By Cassandra Luis J. De Leon

Far Eastern University (FEU), together with various universities from the National Capital Region, took part in the ‘National Youth Day of Action against Corruption’ to condemn the nationwide corruption within the government at Mendiola Street earlier today, October 17.

As part of the protest, FEU staged a mini program in front of Gate 4, later joined by the University of the East as part of cluster one of universities.

With around 5,000 participants, University Belt (U-Belt), Intramuros, Taft, and Katipunan students gathered with multisectoral organizations and marched towards Mendiola for the 2:30-p.m. main program. 

Present at the event was Kilusang Mayo Uno National Chairperson Jerome Adonis, who commended the youth for asserting their rights, claiming that other sectors are motivated to do the same. 

“Sobrang nai-inspire kami sa mga kabataang Pilipino, ang nasa loob ng eskuwelahan, kahit ang mga out-of-school youth na mas marami, milyon-milyong mga kabataan. Nai-inspire kami sa paglaban ninyo (We are so inspired by the Filipino youth, those in schools and even the more numerous out-of-school youth, millions of youth. We are so inspired by your fight),” he said in an interview with FEU Advocate.

Furthermore, Adonis emphasized that the youth and their future are at stake because of the corruption within the government, explaining that it compromises the education system in the country. 

“Ang nakataya dito ay kabataan, 'yung kinabukasan niyo… Ninanakawan kayo ng kinabukasan... Ninanakawan ang mga kabataan, lalo na ang mga kabataan sa kanayunan na malayo dito sa mga universities. Hindi sila nakakapag-aral (What is at stake here is the youth, your future. You are being robbed of your future, especially the youth in the rural area who are far from universities. They are not able to study),” the national chairperson mentioned.

During the program, various student-leaders aired university-related concerns of fellow students, citing the lack of facilities, unjust fees, and intimidation experienced by student-journalists.

Last October 7, Associate Editor of Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ The Catalyst Jacob Baluyot received a subpoena sent to his residential address accusing him of being involved in ‘violent incidents’ during the anti-corruption protest in Mendiola last September 21.

Meanwhile, in his speech, Anakbayan FEU Chairperson Alexc Ymson emphasized the repressive policies and high fees endured by students from U-Belt. 

“Sa U-Belt, tayo ang nagdurusa sa mga bayaring hindi mapaliwanag, sa mga tuition fee increase na paulit-ulit nilang sinasabing wala. Pero taon-taon, tumataas. Mga kasama, naghihirap kami sa University Belt—tinatakot ng mga admin, pinapasukan ng mga sundalo (Here in U-Belt, we are the ones suffering from unexplained fees, from tuition fee increases that they repeatedly claim do not exist. But every year, it increases. We are suffering in the University Belt—being intimidated by admins, under military presence),” he stated. 

Moreover, Ymson added that the problems within universities can serve as a trigger for students to demand accountability from people involved in the nationwide issues. 

“Hindi ba’t sa mga ganitong kuwento nagsisimula ang galit? ‘Di ba’t sa ganitong mga karanasan nagigising ang diwa ng kabataan… Kaya habang patuloy nilang binabaha ang bayan ng korapsiyon, tayo naman ang magbubunyi sa baha ng mamamayan. Isang bahang hindi nila kayang pigilan (Isn’t it in stories like these that anger begins? Isn’t it through experiences like these that the spirit of the youth awakens? So while they continue to flood the nation, we shall rise in the flood of the people—a flood they can never stop),” he expressed.

Other progressive groups also asserted the rights of marginalized sectors and called for justice for the victims of state violence. 

During the September 21 Mendiola Rally, Eric Saber, a construction worker, died from a gunshot allegedly from police, which they denied. 

As part of the nationwide buildup for a nationwide rally set on November 30, the Trillion-Peso March movement will hold anti-corruption protests every Friday. 

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)