Crumble their deception

The course of history has never been changed by those who place self-interest above the welfare of others. The student leaders whose names last beyond the elections and their term in office are not remembered for their academic standing, however spectacular — rather, they stand out for the sacrifices they made to uphold and defend our rights.

Such sacrifices are necessary, for experience shows that pro-student and pro-people stances are often met with stringent opposition from majority blocs in the UP administration and the national government. Today, however, the unity of students is further challenged by certain factions within our own ranks.

The crises we face are daunting. In UP, we feel firsthand the effects of the more blatant blunders of the Aquino administration: rising tuition due to budget cuts for state colleges and universities; the imposition of new fees [such as the impending PE fee] due to the commercialization of education; and now, the rising costs of our daily commute [the minimum fare is now more expensive by P1] due to the privatization and deregulation of the transport sector.

Alab Iskolar [Music]

Lyrics:

Atin ang Lakas, Atin ang Bukas!

Kasabay ng pagbubukas ng taon ang pagsisimula ng panahon ng eleksyon sa unibersidad. Susing tungkulin ng bawat iskolar ng bayan na aktibong makilahok sa proseso ng paghalal ng mga susunod na lider-estudyante ng pamantasan.

Ngunit sa pagitan ng mga pangako, talumpati, at diskurso, kailangang magbalik-tanaw sa mahahalagang pangyayari sa kasaysayan upang tukuyin ang tagumpay ng nakaraan, ang hamon ng kasalukuyan, at ang direksyong kailangan nating tahakin sa hinaharap. Mahalaga rin na suriin kung sinu-sino nga ba ang aktibong tumindig at naglingkod para sa ating karapatan at kapakanan.

STAND-UP against education budget cuts

The struggle continues.

After a series of militant and widespread protest actions in the final weeks of 2010, which saw students flooding by the thousands into the streets, marching to Mendiola, the Senate, and even the Department of Budget and Management, the Aquino administration has been left with no choice but to respond.

At first, several officials, including President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III himself, attempted to justify or outright deny the budget cuts in the education sector. When that did not work, and the protests and rallies escalated, minimal budget increases were granted.

To be an Iskolar ng Bayan

(Released on November 2010)

It's November. The air crackles with tension. Both within and outside the university, long-simmering issues have been ignited, which will have a resounding impact on the character of the University of the Philippines. You are generally casual about calling yourself "isko," seeing it mostly as a status symbol, but it’s sinking in: you are an iskolar ng bayan, and it is not just a point of pride. It is also a responsibility, a heavy duty you must bear as a student of the country's premier state tertiary institution for education.

You are focused, rightly so, on here and now; on what must be done, what must be confronted. Yet you are also thinking about the future.

Tayo ang Boss!

Magsuri, makilahok, magtagumpay!

MAGILAS ang pagsasara natin sa taong 2010!

Ika-26 ng Nobyembre nang matagumpay nating nailunsad ang “STRIKE” sa UP Diliman. Tatlong-libong mag-aaral, guro, administrador, kawani, at manininda ang nagkaisa’t nagsitindig upang tutulan ang P1.39 BILYON budget cut sa UP at P1.1 B cut sa maintenance at operating expenses (MOOE) ng mga state universities and colleges (SUCs). Sa buong bansa, mahigit sa dalawampung libo ang nagdaos at nakiisa sa mga campus strikes.

Sa protestang ito, napilitan ang gobyernong makinig. Dinagdagan ang budget para sa SUCs (P110 milyon para sa MOOE at P500 milyong congressional insertions - CI.) Dito sa UP, nakakuha tayo ng dagdag na P226 milyon.