Lightning rally vs Arroyo surprises police in Baguio

photos from Northern Dispatch Weekly
www.nordis.net or www.nordis.net/blog

Baguio activists greet Arroyo with protest
Around 30 members of the local chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) in Baguio City held a “lightning rally” Tuesday afternoon in front of the Mansion House while President Arroyo was holding a celebration.

BAYAN members surprised authorities when they launched the rally while a celebration was reportedly being held by the President with the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2008 at her official summer residence.

Authorities quickly responded and tried to detain the activists who resisted the police charge. After a scuffle, police were able to detain the activists.

Mrs. Arroyo's celebration at the Mansion House took place after she graced the graduation ceremonies of the PMA Class 2008 at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City.

Authorities have further tightened security at the presidential summer residence as a result of the incident. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=112477



5 arrested in anti-Arroyo lightning rally in Baguio
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- Five activists were arrested while some others were injured after scuffling with police enforcers who tried to prevent them from staging a lightning rally in front of the presidential mansion in Baguio City late Tuesday afternoon.

Those arrested were John Silverio Saligbon, the University of Philippines Baguio Student Council Chair; John Voltaire Dalangin, deputy secretary of Anakbayan; Keidy Transfiguracion of the League of Filipino Students; Eddie Mancilla of Anakbayan, and Imelda Tabiando, vice chair of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance.

The five were released around 6:30 p.m.

Radio dzBB reported that some 25 to 30 students from four schools in Baguio City sneaked past Baguio City police and chanted slogans calling on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down.

At the time, the President was about to hold a dinner for the Philippine Military Academy graduates and their parents.

The police here is on a red alert as President Arroyo and her entourage would be staying in the Mansion House during the Holy Week. The President is also scheduled to visit remote towns in Abra, Benguet, Ifugao and La Union. - GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/85357/5-arrested-in-anti-Arroyo-lightning-rally-in-Baguio

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other sources
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/mar/19/yehey/top_stories/20080319top2.html

YOUTH ACT NOW!

A Call to the Filipino Youth to Stand Up for Truth

As the nation faces intense moral and political crisis, the Filipino youth is called upon to take up its role as bearers of the future and stand up for truth and accountability in government. The Filipino youth must act now.

We are youth, students and professionals from different organizations, schools, colleges, universities, workplaces and communities. We unite in collective aspiration to knock on the conscience of our leaders and to awaken hope in the spirit of the Filipino people to bring forth a movement for truth and social change.

We commend Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, Jr. for divulging truths with regard to anomalies and corrupt acts in government. We admire the courage and determination he showed as he faced efforts of government forces to harass his person in order to stop him from testifying in Senate investigations.

We express our solidarity with various church groups, the business sector, people's organizations and concerned Filipino citizens who have similarly expressed confidence in Mr. Lozada's sincerity and credibility.

We believe that national leaders should be accountable to the people and that government officials should portray the highest standards of morality and integrity to be able to propel the nation towards genuine progress, justice and peace.

As young people moved with our conscience and aspirations for good governance and accountability for wrong deeds done, we condemn the following acts by government:

• The attempted cover-up and past and present whitewash of evidence implicating Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the First Gentleman and the First Family, along with Malacanang's minions, in numerous issues of bribery and corruption and other shady deals of government;

• The gross and systematic plunder of the country's coffers and resources for the benefit of a few influential government officials and cronies;

• The Arroyo administration' s shameless disregard of the intensity and effects of such allegations and its continuous brushing off of still unresolved issues of bribery and corruption despite overwhelming public clamor for morality, transparency and accountability; and

• The blatant and unabashed misuse of the administration machinery, including the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other agencies of government, to conspire in the further deception of the people and betrayal of public trust.

The government has lost its moral ascendancy to govern due to the long list of scandals, electoral fraud and corruption issues that have mired its rule. The Arroyo administration has long ceased to perform as a role model government for the youth. It has caused the widespread disillusionment among young people and have been a disappointment to the youth's desire to instill reforms in government.

We call on the government of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop efforts to cover-up the truth and be accountable for its immoral and corrupt acts. The government's desperate efforts to continuously cling to power have sown deep social discontent and division among the people.

We strongly believe in the sovereign right that rests on the people to change a morally bankrupt and corrupt regime with a conscientious leadership that can genuinely unite the nation and can bring forth meaningful social change.

YOUTH ACT NOW against a morally bankrupt government. YOUTH ACT NOW for truth, accountability and meaningful change.

YOUTH ACT NOW! (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now!)

