By Jiann Delumen

Situating governance discussions within student spaces, Far Eastern University College Y Club (FEU CYC) staged ‘ParliamentKalye 2026,’ a civic forum on policymaking and democratic engagement at FEU Pavilion 1 yesterday, February 9.

The forum grounded civic education within the university setting, framing discussions on legislation and governance around student realities where leadership, representation, and accountability are already being exercised through campus systems.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, FEU CYC External Vice President Jhazlyn Gwen Ite described ParliamentKalye’s shift from a primarily educational initiative to a participatory space that enables students to recognize democratic engagement as an active and ongoing practice within their own community.

“With FEU student elections approaching, these discussions become immediately relevant. Evaluating platforms, choosing leaders, and engaging in dialogue allows students to practice decision-making in a democratic setting,” she emphasized.

Ite added that the initiative also prepares Tamaraws for broader public participation, with many students expected to become first-time or young voters ahead of the 2028 national elections.

Anchoring these objectives within the program, former FEU CYC Internal Vice President and ParliamentKalye Leg 1 project proponent Isabelle Cebu opened the forum by centering basic civil and political rights relevant to emerging professionals as foundations of ethical decision-making and civic responsibility.

Cebu walked students through the policymaking process—from bill drafting to implementation—underscoring how laws shape opportunities, obligations, and long-term outcomes.

“Bakit dapat nagma-matter ang policymaking sa inyo (Why should policymaking matter to you)? Because number one, you're a citizen, you have your rights, you have your obligations as indicated in these laws, and it also paves the road to your future… Laws make or break someone's future,” she asserted.

Additionally, Cebu underscored that policymaking extends beyond formal legislative bodies, operating as well within universities and student organizations.

“Policymaking is a very public space for all, so it has to be open for all," the project proponent added.

Building upon the discussion, former FEU CYC President Kristine Marquez highlighted student participation as a catalyst for institutional change, urging students to enter governance spaces despite feeling intimidated.

“‘Wag kayong matakot na sumali… baka ma-intimidate kayo na, ‘hala lahat sila magaling,’ ‘lahat sila marunong’ (Don’t be afraid to get involved. You might feel intimidated, thinking, ‘everyone here is good,’ ‘everyone already knows what they’re doing’). That is not the point of Congress... The point is to have a representation for your day-to-day concerns and… it's really more of you showing up there and fighting or raising awareness,” she advised.

Marquez, now a resident intern at the Ateneo Human Rights Center, outlined systemic change as a process that begins with understanding student rights, advances through participation in decision-making spaces, and culminates in advocacy for collective concerns—casting democratic engagement as sustained practice rather than isolated action.

Looking ahead, Ite projected ParliamentKalye as a sustained platform for cultivating a culture of participation, starting with responsible engagement in campus elections, and extending to national democratic involvement.

“If students leave ParliamentKalye with the belief that their voice carries responsibility, then the program has already created future leaders,” she concluded.

Now on its second installment, ParliamentKalye builds on an initiative first launched in 2023 to expand legislative knowledge among senior high school students, with its pilot run held at the San Juan City Technical-Vocational and Livelihood Senior High School.

(Photo by Prince Espela/FEU Advocate)