CHICAGO - While a decision on University of Santo Tomas' fate continues to marinate at the UAAP's disciplinary kitchen, an anxious public has been treated to a spicy appetizer deliciously referred to as "Food Wars."
The civil culinary unrest spilled in the salacious buffet of social media after UST players' complaints of the supposedly greasy, tasteless food they had to endure inside the alleged Sorsogon bubble surfaced.
Citing their previous collegiate paths where the food and allowances were meager, veterans Vic Manuel and Leo Avenido chorused the familiar hymn of sacrifice and perseverance.
The pro players basically told the young Growling Tigers to suck it up, go away and live to eat another day.
Nonsense.
CJ Cansino and his teammates should have immediately regurgitated the alleged bland, oily fare that shamelessly masqueraded as nutrition on their plates.
Masked as a "voluntary" adventure, these young men were pried away from their loved ones in the time of a pandemic and dragged themselves to a far-flung place where they exerted a lot of physical activity and dealt with so much stress.
Cansino and crew didn't just deserve a decent meal, they freakin' earned it.
And by the way, there is no such a thing as "voluntary" in amateur sports. The coach wields absolute power and athletes must toe the line or they could lose their spot in the team and their scholarships altogether.
The strength and resilience that Manuel and Avenido had to go through in the face of bad food is admirable. But it does not give them the license to wave their condescending fingers at these young Tigers.
While it is unfortunate that suffering is a destiny for others, it can be a choice for some. And just because I had to suffer through a rotary phone with a nosy party line growing up, it doesn't mean my son couldn't have his own smart, shiny iPhone.
Different times. Different circumstances. Or, appropriately in this case, apples and oranges.

The central focus of the alleged UST bubble should be about its illegality and what punishment must be adjudicated. This is not a dichotomy on whether or not the main participants had the stomach to weather a typhoon of what is claimed to be malnourished, under-nourished food.
So here's a piece of advice to those bad actors who have muddled the issue with their delightful, albeit annoying, non-sequitur - Mind your own damn meal.
THE DECISION. Before I became a fading, undevout Roman Catholic who got disenchanted with past allegations of child abuse within the church, I used to proudly wear a WWJD bracelet.
What Would Jesus Do.
As I await UST's fate. I wanna wear a WWRSD trinket.
What Would Rebo Saguisag Do?

Will the UAAP executive director show tender mercy? Or will he act with the tough love of an angry, betrayed leader?
I'm hearing whispers that UST could skate due to a technicality.
I hope not. I'm rooting for crash and burn.
The rules, like the law, are black and white, but the good lawyers always find the gray area. If UST's legal team can somehow exculpate the Domincan-run university from this unholy mess, then cheers to them.
But the UAAP must be reminded that the clouded, gray spot lawyers often use as an escape hatch for their erring clients can also quickly become a fertile ground for blood-red outrage to grow.
Rebo comes from an impeccable legal pedigree. I pray he doesn't disappoint.
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