International State College of the Philippines
The International State College of the Philippines (ISCP) is a satirical and parodic Facebook page of a fictitious "international, extraterrestrial, and mythical university system" of the same name. It is a fictional institution created by Niño Ged, which trended in the Philippines, the ISCP is known for its witty "course offerings" and online publicity materials that make it look like a legitimate higher education institution. The "university" is the home of the (nonexistent) Blue Aspins. Its adopted school hymn is the orchestral version of "Sun and Moon" by Anees.[1][2][3][4]
International State College of the Philippines | |
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Created by | Niño Ged |
Genre | Satire, parody |
In-universe information | |
Other name(s) | ISCP Kolehiyo Internasyonal Pambansa ng Pilipinas |
Founded | 2022[lower-alpha 1] |
Location | Philippines ("Main", Biringan, Tondo, etc.) and "Sun and Moon", among many other "campuses" within the Earth, the Solar System, the Milky Way, and the universe or the multiverse |
Key people |
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Website | |
Motto | Filipinos S[t]ultus Es Satura [sic] (Latin for: Filipinos are full of stupidity) |
Hymn | Orchestral version of "Sun and Moon" by Anees |
Athletic nickname | ISCP Blue Aspins |
Also having its own Facebook group, the university's "student council" is called Supreme E-Youth (Electronic Youth) Government, wherein "e-youth" is a wordplay on the Cebuano expletive iyot, which means "to fuck".[5]
Content
The satirical page features random personalities as "professors", "students", or "alumni". One of them is Filipino television host and weather forecaster Kim Atienza, who was "appointed" as the "dean of the College of Education". Atienza initially dismissed his association to the satirical "university" he first thought was a real institution of higher learning, and categorized it as a "scam" on August 6, 2022. Atienza, eventually, caught on to the trend and thanked ISCP for the "honor" of serving as its supposed educator.[6][7] On his Twitter account, Atienza finally "accepted" the "appointment as Dean of Education", where he "required all students" to "submit" a "10-word reaction paper" on The Philippine Star article he "quote-tweeted".[8][2]
Other Filipino personalities who have joined the trend are popular content creator Macoy Dubs, who called himself a "student"; Senator JV Ejercito, who expressed his intent to "apply" after "congratulating" Macoy Dubs;[9] singer Ace Banzuelo who projected to "run" for "presidency of the College of Arts and Sciences Student Council"; P3PWD representative and former election commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who was "hired" as a "law professor";[10] and stand-up comedian James Caraan, who joked he would "teach" students of "BS Marketing Major in Events Management".[2]
Porn star Lexi Lore, through a video posted on the satirical page, endorsed the "university", as she teasingly shakes her breasts.[11]
Controversies
Local artist Toni Panagu called the attention of the Facebook page administrators for allegedly using the ISCP trend to promote QuickWrite, a startup of recent high school graduates that provide writing services, such as academic works for students. Panagu condemned the startup as a form of academic dishonesty. QuickWrite eventually disaffiliated from ISCP.[12]
Less than a month after the page went viral, the page's creator, Niño Ged, emphasized that he and the ISCP are apolitical and non-partisan in a now-deleted Facebook post. The post drew controversy from many Filipinos on social media, with many students claiming that they are dropping out of school. In response, the page issued a public apology statement from Niño Ged, reiterating the page's purpose as a satirical parody of educational institutions to expose the poor state of the Philippine education system while providing a space for free-flowing discourse across different political views, and apologizing for the misconceptions drawn from his initial statement.[13]
Niño Ged also drew controversy on social media for crying foul over volunteer content creators selling unofficial merchandise bearing the ISCP name and branding, leading to social media users accusing him of trying to "milk" the community's efforts.[13] According to Niño Ged, ISCP was not supposed to become popular, but rather he originally plans to create a novel out of it, thus claiming the name ISCP. [14] However, a post clarifies the issue stating that Niño Ged is very passionate about ISCP and that it is disrespectful not to ask permission for the name to be used for commercial purposes. Niño Ged also clarifies that the ISCP is mainly created for non-political reasons.[14]
The "ISCP Founder's Perspective"
The document contains all his statements on the issues behind ISCP. [14]
Niño Ged, an 18-year-old student from Cebu, Philippines, introduced the world to the whimsical and imaginative realm of the International State College of the Philippines (ISCP). After graduating with a focus on Accountancy, Business, and Management, Niño Ged's passion for writing led him to create a unique academic institution blurring the lines between reality and fiction. The ISCP's inception traces back to a moment of inspiration during a morning jeepney ride on July 30th, 2022. Niño Ged's initial concept of a humorous hospital evolved into a fictional college where absurdity and comedy reign supreme. The name "International State College of the Philippines" was born, a blend of legitimacy and intrigue. Niño Ged meticulously crafted the institution's logo and motto, adding an extra layer of comedic brilliance. While originally conceived as a narrative tool for a novel set in 2085, ISCP took an unexpected turn. Evolving from satire and humor, it transformed into a vibrant community of meme-sharing enthusiasts. The International State College of the Philippines became an unconventional online phenomenon.
Notes
- Facebook page created on July 31, 2022
References
- Madarang, Catalina Ricci (August 8, 2022). "What is International State College of the Philippines and why is it trending?". Interaksyon. The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- Malasig, Jeline (August 8, 2022). "'Proud Blue Aspin': These personalities ride viral satire school's gimmick". Interaksyon. The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- Mayormita, Keen (August 9, 2022). "International State College of the Philippines might be the perfect university for you". Metroscene Mag. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- Bautista, Rafael (August 9, 2022). "7 Reasons Why You Should Enroll At the International State College of the Philippines". Nylon Manila. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- Encarnacion, Androel (August 10, 2022). "International State College of the Philippines: A parody of PH universities". NoypiGeeks. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- Arceo, Therese (August 8, 2022). "Kim Atienza nabiktima ng satire page, pinag-tripan ng netizens: This is a scam" [Kim Atienza, victim of satire page, pranked by netizens: 'This is a scam']. Inquirer Bandera (in Filipino). Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- Marcelo, Nicole Therise (August 8, 2022). "Kim Atienza, nabiktima ng satire page? 'This is a scam'" [Kim Atienza, victim of satire page? 'This is a scam'] (in Filipino). Balita. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- Atienza, Kim [@kuyakim_atienza] (August 7, 2022). "Ok due to public demand I now accept my appointment as Dean of Education. I now require all my students a 10 word reaction paper on this article. Guidance ang hindi sumunod. #internationalstatecollegeofthephilippines" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- MJD (August 8, 2022). "Nag-congrats kay Macoy Dubs: JV Ejercito nadale rin ng ISCP". Abante. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- "Ibinida ni dating Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon na "propesora" na rin siya sa patok at pinagkakatuwaang satirical school page na "International State College of the Philippines-Atlantis Campus"" [Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon touts that she is now also a "professor" in famous and mocked satirical school page "International State College of the Philippines-Atlantis Campus".] (in Filipino). Balita. August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022 – via Facebook.
- "Porn star Lexi inendorso pekeng iskul sa Pinas" [Porn star Lexi endorses fake school in the Philippines] (in Filipino). Abante. August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- Lariosa, Saab (August 9, 2022). "Class is in session: What in the world (and sun and moon) is the International State College of the Philippines?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- Peñalosa, Gelene (August 30, 2022). "ISCP's founder causes the downfall of their very own satirical institution". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- Niño Ged (September 11, 2022). "The Perspective of the ISCP Founder". Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.