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Towards a world-class university

WORDS | MARK IAN BILLANTE
Chancellor Rex Victor Cruz, together with the vice chancellors and faculty, gathered last September 2628 for the 2nd UPLB Faculty Conference in Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club, Lipa City, Batangas. With the theme Towards a World Class University, the conference focused on strategies to make UPLB one of the best universities in the country and in the world. Different thematic areas were discussed, including tips on mentoring, strategies for gathering the best students and teaching staff, research and publication trends, resource generation activities and the implementation of K-12 program. This time, the 2nd faculty conference included three student representatives, namely: Ynik Ante, University Student Council (USC) Chairperson; Mark Ian Billante, UPLB Perspective Editor in Chief; and Reniel Villaflor, College of Arts and Sciences Student Council (CAS-SC) Chairperson. As for the second part of the conference, the faculty members and student representatives formed different groups to formulate action plans for the thematic areas mentioned earlier. These were presented at the latter part of the program. RESPONSE TO THE K-12 PROGRAM The K-12 program, implemented at the beginning of school year 2012-2013, was also discussedin one of the plenary talks. The curricula for junior and senior high school were presented, particularly the inclusion of technical and vocational programs and how it will affect the Revised General Education Program (RGEP) courses of UPLB. One scenario stated was by the time the first batch of graduates enter UPLB in AY 2017-2018, it

Faculty conference presents strategic plans

will be assumed that several GE subjects including ENG 1, ENG 2, and other NASC subjects were already discussed in the junior and senior high school. This will call to a revision of the RGEP in order to adjust to the changes implemented by the K-12 program. GATHERING THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST As part of the universitys strategic planning, different suggestions were considered regarding the admission of students and faculty staff as well with additional incentives on gaining a US (University Scholar), CS (College Scholar), and HR (Honor Roll) status for one semester; an official recognition of students achievements; and regular stipend. For the faculty members, the suggestions included lesser teaching loads for those taking their masters degree and incentives for research and publication. However, all these suggestions are still subject to Chancellor Cruzs approval. [P]

Undergrad students up first sem, 12-13

The number of undergraduate students enrolled first semester, AY 2012-2013 in the University of the Philippines Los Baos increased by 5.86 percent compared to the same period last year. This is 10.05 percent higher compared to the number of enrollees during the second semester, AY 2011-2012. These data do not include cross-registrants, non-degree and Certificate in Forestry students.

WORDS | GUIEN EIDREFSON GARMA

Meanwhile, the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR) had the least number of undergraduate students, with 469 enrolled in the first semester.

NF Recruitment clarified

According to the Office of the University Registrar (OUR), 11,305 students enrolled in UPLB in the first semester, higher than 10,273 students enrolled WORDS | JOANNA CERRILLE CALAPINE during the previous semester by Dr. Leticia Afuang, Office failure of compliance. This, 1,032. It is also 626 higher than of Student Affairs (OSA) according to Afuang, is stated as a 10,679 students registered during Director, and Zenaida Loberiza, form of written agreement during the first semester of the same academic year. representative from the the recognition process. Counseling and Testing Division The College of Arts and Sciences (CTD), reiterated that new Afuang furthered that the period freshman (NF) students should where students are classified (CAS) had the highest number decline invitations to join as new freshman is the period of enrolees with 3,788 students. organizations, most especially where the students from different It was followed by the College of fraternities and sororities. cultures adjust to different aspects Engineering and Agro-Industrial of university life. Afuang stated Technology (CEAT) with 2,344, and According to Afuang, there that if these students undergo by the College of Agriculture (CA) is no clear sanction against the such processes of getting into an with 1,338. recruitment of NF students organization at an early stage, it will in joining academic or other be hard for them to adjust to the College of Economics and Management (CEM) had 1,163 organizations. However, it is clearly new environment. students, followed by the College of iteratedintheUPStudentGuideunder the Revised Rules and Regulations According to Zenaida Loberiza Human Ecology (CHE), 892; College Governing Fraternities, Sororities, of CTD, students are being of Development Communication and Other Student Organizations, subjected to counseling in order (CDC), 730; and College of Veterinary which was approved at the 1091st for them to realize the reasons Medicine (CVM), 504. BOR Meeting in October 24, 1995, why they are restrained from that fraternities and sororities are joining organizations at their first clarified soon so that there will no highly discouraged to recruit new semester in the university. She longer be misconceptions about freshmen in their organization, or admitted that there are those the recruitment of freshmen. They those who have not yet earned at who seem to be interested in both hope for a way to make the least 30 units in their curriculum. doing so, thats why they try their students understand the vague Failure to comply with the rule best to guide the students. She regulation that was implemented will lead to the suspension of the added that being a member of regarding this issue. officers of the fraternity or sorority an organization is one of the top for one year. 10 reasons why students fail their This is to protect them. They courses along with family and should appreciate this. It is an This rule will also apply to other financial problems. action of love, actually. Its not types of student organizations an action to control you, Afuang with forfeiture of OSA recognition Afuang and Zenaida Loberiza stressed. [P] for the next academic year upon both agreed that this rule must be

The BS Biology program had the most number of students, with 868, followed by BS Computer Science with 762 students. BS Development Communication was the third largest degree program with 730 students, followed by BS Agriculture with 639. BS Chemical Engineering was the fifth largest degree program with 605 students. Despite the increase in the total undergraduate population of UPLB, the number of new freshmen enrolled in the university last semester decreased compared to the same period last year. 2,477 new freshmen entered UPLB in the first semester, down from 2,617 last year. The same pattern was observed in the number of new transferees, where there were 82 new transferees, down from 90 during the same period. The number of Certificate of Forestry students went up to 138 last semester from 109 during the same period and 98 during the second semester, AY 20112012. There were 25 non-regular (non-degree, cross-registrants and special) students last semester, down from 49 last semester and 50 during the first semester last year. All throughout UPLB, including Certificate of Forestry, nonregular, and Graduate School students (1,321), a total of 12,789 students were enrolled in the first semester. [P]

Jeepney slams UPLB gate post

Driver dies after accident
In addition to the increasing death toll in the Los Baos community, a driver lost control of his jeepney, hitting one civilian car and a sampaguita vendor. The jeepney driver, later identified as Jimmy Galang, was driving en route to UPLB last October 8, 2012, around 9:45 PM when the incident happened. According to Efren Perez, Jr., a Community Support Brigade (CSB) member, Galang suffered from cardiac arrest by the time the jeepney passed along Grove, Los Baos. He was not able to slow down, rather he continued to step gate. Yung tao [CSB member] nakatalon, kaso yung asawa ko nahagip tapos tumalsik dun, said Buboy Tinghen, Roselles husband. Roselle was rushed to the Los Baos Doctors Hospital Due to its impact, the vehicle (LBDH) after acquiring physical rear was severely damaged and injuries. accelerated almost three meters Meanwhile, the driver of the from its stationary position, crashed vehicle, Beth Grafilo, is a while the jeepney swivelled on the other side of the road, hitting member of Zion Emergency and Roselle Tinghen, a sampaguita Disaster Rescue Unit (ZEDRU) vendor, before ramming to the who immediately attended to Galang right after the collision. UPLB gate post. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Nagsimula yung jeep dun sa (CPR) was performed on Galang KFC tapos dire-diretso siyang but to no avail. [P] bumangga sa sasakyan tapos sa on the accelerator until he became unconscious. This resulted to a collision between the jeepney and a private vehicle parked in front of a convenience store.

WORDS | ROBERT DAVE ALONZO

PHOTO | TRISTA ISOBELLE GILE

CRASHED. The wrecked jeepney became a temporary display at the UP gate before it was towed the following day.

NEWS

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ISSUE 3 .

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N E WS F E AT U R E

WORDS | PAULINE ANGELA REYES

GRAPHICS | TRISTA ISOBELLE GILE & EZEKIEL TROGILLO

LAYOUT | TRISTA ISOBELLE GILE

The Philippines has been cited by the Asian Development Bank as one of the emerging economies in Asia that moved quickly to put in place the necessary laws and structures to attract more private investment under the public-private partnership program. This statement seems to be accurate; the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines said on their official site that a total of nine projects would be bid out to interested investors before the year ends. But what exactly is PPP?

PITFALLS IN THE PLAYGROUND

IN A NUTSHELL Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is a contract between the government and a private party in which the latter provides financial, technical and operational support to a project initiated by the public sector authority. A government project is made available for auction to the private parties, and the highest bidder will be awarded the contract. If we are to use lighter terms, PPP means that government projects are being funded and, therefore, born through the pockets of the elite. The project gets accomplished, the people get to enjoy better services, and the private entities get to have a say in how the project is going to be run. It appears like a win-win situation, where everybody goes home happy. PPP seems to be a major strategy in President Aquinos six-year plan as leader of this country, seeing how majority of the projects are being put under this program. He has set up a bunch of new rules and guidelines concerning the bidding that takes place to settle who gets what; these regulatory guidelines will, in theory, prevent anomalous dealings to occur in any of the ventures they will undertake. But when has guidelines or laws ever stopped anomalous dealings in this country where money is the biggest player?

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP NOT AS SOUND AS IT APPEARS

SUCCESS STORIES AND MORE PROMISES During his latest State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III very proudly flaunted the different projects concerning infrastructures and other social services his administration has successfully delivered for the Filipinos. Existing national roads and airports have received a lot of attention and are now in a much better condition than in 2010. Also, it was mentioned that there will be more of this improvements in the remaining years of his term. By 2015, there will be an elevated NLEX-SLEX connector road that would make travelling easier for the Filipinos. Another project that is currently being processed is the LRT 1- Cavite Extension project. The existing train system, which runs from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Baclaran in Pasay, is set to be extended to Bacoor, Cavite. According to the Public-Private Partnership Center (Phils) official site, The system upgrade is expected to benefit an additional 500,000 commuters living south of Metro ManilaParaaque, Las Pias and the province of Cavite. If we are to base on Pnoys speech, it would appear that he has complete and utter faith in the inherent goodness and soundness of PPP. So much faith, in fact, that he has seen it fit to put not one but nine projects of great proportions under this program in a single year. And he wants us, the Filipino people, to put in as much trust in it as he does. We dont have to read between the lines of his speeches and interviews; he explicitly says that this is good for our economy and our countrys development.

PITFALLS IN THE PPP PLAYGROUND Public-Private Partnership is not an entirely new concept to the Philippines; it has been done before. For example, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) are both products of a public-private venture. The South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), two roads that has made travelling easier for people, were also brought to existence through this program. These projects have been proven to be beneficial for Filipinos, that much is true. Also, the private sector that funded and developed them has indeed delivered well. But this is at a cost of the incapacity of the people to access it due to prohibitive prices. In 2011, the MRT and LRT rates went up by more than fifty percent. And who could forget the whopping increase in the SLEX and NLEX toll fees of the same year? The cost of these services increased because of the demands of the private sector that funded it, in accordance to their own profit targets. This is, of course, expected because of the large amount of money they spent for the development of the project. PPP is a contract, after all, and not a charity work. The problem is that people cannot or could hardly afford the high costs of these services, but at the same time could not do without them. This problem leads us to another problem: debt. In their position paper about PPP, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) of the Philippines made their opinion about the program very clear. It only adds to the debt our country. A paragraph in their paper is cited here for a clear explanation: (PPP) has invariably increased our debt burden due to provision of sovereign guarantees. The economic reality is that the private sector credit market, intrinsically speculative in nature, does not like to provide credit to companies involved infrastructure projects because such projects have long gestation periods. They have to be enticed to provide credit for companies, and this enticement must come from government backing of private sector debts. The problem here is, sovereign guarantees strip off the private sector partner of any financial liability, transferring it all to the government and blowing up the countrys Contingent Liabilities. The government is wrong to assume that Public-Private Partnership is the answer to our poor infrastructures and social services. Other ASEAN countries are spending directly on their infrastructures to entice investors; how come we are enticing investors to improve our infrastructures? PPP is just a band-aid solution to a deeply rooted problem, and the worst part of it all is that after providing a mediocre solution to a big problem, it adds even bigger dilemmas in the form of high costs and debts for our country. The private sector is not and should not be made as the main engine for national development; it is the governments job to spur this development through the taxpayers money that they are always so eager to collect. The people shouldnt have to pay unbelievably high prices for services they deserve to get from the government they put in power. It is now a challenge for our president to realize this and think of a better way to provide these services that he owes to his bosses. [P]

F E AT U R E S

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KWENTONGFRESHIE
One failure after another
ni Treep*
Para ito sa mga taong nagmamahal nang labis, ngunit napagtatanto sa huli na kapag walang natira sa kanila ni kaunting pagmamahal ay bigo rin sila sa kanilang mga balak. Para ito sa mga taong ibinibigay ang lahat sa kabilang iniibig, ngunit napagtatanto sa huli na kapag hindi mo nararamdaman ang tamis ng relasyon ay bigo rin para ipagpatuloy ito. Alam niyo na naman siguro ang buhay hayskul. Lalo sa panahon ngayon na nadadaan sa peer pressure ang kahit anong isyung harapin ng isang binata, madali ang girlfriend dito, girlfriend doon, tapos maya-maya lamang ay maghihiwalay na rin. Parang 10 percent lang ata ang nagtatagal. Sinubukan ko pa ring magmahal habang hayskul pa ako. Sa kasamaang palad, papatapos na ako ng hayskul nang kailangan ko na ring iwan si Dney sa kadahilanang ayaw ng mga magulang niya na mag-aral ako sa ibang lugar dahil paniguradong masakit iyon para sa kanya. Kahit malapit lang itong UP Los Baos sa amin ay napilitan akong talikuran muna siya. Dahil na rin sa mga nagsasabing ang kurso ko daw ay mahirap at marami ang bumabagsak, naisipan kong humanap ng aking magiging inspirasyon sa buhay kolehiyo ko. Syempre, hindi lang dahil sa layuning magkaroon ng inspirasyon para magsunog ng kilay sa pag-aaral, ngunit sinabi ko sa sarili ko na ang susunod kong karelasyon ang magiging panghabambuhay kong mahal. Ayoko na kasing magmahal at mabigo sapagkat may masasaktan lamang din sa huli. Madaling sabihin, pero paninindigan koi tong mga salitang binitawan ko. Pagkatapos ng graduation ay agad naman akong nakihalubilo sa mga kapwa ko freshie dito sa UP. Agad akong may nakilala at nakapalagayang-loob. Agad din kaming nagkaroon ng relasyon sa kabila ng sa Facebook at cellphone pa lang kami nagkakausap. Lumipas ang ilang araw at pasukan na sa LB. Agad ko naman siyang nakita dahil pareho kami ng course at swerteng magka-bloc pa. Agad din namang napanatag ang aming loob sa isat isa at itinuloy ang aming relasyon. Ngunit ito ay patago sapagkat ayaw naming ipaalam sa iba ang aming pagmamagandahang-loob. Dumaan ang mga napakaraming araw at naging masaya naman kami, ngunit dumating sa punto na kami ay nagkatampuhan. Ako ang nagsimulang magtampo sapagkat ako na lamang lagi ang pumupuno sa aming relasyon. Ako ang laging sumusorpresa sa kanya at maging lahat ng aming pagkikita ay ako lagi ang naghahanda. Ako ang gumagawa ng hakbang, siya naman ay tumatanggap lang. One-way, sabi nga nila, o baka umaasa akong may gagawin din siya para sa akin pero hindi ko talaga maramdaman. Nawalan ako ng gana upang mag-aral ng husto. Hindi na rin ako umasang magkabalikan kami uli sapagkat nalaman ko na may iba pala siya bukod sa akin. Dito pala niya ibinubuhos ang kanyang pagmamahal na dati-rati ay akala kong sa akin lang. Napagtanto ko na wala nang natira sa akin at nakakapagsisi dahil walang naging kapalit ang aking pagmamahal sa kanya. Sa huli, bigo akong magkaroon ng minamahal. Marahil ay pag-aaral muna ang dapat unahin bago ang pag-ibig, sa ngayon siguro. Katulad ng isip muna bago ang puso na laging sinasabi sa akin ni Dney. Para sa mga babaeng aking inibig: salamat sa pagmulat sa akin nito. [P]
*Si Treep ay nabansagang NGSB kaya napilitang magkaroon ng GF dahil sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya. Dating nagkakamali dahil lahat ng tao ay nagkakamali, iba na ang pagkatao niya ngayon. Kanina lang ay nabulol siya sa p at f .

