Soar BulSU: Above the Red Storm

Camille Alejandrino, Cristine Camacho, Ann Sheika Salazar, & Nash Villena

December 17, 2023

“Ang taong tunay na malaya ay may kaakibat na kaginhawaan.” — Professor Xiao Chua

The Bulacan State University (BulSU) is home to around 40,000 students, including the ones from the main campus to the five external campuses.

As it is home to educational learning aiming to produce highly competent nation-builders in various fields, it is also an institution home to student activism.

From handing out flyers, conducting silent protests and programs on the university grounds, candle-lighting, releasing solidarity statements from organizations and student publications, and joining mass protests outside the university, BulSU students are known to be persistent in asserting their rights and having their voices be used for making a call whether to the university administration, local governments, or the national government.

Yet with student activism also comes challenges posed by the existent culture of red-tagging in the country fostered during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In January 2021, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) officials released a grave statement along with a list of schools that are said to have been infiltrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for the “radicalization and recruitment” of students into their violent extremist groups.

Bulacan State University was among the listed 38 schools allegedly hotspots of harboring recruits from the CPP-NPA.

More red-tagging only followed since then and has ever since made the culture of red-tagging more relevant to the discussions of the BulSU community, particularly of the students and political organizations.

Yellow-Blue: Wings of student activism

Predominantly, there are two political party lists existent in the university among others: the KASAMA (KSM) and the BulSUONE (B1). Since 2020, only the two parties have had the franchise to participate in the university student elections held every April. Established in 2014, the KASAMA Blue party upholds the ideology that for the students to have a student government that gives liberty and rights to its fellow students, leadership has to start in a place wherein issues are analyzed, studied, and seen for leaders to empower their constituents if their rights are being violated or trampled upon.

Conversely, the BulSUONE Yellow party defined itself as a leftist and a social liberal organization upholding the rights of the students and the acceptance of different ideologies for it to progress and adjust through time. It is currently the supermajority with most of its candidates from the last 2023 student government election seated.

Although divided by certain principles and values, the two parties have one common ground— student activism.

KASAMA Representative Iesu Cruz.

KSM representative Iesu Cruz, a junior-year BS Legal Management student from the College of Criminal Justice and Education (CCJE), believes in the importance of student activism as a mode for students to air their grievances and raise concerns amid policy implementation and/or ordinances made by the university administration.

Moreover, he emphasized the essence of being skeptical of those actions as the student body is the one directly affected if left unquestioned.

“Hindi dapat tayo kain lang ng kain kung ano yung sinusubo natin dapat nginunguya at dinadamdamin natin kung ano yung mga nilalaman”, Cruz said in an interview.

BulSUONE Vice Chairperson Alvin Sagabaen.

In relation, B1 Vice Chairperson Alvin Sagabaen, a sophomore-year BA Broadcasting student from the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), pointed out the power of the youth in making genuine change in society, as well as, at the university.

He said that student activism is a bridge for the old and the young generations to meet halfway for the voice of the oppressed to be amplified much louder and possibly heard.

He added that with the older generations having the resources and the youth having the manpower and strength, it makes up altogether a much-solidified call of having a change in society.

“So I think that's why student activism is important kasi mas lubog tayo [the youth] sa kalagayan ng masa, mas lubog tayo doon sa totoong problema”, Sagabaen said.

In light of the red-tagging of BulSU students, the yellow and the blue parties are committed to denouncing the dangerous act of red-tagging in the university.

KSM defines student ted-tagging to be a mockery of exercising their basic human and academic rights. 

Moreover, B1 generally define red-tagging as a macho-fascist method of the government to silence the youth and other activists in pointing out the flaws and the wrongs of the national government and its actors because they see it as a threat to them, thus the authorities tag them as enemies of the state despite the fact that raising grievances is a way for the leaders to plan out and implement a change in the system.

“‘Di naman tayo magrereklamo kung walang pagkakamali so nakita natin ito [red-tagging] bilang pananahimik at pilit na pagbubusal sa atin”, Sagabaen said.

The creeping red threat

In recent years, cases of red-tagging of BulSU students were reported by the two parties.

According to B1 Vice Chairperson Sagabaen, two of these cases were made from the academic year 2021-2022 with former Student Government (SG) President and Student Regent Allison Madrigal and then-Senator Sheryl Alonzo who are both affiliated with the yellow party.

