Download The UPLB Perspective in PDF format - Arkibong Bayan

of the expenses as well as photos of the dire condition of
the Perspective office and its lack of much needed facilities
such as desktop computers, printer, audio recorders,
cameras, reference materials and books, office supplies
and many others. Any working student publication must
have these facilities to perform its tasks. In the absence
of such, the Perspective staff had to rely on their personal
resources.
The month of July ended. The student fees were not
collected. Worse, UPLB admin was not able to sign the
publication’s budget proposal. To cope up with the UPLB
admin’s futility to act on the matter, Perspective cut down
the budget proposal to P1.16M. This was submitted to the
Office of the Chancellor on Aug 28.
Invalid
UPLB admin said in their July 17 letter to Perspective
that they “can no longer act on the said agreement in
its present form and content.” Velasco pointed that
the provision in the interim agreement calling for the
collection of student fees “during the registration period” is
invalid since the said period of time has already lapsed.
He stressed that some of the signatories in the initial
Interim Agreement are no longer officially part of the
student publication, one of whom is Christian Ray
Buendia.
Table battle
A memorandum, dated Aug 23, was sent by Te regarding
the drafting of a new interim agreement. Te suggested
in the memorandum that a tripartite interim agreement
should be utilized instead of separate agreements for the
University Student Council (USC) and the Perspective.
Upon receipt, Perspective reviewed Te’s draft and came
up with its revised version to stipulate measures that
will ensure Perspective’s fiscal autonomy. Perspective
presented the revised tripartite interim agreement during
the August 26 dialogue with the negotiating panel.
Rañola was not aware of the memo and informed
Perspective that they were instructed only to discuss
with the Perspective matters with regards to its new
disbursement scheme beginning next semester.
Learning and understanding
In the attempt to understand the issue of noncollection,
Perspective recapitulated its history in the
decades-long student struggle. It is through this where we
learned that the non-collection of student fees and other
cases of campus repression are deeply associated with the
power struggle inside UPLB, which walls are consistently
swept with the principles of national democracy and
freedom. Therefore, no matter how UPLB admin wraps
the non-collection with the robe of motherly intents,
the non-collection, as it systematically jeopardizes
Perspective’s internal operations, is a clear case of campus
repression.
Moreover, history showed that subsequent to
diplomatic attempts to assert for our legitimate calls,
we gain our democratic rights only through militant and
collective actions. But, reactions of those powers-that-be
are nothing but systematic
political repression and
persecution.
A simple directive as
it may be seen on the
surface, UPLB admin’s
non-collection cannot be
divorced from the power
relations that are at play
in our beloved university.
Behind such directive is
an interest rooted in the
struggle between the present
neoliberal education and the
student’s collective interest
for a free and mass-oriented
education. [P]
Dumalo at
magpadalo bukas
sa Humanities
building sa pagkilos
ng buong UP-System
laban sa represyong
pangkampus.
8am-12nn.
Humanities Steps.
MGA ISYU NA NAGBUNSOD NG KAMPANYANG PAGPAPATALSIK KAY
VIVIAN GONZALES BILANG OSA DIRECTOR
Pagkaantala ng Proklamasyon ng Konseho ng mga
Mag-aaral. Sa University Student Council (USC) elections
noong nakaraang semestre, binalot ng kontrobersiya
ang resulta ng eleksyon. Ngunit tumampok ang apat na
buwang pagkaantala sa proklamasyon ng bagong Konseho
bunsod ng hindi pagbibigay ng agarang aksyon ng Office
of Student Affairs (OSA) Director na si Vivian Gonzales
bilang Chairperson ng Central Electoral Board (CEB).
Hunyo na nang maglabas ng opisyal na listahan ng mga
nagwagi ang OSA gayong buong Abril hanggang Mayo ito
hinihingi ng nakaraang USC.
Di-Pagkolekta ng Student Fees. Sa bisa ng
direktiba mula kay Gonzales, hindi kinolekta ng UPLB
admin ang student fees. Humiling ang Perspective at USC
ng dayalogo kasama si Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco at
Gonzales dalawang linggo ang lumipas bago nila hinarap
ang mga estudyante. Nagkasundo ang UPLB admin at
mga representante ng Perspective at USC na gumawa ng
interim agreement para sa koleksyon at disbursement ng
pondo ng mga nasabing institusyong pang-estudyante.
Ngunit isang araw bago ang registration period ngayong
semestre, pirma na lamang ni Gonzales ang hinihintay
pero hindi pa rin nito nagawang pirmahan ang nasabing
interim agreement.
