Masaker

Apat na taon na ang nakalipas mula nang maganap ang isa sa pinaka-madugong kaganapan sa kasaysayan ng pamamahayag sa Pilipinas – ang Maguidanao Massacre sa Maguindanao. Nasa limampu’t walong tao ang naging biktima ng pagpatay, kabilang rito ang tatlumpu’t dalawang mga mamamahayag na nasa linya ng trabaho at dalawang babaeng buntis.

Artistic depiction of the Maguindanao Massacre. Illustration by Kenneth Garcia

Hindi nag-iisa ang Maguidanao Massacre sa madudugong pangyayari sa bansa. Sa buwang ito rin ay inaalala natin ang ika-siyam na taon ng Hacienda Luisita Massacre sa Tarlac. Ang Hacienda Luisita ay isang korporasyon, at isa sa mga nagmamay-ari nito ay ang ating Pangulong Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III at ang kanyang pamilya. Tinawag nga ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines-NCR (CEGP-NCR) ang Nobyembre bilang buwan ng mga masaker s aisang facebook post.

Bilang isang demokratikong bansa, nasasagkaan ang karapatan ng mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng pasismo ng gobyerno – karapatan sa lupa, karapatan sa malayang pamamahayag, karapatan sa buhay. Mas nakakatakot ang ganitong sitwasyon ng bansa kaysa anupamang Halloween costume.

Apat na taon na ang Maguidanao Massacre. Magagaya ba ito sa Hacienda Luisita Massacre na aabutin na ng isang dekada? O sa napakarami pang mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao noong martial law na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring malinaw na tunguhin at resolusyon ang kaso?

Kami bilang mga mamamahayag pang-kampus ay patuloy na inaalala at tinatanganan ang ganitong mga isyu bago pa man ito tuluyang mabaon sa limot at mawala sa kamalayan ng sambayanang Pilipino.

Ang kultura ng pagsasawalang-bahala ay laganap sa ating bansa. Kaya naman patuloy na dumarami ang bilang ng mga biktima ng extra-judicial killings at enforced disappearances. Ayon sa Karapatan, isang Human Rights group, may naitalang 158 na kaso ng extrajudicial killings at 18 na enforced disappearances sa loob ng panahon ng panunugkulan ni Pangulong Aquino (July 2010 – August 2013).^[1] Ito ay isang nakakaalarmang katotohanan na dapat agarang matugunan ng estado. Ngunit ano ang nagiging sagot ng estado at ng gobyerno sa ganitong kalagayan? Ang mabagal at dekadenteng proseso ng batas.

Marahil, hindi natin ito alintana sa araw-araw nating pamumuhay: mula sa paggising sa isang ligtas na tahanan hanggang pagpasok sa eskuwelahan at pag-uwi. Ngunit ang mga biktima ng mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao na ito ay hindi simpleng bilang o numero lamang. Sila ay mga tao – ama, ina, anak, kapatid. May mga pamilya silang naiwan na hanggang ngayon ay naghahanap ng katarungan.

Ang mga pamilya ng mga biktima ay maaaring maipinta bilang mga radikal, ngunit masasabi bang kasalanan nila na sila ay nawalan ng mahal sa buhay? Walang nagnanais mawalan ng asawa, magulang, anak, kapatid, kaibigan, kasama. Ang tunay na salarin sa pagkakataong ito ay ang kultura ng pagsasawalang-bahala, ang kulturang tila nanghihikayat pa sa paglabag sa karapatan ng mga mamamayan kaysa sa pagtatanggol nito.

Isang hamon ang iniiwan naming mga mamamahayag ng kampus, hindi lamang sa pamahalaan kundi maging sa mainstream media at sa taumbayan: itigil ang kultura ng pagsasawalang-bahala! VP 

[1] Karapatan Monitor 2013 Issue 2, Table 1

VP’s PEN Workshop opens new frontiers

“This is truly a breakthrough for the publication, a breakthrough activity,” quipped Aian Perucho, a Philippine Collegian alumnus and one of the guest speakers for The PEN Workshop, when asked what he can say about the activity. The said event is organized by Viewpoint with the help of College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) in the vision of providing relevant journalism skills and creative writing training for the staffers of the publication and to Araullians interested in the same field.

Delivering the News

Last September 14, the Data Gathering, Interviewing, and News Writing seminar took place, where the participants were given the opportunity to learn through the activities incorporated such as the mock interview and a critique of their work. CEGP National Secretary General Marc Lino Abila annd CEGP-Central Luzon Deputy Secretary General Jerome Estavillo acted as speakers for the said event, providing insight on the tasks of the journalists.

A PEN for the Society

For the second wave of the training held last September 21, Viewpoint collaborated with Kabataan Partylist (KPL) National Coordinator Mark Troy Oliva who encouraged the participants to write about the society as he discussed the economic and educational condition of the Philippines.

Highlighting Literature

As its swan song exit, The PEN Workshop conducted the last wave of trainings this September 28, focusing on Creative Writing and Literary Criticism. CEGP's Education Officer Jian Carlo Gomez and Viewpoint’s Editor-in-Chief Dan Kevin Roque sat down for the analysis of the literary pieces of the participants.

New Frontiers

All in all, 144 Araullians expressed their interest in joining the said workshop. “As the Filipino Youth, we must read and write. We must study the society so that we understand our objective situation,” Abila said in the vernacular when asked to give a message to the participants of the workshop. Mary Joyce Jopson

Novo Ecijano Youth gather to call for Clean, Honest, and Responsive Elections

The youth of the province pose with the tarpaulin covered with their signature of commitment for a clean, honest, and responsive elections.

Novo Ecijano youth gathered last May 12 at St. Nicholas de Tolentino Cathedral, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija to call for clean, honest, and responsive elections. Youth representatives from Rock the Vote, KABATAAN Partylist, College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), I Against Child Trafficking (i-ACT) Movement, Students for the Advancement of Volunteerism and Excellence (SAVE-NE), Central Luzon State University Supreme Student Council (CLSU-USSC), You.ORG, and Parish Youth Council (PYC) of Cabanatuan all pledged their support for the campaign against fraud, violence, and indifference.

The youth leaders expressed their hope for the prospect of genuine social change through active participation in the elections, not just as voters, but as watchdogs, and their understanding of the role of the youth sector in nationbuilding. Dan Kevin Roque

RTV prepare the youth for upcoming elections

Delegates from Viewpoint, Genre, and PHINMA Scholars listen attentively to the speaker,
 Maya Santos from KPL National Office.

Kabataan Partylist-Nueva Ecija Chapter (KPL-NE) and College Editors Guild of the Philippines Central Luzon (CEGP-CL) joined forces to organize Rock the Vote (RTV): Voter's Education Seminar last May 3 at Bishop Balce Hall, St. Nicolas of Tolentine Cathedral, Cabanatuan City.

RTV provided an avenue for the student and youth leaders to learn the important role of the youth for responsible practice of the right of suffrage, as well as the prospect of genuine social change through the mobilization of the youth. Student-leaders and student-journalists (specifically from Viewpoint and Genre) attended the said event, along with delegates from PHINMA Scholars Society. Guest speakers included Mark Troy Oliva and Maya Santos of KPL National Office and Butch Miranda of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL).

The event ended with the formation of committee for RTV Nueva Ecija. Jerome Estavillo, Deputy Secretary General, CEGP-CL

I Will Never Stay Idle

Special Feature: Philippine Social Realities

 “Our hope is placed on you.  The world belongs to you.  The future belongs to you.” - Mao Tse Tsung

Moments when I viewed my grades online, when my heart sank into frustration, and a part of me burst of regret — flabbergasted by the numbers that appeared on the computer screen. A little dissatisfied, perhaps because I knew that wasn't tantamount to all of my laudable efforts on the academe.

A roster of Uno’s yet still lacks a .7 to reach the average of 1.25 to be qualified as a President’s Lister (though I am thankful now being a Dean’s Lister).

It took me an hour to move on from the regret; it took me countless text messages from my comrades to make me feel relieved. And while over-thinking of some people I knew who qualified for PL, I recalled my personal experiences with them inside the four walls of the classroom — my regrets vanished into oblivion.

I was like a kid on my first month of stay in my University, confident that this institution will prepare me for life, and even make me feel safe for the next 3 years to come.

then my first year of college opened my eyes to reality. The lessons were copied then pasted from the internet, the syllabi wholly imitated from other schools, the kind of system implemented a facsimile of, yet again, that from other schools, and some professors teaching inefficiently and imposing unethical rules, I formed a notion that it is, perhaps, the reason why several students are academically good yet politically ignorant.

