An email message from Joel Ariate on “Mendiola Narratives”

Editor's note: An email message from Joel Ariate on “Mendiola Narratives”: “Bilang ang nagpasimula at nagsagawa ng proyektong Mendiola Narratives sa Third World Studies Center, natutuwa akong narepost ang ilang interview ng nasabing proyekto sa site na ito (see: http://diliman-diary.blogspot.com/2011/05/diliman-videos-of-week-mendiola.html). Pero naging mas mahusay sana ito kung may pagbanggit sa pinagmulan nitong site, ang http://mendiolanarratives.blogspot.com/ kung saan naroon ang may mahigit tatlumpung iba pang panayam. Sa mga interesado sa paksang ito, iniimbitahan ko kayong tingnan ang buong nilalaman ng Mendiola Narratives. Maraming salamat.--Joel Ariate, University Researcher, Third World Studies Center, CSSP, U.P. Diliman.”

Diliman Video of the Week: News to Go - Howie Severino interviews nuclear energy advocate Rep. Mark Cojuangco 3/17/11

Former Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco has long been an advocate for using nuclear power in the Philippines. Howie Severino interviews Cojuangco about whether nuclear power is still a viable option for the country in light of the recent nuclear crisis in Japan.

Crap Awaits you, Candare or a Welcome Letter from a Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Volunteer

 (Various cats at the Bahay ng Alumni,

U.P. Diliman)

A welcome letter from a PAWS volunteer to Joseph Carlo Candare, the first to be convicted of animal cruelty in the Philippines. Please note that I AM NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society) or any related group/agency. 

Dear JC,

Read the rest here.

(Photos by: Chanda Shahani)

Greenpeace backs proposed bill to scrap nuclear from PH energy plans Says Philippine government should have already learned its lessons from Fukushima

Greenpeace yesterday called out in a press release addressed t to the country’s lawmakers to fast-track the passage of a Congress Bill that, once signed into law, will strike out nuclear energy from Philippine energy plans once and for all.

The Nuclear-free Pilipinas Bill is authored by Akbayan Representatives Walden F. Bello and Kaka J. Bag-ao, and was filed today at the House of Representatives. The proposed legislation directs the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to remove all options for nuclear in the Energy Reform Agenda, the Philippine Energy Plan for 2009-2030, and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2010-2016.

“The government must put all so-called ‘nuclear options’ in the dustbin where they belong. Greenpeace applauds Representatives Bello and Bag-ao for heeding the aspirations of the Filipino people to live in a safe and secure environment free from catastrophic nuclear risks. Nuclear power is extremely dangerous and prohibitively expensive. Keeping it in the country’s energy plans is akin to laying a fatal curse on present and future generations of Filipinos,” said Amalie Obusan, Climate and Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

“Greenpeace believes that the passage of this legislation will be the necessary counter that would effectively silence parties that are aggressively promoting their misguided nuclear ambitions. Although it has been silent in their quarters because of the ongoing Fukushima nuclear disaster, Filipinos sometimes have very short memories. It is highly probable that we have not yet seen the end of pro-nuclear legislative proposals. We need this law so that Filipinos can rest easy, confident that there will never be a Fukushima in our country,” she added.

No nuclear proposals are currently tabled in Philippine Congress. However, the Philippine Energy Plan still has provisions for nuclear energy. Meanwhile the Energy Reform Agenda directs the DOE to conduct researches and studies in aid of legislative and executive action for the operation of a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant by 2025. These seem to indicate that President Aquino is effectively supportive of laying the foundations for the entry of nuclear, despite his public declaration that nuclear will not be an option under his administration.

The Ultimate List of 15 Asian scientists to watch - Caesar Saloma

"Dr. Saloma obtained his BS, MS, and PhD degrees from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman), where he is now Professor of Physics and its Chancellor. In 2008, he received an ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award for his contributions to photonics and signal processing."


"As an advisor to the president on matters relating to science & technology, Dr. Saloma has received the Lingkod Bayan Award – the Presidential Award for Outstanding Public Service, from President Arroyo in 2008, the highest recognition given to a Philippine government employee."

Read the rest here.

Diliman Video of the Week: Call for Grad Protest vs. Avila

Pnoy chase along Univ. Ave. (April 17, 2011).wmv

DILIMAN blogged: Issue 15, page 366

 DILIMAN blogged: Issue 15, page 366: "Issue 15, page 366"

Diliman Videos of the Week: Mendiola Narrative Interviews

Video No. 1: Rene Ofreneo - Mendiola Narratives Interview

Rene Ofreneo is a professor of labor and industrial relations at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. He was a participant in the First Quarter Storm.

UP TWSC and SEPHIS
Interviewee: Rene Ofreneo
Interviewer: Joel F. Ariate Jr.
Videographer: Alleson D. Villota

Video No. 2: Miriam Coronel Ferrer - Mendiola Narratives Interview

Miriam Coronel Ferrer is an associate professor of political science at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. She has extensive ties with progressive social movements.

