The candidates running for the Executive Board (EB) which consists five of the highest positions in the University Student Government (USG) have been training rigorously for the past months as they prepare themselves for the campaign period. The students will be the ones deciding on the best type of candidate appropriate for the position, where these elected candidates will embark on a mission to serve the whole Lasallian community.
The LaSallian interviews the different candidates from the political parties, Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista (Tapat) and Santugon Tawag Ng Panahon (Santugon), and an independent candidate. The candidates were asked about their opinions on certain issues inside and outside the campus.
President
Independent
MIKEE DE VEGA
V, ISE-LGL
How do you plan to promote student engagement in activities organized by the USG?
I think the step to improve student engagement is having a human-centeredness in terms of designing the projects. [Right now], the focus of trying to increase student engagement is [by] making students want to go to the talks, so you give them incentives or you tell them about prizes so they’ll go. But I think what’s more important is to make things that people want. So I think that the way to improve student engagement is to really focus back on representation and that’s what I think my vision is for the USG.
We’ve perfected the art of making activities, we get good sponsors, we get support for all of those things, but I think what we’re lacking on is really having a system to make sure we understand what students want and [are] creating student services that they need and are not redundant with what they have already. So I think that’s what’s going to improve student engagement: just making sure that the projects are relevant.
What will the current administration’s legacy be in this country? What should a leader of this nation strive to be remembered for and what actions should they take for it to come into fruition?
Honestly, I think it’s too early to say what [Duterte’s] legacy will be. But if I’m going to judge it from the first year, I think the legacy will be all about his commitment to the war on drugs, and unfortunately, it consequently includes all the extra judicial killings that have happened. [This also includes] whether or not [he] will consider the re-entry of the Marcoses as part of his legacy.
What I think the better legacy that Duterte should have is inclusiveness, because I think he didn’t really win on the basis of the war on drugs [but rather, he won] out of dissatisfaction with establishment, with normal politicians, with the traditional way that people campaign or run the country.
A lot of the people in the country get pushed to the drug trade or get submerged into a life of crime, not because they just really want to, but because of poverty. I think [the solution is] there should be greater investment in areas that will really improve the human capital that we have, so I think investments in education and health care are important. Injecting growth and money into the economies is important to generate jobs and growth-making investments. I think that’s better than the current approach to just stop the drug trade by punitive means.
Tapat
ERIELLE CHUA
IV, AEF-LGL
How do you plan to promote student engagement in activities organized by the USG?
Our vision is a standalone solution for the issue of student participation and engagement, because [Tapat’s campaign]—rise of the ordinary—tries to consider all Lasallians, allowing them to follow their goals and aspirations. The USG’s purpose is for student representation… Tapat’s three reforms actually try to tap into the three aspects of a regular student life.
First is open government, meaning what the USG can do for the students. Two, is enhanced university life, meaning trying to improve the current campus facilities and giving students more opportunities [for experience-based learning]. Three is collaborative student engagement. The USG [should be in] touch with reality and helping [empower] the young passions and advocacies of these students.
The USG should have constant dialogues with their constituents. As the student representatives, the autonomous body that tries to govern everyone, the USG should be at the forefront, helping student organizations develop, and become better versions of themselves. Collaborative student engagement, this what we [are] envisioning, [with] the USG at the forefront. If the government is trying to be transparent in its operations, we also want to be held accountable.
What will the current administration’s legacy be in this country? What should a leader of this nation strive to be remembered for and what actions should they take for it to come into fruition?
I think it’s very blatant and prominent [that Duterte’s] really having this war against drugs. I think he is trying to achieve a legacy that he is leading the biggest anti-drug campaign in the entire history of the PH. I think yung rationale nya siguro, is hindi lang nya gusto pumatay ng people to reduce the drug users, but to eliminate the barriers that hinder people from contributing to [society]. However, I don’t think it’s for the betterment of the entire nation. There are extrajudicial killings [everywhere], there’s no due process happening. More people are getting killed [as opposed to] than rehabilitating them to become better citizens and to contribute to this nation’s economy.
