For the first time in six years, a red candidate is running for College of Business Administration representative to the University Student Council.

The Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) is fielding Business Administration and Accountancy student John Nelvin “Vino” Lucero as its contender for college representative to the USC.

STAND UP Secretary-General RG Tesa said the party had failed to field college representative bets because students interested in running preferred to join the USC councilor races as there is no party system in the local elections.

“Ngayong taon, magandang pagkakataon ang eleksyon hindi lang para manalo kundi para na rin makilala ng BA and STAND UP muli (This year, the election is a good opportunity not only to win, but also to reintroduce STAND UP to BA),” said Tesa.

Lucero will be running against Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran (ALYANSA) bet, incumbent junior representative Jonas Miguelito Cruz .

Reelectionists vie for SC posts

Meanwhile, five other incumbent members of the BA Student Council are hoping for reelection.

Leigh Wade Wong, last year’s number two councilor, is the sole candidate for the council’s highest position. Also running unopposed is John Frederick Angulo, last year’s fourth place councilor who is gunning for vice chairperson.

Current sophomore representatives Nina Gerodias and Fenina Maria de Leon, and incumbent councilor Joaquin Alonzo Narciso are among the 15 candidates hoping to snag a councilor seat.

CBA is a non-partisan college. According to the college election code, only the candidates for college representative to the USC may be affiliated with political parties.

Chairperson:

Leigh Wade Wong

Vice Chairperson:

John Frederick Narciso

CBA Representative to the USC:

Jonas Miguelito “Jonas” Cruz (Alyansa)

John Nelvin “Vino” Lucero (STAND UP)

Councilors:

Marian Concibido

Ian Dazo

Fenina Maria de Leon

Geca Gayo

Nina Gerodias

Marty Gonzaga

Joan Hwang

Michael Cheng Lim

Alfred Mendoza

Ralph Morales

Joaquin Alonzo Narciso

Jet Padernal

Corr Reyes

Nikki Turano

Nic Villasenor

Sophomore Batch Representatives:

Eduardo Luy

Zach See

Biang Sing

Charles Yu

Junior Batch Representatives:

Gio Nucum (BAA)

Senior Batch Representatives:

Grace Erum (BA)

Ramon Vinzon (BAA)

Terminals Batch Representatives:

Michael Magboo

Arthur Operania

Kat Pullante

Lordei Hina, a Political Science student who was stabbed several times by robbers on Wednesday inside the University Student Council office at Vinzons Hall in the University of the Philippines Diliman is still unconscious and remains in “a very critical condition,” her mother said.

In a press conference Saturday, Connie Hina said Lordei’s brain suffered serious damage from the wounds that were most likely inflicted by an ice pick. She added that the next six months would be critical for her daughter, who is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Capitol Medical Center, in regaining her normal cognitive functions.

“At this point, it’s hard to say if she’ll recover or not, but I always believe in the power of prayers and positive thinking. Nothing is impossible to a willing and determined mind… Alam kong makaka-recover ang anak ko (I know my daughter will recover), and that I claim right now. Di pa tapos ang laban ng anak ko sa buhay (She hasn’t finished her fight in life),” Mrs. Hina said.

Lordei was attacked when she was alone inside the USC office by two men claiming to be members of a tattoo artists’ organization which was interested in renting a booth in the upcoming UP Fair.

The UP Diliman Police were able to arrest one of the suspects, who identified himself as Carlo Pecayo, 35, a few minutes after the crime. A Vinzons Hall security guard had seen Pecayo leave with a bag he did not have with him when he entered the building.

Lordei’s bag, two laptops worth P80,000, an external drive worth P3,000, and an improvised ice pick were recovered from Pecayo. His acccomplice, identified in the police report as Dante Santos, still remains at large as of press time.

Mrs. Hina said Lordei’s brain sustained the greatest amount of damage from the stab wounds to her head, which contrary to the suspect’s claim in earlier reports, was allegedly not caused by hitting her with a trophy but by a “very sharp and blunt object, which can only be… an ice pick.”

