Edukasyon Para sa Lahat

This BLOG will SOON CEASE to EXIST

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:53:00 +0000

May 1 can't wait. This BLOG will SOON CEASE to EXIST. I love this blog but I have to let go - and move on.

The act of choosing is the oxygen to your soul.

PROJECT DENNIO
Awakening from the deepest slumber:

http://projectdennio.blogspot.com/

Visit it now.

TAMA NA! SOBRA NA! PATALSIKIN SI GLORIA!

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:13:00 +0000

Habang tahimik ang lahat kahapon nakita ko ang isang maliit na papel (actually isang short bond paper) na nakapatong sa aking lamesa. Binas ko ang nilalaman nito. And I liked it. Very timely for wht is happening to our country nowadays. And to what our honorable politicians did with our country.

Seven years is enough, as one group said. And truly, enough is enough. We cannot have more of these scams, scandals, graft, corruption and blatant violation of human rights. We don't need an economist who doesn't even care about her people and all she boasts are the numbers and figures which people cannot eat.

It's about time my fellow Filipinos to take away the power we have given them. It's about time to stand side by side without those politicos around. It is time that we do not depend on the calls of the church or some charismatic leader for us to get involved and stand up for real change in our country.

It is time for us to change the country without them.

And here is a literary piece dedicated to all Filipinos created by Bernard Backman.

REVERSE CREATION

by Bernard Backman

In the end, we destroyed the heaven that was called Earth. The Earth had been beautiful until our spirit moved over it and destroyed all things.

And we said...

Let there be darkness... and there was darkness. And we liked the darkness; so we called the darkness, Security. And we divided ourselves into races and religions and classes of society. And there was no morning and no evening on the seventh day before the end.

And we said...

Let there be a strong government to control us in our darkness. Let there be armies to control our bodies so that we may learn to kill one another neatly and efficiently in our darkness. And there was no evening and no morning on the sixth day before the end.

And we said...

Let there be rockets and bombs to kill faster and easier; let there be gas chambers and furnaces to be more thorough. And there was no evening and no morning on the fifth day before the end.

And we said...

Let there be drugs and other forms of escape, for there is this constant annoyance - REALITY - which is disturbing our comfort. And there was no evening and no morning on the fourth day before the end.

And we said...

Let there be divisions among the nations, so that we may know who is our common enemy. And there was no evening and no morning on the third day before the end.

And finally we said...

Let us create God in our image. Let some other God compete with us. Let us say that God thinks as we think, hates as we hate, and kills as we kill. And there was no morning and no evening on the second day before the end.

On the last day, there was a great noise on the face of the Earth. Fire consumed the beautiful globe, and there was silence. The blackened Earth now rested to worship the one true God; and God saw all that we had done, and in the silence over the smoldering ruins... God wept.

Mula sa aking INBOX v.2

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:16:00 +0000

[Note: Ang version 1 ay nasa ibaba ng post na ito. - Dennio

At narito na ang ikalawang bugso ng mga magagandang mensahe na aking natanggap mula sa iba’t ibang tao. Isinaayos ko ang mga sumusunod na mensahe sa tamang pagbaybay.

February 6, 2008

11:41:33 PM

“Have you ever denied your feelings for someone because your fear of rejection was hard to handle?

We tell lies when we are afraid. Afraid of what we know, what others will think, what will be found out about us.

But everytime we tell a lie. The thing we fear grows stronger. Life is all about risks and it requires you to jump.

Don’t be a person who is to look back and wonder what they would have or could have had..”

(No comment. Ang sakit.)

11:34:34 PM

Mula sa aking INBOX

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:06:00 +0000

[Note: This post was intended to be shown last October 11, 2007 but never got to my blog; until now.]

Nitong nagdaang dalawang linggo, madami akong natanggap na mga magagandang mensahe sa cellphone. Karamihan sa mga ito ay galing kay Ate Aina, isang nakilala ko sa YFC noong high school. Malaki din ang naitulong ng mga mensaheng ito para maup-lift ang aking spirit na nitong mga nagdaang araw ay bagsak na at parang ‘di ko na kaya. Narito na ang mga mensahe (in-edit ko ang mga ito sa pagsasaayos ng pagbaybay):

October 7, 2007

10:08:34 AM

“When you’re sad, there are times when trying to be happy, and trying to make other people happy as well, is better than showing everybody that you’re sad and hurting. Redundancy sometimes just don’t do the trick. Because I’ve realized that somehow, seeing that you’re the reason why the other people smile just make things more bearable. It just shows that you’re not that selfish to let everybody feel the state you are in and selfless enough to make them smile amidst the status of your heart and most importantly, you have shown God that you have counted your blessings more than your pain. You’ve recognized your pain as channel of blessings because you know that it has a lot of wisom with it only if you don’t allow it to eat you whole. Don’t take life too seriously .

You have all the reasons to enjoy it.

(Mahaba pero simple lang message: enjoy life.)

05:28:20 PM

Half the trouble of life can be traced by saying yes too quick and not saying no soon enough.

(Tinamaan ako. Aray. Hehe..)

