Pray than Protest?
Why not Pray and Protest?
"Going to the streets and rallying are not the solutions. For me, writing and praying are the best solutions. I know God will answer me."
These are the words a former Faculty Regent of the Mindanao State University in regards to the recent protests against Budget Cuts in the Philippines. This kind of sentiment said by the former regent seemingly speaks much of urging people, especially its alumni, students, faculty to remain passive about the crisis brought forth by the present Aquino administration in dealing the education problem.
As we all know that Budget secretary Abad spoke of "allocating budget instead on Basic Social Services (Doleouts rather), aside from Defense and Debt Servicing," and we also notice that the biggest chunks the budget allocated nowadays is in the last two instead of Education and real access to Social Services such as Health and other needs. Others may possibly allocated the National Budget to the pork barrels of some officials, like Arroyo, who got a bigger pork barrel worth P2 billion while others will be increased by more than P13.9 billion for a total of P24.8 billion. Isn't it obvious that a small chunk be allocated to a National obligation such as educating the people in all levels?
Indeed, that according to the former regent that:
"The main reason for this is to encourage the management of different SUCs to generate income out of their resources; examples are lands, infrastructures and employees."
In short, the Budget Cuts urged the School administrators, such as in MSU-Illigan to commercialize the institution. How wonder why MSU, once an institution praised for its free education "similar to socialist states" be end up like those of institutions notoriously for imposing increased tuition fees and other schemes that for sure, affects the working-class studentry? Also indeed that, according to the same person, told to us that:
"It is a also a sad fact that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has the difficulty in implementing this budget cut plan for many reasons (political or non political)."
DBM said "difficult" in implementing, yet they really wanted to allocate the bigger chunks to Defence and Debt Servicing. Isn't it obvious that DBM is planning to allocate the bigger chunks of the budget to the latter two instead of funding Education in all levels? Indeed, there are political and non-political factors on that problem, from the Military to Arroyo's, from IMF-WB to the Congressmen hungry for pork barrels. I understand a bit what the former regent spoke of, but he still agreed on the Commercializing a State University like MSU, of having a Budget Cut, and a series of Income Generating Projects, that include Tuition and Other Fee Increases!
And as I read and trying to understand the letter, it clearly shows that he tried enough to justify and a need for an alternative- reforming management styles, letting MSU or even the entire state-funded Tertiary Education in general not to depend on the DBM, create schemes and investigate about certain problems can be beneficial but not to "depend" on DBM? Remember most state-funded Educational Institutions are supported by subsidies, that is, coming from taxpayers who think that all taxes be allocated to something beneficial like on schools, roads, bridges, other infrastructure and daily needs. But nowadays, the present administration of Benigno Aquino III continued the legacy of less emphasis on Education while the bigger chunks being allocated to buying of bullets, guns, supporting fascistic "counterinsurgency" operations, and debt servicing. The government even spoke to the people that all State-funded Educational Institutions must be self sufficient and letting it away if possible to focus much on programs that, are not really programs at all.
After all, the administration treated it not as an obligation but a mere sentiment to give a sum of its budget to Education in all levels. The intensification of protests against Budget cuts and Tuition hikes became a major result of their attempts in undertaking a laissez faire on State Colleges and Universities in the name of Commercialization, Deregulation, and perhaps, Privatization of institutions to "save enough money" for what? Paying debts and funding ill-fated campaigns?
I tried enough to understand what the writer stated in his letter, and despite venting off all the problems yet justifying the need for Budget cuts and letting MSU away except accepting Government sponsored scholarships instead of greater State subsidies. It even reminds of my professor telling that the Government, in obliging to support Education, sponsors scholarships-but in the Constitution, it is the Government's obligation to support Education at all levels, of giving State subsidies and improving every institutions as part of ensuring the well being of the youth and of the people in general, making taxpayers think that their taxes allocated to beneficial and not destructive ones.
And lastly, according to the letter, again urging us to suggest, but still the only suggestion every student coming from low-paid backgrounds in a dire need for quality, free education is still fighting for a greater State subsidy, to stop campus repression, and greater Government focus on Education as a primary obligation-as again, the budget coming from people's taxes must be allocated to something contributive rather than destructive like those of financing the mercenary-minded Military and other similar means. After all, it is the people who dictates where will the taxes go, not the DBM or whatsoever-for it is their Money.
"Most of all let us pray that our leaders will be enlightened. Let us be open to suggestions and constructive comments. Let us not be totally dependent on the DBM. Let me quote the famous saying of one of the great men, Winston Churchill, “Kites rise against the wind.” I hope this will inspire us all."
Speaking of Churchill's statement, I may say that it is the people, not the order and the technocrat dictates, as what Aquino said to us that the people are his bossesm so why not hear the heed of the people for a greater State subsidy and to stop yearly Tuition hikes as most Educational instituitons had much, more budget accumulated yet wanting to accumulate more? Isn't it obvious for a technocrat, an Educator Capitalist that profit over welfare generates much criticism despite justifying it? People still rather resist the flow as Churchill stated, opposing the Government's proposals for Budget cuts and acceptance of Tuition hikes all over the Philippines.
And speaking of his last words, praying, writing over protest is not defiance but of acceptance to the order, but if Praying, writing as a part of social protest can possibly be a part of social defiance against the Order's attempts in letting away their obligation to Educator Capitalists who justified a need for a Budget Cut and a Tuition Hike, especially in a third world country that needs much and sufficient Government support in its obligations, especially in educating its people at all levels. So why not Pray and Protest? After all, it is the will of the people that makes "to Protest is to be justified" especially in response to the antipeople actions laid by the order, since there will be always means to break the barrier.
here's the site containing the letter made by the former Faculty regent: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/289779/abad-seeks-understanding-budget-cut-sucs
