SEEING RED. The UP Fighting Maroons' relevance in the season is heavily dependent on defeating the University of the East Red Warriors tomorrow. Both UP and UE have sustained 0 wins, and 4 losses for the season. (University of the East)

On Saturday, the match between the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons and the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors will be a battle for the first: a first victory, that is.

And for the struggling Maroons, beating UE with fashion may be the perfect time to finally gain momentum halfway through the first round of UAAP Season 73.

Before the start of the season, the Maroons were considered a dark horse with 11 returning players led by Woody Co beefing up the team, the entry of rookie Mike Silungan, and a revitalized team fresh from a two-week training camp in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Expectations were high for a team that remained in the cellar for years. Some analysts even said that UP could be a strong contender for a Final Four slot this year. However, the team has not lived up to this pre-season prediction. Still winless in four outings, UP is tied with UE at the bottom of the standings.

In their last four games,  the Maroons failed to gain the momentum that they needed to bolster their Final Four bid. If ever they did, they failed to sustain it.

Going up against the De La Salle Green Archers in the opener, UP was heavily favored to win against a young DLSU team. Both teams managed to maintain a close-fight game in the first half but UP’s fate was sealed when the Archers triggered a scoring run in the third quarter after UP’s defense started to collapse and their rotation went awry.

The heartbreaking overtime upset over the UST Growling Tigers was another case of momentum lost. Team captain Woody Co missed two crucial free throws that would have given UP a 71-68 lead. However, UST still managed to force to game into overtime after a Mike Silungan foul sent Jeric Teng to the line and split his charities. During the extra period, the Tigers sizzled from beyond-the arc to finish the game, 87-81.

Sustaining the momentum

In another game, when Martin Reyes scored back-to back triples and led UP to a scoring run that cut the FEU Tamaraws’ lead to eight, RR Garcia scored a three-pointer and Pipo Noundou scored a one-handed dunk off a steal to recover their double-digit lead. Again, UP seized the momentum but they failed to sustain it.

How, now, do they seize and sustain the momentum that they need to win?

First, Beat UE. Start getting it on Saturday. Beat UE and beat them hard. The Warriors lost their last four games by a margin of 12.25 points. Winning against UE in double-figures will gain them both the momentum and the morale that they need when UP faces its Katipunan neighbor Ateneo on Thursday. A victory over the Blue Eagles will further boost their drive for a winning skid when they wrap-up the first round against the National University Bulldogs.

Paint points in the paint. Most of the Maroons are shooters. Thus, UP loves shooting from beyond-the-arc but their three-point shooting are dismal. The team averages 23.58% in three-point field goals. The big men need to post up more inside the paint especially Magi Sison. He can create space inside and elude his defenders for an easy lay-up. Properly executing the game plays and deceiving the defense are the keys to paint more points in the paint.

Invest on defense. Once the lead starts to widen, UP’s defense starts to collapse. Terrence Romeo, the sharp-shooting rookie from FEU who scored 83 points in a juniors match for the Baby Tams, was able to show his shooting skills in the UP-FEU match when the Maroons’ defense plummeted down.

Surge and sustain it. When Martin Reyes fires back-to-back three-pointers or a similar event happens, the Maroons should also solidify their defense. RR Garcia managed to answer with a triple over a loose UP defense and Pipo Noundou deflected the ball off UP and finished with a dunk.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay; Chief Justice Renato Corona; Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; my fellow workers in government;

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

Sa bawat sandali po ng pamamahala ay nahaharap tayo sa isang sangandaan.
Sa isang banda po ay ang pagpili para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Ang pagtanaw sa interes ng nakakarami; ang pagkapit sa prinsipyo; at ang pagiging tapat sa sinumpaan nating tungkulin bilang lingkod-bayan. Ito po ang tuwid na daan.

Sa kabilang banda ay ang pag-una sa pansariling interes. Ang pagpapaalipin sa pulitikal na konsiderasyon, at pagsasakripisyo ng kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ito po ang baluktot na daan.

Matagal pong naligaw ang pamahalaan sa daang baluktot. Araw-araw po, lalong lumilinaw sa akin ang lawak ng problemang ating namana. Damang-dama ko ang bigat ng aking responsibilidad.
Sa unang tatlong linggo ng aming panunungkulan, marami po kaming natuklasan. Nais ko pong ipahayag sa inyo ang iilan lamang sa mga namana nating suliranin at ang ginagawa naming hakbang para lutasin ang mga ito.
Sulyap lamang po ito; hindi pa ito ang lahat ng problemang haharapin natin. Inilihim at sadyang iniligaw ang sambayanan sa totoong kalagayan ng ating bansa.

Sa unang anim na buwan ng taon, mas malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno kaysa sa pumasok na kita. Lalong lumaki ang deficit natin, na umakyat na sa 196.7 billion pesos. Sa target na kuleksyon, kinapos tayo ng 23.8 billion pesos; ang tinataya namang gastos, nalagpasan natin ng 45.1 billion pesos.

Ang budget po sa 2010 ay 1.54 trillion pesos.
Nasa isandaang bilyong piso o anim at kalahating porsyento na lang ng kabuuan ang malaya nating magagamit para sa nalalabing anim na buwan ng taong ito.
Halos isang porsyento na lang po ng kabuuang budget ang natitira para sa bawat buwan.

Saan naman po dinala ang pera?

Naglaan ng dalawang bilyong piso na Calamity Fund bilang paghahanda para sa mga kalamidad na hindi pa nangyayari. Napakaliit na nga po ng pondong ito, ngunit kapapasok pa lang natin sa panahon ng baha at bagyo, 1.4 billion pesos o sitenta porsyento na ang nagastos.

Sa kabuuan ng 108 million pesos para sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, 105 million pesos nito ay napunta sa iisang distrito lamang.

Samantala, ang lalawigan ng Pangasinan na sinalanta ng Pepeng ay nakatanggap ng limang milyong piso lamang para sa pinsalang idinulot ng bagyong Cosme, na nangyari noong 2008 pa.

Ibinigay po ang pondo ng Pampanga sa buwan ng eleksyon, pitong buwan pagkatapos ng Ondoy at Pepeng. Paano kung bumagyo bukas? Inubos na ang pondo nito para sa bagyong nangyari noong isang taon pa. Pagbabayaran ng kinabukasan ang kasakiman ng nakaraan.

