Excerpt from a paper...

Knowing what the past contained told us on how we should view the vast horizon. It took us to a realization on why we are UP students. We think that everybody had that time when we didn’t grasp the responsibility of being a student supported by the whole country; but watching this film and listening to the stories of the tortured directed us back to the right track. Being an Isko or an Iska is not just a status symbol that most UP students have abused over the unfolding of time. Being an “iskolar ng bayan” is a responsibility carried on both shoulders to take the Philippines to “what we all dream to be a better future”, quoting Dr. Saloma. We remembered that we are being honed to be the next leaders of the coming generations at the cost of the taxes being paid by the poor farmers and all Filipinos who put their faith in us, their scholars.

Isang asignatura...

‘Lang beses ko na narinig

Ang mga litanyang gasgas,

Mga sermong “pampasipag”

Na pilit isinisiksik

Sa aking mumunting tainga

“Mag-aral ka mabuti ‘nak!”

O, “uno ko lang ‘yan apo.”

Meron pang, “Ambaba niyan, bro!”

Ilan yang bumabagabag

Sa isipan kong nagtataka.

Lagi na lang may sukatan.

Nakapapagod sumunod;

Tila laging nahuhuli,

Parang laging nakabuntot.

‘Di alam kung sa’n susuot.

S’ating mundong mapanghusga

Kailangan kang magaling,

Dapat walang pansing palya.

Ngunit, bakit nga ba dapat?

Para kanino? Para sa’n?

Ito malamang ay isa,

Isang bugtong sa ’studyante:

Ang labanan ang sarili,

Sumalungat sa pagtulog

Para sa unong kay ilap.

Nagtangka akong magmuni

Wala akong naipiga;

Wala ang aking napala.

Nananatiling ‘sang bugtong

Buwis buhay na pag-aral.