Academic Corruption 101

I am always proud to call myself a mentor.

I wanted to share and give my students the best services that I could offer. In everything you do, give it your best shot. Make your country proud as I always tell them. That is my mantra. I don’t want to shortchange my students by becoming a mediocre teacher. I want to give them the best.

In my mind, mediocre students are there because mediocre teachers exist.

Three days ago, I received a text from one of our former librarians asking me if I could help some students from a different university with regards to their thesis writing. I replied that if it’s within my specialization, I would be glad to extend my assistance to them.

I was not really ready to hear what they have to say when they told me their story.

They were a group of students who were supposed to graduate this semester. I learned that their thesis adviser filed for a leave and was supposed to go to U.S. The students were asked to comply with the requirements on or before the last week of June. Failure to comply means incurring a failing grade of 5.

I may belong to a different university but common sense tells me that any professor who files for a leave, the college or office she belongs to must provide someone to take charge of the responsibilities left behind by one of their faculty members. These responsibilities may include giving of removal exams or completion of INC (incomplete grades).

The students are already in the writing stage of their thesis so supposedly there’s no problem with the deadline. But here’s the catch. Since she’s leaving this first week of July, they were told by their adviser that each of them would just have to pay her 2, 500 pesos. There would be no defense and they can all have their passing grade. When asked what’s that amount for. She said it’s for her intellectual property rights.

Her intellectual property rights according to her include checking her student’s research papers, whether the statistical tools they’ve used is apt for their study, whether Mr. Subject agrees with Ms. Verb, and see if there are any corrections with the grammar. The professor said that as long as the data is there, she would be the statistician for their research as well as the proof reader, correct everything from grammar to statistical tools, revisions (with no defense, what’s there to revise anyway?)and everything. She’s a one-man team. All they have to do is to pay, pass their paper and everything is okay. No defense. No whatsoever.

Everybody happy.

If all this is true then I just don’t know what is left for the student to do. Her actions would have been “mistaken” as an act of a good Samaritan only that there’s money involved. For some students, it would be easy to just hand the needed amount and voila! Writing an undergraduate thesis is as easy as 1-2-3. Thing is, not everybody is as rich as Lucio Tan or Bill Gates. And even so, it's easy to just pay and make your life easier but in the end, you don't learn anything from it. It defeats the purpose of learning.

The professor also charged a different fee for the students to pay for her "intellectual property rights". She gathered materials for her class discussions and send it to the email add of her students. There was no bibliography attached or whatsoever.

Sometimes, I don’t know whether I’ll be mad or be amused with these things that take place in some of the academes in the country. I used to hear stories like these and I’ve never quite believed them. I know that it happens but to encounter one in real life is dishearteniing.

As mentors, teachers should be sources of inspiration and encouragement, not shame nor remorse.

I used to tell my students that teaching is such a noble profession but the government treats educators like second class citizens in this country. I always hear people telling me that I am so blessed because I teach at U.P. That I don't teach as an ordinary public school teacher.

But in the first place, what is wrong with being a public school teacher?

In seminars and teacher trainings that I've conducted, I've often heard public school teachers refer to themselves as "just teachers".

If they can't regard themselves with respect and dignity as educators, then how could other people see them as such?

They have to believe that regardless of the institution they teach for, whether it is the premier university in the country or an unknown barrio school somewhere in the rural area, thing is, you're an educator and as such you should be proud.

But what makes this particular scenario more ironic is the fact that the professor involved here is not an ordinary public school teacher (if there is such a thing called as ordinary teacher at all). She belongs to an institution of higher learning. She is well paid and I know the school where she graduates from is one of the best in the country, too.

Will it be wrong for me to think that all levels of educational system in this country is not safe from academic corruption?

I dont think there's a reason enough for an educator to take advantage of her student's vulnerability. If the government is corrupt, is it justifiable to just sit there and be swallowed by the system?

We educators are agents of change.

Other people may just shrug it off. But I will always find it scandalous for my students to do such a thing in my class. Of course, not everybody is as smart as our national hero Jose Rizal who earns a deluge of sobresaliente in his report card. But we can try our best, can’t we?