October 6, 2007

08:30:55 PM

NURSES

N – aughty sometimes
U – npredictable
R – omantic with
S – ense of humor
E – xtraordinary and
S – exually active

Well, san ka pa?! Kaya nga in-demand ‘di ba? Ehehehe..

(Ayos toh. Hehe… Joke lang ha. Walang pikunan.)

08:03:41 PM

I see LOVE:

- when my lola makes coffee for lolo every morning
- when my mom wakes up early in the morning to cook us breakfast
- when tito fetches his pamangkins from school
- when my siblings call to check if I’m ok
- when people eat lunch together despite the busy schedules
- when my cousin kisses the hurting finger of her baby
- when good friends hang out despite the distance

Now who said LOVE is just for couples?

(Oo nga naman. Hindi lang naman magsyota ang nagmamahalan. Hmmp. Hehe… Inggit lang siguro ako, hahaha…)

06:01:26 PM

Boy1: Pare, pahiram nga ng 5 pesos, bibili lang ako ng chuchirya.
Boy2: Pre, ano ka ba? Nakakahiya ka! Hindi chuchirya ang tawag dun, tanga!
Boy1: Eh ano?
Boy2: Jumpfuds pare, jumpfuds!

(Pakornihan na toh.)

05:22:26 AM

Life has great options. But we don’t always have to pick what seem to be the best. Sometimes the best and the perfect.

(Mahirap yata iyon.)

October 5, 2007

10:23:00 PM

“Life’s a little too IRONIC:

We all want things to change. But once they do, we wonder why things can’t go back to the way they were.”

(True. Noon gusto ko tumanda. Ngayon gusto ko bumalik sa pagkabata lalo na ngayon na ang dami kong problema.)

07:22:28 PM

“When GOD knows you’re READY for the RESPONSIBILITY of COMMITMENT. He’ll reveal the right person under the right circumstances. Wait patiently. Don’t waste your time searching and wishing. Grow and be ready and you’ll see. GOD will give you a love story far better than you could ever dream of.”

(Talaga naman tagos ang mensaheng ito sa akin. Bakit? Basta. Hahaha…)

12:29:02 PM

“Two kids playing in a park began to argue. One said: I hate you. I’ll never play with you again! For a few moments they played separately. Then later, they’re playing together again.

How do kids manage to be so mad 1 minute ago and best of friends the next? Simply because, It’s more important for them to be happy that to be right.”

(Medyo hindi ako sang-ayon dahil nga minsan ang pagiging masaya ay hindi laging tama at minsan mas mahalaga na dapat tama ka kaysa masaya ka.)

October 2, 2007

05:40:05 AM

“God makes us brave when we are afraid. He makes us strong when we are weak. But most of all.. He teaches us to hold unto him when things keep on falling. Good morning :-)”

(Tamang-tama ang message na ito noong araw na iyon. Akala ko ay Math Exam na namin sa hapon pero bukas pa pala. Kahit papaano, nabigayan ako ng pag-asa na kakayanin ko ito.)

October 1, 2007

08:11:43 AM

“Reflections…

1) Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul.
2) Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
3) Sometimes, He sends us pain so we can be stronger.
4) Sometimes, He sends us failure so we can be humble.
5) Sometimes, He sends us illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
6) Sometimes, He takes away everything away from us so we can learn the calue of everything we have.

(Hmmm… True. Bagay na bagay sa kalagayan ko ngayon. Daming problema pero alam ko na matatapos din ito.)

September 30, 2007

09:40:40 PM

“Maturity and stability assure future than virginity. Marrying a virgin is not an assurance of a happy and perfect marriage. Premarital sex is the act of making love before marriage. I simply want to realize that premarital sex doesn’t necessarily make a person dirty, rotten and worthless. Being a virgin does not mean that one is better than non-virgins. We have our own choice and it is up to us to be tactful in deciding.”

(Magandang argumento. Pero gaya rin ng claim ng mga no to PMS, hindi ito universal na applicable para sa lahat. Maaari na may ilan na ganito nga ang nangyayari ngunit karamihan iba ang nagiging epekto. Babae ang madalas na biktima. Kung hindi sila mababaliw dahil sa pag-iwan ng bf nila pagkatapos makuha ang kanilang pagka-birhen, maa-adik sila sa pakikipagtalik. Pero sa bandang huli nasa atin na rin ang desisyon kung ano ang tama o mali. Mas mahaba pang pagtalakay ukol dito sa mga susunod na araw.)

09:01:13 PM

“Sometimes, you just have to pretend that you’re happy just to stop everyone from asking what the hell happened.”

(Aray na naman. Nagpapanggap ako na masaya pero sa kalooban ko hindi naman. Madaming bagay ang bumabagabag sa akin at nagpapahirap sa aking kalooban. Sana matapos na.)

September 28, 2007

09:10:45 PM

“Never underestimate your potential and never be ashamed of what you are. Do your best especially when people expect less of you. Because the greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you can’t do.”

(Dahil rito mas naging buo ang aking desisyon na tumakbo bilang SK Chairman sa darating na eleksyon.)

