By Alexandra Gabrielle Francisco
Candidates for the College of Mass Communication Student Council (CMC SC) elections grilled each other in the annual miting de avance on Thursday.
Each candidate challenged his or her counterpart from the other party in Hot Off the Grill, where parties attacked each other’s principles, past achievements and Specific Plans of Action (SPOAs).
Hot Off The Grill, the local CMC miting de avance, is hosted by the UP Mass Communicators Organization.
Incumbent Journalism representative Gail Orduña, CMC Representative to the USC candidate from STAND UP-CMC, criticized incumbent CMC Representative Nigel Cornel, a member of ISA, for being one of the members with the most absences in USC General Assemblies.
Incumbent Broadcast Communication representative Jake Rivera, ISA’s bet for CMC Representative, defended Cornel, saying most of Cornel’s absences were in preparation for the Mass Media Awareness Month (MMAM) in September.
Rivera said Cornel did most of the work, even if Cornel and Orduña were co-heads.
In defense, Orduña said Cornel did not give her any tasks, to which Rivera replied that she should have asserted her position as co-head.
Rivera also noted how Orduña failed to assert herself generally in the council, after Orduña said she gave the council a rating of five out of ten.
“Assuming but not conceding that an ISA student council does not hear out your concerns, again this is hypothetical, then why didn’t you assert yourself?” said Rivera.
Orduña said her rating was for the council concentrating too much in local events and lacking involvement in university issues.
Orduña said that she informed the council about announcements from university-wide alliances like the League of College Councils (LCC), but the current leadership always said they were busy with local events.
Meanwhile, STAND UP-CMC chairperson bet Norman Riego gave last year’s MMAM a lower rating than its predecessors, which were headed by STAND UP-CMC council members.
This year, the council, in cooperation with Tinig ng Plaridel, staged exhibits of the ten most talked-about issues of the year in different colleges.
The council may have extended the project to other colleges, but an exhibit was not enough for students to truly understand the issues, said Riego.
Oplan Bayanihan
In light of ISA’s freedom wall Issues Avenue, Riego also questioned ISA’s grasp of national issues by asking Catubay’s stance on Oplan Bayanihan, the government’s counter-insurgency program.
After one audience member explained to Catubay what the program was, Catubay replied, “Hindi po kami pro dito. Tayo po ay tao at dapat po ay nag-aapeal tayo sa basic human rights. Ang pagpatay po sa mga aktibista ay isang violation of human rights ng isang nilalang.”
Sindayen issue resurfaces
Other old issues included the near removal of USC chairperson Rainier Sindayen.
Sindayen almost lost his position when he failed to meet the retention grade in the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. He had to reapply as a non-major to stay in the college. Sindayen eventually retained his position as chairperson.
ISA’s chairperson bet and incumbent treasurer Ruby Ann Catubay said a student-leader should be able to uphold academic and council responsibilities.
However, STAND UP-CMC’s standard bearer Norman Riego said that was easy to say in an “ideal and perfect” world.
Solidaridad issue
Riego also had his own share of issues from his stint as Journalism representative.
In September, Riego faced a possible suspension from the CMC Student Council, which cited Riego’s use of his name and position in signing a letter he wrote as convenor of a multi-sectoral alliance which was not connected to the CMCSC.
According to the motion, “The inclusion of Mr. Riego’s positions within both bodies in the aforementioned document implied the Council’s knowledge and support in an event they knew nothing about.”
The motion also cited a statement drafted by Riego to be the joint demands of the CMCSC and Solidaridad, the Diliman-wide alliance of student publications, of which Tinig ng Plaridel is a member.
The proposal said the council was not informed of Riego’s actions. Solidaridad also said the draft had many erroneous claims.
In the end, the Council of Representatives, composed of representatives of CMC organizations, junked the proposal for lack of merit.
However, ISA journalism representatives Loj Guinmapang and Dee dela Torre said Riego should have still observed transparency and due process in his work.
