A DREAM OR DANAS?: The reality of SUC students

The once lighthearted TikTok trend, “Danas,” has evolved into a poignant reflection of the harsh realities faced by students in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

Inspired by Nora Aunor’s iconic song “Kahit Konting Awa,” the trend that was popularized by Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) student Ice Neo (@iceeneo on Tiktok) was initially aimed to poke fun at the campus life of PUPians.

As the trend gained momentum, it quickly became a platform for students to share their genuine struggles and frustrations. From flooded streets and overcrowded classrooms to sudden brownouts and course enlistment website crashes, the “Danas” trend revealed the underlying challenges that SUC students face daily.

Humorous as it sounds, one cannot help but wonder: Are these challenges merely inconveniences, or do they significantly impact students’ academic performance and overall well-being?

Kahit Na Konting Awa speaks about the challenging lives of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who work in other countries to provide for their families. 

Among them was Flor Contemplacion, a Filipino maid in Singapore who faced a tragic fate. Driven by poverty, she left her loved ones behind, only to be wrongfully accused of murder and sentenced to death.

This heartbreaking story resonated deeply with college students, who saw parallels between the hardships endured by OFWs and their own challenges in higher education.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in campus culture that is often showcased through online tours and “A Day in the Life” videos. While these videos often welcome us with lush open spaces and air-conditioned lecture halls, some students experience an entirely different side of college life.

Broken roads before getting to the campus gate, sudden power outages affecting classrooms, and even the perpetual state of campus renovation are just some of those.

This disparity sparked a trend, known as “danas,” among PUP students, who connected these issues to the university's recurring budget cuts–a reduction in funding for a specific department or activity, can be caused by economic downturns, shifting priorities, or budget deficits.

“Danas, Kalbaryo, Awa nalang sana. The End” has become a staple refrain among PUP students, which they say encapsulates their struggles within the university.

This TikTok trend has shed light on students’ hardships in their respective universities, especially the students of PUP.

In one video, students ingeniously used classroom floor tiles and glass windows as makeshift whiteboards. Another depicted students taking an exam under the glow of their phone flashlights during a power outage. In yet another scene, students were forced to share a single laptop in a darkened classroom, fanning themselves to combat the heat.

According to student PUP Student Council President Kim Modelo, state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines have faced a decline in funding.

According to the Commission on Higher Education during the A.Y. 2022 -2023, there are 4,792,160 students in higher education. In comparison, the youth population aged 15 to 24 was estimated to be 20.150 million as of August 2023 as stated by the Labor Force Survey by the Philippines Statistics Authority.

However, every year, Filipino students battle toe-to-toe in getting into these SUCs, hoping to benefit from Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Facing budget cuts every year, the slots in every single SUC gradually become limited, making it a little too hard to get in as a normal student.

The current Marcos administration has sparked significant concern as to where the future of the Filipino youth falls under its priorities. Out of the 117 SUCs, 30 are facing budget cuts.

The University of the Philippines (UP) has experienced the largest reduction, with a ₱2.9 billion decrease. UP’s budget has consistently decreased over the years, from ₱24.29 billion in 2022, to ₱24.26 billion in 2023, and now only ₱21.29 billion allocated for 2024.

The next biggest cuts are in the budgets of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (₱4 billion), Mindanao State University (₱2.3 billion), Mariano Marcos State University (₱1.5 billion), Eastern Visayas State University (₱1.3 billion), Central Bicol State University (₱1.2 billion), and West Visayas State University (₱852.9 million).

The General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024 allocated only P3.1 billion to PUP, half of its proposed budget, which limits the university's ability to accommodate its thousands of enrollees.

These budget cuts limit the creation of an environment where students often find themselves lacking basic educational resources. Outdated classrooms, poorly maintained buildings, and insufficient laboratory equipment create an unfavorable learning environment.

These limitations extend beyond the physical infrastructure, as reduced faculty numbers, larger class sizes, and fewer course offerings can compromise the quality of education. Programs may be cut or offered less frequently, and opportunities for research, internships, and experiential learning may be curtailed.

Beyond social media, the hashtag #WeNeedSpace also become widespread to highlight the lack of student spaces in other SUCs.

At the University of the Philippines Manila, ongoing construction has resulted in insufficient classrooms, limited student gathering areas, and inadequate facilities for faculty and student organizations.

At Mindanao State University-Main Campus, prolonged road reconstruction has caused traffic congestion and inconvenience for students and faculty, who must navigate decrepit buildings and facilities.

With students sharing their experiences of their stay in various SUCs to this trend, what seems to just be the occasional university life struggle starts to unveil a whole new concern regarding the conditions of state universities and the government's responsibility to provide quality education for all.

Due to the budget cuts, the opportunity for quality tertiary education is compromised, with those from poverty struggling even more to pursue their dreams in a country where education is viewed as a ticket out of financial struggle and instability.

While the trend is a reflection of one of the many ways the Filipino youth can cope with the struggles of studying at these universities, it underscores the inadequacies within campuses and the urgent need for improvements.

It prompts the students to question whether the current system is fulfilling its promise of providing quality education for all…

Or is it failing an entire generation of learners altogether?