Binigyan niya ng tinta ang pluma ko noong mga panahong hindi na makasulat ito. Binigyan niya rin ako ng papel noong panahong wala na akong masulatang espasyo ng mga akda ko. Siya, na nagpakilala sa akin nang husto sa pagsusulat. Siya ang paborito kong guro.

Unang taon ko noon sa hayskul at sumali kaagad ako sa grupo ng mga mamamahayag sa paaralan namin. Nagkaroon na kasi ako ideya kung paanong magsulat noong nasa elementarya pa lamang ako. Pero nang makilala ko siya doon ko rin nalaman na may mas malalim pa palang tatahakin ang daang dinaraanan ko, nasa mababaw at maayos pa pala akong parte ng destinasyon, marami pa palang liko at bakong masasalubong. Ngunit, tinuruan niya ako kung paano lakarin ito.

Siya ang guro ko sa peryodismo. Taun-taon niya akong pinapaiyak, taon-taon kaming nagtatampuhan lalo pa’t sa tuwing darating na ang mga Student Press Conference (timpalak sa pagsulat sa peryodismo) na dapat kong salihan. Iniluluha ko palagi ang pagiging pabaya at pagpepetiks sa mga panahong dapat sana’y nagsasanay ako. Pero dahil nga guro ko siya, alam niya siguro na tuwing iiyak ako ay mas napapanday nito ang kagiliwan ko sa pagsusulat. Nagiging tuntungan ko tuloy ito upang manalo.

Naipapanalo ko naman ang ilan sa mga patimpalak na sinalihan ko. Sa tuwing aakyat ako sa entablado at kukunin ang medalya o di kaya’y tropeyo, alam ko na kasama ko siya noong panahong sinusulat ko ang akda. Naroon siya kaisa ng aking diwa sa pagtalakay man niya sa isang isyu, sa pagsasalita ko sa mikropono o sa pagbuo namin ng dyaryo. Naroon siya.

Apat na taon ko siyang nakasama, sa silid-aralan at sa labas ng eskwelahan. Apat na taon din akong mas pinaghusay hindi lamang ng panahon at ng karanasan, kundi maging siya mismo. Sa apat na taon nakilala ko ang Sintang Paaralan na pinapasukan ko dahil sa kanya at sa apat na taon nakilala ko rin ang bayan at kung paano iaalay ang talento para dito.

Salamat sa panulat at pagmulat Gng. Jenielyn Garalda!

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | Panulat at pagmulat appeared first on Manila Today.

Ano nga ba ang mga pamantayan? Kailangan bang pogi si sir o maganda si Ma’am? Dapat din bang 90 pataas ang gradong ibinigay sa atin upang makonsidera sila bilang paborito nating guro? O baka naman sa kadahilanang pumasa tayo sa asignatura ng gurong iyon? Marahil ay iba-iba ang nagiging pamantayan ng bawat estudyante tuwing tatanungin sila ng “sinong peyborit teacher mo?” Pero ako? Isang rason lang nakikita ko kung bakit ko paborito itong guro na ito–napakaprogresibong propesor!

Unang beses ay noong second year, second semester noong nakaraang taon nang maging guro ko si Propesor Jomar Adaya sa asignaturang Pagsusuri ng Diskors at ngayon namang third year, first semester sa Kulturang Popular. Sa puntong darating na ang oras ng kaniyang klase ay alam kong panibagong kaalaman ang magagagap ko, naaalala ko pa nga ay palaging siksik, liglig at umaapaw ang mga diskusyon sa aming klase sa kanya noong ako’y second year pa lamang. Isa pang nagustuhan ko sa klase namin kay Sir Adaya ay yun bang naituturo niya ang mga bagay na madalas ay hindi naituturo ng mga kaguruan sa paaralan, kagaya na lamang ng kalagayan ng lipunan, ang sistemang bulok ng pamahalaan, konsepto ng hegemony, ang mala-kolonyal at mala-pyudal na katangian ng lipunan at napakarami pang iba. Sa katanuyan ay naalala ko kung paano mainis si Sir Adaya sa isang reporter dahil sa paraan nito ng pagbabalita ng rally na kung saan ay mabigat na trapik lamang ang pinagtutuunan ng pansin, na talagang kinainis ni Sir Adaya. Tama naman kasi ang punto ni Sir, bakit nga naman trapik pa ang napagtuunan ng pansin, bakit hindi alamin ang mismong dahilan nila ng pagrarally. Masasabi kong isa ang mga ganitong dahilan kung bakit ko peyborit si Sir Adaya. Nagagawa niyang gisingin ang diwa ng pagiging makabayan ng bawat isa sa amin, nagagawa niyang imulat ang mga mata ng bawat estudyante niya sa tunay na kinahihinatnan ng ating bayan, at siyempre, dahil nakikita ko mismo ang pagpapahalaga niya sa Filipinolohiya at sa wikang Filipino.

Kung tutuusin ay wala talaga sa isipan ko ang tahakin ang karera ng pagtuturo, ngunit simula nang maging propesor ko si G. Adaya ay nagkaroon ng malaking espasyo sa puso ko ang pagtuturo. Humanga ako sa taktika niya ng pagtuturo, yung tipong tumatanggap siya ng mga sagot sa aming talakayan at pinapalawig pa ang mga ito. Binibigyan niya ng boses ang bawat isa sa amin at kahit kailan ay hindi naging boring ang klase ko kay Sir Adaya gawa ng mga leksyon niya sa bawat araw.

Kung magiging guro o propesor man ako sa hinaharap ay gusto kong maging modelo para sa akin si Sir Adaya, ehemplo siya para sa akin, isang inspirasyon!

“Gusto kong malaman ninyong hindi mahalaga ang grade, bagkus ang mahalaga ay kung may natutunan kayo sa klase ko.”

Naalala kong sinabi ito ni Sir nang bigyan niya ng uno ang buong klase. Lagi’t lagi kong binibitbit iyang litanya ni Sir Adaya sapagkat kailanman ang importante para sa kanya ay ang leksyong bibitbitin at natutuhan namin.

“Tinuturuan tayo ng panitikan na huwag makalimot,” ani Sir Adaya nang maungkat sa klase ang Martial Law sa rehimen ni Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. Isa iyon sa pinakatumatak sa isipan ko sa mga sinabi ni Sir Adaya sa klase.

Marami na tayong naging guro simula elementarya, sekondarya hanggang kolehiyo. May pagkakataong mawawaglit ng tuluyan ang mga mukha at mga pangalan nila sa isipan natin ngunit sa bawat gurong humawak sa atin ay paraan ng pagdidilig sa atin bilang mga mumunting punla na nais yumabong kalaunan. Marahil ay makakalimutan natin ang panahong naging guro natin sila ngunit mananatili sa atin ang mga aral na buong puso at husay nilang ibinahagi sa atin.

