UST, whose Sampaloc, Manila campus suffers from perennial flooding, issued a forceful condemnation of corruption in government flood-control projects on Sept. 17, calling it a betrayal of public trust and urging Filipinos to hold officials accountable.
Why it matters:
- Flooding regularly disrupts life in and around the UST campus.
- UST said the funds that could have been allotted to “save lives and protect homes were misused for personal gain.”
- “This is not just bad governance, it is a betrayal of public trust, a deep injustice to the poor, and a theft from those most in need,” the statement read.
- UST stressed: “Filipino resilience should never be used as an excuse for corruption. It should not hide the misuse of public funds or justify injustice.”
Rally call
On Sept. 18, UST, through the Simbahayan Community Development Office, urged Thomasians to participate in the “Trillion Peso March” on Sept. 21 at the EDSA People Power Monument. The participation is in collaboration with the Dominican Family for Justice, Peace, and Care for Creation and the UST Faculty Union.
- Participants who wish to join the march may contact their community development coordinators and faculty club presidents. The UST contingent will have 150 participants, according to Simbahayan.
- Those who opt to come from UST will gather by 9 a.m. in front of the UST Santisimo Rosario Parish Church, then proceed to St. Pedro Poveda College in Ortigas by 10 a.m.
- A Mass exclusive to UST participants will be held at the Poveda Gym at 11:30 a.m., after which they will walk to the EDSA People Power Monument.
- Thomasians were urged to wear white and bring personal necessities such as water, medicine, an umbrella, an extra shirt, and food to share.
What they’re saying — students, faculty and Dominican fathers:
- College of Science (Sept. 17):
“Kinikitil ng korupsyon ang pag-unlad sa agham at edukasyon.”
“Ang katiwalian sa bansa ay pasakit sa mga mag-aaral, magulang, guro, mananaliksik, at mamamayan.”
- UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy (Sept. 17):
“It is disturbing to witness how public funds, intended to uplift lives and secure a better future, could be misused. These actions are not only disappointing; they are unacceptable.”
“We uphold and teach the values of transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership. These are not merely academic concepts; they are the bedrock of a just and humane society.”
- Central Student Council (Sept. 18):
“This corruption robs communities of quality infrastructure, delays development, and undermines the very trust that citizens place in government.”
“As Thomasian youth, we cannot afford to be indifferent,” the council says. “To remain silent is to accept a future where corruption is normalized and public service is compromised.”
Senior High School Student Council (Sept. 18):
“Today, we are not flooded by rain but by betrayal. The waters that engulf our classrooms and dormitories are not merely the consequence of nature but of corruption.”
“We fight not for ourselves alone but for each other — and for the generations that will inherit this nation, echoing the scholars who have walked these halls before.”
- Arts and Letters Student Council (Sept. 18):
“They (public funds) are not meant to fuel the lavish lifestyles of the government officials, while the majority of Filipinos are left struggling to survive instead of truly living.”
“For every flood control we never had, there are faces that must be named and held accountable. For their greed has cost us our dignity and lives of the people.”
- AB Board of Majors (Sept. 18):
“The cost of corruption is measured not only in stolen money, but in stolen opportunities to further progress, access to justice, and human dignity.”
- Engineering Student Council (Sept. 17):
“Corruption does not only rob resources; it undermines our calling as future engineers to uphold integrity and serve the public good.”
“We stand in solidarity with the calls for accountability, transparency, and justice. This is not simply a protest – it is a demand for a system that prioritizes people over profit, and genuine service over self-interest.”
- Faculty of Civil Law Student Council (Sept. 17):
“Every peso lost to graft is a peso stolen from the nation’s lifelines — from classrooms that shape our future, to hospitals that save lives, and programs that sustain livelihoods.”
“Those entrusted with power must answer to the people they serve. There should be no place for corruption in a society anchored in justice.”
- Arts and Letters Faculty Association (ALFA) (Sept. 13):
“As Thomasians, we are reminded by St. Thomas Aquinas that justice means giving each person their due.”
“Corruption harms the poor, threatens lives, and breaks public trust.”
“This is not only a moral duty but a collective task that requires concerted activity within our campus.”
- ONE-UST (union coalition) (Sept. 13):
“Lahat ng may bahid at lamat ng korapsyon, mapa-dilaw, pula, pink, berde, kung magnanakaw, ay dapat mapanagot. Walang kulay ang korapsyon, isa lamang ang kanilang kinikilala at ito ay ang kulay ng kwarta.”
“Nananawagan kami sa kapwa Pilipino, mga estudyante, manggagawa, propesyonal, lider-simbahan, lipunang sibil, at bawat taong may konsensya, na tumindig at maningil ng transparency, pananagutan, at katarungan.”
- Dominican Family for Justice, Peace and Care for Creation – Philippines (Sept. 14):
“Ang pananatiling tahimik sa gitna ng mga kawalang-hustisya sa ating lipunan ang siyang nagbibigay-lakas sa mga tiwaling lider ng bayan upang magpatuloy sa pang-aabuso sa kanilang kapangyarihan.” Louisse Raye Shara C. Santos
