IT HAS always been like that. There was Mindanao, and then the Philippines, which incidentally Metro Manila wants to claim as them alone.
The superiority is there. The uninformed and unevolved questions that we would often be asked when venturing out there: "Saan ang probinsiya ninyo?" is asked of all from outside metro Manila, and no amount of explaining that Davao City is a charter city and thus does not belong to any province will ever fix their bias. We are of the province, and that is how they insist it to be. "'Di ba mga Muslim lahat ng nandiyan?" That is asked of all Mindanaoans, even in predominantly Christian South Cotabato, especially because, you know... Cotabato. It can be South or North, or even Plutonian Cotabato, and still the uninformed and unevolved will say, "'Di ba mga Muslim lahat ang nandiyan?" Because it's Cotabato, because it's Mindanao.
The sad reality.
And then... when the students of the southern parts top the board and some unbelieving metro graduates with the put-on colegiala twang are insinuating leakage even some backdoor fixing. We can only say, look within, look within.
Sometimes the pride of being in the best schools will become the trigger for complacency of the soul, especially when pride becomes hubris and the person becomes blind to everything, including the things that have to be changed for the better.
In an article on JobStreet.com released in March last year but which still continues to do the rounds, it was learned from a survey of 550 companies that the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) now ranks number 1 among the preferred fresh graduates to employ. Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines are tied at third place, while University of Santo Tomas is at second.
The article said it's because TUP, which used to be a government-subsidized technical institute before it gained its university standing, produces graduates "are very hard-working, often going the extra mile in their job" and "do not tend to complain about tasks and do not give up on assignments given to them."
True, this is but one survey, but this is already a nudge that something is wrong with the attitude borne from the privilege of being in the top universities. Something has to be done.
But since, it seems, things will go the way it's been going, then the top universities will just have to protect their turf as the poor, struggling probinsiyanos who have higher dreams and aspirations beyond their own needs and social standing will be leading the pack, and leave the privileged behind.
The clarions are calling. The challenge is on.
In the meantime, we cheer for our local graduates and congratulate them for the fervor in their hearts. Keep on excelling. Keep on giving.