09/11 – Lightning Rally of LFS vs. US Embassy

September 11, 2009 – a lightning rally of the militant youth group LFS took place in front of the US Embassy in Manila .

 

League of Filipino Students (LFS), a militant youth group fighting for the freedom of the country, commemorate their 32^nd founding anniversary by having a protest convention in front of the United States Embassy located in Manila against the continued US intervention here in the Philippines .

 

“The presence of US troops in the Philippines undermines the supposed sovereignty and independence of the country…” explained by Terry Ridon, the Secretary-General of LFS.

 

Then he also added that the continued implementation of the Visiting Forces of Agreement (VFA) and other unequal treaties with the US has taken away the victories of decade’s worth of Filipino struggle against US intervention such as the dismantling of US Bases in 1991.

 

This VFA is an agreement between the US and the Philippines in allowing the US military troops to operate in the Philippines . And LFS firmly stated that this supposed aid that is being given by the US troops in Mindanao service is nothing but a smokescreen to their intervention in the country.

 

“…it is nothing if it costs our freedom” Terry Ridon vigorously concluded.

 

Coincidentally, this lightning rally of LFS was happened in the controversial day of September 11 (09/11) where a series of coordinated suicide attacks upon the United States also happened. Are these coincided events which are always against the United States of America could mean something…AGAIN?

Sudden changes in PUP Mabini Campus gating system

ATTY. ARCELI G. LINATOC, director of Administration Services who is said to be one of the major proponents of the altered position of the entrance-exit gate, said that the changing of the PUP Mabini Campus gating system is mainly done for the safety of the students inside the university.

The interchange of entrance and exit gate of the PUP Mabini Campus was implemented last third week of July this year. And this has brought the students a sudden confusion and gained criticisms for it had been regulated without proper consultation and prior announcements to the students.

"...wala akong natandaang information na ipinakalat para i-announce na pagpapalitin yung entrance and exit, kaya ayun parang go with the flow na lang yung mga estudyante..pero only dead fish go with the flow di ba? kaya dapat tayo makialam," stated by Michelle Arcenio, the Secretary General of PUP Student Council, regarding the said changes in PUP gating system.

She also said that most students, particularly those who just got enrolled in PUP last 2007, prefer the previous position of the gate since it was what they first encountered when they came in the PUP.

Lack of proper information dissemination and prior notice to the students are what makes them confused and irritated before entering the gate of PUP.

But Atty. Linatoc made clear that it is for the safety not only of the students but also of the vehicles and pedestrian who are coming in and out the university since they are using the same entrance. It is done to improve the security measures of the university provided for the safety of the students. Then she added, "...because of the big population of PUP, the information is given on the gate..."