My heart bleeds for the people of Brgy. Bagong Silangan, QC

If you have been watching the news since Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) wrecked havoc in much of eastern Metro Manila, you have certainly heard about Brgy. bagong Silangan. Even as you read this, much of the area remains submerged in knee-deep mud. But that's the least of their problems. Hundreds (if not thousands) of Brgy. Silangan residents, including children and elderly, are staying in the Bagong Silangan High School (who had become their evacuation center).

Most, if not all of them, had their homes washed out by Ondoy last September 26. They've lost evry thing, evry single possession that they've worked hard for. About 50 residents lost their lives as well. In fact, both the evacuees and the dead can be found side-by-side at the BSHS. When I learned of this disaster the other Saturday, I became restless. After all, Brgy. Bagong Silangan is close to me.

For CMC students who had their CWTS in summer of 2008, you should know what I'm talking about. More than half of our class (under Prof. Rachel Khan) worked for Gawad Kalinga at that time. We were assigned to the GK Community in Brookside - one of the eight puroks in brgy. bagong Silangan. Since houses had already been built there, we only had to improve the place by repainting and "beautifying" it.

It was May 12 2008, our last day at the area. We are having a thanksgiving/farewell party when strong rains abruptly ended the fun at around 1PM. An hour later, Ate Marife, a resident of Sta. Clara St., told me to leave the place. She told me that since the rain is so strong, the nearby creek might overflow which might cause a huge flood in the area. I obliged and left, even if most of my groupmates are still enjoying "Prinsesa ng Banyera."

A few hours after I got home, the unimaginable happened. Floods high enough to submerge the residents' entire homes appeared, forcing the residents and even my groupmates to seek refuge in the rooftops. In a visit a month later, I saw first-hand how easy it ease to lose everything (TVs, DVD players, karaokes) in a snap. And mind you, construction worker lang naman ang trabaho ng kanilang mga family breadwinners.

Yes, it is easy to destroy - but it takes months, if not years, to stand again. My heart bleeds for them.

Despite the disaster, we still have lots of things to be thankful for

The rain has stopped and the storm has passed. As we already know, life would never be the same for many of our kababayans. Some of them lost their loved ones while the fate of those missing are still unknown.

Meanwhile, thousands of families have lost their homes and hard-earned properties. The total number of casualties is yet to be determined while the total cost of damages is yet to be accounted for. What we do know is that the extent of human suffering we are all witnessing is totally unprecedented.

Up to now, many of our kababayans are hanging for their survival at their roofs (lest they'll be swept away by flood water). According to PAG-ASA, the amount of rainfall dumped by Typhoon Ondoy yesterday was the most the nation has experienced in 42 years. Before we forget, most of the situational reports that we are being fed with are coming almost solely from the Greater Manila Area.

We don't know yet how our counrtymen in Northern, Central and Southern Luzon bore the brunt of Ondoy. Oh, and what about the plight of those in evacuation centers (in not-so-good conditions, we must remember)?

Since our family lives in one of the higher points here in Quezon City, we never experienced getting submerged in the flood - despite the torrential rains. The most disturbance that Ondoy had caused in our household is the 14-hour brownout that we had to endure. Yes, I bemoan the fact that I wasn't able to see Chris Tiu on TV nor update my online accounts yesterday. And I wasn't able to attend the OpinyOn too. But who am I to complain?

How about you? the fact that you can read this post means that you still have a computer with you - with Internet access at that! Just imagine those who can't even use their cellphones to tell their relatives how they are. The time you spent in reading this article also means that you have some spare time, unlike those who had spent countless hours pondering how to survive.
Well, what I'm saying is that we still have a lot of things to be thankful for.

If we can, in one way or another, help those at need, please do so now. The various ways you can help can be seen on TV. That's the best thing we can do right now.

