“Academic freedom must always be exercised in the name of learning and not of indebtedness”
A SHORT disclaimer: I am not in any way affiliated with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. But I am a resident of the city in which the state university has built one of its many satellite campuses. This, alone, fuels my concern by how the Parañaque City government tries to politicize the PUP brand for its constituents.
Recently, outgoing Mayor Eric Olivarez took pride in showcasing the Polytechnic University of the Philippines — Parañaque City Campus. Surrounding the building are the other barangay campuses for Sto. Niño’s high school and elementary students. Outside its compound is the narrow De Leon Street where stores and homes pile up along the road. Amidst the tight and near-unwalkable conditions along the place, one color remains present in its sheer glory — green.
Green has been associated with the Olivarez clan for most of its political history. Ever since Edwin, the son of its patriarch and one-time town chief Pablo, became mayor 12 years ago, it has been associated with them in their campaigns and governance. Jun Bernabe’s red was the image it sought to take down from their first year in office, probably to build their legacy that was visible to its citizens from Baclaran to BF Homes.
But it is an insult to cover the state university’s colors — red, white and gold — by his own shade of green.
The PUP’s colors are in line with their visual identity. Its student handbook has stated that the colors red, gold, and white have been embedded in the university’s tradition. It has been its image, curated in every PUPian who lives and breathes within its vibrant campus. Yet it only remains a ‘lived’ identity since it has not transcended into its official documents. The colors, though historical, are malleable. It has not been stated that campuses beyond Sta. Mesa are prohibited from altering its colors according to each of their respective cities’ needs.
Which brings out the issue today.
To be fair, PUP-Parañaque has donned the color green in its livery ever since then (and incoming mayor) Edwin Olivarez assumed the post. As he was keen on pushing for his reforms in the education sector, he was quick to have the schools being constructed at that time to have them be donned under his political symbol along with the E.L.O. wordmark. This is present across all schools from elementary to college, along with infrastructure buildings present across the city. Even the Parañaque National High School Main campus was not spared by this political move.
One must not spend years studying in a public institution whose interests are being promoted. I recall that, in my 10th grade, we were being sent to attend a career fair where a school affiliated with the incumbent Olivarez was one of its participants. I was foolish enough to know then that they were already using their power to advertise their school as an alternative. Regardless of their standards in promoting its success, their power has been a tool to advertise their school — Olivarez College — in line with their status inside the city hall.
Doesn’t this move seem insulting to those who are from PUP? That its long-standing colors have been replaced by those who funded its construction? A state university, by all means, must never be in the hands of anyone whose power is vested on political reasons. Academic freedom must always be exercised in the name of learning and not of indebtedness.
Too bad, Parañaque will have to endure another three long years (and more) of the color green. Alternatives, reasonable and more of the same, were provided in the last elections. Yet, somehow, people seem to be content by how E.L.O. served the public for their own political gain.
“sErbisyo Lang pO” is all they could muster, even if they have to paint an insult to the entire PUP.
(The author tries to cure his haywire from his personal grind as he writes essays away from the news. For comments, you may reach him at ngrolando2003@yahoo.com.)
