a declaration
that is direct, blunt, and unforgiving all
at the same time: “Last section mo na
itong sa September. Wala ka na next
sem.” I was a coward cat, and that was
a jolting lightning. All my pride and
angst diluted and wafted with the air.
So this might really be my last.
Though filled with a justified rancor, the
white flag is not yet hoisted. As of now,
I am still convincing them that hardly
they can find another person who
knows how to make butterflies out of
human trash just by using less than 700
words, and someone who usually end up
with a tutong na sinaing yet still able to
laugh about it. And if they plan to find
a replacement for me, I wonder if they
can find someone who listens to Kesha
and knows how to analyze her.
So I keep my fingers crossed. After
all, I believe I talk more sense than that
Vajingjing does.
4
lathalain
UPB Outcrop Tomo 37 Isyu 4 Setyembre 2010
When the going
The government’s
shortcomings on
disaster management gets tough
I
t was unusually windy that time. The trees
were swaying as if they were to break any
minute. Our dog was frantically barking,
her noise added to the furies of the wind. All of
a sudden, the local cables were overflowing of
news with Metro Manila covered with heavy
floods. And the whole scene came so fast...
For as long as time can tell, disasters
have always been a part of our collective
consciousness. The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo;
Typhoon Milenyo, Ondoy, Pepeng; Quirino
Grandstand hostage-taking crisis, among
others to name a few, gravely struck the
Philippines. Again and again, it resulted to
high death tolls and destroyed properties
– many are left homeless, many lost their
loved ones, many are forced to lose their
sources of livelihood and many are haunted
by traumatic experiences. The efforts of the
government to reduce such casualties quite
leave us no proof of improvement.
Disparity Steps
The Philippines is located at the Pacific
Ring of Fire, making it more susceptible
to different kinds of disaster – from
earthquakes to volcanic eruptions to
tsunamis. Yearly, the country experiences an
average of 20 typhoons, half of which are
considerably destructive.
Way back in 1990, the Central and
Northern Luzon regions were hit by a 7.7
Richter scale earthquake having a 1,666
death toll. Twenty-three provinces from
the six regions of the country were greatly
affected. It resulted to temporary major cut-
off of power connections, transportation and
communication. The Ambuklao Dam near
Baguio city was even forced to shutdown
causing the electricity and irrigation
activities to be freezed. 90% of Baguio
City was devastated – from agriculture
to infrastructure, costing a total of P12.2
billion damage.
During the earthquake aftermath, the
only first organized response team to help
Baguio-Benguet was the Philippine Military
Academy (PMA), followed by an
array of non-government
organizations (NGOs).
On the second day
of the event,
National
Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)
which are responsible for such disaster
cases, tried to assemble the Regional
Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC)
– responsible for the disaster response in
regional level but was not successful in
launching an adequate disaster response. It
took the whole NDCC three to four days to
set a coordinated action with them resulting
to late emergency reliefs and rehabilitation.
Similarly, the infamous eruption of Mt.
Pinatubo in 1991 resulted to a total of 773
deaths – many of whom died from ash falls,
lahar, and several kinds of illnesses caught
at the evacuation center. Moreover, the
continuous threat of lahars and floods caused
alteration of landscapes and annihilation of
flora and fauna species. NDCC reported
a total of 41,629 damaged houses. About
80,000 hectares of land and 30,000 hectares
of fishpond were also ruined. The NDCC
lacked appropriate funding, leading to the
use of resources that were left undamaged
by the eruption to be sidetracked for relief
and recovery response.
Just last year, four consecutive typhoons
landed in the country in such a short
time span – Ondoy, Pepeng, Quedan, and
Ramil. Typhoon Ondoy whipped the whole
Metro Manila and Pepeng inflicted its
wrath to Northern Luzon. However, while
Pepeng was still on the Philippine Area of
Responsibility, typhoon Quedan arrived
causing Pepeng to shift course to Japan.
Pepeng further brought rain and destruction
to Northern Luzon. Typhoon Ramil, on
the other hand, brought moderate rains on
Southern Luzon. In just a short period of
time, many people were sent out of their
homes up to their rooftops, freezing cold.
Rescue teams only arrived mostly after
24 hours of waiting. The storms severely
damaged the whole nation. Much of the
losses in farming crops came from Northern
Luzon. P9 million of their investments in
the field were mostly destroyed. The NGOs
are left alone to distribute relief goods
resulting to lopsided distribution of goods
among people.
