#TAMWrapped: Pinnacle of FEU 2024 

FEU Advocate
January 25, 2025 18:39


By Eunhice Corpuz 

Each event that the Tamaraws experience creates a rippling impact as they take the next step forward. Riding along the year 2024 is like riding a Ferris wheel; sometimes you are at your peak, and sometimes there are your low and slow days. From transport strikes, class suspensions, and tropical storms to never-ending pleas on improving the Wellness and Recreation Program (WRP), all of these occurred like a rollercoaster ride that got the heads of everyone turning and swirling. 

It is never too late to reminisce about last year’s happenings that drew a whirlwind of commotion, heartfelt reactions, and endless criticisms. So, now grab your relapse ticket and sit on the roundabouts of #TAMWrapped2024.

  1. Series of Strikes: Jeepney Phaseout Plea

The transport strike made it to the headlines during the early months of 2024 in fear of phasing out the traditional jeepneys. With every deadline extension, the constant pleas and numerous strikes across the Philippines grew more resolute from every jeepney driver we hear and see. 

These long strikes in different months of the year united the drivers themselves, together with their families, youth-led organizations, and a few public transport organizations, such as Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) and Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), to halt the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program

Indeed, the recurrence of these strikes may have caused trouble for the students with each class suspensions, missed activities, and adjusted deadlines. This cycle of protest, however, will only be lessened if the government heeds their calls, because it is not only the drivers who will solely be affected but also the students and commuters who rely on public transportation. 

Amid the uncertainties, the drivers were supported by many commuters and students in the fight for this petition. This battle will persist until the administration finally addresses their needs. #TAMWrapped

  1. Increase of hike, students strike 

After a month of returning from a holiday break, the University explained its reason for the 3% increase for School Year (S.Y.) 2023-2024, which is implemented for the whole year. The increase caught the attention of student-leaders, who protested and affirmed that it does not reflect the quality of education they receive, deeming the increase in tuition fees ‘unnecessary.’ 

This predicament garnered different sentiments and criticisms from the Tamaraw community, as it may cause a limitation on obtaining education since not every student is from the upper level of social class. Now, for S.Y. 2024-2025, the students once again voiced out their discontent on the sudden changes in the tuition fees that opposed the announcement of the school stating that “no tuition fee increase” would occur.

As this problem progressed, several youth-led organizations protested to cease the increase and urged the administration to hear the demands of the students. As the enrollment week rolled by, the financial toll of paying the high fees remains felt by each program on campus. #TAMWrapped

  1. Looking for a date: One Concierto Piyu 2024

As the Foundation Week draws near, students start to guess the line-up for the One Concierto Piyu and discuss which artists to look forward to, predicting who will be this year’s concert highlight. 

As the students anticipate what the concert has for show, the preparation of last year’s event compared to the year 2023 had a few differences, such as the student concessionaires, budget, daily activities during foundation week, student-led booths, inflatables, informative postings, wreath-laying site, beneficiaries for a donation drive, and the same-day edit of the event. 

Meanwhile, the single Tamaraws are crossing their fingers and manifesting to spend the night with someone special. They posted their best photo in the Facebook group One Piyu Community (OPC) in hopes of finding a date. 

Well, it isn’t Concierto without the craze of looking for a date, making the OPC an instant dating app with a few scrolls up and down as well as commenting “mine” on the person who caught their eye. Some may successfully find someone to watch the concert with and some may not, but do not fret about trying again. Maybe this time, love will find its way to your heart, Tamaraw. #TAMWrapped

  1. Surge of disease named pertussis 

Four years ago, the country experienced a pandemic due to COVID-19. Last year, increasing cases of pertussis were monitored in March 2024. This led to the University Health Services advising the students to voluntarily wear masks to prevent the disease’s incidence. 

As this virus spread, it was like a moment of deja vu—bringing back grim memories of the beginning of the pandemic. Tamaraws feared the beginning of another lockdown chapter for everyone since the pandemic breakout was also alarmed in the early weeks of March, followed by a two-week lockdown, which later turned into a two-year one. 

