UP APSM Statement on the September 22 Incident (Pelting of Eggs at Gen. Esperon)

STATEMENT OF THE UP ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS

Last Friday, Sept.22, the UP Association of Political Science Majors held a forum entitled "Untamed Conflict and Arrested Development: Finding a Way Out of the Vicious Cycle". The objectives of the forum were to shed light on the nexus of conflict and development and to examine proposed solutions from different actors and institutions. The speakers invited were Gen. Hermogenes Esperon from the military, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer from SULONG CAHRIHL, Dr. Florian Alburo from the School of Economics, and Usec. Danilo Encinas of the GRP Peace Negotiations Panel. The forum should be noted for having successfully engaged different actors in a formal and academic discourse and an open exchange of ideas.

The UP APSM is a non-partisan organization with the slogan “where both ends of the political spectrum meet”. Having Gen. Esperon and the Undersecretary Encinas talk to students affiliated to the militant sectors is no less than a perfect example of the meeting of divergent sides. The attendance of Gen. Esperon, together with the other speakers should be recognized as an effort to provide a balanced and unbiased discussion on the topic. The speakers even actively took part during the open forum where they engaged the audience in a dialogue and debate. However, it is unfortunate that some students went against the parameters of academic discourse in the incident after the forum. Contrary to accusations, APSM stands for academic freedom. We believe that academic freedom means that a person, organization or institution can articulate ideas and political beliefs without the threat of being harmed in any way. In fact, the presentation of the forum is an attempt to achieve that objective. The military as an institution, just like other actors in society, deserves its right to participate in public discourse and present its ideas and policies. For a such as the one presented promotes transparency by engaging the military in a public discussion of its ideas and policies. We regret that at the end of the forum, some members of the group STAND UP, LFS and other groups threw eggs at the unarmed AFP delegates. A female officer was hit on the face and the cars were soiled with eggs and mud. We would like to clarify that we do not condemn STAND UP and affiliated groups as organizations which pursue their own goals. What we are condemning are the actions of specific members involved in this incident. Among the issues raised in the forum were giving respect to human dignity and rights and rejecting violence as a means of struggle. However, these are the offenses which the perpetrators of this incident are guilty of: gross disrespect to the human person and violence. These are actions which give activists and UP students a bad name. We in UP APSM believe that we all share the same goals of social justice, equity, and development together with our frustrations with government leaders and the shortfalls of existing institutions. We fight the same battles but we differ in the fronts we choose to pursue. However, in spite of this divergence, Prof. Ferrer's ultimate point should be a guiding principle: paradigm shifts are necessary to achieve peace and regardless of what camp you are in, conflict should be settled through peaceful channels; violence should be a last resort and in the unfortunate occasion that such is employed, camps should submit themselves to established rules of engagement.

During the forum, the UP APSM as the organizers were accused of taking inappropriate measures such as inspecting bags and asking members of STAND UP to leave. First, we would like to clarify that nobody was asked to leave the forum. One of our members merely asked USC Chair Paolo Alfonso, in the same manner that other members of the audience were also asked, to vacate a seat reserved for faculty and invited guests. Second, as the organizers of the forum, UP APSM reserves the right to take precautionary measures which would ensure the general safety of the audience and the smooth flow of discussion. This decision to undertake such precautionary measures was decided upon by the organization and the organization alone. In fact, as organizers it is our responsibility to ensure the safety of students, especially those whom we invited. The violent and disruptive actions of members of STAND UP after the forum validated the necessity of measures we have taken.

