TH

E MA

NILA

CO

LLEGIA

NT

HE

OF

FIC

IAL S

TU

DE

NT

PU

BLIC

AT

ION

OF

TH

E U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y OF

TH

E P

HILIP

PIN

ES

MA

NILA

xxMay XX, 2015

Volume 28Number 18

MORE INSIDE02 NEWS CHEd approves yearly tuition fee increase 06 FEATURES On the Tip of the Tongue10 OPINION Vices and Virtues11 EDITORIAL Sampal sa Mukha12 CULTURE Birth “Mark”

02 NEWS Volume 28 Number 18June 1, 2015 | Monday

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

COLLEGEBRIEFS

In line with the celebration of the centennial year of the College of Dentistry (CD), the CD Student Council advocated the nationwide Smile Pilipinas campaign by conducting SuperSmileCon2015 and Unang Ngipin Patibayin. These activities promoted oral heatlh care and awareness. Moreover, CD held an alumni homecoming themed “UPCD at 100: Celebrating a Century of Smiles.”

Together with the first ASEAN Patient Safety Congress in UP College of Medicine (UPCM), MSC HSC and UPCM Administration brought the Patient Safety Series which aimed to inform and enlighten on different scenarios regarding health-related work. Included in the series are PSI: Patient Safety Investigation, Primum Non Nocere, and MDiscussion: Usapang Medisina.

ORGANEWS

In partnership with the Habitat for Humanity Philippines, the UP Manila Chorale offered a taste of world-class music in TALINDAW: Paglalayag 2015, a send-off concert for their 8th European tour on May 15, 2015, 7:00 PM at the GSIS Theater, Pasay City.

The UP Manila-Phil Arts 163 and Maralitang Innamorato presented Pingkian, a reenactment of the story Emilio Jacinto, one of the fore players of Katipunan. The historical play, directed by Czarina Palacio and written by Atong Redillas, took place at the GSIS Theatre on May 9, 2015.

CHEd approves yearly tuition fee increaseYouth groups blast hike

ARTHUR GERALD BANTILAN QUIRANTE

Various groups marched to the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) main office last April 30 and May 8 to condemn the annual rise in tuition fee of higher education institutions (HEIs) led by student leaders from University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and UP Manila, Miriam College, University of Santo Tomas, and De La Salle University Araneta.

CHEd granted 313 private colleges and universities to raise their tuition fees for the incoming school year. Sixteen percent of the total HEIs in the country were allowed to increase their tuition fees making the average tuition fee swell by about 6.48% while nearly 13% of the HEIs were set to hike on other school fees (OSFs) which would equate to a maximum of P500 increase that students need to pay.

StudentS’ rightS violated

Youth groups led by the League of Filipino Students (LFS) and other groups from the Rise for Education (R4E) Alliance staged a protest in front of CHEd expressing their opposition to the said tuition hike and tagging CHEd as the worst violator of student rights.

“By allowing schools and universities to raise their tuition and other school fees every year, CHEd deserves to be labeled as

the number one violator of the students’ right to education,” said Charisse Bañez, LFS National Chairperson.

The youth group also condemned CHEd for using inflation to justify and impose tuition hikes. According to Bañez, this kind of reasoning exposes CHEd to be a mouthpiece of profit-seeking school administrators.

anti-Student Stance

The National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP) was also present in the protest and headed the burning of a photo of President Benigno Aquino III and other protest paraphernalia in front of CHEd.

“CHEd should not be telling us to understand our schools. CHEd should and must tell our schools to stop tuition increases because we cannot take any hikes anymore! We urge CHEd to stop all the fees increases for it will not only burden the working class families, but it also legalizes school administration violators in imposing redundant, dubious and exorbitant fees. It also violates students’ democratic rights,” according to Sarah Elago, NUSP National President.

Meanwhile, youth groups questioned the efficacy of

the implementation of CHEd Memorandum No. 3 of 2012. Groups claim that several schools allegedly violate the said memorandum which states that a consultation with the school’s stakeholders should be done before filing for a petition for increase in tuition fee.“CHEd has once again clearly bared out its position as pro-commercialization and nothing but a stamp pad for tuition and other school fees increases. We shall take our cases to higher authorities and we shall make sure that CHED shall be made accountable,” Elago said.

out-of-School youth increaSeS

This round of increases will add almost 10% increment as tuition deregulation continues, despite an increase in the number of dropouts and out-of-school youth (OSY) in the country.

The government estimates that there are approximately 1.2 million OSY in the country, despite the government implementing programs aimed at reducing OSYs in the country.

Meanwhile, according to Education Assistant Secretary for Planning Jesus Mateo, the main reasons why students quit school are lack of interest, distractions that they encounter, and the disasters they have faced.

Students light candles for the 72 workers who died in the Kentex Manufacturing Company fire on May 13. Photo by Carlo Rey Resureccion Martinez

read and download MKule issues at

issuu.com/manilacollegian

like us on Facebook:facebook.com/

themanilacollegian

follow us on Twitter:@MKule

NEWS 03Volume 28 Number 18Monday | June 1, 2015\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

landaS ng kapahamakan

Ang mga nasabing datos at puntos ay indikasyon sa pagpalya ng pamahalaan sa pagbibigay ng disente at maayos na oportunidad para sa mga mamamayan nito. Sa paglala ng sitwasyon ng pagempleyo sa bansa, dumadami rin ang mga Pilipinong desperadong makaalis at makapaghanap ng trabaho sa ibang bansa.

Gayonpaman, sa kabila ng pakikinabang ng pamahalaan sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiyang idinudulot ng pagsisikap ng mga OFW, isinasawalang bahala pa rin ng gobyerno ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino sa ibang bansa at hindi pa rin nito kayang magbigay-proteksyon laban sa pang-aabuso at kapahamakan.

Kung susumahin, sa kasalukuyang administrasyon nakapagtala ng pinakamaraming bilang ng mga OFW na binitay o hindi kaya ay nasa death row. Isa lamang ang kaso ni Mary Jane Veloso sa mga halimbawa ng pagiging desperado ng mga mamamayang makahanap ng trabaho kahit hindi ito sigurado sa mga pahamak na dala nito.

Sa kasalukuyang administrasyon, pang-walo na si Mary Jane Veloso sa mga OFW na binitay sa ibang bansa kung hindi nagbago ang pasya ng embahada ng Indonesia sa kaso ng pagdadala ng ipinagbabawal na gamot na nakita sa kaniyang maleta. Kung ito ay natuloy, natumbasan na ng kasulukuyang administrasyon ang lahat ng mga administrasyong nauna rito pagdating sa bilang ng mga OFW na binitay sa dayuhang bansa.

Pahayag ni Garry Martinez, chairperson ng Migrante International, “We are deeply concerned over the fate of other OFWs on death row and those in detention. There are 123 more OFWs on death row, and at the rate the Aquino government is going, we can expect more executions in the next few years. The government has not shown transparency nor accountability for failing to save the lives of our

OFWs on death row.”Dagdag pa nito, mariing naniniwala ang Migrante International na habang ipinatutupad ang labor export policy sa ating bansa, hindi makakamit ng mga OFW ang tunay na proteksyon at mas magiging palasak pa ang pang-aabuso sa kanilang mga karapatan. “Aquino and his labor export policy will only produce more Mary Janes from the ranks of the jobless and lowly paid workers,” wika naman ni Bañez.Sa kabuoan, patuloy pa rin ang pangangampanya ng Migrante, LFS, National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), at ng iba pang progresibong grupo sa agarang pagbibitiw ni Pangulong Aquino sa puwesto dahil sa patuloy na pagpapahirap niya sa masang Pilipino.Ang pamahalaan mismo ang tumatraydor at nagsisilbing “recruiter” sa sarili nitong mamamayan. Sa mga polisiyang ipinatutupad nito, pilit na itininutulak palabas ng bansa ang mga manggagawang Pilipino. Sa pagkabigo ng pamahalaan na magbigay ng disente, sapat, at pirming trabaho sa mga manggagawa nito, mas magiging prominente sa susunod na mga henerasyon ang sapilitang pag-alsabalutan ng masa sa mga dayuhang employer nito. Titiisin nila ito upang ibsan ang kahirapang dinadanas ng pamilyang sapilitan nilang naiwan.

Hindi maikakaila na sa ilalim ng mapaniil at mapagkait na sistema, isang maliit na parte lamang ang kaso nina Mary Jane Veloso, Flor Contemplacion at ng laksa-laksang OFW sa humahabang listahan ng mga manggagawang nabigyan ng hatol ng kamatayan sa dayuhang bayan. Dahil sa pagbibingi-bingihan at pagwawalang bahala ng pamahalaan, dumanak at dadanak pa ang dugo ng mga manggagawang may kakayahang isulong ang mga industriyang pambansa. Hindi dapat magbayad ng luha at dugo ang mamamayan dahil sa kapabayaan ng mga namamahala nito.

MIGRANTE MULA SA PAHINA 05 THE NEWS TEAM

House ad hoc committee approves BBL

The House ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro approved the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) on May 20, with a 50-17 vote. The BBL shall formalize the creation of a new political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The bill will now be forwarded to the joint committees on appropriations and ways and means before final voting. Subsequently, once approved by the House, the bill will be unified with the Senate version before being signed into law by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

continued oppoSition

Despite its approval at the committee level, some parties maintain that the BBL should not be signed into law.Zamboanga City Representative Celso Lobregat claimed that some of the BBL’s provision are unconstitutional. Lobregat proposed more than 150 amendments during the voting period, but all of them were rejected.Additionally, Suara Bangsamoro national chairperson Amirah Lidasan criticized the bill for favoring the interests of Aquino and the Liberal Party.Lidasan stated that with its amendments, the proposed BBL “loses the essence of the right to self-determination, or at least the right to govern, which the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) wanted in the law”.

Furthermore, Lidasan argued that the BBL will contribute to the achievement of Aquino’s national development goals, specifically providing incentives to foreign investors as well as the local elite.Likewise, the Makabayan bloc, an alliance of twelve progressive political parties, criticized the bill for lacking certain provisions.“The BBL glaringly lacks any provision that puts an end to the monopoly control of agricultural lands and mineral resources by foreign corporations and a handful of big compradors and landlords,” the Makabayan bloc argued in a statement released on May 19.Consequently, the Makabayan bloc voted against the bill claiming it fails to address poverty and the socio-economic roots of the Moro rebellion.

not railroaded

Meanwhile, ad hoc committee chairperson Representative Rufus Rodriguez asserted that the bill was not in any way railroaded. Rodriguez stated that some 90 amendments were allowed, including those addressing the concerns of minorities, among others.The original draft of BBL was a product of the comprehensive peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF in 2014. However, the draft approved by the committee is the so-called “Chairman and Vice Chairperson’s Working Draft” which is a result of a meeting between Aquino and the House leaders.

ONGOING. The fourth floor of the Joaquin Gonzales building is currently undergoing renovations, expected to be completed by the end of July 2015. Photo by Carlo Rey Resureccion Martinez

04 NEWS Volume 28 Number 18June 1, 2015 | Monday

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

ITANONG KAY ISKO’T ISKA

Pwede ring ipadala ang inyong mga sagot sa pamamagitan ng pag-text sa 09175109496! (Pero bawal ang textmate!)

1Dapat bang ipagpatuloy ang K-12 sa bansa?

Hindi, kasi impractical at ill-advised na move sya. - beau été, 2014-*****

Oo, dahil nasimulan na siya. - Tired, 2014-5***9

Hindi, kasi hindi naman siya kailangan para umunlad ang ekonomiya ng bansa. Kailangan solusyunan muna yung mga naunang problema. - fat, 2013-561**

Sa nakikita ko, hindi pa handa ang bansa para sa programang ito. - 123123, CAMP, 2014-*****

Hindi. - hands down, 2014-*****

Hindi. - Tobias, 2012-24852

Oo. Hindi naman ito masamang hakbang para sa ikabubuti ng edukasyon sa bansa, ngunit dapat lang siguraduhin na bibigyan ito ng sapat, maayos, at tamang paghahanda gayundin ang paglaan ng maayos na budget para rito hindi yung gagawin itong pagkakakitaan lamang. - Saumensch, 2013

I go for huwag narin magpatuloy si Pnoy at K-12. Mas kailangan natin yung edukasyon na mag-aangat sa Pilipinas. Yung scientific, nationalistic, and mass-oriented. Di ko keri yung cheap labor force na kahihinatnan ng mga pag-asa ng bayan. - IskongMahangin, 2014-14810

oo - Pogingprinsipe, 2013-85001

Yes but we should emphasise on preparing high school students for more advanced degrees rather than making cheap labor out of them. I believe something is wrong with our system if the most a high school graduate knows in physics is just mechanics. It would be a great idea to put subjects like Chem 14 & 18, Physics 71 & 72, Math 17, 73, & 74, etc. in high school instead. - Eddie Maintenance, 2013-14696

Newp. - Clarice Starling, 2012-****1

Hindi. - zombie, 20**

Hindi kasi halos vocational courses ang i-ooffer sa k-12 (tama ba) at oriented ito sa labor export. - Instap*ta 2013-361xx

Hindi, kasi ang dami niya pang butas. Malamang hindi ito magiging epektibo.- Darna, 2014-03797

Wag na di nyo naman kaya ibigay yung tamang edukasyon ngayon pa lang dagdag niyo pa yan ano po. - katingkatina, CAS

Hindeeeh - patglow, CAS

hindi - 2014-<341*

Nope, kasi hindi mas matagal na pag-aaral ang kailangan natin kundi pondo para sa mga SUCs. - Chena Guevara, 2012-04895, CAS

Maganda sana ang programang K-12 ngunit hindi pa sapat ang paghahanda ng bansa para rito. In a few years maybe, kung meron nang efficient funds. Para saan pa kung ipupush nila ang quality education kung hindi naman lahat ay makakabenipisyo rito? Tsaka pala kung mapagkasunduan na ng CHED na isama ang Filipino subjects upang matutunan naman na pahalagahan ng mga incoming generations ang kanilang wika. Kbye - 2012-3xxxx, CAS

2Anong pinakauna mong gagawin kapag natapos na ang 2nd sem mo?

Sleep + swim. - beau été, 2014-*****

Matutulog. At magpapakalasing. - Tired, 2014-5***9

Mag-bubuffet. Mataba na ko kaya lalo pa kong magpapataba ngayong summer woohoo -fat, 2013-561**

Matutulog!!!!! - 123123, CAMP, 2014-*****

Movie marathon. - hands down, 2014-*****

Magwawalwal. Magpapakalasing, like, hardcore. - Tobias, 2012-24852

Shet. Edi mag-eenroll para sa summer/short term!!! HAHAHUHU bakasyon? Baka-meron. huhu - Saumensch, 2013

Maliligo. Chos. - IskongMahangin, 2014-14810

Magcocontemplate ako sa buhay at magpapahaba ng buhok.- baldguy, 2014-45252

paparty. Lalabas ng Maynila kelangan ng preskong hangin - Pogingprinsipe, 2013-85001

I’ll apologise to my parents. - Eddie Maintenance, 2013-14696

Juniors. Practicum. June. Maulan. Ha. Ha. Ha. (At may isang epal na reader na magsasabing, “Iiyak na ‘yan! Iiyak na ‘yan!) - Clarice Starling, 2012-****1

Matulog. - zombie, 20**

Aaminin ko kay crush na crush ko siya and if ma-reject ako, forever alone ako during midyear term. - Instap*ta 2013-361xx

Magpapapayat ako. Kaya ko to. Stress eating kasi ako dahil sa acads eh. Pag bakasyon paninindigan ko na talaga hahaha UPM ABANGAN NIYO - Darna, 2014-03797

SWIMMIN AND SWIMMIN AND SWIMMIN. In short magbabad sa tubig. - katingkatina, CAS

Ay, thank you naman.. kala ko may forever sa 2nd sem eh. Yehey. - patglow, CAS

matulog - 2014-<341*

Lalandi, as usual. - Guevara, 2012-04895, CAS

Magpapadetox ng ilang araw dahil toxic nanaman paglapit ng summer classes. - getalife, 2012-3xxxx, CAS

Mga Fulung-Vulungan ng nagjijisang

Lola PatolaMagundhung ahruw mga afowz from YuFiEm!! Nasisinghotitis niyo na vuh ang mga bagong pituhsh na bubuka ang bulaklak?? Sweetums talaguh ni MyLabs Lolo U!!! Nag-megabigay galore ng many many flowersz palibhuhsa kasi May na namuhn. Ahihihihihihi, labyu mwa mwa tsup tsup Lolo U! Enewei highway by duh weiiii, dis time last year nagmemega vakashun galore kayong mga beloved afowz, pero dis yir ur like making gapang for ur finalsz puhlung. Kajirits dis acadaymic calendar sheeft!!!

Bustuh, galinguhn niyo mga afowz!! Last kembowt and tuhmbling with audience participation then voila, tapos na ang forever AKA dis semester! Chos. Make bonggang bonggang sagip ur grades program na ituuu! Pak na pak!!! But of corz, na-ah-ah-ah-mohooooooy ko fa ren ang mga sumvhongz nio! Marami man ang frush na frush na bubuka ang bulaklak, dehindz matatago ang amohooooy ng inyong mga hawt na hawt na sumvhongz. Ilabus na ang mga itech! Pak!

BONGGANG BOUGAINVILLEANG

SUMVHONG NUMBAH ONE: FINALZ FANTUH-

SEE, LITERAL NA FANTUH-SEE!

Mega crowling for this sem to make deadz end na means may ganapsung na final ekzuhms!!! Dis prof from Dee-Esh-Esh ay nag-sched ng kanyang final ekzhum, at syempre ang aking mga GC afowz ay b o u g a i n v i l l e a n g review! But weyt, flat twist! Ang finalz ekzhum nila, fantuh-see lang talaga! Ano ba yuhn, dear prof?! Dehins pa raw itetchiwang prof nag-give ng reason to

make move it move it the ekzuhm! Grand exit lung sa Oscarz! Ikaw nuh sir! Usog kayo konti mga afowz, I will make paulan ng petals at kilay niyong toasted sa exit ni sir! Kawawa naman mga afowz kow na nag-ahit este nag-sunog ng eyebrows at naglibing ng brain cells to make handa for the ekzuhm! Napaasa lang ulit ang class, kaya masaquette! Charot!

BONGGANG BOUGAINVILLEANG SUMVHONG NUMBAH TWO: POKPOK

INTO THE ROOM!

Becoz of the room renobaetions, intensicles ang background muziklaban sa Goose-aling Aneksung Bird!!! Dehins lung pokpokpok ang tunogz, but with matching hardcore drill din, *ngggrrrr ngrrr*, nakakagigil! At dahil diyan, ang aking beloved afowz, no lady’s choice but mag-class sa Cybearnook! Keriboompakbells naman sana kung pamela-mela-wan class lang, but no!!! Two is better than one daw kaya sabay nag-class ang dalawang secshowns

ng afowz ko! Kalerkz lang di buh?! Di ba kering ipush ang renobaetions ng mga bougainvilleang building sa

vakuhshown ng aking mga afowz??? *ngggrrrr ngrrr* Kalerkz! Naririnig ko rin ang mga drill-drill na yan! Sakit sa

bunghz mga afowz, howsung kayo makakapag-aral nang mavuti???

And dat’s it! Pak! Done na ang Lola niyo, aketch namauhn ang

mag-grand exit wit mah beautiful bubuka ang bulaklak ngayong May! I have to make martsa pa around Ermita, becoz I am da wan en only

Reyna Lola... Lola Patola! Charot!!! Don’t fret mga afowz, kapit lung

kahit hanging by a thread na lang talaguh! Olways

remember, si Lola P ay nasa mga side-side

lang, paruhng bees na magegetsung ng

polen ang peg!!! You know you

love me. Xoxo. Lels.

