UP Hooligans, Part 4

This article by Prof. Antonio “Tonton” Contreras was widely shared in facebook yesterday. It looks cool, well-written, but not necessarily well-argued. An open letter to the UP Hooligans a.k.a. enemies of UP

Among the urban  legends propagated by this article are,

For some, your act was so abominable to a point that 23 members of the faculty of the School of Economics of your University, my Alma Mater, rushed to defend Abad and condemn you in strong words…

In calling you as enemies, they took the side of Abad. In declaring your act as pure hooliganism, they became instruments for a closure of the dynamics of resistance.

Defend (DBM Sec.) Abad? Took the side of Abad?

The statement of the UPSE faculty members is 11 paragraphs long. Nowhere in that statement it said, explicitly or implicitly, that they are “defending Abad” or “taking the side of Abad”. The opening statement was very clear what they were attacking – violence.

We deplore in the strongest terms the violence perpetrated last Wednesday, September 17, by a group of protesters against Secretary Florencio B. Abad outside the U.P. School of Economics auditorium.

In the statement, they were defending only one thing – freedom of expression without physical violence.  Anyway, I posted this generic comment to my friends who posted Tonton’s articles in their  walls:

I am sure many of those UP students who went inside the UPSE auditorium to listen to Sec. Butch were also activists. They listened, they watched, when they went out, they made an academic paper, or blog post, or posted in their fb or twitter their critical observations or disagreement with the Sec. They can hit the Secretary -- with words and ideas, not with coins and plackards and other forms of physical attacks. I call the former "bold, wild and wise" activists whereas the STAND UP activists are "bold, wild and idiot" activists.

Supporters of the 2^nd type of activists did not like it, of course. Here is one exchange. I did not  get his permission to use his comments, so I just refer him here as “Mr. M.” Some readers may be interested to see the other side of the argument, so I  am posting the exchange unaltered, unedited.

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Mr. M: Mababait pa nga mga bata ngayon! Kung panahon natin yan Bato, Bote, Bugok na itlog, Bulok na kamatis or baka may kasama pang pillbox , molotov cocktail or granada( if available) ang ipupukol kay Sec. Abad!

Nonoy: Pag govt official like Sec. Abad ang binabato, justified. Pag mga idiot activists ang binabato or ginugulpe, unjustified na kasi human rights violation na; repression of peaceful assembly na. Double talk lang para sigurista.

Mr. M: Sec.Abad should know better than to go to a UP campus and not get some Flack! He got off lightly and unhurt. Just his Pride! For a man with no sense of Honor and Delikadeza! He surely is onion skinned! He should have resigned and not stay on as a cabinet member. His Arrogance like his boss Pnoy and his Lap Dog Perasima are doing more harm than good in the last 2 years of Pres. Pnoy's term. And I voted for Pres.Pnoy, but ano nangyari sa Tuwid na Daan ! Bumaluktot na yata!?

Nonoy: Palusot. The issue is the act of violence by the STAND UP activists. Is it justified? UPSE faculty members said No. UP Pres. said No. Both camps did not say, explicit or implicit, that they are siding with Abad or PNoy or whoever. What they are saying or implying is that people can discuss in UP and advocate same sex marriage, humans and animals marriage, legalization of drugs and prostitution, privatization or further expansion of UP, abolition or further expansion of govt, anything else under the Sun. Do it, speak it, argue passionately -- except using violence. Anyone using violence are low-level minds, have low intellectual caliber for rational debate. By resorting to violence, they show they are plain idiots.

Mr. M. Parang hindi ka naging bata! Mainit ang dugo, mapusok at walang takot! Feeling immortal until the shit hits the fan! Pero Defiant to the end! Yan ang UP student! Yan ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan! You do not agree with what those students did to Sec. Abad!? Being violent for you is low level minded!? You call that Violence!? Parang hindi ka yata napasama sa mga rally noong UP days na truncheon, tear gas, nakulong or hold for 48 hours etc. That is the enviroment of UP not La Salle, UST, Ateneo! But UP! Or you never join any anti government rally or activity nung estudyante ka? Kung panahon nga namin yan for sure some students would be arrested and Sec.Abad would need to go to the E.R? So for you we are low level minded and idiots? UP student ka ba talaga?

5 mins · Like

Nonoy: People are free to do what they want, provided they are accountable for their action or inaction. If those STAND UP activists and their apologists think it was the right thing to do, fine. But other people who do not share their violence mentality are also free to lambast and attack their emotionalism and idiocy. That is what the UPSE faculty members did. They were saying, "Hooligans, do your thing outside of UP, or at least outside of UPSE grounds." If they have to be violent idiots, they should show it elsewhere, not in UPSE grounds.

Mr. M: Then I am a hooligan! And UP hooligan! Am Darn Proud of it!!! : )

Nonoy: Good, That is the right thing to do. Be accountable for one's words and actions.

It's also cool if activists will sing insulting songs while smiling and clapping, as bureaucrats like Butch Abad come out. Another gimik is that the activists will have a group photo with him, all smiling, but at the back there are plackards attacking him, then post in fb or youtube, I think that trick will go viral. No mess, no violence, no controversies, and still effective in attacking him.

I am no fan of Butch myself and the fiscal irresponsibility of this admin -- and all other admins before it. But I can attack them with words and ideas. If thousands of UP students will do the same, many govt bureaucrats will melt.

Mr. M: Sometimes or most of the time, ACTION not words will be more effective for change.....

