Not red-tagged

Ever since the landslide victory of presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the narrative of most of his fan pages has now shifted. From attacking his rival Leni Robredo to going after students from the University of the Philippines. The online harassment included tagging them as part of the communist movement, calling them out for their choice to rally and asking the new government to close the university down.

As an instructor to these students, I have heard numerous complaints and requests for our deadlines to be moved. Apart from reeling from the effects of the elections, they are becoming anxious at the various attacks that they are receiving. Others have shared that the disinformation has reached their parents who condemned them for allegedly joining the New People's Army.

I was once there myself as a student of the most prestigious university in the country. It is true progressive groups ask us to rally in the streets if there are pressing issues to protest, but it is all about choice. The choices that we make to stand up against the wrongdoings in the government are not by-products of a class brainwash. These are formulated because we are taught to think, critique, and imagine an ideal community for everyone.

There is also no recruitment by any communist group. In fact, there are more recruitments for participation in human experiments of other degree programs such as Psychology or Management. Students plead for others to join just as a good number of respondents corresponds to a better grade. There are also recruitments for interest organizations such as singing, dancing, anime, and the like. They also need more members to justify their group with the office of student affairs. The manner of teaching is far from spoon-feeding. Students are asked to inquire, dig, research, and make sound conclusions for themselves and others. Even country leaders graduated from this university and they too have contributed a lot to society.

If we allow the attacks to continue online, then we are not only damaging the next generation but demeaning the quality of tertiary education as well. Most of them asked for time off, which I granted. The feeling of being bullied online is no easy feat for those who work tirelessly on this platform. However, these baseless attacks should not be tolerated. They not only hurt those concerned but also form a cloud of disinformation. This could be more dangerous.

It is quite a challenge to dodge malicious accounts that only want to discredit individuals and institutions. I find them threatened at what these highly- intellectual students could discover as the next years unfold. As for me, if the principles and issues are worth fighting for then they should go for it. While the people's taxes paying their tuition, the taxes also go to project kickbacks. Like I tell my students, choose your battles wisely.