Philippine Politics « CLEVE.ARGUELLES dotcom

30Dec/103

Inquirer’s Costly, Senseless War

Contrary to what the people in Inquirer are saying, the Filipino people’s Maoist revolution is not a senseless war. Yes, I may agree that this is a costly war but it’s not, by any means, senseless.

While I have to recognize that some of the points in the opinion article are, well, true (and for that matter, is not an opinion for opinion’s sake), some of the points are, if not unsubstantiated, not well-researched.

Yes, it is true that for the past 42 years of the people’s revolution, the government has been unable to crush it. It is interesting to note that the revolution is a qualified candidate for belligerency, the government, for the past 42 years, is calling it as an armed insurgency. Despite the government’s army’s annual pronouncements and targets that it will crush the revolutionary army by the end of the year, the revolution is still on going, if not growing in members. In fact, in its statement for this year’s anniversary, the people’s revolution under the leadership of the CPP-NPA-NDF is under a plan to move the armed struggle from strategic defensive to strategic stalemate in the next five years. Also in its statement, the revolutionary army is claiming that they grew in numbers this year.

Whose statistics should we trust?

We have the statistics from the government’s armed forces that is claiming that the revolutionary army is at its all-time low for the past 42 years. This claim came from a military institution who announces every year that the revolution will be ended by the end of the year and that no anniversaries will be celebrated the year after. And obviously, by the way, for the past 42 years has not been fulfilled.

We have, on the other side, the claims of the revolutionary army that they grew in numbers and that they were able to expand their guerrilla zones especially in Southern Mindanao. Now on its 42^nd anniversary, the revolution is moving from its first phase to the second in its four-phase people’s protracted war. More than its armed strength, the party remains to be strong ideologically.

Who is more credible? Which side is more believable?

Yes, the people from inquirer are right when they said that this is just a propaganda war. This is just a battle of one’s side propaganda to the other. But mind you, some propagandas are more credible not to mention believable than the others. Talk about a credible army.

It is not true that communism is dead or, as the people from Inquirer are trying to tell us, will soon be dead. It is far from becoming a dead ideology. The resurgence of social movements anchored on Marxist philosophies cannot be a possible consequence of an ideology that is dying. Contrary to the claims of the article, there is a re-awakening of communist wars in different parts of the world. And this cannot be easily done by a dead or dying ideology. In the words of V, ideas are bulletproofs. The communist ideals are not just bulletproofs, they are immortal. For as long as an oppressive capitalist society exists, the people will find a way to rediscover the Marxist communist principles.

Those who are supporting the revolution are far from supporting a senseless war. The people’s demand for a just and equitable society anchored on human rights is far from being senseless. The people’s war in defense of the oppressed workers, farmers, youth and the women is far from being senseless. If there is anything lacking in sense here, it is the government that continues to be deaf and blind to the demands of its people. Senseless policies such as the continuing state abandonment of its responsibility to social services, the state repression and unjustified killings, the continuation of the concentration of lands to few wealthy landlords and the concentration of the power and money to members of the ruling class is but a shame to the sensible demands of the peoples of the revolution.

As the people’s revolution celebrate yet another year, the mainstream media, the government and other individuals are again busy with their annual habit. Year after year, these are the same people who propagate false ideas and unsubstantiated claims regarding the Philippine communist movement. Ranging from "Communism is dead" comments to whatever these people are doing - wasting their time typing articles, every year, these same institutions and individuals engages themselves in a propaganda war against the people’s revolution. If there is anything lacking in sense here, it is these people who continually engages themselves in black propaganda against the people’s revolution. Some writers are just not in the right side of history, and well, senseless. Or some writers just do not know their history.

Unless the government is willing to change, dialogues will only mean propaganda wars. Unless the system changes, the people will continually wage a, yes, costly, but justified and sensible war. Imagine this government and weep.

Popularity: 4% [?]

13Dec/100

Politics Behind Honor and Excellence

Traditional Politicians

Ang UP School of Economics Student Council, Si Prof. Winnie Monsod, ang UP College of Business Administration Student Coucnil, ang UP Diliman ALYANSA at syempre, ang AKBAYAN Youth UP Diliman. Sino ba sila?