Tutulan at Labanan ang 10% na Pagtaas ng Matrikula at Iba pang Babayarin sa UC

Immoral na pinapanukala ng UC admin ang 10% na pagtaas ng matrikula at iba pang babayarin ng mga estudyante ng UC sa susunod na pasukan ng walang pagsasaalang-alang sa pangkabuang kalagayang sosyo-ekonomiko ng mga mag-aaral ng UC. Immoral ito sapagkat sa gitna ng matinding kahirapan at kagutuman na dinadanas ngayon ng mamamayang Pilipino sa panunungkulan ng pekeng pangulong si Gloria Arroyo ay sumigunda pa ang admin ng UC sa pagpapahirap sa bulsa ng mga magulang at mga nagpapa-aral sa atin. Hindi naman tumataas ang sahod ng mga magulang nating manggagawa at abot-langit ang presyo ng batayang bilihin ay walang pusong na namang nagpanukala ang admin ng mga dagdag na bayarin.
Ayon sa kakaraampot na mga nakapaskil na paunawa ng admin ay P32.7 ang idagdag kada yunit o P7,556.85 kada trimester sa regular load na 21 units o tumataginting na P22,670.55 kada taon ang babayaran ng bawat isang estudyante ng UC sa trisem batay sa panukala ng admin.
Hindi pa kasama dito ang iba pang babayarin o miscellaneous fees na magtataas din ng 10%. Iba pang usapin ang pagkakadoble (redundant) at hindi napapakinabangan ng estudyante ang binabayarang miscellaneous fees. Halimbawa, minsan lang sa isang taon nagaganap ang Intrams at Palarong Pambansa ngunit tatlong beses (2x sa semestral)na maningil ng Athletics at Palaro Fees ang admin bukod pa sa hindi magamit ang gym ng ordinaryong estudyanteng gustong maglaro kahit pa walang nagpapraktis na mga varsity; sa istriktong kapahulugan ay dapat nakapaloob na sa medical ang pangangalaga sa oral health ngunit naniningil na ng Medical Fee ay meron pang Dental fee at; ang Cultural at Audio-Visual Fees na hindi maipaliwanag kung ano ang pagkakaiba; at syempre pa ang LIMAD fee na mapanlinlang na ikinategorya sa ilalim ng miscellaneous fee ngunit sa katunayan ay dapat sakop na sa matrikulang binabayaran natin.
Kalakhan sa mga miscellaneous fees na ito ay ipinangako ng admin na tatanggalin, pagsasamahin o babawasan noong nakaraang konsultasyon (SY 2007-08) ngunit, tulad ng mga pulitiko sa Malacañang, ito ay napako.
Noong nakaraang taon ay deadlock ang nangyaring “konsultasyon” sa pagitan ng estudyante at admin. Ngunit sa kabila nito, pagsapit ng pasukan, ay laking gulat ng mga estudyante nang ipatupad ng admin ang panukala nitong 6% na pagtaas sa matrikula at iba pang babayarin!
Walang isang salita at walang kredibilidad ang admin ng UC na ipatupad ang ipinangako at pinagusapan sa loob ng konsultasyon. Ngayong Pebrero 28, Huwebes, ay muling lilinlangin, papaikot-ikutin at lolokohin na naman ng admin ang mga estudyante sa isang moro-moro at makaisang-panig na konsultasyon. Sa karanasan ang admin ang may hawak ng programa, mikropono at mga EMCEES sa mga “konsultasyon” at ang mga estudyante at guro ay itinalagang mga pasibong tagapakinig at mga di nagiisip na robot.
Ngunit natuto na tayo sa karanasan. Sa pagkakataong ito kailangang maipakita ang nagkakaisang lakas ng mga estudyante ng UC. Kung kayat ngayong Huwebes, Pebrero 21, ay ipapakita natin sa sama-sama nating pagkilos, sampu ng ating mga guro, magulang at alumni, ang mariin nating pagtutol sa pagtaas ng matrikula at iba pang babayarin sa isang period na walk-out mula 11:30 NU hanggang 12:50 ng tanghali sa harap ng main gate ng UC.
Ang walk-out rally na ito ay magsisilbing alas natin pagdating ng konsultasyon sa Pebrero 28 para makipagbargain sa admin. Magsisilbi itong babala sa admin na kapag pinatupad nito ang mga masasama nitong pakana ay kayang ipagtanggol ng mga estudyante ang kolektibong interes nito sa pamamagitan ng sama-samang pagkilos. Kailangan nating maigiit ang boses ng estudyante sa loob ng konsultasyon at maitransporma ito bilang forum para sa pagtataguyod ng karapatan at kagalingan ng estudyante at kaguruan ng UC.
Kailangan lamang na magpakatapang at huwag tayong matakot sa anumang banta ng pananakot, pambabraso, panggipit at panlilinlang ng admin upang pigilan ang pagkilos at pagkakaisa nating mga estudyante. Ang Konstitusyon ng Pilipinas—ang pinakamataas na batas sa bansa—ay gumagarantiya sa ating karapatan sa malayang pagmamahayag, self-expression, pag-oorganisa, mapayapang pagtitipon at pagtutol. Walang anumang batas, ayon sa art. 3 sec. 4, ang pwedeng ipasa ninuman, kasama na ang UC admin, na sasagka sa mga kalayaang nabanggit. Nasa panig natin ang Konstitusyon at higit sa lahat ay wasto at makatarungan ang ating ipinaglalaban para sa ating karapataan sa de kalidad at abot-kayang edukasyon na siyang mithiin ng ating mga magulang para sa atin.