Nonoy: kanya-kanyang trip yan. People can shoot or stab other people that they dislike actually. So long as people are accountable to their actions, fine. Face the consequences, no running away, no double talk. Pwedeng manggulo or manggulpe ng ibang tao, justified, pero sila hindi pwedeng gulohin at gulpihin, unjustified, kasi human rights violations, kasi abridging freedom of assembly, kasi there is pol. repression, kasi....

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To summarize, I am against the use of physical violence and aggression in settling disputes for the following reasons:

1. It is a low-level-mind way of expressing ideas and emotions.

2. It further expands government. It is used as an excuse by the government to keep expanding its armed forces and police and the armaments they wield.

3. Inferior ideas and  dishonest people can be hurt and shamed by truthful and independent analysis. These people use government armed and coercive forces or private armies to harass and terrorize those who  will expose them  and  their  lousy ideas. Thus, the use of violence by the  government or by the activists and/or political opposition in stifling freedom of expression is unjustified. 

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See also:

Emotionalism, Violence and Stupidity: the Attack by UP Student Activists on Sec. Abad, September 20, 2014

UP Hooligans, Part 2, September 20, 2014

UP Hooligans, Part 3, September 22, 2014

UP Hooligans, Part 3

Below is a  statement released today.
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Statement of UP President Alfredo E. Pascual on the incident involving DBM Secretary FlorencioB. Abad in UP Diliman

Posted on September 22, 2014 by upweb_wordpress in Announcements

A few days ago, a disturbing incident happened at the University of the Philippines Diliman.  A group of protesters, consisting of some UP students, confronted Department of Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad outside the UP School of Economics auditorium.  He was then leaving a forum, where he was one of the speakers.  According to media reports, Secretary Abad was subjected to verbal indignities and the protesters hurled “placards, crumpled papers and coins” at him.

The forum was organized by the UP Diliman University Student Council and the UP School of Economics Student Council to discuss the proposed UP budget. Reportedly, the forum also discussed the disbursement acceleration program of the government.

Secretary Abad, as an invited speaker in this UP student forum, should have been accorded the courtesy and respect due to all guests of the University. While UP constituents are free to actively express their views on issues that affect our nation, such as the proper use of public funds, UP does not condone the use of violence in any manner against any person, be it a member of the university community, a visitor, or a government official.

UP Diliman is now investigating the reported incident in accordance with the University’s rules, including the participation of people who are not affiliated with UP.

I have always maintained that as the country’s national university, UP must lead the debate on important issues confronting the country.  UP must also uphold the time-honored tradition of dissent vis-a-vis questionable government policies. But debate and dissent, while articulated with passion, require evidence-based and reasoned arguments, and civility to and respect for those who hold the opposite view.  Abusive words and deeds have no place in the hallowed grounds of the University.

Alfredo E. Pascual

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Meanwhile, I am curious about the stand of the UP Student Council (USC), the co-organizer of the forum.

A friend said that the violent activists are part of the youth being "bold and wild". Maybe, but what do we call the UP students who  listened to the presentation by the Secretary, then form their own opinions to be expressed later as academic papers, tweets, facebook and blog postings, they are not "bold and wild"? I think we can call the latter as "bold, wild and wise" while the latter are "bold, wild and violent".

Put the government scoundrels and DAP architects in  jail, yes, I agree with that. But there is a process; bureaucratic and time consuming, politics tainted process. It can exonerate some people, or it can convict and  imprison them. Two former Presidents have been imprisoned already, Erap and Gloria, although the former was pardoned and set free. Three Senators are in jails already on corruption charges.

It is a bureaucratic but more transparent process, rather than throwing-shouting-body dragging process. If such acts by the activists can be justified, then similar acts by the counter-activists can also be justified. And we can easily go the uncivil mob rule. Whoever has more violent men and women can win an argument and rule.

Meanwhile, Bayaan Mo Na has issued statement. They are saying that he time for non-sober, violence-inspired discourse should be the norm. If you are a speaker in a public forum and they know your position before and they do not like it, they can wait for you outside, throw things and drag and hurt you if they want.

And the student activists involved in violence made this arrogant statement.

Sorry, Not Sorry

"Had we been intent on hurting him and disrupting the event, we would have barged right into the auditorium while he was prattling to students, mauling everyone who got in our way.

But with all the restraint our indignant group could muster, we waited for him outside because inside, in the so-called venue for dialogue, only five minutes were allotted for the open forum and questions from the audience were filtered. Contrary to what Abad would like everyone to believe that he was more than willing to engage with us, he wanted to evade us and even tried getting away through a fire exit and a window!UP President Pascual, instead of apologizing to Abad, should have given him a tip or two on how to dialogue with UP protesters. You stop in front of the crowd, speak, and facilitate a discussion. These, Abad never did or even attempted to do."

No names, no one would own  up to such arrogant statement. Cowards.

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See also:

Emotionalism, Violence and Stupidity: the Attack by UP Student Activists on Sec. Abad, September 20, 2014

UP Hooligans, Part 2, September 20, 2014

UP Hooligans, Part 2

This is a continuation of Emotionalism, Violence and Stupidity: the Attack by UP Student Activists on Sec. Abad  earlier.

From the Inquirer,  Palace, Abad blast UP campus mob, September 19th, 2014,

“Once I began approaching the Stand UP group, however, the protesters—who were around 50 to 60 strong—did not engage me in dialogue. Instead, they surrounded me aggressively as I made my way toward the vehicle. I had objects thrown at me, and one student even attempted to grab me by the collar.”

Abad was also pelted with coins and the collar-grabbing incident happened as he was getting into his car, according to other accounts gathered by the Inquirer. 

