STAND UP on STFAP: STFA(hira)P

STAND UP ON STUDENT CODE: A Call to Arms

STAND UP to lead USC for AY 2011-2012

In a resounding reaffirmation of the party's core principles—that education is a right, and each iskolar ng bayan should serve the people—the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP) won top spots in the recently concluded student council elections, including the post of chair, vice-chair, and six councilors.

Out of 10,650 students who voted in this year's University Student Council (USC) elections -- a turnout of 49 percent for UP Diliman—STAND-UP's Jemimah Grace "Gem" Garcia garnered 3,896 votes, securing the position of USC chairperson.

STAND-UP's Dan Neil "Dan" Ramos also won as the next USC vice-chairperson, with 3,617 votes.

Six candidates from STAND-UP gained councilor seats:

• Jose Martin Loon (3,619 votes)
• Amancio Melad III (3,313)
• Soraya Elisse Escandor (3,245)
• Jianica Therese Fuentes (3,225)
• Anna Motohara Venturina (3,039)
• Fra Angelico Viray (3,015)

The following victorious college representatives also hail from STAND-UP:

• Orly Van Andre Putong (SLIS)
• Gail Orduña(CMC)
• Paulo Martin Santos (Eng’g)
• Christine Ann Avila (CAL)

The other council positions are filled by five councilors and eight college representatives from ALYANSA, as well as one councilor and five college representatives from KAISA.
Two independent college representatives also won in NCPAG and the College of Architecture.

Garcia and Dan pledged in speeches after the announcement of election results that they would continue to "uphold the rights and welfare, not only of the UP student body, but of all oppressed sectors of society."

STAND-UP's clear victory in the UP Diliman USC elections indicates the continuing trust of the students in the party.

The incumbent USC, under Chairperson Rain Sindayen and Vice-Chairperson Fermina Agudo of STAND-UP, took the lead in the successful student strikes of November 2010. The current USC, which also includes five councilors from STAND-UP, was also instrumental in launching successful campaigns and projects intended to improve the welfare and raise the consciousness of every iskolar ng bayan.

UNITY IN STRUGGLE

The parade of colors has ended. The options have been laid out: principled militancy, naive idealism or compromised activism. We have been enticed with smiles, slogans and promises. For the past two weeks, we were divided by political color and affiliation.

The end of the elections, however, signals a time of concrete resolutions. When groups and individuals finally lay down their party colors, they return to the same reality. The university is slowly changing course, from a public institution serving the people to a profit-oriented university that privileges wealth over education. Outside, they cope with the same issues of a foreign-serving national budget, a corrupt bureaucracy and a rigid socio-economic order. As the competition dies down, we find ourselves caught in the same dire reality and confronting similar issues.

Elections, therefore, give way to a much more formidable challenge—to unite as a student body and firmly stand against the issues hounding UP and the country. Now, more than ever, is the time to overcome differences and build stronger alliances.

We marked 2010 with our victories, but the threats to our rights as students and as Filipinos remain. Here in UP, we are confronted by the booming number of loans every semester, as well as news of numerous partnerships signed by the administration with companies.

These problems did not grow overnight. Through the years, UP has been slowly transformed by the school administration and national government to survive yearly cuts on its budget. To cope with decreasing subsidy, the administration now charges every student more than P20,000 per semester. In addition, students pay for air-conditioning, class materials, equipment and its maintenance in the form of laboratory fees. UP property, meanwhile, has been cheaply leased to companies like Ayala which reaps millions of profit from university land.

Faced with these unwelcome changes, students mounted fierce resistance. The administration did not take dissent lightly; repression met resistance. Student publications were silenced. Organizations were reduced via administrative policies. A code of student conduct was formulated, to ensure that students were kept in their best subservient behavior.

As students continue to grapple with these issues, the people are rattled by escalating poverty and worsening living conditions. What happens within UP, indeed, is not isolated from the crises of society.

Oil prices continue to rise, prompting fare hikes in public transportation. A hundred percent increase in the LRT and MRT fare has been provisionally approved despite massive opposition. Meanwhile, the government’s patronizing view of the private sector has resulted in higher rates for services availed by the public such as water and electricity. In the past months, thousands of urban settlers have been harshly uprooted from their communities, without assurance of proper relocation. In the rural areas, peasants suffer under an archaic feudal system that has reigned in the country for decades.