Interview with UPD USC Chair Titus Tan

This morning, we have finally finished writing the Titus Tan* feature story (for Prof. Rara's J111 class). The article was exceptionally long: it reached 1,300 words. In fact, there are some parts of of the interview that has been left out like his thoughts on the perceived youth apathy. The entire story would be posted here soon. The story was titled “Titus Tan: A Student Leader, A Young Achiever.”For now, here are excerpts:

“Recalling the day of triumph, Tan said he was elated by the results. “Efforts had paid off. I can't say though that it's a personal thing. I don't focus in the effect of an event on me personally. I look at the bigger picture. Since many of my KAISA party mates won, the students have clearly supported our platform,” he said. The cheers and pats on the shoulder can't last too long, however. “There are the expectations. There's the pressure. You have to fulfill what you promised,” Tan added. ...

Tan let out a smile when told that science and politics seems to be “too far apart.” Asked what being a student leader means to him, he said it is synonymous to “being given an opportunity to express one’s style of executing a task.” “But always keep in mind that being in a position of influence, (a leader) must be cognizant of his actions and use it to promote a cause – and your style of leadership,” he explained.”

*Titus C.K. Tan is the current chairperson of the UP Diliman University Student Council. Elected last February with 49% of the total votes cast, his term would end in May.

Withdrawing from the presidential race for Noynoy is pure BS!

Last Wednesday, Noynoy Aquino finally announced his bid for the presidency – exactly forty days after former Pres. Corazon Aquino’s death and amisdt all the media frenzy. He made the unsurprising moving after going into a much-publicized “spiritual retreat” at a convent in Zamboanga. His ardent supporters claim that since Noynoy is the son of Cory and Ninoy, he is in a good position to carry the leadership torch once held by his parents.

Some had even argued that the outpouring of public syumpathy seen during Pres. Cory’s wake and funeral march is enough to carry him to the presidency. Before getting crushed in this mad stampede otherwise known as the “Noynoy for President” clamor, consider the following things:

1) Who are those running this campaign? Looking closely, one would see the traditional politicians like Franklin Drilon, Florencio Abad among others. 2) What exactly are Noynoy’s credentials? It is very important to separate him from the things his parents did. 3)Has he crafted any bill of national significance during his 12 years as a lawmaker?

What about the likes of Jejomar Binay, Ed Panlilio and Mar Roxas? They withdrew their respective presidential bids to give way to Noynoy kuno. Why shouldn’t we believe this crap? They’re not among those running ahead in the surveys. In short, they are sure/sore losers. They use the “I’m-not-running-to-support-Noynoy” line to portray themselves as selfless politicians when in fact, what they’re doing is merely a face-saving act.

Korina to Noynoy: "Kung Maibabalik ko Lang"

Last Monday, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, the erstwhile Liberal Party standard bearer, announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential derby to give way to Noynoy. The decision must be very painful for Roxas. Talks of a future presidential run began as early as 2004, when he topped the senatorial race with 18 million votes.

His assumption of the LP presidency in 2007 was widely seen as a decisive step toward his 2010 bid. By late 2008, he began airing his “Murang Gamot” info-mercial. He had also beefed up his campaign team with former Arroyo officials like Florencio Abad, Avelino Cruz and Cesar Purisima.

This year, Roxas flooded the public with his “Padyak” TV ad. Then, there's his very public engagement in with Korina Sanchez. Indeed, his now-scrapped presidential bid has been years in the making. Ironically, Roxas never had any traction in the surveys (# 5 in the latest Pulse Asia poll). In fact, he has reportedly spent P500 million on TV ads from October 208 to August 2009! Then, there's Korina.

Imagine, she set aside her 25 year broadcasting career just to marry Roxas! Now, her upcoming October 23 wedding has lost much of its luster to the voters. So, her illusions of being the nation's First Lady are gone. I assume she's now singing “Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang” - to Noynoy Aquino.

How will the UP Community react to a possible case of A (H1N1) infection?

While I am writing this, La Salle-Taft had just confirmed its 3rd case of A (H1N1) infection. As a preventive measure, the campus would be closed until June 14 so that DLSU personnel can disinfect first their premises. The original carrier of the disease is a Japanese exchange student. The next two victims were her dorm mates.

