The UP, as well all know by now, is celebrating its 100th year of inception. Being the oft repeated premier state institution for much of its modern-day existence, the significance of such a milestone cannot be understated. As a formidable community, it has survived all the early challenges, aided in the movement and political realignment from direct colonial rule towards a self-governing government, into complete liberation, and withstood the onslaught of the Japanese invasion. It also stood with its head firmly held high just as when the nation seems to be on the brink, and steered the course back to a tenuous freedom once more amidst the tides of social changes and upheavals.
We should dare not forget how it has mobilized itself as the most strident opposition against the Marcos regime, back when there were only a few who dared speak, and then lent a voice to the dissident and wise individuals when everyone was being silenced. It has always had the struggle of the people in its legacy, and the blood of several heroic, yet unfettered martyrs pumping in its veins.
We will not forget our esteemed alumni of such brave stock who died while fighting the forms and forces of oppresion during the time of the twilight, when the people live with nothing but peril and fear from the grueling powers that take on their plight with greed, contempt and selfish sense. Our campus was there when the jeepney drivers, the workers and the students stood side by side, defiant against the blatant rise of oil and matriculation prices. It has provided sanctuary for the victimized and marginalized and has through its wise and focused peoples, kept them from physical abuse within its administerial autonomy.
We have been in recent years, faced with a bunch of questions regarding confronting the issues of relevance. Sure the brave men and women of the Diliman Commune in the 70s are fine folks, the various individuals who went underground trying their fullest to surmount an increasingly bloody, banal dictatorship, as well as those that trooped to the EDSA Shrine to depose it with a finality. Yet, for all intents and purposes, where does the struggle lie now? This is my utmost answer to that - it continues to live in the fight to improve our inadequate facilities and decrepit rooms and poor pay for our teachers. It is the pyre that empowers the moves against enroaching state abandonment of education through the slashing of its budget. It resides in the staunch protests against the demolition of the Ripada residents, and the haphazardly, and unethically implemented Tuition Fee Increase which has limited the access of potential scholars ng bayan to its resources – part and parcel of a misguided UP Charter that was promoted under the pretense of greener pastures at the edge of the horizon for this university, and yet is merely and blatantly one of the many facets displaying the rot of its principals' ambitions. Furthermore, the struggle resides in the necessary moves to face down the tyrant at the highest office of the land, who has only resorted to force of arms and state-sanctioned violence to enforce her illegitimate grip on power, and who only sees our education as a funnel for private plunder.
In celebrating our centennial year, fireworks, and festivities would be a plus, and sure, they are most welcome, yet what is the use of these if their merits are only to be restored in the remnants of time, never to be seen again besides this one moment. Instead of focusing on mere pallative tribute, our celebrations and actions should be instead focused on reaffirming the very principles and values by which our university is anchored upon, and pushing them further towards the future. This is where we should center on.
Indeed, a more relevant tribute to our university would be spending P 3 Million on renovating our laboratories, instead of spending P 20 Million on a museum (one of many extraneous admin projects), rerouting the centennial budget bonus towards fixing and improving facilities and providing better substantial pay for our teachers and maintenance, and by consolidating our community once again in pushing vigorously for the rollback of the unjustified 300% Tuition Fee Increases, and in maintaining direct vigilance in face of the newly-passed UP Charter.
The future, as it may, is built on the present; it is what we do now that will chart where we are going to be tomorrow. If we do not confront the decrepit realities on the ground and instead be blinded by empty revelry; if we should, as a public institution, continue to stonewall the entrances of many more potential iskolars ng bayan, and thus more potential great, living minds because of their socio-economic disposition; and if we would continue to limit and keep our aspirations for greatness amongst ourselves here, and within the parameters of this school , instead of expanding and reaching out its breeches to our nation and our people for their benefit and growth - there will be no roots from which this future could prosper, and there will be no solid ground that our future generation can stand on.
Thus, on our centennial year, more than anything, more than hollow jubilation for scholastic greatness and excellence, let us give due tribute and honor to UP's glorious history of defiant genuine service towards the Filipino people, moulded by its abject refusal to quit on this nation, with every fiber of its being. This is the UP our previous, and present generations have always known.
On its 100th year, UP's legacy must go on. It lives through us, by our deeds and not by memories. It should not be allowed to remain a mere, immobile reminder of past principles, lacquered in sentiment, wrapped in hossannahs, and carved in commemorative stone.
