Arroyo effigy forces PMA band to skip Christmas parade

By Desiree Caluza
Inquirer
Last updated 05:36am (Mla time) 12/18/2006

BAGUIO CITY--An effigy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prompted the Philippine Military Academy band to pull out of the annual "Pasiklaban" parade of the University of the Philippines Baguio on Friday.

An official of the UP Baguio student council said the band chose not to join the parade, a traditional Christmas activity for the university, when the students refused to remove the effigy before the parade started at about 6 p.m.

The four-foot effigy, clad in a white gown and carrying a rifle, was carried through the downtown area and accompanied by banners criticizing the Arroyo administration's efforts to change the 1987 Constitution.

Ben Ibarra Fernandez, president of the UP Baguio student council, said that aside from the effigy, the PMA band members asked the students to stop waving the flags of militant student groups Anak-bayan and the League of Filipino Students (LFS).

Fernandez said the band presented these conditions in joining the parade. But students and some teachers refused to give in.

Fernandez said Prof. Anavic Bagamaspad, director for student affairs, defended the students' position.

He said Bagamaspad had told the PMA band that it could not stop Anakbayan and LFS from displaying and waving their flags during the parade since both groups are legitimate student organizations recognized by the university.

"We all know that flags and effigies are a UP thing. We did not antagonize the PMA; in fact we understood it. [Its members'] only concern was that it should not be identified with [the anti-administration effigy] while wearing their uniforms. What happened was a graceful [exit]," Fernandez told the Inquirer in a telephone interview on Saturday.

The students cheered after the PMA band left.

PMA superintendent Maj. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig said he and UP Baguio chancellor Priscilla Macansantos eventually decided to pull out the band from the parade after the students held their ground.

"It is unlikely for the PMA to be participating in an activity criticizing the institution of the republic. We want to make it clear that there were no personalities involved. Chancellor Macansantos apologized [for] what had happened. We had to do what we had to do," Maligalig told the Inquirer.

The Baguio City National High School band took over the PMA band's chores. The parade started at past 6 p.m. and was joined by at least 1,000 students, teachers, employees and officials of UP Baguio, who carried lanterns, flags, banners and torches.

Inquirer Northern Luzon

takot sa effigy ? :demon:

OT -- but reading caterwaul's sig I suddenly missed Pendejo's witty sarcasm, I wonder where he is now, probably teaching snotty cadets in PMA? :demon: