The swollen bruises and broken bones of high school students who were violently dispersed had now fully appeared a few days after security personnel of the Department of Education swung their bamboo sticks at hapless young students who were only demanding a legitimate right – the immediate return of previously collected public school fees in violation of the Department of Education’s ‘No Collection Policy’.

“While demanding justice for our very violent dispersal, we reiterate our call for the immediate refund of school fees collected by our schools, and our opposition to the planned 12-year basic education curriculum of the DepEd.” This was the statement of Ivan Bonostroso, the badly injured leader of the high school students who marched to the Department of Education. His head had been smashed with brass knuckles by a security personnel, along with four others whose heads were similarly smashed, notwithstanding one with a broken forearm.

“We will press charges against the Department of Education, and its security agency, Commander, for the injuries sustained by the high school students, and violating their right to peaceably assemble for redress of their grievances.” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, national chairperson of the League of Filipino Students.

Ridon said the high school students will be pressing charges of multiple counts of serious and slight physical injuries, and grave threats. Child abuse may also be filed against those involved.

“Despite our injuries, we will never hesitate to militantly return to the Department of Education to hold it accountable not only for damaging our persons, but for its policies that had never benefited us high school students.” Bonostroso finally said.

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PRESS RELEASE
August 5, 2010

LFS rejects ROTC revival

“The revival of the ROTC law will be a dark day for democracy and civilian supremacy. We will oppose all efforts by the DND and the AFP to revive the mandatory ROTC law.”

This was the statement Terry Ridon, national chairperson of the League of Filipino Students as student and youth groups slammed the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in renewing its calls to revive a ‘militarist and rejected statute’ that had already been replaced by a citizen-driven law – the NSTP law.

“The NSTP, in almost a decade’s implementation, had been very effective in pursuing its statutory purpose of allowing college students to choose how best to train themselves and render public service. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

He dispelled the good intentions of the new ROTC law which would now supposedly focus on disaster response and community service.

“These supposed good intentions by the AFP are now being implemented by the citizen-driven CWTS and LTS components of the NSTP, and both had been very effective in doing so during the entire implementation of the NSTP law. The AFP’s pitch falls squarely on program redundancy.”

He said that if the real concern of the DND and the AFP is the rapid deployment of citizenry in the event of calamities, the NSTP law provides that all colleges students who underwent the NSTP’s civilian-driven components shall automatically be part of a reserve citizens volunteer corps, which may be deployed during emergency situations.

“The thrust of the NSTP is for the youth to recognize the supremacy of the people, and its capacity of effecting genuine change. A return to the old ROTC law is a step backward towards institutionalizing military supremacy in the minds of the youth.”

Ridon said that colleges and universities have not forgotten the complaints of students that had previously led to the mandatory ROTC’s abolition, such as allegations of corruption, physical and mental abuses, hazing, harassment of known student activists and leaders, among others.

“These are problems that would surely return, because it is the ROTC as an institution that is the problem, and not merely the persons running it.”

Ridon said that no matter how ‘nicely packaged’ the new ROTC law shall be, it would be no different from the previously junked law.

“We dread the day that another Mark Chua would lay dead because of the ROTC.”

LFS vowed to oppose it in the next few months, and plans to lobby for the ROTC law’s rejection in both houses of Congress.

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August
16
Read Red – On Land Reform, 5pm DAR
HLI issue discussion

