I'd like to invite everyone to join me in a little social experiment...

I have just installed the most significant addition to this site to date. In one fell swoop, I have addressed the most popular requests from you. Today, the UPOU Community Site takes one step closer to becoming a social networking site. You now have more control over your profiles. Uploading media have become as easy as ever. Tracking your fellow members' activity is now possible as well. And the nice thing about this is that none of these new features work against what we already have. They actually complement each other well.

We are faaaaar from becoming Facebook Jr., but it just became a little more doable. Then again... is that what we really want? We have all the time in the world to decide.

Cool new software is only part of the transition. I will now need some of you to take on more active roles in running this site.I don't want this site to be seen as some bored disgruntled faculty member's cute little pet project. Not anymore. This is supposed to be a community site. Let's make it happen for real -- whatever we can possibly do. I need site administrators, moderators, writers.... the works. If you're interested, let's discuss it.

The UP Open University often prides itself for being the premier online university in the country. You're free to agree or disagree with that claim. One thing I can assure you, though -- if we can succeed, UPOU will have nothing that can compare. Not even close.

Is there a timetable for this? Well, not really. But I do want something presentable by the end of February. Yes, I want this site showcased at the 15th UPOU Anniversary. And what better platform to do that than the Biomodd Commemorative Piece! A community site presented through an art installation built by the community. Gotta love the synergy there.

_{By Averill Pizarro
Manila Bulletin
26 January 2010}

You sit in a classroom and listen to Dodong Nemenzo’s elucidation of Philippine politics.

You hang out in AS steps with your friends and hear an innocent conversation about monay evolve into a discussion on capitalism.

You have lunch at Beach House and munch on the taste-gasmic barbecue.

And you think to yourself, thank God — or the universe, or whatever deity you subscribe to — for UP. Gratitude in its truest, most awed sense — this is the first of many things I learned in UP.

When I was a freshman, thrown into this free new world, I learned two very important principles about boys:

One, talk is cheap. In philosophy, we evaluate arguments with painstaking precision: look at what someone is saying, how it ties in with, or opposes existing notions, the method used to arrive at the thesis, and its implications when applied in the practical realm. Fancy words that don’t mean anything won’t get you anywhere near a 3.0. If a boy tells you, for instance, that if he could only fly to outer space, he’d retrieve the North Star to give you on your birthday, get rid of him. Applying the above-mentioned principles, the conclusion becomes this: he can’t fly to outer space. And even if he could, the North Star is a big ball of hot burning gas; it’ll kill him before he even gets close.

FAQ's on Sexual Harassment for the Perusal of the UPOU Community

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment is an act committed by an officer, faculty member, employee, coach, trainor, or any person who having authority, influence or moral ascendancy over another in any aspect of academic or administrative work in any campus, unit, office or classroom of the University, demands, requests, or otherwise requires any sexual favor from the other without regard as to whether such demand, request or requirement is accepted by the latter...It is not limited to cases involving abuse or authority but includes as well those in peer relationships...or those involving harassment of faculty members or employees by students.   --UPIRR July 1998

Sexual harassment is an act, or a series of acts, involving any unwelcome sexual advance, request or demand for a sexual favor, or other verbal, or physical behavior of sexual nature, committed by a government employee or official in a work-related, training or educated related environment of the person complained of.       

                                                                                 --Civil Service Commission, Resolution No 01-0941,

                                                                                   effective May 21, 2001

Sexual harassment can be physical, verbal, and visual. In terms of gravity, sexual harassment can be considerd grave, less grave or light.  For further information, check this link: http://www.up.edu.ph/oldforum/2005/Mar-Apr05/harassment.html

 What elements constitute as a valid complaint?

Complaint must have the following elements: unwanted whether done intentionally or not; sexual in nature; occurs in peer, superior-subordinate (o vice versa) relationship in a work, education, or training related environment; submission/rejection of acts uses as basis for any employment/ academic decision; or effects, such as interference with work performance or creation of hostile, offensive or intimidating environment; or might reasonably be expected to cause discrimination, insecurity, discomfort, offense or humiliation.

Operating under a different paradigm, the UP Open University is quite the oddball within the system of the University of the Philippines. Unlike the rest of the constituent units, UPOU makes it possible for people otherwise constrained by time and location to go ahead and earn a degree through distance education.

Among the functions of higher academic institutions, the pursuit of academic excellence is of primary importance even in the review and revision of curricular programs necessitated by fast-paced changes brought by technological advancements. Cognizant of the implications of these changes, the leadership in the academe has faced numerous challenges among which is their impact on the attitudes, skills an knowledge of students, faculty and staff. In most cases, inputs of parents and alumni are take into consideration as well those of partners from various sectors. These include the local government unit in which the school is located , and those in business, government as well as from other academic institutions.

