The Citizen - Ateneo

22/10/2024

ICYMI: Students from various organizations, including Partido Pandayan, SPARK Katipunan, The Ateneo Assembly, and Blue Bird Improv, marched from Lover’s Lane to Xavier Hall earlier today, October 22. They delivered Partido Pandayan’s open letter requesting the release of the Ateneo Campus Master Plan to three different university offices: that of the President, Vice President for Administration, and Vice President for Higher Education.

Upon reaching Xavier Hall, the marching students happened upon a representative from the Office of Student Activities, with whom they discussed their desire for more transparent communication. The students were also able to hold an audience at the Office of the Vice President for Higher Education, where they further raised their concerns.

As of 7:12 PM, October 22, the open letter has 637 signatories, ranging from campus organizations, undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, and university staff.

Read the open letter here: https://bit.ly/CommonCallForOurCommonHome

18/10/2024

CTZN UPDATE: Effective today, The Citizen, along with fellow publications The GUIDON and Matanglawin Ateneo, are part of the new Sanggunian Press Corps.

The press corps will give student news publications of the Ateneo more direct lines of communication with the Sanggunian. Provided will be public documents, invitations to cover meetings, chat groups, as well as maintained independence from the student council itself.

We are excited for this initiative for transparency and collaboration with the Sanggunian, and hope to serve the university better for it.

Executive Order No. 4, s. 2024-2025 or "An Order Strengthening the Role of Central Assembly Correspondents" is an initiative by the Sanggunian President & Vice President, in line with their commitment to raising the student body’s awareness of the issues that surround them on campus.

17/10/2024

See a free screening of “Call Her Ganda,” facilitated by the Sanggunian Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) and the League of Filipino Students – Katipunan, tomorrow, October 18, at Escaler Hall from 8:00 - 11:00 AM. After the screening will be a special talkback session with the director, PJ Raval.

“Call Her Ganda” is a 2018 documentary detailing the story of Jennifer Laude — a Filipina trans woman whose killing by US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton sparked discussions on LGBTQ+ rights, protection of minorities, as well as the nature of US-Philippine relations.

Register online at https://tinyurl.com/CHG-Screening-Registration

The screening is one of the initiatives by CGE for One Big Pride 2024, held during the month of October every year.

🏳️‍⚧️ 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭. 🌈

🎬 Call Her Ganda follows the heartbreaking yet inspiring story of Jennifer Laude, a Filipina trans woman, whose death sparked a fight for justice and truth. In collaboration with League of Filipino Students - Katipunan, join One Big Pride 2024 for the screening and a talkback session with Director PJ Raval! 📽️✨ Let’s dive deep into this award-winning documentary on justice, identity, and resistance. 💥 Don't miss it!

🗓️ 𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝟭𝟴, 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 | 𝟴:𝟬𝟬-𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠
📍 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹

🔗 Register here:
https://tinyurl.com/CHG-Screening-Registration
https://tinyurl.com/CHG-Screening-Registration
https://tinyurl.com/CHG-Screening-Registration

______

One Big Pride is presented by the Sanggunian: Commission on Gender Equality, in collaboration with the University Gender Hub and the University Gender and Development Office.



Poster by Micha Petrola
Caption by Meghan Tuy

16/10/2024

FRESHMEN ELECTIONS 2024: Polls for the Freshmen Course Representative Elections opened earlier today, and will be available from October 16 to 18, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Eligible freshmen may register their votes at the polling stations found outside the New Rizal Library, and in the Doghouse in Zen Garden.

Those who wish to vote online may do so by accessing the online poll at https://bit.ly/FreshmenElec2024OnlineBallot

15/10/2024

TALAB KICKS OFF: Various talks, workshops, and trips were held today, October 15, to start the Ateneo’s annual Talakayang Alay sa Bayan (TALAB), with the central theme of “Integral Ecology: Caring for Our Common Home.” TALAB events will be held for two weeks, from October 15 to 29.

The Integral Ecology theme reflects the upcoming tenth anniversary of the Laudato Si’ encyclical by Pope Francis, and the university’s commitment to becoming a Laudato Si’ university by the year 2030.

TALAB is an annual program by the Ateneo, hosting a series of events meant to give students opportunities to learn about and reflect on the world around them, especially regarding issues that concern the Philippines.

Learn about the events being held at https://admutalab.net/

Photos taken by Bruno Hizon & Kym Relova

14/10/2024

ICYMI: The Ateneo Assembly held its Community Town Hall on the Red Brick Road (RBR) E-Jeep Express Lane earlier today at 2:00 PM, at the MVP lobby. Members of the Sanggunian, the GUIDON, Blue Mobility, Spark Katipunan, and Partido Pandayan attended the meeting to discuss the controversial proposed changes to the E-Jeep Express Lane.

The meeting began with members of the GUIDON expressing their side regarding the publication’s misstatement in their October 8 article, citing difficulties with information disseminated by the university administration. This led to calls among all the participants for more transparency on the part of the admin regarding crucial changes to student mobility.