We demand a public apology from the members of STAND UP, LFS and their affiliated organizations for throwing eggs and mud at the delegates of one of our invited speakers. We hope that this incident would never happen again. We also believe that Paolo Alfonso, who identified himself as the University Student Council Chairperson, should apologize to the general UP studentry for misrepresenting us. His actions during and after the forum do not represent the collective behavior of UP students. He should be more careful in his actions especially those that he is doing in his capacity as USC chair. Thus, we demand a public apology from Paolo Alfonso for his actions which were subsequently misconstrued as the general behavior of the UP studentry by the greater public. How do we create a culture of peace in the midst of these kinds of actions? How can we propose solutions to the protracted conflict in the country and the underdevelopment and suffering of our people when some groups do not know what it means to be civil? We regret that these actions have come from no less than our fellow UP students. The perpetrators of this incident, by their imprudent actions have abused and misused the idea of academic freedom held sacred by the university. Again we denounce the incident last September 22 and enjoin our fellow UP students to do the same.

wooooohoooooo!!!

midterms na next week!!!! pray for me! (for us)

im loving the toxic life!!!!!

adeeeeeeeeeeeek! (hi red. hehe!)

im back!!!

siguro it't time for me to post again. hehehe. para akong nag hibernate sa dami ng ginagawa. oh well.

where to start? hmmm... i've been in law school for, 3 weeks, i think. so far so good. so far surviving. my classes are in the evening, usually 4.30-8.30. good for me i think, i am able to utilize my time better. i usually wake up at 8am to study, tuloy tuloy na till my classes start. im getting used to the law school culture, of being called almost everyday to recite and of studying everyday as if it is finals day the next day. there's nothing much to tell, really. alangan namang ikwento ko kung paano ako mag aral diba. there's nothing happening kasi, aral-tulog lang. i even tell myself that if this is how i study in college, i should have graduated with honors. o well.

this week is my lucky week. heheh :) because of the weather classes have been suspended for 2 days straight (wed and thurs), plus the fact that we really don't have classes last tues (st. benedict's day) and today (our prof cancelled our class). last monday i am in a "grp study" with my classmates. hahaha yeah right! paalam ko lang yung grp study na yun, pero in reality inuman session yun. haha! o well, minsan lang naman kami malilibre, so sinamantala na namin ang pagkakataon. dun kami sa condo nina red sa roxas blvd. walang tulugan! 5.30 na kami umalis dun. it was fun! getting to know my classmates na rin :) tuesday naman, i went to UP. i missed my orgmates! hehehe, at last na dalaw ko na rin sila. si ava dapat pupunta din kaso nagbackout... hmp! hehehe. nag gateway na lang sila nina val, carol and tonet. i was not able to come kasi may usapan na kami ni andrew ng dinner. grabe exag yung ulan! hehehe.

so yun lang naman, wala akong masabi, ang boring ng life ko ngayon :( but honestly so far im enjoying law school, sana tuloy tuloy na :)

Hello Law School

orientation namin sa san beda law school last thursday. well, ok naman, kinda long and mejo boring na in the end pero ok pa rin naman. some of our professors gave inspirational talks, as in endless inspirational messages! hay... i met some of my classmates na rin, they seem nice naman.

friday naman is our classroom orientation. mas ok kasi yung magkakasection na lang yung magkakasama. nagkaroon naman ng interaction among us kaso hindi ko pa rin nakilala lahat. nagtanong kami ng mga kung anu-anong gumugulo sa aming isipan, nagpakain din naman sila ng pansit samin. hehe. before going home mejo tumambay muna kami ng iba kong classmates dun sa mga tindahan, me, grace, gjeff, dan and eon. saya naman, getting to know each other.

well i really want to share something with you guys, something that made me think and something that inspired me na rin siguro. it is an article by the Law Student Government president, Uella Mancenido, published in our Freshmen Survival Guide. it made me realize that i should not be that bitter that the most important period of my academic life would not be spent in UP. read on....

Open Letter

I failed the UPLAE.

The first few days walking around the dusty streets of Recto and staring at the seemingly endless rallies at Mendiola broke my heart to the core. The way the upperclassmen stopped in front of the statue of Our Lady of Monserratt or faithfully knelt at the church pews all the more convinced me that San Beda was not where I had wantd to spend the next four years of my law school life. I simply did not belong, I thought. I failed the UPLAE and this is probably the sole reason why I found myself along the halls of San Beda, bitter that i had been stripped off the chance of learning law in a "grand manner".

To ease my disappointment at myself, I tried to accept that being in San Beda is a part of a great plan. This, I painstakingly justified as I dragged my feet into the Abbot Lopez Hall during the freshmen orientation. There, I had found my answers.

