Smoking Ban: Urong o Sulong?

Matapos ang kabi-kabilang kritisismo sa pagpapatupad ng malawakang smoking ban sa buong Metro Manila simula noong Mayo, ay muling humaharap sa isa na namang pagsubok ang pamunuan ng Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Matatandaang noong ika-15 ng Agosto ay napagbigyan ni Mandaluyong City RTC Branch 213 Judge Carlos Valenzuela ang petisyon para magbigay ng temporary restraining order (TRO) laban sa anti-smoking drive ng MMDA. Nararapat nga bang isulong o pigilan ang ordinansang ito?

Ang ipinatutupad na smoking ban ay nagbabawal ng paninigarilyo sa mga pampublikong lugar tulad ng bus terminals, waiting sheds, mga eskwelahan at ospital, pasyalan at sa loob ng mga public utility vehicle. Ayun sa MMDA, ito ay naglalayong protektahan ang mga Pilipino laban sa masasamang epekto ng secondhand smoke.

                Bago pa man naipatupad ang nasabing ban ay mapapansin na sa loob pa lang ng UST ang pagkakaroon ng mahigpit na patakaran ukol sa paninigarilyo. Ayon kay Dr. Arlo Salvador ng Fakultad ng Sining at Panitik ay simula noong taong 2000 ay naipatupad na ang smoke-free campaign sa unibersidad. At ito raw ay nagdulot ng magandang epekto sa mga tomasino. Ngunit sa kabila ng sinasabing matagumpay na implementasyon ng patakarang ito, ay hindi maikakaila ang ilang pagtutol dito lalo na ng mga estudyanteng naninigarilyo. “Hindi ako sa hindi pabor sa smoking ban because I smoke. Pabor ako dun sa objectives, pero hindi sa mekanismo,” sabi ni Rogelio Mariano, Communication Arts Students’ Association (CASA) President. “Dapat siguro, before implementing it [smoking ban], inelaborate nila where the prohibition is applied and where it is lifted. Tsaka hindi kasi maayos talaga yung implementation,” dagdag pa niya.

                Bilang isang komunidad, kinakailangan nating protektahan hindi lamang ang ating mga sarili kundi maging ang kapakanan ng ibang tao lalo pa’t kung ang kalusugan ang pag-uusapan. “Yung mga pag-yoyosi sa jeep at public transportation, ’yan talagang dapat ipa-ban yan. Kasi kung ikaw yung non-smoker, nakakasulasok naman talaga… In public places such as school zones, okay na yung set-up ng UST na bawal sa loob. Pero pagdating sa labas, choice mo na kasi kung didikit ka sa smoker,” ayon kay Mariano. Ngunit binigyang-diin naman ni Dr. Salvador na ang patakarang katulad nito ay mahalaga kung titingnan lamang raw ang kalagayan ng UST kung saan ay naging disiplinado ang mga tomasino simula nang maipatupad ang alituntunin ukol sa paninigarilyo. Ayun pa sakanya, nabawasan raw ang bilang ng mga tomasino na naninigarilyo sapagkat kinakailangan pa nilang [smokers] lumabas ng unibersidad para lang makapanigarilyo. Pinaliwanang naman ni Mariano ang kanyang pagsang-ayon sa responsible smoking, “I agree that smokers should smoke responsibly. That one’s right of choice to smoke is not higher to another’s right to live healthy”. “Kung may right ka mag-smoke, may right din ang mga non-smokers na magkaroon ng clean air… Kung gusto niyo manigarilyo, doon kayo sa private places,” dagdag pa ni Dr. Salvador.

Kung ating iisiping mabuti, maaring hindi nga smoking ban ang pangunahing solusyon sa problema ng matinding paninigarilyo at epekto nito sa bansa. Hindi kaya ang kinakailngan nating kalutasan ay ang pagsugpo sa mismong ugat nito? Hindi kaya panahon na para magising tayo sa katotohanang kailangan na natin ng pagbabago sa kalakaran ng mga negosyo sa bansa? “Kung ang concern ay yung environment, and yung health ng Filipinos as a nation, I firmly believe that merely banning smoking in places is ineffective. Mas kailangan natin ng mga batas at mas realistic na tugon, like banning the cigarette products itself talaga,” paliwanag ni Mariano.

Bilang mga Casan at Tomasino, nararapat lamang na isipin natin ang ikabubuti ng karamihan ng tao ukol sa usaping ito. “What I advocate instead is responsible smoking. Do not smoke in non-smoking areas, in closed spaces and be mindful of non-smokers. After smoking, throw your cigarette butts on the proper places. We are college students. Di na dapat bago satin itong mga bagay na ito,” dagdag pa Mariano.