The Secretary was still lucky because he was protected by UP's private security guards. Otherwise, he may have been dragged and punched. The event was organized by the UP Student Council (USC) and venue was the UPSE auditorium. The hooligans are reportedly from the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP).

These minority violent activists -- the majority are non-violent, listened to his presentation, asked questions and more questions, and that's it -- maybe they were trained precisely for violence and stupidity.

Again, I am no fan of Sec. Butch Abad and the fiscal irresponsibility of this and past administrations, But these things can be shown and exposed in public fora, peacefully and with civility, no shouting with invectives nor resorting to violence. 

I like this opinion by Atty. Mel Sta. Maria.

A friend, Prof. Bong Mendoza of the UP Political Science Department, tagged me his facebook comment, "Aren't violating the Constitution and hooliganism crimes? And the former is the graver crime? The much graver crime?So why is A Bad Baby crying and complaining?"

 .

I commented that the Secretary was not "crying and complaining." It was the UPSE faculty members who issued the strong statement indirectly saying, "Hooligans, do your thing outside UP, or outside UPSE. He was formally invited, he agreed to come, treat him as a guest like you treat a guest in your house or party."

If one is invited in a forum to speak on his controversial, "politically incorrect" position, and some guys dislike his ideas and start shouting and throwing things at him, drag and punch him if possible, one would not be happy with it.

Two of Bong's friends came to defend the hooligans. I did not ask for their permission to use their comments, so I will not give their names. Nonetheless, I think  their arguments are worth posting so readers can see another side of the coin.

(1) HD said, 

Abad was no ordinary "guest." He is one of the country's most powerful public officials, with apparent control over P3 trillion pesos and a huge say in how the entire apparatus of the state, which has relative monopoly over the legitimate use of violence in the country, is run. More than that, he is responsible for crafting a scheme which the Supreme Court has found unconstitutional and which many people consider undemocratic at best and immoral at worst. He is therefore accountable to the public and to the people wherever he goes.

But to use the inappropriate analogy, is it really true that we should always and everywhere treat guests with respect? Doesn't it depend on the context--on who the guest is and what he has done? Suppose, to use an analogy that is extreme but that drives home the point, Hitler or Stalin or Bin Laden or Marcos were invited to UP? Should we just bow down to them in respect and treat them like "guests"? No, we have every right, even a moral obligation, to make them feel anything but welcome.

As for being invited to a forum and then suddenly being accosted by my audience, does it not again depend on the context: on what you say during the forum or what you've done before it? If, to use another extremely analogy, I suddenly started yelling 'Kill all the Jews" or "Kill all Muslims", or for that matter if I tell outright lies misleading my audience, then I think my audience have every right--even a moral obligation--to be angry at me and denounce me. If, to use a closer analogy, before coming to the forum I orchestrated a scheme that effectively trashed democracy by usurping the power to decide how to spend hundreds of billions of people's money--then got away with it with impunity, should I really expect my audience to be nice to me or to kiss my feet?

(2) RV said,

"Why the sudden regard of UP Econ faculty on courtesy in exchange of ideas in pious solicitude with Sec. Abad? They were dead silent when then President Gloria Arroyo was mobbed by UP activists when she attended a UP workshop. Not a whimper was heard from this group when then AFP Chief of Staff Esperon was shouted out and hit with hard paper balls by UP students. What is bad for Abad is good for those they loath and dislike? Is this not selective vigilance on civility if not plain hypocrisy?"

#1 is garbage. If Sec. Butch Abad forced his way to UP saying, "I will go to UP even uninvited and lecture on those activists and if they misbehave, I have a platoon of soldiers to deal with them" with arrogance, then he deserves to be treated with arrogance.

Suppose we  replace Butch Abad as the invited guest in the UP forum that day, say it was House Speaker Belmonte, or Sen. JP Enrile or Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, or Jaime Ayala or MV Pangilinan or any other known political and business personality in the country. Some student activists do not like him even before he steps in UP grounds. Does this justify the acts of violence?

#2 is misguided. The UPSE faculty members reacted with strong words because the hooliganism occurred on UPSE grounds. If other faculty members from other colleges have tolerance for physical attacks, or they were shy to confront the hooligans when these student goons disrespect guests in their colleges, that is another issue. The SE faculty members said, "No, we cannot tolerate such hooliganism in our grounds."

Now, see this statement justifying the UP hooligans, 

That statement shows that this group Contend-UP are cowards and misguided. In the UPSE statement, the professors gave all their names, they did not say, "Faculty of UPSE" and not a single name was given. In this statement, zero name, no one is brave enough to own up to such lousy statement.

See their sloganeering, and my commments:

Uphold campus freedom! -- Yes, anyone with a brain and willing to stand by his/her statements are welcome to speak in UP.

Uphold the rights of students to protests and assemblies! -- Yes, but their "rights" do not include the right to physically attack people whom they dislike.

No to campus repression! -- Who repress whom? Any government policeman attacked and arrested any of those hooligans?

Secretary Butch Abad resign now! -- Fine, say it. Loudly, 1,000x, 1M x, but such freedom of expression does not include the "freedom" of physical aggression.

Oust President Aquino! -- same as above.

Make all persons and parties involved in DAP and PDAF accountable! -- same as above.

Down with bureaucrat capitalism! -- Is this the CPP above ground speaking? Very likely, yes.

Weekend Fun 43: Tales from Narra Dorm, UP Diliman

Narra Residence Hall in UP Diliman was the only dormitory for boys. There are three dormitories for girls -- Kamia, Sampaguita and Ilang-Ilang, the rest are co-eds. And of those dormitories, Narra is gone, since several years ago. First it was neglected, then a portion got burned, and finally it was demolished to house the UP Integrated School (UPIS) as the original UPIS campus has been bought by the Ayalas for another real estate project.

I was a resident of Narra dorm from 1983-85. Before that I stayed in Molave (my 2nd year in UP) then Yakal dorms (my 3rd year). Many memories of wild, wacky and other characters in Narra remain vivid in my mind until now, three decades ago. I should write about those memories here in the near future. For now, I am posting a great article written by a fellow Narra dormmate and friend, Fer Cao, originally posted in the Narra dorm facebook group more than a year ago. This is well written, colorful and wacky. Thanks for the permission to post your great memoir Fer.
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THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN DECLINE

by Fernando "Fer" Cao

The thing I fondly miss most about late 80s Narra was the air of pure, unapologetic decadence that must have been like the Roman Empire in decline.

It is something that will greet you immediately while still at the lobby: two old men sitting on ancient chairs acting like gatekeepers to the empire---one a cool, ponderous and word-thrifty Mang Tony while the other, a blustering, cantankerous and full-of-exclamations Mang Willie. They were commanded by a Napoleonic figure---the enigmatic Mr. Bernardo---who would roam his domain with his unsmiling, arrogant glances, stomach out, and one of his hands on his trouser pockets.

In my time, there was a sort of unwritten rule in Narra. If you were a novice, you had to defer to the veterans. No matter how tough you were or how intelligent your opinion might have been, you must yield to the frailest looking denizen of the place. Just like in the outside world, a novice must earn time, recognition and respect. I’ve seen rowdy newcomers given their deserved comeuppance by the mayors of each wing. Unfortunately for the novice, most veterans considered themselves mayors of each wing! So you were The Man in Molave? Go fuck yourself, pussy, this is Narra! Now go back to the end of the line!

Narra was an amalgamation of tribes not mutually exclusive of each other---the fratmen, the basketball guys, the degenerate sugarols, the regional buddies, the Pink sisters, the tropang malilibog, the freespirits, artists and bohemians, the Muslim brethren, the grim-and-determined activists, the plain weird and goofy, the sleep-deprived law and masteral students, the vet students and their horrible experiments, the trippers and their stashes, etcetera, etcetera…

All of which make up the dreaded Narra Gauntlet. Each year, candidates for the various positions of the University Student Council (USC) tour the dorms, present their platforms and campaign for votes. Narehans love to make candidates squirm, fumble with answers and blush with embarrassment with pointed questions and arguments that pierced many a veneer or pretension. In my time, the most dreaded questions usually come from the oldest among us who’ve nearly seen it all. I can’t remember all their names now but one stands out---Clifford Espinosa, presently a famous wood sculptor, he with the infamous smirk, leer and lilt that curses you without uttering a single expletive yet. And this is just coming from the guys opening their mouths! The rest of the gauntlets are as equally bloodthirsty with their sporadic howls of maniacal laughter at something even remotely funny or embarrassing. So what about those decent looking guys over there keeping to themselves? Don’t be fooled--- they’re fantasizing about you right now in a victory joe position! Thus, in all my time at Narra, I rarely saw the prettiest or the sultriest USC candidate drumming up enough courage to face the Gauntlet.

Weekend Fun 42: Danny Purple, UP Diliman Character in the 70s

In the facebook group "Taga UP Diliman Ka Kung..." formed two years ago, lots of stories were shared. Among them was Danny Purple. He was indeed a character, see different stories from different UP Diliman alumni below. 

I did not find enough stories about him in google, not even a photo of him. Am using a photo of one of my favorite rock bands when I was in UP Diliman myself, the Deep Purple :-)
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Danny Purple was a character at the Canteen near the Chem Pav tambay sa SABAKA, this was in the mid 70's). He would read/recite poetry always in a loud booming voice. his fav quote; "...because, I am Danny Purple!" When I was a freshman I usually veered away from him because he is a tall guy, with mustache and a goatee. Always has a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

‎70's nga. and he is kinda scary. pag type ka niya susundan sundan ka niya which is scarier. kilala ko type niya bigla na lang binuhusan ng pabango ang paa habang nakasaky sila sa ikot.

ilang araw din siyang nagtambay sa parking lot ng kamia kung saan nakaharap ang rum namin ng type niya . it created quite a stir in the dorm during those times . . .

Mahilig siyang sumakay ng JD mula UP hanggang Quiapo pero round trip. Makikipagtalakayan lang siya sa mga pasaherong intresado sa usapan. Siempre, dahil kilala na siya ng mga drivers, walang bayad ang dyaske! ;-)

one time, papasok ako sa Greenhouse, tumabi si Danny Purple sa 2 babae. nagsindi ng yosi si Danny Purple tapos pinahipan yung posporo sa babaeng katabi nya. natuwa ang kumag, nagsindi nang nagsindi ng posporo si Danny. hihip nang hihip naman yung babae at mukhang natatakot na sa kanya.....

He would wear cargo pants with the side pockets. Lahat ng bulsa, may maliit na suklay. Paglakad niya, bawat hakbang eh kabilaang kamay ang dumudukot sa bulsa at sumusuklay. May hitsurang lalake, sobrang in love kay Boots Anson (Roa) at hindi nakatulong ang pag-basted sa kanya. I was in UP from '75 and he was a known character on campus until nag-graduate ako.

