CLEVE KEVIN ROBERT VILLANUEVA ARGUELLES
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | University of the Philippines Manila
3472-C S. Delos Santos St. Rizal Ave. Ext. Obrero, Manila
clevekevinrobertarguelles@gmail.com | +639277334302
EDUCATION
The University of the Philippines Manila
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
2008-Present
 Consistent College Scholar & University Scholar (Second Semester AY 08-09; First Semester
AY 09-10; Second Semester AY 09-10; First Semester AY 10-11; Second Semester AY 10-11;
First Semester AY 11-12)
 Scholar, Office of Senator Antonio Trillanes III & the Diwa ng Magdalo Foundation, AY 11-12
 Scholar, Office of Senator Loren Legarda, AY 11-12
 Scholar, Office of Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim, AY 11-12
The Manila Science High School
Secondary Education (Special Science Curriculum)
2004-2008
 Third Meritorious Awardee, 2008
 National Finalist, Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF), 2008
 3rd Place, Ateneo de Manila University Philippine Association of Chemistry Student’s
PACSiklaban: Science Research Fair, 2008
 3rd Place, FEATTI University’s FEATTI’s Science and Technology Expo & Research Fair, 2008
 Finalist, University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science Research Fair, 2008
 Finalist, Sibol Science Research Fair, 2008
Special Education School – Obrero Elementary School
Primary Education (Accelerated Program/Grade III to Grade IV)
 Salutatorian, Special Education School, 2004
 Salutatorian, Obrero Elementary School, 2004
 Consistent Top 10 placer and Honor student
 First Honorable Mention, Journalism Class, 2004
LEADERSHIP
(College)
AY 2011-2012
National Chairperson
Katipunan ng Sangguniang Magaaral sa UP; Dec ‘11-Present
Sole Student Member
UPM Chancellor Search
Committee; July-Nov ‘11
Vice Chairperson
UP Manila University Student
Council; Mar ‘11-‘12
Vice Chairperson for Luzon
KASAMA sa UP; Mar-Dec ‘11
Convener
UP Manila League of College
Student Councils; Mar ‘11-‘12
Chairperson
UPM USC Committee on
Organizations, Fraternities and
Sororities; Apr ‘11-‘12
Co-Convener
#Impeachment Monitor; Jan ‘12Present
Convener
KILOS NA! UP Manila; Jun ‘11Present
AY 2010-2011
Vice Chairperson
UPM College of Arts and Sciences
Student Council (CASSC); Mar ‘10‘11
Chairperson
UPM CASSC Committee on
Organizations and Community
Welfare (OCW); Mar ‘10-‘11
Executive Council Secretary
UPM CASSC; Jul ‘10-Mar ‘11
Public Information Officer
UPM LCSC; Jun ‘10-‘11
Founder and Convener
UPM College of Arts and Sciences
Council of Student Organizations
(CSO); Jun ‘10-‘11
Student Representative
UPM CAS Library Committee; Mar
‘10-‘11
Founder, Convener and Honorary
President
UPM CASSC Oblation Corps; Jun
‘10-‘11
Board Member
Sentro ng Wikang Filipino (Kilusang
Kabataang Kaagapay); Jun ‘10Present
Convener
CAS Tambayan Council; Mar ‘10‘11
AY 2009-2010
Co-Chairperson
UPM Freshman Block Coordination
Program (FBCP); Jun ‘09-‘10
Vice President & Spokesperson
Anakbayan UP Manila; June ‘09-‘10
WORK
EXPERIENCE
Student Assistant
Department of Social Sciences, CAS,
UP Manila; Mar-Jun ‘09
Casual I
City Personnel’s Office, Manila City
Hall; Mar-Jun ‘10
Research Assistant
Research & Extension for
Development Office, CSWCD, UP
DIliman; Mar-Jun ‘11
English Tutor
Rarejob Philippines Inc., Quezon
City; Jun-Aug ‘11
Freelance Writer/Researcher/Web
Developer
Odesk, California, USA; Aug ‘11Present
REFERENCE
Dr. Josefina Tayag
Former Vice Chancellor for
Academic Affairs, UP Manila
jgtayag@yahoo.com
Dr. Judy Taguiwalo
Former Faculty Regent, UP Diliman
jmtaguiwalo@gmail.com
Atty. James Mark Terry Ridon
Former Student Regent, UP Manila
teridon18@gmail.com
CARRY ON AND INTENSIFY THE FIGHT!