Mainit na sinalubong ng bawat isa sa atin ang isyu sa pagkaltas sa badyet ng UP, ng ibang SUCs, at ng iba pang serbisyong panlipunan. Nagalit. Nainis. At nagpahayag ng pagtutol at labis na pagkadismaya sa mga plano ng bagong pangulong si Aquino III. Nag walkout, nag strike, nag march, pumunta sa Kongreso at Senado at todo-todong inilaban na dapat bigyan ng mas mataas na pondo ang mga pampublikong pamantasan. Ito ang isyung bumabagabag sa ating mga Iskolar Ng Bayan.

Pero hindi sa kanila. Sila lamang ang mga taong hindi mo naman narinig na sumuporta sa laban natin sa budget cut o kaya naman ay huli na (mismong araw na ng strike). Sila lang naman ang mga naging pabor at nagpahayag na napapanahon na ang pagtaas ng tuition fee nung 2006 sa UP. O kaya naman ay parang wala sila UP, walang sinasabi, pipi at walang imik. At ngayon, may pinipilit silang binubuhay na isyu. Pilit na pilit. Ito siguro ang depinisyon niyo ng karangalan at kahusayan. Buti na lang, inyo lang yan.

Natatandaan niyo ba ng tawagin tayong "noisy few" dati noong tumututol tayong mga Iskolar Ng Bayan sa 300 percent na pagtaas ng tution fee? Ibabalik ko lang sa kanila. This time, it's for real. Noisy few kayo!

Dagdagan pa natin, ang AKBAYAN, which is represented by the AKBAYAN Youth in UP Diliman voted in the Congress in favor of the enactment of the 2011 Proposed Budget. Bumoto sila na mabawasan ang budget ng UP at ng SUCs. Honor? Excellence?

Dapat sa UP bawal ang traditional politicians.

'Making a mountain out of a molehill’

Bakit ba kasi pilit na ginagawang isyu ang hindi naman isyu? Kapag may isyu, wala kayong sinasabi. Ito kayo ngayon, gumagawa ng sariling isyu. Pinananawagan niyo na bumaba sa pwesto si Rain Sindayen bilang USC Chair ng UP Diliman. Sinabi niyo na hindi na si Ces Santos ang USC Chair ng UP Manila. Kailan ba kayo magtatanda? Ano pa ba ang gusto niyong malaman?

Rain Sindayen is now officially enrolled in a degree program in UP Diliman. Dahil nga napakaloob na siya sa loob ng USC, Constitution ng USC ang dapat na gumabay sa estado niya. He is still the UPD USC Chair. Ipinipilit niyong dapat siyang mapailalim sa Student Electoral Code. Hind nga pwede. Hindi naman kasi eleksyon, napapaloob na siya sa batas ng USC. Intindihin niyo naman. Excellence nga di'ba? Palibhasa, eleksyon palagi ang nasa isip eh.

Our USC Chair here in UP Manila is still Ces Santos. Her Chairpersonship was reaffirmed by the USC General Assembly which serves as the highest policy- and decision-making body of the USC. Her case is still on appeal. And we, the students, stand by her that there is an irregularity in her case.

Sabi nga ni UP College of Law Dean Raul Pangalanan, these people are just 'making a mountain out of a molehill.'

All for elections

Pero bakit ba kasi may "Honor and Excellence" statements kayo?

Kasi naman, natatakot na kayo. Hindi kayo narinig ng mga estudyante tungkol sa isyu ng budget cut. O hindi lang talaga kayo naririnig ng mga estudyante sa kahit ano pang isyu. Sabi nga nila, character assassination. Pwede rin namang, shoot others down. At inadopt niyo naman bilang strategy.

Tiwala na ang mga estudyante sa mga aktibistang lider estudyante dahil sa kanilang dedikasyon at husay na paglingkuran ang mga Iskolar Ng Bayan at sambayanan. Mula unang araw noong Agosto na nalaman natin na may pagkaltas sa badyet, wala na silang pagod na humarap sa hamon na ipaglaban ang UP bilang isang pamantasang bayan at ipaglaban ang karapatin natin sa edukasyon. Nakita at nasaksihan ng mga estudyante kung sino ang kumikilos ng buong taon, yung hindi lamang Pebrero at papalapit na sa eleksyon.