Ganyan din po ang nangyari sa pondo ng MWSS. Kamakailan lamang, pumipila ang mga tao para lang makakuha ng tubig. Sa kabila nito, minabuti pa ng liderato ng MWSS na magbigay ng gantimpala sa sarili kahit hindi pa nababayaran ang pensyon ng mga retiradong empleyado.

Noong 2009, ang buong payroll ng MWSS ay 51.4 million pesos. Pero hindi lang naman po ito ang sahod nila; may mga additional allowances at benefits pa sila na aabot sa 160.1 million pesos. Sa madaling sabi, nakatanggap sila ng 211.5 million pesos noong nakaraang taon. Beinte-kuwatro porsyento lang nito ang normal na sahod, at sitenta’y sais porsyento ang dagdag.

Ang karaniwang manggagawa hanggang 13th month pay plus cash gift lang ang nakukuha. Sa MWSS, aabot sa katumbas ng mahigit sa tatlumpung buwan ang sahod kasama na ang lahat ng mga bonuses at allowances na nakuha nila.

Mas matindi po ang natuklasan natin sa pasahod ng kanilang Board of Trustees. Tingnan po natin ang mga allowances na tinatanggap nila:

Umupo ka lang sa Board of Trustees at Board Committee meeting, katorse mil na. Aabot ng nobenta’y otso mil ito kada buwan. May grocery incentive pa sila na otsenta mil kada taon.

Hindi lang iyon: may mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, at Financial Assistance. May Christmas bonus na, may Additional Christmas Package pa. Kada isa sa mga ito, nobenta’y otso mil.

Sa suma total po, aabot ang lahat ng dalawa’t kalahating milyong piso kada taon sa bawat miyembro ng Board maliban sa pakotse, technical assistance, at pautang. Uulitin ko po. Lahat ng ito ay ibinibigay nila sa kanilang mga sarili habang hindi pa nababayaran ang mga pensyon ng kanilang mga retirees.

Pati po ang La Mesa Watershed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon ng tamang supply ng tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa watershed, puno ang kailangan. Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo, tinayuan nila ng bahay para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS.

Hindi naman sila agad maaalis sa puwesto dahil kabilang sila sa mga Midnight Appointees ni dating Pangulong Arroyo. Iniimbestigahan na natin ang lahat nang ito. Kung mayroon pa silang kahit kaunting hiya na natitira – sana kusa na lang silang magbitiw sa puwesto.

Pag-usapan naman po natin ang pondo para sa imprastruktura. Tumukoy ang DPWH ng dalawandaan apatnapu’t anim na priority safety projects na popondohan ng Motor Vehicle Users Charge. Mangangailangan po ito ng budget na 425 million pesos.

Ang pinondohan po, dalawampu’t walong proyekto lang. Kinalimutan po ang dalawandaan at labing walong proyekto at pinalitan ng pitumpung proyekto na wala naman sa plano. Ang hininging 425 million pesos, naging 480 million pesos pa, lumaki lalo dahil sa mga proyektong sa piling-piling mga benepisyaryo lang napunta.

Mga proyekto po itong walang saysay, hindi pinag-aralan at hindi pinaghandaan, kaya parang kabuteng sumusulpot

Tapos na po ang panahon para dito. Sa administrasyon po natin, walang kota-kota, walang tongpats, ang pera ng taumbayan ay gagastusin para sa taumbayan lamang.

Meron pa po tayong natuklasan. Limang araw bago matapos ang termino ng nakaraang administrasyon, nagpautos silang maglabas ng 3.5 billion pesos para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta nina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Walumpu’t anim na proyekto ang paglalaanan dapat nito na hindi na sana idadaan sa public bidding. Labingsiyam sa mga ito na nagkakahalaga ng 981 million pesos ang muntik nang makalusot. Hindi pa nailalabas ang Special Allotment Release Order ay pirmado na ang mga kontrata.

Buti na lang po ay natuklasan at pinigilan ito ni Secretary Rogelio Singson ng DPWH. Ngayon po ay dadaan na ang kabuuan ng 3.5 billion pesos sa tapat na bidding, at magagamit na ang pondo na ito sa pagbibigay ng lingap sa mga nawalan ng tahanan dahil kina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Pag-usapan naman natin ang nangyari sa NAPOCOR. Noong 2001 hanggang 2004, pinilit ng gobyerno ang NAPOCOR na magbenta ng kuryente nang palugi para hindi tumaas ang presyo. Tila ang dahilan: pinaghahandaan na nila ang eleksyon.

Dahil dito, noong 2004, sumagad ang pagkakabaon sa utang ng NAPOCOR. Napilitan ang pambansang gobyerno na sagutin ang dalawandaang bilyong pisong utang nito.
Ang inakala ng taumbayan na natipid nila sa kuryente ay binabayaran din natin mula sa kaban ng bayan. May gastos na tayo sa kuryente, binabayaran pa natin ang dagdag na pagkakautang ng gobyerno.

Kung naging matino ang pag-utang, sana’y nadagdagan ang ating kasiguruhan sa supply ng kuryente. Pero ang desisyon ay ibinatay sa maling pulitika, at hindi sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan. Ang taumbayan, matapos pinagsakripisyo ay lalo pang pinahirapan.

Ganito rin po ang nangyari sa MRT. Sinubukan na namang bilhin ang ating pagmamahal. Pinilit ang operator na panatilihing mababa ang pamasahe.

Hindi tuloy nagampanan ang garantiyang ibinigay sa operator na mababawi nila ang kanilang puhunan. Dahil dito, inutusan ang Landbank at Development Bank of the Philippines na bilhin ang MRT.

Ang pera ng taumbayan, ipinagpalit sa isang naluluging operasyon.

Dumako naman po tayo sa pondo ng NFA.

Noong 2004: 117,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply ng Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 900,000 metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit pitong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra pa rin ang binili nila.

Noong 2007: 589,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply sa Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 1.827 million metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit tatlong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra na naman ang binili nila.

Ang masakit nito, dahil sobra-sobra ang binibili nila taun-taon, nabubulok lang pala sa mga kamalig ang bigas, kagaya ng nangyari noong 2008.