A leader of this nation [should] strive to be remembered for [their] actions. [He should] stand firm on his ideologies., meaning he’s clear, predictable, and consistent with all his actions, from his projects to all his cabinet members, everything would be aligned. Kasi yun naman talaga yung what people vote for, it’s based on the ideologies, assuming na politically mature yung voting body. [Finally,] I think that a leader should not perceive himself as an authority beyond his constituents.
Santugon
KARL ONG
IV, IME-IT
How do you plan to promote student engagement in activities organized by the USG?
We acknowledge that in this University, we have a diverse student body and that implies that there is a need for different types of engagement. As the USG, we plan to increase and develop the engagement of the students by partnering with them in addressing issues and facing opportunities. This partnership implies being with the students in every step that we take throughout the year. By showing the relevance of the activities we do, we believe that engagement would increase. We recognize that as the USG, we can work best when we work with the students, so our engagement won’t be complete without the students.
What will the current administration’s legacy be in this country? What should a leader of this nation strive to be remembered for and what actions should they take for it to come into fruition?
I believe that one legacy that the current administration will have in this country would be “Build Build Build”, [looking at] the infrastructure plan under DPWH, DOTr, NEDA, and BCDA. Metro Manila continues to increase in population and this translates to more traffic congestion and resource and time wastage. This project will not only solve traffic and transportation but it can also help in decongesting Metro Manila and providing more job opportunities.
A leader of this nation should strive to unite and partner with the people. A leader will not only be remembered by their projects but by that person’s character, actions, and words. A leader of this nation should strive to be remembered as a maker of sustainable change. He or she must see the needs of the country and its citizen and provide programs or policies in addressing those needs. That is a leader that can bring progressive growth for the country.
Vice President for Internal Affairs
Tapat
JUSTINE BASCO
IV, BS-ECE
With the increasing threats throughout the country, what are the measures you would take in order to ensure the safety of Lasallians in campus?
This became an issue far back [due to] the Yuchengco [incident]. When I heard about the [incident in] Yuchengco, where a student got assaulted, although there were also rumors of students being assaulted in the CRs [even before the incident], it made me think on how these happen. With the increasing threats from external factors, the school takes pride in itself for its ID policy. I think that the policy may not be as effective as it should be, which is why [I believe that the improvement of the security at the gates is really important]
You know how they’re supposed to check your bag, and they don’t really check your bags? I heard about how students really get to bring in [dangerous and prohibited items] na talaga. Even if [the students] won’t do anything with [these items], I will not wait for something to happen.
I am researching on a better way of inspection at the gates [wherein the process] is time-efficient as well. One of the things that we are looking at is how [security] is being done at airports. [We are still under research and looking for alternatives so that the security will be more effective and efficient at the same time.]
What is your stand on the ongoing war against drugs in the country? Do you think it is effective? If not, what should we really be looking at as the root of problems here in the Philippines?
With regards to the war on drugs, I’m not saying drugs isn’t a problem, but [the current administration’s] approach is not the right way because [killing one person who consumed drugs] doesn’t mean that everything else will follow, and at the same time, the cost of a human life is the potential of what [the person could have given] back to the country. Yun yung nawawala eh, when you kill them.From what I know, people use [drugs] as a form of escape. If di na nila nakakayanan, or if they want to uplift their pain. [This is why we should also focus on is the environment of our school.] It puts a lot of pressure on the students, especially at the College of Engineering, [where some students break down when they can no longer handle it.] As the OVPIA, [one area that] I really wanted to focus on is with regard to mental health because it is really a serious [matter today].
Santugon
BRIAN CHEN
III, AEF-LGL
With the increasing threats throughout the country, what are the measures you would take in order to ensure the safety of Lasallians in campus?
