The Unregistered Voter

I had the chance to watch television last Sunday and Monday. It was very seldom that I opt to watch television programs than my DVDs. Since my childhood years, I was really into news and current affairs. This is because my Grandfather loves to watch news. In the long weekend that we had, I browsed ABC news, ABS-CBN, GMA-7, QTV11, and ANC. There is an obvious commonality with the news that they are reporting. From Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, there are news about election related violence and crime. Other stations reported people killing each other over campaign mishaps.

If we have been keenly observing Philippine elections, there is not a single election period that we had which did not result to cases of violence and killings. Moreover, not a single election in my 20 years of existence have I heard of a peaceful and casualty free election. These acts of violence and killing is a clear manifestation that there is so much at stake in these elective positions. If these barangay officials wanna-be does not get anything out of their positions and sphere of influence, then they will not spend a lot and desperately fight for these positions. With all these cases of violence and killings happening every time that we have elections, we cannot help but ask, “Ano kaya ang nakukuha nila sa pagiging Barangay official na nagtutulak sa kanila na manakit or pumatay ng kapwa?” – Pera, Impluwensiya, at Sariling interes.

Alam natin lahat kung magkano ang suweldo ng isang Barangay Chairman, Kagawad, SK Chairman, at mga kagawad. Alam din natin na ang mga ito ang nagsisilbing Community leaders na nagiging tagapamagitan sa mga taumbayan at lokal na pamahalaan. Sila din ang nagsisilbing hukom sa mga Barangay-related issues gaya ng ilang dispute sa nagkapitbahay, at domestic violence. Bukod pa sa mga ito, ano pa ang ginagawa ng isang barangay official na hindi kaya gawin ng Homeowners’ Association?

We are spending millions of pesos in every elections may it be national, local, and even barangay. Put together all these election funding and we can already address education and health problems in the slums of our country. Moroever, we are already spending money that we do not have. And I strongly suggest that if ever we will be spending, let us spend on concrete projects with lasting effects on our people. We spend so much on electing officials who will eventually end up malversing and corrupting our funds and resources. It has a two-edge sword effect on us – spending much on electing useless imbecile spenders.

I have a lot of realizations. I have a lot of things to say. Let me just start by saying that it is but a shame that even our barangay elections is already tainted with election related violence, killings, and violations. Also, corruption is even rampant in the barangay level – vote buying, overpriced projects, padrino system, etc. How can we correct a system which is already culturally-rooted and has already decayed the Moral fiber in many Filipinos. How do we go about in addressing this deteriorating Philippine democracy? I cannot blame Simoun in El Fili when he placed the lamp in the house where officials are present with the intention of killing them all. Seriously, that will work for all of us. It will immediately end corruption and abuse because those who are fond of such will all be anihilated, removed permanently on earth. But doing such will make us just like them.

How do we proceed? Let us not allow those in power to make a farce out of our democratic system. Moreover, let us be vigilant in any election – be informed, and be involved! It is high time that we, as the sovereign Filipino people teach our useless officials a lesson which should go down the pages of history. Let us not be persuaded by money  or any material gift. Let us not hear their sweet words but listen to their issues and platforms. Let us not see their physical appearance but their moral and spiritual appearance. Let not the lies and TRAPOs get at us again. Control the country by controlling your vote. Fight for the country by fighting for your vote, and vote not because you are required but because you believe that the vote that you will cast can make a difference.

Let us restore moral integrity in our elections and eventually in our government. We are the Filipino people, we are sovereign in this nation! Let it be a rule of law rather than a rule of men. I wanted to do a lot of things, but I just realized that I can also do so much if I am not registered.

