The Polytechnic University of the Philippines Student Council (PUP SC) (Filipino: Konseho ng Mag-aaral ng Politeknikong Unibersidad ng Pilipinas), formerly known as Philippine College of Commerce Supreme Student Council (PCC SSC) before 1972, is the official undergraduatestudent union and collective student representative body of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila campuses.[2] It represents the interests of the students on the university, national, and global issues.
As the collective student representation in the university, the central and college student councils are composed of members elected amongst the student body, mandated to organize and direct campaigns and activities to defend and promote students’ rights, and improve the students’ general welfare. Furthermore, it provides direct services to the student body.
The PUP Student Council is composed of the Central Student Council (Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral; SKM), student councils in various colleges, Commission on Student Organization and Accreditation (COSOA), Commission on Audit (COA), Commission on Election (COMELEC), and the Student Tribunal (ST); wherein four high-ranking officers of the Central Student Council and the presidents of college student councils form the Student Council Assembly (SCA), the highest policy-making body of the student council.[3][4]
In 1972, the student council was abolished due to the proclamation of martial law. Five years after the PCC was converted into a chartered state university and renamed Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), the student council was eventually revived in 1983 with its constitution and by-laws being drafted and ratified.[6]
In 1990, Prudente, who was reappointed as PUP president, assigned the student union hall (now called Charlie del Rosario Building) and certain rooms in the main academic building to the Central Student Council, accredited student organizations, cultural groups, and major student publications.[7]
In July 2019, ahead of the fourth State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte, the College of Communication Student Council (COC SC) was among the youth groups invited to Rappler's MovePH Huddle to discuss on several issues. On the youth sector's efforts to campaign for a coal-free Negros, COC SC's Neilvin John Aventurado shared that "the government should be listening or they should be aiming for the protection of our environment and the people who benefit from it" after expressing sadness by the fact that the youth had to conduct protests just to be heard.[9]
In February 2020, the Central Student Council, together with various organization under the leadership of PUP Office of the Student Regent (OSR) held a benefit concert on the university oval grounds to support the mid-to-long-term rehabilitation of the communities affected by the Taal volcano eruption. The concert, which was attended by over 15,000 people, was headlined by Parokya ni Edgar, Itchyworms, Gloc-9, and Rocksteddy.[10]
In April 2020, the Central Student Council joined in decrying the detention of Rexon Aumentado, a mechanical engineering department and community volunteer, over alleged violations of the enhanced community quarantine. Joining the call to release the student were human rights lawyers Chel Diokno and Erin Tanada, who called the arrest a form of "harassment".[11][12]
In April 2021, the College of Accountancy and Finance Student Council (CAF SC) urged the university to extend the "academic break" from April 5 to April 11 amidst rising COVID-19 cases. It insisted that the students and the professors are "not mentally and practically ready to start the new semester,” as it also pointed out that they were immobilized due to the extended community quarantine and its border restrictions.[13]
In January 2021, the Central Student Council was among the stakeholders of the university to condemn the proposal of Duterte Youth Rep. Ducielle Cardema to Department of National Defense to abrogate its 1990 accord with the university, a day after the abrogation of its 1989 accord with the University of the Philippines. The accord stated that the police and military forces must give prior notification to the university president before conducting any operation on any PUP branches and campuses. Central Student Council President Jonero Dacula and PUP Board of Regents student representative Ellenor Bartolome submitted a position paper to Cardema opposing the termination of the PUP-DND agreement. In their position paper, Dacula and Bartolome highlighted a key provision in the PUP-DND accord, which recognized the right of all students “to freely advocate their ideas on the campus with utmost tolerance, understanding and guarantee, without fear of interference and intervention or repression from the state, or any of its agencies and instrumentalities.”[14]
SAMASA PUP (2021 - present)
In September 2021, Miss Trans Global 2021's Duchess Global Albiean Revalde, an engineering student, was elected as the first trans woman president of the Central Student Council; and Sandigan ng Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan (SAMASA) became the ruling political party of the PUP Student Council once again after five years.[15]
