“Noise brought from the calls of the students in raising awareness of social issues…were put in the spotlight to remind its audiences within and beyond the campus gates of what it means for the country”
WHEW, what a relief!
The stalls, the rides, the screams and cries. The smell of shawarma piling up the grounds coupled with grill houses and snack bars. The circus of this week’s UPLB February Fair (FebFair) is finally over.
The morning after the dazzling fireworks display signaled the start of food stalls and campus organizations packing up their respective belongings as Freedom Park, the site of these festivities, is now up for tidying.
The peace and serenity that I get to experience in the evening was temporarily replaced by noise. Noise brought from the calls of the students in raising awareness of social issues. Issues, like fair labor practices, human rights and peace, gender equality and women empowerment, were put in the spotlight on stage to remind its audiences within and beyond the campus gates of what it means for the country.
This FebFair also coincided with the start of the campaign period for national positions. Candidates from the Makabayan senatorial slate have taken their agenda to a wide audience for the first time.
Students and organizers here support their platforms. They believe voting for these candidates would cause a revolution in the Senate’s halls dominated by familiar yet incompetent names.
I must recourse, however, to the FebFair I had witnessed years past when I was still new to the university grounds. The space for audiences and passers-by this time were wider than the earlier ones.
It’s either because of the number of stalls being accommodated or businesses who wish to participate in it. Last year’s was a feast of its own, too.
However, one thing hasn’t changed, then and now – my perception towards the Fair remains mixed. While I don’t doubt their whys in pushing for these advocacies, I question the motive of the people who took part in it.
That this FebFair might be deemed irrelevant to those who are heartless enough to experience it genuinely.
Now, don’t get me wrong; I show my empathy towards the causes being advocated throughout the entire FebFair. These are issues crucial enough that must not be taken aback by the greater society.
Some may call it radical, and others would dismiss their calls. But choosing not to listen to them is already an err in itself as these problems remain plaguing. Low wages, high costs of basic commodities, societal inequality in most aspects – you name them.
However, I am indifferent to see those who have hosted a few events from the fair itself. Not because they did terrible in terms of their delivery, but because of my assumption that taking on this gig would gain them traction and popularity.
I couldn’t help but wonder if these learnings from the educational discussions that preceded the protest-driven event itself would translate into greater awakening on their part.
Will this be embedded into their daily living in seeing the society’s ills, or will this experience be all just for their resumes? I’d bet that they’d take pride in this hosting experience for clout.
At the same time, I show my disdain towards people who chose not to care about the Fair, save for the bands that took part in these events.
Passers-by and visitors were adamant in waiting for famous rock acts to take the stage and perform their music.
As such, disdain and disgust towards the speakers who participated in the fair emanated from their consciousness through various means, not realizing that these issues being discussed concern them as well.
The question at hand remains – why were they there in the first place? To just, enjoy?
But, alas, that is the consequence of a free and open FebFair. A protest event mixed with people who would choose to undermine its causes.
Yet the attitudes one will hold in seeing this week-long event is the beauty of keeping this open towards the equally indifferent public – that they may listen to the cries of the marginalized regardless of their (sheer) disinterest
Oh well, here’s to another purposeful FebFair next year, I guess.
But I won’t dare to miss this charade stemmed from clout and indifference towards its real cause – to revolt against continuing injustice. Para sa bayan.
(The author tries to cure his haywire from his personal grind as he writes essays away from the news. For comments, you may reach him at ngrolando2003@yahoo.com.)
