President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in April that his administration is “always on top of ensuring a safe environment for media practitioners in the country.”

But in his third State of the Nation Address on Monday, he has yet again failed to mention the true state of press freedom in the Philippines under his watch — grim, restrained and blood-stained.

The campus press, which plays a critical role in bringing campus issues to light and exposing the realities otherwise kept hidden by the state to the studentry, has its fair share of struggles under a regime that is hell-bent on silencing those who dare to speak the truth.

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) recorded 206 cases of campus press freedom violations from 2023 to 2024. Attacks on the campus press range from censorship, withholding of funds and administrative intervention to harassment, state surveillance and red-tagging.

“This sets a dangerous precedent where student journalists were not spared of attacks from figures who were supposed to secure their welfare and freedom,” CEGP said.

Inside the country’s premier state university, student publications are also not spared from the nationwide attack on the critical press.

As we celebrate National Campus Press Freedom Day, the Union of Journalists of the Philippines – UP (UJP-UP) dives deep into the current state of student publications in UP Diliman, their struggles and aspirations for a free and liberating campus press.

Philippine Collegian

Founded in 1922, the Philippine Collegian, UP Diliman’s official student publication, has since been in service to the university and its community. Locally known as Kulê, it has a long history of militancy through its publication of progressive pieces and maintaining a radical perspective in writing.

While arguably the most well-funded publication inside UP Diliman, Kulê’s sustainability is at an alarming state. Rona Pizarro, Kule’s editor-in-chief, told The Union that the publication relies solely on funds from years ago before 2017 when the Free Tuition Law was enacted.

“Mayroong student pub fee na kinokolekta supposedly which is ₱72 pero hindi na siya kinocollect simula noong inimplementa ang free tuition,” Pizarro said. “Simula 2017 ay naging concern itong sustainability ng funding ng both [University Student Council] and Collegian.”

Pizarro said that student publication fees, which are included in the students’ tuition fees, are not reimbursed to universities by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), leaving most publications like Kulê without funding.

Kule’s fund is currently at ₱880,000 and it costs around ₱76,000 to fund an issue of Kule’s tabloid, she said.

Pizarro hopes that student publications get enough funding to continue their operations. She also challenged CHED to reimburse the student publication fees to universities as part of the students’ tuition fees.

Tinig ng Plaridel

Tinig ng Plaridel (TNP) is the official student publication of the College of Mass Communication (CMC). Established in 1978 during the regime of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the publication has consistently provided critical reportage on issues within the college, university and the country.

Despite its long history of service to the college, TNP has been struggling to achieve official recognition status on paper. Kyle Cristy, TNP’s 45th editor-in-chief, said that while student organizations have clear accreditation processes at both the college and university levels, student publications do not.

TNP has not been receiving financial support from the college administration and instead relies on alumni donations. But the donations can only cover website maintenance and major coverage expenses. Staffers have to pay for mobile data, transportation and food during coverages out of their own pockets.

After years of charting a legitimate process, TNP initiated a college-wide referendum during the second semester of the academic year 2023-2024 as a way to achieve official recognition.

A majority of CMC students approved TNP’s Constitution, the proposed publication fee and its status as the college’s official student publication. It is currently working with the college administration to finalize the recognition document.

Cristy hopes that all UP Diliman publications will be officially recognized and calls for a clear process for this recognition. He said, “It’s time now to draft or put a system in place kung paano ba magpa-recognize ng publications. Mahirap na nangangapa lang kami kung paano.”

SINAG

SINAG is the official student publication of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP).

Since the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., SINAG has upheld its legacy as a member of the underground press, continuing its tradition of critical and pro-masses reporting up to the present day, now under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.

In its most recent report to the UP Solidaridad Bi-Annual Congress held in February, SINAG said it only has 10 active members, five of which are members of the editorial board.

In the same report, SINAG editor-in-chief Johannes Nathan Hong said the publication’s funds are accessible for reimbursement but new funds have yet to be turned over to the publication. They are entitled a P30 college publication fee per student every semester.

Apart from funding issues, Hong said their staffers also reported cases of intimidation from police officers during protests.

The Union reached out to SINAG and Hong for more updated information about the publication. Hong has acknowledged UJP-UP’s message but has yet to provide answers to The Union’s questions.

NCPAG-Umalohokan

NCPAG-Umalohokan serves as the official student-journal publication of the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG). It is known for using the lens of public administration to analyze and discuss pressing public issues. The publication was recently revived in the academic year 2023-2024.

In prior years, Umalohokan published a variety of content including news, features and cultural pieces. The publication provided coverage on significant topics such as the 2019 Philippine midterm elections, press freedom, LGBTQIA+ rights, sports, culture and human rights.

The publication, however, has yet to be officially recognized either as a publication or an organization. This means that funding is voluntarily sourced from members’ own pockets.

Former NCPAG Dean Dan Saguil provided Umalohokan with one Acer 11-inch laptop back in 2022. The publication currently has seven head section editors and nine active members. And while it has a “priority slot” in NCPAG’s library, it does not have a designated office.

Umalohokan’s editor-in-chief Kim Axalan wishes for the publication to have enough funding, spaces and equipment for their operations so that they can become a “productive alternative media source” for the UP community and the country.

The UP Parser

The UP Parser is the official student publication of the Department of Computer Science. It is the “first and foremost department-based publication” in the College of Engineering (COE).

Since its first release in 1999, UP Parser has gone through several periods of dormancy and revival.

UP Parser told UJP-UP that it is currently active, having just undergone a revival in the academic year 2023-2024. UP Parser’s latest public activity is a Facebook post for its “Game Night” published on May 12.

The student publication is not recognized by the College of Engineering but it is recognized by the Department of Computer Science, the publication’s previous editor-in-chief (EIC) Shannen Tan and incoming EIC Elijah Mejilla, alongside Migo Pagdanganan, COE representative to the University Student Council, told the Union.

Aside from “tokens” provided by the department which it uses to rent out spaces as it has no dedicated office, UP Parser said it has no other sources of funding.

Like most UPD-based student publications, the publication also suffers from lack of manpower. “We have one person editing for news, and one person editing for features,” UP Parser told UJP-UP. “Note that we are currently looking to train more people as editors.”

Kolektibo

Kolektibo serves as the official student publication of the College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD). Based on its members’ initial archiving, the publication was established in 1981, though the earliest issue they have retrieved dates back to 1996.

Their most recent issue, Volume 10, Issue 1, was published on April 30 and can be found on their Facebook page. This issue marked a significant milestone, as it was the first publication after an almost eight-year hiatus.

In this issue, Kolektibo explored a variety of critical topics, including the commercialization in UP, challenges of reviving the student publication, violence against women and women empowerment. They also addressed pressing social issues such as the plight of relocatees due to demolitions, violence against journalists and labor rights.

But the organization is “partially inactive” again as internal issues have yet to be settled, according to current editor-in-chief LA Cleofe. There is hope to reactivate it soon, he added.

A4 Newsletter

A4 Newsletter is the official student publication of the UP Diliman Architecture Student Council. It is “responsible [for] giving voice to the students of Arki,” its bio on X says.

Its last post on X on February 9, 2017 is a photoset about the 5th President’s Toast of then-UP President Alfredo E. Pascual.

UJP-UP reached out to the College of Architecture Student Council, but received no information about the publication. We also contacted a former editor-in-chief but have yet to receive a reply as of writing.

Frontliner

Frontliner (FL) is the official student publication of the UP Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga and Olongapo (UP DEPPO). It is committed to “encouraging campus journalism and uncovering the truth about ethical principles among society.”

Established around 1989 to 1990, the publication is at the forefront of issues within its campus. It also cover pressing matters in UP and the nation. Frontliner, however, has suffered periods of dormancy throughout its existence.

During its active years, it is recognized and funded by the university administration. However, it is required to renew the said recognition annually. Frontliner is also without a permanent office, while its staffers use their personal equipment to fulfill their journalistic duties.

In 2023, Frontliner’s operations were halted as no members took its editorial exam and membership decreased. “Sana mas maging kilala ang FL bilang official publication ng DEPPO at makapagpalabas pa ng maraming impormasyon tungkol sa sakpo niya sa Pampanga at Central Luzon,” Shanna Torres Diaz of the UP Clark-Subic Student Council told UJP-UP.

Impulse

Impulse: is the official student publication of the UP College of Engineering, aiming to be engineering students’ “primary source of information.” The publication, formerly known as “Logscript,” is recognized as the college’s official student publication under the Engineering Student Council (ESC) Constitution. It was last active in 2023 with their last coverage being the ESC elections that year.

