Last January 29, 2010, the UP System Administration declared that Charisse Bernardine Bañez was not a UP bona fide student and, as a result, not qualified to sit as our Student Regent.

Under the UP Charter and the new Codified Rules on Student Regent Selection (CRSRS), the Student Regent must either be enrolled or on leave of absence (LOA). However, the relevant records show that Ms. Bañez neither enrolled nor filed a timely application for LOA.

Ms. Bañez's failure to comply with the requirements for her office was unfortunate, but not inevitable. Nonetheless, this is not the time for blame but for unified action.

A crisis of student representation now looms in our Board of Regents (BOR). The CRSRS provides that a vacancy in the position of Student Regent shall be filled by the second Student Regent nominee or, if the latter cannot do so, then by the third nominee. This is now impossible as there are no such nominees who are qualified to succeed Ms. Bañez.

In the face of this crisis, our student councils must quickly unite in selecting an interim Student Regent who will serve out the rest of Ms. Bañez's term. The selection of such an officer is crucial, for it is only through a Student Regent that we could be assured that the rights and interests of each and every UP student are protected and advanced in the University's highest decision-making body.

At the same time, we realize the need to improve the CRSRS. The current crisis shows that the CRSRS has no clear rule on succession in the event that the second and third nominees are equally disqualified or unable to replace the Student Regent. Mindful of this dilemma, we in KAISA shall work with other student leaders to amend the CRSRS to fix the rules on succession. We shall also propose changes meant to make the Office of the Student Regent more responsible, professional and democratic, such as:

Minimum academic requirement - A nominee for Student Regent should be in good academic standing as determined by the minimum academic requirement of the University.

Non-partisan CRSRS - Removal of KASAMA sa UP's privilege to give the historical perspective of the Office of the Student Regent.

Democratic voting system - A representative and equitable system of electing the Student Regent that gives one vote to each student council in the UP System.

We iskolars face a daunting test to our right of representation in the BOR. United, we will not be defeated. To our student leaders, it's time we end partisanship and begin the work of selecting an interim Student Regent and reforming the CRSRS.

*Got this from KAISA's (Nagkakaisang Iskolar ng Bayan Para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan) FB page.


What's your opinion about this?

This incident has inadvertently become a stumbling block in UPOU's push to have the Doctor of Communication program be approved by the BOR. UPOU officials were counting on that when the BOR was supposed to meet at HQ last week. Kaso ganyan na nga yung nangyari. It would have been a nice thing to showcase in UPOU's 15th anniversary.

If there is someone to blame for this mess, I believe it is the SR herself. How hard can those requirements be to meet?

What puzzles me is, how come the SR was able to run for the post if she was indeed not qualified to be a candidate all along, or maybe i'm just missing something.

Blaise, iba yung process nung sa SR. ONLY the Student Councils of the colleges of the CU's can nominate someone. You can't just file for a COC.

Al, I totally agree. Kahit sinasabi pa ng mga tibak na wag na magsisihan, di nya kasalanan, etc. Kasalanan niya. Siya ang USC chair ng UPLB, dapat siya ang may pinaka nakakaalam ng mga ganyang bagay. Tsaka kung tama ang iniisip ko, ka-partido niya yung mga ibang naging SR so dapat talaga alam niya.

Tsak common sense will tell you that being AWOL does not qualify you to be a student. AWOL nga eh. Hello.

If she was not able to meet with very simple requirements then such irresponsibility would show that she is not fit to represent the students.

I agree with Iyen and Sir Al.

Hahaha, not the time for blame pala ha... That's kind of a hypocritical thing to say. These same people wouldn't bat an eyelash if there were any hint of blame to lay on the administration.

The Honorable Bañez was technically qualified to be selected as Student Regent based on the Codified Rules. The issue stems from her inability to file for residency, considering that she is already a graduate during the second semester. Her graduation is pending because of a case lodged against her at the SDT by LB Chancellor Velasco on her alleged inability to produce a financial statement during her term as USC-Los Baños Chair.

My personal issue here is that why didn't Chancellor Velasco or the UPLB OUR issued her residency, when in fact, such an issuance is almost ministerial.

On another point, why did SR Bañez belatedly disclose to us -- her constituency -- her status? Why did it have to reach this point?

On still another point, why did the BOR overturned the decisions made in the December BOR meeting when, according to the narration by the Honorable Taguiwalo, there was a standing agreement in the BOR that SR Bañez will continue participating and voting until her status is determined?

I think those are beside the point. It's every student's responsibility to see to the integrity of their own school records, not the Chancellor. The OUR, at the most, can assist the student. They didn't ask the SR to pursue that office, after all.

Granted, most students don't keep track of their own records unless they're graduating (or about to skip school for some reason). But should an SR be most, or better?

Maybe the SR is technically qualified to hold the office, or maybe not. I don't really know. But this incident begs the question of qualification beyond the technical side.

Sorry SJ, but I have a different take at this.

cause-effect...UP admin behavior is simply an effect of the cause which was brought about by the SR's failure to adhere to essential agreements. There are givens which are guidelines and policies people have agreed upon for the greater good of all. Now if an SR can't even stick to that nor even change that, then what else can the SR uphold. Let's say she missed the deadline or whatever, then why not apologize, bargain and negotiate then take the consequence. That to me is taking responsibility for one's actions and integrity if I may say--qualities lacking in our country's leaders. If we can't do it here at the university level, what more for the nation?