It was during the growing discussion and debates about the Anti-Terror Act of 2020 that the attacks were made against the two student-leaders with their condemnation of the passed law.

As for the blue party, KSM Representative Cruz expressed: “Mahabang panahon na po naka-experience yung organization namin na samut-saring red-tagging magmula pa man po nung nasa Stand pa yung ibang mga KASAMA members”.

The most recent case of red-tagging was made virtually against the performers of Sining Sakbibi Ensemble (SSE), a Bachelor in Performing Arts (BPeA) student organization at the College of Arts and Letters.

The attacks came after SSE published a video last December 3 of their full performance of “Bayan Bayan Bayan Ko” from Lualhati Bautista’s novel Dekada ‘70 later adapted into a stage musical with the same name directed by Pat Valera.

Performers of SSE performed the piece on August 17, in line with the lineup of other performers at the “Salubong 2023” concert celebrating the opening of a new academic year, 2023-2024.

Some of the comments on the video read as: “Nakakalungkot isipin kung [sic] ilang kabataan na naman ang mamumundok”, “Apakaangas [sic] npa tesk.. hahaha”, and “Programa ng mga makakaliwang groupo [sic]”.

On December 15, almost two weeks later, the CAL Local Student Council (LSC) published a post on their Facebook page denouncing the baseless allegations made by several Facebook users tagging and implying SSE as enemies of the state for their performance.

“Ang pagtatanghal ng Sining Sakbibi Ensemble ay isang uri ng pakikibaka at hindi isang uri ng pagiging terorista”, the council said on their statement.

“Ang ganitong klase ng mga komento mula sa iba’t ibang tao na walang pagkakakilanlan at trolls lamang ay isang patunay na hindi sila handang makinig sa mga ganitong usapin, they added.

The council emphasized its stand saying that art is alive and will live on as it runs the world everyone lives in whether they like it or not.

Moreover, another recent case which B1 defines as state fascism against campus journalists was an incident that transpired on the coverage of the Malolos City transport strike held in front of the Provincial Capitol, last November 22.

The yellow party received a report from a member about the incident involving a journalism organization under CAL wherein they were said to be intimidated by an alleged police intelligence officer during their coverage of the protest.

“Sabi niya, “Pres parang may kumuha sa id nung mga kaklase ko””, Sagaben said.

In response to the raised concern, B1 wrote and delivered a letter to the Malolos City Police Station (CPS) about the report, proceeding it was a letter sent to the BulSU Office of the President reporting the incident.

Campus journalism amid the culture of student red-tagging

The BulSU Journalism Society (JS) President Sofia Lou Magtalas deplores such an act inflicted upon the staff of their organization covering the transport strike in Malolos.

“Mariin namin itong kinokondena … Walang mali sa paggamit ng boses lalo na kung pupuna ito ng mga lukot at baluktot na sistema”, she expressed.

The steps their organization took after the incident were ensuring the safety of the victims and reporting the incident to the CAL LSC and the Student Government (SG). She hasn’t received any news from the local administration of CAL since the incident.

“Since pinagbubuntunan yung ID nila, sinabihan kong huwag na munang magsuot ng kahit anong ID, maski pang-organization or university habang nasa coverage sila”, she stated as among the measures they took.

She also advised the victims to lie low, particularly on social media, even if it means temporarily deactivating their personal accounts to make sure they would be safe should the alleged intelligence officer utilize the taken photos to find them on online platforms.

JS President Magtalas also shared, “Isa rin itong factor na nagbibigay ng karagdagang takot sa mga estudyante na gustong i-pursue itong kurso na 'to pero dahil sa talamak na red-tagging at harassment ay napipilitan silang umatras na lamang.”

The Communiqué’s Editor-In-Chief Anamarie Antolin shared the same sentiment.

Upholding the mantra “Mula sa Kolehiyo; Patungo sa Bayan”, the official student publication of CAL, The Communiqué, is fully aware of the existent cases of student red-tagging in the university and the cases of campus journalist intimidation.

Chaela Lauren, a block mate of Antolin at BA Journalism, was a victim of intense red-tagging and even surveillance on her residence last year, thus the EIC herself is aware of the existence of such cases.

“Mahalaga ang student activism dahil mapapatunayan mong hindi lamang nagtatapos sa loob ng paaralan ang tungkulin at gampanin nila kung hindi naisasakatuparan din nila ito para sa benefit ng society in general”, Antolin on the importance of student activism to a university.

