Youth: Protectors of Rights and Freedom

They were there. They were involved. Joining their hands they marched with dignity shouting their stand. These students knew what was going on. They knew very well the effects of the events that had transpired in their country. They have to fight, not just for their own but for everyone’s freedom.

Wearing white shirts symbolizing youth’s crusade for truth, accountability and hope against a corrupt state, students of the University of the Philippines gathered around Sunken Garden performed a human chain last Thursday night. These, more or less, 200 students condemned the current state of the Philippines and asked for the president’s ouster. They declared UP as a sanctuary for all those who oppose the current administration. They called it “truth zones” or “GMA-freezones.”

Simultaneously calling for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s ouster are school from other universities: University of Sto. Thomas (UST), Ateneo de Manila University, Adamson University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, and other universities outside of Manila. These universities are members of a coalition of youth and student for action, they called it Youth ACT Now (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now), a newly-formed alliance of student councils, national youth and student organizations, community-based youth, young professionals, artists and prominent youth leaders and personalities.

These students believe GMA’ administration is nothing but a morally bankrupt government. They commend Peter Jun Lozada Jr’s act in bringing up the truth.

Corruption

The ZTE-NBN issue was believed to be the pinnacle of all these uprising. If not for these exposés, of anomalous contracts and funding, Filipino people would still be guessing as to how they are living in peril. These student protesters believed in the sanctity of democracy. They believed that everyone has an equal right. Student’s does not only condemn the administration of corruption but also condemning it in depriving people’s basic rights.
The ZTE-NBN broadband deal has spurred a lot of minds in the pursuit of truth. The controversial issue, which started in 2007, crumbled people’s trust in the government. Corruption floods the current state leaving our rights at risk.

Almost 7.3 billion pesos was taken by the current administration over the past seven years, according to the latest survey of the IBON foundation, a research-education-information development institution.. These includes transactions of government such as the P728-million fertilizer scam, Jose Pidal banks accounts, Northrail project, $14million IMPSA power plant project, P1.3-billion poll automation project, Macapagal Boulevard project, and the $329.48-million for the national broadband network project.

IBON said the laundered money could have been used in giving shelter and food for millions of Filipinos below the poverty line. The money could have been used in funding the Department of Education in building facilities for the younger generation. According to their findings, P8.43 billion was lacking in Deped’s fund in 2008.

State of Education

With more and more corruption, people are becoming more and more buried in poverty. Hunger and death will swiftly come. With more and more corruption, basic right is not a privilege anymore but a mere speck of good that has to be bought.

Even education is at high stake. With corruption, funds for education weakened. Education is now bought.

According to Dr. Edberto M. Villegas, Department of Social Science UP Manila, the countries system of education is catered towards globalization and students are thought to serve the capitalist.

He said the allotted funds within the past years for education are lesser than the funds for military and security. Funds allotted for foreign debt is even bigger and with this capitalists and imperialist countries are pushing for schools to have fiscal autonomy as to where would they get their funds.

Students are in crisis as tuition increase. State Universities and Colleges are not at a low cost anymore and only those with resources can get quality education.

UP and their fight for their to education

The University of the Philippines over the past decades has always been the beacon in fighting for the right to education. It has always been their stand that education should be a right and the government should provide these rights. The student’s fight has always been tested through time. But this time students crumbled in the face of commercialization and privatization.

Influenced by imperialists and capitalists countries, the University of the Philippines, the leading school for the masses, was turned into an income-generating institution. Starting with the rise of tuition and other fees and the controversial UP Charter, the premiere university was sold.

Yet student activists continue to fight for what is right. Making their moves, participating in rallies, they were always there. They stand to challenge the current administration to uncover its mask.

The deprivation of the basic rights is the precursor of these uprising. That’s why students gathered. That’s why students converged. To fight for what is right. Not just for themselves but for everyone else.

Exorcism: An Overlook

Filipinos are fun of ghost stories. In fact, a dozen of horror films were released for the past years that have hit the box office charts.

Tales of tikbalang, kapre and manananggal sprouted among provinces and people who are afraid of such tend to rely on paranormal experts to explain their curiosities.

How can we see something that cannot be seen?

Spirits, ghost, and all that is paranormal can only be discern by opening our sixth sense, said Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia in a forum at the University of the Philippines last January 24.

He said our psychic ability has its own capacity that we need to discover and develop.

Children and women, who are more intuitive, are prone to demonic attacks, said Fr. Syquia.

He said evil spirits can enter into our bodies when we are weak in faith.

Fr. Syquia, author of “Exorcism: Encounters with the Paranormal and the Occult,” is an expert on paranormal studies.

He has encountered hundreds of exorcism and his line of work as the Director of the Archdiocese of Manila, Office of Exorcism.

“We have to be careful with the entities of our mind,” said Fr. Syquia, because some may attack people’s minds beyond their reasoning.

“The real power is in prayer,” said Fr. Syquia as a defense against demonic possessions.

The forum was sponspored by the UP Student Catholic Action and was attended by students from different colleges in the university.

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Aquarium Life: Confessions of A Pastor's Kid

How beautiful it is to live with freedom: the freedom to choose, freedom to be who you want to be, freedom to get what you want, and freedom from everything that makes your life miserable.
When I was a little kid, I really loved watching fish in an aquarium. Every time my father fetched me from school, I made it sure that he would take me to the nearest pet shop. My eyes would glimmer watching the fish as they gracefully swim and magnificently maneuver inside. It was so fascinating watching them. Some of the fish would chase around each other; others would hide behind artificial corals. They looked happy and contented. Being a kid, it was so easy to like those fish. But as I think of it now, I realize that behind what seemed to be a fascinating world for them, was a life full of misery. I am sure they would never want to be in that aquarium if they just had a choice. They would surely love to be out there in the sea.

Being a pastor's kid, I could liken me life to that of those fish. I feel like I too am in an aquarium. There may never be glasses that surround me, but there are giant walls of rules, norms, and life standard that I have to consider before making any move. These things beset me even before I was born. What's worst, people expect me to be perfect.

I noticed this when I was growing up. My father, who is a pastor, would teach members of the church how to live a holy life... a life pleasing to God... a life that would serve as a good example for others. Naturally, these members also look up to the pastor's family as a model of what the pastor preaches. From then on, I've been living my life in a glass house – a house open for all to see.

I remember this one time when my friends and I watched a “sayawan” in our neighborhood. I didn't know one of my neighbors saw me and told my father about it. He was so mad and disappointed. It was one of the things that he kept telling me about... I should never be in a place where worldly people go. He said that it could ruin my witness... that people may not listen to his sermons anymore if his son is seen in questionable places.

I could enumerate some of those rules that made me sick. Disco houses, bars, and movie houses are just some of those prohibited places. When it comes to music, I only have to listen to gospel music. I am not allowed to sing other songs aside from Christian songs. I must turn off the television or radio if they are playing those prohibited songs. Dolls, stuffed toys, and graven images are not supposed to be inside the house because they are considered dwelling place or strongholds of Satan. If we ever receive gifts like them, my father would surely burn them. In choosing a lifetime partner, I should not choose a non-Christian girl. What if I fall in love with a non-Christian?

All these things made my life miserable. How could I enjoy life when all I have to do is please people? So I tried pretension. Like those fish in the aquarium, I tried to hide my true feelings inside. I pretended to be happy with my life. I followed every rule. I tried to be always right in their eyes. People even praised me for being a blessing to them. But deep inside me, I was just lying. This went on for a long time.



When my father noticed that I wasn't happy with my life, He asked me what my problem was. I told him everything... from the lies to the pretensions, and even to the pressure that I felt. I cried to my knees and asked for forgiveness. I admitted that I wasn't pleasing God. I was only pleasing others. He embraced me and told me that it was all right. He said that everybody makes mistakes.

I guess that being in an aquarium-like life is not that miserable after all. I realized now that all those rules and standards just shaped me into a better person. It made me stronger to resist temptations.

Now that I am away from those people who look up to me as an example, I am free to do what I want. Now it's up for me if I would choose to do things against God's will or I would still succumb to His perfect will and plan for my life. At least I have a choice.