An Objectivity that Does Nobody Any Good

god what a long blog entry title.

anyway.

More talk regarding my Alma Mater.

Recently I've been hearing things about why some of my friends chose the University of the Philippines over Ateneo, or vise versa. First off, I am sure that both these universities are great choices for further education and will be able to provide the skills and knowledge my generation seeks and needs for the future. Secondly, I am also sure that both these universities have their own lists of pros and cons, and that each student who is given the luxury of choice between these two universities must analyze said pros and cons and decide for themselves. Thirdly, given that these choices are made by individual students, I can see how any factor, no matter how trivial it may play itself out to be, is a valid point of consideration.

But honestly, "real"ness?

Fine, i will accept that the UP lifestyle (if you can call it that) is probably more brusque and more individual-growth oriented. People may, and do see its appeal as a university that condones a greater form of independence. Perhaps its student population does enjoy a wider demographic (thanks to a veriety of factors, and, i firmly believe, not just due to lower tuitions). These are all very real, and very enticing (to some) factors for students who choose to go to UP; and these are all truly more heightened and visible in UP than in Ateneo. However, I refuse to take these as arrows against my own alma mater.

The Ateneo, given that it is a Jesuit University (as opposed to being a State University), will inevitably have its own character-formation written into its pedagogy. This however, is NOT mutually exclusive with independence and individual growth. Now, i don't want to end up discussing my take on catholicism and christianity and all that shiz, so allow that statement to stick. I just don't think that independence = no "enforced religion". I have seen a lot of devout catholics in the UP student body and its alumni, and so i don't think that religion is a pivotal concern in our context of independence. I'm just a little irked because some people have argued that the Ateneo emphasis on religion is very suffocating and limiting- as if we were some kind of very conservative community or fundamentalist fellowship (not that i have anything against such groups, mind you, i just don't think we are.)

I admit that UP does promote a more independent environment, but i don't think that Ateneo concretely LACKS a spirit of independence. Just look at the myriad organizations here.

to be continued...