Walang honor at excellence sa strategy niyo. Gagawin niyo talaga all for elections o pwede rin namang re-election.

Honor and Excellence, Where Art Thou?

Sa panahong kailangan namin kayo, iniwan niyo kami. Sa panahong nanganganib tayong mga estudyante, anong pinagkakaabalahan niyo? Ito ang tanong at isyu na dapat sagutin niyo? Honor? Nasaan ang karangalan? Karangalan bang hindi gampanan ang tungkulin? Excellence? Mahusay bang maituturing na kaligtaan ang sinumpaang tungkulin? Nasaan ang karangalan at kahusayan?

Ano ba ang sukatan ng karangalan?

Hindi ba maaring maging sukatan ang paglilingkod ng buong puso sa bayan? Ang pag-alay ng talento, talino at iba pang kakayahan sa ikalalaya ng sambayanan? Para kanino ba ang inyong karangalan? Para sa sarili? Para sa iilang tao lamang? O para sa mamamayan?

Nasusukat nga ba kung sino ang mas marangal?

Maari. At hindi kayo yun.

Ano ba ang sukatan ng kahusayan?

Ang mataas na grado? Ang madaming uno? Sa kantang UP Ang Galing Mo, nabanggit ba dun kung bakit daw tayo magaling? Kung bakit daw tayo mahusay? Nasabi ba dahil mataas ang ating grado? O dahil madami tayong uno? Mahahanap mo rin yan sa ibang pamantasan.

Pero ang kahusayan natin ay mananatiling dahil tayo ang isang pamantasang naglilingkod sa interes ng samabayanan.

Huwag niyong ipagmalaki ang bagay na wala naman kayo. Kung may pagkakataon man na magiging pamantayan natin ang karangalan at kahusayan bilang sukatan sa mga nais maglingkod sa loob ng USC at iba pang SCs, sinasabi ko sa inyo, mananatiling mga aktibistang lider-estudyante ang makakagampan dito.

Honor and Excellence, where art thou?

Para kanino?

Pinagbabangga ang aktibismo at ang kahusayan. Pinagbabangga ang aktibismo at ang karangalan. Bakit ba target ng dilawan at asulan ang pulang aktibismo?

Mainam naman talagang mabalanse ang pang akademikong pag-aaral at ang pakikibaka para sa pagbabago ng isang aktibista. Mainam kung maituturing na sabay na gampanan ang dalawang bagay na ito. Pero hindi nila pwedeng ipagmalaki ito. Kasaysayan ang makakapagsabi na hindi nila nabalanse ang dalawang bagay na ito. Ang mga dilawan at asulan ay hanggang pangakademikong kahusayan lamang at mahusay lamang maglingkod kapag eleksyon na. Minsa nga, pareho pang wala sa inyo yan. Kaya't sa huli, pinakamainam pa ring sagutin ang tanong na para kanino?

Para kanino ba isang araw na pagliban sa klase para sumama sa pagkilos laban sa pamahalaang tinatapakan ang karapatan ng kabataan para sa edukasyon? Para kanino nga ba?

Para kanino naman ang siraan ang mga aktibistang nananawagan para tutulan ang budget cut? Para kanino nga ba ang ginagawa niyo?

Ang mataas na porma ng sakripisyo ng mga aktibista, ang kanilang nag-aalab na dedikasyon na baguhin ang sistema at ang kanilang walang pagod na pakikibaka, para kanino nga ba? Para sa bayan, para sa kinabukasan.

Para mapalaya ang inaaping sambayanan.

------

Maari ring basahin ang mga ito:

Isinulat ni UP Faculty Regent Judy Taguiwalo- Academic Excellence and the Costs of Universal Public Education.

Isang malalim at matalas na pagtalakay sa isyu ng isang UP Sociology Professor na si Gerry Lanuza- Demythologizing the Fetish of Academic Excellence.