He was a very gentle and caring person who really looked out for his friends. Of all the people i got to know in campus, Danny is the one I look back to most fondly. I'm sure he had touched countless lives.

Kasama namin sa SABAKA si Danny Aguilar AKA Danny Purple. One of the wittiest, funniest, and gentlest people I've ever known. One time he stopped traffic near the AS by laying on the street.

Maraming takot sa kanya. Maraming naniniwala na baliw sya. But I had the good fortune of knowing him more intimately than others and being taken under his wing. Magkasama sila ng kuya ko sa SABAKA at close silang lahat doon...pati mga kapatid. Ang tawag nya sa akin ay "sweetheart" and he would always escort me between classroms during my first year in college. He was a true big brother to me.

 

He was a genius studen t(i think his course was calculus) whose classmate was boots anson roa (that long ago!). they say he was so eccentric. he was so in love with boots that they say, when she busted him, nasira ang ulo. he hung out in and around AS loooong after he graduated. parang si zorro. was in purple pants EVERY DAY, hence the name.

another story- sumakay ng bus (the red one, JD bus) papuntang cubao. FYI, danny is a scary looking guy with thick, bushy eyebrows. when the condoctora asks him saan po kayo, he very slowly turns to her and in a very loud voice that sounded like darth vader, says "SA IMPYERNO!" condoctora backs away shaking, and almost crying, in a whining voice, answers, "hanggang cubao lang po kami eh...."

he was way more fun to be around than zorro. he would sit at the AS lobby and talk to students... really smart and entertaining, harmless really.

Minsan ay nakasakay ako sa bus. sa harapan ko ay may mag-syota na sweet na sweet. sa bus stop ay nandoon si Danny Purple. nakita ang mag-syota. sabi ni Danny Purple sa babae - "lolokohin ka lang niyan!"

 Whenever he rode Ikot, he would have an entire row to himself, and all other passengers would be crammed into the seat on other side. And you knew when it was noon, even if you didn't wear a watch, because he & SABAKA would shout P..KE before they ate lunch at the AS Co-op (I didn't know what to say when my female seatmate asked me, "Ano daw?"). Then one day, they just stopped shouting... forever.

GITNA NG MISA SA UP CHAPEL. TINATAAS NG PARE ANG OSCHA. DATING SI DANNY PURPLE NA MAY HAWAK NA FIREMAN'S AXE, nakasimangot! Natigilan ang pare. Dirediretso si Danny Purple sa altar. Natigilan lahat.Tinaas ang palakol at binagsak sa harap ng altar. Tumingala sa krus. Sabi, "O, hayan, Jess! Di ko na papalakulin. Alay ko na sayo to!" Lumakad palabas. Nakahinga lahat.

He used to walk around the campus (much like Zorro these days, but noisier) shouting to the skies, "I'm a poet! I'm an artist! I'm a genius! I'm a writer! I'm a..."

the strange, dark, tall terror of freshmen girls he often "make gulat" at the AS basement canteen.

Kilabot ng bayan.......Quotable from him.. "Teka, makikihalo na muna ako sa mga leyon.....mga kuting pa lang kayo....."

known for 'my name is Crime, and Crime does not pay' in answer to paying his fare with the Ikot drivers.

sa greenhouse yata, dumaan si lulette moran (?to margie) ni-raise daw ni danny ang skirt ni lulette sabay sayaw at kanta: cha cha cha, ang panty niyay pula.

 

THE icon before Romeo Lee. He would either flash his UP ID to get a discounted rate when taking a jeepney ride, or simply say he is "Crime", explaining that Crime does not pay. He would throw rocks at the UP DMST in protest of then-campus star Boots Anson Roa becoming a sponsor, and at one time after a rainy day, takes off his shirt and lays it on the muddy path for Ms. Boots to step on.

Danny Purple entered U.P. in the mid- or late 60s, then over-stayed in campus until the late 70's. Six-foot plus guy ----the tall, dark but not too handsome fellow who was called by his name because of his favorite color purple. He also wore tangerine and many of those pscyhedelic colors of the flower people of his generation , but purple was a standout. He was a fixture at the AS building (Palma Hall) and whose presence cut across so many batches. 

He was simply a full-time U.P. tambay who was witty in some respects-----being UP educated---but already had nuts and bolts in between his ears.

Being so tall, he would piss not on the urinals, but on the wash basins. He could have been probably one of those vandals at the comfort rooms.

 

One time sitting at the backmost seat of the bus, where he would yell at the top of his voice-----"PARA!!!!" jolting every passenger, including the driver who is forced to screech to a halt, only to be ordered again with a booming voice------"GO.!

 

A core member of the decadent U.P. SaBaKa---- Samahang ng mga Bastos sa Kanteen ( later Kampus). They were the guys who drank hard drinks at the canteen and who popped in and out of classrooms, shouting expletives and cuss or obscene words, like "panahon ng sumigaw ng P.I." etc. Given the opportunity they were walking behind ladies with short hems, they did not hesitate to "skirt the issue" by lifting hems and saying ahems....Mg a bastos talaga.
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See also:
Weekend fun 20: Taga-UP Diliman ka Kung..., August 20, 2011 
Christmas Notes 7: UP Lantern Parade 2012, December 18, 2012 
Weekend Fun 41: Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Other Politicians, May 25, 2013

Math, Number Theory and Philippine Media

I have a good friend, a true blue academic scientist currently teaching at UP Diliman. He got his BS Math also from UP Diliman in the 80s, he did not graduate on time though because he was an activist. One time, he was shot by the police in one of the anti-Marcos rallies. If he was not athletic – he was a marathoner too, finished several 42K runs then – he should have died that day as the bullet pierced a number of his vital internal organs. His name is Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo.

