Maramags

The Price of Silence - BIGKIS-UPM

2008-10-06T19:20:00.000+08:00

The Price of Silence

A little over a year has passed since Cris Mendez’ brutal death in alleged initiation rites, the University once again finds itself victim to another senseless act of fraternity violence. BIGKIS-UPM unequivocally condemns the blatant atrocities that occurred between the Tao Omega Mu (ΤΩΜ) and Sigma Kappa Pi (ΣΚΠ) fraternities at the College of Arts and Sciences.

We condemn this act, especially the assault on duly-elected student leader Jigs Tenorio (CAS-SC Chair), and the injury to innocent bystanders. The level of indiscriminate brutality from fraternity conflict is palpable: the hostility has not spared the highest representation of the CAS students and has even spilled over to include innocents in the conflict.

We call for the end of the propaganda war. The circulation of fliers is counterproductive to any peaceable resolution of conflict. It is petty and small-minded to resort to this proxy war. If there is cause to be found, justice is to be found with the appropriate authorities, not with the court of public opinion.

The flyers of ΣΚΠ are particularly disturbing. They claim that they “have been pushed too far”, and they “have to draw the line somewhere.” Violence cannot be justified by any reason. We challenge their claim to remain “committed to the primacy of peaceful settlement of disputes”. To prove their word, we demand that they turn over the perpetrators and masterminds to the authorities to face the consequences of their actions. If ΣΚΠ is as honorable as they claim, they must prove it by not coddling those who committed such criminal acts. Likewise, ΤΩΜ must refrain from escalating the violence by engaging in a peaceful resolution of conflict and refusing to retaliate.

Violence of any kind has no place with iskolars para sa bayan. Fraternities and sororities exist for the development of the responsible leadership in the community, the nation and the world. Such acts do not befit honorable fraternities: they belong to gangs and hoodlums, not in the university of the people. It is they who are the barbarians.

This cycle has persisted because of our tolerance. We, the students of UP Manila, should not condone this culture of violence, but instead condemn it. The student body cannot afford to be silent on this issue. The university should not be a warzone where the students’ academic progress is placed at risk.

The UP administration must provide swift justice and punish those involved. The university must never tolerate such blatant acts of violence. The administration must demonstrate its political will in ensuring justice is served. We call on Prof. Doroteo Abaya of the Office of Student Services, founder of ΣΚΠ,, to demonstrate impartiality in handling the case. Such barefaced disregard for the rules of the university should not remain unpunished.

We call on both ΤΩΜ and ΣΚΠ to cease their mindless conflict. The cycle of aggression will not end unless both parties are willing to place the true ideals of brotherhood and service above those of a misguided sense of pride and brotherhood. We challenge the student leaders from both sides, CAS-SC Chair Jigs Tenorio from ΤΩΜ and USC Councilor Ian Manalang from ΣΚΠ, to place the mandate of their office and the students’ trust and rise above a misguided sense of fraternity loyalty.

We invite the other fraternities to prove their moral ascendancy and sign a pact disavowing all forms of fraternity violence on campus. Together, they must provide the lead in ridding the university of rumbles, hazing and coercive recruitment.

We call on the students to join our voices in the condemnation of this act, and be constantly vigilant against further violence. It is in our silence and our tolerance of a mindless culture of brutality that such atrocities have thrived. UP Manila must demand that fraternities stay true to the university ideals of leadership, service and excellence.

How many more neophytes have to die, and how many more must be injured before we say enough is enough? We must remain silent no longer. Let the voices of the iskolars para sa bayan be heard.

END THE VIOLENCE NOW!

Bigkis ng mga Iskolar para sa Bayan tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago

Diamonds in the Rough - They're Out There

2008-09-05T20:09:00.000+08:00

Too often we have heard of the problem of health care in our country, phrased and rephrased in terms of the exodus of doctors and nurses, the substandard allocation of the national budget for health, and even legal matters concerning medical practitioners. It would seem that the Filipino doctor is enmeshed in troubled times, and nothing more.

Now more than ever, an uplifting message about the Filipino doctor is needed, one that shows he is also capable of heroism and selﬂessness for his countrymen.

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH is the Nationwide Search for Outstanding Young Doctors in the Community Setting. It is a search for unsung heroes in the medical field today: those who choose to serve the ones who need it most, by immersing themselves in the depressed, neglected, under-served communities in the country.

The Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity of the UP College of Medicine and the Rotary Club of Paco, along with our partners: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Philippine Medical Association (PMA), ABS-CBN, The Philippine Star, and Cebu Pacific Air, are now calling for nominations for this very momentous search.

If you know a doctor who:

Is a Filipino citizen 40 years old and below
Is a duly licensed medical practitioner under the Professional Regulatory Commission of the Philippines
Have actively served in the under-served community for which he or she is nominated for at least five (5) years
Is currently practicin
g in the said community
Have not been recognized by any award-giving body with similar objectives
Have not been charged with any misconduct involving moral turpitude
And not be related to any members of the Phi Kappa Mu or its partner agencies up to the 2nd degree

Then NOMINATE him/her by going to http://diamondsintherough.ph to download the application form! (Or see attached file or click here)

The Diamonds in the Rough (DITR) has three Major Award Categories: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. One physician will win for each region, each receiving PhP 100,000 worth of total prizes. The community of each DITR winner will also receive PhP 100,000 worth of prizes, to go to any sustainable projects supported by the DITR winner. Awarding will be held on December of 2008.

