National Student Leaders’ Confab Set in the North

By RODA TAJON
Northern Dispatch
Bulatlat.com

VIGAN CITY— On the 52nd year of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) it will hold its National Students Congress for the first time at the heritage city of Ilocos Sur.

On December 10 to 14, some 300 student leaders from student councils and governments and student body organizations all over the country will attend the 37th National Students Congress of NUSP at Baluarte, Vigan City with the theme: Continuing the NUSP Heritage: Advance a genuine youth and people’s agenda in 2010 and beyond.

The congress is a very timely event for the youth and students, said Einstein Recedes, National Executive Vice President of NUSP and spokesperson of KABATAAN Partylist.

“We see and know for a fact that the youth has a huge role especially in the forthcoming national elections,” Recedes said, pointing to the highlights of the Congress: the youth agenda.

Rep. Raymond Palatino, former NUSP president and currently the representative of KABATAAN Partylist in Congress, will be the keynote speaker. He is the first youth leader to represent the youth sector in Congress.

MAKABAYAN Senatorial candidates BAYAN MUNA Representative Satur Ocampo and GABRIELA Women’s Party Representative Liza Largoza Maza will also join Palatino as guest speakers in forum discussions.

Presidential aspirants Senator Manny Villar, Senator Jamby Madrigal, Senator Noynoy Aquino and senatorial candidate Attorney Adel Tamano, and host Deputy National Security Adviser Luis Chavit Singson, are also expected to join the roster of leaders at the solidarity night.

Discussions on the national situation, education situation, climate change, as well as leadership skills training, workshops on disaster management, poll watching and the like, and election of National Executive Board (NEB), compose the other highlights of the National Congress.

NUSP will also award its “Natatanging NUSP Alumni Award” to Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and Broadcaster Tina Monzon-Palma for their outstanding contribution to society, and give “Gawad Edgar Jopson” to Outstanding Student Councils in the country.

Recedes said the congress aims to mobilize the youth for their rights and welfare and advance the interests of the people. “Stand up for genuine social transformation— this is the challenge for the youth and students after the congress,” he concluded.

The NUSP is the largest national alliance of student councils, governments and student body organizations. Founded in 1957, it has joined the forefront of student movements in the country. It is also a convener of several issue-based alliances and a member of the Asian Students Association (ASA). Its local counterpart in Ilocos Sur has four (4) active member councils from University of Northern Philippines (UNP), Ilocos Sur Community College (ISCC), St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur (SPCIS) and Data Center Colleges Philippines. (Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat)