The Rhetoricians

Let's take a look back at our freshies last August 12 as they brought their energy, explored the different booths, and made new friends in Org Fair 2026. 🎊

The Rhetoricians surely had a blast and we're beyond excited to see you around the campus. Welcome, Batch 2026! 💛

The Rhetoricians' journey has always been about moving forward together, carrying excellence and purpose across generations.

With that, we are proud to present the Executive Committee of The Rhetoricians for Academic Year 2026-2027 — a dedicated team who moves with vision, with light, and with intention.

As we move into new horizons, we draw upon the established foundation of the organization, all in hopes of shaping a cycle of growth where excellence remains ever in the loop. 💛

As often as not, as youths, we asked ourselves, “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺? 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴?”

But the real question is…𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨? When basic survival becomes a daily struggle, the noble pursuit of sustainable development goals feels like a distant luxury.

This year’s “𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆” recognizes the youth’s various experiences from local and national situations, focusing heavily on the Least Developed Countries (low-income nations that faces severe structural hurdles to achieve sustainable development), Landlocked Developing Countries (countries that lack direct sea access), and Small Island Developing States (small island countries that share similar sustainable development difficulties). These countries experience challenges such as poverty, climate change, limited economic opportunities, and inability to access digital technologies simultaneously. Yet, these young people continue to showcase their resilience, leadership, and innovation in forwarding sustainable development within their communities despite the mentioned setbacks.

In the Philippines, despite being called a “developing nation,” not all young people have access to sustainable development. According to the report shared by the World Bank and UNICEF back in 2023, around 5.14 (12.4%) million children live in extreme poverty, especially in rural areas. The problem in poverty affects other areas of sustainable development such as limited access to education, healthcare challenges and malnutrition, lack of livelihood opportunities, insufficient infrastructure and services, and higher vulnerability to natural hazard. 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹.

The Rhetoricians stand in solidarity with the global call to ensure that the youth are granted universal access to quality education, proper healthcare, nutritious food, a safe environment, and equal opportunities to build a stable livelihood. As an organization, we firmly believe that education must remain a fundamental right rather than a commercialized privilege, especially as many students continue to face heavy systemic barriers that put their dreams and well-being at risk.

Photo by Dennis Sabangan

References:
Jocson, C. (2023, September 13). 5M Filipino kids lived in extreme poverty in 2022 — UN report. BusinessWorld Online. https://bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/09/13/545432/5m-filipino-kids-lived-in-extreme-poverty-in-2022-un-report/
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). International Youth Day 2026 "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations” | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD). United Nations. https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/events/international-youth-day-2026
World Vision Philippines. (2025, September 24). Why child poverty is worse in rural areas of the Philippines. https://www.worldvision.org.ph/why-child-poverty-is-worse-in-rural-areas-philippines/

With radiating energy and uncontainable excitement, Freshie Week 2026 has concluded with the loudest bang! 💥💫 This is all thanks to our astounding hosts who kept the good vibes rolling from CASalubong unit-wide parties all the way to CHE and CFNR convocations!

All beginnings deserve warm welcomes, yet your voices went above and beyond as it echoed throughout the university and surely found their way into the hearts of our freshies. 💛🌻

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢 𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐛𝐚 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚 𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚 𝐥𝐮𝐩𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐠𝐚 𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐨? 𝐊𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨’𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐚 𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚, 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧, 𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐤𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐢 𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐚𝐧?

Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng marami ang mga usaping kinakaharap ng ating mga katutubo sa ngalan ng tinatawag na “𝗸𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻.” Kabilang dito ang isyu ng Pax Silica, na bukod sa banta nito sa kalikasan at kabuhayan, maaari ring magdulot ng pag-agaw sa lupang ninuno at pagpapalayas sa mga magsasaka at katutubong Aeta. Matingkad din ang ganitong realidad sa dokumentaryo ni Kara David tungkol sa “Ibinsurang Paraiso,” kung saan ang dating payapa at magandang lupang tahanan ng mga katutubo ay unti-unting ginawang tapunan ng basura. Ang dating luntiang kagubatan, malinis na tubig, at sariwang hangin ay napalitan ng tambak na basura, kalbong kagubatan, at maruming katubigan. Ang paraisong kanilang kinalakhan ay unti-unting winawasak sa ngalan ng mga desisyong hindi naman sila ang gumawa at hindi sila ang pangunahing nakikinabang.

𝘐𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘰? 𝘐𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘯?

𝙃𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞. Hindi maituturing na tunay na kaunlaran ang isang sistemang ang kapalit ay lupang ninuno, kabuhayan, kalikasan, kultura, at mismong buhay ng mga katutubo. Hindi ito ang kaunlarang para sa masa, ito ay nagpapadami lamang ng pera ng mga mayayaman, ng imperyalistang US-Marcos, at mga korap na lalong nagpapahirap sa masa, lalo na sa mga katutubong hawak-hawak ang kultura ng bansang sinilangan.

Ngayong Araw ng mga Katutubo, kasama ang The Rhetoricians, ating pag-igtingin ang panawagan sa karapatan ng mga katutubo sa lupang kanilang pinagtitirahan, karapatang sa dapat na kanilang tinatamasa, at kaunlarang tunay at walang maiiwan.

𝙇𝙪𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙣𝙤, 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙣, 𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙣!
𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙨𝙖 𝙠𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙮𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙣, 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙣!

Photo by Ken Bautista

𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙠𝙖𝙨𝙮𝙤𝙣, 𝙠𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙮𝙤!

Kada semestre, danas ng bawat estudyante at mga iskolar ng bayan ang kahirapan sa sektor ng edukasyon. Hindi sapat na units, nag-aagawan sa slots, kulang-kulang na klasrum, at iba pa. Hanggang kailan pa ba tayo magtitiis sa sistemang pinagkakaitan ang mga kabataan para sa isang dekalidad na edukasyon na isang karapatan para sa lahat.

𝙆𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞 𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙤 𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙣 𝙠𝙞𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙤𝙨, 𝙠𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙖? 𝙆𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞 𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙤, 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙤? Sa lumalalang krisis sa edukasyon, kasama na ang kakulangan ng pondo, bumibigat na akademikong pasanin, at mga polisiyang anti-estudyante, kailangan natin lumabas ng ating mga silid-aralan at isigaw na ang edukasyon ay isang karapatan.

Sa darating na 𝗔𝗴𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝟰, sama-sama nating ipanawagan ang ating karapatan para sa isang makabayan, siyantipiko, at makamasang edukasyon!

🗓️ 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟰 (𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆)
📍 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗨𝗽 | 𝟮:𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗠 @ 𝗛𝗨𝗠 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀
👕 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘀𝘂𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝘂𝗹𝗮

Lumabas ng silid-aralan, mangahas at lumaban!