“You’re one party moving as one, dapat may consensus lahat, hindi pwede yung hindi alam,” said dela Torre.
On the other hand, their opponents Sarah Torres and Mario Urrutia said the problem should have been resolved internally.
“Dapat hindi ito nilabas agad. Ayaw natin ipakita sa masscom students na hindi tayo united,” said Torres.
Independent candidate Angel Britanico said members of the council should be vigilant in guarding their colleagues, but they should expose issues only when they have sufficient basis.
“Diskarte”
The candidates for treasurer both bared their resumes. Astrid Acielo of STAND UP-CMC said she had experience marketing Mr. and Ms. Educ of 2008 and 2009 in the College of Education.
She emphasized “diskarte” as an important factor.
To reconcile STAND UP-CMC’s anti-commercialization stance with the goal of marketing, Acielo said she would only accept donations and scholarships that would not hinder academic freedom.
Marji Manlunas of ISA said the two parties apparently had the same stand on the issue.
The candidate for treasurer highlighted her experience as head of various committees in projects of the UP Junior Marketing Association (UP JMA). Manlunas is currently a member of the UP JMA’s finance committee and boasts of having handled sizeable amounts of money, including a check worth P50,000.
Acielo raised the issue of the Long-Term Higher Education Development Plan (LTHEDP), the government’s rationalization of the budget for state universities and colleges as implemented by the Arroyo administration.
Both Acielo and Manlunas opposed the LTHEDP, but Acielo asserted that her party did not know the consequences of the government policy.
“Ito po yung dahilan kung bakit tayo nagkakaroon ng commercialization of idle assets,” Acielo said.
Acielo said that the LTHEDP is a World Bank policy that justifies reductions in UP state subsidy.
Promoting DZUP
BC representatives from both parties included promotion of DZUP in their SPOAs, and they showed how their project was more feasible.
Ea Acaylar of STAND UP-CMC said they only planned to monitor radios at dormitories and guard stations, which she claimed was more feasible than ISA’s proposal of placing radios in “points of convergence on campus.”
Farah Ghodsinia of ISA said they did not plan to give out radios for everyone, but they would consult with other faculty from other colleges to find out where best to place radios.
For marketing, they would help DZUP’s existing marketing team and use their own marketing system with the help of their treasurer, said Ghodsinia.
Acaylar, who is also part of the DZUP marketing team, said they would ask help from the USC through the CMC representative.
Writing workshops, freedom wall
The communication research representatives also dissected each other’s SPOAs.
Diane Carabeo of ISA said STAND UP-CMC’s project DERP sa DERP, which pushes for student involvement in selecting topics for research, said the project was not necessary since students were consulted for topics in their Communication Reserch 165 course.
Her partner Carla Cucueco, a freshman, said that while she could not relate to any of their opponents projects, she questioned the lack of freshmen representation in her opponents’ GPOA.
“Sorry lang po, Comm 100 pa lang po ako. Ang ginagawa ko lang ay Powerpoint,” said Cucueco.
Nadine Escalona of STAND UP-CMC said the technical writing workshops and online bulletins they cited were for everyone.
STAND UP-CMC candidate Bebs Abrillo pointed to her experience in her Communication Research 165 course, noting that they were not happy with the topic they selected.
They both criticized ISA’s COMMural Property, a freedom wall where students could write their thoughts on plagiarism, noting that it was more important to teach students how to avoid it through writing workshops.
“Sinasabi na magsusulat ka raw ng mga thoughts on plagiarism, so anong mangyayari sa buong taon, magkakaubusan tayo ng thoughts about plagiarism,” said Abrillo.
In defense of their project, Cucueco said the freedom wall is a way to show that students are aware of these issues.
Creating a CMC Stylebook
Journalism representatives from ISA defended their proposal for a college stylebook.
Urrutia of STAND UP-CMC said Journalism 121 classes use the Associated Press stylebook, one of the most widely used stylebooks in the country.
“Ano pa po ang magiging essence ng isang journalism stylebook kung tayo po dito ay tinetrain na po doon?” said Urrutia.
Dela Torre of ISA argued that their goal was to make stylebooks easily accessible.
“Alam naman po natin na dito sa UP ginagamit natin ang AP stylebook. Pero pano naman po yung iba? Alam na po natin ang standards dun pero paano sa ibang newspapers?” said her partner Guinmapang.
Lab fees dialogue
To address the issue of laboratory fees in the Film department, Sabs Quesada and Chanelle Filio of STAND UP-CMC, running unopposed, said they would form a dialogue committee with the administration of the UP Film institute.
Quesada said this eventually goes back to the issue of state abandonment of higher education.
With reporting by Marisse Gabrielle Panaligan. Photos by Rae Anne Ducut
18 comments
I agree with the Stand-UP Journ rep candidate in saying that the college do not need of a College Stylebook as the AP stylebook is taught in class. AP Stylebook is widely used around the world including national dailies in the Philippines.
Instead of working on a stylebook why not address student issues. If the ISA candidates reviewed the AP Stylebook, they would know that the guides are basic and logical for journalism writing. If ISA candidates are serious in addressing student issues, they would know better than propose a stylebook.
Hi there.
Please note the typos: Rivera and Guinmapang.
Also, why isn’t there anything about Technohub? I think that was interesting. Narealize ko, oo nga naman, kung nagrarally ka against it, bakit ka nag-cocontribute sa profit nila? Let’s look at it this way, kung may kaibigan kang vegetarian, ang pangit namang makita siyang kumakain ng pork chop diba? Or kung may kapitbahay kang environmentalist, ang pangit naman kung nagsusunog siya ng basura reyyyyt?
Naisip ko lang naman….
Thank you for your comments, the article has been updated.
Honestly, I do not see anything wrong with an abridged version of the AP Stylebook for college students. Wouldn’t it aid the students in studying the journalistic style of writing? And sorry but when you go to your 4th year, it is still useful to be reminded of how to write using the standard (AP). The journ reps aren’t saying that they won’t follow the standard AP stylebook. They just wanted to help in simplifying it in order to HELP the STUDENTS in studying this. Alam ko ito bilang Journ student ako at sa J 101 palang tinuturo na how to write adhering to the AP stylebook. Again, I AM a Journ student and I think it would help the STUDENTS, you know the ones who elect the council, the ones who deserve to get SERVICES. Diba?
At sorry naman po, ISA’s journ reps did NOT say that they’re not going to inform us on the issues (FYI: informing the students of the issues, it is a part of their execomm’s GPOA – pwede ba naman na Journ Dept. lang yung i-inform? HELLO?! Sympre include all kaya nga sa EXECOMM e).
Sorry pero maisingit ko lang po yung sinabi ni Ms. Den Yalung na di trabaho ng council na magbigay ng services sa mga mag-aaral. WOW! TALAGA? So bakit kayo STUDENT COUNCIL if you’re not going to serve the students. I’m sorry pero di pwede ang messianic complex ng STAND UP na lagi nila sinasabi na sila ang magaling when they haven’t even provided the students with the basics. I AM SORRY pero naman, tumakbo ka sa STUDENT Council and you have no intention of providing services to the STUDENTS. Sorry lang!
Hello SMILE!