“Whatever it is na ginamit na panghampas [kay Lordei], ang na-damage lang sa kanya ay yung nose, at yung sinuses na cause [kung bakit] namamaga pa yung mata niya. Yung sa brain, it was by stabbing, which was caused by more likely an ice pick… kasi tumagos [sa utak],” (Whatever was used to hit Lordei damaged her nose and sinuses, which caused the swelling of her eyes. Her head was stabbed, more likely by an ice pick because it went into the brain) she said.

According to Mrs. Hina, surgery is currently not an option for Lordei as doctors are still waiting for her wounds to heal. She remains positive, however, that her daughter will recover quickly given that she is still young.

Lordei’s mother and her lawyer, Jessica Barun, refused to discuss the legal actions they are planning to take against Pecayo, saying that they have yet study the charges filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Quoting Superintendent Michael Macapagal of the Quezon City Police District Station 9, the Philippine Star reported that Pecayo underwent inquest proceedings late Thursday for robbery, serious physical injury and illegal possession of a bladed weapon.

In a statement released by the Office of the Chancellor Friday, the UP administration said it is “profoundly affected and deeply saddened” by the attack on Lordei.

The UPD Committee on Security and Welfare recommended the strict checking of IDs and bags by security personnel who will be issued metal detectors at the entrances of all colleges, dormitories and buildings on campus following its emergency meeting with Chancellor Caesar Saloma on Friday.

According to the administration, UPD police visibility around the vicinity where the attack occurred will also be increased “in order to rebuild confidence.”

“As the UP Administration attempts to maintain VH (Vinzons Hall) and UP Diliman (493 hectares, 24,300+ students, 1500+ fulltime faculty members, 1500+ regular staff, tens of thousands of visitors daily) as an open and publicly accessible academic institution, it will continue to develop better ways to ensure the security, safety and well-being of its faculty, staff and students so that UP is able to accomplish its stated mandate as a national university,” the statement said.  With Ardelle Costuna

[UPDATE] The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) released on Monday the official list of candidates for the 2012 University Student Council elections.

The Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) has fielded current councilors Amancio Melad III and Soraya Escandor as their running Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.

The Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran (ALYANSA) has Gabriel Diño and Ace Ligsay as their top two contenders while the KAISA – Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA) has  Maria Shaina Santiago and Ana Alexandria Castro as their standard bearers for the top two positions.

Incumbent STAND UP councilor Jose Martin Loon of the Sigma Rho fraternity is running as independent.

Meanwhile, the University Student Electoral Board  rejected the candidacies of Hanna Keila “Kei” Garcia and  Jeff David “Jeff” Agudelo as STAND UP councilors, Percival “PJ” Tolentino as ALYANSA councilor, and Jimson “Jimson”  Sulit as ALYANSA College of Engineering representative.

Chairperson

(ALYANSA) Diño, Gabriel “Heart”
(Independent) Loon, Jose Martin
(KAISA) Santiago, Maria Shaina
(STAND UP) Melad, Amancio III “Aman”

Vice-chairperson

(ALYANSA) Ligsay, Ace “Ace”
(KAISA) Castro, Ana Alexandra
(STAND UP) Escandor, Soraya Elisse “Aya”

Councilors

ALYANSA
Ayala, Eduard Francis “Lucho”
Bautista, Patricia Isabel “Trisha”
Bringas, Patrick “Pat”
Espinosa, Maria Anna “Maan”
Eva VIII, Jose Emmanuel Micael “Mickey”
Ferrer, Gene Angelo “Gene”
Hernandez, Maria Larissa “Lars”
Rapallo, Genesis “Revee”
Santos, Alexandra Maria Francia “Alex”
Tan, Bea Helene “Bea”
Vicencio, Solomon “Sol”

KAISA
Quinito, Allyssa Joy
Reyes, Carl Anthony
Zipagan, Carla Janine
Clement, Carlos Enrico
Siy, Cheryl
Yutan, Fercival
Villareal, Jermaine
Guiang, Julliano Fernando
Punzalan, Ma. Regina
Bellosillo, Mary Grace
Mendoza, Sarah Louise
Tiu, Simon Stephenson

