How to successfully implement higher fees on students with minimal opposition:

1. Talk about it during the students’ summer vacation, so there will be minimal opposition at so-called ‘consultations’. And if there are going to be pickets or protests, there will be minimal attendance.

2. Tell them you’re going to impose the fees on incoming freshmen only, so present students won’t care. Incoming freshmen on the other hand, can’t oppose anyway.

3. Abruptly reschedule the board meeting two hours earlier so students who are planning to picket will picket for nothing when they get to the venue at the supposed meeting time.

The former University Student Council, with the help of organizations and local student councils, fought and rallied at BOR meets for the late registration fee to be scrapped. Their efforts have paid off. For three consecutive semesters, it did not see its way through our Form 5′s.

But, it may soon be on our Form 5′s again. The Board of Regents will again convene on May 25, and decide on the implementation of the late registration fee. In this light, the College of Mass Communication Student Council (CMC-SC) joins the USC, local SCs and student orgs in their call for the permanent removal of the late registration fee.

CMC-SC believes that a 50-peso punishment is not the answer to stop late enrollees. We do see the importance of inculcating punctuality in students, but we believe this can be done in ways other than collecting a late reg fee.

Also, tardiness is not the only reason for late registration. Many iskolars ng bayan still have to generate funds to pay for their tuition fees. Others need to wait to get in required classes. Nobody wants to undergo these kinds of circumstances. So, we see no need to burden them with a fee that could only intensify their problems.

The student council believes that transparency and accountability are essential(s) in any organization. And, the university is no exception. Until now, iskolars ng bayan have not heard a clear explanation on the purpose of the collected late reg fees. CMC-SC believes that a clear and concise explanation on where this fee goes should be properly formulated and disseminated before its implementation.

CMC-SC respects the move of UP administration to generate its own fund because of the meager subsidy it receives from the government. But to diminish the accessibility and affordability of UP education in pursuit of additional funding is unacceptable. And, CMC-SC sees this unexplained fee an inconvenience for many iskolars ng bayan.

CMC- SC calls on iskolars ng bayan to move now and stop the late reg fee from becoming a burden to us again.

I was able to ask my mom to permit me not to go to Bulacan anymore for the next few days before the first semester begins.

I went to UP yesterday to bring some old clothes and contribute to the FOPC (Freshmen Orientation Program Committee) effort of my two orgs, UP CAST and UP MCO.

I spent hours with my orgmates in front of Vinzons waiting for our turns to be able to submit our rummages for FOPC points. I missed that. Just bumming around with my college friends.

FOPC for me was actually more lively and competitive last year. Particularly in UP CAST when we were really determined to earn higher points than UP Cineastes’ so we could bid for the lone film freshmen block. Our efforts actually paid off because we finished off with almost 2,000 points ahead. But then, for some reason, another Mass Comm org bid for the freshmen block before we had the chance to. Ah, nakalimutan na rin naman ‘yon, so let’s not revive the angst.

This year doesn’t feel as competitive. Well, I actually can’t be too sure since I haven’t been around to help much in my orgs. For one thing, I wish we finally get to facilitate the blocks we intend to bid for.

While we were lazing around in front of Vinzons, a group of kids from KNN approached us and got us for some interviews. Their segment revolved around the question, “Dapat bang ipagbawal ang bubble gum (tulad ng sa Singapore)?” I forget what I said, I’m not so sure if that will deserve some air time.

Anyway, after hours of waiting, UP CAST was finally called in to weigh in our rummages by almost 3 PM. Shortly after, UP MCO was called in.

My MCO friends and I went to Gateway to watch The Da Vinci Code afterwards. Days after opening, and the lines at the box office were still very long. Imagine the frustration when we got at the counter and we were asked for ID’s, which we didn’t have at that time. We couldn’t watch The Da Vinci Code because we couldn’t prove we were 18! I actually wasn’t as frustrated as the rest of my friends, but still, that was pretty annoying.

I proposed that we walk to to Alimall, where the cinemas were also showing the movie. Fortunately for us, there were no lines, and the box office sold us tickets without asking for ID’s. They even didn’t mind checking our bags and they didn’t even bother that I had a camera dangling with me. How’s that for being lenient. That was, by the way, everyone’s first time at Alimall’s cinema.

After the movie, we trooped to a pizza restaurant for dinner.