FLORES DE MAYO EDITION

NEWS 05Volume 28 Number 18Monday | June 1, 2015\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

ISKOTISTIKS

PATRICIA ANNE LACTAO GUERRERO AT ADOLF ENRIQUE SANTOS GONZALES

MigrantePagsiyasat sa pagkabigo ng estadong magbigay empleo

Patuloy ang paglaki ng populasyon ng mga manggagawang Pilipinong nasa ibang bansa upang magkaroon ng hanapbuhay, ngunit kapalit ng kita ay ang pagkakataong maabuso at masamantala ng dayuhan at ng sariling pamahalaan.

Ayon sa mga datos, ang kakulangan sa trabaho at ang mga polisiyang pumapabor sa interes ng mga dayuhan kumpara sa manggagawa ang ilan sa mga salik na nagtutulak upang linasin ng mga manggagawa ang lupa at bayang mas nararapat na unahing pagyamin at mas nangangailangan ngayon ng lakas-paggawa.

huwad na poliSiya

Ang pagkakaroon ng samu’t saring baluktot na polisiya ng pamahalaan ang sapilitang nagtutulak sa mga mamamayan nito na mag-alsabalutan para maghanapbuhay sa ibang bansa upang magbigay-sustento sa pamilyang naiwan nito.

Isa sa mga polisiyang ito ay ang labor export policy na naglalayong ibsan ang mataas na unemployment rate sa bansa at bawasan ang kahirapan gamit ang remittance ng mga Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) sa kanilang mga pamilya. Ilang dekada na ring tumatakbo ang ganitong polisiya kung saan inoobliga nito ang pamahalaan na maghanap ng trabaho sa ibang bansa upang ibigay ito sa sarili nitong mamamayan.

Kaugnay nito, ayon sa 2001 National Economic Development Plan, ang pagkakaroon ng overseas employment ay isang “legitimate option for the country’s workforce.” Kalakip dito ang apat na puntos ng estratehiya kung paano pa pararamihin ang mga OFW.

Ipinaliwanag ni Charisse Bañez, League of Filipino Students (LFS) National Spokesperson, na mas lalong pinapaigting ng K-12 ang labor export policy ng rehimeng Aquino na pangunahing tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng lakas-paggawa sa ibang bansa at tunay na hindi nagsisilbi para sa kakulangan ng trabaho sa Pilipinas. “Gusto ng pamahalaan na dumami ang kumuha ng vocational at technical courses upang tugunan ang pangangailangan sa manggagawa ng ibang bansa para sa kanilang kaunlaran,” wika naman ni Prof. Ramon Guillermo sa Suspend K to 12 Alliance’s Multisectoral Forum na ginanap sa UP PGH Social hall noong Marso 21.

Dagdag pa ni Prof. Ramon, ang mainam na maging puno’t dulo ng edukasyon sa bansa ay paunlarin ang ating sarili at hindi upang paunlarin ang ibang nasyon.

Kaugnay nito, iginiit ng LFS na ang K-12 ay isang programang magbibigay ng murang lakas-paggawa sa mga dayuhang bansa at korporasyon.

Batay sa pagtataya ng IBON Foundation, hindi pa man lubusang naipapatupad ang K-12 sa bansa, 4 sa 10 Pilipinong nakaabot ng kolehiyo ang walang trabaho, at 2 sa 10 naman ang nakapagtapos ngunit bigo pa rin magkaroon ng trabaho. Samantala, 8 sa 10 ng manggagawang Pilipinong nakatuntong sa sekondarya ang walang trabaho.

Bukod sa K-12 at labor export policy ng bansa, ang pagkakaroon din ng hindi pantay na distribusyon ng kita sa buong bansa, pati na rin ang mababang minimum wage kumpara sa ibang bansa ang nagtutulak sa mga Pilipino na magtrabaho sa dayuhang bansa. Sa Hongkong, isa sa mga pangunahing destinasyon ng mga

OFW, P171.828 ang minimum wage kada oras, halos anim na beses na mas malaki sa minimum wage ng Pilipinas na P27 kada oras. Naungusan din ang Pilipinas ng Cuba kung saan P399.6 naman ang minimum wage kada oras. (Sumangguni sa Talaan 1)

mga nakaambang epekto

Ang mga salik na naunang nabanggit, pati na rin ang ilang personal na dahilan, ang nag-uudyok sa mga Pilipino na maging OFW na kalaunan ay nagiging masamang siklong patuloy na ang pagbibigay pinsala sa mga mamamayan nito.

Ayon kay Marra Macasapac ng Migrante Youth, 6,092 Pilipino ang umaalis ng bansa araw-araw upang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa, at halos kada taon ay lumalaki ang bilang na ito. Noong 2013, aabot sa 1,469,179 Pilipino ang umalis ng bansa para maghanapbuhay, halos doble ng bilang ng mga nangibang-bansa noong 1997 na aabot sa 747,696. (Sumangguni sa Talaan 2) Labas pa sa mga datos na ito ang bilang ng mga OFW na hindi land-based tulad ng mga seaman. Bunga nito, nagkaroon ng tuloy-tuloy na pagtaas ng remittances sa bansa kung saan halos triple ng halaga ng padala noong 2002 ang dumating sa bansa noong 2012.

Ang pagtaas ng remittances ay mayroong magandang maidudulot sa ekonomiya ng bansa, ngunit indikasyon din ito ng pagkadepende ng ekonomiya sa mga OFW remittances pati na rin ang pagtatago sa totoong kalagayan ng bansa. Gamit ang remittances ng mga OFW, naikukubli ang totoong estado ng pag-empleyo sa bansa. Ayon sa mga datos, kung wala ang mga OFW, ang unemployment rate ng bansa ay papalo ng 25-29 porsyento. Dahil dito, mahihinuhang hindi kayang bigyang oportunidad ng pamahalaan ang mga manggagawa nito. Bagkus, ginagamit ang labor export policy bilang pansamantalang lunas sa kapabayaang ito.

Ang pagdami ng bilang ng mga OFWs ay nag-uudyok din ng kakulangan sa lakas-paggawa ng bansa. Ayon sa datos noong 2013 mula sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), mayroong 121,701 trabaho ang maaaring pasukan. Kabilang dito ang service and sales workers (23.4%), laborers and unskilled workers (21.6%), clerks (17.4%) at professional and trade related workers (10%). Mayroon ding kakaunting porsyento ng trabaho para sa agrikultura at militar.

Ang mga datos na ito ay patunay na mayroong kakulangan sa paggawa sa bansa. Gayonpaman, hindi napupunan ang mga industriyang ito. Isang rason sa pagkakaroon ng mga bakanteng ito ay ang mababang sahod at hindi sapat na benepisyo. Ang oversupply ng mga nars sa bansa habang mababa ang tumbasan ng nars kada pasyente ay isa ring indikasyong mali ang mga patakarang ipinapatupad ng pamahalaan kaugnay ng paggamit sa lakas-paggawa ng bansa.

Nauna ring nabanggit na isang layon ng labor export policy ng pamahalaan ang pagpapababa ng unemployment rate ng bansa. Bigo ang polisiyang ito na ibsan ang unemployment rate sa bansa dahil nanatili ito sa pagitan ng 6 at 8.3 porsyento sa loob ng isang dekada. (Sumangguni sa Talaan 4)

Bukod sa pagkukulang ng manggagawa sa Pilipinas, pati na rin ang pagpalya ng labor export policy ng pamahalaan sa pagbawas ng unemployment rate ng bansa, nagkakaroon din ng mga disperensyang pampamilya ang ilang OFW.

Talaan 1: Pagkukumpara sa kita ng bawat manggagawa kada oras mula sa iba’t ibang bansa. (Sanggunian: Business Insider)

Bila

ng n

g M

angg

agaw

a

Talaan 2: Bilang ng mga OFW Deployment (land-based) kada taon. (Sanggunian: Anakbayan Toronto, Philippine Statistics Authority)

Talaan 3: Halaga ng remittances kada taon (Bilyon USD). (Sanggunian: World Bank)

Talaan 4: Porsyento ng walang trabaho sa Pilipinas. (Sanggunian: National Statistics Office, Tradingeconomics.com)

06 FEATURES Volume 28 Number 18June 1, 2015 | Monday

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

JENNAH YELLE MANATO MALLARI ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL LORENZ DUMALAOG RAYMUNDO

Seven out of ten Filipinos have never been to a dentist.

For every opening of the mouth, various cases of dismal disorders manifest. Infections, inflammations, and decay remain - plaguing the health of the Filipinos. Presently, tooth decay and gum disease are the most common oral health problems in the country. Mouths continue to suffer as less action is done in addressing the concerns.

The massive prevalence of oral disorders and diseases coupled by the inaction of the government continue to impoverish the already dire state of oral health.

Initiation

The distress of the masses intensifies as more and more Filipinos suffer from oral disorders that remain untreated.

Dental caries, also known as tooth decay, is considered as the major oral disorder suffered by many. In the Philippines, the said disorder plagues the majority of the Filipino people. According to the Department of Health (DOH), 92.4% of Filipinos suffer from tooth decay while 78.3% of Filipinos suffer from periodontal or gum diseases in the year 1998 alone. By the year 2011, the department conducted another survey that assesses the prevalence of tooth decay in the country. Categorized according to gender and age groups, the survey yielded a decrease in percentage but still remains significant and drastic.

