An Open Letter to U.P. President Alfredo E. Pascual

An open letter to UP President Alfredo E. Pascual

Dear Sir:

The baybayin characters on the Sablay of our graduates read as “upa”. This would connote that the iskolars ng bayan are for HIRE upon their graduation, when they are suppose to prioritize service to the nation. Baybayan characters are not the same as our Abakada alphabet where each letter is a basic sound or phoneme, either a vowel or a consonant. In baybayin, which is a syllabic writing system, each character is already a syllable. It seems that there was no in-depth study in using baybayin characters on emblems. Somebody just thought to translate the English letters “U” and “P” to the Pilipino abakada “U” and “Pa” and then to the baybayin characters of syllables “U” and “Pa”. This was reverse engineering at its worst and without any historical basis whatsoever, most definitely not worthy of a UP scholar.

In the military, we revere symbols, especially those made with the blood of our heroes. A well-known usage of the baybayin characters is that found in the flags and emblems of the Katipunan in the 1890s, which bear the baybayin script Ka Ka Ka the acronym for Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang Katipunan. They DO NOT stand for the first letter “K” but for the first Syllable “Ka” of the three words. We are often confused into thinking that the symbol is the same as the letter “Ka” in our Abakada. The Abakada is an indigenized Latin alphabet of the Tagalog language, created by Lope K. Santos in 1940. During the Philippine Revolution against Spain, THERE WAS NO Pilipino alphabet then and the baybayin character “Ka” stands for the FIRST SYLLABLE of Katipunan. Therefore, to “abbreviate” words using baybayin, the character of the first syllable of the word is used.

The baybayin characters on the Sablay are the acronym for Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. The first syllable of “Unibersidad’ and the baybayin script for “U” on the Sablay is correct. The first syllable for “Pilipinas” is “pi” but in the Sablay the character there is for “pa”. A tuldik must be placed on the “pa” character to change it to “pi”.

Since 1990, when the Sablay was first used, we have been parading our graduates for the world to see, carrying the word “UPa”, a tagalog word for “Hire”. Sadly, this does not speak well of UP.

Eliseo M. Rio Jr. (UP Vanguard ’65)

Diliman Video of the Week: "Paglipad"

PAGLIPAD
A film by Sonny Lim Jr.
Starring Kris Crismundo and Joey Amad
Assistant Director: Christel Jade De Jesus
Production Assistants: Cess Lapitan , Marc Lino Abila
Special thanks: Hussian Rosalejos Genilyn Abanilla Mr. Walter Labajo

This is a tragic short film about a young woman who runs away from home only to meet a homeless man who becomes her true love. Sadly, he ends her life so that she can be set free. But at the end, what lies in store for her?

Official Selection - Ika-22 gawad CCP for Alternative Film & Video

Finalist - 7th PWU Art Film Contest

Screenings: Siete Shorts - Lyceum of the Philippines University

A Day of Shame for U.P. Mindanao by Eufremio T. Rasco, Jr.

PhThis is an essay by U.P. Mindanao Research head Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr. on the illegal uprooting of the Bt Eggplant samples last December 17-18, 2010 while everyone was at downtown Davao for the Kasadya lantern parade.

This is addressed to the City Government of Davao and the UP Mindanao administration and students.

This essay's link (http://www.scribd.com/doc/45672138/A-Day-of-Shame-for-UP-Mindanao) was emailed to the Facebook Page of the Diliman Diary by Mr. Sam Sanchez.

PERSPECTIVE

December 17, 2010: A Day of Shame for UP Mindanao

by Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr.

Few considered it an important issue. For the first time in the history of the 100 year-old university, a scientific experiment, the symbol of UP’s academic tradition, was destroyed upon the order of the honorable mayor of Davao City.

The order is unjustifiable. It was based on half-truths and exaggerations manufactured by the City Agriculturist. UP Mindanao took pains to clarify all of these directly and indirectly to the City Mayor, in newspapers and in various public fora. But the explanations fell on deaf ears. UP Mindanao pleaded for more time to explain; this was summarily denied.

