By Jiann Delumen

Far Eastern University (FEU) students, alongside youth from other universities and progressive organizations, mobilized during the ‘Lakbayan ng Mamamayan’ protest to confront corruption rooted in both academic and government systems while calling for accountability and justice at Liwasang Bonifacio on November 7.

Rising from consecutive campus mobilizations across Metro Manila, the demonstration amplified outrage over alleged anomalies in flood control projects and public funds, while drawing parallels with corruption within universities and local institutions.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Anakbayan FEU Chairperson Alecx Ymson stated that the struggles students highlighted in 'Lakbayan' are inseparable from national issues, adding that corruption inside schools reflects the country’s broader systemic problems.

Ymson also urged the FEU administration to act consistently with its public statements by showing genuine solidarity through concrete measures against corruption.

"Kailangan pong suportahan [ito] kasi, ‘di ba, sinasabi nga nila na ang FEU ay student-centered. Kaya ibig sabihin, nakikinig sila... Kaya dapat isabuhay nila iyon—na dapat [makiisa sila] sa laban sa korapsiyon at gayundin, [itigil] na rin nila ang korapsiyon na nangyayari sa loob ng Pamantasan (It needs to be supported because, as they say, FEU is student-centered. That means they listen… so they should live up to that—by joining the fight against corruption and also putting an end to the corruption happening within the University)," the chairperson said.

During the program, The Adamson Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Albrecht Beltran also criticized the continued inaction of public officials amid successive disasters, underscoring how corruption worsens the conditions of affected Filipinos.

“Lubog na naman ang bansa—lagpas 100 na ang mga namatay at mga nawawala pa rin sa Cebu—pero nananatiling nakatayo ang kaharian ng mga burukratang kapitalista (The country is once again in crisis—over 100 people are dead, and many remain missing in Cebu—yet the kingdom of bureaucrat-capitalists still stands strong),” Beltran explained.

He also pointed out that corruption and negligence have turned natural calamities into recurring national tragedies, as public funds meant for disaster response are lost to misuse and patronage.

“Hindi resiliency ang sasaklolo sa mga biktima ng bagyo kundi ang kabayaran ng mga kurakot… Ang totoong sakuna ay ang mga nakaupo sa Malacañang at sa Kongreso (It is not resiliency that will save the victims of the storm, but justice through accountability for corruption... The real disaster is those seated in Malacañang and in Congress),” he added.

Meanwhile, Aksyon Taguig Against Korapsyon convenor Kashmir Cabides urged the youth and other sectors to confront the growing normalization of corruption and repression, stressing that collective action—including student walkouts—remains a rightful response to injustice.

“Ngayon ang panahon ng paniningil [at] pagkilos... Makatarungan ang walkout ng mga kabataan, [at] mga manggagawa... ‘Wag tayong matakot na lumiban sa klase—matakot tayo na lumiban sa paglikha ng kasaysayan (Now is the time for action and accountability... the walkout of the youth and the workers is just and rightful... We should not fear skipping classes—we should fear missing out in making history)," she affirmed.

Multiple protesters from different universities gathered at Nicanor Reyes Street before joining other youth and workers at Liwasang Bonifacio, where speakers delivered solidarity messages ahead of their continued march to Mendiola Street.

Mobilizations in FEU persisted throughout the past months, starting with the September 29 and October 17 walkouts that called for the abolition of the University's hybrid learning modality, opposition to tuition hikes, and justice for victims of police brutality during the September 21 protest in Mendiola.

Consequently, frustrations grew further after the University turned down calls for an Undas academic recess, prompting the League of Filipino Students - FEU to issue a statement on October 30 condemning the Administration’s decision.

Kabataan Partylist FEU reinforced this call on November 5 through its post ‘Tamaraws, Take a Stand,’ which urged students to participate in collective action against policies deemed as profit-driven and unresponsive to their needs.

Recent events outside Metro Manila have further amplified the demands for government accountability, as questions over corruption and fund misuse reached beyond campuses, with the floods in Cebu after Typhoon Tino renewing scrutiny over the P26.7 billion allotted for flood-control projects from 2022 to 2025—many of which remain incomplete or under investigation.

Lakbayan ng Mamamayan is a part of the broader nationwide buildup toward the Trillion Peso March on November 30, a coordinated movement demanding transparency and accountability in public spending.

(Photo by Melvin James Urubio/FEU Advocate)