For the second consecutive election, Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon (Santugon) is running unopposed in the race for the presidential seat in the University Student Government (USG). Standard bearer Ashley Francisco seeks to captain an administration anchored on empowering students to realize their goals and fulfill their purpose as Lasallians.
Amid the blunders incurred in University Vision-Mission Week (UVMW) and Animusika 2024 during her stint as Vice President for Internal Affairs (VPIA), Francisco vows to use the experience as a point of learning as she banners her policies and programs under a “Realized Lasallian Purpose.”
The LaSallian: What traits do you possess that you think are essential and uniquely needed for a USG President?
Francisco: First, I’m the kind of leader who is empathetic. I try my best to ensure that the way I respond to the needs of the students [is] responsive, not reactive per se… It’s important for us leaders to assess first and understand where the students are coming from so we can properly bridge it to the administration. Next, would be my experiences. In my five years of serving in the USG, I was able to really have an overview [of] the ever-changing needs of the students. So in terms of the projects and policies that I create and have in mind, I always take into account these experiences or needs of the students, especially when it comes to frosh batches.
The LaSallian: For most of your peers, now is the time they retire from posts or graduate. Why seek election again instead of retiring? What do you think you haven’t done yet as a leader?
Francisco: I guess that’s something that a lot of students would ask, especially [since] it’s quite surprising to see someone run five times. I’d say that one of the examples or inspirations that I have would be leaders such as Atty. Leni Robredo, former Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, and also Sen. Risa Hontiveros. Even if they have faced losses in terms of running [in an election], or they have also experienced years of service in the Philippine government or in non-governmental organizations, they still have this continuous drive and heart to make a change for Filipinos. So that’s something that I heavily take inspiration from.
The LaSallian: What should Lasallians expect from a possible continuity of the Santugon brand of presidency?
Francisco: I would say that this would definitely be our CPR values, which [stands for] being consultative, proactive, and responsive. So firstly, being consultative. I’d say that this trait of mine or the trait of Santugon leaders, we hold it very important, especially [since] the three past presidents of Santugon in the USG are all coming from the [Legislative Assembly]. So we ensure that in every step that we make, we consult not only with the general student body but also [with] each and every sector of the students here. Next, being proactive. We make sure that we don’t wait for a concern or an issue to arise before we respond to it or before we take action. Lastly, being responsive and not reactive. We assure that we take a step back first, and reassess our plans [for] what we want to do for the student body before we actually take action so that we can properly also bridge these concerns to our administration.
The LaSallian: Your predecessors, Alex Brotonel and Raphael Hari-Ong, ran their administration under the slogans “Make a Better Reality” and “Your Genuine Lasallian Experience,” respectively. Now, you have “Realized Lasallian Purpose.” What makes your mantra different? And what does it mean?
Francisco: What a “Realized Lasallian Purpose”—our vision for Term 2 and 3 of AY 2024-2025—means that we want to be dedicated to empowering students in their everyday student life. We enter the University with certain goals, with certain dreams, and with the previous vision, “Your Genuine Lasallian Experience,” na-embrace na ng mga Lasalyano yung mga experience na ‘yun. But then, we were wondering, with those experiences, saan nila ia-apply ito? We want to bridge those experiences to [help] students have this sense of trust and assurance from the USG that we will be able to give them the resources and initiatives that they need through projects and policies, so that they can ultimately realize their purpose as Lasallians. Whether it may be to simply graduate, maybe their purpose is simply getting by every day, [or] maybe their purpose is working in non-governmental organizations or pursuing their advocacies, we want [the] USG to be that avenue for them to realize that purpose.
The LaSallian: What policies and programs of your predecessors will you retain, and which would you discontinue?
Francisco: I’d say that there are no policies that I plan to discontinue, but only policies that I plan to amend and improve. Firstly, I actually have this project called “University Policies for Progress,” and here, I plan to strengthen our safe spaces and mental health policy. I’ve had consultations with the admin already, and when they asked me, “ano pa bang kulang sa mga policies natin?,” I tell them kulang ng nature, context, or situational based. [On] our safe spaces policy, it’s very important that we make this more specific towards mechanics on when and how we respond to cases, such as bullying and harassment. [On] our University’s mental health policy, I had a consultation already with Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) and I asked them kung meron tayong crisis response protocols. Although [it exists] on CPS’s end, kulang po siya ng bridging or collaboration with other offices.
