Sikhai PolSci!
That's the chant, we, Political Science students in MSU-IIT, usually shout most importantly during the battle-grazed CASS Days.
That's the chant, we, Political Science students in MSU-IIT, usually shout most importantly during the battle-grazed CASS Days.
We say this loudly with the accompanying right (or left) hand touching the opposite shoulder and then, raising the straight arms over the head to make a hand salute. (The 2010s variation is having a closed fist to the left chest as starting position, before raising the right hand sideways).
Where did the term originate? Why was it done with the "Nazi" salute in 2008?
To prevent wild theories from arising, I, as the one responsible for coining the term and the gesture, will try to explain how the Sikhai chant and the 'questionable' salute started.
Long before, PolScis would chant, "Biboooo.... ang PolSci", or "'Di madala sa kulam-kulam...", and all sorts, I, as the one in charge of making the chants was looking for a new chant that would signify the Political Science discipline back in the CASS Days of 2008. A few days before the big event, July 29, 2008 to be exact, I was thinking of a new chant that we can use during the parade.
"Seig" means 'victory', and "heil" means 'hail'. The term then meant "Hail Victory!”. While it was the infamous battle cry of the Germans during World War II Era; this was only one of the inspirations behind PolSci’s version of Sikhai. The right-hand raise as a salute has been done a lot of times in the course of history and not just by the Nazi Germans.
One may look at this as a deconstruction of the stigma that embodies the National Socialist German Workers' Party. But mainly, we like the idea of soaring high and raising our right hands to the air. We seek greatness when we raise our hands.
The author does not think that negativity should always be associated with the raising-the-right-hand salute. History tells us that even the anti-war demonstrators back at the University of Wisconsin in the seventies also used this kind of gesture in defiance of police brutality.
The phrase "sikhai" alternatively signifies, “Seek High”. We seek something of high value; we aim for success. This distinct chant is reminiscent of La Salle's Animo and other university chants in the country.
Sikhai PolSci chant backed up by the deafening drums being beaten four times well-timed to the syllabication of the screaming PolSci students. That’s the chant.
But where did the term come from? Why Sikhai?
 |
| A meeting of the Spanish Falange in the Philippines, ca. late 1930s. The Dominican in the middle was at that Rector Magnificus of the University of the Santo Tomas. Notice their hand salute. |
Where did the term originate? Why was it done with the "Nazi" salute in 2008?
To prevent wild theories from arising, I, as the one responsible for coining the term and the gesture, will try to explain how the Sikhai chant and the 'questionable' salute started.
 |
| While mostly the hand is raised to the right, a variation can be done using the left. |
One may look at this as a deconstruction of the stigma that embodies the National Socialist German Workers' Party. But mainly, we like the idea of soaring high and raising our right hands to the air. We seek greatness when we raise our hands.
The author does not think that negativity should always be associated with the raising-the-right-hand salute. History tells us that even the anti-war demonstrators back at the University of Wisconsin in the seventies also used this kind of gesture in defiance of police brutality.
The phrase "sikhai" alternatively signifies, “Seek High”. We seek something of high value; we aim for success. This distinct chant is reminiscent of La Salle's Animo and other university chants in the country.
 |
| Sikhai Polsci signage, circa 2008. |
I deemed it proper as a 'war chant' during the highly-competitive CASS Days celebration. The Sikhai chant denotes the strength, pride, and unity of the Political Science students of MSU-IIT. And I don't see it disappearing anytime soon.
#SikhaiPolSci
Author's Note:
1. This article was originally posted on his old blog last 2 April 2010.
2. Since 2008, the Sikhai hand salute, as well as the Sikhai Polsci slogan, have been used in various events involving competitive Political Science students until this very day.
#SikhaiPolSci
Author's Note:
1. This article was originally posted on his old blog last 2 April 2010.
2. Since 2008, the Sikhai hand salute, as well as the Sikhai Polsci slogan, have been used in various events involving competitive Political Science students until this very day.
Updated: 25 October 2022.
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