CHEERING, JEERING. A screencap shows the statement of the University of the Philippines-Visayas posted on its official Facebook account, defending the controversial anti-government cheers during the school's annual sportsfest, "Pahampang". However, netizens were quick in prodding the cheerleaders to be fair in their discussions on social and political issues in the country. (Screencap from UP-Visayas Facebook page)
CEBU CITY – Netizens on Monday prodded the University of the Philippines (UP)-Visayas cheer dance group to be fair in discussing social and political issues in the country.
This, after the UP-Visayas administration posted a statement defending the performance of Skimmers during the university's annual cheering competition last week where the cheerleaders' routine included criticisms of a number of government policies and even a joke about killing the President.
On UP-Visayas' Facebook page, the school leaders said the “annual cheering competition in UP Visayas is one eagerly awaited event. This unique tradition has cheers and yells that contain satirical commentaries and forays on the current national and local issues, university policies and sometimes reproach to fellow academic groups, all in the spirit of fun, understanding, and camaraderie as it opens the sportsfest.”
It added that the university encourages students “to think critically and allow them to exercise their freedom of expression”.
“We also assure them of protection while they are inside the campuses. We remind them to exercise prudence in their actions, thus, we denounce all forms of threats and harassment hurled against them,” it added.
The post came after the group’s performance went viral over the weekend. The cheer was shown during the school’s annual sports fest dubbed as “Pahampang”.
However, netizen John Ang reminded the school in his Facebook comment on Dr. Jose Rizal’s writing that the “youth are the hope of the country”.
“Madali lang tayo magsabi or magbigay ng opinion, sana bigyan pansin din ang ginagawa ng ating Gobyerno upang mabigyan ng solusyon ang mga suliranin sa lipunan at ito ay magagawa kung sama-sama tayong mga Pilipino. Pasalamat tayo hindi katulad ng North Korea ang uri ng pang-gobyerno (It’s easy to say or give an opinion, I hope you also give credit to what the government has done to give solutions to the problems of the society and it can only be done if all of the Filipinos are one in doing it. Thankful we are that, we are not like the kind of government in North Korea),” Ang said.
Ang defended the administration’s action of befriending neighboring countries, saying that the Philippines needs allies among economically rich countries and stressing the need to think about the interest of the country.
“'UP fight' has always been the battle cry, but it's also, and as always, the easy and lazy way out. Bear in mind that in your everyday struggle to bring this government down, there is a capitalist working at that backstage of yours,” another netizen, Rommel P. Cruz said.
Manuel Caingcoy reminded the school administration on its responsibility over “every action of your students.” “What your students did is not and is too much of what you call freedom of expression,” he added.
“The government spends money to educate students in UP Visayas to help and prepare them to become brilliant leaders for the next generation. It is pitiful to see them instead cutting classes, staging riots and demonstrations which create chaos and obstructions on the street,” Ellen Uberas said in her comment.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo on Monday said it was “very natural” for pro-Duterte netizens to hit back at members of the UP-Visayas cheerleading group.
However, he said there would be no intervention from Malacañang on the call to lay off students and faculty members involved in the controversial cheer. (PNA)