I just hope and pray that no student of mine cheats himself or herself the chance of gaining new knowledge and experience by letting other people do the work that they ought to do for themselves. I have learned and mastered the art of knowing to give credit where credit is due. But I have also learned how to deal with violators.

You call it tough love.

I will be there for them as long as they don't give up on themselves. You love them enough to teach them that sometimes the best things in life are learned the hard way. Even if it means they have to write their own research papers over and over again until they learn to do it like a pro.

It might be hard but it’s worth it.

Of Change, Embalming and Something in Between

I am currently listening to the sound of crickets and the distant hum of strange noises outside my window. When things really get bad, I tend to withdraw a little and surround myself with things that soothe my mind. They don’t ease my problems but at least for a brief moment I had the opportunity to sing my worries away.

I’m not at the moment exactly joyous but I’m not exactly suicidal either. Truly, sometimes we have to give up some things in order to gain something. Am I scared? Of course, I am.

But yet, even if my knees are shaking and my mind sometimes tend to wander into the fear of the unknown, I’m forging ahead. Why the great conviction? Because I so know this will be good for me. And I've always known that if I so feel that it's good for me, more often than not, it really is. There’s a great difference between being afraid and not doing anything and being afraid yet marching ahead. Okay, I’m with you. I have to be realistic, right? But indeed, what if I fail?

At least I’ve tried.

I think maybe Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks or Marie Curie must have felt like this before or maybe somewhere along the way they also got the jitters. But look at these brave women, they got what they want and they've earned their place under the sun.

Failure is not like it is an end all and be all. It is such a waste of time trying to mope with the idea of what if you fail and all other things associated with the fear of the unknown. Why not try to visualize success? I kept on reminding myself that I have done so many things in life which are far much challenging than this and I came out alive and kicking.

This one will be no different.

I’m forging ahead. The only thing that can stop me right now is LBM. Loose Bowel Movement. That will be effective but no sir, my digestive system works just fine. A friend asked me whether I have already enrolled myself in an embalming class. I have repeatedly told my friends and my family that someday I might venture into funeral parlor business. Yes, I know it sounds morbid but I personally feel it’s cool when your enemies ask you the question, “So yes, what do you do?”,

I’m a professional embalmer. I can give you 50% discount.

I will be the best when it comes to state of the art embalming technology and yes as an added bonus, it gives my future boyfriend something to think of. You cheat on me, you’re dead meat. Literally.

But no, I did not enroll in any embalming course. ( Which reminds me now that none is actually offered in the Philippines. So where do they actually learn it?I'm wondering why TESDA don't offer it.) I’m leaving my place to make a new one somewhere out there beneath the pale moon light. And I repeatedly told myself that if something goes wrong, it can’t be that bad. I opt to focus on good things. I get to meet new people, new adventures, and definitely new and strange places excite my senses. I will be alone for some time but at least I get the chance to explore new places on my own. I cherish the company of good friends but being alone sometimes offers you the opportunities to ride the wind like no other.

I can get hit by lightning or stop short by the rains, but I’m happy to be soaking wet if it means I can get myself to where I really wanted to be.

I’m ready to take flight. Come hell or high water.

Fully Booked

If books are the measure of man’s wealth then I consider myself very rich.

It is said that Andres Bonifacio, one of the prominent figures in the 1896 Philippine Revolution, was a voracious reader. Jose Rizal, our country’s national hero, is known to be a lover of books. Though I have ideas on books that he loves to read, I am still curious about his other collections.

I am wondering if Rizal ever reads the book of Kama Sutra or did he ever read anything about black magic or divination. Considering his famous amorous conquests of women coming from the different parts of the globe, it wouldn’t hurt to wonder if he ever bought himself a copy of Kama Sutra to better understand his sexuality.

I have quite a number of books on gender and sexuality. I started collecting them when I’ve began to teach subjects on gender and sexuality but the Kama Sutra as interpreted and written by Deepak Chopra, I bought it for my Asian civilizations class. I was actually looking for a copy of Arthasasthra, the Indian ancient treatise on statecraft when I chanced upon Kama Sutra at a book sale instead.

