U.P. Faculty Regent's Short Report on July 14, 2010 Special BOR Meet

Short Report on this Morning's Special BOR Meeting, July 14

Dr. Judy Taguiwalo, Faculty Regent

This morning, the special BOR meeting was held in spite of the brownout (the Board Room in Quezon Hall has a generator for lighting and for four electric fans). The meeting approved the criteria for the search for the next UP President. The call for nomination starts on July 15 until August 25. Actual selection will be done in late November 2010. Please check the UP website where the details of the search will be posted.

The Board also affirmed its authority to decide on appeal for tenure of UP faculty after the faculty has gone through the various appeals' level in the university. It also asked the UP President to ensure the implementation of the May 27 BOR decision granting tenure to Prof. Sarah Raymundo who up to now has no appointment, no loading and no salary.

This was also the last meeting of Chairman Angeles as Dr. Patricia Licuanan takes over as CHED Chair on July 19. The All UP Workers Union extended its thanks to Chairman Angeles for his support for the tenure of Prof. Raymundo, his stand against the privatization of PGH through the FMAB.

The regular July BOR meeting is on July 29, 9 am at Quezon Hall.

(Source: http://upissues.wordpress.com/author/upissues/)

On the Policy of the Use and Implementation of the Tuition and Miscellaneous Fee Increases by U.P. Student Regent Cori Alessa C. Co

Background

This was the first policy paper filed by the Office of the Student Regent to the Board of Regents during the 1256th Board of Regents Meeting. As the title suggest, this OSR policy paper questions the issues regarding the use of the Tuition and Other Fees Increase in a limited use by the Roman Administration (using TOFI revenues for the construction of dormitories alone), in relation to the current lack of funds for the improvement of the campus facilities of each college and for more beneficiaries of the STFAP. This forces college adminstrations to propose to have Laboratory and Miscellaneous Fees Increase aside from the current TOFI which aimed to solve these problems.

Also, the policy paper also addressed the cases of college administrators bypassing or deviating the process of comprehensive consultation of students for their proposals for Laboratory and Miscellaneous Fees Increase. With this, the Office of the Student Regent motioned policies in order to address the following problems stated above.

At the end of the meeting, the Board of Regents ratified and approved the policies as motioned by the Student Regent Cori Alessa Co, in a unanimous decision thus creating implementing rules and regulations regarding fee increase proposals. In effect the concept of "comprehensive consultation" stated in the Republic Act 9500 or the UP Charter of 2008, is now defined as "50%+1 of the total population of the students that will be affected together with the college and university student councils concerned" and is a major prerequisite before a fees increase proposal shall even be considered in the Board of Regents meeting.On the Policy of the Use and Implementation of the Tuition and Miscellaneous Fee Increases

As Student Regent of the University of the Philippines System, my mandate is to represent the students of the university system, whether they are certificate, non-degree, undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students as stipulated in the section 12, sub-section 1-G of the Republic Act 9500 or also known as the UP Charter of 2008.

For the past semesters there had been numerous petitions of the colleges in the university system to raise miscellaneous fees, due to the lack of funds. But, if your honours please, let us be reminded about the rationale of the tuition and other fees increase approved by the UP Board of Regents in December 2006.

According to the Primer on the Proposal to Adjust Tuition and Other Fees released by the Office of the UP President as per Memorandum Number PERR 06-036 in September 12, 2006 that the proposal to increase the tuition fee:

“will translate into quality academic services (in terms of instruction and supervised research) provided by highly qualified faculty members, improved student-computer ratios, increased internet access, well-maintained teaching and research laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment, easy access to a wider and updated collection of textbooks and reference materials (in various forms, i.e., online, print, etc.) in UP libraries, and increased stipends and a larger number of recipients of the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP).”

However, an interview with the President Roman published in the March 22 Issue of the Philippine Collegian as cited below, caught the SR’s attention:

“According to [UP President/ UP BOR Co-Chairperson] Roman, the funds generated from the tuition increase will go to the incremental income which will be used to build dorms.”

Limiting the use of the funds generated from the tuition increase to the problem of the dormitories is limiting the capacity of the full maximization of the funds, which is immediately needed by the college administrations in order to upgrade the necessary facilities to benefit their students or even benefit more beneficiaries of the STFAP.

With this track of administrating the funds on the Tuition and Other Fees increase, it burdens even more the current and future Iskolars ng Bayan and therefore, violates Section 9 of the RA 9500 which states that:

“The national university shall take affirmative steps which may take the form of an alternative and equitable admission process to enhance the access of disadvantaged students, such as indigenous peoples, poor and deserving students, including but not limited to valedictorian and salutatorians of public high schools, and students from depressed areas, to its programs and services.” (emphasis mine)

Meanwhile, RA 9500 states in Section 13 that the Board of Regents has the capacity to fix tuition and other fee increases after a comprehensive consultation with the students concerned:

“Power and Duties of the Board of Regents – The administration of the national university and the exercise of its corporate powers are vested in the Board of Regents:

(m) To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, as the Board may deem proper to impose, after due and comprehensive consultation with the students concerned. Such fees and charges, including government support and other income generated by the national university, shall constitute special trust funds and shall be deposited in an authorized government depository bank. Any and all interest that shall accrue there from shall from part of the same funds for the use of the national university.”

and Section 21 states the role of the student council:

“Student Affairs - ... The student council shall serve as the primary student body that shall advance the interests, welfare, and aspirations of the students of the national university. It shall have the power to adopt internal rules of procedure consistent with the provisions of the Act..”

With these provisions in the RA 9500, it is then rendered crystal clear that the students affected by the proposed increases and the student councils must be well-informed by the college administrations in order to facilitate comprehensive consultations. However, this has not been the practice in the recent miscellaneous and laboratory fee increases as reported by the student councils to the Office of the Student Regent. Some college administrations only give the details of the increase, a week before the Board of Regents meeting. There are cases that some college administrations, do not even consider even informing the college student councils, university student councils and the supposed affected students regarding these issues, arbitrarily saying that it is not the concern of the students nor the student council because it is purely an administrative matter.

With these actions, the undersigned respectfully avers that the student’s right to information and inquiry is being suppressed and that these reports are gross violations to the UP Charter of 2008.

In line with the ideals of the UP Charter of 2008, the undersigned is thus requesting the honourable members of the Board to support the following:

• 15 days before the proposed fee increase is set to be evaluated by the College Executive Board, the students (or future students, if it will be applied to the incoming freshmen/ transferees from other educational institutions), the respective college and university student councils must have a copy of 1.the whole proposal of the proposed increase (including the justifications and the studies done by the college/university administration) and 2. a notice of a comprehensive consultation, requiring at least 50% + 1 of the total number of students affected by the fees together with the college and university student councils as active participants in the consultation;

• 10 days before the proposed fee increase is set to be evaluated by the College Executive Board, the Office of the Student Regent must be copy furnished of the complete proposal and an invitation to attend the comprehensive consultation set by the college/university administration; and

• if these provisions are not followed, any proposal to increase shall not be entertained by the Board of Regents.


