Watching
TV Patrol Linggo this April 26 ran as usual on that day. I knew about
the UP Graduation annually held in the Ampitheater just behind the
Quezon Hall. It wasn't unusual for all UP students to sing and hear UP
Naming Mahal which every alumnus had sang with all bravado wherever they
went.
But it seemed to me that most UP students, especially this year's batch of graduates, had just seen graduation in UP as just a ceremony. Yes, a usual ceremony which they received their medals on being the laudes, hearing speeches about this and that, and other whatnots. 200 cum laudes? No doubt. Since 2002, the Revised General Education Program made these students be known for what they want to know. Even in the yoopee site, most of the members ask which prof gives a flat one or what type of exam is usually given by this or that prof.
Grades. We all like that. But it should be reaped with all the efforts a UP student must give.
In the TV Patrol interview, two of the honor students of the batch commented that the activists "should find another venue" to their call for the youth to serve the people, and not the graduation. For it is a solemn ceremony. What kind of thinking is that?! They must read again and again about philosophy and history. All knowledge is a product of the developing and struggling minds of people who want to know the truth. Even Einstein did that. So was Aristotle. They had struggled for their search. Found it and shared it with us. Even UP had struggled for its status as a bastion of academic freedom.
Learning is not confined to the four corners of the classroom, as the old saying goes. And UP holds that principle. If UP had not changed these graduates, I hope they will when they saw the people rising against the dark forces of what oppresses society these days. And the UP graduation will aways be the right venue for student activists to sing the UP Naming Mahal-- and raise their fists.
But it seemed to me that most UP students, especially this year's batch of graduates, had just seen graduation in UP as just a ceremony. Yes, a usual ceremony which they received their medals on being the laudes, hearing speeches about this and that, and other whatnots. 200 cum laudes? No doubt. Since 2002, the Revised General Education Program made these students be known for what they want to know. Even in the yoopee site, most of the members ask which prof gives a flat one or what type of exam is usually given by this or that prof.
Grades. We all like that. But it should be reaped with all the efforts a UP student must give.
In the TV Patrol interview, two of the honor students of the batch commented that the activists "should find another venue" to their call for the youth to serve the people, and not the graduation. For it is a solemn ceremony. What kind of thinking is that?! They must read again and again about philosophy and history. All knowledge is a product of the developing and struggling minds of people who want to know the truth. Even Einstein did that. So was Aristotle. They had struggled for their search. Found it and shared it with us. Even UP had struggled for its status as a bastion of academic freedom.
Learning is not confined to the four corners of the classroom, as the old saying goes. And UP holds that principle. If UP had not changed these graduates, I hope they will when they saw the people rising against the dark forces of what oppresses society these days. And the UP graduation will aways be the right venue for student activists to sing the UP Naming Mahal-- and raise their fists.
http://lvbamante.multiply.com/journal/item/27
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