TINIG NGPLARIDEL

N U M B E R S T H A T M A T T E R

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Special Issue on the USC and CMCSC Election 2014Year XXXV | Friday, February 21, 2014

The Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication

Number of seats in the CMC Student Council

of 1,019 CMC students who voted last year, spelling a 57.4% turnout

Total number of eligible voters in CMC this year, with 844 undergraduate and 223 graduate students

BOTONG ISKO

CMCSC candidates debate on freshie council autonomy

USC ‘incumbent wars’ ignite Hot Off the Grill

Clashing responses on the autonomy of the Freshies, Shiftees and Transferees (FST) Council left students with more questions than answers at last night’s Hot Off the Grill, the official miting de avance of the College of Mass Communication (CMC).

Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP CMC (STAND UP CMC) chairperson candidate Beata Carolino said that the FST Council is autonomous and independent, and should remain so.

“Sila yung talagang nakakaalam kung ano yung nangyayari sa environment (nila). Guided sila (ng student council) pero hindi ibig sabihin binibigyan sila ng mandate ng student council (They are the ones who know what is really happening in their environment. They are guided by

It was another war between the incumbent student council members – except that this time, it was open for public viewing.

Incumbent councilors of the University Student Council (USC) criticized Friday the lack of unity among its members in Hot Off the Grill, the official miting de avance of the College of Mass Communication, when asked what happened to the “One Strong UP” catchphrase of the yellow-led outgoing council.

Carla Gonzales, Nagkakaisang

BY SHARA CAYETANO

BY MARIA FEONA IMPERIAL

Continued on page 8

Continued on page 8

the student council but that doesn’t mean they will be given mandates),” Carolino said.

However, Interdependent Student-centered Activism (CMC ISA) chairperson candidate Mari Arambulo defended the incumbent council, saying that the FST Council’s non-autonomy doesn’t strip them of their freedom. She asserted that making the FST Council autonomous would create an overlap in roles, since the latter’s role is solely to help new CMC students make the transition into the MassComm community.

“Nandoon ang SC para i-guide sila; mas may experience (ang SC). Kapag naging independent yan, kailangan ng sariling constitution (The student council is there to guide them, they have more experience),” said Arambulo.

The issue came up when some FST Council members complained

about the policies imposed on them by the incumbent CMC student council (CMCSC).

STAND UP and ISA proposed varying plans for the

FSTs next year, with ISA focusing on batch projects and STAND UP focusing on educational discussions.

Differing views on defining

Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA) candidate for chairperson, said among the problems the USC faced in forwarding pertinent issues is the tendency of its members to prioritize their own interests.

“Hindi kami nagkakaroon ng consensus, laging divide the house. Paikot-ikot lang yung arguments sa USC kasi ayaw magpatalo ng iba (We do not have consensus. It is always, ‘divide the house.’ The arguments are not resolved in USC because the others do not want to give way),” Gonzalez said.

Candidates from ISA (left) and STAND UP-CMC (right) face off on Hot of the Grill to make their stands on pressing issues in the college. Photo by Ferb Martinez

Get to know your CMCSC and USC candidates! pages 4-7

2 . BOTONGISKO . TINIG NG PLARIDEL SPECIAL ISSUE / February 21, 2013

Thirst for a wider horizon:An assessment of CMCSC 2013-2014

But the results of the elections will always remain accelerators to the tale – the green light, but seldom the runway of change and improvements that need to be carried out. Before the seats become occupied by new faces, there is a need to assess the current council’s performance throughout the academic year.

Hits and missesAided by her party’s concept of

alternative activism, chairperson Anj Sebastian envisioned One Maskom to unify CMC while strengthening its academic core.

The CMC Cup, a college-wide sports competition, was launched December 12 last year and involved students from the Journalism, Film, Broadcast Communication and Communication Research departments in a week-long sportsfest. The Mass Media Students’ Choice Awards, Sebastian’s flagship program, was developed into Gawad Daluyong, dubbed as a “student-initiated award-giving body in the field of media and communication.” Gawad Daluyong awaits its final execution in March.

Manicad’s aptly-named SuperBase aimed to establish a comprehensive database of basic profiles, projects and events of CMC student organizations for ease of publicity and promotion. This initiative, however, was only made during the Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE) season of the first semester and was not sustained and regularly updated, along with PrimeRead, which was pegged as a primer for the use

of facilities and as aid for the annual org recognition in both the local and university levels.

