UP System website attacked by pro-China hackers

Hackers proclaim: “We come from China! Huangyan Island is Ours!” 

The two-week old standoff between the Philippines and China in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal located in the West Philippine Sea has spilled over into the cyberspace. The website of the University of the Philippines (UP) has been defaced early Friday morning by suspected pro-China hackers. UP is the national university of this Southeast Asian country.

Hackers uploaded a map of the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea) and its nearby countries in the landing page of the UP website. The map has labels in Chinese characters. The screenshot below was taken by Lawrence Velasco, accounting and finance instructor at the UP College of Business Administration:

The screen grab of UP's defaced website (credits: Mr. Lawrence Velasco)

Velasco discovered the website defacement at around 4 AM. He promptly tweeted certain Philippine media personalities and organizations about the matter, explaining later on that he asked the media to contact UP since he was in France and “didn’t know how to contact the university aside from Twitter.

Mr. Lawrence Velasco promptly alerted media persons via Twitter about the website defacement

Danilo Arao, the University’s Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs, denounced the attack, describing it as “an attempt to deprive the UP community of vital information, particularly the schedule of commencement exercises in nine UP campuses and the April 2012 issue of the UP Newsletter which was uploaded last April 17.”

A downtime notice has since been posted on the UP system website: “The University of the Philippines System website (http://www.up.edu.ph) is currently undergoing maintenance. The UP Computer Center is conducting an evaluation of the website and its contents. This website will be restored to its operational status as soon as the maintenance checks have been completed. Thank you.”

In a phone interview, Arao explained that the website’s security is a “shared concern” of the UP System Information Office and the UP Computer Center. “We’re trying to check the vulnerability of our content management systems,” Arao said.

He added that although the hackers “merely uploaded a JPEG file in the landing page,” they will also look for possible malicious files embedded in the system. He reiterated that the hacking incident is isolated to the UP system website. Arao teaches journalism in the UP College of Mass Communication.

Related news:

China, tumangging dalhin ang isyu ng Panatag Shoal sa international court (GMA News Online)

China summons PHL envoy over standoff at Panatag Shoal (GMA News Online)

Personal: Professor Arao maintains his own website. This blogger enrolled in his online journalism class during his undergraduate days at UP CMC.

Recognition Day Speech at Juan Luna Elementary School

Mr. Renato Jarabese, the school principal, the teachers, students, parents, and other members of the JLES family, good afternoon.

The school where I finished my elementary education 10 years ago

I want to greet all of you young achievers who are here right now. Yes, you heard me right. You are young achievers. Consider yourself extremely lucky because you are among the honorees today out of the several hundreds of JLES students for the past school year. You did a great job, that’s why you’re part of this year’s cream of the crop. Congratulations to your teachers and most importantly to your parents. Alam natin na kung anong saya ng mga mag-aaral sa kanilang tagumpay na nakamtan, doble pa roon ang kasiyahan ng ating mga magulang.

A glimpse of the attendees to this year's JLES recognition rites

It is a great honor to be invited to speak before all of you this afternoon, exactly 10 years after I graduated here back in 2002. Ang sampung taon ay mabilis na dumaan. Dati, gumagamit lang kami ng Internet kung may school projects. Ngayon, hindi na kumpleto ang araw natin nang hindi nag-oonline sa Facebook at Twitter.

Ang ilan sa mga dati kong guro ay nataas na ng tungkulin, mayroon namang gaya ng aking tagapayo noong Grade 4 na si Bb. Daisy Falucho ay namayapa na, mayroon ring ngayon ay retirado na samantalang ang ilan gaya ni Bb. Rosemarie Villamor, tagapayo ko sa unang baitang, at Gng. Myrna Genovate, tagapayo ko noong ika-limang baitang ay nandito pa rin sa dakilang paaralang ito upang patuloy na manghubog ng kaisipan ng kanilang mga magiging mag-aaral sa mga darating pang taon.

Miss Rosemarie Villamor (Filipino) and Mrs. Myrna Genovate (English)

Hinding-hindi ko malilimutan ang lahat ng aking mga naging guro sa bawat artikulong aking naipalathala, sa bawat parangal na natanggap at matatanggap pa, at sa anumang landas na aking tatahakin pagdating ng panahon. I will forever owe what I am today and what I will be in the future to everyone who has been my teacher, whether here in JLES, in Ramon Magsaysay High School, or in the University of the Philippines.