Hindi po ba krimen ito, na hinahayaan nilang mabulok ang bigas, sa kabila ng apat na milyong Pilipinong hindi kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw?

Ang resulta nito, umabot na sa 171.6 billion pesos ang utang ng NFA noong Mayo ng taong ito.

Ang tinapon na ito, halos puwede na sanang pondohan ang mga sumusunod:

Ang budget ng buong Hudikatura, na 12.7 billion pesos sa taong ito.

Ang Conditional Cash Transfers para sa susunod na taon, na nagkakahalaga ng 29.6 billion pesos.

Ang lahat ng classroom na kailangan ng ating bansa, na nagkakahalaga ng 130 billion pesos.

Kasuklam-suklam ang kalakarang ito. Pera na, naging bato pa.

Narinig po ninyo kung paano nilustay ang kaban ng bayan. Ang malinaw po sa ngayon: ang anumang pagbabago ay magmumula sa pagsiguro natin na magwawakas na ang pagiging maluho at pagwawaldas.

Kaya nga po mula ngayon: ititigil na natin ang paglulustay sa salapi ng bayan. Tatanggalin natin ang mga proyektong mali.

Ito po ang punto ng tinatawag nating zero-based approach sa ating budget. Ang naging kalakaran po, taun-taon ay inuulit lamang ang budget na puno ng tagas. Dadagdagan lang nang konti, puwede na.

Sa susunod na buwan ay maghahain tayo ng budget na kumikilala nang tama sa mga problema, at magtutuon din ng pansin sa tamang solusyon.

Ilan lang ito sa mga natuklasan nating problema. Heto naman po ang ilang halimbawa ng mga hakbang na ginagawa natin.

Nandiyan po ang kaso ng isang may-ari ng sanglaan. Bumili siya ng sasakyang tinatayang nasa dalawampu’t anim na milyong piso ang halaga.

Kung kaya mong bumili ng Lamborghini, bakit hindi mo kayang magbayad ng buwis?

Nasampahan na po ito ng kaso. Sa pangunguna nina Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares at Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, bawat linggo po ay may bago tayong kasong isinasampa kontra sa mga smuggler at sa mga hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis.

Natukoy na rin po ang salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal killings mula nang umupo tayo.

Singkuwenta porsyento po ng mga insidente ng extralegal killings ang patungo na sa kanilang resolusyon.

Ang natitira pong kalahati ay hindi natin tatantanan ang pag-usig hanggang makamit ang katarungan.

Pananagutin natin ang mga mamamatay-tao. Pananagutin din natin ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno.

Nagsimula nang mabuo ang ating Truth Commission, sa pangunguna ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Hahanapin natin ang katotohanan sa mga nangyari diumanong katiwalian noong nakaraang siyam na taon.

Sa loob ng linggong ito, pipirmahan ko ang kauna-unahang Executive Order na nagtatalaga sa pagbuo nitong Truth Commission.

Kung ang sagot sa kawalan ng katarungan ay pananagutan, ang sagot naman sa kakulangan natin sa pondo ay mga makabago at malikhaing paraan para tugunan ang mga pagkatagal-tagal nang problema.

Napakarami po ng ating pangangailangan: mula sa edukasyon, imprastruktura, pangkalusugan, pangangailangan ng militar at kapulisan, at marami pang iba. Hindi kakasya ang pondo para mapunan ang lahat ng ito.

Kahit gaano po kalaki ang kakulangan para mapunan ang mga listahan ng ating pangangailangan, ganado pa rin ako dahil marami nang nagpakita ng panibagong interes at kumpyansa sa Pilipinas.

Ito ang magiging solusyon: mga Public-Private Partnerships. Kahit wala pa pong pirmahang nangyayari dito, masasabi kong maganda ang magiging bunga ng maraming usapin ukol dito.

May mga nagpakita na po ng interes, gustong magtayo ng expressway na mula Maynila, tatahak ng Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, hanggang sa dulo ng Cagayan Valley nang hindi gugugol ang estado kahit na po piso.

Sa larangan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas:

Mayroon po tayong 36,000 nautical miles ng baybayin. Ang mayroon lamang tayo: tatlumpu’t dalawang barko. Itong mga barkong ito, panahon pa ni MacArthur.

May nagmungkahi sa atin, ito ang proposisyon: uupahan po nila ang headquarters ng Navy sa Roxas Boulevard at ang Naval Station sa Fort Bonifacio.

Sagot po nila ang paglipat ng Navy Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo. Agaran, bibigyan tayo ng isandaang milyong dolyar. At dagdag pa sa lahat nang iyan, magsusubi pa sila sa atin ng kita mula sa mga negosyong itatayo nila sa uupahan nilang lupa.

Sa madali pong sabi: Makukuha natin ang kailangan natin, hindi tatayo gagastos, kikita pa tayo.

Marami na pong nag-alok at nagmungkahi sa atin, mula lokal hanggang dayuhang negosyante, na magpuno ng iba’t ibang pangangailangan.

Mula sa mga public-private partnerships na ito, lalago ang ating ekonomiya, at bawat Pilipino makikinabang. Napakaraming sektor na matutulungan nito.

Maipapatayo na po ang imprastrukturang kailangan natin para palaguin ang turismo.
Sa agrikultura, makapagtatayo na tayo ng mga grains terminals, refrigeration facilities, maayos na road networks at post-harvest facilities.

Kung maisasaayos natin ang ating food supply chain sa tulong ng pribadong sektor, sa halip na mag-angkat tayo ay maari na sana tayong mangarap na mag-supply sa pandaigdigang merkado.

Kung maitatayo ang minumungkahi sa ating railway system, bababa ang presyo ng bilihin. Mas mura, mas mabilis, mas maginhawa, at makakaiwas pa sa kotong cops at mga kumokotong na rebelde ang mga bumibiyahe.

Paalala lang po: una sa ating plataporma ang paglikha ng mga trabaho, at nanggagaling ang trabaho sa paglago ng industriya. Lalago lamang ang industriya kung gagawin nating mas malinis, mas mabilis, at mas maginhawa ang proseso para sa mga gustong magnegosyo.

Pabibilisin natin ang proseso ng mga proyektong sumasailalim sa Build-Operate-Transfer. Sa tulong ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno at ng mga mamamayan, pabababain natin sa anim na buwan ang proseso na noon ay inaabot ng taon kung hindi dekada.