She expounded that educational institutions, like Bulacan State University, play a vital role in keeping and shaping its students and community’s awareness to be critical thinkers; suppressing such a function would be contradictory to its duty.

“Our role go beyond campus premises. Mahalaga rin ang boses natin para marinig sa labas”, Antolin emphasized the essentiality of campus journalism in the university.

Furthermore, EIC Antolin rebuked red-tagging in general saying suppression of the right to speech of an individual in any form has no place in society, particularly, if it aims to better the prevailing system.

“Mariin nating kinkondena yung kaso ng red-tagging and any form of related harassment toward any others [individuals], especially sa students and those na campus mamamahayag”, she added.

Student Rights and Welfare: Frontline of student grievances

Under the Student Government, the Student Rights and Welfare (SRW) is a committee that handles student concerns about their rights and learning, as well as, fostering a safe environment wherein student rights to express are protected and guaranteed. 

SRW Chairperson and SG Senator Althea Jana Trinidad

Leading the committee was the senior-year BS Legal Management SRW Chairperson and SG Senator Althea Jana Trinidad from the College of Criminal Justice and Education (CCJE).

As the SRW Chairperson, Trinidad puts emphasis on student activism and its importance to amplify the voice of the unheard sectors in society, such as the youth.

“Mahalagang we go beyond the status quo and to press them kung ano yung kinakailangan natin kasi tayo yung constituents, tayo yung people na dapat nae-enjoy kung ano yung mga rights at pribilehiyo na dapat ay napa practice natin”, she said in an interview.

Conversely, Trinidad believes campus journalism is as important as student activism: with publications serving as a platform to start a discourse about societal issues despite the rise in silencing of platforms to inform the student community.

“Mahalaga yung [campus] journalism para mapaypayan at muling maginit yung pagtingin natin sa ating lipunan na ito ay dapat nagsisilbi sa atin at hindi sa ilan lang; para makita natin ano yung actual na nangyayare sa atin at sa kapwa, estudyante at kapwa mamamayan”, she added.

Equipped with knowledge of the law and a community organizer, SRW Chairperson Trinidad along with other student-leaders detests the culture of student red-tagging, likewise, to any individuals.

“Yung red ibig sabihin ay isa kang parte sa kaliwa, “rebelde”, nagko cause ito ng harm sa individuals dahil kung sino man ang red tagged sila ay under surveillance at under attack na rin: sunod sunod na atake na [kung saan] nalilimitahan sila sa kanilang mga rights and privileges”, Trinidad explained on the risk of red-tagging to a victim.

She also added that it is ingrained in history that those red-tagged victims have experienced harassment, discrimination, and worse, killing. Instilling fear in the people to dissent.

“Kinokondena natin yung pagreredtag sa mga progresibong organizsasyon at harassment na ginagawa sa kanila at kahit pagdidiskrimina sa mga sector na nagsusulong sa kanilang adbokasiya dahil tayo ay may kalayaan at tayo ay may kapataran na maglahad ng ating tindig sa nangyayari sa kasalukuyan”, Trinidad stated.

She believes that if the government wants the protests of people to end, the root causes of their grievances must be resolved and addressed: reasons mainly revolve around the silencing of their rights to express, exacerbation of violence, removal of livelihood, displacement from their lands, and even the killings.

Since SRW Chairperson Trinidad started her term this year, her committee has received more than 10 reported cases of student red-tagging, including surveillance cases.

One of the cases was about the harassment experienced by CCJE students wherein they were summoned to their college dean’s office urging them to not participate in mass protests.

The SRW responded to the case by confronting the CCJE administration to stop the intimidation of their active students from participating in those kinds of movements.

Since then, the summoning has stopped, as well as, the censorship of the students to participate.

The committee, centered on the rights and welfare of the students, conducts initiatives to keep BulSU students informed such as through educational discussions about people’s constitutional rights, forums with publications to air their concerns, and college consultations to further cater to the needs of the students.

As for the plans of SRW onwards, Trinidad says there are currently efforts being made to reach out to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), similarly, talks continue with external organizations such as KARAPATAN in consulting them about the legalities of the Philippine law to ensure the safety of BulSU students.

The SSC and the university administration

Besides being the SRW Chairperson, Trinidad is also an SG senator; and a part of the Supreme Student Council (SSC).

