Office of the Student Council

Reinstate the Five-Day Class Week

2007-08-20T02:15:00.000-07:00

by the UP Visayas Cebu College Student Council

In all its colleges, the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) is implementing a four-day class week. This scheme enjoins class schedules to run straight from Tuesdays through Fridays, imposing a strict man date not to have classes on Mondays.

Since the reduction of the number of schooldays from five days to four this semester, regular classes in UPV Cebu College start as early as 7:00AM and some end at 7:00PM.

Belt-tightening

Apparently, the purpose of the UP administration’s initiation of the four-day school week is to save money and cut expenditures short.

With Monday bearing the “strictly no class” mandate, they were certain that the costs for energy consumption, as well as the teachers’ pay, will be lessened—that is, if no make-up classes or other activities are made.

On a dialogue with the UP Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Diana Aure, she said that the rationale for the switching to this schedule is to provide a longer weekend (Saturday to Monday) for the students to be with their families, especially those residing outside the campus or city.

A cost-saving idea we can’t afford

The aforementioned reasons from the administration clearly show that their academic considerations for switching to a compressed school week are usually only an after-thought.

Hence, we question the quality of education affixed with the university’s austerity measures and cost cutting. The grim implications and upshots of this shortened class week are stated herein:

1. Students have less time to complete their next day’s home-work, since classes usually start early and end late.

2. The successive school-days, without any breather at all, only make the students tired, and not necessarily better learners.

3. Some students have three successive subjects, which only drains their cognitive energies.

4. Inconvenient schedules like 11:30AM to 1:00PM classes, which are timed during lunch breaks, also hound the students.

Thus, it only shows that the adoption of this new class week schedule, without prior notice to or due consultation from the students, is but a futile, ineffective and unproductive course of action taken by the administration for cost-saving purposes.

The shortened schedule seems to be exclusively implemented out of blind obedience to the present Arroyo government’s anti-people schemes and anti-student policies for education.

Uphold right to education

We stand firm in upholding our basic right to quality education. In particular, we mean the following:

1. The restoration of the five-day class week (Mondays-Thursdays, Tuesdays-Fridays schedule), with Wednesdays reserved for laboratory and PE classes as opposed to the new four-day class week with its Tuesdays-Thursdays, Wednesdays-Fridays schedule.

This, we believe, will also give students with no laboratory or PE classes on Wednesdays the time to catch up with lessons, assignments and other extracurricular activities that will greatly help in the holistic development of the students.

2. The cancellation of inconvenient class schedules like those held during lunch breaks.

3. The holding of democratic student consultations in the University’s crafting of policies that will indirectly or directly affect the students.

We do not want learning cut back to a minimum level and thus call for the reinstatement of the five-day class week, the intensification of the fight for higher state subsidy and winning of the struggle for a truly nationalist scientific and mass-oriented education in the long run.

We demand what is only just and what is only right – that we be given quality education. And this will not be possible if our class schedules are compressed, if our school-days are shortened.

UP Studes Rock Out at School Trip 101

2007-07-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

Tug-ani UP Cebu Publication Date: [June-July 2006 Issue]

UP Students kicked off a new year with a bang as they rocked to School Trip 101 last June 23, at the UP Open Grounds.

Cebuano talents like Urban Dub, Faspitch and Aggressive Audio performed onstage while UP bands AWOL and Balde ni Allan performed as well.

The Student Council was the host and main presentor of the said event.

SC Chairman Karlo Mikhail Mongaya said that they wanted to welcome the students to a new school year with the concert.

“We want to support local bands andlocal music,” Ann ALmendras, managing director and propietor of Big Wave Productions, the event organizer said when asked why theyt chose to bring the event to UP.

San Miguel Beer, Smart Buddy and Sun.Star Cebu were the main sponsors of the event. By Arrah Camillia R. Quistadio

Unite Against UP Commercialization

2007-06-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

Butyag Student Council Publication Date: [June 5, 2006]

Warmest greetings to all Iskolars ng Bayan, old and new, as we welcome another academic year with renewed commitment and greater vigor in the continuing quest for a genuinely patriotic and mass-oriented education.

The new academic year offers us an opportunity to raise our level of unity against the Arroyo administration’s prioritization of militarization and foreign debt servicing; it’s continued neglect of the social services; the yearly education and UP budget cuts; tuition and other fees increases; deteriorating services and facilities in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

Let us call attention to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s privatization and commercialization schemes that will most likely continue implementation until her term ends in 2010 unless she is removed from power by a people’s uprising.

Already, the UP Board of Regents, the highest decision-making body in the University, approved an increase of tuition for incoming students of the UP College of Medicine in Manila.

In an alarming turn of events, only the UP Faculty Regent Roland Simbulan and Student Regent Raffy Jones Sanchez voted against the doubling of UPM-CM tuition from the current P11,000 per semester to P20,000 per semester.

This is as the the UP Manila University Student Council and the College of Medicine Student Council decried, in spite of a Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) resolution freezing tuition and other fees in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) for AY 2006-2007 because of the economic crisis.

The approval would certainly open the floodgate against undergraduate tuition increase in all UP colleges and campuses. There is really the danger especially now that UP President Roman’s 2005-2011 Plan include the call for a “review of the existing tuition policy and structure in undergraduate programs.”

This is in line with International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) dictates and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), that our country entered to in 1998.

Let us not also forget that the Long-Term Higher Education Development Plan (LTHEDP), which systematically reduced the number of state-subsidized colleges and universities from 271 in 1996 to 109 by 2005, is also nearing its full-bloom implementation.

This would of course mean the Arroyo government’s removal of subsidy for UP’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) thus forcing UP to look to other means to fully subsidize its operations.

Hence, the presence of proposals to add two or three more brackets in the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Fee Program (STFAP), with tuition ranging from P40,000 to P60,000 per semester.

Indeed, we are not new to the effects of the above-mentioned policies. Even the 7am to 7pm 4-day school week austerity measure is a direct order issued from Malacañang.

It is thus with such in mind that we must persist in educating, organizing and mobilizing our own and the Filipino people’s ranks in order to help improve our welfare and advance our democratic rights and interests.

Let us continue to press for a higher budget for education. It is also of great importance that we push for a tuition moratorium, not only for UP but all the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) throughout the country.

Along this line, we must also direct our efforts towards putting to an end to all repressive measures found within school.

Finally, we should also never forget that it is in attaining a higher level of unity with the basic masses - workers, peasants, and urban poor - that we can pursue the fight for our rights and welfare.

Let us therefore expose ourselves to the standard issues of the day. (political assassinations of activists and community leaders, curtailment of civil liberties, US military intervention thru the Visiting Force Agreement (VFA), the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB), the long-delayed P125 across-the-board wage increase, the Palace-Initiated Cha-cha train, etc.

If we unite firmly and collectively act on the basis of our concrete situation and from the practical experience of the Filipino people, we can stand firm against the mounting of anti-student impositions and overcome the many challenges that face us.

By Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson, Student Council
UP Visayas – Cebu College

SC Co-hosts Inter-School Tilt for Bands

2007-01-30T20:46:00.000-08:00

Tugani UP Cebu Publication Date: [January 2007 Issue]

Blue plastic material encircled the perimeters of the UP Cebu College soccer field in time for the Nar-sing Interschool Band Showdown last January 6.

The plastic material was placed to prevent possible onlookers from free riding in watching the event.

The slight rainshwoer did not stop the Cebu Normal University (CNU) Nightingale Student Council and he UP Cebu Student Council from pushing through the event.

Although UP has no nursing course, SC Chairman Karlo Mongaya said that their decision to team up with CNU to hold an interschool Nursing event was “a good venue to develop unity among the students of Cebu City, whether Nursing students or not.”

In addition, Mongaya explained that it was partly an income generating project of the Student Council to finance their activities.

The band showdown started at about 6:00 pm and ended at about 1 am.

Among the guest bands who entertained the crowd in the concert were famed Bisrock performers such as Aggressive Audio, Phylum, Mantequilla and Indephums.

When asked if the concert was a success, Mongaya replied, “the UPVCC-SC considers the activity a success because we were able to reach out to other students.” By Jill Marie Duero

UP Students Leave Classes In Protest Of Tuition Hike

2007-01-29T20:45:00.000-08:00

The Freeman - Cebu Publication Date: [Monday, January 29, 2007]

Hundreds of students in all campuses of the University of the Philippines boycotted their classes on Friday to protest the 300 percent increase in their tuition imposed by the UP Board of Regents (BOR) last December.