Pakilinaw muna sa journ reps ng ISA kung ano ba talaga ang gusto nilang gawin diyan sa style book na yan? Is it a style book o ito ba ay book of styles? Kasi everytime na ikicriticize yang project na yan paiba-iba yung tipo niya. Dati, isa yang bagong style book na kung saan pagsasamasamahin yung iba’t ibang elements ng iba’t ibang styles para may sariling style ang mga gawa ng UP Journ. Naging reference material din yan kung saan dun nakalagay yung mga iba’t ibang styles na pwedeng gamitin. May mode pa yang ikoconsult ang iba’t ibang journ profs para malaman kung anong mga pwedeng ilagay at isali sa style book na yan. Magulo talaga kasi kada RTR at OTO at debate at meeting de avance iba’t iba yung definition nung style book. And since AP naman ang itinuturo talaga, I dont see the point of making a style book or a book of styles. It’s readily available sa library kung gusto nilang matutunan magsulat using the other styles.
As with the services, napakababaw naman kung titingnan lang natin na ang major role ng isang student council ay magbigay sa atin ng tubig kapag nauuhaw tayo. That service equates to total provisions of basic student services c/of the CMCSC. Sa totoo lang readily-available din sa canteen ang potable water. Ako dun ako umiinom. Moving on, dapat naman talaga nagbibigay ng student services ang student council, pero sa mas mataas nang level ng serbisyo na nakakatulong sa pag-aaral natin bilang masscomm students. Yang basic student services like yang patubig, dapat meron na yan talaga sa college. Tandaan natin na limitado lang ang budget ng student council, kitang kita naman dahil dispenser na lang ang gumagana ngayon, ang tubig kailangan pa nating ipagpasalamat sa CRS (Thanks commressoc!) atbp.
Yun lang! 🙂
Bakit wala yung part kung saan parang nag-Pinoy Henyo si B-An dun sa tanong kung ano yung opinyon niya sa Oplan Bayanihan ni President Noynoy? It was one of the highlights.
@cat I agree. Mas maganda siguro transcript na mismo ng Hot Off The Grill ang ilagay. Para hindi finifilter na lang yung ibang importanteng detalye. Tsk tsk.
Nakakalungkot lang na isipin na ang ISA ay may proyektong Issues Avenue ngunit wala namang kaalam-alam talaga sa issues. Mas nakakalungkot pa na hindi kayang sagutin ni Miss B-an Catubay ang issue ng OPLAN-BAYANIHAN na bilang isang future media practitioner ay alam dapat ito.
Para naman kay Miss Carla Cucueco, grabe lang po ang pag generalize na ang Comm 100 subject ay pang powerpoints lang. Excuse me lang ate, parang dinedegrade mo lang ang professor mo diyan ah. Parang wala kang alam. Tumatakbo ka pa naman kaya lahat ng sinasabi mo ay mahalaga sa tao. Ngunit ang masasabi ko lang ay wala ng katiting na laman ang mga sinabi mo sa Hot Off The Grill.
Paghuli para kay Miss Alisa Baleva, ang lakas ng loob mo na tumakbo samantalang wala ka rin kaalam-alam sa kahit na anong issue. Hindi ka marunong sumagot ng mga tanong. Ate, hindi nadadaan sa pagiging chummy ang pagiging miyembro ng student council. Nararapat lamang na bukod sa personalidad ay may alam at paninindigan ka.
Yun lamang.
Hi SMILE!
I am a former Journalism representative of the CMC student council. ?
Contrary to what you said, the journalism reps of ISA are not JUST producing an abridged version of the AP stylebook. What they are proposing is to come up with an entirely new UP Journalism stylebook with input from Journalism students and copied entries from other Stylebooks. I have heard them say this a couple of times. If you were informed that they are just producing an AP abridged version, then that is more problematic since it shows their inconsistency.
What is wrong with their proposed Stylebook? Let me give you just one of the many reasons.
Dear, you would not be able to use the UP Journalism stylebook when you graduate anyway. It would just leave you confused because journalists are using the universal standard AP stylebook. As Journalism representatives, they should help journalism students in training for the world outside. So as much as possible, they should provide venues to make give the students the “feel” of the outside world. They should help in training the students to make the latter better adjusted and prepared to work. So when you give them a Journalism stylebook which the journalism world will not use, you are just stunting the students’ growth. They will be making the students seemingly live in their own little bubbles which will eventually pop when they graduate from the University. And when that happens, it will be more of difficult for the students to work efficiently because they are not used to the demands and basics of the “outside world”. The academe has failed to do its part of preparing them. Instead, through your ISA journ reps, you have been unduly exposed to alienation and isolation.