At the same time, I plan to be more involved in the Legislative Assembly (LA), especially [since] we are expected na mag simula na rin ang constitutional revisions and the discussion in terms of Student Handbook revisions, yet again. I plan to not only collaborate with them and with our Commissions and Judiciary, but I want to ensure that hindi lang tayo nagpapasa ng batas, dahil napakarami natin policies that need to be revisited. And the reason why we keep on amending these policies ay dahil wala tayong proper policy monitoring and review mechanism.
The LaSallian: You received flak for your handling of UVMW 2024, especially for Animusika. What lessons from the event did you learn, and how will you translate those into your leadership as president?
Francisco: For the recent University Vision Mission Week 2024, particularly Animusika, yes, I received flak over it, most especially on social media, and I’d say and will be totally honest that it was really disheartening for me. But then I’d say despite that, the fight never stopped in terms of communication with our administration. We have identified that there was a lack of communication in terms of that side. So I also know that having the opportunity to be the USG president would allow me to have seats and bodies such as [at] the Academics Council or be able to communicate directly with our Brother President [and] our Provost, which is something that I do not usually do as VPIA because that’s the role of the president. Having this role would give me the opportunity to be the one to be able to communicate directly with this higher administrative body so that we can avoid these [problems].
The LaSallian: Do you think you committed an error in judgment or misstepped in the handling of the event?
Francisco: I would say definitely yes, because there was a miscommunication. That was the root cause of the problem, especially [since] the handling of the UVMW does not only involve my office, but this also involves the whole UVMW committee, which [is composed] of different colleges and [led by the] (Office of the Vice President for Lasallian Mission). There were instances wherein [proposals] were made and already approved, then we were suddenly informed that it [got] disapproved, and [the] admin was uninformed. So that’s something that I plan to improve on and that’s why after that incident, we continued with our three-point plan in order to make [a] response to the issue. Number one, nagkaroon po tayo ng internal investigation, especially for the concerns raised from the students. Second, nagkaroon din po tayo ng evaluation sa buong UVMW committee and [its] project heads. Lastly, nagkaroon din po tayo ng open counseling sessions where I partnered with the [CPS]. They were made available to the project heads, to the whole UVMW week committee, and [the] USG in order to check in if anyone was affected by the incident. Ultimately, these data did not really go “under the bus,” because these proposals and mechanisms we did after the incident were presented to the UVMW committee so that we [could] develop a UVMW manual to guide the next set of officers that will be handling the event.
The LaSallian: You’re running with an incomplete slate across various positions, and notably lack a VPEA candidate. How will you ensure that your board will be able to operate smoothly given these vacancies?
Francisco: As for the USG Executive Board, we ensured that our projects are collaborative in nature. For example, “Boto mo Para sa Pagbabago,” I know that mainly the OVPEA is the one handling these national affairs-related initiatives, but we made sure that the OPRES can also take over it. In terms of the other positions, it’s still up for discussion on how everything will go, considering that positions will be vacated already given the validity of the USG term extension. So what I plan to do is to be collaborative with our [LA] since sila ang mag-aasikaso ng mga appointments natin sa USG. Also, hopefully, I get to consult more with the Office of Student Life, so we would also know na proper ang mechanism natin in terms of the appointments and the vacated seats.
The LaSallian: What would be the ideal state of DLSU and its student body at the end of your term?
Francisco: I would say that the ideal state of the student body would be a student body [that] participates in meaningful and intentional initiatives, most especially in terms of community development. I’d say that’s something that [what] sets me apart from the past USG presidents would be me centering my initiatives towards, number one, [the] sustainable development goals, and number two, [strengthening] our collaborations outside. Included is the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines. Nag-start na ang discussions [namin] with them and we’ll be having the orientation soon. Number two, [would be] Samahang Lasalyano with the La Salle schools nationwide, especially paparating na ang ating [2025] Midterm Elections]. So we know that the initiatives that we have are not limited within the university, but also make an impact outside. With that, also, we plan to strengthen our collaboration with the South Manila Educational Consortium, because we are in partnership with them in terms of Task Force Safe Schools to look into the heightening of our safety measures inside and outside DLSU. I also [want] to mention “Alerto Lasalyano,” a crisis response initiative that reestablishes the Lasallian Center for Emergencies, and also having emergency disaster mechanism can not only be done within the University but can also be shared [with] south Manila schools and other La Salle schools.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
