Umalohokan joins 2013 Solidaridad mid-year congress

by Carl D. Manayan

Solidaridad Team together with their Advocacy Journalism speaker, Pauline Gidget Estella

Three Umalohokan staff represented the publication in the 2013 Solidaridad (Soli) Midyear Congress held last 30 November – 2 December at the University of the Philippines-Diliman bearing the theme: “Addressing the Challenges in Campus Paper Management.”

Solidaridad’s National President, Aries Hegina, conducting an orientation to its member publications

Member student publications dividing the tasks 
for the coverage of the protest rally 
among themselves

The Editor-in-Chief, John Robert Española, along with Carl Manayan, Finance Manager, and photographer Dessa Babiano participated in the 3-day congress organized by Solidaridad, the UP System-wide Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations. Along with Umalohokan, member student publications of the alliance present in the congress were the Philippine Collegian, Cyber Isko of UP Open University (UP-OU), Scientia of UP College of Science (CS), The Guilders Institute of UP Virata School of Business (VSB formerly College of Business Administration (CBA)), Tinig ng Plaridel of UP College of Mass Communication (CMC), Palo Kat-ani of UP Manila-School of Health Sciences (UPM-SHS), Frontliner of UP Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga (UP-DEPP), Perspective of UP Los Baños (UPLB), The Accounts of UP Visayas Iloilo City Campus (UPV-Iloilo), and Himati of UP Mindanao (UPM).

Aries Joseph Hegina, Solidaridad National Chairperson and Mary Joy Capistrano, Solidaridad Vice Chairperson for Luzon opened the congress with orientation and discussion of the Solidaridad Constitution. In the afternoon, the alliance covered the protest rally at Mendiola Bridge which was attended by various militant groups from different sectors of the society in commemoration of the 150th birthday of Andres Bonifacio, acclaimed leader of Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK). Afterwards, there was an assessment of the coverage.

The Guilders Institute, the official student publication of the UP Virata School of Business, 
Editor-in-Chief Jason Virtucio looking for viable stories

On the second day the alliance conducted Sumbungang-Bayan where different student publications raised their concerns regarding campus paper management. Then, there was a deliberation of the proposed resolutions.Various talks and workshops to address campus paper management included Social Media and Campus Press by Tonyo Cruz, Table Battles and Negotiations by Cleve Arguelles followed by a Mock Negotiations and News and Feature Writing by Victor Limon.

Solidaridad members proudly and fearlessly
showing their banner

The congress concluded on the third day with a Basic Mass Integration (BMI) at the UP Arboretum spearheaded by Earl Orio from the Center for Nationalist Studies (CNS), where it focused on the proposed Botanical Garden a land-use plan encompassing a total of 17 hectares in the said location. It was followed by a talk on Advocacy Journalism by Pauline Gidget Estella, National Chairperson of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and a UP Situationer by Eds Gabral, Chairperson of Kalipunan ng Samahang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP) wherein different issues and concerns of different UP units were tackled.

Hegina delivered the closing remarks, the congress concluded in the hopes of attending publications to be able address and resolve the challenges in their respective campus publication, as well as a promise to never betray public trust of their constituency, the students.

Member Student Pubs commenting on the outcome of the protest rally