Even if the City Agriculturist’s claims were true, it could be argued that the local government could not justify the destruction of the experiment. There was no imminent danger to life or the environment that might justify a drastic local government action on an activity that is officially permitted by the national government. The basis of the order, in the final analysis, was that UP Mindanao failed to post a notice in 1 out of 4 places in Davao City where it is supposed to, as a condition for granting a national government permit to do the experiment. The punishment, if warranted, would have been to revoke the permit. This could only be decided by the Bureau of Plant Industry, the organization that issued the permit. But the permit had not been revoked; BPI had not been asked by anyone to revoke the permit.

The order was carried out, in full view of the leadership of UP Mindanao, and by the same people who worked hard to set up the experiment, all of whom knew that the order was at best questionable, if not outright illegal.

Who gave the command to destroy on site? It was not even the City Agriculturist, the man who

was sent to carry out the order. She was an associate professor, a member of the Institutional

Biosafety Committee (IBC) of UP Mindanao -- the same IBC, by the way, that was remiss in posting the controversial notice.

The role of the IBC at that stage of the experiment was to monitor the procedures to ensure that they comply with BPI’s (the regulatory body’s) conditions for granting the permit to do the experiment. If the experiment was compliant, it was IBC’s duty to make sure that no one illegally interfered with it. If it was not compliant, it was IBC’s duty to report this to BPI. But the experiment was compliant; BPI, the official body to whom the IBC reports, said so in an official certification that everyone knew exists.

But one member of IBC decided that it is her role to carry out the order of the City Mayor, even without consulting the rest of the committee. In a fit of sadism, she asked the young researcher who worked so hard for the experiment, to destroy her own work while a noisy mob of anti-GMO advocates cheered. It is a spectacle that I will never forget.

While the rape of the university tradition’s symbol was taking place, most of the university’s constituents were in downtown Davao City 20 km away, participating in the annual parade of Christmas lanterns, even as they were alerted earlier in the day that the order was about to be carried out, and that their presence could help prevent the virtual invasion of UP Mindanao. Few cared. Those who do and were present in the experimental site, did little to stop the invasion. The project leader of the experiment, the UP Mindanao faculty who should be most concerned, was hundreds of kilometers away, enjoying an early Christmas break…

December 17, 2010 permanently tarnished the University of the Philippine’ self-image as a family of fearless, principled advocates of social change and a bastion of righteousness in the academic world. This image, recently enhanced by the standoff with the Supreme Court over a plagiarism issue, was lost in UP Mindanao.

On December 17, 2010, the name UP Mindanao has assumed a derogatory meaning. It is too

embarrassing to print what this meaning may be. We will forever carry this badge of shame. 

A former UP President once rhetorically asked: Does UP Mindanao deserve to be called UP? Many of us questioned this skepticism. But he may be right, after all.

Music: AZIMbanD: Tales of the Enslaved OFW Diaspora, the Love of Engkantos, EDSA and the Vices of Students

Editor's note: The Diliman Diary has received today several audio files from Glenmore Banres, Jr. of the AZIMbanD who asked us to post his band's works on this blog. We are doing so (in mp3 format), including their covering email which was sent to us:

Hi Sir/Maam,

We are the azim band the Independent Musician ,please help our song to play @ your campus radio/dZup

A song called "Alipin" this song relates about OFW and also here in our country"mga katulong sa sariling bayan".

And also "Silakbo" this song also relates about love affair of "Engkanto".

And last song In the name of Republic this song relates about EDSA story"fun".

And pahabol Estubisyo song = ito po ay para sa mga estudyanteng maraming bisyo

Many thanks !

Mabuhay ang U.P. Diliman ! dzup am radio ...