Indeed. To graduate with flying colors is a passport to a more sustainable future. But what kind of future is to come if the present is already lambasted with fascist dictatorship, with semi-colonial and semi-feudal systems, if our present is repeatedly raped by abusive and imperialist nations, if the present has a cue of an unbearable future?  

Algebra, Science, English... aren't we forgetting the Society and its system? If Society (the out-of-the-box context of it) is just a subject to be learned and analyzed at school, I guess people will not anymore become ignorant: Indeed, they will finally fight for their rights; finally realize that they are being suppressed without knowing it at all.

I bet students will no longer be a mere Laude who is theoretically good yet unable to apply his/her knowledge into practice. If all are to study society and how our nation and the Filipino people are being maltreated and abused, perhaps people will demand for justice, and that these inhumane systems will be changed.

I will never ever forget this one teacher of mine, not for the low grade that he gave me, but for his alleged accusations that made me furious at him. I blurted profanities while thinking of defending my right as a student. I then said to him, “Sir, your action just clearly justifies that the education system is colonial, commercialized, and fascist. And that I refuse to embrace this kind of system.”

Some of my classmates thought that I was over reacting on a little issue. But if only they were aware of the neo-liberal policies that made the education system poor and dreadful — that made Kristel Tejada suffer and surrender — if only they knew how many underprivileged youths were desperate enough to try prostitution and other less-than moral choices just to go to school, if only they saw lots of parents painstakingly sweeping every corner of a capitalist’s office just to pay his/her child’s high tuition and other fees at school, I guess they would somehow understand my battle.

I guess they would no longer laugh at me when I’m discussing the society’s ill-fated situation, the political issues and how they are being affected by them. I hope they would no longer react sarcastically when I am tasked to report the peasant situation in the Philippines. I guess they would no longer be busy memorizing our lectures while the Union has a greater chance to conduct a strike. I guess, and hope, that they would embrace our day to day battle.

And I suppose my professor would somehow realize that all battles are related. And that we are all part of a one struggle.

Of the two semesters, I learned ‘some’ things. Though majority of it came from spoon-fed lessons and memorizing the word-for-word definition of a term that one can also simply defined in a simple, straightforward sentence, I learned more, and guess where? It’s with integrating with the peasants and laborers; it’s living in the unfortunate communities, it’s in socializing with the marginalized sectors; it is being with the MASSES and UNDERSTANDING them. It is being with them that I learned of the real-world difficulties and how we can solve them — It is with them that I learned the essence of applying THEORY into PRACTICE.

For whom do you study hard? For whom do you work? To live and toil solely for your OWN satisfaction is like not living a LIFE at all. A friend once told me, “Mas gugustuhin ko pang mamatay kaysa mabuhay ng walang nagawa para sa bayan.”

To quote my one professor, “Grades are just mere figures.” Numbers don’t define you. Numbers don't measure your precious experience.

I regret nothing now. I do not regret of not pursuing my summer job as a call center agent and setting aside the opportunity to earn money. For I have been working, not for myself, but for the majority and for a better world, without salary, and through my work I have earned many things more than the amount of a call center’s income could compensate.

We are often labeled as extremist, as rebels, as noisy unsatisfied radicals. But the state never affirms, never exhibits, that we are SERVING THE PEOPLE.

I am thankful being able to go to school. I am thankful to see the big picture. And one thing is for sure, I will never stay SILENT and IDLE. Never. Lester May Castillo

Gapos ng Nakaraan, Tinik ng Kasalukuyan

"…at lahat ng bagay sa mundo ay lalaya sa piitang kinasadlakan nito

kung aalisin natin ang taling lalong bumibigti sa ating diwang makabayan."

Kailan tayo nakakaranas ng kalayaan? Kapag ba walang bumabawal sa ating ninanais? Kapag ba alam natin na walang hangganan ang ating ginagawang bagay? O kapag malayo tayo sa impluwensya ng iba? Iba-iba ang pagpapakahulugan natin sa kalayaan. Ngunit sa pagbigay pakahulugan sa kalayaang tinatamasa natin ngayton, huwag nating kalimutang tingnan ang nakaraan.