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | Sa saliw ng tisa appeared first on Manila Today.

A friend asked me if I would be willing to write and share a story about my favorite teacher in time for the October 05 celebration of this year’s World Teachers’ Day.

I quickly scanned through my memory to see who will it be if ever I wrote one. Instantly, I remembered the old times during kindergarten and grade school days, a smile on my face as a memory of a younger and clumsy me flashes in mind with my patient and caring teachers. They taught me the basics of mathematics and of reading, of taking a nap, of singing the national anthem, of sharing responsibilities for class recess, of good manners and so on. Also, it was during these formative years that I get to learn to be active in extracurricular activities at school, which provided for holistic learning in school. In high school, coming from a Paulinian school, I would meet a nun as my teacher in one subject. The very first to assign me to be one of the three representatives from my class in a quiz bee contest at school. A student from a younger batch would say that she told us a story and it’s some good stuff about you. She may not be a favorite, but I cannot forget her as she showed trust in my capabilities.

Today, Teachers’s Day, I remember them and I am forever grateful even for the strict professors in college who helped me and supplied my passion for Mass Communication.

But if I had to pick, it would definitely be Angie Ipong. And no, I did not meet Ka Angie in a four-walled classroom rather in a farm where I saw the good and harsh realities of life. She is good with farming techniques and shared her knowledge to peasants, devoted her time to explain the gains of collective and organic farming that could empower the community.  She never actually formally taught me anything. But what I learned from her are real life lessons we never get to acquire from expensive schools or universities. She would tell me that I am still young and can choose from hundreds of possibilities life can offer. I can push through with reporting, or I can have my own family, I can do corporate jobs, I can study again, etc. But it is from her I saw genuine happiness in the life she chose to lead, serving the people. Even at an old age, her positive aura and outlook in life becomes so influential.

So here I am, still pondering on life’s greatest question on what to do with it. I may have probably the answer, but still have a lot of contradictions to contend. Living and working abroad was a quick decision I had to make to consider my mother’s request. I would still like to know, someday, if I would be able to apply what I learned from my favorite teacher, my hero wherever I may be.

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | My teacher, my hero appeared first on Manila Today.

Bago ko sinimulang pagtaguan si Ma’am Jo o Prof. Josefina Santos ng Broadcast Communication Department ng UP College of Mass Communication, una ko siyang naging guro sa BC 104 Introduction to Television and Related Media.

Dito, kasama ang mga batchmates na nangangapa pa lamang sa mga teknikalidad ng produksyon lalo na iyong live, natutunan namin ang kahalagahan ng paggalaw bilang isang grupo–pagtutulungan at pagiging responsable sa anumang papel na gagampanan.

Fast forward–si Ma’am Jo rin ang naging guro ko sa internship at naging thesis adviser ko (kung saan pana-panahon ay nagtago ako tulad ng ilang mga mag-aaral na may utang na draft sa kanilang adviser).

Hindi naging madali ang naging landas ko sa pagbuo ng thesis pero ito ay isang naging makabuluhang paglalakbay para sa amin. Sa mga panahong puno ng pangamba, nakadadagdag ng tapang ang malamang mayroon isang guro na patuloy na nagtitiwala at walang sawang gumagabay tulad niya.

Labas sa klase, nakasama ko rin si Ma’am Jo sa ilang mga proyektong pang-adbokasiya kung saan ako ay gumampan bilang isa sa mga scriptwriter at siya bilang direktor. Palagi’t palagi, kanyang ipinapaalala ang kahalagahan ng media sa pagmumulat ng mas malawak na masang Pilipino. Higit sa pagiging trabaho, natutunan ko sa kanya na patuloy na pahalagahan ang gawain bilang paglilingkod.

Ito ang palagi niya ring ibinubungad sa kanyang pagiging bahagi ng NSTP program sa kolehiyo at sa unibersidad kung saan daan-daan ang kanyang naging mga estudyante. Ilan sa mga isinusulong niya sa NSTP ay ang kampanya para sa media literacy at citizen journalism, gayundin ang disaster risk reduction and management sa mga komunidad sa UP.

Tulad ko, maraming mga mag-aaral ang bumabalik-balik sa opisina ni Ma’am Jo. Wala man sa silabus, marami siyang naibahagi sa akin at sa iba pang mag-aaral na mahahalagang aral sa buhay.

Iyong klasik linya na sinasabing ang mga guro ay ang pangalawang magulang, ganun si Ma’am. Bukas siyang makinig at umunawa sa pinagdadaanan ng kanyang mga mag-aaral. Palagi rin ay handa siyang gumabay sa kanyang mga advisees na hindi sumusuko.

Isa sa mga natutunan ko sa kanya, na sa palagay ko ay mahalagang matutunan din ng lahat ng gusto ring maging guro, na ang pagtuturo ay hindi lamang pagbabahagi ng mga aralin sa silabus, ito ay pagbabahagi ng sarili.

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | Ma’am Jo appeared first on Manila Today.

The post Isang panayam: ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng mga guro sa Pilipinas appeared first on Manila Today.

“Wala mang declared martial law, pero nandyan naman ang mga gawi ng Marcosian era sa kasalukuyan,” said Anakbayan Far Eastern University chairperson Kyle Atienza on the recent repressive attacks on progressive student leaders and activists, as well as the series of drug-related killings of minors this week.

[There may not be a declared martial law, but there are many acts done in the Marcosian era nowadays.]

Youth, urban poor, and women groups trooped to the Philippine National Police Caloocan Station today to decry the Duterte government’s intensified threats against activists.

Carrying placards condemning this administration’s fascist policies, especially its drug war, representatives from different sectors took turns in addressing the police, some of whom were listening from inside their padlocked gate.

Charles Jimenez, vice-chairperson of the University of the Philippines Manila University Student Council, addressed the police directly.

“Kayong mga kapulisan, gusto niyo ba ng inyong ginagawang kaliwa’t kanang pagpatay? Inaanyayahan namin kayo na itigil na ang pamamaslang sa mamamayan at kabataan,” challenged Jimenez.

[“You, the police force, are you all right with all the killings? We encourage you to stop killing the people and the youth.”]

He pointed out that the police, with the military, are the primary implementers of the extrajudicial killings under the current administration.

Notorious police station

The Caloocan police force has recently been the subject of headlines, first for receiving an award for the Best City Police Station, and then for the whole police force being reassigned following public outrage over the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos and not long after, their involvement in the summary executions of Carl Arnaiz  and 14-year old Reynaldo ‘Kulot’ De Guzman .

