As the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) approached, the Blue Knights for Human Rights (BKHR) coalition staged the First Day Rage, calling for an accessible, nationalistic education system while denouncing state corruption, attacks on press freedom, and foreign economic initiatives.
Under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the Philippine government allocated 4 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the education sector, notably achieving the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) benchmark of sourcing the education budget from 4 to 4.4 percent of the state’s GDP.
However, BKHR Convener Joshua Angelo Ybañez expressed that the current status of the education system in the country remains “grim,” emphasizing that the increased funding for education is merely a political stunt to appease the anger of the public after the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget was overhauled.
“If you examine it (budget allocation), ito lamang ay isang direktang resulta ng pag-ooverhaul sa dating DPWH na budget, ang pangunahing ahensya na ginagamit sa korapsyon ng flood control,” he said.
He further stated that ongoing budget cuts to public universities and the rising costs of basic commodities and transportation could easily offset increased funding, compelling impoverished students to sacrifice their education in exchange for a livelihood.
“Despite the allocation, ang pambansang unibersidad ay currently nag-e-experience ng budget cuts at ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga basic commodities, goods at transportasyon ang humahadlang sa mga kabataan na napipilitang magtrabaho o even huminto.”
Furthermore, Gabriela Youth – Jacinto Chairperson Fatimah Guiani underscored that neoliberal educational policies create additional barriers for students from ordinary socioeconomic backgrounds, widening the gap between private and public academic institutions in terms of quality education.
“Patuloy nga nagapataas ang mga pampublikong serbisyo nga dapat man unta na libre sa masang Pilipino. Ngano ang edukasyon… dili mani libre nga kato man ang panawagan sa mga kabatan-onang Pilipino?”
Gabriela Youth – Jacinto Chairperson Guiani also denounced the persisting colonial influences on national education paradigms, as it tends to prioritize international labor demands over cultural and identity formation.
“Bakit hanggang ngayon natatali tayo sa mga polisiya na patuloy na pinagsasamantalahan at binibuild-up ang kabataang Pilipino na maging cheap at docile labor sa mga langyaw na nasod?”
In defense of campus press, academic freedom
As discussions regarding the Marcos-Duterte administration and educational policies spark widespread contention, Atenews Editor-in-Chief Chelsea Jamias highlighted several incidents of red-tagging, defunding, and censorship that have embattled student journalists across the country.
“Bakit ganito ang trato sa mga estudyanteng mamamahayag? Bakit nga ba ayaw nila sa kabataang kritikal? Bakit tila mas madaling patahimikin ang mga nag-uulat kaysa tugunan ang mga problemang kanilang inilalantad?”
She reaffirmed journalism’s integral role in fostering democratic platforms and emphasized that journalists should not be vilified for exercising their press freedom and reporting critically on politics.
“An independent press is integral to a genuine democracy. Hindi kalaban ang mga journalist dahil tungkulin namin ang maging kritikal: magtanong kapag walang sumasagot, magsiwalat kapag may itinatago at magsalita para sa mga pinapatahimik.”
Ybañez condemned the persistent attacks and repression directed toward youth activists and critics seeking accountability and reforms amid widespread and systemic corruption.
“Hindi krimen ang manawagan laban sa malawakang korapsyon at kahirapan, sapagkat lahat ng sektoral na isyu sa lipunan ay may kaakibat na presyo. The price of it is the corruption at ang mga kickbacks.”
Reject Pax Silica, protect PH sovereignty
With the government’s growing interest in the United States’ proposal of building the Pax Silica AI Hub in New Clark City, concerns have been raised over the possible displacement of Indigenous Peoples and farming communities, environmental degradation, and resource extraction.
Sharing similar concerns, Ateneo 4 Palestine – Davao (A4P) National Convener Allena Sofia de Castro condemned the proposed initiative, urging the government to reject what she described as an imperialist pursuit that undermines the country’s sovereignty.
“We must outright reject and deny these imperialistic pursuits that further impoverish our country and all oppressed nations, for that matter,” she asserted.
Castro then called on the youth to take a more active role in advocacy, maintaining that concrete, collective action and social awareness remain necessary to amplify public concerns.
“These mobilizations are our last resort in being heard by the government… It is not enough to boycott. It is not enough that certain posts are shared on social media. It is in our agitation that we become radicalized to what truly is the propaganda of imperialism.”
Various representatives from youth organizations gathered for BKHR’s First Day Rage on July 27 at the Sunken Garden, Ateneo de Davao University.