Mala-kolonyal ang isa sa mga katangian ng lipunan ngayon. Ang kasamaang ito ay dulot ng pananakop sa atin ng mga dayuhan. Sa ilang siglo na pamamalagi nila sa ating bansa, nabuhusan tayo ng pang-aalipin, pang-aalipusta, at pangmamaliit. Ito ang naging dahilan kung bakit bumaba ang pagtingin natin sa ating sariling kultura. Ikinintal nila sa ating isip na ang anumang gawang dayuhan ay mas mainam kaysa sa sariling atin.

Ang mga dayuhang ito ang pangunahing dahilan ng pagsulpot ng mga negosyong kolonyal, sanhi upang tayo ang maging mala-debotong taga-tangkilik ng mga ito. Ang pagpapatuloy ng kalagayang ito ay nagpapatunay na isang kasinungalingan kung sasabihin nating tunay tayong malaya mula sa kolonyal na pag-iisip.

Kalayaan mula kay Uncle Sam

Hulyo 4, 1946 – hindi ito ang araw ng kalayaan natin sa mga Amerikano. Hindi ito ang katapusan sa lahat ng napagdaanan nating kaguluhan. Bagkus, ito ay ang simula ng isa na namang kalbaryo nating mga Pilipino. Hindi tayo malaya. Binitiwan man tayo ng kanilang mga kamay, nanatili tayong nakatali sa lubid ng kanilang panloloko. Nakabitin tayo sa tali na sila rin naman ang may hawak at habang tumatagal, lalo nila tayong binibigti. Ayon nga sa isang aklat ni Amado Guerrero, maka-isang panig ang mga mayorya ng mga kasunduang nagpapatungkol sa kalayaan ng Pilipinas mula sa Estados Unidos.

Ang pagkakaroon ng base-militar sa bansa, ang mga batas na nagsasabing maaari nilang palawigin ang kanilang teritoryong-base sa bansa at maaari nilang gawin ang gusto nilang gawin, hindi ba’t mas masasabi pa natin na mas malaya pa sila kaysa sa tayong mga Pilipino na tumubo’t nagkaisip sa Perlas ng Silangan? Paano na tayong mga Pilipino? Mananatili na lang ba tayong papet ng dayuhan? Paano na ang mga burges na sumasaklaw sa pinakamalaking bilang ng tao sa ating bansa?

Kapitalismo
Isa sa ebidensya nito ay ang impluwensiya ng kapitalismo at pagkakalagay sa saklaw ng sistemang kapitalista. Nananaig ang pangangalakal sa kalikasang ekonomiyang pansarili habang ang mga mahihirap na magsasaka ay nananatiling nasa ilalim nito. Ang pagpayag sa isang malaking kompanyang dayuhan na magtroso sa isang lalawigan ay nagpapakita lamang na naglilingkod lamang tayo sa alam nating mas kikita tayo.

Ang CLEx, NLEEx, at ang DEARP ay mga halimbawa ng mga makadayuhang proyekto sa ating probinsya: Ito'y hindi naglilingkod sa mga taumbayan, bagkus ay sa mga kapitalistang dayuhan. Ang mga lansangang ito ay hindi para sa transportasyon, kundi upang tangkilikin ang mga negosyong import-export ng mga dayuhan sa bansa natin.

Maraming mga magsasaka at manggagawang bukid ang mawawalan ng kabuhayan nang dahilan sa mga proyektong ito.

Ang mga Panginoong-Maylupa at ang Manggagawa

Ang tatsulok

Ang isa pang katangian ng ating lipunan  ay mala-pyudal, isang sistemang tila uod sa isang halaman, pumipigil sa tuluyang pag-unlad ng ating bansa. Isang patunay nito ay ang paghahari ng mga panginoong-maylupa at pang-aalipin sa mga magsasaka. Nangingibabaw ang isang porsyento (1%) ng may pera sa siyamnapu’t siyam (99%) na bahagdan ng nasa ibaba.

Walang karapatan ang isang magsasaka sa kanyang lupang sinasaka na ng ilang dekada sapagkat ito ay pag-aari pa rin ng mayayamang maylupa na lalo pang yumayaman sa tuwing nagbabayad ng renta ang magsasaka. Ika nga, “Ang mayaman ay lalong yumayaman habang ay mahirap ay laong naghihirap”. Pinamumukha nila sa atin na hindi totoo ang demokrasya.

