s A volunteer documentor’s mobile phone streams the class, “The Anti-Poverty Programs of the Administration LOYOLA SCHOOLS of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte” live on Facebook. Select TALAB classes were beamed live to reach more people and bring the discussions online. These videos are still available via TALAB’s Facebook page facebook.com/AteneoTALAB. BuildBulletin community. Nurture hope. CONFRONTINGvol 9 ■ no 2 ■ 2nd sem 2017–18 ■ ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY NATIONAL ISSUES IN TALAB 2018 TALAB 2017 and 2018 revolved around the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations Ed Lingao, TV5 broadcast journalist; Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) columnist and National Book Development Board the days leading to the EDSA or Talakayang Alay sa Bayan, led by Dr. Leland chair; and Rambo Talabong, Rappler contributor receive certificates of revolution, the Ateneo community de la Cruz, Director of the Office for Social appreciation as guest speakers for the class, “Youth for the Philippines: Media as Propagator of Peace and Justice” hosted by AIESEC-ADMU was active in the movement Concern and Involvement (OSCI). It was a against the dictatorship, and rousing success. TALAB 2017 was even popular in efforts to monitor the snap enough to merit an unprecedented follow up presidential elections. In the in the next academic year. aftermath of the elections, This academic year, 2017-2018, TALAB ran a INamidst accounts of massive cheating few sessions on October 17, 2017 and carried by the Marcos regime, Ateneo student out the rest on February 21, 2018—both leaders, including Karel San Juan (now a featuring the 17 Sustainable Development Jesuit priest, and President of Ateneo de Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. Zamboanga University) organized a mass Government and industry leaders, experts, walkout from classes. They protested the and other key figures engaged students, Ateneo administration’s intent to return faculty, and alumni on and off-campus. TALAB Gloria Jumamil-Mercado, Undersecretary of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, answers audience questions in the class, “The Anti-Poverty to academics as usual. They clamored for 2018 featured field trips, films, performances, Programs of the Administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte” opportunities to channel school time toward talks, panels, and workshops on topics that moderated by Ateneo VP for Social Development Jaime Hofileña activities that help students understand and included Tax Reform, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive participate in national life. Justice, Social Entrepreneurship, Technology, This led the administration to approve and Violence. the ACP, or Alternative Class Program, in Facebook Live videos of many TALAB 2017 early 1986. The entire school took at least a and 2018 sessions are available online at DBM Sec. Benjamin Diokno (right) discusses how the Duterte government day off from regular classes, to give way to facebook.com/AteneoTALAB. allocates funds for international commitments such as the SDP in the activities which aimed to inspire Ateneans class “Budgeting for the SDGs” moderated by Jaime Hofileña to contemplate and confront pressing issues. It became an annual event, and was held until 2006. It was then discontinued, as its effectiveness and relevance faded over a two decade run. The ACP was revived in 2009, in time for the celebration of the Ateneo sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary. It failed to take root. But changing times have pressed Ateneans Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and PDI columnist John Nery answer questions from students in the class, “An Inquirer Conversation on the closer to the issues of the day. On February Rule of Law: Consensus and Dissent in the Supreme Court” 21, 2017 the ACP came back to life as TALAB, Students at the Leong Hall Lobby sign into their TALAB class 2 LOYOLA SCHOOLS Bulletin Build community. Nurture hope. AinA MArtin When the Supreme Court ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday, May 11, an uproar rose among Ateneo de Manila teachers and students, and many INDIGNATION RALLY gathered at Ateneo Gate 2.5 for the 5pm photos by romar chuca indignation rally organized by the student councils and student political organizations from Ateneo, Miriam College, and the University of the Philippines Diliman. Here is an Atenean’s account of her experience. nger, frustration, apprehension and disgust—I was a complete mix of emotions upon hearing the outcome of the votes. As I began to read the messages of our reputable politicians, I became indignant and felt driven to take a stand. AGratefully, I found out about Ateneo’s indignation rally through Twitter and I made it a point to be there. The atmosphere was encouraging and inviting with the diverse attendees. There were priests, teachers, and many students. The majority were in black and a number were waving flags. We were calling out to drivers to honk their horns for justice, while yelling