General Program of Action/Vision
Cleve Arguelles, SR Nominee
Our generation has witnessed how this society has continued to degenerate- perpetuating existing unequal
social relations and intensifying marginalization of the majority of our people. Day after day, this society
continues to hear and write stories of suffering and oppression.
In the countryside, our generation is witnessing how backward our agricultural sector is because of the
strengthened monopoly of lands in the hands of the landlords. Instead of food and other domestic needs for
self-sufficiency, landlords dictate us to produce raw materials for profit-rich exports, only to be sold to us at a
ridiculously higher price.
Just outside our homes and within our circles, we are witnessing how the present set-up encourages more
business process outsourcing (BPOs) and similar industries, instead of creating key national industries capable
of providing sustained jobs and pushing development in our dying economy. The rising number of
unemployed and underemployed people in our country shall be trained for call centers if we are to follow the
‘strategic’ plan of the present government.
In the cities and other labor centers, we continuously witness how contractualization has become a legal
practice; how we quickly trade rights and welfare of workers in exchange of foreign investments; and how
wages have become a joke, turning our workers into slaves.
We cannot accept why the government has always been the protector of this modern slave system. This is
the same government that massacred its people after refusing to let go of their livelihood and homes, the
same government that made sure oil companies are earning more than triple their profit, and that the
poverty and hunger rates are just numbers that can be easily manipulated to save face.
We share with the majority of the people our deep longing for genuine change.
Not isolated from the worsening conditions of our country, our generation has witnessed the decay of the
education sector: losing its accessibility, relevance, and responsiveness. We have seen how governments in
the past and in the present have fully abandoned its duty to safeguard and ensure the people’s right to
education, and how it has successfully transformed our schools into mere training factories for cheap, semiskilled workers who are meant to satisfy the need of foreign markets instead of a place to develop and foster
professionals capable of pushing this nation to growth and development. We witnessed how policies
intensified the commercialization of education, turning it into a mere commodity in a market available only
to those who can afford it. More often than not, we do not realize we fully submit ourselves to be willing
victims of this system.
And yes, within our gates, our generation of iskolars ng bayan has witnessed the retrogression of our beloved
university- weakened democratic access, eroded public character, and a compromised nature of public
service. We are victims of the continuing increase of the cost of education in UP, the compromised campus
security, and threats, harassments, and other violations to our fellow students.
Cuts in the government subsidy have been a perennial problem of the university, worsening its already pitiful
state. The lack of subsidy from the national government and its continuous decrease has transformed our
university into an income-generating machine, giving way to a private resort in UP Visayas, a private hospital
within a public hospital in UP Manila, for-profit cable cars in UP Los Banos, a research center-turned call
centers district in UP Diliman, and cellular sites in UP Cebu. These are all compromising our public nature and
different functions especially academic.
The nature of our university as a publicly accessible institution of learning has become a fallacy, being one of
the most expensive universities in the Visayas and Mindanao, and having a third of our entrance exam
qualifiers refused to enter because of the high cost. And yes, we can always cite the long list of applicants for
loans and STFAP.
Add to this the fact that the moment we call the attention of the government, we receive militarization (UP
Mindanao), harassments, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killing as a response. Our generation no
longer feels safe; be it economic, physical or political inside and outside the campus.
But despite all of these, our generation has witnessed how we, the youth, can be an inspiration, a source of
hope and image of courage to speak when something is wrong, to fight when we need to defend our rights
and welfare and to work for genuine change we all want. We witnessed the growing number of young
people speaking up, leaving their schools and going to the streets: be it in our country or abroad,
demanding security of our future. But it was not just us young people; we have long recognized the need
to unite with other sectors and collectively find solutions for our common problems.
Together with this generation, the Office of the Student Regent now carries the unfinished tasks of the
previous generations. We are never afraid to raise our fists, shout in the streets and voice our demands
whenever we need and we have to, whenever we are pushed to. We are always ready to transcend individual
differences and step out of our comfort zones to unite and struggle for genuine social change, and we will
always be firm in our call: that we refuse to inherit this old, rotten, unfair, and inhumane system.
