PUP Activism 2010: Violence or Patrionism?

“Tuition Fee Increase na naman! Salot, talagang salot!”

And with all the students shouting:

“Iskolar ng bayan,ngayon ay lumalaban! Ngayon ay lumalaban: Iskolar ng bayan!”

It was the last week of regular classes in PUP for the school year of 2009-2010. The immense heat of summer was intensified by the unwavering anger of the activists in the university. These activists set a protest to fight for the threat of almost 1700% tuition fee hike. The activists destroyed chairs, desks, tables and other damaged facilities by throwing it from the building down to the school ground and eventually burned some. We’ve seen them and heard them all over the news. It made quite a commotion even though the school year’s almost ending.

The PUP student activists have been radical in this demonstration that created a huge issue and different perceptions about the whole PUP community. Student activism in the institution gains a variety of reactions, mostly negative in the eyes of the society surrounding it.

Activism has been a big issue to the society. People have different perspectives on the activists and their movements and principles. The mere fact that they are nationalistic and patriotic, many people have different understanding to them.