THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA || VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3 MONDAY JULY 11, 2011

FEATURES CULTURE EDITORIALNEWSTanikala Repugno Freedom at GunpointSC to AFP: “Release...”

2 • 11 JULY 2011 • monday NEWSRSA Implementation Commences in UPM Health CollegesProgram to Ensure Hea l th Profess iona ls in the Country

ace Vincent Ponseca molo

Beginning academic year 2011-2012, first year students of the health colleges of the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) are expected to serve the country

after their graduation through the Return Service Agreement (RSA) program.

Expanded and Intensif ied

Initially implemented in the College of Medicine and the School of Health Sciences (SHS), the RSA now covers all white colleges, including the Colleges of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP), Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health. It will be an absolute admission requirement for Community Health Worker (an SHS program), baccalaureate, dentistry and medical programs.

The University Council approved the expanded RSA during a special meeting on November 4, 2009 and was later approved by the UP Board of Regents on December 18 of the same year.

Under the RSA, Filipino freshmen from said UPM colleges are to render return service in the form of direct service, education, training, or research, preferably serving through government agencies and non-government organizations, and in underserved communities. Moreover, the period of return service should

not be less than two years and must be fulfilled five years upon graduation.If graduates fail to render return service after five years, they will pay double the cost of their education, which is based on the amount of subsidies and donations, plus interest, and less the total amount of tuition paid.

Contractual Responsibility

A ceremonial signing of the RSA was held during the UPM’s Welcome Ceremonies for First Year Students held at the UP Film Institute on June 14.

The agreement was signed by students who represented their colleges, their parents, and UPM Chancellor Ramon L. Arcadio, and was witnessed by the deans of the said colleges and UP Faculty Regent Ida F. Dalmacio.

According to the proponents of the RSA, the program will play a role in addressing the problems of exodus and shortage of health professionals in the country. The agreement

guarantees at least 500 new health professionals for employment in the Philippines yearly from 2015 onwards, according to a UPM press release in the UP Newsletter.

“I personally believe that the Return Service Agreement is the simplest way of expressing our gratitude to the country. It is only proper that we serve our own country first before we serve others,” said Lulu Armamento, a first year BS Physical Therapy student who represented CAMP in the ceremonial signing of the RSA.

Dr. Michael Tee, director of the UPM Information Office, emphasized RSA’s contribution to “assist the national government in keeping a continuous presence of health professionals in the country, most especially in the underserved areas.”

Furthermore, UPM graduates will be prioritized for employment opportunities in the Philippine General Hospital and the UP System to facilitate return service.

Calamba 7 Granted Temporary Release

UPM Conducts Freshmen Assembly

UPM Chancellor Ramon L. Arcadio, Faculty Regent Ida F. Dalmacio, and UPM-University Student Council (USC) Chairperson Angeli Guadalupe served as speakers for the said ceremony.

Apart from the welcome speeches, the event was drawn on the actual signing and implementation of the Return Service Agreement (RSA), an agreement between the university and the respective students of six health colleges of the university (See article on RSA).

Progressive Groups: ”Education is a Right”

To convey the student’s struggles on the worsening situation of education in the Philippines and further assert that education is a right, a lightning rally was carried out by progressive pro-student and pro-people student formations in the university such as Alternative Students’ Alliance for Progress-Katipunan ng mga Progresibong Mag-aaral ng Bayan

(ASAP-Katipunan), College of Arts and Sciences Student Council (CASSC), Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students (LFS), Student Christian Movement (SCM), Health Organization for the People (HOPE), Kabataang Artista Para sa Tunay na Kalayaan (KARATULA), among others.

In addition, UPM-USC Vice-Chairperson Cleve Arguelles said that the lightning rally served as challenge to the new “Iskolars ng Bayan” that they should stand up for their rights, specifically in education, health, and social services.

According to Arguelles, “Sinalubong tayo ng mga milyon-milyong kakulangan sa basic education at pagtataas naman ng mga bayarin sa mga pamantasan bunsod ng malaking pagkaltas sa badyet nito ng administrasyong Aquino.”

He also asserted that the freshmen should act as a true “Iskolars ng Bayan” that offers their intelligence, ability, and talent to serve the people.

LR Underscores Student’s Rights

Beanca Jhanine mulato samiano

Themed as, “Iskolar ng Bayan, Ngayon ay Manindigan”, the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila held the

freshmen assembly on June 14 at the UP Diliman Film Center.

Progressive groups condemn unjust arrest and detention mon GaBriel Posadas distor

Kabataan Party-list, Anakpawis Party-list, ANAKBAYAN, University of the Philippines (UP) University Student Council (USC) and militant groups unite to oppose the fabricated

charges filed against Mikel Mozo, Ynik Ante, Ruffa Solano, Bhen Aguihon and Cathy Gigantone, of the Kabataan Partylist University of the Philippines Los Baños chapter, and Joefrey Barreto and Rodel Badayos of Anakpawis Partylist- Southern Tagalog, tagged as the Calamba 7.

On June 21, after paying a bail of P12, 000, the protesters were freed from the Calamba police station where they were detained for 58 hours. The release, however, remains to be temporary as the cases filed against them has not yet been dropped by the court.

Pushing for Educational Rights

Condemning the state’s neglect towards the education sector, the student-activists staged a lightning rally as President Benigno Aquino III delivered a speech on the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal.

The seven protesters were arrested by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and detained in the city police station upon charges of “Alarm and Grave Scandal.”

In the previous year, UP students with other state universities staged a series of nationwide demonstrations against the approximately 2 billion peso budget cut on State Universities

and Colleges (SUCs) approved by the Aquino administration.

Struggle against False Charges

In a press release, John Paulo Bautista, coordinator of Kabataan party-list (KPL) Southern Tagalog, reiterated that justice for the Calamba 7 is “yet to be served “as the cases filed against them are still active and conviction from such charges may warrant a 6 months to 3 years tenure in jail.

According to Bautista, the cases filed against the protesters are pathetic and that the activists, in the first place “were not supposed to be arrested and detained.”

“We call on supporters to shift campaign to a call for the immediate dismissal of the charge,” Bautista added.

The Kabataan Party-list is set to lobby inquiries regarding the illegal arrest and detention that was committed. Bautista emphasized that KPL shall raise the issue into national concern.

Meanwhile, in response to the issue at hand, Kabataan Party-list along with several other mass organizations such as ANAKBAYAN, and Anakpawis Party-list plans a series of protests as countdown to President Aquino’s second State of the Nation Address on July 25.

The mobilizations shall focus on the lack of priority of the government towards the education sector and the campaign against political persecution.

Kabataan Party-list UPLB spokesperson Julienne Urrea calls on students to participate in the oncoming mobilizations.

“Aquino is set to deliver his state of the nation address next month. Now is the perfect time to express our condemnation of what they did to our fellow Iskolar. State fascism is not new to us but some of us tend to accept it is a norm,” she said in the press release.

MANDATED NATIONALISM. Student representatives from the various health celleges signed the RSA contract on June 14 as witnessed by the UP administration. Photo courtesy of Ace Vincent Ponseca Molo

ASSERTING THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION. Various progressive groups staged a lightning rally during the Freshmen Assembly on June 14 at the UP Diliman Film Institute . Photo courtesy of Deonah Abigail Lugo Miole

monday • 11 July 2011 • 3NEWS

w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m /t h e m a n i l a c o l l e g i a n

SC to AFP: “Release Missing UP Studes” mark Jason santos Flores

The Supreme Court(SC) ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines(AFP), including retired Major General Jovito Palparan, to release University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan who

were allegedly abducted by the military in 2006.

Empeño and Cadapan were conducting research in Hagonoy, Bulacan when suspected military men abducted them.

Giving more weight to this accusation, Raymond Manalo, a witness of Cadapan and Empeño’s detention, testified the cruel treatment, torture and rape of Cadapan and Empeño inside the military camp.

“Sa kulungan nakasama namin ang dalawang estudyante ng UP na sina Sherlyn Cadapan at Karen Empeno. Napag-alaman namin kung sino sila dahil nakakausap namin sila. Nakita namin kung paano sila sinaktan din ng mga kumulong sa amin,” he claimed.

Manalo, along with other witnesses will be summoned by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to testify in the coming hearing against Palparan.

Palparan Denies Charges, Claims Innocence

In a criminal complaint filed before the DOJ in

May, mothers of Cadapan and Empeño accused Palparan and other members of the AFP of violation against rights of arrested and detained persons, torture, serious physical injuries, coercion, and rape.

Palparan, however, denied the charges against him and said the missing activists are not in military custody.

“I cannot really follow the order. I cannot release someone who is not in my possession, who is not in my custody,” he stated.

The high court panel ordered Palparan, Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson, Arnel Enriquez and Donald Caigas, who were once assigned to the 7th Infantry Division and the 24th Infantry Battalion respectively to appear before the DOJ on July 6.

“Run for your Life” Marks 5th Year of Disappearance

Meanwhile, The UP community, along with the family and friends of Empeño and Cadapan held a run on June 26 as commemoration of the 5th year of their disappearance. Dubbed as “Run for your Life: This is not a fun run”, the event consisted of a run across the UP Diliman academic oval to further the call to surface Cadapan, Empeño and other political prisoners.

In line with the event, UP Student Regent Ma. Kristina Conti, in a statement, condemned the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

“We will work for a more solid commitment to all UP community members who have been victims of political repression. We will further strive to curb impunity in the country, so that the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arrests and other acts of political tyranny will be held accountable,” she said.

Typhoon Falcon Storms PhilippinesYouth sector advocates urgent aid

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), an estimate of only 75,000 people were evacuated from their homes, more than half of which came from Albay Province, while 20,000 came from Metro Manila.

In addition, 66 houses were wiped out, including 15 houses in New Manila, Quezon City, which were blown off by a tornado. However, NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said that there had been no reported deaths.

Advocating the need for another collective effort of the people, the youth sector, spearheaded by

the NUSP formed task force Tulong Kabataan.The said program aims to contribute in relieving the victims of typhoon Falcon through any possible means. By urging patriotic and civil-minded students, the promoters of Tulong Kabataan wishes to extend immediate aid to devastated families, particularly in terms of food, clothes, medicines, and others.

“Now is truly a time for us to come together to help our disaster-stricken compatriots. Our individual and collective contributions will go a long way in bringing help to our kababayans,” said NUSP in a statement.

anGela mariz uleP caudal & alyssa nicole cacho Gratil

Wreaking havoc to 300,000 people in four regions, the fourth tropical storm to hit the Philippines named Falcon is said to be the strongest and

most challenging disaster yet since Ondoy.

As a response, the National Union of the Students of the Philippines (NUSP) and other youth organizations such as the League of Filipino Students and Kabataan Partylist founded Tulong Kabataan, a task force aiming to extend relief support to the typhoon victims.

ITANONG KAY ISKO AT ISKA

1. Ano ang masasabi mo sa unang taon ni P-Noy bilang Presidente?Walang pagbabago sa ilalim ni Aquino! - xxfunsuckerxx

Yun masaya naman si presidinti. Dami niyang naging chicks, saka may bago syang kotse. Yung bansa natin? Ga-nun pa din taghirap :D -gandanimamjopson, 2nd year BA Political Science

Wala akong masabi. 1.39B Budget Cut sa UP? Nasan ang daang matuwid? - reg decangchon

4.0 pa lng. under probation. so, ayusin niya. - Yvhuri En-carnacion

WALANG KWENTA. BV SIYA - Mariel Suazre Quiogue

Considering the way our so-called democracy works I couldn’t blame him for being overwhelmed, because he probably is, what with all the issues he’s got to face. How-ever, a sixth of his term is up and the other five are going to go by without a warning, so I say, “With all due respect, sir, you need to get your head out of your ass.” - 2k11A, CAS, 3rd year BA Soc Sci

puro lang speech :D - Jan Di Jandi, CAS Bio

Walang pagbabago. Wala pa rin pondo para sa mga ba-tayang serbisyong panlipunan. Clearly, the Filipino people are NOT HIS BOSS. - Ellen, CAS PolSci

Walang pagbabago sa ilalim ni Aquino! After a year, napa-tunayan natin na hindi totoo na tayo ay papunta sa daang matuwid at tayo ang boss ni Noynoy. Pagkatapos ng isang taon, pangakong napako parin ang karamihan ng kanyang mga sinabi no...ong eleksyon. Wala paring lupa ang mga magsasaka lalo na sa Hacienda Luisita, hindi pa rin na-kakapag-aral ang mga kabataan, naghihikahos parin ang mga SUCs dahil sa pagkaltas sa badyet, mababa parin ang sweldo ng mga manggagawa, wala paring mga trabaho at madami ang pumupunta sa ibang bansa at sunod-sunuran parin siya sa mga kapitalista, landlords at boss na US gov-ernment.Resist and oppose US-Aquino anti-student and anti-peo-ple policies! - Cleve Arguelles, CAS, BA Political Science 2012

Jusko! Limang taon pa! Dinagdagan lang niya ang stress ng masa. Umayos ka nga Noy. - Cid Ryan Manalo, CP, BSP

haaay... :/ - rhaine-elric, CAS,BS Bio

It is obvious that the first year of Aquino is not that suc-cessful maybe because the former administration left the country in a big chaos. It is not easy to mend the failures of the past administration so I can not blame the current for the continuous price hikes of different sectors in the country. So the best thing to do is to wait what this admin-istration has to offer. - jayjay CAMP BSSP

Walang ginawa kundi maging sunudsunuran sa mga naghaharing uri at magpahirap pa lalo sa mga nasa ibaba ng tatsulok. Papogi lang alam. :)) - Paul Adrian Soriano, CD, DDM

aling taon? yung taon ng pagpapa-cute at paninilaw ng damit? - the-one-whose-name-is-on-your-desk, dpsm

Puro pangako. Pero hanggang ngayon wala pa ring natu-tupad. Panay psuedo-for-mamamayan na projects, pero isang malaking joke time lang. Ang galing manlinlang ni PNoy, naging maikero nalang sana sya. :| - Candelaria. CAS. BS Bio

Empty promises lang ang narinig ko. Yung mga nagawa niya, parang Coke, zero. Yung genuine concern niya sa mamamayang Pilipino ay parang buhok sa ulo niya. Non-existent... or should I say, it’s barely even there. - Nagi-isangTitik. CAS. BA BS.

Ang masasabi ko sa unang taon ni PNoy sa kanyang ter-mino ay parang kanyang mga nagawa. Wala. - geekbox

Nagsawa ako sa lahat ng babae niya at broken promises. - TANGINANGINAEHEHWAKAWAKAEHEH; BA PS, CAS

Hindi na masama para sa unang taon, pero kulang na ku-lang parin. Meron pa siyang nalalabing lima para ayusin ang buhay niya. - Buknoy; BA PS, CAS

Naging presidente pala siya? – someonefrompolsci

*crickets* Naging presidente pala si PNoy? Di ko kasi naramdaman yung tuwid na daan eh. - she-who-shall-not-be-named

Walang kwenta. Hindi ako satisfied. – <3CS

Isa siyang malaking “HUWEH!” - flyshow

2. Ano ang gagawin mo para ma-enjoy ang tag-ulan?

Kesa mabasa, magbabasa na lang ako.. ng LRP. ;) - reg decangchon

Masarap maligo sa ulan! hahaha -iloveROOTbeer, 2nd year BA Pol. Sci

kukuha ng batsa, then ipunin ang h2o. tska tayo lumangoy sa mini pool! :D - Yvhuri Encarnacion

Mag-tumblr all the way. XD – www.allovermenow.tumblr.

PSST!NOYNOY, SO, ANO

NA?SONA NA!

Sumama at

Magsama!People’s SONA

JULY 25sundan sa pahina 5...

4 • 11 JULY 2011 • monday NEWS

PAGTANAW SA MARAHAS NA NAKALIPASKarahasan at Kagipitan sa Isang Taon ng “Tuwid na Daan

YoDHIm GUDEL GEPTY DELa RoSa aT KaTHLEEn TRInIDaD GUIanG

Isang baluktot na daan, sa halip na ang ipinangakong “daang matuwid” ni Pangulong Benigno Simeon “noynoy” aquino noong siya ay umupo bilang pangulo, ang sumalubong sa sambayanang Pilipino dahil sa samu’t saring

karapatang pantao at serbisyong panlipunang nilabag ng kanyang administrasyon sa loob lamang ng isang taong panunungkulan. Bukod pa rito, and hindi agarang pagtugon sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng bayan ay nagpatindi sa pagnanais ng bayan para sa tunay na pagbabago.

makalipas ang halos isang taon ng panunungkulan upang diumano’y sugpuin ang kahirapan, hindi maikakaila na ang pagbabagong ipinangako ni aquino ay lubos na taliwas sa mga natunghayan na pang-aabuso sa mga mamamayan at sa kanilang mga karapatan.

Pagyurak sa Pantaong Karapatan

Ayon sa Karapatan, isang samahan na nagtataguyod at nagtatanggol sa karapatang pantao sa Pilipinas, sa loob lamang ng tatlong buwan ng pamumuno ni Aquino, 30 na mamamayan ang naitalang biktima ng pampolitikang karahasan kung ikukumpara sa 20 na naitala sa unang tatlong buwan ng pamamahala ni dating pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo noong 2001.

Bilang ng Biktima ng Pampolitikang Pamamasalang

Biktima ng mga Pinatay na Humang Rights Defenders

Administrasyong Aquino(Hulyo-Setyembre 2010)

Administrasyong Arroyo(Hulyo-Setyembre 2001)

18

16

12

4

(Table 1: Sa magkaparehong bilang ng buwan sa unang taon ng pamumuno, mas maraming naitala na pampolitkang karahasan sa ilalim ng ad-ministrasyong Aquino kumpara sa pamahalaang Arroyo. Sanggunian: Karapatan Website)

Makikita sa Table 2 ang bilang ng mga karapatang pantaong nilabag ng administrasyong Aquino mula Hulyo 2010- Marso 2011.

PAGLABAG BILANG NG BIKTIMA

Pampolitikang Pamamaslang

Mga Dinakip/Nawawala

Tortyur

Pagtangka sa Buhay

Sapilitang Pagdakip

Paglabag sa Domicile

Pagkuha ng Ari-arian

Sapilitang Pagpapalayas at Demolisyon

Pagbabanta/ Paninikil/ Pangugulo

45

5

26

9103

48

49

2,251

4,610

Sapilitang Pagpapasuko

Paggamit sa mga sibilyan bilang kabahagi sa operasyon ng militar.

7

13

7,166 ++KABUUAN

(Table 2: Makikita sa talangguhit na sa unang siyam na buwnan ng pamahalaang Aquino ay nakapagtala na ito ng malaking bilang ng mga pagla-bag sa karapatang pantao. Sanggunian: Karapatan Website)

Matatandaan ang Maguindanao Massacre, isang marahas na krimeng kinaharap ng bansa na kung saan mahigit sa isang taon na ang nakalipas ngunit tila hindi pa rin napaparusahan ang pumaslang sa 57 na mamamayan at mamamahayag.