In the first quarter of 2024, an estimated number of 1,000 cases of pertussis were reported across the country. Fear not, however, because this health outbreak was constantly monitored by the Department of Health who encouraged everyone to take a vaccine shot to fight the disease. Thus, the conspiracy of having another lockdown did not come to fruition. #TAMWrapped

  1. Controversy and Claims: University Election 2024 

In every University election, the feud between the candidates adds spice to the event. It stirs drama that entertains the students, each claim backed up with concrete and reliable reports. Hence, this gives a chance for the Tamaraws to be critical thinkers in placing their bets on each candidate by picking, getting educated, and being able to scrutinize the candidates' platforms. 

A month-long campaign with the hues of blue, green, and yellow scattered around the campus, advertising their political parties and their candidates as well as doing room-to-room campaigns to address the student body’s concerns. After the campaign, the candidates are expected to show up in town hall debates to present their platforms and advocacies. 

The election season debates are the last factor to consider on who to vote for because this is where candidates present themselves in front of the Tamaraw community, proving they deserve the position they vie for. Further, the heated debates create controversy and comments among the students who criticize each candidate’s answer. #TAMWrapped 

  1. Free Palestine ‘til the white flag is seen 

Tamaraws initiated a student-led group named ‘Tamaraws for Palestine,’ supporting the victims of the genocide in the said country. Its purpose is to share updates on what is happening to the people of Gaza and how they are subjected each day to bomb attacks.  

From boycotting establishments that support Israel by donating food to their military to advocating the status quo of Gaza while chanting ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!’ along the streets, indeed, the Tamaraws are bravely fighting on the side of the innocent lives of Palestinians. Filipino-Palestinian refugees who successfully evacuated from the nightmare shared how the situation affected their lives and well-being. Few of them revealed how hard it was to cross the border, waving a white flag just to prevent being killed by Israeli soldiers. Recalling such memories is like a fresh wound that continues to bleed and will remain to taint their lives. 

This fight continues, and standing up for the victims of conflict will carry on until a ceasefire is appealed and peace between the countries is achieved. #TAMWrapped

  1. ‘Suspended na ba?’: Streaks of Class Suspensions 

Students kept themselves wide awake until 3 a.m., waiting for class suspension announcements by Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna. The wall of OPC was riddled with anxiety as Tamaraws played this waiting game, constantly posting questions asking if classes were already suspended. 

Before the school year started, Typhoon Carina flooded several parts of Metro Manila, causing damage in its wake. So, as the rainy season began and the Habagat marched its way into the country, countless days of downpour drenched the streets of Morayta, making the students ponder if there would be classes during the next few days. 

In September 2024, an almost week-long streak of class suspensions was broken as Mayor Lacuna announced that classes would resume, much to the students’ dismay. #TAMWrapped 

  1. Recap of UAAP Season 87 

Whenever the drums roll and cheers begin to echo among the green-and-gold community, you know it is the beginning of a new University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season. At every TAMRally event, the student-athletes are introduced and the crowd goes wild to meet each and every one of them.  

One of the most anticipated and watched games this season were those of the Far Eastern University’s (FEU) men’s and women’s basketball teams, who sought to bring home the championship. The two teams fell short of clinching a spot in the Final Four for this season, but they vowed to bounce back stronger next season. However, during this season, Veejey Pre was hailed as the ‘Rookie of the Year’ and Mo Konateh as part of the mythical five

Meanwhile, another sport that surely captured the attention of Tamaraws was football, where both teams won the championships. It was historic for the men’s football team because, after failing to defend the title last season, they finally got the chance to grab the championship from last season’s champs, whom they won against in the semi-final round—the University of the Philippines Football Team. On the other hand, the women’s team successfully defended their crown and accomplished a three-peat title as the reigning champions this season. 

