Statement of the UP Manila Political Science Committee on the massacre in Maguindanao
26 November 2009
The UP Manila Political Science Committee condemns in the strongest possible terms the latest case of election violence in Maguindanao.
November 23 will go down in history as a day of unparalleled evil and barbarity. More than 50 unarmed individuals, mostly women, media workers, lawyers and members of the Mangudadatu clan, were butchered in an attempt to preserve what appears to be a monolithic kingdom ruled by the Ampatuans in Maguindanao.
The massacre in Maguindanao comes as a shock to Filipinos and the rest of the world and happened in a time that has long forgone Stone Age barbarism and arbitrariness for rule of law and due process.
The brutal killings did not only reveal the extent of lawless violence in several areas in the country but bare the bigger tragedy in Philippine politics – the continuing supremacy of established political clans who act as impervious and invincible gods. It’s further proof that nothing has essentially changed and that the country remains a confederacy of fiefs ‘owned’ by a few affluent families.
The overconcentration of power in the hands of political dynasties has been sustained and reinforced by brokerage-style politics that has come to characterize the current regime.
Political patronage allowed warlordism and a culture of impunity to thrive in Maguindanao and other parts of the country in exchange for political support from the Ampatuans and other influential political clans for the vulnerable Arroyo presidency. Since 2001, the Ampatuans intermittently ruled the province and were largely credited for delivering the votes for Mrs. Arroyo in the 2004 presidential elections and giving the administration ticket a 12-0 win in the 2007 senatorial race.
As we grieve with the victims’ families and call for immediate justice, we also denounce the evident attempts of Malacanang to shield the Ampatuans from accountability. The failure of the Arroyo administration to act swiftly displays the government’s duplicity in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The mere fact that the government chose to send emissaries to the Ampatuans and not arresting officers despite clear evidence that indicate the involvement of specific persons shows its double standard and preferential treatment for its political ally.
We call on all Filipinos to remain vigilant. The gruesome massacre presages the possible escalation of cases of election violence and echoes circumstances that led to the fraudulent elections in 2004 and 2007. It poses a huge threat on the conduct and credibility of the upcoming automated elections and opens an opportunity for individuals and groups who want and stand to benefit in a no-election scenario.
We also call on Congress to pass pending measures prohibiting all forms of political dynasties and laying the foundations for genuine participatory democracy that provides equal opportunity for public service. ###
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Of Planners and Plans
Next semester, I have been planning to do many things. I even asked my friend Des Santos to make a deal that one has to follow its to do list religiously. A fine should be given if the list will not be followed. One of the things in this list is to use my planner religiously. I'm liking the word religiously. I actually have two planners for this year. I was able to use them but I got tired that I stopped using them after a good three months. I was disappointed. I want the OC Planner type of person.
UP Planner
I own a planner by the UP Diliman Centennial University Student Council. I bought it for 350 pesos or 400 pesos? I can't remember. I have this mild memory loss when it comes to prices. Its actually good and formal. Not very formal, just executive-ish.
UP Planner
I can't find a picture of a real sample of the planner in the net. I'm too lazy to take pictures of it and upload it on PC. It's just too complicated. I was able to use it as a journal. It served as a diary of some sort for me. It also served as my accounts sheet. I wrote my daily and future expenses there. I also tried to collect all the receipts just to make sure that all is written. But when my expenses got complicated and I can't keep track of my transactions, I stopped using this. Its easy to be lazy.
Blogberry Planner
I also own a planner from the Stradmore. Des Santos convinced me to buy this planner because it's suited to college students. I was convinced even if it meant another unnecessary expense for me. The looks and the features inside are so tempting. I bought the Stradmore's Blogberry University Lifestyle Planner. Its about 300 or 400 pesos. I can't remember.
Blogberry University Lifestyle Planner (Stradmore)
It's distributed by the ever-reliable National Bookstore. I bought the green one because it's my favorite color. I used it as my scheduler and my goal planner. It's useful for students because it's patterned after the academic year. I write my 'goals to achieve' here. After a month, I will do a self-evaluation. Its quite fulfilling. But it requires a lot of work. I'm too lazy to do it every now and then. After two months, I stopped. I realized I can't maintain a journal or a planner. Saaaad. But I will try to change that lifestyle next semester. This has to be a planner semester.
----
I have been thinking also if I should work again as a student assistant. This time, I want to work in the Graduate Program Office of the College of Arts and Science or GPAS. I need to buy a new phone. My current phone reboots itself whenever it wants to. It also has this 'sim card registration failed' syndrome. I hate this phone but I can't buy a replacement. I still have a spare phone as part of my postpaid freebie but that phone is like a stone age phone. It hangs whenever I tried to send multiple messages. It sucks. Talking about my postpaid. I'm trying to control myself because my previous bill is 1,700 pesos. I pay my own bills. I can't maintain a plan like that. Anyway, let's all enjoy our semestralbreak!
I plan not to go to the memorial park this coming all soul's/saint's day. I'm not convinced why do I have to visit them.
The Ilustrado
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UP won!
It was a fresh victory for UP Fighting Maroons Men's Basketball Team on their first game on the 71st season of UAAP. UP was expected to win since NU Bulldogs were a no-match to hungry players of UP Fighting Maroons. Most members of the UAAP commitee agreed on that thing as they were interviewed after the game. "Ang UP Centennial nila, naghanda yan, hindi basta basta magpapabaya." Taken from an interview with one of the commitees.
People haven’t forgotten their winless performance last year, and have used this to dismiss this squad as this generation’s version of last generation’s NU. However, the UAAP has a way of turning the tables on unsuspecting individuals.
A simple win is good, a couple of wins is momentous, but getting into the Final Four is nothing but a miracle for the men's basketball team of UP Fighting Maroons. he ya! Mananalo kami! ASA. =)
Too bad ADMU won. T_T Animo LA SALLE!
UP FIGHT!
[matatapang, matatalino, walang takot
kahit kanino, hinding hindi magpapahuli..
ganyan kaming mga taga UP!]
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UAAP Schedule of Games
I just thought this post could be helpful to those who want to know the schedules. I feel so bad, i was not able to watch the first game. ^_^
Tomorrow .. it would be a fight between UP and NU; and between LaSalle and Ateneo. It would be in Araneta. Some games are scheduled to be played in Ultra.
[uaap centennial floor]
Games > 2008-2009
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Innocent ’til Proven Guilty
This day, Every Campus Nation Ministries (ENCM) sponsored a mini-pirated version of the 1 vs. 100. It was held in UP Manila, College of Arts and Sciences, Rizal Hall, Little Theater at around 4:30 pm. It has to be exact, I want to be like Tycho Brahe .. accurate and precise. =)
It was entitled as 1 vs. 50. Dien and me was chosen to represent the-ever-popular-and-famous block 4 of political science. Remember the P-O-Llll-S-C-I-Blk4 cheer? I really had fun hearing those. At first, I thought the game show questions would be relevant to the sponsor (ENCM), and it would be something like Who did the posting of Ten Commandments? I just thought it would be like that. Obviously, I was wrong. It would be something different and something comical to others.
The mob against the 1 was composed of different freshmen from different courses, the mob was actually 52 when it started. I was very nervous that time. I don't want to disappoint my block mates. I told Dien that we really have to reach the second question before getting eliminated. She agreed then laughed. "Nakakahiya kapag una palang tapos na tayo," she told me. I agreed.
The brave "one" who dare to test his wits against 52 is a professor in UP Manila, also a graduate of Biochemistry in University of the Philippines. He looks like Yao Ming wearing glasses with thick lens. One of the mobs told me that he was a summa cum laude. WTF.
The first question was too easy, no one got eliminated as expected. The next set of questions got tricky and there was this one question that made the 52 mobs into 36. What is Dora the Explorer's nationality? Dien and I argued and agreed that Dora is a Spanish. "Ang itim kaya nya, she can be a mexican, and mexicans do speak spanish," a mob from the back told her co-mob. Dora is so pretentious. LOLS. And as i expected, Dora's nationality is Spanish. Thanks for my sister who insists on watching this gimikera. =)
Dien and I made it to the top 17. We won over the one. He didnt know whether Kitchie Nadal is from UP, DLSU or Ateneo. She was from LaSalle. And Dien and I answered it right. We got a 176 peso prize each. We reached the 3000 pesos money tree. I really had fun with this event specially with Dora the Explorer's nationality confusion. Remember, it is the Iskolar ng Bayan's weakness, Dora the Explorer.
When I got home, it's already 730 pm. My mom got mad at me since my dismissal is only 4pm. We argued. I silently argued with her. And she commented something that piss me off. She told me that I was just malling or nag gagala. I was so tired by that time that I got angry. She reprimanded me and took my allowaces, she told me that I have to bring lunch instead of money.
Moms do consider some laws but not the law of "Innocence Until Proven Guilty."
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I am excited to the coming orientation of UP Manila Debate Circle. It's the wilingness that I have. It will be on June 30 and July 4. I don't have any plans of joining PoLiS. It's too boring for me. I hope I will be able to join the Debate Circle and the Indayog Dance Varsity.
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Cleve as a College Student
College is getting exciting for me. First days were always good but the following days are better. Being in UP is being Intellectually elite. It is something very definite to every Iskolar ng Bayan.
My first day of class in UP is very memorable. It's not because of new things, neither about new shirts nor allowances, it's because of the UP environment. Several instances in my second day is when someone beside you will hand out a paper to you, discussing TOFI (Tuition and Other Fees Increase), and how the president made their life miserable. There are also flyers inviting freshmen to join certain organizations. And some papers regarding the University Rule (Prohibition of Joining Fraternities and Sororities for Freshman). In UP, you get to know the difference between life and fantasy, you get to know what is reality.
UNREALISTIC
I myself in high school enjoys a lot of malling, eating and group outings. These things were the very things that made me blind to the reality. I spend my money for usual luxury stuffs, eating in an expensive resto once a week, buying branded things, and watching movies. My money is being use in a non-profitable situations. I enjoy life. I really don't bother about the risings of cost of commodities, Its very unrealistic.
REALITY
UP made me realize that there is more to life than material things. Immersion in an environment like UP made me think out-of-the-box. There's no more luxurious spending because I now know the reality. Is it a good idea to know what is happening? or It is safer to go back to the unrealistic life? But I still can't take myself away from the usual spendings, I am still a teenager, enjoying life but never forgetting that I personally need to formulate solutions from the problems that I see.
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One day,
mom: "Yung oble sa poster may sablay na pantakip"
cleve: It is because Oble had given up. This sablay that covers the body of Oble signifies sacrifices with limits. Its not like the old time where Oble wear nothing but a fig leaf. And that nothing signifies full sacrifice to the humanity. "I have nothing to offer to the humanity but myself"
See? I've been getting alot of realities.
UP is radical. Radical to make change.
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