In the 2009 Mortality Risk Index
of the UN International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction, the Philippines
actually ranked twelve among 200
countries that is exposed to tropical
cyclones, floods, earthquakes, and
landslides. Over the period of
1970 to 2000, typhoons alone
resulted to 65% of deaths,
76% damaged properties,
and 2.6% losses in rice
crop production.
Cases of
d i s a s t e r
management
of the
country
a r e
the prime responsibility of NDCC. Their
disaster management (DM) mainly focuses
on the country’s mitigation in the pre-event,
with response during the event and recovery
rehabilitation on the post event. It is then
carried out at various political subdivisions
and administrative regions and by all means
will coordinate with each other to ensure
the safety of the people.
However, despite having such system,
unsynchronized efforts among the NDCC
members were evident. The NGOs are left
alone to distribute relief goods resulting
to lopsided distribution of goods among In contrast to the
people. To hasten delivery of emergency
supplies with those affected areas, there
ever increasing mili-
is a need to decentralize tasks of rescuing, tary budget, disaster
recovery and relief management among
other concerned agencies which is quite mitigation and post-
impossible especially during a calamity event measures are left
when no back-up power can be utilized if
power cut-offs occur. with meager funding,
leading to the unneces-
Deadly epicenter
After considering all the casualties of sary deaths of innocent
the two typhoons, former President Arroyo
finally signed into law a reformed disaster
Filipinos. This phenom-
risk reduction and management system ena is clearly a callous
last May 27. Under Republic Act 10121
(RA 10121) or Philippine Disaster Risk
manifestation of state
Reduction and Management Act of 2010, neglect. Hence, the
the NDCC will now be called National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management government’s neglect
Council (NDMRC) and it will implement remains as the prob-
improved actions and measures to all aspects
of disaster risk reduction and management. lem’s epicenter.
However, the reformed NDCC was not
fully operated. They still failed to reduce
casualties during the typhoon Basyang.
Although the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) was at fault for
missing an accurate calculation of the storm,
the council was again unprepared as there
were no clear lines of communication.
Moreover, NDCC members lack quick
rescue capability since they have little rescue
equipments. State funding for disaster
mitigation, together with other social
services, remains in slump. In contrast to
the ever increasing military budget, disaster
mitigation and post-event measures are
left with meager funding, leading to the
unnecessary deaths of innocent Filipinos.
This phenomena is clearly a callous
manifestation of state neglect. Hence,
the government’s neglect remains as the References:
problem’s epicenter. Citizen’s Disaster Response Center. Disasters:
Disasters are inescapable. They are fruits The Philippine Experience. Martin Publishing
of hazards and may be the effects of unjust Services, 1992.
human activities. It grimly affects people in Natural Disaster Risk Management in the
physically, emotionally, economically, and Philippines: Enhancing Poverty Alleviation
through disaster reduction. World Bank/ National
even politically. Nonetheless, the effects they
Coordinating Council, v1 33822
will incur on our country can be lessened Emmanuel M. de Guzman. Eruption of
if they are addressed properly and quickly. Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines on June 1991
The old maxim remains true: “An ounce of http://volcano.philvocs.dost.gove.ph
prevention is better than having a pound of http://ndcc.gov.ph
debts.”
Text by Ana Margarita Palma
Graphics Diane Jane Pumihic
and Alexandrea Dioso
Page design Ruel Caricativo
 5

kultura
UPB Outcrop Tomo 37 Isyu 4 Setyembre 2010

Alas-sais sa
buhay ni Oble
Ang UP sa postmodernong tereyn ng tunggalian
6 UPB Outcrop Tomo 37 Isyu 4 Setyembre 2010
editoryal
opinyon
Time to grow
up, kids
Editoryal
The history of our nation is marked
by scars of repression and abuse, with
the whole process remaining as relevant
as they are in the past. Still, internal
contradictions remain, with the rotting
status quo perpetually defending its
lines against the progressive elements
of change and dissent.
The University of The Philippines
has long been known for its culture of
dissent. It has become a womb for all
sorts of radical acts and phenomenon—
the feminist movement, the rise of the
queers, men with long hair, bald women,
t-shirts printed with profanity, liberal
‘free love’, and revolutions of all kinds.
Its students fired the First Quarter
Storm in1970 against the Marcos
regime, leading to the well-known
Diliman Commune. UP students stood
at the forefront in the campaign against
Joseph Estrada’s crimes against the
people. The eye of the people is often on
the UP students, on what they will say
and do concerning pressing issues. The
university is filled with people always
trying to think outside the box. These
very traits of UP singularizes it from
other academic institutions.