Safety is an issue and concern which should never be ignored nor comprised, and pro-active measures are always the best way to combat threats on safety. That is why as your next Vice President for Internal Affairs, aside from continuously strengthening our safety and security inside campus in partnership with and reinforcing our representation in different administrative offices, my office will be spearheading a Safety Task Force, a committee that would be trained to respond to the different [situations]. This pool, guided by the ROTC team and PH Red Cross, will be open to all Lasallians who want to volunteer and be part of pro-active measures to ensure the safety and security of their fellow Lasallians.
What is your stand on the ongoing war against drugs in the country? Do you think it is effective? If not, what should we really be looking at as the root of problems here in the Philippines?
I do understand the consequences of the prevalent use of illegal drugs and the ongoing drug trafficking in the country, that this illegal drug consumption and trafficking should be stopped. Still, I would like to be firm with my values and stick with my integrity as a leader and a simple Christian person, that it is only God who can judge us and decide to take away the lives of people. Moreover, everyone’s individuality and value must be considered as well. These pushers or users may have had their faults, but it should not totally define them as people, nor should it define their future. This reality of theirs may have been caused not by their willful choice, but by their uncontrollable situation in life, say poverty and miseducation.
I believe that EJK is not the best way to solve the problem with drugs and is definitely not the only way to stop drugs in the country. Rather, I believe that sustainable solutions should be used in this sensitive issue, such as treatment, formation, and other means, as these would really resolve the issue on drugs long-term, as compared to the quick band-aid solution of shoot and kill.
Vice President for External Affairs
Tapat
MATTHEW ANG
II, AB-PLM
With the prevalent issues in our country, how would you encourage and promote students to take part in national involvement as Lasallians for God and country?
When I first read the question, I found it very generic [because this problem] happens all the time. It’s so hard to bring about that necessary empathy that students need to be translated into action. But that’s exactly why I believe that the job of the [whole] USG is to be the kind of inspiration that students need to wake up to go about the world… to fix the country! Kasi yung pagka-Lasalyano ng isang tao, it’s not dependent on whether you pass the DCAT, or if you can pay for tuition here. To be a Lasallian is to be for God and country, and to forget the country—much more to forget God—in the process is to lose what it means to be a Lasallian. To have Lasallian values is to call for students to bring out that empathy [that will] translate into action. It’s not anymore about physical things, [it has] always [been] about the hope, the vision, and how the whole Lasallian reflection framework translates to each [of the] student’s lives, and how they translate that reflection into something more tangible, into something that affects society [and country].
How would you evaluate the government’s methods of negotiations and agreements in the ever-stifling dispute of islands within our economic area of responsibility?
I just want to point out that Duterte does want an independent foreign policy, and I agree wholeheartedly with that. We should be proud of our Filipinos’ right, the things we believe in, our ideologies, and those ideologies should translate in our foreign policy. But the problem is [that] Duterte doesn’t have a clear stance on what he wants. His ideology is very mixed, it’s very murky. For me, it doesn’t make sense. So when you’re going for an independent foreign policy but [ikaw] mismo, hindi mo alam kung ano gusto mo, then you don’t know how to lead the country. It’s about standing strong and fighting for what you believe in, and I am doing that.
What happens if you’re the president, the man who leads the nation, and the one who represents our ideologies? It’s about leading the nation forward, right? And that comes with a foreign policy. It’s about Duterte learning that he has to die for what he believes in, even if [what he believes in] is not good by our standards. Kung maging [dictator] siya, sa totoo lang, if he really becomes Hitler, it’s okay in a sense [that] it gives us a chance to be authentic against him as well.
Santugon
GABBIE PEREZ
III, AB-LIM
With the prevalent issues in our country, how would you encourage and promote students to take part in national involvement as Lasallians for God and country?
Our vision for this year is built upon the idea of ensuring a sustainable partnership with students. This entails our governance to be inclusive and consider that every student is different. [As some] students want to focus on academics and organization work, [others] vary in perspectives and activeness when it comes to national involvement. Given [this diversity,], my office would ensure that each student is provided avenues to engage themself based on their own individual capacities.