Meanwhile, the most awaited cheerdance competition was right around the corner, the excitement evident with Tamaraws to line up early in the morning. They gathered around the R. Papa Gym in hopes of purchasing tickets to watch the event. Due to the hype, a pop-out of various posts flooded OPC, from asking for line updates to looking and hoping for a spare ticket to watch the FEU Cheering Squad with their Disney’s Frozen-themed performance. They may have failed to defend their champion title this season, but they still earned a podium finish in second place.

Now, in the first quarter of 2025, watch out for other sports and continue to support and cheer on the green-and-gold community. #TAMWrapped

  1. WRP updates 

Every semester, the WRP Department is on the hook for implementing new policies, hopping from one trend to another. These changes, rather than providing a solution, only add to the students’ woes and fuel another cycle of criticism from Tamaraws. 

At the start of S.Y. 2024-2025, freshmen will be taking the 2024 curriculum, where the department will be replacing the WRP course from the 2021 curriculum. This is the Physical Activities Toward Health and Fitness (PATHFit), which is integrated under the 2024 curriculum. This course will only last until the second year, unlike the WRP, which will last until you get your diploma. 

Along with this updated mandate, a fixed and arranged schedule for the 2021 curriculum triggered a lot of comments. Students demand since the change takes away their freedom to choose an activity they want to do. On the other hand, PATHFit is a grade-based course like your traditional physical education course compared to the previous course, where there are only two remarks—passed or failed. Further, the Department allegedly had misencoded marks on the students enrolled under the 2021 curriculum. 

Then, before the year ended, a new activity was introduced by the department, which was swimming, which brought out a lot of funny sentiments asking if students  would still wear their WRP uniforms as they swam across the pool (Read: Yes, there is a required WRP uniform for swimming). #TAMWrapped

  1.  Fighting injustices and prejudices 

The urge to be the voice of justice prevails along the streets of Morayta. For over a year, the Gate 4 of the University witnessed abrupt marching protests calling for accountability on different issues such as WRP policies, tuition fee increases, and even the Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MROTC).

The outside is not so different as during the first until the last month of the year, various student-led organizations, progressive groups, and youth-led ones gathered together to voice out various economic problems and political issues, urging the government to take concrete action. As they held their placards high, gripped their banners boldly, and spoke with vigor into the megaphone, they discussed and revealed their personal experiences and opinion on these issues. 

After these acts of solidarity, a heartfelt message filled with grit demanding a well-suited answer was displayed by the people for every demand they voiced out. Apart from the mentioned issues, other topics that were tackled and criticized are the West Philippine Sea issue, Alice Guo case, Quiboloy controversy, and the feud between President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara ‘Inday’ Duterte. 

Among the loudest cries was the red-tagging of students, which continues to suppress freedom of speech and threaten democracy in the country. 

Unfortunately, these predicaments will be carried over this year if the people on the top of the hierarchy continue to play as puppets of idiocracy; the cycle will repeat itself, and the rights of marginalized sectors will remain infringed under their supervision. #TAMWrapped

  1. Shining, shimmering, splendid—Pasko sa Piyu ‘24 

Before diving into the waves of deadlines and final exams, the Tamaraw was greeted with a holly and jolly holiday to officially welcome the Christmas breeze inside the campus. ‘Pasko sa Piyu’ is the annual celebration by the University to give the students a breather and a tease of the holiday swings. 

In last year’s theme, the different FEU Center for the Arts (FCA) displayed the works of the National Artist Ryan Cayabyab. His hit Christmas song ‘Kumukutikutitap’ was the last sung while the sky was lit up with fireworks displays. 

This event is a breather for every Tamaraw who anticipates the anticipated tests and paperwork to survive and conquer the following weeks. Thus, whatever the hell weeks throw at the green-and-gold community, surely they’ll devour and bravely slay it with confidence. #TAMWrapped

(Layout by Jeffrey Dela Criz/FEU Advocate)