STAND UP
Abarro, Ghizelle Jane “Ghizelle”
Buergo, Therese Anjelica “Therese”
Canacan, Aryanna “Yanna”
Fungo, John Emmanuel “Fungo”
Guiang, Francisco Jayme Paolo “Jio”
Paris, Garret “Garret”
Roque, Rafael Natal “Raf”
Salvador, Gillian “Gillian”
Salazar, Narcisse Dominique “Nikki”
Solis, Jose Miguel “Mijo”

College Representatives

ALYANSA
Cruz, Jonas Miguelito “Jonas” (CBA)
Macabuhay, Nico “Nico” (FA)
Reyes, Ma. Christina “Tina” (Law)
Poblador, Patricia Erika “Pats” (Cmusic)
Hitosis, Maria Erica “Erica” (CS)
Crescini, Joeric Emil “Joeric” (CSSP)
Magsambol, Darrell John “Darrell” (Econ)
Omega, Christopher “Chris” (Educ)
Villejo, Stephen Jun “Poks” (Stat)
Ang, Sara Gracheooe “Grace” (CSWCD)

INDEPENDENT
Sulit, Leor Jyle (CMC)
Alicer, Nicole Ma. Nimfa (NCPAG)

KAISA
Erro, Erika Mary (AIT)
Gonzalez, Carla Monica (CHE)
Grey, Gayle Krystle (CHK)
Bondad, Serene Ezra (CS)
Obcena, Ma. Beatriz (CSWCD)
Palino, Justin Alfred (Eng’g)
Vicenta, John Karl (Eng’g)
Go, Sara Zemirah (FA)
Santos, Ihna Alyssa Marie (NCPAG)
Ibañez, Allan Michael (Stat)

STAND UP
Paredes, Peter Dominique “Peter” (Archi)
Gabral, Eduardo “Eds” (CAL)
Lucero, John Nelvin “Vino” (BA)
Isidro, Celine Alexis “Celine” (Educ)
Gloria, Enrico “Miko” (Econ)
Cajilig, Alieto Jr. “JR” (Eng’g)
Gonzales, Rejiel “Rage” (Eng’g)
Garvida, Patricia Monica “Pat” (FA)
Pagatpatan, Leonard “Leonard” (CHE)
Cruz, Roscelle “Roscelle” (SLIS)
Torres, Sarah Isabelle “Sarah” (CMC)
Del Castillo, Felipe “Felipe” (CS)
Sicat, Patrick John “Sicat” (CSSP)
Tagala, Mark Joseph “Marky” (CSWCD)

This article was edited on Jan. 31 to reflect the current changes in candidates. 

The College Students Electoral Board (CSEB) released yesterday the first official list of candidates for the College of Mass Communication Student Council Elections this year.

Mario Urrutia III of the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP) is running for Chairperson against Farahnaz Ghodsinia of Interdependent Student-Centered Activism (ISA) and Joaquin Torres, an independent candidate. Urrutia is the incumbent Journalism representative while Ghodsinia is the current Broadcast Communication representative.

Carla Patrice Cucueco (ISA) and Charlotte France (STAND-UP) are gunning for vice-chairperson while Sara Isabelle Torres (STAND-UP) and Leor Jyle Sulit (ISA) are running for College Representative to the University Student Council.