A specific program I have is entitled “Juan LaSalle” wherein our campaign of “Educated Nationalism” will take place, ensuring every Lasallian is educated on different perspectives on issues, so they could make informed decisions in their stands. My office will never force a student to do things they do not want to do. Rather, my office will provide students with options that fit their capabilities, challenge norms, and ignite intellectual discussions, because only then will students be able to engage themselves in national involvement, even in advocacies and community development.
How would you evaluate the government’s methods of negotiations and agreements in the ever stifling dispute of islands within our economic area of responsibility?
The first step in evaluating the government’s methods would be to accept that the realm of international relations is complicated, with the number of political agendas, international laws and national powers that come into play in every possible situation. The international relations of our government have been quite erratic, as our alliances have been weakening and new inter-government relationships have been made. Our government has been opportunistic [in terms of] the discussion of aid, donations, and infrastructural help, as we have been dealing with China, Russia, and even South Korea. However, our position on the island disputes has been more lenient, generous, and generally too nice, which leads me to the question of: Have we been compromising our claims on the islands in order to ensure support in our development plans?
Being a proud Filipino who believes in the legitimacy of our claim over all disputed islands, I believe our government should stand firm in its constant negotiations, and balance its position in the international arena in order to make the best decisions for the country.
Executive Secretary
Tapat
CAYLEY MCCALLUM
II, AB-ISA
How do you plan on disseminating information more effectively within the La Salle community?
An important part of effective information dissemination is the accessibility and reliability of the information. No matter how well information is explained or put together, if it is not reaching its intended audience, it’s useless. I’d like to work on making the information more accessible by giving Lasallians various ways to access the information. Facebook groups and posts just aren’t enough anymore, it is getting too saturated. There should be ways to access information without those things, such as constantly updating the bulletin boards around the university, and announcement through social media platforms aside from Facebook. In addition, I would like to improve the USG website wherein all the information about programs, services, announcements, and opportunities will be updated and available in one portal.
The country will always be divided. But due to the polarizing effect of the current administration, the division is made clearer depending on what information is disseminated and understood by each individual. With this in mind, what actions should the government take to better inform and earn the trust of the Filipinos? As individuals, how should we combat alternative facts and fake news in order to better understand the current state of the country?
The government should not only emphasize but also practice consistency and professionalism. From the current leaders, both elected and appointed, it is important that as national figures, the information that they share is true and thoroughly researched. When politicians remain inconsistent, biased, and reticent, it worsens the already clear divide between the government and the people. The media, as an important stakeholder in this issue, should act appropriately and respect the basic tenets of journalism. As individuals, it is important that we are able to recognize the signs of fake news such as unreliable websites or authors, facts that are not backed up by verified research, and sensationalist or ‘click bait’ titles. If we are able to recognize these signs, we will be able to help stop the spread of these alternative facts. Ultimately, it is only when we remove dishonesty from the equation that we are able to start a discourse between the people and the government. Only then will it be possible for the government to earn the trust of their constituents.
Santugon
TRISH ANDULTE
II, BSA
How do you plan on disseminating information more effectively within the La Salle community?
Aside from social media platforms, I believe establishing presence and methods of ensuring proper information dissemination within the University are also important, especially for those who do not readily have access to internet. With this, I plan on pushing through with the text messaging system established by the current elected and appointed officers of the Office of the Executive Secretary. Utilizing the bulletin boards within the campus and mounting televisions containing relevant information in strategic locations would also be of aid to the students. Lastly, I, along with the rest of the Santugon Executive Board, will push for the actualization of the Student Companion Mobile Application to ensure that all students give and receive information through the most convenient means possible, while making all other aspects of student life more accessible for every Lasallian.
