And so the Philippine Collegian will soon sound its final salvo.

As early as September, this "premier" weekly student publication will have to cease publication as it succumbs to financial difficulties. Such pronouncement is not an exaggeration. Even before the 2003-2004 term took off, the editorial board has already projected a budget deficit of not less than P300,000. And with the New Government Accounting System already being implemented by the UP administration, the institution is compelled to close shop if finances hit rock bottom.

The projected deficit, however, should not be equated to the institution's mishandling of funds. For one, the amount paid by students for the Collegian fund has remained P40 per semester for more than five years, while the printing cost has increased annually. This year, the newspaper is priced at P3.20 per copy, so far the lowest price bid among five printing presses. With a 15,000 weekly circulation and 30 issues for the whole term, the printing cost accounts to a staggering P1.44 million. Simply stated, more than 80 percent of the average P1.6 million Collegian fund goes to the paper's printing.

Aside from printing cost, the Collegian fund is also allocated for other items such as honorarium and operating expenses. For those who are still unaware, weekly honoraria, and not salaries, are given to the staff to compensate for the money spent in doing research and writing articles. Other operating expenses, meanwhile, include the money spent for the computer maintenance and repair, chemicals for the printing and development of photographs, office repairs, as well as the payment for newspaper subscriptions, telephone, and other bills. Given the expenditures and the meager collections at hand, the idea of a deficit is truth rather than an exaggeration.

On the brink of having nervous breakdowns, the editorial board plays with the thought of lowering the circulation of the Collegian just to evade a deficit. And occasionally, the idea of accepting advertisements in the pages becomes tempting as well.

Just a few weeks ago, the editorial board received calls from companies expressing interest to advertise in the paper. Nestlê Philippines wanted to place advertisements or to at least have their own publicity materials inserted in the Collegian. An established advertising firm, meanwhile, has also asked for advertisement rates and has also eyed the Collegian as a potential ad space for its clients. Despite these convenient solutions to a deficit, however, the editorial board clings to its principle and disallows any form of advertisements in the paper.

Given the circumstances, perhaps, some would have judged otherwise. Some may even think that such decision by the editorial board and the entire staff is idealistic and inconsiderate of the paper's ailing situation. Yet, the institution holds its ground, as we in the Collegian could not bear the idea of being beholden to anyone but to our publishers - the UP students. For dealing with advertisers translates to our accountability to them. As such, we will be compelled to satisfy them by ensuring that we would not be critical to issues involving their business interests. In the end, advertisements in the paper would only mean betrayal of the crux of and reason for the existence of the Collegian, a move that poses disloyalty not only to our predecessors, but also, and more importantly, to the students. We have faith that the students will uphold the integrity and purpose of the Collegian. We rest our case to our publisher's discretion.

The Philippine Collegian does not bow down to censorship and repression. Neither will it raise its white flag just because of financial difficulties.