I wish I could go away reposted

It kills me to say that I am not affected. It hurts me more being placed in a situation where i don’t have any option but to yield. I never thought that i would be eating the very words I usually utter to my friends way back in high school. I never thought that what i was preaching about will come back to me a hundredfold and would test me if I could walk the talk? I wanted to be optimistic about things. I always tried to see the best in every person. I am trying to be understanding and yet reasonable with the way I do things..in the way i carry myself.. in the way I treat others.. and the way i try to conceal the infallible truth of pain and bitter disappointment. I am starting to question my characteristics, my disposition, my self-esteem, my strengths, and my very life. Am i ugly? dumb? or should I say boring? Of course, my friends will always say otherwise but deep inside me,i am thinking, probably.. at a certain point, I might be. I have always been so good. In fact, I was so good that i am now at the bridge of rethinking my goodness to other people. What did I do to deserve this treatment? Cruel…insensitive…slowly, it is killing me.

I had my fair share of life’s treats. It is like a disease you know. You first won’t feel anything and even deny that you are ill. One will always claim that he/she is not affected. Guess what? I was just like that. I said that I am not affected. That it is nothing. Please don’t get me wrong. I am not sick or anything. But I am. Weird thing is, all along I thought that it was nothing. Just another fart in the wind which just struck you because of its smell and later, vanishes and replaced by fresh air. To my surprise, it is not. Denial is one thing but unexpected situations will tell you that you should not have denied yourself before. More than any type of sickness, the most painful of all feeling is the feeling of being manipulated, laugh at, and even shut down of no reason. It might come as a shock or probably a disappointment to all my friends in this planet, but its time for reserving some for myself. I won’t opt for self-pity, I won’t even get mad or get even. I won’t even curse or treat these people coldly. As always, I will keep my peace in the silent reserves of myself, my most trusted companion ever since. True that it is hurting! True that its really annoying!!and very true that it is consuming!!! What can I do? That is life. You win some, you lose some. I am trying to be very human… to be very positive,and to be strong. But I hope I am trying to do all these for myself and not for others. Enough is enough. Like every one else, I too, have my limitations, I am no superman. I am not a man of steel! I may look tough. I may seem so overpowering and intimidating to some. Guess what? I also do get hurt…Hmmm… All I can do is inhale all the air I could and breathe it out and hold on to the hope that someday, in my time, I would end up as the victor..that i would end up deserving what happened and not live to see my very CORE pounding for respect… for that gut-feeling, an egocentric belief that it is about winning. For the first time in my life, I surrender.. not because I am losing or afraid.. but like the usual happenings in my life; DUTY calls.. responsibility and all the stuff..Some day my time will come… Idealistic but right now, it is all that i have. Nothing more. Its what keeps me going… for now… 

And there was silence reposted

half-glass empty, hollow chocolate, flattened spirit

rejection, incomplete, damnedand there can a thought amidst tides of hopelessnessnew beginning perhaps, unresolved, untidy, unaware!honesty has no guarantee, coldness has rewards and sherries,down to the ninth, i shall go. not for anything else but solvehollow chocolate, flattened spirit, half-glass emptyand there is none but clouds of false hopeomega for others, murder to some, CRUELTY for me..better to say no, than being nice and slowly dissecting one’s cavityacross the styx, i’ll go…deepen my hell’s worth of feelings-fire it upflattened spirit, half-glass empty, hollow chocolateforever will indulge in a life-long x-ism, punished, axed, hanged, revolved!captured and unwilling to be freed of some sort,  KILLED! below, scatteredmore cruel than death is a life-long pretend! just say no! and never again,someone will leave and go to a far-off place, but will leave an imprint in oneinferno;fires lit up, for whats worst than being here is having pretended..I am not here, I don’t feel, I’m invincible..for what its worth, thanks! but no thanks!emotions are too powerful, it can kill, it will consume..like fires in the ninth, like flames in hell, like devils in dismay..there will come a time for life-long loneliness, a path perhaps..road to loneliness, incomplete and zig-zag, early death,,,,like love is lost with someone.. death is inevitable.. its frightening..finished, vagueness, abstract, no idea..pretentious reject, just say “NO” and it is in its FINALITY.don’t let a person walk the empty path, don’t be cruel.. don’tif you are enjoyinghtis rudeness, by all means punish me, imprison me and test my patience with your rude, cruel ways..i won’t last, but i’ll try to tolerate.. far more than the physical pain, greater than the inflicted injuries, my spirit is weak, trashed, and alone..holding on no more, it is finished!, I’m EmPtY..EMPTY, eMpTy!  

Searching reposted

Did you ever enter into a room full of people and trying to see if there are any familiar faces? Remember your first day in elementary, high school, and college? Did you even try to make friends with a group of strangers and hoped that you will not be rejected?

We have to admit, the scariest thing is to be alone and a stranger to many people. But greater is the feeling that you are into many groups – barkada, classmates, organizations, councils,and the like and still you feel alone, unsatisfied, – INCOMPLETE! How do we explain this type of loneliness? How can we deal with it? I never thought that I would be like this. Many would say that I almost have everything that I want. I say, I don’t and if ever I do, I don’t like it. Nevertheless, I am thankful for it. I don’t understand. I simply can’t. I wanted to be like everybody else. I want to do a lot of things. I want to enjoy, enjoy, and have fun. I sometimes think that I exhaust myself with things that I don’t even care about? I just don’t know why? I enjoy helping people but i’m not happy with it. I have fun in events, but I’m not happy because of it.

The dilemma now is that, I don’t know what makes me happy? or better..should I be happy? I am TIRED!I want to feel warmness. I want to have ordinary days with good people – sharing stories and reacting to it without hesitation. To laugh, shout, cry, and even curse with no limits…with no ifs and buts, at every spur of the moment, I would like to capture the moment by being the memory. I want to have someone share my stories with, i want to be able to freely express my thoughts, i want to feel that my actions are reciprocated, at least…valued. I don’t want recognition nor fame.. I want to be welcomed without fear, plastic acceptance, or just the heck of it… I am longing for these things… Probably for SOMEONE. That i still don’t know. Sometimes I even ask myself f would go into self-pity. As i come to think of it, this is already an example of it. Many would not believe that I pity myself. That I feel terribly alone, cold, and unwelcomed.

I sometimes envy people. i envy them because of their friends, i envy them because of their happiness, Loveless i suppose! I’m tired of waiting. I would probably give up. I Don’t want to enter into something that I’m not sure of. I don’t like to misinterpret things. I may be at the losing end. Should I take chances? or I continue searching??? Search for her? for someone? I simply do not know. But i want to.. I’m just so alone, cold, and unwelcomed. I sometimes think that people entertain my presence because they pity me… I hope its worth the sadness and coldness. I do hope that she is worth the wait. I’m tired of searching. I might be so busy searching that it never occured to me that the “someone” that i was searching for has always been with me, its just that I don’t want to see her with me. WHY? help me. 

Bakit pa kaya naudlot?

Kadalasan, marami tayong nakikitang mga pangyayari na mahirap ipaliwanag. Minsan pa nga eh pinipilit natin hanapan ng mga dahilan ang ilan sa mga nakasanayan na nating gawain. Ang masakit ay sa proseso ng paghahanap natin ng dahilan, wala tayong makita at mahanap na kasagutan. Natanong na ako ng ilang mga kaibigan noon kung bakit ko ginagawa ang mga bagay na pinagkakaabalahan ko? Bakit hindi na lamang ako mamuhay na kagaya ng karamihang mag-aaral. Totoo na nakakapag-isip ang mga ganitong katanungan. Bakit nga ba?

Noong isang araw tinext ako ng isang kaibigan ng isang tanong. Kung ganon daw ba talaga ang buhay natin? Yung tipong papasok sa USTe, mag-aaral, magtatapos, tapos mag-aasawa, magkakaanak, at magtatrabaho? Bakit daw masyadong predictable or laid out na ang mga plano? Noong nabasa ko ang text ng kaibigan ko, sa totoo lang ang hirap intindihin at sagutin. Kahit mismo ako eh hindi ko naintindihan yung gusto nya mismong itanong. Kaya ang sinabi ko na lang eh, our life here on earth is not something planned or scripted, where we are just playing the roles of actors created by the greater mind. It is always up to us on how to proceed, where, and when. It is always a choice.

Siguro, nasanay na lang ako na sumagot sa mga tanong ng mga kaibigan pero sa loob-loob ko, ano nga ba talaga sagot dun? Kung meron mang isang bagay na wala ako ngayon, siguro yun ang sarap ng libreng oras. Ilang time management training and seminar na ang napuntahan ko pero sadyang marami lang talagang ginagawa. Ito na siguro ang kapalit dahil sa pamumuhay na pinili ko. Pero minsan eh sadyang nakakalungkot lang na hindi na ako makalabas kasama mga barkada, kaibigan, at kakilala. Noong minsan na kumain kami sa Kebab ng ilang mga kaibigan, bigla lang naitanong ng isang kaibigan bakit tayo nasa council? Bakit kaya mga wala tayong girlfriend? Nakakatawa nung una namin narinig pero napatahimik kami at napatigil sa pagkain ng Special Chelo Chicken. Naging reaction lang namin eh. “oo nga!?” Siguro kung tutuusin, desisyon lang talaga namin na ganoon o di kaya ay mahirap. Pero ang saloobin ko lang nun eh sa akin paniniwala, hindi yun isang bagay na dapat hinahanap, kung talagang para sa iyo yun, eh di sayo.

Ang turing sa akin ng mga kaibigan eh may pagkaweirdo. Napansin kasi nila na malakas ang dating sa akin ng mga babae na kaya ako eintimidate. Bukod pa dito, may weakness kasi ako sa mga unusually na mababait. Gusto ko rin daw ng nasusurpresa ako sa pag-uugali. Yung tipong akalain ko na masungit at maarte pala, tapos malalaman ko na mabait, maalalahanin, at simple lang. Tapos, napag-isip isip ko lang, mukhang ganun nga talaga ako. Minsan na akong nakakilala ng ganun, bakit pa kaya naudlot? Kung sa bagay, kung para sa iyo, sa iyo talaga iyon. hmm..

Marami din mga pangyayari na mapapatanong kayo kung bakit pa naudlot? Siguro, tayo may pagkukulang.. or posible din na hindi lang talaga para sa atin yun. Pero kahit gaano pang nakakalungkot at sadyang mapapaisip ka, hindi dapat mahinaan ng loob. Hayaan lang natin, malay natin.. sa mga darating na panahon, may makikita o makakadaupang palad tayo sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, tapos muling maiisip natin na “Mabait talaga ang Diyos. Naudlot nga, itinuloy pa rin nya, o naudlot nga sa isa, binigyan naman ng bagong pag-asa. Naalala ko tuloy yung teacher ko sa Don Bosco, lagi niyang sinasabi sa amin nun, “Sadyang mahirap initindihin ang mga kabalintunaan ng buhay, hindi ito isang leksyon na ituturo muna sayo bago ang pagsusulit bagkus ay bibigyan ka muna ng pagsusulit bago ang pagtuturo ng leksyon.”

Lahat ng bagay ay nangyayari dahil ito ay may patutunguhan. Lahat ng nasa mundo ay may kapakinabangan. Maaring hindi natin maintindihan pero sana ay huwag tayong paghinaan. Kung maudlot man o hindi maisakatuparan, darating din ang panahon, na lahat ng ito ay maiintindihan. Hayaan lang natin at abangan!

Are students still safe in UST?

FACT:

Yesterday, October 25, 2007 at around 5:00 pm, an outsider broke into a car owned by a professor parked infront of the Benavides Library to steal two laptops inside it. The car window was smashed and the outsider got the laptops and ran out through the Dapitan gate. Fortunately, a student witnessed such happening and immediately called the attention of the guards. The chase caused traffic along Dapitan street because everyone was shocked about the incident and most students were surprised of the number of UST guards on bike chasing the outsider along Dapitan street. Roughly two months ago, College of Rehabilitation Sciences President Benjamin Abela, III’s laptop was stolen from his car parked at the multideck pay parking inside UST. The rear window was also smashed and that is how the criminal gained entry to his car.

Objectively speaking, how did the outsider gained entry to our university? I am not pointing fingers to anyone but it is quite obvious that there is negligence on the part of the guards on duty. UST is our second home. We students must feel that we are safe and secured inside the university premises. Notwithstanding the cases of Thomasians killed just outside our walls because of gun shots and knives, having an incident as serious as this inside our very campus is a serious matter we should all be concerned about. If our valuables can be stolen and our cars can be violated right inside our campus, then there must be something wrong with our Security measures. Whats next? – We will be hearing a Thomasian killed by gun shot or knife right inside our campus or building? A student raped right inside our shower rooms? I mean if we cannot address the minor concerns well, what are the chances that we will be able to address the major ones? Thus, it will bring us all to the question, ARE STUDENTS STILL SAFE IN UST?

We have been lobbying for the CSC Campus Safety and Security plan since Day 1. We were  proposing for the following;

1) VISITORS’ PASS or ID system where there will be designated gates where outsiders (non-Thomasians) can gain entry provided that they give a valid ID such as but not limited to passports, driver’s license, etc. They will be issued a Visitor’s Pass and they will be properly endorsed to the guard on duty of the place they wish to visit. For the case of the UST Hospital, and the parishioners of Santissimo Rosario, there will be designated gates also for people going to these places.

2) 7:00am – 10:00pm Pedestrian Assistance. In a letter to former Vice-Rector for Finance, Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P., and current Acting Vice-Rector for Finance, Fr. Manuel F. Roux, O.P., we have requested for this PEDXING assistance and the employment of additional two guards. After our dialogue with Mr. Dingayan, UST Security Detachment Commander, he raised that they are undermanned. He suggested the employment of two guards to better the system.

3) After waiting for the formulation of the Crisis hotline, CSC already placed the Emergency lines tarpaulins so that Thomasians will know the numbers to call when needed. Also, we have asked before AY 0607 ended that there will be guards on bikes who will roam around the walls of the university for visibility purposes. We also asked the Office of the Vice-Rector for Finance during the time of Fr. Marquez to study the feasibility of putting up swiping stations at the gates of our campus.

4) It is a saddening reality that the Manila Bureau of Parking and Traffic has now allowed the parking of vehicles on the sides of the walls of the university along the streets of Lacson, Dapitan, and P.Noval. This is a security nightmare! Experiences of our Security officers will tell us that in the  night time, these cars parked near our walls has become a hideout for holdapers and rugby-dependent people. Most of the time, they hide and when they see a possible victim they just appear out of the sides of the car and nabbed students. We are currently asking for its immediate removal.

5) Right now, there is no student representative sitting on the university Security committee. We already expressed our intention to be part of the said committee and no response was given yet. Students should be represented in the formulation of security measures inside the university.

I am bothered by the recent events in UST. As Students let us be vigilant and be concerned with our safety. The best way to proceed is by realizing that together, we are a force to reckon with. Together, criminals wont stand a chance. If you have concerns and suggestions, feel free to tell us. No one has a monopoly on ideas. Thanks.

ZTE, NBN-deal, and Accountability of Officials

Many think that the ZTE, NBN-deal controversy is a boring topic or concern. Probably for some of us students, we rather opt for a movie or hang-out with our friends than to talk about this issue. Also, some of us are already operating with the idea that it is hopeless to address the issue on good governance and accountability of our officials because of the fact that it has been with us since time immemorial. This very line of thinking is slowly killing us all. The only reason for evil to triumph is when good people stop doing good.

To make things simpler, ZTE, NBN-deal is a classic government corruption case – overpriced deal and additional money for involved officials. Sen. Santiago is right in saying that concerned officials are just squabbling over their ‘kickbacks.’ The reason why Joey De Venecia came out in the open is because the deal was not granted to his company and the reason why Sec. Mendoza, Sec. Neri, and Chairman Abalos were not able to put their acts together is because what they did was a classic unorganized crime. Each player is wanting to have a bigger share of the goods and because of their vested interests and hunger for money, all of them had a dose of their own medicine.

We should talk about it and inform those who does not know anything about it. Conceding to this kind of issue is like saying yes to an organ donation regardless of which part will be needed. When we do not talk about these things and let our officials go on with their monkey businesses, we are just encouraging them to do more corruption and enter into questionable deals and contracts. A PUBLIC OFFICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST! Every person duly elected or appointed to a government agency or office is accountable to the Filipino people. Similarly, all private corporations are directly liable to their stockholders and consumers. We will all be amazed that Media will slowly be quiet about these issues and focus on other matters. You see there are some people hired to clean or cover up for the mess of some people. A US President resigned due to the Watergate scandal, the Japanes premier lose his bid for re-election because he was not able to live up to his promises. We Filipinos never learn. The reason why the ACCOUNTABILITY of our officials is low and weak is not because we lack the laws to back it up but because we are apathetic towards bureaucratic misconduct. Our institutions are not free from politics. I find it weak and unstable. Institutions proved to be consistent with the way we live our lives. Regardless of the personalities occupying it, it must lasts and be able to operate indepedently. As Mayor Lim would always say, “The Law applies to all;otherwise, None at all!” In simpler terms, walang sinuman ang mas mataas sa batas!

President Arroyo’s silence on this issue involving her appointees is an obvious betrayal of public trust. By principle of Command Responsibility, she is directly liable for the acts of her appointees. If she cannot discipline her men, who will? She occupies the highest seat of the land and she among all officials is expected to be the agent of the Filipino people. Where is the OMBUDSMAN? Where is the Commission on Good Governance? Where are our elected representatives – Mayors, Congressmen, and Governors? Their allegiance must be to their constituents and not to any financiers or personality. Gone are the days of great representatives such as Benigno Aquino, Jovito Salonga, Tañada, and Kalaw who exemplified moral integrity and utmost love for the country.

ZTE, NBN-deal and Accountability of Officials – a mere play of words but speak much of our being free men, of our being Filipinos. It is high time that we end this Banana Republic and restore the very core which our forefathers stood for.. a country that we should fight for, a country which we should love above all.. and a country which we should die for. RESIGN Madame President! I call on the Filipino Youth, who is the vast majority of our voting population to VOTE for CHANGE! Vote for better people! and We should dictate the way this country will move. It is high time that we play the improtant roles in our country. The time for the TRAPOS must end. The time for USELESS POLITICAL DYNASTIES should end.

I am for a stronger IMPEACHMENT of President Arroyo. The only way for us Filipinos to correct this culture is by voting responsibly and wisely. Let us not give power to imbecile, inutile, and sweet-talking morons who will do nothing but politicking and who will just play puppets to key political players. Let us take control of sovereignty in this country! Let us be the driving force in this call for CHANGE!

Tama na! Sobra na! IMPEACH GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO! Ombudsman should file complaints and conduct investigation to concerned officials! Restore the Moral integrity of our government offices. Bring back the respect and reverence to the symbol which Malacañan stands for!