Samantala, narito ang ilan pang mga opinyon tungkol sa isyung ito mula sa mga Casan:

“Pro-smoking ban ako dahil naniniwala ako this will help much in the students’ well-being. Isa pa, napapaganda nito ang reputasyon ng UST somehow. Pero nagging masyadong literal ang “no smoking premises” para sa akin. Dahil pag lumabas ka ng UST, makikita mo pa rin ang ibang tomasinong hindi sumusunod sa implementasyon.”

-          Daniel Paul Marquez, 1CA1

“Di ako sangayon sa TRO; It will prove as a nuisance for the efforts of the MMDA and all its collaborators in its resolve for a healthier public (for the ones who do not smoke). Besides, kung puro setbacks at loopholes lang ang mangyayari, pano matututo ang mga tao na maging disiplinado sa mga regulasyon ng gobyerno natin? Hindi na nga natin masunod ang basic laws eh.”

-          Alfredo Mendoza, 2CA3

“Kung sabagay, hindi naman maikakaila na wala naman talagang mabuting maidudulot ang paninigarilyo sa tao, kung kaya bakit ko hahayaang maging legal ang isang bagay na alam kong maaring magdulot ng masamang epekto sa kalusugan ng tao? Sa tingin ko tama lang iyon [smoking ban] para naman magkaroon tayo ng konting disiplina.”

-          Celine tila, 3CA1

“Di ako sang-ayon sa TRO dahil tama lang ang pagba-ban sa paninigarilyo sa pambublikong lansangan. Pabor ako sa smoking ban bilang respeto sa mga hindi naninigarilyong tulad ko. Mas apektado kasi ang mga nakakalanghap nung usok kesa dun sa mismong naninigarilyo. Hindi naman kasi sila pinipigilang manigarilyo, sana lang dun sila sa mga lugar na itinalaga para sa kanila.”

-          Eunisse de Leon, 3CA3

"Kung walang mabuting dulot ang paninigarilyo sa iyo, mabuting huwag na rin idamay ang kapwang katabi mo. Sangayon ako sa smoking ban. Alam natin na may kaliitan ang implikasyong dulot ng usok ng sigarilyo sa kalikasan, sana lang ay maging mas maalalahanin tayo sa kalusugan ng kapwa, kung hindi man ng sarili...”

-          Kebinito Dadal, 3CA4

                Bawat isa sa atin, bata man o matanda ay may karapatang mabuhay ng malaya at maging malaya. Ngunit kung ang kalayaang ito ang magdudulot ng masama lalo na sa ibang tao, ay kinakailangan nating pigilan ang paggamit ng kalayaang ito. Ang lahat ng smokers ay nararapat lamang na maging responsible sa lahat ng oras may smoking ban man o wala, dahil bilang mga Pilipino tayo ay may pakialam sa ating kapwa. Sa layunin naman ng pamahalaan na mapabuti ang mga alituntunin sa ating bansa, sana lamang ay maipatupad nila ang mga pagbabagong ito sa marangal at maayos na paraan. Kung patuloy man na maipatupad ang smoking ban na ito, sana rin ay maging intrumento ito ng pagbabago tungo sa isang mas maganda, mas mabuti at mas maunlad na Pilipinas.

CCTV

ST. RAYMUND’S BLDG, AB, UST, MANILA, PH- Recently, Artlets had a peculiar eye for looking at the ceilings of their classrooms for the past few weeks.  The administration of the Faculty of Arts and Letters along with its collaborators, have installed Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems on every classroom of the said college; reasons for the said installments are still unclear, but the installation of the CCTVs was meant to “provide ‘security and assurance’” for the well-being of students’ academic lives. 

            Mixed reactions are aired out by students in every single social networking site like Facebook and Twitter; some are negative while others see the uncanny change as something good, majority of the sentiments though favor the former.

Quite frankly, some students are downright appalled for the installment of these CCTVs; saying that the need for the administration is not only to provide security for students but also to discipline and improve the facilities needed by the students for academic purposes.  "Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.  If they're thinking for the betterment of AB rooms naman, sana inuna muna yung chairs, aircons, windows, paint job etc.  If hindi natin ma-maintain yung mga malilit na bagay, how much more yung mga CCTV's sa bawat classroom? “  Matthews Jubilado, a student of 2CA4 implies. These recording devices violate the very atmosphere of student life, for one cannot observe the every movement of students’ every day lives inside the classroom without interfering with the academic activity of the students themselves.  How can one improve in his academic engagements if the facilities are insufficient and unsatisfactory? One of the school’s obligation is the safety of the students but it should not be limited only to that. Some say that the money used to purchase such equipment would have been better off if some of the major problems current within the Faculty was addressed first. The administration should have focused in improving the smaller elements that will make a student motivated to engage themselves in academic activities. How about prioritizing broken chairs, virus-infected computers, malfunctioning LCDs and air-conditioners, broken toilets and other facilities?  

