Nº 11

04 Set 07
Opisyal na lingguhang
pahayagan ng mga
mag-aaral ng Unibersidad
ng Pilipinas - Diliman

news | 04
Ayon sa magkapatid
na nakatakas
mula sa militar

Buhay sina
Karen, She

Lathalain | 06
Symptoms of
deterioration
Diagnosing the decline
of the Philippine
General Hospital

kultura | 08
Mal(l)-
formation
Deconstructing the
modern Philippine
mall

On its 85th year, the

Philippine Collegian looks
back at eight decades of
headlines that saw print
on its pages & sent ripples
within and outside the
university.

Mag-aaral ng public ad,

namatay sa
hazing
08 set 1983

Over Aquino slaying

3,000
stage rally
in UP
It took the death of
opposition leader
Sigma Rho hinihinalang nasa Benigno Aquino Jr. to

likod ng trahedya bring U.P. students out

Balita / 03 in the streets again.

 PhilippineCollegian Ika-85 taon Blg. 11 Martes 4 Set 2007

Spiral of violence

ness. By remaining aloof to the

Editoryal national conditions, fraternities

T
he university has be-
come a site of relent-
less brutality.
It was supposed to
be a rite of passage
to “to u gh e n” t h e
weak. Yet, in a malevolent turn
of events, neophyte Cris Mendez
was neither strengthened nor
fail to challenge the prevailing
system and instead, facilitate its
perpetuation.
Indeed, the spiraling violence
can only spawn further violence.
The tradition of brutality is
first cultivated in initiation rites,
where the neophytes’ conscious-
ness is subsequently shaped. Collegian
These hazing practices aim to

empowered. Instead, news of his
death was met with a mixture of
disbelief, sorrow and a gnawing
anger over the futility of the
loss.
Clearly, within fraternities
thrives a culture incongruous
with the logic of justice. Yet, this
brutality has virtually become
an impregnable practice in
the “ brotherhood” – difficult
to remove, due, in part, to the
existing feudal conditions of
Philippine society that foster
such violence and to its deep-
s ea te d e n t r e n ch m e n t i n t h e
university.
PIYA CONSTNATINO.
amputate the neophytes from their
previous connections, as though
the fraternity is their sole source
of affiliation. Meanwhile, the
neophytes, disassociated as they
are, willingly subject themselves
to practices they would otherwise
reject in normal circumstances.
The members’ punishing show
of authority further forces the
neophytes into submission, thus Lest arrogant display of power finds
the flimsiest excuse to create the
concerns seldom extend beyond
their narrow alliances. And, as the
reinforcing the fraternities’ strict, fraternities most vicious abuse: ambushes brothers graduate, they bring with
autocratic echelon. In the process, develop that target lone members of a them the imprints of the frater -
neophytes become “slaves” to a social rival fraternity and melees that nity into the national arena. With
their dominant “masters.” conscience result from mere eye contact. In their propensity for the unre -
Also integral to the brother -
hoods’ collective identity is a
that performing these acts, the broth- pentant abuse of power, it is no

Juxtapose the unabated spate warped concept of masculinity,

transcends ers hide their faces behind masks, longer rival fraternities who are

of fraternity violence with the
national arena and the escalating
human rights violations. Leaders
of militant groups are systemati-
which encompasses feudal char -
acteristics like strength, power,
dominance, aggressiveness
and a twisted sense of bravery.
the confines as if to disavow responsibility for
such iniquity.
in danger but society itself.
In this sense, fraternities func-
of their narrow For while fraternities are unre- tion as a pathological excrescence
relations, the mitting in their attacks, they which duplicate a decadent feudal
death of Cris

tungkol sa pabal at disenyo ng pahina: k arl castro.

cally eliminated by state elements
in broad daylight . Protesting
farmers are shot for demanding
their right to land. Journalists are
murdered for exposing corrup-
tion. Fellow U P students are
abducted for working in peasant
communities.
Despite the national blood-
shed, violence persists within
the university. The fraternities’
dogged acts of brutality speak of
their glaring lack of social aware-
Consequently, slaves are expected
to withstand their masters’ abuse
during initiation, even when the
not be the last
pain has become unbearable.
Through initiation, the spiral of
violence is replicated. Those who
survive the brotherhoods’ rite of
passage take it upon themselves to
display their new-found sense of
self. The slaves become warlords,
unafraid of challenging other
competing fraternities. Often
mistaken for empowerment, this
falter at the bar of justice.
Mendez will Despite the prevalence of
violence and the passing of the
Anti-Hazing Law, many are still
attracted to the promises of the
brotherhood. In this country ’s
feudal system, the network of
patronage and benefaction
assured by the fraternities serve as
guarantees for self-advancement:
employment, resources, promo-
tion, business and politics.
Thus, for all the brotherhoods’
assertions of collectivity, their
system.
Years after the deaths of Dennis
Venturina, Mark Roland Martin,
Alex Icasiano, Niño Calinao and
Marlon Villanueva, the culture
of brutality has again claimed
another victim. Lest fraternities
develop a social conscience that
transcends the confines of their
narrow relations, the death of Cris
Mendez will not be the last.

Philippine Collegian Opisyal na lingguhang pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman

Punong Patnugot / Jerrie M. Abella • Kapatnugot / Frank Lloyd Tiongson • Tagapamahalang Patnugot / Karl Fredrick M. Castro • Patnugot sa lathalain / Alaysa Tagumpay E. Escandor
• Patnugot sa Grapiks / Ivan Bryan G. Reverente, Alanah M. Torralba • Tagapamahala ng Pinansiya / Melane A . Manalo • Mga Kawani / Louise Vincent B. Amante, Piya C. Constantino, Paolo
A . Gonzales, Candice Anne L . Reyes • Pinansiya / Amelyn J. Daga • Tagapamahala sa Sirkulasyon / Paul John Alix • Sirkulasyon / Gary Gabales, Ricky Icawat, Amelito Jaena, Glenario
Omamalin • Mga Katuwang na Kawani / Trinidad Basilan, Gina Villas • Pamuhatan / Silid 401 Bulwagang Vinzons, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon • Tele­fax / 9818500
lokal 4522 • Email / kule0708@gmail.com • Website / http://philippinecollegian.net, http://kule0708.deviantart.com • Kasapi / Solidaridad - UP System-wide Alliance of Student Publications
and Writers’ Organizations, College Editors Guild of the Philippines

Mag-aaral ng public ad,
namatay sa hazing
Sigma Rho
hinihinalang nasa
likod ng trahedya
Melane A. Manalo
I
sang mag-aaral na inaasahang
magtatapos sa pag-aaral ng
public administration ngay-
ong taon ang namatay noong
Agosto 27 sa hinihinalang hazing sa
kamay ng mga miyembro ng Sigma
Rho (SR) fraternity.
Matapos ang limang araw na
burol, inilibing si Cris Anthony
Mendez, 20 taong gulang at kon-
sehal ng National College of Public
Administration and Governance
( NCPAG ) Student Council ( SC ),
noong Setyembre 2 sa Tiaong,
Quezon, kung saan siya lumaki.
Sa utos ni Vice Chancellor for
Student Affairs Elizabeth Enriquez
noong Agosto 31, pinatawan na ng
30 araw na preventive suspension
mula Setyembre 3 ang apat na
matataas na pinuno ng SR . Dalawa
sa kanila ang mula sa College of
Law at dalawa pa ang mula sa mga
kolehiyo ng Engineering at Social
Sciences and Philosophy.
Hindi pa umano maipalalabas ng
pamunuan ng UP ang mga nakalap
na detalye ukol sa nangyari kay
Mendez habang inaasahang lilitaw
pa ang ibang mga mag-aaral at
saksi na makapagbibigay-linaw sa
kaso, paliwanag ni Enriquez.
Katarungan na ang ipinanawagan
ng pamilya ni Mendez mula nang
makita ang bangkay ng biktima
noong tanghali ng Agosto 28. Ayon
kay Elly Andaya, tiya ni Mendez,
batbat ng mga pasa ang mga braso
at hita niya, may pamumuo ng dugo
sa itaas na bahagi ng katawan, at
tanging ulo at mga binti ang walang
tanda ng pananakit.
Lider-estudyante
Panganay sa dalawang magkap-
atid, katatalaga lamang kay Mendez
bilang pansamantalang kinatawan
ng NCPAG sa University Student
Council (USC).
“ Tahimik at mabait na bata si
Cris. Umaasa siyang makakapag-
bagong -buhay silang tatlo [ng
kanyang ina at kapatid] pagka-
graduate,” ani Rosario de Ocampo,
tiya ni Mendez. Ayon kay NCPAG
Dean Alex Brillantes, inaasahang
magtatapos si Mendez ngayong
taon nang may honors.
Hindi naman makapagpaunlak
Philippine Collegian | Martes 04 Set 2007
sa mga panayam ang inang si Cris-
tina dulot ng matinding dalamhati
sa pagkamatay ni Cris, ani Andaya,
na isa sa mga naging tagapagsalita
ng pamilya. Nasaksihang hinimatay
si Cristina nang tatlong beses sa pa-
glilibing kay Mendez, na dinaluhan
ng aabot sa 2,000 tao.
“Hindi natin kailanman kailan-
gang mawalan ng kaibigan dahil sa
walang kasaysayang karahasan…
Huling pagsilay Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang gi-
nawa sa iyo (Cris) dahil isa kang
mabuting tao, tunay na kaibigan,
mabait na anak at responsableng
estudyante,” ang sabi ni Klein
Abejo, kaibigan ni Mendez at kasa-
mahan niya sa samahang UP Pag-
dumala, sa isang martsa noong
Agosto 31 upang kundenahin ang
karahasan ng mga fraternity at
ipanawagan ang katarungan para
kay Mendez.
Huling pagkakita
Bandang ikaapat ng hapon
noong Agosto 25 umano huling
nakitang buhay si Mendez, ayon
kay Gemma Jimenez, may-ari ng
tinitirhan niyang boarding house
sa kalyeng V. Francisco sa Brgy.
Krus na Ligas. Ani Jimenez, nag-
paalam pa sa kanya bago umalis si
Mendez, na lumipat doon noong
Hunyo matapos magsara ang dor-
mitoryong Narra ng UP.
Dumalo pa si Mendez sa regular
na pulong ng konseho bandang
ikalawa ng hapon noong Sabadong
iyon, ayon sa kanyang mga kasa-
mahan sa NCPAG - SC.
Ani Jimenez, noong gabi ng
Agosto 27, nanginginig na ipinaalam
ng isang lalaking mag-aaral ng
NCPAG na nakatira rin sa kanyang
n Inihatid sa huling hantungan si Cris Mendez ng kanyang pamilya noong Setyembre 2 sa Tiaong, Quezon matapos ang limang araw na boarding house na nakatanggap
burol. Al anah Torralba
umano siya ng tawag mula sa isang
nagngangalang Paolo, na nagsabing
Tanda ng panahon nasa St. Peter’s Memorial Chapels
umano ang bangkay ni Mendez.
Paliwanag ng mag-aaral, na miy-
embro ng SR ayon kay Jimenez,
“ Tumawag noon sa akin si Kuya
Pao (Ariel Paolo Ante). Hindi siya
makapagsalita noong una, kaya ipi-
nasa niya sa iba ang telepono. Ang
sabi, nasa morge nga raw si Cris.”
Nang matiyak sa mor ge na
kay Mendez nga ang bangkay, tu-
mawag sina Jimenez sa pamilya ni
Mendez.
Bago dalhin sa St. Peter’s ban-
dang ikaapat ng umaga noong
Agosto 27, naunang dinala si
Mendez ng isang Dr. Francisco
Cruz ganap na 1:08 ng umaga sa
Veterans Memorial Medical Center
(VMMC), kung saan tinangka si-
yang bigyang-lunas, ang pahayag
ni Jonathan Garduce, guwardiyang
nakatalaga noon sa may emergency
ward ng VMMC.
Sasali sa SR
Ayon sa isang opisyal ng NCPAG
na tumangging magpabanggit ng
pangalan, sa paunang pakikipag-
usap niya sa mga mag-aaral ng
NCPAG, napag-alaman niyang si
n Sanhi ng pagkamatay ni Cris Mendez, ipinrotesta ng mga estudyante ng NCPAG noong Agosto 31 ang laganap na fraternity-related
violence sa kampus. Timothy Medrano sundan sa p.11
 Philippine Collegian | Martes 04 Set 2007

Ayon sa magkapatid na Leading the search

nakatakas mula sa militar

Buhay sina
Karen, She
karaang taon sa Hagonoy, Bulacan,
John Alliage Tinio Morales at habang nagsasaliksik sila ukol sa
Noemi Monterozo Gonzales kalagayan ng mga magsasaka sa
lugar.

S
a paglitaw ng magkapatid
na magsasaka na biktima
Palparan, itinurong nasa
ng pagdukot ng militar,
likod ng pagdukot
Ani Cervantes, mahalaga ang
muling may nagpatotoong
pagtestigo ng magkapatid na
buhay pa sina Karen Empeño at
Manalo sa inihaing motion for
Sherlyn Cadapan, mga mag-aaral
reconsideration ng pamilya nina
ng UP na dinukot umano ng mga
Empeño at Cadapan sa Court of
militar sa Hagonoy, Bulacan ma-
Appeals. Nauna nang ibinasura
higit isang taon na ang nakalipas.
ng korte ang petisyon para sa writ
Dinukot ng militar ang mag-
of habeas corpus noong Hunyo sa
kapatid na Raymond at Reynaldo
harap ng kawalan ng matibay na
Manalo noong Pebrero ng na-
ebidensiya.
karaang taon sa Ildefonso, Bulacan
Ang magkapatid na Manalo
at ikinulong sa tatlong kampo at
umano ang mga kauna-unahang
dalawang safehouse ng militar
desaparecido na lumitaw at nag-
bago sila nakatakas noong Agosto
patunay na sangkot si dating Major
13. Pinaghinalaan ng militar na n Hundreds of relatives of missing activists, led by Edita Burgos and Erlynda Cadapan, mothers of abducted agriculturist Jonas and UP
General Jovito Palparan sa pag- student Sherlyn, respectively, mark the International Day of the Disappeared with a protest action at the Liwasang Bonifacio on August 30.
miyembro ng New People’s Army
dukot at pagpatay sa mga akti- Al anah Torralba
sina Manalo.
bista, ani Bayan Muna Rep. Satur
Sinabi ni Raymond na nakita telebisyon kaya ko siya nakilala at sa Camp Tecson at Limay, Bataan.” likod ng mga pagdukot, kabi-
Ocampo.
at personal niyang nakausap sina doon sinabi sa akin ni Palparan na Pinagbigyan ng Korte Suprema lang dito ang kina Empeño at
Ayon sa sulat ni Raymond, “Ha-
Empeño at Cadapan sa dalawang sabihan ko sina nanay na huwag noong Agosto 24 ang petisyon ng Cadapan.
bang nakakulong ako, kinakausap
magkahiwalay na kampo ng militar nang sumali sa mga rally ng mga magkapatid na mabigyang pro - Mariin namang itinanggi ni
ako ni [Maj. Gen.] Jovito Palparan.
sa San Miguel, Bulacan at Limay, grupong maka-karapatang tao at teksyon ng korte matapos nilang Palparan, dating commander ng
Nakita ko na si Palparan dati sa
Bataan. Si Raymond ang pangala- huwag nang dumalo sa mga hearing kumpirmahin na militar ang nasa sundan sa p.10
wang testigong nagpatunay na

RIPADA: MMDA, walang malinaw na plano

hawak ng militar ang dalawang
mag-aaral.
Ayon kay Raymond, “ Sa ku-
lungan nakasama namin ang dala-
wang estudyante ng University of Avenue. Ipinag-utos ni Vice Chan- “ Walang saysay ang nangyaring tulan ang demolisyon sa RIPADA .
Kristoffer C. Reyes cellor for Community Affairs Cyn- usapan dahil hindi naman nailatag Ayon pa sa mga residente, lum-
the Philippines na sina Sherlyn
Cadapan at Karen Empeño. Napag- thia Grace Gregorio ang pagsusukat nang maayos ang mga plano ng alabas na iniiwasan ng pamaha-

alaman namin kung sino sila dahil
nakakausap namin sila. Nakita
namin kung paano sila sinaktan din
ng mga nagkulong sa amin.”
Natutuwa ang pamilya nina Em-
peño at Cadapan sa testimonya ng
magkapatid na Manalo na nagpapa-
tunay na buhay pa nga ang dalawa,
ani Ruth Cervantes, tagapagsalita
ng Karapatan.
Nauna nang tumestigo si Oscar
Leuterio, na dinukot noong Abril ng
nakaraang taon, na nakita umano
niya sina Empeño, Cadapan at ang
magkapatid na Manalo nang maku-
long siya ng limang buwan sa Fort
Bonifacio bago siya pinalaya noong
Setyembre 14.
Naiulat din nitong Hulyo na
dumating si Cadapan, kasama ang
dalawang militar, sa bahay ng kani-
yang biyenan sa Bulacan ngunit
agad ding umalis matapos kumuha
ng mga damit.
Dinukot ng mga hinihinalang
elemento ng militar sina Empeño
at Cadapan noong Hunyo 26 ng na-
M
atapos magsagawa ang
Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority
(MMDA) ng konsultas-
yon sa mga komunidad ng Ricarte,
Palaris at Dagohoy (RIPADA), iginiit
ng mga residente na hindi pa rin
malinaw ang plano ng pamaha-
laan kaugnay ng pagpapalawak ng
Circumferential Road 5 (C -5), na
maaaring makaapekto sa kanilang
panirahan.
Sa pakikipagpulong sa mga resi-
dente noong Agosto 25, hiniling ng
mga kinatawan ng MMDA , Depart-
ment of Public Works and High-
ways (DPWH) at National Housing
Authority (NHA) na maituloy ang
naantalang pagsusukat sa lugar
upang malaman ang lawak ng sa-
sakupin ng proyekto.
Hinarang ng mga residente
noong Agosto 11 ang mga kinatawan
ng MMDA na magsasagawa ng
pagsusukat sa lugar upang simulan
ang pagpapalawak ng C -5 na mag-
dudugtong sa Katipunan at Luzon
noong Hulyo 27.
Ayon kay Engr. Ramson Ona,
kinatawan ng DPWH , hindi ma-
simulan ang proyekto dahil sa
kakulangan ng mga datos gaya ng
kabuuang sukat ng RIPADA at ang
bilang ng mga taong maaapektuhan
nito.
“ Para malaman ang mga tata-
maan, kailangan ng topographic
mapping at census,” ani NHA Un-
dersecretary Froilan Campitan.
Aniya, mahalaga ang nasabing hak-
bang upang malaman kung ilang
apektadong tao ang gagawaran ng
relokasyon.
Binigyang-diin ni Campitan na
wala pa ring tiyak na malilipatan
ang mga residente at iminungkahi
pa lamang niya ang pagbuo ng
komiteng kabibilangan ng kina-
tawan ng mga residente upang pag-
aralan ang relokasyon. Matapos
ang pulong, nagsagawa ng isang
noise barrage ang mga residente
ng RIPADA upang tuligsain ang
nakaambang demolisyon.
MMDA ,” ani Noli Anoos, pangala-
wang pangulo ng All UP Workers
Union (AUPWU) na bahagi ng multi-
sektoral na Save RIPADA Move-
ment. Aniya, si MMDA Chair Bayani
Fernando ang kailangang humarap
sa kanila upang siya mismo mag-
paliwanag ng plano.
Nanindigan naman si Kap. Isa-
belita Gravides ng Brgy. UP Campus
na “ walang galawan hangga’t
walang proklamasyon o malinaw
na plano mula sa MMDA at iba pang
ahensiya.”
Ayon kay Shahana Abdulwahid,
tagapangulo ng University Student
Council (USC), bagaman magan-
dang nakaharap ang mga ahen-
siyang sangkot sa nakaambang
demolisyon, hindi pa rin ito naging
sapat upang matugunan ang alin-
langan ng mga tao kaugnay ng kati-
yakan sa panirahan. Nakatakdang
pangungunahan ng USC at mga
mag-aaral ng UP ang mga mobil-
isasyon at signature campaign sa
mga susunod na araw upang tu-
laang masagasaan ang lupang
kinatitirikan ng mga pag-aari ng
mga Ayala. Sa naunang plano ng
MMDA , dito daraan ang pagapa-
palawak ng C -5 at mas kakaunti
ang maaapektuhang kabahayan sa
RIPADA .
Ani Corazon Cruz, tagapama-
hala sa pagpapaplano ng MMDA ,
walang kinalaman ang Ayala sa
pagbabago sa plano at iginiit ni-
yang hindi pa naman naipatutupad
ang proyekto.
“Iniisip po namin ang pinaka-
mura at pinakamadaling paraan
para maisagawa ng gobyerno ang
plano [ng pagpapalawak ng C -5
kaya binago ito],” ani Ona.
“Makakatipid nga ang gobyerno
pero kami naman ang madadamay,”
ani Clodualdo Cabrera, pangulo ng
AUPWU. Hiniling din ni Cabrera
sa MMDA na ituloy na lamang ang
nauna nitong plano dahil higit
umanong kailangan ng mga mama-
mayan ang panirahan at kabuhayan
kaysa sa proyekto sa kalye.
 Philippine Collegian | Martes 04 Set 2007

