# Polytechnic University of the Philippines Student Council

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 undergraduate student union and collective student representative body of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila campuses. 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.

## History and advocacies

In 1969, then-Philippine College of Commerce (PCC) President Nemesio Prudente included the student council in the board of trustees of the college.
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.
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.

### PUP SPEAK (2016 - 2021)

From 2016 to 2021, the Students' Party for Equality and Advancement of Knowledge (SPEAK) had been the ruling political party of the PUP Student Council.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.”

### 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) becomes the ruling political party of the PUP Student Council once again after five years.
A day after the International Human Rights Day in 2021, the Central Student Council declared the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and Hands Off Our Children Movement (HOOCM) persona non grata in the university after claiming the NTF-ELCAC's "records of baseless red-tagging and HOOCM being an enabler in silencing progressive youths through a facade of psycho-social services."
In April 2022, the Central Student Council endorsed the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo, vice presidential bid of senator Kiko Pangilinan, senatorial bids of Chel Diokno, Risa Hontiveros, Neri Colmenares, Leila de Lima, Luke Espiritu, Teddy Baguilat, Elmer Labog, Sonny Matula, Alex Lacson, and Carmen Reyes Zubiaga, and congressional bid of Kabataan Partylist. It believed that Robredo and Pangilinan were "the best option to prevent a possible resurgence of a Marcos and a Duterte", who they insisted to have been historically proven as "murderous, corrupt, and self-serving." Both Robredo and Pangilinan would eventually lose the national election to both Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte, respectively.
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."

## Composition
### Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral / Central Student Council

| Name | College | Party | Position |
| Tiffany Faith Brillante | College of Political Science and Administration | SAMASA PUP | President |
| Lance Casuyon | College of Communication | SAMASA PUP | Vice President |
| Reynalyn Layones | College of Engineering | SAMASA PUP | Councilor & Secretary-General Head of the Volunteer Corps and Secretariat Committee |
| Shaine Althea Ocampo | Open University System | SAMASA PUP | Councilor & Treasurer Head of the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee |
| Maria Zoinah Lappay | College of Social Sciences and Development | SAMASA PUP | Councilor Head of the Academic Affairs and Student Services Committee |
| Noriko Wade Alsisto | College of Human Kinetics | SAMASA PUP | Councilor Head of the Athletes' Welfare and Sports Development Committee |
| Neriza Janelle Ignacio | Open University System | SAMASA PUP | Councilor Head of the Organization and Press Relations Committee |
| CJ Diaz | College of Arts and Letters | SAMASA PUP | Councilor Head of the People's Advocacy and Campaign Committee |
| Ma. Georgia Angelica Halabi | College of Tourism, Hospitality, and Transportation Management | SAMASA PUP | Councilor Head of the Students' Rights and Welfare Committee |
| Neilvin John Aventurado | College of Communication | N/A | Councilor Head of the Legal, Parliamentary, and Ethics Committee |
| Bryan Alonzo | College of Accountancy and Finance | N/A | Councilor Head of the Educational Affairs and Research Committee |
| Alfonso Bernard De Leon | College of Political Science and Public Administration | N/A | Councilor Head of the External Affairs and Network Committee |
| Gean Matthew Rebulado | College of Political Science and Public Administration | N/A | Councilor Head of the Gender Diversity, Inclusivity, and Safe Spaces Committee |
| Sharnonn Aaire Guinto | College of Social Sciences and Development | N/A | Councilor Head of the Mass Media and Culture Committee |
* 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
* 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
* 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
* 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
* 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
* 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
* 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
* 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.
| Name | Party | Position |
| Tiffany Faith Brillante | SAMASA PUP | SKM President |
| Lance Casuyon | SAMASA PUP | SKM Vice President |
| Reynalyn Layones | SAMASA PUP | SKM Secretary-General |
| Shaine Althea Ocampo | SAMASA PUP | SKM Treasurer |
| Pearl Micah Arceo | SAMASA PUP | CADBE Student Council President |
| Maria Margareth L. Felix | SAMASA PUP | CAF Student Council President |
| Christian Ancheta | SAMASA PUP | CAL Student Council President |
| Andre John Dumayag | SAMASA PUP | CBA Student Council President |
| JP Azusano | SAMASA PUP | CCIS Student Council |
| Chancy Valerio | SAMASA PUP | CE Student Council President |
| Elmer Christian Dela Merced | Independent | CHK Student Council President |
| Tracy Althea Ramos | SAMASA PUP | COC Student Council President |
| Marissa Santiago | SAMASA PUP | COED Student Council President |
| Troy Cabangon | SAMASA PUP | CPSPA Student Council President |
| Vince Bingayan | SAMASA PUP | CS Student Council President |
| Barbara Duran | SAMASA PUP | CSSD Student Council President |
| Krystel Joy Forjes | SAMASA PUP | CTHTM Student Council President |
| Alliyah Samantha Ablan | SAMASA PUP | ITech Student Council President |
| Michael Dave Bolima | SAMASA PUP | OUS Student Council President |

## List of presidents

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.
| Term of office | Name | Party | College | Remarks |
| 2005 to 2006 | Henry Enaje | SAMASA PUP | CAL | Served as student regent from 2005 to 2007. |
| 2012 to 2013 | Raven Desposado | SAMASA PUP | | |
| 2012 to 2013 | Charley Urquiza | SAMASA PUP | CSSD | Kilos PUP and Bangon PUP were disqualified by the COMELEC in the 2013 election. |
| 2014 to 2015 | Jessica Ferrera | SAMASA PUP | CBS | Ferrera and SAMASA PUP slate ran unopposed. Elected as student regent in September 2014. |
| 2015 to 2016 | Alyssa Manalo | SAMASA PUP | CoEd | Kilos PUP merged with PUP SPEAK, with the latter fielding its first slate. |
| 2016 to 2017 | Jonald Bagasina | PUP SPEAK | CPSPA | First elected president from PUP SPEAK. |
| 2017 to 2018 | Elijah San Fernando | PUP SPEAK | CSSD | Elected as vice president in 2016, assumed the presidency after Bagasina's graduation. Elected as student regent in September 2017. |
| 2018 to 2019 | Ralyn Rodriguez | PUP SPEAK | CAL | |
| 2019 to 2021 | Jonero Dacula | PUP SPEAK | CE | 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. |
| 2021 | Aubrey Garganera | PUP SPEAK | CPSPA | Officer-in-charge from June to September 2021, after Dacula's resignation. |
| 2021 to 2022 | Albiean Revalde | SAMASA PUP | CE | First trans woman president. First online elections were held. |
| 2022 to 2023 | Kirchhoff Thomas Angala | SAMASA PUP | CAF | First unopposed president. First face-to-face election debate was held after pandemic. Second online elections held from September 30 to October 4, 2022. |
| 2023 to 2024 | Miss Kim Modelo | SAMASA PUP | CAL | Elected as 24th Student Regent in December 2023; the first transgender woman Student Regent of the university. |
| 2024 to present | Tiffany Faith Brillante | SAMASA PUP | CPSPA | The president with the highest number of votes in the recent PUP Student Council history with 10,040 votes. |