In this context, the Student Regent must recognize that his/her scope of work transcends the boundaries of
the university, fully understanding that our concerns in UP are a result of a bigger societal problem. We
must work on this framework to fully maximize his unique position as a member of the Board of Regents
crafting policies for the national university and as a leader of the student movement united with the
people’s movement in our deep desire for genuine social change.
And together with this generation, it is the great historical and institutional task of the Office of the
Student Regent to ignite this generation’s deep desire and longing for change and lead them toward
victory. For today and for the days to come, and until the days of victory, we pledge to carry on and
intensify the fight!
Tuloy ang laban!
Strengthen & Innovate the Institution
The Office of the Student Regent is a testament to our continuing and tireless struggle for genuine,
autonomous, and democratic student representation. We must protect and advance these products of our
struggle.
-Formalize designation of OSR satellite teams in all units, composed of a policy liaison, communications
liaison and council liaison at the same time harnessing the synergy & partnership with student councils in
each unit, as well as streamlining the different processes ensuring an effective relationship between OSR and
far units;
-Convene, train, and mobilize a large network of volunteers to implement programs, carry out activities, and
provide different services from the OSR;
-Conduct independent study (FGDs, fora, etc) regarding the CRSRS to assess its flexibility, applicability, and
responsiveness;
-Heighten awareness on the history and role of the OSR thru different forms such as a written primer, audiovisual presentation, and alternative media campaign;
-Serve as a campaign-centered, policy-led, activity-based, and service oriented institution of and for the
students;
-Develop a system of transparency especially on the financial status of the office as well as the different
policy initiatives of the OSR;
Transform the OSR as a Stronger Advocate of Student Representation
Transform the Office of the Student Regent as a stronger advocate of student representation in all areas
possible, especially in the Board of Regents, in asserting the interests, rights, and welfare of the students
together with other stakeholders.
-Provide regular reports and updates as well as conduct intensive consultations through open, innovative,
and efficient channels of communication to and from the students (especially student councils and
organizations) on matters by the Board;
-Propose, review, or amend policies that affects the students such as academic rules, tuition and other fees,
rules on student activities, campus security, site permanency, and even representation in different levels of
decision-making bodies;
-Build and maximize unities with the university’s administrators as well as external stakeholders, such as the
government and people’s organizations to advance causes of the student sector;
-Regularly forward and uphold student’s demands from different units and maximize avenues for policy
formulation involving the maximum number of students;
Progress & Intensify Student Involvement and Action
Innovate ways to create more spaces of involvement and participation for constituents and ensure a relevant
and responsive Office of the Student Regent.
-Emphasize role of students’ congresses, conventions (island-wide or system-wide) or even the General
Assembly of Student Councils as an advisory body of the SR, as well as its role as an important avenue for
intensive consultation on pressing concerns of different student sectors or different UP units and review of
the program and actions of the SR;
- Tap existing alliances and other formations for an effective and maximum reach of the OSR to its
constituents alongside regular visits to different units (especially regional units), enhancing relationship
between the OSR and the student constituents, and raising support for different local and university student
issues;
-Create avenues of participation for the students to exercise their responsibility, especially in new social
media and alternative media, without losing sight of how essential mass mobilizations are;
-Provide institutional support to all units especially those needing student tambayans, dormitories, libraries,
etc and target concrete plans for procurement, construction, etc for these needs;
STP! Live Out Our Mandate to Serve the People
Carry out the historical role and institutional mandate of the Office of the Student Regent to involve students
in different national concerns, prepare them for national campaigns leadership, and unite with the
marginalized sectors of the society for genuine and common solutions on our common problems.
-Develop the OSR as a center for people’s issues, advocacies, and campaigns addressing
local/regional/sectoral issues for national impact;
-Highlight multi-sectoral unities for bigger victories and maximum reach in the UP community;
-Prepare students in their role as agents of social change and advocates of people’s issues through trainings,
discussions, education, etc designed to heighten awareness and involvement of students and student
formations in different national concerns;
-Pioneer activities, services that will empower marginalized sectors to struggle for their rights and welfare
alongside the students