Beyond the Big 4: The Truth About Class and Education in the Philippines

Elite Education in the Philippines: Gateway or Gatekeeping?

Throughout most of Philippine history, higher education belonged only to the rich. From the ilustrados who went abroad to study in Europe in the Spanish period, to the pensionados who were sent to the United States during the American period, education was never merely about learning—it was about class.

Even now, our education system is still reflective of that truth. The better schools are still pricey and exclusive, while most Filipinos are stuck with under-funded public schools. As sociologist Dr. Lorenzana explains:

"Schools are a proxy for social class identity. The way this works as a class practice is through the process of distinction."

In other words, schools don't just educate. They sort. They define. They divide.

Education as Social Capital

Which "flavor" of elite education you receive often determines your career trajectory. Certain schools have a reputation for medicine, others law or business. Each one specializes, perpetuating the idea that education isn't about gaining knowledge—it's about gaining entry to opportunities.

This has implications:

• HR officers view the name of the school on a CV as a gauge of "quality."
• Networks created in elite schools become internships, employment, and promotions.
• Cultural capital—accents, mannerisms, even extracurriculums—marks class.
• The outcome? School reinforces inequality rather than eradicates it.

Rebuttal #1: "Everyone has equal access now, we have scholarships."

True, scholarships do exist. But they only serve a limited number of students, and most of them demand already solid academic backgrounds to start with. In the meantime, the rest still struggle through crowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, and archaic curricula in public schools.

Data Check: UNESCO (2022) indicates that the Philippines invests only 3.2% of its GDP in education, far from the recommended 6%. This constrains access and quality across the board. Scholarships will not make a dent in bridging the gap when the system is inherently unequal.

Rebuttal #2: "It's about merit, not money."

Education rewards talent and hard work in theory. Privilege tilts the table in practice. A student who attends a wealthy private school can score high marks on university entrance exams—not only due to aptitude, but because the private school paid for smaller class sizes, improved facilities, and test preparation.

Their equally able public school peers struggle with much fewer resources. Meritocracy is impossible without equal opportunity.

Rebuttal #3: "At least K-12 and CHED reforms make us job-ready."

The Education Department has made efforts to make K-12 "job market-ready," while CHED has pushed to lower general education requirements. The concept is to make employability more important than liberal arts.

But this sole focus can lead to schools becoming factories for low-wage jobs. A diploma that ensures only a ₱20,000 starting salary is not the life-changing promise of education—it's a compromise.

Education must not be merely about employment; it must be about self-empowerment, critical thinking, and civic engagement. Framing it as a pipeline for cheap labor devalues its real worth.

On Self-Worth Beyond the "Big 4"

What about those who don't hail from Ateneo, UP, La Salle, or UST? Are they bound for less? Maybe not.

Dr. Lorenzana's counsel pierces the illusion:

“To make it in this world, one needs to have realistic goals and survive. Do not resent yourself or society for your social situation. Learn the rules of the game.”

This means finding ways to build capital outside of school branding:

• Building a portfolio of actual work and skills.
• Leveraging online platforms for certifications and training.
• Expanding networks beyond school through organizations, volunteering, or freelance work.
• Prestige opens doors, but skills and hard work keep them open.

Last Thought

The Philippine education system is still highly bound to class identity. The "Big 4" and other elite universities continue to dominate channels to power and affluence. But education needs to be taken back not as a gatekeeper, but as a gateway—for all Filipinos, no matter the status.

We are not fated to an unfair system. But we cannot pretend that scholarships and ad hoc reforms suffice. True change calls for systemic reform: increased investment in public schools, more equitable hiring practices that don't discriminate based on alma mater, and a cultural shift that rewards competence over connections.

Until then, we play "the game." But maybe it's time we quit just playing by the rules—and began rewriting them.

When Principles Create Opposition

A Man Without Enemies Is a Man Without Qualities

We're living in a world where we habitually admire individuals who are "everyone's favorite." But the catch here is this: if no one dislikes you, if you have never offended anyone with your beliefs, then maybe you've never really believed in anything to begin with.

Why Enemies Are Proof of Conviction

To have enemies isn't to be offensive or cruel for the sake of being so. It's to live with integrity tough enough to resist lies, injustice, and mediocrity. The moment you stand up for something—against corruption, dishonesty, or plain wrongdoing—someone will be threatened by your existence.

Enemies, in this context, are the shadows of your principles. They are there because your virtues beam so highly that they bring to light what others would be happier keeping in the dark.

Neutrality Is Comfortable, but Empty

A man who is well-liked by all tends to opt for neutrality. He shies away from conflict,concurs with whoever yells the loudest, and compromises his values to maintain peace. Although this may appear like harmony on the outside, it is hollowness masquerading as one.

Reality? Neutrality is safe but lacks backbone. A man without an enemy is a blank slate—nothing offending, but nothing worthy either.

The Greats Always Had Enemies

• Socrates was sentenced to death for challenging the status quo.
• Jose Rizal was put to death for opposing oppression.
• Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years before he became a freedom icon worldwide.
• Bro. Eli Soriano who were maligned because of religious persecution.

Each one had enemies, not because each one was not good, but because their goodness was too disruptive to those who profit from injustice.