The survey also showed the average number of Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT). The DMFT does not directly show the prevalence of the dental caries but the value can be used as an estimate in assessing caries incidence. This shows the number of decayed or infected teeth, filled or treated teeth, and missing teeth per age groups. In the Philippines, the 2011 DMFT averages a total of 8.66 – a number exceeding the global average presented by the World Health Organization (WHO). Moreover, it showed an average value of 2.22 for decayed teeth and a mere 0.08 for filled teeth. This implies that oral health treatment, in relation to dental caries, is not availed by the majority of the Filipinos suffering from tooth decay.

The high number of caries incidence is alarming as it promotes the initiation of other diseases such as gum disease. Infections may spread and damage the structures that support the mouth which can lead to more serious oral

On the Tip of the TongueProbing the State of Oral Health in the Philippines

health concerns. Negligence towards oral health - specifically that of dental caries - may also lead to heart disease or endocarditis as the bacteria from the cavities may enter the bloodstream. Stroke or clogging of the arteries may also be linked to oral bacteria according to recent studies. Oral health problems also increase the rate of malnutrition as statistics show that children with tooth cavities manifest low Body Mass Indices (BMI). The negligence directed towards oral healthcare compromises and jeopardizes the people’s overall health.

With the abundance of dental patients coupled with the minute opportunities for treatment, the masses is subjected into a vulnerable position - one where his or her health is compromised and on threat.

Recurrence

Despite the prevalence of oral health disorders in the country, programs remain insufficient and unimplemented.

The Department of Health, despite the dismal state of oral health, fails to deliver effective resolutions as proven by the high caries incidence in the country. Programs fail to materialize as internal affairs hinder implementation and further studies regarding oral health concerns. One of the programs spearheaded by the department is the Outpatient Dental Health Care Finance Package. This program aims to inculcate dental services under the financing of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Up until now, restorative services and other oral treatments are not financed by PhilHealth and affordable oral health services remain unattainable to the masses.

Present oral health care programs are concentrated among children. Preventive measures such as frequent tooth brushing and hand washing are performed at schools in order to educate children about health. Schools are the primary avenue used by the department in disseminating information to the public. However, there are no existing program targeted towards people belonging to higher age groups. This is a problem as dental health disorders are not isolated cases within children alone.

Moreover, pre-existing oral health programs are not implemented due to the organizational changes within the department. A need to reconstitute various technical groups is required before effective implementation of

programs is achieved. Dr. Anthony Calibo of the Department of Health stated that upgrades on various dental health programs must be made and more studies must be done in order to formulate effective solutions towards caries prevalence.

There is also a lack of public health dentists in the country. According to the Philippine Health System Review by the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, more dental practitioners are situated in urban areas. Because of this, caries incidence and gum disease in the rural areas are more prevalent compared to urban areas. The concentration of dental practitioners in cities causes the alienation of the rural areas in availing proper oral health care.

The existing programs are not enough in addressing the prevalence of dental disorders in the country. The continuity presented by caries prevalence shows that there are more programs and solutions to be conceptualized and to be implemented.

Arrest

The dire state of oral health is coupled to the disregard thrown towards the health sector in general.

There has been a disjoint between oral health and health in general. In the Philippines, the relevance of oral health to overall health is not established. Apart from financial constraints, the ineffective information dissemination in relation to oral health further injures its already desperate state. This due to the lack of prioritization given to oral health – proven by the Philippine Health System Review. Furthermore, the Federation Dentaire I n t e r n a t i o n a l e p i n p o i n t e d that people living under u n d e s i ra b l e c o n d i t i o n s are most likely to undergo a cycle of being at risk of being affected by a disease

while having a very small access to health care.

The inaccessibility of oral health is a result of the insufficient budget allocation given by the government. The allocation falls short to the required budget allocation stated by WHO. Instead of granting 5% of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the sector, only 1.89% or P56.8 billion was allocated for health. To compensate for the lack of budget, different healthcare facilities are subjected to privatization. As a result, more and more Filipinos are unable to tap healthcare services – including that of oral health – due to the lack of finances.

In line with this, the services offered by public dental facilities only include extractions and consultations. Other forms of treatments such as restorative treatment and endodontic treatment remain inaccessible due to their high costs. Extraction has been the resort of patients undergoing treatment. Preventive measures are also more often than not, disregarded.

According to Dr. Calibo, there is a dichotomy between people who can afford oral health services and those

CONTINUED ON PAGE 09

CULTURE 07Volume 28 Number 18Monday | June 1, 2015\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

"Uy, si Ian Somerhalder o!"

Halos maging manananggal ka na sa bilis ng pag-pihit ng ulo at katawan mo. Akala mo iyong totoong tao na, pero lintik, billboard lang pala sa EDSA.

Sa panahon ngayon, mistulang tourist spots na rin ang mga posters, stores, maging espasyong laan para sa patalastas sa telebisyon at radyo. Talamak na kasi ang mga naggagwapuhan at naggagandahang dayuhang mukha, mga accent na zo awt ov thiz werld, na ineendorso ang tatak Pilipino. Pero pantalon man ‘yan o kape, isa lang ang tiyak: dahil dito, unti-unti na tayong hinuhubaran ng identidad, unti-unti nang pinapaso ng realidad na hindi pa rin tayo nakakawala sa impluwensya ng mga dayuhan.

Mukha lang ang PuhunanOh ano, si Kris at Anne na naman ang mga endorser? Wala na bang iba? Alam nilang sawa ka na, kaya narito ang mga Hollywood stars na noon ay napapanood mo lang sa pelikula. Makaka-meet-and-greet mo pa.

Kung susumahin, wala namang masama sa pagkakaroon ng foreign endorsers. Sa katunayan ay mas epektibo itong uri ng celebrity branding, dahil hindi lamang nakikilala sa Pilipinas ang produkto, kung hindi nakikilala mismo ang Pilipinas sa buong mundo. Ang maituturing na masama ay ang pinalalaganap nitong nosyon at imahe sa konsumers at sa mga mamamayan.

Mas 'sosyal' kasing maituturing kapag internationally celebrated ang mukha ng binibilhang brand. Maraming naaakit sa ganitong gimik, na nagiging dahilan ng pagdagsa ng mga tao sa binebentang produkto kahit hindi naman nila ito talaga kailangan. Pakiramdam mo na kapag suot mo ang suot ni Leighton Meester at Nina Dobrev, ay mas mataas ang iyong identipikasyon sa bansa o antas na kinabibilangan mo, kahit sa totoo lang ay bahagi naman ang inaakalang kapangyarihan sa aktwal na plataporma ng globalidad.

Sa pamamagitan nito, naeengganyo ang tinatawag na conspicuous consumption, o pagbili ng mga produkto at serbisyo para sa natatanging rason na pagpapakita sa iba ng iyong mas angat na pang-ekonomikong kalagayan. Sa ganitong paraan, ang pagbili at pag-display lang ng ilang mga produkto ay naipaparating mo na sa lipunan na kaiba ka sa kanila.

Ngunit kaiba sa pag-konsumo ng mga produkto ng mga local brands, higit pang nahihikayat ang mga konsumer na bumili sapagkat sa pananaw nila ay napapanindigan nila ang kanilang pagka-Pilipino sa pagtangkilik sa mga lokal na produkto. Dito, kahit na aksidente na lamang ang pagiging makabayan dahil sa pagbili ng lokal na produkto, lalo pang kumikitid ang depinisyon ng mga Pilipino sa pagiging nationalistic – ang nasyonalismo ay matutumbasan na ng konsumerismo; ang pagiging makabayan, ay naka-sale na.

Sa tusong paghahalo ng uhaw ng Pilipino sa nasyonalismo, at sa kati nila sa konsumerismo, hindi lamang nito binabaluktot ang unang leksyon na natutunan mo sa Economics: when the price goes up, the demand for the product decreases. Nagtatanim din ito ng aspirasyong makaangat at makasabay sa hype, na bumili nang bumili hangga't may pera.

Bayan na InutangLucy Hale, Cara Delevingne, One Direction – iilan lamang sila sa mga foreign endorser na ginagamit ng mga magkakatunggaling local fashion brand sa Pilipinas upang makaungos sa isa’t-isa, at maisakatuparan ang pangarap na maging isang global brand. Ngunit higit pa sa mga ito ang nagiging takbo ng mga bagay.

Ang aspirasyon ng lokal na brands na makipagtagisan hindi lamang sa isa't isa kung hindi sa pandaigdigang pamilihan ay repleksyon ng aspirasyon natin mismong mga Pilipino—ang makilala ang ating bansa bilang aktibong kalahok sa global na entablado. Wala na dapat bago sa pagtampok ng mga Pilipinong artista sa Broadway, sinusubaybayang talent show, o pagkakaroon ng produktong Pilipino sa ibang parte ng Asya, at maging sa buong mundo.

Sa teorya, globalisasyon ang daan upang ilagay ang bawat isa sa pantay na lebel bilang mga pandaigdigang konsumer.

Ngunit taliwas ang nangyayari. Ilusyon lamang ang pagkakapantay-pantay na hatid sapagkat ang pagtapak sa pandaigdigang merkado ay nangangahulugang pagsunod sa panuntunang halaw sa mga hegemon na bansa, na t i n u tu r i n g b i l a n g s i y a n g

pangunahing may silbi sa politikal at e k o n o m i y a n g kaayusan ng mundo. Maging sa konsepto ng kung ano ang mas benta, kung ano ang trending, sexy at beauty queen material, at kahit pamantayan sa edukasyon at trabaho ay nakabase sa kanilang modelo. Pagpapatali ito sa dikta ng dayuhang kultura at interes.

Kaya naman bilang cultural trendsetters din, ang mga local brands ng mga damit sa Pilipinas ay nakakaapekto sa pagtingin at pag-iisip ng masang Pilipino. Sa paggamit nila ng foreign endorsers at pagkabit ng “All-Star” campaign sa kanila, pinapaigting pa nito ang kulturang mapanghati at ang laganap na colonial mentality sa lipunang Pilipino; nananatili pa ring hayok sa pagpapaputi at maputing skin complexion ang mga Pinoy. Maging pagdating sa pagkain, pananamit, musika, at iba pang produkto, mas tinatangkilik pa nila ang imported.