But the real problem lies not on these things, in fact, a bit closer to us; the real problem is the discipline of the AB students themselves.  The problem with most of Artlets is that we feel a bit “liberated” apart from the other colleges in the university.  Vandalism is a serious issue not only because it violates and destoys school property, but it is a complete reflection of how we interact and respect our school environment; this is the real problem.  We are in our age wherein we already have the capability to judge and perceive the things and disambiguate the wrong from the right, including our very actions; vandalism is a complete reflection of “who” we are and how we are probably raised .  “It is how we treat the things provided to us by our school that matters, not just by receiving them just because we paid for them, and doing whatever we want with them whenever and wherever.  What we do to these things we express who we are.  “We should be wiser that these things are also for our well-being and that we have no reason to reject this generosity.  I am PRO for the CCTV cameras, but that depends on the discretion of the ones who are administering these surveillance devices; hopefully they won’t violate our privacy!”  Alfredo N. Mendoza V , a student from 2CA3 exclaims

From the academic perspective, it is uncomfortable for most students; one cannot study surrounded by a thought that a certain “big brother” sees his/her every movement and can suddenly call him/her for a “false” or mistaken move made inside the room.  The bottom line is, these things should be taken care of, not broken nor rejected, because probably, one day it will help us in something.  But whatever plan the administration of our college makes, half of the realization of these plans always require the cooperation, discipline and actions of students; a group is always wrong unless the group works together to prove it is correct.  Discipline always comes first, not only that it makes the ‘cooperation’ part of our college administrators, but it also reflects on how we feel and interact with our surroundings.  We must always take care of what others give to us.

            Seen from the part of other university offices and administrations, the installation of these CCTVs are an opportunity for future projects of surveillance systems and student protection for other colleges.  Some students feel protected when there is presence of a CCTV camera; though their perception for CCTVs as a protection device is only on that basis.  “Magagamit lang yan naman pag may nanakawan sa classroom at hinahanap ang salarin eh; other than that, wala na akong maisip na function para sa mga CCTVs na yan.”  Angelo Palpal-Latoc, a student of 2CA3 says. 

            “I’m actually in favor; it’s a great way of monitoring not only the students but also the Professors... ” wrote Madox Sto. Tomas on CASA’s official Facebook page - Communication Arts Students' Association 2011-2012. Although it is true that the discipline of the students would be easier to monitor this way, it is also true and interesting to think that it is not just the students who are monitored but also the professors as well.  It gives some sort of equality by how the University would weigh in its own employees, specifically its faculty members. Aside from this, is also the fact that it gives additional security as what Reigno Jose Dilao posted: “CCTV cameras can be helpful. You can say na OA ako pero just think about some unwanted events na di lang naman nagaganap sa labas ng room...”

Whether what function you think the CCTVs are for, we should always be responsible to take care of these things, we must be wiser to support the resolve of our own University for the welfare of student life instead of clamoring and complaining just because it violates or interferes some of our activities that are probably short-termed compared to what the University has. It may be small, or even controversial, but it still is a step towards a better learning environment. Stella Paras, Cassandra Inay, Yuko Caunis, Alfredo Mendoza

A Message from the CASA President

Before this one, I've written a lot of welcome message drafts that aim to inspire the whole batch. I really wanted to come up with a message or an article that will create an impression about the Communication Arts students. Of course, one of the pressures of being the President is the huge expectations that are imposed upon me -- expectations that even I impose to myself. But as I wrote those previous drafts I've written, there's always a point where I'll get lost and won't have a clue of the next word to write. I realized that however clichéd, the main motivation of writing is really to express and not to impress.

The night before I wrote this, I attended a class where the professor, a very good and notable one, asked us why are we in Communication Arts. Can you imagine us, fourth year students, not being able to answer that basic question with so much conviction? We are already seniors, only months away from graduation. But we can't even straightly answer that simple question compared to how we answered that same question back when we were freshmen. Worse is, even I myself doesn't have an answer to the question of why am I staying in the program. Are we lost? Are we confused? Are we undergoing a crisis? I really don't know exactly.

I entered Communication Arts because I used to dream of being a news reporter someday. Years have passed along with the many things I've encountered in this program; I became not as excited to being a news reporter as I was ages ago. As of this moment, I want to be a lawyer. But I know I can't be because I have a lot of things to prioritize than going to law school after graduation.

But because I can't help but romanticize things, I have come to a conclusion that maybe, just like how lovers can't explain why do they remain to be in-love with their beloved, we seniors cannot explain our stay in the program because we are already madly in-love with Communication Arts. Probably, the line: "the more you know about it, the more ignorant you become" is in the works. Of course, it is just because I approached the idea romantically.