In the mean time, the UP Diliman administration had announced the postponement of class opening from June 9 to June 16 “in view of extension of registration, and the DOH advisory on A (H1N1).”

A DLSU-like situation isn’t impossible in UP Diliman. First, we have hundreds of foreign and exchange students here. Second, we have many students who had just arrived from overseas vacations. What about those who had attended conferences and lectures abroad? In case someone tests positive for this dreaded disease here, the effect can be much worse.

First UP students, seldom stay in one area throughout the day because of our classes! Also, our campus area is so big! What about the residential areas in our perimeter? Because of the student’s mobility and UP’s big population, an ordinary student can probably get to mingle with a hundred or so people in a day.

In case of a confirmed infection, how will the UP administration react? Will they opt to close down the student’s home unit (e.g. the School of Economics) - or all buildings where the student went? What about contact tracing? Are you telling me that they have a way of knowing who the student’s seatmates in CASAA were when he ate there?

What about the Infirmary where the victim will be most likely sent initially? Will they close the down the facility? Better yet, how will the Health Service respond to this? What about the houses in RIPADA? Will they be asked temporarily to prevent a community outbreak? What role will the student leaders play in this case?

We’re not saying that this would happen in happen in UP Diliman, or in any UP unit for that matter. But, as they say, it is better to be prudent.

My Take on the CheChe Lazaro vs. GSIS controversy

Last week, all of us heard about the wiretapping raps against journalism icon CheChe Lazaro by a high ranking Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). In fact, a Pasay City court judge had ordered an arrest warrant against Ms Lazaro. As a future journalist myself, I do believe that this case is only meant to derail Ms Lazaro and company from doing investigative work. Anyway, I cannot really discuss the case’s merits because first, I’m not a lawyer – and second, there’s the rule on sub judice.

Let’s just turn our attention to another important fact – the accountability to the public of our government officials (both elected and appointed). There’s an old rule that says: “public office is public trust – officials must be accountable to the public at all times.” Accountability means ‘kapapanagutan’ in Filipino. In essence, it states that government officials must always be transparent in their conduct – and that they can be held liable for their actions. It is very convenient to forget this principle, especially when THEY seem to be more loyal to their patron in Malacanang than to the Filipino people.

Take the case of GSIS vs. CheChe Lazaro. Probe has aired a documentary, “Perwisyong Benepisyo,” last November 2008. It features the sorry plight of meager-paid public school teachers in connection to their GSIS benefits. Obviously, the teachers’ groups merely wanted the said government financial entity (led by Winston Garcia) to explain to them how it handles their money. It’s a legitimate concern because after all, GSIS contributions are already deducted even before the teachers get their paychecks.

GSIS officials must be compelled to explain the matter to its contributors because they are the only ones mandated to shed light on the teachers’ concerns. There’s so much public interest involved here since we are talking about public money! Aren’t the teachers entitled to know what the GSIS does to their money? The moment these teachers, and every Filipino for that matter, demand answers from the government – someone should go out in public and explain. It is because the public has the right to know!

The 1987 is very clear about it: Art. III, Sec. 7: The right of the people to information on matters of public shall be recognized… Members of the media, Ms Lazaro included, serves as the mediator between the public and their leaders. This may sound cliché to mass communication students, but the media’s role is to serve the governed (not the governors), to comfort the afflicted, and to give voice to the voiceless.

Just like any journalist, Ms Lazaro knew the importance of getting the other side of the story – hence, the Probe exerted all efforts to get the GSIS to talk. The GSIS declined to be interviewed because ‘based on experience,’ stories aired by Lopez-owned entities have always been biased against them. This is very arbitrary on their part and clearly, the GSIS is only using its past conflict with the Lopezes over MERALCO as an excuse for not talking at all. Non-transparency in government makes it conducive for corruption. Now we ask GSIS’s Winston Garcia and their VP for Public Relation Ella Villacerina: IS THERE SOMETHING TO HIDE? #