The undersigned is confident that the honourable members of the Board are cognizant that the student councils are highly recognized as the legitimate representation of the largest stakeholders of the university, and are duly mandated to take a stand for our current and future Iskolars ng Bayan. Thus, their right in forwarding students’ rights, interests, and welfare should not be disregarded. Ultimately, we enjoin every sectors of the University of the Philippines’ community in upholding this university as a national and premier state university that caters to the people’s right to quality and accessible education.###


(sgd.)


Cori Alessa C. Co
Student Regent
University of the Philippines System

The U.P. Fighting Maroons: Or would a Rose by any other name smell just as sweet?

From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1600:

JULIET:
      'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
      Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
      What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
      Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
      Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
      What's in a name? that which we call a rose
      By any other name would smell as sweet;
      So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
      Retain that dear perfection which he owes
      Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
      And for that name which is no part of thee
      Take all myself.

  (Photo courtesy of http://maroonsbasketball.com)

Announcement from the Facebook Page of  U.P. Diliman Name your Team

NAME YOUR TEAM CONTEST

Naming Rights for the New UP Mascot

BACKGROUND OF THE CONTEST:

➢ The “UP Fighting Maroons” is the name carried by all UP Varsity Teams.

➢ Based on the symbols however, the UP Seal bears an eagle probably because it was the first university established by the Americans in the country.

➢ The eagle, as we all know is a common American symbol.

➢ Another symbol familiar to UP Alumni is the Parrot which was often used on car stickers and the cover of notebooks. The parrot however doesn’t seem an appropriate symbol for UP as al it does is imitate its’ human master. Some sectors claim it was used to represent UP students because they “talk too much”.

➢ The last and most famous symbol of the university is the “Oblation”, the nude statue located at Quezon Hall which is suppose to symbolize freedom and service to the nation.

➢ In the course of participation in various sports competitions, it was necessary to have a team mascot. In absence of such, the color “maroon” was instead selected.

➢ The color maroon has no personal qualities. In some instances, a pun on the word especially if the team loses, ends up as the “UP Morons”.

SIGNIFICANCE OF A NAME:

➢ A name is very important because it identifies a person/group of people.

➢ A mascot – is a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially (informally) includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school.

➢ It also becomes a brand name that may be used collectively for many purposes

➢ The choice of a mascot is suppose to reflect a desired quality, a common example of this is the “fighting spirit”, in which a competitive nature is personified by warriors (archer and Igorot warrior of DLSU and UE) or predatory animals.

➢ Since UP joined the NCAA and later the UAAP, it could not use the eagle as the Ateneo de Manila which was established ahead of UP by 50 years had already used it for its’ own team.

➢ UP had no choice but to choose something else. Probably due to the lack of time, it thus resorted to using the university’s colors – maroon to call its varsity athletes.

➢ The goal of this contest is to choose a moniker that is probably original or, at the very least historical and appropriate for the team and the university it represents.Eligibility: Open to all students, faculty, staff and alumni of the University of the Philippines. The contest will be system wide, however the winning entry shall be the property and exclusive use of the U.P. Diliman Varsity only.

CONTEST DETAILS:

Limit: As many entries may be submitted.

Entry procedures:

1. All entries will be submitted online.

FACEBOOK ACCOUNT: U.P. DILIMAN NAME YOUR TEAM (GROUP)

2. The Logo of your team should be submitted in .jpeg file and the write up describing the name and logo of the team should be typed in 2003 Microsoft Word Document.

3. The entry should have the contestant’s name and student/staff/faculty number to confirm the contestant’s identification in the UP Diliman campus.

4. Send your entries online to nameyourt@yahoo.com. DEADLINE IS ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

JUDGING CRITERIA:

➢ Appropriateness of the mascot for a sport setting

➢ Reflects the desired qualities of a varsity team in particular and UP in general.

➢ Name Recall

➢ Originality

➢ May be used as a brand name

➢ Five of the best entries will be presented to the public for online/text voting

PRIZES:

The winner of the contest will receive:

➢ Cash award of PhP 20,000 for the winning entry

➢ Plaque of recognition for submitting the winning entry

➢ 2 season passes to all UP Men’s Basketball games for UAAP Season 73

➢ 1 Varsity Jacket

DATES TO REMEMBER:

SEPTEMBER 3 (FRI) - DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES

SEPTEMBER 6-9 - ONLINE AND TEXT VOTING

SEPTEMBER 10 - JUDGEMENT DAY

SEPTEMBER 12 - ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNING ENTRY AT THE UAAP CHEERDANCE COMPETITION

CHEERDANCE COMPETITION.

EMAIL YOUR ENTRIES AT:
nameyourt@yahoo.com

TEXT YOUR VOTES AT:
0916-492.1314

Diliman Video of the Week; U.P. Diliman's Zorro: The Man behind the Mask

The Search for the Next U.P. President is on!

(Student Regent Cori Alessa Co speaking at the First U.P.
Sectoral Regents Forum in UPLB, July 15, 2010. To zoom in on the picture, just click on it)

The University of the Philippines (U.P.) Board of Regents (BOR) is now inviting nominations for the President who will succeed U.P.’s outgoing President, Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman. Roman’s term will come to a close on February 9, 2011.

At its 1255th meeting on June 2, 2010, the Board constituted itself into the Search Committee for the next U.P. President. Composed of all the Regents, the Committee will prepare a list of nominees among whom the Board will make the final choice, according to U.P.'s website at: http://www.up.edu.ph/).

Any outstanding Filipino known to possess integrity, stature in the academic profession, a national and international reputation as a scholar, and proven administrative capability may be nominated by any person, group, or organization both from within or outside the University System. The Search Committee hopes to encourage as many nominations as possible and welcomes the widest participation of the University’s constituents and stakeholders.

The Search Committee shall conduct fora and dialogues throughout the UP System in September and October. Nominees shall be asked to present their vision and programs before the Board on November 8, 2010. The U.P. Charter empowers the Board to elect the President which it shall do at its 1262nd meeting on November 26, 2010.

Each nomination shall include (1) the nominee’s curriculum vitae, (2) his or her vision statement, (3) a statement of his or her willingness to serve, and (4) a brief justification for the nomination. All nominations must be in sealed envelopes, addressed to the UP Board of Regents Search Committee for the U.P. President, and submitted to the Office of the Secretary of the University and the Board of Regents, Quezon Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City no later than 5:00 p.m., August 25, 2010.

Nominations welcome

For those interested in the position, each nominee is required to submit a curriculum vitae; a vision statement; a statement of willingness to serve; and a brief justification for the nomination. All nominations must be in sealed envelopes, addressed to the UP Board of Regents Search Committee for the UP President, and submitted to the Office of the Secretary of the University and the Board of Regents, Quezon Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City no later than 5:00 p.m., August 25, 2010. For further information, the UP Secretariat may be contacted by regular mail at Quezon Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon City 1101, Philippines; at telephone no. (632) 927-67-80; telefax nos. (632) 920-68-97 and (632) 920-68-85; or via email at osu@up.edu.ph.

Timetable for the Search for the Next U.P. President

1. Constitution of the Search Committee 2 June 2010

2. Discussion of the Criteria for the Selection of the UP President 14 July 2010

3. Call for nominations 15 July 2010 to 25 August 2010

4. Evaluation/Screening of Nominees 27 August 2010 (Friday) - BOR Meeting

5. Nominee’s Forum September to October 2010

6. Presentation of Vision and Programs before the BOR and Interviews 8 November 2010 (Monday)

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

7. Election of the New President 26 November 2010 (Friday) - BOR Meeting

Criteria Selection - 1

• Stature in the academic profession.

• Administrative capability.

• National and International reputation as a scholar.

• Probity and moral integrity.    

Criteria Selection - 2

• Values and perspectives.

• Possesses the political will and the political skills to defend and promote academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

• Committed to academic excellence.

• Has a clear and inspiring vision of UP’s role in the 21st century.

• Leads in ensuring the implementation of democratic governance in the university based on collegiality, representation, accountability, transparency and active participation of constituents.

Criteria Selection - 3

• Has the ability to raise funds without compromising the traditional values and ideals of academia.

• Possesses the capacity to manage available resources to sustain the UP Modernization program.

• Fair in dealing with all constituents; does not engage in factionalism.

Criteria Selection - 4

• Preserves the secular, public and non-sectarian character of UP.

• Maintains and enriches intellectual diversity; does not promote a particular religion or school of thought.

• Keeps UP above politics, but respects the rights of faculty members and and students to participate in political debates and campaign their beliefs within the limits of the law. 

Sectoral regents organize fora on the selection process for a new U.P. President

According to the Facebook page of Faculty Regent Judy M. Taguiwalo, the 2008 U.P. Charter (RA 9500) defines in Section 13(j) the powers and duties of the Board of Regents in this manner:  "To elect the President of the University for a single term of six (6) years following a process of democratic consultation with the university community based on standards and guidelines set by the Board."

Since the term of U.P. President Roman ends in February 2011. The Board of Regents in its June 2 and July 14 meeting approved the criteria for nomination and the schedules of the search. The call for nomination is from July 15 to August 25, 2010 with the actual selection to be held during the November 2010 BOR meeting.

The U.P. Sectoral Regents composed of the Faculty, Student and Staff Regents, are sponsoring a series of forum in the different UP campuses with the title"The Search for a New U.P. President, Criteria, Process and Experience" with the objectives of sharing previous experiences in the search process and sharing the current guidelines for the selection. The fora are also meant to elicit suggestions from the UP constituents on the process of the selection and on the issues the next U.P. President should address.

The first forum was held last July 15 in UPLB with 2004 Student Regent Marco de los Reyes as the resource person. Marco was the student representative in the BOR when the selection for the new U.P. President to replace then U.P. President Nemenzo was held in 2004.

The U.P. Manila forum will be on July 23, 2 to 5 pm at UPMASA, Philippine General Hospital (PGH). The U.P. Diliman forum will be on August 11, 2 to 5 pm at Claro M. Recto Hall, Faculty Center. The forum is open to the public.

(Photo source: Facebook page of Faculty Regent Judy M. Taguiwalo).

U.P. Fighting Maroons: Another try for Glory

By Katherine Verances Marfal

Three years ago, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons experienced their worst nightmare by having a winless season. Joe Lipa was relieved from duty in the following season and Aboy Castro took over the tactical choirs. In his two seasons, Castro compiled a dismal 6 wins and 22 loses. But, are they going to be forever distinguished as whipping boys? This year, Migs De Asis, Kevin Astroga and Arvhin Braganza are only key losses for them. Fighting Maroons will attempt again to end their 13-year final four drought with the strongest lineup in 5 years inarguably.


On their final year, the triumvirate of Woody Co, Martin Reyes and Magie Sison are the men who will be expected to carry the load for them. Plus the help from other guys who made significant contributions last season like, Mikee Reyes, Alvin Padilla and Mark Lopez. Co and Sision definitely assumed the job in operating and protecting the paint. Mikee Reyes finally gets the starting job at the point while Martin Reyes will help the flow of the offense of the Maroons through his outside snipping ability.

Padilla and Lopez are the men who are very eager to breakdown the defense and do some dirty works at will. However, the most interesting pieces in their campaign right now are their new recruits which will be very vital in their campaign and to the future of the team. One of them is former Jose Rizal University light bomber and scoring sensation Joshua Saret. He was remembered by most of his fans when he exploded with 89 points in a single game. Aside from that, Saret also proved that he is a versatile cager by posting 14 assists, 13 rebounds and 11 steals in that game. Another first year player who is on the watch is Filipino-American Michael Silungan. 6 foot 4 forward is being noted in one of their pre season matchups by scoring 35 points.

For coach Aboy, he guaranteed a different outcome this year.

His team is very different, more make up and more solid. He believes that they have already the tools to make it to the final four.

Let us see if the UP Fighting Maroons can finally move up to the next level, which they have never accomplished in more than a decade.

(Katherine Verances Marfal is a freelance writer. Among the publications she writes for are the Manila Bulletin, Sports Digest, Panorama and Pilipino Star Ngayon. She is also a Web Content Writer and teaches Pre-school at Philippine Normal University).

Norman Black on another UAAP Battle

By Katherine Verances Marfal

As the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) began its new chapter on July 10, 2010, all is set to witness the unveiling of a brand new season. Aside from the glamorous opening where this year’s host De LaSalle University lead the rites, the spectators were also excited about the upcoming performances of all participating schools, especially in the Men’s Basketball.


University of the East Red Warriors and Far Eastern University Tamaraws are parading intact lineups as always. Adamson University Falcons is also a team to reckon after their impressive finish in some pre-season tournaments. Green Archers and University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers are on the rebuilding process but still surrounded with so much talent. National University Bulldogs will now have new voice under head coach Manolito “Eric” Gonzales and University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons is having the best roster in five years.

Of course, the team which caught the attention of everyone is back to back champion Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles. Even they lost three most important players from their title runs, the boys from Loyola are still capable of duplicating what they did in two years, especially with Norman Black in the sidelines. Throughout the years, the system of Black is the key ingredient in the Blue Eagles’ success.

It has been a year since they bagged their fifth men’s title; now, Black is ready to discuss their preparations for the upcoming season.

“We played in Father Martin’s Cup this summer; we played in Filoil Cup this summer, we trained in the states for few weeks. Since then we took one week off, then we came back to practice last Monday,” Black said.

He also insisted that there are not many changes about their preparation as compared to the recent years.

“No, the preparation remains the same, there are no changes. We still try to get the team in the best possible position and condition that we can. We also work on our offense and defense to prepare on the system”

Black also introduced five new guys from team B who will be vital in their quest for another crown.

“Were pretty lucky, we have five new players on the team Jp Erram, Jason Escueta, Jeric Estrada ,Art Dela Cruz and Paolo Balmaceda. Fortunately, we have five guys on Ateneo from team b to team a, who can fill the places of those players who leave. All things will be difficult just like a year before Chris Tiu left, most people said that we may not be strong next year because we will lose leadership and scoring. “

He is still confident that the guys who are coming in will fill up the shoes of the veterans who already graduated. Defensive specialist Nonoy Baclao, steady playmaker Jai Reyes and 2008 UAAP MVP Rabah Alhussani are not coming back this season. Eric Salamat and Ryan Buenafe are no longer assuming the supporting role. Salamat was a starter last year so that he doesn’t have any adjustments to his role according to 52 year-old mentor. Buenafe, former Rookie of the Year awardee is expected to be the focal point of Ateneo’s offense.

For Black, he believes that the players already adjust to their new roles on the team. Since their championship ride last season, the team competed in different tournaments without the three starters who already graduated. Aside from guiding the players in their basketball career, Black and Ateneo management are also making an effort in supporting their studies. Black described that being an Atenean is a big challenge for the players. The management is motivating the players to study and do well in their academic subjects. He also added that this is not a UAAP rule; it’s solely an Ateneo rule.

When asked, what are the similarities between his being a coach and a family man, here is what he said:

“Well you have to be a leader that is no. 1. You have to mange well and set a good example to your children”.

Black has a Filipina wife, whom he met through former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Jun Bernardino. He has three children Dominic, 25 years old, Aaron, 13 years old, who is also playing in the junior basketball team of Ateneo, and his step son Kristoff who is already 32 years old.

(Photos by Katherine Verances Marfal)

(Katherine Verances Marfal is a freelance writer. Among the publications she writes for are the Manila Bulletin, Sports Digest, Panorama and Pilipino Star Ngayon. She is also a Web Content Writer and teaches Pre-school at Philippine Normal University).

Call for Papers on UP-DECL Centennial and the 2nd Access Philippine International English Language Conference

The University of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE and the BRITISH COUNCIL are pleased to announce that the UP-DECL Centennial and the 2nd Access Philippine International English Language Conference will be held from 16 to 17 September 2010 at the SMX, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City Philippines. This event will coincide with the Manila International Book Fair, the biggest book fair in the Philippines.

Speaker proposals for the breakout sessions should fall within the conference theme and the plenary topics. Proposals on one of the topics listed below are also encouraged.

• Content Based Instruction
• Global issues in language learning / education
• Teacher development
• Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)
• “Grammaring”
• Teacher training and education
• Critical Thinking
• Leadership and management
• Teaching large classes
• Cross Cultural Communication
• Literature, media and cultural studies
• Teaching methodologies
• English for academic purposes
• Materials design
• Testing, evaluation and assessment
• English for specific purposes
• Materials writing in ELT
• Varieties of English
• English for the workplace
• Pronunciation Young learners

Sessions should be as practical as possible and based on the experience of the presenter. They may take the form of a presentation (45 minutes) or a workshop (90 minutes). We welcome proposals from all sectors and levels of the ELT profession, including ministries, universities, schools, both primary and secondary and the business sector. Our aim is to provide as broad a range of ideas as possible. Workshop proposals and research for classroom practice are preferred.

Send your proposals to Adelaida F. Lucero at aflucero@gmail.com, or to Jansen Mayor at jansen.mayor@britishcouncil.org.ph and Digi Castillo at digi.castillo@britishcouncil.org.ph on or before 30 July 2010, Friday.

The U.P. Proposal Committee will review the abstracts/proposals accepted on or before Friday, 30 July 2010. The members will notify you whether your proposal has been accepted by the middle of August 2010.

Click this link for the conference program: http://tinyurl.com/34ptv3t

Kamikazee fires up Lanao del Norte's People's Day celebration

Tubod, Lanao del Norte -- It was an explosive mix of phenomenal stage performance, alternative and punk rock music loaded with an ample dose of quirky and suggestive movements that brought the house down last July 3 as Kamikazee set the MCC stage ablazed in their first-ever concert in the province.

The band is composed of five members who met in college at the College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Kamikazee's early gigs were mostly on campus events in UP Diliman like the annual UP Fair.

Before they were signed in a major label, they went by the name "Kamikazee Cornflakes" (eventually shortened to its current state as "Kamikazee" which is easier to remember).

Their early shows included renditions of the songs "Mmm Sarap," "Tsinelas," a cover of Ariel Rivera's "Sana Kahit Minsan," and Britney Spears' Lucky.

Kamikazee consists of Jay Contreras, Jomal Linao, Led Tuyay, Puto Astete and Bords Burdeos.

"I love the melody and funny message of their songs. It's what appeal most to the youth," Kamikazee-fanatic Christopher Capio explained.

Winners of the Band Explosion competition held earlier on July 1, Genesis (1st place) and Line 1 (Champion) provided the front acts for the premier rock band in the country.

The Mindanao Civic Center Sports Complex was swarming with people from Lanao del Norte and nearby provinces who came to watch the sought-after rock group perform live their hit songs.

The evening was capped with a breath-taking musical fireworks display dubbed as "Ilaw ng Lanao del Norte" that left the people in Tubod and neighboring municipalities mesmerized.

This annual spectacle is the only one of its kind showcased in Mindanao and boasts of world-class pyrotechnics effects and effect combinations. (VNL/PIO-LDN)

Diliman Video of the Week: Cheerleader invades Rodic's, Shopping Center, U.P. Diliman

Father Jett is Ateneo de Manila University's New President

The Board of Trustees of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), at its special meeting last 29 June 2010, elected Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J. to be the next University President for an initial 3-year term from April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2014. He is currently the President of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.

Also known as "Fr. Jett" to his students and fellow colleagues, he is a Filipino Jesuit priest and scientist, who currently serves as university president of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan. On June 29, 2010, he was elected to succeed Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J. as President of the Ateneo de Manila University. Fr. Villarin's first term as university president is from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2014.

In a memo dated July 1, 2010 to the ADMU Community by. Ms. Maria Rosario Banzon, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, said Fr. Villarin graduated B.S. Physics, magna cum laude and class valedictorian, Ateneo de Manila University, 1980; M.S. Physics, Marquette University in Wisconsin, 1987; STB Theology, summa cum laude, Loyola School of Theology, 1991. He acquired his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Physics from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, in 1997.

Fr. Villarin entered the Sacred Heart novitiate in May 1981 and was ordained priest in April 1991. He took his final vows in January 2005. He received the National Outstanding Young Scientist award in 2000, and the Outstanding Book Award for "Disturbing Climate" in 2002. He is also an active member of several local and international environment and climate committees, such as the United Nations' Consultative Group of Experts for Developing Countries, and the Inter-Agency Committee on Climate Change, among others.

He has held various positions as campus minister and faculty member in Physics at the Loyola Schools, Chief of Climate Studies in the Manila Observatory, member of the Board of Trustees of Ateneo universities in Manila, Davao, and Zamboanga; and currently as the President of Xavier University.

The Search Committee, in its report to the Board, stated that Fr. Villarin has "the academic stature, leadership experience, and a good grasp of the demands of the position" to be the next University President.

According to wikipedia, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Ramon_Villarin), Fr. Villarin was born in Manila on January 30, 1960.Fr. Villarin entered the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches in May 1981. He was ordained priest in April 1991, and took his final vows in January 2005.

Villarin served in various capacities throughout his career as a scientist. He worked in Georgia Tech as a graduate research assistant and as a researcher in the Laser Laboratory of the Ateneo. His current positions include being Head of the Climate Studies Division of the Manila Observatory and assistant professor at the Department of Physics in the School of Science and Engineering at the Ateneo.