Matagal na tayong binubulok ng ating sistema. Ang mga nabanggit ay hindi paninira sa kalagayang sosyo-politikal ng ating bansa ngunit ang lahat ng ito ay patotoo na lahat ng ito ay katotohanan. Hindi natin hangarin na mag-aklas sa ating pamahalaan. Ang ating pangunahing layon ay ipaalam sa mamamayan ang tunay na kalagayan ng ating bansa, ang imulat ang mga taong nakaupo sa ganitong pangyayari; upang sa gayo’y mapaglingkuran natin sila. Hindi lamang tayo nabubuhay para sa ating mga sarili. Nabubuhay rin tayo para sa ibang tao. Ang ating tungkulin ay palayain ang ating kapwa-Pilipino sa kulungan na kinapipiitan nito.

Ipaglaban ang tama mga kasama! Sumulong, sumulat... Manindigan at magmulat!

Viewpoint holds Konsultahang KABATAAN

Youth leaders of Nueva Ecija pose for pictures together with the
officers of the newly-established KPL-Nueva Ecija Chapter. (Photo credits to Diane Claire Malgapo)

Viewpoint, alongside KABATAAN Partylist (KPL) and College Editors Guild of the Philippines - Central Luzon (CEGP-CL) gathered student-journalists, student-leaders, and youth-leaders of the out-of-school youth in the provincial youth leaders' assembly entitled Konsultahang KABAATAN last March 15 at Bishop Balce Hall, St. Nicolas of Tolentine Cathedral, del Pilar St., Cabanatuan City.

The said event, themed "Kabataang Novo Ecijano, Kaisa sa Pagbabago" featured  politically-charged fora, the presentation of the Youth Covenant, and Educational Discussions about Philippine social realities, provincial youth situation, and the peasant struggle in the province. Speakers included Mr. Jerome Estavillo of College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Central Luzon; Ms. Niña Valdez of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines; and Mr. Butch Miranda of Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon.

The event culminated with the establishment and planning of the KPL Nueva Ecija Chapter, as well as the signing of the Youth Agenda. Dan Kevin Roque

E-Martial Law: a pool of contradiction, a threat to cyber freedom

The internet has become a medium of expression for the citizens and journalists of the new generation. After all, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) promotes online freedom of expression as a basic human right. But the creation of RA 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 now poses a threat to freedom of speech, expression and of the press, a clear contradiction to Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

A mere lip service

The Cybercrime Prevention Act was introduced in July 2011 and was signed in September 2012 while the overdue Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, which has been certified by President Benigno Aquino III (PNoy) as a priority bill in January 2012, was introduced in 2008 and is still pending. One can easily compare the pace of the contradicting laws and one can easily tell the reason behind it.

The FOI bill is intended to aid in transparency which is a democratic right as well. Article III, Section 7 of our constitution recognizes our right “to information on matters of public concern”. After all, PNoy vowed for transparency during his campaign in 2010. He even made a commitment to press freedom during the World Press Freedom Day last May. Paradoxically, Malacañang’s support appears to be dwindling. They said they still have to review the bill for possible holes that may cause national security risk. This made us wonder if they made the same consideration of reviewing the questionable provisions of RA 10175 as well.

The government’s way of prioritizing bills appears to be a sort of cost-benefit analysis – the FOI bill will benefit the media and the public but will cost “security risk” while Cybercrime Prevention Act will benefit the politicians but will cost invasion of privacy to the netizens. If PNoy maintains that we – the citizens – are really his “boss”, then isn’t it just righteous of him to opt for the one which will be more beneficial to us?

Riddling loopholes

There are several ambiguous provisions that are yet to be addressed in the said law though PNoy already signed it last year. Among these are the issues discussed in the first oral arguments last January 15:

• Cybersex, which is under content-related offenses, was defined in Section 4(c)(1) as “the willful engagement, maintenance, control, or operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs or sexual activity, with the aid of a computer system, for favor or consideration.” However, it failed to make a distinction between consensual and non-consensual acts and it was not clearly indicated who among the involved persons committing this offense will be penalized.

• Online libel in Section 4(c)(4) was defined as “the unlawful or prohibited acts of libel as defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.” This means, though it has the same elements as libel defined in RPC, committing it online could get you imprisoned for up to 12 years. The congress continues to ignore demands for the decriminalization of libel. We all know that the insertion of libel clause and making it a criminal offense will only serve as an instrument for the politicians to manipulate and harass the media.

