Mobilizations among the youth is a culture embedded in many universities. Historically, the country has witnessed student leaders and activists fighting for different causes. Until today, different sectors in DLSU continue to oversee and support students who speak up for their rights.
When faced with critical social issues, DLSU students have often involved themselves in movements that champion meaningful change. Recent issues, such as those on press freedom and on the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility, have sparked a call to action among Lasallians.
Has student involvement changed?
In an interview with The LaSallian, Br. Armin Luistro FSC, President of De La Salle Philippines, believes that it is unfair to compare the level of student involvement in activism over the years, arguing instead that the level of mobilization efforts depends on the magnitude of a certain issue. For him, the height of student activism was during the Marcos era since the situation called for urgent resistance.
Further, he cites that DLSU students have also participated in rallies after the Marcos era. He recounts students protesting against constitutional changes during the time of Former President Fidel V. Ramos; forming anti-bases rallies during the time of Former President Joseph Estrada; and lambasting the Hello Garci scandal during the time of Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. “If you trace [student activism] over the years, it kind of reacted to whatever was happening to the country,” Luistro notions.
Student activism does not only apply to national issues, but it can also be in the form of challenging changes within the University. Luistro enumerates tuition fee increase, semestral to trimestral change, and the shift of the University Break as such examples of these issues.
In contrast, Br. Roberto Casingal FSC, chairman of the Committee on National Issues and Concerns (CONIC), believes that the level of activism “hasn’t changed.” For him, factors such as the hectic trimestral calendar and the University’s culture hinder student involvement. Nevertheless, he admits that the University has produced its own fair share of student activists despite these setbacks.
Informed and involved
With the number of external issues at hand, CONIC serves as the office that will decide on a solidified stand for the University. Casingal explains that the primary purpose of the committee is to educate the students on national matters.
When there is a pressing social concern, CONIC discusses it with various University stakeholders, such as the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA), the University Student Government (USG), the Office of Student Leadership Involvement, Formation and Empowerment, among others. For students who are participating in rallies, Casingal hopes that they truly understand the issue at heart, instead of simply being dragged along to join.
COSCA Advocacy and Adult Formation Coordinator Mark Angelo Herrera says that the significance of the formation process is one of the main factors when considering which issues are worth getting involved in. Ideally, when time is abundant, CONIC would host a Kapihan ng Malalayang Lasalyano forum to discuss both sides of an issue.
COSCA, however, finds it challenging to make students sufficiently form their own opinions, especially when calls for assembly happen spontaneously. Thus, the office has resorted to including references to resource materials in their help desk announcement emails.
Of course, not all rallies receive CONIC’s endorsement. Before joining any movement, CONIC must assess the safety and security of the event, among other logistical necessities. However, some projects do not get logistical support from CONIC due to time constraints. In those cases, the office will simply inform students of the event, believing that they have the right to know about these events nonetheless.
Stressing the need for individual enlightenment, Casingal states that it was rare for the University to have a single stand on a particular issue—the last time it happened, he claims, was at the height of the pork barrel scam in 2013. Most of the time, there was what he called a “plurality of ideas,” which happens when COSCA or the USG push for certain advocacies that CONIC disagrees with. However, Casingal reveals that CONIC does not prevent other offices from supporting these stances, as long as these are responsible and educated.
To the streets
Behind some of these mobilization efforts are youth-led organizations composed mainly of students. Iana De Castro (VI, BS-INSYS), who serves as the Vice Chair of Anakbayan Vito Cruz, believes public demonstrations are essential in supporting or defending a cause.
To her, nothing is more effective than taking the plight to the streets. “I believe that there are no [other effective means] because this is how the message of the campaign or the essence of our fight or the struggle is being spread throughout the broad masses in Manila,” she elaborates.
For people to effectively show their support for a cause, they must come together and form organized groups, says De Castro. Within these organizations, she explains, members ought to educate themselves, cultivating a mindset which positions them as agents for the betterment of society or for vulnerable sectors.
To Alexandra Enriquez (I, AB-DSM), rallying is a powerful platform in exercising democracy. She describes it as “an engaging social gathering among various groups to voice out their rights as people in order to inform those who aren’t enlightened by specific issues and causes [they] are trying to give attention to.” Having been active in mobilizations since high school, she says she wants to use her available resources and privilege to leave a positive impact on society and empower people who are blinded by injustices.
However, with the possibility of violence erupting from rallies, there arises the question of ensuring the safety of students and youth who participate. Nonetheless, De Castro remains confident that their safety is and should be guaranteed by the State. Casingal, meanwhile, clarifies that CONIC would send security guards and medics with their contingent during rallies, while also preparing evacuation measures in case protests become unruly.
For a better future
Herrera sees mobilization efforts as a way to strengthen students’ commitment because this would lead to more concrete actions, such as studying each issue further. He further emphasizes that although protesting per se is not particularly encouraged, the call is for students to be more aware of their rights, to be more academically involved in its study, and to be more knowledgeable about the nature of democracy and democratic institutions.
As more and more issues emerge everyday, Luistro worries that Filipinos in general have found comfort in apathy and ignorance. He argues that victims of extrajudicial killings are now normalized and that during Maria Ressa’s arrest last February, media practitioners remained silent.
It cannot be expected that all Filipinos or students will involve themselves in fighting for the future. Luistro believes that no one can force beliefs onto individuals—they must have their own freedom to choose for themselves. He, however, notes, “If we choose to keep things as they are, then [we] only have [ourselves] to blame.”
