Students Walk Out of Classes, Call for Arroyo's Ouster
BY RONALYN V. OLEA
www.bulatlat.com

At least 2,000 college and high school students walked out of their
classes today to call for a "meaningful change." They were joined by
out-of-school youth from different parts of Metro Manila.

Led by the Youth for Accountability and Truth Now! (Youth ACT Now!),
the protesters marched from España Street, in front of the University
of Santo Tomas (UST) main gate, to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila.

A two-hour program was held, dubbed by the organizers as "alternative
classes."

In his speech, Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of the League of
Filipino Students (LFS) said that "the ruling elite led by Mrs. Arroyo
and her imperialist masters" are the ones behind the Filipino people's
sufferings.

Biyaya Quizon, chairperson of the Student Christian Movement of the
Philippines (SCMP), criticized the Arroyo government's use of force
against political dissenters and ordinary citizens. Dion Carlo Cerrafon
of Kabataang Pinoy lashed out at the corruption of the Arroyo
government while Vijae Alquisola, national president of the College
Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) slammed the colonial
orientation of the Philippine education and how education is used to
maintain the status quo.

In his speech, Bayan Muna (People First) Rep. Satur Ocampo stressed the importance of political education among the youth. He urged them to continue organizing and mobilizing the Filipino people.

Graffiti artists painted the white cloth which served as the backdrop of the makeshift stage. Black ink was used for Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's face; the word "Oust" was written below her. Rock bands and a rap group composed of Filipino-Americans also performed.

In a show of anger, the protesters simultaneously tore apart papers  with Arroyo's face.

By 4:30 p.m., the contingent marched toward Mendiola via Recto Avenue but was blocked by police car patrols. They proceeded to Nicanor Reyes Street. The police used water cannons to disperse the protesters but the latter held their ground.

Ken Ramos, national chairperson of Anakbayan, lauded the "defiance"  shown by the youth. He vowed that youth protests will continue until Arroyo steps down.

The protesters marched toward the Trabajo Market along España to end  their program. Bulatlat

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More Bulatlat reports on the July 18 class walkouts:

Photo above courtesy of Jonna Baldres

http://jonnabebeh.multiply.com/

NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS OF THE PHILIPPINES SOUTHERN TAGALOG CHAPTER
PRESS RELEASE Reference: Rayan Brozula
July 18, 2008 Deputy Secretary General, NUSP-Southern Tagalog

UPLB students walk-out of classes to call for roll-back of tuition
and to protest against campus repression

Calling for the roll-back of tuition and other fees in the University of the Philippines (UP) and the removal of repressive policies in UP Los Baños, around 100 UPLB students walked-out of their classes today. Led by the UPLB University Student Council, the students said that the tuition increase has stripped more poor students who passed the UP College Admission Test of their right to education. They also clamored for the immediate holding of the campus elections which has been delayed by the administration since March this year and the removal of new policies violating the right of students to organization and freedom of expression.

Charisse Bernadine Bañez, UPLB USC vice chairperson, hit the UP administration’s claims before the implementation of the 300% tuition increase that this would increase the number of poor students entering UP. “In our surveys and consultations with freshmen since last year, only a handful belonged to the lowest income bracket. Many also expressed fear that they may no longer be able to enroll in the coming semesters because they may no longer be able to produce adequate funds; many also availed of the student loan or only borrowed money to be able to enroll.”

Bañez said that because the student council has continuously fought against the tuition increase, they are now experiencing escalated harassment from the UPLB administration. “It feels like Martial Law is existing in UPLB. Elections have been delayed, and now, student activities in buildings have been prohibited and stringent organization recognition requirements have led to the non-recognition of a large number of student organizations.” She cited that only a few varsitarian organizations were recognized and no religious organizations were also recognized by the Office of Student Affairs.

Rayan Brozula, NUSP-Southern Tagalog deputy secretary general, said that the state of UPLB reflects the state of other schools in the region. He said that contrary to the claim of Malacañang that no state university increased tuition this school year, the University of Rizal System increased tuition by 100% from P50/unit to P100/unit. In PUP-San Pedro, an additional P500 special assessment fee was collected from freshmen.

“Arroyo’s statement to freeze tuition in state universities is hypocritical because while she says this, her government’s actions are forcing state schools to increase tuition. Education budget remains meager, and the budget of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, which has at least seven branches in Southern Tagalog, was slashed,” Brozula said.

Also protesting against the education crisis, youth group ANAKBAYAN-Southern Tagalog is now on its eighth day of an eighteen-day cultural caravan. The caravan has held almost daily protest actions against this and the escalating price of rice and oil since July 10 in Rizal and Cavite and is now holding workshops in Laguna.

At 5PM, the group held cultural performances in communities along the Laguna Lake to condemn the threat of demolition in the area.

