Two days after the First Day Fight (FDF) protests on September 9, the PUP Advertising and Public Relations Organization of Students (ADPROS) released a statement regarding the “unconsented use of its name” following a previously published photo of The Communicator, garnering various reactions on social media.
Captured in the photo is a student holding a placard bearing the call “No to Jeepney Phaseout!” and the name “ADPROS.” The organization cited in its statement that it was not involved and affiliated with the FDF, emphasizing that “any use of its name must be discussed and authorized to ensure alignment with its values, objectives, and the student body it represents.”
However, the statement drew flak as students questioned whether the statement was an attempt to disassociate ADPROS from political partaking or an alleged case of student repression guised with bureaucracy. Some also unearthed a screengrab of a video of the placard used by the organization in their previous Tanglaw Fest booth.
But ADPROS outgoing president Gab Suniga assured that the statement is merely about consent, not the mentioned issues. Suniga also revealed to The Communicator on September 11 that the person holding the placard, according to their investigation, was neither from ADPROS nor the College of Communication (COC).
Suniga also confirmed that the placard was indeed produced by ADPROS for their Tanglaw Fest booth. However, the organization remains clueless as to how it was acquired.
With this, Suniga deemed that this indicates misrepresentation in a way that a non-member carried the organization’s name, which does not constitute the community’s genuine and actual attendance in the FDF.
On setting precedents
“In ADPROS, nakikita namin na super halaga ng pag-seek ng consent at ng consent building as well… Dapat i-practice ‘yon ng kahit sinong organization because ito ay isang basic practice ng democracy—consent building is a democratic process,” Suniga said.
Arbitrarily using any organization’s name is dangerous, according to Suniga, as it can set precedents that can normalize any misuse and misrepresentation of any organization’s name in the future, hence the release of their statement last September 11.
“Titingnan muna namin para saan gagamitin ‘yong placards [...] idadaan muna namin sa Board kung dapat ba namin siya ipahiram. So, parang dinadaan pa rin namin siya sa democratic process [...] Kung nagawa sana ‘yon, I think, walang ganito kalaking issue,” they added.
Suniga also addressed concerns about possible student pacification or repression. They assured that the organization has no cases and its constituents are free to express their advocacies. But if such repression occurs, Suniga assured that ADPROS will be one to condemn such incidents.
Meanwhile, incoming ADPROS executive president Symon Bautista believes that through consent, organizations are more compact—side by side—in advocating for issues.
On social media, the organization’s former executive president Christian Bohol also bared that the arbitrary use of organization names can impede internal decision-making processes, especially for an academic organization, which seeks the consensus of its board and class representatives to “solidify a one BAPR community campaign.”
This consensus-building approach was adopted by the 2022 ADPROS Executive Board to aid in the organization’s internal limitations in participating in political movements. Suniga confirmed this ensures participation is rooted in and backed up by the BAPR community in case the admin questions its motive.
Suniga clarified that this approach is not a general policy mandated to academic organizations, as every department has a distinct culture and orientation that varies its democratic processes and forms of resistance.
“The discussion about the statement was very misdirected and the culture should not continue. To reiterate, ADPROS has no qualms in re-echoing the calls of various marginalized sectors of the country,” Suniga emphasized.
Out of the box
Suniga lamented how the narratives circulating in social media cast doubts on the sincerity of ADPROS’ advocacies, especially with the campaign against the jeepney phaseout.
“We’ve come a long way para lumaban. It was years of fight not only for the organization but for the whole department as well para makapagboses sa mga societal issues. Then, parang ang nangyayari ay tinitimbang nila kung may ambag ba talaga ang ginagawa namin, ang mga calls namin.”
Bautista also affirmed that ADPROS will remain “on the side of the students and the Filipino people” and support every campaign aligned with their interests.
Upon entry, Suniga saw an “apolitical” ADPROS. It was during their time they began to challenge the supposed “neutrality” imposed on them, which was based on the nature of the advertising and public relations industry.
“Inilaban ng organisasyon ang karapatan na maghayag at makilahok sa mga mahahalagang panawagan dahil wala pa naman kami sa industriya at iba ang konteksto ng pamantasan kaysa sa industriya,” Suniga said.
Article: Mary Rose Maligmat
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