May mga hakbang na rin pong sinisimulan ang DTI, sa pamumuno ni Secretary Gregory Domingo:

Ang walang-katapusang pabalik-balik sa proseso ng pagrehistro ng pangalan ng kumpanya, na kada dalaw ay umaabot ng apat hanggang walong oras, ibababa na natin sa labinlimang minuto.

Ang dating listahan ng tatlumpu’t anim na dokumento, ibababa natin sa anim. Ang dating walong pahinang application form, ibababa natin sa isang pahina.

Nananawagan ako sa ating mga LGUs. Habang naghahanap tayo ng paraan para gawing mas mabilis ang pagbubukas ng mga negosyo, pag-aralan din sana nila ang kanilang mga proseso. Kailangan itong gawing mas mabilis, at kailangan itong itugma sa mga sinisumulan nating reporma.

Negosyante, sundalo, rebelde, at karaniwang Pilipino, lahat po makikinabang dito. Basta po hindi dehado ang Pilipino, papasukin po natin lahat iyan.

Kailangan na po nating simulan ang pagtutulungan para makamit ito. Huwag nating pahirapan ang isa’t isa.

Parating na po ang panahon na hindi na natin kailangang mamili sa pagitan ng seguridad ng ating mamamayan o sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak.

Oras na maipatupad ang public-private partnerships na ito, mapopondohan ang mga serbisyong panlipunan, alinsunod sa ating plataporma.

Magkakapondo na po para maipatupad ang mga plano natin sa edukasyon.
Mapapalawak natin ang basic education cycle mula sa napakaikling sampung taon tungo sa global standard na labindalawang taon.

Madadagdagan natin ang mga classroom. Mapopondohan natin ang service contracting sa ilalim ng GASTPE.

Pati ang conditional cash transfers, na magbabawas ng pabigat sa bulsa ng mga pamilya, madadagdan na rin ng pondo.

Maipapatupad ang plano natin sa PhilHealth.

Una, tutukuyin natin ang tunay na bilang ng mga nangangailangan nito. Sa ngayon, hindi magkakatugma ang datos. Sabi ng PhilHealth sa isang bibig, walumpu’t pitong porsyento na raw ang merong coverage. Sa kabilang bibig naman, singkuwenta’y tres porsyento naman. Ayon naman sa National Statistics Office, tatlumpu’t walong porsyento ang may coverage.

Ngayon pa lang, kumikilos na si Secretary Dinky Soliman at ang DSWD upang ipatupad ang National Household Targetting System, na magtutukoy sa mga pamilyang higit na nagangailangan ng tulong. Tinatayang siyam na bilyon ang kailangan para mabigyan ng PhilHealth ang limang milyong pinakamaralitang pamilyang Pilipino.

Napakaganda po ng hinaharap natin. Kasama na po natin ang pribadong sektor, at kasama na rin natin ang League of Provinces, sa pangunguna nina Governor Alfonso Umali kasama sina Governor L-Ray Villafuerte at Governor Icot Petilla. Handa na pong makipagtulungan para makibahagi sa pagtustos ng mga gastusin. Alam ko rin pong hindi magpapahuli ang League of Cities sa pangunguna ni Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.

Kung ang mga gobyernong lokal ay nakikiramay na sa ating mga adhikain, ang Kongreso namang pinanggalingan ko, siguro naman maasahan ko din.

Nagpakitang-gilas na po ang gabinete sa pagtukoy ng ating mga problema at sa paglulunsad ng mga solusyon sa loob lamang ng tatlong linggo.

Nang bagyo pong Basyang, ang sabi sa atin ng mga may prangkisa sa kuryente, apat na araw na walang kuryente. Dahil sa mabilis na pagkilos ni Secretary Rene Almendras at ng Department of Energy, naibalik ang kuryente sa halos lahat sa loob lamang ng beinte-kwatro oras.

Ito pong sinasabing kakulangan sa tubig sa Metro Manila, kinilusan agad ni Secretary Rogelio Singson at ng DPWH. Hindi na siya naghintay ng utos, kaya nabawasan ang perwisyo.

Nakita na rin natin ang gilas ng mga hinirang nating makatulong sa Gabinete. Makatuwiran naman po sigurong umasa na hindi na sila padadaanin sa butas ng karayom para makumpirma ng Commission on Appointments. Kung mangyayari po ito, marami pa sa mga mahuhusay na Pilipino ang maeengganyong magsilbi sa gobyerno.

Sa lalong madaling panahon po, uupo na tayo sa LEDAC at pag-uusapan ang mga mahahalagang batas na kailangan nating ipasa. Makakaasa kayo na mananatiling bukas ang aking isipan, at ang ating ugnayan ay mananatiling tapat.

Isinusulong po natin ang Fiscal Responsibility Bill, kung saan hindi tayo magpapasa ng batas na mangangailangan ng pondo kung hindi pa natukoy ang panggagalingan nito. May 104.1 billion pesos tayong kailangan para pondohan ang mga batas na naipasa na, ngunit hindi maipatupad.

Kailangan din nating isaayos ang mga insentibong piskal na ibinigay noong nakaraan. Ngayong naghihigpit tayo ng sinturon, kailangang balikan kung alin sa mga ito ang dapat manatili at kung ano ang dapat nang itigil.

Huwag po tayong pumayag na magkaroon ng isa pang NBN-ZTE. Sa lokal man o dayuhan manggagaling ang pondo, dapat dumaan ito sa tamang proseso. Hinihingi ko po ang tulong ninyo upang amiyendahan ang ating Procurement Law.

Ayon po sa Saligang Batas, tungkulin ng estado ang siguruhing walang lamangan sa merkado. Bawal ang monopolya, bawal ang mga cartel na sasakal sa kumpetisyon. Kailangan po natin ng isang Anti-Trust Law na magbibigay-buhay sa mga prinsipyong ito. Ito ang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga Small- at Medium-scale Enterprises na makilahok at tumulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya.

Ipasa na po natin ang National Land Use Bill.

Una rin pong naging batas ng Commonwealth ang National Defense Act, na ipinasa noon pang 1935. Kailangan nang palitan ito ng batas na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng pambansang seguridad sa kasalukuyan.

