Eli San Fernando

Eli San Fernando
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the Kamanggagawa Partylist
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 30, 2025
President of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Student Council
In office
2017–2018
Preceded byJonald Bagasina
Succeeded byRalyn Rodriguez
Personal details
BornElijah Rumbaoa San Fernando
(1996-08-13) August 13, 1996
Quezon City, Philippines
PartyKamanggagawa (2024–present)
Other political
affiliations
Alternatiba (2022–2024)
Alma materPolytechnic University of the Philippines (BS)
Occupation
  • Labor leader
  • union organizer
  • politician
Known for
Student and labor activism

Elijah Rumbaoa San Fernando (born August 13, 1996) is a Filipino labor leader, politician and Internet personality currently serving as member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the Kamanggagawa party-list.[1] San Fernando ran as the party's first nominee in the 2025 midterm elections.[2] He previously served as the secretary-general of Alternatiba from 2022 to 2024 and was involved in student leadership as Student Regent of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).[3]

Early life and education

San Fernando was born in Quezon City. His mother was a public school teacher, while his father served as a Protestant pastor.[4] He pursued his undergraduate studies at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 2018.

Political involvement

Student politics

San Fernando was elected as vice president of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa campus student council in 2016 under the banner of the newly-established PUP SPEAK, then eventually acceded to the presidency in 2017. In September of the same year, San Fernando was elected by 25 of 35 members of the university system-wide student council federation as its president, making him the Student Regent representing students at the university's highest decision-making body, the Board of Regents.[5]

Labor organizing

San Fernando was the secretary-general of the political organization Alternatiba from 2022 to 2024. The group figured in the news for filing a graft complaint against a Department of Agriculture official in 2023.[6] He was also Vice President of the National Federation of Labor during this period.[7] San Fernando filed his candidacy as first nominee of the newly-founded Kamanggagawa Party-list on October 1, 2024.[8] He won as the Representative of the Kamanggagawa party-list during the 2025 Philippine House of Representatives elections.[9]

Digital activism

In June 2024, San Fernando started creating content on social media that championed workers rights, exposed labor abuses, and condemned corrupt government officials. His main campaign slogan called for the abolition of the "provincial rate," the differing minimum wave levels across regions.[10] San Fernando's online content soon turned viral, and had been credited by his campaigners as a major factor for their 2025 electoral gains. His Tiktok account gained one million followers in the course of the midterm election campaign.[11] But he also faced cyber libel charges in connection with a social media post.[12]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Eli San Fernando
Year Office Party Votes received Result
Total % P. Swing
2025 Representative (Party-list) Kamanggagawa 382,657 0.91% 29th N/a Won

References

  1. ↑ Reyes, Ivy (May 20, 2025). "3-year-old Kamanggagawa Partylist lands House seat through social media campaigning". Bilyonaryo News Channel. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  2. ↑ Malasig, Jeline (October 1, 2024). "Why a political content creator is running for public office". Interaksyon. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Eli San Fernando". Rappler.com. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  4. ↑ De Leon, Dwight (July 2, 2025). "Rappler Talk: Congressman Eli San Fernando on the fight for wage hike". Rappler. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  5. ↑ Aventurado, Nievlin (May 9, 2018). "Rodriguez takes oath as central SC President of main campus". Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  6. ↑ "DA executive charged over sugar imports". The Manila Times. June 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ Kamanggagawa. "Kamanggagawa website". Kamanggagawa Party-list. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ Malasig, Jeline (October 1, 2024). "Why a political content creator is running for public office". Interaksyon. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  9. ↑ Reyes, Ivy (May 20, 2025). "3-year-old Kamanggagawa Partylist lands House seat through social media campaigning". Bilyonaryo News Channel. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  10. ↑ Sampang, Dianne (October 1, 2024). "Kamanggagawa party-list seeks to abolish provincial wage rate system". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  11. ↑ Reyes, Ivy (May 20, 2025). "3-year-old Kamanggagawa Partylist lands House seat through social media campaigning". Bilyonaryo News Channel. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  12. ↑ The Varsitarian Staff (September 10, 2024). "Labor leader faces cyber libel complaint". The Varsitarian.
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