NYSS Welcome
This was something I wrote, with notes, for Mong Palatino, then Chairperson of the University Student Council (USC) of UP Diliman at the first ever National Youth and Students Summit in July 2000. It served as welcoming speech for the event. I later found out that some were quoted in various student papers
In behalf of the students and the University Student Council of Diliman, welcome, friends, to the University of the Philippines on this occasion of the National Youth and Students' Summit! We gather here today to share experiences and forge the broadest and strongest unity to ensure the future of the Filipino Youth and Students.
As students of this University, we feel proud that this momentous event is taking place in UP. Choosing UP as the place to carry out this summit for us assumes great meaning. UP is considered a melting pot of ideas and of people. As an institution, the University of the Philippines is widely deemed to be a bastion of scholarly activities, an institution whose ideas and opinions are heard and which sway and influence public opinion. At the same time, UP is also a breeding ground for critical and patriotic scholars of the People.
The University of the Philippines prides itself as an advocate of liberal education, taking in a multitude of ideas with equal acceptance. This, unfortunately, also makes UP a bulwark of reactionary thought. But out of the multitude wallowing in reactionary thought emerge those who are critical and through study aim to serve the people by being active participants in social change.
The course of events in the past years have made UP students aware of the problems besetting the youth and students of today. The recent Budget Cut of the University of the Philippines resulted in the Iskolars ng Bayan braving the streets, culminating on February 14 in Mendiola to assert our rights to higher state subsidy and education for all.
Those hoping to study in this university will have to face the implications of the lower state subsidy for State Colleges and Universities (SCUs) and another impending budget cut, the rationalization or decreasing of the number of State Colleges and Universities under the Long Term Higher Education Development Program (LTHEDP), the Higher Education Modernization Act, the Education 2000 program, and other programs. Because of lesser state subsidy for education, those hoping to study here may be left with no choice but to enter private colleges and universities, where they have to face annual tuition fee increases, or in technical schools, where their skills and talents will be exploited for technical work.
UP is also a testing ground for the government's education programs and projects. UP at present is implementing the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), a program which aims to democratize access to education, but in reality only serves as a smokescreen for tuition fee increase. We are also facing commercialization issues and the utilization of idled assets.
As you can see, the present deplorable situation of the educational system is also being felt in this university. I'm sure you also have a lot to share in this summit.
It is only befitting that we use this summit to implement our objectives. The following objectives are anticipated to be achieved here.
1. Gather data on the current situation of the youth in schools, communities, fields, and workplaces.
2. Promote common understanding of the current issues confronting the youth amidst the political crisis besetting the Estrada government.
3. Formulate plans of action regarding tuition increase, repression and other pertinent youth issues.
4. Forward outputs to international youth and students formations.
We meet today to forge our unity and strengthen our determination to further our rightful demands and calls. We are confronted by a government perpetrating a moribund system which keeps the state of the youth and students so debased. Those who desire to change the present condition of the educational system must consider sacrifice in changing the whole moribund system we find ourselves in. For is not the sacrifice less degrading than subjection to the endless problems plaguing us? No magic or parlor trick can reconcile the tragic circumstance of the youth and our right to education, to livelihood, land - in short, to life. Unless we act now, the peril of a dark future awaits us. May this summit become a venue to fortify the ranks of the youth and students in the struggle for a future bright. Our part in history will be the struggle for a better society.
Rest assured that the University Student Council, with the students of UP Diliman will maintain campaigns and mobilizations aimed to protect and serve the interests of the youth and the Filipino people.
Again, welcome to the National Youth and Students' Summit! Magandang Araw sa inyong lahat!
(Mong. Pasensiya ka na ulit at di masyadong maayos lalo na sa transition. Mga 3 to 4 minutes ito)
In behalf of the students and the University Student Council of Diliman, welcome, friends, to the University of the Philippines on this occasion of the National Youth and Students' Summit! We gather here today to share experiences and forge the broadest and strongest unity to ensure the future of the Filipino Youth and Students.
As students of this University, we feel proud that this momentous event is taking place in UP. Choosing UP as the place to carry out this summit for us assumes great meaning. UP is considered a melting pot of ideas and of people. As an institution, the University of the Philippines is widely deemed to be a bastion of scholarly activities, an institution whose ideas and opinions are heard and which sway and influence public opinion. At the same time, UP is also a breeding ground for critical and patriotic scholars of the People.
The University of the Philippines prides itself as an advocate of liberal education, taking in a multitude of ideas with equal acceptance. This, unfortunately, also makes UP a bulwark of reactionary thought. But out of the multitude wallowing in reactionary thought emerge those who are critical and through study aim to serve the people by being active participants in social change.
The course of events in the past years have made UP students aware of the problems besetting the youth and students of today. The recent Budget Cut of the University of the Philippines resulted in the Iskolars ng Bayan braving the streets, culminating on February 14 in Mendiola to assert our rights to higher state subsidy and education for all.
Those hoping to study in this university will have to face the implications of the lower state subsidy for State Colleges and Universities (SCUs) and another impending budget cut, the rationalization or decreasing of the number of State Colleges and Universities under the Long Term Higher Education Development Program (LTHEDP), the Higher Education Modernization Act, the Education 2000 program, and other programs. Because of lesser state subsidy for education, those hoping to study here may be left with no choice but to enter private colleges and universities, where they have to face annual tuition fee increases, or in technical schools, where their skills and talents will be exploited for technical work.
UP is also a testing ground for the government's education programs and projects. UP at present is implementing the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), a program which aims to democratize access to education, but in reality only serves as a smokescreen for tuition fee increase. We are also facing commercialization issues and the utilization of idled assets.
As you can see, the present deplorable situation of the educational system is also being felt in this university. I'm sure you also have a lot to share in this summit.
It is only befitting that we use this summit to implement our objectives. The following objectives are anticipated to be achieved here.
1. Gather data on the current situation of the youth in schools, communities, fields, and workplaces.
2. Promote common understanding of the current issues confronting the youth amidst the political crisis besetting the Estrada government.
3. Formulate plans of action regarding tuition increase, repression and other pertinent youth issues.
4. Forward outputs to international youth and students formations.
We meet today to forge our unity and strengthen our determination to further our rightful demands and calls. We are confronted by a government perpetrating a moribund system which keeps the state of the youth and students so debased. Those who desire to change the present condition of the educational system must consider sacrifice in changing the whole moribund system we find ourselves in. For is not the sacrifice less degrading than subjection to the endless problems plaguing us? No magic or parlor trick can reconcile the tragic circumstance of the youth and our right to education, to livelihood, land - in short, to life. Unless we act now, the peril of a dark future awaits us. May this summit become a venue to fortify the ranks of the youth and students in the struggle for a future bright. Our part in history will be the struggle for a better society.
Rest assured that the University Student Council, with the students of UP Diliman will maintain campaigns and mobilizations aimed to protect and serve the interests of the youth and the Filipino people.
Again, welcome to the National Youth and Students' Summit! Magandang Araw sa inyong lahat!
(Mong. Pasensiya ka na ulit at di masyadong maayos lalo na sa transition. Mga 3 to 4 minutes ito)
posted by www.newfreemedia.com @ 9:19 AM
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