Graphics by INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — A student organization from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman is embroiled in controversy after a list of challenging tasks for an internal event circulated on social media and sparked widespread rebuke.
At the center of the issue is a supposed outline of tasks for the UP Junior Marketing Association’s (UP JMA) annual “committee wars,” which was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a user who uploaded screenshots from a UP-related Reddit forum.
saw this on reddit… ito daw dares sa applicants ng jma???? pa-confirm naman if true 😭 pic.twitter.com/rahkpfIRcx
— hannah (@hannahgagalac) October 16, 2023
The supposed tasks drew a chorus of condemnation as some of the acts called for borderline criminal stunts to downright humiliating behaviors, such as “making out with a tree trunk,” “licking the pavement,” “shouting at a traffic enforcer,” and “doing a striptease act for two minutes,” among others.
X user on UP JMA tasks. Image from X
Another X user, @iskolarspeakss, said some applicants participated in the activity, which is part of the organization’s anniversary celebration. “This has been going on for years,” they said.
The user also uploaded screenshots from the now-defunct X account @upjmaanniv showing some of the “dares” for the committee wars.
https://twitter.com/iskolarspeakss/status/1713894676955369765
These X posts have since become viral on social media, with several users criticizing the UP JMA for “power-tripping,” putting its applicants in humiliating scenarios, and being “out of touch.” “I hate the elitist attitude of excluding yourself just because you’re well-off,” a UP student said.
Some individuals also confirmed the list’s legitimacy and shared their experiences with the organization.
JMA din pala 'yung nag-approach sa 'min sa sunken last sem para tanungin 'yung personal advocacies mo tas after pouring your heart out sasabihan ka lang ng "walang may pake" ! another upd mystery solved<3 https://t.co/d4bk97Ltwy
— long bacon store (@meIonmochi) October 16, 2023
Students also pointed to the broader culture of student organizations in the nation’s premier state university, which has seen similar cases in recent years.
Several UP organizations denounced the UP JMA for failing to uphold safe spaces for students and fostering a culture of violence within its ranks.
“Whether or not the members consented, violent activities like these SHOULD NOT exist in the first place—most especially for an organization that champions safe spaces. […] No spaces are safe if the people who claim to work toward it do not abide by the principles it entails,” said LGBTQ+ organization UP Babaylan.
No spaces are safe if the people who claim to work toward it do not abide by the principles it entails. We condemn the violence existing within the organization and we demand that UP JMA exercise accountability to the highest degree.
DO BETTER.#SafeSpacesNOW#Endlmpunity pic.twitter.com/o0rQcabkss
— UP Babaylan 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ #SOGIEEqualityNow (@upbabaylan) October 16, 2023
The organizers of the annual UP Pride also ended their partnership with UP JMA over the issue.
“In our calls for equality, we have to foster, maintain, and defend the safe spaces that we have long advocated for. Unfortunately, UP JMA failed to uphold this,” their statement read.
In light of recent events, UP Pride 2023 is no longer in partnership with UP JMA. We do not have any more commitments from and to them.
UP Pride 2023 will continue being a safe space to champion our calls for freedom and equality.
Thank you.#UPPride2023#SafeSpacesNOW pic.twitter.com/ycYt7C0jo5
— UP Pride (@upprideofficial) October 16, 2023
Meanwhile, women’s group Gabriela Youth – UP Diliman called out the UP JMA for failing to commit to its advocacies and called on the organization to take appropriate action.
“Bagaman iginigiit nila na ito ay consensual, ang pag-iral ng iba’t ibang porma ng karahasan at pang-aabuso sa loob ng organisasyon nang maraming taon ay nagpapakita sa patuloy na kapabayaan ng mga taong namumuno rin dito,” it said.
(While they insist these tasks are consensual, the persistence of these forms of violence and abuse within the organization for many years show the continuous negligence of its leaders.)
READ: Gabriela Youth- UP Diliman’s Official Statement on UP JMA
Full Statement: https://t.co/xIOTQcRjxY pic.twitter.com/Aakku7ZAtT
— Gabriela Youth UP Diliman (@gabyouthupd) October 17, 2023
Days after the list went viral, the controversy-embroiled student organization released a statement taking accountability for the issue, saying there are “no excuses for the events that transpired.”
“We sincerely denounce and apologize for the severity of these dares and the disrespect towards bystanders who are not affiliated with JMA. We realize the grave hypocrisy in championing the needs, rights, and welfare of women and the LGBT+ sector, all while holding an activity that is in direct opposition to everything that we stand for as an organization,” it said.
[OFFICIAL UP JMA STATEMENT] pic.twitter.com/NTRzLVBdJ1
— UP JMA (@OfficialUPJMA) October 17, 2023
The UP JMA also announced that it will not be a night handler for next year’s UP Fair, where it regularly advocated for gender equality and women’s rights.
“[W]e cannot in good faith stand to be the representative body to advocate for such sectors during the upcoming UP Fair and formally announce our forfeiture as night handlers. We recognize that there is considerable work to be done internally before we can mount an event of this gravity,” the organization said.
“UP JMA is one with the UP community’s call that all forms of harassment and impunity have no place within the university,” it added. EDV