Activists condemn Joma’s arrest

Noemi M. Gonzales
rested on August 28 in Utrecht, The ordering from the Netherlands the rebellion case, which includes the Ruth de Leon, executive director
Netherlands on “false charges” of murder of Rodolfo Kintanar in 2003 allegations of murder that Sison is of the NDF International Informa-
having ordered the murder of two and Arturo Tabara in 2004, both now being accused of having in- tion Office, said the arrest of Sison

V
arious groups called for
the immediate release of
National Democratic Front
(NDF) political consultant
Jose Maria Sison after he was ar-
former political colleagues in the
Philippines.
Lawyer Edre Olalia, member of
Sison’s legal panel in the Philip-
pines, said Sison was accused of
leaders of the Communist Party of
the Philippines (CPP) break-away
group. The widows of the victims
filed a murder complaint that be-
came the basis for Sison’s arrest.
In 1992, Kintanar and Tabara
broke ties with the CPP due to
cited, has already been dismissed
by the Supreme Court (SC) of the
Philippines.
In 2007, the SC declared that the
evidence could not be used again
in any court against Sison as it
failed to establish probable cause
and the ransacking of the NDF of-
fice are grave violations of human
rights and are bound to terminate
the ongoing peace negotiations be-
tween the NDF and the Philippine
government.
NDF, with Sison as one of the

BOR oks new REPS

ideological differences and set up of rebellion. chief negotiators of the peace pro-
Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Ma- Olalia said that Sison main- cess, has been engaged in on-and-
sang Pilipino (RPMP). tains he has no power to order the off peace talks with the Philippine

tenure rule in UPLB Sison denied all allegations of

murder during the first indictment
on August 31 but the judge found
murder of Kintanar and Tabara
because he no longer leads the CPP,
which he founded in 1968, and is
government to end the 39-year
insurgency.

Protest actions intensify

an average of 12 units workload
John Alliage Tinio Moralesa
per semester for three consecutive
years prior to being recommended
enough evidence against Sison simply an adviser.
to keep him under custody in the “ There are no evidences linking Meanwhile, progressive groups
Scheveningen prison in The Hague Sison to the killings of Kintanar led by KMU, BAYAN, and Interna-

D
e s p i te c o n c e r n s o ve r
excessive requirements
while getting little privi-
leges afforded to aca-
demic personnel, a new stringent
tenure policy was recently adopted
for the research, extension and
professional staff (REPS) in UP Los
Banos (UPLB).
Aimed at putting the REPS on
equal footing with professors, REPS
would now be required to meet
the requirements of publication in
refereed journals and completion
of graduate studies before their
tenure is secured, as affirmed by
the Board of Regents (BOR), UP ’s
highest decision-making body, in
its July 27 meeting at UP Visayas.
Prof. Judy Taguiwalo, national
president of the All-UP Academic
Employees Union (AUPAEU), con-
tended that the policy, which has
not undergone consultation with
the union, might further disadvan-
tage the REPS.
As of this semester, UPLB has
82 REPS comprising researchers,
extension workers, technical spe-
cialists, guidance counselors, and
librarians.
President Emerlinda Roman en-
dorsed the policy to the BOR after
the proposal was approved on July
26 by the Executive Committee.
‘Up or out policy’
The “ Up or Out Policy,” first
adopted for professors, states that
REPS with temporary appointments
must obtain their master’s degree
“within five years” from the date
of hiring, or their appointment will
not be renewed. After completing
their master or doctoral degrees,
REPS are now required to publish
in a refereed journal within three
years from the start of appointment
or from getting their degrees.
Likewise, REPS who entered
UPLB from any UP constituent unit
must show proof of publication
as basis for tenureship while em-
ployed in UP. Research and exten-
sion personnel should also satisfy
for further investigation, Michiel and Tabara. The New People’s Army tional League of Peoples Struggles
for tenure.
Pestman, Sison’s lawyer, said in a ( NPA ) already claimed respon- marched towards the Dutch em-
Librarians and guidance coun-
statement. sibility for the executions. These bassy in Makati on August 29 and
selors are exempt from the pub-
During Sison’s arrest, Dutch cases were just conveniently used 30 and continued the protests at
lication requirement, but instead
police swept through the office of by the US and the Arroyo govern- Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City
should have a valid license from
the NDF and through seven other ment to intensify the so-called war on August 31 for the release of
the Professional Regulatory Com-
apartments of members of the NDF on terror,” according to Kilusang Sison.
mission, or their appointment will
peace panel, seizing computer hard Mayo Uno Chair Elmer Labog. “Ang nakakatakot kasi dito
be terminated.
drives, discs, files and books. In 2004, the NPA admitted in sa nangyari [ Sison’s arrest] ay
The old rule states that each
Sison, who left for the Nether - a statement the killing of Kin- maaring gawin din sa mga kritiko
position for REPS requires an edu-
lands 20 years ago, had filed po- tanar and Tabara for alleged crimes ng gobyerno ang ginawa kay Pro-
cational attainment, but without
litical asylum but his request was against “the revolution and the fessor Sison,” according to Reyes.
prescribing a fixed time to finish
rejected by the Dutch authorities. people”. Karapatan has also docu- Bayan Muna Representatives
graduate degrees. In the absence
They ruled, however, that he could mented various cases of human Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño
of publication, supervisors should
not be sent back to the Philippines rights violations and criminal ac- plan to conduct more congressional
provide justification for the tenure-
because his life could be in danger tivities by the RPMP. inquiries on the arrest, its impact
ship of the REPS.
in the country. BAYAN Secretary General Renato on other Filipinos in political exile,
Temporary appointments, mean-
Reyes Jr. added that the Dutch and the Arroyo administration’s
while, will still be renewed yearly
Baseless allegations authorities and the Arroyo regime alleged role in the incident. Anak-
while contractual appointments
In an August 29 press confer - in Manila have conspired to perse- pawis Rep. Crispin Beltran said that
will be renewed six months subject
ence at the Bagong Alyansang cute Sison and to pursue political more campaigns will be launched to
to the recommendation of their
Makabayan (BAYAN) office, Olalia agenda meant to seek the surrender call for Sison’s release.
supervisors.
revealed that the case in the Neth- of revolutionary forces.
‘One-sided’ policy erlands is without basis since the
Taguiwalo said that while the
administration’s effort to recog- “Quelling” dissent
nize the academic status of REPS
is laudable, the policy containing
comparable faculty tenure require-
ments is still “one-sided” as it does
not address the inequalities in
benefits and privileges.
REPS have long been calling for
representation in decision-making
bodies at college unit levels, sab-
batical leaves and automatic pro-
motion for REPS with doctoral de-
grees, privileges currently enjoyed
by professors.
The union asserted that the BOR
decision essentially lengthens the
temporary status of REPS from
six months to five years. Tagui-
walo added that the new policy
would doubly burden REPS as they
struggle to meet the requirements
for employment while doing re-
search and extension work at the
same time.
“ The BOR decision making re-
quirements in par with the faculty,
(but) without addressing inequali-
ties…is an unjust way of dealing
n Policemen strike militants with truncheons and shields as they attempt to march toward the Dutch Embassy in Makati on August 30 to
the university’s REPS,” the AUPAEU
protest the recent arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison in the Netherlands. The group later decried police harassment and brutality as several
continued on p.11 rallyists were injured and materials such as streamers were confiscated. Al anah Torralba

