M A R K I N G S

On the road of transition...

2007-04-08T18:08:00.000+08:00

After graduating, it seems the world gets wider. Perhaps, this is my affirmation of how they say it will be. But, once we are strengthened by our principles, the ones which made us survive college by the way, we come to our senses. This is the time when struggles between having to find work "that makes you comfortable" and "that defines your consciousness" happen every day. This is more than I imagined it to be, but I'm glad that I'm finally here.

The way I picture how it's going to be, this moment shall bring me to many travels around Mindanao and it did. Not forgetting that this is not the place I should be, ideally or exactly, its should not be made less, generally.

Many spoke, and even warned, that this would be hard. I agree. It already is just thinking of it. Yet, several comrades had spoken of how they managed to make it not that hard and not that easy. The general rule is to use "transitions." (murag powerpoint!)

I now know I hate being idle even if I belong to the elite class of lazies.

Some of my posts will contain pictures of the places I visited, not to brag about them but to show that traveling is a chance to see changes. This is consoling myself to bring change as well. I may also give my reflections for the purpose of evaluating the transition I am experiencing.

All this, to SERVE THE PEOPLE!

New and "Politicized" Dugong Antro Logo

2007-04-06T01:33:00.000+08:00

After almost two months of not posting, I shall start my second quarter posts by showing the " New and "Politicized" Dugong Antro Logo".

Since the concept was not defined by those who asked me to make the logo, I had to innovate. All symbols, colors and meanings in this logo are of my personal understanding of the anthropology course. Of course, Ken and I had lengthy discussions on what character should the logo posses, and perhaps those influenced this work, the final output is somewhat accidental.

COLORS:
Red - To signify the role of human being's struggle with their history.
Yellow - The hope that history brings in persistence of men and women.
Black - A marker of mutual participation and mastery of nature

SYMBOLS:
Face - Labor
Sun - Hope and Resistance
Titik K(Baybayin) - Liberation

There it is. I hope many would contribute to the evolution of this logo. However, the central content is consistent that humans are historical beings which struggles towards their total liberation from class society. Simply, humans are revolutionaries!

DUGONG ANTRO

2007-02-20T21:22:00.000+08:00

I was requested to make a logo for an anthropology club from the University of the Philippines in Mindanao.

There is actually no concept for the logo, perhaps except that the members wanted a lizard or a reptile to represent it. They said it symbolizes Mindanao, if I remember it correctly.

Well, anyway, the font name is AFRICAN. It's the one that SURVIVOR is also using or is very similar.

I had a difficulty of having this into reality because PHOTOSHOP wouldn't work in my PC. Upon searching for an editor with at least the same power, I came across THE GIMP. It is an open-source editor which runs faster than PHOTOSHOP in my PC and have some features which I think made it more easier for me to perform various types of editing I dreamt of doing with Photoshop.

Thank you Kenette for volunteering me into making this logo.

2007-02-10T12:26:00.000+08:00

maybe published in ATENEWS

STUDENT BIAS
By: John Rizle Saligumba (YouthVOTE)
http://johnrizle.blogspot.com

In a private academic institution like this university, it is a given that students and administrators have irreconcilable interests. It is from recognition of this that a student-leader draws his bias for the students. Economically and politically, the students are stakeholders. We are a decisive force in the making of our history. Our democratic rights and welfare shall be of the utmost priority. Conformity and compromise of these fundamental truths not only hamper our growth but also make us mediocre citizens of society.

As part of a community with our teachers, the non-teaching personnel and the administrators, our contribution lies not only in constant agreement but in healthy opposition to their interests as well, giving primacy and bias to our own. Our teachers cannot be an absolute authority over us because we LEARN from each other with the central element of respect. We ADMIRE the people which smoothen processes in the university but we are tasked to EVALUATE their performances. In SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY, we ensure that their interest to compensation and tenure are advanced (as taught by the church to which this university extract its teachings). We VALUE the vision of our administrators in the development of this university but we STRUGGLE with them because we would not want that in exchange and in the expense of the interests of other sectors.

