University of the Philippines (UP) students are said to be enjoying the best education ever offered in the country, with UP ranking 1st locally and 398th in the list of the world’s 500 best schools.

A diploma from UP promises one the key to a successful career, says Prof. Luis Teodoro of the UP Department of Journalism. That is why annually, he added, it attracts the best and the brightest high school students to take the “dreaded” UP College Admission Test (UPCAT).

UP graduates lead in the professions, the arts, and sciences having produced a number of national artists and scientists recognized here and abroad. It is also “still the only Philippine university that always makes it to any list of the world’s best,” Teodoro said.

However, all good things come with a price—literally, in this case. Even if the university is supposed to be subsidized by the government, upper class students have to pay tuition fee at PhP300 ($7.362 at an exchange rate of $1=PhP40.75) per unit while freshmen are charged PhP1, 000 to Php1, 500 ($24.540 to $36.810) per unit depending on the income bracket determined by admissions personnel.

Such has been the case since the UP Board of Regents approved the 300% tuition and other fees increase (ToFI) in December 2006 despite opposition from the students. The move was actually brought about by the continuous budget cuts for state colleges and universities imposed by administrations beginning with Marcos until today’s Arroyo reign.

To compensate for the budget deficits, other exorbitant fees like laboratory and rental fees are also being imposed on students and organizations who wish to use facilities like auditoriums. This must not be the case because part of what students pay is allotted for operating expenses such as the above mentioned.

In line with the ToFI, reports have shown that enrolment of UPCAT passers tended to decline.

The Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) gave away a short primer on the UP Charter Bills which, in essence, described the present state of education in UP.

It, however, dwelt more on the pending Senate and House bills which seek to amend the constitution of UP, theoretically giving it more autonomy. That is yet another issue; but the concern of having some property leased to private firms as part of the provisions of the new charter can also be traced back to income-generating measures the university administration implements.

Construction of the Science & Technology Park and call centers is in fact ongoing in the said leased lands—at an impressive speedy pace. But a good number of UP students and organizations are still not in the verge of giving the fight up.

There are still constant rallies and discussions regarding the commercialization issue side by side the controversy about the ZTE-NBN project.

So how are those two related?

We know from reports that the NBN project of the Department of Transportation and Communications, which aimed to connect all government units using a single network, had been cancelled since accusations of anomaly had surfaced.

Whistleblower Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, son of the former House Speaker and president of the Amsterdam Holdings Inc., testified in Senate saying Commission on Elections Commissioner Benjamin Abalos brokered the overpriced deal in favor of ZTE, a Chinese firm.

The first gentleman, Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, was allegedly also part of the deal. De Venecia accused the president’s husband of directing him to “back off” from the bid.

In essence, Abalos was demanding $130 million as “bonus” for helping ZTE get the deal. He was also accused of bribing then National Economic Development Authority chair Romulo Neri some “200” (million pesos) if he would approve of the deal.

The more recent star witness, Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr., who had been the project consultant, testified in Senate hearings to divulge to the public the alleged irregularities of the transaction. He is currently doing campus rounds in his call for the truth.

In the vernacular, such was the call made by student-activists in UP since the surfacing of the glitch in the NBN project.

Converting to local currency, the PhP6 billion kickbacks which Abalos wanted to keep was said to be able to finance the needs of almost the whole of UP system—its offices and communities, including the other campuses.

With that large sum, imagine how many auditoriums can be built so that venues for forums and other extra-curricular purposes are not jammed elsewhere. Imagine how many computers can be provided for students’ use. Imagine how many needy but deserving students can have subsidized education as good as what UP can offer.

The Philippines, in general, was reported to have a "deteriorating education system." Because of the increasing cost of a college degree, many children are forced to drop out, or worse, stop schooling. And when that is the case, it will be difficult for our citizens to find jobs that will be able to compensate for the daily needs of the family. In this light, the claim that education is becoming a privilege rather than a right has already become a cliché.

In a February 29 article by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, UP professors gave out a statement asking for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation. According to them, as an alumna, she stains the reputation of theuniversity, which celebrates its centennial year this 2008. With all the controversies harbored by her administration, she is infringing all the values that the university upholds. Such a shame, so to speak.

It is high time that people become not just spectators of the events unfolding each day in the country. Make a stand, at the very least. But be sure to stand up for the truth.

There is such a thing as “multi-perspective activism” as what Alyansa, a party in the University Student Council elections believe. We don’t need to be on the streets to show protest. Direct participation through letters to the editor counts. We must share our views on certain issues and not just let the wind or wave pass us by.

As “privileged” UP students, one thing we can do is to study very well so that eventually, we can give back to the people the hope of a better life.