• Section 5(a), the provision that really puzzles the netizens, also constitutes “aiding or abetting to libelous contents” as an offense. The definition is so vague that even the lawmakers cannot explain or defend it consistently. How can a citizen be aware if he is already committing a crime? Does sharing, retweeting or liking libelous posts earns one a ticket to jail?

• Section 6 of the said law states that “penalty to be imposed shall be one (1) degree higher than that provided for by the Revised Penal Code.” According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), it’s easier to commit these offenses since pretty much everyone has internet access nowadays. Still, it’s not enough of an explanation especially how they would distinguish libel from online libel.

• Section 12 or the real-time collection of data allows the respective authorities “to collect or record by technical or electronic means traffic data in real-time associated with specified communications transmitted by means of a computer system.” It evidently violates our right to “the privacy of communication and correspondence” as indicated in Article III, Section 3 of our constitution.

• The dubious takedown power of the DOJ which is stated in Section 19 means it no longer needs a court intervention to “restrict or block access to such computer data”. This, again, is a contradiction to Article III, Section 1 of our Constitution – “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

Refuse to be gagged

As an advocate of press freedom, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) – Central Luzon supports the campaign against Cybercrime Prevention Act. CEGP Tarlac will conduct a forum to better inform the people about their basic rights to freedom and educate them about the hazards of the said law. The said forum will be held in Tarlac State University on January 31, 2013. We will also have a photo campaign called “Pose to Oppose” where people can express their disapproval with Cybercrime Law through photo opps.

As the temporary restraining order (TRO) expires on February 6, let us join the National Day of Protest to Junk Cybercrime Law. It’s time for PNoy to hear out his real “boss”. Monica del Puerto, CEGP-Central Luzon Chairperson

CEGP, Kabataan Partylist, other youth groups stay vigilant despite extension of TRO on Cybercrime Law

The indefinite extension of the temporary restraining order (TRO) on Cybercrime Law is a victory for freedom lovers, but people must remain vigilant because the law might still be implemented even after the extended order, said youth groups such as Kabataan Partylist and College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP).

“The extension of the TRO for an indefinite period is a victory for all netizens, students, professionals and freedom lovers. It is a victory for the people who protested against the law online and offline. This is a product of collective effort for freedom of expression,” said Pauline Gidget Estella, national president of CEGP, the widest and oldest alliance of student publications in the country.

“However, we must remain vigilant. This is only an extension, and there is still a possibility of implementation after the extended TRO. What we want is a ‘permanent restraining order.’ We demand that the law be junked,”said Estella.

“The indefinite extension to the TRO is not enough. The youth, netizens and the rest of the Filipino people should still continue to push the high court to declare this law as unconstitutional and repeal this repressive measure of the Aquino administration to silence the people from telling the truth about the government,” added Marc Lino Abila, CEGP National Deputy Secretary-General.

Early this morning, sectoral groups trooped in front of the Supreme Court as part of the National Day of Action on the day of the supposed expiration of the TRO.

“The sustained online and offline protest should serve as a reminder for the Supreme Court to decide in favor of freedom of expression. What else does the government need to realize that this is a badly crafted law and can suppress free speech? The Solicitor General could not even defend this law properly,” said Estella.

Kabataan Partylist and College Editors Guild of the Philippines will continue the concert-vigil tonight as planned at Liwasang Bonifacio starting 5:00 p.m. Groups will march from Plaza Salamanca to Supreme Court at 4:00 p.m. Monica del Puerto, CEGP-Central Luzon Chairperson

Roque wins Lacaba Special Citation

Guilders as they perform during Lunduyan's Cultural Night

Viewpoint Managing Editor Dan Kevin Roque receives special citation in Poetry for the 8^th Gawad Emman Lacaba Lunduyan 2012, the Luzon-wide press convention conducted by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) at the Water District Training Center, Dagupan City, Pangasinan last October 22 to 26.

Roque, after receiving his Special
Citation for Poetry.

Roque’s winning three-piece poem suite includes That Bloody Day, a commemoration on the Maguindanao Massacre.

Aside from Roque, Editor-in-Chief Ma. Gladys Repollo and writer Bryan Joseph Peralta also represented AU-PHINMA in the event. For five days, student-journalists trained for various journalism skills and took part in socially relevant fora.

CEGP is the oldest and widest alliance of student publications in the Asia-Pacific while Gawad Emman Lacaba is a literary competition named after poet and martyr Emmanuel Lacaba. Bryan Joseph Peralta, Ma. Gladys Repollo