UP Political Society
The University of the Philippines Political Society (UP POLSCi) is the youngest academic organization based at the Department of Political Science, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines – Diliman resting upon the pillars of Leadership, Service, Excellence, and Politics.
The organization stands firmly by its principles of Academic Excellence, Progressive Leadership, Diversity in Activism, Critical Thinking, Political Awareness, and Political Involvement. UP POLSCi furthers the advancement of the study and application of Political Science as a tool in understanding our society as a whole.
History
It all began with small group discussions of Political Science majors that endeavored to shed light on exigent issues confronting their society at that time. They asked whether: “Is it possible to synergize theory and practice, to study both the theories and realities of political life?”
In 2003, their attempts to answer this question gave birth to the establishment of a student organization exclusively for Political Science majors; naming the organization the University of the Philippines Kalipunan para sa Agham Pampulitika, or UP KMAP.
Weeks and months wore on as UP KMAP gradually refined its identity, principles and structural organization and the organization slowly took shape in the hands of its initiators, despite the absence of formal leadership. Towards the close of the academic year, the members changed the name of the organization to the University of the Philippines Kalipunan sa Agham Panlipunan or UP KASAPi. The founders persevered toward the goal of formal recognition by the college. By this time, an Executive Committee was established by collective appointment and new members were invited to the organization. With increasing seal and unflagging enthusiasm, the founders of UP KASAPi finished what they originally sought to do with KMAP.
It was at this juncture that an important phase of the organization’s history occurred – the organization was renamed University of the Philippines Political Society, UP POLSCi. It was under this name that the organization took its final form, and formal recognition by the college was granted in July 2004.
The UP POLSCi journey does not end here. UP POLSCi continues to look forward, march forward, and climb upward to new heights.
The Executive Committee and the Standing Committees 2011-2012
The Executive Committee of UP POLSCi is comprised of 4 officers of the organization: the President, the Vice President for Internals, the Vice President for Externals, and the Documentation Head, which also holds the position of the Secretary-General.
There are four Committees in the organization: the Education, Research, and Training Committee (ERT), the Finance and Logistics Committee (FLo), the Membership Committee (MemComm), and the Publications and Publicity Committee (PubComm) where the organization’s newsletter – The Sword – is housed. Each committee serves as the limbs of the organization, performing the organization’s functions concerning its respective field, initiating activities it aims to undertake, provided it is within the limits accorded to them by UP POLSCi.
President: Archelle Marie Cordero
Internals Committee
Committee Head/Vice President for Internals: Almira Cheska Guinto
Externals Committee
Committee Head/Vice President for Externals: Emmie Cortez
Documentations Committee
Committee Head/Secretary General: Allan Cairo Reyes
Membership Committee
Committee Head: Vince Renzo Liban
Finance and Logistics Committee
Committee Head: Nadine Claribel Dabi
Education, Research & Training Committee
Committee Head: Francis Joseph Dee
Publicity and Publications Committee
Committee Head: Karla Mae de Leon
Faculty Advisers: Prof. Jean Paul Zialcita & Prof. Jean Encinas-Franco
Activities
Politics 101 Camp
This project, known as the POLITICS 101 CAMP, is one of the major events of the UP Political Society every academic year. To be spearheaded by the organizations’ Executive Committee, the project aims to cater the potentials of the youth as future effective leaders of the society. Target participants of this camp would be high school students from the National Capital Region and nearby areas. This project aims to introduce Political Science both as a discipline and a practice by allowing the participants to understand current events through a scientific analysis of politics.
Pillars Lecture Series
This set of fora is an annual event of the UP Political Society. Established in 2009, this lecture series aim to impart to the greater audience of the UP student body and the UP community as a whole the values of the pillars of Leadership, Service, Excellence, and Politics that have been the main driving force of the organization since its birth. Usually done in two parts - one each semester - it caters to all students in the university with its relevance and timeliness, as it also taps into the different issues facing UP at the current time.
Ekklesia
Part of the organization's aim for academic excellence, critical thinking, political awareness, and political involvement is Ekklesia, the UP Political Society's regular educational discussions (ED). Spearheaded by the Education, Research, and Training Committee (ERT), these group discussions, conducted once every month at the very least, aim to increase awareness and to be able to make stands for each, as a response towards issues and all its aspects in the current society.
Publications
The Sword
This is the organization's newsletter published at least twice a year, under the supervision of the Publicity and Publications Committee. The Sword contains 12 pages - Front Page, two (2) pages for News, three (3) pages for Editorial and Opinion, four (4) pages for Literary and Feature, and two (2) pages for Entertainment / "Fun Page". The editorial board, including the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, and Layout Editor, is chosen through a set of examinations provided by the Publications and Publicity Committee. Contributions, however, are open to all members.
Awards
Natatanging Organisasyon 2011
Kagalingang KAPP 2011
CHAMPION - Jeff James Suezo
Miss POLIS 2011
2nd Place
ASEAN Cultural Night 2011
CHAMPION - Resty John Prado
Miss POLIS 2010
CHAMPION
ASEAN Cultural Night 2010
3rd Place - Owen Dale San Juan
Miss POLIS 2009
CHAMPION
ASEAN Night: Gabi ng AKAP Cultural Presentation 2009
4th Place - Viktor Ivan Nicolo Morales
Miss POLIS 2008
Notable Political Elites
The UP Political Society stands proud of having as its affiliates these men and women who are distinguished in their chosen fields.
Jearelle Marie Garrovillo
CSSP Student Council Councilor, 2012-2013
Paolo Dominic Macariola
CSSP Political Science Department Representative, 2011-2012
Ma. Reinna Bermudez
Natatanging Mag-aaral, Kagalingang KAPP: Parangal para sa KAPPamilya, 2010-2011
Daisy Margaret Ducepec
CSSP Student Council Councilor (Students Rights and Welfare Committee Asst. Head for Special Events), 2010-2011
Ron Ranier Reyes
CSSP Student Council Councilor (Students Rights and Welfare Committee Asst. Head for Students Issues and Advocacies), 2010-2011
Meryllainne Rhacquel Lambino
CSSP Student Council Councilor (Publicity Committee Head), 2009-2010
Arianne Reyes
CSSP Student Council Chairperson, 2005-2006
Pauline Caspellan
CSSP Student Council Secretary General, 2005-2006
Joseph JV Lumanog
Sinag Editor-in-Chief, 2005-2006
Atty. Ryan Balisacan
Sinag Editor-in-Chief, 2003-2004
Philippine Collegian, Issues Editor, 2005-2006
Positions and Affiliations
Externals Committee Director Organization, Association of Political Science Organizations of the Philippines, AY 2009-2010
Finance Committee Co-Head (with UP SAPUL), College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Academic Circle, AY 2009-2010
Externals Committee Director Organization, Association of Political Science Organizations of the Philippines, AY 2010-2011
Finance Committee Head College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Academic Circle, AY 2010-2011
Externals Committee Member, Association of Political Science Organizations of the Philippines, AY 2011-2012
Chair Organization College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Academic Circle, AY 2011-2012
Contact Information
Email: uppoliticalsociety@gmail.com
Tambayan: West Wing, Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman, QC
See Also
Official Website: http://uppoliticalsociety.org
Multiply Website: http://uppoliticalsociety.multiply.com
Facebook Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/up.political.society