Similarly, the members deliberated on student initiatives to report detailed information gathered from meetings and presentations held by the university. They also considered a potential counter-proposal to create a concrete opposition to the current project. Altogether, the discussions reflected the desire for a campus representing the needs of students, faculty, and staff alike.

14/10/2024

Ateneo 4 Palestine, along with other student-led mass organizations, mobilized for a singing march and lighting rally in support of Palestine at Red Brick Road at around 12:30 PM today, October 14.

Spearheaded by A4P along with members of various groups, including the League of Filipino Students - Katipunan (LFS-K), Kabataan Partylist - Katipunan (KPL-K), and One Big Fight for Human Rights and Democracy (OBFHRD), the rally serves as a call to action to further amplify narratives surrounding the liberation of the Palestinian people, following the global day of action one year after the Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7 last year. The demonstration is also in line with the Sanggunian’s resolution to stand in solidarity with Palestine and encouragement to support the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement.

Towards the end of the demonstration, the protesters were approached by university security personnel. They asked for a permit, which the organizers did not have. The protesters did, however, finish delivering their speech before dispersing.

The Ateneo de Manila College Student Handbook 2024, Article V, Section 4 states that “students shall have the right to peaceably assemble and petition school authorities and/or government authorities for the redress of any grievances.”

30/09/2024

IN PHOTOS: SPARK Katipunan’s Community Forum on Martial Law last September 17, with the Ateneo Employees and Workers Union (AEWU), and Leody de Guzman, chairperson of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and one of the presidential candidates in the 2022 elections.

AEWU president Raymond Tano, and vice president, Nolan Villena, voiced their concerns on behalf of the union regarding a new mandatory work rotation for campus staff, as well as difficulties and inconsistencies negotiating with the university admin regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement — particularly, on information regarding absolute numbers on tuition fees and wage increases, and the distress caused by the mandatory work rotation on workers.

Leody de Guzman expanded on the struggles of workers during the Martial Law period, such as oppression of the right to strike, and the relevance of such struggles in the present day.

30/09/2024

IN PHOTOS: SOSS Sanggunian’s first initiatives for Martial Law week, “ : The Golden Age” and “Counternarratives to the Dictator’s Playbook”, held last September 16.

“ : The Golden Age” featured speakers JC Punongbayan, PhD of the UP School of Economics, and Martial Law survivor Jimmy Regalario, where they each provided an overview of the economics of the Philippines in the years leading up to the Martial Law period, as well as the years that came after. Through discussing statistics like GDP growth rates, poverty rates, and national debt-to-income ratio, they demonstrated how the country suffered some of its worst economic conditions in the later years of martial law.

Many of the data points cited in the forum can be found in JC Punongbayan’s “False Nostalgia: The Marcos "Golden Age" Myths and How to Debunk Them”, available from the Ateneo de Manila University Press.

“Counternarratives to the Dictator’s Playbook” featured speakers Oliver Quintana of the Ateneo Martial Law Museum, and Andrei Venal of DAKILA, who shared their stories and hurdles relating to openly opposing the Philippine government, such as threats to freedom of speech like the Anti-Terror Law. In continuing their advocacy, Andrei Venal of DAKILA also shared what optimal conditions and approaches are required to best broadcast resistance, such as a stable livelihood and prioritizing a unified message.

See the website by DAKILA, “Digital Museum of Martial Law in The Philippines”, at https://martiallaw.ph/

03/09/2024

The Sanggunian Commission of Ateneans for Indigenous Peoples (CAIP) and Commission on Socio-Political Development (CSPD) held their joint campaign, “Project Balik Bugsuk”, at SOM 111 last Friday, August 30.

“Project Balik Bugsuk” aims to raise the awareness of the Ateneo community regarding the issues of corporate land-grabbing that the IPs of Palawan currently face. Most recently on this was an alleged shooting at natives of Sitio Maria Hangin by armed masked men from San Miguel Corp subsidiary Bricktree Properties last June 29.

02/05/2024

“Dagdag sahod, isabatas, 150 PHP, pataas!”

Labor unions, together with jeepney drivers and operators, organized a mass mobilization on Labor Day, along the streets of Morayta and Mendiola up to the US Embassy to call for an increase in wage hikes and better labor conditions.

Joined by the KMU, BMP, TUCP, Nagkaisa, the mass action called for a 150 pesos wage hike for Filipino workers. Progressive forces, together with PISTON and MANIBELA, came out the day after the ‘final’ deadline for the consolidation of the Jeepney Modernization Program. Labor groups also denounced the calls for Charter Change and foreign ownership by the Marcos Jr. administration.

Six were also forcibly arrested by the police amidst a peaceful mob in front of the US Embassy against the Balikatan exercises, following a string of police harassment and intimidation throughout the day.

24/04/2024

NOW: Students of POLSC 112 under Dr. Pilar Berse organize "Wonder Women: Shaping the Southeast Asian Workforce Dynamics" today, April 24, at Leong Hall.

Speakers Dr. Carolyn Sobritchea of UP - Diliman and Manjette Lopez of Sanlakas discuss the role of working-class women in labor and grassroots organizing in Southeast Asia.