Ayon sa pahayag ni Aquino noong unang anibersaryo ng Maguindanao Massacre, kaniyang bibigyan diumano ng mabilis na resolusyon at hustisya ang mga naging biktima ng malagim na krimeng ito ngunit hanggang ngayon ay nakabinbin pa rin ang kaso nito sa korte suprema.

Sa kabilang banda, hindi pa rin napapalitaw na mga lider-estudyante ng Unibersidad ng Pili-pinas (UP) Diliman na sina Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan na pinaghihinalaang dinakip umano ng mga militar. (Sumangguni sa artikulo sa pahina 3.)

Sapilitan ring ikinulong ang pitong lider estudyante na kinabibilangan ng limang estudyante mula sa Kabataan Partylist – UP Los Baños at dalawa naman mula sa Anakpawis Partylist-Southern Tagalog. Ang pagkakaroon ng ganitong uri ng karahasan ay taliwas sa pahayag ng pamahalaan na malaya at ligtas ang mga mamamayan nito na ipahayag ang kanilang hinaing sa sarili nilang bansa.

Mahigit kumulang 40 na katao naman ang nasaktan at 13 ang inaresto sa naganap na pagpigil sa demolisyon sa Pinaglabanan Park sa San Juan noong ika 25 ng Enero, taong 2011. Ang demolisyon ay resulta ng pagnanais na pagpapatayo ng bagong gusali para sa pamahalaang lungsod ng San Juan.

Kailangang masugpo ang mga karahasang nangyayari ngayon sa bansa kung ang tunay na tuwid na landas ang layon ng pamahalaan. Sa unang taon ng pamumuno ni Aquino, dapat ay binigyan na ng pansin ng kaniyang administrasyon ang pagbibigay ng hustisya sa mga bik-tima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao.

Atrasadong Pagkilos laban sa Krisis Panlipunan

Isa sa mga pinakamasalimuot na pangyayari sa bansa noong nakaraang taon ay ang pagdakip at pagpaslang ni Rolando Mendoza, isang nagwawalang pulis dahil sa pagkatanggal nito sa serbisyo ng Philippine National Police (PNP) sa mga dayuhan mula Hong Kong na lulan ng isang pang turistang bus sa Maynila.

Ang pangyayaring ito noong ika 23 ng Agosto, taong 2010 ang naging sanhi ng pagtingin ng mga dayuhan sa Pilipinas bilang isang bansa na walang kahandaan at may maling pagtugon sa krimen. Hindi pa rin nakakamit ng mga biktima ang hustisya dahil na rin sa mabagal na pagtugon ng administrasyon sa isyung ito.

Mapapansin rin na naging mabagal ang pagtugon ng pamahalaan sa usapin ng pandaigdigang krisis. Hindi inaasahan ng mga mamamayan ang mabagal na aksyon ng pamahalaan para sa pagpapalikas sa mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) na nasa tiyak na kapahamakan dahil sa mga naganap na kaguluhan sa ibang bansa.

Hindi rin naging positibo ang tugon ng pamahalaan sa usapin ng reporma sa lupa ng Hacienda Luisita. Inilatag ng Hacienda Luisita Inc. ang Stock Distribution Option (SDO) sa pagaakalang ito ang sasagot sa hinaing at pangangailangan ng mga magsasaka. Sa kabila ng pagpapatupad sa SDO, hanggang ngayonay hindi pa rin naipamimigay ang lupang ipinangako sa mga mag-sasaka

Pagsasapribado ng Serbisyong Panlipunan

Sa State of the Nation Address ni Aquino noong 2010 ay isinulong niya ang Private-Public Partnership (PPP), isang programa kung saan makikipagkontrata ang mga pampublikong institusyon sa mga pribadong kompanya, bilang pagtugon ng kaniyang administrasyon sa kakulangan sa badyet ng bansa. Inihayag rin ni Aquino na ang pagpapalaganap ng PPP ay makakatulong sa pagkakaroon ng mas maraming proyekto nang hindi ginagamit ang lahat ng pera ng gobyerno.

Sa kabila nang kagustuhan ng administrasyon na ang naging kapalit nito ay ang pagkakaltas ng 1.7 porsyento sa badyet ng State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), mula sa P23.8 bilyon noong 2010 hanggang sa P23.4 bilyon na lamang ngayong taon. Kabilang dito ay ang pagka-karoon ng P1.39 bilyon na pagkakaltas sa pondo ng UP na naitalang pinakamalaking kaltas sa badyet sa kasaysayan ng unibersidad.

Ninanais ng pamahalaang Aquino na bawasan ang subsidiyo na ibinibigay... nito sa mga SUCs, sektor ng kalusugan at sa batayang serbisyong panlipunan upang umayon ang mga ito sa pagpapalaganap ng PPP at makakalap ito ng sarili nilang pondo.

Sa kabilang banda, ang sektor ng kalusugan ay nakatanggap ng P37.8 bilyon na kaltas sa kanilang badyet, kasama ang P300 milyon na bawas sa subsidiyo para sa pampublikong mga ospital. Kabilang sa mga pampublikong ospital na naaapektuhan ng pagkakaltas sa badyet ay ang Philippine General Hospital na nakatanggap ng P114 milyon na bawas sa pondo.

Ang walang basehan na pagkaltas sa badyet ng mga serbisyong panlipunan ay isa ring uri ng paglabag sa karapatan ng mga tao. Tinatanggalan ng administrasyon ng karapatan ang mga mamamayan para makamtan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan.

Sa natitirang limang taon ng panunungkulan ni Aquino bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas, inaasahan ng mga mamamayan ang pagpapatupad ng tunay, makabuluhan at makataong mga reporma at polisiya. Ang mabilis na pagtugon ng pamahalaan sa mga isyu at suliranin ng bansa na sinumpaan niyang paglingkuran ay patuloy pa ring inaasam at hinahangad ng mamamayang Pilipino.

monday • 11 July 2011 • 5

ulirang guro at best frop eber in da histori op yufiem!

Knows naman namin na important ang ejukeyshun pero sa mga ganitong pagkakataon naman sana ang kaligtasan muna ang ating friority. Getch mo froppy??!! Last na yan ah! wag mo kasing papakin yung vetsin para hindi ka sobrang bibo hotdog at excited ma-meet yung mga byutipowls at powgeee kong afows.

Fuma-Falcon Chenelyn Chismis Numbah Too: Mad-am OwZiEss Strikes Again (as always...)

Nakakapag-init talaga ng ulo ang sumbong na narinig ko sa isa kong afow na nag cry cry ever sa akin about her experience on shifting last enrollment period. Okay naman ang grades ng afow ko na si ateh kahit na siya ay under MRR (Maximum Residency Rchorvaloo) kaya lung, pala nagkamali ng compute ng grades ang isang jofisina sa yufiem kaya hindi sya natanggap sa course na gusto niyang lipatan. Kaya ayun, kumaripas siya sa tanggapan ni Madam OwZiEss at nag complain upang linawin ang kanyang academic standing. Shockerz si ate nang sabihan siya ni Madam OwZiEss na mag-trans-fer na lang sa ibang school dahil MRR na ito sa yufiem.

ANSAVEH ni Madam OwZiEss kay ate : “You’re too old, lipat ka na lang sa ibang school tutal okay naman grades mo, for sure tatanggapin ka nila” Ang chaka chaka tala-ga! At nagpapayo ka pa Madam ah! Ate Charo, ikaw ba yan? Wizzz ko alam kung tamad lang o sadya talagang intrimitida si Madam OwziEss sa buhay ng mga afow ko grrrrrrr. Nakakakulo lang ng dugo si Madam ah! Diyos ka ba?! Diyos ka ba?! Diyos ka ba para ikaw ang magsa-

NEWS

Lola PatolaMga Fulung-Vulungan ng Nagjijisang...

Holllleeeeeerrrr Yufiem, Holllleeeeeerrrr Whurld!!!! I’m soo vakkkk(lush)! ang inyong

unkabogable and zexzzy Lola Patola is here to lady’s spread ang mga bonggang bonggang hot issues na mas hot pa sa walang kwentang isang taon ni Penoy vilang fresideent op da Filipeens.

Wit! You better watch out mga chikadorang becky at Lilet kong afows kasi bukod sa mga chismax, andami ko palang na sight na pow-geeeng ever freshy freshies! owEhmGee! ti-gang na tigang na ba ako? Dont’yu mek me sumvong sa Lolo Upo niyo ah? Herkayyy??! aym so ekscited! I’m on the right track baby, I was born this way. awooo awooo!

Fuma-Falcon Chenelyn Chismis Numbah Wen: O.A ka Froppy. Sweeaaar!!!

HEYNAKOO! Gurabee talaga ang nangyari noong humagupit ang vagyong Falcon! Sovrang naantala ang lahat ng travahoo becoz of the suzpenshun ng mga classes at jofisina sa yufiem. But huweit, there’s more. Dehins lang classes and work-work ang na meyks stop noong vagyoo kundi ang pag-uwi ng ak-ing mga dearest afows dahil sa isang froppy na naso-brahan ata sa vetsin at sobrang bibong mag-class pa.

Savi ng isa kong afow, hindi sila pinayagang umuwi ng kanilang froppy dahil gusto daw sila munang makita nito before raw matapos ang day para givenchy ng kung ano-anong mga chenes. IKAW NA FROPPY! Ikaw na ang

bi sa afow ko na lumipat yunibersiti?? Naku Mad-am! Umayos ka! Hindi dapat tatamad tamad sa trabaho at hindi mo dapat ipinagka-kait sa mga ishtyu-deents ng yufiem ang kanilang karapatan para sa edukasyon! Anebe! Kekeinis telege ayokong makita ng ak-ing labidabs na stressed ako kaya beware nalang sa mga palakang chu-muchorva at umi-imverna sa aking mga afows. Lola Patola is olweiz here, there and ev-erywhere to make bantay sa inyo and your doings sa aking mga afows at sa ating famantasang yoopee. Kuha niyo?!? Adios Patria Adora-da! Gogora na ako at magpa-pa-spa muna kami ng inyong jaw dropping, eye popping, body shocking, ground shaking, shoe-stopping amazing Lolo Upo!!!!!

eks oh eks oh. mwah mwah.slurp slurp. burp. ekksdii XD

OR

GA

NE

WS

COLLEGE BRIEFSThe UP Manila Prelaw Society is now releasing membership ap-plication forms for the first semester, A.Y.2011-2012. For those who want to apply and be part of 17 years of Social Awareness, Academ-ic Excellence and Service, contact Bernard Cielo(09162641417) or Mars Flores (09157645615), or any member of the organization.

The UP Manila Chorale will hold its homecoming concert, Pamama-lik 2011, on July 15 at PhilAm Life Auditorium. For tickets and res-ervations, contact Kim (0917 4575096) or Reg (0915 3111476), or reach them through their email: upmchorale@yahoo.com.ph. Tick-ets are regularly sold at P150.00 each, and for UPM freshmen, P50.00.

The UPM Indayog Dance Varsity will hold free dance work-shops on June 29 - July 1 from 4-6 pm at the SSWC. Auditions for UPM Indayog will be held from July 6-8, starting at 1 pm, at the Performing Arts Studion, 4/F Old Neda Bldg. Prepare a 1-2 min-ute dance routine, which can either be done solo or by group of 3.

Public Relations Student Society of the Philippines – UPM, together with ORCOMSOC, Kapatirang Dramatista –UPM, and CAMP Student Council, bring you a special screening of Harry Potter and the Death-ly Hallows Part 2, on July 15 at the Robinsons Place Manila. For tickets, contact Ceejae del Rosario (09274957907). Tickets are sold at P220.00. The event is for the benefit of Kanlungan sa Er-ma streetchildren.

National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP), in co-operation with ASAP-Katipunan, Kabataan Party-list and CAS SC and various organizations, encourage students to help calam-ity victims in flood-prone areas, through Tulong Kabataan. Stu-dents can donate food, medicine, non-food items such as blan-kets, tents, clothes, utensils, among others, and cash donations. For donations, please contact Cleve (0906258023), or Mudir (09152941193).

ITANONG KAY ISKO AT ISKA mula sa pahina 4...

comHindi na ulit magsswimming sa baha sa FAURA. :/ - Mariel Suarez Quiogue

Magluto at mag-homework! Hihihi brrr. - 2k11A, CAS, 3rd year BA Soc Sci

makipagdate sa bf. :D at magchicken-all-you-can sa max’s :D - Jan Di, CAS Bio

Family bonding! :) -Ellen, CAS PolSci

Akapin ang mahal habang nilalamig dahil sa malakas na hangin at ulan! :) -Cleve Arguelles, CAS, BA Political Science 2012.

Matulog. X) - Cid Ryan Manalo, CP, BSP

Matulog ngayong walang klase!(sayang ang chance!)XD - rhaine-elricCAS, BS Bio

uhm study is the best option to do in the rainy seadon with series of accompanying no classes its not fun but it will benefit us in the near future hahaha.:p - jayjay CAMP BSSP

lumangoy sa faura. :) - Paul Adrian Soriano, CD, DDM

magkunwaring walang payong para maki-sukob sa pay-ong ng crush -the-one-whose-name-is-on-your-desk, dpsm

uupo sa tabi ng bintana tas papatugtog ng kanta ng The Script. -Janel, CAS

Magjet ski at snorkling sa taft! :D :D -Candelaria. CAS. BS Bio

Magrides sa baha. Libre na, amazing pa. - NagiisangTitik. CAS. BA BS.

ika nga ng The Cascades,” Listen to the Rhythm of the Pouring Rain”- geekbox

Magbasa ng sobrang daming reading sa polsci 14 -TANGI-NANGINAEHEHWAKAWAKAEHEH; BA PS, CAS

Ipapanakaw ko yung payong ng crush ko para makisilong siya sakin kapag maulan. Pag sinagot ako, maliligo ako sa ulan, Pag binasted ako, magpapakalunod ako sa baha. - Buknoy; BA PS, CAS

Iinom ng kape at manunuod ng Playful Kiss. Kamukha nung bida yung crush ko!!!- someonefrompolsci

HINDI AKO PAPASOK SA SCHOOL! - <3CS

Matulog habang malamig! - flyshow

As approved by Chancellor Arcadio, the deadline for enrol-ment and payment was moved from June 30 to July 1. Students who have not yet paid may have been forced have leave of absence.CAS shall hold its environment week, dubbed as, “It’s Time to BATTLE the BOT-TLES!” on June 29 – July 5. The CAS SC also calls onto the students to participate by donating plastic bottles. Bottles proceeds will benefit the college’s utility persons.

6 • 11 JULY 2011 • monday monday • 11 July 2011 • 7

Wo

men

’s R

igh

ts B

ou

nd

by

Stat

e N

egle

ct

It ha

s b

eco

me

mo

re t

han

just

a le

gal

bat

tle.

Wit

h th

e em

erg

ence

of

the

Rep

rod

ucti

ve H

ealt

h (R

H)

Bill

and

the

Div

orc

e B

ill in

the

Phi

lipp

ine

leg

isla

ture

, var

ious

po

litic

al a

cto

rs a

nd s

oci

al fi

gur

es f

oug

ht n

eck

to n

eck,

pro

noun

cing

arg

u-m

ents

ran

gin

g f

rom

the

log

ical

, ab

stru

se, t

o t

he d

ownr

ight

ab

surd

in d

efen

se o

f th

eir

unw

aver

ing

sta

nd o

n th

e af

ore

men

tio

ned

mat

ters

. Sin

ce t

he c

onc

epti

on

of

the

bill

s an

d t

hro

ugho

ut t

he

chao

s o

f th

e as

sort

men

t o

f cl

aim

s th

row

n o

n th

e p

olit

ical

tab

le, o

ne m

atte

r o

f g

rave

imp

ort

ance

has

alw

ays

bee

n ne

gle

cted

– t

hat

of

wo

men

’s r

ight

s.

mo

re t

han

just

a s

ecto

r in

so

ciet

y, F

ilip

ino

wo

men

bec

ame

the

bac

kbo

ne o

f th

e co

untr

y, f

rom

bei

ng t

he q

uint

esse

ntia

l ila

w n

g t

ahan

an t

o b

eing

the

pri

mar

y m

igra

nt f

rom

the

Phi

lipp

ines

. It

is a

bo

ut t

ime

that

the

Phi

lipp

ine

leg

isla

ture

rec

og

nize

d t

he s

igni

fican

ce o

f w

om

en’s

rig

hts,

by

pas

sing

bill

s th

at w

oul

d a

llow

the

se r

ight

s to

mat

eria

lize.

Suc

h ac

tio

n ha

s b

een

long

ove

rdue

.

She

has

end

ured

eno

ugh.

Uphol

ding th

e Forg

otten R

ight:

The

Inte

rpla

y w

ithin

the

Insi

nuat

ions

of t

he R

H B

illJe

sse

Nic

ole

Ru

bio

San

tos

Pagpi

li at P

aglaya:

Pags

insa

y sa

Isyu

ng

Panu

kala

ng D

ibor

syo

sa P

ilipi

nas

Ari

es

Jo

sep

h A

rme

nd

i He

gin

a

The c

hang

ing

tim

es p

osed

a n

eed

for

RH a

war

enes

s am

ong

the

mas

ses,

as

case

s of

se

xual

ly-r

elat

ed

prob

lem

s ho

und

ever

y Fi

lipin

a st

eppi

ng

into

ad

oles

cenc

e or

ca

r-ry

ing

a ch

ild. R

H is

a p

ivot

al a

spec

t of

hum

an li

fe, s

o m

uch

so t

hat

lives

, esp

ecia

lly t

hose

of

wom

en,

are

at s

take

wit

h ev

ery

min

ute

spen

t ig

nora

nt o

f th

e su

bjec

t. Ab

ove

all

the

ar-

gum

ents

con

cern

ing

over

popu

lati

on,

pove

rty

and

mor

alit

y, w

hat

mos

t pe

ople

for

get

is

that

the

RH

Bill

rei

nfor

ces

a ri

ght

whi

ch w

omen

des

erve

and

sho

uld

righ

tful

ly p

osse

ss.

She

has

the

righ

t to

choo

se.

An A

bund

ance

of I

mba

lanc

e

Dr. J

ose

Fabe

lla M

emor

ial

Hos

pita

l in

Man

ila i

n th

e Ph

ilipp

ines

ave

rage

s an

ast

ound

ing

60 b

irth

s a

day,

but t

he n

umbe

r can

rise

to 1

00 in

that

tim

e pe

riod

. Also

qu

ite s

hock

ing,

som

e 30

0 m

othe

rs a

re ja

mm

ed in

one

w

ard,

with

thre

e sh

arin

g on

e be

d.

