By Tricia Aquino, Photos by Analy
Labor · Monday, November 19, 2012 · 12:01 pm
Jensen Gomez, a band from College
of Saint Benilde, rocks out at the UP Diliman Palma Hall. Photo by Analy Labor,
InterAksyon.com.
Some
200 students paraded from Ateneo de Manila University to the University of the
Philippines Diliman to mark International Students’ Day on Saturday,
culminating at UP’s Palma Hall to celebrate students’ rights and welfare with a
cause concert.
School
colors didn’t matter as students from Ateneo, College of Saint Benilde, De La
Salle University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng
Muntinlupa, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Santo
Tomas, University of the East, UP Diliman, UP Manila, and UP Los Baños gathered
not only to have a good time, but to call for the passage of the STRAW
(Students’ Rights and Welfare) bill, as well.
Students from different
schools come together on International Students' Day, November 17, 2012. Photo
by Analy Labor, InterAksyon.com.
Essentially,
House Bill No. 2190 recognizes the rights of students to education and as
such entitles them to learning in an environment that promotes and honors their
rights and welfare; it asserts their political and civil rights in
decision-making policies inside and outside their school, especially in matters
affecting the rights and welfare of students.
Akbayan
Representative Walden Bello spoke to congratulate the students for throwing
their support for a piece of legislation that he and fellow members of the
House of Representatives had been advocating for years.
“The
purpose of the Students’ Rights and Welfare Bill is really to
institutionalize the participation of students in educational governance,” said
Bello, the bill’s principal author, to the crowd. He noted that hrough the
“key piece of legislation,” all students will be able to attain “quality
education” for their “better good.”
Akbayan Representative Walden Bello speaks about the Students' Rights and Welfare Bill, of which he is principal author. Photo by Analy Labor, InterAksyon.com.
Noel
Cabangon, who gave his rendition of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Get Up, Stand
Up,” called on the youth to always do so for their rights. He said, “The youth
are instrumental to change in our country. We saw that during the Martial Law
years. Who took the lead to topple down the dictatorship? The students. Change
started from the students. Even if you look at the history of other countries,
where do revolutions begin? Where does change begin? From the students.”
This
was the reason why he lent his voice to the event.
Akbayan Representative
Walden Bello sings Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Get Up, Stand Up” with musician
and activist Noel Cabangon. Photo by Analy Labor, InterAksyon.com.
“I’m
here because there is a need to protect the rights of students inside the
schools. There should still be room where they can express their sentiments
without fear from being suspended or expelled, etcetera.” Respect, he added,
should also be given to “the right for students to be heard not only in the
issues (at) school but also the issues outside of it, because they are also
first and foremost citizens of this country.”
Four
other musical acts made heads bob during the celebration: Kaleidoscope Eyes,
Jensen Gomez, She’s Only Sixteen, and Miko Pepito.
These students marched
along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, calling for a piece of legislation that
will protect their rights and welfare. Photo by Analy Labor, InterAksyon.com.
“It
was fun for everyone,” said Mickey Eva, leader of the event’s organizing team
and president of the Coalition for Students’ Rights and Welfare. The group is
made up of student organizations all over the country. “It was the first time
that the celebration for students’ rights and welfare, and for International
Students’ Day, was this big. I’m very fulfilled that these organizations came
together, worked with each other, for the promotion of students’ rights and
welfare.”
With
lawmakers and civil society organizations supporting them, he said, “It gives
us optimism and hope.”
InterAksyon.com
is a proud media partner of the event. ###
Click for the original InterAksyon.com article HERE.