In 2005, he became president of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, and became a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ateneo de Manila University in 2009.[5] He also sits as a member of the boards of trustees of the Ateneo de Davao University, the Ateneo de Naga University, and the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

CINEMALAYA 2010 Schedule of Screenings

OPENING FILM
GANAP NA BABAE by Rica Arevalo, Ellen Ramos & Sarah Roxas
09 July / Fri 7:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
(Opening Ceremonies commence at 6PM. The public is warmly invited!)

AWARDS NIGHT
18 July / Sun 7:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
(Again, the public is warmly invited!)


COMPETITION

DIRECTORS SHOWCASE
SIGWA by Joel Lamangan
10 July / Sat 09:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
11 July / Sun 06:15 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
12 July / Mon 03:30 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
14 July / Wed 12:45 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
15 July / Thu 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
16 July / Fri 09:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
17 July / Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

TWO FUNERALS by Gil Portes
10 July / Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
11 July / Sun 12:45 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
12 July / Mon 09:00 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
13 July / Tue 06:15 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
14 July / Wed 03:30 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
15 July / Thu 09:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
17 July / Sat 12:45 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

PINK HALO-HALO by Joselito Altarejos
10 July / Sat 03:30 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
11 July / Sun 06:15 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
13 July / Tue 12:45 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
15 July / Thu 03:30 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
16 July / Fri 09:00 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
17 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
12 July / Mon 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

DONOR by Edward Mark Meily
10 July / Sat 09:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
11 July / Sun 12:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
12 July / Mon 09:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
13 July / Tue 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
14 July / Wed 09:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
15 July / Thu 06:15 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
16 July / Fri 12:45 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)

ANG PAGLILITIS NI ANDRES BONIFACIO by Mario O’Hara
11 July / Sun 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
12 July / Mon 09:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
13 July / Tue 12:45 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
14 July / Wed 03:30 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
15 July / Thu 03:30 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
16 July / Fri 03:30 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
17 July / Sat 09:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)

NEW BREED
HALAW by Sheron Dayoc
10 July / Sat 12:45 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
11 July / Sun 06:15 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
12 July / Mon 06:15 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
13 July / Tue 09:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
14 July / Wed 09:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
15 July / Thu 09:00 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
16 July / Fri 03:30 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

LIMBUNAN by Gutierrez Mangansakan II
10 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
11 July / Sun 09:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
13 July / Tue 03:30 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
14 July / Wed 03:30 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
15 July / Thu 09:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
16 July / Fri 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
17 July / Sat 12:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

MAGKAKAPATID by Kim Homer C. Garcia
10 July / Sat 12:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
11 July / Sun 03:30 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
12 July / Mon 12:45 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
13 July / Tue 06:15 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
14 July / Wed 06:15 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
15 July / Thu 06:15 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
17 July / Sat 03:30 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)

MAYOHAN by Dan Louie Villegas & Paul Sta, Ana
10 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
11 July / Sun 09:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
12 July / Mon 06:15 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
14 July / Wed 09:00 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
15 July / Thu 12:45 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
17 July / Sat 09:00 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
18 July / Sun 03:30 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)

REKRUT by Danny Añonuevo
10 July / Sat 06:15 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
11 July / Sun 03:30 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
12 July / Mon 12:45 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
13 July / Tue 03:30 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
14 July / Wed 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
16 July / Fri 09:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
18 July / Sun 03:30 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

SAMPAGUITA by Francis Xavier E. Pasion
10 July / Sat 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
11 July / Sun 03:30 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
12 July / Mon 06:15 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
13 July / Tue 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
14 July / Wed 06:15 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
16 July / Fri 03:30 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
17 July / Sat 09:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

SI TECHIE, SI TEKNOBOY AT SI JUANA B. by Arthur Katipunan
10 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
11 July / Sun 03:30 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
12 July / Mon 12:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
13 July / Tue 03:30 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
16 July / Fri 06:15 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
17 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
18 July / Sun 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)

THE LEAVING by Ian Dean S. Loreños
10 July / Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
11 July / Sun 09:00 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
13 July / Tue 06:15 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
14 July / Wed 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
15 July / Thu 03:30 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
16 July / Fri 06:15 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
17 July / Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)

VOX POPULI by Dennis Marasigan
10 July / Sat 12:45 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
12 July / Mon 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
13 July / Tue 09:00 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre) - GALA
14 July / Wed 12:45 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
15 July / Thu 12:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
17 July / Sat 06:15 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
17 July / Sat 12:45 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)

COMPETITION SHORTS
Shorts A: BOCA, BREAKFAST WITH LOLO, DALAW, DESPEDIDA & FACULTY
10 July / Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
11 July / Sun 12:45 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
12 July / Mon 03:30 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
13 July / Tue 09:00 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
14 July / Wed 06:15 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
15 July / Thu 06:15 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
16 July / Fri 12:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

Shorts B: HARANG, HAY PINHOD OH YA SCOOTER, LOLA, "P" & WAG KANG TITINGIN
10 July / Sat 09:00 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
11 July / Sun 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
12 July / Mon 03:30 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
16 July / Fri 06:15 PM Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
17 July / Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
17 July / Sat 12:45 PM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
18 July / Sun 12:45 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute


EXHIBITION FILMS

Cinemalaya NETPAC Premieres
ANG MUNDO SA PANAHON NG YELO by Mes De Guzman
15 July / Thu 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

ANG NINANAIS by John Torres
12 July / Mon 09:00 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

MAGDAMAG by Joven Tan
13 July / Tue 09:00 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

MKAK by TJ Trinidad
16 July / Fri 09:00 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

MULI by Adolfo Alix Jr.
17 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

SHEIKA by Arnel Mardoquio
17 July / Sat 09:00 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

THE TRIAL OF MISTER SERAPIO by Khavn Dela Cruz
15 July / Thu 09:00 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)


Special Screenings
ANG MUNDO SA PANAHON NG BATO by Mes De Guzman
13 July / Tue 09:00 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

BROTHER FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY by John Sayles
14 July / Wed 09:00 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

EMIR by Chito Rono
16 July / Fri 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

HIMPAPAWID by Raymond Red
10 July / Sat 09:00 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

THE CINEMA OF CELSO AD. CASTILLO by Ron Bryant (docu)
11 July / Sun 09:00 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)


Midnite Treats
ANG LARO SA BUHAY NI JUAN by Joselito Altarejos
13 July / Tue 11:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

BEN & SAM by Shandii Bacolod
16 July / Fri 11:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

CAMPUS CRUSH by Cris Pablo
14 July / Wed 11:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

HALIK SA TUBIG by Bong Ramos
15 July / Thu 11:45 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)


ANI: Harvest of the Year's Best
A JOURNEY HOME by Paul Soriano
10 July / Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

AMBISYON 2010 by Various Directors
17 July / Sat 09:00 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

ANACBANUA by Christopher Gozum
12 July / Mon 09:00 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

ANG PANGGAGAHASA KAY FE by Alvin Yapan (Cinemalaya)
14 July / Wed 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

ASTIG by GB Sampedro (Cinemalaya)
16 July / Fri 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