AZIMbanD

Band members:

Genmore Banres, Jr./rhythmguitar/lyricist/voxx
William Pedrosa/tambol
Abet Cabia/bass/voxx
Val Santos/guitar

To listen to the songs, just click on the widgets below:

"Alipin"

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

"Silakbo"

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

"EDSA" & "Estubisyo"

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

Mayweather apologizes for Controversial racist rant

(Source: http:///www.wikipedia.org)

Controversial boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has apologized for his racist remarks against seven-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather said. “I want to apologize to everybody. They felt it was a racist comment that came from me. I don’t have a racist bone in my body, you know. I love everybody. Some of my guys are Muslims. Some of my guys are Jews. Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Mexicans, whites, it doesn’t matter. There is nothing but love in my heart, you know what I’m saying?" (Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-mayweatherapology090410).

According to the website, Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/) from July 18, 2005 through June 2, 2008, Mayweather was rated by The Ring magazine as the number 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Mayweather has won nine world boxing championships in five different boxing weight classes. For his achievements he was named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1998 and 2007; Best Fighter ESPY Award 2007, 2008 and currently 2010; BWAA Fighter of the Year 2007 by Boxing Writers Association of America; ESPN.com Fighter of the year 2007; The Ring Magazine event of the year 2007, 2008; and currently The Ring Magazine comeback of the year 2009.

The Diliman Diary earlier uploaded a Youtube.com video on September 4, 2010 showing Mayweather working himself up into a racism-laden frenzy against Pacquiao who currently holds the distinction of being the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world; a title Mayweather seeks to usurp through trash-talking and maybe even actual boxing (http://diliman-diary.blogspot.com/2010/09/floyd-mayweathers-anti-pinoy-racist-and.html) .

Announcement: Smile now! Professor Eduardo A. Morato, Jr. launches humorous new business book, "Customer Zoo."

Announcement:

15 March 2010

Greetings from the ACE Center for Entrepreneurship and Management Education Inc (ACEME)!

Events of the past year and early this year have overwhelmed our country and our lives. It made us realize how tough life can be. But no matter how difficult life is, it even makes us Filipinos be humorous out of every situation. And this is what makes the burden lighter.

In keeping with life’s humor, I decided to drop, for a while, my serious academic, civic and corporate demeanor. As they say, when life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand
reasons to smile. My latest creation, "Customer Zoo," hopes to give you something to smile about while realizing what entrepreneurs have to deal with when it comes to the eccentricities of their customers. The
"Customer Zoo" is a collection of humorous, though sometimes satirical, vignettes of transmutated customer species who have evolved, and continue to evolve, as gadflies and butterflies, chameleons and lions, chimpanzees and busy bees. There is the loyal customer as dog and the sneaky customer as snake. And more…

Join me on March 25, 2010 at the Ateneo Professional Schools Bldg., Rockwell Drive, Makati City at 3PM as I unveil my latest and so far, the most humorous project yet. The event would certainly be more
meaningful with your presence. For confirmations, please get in touch with the ACEME office (c/o Amy Reyes or Netski Pinili) at 8928241, 8937795, 4073806 and 4076841.

Thank you very much.


Prof. Eduardo A. Morato, Jr., DPA
Chairman
ACE-ME
--

Contact:

Amy A. Reyes
Program Associate
ACE-ME, Inc.
tel. nos. 892-8241, 407-3806
fax. # 893-7795
email: amy.reyes@aceme.com.ph
website: http://www.aceme.com.ph/

UP College of Medicine Alumni write President Roman on Student Regent Charisse B. Bañez's eligibility to vote for UP PGH Executive Director selection and other issues

The Diliman Diary is posting below a copy of an email sent to U.P. President Emerlinda R. Roman on Sunday, January 31, 2010 by Dr. Silverio Cabellon, Jr., Chairman of The University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society of America (UPMASA) on the issue of the eligibility of the U.P. Student Regent Charisse B. Bañez to vote last December 18, 2009 in the U.P. Board of Regents meeting and subsequent BOR meetings thereafter.

Copies of this email were also furnished by Dr. Cabellon to the Diliman Diary, Senator Mar Roxas, Alumni Regent Fred Pascual, Faculty Regent Judy Taguiwalo, and Student Regent Charisse B. Bañez, among others.

