THOMASIANS stepped out of their classrooms on Sept. 29 in a once-in-a-generation walkout to protest massive government corruption, as the scandal over “ghost” flood-control projects that had ensnared public works officials and lawmakers grew.
Why it matters: An estimated 1,500 Thomasians marched across the UST Manila campus, calling for accountability and justice, in a walkout not seen in UST since student calls to abolish ROTC in 2001.
The University, along with various academic units and student councils, has condemned the anomalies and supported the anti-corruption protests dubbed “Baha sa Luneta” and the “Trillion Peso March” on Sept. 21.
Walkouts had been held in different universities, such as the University of the Philippines Diliman in its “Black Friday Protest” on Sept. 12, and the Ateneo de Manila University on Sept. 19.
Support from academic units: The “Thomasian Walkout against Corruption” gathered support from various academic units and student councils, through online statements.
- Central Student Council (CSC) Secretary Nashville Mauricio said the voluntary activity was approved by UST administrators.
- Students from the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) participating in the walkout were excused from 3 to 6 p.m. classes, Dean Melanie Turingan announced.
- The UST Artlets Council, Commerce and Business Administration Student Council, the AB Board of Majors, Engineering Student Council, and Civil Law Student Council released statements on Sept. 28 supporting the walkout.
- The student councils of UST Senior High School, College of Science and Conservatory of Music, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Education and the College of Information and Computer Sciences also voiced their support for the protest through statements released on Sept. 29.
- Organisasyon ng Nagkakaisang Empleyado ng UST (ONE UST), the coalition of UST labor unions, announced on Sept. 29 that it would back the walkout against corruption led by students.
Snake rally: As part of the walkout protest, Thomasians held a snake rally inside the campus, which started at the Roque Ruaño, O.P. Building and concluded with a program at Plaza Mayor.
- At 2:57 p.m., students from the Faculty of Engineering started mobilizing in front of the Fr. Roque Ruaño, O.P. Building.
- Participants from UST Senior High School join the Engineering students along Ruaño drive.
- Another route passed the Albertus Magnus Building, where participants from the Conservatory of Music, College of Education, College of Accountancy and Education HIgh School joined the march.
- At 3:15 p.m., Artlets and Commerce students joined the protest as the march passed in front of the St. Raymund de Peñafort Building.
- At 3:25 p.m., participants from the Faculty of Pharmacy join the march along Osmeña drive en route to the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.
- At 3:30 p.m., the protest passed by the Beato Angelico Building. Students marched along Tamayo Drive, heading toward the Arch of the Centuries.
- Despite rain, an Thomasians gathered at the Plaza Mayor at 3:58 p.m., where a program was held. Thomasian student leaders and activists spoke at the program expressing their calls and advocacies.
Red flags: In a rare move, Thomasian progressive groups waved their flags within the University.
- Some organizations who raised their flags during the walkout include Anakbayan-UST, Panday Sining-UST, Akbayan Youth-UST, Kabataan Partylist-UST, and ATOM.
- However, security later ordered some of the flags to be taken down.
- CSC President Annie Agon said the council was studying the Magna Carta to help students preserve their “freedom of expression” and “right to organize.”
- “Pinag-aaralan natin for Magna Carta, kung paano nga ba mas ma-eexpress, pa’no pa mapo-protektahan ‘yung mismong right to organize nila at yung mga iba’t ibang issue,” she said.
Chants: Thomasian protesters expressed indignation through chants as they went around the UST campus during the snake rally.
- Students chanted “Ikulong na ‘yan, mga kurakot” as they passed the Arch of the Centuries on the way to Plaza Mayor.
- Thomasians who assembled in front of the Main Building shouted “Go to Jail” in the iconic “Go USTe” chant.
- Members of UST Pax Romana chanted “Sara, Sara magnanakaw” while holding a statue of the Virgin Mary along with other students.
- ONE UST officials led chants of “Zaldy, Zaldy magnanakaw,” in reference to UST Legazpi alumni Zaldy Co who was allegedly linked to corruption in government flood control projects. Co resigned from Congress as the rally unfolded.
- Some Thomasians chanted the TikTok trend “AlDub Ibalik,” which goes, “Arjo Panagutin, AlDub ibalik” during the walkout. Quezon City Rep. Arjo Atayde was linked to alleged corruption in flood-control projects in the city, which he later denied.
Student voices: Thomasians took the walkout protest as an opportunity to express their frustrations with the failed flood-control projects and rampant corruption within the government.
- Artlets junior Sophia Miguel condemned the government for corruption and insisted that students cannot stay mum on these issues.
- Miguel said, “Mahiya na kayo… it’s not just the middle class who’s joining, it’s also the rich, the marginalized, the religious groups, lahat-lahat na nagsasalita and at this point we should’ve heard enough silence.”
- Mary Ramos of the College of Science Student Council said the officials should feel the consequence of their actions.
- “Hindi porke’t nasa taas sila ay kaya nila maging relax, kaya nilang hindi panagutan ‘yung kanilang mga kasalanan. Kailangan maharap na sila sa tamang hustisya, sa sistema natin, kailangan mapanagot na sila,” she said.
- College of Education senior Giselle Villaflores has had enough with “resilience,” saying that rather than putting up with the corruption, changes must be made.
- “Para sa gobyerno, tama na siguro ‘yong resilience kasi dapat may pagbabago. Change is constant, uso ang magbago,” she said.
What’s next: Agon said while there were no plans for another walkout, the CSC would be conducting a “social investigation” among students to determine the council’s next activities.
- Agon emphasized that the council did not initiate protests without thoroughly studying their advocacy and the public’s woes.
- “Hindi tayo lumalabas ng lansangan na hindi natin pinag-aaralan mismo kung ano ‘yun panawagan natin, kung ano ba ‘yun panawagan ng masa,” she said.
- “Patuloy din ang pag-aaral ng sitwasyon natin dito sa loob ng pamantasan natin dahil hindi naman hiwalay ‘yun buhay natin dito sa loob, sa labas ng UST,” she added.
It will be the teachers’ turn to protest when ONE UST holds a “Solidarity Night” on Oct. 3. With reports from Frenchshield Shayne G. Delovieres, Alexandra S. Demaisip, Rev E. Dela Cruz, Ralent M. Penilla, Billy Andrei P. Ramos, and Amanda Luella A. Rivera