BEERHOUSE by Jon Red
11 July / Sun 09:00 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

BIYAHENG LUPA by Bing Lao
14 July / Wed 09:00 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

BUENAVISTA by Felino Tanada
12 July / Mon 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

COLORUM by Jobin Ballesteros (Cinemalaya)
13 July / Tue 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

ENGKWENTRO by Pepe Diokno (Cinemalaya)
17 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

ESKRIMADORS by Kerwin Go (docu)
16 July / Fri 09:00 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

FIDEL by Shandii Bacolod
11 July / Sun 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

HERE COMES THE BRIDE by Chris Martinez
11 July / Sun 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

LAST SUPPER #3 by Roni Velasco & Jinky Laurel (Cinemalaya)
15 July / Thu 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

RED SHOES by Raul Jarolan
10 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

THE ARRIVAL by Erik Matti
10 July / Sat 09:00 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

SANGLAAN by Milo Sogueco (Cinemalaya)
12 July / Mon 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

WANTED BORDER by Ray Defante Gibraltar (Cinema One)
15 July / Thu 09:00 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)


ANI: Year's Best Shorts
Best Shorts - Animation:
AYOKO NA, CLOWNS, EDISON AND THE MOTHS, GAS MASK, GULAY, LUKSO, MASKARA, MAYARI, MUTYA, PERANG KENKOY, SAVE ME!!!, STORY OF SCRAP, THE HANDBOOK, THE SONG OF THE MAGI, TRAPO, WONDERFUL WORLD & YUGTO
10 July / Sat 12:45 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

Best Shorts - Documentary:
KALIWETE (LEFTY), KUYA, TAWILIS: PALAOT SA MAILAP NA HULI, THE FACES OF SINULOG, THE FILIPINO STUDENTS GUIDE ON HOW TO BE INVISIBLE IN LONDON, WINDMILLS: THE CASE STUDY OF BANGUI WINDMILLS and other titles
11 July / Sun 12:45 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

Best Shorts - Experimental/MTV:
ANG EBOLUSYON NG KASALANAN, ANG ROMANSA NI TINYENTE GIMO AND MARYA LABO, BINUDNGAN SANG KAMATAYON (FABRIC OF DEATH), BIYA (THE LONG SHOT), BIYAHILO, PONKAN and other titles
12 July / Mon 12:45 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

Best Shorts (Indie Potpourri):
ALAKDAN, ANG SANDALING SADYA NINA LIRE AT ISA, BANAAG, KALIEYAAN: DON’T THINK – JUST DRINK, MALIW, THE NOTEBOOK, WRITER’S BLOCK and other titles
16 July / Fri 12:45 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

Best Shorts – Nature, Man & the Environment:
PROJECT NOEL, MGA DAMGO (DREAMS), THE DAY WATER DISAPPEARED, THIS IS WHERE YOUR TAXES GO, WINDMILLS: THE CASE STUDY OF BANGUI WINDMILLS and other titles
15 July / Thu 12:45 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

Best Shorts (Love, Sex, Atbp):
ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG “OK LANG”, BABAE AKO, BANAAG, BY, HINAGAP AT GUNITA, INAMORATA, LAYA, WAN TU TRI, WANTED: RELIEF GOODS and other titles 13 July / Tue
12:45 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

Best Shorts (The City in Indie Cinema):
ANG MAGALING NA GALANG, ANGPAO (OFFERING), BALIKBALEN (THE HOMECOMING), CHICKAN ALA CARTE, HUNGKAG, KWITS, PEACE VALLEY, TAXI DRIVER, TRAPO, YAWYAW and other titles
14 July / Wed 12:45 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)


LVN TRIBUTE
KUNG AKO’Y MAHAL MO by Gregorio Fernandez (1960) - Opening Film
12 July / Mon 03:30 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

ALADIN by Vicente Salumbides (1946)
13 July / Tue 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

HARING KOBRA by Richard Abelardo (1951)
16 July / Fri 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

HIGIT SA LAHAT by Gregorio Fernandez (1955)
17 July / Sat 12:45 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

KUNDIMAN NG LAHI by Lamberto Avellana (1959)
17 July / Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

NUKSO NG NUKSO by Fred Daluz (1960) 18 July / Sun
12:45 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

SANDATA AT PANGAKO by F.H. Constantino (1961)
18 July / Sun 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

SUMPAAN by Susana de Guzman (1948)
15 July / Thu 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)

VICTORY JOE by Manuel Silos (1947)
14 July / Wed 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)


KIDS TREATS
ANDONG, ANGAN-ANGAN, DIAMANTE SA LANGIT, ROLYO & GABON
18 July / Sun 10:00 AM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)

BOSES by Ellen Ongkeko Marfil (from 12 up)
10 July / Sat 10:00 AM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)

DAYO by Robert Quilao (ages 5 up)
17 July / Sat 10:00 AM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)

DINIG SANA KITA by Mike Sandejas (for ages 12 up)
18 July / Sun 10:00 AM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

GULONG by Sockie Fernandez (from 12 up)
11 July / Sun 10:00 AM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

NERSERI by Vic Acedillo Jr. (from 12 up)
17 July / Sat 10:00 AM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

SI BANING, SI MAYMAY AT ANG ASONG SI BOBO by Milo Tolentino (for ages 7 up) Cinema One
10 July / Sat 10:00 AM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

UGAT SA LUPA, SI BOK AT TRUMPO, BLOGOG, TATANG & MY PET (from 12 up)
11 July / Sun 10:00 AM Bulwangang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)


ADDITIONAL SLOTS
EMIR by Chito Rono
17 July / Sat 10:00 AM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)


SPECIAL EVENTS
CONGRESS Day One (8AM to 5PM)
13 July / Tue 08:00 AM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

CONGRESS Day Two (8AM to 5PM)
14 July / Wed 09:00 AM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)

SINE TAKTAKAN Day One (2PM to 5PM):
Filmmakers of DONOR, HALAW, LIMBUNAN, MAGKAKAPATID, SAMPAGUITA, SI TECHIE SI TEKNOBOY AT SI JUANA B., TWO FUNERALS & SHORTS A Programme
15 July / Thu 02:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

SINE TAKTAKAN Day Two (2PM to 5PM):
Filmmakers of ANG PAGLILITIS NI ANDRES BONIFACIO, MAYOHAN, PINK HALOHALO, REKRUT, SIGWA, THE LEAVING, VOX POPULI & SHORTS B Programme
16 July / Fri 02:00 PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute

IFC INDIE FORUM
17 July/Sat 01:00 PM Silangan

BOOK LAUNCH: ANVIL
17 July/Sat 05:30 PM Silangan

EXHIBIT OPENING: JOHNNY DELGADO: Visual Artist
11 July / Sat 05:30 PM 3rd Floor Balcony

For ticket information & block sales,
please call CCP Box Office at 832 3704 or 832 1125 local 1406 & 1409.

Attack at Shakey's Katipunan likely due to warring frats, says U.P. Law Dean

At 6:45 p.m. on July 1, 2010 a group of four unknown assailants entered Shakey’s Katipunan and injured two members of the University of the Philippines (U.P.) College of Law Office of Legal Aid (OLA) team.