D i a g n o s i n g t h e d e c l i n e o f t h e P h i l i pp i n e G e n e r a l H o s p i t a l
Larissa Mae R. Suarez
R
osa Santos* emerged from the Emer-
gency Room (ER) of the Philippine
General Hospital (PGH). She hurried
past the long queue of charity pa-
tients, her path decorated with the colorful
streamers and flags celebrating PGH’s 100
years of existence. Her husband, Virgilio, had
met an accident, and she needed to buy his
prescribed pills. He had been in pain since
they arrived from Parañaque, where the first
hospital they had gone to, lacking the proper
equipment, referred them to PGH.
At the PGH pharmacy, the medicine Rosa
needed – sold at a discount to charity patients
– was out of stock, forcing her to buy it at full
price elsewhere. At the ER , Virgilio’s X-ray,
which had a user fee, indicated the neces-
sity of surgery, made expensive by the new
Operating Room (OR) fee of P1,500. However,
Virgilio is the family’s sole breadwinner. His
income as a tricycle driver scarcely covers
the expenses incurred at PGH.
Such predicament has now become a
common scenario in the corridors of the
hospital, a dismal truth no streamer or flag
could gloss over.
Case Presentation
Infrastructure projects, new equipment,
extended services, and a miscellany of
activities, like a fund-raising concert and
a time capsule, serve as markers for the
PGH in commemoration of “100 years of
excellence.”
The PGH was born on August 17, 1907
through the passage of Act 1688 by the Phil-
ippine Commission. Construction began in
Manila, and the hospital officially opened on
September 10, 1910. It underwent numerous
reorganizations and emerged in the 1950s
as an administratively autonomous unit of
the University of the Philippines-Manila
(UPM) College of Medicine. Accordingly, the
PGH became a venue for the learning and
practicing of the profession by the best and
brightest minds, imbuing them with a com-
mitment to serve the underprivileged.
One of them, Honorato Quisumbing,
worked at PGH during World War II even
after many of his colleagues left the area.
He was shot in 1945 by soldiers as he at-
tempted to secure medical supplies for the
sick. Another was Johnny Escandor, chief
of a research department at the PGH, who
offered free medical services to poor bar -
rios and indigenous peoples. He was killed
in 1983, after going underground to lead the
resistance against the dictatorial regime.
In light of its history, the importance of
the PGH as a provider of af-
fordable, quality health care
is well-established. Such im-
portance, however, seems lost
in the government’s continued
abandonment of the hospital
as reflected in the allocation
it receives.
Examination
The budget for PGH is P1
billion, and has been since
1993 — this stagnancy is in
itself a budget slash, because
the cost of annual operations
has risen today to P3 billion.
To address the deficit, PGH
Director Carmelo Alfiler dis-
tributed on December 14, 2006
a memorandum on increased
rates, without proper con-
sultation with the PGH com-
munity. The cost of blue cards
from the medical records divi-
sion was raised from P7 to P15;
the use of the OR , previously
granted freely to patients, now
costs P1,500.
Various sectors criticized the move,
and Alfiler deferred the rates increase
pending further discussion. On March 29
this year, however, the Board of Regents
(BOR) authorized the collection of OR fees
from charity patients, to generate an ad-
ditional P16 million annually. “ Up to 70%
of patients undergoing charity surgery,”
announced the BOR , justifying its deci-
sion, “are covered by the Philippine Health
Insurance, Inc (PhilHealth).”
Jossel Ebesate, head nurse at PGH
and president of the Manila chapter of
the All-UP Workers Union, challenged the
accuracy of BOR’s defense. “A survey that
we conducted showed the opposite. 70
percent of charity patients don’t have Phil-
Health coverage. Only 30 percent do.”
Meanwhile, Marikris de Guzman, a
councilor of the UPM student council from
the party Alternative Students Alliance for
Progress–Katipunan ng mga Progresibong
Mag-aaral, points out the parallelism be-
tween the PGH’s rates increase and UP ’s
tuition hike. “In both cases, the institu-
tions suffered from inadequate budget
given by the national government. Both re-
sorted to fee increases to offset the deficit,
in spite of opposition by their communi-
ties; both are victims of administrations
with mistaken priorities.”
Diagnosis
These mistaken priorities are evident
as PGH officials tout “self-sufficiency in
resources” as a solution to fiscal prob-
lems. “‘ Self-sufficiency ’ is a term often
used to conceal financial abandonment by
the government,” says Dr. Gene Nisperos,
secretary-general of the non-government
organization Health Alliance for Democracy.
“Another euphemism is ‘fiscal autonomy.’”
Instead of fighting for greater state sub-
sidy, the PGH has channeled its efforts into
increasing its rates. A smokescreen used
is “modernization”: new equip-
ment comes with new fees. For
instance, after the “moderniza-
the rates
tion” of the Sentro Oftalmologico increase
Jose Rizal, almost everything only abets
from cardiac monitors to anes-
thesia machines had new user
the growing
fees. “Ironically,” said Ebesate, neglect
“after upgrading the Sentro
Oftalmologico’s facilities, less
of social
patients have been able to make services
use of them.” by the
More glaring irony is the fact
government
that, for lack of space, most pa-
tients are refused a room in the
hospital unless they offer to pay
— indicating that in the PGH, “service to the
poor” has taken a back seat to revenues.
Prescription
In 2006, as the PGH geared for its cen-
tennial celebration, President Gloria Ma-
capagal- Arroyo pledged to release P100
million annually to PGH until her term’s
end in 2010.
Micaela Papa
A
n eight-hour skirmish ensued on
July 10 after government troops
in search of the Abu Sayyaf Group
(ASG) stepped onto Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) territory. The MILF
suffered four fatalities while the marines 14.
Of the 14 dead, 10 were found beheaded.
Thus began President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo’s renewed orders for “punitive” ac-
tions against Moro rebel groups, deploying
five extra battalions to Basilan on July 27. The
“ The government should institution- incursion of soldiers in Mindanao, however,
alize the allocation, instead of releasing has only heightened the clashes against the
it based on our President’s whims,” notes Moro National Liberation Front
Dr. Nisperos. “ The PGH implemented a
rates increase knowing that the govern-
(MNLF), MILF and ASG.
Consequently, the uncer -
the rebel groups
ment can afford a P100 million increase, tainty and poverty that fueled insist that there
in effect ceding to the government’s ab-
dication of its responsibilities, instead
the Muslims’ rebellion have
escalated due to the crisis. Al-
is little reason
of holding it accountable.” ready, unarmed civilians have for them to give
More than an apparent lack of political been caught in the crossfire; up their bid for
photo: timothy medrano. art work: ar chie oclos. page design: mark angelo ching and ivan
will on the part of the PGH administra-
tion, the rates increase only abets
more than 40 towns in Basilan
and Sulu have been vacated;
autonomy
the growing neglect of social thousands of families have been
services by the government, to
the detriment of disadvantaged
displaced. The casualties are expected to
increase along with the mounting violence of
Filipinos like Rose and Virgilio, the three-decade Mindanao conflict.
whose financial status should
Continuing Colonization
have made them the primary
beneficiaries of accessible health The roots of the Moro rebellion can be
care from PGH. traced to as far back as the American oc-
After a hundred years of ex-
istence, the PGH has failed to
cupation, when the colonizers prevented
the Muslims’ democratic participation in
ensure that enough of the un- local administration. Instead, it allowed only
derprivileged can avail of the foreign and Filipino elites to participate in
topnotch medical services it can
provide. For the PGH to continue
the region’s politics. Americans also crafted
policies and programs that sequestered
its legacy of service to the poor, it must ancestral lands, voided Sultanate property,
and awarded deeds to landless families from
first cure the symptoms of its own deteri-
oration. It must reaffirm its integrity as an Luzon and Visayas.
establishment which “seeks only to serve During the Commonwealth period, the
Filipino administration still adhered to the
the Filipino, for whom it exists.”
previous colonizers’ system, further ne-
glecting the plight of the Muslims. This ig-
*Not her real name
nited the Bangsamoro separatist movement,
which sought to regain control over ancestral
territories and is em-
bodied by the MNLF,
MILF and the early ASG
(see sidebar).
Land of Broken
Promises
The growing force of the Bangsamoro
movement eventually compelled the govern-
ment to enter into peace talks and reconcilia-
tory agreements with the separatist groups.
But an evaluation of the actions undertaken
by various presidencies suggests a half-baked
attempt at genuinely answering the demands
of the Muslims. History reveals that it is often
the government that endorses peace only
to start the war anew.
The Tripoli Agreement
of 1976 between the Marcos
administration and the
MNLF was supposed to grant
autonomy to 13 Muslim areas. To
the MNLF’s frustration, however,
the territory of the resulting Au-
tonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) as pro-
vided by the Organic Act was
reduced to four provinces:
Sulu, Maguindanao, Tawi Tawi and Lanao
del Sur.
Various attempts have been made for
the expansion of the ARMM . However,
Simeon Ilago, director of the UP Center for
Local and Regional Governance, comments
that the system of inclusion through plebi-
scites is problematic. The city of Cotabato, for
example, remains the administrative capital
of the ARMM although it is not part of the
region’s jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Basilan is
now included in the region even though one
of the province’s municipalities, Isabela, is
not. The factions within the region creates
problems with governance as well as politics.
Ilago adds that, despite the “autonomy” of
the ARMM, its politics is largely determined
by outside influence. According to Prof. Mu-
hammad Abdulnazeir Matli of the Institute of
Islamic Studies, although Muslims are already
under -represented in national government,
Philippine Collegian | Martes 04 Set 07
* House Bill 5369 in 2006 for a separate au-
local positions in ARMM are generally
filled by the elite or national govern-
ment representatives acting as interim
officials. Consequently, the programs
and policies of the regional gov-
ernment mirror the priorities of
the national regime. Ramos’
“ Philippines 2000” saw the
majority of public spending
in ARMM geared towards
commercial infrastruc-
ture, to the detriment of
education, health care,
and other basic social
services.
Hidden Agenda
The neo - colonial
condition is perhaps even
more magnified in Mindanao
than the rest of the country.
The region is home to numerous
transnational plantations like those
of DOLE and Del Monte Incorporation, as
well as foreign mining companies and other
similar business corporations. The Arroyo
administration itself claimed that the nation
has over $1 trillion in unexplored copper, gold
and nickel. With so much money at stake, the
government is under pressure from both for-
eign and local investors to keep its hold on
the “goldmine” of the south.
The proposed
Armed C o n f l i c t
•Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) – created
in March 1968 after the Jabidah Massacre, in which
government troops gunned down about 28 recruited
Muslims to cover up military operations in Sabah.
The MNLF later relinquished its goal of independence
after the 1976 Tripoli agreement and RA 6734 or
Organic Act, which created the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Leader Nur Misuari is
currently detained with charges of rebellion.
• Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – created in
1977, when Sheikh Salamat Hashim led the separa-
tion from the MNLF after an internal disagreement
tonomous region for Sulu, Tawi Tawi and
Basilan met opposition from the MILF and
several Islamic groups for allegedly being
backed by American interest for Sulu oil.
They also condemned the presence of
American troops in the region, pointing
that the real motives of the US is not to
end the ongoing war but to safeguard for-
eign interests. However, former Defense
Secretary Angelo Reyes justified the entry
of up to two thousand American soldiers
for the Balikatan military exercise as a
necessary move in the elimination of the
ASG. Five years later, however, the ASG
remains active with kidnap-for-ransom
and hostage-taking activities.
Meanwhile, the US ’ “war on terror”
has emphasized Mindanao’s strategic
location – at the center of Southeast Asia
and in close proximity to Middle East and
Northeast Asia, where Iraq and China
are located respectively. The proscrip-
tion of separatist groups as “terrorists”
therefore carries monetary gains for the
Arroyo administration. Her “all-out-war”
against “rebel groups” is largely funded
by the American government, receiving
approximately $2 billion as military aid
in 2002 alone.
Despite talks of a drastic cut in US aid
due to the Arroyo administration’s track
of human rights violations, Texas Rep.
Silvestre Reyes, chair of the US House of
Representatives’ armed services com-
mittee, assures that US military aid to
the Philippines will not be reduced due
to Arroyo’s commitment and “good track
record” in the war against terror. This
after the administration sent out five
additional battalions against the ASG in
an alleged attempt to preempt the pur-
ported cut.
In light of the government’s pro-
tracted and deliberate failure to
uplift the Muslims’ condition, the
rebel groups insist
that there is little
reason for them to
give up their bid for
autonomy. It is with
misguided policies
that the Arroyo
administration
has virtually guar-
anteed the persis-
tence of the war in
Mindanao.
References:
Abubakar, Carmen (1999). Ang
Hijrah ng MNLF: 1974-1996.
Tan, Samuel (2003). History of
the Mindanao Problem.
Jacinto, Al (2003). Mindanao
Peace Process timeline.
Wadi, Julkipli (2003). They’ve
Come So Far.
over the 1976 Tripoli. The MILF contested that the
agreement only provided for regional autonomy
instead of the separate Islamic republic originally
advocated by MNLF.
• Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) – collapse of peace
talks between the MNLF and the government in
1988 aggravated Muslim youth to revolt under
Janjalani Abubakar, a veteran of the war against
Soviet Forces in Afghanistan. Both the MNLF and
MILF have denied affiliation with the ASG, which
employ extreme methods such as beheading and
mutilation.