However, this culture of dissent
is not an innate and supernatural
force that hallucinates the students
into being so. The constant arousing
and organizing of the students are
consciously (and painfully done, in
fact) by mass leaders and institutions
that seek to maintain UP’s role in the
Filipino society. Hence, in doing so,
these organizations and institutions
must try to shrink their egos, even their
identities, to reach the mass students
into higher consciousness and collective
action. If not, then UP will fall into the
trap of being a school of masquerading
delinquents and pompous posers.
The Outcrop as an institution has
been trying to do this task for many
years since its conception. With the
goal of informing the students of the
pressing issues that affect them, the
Outcrop has published articles that
feature the dark and painful realities of
the Filipino society, inside and outside
the campus. Articles about death
and inequality have been a staple in
the paper, the same way as death and
inequality has been a staple in our
daily living. Living in a disintegrating
society as the Philippines is not about
love, happiness and cheese. No wonder
why our favorite teeny magazines
are swimming in jolly and profitable
escapism.
Hence, the Outcrop as an element
Kawaksing Patnugot Ivan Emil Labayne, Ruel Caricativo
Tagapamahalang Patnugot Nikki Camille Malabad
of transformation must never spoon-
feed these intoxicating illusions to the
students, primarily because UP students
must be students of objective reality and
not be inclined to believe in First World
dreams. In trying to share the spirit of
dissent to the readers, it is necessary to
minimize all sorts of cheesiness and
middle-class daydreaming. A stone can
never be munched as a candy through
mere words.
Yet, strange as it is, disappointing
in fact, is the knowledge that some
students prefer to munch illusionary
candies rather than chew the stone. To
demand the organizations to just do
diplomatic peace signs and demand the
student publication to just write about
the campus fashion fads or positive,
inspirational articles (which in reality
are only exceptions to the general grime
of Filipino life) only underlines the
readers’ immaturity. UP is no carnival.
Hence, if one wants to preserve UP’s
culture of dissent, it is not only the
mass leaders and organizations who
must flex their bones to achieve this
aim. The students must also consciously
be critical, active and most importantly,
not indifferent of all the filth reigning
in our society today.
It is time to grow up and leave the
toys behind. There is a lot of work to do.
Punong Patnugot John Levi Masuli
Patnugot sa Lathalain Pauline Gaña
Patnugot sa Kultura Alejo Marco Galano
Patnugot sa Guhit Alexandrea Dioso
Patnugot sa Lapat Pamela Peralta
Alingawngaw
1. Anong mga nai-drop mong sub-
ject? Bakit mo sila dri-nop?
Drop lahat. Nag-LOA dahil wala nang
pera pang-aral. 07-44559
PE2 (Badminton). Ang aga eh! Masarap
matulog sa Baguio. 08- 17137
Math1, ang hirap kasi. 10-08150
Math53. 09-53687
Wala eh. I’m smart kasi… Onyok
Wala. Sayang ang pera ng nanay ko.
10-09678
Genetics. Kasi po may alien. 07-36200
PE2 (weights training) kasi strict si Sir
Florendo sa attendance. 08-31507
Na-late ako sa dropping period. Sheez.
10-07663
Wala. Matatanggal ako sa degree
program kung sakali. 06-46500
PE – 3x na, NSTP-2x. 08-13440
2. Sino ang bet mo sa UP Presidential
Candidates? Bakit?
Ung chanci ng UP Diliman. Folk You
Basta ung galing Harvard Law. 10-
09678
Ung Dean ng LB!!! para large class
policy, wahaha! 09-xxxx3
Pwede bang si Sir Toto Z na lang? He3.
07-17123
Si Sir Nimreh. 10-abcde
Mam Lorelei Mendoza!!! Haha. Magal-
ing un. Demand, surplus, interest rates
at lahat kaya niyang sagutin. 09-31996
Dr. Serena Diokno! itaas ang bandera
ng mga History Majors. 09-36692
Si Prof. J. hehe. 09-19225
3. Ano ang masasabi mo sa Outcrop
so far?
TAOB! Hindi ako nakakuha ng kopya.
09-36692
Sayang ung pa-print nila! Tulong yun
saken e. 07-17123
Nanghuhusga ng taong may sarili rin
naming paninindigan! 10-05xxx
Apat na taon na ako sa UP pero ang
Outcrop ay well… 07-51063
Paki-balik naman yung printing busi-
ness niyo kasi ang gahaman ng LRC.
LOL. 10-01594/10-12232
Outcrop, so far is indeed judgmental,
which makes what they do not cam-
pus journalism. 05-xxxxx
Ang asteeg!!! Pwede pa bang sumali?