We must not see the non-occurrence of conflict as the existence of true peace. It is but just a subjective peace. It is peace that only maintains and protects the status quo to the advantage of the most powerful. Conflicts are but normal but not propagated, not if no party is defenselessly aggravated to the point of no choice and injustice. In cases of course, where conflicts are irreconcilable, student-leaders should SERVE THE STUDENTS! Trust and LEAN-ON the STUDENTS, and they will do the same!

I invite each one to assess society in the lights of this. It is an old perspective, they say, but which can tell us of the truth.

SERVE THE STUDENTS!
SERVE THE PEOPLE!

(Tula Nga May Kasing-Kasing)

2007-01-19T00:27:00.000+08:00

(Tula Nga May Kasing-Kasing)
by: b0sS

Sa akon pagmata nga sa ulo may bolpen kag basiyo sang bala;

Daw ginkaptan ko man ang mga pulong kag gakus sang babaye sang damgo sang bag-ong aga;

Ang gapiswit nga tinta kag gabuga nga pulbura, gabilin sang marka kag gabag-o sang sistema;

Paryas nga gindawat sang bag-ong maria, sa paglig-on kag sa pagbaton sang mga butung sang panahon;

Kag kay siya ang akon gugma,
ang pagkita sang bituon gabadlak nga pula;

Sa mga kamot kag matam-is nga adlaw sang kasing-kasing, amon unta kaptan kag dungan nga ipataas sa hangin;

Kag sa amo sina indi man daw yab-ok nga palidun, ining amon damgo sa katilingban nga tanan kita magpalipayon.

2006-12-24T18:10:00.000+08:00

would be posted(I hope) to Atenews, the official student publication of the Ateneo de Davao University as a contribution.

Cha-Cha Now or Later?

By: John Rizle Saligumba

http://johnrizle.blogspot.com

johnrizle@gmail.com

The Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Agham Pulitika ng Ateneo (SAMAPULA) held an informal debate last December 13, 2006 guesting members of the faculty as speakers, Atty. Cabarde to explain the processes of amending the Philippine Constitution, Atty. Baldovino (Cha-Cha now) for the affirmative side and Mr. Augustine “Don” Pagusara for the negative side (Cha-Cha later).

I would say that the holding of this debate at this date is rather late. This issue has been a subject of various multi-sectoral protests even before the administration congress, has syndicated, shamelessly in a tyranny of numbers, to railroad it without the participation of the senate. In fact, the Constituent Assembly is the second step of the GMA regime to change the charter. Prior that was the People’s Initiative which was junked by the Supreme Court for failing to comply with the constitutional and legal requirement to fully explain the proposed amendments to the signatories.

Three forms, one goal

Atty. Cabarde presented how the Philippine Constitution can be amendment. He said there are 3: People’s Initiative, Constituent Assembly and Constitutional Convention. A People’s Initiative requires the signature of at least 12 percent of the total number of registered voters nationwide and at least 3 percent of each legislative district's registered voters.

The people wants Cha-Cha

However, let’s take on the arguments presented by each of the speakers. First to deliver was Atty. Baldovino which expounded her arguments on several points. One is that the current congress and the men in it is duly elected by the people to represent them. Thus, by vote of the majority of “our” congressmen that the convening of congress as a Constituent Assembly without the participation of the senate is valid and legal, the people is including in such decision-that this is really what the people wants. Included to that, is, a critique of a doctrine of the Roman Catholic church regarding “prejudices”. She said that this church must not conclude that the administration congressmen are indeed pursuing their own interests in the railroading of Cha-Cha because that is a “prejudice”. On the content, she said that the constitution could be considered a literary book filled with rhetoric, that some provisions are not very clear and specific. These are some of the important points in which she believes that a change of charter should be now and not later.

