Project Genderway

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Para sa Bayan

Pag Walang "Allowance" ang mga Mag-aaral, ang Bayan Walang Asenso.

A nation's well-being is highly influenced by its economy. The stability of economies are determined by the performance of its capital. And of all forms of capital, it is the human capital that delivers most. And the best means of creating competitive human capital is through well-funded quality education.

To the national administration: invest in education, invest in the entire nation's future. Fail doing so, and soon enough it will all crumble down - its human capital, its economy, and consequently, its entire well-being.

"Pushing" the country's many educational institutions "toward becoming self-sufficient and financially independent" is an insult to those it serves most significantly - the most hardworking, least fortunate and most deserving of students. The raison d'etre of these institutions is to be the state's outlet in assisting its sons and daughters in reaching their full potential for nothing else but the progress of their lives, of the lives of their families, and of this nation.

The allocation of the taxpayers' money - money that took Filipinos days of farming, nights in the call center or labor miles away from family - seems to veer away from catering to the true requisites of those citizens, and the future citizens as well. According to Edward Everett, "education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army", or empirically ineffective means of providing physiological needs, I would add.

When we call for what we deserve, we call for good reasons - ones that ought to be heard. We call because we are educated, but more importantly this time, because of the angst that our education is being taken for granted. And because the nightmare that the next students of the institutions we learned to value may fail to heed such calls is simply inconsolable.

Towards unity, consciousness, and action, we shall fight for students' right to accessible quality eduction.
We students should be critical and assertive in our fight against the budget cut.

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Honor Excellence

Two words are seen in front of all blue books in the University of the Philippines - honor and excellence. During exams, many of us UP students burn the midnight oil for an uno, or a good grade, or to strike a grade that would at least keep us hanging on our dreams. However, we all know that excellence is not defined by the uno, the CS/US or the summa cum laude. Excellence is not an achievement awarded to you one day. Rather, excellence is a value - something to be lived by on a daily basis.

Honor is possessed by those who live as principled students, principles of honesty, loyalty and integrity. Excellence is also a function of honor. When you cheat in an exam, you have committed dishonesty and you have broken the code of honor. Without honor, no one deserves to be called 'excellent.' This is why honor came before excellence.

Honor and excellence work together to make up for a true scholar. So do the words 'student' and 'leader.' We are students first - learning, growing, responsible, and most importantly, realizing the value of education. When we've realized this we can go beyond the responsibilities of a student - lead other students, represent and fight for them.

Beauty will Conquer AS in UP Diliman

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The Incredible Ink

Billions of pesos spent.

Millions of fingers crossed.

One new administration.

A democratic decision has been made and is final.

It shall reveal its face in a few days,

and its consequences in the years to come.

Is democratic always right?

Partial Unofficial Tally:

(36.57%)

Presidentiables (10)

1 AQUINO, Benigno Simeon III C. 5580630
2 ESTRADA EJERCITO, Joseph M. 3551556
3 VILLAR, Manuel Jr B. 1934525
4 TEODORO, Gilberto Jr. C. 1468479
5 VILLANUEVA, Eduardo C. 431847
6 GORDON, Richard J. 216162
7 ACOSTA, Vetellano S. 58778
8 PERLAS, Jesus Nicanor P. 18324
9 MADRIGAL, Jamby A. 16756
10 DE LOS REYES, John Carlos G. 15084

Vice Presidentiables (8)

1 BINAY, Jejomar C. 5605074
2 ROXAS, Manuel A. 5058683
3 LEGARDA, Loren B. 1477027
4 FERNANDO, Bayani F. 402866
5 MANZANO, Eduardo B. 236257
6 YASAY, Perfecto R. 137619
7 SONZA, Jose Y. 23491
8 CHIPECO, Dominador Jr F 17130

Senatoriables (61)

1 BONG REVILLA, Ramon, Jr. B. 7304284
2 ESTRADA, Jinggoy E. 7265799
3 DEFENSOR SANTIAGO, Miriam P. 6688112
4 DRILON, Franklin M. 6106310
5 ENRILE, Juan Ponce -. 6085586
6 MARCOS, Ferdinand, Jr. R. 5325848
7 CAYETANO, Pilar Juliana S. 5309382
8 RECTO, Ralph G. 4761423
9 SOTTO , Vicente III C. 4679775
10 OSMEÑA, Sergio III D. 4349089
11 LAPID, Manuel M. 4144214
12 GUINGONA , Teofisto III D. 3944798

