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.