End of the line

KWADRADO

kuha ni Trista Isobelle Gile

SKETCHPAD
Lucky Day
ni RLNTLSS*

Kung kaya ko lang maging invisible, matagal ko nang ginawa. O kaya magbago ng anyo. O kaya magpatama sa shrink ray. Kahit ano, makatakas lang sa katangahan ko. Dabest ka talaga, Melvin. First day of classes palang, panalo agad ang impression. Hindi ko na hinintay kung ano pa ang sasabihin ng lecturer, lumabas nalang ako bigla sa classroom, tutal di ko naman pala talaga teacher yun. Check ulit ng relo. Malapit nang mag-7:30. Sana din pala marunong din ako mag-teleport. Kahit nahihiya, tinanong ko yung isang babae na nakasalubong ko paglabas ng room. Mukhang upperclass. Sana lang wag akong pag-tripan nito. Notorious pa naman daw sila sa pambubully ng mga NF. Ate, saan po yung CAS A1 102? CAS A1 102? Sigurado ka? Ang alam ko walang 102 sa Annex 1. Check mo ulit yang sched mo. Panalo. Sablay na naman ako. CAS 105 pala. Wednesday pa pala ako dapat sa CAS A1. Ate, CAS 105 pala. Hehe. Ah. Kita mo yung building sa likod ni Oble? Ayun. Gusto ko pa sanang makipagkwentuhan kay Ate. Ang ganda, eh. Pero siyempre kailangan ko munang mag-marathon papunta sa klase ko. Sayang. *** This time, siniguro ko na talagang nasa CAS 105 ako. Isa pang katangahan at sasabog na ako. Binasa ko yung note na nakadikit sa pinto: ENG 1 SECTION F-1R, NO CLASSES TODAY. SEE YOU TUESDAY NEXT WEEK. -SIR PEREZ

Anak ng mahabaging tupa. Di ko alam kung maiinis ako o matutuwa. Tiningnan ko ulit yung schedule ko, 8:30 pa yung next class, sa PSLH A naman. Dyahe naman kung uuwi pa ako sa dorm. Buti naman may oras na akong magtanong-tanong kung saan yung classroom ko. Dun nalang siguro ako maghihintay para siguradong hindi na ako male-late. *** Mga ilang oras narin akong nakatayo sa tapat ng PSLH A nang may biglang kumalabit sa likod ko. Kuya, naiwan mo ata ito, sabi ng isang babae sabay abot sa akin ng wallet ko. Ikaw na talaga, Melvin. Naka-quota ka na sa dami ng katangahan ngayong araw. Naiwan mo ata to sa room kanina. Nagmamadali ka kasing umalis kanina eh, sabi pa ng babae. Halatang pinipigil ang pagngiti. Nakita siguro nito ang epic fail na eksena ko kanina. Nice job, Melvin. Ah. . .eh. Salamat ah. Di ko na napansin na naiwan ko to. Kapag nagkataon, babalik na naman ako sa room ninyo, edi magtataka yung lecturer kung bakit na naman ako nandun. Hehe. Freshman ka din ba? Ah, oo. Ikaw ba? Oo. Sabi ko na nga ba dito kita makikita eh. Buti andyan sa loob yung Form5 mo. Magkaklase pala tayo sa Philo. Ngayon ko lang napansin na parang pamilyar yung mukha niya sakin. Ito yung tipo ng panahon na alam mong kilala mo ang isang tao, pero sa di maipaliwanag na dahilan ay parang hindi maitugma ang pangalan sa mukha. Maya-maya pa ay napansin kong kumakaway siya sa mukha ko. Takte, nakatulala na pala ako. Uy kuya, andyan na ata si Maam. Mauna na ako sa loob ah, sabi pa ng babae. Ah, teka lang. Uhm. . . ano palang pangalan mo?, habol ko. Bahala na. Umi. Akala ko sa pelikula lang nangyayari ang ganito pero nung mga panahon na iyon, naramdaman kong tumigil ang mundo ko. Tama, si Umi nga. For the first time, may nangyari ring maganda sa araw ko. [P]

GRAPHICS

UPLB PERSPECTIVE .

VOLUME 39 .

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WORDS | RLNTLSS* Pag-uwi galing eskwela, paborito naming magkakapatid ang maglaro ng holen sa aming bakuran. Ewan ko ba, pero tuwang-tuwa kami sa pagiipon at paglalaro ng mga ito. Para sa amin, kapag marami kang holen, hustler ka. Cool. Astig. Para makaipon ng maraming holen, madalas kaming makipaglaro sa ibang mga bata. Kaya naman normal na rin sa aming makalaro ang mga tipo ng bata na kung paminsanminsan ay gagawan ka ng kung anuano habang naglalaro. Yun bang tutok na tutok na yung pamato kong holen (paborito kong gamitin yung plain na puti, yung parang sa billiards) sa isa pang holen at nung pipitikin ko na ito ay bigla namang may dadaan sa harapan ko. Nakakainis diba? Panira ng momentum. At ang mas nakakainis pa, tatawanan ka ng batang gumawa nun sayo. Minsan talaga, pakiramdam ko na may mga batang sadyang ipinanganak para mang-bully ng ibang bata. *** Bigla kong naalala yung classmate kong madaldal noong elementary. Inis na inis kami sa babaeng yun. Sa murang edad, naranasan ko nang mapasakamay ng isang diktador. Yun bang bilang lahat ng galaw namin. Halimbawa, pagbilang ng isa ng teacher namin, dapat nakataas ang kamay naming lahat, kailangan tuwid. Kapag dalawa, dapat niyuyugyog ang mga kamay. Kapag

