UP students stage 'Black Friday' walkout vs corruption, budget cuts
By Hannah Nicol
Students and the UP Community walk out of their classes and stage a Black Friday protest against corruption in government projects at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, September 12, 2025. The protestors urge the government to held officials accountable in flood control projects anomalies and demand a higher education budget amid massive cuts and unfinished infrastructures. (Santi San Juan)
Several students and faculty members of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman walked out of their classrooms for a “Black Friday” protest on Sept. 12, to denounce alleged corruption in government projects and the recent budget cuts in education.
Students and the UP Community walk out of their classes and stage a Black Friday protest against corruption in government projects at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Friday, September 12, 2025. The protestors urge the government to held officials accountable in flood control projects anomalies and demand a higher education budget amid massive cuts and unfinished infrastructures. (Santi San Juan)
Students wearing black shirts marched out of their classrooms carrying placards with the messages:
“Fund academic spaces.”
“Pondo sa tao, hindi sa trapo (Funds for the people, not for corrupt politicians).”
“Ikulong ang dapat ikulong, managot ang dapat managot (Jail those who must be jailed, hold accountable those who must be held accountable).”
Demonstrators gathered at the campus to call for accountability in flood control project anomalies and to demand for a higher budget for state universities and colleges.
Student leaders said billions of pesos have been wasted on incomplete or irregular infrastructure projects, while schools and universities continue to struggle with shortages in classrooms, facilities, and basic resources.
Faculty members and other members of the UP community also joined the protest, stressing that investing in education should take priority over questionable projects.
The demonstrators vowed to continue their campaign for transparency and accountability and to resist budget cuts that, they warned, would further burden students and compromise the quality of education in the country.