A recent incident of harassment involving the Caloocan police was relayed by Anakbayan Metro Manila in a statement. The statement read that two policemen in plain clothes visited the home of one of their members in Caloocan who was visited by the police. The police allegedly told the student that they kept a “watch list” of members of activist groups, and showed her a document where they kept track of the places she went to and the activities she was part of. According to Anakbayan, there were also reports that the policemen warned her against staying an active member of Anakbayan, or else she would be “taken down.”

War against the poor

Kadamay Caloocan spokesperson Juliet Ablin raised questions about the bloody war on drugs that has also targeted minors. She aimed the questions directly at the police and the president.

“Bakit madaling kitilin ang buhay nila? Tingnan mo nga ang iyong kapaligiran at nasasakupan. Hindi makatarungan ang pamamaslang sa mahihirap at ng kabataan. Tao po ang mga pinapatay niyo, hindi hayop. Kung sila man ay sangkot sa droga, bigyan po natin sila ng pagkakataong magbago. Hindi po solusyon ang pagpatay,” Ablin said.

[“Why is it so easy to take away their lives? Look around you and at your constituency. Killing the poor and the youth is not just. You are killing people, not animals. Should they be involved in drug use, let us give them a chance to change. Killing is not the solution.”]

In a new Social Weather Stations survey, six out of 10 Filipinos believe that the drug war only targets the poor.

Strongman rule tactics

Anakbayan Metro Manila chairperson Christian Advincula warned of the worsening repressive tactics of the Duterte government as a means to maintain its fascist rule on the people.

“Pagpapakita lamang ito na ang kagustuhan ng kasalukuyang gobyerno na busalan ang bibig ng mga Pilipino para pigilan ang mamamayang Pilipino na lumaban sa kasalukuyang rehimen,” he said.

[“This only shows the willingness of the current government to gag the mouths of the Filipinos to stop them from fighting against the current regime.”]

 “Sa kalagitnaan ng pagbubuo ng diktadurya ng Rehimeng US-Duterte, ang lugi rito ay ang karaniwang mamamayang Pilipino. Libu-libo na ang pinapatay ng rehimeng ito,” said Jimenez.

[“In the midst of establishing the US-Duterte dictatorship, those who will suffer the most are the ordinary Filipino people. Thousands have already been killed by this regime.”

Hope amidst threats of martial law

Despite Duterte’s strongman rule and the threat of martial law in the country, protesters at the Caloocan police headquarters maintained their militant view of the people’s movement.

In a statement, Advincula said, “It is only through our collective efforts in asserting for the impunity and fascism to end would the government realize that the people are the legitimate wielders of power. We will continue to struggle until we have held all those accountable, and until we have triumphed in our aim to transform this society into one that is living in peace based on justice.”

The post Groups hold protest vs attacks on activists, drug-related EJKs at Caloocan PNP station appeared first on Manila Today.

Mula sa mga nakaka-nosebleed na mga Facebook post hanggang sa kakaiba niyang hairstyle, hindi ko akalain na magiging malapit ako kay Sir Clod Yambao.

Pero bago pa man ko siya naging guro sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, napapansin ko na siya. Sino ba naman ang hindi mapapatingin sa agaw-pansin niyang buhok na tila may araw pang nakaukit. Madalas rin siyang makikita na pawis ang pangangatawan, tumatakbo paikot ng academic oval. (Kaya masasabing inspirasyon din siya pagdating sa health at fitness.)

Naging guro ko si Sir Clod noong ako ay nasa ikatlong taon ko sa kolehiyo. Kinuha ko ang subject niya na Art Stud 190 (Aesthetics and Art Theory) bilang elective. May nagpayo kasi sa akin na “worth it” ang klase niya – masaya at maraming matututunan. Hindi ako nagkamali.

Bagama’t may pangamba sa bawat pagsisimula ng aming klase dahil ito na naman, magdidiskusyon na naman kami ng mga teorya, masikhay niyang ipapaliwanag sa amin ang bawat konsepto. Masasabi ko na isa siya sa mga guro na tunay na hinihimok ang mga estudyante na magtanong at magdebate.

Noong naging guro ko siya, ito ‘yung mga panahon na nagsisimula pa lamang ang aking kamulatan sa mundong ginagalawan. Natapos ang aming subject, pero hindi ko akalain na magpapatuloy ang aming samahan.

Naaalala ko noong 2013, isa sa mga malalaking rally na napuntahan ko ay ang #AbolishPork mobilization na dinaluhan ng mga kalapit na unibersidad sa Katipunan. Naroon ang dati kong guro, nakatayo sa itaas ng van, taas-noong winawagaygay ang bandila ng mahal na unibersidad. Nang magsimula ang paglalakad, naroon siya sa unahan, habang ang mga estudyante, mga guro, at mga kawani, sabay-sabay na sumisigaw ng ‘Scrap pork’ at ‘No to budget cut’.

Miyembro ako ng UP Aperture, isang photojournalism organization, kaya naman nasa unahan din ako, pumipitik, sinusubukang kunan ang mahahalagang sandali.

Lumipas ang mga taon, naging malapit ako kay Sir Clod. Sa mga pagkakataon na kumonsulta ako sa kanya, tungkol man ‘yan sa thesis o buhay, ang palaging pantapos niya na pahayag ay ‘payt’ (laban lang). Tama, laban lang.

Salamat, Sir. Salamat kasi isa ka sa mga nagmulat sa akin sa mga mapapait na realidad sa ating lipunan na pilit na ikinukubli. Salamat dahil sa kabila nito, isa ka sa mga nagbigay pag-asa.

Ika mo nga, laban lang.

The post #PagpupugayKayTister | Sir Clod appeared first on Manila Today.

Meeting my favorite teacher was a bit unusual. It started when, fresh from college, I was working at my first job things weren’t going too well. Not a good start for someone in a new phase of her life. I felt depressed and needed to get away from my job’s toxic environment. My self-esteem was very low. I never thought that a simple greeting through a social app would take away all that negativity and change my life for the better.

This is where I met my favorite teacher. He told me that he was a photojournalist and a literature professor in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. I was impressed but a bit skeptical about what he can do, but still got fascinated by his craft. Not too long we became friends, then best friends, and ended up being soul mates.

With him being a professor, I wanted to know his way of teaching his students and more so, the environment and culture of the university he teaches. So I went with him during one of his classes and listened along with his students.

He’s a great professor; I saw that he had mastery of the topics he discussed and provided the students relevant readings about the true state of our society. I saw how fascinated and interested his students were at the end of his class.

