Philippine Collegian

Philippine Collegian
Cover page on August 21, 2017
TypeStudent publication
FormatTabloid
SchoolUniversity of the Philippines Diliman
Editor-in-chiefReg Dipasupil
Founded1922 (1922)
  • 1910 (as the College Folio)
  • 1917 (as Varsity News)
Political alignmentLeft-wing
LanguageEnglish, Filipino
HeadquartersStudent Union Building, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
OCLC number222576528
Websitephkule.org

The Philippine Collegian, also known as Kulê (Tagalog: [kʊˈleʔ]), is an alternative news outlet and the official student publication of the University of the Philippines Diliman. Established in 1922, the Collegian is commonly associated with the national democratic movement, with many of the publication's staffers opposing martial law under Ferdinand Marcos.[1]

The Collegian continues to publish views critical of the university administration and the Philippine government as a "mainstay of the Philippine democratic left."[2]

History

Early history (1910-1961)

The Collegian, first established in the University of the Philippines as the College Folio in 1910 and then Varsity News in 1917,[3] was one of the first undergraduate journals in the Philippines.[4] The Philippine Collegian was officially established in 1922.

In 1935, the Collegian published historian Teodoro Agoncillo's review of Ricardo Pascual's Dr. Jose Rizal: Beyond the Grave despite strong opposition from the Catholic Church. In 1951, editor-in-chief Elmer Ordoñez criticized the resignation of University of the Philippines President Bienvenido Gonzalez as an "ouster"[5] due to political pressure under President Elpidio Quirino.

During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, the Collegian was largely silent, since many of the university's units were shut down. It resumed publication in 1946.[6]

Despite the Red Scare, the Collegian continued publishing articles tackling socialism and armed struggle under the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan.

The 1950s brought to the fore issues of academic freedom in the university, heightening the clash of beliefs between the Collegian, the university administration, and the national government. Then-editor Homobono Adaza was expelled for an editorial criticizing the UP administration.[7]

Nationalism and dictatorship (1961-1986)

The Collegian at the turn of the 60s included such figures as revolutionary and Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison, journalist and academic Luis Teodoro, and writer Petronilo Daroy. Sison had previously written a requiem published in the Collegian for assassinated Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba under a pseudonym, and together with the re-publication of Benedict Kerkvliet's Peasant War in the Philippines, led to a hearing by the House of Representatives' Committee on Anti-Filipino Activities protested by over 3,000 students and faculty.[8]

The Collegian took vocal stands on national issues under the presidential terms of Diosdado Macapagal and Ferdinand Marcos. In 1966, former Collegian editor Voltaire Garcia, along with contributor Francisco Nemenzo and University Student Council chairperson Benjamin Muego, began organizing 'teach-ins' discussing topics such as academic freedom, Maoist China, and the Vietnam War.[9] The Collegian also supported the Diliman Commune in 1971, labeling it "[the] united effort of all suffering classes [to] broaden and deepen the impact of the Cultural Revolution."[10]

During Martial Law, the Collegian defied the media blackout by going underground. The publication formed the radical press together with the other student publications such as the Ang Malaya of the Philippine College of Commerce, now Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Pandayan of Ateneo de Manila University and the publications of various national democratic groups.[11]

By the time Martial Law was declared in 1972, the Collegian's nationalist orientation was already established. The publication continued to operate underground, exposing realities that were vastly different from what was presented by government-controlled media. Subsequently, several Collegian staff, including Enrique Voltaire Garcia,[12] Antonio Tagamolila,[13] and Jacinto Peña[14] faced imprisonment and death.[15]

While the regular Collegian headed by Oscar Yabes in 1973 headlined UP President Salvador P. Lopez's campus beautification project and weekly UAAP updates, the Rebel Collegian decried the 20-percent tuition hike and the dissolution of student institutions like the Office of Student Regent and the UP Student Council. The Rebel Collegian issues brought to the fore the students' demand for lower tuition and dorm rates, among others, while "taking up the oppressed masses cause in exposing the corruption, servility, and violence of our semi-colonial and semi-feudal society". The Rebel Collegian accused Yabes of privileging the publication of literary works over material critical of the dictatorship. Yabes would also later come under fire due to his alleged malversation of the newspaper's funds.[15]

After People Power (1986-2000)

The paper remained vigilant even after the collapse of the Marcos regime. In the 1989 editorial "EDSA and UP—Three Years After", editor Ruben Carranza noted that "social injustice and foreign domination" remained entrenched in Philippine society. In the euphoria following the end of People Power, this viewpoint was decidedly unpopular.[16]

The conflicts experienced by the Collegian, however, were not entirely external. Power struggles and challenges in editorship roused many controversies in the past. The Rebel Collegian came into existence in 1996 after the battle between Voltaire Veneracion and Richard Gappi, rivals for the editorship that year.[17] The UP community saw two contending Collegians—Gappi's Rebel Collegian and the regular Collegian under Veneracion. The articles in the Rebel Collegian in 1996 bore no byline, although it was an open secret that Gappi led the publication's operations. The newsprint became an arena of the opposing camps from the ideological rift that characterized the Left movement then. On the one hand, Veneracion and the editor before him, Ibarra Gutierrez, espoused social democratic politics, Gappi and most of his colleagues from former EIC Michael John Ac-Ac's staff embraced national democracy. The 1980s and 1990s spurred additional internal disputes as staffers and editors fought to assert competing philosophies.

Early 2000s

The Collegian was hosted on kule.upd.edu.ph in the early 2000s. It later migrated to philippinecollegian.net and then philippinecollegian.org. Online copies of the publication's print issues were posted on DeviantArt until 2013, later migrating to Issuu.[18]

At the height of the campaign against the 300 percent tuition hike, then UP President Emerlinda Roman insisted on a public bidding for the Collegian's printing press, based on the university administration's interpretation of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Act. The Collegian's funds were withheld for four months.

Present

In 2018, the Rebel Collegian was established for the fourth time.[19] Controversy arose when the Board of Judges for the Collegian's editorial examinations, headed by UP College of Mass Communication Dean Elena Pernia, released the list of qualified takers but excluded two Collegian writers, Marvin Ang and Richard Cornelio, on the grounds of their graduating statuses. Law student Jayson Edward San Juan topped the four-part test and the decision was upheld despite appeals from the Collegian[20] and student councils in UP to hold another examination.[21] Sheila Ann Abarra, the managing editor of the past editorial term, served as Rebel Kulê's EIC.[22]

The Collegian transitioned into online publishing during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The exclusively online arrangement made way for long, broad-gauged writing—in June 2020, the Collegian published a 48-page special online issue on the first three months of the lockdown. Now, the publication continues to publish content and news updates on its Facebook, Instagram, and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, pages, as well as its official website, phkule.org.[18]

After a two-year hiatus, the Collegian returned to physical publishing in May 2022, just before the 2022 Philippine presidential election. The publication reverted to a tabloid format in 2023.

Since the ouster of Marcos during the EDSA Revolution, the Collegian has regularly undergone changes in format and withstood controversies regarding the selection of its editors.[23]