The country will always be divided. But due to the polarizing effect of the current administration, the division is made clearer depending on what information is disseminated and understood by each individual. With this in mind, what actions should the government take to better inform and earn the trust of the Filipinos? As individuals, how should we combat alternative facts and fake news in order to better understand the current state of the country?
To earn the trust of Filipinos, the government must work on being credible and responsive. Given that recent happenings have caused the widespread of false information, I believe that the government should push for the proclamation of Senate Bill 1492, or An Act Penalizing the Malicious Distribution of False News and Other Related Violations, to diminish the circulation of inaccurate news. Given that not all Filipinos are provided avenues to be up to date with current events, it is important that once they are informed, what they receive is accurate. As individuals, we must learn to look for credible sources and become critical realists. It is also important that we learn to look deeper into situations and not just on the surface in order to seek the causal mechanisms behind these happenings. Through this, not only will we find credible information, but we may also become agents of informing others with substance and accuracy.
Executive Treasurer
Tapat
DAVID CO
III, CIV-CTM
How would you address the recent corruption allegations against the USG and what actions would you carry out in order to prevent similar issues from happening in the future?
The money from the students must always be for the students. One with the students in being doubtful of the previous government and how the systems in the USG work, the fact that there were [corruption] allegations against an office directly involved with money shocked me. To prevent similar issues from happening again in the future, what I would do to ensure an OTREAS that is dependable and reliable is [create] a trustworthy OTREAS in which all transactions would be fully transparent. I would do this by carrying out a policy similar to the Financial Disclosure Act of our Government, where the transparency report is not only made for compliance, but it is made to make the students want to read it. In addition to this, I would be in full compliance with what our OTREAS is aiming for, which is to have accountable operations and an effective structure, and pursuing to establish the litigation board, that keep officers accountable, prevents corruption, and [promotes] efficiency.
If you were to manage the budget of the Philippines, which five departments in the government will you prioritize and provide the most budget with in order to develop? Why?
To help me answer this question, I want to focus on three major things in the country that I personally advocate for. An advocacy that promotes quality education, formulates remarkable urban development, and develops health and social welfare in the country. Specifically, the departments I would prioritize for the budget of the Philippines are the Department of Education, the National Economic Development Authority, the Department of Public Works and Highway, the Department of Health, and finally, the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The development of the country depends on the people with the government that provide good educational standards, which teaches us the skill [needed] for the growth of the country. Proper urbanization of the communities enables economic activity, which in turn allows opportunities for more capital flowing throughout the country. Lastly, with social welfare projects, we will give the most excluded a chance at a good life for them and for our future generations. This is similar to what I want to happen to the USG. I want the USG to be diverse in which the main goal [is] for everyone to be involved and [so] every Lasallian is given the opportunity to develop.
Santugon
ROLF VILLON
III, AEI-LGL
How would you address the recent corruption allegations on the USG and what actions would you carry out in order to prevent similar issues from happening in the future?
Even though these are baseless allegations, the USG took the necessary steps and actions in order to address this issue. First off, it responded to all media interviews. Moreover, the LA passed a bipartisan resolution that mandates all financial statements and account balances from the previous years to be reviewed. Meanwhile, OTREAS launched the first ever transparency report, which contains the up-to-date balances of the USG units and their electronic financial record book and shows all their transactions. Stricter policies on financial transactions were implemented and enforced. All these efforts have made the USG more transparent and accountable.
I will evaluate all the policies affecting the finances in the USG and I will be working closely with all the unit treasurers, LA Representatives, COA, and even the administration in achieving an accountable and transparent USG. I will also innovate the transparency report by making it more comprehensible and by coordinating with the different student publications. This will allow the students to trust the USG again.
If you were to manage the budget of the Philippines, which five departments in the government will you prioritize and provide the most budget with in order to develop? Why?