There are 14 seated officials in the council elected from this year’s student government election held last April. It consists of the President and the Vice President, followed by 12 senators that include the ex officio senators who are the current student governors of the BulSU external campuses.

“Kung batay naman kung kami ba ay napapakinggan … masasabi kong maluwag sila at nabibigay nila yung mga request namin. May ilang bagay na ‘di nila kine-cater pero kung sumahin may ilang bagay na maluwag sila”, Trinidad explained on whether the SSC have a good relationship with the university administration.

She said that the standard of a “good relationship” that they have with the administration depends on the context.

When it comes to reports of red-tagging, such cases are sent to the Office of the Student Regent (OSR) wherein Student Regent Arianna De Jesus proceeds to bring up the matter on hand to the university administrators, specifically to the office of the University President Teody C. San Andres, to relay the case of the student victim and to know the actions that the university can take.

When asked about if the SSC collaborate with the BulSU administrators: “Oo, hinihingi natin yung liability nila [at] yung responsibility nila, kagaya ng SSC, nais nating protektahan yung mga estudyante kaya maximum efforts na makapartner sila at collaborate sila sa paglulutas ng problema ng estudyante when it comes to students welfare”, Trinidad answered.

An administrator's side

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs - Main Campus Roy Celestino.

The Office of the Student Affairs and Services (OSAS) of the Main Campus, headed by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs — Main Campus Roy Celestino, was the office close to the student body as it caters to various concerns and cases from the students about their grievances and academic struggles.

In an interview, Vice Chancellor Celestino defines a progressive university as “a democratic space or a place where democracy thrives … is felt all over the campus particularly [at] the classroom, in the instruction, also in the research and in extension undertakings of a university”.

“Every member of the community is expected to be a thinker not just of the self but the thinker for a country which means being critical also of the many issues that confront the country and as a university”, he added.

Just like the sentiments of the students, Celestino believes that “student activism is the life of a university”.

“If we claim that a university should be a place where democratic thrives, there must also be a space for student activism. Student Activism must not be taken in a negative way”, he emphasized.

He expounded by saying student activism should not be confused with chaos. Otherwise, it only feeds the impression it is related to chaos while it is far from the truth and its real purpose which is being critical and socially aware.

Celestino also defined campus journalism as a part of instilling democracy in the university and, likewise, a mode of responsible expression.

“The last thing we would want … is to put into harm's way our students [sic]. Of course, we would not allow [our] students to be harmed, we would not allow students to be dragged in any form of danger”, the Vice Chancellor expressed his stance about student red-tagging.

“Red tagging is a dangerous act for any civilian not only for students but any ordinary civilian must not be red-tagged. And being expressive of one's critical ideas should not be translated as some sort of rebellion or terrorism for that matter”, Celestino added.

Based on OSAS’ data, they have only received very few cases about such cases.

Celestino finds it alarming because he said that as an administrator, he has to rely on what’s going on on social media platforms given that most of the time there are no formalized reports or communication in dealing with the dangers of red-tagging.

“The problem is some people would cry [that] they are being red-tagged but in terms of cooperation … We have already prepared procedures regarding that”, he explained.

He said that once a student is being red-tagged, the OSAS will accompany the student to the university’s internal legal office assistance.

When it comes to openness, the OSAS head claims that the university administration is very much open in receiving cases about student red-tagging.

“If they ask [for] protection from the university president, one thing we are going to ask is the cooperation of the student and the family. If we are going to work together then we can secure that protection of the student”, Celestino shared.

Conversely, the Vice Chancellor exclaimed, “the only thing the President assures is the protection of the student inside the university kasi yung labas di na natin sakop ‘yan. Kailangan naman dyan ay yung suporta ng mga magulang at pamilya”.

In the context of OSAS’ collaboration with the SSC, Celestino clarified whenever a statement is being raised by students on social media, they call their attention not to “reprimand or scold them”.

He said that they call them to consult what reaction they can do as a response to the raised concern of the student body.

“Since they [the SSC] are the current leadership of the students, we will rely on the information that they deliver since they are working for the students.  We are willing to work with them and we are helping them to implement these projects”, Celestino on their collaboration with the SSC.

“We do not reject projects, we redirect them”, the OSAS head pointed out for the SSC’s project to be “refined”.