Ang naturang kalakaran ay nag-aanak sa

tinatawag ni Propesor Rolando Tolentino na “queer racialization.” Ayon dito, dahan-dahang nalulusaw ng aspirasyong global ang ating bayan at nasyonalidad. Sa pagkakaroon ng mga Pilipino ng affinity sa mukha ng global na panuntunan: lalakeng dayuhan—puti o mestizo o basta may lahi pa rin ng kaputian, o superioridad ng iba pang mas maunlad na bansa (tulad ng Thailand at Korea), nahihiwalay natin ang ating sarili sa ating pagka-Pilipino at isinusugal o binebenta ang ating nasyonalidad.

Sa ngalan ng negosyo at kita, natutunaw ang nasyonalismo para magbigay daan sa proyekto ng globalismo. Narito ang marka ng bagong global na identidad: nakikilahok pero hindi lubos, sa laylayan pa rin ng global na dibisyon ng paggawa. Muli’t muling idinidiin ang antas ng pagka-Pilipino para iaangat ang pagiging world class sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa idinidikta ng mga dayuhan. Pinoy meets world. But world meets who?

Ang mundo ay isang malaking merkado kung saan ang lahat ng tao ay tindero’t tindera —may inilalakong produkto o serbisyong naghihintay mabili; may mga “gumagamit”, may mga “nagpapagamit”, at aksidenteng “nagagamit.” Sa pagpapatuloy ng proseso ng ganitong walang hanggang pagsasamantala, hindi maiiwasang isipin na sa huli, nagiging parte na rin ng sukatan ng ating pagkakilanlan ang mga produktong ating binibili at lubos na tinatangkilik – wala ng

bahid ng pagiging tao, sapagkat natabunan na ng konsumerismo.

BAY AN’ Sell:

Kalakaran ng Brands sa Lokal at Pandaigdigang Merkado T

HA

LIA R

EA

L VILLE

LA AT

GA

BR

IELLE

ME

LAD

SIM

EO

N D

IBU

HO

NI JA

ME

LA LIM

BA

UA

N B

ER

NA

S

08 FEATURES Volume 28 Number 18June 1, 2015 | Monday

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

It only took three minutes for the unknowing victim to faint after a sip of the drink, and half a day for the chemicals to take the person’s life.

Food, as the primary need has continued to slip past the eyes of a government that only responses with inadequate measures in the midst of the recurrence of food-related issues in the Philippines. While unceasingly compromising the food sanitation and safety in the country as seen in the rising incidences of food poisoning and smuggling of unauthorized food products, the government has ultimately failed in addressing the key issue that concerns a big chunk of the population—hunger.

With the lack of effective food regulations and solutions regarding food-related issues, what should have served as the sustenance for one becomes his or her ticket to an immediate death.

Recipe for Disaster

Every meal or drink could pose a looming threat to the health of the masses in a country where food safety controls are only used as deceptions to make people feel secure.

At least a thousand food poisoning cases in the Philippines are recorded yearly. The illness, which is contracted by eating contaminated food, could be traced from causes such as unsanitary handling, undercooked food, unhealthy agricultural products and livestock, and spoilage. Depending on the severity, food poisoning could lead from the mildest cases of diarrhea, even to death.

News reports about Filipinos suffering from food poisoning have become prevalent since 2012--an indication of the worsening problem of food sanitation in the country. To note a few, more or less 130 B’laan tribal residents fell ill after consuming food in a community meeting. Another case involved the consumption of contaminated milk tea in Iloilo, resulting to the death of a man and 34 being hospitalized. Recently, another similar incident occurred in an ErgoCha stall in Manila, where two people died after ingesting milk tea with ingredients found out to be contaminated with oxalic acid. As Article XIII, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution stated, “the State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertake appropriate health, manpower development, and research, responsive to the country’s health needs and problems.” But with the cases of food illnesses piling up and affecting many people in the country, the government’s way of carrying its mandate to uphold food safety has proven to be nothing but disastrous and inefficient.

As seen in the incidents, the lack of thorough probing in all these cases could be noticed. For instance, despite the purported legal assistance given by the government to the tribal residents, no more investigations regarding the status of the food or the caterers surfaced. On the other hand, various allegations regarding cause of the Iloilo milk tea incident came to light, but nothing was confirmed and finalized. What is alarming is that no thorough investigations have occurred, despite the cases of food poisoning already stretching out to food establishments and caterers. Another point to be raised in line with the ErgoCha incident was the fact that the store itself got to operate using ingredients that are positive with a toxic substance.

These three cases only mirror some of the many instances where the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) lacked supervision in food quality control and safety, by which they are supposedly responsible of, specifically in the regular checking of all establishments registered to them. While the agency claims that food quality control is a shared responsibility, it is still the state’s sole mandate to maintain efficient regulation on the food sanitation in the country, thus making them accountable for the cases due to their poor supervision.

As the number of food poisoning casualties continue to rise throughout the years, the mix of irresponsible food distributors coupled up with inutile authorities failing to uphold food safety laws have proven to be the ultimate recipe for disaster.

Messy Preparations

In response to the detrimental effects of food poisoning to the population, the government has packaged specious food safety laws only to mask their underlying putrid services to the masses.

In 2013, Republic Act No. 10611, otherwise known as the Food Safety Act of 2013 was implemented under the aim of strengthening the food safety regulatory system in the country. It holds the FDA responsible for setting the standards of, as well as ensuring food safety at various stages of the food supply chain while the local government units (LGUs) are responsible for enforcing the food safety standards. Also part of the concerns to be addressed under RA 10611 is the enforcement of examinations at ports of entry and exit in the Philippines regarding the sanitary conditions, as well as over their cargoes, passengers, crews, and the issuance of quarantine certificates, bills of health or other equivalent documents of the incoming and outgoing vessels. Ideally, violation of the RA 10611 would hold the offenders accountable to penalties, have their license suspended and to pay for the hospital bills if there are victims. However, in case of death of victims, the offenders shall be imprisoned, pay penalties and have their license permanently revoked. These laws, however, remain to be useless due to the fact that the government fails to implement them.

Smuggling of food products, for instance has continued to be evident despite the law having taken to effect. This April 2015, a National Food Authority (NFA) official has just confirmed the widespread smuggling of rice in Mindanao. A similar case happened back in 2013, when Philippine Customs authorities uncovered 1.2 billion pesos worth of smuggled rice in Cebu. On the other hand, the most crucial of smuggling potentially expired meat occurred in 2014, where the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) has revealed that at least 5.6 million kilos of pork did not pass through quarantine inspection. The Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock, Jose Reaño, even admitted that there is a possibility that some cargos may have failed to undergo inspection upon their arrival in Philippine ports. Records in 2014 also showed that that there are several remarkable discrepancies in the records of other country’s agricultural exportation to Philippines and importation received by Philippines which may indicate large-scale smuggling. Such cases could easily threaten the lives of the people, mainly because the kinds of food stated are already staple in Filipino tables. Dr. Ma. Patricia Azanza, a food expert in the University of the Philippines even cited a study proving that the usage of cheap meat is proven to be the main cause of food poisoning in the country. Furthermore, the government also fails in managing the pulling out of contaminated

products in the country after their distribution, much more of banning them. One such case occurred in 2012, where six Korean noodle brands were banned when FDA learned that the products contained carcinogens. Despite the absence of reports on the harm potentially incurred by the noodles’ consumers, danger still looms as the products were proven to contain carcinogens far less than the regulatory limit. With the incidences of food smuggling and distribution of banned products in the country, the laws established by the government only prove to remain effective in papers.

Despite all the purported improvements in food safety controls under the RA 10611, it could also be noticed that no government assistance is extended to the victims. The sole provision only given towards the victim is state in Section 38 (e) of the law, where the offender shall shoulder the hospitalization and rehabilitation of the victim. While the lack of provisions for the victims puts them to a disadvantage, it all goes back to the fact that the government was initially inefficient in ensuring food safety. Thus, it could be seen that not only does the government lack in extending medical assistance to its people, but it has also compromised the health of the masses from the very start.

While the enacted laws seem to be pleasing to the eyes, the messy preparations of putting such provisions into action only continues to put the people into critical health situations.

Rotten Services

Efforts of the government to mask their inefficiencies on food safety gives them no escape from the reeking stench of the rotten services that they continually serve to the masses.

One of the problems still faced by the country in terms of food safety involves the lack of subsidy on establishing testing laboratories to other regions in the country. Such issue surfaced back in 2008, where the contaminated goods that brought illnesses to 200 pupils in Mankayan, Benguet had to be forwarded to the central office of the FDA, since testing was not possible in Baguio. In such cases such as t h i s , w h e r e

poisoning h a p p e n s in far flung areas, test results would usually be delayed, which i n turn affects t h e

supposed immediate regulation of banning the food in the place.

Another ongoing large-scale issue is the failure of the government to utilize the agricultural sector in terms of producing rice for the country, by choosing to focus on being the testing ground for genetically modified organism (GMO) rice that came from the United States. Known as “golden rice”, the GMO rice was said to contain ‘beta-carotene’, which would eventually be ‘helpful’ in battling Vitamin A Deficiency-related Disorders (VADD) and malnutrition as well. However, the farmers in Bicol who have been cultivating golden rice instead of the usual crops have only sunk to more debts due to the high costs of the seed itself as well as the low yield that it gives. The farmers themselves have marched to stop the cultivation of golden rice, stating that it would only worsen the problems of health, malnutrition and hunger in the country. Plans of commercializing ‘golden rice’ in 2-3 years also surfaced in 2014 — this only means that the government is allowing a more expensive rice variety to enter the market, since it ‘contains Vitamin A’ , unlike other rice crops. It is very ironic of the government to work under the guise of malnutrition when in fact it is selling a more expensive rice variety that the masses will further not be able to afford. Moreover, the government proves to take the wrong measure of addressing malnutrition in the very start, for it has not been able to address the issues on hunger and poverty initially, which in turn causes the former to proliferate.

