Commercialized Education and the Future

This will be my final column for this publication so I’d rather give my best shot. Until to the last drop of ink present in my pen, I will provide fearless views to everyone. To the very last moment of being a student, it’s a pleasure to express freely my concerns to the "turning to be extinct" Philippine education.

Every person has the right to quality and affordable education as mandated in the Philippine Constitution. However, education for every Filipino looms in doom. State universities and colleges (SUCs) are being tied with the detrimental provisions of the Higher Education Modernization Act (RA8292). Seems to have a nice title but it permits SUCs to "enter into joint ventures with business and industry for the profitable development and management of the college or institution, the proceeds from which are to be used for the development and strengthening of the college and the university…" thus, it pushes education to commercialization. SUCs impose increase in tuition and other fees so they can comply with the act and worse privatization took place. It then leads education beyond the reach of the poor. Why doesn’t the government give greater subsidies to its SUCs so that tuition and other fee increase can be avoided? In addition, most private higher education institutions use the loopholes of CHED Memo 14 to impose tuition and other fee increase (I assume I don’t have to say more with this topic. It’s been hot news in mainstream and alternative press and it’ll only drive me exhausted.) The end result: huge decline of enrolment. With this kind of situation, when education becomes a business, a privilege rather than a right, the future of the so-called hopes of Motherland will be: QWSACZDXERFEASRCVVNGYUOUOILPHKHMGNGJYTGRFDSXAXACZDSERWRETYDGDFBVNGJHIUOIPOLKJKHMHNGJGFYTTERWEADSGDGDRDRGRHFTDFECDFDGHDFYR HRURYTGKJHYUQEQSADSCZCXDTRYTJYIUOIPLFJDGXCZVSTEYEFSDESYDUUSVDDSWQSAXZCXFDREYFGFVVNBMNKJLOIPUUTYTGERWECOLONIALQWSACZDXERFEASRCVVNGYUOUOILPHKHMGNGJYTGRFDSXAXACZDSERWRETYDGDFBVNGJHIUOIPOLKJK HMHNGJGFYTTERWEADSGDGDRDRGRHFHDFYRHRURYTGKJHYUQEQSADSCZCXDTRYTJYIUOIPLFJDGXCZVSTEYEFSDESYDUUSVDDSWQSAXZCXFDREYFGFVVNBMNKJLOI PUCOMMERCIALIZEDQWSACZDXERFEASRCVVNGYUOUOILPHKHMGNGJYTGRFDSXAXACZDSERWRETYDGDFBVNGJHIUOIPOLKJKHMHNGJGFYTTERWEADSGDGDRDRGRH FTDFECDFDGHDFYRHRURYTGKJHYUQEQSADSCZCXDTRYTJYIUOIPLFJDGXCZVSTEYEFSDESYDUUSVDDSWQSAXZCXFDREYFGFVVNBMNKJLOIPUUTYTBCDDYJGIGYDESD DNGONIHHYREPRESSIVEQWSACZDXERFEASRCVVNGYUOUOILPHKHMGNGJYTGRFDSXAXACZDSERWRETYDGDFBVNGJHIUOIPOLKJKHMHNGJGFYTTERWEADSGDGDRDRGRH FTDFECDFDGHDFYRHRURYTGKJHYUQEQSADSCZCXDTRYTJYIUOIPLFJDGXCZVSTEYEFSDESYDUUSVDDSWQSAXZCXFDREYFGFVVNBMNKJLOIPUUEDUCATIONQWSACZDXE RFEASRCVVNGYUOUHJFISUHFLBFJKSDFGISFHSUIDGFHSZFCOILPHKHMGNGJYTGRFDSXAXACZDSERWRETYDGDFBVNGJHIUOPOLKJKHMHNGJGFYTTERWEADSGDGDRDRGRHFTDFECDFDGHDFYRHRURYTGKJHY UQEQSADSCZCXDTRYTJYIUOIPLFJDGXCZVSTEYEFSDESYDUUDASDLSAKJPODJASJDSVDDSWQSAXZCXFDREYFGFVVNBMNKJLOIPUUTYTGERWEDEFENDQWSACZDXERFEASRCVVNGYUOUOILPHK HMGNGJYTGRFDSXAXACZDSERWRETYDGDFBVNGJHIUOIPOLKJKHMCAMPUSHNGJGFASASDLJHASODLHASODHADASDKHASLDHALSDHLASHDLASASDHASLDAS