ANAKBAYAN-Southern Tagalog secretary general PJ Santos said that the worsening poverty is reflected in the report of the National Statistical Coordination Board that the enrollment in primary school dropped to 83% in the last school year from 90% five years ago. “The escalating prices of oil, rice and other basic commodities and services coupled with the rising tuition have greatly increased the number of out-of-school youth. Our parents could no longer stretch their meager wage and salaries to include education because it is not even enough to bring food to the table three times a day. If oil prices hike up to P70/liter, more youth will be forced to stop schooling and instead find jobs.”

Santos also hit Arroyo’s continuing campaign to banner the Value-added tax as pro-people through various subsidies. “These subsidies are insincere band-aid solutions because these would not significantly solve the problem of poverty in the country.” He said they have been collecting signatures to campaign for the removal of the 12% VAT on oil during the caravan.###
 

For more information, please contact 09282039214.
 

Today's protests will focus on "political education" and "youth
movement building"

July 18, 2006

The national youth protest to be led by the League of Filipino

 Students (LFS) and other youth groups today will be "more than

just an ordinary rally." This, according to Vencer Crisostomo,

LFS National Chairperson.

According to Crisostomo, the protest actions will focus on

"deepening political education" among the youth in order to bring

forth a "bigger, stronger, more powerful youth movement" that

will confront the current "ills of society."

The walk-out protests, which are expected to draw contingents

 from major schools in Metro Manila, carries the theme: "Kabataan

at Bayan, Mag-aklas (Youth and Filipino People, Revolt)!"

The day of action will highlight a rally program in Plaza Miranda

in Manila where the students will hold an "alternative class"

which is set to tackle the youth's analysis on the current social

 crisis and the alternative to the "unjust" social set-up.

"We will not discuss the issues as it is. We will delve into the roots
of the current crisis and expose the unjust social set-up wherein a
handful few exploits the majority of the people," said Crisostomo.

They will also invite veterans of the First Quarter Storm, for
"lessons in youth movement building." The program will also feature
rap acts, graffiti artists and rock bands.

"The rally will be 'astig', not just because of the bands and the
youth spirit. It will be about deeper political education and
sharpening of our social analysis, aimed at bringing forth a new wave
of revolutionary consciousness. We will tell the nation that we are up
for the challenge to become 'pag-asa ng bayan' and we will defend it
at Plaza Miranda," said Crisostomo.

From Plaza Miranda, the youth protesters will march towards Mendiola
Bridge and will end their protest with a torch parade towards Mehan
Garden in Manila where a rock concert will ensue.

Expected to join the walk-outs are tens of thousands of students from
major campuses including UP, PUP, UST, Adamson, FEU, De La Salle,
College of St. Benilde, Lyceum, Letran, PLM, Trinity University, PCU,
GAUF, St. Scholastica, Mapua, UP Manila, Jose Rizal University, TIP,
PSBA, Ateneo de Manila, Miriam College, Sta. Isabel, PNU, St. Paul
University, Arellano University, EARIST, MLQU.

High school students and out-of-school youth are also expected to
participate in the walk-out.

Crisostomo said that today's walk-out protest is also a preparation
for bigger youth participation in the rallies set to "rock" President
Arroyo's State of the Nation Address on July 28. #

Reference: Vencer Crisostomo, LFS National Chairperson, 09228262606

--
Visit the NEW LFS WEBSITE: http://www.lfs.ph

Graffiti artists did a swift job on a white cloth that served as the backdrop of the stage. In minutes they were done with the OUST ARROYO stage background.

MORE PHOTOS

Walkout! Youth Mobilization Part 2 - 18 July 2008
http://jonnabebeh.multiply.com/photos/album/177/_Walkout_Youth_Mobilization_Part_2

Youth Lightning Rally against Oil Price Hike - 09 July 2008
http://jonnabebeh.multiply.com/photos/album/171/Youth_Lightning_Rally_against_Oil_Price_Hike

Walkout! Youth Mobilization Part 1 - 10 July 2008
http://jonnabebeh.multiply.com/photos/album/172/Walkout_Youth_Mobilization_Part_1

Anakbayan @ the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) - 14 July 2008
http://jonnabebeh.multiply.com/photos/album/174/Anakbayan_the_Department_of_Labor_Employment_DOLE

Trade Union Mobilization (Black Protest March) - 15 July 2008
http://jonnabebeh.multiply.com/photos/album/175/Trade_Union_Mobilization_Black_Protest_March

Picket for Paper Tech Workers - 17 July 2008
http://jonnabebeh.multiply.com/photos/album/176/Picket_for_Paper_Tech_Workers

 

	Youth protesters marched from the Plaza Miranda classrom to another classroom at Mendiola but were blocked by police at Morayta-Recto.   Photos courtesy of Jonna Baldres: http://jonnabebeh.multiply.com/

Rep. Satur Ocampo in media interview and autograph signing sessions

Fil-Am group from San Francisco perfomrs a number

A student rock band from UE.