The problems plaguing the students and the people were borne of the same cause. These problems are symptoms of a failed social order. These problems are glaring evidence of a need to topple the current structures of power.

As the university student council elections come to a close, we enjoin parties to do away with partisan politics. Instead, we should unite and work with other sectors, for there is no victory over university issues without involvement in issues beyond our comfort zones. Our struggle is inextricably entwined with the people’s struggle outside, from tuition increase to fare hikes, to landlessness in the countryside and the dislocation of urban settlers.

The problems we face are linked by structures of power maintained by a greedy minority. The students and the people face the same enemy, and thus cannot win alone. Always, the iskolar ng bayan is called to step out of the university and join hands with the masses in the struggle.

To persuade students to take the battle beyond UP is a task the next student council must fulfill. At this point, we have no greater weapon than a united front of students. This unity is a burden of competent student-leaders who recognize that the iskolar ng bayan is a Filipino striving to invert the lopsided social order.

We drew our lines and demarcated territories during the election campaign. We stood for different alternatives to the same problems. Yet, we cannot win with wavering principles and compromised unity. While the cacophony of campaign slogans subsides, our voices join in other voices that call for the creation of a just and humane society.

Sa sama-samang pagkilos, tiyak ang tagumpay.
ATIN ANG LAKAS. ATIN ANG BUKAS!
Iskolar ng Bayan, tuloy ang laban tungo sa tunay na pagbabago!

Feb 24 – UP Systemwide Walk-out against State Abandonment of Education & Social Services (March to EDSA)
Feb 28 – Nationwide Youth Mobilization against tuition and fare hikes

CUTTING THROUGH LIES: Sa Likod ng 2011 USC Elections

Click to read 'CUTTING THROUGH LIES: Sa Likod ng 2011 USC Elections': http://bit.ly/CuttingThroughLies

DEFY STATE NEGLECT —LFS

The turn of events was not simply a case of incompetence. It was a case of a deliberate neglect.

A string of fare hikes marks the beginning of the year. Just recently, jeepney fare increased by P1, while the taxi flagdown rate climbed by P10. Toll fees are set to increase in several tranches, 300% for SLEX and 11% increase for NLEX. The LRT and MRT were no different from other modes of public transportation – the government is planning to implement an increase despite the strong opposition of students, professionals and other commuters.

While the foreign investors describe the fare hikes as “necessary,” the increase only proves how private companies profit from what is supposed to be a public service. In the public consultation, the administration itself admitted that the government does not receive a massive portion of the revenues from the LRT/MRT. It does not even profit from the long stretch of advertisements.

General Program of Action for AY 2011-2012

Advance Student Rights and Welfare

FEES FREEZE! Push for the imposition of a tuition moratorium for 6 years and explore the possible rollback of fee hikes. Ensure UP President Pascual’s commitment against imposing tuition increases during his term.

DI NA KITA LAB. Oppose impending laboratory fee increases (such as the Chemical Engineering and Physical Education Lab fees). Campaign for the rollback and refund of unjust fees (i.e. deposit fee and other exorbitant fees). Challenge the next UP Diliman Chancellor to impose a moratorium on lab fee increases. Assert for the utilization of UP savings for laboratory needs.

RECLAIM OUR RIGHTS! Reclaim and uphold the democratic rights of students. Oppose the 2010 Code of Student Conduct. Ensure the revision of existing rules in accordance with the Student Demands.

