One wanted to give UP Board of Regents member Spocky Farolan the benefit of the doubt, and imagine that whatever was posted by the Philippine Star on Twitter on April 7 about his response to UP entrance exam (UPCAT) takers on his Facebook wall was just taken out of context. But as I read through Farolan’s Facebook comments thread myself, I realized that what was tweeted by Philstar was but the tip of the iceberg.

This government official and Presidential appointee, went ballistic on social media unlike any Duterte appointee so far. This is a man who represents first of all the President of the Philippines in the UP Board of Regents, and here he was using foul language, calling K-12 graduates names, throwing invectives their way, and saying to kids and parents waiting for the UPCAT results that they didn’t have to go to UP anyway — UP doesn’t need them.

It’s easy to dismiss Farolan as just another one of Duterte’s men — after all, we’ve got many Farolans in Congress and the Senate, across the Cabinet and our government agencies. What else is new?

But what is new is that Farolan is speaking for the State University, which (we would like to think) is held to higher standards of professionalism and ethics and public service. This is not the kind of behaviour we stand for in the State U. In fact my UP education taught me to stand against displays of arrogance and entitlement such as that which Farolan displayed for all the world to see on social media. 

It all started innocently enough: on April 6, he posts an official announcement that UPCAT results will be released by April 30 2018. Now this is a pretty long delay, considering that usually results are out by January. In the beginning, Farolan responds properly to the few comments that are dismayed by the delay — and by properly I mean he responds with explanations for why the delay is such.

The appropriate offices and staff are doing everything they can to have the checking and release of results done the soonest possible time. For the past two years, only a small number of examinees took the UPCAT due to the two-year hiatus caused by the K-12 program. Last year, I was told that only 5,000 took the UPCAT. This is the first time after two years that UP had to deal with more than 82,000 examinees. Rest assured that everything is being done to fasttrack the release of the results.

And then he responds to the concern about deposits some parents have made to other schools which, by April 30, they will not be able to refund anymore:

For those who were required to make unrefundable deposits to other universities, UP has no control over these schools. Please coordinate with them directly and ask them to consider the situation. I heard some of these universities are guided by Christian values, so maybe they can find it in their Christian hearts to adjust their deadline or their no refund policy.

We emphatize <sic> with the parents, guardians and students and that is why everything is being done to make sure the results are released as soon as possible.

Now here it becomes clear that Farolan has no idea what he’s talking about. Because why would prospective freshmen students and their parents have the power to negotiate with, and change the deadlines and policies of, other universities? Isn’t it the responsibility of the State University — which has bungled the release of UPCAT results this year — to talk to other universities and ask that they extend their deadlines in light of UP’s inability to promptly release test results?

Shouldn’t UP be taking responsibility for this delay given that it is no one’s fault but the University’s that they were ill-prepared for the number of UPCAT takers? Why is Farolan transferring that burden and responsibility to fresh K-12 graduates and their parents when they are nothing but victims here?

Ah, but Farolan is not one to take responsibility for this delay — in fact there is no apology in sight (“emphaty” is not equal to apology). Instead he responds to an FB user who points out that in 2015, there were also 87,000 UPCAT takers (as opposed to 2017’s 82,000), and UP actually released the results by January 2016. The UP Regent responds:

E di ikaw ang mag-check. Feeling magaling ka rin no.

In 2016 and 2017, the UPCAT examinees numbered on 5,000 per year. Those two years definitely broke the rhythm any rhythm already developed. Furthermore, this batch is the first batch of K-12 graduates. A lot of adjustments were made.

Imagine yourself, forever going to the gym then suddenly stopping all physical activity for two years then jumping back into the gym only to find the gym equipment changed and a new regimen imposed. Tingnan ko kung gaano ka kabilis mag-adjust.

In any case, mga ungas lang naman kayo dahil nasa FB. Punta kayo sa Quezon Hall. Usap tayo don. Face to face.

Finally, kung di kayo makapag-antay, e di wag niyo antayin.

No one’s forcing anyone to enter UP.

It’s unclear why Farolan felt so offended by a person reminding him that in 2015, UP handled even more UPCAT takers, and was still able to release results on time. That is a valid response to Farolan invoking the 82,000 examinees as reason for the delay.

What’s even more unclear is the analogy Farolan draws between UP’s experience with UPCAT checking this year, and going to the gym. To begin with, UP going back to more than 80,000 examinees is not a surprise. This is not a jolt to the body, in the way that going back to the gym after two years of no gym at all, would be. The number of examinees was expected, and so was whatever changes the K-12 program required of UP. In fact, contrary to how Farolan spins it, UP had two years to prepare for this UPCAT exam, given the two year break with only 5,000 examinees per year. That UP was still ill-prepared is no one’s fault but UP’s.

But this UP Regent was not about to admit that. Instead he calls these commenters names (mga ungas), tells them they’re only brave on social media, and then dares them to face him at Quezon Hall. And then Farolan says: if UPCAT takers can’t wait, then they should stop waiting. No one’s forcing anyone to enter UP.

This is unbelievable coming from a UP Regent. It is unbelievable coming from an official of a University that is in fact at fault for this delay. This is not about whether or not UPCAT takers can or cannot wait — it’s about why exactly they are being made to wait this long, when so much hinges on results being released on schedule.

Much much later in the thread, an FB user comments “jusko” to which another replies “Feeling ko hindi na ilalabas yung results eh HAHAHAH.” Farolan responds:

Di kayo pinipilit mag-antay.

Kung ayaw niyo mag-antay marami pang ibang mga universities, public and private, na pwede niyo pasukan. On UP’s part, everything is being done to fast track the checking and release. The April 30 deadline was committed by the head of the UP Admissions Office to the UP Board of Regents.

Farolan just doesn’t get it: this is not about whether or not examinees want to wait or not: it’s about UP forcing them to wait longer than expected, which could mean not being able to refund fees paid to other universities, or even, losing the chance to pick another university if they find that they failed the UPCAT after all.

And really? You think all these students have the freedom and money to pick any other university just like that? You think this is a matter of what’s “pwede pasukan”? “Puwede” is a matter of privilege. Options are a matter of privilege. A UP Regent who speaks for the University should know that.

Otherwise he reveals himself to be the worst kind of UP alumnus: arrogant and elitist, clueless and thoughtless, absolutely irresponsible and will not be held accountable.

It’s easy to dismiss him to be just another Duterte appointee with a foulmouth. But this guy should be an embarrassment even to the President. ***