Basic Orientation Seminar

KALAYAAN-LM!Kabataang Lakas para sa Bayan – Lihok Mag-aaram!Est. January 25, 2008

• KLM or KALAYAAN-LM! (Kabataang Lakas para sa Bayan – Lihok Mag-aaram) is a non-stock, non-profit, non-sectarian college-wide student political formation based in the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College. KALAYAAN-LM! was founded on January 25, 2008 with the original name Kabataan: Lakas ng Bayan or KALAYAAN. The student alliance was spearheaded by three student leaders namely, Rafael Usa, Jr., Erwin Esparagoza, and Niña Arlyn Briones with the desire to serve the students and to bring genuine reforms and pro-student policies in the Student Council.

• Founding Organizations of KLM:1. Brotherhood of Destiny (BROOD) – UP Tacloban Chapter2. UP Runggiyan3. Tau Omega Mu (TOM)4. UP Halcyon5. Alpha Mu Omega (AMO)6. Youth Against Debt (YAD) – Eastern Visayas

• Members of KLM 2008 to Present:1. Rafael “Raffy” Usa, Jr. 2. Erwin “Chubby” Esparagoza3. Niña Arlyn “Ninj” Briones4. Hafadai Ong-oy5. Jan Beverly Gaspay6. Rodel Pulma7. John Meliton Argallon8. Arvin Cabillan9. Vennie Coton10.Francis Ibanita11.Lilian Salazar12.Nalla Joan Pearl Data13.Tiffany Chan14.Dianne Peloña15.Arbeth Babiano16.Arnold Azura

• Members of KLM 2008 to Present:17.Wilhelm Wade Eusores18.Leo V. Lauzon19.Kristine Joy Llavore20.Brian Requitillo21.Angelica Grace Gabriana22.Catherine Amen23.Jess Daintey Goda24.Aljin Davocol25.Angelyn Gonzaga26.Vivencio Salvatierra27.Jan Thomas Uy28.Anthony Geonzon

• Political Affiliations: KAISA UP Diliman Youth Against Debt - Eastern Visayas Freedom from Debt Coalition - Eastern Visayas Choose to kNOw! UP system-wide alliance for the amendment of

CRSRS provisions Union of Progressive Students (UPS) – UP Cebu Sanlakas Youth – Tacloban Chapter

KLM Party Colors and SymbolsParty Colors:• Maroon to symbolize courage and vigilance;• Gold to symbolize excellence and leadership;• Green to symbolize dynamism and idealism of the youth.

Party Symbols:• KLM shall adopt left-hand solid fist as party symbol to symbolize action and

strong commitment to serve the studentry with the UP Oblation as its central background to symbolize party’s commitment to serve the Filipino masses.

Party Principles:1. KLM believes that the youth is catalyst of change and the prime

mover of the society.We believe to the vital role of the youth in nation building and as agent of progressive societal change. That the youth’s idealism is the key to achieve this end.

2. KLM strongly upholds the idea that education is a right and NOT a privilege.Right to education is one’s basic Human Right. The state has an obligation to provide accessible and quality education to the Filipino youth. Education becomes a privilege when the cost of education rises, thus, becomes inaccessible for ordinary Filipino youth. That because of this situation, only students from well-off families can afford to enroll and go to school. That the State should provide higher subsidy to education to maintain accessible quality education for the Filipino youth.

3. KLM aims for Social Progress with Social Justice. We, the students of the University of the Philippines bear a social responsibility to our country and fellow members in the society. Any collective thrust in order to be meaningful should be grounded in the continuing struggle for a free and just society and it should speak on behalf of the weak, marginalized, and oppressed.

4.KLM advocates Inclusive Activism.We seek to balance free discourse on one hand and decisive action on another, such that principles and positions are open to deliberation and reflection, and the practice of decisive action will not be constrained. We are activists because we spouse a proactive stance on relevant issues and concerns, but we are also inclusive because we seek not to include only our fellow proponents, but to appeal to the society at large, to rally others to our call.

Party Principles:

5. KLM promotes Academic Excellence with Social Relevance.We define academic excellence not only in terms of satisfactory scholastic performance. Academic excellence, to be of service to the students and to society, must be socially relevant. We aim to use our education for the greater good of our fellow students, the university, the nation and society as a whole.