18
HLI Supreme Court mob, 830am
All Leaders meet, 1pm
Deadline of LFS Metro chapter reports

19
Noy mid assessment prop actions
TAP convenors meet

20
Dep Ed mob on Refund
MRT-LRT petition signing
Rise convenors meet

21-22
ED fest/LTS

24
YS Mob for Education
PADEPA meet
All sec gen meet

27
MRT-LRT petition signing

28-29
BMI @ Catmon

30
HOLIDAY
Assessment w/ chapters

31
DOTC pickett

September

3
Youth Summit on Education

4
43 Health Workers visit @ Kamp Bagong Diwa

9
Public-Private Partnership forum @ UPM

11
LFS 33rd Anniv MOB
Nat’l coordinated oath-taking

12
Cuban 5 Emba Mob

17
LFS Alumni gathering,7-9pm, venue TBA

23
Dep Ed mob

24
Cultural Night

26
Ondoy Commemoration

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Sa ilalim ng palagiang krisis na nararamdaman ng sambayanang Pilipino, naisisilang ang mga kasamang tulad ni Ka Ambo. Si Ka Ambo ay isa sa pinakaprominenteng lider-estudyante sa rehiyon ng Bikol  at isa sa mga pinakamasugid na tagapamandila ng mga prinsipyo ng LFS sa ating panahon. Siya, sampu ng lahat ng kabataan at mamamayang pumapaloob sa pambansa-demokratikong kilusan, ay ubos-kayang nagmumulat sa mamamayan sa kanilang tunay na kalagayan, nagrerekluta sa mga pambansa-demokratikong organisasyon, at nagpapakilos sa laksang mamamayang lumalaban upang ibagsak ang imperyalismo, burukrata kapitalismo at pyudalismo. Ang pagbuhos ng mga kabataang makabayan tulad ni Ka Ambo papaloob sa kilusang mapagpalaya ay siyang nagpapanginig sa tuhod ng reaksyunaryong estado.

Kaya naman ang sukli sa sambayanang lumalaban ay, totoo sa kanyang katangian, ang buong bigat ng pasismo ng estado. Ang Oplan Bantay Laya I at II sa ilalim ng rehimeng US-Arroyo marahil ay ang pinakamadugo at pinakasagad-sagaring programang kontra-insurhensya na ipinatupad ng ninumang pangulo. Sa kanyang layuning  durugin ang rebolusyonaryong pwersang patuloy na lumalakas sa kanayunan, hindi na pinag-iba ng estado ang mga aktibista ng mga ligal na organisasyon at ang mga kasapi ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan sa kanayunan. Mahigit isang libong lider-aktibista, mga miyembro ng mga progresibong alyansa at organisasyon, at mga magsasaka, kabataan at manggagawa, ang pinagdadakip at pinagpapatay ng pasistang rehimeng US-Arroyo at ng kanyang reaksyunaryong sandatahang AFP. Sa halip na ugatin ang mga dahilan kung bakit patuloy na lumalakas ang armadong pakikibaka ng mamamayan sa kanayunan, pinatupad nito ang hungkag na programa ng OBL I at II, all-out war sa lahat ng mamamayang nagnanais ng tunay na pagbabago.

Isa na nga si Ka Ambo sa mga kasamang sa kabila ng matinding banta sa buhay ay nagpatuloy. Ang kanyang pagpanaw ay hindi pagtatapos, kundi isang hudyat ng pagsulong, muling pagtindig sa ating mga prinsipyo, at isang hamon na paigtingin ang ating pakikibaka upang wakasan ang sistemang nag-aanak ng pagpaslang, pambubusabos at pananamantala sa mamamayan.

Sa pagpasok ng rehimeng US-Aquino, ang bagong tuta ng Imperyalistang Estados Unidos, hindi na tayo papaloko pa sa ilusyon niya ng pagbabago. Magpapatuloy ang mga programa ng kontra-insureksyon katulad ng Oplan Bantay Laya I at II na layong kitilin ang diwang palaban ng mamamayan. Ngunit tayo’y magpapatuloy. Tayo’y mulat na habang nariyan ang imperyalimo, na siyang pangunahing ugat ng pananamantala sa mamamayan ng buong daigdig ,ay hindi natatapos ang ating laban. Tulad ni Ka Ambo, marapat tayong magpatuloy sa kabila ng kahirapan, sakripisyo at banta ng kamatayan;  pagkat ang mga martir ng ating kilusan,  ay ang magtutulak sa ating patuloy na isulong ang pambansa-demokratikong pakikibaka hanggang sosyalismo na siyang tanging wawakas sa lahat ng pagpaslang, panananamantala at pambubusabos.

