The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) community celebrates a historic milestone as Mariton Manalili, a Bachelor of Education Studies (BES) student, has been elected as the 43rd Student Regent of the University of the Philippines (UP). Her election marks the first time in the university’s history that a student from UPOU will serve as the sole student representative to the Board of Regents (BOR), the highest governing body of the UP System.
The official announcement was made by outgoing Student Regent Dexter Clemente following more than 15 hours of deliberations during the 61st General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC) held at UP Mindanao held on 7 August 2026. Manalili’s selection comes after she successfully secured a consensus among campus units across the entire UP System.
In a statement regarding her election, Manalili emphasized that her victory is a testament to the persistence of the student movement, even in a challenging political climate. “Being forwarded by the UPOU community is a reminder that we are One UP, and our identity is unbounded by our geographical uniqueness,” she stated. She further noted that the university community remains united by a shared struggle for free, accessible, and quality education.
During her term, Manalili plans to prioritize the fight for a higher and sufficient budget for the university. She highlighted several critical issues currently exacerbated by a lack of funding, including high faculty-to-student ratios in courses, the lack of adequate psychosocial services for students, and the limited opportunities for scholarship grants.
Manalili stressed that a well-consulted student body is essential to decisively forward a budget that addresses these pressing needs.
Expressing gratitude for the trust bestowed upon her, the Regent Manalili pledged to remain committed to being a voice for the student sector in their various campaigns. “The student regent alone can only do so much, but with the minds and hearts of all our iskolar ng bayan, the promise of a better present and future is within our reach,” Manalili said.
The UPOU community has expressed its full support for Manalili as she steps into the role, with leaders hoping her term will be guided by “courage, compassion, and a steadfast commitment” to amplifying student voices nationwide.
Written by Anna Canas-Llamas | Edited by Primo Garcia | Visual layout by Marinela Hernandez
