[UPDATE] The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) released on Monday the official list of candidates for the 2012 University Student Council elections.

The Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) has fielded current councilors Amancio Melad III and Soraya Escandor as their running Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.

The Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran (ALYANSA) has Gabriel Diño and Ace Ligsay as their top two contenders while the KAISA – Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA) has  Maria Shaina Santiago and Ana Alexandria Castro as their standard bearers for the top two positions.

Incumbent STAND UP councilor Jose Martin Loon of the Sigma Rho fraternity is running as independent.

Meanwhile, the University Student Electoral Board  rejected the candidacies of Hanna Keila “Kei” Garcia and  Jeff David “Jeff” Agudelo as STAND UP councilors, Percival “PJ” Tolentino as ALYANSA councilor, and Jimson “Jimson”  Sulit as ALYANSA College of Engineering representative.

Chairperson

(ALYANSA) Diño, Gabriel “Heart”
(Independent) Loon, Jose Martin
(KAISA) Santiago, Maria Shaina
(STAND UP) Melad, Amancio III “Aman”

Vice-chairperson

(ALYANSA) Ligsay, Ace “Ace”
(KAISA) Castro, Ana Alexandra
(STAND UP) Escandor, Soraya Elisse “Aya”

Councilors

ALYANSA
Ayala, Eduard Francis “Lucho”
Bautista, Patricia Isabel “Trisha”
Bringas, Patrick “Pat”
Espinosa, Maria Anna “Maan”
Eva VIII, Jose Emmanuel Micael “Mickey”
Ferrer, Gene Angelo “Gene”
Hernandez, Maria Larissa “Lars”
Rapallo, Genesis “Revee”
Santos, Alexandra Maria Francia “Alex”
Tan, Bea Helene “Bea”
Vicencio, Solomon “Sol”

KAISA
Quinito, Allyssa Joy
Reyes, Carl Anthony
Zipagan, Carla Janine
Clement, Carlos Enrico
Siy, Cheryl
Yutan, Fercival
Villareal, Jermaine
Guiang, Julliano Fernando
Punzalan, Ma. Regina
Bellosillo, Mary Grace
Mendoza, Sarah Louise
Tiu, Simon Stephenson

STAND UP
Abarro, Ghizelle Jane “Ghizelle”
Buergo, Therese Anjelica “Therese”
Canacan, Aryanna “Yanna”
Fungo, John Emmanuel “Fungo”
Guiang, Francisco Jayme Paolo “Jio”
Paris, Garret “Garret”
Roque, Rafael Natal “Raf”
Salvador, Gillian “Gillian”
Salazar, Narcisse Dominique “Nikki”
Solis, Jose Miguel “Mijo”

College Representatives

ALYANSA
Cruz, Jonas Miguelito “Jonas” (CBA)
Macabuhay, Nico “Nico” (FA)
Reyes, Ma. Christina “Tina” (Law)
Poblador, Patricia Erika “Pats” (Cmusic)
Hitosis, Maria Erica “Erica” (CS)
Crescini, Joeric Emil “Joeric” (CSSP)
Magsambol, Darrell John “Darrell” (Econ)
Omega, Christopher “Chris” (Educ)
Villejo, Stephen Jun “Poks” (Stat)
Ang, Sara Gracheooe “Grace” (CSWCD)

INDEPENDENT
Sulit, Leor Jyle (CMC)
Alicer, Nicole Ma. Nimfa (NCPAG)

KAISA
Erro, Erika Mary (AIT)
Gonzalez, Carla Monica (CHE)
Grey, Gayle Krystle (CHK)
Bondad, Serene Ezra (CS)
Obcena, Ma. Beatriz (CSWCD)
Palino, Justin Alfred (Eng’g)
Vicenta, John Karl (Eng’g)
Go, Sara Zemirah (FA)
Santos, Ihna Alyssa Marie (NCPAG)
Ibañez, Allan Michael (Stat)