Deadline for nominations is on November 15.

All nominations shall be addressed to the DITR Secretariat and can be submitted or mailed to the following addresses:

Diamonds in the Rough
P.O. Box 778
Manila, Philippines, 1099

Salamat Dok: Current Affairs and News Office

Ground Floor, ABS-CBN Sgt. Esguerra Corner,
Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City

Nominations can also be directly sent to info@diamondsintherough.ph or

diamondsintheroughsearch@gmail.com, with all pertinent documents scanned.

Again, all entries must be received by Phi Kappa Mu in the UP College of Medicine or any of our partner agencies on or before November 15, 2008.

Criteria for judging are available at the DITR Website http://diamondsintherough.ph.

For more information, email info@diamondsintherough.ph or diamondsintherough@gmail.com.

Let us work hand-in-hand in finding these diamonds in the rough as finding them would be a feat truly worth celebrating!

They're out there.

++++++

Photos from the Diamonds in the Rough Launching Program at the Century Park Hotel:
http://rald03.multiply.com/photos/album/153/Diamonds_in_the_Rough_Launch

2005-02-06T01:18:00.000+08:00

Hello?

Asan na?

2004-09-30T20:57:00.000+08:00

Bakit wala nang nagpopost dito? Ha??

*taas kilay*

Hmp. Magparamdam naman kayo. Hehe (:

Waha! 2nd win ng Maroons! Yeah!

2004-08-14T01:26:00.000+08:00

UP makes it two in a row
by Rian Jay Hernandez

The hard-fighting University of the Philippines staved off the willful University of Santo Tomas squad, 79-74, to post their second straight win at the start of the second round of the UAAP Men's basketball tournament at the Big Dome.

Grizzled veterans Nestor David and Toti Almeda shouldered most of the points for the Maroons, combining for 25 big points in the first half alone as they established an early 45-30 cushion and never looked back.

“It was a good win but I’m not satisfied. I’m more scared when we have the lead because we have a tendency to relax,” said UP chief tactician Lito Vergara, who missed three games in the first round because of an unknown illness.

He added, “I wanted to instill in my players the killer instinct because our constant problem is that we don’t protect our lead very well. But the good thing is that our mental toughness was there. We didn’t succumb to pressure.”

A rash of injuries on key players such as Kenneth Robin and Marvin Cruz have kept the Maroons buried in ground zero. Their only victory came against another cellar-dweller, the National University Bulldogs.

But the Maroons showed the toughness and passion missing in the earlier part of their campaign, as they played heads-up perimeter defense to compile a 2-6 record. UST, which drew 19 points from Jemal Viscarra, fell to an even 4-4 slate.

Almeda’s unorthodox fastbreak lay-up gave the Maroons their biggest advantage, 56-38, with five minutes left in the third canto. But the Tigers growled back as they mounted an 8-2 run at crunch time, highlighted by a trifecta by Danny Pribhdas, to inch closer at 68-72, with 1:21 to go.

However, the Maroons, led by Josant Cervantes, shot 8-of-12 from the charity stripe down the stretch, to upset the Tigers. After Jireh Ibanes made the first of two freethrows for the final tally, Vergara rushed to his players at the bench and gave them high-fives.

David gathered 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Almeda had 16 points and three steals while Cervantes chipped in 12.

Hello?!

2004-08-13T20:10:00.000+08:00

Ano ba yun, ba't tayo 3 lang yung andito? Where are the others?

Uhuuuuuuuuuyyy!!

2004-08-07T20:05:00.000+08:00

Nakita ko si Ging at Mayi kanina..

Sa Galle.

Tsk tsk.. Naglalakwatsa tong mga 'to!

Hahaha (parang ako hindiü)

Nagkita kami, tapos..

"Uhuuuuuuuuuyyyy!!"

Hehe, share ko lang.. :D

..I miss Mahjong! Kamaaaaan, lets plaaaay!Ü..

P25

2004-08-01T15:31:00.000+08:00

wee! hahaha! P25 pesos ang panalo ko kagabi! buti na lang at umuwi ako agad at nabawi ko ang puhunan ko! hahahaha! :D

Yahoo!

2004-08-01T13:22:00.000+08:00

Yipee! Sa wakaas, ayaan. Hehe. Tama tama, mas madaling mag usap(?) dito. Haha.

Lalala..

Blog.

Blog..

Blog...

Blog!

Haha Ü

Welcome, mi familia!

2004-07-31T01:04:00.000+08:00

Mas okay dito kesa sa yahoogroups, kaya dito na lang tayo :) Sana dumami ang magpost dito. To get this blog started, nahalungkat ko to:

mira -- peace out! haha

aba aba aba

2004-07-31T00:32:00.000+08:00

hahaha! pati ba naman blog pinatulan! hahahahaha! ayus to a. :D cmon! lets play mahjong! badly need moolah! hahaha!