In UP Cebu College, the youth party-list group KABATAAN Party, together with other student organizations led by the Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante (NKE) and the Student Council, walked out of their classrooms to demand for the recall of tuition and other fee increases (TOFI).

All wearing red, more than a hundred-fifty students marched around the campus and burned a large effigy of a UP enrollment form to express disgust over the UP administration’ ’s trampling of the students” right to proper consultations on the such increase.

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya, KABATAAN-Cebu Information Officer and UP Cebu Student Council Chairman, said the tuition increase, which is in line with the Long Term Higher Education Development (LTHEDP) of 2001-2010, will lead to other tuition hikes in other state universities and colleges (SUCs).

“The present government” s grandplan for education is not merely the neglect of education as was the analysis of previous generations of students. What we now see is the out-and-out abandonment of the responsibility to provide accessible and quality education for all,” Mongaya said.

The youth leader condemned the anti-student LTHEDP, which pushed for, among others, the gigantic increases of fees in 70 percent of SUCs, making tuition equal to those of private schools, and the reduction of SUCs to 20 percent of its present number.

“TOFI is not merely a local UP issue. TOFI, which is a manifestation of state abandonment of education, is an issue of national scope that will definitely affect the future of the Filipino youth,” he said.

Meanwhile, NKE spokesperson and Student Council official Ralph Sanchez said the BOR’’s decision to have tuition “subsequently adjusted annually based on the national inflation rate” makes UP no different from private schools where education is treated as a privilege for those who can afford rather than as a basic right.

Sanchez said the BOR has shifted the burden of subsidizing the university” s expenses to the students and their parents, ending UP’’s thrust of providing a mass-oriented education. - Wenna A. Berondo

Campus Renewal Plan to Give UPV Cebu a New Look

2007-01-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

UP Views Publication Date: [January 2007 Issue]

A major overhaul is now eyed for UPVCebu College’s landscape as UPVisayas officials discussed last October 18, 2006 the UPVCC Campus Renewal Plan.

This intends to make the college “more responsive to the needs of the region.” UP Pres. Emerlinda Roman’s advisers for infrastructure, Prof. Mary Ann Espina and Dean Christopher Espina of the UP Diliman College of Architecture, conceptualized the design and layout.

New infrastructures and facilities as well as “quality” programs for students will be some of the features once the said plan will be realized.

A Graduate Studies building with an estimated cost of P500,000 will rise behind the Administration Building. The present Arts and Sciences Building, meanwhile, is now under renovation, and will be used for its original purpose as a dormitory.A gymnasium, campus
hotel and shopping center are also included. A proposed underground, if not an overpass, will also let students pass with ease from the Administration Building towards the Sugbu Cultural Center and other buildings across the street.

“The UPVCC Development Plan (or Campus Renewal Plan) is a lifetime plan. The way to achieve these physical and development plans is through the cooperation of the whole UPV Cebu community with the coordination and support of the government and also of the people that will invest and believe in us,” Dean Enrique Avila stated.

However, before the physical plans will be put up, Dean Avila stressed that the academic programs should first be enhanced: “The various course divisions of UPV Cebu should have good faculty and it should offer unique programs in the region.” Furthermore, he said that the academic programs should be strengthened and developed so that they will go together with the proposed facilities and infrastructures.

As of now, the college plans to set up a foundation so that resource generation for funding
this development project will not solely depend on the government. The foundation will also be the source of the money needed to relocate informal settlers in Barangay Camputhaw.

Student Council chairperson Karlo Mikhail Mongaya, member of the UPV Cebu Development and Renovation Committee, said that there are two phases in the plan: (1) renovation and renewal and (2) construction.

He estimated that by 2018, UPVCC “will coequal other UP units,” which means that it will be known as UP Cebu, and not just as a branch of UPVisayas.

Mongaya confirmed that there would be a student consultation regarding the UPV Cebu Campus Renewal Plan this January. (Katrina Coloso & Al Marie Padayogdog; UPVCC Info Volunteers)

UP Cebu Students Hold Christmas Party for Street Children

2006-12-24T20:44:00.000-08:00

Cebu Daily News Publication Date: [December, 2006]

The UP Cebu College Student Council and Y-KONEK held a Christmas party and donation drive for the adopted street children of the Children of Cebu Foundation Inc. last Friday at Jollibee Mango from 1:30 to 4pm.

“This will serve as the UP Cebu students’ christmas gift for our less forunate brothers and sisters. We do not just rally. We pursue all forms of actions that will advance the Filipino youth and people’s interests and welfare,” said Karlo Mikhail Mongaya, UP Cebu Student Council Chairperson.

The Student Council activity, named “Sabwag,” is led by its Gender and Youth Desk and Community Rights and Welfare Committee. The Christmas party is made possible through the help and sponsorship of Jollibee.

Y-KONEK Visayas Coordinator and UP student councilor Heno Rey Chin said: “This christmas is a season of giving. We UP students are always willing to give back what we can to the Filipino people whose taxes subsidize our education.”

“We likewise extend our gratitude to all who answered the call for the SC Sabwag donation drive,” added Chin. ■

Youth Group Condemns UP Tuition Increase

2006-12-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

The Freeman - Cebu Publication Date: [Saturday, December 23, 2006]

The KABATAAN Party-Cebu City has condmened what is said was an “unjust and immoral” implementation of the 300 percent increase in tuition fees of the University of the Philippines.

“While the youth and the UP community receives this news with grief, we are angered by the arrogance of the regents who approved the proposed increase without properly consulting the students,” said Karlo Mikhail Mongaya, KABATAAN Party Cebu Information Officer and UP Cebu College Student Council chairperson.

The decision of the UP Board of Regents did not include the votes of the faculty and student regents who had sought for a public consultation with the students. The other regents reportedly did not heed the call for a dialogue with the thousands of students who barricaded the BOR meeting venue.

“The Malacañang-appointees in the BOR has clearly learned much from their masters in the art of approving anti-people proposals despite strong public outrage,” Mongaya said.

“Like (President Gloria) Arroyo’s postponement of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit due to the political storm brought by the railroading of ChaCha, the UP administration cancelled the annual lantern parade intending to prevent students from joining protests against the said hike.”

However, he stressed that unlike the PGMA-allied lawmakers who had heeded the outcry of the Filipino people against ChaCha, the BOR proceeded to railroad the planned hike in the face of the strong opposition by various sectors.

“We will not take this sitting down. This is an infringement to the basic right to education and a blatant manifestation of the commercialized nature of the Philippine educational system,” said Mongaya.

“This is not only an issue of fee increases. More importantly, this is a result of the Arroyo administration’s policy of slashing budget for UP and education in favor of militarization and onerous foreign debt payments,” he said.

In January, the student council chair said, the BOR and the Arroyo administration may face another ‘First Quarter Storm,’ in obvious reference to the historical period in the 70s that saw hundreds of thousands of students participating in daily demonstrations.

“The BOR has crossed the line. Now that the proposal has been approved, we will be leading massive protests for the scrapping of the much-hated anti-student measure,” Mongaya said. Jasmine R. Uy

UP Studes Protest Tuition Fee Increase

2006-12-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

The Freeman - Cebu Publication Date: [December 15, 2006]

Students of University of the Philippines Cebu College yesterday launched a text protest to oppose the proposed 300 percent increase in the tuition fee of the state-owned university.

This as the UP Board of Regents, the university’s highest decision-making body, is scheduled to meet today to discuss and decide on the proposed increase.

Since few weeks ago, the UP Cebu College - Student Council has been conducting protests to show its opposition to the move.

Today, thousands of students at different UP campuses across the country are expected to join simultaneous protests urging the BOR to scrap the tuition increase proposal.

UP Student Regent Raffy Jones Sanchez and Faculty Regents Roland Simbulan have already assured the students of their stands against the tuition hike during the BOR meeting today.

“While the UP Cebu students may have traveled back to their provinces for the early vacation, they will not be giving the BOR an early respite from pressure politics against the increase in UP tuition,” said UP Cebu Student Council chairperson Karlo Mikhail Mongaya.

Mongaya said that any form of increase in UP tuition is unjustified since this will deprive the majority of the Filipino youth the ability to benefit from UP education, especially in this time of crisis.

“The planned hike clearly shows that the country’s “premier state university” was never exempted from the colonial, commercialized, and repressive system of education of our country.”

“This is a repression of the youth’s right to education. This will only encourage the government to further reduce the budget for UP and shirk on its responsibility to subsidize education.”

Mongaya said that “Iskolars ng bayan” from the other UP units, where classes are still going on, will also be holding demonstrations to coincide with the BOR meeting. - Wenna A. Berondo

Text brigade against tuition increase

2006-12-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

From the UP Cebu College Student Council

The early vacation will not deter us from holding our simultaneous protests against the proposed increase in UP tuition.

Let us appeal to our Board of Regents (BOR) to scrap the proposed 300% tuition hike by barraging them with text messages from today to December 15.

The BOR Will be deciding on the planned increase in its December 15 meeting. Only our collective action can put an end to the said anti-student proposal.

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson, Student Council
UP Visayas Cebu College

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Members of the BoR with mobile phones:

UP President Emerlinda Roman - 09189461009

Regent Gari Tiongco - 09178194529

Regent Romulo G. Davide - 09193501454

Regent Nelia T. Gonzalez - 09175258846

Regent Edmundo Varona - 09178344426
(Please do not include in text brigade - still hospitalized.)

Regent Roland G. Simbulan - 09173716307
(Please do not include in text barrage - is against tuition increase already.)

Regent Raffy Jones G. Sanchez - 09064430135
(Please do not include in text barrage - against tuition increase already.)

Please pass to all UP iskos and iskas, family members and friends.

Suppression of Campus Press Freedom

2006-12-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

A statement of support from the UPVCC – Student Council

The UP Cebu College – Student Council (UPVCC – SC) condemns in the strongest terms the UP Diliman administration’s blatant suppression of the Philippine Collegian’s continued operation as a student publication.

The administration has been very stubborn in its unrelenting misuse of its authority by withholding the Collegian’s budgetary allocations. For almost four months already, the Collegian has been barred from publishing its issues.

The UPVCC – SC believes that this indirect suspension is equivalent to the silencing of the students’ interests as articulated by the official publication of the UP Diliman studentry. It is suppression at its worst.

We are one with the rest of the UP community in upholding campus press freedom against what we deem as a direct attack against a very significant student institution – the Philippine Collegian.

The UPVCC – SC fully supports the call for admin to respect the right of the students to a free campus press and to stop the withholding of the Collegian’s printing funds. ■

A Manifesto Against the Proposed Tuition and Other Fee Increases

2006-11-19T06:06:00.000-08:00

We, the Iskolar ng Bayan, strongly oppose the proposed tuition and other fee increases in the University of the Philippines as it is a grave and direct attack to our basic right to education and a clear manifestation of the government’s severe neglect of its responsibility to provide for education.

The proposed tuition increase (UP Diliman, Manila and Los Banos: from P300 to P1,000 per unit, UP Visayas, Mindanao and Baguio: from P200 to P600) and the accompanying increase in miscellaneaous fees (Diliman: P615 to P2000, Los Baños: P515 to P2000, Manila P565 to 950, Baguio P595 to P1405, Visayas P595 to P1405, Mindanao P830 to P1640 ) intensifies to a grand extent the commercialization of UP education and poses a grave attack to our right to education. It also defeats our struggle for greater state subsidy for education as it pushes UP to generate its own income rather than.assert the state’s responsibility to fund UP.

Tuition increase will further render UP education inaccessible. The worsening economic situation indicates the wide insufficiency of minimum wage to even sustain the basic needs of the family as show by the P 654.96 national average daily cost of living for a family of six as of January 2006 and the P325 daily minimum wage in Metro Manila. Based on this cost of living 8 out of 10 families or roughly 83% of Filipino families are considered poor, while using the international poverty measurement which count those living under $ 2 a day as poor, indicates that over 87% of the country's families are poor. With such conditions, an increase in tuition would be a social injustice and woluld further entrench the people to poverty.

The proposal defeats our fight for higher state subsidy. By generating income from students, the burden of providing education is shifted from the state to the students and their families. Such commercialization of education will consequently push the government to continuously slash budget allocations for the university and on the long term abandon its responsibility to subsidize education in accordance with its policies on education.

The proposal in principle and in practice overtly alters the very nature of UP as a state university of and for the people. The proposal clearly derives from the principle that students themselves – rather than the general taxpayer – should pay for the cost of higher education regardless of state budgetary constraints since virtually all the benefits of an undergraduate education are appropriable to the private individual himself. This undoubtedly departs from the principle of a state university which must first and foremost promote and protect the right to education by asserting the government’s responsibility to subsidize the university and a university which inculcates the spirit of valuing social over individual interest.

The fight against the imminent tuition increase is a fight for our right to education and against the commercialization of UP education. Such struggle requires from among our ranks the highest unity in will and action. Only through our collective and militant assertion can we triumph against the proposed tuition increase ad uphold our basic right to education.

Oppose tuition and other fee increases!

No to commercialization of UP education!

Fight for greater state subsidy!

Uphold our right to Education!

U M A K S Y O N

Ugnayang Multi-sektoral Laban sa

Komersyalisasyon ng Edukasyon

Cebu Student Leaders Organize Group, Hit ASEAN Summit Cost

2006-11-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

The Freeman Publication Date: [November 10, 2006]

Student leaders in Cebu have organized the Street University, an alliance of youth groups, which soon started commenting over the government’s huge fund outlay for the coming ASEAN Summit.

The alliance leader, Karlo Mongaya, also the Chairman of the University of the Philippines Cebu College Student Council, said the alliance would serve as the youth’s campaign center or venue for exposing their concerns on regional issues and leaders.

In a press conference yesterday, Mongaya said the Street University is not against the holding of the ASEAN Summit here but would like to express its sentiments over the government’s expenses for such an event.

Cebu has been spending about P650 million for the Cebu International Convention Center while the education sector needs 74,115 classrooms, said Mongaya. ■

Speak out: Street U launching photo

2006-11-16T16:53:00.000-08:00

Sun.Star Daily Publication Date: [November 14, 2006]

STREET University (Steet U) would like to make a clarification regarding a photo that came out in Sun.Star Cebu’s Nov. 10 issue.

The paper published the photo on the launching of Street U and placed it beside a picture of students from a Mandaue High School cleaning the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC). The caption for the photos had the title, “Student participation.”

The location of the photo unintentionally gives the wrong impression that Street U is giving its uncritical support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) 12th Leaders’ Summit.

At a glance, the layout and caption could mislead the reader into assuming that Street U is part of the government’s preparation and mobilization of resources for the summit. Such, however, is not the case.

In almost all of the Arroyo administration’s costly propaganda efforts for the said summit, there is emphasis on its being a “cure-all” or panacea for each and every problem that now affects the country, thus justifying the staggering expense for its preparations.

However, the more important question about its agenda and how it will address the issues faced by Asean constituents, particularly the youth, have been sidelined. This is exactly what Street U aims to address.

In particular, Street U is raising the concern over the present government’s lavish spending for a four-day event even as the budget for social services like education remains meager.

Cebu, alone, has been spending about P650 million for the CICC whereas this could have been used to finance the need of the education sector for 74,115 classrooms. Moreover, the overall budget for the Asean, which is P2.5 billion, could already enroll 166,667 college students for the second semester.

By Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
University of the Philippines

Cookout Draws UP Talents, BisRock Bands

2006-10-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

Tugani UP Cebu Publication Date: [August-October 2006 Issue]

UP students were treated to an all-night showcase of UP and Cebuano talents as UP Cebu College celebrated Cookout 2006 last August 18.

Bisrock bands Aggressive Audio and Phylum enterteinaed the crowd with their humorous music that drove people crowding near the stage. Different UP organizations showed their talents in singing, dancing, and modelling.

In the band showdown, ACT UP’s Dama de Noche won the rythm of the crowd and the judges as they grasped the first prize. The Communicators of UP’s (Plano and Slash of Latagaw placed second and third, respectively.

The Department of Science and Technology Scholars Association of UP (DOST SA UP) grabbed the first prize in the singing ompetition, followed by the Math Majors Circle (MMC) and Kalesa.

In the Rampahan contest, the UP Ecological Society (UPECS) took hold of the 1st prize. Up close was the League of Filipino Students (LFS), the UP Football Club and the Political Science Society.

Sayawe bagged the top prize in the dancing competition, followed by Every Nation Campus Ministries (ENCM) and andres.

Cookout 2006 was presented by Y101 and organized by the UP Cebu College SC, with mass communication seniors comprising the produciton team.

Asked how he would assess the Cookout, SC Chairman Karlo Mikhail Mongaya said, “First and foremost, the Cookout was successful and this success belonged to the UP students.” By Al Marie Padayogdog

Greenpeace Urges UP Students to Save Seas

2006-10-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

Tug-ani UP Cebu Publication Date: [August-October 2006 Issue]

A call to protect the oceans was the message of the “Save the Seas Forum” held last September 1 at the UP Cebu College COnference Hall. The UP Cebu Student COuncil, the Fisherfolk Development Center (FIDEC) and the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) presented the forum.