STAND UP
Paredes, Peter Dominique “Peter” (Archi)
Gabral, Eduardo “Eds” (CAL)
Lucero, John Nelvin “Vino” (BA)
Isidro, Celine Alexis “Celine” (Educ)
Gloria, Enrico “Miko” (Econ)
Cajilig, Alieto Jr. “JR” (Eng’g)
Gonzales, Rejiel “Rage” (Eng’g)
Garvida, Patricia Monica “Pat” (FA)
Pagatpatan, Leonard “Leonard” (CHE)
Cruz, Roscelle “Roscelle” (SLIS)
Torres, Sarah Isabelle “Sarah” (CMC)
Del Castillo, Felipe “Felipe” (CS)
Sicat, Patrick John “Sicat” (CSSP)
Tagala, Mark Joseph “Marky” (CSWCD)

This article was edited on Jan. 31 to reflect the current changes in candidates. 

The College Students Electoral Board (CSEB) released yesterday the first official list of candidates for the College of Mass Communication Student Council Elections this year.

Mario Urrutia III of the Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP) is running for Chairperson against Farahnaz Ghodsinia of Interdependent Student-Centered Activism (ISA) and Joaquin Torres, an independent candidate. Urrutia is the incumbent Journalism representative while Ghodsinia is the current Broadcast Communication representative.

Carla Patrice Cucueco (ISA) and Charlotte France (STAND-UP) are gunning for vice-chairperson while Sara Isabelle Torres (STAND-UP) and Leor Jyle Sulit (ISA) are running for College Representative to the University Student Council.

First Official List of Candidates:

Chairperson:

1. Farahnaz Ghodsinia (ISA)
2. Joaquin Torres (Independent)
3. Mario Urrutia III (STAND-UP)

Vice-Chairperson:

1. Carla Patrice Cucueco (ISA)
2. Charlotte France (STAND-UP)

Secretary

1. Maria Fatima Gaw (ISA)
2. Ma. Zarina San Jose (STAND-UP)

Treasurer

1. Serafin Candido Gozon (STAND-UP)
2. Maria Angela Teresa Sebastian (ISA)

BC Representatives (2)

1. Claudine Aldana (STAND-UP)
2. Ella Jane Hermonio (STAND-UP)
3. Macario Manicad III (ISA)
4. Triciah Terada (ISA)

Communication Research Representative (2)

1. Mari Angelyn Arambulo (ISA)
2. Rouenne Camille de Castro (STAND-UP)
3. Angelo Lagman (Independent)
4. Maylene Manzano (ISA)
5. Patricia Ann Morata (STAND-UP)

Film Representative

1. Alberto Gianco Carlo Ante (ISA)
2. Alyssa Mariel Suico (STAND-UP)
3. Earl Joseph Usi (STAND-UP)
4. Marko Yambao (ISA)

Journalism Representative

1. Myra Cabujat (STAND-UP)
2. Ma. Angerica Emmanuelle Hainto (STAND-UP)
3. Chelsea Sullivan (ISA)

CMC Representative to the USC

1. Leor Jyle Sulit (ISA)
2. Sarah Isabelle Torres (STAND-UP)

2009 USC Elections Mudslinging (February 20, 2008) – Part 2 from Rachel Miranda on Vimeo.

Part 2: (question was cut off)

Question # 2: “Sa panahon ng krisis pang-ekonomiya, malabo nang makakuha ang unibersidad ng mas mataas na pondo mula sa gobyerno. May alternatibo pa ba sa tuition and other fees increase (TFI)?”

Also includes a question from an audience member.

Previous parts: Part 1

(This video series encompasses the first five questions asked to candidates during the event, as well as questions from the audience. Video taken by Tinig Ng Plaridel staff members Jenin Velasquez and Rachel Miranda.)

2009 USC Elections Mudslinging (February 20, 2008) – Part 1 from Rachel Miranda on Vimeo.

Part 1: Opening remarks by Philippine Collegian editor-in-chief Larissa Mae Suarez and explanation of debate mechanics.