Isinulat naman ni Mykel Andrada para sa Pinoy Weekly- Madaling Maging Honorable at Academically Excellent na Estudyante.

Pagtulisa sa kawalan ng prinispyo ng Akbayan at Alyansa mula kay Anton Dulce ng Anakbayan National Office- Look Ma, no principles!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Filed under: Philippine Politics, Politics, University of the Philippines No Comments

21Oct/101

A Long Sem-Ender Entry for A Long Semester

A Drama Mix

This semester has been the most productive semester of my entire college life. I never imagined that I could do all these (as in all of the first semester shizz that I got into) in just one semester. This semester is amazingly wild. Juggling stuff, pursuing deadlines, extending limits, multi-tasking hundreds and thousands of tasks and managing the limited twenty four hours of everyday life--- I wouldn't be learning all these things if not for this semester. Despite all the associated toxicity of this semester, I met new friends, rediscovered old friendships, deepened and strengthened existing relationships. But mind you, this semester was not an easy ride. I also lost some friends, missed some important events, lose in a game, and frustratingly experienced a one-way romantic affection. This semester is a complete season 1 of a drama television series. Seriously, I had a lot of drama for the first six months of my college junior year. And when I talk about drama, I mean real drama. But this semester ended with a cool and awesome mixture of sweetness, bitterness, happiness and calmness hoping that it would not be something like calm before the storm (hello impending November storm).

So Much For An Octopus-type Multi-Tasking

On Academics

No worries, except for those professors with grading systems guided by the favorite Irish Pub game (hello darts!). This semester’s coursework is quite stressful but I’ve learned many things. Aside from the fact that my courses this semester are inherently interesting, I’m fortunate enough that the professors who handled these courses are excellent in their fields (there are exceptions—emphasis on exceptions). My Political Science courses for this semester are five percent short of being perfect. I took up Comparative Governments of Selected European States (mainly comparative aspects of European politics and governments and European Union) under Prof. Carl Marc Ramota, Political Dynamics (lectures and readings on the State and Civil Society plus analytical approaches) under Prof. Risa Jopson, and Human Rights (all-encompassing discussions on human rights, theories and realizations) also under Prof. Risa Jopson. Then I had three non-Political Science courses for this semester. I took up Microeconomics (all that Gregory Mankiw shizz) under Prof. Allan Mesina, Science, Technology and Society (disappointing because of its bias to the capitalist school of thought) under Prof. Del Rosario and Life and Works of Dr. Jose Rizal (what? I thought this was a creative writing course?) under Prof. Benjamin Mangubat. I have to admit that I enjoyed all my Political Science coursework for this semester especially the lecture about United Kingdom, European Union, social movements and almost all the lectures regarding human rights. However, I also have to admit that I was disappointed with two of my non-Political Science courses (that of STS and PI 100).

Now I Know What The Hell This Flag Is

On Student Council

This is my first year in the college student council, well, my first year in a student council. I was elected as the college Vice-Chairperson and I’m tasked with a lot of things contrary to the customary definition of what a Vice-Chairperson is (the one who just relax until he/she can assume the position of the Chairperson). Well, I’m the head of the Organizations and Community Welfare Committee of the council which is basically the coordinating arm between college organizations and the student council. I tried to introduce new stuff regarding organizations and council integration and governance stuff (Council of Student Organizations) but there are still lots of things to do-emphasis on a lot. I’m also the head of the Oblation Corps which is the volunteer arm of the council. I recruit, train and assign tasks to volunteers. We now have a lot of volunteers; I just have to find ways to maximize their talents and potentials. Also, under the new Constitution, I was also assigned as the Executive Council Secretary which is the most stressful administrative job inside the council. I have to monitor attendance, encode minutes, document things, file council shizz, regulate incoming and outgoing correspondence, schedule assemblies and all other secretary shizz. (I was thinking if I could apply as the University Secretary or the Secretary of the UP Board of Regents. Well, apparently, I can.) Aside from those tasks, I'm determined to assert my usefulness as the next officer in line, and I can safely say that this has been the most productive CAS student council since my first year in the college. We've been successful in our plan in reviving the student council and transforming it into a campaign, activities, and service-oriented institution. Good job for the first semester! Agree? :)

For a more responsive, student-centered and pro-people student council next semester! Cheers!

