As a bastion of activism, various student formations in the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) held their First Day Rage protest to draw attention to critical issues that plague the youth among other basic sectors following their first day of classes.
The protest highlighted demands for increased allocations in education and healthcare, opposition to mandatory ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps), and vehement condemnation of the charter change purportedly under a people’s initiative by the Marcos Jr. administration.
“Itong chacha ng mga Marcos ay isang malaking kalokohan. Hindi na sila nagtatago, lantaran na nilang ipinapakita ang pagpapakatuta nila sa mga imperyalistang dayuhan tulad ng US at China kasabay rin ng pagpapapasok ng mga malalaking foreign investors na magpapakasasa lamang sa yaman ng bansa. Mas pahihirapan lang nito ang buhay ng masang Pilipino,” said Brandon Deichmann, vice chairperson of the UPM University Student Council (USC).
[This charter change led by the Marcoses is a big absurdity. They’re not hiding themselves anymore; they openly display their subservience to foreign imperialists like the US and China, while also allowing the entry of big foreign investors who will only feast on the country’s wealth. This will only make life harder for the Filipino masses]
Earlier this month, various groups assailed the circulating chacha petition which was disguised as financial support to urban poor communities like TUPAD and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) among other services.
The said petition further indicated the removal of the provision in the 1987 Constitution for the separate voting of the Senate and the Lower House in proposing constitutional amendments. Should this push through, the power to amend the Constitution will entirely fall into the hands of the Lower House thus making it easily changeable.
Deichmann slammed the Marcos Jr. administration, noting the grave abuse of power among cronies and political dynasties in Philippine politics especially when Marcos Jr. is a cousin to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
He added that this issue is just one that exposed the rivalry between the Marcoses and the Dutertes.
“Kitang kita na ang totoong gusto nilang gawin na kung tutuusin ay peke o huwad ang sinasabing Uniteam. Ginawa lamang nila ito para salimbayan silang mandambong para makakuha ng kapangyarihan. Na sa kasalukuyan ay makikita nating watak-watak na sila,” said Deichmann.
[It’s very clear what they really want to do, which, in essence, makes the so-called Uniteam fake or false. They only did this to accompany their ambition to gain power. At present, we can see that they are divided]
It was during the 2022 elections when the Marcos-Duterte tandem formed the so-called Uniteam coalition; however, such a tandem escalated to public confusion questioning its political relationship especially when there were opposing views during yesterday’s rally in Davao (organized by the Dutertes) and Manila (organized by the Marcoses).
Deichmann said this rivalry between Marcos-Duterte has since been predictable given their hunger for power and wealth. He urged the youth to utilize various platforms, both online and offline, to engage in discussions on pertinent national issues, stressing the pivotal role of today’s youth in influencing, educating, and mobilizing peers.
“Malaki ang papel ng kabataan ngayon na may kakayahan para mag-impluwensiya, magturo, at magmobilisa ng laksa-laksang kabataan tulad ngayon,” he shared.
[The youth today play a significant role, with the capacity to influence, teach, and mobilize thousands of young people, as we see now]
Before the protest, the UPM USC alongside various groups organized a study circle discussion on the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Sulong UPM chairperson Alec Miranda called for genuine student representation following issues like the theat of repealing the free tuition law, Mandatory ROTC, campus militarization, return student services agreement (RSA) and electoral issues on the abstain and 50%+1 voting scheme in the university.
Miranda added that the abstain and the 50%+1 vote is a sham that only jeopardizes genuine student representation.
“Ang genuine student representation o ang tunay, palaban at makabayang representasyon ng kabataang estudyante ay isang karapatan na nakamit natin muli noong diktadurya ni Marcos Sr. Gayumpaman, hindi natatapos sa eleksyon ang genuine student representation, sa simpleng pakikilahok sa mga pagkilos ay nagkakaroon tayo ng pakielam sa paligid natin. Ang pakikilahok at pagpapalahok ang magpapataas sa kamalayan ng mga estudyante upang maging organisado at mobilisado sa anumang isyung hinaharap natin,” Miranda said.
[Genuine student representation, or the true, feisty, and nationalistic representation of student youth is a right we reclaimed during the dictatorship of Marcos Sr. However, genuine student representation doesn’t end with elections; through simple participation in movements, we influence our surroundings. Engaging and being engaged elevates student awareness that enables organization and mobilization on any issue we confront]
 Student Council held their First Day Rage protest to draw attention to critical issues that plague the youth among other basic sectors following their first day of classes.){kind=link}