UST alumni: Award challenges Mocha, other grads to uphold Thomasian values

MANILA, Philippines — The University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association Inc. said its decision to recognize alumni in government service was meant to challenge recipients to uphold the university's core values.

The inclusion of Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux "Mocha" Uson in the list created buzz on social media Sunday night.

It also prompted the UST Central Student Council to issue a statement saying Uson, whom it described as "widely known as the main purveyor of politically-motivated propaganda against known members of the government's opposition, and an avid spreader of fake news" did not deserve the citation.

“[The Thomasian Alumni in Government Service] is envisioned to inspire and challenge the recipients to lead the Thomasian core values of compassion, competence and commitment,” USTAAI president Henry Tenedero and vice president John Simon said in a statement Sunday.

They said criteria are for the recipients to be:

• A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas
• Working for the House of Representatives, Senate, judiciary or executive.

The Communications assistant secretary earned bachelor's degree in Science in Medical Technology in 1998.

She also took up Medicine at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery but later chose to focus on a career in entertainment.

USTAAI clarified that alumni initiated the grant of the award, not the university itself. It said the awards given are different from the Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Leadership Awards—the highest award bestowed by the institution.

In a Facebook post, Uson thanked the USTAAI for the recognition and dedicated it to her mother and to Filipinos. 

READ: UST gives award to Mocha Uson for gov’t service

‘Revoke Mocha’s award’

USTAAI’s recognition of Uson for her service in President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has sparked criticism, with many individuals, including Thomasians, saying she is undeserving of the award.

The Arts and Letters Student Council called on the alumni association to revoke the award to Uson, whom it said is known for propagating politically-motivated propaganda and fake information.

“The ABSC believes that she does not deserve any form of award, which entails a reward for her merits; let alone be recognized by the University as a notable [alumna],” it said in a statement.

The UST Central Student Council earlier said that Uson “does not, in any way, embody the ideals of a real Thomasian.”

The UST Journalism Society also urged the alumni association to revoke the award, saying Uson "is not a role model to aspiring journalists who believe that everyone has the right to express his or her views without being ridiculed, threatened, or punished."

The organization said Uson "has been using her blog to peddle inaccurate information, malign critics of the Duterte administration, and discredit media practitioners who are performing their role as independent monitors of power, does not in any way represent the Thomasian core values of compassion, competence and commitment."

Uson has repeatedly said that she is not a journalist, implying her opinions as a blogger and Palace official do not need to be based on verifiable fact.

"The award is a serious insult to other Thomasians in government who are striving to uphold the principles they learned from our venerable University in the face of temptations to accumulate wealth and power," the UST Journalism Society also said.

"We wonder if the UST Alumni Association Inc. now considers spreading misleading information and suppressing dissenting views as commendable acts," it said.

'An insult to UST alumni'

In a strongly-worded Facebook post, Filipino-American novelist Bino Realuyo also said that Uson’s award is “an insult to all UST alumni who believe in upholding one of the pillars of strong democracies—veritas (truth).”

“Her idea of change has resulted in the death of many Filipinos. I am sure there are many unsung and worthy alumni of UST whom you can honor and recognize. Mocha Uson is certainly not one of them,” he said.

Realuyo, an alumnus of UST High School and who was honored for his contributions in literature, said the decision to recognize Uson prompted him to return the award he received from the university. 

“Her idea of change has resulted in the death of many Filipinos. I am sure there are many unsung and worthy alumni of UST whom you can honor and recognize. Mocha Uson is certainly not one of them,” he said.

READ: UST student council strongly denounces award given to Mocha