Taong 1996 nang ako ay pumasok sa Grade 1. Section 2 ako sa ilalim ni Bb. Villamor. Naaalala ko pa noon na madalas, sumasali lang ako sa pila kapag paakyat na ang mga kaklase ko. At sa tuwing magpapaalam na ako kay mama at isasara na ng guwardya ang gate, naiiyak ako. May isa ngang pagkakataon noong Grade 1, pasado alas 5 na ng hapon. Sinabihan ako ni Bb. Villamor na “puwede na akong umihi.” Ang pagkakaintindi ko, pwede na ako umuwi. Buti hinarang ako ng nagbabantay doon sa main gate dahil kung hindi, baka naligaw na ako.

Waiting for my turn to speak during last March 28's JLES recognition rites

It is funny to think about this now, but at that time, I am so afraid to be separated from my mother although we’ll be together again after six hours. This is one lesson I want to impart to you this afternoon. You will never achieve personal growth unless you’re willing to get out of your comfort zone. Paano natin matutuklasan ang hiwaga ng daigdig kung tayo ay takot na maglakbay rito?

Kagaya ng ilan sa inyo, nagkaroon rin ako ng pagkakataon na maging kinatawan ng aking paaralan sa mga panglungsod na kumpetisyon. Noong 2^nd year ako sa Ramon Magsaysay, naging pambato ako ng paaralan sa isang division level quiz bee. Matinding pressure ang nakalaban ko, and to cut the long story short, I finished last in the top ten. I was so ashamed of myself. I let my trainers and the whole school down. Hindi nga ba’t kapag tayo ay lumalaban, dala natin ang pangalan ng paaralan? After skipping my classes for almost a week, how will I answer my classmates if they ask me about the contest? The future looks grim, or so I thought.

While giving the keynote remarks during the event

I was attending my Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) class one afternoon when my then Asian History teacher Ms. Precilla Manaloto asked me out of our class. Since the contest loss happened just a few days before, I was expecting her to admonish me. That was the natural thing to happen, right? But I was wrong.

She treated me to a lunch of rellenong bangus and fresh lumpia at a nearby restaurant instead. She said she also bore some responsibility for the debacle, and offered me golden words of wisdom. She reiterated her trust in me, saying that I can surely do better next time, and given my age (I was only 13 then), there’s still a long way for me to go (“malayo pa ang mararating mo”). Nine years later, her words are still with me.

Receiving the plaque of appreciation from Mr. Jarabese and Ms. Sanchez after my speech

Right now, I guess some of you have doubts about what lies ahead in the future. “Makakaya ko ba ang mga problemang aking haharapin,” you may be asking yourself. Two weeks ago, I had the great privilege of interviewing Ms Gina Lopez, the managing director of Bantay Bata and Bantay Kalikasan. She shared to me this wonderful quote: “As you think, so you become.”

Regardless of the barriers, and believe me, you will never run out of those, as long as you believe in yourself and stay committed in achieving what you really want, there’s no way you can fail. Roselle Ambubuyog became blind at age 11, yet she graduated valedictorian in RMHS in 1997 and finished her college degree at the Ateneo de Manila University summa cum laude.

The school is announcing my presence during the event through this. I can't feel more honored.

A young boy named Artemio Panganiban, meanwhile, supported his studies here at JLES and in V. Mapa High School by selling newspapers and cigarettes and shining shoes. He later on became the Chief Justice of our country’s Supreme Court. If Artemio Panganiban and Roselle Ambubuyog didn’t let poverty and disability hinder their path to success, will you let anything block your way to the future? As the song goes, “there’s not a star in heaven you can’t reach, if you’re trying.”

Sa kabila ng mga papuring inyong natanggap ngayong araw na ito, alam kong alam ninyo na hindi dito nagtatapos ang lahat. Ika nga sa Ingles, never rest on your laurels. Dahil kayo ay mga young achiever na, hindi na kayo kailangang habilinan na mag-aral pa ng mabuti. Ipagpatuloy lamang ninyo ang mahusay ninyong nasimulan.

Picture with some JLES teachers at the principal's office

Ang karunungan ay parang isang pananim na nararapat parating diligan upang mas mapayabong ito. Laging tandaan na sa huli, hindi lamang kayo ang makikinabang sa inyong edukasyon. Maaari itong maging susi para magkaroon ng mas magandang bukas ang inyong mga pamilya. At dahil sa inyong karunungan, nasa posisyon rin kayo upang makatulong sa ikauunlad ng ating mahal na bansa sa malapit na hinaharap. Sana ay hindi ninyo sayangin ang magandang pagkakataong ito.