The

issu

e of

ov

erpo

pula

tion

has

been

ov

erus

ed

as a

top

ic n

ot o

nly

amon

g fo

rmal

pol

icy

deba

tes

but

also

in

the

clas

sroo

m s

ettin

g. I

t ha

s be

en p

in-

poin

ted

as t

he r

oot

caus

e of

pov

erty

, with

var

ious

sc

hola

rs,

polit

icia

ns,

and

econ

omis

ts a

mon

g ot

h-er

s, at

tem

ptin

g to

cur

b ab

norm

ally

hig

h po

pula

tion

grow

th,

with

the

goa

l of

pro

gres

s fo

r th

e na

tion.

W

hile

not

nec

essa

rily

its

ulti

mat

e go

al, t

he R

H B

ill

answ

ers

the

prob

lem

of o

verp

opul

atio

n w

ith it

s pr

o-vi

sion

s of

mak

ing

cont

race

ptiv

es m

ore

acce

ssib

le

and

prom

otin

g fa

mily

pla

nnin

g m

etho

ds.

Wom

en

are

give

n a

choi

ce in

the

mat

ter,

as u

nwan

ted

preg

-na

ncie

s ca

n be

avo

ided

with

the

usa

ge o

f co

ntra

-ce

ptiv

es a

nd a

n ef

ficie

nt f

amily

pla

nnin

g m

etho

d.

As p

regn

anci

es a

re n

ot e

xact

ly h

ealth

ris

ks, t

here

are

ne

vert

hele

ss t

hrea

ts t

o th

e he

alth

and

wel

l-bei

ng o

f th

e mot

her,

whi

ch ar

e all

the m

ore h

eigh

tene

d as

pre

g-na

ncie

s be

com

e fr

eque

nt a

nd w

ith l

ittle

spa

cing

in

betw

een

birt

hs. T

he p

roba

bilit

y th

at a

wom

an w

ould

di

e fr

om p

regn

ancy

is 1

in 1

0, 0

00. A

n es

timat

ed 4

, 70

0 Fi

lipin

as d

ie o

f pre

gnan

cy a

nd c

hild

birt

h co

mpl

i-ca

tions

eac

h ye

ar. W

ith a

cces

sibl

e co

ntra

cept

ives

, not

on

ly ca

n th

ere b

e mor

e con

trol

over

the p

opul

atio

n, b

ut

heal

th r

isks

for

wom

en c

an b

e si

gnifi

cant

ly r

educ

ed.

Thou

ght

only

to

haun

t te

enag

ers,

unpl

anne

d pr

eg-

nanc

ies

abou

nd i

n m

ost

fam

ilies

. Th

ese

adve

rsel

y af

fect

the

finan

cial

sta

te o

f the

fam

ily, w

ith th

e ev

en-

tual

ris

e of

pov

erty

in

soci

ety

as a

con

sequ

ence

. M

ore

child

ren

are

born

into

fam

ilies

who

hav

e ba

rely

en

ough

reso

urce

s fo

r on

e. W

hile

the

pare

nts

are

bur-

dene

d w

ith q

uite

a n

umbe

r of

mou

ths

to f

eed,

the

ch

ildre

n ar

e ill

-fate

d to

be

inad

equa

tely

pro

vide

d fo

r an

d un

educ

ated

. And

as

this

con

tinue

s, a

vici

ous

cycl

e oc

curs

that

not

onl

y im

pede

s so

ciet

al d

evel

op-

men

t bu

t al

so p

lung

es fa

mili

es d

eepe

r in

to p

over

ty.

It ha

s be

en a

com

mon

not

ion

that

poo

r fa

mili

es a

re

blam

ed fo

r the

ir u

nfor

tuna

te ci

rcum

stan

ces,

that

they

sh

ould

not

hav

e ha

d m

any

child

ren

whe

n th

ey c

anno

t af

ford

to ra

ise

each

one

in g

ood

cond

ition

s. H

owev

er,

the

faul

t lie

s no

t in

the

sup

pose

d ir

resp

onsi

bilit

y of

th

ese

coup

les;

rat

her,

such

unw

ante

d pr

edic

amen

ts

aris

e ou

t of

the

utt

er l

ack

of a

fford

able

and

acc

es-

sibl

e RH

ser

vice

s an

d ed

ucat

ion

whi

ch s

houl

d ha

ve

been

pro

vide

d by

the

gov

ernm

ent

in t

he fi

rst

plac

e.

Such

si

tuat

ions

ill

ustr

ate

an

appa

rent

in

capa

bil-

ity o

f th

e St

ate,

hid

den

bene

ath

wha

t is

con

side

red

to b

e w

rong

cho

ices

of

indi

vidu

als

who

sup

pose

dly

have

no

self-

cont

rol.

The

prob

lem

of p

over

ty t

hat

is

linke

d to

ove

rpop

ulat

ion

has

been

dee

med

as

faul

ts

of t

hese

larg

e fa

mili

es w

ho b

ear

child

ren

they

can

-no

t fin

anci

ally

pro

vide

for

; w

hen

in f

act,

the

flaw

re

sts

also

on

the

part

of t

he a

dmin

istr

atio

n, a

nd o

n a

larg

er p

art,

its p

rede

cess

ors.

The

mis

lead

not

ion

beca

me

com

mon

plac

e am

ong

the

mas

ses,

whi

le

mas

king

the

fai

lure

s of

the

gov

ernm

ent

and

oblit

-er

atin

g th

e pr

omot

ion

of R

H c

are

for

indi

vidu

als.

A Re

vela

tion

of I

nfor

mat

ion

“You

won

’t ge

t pre

gnan

t whe

n yo

u ha

ve se

x dur

ing

your

pe

riod

.” –

A co

llege

stud

ent

Vari

ous

sect

ors

are

read

y to

pou

nce

on t

he p

ro-

fess

ed n

eed

of R

H e

duca

tion

for

elem

enta

ry a

nd h

igh

scho

ol s

tude

nts,

as d

efin

ed in

a p

rovi

sion

in t

he R

H

Bill.

Nec

essa

ry a

s it

is, t

he i

nclu

sion

of

RH e

duca

-tio

n in

the

sch

ool

curr

icul

um h

as b

een

dism

isse

d by

som

e as

inap

prop

riat

e fo

r ch

ildre

n, w

hile

oth

ers

cont

end

that

par

ents

sho

uld

be r

espo

nsib

le fo

r ed

u-ca

ting

thei

r ch

ildre

n on

suc

h a

topi

c. H

owev

er, t

he

limite

d vi

ews

of t

hese

arg

umen

ts fa

il to

acc

ount

for

the

fact

that

the

RH b

ill m

anda

tes

the

teac

hing

man

-ne

r to

be

age-

appr

opri

ate

and

that

par

ents

may

lack

in

cer

tain

asp

ects

that

pro

fess

iona

ls c

an a

ptly

han

dle.

With

the

int

rodu

ctio

n of

RH

edu

catio

n as

ear

ly a

s el

emen

tary

, Fi

lipin

os a

re e

quip

ped

with

nec

essa

ry

awar

enes

s ab

out

such

con

cern

s. Th

e ab

senc

e of

ad-

equa

te R

H k

now

ledg

e m

ay le

ad to

dev

asta

ting

effe

cts

that

ulti

mat

ely

seep

s in

to s

ocie

ty, o

n a

larg

er s

cale

.

The

lack

of

info

rmat

ion

rega

rdin

g RH

mat

eria

lized

w

ith t

he p

heno

men

a of

tee

nage

pre

gnan

cies

, pop

u-la

tion

boom

s an

d in

flate

d fa

mili

es.

Thes

e, i

n tu

rn,

are

man

ifest

atio

ns o

f th

e go

vern

men

t’s i

ncap

abil-

ity t

o pr

ovid

e its

citi

zens

with

nec

essa

ry R

H c

are

serv

ices

and

edu

catio

n. W

hat’s

eve

n m

ore

stri

king

is

tha

t es

cala

ting

repe

rcus

sion

s of

thi

s ut

ter

ne-

glec

t of

dut

y ar

e on

ly g

iven

due

not

ice

rece

ntly

, as

the

RH B

ill p

lace

d th

e an

omal

y in

the

spo

tligh

t. Th

e pl

ight

of t

he F

ilipi

na is

a c

onse

quen

ce o

f the

gov

ern-

men

t’s fa

ilure

to re

spon

d to

the

need

s of

its

cons

titu-

ents

and

the

fur

ther

rep

udia

tion

of m

uch

need

ed

heal

th s

ervi

ces,

as t

he R

H B

ill i

s pl

aced

on

hold

.

A M

echa

nism

of D

ecei

t

“Mr.

Pres

iden

t, w

ith d

ue re

spec

t, fo

r you

to d

o th

e ri

ght

thin

g, y

ou m

ust n

ow c

ertif

y th

e RH

bill

as u

rgen

t,” sa

id

form

er P

resid

ent

Ram

os, t

o th

e ap

plau

se o

f som

e 50

0 pe

ople

, mos

tly w

omen

, at C

row

ne P

laza

hot

el in

Pas

ig

City

.

As th

e sta

te o

f RH

in th

e Phi

lippi

nes i

s in

dete

rior

atio

n,

the

stat

e of

the

RH B

ill is

in p

eril

in th

e Co

ngre

ss a

s w

ell.

The

bill

may

hav

e al

low

ed th

e tr

igge

red

cont

ro-

vers

y an

d re

kind

led

the

old

flam

es o

f bur

ning

issu

es,

but i

ts p

assa

ge a

s a la

w is

wro

ught

with

inde

cisi

on. A

l-th

ough

the

Pres

iden

t doe

s no

t act

ually

par

ticip

ate

in

the

legi

slat

ion

proc

ess,

his

stan

d af

fect

s th

e pr

oces

s. W

hile

the

adm

inis

trat

ion

show

s sup

port

for t

he in

sin-

uatio

ns o

f the

bill

thou

gh n

ot th

e bill

itse

lf, th

is p

ecul

iar

pref

eren

ce m

ay in

dica

te th

e us

age

of a

clev

er ru

se d

e-si

gned

to c

over

up

the

failu

re o

f the

adm

inis

trat

ion

to

proj

ect g

enui

ne s

olut

ions

for

pove

rty.

Now

, how

ever

, w

ith th

e ab

senc

e of

ans

wer

s for

the

hard

ship

s cau

sed

by p

over

ty, a

nd w

ith th

e fo

rthc

omin

g cr

itici

sms

if th

e pr

oble

m p

ersi

sts,

the

adm

inis

trat

ion

upho

lds R

H ca

re

and

serv

ices

as

a sc

apeg

oat

for

its e

vide

nt s

etba

ck.

But

then

, the

goa

ls o

f th

e RH

Bill

will

onl

y be

ful

-fil

led

if th

e ad

min

istr

atio

n fo

llow

s th

roug

h w

ith

wha

t th

e bi

ll re

quir

es in

the

firs

t pl

ace,

if it

can

ac-

tual

ly p

rovi

de t

he s

ervi

ces

need

ed b

y th

e co

nstit

u-en

cy. I

mpl

emen

tatio

n th

en b

ecom

es t

he k

ey t

o th

e ac

tual

suc

cess

of t

he b

ill. W

ithou

t th

e go

vern

men

t’s

full

supp

ort

and

corr

espo

ndin

g ge

nuin

e ex

ecu-

tion,

the

bill

will

be

just

like

any

oth

er la

w w

ith th

is

detr

imen

t fil

led

with

pro

mis

e ye

t de

void

of

actio

n.

A Re

flect

ion

of R

ealit

y

“I re

ally

wan

ted

to d

o th

is a

long

tim

e ag

o [v

asec

tom

y]

beca

use

my

wife

’s he

alth

has

suf

fere

d du

e to

mul

tiple

pr

egna

ncie

s and

bir

ths,”

the

41-y

ear-

old

Pagu

nsan

told

Re

uter

s, ad

ding

that

his

wife

was

pre

gnan

t with

thei

r ei

ghth

child

.

Desp

ite th

e RH

Bill

’s ai

m to

pro

vide

a ch

oice

for w

om-

en, s

ome

sect

ors

mis

cons

true

d th

is s

igni

fican

t goa

l to

mea

n w

hate

ver

wou

ld f

it th

eir

impr

ovis

ed p

ortr

ait

of h

ow s

ocie

ty s

houl

d be

. Mis

info

rmat

ion

rega

rdin

g ce

rtai

n pr

ovis

ions

of

the

bill

pola

rize

d so

ciet

y an

d so

cial

inst

itutio

ns in

to th

e tw

o: th

e pr

o an

d th

e an

ti.

As m

uch

as fa

cts

reve

al t

he n

umbe

rs b

ehin

d th

e re

-al

ity, t

hese

stil

l ins

uffic

ient

ly r

epre

sent

the

suf

feri

ng

man

y w

omen

con

tinue

to e

ndur

e, a

ll in

the

nam

e of

a

war

ped

defin

ition

of m

oral

ity, a

dis

tort

ed a

naly

sis

of

evid

ence

, and

an

igno

ble

bout

of i

ncur

able

igno

ranc

e.

Fact

s an

d es

timat

ions

may

mer

ely

repr

esen

t sta

tisti-

cal f

igur

es. H

owev

er, it

doe

s not

fully

epi

tom

ize

real

ity.

As s

ome

reco

mm

end

or e

ven

forc

e th

e un

rele

nt-

ing

natu

re o

f hu

man

ity t

o re

gres

s in

to t

radi

tions

, w

omen

are

not

onl

y im

pale

d w

ith t

he p

redi

cam

ent

of s

exua

lly r

elat

ed c

ompl

icat

ions

but

tha

t of

soc

ial

stig

ma

as w

ell.

In a

soc

iety

han

ging

on

the

bala

nce

grip

ped

by t

he d

eman

ds o

f dev

elop

men

t on

the

one

ha

nd a

nd c

ultu

ral

root

s on

the

oth

er,

wom

en a

re

inva

riab

ly p

lace

d in

the

mid

dle

whe

re t

hey

face

a

fals

e di

lem

ma:

to

adhe

re t

o so

cial

nor

ms

and

risk

th

eir

lives

or

to c

hoos

e re

prod

uctiv

e he

alth

and

be

ar u

nwan

ted

judg

men

t. N

ot o

nly

wom

en, b

ut a

ll in

divi

dual

s an

d co

uple

s sh

ould

be

gran

ted

the

righ

t to

dec

ide

on m

atte

rs p

erta

inin

g to

the

ir o

wn

repr

o-du

ctiv

e he

alth

, with

out

fear

of

disc

rim

inat

ion.

Ulti

-m

atel

y, de

cisi

ons

conc

erni

ng h

ealth

res

ide

in e

ach

indi

vidu

al a

nd n

ot i

n in

stitu

tions

tha

t up

hold

the

ir

own

belie

fs. A

nd a

s su

ch, t

he fr

eedo

m t

o m

ake

that

ch

oice

, as

wel

l as

the

choi

ce it

self,

sho

uld

be p

rese

nt.

Deb

ates

am

ong

the

circ

les o

f Phi

lippi

ne so

ciet

y di

d no

t fai

l to

defin

e RH

, the

bill

and

its

very

pur

pose

. Gr

ippi

ng se

ries

of c

onte

ntio

n ar

e sp

arke

d by

thes

e di

scus

sion

s, u

ltim

atel

y le

adin

g to

the

bill

bei

ng

shel

ved

yet a

gain

. The

adm

inis

trat

ion

play

s a

part

in

all

the

chao

s, r

efle

ctin

g it

s in

capa

bilit

y to

ad-

equa

tely

per

form

its

func

tion

s an

d re

lyin

g on

the

perc

eive

d no

tion

that

the

prom

otio

n of

RH

sol

ely

beco

mes

the

answ

er to

the

nati

on’s

pov

erty

cri

sis.

Whi

le v

ario

us s

ecto

rs t

ry t

o lim

it t

he b

ill’s

sco

pe

to q

uest

ions

of m

oral

ity,

ove

rpop

ulat

ion,

and

pov

-er

ty, i

t ac

tual

ly t

rans

cend

s so

cio-

econ

omic

cla

s-si

ficat

ions

, as

heal

th m

atte

rs c

once

rn t

he w

hole

po

pula

ce, e

spec

ially

Fili

pina

s. T

he c

onti

nued

re-

fusa

l of t

he p

assa

ge o

f the

RH

bill

rep

rese

nts

the

prol

onge

d de

nial

of

a w

oman

’s r

ight

to

choo

se.

Wit

h ev

ery

fleet

ing

mom

ent,

an i

mpo

veri

shed

fa

mily

wit

h ei

ght c

hild

ren

wel

com

es a

n ad

diti

on;

a te

enag

er f

aces

an

unw

ante

d pr

egna

ncy;

and

a

mot

her

dies

of m

ater

nal c

ompl

icat

ions

. Suc

h pr

e-di

cam

ents

can

be a

void

ed, i

f onl

y so

ciet

y w

ould

re-

aliz

e an

impo

rtan

t fac

t tha

t tra

nsce

nds

all o

ther

s.

She

dese

rves

to li

ve.

Refe

renc

es:

• M

ogat

o,

M.

(200

8 Ju

l 11

). Fr

ee

vase

cto-

mie

s at

fir

st

Man

ila

fam

ily

plan

ning

fa

ir.

Retr

ieve

d 20

11

Jun

23

from

ht

tp:/

/ww

w.re

uter

s.com

/art

icle

/200

8/07

/11/

us-

ph

ilip

pin

es-f

am

ilyp

lan

nin

g-i

dU

SMA

N1

96

96

22

00

80

71

1•

One

born

ev

ery

min

ute:

Th

e m

ater

nity

un

it w

here

m

othe

rs a

re T

HRE

E to

a b

ed.

Retr

ieve

d 20

11 J

un 2

3 fr

om h

ttp:

//w

ww

.dai

lym

ail.

co.u

k/ne

ws/

arti

cle-

2001

422/

Bus

iest

-mat

er-

nity

-war

d-pl

anet

-ave

rage

s-60

-bab

ies-

day-

mot

hers

-bed

.htm

l•

Quism

undo

, T.

(201

1 M

ay

12).

Colo

r pu

rple

dr

ive

for

wom

en’s

righ

ts,

RH

bill.

Re

trie

ved

2011

Ju

n 24

fr

om

http

://

new

sinf

o.in

quir

er.n

et/i

nqui

rerh

eadl

ines

/nat

ion/

view

/201

1051

2-3

36

02

2/C

olo

r-p

urp

le-d

rive

-fo

r-w

om

ens-

rig

hts

-RH

-bil

l

Kaila

nman

sa

tana

ng b

uhay

niy

a ay

hin

di p

a ni

ya n

asub

ukan

ang

mak

aran

as n

g m

asid

hing

pag

saki

t.

Mab

abak

as

sa

kany

ang

muk

ha

ang

pagt

akas

ng

ka

gand

ahan

na

da

ti ni

yang

ta

glay

. M

asus

uly-

apan

sa

kany

ang

mga

mat

a an

g pa

gtal

ikod

ng

dati

nito

ng n

ingn

ing

at k

agal

akan

. M

akik

ita s

a ka

n-ya

ng m

ga b

raso

at

bint

i an

g pa

glita

w n

g m

ga m

arka

ng p

atul

oy n

a m

agpa

paal

ala

ng k

anya

ng n

a-sa

pit

na k

amal

asan

. An

g ka

nyan

g m

ukha

ay

nam

amag

a, a

ng k

anya

ng m

ga m

ata’

y m

ugto

sa

patu

loy

na p

ag-a

gos

ng l

uha.

At

ito a

y ib

inig

ay s

a ka

nya

ng k

anya

ng a

saw

ang

dati

ay k

anya

ng m

inah

al.

Ang

baba

eng

ito a

y si

Rhe

a*, i

sang

gin

ang

na p

atul

oy n

a na

gtiti

is s

a m

ga p

ag-a

abus

o ng

kan

yang

kab

i-ya

k na

si B

en*.

Pagk

atap

os n

g 20

tao

ng p

agsa

sam

a at

pag

kaka

roon

ng

tatlo

ng a

nak,

nga

yon

lang

siy

a na

gkar

oon

ng la

kas

ng lo

ob n

a sa

bihi

n sa

kan

yang

sar

ili n

a um

abot

na

siya

sa

hang

gana

n ng

kan

yang

pa

gtiti

mpi

. Sub

alit,

kah

it ga

ano

man

kas

idhi

ang

kan

yang

kag

ustu

han

na i

wan

an a

ng k

anya

ng a

saw

a ay

siy

a ri

ng n

aman

kam

ahal

ng

pagp

opro

seso

par

a sa

ann

ulm

ent,

decl

arat

ion

of n

ullit

y of

the

mar

riag

e at

leg

al s

epar

atio

n, m

ga k

asal

ukuy

ang

para

an n

g pa

ghih

iwal

ay n

a ki

naka

tigan

ng

bata

s sa

Pili

pina

s.

Sa h

akba

ng n

a m

ulin

g ip

asa

ang

dibo

rsyo

sa

pam

amag

itan

ng k

ontr

ober

syal

na

Hou

se B

ill N

o. 1

799

(An

Act

Intr

oduc

ing

Divo

rce

in t

he P

hilip

pine

s),

sum

ibol

mul

i an

g pa

g-as

a pa

ra k

ay R

hea.

Ngu

nit

sa p

atul

oy n

a pa

gtut

ungg

alia

n ng

mga

pab

or a

t hi

ndi

pabo

r pa

ra s

a ip

inap

anuk

alan

g ba

tas,

naiip

-it

ang

mga

bab

aeng

bin

igya

ng m

ukha

ni

Rhea

at

nang

anga

nib

na h

indi

mai

saka

tupa

ran

ang

kani

lang

m

ga p

anga

rap:

ang

mak

aalp

as m

ula

sa m

ga m

abib

igat

na

kam

ay n

g ka

ni-k

anila

ng m

ga k

arel

asyo

n.

At

haba

ng

hind

i na

ipap

asa

ang

bata

s, si

la

ay

patu

loy

na

mag

titi-

is

sa

isan

g pa

ngha

bam

buha

y na

ka

sund

uang

su

mis

iil

sa

kani

lang

m

ga

kara

pata

n.

Pags

isiy

asat

sa

Ipin

apan

ukal

a

Sa m

ahab

ang

pana

hon,

ang

pan

awag

an p

ara

sa is

ang

pre-

bile

hiyo

ng

mga

kab

abai

han

ay n

anat

iling

hin

di n

atut

ugu-

nan.

Ang

HB

1799

ay

ang

pang

-lim

ang

bata

s na

nauu

kol s

a is

yu

ng d

ibor

syo

na is

inul

ong

mul

a na

ng m

atap

os a

ng d

ikta

-du

ryan

g M

arco

s. Sa

pan

gung

una

ng m

ga k

inat

awan

ng

Gabr

iela

Par

tylis

t sa

kong

reso

na

sina

Luz

min

da C

. Ila

gan

at E

mer

cian

a A.

De

Jesu

s, an

g H

B 17

99 a

y na

glal

ayon

na

bigy

an n

g is

a pa

ng p

agpi

pilia

n an

g m

ga b

abae

sa

pagp

a-pa

wal

ang-

bisa

ng

kani

lang

kas

al. S

inis

ikap

din

ng

bata

s na

ito n

a m

aibi

gay

sa m

ga b

abae

ng n

agha

hang

ad n

g di

bors

yo

ang

kani

lang

kar

apat

an n

a m

atam

o an

g ka

nila

ng k

abuu

ang

kaga

napa

n sa

lipu

nan.

Ipin

upun

to d

in n

g H

B 17

99 n

a ka

-hi

t may

anu

ulm

ent n

a sa

Pili

pina

s, hi

ndi p

a ri

n ni

to k

ay-

ang

mas

olus

yuna

n an

g m

ga p

robl

eman

g ki

naha

hara

p ng

ka

baba

ihan

g na

gdar

aan

sa sa

kit n

g pa

g-aa

saw

a ku

ng k

aya,

ay

on sa

mga

kin

ataw

an n

g Ga

brie

la a

y da

pat n

ang

mai

pasa

an

g ba

tas u

kol s

a di

bors

yo.

Ang

uri n

g di

bors

yo n

a is

inus

ulon

g ng

Gab

riel

a ay

“Phi

lip-

pine

sty

le”

dium

ano

dahi

l sa

ang

HB

1799

ay

nire

resp

eto

at s

ensi

tibo

pa r

in d

aw s

a m

ga p

agka

kaib

a-ib

a ng

mga

re

lihiy

on a

t ku

ltura

ng

mga

mam

amay

an s

a ba

nsa.

Kin

i-ki

lala

din

ng

panu

kala

ng b

atas

ang

iba’

t-ib

ang

dahi

lan

ng

pagh

ihiw

alay

ng

mga

mag

-asa

wa

at a

ng p

agka

kaib

a ng

m

ga s

itwas

yon

na k

anila

ng k

inas

asan

gkut

an. M

ayro

ong

liman

g pa

nunt

unan

ang

HB

1799

na

kung

saa

n an

g la

hat

ng m

ga it

o ay

nak

abat

ay s

a id

eyan

g an

g pa

ghih

iwal

ay n

g m

ag-a

saw

a ay

bun

sod

ng p

erm

anen

teng

hin

di m

aaay

os n

a re

lasy

on a

t ang

pag

papa

baya

sa

mga

tung

kulin

ng

isa

o ng

pa

reho

ng ta

o bi

lang

mag

-asa

wa.

Bata

y sa

ipi

napa

nuka

lang

bat

as,

may

roon

ito

ng l

iman

g ba

taya

n up

ang

mak

akuh

a ng

dib

orsy

o an

g is

ang

indi

bid-

wal

. Ila

n sa

mga

ito

ay a

ng m

ga s

umus

unod

: dap

at n

akip

-ag

hiw

alay

na

ng m

atag

al n

a pa

naho

n an

g hu

mih

ingi

ng

dibo

rsyo

sa

kany

ang

kare

lasy

on, n

apat

unay

an n

ito n

a an

g ka

nyan

g ka

rela

syon

ay

psyc

holo

gica

lly i

ncap

able

o k

aya

ang

hum

ihin

gi n

g di

bors

yo a

y na

lala

gay

sa is

ang

rela

syon

na

hin

di n

a m

aaar

ing

maa

yos.

Buko

d pa

sa li

man

g pa

nunt

unan

na

ito, m

ay il

an p

ang

pro-

bisy

ong

imin

ungk

ahi a

ng m

ga n

agsu

sulo

ng n

g ba

tas n

a ito

. Ka

tula

d ng

una

, ang

pag

biga

y ng

sup

orta

ng p

ampi

nans

yal

ng a

saw

ang

lala

ki s

a ka

nyan

g as

awan

g ba

bae

hang

gang

sa

ito a

y m

akah

anap

ng

trab

aho,

buk

od p

a sa

sila

ay

mag

ha-

hati

ng p

atas

sa

laha

t ng

kani

lang

pag

-aar

i noo

ng s

ila p

a ay

mag

-asa

wa.

At p

anga

law

a, a

ng cu

stod

iya

ng m

inor

child

ay

pag

dede

sisy

unan

ng

kort

e ba

se s

a ku

ng a

no a

ng m

as

naka

bubu

ti pa

ra s

a ba

ta a

t an

g su

port

ang

igag

awad

ay

tutu

kuyi

n sa

pro

visi

on o

f sup

port

na

naka

saad

sa

Fam

ily

Code

ng

Pilip

inas

.

Mak

ikita

sa

ipin

apan

ukal

ang

bata

s na

ito

ay

isan

g ha

k-ba

ng u

pang

kila

lani

n an

g is

ang

kara

pata

n na

dap

at a

y ti-

nata

mas

a ng

mga

mam

amay

an k

ahit

ano

pa a

ng k

anila

ng

esta

do a

t ka

tayu

an s

a lip

unan

. Bin

ibig

yan

lam

ang

ng H

B 17

99 n

g op

ortu

nida

d an

g m

ga P

ilipi

no, l

alo

na s

a m

ga b

a-ba

eng

inaa

buso

, na

mak

apam

uhay

ng

norm

al s

a le

gal n

a pa

mam

araa

n.

Ngu

nit k

atul

ad n

a ri

n ng

iba

pang

bat

as a

t pan

ukal

a, m

ay-

roon

g pa

ring

mga

inst

itusy

on at

mga

taon

g na

is n

a ha

dlan

-ga

n an

g an

uman

g pa

gbab

ago—

kahi

t ang

mga

isin

usul

ong

ay m

akak

abut

i at t

utug

on s

a m

ga p

robl

eman

g ka

salu

kuy-

ang

hina

hara

p ng

mga

mam

amay

an.

Tung

galia

n ng

mga

Kap

angy

arih

an

Anum

ang

panu

kala

ng p

agba

bago

ng t

umat

alim

a sa

mga

na

kasa

naya

n ay

mai

tutu

ring

isan

g ka

balin

tuna

an a

t mits

a ng

pag

laba

n ng

mga

pin

anin

iwal

aan.

Ang

pagn

anai

s na

mat

ugun

an a

ng m

ga p

anga

ngai

lang

an

ng m

ga b

abae

ng n

asas

adla

k sa

pan

g-aa

buso

ang

siy

ang

pang

unah

ing

isin

usul

ong

ng H

B 17

99. N

guni

t gaa

no m

an

kada

kila

ang

mga

adh

ikai

n ng

bat

as a

y m

ayro

on p

a ri

ng

mga

taon

g hi

ndi p

inap

abor

an a

ng p

agpa

sa n

ito, k

atul

ad n

g ila

ng k

ongr

esis

ta, i

nstit

usyo

n at

ang

Sim

baha

ng K

atol

ika.

Si A

rchb

isho

p Em

iritu

s Os

car

Cruz

, isa

kila

lang

kri

tiko

ng

pagp

apas

a ng

RH

Bill

, ay

nags

aad

din

ng k

anya

ng p

agko

n-de

na sa

pag

susu

long

ng

dibo

rsyo

sa b

ansa

. Ayo

n ka

y Cr

uz,

ang

bata

s na

isin

usul

ong

ay h

indi

mak

a-Pi

lipin

o da

hil s

isir

-ai

n um

ano

nito

ang

pag

igin

g m

aka-

pam

ilya

ng m

ga P

ilipi

-no

. Maa

ari r

in d

aw n

a su

buka

n na

lam

ang

ang

annu

lmen

t up

ang

tapu

sin

ang

rela

syon

ng

isan

g m

ag-a

saw

a. D

agda

g pa

niy

a, w

alan

g m

aidu

dulo

t na

mab

uti a

ng ip

inap

anuk

ala

sa m

ga p

amily

a la

lo n

a sa

mga

bat

a na

siy

ang

uman

ong

“una

ng b

iktim

a” n

g di

bors

yo.

Hin

di ri

n na

kalig

tas

ang

HB

1799

sa

mga

kri

tiko

kahi

t ang

pa

gtal

akay

nito

ay

nasa

com

mitt

ee le

vel p

a la

man

g at

nan

-

gung

una

na ri

to si

Cag

ayan

de

Oro

Repr

esen

tativ

e Ru

fus

Rodr

igue

z. Bi

lang

isa

ring

aw

tor

ng is

ang

bata

s uk

ol s

a di

bors

yo,

naka

pagt

atak

a na

kin

okon

tra

ni R

odri

guez

an

g ip

inap

anuk

alan

g ba

tas

ukol

din

sa

dibo

rsyo

ng

Ga-

brie

la p

arty

list.

Ayon

sa

kany

a, a

ng b

atas

ay

lum

alab

ag

sa p

robi

syon

ng

kons

titus

yon

ukol

sa

”san

ctity

of m

ar-

riag

e.”

Ang

Kom

isyo

n pa

ra s

a Ka

rapa

tang

Pan

tao

(CH

R) a

y na

glab

as d

in n

g is

ang

stat

emen

t upa

ng tu

tula

n an

g H

B 17

99. I

lan

sa m

ga p

unto

ng ti

nuko

y ng

kom

isyo

n ay

ang

pa

gigi

ng u

ncon

stitu

tiona

l ng

bat

as,

ang

kara

pata

ng

mag

-asa

wan

g m

uli

ay l

umal

abag

sa

ilang

pro

bisy

on

ng U

nite

d N

atio

ns D

ecla

ratio

n on

Hum

an R

ight

s, an

g pa

ghih

iwal

ay a

y lu

mal

abag

sa

Artik

ulo

68 n

g Fa

mily

Co

de, a

ng d

ibor

syo

ay si

sira

ng

pam

ilya

at h

indi

nas

usu-

nod

ang

natu

ral n

a ba

tas,

nala

laba

g di

n da

w n

g di

bors

yo

ang

idey

a ng

pag

-aas

awa

na k

ung

saan

ang

lala

ki a

t ba-

bae

ay m

agsa

sam

a ng

per

man

ente

.

Sa d

ami n

g m

ga k

umok

ontr

a sa

pag

papa

sa n

g di

bors

yo

sa P

ilipi

nas,

lalo

ng n

apap

atag

al a

ng p

aghi

hira

p ng

mga

ba

bae

sa p

iling

ng

kani

lang

mga

nan

g-aa

buso

ng a

saw

a.

Ipin

apak

ita la

man

g ng

mga

pag

tuto

l na

ito a

ng p

agtu

-tu

ring

sa

mga

kab

abai

han

bila

ng is

ang

mar

gina

lized

na

sekt

or s

a lip

unan

na

kung

saa

n an

g m

ga k

arap

atan

nila

ay

hin

di a

gara

ng b

inib

igya

n ng

pan

sin.

Sa is

ang

band

a, a

ng p

agpa

pasa

ng

dibo

rsyo

at

mag

ing

ng R

epro

duct

ive

Hea

lth b

ill a

y na

natil

ing

pagb

abal

yah-

an n

g es

tado

at n

g si

mba

han—

dala

wan

g m

agka

iban

g at

m

aim

pluw

ensi

yang

mga

kap

angy

arih

an n

a ku

muk

on-

trol

sa ta

kbo

ng m

ga P

ilipi

no. A

ng p

agtu

tol n

g si

mba

han

sa d

ibor

syo

ay n

agpa

pahi

wat

ig la

man

g ng

pak

ikia

lam

ng

relih

iyon

sa m

ga p

atak

aran

ng

goby

erno

at k

ung

iisip

in,

wal

a na

man

sa

luga

r an

g si

mba

han

upan

g m

akia

lam

sa

mga

pat

akar

an n

g es

tado

. Dag

dag

pa ri

to, g

inag

amit

din

ng S

imba

hang

Kat

olik

a an

g re

lihiy

on n

g m

ayor

ya u

pang

m

agla

had

ng m

ga si

nasa

bing

arg

umen

tong

“mak

a-Ka

to-

liko”

ngu

nit

ang

kato

toha

nan,

ang

mga

pah

ayag

na

ito

ay b

ase

lam

ang

sa m

ga p

ansa

rilin

g pa

niw

ala

at w

alan

g ko

nkre

tong

bat

ayan

. Ang

pat

uloy

na

tung

galia

n ng

sim

-ba

han

at e

stad

o an

g na

g-iip

it sa

mga

bab

aeng

tula

d ni

Rh

ea n

a sa

una

pa

lam

ang

ay b

iktim

a na

ng

kapa

bay-

aan

ng g

obye

rno—

dahi

l sa

sim

ula

pa la

man

g ay

dap

at

nagi

ng se

nsiti

bo a

ng e

stad

o sa

mga

pan

gang

aila

ngan

ng

mga

mam

amay

an n

ito a

t hin

di n

a hi

nint

ay n

a an

g m

ga

Pilip

ina

ay m

asad

lak

at m

agdu

sa sa

kal

bary

ong

kani

lang

pa

tulo

y na

iniin

da.

Ang

pagp

apas

a ng

HB

1799

ay

mag

bubu

kas

ng

pani

bago

ng p

into

par

a sa

mga

inab

uso

at n

aiip

it s

a is

ang

pags

asam

ang

may

kar

ahas

an u

pang

mak

a-m

it a

ng k

anila

ng k

agan

apan

g pa

nsar

ili.

Hig

it p

a sa

pag

igin

g is

ang

kara

gdag

ang

pam

amar

aan

ng

pagp

apaw

alan

g-bi

sa n

g ka

sal

ang

dibo

rsyo

, an

g pa

gsas

abat

as n

ito a

y m

agsi

silb

ing

isan

g yu

gto

sa

kasa

ysay

an n

a ku

ng s

aan

mak

ikit

a an

g pa

gsus

ulon

g ng

kap

angy

arih

an n

g m

ga k

abab

aiha

n na

pag

desi

-sy

unan

kun

g an

o an

g na

rara

pat

na g

awin

par

a sa

ka

nyan

g hi

naha

rap.

Ito

ay i

sang

lab

an n

g ka

baba

ihan

par

a sa

isa

ng

kara

pata

n na

dap

at a

y ka

nyan

g na

tata

mas

a.

”Gus

to k

o la

ng n

aman

na

divo

rce

para

mab

uhay

na

ako

at a

ng a

king

mga

ana

k ng

tahi

mik

. Kay

a ko

nam

an ti

isin

ang

mga

pan

anak

it na

asa

wa

ko,p

ero

hind

i ko

nam

an

mai

sasa

krip

isyo

ang

kina

buka

san

ng m

ga a

nak

ko,”

ani

Rhea

.

