remains of my varsi days

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Government critics blast all-out war policy in Mindanao
Patricia Gaile Cotaoco

GOVERNMENT critics say the Mindanao conflict is rooted in centuries-old oppression that cannot be resolved easily by arms. They called on the government to stop its offensive and implement a strategy of development.

"It is a war of political subjugation rooted in history. The government's narrow-mindedness and stupidity drag our country down," said Akbayan party list president Ronald Llamas, an AB Journalism alumnus of the Faculty of Arts and Letters and former Varsitarian staffer, in the symposium on "The Mindanao Situation and its Impact to the Political and Economic Situation of the Philippines." The Forum was sponsored by the AB Sociology department and the Movement of Student Power (MASP) last July 20 at the Faculty of Arts and Letters Audio-Visual Room.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Ali Musawie, a Muslim youth leader said the conflict is abetted by poverty and ignorance in the region.

"Politics in Mindanao is a politics of oppression, of poverty and of ignorance. The war began because the government forgot there were people who existed, "Yusuf Ali Musawie said in the forum.

On the other hand, AB Political Science coordinator lawyer Reynaldo Lopez said that the Mindanao crisis was caused by the Filipino people's ignorance of the living conditions in Mindanao.

"Kaya hindi 'yon na-so-solve ay dahil sa kakulangan natin sa kaalaman sa buhay sa Mindanao," Lopez said.

Meanwhile, Tomasito Villarin, executive director of Kaisahan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan, said the government's "all-out war" approach had only worsened the situation in Mindanao.

According to Villarin, an AB Economics alumnus of UST, despite the Mindanao region's abundant resources, 12 of its provinces are considered the poorest in the country because of mismanagement.

"War is a very lucrative business. The government is spending P50 million worth of bullets. It is spending P50 to P100 million a day to pursue the war," he said.

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CPA reviewers bolt CPAR, form new review center
Patricia Gaile Cotaoco

UST'S Accounting graduates reviewing for the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) board examination at the CPA Review (CPAR) were in a state of confusion last month as CPAR's long-time reviewers bolted the widely-patronized review center.

Reputably one of the premier review centers in accountancy, CPAR has produced a number of board topnotchers and a high percentage of CPA board passers. It also boasts of a formidable lineup of reviewers, most of whom are experts in their fields.

Last month, however, a group of reviewers, some of whom were pioneers of CPAR, left the review center, to the surprise of the reviewees. This year, nearly half of UST's accounting graduates are enrolled at CPAR.

According to cum laude graduate Jo-an Lu, a reviewee at CPAR, she and her classmates were surprised at the turn of events.

"Na-tense (kami) kasi magagaling 'yung nawala tapos walang idea kung sino yung ipapalit," she said.

"There was a sudden change of atmosphere," Institute of Accountancy magna cum laude graduate Rudi Ramin said.

In an interview with the Varsitarian, Rodelio Roque, a reviewer at CPAR, said he and his colleagues submitted a resignation letter effective October this year to manage their own review center, the Review School of Accountancy (ReSA). However, Roque said they were immediately terminated by CPAR head-partner Crispin Llamado.

But Roque assured students of a quality review at ReSA since most of its reviewers were all from CPAR.

"Talagang pagbubutihan namin. Ang mga reviewers natin mga 20 years na sa academe, meron 19 years na sa review. So, siguro yung exposure na yon malaki maitutulong," said Roque.

Among those who transferred to ReSA are Marcelino Bonafe for Business Law, UST chief accountant Antonio Dayag for Practical Accounting 2, Gerardo Roque for Auditory Theory and Practice, Rodelio Roque for Management Advisory Services, Asser Tamayo for Practical Accounting 1 and Theory of Accounts.

Meanwhile, according to Minerva Cruz, College of Commerce's head of the Institute of Accountancy, the credit for passing the CPA board exams should go to the school because the teaching foundation comes from the teachers, and not from the reviewers.
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Administration hit for tuition increase
Patricia Gaile Cotaoco

STUDENT leaders criticized the UST administration for increasing tuition this school year despite protests from local student councils in a consultation last February.

“Nag-no ang (student) council (of different colleges). Ibig sabihin, hindi kailangan magtaas ng tuition. Pero viniolate ito ng administration. Nagtaas pa rin sila at hindi lang five percent ang itinaas nila. Umabot pa ito ng 11 to 14.5 percent, “said Antonette Hojilla, secretary general of Anakbayan-UST in a symposium last July 21 at the Rizal Conference Hall of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

According to Hojilla, the Education Act of 1982, which allows private schools to increase tuition without government restrictions, should be repealed. She also called for a tuition rollback.

Hojilla added that the additional energy fee charged on students should be scrapped out since it is already covered by other fees, such as the Community Service and Information Development fees.

Furthermore, Rey Asis, national president of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), said that according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, most of the schools that continue to increase tuition are included in the top 7,000 profit-earning corporations in the country.

“Erap’s callousness allow capitalist educators to rake in more profits in tuition. The continuous increase in tuition only shows that the educational system we have is highly commercialized,” he said.

However, in an interview with the Varsitarian, UST Treasurer Fr. Roberto Pinto, O.P. said the tuition increase was based on the need to improve the University’s facilities.

“We cannot stop improving the facilities and services. Every year, we have to do something, otherwise, maiiwanan tayo,” he said.

Furthermore, Fr. Pinto said that the University had its “lowest tuition increase” this year.

“We used to raise it up to 20 to 35 percent. Tinitingnan ko lang yung pangangailangan natin. Marami pa ngang dapat gawin,” he said.

The symposium, titled “Preview 2 d SONA (Pagtatalakay hinggil sa totoong State of the Nation),” sponsored by the CEGP, also tackled the condition of campus publications and violation of campus press freedom.

According to Asis, student publication like The National of the National University have been closed because they went against the school administration.

“Makikita natin ‘yung repression hurled upon the students (who) profess the administrators’ interest for profit. Ginagawa nila ito para hindi kayo makapagsalita,” Asis said.

In a press statement, the CEGP also cited the case of student journalist April Camacho of the University of the East-Recto, who was expelled for allegedly allowing media practitioners inside the campus. Two editors and a staff member from the Cagayan Colleges of Tuguegarao, on the other hand, were allegedly mauled by a school administrator, whose father is the owner of the school, for writing blind items against the administration.

Moreover, Asis criticized San Sebastian College for allegedly requiring freshmen applicants to sign a waiver that prohibits them from opposing school policies.