This is just me expressing what I thought about Winnie Monsod's viral lecture video.
While a lot of people got moved with her lecture, I don't feel anything. In fact, I disagree on some of her points. First, while it is true that part of our education is paid by the Filipinos thru taxes, we should still remember that it is the government that decides how much money should be allocated to UP. As a Filipino, I believe it is my right that the government should provide a good quality education to me and hindi ko utang na loob sa kanila yun. Isa pa my dad pays taxes too, siguro naman sa dami na nyang "pinag-aral" that made up for the subsidized part of my education. Second, siguro naman yung ibang gusto talagang makatapos sa pag-aaral eh ang main motivation nila is ma-iahon sa hirap yung pamilya nila at umunlad yung buhay nila. Kung wala naman makitang opportunity sa Pilipinas then masisi mo ba sila kung magtry sila ng opportunity sa ibang bansa? Is it right to judge them dahil ayaw nila magutom ang pamilya nila? Mali ba na magkaroon ka ng pangarap for yourself and to achieve your dreams? Sabi ni Winnie if you are planning to go abroad then dun ka mag-aral sa Ateneo or La Salle. I still want to believe that majority of the people who are going to UP ay hindi mayayaman and they can't afford the education at Ateneo or La Salle, if not then I think it is time for UP to review how they admit their students. Having said that, parang sinabi ni Winnie Monsod na wag na kayong magtapos ng college or you don't deserve a quality education. I'm sorry but prangkahan lang, I think the student get what their tuition fee is worth of. I mean yung facilities, yung classrooms, etc. If I am getting Ateneo-like facilities fine siguro baka nakapag-isip ako. Kung meron man na dapat pagka-utangan ng loob ang mga UP students, yun ay walang iba kundi ang mga professors na given their small pay they still provide high quality education to their students.
I am not denying that Winnie Monsod has a point but again in order for people to stay, there should be a good opportunity na naghihintay sa mga graduates. Kung wala, is it expected ba na parang sige hayaan ko na lang mamatay sa gutom ang family ko or I will live in regrets because hindi ko nagawa yung gusto ko talagang gawin sa buhay ko. Di ba nga sabi nila there are other ways of giving back. Kaya nga sa UP they are modling their students to have a broader perspective in life and making the students to do their best to achieve their dreams. Hindi ba part ng lyrics ng UP Naming Mahal yung "Malyong lupain amin mang marating, hindi magbabago ang damdamin"?
I also believe dun sa "calling". I mean may mga tao na ang calling nila eh to serve their fellow country men. Others iba naman. Lahat naman pwedeng maging bayani in their own ways. Di ba at one point OFWs are called "bagong bayani"?
In the end sabi ko nga kay Tina Amboy, hindi ako affected kasi di ko naman pinlano na pumunta ng Canada. Hehehe.
