On January 21, the University of Sto. Tomas Alumni Association Inc. (UST-AAI) gave Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson a Thomasian Alumni Award for Government Service. Netizens didn’t take the news too well.
Netizens expressed indignation on Twitter over the award, which according to UST-AAI was given by virtue of the following criteria: an alumni from the university and in government service. The recipients of the award come from four levels of government – House, Senate, Judiciary and Executive.
UST-AAI validated that she is an alumna and bears the Thomasian core values of compassion, competence and commitment.
One of the posts on Twitter from @MrFrankBaraan criticized Mocha Uson for spreading fake news and trolls:
UST bestowing upon Mocha Uson the Thomasian for Gov’t Service Award is a huge insult to all honest, hardworking, principled gov’t workers. You don’t award trolls, who divide the nation w/ lies, propaganda, & fake news. You chastise them & make an example of them—not glorify them.
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) January 21, 2018
Another Twitter post from @sacdalanbea read:
https://twitter.com/sacdalanbea/status/954982683599241217
UST community denounces USTAA, UST admin
UST students and organizations slammed the inappropriate decision of UST-AAI for giving Mocha an award.
UST Central Student Council deplored UST-AAI for honouring Uson, who is widely known as the “main purveyor of politically motivated propaganda against known members of the government’s opposition” and an “avid spreader and citer of fake news”.
UST-CSC's Official Statement on UST-AAI's decision to honor Mocha Uson with the Thomasian Award on Government Service
Take a stand, Thomasians! Let us hear your thoughts through https://t.co/KvQ511aMPK#PulsoNgTomasino#OneCSC pic.twitter.com/kPczNF3lWR
— UST CSC (@UST_CSC) January 21, 2018
The Varsitarian, official student publication of UST, on their editorial issue said that “UST-AAI has manifested banality of evil and perpetuated a libel on UST, and perpetuated a lie.”
They also urged the UST-AAI leadership to resign.
The UST Journalism Society also marked their opposition to Uson’s award, saying that “Uson, who has been using her blog to peddle inaccurate information, malign critics of the Duterte administration, and discredit media practitioners who are performing their role as independent monitors of power, does not in any way to represent the Thomasian core values.”
The group added that “she is not a role model to aspiring journalists who believe that everyone has the right to express his or her views without being ridiculed, threatened, or punished”.
LOOK: In a statement, UST's Journalism Society denounces move to recognize Mocha Uson for her service in government and urges alumni association to revoke Uson's award. pic.twitter.com/1jVo0rL4oq
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) January 22, 2018
The alumni association also received criticism from militant youth organization Anakbayan – UST. They said that the UST-AAI tarnished the true value and excellence of being a Thomasian by awarding Mocha Uson, a “blatant US-Duterte regime apologist”.
The UST admin said in a statement that UST-AAI is a corporation distinct from UST and has its own board of trustees and operates independently, and that the University does not interfere with the affairs of USR-AAI or any alumni organizations.
Below are some tweets about Uson’s recent award:
UST Alumni Assn: Mocha Uson is awardee for government service! Everybody shout Mabuhay!
Dapitan-Morayta jeep:
Arch of the Centuries:
Fr. Miguel de Benavides:
St. Thomas Aquinas:
Claro M. Recto:
Heneral Luna:
Marcelo H. Del Pilar:
Apolinario Mabini:
Jose Rizal:— Movement Against Tyranny (@TheMovementPHL) January 21, 2018
Don’t be mad that Mocha accepted the award. Mochapal mukha nyan e.
UST alumni should hold the UST alumni association accountable for considering and granting it in the first place.
Roar, dear Thomasians!
— Tonyo Cruz (@tonyocruz) January 21, 2018
Last night, the Varsitarian, UST's official paper, celebrated 90 years of excellence in campus journalism. Today, Mocha Uson, an enemy of the press, just received an award from UST.
What a turn of events.
— Alhex Adrea Peralta (@aeyaperalta) January 21, 2018
On Mocha Unson’s Thomasian Alumni Award for Government Service: so kapantay na niya si Rizal bilang distinguished alumnus?
— rolando tolentino (@rolandtolentino) January 21, 2018
Congrats mars Asec. Mocha for recieving the Thomasian alumni award as an inispiration for government cervice. Nakaka-fraud ka marssss! Actuall, in all anesty, peborit ko rin talaga yang Mang Thomas na sawsawan so congrats and vest wishes! Kutos!
— The Fake Marian (@superstarmarian) January 21, 2018
UST has consistently been criticized by students, alumni, and outsiders alike for not having a strong or vocal stance on many social and political issues.
Maybe it made its position clear by giving Mocha Uson that award.
Ew talaga.
— Von Velasco (@renceqv) January 21, 2018
Mocha Uson’s award is a major blackeye to all UST-educated journalists who are trying their best to fight lies, divisiness and fake news.
— Julius Manicad (@JCManicad) January 21, 2018
Okay, so Rappler CEO Maria Ressa is being sued for publishing a very trivial article that has little to no impact to the complainant and to the whole PH society while Mocha Uson roams free in cyberspace peddling her fake news and still gets an award for it?
— von (@ang_Bonsai) January 22, 2018
I'M NOT PROUD OF UST AWARDING MOCHA BUT I'M PROUD OF UST for having students who're not silent about this and are willing to fight for their stand. take note: estudyante ang kalaban niyo.#PrayForUST #VeritasInCaritate
— Tiffany Candelaria (@tiffssyy) January 21, 2018
Nag-aral ako sa UST ng BS Biology. Masaya dun laluna kung seseryosohin ang prinsipyo ng UST. Pero yan ang irony: mismong unibersidad ang lumalabag sa mga prinsipyo nito: anti-poor, pro-tuition hike, fascist. Not surprised sa alumni award kay Mocha: imbued with Duterte’s grace.
— mykel andrada (@mykelandrada) January 22, 2018
I keep saying that every time Mocha is celebrated, I hear my diploma rip a little. After this, I think I should just tear it into pieces myself.
UST, whose Journalism program is accredited to be a Center of Development, honored the woman who practically invented 'fake news'
— Neko Dacanay (@nek0philia) January 22, 2018
How can UST now teach its students the importance of truth, honesty and integrity when they just honored the Queen of Lies and Fake News as one of their outstanding alumna? So does this mean na si Mocha Uson na ang role model ng mga taga UST ngayon?
Shameful to say the least.
— Harvey Keh (@HarveyKeh) January 21, 2018
"Mocha Uson should have been awarded with Best in Math for her expertise in dividing this nation."
?
— Jesie Castro (@jesiecastro) January 21, 2018
Buti tinanggap ni Mocha yung award eh literal na dilaw yung UST
— Audrey (@Dhlfbloodprince) January 21, 2018