DLAS'DJALSHDLASKHDASERWEADSGDGDRDRGRHFTDFECDFDGHDFYRHRURYTGKJHYUQEQSADSCZCXDTRY ASDASJKPDLJASDHASOIDHOASDHATJYIUOIPLFJDGXCZVSTEYEFSDESYDUUSVDDSWQSAXZPRESSCXFDREYFGFVVNBMKJLOIPUUTYTGERWEQWSACZDXERFEASRCVVNGYUOUOILPHKHMGNGJYTGRFDSXA XACZDSERWRETYDGDFBVNGJHIUOIPOLKJKHMHNGJGFYTTERWEADSGDGDRDRGRHFTDFECDFDGHDFYRHRURYTGKJHYUQEQSADSCZCXDTRYTJYIUOIPLFJDGXCZVSTEYFREEDOMQWSACZDXERFEASRCVVNGYUOUOILPHKHMGNGJYTGRFDXAXACZDSERWRETYDGDFBVNGJHIUOIPOLKJKHMHNGJGFYTTERWEADSGDGDRDRGRHFTDFECDFDGHDFYRHRURYTGKJHYUQEQSADSCZCXDTRYTJYIUOIPLFJDGXCZVSTEYEFSDESYDUUSVDDSWQSAXZCXFDREYFGFVVNBMGAGTUSINOTPDGUGDUY!*

Did you get what I mean? I still believe that KABATAAN ANG PAG-ASA NG BAYAN. If the youth will be endowed with adequate education, they can provide a bright future in return. Despite the inflating economy, the government and school owners must not treat education as a profit machine.

***

I would like to end this column and my service as EIC with an axiom offered to the TIP community. This will be an assurance that our struggle in upholding students’ welfare is for perpetuity. "The phoenix may die but unto its ashes; a new bird shall rise…" Arrivederci. Ü

Ang kolumn na ito ay nailathala sa VOCE, tomo xxvi bilang apat. Ito ang panahong kabilaan ang pagtaas ng matrikula at iba’t-ibang uri ng bayarin sa mga paaralan. Naninindigan ang may-akda na ang edukasyon ay karapatan at hindi isang kalakal na inilalako lamang sa mga taong may kakayahan na ito ay mabili. Ang mga edukador kapitalista at ang gobyerno ay marapat lamang na tiyakin ang edukasyon ay kayang abutin ng bawat kabataan. Ngunit sa kasamaang palad, sila pa ang naglalayo sa karapatan ng bawat indibidwal na makapag-aral sa ngalan ng negosyo at lakas pulitika. Ito ay kudlit na manipestasyon pa lamang ng sistema ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas, kolonyal, komersyalisado at represibo. Mangyaring pakibasa ang artikulo ukol sa AKSYON TIP (http://onick-roxas.blog.friendster.com/) upang higit na maunawaan ang kabulukan ng sistema ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas na pinapangyari ng gobyerno at ng mga edukador kapitalista. *Magulong mga letra na sinadyang paangatin ang mga salitang colonial commercialized repressive education. Nais iparating ng may-akda na kapag nagpatuloy ang kasalukuyang sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa, isang magulo at walang katuturang kinabukasan para sa kabataan. Nasa ating mga kabataan ngayon ang pagkilos upang mabago ang sasapiting kinabukasan at tugunan ang mga hamon ng lipunan. Pinaangat din ang defend campus press freedom, gag us not, dahil panigurado, sa paninindigang maka-estudyante papasok ang represyon, na kinayaunan, naranasan nga ng pahayagan. Mababasa din po sa site na ito ang mga artikulo hingil sa sinapit ng pahayagan at ang paglaban ng mga ‘tunay na mamahayag’ para sa kalayaan makapagpahayag at karapatan ng mga estudyante.

Isang Pangarap

Isang tula na isa lamang pilantik sa aking nag-iisang utak na diniktahan ng nag-iisang damdamin na nais sanang ialay sa isang taong hinahanap sa isang panahong malungkot dahil ako'y nag-iisa lamang sa opisina at may isang trabahong tinatapos kaya naisipang gumawa muna ng isang tula. Wheeew! Ang daming 'isa' dala na rin siguro na ang isang taong sumulat nito ay may isang pangarap...Ü
Katabi ngunit
hindi makanti…
Iniiwasang maulanan
ni maarawan
Sapagkat kahalagaha’y
ganun na lamang

Kaulayaw ngunit
hindi mahagkan…
Ang mga labing
kaakit-akit na tulad
sa isang anghel
na marikit

Kausap ngunit
hindi mayakap…
Inaasam na
ikaw at ako'y
magkakadaupang palad sa
isang tinadhanang alapaap

Kailan kaya makakanti,
mahahagkan at mayayakap
Ang tinuturing mahalagang
anghel sa alapaap?
Oh sadyang ikaw ay
isa lamang pangarap…

Matapos ang isang tula, may isang ngiti mula sa isang emo na bata...Ü haha!

