The weather in Philippines’ political landscape has been, so far, proven to be unpredictable and as the NoyBi tandem filled the country’s two highest posts, will their six-year term be a weatherproof to government’s political storm?
Despite coming from two different political parties, Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III from Partido Liberal ng Pilipinas and Jejomar Binay FROM Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino will don Philippines with responsibility as they start their duty as the President and Vice President of the country next month.
“There should be no reason why they cannot work together well,” says Rene B. Gorospe, Far Eastern University Political law professor. “In the Philippines, political parties are like clothes—they do not define the man or woman as they could be conveniently shed off and changed as the need arises.”

Booming Philippines
According to Harvey Keh, Director of Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship of Ateneo de Manila University School of Government, the NoyBi team-up would bring Philippines, in all aspects, to its greater flagship stature.
Hoping to lessen the never-ending problems of the country, he believed that Aquino would propel the country’s economic status under his anticipated leadership.
“The trust of foreign investors will come back to the country and it will sustain our economic growth and by having this growth through foreign investments, I would like to believe that there would be more jobs for the Filipinos,” Keh said.
With this anticipation, Keh also sees that the Aquino administration will heighten Filipinos’ situation of living—a solution that would tramp over depression and poverty.
“I think the quality of life of Filipinos will improve because ‘yun naman ang ipinangako ni Noy: Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap (That is what Noy has promised: Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap),” Keh presented.
In the façade of Philippine government, the country was dubbed as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia and Keh strongly believed that the impression will be relinquished once Aquino took over the presidential seat.
The democratic victory of Aquino was resounded by an assurance when he always topped polling bodies’ pre-election surveys on the coveted presidential post, bearing his stance on transformational leadership, economy, government service, gender equality and peace and order.
Part of what Keh believed as the country’s boom will be the responsiveness of the incoming administration to lower class Filipinos’ old-story dilemmas on education, health, employment, food and shelter.
“Hindi naman talaga tayo mahirap na bansa (We are not a poor country). It is just that the resources of this country are abused by individuals and I believe that Noynoy will be able to solve that and therefore channel these resources to the proper programs; and there will be a mark of improvement in the quality of life from the lower class,” Keh deemed.
On external affairs, Gorospe said, “The Philippines should continue to implement a policy that is consistent with its own national interests and its status as an independent state.”

Government slates casting
Aside from Aquino and Binay, the highest positions, 12 senators, over a hundred congressmen and 28 party-list groups were proclaimed to sit on the slates of national positions.
Names also for president-elect Aquino’s possible Cabinet continuously fill the ticket as some of the Hyatt 10 members are pegged to return government service after their boycotted exodus to outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Cabinet in 2005.
“We’re already doing a talent search for the Cabinet positions who will actually be implementing our policy guidelines and our decisions,” Aquino said. (Philippine Daily Inquirer [PDI], May 11.)
Then welfare secretary Corazon Soliman already accepted Aquino’s offer to govern the same position.
On education, Keh thought that Aquino’s stand in elevating educational standards would be under the spotlight of administration’s priority list.
“I think we need a president who understands the importance of education. Kailangan ng tao na maintindihan na ang problema ng edukasyon is a long-term problem—napabayaan ng matagal, therefore, dapat tutukan ng matagal (People should understand that the problem on education is a long-term problem—it was stagnant for a long time, therefore, it should be resolved extensively),” Keh stated.
Moreover, the one-is-to-one book ratio to student, according to him, will be also attained especially if former education secretary Butch Abad would resume his position.
Admiring Abad and Soliman’s potency and efficiency to the Aquino administration, he added that there are virtuous and upright persons in the Hyatt 10 group who deserve to return but “Aquino is very careful about the kind of people he puts to his cabinet.”
“They would have some substantial role in the Aquino administration as they might see this moment as an opportunity to realize and actualize what they thought was a missed opportunity when they had to leave what they thought was a sinking ship under the stewardship of Arroyo,” Gorospe said.

Better than Arroyo
“I think Aquino would be much better [than Arroyo] because he has more credibility and more trustworthy than the past administration,” Keh reckoned.
He added that the allegations Arroyo faced made her less believable and trustworthy.
Cheating the 2004 Elections, the Hello Garci and NBN-ZTE scandal were some of the accusations she had when she seated as the president of the country.
Despite these off-putting charges she had confronted, Arroyo still claims that “the economy has reached a new level of maturity and stability with some of the strongest microeconomic fundamentals in a decade.” (PDI, May 18.)
On the other hand, when asked how Aquino would repose the problems the current administration will be soon handed over to Aquino, Gorospe inferred, “If Aquino could really do what he promised to the people that he would be doing, then that would solve a lot of the problems that were associated with Arroyo.”
Anticipating logjams in country’s present situation, Gorospe presented constitutional policy against political dynasties and Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s defiance to government authority as two of the many problems the next leaders should solve.

Arroyo’s role
“This [Arroyo after her term ends] is something that everyone would be interested to look at, especially with the threats of some to bring cases left and right against her after she would have been out of the protection of presidential immunity,” Gorospe said.
As Arroyo won Pampanga’s second district congressional seat, Keh reproved the idea of Arroyo having the strongest possible clout to overpower the Lower Congress as her allies in the Congress ready to put the House Speaker tiara to Arroyo.
“She will have the clout but not enough to be speaker, not even to threaten Noy for impeachment,” he supported.
Meanwhile, to get those tough policies past a potentially obstructionist Senate, Arroyo will need to woo erstwhile foes. “Now that the political uncertainties are out of the way, maybe she can focus on building those relationships,” Peter Wallace, head of the Manila-based private think tank Wallace Business Forum, said.
Wallace added that the next Congress will encounter lots of agendas but Arroyo would not be one of them and with some of the senators casting their eyes on the presidential elections, it would be a totally different Senate. (PDI, May 18)
Gorospe supposed that Arroyo will not be in the position to impose her own will on the Lower House. “It is more likely that the lower house would realign itself with the new President,” he said.
The flight of Charter Change (Cha-cha) issue, according to Keh, would be possibly opened and aired again. He believed, though, that Aquino does not want to open this issue.
“But I like to believe that there are a lot of provisions in the constitution that need to be edited, changed or strengthened,” Keh shared.
He suggested that if Cha-cha will be pushed under Aquino administration, the latter should materialize the passage either in the middle or last part of Aquino’s term to rightfully cut Filipinos’ suspicion of prolonging his term on 2016.

Teaming up
Gorospe said that Binay’s close identification with the Aquino clan is the primary strength of the NoyBi tandem.
“If Binay would be true to what he had been, then he should be able to work closely with Aquino in order to bring about a better country,” he said.
However, Gorospe added that if Binay will focus o n his sight on presidency for the next elections, he might end up opposing Aquino instead of working with him “especially if Aquino’s policies might not be seen by Binay as consistent with his personal goals.”
But according to Keh, the team-up of Aquino and Binay’s neck-on-neck rival on vice presidential race Manuel Roxas would be toiling better than the NoyBi tandem as they worked together on the same political party with platforms that are on the same road map; however, Keh sees no problem with the Aquino-Binay team-up.

With reports from Jeane Marie A. Calvo and Clarice Pearl M. Ansil

Go anywhere and one can notice passersby with Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras hanging around their necks, or people taking pictures using the ir digital camera or cameras on their cell phones. This sudden influx of digital photography “cult” led some people to state that this phenomenon is degrading the value of photography as an art.
Photography can be simply defined as the art of taking pictures but it involves many processes. According to photography.com in its article The Art of Taking Pictures, “Taking photos is an art form that often produces evocative and engaging photos. Looking at pictures taken by a good photographer is like looking at a painting: the photo evokes a certain mood and often carries a specific message.”
“When you click the shutter on your camera, you are participating in a process which is probably more complicated than any other thing that ever become involved in,” said editor, photographer and writer Carl Shipman in his book Understanding Photography.
To produce a good photograph, people need to consider and understand the camera’s controls and features. These are the effects of lighting conditions on a subject and shutter speed, which means the exposure time and the effective length of time a camera’s shutter is open.
Another thing to consider is the type of camera being used, whether it is a range-finder camera which is the most common type; the twin-reflex camera which has two lenses in one box; and the single-lens reflex camera which uses a mechanical mirror system to direct light from the lens to what the photographer looks through and focus on or what is known as viewfinder.
An aspect of photography that younger photographers seem to neglect because of the emergence of digital technology is developing photographs using chemical, sensitive light films and photograph paper in darkrooms.
Before digital photography progressed, one can only have a photograph when he has a printed paper on hand. Then, the procedure of having a photograph is processing it in a darkroom. But nowadays, with an inkjet printer, you can have your photo right away.
“Processing is the second line of photography. Printing is the end line. You cannot be a full-fledged photographer [before] if ‘di ka marunong gumamit ng darkroom (Before, you cannot be a full-pledged photographer if you don’t know how to use the darkroom),” said Far Eastern University (FEU) Photography Professor Victor Sison, member of Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation.

