the Freedom of Expression..

I have been a UP student or UPian for four years now. And I have always been proud about it. Being able to study in a prestigious university is an achievement for me. When I passed at the High School Admission Test at UP, I was very glad and excited as well.

There were actually different reactions from people we knew when they found out I will be studying at UP. Some said that I must be intelligent, knowing that the university offers a high quality of education. Others rejoiced with us because we need not have to pay tuition fees. But then a few said that I might become rebellious and join other UP students rallying on the streets like what we see now.

Students from the University of the Philippines are known for being intelligent, outspoken and REBELLIOUS, yes rebellious. No matter how proud I am to be a UPian, I cannot help but become embarrassed at times. It is because of this rebellious thing. No matter what I do, I cannot hide the fact that UPians are known for this one. I mean it is so evident. We could frequently see them rallying on the streets, putting up posters and banners which attack the government and even having themselves being interviewed in the television. They are really exercising their freedom of speech or expression.

Most of the time, the subject of their attacks and protests is the government or the school management. They say that the government is corrupt and that the officials should be ousted from their positions. Recently, students from UP Diliman are protesting because of the 300% tuition fee increase. They also air out what they feel towards what is happening around us without being embarrassed on what other people will say. But honestly, I think there are instances wherein what they do should not be done although they also have points at times. Sometimes I question myself why do they keep on attacking the government. Why do they keep on protesting on the actions of the government?

The University of the Philippines is a state university, owned and funded by the government. Isn’t it ironic to see a state university stacking and protesting against the government? Is this what the government should get in return? No wonder why there are some politicians who would want to crash out the UP budget because of how the students are acting. I really have nothing against these people who do the attacking and it does not mean that I side the government too but I think they have to think twice if what they would want to protest about is worth protesting or is it just for publicity purposes or just to maintain their rebellious images. They keep on complaining on the corruption going on the government but have they thought of a way of thinking if corruption was also going on within themselves as well.

I believe that the freedom of speech is a gift that is supposed to be used in the right way.