No Cha-Cha until fake president is in Malacañang

Sir Pagusara’s take on this issue is charter-change must not be now, in fact, he said not while the fake president GMA is on the seat of power. Particularly, he specially said that Cha-Cha must be made in a state of calmness, where those who are to revise the constitution can be “serious” and not in a hurry, “what’s there to hurry?,” he added. Pagusara points at GMA as the mastermind of this foiled illegal Cha-Cha plot. GMA and her allies are collaborating to settle her issues with legitimacy, to get rid of the “Hello Garci” issue and the widespread electoral fraud that she is accused of. In turn, her allied congressmen will keep their positions once a parliamentary system is in place.

More than the personalities, reality of motives

Atty. Baldovino returned to Sir Pagusara’s arguments by saying that the issues regarding the Cha-Cha now must “transcend” beyond the personalities-that there really is a need to change the charter. However, Pagusara said that motives carry what the current Cha-Cha wants to achieve by mere comparison of what the amendments are and how it is objectively related to its proponents. A student from the audience added that the concept of transcending through personalities only have integrity as a key. It means that we can only transcend beyond the personalities if they have the integrity (not mere prejudices) to even lay a pen in amending the constitution; do they break their promises? Do they lie to the people? Are they corrupt? Are they madmen who kills opposition? Can we entrust our future to them even if they seem to be in a hurry?

Content

Since the debate would only want to talk about when to hold Cha-Cha, now or later, the proposed amendments were not presented in the debate. A representative from the Kabataan Party recommended that the proposed amendments must be presented in next forums concerning Charter Change as he claims that not one amendment directly benefit the people.

Conclusion

Everyone agrees to the idea of amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution. But, as Atty. Baldovino puts it, “there is a lot to be answered before asking when.” Yet GMA and her allies in congress have been fond of burying issues that when the people begins to see the urgency to be involved in it, it is too late. This is what these congressmen is doing in railroading and fast-tracking the change in charter without involving the people. They are our representatives but they should not decide for us without making us understand and participate, if we are truly in a democracy. Else, the peoples’ needs, interests and even rights are thrown in trash-LIKE IT IS TODAY? Ironic!

References:

Labog-Javellana. J, Celino, V. 2006. El Shaddai mobilized vs signature campaign. http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=73849. Accessed December 20, 2006.

Nocum, A. 2006. People’s initiative is dead, SC rule. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=37964 Accessed December 20, 2006.

Love?

2006-12-18T11:52:00.000+08:00

There are times when are so much tired of what we do as activists. This feeling of tiredness must be expressed in the most honest terms. We are just human.

But, we have to face this as we are not tired of no reason nor we must continue to be tired. We are even tired because also of our shortcomings. Thus, it is coupled with a responsible view of things.
Tiredness of the individual is always the fault of a collective.

There is no one to hold them back

2006-12-15T12:27:00.000+08:00

A debate regarding a change of the constitution has revealed two great ideas in the university.

One, says that a change in charter is the solution to the political crises in the country.The other, says that the charter is best not modified at this time because of the motives behind it.

There an appeal from the former that we transcend beyond personalities. Clearly stating that no personality at present has an influence in the modification of the charter. It is bereft of reality and too narrow. It also tells us not to have bias and prejudice that, indeed, its proponents is using it to advance their own interest.

The latter is rewarded with a comprehensive look at the situation. It holds that the personalities behind are systematically manipulating what it should become. That, through the content of the three proposals (People's Initiative, Constituent Assembly, Constitutional Convention), these "prejudices" are proved.

The compounding facts regarding the interests of these personalities did not exist by themselves and do not have their own motives.

More so, that these amendments are not in any way neutral-it serves interests. Basic analysis (if we go more than just basic, our doubts would be disproved), tells us that these amendments must trace back to its proponent-who they are.

It DIRECTLY benefits them, and (probably) benefits the people only after a million twists and turn (nothing in essence).

