(This is a realistic account of the writer, Regel Javines, in his journey as iskolar ng bayan in PUP, 2003–2007. This post is originally published on Philippine Pundit.)
I feel interested to scribble a realistic account of my journey of survival inside the largest state university in the Philippines, in terms of the student population with over 70,000 students all over its 22 campuses in the country.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) has long, long been standing proud and dignified for having the lowest tuition among higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country. The comprehensive and collective actions among PUP students against any tuition hike in the university have been proven time and again to continue fixing the 12 pesos (Php12.00) tuition per unit—the rest of us don’t bother how significant are the “iskolar ng bayan” unified movements—student activism, as we commonly called it.
PUP went through three names revision: from its original name Manila Business School (MBC) in 1904 as founded; to Philippine School of Commerce (PSC) in 1908; then became Philippine College of Commerce (PCC) in 1952, and finally named Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in 1978. But its original mandate to train students for government service and entrepreneurship lives on.
PUP calls its students “iskolar ng bayan” (scholars of the nation) as the Philippine government and other nongovernment institutions subsidize its students’ tuition and other fees. A majority of PUP students are economically challenged and marginalized.
PUP is considered as the “Poor Man’s University” living by its commitment to provide access to quality and responsive education to qualified and talented students all over the country.