Project FreEdom, spearheaded by Film Representatives Che Tagyamon and Robi Sarmiento, made the Council stand as bridge between students and detainee Maricon Montajes with the former’s continued support.

But there are other projects that were only left printed on campaign flyers. Proposals to streamline the coordination among council, college and org events, as well as to organize the room reservation system (Room-arampa and MASKOM–portable), both under the leadership of incumbent secretary Mari Arambulo, were not systematically implemented. Organizations followed the old rules on room reservations which still caused occasional overlapping schedules and delays. Arambulo clarified on Hot Off the Grill, however, that the administration still needs to familiarize themselves with Google Drive before the new online protocol can be used.

Treasurer Keisha Mayuga’s proposed CMC-walat initiative to publish regular budget updates and discussions on the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) did not materialize either.

ObleVision, the moniker for a proposed monthly online news channel on the affairs of the university, proved to be just a vision that never materialized. This was a proposed project of incumbent CMC Representative to the University Student Council (USC)

TINIG NG PLARIDEL

BOTONG ISKOYEAR 35 | SPECIAL ISSUE

MELISSA LUZ LOPEZEditor-in-Chief

MARIEJO MARISS RAMOSAssociate Editor

IZA DARLENE CAYELIZABETH ESCAÑO

News Editors

JULIUS RYAN UMALILayout and Design

BOTONG ISKO TEAM:Alliah Czarielle Guerra

Alyssa Joy JoseBryan Ezra Gonzales

Celine Isabelle SamsonCharmaine Ycasas

Claudine ComplativoDexter Cabalza

Kiersnerr Gerwin TacadenaMaria Feona ImperialPathricia Ann Roxas

Roleen Camille Delos ReyesShara Lein May Cayetano

Yvette Morales

PHOTOS:Ma. Demerie Dangla

Kharina MostralesMariel Frances Urbiztondo

Raiza JavierFerb Martinez

For full disclosure, candidates who are part of the Tinig ng Plaridel

staff have been asked to file a leave of absence from their duties to

the publication from Feb. 3 to 27. Carolino, Calanog, Gloria, Reysio-

Cruz and Jordan have taken a temporary leave.

Visit us at www.tinigngplaridel.netE-mail: tnp.newsroom@gmail.com

facebook.com/tinigngplaridelTwitter: @tinigngplaridel

#BotongIsko

Weeks of campaigns and debates all lead to one thing: a new line-up of students leaders expected to serve the college for another academic year. In March last year, 13 seats for the College of Mass Communication Council (CMCSC) were filled, dominated by local party Interdependent Student-Centered Activism (ISA) with eight seats. ISA standard bearers Anj Sebastian and Macky Manicad lead this year’s council as chairperson and vice chairperson. The incumbent treasurer, journalism representatives, and film representatives, meanwhile, come from the local arm of the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP).

ANALYSIS

BOTONGISKO . TINIG NG PLARIDEL . 3

Thirst for a wider horizon:An assessment of CMCSC 2013-2014

Carla Cucueco, who was earlier criticized for her poor attendance in official meetings of the USC. What was left was a banner project with the USC of a post-SONA analysis forum on the implications of the president’s address to governance, media, economics and the social sciences, dubbed as Kung Ako SONA si PNoy.

Several hits and misses also translate at the level of the department representatives. While some projects pushed through, proposals for workshops, a photojournalism contest, and a CMCSC newsletter remain inexistent as of this writing – barely a month away from the end of the school year.

Need for deeper engagementLast year, the college saw a myriad of

issues clamoring for attention and action. Janet Napoles and the P10-billion pork barrel

scam shook national politics and sparked discussions on the lack of transparency and accountability in government. Typhoon Yolanda severely affected the lives and economies of Filipinos especially in Visayas, where the UP Tacloban and Palo campuses are.

