For the first time since 2007, excluding the pandemic-disrupted 2020 elections, no Maskom student is vying for a post in the UP College of Media and Communication (CMC) Student Council (SC) during the regular polls, based on data from previous Tinig ng Plaridel reports.
This comes after the withdrawal of ADVANCE CMC as a political party, along with its candidates, during the ongoing campaign period for the 2026 UP Diliman student council elections, the College Secretary announced today, May 12.
Drawing from Tinig ng Plaridel’s past election coverage dating back to 2007, at least one candidate has been elected during the regular polls for nearly two decades.
READ: Red versus Yellow: STAND UP-CMC and ISA slates since 2007 – Tinig ng Plaridel
Only five candidates, all under ADVANCE CMC, initially filed their candidacies for this year’s regular polls. There are also no department representative aspirants for the first time since the post-pandemic elections.
A holdover term was implemented in September 2020, wherein some officers elected in the previous academic year remained in office to ensure the council would not be paralyzed following the resignations brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ: A 10-year split: which dep’ts voted for STAND UP CMC and CMC ISA candidates? – Tinig ng Plaridel
In a statement, ADVANCE CMC cited “operational difficulties” for its withdrawal as a political party, while its candidates raised personal matters in revoking their candidacies.
“The organization acknowledges its lapses, and from here, we would also like to acknowledge how our withdrawal would greatly affect the student organizing in the college, most especially, at a time when the state terror continues to reign over the students,” it said.
“Advance CMC remains committed to upholding genuine representation and service grounded in care and compassion. However, as an organization, we believe that our candidates should be fully equipped and assured in taking the brave call to serve the college,” it added.
ADVANCE CMC, advocating for a “midyang malaya” and “tayo ang midya ng masa,” launched in the 2025 University Student Council (USC) elections after more than two years since a political party fielded contenders in the local polls.
READ: New political party ADVANCE CMC vie to lead Maskom
Eight unopposed candidates ran under the party and swept the previous polls. This year’s elections also saw incumbent council members who sought new positions.
Incumbent CMC representative to the University Student Council Alyanna Avergonzado and Broadcast Media Arts and Studies (BMAS) representative Jan Bulanadi previously sought the chairperson and vice chairperson posts, respectively.
Newcomer and second-year Journalism student Kristine Velasco withdrew her candidacy from the secretary seat, while incumbent Journalism representative Andrew Dela Plana revoked his campaign to be the college’s representative to the USC.
Likewise, incumbent BMAS representative Fritz Somyden has also withdrawn her candidacy for finance councilor.
Avergonzado, Bulanadi, Dela Plana and Somyden are currently under a leave of absence from their respective incumbent council positions, following their initial bid for this year’s elections. As of writing, no announcement has been made for their plans moving forward.
Meanwhile, the College Secretary and College Student Electoral Board said it will be coordinating with the Office of Student Projects and Activities, alongside the incumbent CMC SC for the next steps to undertake in accordance with the newly ratified constitution of the council.
Special elections may be conducted by the College Secretary in the next academic year after the CMC SC leads a sensing with the student body.
The council may also resort to appointing students to fill the council vacancies when either the positions have not been filled during the general and special elections, or a majority of the council members vacate their posts.
