WHY AK?

Why I am in ASAP-Katipunan

It was just last year when I experienced to vote for the first time in the country’s premier state university. Having a little knowledge on the campus politics then, I was after for leaders who will best serve the student body—leaders who will be approachable, responsible (both as leaders and as students), and determined to serve. I voted for Bigkis UP Manila (6 of the 9 posts in the University Student Council). I was thinking that they would best represent the cause of the student body. On the other hand, I chose to vote only three USC candidates from the ASAP-Katipunan. To be honest, I had biases against the activists when I was in first year. I find them too confined in their own world of opposing and opposing the administration.

However, things began to change last semester particularly in the month of August. In one of my major subjects (Political Science 14), the whole class was sent to the most depressed communities in Bulacan for what we call a Basic Masses Integration Program (BMI) sponsored by the ASAP-Katipunan. Through such, we were able to live with the peasants for one night and two mornings having the goal of understanding their present condition and sentiments as well.

There I saw, smelled, tasted, and felt poverty—-it was all over the setting. Children would need to go through two mountains to get to the nearest school everyday. Peasants would choose to work even though they are oppressed in the inequalities in the world of agrarian (brought by feudalism) because they want Filipinos to have enough food (rice in particular). There I saw life on a very different side. As new buildings are constructed in the most urbanized areas in our country, more and more Filipinos get hungry in the other parts.

There I saw the ASAP-Katipunan members in a way like I have never seen them before. The people (peasants and their families) there know them well and would even choose to offer us the best food they have not minding their own selves. For a minute or two, I was left pondering. In my first year in UP, I had my share of biases against these people—the same people who have been one with the masses; the same people who have long been fighting for the good of all—for equity.

Last year I was allergic to their chants but now I know that every chant is for a child who opts to go through mountains just to get education. Last year I was allergic to their protests but now I know that it is for a peasant who opts to still plow the lands even though they do not receive what is due to them. Last year I was allergic to their statements but now I know that it is for a Filipino struggling to live despite the challenge of poverty.

I am an AK member because I now simply share their principles—what they are fighting for—what we all should be fighting for. Before thinking of how we students can get the most out of everything, there is a need for us to go back to the very point of being Iskolars ng Bayan. We are all struggling for change. We want change. But we must be careful in choosing the kind of change we wish to transpire. I am not saying that the principles of Bigkis or the mechanisms which they prefer are wrong. Nobody can impose which one is right. But my principles are now with AK—guided by the true condition of our society and enlightened by our people. It was not AK which was confined in their world of opposing and opposing the administration. It was me who was confined in the world of urbanization forgetting our brothers and sisters on the other side.

Do you now see?

ASAP-Katipunan.
TUNAY. PALABAN. MAKABAYAN.