Campus Strike by the University of California, Los Angeles (After a 50 percent cut in the budget)

Still in UCLA

On Activism

There are notable changes in my productiveness as an activist but there are also few problems that I've encountered this semester. First, this semester is a difficult time for any activist. What we have to do for the whole semester is to expose to the majority of the people that the new government of Aquino III is not different from the past governments. It takes courage and ability to do that. Talk about persuasive ninja skills. Well, people are still disillusioned and/or are somewhat hopeful that Aquino III will deliver some changes in the way that this country is being run. But, guys, no radical change will happen. Do I really have to tell people that corruption is not the root cause of poverty and underdevelopment in the Philippines? Do I really have to? This is a challenging task and I'm willing to take the challenge. Secondly, UP, which happens to be my school, is receiving its highest budget cut in its history. This is a serious problem for a university that is striving to be accessible and yet having limited financial capabilities. You don't have to study the budget statistics to know that UP has limited budget every year, and it is getting smaller year after year. And the university has no other choice but to compromise the public character of the university. Opposing the railroading of the WB and IMF-led commercialization of education in the Philippines will not be an easy fight. It will be a tough fight! But we'll not let this budget cut slide, right? Not without a fight! Prepare for a strike! Lastly, I've noticed that I was not able to attend any educational discussions for this semester. And I will change that next semester. FYI, activists spend most of the time not in the streets but studying in groups. We have a lot of materials to study covering historical, economic, political, social and cultural aspects of the Philippine society. Do you want to join? Let me know. :) But seriously, there's still room for improvements for the activist me.

Walkout Against Budget Cut in University of Califonia, Berkeley

Our September 24 Walkout Against SUC Budget Cut

On Relationships

By relationships, I mean all types of mortal (a relationship with a Supreme Being assuming it exists or with an imaginary ghost friend does not count) relationships. Friends, family, foes and even that special someone falls under this catch-all category.

I can say that this particular sphere of my life has been the most unpredictable, challenging and stressful (emphasis on stressful) part of my first semester. The relationship problems I've encountered for this semester are those that cannot be solved merely through an emergency meeting ala student council or a plan ahead of time. Problems in relationships are more complex than how-can-I-get-a-perfect-score-in-this-examination-problem or how-can-I-convince-student-organizations-to-attend-meetings-problem. It takes a lot of creativity, effort, courage, thinking and a whole lot of feeling.

I became closer to my friends, especially to my barkada. Our barkada faced many challenges this semester but we all got through it---but not easily though. The scars that we got through these challenges will always make us remember how stupid we are for letting some thing or some issues get in the way of our friendship. Ewww, cheesy.

In the case of my family, they are still the static, non-dynamic and passive aspect of my life. A pushy mom is not a problem, right? Or not. But I have to say that I'm getting used to it. But I'm still experiencing wavelength issues with my siblings.

I have a special someone, (ayiee)---though I'm sure that I'm not special to that person. I've developed something new this semester in terms of having romantic affairs. It was my first time to try to reach to another person and ask for affection. Well, it feels different to be at the other side of relationship. I have to admit that this has been the most stressful, major major challenge that I've encountered this semester. But almost all of my friends believe that this problem made me change for the better. I agree. And that's more important. Lessons from mistakes. Check! Perfect.

Relevant

Next Semester

Hey, Mr. Next Semester! Be cooler and more awesome, kay? More challenges and more lessons! I want another season of TV drama with lots of twists and unexpected changes. Promise me, you’ll never make me bored. Challenge me! :)

Popularity: 5% [?]

Tagged as: Academics, against, allan, arguelles, break, budget, Campus, carl, civil, council, cut, ender, entry, european, human, jopson, mass, mesina, microeconomics, movements, personal, political science, ramota, rights, risa, semester, Society, strike, STS, Student, union, walkout 1 Comment

22Sep/105

On Facebook (online) Activism

I’ve been asked by a first year UP Manila student probably an Arts student regarding my views on online activism. Apparently, she recognizes that I’m an online activist. However, she was not able to give me a definition of what online activism is or how she recognizes that a person is an online activist. Still, I gave her my insights regarding the topic.