Answers

Nothing but accusations…

It is really hard to speak because you do really have to be aware of loopy statements that will surely jeopardize the credibility of your assertion. (I just don’t know if other persons out there have that consideration.) Thanks God, the publication you are now reading is trying to give the best it can to cultivate its nature. I’m talking about VOICE being sensible, credible and responsible. For more than 25 years, we are often fed with complaints from members of the school community of various sorts. It’s a favorable outcome then because it only proves that our labors are being regarded. Nevertheless, there are many provocative impressions. Indeed, we cannot please and convince everybody but at least, despite all the efforts we render; our ideas reached the TIP community. And for now, after all those complaints being thrown to us, it’s time to answer them. I want to clarify things - crystal clear.


The past weeks, we are being scolded by security personnel assigned to Students Center Building (it is where our office is located). Their reason: we stay beyond 9:30pm every MWF and 9:00pm every TTh. We do admit we’re staying up that long but because of some important works (take note: WORKS and not REASONS). But I can fully attest, in behalf of the VOICE staff that we don’t stay longer than the alloted five minutes and after that time, we have to leave. It is only very ridiculous that one of the security guards that is assigned in the building has to use his radio phone telling his superiors "Ayaw umalis ng TIP VOICE". An exaggerated report because it implies that we are resisting to leave OUR office. It seems we are being extra* rebellious, right? The Discipline Office and OSA told me that complaint and I’m thanking, however*, the two offices for listening to our side. I have nothing personal against the Security Office, I know that they are just doing their "commanded"* work, maybe the guards just have to compromise and to use some appropriate words.

"Some VOICE staff is being demanding… they have to consider they are also students." This is another complaint told to me by the OSA. Again, compromise. In every inter-office transaction, we often ask them when they can comply with our transaction. However, it doesn’t imply that we are being demanding. It’s professionalism and business in our part. That complaint perhaps resulted due to pressure. But the so-called pressure is not from the TIP VOICE but from the work that they must accomplish. We do really give too much work to other offices in our institution but it is for the welfare of the school community and our staff. It doesn’t mean that we’re being demanding, just doing our work and I hope those persons that are complaining must do their respective duties also. And foremost, it is the duty and responsibility of every school employee and administrator to serve and give the demands of every student, for the students are the bread and butter of a school, a school can never be a school without students.* In addition, that complaint can also be a result of our question: "Ma’am mga what time po o kailan?" We are only considering their time availability, so as ours. Importantly, we don’t want to disturb them in the middle of their work, neither to come in their office if they are out for a break. Is it more enjoyable to have a coffee break after or whatever kind of leisure after a stressful work? Duty first before pleasure…

When the word radical flits in my ears, it simply annoys me. It is intended for persons whose wisdom and intelligence is being overpowered by their emotions, regardless of the idea they’re fighting for. A radical being is synanimous to a revolutionary person. The accusations against us that we are being radical are only an exaggerated backtalk. We, in the VOICE are peace-lovers. As a matter of fact, one of my Christmas wishes (perhaps my unending desire since time immemorial) is world peace. If ever we are holding extreme political views or advocating thorough change, it doesn’t mean we are being radical. We only love our nation as well as this institution. On my part, I won’t spend so much time and effort just to destroy an academy I’m associated. If I will then so, I see to it I’m not only good at destroying but building anew as well.* I’ll continue to pinpoint problems and give my suggestions so there will be solutions. That is how I show love, and that is true love. If I won’t speak, it only indicates that I don’t care.

Those are the answers for the complaints against us and while making this column, I reallized something VOICE loves its community.


***Hindi makikita sa naunang lathala ng kolumn na ito sa VOICE tomo xxvi bilang tatlo. Inilagay ng may-akda sa blog upang magbigay diin. Itong kolumn na ito ay tugon ng may-akda sa iba’t-ibang empleyado at administrador ng TIP hingil sa mga binabatong aligasyon sa pahayagan. Nariyan nabansagan na aktibista, radikal at subersibo. Hanggang ngayon, nabubuo pa rin sa mga nagparatang ang ganung ideya sa may-akda sampu ng kanyang mga kasamahan. Kung ang paglaban at pagtindig para sa mga naaapi, inaalisan ng tinig at napagkakaitan ng karapatan ay pagiging aktibista, radikal, subersibo at kahit pa rebolusyonaryo ay ikaluluwalhati’t ikakagalak ng may-akda na mabansagan ng mga ganoong taguri.

***From http://onick-roxas.blog.friendster.com/