A new semester opens and students fill the hallways of Palma Hall once again. Once the clock struck nine, students and organization representatives flocked to the lobby, carrying their respective calls and demands.
The First Day Fight, sometimes called First Day Rage, is a protest action that UP students conduct every beginning of the semester. Similar to other protest actions, the chanting students first roam around Palma Hall—passing by Pavilion 1 and AS Walkway—encouraging fellow students to participate in the mobilization, forming a snake rally. The mobilization then returns to the AS lobby and eventually proceeds to the AS Steps.
Along the AS Steps, Ciro, a film student, is also present in this semester’s First Day Fight. For them, joining the mobilization has been a tradition ever since they studied at UP. But this year, their fight is anchored on issues they personally went through last semester.
Ciro is a BA Film student who consistently participates in the semestral First Day Fight. This semester, they called for more student spaces within the campus. (Marcus Azcarraga/Philippine Collegian)
“Naranasan ko bilang isang parte ng organisasyon na singilin ako sa sarili kong kolehiyo sa mga venue, sa mga espasyo na pwedeng pagdausan ng org event, na libo-libo kada oras yung ibabayad mo,” they recounted. Student organizations still grapple with the lack of accessible and affordable spaces to conduct their meetings and events. Though some buildings rent their spaces for free, it cannot accommodate the multitude of organizations within UPD.
Among the calls of Ciro were “UP Not For Sale” and “We Need Space.” “Nagigipit ang mga estudyante na maghanap ng espasyo, hindi lang para makapag-organisa pero para sa conducive spaces rin para sila ay makapag-aral at para ma-i-conduct nila yung mga pang-akademiko nilang gawain,” they further added.
This semester’s First Day Fight protested against the recent budget cuts in the education sector and called for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. (Marcus Azcarraga/Philippine Collegian)
Aside from calling for more student spaces, they also demand government accountability for the disasters that consecutively hit their hometown during the latter end of the previous year. “Yung last time din, nagkaroon ng matinding bagyo, kung saan lubog yung Albay, which is one of my hometowns, and that time I really can’t cope up sa aking acads. But the very right moment na sinasalanta ng bagyo at nilulubog ang Albay, kailangan kong mag-midterms.”
The experiences that they recounted are only a glimpse of the various issues that plague the studentry. The semestral First Day Fight gives an avenue for the students' calls to be heard. Furthermore, it is a movement to assert their rights as students and as citizens of the country.
Classes formally began last week and people will eventually become busier in the next few days. Despite this, the semestral mobilization serves as a reminder of the unyielding power of the student body in fighting not only for their rights, but also for the people they serve. ●