His students were not the only one he was teaching but he also taught me things I could have ignored and would have never grasped if not for him. Before, I was just an ignorant and self-indulgent millennial. I disliked protesters and rallies, maybe because of false information some family members told me. He still managed to educate me about the real struggle of our nation, and why these events are essential for social change and peace. He opened my eyes to the battles of our farmers, workers, women, youth, and national minorities. He showed me the importance of the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front, as well as the role of alternative media in boosting the voice of the masses towards collective action and change. He would always tell me to love not just him but also the country, and so I did.

I grew-up with a low-self esteem, but he taught me to be more confident in everything I did, especially during the time I failed in an entrance exam that I really wanted to pass. I felt so stupid and depressed but he taught me to be strong, that it’s not the end of everything and that I could always try again.

He also taught me to lower my pride because it’s bad for a relationship. Recently after an argument, he told me not to get too mad at everything because it affects everyone around me. Overall he helps me to be the better version of myself.

All I can say about my favorite teacher is that this country needs more educators like him.

To my favorite teacher, thank you for keeping up with my endless questions, and thank you for sharing your knowledge to me and to your students.

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | My clever soulmate appeared first on Manila Today.

Binigyan niya ng tinta ang pluma ko noong mga panahong hindi na makasulat ito. Binigyan niya rin ako ng papel noong panahong wala na akong masulatang espasyo ng mga akda ko. Siya, na nagpakilala sa akin nang husto sa pagsusulat. Siya ang paborito kong guro.

Unang taon ko noon sa hayskul at sumali kaagad ako sa grupo ng mga mamamahayag sa paaralan namin. Nagkaroon na kasi ako ideya kung paanong magsulat noong nasa elementarya pa lamang ako. Pero nang makilala ko siya doon ko rin nalaman na may mas malalim pa palang tatahakin ang daang dinaraanan ko, nasa mababaw at maayos pa pala akong parte ng destinasyon, marami pa palang liko at bakong masasalubong. Ngunit, tinuruan niya ako kung paano lakarin ito.

Siya ang guro ko sa peryodismo. Taun-taon niya akong pinapaiyak, taon-taon kaming nagtatampuhan lalo pa’t sa tuwing darating na ang mga Student Press Conference (timpalak sa pagsulat sa peryodismo) na dapat kong salihan. Iniluluha ko palagi ang pagiging pabaya at pagpepetiks sa mga panahong dapat sana’y nagsasanay ako. Pero dahil nga guro ko siya, alam niya siguro na tuwing iiyak ako ay mas napapanday nito ang kagiliwan ko sa pagsusulat. Nagiging tuntungan ko tuloy ito upang manalo.

Naipapanalo ko naman ang ilan sa mga patimpalak na sinalihan ko. Sa tuwing aakyat ako sa entablado at kukunin ang medalya o di kaya’y tropeyo, alam ko na kasama ko siya noong panahong sinusulat ko ang akda. Naroon siya kaisa ng aking diwa sa pagtalakay man niya sa isang isyu, sa pagsasalita ko sa mikropono o sa pagbuo namin ng dyaryo. Naroon siya.

Apat na taon ko siyang nakasama, sa silid-aralan at sa labas ng eskwelahan. Apat na taon din akong mas pinaghusay hindi lamang ng panahon at ng karanasan, kundi maging siya mismo. Sa apat na taon nakilala ko ang Sintang Paaralan na pinapasukan ko dahil sa kanya at sa apat na taon nakilala ko rin ang bayan at kung paano iaalay ang talento para dito.

Salamat sa panulat at pagmulat Gng. Jenielyn Garalda!

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | Panulat at pagmulat appeared first on Manila Today.

Ano nga ba ang mga pamantayan? Kailangan bang pogi si sir o maganda si Ma’am? Dapat din bang 90 pataas ang gradong ibinigay sa atin upang makonsidera sila bilang paborito nating guro? O baka naman sa kadahilanang pumasa tayo sa asignatura ng gurong iyon? Marahil ay iba-iba ang nagiging pamantayan ng bawat estudyante tuwing tatanungin sila ng “sinong peyborit teacher mo?” Pero ako? Isang rason lang nakikita ko kung bakit ko paborito itong guro na ito–napakaprogresibong propesor!

Unang beses ay noong second year, second semester noong nakaraang taon nang maging guro ko si Propesor Jomar Adaya sa asignaturang Pagsusuri ng Diskors at ngayon namang third year, first semester sa Kulturang Popular. Sa puntong darating na ang oras ng kaniyang klase ay alam kong panibagong kaalaman ang magagagap ko, naaalala ko pa nga ay palaging siksik, liglig at umaapaw ang mga diskusyon sa aming klase sa kanya noong ako’y second year pa lamang. Isa pang nagustuhan ko sa klase namin kay Sir Adaya ay yun bang naituturo niya ang mga bagay na madalas ay hindi naituturo ng mga kaguruan sa paaralan, kagaya na lamang ng kalagayan ng lipunan, ang sistemang bulok ng pamahalaan, konsepto ng hegemony, ang mala-kolonyal at mala-pyudal na katangian ng lipunan at napakarami pang iba. Sa katanuyan ay naalala ko kung paano mainis si Sir Adaya sa isang reporter dahil sa paraan nito ng pagbabalita ng rally na kung saan ay mabigat na trapik lamang ang pinagtutuunan ng pansin, na talagang kinainis ni Sir Adaya. Tama naman kasi ang punto ni Sir, bakit nga naman trapik pa ang napagtuunan ng pansin, bakit hindi alamin ang mismong dahilan nila ng pagrarally. Masasabi kong isa ang mga ganitong dahilan kung bakit ko peyborit si Sir Adaya. Nagagawa niyang gisingin ang diwa ng pagiging makabayan ng bawat isa sa amin, nagagawa niyang imulat ang mga mata ng bawat estudyante niya sa tunay na kinahihinatnan ng ating bayan, at siyempre, dahil nakikita ko mismo ang pagpapahalaga niya sa Filipinolohiya at sa wikang Filipino.

Kung tutuusin ay wala talaga sa isipan ko ang tahakin ang karera ng pagtuturo, ngunit simula nang maging propesor ko si G. Adaya ay nagkaroon ng malaking espasyo sa puso ko ang pagtuturo. Humanga ako sa taktika niya ng pagtuturo, yung tipong tumatanggap siya ng mga sagot sa aming talakayan at pinapalawig pa ang mga ito. Binibigyan niya ng boses ang bawat isa sa amin at kahit kailan ay hindi naging boring ang klase ko kay Sir Adaya gawa ng mga leksyon niya sa bawat araw.

Kung magiging guro o propesor man ako sa hinaharap ay gusto kong maging modelo para sa akin si Sir Adaya, ehemplo siya para sa akin, isang inspirasyon!

“Gusto kong malaman ninyong hindi mahalaga ang grade, bagkus ang mahalaga ay kung may natutunan kayo sa klase ko.”

Naalala kong sinabi ito ni Sir nang bigyan niya ng uno ang buong klase. Lagi’t lagi kong binibitbit iyang litanya ni Sir Adaya sapagkat kailanman ang importante para sa kanya ay ang leksyong bibitbitin at natutuhan namin.

“Tinuturuan tayo ng panitikan na huwag makalimot,” ani Sir Adaya nang maungkat sa klase ang Martial Law sa rehimen ni Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. Isa iyon sa pinakatumatak sa isipan ko sa mga sinabi ni Sir Adaya sa klase.

Marami na tayong naging guro simula elementarya, sekondarya hanggang kolehiyo. May pagkakataong mawawaglit ng tuluyan ang mga mukha at mga pangalan nila sa isipan natin ngunit sa bawat gurong humawak sa atin ay paraan ng pagdidilig sa atin bilang mga mumunting punla na nais yumabong kalaunan. Marahil ay makakalimutan natin ang panahong naging guro natin sila ngunit mananatili sa atin ang mga aral na buong puso at husay nilang ibinahagi sa atin.

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | Sa saliw ng tisa appeared first on Manila Today.

A friend asked me if I would be willing to write and share a story about my favorite teacher in time for the October 05 celebration of this year’s World Teachers’ Day.

I quickly scanned through my memory to see who will it be if ever I wrote one. Instantly, I remembered the old times during kindergarten and grade school days, a smile on my face as a memory of a younger and clumsy me flashes in mind with my patient and caring teachers. They taught me the basics of mathematics and of reading, of taking a nap, of singing the national anthem, of sharing responsibilities for class recess, of good manners and so on. Also, it was during these formative years that I get to learn to be active in extracurricular activities at school, which provided for holistic learning in school. In high school, coming from a Paulinian school, I would meet a nun as my teacher in one subject. The very first to assign me to be one of the three representatives from my class in a quiz bee contest at school. A student from a younger batch would say that she told us a story and it’s some good stuff about you. She may not be a favorite, but I cannot forget her as she showed trust in my capabilities.

Today, Teachers’s Day, I remember them and I am forever grateful even for the strict professors in college who helped me and supplied my passion for Mass Communication.

But if I had to pick, it would definitely be Angie Ipong. And no, I did not meet Ka Angie in a four-walled classroom rather in a farm where I saw the good and harsh realities of life. She is good with farming techniques and shared her knowledge to peasants, devoted her time to explain the gains of collective and organic farming that could empower the community.  She never actually formally taught me anything. But what I learned from her are real life lessons we never get to acquire from expensive schools or universities. She would tell me that I am still young and can choose from hundreds of possibilities life can offer. I can push through with reporting, or I can have my own family, I can do corporate jobs, I can study again, etc. But it is from her I saw genuine happiness in the life she chose to lead, serving the people. Even at an old age, her positive aura and outlook in life becomes so influential.

So here I am, still pondering on life’s greatest question on what to do with it. I may have probably the answer, but still have a lot of contradictions to contend. Living and working abroad was a quick decision I had to make to consider my mother’s request. I would still like to know, someday, if I would be able to apply what I learned from my favorite teacher, my hero wherever I may be.

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | My teacher, my hero appeared first on Manila Today.

Bago ko sinimulang pagtaguan si Ma’am Jo o Prof. Josefina Santos ng Broadcast Communication Department ng UP College of Mass Communication, una ko siyang naging guro sa BC 104 Introduction to Television and Related Media.

Dito, kasama ang mga batchmates na nangangapa pa lamang sa mga teknikalidad ng produksyon lalo na iyong live, natutunan namin ang kahalagahan ng paggalaw bilang isang grupo–pagtutulungan at pagiging responsable sa anumang papel na gagampanan.

Fast forward–si Ma’am Jo rin ang naging guro ko sa internship at naging thesis adviser ko (kung saan pana-panahon ay nagtago ako tulad ng ilang mga mag-aaral na may utang na draft sa kanilang adviser).

Hindi naging madali ang naging landas ko sa pagbuo ng thesis pero ito ay isang naging makabuluhang paglalakbay para sa amin. Sa mga panahong puno ng pangamba, nakadadagdag ng tapang ang malamang mayroon isang guro na patuloy na nagtitiwala at walang sawang gumagabay tulad niya.

Labas sa klase, nakasama ko rin si Ma’am Jo sa ilang mga proyektong pang-adbokasiya kung saan ako ay gumampan bilang isa sa mga scriptwriter at siya bilang direktor. Palagi’t palagi, kanyang ipinapaalala ang kahalagahan ng media sa pagmumulat ng mas malawak na masang Pilipino. Higit sa pagiging trabaho, natutunan ko sa kanya na patuloy na pahalagahan ang gawain bilang paglilingkod.

Ito ang palagi niya ring ibinubungad sa kanyang pagiging bahagi ng NSTP program sa kolehiyo at sa unibersidad kung saan daan-daan ang kanyang naging mga estudyante. Ilan sa mga isinusulong niya sa NSTP ay ang kampanya para sa media literacy at citizen journalism, gayundin ang disaster risk reduction and management sa mga komunidad sa UP.

Tulad ko, maraming mga mag-aaral ang bumabalik-balik sa opisina ni Ma’am Jo. Wala man sa silabus, marami siyang naibahagi sa akin at sa iba pang mag-aaral na mahahalagang aral sa buhay.

Iyong klasik linya na sinasabing ang mga guro ay ang pangalawang magulang, ganun si Ma’am. Bukas siyang makinig at umunawa sa pinagdadaanan ng kanyang mga mag-aaral. Palagi rin ay handa siyang gumabay sa kanyang mga advisees na hindi sumusuko.

Isa sa mga natutunan ko sa kanya, na sa palagay ko ay mahalagang matutunan din ng lahat ng gusto ring maging guro, na ang pagtuturo ay hindi lamang pagbabahagi ng mga aralin sa silabus, ito ay pagbabahagi ng sarili.

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | Ma’am Jo appeared first on Manila Today.

“Ang katotohanan ay hindi maaaring takpan ng anumang kasinungalingan.”

Iyan ay hugot ng mga mulat sa katotohanan.

“Ang mga pagkakamali ay naiwawasto at ang mga pagkakasala ay may kaparusahan.”

Hugot ng mga naghahanap ng hustisya.

