STAND UP finally wins the USC Chairpersonship after nine previous election cycles (excluding the 2016 elections). The party’s decisive victory ended the blue-yellow pattern atop the USC, as Jonas Abadilla garnered a near-2,000 winning vote margin against opponent Daine Torregosa.
The University Student Council (USC) turned red as STAND UP clinched the majority of seats, 25 out of 31, in the next set of student representation.
STAND UP’s Abadilla finished strong with 4,765 votes. while ALYANSA’s Torregosa settled with 2,853 votes. A total of 2,828 voters abstained from voting for a Chairperson. The newly elected USC Vice Chairperson is Iza Dolores from STAND UP with 5,400 votes. Patricia Quarte had 2,338 votes while 2,708 voters abstained.
STAND UP also dominated the seats for the position of councilors,12-0, leaving no room for this year’s opposing party as KAISA UP did not field any candidates.
BAYAN Secretary-General and STAND UP alumnus Nato Reyes said that the historic, 14-0 record for the standard bearers and councilors was last made in 2000—a win they said contributed to the ouster of then-President Erap Estrada.
Bert Obis (CHE) ranks twelfth with 3,534 votes and is followed by Andrew Ronquillo (CAL) with 3,546 votes. The tenth place is Mary Ruado (CHK) with 3,730 votes, while ranking ninth is Latrell Felix (CSSP) garnering 3,899 votes. Felix is followed by the 8th rank secured by Joseph Tinio (CMU) with 3,994 votes and is followed by Joshua Maximo (NCPAG) with 4,003 votes.
Sean Latorre (CMC) ranked sixth with 4,071 votes, while the fifth place was clinched by Carl Uba (NCPAG) with 4,114 votes. Lian Lao (Engg) ranks fourth with 4,120 votes. The top three ranks are secured by Ajay Lagrimas (CS) with 4,124 votes, Shine Reyes (CS) with 4,417 votes, and finally, Lance Daniel (CAL) is this year’s number one USC councilor after clinching 4,526 votes.
STAND UP also won the majority of college representative positions. STAND UP got eleven representatives, five seats allocated to UP ALYANSA, while one independent candidate won.
AIT — Ken Palomia (STAND UP)
CAL — Chedd Lemsic (STAND UP)
Eduk — Robyn Aquino (UP ALYANSA)
CFA — Kate Silvio (STAND UP)
CHE — Joshua Origones (STAND UP)
CMC — Raffy Purisima (STAND UP)
SLIS — Totep Icaonapo (STAND UP)
STAT — Zoe Matubis (STAND UP)
TMC — Anthony Aggabao (UP ALYANSA)
CBA — Faye Mondoy (UP ALYANSA)
DEPPO — Jep Pelayo (STAND UP)
CMu — Luke Tongson (UP ALYANSA)
CS — Fort David (Independent)
CSSP — Andre Arellano (STAND UP)
CSWCD — Gab Pacano (STAND UP)
NCPAG — Louis Cenidoza (STAND UP)
SOLAIR — Warren Dela Torre (UP ALYANSA)
This year’s election turnout is well within the past 10-year USC average turnout as 10,446 out of 22,619 eligible voters (46.18%) voted from June 9 to June 15.
Abadilla will assume USC leadership from Froilan Cariaga, an elected STAND UP councilor who became the council’s chairperson after the USC fiasco in 2020.
The online set-up for remote elections is a first for UPD. The UPD constituency relied on online platforms maximized during the campaign period, while some students who are not able to access the internet were relayed print campaign materials to better exercise their right in selecting the next set of genuine student leaders.
Despite speculations of a low voter turnout or other electoral and USC integrity issues, UPD students were able to withstand them as they really clamored for a renewed representation and leadership amidst the pandemic and state terrorism. Elected leaders of the current USC and local student councils, serving in their holdover capacity, end their term after two long years.
Now, with the newly elected USC officials, students and various sectors remain hopeful that STAND UP’s promise to #StandUpTogether for academic freedom and ligtas na balik eskwela would not be a vote wasted but a campaign for more victories for the UP community.