Glenn L. Diaz
J
erico just came from a grueling three-
hour class. He gets on a jeepney and
heads for the newly opened mall
fronting his former favorite. Huffing
and puffing, he negotiates several layers
of people, some smartly dressed, others
quite disheveled. He notices the façade
first. While the typical concrete and metal-
lic interior tell him this is indeed a mall,
oases of exotic flora and foggy streams of
water, with fountains that wet the adjacent
pavement, make him feel weird somehow.
Like how the mall has encroached on the
territory of parks in terms of scenery.
Still everybody competes for a piece
of the air-conditioning inside, hordes of
people pour into the lone metal detector by
the entrance. When he finally gets in, his
body quickly notices the change in temper-
ature and begins to relax. He inhales the
perfumed air and drags his feet along the
tiled floor. He clutches his backpack and
embarks to explore, the sweat that dripped
down his back now a thing of the past.
Like no other mall in the world
The first mall in the country was the
Ali Mall, named after Muhammad Ali,
and inaugurated during his visit to Ma-
nila in 1975. Today, the mall still stands,
although its former grandeur now vastly
overshadowed by the supposedly posh
malls of late.
From less than ten malls in the 1980s,
today there are more than 250. Among the
ten biggest malls in the world in terms of
gross leasable area, three are located in
the Philippines. In fourth place is the SM
Mall of Asia. Opened in 2006, the imposing
structure occupies a sprawling 4.1 mil-
lion square feet of leasable space by the
bay. The other two in the top ten, SM City
North EDSA and SM Megamall, take up
some additional 7.5 million square feet.
Another four Philippine malls land in the
top thirty.
The recently opened Triangle North of
Manila (Trinoma), Ayala Malls’ answer to
SM City North EDSA , is already at number
25. According to pop culture theorist
Rolando Tolentino, the shopping mall
boom, which has gathered renewed steam
in recent years with the opening of the
colossal SM Mall of Asia and Trinoma, is
indicative of the Philippines’ faith in these
structures. “Sobra ang kompyansa sa mall
bilang tanda ng pagkaunlad ng bansa na
ang mismong bansa ay nilalayong maging
isang hypermall,” he said.
If, indeed, much of the West thinks physi-
cally shopping for goods is already a thing of
the past with the advent of online commerce,
it is the exact opposite for the East. Fourteen
of the twenty biggest malls in the world are in
Asia. Half of this are in China alone, in what
appears to be a showcase of the country ’s
recent economic expansion. In the Philip-
pines, the case is no less different. Trinoma,
for instance, rose directly in front of a hugely
popular rival mall, indicative that the market
has yet to be fully satiated.
We’ve got it all for you
Tolentino likewise commented on the
illusory sense of refuge that malls offer. Ac-
cording to him, “sa loob ng mall, maaliwalas
ang kapaligiran, maliwanag kahit saan,
parang parating tanghaling tapat, malinis,
walang basura sa kalye, malamig, may mga
puno rin naman, nagpa-flush ang toilet,
maayos ang serbisyo, at walang krimen.”
Such pockets of first world in a third world
country are enough to drive hordes of people
into these places day in and day out. Inside,
time stops being a factor as one loses sight
of the outside. The enclosed space is crucial
in maintaining this artificial reality. Filipinos
get a taste of the first world - they finally
experience winter via skating rinks, eat
American doughnuts through Krispy Krème,
wear British apparel thanks to Debenhams.
The maller becomes enamored with his
current surroundings and, at some point,
Philippine Collegian | Martes 04 Set 2007
What used to be a
largely theocratic
social order has
been transformed
to a communal
reverence toward
consumerism
starts choosing this sheltered existence over
the harsher conditions outside. The more a
mall beautifies its inside premises to con-
trast the bleak appearance of the outside,
the more successful it is in reinforcing this
dichotomy.
Some factors, though, suggest that this
altered “reality” comes with a price. After a
long day of roaming around its shiny inte-
riors, admiring the high-end goods for sale,
and using its first-rate facilities, one will
notice that there are hardly any seats for tired
shoppers. The mall forces its customers to be
constantly on their feet. The message that
such arrangement sends is simple: if you go
to a mall, you are expected to spend. And
contrary to how the concept of the malling
experience is advertised, it does not come
for free.
As with most modern capitalist prod-
ucts, malling is easily an archetypal es-
capist practice. It offers a retreat, no matter
how fleeting and artificial, to people living
in dire conditions. It appears that going
to parks to relax is no longer enough.
The stresses of modern living have con-
sequently formed these new needs to
satisfy.
Love ‘em all
The modern mall has likewise been
touted as the new center of the localities
today. From it, many high-rise condo-
miniums have risen with the promise of
putting all of modern man’s needs, such
as shelter, dining, and leisure, under one
roof. It has replaced the plaza, which used
to flank the church and the town hall,
as a town’s nucleus. The malls of today
have gone beyond offering the customary
trades like food and clothing. One can go
to a mall to hear mass, view art exhibits,
get a perm, buy a book, go to school, even
breast feed one’s baby. Indeed, one can go
to a mall to undergo minor surgery such
as liposuction.
And the change is not literal alone. It
also implies a shift in the prevailing value
system. What used to be a largely theo-
cratic social order has been transformed
to a communal reverence toward con-
sumerism, a culture that emphasizes the
power of money in acquiring goods and
services. In so doing, these malls are stra-
tegically placed where volumes of people
predictably amass, such as routes of public
transportation systems. They have stopped
being mere optional conveniences. The
goal is to make them vital.
Weary from walking all day, he decides
it is time to go. And as he steps outside,
his body quickly notices the sharp change
in temperature. At once, black noxious
fumes from a passing dump truck block
his vision, offend his nostrils. At once, he
feels beads of sweat form on his back. He
walks a few distance and hails a decrepit
photos: candice anne reyes. page design: mark angelo ching and k arl castro.
jeepney. He squeezes in between an overly
made up mall employee and a middle-aged
man in rags. He craves for the elbow room
he earlier had but for now he knows he has
this harshness to confront. The jeepney
speeds through, and the proud mall lights
get dimmer by the second until they are
completely out of sight.
Reference
Rolando Tolentino, Kulturang Mall, Anvil Publishing, 2004.
 Philippine Collegian | Martes 04 Set 2007

Pamamaalam Ivan Rerente

P
agod na ‘ko.
Wala na akong ibang masabi
pa. Naubos na ang mga salitang
dapat kong bitawan at tila pagal na
ang aking isipan sa pagtatanong at sa pag-
unawa sa mga bagay na nangyari sa atin.
Paano tayo nakarating dito? Ang sabi mo ay
ayaw mo na kaya ka nagpaalam. Kasunod
na ginusto kong muling magmakaawa
sayo, pero libong ulit ko ring naiisip ang
sinabi mong masaya ka ngayon. Masaya
ka na ngayon, kaya kailangan ko nang
magpatuloy nang mag-isa.
Sa ngayon ay natatapos na lang ang
bawat araw ko sa mga di-mabilang na
buntong-hininga. Panay ang dalaw ng
masasaya nating
Alam ko, kaya nga ayoko na, dahil pagod
na ‘kong umasang babalik ka pa. Pagod na
‘kong lagi na lang lumuha. Pagod na ‘kong
magtago sa mga panaginip kong kapiling
ka. Pagod na ‘kong unawain ka pa. Pagod Chris S.
na ‘kong kalabanin ang sarili ko. Pagod na
‘ko na lagi na lang ganito. Pagod na kong
Agrava
unawain pa ang mga nangyari at wala na