Mga Aberya sa Student Organization
Recognition. Bagamat malawak na estudyante,
mga building administrator at iba pang constituent
departments ng UPLB ang hindi nakaaalam sa OSA
Memorandum No. 1, ginamit pa rin ito ni Gonzales bilang
rekisito para sa org recognition. Naging malaking sagka
pa ang rekisito nitong 15 miyembro, hiwalay pa ang
opisyales ng organisasyon, upang kilalanin ng opisinang
ito ang mga organisasyon. Pero nang magpatawag ng
Centenial Conference si Gonzales ay naghugas-kamay siya
sa harap mismo ng mga organisasyon at sinabi na kasama
na ang mga opisyales ng organisasyon sa ibinigay na 15
miyembrong rekisito. (tignan “Paghuhugas-kamay sa
Centennial Conference”)
Kinolektahan ang mga organisayon ng P200 para sa
Sept. 24, 2009
SPECIAL
ISSUE
Bilang #3
Leadership Training Seminar (LTS) na pangungunahan
ng Student Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD)
ng OSA, ngunit kinansela ito ngayong semestre, dahilan
upang malito ang mga organisasyon. Bagamat maraming
organisasyon ang nagpahayag ng disgusto sa mahaba
at metikulosong recognition process, isa pa rin sa mga
rekisito ng OSA ang LTS (ang iba ay financial report, list of
activities, ID picture at profile ng bawat miyembro, atbp.)
para sa organisasyon bago ma-recognize.
Mayroon pang mga orgs na dahil hindi nakadalo sa
pinatawag na pulong ng OSA ay tuluyan nang hindi
ni-recognize. Mayroon ding isang org na nagkaroon ng
problema sa pangalan nito ang hindi ni-recognize ng OSA
sa kabila ng tangkang paglilinaw at pag-aayos ng org na ito
ng mga kinakailangang papeles at rekisito.
Pag-rerequire para sa UPLB Rewind. Idaraos
umano ng OSA ang isang dula na pinamagatang UPLB
Rewind. Ni-require ni Gonzales ang mga orgs para sa
pagbebenta ng mga ticket ng nasabing dula. Maraming
orgs ang umalma dahil sa mga patawag na pulong na OSA
ukol rito, nasa tono umano ang OSA ng pag-oobliga at
hindi konsultasyon. Ngunit hindi nagbigay si Gonzales ng
malinaw na panuntunan kung sakaling hindi sumunod
dito.
Pagka-antala sa pag-apruba ng budget proposal
ng Perspective. Ginamit na dahilan ng OSA ang interim
agreement para sa pagrekumenda nito ng budget proposal
ng Perspective. Upang mapabilis ang proseso ng pagapruba
rito, nagpadala ang Perspective ng kopya ng budget
proposal sa Opisina ng Chancellor (OC) noong Agosto 28.
Halos araw-araw nang tumatawag ang Perspective sa OC
ngunit panay din nitong sagot na kasalukuyan pa itong
dumaraan sa proseso ng pagkukomento ni Dr. Roberto
Ranola, Vice Chancellor for Administration, at pagrereview
ni Chancellor Velasco. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring
pondong magamit ang Persepctive. Naglabas ng dalawang
ispesyal na isyu ang publikasyon mula sa mga donasyon ng
mga estudyante at kawani ng pamantasan.
Di-pagtugon sa UPLB Students’ Agenda. Sinimulang
Continued on page 2

Continued from page 1
buuin ang mga list of general demands ng mga estudyante
sa huling kwarto ng termino ng nakaraang Tagapangulo
ng USC na si Leo “XL” Fuentes. Mula sa listahang ito,
nabuo ang UPLB Students’ Agenda na siyang naglalaman
ng mga “demokratikong panawagan at kahilingan” ng mga
estudyante mula sa panawagang pagpapabasura ng 300
prosyentong pagtaas ng matrikula hanggang sa panawagan
ng mga orgs. Inihapag ito ng USC sa OC noong Agosto 28.
Si Dr. Emmanuel Abraham, Assistant to the Chancellor
for Alumni Affairs, ang humarap sa USC at hindi ito
nagpahayag ng anumang pagtugon, ni aralin o rebyuhin
ang mga dokumentong ito.
Sa halip na tugunan, dinerekta ng OC ang USC sa OSA
para talakayin ang UPLB Student Agenda. Nang ihapag ito
sa ginanap na Centennial Conference ng OSA noong Sept.
14, 15 at 17, wala ring kongkretong tugon si Gonzales dito.