First Official List of Candidates:

Chairperson:

1. Farahnaz Ghodsinia (ISA)
2. Joaquin Torres (Independent)
3. Mario Urrutia III (STAND-UP)

Vice-Chairperson:

1. Carla Patrice Cucueco (ISA)
2. Charlotte France (STAND-UP)

Secretary

1. Maria Fatima Gaw (ISA)
2. Ma. Zarina San Jose (STAND-UP)

Treasurer

1. Serafin Candido Gozon (STAND-UP)
2. Maria Angela Teresa Sebastian (ISA)

BC Representatives (2)

1. Claudine Aldana (STAND-UP)
2. Ella Jane Hermonio (STAND-UP)
3. Macario Manicad III (ISA)
4. Triciah Terada (ISA)

Communication Research Representative (2)

1. Mari Angelyn Arambulo (ISA)
2. Rouenne Camille de Castro (STAND-UP)
3. Angelo Lagman (Independent)
4. Maylene Manzano (ISA)
5. Patricia Ann Morata (STAND-UP)

Film Representative

1. Alberto Gianco Carlo Ante (ISA)
2. Alyssa Mariel Suico (STAND-UP)
3. Earl Joseph Usi (STAND-UP)
4. Marko Yambao (ISA)

Journalism Representative

1. Myra Cabujat (STAND-UP)
2. Ma. Angerica Emmanuelle Hainto (STAND-UP)
3. Chelsea Sullivan (ISA)

CMC Representative to the USC

1. Leor Jyle Sulit (ISA)
2. Sarah Isabelle Torres (STAND-UP)

Photo on the left shows a Google map image of Hinaplanon area in Iligan City before "Sendong." Photo on the right shows the change in the town's landscape after the typhoon hit. (Courtesy of UP-NIGS)

A geologist from the University of the Philippines said Friday that residents of Iligan City were warned as early as 2009 to relocate their homes to higher areas because of the high probability of flooding like what was experienced in Marikina during typhoon “Ondoy.”

Two years after that first warning, tropical storm “Sendong” washed away entire communities in the city and left more than 1,400 people dead and several missing in northwestern Mindanao.

Alfredo Mahar Lagmay of the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences said in a press conference that national and local government officials constantly reminded residents about the flooding risks in Iligan City.

“In 2009, we actually gave them some advice to move to higher ground certain areas. Apart from that, I think the local government, as well as the national government, [were] not remiss in their duties. With their geohazard maps, they also warned the government of Cagayan de Oro,” he said.

Lagmay was part of the UP Padayon Disaster Response team sent by the university to evaluate the damage brought by Sendong to Iligan City. The 22-man team composed of doctors, geologists and forensic experts chose to focus their efforts on Iligan City because their assessment showed that the destruction there is “worse than in Cagayan de Oro.”

The geologist said the red flags were raised in 2009 “because the scientists knew the lay of the land.” Iligan City is is located downstream of Mandulog River, a 50 kilometer-long river which flows from the mountains of Lanao del Sur.

“They knew that there’s a mountainous area and the city was a delta or a flood plain. The natural cycle of the delta is that it gets flooded. The advice was given way before Sendong hit.”

Lagmay explained that their findings showed that water from the mountain cascaded down the river, taking with it logs, mud, sand and other debris at the height of the storm.

Photo on top shows the clean roads of Orchids Home Subdivision in Iligan City. Bottom photo shows the devastation after "Sendong" hit the area. (Courtesy of Firm Builders Realty Development Corporation and UP-NIGS)

He said that the rush of water laden with debris from the mountains did not take the course of the river but instead spilled over and took over the flood plain where the city was.

Lagmay called the flash flood that devastated Iligan City a “hyperconcentrated flood” that was not only high velocity, but also high in volume. The surge of water coupled with erosion caused the massive destruction in the city.

The flash flood, Lagmay said, was “like a tsunami, but with more debris.”

However, the geologist added that while logging might have worsened the damage, the primary reason for the flash floods was the heavy rains.

“Logging—may it be legal or illegal—may have aggravated the floods, but the primary reason for this was the extreme rainfall brought about by Sendong,” Lagmay said.

Data from Iligan City’s Social Welfare and Development office showed that as of Dec. 28, 456 were reported to have died and 466 still missing in Iligan City alone, with 863 injured, according to Lagmay.

Lagmay showed a picture of Orchids Home subdivision in Santiago town during his presentation to highlight the destruction caused by Sendong. The subdivision was a village with concrete houses until the flash floods reduced everything to rubble.