September 27, 2007

09:11:25 AM

“Boy: You deserve everything. I deserve nothing.
Girl: I am nothing and you’re my everything… do we deserve each other now? =)

(Nice one. Dakilang pag-ibig. Hehe… Sana ako din, hahaha…)

September 24, 2007

07:58:29 PM

“Coffee has evolved in years: with cream, iced coffee, coffee with choco chips/cookies. But no matter how people try to innovate coffee varieties, it still doesn’t lose its distinct aroma. Just like us. No matter how we clothe ourselves with different personalities, still our character remains. People may destroy your image, stain your personality but they can’t take away your character. Live. Exist. Let your character diffuse its distinct aroma.”

(Malamang na ang nagpakalat nito ay isang kalaban ng Starbucks o Seattle’s Best. Hehe… Pero tama nga naman, tapak-tapakan ka nila, hindi nila makukuha sayo ang mga nainstill na values at character na nasa iyo na.)

September 19, 2007

09:48:29 PM

“You’ll never know how much you needed your friends until you look back along the rope and realized how many knots they ties to keep you from falling.”

(Oo nga, most of the time we take them for granted.)

03:58:30 PM

“Regret is realizing that you should have done something when you did nothing. It is when you should have chosen the best path but you were too busy doubting yourself. It is when you let fear crowd your courage.

Don’t hesitate. When you need to do or say something but you feel so small, just take adeep breath and go on. Don’ dwell on your mistakes – use them to become a better person. Live life as it comes, one day at a time. Learn from the past, create the present and dream for the future. You wouldn’t want to end up sitting in a rocking chair filled with regrets, would you?”

(Kaya nga I’m doing the things that I should have done before. Ikaw din sana.)

At ang pinakamalupit sa lahat. Hehe…

September 16, 2007

08:45:28 PM

“Traffic advisory: Huwag dadaan sa Espanya… bumabaha…

Bumabaha ng LUHA!

Hayup! Nasa amin na ulet!

– Unibersidad ng Pilipinas =)

Nawa’y nainspire ka. Hehehe… More to come in the following days.

New Post

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:03:00 +0000

Tinatamad pa ako. Pero bago ako maging legal, madami pa ako ilalagay dito na bago, kaya abangan. This was posted in all of my blogs na wala pang post mula noong isang taon.

TAGUBILIN AT HABILIN

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 05:24:00 +0000

Tula ni G. Pete Lacaba

Mabuhay ka kaibigan
Iyan ang una’t huli kong tagubilin at habilin, Mabuhay ka
Sa edad kong ito, marami akong maibibigay na payo, mayaman ako sa payo

Maghugas ka ng kamay bago kumain
Maghugas ka ng kamay pagkatapos kumain
Pero huwag kang maghuhugas ng kamay para lamang maka-iwas sa sisi
Huwag kang maghuhugas ng kamay kung may inaapi na kaya mong tulungan

Paupuin mo sa bus ang matatanda at ang mga may kalong na sanggol
Magpasalamat ka sa nagmamagandang-loob
Matuto sa karanasan ng matatanda pero huwag magpatali sa kaisipang makaluma

Huwag piliting matulog kung ayaw kang dalawin ng antok
Huwag pagaksayahan ng panahon ang mga walang utang na loob
Huwag makipagtalo sa bobo at baka ka mapagkamalang bobo
Huwag bubulong-bulong sa mga panahong kailangang sumigaw
Huwag kang manalig sa bulung-bulungan
Huwag papatay-patay sa ilalim ng pagitin
Huwag kang tutulog-tulog sa pansitan

Umawit ka kung nag-iisa ka sa banyo, umawit ka sa piling ng barkada
Umawit ka kung nalulungkot, umawit ka kung masaya
Ingat lang, huwag kang aawit ng My Way sa videoke bar at baka ka mabaril
Huwag kang magsindi ng sigarilyo sa gasolinahan
Dahan-dahan sa matatarik na landas, dahan-dahan sa malulubak na daan
Higit sa lahat inuulit ko, mabuhay ka

Maraming bagay sa mundo na nakakadismaya, mabuhay ka
Maraming problema ang mundo na wala na yatang lunas, mabuhay ka
Sa hirap ng panahon, sa harap ng kabiguan kung minsan ay gusto mo nang mamatay
Gusto mong maglaslas ng pulso kung sawi sa pag-ibig
Gusto mong magbigti kung napakabigat ng mga pasanin
Gusto mong pasabugin ang bungo mo kung maraming gumugulo sa utak
Huwag kang patatalo, huwag kang susuko

Narinig mo ang sinasabi ng awitin, gising at magbangon sa pagkagubilin
Sa pagkakatulog na lubhang mahimbing
Gumising ka kung hinaharana ka ng pag-ibig
Bumangon ka kung nananawagan ang kapus-palad

Ang sabi ng iba, ang matapang ay walang takot lumaban
Ang sabi ko naman, ang tunay na matapang ay lumalaban kahit natatakot
Lumaban ka kung iningungudngud ang nguso mo sa putik
Bumalikwas ka kung tinatapak-tapakan ka
Buong tapang mong ipaglaban ang iyong mga prinspiyo
Kahit hindi ka sigurado na agad-agad kang mananalo

Mabuhay ka kaibigan
Mabuhay ka

Isang Email

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:28:00 +0000

A story to think about and share before the elections . . .