“In the context of the Guimaras oil spill, it is but proper that we, the Iskolar ng Bayan, involves ourselves in an issue which not only affects the Filipino people but the whole world in general,” UP Cebu COllege SC Chairman Karlo Mikhail Mongaya said in his opening remarks.

The main speaker, Danny Ocampo, a campaigner for Greenpeace International Southeast Asia, talked abou how to defend the oceans. Greenpeace is involved in rehabilitation work in Guimaras, documenting the state of the mangroves in the region, and conducting underwater research and preliminary survey.

“Theimpact won’t be seen in the next few weeks, but in the next few months,” Ocampo assessed of the damage the oil spill brought to the seas.

He recommended that marine resources be cultivated, that coral reefs be protected, and that Petron be made accountable for the oil spill.

“I hope we remeber that what we do in land has impact on 70 percent of the Earth, which is our seas,” he reminded UPians.

Meanwhile, Vince Cinches, executive director of FIDEC gave a brief presentation about their office, which is a non-stock, non-pogit organization for marginal fisherfolks in Region 7. FIDEC extend socio-economic development assistance, legal aid, dialogue facilitation and marine resource protection to various fishing communities.

Atty. Amelie Amor Estrada of ELAC, also gave a presentation of what their organization was all about. ELAC is a non-profit, non-government organization which help communities defend the earth. Their programs include developmental legal assistance, community-based resource management, education and training, advocacy campaigns, and research and enforcement of laws. By Arrah Camillia Quistadio

“Salamat!”

2006-08-24T20:40:00.001-07:00

Butyag Student Council Publication Date: [August 24, 2006]

August 18 had been a successful UP showcase of talents to the community, an event with form and content that provided entertainment for all.

With the Cookout’s success, the Student Council recognizes that all the grueling efforts for preparations and legwork could have been futile without your support and a job well done.

The success of Cookout 2006 is meaningless without acknowledgement of your valuable role in implementing the SC’s vision of putting together an occasion that would bring all of UP’s sectors together, proving our onness in a tradition that is essentially UP.

Salamat ug Padayon!

SC Chair is Rep to UP Tacloban Dean Search

2006-08-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

Butyag Student Council Publication Date: [August 24, 2006]

SC Chairperson Karlo Mongaya was selected as the offical student representative to the Search Committee for the UP Tacloban College Dean Selection during the 1208th Board of Regents meeting.

As the student representative, Mongaya went to Tacloban last July 12-13 and August 13-16 to hold consultations and tackle UP Tacloban issues for the next Dean like tuition increase, faculty infighting and rampant politial repression. By Phoebeth Peras

Memo # 14

2006-08-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

To: All Councilors, UPVCC-SC
From: The Chairperson
Re: Texting Network

As agreed upon during the 10th General Assembly of the UPVCC–Student Council, here is the texting network for the purpose of providing a more effective and efficient communication system within the council:

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya -> Maria Girly Patigdas & Gian Marko Enfectana

Maria Girly Patigdas -> Gian Marko Enfectana & Karen Ann Zarraga

Gian Marko Enfectana -> Karen Ann Zarraga & Charito Tan

Karen Ann Zarraga -> Charito Tan & Gayle Opsima

Charito Tan -> Gayle Opsima & Genry Gabayan

Gayle Opsima -> Genry Gabayan & Marinel Velmonte

Genry Gabayan -> Marinel Velmonte & Phoebeth Peras

Marinel Velmonte -> Phoebeth Peras & Stacey Kaye Cardoso

Phoebeth Peras - Stacey Kaye Cardoso & Heno Rey Chin

Stacey Kaye Cardoso - Heno Rey Chin & Ralph Sanchez

Heno Rey Chin -> Ralph Sanchez & Hope Tilog

Ralph Sanchez -> Hope Tilog & Jenno Gacasan

Hope Tilog -> Jenno Gacasan & Beryl Ann Manching

Jenno Gacasan -> Beryl Ann Manching & Nasvin del Rosario

Beryl Ann Manching -> Nasvin del Rosario & Doyle Belluga

Nasvin del Rosario -> Doyle Belluga & Francis Infiesto

Doyle Belluga -> Francis Infiesto

In the service of the students and the people,

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Memo # 13

2006-07-31T03:31:00.000-07:00

To: All Councilors, UPVCC-SC
From: The Chairperson
Re: 10th General Assembly

What: Regular Meeting
When: August 1, 2006; 9:30am-12nn
Where: Student Council Office

The order of business is as follows:

1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of the Minutes from the Previous Meeting
3. Business Arising from the Previous Meeting
4. Communications

a. 10th Systemwide Student’s Congress

5. Announcements
6. Year-level Reports
7. Committee Reports

a. CRAW Committee
b. EDRES Committee[1]
c. Environment Desk
d. Gender-Youth Desk
e. KULKAT Committee
f. SOFS Committee[2]
g. Sports Desk[3]
h. STRAW Committee[4]
i. Pulse Desk[5]

8. COOK Out Updates
9. UP Cebu Student Summit Outputs[6]
10. UP President Consultation Assessment
11. UMAKSYON Concept Paper
12. Other Matters

In the service of the students and the people,

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

[1] Tuition Increase Final Recommendation discussion
[2] UNISO updates
[3] Intramurals updates
[4] ROTC updates, Report on July 28 mass action, etc.
[5] 4-day school week & Boarding House survey
[6] Student’s Agenda for Dean Selection

Memo # 12

2006-07-30T03:23:00.000-07:00

The Student Council (SC) together with the Office of the Student Regent (OSR) and Katipunan ng Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP) will be holding the UP Cebu Students Summit this July 27, 2006.

This activity aims to consolidate the ranks of student leaders in UPVCC and to form unities regarding the imperative issues faced by the students. Both local and national issues such as the Tuition fee increase and the implications of the Arroyo regime’s “All-Out War” to the youth and student sector will be tackled in the said activity.

We cordially invite you to participate in this summit.

Here are some of next week's scheduled activities:

July 27:

UP Cebu Student Summit
9:00am to 12:00nn
Arts & Sciences Lobby

UP President Student Consultation
3:15pm to 4:15 pm
Conference Hall

July 28:

Board of Regents Meeting Trooping, Alternative Classes!
9:00am to 12:00nn
Assembly & Program - UP Cebu Open Stage

We believe that this will be a great opportunity to help inform our students about the current situation in our university and to form solidarity in advancing the rights and interests of the students.

In the service of the students and the people,

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Students Agenda for 2006 UPVCC Dean Selection

2006-07-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

We, the Iskolars ng Bayan of the University of the Philippines Cebu College, unite in presenting this agenda to the nominees for the UPVCC Dean Selection:

To unite with the UP students and community in opposing all budget cuts for the UP and education budget and in asserting for higher state subsidy;
To prevent any tuition increase during his/her term;
To push for the imposition of moratorium on laboratory increases;
To help stop the collection of exorbitant fees, i.e. late registration fee, dropping fee, Leave of Absence fee, change matriculation fee, processing fee, and the like;
To preserve and protect the academic mission and purpose of the University especially against the intrusion of the market;
To uphold campus press freedom and ensure autonomy of publications over fiscal and editorial policies;
To uphold the academic freedom of every member of the UP community;
To protect students from political repression;
To push for a nationalist UP education that is relevant to the Philippine society;
To prioritize, recognize and protect the democratic rights and interests of UP constituents and the Filipino people;
To ensure institutionalized democratic consultation as part of the administrative conduct of UP in creating and/or reviewing student policies;
To review the effectiveness of and institute reforms in the Standardized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP);
To reform current guidelines repressing students' right to organize;
To monitor and lower rental fees rates collected for the use of college facilities;
To address the opening of second gate near the undergraduate building;
To ensure transparency and accountability to the constituents in all administrative activities;
To institutionalize a sectorally-representative assembly similar to UP Manila's Pamantasang Asambleya;
To uphold the continued existence of the UP High School;
To facilitate the development of the Cultural Center and to ensure its accessibility for the UP Community's use;
To prevent the privatization of the College¡¦s idle lands; and
To prevent any planned demolitions of informal settlers in UP lands without relocation.

Proposed this 27th day of July, 2006 at the 1st UP Cebu Students Summit held at the Arts and Sciences Bldg Lobby, UP Cebu College.