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Today, July 31, 2010, marks the 4th death anniversary of our fallen comrade, Rei Mon “Ambo” Guran. 4 years ago, was brutally killed by suspected elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines while riding on a bus going to Legaspi City.

The League of Filipino Students – Cebu, gives the highest salute to Rei Mon “Ambo” Guran. He was one with the students in fighting for our democratic rights and interests. Never did he back down to any challenges and never did he turn his back to the youth and the Filipino people. He was an inspiration to the youth because he fought for the interest of the broad masses and in advancing the National Democratic Struggle of the people.

He was one of the thousands of victims of Extra Judicial Killings in our country. 4 years have passed, but no perpetrators have been punished. No elements of the AFP have been prosecuted. In fact, the demonous Oplan Bantay Laya 2 by the corrupt and fascist US-Arroyo Regime, which is behind the thousands of cases of the extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances that are happening in our country, is still operational even in the new regime of Noynoy Aquino.

It is one our biggest challenge to the new US-Aquino Regime to end Oplan Bantay Laya 2, and never make any schemes similar to OBL2. The youth will continue what Ka Ambo and many martyrs have started. For the youth will not stop until justice is served to the victims of human rights violations. We will not stop until Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her croonies are prosecuted. And we will never stop advancing the National Democratic Struggle of the Filipino people.

Justice for Rei Mon “Ambo” Guran and all the victims of Extra-Judicial Killings!
Prosecute Gloria Macapagal Arroyo!
SCRAP Oplan Bantay Laya 2!
Advance the Struggle for National Democracy!

League of Filipino Students – Cebu
Cebu City, Philippines

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Isang makabuluhang pagsaludo at pagpupugay sa pagkamatay ng isang kasama, sa pagkatao ni Ka Ambo, sa pag-aalay niya ng buhay para sa mas malawak na hanay ng mga inaapi, inaalipusta at pinagsasamantalahan. Napakalaking insulto sa ating mga nagsusulong ng DRB na sa kabila ng pinaka tama at pinaka matalas nating linya, ay tayo pa ang dinediklarang kaaway ng estado at malawakang pinapaslang. Ang pagkamatay ni Ka Ambo ay hindi nalalayo sa kalagayan ng mga kabataang-aktibista dito sa pulo ng Negros at sa lahat na mga rehiyon, dahil lahat tayo ay target ng pasistang estado. At malinaw sa atin na hanggang ngayon, hindi pa nabibigyan ng nararapat na hustisya si Ka Ambo at ang lahat na mga kasamahang aktibista na walang-awang pinaslang. Kaya hindi tayo titigil sa paghahanap ng karampatang hustisya saan mang antas ng pakikibaka.

Sa 33 taong pakikibaka ng League of the Filipino Students, marami ng kasamahan, marami ng Ka Ambo ang nagbuwis ng buhay. At sa kabila nito, libo-libo pang Ka Ambo ang magdadala ng nagliliyab na sulo na magbibigay ilaw sa masa, patungong tagumpay.

Ang buhay at dugong inalay ni Ka Ambo ay magsisilbing abono sa pagpapalawak pa, pag-organisa at pagpapakilos para sa Rebolusyon!

MABUHAY SI KA AMBO!
MABUHAY ang lahat na mga martyr ng pambansang demokratikong pakikibaka!
mabuhay ang Kabataang-estudyante!