Ang conference na nabanggit ay konsultasyon diumano
sa pagitan ng OSA at ng mga estudyante. Ngunit ayon kay
Pamela Angelie Pangahas, kasalukuyang Tagapangulo
ng USC, “paghuhugas-kamay” ang ginawa ni Gonzales sa
kumperensyang ito. Itinanggi nito ang pagharang ng OC
sa permiso ng USC na gamitin ang DL Umali Auditorium
para sa dulang Isko’t Iska. Ang Isko’t Iska ay taunang
dula ng mga freshman na inilulunsad ng USC katuwang
ang iba’t ibang organisasyon. Binansagan pa nito na
“misinformed” at “huli na sa balita” ng mga orgs dahil
ang pinatupad diumano nito noong org recognition ay
15 miyembro including officers at hindi 15 miyembro
excluding officers, bagay na mabilis na pinabulaan ng halos
170 na org members na dumalo sa nasabing kumperensya.
Lantarang Pagpapapasok ng mga Tropa ng
Militar sa Kampus. Mula nang maupo si Gonzales
bilang OSA director, tampok ang presensya ng mga militar
sa kampus. Isinagawa pa ang pulong ng Laguna Peace
and Order Council sa Student Union Building noong
Hulyo 22. Ani Fuentes, kasalukuyang Tagapangulo ng
pinakamalawak na alyansa ng mga student orgs sa buong
UP system, ang Samahan ng Kabataan para sa Bayan, sa
nasabing pulong, binansagang supporter diumano ng mga
terorista ang mga progresibong organisasyon at partylist
tulad ng KABATAAN Partylist, League of Filipino Students,
Gabriela at Anakbayan. Mariin naman itong pinabulaanan
ng mga nasabing organisasyon at partylist.
Ang Kontrobersyal na Termino ni Gonzales bilang Dean
of Students. Marso 3, 1995, unang umupo si Gonzales
bilang Dean of Students (OSA director ngayon) bilang
appointee ng dating Chancellor Ruben Villareal sa kabila
ng kawalan ng demokratikong proseso ng pamimili*. Kahit
sa unang termino nito’y na-antala rin ang pagpoproklama
sa USC. Pinangunahan diumano ni Gonzales ang “play-up”
2
upang pagbawalan ang USC at iba pang orgs sa pagtulong
sa registration period. Arbitraryong sinuspindi ni Gonzales
noong Enero 13, 1997 ang 11 frat members dahil sa
isang rumble sa isa pang kapatiran. Ngunit ani dating
Tagapangulo ng USC Jensen Cristobal, hindi ito dumaan
sa due process. Arbitraryong binagsak din umano nito ang
73 kadete ng CWS-VIP. Lantaran ding pinagbawalan ng
SOAD-OSA ang Perspective na makapagsalita sa Freshman
Convocation noong 2000. Hindi rin ni-recognize ng
SOAD-OSA noong Hulyo 2000 ang 10 orgs na sumali sa
Protest Fair.
Nanawagan ang mga mag-aaral noon sa pangunguna
ng USC at mga orgs na patalsikin si Gonzales bilang OSA
dean. Samantala nanawagan ang Perspective noong 2000
sa “Peryodikit” nito ng “re-orient OSA.”
*Maaalalang si Gonzales ay naupo bilang OSA director,
kapalit ng dating Director Severino Cuevas, sa bisa ng
appointment ni Chancellor Velasco sa kabila ng kawalan
din ng demokratikong proseso ng pamimili.
Ilan lamang ang mga isyung ito ang bumabalot sa
pagkakaupo ni Gonzales bilang OSA Director. Makalipas
ang dalawang termino niya bilang OSA dean, hindi pa
rin kumukupas ang katangian ng kanyang pamumuno--
otokratiko at represibo.
Ngunit ang panahon nati’y panahon ng pagtakas.
Maraming Iskolar ng Bayan (tunay, palaban, makabayan
umano) ang nananatiling tahimik sa kabila ng mga
represibong polisiya ng OSA sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni
Gonzales.
Pagtakas mula sa tungkuling magtanong, mag-usisa,
magsalita at maging tagapamandila ng demokrasya at
kalayaan sa historikal na Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.
Pagtakas mula sa taimtim na pagliliyab ng damdaming
nakarararanas ng pagsikil sa demokratikong karapatan.
Ngunit bukas, Setyembre 25, ganap
na alas-8 ng umaga hanggang alas-12 ng
tanghali, muli tayong tatakas. Tatakas
tayo mula sa gapos ng represyon, mula
sa katahimikan, mula sa pagmumuntikmuntikanan.
