The American Concrete Institute of the Philippines sought to include the students around the nation in achieving its mission – to meet and solve the needs of the construction industry. In 2012, the Mapúa University was the first student chapter, followed by the Technological Institute of the Philippines – Quezon City in 2015, and several schools then followed. With more student chapters beginning to prop up, this led to the creation and founding of the ACI Philippines - Federation of Student Leaders (ACIP-FSL) in 2016 with the goal of pushing forward activities and events in concrete in different schools. It was composed of representatives from eight (8) student chapters from the aforementioned schools in addition to FEU Institute of Technology, De La Salle University – Manila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manuel L. Quezon University, Technological Institute of the Philippines – Manila, and Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology. Norbert Escaño from Technological Institute of the Philippines - Manila was its founding president under the guidance of Ms. The 1st ACI Philippines Convention happened just within the first year. The organization continued to serve the student constituency with Mr. Joshua Bote from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines as the 2nd president wherein several activities and competitions were organized that further strengthened the organization. More schools were contacted to join ACI and organize their own student chapters. This continued with Mapua University’s very own Ms. Alyza Saldo’s term in 2018 wherein the FSL Student Convention with national competition happened. As the pandemic hit the world and the organization in 2020, it did not halt the ACIP-FSL. Liza Uy from Manuel L. Quezon University, the physical events and activities were shifted virtually. As norms started to evolve as with the times, matters within the organization needed to do so too. Following the enormous global shift, ACIP strived to better suit its student arm. The Federation of Student Leaders (FSL) gave way to the newly formed Council of Student Leaders (CSL) in 2021. Building on the FSL legacy of honoring students and chapters, in the first year of its establishment, CSL headed by Ms. Rona Dela Torre and Ms. Erika Buela from Bataan Peninsula State University and Ateneo de Naga University respectively, more student chapters received the ACI Excellent and Outstanding Chapter Award. Physical events resumed on their term. Now, under the helm of Ms. Erika Buela and Ms. Francine Joyce Aguila from Ateneo de Naga University and Bataan Peninsula State University respectively, physical activities are bolstered. The Philippine Chapter of ACI enjoys the luxury of having the most active and centralized student chapter globally. Through the mixed efforts of its founding visionaries and ardent student leaders, the organization is even stronger than ever. As more universities and colleges welcome ACI – Philippines and ACI as a whole, the ACI – Philippines Council of Student Leaders will continue to aid students across its member chapters in their journey towards the pinnacle of the construction industry now and into the future.
