yeni

Council of Organizations of Ateneo

Performing Arts Cluster

Ateneo College Glee Club, Ateneo BlueREPERTORY,

Company of Ateneo Dancers and Tanghalang Ateneo

> * *

*Stand on the National Artists Award Controversy *
>
> *Septemeber 4, 2009*

> The National Artist Awards has always been one of the most prestigious
> honors in the Philippines. Until recently, three out of the four nominees is
> to be decided by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and
> the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), President Gloria Macapagal
> Arroyo is allowed to suggest one nominee to complete the list. This year,
> President Arroyo removed the three names that NCCA and CCP has nominated:
> Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (painter), late Lazaro Francisco (Tagalog novelist),
> and late Manuel Conde (filmmaker). She replaced these names with: Carlo J.
> Caparas (Komiks writer and “massacre” filmmaker), Cecile Guidote-Alvarez
> (presidential adviser on arts and culture), Pitoy Moreno (fashion designer),
> and Francisco Mañosa (architect). The most controversial name in the new
> list of nominees is Carlo J. Caparas. This raised eyebrows as well since
> Caparas has been known to be a loyal supporter of President Arroyo. The
> nomination of Alvarez is also questionable as she works very closely with
> the President herself.
>
> We question the actions taken by President Arroyo, as she overstepped the
> guidelines and altered the process of the National Artist Award. Never in
> the history of the nation has this process been overrode and distorted.
>
> We believe that the disputed proclamation of National Artists this year is
> indeed tainted with politics as presidential fiat was used inappropriately
> and without reasonable ground. The prospect of providing lifelong financial
> benefits to her "friends" deemed more important than the integrity and
> transparency of her administration. The values that are necessary of a
> person in office has long been lost in Philippine politics, and more so in
> President Arroyo’s office as she has grown to be more defensive than
> transparent.
>
> In the light of the proclaimed yet disputed artists, others may agree that
> they deserve the acknowledgment for their countless contributions to
> Philippines arts. However, the recognition must have been given in their own
> time, through proper and institutionalized procedures, and not through
> presidential veto. The two organizations, NCAA and CCP, are much capable
> and credible in making such decisions giving President Arroyo no reason to
> have tinkered with the process. As what happened, President Arroyo has
> robbed the artists of the benefit of enjoying their recognition - a pride
> heavier than the actual benefits they are receiving today.
>
> President Arroyo’s actions have created uproar in the arts community. We as
> members of the Performing Arts organizations of the Ateneo de Manila
> University namely Ateneo College Glee Club, Ateneo BlueREPERTORY, Company of
> Ateneo Dancers, and Tanghalang Ateneo, are compelled by our love and passion
> for the arts to preserve and protect it in all forms in which it may
> manifest. Recent events are a mockery not only to the original list of
> nominees or to the nation’s esteemed artists but to Filipino culture and
> art, of which the purity and essence has been toyed with like another
> political arena. As students of the Ateneo de Manila University we condemn
> the abuse of power displayed by President Arroyo. We join Filipino artists
> and citizens in the call for justice and transparency.

it's so irritating whenever i try to photocopy new readings on scratch paper from old readings, the xerox ladies act really reluctant to do so. they keep trying to convince me to use new paper like normal people do because the machine will get destroyed if i use scratch paper for photocopying. i find it really sad that here i am making an extra effort (hey i carry inches-thick scratch paper in my bag around school. it's heavy, i tell you) to recycle my scratch paper to lessen my ecological footprint or something and then people are trying to convince me not to recycle (!). one time i really insisted and then it worked fine. the xerox machine didn't break down or anything. but mind you, i did my best to flatten those scratch papers so they wouldn't jam the machine, placing them under and between pages of heavy books overnight. i should really e-mail sanggu or ateneo about this. i mean, if they're implementing programs like that BYOB (which often BACKFIRES) in the name of being more environmentally friendly, why not recycling the truckloads of paper that ateneans use everyday?

Last week, on his first visit to Africa, Pope Benedict said that "[AIDS] cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems".

The Pope's statement is at odds with the research on AIDS prevention, and a setback to decades of hard work on AIDS education and awareness. With powerful moral influence over more than 1.1 billion Catholics in the world, and 22 million HIV positive Africans, these words could dramatically affect the AIDS pandemic and put millions of lives at risk. Worldwide concern is starting to show results and a willingness by the Vatican to revise the statement - sign our urgent petition asking the Pope to take care not to undermine proven AIDS prevention strategies:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/pope_benedict_petition

This is not a religious dispute, but a grave public health concern. Personal beliefs of Catholics and all people should be respected, and the Pope's advocacy for a culture of fidelity and respect could be effective in AIDS prevention if condom use were not also discouraged. The Catholic Church engages in a vast amount of social service work, including the care of those living with AIDS. But the Pope's claim that condom distribution is not an effective AIDS prevention mechanism is not supported by research. It's untrue, and if it diminishes condom use, it will be deadly.

The fact is, HIV and AIDS are prevented by condom use. There is no easy solution to the spread of this tragic disease, but condoms and education are the best known prevention combination and have not been found to increase risky sexual behaviour. That is why even priests and nuns working in Africa have questioned the Pope's statements.

We may not be able to ask the Catholic Church to change its broader position, but we are asking the Pope to stop actively speaking out against prevention strategies that work. It's important that people of all beliefs, especially Catholics, call on the Pope to exercise care in his leadership on this issue. Sign below then spread the word to your friends and family - this petition could actually save lives:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/pope_benedict_petition

25 million people worldwide have already died of AIDS, and 12 million children have been left without parents. If enough of us join this outcry, we will win an important battle in the struggle for a world without AIDS.