The plaque of appreciation that I received from my alma mater.

*This is the full text of the speech I gave during the recognition rites of the Juan Luna Elementary School held last March 28, where I was the guest of honor. Apologies for non-Filipino readers of this the speech is mostly in Filipino, in recognizance of my audience that afternoon.  

My special acknowledgments to Mr. Renato Jarabese, the school principal, Mrs. Alicia Sanchez, the one who invited me to be the guest speaker, and former advisers Ms Rosemarie Villamor (Grade 1) and Mrs. Myrna Genovate (Grade 6).

My Four-Week Internship Experience with The Philippine Star*

*This is an edited version of the post-internship paper that I wrote back in May 2009 for my Journalism 198 class under Professor Rachel Khan. By posting this here, I am hoping that my story can be of help to students who’ll be having their internships soon (as soon as this summer for some), particularly those in the field of mass communication. 

The long list of companies and institutions that accept interns provide students with wildly differing fates. Many offer their interns a hands-on training while some make their trainees do mere clerical work. Media interns can get to do interviews, on-site reportage, and write news stories. However, some just arrange corporate files and run errands for their superiors. On-the-job training (OJT) is meant to widen a student’s horizons, lest it be forgotten.

This is the time when students can finally practice what they learned in a journalism class room. In the process, we get to experience the intricacies of the ‘real world.’ With so much at stake during the internship, it is very important that the chance won’t go to waste. Unlike other students who had settled for the first company to accept them, I had the opportunity to consider two other internship programs, though I declined both because I decided that it might not be able to provide me with the training that I need.

I consider myself lucky for being able to have my OJT in the Philippine Star. I was under the mentorship of two Star reporters, Perseus Echeminada and Sandy Araneta, respectively. The trainer would serve as my direct supervisor throughout the internship. I spent the last two weeks of April under Mr. Echeminada and afterwards, I was transferred to Mr. Araneta for for the remainder of the internship period. Mr. Echeminada covers the Quezon City (QC) Hall and the QC RTC as well as LTO, LTFRB and PCSO. Meanwhile, Mr. Araneta’s beat includes the Manila City Hall, the courts, the NBI, and the DOJ (as a reliever).

I really wanted to be with a news organization because it would help me meet my internship goals and in honing my people-relation skills. I know that once I venture into the media profession, not everyone would be easy to deal with. Some of them may be moody while others may be uncompromising. This early, I deemed it important to be able to experience this first hand so that I would be better equipped about it in the future.

When you’re in the field, it is very important to nurture the trust of your sources. Some court clerks may be unwilling to give away copies of a particular motion for reconsideration, but with a little more prodding and much convincing – he/she may finally give in. One thing that I realized during the internship is that government officials, the judges in particular, have different take on the media’s right to access public documents. They also have different understanding of how far the media can go.

For Manila RTC Judge Silvino Pampilo, who handles the case involving the ‘Big 3’ oil companies, anything goes as regards to the media. He allows reporters to photocopy all documents related to the matter. In fact, he is the one who informs the reporters through SMS about orders he will release – and motions that has just been filed. He even allows himself to be interviewed regarding the case and permits huge video cameras and tape recorders inside a court room.

In contrast, there are judges who do not allow reporters to reproduce the court papers. The only thing the latter can do is to take notes of the case – which is difficult for a craft that relies heavily on obtaining documents. As for the Sandiganbayan and the Ombudsman (I covered it for three days), all papers can be photocopied though the cost is so prohibitive at P4 per page. If possible, the reporter should reach the parties involved (particularly the lawyers) to get the papers for free. Again, one’s networking skills comes in handy.

I also realized the value of studying your beat well. A reporter cannot just sit on the office building and wait for the news to happen. He/she must look for it. On my first day with Mr. Araneta, he gave me a tour of the Manila City Hall. He pointed out to me where to find potential news stories like the court’s docket section, the court calendar, and of course, the press office. During the last few days of my OJT, I discovered several potential news stories right from the record section: a.) the graft charges against a Vitas, Tondo slaughter house collector, b.) P 1.8 M qualified theft raps against 2 former Metrobank employees, c.) illegal drug case against 2 Korean nationals.