Despite efforts at meeting issues head on through partnership and and other collaborative arrangements, educational institutions are constantly faced with recurring problems. the dwindling financial assistance is one of the greatest if not the most serious problem especially of government adacemic institutions whihc have also been mandated to provide quality education as well as access to numerous applicants. Coupled with this is the challenge to develop among students and even among faculty, appropriate values and attitudes with focus on social concern. thus, the development of programs geared toward service. Most universities meet the challenge by developing a program called service learning.

UPOU's participation in this year's UP Lantern Parade marks the first major activity of the Community Site members and was one of the driving forces in the promotion of this site. Now that it's over, what lies next?

I looked back and saw twenty six drenched students. The monsoon rains had come earlier than I had expected. It was supposed to be summer. We got caught our sixth hour of hiking through the Sierra Madre Mountains following an old logging road to Sitio Didipio in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. We were still laboring through mud yet many were still conversing with each other. Alongside our column, were three horses lent to us by communities which we have passed from families that I had become acquainted with for a long time. Backpacks, which used to be carried on the back of students, were now strewn on the horsebacks. A couple of students were now riding two of the horses. While the trek was physically demanding, the students and the community organizers who we were with us were in great spirits.

Sitio Didipio, then as now, was contested area. It is supposed to host the base camp of the second largest mining concession in the Philippines. During this visit, the Supreme Court had not yet decided on a landmark case which questioned whether a fully owned and controlled foreign corporation can operate and manage mining activities in the Philippines contrary to the provisions of the 1987 Constitution. The transnational mining company that will operate in the area was a conglomeration of two of the bigger international mining companies in the world. It incorporated in the Philippines and was able to get clearance to explore as soon as the 1995 Mining Law was approved.

Back then, no vehicle could reach Sitio Didipio. From Bayombong to our staging area for the brief trek, we had to hire a vehicle which members from the community fondly called the “weapons carrier”: a modified elf truck that had its exhaust in its roof and its axle and wheels strengthened. Although in the uplands, it was a community that also played host to a heavily debated point in constitutional law.

This upland rural community was like other upland rural communities in the Philippines. There were indigenous peoples living among migrants. Gender roles culturally and politically entrenched were very defined. Economic class distinctions were apparent, even while an increasing number had overseas Filipino workers regularly sending back their remittances. It was an agricultural community which was supposed to have a very rich gold deposit underneath. The local politics was very much defined by who was for or against mining; for sustainable development and for responsible mining. NGO workers as well as development workers with the mining company would meet each other in various parts of the community. Much of this local color could not be captured through the socratic method in the law classrooms.

Please help complete a survey that UPOU instructor Diego Maranan, anthropologist Raul Pertierra, and political science graduate student Arjan Aguirre are conducting as part of a study on Filipinos and ICT use. The survey is available on two languages, has 25 questions, and takes about 10 minutes to answer.  Please invite Pinoys you know to take part, too!

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/114272/web-2-0-and-you

Imagine this: a computer that breathes life into plants, while simultaneously providing warmth to fishes, all encased in a wooden sculpture made by local artists. By using the computer to play a game, people can interact with the ecosystem and contribute to its growth. In a nutshell, that is what Biomodd physically is. It is, however, more than that. Touching on different disciplines such as sociology and environmentalism, it is a project that is one part art, one part science, but mostly, it is a tool for discourse on pressing issues such as e-waste, culture preservation, and even the conflict between tradition and modernization.

The fusion of nature and technology, and the seemingly paradoxical concept of combining art and science have made Biomodd not your typical art installation piece. It is, in its most basic definition, a case mod (computer casing that has been enhanced or modified) composed of recycled computer parts, with the heat generated from the machines stimulating the plants to grow. The casing itself will be carved in wood and will be made to reflect the history and culture of the environment where it is being created.

You can have a good life with computers outside the realm of Microsoft. You just have to take a chance and cross the line. Let this article point you to the right direction.

Last time out, I talked a little about something called online volunteering. I briefly discussed about how, from the comfort of your own computer chair, you can make a difference in the world through the Internet. This time out, I’m going to take on a similar, yet different endeavor.

Have you ever thought about helping the world in your own little way instead of complaining all the time? Now, you can do it and you won't even have to lose time with your computer and the Internet. And you reading about it in this article.

Nickelback recently released Dark Horse, their latest studio album. No way I'm going to pass up at least listening to the album. After three years of their previous album constantly getting played in my car, it's about time I listen to some new material, no matter how much of a cliche people might think they are.

Craig's debut in Casino Royale a few years ago may have been a symptom rather than the cause of the shakeup and reboot in the James Bond franchise. The formula is pretty simple at the surface – less glamour, more dark gritty hard-hitting action. And Quantum Of Solace carries on that direction. And I'm not just talking about Craig's portrayal of the suave agent.

Metallica has definitely been around the block, slowly but surely approaching a three-decade success. Most bands simply implode within a fraction of that period. The thing about any band staying that long, one thing is inevitable – evolution. How many “incarnations” of the band have we seen? We’ve even witnessed them as basketcases in their Some Kind Of Monster DVD. And so, we come to their latest album, already selling over a million copies within a few weeks after its release. You’d wonder what we’ll be hearing now.

This happen to you? You are riding an almost jam-packed jeepney and rubbing elbows with complete strangers. Still, you try to enjoy the rare gush of city air hitting your solemn face, until… long strands of hair lash your cheeks like cat-o’-nine-tails! And you angrily ask: What creature does this scourge come from?

As you identify the culprit, the jeepney’s hi-bass sound system coincidentally sings “Straight… at natural, at ‘di mahal… Mukhang sosyal…” No wonder that girl next to you unnecessarily flaunts her hair, at the expense of you being tortured. You might like the smell of it, but can’t she just tie it in a public jeepney, for crissakes? You are just plain unfortunate. The monster that owns the whips called “long, straight, beautiful hair” is right next to you.

How unlucky can you get? But all of us are unlucky and unconscious victims of this commercial folly. Need I say more?

Try watching primetime TV, that is, from 6:00 to 7:00 in the evening, and count all the shampoo (and conditioner) advertisements shown. I did this experiment, and I got 20! That means, there is an average of one shampoo advertisement for every three minutes! Well that really doesn’t come as a surprise; everybody knows that. There are even three 15-second commercials of the same shampoo that are being shown one after the other. (That ridiculous series with a ridiculous catch-phrase: “Girls get it” – No wonder I don’t).

Okay, let me set things straight. I am in no way against long hair. (Ano’ng paki ko sa long hair nyo; inggit lang ako dahil ako’y kalbo?) What is sad about these advertisements coming on air like clockwork is the large but wrong influence that they have on the TV-watching population. A 2003 study by McCann-Erickson confirmed that media has become a “surrogate partner” to the youth, which spends 8-14 hours a week watching TV. Majority, if not all, of this crowd, are not aware that these commercials shown to them are oftentimes being absurd and one-dimensional.

Take the shampoo commercials. They all claim that their product can take care of your “black and shiny” hair and keep it “long, straight and beautiful.” Some even come with very bad Taglish slogans like “Buhaghag-free” or “parang cinellophane” or “buhok na straight at may body”. And why always say “99.9% dandruff-free”? Why say it’s “natural” when all the hair in the ads are obviously digitally-manipulated?

The effect of these commercials are worrying. The audience that are frequently bombarded with images of absurdity and wrong concepts of beauty eventually accept the “ideologies” that they get from the commercials. These ads dangerously manipulate the minds of TV viewers into thinking that their products should be bought. Shampoo commercials, for instance, teach that women (and even men) must have a certain type of hair and look a certain way to be beautiful.

And if these commercials continue to sing foolish songs like “Balik freshness, balik bounce” and employ pretty faces and dancing girls just to endorse the products, then the youth will regrettably learn “short-circuit decision-making”. The product with the most enjoyable dance steps or the prettiest endorser will have to be bought.

But something can be done even if these irresponsible profiteers go on with spending billions on advertising their products. You read that right, they spend billions. Advertising research agency AC Nielsen reports that in Philippine media, 10 billion pesos a year is shelled out for hair care ad expenditures (that’s where all the shampoo music videos come from); 6 billion for skin care (whitening the Ati, for example); and 3 billion for oral care (aah… the maker of the Toothpaste Commercial Smile).

Then again, something can be done. We can all be more conscious and concerned with our choices. By practicing responsible consumerism, we can stop these advertisements from polluting our mind with short messages of what’s cool, what’s in, what’s beautiful. We should beware of those commercials that fool the consumers.

And then we can enjoy riding a jeepney without being whipped in the face.

This article was published in a local magazine February 2006.

I remember attending my first face-to-face discussion. It was for the course of this particular professor I will never forget (because every time I look at my TCG, I remember). I had to drag myself to NCC. I didn’t know anyone and didn’t bother to introduce myself to my classmates who were also waiting for his arrival. That day, there were three f2f’s. All day long, I ate alone, I walked to NCC then to AS then to the Math Institute alone. I told myself that I wouldn’t bother with socializing and stuff. That gave my classmates the impression that I was a snob.