Sina

sabi

na

ang

pag-

aasa

wa

ay h

indi

par

ang

kani

n na

isin

usub

o na

kap

ag n

aini

tan

ay il

uluw

a. N

guni

t hi

ndi n

aman

hab

angb

uhay

ay

kaya

ng ti

isin

ng

mga

Pi

lipin

a an

g na

kapa

paso

ng in

it n

g pa

gdur

usa

at n

a-ka

sasa

mid

na

pani

niil

na h

atid

ng

rela

syon

g na

pa-

suka

n na

hin

di n

aman

nila

inas

am.

Patu

loy

ang

pagh

aham

on u

pang

mag

ing

krit

ikal

sa

isyu

ng

dibo

rsyo

. Sap

agka

t nga

yon,

hig

it k

aila

nman

, ka

ilang

an n

ang

mat

amas

a ng

mga

Rhe

a ng

lipu

nan

ang

inaa

sam

na

pagl

aya.

*Hin

di tu

nay

na p

anga

lan.

Mga

San

ggun

ian:

Di

zon,

Dav

id. (

30 M

ay 2

011)

, Cru

z sa

ys d

ivor

ce b

ill ‘a

nti-F

ilipi

no’. R

etri

eved

201

1 Ju

n 18

from

htt

p://

ww

w.a

bs-c

bnne

ws.c

om/-

dept

h/05

/30/

11/c

ruz-

says

-div

orce

-bi

ll-an

ti-fil

ipin

o.H

owar

d, C

arol

ine.

(201

0 Au

g 11

). Di

vorc

e bi

ll re

vive

d in

Con

gres

s. Re

trei

ved

2011

Jun

18

from

htt

p://

ww

w.a

bs-c

bnne

ws.c

om/-

dept

h/08

/11/

10/d

ivor

ce-b

ill-

revi

ved-

cong

ress

.Pa

mao

s, Fr

ed. (

2008

Apr

18)

. Allo

win

g ab

solu

te d

ivor

ce in

the

Phi

lippi

nes.

Re-

trie

ved

2011

Jun

18

from

htt

p://

atty

atw

ork.

com

/allo

win

g-ab

solu

te-d

ivor

ce-in

-th

e-ph

ilipp

ines

/.Pe

rson

al In

terv

iew

. (20

11 Ju

ne 1

9).

Ubac

, M

icha

el.

(201

0 Au

g 12

). Ga

brie

la r

efile

s bi

ll le

galiz

ing

divo

rce.

Re-

trie

ved

2011

Jun

18

from

htt

p://

new

sinfo

.inqu

irer

.net

/bre

akin

gnew

s/na

tion/

view

/201

0081

2-28

6312

/Gab

riel

a-re

files

-bill

-lega

lizin

g-di

vorc

e.W

hy D

-bill

in li

mel

ight

aga

in. R

etri

eved

18

Jun

2011

from

htt

p://

opin

ion.

inqu

irer

.ne

t/59

70/w

hy-d

-bill

-in-li

mel

ight

-aga

in.

6 • 11 JULY 2011 • monday monday • 11 July 2011 • 7

An A

bund

ance

of I

mba

lanc

e

Dr. J

ose

Fabe

lla M

emor

ial

Hos

pita

l in

Man

ila i

n th

e Ph

ilipp

ines

ave

rage

s an

ast

ound

ing

60 b

irth

s a

day,

but t

he n

umbe

r can

rise

to 1

00 in

that

tim

e pe

riod

. Also

qu

ite s

hock

ing,

som

e 30

0 m

othe

rs a

re ja

mm

ed in

one

w

ard,

with

thre

e sh

arin

g on

e be

d.

The

issu

e of

ov

erpo

pula

tion

has

been

ov

erus

ed

as a

top

ic n

ot o

nly

amon

g fo

rmal

pol

icy

deba

tes

but

also

in

the

clas

sroo

m s

ettin

g. I

t ha

s be

en p

in-

poin

ted

as t

he r

oot

caus

e of

pov

erty

, with

var

ious

sc

hola

rs,

polit

icia

ns,

and

econ

omis

ts a

mon

g ot

h-er

s, at

tem

ptin

g to

cur

b ab

norm

ally

hig

h po

pula

tion

grow

th,

with

the

goa

l of

pro

gres

s fo

r th

e na

tion.

W

hile

not

nec

essa

rily

its

ulti

mat

e go

al, t

he R

H B

ill

answ

ers

the

prob

lem

of o

verp

opul

atio

n w

ith it

s pr

o-vi

sion

s of

mak

ing

cont

race

ptiv

es m

ore

acce

ssib

le

and

prom

otin

g fa

mily

pla

nnin

g m

etho

ds.

Wom

en

are

give

n a

choi

ce in

the

mat

ter,

as u

nwan

ted

preg

-na

ncie

s ca

n be

avo

ided

with

the

usa

ge o

f co

ntra

-ce

ptiv

es a

nd a

n ef

ficie

nt f

amily

pla

nnin

g m

etho

d.

As p

regn

anci

es a

re n

ot e

xact

ly h

ealth

ris

ks, t

here

are

ne

vert

hele

ss t

hrea

ts t

o th

e he

alth

and

wel

l-bei

ng o

f th

e mot

her,

whi

ch ar

e all

the m

ore h

eigh

tene

d as

pre

g-na

ncie

s be

com

e fr

eque

nt a

nd w

ith l

ittle

spa

cing

in

betw

een

birt

hs. T

he p

roba

bilit

y th

at a

wom

an w

ould

di

e fr

om p

regn

ancy

is 1

in 1

0, 0

00. A

n es

timat

ed 4

, 70

0 Fi

lipin

as d

ie o

f pre

gnan

cy a

nd c

hild

birt

h co

mpl

i-ca

tions

eac

h ye

ar. W

ith a

cces

sibl

e co

ntra

cept

ives

, not

on

ly ca

n th

ere b

e mor

e con

trol

over

the p

opul

atio

n, b

ut

heal

th r

isks

for

wom

en c

an b

e si

gnifi

cant

ly r

educ

ed.

Thou

ght

only

to

haun

t te

enag

ers,

unpl

anne

d pr

eg-

nanc

ies

abou

nd i

n m

ost

fam

ilies

. Th

ese

adve

rsel

y af

fect

the

finan

cial

sta

te o

f the

fam

ily, w

ith th

e ev

en-

tual

ris

e of

pov

erty

in

soci

ety

as a

con

sequ

ence

. M

ore

child

ren

are

born

into

fam

ilies

who

hav

e ba

rely

en

ough

reso

urce

s fo

r on

e. W

hile

the

pare

nts

are

bur-

dene

d w

ith q

uite

a n

umbe

r of

mou

ths

to f

eed,

the

ch

ildre

n ar

e ill

-fate

d to

be

inad

equa

tely

pro

vide

d fo

r an

d un

educ

ated

. And

as

this

con

tinue

s, a

vici

ous

cycl

e oc

curs

that

not

onl

y im

pede

s so

ciet

al d

evel

op-

men

t bu

t al

so p

lung

es fa

mili

es d

eepe

r in

to p

over

ty.

It ha

s be

en a

com

mon

not

ion

that

poo

r fa

mili

es a

re

blam

ed fo

r the

ir u

nfor

tuna

te ci

rcum

stan

ces,

that

they

sh

ould

not

hav

e ha

d m

any

child

ren

whe

n th

ey c

anno

t af

ford

to ra

ise

each

one

in g

ood

cond

ition

s. H

owev

er,

the

faul

t lie

s no

t in

the

sup

pose

d ir

resp

onsi

bilit

y of

th

ese

coup

les;

rat

her,

such

unw

ante

d pr

edic

amen

ts

aris

e ou

t of

the

utt

er l

ack

of a

fford

able

and

acc

es-

sibl

e RH

ser

vice

s an

d ed

ucat

ion

whi

ch s

houl

d ha

ve

been

pro

vide

d by

the

gov

ernm

ent

in t

he fi

rst

plac

e.

Such

si

tuat

ions

ill

ustr

ate

an

appa

rent

in

capa

bil-

ity o

f th

e St

ate,

hid

den

bene

ath

wha

t is

con

side

red

to b

e w

rong

cho

ices

of

indi

vidu

als

who

sup

pose

dly

have

no

self-

cont

rol.

The

prob

lem

of p

over

ty t

hat

is

linke

d to

ove

rpop

ulat

ion

has

been

dee

med

as

faul

ts

of t

hese

larg

e fa

mili

es w

ho b

ear

child

ren

they

can

-no

t fin

anci

ally

pro

vide

for

; w

hen

in f

act,

the

flaw

re

sts

also

on

the

part

of t

he a

dmin

istr

atio

n, a

nd o

n a

larg

er p

art,

its p

rede

cess

ors.

The

mis

lead

not

ion

beca

me

com

mon

plac

e am

ong

the

mas

ses,

whi

le

mas

king

the

fai

lure

s of

the

gov

ernm

ent

and

oblit

-er

atin

g th

e pr

omot

ion

of R

H c

are

for

indi

vidu

als.

A Re

vela

tion

of I

nfor

mat

ion

“You

won

’t ge

t pre

gnan

t whe

n yo

u ha

ve se

x dur

ing

your

pe

riod

.” –

A co

llege

stud

ent

Vari

ous

sect

ors

are

read

y to

pou

nce

on t

he p

ro-

fess

ed n

eed

of R

H e

duca

tion

for

elem

enta

ry a

nd h

igh

scho

ol s

tude

nts,

as d

efin

ed in

a p

rovi

sion

in t

he R

H

Bill.

Nec

essa

ry a

s it

is, t

he i

nclu

sion

of

RH e

duca

-tio

n in

the

sch

ool

curr

icul

um h

as b

een

dism

isse

d by

som

e as

inap

prop

riat

e fo

r ch

ildre

n, w

hile

oth

ers

cont

end

that

par

ents

sho

uld

be r

espo

nsib

le fo

r ed

u-ca

ting

thei

r ch

ildre

n on

suc

h a

topi

c. H

owev

er, t

he

limite

d vi

ews

of t

hese

arg

umen

ts fa

il to

acc

ount

for

the

fact

that

the

RH b

ill m

anda

tes

the

teac

hing

man

-ne

r to

be

age-

appr

opri

ate

and

that

par

ents

may

lack

in

cer

tain

asp

ects

that

pro

fess

iona

ls c

an a

ptly

han

dle.

With

the

int

rodu

ctio

n of

RH

edu

catio

n as

ear

ly a

s el

emen

tary

, Fi

lipin

os a

re e

quip

ped

with

nec

essa

ry

awar

enes

s ab

out

such

con

cern

s. Th

e ab

senc

e of

ad-

equa

te R

H k

now

ledg

e m

ay le

ad to

dev

asta

ting

effe

cts

that

ulti

mat

ely

seep

s in

to s

ocie

ty, o

n a

larg

er s

cale

.

The

lack

of

info

rmat

ion

rega

rdin

g RH

mat

eria

lized

w

ith t

he p

heno

men

a of

tee

nage

pre

gnan

cies

, pop

u-la

tion

boom

s an

d in

flate

d fa

mili

es.

Thes

e, i

n tu

rn,

are

man

ifest

atio

ns o

f th

e go

vern

men

t’s i

ncap

abil-

ity t

o pr

ovid

e its

citi

zens

with

nec

essa

ry R

H c

are

serv

ices

and

edu

catio

n. W

hat’s

eve

n m

ore

stri

king

is

tha

t es

cala

ting

repe

rcus

sion

s of

thi

s ut

ter

ne-

glec

t of

dut

y ar

e on

ly g

iven

due

not

ice

rece

ntly

, as

the

RH B

ill p

lace

d th

e an

omal

y in

the

spo

tligh

t. Th

e pl

ight

of t

he F

ilipi

na is

a c

onse

quen

ce o

f the

gov

ern-

men

t’s fa

ilure

to re

spon

d to

the

need

s of

its

cons

titu-

ents

and

the

fur

ther

rep

udia

tion

of m

uch

need

ed

heal

th s

ervi

ces,

as t

he R

H B

ill i

s pl

aced

on

hold

.

A M

echa

nism

of D

ecei

t

“Mr.

Pres

iden

t, w

ith d

ue re

spec

t, fo

r you

to d

o th

e ri

ght

thin

g, y

ou m

ust n

ow c

ertif

y th

e RH

bill

as u

rgen

t,” sa

id

form

er P

resid

ent

Ram

os, t

o th

e ap

plau

se o

f som

e 50

0 pe

ople

, mos

tly w

omen

, at C

row

ne P

laza

hot

el in

Pas

ig

City

.

As th

e sta

te o

f RH

in th

e Phi

lippi

nes i

s in

dete

rior

atio

n,

the

stat

e of

the

RH B

ill is

in p

eril

in th

e Co

ngre

ss a

s w

ell.

The

bill

may

hav

e al

low

ed th

e tr

igge

red

cont

ro-

vers

y an

d re

kind

led

the

old

flam

es o

f bur

ning

issu

es,

but i

ts p

assa

ge a

s a la

w is

wro

ught

with

inde

cisi

on. A

l-th

ough

the

Pres

iden

t doe

s no

t act

ually

par

ticip

ate

in

the

legi

slat

ion

proc

ess,

his

stan

d af

fect

s th

e pr

oces

s. W

hile

the

adm

inis

trat

ion

show

s sup

port

for t

he in

sin-

uatio

ns o

f the

bill

thou

gh n

ot th

e bill

itse

lf, th

is p

ecul

iar

pref

eren

ce m

ay in

dica

te th

e us

age

of a

clev

er ru

se d

e-si

gned

to c

over

up

the

failu

re o

f the

adm

inis

trat

ion

to

proj

ect g

enui

ne s

olut

ions

for

pove

rty.

Now

, how

ever

, w

ith th

e ab

senc

e of

ans

wer

s for

the

hard

ship

s cau

sed

by p

over

ty, a

nd w

ith th

e fo

rthc

omin

g cr

itici

sms

if th

e pr

oble

m p

ersi

sts,

the

adm

inis

trat

ion

upho

lds R

H ca

re

and

serv

ices

as

a sc

apeg

oat

for

its e

vide

nt s

etba

ck.

But

then

, the

goa

ls o

f th

e RH

Bill

will

onl

y be

ful

-fil

led

if th

e ad

min

istr

atio

n fo

llow

s th

roug

h w

ith

wha

t th

e bi

ll re

quir

es in

the

firs

t pl

ace,

if it

can

ac-

tual

ly p

rovi

de t

he s

ervi

ces

need

ed b

y th

e co

nstit

u-en

cy. I

mpl

emen

tatio

n th

en b

ecom

es t

he k

ey t

o th

e ac

tual

suc

cess

of t

he b

ill. W

ithou

t th

e go

vern

men

t’s

full

supp

ort

and

corr

espo

ndin

g ge

nuin

e ex

ecu-

tion,

the

bill

will

be

just

like

any

oth

er la

w w

ith th

is

detr

imen

t fil

led

with

pro

mis

e ye

t de

void

of

actio

n.

A Re

flect

ion

of R

ealit

y

“I re

ally

wan

ted

to d

o th

is a

long

tim

e ag

o [v

asec

tom

y]

beca

use

my

wife

’s he

alth

has

suf

fere

d du

e to

mul

tiple

pr

egna

ncie

s and

bir

ths,”

the

41-y

ear-

old

Pagu

nsan

told

Re

uter

s, ad

ding

that

his

wife

was

pre

gnan

t with

thei

r ei

ghth

child

.

Desp

ite th

e RH

Bill

’s ai

m to

pro

vide

a ch

oice

for w

om-

en, s

ome

sect

ors

mis

cons

true

d th

is s

igni

fican

t goa

l to

mea

n w

hate

ver

wou

ld f

it th

eir

impr

ovis

ed p

ortr

ait

of h

ow s

ocie

ty s

houl

d be

. Mis

info

rmat

ion

rega

rdin

g ce

rtai

n pr

ovis

ions

of

the

bill

pola

rize

d so

ciet

y an

d so

cial

inst

itutio

ns in

to th

e tw

o: th

e pr

o an

d th

e an

ti.

As m

uch

as fa

cts

reve

al t

he n

umbe

rs b

ehin

d th

e re

-al

ity, t

hese

stil

l ins

uffic

ient

ly r

epre

sent

the

suf

feri

ng

man

y w

omen

con

tinue

to e

ndur

e, a

ll in

the

nam

e of

a

war

ped

defin

ition

of m

oral

ity, a

dis

tort

ed a

naly

sis

of

evid

ence

, and

an

igno

ble

bout

of i

ncur

able

igno

ranc

e.

Fact

s an

d es

timat

ions

may

mer

ely

repr

esen

t sta

tisti-

cal f

igur

es. H

owev

er, it

doe

s not

fully

epi

tom

ize

real

ity.

As s

ome

reco

mm

end

or e

ven

forc

e th

e un

rele

nt-

ing

natu

re o

f hu

man

ity t

o re

gres

s in

to t

radi

tions

, w

omen

are

not

onl

y im

pale

d w

ith t

he p

redi

cam

ent

of s

exua

lly r

elat

ed c

ompl

icat

ions

but

tha

t of

soc

ial

stig

ma

as w

ell.

In a

soc

iety

han

ging

on

the

bala

nce

grip

ped

by t

he d

eman

ds o

f dev

elop

men

t on

the

one

ha

nd a

nd c

ultu

ral

root

s on

the

oth

er,

wom

en a

re

inva

riab

ly p

lace

d in

the

mid

dle

whe

re t

hey

face

a

fals

e di

lem

ma:

to

adhe

re t

o so

cial

nor

ms

and

risk

th

eir

lives

or

to c

hoos

e re

prod

uctiv

e he

alth

and

be

ar u

nwan

ted

judg

men

t. N

ot o

nly

wom

en, b

ut a

ll in

divi

dual

s an

d co

uple

s sh

ould

be

gran

ted

the

righ

t to

dec

ide

on m

atte

rs p

erta

inin

g to

the

ir o

wn

repr

o-du

ctiv

e he

alth

, with

out

fear

of

disc

rim

inat

ion.

Ulti

-m

atel

y, de

cisi

ons

conc

erni

ng h

ealth

res

ide

in e

ach

indi

vidu

al a

nd n

ot i

n in

stitu

tions

tha

t up

hold

the

ir

own

belie

fs. A

nd a

s su

ch, t

he fr

eedo

m t

o m

ake

that

ch

oice

, as

wel

l as

the

choi

ce it

self,

sho

uld

be p

rese

nt.

Deb

ates

am

ong

the

circ

les o

f Phi

lippi

ne so

ciet

y di

d no

t fai

l to

defin

e RH

, the

bill

and

its

very

pur

pose

. Gr

ippi

ng se

ries

of c

onte

ntio

n ar

e sp

arke

d by

thes

e di

scus

sion

s, u

ltim

atel

y le

adin

g to

the

bill

bei

ng

shel

ved

yet a

gain

. The

adm

inis

trat

ion

play

s a

part

in

all

the

chao

s, r

efle

ctin

g it

s in

capa

bilit

y to

ad-

equa

tely

per

form

its

func

tion

s an

d re

lyin

g on

the

perc

eive

d no

tion

that

the

prom

otio

n of

RH

sol

ely

beco

mes

the

answ

er to

the

nati

on’s

pov

erty

cri

sis.

Whi

le v

ario

us s

ecto

rs t

ry t

o lim

it t

he b

ill’s

sco

pe

to q

uest

ions

of m

oral

ity,

ove

rpop

ulat

ion,

and

pov

-er

ty, i

t ac

tual

ly t

rans

cend

s so

cio-

econ

omic

cla

s-si

ficat

ions

, as

heal

th m

atte

rs c

once

rn t

he w

hole

po

pula

ce, e

spec

ially

Fili

pina

s. T

he c

onti

nued

re-

fusa

l of t

he p

assa

ge o

f the

RH

bill

rep

rese

nts

the

prol

onge

d de

nial

of

a w

oman

’s r

ight

to

choo

se.

Wit

h ev

ery

fleet

ing

mom

ent,

an i

mpo

veri

shed

fa

mily

wit

h ei

ght c

hild

ren

wel

com

es a

n ad

diti

on;

a te

enag

er f

aces

an

unw

ante

d pr

egna

ncy;

and

a

mot

her

dies

of m

ater

nal c

ompl

icat

ions

. Suc

h pr

e-di

cam

ents

can

be a

void

ed, i

f onl

y so

ciet

y w

ould

re-

aliz

e an

impo

rtan

t fac

t tha

t tra

nsce

nds

all o

ther

s.

She

dese

rves

to li

ve.

Refe

renc

es:

• M

ogat

o,

M.

(200

8 Ju

l 11

). Fr

ee

vase

cto-

mie

s at

fir

st

Man

ila

fam

ily

plan

ning

fa

ir.

Retr

ieve

d 20

11

Jun

23

from

ht

tp:/

/ww

w.re

uter

s.com

/art

icle

/200

8/07

/11/

us-

ph

ilip

pin

es-f

am

ilyp

lan

nin

g-i

dU

SMA

N1

96

96

22

00

80

71

1•

One

born

ev

ery

min

ute:

Th

e m

ater

nity

un

it w

here

m

othe

rs a

re T

HRE

E to

a b

ed.

Retr

ieve

d 20

11 J

un 2

3 fr

om h

ttp:

//w

ww

.dai

lym

ail.

co.u

k/ne

ws/

arti

cle-

2001

422/

Bus

iest

-mat

er-

nity

-war

d-pl

anet

-ave

rage

s-60

-bab

ies-

day-

mot

hers

-bed

.htm

l•

Quism

undo

, T.

(201

1 M

ay

12).

Colo

r pu

rple

dr

ive

for

wom

en’s

righ

ts,

RH

bill.

Re

trie

ved

2011

Ju

n 24

fr

om

http

://

new

sinf

o.in

quir

er.n

et/i

nqui

rerh

eadl

ines

/nat

ion/

view

/201

1051

2-3

36

02

2/C

olo

r-p

urp

le-d

rive

-fo

r-w

om

ens-

rig

hts

-RH

-bil

l

Pags

isiy

asat

sa

Ipin

apan

ukal

a

Sa m

ahab

ang

pana

hon,

ang

pan

awag

an p

ara

sa is

ang

pre-

bile

hiyo

ng

mga

kab

abai

han

ay n

anat

iling

hin

di n

atut

ugu-

nan.

Ang

HB

1799

ay

ang

pang

-lim

ang

bata

s na

nauu

kol s

a is

yu

ng d

ibor

syo

na is

inul

ong

mul

a na

ng m

atap

os a

ng d

ikta

-du

ryan

g M

arco

s. Sa

pan

gung

una

ng m

ga k

inat

awan

ng

Gabr

iela

Par

tylis

t sa

kong

reso

na

sina

Luz

min

da C

. Ila

gan

at E

mer

cian

a A.

De

Jesu

s, an

g H

B 17

99 a

y na

glal

ayon

na

bigy

an n

g is

a pa

ng p

agpi

pilia

n an

g m

ga b

abae

sa

pagp

a-pa

wal

ang-

bisa

ng

kani

lang

kas

al. S

inis

ikap

din

ng

bata

s na

ito n

a m

aibi

gay

sa m

ga b

abae

ng n

agha

hang

ad n

g di

bors

yo

ang

kani

lang

kar

apat

an n

a m

atam

o an

g ka

nila

ng k

abuu

ang

kaga

napa

n sa

lipu

nan.

Ipin

upun

to d

in n

g H

B 17

99 n

a ka

-hi

t may

anu

ulm

ent n

a sa

Pili

pina

s, hi

ndi p

a ri

n ni

to k

ay-

ang

mas

olus

yuna

n an

g m

ga p

robl

eman

g ki

naha

hara

p ng

ka

baba

ihan

g na

gdar

aan

sa sa

kit n

g pa

g-aa

saw

a ku

ng k

aya,

ay

on sa

mga

kin

ataw

an n

g Ga

brie

la a

y da

pat n

ang

mai

pasa

an

g ba

tas u

kol s

a di

bors

yo.

Ang

uri n

g di

bors

yo n

a is

inus

ulon

g ng

Gab

riel

a ay

“Phi

lip-

pine

sty

le”

dium

ano

dahi

l sa

ang

HB

1799

ay

nire

resp

eto

at s

ensi

tibo

pa r

in d

aw s

a m

ga p

agka

kaib

a-ib

a ng

mga

re

lihiy

on a

t ku

ltura

ng

mga

mam

amay

an s

a ba

nsa.

Kin

i-ki

lala

din

ng

panu

kala

ng b

atas

ang

iba’

t-ib

ang

dahi

lan

ng

pagh

ihiw

alay

ng

mga

mag

-asa

wa

at a

ng p

agka

kaib

a ng

m

ga s

itwas

yon

na k

anila

ng k

inas

asan

gkut

an. M

ayro

ong

liman

g pa

nunt

unan

ang

HB

1799

na

kung

saa

n an

g la

hat

ng m

ga it

o ay

nak

abat

ay s

a id

eyan

g an

g pa

ghih

iwal

ay n

g m

ag-a

saw

a ay

bun

sod

ng p

erm

anen

teng

hin

di m

aaay

os n

a re

lasy

on a

t ang

pag

papa

baya

sa

mga

tung

kulin

ng

isa

o ng

pa

reho

ng ta

o bi

lang

mag

-asa

wa.

Bata

y sa

ipi

napa

nuka

lang

bat

as,

may

roon

ito

ng l

iman

g ba

taya

n up

ang

mak

akuh

a ng

dib

orsy

o an

g is

ang

indi

bid-

wal

. Ila

n sa

mga

ito

ay a

ng m

ga s

umus

unod

: dap

at n

akip

-ag

hiw

alay

na

ng m

atag

al n

a pa

naho

n an

g hu

mih

ingi

ng

dibo

rsyo

sa

kany

ang

kare

lasy

on, n

apat

unay

an n

ito n

a an

g ka

nyan

g ka

rela

syon

ay

psyc

holo

gica

lly i

ncap

able

o k

aya

ang

hum

ihin

gi n

g di

bors

yo a

y na

lala

gay

sa is

ang

rela

syon

na

hin

di n

a m

aaar

ing

maa

yos.

Buko

d pa

sa li

man

g pa

nunt

unan

na

ito, m

ay il

an p

ang

pro-

bisy

ong

imin

ungk

ahi a

ng m

ga n

agsu

sulo

ng n

g ba

tas n

a ito

. Ka

tula

d ng

una

, ang

pag

biga

y ng

sup

orta

ng p

ampi

nans

yal

ng a

saw

ang

lala

ki s

a ka

nyan

g as

awan

g ba

bae

hang

gang

sa

ito a

y m

akah

anap

ng

trab

aho,

buk

od p

a sa

sila

ay

mag

ha-

hati

ng p

atas

sa

laha

t ng

kani

lang

pag

-aar

i noo

ng s

ila p

a ay

mag

-asa

wa.

At p

anga

law

a, a

ng cu

stod

iya

ng m

inor

child

ay

pag

dede

sisy

unan

ng

kort

e ba

se s

a ku

ng a

no a

ng m

as

naka

bubu

ti pa

ra s

a ba

ta a

t an

g su

port

ang

igag

awad

ay

tutu

kuyi

n sa

pro

visi

on o

f sup

port

na

naka

saad

sa

Fam

ily

Code

ng

Pilip

inas

.

Mak

ikita

sa

ipin

apan

ukal

ang

bata

s na

ito

ay

isan

g ha

k-ba

ng u

pang

kila

lani

n an

g is

ang

kara

pata

n na

dap

at a

y ti-

nata

mas

a ng

mga

mam

amay

an k

ahit

ano

pa a

ng k

anila

ng

esta

do a

t ka

tayu

an s

a lip

unan

. Bin

ibig

yan

lam

ang

ng H

B 17

99 n

g op

ortu

nida

d an

g m

ga P

ilipi

no, l

alo

na s

a m

ga b

a-ba

eng

inaa

buso

, na

mak

apam

uhay

ng

norm

al s

a le

gal n

a pa

mam

araa

n.

Ngu

nit k

atul

ad n

a ri

n ng

iba

pang

bat

as a

t pan

ukal

a, m

ay-

roon

g pa

ring

mga

inst

itusy

on at

mga

taon

g na

is n

a ha

dlan

-ga

n an

g an

uman

g pa

gbab

ago—

kahi

t ang

mga

isin

usul

ong

ay m

akak

abut

i at t

utug

on s

a m

ga p

robl

eman

g ka

salu

kuy-

ang

hina

hara

p ng

mga

mam

amay

an.

Tung

galia

n ng

mga

Kap

angy

arih

an

Anum

ang

panu

kala

ng p

agba

bago

ng t

umat

alim

a sa

mga

na

kasa

naya

n ay

mai

tutu

ring

isan

g ka

balin

tuna

an a

t mits

a ng

pag

laba

n ng

mga

pin

anin

iwal

aan.

Ang

pagn

anai

s na

mat

ugun

an a

ng m

ga p

anga

ngai

lang

an

ng m

ga b

abae

ng n

asas

adla

k sa

pan

g-aa

buso

ang

siy

ang

pang

unah

ing

isin

usul

ong

ng H

B 17

99. N

guni

t gaa

no m

an

kada

kila

ang

mga

adh

ikai

n ng

bat

as a

y m

ayro

on p

a ri

ng

mga

taon

g hi

ndi p

inap

abor

an a

ng p

agpa

sa n

ito, k

atul

ad n

g ila

ng k

ongr

esis

ta, i

nstit

usyo

n at

ang

Sim

baha

ng K

atol

ika.

Si A

rchb

isho

p Em

iritu

s Os

car

Cruz

, isa

kila

lang

kri

tiko

ng

pagp

apas

a ng

RH

Bill

, ay

nags

aad

din

ng k

anya

ng p

agko

n-de

na sa

pag

susu

long

ng

dibo

rsyo

sa b

ansa

. Ayo

n ka

y Cr

uz,

ang

bata

s na

isin

usul

ong

ay h

indi

mak

a-Pi

lipin

o da

hil s

isir

-ai

n um

ano

nito

ang

pag

igin

g m

aka-

pam

ilya

ng m

ga P

ilipi

-no

. Maa

ari r

in d

aw n

a su

buka

n na

lam

ang

ang

annu

lmen

t up

ang

tapu

sin

ang

rela

syon

ng

isan

g m

ag-a

saw

a. D

agda

g pa

niy

a, w

alan

g m

aidu

dulo

t na

mab

uti a

ng ip

inap

anuk

ala

sa m

ga p

amily

a la

lo n

a sa

mga

bat

a na

siy

ang

uman

ong

“una

ng b

iktim

a” n

g di

bors

yo.

Hin

di ri

n na

kalig

tas

ang

HB

1799

sa

mga

kri

tiko

kahi

t ang

pa

gtal

akay

nito

ay

nasa

com

mitt

ee le

vel p

a la

man

g at

nan

-

gung

una

na ri

to si

Cag

ayan

de

Oro

Repr

esen

tativ

e Ru

fus

Rodr

igue

z. Bi

lang

isa

ring

aw

tor

ng is

ang

bata

s uk

ol s

a di

bors

yo,

naka

pagt

atak

a na

kin

okon

tra

ni R

odri

guez

an

g ip

inap

anuk

alan

g ba

tas

ukol

din

sa

dibo

rsyo

ng

Ga-

brie

la p

arty

list.

Ayon

sa

kany

a, a

ng b

atas

ay

lum

alab

ag

sa p

robi

syon

ng

kons

titus

yon

ukol

sa

”san

ctity

of m

ar-

riag

e.”

Ang

Kom

isyo

n pa

ra s

a Ka

rapa

tang

Pan

tao

(CH

R) a

y na

glab

as d

in n

g is

ang

stat

emen

t upa

ng tu

tula

n an

g H

B 17

99. I

lan

sa m

ga p

unto

ng ti

nuko

y ng

kom

isyo

n ay

ang

pa

gigi

ng u

ncon

stitu

tiona

l ng

bat

as,

ang

kara

pata

ng

mag

-asa

wan

g m

uli

ay l

umal

abag

sa

ilang

pro

bisy

on

ng U

nite

d N

atio

ns D

ecla

ratio

n on

Hum

an R

ight

s, an

g pa

ghih

iwal

ay a

y lu

mal

abag

sa

Artik

ulo

68 n

g Fa

mily

Co

de, a

ng d

ibor

syo

ay si

sira

ng

pam

ilya

at h

indi

nas

usu-

nod

ang

natu

ral n

a ba

tas,

nala

laba

g di

n da

w n

g di

bors

yo

ang

idey

a ng

pag

-aas

awa

na k

ung

saan

ang

lala

ki a

t ba-

bae

ay m

agsa

sam

a ng

per

man

ente

.

Sa d

ami n

g m

ga k

umok

ontr

a sa

pag

papa

sa n

g di

bors

yo

sa P

ilipi

nas,

lalo

ng n

apap

atag

al a

ng p

aghi

hira

p ng

mga

ba

bae

sa p

iling

ng

kani

lang

mga

nan

g-aa

buso

ng a

saw

a.

Ipin

apak

ita la

man

g ng

mga

pag

tuto

l na

ito a

ng p

agtu

-tu

ring

sa

mga

kab

abai

han

bila

ng is

ang

mar

gina

lized

na

sekt

or s

a lip

unan

na

kung

saa

n an

g m

ga k

arap

atan

nila

ay

hin

di a

gara

ng b

inib

igya

n ng

pan

sin.

Sa is

ang

band

a, a

ng p

agpa

pasa

ng

dibo

rsyo

at

mag

ing

ng R

epro

duct

ive

Hea

lth b

ill a

y na

natil

ing

pagb

abal

yah-

an n

g es

tado

at n

g si

mba

han—

dala

wan

g m

agka

iban

g at

m

aim

pluw

ensi

yang

mga

kap

angy

arih

an n

a ku

muk

on-

trol

sa ta

kbo

ng m

ga P

ilipi

no. A

ng p

agtu

tol n

g si

mba

han

sa d

ibor

syo

ay n

agpa

pahi

wat

ig la

man

g ng

pak

ikia

lam

ng

relih

iyon

sa m

ga p

atak

aran

ng

goby

erno

at k

ung

iisip

in,

wal

a na

man

sa

luga

r an

g si

mba

han

upan

g m

akia

lam

sa

mga

pat

akar

an n

g es

tado

. Dag

dag

pa ri

to, g

inag

amit

din

ng S

imba

hang

Kat

olik

a an

g re

lihiy

on n

g m

ayor

ya u

pang

m

agla

had

ng m

ga si

nasa

bing

arg

umen

tong

“mak

a-Ka

to-

liko”

ngu

nit

ang

kato

toha

nan,

ang

mga

pah

ayag

na

ito

ay b

ase

lam

ang

sa m

ga p

ansa

rilin

g pa

niw

ala

at w

alan

g ko

nkre

tong

bat

ayan

. Ang

pat

uloy

na

tung

galia

n ng

sim

-ba

han

at e

stad

o an

g na

g-iip

it sa

mga

bab

aeng

tula

d ni

Rh

ea n

a sa

una

pa

lam

ang

ay b

iktim

a na

ng

kapa

bay-

aan

ng g

obye

rno—

dahi

l sa

sim

ula

pa la

man

g ay

dap

at

nagi

ng se

nsiti

bo a

ng e

stad

o sa

mga

pan

gang

aila

ngan

ng

mga

mam

amay

an n

ito a

t hin

di n

a hi

nint

ay n

a an

g m

ga

Pilip

ina

ay m

asad

lak

at m

agdu

sa sa

kal

bary

ong

kani

lang

pa

tulo

y na

iniin

da.

Ang

pagp

apas

a ng

HB

1799

ay

mag

bubu

kas

ng

pani

bago

ng p

into

par

a sa

mga

inab

uso

at n

aiip

it s

a is

ang

pags

asam

ang

may

kar

ahas

an u

pang

mak

a-m

it a

ng k

anila

ng k

agan

apan

g pa

nsar

ili.

Hig

it p

a sa

pag

igin

g is

ang

kara

gdag

ang

pam

amar

aan

ng

pagp

apaw

alan

g-bi

sa n

g ka

sal

ang

dibo

rsyo

, an

g pa

gsas

abat

as n

ito a

y m

agsi

silb

ing

isan

g yu

gto

sa

kasa

ysay

an n

a ku

ng s

aan

mak

ikit

a an

g pa

gsus

ulon

g ng

kap

angy

arih

an n

g m

ga k

abab

aiha

n na

pag

desi

-sy

unan

kun

g an

o an

g na

rara

pat

na g

awin

par

a sa

ka

nyan

g hi

naha

rap.

Ito

ay i

sang

lab

an n

g ka

baba

ihan

par

a sa

isa

ng

kara

pata

n na

dap

at a

y ka

nyan

g na

tata

mas

a.

”Gus

to k

o la

ng n

aman

na

divo

rce

para

mab

uhay

na

ako

at a

ng a

king

mga

ana

k ng

tahi

mik

. Kay

a ko

nam

an ti

isin

ang

mga

pan

anak

it na

asa

wa

ko,p

ero

hind

i ko

nam

an

mai

sasa

krip

isyo

ang

kina

buka

san

ng m

ga a

nak

ko,”

ani

Rhea

.