While walking down the street one day a Philippine senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "

Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the senator."

Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course.

In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends nd other politicians who had worked with him.Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visitheaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp andsinging. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.

"The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.

"So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders."I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?

"The devil smiles at him and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning ...Today, you voted."

Para sa mga madalas ma-LATE

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:03:00 +0000

Tardy again? Blame it on FM radio, says weather bureau

By Blanche Rivera Inquirer Last updated 06:55pm (Mla time) 11/26/2006

THE NEXT time you're late for anything important, you can use the radio as an excuse.

FM radio stations in the country generally give out inaccurate time, causing confusion for the listening public, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA, the country's official time-keeper and state weather bureau, called the attention of the broadcast industry last week as the agency, along with the group Organized Response for the Advancement of Society (ORAS), called for a change of "Filipino time," which refers to a Filipino weakness to be late for appointments.

ORAS, founded by former Supreme Court Justice Emilio K. Gancayco, promotes respect for the rights of others through the basic act of respecting their time.President Macapagal-Arroyo has declared November "Punctuality and Civility Month" to promote Filipino's time consciousness.

"The FM stations have a big discrepancy (with the Philippine Standard Time or PST). I don't know why," Mario Raymundo, chief of PAGASA's time service unit, said in an earlier briefing.

He said AM radio stations and TV stations were more accurate, deviating only by about 20 seconds from the Philippine Standard Time (PST), the official time as indicated by PAGASA's Rubidium-based atomic clock.

The Rubidium clock has an accuracy of one-billionth of a second, which will not deviate by a second in the next 32 years, PAGASA astronomy chief Bernardo Soriano Jr. said. The clock, which PAGASA acquired in 2003, is kept at the weather bureau’s observatory on the campus of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

In a circular issued to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) in 2004, PAGASA advised KBP members to get the PST and use this in their time checks and the time being flashed on the screen.

The PST is necessary because there are differences in actual time, or the exact time in the various provinces of the country depending on their global position.

Every 15 degree movement to the east of the 123 longitude indicates a time difference of one hour while every one degree to the east indicates a difference of one minute, Raymundo said.

Davao, for example is 22 minutes advanced than Metro Manila, which is four minutes ahead of Iba, Zambales whose time is closest to the PST.

"The law mandates that we follow a single time all over the country, and that is the PST. We don't want people to be confused," Soriano said in a phone interview on Sunday.

PAGASA’s time-keeping mandate stems from Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 8, which states that Pagasa shall be "responsible in the establishment, maintenance and operation of the National Standard Time" up to the second.

Presidential Decree No. 1149 also assigned PAGASA as the official agency that will disseminate the PST.

From the Press

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:03:00 +0000

PINOY KASI

Fairness and UP

By Michael Tan

Inquirer Last updated 02:36am (Mla time) 01/24/2007

(Published on page A11 of the January 24, 2007 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer )

THERE’S a lot of shouting and jumping these days on campuses of the University of the Philippines (UP), as students and parents check out the results of UP’s College Admissions Test (UPCAT).

Some 70,000 students took the UPCAT last August, but less than 10 percent have been admitted, based on their performance in UPCAT as well as their grades in high school, and certain equity factors such as socioeconomic status and geography.

Not all of those who passed will enter UP. The richer students have options, sometimes choosing to go to one of several exclusive private universities where they’ve also earned admission. For students from middle- and low-income families, UP is what they and their parents have dreamed about, a way to get a top-rate education at relatively low tuition. Relatively.

Last December, UP’s Board of Regents approved an increase in tuition and miscellaneous fees, which could affect the decisions of some families about pushing through with a bright child in college.

STFAP

I have a strong feeling that many people are unaware of UP’s Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), so I thought I’d share the details here, together with the new fees, to assure wavering parents that they do have options.

The new fee structure varies depending on the campus. Group I campuses -- Diliman, Los Baños and Manila -- will have higher tuition than Group II campuses -- Baguio, Mindanao, San Fernando and Visayas (with campuses in Cebu and Iloilo and Tacloban).

A new STFAP has been drawn up with the new fees. Bracket A refers to those with annual family incomes of more than P1 million. Students from these families will pay the full-cost tuition, which comes to P1,500 a unit in Group I campuses and P1,000 in Group II campuses.

In Bracket B will be students whose annual family income ranges from P500,001 to P1,000,000. They will pay P1,000 a unit in Group I campuses and P600 in Group II campuses. Bracket C students come from families with annual incomes of P135,001 to P500,000. They will pay P600 per unit in Group I campuses and P400 in Group II campuses.

Next are the Bracket D students, with family annual incomes of P80,001 to P135,000. They will pay P300 per unit in Group I campuses and P200 per unit in Group II.

Students from brackets A, B, C and D will all have to pay full miscellaneous and laboratory fees, which will be P2,000 per semester in Diliman and Los Baños; P1,950 in Manila; P1,405 in Baguio, San Fernando and the Visayas; and P1,640 in Mindanao.

Finally, there’s Bracket E for students whose families earn less than P80,000 a year. They will not pay any tuition, miscellaneous or laboratory fees, and they will get a stipend of P12,000 per semester.