Celestino mentioned one of the steps that the university has once greatly taken about the matter is releasing a statement denouncing the vile accusation of the NTF-ELCAC against the university in January 2021, tagging BulSU as a nest of rebel students.

“Being critical is part of university life and instructions. We have subjects in general curriculum that harness critical thinking and students in the university must not be trained as workers but they are also trained to be leaders as well”, Celestino pointed out.

In the eye of an agent of law

Atty. Arjay Capitle from the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) defines red-tagging as a risky and dangerous act inflicted upon a victim tagging them as a member of an insurgent group although the truth of the matter is not certain, particularly, upon the passing of the Anti-Terror Law of 2020 wherein groups and individuals can be identified as part of an armed rebel group.

CSSP Faculty Member Atty. Arjay Capitle.

Teaching at Bulacan State University for over six years, some of the subjects that he teaches are Readings in Philippine History, Social Work and The Law, Introduction to Constitution and Law, Basic Economics, Taxation and Reform, and Rizal’s Life and Works.

“Hindi kasi pupwede na ang ating karunungan ay naco-confine lang sa apat na sulok ng classroom. Ito dapat ay itina-translate natin into actions sa pamamagitan ng paghihingi ng maayos na social services, sa mas matitino na polisiya, at higit sa lahat yung mas inklusibo at makatao na mga panuntunan sa loob at labas ng university”, Atty. Capitle on the importance of student activism.In relation,

Atty. Capitle defines the importance of campus journalism as “truthful and factual information … kasama sa campus journ [sic] yung editorial, yung opinion: it is a melting pot actually, of different ideas. It is not necessarily conflicting ideas but diverse ideas. So, mahalaga ang campus journ … ma-exercise natin yung ating critical thinking”.

Like how he is aware as an instructor, so are his fellow faculty members in the CSSP. 

“Walang puwang ang saradong pag-iisip sa isang malayang lipunan. Saka ang motto ng halimbawa departmento namin ay “Pag-aralan ang Lipunan, paglingkuran ang sambayanan”, he said on what he always reminds their students.

He goes on by saying that teaching the truth to people is an advocacy to serve the people through knowledge hence aiding various societal ills.

It includes the grave matter of student red-tagging.

“Condemnable yung ganyang klase ng mga actions because it put the lives of people to risk. And also, hindi lang yung buhay nila mas lalo yung reputasyon ng mga tao na ‘to ay nilalagay nila sa alanganin so we have to call out”, Atty. Capitle exclaimed.

In spite of the culture of red-tagging, he said that the CSSP does its best to help behind the scenes with the conduct of students to amplify their grievances.

“Bagama’t yung ay bare minimum pero sa ibang kolehiyo kasi, ay ayoko na lang magbanggit ng ibang college, hindi nila gagawin ‘yon. They will refrain their sides from being attached sa pangalan ng mga taong ito na involved sa gantong klase ng insidente”, he pointed out.

In contrast, he explained that in CSSP they welcome dissent as it is part of democracy. If it’s otherwise, it would be dictatorial.

When asked about his sociological insights about the inaction or silence of the university administration, certain college administrations, as well as faculty and students in the conversation about red-tagging in the university:

“Siguro yung stereotyping against student activists … parang nananagumpay nga halos yung kampanya ng mga nasa gobyerno na kapag aktibista ka, terorista ka”, he said.

“Hindi dapat ganon, kailangan maintindihan ng itong mga reklamado na ito (tawag nila sa mga rallyista na yan, mga reklamador) ‘yun din ang dahilan kung bakit mayroon tayong karapatan today”, he added on the importance of activism to the country’s democracy.

To brave out of the cave

In conclusion, there is still an abundance of narratives yet to be uncovered, similarly, gaps to be filled are made evident with the poor communication among people in Bulacan State University: misaligned goals of genuinely progressing wherein red-tagged victims would ideally feel safe likewise heard of their struggle in their second home.

It will only be a matter of time before the actors within the institution will come to realize that the shared struggle of a certain student population will inevitably have a bigger impact on the community and the conversation about the matter at hand.

The schism of disconnect will only either get deeper or mended hereon.

After all, just like what Atty. Capitle have said: “Kung alam mo lang ang katotohanan na gusto mo lang, sarado isip mo. Para kang yung allegory of the cave na hindi ka na lumabas sa kweba para hanapin pa yung meron pa pala na mas iba pang malawak na pananaw na makikita ka sa labas ng kweba”.