One thing I'm sure of, of course, is that Communication Arts and the Communication Arts Students' Association, is a huge part of my present life and that I cannot see myself anywhere else. 

It has become a huge part of my life that I really get offended when I hear people saying that we are just a bunch of singers and dancers. Not that there's something wrong with singing and dancing -- I do believe that sometimes a little of it is what we need to keep to the groove of this fast-paced world -- however, what saddens me is how limited they see us to be, despite the fact that a lot of Communication Arts students are dominating every possible field there is in this university.

It has become a huge part of my life that I started dreaming for it and in behalf of it. Every single day, I look for things that we might improve on and anticipate only the best things for the Association. 

It has become a huge part of my life that I can't even give it away in exchange of a possibility of a higher office.

And while I may not be the best Communication Arts student around or in my batch, Communication Arts and CASA become a huge part of my life for, cliché as it may be, it helped me to be the person I am today and are continuously molding me to become the person I am to be. 

Probably someday, I'll get back to this and rewrite this whole article, explain more clearly about my love for Communication Arts. But right now, all I can say is, I am in-love with the 700+ students of the Communication Arts Students' Association, in a way that is so inexplicable, even I get too lost for words.

And with this, I welcome you my beloved, may we have a fruitful year.

What It Means To Be a Superhero

            I have never been a fan of superheroes. Nothing about the whole “extraordinary” persona seems to intrigue me; their superpowers don’t pique my interest, the tacky costumes just aren’t attractive to my eye, and the whole “saving-the-world” selfless attitude just doesn’t amaze me. Never did I imagine myself becoming a superhero and acquiring cool superpowers so when I first learned that CASA’s theme for this year would be all about being a superhero, I wasn’t really that enthusiastic.

            As I’m writing this article, I have 5 articles waiting to be edited, another article to write, 2 scripts to be finalized, a story to conceptualize, people to contact in lieu of a production meeting, countless tabs open, documents to manage, and a multitude of readings to finish all due within the next week. Repeat the pattern every weekend and you’ll get an idea of how hectic my life as a student is.

            Don’t get me wrong, I love the work. I savor deadlines and I love the feeling of being pressured to meet them. But sometimes, it just gets really tiring and you find yourself at a point when you just want to give up and quit. Having a lot of extracurricular work is draining both physically, mentally, and even emotionally. Add to that the fact that you are foremost a student and have academics that need to be prioritized, you’d wonder how I still manage to have a proper social life that doesn’t revolve around schoolwork and such.

Then I realize, in my own way, I am a superhero. For some reason, I still manage to balance everything that I’m doing (albeit poorly) without having to drop or forego one aspect over the other. I’m a student, a script writer, a scholar, a correspondent, a writer, an editor, a daughter, a friend, and someone’s girlfriend. I’m one and all of these things yet I still somehow manage not to lose myself in all of it and retain my sanity.

Being a superhero doesn’t mean having to wear a cape, or flying over buildings, or saving the world from an evil villain. Being a superhero means having to balance all the different sides of your persona. Juggling workload while still being able to have quality time for yourself and maintaining the relationships you have with others is a skill as good as that of having super vision or mind reading. So my fellow CASAns, I impart to you this lesson: whenever you feel like you’re weak and you want to give up, remember, you can do anything as long as you put your heart into it. Just think, I’m a superhero.

Welcome to e-Chronicle!

There is fun in every start but there are times when it is difficult to even start something.  Contradicting isn’t it? We all face many challenges in our lives, we might reach a thousand if we count every challenge that we face in a single day. Starting something is one of the many challenges we face. My dad once told me that the hardest step in courtship is the first step, to start the process of courtship that is to say. Why so? Because it is the stage where we still build up momentum, courage and strength for we are still unaware, scared perhaps, of how the person will react to what we are doing.

Just like courtship the birth of e-Chronicle was the hardest step to take. We are unsure if starting this would be beneficial to the CASAn community. We are scared of what you will think, say and feel towards this online publication. Would you welcome us with open arms or would you stab us with daggers. But having realized that this is actually a good avenue to showcase and develop the talents of CASANs, not just the members of CASA Chronicle but also those who are into writing.

e-Chronicle will also feature the latest news about our society, the AB community, our University and issues of the country. Likewise, literary works of Chroniclers will also be posted here and works submitted to us by non-members. A feature story and editorial articles will also be available weekly. We will also be accepting announcements and promotional posters from other guilds and organizations.

Lastly, e-Chronicle will be the place for you to speak. It is the place where you can share your ideas. We will defy the spiral of silence and listen to every voice. It doesn’t matter if your view is different from mine as long as you get your message across. We encourage everyone to join the discussions, to comment on the issues presented in the editorials. CASANs SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD!