Pride, Burden, and the Price on an Iskolar ng Bayan’s Soul

Have you ever asked yourself, “How much does your soul cost?”

For PUPians and other state university and college students, it often feels like their soul is the price of education. Yet, in exchange for sleepless nights, chasing endless deadlines, and enduring broken systems, it seems like our souls are not worth that much at all. 

Since the passing of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act in 2017, the title “iskolar ng bayan” has carried on a different weight—one that comes with both pride of academic excellence and the burden to prove oneself worthy of what has become a right-turned-privilege.

Mula Sa'yo: Pride and Opportunities

Iskolars wear a badge many Filipino students aspire to put on—one that recognizes not just free education, but also intellectual distinction and, for some, a ticket to a brighter future. 

These institutions are home to some of the brightest and greatest minds in the country—where one can build strong connections that could influence the trajectory of their careers. 

Cruising university halls with future industry leaders, rubbing elbows with soon-to-be topnotchers, and building relationships with tomorrow’s changemakers is a privilege in itself. But, finding a place where you truly belong is another. 

Moreover, beyond prestige is diversity—it exposes you to the world, letting you witness different realities and urging you to be a part of them. 

Along with the smartest, you will meet the most resilient—those who have to juggle two jobs, those who strive to be the first degree-holder in their family, those who came from targeted communities, the heartthrobs, the weird ones, and even those who live a lavish life. They may be a symbol of hope or a hard-taught lesson. All of them will write a chapter in your becoming. 

Beyond the pride, what others probably want most is the little financial relief it gives. With tuition out of the picture, studying becomes a top priority—at least in theory. 

Para sa Bayan: Burden and Responsibilities

The road is far from smooth. With the struggles State Universities and Colleges continuously face—from ceaseless budget cuts to relentless red-tagging of their students—iskolars seem to be entering a battlefield rather than an academic institution. 

Perhaps paying the tuition with your soul means offering your entire being. 

With these universities’ esteemed academic reputation, the pressure to always deliver and excel is haunting, and can be suffocating. 

You may feel on top, with everyone looking up to you. But one wrong move can make you feel like you have disappointed yourself and betrayed the people who uphold the foundations of your education.

All this while fighting with exhaustion—from endless deadlines, and the struggle to stay sane. It can make you feel like dreaming is just constant suffering, carrying everything all at once until the weight no longer feels heavy. 

Moreover, budget cuts deprive students of access to their full potential. Many face a lack of proper classrooms, insufficient support in their endeavors, and an environment conducive for learning. 

Unbearable heat—which fuels the “hellhole” label of some of these universities—and crumbling, unsafe facilities are daily battles.

Still, students always find a way to rise. Iskolars are also known for being at the forefront of movements for social justice, sometimes at the expense of their own safety. In a climate where red-tagging has been normalized, and even institutionalized, standing up and speaking out can cost your freedom—and worse, your life. 

Serving the People 

With all these, iskolars find themselves constantly reminded to whom they owe the best of their education: the people, the masses, those whose struggles mirror their own. 

Though imperfect, exhausting, and often stirring up nothing but hatred, our souls will forever be tied to every corner of our Sinta. Whether we choose to serve our respective communities, remain in the university to shape future iskolars, embrace ideologies and take them to the streets, or thrive in the corporate world, our path will always lead us back to the very reason we came this far.

To serve the people is to pay with a bigger piece of yourself—and choosing to do so, again and again, is the real price of an iskolar ng bayan's soul.

Article: Charles Vincent Nagaño

Graphics: Emar Lorenz Samar