Indeed, journalists should have presence of mind at all times. Otherwise, it may be too late (aka ‘nai-scoopan ka na’). On my first day under Mr. Echeminada, he dispatched me to the New Era General Hospital to cover the developments on the case of Mrs. Trinidad Etong’s suicide (during that time, there’s still the parricide angle). This is not the time for me to grope in the dark; rather, I should know what to do right from the start. I arrived at the place just in time to catch PAO Chief Persida Acosta give a brief interview with reporters. Journalism is indeed full of excitement and unpredictability.

An incident that left a profound effect on me happened during Jun Lozada’s arraignment at the Manila RTC. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed by the police to get inside the court room (together with other media men) since it’s already jam-packed. I texted Mr. Araneta to say that I’m stuck outside. At this point, I’m quite clueless about what I can do for the story since I know that everything is happening inside. In his response, my trainer told me: “Make your own decisions on what to do to get the story. You don’t have to ask me everything… ” Outside the court room, I got to interview former Sen. Pres. Franklin Drilon, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, and even Lozada’s spiritual adviser (Bro. Ceci Hojilla of La Salle). Somehow, I was able to contribute to that story.

I would go back to the three cases filed before the Manila RTC that I had ‘discovered.’ Throughout my days under Mr. Araneta, I made it a point to go to the City Hall to make the rounds there before proceeding to our ‘base’ which is at the NBI Press Office. After finding potential news stories, I would text Mr. Araneta about it and usually, he would instruct me to let our Press Office-mates photocopy the documents. There are four mainstays at the said place: Sandy Araneta of the Star, his wife Macon Ramos-Araneta of Standard-Today, Jeamma Sabate of Bulletin and Tina Santos of Inquirer. All of them, except Ms Araneta, cover the same beat. As I see it, the reporters are both interdependent – and independent from one another.

They are interdependent in the sense that they normally share news information to one another. In fact, the Star did not use the Vitas corruption and the Metrobank qualified theft stories though it made its way to Bulletin and Inquirer. They also consult one another regarding fact double-checking. It is not unusual for Ms Santos, for instance, to ask Mr Araneta for court stories she might have missed out. Meanwhile, Ms Sabate frequently asks my trainer about stories she was unable to cover because of other assignments (e.g. Kuya Sandy, ano ba ang nagyari dun kay Lozada?).

Given the fact that the reporters are essentially fed the same information, it really takes a lot of effort to make one’s story stand out. It is primarily done through smart angling and building more sources within the beat. This is when the competing reporters become independent from one another.

 

UPCAT 2012 RESULTS NOW OUT? (and some reminiscing)

Breaking news as of 4PM, January 18, 2012:

The results of the 2012 University of the Philippines College Admission Test are out! To view the results, please here.

*Word of warning – the website is loading excruciatingly slow at the moment. This is like prolonging the agony, but you’ll surely feel triumphant once you confirm that you’ll soon be an iskolar ng bayan.

According to GMA News Online, results can also be accessed on the following mirror websites: Stickbread Solutions, Creative Point Online and Preginet. The article also mentions that over 10,000 examinees aced the UPCAT.

But, why do I still see this statement on the official UPCAT page?

I’ll never forget the exact circumstance when I phoned the UP Admission Office to ask about the results of the UPCAT for school year 2006-2007. That was February 26, 2006, a Sunday. It is a significant date in our country’s recent history.

Earlier that day, Major General Renato Miranda, commandant of the Philippine Marines, was unceremoniously relieved from his post after urging his subordinates to withdraw their support from the government of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. I made the inquiry late in the afternoon. Here’s what’s happening during that time, as chronicled by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism:

“As news of (Miranda’s) resignation made the rounds of text messages in an edgy city, members of civilian groups like the Black and White Movement, Sanlakas and Brother Eddie Villanueva’s Bangon Pilipino Movement rushed to the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio to support what they believed were embattled Marine troopers.

By 5 p.m., scores of civilians had gathered at the Marine chapel and were subsequently joined by Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who is said to have been involved in the failed attempt to withdraw support from the Arroyo government last Friday. ‘We are asking the people to support us from aggression,’ Querubin told ANC.”

I will forever associate Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Ariel Querubin, and Renato Miranda to the day UPCAT Results 2006 was released

The results were posted later that night, and I was informed of it by a high school friend early morning of the following day. She asked her sister (who is a student in UP Manila) to look for my name among the passers. You see, I am not the type who swoops in into a university to look for my name in the list of qualifiers posted in the school wall/board.

