26/05/2026
๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ: ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐
The battle for student leadership intensified inside the Tarlac State University Gymnasium on Tuesday, May 26, as the three competing political parties for the Supreme Student Council (SSC) delivered their final statements during the universityโs Miting de Avance.
Representing their respective slates, presidential aspirants Jazzmine Faye Samson of Alon Partylist, Patrick Kyle Frias of Ligtas Partylist, and Rafael Jay Valix of Sandigan Partylist each took the stage to answer one final question:
โBakit kami ang kailangan ninyong iboto?โ
Though united by the goal of serving the TSU community, the three candidates presented contrasting visions of leadership, governance, and student representation.
๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Opening the final statement segment, Samson framed Alon Partylist as a group prepared not only to campaign, but to govern.
She emphasized that the partyโs platforms were grounded in consultations with student organizations and university offices, underscoring what she described as โaction with purposeโ and โpurpose with foundation.โ
According to Samson, Alon had already coordinated with various university sectors, including the administration and student organizations, to ensure that their proposed programs would be feasible and aligned with the universityโs direction.
She also highlighted the partyโs initiative to revise the TSU Constitution and By-Laws, arguing that leadership requires competence, preparation, and organizational discipline.
โThe position is not a fantasy,โ Samson stressed during her speech, emphasizing that student leadership demands concrete action and experience.
Her message centered on governance, coordination, and executive capability โ portraying Alon as a slate ready to implement institutional reforms through collaboration and structure.
๐๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฌ
Meanwhile, Frias of Ligtas Partylist anchored his final appeal on inclusivity, student welfare, and the representation of marginalized sectors within the university.
Referencing the controversy surrounding the disqualification issue involving one of their candidates, Frias described the incident as reflective of โa deeper struggleโ within the university system.
Drawing from his four years inside TSU, he spoke about the lack of safe spaces not only for gender-diverse students, but also for differently abled students, Indigenous peoples, irregular and working students, athletes, artists, and students from satellite campuses.
He stressed that leadership should prioritize those who are often unheard and overlooked.
โWe believe that safe spaces should not only exist for a few, but for everyone,โ Frias said in his closing statement.
Unlike Alonโs administrative tone, Ligtas focused on emotional connection, social inclusion, and advocacy-centered leadership.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ โ๐๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐โ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ
Closing the segment, Valix of Sandigan Partylist delivered an activist-oriented speech centered on student resistance among the three aspirants.
He raised concerns regarding the ongoing college retention examinations in the College of Education, calling them a โband-aid solutionโ which, according to him, reflects inequality in access to education
Valix urged students to challenge systems and policies that, according to him, burden students rather than support them.
Instead of directly asking for votes, he emphasized solidarity with student struggles and framed Sandigan as a movement rooted in resistance and genuine student representation.
โWe will not simply sit at the table,โ Valix declared. โWe will change the table itself if it no longer serves the masses.โ
The speech ended with chants from Sandigan Partylist inside the gymnasium.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Following Valixโs speech, Samson publicly called out the TSU Commission on Student Elections (COMSELEC), citing what she described as long-standing shortcomings in the universityโs electoral processes.
Before leaving the stage, Samson expressed disappointment over the low voter turnout in previous elections and the perceived lack of preparation during the event.
She pointed out that candidates arrived prepared and formally dressed for the program while questioning the professionalism shown by election organizers. Samson also raised concerns regarding the lack of basic accommodations provided to candidates during the event.
โWe, the candidates themselves, are asking for your cooperation because the candidates and the COMSELEC are not enemies,โ Samson said. โWe should all be working together to uplift the university.โ
Frias later echoed the statement, affirming that calls for safe spaces also include calls for fair and proper processes.
โWe do not see COMSELEC as our enemy,โ Frias stated. โAt the end of the day, we are all students who only want a student government that is safe for everyone.โ
The remarks drew reactions from students inside the gymnasium and added another layer of discussion to an already highly contested student election season.
The Miting de Avance ultimately highlighted not only the competing platforms of the three major parties, but also broader concerns surrounding student participation, election management, and the future direction of student governance in TSU.
Report By: Irineo Salak
