After two years, a political party emerges in the 2025 College of Mass Communication Student Council* (CMC SC) elections: the newly formed ADVANCE CMC.
The last time a political party fielded contenders in the college-wide polls was in 2023, when an all-women slate—featuring incumbent Communication Research (CRes) Representative and CMC SC Vice Chairperson bet Chiello Fernandez—ran under the college chapter of Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP).
However, members of the slate cut ties with STAND UP after the party’s mishandling of sexual harassment cases surfaced during the Aktibisita 2023 Forum of UP Political Society.
READ: CMC slate leaves STAND UP banner, runs independently
ADVANCE CMC, advocating for a “midyang malaya” and “tayo ang midya ng masa,” ran eight candidates in this year’s local SC elections, including incumbent CMC Representative to the University Student Council (USC) Ciro Quiapos, who is seeking the council’s top post.
Since the political party was just formed for this year’s poll, its eligibility was questioned during UP Radio Circle’s On the Spot 2025 forum on May 13. Chair bet Quiapos clarified they had consulted with the Office of the College of Secretary and were required to submit a party name in order to run as a slate.
UP CMC Interdependent Student-centered Activism (ISA) was the last local party formed in 2007—the college counterpart of the university-wide’s KAISA – Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA UP). Both parties have remained inactive in SC elections since 2018 and 2021, respectively.
However, ADVANCE CMC’s participation in the following elections remains uncertain, as the party aims to focus primarily on work within the council.
“[K]ung ma-eelect kami, we have to centralize our efforts sa council,” said Quiapos. ”Ang goal ay mapagpatuloy ang political participations [and] that’s the very reason why we established this party […] secondary [sa focus] ang party.”
Familiar set of faces
Of the eight candidates vying for seats in CMC SC, three are incumbents of the college-wide body, while two are officers of the Freshie, Shiftee, and Transferee (FST) Konse.
Leading ADVANCE CMC, Quiapos faced public scrutiny as this year’s UP Fair head, following controversies including the rolled-up main stage banner bearing the words “Marcos Singilin, Duterte Panagutin.”
“Please expect [from me] a leadership that resists through the hardest times. The UP Fair 2025 was an impossibility before it really happened […] We had to move forward, we had to push through,” said Quiapos, acknowledging their lapses while noting that the current USC is understaffed with only standard bearers and two councilors.
If elected, Quiapos said they will continue consolidating the “Maskom Agenda,” aiming to address the needs of the Maskom community, especially in light of the UP Diliman chancellor selection next year.
Vice Chair bet Chiello Fernandez, who has been a CMC SC officer for two years, now aims to “actively consult and engage” with the Council of Representatives—an alliance of all CMC-based student organizations.
Meanwhile, incumbent CRes Representative Alyanna Louisse Marie Avergonzado is now vying for the college’s representative to the USC position. If elected alongside the Laban Kabataan coalition, she will work alongside them, including officers from both the university-wide and other college-wide leaders.
Although previously unaware of the coalition, Avergonzado said she plans to collaborate with her fellow student leaders, believing that both her slate and the coalition share “common grounds” in their campaigns.
She also aims to strengthen ties with other university-wide unions, including UP Solidaridad and UP Not For Sale Network, among others.
The two FST Konse officers—Treasurer Clarrise Somyden and Broadcast Media Arts and Studies (BMAS) Representatives Jan Bulanadi—are both running as BMAS reps. Their candidacy marks the second year that both seats are contested.
They are campaigning to expand support for learners seeking funding and assistance for their academic and creative projects. BMAS students have consistently voiced concerns over financial constraints that hinder their productions and coursework.
READ: Equipment, financial woes among persistent issues for BMAS students
Two Journalism representatives—Andrew Dela Plana and Dawson Quiambao—are also vying for the duo seats. They aim to consult with professors on setting guidelines for using artificial intelligence in academic work.
Meanwhile, sole candidate for the CRes representative Clarisse Vibal will prioritize a “consistent” communication between the admin and students, who have been raising concerns over financial woes for attending research conferences.
READ: Financial constraints remain a hurdle for CRes students joining research conferences
Vacancies persist
While this year marks the highest number of CMC SC aspirants since 2023, no candidates ran for the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and one CRes representative. Meanwhile, the two Film representative seats have seen no contenders for two consecutive years.
The most recent Film representative was fourth-year student Justin Ramos, who was elected in 2022 under the banner of STAND UP CMC.
Quiapos acknowledged that the “rigorous” academic requirements and calendar may be discouraging students from participating.
“[P]atuloy tayo sa panghihimok ng isang partisipatibong mga estudyante dito sa Maskom na sumali at maging representante ng kani-kanilang department at kolehiyo para sa isang epektibong konseho,” they said.
During the said forum, BMAS representative bet Bulanadi encouraged Film students to run in the special elections. However, announcements for the by-elections have yet to be released.
Voting lines for this year’s elections will be open till today, May 16, at 7 p.m.