Of course your perspective SJ can be totally different if you think all these actions are part of a grander scheme which is to eliminate the SR altogether? Is that how you see it? You believe that UP admin's role is to crush student spirit and initiatives? You believe that there are like admin people with vested interests and are out to dislodge students from participating in BOR matters? Cuz if so, then your take may be understandable but it's something I will not readily accept without evidence.

Too bad, if Chancellor Velasco has evidence of SR's failure to submit financial reports. That is a major concern as any office should be transparent with such matters--esp when finances are concerned.


These discussions only bring me to look into how student governance will take place at UPOU. We should really learn from others' mistakes and do better.

Sorry guys, but I will have higher expectations from prospective UPOU student leaders.

I want students to be well informed of real issues and see the bigger picture over simply harping on their rights.

I don't want angsty, politicking people.

I want creative people with positive dispositions, who can help each other craft solutions.

I want students who are proactive and not puppets/fronts of political groups who don't know what service is all about.

I want students who perform really well in their acads and are capable of finishing on time despite council demands.

I want students who are humble enough to accept their mistakes if it comes to that.

I want students who believe in choosing their battles--students who do not see themselves as saviors or messiahs out there to save human kind...cuz in the end, all these are mere exercises in leadership, commitment and good governance most of all, public service which students must carry on with after they graduate from UP.

There are greater battles out there. We need you.


(well i do have a short list of students in mind, kaso puro AA's/ few community site members e )

Profs Al and V,

As far as I know, the SR has already filed for her residency within the time frame granted by the University rules. Under the Codified Rules for Student Regent Selection, a student even under LOA and residency is still considered a bona fide student (However weird that is).

That's why part of our struggle as student leaders is to push for the amendments of the Codified Rules to further strengthen the Office of the Student Regent, so that the administration will never ever interfere in a purely student matter. One such amendment we have been pushing for is the inclusion of good academic standing as part of the qualifications of being nominated and selected as Student Regent.

Permission to argue with you gracefully....


What matters constitute 'purely student matters'?

And does that mean we as facs and admin can define 'purely admin' matters which students have no right to meddle with?


How do you think UPOU students should get involved in these talks re revision of CRSRS? I mean, marami na namang estudyanteng meddling diba? What else is there to do?

aLeTa wrote:
Permission to argue with you gracefully....


What matters constitute 'purely student matters'?

And does that mean we as facs and admin can define 'purely admin' matters which students have no right to meddle with?


How do you think UPOU students should get involved in these talks re revision of CRSRS? I mean, marami na namang estudyanteng meddling diba? What else is there to do?

The Student Regent is a sectoral representative, because he or she comes from a particular sector of the University, like the Faculty, REPS, and the Alumni.

Will the Faculty, for example, condone if the UP administration intervenes in choosing the Faculty Regent? Will the REPS allow it too? Will the UP Alumni Association allow the encroachment?

That's what I meant by purely student matter, or sectoral matter if you will. Under the new UP Charter, sectoral members the Board of Regents are chosen based on rules that these sectors agreed to, and the UP Charter respects those rules. I don't see why the UP administration cannot.

Further, the Board of Regents guarantee a seat for the students in its discussion. So to use your words, the students, through the Student Regent, by law, is part of the decision-making process of the University.

The Codified Rules does not allow UPOU to participate in the General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC) for the simple reason that UPOU has no student council. It was touched on a debate in 2005, but it fizzled out because the student councils present there considered the absence of a UPOU USC. I guess UPOU students should organize a viable and sustainable USC to be able to participate in the GASC processes.

The last few posts are kind of funny to me... purely student matters... hehehe. Quite a thing to invoke when the whole business of the an administration and faculty offices is to, well, I don't know... the students?

Personally, I don't believe or don't want to believe the seat of the SR is in danger. Nahanapan ng butas yung current SR. Tough luck. Each regent is subject to the same scrutiny, or even worse. That's the nature of university politics.

As far as I know, the SR has already filed for her residency within the time frame granted by the University rules.

Strange. That is in contradiction with the initial post copied and pasted from elsewhere. Does that mean KAISA is either mistaken or lying?

Al Librero wrote:
Strange. That is in contradiction with the initial post copied and pasted from elsewhere. Does that mean KAISA is either mistaken or lying?

Sir Al,

We in KAISA know based on record that the SR has not filed her papers on time. But Faculty Regent gives a different account on that, with allegations that SR Bañez withdrew her application, etc.

Now, we in KAISA has maintained the position that we must continue fighting for student representation in the BOR. If SR Bañez cannot discharge her duties because of her academic status, we in KAISA maintains that the GASC should convene immediately to choose an interim Student Regent. Under the Codified Rules, if the 1st nominee is unable to discharge the functions of the OSR, the 2nd (or 3rd) will assume office. Unfortunately, the 2nd nominee is disqualified from holding office due to his separation from the University.

That's why we are pushing for the immediate convening of the GASC for the purpose of selecting an ad interim SR. Sure, we can fight it out with the admin to allow the SR to vote in the BOR. But it will be a protracted battle, and we don't want the students to remain voiceless in the Board for the period of the struggle.

So between fighting for SR Bañez and ensuring student representation, we choose in favor of the latter.

Thank you for the clarifications, SJ.

The whole thing is f**cked up. Unfortunately, it's not the worst of the BOR's organizational problems at the moment. Her's is just one of many.