Dear, one of the academe’s primary roles is to train us for our future endeavors and not unduly isolate and confuse us for the sake of coming up with projects. Instead of pushing for isolating and alienating projects, I believe ISA journ reps should just give the students venues to enhance their skills and broaden their knowledge.
That is the problem when you are student-centered. As student council members, they should be the ones helping the students prepare for the world outside because the students will not be sheltered by the academe forever. If you are student-centered, you will not be able to do this because you leave out the greater part that the students are NOT THE CENTER of society. Instead, they are JUST PART OF THE SOCIETY, one of society’s forces. If you are student-centered, you just equip the students for the “now”. But you are simultaneously stunting their growth for their future. Thus, if you take their issues outside of its context, you will not in any way give efficient solutions and necessary action. I believe you as a journalism student should know the importance of context better ?
As for the services, Ms. Yalung is right. The primary responsibility of the student council is NOT to provide basic student services because that is the administration’s obligation. Instead, the student council’s primary role is to generate projects, activities and events that will forge unity and FURTHER students’ knowledge and skills. By further I mean add to the basics which should in turn be provided by the administration. When these services are not provided, that is when the student council comes in to lobby and assert these basic student services. For instance, the student council headed by Rupert Mangilit lobbied for the free use of sockets by students. They were not the ones who provided electricity because that is the admin’s obligation. What they did is to FURTHER the service by asserting the right to use electricity as part of what the students pay for in their tuition and other fees. It is in close cooperation with the administration that a student council makes it possible for the students to be provided by these services. We should recognize the fact that the student council is in no position and has no capacity to give these basic services because for one, they have no budget for that; the admin holds the budget. The council’s budget is for student activities, events and projects.
Dear, I suggest you fully understand first the delineation of the role of the administration and the student council. I am also sorry to say that you have been misinformed based on your comment. It is also wise to know your rights and what to expect from whom so you can assert yourself to the proper authorities when what you need is not given to you. ?
Hi SMILE!
Ngayon abridged version naman ng AP Stylebook. Ano ba talaga?
Sabi sa article “Dela Torre of ISA argued that their goal was to make stylebooks easily accessible.”
Kung accessibility lang pala ang issue e meron naman nyan sa library. At kung totoong JOURN student ka, meron kang kopya ng AP stylebook. I’m a UP Journalism graduate at sa J 121 ay binigyan kami ng pdf copy ng AP stylebook. Yung prof ko sa 121 ay nagbibigay ng abridged version ng AP stylebook sa J 101 students nya.
Unless natutulog ka sa klase, meron ka sanang kopya. At spoon feeding na ba ang sistema ngayon sa UP? Kung totoong UP JOURN ka, magiging resourceful ka sa paghahanap ng sarili mong kopya na available at accessible naman. If you think journalism is about sources and information coming to you for you to report, well reality check, you’re wrong.
As I have been monitoring, meron pang instance na sabi ng ISA Journalism rep candidates na gusto nilang gumawa ng sariling stylebook for students of CMC. Why deviated from industry standard resources like AP Stylebook? AP Stylebook na widely used sa Pilipinas ng mga national dallies at global standard stylebook din.
Finally, ayon nga kay kelerkeee, walang focus yung ISA Journalism rep candidates sa gusto nilang mangyari sa Stylebook na yan. Why would students elect candidates who do not have focus and clear vision of their projects and goals?
I’m not an ISA or a STAND-UP supporter, but as an alumnus of the college, it is but disappointing to see these nonsense and irrelevant issues being discussed. Anyare sa CMC, kakagraduate ko lang, ganyan na.