First, DPWH. The Philippines loses P2.4 Billion per day because of traffic. [We need] better and more efficient transportation to maximize our productivity as a country. Second, DepED. Education is the key [to] solving almost all of the issues in our country. Having competent and knowledgeable citizens would allow Filipinos to make educated decisions in terms of finance, politics, ethics, and other important dimensions of decision making. Third, DoA. [It is crucial for] us to achieve food security for the last, the lost, and the least. [We must also] improve our overall productivity when competing internationally. Fourth, DOH. We need to support the Filipinos who will be on the receiving end of all of these programs. Health standards will [also] entail increased motivation and productivity for citizens of the country contributing to our economy. Lastly, DOLE. [We are] a labor intensive country, and should be able to give importance to the welfare of our workers. This will allow for improved policies and taking care of our Overseas Foreign Workers who contribute large portions of remittances to our economic productivity.
College Presidents:
Consider the current state of your college and its students. What could be improved, and what are the steps you deem necessary in order to do so?
Santugon
ADI BRIONES
School of Economics
In discussing the current state of my college, I will be talking about the SOE students and the School of Economics government. So, I think a perfect word that can describe the Lasallian economist is confidence. He is confident in the quality of education that he receives from his professors and he is confident in the healthy competition he receives from his fellow [SOE] members. In terms of the School of Economics government, we have a government that collaborates with sectors inside SOE. And they’re effective in the sense that they’re able to provide to the needs of every SOE student. like giving him relevant student services. I think it’s more of utilizing this confidence in order for Lasallian economists to realize their role in society in the sense that they’re able to make an impact to the community around them. In order to satisfy this, I believe that the government must foster sectoral collaborations, not only inside SOE, but also beyond SOE, and even beyond the University, and expand its network to provide students relevant opportunities. I believe that collaborating with organizations and institutions inside and beyond the University, we can empower the Lasallian economist for him to continually realize his greater role and purpose in society.
Tapat
SEANNE ESGUERRA
School of Economics
I believe that the School of Economics is home to various students who come from different walks of life. However, one thing that everyone has in common is our college’s brand of excellence. We call SOE as the school of excellence. So, it’s from our professor, curriculum, and our academic life. However, our main focus for this coming year is to expand that same brand of excellence beyond just academics. This coming year would focus on the avenues that would cater to the needs and wants of the students, to give them opportunities to explore and be their own kind of excellence. We contribute in helping to shape future Lasallian economists for God and country. We want the School of Economics to be the home for students whose own definition of excellence becomes the norm and the ordinary.
Santugon
EARLE CALANTUAN
College of Computer Studies
This year, being an incumbent batch president, we focused on representing the students and establishing the relationships with the different sectors in the University. So for the coming year, what I personally want to focus on is to capitalize on that partnership. It’s for us to use that partnership so that we can help the students even more, so that students can reap the benefits of that partnership as well, because I believe every CCS student has potential to become an innovator, or someone who can really make a difference in society. I think it’s just a matter of helping them realize what they could do and what more they could achieve here in DLSU.
Tapat
RASTINE PINLAC
College of Computer Studies
Setbacks are always there. There are always challenges ahead of us [but] these [aid us in creating the ideas] on how we can really incorporate our platform. [We create ideas] that we can offer our college and these setbacks can be our learning ground, our training ground, for us to learn [from] each and every single experience.
I think there are so [many] problems na rin kasi sa mga buhay ng mga tao. There are two types of people [when it comes to dealing with] a problem, [the type that] will try to conquer the problem and [then there’s also another type where] when the problem arises, they just give up. The question is, why are we still hopeful for Tapat [which] has been [considered a] minority for [many] years? I’m still hopeful because I believe that these things, these setbacks, [they happen] because we’re not believing [that] we could still fight for something that we really want to happen, something that we can actually pursue in the future.
As a college president, you have to fight for what you believe in, you have to fight for the students, and you have to fight for the college that you love.
Santugon
AYA WATANABE
College of Liberal Arts
Since we are a college that consists of more or less 4,000 students, I believe that student services will always be something that we can improve on.
For this year, one of the things that I really want to happen is for us to be able to sufficiently provide for all the needs of the students, especially in terms of student services, because we are a big college and not everyone is reached by our efforts. I believe that if we are able to provide for their basic necessities, we are able to allow them more opportunities to explore, more opportunities to see what else they could do as liberal arts majors. So that’s one of the things that I want the college to experience in my term, if ever I would be the college president for CLA.
Tapat
VAL PAGDAGDAGAN
College of Liberal Arts
In my two years of stay as a CLA student, frosh palang ako, ang dami na nagtatanong na, ‘What are you going to do with a liberal arts degree?’ I’m a Development Studies major [and] parang ang dami nagtatanong kung what am I going to get from it, what’s my future from it.
I really wanted to break that stereotype, and I think that for me or for my government to be able to do that, it would require giving opportunities for CLA, to bring out what they can do, bring out what they learn in the classroom [so they can] apply it, and go out in society to create [an] impact. Because as a CLA student, the best way we can actualize what we learn is really going out.
I feel that that is the best way that we could break the idea that CLA people are just chill, or that walang future with a liberal arts degree. And for that idea to happen, the activities that we’re going to have [should have a] follow-through. It’s supposed to be more than just spreading awareness, it’s really taking action.
Santugon
ALEX PENALES
College of Education
Actually, for the past few years, we have always aimed for the CED to be empowered because, as we know, it’s a small college. But, this time, we believe that CED has shown its potential because we have already implemented different projects such as Enchanted and Winter Wonderland. These projects are actually done annually, and it encouraged the students to bring out their potential, to bring out what else they can do. So for me, the current state of CED, I believe that it is empowered, so that’s why in your question, ‘What else can we do’, we want the CED to go beyond its borders this year. We want them to express themselves externally because in that way, they can fulfill what their Lasallian educator identity is; by growing outside and learning more, and developing as an individual.
Tapat
NINA BALINGIT
College of Education
Our college government has provided us several projects, but I believe that we need [more] programs that are long term and sustainable. This year, I believe that we should not stop progressing and rethink whether the past projects are what CED students need to make it more relevant to everyone. Maraming courses na CED ang di nabibigyan ng opportunity. Not all students are given the chance to experience external opportunities. More so, not all students are given the avenue to maximize their potentials to be student leaders. So, I believe that in order to address this issue, the CGE should have the initiative to talk to the students to fully understand what they need and want. We want to initiate Focus Group Discussions, that’s a part of my platform; to gather information and concerns of the students for us to tackle what they really need, what really matters with them. Aside from this, we will push for a research board that will be headed by the Vice President of Research and Development for each batch and the college government itself, so they can work on what is relevant for the student body, and provide proper feedback for what students need. Eto ang dapat para sa CED, eto ang nararapat for them.
Santugon
EJ LABIOS
College of Science
On my half, I really do feel that COS students can be described by different things, from exceptional, practical, scientific, and ending with being really resilient. I believe that they do have the skills for what’s next or wherever they want to go in their careers. While a lot of them know their goals and what they want to get out of college, what I believe is missing is a way for them to channel what they have and their potentials in the best way possible. So, as the SCG, I believe this could be [achieved] through collaborating and working with the different Alliance of Science organizations as academic institutions. Through this, we can make sure that we are able to provide avenues that reach everyone inside the college, because sometimes, an org’s grasps can be helped together with the [help of the] USG. So I think it’s really a good idea to start creating a stronger relationship with different organizations and implementing projects together.
Tapat
LOID CAPALAR
College of Science
There are so many things that can be improved for the College of Science because the student government has been passive for the Academic Year 2016-2017.
First, the students who need help when it comes to course enlistment, better laboratory equipment, and enhanced facilities. In line with this, we will strengthen the work of the research and development council to hear out the concerns of the students, and lobby those concerns to the administration.
Second is the Student Advocacies. We will initiate the Lasallian Youth Agenda that focuses on advocacy awareness and implementation to encourage COS students to be Lasallian achievers for God and country.