Click. Process. Print.
One can see DSLRs almost anywhere. Here in the Philippines, malls have specialty shops intended just for digital photography fanatics, clubs and organizations were formed, websites were developed and magazines were published.
The trend can be seen evident in colleges and universities as many photography student organizations are surfacing. FEU is also riding the waves as the FEU Photography Club was organized and led by Department of Communication and Photography Professor Babsie Morabe.
“It was a welcome surprise knowing that a lot of people are now buying DSLRs. It has made the art of photography more acknowledged and recognized,” said Morabe.
The popularity and accessibility of the DSLR made some people believe that this event and the people supporting it may lead to the degradation of the art of photography while others are thinking the exact opposite.
“Let’s put it this way, DSLRs are now reasonably priced especially for those who can afford it. I don’t want to think that it has become a popularity symbol but definitely, it has taken a trend that can be compared to cell phones and laptops,” he added.
Sison also shared that before, having a camera is rewarding because films are expensive. “Ngayon, wala ka nang bibilhin basta meron kang recording medium. ‘Di tulad dati, bili ka ng bili ng sss (Nowadays, as long as you have a recording medium, you don’t have to buy anything. Before, you always have to buy films).”

From lens to mirrors
Modern technology has undeniably affected photography itself. One can point the difference when a photographer clicks his camera and shoots compare to one who hands a camera and carefully takes photos of his own.
“Madali ngayon kasi makikita agad [photo]. Kasi dati, bago mo makita, may halong dasal [na sana maganda]. With the film user, more careful ang photographer kasi ‘di niya makikita agad ang result. Ngayon, everything is set by the camera. Ang photographer lang ang taga-click (It’s easier now because you can see the result right away. Before, you have to be careful in taking photos unlike now that everything is set by the camera. You just have to click it),” Sison said.
He added, “They [cameras] are better now compared noon. ‘Yung mga housewife, they can take a picture of their children kahit sa digital camera or cellphone, ‘di kagaya nu’ng araw kailangan pa mag-hire ng photographer (Cameras are better now. Even housewives can take pictures of themselves instead of hiring a photographer).”
This is one of the reasons why professional photographers are decreasing in number, according to Sison. Photographers now do not earn enough income in their profession anymore because almost everyone owns digital cameras.

Having a camera equals photographer?
The exchange of words of people who support the popularity of the DSLR and those against it even formed groups in the social networking site Facebook and discussions were held against each other.
Facebook group HINDI PORKET MAY DSLR KA, PHOTOGRAPHER KA NA! resented the fact that people think they are better photographer if they own DSLR cameras. They call photographers who used their gadgets to become popular as “posers.”
“People think that you’re ‘in’ when you have one. Sometimes it’s kind of annoying because others carry it just to show off so as to look cool,” said Therese Ballon, fourth year BS Nursing student when asked of what she thinks of people who carry DSLR cameras while wandering in public places.
However, because of the rampant purchase of DSLR cameras, others assume that people buy it just for pleasure.
“Madalas tinitingnan ng mga tao ‘yung DSLR na hawak mo. Porke mumurahing DSLR gamit mo, tingin na nila ‘e ‘di ka seryoso sa photography (People often criticize others who use DSLR cameras. They think that you’re not serious in photography when you have a cheap camera),” said Aubrey Fajardo, third year Fine Arts Major in Advertising student and whose hobby is photography.
On the other hand, another group HINDI LANG PHOTOGRAPHERS ANG MAY KARAPATAN MAGKA-DSLR states that anyone can own a digital camera.
“Ayos lang [magkaroon ng DSLR camera]. Kahit vain photos naman ‘e ayos lang. ‘Pag tumagal naman parang magiging palatandaan na din ‘yun kung ano sila dati, maaalala nila [‘yung mga pangyayari] (Having a DSLR camera is fine. One day, these vain photos will remind people of how they look before),” Nelson Maldonado Jr., third year Internal Auditing student, commented.
“’Yung ganyan (those who buy DSLR cameras), they’re just into gadgetry Natutuwa lang sila (They’re just having fun). If you afford, you enjoy, fine! ‘Di tulad ng true-blood photographer, bigyan mo lang ‘yan ng kahit anong camera, mag-e-enjoy na ‘yan, mag-e-explore (But that’s not the same to a true-blood photographer; you give him any camera and you’ll see that he enjoys and explores),” Sison emphasized.

At its finest
Anyone can own a camera, but for dedicated photographers, discipline is needed if one wants to be a true photographer.
“There are two types of photographers – the casual and professional. It’s just that, for those who are not professional photographers, the trap is they don’t take time to learn the basics,” said Christian Evasco, former FEU Advocate Editor-in-chief and photography enthusiast.
“Kailangan talaga, kahit digital user, kahit ‘di professional, alam ang basic photography. It is to perform, ‘yung ‘di tsamba tsamba. Mag-aral ng serious photography if you really want photography as an art form (It’s a must that one knows basic photography. Learn serious photography if you really want it as an art form),” shared Sison.
“Kung pag-uusapan lang ang mga ‘di talaga marunong gumamit ng DSLR cameras, marami akong kakilala d’yan, nakatambak na lang ang camera kasi they get frustrated ‘e. Some people don’t take time to learn. Kung gagastos ka lang din sa ganoong kamahal na camera, e’di gumastos ka rin na aralin ang basics (Many people who do not study photography set aside their cameras because they get frustrated. If you decided to spend much on such gadget, might as well spend in studying the basics, too),” Evasco advised.
Sison said that if photography is your passion, it’s okay. There’s no need for you to be a Fine Arts or Photography student. “If you have the passion, you can use it to express your feelings,” he furthered.
It shows that technology has influenced photography as it drove photographers of the new generation to do photography without having a hard time. Consequently, some professional photographers of ages barely disagree on what technology has brought their profession.
“Nakatulong ng malaki. Pero sa iba, ang tingin nila nakabawas. Nawalan sila ng trabaho. Sa mga photographers na matatanda na, age 55 and above, they are conservative. They don’t want to learn Photoshop [Adobe]. In my case, I’m a teacher kaya kailangan sabayan ko. ‘Pag ayaw na sumabay, period na. Then enjoy life. (Technology was a big help but for old school photographers, they lost their job because they’re conservative. In my case, I’m a teacher so I have to go with it),” Sison said.
However, the question is: will the popularity of digital photography kill or add new life to the art form?
As what the Southeast Asian paintographer Victor Sison emphasized, “If you have a good camera, you have a good skill of using it, It can help you produce a good art.”