Bukas tatakas tayo mula sa
Unibersidad na mistula nang piitan. Tatakas
tayo. At ngayon patungo sa hagdan ng
Humanities, magsasama-sama at muling
padadagundungin hanggang sa pagtitipon
ng mga pinakamataas na opisyales ng
pamantasan sa Board of Regents meeting
bukas ang ating mga lehitimong panawagan:
Patalsikin si Gonzales at itaguyod ang
demokratikong pamimili ng makaestudyanteng
OSA Director! [P]
Handling a crippled press:
How Perspective copes with admin’s non-collection
Mark Vincent Baracao & Estel Lenwij Estropia & Julienne Urrea
The UPLB Perspective has been devising all
possible means to cope up amidst the financial
dearth caused by the non-collection of student fees
since the beginning of the semester.
However, the non-collection and the apparent
intervention of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) as it
refuses to sign the publication’s budget proposal did not
limit Perspective in informing the students. Perspective
released, however limited both in size and circulation, two
special issues and “wall editorials.”
At the same time, the publication’s sole manpower,
the staff, is conducting group discussions, organization
hops and room-to-room visits. Through these alternative
information dissemination methods the publication
learned that the students are clamoring for more. The
Perspective staff was able to get direct feedback from the
students who want to have their publication back to its
regular operations. It is through this principle that the
students and even several academic and administrative
personnel warmly donated a few pesos to augment the
publication’s lack of fund.
Perspective understands the fact that the students
deserve more from the publication than what it can already
provide. But with the continuous forms of repression
orchestrated by the UPLB administration, through
the directive of OSA Director and Lieutenant Colonel
Vivian Gonzales, Perspective’s role as the official student
publication of UPLB is being jeopardized.
No words can describe how the non-collection of student
fees has worsened the institutional task of the publication
to publish newspaper. We say “worsened,” because
during the previous terms, it has always been difficult for
the Perspective to acquire funds for its many expenses.
Disbursement always had to pass through a very stringent
process.
Hurdles and intervention
The non-collection of student fees started with OSA
Director Gonzales’ directive dated May 8 notifying
Perspective and University Student Council (USC) that
UPLB admin will no longer collect the student fees for this
semester to enforce “full autonomy” of the two student
institutions.
Perspective immediately informed Director Gonzales
of its stance on the non-collection. The publication firmly
believed that: the directive did not undergo democratic
consultation with anyone from the publication’s Editorial
Board; and the non-collection will only cause more
problems that will imperil the publication’s operation than
the autonomy it promises.
Afterwards, Perspective sought for a dialogue with
Gonzales. Gonzales moved the dialogue several times until
it seated with Perspective only to reaffirm her directive.
While Perspective sees itself under a worsened condition
if the directive will be implemented, Gonzales seems
to discount this by teasing Perspective with frivolous
statements like “rock on!” and “kolektahin niyo na…
babayaran ka (referring to a member of the Editorial
Board) naman, mukha ka namang kawawa.”
Former Editor in Chief (EIC) Christian Ray Buendia
sent an analysis paper to the Office of the Student Regent
calling upon its attention on the OSA directive regarding
the non-collection.
Recognizing the urgency to collect the student fees,
Student Regent Charisse Bernadine Bañez brought up the
issue of non-collection to the Board of Regents (BOR) and
sent an inquiry to the UP Vice President for Legal Affairs
Atty. Theodore Te.
Financial Status
Atty. Te released a memorandum regarding the
collection of student fees, which suggests that the UPLB
admin withdraw the OSA directive issuing for the noncollection,
and pursue with the collection within July.
Expecting that UPLB admin submits to Te’s suggestion,
the Perspective immediately forwarded to the UPLB admin
its budget proposal for the First Semester AY 2009-2010.
Perspective fully understands that the non-collection of
student fees (of the old students) would not, in any way,
affect the disbursement of the publication’s Trust Fund.
But OSA verbally informed Perspective that the
publication’s budget proposal for this semester will only be
approved after Perspective and UPLB admin come up with
an interim agreement amenable to both parties. Moreover,
Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco, in his letter to Perspective
dated July 17, mentioned that the current balance of the
Perspective’s Trust Fund amounting to more than P1.3M
is “more than enough to run the publication this First
Semester, AY 2009-2010 while the acceptable arrangement
with the UPLB administration is being resolved.”
Velasco also questioned Perspective’s budget proposal
and directed the publication to “review its (Perspective’s)
plans vis-a-vis its financial status.”
Perspective’s budget proposal went more than the
amount of the publication’s current Trust Fund because
the publication was expecting that the student fees were to
be collected in July when the budget proposal was drafted,
meaning Perspective was expecting an additional budget of
P400,000.
Attached with the said budget proposal is a justification
UPLB Pe r s p e c t i v e September 24, 2009 September 24, 2009 UPLB Pe r s p e c t i v e
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