i HEART the french

i HEART the french

Jules Bonnot
Les Brigades du Tigre
(The Brigades of the Tiger)

Yet another reason for me to love the French.

French film makers never fail to nail me to a trance-like state with movies that feed my delicate soul with intriguing story lines blended with innovative but equally incredible imagery. They never cease to explore new concepts in visual execution. As a whole, subtle ideas they suggest elicit intriguing thoughts for humanity. Among my favorites are 'Irreversible', 'Amelie,' and 'L'appartement' (the original version of Hollywood's 'Wicker Park').

This time, I was captivated by a scene in 'Les Brigades du Tigre'. Jules Bonnot, a famous 'anarchist' leader who wants to topple the corrupt monarch from power, was cornered by the Tiger Brigades' arrest operation. Alone in his hideout, he fought back and fought hard for his life until he caught a glimpse of his queen lover through his window. He was suddenly weakened at the sight of her. He yielded from countering the attacks and looked for a paper and a pen. Struggling to live for one moment more, with blood spurting from gunshots that penetrated his body, he wrote:

"I am a famous man, my name is known around the world.
And my renown must be filled with envy
all those who try so hard to get themselves noticed.

I didn't want much,
just to walk with her by the Rhone in the moonlight.
I have always dreamt of such happiness,
snatched from me each time.

I had to survive but
Since your inane and criminal society prevents that, too bad for it.
Too bad for you."

I heart the French.

One Tough Editor:

JERRIE ABELLA for USC Chairperson

Running the Philippine Collegian is one thankless job. Aside from thenerve-wracking, pressure-packed pressworks that writers and artists deal with on a weekly basis, its editors are burdened with almost impossible, inhuman expectations. The least that they have to be worried
about are the rules of grammar (in both languages), which they areassumed to have firm grasp of. Theyare required by the job to have extraordinary acuity and keenness in analyzing social, political and cultural events. Equally as important, of course, editors have to have a fully developed creative imagination, not to mention, impeccable taste.

It is undeniably one of the most demanding jobs on campus, where mere mortals fear to tread.

It does not surprise us, therefore, that one of Collegian’s editors –current editor-in-chief, no less – has decided to tread the path of campus politics. He is on familiar ground, for sure. He is vying for one job where his wit and intelligence, superior leadership skills, creative imagination and, well, impeccable taste, can be put to best use.

We are talking, of course, about Jerrie Abella.

As an astute observer of campus politics for many years, Jerrie has acquired an encyclopedic knowledge of its ins and outs. Trained as a news reporter, he has interviewed and conversed with university administrators and professors, instructors and employees, residents and students – stakeholders all in the business of running a student council.

Anyone familiar with how a usual Collegian presswork grinds out knows how tough one must be to be able to go through the entire process with his or her sanity intact. From planning the issue to going through the rigorous editing to the painstaking laying out of the pages, Jerrie has successfully led one of the best Collegian pool of editors, writers and artists in years. This feat is due in no small measure to Jerrie’s leadership.

Make no mistake, too: Jerrie is also an impassioned activist. His heart has always been in the right place – the Collegian’s advocacies are testament to that. During the last school year, Jerrie was among the editors who assiduously fought administration intervention in the paper’s fiscal affairs while coming up with creative ways to deliver the news to the students. The Collegian’s past term and the current one were also most valiant in exposing and criticizing the utter underhandedless with which the UP administration passed the tuition hike. Jerrie’s term has also kept vigil of updates on the whereabouts of missing UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, as well as other disappeared victims of state fascism.

It goes without saying, too, that the Collegian under his term has been most passionate in bringing to the student fore national issues, from demolition of urban poor communities to the national movement to oust the sitting President.

We have to admit, though: Jerrie is biased. But only because he favors seeing social problems from the point-of-view of the majority of poor and dispossessed Filipinos. He is biased for the students, and makes sure that every ink that he pens will reflect its objective interests and aspirations. He is biased for what is true. Yes, as a journalist, he is obliged to be objective and fair, and the pages of the Collegian in many ways reflect that. But more than being an observer, Jerrie is an activist and a student leader. More than being a mere chronicler of events, he is completely engaged in the conflict of our times.

Fortunately for us, he is on our side.

This coming election, we, former Philippine Collegian editors, urge you to vote JERRIE ABELLA, for chairperson of the University Student Council.


Signed:

Karl Frederick Castro, Editor in Chief, 2006-2007
Jayson DP Fajarda, Editor in Chief, 2004-2005
Ellaine Rose A. Beronio, Editor in Chief, 2002-2003
Kenneth Roland A. Guda, Features Editor, 2000-2001
Lisa Cariño Ito, Associate Editor, 2000-2002
Margaret P. Yarcia, Features Editor, 2006-2007
Katrina Angela R. Macapagal, Associate Editor, 2006-2007
Joan ME Salvador, Associate Editor, 2002-2003
Kendrick T. Bautista, Graphics Editor, 2004-2005
Divina Nova Joy D. Dela Cruz, News Editor, 2003-2005
Rouelle T. Umali, Graphics Editor, 2006-2007
Jeeu Christopher A. Gonzales, Culture Editor, 2006-2007
Wendell M. Gumban, News Editor, 2004-2005