6. KLM strives for Political Awareness and Political Involvement.We strive to actively engage society in a dynamic discourse to educate the students on the issues and concerns that matter most of them, and to encourage them to take action. Our struggle is to go beyond what must be done, to actually doing what can be done.

7. KLM advocates Responsive Leadership towards Student Empowerment.It is imperative that student leaders prioritize the empowerment of their constituents by promoting and safeguarding their rights, welfare, and interests. Attention toward issues of broader import should not be prejudiced against local concerns. We aim to help create an atmosphere conducive to learning, progress, and political maturity.

Party Principles:

Membership• Membership in KLM is open to individual students and student

organizations in the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College, on the condition that such individual students and student organizations are not affiliated with other non-allied university/college-based student political formations.

Rights:• To be informed of developments in the party;• To participate in party activities;• To contribute in the formation of party positions and policies;• To initiate constructive and beneficial projects for and in behalf

of the party;• To express freely their opinions in the proper forum;• To seek redress of grievances in fair and impartial proceedings;• To be chosen as party candidates in college student council

elections; and• To elect and be elected as party officers.

Duties/Responsibilities:• To promote and establish the principles, interests, and objectives

of KALAYAAN – LM;• To observe and uphold the constitution and other party policies;• To participate in the party activities;• To contribute in the formulation of party positions and policies;• To pay quarterly/annual dues as determined by the party; and• To initiate constructive and beneficial projects for and in behalf

of the party.

• Membership in the KLM shall be terminated through the following mechanisms:

1. Resignation, by addressing the Congress or General Assembly in writing;

2. Expulsion; or3. Declaration of membership as void ab initio.

• A KALAYAAN–LM (KLM) member or officer may receive disciplinary action from the Congress or General Assembly for the following offences, provided that such errant member or officer is given due process:

1. Culpable violation of this constitution and other party policies;2. Gross neglect of duties as member or officer; 3. Malversation of party funds; and 4. Other acts detrimental and injurious to the unity, reputation or

interests of the party.

• The corresponding penalties for the offences defined above are as follows:

1. Impeachment of an officer without prejudice to further disciplinary action;

2. Suspension of a member or officer for one (1) or two (2) semesters;

3. Expulsion; or4. Declaration of membership as void ab initio.

The Congress• The Congress shall be the highest policy and decision-making

body of KALAYAAN–LM. It shall be vested with the power to formulate, uphold, amend, revise or repeal the decisions, declaration, policies and positions of the party.

• (a) The Congress shall be composed of the member organizations and member individuals of KALAYAAN–LM. Member organizations may send not more than three (3) representatives. Each member organizations is entitled to three (3) votes while member individuals is entitled to one (1) vote.

• (b) There shall be one bloc in the Congress or General Assembly, as the case may be, called KALAYAAN sa SC composed of all KALAYAAN–LM members who are incumbent members of the UPVTC Student Council. KALAYAAN sa SC bloc shall be entitled to three (3) votes, provided that it…

• …shall exercise its voting power only on issues and concerns directly related to its functions and duties in the SC, and shall not extend to matters pertaining to internal processes and organizational disciplines of KALAYAAN – LM. Provided further, that an automatic vote of two (2) shall be entitled to the KALAYAAN sa SC bloc with less than three (3) incumbent members in the UPVTC Student Council.

• (c) There shall be one bloc in the Congress or General Assembly, as the case may be, called the KALAYAAN Alumni composed of all KALAYAAN Alumni. KALAYAAN–LM shall be those KALAYAAN–LM members who are no longer enrolled in UPVTC. KALAYAAN–LM shall be given two (2) votes, provided that, its presence shall not be required to establish quorum.

(When convened as a bloc, members of KALAYAAN–LM Alumni and KALAYAAN sa SC shall not be allowed to represent their respective organizations in any Congress or General Assembly, as the case may be.)

The Congress

Exclusive Powers:• To formulate, uphold, amend or repeal the decisions, declaration,

policies and positions of the party;• To elect members of the Executive Committee;• To approve the revision or amendment of this constitution;• To enforce the penalties specified in Article III, Section 8 of the

Party constitution; and• To discuss and resolve other important party concerns.

The Congress shall convene in regular session once a year, every semestral vacation in October. A simple majority (50% + 1) of all KALAYAAN–LM members shall constitute a quorum for the Congress provided that the respective Permanent Representatives of the member organizations and member individuals are present in the session. Only the Permanent Representatives and member individuals present in a session shall deliberate and vote. Consensus building shall take precedence over majority voting.

