Edukasyon! Edukasyon! Karapatan ng mamamayan!
Last November 25 and 26, students of University of the Philippines (UP) at Diliman and Manila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Philippine Normal University held a strike to protest the budget cuts in state universities and colleges (SUCs).
As a member of Kabataan Partylist's online media team, I was tasked to provide live updates on the student strike. I do not intend this post to act as a summary report (or anything like that) on the strike, however. This is rather my more personal part of the story. But if you feel like reading my updates during the strike, go ahead and click here.
The thing is, that was the first time I attended a rally. And what could I say? Joining the strike was liberating and exhilarating! It was a great learning experience. You would really learn a lot by listening to what the student leaders and other experienced activists had to say. You think you know what's fun? Try marching (and running) and shouting chants with thousands of people who share the same cause as you—now that's ecstatic!
Kung ayaw mo sa budget cut, pumalakpak ka! *pak! pak! pak!*
Another big thing. I followed the strike on the first day from the College of Fine Arts, where some of the productions for the strike was being done by UP Alay Sining. While helping to do some stuff, I was invited to join the cultural organization by Jessica, a friend who was already a member, then in the afternoon I accepted the invitation with another friend, Daniel. Yes, just like that. On the second day of the strike, an idea for a project suddenly came to us while waiting for the PUP contingent in front of UST: an album of new cultural songs, and maybe music videos, by UP Alay Sining! Now that's something to watch out for next year!
You should try breaking from the status quo. Join a rally, even at least once in your cute college life. Seriously, see me on December 1.
On December 1, the students of the three largest SUCs in Panay (University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Western Visayas State University, & Western Visayas College of Science and Technology) will hold a strike while we, the students in the Metro Manila together with those from UP Los Baños, will march to Senate. UP Baguio and other SUCs in Baguio will have a three-day camp out starting on December 1, and all Davao City schools will have a two-day strike starting on November 30.
Please read A compilation of statements on the education budget cuts.
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