Sina

sabi

na

ang

pag-

aasa

wa

ay h

indi

par

ang

kani

n na

isin

usub

o na

kap

ag n

aini

tan

ay il

uluw

a. N

guni

t hi

ndi n

aman

hab

angb

uhay

ay

kaya

ng ti

isin

ng

mga

Pi

lipin

a an

g na

kapa

paso

ng in

it n

g pa

gdur

usa

at n

a-ka

sasa

mid

na

pani

niil

na h

atid

ng

rela

syon

g na

pa-

suka

n na

hin

di n

aman

nila

inas

am.

Patu

loy

ang

pagh

aham

on u

pang

mag

ing

krit

ikal

sa

isyu

ng

dibo

rsyo

. Sap

agka

t nga

yon,

hig

it k

aila

nman

, ka

ilang

an n

ang

mat

amas

a ng

mga

Rhe

a ng

lipu

nan

ang

inaa

sam

na

pagl

aya.

*Hin

di tu

nay

na p

anga

lan.

Mga

San

ggun

ian:

Di

zon,

Dav

id. (

30 M

ay 2

011)

, Cru

z sa

ys d

ivor

ce b

ill ‘a

nti-F

ilipi

no’. R

etri

eved

201

1 Ju

n 18

from

htt

p://

ww

w.a

bs-c

bnne

ws.c

om/-

dept

h/05

/30/

11/c

ruz-

says

-div

orce

-bi

ll-an

ti-fil

ipin

o.H

owar

d, C

arol

ine.

(201

0 Au

g 11

). Di

vorc

e bi

ll re

vive

d in

Con

gres

s. Re

trei

ved

2011

Jun

18

from

htt

p://

ww

w.a

bs-c

bnne

ws.c

om/-

dept

h/08

/11/

10/d

ivor

ce-b

ill-

revi

ved-

cong

ress

.Pa

mao

s, Fr

ed. (

2008

Apr

18)

. Allo

win

g ab

solu

te d

ivor

ce in

the

Phi

lippi

nes.

Re-

trie

ved

2011

Jun

18

from

htt

p://

atty

atw

ork.

com

/allo

win

g-ab

solu

te-d

ivor

ce-in

-th

e-ph

ilipp

ines

/.Pe

rson

al In

terv

iew

. (20

11 Ju

ne 1

9).

Ubac

, M

icha

el.

(201

0 Au

g 12

). Ga

brie

la r

efile

s bi

ll le

galiz

ing

divo

rce.

Re-

trie

ved

2011

Jun

18

from

htt

p://

new

sinfo

.inqu

irer

.net

/bre

akin

gnew

s/na

tion/

view

/201

0081

2-28

6312

/Gab

riel

a-re

files

-bill

-lega

lizin

g-di

vorc

e.W

hy D

-bill

in li

mel

ight

aga

in. R

etri

eved

18

Jun

2011

from

htt

p://

opin

ion.

inqu

irer

.ne

t/59

70/w

hy-d

-bill

-in-li

mel

ight

-aga

in.

8 • 11 JULY 2011 • mondayCULTURE

Sketching the Domain

The Spratly Islands Archipelago is located in the South China Sea which is abundant in resources such as oil, natural gas, minerals and seafood. It covers 180,000 square kilometres with the inclusion of the territorial waters around it. The archipelago is also a strategic location that each of the claimants have been trying to posses. It will surely benefit countries that only rely on the Middle East for their supply of oil. Considering the disputes occurring in the Middle East, countries are growing desperate and the claim over the archipelago is slowly reaching its boiling point.

Six countries have been vying for control of the island since the World War II. They have been allies and enemies in many occasions which further aggravate their ties with each other. These countries are China, Taiwan and Vietnam who claim the entire archipelago and the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei who claim sovereignty over portions of the Spratlys. Except for Brunei, all the others have established military presence in the Spratlys.

So far, a peaceful resolution has been made to ensure that no bloodshed will occur but history tells us that in the battle for lands, it is al-ways a risk and loss of live. It is inevitable, however, because of the realistic pursuits of the said countries. The conflict is rooted from the competing legal claims over the ownership of the archipelago. Certain encounters, however, escalated to military action. News of cer-tain countries constructing outposts in the islands and removing foreign countries’ flags or boundary markers is angering and height-ening the tension. The defacement of a country’s flag in its territory is not taken lightly since it can be deemed as an insult to the whole country and can be used as a pretext for war. In short, while the prospects for resolution seem low, the potential for conflict increases.

In the past, five countries who are members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been able to take a stand against the might of China in diplomatic terms. However, the immergence of China as both a regional and a world power escalate the dispute that has lasted several decades.

The Multi-Racial Nation-State: Malaysia

Although a claimant in the Spratly Island dispute, Malaysia refuses to use military means and force like Vietnam and China to resolve the issue. The Minister of Defense himself had made a number of proposals to avoid any untoward incident from happening and vowed to use re-straint and military diplomacy instead. This stance did not prevent Malaysia from building a fort sin the nearby atolls of Spratly Islands and placing navy forces for surveillance of the area. Malaysia’s contention that Spratly is bound by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which recognizes their rights to make a claim based on an Exclusive Eco-nomic Zone (EEZ) of 200 miles off a country’s coastline. The problems posed by this agree-ment have aggravated the dispute among countries which claim it for their own on the basis of historical discovery, settlement or geographical proximity. Of the five coastal claimants and one global power, Malaysia’s relationship with the Philippines is already unstable without the additional tension of the Spratly Islands dispute. Both countries exchanged harsh remarks and animosity over the territorial contest of Sabah and past allegations of human rights violation of Filipino nationals in Sabah. Another territorial dispute between Philippines and Malaysia could prove to be a major fissure in the solid regional association of Southeast Asian nations.

When it comes to survival, no amount of agreement can betaken in to consideration.

It is no surprise for empires and nations to rise and fall as each struggle for domination of other countries. Treaties, laws, and agreements that has been signed and agreed upon is of no conse-quence when it comes to talk of acquiring territories and benefits.

In Asia, the ownership of the Spratly Island archipelago is the most glar-ing. For decades, six claimant nations have been contending with each other despite various attempts for diplomatic relationships. For decades, neither of the six has backed down and let the others claim the price. It is evident that the sovereignty of an island that would ensure their surviv-al as well as their economic and political stability is far more important.

We are yet again tangled in a web of problems that has lasted several decades. We might have no choice but to fight for our country once again.

Quite recently, China has been aggressively pressing its ancient claim the entire South China Seas. According to reports, it has forayed in the Philippine territory for more than six times. The most recent occurrence was in March when the Philippine Coast Guard reported that a Chinese vessel harassed a Philippine vessel conducting seismic surveys along the Reed Bank. It is located eighty nautical miles off Palawan which is within the two hundred nautical mile national territory defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) in 1982.

The Philippines was the first to officially make its claim over Spratlys. During World War II, Japan occupied Spratlys for military reasons. The islands’ strategic location was used by the Japanese during that time in order to block the enemies and to have an advantage in the watching over its colonies. But the Japanese relinquished its claim after its surrender. The Philippines then claimed the territories in 1946. A Filipino navigator named Tomas Cloma, claimed ownership and occupation of the Spratlys by issuing a proclamation to the world but did not officially establish its claim. Now, the Philippines occupy eight of approximately 230 islands.

We are aware that China has already pushed the world to the brink of another ma-jor war in several occasions. And yet, we continue to take steps that might lead a full scale war. The government even decided to rename the ‘South China Sea’ as the ‘West Philippine Sea’ in its official communications. This heightens the hostilities between the two countries.

The Philippines can only resort to diplomatic terms when dealing with China con-sidering the power and capability of the country. Additionally, most of our prod-ucts are imported from China where the goods are cheapest. We cannot endanger our economic stability by ostracizing them. Also, we cannot refuse to sell them our goods since it will not even make a dent in their economy. It will only result to our destruction. In the end, it is our dependency on other countries that is hindering us from taking further steps in acquiring the islands.

On the other hand, we cannot forget our closest ally – the United States. It has called for a peaceful resolution of the overlapping claims and expressed concern that the disputes could hurt access to one of the world’s busiest commercial sea lanes. The United States is in a strategic partnership with the Philippines that began when

the latter was still a colony of the former. This partnership is more solid than our relationship with China since it includes a Mutual Defense Treaty. It states that the United States will consider an armed attack on the Philippines and its territories as a trigger for the United States to act to meet the dangers to the parties of the treaty.

The US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas even said that the United States are with the Philippines. This statement assured the country that the US and the Philippines will continue to consult and work with each other on issues which includes the South China Sea and the Spratly Islands. Even so, we cannot be sure until we can see their help with our own eyes.

As a superpower, the United States have the ability to be the lone voice in shaping the world through economics, politics and military order. As our closest ally, they are obligated to offer their help and we are indebted to accept. It is obvious that we are incapable of defending ourselves because of the substandard and old military equipment that we own. It is no match for China’s military power. The ‘help’ from our closest comes with a price and we cannot deny that this ‘price’ is not really affordable. Even in our time of need, it seems that a business will always be a busi-ness. Their help might be advantageous at first, but isn’t this ultimatum will make us paralyzed, hence dependent, in the long run.

Since the recession that crashed the stocks of the United States, its power has been greatly reduced. The US owes billions of dollars to China, which is the single biggest holder of US bonds and notes. Meanwhile, we cannot forget that China will gain more power and influence if they ever acquire the island leaving the US to second place. The United States is caught in between its ally and its rival. It can either gain more control over the Philippines and if ever, the Spratly Islands or offend China. One thing is for sure though — the US cannot afford to lose.

And so, it is not only the battle for the domination of Spratly Islands but also the domination over the Southeast Asian countries. It is fast becoming a very important focal point in both world economy and politics that other countries especially the United States is finding ways to conquer it. Whoever holds the control of the island would be catapulted to become one of the most influential and powerful country. By helping the Philippines, the US may be one step closer to their goal in gaining dominance.

In the end, our country has no choice but to strike back.

The Long Time Allies: The Philippines and the United States

Repugno*: The Prevailing Clash for

monday • 11 July 2011 • 9CULTURE

The continuing assaults and invasions of the six claimant countries are only severing the diplomatic ties the countries established. If nothing will be resolved among the claimants, the so-called peace among the nations will cease to exist. Peace, after all, is always temporary. And if the Sleeping Giant decides to conquer all, they would be unstoppable. When they do succeed, many oil-imported countries might just decide to rely on them rather than continue to rely on the problematic countries of the Middle East. For whoever gains possession of the Spratlys, may have the best tactical position in a war, in global trade, and in other economic aspects.

The overlapping map of territorial claims has created such turbulence that adds fault to the pre-carious situations of the country. The Philippines is thrust into a situation where there might be no alternative but to fight. If the diplomatic relationship between our country and the others fail, we have no choice but to once again risk our pulses in the United States for we have no means to survive alone. However, we cannot be too complacent of their intentions. The fight of our masses is between the two world powers and we cannot assume to be saved by anyone’s boat. *to fight against, oppose, resist

The Multi-Racial Nation-State: Malaysia

Although a claimant in the Spratly Island dispute, Malaysia refuses to use military means and force like Vietnam and China to resolve the issue. The Minister of Defense himself had made a number of proposals to avoid any untoward incident from happening and vowed to use re-straint and military diplomacy instead. This stance did not prevent Malaysia from building a fort sin the nearby atolls of Spratly Islands and placing navy forces for surveillance of the area. Malaysia’s contention that Spratly is bound by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which recognizes their rights to make a claim based on an Exclusive Eco-nomic Zone (EEZ) of 200 miles off a country’s coastline. The problems posed by this agree-ment have aggravated the dispute among countries which claim it for their own on the basis of historical discovery, settlement or geographical proximity. Of the five coastal claimants and one global power, Malaysia’s relationship with the Philippines is already unstable without the additional tension of the Spratly Islands dispute. Both countries exchanged harsh remarks and animosity over the territorial contest of Sabah and past allegations of human rights violation of Filipino nationals in Sabah. Another territorial dispute between Philippines and Malaysia could prove to be a major fissure in the solid regional association of Southeast Asian nations.

in their defense in order to be acclaimed as the sole proprietor of the Spratly Islands.

Apparently, it is enough to show their history for them to be able to claim the is-lands to themselves. By exercising jurisdiction in such an early time, they are prov-ing to others that since they were there first, the islands are theirs to claim. Oth-er countries, though, are also using their own historical backgrounds to prove their possession of the islands, even to the point of naming the islands based on their own language or changing the name of the sea in order to prove possession.

The claim to the islands, however, does not limit itself to issues of territory, but also to strategic global trade and economic development. The rate on which this dis-pute could go on may only end in war, just like what happened between Vietnam and China concerning the very same islands. This is a manifestation of how much each country is in need of the resources given by the Spratly Islands, not only in oil but also with its abundance of sea life. Also, the archipelago provides a tactical position wherein China may be given an edge in global trade. Being in between the Indian and Pacific Ocean, it serves as a waterway linking those two ocean that surround coun-tries known as producers of raw materials, including the Middle East and Africa.

China, known for its vast population, has to attempt in finding equilibrium between its demands and supplies. Just last March 2010, The Telegraph published an ar-ticle stating that the gap between China’s rich and poor have grown so much that it may create a ‘serious threat to social stability’. The Chinese, however, go about by the Confucian ethic that they do things for their country and not only for them-selves, as opposed to the Western idea of individualism. Nevertheless, getting hold of the Spratlys may not just contribute to the whole country’s wealth, but also pro-vide jobs and opportunities for those in the bottom of their socio-economic triangle. The collectivist view of their people, manpower, resources, and the ability to claim the Spratly Islands may give China the absolute advantage to control industries.

As it turns out, the Sleeping Giant did not just wake up. It is also making its way to the domination of world trade. And those who would like to go against them would just have to face them with as much readiness as they are in claiming the archipelago.

The Sleeping Giant has long before woken up. And the recent revival of their claim to the Spratly Islands, which to the Chinese is the Nansha Islands, is a rep-resentation of their readiness to expand their industries. Their desire to preserve their possession of the Spratlys and other islands from the Northeast to South-ern Asia may or may not be more than a desire to reclaim their territory. Given the recent demands for oil and gas, and a shortage of supplies for its immense population, China may have just found the solution somewhere in those islands.

In China’s defense, the Spratly Islands has long been part of their history. Accord-ing to a timeline given by Spratlys.org, China discovered the Spratly Islands and other Southern Sea Islands around 200 B.C., and that those parts including Paracel Island were already known to the Chinese geographers of the Han Dynasty. During the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911 under Chiang Kai-Shek, they have already started to exercise dominion in Spratly Islands through business endeav-ors, surveys, construction and the like. In the timeline, Philippines started to claim parts of Spratlys and the Scarborough Islands only in 1947. According to an ICE Case Study pertaining to the claimants of the Spratly Islands, it is said that China has al-ready “developed 29 oil fields and 4 gas fields in the Spratly region” since the 1950s.

Even before, the strengthening determination of each country to claim the Sprat-lys has led even to a bloody fight between China and Vietnam, the latter being known as the greatest ‘enemy’ in China’s claim of the islands. If China was able to go against Vietnam for the sake of a non-negotiable talk about territories, it should not be beyond our doubts that they could also go against the Philippines.

In an article by Andrew Forbes, it is stated that in July 1977, Huang Hua, the Chinese foreign minister back then, said that the China’s claim to the South China sea was ‘non-negotiable’, even explaining that as a student, those islands were already part of China’s geography, and no one has ever contested that part of their country’s territory.

According to an article entitled Examine China’s Claim on Spratlys, it is stated that in Confucian ethic, their Chinese perception of sovereignty is not as a ‘function of le-gal limits, but as one of social organization, history, and the loyalty of subjects’. It can be said then that it would be acceptable that China would be consistent and tenacious

The Conquerors of World Trade: CHINA

The Asian Miracle: Republic of China (Taiwan)

Pushed as a renegade province by the People’s Republic of China, they insist they have the right to claim all of the Spratly Islands as much as China. They are known for their rapid economic growth after World War II which made them one of the Four Asian Tigers. Taiwan currently occupies the largest island in the disputed South China Sea, Itu Aba, where their military troops are stationed to safeguard Taiwanese territory. As the tension and military involvement of China heighten in the area, Taiwan has expressed that it is to improve the defense capability of the troops by training them to carry out sea combat. This act seems contradicting with their statement that Taiwan wishes to solve disputes peacefully and is willing to jointly explore the area’s natural resources with other countries. There are also alarming news of the Taiwanese administration’s friendly demeanor towards China, but they reject any allega-tions that it might be working with its former rival to ensure that Chinese retain the control over Spratly.

The Hidden Charm: Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the major contenders interested in claiming the small but resource-rich Spratly Island in the South China Sea as part of its national territories. They along with China have started building military structures in the contested area and have expressed aggressive stances towards each other. The escalating tensions be-tween Vietnam and China over the Spratly Island is slowly turning into a possible threat to peace as China continuously claims possession over the disputed wa-ters. Neither country will likely back down from thwarting each other’s attempt to send survey ships and take control of the area. Meanwhile, the people have also fu-elled the anti-Chinese movement and staged their rallies on the streets and even the media has conveyed unsettling accusations and avowal of rights against China. If the issue on the Spratly Island could be likened to a dormant volcano waiting for a stimulus to explode then Vietnam’s opposing stance could be the start of an explosive battle among the claimants. The dispute over Spratly Island may well become a security crisis not only to Vietnam but to other countries in the China-ASEAN relations.

Written by Aubrey Nicole Leones Arboleda,

Criselli Lagonoy Endaya,and Ruth Genevieve Austria Lumibao

Illustrated byGerald Goco

Kingdom of Unexpected Treasures: Brunei

Brunei is known as the least aggressive contender for the Spratly Island territorial competition. It is the sole exception to the pres-ent status quo wherein claimant countries have notched their own turf in the disputed area based on proximity while station-ing military reserves to preserve their claim. The country is strong in its stand to remain diplomatic and find an economic solution to the Spratly dispute. The Sultanate of Brunei reaf-firmed their commitment to promoting a peaceful resolution along with the Philippines, which believes that ASEAN centrality is the key to resolving the issue. Brunei’s claims to the reefs are based on the so-called “Law of the Sea”. It coincides with Malay-sia’s claim that part of the Spratly chain of islands is actually a part of its continental shelf and therefore a part of its territory and resources. Although they have not made concrete claims on the southern reefs of Spratly Islands, Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef of the Spratly Islands.

The Prevailing Clash for Sovereignty

10 • 11 JULY 2011 • monday

Scrutinizing the Campus Journalism Act of 1991

Over the cOurse Of PhiliPPine histOry, camPus jOurnalism has established its indisPensable wOrth in the PrOmOtiOn Of academic and Press freedOm. serving as an avenue fOr yOuth rePresentatiOn and

invOlvement in variOus sectOral and natiOnal cOncerns, camPus jOurnalism has mainstreamed the signifi-cance Of asserting student rights, struggling against anti-student POlicies and uPhOlding Press freedOm.Noted for its uncompromising cogency and staunchness in the publication of socially-inclined articles advancing insti-tutional reforms, the campus press has not failed to voice out perspectives from both the oppressed student body and the masses. As this is the case, student publications have also instilled, among the youths, a deepened sense of so-cial responsibility which consequently became the hallmark of active student participation on pressing national issues.