Nakikiusap po akong isulong ang Whistleblower’s Bill upang patuloy nang iwaksi ang kultura ng takot at pananahimik.

Palalakasin pa lalo ang Witness Protection Program. Alalahanin po natin na noong taong 2009 hanggang 2010, may nahatulan sa 95% ng mga kaso kung saan may witness na sumailalim sa programang ito.

Kailangang repasuhin ang ating mga batas. Nanawagan po akong umpisahan na ang rekodipikasyon ng ating mga batas, upang siguruhing magkakatugma sila at hindi salu-salungat.

Ito pong mga batas na ito ang batayan ng kaayusan, ngunit ang pundasyon ng lahat ng ginagawa natin ay ang prinsipyong wala tayong mararating kung walang kapayapaan at katahimikan.

Dalawa ang hinaharap nating suliranin sa usapin ng kapayapaan: ang situwasyon sa Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pag-aaklas ng CPP-NPA-NDF.

Tungkol sa situwasyon sa Mindanao: Hindi po nagbabago ang ating pananaw.

Mararating lamang ang kapayapaan at katahimikan kung mag-uusap ang lahat ng apektado: Moro, Lumad, at Kristiyano. Inatasan na natin si Dean Marvic Leonen na mangasiwa sa ginagawa nating pakikipag-usap sa MILF.

Iiwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon, kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng Mindanao. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa mga dudang may kulay ng pulitika ang proseso, at hindi ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tanging interes.

Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan.

Tungkol naman po sa CPP-NPA-NDF: handa na ba kayong maglaan ng kongkretong mungkahi, sa halip na pawang batikos lamang?

Kung kapayapaan din ang hangad ninyo, handa po kami sa malawakang tigil-putukan. Mag-usap tayo.

Mahirap magsimula ang usapan habang mayroon pang amoy ng pulbura sa hangin. Nananawagan ako: huwag po natin hayaang masayang ang napakagandang pagkakataong ito upang magtipon sa ilalim ng iisang adhikain.

Kapayapaan at katahimikan po ang pundasyon ng kaunlaran. Habang nagpapatuloy ang barilan, patuloy din ang pagkakagapos natin sa kahirapan.

Dapat din po nating mabatid: ito ay panahon ng sakripisyo. At ang sakripisyong ito ay magiging puhunan para sa ating kinabukasan. Kaakibat ng ating mga karapatan at kalayaan ay ang tungkulin natin sa kapwa at sa bayan.

Inaasahan ko po ang ating mga kaibigan sa media, lalo na sa radyo at sa print, sa mga nagbablock-time, at sa community newspapers, kayo na po mismo ang magbantay sa inyong hanay.

Mabigyang-buhay sana ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng inyong bokasyon: ang magbigay-linaw sa mahahalagang isyu; ang maging patas at makatotohanan, at ang itaas ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso.

Tungkulin po ng bawat Pilipino na tutukan ang mga pinunong tayo rin naman ang nagluklok sa puwesto. Humakbang mula sa pakikialam tungo sa pakikilahok. Dahil ang nakikialam, walang-hanggan ang reklamo. Ang nakikilahok, nakikibahagi sa solusyon.

Napakatagal na pong namamayani ang pananaw na ang susi sa asenso ay ang intindihin ang sarili kaysa intindihin ang kapwa. Malinaw po sa akin: paano tayo aasenso habang nilalamangan ang kapwa?

Ang hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, paanong makakakuha ng trabaho? Kung walang trabaho, paanong magiging konsumer? Paanong mag-iimpok sa bangko?
Ngunit kung babaliktarin natin ang pananaw-kung iisipin nating “Dadagdagan ko ang kakayahan ng aking kapwa”-magbubunga po ito, at ang lahat ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon.

Maganda na po ang nasimulan natin. At mas lalong maganda po ang mararating natin. Ngunit huwag nating kalimutan na mayroong mga nagnanasang hindi tayo magtagumpay. Dahil kapag hindi tayo nagtagumpay, makakabalik na naman sila sa kapangyarihan, at sa pagsasamantala sa taumbayan.

Akin pong paniwala na Diyos at taumbayan ang nagdala sa ating kinalalagyan ngayon. Habang nakatutok tayo sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa, bendisyon at patnubay ay tiyak na maaasahan natin sa Poong Maykapal. At kapag nanalig tayo na ang kasangga natin ay ang Diyos, mayroon ba tayong hindi kakayanin?

Ang mandato nating nakuha sa huling eleksyon ay patunay na umaasa pa rin ang Pilipino sa pagbabago. Iba na talaga ang situwasyon. Puwede na muling mangarap. Tayo nang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pinangarap.

Maraming salamat po.

Source: ANC News

(http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/note.php?note_id=443440954121&id=262155953790)

NEW MAN ONBOARD. UP Coach Teodorico "Boyet" Fernandez III (Google Images/Flickr)

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws spoiled Teodorico “Boyet” Fernandez III’s debut as “acting’ coach of the University of the Philippines Maroons and notched their fourth straight win with a 94-70 victory over UP in their UAAP season 73 basketball match at Philsports Arena in Pasig City today.

Fernandez was named “acting” head coach of the Maroons after Aboy Castro left the Team for personal reasons. He joined UP early this season as coaching consultant. However, his “official” coach status is yet to be determined.

Coming off-the bench, Terrence Romeo scored 12 of his 21 points in the second half for the Tamaraws as they remained undefeated in the season.

“When UP’s defense started to collapse, I started pouring in baskets,” Romeo said after the match.

FEU led throughout the match as they played solid offense with a 53.8 field goal percentage or converting one in every two attempts made. UP, on the other hand, suffered heavily on offense and posted a dismal 4 of 18 from beyond the arc.

No sustainability

“The problem with the team is that most of us are shooters. We really-need to avoid our trigger-happy tendencies,” veteran Maroon Martin Reyes said.

The Tamaraws sizzled early in the match as Aldrech Ramos sank in all his baskets as sharp-shooter RR Garcia fired two triples to finish the first half with a comfortable 50-33 lead over the Maroons.

UP Fighting Maroons captain Woody Co grimaces in pain due to a muscle tear halfway through the second quarter in their game against FEU Tamaraws. Whether he will be playing for UP next week is still unknown. (Christine Anne Penalosa)

After a fired-up first half, Reyes scored a floater and fired back to back triples as they cut FEU’s lead to 8 but Romeo averted UP’s momentum by pouring in two three-pointers at the end of the third period.