With hope,

Ricken, Alice, Ben, Graziela, Iain, Brett, Paula, Pascal, Luis, Paul, Veronique, Milena and the whole Avaaz team

PS - this campaign was polled among a randomized sample of 20,000 Avaaz members. Over 90% supported running the campaign, and over 75% of Catholic Avaaz members supported it.

Sources:

The official position of the UN and the World Health Organization on condoms and AIDS prevention:
http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/2009/20090319_preventionposition.asp

The Pope's statement opposing condoms (BBC):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7951839.stm

European governments criticise Pope Benedict for his statement
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7950671.stm

Condoms 'aggravate' AIDS scourge, Pope says:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=1399781

CNN Report on the Pope’s anti-condom position:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhxqvVmgEbg&feature=related

Vatican backtracking on condom statement:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5934912.ece

Growth of the Catholic Church in Africa, see:
http://www.zenit.org/article-18894?l=english and http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29777984/

South African Bishop supporting condom use:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29777984/

UNAIDS Report on the AIDS epidemic:
http://www.unaids.org/en/CountryResponses/Regions/default.asp

I MISS EUROPE and everything that it is.

i miss saying "bonjour"
and pardon and merci beaucoup for all the small things and big things.

i miss those friendly drunk french people walking down the streets with their champagne bottles in hand, talking to you about the whys and hows of things

most especially when they try to talk to you in english seeing as how you're foreign and making a muck out of things but being happy to have attempted to converse with you anyway and to have been understood if only a little

i miss the cheaper-than-water-wine and the faux coca colas and M-A-L-I-B-U COCONUT.

i miss the handsome and beautiful people who aren't obsessed with how handsome or beautiful they are in a country full of handsome and beautiful people anyway

i miss the independence of going where you please and doing what you will and even having to face the consequences of what you did

i miss the carnival in town where everyone goes
and i miss that everyone goes to republique to shop and saint anne to drink, not to rockwell if you're rich and ever gotesco if you're not.

i miss the endless possibilities of a trainstation going to nevers and marseilles and lyon and lourdes and basel or zurich or geneva or berlin or frankfurt or barcelona or madrid or brussels or london or rome or milan or venice or godknowswhere...

i miss the cold weather and piling on coats and scarves and jackets and gloves and sometimes even then it's not enough but you brave the cold and wind only to realize that you'll get warmer in a bit or if not
i miss running into a cafe or a bookstore or any establishment for that matter just because it's too damn cold too stay outside

i miss real cheese, most especially emmental... and raclette ... and still lait du chevre and coulommiers and roquefort and fromage bleu and brie and gouda and leerdammer and those thin round ones i ate in frankfurt...

i miss the british people with their crazy, pot-stealing antics and the irish with their beer-mug-stealing antics and getting scandalized by people just making out where they please and averting my eyes in good propriety and
the best are those finally-i-have-you-back-in-my-arms-passionate-trainstation-kisses and you sigh and secretly wish you had one of those as well.

i miss the crazy alcohol fights of people who pour alcohol down your back and people shaking bottles and spraying everyone within a 5meter radius with the stuff and FIGHTING BACK and hitting the wrong people and having to apologize to them for dowsing them in rhum-something or vodka something... (or even better---MALIBU coconut something!!!!!!)
yes, i do miss the wet and wild parties and nobody caring what anybody looks like anymore and oh that poor girl lying drunk on the floor her shirt ripped from her, that's why she wore the nice lingerie tonight
...and those people in garbage bag suits because they know it'll get wet and wild.

i miss struggling with french and sounding like an idiot but a lot of other people sounding idiotic too
and being proud of coming up with measly pathetic sentences and trying to force a french expression here and there such as "tres bien" or "pas de probleme" and "BISOUS" because it's the only good french i know

i miss fun spanish people and botellones and apero and just SPANISH PEOPLE and EVERYTHING SPANISH because they have time to enjoy life because life is the greatest, funnest, wildest, most beautiful, most exciting, most adventurous, most amazing thing ever

i don't miss the ridiculous prices and having to pay 14 euros for a party and 8 euros for a goddamn glass of malibu coconut cola

i miss being anonymous, and upon being asked "who are you?" the guileless acceptance of whatever answer it is that was given...
the freedom of you being just you and the person you meet being just the person you met and not that girl your friend knows about who your cousin used to date and from that school that everyone has labeled as so and so

i miss boarding the train and finding your seat (beside a snoring lady with an overfed cat meowing) and falling asleep in your seat and setting your alarm so you won't miss your stop and end up in another country

i miss the common understanding of people going to the gare or to republique or buying N1 and reloading their bouyges and orange(s) or korrigos or navigos

i miss greeting random people in your flat on the street old ladies young students chinese people talking to me in chinese, me not understanding... and all those everyday things, those mundane interactions with other living beings instead of only interacting with your family, then getting into your car and then interacting with your classmates and teachers and then getting back into your car and not happening to meet anyone outside your normal range of interactants

i miss the endless "ca va"s and not knowing anymore if it was a question or an answer

i even miss walking home in the freezing cold, tired to your bones from dancing like crazy and laughing like crazy and shouting like crazy all night... or maybe just a little ... but i would miss it more if everytime i had to go home i would do so with good company who would make stupid jokes and laugh about everything and nothing just because you are young and life is good

maybe i loved it because of its artlessness and unaffectedness and pulse and life and love , and not just because of its history and beauty and grandeur ...! i will return soon. this is no au revoir but an a bientot to be sure.

the world would be hell if

i was just researching for my french culture paper (supposed to write about a recent event in french history) when i stumbled upon this bit of news --

French Heat-Wave Death Toll 15,000 - Official Report

people in france died because the weather reached 40 degrees celsius. i just found it so hard to believe. how the ???? can FIFTEEN THOUSAND people die from 40 degrees celsius ??