Although I didn’t find the UPCAT particularly tough, I was not expecting to pass it. Even though I have heard all the harrowing tales about how tough it is to qualify, I chose not to enroll in a review center. A number of my high school batch mates did, and they failed to make it to UP ultimately. Prior to the release of the UPCAT results, I am already set to take up Political Science in the University of Santo Tomas. Has six years passed that fast?

UPD.edu.ph has a story on my win at the 7th PopDev Media Awards!

Let me continue relishing the winning moment!

Yesterday, a brief write-up about the Best Text Blog award I received during the  7^th Annual Population and Development (PopDev) Media Awards was published in the website of UP Diliman. The piece was titled “UPD graduate student wins in 7th PopDev Media Awards.”

It feels like walking into the campus and seeing unexpectedly a huge streamer (or tarpaulin, if you like) congratulating me for a major feat. Needless to say, I am very elated to be featured in the website of my alma mater. My sincere thanks to Prof. Ruben D.F. Defeo of the UP Diliman Information Office. One mistake I made is that I forgot to include the link to my blog there. Sayang!

A screenshot from the write-up about me posted in the website of UP Diliman (credits: www.upd.edu.ph)

Two weeks after the awarding ceremonies, write-ups about the said event are finally coming out. Though media outlets such as GMA Network, Newsbreak, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reported the event, their respective write-ups focused solely on themselves (which is hardly surprising).

Move.PH is the only news outlet to report on the remarks made by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and former Health Sec. Esperanza Cabral during the award’s night. They also published the complete list of winners. Kudos to them!

The other day, the website of the Philippine Center for Photojournalism published a press release from the Philippine Legislators’ Center for Population and Development (PLCPD) Foundation, the event organizer. Ironically, the PLCPD is yet to publish this write-up on their website.

PS: I guess awarding events only become newsworthy to certain media outlets if their correspondents are among the winners. #fail

Class suspension in UP Diliman, December 8, 4PM onwards

I received this email last night and let me share it to my fellow UP students:

Official seal of the University of the Philippines

Beloved Graduate Students,

Please be informed that classes tomorrow from 4PM onwards are suspended for the Chancellor’s Convocation. This will be the venue wherein the Chancellor (Dr. Caesar Saloma, former Dean of the College of Science- MM) will present the UP Diliman Administration’s upcoming plans for the campus. We encourage you to witness this event, which will be held in the University Theater at 4PM.

In Service,

Dan Christian Ramos
CSSP Representative to the USC

Of T-Shirts and T-Squares: Tales of The Reluctant Surveyor

  by Helen Mary S. Labao

Back when I was in third year college, I took Geodetic Engineering I (GE I) as a science subject. Maybe because I am not exactly fond of memorizing uber technical concepts, I passed the subject by a hairline. In fact, I was so happy then to be exempted from the finals. Given that near-death experience, just imagine how startled I was when I learned that one of my officemates was ranked 2^nd in the 2010 Geodetic Engineer Licensure Examination.  

This is quite unsurprising, since she lists mathematics as one of her main passions in life, along with writing, reading, and relationships. And though she has since “responded to the call of public service,” she remains a close friend of this blog. In fact, I consider her my mentor on this field. So my online buddies, I am honoured to share with you a guest post from a lady who proclaims that writing is her “oxygen.” – MM

Ms Helen Mary Labao - 2nd placer in the 2010 Geodetic Engineer Licensure Examination!

* One time during a Mass, I was wearing this UP Geodetic Engineering t-shirt that I bought before I graduated from college. It was a little eye-catching to some people, as proven by the insanely curious guy beside me who tapped my shoulder to ask: “Excuse me, Miss, ano ang ibig sabihin ng geodetic engineering?” I shushed the guy because I believe that the impending transubstantiation of my religious belief is far important than addressing this query, but after that incident, I asked myself why I even got into this “boyish” course.  I do challenge the notion that it’s male-dominated because I have seen so many beautiful women who take up engineering, especially in the department of Industrial Engineering.  I have seen competent female surveyors who are assets to their endeavours, too.