Question # 1: “Nasa kalagitnaan na ng kanyang termino si UP President Emerlinda Roman. Kung bibigyan ka ng pagkakataong humalili sa kanya sa loob ng isang linggo, anu-ano ang gagawin mo at bakit?”

Also includes a question from an audience member.

Next parts: Part 2

(This video series encompasses the first five questions asked to candidates during the event, as well as questions from the audience. Video taken by Tinig Ng Plaridel staff members Jenin Velasquez and Rachel Miranda.)

Party politics has hindered student leaders from serving the students, said the independent candidates for University Student Council (USC) councilor in separate interviews.

The candidates earlier said during a Feb. 12 forum at Kalayaan Residence Hall that they did not need parties to win.

For Arnie “Bong” Arquiza, the party culture in university has become reflective of present Philippine politics.

Students’ interests have taken a backseat because most student leaders “put forward their political interests first,” Arquiza said.

Arquiza said being free from political partisanship was one way he could better serve the students, adding that leaders did not need to totally embrace a party’s principles.

“I really think that my loyalty should remain with the students and not with any of the parties,” Arquiza said.

He said the edge of being independent, despite the lack of machinery and finances, was “the overwhelming reception that the students are giving me.”

Meanwhile, Christopher “Kester” Yu said he ran as an independent because he did not want to take part in the petty rivalry between the three major parties.

“Sometimes, the rivalry between these parties gets in the way of their members’ service to the students,” Yu said.

However, Yu said that if he won, he would not alienate himself from any of the parties and maintain good working relationship with fellow council members.

Yu, the outgoing chair of the College of Science Student Council, said he made “more friends than enemies” during the campaign as an independent.

He added that he did not train formally for the campaign and even had to design and cut his publicity materials on his own.

In USC, a ‘game of numbers’

USC councilor Lauryel Castillo, who ran independently in last year’s elections, said that only independents can genuinely consider divergent viewpoints.

“No matter how a member of a party insists that he or she will be open to varying
perspectives, the extent of that openness would still be determined by the party,” he said.

Castillo said he intended to bridge the members of different parties. “I thought that an independent candidate would be in the best position to do all of these,” he said.

Decision-making in the USC is a “game of numbers” for the parties, Castillo said.

“Decisions on which programs, projects or stands would benefit the studentry are based solely on the number of incumbent USC members each party has,” he said.

“More often than not, those who make it to the USC find themselves engaged in more politics than service,” he said.

Castillo ranked fifth among 32 candidates for USC councilor last year, winning 2,998 votes.

Castillo’s showing was the highest for an independent candidate in UP Diliman since the 2004 USC Elections.

The two independent candidates for USC councilor agree: having a party is not essential for victory.

Arnie “Bong” Arquiza and Christopher “Kester” Yu, each campaigning on solo platforms, both answered “no” Thursday to a question asking if party machinery was a must to win in the university-level elections.

The query came during the evening miting de avance at Kalayaan Residence Hall, the first in this year’s campaign’s nine-dormitory tour.

For Arquiza, a second-year mechanical engineering student, all a candidate needed was the mandate of the students, rather than a party.

Arquiza said in his campaign line last night that the USC needed to release “unbiased” information on issues.

Meanwhile, Yu said that a platform, and not a party, was crucial to win.

Yu, the outgoing chairperson of the College of Science student council, is running on an environment-focused platform. 

In the past four years, the few independent candidates who ran for councilor at the university level have usually fared well in the elections.

Outgoing councilor Rye Castillo ran last year as an independent. No independent ran for councilor in 2007. Candidates Jenna Atun and Roy Cervantes gained seats in 2006. 

In 2005, 11 candidates ran as independents, the most number for an election in recent years. While not members of any party, the independents that year often campaigned together.

Only four of them won: Chris Lao as vice chair; Froi Montero, Chris Ocampo, and Jamir Ocampo as councilors.