Not just plagiarism but omission, too
This season, the UAAP’s motto is “Go For Great” and it could’ve probably been lifted from the NBA G-League’s slogan of “We Don’t Go For Good, We Go For Great.” Can’t the UAAP be more original? Is this a case of plagiarism? What are the chances that the UAAP thought of a motto without “inspiration” from the NBA G-League which by the way is covered on local TV? It’s bad enough that the Department of Tourism had to cancel its “Sights” ad campaign last year because of an uncanny similarity with a media pitch of the same nature by South Africa, creating a howl of protest on the grounds of plagiarism, lack of creativity and mental dishonesty.
The UAAP can’t be anywhere close to “going for great” if it’s just a copycat. What an example some of the country’s best universities are showing to their students in tolerating this apparent act of plagiarism! The least the UAAP should do is to withdraw the slogan immediately out of delicadeza. But then, since when has the UAAP been known for delicadeza? The inhuman decisions made by the UAAP Board of Trustees to disenfranchise certain players to protect vested interests in the past were so brazen that the school presidents had to step in, form their own Board as a policy-making body and downgrade the previous Board of Trustees to a Board of Managing Directors.
Worse, the government even took notice of the UAAP’s partisan politics by creating a new law barring a repeat of the Koko Pingoy incident and the courts reversed discriminatory decisions involving UP swimmer Mikee Bartolome in 2013 and UP basketball player Rob Ricafort this season. The reversals should’ve prompted concerned members of the UAAP Board to resign but do they know the meaning of delicadeza? What’s making the members of the Board hold on to their positions like a certain POC official who just got the boot? Loyalty to their school or perks from ABS-CBN?
Now comes another accusation on the UAAP, this time from UST alumnus Dr. Raul Palma, a 1983 graduate of medicine and surgery. His beef has to do with an unfair omission in the documentary by ABS-CBN and the UAAP regarding the “great moments in UAAP sports.” Dr. Palma sent in this letter:
“It has been observed by many, especially UST alumni, that there seems to be unequal distribution in the presentation of sports achievements among universities in the UAAP on TV. While other schools have had good exposure, UST’s great sports achievements have been left out. For one, UST’s 41 general championships, including 14 straight years, were left out in the documentary and plug-ins. Without lifting our own hat, this record alone is the single most important parameter of dominance in collegiate sports.
“Others include 24 baseball championships, 62 swimming championships, more than 20 football championships, the winningest school in taekwondo, judo, beach volleyball, table tennis, lawn tennis and poomsae. UST is the only school with a three-division championship in basketball in one season, 1994. UST is the first 14-game sweeper in men’s basketball that became the champion in 1993. It broke FEU’s 12-0 record. In fact, UST has the most number of basketball championships in the UAAP seniors, men and women, and juniors combined.
“Not one of those I mentioned was included in the UAAP ‘Go For Great’ documentary and during live coverage commercials. I feel this is very unfair to UST. These coverages and documentaries are seen here and abroad. It makes it appear that UST is not a school to reckon with in collegiate sports in the Philippines whereas the opposite is true. I feel that UST should gently call the attention of the season hosts, the UAAP Board, and
ABS-CBN for this unfortunate oversight that should be rectified so that the truth will be properly presented.
“To be fair, ABS-CBN included UST’s eight cheerdance championships and five-peat. However, with all due respect to the Salinggawi Dance Troupe, cheerdance is a demonstration sport. Why choose it over much more prominent achievements? The UST alumni request the authorities concerned to review this matter and hopefully, correct the presentation of UAAP sports achievements this season 80 in a fair, equal and well-balanced manner. We simply want the truth to prevail with regard to UST’s sports achievements. The moments that were? The moments that are? The moments that will be? Where is UST?”