MANILA - A t-shirt with the phrase "Iskolar than You" has sparked an online debate among students of the University of the Philippines.

The shirts, which featured a play on the catchphrases "Iskolar ng Bayan" and "Cooler than You," immediately received negative reactions from UP students on various social media sites. It was being sold by the UP Circle of Entrepreneurs as part of Freshmen Week last month.

UP University Student Council chair Alex Castro is featured in an ad selling the "Iskolar Than You" shirt. Photo from the UP Circle of Entrepreneurs Facebook page

It also came to the attention of celebrities, such as solo indie artist and UP graduate Dong Abay, who called the shirt's message "arogante at mapagmataas" in a Facebook post.

Netizens, many of whom were alumni of the state university, said there needs to be "more humility" from students whose education are being paid for by taxes, even from families whose children didn't pass the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT).

"We are educated through the taxpayers' money and it is imperative that we must be in service of the nation in whatever possible way. That is the essence of being Iskolars ng Bayan," explained John Ariel Rojas, a UP student, on the famous online Facebook group, "Overheard at UP."

Karlo Mongaya, also a graduate from UP, wrote in an article published in the Philippine Online Chronicles that the "Iskolar than You" pun reduced the UP scholarship into nothing more than a brand name.

Others, however, criticized the "overreaction" over the shirt on Twitter.

UP student @leoangel0 tweeted, "'Iskolar than you' isn't any different to 'UP and others.' Come on it's just a shirt."

"That 'Iskolar Than You' may be arrogant, but I've seen more egotistic UP shirts than that," @beareyno said.

In response to the bashing students who bought the shirt received, @JepriDG said, "Seriously? Buying an 'Iskolar than You' shirt doesn't mean you are less capable of serving the nation."

'More immediate issues'

The University Student Council (USC), which is responsible for approving the shirt, will not be releasing an official statement regarding the issue, said USC vice chairman Jules Guiang.

However, Guiang said in a phone interview that "It was never in the intention of the USC to use the name of UP" in the manner suggested by the netizens who criticized the shirt.

"It is an 'angas' shirt. We just wanted to give the freshies an angas shirt like last year," he said, when they had shirts with the slogan - "Matatapang, Matatalino."

Guiang said that the USC, celebrating its centennial year this 2013, has more immediate issues to resolve like the repeal of Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program and the ongoing fight for full state subsidy.