LFS- Negros

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Pinagbabaril siya ng militar, sa ilalim ng rehimeng Arroyo. Hindi makakalimutan ng
mamamayang Pilipino ang ginawa sa kanya ng militar kasama ang naghaharing uri upang
patuloy na maghasik ng lagim sa sambayanang Pilipino. Patuloy ang pakikibaka ng buong
sambayanan upang makamit ang dalawang taon ng hinihinging katarungan sa ilalim ng bulok
na gubyerno ng Pilipinas. Dahil sa patuloy na pagpapakapapet ng gubyerno sa amerika kaya
nagnyayari ang ganitong mga insidente, sa ilalim ng OBL2 dumami ang mga kaso ng paglabag
sa karapatang pantao kabilang na rito ang biglaang pagkawala ng mga aktibista ng bayan. Sa
daang libong aktibista na inialay ang kanilang buhay upang magsilbi sa sambayanan ay ang
malugod na pagsaludo.

Sa ialalim ng rehimen ni Aqiuno ay ang mga kahilingan ng kongkretong plano upang paigtingin
ang kampanaya laban sa paglabag ng karapatang pantao. Pangunahin dito ang pagbabasura
sa OBL2 na siyang nagiging tuntungan upang ang militar ay pumaslang ng mga aktibista, sa
pakikipagtulungan ng nagahahring uri.

Bilang mga aktibista at rebolusyonaryo ipinaabot namin ang pagsaludo kay AMBO GURAN,
CRIS HUGO , at FARLEY ALCANTARA, at sa kanilang naiwang pamilya, asahan po ninyong
kasama kami sa paghingi ng hustisya sa kanilang kabayanihan. Sampu ng daang libong
aktibista ang pagpupugay sa kanilang magiting na pamumuhay.

IBASURA ANG OPLAN BANTAY LAYA DOS!!!

KATARUNGAN SA MGA BIKTIMA NG PAGLABAG SA KARAPATANG PANTAO

IBAGSAK ANG IMPERYALISMO!

MABUHAY ANG PAMBANSA DEMOKRATIKONG PAKIKIBAKA

Lfs UP TACLOBAN SECRETARY GENERAL

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Importante sa kahit anong organisasyon, ang pagmamantine ng isang tanggapan. Mas mahalaga pa siguro ito kung ang organisasyon ay gaya ng LFS na pambansa ang saklaw at binubuo ng napakaraming kasapian. Ang mga opisina ay hindi lamang para sa mga officers kundi para sa pagpapa-unald ng buong organisasyon, mga kasapi at mga lider nito. Bagama’t hindi ito dapat maging pangunahin at mapagpasiya sa pagsusulong ng mga plano, hindi rin naman maikakaila na malaki din ang mai-aambag ng isang physical base para sa mahusay na pagpapatupad ng mga plano.

Sa ganang ito ay humihingi ang National Executive Committee (NEC) ng League of Filipino Students ng suporta para sa pagtatayo at pagmamantine ng pambansang tanggapan. Kinakailangan kapwa ang materyal at pinansiyal na suporta para rito. Sa kasalukuyan ay nakiki-opisina ang LFS sa headquarters ng Kabataan Partylist. Layon ng pamunuan na magkaroon ng sariling tanggapan pag dating ng panahon kaya’t kailangang maghanda na para rito liban pa sa kailangan din nitong mag-ambag sa mga gastusin at pangangailangan ng Kabataan Partylist headquarters.

Hindi na kailangan pang diinan ang pangangailangan sa pinansiya. Ito ay i-aambag sa pambayad ng renta at utilities (kuryente, tubig, telepono, LPG at drinking water na hiwalay na binibili dahil may mga nagkasakit noong nakaraan sa pag-inom sa tubig mula sa gripo). dahil luma na rin ang opisina, madalas ding may mga pinapagawa dito.

