My Recollection of My Best Days at NUSP

The NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS OF THE PHILIPPINES (NUSP) is a nationwide alliance of more than 750 student councils, governments and unions committed to the advancement of the students’ democratic rights and welfare. Established in 1957, the NUSP has been consistently at the forefront of the students’ struggle for their rights and in solidarity with the Filipino people’s struggle for social justice and meaningful change in society.
I was first exposed to NUSP in 1999 when I attended the NUSP Congress held at the Santa Monica Beach Resort in Infanta, Quezon. I was then President of the PUP College of Business-Student Council. Dennis Maga was the National President then. Familiar faces at this Congress include Tinay Palabay, then Kasama sa UP Chair, Dennis Longid, who was UP Student Regent at that time, Sheila Omaña, KC Bugayong, Issey Sugiyama, Marlou Abaja, Gary Montenegro and Angge Santos.

The following year, this time as President of the Central Student Council of PUP, I got to participate more actively in NUSP activities. That year was marked by several big protest rallies and boycotts denouncing Erap's war budget. Ang panawagan ay Edukasyon Hindi Gyera! at May Pera sa Gyera, Wala sa Eskwela!

NUSP was founding organization of Erap Resign Youth Movement. It also actively supported the P125 wage hike campaign of workers and P5,000 salary increase of teachers and government employees.

Year 2001, was a rather extra-ordinary Congress. The Congress was held the day after then President Erap was toppled from Malacanang. Fresh from the historic march from EDSA People Power Monument to Mendiola, it was a real feat, pagod pagod pa from the mob. What with several days spent at EDSA along with thousands of students, workers, teachers, urban poor, church people, and other groups and personages. The Congress was held at the Hospicio de San Jose, Manila.

That same year, the call to abolish ROTC immediately gained nationwide support following the death of UST student Mark Chua, who exposed irregularities in the ROTC unit in UST. The nationwide clamor, signature drive for the abolition of ROTC, and Sunday walk-outs of ROTC cadets paved the way to the passage of Republic Act 9163 or the NSTP Law, which removed mandatory ROTC as a prerequisite for graduation for college students.





The following year, the Congress was held at Palo, Leyte. This same Congress was where I was elected Executive Vice President of NUSP. I was serving my last few months as PUP Student Regent then. At this same Congress, Mong Palatino was elected National President, Tinay Palabay as National Secretary General, Jaire Tuburan as VP for Mindanao, Diana Ragub as VP for Visayas and Sally Lagos as VP for Luzon. Other National Officers include Marlou Abaja, then International Liaison Officer and former President of Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Konseho-PUP, and Leonardo 'Jun' Guevarra aka Giba as Deputy Secretary General. Giba also served as Chairperson of the UP Manila University Student Council. Also with the National Secretariat at that time were Cherry Clemente and Ninai Festin, former UP Diliman USC Vice Chairperson.

Our head office then was at Basilio Street, Sampaloc. Meetings were always full of laughter with loads of fun and crazy stuff. There was never a boring meeting. Marlou had a pet chick (as in sisiw!). And we also had a pet rabbit. Who will ever forget Rebo?

Tinay was a great trainer and mentor. It was imperative that all of us learn how to write a press statement. Mornings were spent listening to the radio and reading the newspaper for tit-for-tat. School hopping was a must. Wala pang twitter nun! Uso pa ang pag-fax ng media advisory at press statements.

Naalala ko rin, nag-aagawan pa kami ni Giba sa librong Harry Potter. Itinago ito ni Tinay dahil mas dapat daw igugol ang panahon sa pagbabasa ng relevant documents at books na nasa library namin.

The next Congress was held at Tanchuling Beach Resort at Oroquieta City, Misamis Oriental. Tinay failed to join us at this Congress because a big youth mobilization coincided with a national activity. She was the only one left in Manila. This was one of the most memorable Congresses I attended. You can ask Mong why.

The last Congress that I attended as part of the National Office was at Bacacay, Albay.


Through the years, NUSP has not waned in its pledge to organize the most number of student leaders and councils nationwide. NUSP enjoys the reputation of being the most organized, the biggest and most consolidated alliance of student councils nationwide.

As it celebrates its 53rd founding anniversary, it is but right that we give due credit not only to past presidents but more so to our distinguished alumni, former officers, national secretariat and thousands of student councils who continue to make the torch of militant student leadership shine as brighter as ever.

Kudos to present NUSP members and officers for the success of the NUSP-NCR Congress. Onward to 60th!