UP Cebu Students Hold Christmas Party for Street Children

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. ■

Cebu Student Leaders Organize Group, Hit ASEAN Summit Cost

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

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

Greenpeace Urges UP Students to Save Seas

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