Now on its eighth year, Alyansa ng mga Magaaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (ALYANSA) was launched as a political party in 2001. It traces its roots to an alliance formed by Buklod-CSSP, Sanlakas-Youth (SY), Tau Rho Xi Fraternity, and Upsilon Sigma Phi (USP), among others. It also stems from older political alliances such as the Sandigan ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan (SAMASA), Independent Student Alliance (ISA), and Progressive Students Party.

ALYANSA was founded in the wake of former President Estrada’s ouster in 2001, where it was aligned with the political organization Akbayan. Five years later, however, in 2006, SY and USP would bolt out of the alliance to form KAISA, one of the three parties participating in this year’s USC elections.

Central to ALYANSA’s thrust is what it calls “progressive multi-perspective activism,” which “recognizes the diversity of potential brands of activism.” According to ALYANSA’s candidate for chairperson, Herminio Bagro III, the alliance does not put a hierarchy on methods of collective action undertaken by students. It also disputes the notion that rallies are the only way of showing militancy.

ALYANSA’s advocacies include socialized tuition, democratization of the Student Regent Selection process, and higher budget for UP and education. Says Bagro, it was active in calling for the removal of Estrada from office in 2001 and campaigning for a “pro-student” and “democratic” UP Charter since 2003. It asserts, moreover, that it is the only political party that “dips its hand” on the issue of fraternity-related violence, citing the case of Cris Mendez in 2007.

The alliance has “always believed in socialized tuition,” where “those who can afford to pay should be made to pay more and those who need the subsidy be given more subsidy.” While Bagro sees some procedural and substantive flaws in the recent tuition hike’s implementation and makeup, he concedes that the “adjustment has its points in the present context of limited government budget.” Correspondingly, ALYANSA is calling for the restructuring of the bracketing system of the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP).

ALYANSA also launched its GMA Out campaign, recognizing Arroyo’s morally bankrupt leadership. However, Bagro said it does not have any preferred methods of removal, as long as it is non-violent. ALYANSA's member ogranizations also include Akbayan Youth, Strength in AIT, Economics Towards Consciousness, Library and Information Science Students’ Association, and Sirkulo ng mga Kabataang Artista.

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Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (KAISA), on its third year of existence, is the youngest party in the USC elections. Founded on May 5, 2005, it split from ALYANSA due to “political differences,” according to KAISA chairperson Abdel Disangcopan. It vowed to be a “party of principles” rather than a “party of personalities.” KAISA pledges to ensure a “united, principled, dynamic” USC. They envision the UP student as a “scholaractivist,” empowered and involved in both university and national issues.

The party opposed UP’s tuition and other fees increase last year. “The burden of generating revenue should not be placed on students,” said standard bearer Stephanie Tan. KAISA considers state subsidy an “investment,” which will be returned to the country when the Iskolar ng Bayan graduates and serves his nation according to his passions and abilities.

Still, KAISA maintains that UP’s idle assets must be productively utilized. They stipulate some safeguards, however, citing the importance of academic integrity, consultation and consent, transparency and accountability, and environmental concerns. KAISA also criticizes the narrow focus of UP’s centennial commemoration on “superficial celebration” over “involvement” in national issues.

“Political awareness must be matched with political involvement. Activism has many forms,” said Titus Tan, another KAISA standardbearer.
“Inclusive activism” entails a combination of “free discourse and collective action,” adds Disangcopan. With its slogan, “Take the lead to a new beginning. Sabay tayo. Tandem tayo sa pagbabago,” KAISA advocates “social progress with social justice.”

These stands are in line with one of KAISA’s core principles: striking a balance between idealism and realism. KAISA’s member organizations include Alpha Phi Beta, Association for Southeast Asian Studies, Paralegal
Society, Phi Delta Alpha, Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan, Sanlakas-Youth UP Diliman, and Upsilon Sigma Phi. KAISA has also organized numerous events with the UP administration and non-KAISA organizations, guided by their motto of “diplomacy and professionalism.”

KAISA’s general program of action is divided into four major categories: campaigns, services, activities, and involvement. As UP celebrates its centennial, KAISA promises to “reinvent” the USC through “responsive
leadership,” making it more relevant to UP students and other sectors of the UP community today.

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Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) is the largest student alliance in the University with 30 member
organizations. STAND UP, the oldest existing political party in UPD traces its roots to Sandigan Para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan (SAMASA).

In 1995, SAMASA, one of the first political parties in UPD, split into two blocs due to political and ideological differences on issues hounding the University and the nation. One bloc retained the name SAMASA. The other
faction which remained militant renamed themselves SAMASA-Tunay, Militante, at Makabayang Alyansa (SAMASA-TMMA). In 1996, SAMASA-TMMA became officially known as STAND-UP.

After 11 years, STAND UP remained at the forefront of defending students’ rights, according to STAND UP Chairperson and candidate for vice chairperson Airah Cadiogan. Since the implementation of the 300 percent
tuition and other fees increase, STAND UP has led the call for the junking of the new policy by pushing for greater state subsidy. STAND UP, through the UP-Wide Democratization Movement III campaigned for a new
UP Charter by introducing provisions geared towards addressing the “decreasing democratic access” to UP education.

Amidst the festive mood of the UP Centennial celebrations, STAND UP launched alternative celebrations which aimed to capture the “true essence of an iskolar ng bayan,” as embodied by the Oblation. Before the Jun Lozada exposé that led to intensified calls for GMA’s ouster, STAND UP has been demanding her resignation since 2005 after revelations implicating
the President for massive election fraud. “We saw that as enough basis to depose a president na hindi tumutupad sa salita niya,” Cadiogan said.
STAND UP’s thrust is encapsulated in their slogan “Patuloy sa Pagkilos at Paglaban; Ang Galing Mo, Ialay sa Bayan” which calls on students to continually serve the people, especially during UP’s centennial celebrations.

STAND UP promises to fight for the recognition of organizations and their tamabayans, push for democratic consultations between the UP administration and the students, and to extend the students’ struggle beyond the confines of the University.

STAND UP's member ogranizations include the League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan, Student Christian Movement, Gabriela Youth, Agham Youth, Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Artist's Circle, Alay Sining, Sinagbayan, Psychological Association, regional orgs Ibalon
and Moriones as well as the EMC2 and Alpha Phi Omega fraternities and Sigma Alpha, Sigma Delta and Astrum Scientis sororities.