Severing ties

What has been an agreement for 30 years has been put abruptly to an end, without even the consent of the other party. The University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense's accord ceased in an instant. The accord stipulated that the forces of the Philippine National Police and the military cannot just barge inside UP without prior consent; a basic right of every institution. UP has been known to conduct mass gatherings calling out against the government and its wrongdoings. I guess this has been too much of a pain to the current administration.

Of all the priorities that this country has to tackle, they chose to highlight the very least important of it all --students, admin, and faculty of UP. I, for one, also come from UP in the Cebu campus and to be tagged as a breeding ground for communists is nothing but an insult. Little do they know that UP has been teaching us ideals that could have been for a better Philippines and we see the wrongs in the current governance. That’s why there is a strong clamor for change and for things to go accordingly.

They said that students are the ones easily recruited to become members of the New People's Army. Well, the only recruit I got back then in college was to a drinking spree in the infamous "liangs" which I have never consented to because of priorities. I was also recruited to take part in religious organizations which I also politely declined. The best recruitment was of a networking company which was trending at that time, like everyone was literally a member. Those were the best days of my life, the ones I spent at UP. Never did I ever think about going up the mountains to become a member of the NPA but I was very local with my angst towards the government.

In UP we are taught honor and excellence, and we are to uphold it even to death. The university made sure that it is instilled in our minds and hearts that the nation comes first. We care about the nation, that’s why we want a better government. In other words, we deserve better. Isn't it obvious? We are dealing with an administration that has time to tinker with a 30-year-old agreement rather than expediting the procurement of vaccines. There are many issues to answer in this country, and we need to set the priorities straight. As if they know what that means.

No matter how hard they want to tag us as trying to topple the administration in the most scheming ways, go ahead. This national university has produced the best and brightest too in the country. I guess we are too qualified for what they are looking for. Then again I would say, good luck, Philippines. We are in it for a year and a half more.