The Congress

The Congress shall formulate its own rules of order and/or adopt existing rules of order. It shall prepare an order of business which shall include the topics and issues for discussion. It shall publish its decisions, declarations, policies and positions as resolutions.

The General Assembly through a three-fourth (3/4) majority vote may call for a special session of the Congress.

The Congress

• The General Assembly shall assume the powers of the Congress when the latter is not in session, provided that the General Assembly shall exercise those powers in strict adherence to the decisions, declarations, policies and positions of the party as promulgated by the Congress.

• The General Assembly shall be composed of all KALAYAAN-LM members as defined in the preceding provisions of this constitution.

GA Powers: To implement and execute the decisions, declarations, policies

and positions of the party as promulgated by the Congress; To formulate decisions, declarations, policies and positions on

behalf of the party unless Congress convenes in special session for such purpose; and

To discuss and resolve other important party concerns as delegated to it by the Congress.

The General Assembly

• The General Assembly shall hold regular meetings monthly. It may also convene in a special session when deemed necessary. A simply majority (50% + 1) of all KALAYAAN–LM members shall constitute a quorum. It shall formulate its own rules of order and/or adopting existing rules of order. Consensus building shall take precedence over majority voting.

The General Assembly

• The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the daily operations of the party. It shall implement and execute the decisions, declarations, policies and positions of the party as promulgated by the Congress and the General Assembly. It shall be composed of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary-General, Education and Research Officer, Finance Officer, Media and Communication Officer, and Membership Officer.

Chairperson:1. Serve as the Presiding Officer of the Congress, the General

Assembly, and the Executive Committee;2. Foster unity and cooperation among the member organizations

and member individuals of the party;3. Manage the daily operations of the party, particularly of the

Executive Committee;4. Coordinate alliance work between the party and other groups; and5. Direct the activities of party political officers at the local levels.

The Executive Committee (ExeCom)

Vice Chairperson:1. Direct other activities that pertain to the internal affairs of the

party; and2. Serve as Acting Chairperson in the event of the Chairperson’s

absence, resignation or removal from office.

Secretary-General:1. Serve as the Campaign Officer of the party; and2. Maintain party records and documents.

Education and Research Officer:1. Direct activities for research and analysis on current issues; 2. Coordinate education activities at the College level; and3. Implement training programs for party members.

Finance Officer:• Direct activities for generating and maintaining party funds;• Assume responsibility for acquiring alternative financial sourcing

for the party; and• Serve as the custodian of party funds and equipment.

Media and Communication Officer:1. Direct activities for party publications;2. Assume responsibility for the preparation and effective

implementation of the Party Communication Plan; and3. Ensure that party activities and issues are disseminated

efficiently and effectively to the public and to the media.

Membership Officer:1. Direct activities for the recruitment and integration of new

members; and2. Assume responsibility for the preparation of a Basic Orientation

Curriculum for prospective members.

On the Party Election rule, please refer to the Party Constitution, Article VII.

KALAYAAN-LM!Kabataang Lakas para sa Bayan – Lihok Mag-aaram!

Accomplishment 2007-Present

•Spearheaded the implementation of Centralized Insurance Coverage Program (CICP) of the Student Council;

•Actively called for the construction of a Student Dormitory;

•Actively called for the genuine ownership of the students in the Student Lounge;

•Spearheaded the college-wide protest attended by more than 150 students during the BOR Meeting last November 2008 in UP Tacloban;

•Stopped the college plan to lease the ground floor of the new library building to DENR;

•Strongly campaigned together with the Youth Against Debt (YAD) on the gov’t allocation of 6% of GNP to Educational spending as prescribed by the UNESCO;

•Strongly campaigned for the adjustment of the Student Fund between the SC and the Student Publication;

•Strongly campaigned for the creation of Sports Development Council that will enhance the potentials of UPians in sports.

•Campaigned for the revision of the CRSRS or the Codified Rules for the Student Regent Selection that will empower the students and student councils of the University in selecting the Student Regent;

•Campaigned for the amendment of the 2001 UP Tacloban Student Council constitution especially on the scholastic requirement provision;

•Conducts yearly State of the Youth Address (SOYA) and People’s SONA together with the various sectors of the society especially the time of Gloria Arroyo’s regime;

• Joined the campaign for the approval of Magna Carta of Students in the university as alternative to the administration’s backed guidelines of the student conduct.