Report by Elisha Beatrice Umali
The Philippine Collegian, also known as Kulê, is the official student publication of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD). It is the lone publication officially funded by the state university.
However, Kulê staffers still shell out-of-pocket expenses due to not receiving their allowance and honorariums for more than a year despite continued operations.
As per Editor-in-chief AJ Dela Cruz, the publication was able to secure P3.9 million for its current funding, which is an estimated 600k budget increase from last year’s P3.3 million.
Dela Cruz aims to shift from tabloid to magazine-style print releases and revive Kulê’s literary section. With 74 members — the second-largest number of staff next to Tinig ng Plaridel — Dela Cruz envisions a more productive newsroom and less burnout for all members.
The newsroom also pushes for a ban on alternative intelligence (AI) use in its releases. “We recognized na lumalala ‘yung paggamit ng AI, and beyond that ‘yung politics niya with issues like Pax Silica, [and] issues of environmental destruction associated with AI,” Dela Cruz said.
During the past year, the publication has covered significant hyperlocal and national issues such as the developments on the UP SDG Park, the Toboso 19 massacre and multisectoral issues in and out of Metro Manila. These major coverages made staffers vulnerable to physical violence and online trolling of Kulê’s social media pages.
“Pinaka-significant siguro last year [na] may four or five, I think five na na-teargas noong September 21 protest sa Mendiola. Ayun siguro ‘yung pinaka-physical violation na naranasan namin since very indiscriminate yung pagtapon ng pulis [ng teargas] and we were in the middle of it,” shared Dela Cruz.
Their Facebook page was hacked this year due to a member-admin’s Facebook account getting infiltrated by an anonymous hacker. Dela Cruz said they cannot yet rule out whether the hacking was politically motivated.
Kulê’s main website also remains inaccessible, prompting the shift to their Substack website.
Their newsroom also faces possible displacement due to their office’s structural integrity. As of press time, Kulê has yet to know where they will be relocated.