One pressing issue the campus press faces is that despite the crucial role of campus journalism in the restoration of press freedom, it has been suffering from suppression. Ironically, press freedom has been incessantly violated even with the Philippines being, constitutionally mandated as, a demo-cratic nation attesting to freedom of speech and expression. It is extremely alarming that student publications, although being a self-directed entity, are subjected to the most inaus-picious atmosphere of fear and repression in spite of the ratification and implementation of a law over a decade ago.

Revisiting the Campus Journalism Act of 1991

Concurrent with the collapse of Marcos dictatorship in 1986, the presidency of Corazon S. Aquino reopened the portals of democracy and freedom among the Filipino people. Recogniz-ing the importance of campus press in instigating mass move-ments against the tyranny of the said despot, Republic Act No. 7079, also known as the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 (CJA of 1991), was ratified by President Aquino to carry out develop-ment programs and promote campus journalism in the country. The Campus Journalism Act of 1991 has presented conclusive provisions which have brought notable achievement in pur-suit of campus press freedom. But these achievements did not necessarily translate to the actual prohibition of violations. Nevertheless, the CJA of 1991 reinforces student journalists to effectively practice values such as truth, integrity, and balance. These core values of journalism can never be taught inside the four corners of a classroom rather, it is better taught through substantial social engagement in the form of campus writing. The CJA of 1991 also mandates the conduct of the annual Na-tional Schools Press Conference (NSPC). Hailed as the premier journalism competition on both public and private elementary and secondary schools nationwide, NSPC brings forth numer-ous campus journalists who have excelled in various fields such as news, editorial and feature writing, cartooning,headlining and copy reading, among others. This event, in effect, acts as a catalyst in encouraging student journalists to even hone their writing skills and exceed in their chosen fields.

Apart from the declaration of the regulations on the selec-tion of staff and school publication advisers, CJA of 1991 also acknowledges tax exemptions to donors of school pa-pers. This mechanism allows student publications to have fiscal backing in case of fund deficit, brought about by the supposed hoarding of funds of school administrations.

Probing the Flaws and Fraud But after a decade of its implementation, the CJA of 1991 has been severely criticized and detested by vari-ous student councils and student publication alliances due to its incomprehensive and ineffectual provisos. For one, the CJA of 1991 does not clearly indicate the out-sourcing process of student publication funds; thus, le-gitimizing non-compulsory collection of publication fees. Considered as the “lifeblood” of campus publications, the unavailability of the publication fees hampers the release of school paper. It must be noted that the campus press is an autonomous entity, which denotes that it is controlled, managed and financed by the whole student body. The seri-ous implication of this provision has resorted into closure of school publications due to hoarding of funds of school ad-ministration and inadequate funding. The most concrete ex-ample of which is the case of the University of San Carlos in Cebu, whose student publication has been closed since 2004. For another, the law does not require all tertiary institutions in the country to have their own school paper. This proviso incon-gruously breaches the law’s foremost prerogative: that of pro-moting and developing campus journalism in every educational institution. Halting campus journalism would not only signify the suppression academic freedom but it would also conceal the anomalous dealings cropping up beyond the campus grounds.The law also pays no heed to reinstate closed student pub-

lications which further bottles up the right of every student to ex-press their disapprobation. Without the campus press, the student body will find it virtually impossible to both convey their opinions and break the status quo established by the erring administrations. Also contributing to the CJA of 1991’s utter inefficacy is the fact that it does not provide penal sanctions to school administrations that intermi-nably violated press freedom. Cases of harassment on student writers, involving inexplicable academic prerequisites, expulsion threats, and blatant censorship, have been on the brink of legal proceedings. Cam-pus journalists who expose the fraudulent schemes of the school administration and the government in their respective school publications are unjustly tagged as “enemies of the state” by state forces, particularly the military, which in turn, put their lives in grave danger despite the so-called pro-tection bestowed upon them by the CJA of 1991.

Amending the Loopholes The CJA of 1991, however, has not been entirely worthless, even though its provisions were proven to be toothless and ineffective. Hence, it has been subjected to recurrent mis-c o n c e p t i o n s that further prompt-ed vi-

FALSE FREEDOM:

ola-tions

f r o m v a r i o u s

state forces. It is, nonethe-

less, the duty of the government to

assure that the freedom of speech remains an in-

valuable right of every citizen, moreso, of every student writer.

As modernization gives rise to a more advanced technology, the social media has adapted to address the growing needs of the society. Establishing the groundwork of youth interest in the social media, campus journalism has also undergone a major transforma-tion for the past decade. This event consequently brings forth the impor-tance of constitutional amendments. Existing laws, such as those of the CJA of 1991, have provisions that are now considered to be obsolete. The need to revise, then, becomes imperative. To better uphold the rights and safe-guard the welfare of student journal-ists who are presently on the verge of press freedom violations, the 10th and 11th Congresses had submitted and deliberated the revision of the CJA of 1991, only that the previous bills were found to be focused solely on financial aspects and not on the violations itself. This is finally settled in the 15th Con-

gress, when two party-list representatives endorsed Campus Press Freedom Act. Waging an all-out war against campus press oppression, Kabataan Party-List Representative Raymond V. Palatino and Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Teddy A. Casiño have authorized House Bill No. 4287, also known as the Campus Press Freedom Act.

Emphasizing the im-portance of autonomy, House Bill No. 4287 en-ables student publications to be independent of ad-ministrative interference on matters such as finan-cial management, editorial board selection and content regulation, among others. The bill also includes the provision of legal assistance and the conduct of periodic seminars and conferences.

House Bill No. 4287 seeks to provide penal sanc-tions to abusive school ad-ministrators who impose suspension or disquali-fication of editorial staff without due process. This is to be done in coopera-tion with the Commission on Higher Education De-partment of Education and Technical Skills and Development Authority.

Concomitant with the le-gitimization of the Campus Press Freedom Act, stu-dent journalists are given full-fledged protection to write without an iota of fear. It utterly enables them to contribute in the process of nation-building.

It must be considered that campus press empowerment

is a vital aspect of social develop-ment; given the fact young bloods

composed the majority of the popula-tion. As campus journalists strive to tran-

scend the shift from being mere youth repre-sentatives to becoming crucial instruments of

reform and progress, the Campus Press Freedom Act bestows upon them both power and purpose.

Most importantly, Campus Press Freedom Act precludes

the occurrence of further press violations. The most brutal carnage ever occurred in the history of Philippine journal-ism, the Maguindanao massacre, serves as an insistent re-minder to the government that the nation cannot anymore afford to lose lives. Unless this House Bill is enacted, the government commits no public assurance that the series of journalistic bloodbath would not ever happen again.

Philippine campus journalism is still undergoing a rev-olution whose end cannot be predicted. Yet, one point remains certain: the unrelenting attempts to restrict publication through oppressive administration and its authoritarian policies, involving stern financial mea-sures, will never suppress the will of young writers to expose the faults and frauds behind every irregularity. The pivotal role of campus journalists is not only confined to the fact that they are youth represen-tatives promulgating the stance and perspectives of the studentry. Their invaluable participation in the country’s socio-political setup can already be regarded as a milestone in letting the voice of the masses reign over the influence of the ruling few. As I skolar ng Bayan, it is a collective responsibil-ity to safeguard the medium of democracy through struggling for a genuine press freedom. What people speak of today as freedom of speech would never concretely manifest the democratization of rights un-less the government would push for the ratification of Campus Press Freedom Act which would not only appeal for the further promotion of campus journal-ism but would also defy press freedom violations.

Sources:1.www.bayanmuna.net2.kabataanpartylist.com3.www.bulatlat.com4.http://www.scribd.com/doc/49763193/HB-4287-Campus-Press-Freedom-Act

Written by Jore-Annie Rico Illustrated by Zach Andrei Marasigan

FEATURES

monday • 11 July 2011 • 11

Alexithymia* Silent Minority

ehcel sañga hurna

MISS INDEPENDENT Pulang Pahayagan

joanna marie icasas udarbe

I could be just a typical student who only cares about her grades, family, and friends. My past time could only be spent reading much-needed textbooks and reviewing for

my major subjects. There is a need for me to study now even more because next year will be the start of my Dentistry proper life. At this point in my life, carelessness is not an option. But in the middle of memorizing biology jargons, naming compounds and analyzing chemical structures, I find myself not achieving the fulfillment I am looking for.

Indeed, it is true that we are students first before we deal with whatever affiliations we have inside and outside the university. But I find it quite ironic that we, Iskolars ng Bayan, often limit ourselves to the various teachings inside our classrooms, not knowing that beyond those four corners, there exists a veiled truth that lies within our society - a truth that is clearly visible to all of us yet remains unnoticed.

Oppressed farmers, underpaid laborers, threatened journalists, and abducted political activists are enough pictures to make everyone understand that in our society, there is no room for the egocentric. Everyday, a number of these violations happen. Series of human rights violations grow while the perpetrators remain unpunished because of the culture of impunity. Knowing that these exploitations are taking place in our society is alarming. Although I am not directly affected, I know I should not be complacent toward such issues. To remain blind is a choice i opt not to take.

The predicaments of the society are greater than my personal problems. My personal needs are too irrelevant compared to the situation of my fellow countrymen, most of whom are in dire need of basic necessities. My personal doubts are uncomplicated considering the situation of the exploited farmers and laborers.

Rather than being a passive undergraduate, I chose to take a side. I decided to have a stand regarding issues. I opted to be aware about everything that happens in the society. I opted to criticize every anomaly occurring in the government. I chose to question every matter that violates equality.

As student journalists, exposing the ills of society is our major task. Educating the readers through immense analysis in every article, vibrant artworks, and addressing issues compromise the primary role of The Manila Collegian. Being vigilant and critical is badly needed. Decisiveness is necessary to create a stand in every issue. It is a matter of arousing, organizing and afterwards mobilizing the students to fight for their rights especially the right to have a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented type of education.

The epitome of change that the country expected toward President Aquino is just a complete and utter lie. Evidently, Aquino’s administration still yields nothing but impassive stances on issues of grave importance. The issues regarding the neglected responsibility in the area of education, low budgeted social services, impeded action for land reform, and shorted job opportunities were left hanging.

As Iskolars ng Bayan, we have a responsibility to imbibe. Quality education is just a consolidation when we enter in UP. There is a deeper sense of duty. Getting involved does not only mean joining mobilizations but also in searching for the truth which can be found in the masses. It is our duty to serve the people in every way, in every extent, and in every aspect.

If you think that suppressions and oppressions are considered necessary then lay back. If you think that these dilemmas should persist, then remain silent.

But remember that stillness will never put an end to these anomalies.

FEATURES

Katulad namin, sila ay pawang mga pangalan at titulong naka-imprenta sa mga pahina ng mga pahayagan. Tangan ang panulat, hinangad nila ang panlipunang

pagbabago. Subalit ang isinukli sa kanila ng iilang makapangyarihan ay ang pagkitil ng kanilang buhay…

Freshie pa lamang ako noong sumali ako sa Manila Collegian. Akala ko’y dulo na ng kalbaryo ang application process, ngunit mas madugo pala kapag dumating na ang pagsulat ng mga artikulo. Ibinalik sa akin ng editor ko ang aking mga artikulo, punong-puno ng mapulang highlight at walang katapusang “revise.”

Sa kabila ng mga madugong highlight at revisions, nakatatanggal pa rin ng pagod at nakatutuwang makita ang artikulo at pangalan mong naka-imprenta sa pahayagang binabasa ng karamihan ng estudyante ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Maynila. Hindi kaila ang masalimuot na proseso kapag nakita mo na ang pangalan mo sa byline ng iyong isinulat.

Nagpatuloy ang ganoong proseso sa ilan pang mga buwan. Pagod at oras ang iniaalay namin sa bawat artikulong mailimbag. Dahil sa oras na kinakain ng mga gawain, dumating din ako sa punto na ginusto ko nang sumuko at umalis sa Kule, ngunit may iilang bagay na pumigil sa akin.Sa kule ako unang namulat sa mga totoong pangyayari sa lipunan. Siguro parte na rin ito sa pagiging bahagi ko sa seksyon na nagsusulat ng balita. Dahil sa pagkamulat na ito, at palibhasa’y nasa iisang larangan, nagkaroon ako ng pamilyang kapareho ko ng prinsipyo at gawain. Dahil dito, hinangad ko rin ang pagbabago sa isang bulok na sistema ng lipunan.

Sa mga kinamulatang isyung panlipunan, nakilala ko ang iba pang manunulat na tangan ang kaparehong prinsipyo na aming dinadala. Nandiyan sina Dr. Gerry Ortega, Eman Lacaba, Benjaline “Beng” Hernandez, at marami pang iba na hinangad din ang makabuluhang pagbabago.

Tulad namin sila, mga manunulat, mga pangalang naka-imprenta sa pahayagan na ang hinahangad ay ang pagunlad ng lipunang kinagisnan. Ngunit sa kanilang pakikipaglaban ay

hindi lamang pagod at oras ang isinakripisyo nila, kundi buhay… Buhay nila ang inalay nila sa bayan.Hindi malabo na tataas pa ang bilang ng mga manunulat na tatanggalan ng karapatan, papatahimikin, at papaslangin, dahil na rin sa tila pagbibingi-bingihan ng kasalukuyang administrasyon sa hinaing ng mga biktima ng pampolitikang pamamaslang para sa hustisya. Isang halimbawa na lang dito ang sa Maguindanao Massacre kung saan 57 na mamamahayag at inosenteng sibilyan ang pinaslang. Bukod sa pamamaslang, patuloy ring tumataas and bilang ng mga manunulat na dinadakip at pinapahirapan.

Sa kabila ng takot na minsan ay nararamdaman sa bawat sensitibo o progresibong artikulo na maisusulat, sa bawat byline na maeemprenta sa mga pahina ng pahayagan, sa bawat tipo ng represyon at pagbabatikos na matatanggap ng institusyon, patuloy pa rin kaming magsisilbi bilang boses ng mga estudyante ng unibersidad… Patuloy pa rin naming paglilingkuran ang sambayanan.

Hindi matutumbasan ng mga duguang editing ang aktwal na dugong tumulo mula sa mga nag-alay ng kanilang buhay. Hindi man namin matutumbasan, aming pinupunan ang mga nasimulan nilang adhikain. Sa bawat pulang editing na ginagawa namin, lagi naming isinasaisip ang duguang pahayagan, ang pahayagang binubuhay ng mga alaala ng mga martir na inalay ang kanilang buhay para sa kalayaan.

Kaya sa mga katulad kong manunulat na minsan ay pinanghihinaan ng loob kapag nakakita ng mapula o madugong editing, pagod at oras man ang ating ialay, tandaan lang natin kung para kanino ang ating ginagawa. Para kanino ba at tayo ay naging mga manunulat ng MKule?

At para sa mga manunulat na nag-alay ng buhay at nagdanak ng dugo, ipagpapatuloy namin ang inyong nasimulang laban. Ipaglalaban namin ang hustisyang dapat ninyong makamit. Ipaglalaban namin, kaming mga katulad ninyo, mga manunulat ng pahayagang hangad ang pagbabago sa lipunan.

12 • 11 JULY 2011 • monday

Freedom at GunpointThe extrajudicial killings and abductions are nothing more than a heinous

process by which the State keeps its people in the state of consuming fear.Five years, we have celebrated all forms of freedom but the truth remains that these celebrations are as vague as the location of the bodies of Karen Empeno, Sherlyn Cadapan, Jonas Burgos, and many other countless unsung desaparacidos. These people, no matter how the government defined them in sinister manner, are one of us. Only that they chose not to shut their indignant voices when it was mostly needed even with a point of a gun.

Last June 26, 2011 marked the fifth year of the disappearance of Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, UP student-activists. Within those five years of screaming injustice, we saw nothing but a continuum of disappearances and killings of those who spoke unfavorably about the unfavorable government. Within those five years of people screaming for justice, we saw nothing but a continuum of vehement cries, partly despondent on the hopes of achieving the slightest justice. Karen and Sheryl hold a very small fraction of those who are illicitly killed and

abducted by some unidentified militia men at the charge of being subversive. Whatever happened to freedom of speech and expression, we have come to a lawless society.

Call it inefficient or call it obtuse, it is just recent that the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals ordering the military led by retired army general Jovito Palparan to surface the two victims. As we might be wondering what took those judicial bodies too long to come up with this move, we can see the glaring inability of those bodies to carry out justice or rather punish those who brazenly commit violations against human rights. It took them five stark years to make an action, or at least, to make them look that they are doing something. This is what happens when the government has skewed and misused the terms violence and justice. If not critical, people would see these terms vague; more dangerously,

interchangeable; most dangerously, unrecognizable. Activists, journalists, and ordinary day-laborers who expose the anomalies of authorities and institutions had been deliberately detained and tortured for the charges of obstruction of peace and order, and illegal possession of arms among others. This is what the government regard as violent and unlawful. For the government, violence starts and ends in physical beating and yelling. It is unlawful to rally without permission and to rub corruption on the faces of authorities who incessantly commit corruption. This is a manifestation on how thick the barbed-wires had become that it blinded policemen, militia men and authorities.

In this light, should we not call it violence when people are deprived of their basic rights? Should we not call it violence when the means for our sustenance is threatened every single day? Should we not call violence when children are unable to achieve proper education due to financial encumbrance? Should we not call it violence when people strive to survive every single day with their stomach filled with nothing but false hopes? These are the forms of violence the masses are beaten with every day. These are injustices.

Law, in this civilization, is a vital ingredient of justice. But given this, we must make it explicitly clear that law in itself is not justice. Our society has been battered with laws that remain in intimidating texts but never serve satisfactorily its constituents. Hence, it is imperative that people, regardless of position or ideology, should work hand-in-hand to assure that laws are implemented and practiced properly and fairly. We do not lack laws in order to come up with a just society. We lack persistence to push for justice, we lack the will to continue fighting – all due to the fact that people have been living in the same system of the culture of impunity. Thus, it has become a culture of immunity – immune to the diseases of society to the point of apathy, to the point of negligence. There is no such thing as “too late” for a nation wanting to rise from its despair.

Voices should be heard and actions should be done for the sake of a humane society.

Justice is not a commodity. So is freedom.

This is where the fight continues.

This issue of The Manila Collegian is dedicated to those who unselfishly risk their lives at the payment of freedom and justice. We, together with other progressive groups, will work to the top of our strength to give justice to those who were extrajudicially killed and abducted and to those who are victims of any form of injustice.

EDITORIAL