Message from the Chairperson

2006-07-03T20:41:00.000-07:00

Butyag Student Council Publication Date: [July 3, 2006]

From the University of the Philippines Cebu College Student Council, warm nationalist greetings to all the brave and genuine Iskolars ng Bayan who were united in opposing the proposed tuition increase in the June 30 Systemwide mass action.

Due to the unity and show of force that we projected in all UP units the UP Board of Regents has decided to postpone the discussion of the proposals to another date. We have temporarily stopped the approval of the said P200 to P600 per unit tuition hike.

This is another testimony to the fact that it is only through collective action that we can bring our struggles to victory.

The Student Council calls on each and every one to be vigilant against all anti-student policies that the administration would like to approve without any consultation.

Once more, we thank everyone who heeded the call to wear black, the more than a hundred UP Cebu students who participated in last Friday’s collective gathering, and everyone who gave support to our fight in defense of the right to education.

Fellow Iskolars, our fight has just begun.

No to Tuition and Other Fee Increases!
Uphold Poper Student Consultation!
Fight for Higher UP & Education Budget!

A United Stand of UP Students Against the Proposed Tuition Increase

2006-06-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

We, the Iskolar ng Bayan, strongly oppose the proposed tuition and other fee increases in all units of the University of the Philippines. Furthermore, we contest the imposed tuition increase in the UP College of Medicine from an estimated P11,000 to P20,000 which may be used as an example of the administration to impose increases in other UP units all over the country.

Believing that education is a right, we the Iskolar ng Bayan collectively stand against this unjust scheme of generating income from students especially in this untimely situation.

The tuition increase proposal will make UP education less accessible to the majority of the Filipino youth. This scheme will further limit UP education only to a certain group or bracket, thus would cater only to those who could afford to pay such a costly education. Moreover, this proposal will obviously forfeit the very nature of the University of the Philippines – the premier state university of the country, the University of the People. UP, a state university must first and foremost protect the rights and interests of its students. The burden must not be passed on to the students which in the first place is the government’s responsibility. In these trying times, the increase in tuition and other fees is not the solution.

As students of the premier state university, we assert to have an access to quality education that is prioritized by the government. The non-prioritization of education is a clear manifestation of the current administration’s abandonment of its responsibility to the youth sector. Increased tuition fees and other laboratory or miscellaneous fees are mechanisms used by the UP Administration to generate income from students because of the meager budget we receive from the government. This is used to augment the diminishing UP budget, but which also advertently promotes state abandonment. Moreover, a number of state universities and colleges have increased tuition and other fees despite the CHED memorandum. The unjust collection of increases poses a grave threat to our right to education. Furthermore, it is a manifestation of curtailment of our right to education.

We want a better and quality education, but we stand firm that the burden must never pass on to the students. We demand a greater state subsidy for education.

The recent approval of the tuition increases in UP College of Medicine without properly soliciting the stands of the students is a curtailment of the students’ right to be properly consulted. Despite the strong objection of students of such a proposed tuition increase, the administration still approved the proposal. We shall not allow this to happen to other colleges or units of the University or to any state university or college in general. We shall fight all forms of commercialization of education, especially the continuing trend of decreasing education budget, increasing tuition and other fees, such as the increase in the library fee and laboratory fees, imposed exorbitant fees such as the late registration fee and rental fees and the proposed inclusion of bogus fee such as internet and energy fees.

The recent implementation of increase in the library fee in the University of the Philippines Diliman and Mindanao to the incoming freshmen is a clear showing of how the administration finds other means to generate income from students. This is a scheme of commercialization of education. Moreover, the policy of non-consultation of proposed increase pose a possible repercussion to the future Iskolar ng Bayan in the long run and will leave the students at a losing end. We demand a proper venue for consultation on any increases or policy the administration desires to implement.

The proposed tuition increases for UP Units of Diliman, Manila and Los Banos (from P300 to P1,000) and UP Visayas, Mindanao and Baguio (P200 to P600) per unit, pose a grave threat to our right to education. This scheme will further justify the state abandonment to our education and will further make UP education less accessible to the bulk of the deserving Filipino youth. We shall safeguard our rights and fight schemes of commercialization of education.

We appeal to the UP administration, especially to the UP Board of Regents to properly consult the students regarding policies of increases. We further appeal that the administration considers the plight and sentiments of the greater number of the students regarding this proposal.

It is in these times that we, the Iskolar ng Bayan, join ranks in fighting for our basic rights and together we shall uphold our rights to education!

Oppose the tuition and other fee increases in UP! No to commercialization of education! Uphold proper student consultation! Fight for higher state subsidy!

Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP)

Talk Back: Not a Rumor

2006-06-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Sun.Star Daily Publication Date: [June 19, 2006]

Sun.Star Daily’s June 14 issue published a news item which mentioned my supposed citing of a rumored “200 to 600 percent” increase in UP Cebu’s tuition.

I would like to clarify that the said UP Cebu tuition hike is a P200 to P600 per unit increase or a 200 percent increase. Likewise, the proposed adjustment is not a mere rumor but is the real result of the Arroyo administration’s policy of abandoning its responsibilities to provide accessible education.

According to the UP Student Regent, a committee formed by UP President Emerlinda Roman to review UP’s tuition policy just proposed a UP system-wide increase for all undergraduate tuition.

Despite such, the Arroyo government has continued to delude the people with praise releases about its achievements in the field of education, even to the extent of claiming the existence of a tuition hike moratorium for all State Universities this year.

The really sorry state of Philippine education and the approval of tuition increases in the UP Manila College of Medicine and UP Extension Program in Pampanga disprove such empty talk.

In the end, it is these false realities that must be brought to light, brought out into the public, and confronted.

By Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson, Student Council
UP Visayas – Cebu College

UP Naming Mahal

2006-06-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

Years of government neglect have produced the intended result. Facilities have been reduced to a sorry state of decay and services are diminished by austerity measures.

But more alarming consequences are in line for us iskolars ng bayan. With Arroyo’s cuddling of the military and prioritization of foreign debt servicing over education, UP is fast becoming too expensive for the underprivileged majority.

Last summer, the UP Board of Regents (BOR) approved several tuition and other fee increases affecting various UP units.

All UP Diliman Colleges hiked library fees from P400 to P800.
The UP Manila College of Medicine tuition for incoming freshmen increased from P11,500 to P20,000.
The UP Extension Program in Pampanga Graduate Studies’ tuition was adjusted from P500 to P1,000 per unit.

As if these are not enough, a committee formed to review UP’s tuition policy has just submitted its final recommendation for discussion to the BOR.

This June 30, the BOR will meet in UP Los Baños to discuss the committee’s proposals to increase undergraduate tuition for future freshmen in all UP units. To this end, no consultation was ever undertaken to take the student sector’s interests into consideration.

Proposed tuition hike for UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, and UP Manila – P300 to P1,000 per unit.
Proposed tuition hike for UP Pampanga, UP Baguio, UP Mindanao and UP Visayas – P200 to P600 per unit.

In the long run, we know where this all leads to – a more commercialized and less accessible UP education. A direction that may find future iskos and iskas singing the UP Naming Mahal, not as our alma mater song, but with the rising cost of education in mind.

Indifference and non-involvement will only urge the powers that be to continue with blatant anti-student schemes. Let us therefore stand up for our right to education.

This Friday, we invite everyone to join a system-wide gathering timed with the 1210th BOR meeting. Assembly is 11:30 AM at the Admin steps.

We likewise invite everyone to a Nationwide Youth Protest this July 7.

KNOCK-DOWN THE PROPOSED SYSTEMWIDE TUITION HIKE!
FIGHT FOR HIGHER UP & EDUCATION BUDGET!

A Resolution Opposing President Arroyo's Proposed Constitutional Revision

2006-06-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 SERIES OF 2006-2007

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING PRESIDENT ARROYO’S PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION

Whereas, GMA’s proposed charter change (ChaCha) absolves the government from its responsibility of providing adequate social services as witnessed in the deletion of Sec. 9 Article II of the current constitution;

Whereas, ChaCha deletes Sec. 13 clearing the government from its responsibility towards the youth sector, giving more leeway for military and debt servicing rather than on education;

Whereas, ChaCha in removing Sec. 17 legitimizes state abandonment of education as the basis for asserting the right to education and greater state subsidy for education are no longer constitutionally enshrined;

Whereas, ChaCha in its revision of Sec. 2 Article XIV of the current constitution opens colleges and universities to foreign ownership, the act of which will intensify the commercialization and privatization of the education sector ultimately resulting to a curricula that will cater to the needs of the foreign market instead of the country’s;

Whereas, the provisions in the proposed charter change will allow President Arroyo to stay in power until 2010 (with or without the 2007 election) thereby perpetuating the administration’s present education policies which includes the Medium and Long Term Higher Educational Development Plan, both of which systematically legalize state abandonment of education as manifested in the opening of public schools to private investments and the ever increasing fees;

Whereas, ChaCha not only affects the education sector as it substantially impacts on the political, economic and human rights of the Filipino people with its removal of safety mechanisms regarding Martial Law and its provisions granting aliens the right to own lands and public utilities in the Philippines;

Whereas, ChaCha, lauding its advantages of speedy legislation and substantial reduction of corruption is a shallow response to a systemic problem that is more deep-rooted proves it insufficient in running counter to the above-mentioned grounds against it;

Therefore be it resolved as it is hereby resolved that the UPVCC Student Council initiate moves that will oppose GMA’s proposed constitutional revision.