Fidel toned down his involvement in student activism and pursued his real love – Math. He got his PhD Math from Sophia University I think, in Japan, specializing in number theory. When he came back to the Philippines, he was the only person here who has that specialization. I do not know now. Fidel teaches at the UP Math Department, Diliman campus.

Last week, he got a very prestigious and coveted award for most science researchers, the Achievement Award (for Mathematics) given by the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), DOST. The event was held at the Manila Hotel. Most awardees in the past were from the applied sciences/math, doing research that is immediately applicable to problems of the nation. So Fidel felt good that his work as a pure theorist, sometimes referred to as “useless, far out” work is being recognized.

Portion of the plaque says,

For his significant researches in mathematics published in high impact journals, numerous citations of his scholarly work, mentorship, and contribution to mathematics education and development; 

for pioneering the research on algebraic number theory, theory of elliptical curves, and applications to algebraic coding theory in the country, and

for elevating the status of Philippine mathematics through his engagements as visiting professor and researcher in prestigious institutions, speaker in various conferences, and election as President of the Mathematics Society and the South East Asian Mathematical Society – positions that he has served with distinction…

Congrats Fidel.

There should be a few  other Filipino researchers and academics in the basic science and math field, whose work are more appreciated abroad than here.  Big brains who get published in prestigious journals but never land in the front page of the Inquirer and other mainstream media.

In contrast, bar exam topnotchers and PMA top 10 graduates, even PNPA top 10 graduates – their names and faces -- always land in the front page of these big local media every year, no exception. do. Which speaks of the shallowness of PH media. Much, much brighter Filipino minds who come back with a PhD in molecular biology or PhD in particle physics, computer algebra, etc. never make it to the front page. Maybe in small inside pages, if ever.

Which speaks of the shallowness of the mainstream media, and even among civil society organizations (CSOs). Too much focus on lawyers and those who wield guns and bombs. 

See also previous blog posts here that featured Fidel:

An ever-expanding universe, June 25, 2010 
Pilipinas Forum 14: Math, Infinity and Limit, October 04, 2011 
Pilipinas Forum 20: Turbulence, Chaos Theory and the Stockmarket, November 13, 2011

Weekend fun 20: Taga-UP Diliman ka Kung...

There is a new facebook group called "Taga UP Diliman ka kung..." (You are from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, if you...") that is so hot. It was created only about 10 days ago by an alumni Cleve JD Mallari and it attracted 32,100+ members. The posting are so frequent and witty.

I am reposting this here so that other friends and readers who are not from UPD and hence, are not members of the group and cannot read the postings, can see them. I created one thread in the group, below, copy-pasted the significant comments and additions. Smileys and hahaha are removed here as all of these comments are for fun or wittily true. Pictures here are all taken from the group by other group members. Here we go!
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A girl was caught by UPD police making love to the Oblation.
Q1: Was a crime committed? Yes, statutory rape.
Q2: Can she be convicted? Yes, there is concrete evidence.

Victoria: And you know a Nonoy Oplas joke when you see one.

Jopay: noy... very hard evidence yan ah!

Lorenzo: so... will oble be imprisoned? or the girl? :)

Jopay: Depende... mukhang may consent naman

Nonoy: Some Diliman dorm jokes:
Narra -- dorm ng surot na tinatao
Kamia -- female version ng Narra (mga female na surot?)
Sanggumay - dorm ng mga manang
Ipil - dorm ng mga manong
Ilang-Ilang - dorm ng mga nai-ilang sa academic oval
Kalayaan (boys wing) -- silipan ng mga boys sa girls wing ng Yakal dorm

Some AS/CSSP male CR graffiti:
- The population of the world depends on what you are holding now.
- Pag inabot (ng ihi) mo ito (marker about 1 1/2 foot from your pototoy), astig ka.

Sa Narra dati, may issue re cats with 1 eye removed, 1 or 2 sq. inch of skin peeled, under observations pala ng mga Vet-Med students, the cats were roaming around. Narra dorm council created a graffiti wall, "What to do with the cats?" Some comments in the wall:
* itapon sa Kamia residence hall
* What to do with the vet meds?
* pusang-ina oh!
* nga pusakal kayo.

Jopay: Teka, noy, paano kung na-injured si oble? Ano ang crime?

Nonoy: Pag na-injure si Oble, the crime is statutory injury.

Some dorm male CR graffiti:
Sa Molave: "Here I sit all broken hearted,
tried to shit but only farted."
Sa Narra: "Here I sit on my puwet,
my asshole opens up a bit
out comes something like velvet
No, its my brownish shit."

Meanings of TBA in UP:
Ordinary enrollment -- (teacher) To Be Announced
Martial Law days -- (Teacher & student leaders) To Be Arrested
Applicants sa mga frats -- To Be Arbored (at idaan sa hazing).

Some graffiti at the back of main library dati:
-- Aanhin pa ang damo, kung tulog na ang addict.
-- Ako ay may naaamoy, parang mabangong kahoy,
O damo, damo, pagkain ng kabayo.
-- Ako ay may syota, malaki ang dyoga
dyoga, dyoga, nakapanlalata.

Jopay: Noy, malicious mischief ang crime pag na-injure si oble! baka maitanong yan sa bar!