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Advocate resurges to defy the odds of looming extinction. Almost three decades since its last publication in 1972, fate has seemingly ordained the year 1998 for one of the most celebrated student publications to once again see the gleaming light of print. In December of the said year, the Tamaraw community witnessed the successful return of the FEU Advocate– continuing on its sublime creed of raising an informed studentry and reigniting the fire of vibrant campus journalism.
Restoring the Advocate after its forced shutdown during Martial law, often proved to be a task in vain. Success has been persistently elusive for many student leaders, and FEU has been left without an official student publication for 26 years. During the years of Advocate’s absence, the FEU newsletter and institute-based publications communicated news to the studentry; such, however, had limited circulation and remained short of filling the void of an official and identifiable student-run newspaper.
In 1998, Aldwin John E. Magpali and Ma. Lenore delos Santos, running for top FEUCSO posts under the Sandigan Para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan (SAMASA) ticket, bannered the Advocate’s resurrection in their campaign. Magpali, then FEUCSO vice president under Sandigan president Melchor Ng, eventually won the elections for FEUCSO prexy, with delos Santos as vice president.
Prior to 1998, several members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), League of Filipino students (LFS) and Gabriela with the support of Ng and members of Sandigan mounted a demonstration, clamoring for the revival of the paper outside the University campus. A dialogue between University administration and CEGP ensued, with FEU affirming that it was willing to support any student-initiated effort to revive the publication, but refusing to accept aid from any external organization. The campaign lacked strong initiative as Ng submitted a letter of intent to then FEU President Edilberto de Jesus two weeks before stepping down from office.
Newly-elected Magpali and delos Santos set off their term tackling the revival. The project was initially placed under the legislative board, headed by VP delos Santos and composed of FEUCSO representatives and elected presidents from different institutes. However, partisan politics took toll on the project, with members engaging in tedious debates over minute wordings in the being-drafted Advocate constitution. Progress was imperceptible, and months dragged on without any concrete result.
Frustrated with the slow development, Magpali decided to take a more direct and drastic approach. He relinquished the project from the legislative wing, and pursued it through the executive branch, thus expediting the endeavor. He then issued Executive Order No. 1 “An act creating an Ad Hoc committee for the Revival of the Advocate”.
After three months of being stalled, gears have finally been set into motion. The proposed Ad Hoc committee composed of FEU professors, Mr. Marjueve Palencia and Mr. Job Montecillio; Dr. Theresa Oba, FEUCSO adviser; and FEUCSO VP Ma. Lenore delos Santos with Dolores Reyes as chairwoman, created its first resolution, setting the date and guidelines for selection of the Advocate Editorial Board.
Realizing that the revival would be met with opposition, Magpali and delos Santos focused the campaign on grassroots level. They organized a series of activities dubbed as “Pahayagan: Kailan ka Masisilayan?” and solicited the support of the students through a signature campaign. FEUCSO persistently emphasized that FEU had no official student publication, thus lacking the prime vehicle for unbridled student expression.
The activities included: symposia on the need for a student publication, an essay writing contest (themed ‘Advocate: The Tamaraws’ missing identity’), and an exhibit featuring student publications from various universities and old copies of the Advocate. The exhibit, entitled ‘Sana Kami Rin’, held September of 1998, lined existing student newspapers alongside FEU’s blank canvas. It proved to be the most effective eye opener as it pressed on the point that FEU’s student newspaper was yet to be restored, while many of the similarly shut down publications during the Marcos regime have long been reopened.
Despite existing polar political agenda from some factions in the studentry, general support from the Tamaraw community had been well-established. The project however generated lukewarm response from the administration as it adopted a passive stance, and ceased to have a direct involvement with the revival other than approving proposed activities, with delays sometimes protracting the project.
“We thought at first ‘Why is the admin giving us a hard time?’ wherein in fact the Advocate is a property and right of the students. But we did not let our emotions get the better of us. Organizing a rally, releasing manifestos etcetera were a complete no-no for our group,” delos Santos recounts. Prior to the exhibit, Magpali refused an offer from members of the CEGP and LFS to assemble a rally in support of the council’s project, “We don’t want the administration to think that we are leftists,” he states.
The exams for the selection of the editorial board were held with 105 participating students from different institutes. Prepared by Mr. Honor Blanco Cabie, Ms. Liana Barro, and Mr. Marjueve Palencia, the exam covered editorial writing, news writing, feature writing and column writing. A personality test was also administered, with the Ad Hoc chair conducting the final interview.
December 13, 1998 saw the announcement of the first editorial board of the revival era. Imelda ‘Mimi’ Lacambra, a Psychology student, was declared Editor-in-Chief. The following students were proclaimed for the respective editorial positions: Rona Erfe, Managing Editor; Diana Marie de Gula, Associate Editor; Ian Irvin Abello, News; Jose Jason Chancoco, Features and Literary; Albert Lester Lupisan, Arts and Photography; and Frechie Antony Macaraeg, Sports. Mr. Job Montecillo, Ad Hoc committee member and former Advocate staffer, was appointed Publication Adviser.
Although the groundwork has been set, the road ahead remained replete with challenges. Lacambra, a returning student who had been writing in the media before going back to FEU, faced the task of finally materializing the Advocate as a newspaper. On December 17, four days after declaration of the Editorial Board, a dry run issue was released, which headlines the creation of the FEU electronic library.
The printing of the dry run issue was a welcome sign after many years of reaching so far as submitting proposals for the publication’s revival. However, a myriad of struggles was still upon the new Editorial Board.
After the publication of the test issue, Montecillo resigned as the publication adviser because the then Editorial Board could not meet his professional fee. Thus, Lacambra elected to have an administrative adviser in the person of Ma. Theresa Oba. The election of an administrative adviser fulfilled the requirement of having someone affiliated with the administration oversee the organization’s processes, but virtually eliminated any mandate over editorial decisions.
The Editorial Board worked to establish the Advocate as an independent student publication. However, this proved to be walking a blurry line as their office had to be shared with FEUCSO. Although the council was instrumental to the organization’s reestablishment, disagreements over the former’s request to maintain a page for itself in the newspaper strained the relationship of the two groups. Due to the lack of an available office within campus, The Advocate was compelled to perform its operations outside the University.
The teeming challenges that confronted the Advocate as a newly established organization, along with lack of funds and resources only fuelled the desire of it determined staff. In January of 1999, an 8-page broadsheet issue was released, headlining the celebration of the University’s 71st founding anniversary, merely a month after the test issue. This time the paper now had a separate opinion page. In a front page article entitled ‘Behind the resurrection’ Magpali and delos Santos, incumbent FEUCSO President and VP, were acknowledged as responsible for the successful resurgence of the Advocate.
The revival was met with modest reactions from the Tamaraw community due to its limited circulation. However the event was to be a landmark in campus journalism in FEU, and cornerstone to succeeding issues that followed. President de Jesus, through a letter sent to the organization, recognized the Advocate as the official student publication of FEU, and congratulated the staff shortly after its maiden release.
In the publication’s assertion of autonomy, the administration proposed that the organization lease an office from FEU which the Lacambra vehemently opposed, citing that the Advocate was still part of the academic institution. The proposal was scrapped and the organization was granted its request for a separate office space.
Before the announcement of the revival editorial board, the Ad Hoc committee decided that the drafting of the organization’s charter was to be left to selected staff, after the legislative wing of student representatives failed to yield anything concrete from their protracted debates. The Advocate staff was quick to take the cudgels of independence and had their Charter and By-Laws before the end of Lacambra’s term.
Financial issues however, beleaguered the organization. After Magpali’s term, FEUCSO remained to be the collecting arm of the organization. However, problems with the transfer of funds began to surface. Under new FEUCSO president Victor Ventura, the Advocate fund was withheld for months despite successfully collecting during first semester. Despite repeated requests and demand letters, the FEUCSO administration under Ventura lagged on transmitting the funds, crippling the publication in producing a timely follow-up to its maiden issue. This also led the Advocate to issue a statement outlining the details of what it deemed as a “disturbing problem”.
As most of the staffers functioned under contributory status, only a handful was left before a second issue under Lacambra was published. Working against the odds, the remaining staffers struggled to keep the Advocate afloat. By August, seven months after its maiden release, the Advocate published its second issue, a magazine special dedicated to the graduates of 1999. Originally conceptualized as a literary folio, the special featured several short stories and poems delving on a myriad of subjects, apart from the articles that brushed on the bittersweet nature of graduation.
Through the burning desire and undaunted efforts of FEU students, the publication has pierced through the darkness of oblivion, forging a legacy that is faithful to its creed of cultivating an opinionated studentry and advocating student welfare. It was a storied beginning. But for the Advocate, the future could only be legendary.

Vergel Santos
In a providential tale of finding his calling, UP Math major Vergel Santos entered FEU to find himself inadvertently sitting in a journalism class. Moved by keen interest and curiosity with writing, he took the FEU Advocate exam around 1960 and found no need to scale the ranks as he was immediately selected News Editor of the publication. This undeniable show of brilliance would propel him to be one of the most esteemed newsmen in the country.
Santos graduated to become a junior reporter for the Philippine Herald and The Manila Chronicle. Upon the declaration of Martial Law, his brief detention would bring a sudden halt to his flourishing career. During the wake of the EDSA revolution, he quickly spurred to action and helped revive two major dailies the Manila Times and the Manila Chronicle.
Utilizing his experience in the field of journalism, he authored several books including “Civil Society, the Media, and Government: An Awkward Relationship”, “Worse than free: Essays on Journalism Ethics and other Media Issues”, and various textbooks on writing and journalism.
In 2001, Santos was awarded the Ninoy Aquino Fellowship Award for his contributions in Philippine journalism and civil society. The award is given to people who have been involved with non-governmental organizations exerting to make a significant difference in the society.
He has chaired the Titus Brandsma Award Philippines for Journalism in 2009. Titus honors journalists who demonstrate effective use of media as a mean to present the real issues, analysis and solutions facing the Filipino people.
He also became the Executive Director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, and is still a member of the Board of Directors.
Santos is currently the Chairman of the Board of Business World Asia, where he also writes pens a weekly column which tackles. He is also a Trustee of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and Philippine Press Institute (PPI), a non-profit organization that promotes and defends press freedom and upholds ethical standards for the professional development of Filipino journalists.

Acuzena Grajo- Uranza
A novelist who kept the Filipino’s history alive in her stories, Azucena Grajo-Uranza first let her words color the literary pages of the FEU Advocate. Her writing prowess later earned recognition through her one act play “Versions of the Dawn” which won first prize in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature in 1958.
Grajo-Uranza received her BA in Journalism (1952) and MA in English (1969) from FEU as she served as Advocate’s Literary Editor from 1954 to 1958. Her lauded novels “A Passing Season” (2002), “Bamboo in the Wind” (1990) and “Feast of Innocents” (2003) weaves together a fictional reality about Tony Eduarte and the Herrera family from the Pacific War to the eve of the declaration of Martial Law by former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos up until the post-People Power period.
Her other works include coffee table book “An Ethnographic Records of a Family” (2002), a short-story collection “Voices in a Minor Key” (2004) and novel “Women of Tammuz” (2005).
Apart from Palanca, she was bestowed with various literary awards including Philippine Centennial Awards for Literature, Focus Philippines Literary Awards, Pama-as, Gintong Bai Award from the National Commission for Culture and Arts, and the Green and Gold Artist Award from FEU. Her stage, television, and radio plays were produced by Channel 4, DZRH, and FEU.
Upon graduating, she became associate professor at the University and taught Literature and Humanities.

Godofredo Camacho
A former editor of the FEU Advocate and once a president of the College Editor’s Guild of the Philippines, graduated from AB Mass Communication major in Journalism in FEU. He practiced his profession in the field of Public Relations for 30 years and is a lifetime member of the National Press Club.
Camacho participated in activities locally and internationally. He became chairman of different international sporting events and delegate of various conferences. He also became a member of President Ramon Magsaysay’s Consultative Council of Students.
Camacho have set a record for being a president of four rotary clubs in the country at the same time. Moreover, he taught at the FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS) and Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance and later founded the Philippine School of Journalism. He is currently one of the trustees of the FEU Alumni Foundation.

Artemio Panganiban
Former Supreme Court Justice Artemio Panganiban is probably the most prominent product of Far Eastern University’s law education program but it is not surprising to discover that his track record of excellence includes a stint with the FEU Advocate from 1955 to 1966.
Art also became president of the FEU Central Student Organization during his stay in the Institute of Law and finished cum laude in 1960.
Panganiban’s outstanding resume includes teaching stints in several prestigious universities including his alma mater and key positions in the tourism and banking industries. In addition, Art served as the Liberal Party’s Chief legal counsel and president of the Philippine Daily Inquirer from 1991 to 1992. Panganiban was named Supreme Court associate justice in 1995.
A prolific writer through and through, Panganiban penned over 1,000 full-length decisions and completed 10 books in the last decade.
Art was also a key player in the second EDSA revolution that catapulted then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the presidency in 2001. President Arroyo named Justice Panganiban Supreme Court Justice on December 20, 2005 and finished his term on December 2006.
Retirement has not weakened Panganiban’s passion for writing, as he currently writes a regular column for the Inquirer and serves as a consultant for a number of socio-civic and non-profit organizations.

