The Sentinel: Born of an arduous struggle

From the archives: a report written on the year of The Sentinel's inception

October 1986

Freedom of expression is a basic right of every citizen in a democratic country. Thus, it is a basic right of the students in a democratic academe like the Lyceum of the Philippines.

Several attempts have been made by the Lyceum students, through their chosen representatives, to have a medium of expression that will reflect their true sentiments, views, and opinions — a medium free from any prior restraint and outside interference: an independent student paper. Although these attempts proved to be in vain, the burning spirit lived on. The students did not lose hope for they believed that their dream would someday become a reality.

This vision was once again brought to the attention of the administration during the term of Lyceum Central Student Council (LYCESCO) president Ferdinand Gaite.

All photos are from the past issues of The Sentinel

In an unscheduled dialog with the administration on Feb. 26, 1985, Gaite along with CFS Council president Ferdinand Medenilla, CAS Council president Dina Navarro, CBA Council representative Margarita Esteva, The Lyceum editor-in-chief Rudy Brul and news editor Joe Guaniezo, brought up to school president Sotero H. Laurel the topic of liberating The Lyceum from its tri-sectoral nature into a purely student publication.

But Laurel stood pat on maintaining the said set up of The Lyceum because it is already an institution and has already gained a sentimental value to the school.

The student leaders then forwarded the idea of having another paper that would serve the interest and welfare of the students to which Laurel agreed. But he dismissed the proposal of total rechanelling of publication funds and maintained a 50-50 sharing for The Lyceum and the independent student paper.

Gaite and company hesitated but they considered it as a good start.

Gaite, in his capacity as LYCESCO president, created the Task Force Independent Paper (TFIP) with Nilo Tamorla as chairman. This body then drafted the proposed charter of the paper (a 12-page draft consisting of 14 articles). Deliberation on the said charter then followed until the final approval of the body was reached.

The term of Gaite ended but the struggle went on. Coinciding with the 1985 Student Council elections, a plebiscite was held.

The question "Do you want an independent and official Student Publication?" (sic) was overwhelmingly approved by the students, with 6,721 voting "yes" and only 316 saying "no". Five hundred and seventy three students abstained.

Thus, the establishment of the paper took a big step ahead with the binding legal effect of the plebiscite.

Marivic Banico, the newly-elected LYCESCO president, then created an ad hoc committee to conduct the examinations for the pioneer staffers. The committee was chaired by Rudy Brul, then outgoing editor-in-chief of The Lyceum. Its members were chosen from The Lyceum, Lyceum Honorary Scholastic Society, Lyceum Journalism Society and from all campus political parties namely Sandigan, Pagkakaisa, Pamana, Batas.

The ad hoc committee then conducted the examination in September and released the results two weeks later. The pioneer staffers underwent a rigid workshop from Nov. 4-6 in Muntinlupa and joyously returned to school for the second semester to face the hard tasks ahead.

But the administration had something else in mind.

It drafted its own version of the charter for the paper. The LYCESCO and the TFIP denounced such an act for it violated the very essence of the paper — independence.

In protest, the LYCESCO and the TFIP declared Nov. 24-29 as "Independent Student Struggle Week". During this period, student leaders from various organizations such as the League of Filipino Students (LFS) Lyceum Chapter, the Union of Lyceum Students (ULS), an alliance of fraternities and varsitarians, and the Samahan ng Makabayang Kababaihan (SAMAKA), among others, conducted room-to-room campaigns informing the students of the sad plight of their approved paper.

At this point, no agreement was reached in the dialog between the LYCESCO and the administration.

As a result, at 1:30 p.m. of Nov. 29, the LYCESCO called for a class walk-out. Militant student organizations responded at once and afternoon and evening classes were totally paralyzed. The walk-out was a success.

On Dec. 3 at about 4:30 p.m., another dialog between the LYCESCO-TFIP and the administration was held. As usual, the main item on the agenda was the independent paper. Again, it yielded no favorable result on the part of the studentry.

On the following day, at exactly 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon, another campus-wide walk-out was held. It signalled the start of the indefinite boycott and barricade of the school by the Lyceum studentry.

