The song “UP Naming Mahal” echoes across the University of the Philippines (UP) with deep emotion and patriotic pride. It is sung in ceremonies, protests, and even in solemn farewells — a powerful invocation of loyalty to the nation’s premier state university. For generations of Iskolar ng Bayan, this line is not merely a song lyric; it is a vow of service to the Filipino people and a declaration of belief in the power of a publicly funded education.
Yet, despite this reverence, there exists a quiet contradiction that undermines the sentiment: many of the same individuals and institutions who passionately celebrate UP also place greater value on academic degrees from American, European, and other foreign universities. This paradox is neither trivial nor rare. It reveals deeper fissures in our national psyche and exposes the unfinished project of postcolonial consciousness in the Philippines.
At the heart of this contradiction is the enduring influence of colonial mentality. Despite UP’s history of nationalist activism and critical scholarship, Filipino society still often equates prestige with foreignness. A Harvard or Oxford degree often commands automatic respect, more than a doctorate earned at UP or any local institution. This is not to disparage the excellence of foreign-trained scholars but to question the reflexive assumption that foreign means better.
This assumption often operates subconsciously. Consider how Filipino media, corporate boards, and even government agencies introduce experts: those with foreign degrees are often emphasized, while equally accomplished local scholars are overlooked.
Within UP itself, many faculty members understandably seek further training abroad, not only to access better research resources but also because such credentials boost their standing at home. The result is a subtle yet powerful feedback loop: even those most committed to UP’s ideals must seek validation from outside to gain influence within.
But the choice is not simply a matter of personal ambition or insecurity. The global academic structure reinforces these dynamics. Many leading journals, funding agencies, and academic networks are centered in the Global North. English-language publications dominate the discourse. Filipino scholars often must first pass through foreign institutions to shape national policy or be heard in global conversations. Thus, what appears as admiration for the West is sometimes a necessary adaptation to a skewed system.
Still, we must not ignore the elitist undercurrents of this reality. A foreign degree carries social capital. It grants entry into exclusive networks and is often used as a status symbol. In the Philippines, where access to foreign education is largely limited to those with resources or connections, this translates into a reinforcement of class hierarchies. The child of a public school teacher who finishes magna cum laude at UP may still be considered less "impressive" than a mediocre student who obtains a foreign master's degree. This disparity is a betrayal of the very values "UP Naming Mahal" represents.
It is here that the contradiction becomes painful. UP was founded to be a university for Filipinos, by Filipinos. It has been home to great thinkers, reformers, artists, scientists, and leaders who transformed the country. Its strength lies in its contextual relevance, its deep understanding of local realities, and its commitment to public service. Yet even as we celebrate these achievements, we continue to look elsewhere for affirmation.
This contradiction is not hypocrisy; it is a symptom of a society still negotiating its postcolonial identity. We remain caught between our desire to define our own standards and our compulsion to conform to global (read: Western) benchmarks. We admire UP as a national treasure, but we doubt its ability to stand on its own against the Harvards and Oxfords of the world — even when UP graduates prove time and again that they can.
What is needed is not blind nationalism, but critical affirmation. We must continue to improve our universities, encourage international exchange, and uphold high standards. But we must also learn to recognize excellence that grows from our own soil. A foreign degree should not be a shortcut to legitimacy, nor should a UP degree be seen as a consolation prize. Both can coexist, but the pedestal must be earned, not presumed.
Overall, if we truly mean it when we sing “UP Naming Mahal,” then we must also mean it in practice — in hiring decisions, in public discourse, in policymaking, and in the stories we tell about success. Otherwise, the song becomes a ritual of nostalgia, not a declaration of belief in our institutions, our own intellects, and our own nation.
And that, more than anything, would be a disservice to UP’s legacy.
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