To highlight or even dramatize the importance of the presence of the Student Regent in the affairs of the U.P. Board of Regents, we are also embedding below a video from http://www.youtube.com made in 2009:



THE LETTER TO PRESIDENT ROMAN DATED JANUARY 31, 2010


Honorable Emerlinda R. Roman
President
University of the Philippines

Dear President Roman,

May I share the following observations regarding the "Statement on the Status of the Student Regent published in the University of the Philippines Website dated Friday, January 29, 2010. http://www.up.edu.ph/features.php?i=171

I believe that Ms. Charisse Bernadine Bañez is qualified and is the bonafide Student Regent at this time. Her leave of absence status still needs to be determined. Before I put forth my argument that her leave status needs still to be determined may I observe that there are two sentences in the "Status Statement" that are inconsistent. These statements are:

Statement 1 - "No application for leave of absence was actually filed by Ms. Banez, pursuant to University rules.

Statement 2 - "On 21 January 2010, the Dean of the UPLB CAS wrote to the lawyer of Ms. Banez disapproving the application for LOA of Ms. Banez because:

• it was filed well beyond the period for such applications, which ended on November 17, 2009;
• it was not accompanied by the approval of her adviser or parents, nor by clearance from her College;
• the reason for LOA was not clear nor adequately explained. "

The second statement is inconsistent with the first statement because if there is no application for a leave of absence how can the Dean of the UPLB CAS write the lawyer of Ms. Banez disapproving an "application". Is there or is there no "application". We need a clarification on this point.

Say that there was an application filed after the 17th of November, what rule or policy of the University promulgates that such a leave of absence should be filed strictly on or before the 17th of November. To stick to a 17th of November deadline is contrary to the statement in the website states and I quote"

"Article IX, section 7 provides for grounds to consider the position of SR-elect or the incumbent SR vacant, to wit:

• permanent disqualification from the university;
• incapacity to enroll or file an LOA the following semester;
• death, illness or any other cause which prevents him/her from discharging functions.

The "following semester" is still extant because on the current UP academic calendar the "following semester" ends March 2010. Student Regent Banez has all the time to file a leave of absence until March 2010 and does not have to meet a 17th of November deadline.

On the statement that "it was not accompanied by the approval of her adviser or parents, nor by clearance from her College; " Article 400 of the University of the Philippines Code (2006) states that "Leave of absence shall be applied in writing. The application, indicating the reason for the leave and the period which must not exceed one academic year, shall be presented to the faculty member concerned for appropriate action and shall be subject to approval by the Dean. The Dean shall notify the University Registrar and the parents or guardian of every student granted leave of absence.

There was no need to present it to a faculty member as she was not attending classes and it is the Dean who needs to approve or disapprove it.

There is no requirement per Article 400 that the student regent's request for a leave of absence be accompanied by the approval of her adviser or parents, nor by clearance from her College. The requirement is "The Dean shall notify the University Registrar and the parents or guardian of every student granted leave of absence." according to Article 400 of the University Code.

As to the issue of reason for leave, let me cite the obvious reason why she needs to go on a leave of absence. They are found in Codified Rules for Student Regent Selection

"ARTICLE IX. General Provisions

Section 1. The Student Regent-select must resign from any position of responsibility in any student or community organization and/or student council and student publication.


Section 2. The Student Regent-select must not be permanently disqualified from the University. However, the Student Regent-select is advised to file a leave of absence (LOA) to devote his/her time in the fulfillment of his/her duties and responsibilities.

The above considerations, for the sake of fairness, need to be considered in determining the status of the student regent.

Therefore her leave of absence status still needs to be determined and that she is the bona fide occupant of the position of Student Regent of the University of the Philippines.


Yours Respectfully ,


Silverio Cabellon, Jr., M.D.
Class 72A, UP College of Medicine
Chair, Board of Governors
UPMASA