Almost all campus organizations—recognized and not recognized—supported the militant cause. Even the ordinary student did not hesitate to join because his right— freedom of expression—is at stake. The classrooms and the corridors, normally filled with noisy students, were empty and quiet.

Everyone joined the program held at the CAS lobby and later at the entrance gate. They all listened intently to the student leaders' enlightening speeches on how the administration filed to give in to their demand of having a true independent paper, among others.

A total of 36 student leaders and heads of various campus organizations passed a "United Statement of Demands" with the paper as the main issue.

Other demands included the appointment of a full-time Dean to the College of Arts and Sciences, the improvement of school facilities, and the abolition of conferential classes.

As early as 6:30 in the morning of Dec. 5, vigilant members of the LFS, the ULS, SAMAKA, the Movement for the Enlightenment and Advancement of Nationalist Students (MEANS) and other campus organizations were already barricading the gates of the university, carrying placards and displaying streamers to get the attention and cooperation of the entire studentry.

Students on the other hand displayed once more their support by not forcing their way in. They trooped near the entrance gate to take part, in one way or another, in bringing the realization of the dream.

Even media men —from print and broadcast media — came to cover the historical event, thus, bringing the barricade to the attention of a considerable number of the Filipino citizenry.

Classes were disrupted the whole day.

The barricade entered its second day on Friday, Dec. 6. Classes in all sessions were once again paralyzed. At about 4:.. in the afternoon, the administration informed LYCESCO of their desire to have a dialog. The student leaders consented and negotiations were held at the Faculty library.

The dialog proved to be tragic for one of the proponents of the paper, Brul, not enrolled during that semester. As chairman of the ad hoc committee was supposed to be the one of the panelist for the students. But the administration found out that he was not enrolled and as a result, he was sent out of the room and was not even allowed to sit in as an observer. Afterwards, he was even banned from entering the Lyceum premises.

An agreement was reached between the two parties. "The barricade will be totally lifted on the following points (1) No administrative sanctions shall be made on student leaders and organizers; (2) Continuous dialog shall be made starting Tuesday, Dec. 10, on all demands raised (sic); (3) Substantial and reasonable gains for the students' demands will be met in the course of the dialog."

After the dialog, the student leaders conferred with one another about the condition of the barricade. They then reached an agreement to continue with the barricade on Monday.

But on the following day, no less than 30 student leaders who joined and supported the barricade received a telegram from Dean Eddie P. Alanis of Student Affairs informing their parents of their child's involvement in the barricade. The telegram reads "informing that son/daughter involved in Lyceum barricade. Classes disrupted. Concerned about his/her safety and studies. Please see undersigned."

Such an act once more ignited the flame in the hearts of these students leaders for they considered it as a form of sanction. As a result, they fortified their stand to continue the barricade on Monday, Dec. 9.

Students once again barricaded the gates of the university starting from early Monday morning. This went on even as the student-admi dialog was being hel on Tuesday afternoon, as stated in the earlier agreement.

The student panelists are now well equipped for their table battle with the administration. Arguments were presented by both parties until the administration finally gave the students their demands, the independent student paper — minus the Transitory Provisions in its proposed charter. This meant the nullification of the results of the editorial examination held in September.

The barricade was finally lifted.

Shouts of joy and jubilations floated in the air as students rejoiced for their victory in a hard-fought battle utilizing the highest form of mass action on the part of the studentry: the barricade.

It was just the beginning for the other demands of the students will have to be met in the following dialogs.

The official examinations for the pioneer staffers of the paper were held on April 7-8, 1986 in room 301. The board of judges which administered the exams was composed of Prof. Rey la Vida, chairman; Prof. Gil Fernando Cruz, Joselito Obejas, and Ferdinand Gaite, members.

The results were released two weeks later and were given by Banico to the Lyceum administration.

The staffers the worked to have their own office and equipments, which the administration gave piece by piece. They then met to decide for the paper's name.

The Lyceum Independent Sentinel won by majority vote.

Thus, the Lyceum Independent Sentinel was born... brought forth by an arduous struggle of the Lyceum studentry. A hard-fought struggle that will always be alive in the hearts and minds of every Lycean... A struggle that will always remain a part of the students of the Lyceum of the Philippines.

©The Pink Merman