The team was having a dinner meeting when the assailants entered the restaurant. Using blunt weapons, the assailants attacked two of the legal aid team. They escaped through the front and side entrances of the restaurant less than two minutes later, leaving on a green old model Lancer whose plate number ended in 742, said Facebook blogger Ren Aguila who was a witness to the incident.

U.P. Dean Marvic Leonen believes that the attack may have been the result of a fraternity war between the Upsilon Sigma Phi and Sigma Rho fraternities, Aguila said. Dean Leonen is the first non-fraternity member UP Law dean since Dean Irene Cortes in the 1970s.

"Inside the party place/conference hall ng Shakey's. Parang may business meeting tapos may 2-3 guys na pumasok at sinaksak ang isang yuppie. Nagsuntukan bigla at nagtapunan ng weapons inside. Nasa ilalim na nga ng table yung karamihan. Buti walang natamaan. Nakakainis pa kasi po may group of policemen na kumakain sa loob, pero wala silang nagawa. Hindi ko po alam kung nahuli yung mga nanaksak, pero mukhang hindi yata," said Kurt Cendana on tweetlonger, an expanded twitter-style account service.

The team says that the assailants were unknown to them, but the assailants left behind one hood and several blunt weapons.

As of this writing, police are on the scene to conduct the investigation.

Bayan Muna files its first measure in the 15th Congress: a stronger Freedom of Information bill

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy A. Casiño today lined up with employees of various congressmen at the House of Representatives to himself re-file a stronger Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.

The key features of House Bill 133 – An Act to Ensure Public Access to Official Records, Documents and Any Other Information of Public Concern – includes absolute and mandatory access to matters of official information, public concern and public interest in specified cases and the refinement of the concept and operation of covered information in whatever form or nature, whether written, oral or visual, among others.

"As far as Congress is concerned, this, not the wang-wang or counter-flow issue, is the first acid test of the Aquino government's commitment to good governance," Casiño said.

In the explanatory note of HB 133, authors Casiño and fellow Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said that “transparency and accountability is founded on the people's right to information. By guaranteeing and laying down the procedures for the exercise of that right, this bill aims to ensure transparency and accountability in government and, ultimately, good and clean governance.”

"If the Aquino administration is serious in its platform of good governance, it should exert extra effort to have this bill passed. Considering that a similar proposal was already approved by the previous House, it would not be unreasonable to expect this to be approved within two to three months," Casiño said.

“Our FOI bill, is among the proposed measures that we will work hard to pass into law in the 15th Congress. We believe that this is a stronger bill compared to the measures in the previous Congress as we have, among others, strengthened the provisions on mandatory compliance (Section 5), provided a specific declassification of information clause (section 5k) and shortened the period for government agencies to disclose information requested (Section 9),” Casiño added.

Section 5. k) states that “All classified information contained in all government agency records that (1) are more than 25 years old, and (2) have been determined to have historical value shall be automatically declassified whether or not the records have been reviewed. Subsequently, all classified information in such records shall be automatically declassified no longer than 25 years from the date of its original classification.”

“The will simplify the limitations to “Except when it is clear that the purpose of the examination is to abet or promote or commit crime or wrongdoing or to engage in sheer and idle curiosity.” By the restatement of the exceptions to levels capable of ordinary understanding, this bill reduces instances of brash rejection of requests for access to official information and in the process stresses that the people can be trusted with information which in the first place they ought to know being the source of all government authority,” Casiño said.

The Diminishing Public Character of the University of the Philippines: Some Thoughts of an Alumna of Class 1970 on U.P. as the National University

(The Oblation at U.P. Philippine General Hospital

Photo by: Dr. Iggy Agbayani)

By Judy M. Taquiwalo
Faculty Regent
University of the Philippines

(Editor's note: The following article was originally rendered by Regent Taguiwalo in a Presentation to the UP Alumni Association 2010 UP Alumni Council Meeting June 25, 2010, Bahay Alumni, UP, Diliman, Quezon City and is uploaded here with her permission).

I belong to UP Class 1970 which is commemorating its 40th jubilee this year. I would like to share with you the wonderful news that I received my senior citizen card last February and am now looking forward to enjoying the full 12% VAT exemption starting July 6 when the expanded VAT law is implemented.

I would like to thank the UP Alumni Association for giving me this opportunity to look back to the time when we were young and strong and having senior moments was the farthest thing on our mind. .

What were some of the images and sounds of my undergrad days in UP Diliman The Catholic Chapel and UPSCA, the first organization I joined during my freshman year in Diliman; miniskirts and colored net stockings for the women, the shirt jack and pencil pants for men, British pop songs and pop groups with the Beatles leading the pack, Neil Armstrong announcing from the moon “ one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”, the national euphoria over Gloria Diaz selection as the first Filipina to be crowned Miss Universe, the earthquake which turned to ruins the Ruby Tower in Manila.

But there was uniqueness not only in the culture but also in the politics and mood of those times. There was massive disenchantment with the capitalist model of development which had put the market as the key to development and a premium on material goods and individualism. This disenchantment would partly account for the upsurge of social movements whose content and global magnitude was staggering: the anti Vietnam War movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s liberation movement and the student rights movement in universities worldwide.

In the University of the Philippines, a strong nationalist movement emerged. The Philippine Collegian with Miriam Defensor (now Santiago) the first woman editor of the paper, carried the expose of then Sen. Lorenzo Tanada on the Americanization of the university under President Carlos P. Romulo citing among others the differences in salary and housing between American visiting professors and Filipino UP faculty. The Collegian was also instrumental in exposing the collaboration between UP Los Banos and Dow Chemicals in experimenting with napalm which was used by the United States in the Vietnam war.

A strong democratization movement in the university also emerged in 1969 during the start of the term of Salvador P. Lopez as UP President. A general strike on February 4, 1969 , launched by the broadest alliance of all student organizations on campus led by the UP Student Council and the Council of Leaders and supported by a number of prominent members of the faculty, was successful in asserting major democratic demands. These included the recognition of all student organizations on campus and making faculty advisers as optional not a requirement, student management and control of funds of the Student Council and the Philippine Collegian; transparency in the financial transactions of the university and opening of the university’s books of accounts to the public, tenure for faculty and non-academic personnel, additional medical insurance for the UP constituents, the removal of several key UP officials including then University Secretary Iluminada Panlilio, offices for student organizations; among others. . According to the Philippine Collegian in its February 6, 1969 issue, President Lopez critiqued the colonial character of the Board of Regents and suggested that the Board should be primarily composed of faculty and students, instead of businessmen. ‘

These movements inside the University and the succeeding First Quarter Storm 1970 , the UP Diliman Commune in 1971 and martial law in 1972 would transform many in my generation of UP students , to reject a life of individualism and consumerism, for a life, in the midst of the masses of our people, of resistance to tyranny and foreign domination Many of my UP contemporaries would suffer torture and imprisonment while still others would die in various fighting fronts in our country during the long harsh night of the Marcos dictatorship.

Members of my UP generation were not the first, nor the last from the University who aspired to live up to the ideals of the University as social critic and the ideal of service to the nation as symbolized by the Oblation.