“Hindi ka makakarating sa paroroonan kung hindi ka lilingon sa pinanggalingan.”

Hugot ng mga taong alam ang kanilang uring pinagmulan.

“Magkakaroon ng kabuluhan ang naging karanasan sa isang ka-trabaho kung naitala nito ang rekord ng kanyang mga naging gawain at mga nagawa sa usapin ng pagmumulat, pag-oorganisa at gawaing pinansyal.”

Hugot ng nagbabasa nito.

“Obligasyon ng namumuno at mga pinamumunuan nito ang mag-ulat tungkol sa kanilang mga naging pagkilos habang ginagagampanan ang kanilang mga tungkulin sa bayan.”

Hugot ng mga taga-media.

“Mahalagang paghalawan ng mga positibo at negatibong aral ang naging karanasan ng isang kasamang nakapaloob sa organisasyon. Magsisilbi itong gabay ng mga susunod na kikilos at magpapatuloy sa kanyang mga adhikain. Kung walang ganito, hindi malalaman ng mga miyembro ng organisasyon kung ano ang kanilang naging mga kahinaan at kalakasan.”

Hugot ng mga naghahanap ng pagtatasa.

“Bilang bahagi ng isang tiyak na uri, mahalagang balikan ang mga nangyari sa nakaraan upang matiyak kung siya nga ay patungo sa matuwid na landas na kanyang pinapangarap na marating.”

Hugot ng mga pasaherong nakapokus sa kilos at galaw ng mga nagmamaneho.

“Mahirap kumilos ng walang malinaw na programang tumitiyak sa tinatahak mong landas o patutunguhan. Para ka kasing pumasok sa isang kamalig na ubod ng dilim na maaari kang maumpog at madapa.”

Hugot ng mga taong naghahanap ng liwanag.

“Kapag inalam mo ang bilang ng populasyon sa kinalalagyan mong lugar ay mahalagang alamin at bilangin mo rin kung ilan kayo?”

Hugot ng mga nananaliksik.

“Kapag hindi tayo sumusulong sa gawaing pang-organisasyon, alyansa at pinansya, isa itong napakabigat na problema, pero siguradong may katapat namang solusyon.”

Hugot ng mga naghahanap ng mahuhugot.

“Para malaman mo kung bakit may nangyayaring kaguluhan sa isang bayan ay kailangang alamin mo rin kung sino ang lumilikha ng kaguluhang ito.”

Hugot ng mga palatanong pero ayaw matanong,

“Ang ideolohiya, pulitika at organisasyong taglay ng isang tao ay masasalamin sa kanyang pananaw, paniniwala at paninindigan.”

Hugot ng mga taong naguguluhan sa nagaganap na tunggalian ng mga uri sa buong mundo.

“Ang linyang pampulitikang ginagamit ng Amerika sa mga bansang nais nilang paghaharian ay demokrasya at ituturing nilang kaaway ang mga sumasalungat dito.”

Hugot ng mga nakatira sa palasyo.

“Sa demokrasyang pinaiiral ng gobyerno, ang mga batas at patakarang kanilang ginagawa ay naglilingkod sa interes at kapakanan ng mga gumagawa ng batas.”

Hugot ng mga pulitikong makabayan.

“Kung ang lahat ng mulat ay nagmumulat. Kung ang lahat ng organisado ay nag-oorganisa at kung ang lahat ng kumikilos ay nagpapakilos. Tiyak na mag-uunahan sa pagtakas papuntang ibang bansa ang mga kawatan sa ating bayan.”

Hugot ng mga nagsusulong ng tunay na pagbabago.

“Ang mga hugot na nabasa mo ngayon ay pwede ring gamitin sa mga diskusyon o talakayang masa ng mga aktibista.”

Hugot ng mga wala ng mahugot.

—

Si Kadyo Villalon ay isang manggagawang pangkultura na naging tagapagtatag ng Kapisanan ng Mandudula ng Marikina at dating political detainee sa panahon ng Batas Militar ni Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. Basahin ang isa pang akda ni Kadyo, ang Bukol sa singit: hinggil sa sining at kultura.

The post Hugot dito, hugot doon appeared first on Manila Today.

Today is as good time as any to start guiding people to spot fake news.

When the Senate of the Philippines called for a hearing on fake news on October 4, netizens and television audiences of the televised hearing were surprised to find among resource persons people who used to be either bloggers supporting candidates in the elections or paid social media influencers who have crossed over to government, openly accusing legitimate and long-established media outfits of ‘fake news’ instead of ‘misinformation’ or churning our hate and trolling campaigns to disparage journalists or even private persons and cause them to feel abused and harassed, instead of sending flak to media with the end goal of having a news item updated to reflect facts, better vetted or verified details or information. Which was how democracy and freedom of expression used to work in the country, however limited. The hearing also passed on or mentioned without really discussing so many sensitive issues on freedom of expression and free press, such as right to reply, regulations for the internet, media, etc. that are essentially restraints to these freedoms that journalists and activists have fought so long and hard to uphold and preserve. And these may be dangerously lumped in a Fake News bill, since these hearings are supposedly in aid of legislation.

While we come out with this infographic, we say there is no such thing as ‘fake news.’ News is news if it is true, factual, timely and relevant for whom they were made to be read, watch or heard. While the term is borne of money-fueled use of information and news to further political agenda in the past years especially in the 2016 presidential elections–a phenomenon, a sign of the times–we hope that this society will experience and learn the relevance of news and the media as the fourth estate and that the public is actually the fifth estate checking on the three branches and the media. So that there may be no more fake news–term and all.

To what fruit these hearings shall bear, the public are still the most important element that may be able to protect or make more relevant and true the democracy and freedom of expression enshrined in the highest law of the land.

The post How to spot fake news appeared first on Manila Today.

The post Self-care and social transformation in these neoliberal times appeared first on Manila Today.

To many, Manay Judy is known as tapang and malasakit personified as a pro-poor public servant defined by her fights against patronage, corruption, and poverty as Secretary of Department of Social Welfare and Development. To me, she is Prof. Judy Taguiwalo, a source of motivation in living an academic life that is animated by engagement in the struggle for women empowerment even beyond the classroom.

Having met her in 2012, at a time when I was considering entering the MA Women and Development program of UP Diliman where she is teaching, I asked for her email address so that I can send her my specific queries. She was eager to answer my questions but to my surprise, she just told me, “May Facebook ka ba? Add mo na lang ako para doon tayo mag-usap!” And so, the first topic of our first FB conversation is about graduate school. She even attached the necessary documents for the application and reminded me days before the deadline.

I eventually enrolled in the said program and for the next three semesters, she became my professor in WD 201 (Women, Gender, and Development: History and Perspectives), WD 221 (Women and Organizing), and WD 291 (Women, Gender, and Development Research). While studying, I am also teaching in a local university in Manila. From time to time, in between the classes and submission of requirements, Prof Judy will ask me about my students, the subjects that I am teaching, and the general conditions of other contractual part-time faculties. Whenever I share my extremely impoverished condition because of delayed salary and stress in everyday commute from Manila to Diliman, she will give me bread or fruits while saying, “Kumain ka palagi para ‘di ka pumayat lalo at magkasakit!” Her sweetness extends to my classmates too as she randomly orders food for us during lecture and joins for dinner after an evening session. She is concerned not only of our wellbeing but also of our families, she even remembers the names of the kids and partners of my classmates!

I am honored to be the last student that she supervised for WD 280 (Field Instruction Program) and WD 300 (Thesis) before she retired from teaching. As a mentor, she is very hands on and meticulous to the point that she even joins me in doing fieldwork interviews in Barangay Vitas in Tondo. She makes sure that I am familiar with the community and with the people’s way of living. Just like all professors, she is also strict with deadlines, especially on the tools to be used in the interviews. One of the most significant research practice that I learned from her is on conversing with the participants, “Dapat kapag tapos ka nang mag-interview, tatanungin mo rin sila kung may tanong ba sila sa’yo. Dapat sasagutin mo rin sila honestly kasi hindi pwedeng ikaw lang ang may nalalaman tungkol sa kanila diba?” I have always remembered this line and applied it in all my other research endeavors. Eventually, because of her and my thesis panel’s encouragement, efficiency, and support, I successfully defended my thesis by 2015 and attend the graduation with Prof. Judy.

When I started my doctoral degree in the National University of Singapore last year, despite her busy schedule as the former DSWD Secretary, she still allots time for meet ups and short chats. We talk mostly about work, research plans, politics, and family/love life. My favorite part will always be the constant reminder before we part ways, about my dedication to research, “Marami ka pang matututunan sa PhD, pero lagi mong tatandaan kung para kanino ang mga research na gusto mong gawin.” Prof. Judy never fails to amaze me with her sincerity and passion in teaching and continuously learning from the marginalized, silenced, and ignored sectors of the society. She is indeed one of my inspirations in pursuing an academic career that is fully committed to serving the people.

Happy teacher’s day, Prof. Judy! Mahal ko po kayo!

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | Manay Judy as a mentor appeared first on Manila Today.

Bago ko sinimulang pagtaguan si Ma’am Jo o Prof. Josefina Santos ng Broadcast Communication Department ng UP College of Mass Communication, una ko siyang naging guro sa BC 104 Introduction to Television and Related Media.

Dito, kasama ang mga batchmates na nangangapa pa lamang sa mga teknikalidad ng produksyon lalo na iyong live, natutunan namin ang kahalagahan ng paggalaw bilang isang grupo–pagtutulungan at pagiging responsable sa anumang papel na gagampanan.

Fast forward–si Ma’am Jo rin ang naging guro ko sa internship at naging thesis adviser ko (kung saan pana-panahon ay nagtago ako tulad ng ilang mga mag-aaral na may utang na draft sa kanilang adviser).

Hindi naging madali ang naging landas ko sa pagbuo ng thesis pero ito ay isang naging makabuluhang paglalakbay para sa amin. Sa mga panahong puno ng pangamba, nakadadagdag ng tapang ang malamang mayroon isang guro na patuloy na nagtitiwala at walang sawang gumagabay tulad niya.

Labas sa klase, nakasama ko rin si Ma’am Jo sa ilang mga proyektong pang-adbokasiya kung saan ako ay gumampan bilang isa sa mga scriptwriter at siya bilang direktor. Palagi’t palagi, kanyang ipinapaalala ang kahalagahan ng media sa pagmumulat ng mas malawak na masang Pilipino. Higit sa pagiging trabaho, natutunan ko sa kanya na patuloy na pahalagahan ang gawain bilang paglilingkod.

Ito ang palagi niya ring ibinubungad sa kanyang pagiging bahagi ng NSTP program sa kolehiyo at sa unibersidad kung saan daan-daan ang kanyang naging mga estudyante. Ilan sa mga isinusulong niya sa NSTP ay ang kampanya para sa media literacy at citizen journalism, gayundin ang disaster risk reduction and management sa mga komunidad sa UP.

Tulad ko, maraming mga mag-aaral ang bumabalik-balik sa opisina ni Ma’am Jo. Wala man sa silabus, marami siyang naibahagi sa akin at sa iba pang mag-aaral na mahahalagang aral sa buhay.

Iyong klasik linya na sinasabing ang mga guro ay ang pangalawang magulang, ganun si Ma’am. Bukas siyang makinig at umunawa sa pinagdadaanan ng kanyang mga mag-aaral. Palagi rin ay handa siyang gumabay sa kanyang mga advisees na hindi sumusuko.

Isa sa mga natutunan ko sa kanya, na sa palagay ko ay mahalagang matutunan din ng lahat ng gusto ring maging guro, na ang pagtuturo ay hindi lamang pagbabahagi ng mga aralin sa silabus, ito ay pagbabahagi ng sarili.

The post #PagpupugayKayTitser | Ma’am Jo appeared first on Manila Today.

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“Wala mang declared martial law, pero nandyan naman ang mga gawi ng Marcosian era sa kasalukuyan,” said Anakbayan Far Eastern University chairperson Kyle Atienza on the recent repressive attacks on progressive student leaders and activists, as well as the series of drug-related killings of minors this week.

[There may not be a declared martial law, but there are many acts done in the Marcosian era nowadays.]

Youth, urban poor, and women groups trooped to the Philippine National Police Caloocan Station today to decry the Duterte government’s intensified threats against activists.

Carrying placards condemning this administration’s fascist policies, especially its drug war, representatives from different sectors took turns in addressing the police, some of whom were listening from inside their padlocked gate.

Charles Jimenez, vice-chairperson of the University of the Philippines Manila University Student Council, addressed the police directly.

“Kayong mga kapulisan, gusto niyo ba ng inyong ginagawang kaliwa’t kanang pagpatay? Inaanyayahan namin kayo na itigil na ang pamamaslang sa mamamayan at kabataan,” challenged Jimenez.

[“You, the police force, are you all right with all the killings? We encourage you to stop killing the people and the youth.”]

He pointed out that the police, with the military, are the primary implementers of the extrajudicial killings under the current administration.