He warned that after this disaster, Santiago and other affected areas should not be occupied again.

“If the same thing were to happen 10, 20 years from now, the damage will be much bigger,” he said.

Lagmay’s team identified the town of Sta. Elena as a possible resettlement area because of its geographic location. The town lies south of Iligan City and was not damaged during the storm.

“It appears to be all right, although we still recommend that geohazard mapping still be made regarding the area,” he added.

However, the geologist also said the Iligan City government has already chosen another yet undisclosed relocation site.

Photo by Michelle Angelica Soriano

Members of Alpha Phi Omega stripped off their clothing and ran around a building in the University of the Philippines Diliman to expose what the fraternity’s Grand Chancellor calls “another naked truth” - the slow demise of the country’s rivers.

The Oblation Run, APO’s annual naked run around College of Social Sciences  and Philosophy or Palma Hall, this year aimed to draw support for the Save the Philippine Rivers campaign which the fraternity launched together with the Sagip Ilog Pilipinas Movement (SiPM), a non-government organization.

In a statement, APO’s Grand Chancellor Giovanni Bautista said, “We know that the public will be all eyes on this event today, and we want to show them another naked truth—the sorry state of rivers and our water bodies in the country. We hope that Filipinos will be one with us in our cry to save Philippine rivers.”

One of the highlights of the event was the signing of a memorandum of agreement between SiPM and APO. The document detailed APO’s involvement in Save Philippine Rivers projects, including one which aims to clean up the Diliman Creek.

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 19

Photo by Elle Cabiling

SiPM Executive Director Myrna Jimenez lauded APO’s efforts in setting an example to the youth by uniting for an advocacy.

“[APO members] show that fraternities do not have to be involved in frat wars, that fraternities can be environmentally aware as well,” she said.

The Oblation Run, held on or around Dec. 16 to celebrate the fraternity’s worldwide foundation day, has since evolved into an annual tradition to raise awareness on various issues facing the nation. It started in 1977 as a promotional gimmick to draw viewers to watch a film in UP Theater that was banned by then President Ferdinand Marcos due to its critical content.

The event was named after the Oblation statue, UP’s most iconic symbol showing a naked man looking upward with outstretched arms.

This year’s Oblation Run fell on the same day as the Lantern Parade, another highlight of UP’s Christmas celebration.

Protesters from the Occupy Mendiola movement display a placard showing the inequality in Philippine society. LOJ GUINMAPANG

By Elizabeth E. Escaño

The University of the Philippines community on Thursday condemned the violent dispersal of the “Occupy Mendiola” protest at Bustillos Church, Manila on Dec. 7.

In a press conference in the Palma Hall lobby, students, faculty, staff and administration representatives came together to protest the brutal police reaction to the rally.

“Hindi pa ko nakakita ng ganoong pasismo (Never before had I seen fascism like that),” said Prof. Sarah Raymundo.

Police had used truncheons and water cannons to disperse the protesters, some of whom were injured or arrested.

Wednesday’s rally was held on the second day of CampoutPH, the Philippines’ version of the Occupy movement, which aims to fight economic and social inequality.

Student Regent Krissy Conti, relating occupying Mendiola’s space to science, said, “All matter occupies space. We are the 99%. We matter.”

Meanwhile, the UP administration assured the students support. Assistant Vice-President for Public Information Danilo Arao said, “Ang administrasyon ay nakikipagkaisa sa mga ganitong protesta. Makakaasa kayong ang administrasyon ay nasa likod niyo (The administration joins this kind of protest. You can expect the administration to have your back),” he said.

He also read UP President Alfredo Pascual’s statement, which said that the protest action was “a legitimate expression of civil and political rights guaranteed under the Constitution, and in accordance with the UP Charter.”

Journalists, students and members of the academe march to Mendiola Nov. 23 to commemorate the second anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre. JOSHUA MARK DALUPANG

Rain started to pour in the CMC veranda. The pool of CMC students and faculty in black shirts suddenly turned to a colorful display when they opened their umbrellas.

