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Raymond Palatino represented the Kabataan Party (Youth Party) in the 14th Congress of the Philippines. In the short time he was in office, Palatino was able to file various resolutions and bills on youth concerns, such as the Free Special Education Act, BPO Workers Welfare and Protection Act, Tuition Rationalization Bill, Public Libraries Act and SK Reform and Strengthening Act. He has been actively urging the youth to actively participate in nation building, good governance and societal change, both in and out of the House of Representatives. He was again elected as Representative to the 15th Congress.

A Filipino activist and youth leader, Palatino earned his Education degree at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He was chairperson of the College Student Council in 1999, and was elected chairperson of the University Student Council a year later. It was during this time that he played a crucial role in the second EDSA protest movement. Together with other youth and student leaders, Palatino helped encourage thousands of Filipino youth to participate in EDSA Dos, which eventually ended the Estrada presidency.

In 2001, he was elected national president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), the biggest alliance of tertiary student councils and school governments in the Philippines. Palatino was also one of the organizers of different broad youth formations, including the Estrada Resign Youth Movement (ERYM), Youth Action Network (YAN), Filipino Youth for Peace, Kabataan Kontra-Kartel (Youth Against the Oil Cartel) and TxtPower. Palatino mobilized the youth for protest actions, trained youth leaders, lobbied in the Congress and Senate, and wrote political statements and articles.

In 2004, the United Nations Association of the Philippines conferred him an award to recognize his contribution in “youth empowerment on national concerns.”

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