Defending Human Rights - a discussion

Trinity of Remedies: A Discussion on Defending Human Rights

Atty. Jose Midas P. Marquez

As a way of commemorating the 22^nd year anniversary of the 1^st People Power Revolution the University of San Carlos hosted a socially relevant and intellectually enriching lecture on how we can Defend Human Rights in the country through the Trinity of Remedies – Writ of Habeas Corpus, Writ of Amparo and the Writ of Habeas Data – as recently promulgated by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. In order to provide the appropriate understanding about said legal remedies Atty. Jose Midas P. Marquez, the official spokesperson of the Supreme Court who is at the same time the Chief Justice’s Staff Head, graced the occasion and enthusiastically led the Carolinians to dynamic reflections as he talked about the history, scope, application and limitations of these promulgated rules. The lecture became more interesting when guests, students as well as faculty members actively shared their thoughts and queries during the open forum. More meaningful related issues were discussed and given light, among them is the current “activist” character of the highest court under the leadership of Chief Justice Reynaldo Puno. Atty. Marquez clearly emphasized that the open-mindedness of the Judiciary springs from an activist 1987 Philippine Constitution. Hence, more can be expected of every sector empowered by the fundamental law. In the end the Supreme Court Spokesperson aptly stated that still the best defense for human rights is the consistent and constant vigilance of an informed Filipino nation.

Atty. Jose Midas P. Marquez with faculty

The endeavor was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Department of Sociology-Anthropology and the Department of Political Science and was held at the Theodore Buttenbruch Hall last February 21, 2008.

Thanks to author: J.E. R. Bersales
27 / February / 2008

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Speaking Truth, Seeking Justice, Setting Things Right

Speaking Truth, Seeking Justice
Setting Things Right
CEAP on the Events of our Time
February 14, 2008

“No lie can live forever,” said Carlyle. “Truth, crushed to earth, will rise again,” added William Cullen Bryant. And forty years ago, Martin Luther King cried:

On some positions,
Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?”
Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?”
Vanity asks the question, “Is it popular?”
But Conscience asks the question, “Is it right?”

There comes a time when one must take a position
that is neither safe nor politic nor popular;
but one must take it
because Conscience says, “It is right.”

Following his conscience, Rodolfo Lozada Jr. these days has revealed possible corruption in the handling of government contracts. His confession has stirred memories of other allegations by other people of graft and greed in government, and is shaking the souls of many to speak and act in response.

What of us, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), an association of 1,252 schools, colleges, and universities with at least 2 million students and around 120,000 school personnel and faculty?

We too must speak, we too must act. For, as the same Martin Luther King continued, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent on things that matter.”

Silent then we must not be or must no longer be, if once we were. May not our lives end but rather begin in a special way this Valentine’s Day. Beyond the love we are expected to declare for the persons of our hearts, is the love for the people of our country that we are invited to express in this time of crisis in our land. Mere bystanders we cannot just be but active participants in the continuous task of shaping our nation’s life. In the words of Vaclav Havel, “By perceiving ourselves as part of the river, we take responsibility for the river as a whole.”

For those of us who know the truth, we pray for the courage to speak it. For those who seek justice, we pray for humility in the pursuit, personal integrity in the quest, respect for others involved in the search. For those of us who must judge and act on what we see and hear, we pray for fairness and the will to make the good triumph over evil in a way that removes the bad, without the act leading to what is even worse.

In tandem with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) we invite our member schools and their constituents, our alumni and friends individually and communally to pray for guidance on what to do in these times of tension and difficulty. We ask our administrators, faculty, and students to bring to the fore the issues of the day, discuss in humility and decide in fortitude and love what we must do together as a people in the different parts of the country where we are.

We must seek to discover the educative moment and the lesson for life in the investigation sessions and in the rallies and other mass actions we may join. To our country and the world we must show and say that we will not allow dishonesty, corruption, indifference or neglect to rule our lives. We must look into ourselves and ensure that what we decry in others we do not do ourselves.
We should pledge to continue to teach and live truth, honesty and integrity in our own schools so that when our graduates leave us they bring with them not just skills and knowledge but wisdom and love to inspire and change the world.

To this end, we link up with other groups sincerely searching for truth and justice. We encourage the establishment of truth centers in our schools so that our students, teachers, and staff are led to continuing awareness, reflection, and formation toward social-political engagement. We invite our members to support the sanctuary fund set up by the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP). We support the signature campaign demanding the implementation of the Supreme Court's decision junking Executive Order 464 so that the search for truth is not hindered or compromised.

Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life we shall continue to ask to lead us, accompany and comfort us in all we need to do. It is He, after all, who will truly set us free. The Holy Spirit we ask to enlighten us so that our external actions flow from inner harmony of heart. We remember the words of Will Durant: “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.” So we ask our Heavenly Father for the grace that we never neglect but ever firm up the moral fiber of our souls.

Our anger at the wrong and sinful things in and around us may we not allow to make of ourselves men and women of violence. We take to heart the thought of Martin Luther King: “The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence, you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

May our light dispel our darkness, may our love melt whatever hatred may lurk within. But in this Kairos moment, this time of grace, we, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, with all men and women of good will, in our nation and in the world, in the name of the Lord, by the grace of His Spirit, in concert and in communion call on ourselves and one another to -- speak the truth, seek justice and work to set things right.

Nobel laureate for Economics Kydland in USC

USC hosts Nobel laureate Kydland

Prof. Finn Erling Kydland, 2004 Nobel Laureate for Economics, visited the University of San Carlos on February 8, 2008 to deliver a keynote speech at the Hoerdemann Building and dialogue with University officials and the public.

Prof. Kydland (center) arrives at the USC lobby flanked by wife Tonya and USC President Fr. Roderick Salazar Jr., SVD.

Prof. Kydland traveled with his wife Tonya, International Peace Foundation (IPF) founder Dr. Uwe Morawetz, and IPF staff Supaporn Bertrand under the IPF Bridges Program (www.peace-foundation.net).

Dr. Uwe Morawetz (right), founder of the International Peace Foundation, gave the rationale for the Bridges program.

In his keynote speech, Prof. Kydland spoke of technological change as one of the main driving economic forces and discussed the examples of Argentina and Ireland. He contrasted the two countries policies and how these affected investor confidence and economic growth. He argued that policies need to be credible, forward-looking, transparent, and consistent for long periods. Quoting from the book Barriers to Riches, he said, “With good policy there is a potential in poor nations for not a 1–2 percent but 1000–2000 percent income increase.”

Prof. Kydland delivers his keynote speech at the Hoerdemann Building.

His speech was followed by a dialogue participated in by students and invited guests from the government and private sectors. University President Fr. Roderick C. Salazar Jr., SVD, M.A. then presented Prof. Kydland with the San Carlos Borromeo Award.

Prof. Kydland splits his time between the Department of Economics of the University of California in Santa Barbara and the Tepper School of Business of the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He shared his 2004 Nobel Prize with Prof. Edward C. Prescott of Arizona State University for their work on business cycles and the time consistency of macroeconomic policy.

Author: P. J. Lim
15 / February / 2008

Faculty: College of Architecture and Fine Arts

The College confers degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, Advertising Arts, and Painting. In June 2006, it has also opened graduate programs in Architecture, with majors in Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, and Architectural Science.