Nonoy: 2 bus lines plying UPD in early 80s. JD bus line and MMTC, air-con or double decker. Ang JD, lawanit lang dingding, so in case of emergency, pwede na tadyakan ang dingding. Sa MMTC double decker, madami takot sumakay sa itaas kasi walang drayber :-)

Pag tingin mo mababa score mo or babagsak ka sa exam, ganito ang palusot: "Don't let your academics get in the way of your education." Halata ano ha.

UP noon vs ngayon:
-- dati pag nagrar-rally, sa plackard lang. ngayon nasa ipad na
-- dati UP IKOT lang, ngayon may TOKI na
-- dati pasok lang walang ID, ngayon may signs na NO ID, NO ENTRY or WEAR ID AT ALL TIMES
-- dati unli rice lang sa Area 2 at walang Via Mare, ngayon coño na...
‎-- dati kasabay mo nag-aantay ng jeep sa Edsa/Q.Ave mga kapwa estudyante, ngayon hatid-sundo ng mga drivers nila.
-- dati mga freshmen na uhugin, ngayon mga de-kotse na, loaded pa
-- dati, madaming mga dugyutin, amoy pawis na klasmeyts na mababangis sumagot sa recitation, ngayon mapoporma at mayayamang klasmeyts na walang muang sa mundo
-- dati mura tuition, ngayon mahal na...

The administrator of this group, Cleve JD Mallari posted that they will disable posting from Sat 7am to Sun 11pm but people can still read the various threads. Riot ang mga response, like these:
- yes! makakapag pahinga mga mata ko!
- Makakasubo ng konti at makakajingle.
- An tagal !! ... May gamot ba kayo pang detox bago mag 11 pm ng Sunday?
- ayos, para di na umusok yung computer ko
- ayan pwede nako maligo!
- Para may family time naman! :)
- i see symptoms of withdrawal....
- we will come to realize na "there's life beyond UPD group/site pala"..
- Withdrawal yan. Patay ang mga addict.
- So if I start getting the shakes and shivers this weekend, I'll know the reason why.
- puede na ako mag groceries, mag car wash at matulog!
- That's enough time to check in na into a rehab center.
- Ok, kaunting break. Galit na asawa ko dahil mukha ko nasa computer na lang at naka ngiting mag-isa
- Pucha, yung pinatanggal ko na eyebags at inalagaan ng tatlong taon, nawala in three days...

Weena: may ID na, may Via Mare pa??!! homaygulay~!!!

Nonoy: Some dorm stories, from other threads in this group:
- Nasubukan mong ma-harana sa sampaguita...
- naririnig mo yung malakas na tilaok ng mga manok ni mrs cantuba sa sampa
- nakaramdam ka ng multo sa Sampa
- Sampa, Napagkamalan akong multo sa CR kc maputla ako, naka-nightgown, bagong kulot biuhok
- pag weekend, nagtitis ka ulamin ang lucky me pansit canton kasi sawa ka na sa aristocart at nagtitipid ka
- 730am ang class mo at going late ka na kaya suot mo ang pantulog mo pagpasok ng klase!
- tanghali na gumising. maaga ka pa sa class...

Rache: Noon walang kalaman-laman ang mga parking area especially sa AS park lot pero ngayon kulang na kulang na sa parking palaging puno kaya minsan nasa side streets na and it will cause traffic. Inside UP, traffic!!!

Nonoy: More dorm stories, about the (10pm curfew), from other threads in this group. Thanks for these stories, naalala ko dorm life ko in the 80s (Molave, Yakal, Narra):
- bibili kayo ng "bribe" na pagkain para kay manang guardya para di ma-record na curfew ka
- dahil sa curfew, mas pinipili mo na lang na matulog sa labas kaysa madagdagan violations mo sa dorm..
- Yakal, yung bomb threat doon e gawa gawa lang yata ng isang dormer na inabutan ng curfew at gusto pa ding makapasok ng dorm. Me media coverage pa ha!
- Narra, isang minuto lang tinatagal ng curfew. 10PM ang start pag 10:01 open na uli ang gate....

Kwento or alaskahan sa College of Engineering:
EE - eng na eng
CE - conting eng
ME - medyo eng
IE - indi eng

Florence; e yung GE? ;)

Nonoy: grabeng eng? hehe. Mga taga-EE nagpa-uso ng jokes na yon.

Florence: malamang sinabi nila "gagong eng'g"

Nonoy: Yon MetE (Metallurgical Eng'g), ano itatawag nila don, "metopak eng"?

Someone posted, "UPD ka kung magaling kang gumamit ng pythagorean theorem. 'The sum of 2 sides is alway greater than the hypotenuse.' Then showed a picture of a curve but paved walkway near Vinzons Hall, and an unpaved but straight pathway. Heto ilang comments:
- the shortest distance between two points is a straight line
- Noon yun! Ngayon "The shortest distance between two points depends on where you're going!"
- There is no such thing as a straight line. What you conceive as straight is just a line segment of a curve.
- depende yan sa weather..pag umuulan at maputik ang hypotenuse, dun ka sa longer distance dadaan(paved e)
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See also
Weekend fun 19: Sic O Clock News, June 19, 2011
Weekend fun 18. Gloria Arroyo cartoons, June 11, 2011

Welfarism 7: Squatters in the Univ. of the Philippines (UP)

Last week, I wrote this:

Squatters in UP

Recently, there were a few undesirable events happening at my alma mater, the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman campus. Last year, a male student was killed by some outsiders or non-students/personnel, said to be from the squatters area. Last week, a rumble occured between outsiders who forced their way inside during the UP Fair, and a member of the UP Police force was badly wounded.