Publication fees, collected through the engineering students’ tuition fees, sustained Impulse. But since the pandemic in 2020, members self-funded their operations. Former editor-in-chief Migo Pagdanganan said that while the administration had “no direct support,” dialogues were initiated to secure financial support on the condition of an approved budget plan. “That budget plan hasn’t been passed yet, so no support was given yet,” said Pagdanganan.

Impulse had no physical office nor equipment provided by their college. They resorted to a Discord server for meetings and relied on their own personal devices to keep the publication going.

It only had 11 staffers before officially going inactive in August 2023. Pagdangan identified “lack of training the next leaders of the publication” as a factor that drove the publication to inactivity.

The ESC initiated plans to revive Impulse, the former editor said. He hopes that “Impulse and other college publications would be revitalized with committed leaders, clear campaigns and ample support from their respective councils and administrations.”

Pagdanganan believes that student publications are a “need” to not only make students informed, but to also make them “more politically involved in their own struggles,” given the current political situation in the University and in the country.

Kalasag

Kalasag is the official student publication of the College of Arts and Letters (CAL). For 41 years, it has tackled important issues at the college, university and national levels. It stands by the mantra: “Sa panahon ng ligalig, ang KALasag ang inyong magiging panangga at katuwang sa paglaban para sa isang mas makatarungan at pantay na lipunan.”

But Kalasag went inactive during the second semester of the academic year 2023-2024, following the resignation of its former officer-in-charge. It managed to cover the college’s student council elections in May with its available manpower. Andrieu Guilas, the publication’s former officer-in-charge, told UJP-UP that there are no definite plans yet to reactivate the publication.

When it was still active, editors and staffers had to shoulder the publication’s expenses for coverages and logistics. Equipment used during coverages, such as cameras, were either personally owned or borrowed by staffers.

Though Kalasag is technically funded through CAL students’ tuition fees, Guilas said that the allocation of their budget is not transparent.

Guilas wishes for Kalasag and other UP Diliman publications to receive proper funding, recognition and concrete institutional support.

“Natatanaw naman na student-led ang publikasyon. Ibig sabihin dapat walang admin intervention or influence pagdating sa gawain ng Kalasag,” Guilas said. “Ganoon pa man, parang hindi ramdam ang suporta ng admin pagdating sa gampanin ng publikasyon.”

Salimbay

Salimbay is the Asian Institute of Tourism’s (AIT) official student newsletter. It is committed to bringing critical awareness and innovation to campus, industry and national issues. It has been inactive since the academic year 2016-2017.

The student newsletter covered issues in the UP Diliman community, AIT and the tourism industry. It had an opinion section as well as a segment called “Young Literati” which featured literary works from both their staffers and contributors.

Salimbay had a travel and lifestyle section covering Filipinos’ Christmas traditions and go-to tourist spots in the country. They also had multimedia outputs such as interview videos during the student council elections and photos showing life in AIT.

In a Messenger chat dated July 19, the AIT Student Council (AIT SC) told UJP-UP that Salimbay “is not operational” despite revival efforts from the AITSC mass media councilors from academic years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.

Scientia

Scientia is the official student publication of the College of Science (CS). Established in 1988, it has strived to critically tackle issues plaguing the CS community and the science and technology (ST) sector in the Philippines. It is currently inactive.

Funded through CS students’ tuition fees, Scientia has historically published print issues. It also has an online presence through its social media pages. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scientia released online articles that pinned the government’s mishandling of the health crisis to the “stunted” state of ST in the country.

Since 2022, though, there has been a challenge to sustain Scientia’s operations as its members started dwindling. In 2023, when face-to-face classes were reintroduced, the editorial board discovered that their office had been converted to a storage room.

Scientia has undergone two “periods of passivity” or eras that saw inconsistencies or absences of releases. The first one spanned from 1989 to 2000, while the second one lasted from 2013 to 2016. It may currently be experiencing the third period as it remains dormant.

“Last year, we were supposed to release a 35th [anniversary] issue for Scientia and make the pub active again, so I hope may magstep up ulit para mabuhay ‘yong pub…” Jazryl Galarosa, the most recent editor-in-chief of Scientia, told UJP-UP.

Sidhi

UPSE Sidhi is UP Diliman School of Economics’ (UPSE) official student publication, priding itself in its commitment to “truth, service and excellence.” It was last active in 2019.

The student publication reported on relevant matters within their college and the university, as well as economic issues in the Philippines. Its self-initiated polls among UPSE students during the 2016 presidential elections and the 2019 midterm elections was known for stirring online discourse.

