Letrán Freedom Wall
#LetránFW33778
To the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Rector’s Office, and all higher offices involved in the decisions that shape our academic lives:
This message is not for the Student Council or any other student organization who, just like us, are also victims of the system they are constantly blamed for. This is not about organizational representation or politics within the Colegio. This is about the students, the lifeblood of Letran, who continue to face the consequences of decisions made without ever being genuinely heard.
Why is it that when students raise their voices to take a stand for issues that truly matter, such as corruption, injustice, and national integrity, restrictions are immediately imposed? Yet when events that risk the health and well-being of the student body are proposed, such as assemblies and gatherings even during the influenza outbreak, they are approved without hesitation. Where is the consistency? Where is the compassion? Why are the events that matter for awareness and advocacy restrained, but those that serve formality or image are continuously pushed through?
We have also seen activities held online that fail to account for the realities of the student population. Many students do not have stable internet connections or proper devices, and yet participation is required as if everyone has the same privilege. We talk about inclusivity and accessibility, but the reality shows otherwise. Some students are left behind, unheard, and unseen because the institution has forgotten that not everyone has the same capacity and that education must adapt to its learners, not the other way around.
We also face professors who fail to embody empathy and understanding. Professors who forget that they are teaching humans, not machines. Those who maintain unrealistic standards, who give excessive workloads, and who disregard students’ mental health and personal circumstances. It is disheartening to see educators who treat compassion as weakness and disregard as discipline. We are told to respect them because “that’s how college works,” but college should never be synonymous with cruelty. Education should not be reduced to mere compliance.
Then there is the question of tuition and fees that continue to rise yearly under the banner of “quality education.” But where is that quality reflected? In the outdated facilities that can’t even provide proper ventilation or signal on certain floors? In the broken seats, unreliable WiFi, or classrooms that have not been renovated for decades? For the amount students pay, we deserve more than the bare minimum. We deserve an environment that grows with us, not one that hides behind tradition and neglect.
According to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) under the Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education (MORPHE, Article I, Section 4), it clearly states:
“In all matters affecting the welfare of the student… all doubts in the implementation and interpretation of the provisions of this Manual shall be resolved in favor of the student.”
This is not a suggestion. It is a mandate. It means that when the well-being, health, and welfare of students are at stake, decisions must always favor the students. It means that when students speak, the institution must listen, not because we demand privilege, but because we are stakeholders in this system.
We understand that we are students bound by the rules and the handbook. We follow them because we respect the Colegio. But respect is not one-sided. The administration must also respect the rights and voices of its students, the very people who give purpose to this institution. Without us, these halls are empty. Without our enrollment, there are no programs, no payrolls, and no “academic excellence” to uphold.
So this message is written not out of anger, but out of deep frustration, disappointment, and hope. Hope that this time, our voices will not be dismissed as noise. Hope that the administration will finally realize that student welfare is not an afterthought, but the foundation of education itself. Hope that the VPAA, the Rector’s Office, and the higher administration will understand that leadership is not about silencing dissent, but about listening with humility.
We do not need statements of support. We need action, empathy, and accountability. We need a system that listens and adjusts. A Letran that truly cares for the well-being of its students, not just in words but in practice.
Because at the end of the day, this Colegio would not exist without us, the students.
And we are not asking for too much. We are only asking to be seen, heard, and valued.
Submitted: October 18, 2025 8:00:09 PM PST