CHED Supports Broadest Access to Higher Education

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) supports the inclusion of an eight billion peso (PhP8B) budget for Free Tuition for all Undergraduate Students in all State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) as a special provision in the 2017 General Appropriations Act.

In the short term, this will incrementally improve enrollment rates, and will help free up financial resources for other college expenses and needs of the students. From a wider perspective, this amount will eventually increase the available income of families.

To bring the country closer to the reality of Free College Education, the Commission will work overtime to ensure that the wisdom and specific intentions of lawmakers will be accurately reflected in the Free Tuition guidelines it is set to create. CHED will coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Commission on Audit (COA) and other oversight government agencies to ensure the legality of all the proposed processes and procedures in the guidelines. CHED will also coordinate with all private Higher Education Institutions, both individually and through their various associations, to help ensure their role under this new policy regime. CHED will also work closely with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for improved complementation.

In light of issues and concerns raised by various sectors, CHED is aware of its responsibility to ensure that these funds are spent according to how they are intended. It will be guided by fairness, cost recovery and alignment of incentives.

CHED will ensure that the wide-reaching implications of this major reform in Higher Education will be brought about effectively, and any negative consequences will be
minimized. The timing of this reform is fortunate, as strong political will and a robust economy allows the country to embark on major reforms that were not possible in the past.

Issued this 23rd of December 2016 at the Higher Education Development Center Building, C.P. Garcia Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.


For the Commission:

(signed)
Patricia B. Licuanan, Ph.D.

Chairperson

Ricky Lee Releases New Book

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After five years, award-winning screenwriter and author Ricky Lee comes out with his latest book Kung Alam N'yo Lang: Mga Kuwentong Pambata Para sa mga Hindi na Bata, a collection of four stories told from the point of view of four children.

The 250-page book, which targets both children and adults, tackles topics as diverse as the search for God (Ang Nawawalang Diyos), a kid who sees letters come to life in his room (Ang Sayaw ng mga Letra), bullying in a town that has forgotten a dark secret from its past (Si Inggo at ang Santo Kuwatro), and the concept of death (Nang Mapagod si Kamatayan). It also includes illustrations by four different artists, Kenikenken (Ken Bautista), Diigii Daguna, Jether Amar and Ivan Reverente.

Lee, who grew up reading comics, said children may read his new book in order to prepare them for the real world. Although Kung Alam N'yo Lang is considered a children's book, it also appeals to adults who have forgotten how it is to be young. It is published by the Philippine Writers Studio Foundation, Inc. or Writers Studio.

Aside from being a book author, Lee is also a scriptwriter and playwright. He has written more than 160 scripts for Filipino films since 1973. Many of these have won awards here and abroad. Among them are Himala, Karnal, Moral, Brutal, Salome and other films directed by acclaimed Filipino filmmakers, including the late National Artists for Film Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. His script for Salome has also been translated into English and published by the University of Wisconsin for its film studies.

Caretaker Short Film Wins Active Vista Audience Choice Award

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A short film which tackles brotherhood, parenthood and belongingness recently bagged the Audience Choice Award in the Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival short film competition.

Seymour Sanchez‘s Caretaker tells the story of a new caretaker (Rolando Inocencio) who comes in to replace the previous keeper of a vacation house of a wealthy family. He is a single parent trying to make ends meet while taking care of his two sons (Jomari Angeles and Luis Ruiz). He meets his boss (Raymond Riñoza), the owner of the house, and is informed the family will be using it for the holiday. He starts cleaning the house in preparation for the family’s arrival. Meanwhile, the owner’s son (John Paul Duray) has other plans. The caretaker is caught off-guard when the owner’s son comes home one night, with his fraternity brothers. Moreover, the caretaker is unaware that he is in for a big surprise.

Naglalahong Pamana, a documentary by Lucy Lavirotte, Jerrica Manongdo, Berna Sastrillo, and David Simantov-Levi, won Best Short Film “for giving a relevant, poignant, and sensitive discourse on a tribe’s loss of land and culture because of minings and plantations.” Manongdo also took home the first runner-up trophy for her Ipinanganak na Nakayapak short film “for taking the audience in an uneven yet captivating journey in the joys and struggles of a proletariat.” Meanwhile, Hayop by Robert Mark Liwanag got the second runner-up award “for exposing torture and violence in a harrowing narration.”

Richard Legaspi of Red Room Media Productions received Caretaker‘s award from Lourd de Veyra of film festival organizer DAKILA-Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism on behalf of filmmaker Sanchez during the Alab ng Puso: Stand Up for Human Rights program at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani last December 10.