chants. I particularly liked, “Ang tao, ang bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban!” It felt uplifting and energizing to yell out my indignation about the dismal situation. A few moments later, we heard an increasing roar coming from the Miriam College area. A crowd of UP students was coming to join us, waving flags and chanting as they marched along Katipunan. We cheered as they arrived. The energy was picking up as we were increasing in number. The chants were getting louder and the beeping more frequent. Several media personnel were present. A few speeches were given, with a spotlight directed on the speaker. I bumped into a friend from UP who came from Padre Faura that morning. She went straight to her class afterwards only to find out that her professor called off classes so students could join the rally. Senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan were present as well, showing their support. Seeing the Philippine flag being waved, listening to the chants, and meeting strangers with similar beliefs gave me hope that CJ Sereno’s ousting would only add wood to a burning flame. Congratulations to the Loyola Schools Valedictorian of Class 2018 Vanessa T. Siy Van Bachelor of Science in health ScienceS and Bachelor of artS in economicS, summa cum laude from left Dr. Marlu Vilches, Vice President for the Loyola Schools; Van Siy Van, 2018 Class Valedictorian; Fr. Jett Villarin, Ateneo de Manila University President; and Dr.Jo Hofileña, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs volume 9 ■ number 2 ■ 2nd semester 2017–2018 ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY 3 GARCIA ON CHARTER CHANGE teneo de Manila held a forum on He continued to discuss possible charter charter change on January 29, 2018 in change in 2018. “It might be helpful for our the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Sandbox Zone, purpose to focus our thoughts on just three Areté. The forum featured experts in key issues: context, process, and preparation.” the realms of constitution, law, and He went on to explain the issues. “Context: Agovernance: Edmundo Garcia (Member, 1986 Without understanding context, the draft text Constitutional Commission and Parangal will just be pretext. What then are the main Lingkod Sambayanan Awardee 2015), former challenges and priorities in our country?” The Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, and Ateneo second issue was process. “Why is trust in the above Edmundo Garcia speaks of charter change below forum speakers Ed Garcia, Ronald Mendoza, and Florin Hilbay School of Government Dean Ronald Mendoza. process critical?” Then finally, the third issue. In his talk, Edmundo Garcia encouraged “Preparation: How can we better prepare? Ateneans to confront charter change: “Today, What are preconditions for charter change on the eve of the 31st anniversary of the and the sine qua non for level playing field? people’s approval of the 1987 Constitution, I Why put the cart before the horse?” wish to share a simple message that is direct He concluded with, “The most important and to the point: No to a new Constitution, actor in a democracy is the citizen. And, we not now! And, no to Federalism, not at this are citizens all. What we need at this time is time! My hope: together to take a stand; and, Ignatius of Loyola’s gift of discernment and together to take action.” the moral courage of a soldier turned saint.” n March 16, 2018, the Department of to the state. These relations could vary greatly, History and the Ateneo de Manila from violently resisting state power to University Press jointly hosted a actively assimilating into the system. talk by Dr. Patricio Abinales, faculty The book’s relevance today was STATESTATE ANDAND member of the University of Hawaii- discussed with two key points. First, that Manoa, entitled State and Society in the President Duterte did not represent a OPhilippines in the Duterte Era. The talk was held sudden resurgence of populism, since past in Escaler Hall, and focused on the relevance Presidents like Ramon Magsaysay, Cory of Dr. Abinales’s book State and Society in Aquino, and Erap Estrada also portrayed SOCIETYSOCIETY ININ THETHE the Philippines in the context of the present themselves as populists during their Duterte Administration. Though a relatively campaign runs. Second, the book provided serious topic, Dr. Abinales maintained an insight on the divide between local and informal atmosphere presenting his slides national government practices or behavior PHILIPPINES IN with much candor and humor. of politicians. These insights allowed Dr. PHILIPPINES IN Dr. Abinales shared that the impetus Abinales to argue how Duterte represented for the book was his desire, which was the adoption of local governance on the shared by his late wife, to write a history national level. This stood directly opposite of the Philippines that did not follow the the usual pattern of politicians shedding THETHE DUTERTEDUTERTE ERAERA traditional periodization of eras (i.e. pre- their local image upon rising to the national Hispanic period, Spanish colonial period, government.