April 2022: Quezon City, NCR

Legend has it that every eight o'clock in the morning, noon, one o'clock in the afternoon, and five o'clock in the evening, there is an unknown being... an unidentified person... who runs around the university. This event is supposed to coincide with the time the old bell tower rings. He does not stand out in the crowd. He wears casual civilian clothes like the most of us, not a costume like the superheroes we see on television and in movie theaters (power is in the costume). For a few years to this day, this legend has been circulating among students and teachers alike. Is he a student? A teacher? The university president? A true and through runner? Or just some random man on the street? Someone who has nothing much to do in life?

With that thought at the back of our minds, we go back to Rendo. He managed to graduate with honors in a public high school, and became a scholar in a state university. The very university mentioned earlier. Of course, since all students are "scholars" in the university, it also goes that no special treatment is being done. Therefore, if the affluent students get to pay their tuition fees (they form 90% of the student population), then the indigent students (10% of the student population) also get to pay their own share of the fees. This is the reality of equality. However, as it may be recalled, Rendo is definitely unable to pay for his school fees. What happened?

No. His parents did not get the regular eight-to-five work. Their financial situation remains almost the same as seven years ago, although inflation begins to make things worse for them.

Rendo applied for socialized tuition. This sort of bracketing scheme means that students belonging to a certain socio-economic status may be qualified to pay lesser fees. Of course, state universities can afford scholarships for at least two reasons:

1. A larger part of the student population comes from a higher socio-economic status. This means that any privilege given to the lower 10% can still be compensated by the upper 90%.

2. As a state university, it gains subsidy from the government. It may not be a full subsidy, considering the tight resources of a country like the Philippines, but a subsidy still.

Of course, he still pays fees even if the tuition is free, but it would take a lot more discussion about university policy. The gist is that Rendo gets to pay less for the same quality of education.

Here we are, and Rendo is running once more... not as an athlete, but as a student leader. At this time, we catch him campaigning for a seat in the university student council. However, just like his running style, his campaigning style is unconventional all the same. He goes in one of the college buildings and performs weird dancing in the lobby to catch the people's attention. He uses technology, such as social media, drones, and screens, to propagate his message. He rejected traditional campaigning methods such as motorcades, paper bills (this is not what you think it is), and classroom pep talks. What is he fighting for? Of course, there is always the rhetoric to pay less for the same quality of education. A lot of student leaders can easily gain votes with this kind of platform. Still, he personally (and secretly) believes that while education is a right, quality education is a privilege. At best, he is neutral in this issue, even though he himself may benefit from free tuition fees.

The main thrust of his campaign is to increase student participation and involvement in making and implementing university policies, emphasizing innovation, technology, and an initiative-based system as suitable partners for massive reform. It was not a long time ago when the university did not have a student council altogether due to apathy - no one dared to take charge of a student body then plagued by abuse, corruption, and other dubious practices.

However, despite all the goodwill in his arsenal, Rendo loses in the election.

One classmate approached him and said, "Hey, RL, my man! Isn't it tough losing the election?"

Rendo smiled and said, "Not at all."

His classmate was surprised. "Really now? You spent your own money. You campaigned all by yourself. Now you tell me it's nothing?!"

"You don't get it, do you?"

"If I don't know you, I would have smacked you in the face. But okay, what do you mean?"

"It just goes to show that this era isn't ready for me."

"Don't go saying lines from anime!"

Rendo laughed before saying, "We both know how university politics go. This is the foundation of our national politics. If our university is not yet ready for the change I offer, then our nation isn't either. As much as we want to put ourselves up as the paragons of progress, students will reject change as much as their parents. Plain and simple."

"Well... wow. You already!"

"Oh I don't know about that!"

There are various reasons why Rendo did not win. As an independent, he does not possess the necessary connections to form a voting base strong enough to carry him in the polls. At best, the vote he attracted were mostly from the minority, and minority vote does not always vote as a single bloc. This lack of connection also cost him the election. As much as issues are being tackled, friendships and similar deep connections tilt the populace to your ideals. This is where charisma enters. We all like that good-looking candidate with a flattering tongue and platforms that do not necessarily clash with the norm. As always, the package is 90% of the deal.

The next day, a junior of his approached Rendo and asked almost the same question, but the conversation went something like this.

"By campaigning alone, you mean only you?"