Faculty
Architecture Department

Alcordo , Richeto--- MA Arch
Aliño , Benjamin John--- BS Arch
Atega , Socorro --- MA L Arch
Avila , Josephine--- MA Socio
Diano , Imelda Charito--- BS Arch
Dinglasa , Raymundo --- BS Arch
Elizaga , Troy Dino --- BS Arch
Espina , Omar Maxwell --- MURP
Flores , Antonio Andres --- MA Arch
Java , Melva ---MA Antrho
Lanyl , Bela ---MA Arch
Lara , Eleazar ---MTE
Manalo , John Jiffer ---BS Arch
Maninang , Mara ---BS Arch
Migallos , Maxcel ---BS Arch, BFA
Muaña , Norman ---BS Arch
Muego , Andres ---MS UEM
Ong , Andrew ---LLB, BS Arch
Puerto , Ellis ---BS Arch
Raagas , Sergio Jr. ---BS Arch
Racho , Jensen ---BS Arch, CE
Rafanan , Roberto ---BS Arch
Ravina , Danilo ---BS Arch
Rosales , Joel ---BS Arch
Rosario , Margret ---BS Arch
Seno , Vicente ---BS CE
Solis , Carmencita ---MS UPHD
Uy , MA Lizeta ---BS Arch
Valenzona , Antonio ---MS EM
Vallejos , Bernadette ---MBA, BS Arch
Walag , Fe ---BS CE
Yung , Kimberly ---BS Arch,BS-ID
Zafra , Carlos Pio ---BS Arch


Fine Arts Department
Abellana , Gabriel ---BFA-PA
Aliño , Mary Felma ---PhD-TE, MMBM
Castro , Ivy Miriam ---BFA-AA, CPE-BSEd
Cruz , Alexander Charles ---BFA-AA
Culibra , Araceli Jayne ---MMBM, CPE-BSEd
Del Monte , Adrian ---BFA-ID
Enoveso , Orven ---BFA-AA
Lao , Jorge ---BFA-PA, BSC
Loyola , Marie Suzette ---BS Arch
Mah , Ma. Daisy ---BS Arch
Mangura , Michael ---BS Arch, PS ID
Montebon , Cheryl ---BFA-ID
Muaña , Efren ---BS Arch
Oncada , Junald ---BFA-AA
Paredes , Radel ---MA Philo, BFA-AA
Sagayno , Lucilo ---BFA-PA
Seno , Brenda ---MS Ad
Tabotabo , Marie ---MBA, BFA-AA
Vega , Paul Lawrence ---BFA-AA
Villalonga , Tyke John ---BFA-AA
Yap , Jose ---BS Arch

Sinulog short film contest won by Carolinians

Carolinians win grand prize in Sinulog short film contest

A group consisting mostly of fresh graduates from the Department of Fine Arts bagged this year’s grand prize in the Sinulog Short Film Competition.

Eight Thumbs, a collective of young independent filmmakers, most of whom used to be classmates in USC, teamed up to produce “Sinug”, an experimental short documentary that features striking motion graphics.

Directed by Remton Zuasola, the film investigates how the original native dance of devotion was distorted when “Sinug” became a major public festival called the “Sinulog”.

Zuasola and his group received a cash prize of P30,000 and a trophy. Their video bested over a dozen entries that included works of Manila-based filmmakers and a Frenchman.

When not busy doing commercial projects, Zuasola and his group organizes film workshops and produce short films.

"Sinug" screenshots

Author: Radel Paredes
06 / February / 2008

USC College of Pharmacy ranked second in the nation

College of Pharmacy garners licensure examination honors, grad places 4th

The USC College of Pharmacy ranked second in the nation, while one student placed fourth, after the Professional Regulation Commission released the results of the Pharmacist Licensure Examination last Saturday, January 26, 2008.

The College of Pharmacy notched second place in the 10 to 25 examinees category with an 88% mark (15 passers out of 17 examinees).

Carlene A. Cunanan also grabbed 4th place with a rating of 91.55%.

The list of the successful examinees follow: Arias, Vic Tara Raichelle L., Avila, Clark D., Bureros, Charles Gibran D., Cabili, Maria Shahana S., Chan Lim, Dianne Kristine D., Cunanan, Carlene A. (4th place), Echavia, Nadine Eve L., Ignacio, Liezl L., Laboga, Clarelle B., Lim, Angelie L., Ong, Nerissa Rae, Pates, Rudolph Ivan Mark M., Pineda, Celeste A., Salimbongcogon, Sheryl P., and Tiu, Cristina U.

With reporting from M. V. Repolido

Author: P. J. Lim
30 / January / 2008