10-55960
UPB Outcrop Tomo 37 Isyu 4 Setyembre 2010
Kawani Levi Glen Ingente, Aila Velasco
Panghaliling Kawani Neil Patrick Mamaclay,
Diane Jane Pumihic, Ana Margarita Palma,
Jesusa Paquibot, Jonathan Valdez
UP Baguio Ikot
...hindi lang naman kung
saan tayo dadaan papasok ng
klasrum ang kailangan nating
isipin; mas kinakailangan
nating pag-isipan ang
tatahaking daan sa labas ng
pamantasan.
Neil Patrick Mamaclay
M
araming desisyon ang kailangan
nating pagdaanan sa buhay;
gaya na lamang ngayon, hindi
ko mapagdesisyunan kung dadaan ba ako
sa catwalk o tatawid na lang sa oblation
grounds at dadaan sa may court A
patungong 20s. Pero total naman at hindi
pa ako late sa klase ko sa Histo 1, mag-ikot-
ikot muna tayo.
Magsisimula tayo dito sa orasan na
marahil ay unang nakikita ng lahat ng
pumapasok sa unibersidad; sa akin lang ba
ang problema o parang ambilis ng takbo ng
orasan ngayon dahil isang oras na daw mula
ng umalis ako sa bahay. Ang bilis talaga ng
panahon, parang kanina lang ay hayskul
tayo. Nakasisiguro akong mabilis din lang
lilipas ang huling apat na taon natin sa pag-
aaral bago natin maranasan ang ‘tunay na
mundo.’
Kamustahin na rin natin si Manang
Mani at ang kanyang mga paninda; gaya
Hello Kitty*
Sa tingin ko, walang nahuhul-
ing mga estudyanteng inoor-
ganisa at bagkus ay mayroon
lamang mga nahuhuling
organisador... Sa ganitong
antas, aba’y tila kailangang
mag-isip-isip ng mga organ-
isador kung tama ba ang
pinasukan nila at kung sa-
pat ba ang paninindigang
pinanghahawakan nila.
Ruel Caricativo
H
arshness. Habang nile-layout ko
yung article mo, naglalaro sa utak
ko ang salitang ito.
Kumusta? Sana nga’y hindi ka pa
kinukuyog ng mga freshy. Balita ko, antag**
yata ang mga sinabi mo sa kanila nitong
nakaraan.
Sa kabilang banda, habang binabasa ko
ang ginawa mo ay may maaayos ka namang
punto. Mukhang nahuhuli nga ang mga
freshy sa usapin ng pulitikal na kamulatan
– halimbawa iyong isyu ng mga magsasaka
sa Hacienda Luisita, ang usapin ng tuition
and other fees increase at ngayon nga ay
ang nakaambang PE fee increase dito sa UP
Baguio.
Maaaring sa ngayon ay tila nakalimutan
na nila ang esensya ng naganap na Walk-
out, o kung naintindihan nga ba nila.
Maaaring sa ngayon, hindi pa nila alam
kung ano at paano makakamit ang tunay na
pagbabago. Ngunit parang umiiwas ka ring
sagutin ang tanong na ito sa ginawa mong
article at inaasahan kong sa hindi malayong
panahon ay magkita tayo at pag-usapan ito.
Linggo. Pasado alas nuwebe na,
pangalawang gabi ng presswork. Walang
tao sa catwalk at tila ako na lang yata
ang papasok sa campus ng ganitong oras.
ng sinabi ni Manang nuong freshie night,
pahalagahan daw natin ang edukasyon,
dahil ito daw ang mag-aangat sa ating
pamumuhay. Perpek 10 talaga ang simpleng
maanghang na mani, dahil ang mga
panindang ito ang naging pasaporte ng
kanyang mga anak tungo sa edukasyong
nakamit nila. Nakakatuwang isipin na kahit
hirap sa buhay ay nagawang maitaguyod ni
Manang ang kanyang mga anak hanggang
sa pagtatapos nila ng kolehiyo. Malamang
ay marami sa atin, kung hindi man lahat,
ang magsusuot din ng sablay sa nalalapit na
hinaharap. Ngunit dahil halos P 1.39 billion
ang ikakaltas sa subsidiya ng pamahalaan,
tila hindi lang ingay ng megaphone na
pinagpapasa-pasahan ang maririnig natin
ng paulit-ulit ngunit maging ang reklamo
ng ating mga magulang. Kasi naman, kahit
may STFAP, hindi na sapat ang ibinibigay
ng gobyerno sa pamantasan ng estado (kung
sa estado pa nga siyang maituturing). Sa
panahong tayo na ang inaasahan ng bansa,
sana ay para sa kanya tayo manilbihan.
Batiin mo na rin yung mga kaibigan mo
na naghihintay sa lobby, nabasa mo na ba
yung mga placards duon? Eh si Kuya Ralph
ba, pinakinggan mo na? Ayon daw sa pag-
aaral ng UNESCO noong 2008, 73% ng
mga kabataan ay napipilitang huminto sa
pag-aaral bunsod ng matataas na matrikula
habang 22% lamang ang survival rate ng
mga estudyante hanggang fourth year
college. Ayon din sa Commission on Higher
Maliban sa mga gwardya na bumati sa akin,
naisip ko pare-pareho din lang pala tayong
dumadaan ng catwalk – pare-pareho ng
dinadaanan, kumbaga. Siyempre, hindi ko
alam kung magkakapareho rin ang mga
patutunguhan natin.
Mahabang usapin ang pagbabago at
marahil ay mauubos lang ang espasyong ito
kung itutuloy ko ang diskursong ito. Ngunit
mas kapuna-puna, para sa akin, ang mga
ibinato mo sa mga freshy.
Sa tingin ko, walang nahuhuling
mga estudyanteng inoorganisa at bagkus
ay mayroon lamang mga nahuhuling
organisador. Sa paanong paraan napunta sa
ganitong usapan ang nais kong puntuhin
sa’yo? Malinaw na sa usapin ng kamulatan,
tungkulin ng mga tukoy na organisador
mula sa unibersidad, lalo na iyong mga
nanggaling sa masang organisasyon at mga
katulad nito, na imulat ang mga estudyante.
Ngunit hindi limitado sa mga ito ang pag-
oorganisa sa kanila dahil mayroon ding
ibang mga organisasyon na nagsasagawa
ng kaparehong gawain. Ngayon, di hamak
na kung ang mismong mga organisador ay
nahuhuli, malinaw na manipestasyon nito
ang kawalan ng maayos at organisadong
pagpapakilos sa mga freshman.
Siguro ay nagsasalita ako ng mga bagay
na marahil ay ngayon mo lang narinig. Kung
narinig mo man, baka pinili mong huwag
pakinggan.
Ang unibersidad na ito ay salamin
ng ating lipunan. Kung sa loob nito ay
nahihirapan nang mag-organisa ng mga
estudyante, ano pa kaya sa ibang unibersidad
na tila bilangguan dahil sa hayag na
panggigipit sa mga organisador doon?
At lalong paano pa kaya sa mas malawak
na lipunang nagsisilbing mas malaking
bilangguan na nagkukubli sa ganitong
burgis na pamantasan at maging ng iba
pang institusyon.
7
Opisyal na Pahayagan ng mga Mag-aaral ng
Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Baguio
Miyembro ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines at
Solidaridad - Alyansa ng mga Pahayagang Pang-kampus
sa UP
Mapagpalayang Kaisipan sa Malayang Pahayagan
upboutcrop@gmail.com
Visit our page on Facebook. Search for “UP Baguio Outcrop”
Education, sa 100 pumapasok sa elementary,
9 lang ang nakakapagtapos ng kolehiyo
dahil 80% ng mga high school graduates ay
hindi nakakatuntong ng kolehiyo.
Punta na muna tayo ng Joystick o
Cusina Camacho, na pwede nating makita
sa ibang perspektiba, gaya na lamang ng:
sila ang humalili sa ating mga magulang
sa pagbibigay ng ating mga pangunahing
pangangailangan. May pera ka pa ba? Hindi
ko rin kasi napapansin kung minsan ang
paggastos ko. Nag-aalala ka rin marahil
kung paano na kaya kung tayo na ang
dapat kumita ng pera at tustusan ang mga
pangangailangan (at maging luho, kung
minsan) ng ating mga kanya-kanyang
pamumuhay o “lifestyle.” Ngayon nga ay
halos isang kainan na lamang ang 100 piso;
paano pa kaya kung kinakailangan na nating
bumili ng mga pangangailangan natin gamit
ang ating sariling bulsa?
Naku, kailangan ko na pa lang pumasok
sa aking klase, baka mamaximum absences
kasi ako eh. At ang huling perpek 10
na lugar na ating dadaanan ay ang mga
ordinaryo nating silid-aralan. Ito ang
magtuturo sa atin ng lahat, mula sa Marxist
jargons hanggang sa kung paano magmix
ng chemicals. Dahil hindi lang naman kung
saan tayo dadaan papasok ng klasrum ang
kailangan nating isipin; mas kinakailangan
nating pag-isipan ang tatahaking daan sa
labas ng pamantasan.
Sa ganitong antas, aba’y tila kailangang
mag-isip-isip ng mga organisador kung
tama ba ang pinasukan nila at kung sapat ba
ang paninindigang pinanghahawakan nila.
Kung nais lamang nila ng mabango o
magpabango ng pangalan para sa anumang
layunin o kaya nama’y magpaka-“astig,”
nagkamali lamang sila ng pinasukan.
Hindi perks ng pag-oorganisa ang mas
mataas na kamulatan kaysa sa “iba.” Kung
ganito ang lagay, paano kapag tinanong
ka ng isang masang estudyante na ang
pakikibaka niyo ay manipestasyon lamang
ng isang “spiralling negativity” para
ipakitang “masama” ang imperyalismo,
ayon kay Baudrillard? Sasagutin mo ba?
Marahil, kailangan mo pang kilalanin si
Zizek. Kahit ano pang organisasyon ang
kinabibilangan ng isang estudyante, parte pa
rin siya ng sektor ng estudyante. Hindi nga
ba’t “arouse, organize, mobilize”? Walang
konsepto ng “discriminate organizing” ang
mga organisador sapagkat dumarating ang
g Yupi
krisis sa ekonomiya at edukasyon na parang
bagyo: walang pinipili, higit na nahihirapan
ang mga dati nang naghihirap.
an
Marahil sa ngayon ay magtatanong
ka na kung bakit ganito ang mga tinuran
Yupi
ko at nalayo sa iyo ang usapan. Nais kong
linawin sa iyo na anumang mga sinabi
mo sa mga freshy noong nakaraan ay
repleksyon ng kung ano ang nagaganap sa
mga organisasyong dapat ay pangunahing
nagmumulat sa kanila sa mga usaping
panlipunan.
Tila may kakapusan pa rin sa ating
mga organisador dahil maging ikaw ay
nasa ganyang antas pa rin ang kamulatan:
malinaw ang mga kritisismo (o kaya nama’y
puro kritisismo) ngunit walang malinaw na
solusyong nais tunguhin. The
*para kay Kitty Maria: isang bukas na liham pikon-talow
**antagonistic. chikabelsz
8 UPB Outcrop Tomo 37 Isyu 4 Setyembre 2010
kultura
A n g
sigwa ng
ating pana-
hon
Isang talinhaga ang
Batas Militar. Ang lahat ng
paggunita, o pagsasalarawan
rito ng iba’t-ibang naratibo ay
laging nagkukulang sapagkat
nagwawakas lamang ang mga ito
bilang representasyon ng orihinal.
Kaiba sa mga naunang peli-
kula, hindi nagpatali ang “Sigwa”
sa simpleng pagsasalarawan o
pagbabalik-tanaw sa nakalipas.
Sa pamamagitan ng mga tauhan
sa pelikula, nagbukas ito ng mga
pintuang maaaring tahakin ng
mga manunuod upang makabuo
ng pag-unawa sa mga pang-
yayaring inilahad sa pelikula;
isang pag-unawang marahil ay
hindi hahayaang ibigay ng mga
popular na konsepsyon ng Batas
Militar at ang mga nauna pang
pangyayari rito.
Sigwa:
Ang madilim na nakaraan
Binalikan ng pelikula ang Sig-
wa ng Unang Kwatro (First Quar-
Rage...of perils and hopes
ter Storm), ang panahong puno
ng mga pagkilos at pagtuligsa
laban sa gobyerno. Sa pagbabalik-
tanaw ni Dolly sa mga karanasan
nila ng kanyang mga kaibigang
akitibista noong FQS, ay sabay
na naipakita sa mga manunuood
ang kalagayan ng nakaraan at ng
kasalukuyan.
Ang pagtatabing ito ng mga
pangyayari sa kasalukuyan ay isa
sa mga kapansin-pansing pama-
maraan na ginamit ng pelikula
upang patingkarin ang mga
pangyayari sa Sigwa ng Un-
ang Kwatro. Sa aspeto ng ilaw
at ritmo ay mas napag-iba ng
pelikula hindi lang ang hitsura
ng dati at ng ngayon kung hindi
pati na rin ang sitwasyon at ang
pamumuhay ng mga tao rito.