Collegian editors

  • Jose Delgado, 1922
  • Paulino Ybañez, 1922-1923
  • Francisco Capistrano, 1923–1924
  • Emerito M. Ramos, 1930–1931
  • Wenceslao Q. Vinzons, 1931–1932
  • Ambrosio Padilla, 1932–1933
  • Arturo M. Tolentino, 1933–1934
  • Armando de J. Malay, 1934–1935
  • Fred Ruiz Castro, 1935-1936
  • Sinai C. Hamada, 1936-1937
  • Romeno S. Busuego, 1937–1938
  • Renato Constantino, 1939–1940
  • Angel G. Baking, 1940–1941
  • Delfin R. Garcia, 1941–1942
  • Juan M. Hagad, 1946–1947
  • Mariano V. Ampil, Jr., 1947–1948
  • Leonardo B. Perez, 1948–1949
  • Augusto Caesar Espiritu, 1949–1950
  • Elmer A. Ordonez, 1950–1951
  • Francisco D. Villanueva, 1951–1952
  • Ignacio Debuque, Jr., 1952–1953
  • Crispulo J. Icban, Jr., 1953–1954
  • Luis Q. U. Uranza, Jr., 1954–1955
  • Sabino Padilla, Jr., 1955–1956
  • Homobono A. Adaza, 1956
  • Jose H. Y. Masakayan, 1956–1957
  • Homobono A. Adaza, 1957–1958
  • Pacifico Agabin, 1958
  • Caesar Agnir, 1958–1959
  • Andres G. Gatmaitan, 1959-1960
  • Leonardo Quisumbing, 1961–1962
  • Angelito Imperio, 1962–1963
  • Tristan Catindig, 1964
  • Salvador T. Carlota, 1964
  • Enrique Voltaire Garcia II, 1965
  • Ancheta K. Tan, 1965
  • Agustin Que, 1966
  • Jaime J. Yambao, 1966
  • Temario Rivera, 1967
  • Nelson A. Navarro, 1967
  • Miriam P. Defensor, 1968
  • José Y. Arcellana, 1968
  • Victor H. Manarang, 1969
  • Ernesto M. Valencia, 1970
  • Antonio S. Tagamolila, 1970
  • Reynaldo B. Vea, 1971
  • Eduardo T. Gonzalez, 1971
  • Teodoro D. Yabut, Jr., 1972
  • Oscar G. Yabes, 1972-1973
  • Emmanuel F. Esguerra, 1974–1975[24]
  • Diwa C. Guinigundo, 1975[24]
  • Abraham Sarmiento, Jr., 1975–1976[24]
  • Cosme Diaz Rosell, 1976–1977
  • Alexander Poblador, 1977–1978
  • Diwata A. Reyes, 1978–1979
  • Malou Mangahas, 1979–1980
  • Roberto Z. Coloma, 1980–1981
  • Roan I. Libarios, 1981–1982
  • Napoleon J. Poblador, 1982–1983
  • Raphael P. M. Lotilla, 1983–1984
  • Benjamin Pimentel, Jr., 1984–1985
  • Noel Pangilinan, 1985–1986
  • Dean Karlo La Vina, 1986–1987
  • Ma. Cristina Godinez, 1987–1988
  • Patrocinio Jude H. Esguerra III, 1988–1989
  • Ruben Carranza, Jr., 1989–1990
  • Francis Ronald Perez, 1990–1991
  • Alexander Pabico, 1991–1992
  • Pablo John Garcia, Jr., 1992–1993
  • Bernard Cobarrubias, 1993–1994
  • Michael John C. Ac-ac, 1994–1995
  • Ibarra M. Gutierrez, 1995–1996
  • Voltaire Veneracion, 1996–1997
  • Lourdes C. Gordolan, 1997–1998
  • Jeanie Rose Bacong, 1998–1999
  • Seymour Barros-Sanchez, 1999–2000
  • Herbert V. Docena, 2000–2001
  • Duke M. Bajenting, 2001–2002
  • Ellaine Rose A. Beronio, 2002–2003
  • Sherwin A. Mapanoo, 2003–2004
  • Jayson DP. Fajarda, 2004–2005
  • Juan Paolo E. Colet, 2005–2006
  • Karl Fredrick M. Castro, 2006–2007
  • Jerrie M. Abella, 2007–2008
  • Larissa Mae R. Suarez, 2008–2009
  • Om Narayan A. Velasco, 2009–2010
  • Pauline Gidget R. Estella, 2010–2011
  • Marjohara S. Tucay, 2011–2012
  • Ma. Katherine H. Elona, 2012–2013
  • Julian Inah G. Anunciacion, 2013–2014
  • Mary Joy T. Capistrano, 2014–2016
  • Karen Ann A. Macalalad, 2016–2017
  • Sanny Boy D. Afable, 2017–2018
  • Jayson Edward B. San Juan, 2018–2019[24][25]
  • Beatrice P. Puente, 2019–2020[26]
  • Kimberly Anne P. Yutuc, 2020–2021[27]
  • Polynne E. Dira, 2021–2022[28]
  • Daniel Sebastianne B. Daiz, 2022–2023[24][29]
  • Rona Q. Pizarro, 2023–2024[30]
  • Ryan Jericho F. Maltezo, 2024–2025[31]
  • John Regulus M. Dipasupil, 2025–present[32]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ Llaneta, Celeste Ann Castillo (December 7, 2023). "Above the Fold: A glimpse into the turbulence of Martial Law through the lens of the Collegian - University of the Philippines". up.edu.ph. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  2. ^ "About Us". Philippine Collegian. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  3. ^ Valenzuela, Jesús Z. (1933). History of Journalism in the Philippine Islands. Jesús Z. Valenzuela. p. 22. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
  4. ^ Chee, Tam Seong (1981). Essays on Literature and Society in Southeast Asia. National University of Singapore Press. p. 148. ISBN 9971-69-036-5. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