In that room filled with eager faces fighting off the anxiety and fear of what lies ahead, or trying to stay awake to listen to the never-ending inspirational messages, I discovered why i was sent into the gates of San Beda. On that day, one of the spekers said that the reason why we were there was because San Beda was perhaps the only institution that allowed us the privilege of having one chance to prove that we were indeed cut out for the law profession. He said further that this institution did not believe in denying any person that chance; that we were given one whole year to make a mark and fight for that coveted slot in the next level. From that day on, I knew, with complete certainty, that here is where I had wanted to start and end.

For the past three years, Ihave come to fall in love with San Beda. Strongly, every passing year. I realized that it had become my home. I learned that as in life in general, we simply have to learn the hard way if only so that we will appreciate where life has taken us.......................


There. Mahaba pa yan, kaso tips for the freshies na yung kasunod kaya di ko na sinali. In reading that article i realized that there, indeed, is a reason why I am in this institution. As the author said, San Beda believed in chances, and they do not base your capacity to survive in law school in just one exam. San Beda gave me the chance, and I am definitely not going to waste it.

Chuvaness

hay hay hay... june na at kelangan ko nang lubos lubusin ang mga huling araw ng aking papetiks petiks na life. haha! in two weeks magiging total geek na ako (i hope).

nung wednesday dumating na si andrew galing sultan kudarat (yehey!). so ayun, nag punta ako sa kanila for some bonding moments. hahaha! tambay, tas pinanood namin yung mga kinunan niyang video doon sa kanila. kadiri pa kasi pinapanood talaga niya sakin yung video ng baboy na kinakatay! sobrang kawawa talaga yung baboy, super iyak habang ginigilitan ng leeg. eeewwweee!!!

kanina naman nagkitakita kami nina ava, carol, nyl and mga iba pang nakatambay. wala lang, magpapasukan na kasi sina ava sa tuesday so nagkita na kami ngayon. hehe, dami niya stories about dun sa orientation nila. grabe natatakot na rin ako sa kung ano mang mangyayari samin. kumain kami ng isaw sa may ilang tapos tumambay kami sa sunken. nanlibre pa si nyl ng palitaw! hehehe! tapos di ko makakalimutan na sabi ni nyl na pag naipasa ni carol yung 199 niya kay morada ililibre niya kaming 3. so carol, karirin mo yan! hehehe.

after naman nun nagkita kami ulit ni andrew at kumain kami sa ababu (ang walang kamatayang ababu). grabe tagal naming naghintay ng taxi, mga 30mins ata. after eating hinatid na niya ko sa bahay. bukas baka pumunta ulit siya dito, siyempre kelangang lubusin ang mga huling araw na di pa kami busy!

pag uwi ko naman nadatnan kong andito na ang mga padala ng tito ko galing kuwait. pinadalhan niya ako ng isang puma na silver na backpack na mejo kikay, isang quicksilver na backpack na pang maraming gamit, isang CK one summer perfume, at isang clinique happy perfume. dami pang mga ibang pabangong padala, iba kay mama iba kay sam. pro shempre maghahati hati naman kami dun, so andami na naming pabango! hehehe... kay gabby merong sobrang astig na coloring set, actually dalawang set yun. may mga markers, glitter glue, crayons na nattwist, marking pens na napag kakabit kabit, basta amazing talaga! para nga akong bumalik sa pagkabata nung nakita ko, nakakatuwa kasi. marami pang ibang padala, mga sabon, chocolates, toilet papers, meron ding nido, tide, ariel, comfort..... ay mali.... NIDO, TIDE, ARIEL, COMFORT. hehehe... soooooobrang laki kasi eh! sobrang laking can ng nido, sobrang laking ariel at comfort, ay yung tide panalo! ISANG SAKONG TIDE! hahaha! noong unang kita ko nga akala ko bigas, pagtingin ko sa label tide pala! hehehe.

anyways, orientation na namin sa 15, kinakabahan na ko!

stuff

I am now Abigail Camille A. Pizarro, MD.

haha! mamaya malalaman nyo kung bakit doktor na ko ngayon (when all this time pinangangalandakan kong gusto kong maging lawyer). last thursday, friday and saturday, nasa edsa shangri-la hotel ako with my cousins. it's like an annual thing, coz my tita has this annual convention at that hotel. during the convention, nagchecheck-in kami sa hotel. so ayun, buhay mayaman. haha! well as usual malas na naman ako, i had my period the day na magchecheck in kami, so i wasn't able to enjoy the ammenities the hotel has to offer (swimming, sauna, jacuzzi, etc). pero ok lang naman dahil kahit tumambay lang ako sa room whole day masarap pa rin ang buhay.:)

so bakit nga ba ako naging doktor? we weren't allowed to go to the convention since hindi naman kami mga doktor. sayang, dami pa naman freebies, mga bags, pens, raffle tickets, etc. but our not being doctors is not a hindrance for our desire to get free stuff. hahaha! yung isa kong cuzin, she works for the convention, namimigay ng kits sa mga doctors, ganun. so what she did is that she printed IDs and certificates for us para makapasok kami sa convention at makakuha ng free stuff. so now i have this ID (pang convention lang naman yung ID, not a permanent or valid thing) na nakalagay:Abigail Camille A. Pizarro, MD. at something na member ng Philippine Heart Association. hahaha!

cool diba? well nung nakapasok kami sa parang area ng convention, mejo nakakatense, kasi some people were looking at us. shempre ang babata pa namin para maging doctors! at worse, may lumapit pa sakin na guy na kinuha yung name, address, etc ko for the raffle. panay pa tawag sakin na doc. then nung tinanong nya yung age ko, uhm, mejo nagpanic na ko ng konti! na blurt out ko na lang "25". maya maya ko lang narealize na mashado pang bata ang 25 para maging doctor... hindi pa nga ako tapos ng med proper sa ganung age eh! hay... for the first time pinagdasal ko na hindi ako manalo sa raffle. i could only imagine the look on the doctors' faces pag tinawag ako sa stage dahil ako ang nanalo. geez.

yun lang naman ang significant na nangyari sa shang. wala naman kasi kami mashado ginagawa bukod sa tumambay sa may pool at mag megamall or shang mall.

********

last wednesday naman umuwi na si andrew sa sultan kudarat. hay, ang layo... oh well, sandali lang naman siya mawawala, pero malungkot pa rin. namimiss ko na siya, sobrang saya pa naman ng last day namin together. hehehe. balik ka na mahal!

********

kahapon naman nagpunta akong rex bookstore to buy some of my law books. grabe totohanan na to! hahaha. meron na akong civil code (persons and family relations) at revised penal code. in fairness enjoy din naman pala basahin yung mga yun, mejo sinimulan ko na kasing magbasa.. hindi naman siguro ako mabobore sa law. i wish!

malas!

hay, ang malas malas ko today! enrolment ko sa beda kanina, at umaga pa lang inuulan na ako ng malas.

balak ko eksaktong 9am andun na ko, para matapos agad. at well, mejo lang 8:45 na ko nagising. so sige fine ok lang, mahaba naman ang oras. 9:45 na ako nakaalis ng bahay. naglakad ako papuntang santolan station ng lrt. nung bumibili na ako ng ticket, na realize ko na naiwan ko lahat ng credentials na isusubmit ko. kumusta naman ako, sa lahat ng maiiwan ko yun pa. well buti na lang di pa ako nakakasakay ng train. so bumalik ako sa bahay (na mejo nakakapagod na dahil nilalakad ko lang naman yung station). pagdating ko sa legarda, nagpapix pa ako kasi wala pa akong mga pictures. so mga 11am na ako nakarating ng beda. pagdating ko dun sa area kung saan isusubmit yung credentials, sabi nila kelangan kong bumalik ng UP para kumuha ng certification na lalabas yung transcript ko within 3 months! kumusta naman sila, eh wala namang nakalagay sa listahan ng requirements nila na kelangan yun! nakalagay lang, kung wala pang transcript, kelangan ng honorable dismissal at certificate of graduation, at meron ako nung dalawang yun! marami na nga raw mga UP students na bumalik ng UP. hay kakainis talaga. buti sana kung magkalapit lang silang dalawa, mejo lang ang layo layo nun.

so ayan, bumalik ako ng UP. pero dahil nga late na ako nagising, late na rin ako dumating ng UP, lunch break na. nagmamadali pa naman ako dahil hanggang 4pm lang yung enrolment. pag bukas ng OUR, nagfile na ko ng transcript, bayad sa PNB, then balik sa OUR para nga kunin yung certification. mabilis lang dapat yun kasi gagawin nila yun sa harap mo. ang sabi sakin upo daw muna ako kasi nag CR lang yung head nila na pipirma. so hintay ako. mejo masaya pa ko nun kasi nakabalik ako agad sa OUR dahil walang pila sa PNB. 1:30pm yun. so ayan hintay. 1:45. grabe OA naman magCR yung head nila. 2pm. wala pa rin! ano bang ginagawa nun sa CR?? 2:15 ko na nakuha yung certification! 45 mins ako naghintay para lang sa isang pirma! bullshit talaga. kakalunch break nga lang nila wala pa sila sa posts nila. badtrip.

so nagmamadali na talaga ako. estimate ko a little before 3pm makakarating nako sa beda. nagtaxi na nga ako papuntang lrt station sa katipunan. grabe traffic. single lane lang kasi so di maka singit singit. nung lumuwag yung road, sus! convoy pala ng namatayan yung nasa harap namin kaya ang bagal! kung kelan naman ako nagmamadali, saka pa ko mapupunta sa likod ng convoy ng patay!

3pm nako nakarating sa beda. pero thank God, naging madali ang pag enrol ko, natapos ko pa siya, mga 4:15! hehe, bilis ng enrolment! kahit na minalas ako whole day, at least natapos ko pa rin at di na ako babalik bukas. Section 1C ako. June 15 pa ang orientation, so mejo mahaba pa ang bakasyon ko. hehehe :)

happy bday andrew!

kakauwi ko lang galing kina andrew. bday kasi niya ngayon. la lang, naghanda lang siya ng konti, for the family plus me. hehehe. noong una nanonood kami ng dvds at kwentuhan, then viola! biglang nagbrown out! hehehe. ayun, la tuloy kami magawa habang hinihintay mahanda yung food, kung ano ano na ang napagtripan namin. nagbasa kami ng encyclopedia (sa kandila, kasi nga walang ilaw), naglaro kami ng mga kandila (tinutunaw namin), tas nagdrive around kami sa village nila, usap usap, ayun. hehe, at least pag brownout alam na namin na meron pala kami ibang pwedeng gawin bukod sa manood lang ng dvds at mag internet.

ang tagal ng brownout! mga 7pm nag start, at hanggang ngayon wala pa rin silang kuryente (11pm na). astig nga eh, candelite dinner kami kanina. hehehe. dinalhan ko rin siya ng cake, pero meron pa akong surprise sa kanya na sa may19 pa niya malalaman. hehehe :)

ayun lang naman, wala naman masyado nangyayari dahil nasa bahay lang ako palagi. may bagyo ngayon, kaya malamig, mejo masarap. ang tagal ko nang hindi nakakapagkumot sa pagtulog, kagabi lang ulit :)

SemEnder/SendOff 2006

grabe ang saya ng sem ender/send off namin! hehehe.

destination:baloy beach sa subic. 5am ang meeting time sa jollibee philcoa. dumating ako mga 5:30, as usual, konti pa lang ang tao. andun na si ava nun, pero kakadating lang niya galing sa gimik nya with highschool friends, so umuwi muna siya. so ayan, hintayan... mga bandang 6:30 halos kumpleto na kami. ang kaso, biglang nagtext si ava, di na raw siya pinayagan! kumusta naman yun! so ayan, punta kami ni carol sa kanila (bliss lang naman siya nakatira), sabi namin kulitin nya yung mom nya. kasi naman, huling official outing na namin to with APSM, hindi pa siya makakasama. ayun, nakulitan na yung mom nya, pinaalis na rin siya. hehehe.

mga 7:30 na kami nakaalis. jeep ang sasakyan namin, at grabe para kaming sardinas! hehe. pero ok lang, close kami lahat (literally), haha. ang pinakahighlight ng jeep ride namin papunta sa subic ay ang pagkakahuli sa amin ng LTO sa may olonggapo (olonggapo na nga ba yun?). di daw kasi nakaseat belt yung driver namin. hay, ayan mahabang diskusyon, eklat eklat. hanggang sa nalaman nung mga nanghuli na UP students kami. ayun, pinakawalan kami! sumasama din daw kasi sila sa mga rally, basta daw dapat anti-GMA kami. hehehe! ok pala maging UP student, immune ka sa paghuli sayo ng pulis. haha!

pagdating namin dun, konting ayos ayos, at swimming na agad! hehehe. minsan lang naman kasi mag beach ang APSM, actually sa 3 1/2 yrs kong pagiging member eh ngayon lang kami nagbeach, so mejo excited ang mga tao! ayos naman yung beach, di siya mabato, at kahit sobrang layo mo na sa shore eh ang babaw pa rin! hanggang hapon na yang swimming na yan, umahon lang para kumain. hehehe.

after swim, mejo naglakad lakad kami ni ava sa shore. la lang, kwentuhan about love life. hahaha. ang sarap palang maglakad sa shore nang naka paa lang. di na nga namin napansin na malayo na kami sa bahay namin.

nung dinner naman, pinalabas na nina dom yung prinepare nilang video for us. ganda, sobrang natuwa kami. sayang nga lang kasi 3 lang kaming graduates na andun, si ava, si gino, saka ako. solid block n-9! hahaha. nung pinagsalita nila ko, di ko na napigilan, naiyak na talaga ako! hehehe. sabi ko pa naman hindi ako iiyak! at least di ako yung unang umiyak, si jayson, naiyak daw siya sa kanta. hehehe. ayun, ok naman ang program, meron pa silang binigay sa amin na certificate at saka key chain. thanks talaga guys! si val naman binigyan ako ng parker na fountain pen! tamang tama! salamat val! at salamat din pala sa mga nag message sa akin sa video, si buddy jerome, si faiva, april, val at andrew. thanks guys!

after nung program, inuman na. hehehe. yung iba dahil lasing na dun na sa sand natulog. ako, si ava at carol pumunta kami sa jeep para dun matulog (ang dumi na kasi ng sahig dun sa bahay namin, tapos yung mga kama puno na). kaso di ko kinaya, sobrang daming lamok! nagtiyaga na lang ako sa maruming sahig at dun ako humiga. wala pa naman akong maisapin kasi basa yung twalya ko. mga after an hour, (mga 3am na siguro), ginising ako ni nyl at pinalipat sa kama. buti na lang. hehehe. thanks nyl!

nung morning naman, nag boating kami! grabe sobrang dami namin sa isang boat, 25 ata kami lahat! buti na lang di lumubog yun. pumunta kami sa isang island, 1 hour kami dun. ang ganda nung island, white sand, tapos sobrang clear nung water. kaya lang ang daming mga jellyfish at sea urchin. yung iba nagswimming, kami namang iba hindi na, nakakatamad na kasi maligo eh. pero kahit nakaupo lang kami masaya pa rin!

pagbalik namin, kain sandali, tapos uwian na! well, sobrang nag enjoy ako! salamat guys! mahal ko kayo lahat! at mamimiss ko kayo!

some pix:



ayos ba ang pose? the beautiful girls of APSM.



o parang pang tv ang drama nito! tabing dagat.



ang gaganda. baka tulo laway na mga lalaki dito.



sa island!



the graduates! batchmates, blockmates, orgmates :)



APSM with the sunset effect :)

graduation!

me and ava before the grad :)



block n-9 rocks!



pagkababang pagkababa ng stage :) (btw, shungenge si mam atienza magbasa ng names! yung sakin ba naman, camille....**3seconds pause***...pizarro. kalimutan daw ba ang abigail!)



me, madz and ava after the grad :)



saying goodbye to madz and ava :(



family pic!



after grad dinner :)



so pretty. hahaha!