ALYANSA wins big in UP Diliman elections

MANILA, Philippines – Student elections in the University of the Philippines-Diliman concluded with a record-high voter turn out: 51.21% of the campus voting population, the highest ever since 2002. The voter turnout in the previous elections was 48.07%. 

According to the campus newspaper, Philippine Collegian, 12,577 out of 24,543 of eligible voters cast their votes in the hotly contested student elections.  Viral posts of students from UP Diliman showed that the month-long electoral campaign has resulted in black propaganda, a smear campaign, and mudslinging. (READ: #CampusIssue: An all-time low in UP Diliman elections?)

Top positions

ALYANSA’s candidates bagged the leadership of the University Student Council (USC). JP delas Nieves won as chairperson with 5,130 votes, while AJ Montesa won as vice-chairperson with 4,222 votes. 

The standard-bearers of ALYANSA bested STAND UP’s and KAISA’s candidates for the top positions: Mico Pangalangan and Menchani Tilendo for STAND UP and Zaira Baniaga and John Arvin Benaagua for KAISA. 

Three political parties ran for this year’s student elections in UP DIliman: Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights (STAND UP), KAISA-Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA), and UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (ALYANSA). In UP, political parties are usually identified through their colors: red, yellow, and blue, respectively.

ALYANSA is associated with the Aquino administration ally Akbayan.

New USC 

The new members of the UP Diliman student council for the academic year 2015-2016 are the following:

Beata Carolino, STAND UP

Jeronimio Ascue, ALYANSA

Bryle Leano, STAND UP

Baba Foronda, ALYANSA

Mark Navata, Independent

Tolita Tanaka, ALYANSA

Allan Pangilinan, ALYANSA

Viktor Fumar, ALYANSA

Bea Reyno, ALYANSA

Vince Liban, ALYANSA

Mark Jonathan Abul, ALYANSA

Kali Navea-Huff, STAND UP

Asian Institute of Tourism: John Bernard Rolle, KAISA

College of Arts and Letters: Jose Monfred Sy, STAND UP

College of Business Administration: Benjie Allen Aquino, ALYANSA

College of Engineering: Erwin John San Pedro, ALYANSA; Guillermo Danipog III, STAND UP; Arvin Wilson Alba, STAND UP

College of Fine Arts: Dominique Martin Esguerra, STAND UP

College of Home Economics: Hillary Camille Abandula, KAISA

College of Human Kinetics: Melissa de Tagle, KAISA

College of Law: Aldrick Daven Mendoza, Independent

College of Mass Communication: Josiah Hiponia, STAND UP

College of Music: Gabrielle Robeniol, ALYANSA

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy: Sam Estrella, ALYANSA

College of Social Work and Community Development: Mary Philline Descalzo, STAND UP

National College of Public Administration and Governance: Reinald Jey Belen, Independent

School of Economics: Christian Dave Gonzales, ALYANSA

School of Library and Information Studies: Miriam Salcedo

School of Statistics: Maverick Orquin, ALYANSA 

– Rappler.com