I maintain a mainstream blog (www.clevearguelles.com) which contains all possible topics under the sun. Largely, my blog is an unorganized collection of my insights regarding different topics especially that concerns Philippine politics. I also use my blog as a personal journal. Aside from my blog, I also use social networking sites to cross-post my blog posts and insights on different issues. I use Plurk, Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo Meme and Tumblr to maximize my reach. If this counts as an online activism, I’m not that sure.

From placards to keyboards

I believe that you can’t be an online activist without being an activist outside the virtual world. It lies on the assumption that the online world acts as an extension of the real world therefore, campaigns should be extended to the online world as well. The availability of new mediums to reach students regarding student sector’s campaigns should be maximized. Its effectiveness in reaching the students led me to use these mediums to share my campaigns and to mobilize them for these different campaigns.

This actually proves the contemporary theory that online activists became online activists out of necessity. Activists should maximize available mediums to reach the most number of people.

However, we should always consider the dangers of online activism. While online activism is a very useful form of activism that maximizes available mediums, it can only be regarded as an extension of traditional activism. It cannot be considered as a whole new form of activism.

Online activists tend to believe that their line of work is just limited in the virtual world. We must not commit the mistake of thinking that the virtual world is the “world” where campaigns should be brought. It only acts as an alternate world (extension) of the real world where campaigns should be really voiced out. Also, we must not always think that the Internet is a place where we can reach everyone or the majority of the people. Especially in the Philippines, the majority of the population does not have access to Internet. It actually defeats the purpose of the activism—that of reaching the most number of people regarding campaigns and to mobilize the most number of people out of these campaigns. Primarily, if our aim is to mobilize the greatest number of people, campaigns should be spearheaded outside the virtual world (but simultaneously extended to the online world). Lastly, online activism tends to encourage “clicktivism.” We are inclined to believe, because of online activism, that joining causes on Facebook or by re-tweeting campaigns on Twitter would automatically translate to social change. In reality, this is not true. Social change could be achieved through collective show of force, action, and dedication outside the walls of the internet. Our greatest aim remains to be that of arousing, organizing and mobilizing the most number of people for our cause.

From closed fist to mouse activism

But online activists are most welcome.

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Clicking like on Facebook on a status opposing the 1.39 B Peso Budget Cut to UP would not really help stop the passage of it in Congress. Joining this Friday's (September 24) nation-wide walkout of students against budget will do. Don't commit clicktivism. Be heard (not just in the virtual world).

Popularity: 5% [?]

Tagged as: activism, clicktivism, cyberactivism, e-activism, internet, online, online activism, Philippines 5 Comments

14Jul/106

Basyang and P-Noy

Binagyo ang Metro Manila kagabi at ang kalakhan ng Luzon. Na-highlight na naman ang "unpreparedness" ng ating government sa mga ganitong klase ng disaster. Kung tutuusin, dapat palagi na tayong handa sa mga bagyo dahil "normal" na lang ito sa atin. On the average, according to the EPIC PAGASA, we experienced 20 typhoons every year. Naka-dalawa na tayo, 18 pa! Way to go Philippines!

Nagreklamo ang mga tao dahil sa kawalan ng kuryente. Sa ganitong era ng buhay natin, we are really electricity-dependent human beings. Sinisi ng MERALCO ang National Grid Corporation. Inamin naman nito ang pagkukulang niya. Pero sa mahal ng kuryente natin (second most expensive in Asia), ang hirap tanggapin na nawalan ng kuryente ang buong Luzon. Alam naman nilang typhoon-prone ang ating bansa, hindi pa paghandaan.

Umangal rin ang National Disaster Coordinating Council at ang Office of Civil Defense kung bakit sila na naman ang sinisisi ng mga tao. Maliit lang daw ang budget nila. Kahit gaano sila kahanda, they can't mobilize enough forces to cover all the areas affected. Php 1 B to 2 B lang daw ang budget nila kada taon samantalang on the average ay nakakapaminsala ang mga bagyo sa loob ng isang taon ng mahigit na Php 20 B. Hello, President Noynoy?