Notorious police station

The Caloocan police force has recently been the subject of headlines, first for receiving an award for the Best City Police Station, and then for the whole police force being reassigned following public outrage over the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos and not long after, their involvement in the summary executions of Carl Arnaiz  and 14-year old Reynaldo ‘Kulot’ De Guzman .

A recent incident of harassment involving the Caloocan police was relayed by Anakbayan Metro Manila in a statement. The statement read that two policemen in plain clothes visited the home of one of their members in Caloocan who was visited by the police. The police allegedly told the student that they kept a “watch list” of members of activist groups, and showed her a document where they kept track of the places she went to and the activities she was part of. According to Anakbayan, there were also reports that the policemen warned her against staying an active member of Anakbayan, or else she would be “taken down.”

War against the poor

Kadamay Caloocan spokesperson Juliet Ablin raised questions about the bloody war on drugs that has also targeted minors. She aimed the questions directly at the police and the president.

“Bakit madaling kitilin ang buhay nila? Tingnan mo nga ang iyong kapaligiran at nasasakupan. Hindi makatarungan ang pamamaslang sa mahihirap at ng kabataan. Tao po ang mga pinapatay niyo, hindi hayop. Kung sila man ay sangkot sa droga, bigyan po natin sila ng pagkakataong magbago. Hindi po solusyon ang pagpatay,” Ablin said.

[“Why is it so easy to take away their lives? Look around you and at your constituency. Killing the poor and the youth is not just. You are killing people, not animals. Should they be involved in drug use, let us give them a chance to change. Killing is not the solution.”]

In a new Social Weather Stations survey, six out of 10 Filipinos believe that the drug war only targets the poor.

Strongman rule tactics

Anakbayan Metro Manila chairperson Christian Advincula warned of the worsening repressive tactics of the Duterte government as a means to maintain its fascist rule on the people.

“Pagpapakita lamang ito na ang kagustuhan ng kasalukuyang gobyerno na busalan ang bibig ng mga Pilipino para pigilan ang mamamayang Pilipino na lumaban sa kasalukuyang rehimen,” he said.

[“This only shows the willingness of the current government to gag the mouths of the Filipinos to stop them from fighting against the current regime.”]

 “Sa kalagitnaan ng pagbubuo ng diktadurya ng Rehimeng US-Duterte, ang lugi rito ay ang karaniwang mamamayang Pilipino. Libu-libo na ang pinapatay ng rehimeng ito,” said Jimenez.

[“In the midst of establishing the US-Duterte dictatorship, those who will suffer the most are the ordinary Filipino people. Thousands have already been killed by this regime.”

Hope amidst threats of martial law

Despite Duterte’s strongman rule and the threat of martial law in the country, protesters at the Caloocan police headquarters maintained their militant view of the people’s movement.

In a statement, Advincula said, “It is only through our collective efforts in asserting for the impunity and fascism to end would the government realize that the people are the legitimate wielders of power. We will continue to struggle until we have held all those accountable, and until we have triumphed in our aim to transform this society into one that is living in peace based on justice.”

The post Groups hold protest vs attacks on activists, drug-related EJKs at Caloocan PNP station appeared first on Manila Today.

In 1943, Jose P. Laurel took on the herculean task of heading the Second Philippine Republic under the Japanese Occupation. It was a perilous choice that would desolate his place in history books that eventually branded him as a collaborator and traitor. He chose political suicide to ensure the survival of the nation. Among the nameless thousands of Filipinos that his sacrifice saved was Manuel A. Roxas, who would later head the post-war reconstruction government.

The strength of character to follow the path of self-immolation would live on in his son, Salvador “Doy” Laurel. He would make the ultimate sacrifice for democracy by giving up his nomination as the standard bearer of the opposition party against Ferdinand E. Marcos during the 1986 Presidential snap elections. The seasoned and respected public servant stepped aside for the inexperienced Cory Aquino in the name of galvanizing the political opposition.

Like his father and brother, Sotero “Teroy” Laurel would display the same audacity as a statesman. In 1991, he was one of the Magnificent 12 Senators who had the courage to vote against the majority of Filipinos who wanted the US Military Bases to remain in the Philippines. He was a powerful voice of dissent, espousing independence and self-determination despite the easy route of reliance and subservience to American military dominion.

The Laurel family has been a vanguard of freedom through generations. They are true sentinels of dissent, choosing the road traveled only by the great. Even when Jose and Teroy founded Lyceum of the Philippines University, they would challenge the state of affairs. Whereas other more prominent universities would lean left, centre or right, Lyceum fostered debate. The ideas of Claro M. Recto, Jovito Salonga, and even Jose Ma. Sison all danced in glorious cacophony at this cradle of critical thinking.

So it is hard to not be overcome by a sense of disillusionment with the Laurel Legacy now that the university administration has planned and decided to take over the student publication, The Lyceum Independent Sentinel. In the misguided guise of public relations, Student Affairs Dean Jayson Barlan, has voiced the administration’s desire for a controlled “renewal and transition phase” for the student paper.

This was an easy annexation. All it took was the removal of the student publication fee, the disenfranchisement of the previous editorial board, and the takeover of the selection process for the succeeding staff. It also helped that the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 has no teeth for implementation and no provision for penalties upon its violation. Except for a sincerely concerned minority, the student body has yet to express strong opposition to this move. The Lyceum Student Government has remained blind and mum on the issue. The word to describe the situation truly is EASY — a word that generations would never associate with the Laurel name.

Character is measured by one’s fearlessness in choosing what is right no matter how arduous, how grotesque, even when the path leads to self-destruction. Jose, Doy, and Teroy were the voices of dissent when there were popular choices unmistakably easy. These formidable Laurels had earned through their struggles and actions, laurels of character.

So as the Student Affairs Dean leads this administration’s “renewal and transition phase” of what is supposed to be an independent student paper, perhaps there should also be a “renewal and transition phase” for the whole university. Lyceum can cease pretending that it is still a sentinel of free, independent thinking. Perhaps it is time to admit that it has become a booming business, a towering corporation, a diploma factory where mindless drones are manufactured. Veritas et fortitudo? Truth and courage? Those principles are but letters on a logo, made by the university’s marketing department then splashed on flyers, brochures, and uniforms without meaning or soul.

The troublesome voices of dissent and debate in the university have been silenced. The spirits of the great Laurels no longer walk, argue, and dispute within its halls. One day there will be other Joses, other Doys, other Teroys. However, their reincarnations will definitely not come from Lyceum — where freedom, integrity, courage, and character is dead.

We truly live in a time when opposition is no longer welcome. 1984 has come.

The post The Lyceum Independent Sentinel 1985-2017(?): A Eulogy appeared first on Manila Today.