I had almost 8 years of study to answer the WHAT question. But I wish I had a more serendipitous answer to the WHY question. I hardly answer this question completely, as I usually tell people that I wanted the adventure of field work to avoid further discussion on the topic. The truth of the matter is, I had taken exams in four different universities (UP, DLSU, ADMU, and UST) and had different courses in each of them. I had a distinct preference to study in ADMU but my Dad disliked that school’s sky high tuition fee. I tried enrolling in the Journalism department of UP. But by the time I called UP, there were no more slots left. And so I had to choose among the remaining courses. I gave myself two days to think it over.

Having no parents at the time to consult it with, I decided to read the Bible after feverishly praying. Yes, the Bible. I asked for a SIGN to help me in my confusion. Somehow, my fingers ran through the Old Testament and I encountered the word LAND so many times in different chapters. The word was just popping out of the pages like daisies, or at least in my imagination it seemed that way to me. I took it as the answer and signed myself up for UP’s 5-year geodetic engineering course. I turned down a full scholarship in DLSU (Computer Science), a pre-med course in UST (Pharmacy), and the much-coveted course in ADMU. I can’t say I had no regrets; I had lots during the time I was studying because it was so hard. But when I managed to get through it, I realized that sticking to GE was not a bad decision at all.

For almost my entire college life, I was just so confused and reckless and completely impulsive. Never have I imagined then that I would eventually take the board examination and even become the second highest in our batch. I almost hit MRR (maximum residency rule or overstaying) in my department!  I only learned that I was officially an engineer when my orgmates feverishly refreshed the board exam results websites a day after we took the exam, which was incidentally my 25^th birthday. They called me up and I was screaming up and down in front of my birthday cake at home with my family and other co-board exam takers who were also top notchers. Neighbors thought there was a riot going on in our house because of the noise. I eventually got the formal congratulatory letter two weeks after my birthday, and I attended the oath taking ceremony shortly after. I wore a nice blue dress, and the rest is history, or at least, in my blog already.

I only had one thing to say about my course: it was not love at first sight. I tried shifting to European Languages when I fell in love with the French language and still tried to shift to Journalism somewhere in my fourth year. But something kept me from leaving the College of Engineering for good, abysmally hard as the subjects were. I had those moments where I wanted to give up. There are few people who get to become cum laude in our college; they are considered total geeks. Even those who graduate on time or earlier are considered beyond normal.

But there were those happy moments like digging for old 1904 mojon markers using one’s hands, falling off a creek in the university while getting topographic data, and basically exploring the terrain of the university grounds. I found making maps in the GIS (Geographic Information System) lab as a real welcome treat; the free air conditioning somehow balanced the intense field activities that they had us do in our core field work subjects.

There was this notion that it is much easier to get a laude in other colleges that did not have a lot of Math in them. Although I am happy to survive a lot of Math, Physics, and Engineering subjects and acknowledge that I shed blood, sweat, and tears for my diploma, I did not subscribe to the idea that engineering is superior over other courses offered in my school. I did not buy those “So What Kung Uno Ka?” shirts because I believe that each course has its own level of difficulty. In fact, I cannot withstand people who think this way up to this day.

"So what kung uno ka? Eng'g ka ba?" (courtesy of UP Engineering Student Council Yahoo Group)

I do know by experience that superiority complex is prevalent not just in engineering. I have met people from all walks of life who think that their field is better than everyone else’s, whether it’s English studies, political science, or finance, whether they admit it or not. I believe it is part of human nature that everyone wants to be the bida. It is not something that is exclusively owned by engineering students or graduates.  In the case of those engineering t-shirts, one form of arrogance merely came with a tangible item and the others came with something else that did not have any “physical evidence.”

Having openly expressed my views on the matter, I am open to the idea of professionally exploring other fields which are equally deserving of praise and effort. From a reluctant surveyor, I am in the process of becoming an open-minded and willing young professional who makes the most of everything in all the fields she has the privilege of being exposed to.

Please visit her review of the movie “There Be Dragons” here - http://www.helenmarylabao.com/?quote=there-be-dragons

No extension of enrollment period in UP Diliman despite the Nov. 7 holiday

Despite the presidential proclamation declaring November 7 a special non-working day, the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD) is sticking to its original registration period for the 2nd semester of Academic Year 2011-2012 which is scheduled on November 3 to 8. The start of classes will also push through on November 9. This was relayed via email by Prof. Ma. Theresa Payongayong, college secretary of the UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.

Dates to remember for the 2nd sem AY 2011-2012 enrollment in UP Diliman

In her email, she said that Dr. Evangeline Amor, the University Registrar, proposed to UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma to move the registration and the start of classes because of the Eidul Adha holiday, but was apparently unsuccessful in doing so because the academic calendar has already been approved by the Board of Regents and therefore, must be followed. You can download the academic calendar here:  http://www.upd.edu.ph/acadcal2011-2012.pdf.

As a result of this, the scheduled four-day enrollment period will be reduced to three. Payongayong noted that “students should know about these schedules” so that “they can have their Form 5As validated and their registration finished by November 8.” According to the UPD CRS website (https://crs.upd.edu.ph), having Form 5As validated by November 8 is very important since “students with unvalidated Form 5as by the first day of classes, November 9, may be removed from the class list by their instructor to free up slots for requests of Change of Matriculation by other students.” Here’s the entire email:

From: Ma. Theresa Payongayong

Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011

Subject: Effect of Nov. 7 holiday on 2nd sem Registration Schedule

Dear All,

Since it was announced that November 7 is a holiday, our University Registrar, Dr. Evangeline Amor, actually had a proposal to the Chancellor to move deadlines, registration period and start of classes; but because the academic calendar is BOR approved, according to Dr. Amor, we’re bound to follow the schedules indicated therein. Thus, because of the November 7 holiday, we will just have 3 regular registration period (instead of 4) and we will still hold our first day of classes on November 9.

It is critical to let our students know of these schedules and hopefully, they would have their Form 5As validated and their registration finished by November 8. A memorandum on this is right now being sent to departments and offices. For your information and guidance. Thank you for your cooperation.

Truly yours,

Tess P.

PS: For unknown reasons, this announcement hasn’t been posted in the CRS website.

Click to download the UP Diliman Registration Flowchart, 2nd semester, AY 2011-2012.

Degrading gays and women through “Nagmahal Ng Bakla”

I originally submitted this as a requirement for my Gender Sensitivity in the Mass Media class (J196) under now-retired Dr. Georgina Encanto early last year. Originally posted here: http://marksphere.blogspot.com/2010/01/degrading-both-gays-and-women-through.html

 
The song “Nagmahal ng Bakla” by rap group Dagtang Lason received frequent airplay the past few months. Radio stations played it repeatedly while its video has been uploaded in YouTube. It has witty lyrics and a catchy tune, making the song inflicted in people’s heads. In fact, even young children can sing-along to it. The group, meanwhile, has performed the song live in “Sharon” and “Wowowee.” Given the message of this song, such publicity isn’t only unwarranted – it is also dangerous.

What does the song really say? Here are the lyrics of its chorus:

Mga tambay lang kami sawa sa babae
May mga babaeng manloloko
Pineperahan lang kami
Kaya ngayon bakla na lang ang aming iibigin
Masarap magmahal ang bakla
Ohh kay sarap… damhin

Basically, it tells us that since most girls are merely looking for sugar daddies or boys they can use as cash cows, these tambays (street bystanders) now prefer gays as their lovers. They now want homosexual males because they are already “sawa sa babae.” It’s as if females are muffin meals that males can just toss away once they get so used to its taste. What about the gays? They are being treated as an alternative giver of pleasure for men. “Kaya ngayon, bakla na lamang ang aming iibigin,” the song goes.

There is no mention here about the need of gays to be loved in their own right – and not as an alternative to women. Upon close examination, the song’s chorus also lacks logic. How can a plain tambay serve as a cash cow? How can he be a financial provider? Scattered throughout the song are other lines that condescend both women and gays.

The view that homosexuals are just being used as plain sex objects (or a way by which a man can release his urges) is supported by the line: “Hinanakit sa babae ang dahilan / Kung bakit nagmahal ako ng tulad niya / Kahit siya ay pangit.” The song says that though the thought of being in a relationship with a gay man is still repulsive (because of the latter’s supposed ugliness) for these tambays, they would still tolerate it because women only break their hearts.

The lines “Kaya nagdesisyon tuloy ang puso na laging bigo / Na bakla na lang ang iibigin ko” and “Kahit karumal-dumal pa ang kanyang (the gay) pagmumukha / Basta wag niya lang akong gawing kaawa-awa” gives a negative generalization of women as domineering beings. It also characterizes gays as “ugly” receivers (taga-salo) of distraught men.

