Alyansang Tapat sa Lasalista (TAPAT) and Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon (Santugon) are not the only ones vying for the University Student Government (USG) presidency in the coming General Elections (GE) which will start on March 19. Jose Miguel Moreno (III, PSM-LMG), a former FAST 2010 batch president, is running against the two political parties as an independent candidate for the student government’s highest position.

 

A former Santugon candidate, Moreno believes that running independently gives him more flexibility in terms of platform and ideology. He explains, “Being in a party tends to bind a person and limit him in bringing out his personal beliefs and principles. Some might say I am a bit stubborn for challenging two very well-established parties, but I suppose that’s just how much I [want] to stand by my beliefs and principles.”

 

Independent thrust

 

If elected, Moreno plans to address the division and lack of coordination between the USG and other student sectors of the University.   Moreno also plans to strengthen linkages with De La Salle-Science and Technology campus (DLS-STC).

 

Consequently, like his former party, Moreno feels that an intrinsic approach to address student issues is more appropriate for DLSU. He furthers, “For student leaders in DLSU, I believe that it is better to address the issues that we have here in [the University] before we engage the ones outside. We should be sustainable inside first before we can extend that outward.”

 

Moreno is not the first independent candidate to run in the GE. Last AY, Ramon V. Del Rosario-College of Business (RVR-COB) student Alphonse Valenzuela ran unsuccessfully as a legislative assembly representative for Blaze 2013.

 

Moreno is a graduate of La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) and was an exchange student at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2012. He was Vice President for Alliances in Samahan ng Mag-Aaral ng Sikolohiya and is the current president of the Lasallian Scholars Society.