#KSP

HODGEPODGE
tatlo, dapat nasa likod ng ulo namin. Kapag apat, dapat nakapatong sa desk. At kapag lima, dapat nakayuko na kami sa desk, parang natutulog lang. Meron din kayong ganito noon? Dabest. Isang araw, sinumpong na naman ng kasungitan ang teacher namin. Bigla, sumigaw siya ng ONE! Alam na namin ang ibig sabihin nun, senyales na para itaas nang tuwid ang aming mga kamay. Sabi niya kung may magiingay pa samin e ganun lang kami hanggang uwian. Pagkatapos noon ay bumalik na si Maam sa pagsusulat sa pisara. Dito na umeksena ang kaklase naming madaldal. Wala atang kontrol ang dila niya nang mga oras na iyon kaya sinimulan niyang kausapin ang katabi niya. Napansin niya sigurong hindi siya pinapansin nito kaya nilakasan niya nang bahagya ang pagsasalita. Kitang-kita ko ang paglingon ni Maam, nakataas ang kilay at hindi na maipinta ang mukha. Umuwi ako ng hapong iyon na may nangangawit na braso. *** Klase namin ng math, lecture noong araw na iyon kaya large class. Bukod sa pagdi-discuss tungkol sa set operations, abala din si Sir sa pagtatanong (kahit rhetorical questions). Na siya namang trip na trip sagutin ng taong malapit sa kinauupuan ko. Hanga ako sa kanya nung una dahil halos lahat ng tanong ni Sir ay nasasagot niya nang tama. Pero kalaunan, nakakainis na rin dahil may halong pagyayabang ang bawat sagot niya. Kasi pagkatapos malamang

...Paglilingkod na ipinararamdam, hindi ibinibida sa kung saan-saan sa intensyong magpabango lang ng pangalan.

tama ang sinagot niya ay bigla niyang sasabihin sa kanyang katabi: Sabi ko sayo, tama ako eh. Paulit-ulit yun bawat lecture. Ang nakakatawa nga lang, nasa large class nga kami at medyo malayo ang distansya namin kay Sir. Yung tipong kahit sumagot ang taong tinutukoy ko mula sa kanyang kinauupuan ay hindi pa rin siya maririnig. Kaya wala ring sense na sumagot siya dahil kaming mga katabi lang niya ang makakarinig ng sagot/pagyayabang niya. Nakakainis kasi habang abala ang utak ko sa pagsagot sa mga equation na nasa slide e binibigkas na niya ang sagot. Spoiler. Siya na talaga. *** Umuwi ako sa amin makalipas ang dalawang linggo kong pamamalagi sa Elbi. Natuwa ako dahil sa wakas, napansin na rin ng kinauukulan ang baku-bakong kalsada sa amin at ngayoy under construction na. Pero napalitan ang tuwa ko nang makita ko ang isang pader. Nakapinta doon ang isang malaking A REFORM PROJECT OF <insert politicians name here> Bilang residente ng baranggay na iyon, sanay na akong makakita ng mga ganun sa pader. Pero iba ito ngayon dahil pangalan na ng anak ng mayor namin (na kasalukuyang councilor) ang nakalagay. Makikita pa rin naman ang pangalan ni mayor, maliit nga lang. Epic pa rin sa laki ang pangalan ng anak niya, karugtong na ng katagang mayor. Nakakatawa kasi balita ko, sa 2013 pa siya kakandidato. Nakakatawa kasi tila alam na ng kasalukuyang mayor na anak niya ang hahalili sa kanya sa 2013 matapos ang ilang

taon din niyang paglilingkod (kung kasama sa konsepto natin ng paglilingkod ang pagtatatak ng mukha niya sa mga pader at kalsada, na tila ba pag-aari niya ang buong baranggay.) Nakakatawa kasi walang pakundangan kung ipamukha nila iyon sa mamamayan. Marahil sa paglalakad mo ay nakakita ka na ng mga tarpaulin na bumati sa iyo ng, Happy Fiesta! o kaya naman, Congratulations, graduates! na siya namang susundan ng Greetings from <insert another politicians name here> Minsan . pa may makikita kang ganito: Congratulations, Mayor <insert politicians name here, again> for being awarded as the Best Mayor of the Year. WE LOVE YOU! Dagdag comedy dahil sa mismong pulitiko din nanggaling ang pagbating iyon. Para mo lang binigyan ng birthday card ang sarili mo. Wala na atang okasyon ang hindi nila pinalampas na gawan ng pagbati. Kulang na lang, maglagay na rin sila ng Happy weekend! o kaya naman, Good luck on your hell week! Siyempre, hindi dapat mawala ang mukha nila na sakop na ang halos kalahati ng tarp. Naiisip ko tuloy, meron na bang natuwa dahil pinagawan sila ng mayor nila ng tarp na may happy fiesta? Kung nagpa-party sana para sa kanila si mayor, baka pwede pa. *** Sa pagtanda ko, isa-isa kong nakasalamuha ang ibat ibang mukha ng mga tinatawag nating epal at ang mga taong kumakatawan dito. Nariyan ang mga taong pinanganak

*Si RLNTLSS ay isang tao na mahilig maglakbay ngunit takot lumabas ng bahay. Maingat sa buhok ngunit hindi nagsusuklay. Mahilig sa gulay maliban sa okra, ampalaya at malunggay.