The song gives macho males the privilege of choosing who between females and gays can best satisfy their needs, both emotional and sexual. Though the song says that straight males can fall for gays, the meanness toward gays remains obvious. “Kaya sa bigo, sa mga babae diyan / Umibig ng bakla, nakakalat lang yan diyan,” a line states. What does these mean? It subtly suggests that gays are always lurking around, searching desperately for a man. Unsurprisingly, the rap single also mentioned the typical gay-gives-the-guy-money stereotype: “Bakla na lang ang iibigin ko / Di na ko masasaktan, nagkapera pa ako.”

Other disturbing lines include: “Bago tayo magtabi sa kama, magpa-opera ka muna.” Apparently, the guy here is telling his gay lover that before they can have sex, the latter must first undergo a sex transplant (so the gay can have the body of a woman?). This is like saying that gays must try hard to look like a “real” woman. Another line goes like this: “Relasyon natin ay parang ginto / Mahal kita, wag lang sana akong magkatulo.” The tambay is now worried that he might contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from his gay partner. Really? Given that these tambays‘ desire for women has reached the saturation point (“sawa sa babae“), isn’t it that they are the more likely carrier of STIs?

We all know that the recording industry is taking serious blows from the global financial crisis, unabated piracy, and the rise of online music-sharing. The entertainment world, meanwhile, is becoming more crowded with almost everyone wanting to be famous. Coming up with a controversial single that gets tremendous airplay and good record sales may be good from a business perspective. But what if in the process, both gays and women are being maligned repeatedly?

Music is a major part of any culture, and it in return reflects us as a people. Music (and other media) can influence the way individuals think because of its ubiquity. When this power is used to perpetuate the hostility toward those wrongly regarded as belonging to the “second” and “third” sexes, it becomes bothersome. This is why the popularity of “Nagmahal ng Bakla” is dangerous.

No PH university makes it to this year’s list of top 400 schools worldwide

by Mark Pere Madrona

As of this writing, no local media outlet has reported on this.

A newly published report (dated October 6, 2011) by British magazine Times Higher Education indicate that no Philippine higher education institution made it to the list of top 400 universities in the world for 2011. This comes a month after a similar report released by Quacquarelli Symonds, another education organization also based in the United Kingdom, showed that the two Philippine universities which made it to last year’s top 300 list – Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines – fell sharply from their previous rankings.

The year’s top five universities are the following: California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University, Oxford University, and Princeton University. University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial London College, University of Chicago, and University of California-Berkeley complete the top ten. The highest ranked Asian university is Japan’s University of Tokyo (30th) followed by University of Hong Kong (34th), National University of Singapore (40th) and China’s Peking University (49-50). There are 62 Asian universities in this year’s top 400 list.

Screenshot from the website of Times Higher Education World University Rankings

According to the Times Higher Education website, universities were ranked based on 13 separate performance indicators “designed to capture the full range of university activities, from teaching to research to knowledge transfer.” The 13 elements were further classified into the following  five headline categories:

• Teaching — the learning environment (worth 30 per cent of the overall ranking score)
• Research — volume, income and reputation (worth 30 per cent)
• Citations — research influence (worth 30 per cent)
• Industry income — innovation (worth 2.5 per cent)
• International outlook — staff, students and research (worth 7.5 per cent).

For the second straight year, The Times teamed up with finance giant Thomson Reuters to do data analysis and the ranking. The Times and Quacquarelli Symonds did the rankings together from 2004 up to 2010. “Expert input” from more than 50 leading figures in the sector from 15 countries across every continent were also utilized for this study. This ranking system, the website states, is “the gold standard in international university performance comparisons.”

For his part, Dr. Jose Wendell Capili, Director of UP’s Office of Alumni Relations, said that similar to previous years, the state university did not participate for this year’s survey. He added that UP may join in such surveys soon, but “the decision to participate will come from UP system president Alfredo Pascual and his executive staff (the vice presidents) and chancellors like UP Diliman chancellor Caesar Saloma,” and after very hard internal and external preparations.

On separate occasions the past few years, officials of higher-ranked Philippine universities have voiced reservations about these rankings for various reasons. This includes Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Bienvenido Niebres (http://www.ateneo.edu/index.php?p=120&type=2&aid=4489), UP vice president for public affairs Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo (http://www.up.edu.ph/features.php?i=94), and Engineer Alberto Laurito, assistant to the rector of the University of Santo Tomas (http://www.varsitarian.net/news/times_higher_education_survey_erroneous).

Times Higher Education self-introduction:

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/

This year’s full list:

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/top-400.html