• Recognition of the role of student organizations in the UP community and providing them the democratic space they need in order to truly flourish. Push for the free use or waiving of the fees required for the use of equipment, facilities and venues for student activities and the provision of fully-functional tambayans among others and the lighting of the Vinzon’s Hall Tambayan Complex.
• Assert for the revision of stringent organization recognition/ registration procedures. Remove unnecessary requirements and expenditures. Ensure that no organization will be prevented from being recognized based on its character, beliefs, and objectives. Assert for the formation of org recognition/registration board with student representatives. Ensure that the OSA participation will be limited to guiding the systematic process.
• Ensure the right to peaceably assemble in the University, subject only to coordination between the college, or university administration and the student councils or organizations concerned. Coordination in this case shall be construed as notice to university or college administration, but shall not in any way prevent the holding of a peaceful and legitimate student assembly.
• Push for the democratization of governance in the University. Ensure student and sectoral representation in policy-making and decision-making committees from the College to University level.
• Ensure the immediate construction of more bulletin and publicity boards in conspicuous places in the University, whether inside academic buildings or along its sprawling grounds. Push for less stringent regulation requirements in the proliferation of publicity materials for student activities.
• Publish or perish. Support the establishment of official student publication in every college or school. Ensure full editorial autonomy.
• Know your rights. Release a pamphlet for students which stipulates their basic rights inside and outside the university.

FACE TO FACE! Continue the regular dialogue with the Office of Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) and its sub-offices. Ensure that the appointment of the new VCSA and OSA Director will be subject to consultations with the students. Ensure regular student-administration dialogues in colleges through the College Representatives.

ISUMBONG MO SA USC! Establish the Grievance, Response, and Investigation Desk (GRID) where students can formally submit their grievances and other student concerns. CAMPUS CAMPAIGNS

• Education reforms. Call for the repeal of the Education Act of 1982, the Campus Journalism Act of 1991, and the revamp of government policies to reduce the budget of state colleges and universities (SUCs). Campaign for the government to regulate tuition in private schools.
• Educate to Liberate. Education is a right. We shall push for a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented education.
• UPgrades. Monitor the renovation of academic buildings (such as the School of Statistics) and the immediate transfer of SLIS to a permanent site.
• Makabayang GE. Junk RGEP, support a nationalist GE curriculum. Oppose the proposed implementation of Large Lecture Class Policy in the Math Department.
• No to militarization. Condemn militarization on campuses including UP Los Baños and UP Ilo-ilo. Call for the administration to uphold the 1989 UP-DND Accord and 1992 UP-DILG agreement which prohibits military agents in the University that compromises the academic freedom in campus.

USC to the max. Strengthen the existing committees in the USC, and ensure qualitative and quantitative records of the council’s work and accomplishments, within the framework of transparency and continued improvements to the USC’s programs.

STOP DORMancy! Conduct regular consultations with dormitory residents. Draft and enact plans to address the various issues of dormers, including the admissions process. Assert to re-channel parts of UP Diliman savings towards the improvement of dormitory facilities.

GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL. Establish the Graduate School Student Council. Assist and support the establishment of UP Open University Student Council.

Launch activities to enhance our skills for people

Educational Discussions. Regularize and campaign for massive educational discussions in the university that tackles Philippine Social Realities to develop critical thinking among the students.

Iskolarship. Coordinate with the House of Representatives for the institutionalization of joint USC scholarship grants for UP students. Monitor the concerns of students with regard to their scholarships programs (DOST, STFAP, private scholarships, etc.). Organize scholarship fairs.

Lorena Barros Renovation Project. Ensure the management of Lorena Barros Hall as a student activity center. Last year, the STAND UP was able to solicit P3 million for the project and construction is expected to begin on February/March. This shall be the first-ever student-run facility in UP.

Free-UP FAIR. Organize an accessible UP Fair for UP students. Give UP’s home-grown bands and performing groups more opportunities to perform. Ensure the social relevance of the UP Fair.

ORGaling! We shall push for more activity areas in UP Diliman (aside from our success in ensuring the greater accessibility of Alcantara Hall and Vinzons Activity Center) to be free for the use of UP student formations. Launch organizational fairs where various student organizations can showcase their formations and find a venue for recruitment.

ACLEt’s do it! Launch a better and more relevant Alternative Classroom Learning Experience. Improve online enlistment and publicity of ACLE. Encourage organizations to host socially relevant topics.

TAM(bahay)AN. Fight for the right of each recognized organization to be afforded a tambayan by the university. Tambayans are part of UP organizations’ right to organize, and are vital for their survival and betterment.

GE LIB. Establish GE libraries in dormitories through books collected in activities such as ACLE and the UP Fair “bagsakan.”

