Wear the pride, carry the identity, and support the Iskolar ng Bayan.

Tindahan ni Isko is the official merchandise line of the Bicol University – University Student Council, a student-led enterprise dedicated to redefining the BUeño identity. More than just a merchandise line, we are a movement that bridges student innovation with university heritage. Every item you wear is a spark of wisdom and every purchase is a step toward a more sustainable and supported student community.

Mission:

To provide accessible, high-quality official merchandise that strengthens university pride while supporting sustainable student initiatives.

Vision:

To be the recognized student-led merchandise brand that represents the identity, values, and unity of every Iskolar ng Bayan.

By the Students, For the Students

Tindahan ni Isko operates under the official authority of the Bicol University – University Student Council and the Office of the BU USC Business Manager.

We are committed to the highest standards of financial accountability and transparency. Our operations strictly follow university policies on student enterprises, ensuring that our growth as a brand always translates into better service for the student body.

Our new visual identity is a reflection of the modern Iskolar ng Bayan. At its heart is the Torch of Wisdom (the stylized "I"), symbolizing a light forged through Experience, Learning, and Expression. We have modernized the traditional "tindahan" into an innovative marketplace, a professionalized, accessible, and affordable hub for high-quality gear. From our BU Blue heritage of stability and trust to our BU Orange fire of creativity, our brand is designed to be as resilient and diverse as the students we serve.

Every purchase at Tindahan ni Isko is a strategic investment in the BUeño community, operating on a circular model of empowerment where generated revenue directly fuels student programs, campus services, and USC initiatives to make university life better for everyone.

Logo | 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘇, BUASA Creatives

Originally envisioned as a simple apparel initiative, BU Labels was grounded in the principle of representation—fashion as a symbol of belonging. This foundational idea laid the groundwork for what would later become a broader student enterprise integrating design, service, and advocacy. The early years established BU Labels not as a commercial venture alone, but as a platform shaped by student ideals and collective identity.

Photo | BU Labels Facebook Page

The First Spark — Wearing University Pride (AY 2011–2012)

BU Labels traces its roots to Academic Year 2011–2012, when the idea of wearing and expressing university pride first took form. Inspired by the culture of university identity observed in other institutions, Jason Carmona (USC Internal Vice Chairperson), together with Patrixia Sherly Santos (USC External Vice Chairperson) and Carmel Joy Llabore (USC Finance Officer), conceptualized a clothing line that would allow BUeños to visibly represent their university.

Structuring the Platform — HIBLANG BUEÑO and the Rise of Tindahan ni Isko (AY 2021–2023)

A significant phase of institutional structuring occurred under Ryan Basanta, who served as USC Business Manager for two consecutive terms (AY 2021–2022 and AY 2022–2023). During his stewardship, BU Labels was formally organized into interconnected components that defined its operational identity:

HIBLANG BUEÑO — the design and creative branding of BU Labels
AGAPAY BUeño — the extension arm focused on student welfare and assistance
TINDAHAN NI ISKO — the merchandising platform

In AY 2021–2022, BU Labels 2021: HIBLANG BUEÑO marked the formal reintroduction of BU Labels with a strong advocacy-driven direction. Merchandise sales directly supported Agapay BUeño, reinforcing the idea that student fashion could be a vehicle for care, service, and solidarity.

In AY 2022–2023, BU Labels 2022: HIBLANG BUEÑO continued this identity, placing greater emphasis on confidence, visibility, and elevated BUeño expression. This period culminated in the opening of the first physical Tindahan ni Isko store in October 2022, located at the BU Student Union Center. The store provided a permanent space for BU Labels merchandise, invited CSCs and UBOs to participate, and ensured that proceeds continued to support Agapay BUeño.

Photos | RM Aligan and The Bicol Universitarian Facebook Page (Ralph Leo Rebua, 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑏𝑒̂ 𝑃𝐽)

During this period, physical space was also reimagined. In May 2025, the mural renovation of Tindahan ni Isko, led by the United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary – BU Chapter, infused the store with new color and meaning. The mural symbolized how art, collaboration, and shared ownership continue to shape the identity of the platform.

Photo | Bicol University - University Student Council Facebook Page

Seasons of Change and Celestial Rebirth (AY 2023–2025)

As leadership transitioned, BU Labels entered a period of creative reinterpretation, where each Business Manager introduced a distinct thematic rebranding while maintaining the platform’s core purpose.

Under Kurt Angelo Mejorada (AY 2023–2024), BU Labels 2023: Seasons explored change and adaptability. Drawing inspiration from nature’s cycles, this rebranding framed BU Labels as a living platform—capable of shifting aesthetics and narratives while remaining rooted in student identity. The “Seasons” concept served as a creative bridge between earlier advocacy-driven designs and future transformations.

In AY 2024–2025, Izel Manata introduced BU Labels 2025: BUnique, a cosmic-themed rebranding that symbolized renewal and return. Framed as a celestial rebirth, #BUnique positioned BU Labels as rediscovering its place after periods of dormancy and challenge. This era emphasized individuality within collectivity—inviting BUeños to see themselves as distinct yet connected parts of a larger whole.

Realignment and Continuity — From BU Labels to Tindahan ni Isko (AY 2025–Present)

As BU Labels progressed through different administrations, operational challenges emerged—highlighting the need for clearer systems, consistent governance, and reaffirmed jurisdiction. These realities prompted a phase of realignment, where the focus shifted toward restoring operational clarity and responsibility.

In AY 2025–2026, USC Business Manager Lorenz Sayson, the platform entered a rebranding transition that emphasized continuing the legacy that leaders started from the beginning. While earlier eras focused on advocacy, seasons, and cosmic renewal, this phase signals a movement toward refinement and consolidation, in which strengthening Tindahan ni Isko as the operational face of the enterprise while honoring the legacy of BU Labels.

This rebranding phase does not seek to replace the past, but to integrate its lessons—acknowledging the foundations laid by previous leaders, the creative visions they introduced, and the evolving needs of the BUeño community. It represents an effort to regain operational jurisdiction, reinforce accountability, and ensure that the platform continues to serve students effectively and sustainably.

Logo | 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘇, BUASA Creatives

The evolution of BU Labels and Tindahan ni Isko is a collective story—shaped by student leaders who sparked the idea, Business Managers who structured and rebranded it, artists who renewed its spaces, and students who gave it meaning through participation. Each rebranding—from HIBLANG BUEÑO, to Seasons, to BUnique, and beyond thus reflects a response to its time.

More than a brand, BU Labels and Tindahan ni Isko remain a student institution in motion—defined not by one era alone, but by continuity, service, and shared responsibility to the BUeño community.

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