Equity

It’s never easy working out a socialized tuition system. A group of faculty members that includes, among others, Dr. Maris Diokno and Dr. Cynthia Bautista, has expressed concern over Brackets C and D, wondering if this new system puts the middle class at a disadvantage. Their position paper did get me to do some calculations: a bracket D student on a 15-unit load would have to pay P4,500 in tuition, plus P2,000 in miscellaneous and laboratory fees for a total of P6,500 per semester or P13,000 a year, excluding the summer session.

If his or her family earns about P135,000 a year, the upper limit of that bracket, the P13,000 would take up almost 10 percent of family income. Given how the middle class spends so much more than the rich, percentage-wise, for food and rent, even this subsidized tuition could become a serious burden, especially if the family has several children who are still attending school.

The continuing discussions and debates do show how concerned the university is about issues of fairness and equity. That was why opinions were divided over the tuition fee increase itself. My view is that the current fee structure, which dates back to 1989, has become unfair.

What happened was that upper-class students were paying full fees that came to something like P20,000 a year. In effect, taxes squeezed out of the poor and the middle class were subsidizing the costs of giving the best education to the children of bank presidents and "hacenderos" [plantation owners].

I’ve written, passionately, about the need for more government support of education, and especially for a state university. But I should point out, too, that even in countries where the state is generous, and the main provider of college education, there is a streaming process that determines if students will be allowed to go on to college in the first place.

Depending on their potentials, these eligible students will be streamed into different colleges, with only the brightest ending up in a national university.

UP faculty and students are reluctant to use language like “brightest” and “best” because it sounds so elitist, but rather than worry about political correctness, let’s get real and look at who our “iskolar ng bayan” [people’s scholars] are.

We need to do more to get students from the middle- and lower-income groups. If our fees scare off the few middle- and low-income families that dare to hope for a child in UP, we will end up with a state university that will exclude the poor.

Fair is fair. I would think that at UP, we could live with our reduced budgets if we saw government channeling more money to improve public education at the elementary and secondary education, eventually helping more of their graduates to make it into state universities, including UP.

And for those who do get into UP, we will have to find ways to keep them there and see them graduate. I worry again about the inequities. When upper middle-class students need money, they can work part-time in a call center to supplement their allowances.

The poorer students are handicapped when they compete for such jobs, and have to resort to student loans, or undergraduate assistantships that pay P20 an hour, for a maximum of P2,000 a month. Graduate students get the grand amount of P4,000 a month.

There’s always so much uncertainty for middle- and low-income students at UP. Incidental expenses turn out to be not so incidental; textbooks alone, for example, are enough to wipe out a budget. And just one family emergency -- a catastrophic illness, a death, or even a delayed remittance from a parent working overseas -- can force the student to take a leave of absence, some never to return.

Each of these dropouts is a loss not just for the family but for the nation.

The Faculty Regent

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 12:02:00 +0000

SOCIAL JUSTICE, NOT COMMERCIALIZATION IN U.P. EDUCATION

(Statement of Roland G. Simbulan, Professor and Faculty Regent, U.P.System)

January 19, 2006

I have asked the U.P. Board of Regents and the U.P. administration to conductfurther study and review of the STFAP report chaired by Prof. Atanacio (otherwise known as the Atanacio report), and if need be, to defer the Implementation of the proposed 300% tuition fee increase that was approved by the Board of Regents last December 15, 2006.

The STFAP rebracketing has implications on the future of U.P. education as it will certainly determine if U.P. will still continue to be accessible to low income but bright Filipino students. For the fundamental purpose of U.P. education is to provide excellent but accessible education to children of ordinary Filipino families. The Atanacio report, released only through the U.P. website last December 8, 2006, is crucial because it is the heart of the rationale for the proposed 300% increase in tuition fees, and this report is also the implementing guideline for the increases.

There has not been much time to discuss and peer-review this report for modifications of its grave statistical errors and miscalculations. This erroneous report was the main basis of the BOR's decision to increase tuition by 300%,which will spell the intensification if not maximization of revenue generationby U.P. thru tuition fee collections, not social justice andaccess to poor but deserving students.

The administration seems to be closed to a full blown dialogue with students on this issue, and it is only open to informing the students. This is not how we conduct ourselves in the academic community, much more in U.P. . Debates and intellectual ferment are the lifeblood of this University. I am very sad and outraged that the U.P. Board of Regents last Dec. 15, 2006 also approved a prospective proposal by the U.P. administration to automatically adjust annually tuition fees " based on the national inflation rate."

This is too much, because the benefits under STFAP are not also going to be adjustedannually; further, wages and salaries of the students' parents are not also beig adjusted based on the national inflation rate. Added to this is the implementation in U.P. Diliman of an admissions policy that more favors students coming from private high schools, or their ability to cough out the additional "adjustments" intuition fees. These increases could change the character and soul of U.P. as a state university. It is not far-fetched that if we allow these series of increases to go on with the 300% increase as precedent, U.P. would soon be like any private university depending for its finances and operational expenses on tuition collected from students while supporting a few scholars as in Ateneo and De La Salle. Meanwhile, admission would be based on ability to pay.

Students, faculty and non-academic personnel of U.P. should forge a formidable front to prevent the further commercialization and eventual privatization of U.P.. Together, they will define the direction of our University. As the Centennial of U.P. nears, the struggle for its meaning intensifies. It is a struggle for the University's heart and soul.

Open Letter

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 11:53:00 +0000

DR. CARLITO S. PUNO

Chairperson

Board of Regents

University of the Philippines System

Through: DR. EMERLINDA R. ROMAN

President

University of the Philippines System

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF BOARD APPROVAL OF THE INCREASE IN TUITION AND OTHER FEES

Dear Chairman Puno:

In behalf of the Student Body of theUniversity of the Philippines System, I am writing tostrongly urge the Honorable Board of Regents towithdraw its approval of the increase in tuition andother fees on the following grounds:

1.) There are several questions regarding the mannerby which the approval of this very crucial measure washandled. The circumstances in December 15 precluded the Student and Faculty Regents to engage the proponents of this measure in a healthy debate. This is very unfortunate especially that both regents represent sectors that have direct involvement over the issue. Discussions were not exhausted. This runs counter from the precept that this University thrives on debates.

2.) Several pieces of information that are narrated bythe President as shown in the excerpt from the minutes of the Board Meeting particularly those that are central to the positions and concerns of the variousU.P. units do not really reflect the sentiments ofsuch units especially their student body.

3.) Based on the excerpt from the minutes, various points raised by the students were never answered. This confirms the students' expectations that this Administration does not really adhere to democratic and participative tenets in decision-making. Consultations, after all, are a mere perfunctory undertaking. This is dangerous. The integrity of University processes is at stake here.

4.) The approval of annual increases in tuition based on national inflation rate is an extreme malevolence. In the past, the Board has undone previous decisions that endorse automatic increases of fees and turneddown proposals with similar recommendation. It is terribly inconsistent for the Board to approve such when the measure concerned has a higher shade of significance i.e. tuition.

5.) Undeclared in the Administration' s propaganda is the fact that the increase in tuition and other fees affect students across bracket assignments. The widely-held perception that this measure will change, if not destroy, the character and orientation of the University is undeniable. Thus, if we are to truly remain as an academic institution where the tradition of intellectual debates persists; we, as regents, must set an example by not acting on this matter in a hasty fashion.

In line with these, I move that:

(1) The approval of the automatic annual increases intuition and other fees be revoked immediately.

(2) The approval of the increase in tuition and otherfees be withdrawn to accommodate further debates and discussions on the issue.

With my respectful submission of thisrequest is my deep concern for the orientation of the University that is, in large extent, on our hands today. May we fulfill our consecrated task to see to it that the Filipino youth, the future Scholars of the People, gets to experience the accessible quality education that the University promises to offer.

For the students and the people,
RAFFY JONES G. SANCHEZ
Student Regent

ChaCha Express: Patungo sa Kawalan

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:44:00 +0000

Ang tumakbo ng matulin, kung matinik malalim.

Iyan ang isa sa mga kasabihang Pilipino na angkop na angkop sa ginagawang sobrang pagmamadali ng mga alipores ni Pang. Gloria sa Kongreso sa pangunguna ni Jose De Venecia, ang ating kagalang-galang na ispiker. Dahil sa hindi umubra sa Korte Suprema ang People’s Initiative (P.I.), na sa acronym pa lang ay hindi na maganda at lalo na ang ginawa nila Lambino at ng Singaw este Sigaw ng Bayan, ngayon naman talagang pinipilit nila na matuloy na ang Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) na sa acronym ulit ay hindi na maganda at lalo ulit ang balak na gawing panggagahasa nila sa Konstitusyon.

Sige, ituloy niyo na iyan. Ilagay ninyo lahat ng gusto niyo. Gusto niyo eh palitan niyo na ang pangalan ng Pilipinas. Republika ni Gloria et. al. o di kaya ipangalan na ninyo sa mga sarili ninyo ang bawat probinsya, bayan, barangay, kalsada o kahit pa magpatayo kayo ng tig-isang monumento para sa inyo.

Ilagay niyo na din na gusto ninyo na forever na kayong nadiyan at wala nang eleksyon. Kayo-kayo na lang ang mamili ng sinong Pangulo, Ay, di na nga pala Pangulo, Prime Minister na. Malamang gustong-gusto iyan ni de Venecia. Siyempre after all, ilang beses na bang naging ispiker iyan. Malamang manalo siya palagi. Kasi alam niya, dehins siya mananalo sa eleksyon. Kahit pa maglakad pa iyan ng paluhod mula sa Batasan hanggang sa Malakanyang.

At speaking of eleksyon, ayan makakatipid na tayo kasi wala nang eleksyon. Mind you, hindi lang ang gobyerno ang makakatipid kundi pati na kayo. Oo, kayong mga tumatakbo sa eleksyon. Hindi na ninyo kailangang magpamigay ng mag bigas, de lata o noodles sa mga nasa squatters area. Hindi niyo na din kailangan na bumili ng boto na may minimum na presyong 100 bawat boto. Hindi niyo na din kelangang umikot at magpakapagod sa kakakamay sa mga tao. Wala nang kampanya. At higit sa lahat, hindi na ninyo kelangang gumastos ng milyon-milyon para umarkila ng mga kagaya ni Garci o di kaya noong mga heneral para mandaya sa eleksyon. O di ba, malaking katipiran?

Maganda na rin na I-abolish na ninyo na ang Korte Suprema. O di ba? Para wala nang kontrabida, wala nang magsasabi na unconstitutional this and that, at wala nang mas tataas pa na Diyos sa inyo. You have absolute power. Puwede niyo na ipahuli si ganito o si ganyan. Puwede niyo nang barilin na lang ang lahat ng mga nagra-rally para tumahimik at wala nang masyadong kaguluhan; para tepok agad lahat. Puwede niyo na rin na iprivatize ang lahat: mga pier, kalsada, airport, kuryente, tubig, ospital at ang pinakamaganda eh lahat na ng paaralan: elementary, high school at college; para naman walang masyadong gastos.

At dahil wala nang gastos masyado, puwede niyo nang paghatihatian ang natipid natin. O di ba? Mas malaki ang delihensya niyo? Kumbaga eh, example kung dati eh 100 billion ang gastos natin sa edukasyon, eh di ngayon natipid natin iyun, so kung ilan kayo, say mga 200 kayo na mga gahaman kasama na si Prime Minister at lahat ng mga members ng Paliament, e di may tig-500 million kayo bawat isa, o di ba? Puwede na kayong mapasam sa mga pinakamayayamang tao sa mundo. Sa edukasyon lang ang natipid natin, paano pa sa iba, e di mas malaki pa, o di ba? Ang saya-saya.

E paano ba iyan? Malapit na ba magsimula ang maliligayang araw niyo? Na-a-ah… Gusto pala.

Subukan ninyong gawin lahat ng iyan. You’ll never know what will happen to you. Hindi kami tanga, bulag, bingi, pipi at manhid gaya niyo. Wala man kaming ginagawa ngayon, pero…nagmamasid kami. Ninanamnam ang bawat ginagawa niyo pero hindi naman ito pinalalampas.

At please lang, napak-obvious naman ng mga pinaggagawa ninyo. Puwede ba, itago nyo naman. Masyado nang obscene.

Sana lang… Mahulog na sa bangin ang tren na iyan.

The Journalist's Code of Ethics

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 02:31:00 +0000

As a blogger, we are all noted to be journalists in our own light. At bilang isang mamamahayag, nararapat siguro na sundin din natin ang Code of Ethics ng mga mamamahayag sa print media.

The Journalist’s Code of Ethics

INQ7.net

Last updated 10:01pm (Mla time) 06/23/2006

Editor's note: What follows is the full text of the Journalist's Code of Ethics as adopted by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. A copy can be found on the website of the NUJP.

I. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.

II. I shall not violate confidential information on material given me in the exercise of my calling.

III. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents, and shall properly identify myself as a representative of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication.

IV. I shall refrain from writing reports that will adversely affect a private reputation unless the public interest justifies it. At the same time, I shall fight vigorously for public access to information.

V. I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the performance of my duties, nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature that may cast doubt on my professional integrity.

VI. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.

VII. I shall not, in any manner, ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.

VIII. I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.

IX. I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow journalist.

X. I shall accept only such tasks as are compatible with the integrity and dignity of my profession, invoking the “conscience clause” when duties imposed on me conflict with the voice of my conscience.

XI. I shall conduct myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should be my watchword.

Desperado na nga ba si Pangulong Gloria?

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 11:42:00 +0000

Desperado na talaga si Pangulong GMA. Tsk, tsk tsk…

Malamang matagal na nilang gusto na magkaroon ng ChaCha. Siguro noon pang bago mag 2004 presidential elections. Pero dahil alam nila na medyo mahirap gumawa ng isang napak-“unpopular move,” at malamang kung ginawa nila ito, mananalo tiyak si FPJ o kung hindi man ay si Lacson.

Sa halip, tutal kontrolado naman nila ang gobyerno, nandaya na lang sila. No choice eh..
Nang nakasiguro na sila na hawak na nila ang lahat, lalo na ang Kongreso, susubukan na nilang mag-ChaCha. Pero medyo nahirapan sila, dahil mabuti na lamang, kung mabuti talaga ito, ang Senado ay naging ‘tagapagbantay’ ng mga Pilipino.

Tapos naman, biglang pumutok ang Fertilizer Fund Scam na diumano’y ginamit noong nakaraang eleksyon. Nasangkot si Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante. At matapos lang ang ilang linggo, o araw pa ata, bigla siyang naglaho.

Pagkatapos, narinig ng buong bansa at malamang ng buong mundo, ang “Hello, Garci?” Sangkot dito ang ating mahal na Pangulo at si dating Comelec Commisioner Virgilio Garcillano. Nakilala ang mga katagang “iyung dagdag.., shall I lead by 1M?” At siyempre, naisip ni Pangulong Gloria na baka sakali naman na siya ay lumusot kaya siya ay nag-“I am sorry…” Baka sakali na mapaniwala daw niya ang mga Pilipino na ito daw ay ‘lapse in judgement’ at ‘anxious to protect my vote.’ Pero siyempre, hindi naman tayo tanga at hindi naman tayo bobo para mainiwala ‘di ba?

