‘Pilate-an’ statement from university heads
This is in reaction to the article titled, “Top schools call for united front vs corruption” (News, 2/14/14). The four presidents of the so-called top schools (by what standards?) said: “As institutions of higher learning, we send word to our nation that we shall keep vigil until the truth is told and we at last are free.” I call this statement
“Pilate-an,” meant to project in public that a person is clean and has had no hand in a particular issue.
In other words, the joint statement of the presidents of the four universities—Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle, Miriam and the University of the Philippines (in alphabetical order)—is a brazen, hypocritical attempt to project an innocent image. Lest they forget, most of the government officials, past and present, who have been charged with corruption, graduated from their institutions. These public officials were once their students praying and attending religious ceremonies with them. These are their products, so to speak. What lasting values had their schools inculcated in the minds of these officials during their young, formative school days?
Worse, the university heads even dare to ask: “Will we never tire of asking ‘how many times can a man turn his head, pretending he just doesn’t see?’” They should ask themselves this question or call a university meeting with their staff, faculty and board members to find concrete answers to the question instead of just proclaiming their university themes and mottos.
Who’s pretending then? Obviously, a person’s character is not carved by the school he went to or by the organization(s) he belongs to. But to hear a school sound like it molds its students according to its motto makes me feel embarrassed because I once taught in a Catholic university, and I was guilty of failing to impart good values to my students.
The four university officials should start cleaning their own house first. It would be interesting to know who the investors of these universities, who the board members (of their nonprofit organizations?) are.
What about the teachers or staff in these institutions? Are they treated fairly?
Anyway, the season of Lent will be upon us soon, and once again we can hear the mighty words of Pilate: “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
—CARLOS ERWIN I. FAJARDO,