Resolved further, that such moves be not limited within the confinement of the school so as to inform the greater public on the perils of ChaCha.

Resolved finally, that the proposed charter change of President Arroyo be scrapped to thwart any of its attempt to marginalize the youth and education.

Proposed this 26th of June 2006.

Phoebeth Peras
3rd Year Representative
Proponent

Memo # 08

2006-06-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

To: All Councilors, UPVCC-SC
From: The Chairperson
Re: 5th General Assembly

Warm Greetings!

We will be holding our fifth General Assembly this Monday, June 19, 2006, 9:00 PM at the SC office.

The order of business is as follows:
1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of the Minutes from the Previous Meeting
3. Business Arising from the Previous Meeting
4. Communications

a. People’s MARCH Forum
b. Kapamilya Media Forum
c. People’s GAIN Forum

5. Announcements

a. College Executive Committee Meetings
b. JDV Cha-cha Luncheon Meeting
c. Cebuano Writing Workshop

6. Committee Reports

a. Committee members, schedules, & initial plans
b. Pulse Committee on 4-day school day & Boarding House survey
c. Secretariat on SC member’s class schedules & procurement of supplies

7. College Committees Assignment
8. General Review of the GPOA/SPOA & the Calendar of Activities
9. UPVCC Plagiarism Case & Alleged Gag Order
10. BIG WAVE School Tour
11. Updates

a. Freshies Night - Sagabay
b. Organization Fair – UP Tao
c. COOK Out

12. Other Matters

In the service of the students and the people,

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Laying the basis for attacks

2006-06-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

The Freeman Publication Date: [June 13, 2006]
Sun.Star Daily Publication Date: [June 16, 2006]

Local military spokesmen have been whipping up recently the old “red-scare” antics.

Groups such as the League of Filipino Students, AnakBayan, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, National Union of Students of the Philippines and the Student Christian Movement have been tagged as collaborators in recruiting minors for the Marxist-led armed struggle.

We in the University of the Philippines are alarmed with these developments. We have seen how the Arroyo government launched a massive and comprehensive plot to annihilate legal people’s organizations in the country.

The labeling of activist organizations as communist fronts is meant to terrorize the people and condition their minds to more repressive measures in the future.

Physical extermination has become the natural progression after activist leaders and members have been accused as communists.

Is Cebu the next target?

We hope not. Activist killings in Cebu will only worsen our already dismal human rights record. ■

Tuition Moratorium in State Universities & Colleges?

2006-06-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

The Freeman Publication Date: [June 12, 2006]
Cebu Daily News Publication Date: [June 15, 2006]

Contrary to the present regime’s claim of a tuition moratorium in the state universities and colleges, the iskolars ng bayan lament the increase of tuition in the UP Manila College of Medicine and the UP Extension Program in Pampanga.

From 11,529 pesos per semester, the UP Manila College of Medicine now charges a tuition of more than 20,045 pesos per semester. Likewise, the UP Pampanga Management Program’s tuition increased from P500 per unit to P1, 500 per unit.

The gigantic slashes in the education budget in the past few years have not only led to deteriorating facilities and services in state universities and colleges. More so, the government’s abandonment of its responsibility to fully subsidize education has led to the imposition and increase of tuition and other fees.

Such impositions only put more weight to the already heavy economic hardships faced by the Filipino people today.

Hence, fewer students are opting to continue with their studies. Those who find private schools too expensive now realize the same conditions existing in the state universities and colleges.

If the Arroyo regime continues with such anti-student schemes, then it will be only a matter of time before it is ousted from power. Education, after all, must remain a right and never a privilege for an economically advantaged few.

By Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson, Student Council
UP Visayas – Cebu College

Memo # 07

2006-06-10T00:33:00.000-07:00

To: All Councilors, UPVCC-SC
From: The Chairperson
Re: 4th General Assembly

Warm Greetings!

We will be holding our fourth General Assembly this June 12, 2006, 1:00 PM at the SC office. The meeting, which is also timed with the annual Independence Day celebration, will be our first for the new academic year.

The order of business for the meeting is as follows:

1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of the Minutes from the Previous Meeting
3. Business Arising from the Previous Meeting
4. Communications
5. Announcements
6. Chairperson’s Report
7. Formal Approval of General Program of Action
8. Updates re: UPVCC Presidential Advisory Council
9. Updates re: Charter-Change
10. First Year Orientation
11. Organization Fair
12. Freshies Night Proposal from SAGABAY
13. Cookout 2006
14. Other Matters

In the service of the students and the people,

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Memo # 06

2006-05-19T22:51:00.000-07:00

To: All Councilors, UPVCC-SC
From: The Chairperson
Re: Leadership Training Seminar

Warm Greetings!

We will be holding a Leadership Training Seminar (LTS) as part of the continuing efforts to consolidate our ranks as the primary student institution in the college. We will conduct the one-day seminar on May 28 (Sunday) at the Don Bosco Retreat House, Lawaan, Talisay City.

Each student council member is requested to bring at least a hundred pesos for the venue’s registration fee and our food accommodation. All councilors are required to submit their respective General Programs of Actions (GPOA) before the seminar for collation.

Below is the tentative program for the activity:

(May 28, Sunday)

9:00
Assembly Time/Roll Call

9:00-12:00
Analysis of Organizational Culture
by Prof. Phoebe Zoe Sanchez
Faculty, Soc. Science Division
UP Visayas-Cebu College

12:00-1:00
Lunch Break

1:00-2:00
Student Council Orientation
by Maria Fe. Jaime
President, Cebu City Federation of Tertiary Student Governments
Vice-Chairperson for Visayas, National Union of Students of the Phil

2:00-2:45
On Leadership
by Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson, UP Visayas - Cebu College Student Council
National Vice Chairperson,
Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP

2:45-3:15
Break

3:15-5:45
Integration of General Program of Action

Please keep updated for further details. Thank you very much.

In the service of the students,

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Speak out: Restoring ROTC's status

2006-05-14T23:45:00.000-07:00

Sun.Star Daily Publication Date: [May 13, 2006]

Today’s youth have been stereotyped as an ill-guided generation of text addicts, perennial mallers and night hoppers.

Stretched to the extreme, this image has been used to emphasize our supposed lack of discipline, social responsibility, patriotism, etc.

The same line has been used in pushing for the revival of the mandatory Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC). The Department of National Defense is now pushing for the amendment of the National Service Training Program for the purpose.

The twisted logic, however, cannot hide the fact that ROTC has never taught the youth discipline, social responsibility and patriotism. It was precisely the lack of discipline in the program that led to the abolition of its mandatory status four years back.

Indeed, some people used the ROTC as milking cow with uniforms and other requirements sold at marked-up prices. Likewise, huge amounts were amassed in bribes from those who would like to avoid the course.

Aside from being anomaly-ridden, the ROTC also violates our civil liberties. Consider the mottos such as “what you see, what you hear, when you go, leave it here” and “obey first before you complain.”

While admittedly our generation is a bit captivated with malling and texting, it is another thing to call us less socially responsible or apathetic. The call for the abolition of ROTC’s mandatory status was first made in the 1960s. Now, who succeeded in putting an end to it?

The youth’s idealism and potentials can be harnessed outside the ambit of an irrelevant, abusive, and essentially fascist program.

Instead of bringing back mandatory ROTC, its proponents should instead lobby for greater state subsidy for education. Such a move will greatly help in promoting social responsibility and nationalism.

The killing of Bicol student leader Cris Hugo last March, the illegal arrest of the PUP central student council chairperson last April and the recent abduction of a community youth leader in Pagadian underscores the government-led violence against the youth.

A mandatory ROTC will only intensify the already horrifying state of civil rights under the Arroyo administration.

By Karlo Mikhail I. Mongaya
Chairperson, Student Council
UP Visayas-Cebu College

Statement: People's Clamor?

2006-05-08T23:44:00.000-07:00

The Freeman Publication Date: [May 6, 2006]

While the current move to revise the 1987 constitution is led by an NGO named Sigaw ng Bayan, President Arroyo’s claim of a people’s clamor for cha-cha is still very questionable. Indeed, its most vocal supporters come from the ranks of GMA’s allies.

The use of government machinery to entice people to sign up with the “people’s initiative,” regardless of whether they understand its objectives seem to confirm our suspicions that it really is a Malacañang ploy. If so, then it would be more fitting to call the move a “Politician’s initiative” or a “Palace initiatve.”

To this end, government funds have been used for the undertaking of the people’s initiative. Likewise, millions of pesos are expected to be spent in an expensive plebiscite.

Instead of wasting the people’s money on self-serving schemes, the Arroyo government should allocate more budget for education and the social services. State Universities and Colleges, like UP, have long been deprived of badly needed state subsidy for the improvement of services and facilities.

GMA and her Sigaw ng Bayan have become so confident that nothing can stop their cha-cha train. It is sad to note that they are doing so at our expense.

By Karlo Mikhail I. Mongaya
Chairperson, Student Council
UP Cebu College

Speak out: Stand up for civil liberties

2006-04-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

Sun.Star Daily Publication Date: [April 19, 2006]

Last March 19, Cris Hugo, national council member of the League of Filipino Students, was shot dead in Legazpi City.

The police illegally abducted two leaders of the student council of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines last April 4 while speaking in a community forum.

The UP Cebu College Student Council condemns such unjust acts and all moves that aim to clamp down protests against President Arroyo’s low education budget, the sorry condition of state universities and colleges, excessive increase in tuition and other fees, and other anti-student policies.

We likewise express extreme disapproval over proposals that seek to make the Reserved Officer Training Corps mandatory again.

The revival of the obsolete, corrupt, and essentially fascist program will only exaggerate the already repressive nature of the Philippine educational system.

Despite attempts to frighten us, we will never be cowed. The authoritarian stance of the present government is not a sign of strength.

Efforts to muzzle the media, clamp down on dissent and limit civil liberties are actions of a dying regime desperate to cling to power and continue to implement policies such as the deregulation of oil, the jacking up of the value-added tax, etc.

The UP Cebu College Student Council will continue to lead the Iskolar ng Bayan in standing up for civil liberties.

We will continue to work for a mass-oriented education that will truly cater to the needs of nation building and call for meaningful social change despite the continuous deception and tyranny of a bogus and anti-people government. ■

Memo # 05: Contact Numbers

2006-03-30T23:38:00.000-08:00

To: All Councilors, UPVCC-SC
From: The Chairperson
Re: Contact Information

Warm Greetings!

The contact information of the councilors and secretariat members for the newly constituted college student council is as follows:

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson
09266731480
karlo_mikhail@yahoo.com.ph

Gian Enefctana
Vice-chairperson
09212236963
gian_xxx@yahoo.com

Charto Tan
UPV-USC rep.
09208937420
chariisme@hotmail.com

Gayle Opsma
UPV-USC rep.
09192336037
gayleopsima@yahoo.com

Jenno Gacasan
Fine Arts rep.
09207950918
taga_up_ko@yahoo.com

Hope Tilog
Fine Arts rep.
09279497249
hope_upls@yahoo.com

Ralph Sanchez
2nd Year rep.
09205918452
ralph2345ph@yahoo.com

Heno Rey Chin
2nd Year rep.
09176951835
heno_7@yahoo.com

Stacey Kaye Cardoso
3rd Year rep.
09206531658
czimon@yahoo.com

Phoebeth Peras
3rd Year rep.
09196398477
betch_17@yahoo.com

Genry Gabyan
4th Year rep.
09194528801
genryØØ@yahoo.com

Marinel Velmonte
4th Year rep.
09213773303
velmonte_15@yahoo.com

Maria Girly Patigdas
Secretary General
09215749455

John Patrick Cabrera
Deputy Sec. for Finance
09223852624
ku_shuriken@yahoo.com

Cindy Baguio
Deputy Sec. for Logistics
09268381707

Francis Infiesto
Deputy Sec. for Records
09102116381

Doyle Belluga
Deputy Sec. for Admin.
09214001786

I hope this will be of help for the efficient functioning and coordination of all SC members and expedient information dissemination.

Thank you.

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Memo # 04: The Tasks of the Student Council

2006-03-29T23:26:00.000-08:00

To: All Councilors, UPVCC-SC
From: The Chairperson
Re: General Assembly

The Tasks of the Student Council for the Vacation Break

In approaching the salient question of our essential tasks for this coming summer vacation, it is important that we understand the seriousness of our vocation for the advancement of democratic rights in the UP community. Indeed, we should be responsive to the objective needs and interests of our constituents. To do so require ample time to consciously plan and rapidly take steps to concretely answer and surmount any challenge that we will inevitably face throughout the year.

The vacation provides us the occasion to prepare for the coming academic year. Let us take advantage of the relatively greater time given by the summer break to lay down the general direction of our term and draw up corresponding plans that are both tangible and specific.

From our last General Assembly for the academic year 05-06 we have, through consensus, designated committee assignments, established summer schedules, updated ourselves on the alarming wave of human rights violations draping the country today, and adopted a resolution defining our stand against “the proposals to make the Reserved Officer Training Corps or ROTC mandatory among all students.”

Let me present our tentative schedules for the summer and committee assignments as discussed during our most recent meeting last March 27, 2006:

April 22
Earth Day Eco-Forum
(Co-organized with the Maharlika Artists Federation)
UPV Cebu College -AVR

April 23
Globalization & the Workers Situation Forum
(Hosted by SC for People's Globalization Awareness Initiative Network)
UPV Cebu College - Conference Hall

May 1
Participation in International Labor Day Commemoration

May 6
SC Office Cleaning

May 13
Community Immersion

May 23 to 25
KASAMA sa UP
National Council Meeting
UP Diliman

May 28
Leadership Training Seminar

Here are the committees and their respective committee heads:

Executive Committee
Karlo Mikhail Mongaya

Secretariat
Maria Girly Patigdas

Student’s Rights and Welfare Committee
Ralph Sanchez

Student Organizations, Fraternities, and Sororities Committee
Gian Marco Enfectana

Pulse Committee
Genry Gabayan

Ways and Means Committee
Marinel Velmonte

Committee on Culture and Arts
Jenno Gacasan

Environment Desk
Gayle Opsima

Community Rights and Welfare Committee
Stacey Kaye Cardoso

Gender Desk
Heno Rey Chin

Sports Desk
Charito Tan

Education and Research Committee
Phoebeth Peras

Information Desk
Hope Tilog

More waves of anti-student impositions are expected to hit the university in the near future as the deepening crisis afflicting our backward, agricultural, and foreign dominated society aggravates the commercialized and repressive character of Philippine education.

We must unite firmly to carry out our tasks for the purpose of carrying forward the student’s battle for democratic reforms within the UP community and link these struggles to the people’s movement for a just, democratic, and independent Philippine society.

Let us as much as possible devote our- selves to serving the people and exert the utmost effort to lead the students in such an endeavor.

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Resolution against ROTC

2006-03-29T06:24:00.000-08:00

RESOLUTION NUMBER 1 SERIES OF 2006-2007

A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE PROPOSALS TO MAKE THE RESERVED OFFICER TRAINING CORPS OR ROTC MANDATORY AMONG ALL STUDENTS

Whereas, the ROTC, instead of teaching and upholding discipline, runs counter to the student’s right to freedom of speech by spreading a culture of silence as encapsulated in the military dictum that states “what you see, what you hear, when you go, leave it here;”

Whereas, the ROTC, in direct contradiction to our constitutional right to organize, carries a big role in the military’s setting up of the Student Intelligence Network (SIN) which conducts surveillance and other intelligence operations against progressive student organizations, publications, and councils;

Whereas, the ROTC course, at a time of extreme economic hardship and crisis, burdens the students with added fees, not only for matriculation but also for a complete set of uniform, including combat boots, beret/cap, patches, etc, handouts and manuals - the lack of which is a ground for demerit against the student concerned;

Whereas, the ROTC program with mandatory courses in Military Training Service (MTS) is physically demanding for the UP students who will also have to carry the burden of a tightened four-day class week;

Whereas, the ROTC, contrary to its stated aim of promoting patriotism, runs counter to the foundations of nationalism in the university, namely critical thought and academic freedom by maintaining a culture of harassment and repression as expressed in the military motto that says “obey first before you complain;”

Whereas, the ROTC has resulted in the deaths of our fellow youth, who are supposedly the hope of the nation, namely Samuel Rodico of Luna College – Pangansinan in 2002, Mark Welson Chua of the University of Sto. Tomas in 2001, Arthur Salero of Saint Louis University in 1999, Seth Lopez of De La Salle University in 1996, and many more;

Whereas, the ROTC promotes discrimination, harassment and various forms of physical, verbal and sexual abuse especially against women and the third sex;

Whereas, in practice, the program has become obsolete and at the heart of corruption and incompetence;

Whereas, the intentions provided by the proponents of the mandatory ROTC revival, namely the infusion of discipline, patriotism and preparation for national defense was never attained by the program in the first place as it was tainted by the above-stated grounds;

Therefore be it resolved as it is hereby resolved that the UPVCC Student Council initiate moves that will oppose the proposals to make the ROTC mandatory among all students.

Resolved further, that the fight for greater state subsidy for UP and education be intensified as it is only through such that the strengthening and enhancement of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) can come about.

Resolved finally, that the ROTC be totally abolished to pave the way for a National Service Program that will truly become the expression of nationalism, discipline and social responsibility through activities such as rescue and relief operations, human rights advocacy and fact-finding missions, community immersion, literacy programs, and environmental protection and awareness, etc.

Adopted this 27^th of March, 2006.

Heno Rey Chin
Year Representative
Proponent

Ralph Sanchez
2nd Year Representative
Co-Proponent

Memo # 03: Lay the Ground for Achieving Greater Victories this Year

2006-03-24T23:23:00.000-08:00

To: All Councilors, UPVCC-SC
From: The Chairperson
Re: General Assembly

Lay the Ground for Achieving Greater Victories this Year

The Student Council and the whole studentry of our college are in a position to achieve breakthroughs in 2006 on the basis of the significant advances achieved in 2005 and previous years.

The past year was marked by victories in our struggle against the commercialization of UP where we were and still are made to suffer from skyrocketing sums and various austerity measures due to the government’s continuing neglect of the education sector.

We expect to score major advances in the various fields of service to the students and the people. Let us consciously plan and rapidly take steps to lay the ground for achieving greater victories this year.

The Order of Business for the next meeting is as follows:
1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of the Minutes from the Previous Meeting
3. Business Arising from the Previous Meeting
4. Communications
5. Announcements
6. Committee Assignments
7. Setting Summer Schedules
8. Resolution on the Proposed Revival of the ROTC
9. Other Matters

We will have our third and last General Assembly for the academic year 2005-2006 this March 27, 2006 (Monday), 6:00PM at the Student Council Office.

In the service of the students and the people,

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Memo# 02

2006-03-10T23:20:00.000-08:00

To: All Councilors, UPVCC-SC
From: The Chairperson
Re: General Assembly

Warm Greetings!

The University of the Philippines has never been spared from the problems besetting greater society. If in the national scene we see concerted moves by Arroyo’s regime to crackdown on media and its perceived critics and opponents, locally we see moves for the revival of compulsory ROTC (Reserved Officer Training Corps) as directed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND).

This of course is nothing new. Suppression has always been the State’s standard response to the undying calls for fundamental social change. It is the desperation of the current administration in a bid to stay in power that led to the current situation of unbridled abuse of the people’s basic rights and civil liberties. This is despite questions to its legitimacy and capacity to effectively represent the real interests of the broad masses.

Let us therefore provide the necessary precautions against the return of a program that epitomizes not only the repressive character of education but its commercialized and mercenary tradition as well. Let us initiate the broadest principled unity to defy intensifying political repression!

The Order of Business for the next meeting is as follows:
1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of the Minutes from the Previous Meeting
3. Business Arising from the Previous Meeting
4. Communications
5. Announcements
6. Appointment of Secretariat
7. House Rules
8. On the Revival of Mandatory ROTC (Reserved Officer Training Program)
9. Other Matters

We will have our second General Assembly, 6:00 PM this March 14, 2006 (Tuesday) at the Student Council Office. Please come on time.

In the advancement of genuine freedom and democracy,

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Memo # 01

2006-03-06T23:15:00.000-08:00

To: All Incoming Councilors, UPVCC-SC

From: The Chairperson
Re: First General Assembly

Warm Greetings!

The sword of Damocles hanging over our heads was not at all removed with the lifting of Presidential Proclamation 1017. The crackdown on Gloria’s opponents and the assault on the freedom of expression and right to assemble did not at all end with the removal of the dictatorial measure.

In the context of the Arroyo administration’s systematic abandonment of the education sector and the unprecedented attacks on civil liberties to stifle all opposition to the regime’s anti-people policies, there is a need to wield the sharpest line in advancing the student’s democratic rights and interests.

Let us stand firm in another dark period of unbridled political repression and wield the weapons of critical thought and collective action. Twenty years after the ouster of Marcos, the challenge is upon us to relive, and not only remember the lessons of EDSA.

To this end, we will hold our First General Assembly, 6:30 PM this March 7, 2006 (Tuesday) at the Student Council Office. The meeting, a day before the official commencement of our term, is intended to tackle our initial plans for the next few weeks.

While the incoming UPV-USC councilors will have to wait till June for their terms to start, they are still invited to observe the College-SC General Assembly with the incumbent UPV-USC councilors.

The Order of Business is as follows:
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Communications
4. Announcements
5. Brief Intro. & Presentation of Expectations
6. Setting of Schedules of GAs for the Next Semester
7. On the Mov't. of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties
8. Setting of Schedule for Next GA
9. Other Matters

In the service of the students and the people,

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson

Open Letter

2006-02-21T20:39:00.000-08:00

First of all, I wish to congratulate the students of the UP Cebu community for surviving the recently concluded general elections and campaign for the 06-07 Student Council (SC). For sure, vestiges from the grueling campus electoral exercise remain. But in the face of an overwhelming multitude of definite challenges that we need to face, to linger on “very hard feelings” would be counter-productive and will only lead us to the dustbin of history.

Last February 1, we saw the execution of an increase in the Value-Added Tax from 10 to 12 percent. Moreover, there is the threat of another round of oil price hikes and a corresponding increase in the cost of goods and basic services while our parent’s salaries remain nailed to the floor.

Apart from worsening economic conditions, there are also political issues that remain unresolved. We have to cope with a president whose legitimacy and mandate the people continue to question, the debate regarding Charter Change, and the intensification of political killings and repression nationwide.

The problems besetting UP reflect this societal turmoil. Every year, we see the reduction of state subsidy. Likewise, the burden of shouldering the University’s operations is being passed on to the students through the intensification of commercialization as our facilities and services continue to deteriorate.

As we process our enrollment pre-registration, we will notice not a few changes. In line with a Malacañang directive, our school will be implementing a four-day school week and a five-day work week where all our subjects, including the PE and laboratory classes will be squeezed from Tuesday-to-Friday.

We are dismayed that we were not consulted when it is in fact us, the students, who will be directly affected by the undue pressures and fatigue that such an arrangement will bring. The long weekend can lead to the destruction of academic momentum while the 7am-to-7pm time-table may prove difficult for launching activities for the holistic development of the students.

Yet again we stand at the losing end from the government’s systematic misallocation of resources.

The SC, under my watch will be at the forefront of the struggle for the advancement of the student’s welfare. The experience of our fellow UPians in Baguio where this scheme was first implemented points out to the need for collective action and the assertion of our rights and interests.

We can follow the example set by the UP Baguio-University Student Council (UPB-USC) when they spearheaded a campaign to restore the original MTh-TF schedule. Their dedication and militancy brought back the six-day work week for certain student serices like the Library.

I am, however, no messiah. I cannot, like the traditional politicians of mainstream society, promise to make UP a better place. I cannot promise to have all anti-student and anti-people policies and measures prevented and have all the pro-student ones implemented.

The unification of our ranks, the unity of the students - these are the basic guarantees of the sure triumph of our cause. With such in mind, let us raise our determination to seek and carry out answers to the real issues that we will unavoidably be confronted with.

Let us move on as a whole - as a solid organization of individuals moving toward a common goal. Indeed, this is a challenge for everyone to meet. If we are to direct solutions to the short-term concerns we have at hand and continue the long-term fight for greater subsidy, we must succeed in this effort.

By Karlo Mikhail Mongaya
Chairperson-Elect 06-07
Student Council