Students of social sciences must not merely rely on their reason. Insights of political events without a comprehensive knowledge of the facts behind makes us subjective. It is the hallmark of an unprincipled bias, the one which is evident in you now. We cannot be loose shotguns because we might have our own people to aim. Raise your political consciousness and be true servants of the people.

The ESSENTIALS of the Basics

2006-12-13T15:25:00.000+08:00

The very essence of the political power of activists in the universities is to empower the students.

There is no other way to make this power evident but in the engagement of the activists in "non-normatic" ways. This does not mean, of course, that anti-student measures are taken especially not that of unnecessary violence and disruption of peace. It is a deviant character of activists which is a manifestation of their awakened and liberated consciousness.

It is a high sense of security in themselves and the direction of their lives and what they are fighting for that stirs this magnitude of confidence over the insecurities of the people and the system around and within them.

Simply put, we activists know what where are doing and for whom it is.

Tried and Tested

2006-12-12T12:20:00.000+08:00

There's a"tried and tested" solution in the history of Ateneans in their struggle to advance their interest. This is MASS PROTEST. After all, "they are the majority" and the school must serve them. It is definitely in conflict with the interest of the "minority": the Jesuit priests, the administrators, those who are under their influence including students themselves.

Yet, the "majority's" welfare must prevail and the only way to achieve it is by asserting it through various campaigns that will reach the MASS of students!

WE ARE ATENEO!
LET US CLAIM if for ourselves!

A whole life to trek

2006-12-11T15:41:00.000+08:00

It seems that a lot of Filipino families perceive education as the solution to their problems.

Education is treated as an investment which may yield profits in the future. Although a lot of people have observed that the quality of education in the Philippines has declined throughout the years, they cannot assert so much because of how "informed" students and the youth seem to be. It can easily be attributed to the media by some by observing that the sources of information has indeed gone huge. The web, for example, is a medium that proved to be limitless.

The next step if education is achieved and the solution seems to be at hand, is to have a reality check whether this solution can transform itself into a much familiar form called a "job."

Two things this government has failed to secure for its future-the youth.

Proofs of a Commercialized, Colonial and Repressive education

2006-12-02T12:23:00.001+08:00

Recent developments of the struggle of students towards a refund of tuition fee increases favoring capitalist-educators are proofs of a commercialized, colonial and repressive educational system run in the Philippines.

The current tuition rates shows that educational institutions drives desperately into a capitalist education. Such strong terms can be simply put as investing (capitalizing) on measures that will gain more revenues (profits). Of course, more profit, more opportunities to engage in a much larger investment and the deadly cycle goes on.

One can articulate factually that education is indeed, commercialized. An educational system that is run like business. The main objective is to gain profit.The institutions starts to see a competitor in each other, just like any other business, and to which survival depends on fierce competition to the expansion of capital.

Colonialism and repression are just products and tools of the commercialized economic order that seeks to be preserved. Catering to the demands of recruiters abroad means adding a course like nursing to generate much profit from such upsurge of enrollees. Futilely, and hypocritically, showcasing that students who take this courses can be influenced, convinced and "spiritualized" to remain and serve their own people while in fact adapting a foreign curriculum. Much worse, is to systematically quell progressive and nationalist minds that advances the welfare of the entire Filipino people which is the institution's only hope of organizing the students into a much active participation. Though, dialectically, these students whom the institution calls activists, and also the ones who consistently oppose its policies, are the vanguards of true change.

STUDENTS OF THE WORLD UNITE, we have nothing to loose but illiteracy!

Reference Articles:

Students Seek Revocation of Tuition Fee Hike
Ateneo Studes Lambaste Admin, CHED for Delaying Refund Bid
Ateneo Denies Railroading Talks on Tuition Refund Bid

Other Sites:

http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/7540.php
http://mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=711&Itemid=63
http://www.bulatlat.com/news/6-17/6-17-ched7.htm