Enemies Are a Byproduct of Qualities

If you are truthful, you will be detested by liars.
If you are courageous, you will be fought by cowards.
If you are self-controlled, you will be admired by the indolent.
If you are accomplished, you will be hated by the mediocre.
Your enemies are not evidence of your weaknesses, but of your influence.

Final Thought

An enemyless man is a man of no qualities because to live with no adversaries is to live without belief. If you never provoke argument, never upset any apple carts, never challenge thinking—you've just been present, not lived.

Do not be afraid of enemies, then. Be afraid, rather, of being so dull and unremarkable that you never get any.

Kind but not weak

Never Assume the Kind, Peaceful Person Is Unprepared for War

We tend to mistake kindness for weakness. When a person is calm, patient, and forgiving, it's easy to assume that they can be pushed around or taken advantage of. But history, philosophy, and even daily life remind us of a deeper truth: the kind and peaceful person is often the most prepared for war.

Why Kindness Should Never Be Confused With Weakness

Non-violent individuals aren't non-violent due to a lack of strength; they're non-violent because they've become proficient at it. They understand how destructive rage and violence can be, so they opt for restraint. But when pressed beyond rationale—when injustice, betrayal, or oppression knocks on the door—these are the same people who can call upon unimaginable will.

It's similar to the peaceful ocean—quiet on the surface but powerful enough to create storms that can redraw coastlines.

Preparedness Concealed Behind Peace

The kind soul has suffered more than we can imagine. Their kindness is not founded on naivety, but on struggle, suffering, and perseverance. They are the ones who've learned to bear burdens in silence, to remain calm when others would lose it, to listen rather than respond with anger.

And just because they've conditioned themselves to be at peace, they also know when to release power. Their fight may not be physical per se—it might be a fight of principles, of standing up against evil, of saying what is right in a sea of wrong, or of safeguarding their loved ones no matter what.

The Dangerous Power of the Peaceful

When war—real or figurative—comes, the underestimator becomes the one that people depend on. Their patience becomes strategy. Their empathy becomes leadership. Their silence becomes wisdom.

Sun Tzu penned in The Art of War: "Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak." Such is the peaceful person. You might never notice their complete strength until the day it's required. And when that day arrives, it can turn the tide in battles—personal or governmental.

Daily Evidence

• The shy student who ultimately confronts a bully.
• The unassuming worker who reveals wrongdoing.
• The peaceful parent who transforms into a lion when their child is threatened.
• The nonviolent citizen who goes onto the streets when democracy is crushed.
• Both remind us that peace is not passivity—it's controlled power.

Final Thought

Never think the gentle and peaceful individual is not ready for war. Behind their serenity there is a strength that, if aroused, can rattle worlds.

Peace is their option. But should war come upon them, they will battle—and they will battle with a passion far hotter than those who endure strife daily.

Noise culture

Do Loudspeakers Prove Anything? The Culture of Noise in Public Spaces

We’ve all experienced it: riding a bus or sitting in a jeepney, when suddenly someone decides the entire vehicle needs to hear their music or watch their TikTok videos at full volume. No earphones, no consideration—just raw sound blasting through a phone speaker like the rest of us are background extras in their personal music video.

It begs the question: what exactly are they trying to prove?

Noise as a Misplaced Badge of Confidence

For some, loud music in public is a way of saying, “Look at me! I’m here! I matter!” It’s a substitute for presence, a kind of noisy self-assertion. The irony? Instead of respect, it usually breeds irritation.

Much like corruption in government or vote-buying during elections, loudspeaker behavior is a symptom of something deeper: a system of tolerance for inconsiderate actions. Because people rarely get called out, the bad habit thrives.

The Illusion of Power Through Volume

Blasting music in a confined space doesn’t make one powerful or cool. It makes one inconsiderate. True confidence doesn’t need to intrude on others’ peace.

And if we look closer, this mirrors larger cultural problems in the Philippines:

Politicians amplify slogans but not solutions.

Officials make noise during campaigns, then go silent on accountability.

Citizens, frustrated with systemic issues, sometimes channel the same “noise first” attitude in daily life.

Noise becomes a metaphor for pretending to matter without truly contributing value.

Respect is the Real Flex

Just like how good governance requires systems that reward accountability, good public behavior requires social norms that reward respect.

Wearing earphones instead of blasting speakers is not just about courtesy—it’s about recognizing that your freedom ends where another person’s begins.

In the same way, our politics and economy need boundaries that prevent the powerful from trampling over ordinary people.

When we normalize inconsiderate behavior—whether in buses or in politics—we allow “noise” to replace genuine progress.

Reform Starts with Small Things

If we want systemic reform in governance, we should also start demanding reform in everyday behavior. That means:

• Speaking up when noise intrudes on public spaces.
• Modeling respect instead of tolerating selfishness.
• Understanding that “pakisama” doesn’t mean silence in the face of inconsiderate acts.

Because when we let the small forms of disrespect slide, it’s easier to let the bigger ones pass too.

Final Word

So the next time someone blasts their phone speaker on the bus, ask yourself: Is this confidence, or just noise?

In life and in politics, it’s the same lesson: volume is not value. Respect, accountability, and consideration are.

Real maturity is not about how loud you can be—it’s about how much peace you allow others to have.