  5. ^ Lumbera, Bienvenido; Taguiwalo, Judy; Tolentino, Roland; Alamon, Arnold; Guillermo, Ramon, eds. (2008). Serve the People: Ang Kasaysayan ng Radikal na Kilusan sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas [Serve the People: The History of the Radical Movement in the University of the Philippines]. IBON Foundation (published 1951). pp. 34–36.
  6. ^ "History of the Philippine Collegian". mickeyjagger.tripod.com.
  7. ^ "History of the Philippine Collegian". mickeyjagger.tripod.com.
  8. ^ Scalice, Joseph (2021). ""We are Siding with Filipino Capitalists": Nationalism and the Political Maturation of Jose Ma. Sison, 1959–61". Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia. 36 (1): 1–39. doi:10.1355/sj36-1a. ISSN 0217-9520.
  9. ^ Panlilio, Iluminada. "A Report on the 'Teach-ins' at the University of the Philippines" [correspondence with Executive Secretary Rafael Salas]. 1966.
  10. ^ "Victory will be ours". Philippine Collegian (editorial). Vol. 33, no. 24. February 10, 1971. p. 1.
  11. ^ Franco, Jennifer Conroy (2001). Elections and Democratization in the Philippines. Taylor & Francis. p. 105. ISBN 0-8153-3734-5. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
  12. ^ "Enrique Voltaire Garcia II - Bantayog ng mga Bayani". June 4, 2023.
  13. ^ "TAGAMOLILA, Antonio S." Bantayog ng mga Bayani. July 13, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "Peña, Jacinto Dechavez". bantayogngmgabayani.org. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Cornelio, Richard (September 21, 2018). "This is not your regular Collegian". Rebel Kule.
  16. ^ a b "History of the Philippine Collegian". mickeyjagger.tripod.com.
  17. ^ Dela Cruz, Ma. Rosa Cer (June 13, 2008). "Penned Dissidence: The Philippine Collegian's Tradition of Defiance". Philippine Collegian.
  18. ^ a b "The Philippine Collegian's Print Formats Through the Years". phkule.org. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  19. ^ The Editorial Board (September 21, 2018). "Up the revolution (Editorial)". Philippine Collegian.
  20. ^ The Editorial Staff (July 28, 2018). "A Response to Chancellor Michael Tan's Final Decision to Reject Calls for a Second, Fair Editorial Examination". Philippine Collegian.
  21. ^ Singh, Jose Martin (July 23, 2018). "TIMELINE 2017-2018 News Round-up". Philippine Collegian.
  22. ^ "Which is UP Diliman's student paper: 'Philippine Collegian' or 'Rebel Kule'?". Rappler. October 3, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  23. ^ "History of the Philippine Collegian". mickeyjagger.tripod.com.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Philippine Collegian Editorial Exam – UPD Office of Student Projects and Activities".
  25. ^ "Jayson Edward "SJ" San Juan named 96th Philippine Collegian EIC". UP College of Law. May 5, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  26. ^ "Philippine Collegian Editorial Exam – UPD Office of Student Projects and Activities". Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  27. ^ Puente, Beatrice (September 6, 2020). "Editor's Note". Facebook. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
  28. ^ "Philippine Collegian". phkule.org. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  29. ^ "BS Physics student Daniel Sebastianne Daiz is the Philippine Collegian's Next Editor-in-chief". Facebook. September 17, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  30. ^ "Philippine Collegian". Archived from the original on December 2, 2023.
  31. ^ "Philippine Collegian". phkule.org. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  32. ^ "Philippine Collegian". phkule.org. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  33. ^ "Biography of Senate President Drilon - Senate of the Philippines". www.senate.gov.ph.
  34. ^ "Ninotchka Rosca". Archived from the original on March 12, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
  35. ^ "Profile of Justice Leonardo Quisumbing". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
  36. ^ "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on September 1, 2005. Retrieved April 25, 2006.
  37. ^ "Supreme Court of the Philippines". Archived from the original on March 29, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  38. ^ a b "Sheila Coronel - Journalism - Philippines - Worldpress.org". www.worldpress.org.
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