UPSE Sidhi, however, was only recognized as an organization by their college. This meant that the publication did not receive financial support from UPSE. Staffers relied on income-generating projects, as well as sponsorships and partnerships to fund its operations.

Maria Patricia Nieve, Sidhi’s temporary editor-in-chief (EIC) in 2016, shared that they did not have an office or any equipment during her time with the publication. In a Messenger chat with UJP-UP, she said, “We just worked on our own devices and held meetings along UPSE hallways.”

There was an effort to revive Sidhi in 2021. But according to the UPSE Student Council (UPSE SC), the lack of student interest in “taking part in the [publication’s] revival efforts” is the main reason for Sidhi’s inactivity. “No one actually applied to be EIC, which is actually one of the first steps in the paper’s revival,” the UPSE SC said.

Nieve added that students’ work from other organizations and academic load can also be causes for this lack of interest. Still, she hopes for college administrators to be more supportive of their home publications.

“With help from admin such as being provided with the right spaces, like tambayans, or at least being acknowledged by the college as a vital organization, maybe more students would be motivated to join,” the former EIC said.

Sigla Magazine

Sigla Magazine is the College of Home Economics’ (CHE) official student publication. The magazine aims to contribute to “intellectual and critical discourse” that would better the lives of the CHE body and Filipino families. It also served as a means for students’ self-expression and creativity. It was last active in 2022.

Sigla Magazine covered the 2018 CHE Student Council (CHE SC) elections with interview videos called PAKILALA. It also offered a Valentine’s Day special through a confession form which was then posted the days leading up to Feb. 14 in a series called “Crush Confessions.”

A Facebook post dated April 1, 2022, shows that there were efforts to revive Sigla Magazine with the CHE SC creating a Sigla Revival Committee alongside Sigla Magazine’s then-editor-in-chief Kiwi Leyretana and CHE Dean Shirley Guevara.

To date, there have been no updates on the status of the recognition process for Sigla Magazine from the CHE administration. The Union reached out to CHE SC and to Leyretana but they have yet to respond to our request for an interview as of writing.

Spearhead

Spearhead is a student publication based in the College of Human Kinetics. It is currently inactive despite an attempt by the college student council to revive it in 2022.

Our research from 2018 also shows that it was inactive during that year.

As of writing, The Union found no digital traces of the publication.

Sulo

Sulo is the official student publication of the UP College of Education (Eduk). It was last active in 2023, with the publication’s last public activity being a Facebook post about the college’s organization fair dated Dec. 18, 2023.

The student publication tackled relevant matters both in its own home college and the university. One of their staple coverages was “Uswag” where it reported on University Student Council and College of Education Student Council (UP CESC) elections. In 2023, the publication attempted to mount a broadcasting leg named “Radyo Eduk.”

During its active years, Sulo was not officially recognized by the College of Education. Although there were plans to fund the publication under former Eduk Dean Maria Therese Bustos, it never materialized.

The succeeding administrations were also unable to provide financial support. They then usually relied on income-generating projects like “Pagbansay,” a journalism skills training program.

UJP-UP reached out to Sulo to get more details about the publication, but it has yet to respond to our interview request. Details provided were from previous conversations with its editors.

UP Guilder Institute

UP Guilder Institute (UPGI) is a student publication based in the College of Business Administration (CBA). It prides itself as the “premier business publication of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.” It regularly published online articles and updates, and printed issues at least once every semester.

During its active years, UPGI consistently covered student council elections and spotlighted activities of CBA-based organizations. The publication also went beyond its college’s walls as it reported developments in the business sector and the economy.

Back then, UPGI was technically recognized as a CBA-based and university-wide organization, not as a student publication. This means it was not entitled to a budget, pushing staffers to solicit fees from students. In 2019, the publication’s supposed 16th year, its operations were halted because no one took over the editor roles.

In a Messenger chat dated July 19, the Business Administration Council told UJP-UP that there is ​​”no more UP [Guilder] Institute in our college.” There was an attempt to revive it in 2021.

“Wishlist for my pub is to have it revived and cultivated into an independent news publication within BA. The voice of the students shedding light on issues is of paramount importance, and it is also important to amplify the voices of the people through our campus publications,” Sean Paul Laguna, UPGI’s editor-in-chief in the academic year 2018-2019, told the Union.