His popularity in FEU has grown massive. You catch him on university posters. You see his image plastered on shirts and ads. He graces every Advocate issue, on the front page where his big nozzled snout is blatantly exposed. Whether it may be from his zany quips on basketball games or incisive puns on University issues, there is no doubt that this four hooved funnyman, Tamolito Bigaybuhay, or more widely known as Tam, has become the Advocate’s legendary and most popular comic creation.
Conceived in 2001 by former Art Director Erich ‘Eboy’ Rafer, Tam now celebrates nine years of wreaking humorous mayhem within the paper. In his first year, Eboy took the Advocate’s recruitment exam where he was asked to draw a mascot. The Advocate was then trying to cement its identity, and the mascot was game plan to make it more relatable for students. Then Managing Editor Ian Evasco shares that once they saw Tam’s sketch, they immediately knew that it was the one, and Rafer was shortly called in to join the publication.
Eboy had long been inclined towards the arts, using the walls of their house as canvas at age three. In High School, he was a member of their school paper, doing editorial cartoons and winning top prize at press conferences. He entered FEU as a Fine Arts student, where he had no idea that his talent would soon give rise to a University icon.
Tam’s creator was influenced by the characters he grew up watching as a kid, from GI Joe to The Transformers, but it was Jim Davis’s Garfield that provided the prime inspiration for the Advocate’s mascot. “Napansin ko medyo may resemblance si Tam kasi medyo malaki yung mata, tapos parang medyo laidback yung itsura niya, naka half-open, half- closed yung mata niya parang relaxed na relaxed, cool na cool, tapos sarcastic (I noticed that he had a resemblance with Tam, with his big bulging eyes which was slightly half-shut, he appears very cool and relaxed, sort of sarcastic)”. He adds that Pol Medina’s Pugad Baboy, a popular Filipino comic book at that time, influenced Tam’s stocky built.
The Advocate’s official mascot first came out in the front page of March 2001’s issue under Editor-in-Chief Lester Lupisan. Tam was drawn wearing a flowered shirt, enjoying himself on recliner while sipping buko juice, ready to take on the summer vacation. His first comic strip, titled Fat-Talk, also appeared in the same issue.
Like most artistic creations, Tam’s features have evolved throughout the years, going from the creative hands of one Advocate illustrator to the other. Eboy initially conceived Tam to be a plump, laidback Tamaraw, slightly unsure of himself and feeling his way through college, not knowing what was to be expected—much like how he felt as freshman. “Yung early Tam maliit pa siya noon, tweetums tweetums pa, parang obvious na first year. Tapos later nag evolve na siya. Mahaba na yung sungay niya. (The younger Tam was trying to be cute, obviously a freshman. Then later he evolved. He grew his horns)”.
Far from the safe representation Eboy originally had in mind, the character’s eventual transformation reflected his personal journey through college. “Naexpose ako sa rock and roll nung college, nung naka mingle mingle nang mga mahihilig sa music, naexpose ako sa punk, kaya medyo naging rock din yung itsura niya. Tapos hindi na naka uniform, mas may attitude na siya, mas rocking na siya. Yung mga posing niya di na limited sa laid back na stance. Medyo mas wild na yung itsura. Minsan may hawak na siyang baril, or nagyoyosi siya sa harap ng classroom. Nakikipag rumble na siya. (I was exposed to rock and roll in college and got to mingle with people who like music. I was also exposed to punk, that’s why his appearance (Tam) also got wilder. He had more attitude and stopped wearing his uniform. He wasn’t limited to his laid back stance anymore. Sometimes he totes a gun, he smokes outside his classroom, he gets into trouble)”.
Conceptualized to represent the studentry, Tam also got embroiled in the same issues within FEU– from fraternity wars, prevalent during Rafer’s time, to pill box explosions. “Siyempre ang school paper naman hindi naman puro magaganda yung sinusulat niya sa school. Kailangan mo rin i-acknowledge yung mga pangit para maging patas ka. Pati yung mga ganoong istorya, involved si Tam doon. So hindi na siya pa-tweetums-tweetums na Tam, medyo involved na siya, mas masaya, mas exciting yung mga nangyayari. (Of course the paper doesn’t only report good stories, it also acknowledges the bad ones, so that it could be fair and balanced. Tam also got involved in those stories, he exposes what really happens and wasn’t coy about it. It became more fun and exciting)”.
True enough Tam transcended his chubby cute frame to speak on student issues, often being utilized in editorial cartoons to represent the cause of students, and popping all over the newspaper to brandish wittingly searing remarks. He spoke on tuition increase, stifling school policies, game fixing, student politics, and possibly every other significant news within the University. Soon, Tam not only was identified with the Advocate but as an icon for the FEU community.
The name Tamolito Bigaybuhay came later in mock interview written by writer K.C. Buenafe appearing in the Advocate’s September 2002 issue. Rafer relates that he had no other name in mind except Tam, joking that it would have been weird if he named it George, or perhaps Peter.
“My real name is not really Tam, it’s actually Tamolito Bigaybuhay, but my screen name is Tam the Tamaraw, mas catching ‘di ba? I am the Edit-to’ ng Chief, in the Advocate. I’m the real boss,” the wily animal relates in the interview.
He adds that a lot of people mistake him for a carabao, retorting that people don’t know the difference between carabaos and his species, the former being a beast of burden and his kind the ones studying in FEU. In the interview, he also mentions that he has lost weight since his first outing in the newspaper, reasoning that he does a lot of work as the mascot and it was out of style to be fat. His favorite activity was to gorge on Adobong Damo, “But eating grass is not allowed here in FEU, so palaging patago,” Tam wittily injects.
Indeed Tam has become leaner and taller throughout the years. When Rafer left the Advocate in 2006, artists began infusing their wild spins on the character, keeping its original disproportionately large head and horns, but morphing it into countless other, sometimes hilariously inane, interpretations. Eboy confesses that he initially didn’t see Tam evolving, but later realized it was only natural for artists to improve, and undergo changes. “Parang mas naging appealing yung tingin ko sa kanya nung pumayat siya eh. Naging sigurado na siya sa ginagawa niya kasi parang nag mature yung itsura niya, unlike nung parang maliit pa lang na cutie-cutie. (I thought he became more appealing when he got leaner, he became surer of himself since he looked more mature, unlike before when he was younger)”.
Rafer also created a dorky human sidekick to Tam, which he unfortunately was not able to name. He describes the character as an underdog. Fat and with dark glasses, it is often the unlucky recipient of Tam’s antics, and the artist’s wild machinations. “Parang siya yung nag rerepresent ng mga kawawa sa FEU. May strip akong ginawa noon, yung inabutan siya ng baha, sumabit siya sa jeep tapos pagdating siya sa Piyu, biglang walang pasok. (He represented the bullied in FEU. I did a strip before, where he got stranded in a flood, and had to hang on to jeep, only to see his classes cancelled)”. He jests, “Pag may mga poster, si Tam siyempre yung player, tapos siya (human dork) yung pep squad na may pom-poms na nakapang cheering attire. (In posters, Tam would usually be the athlete, and the dork would be cheering in the background, clad in pep squad attire, complete with pom-poms)”.
Tam’s female counterpart, Tamya, created by Art Director and later Managing Editor Robald Castillion, would later join the official mascot on paper, along with other artists’ trademark characters. Rafer thought that his brainchild would simply fade into oblivion with the birth of other comic creations, but was happy to find out that Tam remained within the Advocate pages, continually being adapted and improved upon by succeeding illustrators.
Asked if he would have drawn Tam in any other way, he says he would have probably tweaked some of its features, but it would essentially remain the same since that was how he conceptualized it during his time, saying “Hindi lang naman ako yung Tam, Advocate siya nung time ko eh, siya yung FEU nun eh. (I did not have the monopoly of Tam, he was the Advocate during my time, he represented FEU)”.
Rafer wanted nothing but to preserve Tamolito as a tableau of the times, having no qualms with the character’s constant transformation. “Kasi si Tam lumabas siya nung era ko, representation siya nung time, yung nangyayari sa FEU, sa Advocate nung time ko. Pero hindi na naman kailangan ganon ang gawin nung mga artist eh, kailangan din nilang i-represent yung time nila.” (Tam came out during my era; he was a representation of that time, of what happened during FEU, but artists need not confine themselves with that, they need to represent their own time).”
Tam definitely is far from retiring as the paper’s main funnyman. In the hands of talented and fearless Advocate artists, Eboy’s creation is probably cooking up another riotous antic, preparing his next smart ass remark on a University issue or simply orchestrating a hilariously insane joke.
As one of the publication’s vanguards, he will continue to represent the cause of students, all while looking cool and down-right comic on it.

“It’s nice to be back home”

Vice Ganda happily shared how he finds his homecoming heartwarming, as he went on stage not for his fans who sees him regularly in his top-rated show─ Showtime, but a sea of green and gold ready to welcome their alumnus with pride.

He went on stage and faced the crowd of Tamaraws excitedly screaming before him. He rocked the FEU grandstand as he sang his rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and displayed his funny antics leaving the audience wanting for more.

He journeyed a tough road to fame and succeeded in conquering the center stage. But does his fellow Tamaraws know his life story when the spotlight’s not on him and his behind the stage, not as the celebrity, but a young and determined individual?

Back from where he started
He was born by the name of Jose Mari Viceral but he’s popularly known as Vice Ganda whom he humorously explained in one of his interviews with Korina Sanchez, “Yung Vice kasi galing yun sa apelyido ko na Viceral na pinamana na sa akin ng mga magulang ko, yung Ganda isa yun sa mga binigay sa akin ng Diyos unang-una pa lang, (Vice came from my surname, while Ganda was given to me by God right from the start)”.

Vice is the youngest among five siblings. At the age of 6, he was sneaking on a hill of garbage to look for coppers to sell so he could help his family earn a living. Now he is known as one of the country’s most promising stand-up comedians.

Vice dreamed to be a lawyer and took Political Science in Far Eastern University (FEU) but unfortunately, he failed to finish the course because of several reasons. His last stay here as a student is in 1996. “I’ve long waited for this. I missed this school. Actually, I have plans of going back to school and study but I was not accepted due to the conditions,” he said.

His longing dream of once again stepping on the grounds of FEU had been fulfilled last January 22, 2010 in Concierto Piyu, the concert for FEU’s founding anniversary. He was warmly welcomed by his fellow Tamaraws and once again share the celebration of his Alma Mater. “Naiinggit ako sa mga estudyante ngayon kasi ang ganda na ng campus kesa dati (I envy the students who are currently here because the campus looks better now compared then),” Vice Ganda said.

He shares every word about FEU with a fruitful smile, describing it in a short yet meaningful statement─“sobrang saya”. He has nothing but praises for this school. For him, most of the good memories he could remember are during the days he was still studying here. “Nandito ang lahat ng masasayang araw ko (I spend all my happy days here),” he added.

Unveiled identity
Vice Ganda grew up in a community where poverty and violence surrounds him. He kept his sexuality so long, that his father never knew about it until he was of age. His father was a barangay kagawad and a basketball player to whom he and his brothers inherited their height. He was his father’s favorite because he plays basketball very well and was thought of as the only boy in the family. His father would often maltreat his two older gay brothers, Emmanuel and Babot.

When his father died, Vice was able to go out of his closet eventually but still kept the secret from his family. At the age of 16, Vice tried to commit suicide due to confusions but his attempt never succeeded. Eventually, he was accepted by his mother wholeheartedly and because of his talent and perseverance, Vice never experienced any discrimination. His unique life story was featured on “Maalaala Mo Kaya”, ABS-CBN’s drama anthology, which brought both laughter and tears to its viewers.

As part of his quest for her own identity, Vice left his footprints in the grounds of FEU as he co-founded the Society for Homosexual Emergence/Sigma Homo Epsilon (SHE) in 1994. SHE is an organization for the gay community in FEU. When asked why he founded such organization, he answered that he wanted the gay population to reveal who they really are and not to be afraid of their true selves, for they wanted others to accept them for whoever they may be. “The gay students then don’t have a formal organization, so I decided to build up one,” he added.

FEU gave them the freedom to express themselves the way they wanted to. “Tinanggap nila kami ng bonggang bongga without discriminations (They accepted us whole-heartedly without discriminations),” Vice Ganda said. The gay students can freely do feminine gestures, wear make-ups and can grow their hair long. “Binigyan nila kami ng kalayaan na gawin yung ninanais naming gawin (They gave us freedom to do the things we desire to do),” he confessed.

As for the current members of SHE, they felt proud when they found out that it was Vice Ganda who founded the organization that made them feel belonged and accepted by the people around the campus. “Na-flatter ako nung nalaman kong isa palang sikat na artista ang founder ng SHE (I’m flattered when I found out that the founder of SHE is a famous celebrity),” Hazel Notar, current president of SHE, stated. “Inspirasyon si Vice sa lahat ng bakla sa FEU (Vice serves as an inspiration to all the gay here in FEU.),” he added. When asked what kind of benefits they got when they joined the said organization, she answered “Na-lessen yung discrimination samin. Nagkaroon ng mas mataas na respeto at appreciation samin ang mga estudyante dito (We gained respect and appreciation from the students),” Notar happily shared.

“May nag-text!”
His star shined as soon as he was discovered in a comedy bar. He had the talent to sing and a sense of humor that made him loved by his audiences. Soon he was able to penetrate the showbiz industry. Starring as Joko, Toni Gonzaga’s cousin in “Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik”, as Tita Ganda in “Pieta” and as Salaminsim in “Dyosa”, Vice has received many show, concert and film offers. His filmography includes “Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat: Friends 4 Lyf and death”, “Condo” and “In My Life”.

He is one of the judges of the popular “Showtime”, a talent-variety show of ABS-CBN which features performers who aspires for stardom. The young and the old can’t resist laughing with his frolics and aspirant comedians are now impersonating him. Not only that his line was famously adapted by the youth today, his ‘Ostrich dance’ also became a hip laugh-off.

Whatever he has right now, it’s definitely not an instant fame. Like everybody else, he had gone through hardships both with his personal and family life. He started in comedy bars where he sings and eventually discovered his “call” for entertaining people simply by cracking effortless jokes. When asked what he did to make this all happen, he answered that he prayed and waited.

“I don’t plan, nakaka-frustrate kasi ‘pag ‘di mo nakuha yung gusto mo eh (it’s frustrating whenever you don’t get what you want), I also wanted to inspire students by making them aware that one can reach a goal na hindi mo kailangang itago ang pagkatao mo. Wala sa sex o gender yan (I also wanted to inspire students by making them aware that one can reach a goal without having to conceal one’s self. It’s not about sex or gender.),” he added.

Vice’s bright star is a living proof of the essence of accepting who you are in finding the courage of exploring to different avenues. His story proved that no matter how rough the path to success is, no matter how hard the world could possibly be. If we are determined nothing is impossible. As what he said, one can reach his goal for being who he is.

Once you start typing for the web address of FEU, blocks of green and gold awaits you. From May of 2009, when will the community sight FEU’s official website?

It has been almost a year since the official website of Far Eastern University (FEU) has been under construction. The layout of the website is planned to be changed, more headings would be added, more information services would be offered and a lot more. Though the University site is functional, it does not entirely comply with its official purpose─ to represent the University, attract the public, and even to link alumni and students.

Beyond virtual

The primary purpose of university websites and colleges is to act as a connection to its students and employees especially when personal transactions are not possible. It is also a means of attracting prospective students and linking its alumni into it. It is a known fact that most educational institutions have their websites to fulfill those purposes.

However, when compared to other university websites, FEU is obviously falling short.

Websites of any university should be the next source of answer if a student has concerns and a personal inquiry is not possible. It is also the easiest means of acquiring information for today’s generation are considered “netizens” or citizens of the web. Moreover, through the advancement of technology, transactions were already available online.

Though a temporary site was launched in the start of school year 2009 offering online services for enrolment, viewing of grades, and basic institute curriculum, it is still insufficient to the demand of its public. It lacks features such as updated announcements and photos that may allow the students and even alumni to be updated with the current activities and programs offered by the University.

Take for instance the incidents last year, the breakthrough of A(H1N1), flood caused by Ondoy and other class suspensions due to national celebrations and recognitions; as a concrete example. Announcements could be easily disseminated to the studentry online, however with an updated site, info dissemination online is not as effective as it should be.

Websites are not only for info dissemination, more than that, it helps attract prospective students especially those who live in provinces and those who cannot go to the University.

“I have visited many university websites and it is a big help especially because I am looking for a school to get my college degree,” said Mary Lann Serrano, a graduating high school student. “I want to know more about schools that I am not well acquainted to and most of the time, the website is the only connection that I have,” she added.

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The current status of the website made it comparable to the other university sites such as that of the Ateneo de Manila University and University of Santo Tomas (UST)’s, of which were updated and more appealing.

Adding to it is the unawareness of the students on the developments of the site, leading to dissatisfaction and blunt comparison.”Hindi masyadong sapat yung mga bagay at information na makikita ‘dun. Kung ako ang tatanungin, naglagay sana sila ng calendar of events sa school, katulad nung sa website ng UST (The things and information that could be seen in the website is inadequate. They could’ve included a school calendar just like in the UST),” Eleanor Reyes, first year AB Mass Communication student shared.

In such case, Admissions and External Relations Office (AERO) Director Albert Cabasada’s scheme is to make the site more attractive, informative and useful. “No.1 is useful. It really has to be useful to the students. It’s also going to be more informative. Functionality will not change just up-to-date layouts,” he said.

Tracking back, AERO has been working on the website since May of 2009 when they invited student leaders for a bidding of the company who will design the layout of the soon-to-rise FEU site. Students’ pulse were taken from the views of the student leaders while company profile, services and fee were also the things taken in consideration by the office.

Soon after, LOWE, a global advertising company closed the deal with FEU. Series of meetings with AERO, LOWE and student leaders were held to continuously develop the site with a FEU mark. LOWE conducted studies and developed systems and presents the design in every meeting.

Cabasada sees the need of the student’s opinion towards the website for it is intended for the development of student’s welfare. He even highlighted the importance of the new ideas of the students who will primarily be the main users of the website. “The students should have stake in the website. It’s like a blank canvas and we need fresh ideas from the students, “Cabasada shared.

Jethro Narag, sergeant of arms of Institute of Accounts and Business Finance’s SC shared that the meeting primarily focus on the design and services that the website can offer. He even noted that LOWE offered two types of design, facebook type and classic one. Uploading pictures and videos were also considered as part of the system upgrade. “Hindi sila nagsabi ng definite time kung kelan matatapos ‘yung construction. Basta sabi nila before enrolment. Matagal siguro talaga ‘yung construction kasi madami silang gustong i-add na features (They did not give a definite time on when will the construction end, they sjust told us that it will be before enrolment period. It takes time for them to finalize it due to the number of services that they want to add),” Narag shared.

System enhancements

Cabasada clarified that the website would take three to four more weeks before it would be up and running but it’s not going to be complete yet. According to him, the remaining 30 percent of the web construction no longer involves programming for it only include pages and information like institute pages, alumni pages, student affairs, university counseling career programs and athletics.

“What we’re pushing for is that all online services relevant to the students be operational. It will be an improved virtual tour, that aside from having the photo of a certain area, we will also have information,” Cabasada furthered.

He even credited the Computer Services Department (CSD) for being on top of the situation and even explained the need to hire external companies to improve the site. CSD don’t have a creative director who will take charge of the system upgrade of the site, but instead a group of programmers whom they refer for the technical assistance.

Cabasada also mentioned about other technicalities that made the system enhancement endless such as the incompatible servers that may lead to the usage of microsites. “We discovered that the way the website designer wrote and encoded the program would burden our server. Pag sabay-sabay na ginamit yung site, baka mag-hang or biglang bumagal (If the site is used simultaneously, there would be a chance that it would hang or would slow down),” Cabasada explained.

However, he clarified that microsites would probably be the last option for microsites only run on Mozilla Firefox internet service provider (ISP) because most of the ISP used by students in their personal computers or in the internet cafes is Windows Internet Explorer.

Page maintenance

The new site, hopefully to be launched three to four weeks in time will also depend on how fast CSD can encode the program. And to assure continuous service, AERO even organized a Content Management System wherein they plan to hire a content manager who will primarily be responsible to the web maintenance.

He also stressed that they are willing to hire some moderators from FEU TamarawBayan (FEU TamBayan) website, an online FEU community base site maintained by FEU Advocate alumni to help maintain the website. He also sees student involvement through institute student councils and organizations will make things easier. “For the first time, the students were consulted and involved in the decision-making. Things get a little easier when we involved them”, Cabasada added.

Developments are done for improvement, yet students are eager to find their homepage representing their University online. As of press time, accessing to the University domain is not feasible. The site seems to be out of track and means of online info dissemination depends on the linked tamaraw sites such as the FEU TamBayan site and the fast growing networks of student-base social networking accounts.

If FEU wants to attract more freshmen, connect with its alumni and truly be an internationally- acclaimed school, working on the site should be one of the priorities. A good layout, without the proper features suited to the need of its public is useless. Appearance could increase the site’s page views but service and functionality will always judge its necessity.

It is undeniable that social networking sites have taken FEU students by storm.
Youth individuals morphed into Netizens (Internet Citizens) flocked the cyber arena, giving away their very own piece of privacy.

As internet surfing entitles users with activities such as posting blogs, playing games and answering quizzes, more or less every three hours a day, what could be a more exact definition of the word addiction?

Freedom Walls Online

Social networking sites have become canvasses of self-expression by users. With a simple click, one can easily update his status on social-networking sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Friendster, Multiply, MySpace, Formspring.me and Twitter. Applications and blog features are easily accessible to those who are bored with checking out their friends profiles and updating his own.

Aside from being a means of self-expression, social networking sites are useful in ways of communicating with one’s friends and loved ones abroad or living in other parts of the country. Through this, one can also meet new people and widen his circle of friends. “Libangan, communication sa mga friends at tita ko sa ibang bansa, pati na rin sa kapatid ko. Mas mura kasi ‘pag online na lang. Wala pa masyadong hassles, kasi kapag tumawag ka, mahal na nga, choppy pa. (I use Facebook for fun and to contact my friends and relatives abroad because it is cheaper. It has lesser hassles because if I call them, it’s not just expensive, it’s also choppy),”

Freedom is bestowed upon online users since rules and regulations of posting are not really implemented. “Wala ka na rin namang pakialam sa kung anu man ang isulat nila or i-post dun kasi account naman nila yun e. Personal nilang opinion yun, (You don’t really have a say on one’s post on his profile because it’s their account. It’s their personal opinion),” says Mara Dawn Crosos, second year AB Political Science student.

Used and abused?
Twenty students were randomly asked by the FEU Advocate if they read Terms of Services and Agreements of social networking sites upon registration.

Ironically 0 out of 20 answered they did not read the terms. Majority of the group answered that they viewed it but didn’t actually read it. “Hindi ko siya talaga binasa parang pahapyaw lang kasi parang wala lang naman e (I didn’t really read it, I just skimmed through because it looks like it’s just nothing),” says Larla Capili, first year BS Nursing student.

The Terms of Services and Agreement contain the rules within the site you registered in. Since most people do not really read these terms it can be said that most users in social networking sites are not aware of the conditions and consequences of online posting.

According to Office of Students Affairs and Community Services (OSACS) Dean Adelaida Fronda, no rules controlling students with their blog posts are on the students’ handbook and that the issue is a little premature since even the congress hasn’t passed any laws concerning this issue yet. She also stated that the students’ blogs are limited to themselves unless their issues affect the whole school.

As for Facebook, users are not allowed to post anything that would it verbally degrade another person as stated in its Terms of Services and Agreement: “You will not post content or take any action on Facebook that infringes or violates someone else’s rights or otherwise violates the law,” A violation of this rule will constitute to the removal of the content nevertheless, the suspension of the user’s account is not included.

Unconsciously jailed
“No one has the right to say that he can do whatever he wants to do because he lives in the context of a society and in a society, there are rules to be followed in order to achieve social order,” Mass Communication professor, Joeven Castro, stated in an interview with the FEU Advocate.

Considering what he said, if an online user claims that it’s his own prerogative to post whatever he wants to in his profile, he also should claim the responsibilities and consequences that goes with his freedom of speech. And since these social networking sites are mini-virtual societies, a user should uphold social order.

He also stated, “For us FEU students and other members of the FEU family, we always remember that, once an FEU always an FEU wherever you may go and a taint that happens online can change your image as an FEU student. Would you want that to happen?”. Taking this into thought, as an online user, one should always think about others who might be affected with their own state of mind. As an FEU student, think about how deep is your “institutional affiliation”, borrowing the words of Castro. Take into consideration the fact that there are over 20,000 FEU students and not everyone may share your sentiments.

He also said this, when asked if the web is an avenue to open sensitive discussions, “If all parties are willing to engage online then my answer is yes. But if participants of the discussion are unwilling to join, then my answer is no. The reason being is that the unwilling participant has no chance to defend his side. I think that any issue should be settled by both parties if the issue is properly contextualized because not all who can read the post are directly involved, so why should they know it in the first place if they are not part of the resolution process?” Bearing this in mind, one can correlate this with violation of privacy. If, for example, there are two persons who had a disagreement, then one posts something about the other without his consent that is considered as violation of that person’s privacy. And when one posts his sentiment online, it will attract others to post their own comments and sympathies, but, at the end of the day, the problem still remains unsolved.

From Spiderman’s famous line, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and freedom of speech is power itself that we individuals are entitled of. One must learn to use the power of their freedom of speech judiciously, because what would happen to the world lest man’s freedom to speak be taken away from him because of imprudence?

In just a few months from now, Philippines’ inconsistent fate will then change as another hand holds on to the steering wheel. As the battle for Presidential throne turned out to be a popularity contest, will this give us Filipinos the control or are we going to be left at the backseat?

2010 Elections have banged every minds of old and first time voters. From the repetitious political advertisements to the bashing taglines of politicians, electors’ minds are now clouded with who to vote and why they need to vote.

Christmas Carols on November
A year before the elections, it is a common scene that politicians would knock on household TV sets and air on their political campaigns. According to Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Law, aspiring presidential candidates engaging in political campaigns outside the campaign period are considered unlawful. Nevertheless, in an article published last December 5 in Inquirer.net, Commission on Election (COMELEC) chairman Jose Melo stated, “Mahirap kontrolin yan (It is difficult to control that), they can find ways to go [around] the law.”

Campaign periods, as stated in the election code, is 90 days before the Election Day which clearly states that politicians who have filed their candidacies are not allowed to be engaged in any political campaign outside the campaign period. In this event, the official campaign period will start on February 9. However, COMELEC has seen no laws violated by politicians airing their own info ads, and their decision is said to be based on the constitution.

While there are many laws conflicting and confusing citizens on whether politicians violate the law or not, COMELEC Commissioner Rene Sarmiento cleared in the same article by quoting Section 13 of Republic Act 9369, also known as the Poll Automation Law, that states “Any person who files his certificate of candidacy within this period specified by COMELEC shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period for which he filed his certificate of candidacy; provided, that, unlawful acts or omissions applicable to a candidate shall effect only upon that start of the aforesaid campaign period.” To cut the story short, Sarmiento stated that even if politicians have filed their Certificate of Candiday (COC), they are only recognized as candidates at the beginning of the campaign period.

“Legally speaking this is not premature campaign and the COMELEC just made the decision based on the spirit of the law. There is no crime if there is no law punishing it,” Political Science professor Reynold Agnes cleared.

While politicians as if serenading voters do not mind airing their ads frequently, some of the latter seemed to be annoyed. “Takot matalo, talagang gustong manalo. Talagang gustong-gusto ang posisyon. Makikita naman yung kung gusto talagang maglingkod (They’re scared to lose, they really wanted to win. They really wanted to be in position. You can see it if they really want to serve),” Jaylyne M. Vallar, a freshmen BS Hotel and Restaurant Management student claimed when asked about her opinion.