News of a death
nito ay sinabi mong mahal mo pa rin ako kong mabibigay pa. Pagod na kong magdusa
pero di na tulad ng dati. Sinabi mong kai- Kelan kaya alaala kasunod ng nang dahil lang sayo. Ayoko na, kelan kaya
darating ang

langan mong maging mag-isa. Nagulat
na lang ako nang bigla kang naghanap ng
bagong daan at kasabay nito ang pagkaka-
roon mo ng ibang kasama. Iniwan mo kong
kulang sa pagpapaliwanag, iniwan mo
kong walang laban. Iniwan mo na ‘ko.
Nagdaan na ang isang taon pagkatapos
ng iyong paglisan, akala ko noon magiging
madali lang ang paglimot sayo, nagkamali
ako. Sa anim na taon na naging tayo hindi
ko inakalang hindi pa rin pala kita lubu-
sang kilala. Aaminin kong mahirap takasan
ang mga alaala mo at mahirap magpatuloy
nang wala ka. Dumaan na ang libong saglit
napakasakit mong
panahong pamamaalam. Ma-
ako naman hirap ang unti-
ang sasaya u n t i n g p a g b u ra
sa mga text mo sa
cellphone ko, habang patuloy ang pagpa-
padala ng mga “moving-on quotes” ng mga
kaibigan ko. Ang istorya natin ay naging
paboritong usapan ng ating mga kakilala at
sa mga pagkakataong nakakasalubong ko
sila sa daan ay naging napakahirap sagutin
ng tanong nilang “kumusta ka na?” Paulit
ulit na lang na ganito, pero oo, alam ko...
wala ka na kaya talagang ganito.
darating ang panahong ako naman ang
sasaya? Kailangan ko nang bumitaw, kai-
langan na kitang palayain. Kailangan ko
nang magsimulang muli para muli ko na-
mang mahanap ang sarili ko. Matagal-tagal
na kong nagbababad sa aking kalungkutan,
panahon na para lisanin ko ang parteng ito
ng sarili ko. a number of people dead, mostly
Pagod na ‘ko at wala na akong ibang ma-
sabi pa. Naubos na ang mga salitang dapat
kong bitawan at tila pagal na ang aking
isipan. Mahal kita pero ngayon sa huling
pagkakataon… mahal ko, paalam na.
D
eath has become trite, at least
for me. The newspaper headlines
scream of activists murdered by
the government on a daily basis.
The recent spate of typhoons left
from the countryside. Closer to home, a student
was beaten to death in yet another sequence
of bloodshed in that vicious cycle of fraternity
violence.
He could have been a classmate. I swear I
could have seated beside him in one of the banal
rooms in AS. Or I could have rubbed elbows with
him in a Toki jeepney on the way to Math. He

Tourists
could have been in that UAAP game, cheering
the Maroons on to no avail. We could have been
in the same line to borrow a book from the Main
Piya Constantino Library.
It’s futile, this attempt at trying to remember

T
he first few weeks, you’d want to
either jump out the window or
pack your bags and go home. But
then you see the growing figures in
your bank book, and you’ll decide that it’s
worth the loneliness and the ingratitude
and all the other crap that will be thrown
at your face. This was what I gathered from
my sister’s musings after she received a
message from a colleague who had just
accepted a work contract as a doctor in
Singapore, and was already dying to return
home. She was right, though. He didn’t
come home. Neither did my sister when
she signed a similar contract.
She packs cans of Purefoods Sisig and
packets of Boy Bawang after every vacation
here, and during her stay would eat Rodic’s
Tapsilog or fishballs and isaw. Yet she would
shake her head at the ugliness or filthiness
of the places I would take her, and would
watch the news or read the newspaper and
shake her head in contempt. “Mga Pilipino
talaga…” she would always start, and
would not finish the sentence. As though
those three words were self-explanatory. As
though we weren’t part of her generaliza-
tion. As though she were not.
She works, she says, not for the money
itself but for the money to be able to travel
and see the world. She would tell us of all
the places in other countries that she has
been to, and always her stories would re-
volve around how clean and beautiful they
are; how nice and honest the people there
are. Always, of course, in comparison to this
place where, according to her, people have
no discipline and would, given the chance,
try to cheat or steal from you. And of course,
you would never hear of that kind of be-
havior in ________ [insert First World
country ’s name here], where she stayed
a few days and took
p h o to s o f a l l t h e How
beautiful places and could
beautiful people she anyone go
encountered. hungry
I have a half- when there
brother, too, who is so much
lives in America; who food being
has almost always sold on the
lived in America . streets?
During his last visit
here, he came to see the ‘real’ Philippines.
And so he went to Banaue to live, for a
night, in an ‘authentic, native’ hut. It was
the real thing, he boasted. The tarpaulin
advertising it said so.
He wanted to see the ‘real’ Manila as
well, so he tried the ‘exotic’ street foods
such as buko juice and taho, and rode a
tricycle while videotaping workers along
him other than that lifeless mass of flesh. The
the road, all of whom were cheering and
blue marks and broken bones were haunting
running after him, the American with the
reminders of the violence he went through, the
video camera riding the tricycle which,
extent of which I will never fully fathom. I took
according to him, was rather tight but oth-
photos of his limp body; the specter will forever
erwise fun to ride in. He got the same treat-
assault me.
ment everywhere; people would turn their
I am tempted to call for an end to all of this,
heads to look at and watch the American,
but we’ve been doing the same for decades
and would smile and wave at the camera
now. The slogan “End fraternity violence” rings
he always carried. Filipinos are so nice
empty; it never halted the deaths of Lenny Villa,
and friendly, he would say while reviewing
or Dennis Venturina, or Mark Martin, or Alex
the footages.
Icasiano, or Niño Calinao or Daniel Reyes. Cer-
He concluded, before returning home
tainly, it never saved Cris Mendez.
after a three-week stay, that he didn’t
For slogans leave much unsaid. It doesn’t say
believe that poverty existed in the Philip-
that Cris is expected to graduate this year, or
pines. For how could anyone go hungry
that he leaves behind a mother and a younger
when there is so much food being sold on
brother, or that his frail body was beaten black
the streets? We pointed out to him people
and blue, his left wrist broken, and the only parts
sleeping on cardboard flaps by the side of
the road. He pretended not to see. He didn’t
of him that looked normal were his head and his
videotape them either.
legs. It doesn’t capture the brutality of it all.
You could make postcards from photos
I may not have known or met him, after all,
but the thought of him having once walked
my sister took of the countries she has been
the streets of UP somehow brings solace. The
to, and those that my brother took of the
memory of a person persists through the images
Philippines. Tourists bank on the perfec-
we conjure of him, as if the loss of him never
tion of places and countries as advertised
happened, as if lifelessness were just a dream-
on posters of travel agencies; the shortness
like phase. We so abhor death precisely because
of their visits ensures that they would not
of its permanence.
see beyond the polished surface. Pictures
But deaths are never the same. I was never
deceive, for they are dependent on the eyes
hysterical when my grandmother died of old
behind the lens.
age. More than grief, rage took hold of me
upon receiving news that my aunt was stabbed
dead. If GMA were to die right now no matter

Justice for Cris Mendez.

the cause, not a few of us will find reasons to
celebrate. More lasting than death itself are the
circumstances that made such death peaceful or
violent, worthy or senseless.

End fraternity violence.

Death has become trite. I am tempted to
weave moving narratives of denunciation, but
when death so confronts us, we can only look
askance to heavens, seething with rage at such
harshness.