Styro-free UP. Food concessionaires in UP are now prohibited from using styrofoam containers. In advancing this advocacy, we shall now campaign to encourage organizations, students, and other formations to stop using Styrofoam during events and in their daily operations.

ISKO NG BAYAN. Lecture Series Launch and institutionalize the practice of study and research for the development of our country. Through coordination with faculty members and department, students themselves may read and present their papers, which will tackle the analysis of various issues in our country and proposed solutions.

Market! Market! In coordination with local student councils, conduct a Finance Management and Marketing Seminar for the benefit of student organizations.

Go for Gold! Call for widespread promotion and support for the varsity and non-varsity athletes. Publicize the victory of our varsity teams through Fighting Maroons Online. Encourage support, financial and otherwise, from our alumni.

Level UFS. Continue to oppose the privatization of the University Food Service. Call for university support for healthy, nutritious, and cheap food for students through the UFS. Oppose the establishment/ entry of private concessionaires aimed at profit making.

Palarong Pinoy. Include Filipino games in the annual inter-college sports fest. Feature the games in a special section in the Fighting Maroons Online.

No disALLOWANCE. Support the call for more scholarships for athletes and artists/performers in the university. Ensure that their allowance and stipends are received on time. Call for an increase in allowance, with tuition and dorm fees discount for Student Assistants (SAs).

AIR Desk. Establish the Academic Issues Response Air Desk, where various concerns including student-teacher relations, political harassment, and other issues which trouble the academics of students can be aired out with proper redress from concerned offices.

Ka-FRESHness! Establish the Freshman Council composed of different block heads with its own set of officers to address the various concerns of freshmen and serve as a support group. The Freshman Council Office may be placed at the Lorena Barros Hall.

Mula sa Masa, Tungo sa Masa. Organize regular basic masses integration to expose the UP students (including the international and foreign students) to the situation of other sectors, including farmers, workers, indigenous peoples, and urban poor communities. At the same time, encourage students to conduct training (literacy, leadership, sanitation, etc) needed by such communities.

Advocate and champion campaigns
         for nationalist change

Stop Dance: CHA-CHA. Establish a broad alliance, encompassing all sectors from students, workers, and faculty, to oppose charter change which compromises national sovereignty and democratic interest of the Filipino people.

Oil Price Watch. Affirm the unity of the All UP Transport Alliance to lead the fight against oil deregulation law. Assert government regulation on oil price to protect the consumers from profiteering of oil cartels which results to rising oil prices, and consequently, rising cost of basic commodities.

Bantay Karapatan. In cooperation with TANGGULAN PEOPLE’S NETWORK, a wide network of organizations defending human rights, we shall organize concerts, film showings, forum, and video exposes that critically tackle the present state of human rights in the country. Oppose Oplan Bayanihan which sets the condition for the continuation of human rights violations and witch-hunting brought about by Oplan Bantay Laya.

Lupa ay Laya. As part of our campaign for genuine agrarian reform, we will push for the adoption of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) and other supplementary activities in UP- such as Lakbayan, Peasant Community Integration, and forum in campus. We shall revisit points of history, the struggles of our hardworking farmers and be inspired to take action. Establish the HUSTISYA LUISITA alliance.

Industriya, Kaya Natin! Advocate National Industrialization to fortify our domestic industries. Call for a University geared towards this direction. Oppose economic policies which hinder the conditions for national industrialization.

Rock for Wage. We shall continue to push for just wages and benefits for employees and workers of the country. Oppose contractualization inside and outside the university.

Empo(W)er. Women’s emancipation is part of our campaign. Through symposia, research, and consultation, and massive information drive, we shall examine the changing socio-economic landscape in which the female is exploited both as workers and objects of mere possession.

Minority Report. We support the claim of the Bangsamoro and the indigenous peoples (IPs) for their right to self-determination and equal rights. We shall arrange socio-cultural activities to facilitate a dynamic exchange between the students and the Bangsamoro & IPs.