Apart from further driving the people to hunger, the government also continues to discourage its agricultural sector by further burying its farmers to debts due to its experimental protocols. With the lack of the subsidy for the agricultural sector in the country, the government has fully subjected its local food production to its own end.

The flawed system of food safety control as well as the lack of encouragement in the domestic production of food remains to be the cause that places the health of the Filipinos in a precarious situation. Whereas the local production of food is left to wither, the country is resigned to rely on imports--goods in which some turn out to be detrimental to the health of the Filipinos.

By abandoning its mandate to uphold the health of its people, the government

continues to expose the nation to suffer with foodborne illnesses and hunger,

while allowing other countries, as well as its corrupt and complacent

officials to thrive and prosper. What continuously serves as

the poison to the people is the lack of government’s

attentiveness on the plight of the underserved.

MASS CONTAMINATIONExposing the Status of Food Safety and Regulation in the Country

LIEZL ANN DIMABUYU LANSANG AND AMANDA ERIKA MITERIA LIM ILLUSTRATION BY LIZETTE JOAN CAMPAÑA DALUZ

GRAPHICS 09Volume 28 Number 18Monday | June 1, 2015\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

SIESTAJENNY MARY CAMAMA DAGUN

19TH CENTURY INGRATAS LIZETTE JOAN CAMPAÑA DALUZ

who cannot. There is also a disparity between government-facilitate dental facilities and those that are privately-owned – being more advanced than the former. The acquisition of quality oral health care treatments in the country is more of a privilege than a right due to the negligence exhibited by those in position.

The state of oral health calls for a restoration.

With the negligence and lack of prioritization, oral health care in the Philippines has become subjected to aggravation. Teeth remain untreated and other oral health concerns remain disregarded. Availing service has become a privilege to be bought more than a human right to be upheld. The body and the mouth are not two separate entities – both being vital to overall health.

The battle for oral health is not over. Our mouths should resound words that will lead the masses to accessible and quality oral health services.

ON THE TIP OF THE TONGUE FROM PAGE 06

MANG DENIS JAZMINE CLAIRE MARTINEZ MABANSAG

10 OPINION Volume 28 Number 18June 1, 2015 | Monday

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

LAST RIDE BONUSSTORED VALUEAngelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa

F O R E V E RM O R E

BASAG-ULOLean Sandigan

Apat na taon akong naghanda para sa artikulong ito, at hanggang

ngayon, hinahanap ko pa rin ang tamang mga salita upang mamaalam at magpasalamat.

Katulad noong nakapasa ako sa pamantasan at sa institusyong ito, bumara muli sa aking lalamunan ang mga salita ngayong pagtatapos. Pero wala akong magagawa, huling byahe na ito sa ngayon. Siguro darating ang araw na bibili ako ng tiket at babalik muli, subalit ngayon kailangan muna ng pamamaalam. Sa biyahe ng aking buhay, ang kabanatang ito na ata ang pinakamatindi. Matindi, dahil hindi lamang nito binago nang tuluyan ang buhay ko, kung hindi maging ang pananaw ko tuwing lumilingon sa nakaraan at tuwing nakatitig sa hinaharap. Hindi lang ako nahilo sa liku-likong daan ng pagkakataon, binangga at sinagasaan din ako ng katotohanan at pagbabago.

Ilang beses mang naubusan ng gas at nabutasan ng gulong, pati na rin ang dumadalas na paghinto sa gitna ng mga riles, naging sulit ang byahe ko sa kabanatang ito. Habang bumabiyahe, nais kong isumpa ang ganitong mga

Nais kong magpasalamat sa The Manila Collegian, dahil sa institusyong ito ay naging masyado sigurong mabilis ang aking biyahe, bukod sa maaaring kawalan nito ng katuturan. Naging mabagal at malubak, oo, pero dahil rito, nakita ko ang tunay na kalagayan ng lipunan. Naging mabagal at malubak, oo, pero nakita ko ang dapat kong ipaglaban. At sa kurso ng pagbiyahe at pagdaloy, ang inyong pagdurusa ay naging pagdurusa ko rin; ang inyong tagumpay, naging akin din.

Walang makatatalo sa dalisay ninyong pagmamahal na hanggang ngayon ay umaahos pa rin sa aking puso’t isipan. Ang pagtindig at pakikibaka sa inyong mga puso, ay inanod ako patungo sa isang magandang dalampasigan. Ang inyong mga pangarap naman para sa sarili, sa institusyon, sa pamantasan at sa bayan naman ay nilunod ako sa dagat ng kabuluhan.

Maraming salamat din, UP, dahil binago mo ako. Sa aking pagbiyahe, dala-dala ko ang mga alaala at ang pakikibaka.

Maraming salamat sa isang masaya at makabuluhang biyahe. Hanggang sa muli nating pagkikita.

VICES AND VIRTUES*ELECTROPHILEPatrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag

I enter Oarhouse and scan the crowd for any familiar faces. Finding none, I take

my usual seat near the television. I open my freshly bought pack of cigarettes while motioning to the bartender to hand me a bottle of Cerveza Negra and a glass filled with ice. I take out a stick from my pack and then pour the contents of the bottle into the glass. Cigarette in my mouth, I pick up my lighter from the bar and ignites the stick. Taking a long drag, I exhale and then take a gulp of beer.

That’s just a typical night in my life. Some times, after going home, which is around 7 or 8 PM; I drop by Oarhouse for my dose of nicotine and alcohol.

No, I don’t have a problem with vices.

I might be going through a lot right now, like exams, papers, and reports, but being an alcoholic or a chain smoker is the least of my problems. We all know that college students experience a lot of problems during their stay. No words can express the amount of stress and problems we experience during college. We knew that college was bound to bring us stress before entering it. We just never thought it would be this much.

In order to survive, we students have been known to do a variety of activities to de-stress. Some people shop for clothes, go on

food trips, or take a stroll along the park. Some people hang out with friends, listen to music, or watch a movie/TV show. All for the purpose of feeling relaxed after a long day, or an exam, or a major requirement.

Some people, like me, drink to our heart’s (or liver’s) content and burn the crap out of our lungs. Some people, like me, resort to vices.

I also do the aforementioned activities. But for me, they are not enough. Not when you’re faced with problems in school, inside the institution, and at home. Not when you spend a majority of your free time doing non-academic work. Not when your study time has been reduced to whatever time you have left after doing other equally important things. For me, only the numbing effects of nicotine and alcohol can soothe me down and remove the feelings of stress and fatigue.

For me, only cigarettes and alcohol can relax me enough to function. It is ironic that only by destroying my body can I feel unaffected by fatigue and stress.

We do things because we wish to get out of this hellhole called college. We all do things to cope, to survive. Mine just happened to be with vices. I’m well aware that what I do harms me. I harm myself with cigarettes and alcohol to make it through. I believe that my ends justify my means.

We may have friends who help us through times of stress but at the end of the day, we must face our problems alone. Independence is probably the greatest lesson college will teach us, because in the real world, you’re on your own in the struggle to be successful and significant. In the course of learning this lesson, sometimes we have to lose a part of ourselves in order to make it, because after all we’re only human. In the course of being independent, we are looking for our own sanctuary in which we learn how to be on our own. Others find their sanctuary in food, music, and movie. I found mine in cigarettes and alcohol. From these sanctuaries, we will always strive to be successful, and above all, to be significant.

* To Panic! At The Disco’s album, in which I found my musical sanctuary

“TUMUNOG NA ANG WARNING BUZZER, UMILAW NA ANG WARNING LIGHT — LILISAN NA ANG TREN

“IT IS IRONIC THAT ONLY BY DESTROYING MY BODY CAN I FEEL UNAFFECTED BY FATIGUE AND STRESS.

pagtigil sa daan. Ngayong paalis na ako, nais ko namang isumpa ang walang tigil na paglayo ko ng sinasakyan ko sa pamantasan. Pabulong kong hinihiling na masiraan ang tren sa minahal kong Ermita — para lang manatili pa ako ng ilang sandali. Ngunit tumunog na ang warning buzzer, umilaw na ang warning light — lilisan na ang tren.

Kasabay ng pag-ikot ng gulong ng tren ang pag-ikot ng aking isipan. Napakaraming alaala. Mula sa mga leksyon sa loob ng klasrum hanggang sa labas, mula sa tamis ng panalo hanggang sa pait at pagkadismaya, mula sa tumutulong pawis hanggang sa bumabahang kalsada, maaalala ko. Malabo na ang aking paningin dahil sa namumuong luha sa aking mga mata, pero hindi lalabo ang ganitong mga alaala.

May forever nga ba?

Lintik na tanong ‘yan. Wala na bang alam ang mga tao kung hindi tanungin ‘yan? Lahat na lang ata, umaasa sa ganitong konsepto. Ganoon na lang ba iyon, na kung sino ang matagal, iyon ang totoo? Ganoon kasi ang dating niya sa akin.

Hindi ko maintindihan.

Naniniwala akong hindi lahat ng may matagal na pagsasama ay may pagmamahalang tunay. Para sa akin, dapat laging nauunang isipin kung puro o dalisay nga ba ang pagmamahal, at bonus na lamang ang pinahabang pagsasama. Ang pagmamahal, para sa akin, ay makikita sa mga maliliit na bagay, maliliit na pagkakataon, hindi sa pangkalahatang konsepto tulad ng forever. Ano naman kung forever nga, forever naman palang inaalipin? O forever taken for granted?

At sa katapusan ng isang relasyon (o kung magtapos man kasi nga raw may forever), totoo naman ito. Maghiwalay man o hindi, tanging ang mga maliliit na bagay at pangyayari ang tumatatak sa ating mga isipan. Ito ang magdidikta kung may dapat bang ipaglaban, o tuluyan na lang iwan.

