THE NATIONAL Union of Students of the Philippines extends its sincerest
condolences to family and friends of Atty. Macapanton Yahya Abbas
Jr. Atty.
Abbas was NUSP president in 1966-67 and Secretary-General im 1968.
He is considered as one of the most prominent national leaders the
Union has produced. His legacy to the student movement continue to
inspire the present generation of student leaders.
Atty. Abbas is remembered not ony for being the first Muslim NUSP
President, but also as the President who made the Union the largest
alliance of student councils in the country we know today.
During his term, he succeeded in persuading the majority of the student
councils to withdraw from the then government-backed Student Council
Alliance of the Philippines and over 100 student councils joined the
NUSP exclusively. The International Student Movement and the World
University Service gave NUSP sole recognition as the national union
of students.
As NUSP President, Atty. Abbas asserted the independence of the student
movement by mobilizing the students, especially those coming from
Catholic schools, on domestic and international issues like the Vietnam
war, abolition of the Laurel Langley Agreement on Parity rights, removal
of the US Bases, abolition of Spanish as a compulsory language, passage
of the bill of rights of students, and international issues affecting
human rights in Indonesia, Palestine, Iran, Cyprus, Kashmir and Jammu.
The NUSP became the national student campaign center even before
the advent of the First Quarter Storm. Atty. Abbas and his contemporaries
paved the way for future NUSP leaders like Edgar Jopson to steer the
Union towards social service, critical engagement and independent
principled student movement. We feel honored for having Atty. Abbas
as our keynote speaker during our last year's National Students' Convention
held at Oroquieta City.
His words of wisdom and inspiration have definitely made a lasting
impression to the student delegates about what the role of the youth
should be at present and in the future.
He talked about the struggles of the student movement during his
days and related it to the present situation. He bemoaned the lack
of integrity of our leaders by inviting the US troops back in the
country. He condemned the government's support to the war on terror
by the United States and the militarist apporach to the problem of
peace in Mindanao.
His challenge to all student leaders will never be forgotten: "…what
the students of today will say, the country will do tomorrow. The
future belongs to the youth who have visions and fights for their
attainment and not those who isolate themselves in the comfort of
their families or who take the path of carefree and individualistic
pursuit of the good life…struggle for the rights of the people
and the youth and you will never feel shame for the days of your youth
in the twilight of your lives when you are about to cross the bar
to eternity."
Atty. Abbas' unwavering determination to fight for his principles,
his deep faith in the potentials of the youth and the collective solidarity
of the Filipino people makes him one of the role models for student
leaders. We feel most proud of having our name associated with a great
leader like him.