Contact us! write to us via snail mail or submit a soft copy to Rm. 401, Vinzons Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. ••• Email us kule0708@gmail.com. Save Word attachments in Rich Text Format, with INBOX ,
NEWSCAN or CONTRIB in the subject. ••• Fax us 9818500 local 4522. Always include your full name, address and contact details. ••• Contributions We are open for contributed articles from
student writers, subject to the approval of the Editorial Board. All submitted articles should have a maximum length of 400 words.
Justice for Cris
Mendez
T
he Student Alliance for the Ad-
vancement of Democratic Rights
in UP (STAND UP) joins the family,
friends, and colleagues of UP student
Cris Anthony Mendez in the pursuit for
justice of his most unwanted death.
STAND UP, as the largest student
alliance in UP Diliman, recognizes Cris’
contribution to his fellow iskolars ng
bayan as an active College and University
Student Council member.
His death is allegedly due to frater-
nity hazing, but decisive investigations
should be accomplished by the police
and the UP administration to bring light
his case.
STAND UP, having 13 member-frater-
nities and sororities, pose a reminder to
such brotherhoods of their progressive
history and orientation, which commonly
adhere to the service of the nation and
of the people. Living up to these ideals
will not only avert fraternities from the
deeply embedded culture of violence,
but will also mark their significant place-
ment in society.
BOR  from p.5
Buhay  mula p.4
We welcome questions, constructive criticism,
opinions, stands on relevant issues, and other
reactions. Letters may be edited for brevity or
clarity. Due to space constraints, letters must
have only 400 words or less.
Fraternities, together with the rest
of the studentry, should unite against
the true killers and oppressors of their
ranks. Amidst intensified state terrorism,
fee increases and commercialization of
education, issues which may have been
actively fought by Cris, a unified and
progressive student body is demanded
to engage.
We call on all fraternities, students,
faculty, and general public to extend
greatest possible support for the im-
mediate resolution and justice of Cris’
death, as well as its solemn and valuable
remembrance.
Vanessa Faye Bolibol
STAND UP Chairperson
Get free publicity! Email us your press releases,
invitations, etc. DON’T TYPE IN ALL CAPS and,
go easy on... the punctuation!? Complete
sentences only. Dnt use txt lnguage pls.
Please provide a short title. Be concise, 100
words maximum.
KALAYAAN DORM RENOVATION
UP Space Innovations and Lifestyles by
Interior Design (SILID), the graduating Inte-
rior Design Majors of the College of Home
Economics has chosen Kalayaan Resi-
dence Hall to be this year’s beneficiary of
their free interior design service.
The aim is to entrance their interior
design skills by providing first-hand ex-
perience on the field of design and con-
struction and at the same time develop
solidarity through service.
Help us fund this renovation project. Let
us make the residence hall the Iskolar’s
home away from home. For inquiries, con-
tact: Melissa Manzo 0916.456.2270
UP JPIA’S CARNIVALE
Party with UP JPIA as we bring CARNI-
VALE– a breathtaking night filled with ac-
robatics, magical illusions, belly dancin,
capoeira arts and energy-pumping dance
showdowns on Sept. 7, Friday 7:30pm at
Warehouse 135, Yakal St., Makati. Pro-
ceeds will be for the Hotchkiss Learning
Center in Surigao del Sur. Free-flowing
drinks for 1 hour. Purchase tickets before
11pm on Sept.7 at P250, just contact Cha-
rie @ 0916.405.9337
DUP’s “As You Like It”
Dulaang UP, on its 32nd theatre season,
stages William Shakespeare’s “As You Like
It” as well as its Filipino translation by the
late National Artist for Literature Rolando
Tinio, “Paano Man Ang Ibig.” Directed by
José Estrella, the romantic comedy fea-
tures Richard Cunanan, Gary Lim, Mailes
Kanapi, Paolo O’Hara, Randy Villarama and
Nathasia Garrucha. The play runs Aug 29-
Sep 16 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater,
2/F Palma Hall. For more info, please con-
tact the DUP office 926.1349 or 433.7840,
or Sir Anril Tiatco 0917.858.0734.
Philippine Collegian | Martes 04 Set 2007
Send in your opinions and feedback via SMS! Type:
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SA TINGIN MO, NAKATUTULONG
BA ANG “HOLIDAY ECONOMICS”
NI GLORIA ARROYO?
Ok lng.prmkpgphnga ang mga manggagawa.
pro in a way ayw q rn kc wlng mggng pasahero
ang tatay q..06-45935
anng 2l0ng nagawa nun?!Nagkasabay
sabay exams ko..tsaka ala na k0ng na222nan
sa mga subjects ko pag m0nday.. 04-13896
Holiday econ?Bwiset,panira s sked! Wla ng
ntu3hn ung students, nli2to p kng kelan tlg mga
celebration. Tpos nun mg-mke up clas p! Waah!
06-31599
Holidays were set so that we could celebrate
it on that day. Matakot na lang tayo kung pati
Pasko,i-move nya. Naguguluhan lang ako sa
sense ng pag-move ng no classes. 06-07372
0o nman!ang sya kya nun lalo n s mga
estudyante!haha.. Wla kyang ps0k!kelan nga
b ung nxt holiday? Haha.. 07-04466
Holiday economics?Haller hnd cla ngwork
for a day.m0st filipinos daily wage earners.no
work=no money=no pnggastos 07-19330
ok lng nman ang holiday ec0n0mics ni glo..
Dirediretso ang trabaho s mga opisina.. wlang
hassle,hba pa bkasy0n..”, 06-02735 jumpps,
eng’g
para sa akin oo. Nagkakaroon ako ng pana-
hong habulin ang tambak na plates, mag-ipon
ng energy,bonding kasama ang mga mahal sa
buhay,at magmuni-muni hanggang sumayad
sa utak na ang oras ay mahalaga at dapat gina-
gamit ng wasto para maging produktibo, mas
gugustuhin mong pumasok nang muli kaysa
tumunganga lang sa isang tabi.wow. nakatutu-
long nga. 04-61750
uhm, in a way, nkktulong naman xa lalu
na if type mu ang long vacation, haha, at least,
dre-dretso phnga mu. But d bad syd is, nwwla
n ung sgnfcance nung mism0ng holiday. 07-
78013 music
ANO’NG MASASABI MO
SA PAGBABALIKAN NINA
RUFFA AT YILMAZ?
their reconcliation s nevitable..they hav
kids kc, nd wen ther r kids nvolvd, ms mhrap
maging selfish. Their marriage brawl ws just
too publiszd kya lumaki ng sobra. Nd to anabel
rama, stay out of it! She’s s nytmare, hoNest-
ly..03-28574
S tngin ko drma lng nla yn.. Showbiz tlga!
Ikanga ni annabel, ‘wg nu ng guluhn ang anak
kong c rowpAh!’..Hehe..07-76207 sisA
Nagbalikan pala cla. Well, godbless po sana
s kanila. Para n rin s mga anak nila iyang gna-
gawa nila. 04-11599, nana bsce
hwahaha! C ylmaz at rufa na2man?!Nak0w,
cgurad0ng masayang masaya nanaman c
anabelramz dhl marami na naman xang gin2.
(getz?) Haha. 07-10761,d0ng
oh?ngkbLikan na cla?ala nk0ng bLita dhL
1 month nk0ng alang tV,.nwei,mLmang 4 pub-
Licity purPoses lng yan.. 07-48221
keber qng ngkblikan cna ruffa at yilmaz,wla
nmn aqng mpa2la s knila..mas mbuti qng mg-
ptayan n lng cla,pra mbwasa mga pa2ncn d2 s
mundo. 04-46643 stat
COMMENTS
lagi akong dprsd 2wng nagb2sa ng kule dhl
naa2wa ako s klgayan ng atng pamantasan at
ng atng bansa n prehong pnmu2nuan ng mga
ganid s pera at mga walang pakialam s edu-
kayon. Hay kule,ipagp2loy ang pagl2had ng
k22hnan 2 kip me dprsd. Amen. 05-12890
Ganda ng komiks. Napakaprofound. Finally.
Something worth reading and sending a mes-
sage for. 05-10934
kay noel pacis hernaiz, inaabngan ko dn dti
ang system of a down, at relevant dn nmn mga
columns m. okay dn yung style ni chris s. a. n
mgsulat s column nya ng tungkol kung saan
saan, pra ibng tikim nmn. May iba’t ibng atake
lng tlga ang manunulat. 06-78766 phile
Astig tlga ung “For Chris S. A.” hehe.Hrap-
hrapang bwelthan n to tsong! Miss ko n tlga
“System of a down” mas nk2-relate kc ako dun
eh.. 06-31599
Para kay Chris S. Agrava,ang sinusulat mo
ay tila nagku2wento skin ng buhay mo..hgt
s lhat,nr2mdaman q ang bwat slita..inspire
more!! 06-29276
Tnung ko lng.. Hndi kya mgkapatayan n
yng cna chris agrava at noel hernaiz? Tg0s 2
d b0nes ung bira ni n0el ah! Haha.. Pero prang
kampi ako ky n0el.. May hal0ng sh0wbiz nrin
pla kule! Hehe.. 0l in 0ne baga..:) 06-27393
to chris s. agrava and noel pacis hernaiz,
nagkakaangasan lng kayo. parehong walng
kwenta mga columns nyo. 05-78011
W0w! Praise 2 ANONIMO! U rily gv names 2
pip0l ho r tkn 4 grntd nd th0se who thnk they
hav d0ne n0thing sgnfcnt nd ds w0rld. Thanks
4 gvng us s2ries of dr lives! Paper Trail article’s
1 of d best article i’v read! Kip on inspiring us!
06-25674, breccia BA EL
Sana mgkar0n kau ng segment s paper ny0
kung san ung student eh maka2pasa ng article
kht hndi nmn xa member ng kule. T0pic can be
anythng. Mas masaya sna un. Para pg tinupak
ako,msu2lat k0h sa kule pti nrin ibng isko ung
th0ughts nmn, kht wla p kmng komitment.
Please! Para hndi lng png txtback ang msu2lat
nmin! 06-27393
Ang liit ng mga letra ng mga kule! Mskit s
mata! Ndi b pwdng i-edit ang mga article 2
mke it short,concise & brief? In a way, mggng
magaan ang kule.. Un lng, 06-02735
Wow, saktong-sakto yung collegian chron-
icles nitong linggo a. Hazing. Sana next issue
may linaw na sa nangyari kay mr. Cris mendez.
06-03962 Mamon
c0ngrats to pup!buti pa kau...natalo nio ang
tofi!smantalang sa up...p2l0y n nghhrap ang
mga estudytante!sna mgng sintapang din ng
mga taga pup ang mga upians...b0ycotttau!.
haha! 07-30923
sna po ndi mgmintis ang pgddliver ng kule
s kalai ze mnsn ndi kme nka2kuha, we l0ve
kuLE!kulang ang week pg ndi aq nkpgbsa n2,
07-46665
SAGUTAN
to 03-21181: ang point ko lng naman, kai-
langan na mag mit hafway ung rich at poor para
magdcyd regrdng sa tofi.dba, kaya dapat merng
unity para maadres ang tofi…06-07841 popito
to 06-55312: its a gud thng 2 feel dprssed
wen u read kule.It means u still feel 4 wat is hap-
pening arnd u.D nxt step,i hope,wud b 2 act on
dem. 99-15413
kng cno man nagsbng puro nega ang kule:
un lng nman po ang 22ong nangyayari.ano png
sense kng puro positve lng nkadyaryo? un nga
nagbbunga ng “indignation” dat mkes us act.
pro d nman ibg sbhng ineexaggerate nla issues.
d i2 gya ng pngkraniwng tabloid n puro pacute
lng.07-38848 BA Psych
to 06-57162: hahaha! Wild nman pla c mir-
iam santiago. No wonder ‘ganun’ ang mga labi
niya. 06-02806
PANAWAGAN
ung nkuha ng buk n elmntary principle of
chem procss by felder (green,hrdbound) n gling
eng’g lib, pls pkibalik, tx me sa 09064684972.
thnx! 05-12473 engg
ung freshie shirts nmin n bnyaran nung
FOPC wla p rn sembreak n. sbi s block handler
dw kunin wla nman. 07-38848 BA Psych
NEXT WEEK’S QUESTIONS
1. Paano mawawakasan ang fraternity-
related violence?
2. Ano’ng masasabi mo sa “Hello Papi”
scandal at ang umano’y pandaraya sa mga tv
gameshow?
 Philippine Collegian | Martes 04 Set 2007