In October 2022, several student leaders across the universities in the Philippines including the PUP's Sentral na Konseho ng mga Mag-aaral opposed the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in the schools. The incumbent vice president of the student council, Benhur Queqqegan, said "ROTC would only be a financial burden to students and waste taxpayers' money."[18]
Composition
Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral / Central Student Council
Councilor Head of the Mass Media and Culture Committee
2023 to 2024
Miss Kim Modelo, President
Abbygail Alforque, Vice President
Johnson Danila, Secretary-General
Terrence Lander Tamayosa, Treasurer
Adrian Abelligos, Councilor
John Vincent Bingayan, Councilor
Kim Nicole Bombales, Councilor
CJ Diaz, Councilor
Joonrei Lejandro Domanais, Councilor
Jullianne Hyacinth Joven, Councilor
Jamella Lacap, Councilor
Marygold Lazaro, Councilor
Quieny Prince Mayor, Councilor
Noemi Paula Pardo, Councilor
John Reggie Reyes, Councilor
2022 to 2023
Kirchhoff Thomas Angala, President
Benhur Queqquegan, Vice President
Miss Kim Modelo, Secretary-General
Gwyneth Ivory Marbella, Treasurer
Deniel Canaway, Councilor
John Chrizel Corre, Councilor
Angelo Cruz, Councilor
Dannah Patricia Francia, Councilor
Gurdheep Hampal, Councilor
Angelo Mamis, Councilor
Jean Jayson Nobleza, Councilor
Robert Victor Oclida, Councilor
Erwin John Rimando, Councilor
Matthew Christian Santos, Councilor
Al Jay Torreña, Councilor
2021 to 2022
Albiean Revalde, President
Kirchhoff Thomas Angala, Vice President
Vanessa Mae Llana, Secretary-General
Anna Kristina Mutuc, Treasurer
Erika Baclor, Councilor
Mary Joyce Borlagon, Councilor
Meinard Buenavente, Councilor
Glenn Joshua Casupanan, Councilor
Caryl Cortez, Councilor
Robert Owen Ganado, Councilor
Kyla Marasigan, Councilor
Edrian Morales, Councilor
April Rose Parallag, Councilor
April Villanueva, Councilor
2019 to 2021
Jonero Dacula, President
John Joseph Geron, Vice President
Aubrey Garganera, Secretary-General and OIC since 2021
Christian Arizo, Councilor
John Paul Casinillo, Councilor
Angelo Chua, Councilor
Alvin David, Councilor
Celine dela Cruz, Councilor
Richard Diaz, Councilor
Jessalyn Galapon, Councilor
Nina Nunez, Councilor
Milanisa Punut, Councilor
Cheri Santos, Councilor
Precious Ybanez, Councilor
2018 to 2019
Ralyn Rodriguez, President
Marc Angelo Sanchez, Vice President
Princess Shaine Abante, Councilor
Leogene Bomitivo, Councilor
Melanie Calimlim, Councilor
Donariz Cristino, Councilor
Jonero Dacula, Councilor
Rosalie Dena, Councilor
John Rey Magbanua, Councilor
Christine Pedregosa, Councilor
Jomar Sobiono, Councilor
Deanne Trinidad, Councilor
Karl Patrick Utsig, Councilor
Ivy Collene Villamor, Councilor
2016 to 2018
Jonald Bagasina, President (until 2017)
Elijah San Fernando, Vice President and President since 2017
Vallery Claire Amador, Councilor
Kristopher Avelino, Councilor
Ernesto Jesus Bautista, Councilor
Karen Bonjoc, Councilor
Melanie Calimlim, Councilor
Marynelle Carreon, Councilor
John Kenneth Contreras, Councilor
Rosalie Dena, Councilor
Nico Librojo, Councilor
Rohany Mimbalawag, Councilor
Gerrimar Mindana, Councilor
Deanne Trinidad, Councilor
2015 to 2016
Alyssa Manalo, President
Emil Luancing, Vice President
Alyssa Jasmine Lapira, Councilor
Francis Joshua Rodriguez, Councilor
Leonard Bauio, Councilor
Rhea Mae Dominguez, Councilor
Joie Sayen, Councilor
John Carlo Briones, Councilor
Ryan Joy Faminiano, Councilor
John Paul Rosos, Councilor
Richter Job Silva, Councilor
Alexis Danday, Councilor
Melco Guliban, Councilor
Monique Perez, Councilor
2014 to 2015
Jessica Ferrera, President
Angelo Faurillo Jr., Vice President
Monica Nepomuceno, Councilor
Berlin Angelo Datiles, Councilor
George D II Burac, Councilor
Carlo Cabanes, Councilor
Emar Tumambiling, Councilor
John Christopher Amante, Councilor
Jannard Lindio, Councilor
Eishalyn Anne Masula, Councilor
Mark Anthony Van Deogracias, Councilor
Cate Tuddao, Councilor
Aldhessa Joyce Morillo, Councilor
Amen Fabul Gandamato, Councilor
Student Council Assembly
The Student Council Assembly is the highest policy-making body of the PUP Student Council. It is composed of the president, vice-president, secretary-general, and treasurer of the Central Student Council and presidents of the student councils of various colleges in the university.
The president of the Central Student Council is the chief executive officer and overseer of the PUP Student Council and the presiding officer of the Student Council Assembly.
SAMASA PUP was disqualified by the Student Council Assembly. One-year hold-over term was proclaimed in 2020 by the Student Council Assembly due to COVID-19 restrictions.
First unopposed president. First face-to-face election debate was held after pandemic. Second online elections held from September 30 to October 4, 2022.
^The Constitution of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Student Council. Manila, Philippines: 5th Student Council Assembly of 2013. January 19, 2013.