Lastly, student’s external opportunities. The government must push for a College of Science that is prominently known in our country. One of our initiatives is the formation of the Philippine Association of Science Institutions. This association will allow students to connect and collaborate with other Science students all over the Philippines. Moreover, it will foster a stronger science community for a better Philippines. I’ve already contacted some of the science institutions and the Science Student Council Chairperson of UP Diliman, and they said that this plan is great and they will support me with my advocacy.
So I guess these are just some of our plans for the upcoming year, and I hope the students will read more on our general programs and actions for these coming elections.
Santugon
IGI NATANAUAN
College of Business
A lot of people say that the COB is an empowered college, but very few fit in our expectation of empowered. I believe that only by having an inclusive governance can we provide opportunities to not only a select few, but generally everyone. More importantly, I realized that most still aren’t sure of whatever type of future awaits them. As part of the graduating batch, I believe I can speak for most that they are scared to graduate, not knowing that the real world might have in store for them. For the 116, they would tell me that they still feel timid about the path they’re about to take and the 115 [are] in doubt as to whether or not the course they have is their pathway to a good future. It’s about time that the COB students realize that they are visionaries; those that understand that regardless of what tomorrow might bring, they are the tomorrow. I want to push everyone to appreciate their potentials and accept the reality that they eventually will be leading their own lives and [those] of others. I want to be that avenue to push them to that realization.
Tapat
LIZ CLAUDIO
College of Business
I have always noticed that there is a divide between the USG and the PROBE organizations. Business orgs have been going on for quite a while. There’s also the lack of career and educational opportunities spread throughout the year. I think these are the most pressing issues right now as a college president that I need to solve. It’s [going to] be different. It’s [going to] be more collaborative, it’s [going to] be more open. I envision a BCG that works well with the PROBE organizations because we’re all part of the business environment. I want a healthier relationship with them so I’m not just doing it for my term, I want to prolong [it] until the succeeding terms, also throughout the next elections, [and to the] the next college presidents. In regards with the opportunities, I plan to extend more to other business schools and international schools. [Recently,] I believe the BCG is doing well in terms of partnerships but [these] partnerships just remain like contracts wherein after a certain period of time, you tend to not focus anymore on that partnership. You need to represent not just the regular students [but also the] minority ones.
Santugon
ILIANA TAN
College of Engineering
Currently, the USG’s focusing more on student services and really the student staples. However, there is still a lack of representation with students’ concerns not being fully heard. While it’s generally difficult to [understand] the people’s concerns as there isn’t any centralized avenue where you can say it and towards the right people, my first step would be to establish that communication with them. A two-way communication stream is vital for students to know and receive what they want and need. Step two would eventually be to connect them to the different sectors. It’s a very common “Eng” thing to have a facilities concern so it would be best if we’d know how to connect them to the facilities sector, and from there, develop a response that translates back to the students. For step 3, I see it more as us serving them optimally. If you know what they need, you know how to approach it from different sides of the picture. While it’s virtually impossible to be perfect, it’s important also na gamay mo na on how they should be served. In the end, it will boil down to an action implementation that should be insight based.
Tapat
ZAM DOCTOLERO
College of Engineering
For me, the heart of engineering really rests in the academic life of the students… the classes we take and the quality of education that we’re getting.
Currently, in the GCOE, not many students are able to get the classes that they need because their petitions are denied because the [requirements are not met]. We currently have SCOPE, which is a form of course projection to minimize these problems. However, we can’t get sufficient data from it, because either the students aren’t answering the surveys, or they aren’t taking it seriously.
What I thought [of] is to utilize the SCOPE [and make it] part of academic advising [so that] we can get more accurate data and minimize the problems.
I also want to continue what the previous administration has started. I plan to continue lobbying for study halls, the availability of more computer stations, and printing for our college. I want to create a more accessible academic environment for GCOE because the heart of engineering rests a lot on the students’ academic lives.