Para sa akin, kung hindi lang sana unang iniisip ng mga tao ang forever, mas pahahalagahan nila ang kung anong mayroon sila ngayon. Maiisip nila na dapat nilang ipaglaban ito ngayon, dahil hindi nila alam kung may dapat pa bang ipaglaban kinabukasan. Kapag walang konsepto ng forever, walang dahilan para hindi makamit ang kaganapan ng isang bagay o pangyayari sa lalong madaling panahon.

Kung hindi iniisip ng mga tao ang forever, lalong tatamis ang mga halik, hihigpit ang mga yakap, at iinit ang pagmamahal.

Sa ating pagkalimot sa forever, magiging matatamis na alaala at leksiyon ang lahat ng sakit at pagsubok. Ikaw man ang naunang bumitaw o hindi, darating ang araw na buong puso mong sasalubungin ang mga halu-halong pakiramdam at salita. At sa dagat ng mga ganitong pagkakataon, aahon ka at darating sa mas tahimik at payapang pangpang.

Sa ating pagtanggap, unti-unti na rin nating maiintindihan na ang pag-ibig ay tumatagos sa lahat ng ginawa ng sangkatauhan sa lahat ng panahon. Kung tutuusin, maging ang panahon ay mawawalan ng saysay.

Sana, ganito rin ang bawat isa sa kanilang pag-ibig, ninanamnam ang bawat sandali — dahil walang mas mahalaga sa simula at pagtatapos, kung hindi ang panahon sa pagitan nito.

EDITORIAL 11Volume 28 Number 18Monday | June 1, 2015\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

KASABAY NG PAGHUPA NG USOK ay ang pagtambad ng tunay na

trahedya.

Sa paggulong ng imbestigasyon sa pagkasunog ng Kentex Manufacturing Incorporated, isang pagawaan ng tsinelas sa lungsod ng Valenzuela, lumantad ang karima-rimarim na katotohanang malaki ang pananagutan ng pamahalaan sa pagkasawi ng 72 manggagawa ng nasabing pabrika noong Mayo 13.

Bagama’t sinabi ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na tumalima ang Kentex sa general labor standards at occupational and health safety standards ng ahensya, lumabas sa isang pagsisiyasat ang walang habas na paglabag ng pagawaan sa mga nasabing pamantayan.

Kabilang na rito ang kawalan ng fire exit sa pabrika, kawalan ng maayos na sistema para sa pag-iimbak ng mga kemikal na madaling masunog, kawalan ng smoke at fire alarm sa pasilidad, at kawalan ng regular na fire drill para sa mga empleyado. Natuklasan din ang hindi makatarungang kalagayan ng mga empleyado ng Kentex, kung saan karamihan ay sumasahod ng mas mababa pa sa minimum wage. Umiiral din ang sistemang “pakyawan” kung saan nagtatrabaho ang isang empleyado ng hanggang 12 oras at ng walang pormal na kontrata.

Ang kabi-kabilang paglabag na ito ng Kentex, sa kabila ng diumano’y pagtugon sa mga pamantayang magtataguyod sa interes ng mga manggagawa, ay patunay lamang sa huwad at walang pangil na polisiyang inilalatag ng pamahalaan upang protektahan ang mga manggagawa, dahilan upang ipagkibit-balikat ng malalaking kompanya ang karapatan ng mga empleyado nito.

Mas pinaigting pa ito sa pagpapatupad ng DOLE Order No. 131-13 na ayon mismo sa kagawaran ay naglalayong magtaguyod ng “kultura ng boluntaryong pagtalima sa mga batas paggawa.” Sa ilalim ng kautusang ito, epektibong tinatalikuran ng pamahalaan ang obligasyon nitong protektahan ang mga manggagawa. Isa itong pagtraydor sa mandato ng gobyernong mahigpit na ipatupad ang batas para sa kapakanan ng mga mamamayan nito.

Sa kabilang banda, isa ring malaking kabalintunaan na hanggang sa ngayon ay wala pa ring mainam na polisiya ang pamahalaan upang siguruhing maayos ang kondisyon

ng mga manggagawa sa bansa. Kung babalikan, hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon sa ilalim ng administrasyong Aquino na naganap ang kahalintulad na trahedya. Noong 2012, 17 empleyado ng Novo Jeans and Shorts sa Butuan City ang namatay rin sa sunog, habang walo naman ang nasawi sa sunog sa Asia Micro Tech sa Pasay City noong nakaraang taon. Dagdag pa rito, 11 manggagawa ng Eton Greenbelt ang nasawi noong 2011, habang 12 ang namatay sa pagguho ng pader ng isang warehouse sa Bulacan ngayong taon. Nakababahalang walang sinomang napanagot o naparusahan

sa nasabing mga insidente, ngunit mas nakababahalang walang pagkatuto ang gobyerno at patuloy pa rin nitong hinahayaang namamayagpag ang ganitong pagpapahamak sa mga obrero.

Sa gitna ng mga dispalinghadong hakbang ng pamahalaan na patuloy na nagpapahamak sa mga manggagawang Pilipino, marapat na igiit ng taumbayan ang pananagutan ng gobyernong Aquino sa malagim na insidenteng ito. Dapat managot ang DOLE sa pag-apruba sa operasyon ng Kentex. Bukod sa pagbibigay ng sapat na kompensasyon sa mga naulilang

pamilya ng mga biktima, dapat ding kasuhan at panagutin ang may-ari ng pabrika na hinayaang magtrabaho ang mga empleyado sa ilalim ng mga kalunos-lunos na kondisyon.

Ngunit bukod sa pagkamit ng hustisya para sa mga biktima ng kapabayaan ng mga kapitalistang kompanya at ng gobyernong Aquino, nararapat lamang na ibasura ang DO 131-13 at iba pang kahalintulad na kautusang nagpapahirap sa mga trabahador, at tunay na itaguyod ang karapatan ng mga manggagawa sa pamamagitan ng pagbalangkas ng mga batas na magbibigay ng

mas nakabubuhay na sahod at magbabasura sa mapang-abusong iskema ng kontraktwalisasyon.

Ang pagpapabaya ng pamahalaan sa karapatan ng mga manggagawa ay isang sampal sa mukha ng maliliit na obrerong habang nagpapagal para sa mababang sahod ay lalo pang nasasadlak sa kahirapan dahil sa sistematikong opresyon ng mga makapangyarihan. Kaya higit kailanman, ito ang nararapat na panahon upang igiit ang interes at karapatan ng uring manggagawa, ang pangunahing pwersa ng pagbabago.

NAKABABAHALANG WALANG PAGKATUTO ANG GOBYERNO AT PATULOY PA RIN NITONG

HINAHAYAANG NAMAMAYAGPAG ANG GANITONG PAGPAPAHAMAK SA MGA OBRERO

Sampal Sa mukha

CZARINA CATAPANG TUAZON

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFAngelo Dennis Aligaga Agdeppa

ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRSPatrick Jacob Laxamana Liwag

ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRSElizabeth Danielle Quiñones Fodulla

MANAGING EDITORCarlo Rey Resureccion Martinez

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORJennah Yelle Manato Mallari

NEWS EDITOR Ronilo Raymundo Mesa

FEATURES EDITORAngelica Natividad Reyes

CULTURE EDITORJamilah Paola dela Cruz Laguardia

GRAPHICS EDITORLizette Joan Campaña Daluz

NEWS CORRESPONDENTSEzra Kristina Ostaya Bayalan

Adolf Enrique Santos GonzalesEunice Biñas Hechanova

Arthur Gerald Bantilan QuiranteGayle Calianga Reyna

Sofia Monique Kingking Sibulo

FEATURES CORRESPONDENTSLiezl Ann Dimabuyu Lansang

CULTURE CORRESPONDENTSJosef Bernard Soriano De Mesa

Pia Kriezl Jurado HernandezJose Lorenzo Querol Lanuza

Gabrielle Marie Melad SimeonThalia Real Villela

RESIDENT ILLUSTRATORSMaria Catalina Bajar Belgira

Jamela Limbauan BernasDaniel John Galinato Estember

Princess Pauline Cervantes HablaJoanne Pauline Ramos Santos

RESIDENT PHOTOJOURNALISTJenny Mary Camama Dagun

OFFICE4th Floor Student Center Building,

University of the Philippines Manila,Padre Faura St. corner Ma. Orosa St.,

Ermita, Manila 1000

EMAILthemanilacollegian@gmail.com

WEBSITESissuu.com/manilacollegian

www.facebook.com/themanilacollegianwww.twitter.com/mkule

themanilacollegian.tumblr.com

MEMBER

Illustration by Joanne Pauline Ramos Santos

The Cover

College Editors Guild of the Philippines

Solidaridad - UP Systemwide Alliance of Student Publications

and Writers’ Organizations

Layout by Joma Michiko Cruz Kaimoto

Birth “Mark”“Grades” bilang Sukatan ng Buhay at Pagkatao

PIA KRIEZL JURADO HERNANDEZ DIBUHO NI GAYLE CALIANGA REYNA

“Dear schoolmates, teachers, family, friends, guests, ghosts, clergymen, local authorities, hacienderos, donyas, alipins, Mamang taho, Mr. Bobbinsworth the cat, and God. A pleasant morning to you. Today we harvest the fruit of our labor...”

...or something like that. Apat na grading period na pinagpagurang punuin ng mga above 90 na grades ang naging susi ng batang makakapagsambit ng mga salitang ito sa kanyang pagtatapos. Halos isa’t kalahating dekadang pagtitiis sa pagsusunog ng kilay, kapalit ng ilang medalya, ilang minuto ng pagsasalita sa entablado, ilang araw na “bragging rights” – lahat para sa makamit ang isang pinakatatanging “numero’’.

Lahat ay naghahabol ng “numero” upang sa dagat ng istatikang bumubuo sa lipunan, ay hindi maging isang “numero” lamang.

