THE NFSC STORY
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
The Featinean publication
July-August 1995
February 27, 1994. That day passed without any of us noticing. But for some visionary student leaders, it was the beginning of another great page in history. The student movement, from years of decay, was alive again!
Many student leaders from the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) National Capital Region have realized a need. A need to reestablish a student council alliance much broader in scope. A need that was born out of the monotonous style of work and forms of organizing formerly monopolized by the moribund and Maoist national democrats who were paranoid of change. A need to form a new alliance which can unite the entire student sector without prejudice to issues, religious, cultural or political beliefs, and ethnic or racial origins.
The problems of the student sector were waiting to be addressed. But methods and approaches were hitherto insufficient and sometimes detrimental. There was no room to explore, to test new ideas, to implement new strategies and actions. And most especially, the mass of students and their leaders were not encouraged to get genuinely involved in looking for solutions to their common problems. Only a handful of well-known “activists” groups like the Maoist League of Filipino Students and their cohorts were busy being at the “forefront” of every student struggle. They were always so since they were the only ones fighting the battle as self-appointed vanguards of the students. Such was the scene before the establishment of a new national alliance of student councils.
A total of sixty-four schools nationwide attended the first National Festival of Student Leaders, a consortium of sorts, called for by a preparatory committee composed of some of the best student council leaders nationwide. It was held in the City of Springs in Los Baños. The agenda: the establishment of a new federation of student leaders much broader in scope and not under the influence of obsolete ideologies. An alternative alliance, unlike the NUSP which has proven itself ineffective and at times incapable to lead the student sector. Thus, the National Federation of Student Councils (NFSC) was conceived.
From the NCRR alone, a total of seventeen schools joined the student leaders’ summit. They were DLSU, Don Bosco, FEU-NRMF, FEATI University, Letran, LMQU, NTC, Pamantasan ng Makati, PATTS, PMI-QC, RTC-Boni, RTC-Pasig, St. Scholastica’s College, San Ildefonso College, YIP-QC, Tomas Claudio Memorial College and UP Manila.
After six months of consolidating the NCRR schools, the Student Councils Solidarity Congress was launched on August 18-21, 1994 at the Sacramento Valley Resort, Tanay, Rizal. The NFSC-NCRR Chapter was born. The successful solidarity congress added eleven new member schools: Ateneo, PLM, PCU, PSCA, PUP, San Beda College, San Sebastian College, St. Joseph’s College, RTPI, UP Diliman and one high school, the MHS.
The joining of Bicol schools was considered one of the early successes of the newly founded alliance. On May 29, 2994, twenty-one schools in the Bicol region attended the first Regional Chapter assembly of the NFSC. Although there were difficulties in consolidating the different schools because of communication and transportation problems, their efforts paid of.
On July of the same year, the NFSC was able to convene 23 major schools when the issue of VAT (Value Added tax) rocked the nation. An Anti-VAT campaign was launched last July 5 at the DLSU Theater which mobilized about 2,000 students. The NFSC leadership has demonstrated their capacity to mobilize thousands of youth and students to address pressing issues of the times, such as GATT, EVAT and the Oil Price Hike.
The First National Congress of the NFSC last November 7-11, 1994 in Cebu was a success. Majority of its founding student councils renewed their membership to the federation and totaled 103 in all. They invited Congressman Edcel Lagman of Albay who discussed the pristine version of the Magna Carta of Students or House Bill # 55. The NFSC reiterated their support and resolve that the bill be the current agenda of the broad student movement. After a month, the Iloilo chapter was established, adding twelve new members to the fold, headed by major schools like the University of San Agustin, Central Philippines University and the University of Iloilo.
On December 1994, with the help of the NFSC, four student councils coming from Dela Salle University, Ateneo, UP Manila and PUP formed an alliance of students for the forthcoming election. They formed SAVE (Students Advocates for Voters Empowerment) with the vision that the youth of today must participate in advocating changes in Philippine politics. The NFSC gave its utmost support to the organization. The success of the four anti-trapo congressmen proved that the voice of the youth for radical change was indeed heard.
The NFSC believes that genuine student councils should be autonomous in conducting its administrative and fiscal dealings, programs and duties. It should be duly representative as mandated by the studentry through popular elections. It should be vigilant by taking active role in guarding the rights and welfare of the students and the people. They also believe that relevant education is part and parcel of genuine national development and must be liberating, pro-people and transformative in content and pedagogy. Academic freedom must be sought at all times, protected and valued by all educational institutions, without prejudice to academic excellence.
Since then, the NFSC has reaped success after success in its efforts to consolidate the student sector, proving that working hand in hand in the students’ struggle without the prejudices brought about by adherence to different ideologies can truly be effective and beneficial for the renewal of the students’ and the people’s movement.