Pasyon and Revolution....one of my favorites

I am selling off my books for the next two weeks. I know Jose Rizal would be delighted to buy some second hand value for your money books from my collection. In the span of ten years at the university I have amassed books that are more than enough to bury me six feet below the ground. Much of it was about anthropology and history. But don’t be discourage, I am a woman that reads just about anything that fancies my fickle mind. I have Kevyn Aucoin’s “Making Faces” which is all about stuffs that make professional makeup artists gods and goddesses of big stars in the silver screen. My girlfriends are very much willing to be my guinea pig as I try my hand on make-up. They look fabulously beautiful after that but other times; they end up looking like a cross between Edward Scissorhand and Freddy Krueger.

I believe that in my past life, I’m a frustrated professional make-up artist.

And They Fought Like Demons ....Interesting read this one.

I also buy Chicken Soup for the Soul Series and Harold Sala’s books which remind me to be calm and collected even when I’m on the verge of planning a murder. My health and wellness books that urge me to take care of my body and mind because it will serve me for so many years as long as I keep it fit and sharp. There are others that belongs to diverse categories from nuclear wars, bio-terrorism, cooking, DIY, inspirationals, all about ships,feminism,animation, theology and what have you.

And there’s the children’s book. They’re such an inspiration. From African stories, Japanese, Spanish and of course Filipino folktales, I have it. They keep me entertained when I want to remember good old childhood memories. And did I tell you I so love the story of Charlotte's Web?

Children’s books are simple but sometimes they offer more important lessons than the hardcore theories and paradigms that exist in this universe.

It’s like wisdom in a nutshell.

It breaks my heart to sell them off but I can’t carry all of them to my new destination. I’m exchanging my books for more adventures and experiences in the real world. I’m definitely putting those ideas to reality. But before I bade goodbye to my beloved books, let me say this.

To the bookworms in this world, may our tribe increase!

An Adventure Called Harley Davidson

Some women want a car. I don’t.

I want a Harley Davidson.

Why?

I like the feel of the wind on my face. I love the countryside. I can just imagine the freedom of riding it on the long winding road with the fabulous warmth of the sun on my face and the lovely scene of endless green meadows right before my eyes.

It will be great.

I’m no tourist. I’m a traveler. I love discovering new things, spaces and places on my own. I love the idea of being lost in a sea of people where I can be free to do all the wacky things I love to do. It’s like a secret garden where no one else knows what’s in there, my own private world where I can be free to frolic like a kid and ride the wind like a bird.

The wind on my face thrills me. It brings a certain feeling of serenity and happiness. The only companion I’ll have is the bright blue skies and a flock of birds. It will be pure unadulterated fun. Such bliss. Such a surge of pleasure.

It will be great.

A friend told me that I might be too old to ride such a cool bike. I’m only thirty one and even women in their 50’s have the right to ride a Harley Davidson if they want to. Is there a law that prohibits women to ride one when they’re past the age of 30? And besides, sweetheart, thirty is the new twenty. A woman is free to do what she wants as long as she is not going to break any laws, human or divine.

I don’t believe in the idea of I’m too old or It’s too late.

People who tell you it is not possible probably didn’t get to try to fulfill some of their heartfelt wishes. It’s a trap and a cycle that imprisons them. They want to do things in their life but are afraid to do so. They are afraid to step out of their comfort zones. Are you afraid of taking risks?

Don't be.

Life is beautiful that everyday is such a mystery. Expand your horizons and while you're at it, enjoy the ride. If you want to become a doctor at the age of thirty or forty, by all means, do so. Paint your very first masterpiece. Learn new things. Take hold of second chances. Keep old friends close to your heart but try to meet new friends and marvel at the beauty of nature and life.

History shows that great minds don’t see age or circumstances as a hindrance. Just go and take that first step. You'll even surprise yourself and that you can do it like a pro. It’s not too late. Or would you rather contemplate about it on your deathbed?


Life is like a Harley Davidson. If you want it, get it. If you can dream it, you can have it. It's yours for the taking.