There were also threats to UP’s honor and excellence amidst budget cuts, privatization and state neglect, as depicted by the death of UP Manila student Kristel Tejada, the plagiarism case of UP Diliman graduate student Mark Joseph Solis, the recently-approved STFAP and Student Code revisions, and the shift in the academic calendar from June to August. Among the issues mentioned, the CMCSC failed to release any official statement to assert the stance of the student body. There were attempts to engage students in discussions

POSITION WON

Chairperson

Vice-Chairperson

Secretary

Treasurer

CMC Representative to the USC

Broadcast Communication Representative

Broadcast Communication Representative

Communication Research Representative

Communication Research Representative

Film Representative

Film Representative

Journalism Representative

Journalism Representative

*incumbent officers running for re-election this year

ELECTED/PARTY

Maria Angela Teresa Sebastian/CMC ISAMacario III Manicad/CMC ISAMari Angelyn Arambulo/CMC ISA*Keisha Alena Mayuga/STAND UPCarla Patrice Cucueco/CMC ISAIsabel Patricia Soresca/CMC ISAMa. Ria Bernadette Tagle/CMC ISA*Zyra Frances Aquilizan/CMC ISAAngelica Paredes/CMC ISARobi Sarmiento/STAND UPJean Cheryl Tagyamon/STAND UP*Ylexis Kyle-Michael Rualo/STAND UPJanelle Dilao/STAND UP

about these issues by sharing posts through social media, but there were also no projects initiated to concretely address the given issues to the core.

The highlight of council efforts was felt during the Mass Media Awareness Month (MMAM) last November. Launched in 2011, the MMAM is the flagship project of UP CMC. This year, the event was headed by Arambulo and Tagyamon. MMAM kicked off with a series of talks on internet workshop, filmmaking, and broadcast journalism. The fourth year commemoration of Maguindanao Massacre, meanwhile, engaged the students not only in the act of remembering, but also in learning to fight impunity through roundtable discussions, an exhibit, human chain and Lugawan for Maguindanao.

Living up to the dutiesWith our college’s departments dubbed

as Centers of Excellence, UP CMC needs a working council that will uphold the rights and welfare of its students while recognizing that problems within the college are almost always linked to bigger societal issues.

The current council is successful in initiating academic projects which can be avenues for discourses on practice within the field, but the council’s voice needs to resonate across a wider horizon of national, university and college issues—a feat that the next set of elected leaders must consider. Now is the best time to lay out these facts to point out to aspiring CMCSC candidates that the College means business and expects tangible results. CMC will be celebrating its 50th founding anniversary next year, adding to the already growing pressure on their shoulders.

What do we make of empty promises? Beyond witty taglines and well-rehearsed presentations, CMC students look forward to realistic projects and student leaders who are capable of translating from paper to action. - By Mariejo Mariss Ramos, Melissa Luz Lopez, Alyssa Joy Jose, Charmaine Ycasas, Dexter Cabalza, Pathricia Ann Roxas, Bryan Ezra Gonzales, Roleen Camille Delos Reyes and Alliah Czarielle Guerra

Ano ang most threatening issue dito ngayon sa UP?

Ano ang theme song ng pulitikal na buhay mo?

UP ALYANSA KAISA STAND UP

Get to know the standard bearers from the three political parties who are aspiring top positions in the University Student Council:

USC CHAIRPERSONErra Mae “ERRA” ZabatYung isa sa mga pinaka-pressing na issue ng ating edukasyon ay yung state neglect. At paano ba sya nagma-materialize sa loob ng Unibersidad sa commercialization ng iba’t ibang mga basic social services natin sa loob. At nag-uugat ito doon sa tinatawag nating state neglect kung saan iniiwanan ng estado yung kanyang responsibilidad sa mamamayan doon sa mismong mamamayan.

USC CHAIRPERSONArjay “ARJAY” MercadoPara sa akin, isa sa mga pressing issue ay yung budget issue. Alam naman natin ngayong taon na bumaba ang budget ng UP. Nag-propose, hindi naaprubahan, tapos bumaba pa compared to the previous years. So definitely kailangan natin ng isang panibagong paraan ng pag-campaign para sa mas mataas na budget.

I - MA EconomicsIncumbent USC councilor and Gender Committee Head

IV - BS EconomicsIncumbent USC councilor and Basic Student Services Committee Head

V - BS Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management Incumbent USC Councilor and Mass Media Committee Head

I - MS MathematicsIncumbent College of Science Representative to the USC

IV - BS PsychologyIncumbent USC Councilor and Secretary-General

III - BS Molecular Biology and BiotechnologyIncumbent USC Councilor and People’s Struggles Committee Head

ARJAY: ...Yung theme song natin as incumbent is Hataw Na. Kasi humahataw talaga yung mga events na ginawa natin sa gender committee. Pero ngayon dahil iooffer natin yung Bagong USC, ang theme song na natin ay Hataw Pa.

JP: Awit ng Barkada... kami bilang mga kandidato, kasama ninyo, kasama nating mga Iskolar ng Bayan, e iisa lang yung goal natin: isang Bagong USC nga na may bagong kuwento ng paglilingkod tulad ng isang barkada.

CARLA: Defying Gravity. [D]oon naman ang pamamaraan ng KAISA: we’re tired of playing the rules of someone else’s game. Kailangan natin tumindig.

RAM: Circus by Britney Spears kasi alam naman natin na sa isang circus, may mga performers diyan -- alam niyo naman, mga performers na nagpapanggap lang sa stage. Pero dito sa KAISA, alam naman natin na tayo nga ay performers pero syempre, sincere tayo kapag nag-peperform tayo sa harap ng mga estudyante.

ERRA: Siguro, Tatsulok. Parang sinasabi nya na let us know who our real enemy is. Nagbabanggit siya doon na hindi tayo yung talagang magkakaaway. Ganun din ‘yung mensahe natin sa mga estudyante ngayon, na hindi talaga tayo yung magkakaaway...

NEEFA: Awit ng Pag-asa... Sinasabi niya na hangga’t kasama natin iyong mga mamamayang Pilipino, hangga’t hindi tayo nag-iisa, hindi hinihiwalay ng mga estudyante yung kanilang laban sa laban ng mga magsasaka at mga manggagawa.

USC CHAIRPERSONCarla Monica “CARLA” Gonzalez[I]t is tuition fee. We acknowledge that tuition fee is actually the biggest hindrance to access to education. Now, ang daming hindrances to education with regards to tuition fee like STS, which is the new form of STFAP, but it’s actually in essence, the same. Pinu-push nila yung tuition fee kung paano kina-categorize ang mga estudyante sa kakayahan nila magbayad.

USC VICE-CHAIRPERSONAllynna-Haneefa “NEEFA” MacapadoThe greatest challenge that UP is facing today is yung mabilis na pagkawala ng kanyang pampublikong karakter at yung mabilis na…commercialization dito sa ating pamantasan. Dahil dito ay hindi na nagiging accessible yung ating pamantasan doon sa mga mamamayang Pilipino na intellectually ay may potential makapasok pero financially ay hindi naman afford.

USC VICE-CHAIRPERSONJP “JP” Delas Nieves[I]sa sa mga most pressing issue natin ay ang problema natin sa budget. Pero ang problema, pagdating dito sa loob ng UP e saan nga ba nagagamit yung budget. Nakakalungkot na mayroon tayong transparency seal dito sa ating administration pero transparent at accountable nga ba ang gobyerno natin?...Kasi kung hindi magiging bukas yung pamahalaan natin kasama na ang University Student Council, hindi natin alam kung saan nagagamit itong pondong ito.

USC VICE-CHAIRPERSONRam Vincent “RAM” TomanengI think the greatest challenge that UP is facing today is the accessibility in education. Alam naman natin na may mga policies tayo ngayon tulad ng STFAP na yun nga na pinipigilan ang mga estudyante na makamit ang kanilang right to education.

Kung isa kang halaman, anong klaseng halaman ka?I-ugnay ito sa pagiging lider/estudyante.

How do you define student representation?

WHO WILL LEAD THE COLLEGE OF MASS COMMUNICATION NEXT YEAR?Know more about these CMC Student Council aspirants with their answers.

How will you engage CMC students to be part of the council’s campaigns, especially those without organizations?

CMCSC CHAIRPERSON

CMCSC CHAIRPERSON

CMCSC VICE-CHAIRPERSON

CMCSC VICE-CHAIRPERSON

STAND UP - Beata Regina “BEATA” Carolino:“Ano siguro ako, damo. Kasi kahit apak-apakan, nandiyan pa rin para ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mga estudyante.”

STAND UP - Beata Regina “BEATA” Carolino:“I define student representation as yung pagiging mong boses ng mga estudyante at ‘yung pagkiling mo sa mga legitimate interests ng mga students and proper consultation and education of the student body about the pertinent issues.”

STAND UP - Marie Pauline “PAU” Requesto “Coconut Tree, the tree of life. Hindi naman parang we have all the solutions to the students, hindi naman messianic ang ating tungkulin bilang lider-estudyante, pero nariyan tayo to be at the forefront of giving service to our constituents. Katulad ng coconut tree, marami siyang naseserve na function for humanity, and that’s the same thing with being a student leader. Narito tayo to give utmost capacities for the greater good not just of the student body but the masses.”