Down the lane to the Seminary gym

Since enrolment started, many students have been texting me that it took them three hours or more in paying their fees. One thing was very much consistent with respect to the complaints we received and it pertains to the way the guards on duty handle the flow of students. Having heard all these, we decided to observe in the Calderon court were students were lining up to enter the Seminary gym. Also, we were able to see the happenings inside the Seminary gym because of the television set-up in the waiting area and we also went in to check. Personally, I observed the following things;

1) The scheduling of the enrolment period per college made the enrolment chaotic. However, we cannot deny the fact that studnts were given schedule of enrolment so as not to have a sudden influx of students in the area. Many students did not follow their schedules that is why those who were scheduled in the afternoon had a hard time lining up.

2) As Students, we are guilty of allowing our friends and acquaintances squeeze in the lines. You see, the reason why those who were at the back part of the line were annoyed is because students who are lined up in the middle or at the start of the line is reserving spaces for their friends so as to allow them to squeeze in. Let us be reasonable here. If they arrived late, its not the fault of those who arrived early. Let us be considerate to those who lined up properly. Also, the guards on duty failed to regulate this particular concern.

3) Last Tuesday, October 23, the system encountered some difficulty that is why it shut down. This is the reason why last tuesday, the enrolment was dead slow. This is not something planned by the Accounting and Cashier’s office. It was an unexpected happening which they tried to resolve immediately. We should also give credit to the volunteers who made sure that those who were lined up in the Calderon court will be able to enrol. They extended upto 6:00pm. Kudos to our enrolment volunteers!

4) The heavy rainfall during the past days made it hard for us all to enrol. Offices concerned already asked the Buildings and Grounds office to add tents so that students or parents will not get wet. I should also note the fact that some parents are wanting to accompany their sons or daughters inside the Seminary gym. Guys, we are already in college and we are old enough to line up and pay our dues. However, for those who will be paying thru credit or debit cards, parenst or guardians who owns the card can or definitely must enter. Let us explain to our parents that enrolment in college is not like in grade school or high school. In college, students are expected to line up by themselves and pay their dues. Parents are expected to entrust to their sons and daughters the payments.

5) A Little act of kindness and patience wont hurt. Some of us have this attitude towards workers or volunteers in the university. These volunteers are also our co-students. They just went out of their way to assist the university so that services can be expedient. A smile or ‘thanks’ will make their work lighter. Let us put ourselves in their place and situation and let us see how would it feel if we are the ones criticized and scolded.

6) Integrity is working without the need for recognition or reward. Never think that we do not try to better the system by which student services are rendered. As much as possible, we exhaust all means and influences to better the system. I just hope that each student will involved themselves by making us aware of your concerns and suggestions about this matter.

Thanks a lot to our student volunteers in the enrolment! I would like to apologize on behalf of the students who gave you a hard time. Also, let me take this opportunity to encourage you all to do better and understand where other students are coming from. The change that we want to see in the university must first begin with ourselves. Random act of kindness and appreciation wont hurt.

From Magna Carta to UST Students’ Code

UST Student leaders were successful in campaigning and promoting the proposed Magna Carta of Students inside the campus. There were different responses to the information dissemination conducted by the local student councils and partner organizations. The different forum became an avenue for redress of grievances and many find the proposed document vague. This is probably because of the fact that the term ‘Magna Carta’ is too overpowering.   On a positive note, it became the talk of some colleges and even in UST High School.  Our brothers and sisters there realized the importance of such document when we had the opportunity to talk to them. Regardless of the kinds of response which the proposed Magna Carta generate, it is still something which I am happy about. This means that Thomasians are now getting themselves involved.

Passing the proposed Magna Carta is not an easy task. It will require the collective effort of all students in the university. This will never be a one-man show. A person pushing for the approval of this document alone is like a diesel engine trying to run without diesel in it. This is the concern of all students and student leaders will only coordinate efforts to realize this document. All students have the luxury to call or brand this with any name which they prefer for freedom of expression guarantess these actions. However, we must also realize that we are not protagonist-antagonist alike in this scenario. We are all students wanting to better the system of a university turning 400. We want to make things better for ourselves and for others. We must also look out for the future students of the university. We may vary in the approach but we have the same purpose.

Many key persons in UST find the name ‘Magna Carta’ as somewhat overpowering and strong to the point of sounding radical. I have learned in my experiences as a student leader that we can always disagree without being disagreeable.  For Student Leaders to advance the interests of their co-students, they must learn to humble themselves and master the art of arriving at a compromise. Thus, we have decided to rename the proposed Magna Carta of Students of the University of Santo Tomas to UST Students’ Code. The Office of the UST-Central Student Council in partnership with all Local Student Councils and SOCC will do everything to see the approval and immediate implementation of the proposed UST Students’ Code. We can only operate within the processes which current laws and public policies allow. It may be a Students’ Code intended for and by the students but some provisions may affect other members of the UST Community. We must acknowledge that we do not exist for ourselves alone. We always co-exists and with this thought, we should realized that in order for us all to advance our concerns and interests, we must learn to co-exists responsibly and wisely.

Let it be known to all Thomasians that our proposed Magna Carta is now called UST Students’ Code. It has the same contents and provisions, we just changed the name of this important document so as to lessen the problems we will all encounter in the duration of our lobbying for its approval. This is the document of all Thomasians…This is our document, let us own this and fight for it. Let us support the proposed UST Students’ Code.

The UST CENTRAL STUDENT COUNCIL is calling on all Thomasians to stand up and move to help in the passing of this proposed UST Students’ Code. We must never lose hope because our generation is yet to take the center stage. We must all be catalyst of change in a society of perpetual distress. We must also recall the Martial Law era when it was only the Youth who were speaking out. That was the time of great distress for the country. WE are calling on all Thomasians to ACT not because we are hopeless but because we believe that for every hand that shifts from apathy to sympathy, we are slowing changing this community and eventually the world.

Support the proposed UST STUDENTS’ CODE – this should be our choice and we must all see this as a chance to realize the much needed change in UST.  

More than ourselves

In these days of chaos and violence, it cannot be helped to think of where all these things lead. The injustice that corrupts our land has reigned terror on mnay, and destroyed countless lives in the process. The youth are called upon today to step up to the challenge by breaking away from the normality of everyday injustice.  

A good UCSC leader  once said that all of us have societal roles. including the youth, linked in a chain of nationalism where the brittle bonds of society may fall without social values and good governance. However, not all citizens realize the responsibility that they should fulfill for the welfare of the state due to selfish desires that will eventual lead to inequality. Nevertheless, the difficult issues that we are facing right now should not be a hindrance to work for the common good. Rather, it should be an instrument of challenge and a source of motivation that should hold us together in one common goal: for the common good of man.

Union of Catholic Student Council of the Philippines is an alliance that recognizes the need to unify all Christian students to work towards Social Justice, guided by the principles of being holistic, through genuine service in the light of Christian values. Social Justice, a society where the basic rights to life, nationality, culture, proper education are observed, and where individuals enjoy freedom and justice among themselves is the common goal of all – a common good which will be met by many hurdles that will have to be overcome in order to succeed. This is where our patience will be exhausted, and our faith tested. We must struggle and strive together, and believe that Christ, our Lord, will guide us to the light and through Him, anything is possible.

UCSC should not be a venue of maintaining each school’s status quo or politicizing the differences for survival of the fittest. Rather, it should be an opportunity for each school to stand together and fight against the social injustices that plague man. Among ourselves is where we begin our struggles for it is futile to even attempt to fight injustice when we ourselves cannot fight the injustice that resides among us. When we work together and become part of something greater, something of more worth than ourselves. This is when the concept of holism applies to us – when our worth, as a united body, become more than the sum of our individual selves. That is when we, under the guidance of our Lord, Jesus Christ, achieve our goal. The time and the call to think and see things more than ourselves is now upon us. Will we answer this call, or will we ignore it?

UCSC is not just a union or an alliance, but a family under one Father. We will show the rest of the world that if we can do it, so can they.