Freedom in choosing where to belong

Freedom is a state of being where a person has the right to choose without anyone telling him what to do. The University of the Philippines takes pride in being the most liberated and free compared to other universities in the country. The student's freedom can be seen in simple things like having the right to choose what to wear, they can wear sando and shorts to school, or a dress with boots and no one would care. Freedom can be heard along with the shouts of UP students fighting for their and other people's rights. Freedom can be seen in the eyes of students and teachers who are learning, teaching, and pursuing knowledge without restrictions and censorship. The university values service and freedom above all. Even in choosing the student organization to join, there is freedom. First of all, what is a student organization? A student organization or commonly known as 'org' is a group composed of 15 or more students that share the same interests, opinions, passions, and goals. These group of people meet regularly and put together activities and events to fulfill the organization's goals. Student organizations connect students. The orgs help develop and mold a student's values and perspective in life. Not only do the student organizations help build strong lasting bonds, it also serves as a means for growth, leadership development, and human understanding. The many organizations of the University of the Philippines becomes an outlet for many students and enables students to become free and express themselves. There are two types of student organizations in UP: college-based organizations which are under the colleges' respective deans where the majority of members

should be enrolled in one college and university-based organizations which are under the ViceChancellor for Student Affairs where majority of members should be enrolled in different colleges.

The students are free to choose from over 200 unique organizations in UP. There are 11 types of student organizations: Academic, orgs related to different departments, subjects, or specializations like UP Circle of Engineering Students (UP CREST) and UP Mathematics Club; Alliance, combination of two or more student organizations that share the same ideas and goals, examples are Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral Para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (ALYANSA) and Nagkakaisang Iskolar Para sa Pamantasan at Kaunlaran (KAISA); Cause-oriented, orgs that readily engages in activism and speaks out for human rights, social and political issues and other related matter such as National Network of Agrarian reform Advocates Youth Sector (NNARA-YOUTH) and UP Club for the Environment and Tourism (UP Club Ecotour); Community service, engages in community services inside or outside of the university like Kabataang Aktibo At Nagkakaisang Iskolar ng Bayani (KAANIB)and Klub Tala; Dormitory association, comprised of campus dormitory students like UP YAKAL RESIDENCE HALL ASSOCIATION (UP YRHA) and Sampaguita Residence Hall Association (SAREHA); Fraternity, group of males bonded together by brotherhood such as Alpha Sigma Fraternity and Pi Sigma Fraternity; Regional/Provincial, group of students from a certain region or province such as UP Kalipunan ng mga Anak ng Isabela (UP KAISA) and UP Organization of Novo Ecijanos (UP ONE); Religious, association based on religious beliefs and spiritual practices The Adventist Ministry to

College and University Students - UP Diliman (AMiCUS-UPD) and UP- Diliman Campus Crusade for Christ; Sorority, group of females bonded by sisterhood like UP Artists' Circle Sorority and Phi Delta Alpha Sorority; Special Interest, orgs that cannot be associated with the other types of student organizations like Astronomical Society (UP Astrosoc) and Repertory Company (UP REP); Sports and Recreation, engages in physical and/or activities and must be accredited by the College of Human Kinetics before they become official such as UP Dragonboat Team and Laya Football Club. There are over 200 student organizations that an isko/iska can join and there are over 200 reasons to join a student organization. Fortunately, every student can choose for himself/herself.