STAND UP - Marie Pauline “PAU” Requesto “Ang ating programa sa council ay hindi lamang org-centric, ine-engage po natin lahat ng students, may org man o wala. Isa pa po, tayo ay magkakaroon ng malawakang student consultations, para talagang involved, talagang lumalapit ang ating konseho sa ating mga estudyante, regardless kung may org man or hindi.”

ISA - Mari Angelyn “MARI” Arambulo:“Kung halaman ako, I think I would be a root crop. Siguro a turnip, but I’m not sure. (Because it has roots) and the vision that we have for Maskom this year is really building on the roots. Growing deeper, but at the same time, we grow outwards din. Di ba ang root crop meron din siyang grass top? So we not only grow deeper, we also grow up together.”

ISA - Mari Angelyn “MARI” Arambulo:“Student representation can be delineated -- I guess, concretely -- when making statements. When you’re making a statement regarding an issue na wala namang kokontra, like the big issues that we are all against: Maguindanao massacre, Mark Solis, Maricon Montajes. So in issues regarding these, we as a council can make institutional statements in behalf of our constituents, and then we do this: we can directly speak in their behalf because of the nature of the issue. But when making issues like STFAP, or other issues that you’re not sure on how the student body would feel, we would definitely go for representation. Representation through consultation, representation through gathering data.

ISA - Simone Martine Marie “SIMONE” Dimalibot“Ako ay magiging bamboo. Ang halamang ito ay mukhang madaling masira dahil sa pisikal nitong anyo, ngunit ito ay nakikisabay sa hangin kahit ano pang lakas ng bagyo ang dumating. Bilang isang lider-estudyante, kailangang marunong kang makisabay sa kahit anong dami ng problemang iyong makakaharap at dahil dito, ikaw ay magiging isang lider na hindi matitinag.”

ISA - Simone Martine Marie “SIMONE” Dimalibot“This year, we offer projects that are very inclusive of everyone in the college. Our slate’s flagship project Push It aims to forward an issue voted upon by the whole student body through finding alternative means in addressing it. We also have AffGrade, a leveled-up version of the current Affiliates program which will allow Maskom students to head certain CMCSC projects alongside a council member.”

What changes would you like to see in the USC Mass Media Committee?

BC Rep: What should be the aim of broadcast communication?

What is the most important task of the CMCSC Secretary?

How would you raise money for CMCSC’s projects?

CMC REPRESENTATIVE TO THE USC

STAND UP-CMC

STAND UP-CMC ISA

CMCSC SECRETARY CMCSC TREASURER

STAND UP - John Benedict “BEN” Opinion“I want the Mass Media Awareness Committee to be more of a media literacy campaign not just held during November but a year-long campaign...Kailangan natin na i-up ang Mass Media Committee at ipagpatuloy ang pagtaguyod nito sa ating campaign for justice sa Maguindanao Massacre victims at pag-end ng culture of impunity.”

STAND UP - Jean Cheryl “CHE” Tagyamon“‘Yun po yung maglabas regularly at agaran ang minutes kasi po para sa transparency and accountability, kailangan alam ng students yung nangyayari sa loob ng konseho para naman lahat tayo involved, at para lahat tayo may alam sa mga isyung pinag-uusapan at pati yung mga proyektong isinasagawa sa loob ng Maskom.”

STAND UP - Maria Almira “ALMIRA” Abril“Maliban sa pagkakaroon natin ng every sem na nangongolekta tayo ng student fees, nandiyan naman yung mga maliliit na income-generating projects na balak natin ilagay in between each semester. At syempre nandyan yung year-long nating pagma-market ng events ng CMCSC mismo.”

ISA - Edmer Maguan“I think the most important task of the CMCSC Secretary is to keep the council organized enough that the students know what’s happening in the council. And I think it can be manifested in what I believe is the three core roles of the CMCSC Secretary, which is first, taking down minutes of the meeting, second is logistics, and third is promotions.”

ISA - Ma. Ria Bernadette “RIA” Tagle“I will raise money by first, projecting the expenses for every project/service/program the council will do and plot them throughout the year. After knowing how much money I have to bring in for the year, that’s when I plan which IGPs I should do and when. Raising funds is really having a good mix of big and small IGPs, marketing, and a thorough knowledge of how the council works.”