para mang-asar, mandamay ng iba sa isang kasalanan, magpa-bibo, at magpabango ng pangalan. Epal silang lahat dahil nakakaasar sila. Nakakalungkot isipin na dahil sa mga epal na ito, may batang naubusan ng holen, nangawit ang kamay, hindi nasagutan ang math problem at higit sa lahat, may mga taong bumoboto base sa kung ilang tarpaulin o pinintahang pader ang nakita nila. Base sa huling nabanggit, nakakainis na dahil lamang sa popularidad ng isang kandidato kaya siya binoboto at hindi dahil sa kakayahan niyang mamuno. Nakakainis dahil sadyang may mga taong epal sa mundo. Sa parehong paraan na naiinis tayo kung bakit nabuhay pa ang lamok, ipis, ahas, buwaya. Oops. Sana dumating ang isang araw na alam kong umuunlad ang mga kalsada at gusali sa paligid ko nang walang kaakibat na pinintahang pader at tinatakang semento. Sana kasabay ng pagiging best mayor ng namumuno sa amin ay maramdaman kong tunay ngang nakatira ako sa isang best city. Sana nagtatrabaho nang hindi nagyayabang. Yan ang matatawag na tunay na paglilingkod sa bayan. Paglilingkod na ipinararamdam, hindi ibinibida sa kung saan-saan sa intensyong magpabango lang ng pangalan. Nagsisisi ako dahil pinalampas ko yung unang tatlong klase ng epal na nakasalamuha ko. Pero yung sa pang-apat, umaasa akong hindi pa huli ang lahat. Alam kong may magagawa pa ako. May magagawa pa tayo. [P]

**Si pitsa ay mahilig sa ice cream, buko pie, graham cake at pizza. Tumatanggap ng libreng konsultasyon sa pag-ibig, este ng libreng McFlurry. Galit sa movies na hindi sumusunod sa physics laws and principles. Naglilibot sa campus dala ang bag na Fairytail, payong na Apple at pamaypay na may dancing Korean cartoon.

...Ngunit kung iisipin kung obligasyon ko bilang tao ang magbasa, malalaman ko nang buong-buo at may tinutungo ang bawat pangungusap ng isang akda.
sa mga pinakamatataas sa buong lecture class ng 178 na estudyante. Amazing! Asia and the World. Isa din ito sa gusto kong subjects, ang history. Hindi man ganoon kaganda ang history subject background ko nung high school - iisa ang author ng reference books namin simula 1st year, at marahil kilala mo ito malaki pa rin ang pagrespeto ko sa mga historyador ng bansa. Kaya nung nag-HIST 2 ako, kailangan ko pang mag-adjust sa mga bagong kaalaman at tamang pananaw sa kasaysayan ng Asya laban sa Western approach nito. Inaasahan ko na rin ang tambak-tambak na photocopies ng lecture slides na halos lingguhan kung ilabas. Nang matapos ang semestre, halos magkasing-kapal na rin ang lecture slides ng HIST 2 sa POSC 1 ko; hiwalay pa ang mga readings ng recit na halos nangalahati din. Ang daming requirements gaya ng synthesis paper at reaction paper sa life documentary ni Mahatma Gandhi, Rizal lecture series ni dating Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Rizal documentary ni Howie Severino, at iba pa. College English. Walang tatalo sa GE na ito nung unang semestre ko sa paramihan ng ipapa-photocopy at babasahin lalo na ang readings sa recit. Bukod sa dahil English ito, pahirapan pa sa pag-intindi ng contextual meaning ng bawat essays,

Newbie, Freshie. Filled with wonders, questions. Entered the university with hope of directions, expectations. Bewildered by the eminent honor and excellence pondered by its constituents. Which in turn, students, like me, learned the value of education, together with its standards, especially the game of pass or fail, rather READ or else I will fail! * * * Lumipas ang mga araw, dama ko na ang hirap na dulot ng minuminutong pag-aaral. Kahit alam kong maluwag ang aking schedule nung unang semestre ko MATH 17, POSC 1, ENG 1, HIST 2, MATH 1, at PE 1 ngunit ano itong sinasabi ni prof? Search for this article online Make , a reaction paper about Photocopy , todays lecture slides at Pay a visit , at the main library and read * * * Tarat magbasa! Bukod sa mauubos na ang pera ko para mag-internet at i-download mula sa Yahoo! groups at FB groups o ipaphotocopy ang lecture slides, mauubos pa oras ko sa pagbabasa. Alam kong Best in Reading ako noong prep, pero hindi sa ganitong pagkakataon, ang magbasa ng sampung pahina, font size 12, single spacing na reading. Uso ito sa mga GE courses ko gaya ng POSC 1, HIST 2 at ENG 1 kung saan kailangan kong kabisahin at intindihin nang magkasabay ang

