Since I was a freshman, I have been a follower of University of the Philippines – Diliman University Student Council elections. It was on the first day of campaign that I started to learn more about the happenings in the university. At that year, which was 2007, I am one of those who truly support the campaigns of STAND UP. However, it was also later that year that I learned of UP ALYANSA. UP Alyansa, unlike STAND UP, introduces multi-perspective activism. Honestly, I was not able to delve in with what the third party was all about during that year. UP KAISA seems like David fighting two Goliaths. Only that KAISA fails miserably in dorm campaigns, as well as, convincing people they can truly represent the studentry.

During that year, I voted for Chesa Baltazar (Alyansa) and Isa Artajo (STAND UP), both lost to their opponents. As for the councilors, I voted Alyansa straight and added four STAND UP members, two of which are Mars Veloso and Ranelene Ortinez. I also added KAISA’s Caloy i-forgot-his-surname.

It was in the year 2008 that I started supporting Alyansa – probably because my circle of friends are mostly supporting the party. I voted straight ALYANSA that year and at the Engineering Student Council, I voted straight UP PRIME.

I applied for membership in Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers – UP Student Unit in 2009. This marked my active participation in the Engineering Student Council elections as four of my friends/orgmates are running for Engineering Student Council and University Student Council elections, including Jose Alinea who won for USC Councilor last year. Fortunately, my friends won as ME Representatives to the Engineering Student Council.

This year’s elections is unusually peaceful for the first week and the first half of its second week. In the last days of the campaign, all parties engage in mudslinging, black propaganda and other means just to pull the other parties down.

I voted straight ALYANSA and straight PRIME this year, as always. And I hope, they won’t fail me in giving service to the UP studentry.