That semester went on without even knowing my classmates, except for one who introduced himself to me through email. They were only mere faces to me. Part of the reason was because I was still finding a way to pick myself of the ground, and the introvert in me just wanted to be left alone.

The next semester changed me drastically. I found myself enjoying the conversations with my classmates in Philosophy over yahoo messenger. The first f2f of that semester was fun and I found myself making friends with the kind of people I never imagined I’d be friends with; funny how things change because these people are among my most trusted ones.

I began socializing and getting to know my classmates more. The hunger for social events and the normal student life moved us to become active in events – the UP Centennial Kick-Off Celebration, Centennial Lantern Parade, field trips, f2f’s in the UPOU headquarters, and lots of get-togethers.

I found myself being friends not only with students, but with professors and staff alike. I also enjoyed (and still enjoying) my “residency” in this site. It makes me smile (which I rarely do, really) to find out that there are some people out there who share the same sentiments as I do. Involving myself in Biomodd was part of knowing myself better. Through that project, I got to work with people who have different personalities, got to work in different environments, and all the while it gave back my love for art and nature.

Six semesters have passed, and now I’m on the final days of my stay in UPOU as a student. Events that took place, people that have come and gone, people who’ve made differences in my life, lessons learned and unlearned – this will all remain in me as I close this chapter in my life.

Though I am leaving UPOU, doesn’t mean that I’ll be leaving my beloved community site. Thank you King for making my stay interesting. Thank you Aleta for everything, I will be forever grateful. Thank you to all community site posters for all the fun and memorable conversations. Thank you to all my professors who’ve been patient with me. Thank you UPOU, I have received more than what I came here for.

           Members of the faculty, distinguished guests, our beloved parents and my fellow graduates – a very pleasant good evening. To say that I am greatly honored to speak here tonight --- is a downright understatement.         

           Sharing this milestone with you all, and merely being here today, would have been a sufficient God-given blessing. I never had the chance to attend my college graduation rites in UP Diliman ten years ago. I was a full-time student by day and a full-time research assistant at the Office of the Press Secretary by night. I subsisted with three hours of sleep everyday. I had to commute by bus for another three hours to get to the Diliman campus when the MRT was still being constructed, wreaking traffic havoc in EDSA. 

A few days ago I was invited to the Christmas party at a private school in La Union.  Some of the presentations were made by children from different countries.  Some of them sang Christmas songs in Polish and talked about how they celebrate Christmas in Poland or Russia, China, Japan, and other countries like this.  It was noteworthy however, that, more than any other world, the Christmas celebrations in the Philippines are known to be the longest.

It all started in 2007, when some of us gathered to watch the lantern parade. We were so delighted with the lanterns and the gimmicks of the different colleges and organizations that we wanted to join the parade next year. However, all was forgotten as we got back with our busy daily lives, until Jay Licauco recently started a discussion about the lantern parade and asked if we could join. Associate in Arts Program Chair Aleta Villanueva then decided to pursue this.

I had my first in-depth encounter with the concept maybe five years ago as a struggling environmental science student. It was relatively new and catchy. And on paper, ecotourism does seem like a great idea. In one sweep, you hit several birds with one stone: the local economy gets augmented with revenue with supposedly little or no negative impact to the environment while promoting a sense of environmental awareness to all stakeholders.

I just had this idea of writing about surviving in UPOU, since I, myself had a hard BUT meaningful and fun stay in UPOU. And I think I'm staying for quite a while since I'm planning on taking up BAMS. I’ve had good and not-so-good experiences in UPOU but I survived, and still am surviving. Thanks to my friends, I have managed to make it this far… I’m now graduating (hopefully)!

Matagal ko nang naririning ang Bani sa mga kaguro ko sa UPOU. Mahirap daw makarating doon. Napag-alaman ko kay  Ma'am Mel Bandelaria, ang ating butihing registrar, na may mga iskolar ng programang AA doon. Kaya't sinamantala ko ang pagkakataong gagawin ang UGAT doon.  Napasama ako nang di oras pero ito naman ay talagang bukal sa kalooban ko.  Marahil din sa kadahilanang hinahanap hanap ko ang pagbiyahe tulad ng gawain ko noon sa Pahinungod Diliman. Iba rin kasi ang nauuwi mong alaala, kwento at pagkatuto kapag lumalabas ka ng Maynila. Lagi't lagi kang babalik sa trabaho na para bagang nadagdagan ng kahulugan ang mga pang-araw araw na kayod.

Sa Bani, Pangasinan,  nakilala ko ang ilang estudyanteng iskolar sa ating programang Associate in Arts.