13 HONTIVEROS-BARAQUEL, Ana 3574362
14 BIAZON, Rozzano Rufino B. 3353750
15 DE VENECIA, Jose III P. 3242058
16 REMULLA, Gilbert Cesar C. 2927871
17 LIM, Danilo D. 2878165
18 QUERUBIN, Ariel O. 2561455
19 ROCO, Sonia M. 2554403
20 PIMENTEL, Gwendolyn D. 2318221

Party-list (187)
1 AKO BICOL POLITICAL PARTY

13710
2 COOPERATIVE NATCCO NETWORK PARTY

13590
3 AKSYON MAGSASAKA PARTIDO TINIG NG MASA

9667
4 COALITION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE PHILIPPINES, INC.

9594
5 ANG LABAN NG INDIGONG FILIPINO

8504
6 1ST CONSUMERS ALLIANCE FOR RURAL ENERGY

8315
7 ABONO

7268
8 AN WARAY

7030
9 AKBAYAN! CITIZEN'S ACTION PARTY

6272
10 YOU AGAINST CORRUPTION AND POVERTY

6040
11 AKSYON NG MAMAMAYANG NAGKAKAISA

6012
12 ANG ASOSASYON SANG MANGUNGUMA NGA BISAYA-OWA MANGUNGUMA, INC.

5831
13 FILIPINO MUSLIM ORGANIZATION

5176
14 BAYAN MUNA

4801
15 AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ALLIANCE OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.

4793
16 ABANTE TRIBUNG MAKABANSA

4512
17 ANAK MINDANAO

4433
18 ADVOCACY FOR TEACHER EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ACTION COOPERATION AND HARMONY TOWARDS EDUCATIONAL REFORMS

4283
19 GABRIELA WOMENS PARTY

4217
20 ATONG PAGLAUM

4031

Source: http://2010electionresult.blogspot.com/2010/05/partial-unofficial-tally-as-of-2010-05.html

The Ilocos Experience

Last February 19, at around 6:50pm, I was on a city bus in EDSA on the way to the UP campus, running late for the 7pm call time at the Palma Hall steps. There was not much I could do to make public transport faster so I called up my friend, Cris to let them know I was on my way. This would be my very first field trip as a student of the Department of Geography, well, unless I get to Palma Hall too late. Fortunately, I was able to make it, thanks to the bus company which wasn’t on time either.

Our first stop for the trip was the city of Laoag, the capital of Ilocos Norte. We were all amused by the Oblation-like monument in front of the provincial Capitol. But more historic and symbolic than that monument was the Sinking Bell Tower at the Cathedral of the Diocese of Laoag. After our breakfast at a nearby fast-food, our convoy of two busses and a van were on its way to the historic Burgos Lighthouse in Cape Bojeador in the town of Burgos. The lighthouse, still operational to date, is one of the oldest in Asia and is the highest lighthouse (sea-level elevation) in the Philippines. So I expected a really old, shanty structure with a simple light mechanism – but it was not. Actually it stood very majestically facing the South China Sea, which, of course, meant the view up there was spectacular, and it was. We were able to get to the top of the lighthouse, getting a good look at the bulb. And it wasn’t what I expected either. After a dizzying climb at the structure’s spiral staircase, the view up there was great and the light mechanism looked very interesting and unique.

The Paoay Church and Sarrat Churches are both centuries old. The Paoay or St. Augustine Church was dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 while the St. Monica Churhh in Sarrat is the largest Church in the Ilocos Region. Beside the Sarrat Church was a peculiar museum. It housed some odd things like the rope used to hang the GOMBURZA.

Our next destination was a place where local films like “Panday” or “Ibong Adarna” were shot. The Paoay sand dunes are a feature unique in this part of the Philippines – the very reasons why some particular scenes from movies were taken here. After visiting the dessert-like terrain, we were on our way to the last thing on out itinerary – the Heritage town of Vigan.

The saying “save the best for last” may apply with our itinerary, as my experience seeing Vigan was just unforgettable. The colorful history of Ilocandia is reflected by the complexity of Vigan – an oxymoron of the past and the present. That commenced my trip to the Ilocos Region, and I sure am glad I embarked on this wonderful experience with my friends and instructors from the University of the Philippines, a proof that UP life goes beyond the realms of the UP campus.