Right to Education: An Unconstitutional Ateneo Policy?

Last week I went to the ADAA office and inquired about the procedures on how a bachelors graduate like me can enroll again for a second degree. To my surprise the Ateneo's policy forbids their graduates to take a degree of the same level. They can only pursue a degree higher than the ones they already earned. But isn't that policy unconstitutional? All Filipino citizens are protected by the constitution by granting them a right to quality education. I know for a fact that there should be no restrictions in getting a second degree. The ADAA itself recognized that other universities are allowing this policy but the Ateneo DOES NOT. What gives them the power to deny education to their alumni? They said that if a student wants to get a second degree, he/she should have gone through the necessary procedures during his/her junior or senior year. But what about the alumni who just decided to take further studies a few years after graduating? Or an alumni who wants to take a new degree, which wasn't there yet during his/her time? Don't they realize that the additional applicants (alumni or not) translates to more revenues that they can use for projects and services? The university feverishly asks for sponsorships and donations for their projects and yet they turn down people who are willing to pay their expensive tuition fees. It's kind of like sailing in the direction away from a port during a storm.

I understand if the university needs to prioritize applicants who are high school graduates or if they want to place higher academic standards on to the alumni. But to completely restrict them from getting a second degree is something I find difficult to accept. This policy looks like, sounds like and smells like a complete and total violation of my right as a citizen of this Republic to quality education. I have already sent complaint letters to the office of the university president and the LS VP asking for an explanation but I doubt if I'll ever get a reply.

If I cannot exercise my right to education, then I will exercise my right to choose. From this moment on, I am withdrawing all my support from all the fund-raising and sponsorship projects of the Ateneo

Bottled Sago and Gulaman Drink Out in the Market!

A few weeks ago while buying some groceries, a new product caught my attention. It's a bottled sago and gulaman drink called SnG. It's the traditional pinoy snack re-engineered for the global market. It is manufactured by Nativo Nutritionals and the company exports it to Europe and the United States. At first glance, I would be skeptical about the concept of such a bottled drink. Marketing it would be difficult since it is a common beverage that you would find anywhere around the Metro. But what differentiates it from the regular drink is that it is flavored. It is also hygienically produced and handled so the consumer can be sure it is 100% safe. Besides this, I think their target market is not the local but the foreign market. Sold at P24.50 per 350mL bottle, I think the price is pretty reasonable. As for the taste? I have only tasted the apple variety. The sweetness is intense but it is only slightly overpowered by the fruit flavor. Not an ideal beverage for those avoiding too much sugar intake. This new food product is a good refreshment for kids and for foreigners who want a taste of the pinoy snack drink. I congratulate Nativo Nutritionals for bringing this traditional Filipino beverage to the global market. But I believe the group of Clarissa and April should also be given credit for pioneering this concept in their LS project one year earlier.

Celebrating Earth Day

A video by Greenpeace International. Enjoy!