Ang mga gamit at materyales na kailangan o maaaring ibigay ay ang mga ss:

Pagkain: bigas, tinapay, itlog, de lata, noodles o ano mang maaaring makain, kape, asukal, mantika, asin, toyo, patis, suka etc.
Toiletries at cleaning materials: sabong panligo, shampoo, sabong panlaba, dish washing liquid, sponge, etc.
Office at school supplies: bond paper, newsprint paper, logbook, folder, envelope, permanent at whiteboard marker o ink, mga adhesive tape at dispenser nito, stapler at staple wire, gunting, chalk, lapis, bolpen, cutter, paper cutter, glue
Art supplies: acrylic and textile paint, brush, tela para sa streamer, karton para sa plakard, T-square
Hardware: pliers, long nose, screw driver, martilyo, pako, lagari, alambre
Office furniture: desk, mesa, upuan, sofa, cabinet, shelf, computer table
Office materials: black o white board, cork board, plastic chest, plastic crates, walis, dustpan, basurahan, kurtina
Kitchen: gamit pangluto (kaldero, sandok etc.), kutsilyo at sangkalan, kalan, gamit pangkain (plato at kubyertos etc.)
Bathroom at laundry: timba, tabo, batsa, palanggana, hanger, hose
Bedroom: tulugan (folding bed, banig etc), kumot, unan

Maliban sa naka-lista sa itaas, malugod naming tinatanggap ang ano mang ibibigay ninyong maari pang pakinabangan dahil magkakaroon kami ng rummage sale sa katapusan ng July. May white paper drive din kame para sa paglikom ng dagdag pondo. Pinaka kagyat ang pangangailangan sa mga nasa unang apat na kategorya.

Maaring makipaguganayan sa aming hotline +639283566238 o mag-email sa lfsphilippines@gmail.com

Maraming salamat sa inyong walang sawang pagtulong at pagsuporta.

National Executive Committee
League of Filipino Students

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Students Welcome Opening of Classes With Protest Against Tuition Fee Increase

Students led by the League of Filipino Students (LFS), Kabataan Partylist (KP) and Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) stormed the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office-7 around 10:30 AM to protest against the Commission’s inactivity in the face of unabated tuition fee increases in private as well as in state colleges and universities throughout the country, many without even undergoing genuine consultation with students, parents and other stakeholders.

Aside from the tuition fee, schools also charge anomalous and exorbitant miscellaneous fees such as Internet fee and Energy fee which are supposed to be covered by the tuition fees students pay.

The students condemned CHED’s degeneration into a mere rubber stamp for school owners’ tuition increase and its feeble attempts at preventing colleges and universities from raising tuition and other fees.

Recently, CHED approved 339 Higher Education Institutions to increase their tuition fees for this school year 2010-2011. In Central Visayas alone, 18 schools will increase their tuition by no less than 3%. The percentage of increase for this year in the entire region is 12.37%.

After being denied entry, the students barricaded themselves in front of the Regional Office’s gate and demanded a dialogue with CHED Regional Director Amelia Biglete only to be told that the Director was absent. Undaunted, the protesters called on the ranking official of the office to face them and listen to their demands, eventually gaining entry into the CHED compound where they continued their program.

“When School Administrators apply for a tuition fee increase, they are welcomed with a ‘red carpet entrance’ into the CHED Office,” says Kyle Tumbiga, Coordinator of LFS-Cebu, “But when students come to petition for a freeze on tuition , they lock us out.”

After a brief standoff, Assistant Regional Director Candelario Aytona agreed to listen to the students’ demands but could only say that he would pass it on to the National Office. Despite the prodding of the students he would not assure them that the CHED would immediately act on their demands.

“Aytona’s statements show that there is no guarantee that our demands will even be acted upon by CHED, so we will not stop our protests until CHED takes a concrete action against tuition fee increase,” warns Tumbiga.

He proposes that in light of the continued effects of the Global Financial Crisis compounded by the economic dislocation brought about by the El Nino phenomenon, CHED should proactively put a stop to the yearly increase in tuition fees by imposing a moratorium on tuition hikes similar to the House Bill sponsored by Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino which was unfortunately not acted upon by the outgoing Congress.

He also called on the incoming Aquino Administration to fulfill its campaign promise to concentrate on education by providing the highest budgetary priority to education, as mandated by the Constitution.

“CHED should prepare itself for a much bigger protest if it continues to be deaf to the cries of the students and parents,” Tumbiga said, “We are also calling on our fellow students to join us in opposing these threats to our right to quality education.”

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