Estudyante at Guro ng UC Magkaisa!
No to Tuition and other fee increase (TOFI)!
Scrap LIMAD fee!

Sumama sa Walk-out Laban sa
Tuition & Misc Fee Increase
Huwebes, February 21, 11:30-12:50, UC Main Gate


ANAKBAYAN UC Chapter
Salidummay UC Chapter
Progressive Igorots for Social Action (PIGSA) UC Chapter

A Letter for Mayor Peter Rei Bautista

February 7, 2008

“An education program that is accessible and that strengthens quality education”

This was one of the promises of Mayor Peter Rey Bautista in answer to the question “Why I Merit to be the Mayor of Baguio” published in this paper before the local elections last year. Many times, Mayor Bautista had also declared his “support” for the youth in his jurisdiction (who hugely composed his voters) and had been praised for this.

Now, such promises are again being challenged.
The University of Baguio (UB), which is owned by the mayor’s family, announced that it will be increasing its tuition fee by 7.5-10 % for enrollees this coming June-- merely two years since its raised its miscellaneous fees by similar percentage. Obviously, UB has a lot to explain to justify this move. This is unreasonable since the university had declared a net income of P26 million in 2006. It has to consider its students whose parents’ sweat and sacrifice are sending them to school.

In view of his promises, Mayor Bautista is now torn between his “family’s business” and his obligation to serve the public--particularly the youth sector he vowed to support. If he chooses to be an honorable public servant, we are then asking him to intervene in the following:
1. for UB to declare “no classes” on a weekday between January 19-22 to give way for a mass consultation with the students regarding the tuition fee increase. The consultation day set by the UB administration on February 16 is a Saturday, during which only a few students are in the university. To really hear the “majority” of the students and to prove UB’s sincerity, the university should put no barriers to the participation of its students in the consultation.
2. for UB to allow students to articulate their sentiments through gatherings at the Avencleto Street in front of UB. Since UB was established, the Anacleto Diaz Street was declared by UB as “private.” This no longer holds true as the public is utilizing the street. Hence, students are free to also use it to express their freedom to speak.

If Mayor Bautista genuinely keeps the interests of the youth at heart and aims for them a quality education that is “accessible,” then we hope he heeds these calls.

May he be a man of his words.

Alliance of Concerned Students Against Tuition and Other Fess Increase-University of Baguio 09204813063

Dispersal sa rally sa Education Summit ay pagkahumali ng pulis sa karahasan

Kinokundena namin ang marahas na pagbuwag ng mga pulis sa kilos-protesta kahapon. Isinagawa ito ng mga guro at estudyante sa Maynila bilang protesta sa pagbubukas ng Education Summit. Apat na estudyante at dalawang guro ang hinuli ng mga pulis at ikinulong dahil umano sa illegal assembly. Mahigit dalawamput tatlo din ang nasaktan at nasugatan.

Patunay ng bayolenteng polisiya ng PNP at ni Gloria Arroyo ang paghahampas at paghabol sa mga umaatras at walang laban na raliyista kahapon sa Luneta Park na tinagurian pa namang ‘freedom park.’ Ito na ba ang bagong kahulugan nila ng maximum tolerance? Hindi ito malayo sa tangkang pagpigil sa martsa rin ng Anakbayan at iba pa bilang pagtutol sa oil price hike noong Martes dito sa Post Office ng Baguio.

Balat-kayo ang pagpapatawag ng Education Summit dahil naglalayon lamang itong patindihin ang komersiyalisado, kolonyal at represibong katangian ng edukasyon. Taon-taon na lang ang pagbaba ng pahalaga sa badyet ng edukasyon at walang habas na pagtaas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin. Ganun din ang mga programa ni Gloria Arroyo kagaya ng Long Term Higher Education Development Plan, Philippine Agenda for Education Reform, Higher Education Modernization Act at ang matagal nang Education Act of 1982. Nagbigay daan ang lahat sa malayang pagtataas ng matrikula sa mga pribadong paaralan at nagpatindi ng krisis sa edukasyon.

Hindi namin mapapatawad ang patuloy na pagpapahirap sa sektor ng edukasyon sa pamamagitan ng pag-agaw sa tagumpay na nakamit ng mga estudyante noon. Tagumpay na sana ang paglalagay ng limitasyon sa pagtaas ng matrikula, pero binawi ito ni Arroyo mismo. Ipinag-utos niya na tanggalin ang “tuition cap” upang bigyang pabor ang mga kapitalista-edukador. Dagdag pa sa kasalukuyan ang patuloy na pagsusulong niya ng maanumalya, overpriced at walang katuturang Cyber Education Project.

Nararapat lamang na magkaisa ang hanay ng mga estudyante at guro, upang ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa edukasyon, sa lahat ng antas. Hindi kami matatakot sa itinatambang nilang karahasan.

Itigil ang pagtaas ng matrikula at iba pang babayarin!
Itaas ang badyet ng Edukasyon!
Patalsikin si Gloria!

For Reference:
Kristoffer John C. Panem
09065400895