Maaliwalas ang karamihan
sa mga kuha sa panahon ng
kasalukuyan samantalang ka-
kaunti ang ilaw na ginamit
sa panahon ng nakaraan lalo
na sa mga eksena ng pag-
poprotesta o pagtotortyur
sa mga aktibista. Sa una ay
maaaring madaling bigyan
ng interpretasyon ang na-
ganap na pagbabago mula
sa nakaraan patungong
kasalukuyan. Marahas,
madilim, puno ng
pangamba at walang-
kasiguraduhan ang
nakaraan. Sa panla-
bas, ang kasalukuyan
naman
a y
mis-
tulang
puno
ng li-
wanag,
ngunit hindi nito
napawi ang kawalang-kasigu-
raduhan, ang mga personal na
bagabag, at ang mga tunggalian sa
lipunan na nakita na rin sa FQS.
Sa aspeto ng ritmo, ang ma-
bilis na pagpapalit ng bawat kuha
sa nakaraan ay pinag-iba sa kaba-
galan ng daloy sa kasalukuyan.
Sa nakaraan, mabilis ang mga
pangyayari, puno ng tunggalian
at paghamon sa lahat ng sulok
kaya hindi pwedeng magpaiwan.
Sa kabilang banda, ang kabagalan
ng kasalukuyan ay mistulang nag-
sasaad ng relatibong kapayapaan.
Ngunit hindi nito naitago ang
tunay na kalagayan. Sapagkat sa
kabagalan ng mga pangyayari ay
mas mapapansin ang mga ten-
syong nakapaloob sa bawat tau-
han at sa paggalaw nila sa isang
lipunang nagpapanggap bilang
maayos at mapayapa.
Magkakaiba ang naging pag-
papatuloy ng mga tauhan sa mga
karanasang idinulot ng pagiging
mga radikal nila bago mag-Mar-
tial Law. Sa mga pagkakaibang
Idinerehe ni Joel Lamangan. Tampok sila Dawn Zulueta/Megan
Young (Dolly), Zsazsa Padilla/Pauleen Luna (Sita), Gina Alajar/
Lovi Poe (Azon), Tirso Cuz III/Marvin Agustin (Oliver).
ito, naipakita ang REBYU
iba’t-ibang pagpa-
pasyang maaaring gawin habang
nahaharap sa mga pagbabago ng
lipunan, malaki man ito o maliit.
Si Azon at Rading: ‘di na tulad
ng dati
Parehong nalampasan ang
rehas ng nakaraan, kapwa naba-
wasan ang tatag ng loob nila Azon
at Rading sa pagharap sa kanilang
kinamulatan at pagkilos ayon dito.
Biktima ng kababuyan ng mga
militar, hindi nagawang isakripi-
syo ni Azon ang kanyang anak
para sa pinaglalaban ng kilusang
kanyang kinabilangan. Sa kun-
waring pagkakaroon ng “tahimik
na buhay,” pilit niyang tinatakasan
ang isang kasinungalingang dulot
ng nakaraan – ang pagkukunwar-
ing kanya ang anak ni Dolly.
Nakaranas rin ng matinding
paghihirap si Rading, at sa kabila
ng patuloy na pagsali-sali sa ilang
pagkilos at rali, hindi niya na ma-
sasabing ang pagtalima niya sa
kanyang mga paniniwala ay kas-
inglakas pa ng dati.
Isang saglit silang nag-alay
ng buhay at pagkakataon para
sa adhikaing baguhin ang li-
punan, gaanuman kahirap ito.
Ngunit ang pagharap sa isa sa
mga pinakamatitinding dulot ng
ganitong sakripsiyo ang pumigil
sa kanila upang ipagpatuloy ang
kanilang adhikain.
Si Oliver: ang bagong “tagapag-
tanggol ng status quo”
Isa siya sa mga
lider-aktibsita noon, papet
ang tawag sa gobyerno. Ngayon,
nasa palasyo na siya kung saan
ang mga kasama nya ay ang dat-
ing mga tinutuligsa. Higit pa, siya
mismo ay tuta na rin ng nasa ka-
pangyarihan.
Ang alingawngaw ng mga da-
ing at sigaw ng pasakit ang nag-
dala kay Oliver upang isuko ang
labang pinili. Bago pa man tawa-
gin para tortyurin, napanghinaan
na si Oliver. Sa isang banda ay
maaaring kauna-unawa ang kan-
yang ginawa, ngunit hindi nito
mababago ang naipakita nang ka-
ruwagan.
Sa kasalukuyan, tagapagsalita
na siya ng Pangulo. Produkto nga
kaya ang pagbalikwas na ito ng
kabuktutan ng kilusang pinang-
galingan niya o dulot ng kanyang
sariling pagpapasya? Nang mag-
kaharap-harap sila ng mga dating
kasama sa libing ng isang kaibig-
an, tinanggap niya ang pagkamuhi
ni Sita. Isang matunog na sampal,
at ipinakita niyang mali ang ka-
Pelikula ruwagang ginawa
niya na nagpaha-
mak sa dating mga kasama.
Si Dolly: Ligaw sa panahon
Matapos ang pananatili’t
pagtuturo sa Amerika, pinabalik
sa Pilipinas si Dolly ng panini-
walang matatagpuan pa rin niya
ang kaniyang anak. Malalim ang
balon ng alaalalang meron siya
sa Pilipinas, kahit pa sandali lang
ang paglagi niya rito. Naging my-
embro ng Kabataang Makabayan,
nagkaroon ng isang pag-ibig, na
sa kasamaang palad ay naging
sanhi lang ng dalamhati, at napa-
lalim ang kamulatan sa mga bagay
sa lipunan— ito ang mga maha-
halagang bagay na ‘di naiwasang
mabalikan ni Dolly sa kanyang
pagbalik sa bansa.
Sa pagsubok na tagpiin ang
mga butas na gawa ng madilim
na nakaraan, unti-unti siyang
nagtagumpay. Nahanap niya ang
kanyang anak, ang pangunahing
dahilan ng pagbabalik-bansa. Ka-
sabay naman ng personal niyang
tagumpay, natuklasan niya na ang
laban na dati niyang sinalihan ay
nagpapatuloy subalit hindi na siya
kabilang dito sa kasalukuyan.
Si Sita: ang ikinubling liwanag
Sa pelikula ay tinabunan siya
ni Dolly. Si Sita ay nakita lamang
natin sa panlabas – ang tang-
ing nagpatuloy ng labang halos
sabay-sabay na pinasukan nilang
magkakaibigan. Sa paglipas at
pagbabago ng panahon, ang
pinili niya ay ang hindi pagpili
ng bagong landas. Habang nasa
Palasyo na si Oliver, nakaranas
na ng Amerika si Dolly, “nasa
tahimik” na sila Rading
Akda ni Ivan Emil Labayne
Grapiks at Disenyo ng Pahina Pamela Peralta
a t
Azon,
nanatili si
Sita – ang
tanging nanatili.
Ipinakita niya na hindi
sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay
dapat mabago ang pagkilos ng
pagbabago ng mga kalagayang
kinapapalooban; na hindi lahat ng
pagpapasya ay panandalian. Ang
ilan sa kanila ay kayang tumagal
at lalo pang tumibay, mas mahig-
pit na hahawakan, mas masiglang
mapaninindigan.
Kaya sa gitna ng itinatagong
mga kontradiksyon ng kasaluku-
yan ay may mga tulad ni Sita na
pinipiling lumugar sa bukana ng
mga kontradiksyong ito – ang
lugar kung saan pagpapasyahan
kung maitutuwid o mananatili
ba ang mga kontradiskyon.
Bukas na pamamaalam
Masaya na si Dolly. Nasa
palasyo pa rin si Oliver. Nasa
squatters area pa rin si Rading.
Tahimik na sa probinsya si Azon.
Nakikidigma pa rin sa bundok
si Sita. Sa gitna ng paglalakbay
kasama ang convoy ay naharan-
gan ng mga rebelde ang sasakyan
ni Oliver. Sa pagbaba niya upang
paalisin ang mga ito ay darating si
Sita, at magtitinginan sila ni Oli-
ver – ang dating magkasintahan,
ngayon ay magkalaban. Bigla,
lalabas ang credits. Tapos na.
Sa pagtatapos ng pelikula, wala
na si Dolly. Maiiwan ang dat-
ing magkasintahan, na sa ngayo’y
magkabilaan ang posisyon sa
tunggalian ng lipunan. Si Oliver,
ang sa ngayo’y tagapagtanggol ng
gobyerno, at si Sita, ang rebeldeng
nakikipaglaban para sa pagbabago
– sa huli ay ang dalawang bagay
na dinadala nila ang maghaharap.
Ang kasalukuyan, ang status quo,
at ang nakaraang nagpapatuloy at
naghahangad angkinin ang kina-
bukasan. Magtitinginan ang
dalawang tauhan sa mga huling
sandali ng pelikula, at ramdam
ang tunggalian ng kanilang mag-
kaibang pinaglalaban.
Bago ang credits, isang
close-up ang inilaan
para kay Oliver, mati-
gas ngunit may kaba
ang hitsura. Tapos ay
si Sita, matatag rin
ngunit ‘di ma-
bakasan ng
pag-aalinlan-
gan ang mukha.
At sa kaniya na
nagtapos ang
pelikula.