MSU-IIT's Palakasan: From Inclusivity to Exclusivity?

The Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) has long been recognized for its commitment to excellence in education, research, and community involvement. However, the recent introduction of ticketing for the much-awaited Palakasan Opening Program has left many students feeling excluded and disillusioned with the event they once, or is about to cherish.

Palakasan, MSU-IIT’s annual sports event, has always been a beacon of camaraderie, athleticism, and school pride. It is a time when students, faculty, and staff come together to celebrate their shared passion for sports and the spirit of competition. For decades, Palakasan has been an open event, where everyone is welcomed and encouraged to participate in the festivities.

However, this year’s decision to limit the number of attendees by implementing a ticket system has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many students who were unable to attend the Opening Program due to the imposed restriction. It is crucial to address the question of why the Kataastaasang Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral (KASAMA), MSU-IIT’s student government body, decided to introduce such a system, and whether it has achieved its intended purpose.

The overwhelming response from the MSU-IIT community on social media, particularly Twitter, highlights the dissatisfaction with this decision. A Twitter poll, which drew considerable attention, revealed that 95% of the respondents were in favor of “no tickets” for the Palakasan Opening Program. The University’s Chancellor was tagged in the post multiple times, emphasizing the importance of the issue and the need for the administrator’s attention.

While the rationale behind the ticketing system remains clouded, we can speculate that the decision might have been driven by concerns related to crowd control and safety. As the University’s population continues to grow, the need to ensure the well-being of everyone during large-scale events becomes increasingly important. However, in the pursuit of safety and security, it is essential not to lose sight of the very essence of Palakasan: inclusivity.

With the implementation of this system, the organizing body has opened of itself of sending the wrong message about the values of coming together that the organization has always championed. In light of these concerns, it is imperative for the KASAMA and the administration to revisit and recalibrate their decision to arrive at a more sound solution that can address safety concerns while preserving the inclusive spirit of Palakasan. Communication with the student body is key; a transparent dialogue can help identify concerns, generate ideas, and build a consensus on how to move forward.

Palakasan is a symbol of unity, sportsmanship, and shared pride in being part of the MSU-IIT community. As such, it is crucial that future iterations of the vent embrace these core values and ensure that every member of the university is welcome to participate in the festivities.

Let us hope that the lessons learned from this year’s Palakasan, as well as the collective voice of the students expressed through social media, can serve as a catalyst for positive change. This change would inspire the KASAMA and the administration to work togethe in fostering a more inclusive and vibrant MSU-IIT community.

About the Author

Jemylene Lico

I'm Jem, currently studying BS Psychology at MSU-IIT. I've been associated with journalism since I was grade 3, and started as radio broadcaster (showbiz news), then proceeded to become a feature writer at grade 4. Then I saw a scarcity of editorial cartoonist at our school so I decided to become one and taught myself the art of editorial cartooning. When I got to high school, I started as the editorial cartoonist / Lay out artist at our school publication and began to win division level and Regional level contests. I'm also a prominent poster maker since grade 5 up to Senior High and won various awards at RSPC, ESPRC, RFOT, etc. I also taught myself how to lay out using adobe indesign and adobe photoshop and helped my high school publication (Misonahisian now known as "Ang Kabisera") won an award for being the 4th best editorial page, national level, at NSPC 2019. I'm currently a working student trying to juggle my freelance work and school, hoping for the best that I may endure the semester.