This brief history and context and my emphasis on UP as social critic and in the service of the nation frame my views on UP as the National University.

Through the years the University of the Philippines has been widely recognized as the country’s “premier state university” which highlighted the public character of the university and its high academic standards

With the passage of a new UP Charter in 2008 , the university has abandoned its description as the country’s premier state university and is now officially known as the national university. Removing the description “premier state university” and replacing it with national university, according to University officials, aims to highlight UP’s national presence, the breadth and scope of its academic offerings and to assert that UP is the best not only among state universities but among all higher education institutions of the country. On the other hand, the term national university and the loss of the designation of UP as a state university in the name actually calls attention to the diminishing public character of UP, a process which has accelerated in the past decade.

Some of the manifestations of the diminishing public character of the University are the transfer to the students of a larger part of the cost of their education through increased tuition and the imposition of various fees such as higher and/or new laboratory fees , joint ventures with big business, the selling of naming rights, the privatization of former university services such as the University Food Service and the UP Printery, contracting a private entity to set up laboratory, pharmacy and radiology inside the PGH compound in exchange for providing space to UP doctors for their private practice, the private management of university dorms are only some examples of the accelerating and diversified ways of privatization of the University of the Philippines.

(No to commecialization parking sign

at Yakal Residence Hall, U.P. Diliman

Photo by: Chanda Shahani)

You may ask, what’s wrong with these if they generate badly-need resources for UP? Let me share with you some of my thoughts on the negative impact of the ongoing process which is eroding the public character of UP as a state university.

1. Transferring more and more the burdens of resource generation to the students is going to change the profile of the student population of the university. It was already difficult during my time, when tuition was a low P185 per semester for a family like mine whose father was a school principal earning P300 per month to cope with the cost of education, it is so much more difficult at present for children of the middle class and the lower income class to enter UP with an average tuition of P1,000 per unit. The 2006 reformulated socialized tuition scheme projected only about 10% of new UP students would be covered by the free tuition with allowance. Some of my colleagues foresee the day when UP would be like Ateneo with majority of the students coming from higher income families and a minority of poor with scholarships.

2. The corporatization of the university structure and governance.

a. Already Section 24, “Management of Funds” of the UP Charter, designates representatives of big business as investment advisers to the university through the creation of a so-called “independent trust committee” composed of the UP President and representative each from the Bankers Association of the Philippines, the Investment Houses Association of the Philippines, the Trust Officers Association of the Philippines and the Financial Executive Institute of the Philippines. This independent trust committee, a new structure in the university, “shall provide the Board with direction on appropriate investment objectives and permissible investments with the view to preserving the value of the funds while allowing the University to earn a reasonable return thereon. The Charter has now institutionalized the University going into business as an important mission.
b. The criteria for the selection of the college Deans, the primary academic leaders of the various degree-granting units, now also place high emphasis on the “resource generating” capability of the nominees.
c. An increase in the number of Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents as well as Executive Assistants in the UP System administration has also been noted. A case in point is the transformation of the title of the UP General Counsel into the Vice President for Legal Affairs indicating perhaps the expanded role of the legal office not only in academic and disciplinal questions but in the matters of contracts and agreements with business entities.

3. The increase in the number of contractual workers of the university as non-academic but vital services necessary for running the university are being privatized. Contractual workers have no job security, limited benefits and in most cases are “discouraged” from forming or joining unions.
4. The trend towards developing greater dependence on the private sector, particularly big business and foreign corporations, in generating funds, rather than in more vigorous engagement with the state. The danger of this trend is the question of accountability: the private sector is basically accountable to its investors; the state is accountable to the public and individuals could be removed via elections.

For a number of us in the university, the most dangerous impact of the diminishing public character of the university is the erosion of the ideological mooring of service to the country and to the people among the students and among the faculty with the prominence being given to market rates as the standard for tuition and for salaries. Already, some quarters in the university have adopted “Iskolar para sa bayan” rather than Iskolar ng Bayan, a term which emerged during the height of martial law and which captures the fact that UP students are subsidized by the public and have an obligation to serve the people. This is not true for the term “iskolar para sa bayan” which can encompass Ateneo’s description of “person for others”

The salary of the UP faculty is constantly compared to the salary of Ateneo and La Salle professors, to emphasize the comparatively lower pay of the latter and/or to explain the resignation of a number of UP faculty. The emphasis on economic standards alone will never be sufficient to retain professors in the university as private corporations, big private universities charging astronomic tuition and transnational corporations will always have the capacity to pay more than UP.

Improvement of salary and benefits for UP faculty and personnel are of course necessary but not at the expense of the students and the erosion of the public character of the university that distinguishes it from Ateneo or La Salle. I have talked to retired UP professors who spent the best parts of their lives in the University and heard them recount why they were happy in the university and why they stayed. It was never about the money but of the joy of teaching bright students in an atmosphere of academic freedom and collegiality in a secular university with the highest stature in the country, Housing on campus, study privilege for children and the privilege to enjoy the acacia and the fire trees along the academic oval and were additional and important incentives.

It is difficult but not impossible to demand from the state higher subsidy to the University. The passage of the third Salary Standardization Law last 2009, which would bring about annual increases in salaries of government personnel in government agencies, was a product of intense and consistent lobbying by public sector workers including the university’s workers unions.

Tomorrow, June 26, is the 4th year of the abduction and disappearance of two UP students, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, two of the more than 100 victims of enforced disappearances during the Arroyo administration.

Let me therefore end by sharing an excerpt from the statement “Soul Searching, A Statement for the July 20, 2006 Activity for the Missing Students”

It is now easier to take stock of the conditions that shape a university’s soul. Unlike other institutions that are primarily driven by the inertia of capital and power, a university ideally enjoys relative isolation from these imperatives to allow it to fulfill its important
role as a social critic and repository of social memory. This historic role has been played by UP time and time again. Generations of UP students and faculty have lived these ideals of speaking the truth against power whether it be against foreign domination, corruption or tyranny. Many of the activists, nationalists, and intellectuals that help chart the destiny of this nation towards more democratic ideals came from the university. In an apt symbolism represented by the Oblation, countless have martyred themselves offering their lives for the ideal that the university stands – the courage to speak the truth when no one dares to, and to sacrifice one’s life for such convictions. It is the capacity of the university to witness for the truth that gains for it a soul. Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan are embodiments of this core of university traditions.”

In sum, the challenge to UP as the national university is to retain its soul by arresting the ongoing processes which are diminishing the public character of the university, by arresting the drift of UP Naming Mahal turning into UP Na Naging Mahal and to continue to call on its constituents that “UP ang galing mo, ialay sa bayan.

Post script: I have been requested prior to my presentation this morning to suggest concrete ways by which the UP Alumni Association can assist the university. I have two proposals which would contribute to help arrest the diminishing public character of the university:

1. For UPAA to assist the University in lobbying for a higher 2011 budget. The Administration is proposing an P18 billion budget. At the minimum, the 2011 budget should be higher than the 2010 UP budget.
2. For UPAA to assist the University in filing and lobbying for a bill that would earmark to UP a percentage of current revenues generated from corporate taxes on top of the regular budget allocation.