- published at The Featinean, the official students' publication of FEATI University, July-August 1995 issue, page 24
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
The Featinean publication
July-August 1995
February 27, 1994. That day passed without any of us noticing. But for some visionary student leaders, it was the beginning of another great page in history. The student movement, from years of decay, was alive again!
Many student leaders from the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) National Capital Region have realized a need. A need to reestablish a student council alliance much broader in scope. A need that was born out of the monotonous style of work and forms of organizing formerly monopolized by the moribund and Maoist national democrats who were paranoid of change. A need to form a new alliance which can unite the entire student sector without prejudice to issues, religious, cultural or political beliefs, and ethnic or racial origins.
The problems of the student sector were waiting to be addressed. But methods and approaches were hitherto insufficient and sometimes detrimental. There was no room to explore, to test new ideas, to implement new strategies and actions. And most especially, the mass of students and their leaders were not encouraged to get genuinely involved in looking for solutions to their common problems. Only a handful of well-known “activists” groups like the Maoist League of Filipino Students and their cohorts were busy being at the “forefront” of every student struggle. They were always so since they were the only ones fighting the battle as self-appointed vanguards of the students. Such was the scene before the establishment of a new national alliance of student councils.
A total of sixty-four schools nationwide attended the first National Festival of Student Leaders, a consortium of sorts, called for by a preparatory committee composed of some of the best student council leaders nationwide. It was held in the City of Springs in Los Baños. The agenda: the establishment of a new federation of student leaders much broader in scope and not under the influence of obsolete ideologies. An alternative alliance, unlike the NUSP which has proven itself ineffective and at times incapable to lead the student sector. Thus, the National Federation of Student Councils (NFSC) was conceived.
From the NCRR alone, a total of seventeen schools joined the student leaders’ summit. They were DLSU, Don Bosco, FEU-NRMF, FEATI University, Letran, LMQU, NTC, Pamantasan ng Makati, PATTS, PMI-QC, RTC-Boni, RTC-Pasig, St. Scholastica’s College, San Ildefonso College, YIP-QC, Tomas Claudio Memorial College and UP Manila.
After six months of consolidating the NCRR schools, the Student Councils Solidarity Congress was launched on August 18-21, 1994 at the Sacramento Valley Resort, Tanay, Rizal. The NFSC-NCRR Chapter was born. The successful solidarity congress added eleven new member schools: Ateneo, PLM, PCU, PSCA, PUP, San Beda College, San Sebastian College, St. Joseph’s College, RTPI, UP Diliman and one high school, the MHS.
The joining of Bicol schools was considered one of the early successes of the newly founded alliance. On May 29, 2994, twenty-one schools in the Bicol region attended the first Regional Chapter assembly of the NFSC. Although there were difficulties in consolidating the different schools because of communication and transportation problems, their efforts paid of.
On July of the same year, the NFSC was able to convene 23 major schools when the issue of VAT (Value Added tax) rocked the nation. An Anti-VAT campaign was launched last July 5 at the DLSU Theater which mobilized about 2,000 students. The NFSC leadership has demonstrated their capacity to mobilize thousands of youth and students to address pressing issues of the times, such as GATT, EVAT and the Oil Price Hike.
The First National Congress of the NFSC last November 7-11, 1994 in Cebu was a success. Majority of its founding student councils renewed their membership to the federation and totaled 103 in all. They invited Congressman Edcel Lagman of Albay who discussed the pristine version of the Magna Carta of Students or House Bill # 55. The NFSC reiterated their support and resolve that the bill be the current agenda of the broad student movement. After a month, the Iloilo chapter was established, adding twelve new members to the fold, headed by major schools like the University of San Agustin, Central Philippines University and the University of Iloilo.
On December 1994, with the help of the NFSC, four student councils coming from Dela Salle University, Ateneo, UP Manila and PUP formed an alliance of students for the forthcoming election. They formed SAVE (Students Advocates for Voters Empowerment) with the vision that the youth of today must participate in advocating changes in Philippine politics. The NFSC gave its utmost support to the organization. The success of the four anti-trapo congressmen proved that the voice of the youth for radical change was indeed heard.
The NFSC believes that genuine student councils should be autonomous in conducting its administrative and fiscal dealings, programs and duties. It should be duly representative as mandated by the studentry through popular elections. It should be vigilant by taking active role in guarding the rights and welfare of the students and the people. They also believe that relevant education is part and parcel of genuine national development and must be liberating, pro-people and transformative in content and pedagogy. Academic freedom must be sought at all times, protected and valued by all educational institutions, without prejudice to academic excellence.
Since then, the NFSC has reaped success after success in its efforts to consolidate the student sector, proving that working hand in hand in the students’ struggle without the prejudices brought about by adherence to different ideologies can truly be effective and beneficial for the renewal of the students’ and the people’s movement.
- published at The Featinean, the official students' publication of FEATI University, July-August 1995 issue, page 24
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