These and related incidents are rooted to one issue in the university: the presence of too many non-UP related residents, aka "squatters". They occupy a big portion of the land area of UP Diliman. So many UP Diliman personnel -- faculty members, administrative staff, etc. have to live in sometimes far away cities and villages because the area occupied by the squatters is big. The same problem is experienced in UP at Los Banos (UPLB). Lots of squatters at Mt. Makiling, UPLB side.

UP is supposed to have property rights on its area. UP's property is UP's property, and it's not a property of the city government or the squatters' association or Congress or the Office of the President.

But everytime the UP adminstration will move to clear those areas of squatters, Mr. Mayor, or Mr. Congressman, some city councilors, etc., will call the UP President or campus Chancellor, asking that certain due processes should be observed, sthat the squatters be spared. They are voters and political supporters (or would-be supporters) of incumbent politicians.

So, how to solve the squatters problem? Along with UP's annual fiscal problem -- every year, UP administrators will beg the support of Malacanang, DBM, Congress and Senate -- UP should become a private university someday.

UP has been a fiscal beggar the past 100 years, even the squatters it can't force out because UP has some political favors to return to Congressmen, Senators, the President, and perhaps even the city Mayor and provincial Governor.

UP's (other state U's) privatization should be coupled by major tax cuts. Cut expenditures, cut taxes, cut bureaucracies.

After all, education is parental responsibility, not government responsibility.

1 comments:

Chiwee said...

Interesting. As per my tabulation on these IS inside UPD, they now occupy more than 79 hectares of campus land and still growing. Now that's 80% more space than the land built with legit structures inside (UP-Ayala technohub, student/faculty/staff housing, academic structures and numerous government offices scattered inside.

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The concept of “property rights", especially private property, becomes diluted, if not becomes a farce, when public authorities come in. Those officials are used to assuming and working with public land, public park, public rivers and oceans, public air space, etc. When a resource is owned by everyone and no one in particular, expect some abuse of that resource. That partly happens in UP.

A related issue among squatters, are former and retired faculty members. They have left many years ago, took consulting work outsize, zero official work with UP, and still occupy those houses in UP meant for faculty members.

Wishing a safer UP campus, an academic-oriented and not a social welfare and public housing campus, is not elitist. It's those people who insist that UP should be a public housing compound who are elitist because they don't understand what an academic environment should be, and yet they impose their concept of social welfare, to the rest of the academic community.

What can solve any conflict of land use in UP is a well-defined property rights. Clearly defining, this part is UP property. Over there is not. Then those squatters, including retired faculty who are no longer connected with UP, should get out, they give UP housing to new and current UP faculty members.

The main decision makers in the university are the UP administrators, not the Office of the President or Congress or the Senate or the City Mayor's Office.

Among the most urgent issues for UP now is how to house its faculty, students, non-acad personnel, so that they won’t have to live far away, where transportation cost and/or rental cost are much higher, which cuts deep into their take-home pay and/or monthly allowances as students.

The space, the housing units are already there, in the case of retired faculty members for instance. Why can’t UP use it for its current faculty members? No need to build new units, it will take years and xx million pesos and new round of political begging with Malacanang, Congress and Senate to approve a new housing program for UP. That is why I suggested that UP should assert its property rights over its properties inside the campus. Those land and housing units occupied by the squatters are owned by UP as an institution – not by the UP administrators, not by Malacanang and Congress, not by the QC Mayor, not by the squatters, not by any bleeding heart lefties or burning heart righties.

If UP becomes a private university – after 1 century of being a fiscal beggar, of being a political eunuch de baog that cannot enforce its property rights – many of those housing and crime problems will be solved, or at least significantly reduced. Even the most interventionist politicians would be ashamed to transgress into private property by private universities. Hence, you don’t hear huge squatter problem, if any, in Ateneo or UE or La Salle or AMA or UE, etc.

A friend suggested to “guarantee long term tenure for the squatters.” This is dangerous. Why would we reward theft of other people’s or institutions’ property with long-term tenure? Are we now rewarding robbery and theft?

If the Philippine State wants, they can cut UP Diliman’s land area from say, 4,000 hectares to only 500 hectares, even 100 hectares, fine. Give all the “freed” land to the squatters, both poor and multi-millionaire squatters alike. Then set UP free as a private university. It will be one huge welfare program by the State where it will distribute lands for free or very cheaply to squatters. Some current universities were just computer and training schools about 2 or 3 decades ago, now they are huge universities putting up campuses left and right. UP with a 10 decades history and has produced some of the brightest minds of this country, should be able to survive and thrive as an autonomous institution.

I will concur that primary education can be State responsibility. Perhaps until high school on some cases. But tertiary education should be private. What I know is that all responsible parents in this country work hard just to bring their kids to a private school somewhere, from pre-nursery to kinder to high school. Not that public elementary education now is complete junk, a few are still good. But the level of inefficiency and waste in public school system is simply high. I talked to a teacher once, who teaches at a private elementary school, and was moving the earth and the moon so she can transfer to a public school. Why? Parents in private schools are very demanding, teachers need to work hard to ensure that their students would learn something useful, and yet the pay is lower. Whereas in public schools, teachers don’t care sometimes if their students won’t learn a thing (average ratio is usually 60 students/teacher) and yet the pay, bonuses and pension are high.

Some parents are just simple and cool. They work hard, they also party hard. They work 6 days a week and also drink 6 nights a week. Well, ok, they don’t drink 6 nights a week, they only gamble 6 nights a week. After all, their children’s education is social and government responsibility, why worry?

* See also:  Welfarism 6: Obama and US Entitlement, November 11, 2008