"Ah, yes. Why?"

"Cool!"

"Cool, how?"

"You mean to tell me that you managed to visit every college building in our university?!"

"Well, yes, but...?"

"Really cool!"

The university was around 400 hectares, or four (4) square kilometers. This is around ten times the size of Vatican City. Meanwhile, the campaign period was a mere two weeks, or ten school days.

"You seem like a sports fan, but if you'll ask if I do sports, then no."

The junior student wore a football jersey and shorts, even though he did not have physical education (PE) classes that day.

"Oh, wait... I just realized!"

"What?"

"Could you possibly be...?"

"What? I can't hear your mumbling!"

"You know, the legendary runner?"

"The who?"

"The legendary runner who goes around the campus four times a day!"

"Legendary? Me? Pfft. Gimme a break."

"Who else could have pulled that off, hmm?"

"Well, there are a lot of track and field athletes in our varsity. One of them must have been the legend you're talking about."

"Hrmm?"

"Mm?"

"I suppose... you've got a point, but yours is still quite a feat!"

"Yes, but not enough to stir the hearts of our people... I campaigned not with the hopes of winning, but with the hopes of inspiring the university to become the pioneer for change. You see, if there is nothing ventured, then we gain nothing... If not us, then who? If not today, then when?"

"Don't go saying lines from the college paper!"

Rendo laughed, tapped his junior's shoulder, and said, "I pass it on to you. I pray that your generation will see a more favorable setting than I did."

"See, I would have cried now if we were decades apart... But we're only apart by two years!"

Rendo looked out the rails of the corridor with the main university road at sight, full of trees and rallying teens. He paused for a little while before saying, "While it is true that you can't change the thinking of people within that short time... a lot can happen in a few years..."

After a few more minutes of talking about schoolwork, they went on their way. The working lunch is over.

It was five o'clock in the evening that day. This junior had a free cut, so he came out of classes earlier than usual. As he went out of their college building, he saw someone running on the sidewalk. Since the track team is not present at the time, this particular running man would stand out. He had a bag on his back but he still seemed fast, as if the weight is not enough to slow him down. Despite this quick encounter, he thought he recognized this person. Could this urban legend be real? He hastily mounted his bicycle to find out. The university has a bike lane after all, something that is rare in a country like the Philippines.

He pedaled as fast as he can, but even after a number of seconds, he still could not catch the runner. Naturally, a vehicle like a bicycle is supposed to be faster than foot. He must have caught up with him right about now. He thought to himself, "Could he have changed directions?" Of course, he quickly shrugged off the idea. There are only a few other points where the runner could have changed lanes. Also, if the legend is true, then he should have not deviated from the main university road. He pedaled on, faster and faster he goes.

"I should get there any minute now! As my senior said, nothing ventured, nothing gained!"

True to his assumptions, he finally caught up with the mysterious runner after the road turn. Even the fastest vehicle would have to slow down when there is a curve. The man being chased looked slightly to his right side. With the sight of the shadow of the bicycle (they were going away from the sun), it triggered a rush aimed to lose the bike. Is he purposely trying to hide something? His identity perhaps?

"Oh no, you don't! Argh!", the junior student yelled despite feeling the fatigue of biking at that speed. And in reference to that speed, it means they are currently going at almost 20 kilometers per hour (kph). The normal biking speed is around 10 kph, which is double of the normal walking speed (5 kph).

The biker begins to pant, but does not give up the pursuit. The runner's right eyebrow twitched with the sight of the shadow still chasing him. The natural choice would have been to go faster. However, it might drain him, and he might not reach his usual destination. So, he thought up of another way to lose his pursuer. What did he do? He stopped, stepping first his right foot. Meanwhile, the biker failed to notice the stop for a few seconds. This little discrepancy in awareness caused him the pursuit, as the runner vanished as mysteriously as he appeared. With this realization, he was furious, stomping his fist on his bike. This anger vent caused the bell to ring. Meanwhile, in one of the gardens in the university, we find the runner of legend standing on the stone path. He leaned on one of the lamp posts as he tried to recover his energy.

He said to himself, catching his breath, "I didn't expect that coming... If I did, I should've not brought this bag..."

His bag weighed around twenty (20) kilograms that day, with the bag alone (zero content) weighing more or less five (5) kilos. Then again, who is this so-called legendary runner?