Within the backdrop of bureaucratic militarization and a highly punitive regime, talks to revive mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps have reemerged. Proponents argue that the ROTC will be impactful in inculcating discipline and nationalism among young Filipinos. There have been several studies and accounts of the ineffectiveness of ROTC and how it instead nurtures violence, corruption, and uncritical reverence for authority.
The fundamental law requires the study of the Philippine Constitution in all educational institutions. For decades, a Constitution subject was part of the curriculum of any college student in the Philippines ― whether one aspires to be an architect, engineer, nurse, or teacher. Regardless of the nature of their degrees, students were taught about the highest law.
Arendt’s reminder that individuals have to claim their rights, and not just rely on their supposed universality, necessitates that individuals are capacitated to do so. Rights can be protected because they are claimed.
Spoiler alert: they cannot