At sino naman ang isa pang umangal?

Si President Noynoy. Nagalit daw siya sa PAGASA dahil sa mali at late nitong weather forecast. Nagpaumanhin naman ang PAGASA sa pangulo. Kulang daw kasi sila ng Php 18 B sa budget at wala namang enough na facilities and equipment para magsagawa ng early forecast. Kung bakit ba naman sinisisi ni Aquino ang PAGASA, eh kahit siya naman ay wala sa priority niya ang unahin ang budget ng ahensya nito. May karapatan kayang magreklamo si Aquino? O kahit si Arroyo? Hindi naman tayo nag-iinvest sa Science and Technology particularly sa Research and Development. Patuloy lang ang gobyerno sa "mis-prioritization" nito.

Sinabi pa ng PAGASA na kulang narin sila sa mga eksperto at scientists para magsagawa ng mga pag-aaral. Saan ba kasi pumupunta ang mag experts natin? Napakababa naman kasi ng sweldo dito. Isa pa, hindi binibigyan ng gobyerno ng budget ang mga State Universities and Colleges. Ipinapasara pa nga ang mga nito. E sila lang naman ang nag-ooffer ng mga "Metereology Degree Programs" o mga kursong may kinalaman sa weather and climate forecasting. SINONG DAPAT SISIHIN NGAYON?

Sinong ba ang nagbabawas ng budget sa SUCs? Sino bang gustong magpasara ng mga SUCs? Sino ba ang nagbabawas ng mga courses na hindi naman "marketable"? Sino ba President Noynoy?

Kaya patuloy ang hamon ko sa iyo at naming mga kabataan. Itaas ang budget sa education sector! Allot six percent of our GDP to the education sector!

WALKOUT. JULY 16.

IPAKITA ANG PANININDIGAN.

IPARINIG ANG PANAWAGAN.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Filed under: Philippine Politics, University of the Philippines 6 Comments

26Jun/109

Poverty Porn

POVERTY PORN.

Katawagan sa mga uri ng midya kagaya ng pelikula, dokyumentaryo, o larawan na pinatatampok at pinagsasamantalahan ang kahirapan para sa sariling ganansya. Madalas na nagagamit itong terminong ito sa pagpuna sa mga film makers sa mga Third World countries kagaya ni Brillante Mendoza. Sinasabing ang kanyang mga gawang pelikula ay nagsasamantala sa kahirapang nagaganap sa ating bansa upang ma-ibenta ito sa mga puti. Patok daw ito sa panlasa ng mga puti dahil sa exotic, thrilling at kakaibang setting ng kahirapan sa ating bansa. Balak bang pagkakitaan ni Alex ang kahirapan? Hindi natin malalaman. Pero dapat ring maipunto na hindi lang dapat ang filmmaker o photographer ang dapat akusahan ng mali. Mahalaga pa ring itanong kung ano ang naiiwan nito sa mga nakakita o nakapanood? Baka higit na dapat kwestyunin ang motibo ng mga audience? Ang dahilan lang ba ngpanonood mo ng mga pelikulang kagaya ng Tribu, Kinatay at Slumdog Milloniare ay dahil sa nakakatuwang mga eksena ng kahirapan? Enjoying?

Pelikula ni Brillante Mendoza na nagwagi ng Best Director sa Cannes Film Festival

Kadalasan sa mga bata umiikot ang tema ng mga pelikulang "poverty porn"

Ilang tao na kaya sa Afrika ang nagamit ng mga taga-Kanluran upang mapagkakitaan? Yung mga litrato ng mga itim na malnourished o hindi kaya naman ay kumakain ng mga exotic foods. Ibinebenta ba ito ng kumukuha ng litrato? Humingi kaya siya ng pahintulot na kunan ng litrato ang mga taong ito? Ilang politiko na nga ba ang gumamit rin ng kahirapan para sa sariling ganansya? Pervasive. Poverty Pornography should be stopped.