“The team’s main problem is sustaining a scoring run. Once the other team stops our scoring run, we lose our play,” Fernandez said on failing to sustain their momentum in the third quarter.

“We need to do some character-building in preparation for our next game,” he added.

Meanwhile, UP team captain Woody Co suffered a muscle tear after a fall early in the second quarter. A check-up will be done tomorrow to diagnose the cause. However, Co quickly dispelled that his injury is not season-ending.

“I may be out for a week,” he said.

The UP Fighting Maroons will be going up against the UE Red Warriors Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

SIZE DOESN'T MATTER. The CMC Lady Wildcats anticipate a fresh volley from AIT/CAL during their 1st elimination match. The Wildcats lost to AIT/CAL, a composite team. (Joshua Mark Dalupang)

Yesterday was not so sunny for the College of Mass Communication’s all-freshie women’s volleyball team.

The CMC Lady Wildcats hit its first roadblock yesterday in the Diliman Games as they lost to the Asian Institute of Tourism/College of Arts and Letters (AIT/CAL) composite women’s volleyball team, scoring 7-25, 25-15, and 9-15 in the three sets respectively.

This came after the game was actually delayed for an hour due to rain puddles from a leaking roof on the CHK (College of Human Kinetics) gym’s floor, prompting staff to lay newspapers to soak the rainwater.

Yesterday’s loss is the first challenge for the Lady Wildcats after NCPAG failed to show up for their match last Monday, resulting into a default victory.

Late Spark

The Lady Wildcats went off to a slow start during the 1^st set, experiencing difficulties with their rotation.

“We more like self-destructed, that mistake of deciding the position in the first place, plus the service errors and miscommunications,” admitted team captain Marisse Gabrielle Panaligan, a journalism freshman.

They snapped back into the game by adjusting their rotation and reducing errors during the 2^nd set, when the AIT/CAL team made more slip-ups that the Wildcats took advantage of.

“They underestimated us in the second set after the very easy first set for them. They fielded their second stringers against us,” Panaligan said.

“They didn’t know that we were suffering from rotation problems in the first set so when we finally fixed that in the second set, we defeated them. They didn’t see that coming,” she added.

The 3^rd set became a tighter game among the two teams, with AIT/CAL only pulling away during the final moments to seize the victory 15-9, two sets to one against the Wildcats.

EYES ON THE PRIZE. Wildcats Captain Marisse Panaligan discusses the team's strategy against AIT/CAL during a crucial time-out in the game's final set. (Joshua Mark Dalupang)

Room for Improvement

Despite the loss, the Lady Wildcats still remain optimistic and believe there is still room for improvement.

“I guess at least we know where our weaknesses lie so we can do better next time,” said broadcast communication major Milcielo Villamayor, one of the Lady Wildcats, said.

The Lady Wildcats can still reach the Diliman Games semi-finals if they win their next two games: on August 2, 9 a.m. against the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, and on August 7, 4 p.m. against the College of Engineering.

Figures clearly show the culture of impunity under the Arroyo administration. But the counting does not stop nor does it start all over again at the change of the administration.

Though there is hope that the numbers of media killings will drop under the Aquino administration, there is no difference in the death of one journalist to a hundred. It is not about the numbers; they now hold no value. These killings reflect the kind of society that we have now: one that is numb of violence and tolerating it through silence.

Thus, we in the College of Mass Communication call on Pres. Aquino to implement the “change” that he had promised and delineate from his predecessor especially for media. We call on the present administration to:

• Combat the prevailing culture of impunity, and strive for a culture of justice. Ensure that proper prosecution take place for all the victims of media violence and human rights violations.

• Take a clear stand on media killings. Hold the Arroyo administration accountable for the extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances.

• Adhere to respect human rights. Continue the strong presence of the Commission on Human Rights and ensure the drop of human rights violations.

o Order the release of the Morong 43 and hold the perpetrators accountable. Clear the names of the health workers, two of which were former students of the College of Mass Communication: Jacqueline Gonzales, former CMC Student Council Chariperson in the year 2004-2005; and Malen Serato, a broadcast communication graduate.

o Guarantee that justice is served to all the victims of the Ampatuan Massacre. Disarm civilian volunteer organizations and vigilante groups, and denounce warlordism. Most of all, seek the removal of the country’s recognition as the “most dangerous place to practice journalism.”

• Lead all branches of government in fostering an atmosphere conducive to the development of a free press.

o Forward the passage of a stronger Freedom of Information Act. Ascertain transparency and allow media to perform its check and balance function.

o Frustrate any attempts to pass the Right of Reply Bill. Assert the development of a free press, and a law that would restrict the freedom of the press does nothing but subvert such.

o Prevent all efforts for charter change. Assure that no specific interests are served.

• Develop a more competent public information system, providing greater state subsidy and government support. Maximize the use of assets for more efficient information dissemination.

o Push for professional sequestered stations (IBC 13, NBN 4, RPN 9), serving the people and not the administration. Recognize that regardless of being government-funded, they as public servants should be allowed to criticize the government.

o Question the relevance of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, which is supposedly only a transition body and not a censorship body. Further the self-regularization of film and television.

• Guarantee job security for media practitioners, instead of being paid based on contract or as “talents” paid on the basis of output. Give a concrete stand on the lay-off of workers by ABS-CBN.

• Address corruption in media the way government corruption is faced, and clear affiliations with the country’s big media entities.

• Spend on education, and abolish miseducation. Nurture a competent and mature art sector that fosters nationalism. This call is not only for the president, but for all media practitioners as well.

This serves yet again another challenge to Pres. Aquino, calling him to stay true to his promises and hold Arroyo accountable for all her crimes. For how could he start clean with a stained slate? We in the College of Mass Communication shall remain vigilant and critical; counting every day, every deed, and every promise he has made, fulfilled, and broken. We shall watch along with the rest of the Filipino people if he is really embodying the “democracy” he claims to represent. Or else, it is that democracy that will throw him out of seat.

Source: College of Mass Communication Student Council

Students of the College of Mass Communication (CMC) laid out today an eight-point media agenda for President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 26.

The agenda, convened upon by all college organizations and the CMC Student Council (CMCSC), calls on the Aquino administration to wipe out the culture of impunity in the country and to clear its position on media killings.

The administration of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must be accountable for extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances that happened in her term, said the students.

Students urged the president to respect human rights, forward the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill and block attempts to pass the Right of Reply Bill to foster the development of a free press.

They pressed for higher state subsidy for the public information system, while urging the government to allow state-owned media networks IBC 13, NBN 4 and RPN 9 to criticize the administration.

Pushing for the self-regularization of film and television, the agenda calls on the president to recognize the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) as a “transition body,” not a censorship body.

The agenda pushed for job security for media practitioners, abolition of media corruption and a “mature art sector that fosters nationalism.” (See transcript <link here>)

Eyes on Aquino

“We shall watch along with the rest of the Filipino people if he (Aquino) is really embodying the ‘democracy’ he claims to represent. Or else, it is that democracy that will throw him out of (his) seat,” said the students in the agenda.

In the press conference today, CMC dean Roland Tolentino said media killings are part of a “sad reality” in the profession.

The call of the media agenda does not stop in the press conference but continues to President Aquino’s first SONA on Monday, Tolentino said.

Tolentino said President Aquino has much to prove if he is to distinguish himself from his predecessor, under whose administration the country was dubbed as the most dangerous place to practice journalism.

By heeding the media agenda, President Aquino can prove that he is continuing the freedom-fighting legacy of his parents, said Tolentino.

Meanwhile, journalism major Pauline Gidget Estella, editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian said the media faces violence, corporate interests, “shoddy reporting” and extra-judicial killings which hamper their work as the Fourth Estate.

“As time goes by, hindi na lang siya basta tinotolerate. Ito na rin ay inoorchestrate ng State,” said Estella.

Responsibility

To confront these issues, there is a need to strengthen the alternative press and uproot incompetence, which has been used the state as a justification for repression, said Estella.

The editor-in-chief said journalists should cease to become “passive” givers of information, but begin providing alternative analysis from that of the government.

A candle lighting ceremony of the student council and the college organizations marked their support of the agenda.

CMCSC chairperson Sherwin Su said the candle stands for the media’s responsibility to “not let go of the light.”

“Anong magiging silbi (ng ilaw) kung hindi ipapasa sa mga nangangailangan?” said Su.

Excitement fills the Fighting Maroon bench as the team maintained the lead against the Growling Tigers halfway through the fourth quarter. Tigers forced an overtime and won the game, 87-81. (Christine Anne Penalosa)

It has been another heart-breaking loss for the Fighting Maroons.

University of Santo Tomas needed a five-minute overtime to shatter a surprisingly aggressive UP Fighting Maroons, 87-81, in the first round of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Growling Tigers had redeemed themselves after bowing to the Ateneo Blue Eagles Sunday, securing a 2-1 card and placing sixth in the team standings.

“Tatlong word lang naman ‘yan: pride, puso, palaban. Pagka meron tayo noon, maraming magagandang mangayayari sa atin,” said UST Coach Pido Jarencio.

Jeric Fortuna led the Tigers’ charge with his game-high 29 points, uncorking eight long-range shots with an 80% success rate. He also wound up with six assists, five steals, and two assists.

Forward Aljon Mariano and guard Jeric Teng finished with 18 and 13 markers respectively, also firing from behind the three-point arc with five baskets combined.

The Maroons put up a fight despite the absence of Coach Aboy Castro, showing remarkably big improvement in their plays. Martin Reyes uncorked four three-pointers of his 19 points while Michael Silungan sank three of his own to finish with a 16 point output.

Fighting Maroon Alvin Padilla shoots over two Growling Tigers to give his team a slim-point separation in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter. Tigers win in overtime, 87-81. (Christine Anne Penalosa)

Coach Aboy

“We should’ve won this game for him [Coach Aboy]. I really wish we did,” said Silungan, who was recruited by Castro.

The Tigers enjoyed a seven point-lead by the end of the first half, but the Maroons began their offensive shootout during the second, closing the lead to only a point, 57-56.

UP continued their assault until the early fourth, but UST scored a very crucial basket. Acting UP Coach Boyet Fernandez claims it was clearly a 24-second violation, but the officials still counted the ball in.

The Maroons were ahead by one point with seven seconds on the clock, but Silungan fouled with three seconds to go and the game was sent to overtime for the first time in the season after a 69-69 tie at the fourth quarter’s end.

During the extra minutes, the Tigers flashed the form they showed in the mid-game, highlighting once again their accuracy in long-range shooting.

“We just have to get our first win. It might trigger a run,” said UP Coach Jerry Codiñera.

The Maroons started strongly, with Magi Sison converting points from Woody Co’s assists, scoring the inside plays. They also had tighter defense and better rebounds, giving UP the first quarter, 15-12. This is the first time in three games that the Maroons finished ahead in a quarter.

Both teams fight for possession over a jump ball situation with under 10 seconds remaining in the clock. (Christine Anne Penalosa)

“Even though we lost the first three games, we have gotten better every single game,” said Silungan in an interview with TNP after the game.

The UP Fighting Maroons will face the FEU Tamaraws on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.

After meeting with representatives from U.P. T.O.D.A. and All UP Workers Union, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA) has implemented a new Toki jeepney route that would pass by the new National Institute of Physics (NIP) in the UP Diliman campus today.

The campus’s 15 Toki jeepney drivers went to Quezon Hall 8 a.m. today to discuss the new route with Dr. Cynthia Grace Gregorio, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs and Maj. Bernie Baltazar, officer -in-charge of UP Diliman Police.

This came after Toki jeepneys plying the campus seemingly decreased yesterday, sparking rumors of a drivers’ strike.

Admin proposal

Toki drivers stopped driving around the campus yesterday noon to discuss the memorandum they received from the OVCCA Monday regarding a proposed route they disagreed with.

“Konti (15) na nga lang kami magsstrike pa kami?” said one of the jeepney drivers, brushing off rumors that a strike was held.  “Nag-uusap lang talaga kami,” he affirmed.

The drivers have since resumed their routes.

The administration’s proposal would take Toki jeepneys only until the College of Home Economics (CHE), a few kilometers short of the NIP, since the NIP gate leading to C.P. Garcia Avenue, the university’s southernmost road, is closed.

