Respect: A reflection on the UAAP

The following is a blog entry written by long-time Shale contentact and friend Carmel Puertollano. Now, I haven’t really followed the recent UAAP men’s basketball games, which led to the Ateneo Blue Eagles sweeping the De La Salle Green Archers and claiming the championship, but obviously things have been (usually) tight post-celebration. In light of the hullabaloo regarding what happened at the Ateneo bonfire – a fact that already earned an official, if not quiet, apology from school bigwigs – she finally writes her thoughts as a DLSU student. But this isn’t one-sided – at least that’s what I think. The entry’s been edited for style requirements, but everything else remains the same.

Three years.

It only took me that long to enjoy the privilege of being bona fide student of De La Salle University Manila. During the orientation or LPEP, as Lasallians commonly know it, basic Lasallian values and principles were taught. We were also taught how to cheer (and not to jeer).

In those three years, I have to admit that I have never attempted to skip classes to watch a game live at the Big Dome. For one, it’s a waste of money and time and I would choose listening to my professors’ lectures over losing my voice and hearing in Araneta.

The little bits of information I’ve known about the UAAP came from friends who were quite fanatical. The worst story I’ve heard was a certain school holding up a banner saying “You’ve got money, we’ve got manners” while throwing things at the supporters of our school. Upon hearing this, I absolutely felt irritated as this school used the words “money” and “manners”. To start with, not all Lasallians are rich and we were taught how to respect the opposition no matter what their social status is. We never threw things at the opposing side as this behavior is only fit for uncivilized morons. Pardon for the term, but it’s true. Other stories I’ve heard included the scalping industry which has continually grown (and improved – technology-wise) over the years.

During my last year in DLSU-Manila, I wished for DLSU to win the championship so that I’ll experience a victory party and that we’ll be vindicated for the suspension in 2006. It eventually came to fruition as DLSU beat the UE Red Warriors, which significantly, made our school a hate figure, as I’ve observed. People, according to my friends, were screaming “luto” as our team won the game. Blog entries from DLSU students also narrated horrific stories about post-game behavior.

I may not be the most value-oriented or unbiased person, but I’m smart enough to know that these acts are unsportsmanlike. So we got suspended two years ago, big deal, we got punished already, FEU got their trophy. Case closed but should this issue come up every single UAAP season? Whenever we lead in a game, the opposing team screams “fixed”, but when referees call “fouls” on our players, you think it’s right. (Bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan huwag magalit.) It was also observed by a lot of people that Chito Narvasa suspends referees who calls on a lot of fouls on our opposition. Is that fair?

Which brings me to my next point.

What purpose does the UAAP serve?

Capitalists have profusely taken advantage of the existing rivalries, most notably the ADMU-DLSU one. The one time I went to a game, I’ve collected a “Yumber 1″ finger that says DLSU from Jollibee, a little tarp from Accenture which says “Animo La Salle”, a flaglet and cardboard visor from Globe Telecom which bears the name of our university. The good thing was that I have a huge plastic bag as I went book shopping at National Book Store. I still have them stashed at home, not knowing what to do with them. Oh, and I still do have that DLSU bandana and clapper from last season from Astring-O-Sol. People have already turned these events into cockfights, taking bets on teams.

The other night, I posted a blog entry on Ateneo’s bonfire, where the planks used bore the names of our players past and present. At a certain level, it did not come out right, my blog. And I do apologize for that. Thank you, Sam [Bautista, a friend of the writer], for your comment. I actually meant to send the message out to those Ateneans who are posting blogs either saying the pics were photoshopped or the whole thing was fun. Issa [Diomampo, a friend of the writer] and I particularly discussed the rivalry on that post, agreeing that the rivalry is too commercialized and overrated. Who wouldn’t see that, really? Even high school students were divided between the rivals – I should know. My class, six years back, was divided too between those two schools as if we were already students there.

The UAAP was established to foster the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship. After this season though, I think that the high officials of the commission should consider things for improvement. For one, scalpers who extort money from willing patrons (including student scalpers) should be stopped from hoarding tickets. Next, the unbecoming behavior during games should never be tolerated as this should be a friendly competition. Finally, championship celebrations should always maintain a certain degree of respect to the opponents. Obviously, whoever the alumnus who crafted the planks should have been stopped. Moreover, I think that the participating universities should instill proper values to students. No school should be exempted from this rule. This is the biggest flaw of the UAAP as I’ve observed.

Respect. It’s such a simple word to begin with, so why don’t we live it if we are so civilized?