UP TWSC and SEPHIS
Interviewee: Miriam Coronel Ferrer
Interviewer: Joel F. Ariate Jr.
Videographer: Alleson D. Villota

Video No. 3: Fidel Nemenzo - Mendiola Narratives Interview 

Fidel Nemenzo is professor of mathematics at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. During the last years of the Martial Law, he was shot in the chest in one of the rallies held to protest the violent dispersal of an earlier demonstration in Mendiola.

UP TWSC and SEPHIS
Interviewee: Fidel Nemenzo
Interviewer: Joel F. Ariate Jr.
Videographer: Alleson D. Villota

Video No. 4: Randy David - Mendiola Narratives Interview 

Randy David is professor of sociology at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. He used to be a television host of public affairs programs. He writes a regular column, "Public Lives" for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

UP TWSC and SEPHIS
Interviewee: Randolf "Randy" David
Interviewer: Joel F. Ariate Jr.
Videographer: Alleson D. Villota
Videographer: Mary Ann Joy R. Quirapas

Mothballed BNPP more modern and sturdier than the Fukushima Plants — Cojuangco

DAGUPAN CITY, March 31 — The mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) is more modern and a lot sturdier than the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants in Japan which are now showing signs of emitting radiation after it was hit by a tsunami as an aftermath of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Sendai, Japan last May 11.

This was disclosed by former Rep. Mark Cojuangco, who appears to be the top exponent for the revival of the BNPP as well as the establishment of additional nuclear plants in the country to plug the impending power crisis that may resort in long power blackouts in the Philippines soon.

He told newsmen in Pangasinan on Wednesday that had the BNPP been the one that was installed at Fukushima, Japan, there would not have been any disaster that would happen even if it was hit by a tsunami.

Read the rest here: Mothballed BNPP more modern and sturdier than the Fukushima Plants — Cojuangco

Relocation set for QC residents residing in faultline area

QUEZON CITY, May 1 (PIA) - The Quezon City government has ordered the immediate relocation of 42 families whose houses stand on an area transecting the West Valley Fault Line at Gen. del Pilar St. in Barangay Bagong Silangan.

The QC officials directed the QC disaster risk management council to start sending notices to the affected families to advise them to voluntarily vacate the area, which is more vulnerable to ground rupture and potential landslides should there be an earthquake generated by the fault system.

Aside from the notice, the city government will also be preparing waivers for homeowners resisting the order. “Kung ayaw nilang umalis sa kabila ng ating mga panawagan, marapat lamang na papirmahin natin sila ng waiver na walang sagutin sa kanila ang gobyerno,” QC Mayor Herbert Bautista said.

The city government is set to file an application with the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the relocation of the affected families.

Once vacated, the city intends to plant the area with trees to determine ground and soil movements.

The order for the relocation of the 42 families was based on the recommendation made by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) during an inspection of the traces of the fault line at Barangays Bagong Silangan and Payatas.

To date, the city has already identified at least 900 property owners residing within the five meter- wide buffer zone recommended by PHIVOLCS.

Given the possible extent of the damage that QC would incur during the movement of the fault system, Mayor Bautista ordered the creation of the West Valley Fault Task Group to ensure public safety within the recommended buffer zone.

Balikatan 2011 K-9 Training

Balikatan 2011 is underway on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Tech Sgt. Elicia Summerville takes us to Clark Airfield to see training that involves members of the four-legged kind.

(Source: http://www.usarpac.army.mil/bk11/)

Balikatan 11 Highlights and Marine Convoy Training in the Philippines

Video No. 1: Balikatan 11 Highlights



Balikatan 2011 was held April 5-15 in the Philippines. About 6,000 U.S. servicemembers trained with the Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel during the joint bilateral military humanitarian assistance training exercise.

http://www.usarpac.army.mil/bk11

Video No. 2: Marine Convoy Training in the Philippines



Balikatan 2011 is underway on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The exercise is an annual event that hones the skills of service members from both the U.S. and Philippines.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/user/marines)

Guam National Guard in Philippine exercise

120 soldiers from the Guam Army National Guard are deployed to the Philippines for exercise - Balikatan -- at Fort Magsaysay in Luzon - Guam units are working alongside U.S. Marines, the Philippine Army and U.S. Army units from Korea on how to deal with injuries in IED attacks. PI correspondent Mike Cohen files this report.

http://rtvm.gov.ph - PHIL-US Balikatan Exercises

Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija
13 April 2011

President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed the show of cooperation between the Philippine and United States military forces during the Balikatan Exercises 2011 in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

Upon arrival, the President was presented with live-fire convoy exercises and mass casualty rescue demonstrations performed by Filipino and American soldiers. They used real bullets, bombs and army rescue vehicles to exhibit actual military operations. President Aquino rode and inspected a B300 army truck after the show.

He then proceeded to a dialogue with the 7th Infantry Division (ID) soldiers and the Special Operations Command troops. The Commander-in-Chief said that the administration is striving hard to provide the needs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by providing a housing program, combat pay increment and health benefits to military men. He also reported that the Philippine Navy will soon acquire one of the three Hamilton class cutters from the U.S. Coast Guard and that there will be additional long-range helicopters and multi- purpose attack water crafts to be used in the Palawan coast and Sulu Sea area. The President said that the government is supporting the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) "Bayanihan" to promote peace between MILF and AFP.

(Source: http://rtvm.gov.ph)