Mag-aaral  mula p.3

P AGNINILAY
alanah torralba

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[ W r i t e r s ] Bring two bluebooks, a pen, and a
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[ A r t i s t s ] Submit a portfolio of your works. Illustrators,
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LAGOT ANG KUYAGOT
Michael Francis C. Andrada
S
a Maynila, ang Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA)
ang pangunahing tagapagtakip
ng krisis at kabulukan ng estado.
Sa samu’t saring proyekto ng MMDA sa
pamumuno ni Bayani Fernando, makikita
ang lisyang urbanisasyon ng estado.
Kabilang sa mga proyektong ito ang
mga patakaran ng MMDA na mistu-
lang “salawikain” o “kasabihang ”
nakapaskil bilang istiker sa dyip o
metalikong pink/blue na poster sa
kalsada. Nakapakete bilang “Metro
Gwapo / Tao Ganado / Sukatan ng
Kalidad ng Pamayanan,” lantad na
ipinatatalos ng mga panitikang ito
ang nomenklatura ng urbanisasyong
nakahulma sa layaw ng gobyerno at
ng mga dayuhang korporasyon:
1.) Walang Sagabal.
Lansangan ay ligtas, mabilis,
walang nakakainis.
2.) Walang Kalat.
Wa l a n g k u ya g o t , wa l a n g
basura.
3.) Walang pook na bulok.
Maganda, hindi nakakatakot.
4.) Walang sakit.
Ha n g i n , t u b i g a t p a g k a i n a y
malinis.
5.) Walang mabaho.
Kanal at sapa, malinis.
6.) Walang bastos.
May urbanindad.
7.) Kaisa. THE METRO WAY.
The Metro Way: Siyudad
ng Kamay na Bakal
Noong Nobyembre 7, 1975, pinirmahan
ni Ferdinand Marcos ang Presidential
Decree No. 824 at pinag-isa ang 17 lokal
na gobyerno ng kalakhang Maynila bi-
lang Metropolitan Manila Commission
(MMC). Si Imelda Marcos ang itinalagang
gobernador at general manager ng MMC.
Nakaayon ang pagtataguyod ng MMC sa
“Bagong Lipunan” na siyang politikal na
mantra ng Batas Militar. Ani Manuel Caoili,
ang pagtataguyod sa Maynila bilang “Si-
yudad ng Tao” ay upang mang-engganyo ng
pamumuhunang dayuhan at upang maging
rehiyunal na sentro ng mga multinasyonal
na korporasyon ang Maynila.
Hindi nalalayo ang ganitong imposisyon
ng Batas Militar sa binuong diskurso ng
“demokrasya” ng humaliling gobyernong
Corazon Aquino. Sa bisa ng Executive Order
No. 392 noong Enero 9, 1990, ipinalit sa
MMC ang Metropolitan Manila Authority
(MMA) na nagsilbing “interim body for
the governance of the Metropolitan Ma-
nila Area.” Sa loob ng limang taong buhay
ng MMA , mayroong humigit-kumulang
300,000 katao bawat taon ang nadagdag
sa lumolobong populasyon ng kalakhang
Maynila at sa mga problema ng sanitasyon,
kalusugan, trapiko at pagbaha. Noong Marso
1, 1995, ipinasa ang Republic Act No. 7924
MMDA at ang Salawikain ng
Naghihingalong Siyudad
na bumuo
ng “pinal na
awtoridad para sa Ka- l -
akhang Maynila,” ang MMDA . Simula noon,
ang MMDA na ang nagpapatakbo ng “serbi-
syong urban” sa kalakhang Maynila.
Walang Kuyagot, Walang
Pangit sa Paningin
Sa kasalukuyan, makikita ang bisyon ng
MMDA ayon sa dikta ng malakolonyal at
malapyudal na gobyernong Arroyo. Ayon kay
Fernando, nilalayon ng MMDA na gawing
“makatao at world class” ang Kalakhang
Maynila. Malinaw sa bisyon ng MMDA na ang
regulasyon ng Kamaynilaan ay regulasyon ng
mamamayan nito para sa pang-ekonomiyang
produksyon ng kalunsuran at ng bansa.
Makikita rin sa bisyong ito ang erudisyon ng
pagpapanatili ng Maynila bilang primaryang
kapital ng bansa para sa lokal at global na
kalakalan.
Ang “primera klase” ng urbanisasyong
nais itanghal ng MMDA ay makakamit lamang
sa patuloy na pagsaid sa kanayunan, at sa
regulasyon ng mamamayan bilang kapital
ng lakas-paggawa o labor capital para sa
produksyon ng pribadong pagmamay-ari
ng naghaharing lokal at dayuhang uri. Ani
Marx, ang antagonismo sa pagitan ng si-
yudad at nayon ay mabubuhay lamang sa
konteksto ng pribadong pagmamay-ari. Sa-
makatuwid, ipinagpapatuloy ng MMDA ang
ganitong operasyon para sa akumulasyon ng
pribadong pagmamay-ari ng estado. At
mananatili ang ganitong operasyon sa
pamamagitan ng pagsaid sa murang
lakas-paggawa na kalakhan ay
nagmumula sa kanayunan at
maralita ng lungsod.
Upang ipalaganap ang
mantrang ito ng MMDA ,
nakatutok ang na-
turang awtoridad sa
paglilinis at pagsa-
saayos ng siyudad.
Kabilang sa “Metro
G wa p o” a n g ( 1 )
Street Nomads
Care Program, (2)
Sidewalk Dwellers
Inventory and Al-
location, (3) Wa-
terways Dwellers
Relocation, (4)
Pook na Bulok,
Negosyo Di Pa-
pasok, (5) PGMA
Workers’ Inn-
bed-bath and Shop,
( 5) Metro Padyakan, (6)
EDSA Organized Bus Route
Project o OBR , (7) Seven Major
Roads, (8) New Modern Southrail
System, (9) Flood Mitigation in Metro
Manila, at (10) Metro Safe (Protecting Lives
and Properties).
Walang Bulok, Walang Bastos
Inaasinta ng proyekto ng urbanisasyon ng
MMDA ang mga itinuturing na manipesta-
syon ng krisis ng siyudad – ang “marurungis”
at “marurumi” ng lungsod: ang mga iskwater
sa tulay, railway at waterway, mga batang lan-
sangan, sidewalk vendors, at pulubi. Ang la-
yunin ng MMDA ay protektahan ang lungsod
mula sa lahat ng uri ng obstruksyon. Upang
maisagawa ito, kaugnay na layunin ng MMDA
ang tanggalin ang lahat ng iligal na istruktura
at obstruksyon sa lungsod. Samakatuwid,
makikita na ang moda ng urbanisasyon ay
nasa programa ng sanitasyon ng lungsod.
Kung susuriin pang mabuti, ang krisis na
ito ay sinadyang-krisis at likhang-krisis ng
oberdeterminasyon ng estado.
Sa madaling salita, ginagawang “normal”
ang krisis ng naghihingalong siyudad upang
patuloy na lumawak ang global na kapital sa
siyudad. Sa intensipikasyon ng “sinadyang
krisis,” mas ibinubukas ng estado ang kal-
akhang Maynila, ang mga metropolis at ang
kanayunan sa pagpasok ng global na kapital
ng mga namumuhunang multinasyunal at
transnasyunal na korporasyong Amerikano at
Hapon. Sa kasaysayan, tulad nang ipinahayag
ni Caoili, makikita ito sa pagpasok ng global
Philippine Collegian Nº 11
Martes 4 Set 2007
na kapital bilang pinansiyal na kapital
na isinusubo ng International Monetary
Fund, Asian Development Bank, at iba pang
institusyon.
Walang Pagbabago
Ito mismo ang masasaludsod na tunay
na layunin ng urbanisasyon ng MMDA
– ang paghikayat ng pamumuhunang da-
yuhan, ng pagpasok ng global na kapital sa
pamamagitan ng turismo. Kung kaya hindi
nakapagtataka na dalawang pangunahing
proyekto ng MMDA ang inihingi ng pondo
mula sa dalawang higanteng imperyalistang
institusyong pinansiyal. Ang “Metro Manila
Urban Transport Integration Project” ay
pinopondohan ng World Bank, habang ang
“ Metro Manila Air Quality Improvement
Sector Development Program” naman ay
pinopondohan ng Asian Development Bank.
Ang ganito ring iskema ang siyang tiyak
na magpapanatili ng kronikong krisis sa
Maynila at sa buong bansa.
Sa gitna at ilalim ng itinatambol na
proyekto ng urbanisasyon ng MMDA ,
hindi ang mga pagbabago sa pisikal na
heyograpiya ng kalakhang Maynila ang
mas pumaimbulog. Bagkus, naranasan ang
intensipikasyon ng kahirapan, ang pagrami
ng taong lansangan, ang pagsulpot ng mga
karitong-tindahan-tahanan sa mga bang-
keta, ang paglala ng trapiko, ang pagrami ng
mga iskwater na bunga ng rural-urban na
migrasyon, at ang paglabas ng mamamayan
sa lansangan para sa demonstrasyon tulad
ng rali at mobilisasyon. Sa katunayan, ayon
kay Neferti Tadiar, ang ganitong sitwasyon
ng metropolis ay bunga ng pagbalikwas at
antagonismo. Ang paglobo ng populasyon
sa siyudad ay ang pagsasakatawang-tao ng
pang-ekonomiyang kalabisan.
Samakatuwid, ang lantad na balintuna
ng “naghihingalong siyudad” ng Maynila ay
matingkad na manipestasyon ng tunggalian
ng mga puwersang panlipunan. Maging
ang pagpapangalan sa mga penomenon ng
krisis na ito ay nakatali sa pangunahing
daluyan ng urbanisasyon ng lungsod: ang
lansangan. Kaya maging ang nomenkla-
tura ng mga krisis-lansangan (batang lan-
sangan, putang kalye, illegal street vendor,
krimeng-lansangan) ay masisipat bilang
matingkad na antagonismo ng mga puw-
ersang panlipunan sa lungsod at sa bansa.
dibuho: ivan rerente. disenyo ng pahina: mark angelo ching.
Ang balintunang ito ang mapaghuhugutan
ng radikal na inobasyon ng salawikain ng
naghihingalong lungsod.
Sanggunian:
Caoili, Manuel A. The Origins of Metropolitan Manila: A Political
and Social Analysis. Quezon City: University of the Philip-
pines Press. 1999.
Marx, Karl at Frederick Engels. The German Ideology. Part One. In-
edit ni C.J. Arthur. New York: International Publishers. 1995.
Tadiar, Neferti Xina M. “Manila’s New Metropolitan Form.” Dis-
crepant Histories: Translocal Essays on Filipino Cultures. Inedit
ni Vicente L. Rafael. Pasig: Anvil Publishing, Inc. 1995.
http://www.mmda.gov.ph/history.html
*Si Michael Francis C. Andrada o Mykel ay dating pat-
nugot sa kultura ng Philippine Collegian at kasalukuyang
guro sa Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas
sa UP Diliman. Kasapi siya ng All-UP Workers’ Union at ng
Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and De-
mocracy.