readings para sa exams at kung minsan pa ngay gagawan pa ng reaction paper o synthesis paper. Reimagining Philippine Politics. Gusto ko ang subject na ito. Bukod kasi sa magandang pag-aralan ang pulitika ng bansa, isa ito sa dream course ko. Bilang patunay, first choice course ko ito sa UP Diliman nung UPCAT at second choice naman sa isang kilalang unibersidad sa Cavite. Balak ko din kasing magpatuloy ng Law balang araw. Unang linggo pa lang ng klase ay nababanggit na ng aming professor na pwedeng makakuha ng kopya ng kanyang lecture slides, para sa buong semestre, sa isang photocopying center sa Grove. At bilang paboritong subject ko nga ito, kumuha agad ako ng kopya nung gabing iyon. Laking gulat ko na ang kapal-kapal pala; hindi na nakapagtataka na humigit kumulang isang-daang piso ang binayad ko. Ang masakit, hindi updated ang lecture slides na ipinaphotocopy sa amin at maglalagay naman pala siya ng kopya sa Yahoo! group. Heto at exam na, kailangan nang mag-aral: public office, corruption, military, media, congress. Hindi ko nga gustong magkabisa, hindi nga rin ako nagre-recite sa large class. Pero kahit papaano, pumasa ako sa exams. Ang masaya pa nito, nung inilabas na ang final grade namin, nasa ika-labing-apat ako

position papers, at poems gaya ng College Majors Dont Matter Much ni William Raspberry. Idagdag pa ang readings sa lecture gaya ng You Are What You Eat. Sa dinami-dami ng readings, kinailangan ko na ring bumili ng clear book para sa bawat subject nang sa gayon ay maging organized ako. Gabi-gabi akong nagbabasa ng readings o nag-aaral ng lecture slides. Ngayon tungkol sa constitution at Buddhism, mamaya essays nina Harriet Goldhor Lerner at Benjamin Franklin, kinabukasan ibang topic naman. Nang tumagal ay nasanay na rin ako na magpuyat para magbasa. Kahit tadtad na ng requirements, tuloy lang. At dito ko nakita ang aking pagbabalik-loob sa tamang pagtingin ng PAGBABASA. * * * Passion o kinahihiligan ng isang tao ang pagbabasa; kung hindi man ako mahilig magbasa ay wala na sa akin at sa ibang tao iyon; ito ang pananaw ko dati. Ngayon, dama ko, na mas matimbang ang responsibilidad ang pagbabasa kaysa kinahihiligan lamang ito. Kung ang pagbili ko ng Harry Potter Series ni JK Rowling at ng Kiko Machine ni Manix Abrera ay bunga lamang ng aking hilig na magbasa ng fiction at comics, at dahil ito ang kinahihiligan ng aking mga kaibigan, hanggang

MUMBLINGS
Reading Readings
WORDS | PITSA** sa ganoong pananaw ko lang makikita ang pagbili at pagbabasa ko nito. At ang pananaw na ito ay mali, kulang. Malabong makita ko ang mas malawak na kaisipan o mensaheng gustong iparating sa akin ng may-akda. Ngunit kung iisipin kung obligasyon ko bilang tao ang magbasa, malalaman ko nang buong-buo at may tinutungo ang bawat pangungusap ng isang akda. Ngayon, isinasabuhay ko bilang responsibilidad ang magbasa ng lecture slides dahil kailangan ko ito hindi para pumasa sa exams, o may maisagot kung sakaling tawagin sa recitation, ngunit para mas maging matibay ang pundasyon ng aking kaalaman sa mas mataas na antas ng pag-aaral. Ang hilig sa pagbabasa ay may kinikilingan, tanging gusto mo lamang na mga akda ang babasahin mo; ang maging responsibilidad ang pagbabasa ay walang takot at walang pangamba, sapagkat nakukuha mo ang bawat anggulo ng istorya o pangyayari. Ang magbasa ng buhat sa responsibilidad ay may alam kaysa magbasa buhat sa hilig; mas maraming impormasyon, mas balanseng pagtingin. Mas maraming alam, mas may pakialam. Ito ang tunay na Iskolar. Ang pagbabasa ay hindi na passion, responsibilidad na dapat ito. [P]

ISSUE 3 .

VOLUME 39 .

UPLB PERSPECTIVE

OPINION

EDITORIAL

When freedom becomes a crime

A signature is so powerful that the moment after your pen separates from the document, after the last stroke that comprises your signature has been written, an agreement has been established; an action is expected to take effect. Just after President Benigno Auino III signed the controversial Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 last 12th of September, the practice of freedom of speech and expression was put into suppression, as any single post, tweet, share, or just even a like of a post, can let you experience jail in no time. A number of cybercrime-related bills were already previously passed; however, these werent found to be sufficient to address the need for a legality of crimes committed with the use of a computer or its software, most of which are concerned with online interactions; thus, the birth of RA 10175, thanks to its father, Senator Ed Angara and a number of sponsors who supported the bill. However, just like any other proposed law which has failed to receive any scrupulous assessment, RA 10175 has its own share of careless and dangerous societal effects, as it posed serious threats to freedom over the Internet, which gagged every netizen concerned. For instance, libel was extended to cover the cyberworld, it is where every strong and usually negative comment made on can be used as but to postspractice obviouslyground for imprisonment. Continuing this threatens freedom using accessible participate in and direct medium to express opinions online, where people should not take comments as offensive opinions but accept such these as constructive points of view. For a country exercising democracy, it is but healthy to participate in such conversations not just because you want to degrade an official due to his not just because wrongdoings or remises but you opt to be concerned with the current status of the government and being affected, you have you want to something to say about it.

healthy

...