At siyempre, nawala ding bigla si Garci at lumitaw limang buwan matapos ang paglabas ng kontrobersya, pero hindi pa rin naging malinaw ang lahat dahil siyempre natatakot siya sa kanyang amo.

Muntikan na ring mapatalsik si Pang. Gloria sa kanyang pwesto. Nagsampa ng impeachment ang opposisyon. Pero dahil sa hawak ng ating mahal na Pangulo at kakampi niya halos lahat ng mga kongresista, naibasura ang impeachment.

At ang sabi ng administrasyon: “War is over, let’s ChaCha.”

Biglang lumitaw ang Singaw este Sigaw kuno ng Bayan. Isinusulong nila ang People’s Initiative na pamamaraan ng pagababago sa Saligang Batas. Kahit hindi aminin ni Pang. GMA, siyempre, todo at buo ang kanyang suporta sa grupo na ito. Nagsimula ang pangangalap ng mga lagda. At siyempre nabunyag ang mga anumalya. Mga panlilinlang sa mga tao. Nakumpleto daw nila ang mga kinakailangang lagda.

At ang isa pang nakapagtataka, sa kanilang website na www.sigawngbayan.com, ipinagmamalaki nila na may mahigit limang milyong katao na ang bumisita sa kanilang site mula noong Abril 2006. Wala pang kahit anong website sa buong mundo na makakapagmalaki na nakakuha sila ng mahigit 5 milyong bisita sa loob lamang ng halos apat na buwan. At kung pagbabasihan ang mga survey tungkol sa mga internet users sa Pilipinas, mayroon lamang humigit kumulang na 2 milyon ang regular na gumagamit ng internet.

Pero mapaplusot pa natin iyun, malay nga natin madami talaga ang interesado sa website nila na bukod sa mga articles ay wala nang iba pang mag interesanteng bagay na makikita, ang hindi lang talaga puwede lumsuot ay ang napakabilis na pangangalap ng lagda.
Mabuti na lamang at hindi ito pinalusot ng Korte Suprema.

Mukhang palpak ata ang lahat ng gustong ‘manyari’ ni Pang. GMA,

Sinubukan din niya kung makakapagdeklara siya ng martial law sa pamamagitan ng PP 1017. Medyo, tiningnan niya kung okey ba ito. Pero siyempre hindi ito nagustuhan ng mga tao at alam niya na magbubunsod ito ng hindi magandang persepsyon ng mga tao sa kanya.
Nagkaroon din ng eskandalo ang halos buo niyang pamilya nang dahil sa jueteng. Naging masyadong kontrobersyal si FG Mike dahil sa dami ng mga mamamahayag na sinampahan niya ng libel.

Isama mo pa diyan ang mga tiwali at mga kontrobersyal sa pamahalaan. Isa na si Winston Garcia ng GSIS. Ano na kaya ang nangyari sa pondo nila? Kahit kami nahihirapang kunin ang pera na ibinayad naman sa educational plan ko. Bakit kaya hindi siya sinibak sa puwesto?
Isa pa ay si Major Gen. Palparan na binansagang berdugo ng mga aktibista. Sa halos lahat ng mga lugar kung saan siya nadestino, palaging maraming nangyayaring pagdukot at pagpatay sa mga kilalang kritiko ng pamahalaan sa mga lugar na iyon.

At para mapagtakpan ang lahat ng mga gulo at kontrobersya na kinasangkutan niya, patuloy siya sa pagmamalaki na gumanda ang mga ‘economic indicators’ ng ating bansa. Pero sana nga lang, nararamdaman natin iyun.

Isa pa ay ang paglaki daw ng koleksyon sa buwis. Sabi ni Pangulong Gloria, mas mapaglilingkuran ang mga tao, mas gaganda ang social services at higit sa lahat hindi na tayo uutang at ang kasunod daw nito ay ang pag-unlad ng Pilipinas.

Pero mukha atang hanggang press release lang ang kayang gawin ng administrasyon ito.

Hindi pa ako tapos. Itutuloy ko pa ito.

Kainin mo ngayon ang sinabi mo dati.

“Walang manyayari…’ – PGMA

EDUCATE: Introduction

noreply@blogger.com (J.D. Lim) — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 06:53:00 +0000

Wala nga daw taong bobo. Pero tanga meron.

Naniniwala ako na lahat ng Pilipino ay matatalino.

Pero pinabobobo tayo ng mga taong nasa paligid natin.

Mga dayuhan.

Mga pinuno sa pamahalaan.

Maging kapwa natin Pilipino.

Layunin ng blog ko na ito na bigyan ng kakaibang klaseng edukasyon ang mga bumibisita dito.

Kung ano man ang magiging kakaiba dito, iyun ay hindi lamang ito magbibigay ng impormasyon.

Kundi papalawakin ko pa kung paano kayo mag-isip.

At hindi ko lang kayo susubuan.

Kayo ang pumili ng kakainin niyo.

Educate.
More than the info.
More than the facts.
It's about thinking.