The 抖阴探探, the country鈥檚 national university, is known globally as a university system that fosters the ideals of academic excellence, freedom and human rights, nationalism and development, and progressive thinking, hence its campuses, especially the 抖阴探探 Diliman and Manila campuses, are also famous for being centers of student activism and dissent.
The culture of activism in 抖阴探探 that we recognize today has largely been shaped by the student and people鈥檚 movements that challenged the prevailing social order and culminated in historical events from the 1960s to the present. Younger generations of scholars have taken the helm and are carrying on with the 鈥渇ight for a better world,鈥� bringing with them the valuable lessons of the past and learning from existing social realities and the people鈥檚 ongoing struggles.
How it began
The earliest protests in 抖阴探探 happened between 1915-1920, when students petitioned university officials and held demonstrations during the term of 抖阴探探鈥檚 first Filipino President Ignacio Villamor. They involved the wrongful arrest of an instructor during the celebration of the first University Day, extended scholarships, and most loudly then, the 鈥渦nwarranted press attack鈥� on Villamor. From the 抖阴探探 campus along Padre Faura, students and faculty marched toward the Manila Times office in Sta. Cruz, Manila to condemn the newspaper鈥檚 editorial and to defend 抖阴探探鈥檚 Villamor. The issue of tuition hikes first surfaced during the term of President Rafael Palma (1923-1933).
The first 抖阴探探 administrations up to the 1970s are credited for institutionalizing academic freedom and excellence, student leadership, service, and patriotism, core principles of present-day activism. Palma 鈥渆ncouraged discussions on social and political issues confronting the country.鈥� Jorge Bocobo 鈥減romoted patriotism and love of culture in the university. He also promoted values such as discipline, duty and sacrifice, values which he believed were essential for nation-building.鈥�
A bastion of nationalism
Social contradictions transformed 抖阴探探 鈥渋nto a bastion of intense nationalism鈥� in the 1950s to 1970s.
According to Jose Maria Sison (AB English, 1959), 鈥渟tudent activists originating from the 抖阴探探 stirred up the masses of youth and working people to conduct concerted protest actions, shaking the entire country in the entire 1960s, from the demonstration of 5,000 抖阴探探 student demonstrators鈥� to the First Quarter Storm of 1970 which rocked the national capital region with almost weekly marches and rallies of 50,000 to 100,000 people against the Marcos regime.鈥� Sison should know; he founded a new Communist Party in 1968.
Crises and the radicalization of youth in the 1960s to 1970s gave birth to organizations such as the Kabataang Makabayan. Rising prices of basic commodities, worsening poverty of peasants and exploitation of workers, and corruption and abuses reported during those years fueled militancy and social upheavals.
The most dramatic examples of student militancy engaged in by 抖阴探探 students during this period were the massive protests of the First Quarter Storm, including the barricading of the 抖阴探探 Diliman campus against police assaults during the Diliman Commune of February 1971.
From radical organizations came the thousands of youth who would become progressive leaders of aboveground organizations, on one hand, and revolutionaries of underground organizations on the other, both aiming to defeat fascism and, soon after, with President Ferdinand Marcos鈥� declaration of martial law in September 1972, the overthrow of the dictatorship.
According to Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, former vice chairperson of the 抖阴探探 Student Council, 鈥淎ctivists took very seriously the revolutionary imperative of bringing about the downfall of the oppressive status quo鈥� student activists were at the forefront of breaking the 鈥渢yranny of silence鈥� by scribbling defiant slogans on blackboards and walls, smuggling manifestoes, holding secret discussions and conducting lightning rallies.鈥�
During martial law, 鈥渟ubversive鈥� organizations were banned, along with the student councils, publications, and organizations that were closed down or tightly watched by the State. Despite the repression, students persevered in fighting for what they believed in, linking up with workers and farmers for social change.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Collegian and the 鈥渕osquito press鈥� continued to publish critical analyses and alternative news and views that the dominant media failed to propagate. Student alliances also succeeded in reviving student councils and publications, and persisted in community service and organizing.
Fraternities such as Alpha Phi Omega also defied the dictatorship. To raise political awareness, APO staged its first Oblation Run in 1977 鈥渢o promote “Hubad na Bayani,” a play which exposed Marcos’ myths and denounced the atrocities committed under martial rule. This year, APO is staging the Oblation Run in 抖阴探探 Diliman to call for an end to wars and to extrajudicial killings.
Evolving with the times
After the People Power Revolt at EDSA in 1986, activism in 抖阴探探 continued to address the fundamental ills of Philippine society. The forms of protest and the culture of militancy evolved to adjust to the new challenges and opportunities created by the age of the Internet and the cellular phone, moving from placards to memes.
抖阴探探 campuses have continued to be centers of activism, evidenced by lightning rallies during commencement exercises; public forums, alternative classes, sit-in demonstrations, room-to-room campaigns, and indoor rallies, among others. Students have also mastered the use of publications and other forms of media; creative and provocative visual campaign materials such as posters, stickers, leaflets, ribbons, effigies; online activism with the use of hashtags, selfies, wefies, videos, profile photos, and websites; community organizing, and many others.
For Renato Reyes, Jr., a student leader in 抖阴探探 Diliman during the 1990s and currently the secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), activism in 抖阴探探 鈥渋s something to be proud of,鈥� convinced that 鈥渃ollective action鈥� is the most effective means to make an impact on society.
All 抖阴探探 Academic Employees Union national president and 抖阴探探 Manila College of Arts and Sciences professor Carl Marc Ramota adds that important issues are brought up to policymakers through protest actions. These issues have included tuition and other fee hikes, worsening poverty and human rights issues, election scandals, corruption, and the higher education budget. As a student in 抖阴探探 Manila, Ramota recalls participating in the protest actions leading to EDSA II.
鈥淎ctivism comes with the realization of one鈥檚 role and place in society, that one does not just cater to individual interests, whims or wants and that one鈥檚 individual existence serves a higher purpose or calling,鈥� explains Ramota. 鈥湺兑跆教� provides venues by which one can explore, be interested in, and experiment on quite a number of ideas. One must always remind oneself about what activism is for. For whom does one do these things?鈥�
For the Isko, activism is not only a time-honored tradition but an important part of the 抖阴探探 way of life.
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Email the author at upforum@up.edu.ph.