They endured the rain as they commemorated the second anniversary of the Maguindanao (Ampatuan) massacre Wednesday.

“Kapag tinitingnan natin itong mga imahe ng mga nasawi dito sa Ampatuan massacre ay nagiging tao sila sa atin, hindi lamang sa istatistika kung hindi taong may mga karapatan at paninindigan (When we look at the images of the people killed in the Ampatuan massacre, they become not only people in statistics but people with rights and dignity),” Dean Roland Tolentino said.

Tolentino led the lighting of the candles and the offering of 58 white roses signifying the number of victims of the massacre in the Bulwugan ng Malayang Pamamahayag.

CMC Student Council (CMCSC) Chairperson Norman Riego said President Aquino failed his people once again by not serving justice to the victims of Maguindano massacre and extrajudicial killings.

CMC organizations also condemned the media killings and the slow progress of the massacre trial in their statements.

“Sana hindi dumating ang araw na kumupas na ang ating itim na t-shirt at wala pa ring nakakamit na hustisya (May the day not come that our black shirts fade already and still no justice is served), CMCSC Journalism Representative Lysa Britannico said.

CMC students then marched around the Academic Oval and proceeded to the University of Santo Tomas to set a commemoration rally in Mendiola.

On Nov. 23, 2009, 58 people were killed, including 32 journalists, in Maguindanao while on their way to file the candidacy of then Buluan Vice-Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu. Mangadadatu is now the governor of Maguindanao

The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent non-profit organization that promotes press freedom, tagged the Maguindano Massacre as the single worst mass killing of journalists in history.

An alliance against fraternity-related violence has been reconvened in light of recent rumbles involving members of various University of the Philippines fraternities.

In a statement, the Student-led Anti-Fraternity Related Violence Watch (SAWA), a coalition of student councils and organizations, called on the UP administration to impose disciplinary sanctions on fratmen directly involved in clashes.

The group also recommended a review of UP’s rules on fraternities.

“We are not against fraternities. We are against fraternity-related violence,” UP Alyansa Chairperson Tin Borja said during the alliance’s first meeting on November 18.

She added, “If we want the students to be empowered, [their] environment should be secure and conducive to learning.”

A total of 17 student organizations and councils from different colleges attended the reconvening of SAWA, which was initiated by UP Alyansa.

SAWA was first formed by the National College of Public Administration Student Council in 2007 after the death of Cris Mendez, who died in August 2007 from injuries allegedly sustained during initiation rites.

Fraternity-related violence includes hazing during initiation rites, fraternity wars and rumbles among rival fraternities, and physically attacking non-fraternity students in the university.

The most recent incident was a car chase from the College of Science to the security checkpoint at University Avenue, involving members of Alpha Sigma and Alpha Phi Beta.

The UP Diliman Police said the case will be forwarded to the Student Disciplinary Tribunal.

Members of the MassCommunity showed their support for the university-wide 3-day strike against the budget cut by striking a pose.

Dancing to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” the students, led by the College of Mass Communication Student Council and UP Samanhan ng Mag-aaral sa Komunikasiyon (UP SAMASKOM) altered the song’s lyrics to express their protests against the decreasing government for education.

“I think the people behind the rallies and protests are reinventing the way they approach people.” said UP SAMASKOM president Venice Atienza. “Cool, actually. Kasi bilang taga Mass Comm, yung makita mong gumamit ng mga unusual way of connecting a cause to people is amazing, kasi innovative (Seeing people from Mass Comm use unusual ways to connect people to a cause is amazing because its innovative),” she added.

The college also participated in other alternative protest actions, including a fashion show, film fest and cultural day.

However, CMCSC Chairperson Norman Riego still believes the highlight of the strike was the “historical” three thousand-strong march from the University of the Philippines Diliman to Mendiola Friday.

“Ito ang pagpapatunay na handang-handa pa rin ang mga isko na itindig ang mga karapatan ng mga mamamayan (This is proof that the nation’s scholars are still ready to stand up for citizens’ rights),” he said.