DESPITE BEING in its immediate post-Constitutional Convention stage, the Sanggunian proved its durability after it had mobilized the Ateneo community against the Marcos burial, the lowering of minimum age of criminal responsibility, the reimposition of the death penalty, and the extrajudicial killings that emerged from Oplan Tokhang.
As the school year comes to a close, the results of the recently held Sanggunian General Elections show that the growing unrest of Ateneans will not end along with it. Principled opposition against the Duterte administration will surely continue next year with the Union of Students for the Advancement of Democracy at the helm of politicizing the campus.
But here’s the deal: When all the final requirements have been submitted, when the Ateneo campus has been emptied and when Ateneans seek solace somewhere far away from the busy metro for this summer break, will the world stop turning? No, of course not. Fellow Filipinos, especially the poor, will still be vulnerable to the unprecedented moves of the Duterte administration. Given this two-month gap, the Sanggunian cannot simply call for a mobilization along Katipunan Avenue. And so, the question remains: how can Ateneans respond to the call of times?
Before anything else, we have to study the issues. Being familiar with information on who, when, and where is surface knowledge, but understanding why something is happening and how we can help is actionable. Philippine politics is complex, but it is not complicated. Keep up with current events, join organizations but be well-informed of their backgrounds, and engage in discussions to enrich what you have learned.
As a matter of fact, many different options of media are available to us, be it traditional print, radio, or television. But the most prominent medium that the millennial populace makes use of is social media. Here, media is not one-sided and it also gives us the benefit of interactivity. With this freedom, there is also the risk of being exposed to what we know as fake news. Be wary of authorless articles, headlines planted as clickbaits, and years-old stories that have been shared again. Come issues that matter at a level of personal importance, feel free to make responsible use of social media.
At the end of the day, our social circles boil down to those most intimate to us–our friends and family. Take advantage of the comfort of these people, and engage in discussions beyond safe spaces by being open to non-Atenean perspectives. Do not impose and remember to listen.
Yes, we are tired and we deserve a restful break. We are students, but we are Filipinos first. The country’s affairs do not stop when we put our readings away. In the same light, we cannot be at peace when there are extrajudicial killings and when there is creeping authoritarianism in a country with a long democratic tradition. There is no room for complacency in a time when history is not always told correctly, be it from scrapping facts from a textbook, writing a misleading headline, or deleting a tweet. During this vacation, remember to stay engaged with issues confronting our country without the aid of a catalyst. Stay vigilant, stay disturbed.
