INCUMBENT UST Faculty Union (USTFU) President Emerito Gonzales will face Prof. Revenendo Vargas in a rematch of their closely contested 2021 race, during the labor union’s 2026 elections.
In the official list of candidates released by the USTFU Commission on Elections on April 10, Gonzales, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, will run under Sulong party, while Vargas of the Institute of Religion will be the standard-bearer of FAIR.
The two previously faced off in 2021, when Gonzales narrowly won the presidency, 440 votes to 419, in a contest shaped by differing approaches to faculty representation and negotiations with the University. A third bet, Prof. Jove Jim Aguas, of Arts and Letters, mustered 208 votes.
The rematch comes as the union seeks to renegotiate the economic provisions of its 2021-2026 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the UST administration.
CBA talks have remained a central issue in the union, with faculty members raising concerns over delays in salary adjustments, benefits, and other economic provisions.
Faculty have also sought clarification on a new code of professional ethics imposed by the administration, as it tightens regulation of outside work and engagements.
The annual health permit requirement, considered an added burden on faculty, remains a contentious issue in the absence of clear, written policies from Manila City Hall.
Candidates
Running for executive vice president in the 2026 USTFU elections are Ser Allan Bodoraya of the Institute of Religion under the FAIR party, and Arts and Letters Faculty Association President Rene Tadle under the Sulong slate.
Sulong candidates Maria Victoria Bongar of Nursing and John Vincent Ignacio of the Artlets philosophy department, who are running for internal vice president and external vice president, respectively, are unopposed.
The candidates for vice president for labor education and development are James Nidea (FAIR) of the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM) and Jonathan Aganan (Sulong) of the College of Science.
The candidates for vice president for legal affairs are both Artlets faculty: Froilan Calilung (FAIR) of the political science department and lawyer Danielito Jimenez (Sulong) of the legal management department.
History faculty member Lee Mark Banaag of FAIR and Commerce faculty Jennifer Lam-Saludo of Sulong are running for vice president for grievance and complaints.
Chemical engineering faculty Carol Encarnado of FAIR and senior high teacher Katherine Alonday of Sulong are the candidates for secretary general.
Other candidates running under Vargas’ FAIR party are: Prof. Maria Luisa Reyes for auditor, theology faculty Joseph Albert Reyes for public relations officer (PRO), and candidates for director Mary Angel Elacion (CTHM), librarian Kristi Macasaet-Recinto, modern languages faculty Abigail Pagalilauan, Commerce faculty Rosalyn Perkins, junior high teachers Maria Teresa Ramos and Dominador Ulaye, and Edgar Allan Uy of Accountancy.
The rest of the candidates running under Gonzales’ Sulong party are: Franklin Prieto of Commerce for treasurer, College of Information and Computing Sciences faculty Leonid Lintag for PRO, theology professor Ulysses Parado for sergeant at arms, and director candidates Rebecca Adri and Robinson Laxa (Institute of Physical Education and Athletics), senior high teacher Ed Paolo Aguinaldo, the Faculty of Pharmacy’s Ruth Bangaoil, psychology’s Dr. Edilberto Gonzaga, Danilo Guinto of Engineering,, Dr. Elvis Llarena of Medicine, Crisencio Paner of microbiology, Adrian Romero of the National Service Training Program, and Marvin Zapanta of the Artlets history department.
Running as independent candidates for director are Arlene De Leon of the Conservatory of Music and senior high teacher Emerson Hernandez.
During the 2021 campaign, Gonzales said the union must “pursue immediate and meaningful negotiations” for a new CBA.
He also vowed internal reforms upon assuming office, saying there would be “house cleaning” within the union.
READ: New faculty union chief vows house-cleaning
Vargas, for his part, vowed to pursue “better services and benefits” for faculty members and push for higher wages, health, wellness and hospitalization programs, an accessible grievance machinery, tenureship security, and a “generous” retirement package.
Candidacy filing was held from March 26 to April 8, while the campaign period is from April 11 to 26.
Elections will be conducted on April 28 and 29, except for the Graduate School and Civil Law, which will vote earlier on April 25.
The USTFU Commission on Election has denied appeals from various faculty associations for hybrid voting and additional voting dates.
