UP at 2014

"University of the Philippines-Diliman"... "The premier state university in the country"... I have never dreamed of studying in any university than UP. UPCAT is the only college entrance exam I took because for me, it's UP or nothing-seriously. Oh how proud I was when I received my admission letter. Ah... how I would feel head and shoulders above people whenever they ask from which university I go. Like any other UP student, I had my fair share of bragging days. I've been in UP for five years (lived for five, studied for four). These five years allowed me to experience the UP culture. And how I pictured UP was way different from how it is in reality. To give you an image of how terribly UP at 2014 is, I've listed some reasons below:

1. Students having too much "UP Pride"

"UP and Others"... This line is what you would often read in statement shirts or hear UP students say-I included. Even professors would bash other universities in their discussions. So what do you expect us, students, would do? They're one of the reasons why we have this huge ego in the first place. They keep telling us we're the best, but really, what makes us different from those in other universities? Getting the quality education but with lower tuition fee and what? Does Honor really come first before Excellence? Do all UP students have what it takes to be an Isko? No, because some UP students barely even passed the UPCAT. Some have 'connections' within the administration or bribed the right people just to steal a slot in the university.

2. UP no longer attracts the masses. It slowly turns into an elitist university.

Education is a right, not a privilege. Even our own Constitution says so. But I guess, that rule doesn't apply in real life. One time, I remember having a similar conversation with friends and one who's from La Salle said "I find it ironic. La Salle is turning to be like UP and UP is turning out to be like La Salle because those kind of students that usually go to our school? They now end up being there in your school".

I thought UP students are the smartest yet simplest bunch you'd ever meet. I remember my older siblings telling me that during their time, not a lot of students own a car. Students would usually travel via public transportation or by walking if they live nearby which is the opposite of what you'd see if you're from Econ or BA. I also wasn't expecting them to be conyo. There are two kinds of conyo UP students: first, there are those who came from exclusive schools, were raised and trained using only the English language; second are those who are trying to fit in. I can't blame the latter for doing so. I mean, who does not want to fit in, right? But what annoys me is that some are really OA. Like this girl from my Math 17 class who is a trying-hard conyo. She can speak fluently in Filipino (I once heard her speaking in Filipino with her room-mate) yet she uses this fake accent just so people would think she came from an exclusive school.

3. Organizations (college-based, university-wide, fraternities, sororities, etc.)

I'm not saying that to belong in organizations is a bad thing but as much as possible, I discourage my friends from joining one. People there don't even follow what's written in their constitution. I once tried applying for Organization A. I was also an active member of Organization B and C then. In each of their constitutions, an article states that each member must have a good academic standing. Well, for Organization A, a lot of its members have at least a cum laude standing. What kept me from continuing in the application process was the fact that they do have a lot of parties. I thought they were different from the other organizations but as it turns out, they're the same. As for both Organization B and C, there are a few people whom I look up to, well, before I knew that they've been failing academically. I had to experience flunking in an exam for me to realize that they have not been setting a good example. I have not only been wasting time but also money whenever we hang out. So from then on, I stopped attending their meetings and "gatherings" and became inactive in both organizations.

4. UP focuses too much on greater state subsidy

Activists interrupting class discussions, shouting "Budget in UP, increase it, don't decrease it", I just don't see their point. I mean, they tell us that their parents can no longer pay for the ever-increasing tuition fee rate yet they can still afford to cut their classes. They waste a lot of time and energy for what? The Malacañang keeps ignoring their cries for it thinks that there are more important issues to attend to. Why not think of other ways to raise money? As I have observed, all they do is inform people of how our government has been cutting the budget allotted for state universities. Why not ask students to help in seeking alternative solutions instead of inviting them to join rallies?

5. Very poor security measures in the campus.

No ID, no entry? Not. My friend and I always take the Katipunan gate whenever we're from Eastwood because it's the closest to my dormitory. There was this one time wherein none of us brought his ID. So, we tried our luck by flashing a credit card instead. And boom! We were able to enter UP. Another instance happened in AS. The guard there would usually ask for your ID but would not really look if you have one. All you need to show him is an ID lace and you're good. Also, pretending to get something from your bag is a good technique. So, I won't really be surprised if suddenly a student was stabbed and got robbed while in campus.

6. Issues on academic freedom

Four years in UP gave me the impression that generally, UP academe indoctrinates rather than teach. In the name of "academic freedom", I think it consciously or unconsciously fosters counterproductive ideologies.

7. Peer review

UP may have to address its own way of doing things and its structure. As one of my professors once said, UP needs a real peer review. It has to take seriously the international university ratings in which it never got into the top 100. The methodology of these surveys may not be perfect but it reflects to a large extent how competitive the university is.