“Importante rin kasi sa ‘min ang Physics (building),” said Kuya Jester, a Toki jeepney driver, citing the number of students coming from the National Science Complex where the NIP is located.

Gregorio and Baltazar rode in a jeepney passing through the drivers’ proposed route that would let them go to NIP, return to CHE to exit to Katipunan Avenue via Shuster Street, and then go to C.P. Garcia Avenue.

The new route was approved by the administration and implemented immediately after the meeting.

According to the University Student Council Community Rights and Welfare committee, the memorandum indicated that the route change was only temporary pending the completion of the National Science Complex, but did not specify until when.

Confused Students

Without full knowledge of the situation, students were inconvenienced by the sudden absence of Toki jeeps, many believing there was a strike.

“I think it was a very abrupt move. Ang alam ko kasi yung iba nagsstrike nang may pasabi. Na-late ako sa isang class dahil naghintay ako ng Toki tapos wala pala. So nag-taxi ako at napamahal.” said Enzo Regondola , a Journalism student.

“I was waiting for the Toki kasi I have to go to CHK (College of Human Kinetics) for PE  (Physical Education) pero wala, so napa- Ikot ako,” said Pia Pellobello, a Business Administration and Accountancy student, referring to the campus’s other jeepney route, Ikot.

“There’s a strike diba?” she asked.

Ikot and Toki are the two main jeepney routes that service the entire UP Diliman campus. Toki takes its name from its route that runs opposite to Ikot. The Ikot route is counterclockwise around the campus; the Toki, clockwise.

Fighting Maroon captain, Woody Co, shoots a three-point basket over Soaring Falcon Eric Camson to help his team catch up with Adamson's seven-point lead down the two-minute mark of the fourth quarter on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena. (Christine Anne Penalosa)

The Fighting Maroons’ spark ran out too soon.

Adamson Soaring Falcons’ sudden comeback in the fourth quarter destroyed the UP Fighting Maroons’ bid for their first win, 66-59, in the first round of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City Saturday.

Eric Camson, Jerick Cañada, and Alexander Nuyles proved worthy bench picks for Falcon’s Coach Leo Austria, each having a double-digit output; sinking in 16, 14, and 10 markers respectively.

“Binalewala namin ‘yung game laban sa Ateneo. Inisip namin back to zero,” said Camson.

Adamson lost to Ateneo Thursday on the same court, 66-69, after bad calls of the referees who were immediately suspended by the UAAP Commissioner for Basketball Ato Badolato.

Woody Co once again led the Maroons, finishing with 17 points courtesy of one three-point shot, three field goals, and eight free throws. He also registered eight rebounds, four steals, two blocks, and two assists.

“We missed seven free throws in the second half; we need to get better quality shots. But we’re going to (sic) the right direction,” said UP Coach Aboy Castro.

It had been a slow start for both teams, with the first quarter closing at 13-8 in favor of the Falcons. But the Maroons slowly picked up the pace towards the second half, with Co converting an interception to an easy basket beginning the shootout.

The Fighting Maroons play a man-to-man defense against the Soaring Falcons to force 14 turnovers during their first meeting of the season Saturday at PhilSports Arena. (Christine Anne Penalosa)

3^rd quarter tie

Martin Reyes fired two consecutive shots behind the three-point arc, and Michael Silungan repeated the feat to tie the game at 44-44 by the end of the third quarter.

Small forward Mark Lopez regroups the Fighting Maroons at the dying minutes of the final quarter in their game against the Soaring Falcons on Saturday at PhilSports Arena. UP lost to Adamson, 59-66.

Co and Mark Lopez gaveUP the lead early in the fourth, only to be regained shortly by Adamson’s 17-7 run, with Camson and Cañada doing the damage for the Falcons.

The Maroons tried to catch up, but the Falcons scored at will until the last second.

Reyes and Silungan finished with 15 and 10 points, joining Co in the scoring picture and neutralizing the Falcons’, but got less support from the rest of the team.

Smart Gilas aspirant Magi Sison scored a basket for the Maroons early in the first quarter, but was silent after that and never scored again.

Alvin Padilla, Martin Pascual and Francis Maniego also contributed 10 points combined for the Maroons, while Mark Juruena penetrated defensively with seven rebounds.

In contrast, all 10 Falcons fielded scored for Adamson.

UP will collide with the UST Growling Tigers on Thursday, July 22 at the Araneta Coliseum. #

“Kahoy! Kahoy!” was all the on looking guard could exclaim moments before a tree broke off from its trunk and crashed on two passersby just hours ago.

A male and a female student, both unidentified, were injured as a tree fronting Benton Hall in U.P. Diliman collapsed 11:15 a.m. today, blocking two lanes of Roxas Ave. in the process.

Benton Hall is situated on Roxas Ave. corner Fernandez Street. It houses the Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment, the U.P. Gender Office, and the Center for International Studies.

The tree is suspected to have considerably weakened due to termites and Typhoon Basyang, which hit Metro Manila at signal # 2 strength Tuesday evening, said security guard Lorenzo Lumagod.

The plant box on which the tree was located had also cracked.

Lumagod, a roving guard assigned to the area, said the two students panicked and the male victim in a navy blue striped polo shirt was directly hit by the tree.

“Naglalakad kami papuntang CASAA (College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association, a cafeteria), at noong nasa may harap na kami ng PHAn (Palma Hall Annex), biglang bumagsak yung puno,” said Kirstin Jello Bernabe, a journalism senior who witnessed the incident with her friends.

Fracture but no bone doc

Bernabe said the victims were picked up by a black car which sped to the nearby U.P. Health Service.

The male victim suffered a leg fracture to his right knee, swelling his leg to thrice its normal size, said Dr. Hector Dionisio, the physician on duty at the Health Service emergency room.

The victim was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center because the Health Service did not have an orthopedic doctor on call.

“Right now walang ambulance para dalhin yung victim sa hospital, good thing may private vehicle na nagdala,” said Dionisio.

As of press time Campus Maintenance Office staff have partially cleared the tree, said Lumagod, and two guards have been stationed on Roxas Ave. to direct traffic around the fallen tree.

With reporting by Monica Joy Cantilero and Alexandra Gabrielle Francisco

Photos to follow shortly.