Sigaw ng Kalikasan, Dinig ng Kabataan. Many IPs and communities have either been displaced or deprived of their ancestral land due to mining and other extractive activities harmful to the environment. Through forums and video expose, we will promote the sustainable use of the environment that caters t the local and national demand. We shall campaign against government policies which are harmful to the environment such as the Mining Act and JPEPA.

Stop HRVs. Join in militant action and campaigns against continuing human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances. Participate in the movement for Justice to Dr. Leonard Co. Oppose Oplan Bayanihan. Justice to all the victims of HRVs, including each Iskolar ng Bayan on the list of victims: Karen Empeño, Sherlyn Cadapan, James Balao, Jaq Gonzales and Malen Serato.

Health Services. Uphold the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) as a public hospital accessible to all. Counter privatization of the health services in the Philippines.

Tulong Kabataan. A quick response relief operations for calamities.

Broaden our fight and further our collective action

UP KILOS NA PARA SA EDUKASYON AT KARAPATAN. UP System-wide multi-sectoral alliance which responds to local and national issues that threatens our right to education and basic social services

STRIKE THE HIKE Alliance. An alliance which calls for government support to public utilities such as transportation, water supply, electricity, among others. Oppose the ongoing privatization of these services. Struggle against the fare hikes (MRT-LRT) and price hikes.

The Oblation (and the Oblation Online). Continue the bi-semestral publication of the Oblation, the official USC publication, and maximize the internet for news updates and information dissemination.

UP United. Strenghten the various existing alliances and formations within UP which are crucial in the continuing struggle to uphold our rights and address the problems of the university.

• All Leaders Conference (ALC). Institutionalize the All Leaders Conference (ALC) as venue for consultation and unity among student organizations.
• Diliman Student Summit and College Convocation. Conduct regular College Assemblies in coordination with the local student councils and a once a semester Diliman Students Summit.
• League of College Councils (LCC). Further advance the unity and consolidation of college councils. Serve as a campaign center, a support system among student councils, and as venur for USC consultation.
• Multisectoral alliance. An alliance of various sectors in the University such as but not limited to drivers, vendors, employees, janitors, residents, students, and teachers to serve as a network to coordinate campaigns and address specific and general issues faced by the UP community.
• Alliance of Concerned Dormitories (ACD). Utilize the ACD as a means to respond to the concerns of our dormers, and ensure regular activities and consultation with dorm residents. Draft its own year-long campaign for the improvement of dorm facilities and services.
• SIS! Support the Inter-sorority council and ensure its close coordination with the USC. Serve as campaign center for gender issues, student issues, and even people’s issues.
• FRAT-ing Mapayapa. Convene the Inter-fraternity Council as a step to eliminate the conditions for fraternity disputes. We shall tap the huge potentials of fraternities in advancing students’ and people’s rights. Encourage fraternities to work together to advance common goals and advocacies.
• KASAMA sa UP & NUSP. Become an active member of the Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP) to unite with other student councils in the UP system. Also, unite with other SCs in the Philippines through the National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP). Support the campaigns of the Office of the Student Regent and forward policies to the BOR through OSR.

Volunteer Corps. Train future leaders of our University through the USC Volunteer Corps. Assign its own office in the Vinzons Hall or at the Lorena Barros Hall to ensure a strong volunteer center.

People’s Corps. Different mass organizations and other student formations who advocate various people’s issues shall be convened into a corps which shall serve as campaign center for national concerns and basic masses issues.

Acad Core. Continue to convene the core of academic organizations to forward common advocacies and establish a support system for activities and events. Encourage the production of research and study outputs which address the important concerns in the University and the country.

Envi Core. Establish an alliance of environmental advocates to serve as network for campaign and advocacies inside & outside the university. Organize basic massess integration to see the relationship between the oppression of people and eploitation of environment.

Interfaith Assembly. Different faith, same advocacy. Respect of human dignity and love for others. This shall be the principle to bind various religious organizations to form an assembly to encourage religious formations to conduct activities together for common advocacy for human rights and love for others.

Sa sama-samang pagkilos, tiyak ang tagumpay.
ATIN ANG LAKAS, ATIN ANG BUKAS!
Iskolar ng Bayan, tuloy ang laban tungo sa Tunay na pagbabago!