Being a two-time EDGE2020 batch president, Clouie Astillo from Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista considers herself prepared to expand her leadership to the entire Br. Andrew Gonzalez College of Education (BAGCED) as she vies to become the college assembly president of the College Government of Education (CGE).
The LaSallian: How have your past leadership experiences prepared you for the role of college assembly president?
Clouie Astillo: Sa loob ng dalawang taon kong paninilbihan bilang batch president, may mga pagkukulang ako but I will make use of [these experiences] to improve and to become a better student-leader…My previous experiences as two-time batch president of EDGE2020 will help me enhance my leadership by knowing kung saan ako nagkulang at kung ano-anong mga problema o hinanaing ng mga mag-aaral ang dapat pagtuunan [ng] pansin o dapat bigyang-pokus ng CGE.
The LaSallian: What steps will the CGE take under your administration to make student concerns heard, especially when those concerns are issues toward professors?
Astillo: We should guide [CED students and] should give them support…sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-coordinate sa different departments of [BAGCED].
The LaSallian: How will you help in smoothing the transition to full face-to-face classes?
Astillo: Ako at ang aking mga kapartido ay naniniwala sa ligtas [na] balik-eskwela sa pamamagitan [ng] pagkakaroon ng mas maayos na mga polisiya sa loob ng ating institusyon. Mas masusuportahan natin ang pagkakaroon ng full face-to-face [classes] next term [kung uunahin natin] ‘yung kaligtasan hindi lamang ng mga estudyante kung ‘di pati na rin ng mga guro at trabahador sa loob ng ating paaralan.
The LaSallian: Do you plan to reform any programs from the current CGE? If so, what are these programs that you plan to reform?
Astillo: Siguro ang bibigyan natin ng reform ay ang student services ng CGE dahil one of the difficulties that I observed in [BAGCED] ay ‘yung information dissemination. A lot of students are still confused with the dissemination of information from the college and [the DLSU administration] since kapag may announcements, nalilito ‘yung students kung…kanino makikinig. That is why I plan to implement a more centralized announcement [system], where CGE will continue to use the BAGCED Facebook group and [will] add a Telegram channel for [BAGCED] students.
The LaSallian: Past college governments tend to fail in delivering some of their promises at the beginning of their term. Why do you think this happens and how will you avoid this in your term?
Astillo: Para sa akin, nangyayari ito dahil sa kakulangan ng manpower at oras [dala ng] hindi inaasahang [class] suspensions. Ito ay maa-avoid kung sakaling maupo man ako sa posisyon sa pamamagitan ng pag-alam ng mga process o paggawa ng mga document…na kakailanganin nang mas maaga para kapag may revisions o ‘di inaasahang pangyayari ay handa pa rin ang CGE sa…pag–implementa ng projects.
The LaSallian: Do you think that the current CGE has been effective in implementing its programs?
Astillo: Para sa akin, naging epektibo ‘yung current CGE ngunit mayroon pa ring mga…problema [sa BAGCED] na hindi masyadong napagtutuunan ng pansin…tulad na lang ng…manual processing [of scholarships] at pagkuha ng [BAGCED] students ng mga kurso tuwing inter-college enlistment.
The LaSallian: What new programs will you initiate for the college?
Astillo: The main focus of my plans and platforms will be giving support to [BAGCED] students, especially to the batches [that] will graduate soon. We should guide them with the preparations they need as future educators such as ‘yung preparation for thesis, field study, and licensure exam. Sa pagbibigay din ng sapat na suporta sa ating mga magiging guro sa hinaharap, malalaman natin na nasa tamang mga kamay o landas ‘yung magiging student nila sa hinaharap dahil sa kalidad [ng] edukasyon na maaari nilang [maibigay] sa mga ito.
The LaSallian: What programs will CGE implement to help students transition from college to work?
Astillo: CGE can help the students in the transition from studying to [working] by implementing webinars and/or forums na makatutulong sa students upang mas malaman nila kung ano ‘yung opportunities na pwede nilang makuha under the program na [kinuha] nila under [BAGCED]…By joining the organizations inside our University na [nag-aalok] ng job expos, mas matutulungan natin ‘yung students na magkaroon ng mas maraming choices sa jobs na pwede nilang i-consider sa kurso o programa na [kinuha] nila.
The LaSallian: As future educators, how will you help address blatant historical revisionism?
Astillo: I envision a profound and inclusive [BAGCED]. The platforms that I have prepared for [BAGCED] will not just help [BAGCED] but also the students from our University. Hindi dapat mangyari [ang historical revisionism] dahil…natatago ‘yung totoong nangyari sa history ng ating bansa, at malaki ‘yung magiging epekto nito sa susunod na henerasyon. Ang plano ko para sa CGE ay [siguraduhing mayroong] kalinangan at kaalaman ang bawat mag-aaral sa kung ano [nga] ba ang edukasyon at gaano ito kahalaga…Kung sakaling maupo [ako bilang college assembly president] ay mas pahahalagahan natin ang…pag-aaral at [ang] kasaysayan ng ating bansa.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