CAMPUSFORUM
Ano ang theme song ng first sem mo?
sarili ko and sa kantang yan, I was actually referring to the power of my two selves. Haha. You see last first sem, nagjoin ako ng org and I needed the encouragement of the other and the criticism of the other. So the clash and balance that my two selves brought me really paved my way through first sem, sama mo pa kasi yung acads at reporting. Haha. Talk about process blues! Allison Danao, BA CA 11 I Wont Give Up ni JASON MRAZ. Kasi yan talaga isa sa mga lakas ko nung medyo struggling ako last sem. Ziach Aguirre, BS Nutri 12 12:51. Kasi laging puyat. (acheche) Alexis Tajas, BA Soc 12. Backend of Forever, bakit? Because I wish I would never hurt again </3 Amandla Med Castro, BS Math 10 I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables. May pinagdadaanan akong matindi last sem eh. Nagkasabay-sabay ang problema, nadamay acads. Mukhang di na matutupad yung dream kong makagraduate on time. Akmangakma yung lyrics. But there are dreams that cannot be and there are storms we cannot weather. I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell Im living . . . now life has killed the dream I dream. April Venus, BA CA 11 The Scientist ng Coldplay: Nobody said it was easy... oh take me back to the start cause I really didnt do that well. Hahaha Ma. Angelica Taeza, BA CA 11 Power of Two ng MYMP. Kasi I have always seen myself as a double-person with opposite personalities. Somewhat bipolar, oo yun yung tingin ko sa

SA NAKARAANG

conversations degrade...
status quo...

I Wont Give Up... kase yun yung batch song namin. Jonjon Salamanca, BS FT 11 Kaibigan Lang Pala by Jaramie. Frinendzone ako nung isa ko pang crush. Buti na lang marami akong crush. Nyahaha. JK. =)) Jopao Nalica, BS Econ 12 Akala by Parokya ni Edgar. Dahil dun sa line na Wag kang matakot na baka magkamali; walang mapapala kung di magbabakasakali...Bukod jan, ang isang pinakathemesong ko nung first sem is yung Doin Just Fine ni KYLA originally by Boyz II Men. Parang every hour ko siya pinapatugtog para maalala ko na ok pa rin ako no matter what. Charles Tumbaga, BS DC 10

concerned

But still, with no questions, President Aquino signed the bill, not wary even on how its revisions may affect freedom of but you opt to be expression and the countrys data security. *** with The Supreme Court has received 15 petitions, all of which were the deferred only because the high court en banc has a quorum with 10 justices present. Questioning the constitutionality of the law, these petitions criticize the bill as it criminalizes libel, increases crime penalty under the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, as well as it allows the government to access private data. However, these did not stop even the online community, showing rage by turning down all profile pictures, turning them to black, some with the image of Guy Fawkes to signify a protest. Anonymous Philippines, a group of hacktivists, turned down one government site after another to show discontent with the passing of the said bill. On the 15th of January next year, the Supreme Court (SC) will entertain oral arguments on, after a 120-day hiatus in the form of a temporary restraining order (TRO). The TRO, however positive it may sound, simply suspends (if not delay), the effectivity of the implementation of RA 10175. It allows one side of the court to a longer time frame to protect its ability to present better decisions. Shall it be a remedy, it only maintains the current status quo, preserving what the country already has before any law or its provisions may come to effect. It doesnt even indicate an overview of what the SC is currently thinking about the law, leaving the public in awe if the SC thinks that the law is either unconstitutional or not. *** If only Senator Tito Sotto is wise and brave enough to compose his own ideas put into his own words before delivering speeches to campaign for a no for RH Bill, if hes guilty enough to commit his multiple acts of plagiarism and submit an apology (albeit late) to the entirety of Filipino, if no senators are ignorant of the consequences of the submitted bill even before at the period where it is being proposed, then 120 days and beyond, we would still be living a free and open web for a free and open world. No act of plagiarism must be tolerated especially if found guilty; if in the university level, respective penalties are practiced, why cant the Senate assert this? No 120 days must be spent not for implementing a law just because a member of the Senate experienced cyberbullying, but for immediate time to respond to issues that concern the country more (do I have to mention RH Bill?). Nevertheless, no single user of any social networking site must be barred of his rights of freely expressing his opinions, online and offline, by any signed law. [P]

CAMPUSFORUM

I-comment sa Campus Forum post sa facebook.com/uplbperspective o i-tweet ang @uplbperspective ang inyong sagot, at wag kalimutang ilagay ang iyong pangalan, course at batch!

Sinong gusto mong tumakbo sa USC-CSC elections, sa anong posisyon, at bakit?

Apektado ka ba ng Sin Tax Law? Bakit o bakit hindi?

EDITOR IN CHIEF Mark Ian Billante ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mark Angelo Ordonio MANAGING EDITOR Neil Darwin Feleo Cabuyao NEWS EDITOR Pauline Angela Reyes FEATURES EDITOR Princes Bulaclac CULTURE EDITOR Ladylove May Baurile PRODUCTION EDITOR Trista Isobelle Gile BUSINESS MANAGER (OIC) Ryan Jeff Andaya FEATURES STAFF Joanna Cerrille Calapine CULTURE STAFF Jean Erica Sarmiento PRODUCTION STAFF Jerome Oliver Aligora, Franz Patrick Cubero APPRENTICES Robert Dave Alonzo, Paul Christian Carson, Ma. Alyssa Caugma, Arlene Dizon, Peter James Dequia, Guien Eidrefson Garma, Angeli Ann Llantos, Romar Joshua Laurel, Roberto Santos IV, Ezekiel Trogillo, Rejinel Valencia, Justine Willauer Rm. 11, 2nd Floor, Student Union Building, UPLB, College, Laguna uplbperspective1213@gmail.com facebook.com/uplbperspective
UPLB Perspective is a member of: Editorial office:

@uplbperspective

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and UP Solidaridad: UP systemwide alliance of student publications and writers organization

EDITORIAL

UPLB PERSPECTIVE .

VOLUME 39 .

ISSUE 3