ISA - Gabriel “GAB” Abeleda“The change that I want to see is simple: the Mass Media Committee should not just be known for mere information dissemination... The committee must actively engage students to be critical about the different issues of our media landscape. To do this, the committee should be able to spearhead projects and campaigns in order raise the level of media literacy among UP students.”

Mary Christine “MC” Sacay“Gusto nating maging venue para mapatampok ang mga isyu ng ating lipunan. Yun naman po talaga ang aim ng Broadcast Communication, ipagbigay alam sa mga audience nito, ang masa, yung kondisyon ng lipunan, yun po ang gusto nating mangyari.”

Kris Ciel “KAYE” Enriquez“The aim of broadcast communication as a field of study is to create productions and papers not only to fulfill the requirements in class but also to forward the voices and issues not only of the students but especially of the marginalized.”

As the local arm of a university-wide party, STAND UP-CMC aims to bring the call to Unite to Fight within MassComm’s grasp and to call for media practitioners for societal change: ang midya ng pagbabago.

Envisioning the 50th founding anniversary of the College, local party Interdependent Student-Centered Activism (ISA) invites students to join their cause and create One Maskom who will spark social agenda and continue lasting legacies.

(cont.) BC Rep: What should be the aim of broadcast communication?

Film Rep: What does a film student need to do in order to serve the country?

CommRes Reps: What makes CommRes relevant to the society?

ISA

STAND UP-CMC

STAND UP-CMC

ISA

ISA

Josiah Gil “JOSIAH” Hiponia“Syempre as Film students, meron kami nung media na hindi nace-censor compared to other fields like BroadComm or Journ or CommRes, pwede kaming mag-insert ng things na may subtle meaning. So as Film students, we need to first be educated about the masses tapos gumawa ng films na may social relevance na hindi lang for art’s sake.”

Gelina Rose “GEL” Bongon“Communication Research, unbeknownst to many, is a discipline that can encompass many subjects. One can apply CommRes, the study of comm-related behavior, to situations like the recent Yolanda lerler media situation. For example, we can find out the problems that arose in communicating the risk of the typhoon and the results of the study can help address these shortcomings. As is the nature of research, you identify a problem, you find the reason, and we formulate a conclusion, and in real life we act upon and address these problems.”

Justine Alyssa “JUSTINE” Siscar“CommRes is able to answer questions about issues in the society in an organized and scientific manner. It does not only study patterns and test theories, but also give voices and advance advocacies. Because of this, Comm Res is an integral part in changing society.”

Raphael Louis “LOUIS” Hipos“I believe that the aim of Broadcast Communication is to deliver information to the masses accurately and efficiently, in such a manner that the audience’s minds are stimulated and they walk away with a new understanding of things.”

Edsel Brady “EDSEL” Uy“I believe that the utmost duty of a Film Rep, in order to serve the country, is to start by serving the department. Once this is achieved, this will pave the way for the betterment of the country. A Film Rep, whilst being a film enthusiast, must aid fellow film enthusiasts in their pursuit of filmmaking as well. All of this is to create a change for the better in the Film Institute, which will then lead to the improvement of Philippine cinema, and ultimately lead to the betterment of the country.”

John Dominic “DOMINIC” Rodriguez“For me, what makes Communication Research relevant to society is its ability to supply data on the communication aspect through different research methods that enables us to get more informed, evaluate ourselves and spark concrete change behind the numbers offered. Without research, one cannot fully become aware of things. This is the backbone of what makes us media practitioners. We are the ones behind the scenes.”

Patricia Denise “PATTY” Singson“We in ISA believe that each person has his/her own way of being activists. We recognize the power in different mediums as a way of service. That being said, as film students, what we can do is to use film as a channel to forward our personal advocacies. We can contribute to our country creatively through creating relevant, quality films.”

Ivy Dianne “DIANNE” Olivan“It is relevant to the society in a way that we can use CommRes to understand how people think, why they think that way in order to serve them better. CommRes has been used in different fields like advertising, entertainment, and law to fully understand people and find out ways we can fully cater to their needs.”

Kenneth James Whelheem “JAMES” Gasara“For me, our audience are being more intelligent and we should acknowledge this fact.Yet we shouldn’t settle for this but we need to aim for a non-linear relationship with our audience. Meaning to say, instead of just transmitting a message, we should strive for our audience to be empowered and encourage them to act.”

Journ Rep: What should be a Journalism student’s priority?

STAND UP-CMC

ISA

Dale Calanog“A journalism student’s priority is to practice truth-telling not only for the purpose of giving awareness on pressing issues (sa college man or nationwide na scale) but to also get people involved.”

Patricia Isabel “PATIS” Gloria“Dapat maging critical tayo sa balitang binabasa at sinusulat natin. Syempre kailangan rin nating pangalagaan yung ating constitutional freedom of information and expression.”

Justine Anjanique “JUSTINE” Jordan“It’s not really about what a Journalism student should be expected to prioritize because every Journalism student... has their own reason for getting into a course... All students across all courses, I believe, should have a unifying goal, and that is to study not solely for the benefit of themselves, meaning to say that the effort they exert into their studies during their stay in the university should be, ideally, coupled with this knowledge that one is capable of doing great things for other people and with the drive to see this happen.”

Matthew Samuel “MATTHEW” Reysio-CruzI think one of the main priorities of journalism students should be cultivating and exercising our curiosity. Being journalists, we have the opportunity of being able to tell amazing, inspiring and moving stories, and it is up to us to find these untold stories and bring out the aspects of them that truly make them exceptional... We must want to find these stories and want to know what makes them worth telling. Curiosity is a choice we must exercise daily, as students of Journalism.

8 . BOTONGISKO . TINIG NG PLARIDEL SPECIAL ISSUE / February 21, 2013

activism also prevailed in last night’s talks, already an age-old debate between the parties. CMC ISA is pushing for student-centered

Meanwhile, UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (ALYANSA) standard bearers Arjay Mercado and JP de las Nieves pointed out how attendance, including instances of walkouts during meetings, had been a major problem.

Tension built up further when Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) candidate for

chairperson Erra Zabat reacted, “I can give you names of council members na umaattend ng GA [na] tulog, umattend ng GA na tahimik (who attend the GA then sleeps or do not talk). And you’re all for students’ rights, you’re all for people’s struggle?”

De Las Nieves said after USC Education and Research Committee Head Christian Lemuel “Lem” Magaling’s impeachment trial in September, no general assembly (GA) pushed through since due to the lack of quorum.

Magaling was suspended and put into trial after incurring a total of 6.5 demerit points due to unexcused absences, tardiness and the unauthorized release of publicity materials, among others. After five trial sessions, charges were dropped and he was reinstated as USC councilor.

The incumbents also debated

on the constitutionality of the USC demerit system. Asked whether Magaling’s trial was overpublicized compared to the resignation of Secretary-General Rafael Fernando, Gonzalez said there were no contentions from all council members at the onset of the drafting of the USC house rules.

“Palaging sinasabi na nagsasayang ng oras yung USC sa pag expose ng issue na ito. (People always say that USC wasted time when it exposed this issue.) When in fact, it’s actually an issue of accountability; it is an issue of transparency.”

Macapado however said the demerit system is a “fraud,” citing lapses in the specificity and strictness on the grounds of what can be considered an excused absence, including organization events outside the USC.

Meanwhile, ALYANSA’s

De Las Nieves said being excused from assemblies took as simple as attending GAs or sending valid excuses via text message. He said more pressing issues, such as the UP budget and the pork barrel scam, were not tackled because USC lingered on the technicalities of Magaling’s case.

STAND UP’s Zabat, however, said some members of the USC chose to prioritize the Magaling’s impeachment case over issues such as supporting Yolanda survivors from UP Tacloban.

The event organized by the UP Mass Communicators’ Organization (UP MCO) also saw the candidates debate on issues within and outside the campus such as the San Roque demolition, UP Professional Schools, Cybercrime Law and the University Freshman Council (UFC), among others.

USC ‘incumbent wars ignite Hot Off the Grill

CMC candidates debate...

Cont. from page 1

Continued from page 1 activism, believing that there are different forms of activism people can pursue. STAND UP, on the other hand, asserts that student mobilization is the most effective

means of achieving change. Both parties, however, said

they put a premium on student consultations and for representation.

The campaign period

officially ends on Wednesday, 5 pm. Elections are set on Thursday, February 27, from 8 am to 7 pm.

This year’s CMCSC election candidates: STAND UP CMC (top) and ISA (bottom). Photos by Feona Imperial