90-100: Outstanding

Sa pagsundo ko sa kapatid kong kinder kanina ay nahawakan ko na naman ang kamay niyang puno ng stamp ng star at mga happy face. “Ako na naman ang most partica—

particispate, kuya!” sambit niya nang pasakay na kami n g j e e p ,

hirap na hirap pang bigkasin ang ‘participative’. Automatic naman akong napasambit ng, “Very Good!” sa pinaka-masayang tono ng boses ko. Sa isip-isip ko, ipagluluto na naman ito ng nanay ko ng favorite niyang ulam dahil nag-uwi na naman siya ng mga “bituing” pasok sa “high standards” ng pamilya.

Sa sobrang kinang ng mga “bituin” na nakukuha lagi ng kapatid ko (at ako rin noong bata pa ako), tila ba ang kislap nito ang naging batayan na rin ng halaga ng pagkatao para sa aking mga magulang. Lahat na lang kailangang may katumbas na “grado”. At hindi ‘yong basta-basta ha – kailangan ‘yung pasok sa mataas nilang pamantayan, na sa sobrang taas e tumatagos na sa kalawakan. Sa madaling salita, medyo imposible na, na pati ultimo dulo ng kuko mo e tila ba nabigyan na rin na nila ng katumbas na grado.

Tulad kahapon, naikwento na naman ni Inay noong isinilang ako sa pribadong ospital. Kulang sa buwan, diretso sa incubator. Ang sabi raw ng doktor eh walumpu’t limang porsyento lang ang tyansa kong mabuhay. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o maiiyak nang sinabi ng tatay ko na dismayadong-dismayado raw sila ng nanay ko dahil sa 85% na tyansang iyon. Tila ba sinasabi nila na, 85% lang din ang

pagiging lehitimo ng pagiging buhay ko sa mundo.

Kaya naman sa takbo ng dalawang dekada ng buhay ko, tila ba sinikap ko talagang punan ang

kulang na 15% sa aking pagiging kumpleto ng

aking katauhan. Kalahati ng buhay

ko ay ginugol ko sa paghangad ng marami pang ribbon na may

ginto ang isabit sa leeg ko tuwing katapusan ng

klase. At b i l a n g i s a n g honor student nga, malimit ko nang

marinig si Inay at Itay na banggitin ang “swerte” nila

sa akin tuwing

magkwentuhan sila ng mga k a m a g - a n a k

n a m i n , k a p i t b a h a y , o bisita. O

kaya naman ‘yung tipong

ang itatanong ng mga kamag-

anak kapag n a p a p a b i s i ta

dito e “Nasaan na ‘yung straight-A

mong anak?” kapag hinahanap ako. O kaya “O andito pala si 1st Honor”. Tito, Juan po ang pangalan ko.

Masaya naman ako, pero hindi sobra. Tama

lang. Pero masaya. Iyan na kasi ang kinalakhan ko: isang pamilya…baka nga lipunan na, na binubuhay ng pag-uuri’t pag-grado.

80-85: Needs Improvement

‘Ni hindi ko naman inakala na kahit pala pakikipagkapwa-tao ay naka-batay na rin sa grades.

Simula elementarya hanggang pagtuntong ng hayskul, hindi pumapalya ang pagiging top 1 ko sa klase, na kinainisan ng best friend kong sumasabit lang sa top 10. Kaya ayun, naging-friendship over ang siste. Hindi ko naman kasalanang dinikta ng tadhana (grading system) na maging mas matalino sa kanya. Hindi ko naman din kasalanan na nagkakaroon talaga ng di pagkakapantay-pantay sa amin patungkol sa kakayahan at katalinuhan ayon sa mga grado.

Ang problema lang, nagiging marumi na rin ang mga kompetisyon sa paaralan at trabaho dahil sa paghahangad na makakuha ng straight 100. May ibang hindi na kinakaya ng simpleng pagsusunog ng kilay ang pag-memaintain ng mataas na grado, kaya nagagawang manloko ng iba para dito. Pati ‘yung tinatawag na cheating, o yung bagay na never daw ginawa ng mga mag-aaral sa tanang buhay nila (alam mo ba na pwedeng magtago ng kodigo sa dila?). Lahat para makakuha ng “rewards.”

Sa ganito, mas nabibigyang importansya ang rewards kaysa sa kakayahang nalilinang ng mga tao. Nababawasan ang kahalagahan ng pagtatrabahong dapat ay simbolo ng kanilang determinasyong magkaroon ng ganap na kasiyahan dahil ito mismo’y siya ring rason at kaparaanan upang sila’y mai-uri. Pero sa marami, ano naman eh may bonus at extra credit ka na?

Pagtungtong mo naman ng pagbibinata o pagdadalaga, nariyan ang mga sumisibol na damdaming natural na nararanasan. ‘Di ko pinalampas ‘yan, humanap talaga ako ng dream girl ko. Yung maputi, matangos ang ilong, makinis, mahinhin, matalino, mabait, masarap kasama, mahilig sa milk tea, sexy—basta ganoon. Inayawan ko yung isa kasi maraming pimples. Bagsak sa standards ko. Ay ayun! Standards na naman. Wala eh, baka sabihin naman nila wala akong taste.

Hindi maiiwasang minsan talaga ay kailangang i-grado ang tao. Una, para ma-obserbahan ang pagkatuto o pag-unlad nito sa isang larangan. Pangalawa, para mabigyang kompiyansa ang tao na gawin pa ang makakaya niya at panatilihin ang ganito kinalaunan. At pangatlo, para magkaroon ng basehan ang ilang interaksyon ng tao sa iba’t-ibang aspeto ng buhay niya gaya ng pagtatrabaho. Ito’y isang bagay na higit pa sa normal. Kasi nagiging representasyon na ito ng pagkatao mo. Kalahati ng buhay mo ay isa kang report card, ang kalahati naman ay merit para sa promotion. Hindi nito nabibigyang katarungan ang aktwal na kakayahan ng tao sa ibang kaugnay na aspeto sa kadahilanang nahahatak ng grado ang mga tao sa paghihinalang ganoon rin ang kakayahan ng tao rito. Tipong 81 ka sa Trigonometry kaya hindi ka bibigyan ng trabahong may kinalaman sa pera kasi nga naman Math ang Trigo. Respekt!

75-80: Poor

Magna Cum Laude na ako – magna-nine years na ring ibinabase ang pagkatao sa grades.

Sa pagtungtong ng tao sa edad na kailangan na nitong magtrabaho, sinusundan pa rin siya ng pag-uuri. Mula sa posisyong hahawakan hanggang sa sweldong makukuha – mapa-promotion, “employee of the month”, o performance-based bonus pa ‘yan. Hindi ka nito iiwan hanggang sa mapasaiyo ang dinidikta nitong nararapat mong makamtan.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin kung bakit kinakailangan ng grado kahit na nakikita ko ito araw-araw. Siguro dahil na rin sa pamamalagi sa mga sistemang nagnanais makontrol ang mga tao. Kung titingnan kasi, isang epektibong paraan ito para mailagay ang tao sa nararapat niyang kalagyanan. Kung sobresaliente ka ba tulad ni Rizal, o needs improvement ka tulad ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas.

Doon ka lang kung saan dinikta ng grado mo ang kakayahan mo. Hayaan mo na sa iba ‘yung tungkuling sakto sa grado nila sa English, Math o Science. Ganyan din naman ‘yung pinagbasehan mo ng kurso mo ‘di ba? ‘Yan ‘yung pinili mo kasi akala mo walang Math. Ngunit hanggang paghahanap ng trabaho ay susundan ka ng grades. May mga kakilala akong hanep ang naging takbo ng job interview pero rejected nang makita na may na-singko na subject sa true copy of grades. Nakakalungkot ring isiping hindi mabibigyan ng kaparehong oportunidad ni Rank 1 si Rank 30 dahil mababa ang grades niya noong mga panahong nagtatrabaho siya pagkatapos ng klase dahil nagkasakit ang nanay niya.

Tila alipin tayong lahat ng meritocracy – alipin ng pagpapabuyang base sa nakalatag na markang makukuha mo sa mga pagsusulit o ebalwasyon. Magiging isang pulupot ng requirements, tasks, business proposals, mga pasyente, o anumang kailanganin ng iyong trabaho ang papalamuti sa iyong naghihingalong leeg. At kailangan mong laruin ang larong ito dahil nakasalalay rito ang iyong tagumpay, at kung hindi mo gagalingan, paniguradong maghihirap ka. Who controls the grades controls the game.

Kanina, nang natanggap ko ang aking unang paycheck, hindi ko maiwasang hindi malungkot (kaunti lang, dahil pera pa rin iyon) – nakakahabag na ang simpleng mga papel ang nagbibigay ng direksyon sa ating buhay. Na ang tinta ng kung anumang printer o ballpen ang makakapagsabi kung saan ka maaring mamalagi sa lipunan. At ito’y isang sistemang malabo nang mabura sa hinaharap at kinakailangan na lamang na matutunang makipagkaibigan rito.

Masakit isiping mga letra at simbolo, sa dami ng digits sa banko, at sa taas ng markang natamo na lang ngayon ang nagdidikta sa kwenta ng tao sa lipunan.

Ang pag-uuri sa kakayahan, kapasidad, at katalinuhan ng tao ay siyang tinuturing na nagbibigay direksyon sa buhay ng tao. Ito ang nagtatantya sa halaga, at kapakinabangan ng tao na siya ring dahilan ng pagkakaroon ng kapurihan ng bawat isa.

Hindi man tahasang negatibo ang implikasyon ng pag-uuri sa tao, ang pagkakaroon nito ng kakayahang humatol sa magiging takbo ng buhay ng marami ay malaking dagok para sa lipunang hindi lamang mga intelektwal ang namamalagi. Isa itong kadenang pumipigil sa pagsibol ng maka-masang sistemang makakapaghimok ng malayang pagkatuto’t pagtatrabaho ng mga mamamayan.