On the other hand, some viewed this strategy as usual and is not a violation. “Di kasi maiiwasan yun. Ang sabi lang naman sa batas bawal yung paraphernalia eh yung sa kanila kasi parang paalala lang, wala pa namang sinasabing posisyon, (It’s inevitable. The law only states that they can’t use paraphernalia and the ones they use are just like reminders, no labels of whatever position),”BS in Architecture student, Rudy Ancheta, pointed out.

Along with political advertisements, politicians would use propaganda strategies that would not only encourage voters to vote for them, but also to manipulate their voting behaviors. It has been a political tradition that politicians would use celebrities to endorse them and voters see this as a waste of funds. “Mas magastos. Sayang kasi. Sana yung binabayad nila pinangtutulong na lang nila. Mayaman na ‘yun eh [celebrities], yun pa yung binabayaran nila, (It’s luxurious. It’s a waste. They should have spent those payments to a good use. Celebrities are rich people and yet they are still paid),” Irene Ferrer, third year BS in Architecture student believed.

Testimonials of these celebrities endorsing such politicians are powerful enough to lead the mass into a contagious way of decision-making.

Saddest Story
Philippine politics spurted out after the country became a republic in 1898. Since then, our politics has been running the same old story over and over again.

“The candidates are banking on popularity and so I believe the authority of the next president will be legitimated by popularity. That’s usually the election in the Philippines, popularity contest. Nothing is new. The same practice and the prevalent characteristic of Philippine politics is the stiff in the upper house and lower house of congress, even the executive branch of the government are hereditary. Through hereditary succession, pinamamana na lang nila (passed upon),” Agnes expressed.

After years of being a republican, government positions are being occupied and dominated by political families or elites. These clans seem to transfer government seats from one generation to another. If we look at it, the current president is the daughter of a former president and there is a big possibility that the next president will also be from a clan that has long been penetrating the political industry.

The aspect of relationships between politicians in one clan aspiring to inherit positions in the government banks on popularity. Popularity is strengthened by the trust and fanaticism that are acquired by the politicians from their publics through manipulation of behaviors and appealing to the public’s emotions.

Nevertheless, Philippine politics is not just about politicians running the system; it is also about the role of the people. “The Filipino electorates legitimize the system. When we say the system is not good, this is the system legitimated by the people. In a democratic government, the power stays in the people and if you have this kind of government officials – as vested interest government officials, corrupts – it’s because they are voted upon by the people,” Agnes stated.

Our political culture is marked by the events that are taking over now. Voters continue to look on celebrities that uplift the popularity of the politicians and not on what platforms they offer. It may be sad to say, but the appointment of supposed-to-be public servants is not platform-based.

With Leader Personality
Infomercials have occupied commercial airing times from TV networks and politicians don’t mind spending thousands for a mere piece of publicity. Media practitioners working on to shape politician’s image have ventured on producing concepts for political advertisements.

“I believe the 2010 political campaigns will be very tough not only for the candidates themselves but also for all the public relations and media communicators behind them. For the national positions, especially the presidential and vice presidential elections, the challenge for communications strategists, given the huge number of candidates, is to be able to make their candidates rise from the message clutter,” Public Relations professor Edwin Galvez stated.

Many students who are also first time voters have expressed their criteria on choosing their presidential bets. “Syempre perfect. Matalino, mabait, may awa sa tao at hindi nangungurakot katulad ni Arroyo. Syempre may takot din sa Diyos, (Of course, perfect. Intelligent, good, pities people and are not corrupt like Arroyo. Also, God-fearing),” third year BSC Management student, Kristine Jewel S. Dollente, said.

Even as members of the youth community who won’t be able to vote yet expressed their sole political views. “It’s hard to decide kasi parang ang nangyayari ang daming political ads na lumalabas. Minsan parang ang hirap na rin i-identify kung sino yung totoo. I just hope na yung next president natin will be responsible enough compared to the previous corrupt administrations. Intelligence-wise, marami na namang pwede, all we have to know is their pledge of loyalty and honesty sating mga Pilipino,” claimed by a second year AB Psychology student who requested for anonymity.

“The elections, as we all consider it to be, is a battle for the votes of the youth and students, which make up 70 percent of the electorate. Definitely, those who are able to harness the media─ online or offline, below or above the line─that our youth are exposed to and use, will have an advantage. But still the kind of message that communicators put into them should be able to “inspire” the youth to vote for their candidates,” Galvez added.

As of press time, COMELEC has listed 99 presidential candidates at the end of the filing period. This gives voters a wide variety of who to support and vote. In a random interview done by the FEU Advocate inside the campus premises, students were asked on who they wanted to vote and why they would vote for them.

“Si Gibo (Gilbert Teodoro). Matapang saka hindi siya naninira ng kapwa pulitiko niya. Dumidiskarte siya ng sarili niya (He’s brave and he doesn’t step on his fellow politicians. He makes his own ways),” Ancheta proclaimed.

Dollente goes for Noynoy Aquino, “Feeling ko alam na niya yung dapat niyang gawin. Kasi yung family niya, yung mama niya President tapos yung papa niya Senator. Tapos both parties naging mabuting leaders ng bansa. Hindi na siguro mahirap sa kanya na maging good leader (I feel that he knows what he needs to do. Because of his family, his mother was a president and his father was a senator. Both parties have been a good leader of the country. It may not be difficult for him to be a good leader)”.

Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr. are two of the leading candidates for Presidency that most FEU students vie for. Both were from the clan of the Cojuangcos which have been related with political agendas for many generations.

Other dominant candidates buying for the position are renowned officials such as Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar, Jr., Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Jesus Is Lord (JIL) and Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon to name a few.

Businessman and politician Sen. Villar has been elected in the Senate since 2001 and was re-elected last 2006. He is the only billionaire among all Philippine senators. His famous political line, “Palibhasa pinanganak silang mayaman (For they were born rich)” has gained hearts of most masses.

Estrada is said to back to regain position after being dethroned from presidency by 2001’s People Power. Issues of him violating the pardon consequences have been on air, and as of press time there is still no news on whether he will be charged or not.

Atty. Evilla Pormento filed a petition to disqualify Estrada as a presidential candidate. Pormento proposes that COMELEC should declare Estrada as a nuisance candidate. “It will also defeat the wisdom behind the creation of the aforementioned constitutional provision which prescribes as one full six-year term of the President of this Republic without the benefit of reelection,” Pormento said in an article published in Inquirer.net last December 6, 2009.

JIL’s Bro. Villanueva is on his second round of running for the position after he was defeated last elections. In his visions to change traditional politics, Villanueva targets the youth towards a new country with his political party Bangon Pilipinas.

MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando, teamed up with Gordon after losing the administration’s standard bearer position from Teodoro. He has been known because of his strict enforcement of law within Metro Manila, and supporters of him wished he was running for presidency.

“Bayani Fernando ang choice ko. Kasi sa tingin ko siya lamang ang kayang magpatino sa mga pinoy. Kasi sa tingin ko, kahit sino kasing iupo sa Malacañang, kung di naman makikisama ang pinoy, wala rin, (Fernando is my choice. I think he can impose discipline to Filipinos. For me, whoever will be elected, if he will not cooperate with the Filipinos nothing will change,)” Gatchalian supposed.

Difficulty arises for the part of the voters on deciding who to elect, since the election has registered down a long list of aspiring leaders. Qualifications will help and influence the choice of the public on who will be the next leader of the country.

“It’s very important to judge them based on the way they answer questions but above all, aside from the way they answer questions we should also look at the track records of the candidates. Dapat yung abilidad mo (your ability) to say something must be complimented by your work,” Agnes advised on voters.

The Big Question
Elections are chances for change that democracy gives to its people. To exercise one’s right to suffrage is a simple way of change. Out of the 99 listed presidential candidates, only a handful of them were known personalities. Some have been in the political industry for generations and have been descendants of political tycoons.

The youth claims the largest percentage of voters for this election and as young people, participation is crucial. On some aspects, being taught of well grounded education and well-informed members of the society, the youth is never expected to sell their votes as it was like selling the dream of their fellow countrymen.

2010 election is just around the corner. Don’t ask yourself “Why do I need to vote?”, instead ask “Who do I need to vote?”