The League of Filipino Students: A Case Study on the Philippine Student Movement and Its Effectiveness in Campus Politics in the University of the Philippines Manila

Abstract

The history of the Philippine society is a history of dialectics. From the colonial regime of Spain, America, and Japan towards the era of globalization and imperialism at present, the country's political environment is shaped by conflicts in the chain of its events - a clear manifestation of this is the existence of the Philippine student movement. As social ills pervade the system, the Philippine student movement is in the forefront of the struggle maintaining the fight for a true national democracy. The Philippine student movement, especially during the 60s and the 70s has been the most vocal movement for change and development in the Philippines. Activism and student body are almost equated as one word because these students, most especially from the University of the Philippines, never fail to be involved in the political issues of their institutions of learning and the country as well. Demanding growth and welfare, the student movement is the clarion call for the holistic development of the nation. But it is most notable that at present, the once vanguard of activism is ebbing away. The student movement that has once affected the Philippine society deeply and even played a critical role in the toppling of a dictatorial regime now lies dormant and weakening. The fervor of activism of the students during the 60s and the 70s is now lost in the consciousness of the students as seen by the low level of participation of students in political issues of their respective schools and the nation as well. Therefore, the research aims to discuss the dynamics of the Philippine student movement focusing primarily on the League of Filipino Students being the case study. The social awareness of the present student activists as well as the role of a progressive mass organization would be the main point fbr testing in this study.