The 86th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Volleyball kicked off over the weekend, and while many are still celebrating the victories of the University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) volleyball squads, the university has found itself in hot water after the takedown of a viral picture many perceived as amusing and harmless. Here’s everything you need to know:

The viral photo dilemma

Last Thursday, a photo posted on social media by TomasinoWeb (UST’s online media organization) featuring students from the College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS) quickly went viral. At first glance, it looked like any other photo until people noticed the similarity of the students’ uniforms with a 7-Eleven employee in the background. 

The picture was taken in good jest, which made it all the more surprising when UST’s Office for Student Affairs (OSA) ordered it to be removed.

TomasinoWeb released a statement

After the photo was deleted, TomasinoWeb released an official statement on its website and social media platforms.

“TomasinoWeb, the premier digital media organization of the University of Santo Tomas, values the principles of journalistic integrity and its role as a part of the Thomasian community,” their statement reads.

TomasinoWeb then explained how some UST’s administration members raised concerns regarding the now-deleted picture. The online media organization was also told how it became the source of public ridicule toward CICS students, their College, and the University as a whole due to the perceived similarity between the uniforms of the CICS students and 7-Eleven employees.

“TomasinoWeb never intended to cause any harm to anyone. While we believe being a convenience store worker is honest work, we acknowledge that the photograph still caused a stir online, and for that, we sincerely apologize.”

TomasinoWeb adviser resigns

Elsewhere, Leo Laparan II, a desk editor at The Philippine Star and adviser of TomasinoWeb, resigned from his post days after the photo takedown. 

“For self-preservation ‘yung ginawa ko – to keep my dignity and pride as a journalist na natapakan, I decided to resign…I don’t want to work in a setting like that,” Laparan told The Varsitarian.

The UST Journalism Society has also issued a statement in support of TomasinoWeb. They said student leaders and their faculty advisers must be able to work within an environment of mutual respect and trust free of undue interference. 

“The censorship of student journalists is a throwback to bygone eras of colonial rule and martial law repression and has no place in UST,” the organization wrote.

Was the situation blown out of proportion?

Let’s be honest; jokes and memes poking fun at our universities or students have been around for as long as we can remember. We always say that UST is the so-called mecca of ghosters, and let’s also not forget the conyo culture strongly associated with De La Salle University and Ateneo De Manila University students.

Everyone who saw the now-deleted photo couldn’t help but express their frustration towards UST and its administration. They said there was nothing wrong with being compared with convenience store employees in the first place. 

“Parang mas may mali sa kaisipan na “public ridicule” ang maihalintulad sa employees ng isang convenience store,” one Facebook user wrote.

Some pointed out the administration’s actions showed they couldn’t take a harmless joke.

“Instead na magmukhang forward thinking si UST, parang pabalik sa Dark Ages. Rename OSA to OA na lang kung parating ganyan,” another one said.

People also reminded everyone that we should embrace social inclusivity more with the working class. There are way more significant issues in universities and our education system that need immediate attention.

“I don’t find any offense in associating the uniform with the working class. Unless their classist sentiments got hurt. As a Catholic University with the preferential option for the marginalized, we should embrace the thought of social inclusivity with the working class. AB men’s uniform has long been mistaken as a rich man’s bodyguard or family driver; we never got offended.”

As of writing, TomasinoWeb’s publication across all social media platforms is on hold until further notice per OSA’s protocol.

What can you say about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.