Previously working together as CATCH2T27 batch president and batch vice president, respectively, Miguel Ignacio of Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista (Tapat) and Michael Maglente of Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon (Santugon) promise to promote collaboration between the different organizations of the College of Computer Studies and improve student services as they both contend for college president.
The LaSallian: Which of your qualities do you think make you qualified to represent the College of Computer Studies and address its various issues?
Maglente: For me, the best quality that I can give is being a consultative leader because I don’t want to provide projects or solutions na hindi nako-consult sa admin and…sa students—in a way na parang, I want to ask the students’ perspective if… this project is the best way to move forward na sumasagot dun sa question nila or sa concern nila. And at the same time, consulting with the admin about the project’s feasibility, and if there are any parang rules or guidelines na kailangan i-revise to make sure na nag-meet halfway, both for the admin side and for the student side.
Ignacio: I’d say one of the qualities that [makes] me qualify to be a leader is how much I persevere. During my time as batch president and during my time as someone who wasn’t an elected [officer] anymore, both of those times, I kept pushing through. If there were any setbacks, if there were any kinds of failures that I experienced, I didn’t let that stop me. I used those failures as a learning experience, and I [proceeded] to keep going. I think this perseverance is going to be the most helpful thing when it comes to fighting for the students’ rights, because for my platforms, I do plan to push for a lot of pro-student platforms, and a lot of those will be systematic changes. And these systematic changes would be hard to implement if I don’t persevere.
The LaSallian: Starting next academic year, DLSU will implement a policy on generative AI (gen AI) that allows instructors to set course-specific guidelines to restrict or permit its use. Do you think regulating gen AI in academics is a better decision than outright banning it or leaving it unsupervised?
Ignacio: Generative AI is something that I believe is used to assist, not to be the sole proprietor or the creator of one’s work. When we use generative AI as something to give us ideas or something to help us make an outline…to improve what we’ve already created…that’s not too bad. That’s actually…the purpose of AI. AI isn’t supposed to supersede us; it’s supposed to support us in our growth, in our own academic growth, especially. And the regulation itself is something that is actually useful because, again, since it’s course-specific, it allows it’s up to the prof’s (professor’s)…discernment…wherein they’re able to allow as much as they want or to restrict as much as they want, and the prof should be the one who’s able to understand how flexible the subject can be when it comes to generative AI.
Maglente: For me, I feel like this policy steps in the right direction because in CCS, we know na AI isn’t going anywhere and AI is being developed as we’re speaking, and I feel like having a policy right now is already a good indication na the University is open to the idea of the use of AI as long as transparency is still involved… Parang in this way, if we have this policy na, it will help us din kasi na to improve further what needs to be changed for the future, for future references din. If we just completely ignore AI right now, we won’t be able to have a middle ground for the students using AI and for the professors [who] are banning AI. So, in short, yes, the policy is good as long as the University…is open to…fix the policy as time progresses.
The LaSallian: Like other technologies, gen AI’s capabilities are quickly evolving. Do you think this threatens the industry demand for students who study the computer fields?
Maglente: I feel like it will not happen naman kasi at the end of the day, AI is being created…by software technology students and the field around it. And I’m sure naman, and I’ve heard na, AI will not be replacing anything soon because we’ll need to make sure na there are limitations and boundaries set, restrictions set for the AI na hindi siya mangyayari in that way. So, for instance na lang siguro, in my case, my degree is Network Information Security, so it involves cybersecurity, and I don’t feel confident on relying on AI kasi as much as AI is progressing na talaga, there are just some things that only people can distinguish and AI cannot.
Ignacio: I major in ComSci (Computer Science) – Software Tech, and one of the things we actually focus on is AI and specifically its creation. So I do work with it, I do study it and the way that we do apply these kinds of logic, these thinkings. It’s always stemmed from the human brain, like the way that we think, our logic, right? And I think that AI in itself, the way that it’s going right now, and if it doesn’t keep regulating, it will threaten the feasibility of CCS students being hired, right?
That’s why that’s something I actually want to bring up with one of my platforms, and my platform regarding AI is mainly going to be about the ethics and the creation of AI, since again, we do specifically cover the creation of it. And…I think one of the things that people are really lacking right now is information [on] the impacts of AI and the cost of actually running AI. Because, yes, ChatGPT is readily available [to] us, but there are environmental [effects] and there are different kinds of laws that it infringes on, such as IPs (intellectual property) or copyright.
The LaSallian: DLSU recently dropped in international standing for Computer Science, such as in the 2025 Times Higher Education Subject rankings. What do you think this says about the competitiveness of the University’s computer studies programs?
Ignacio: Historically, as far as I can recall, DLSU itself has one of the earliest computer science courses. If you compare a lot of the ComSci degrees in other colleges, the way that we study programming, the way that [we] study algorithms, the logic, it’s very different. And we’re usually advanced. But then, I think when you say that it did drop in international ranking, I think one of the effects, again, is AI.
AI itself has made people, especially a lot of CCS students, not complacent, but more reliant on something that they can go to whenever they don’t have time, whenever they don’t have the effort to do it, right?
And that goes to a more core issue within the education system in DLSU that there has to be better ways to cope with being a ComSci student, because being a ComSci student is not just majors or coding. There [are] a lot of different kinds of facets of logic and even math that you cover. The problem kasi with this is, a lot of times here sa University, hindi nako-consider ‘yung point of feeling [ng] student wherein they have to juggle all of these subjects at once.
Maglente: For me, I agree with what Miguel (Ignacio) said naman na CCS, DLSU was one of the first universities to offer computer degree courses, and I feel like not all universities or schools offer this pa, and I feel like that’s something that DLSU still has the edge on when it comes to the offerings.
Maybe the reason why the rankings are falling is because the students were not able to meet the expected performance ng department in CCS, which is why the outputs that the students are creating [are] not the same with the other universities and because of having this type of era na there are AI, I feel like it boils back to policy ng AI na it’s good that there’s AI involved. There’s a policy that is implemented for AI to ensure that the students will still learn.
So, answering the question… I feel like DLSU still competes at a high level, but of course, as technology progresses, we also need to progress as a University. So I feel like we need to take a step back and identify ano ‘yung mga pagkukulang natin so that together with the USG and the admins, we can help boost the level of performance of DLSU and the students.
The LaSallian: Among your plans as College President, what do you think truly represents the priority concern of CCS students?
Maglente: So, going back to my vision na redefining [the] CCS experience. I acknowledge that there are systems in place that are already working, but also, we step back and see the bigger picture of ano ‘yung mga bagay na we can improve on. And I feel like one of those improvements that we need in the University is student services. I feel like the student services right now in our University, it’s good. Like what I’ve said, the sistema is there naman, but we also need to improve the current system because time changes and the students that are in the University now are different from the students way before. And because of that, the culture is changing, so the student services are also changing. Which is why, one of my main priorities sana is to highlight and try to address the student services in our college.
Ignacio: My vision is a College of Computer Studies that advances collaborative systems… and that’s something that I noticed with the University and especially CCS: a lot of the different sectors, [like the] the student body, the student government, the orgs (organizations), and especially the admin, we all feel like we’re disconnected from each other. We’re all moving at our own paces, we’re all moving [in] different directions. And that’s something that has been lacking within CCS, especially now…How can we progress as a college if we don’t work together?
There [are] two projects for that, and the main project for that first is “CCSynergy”. This aims to unite the different sectors, especially ONECCS and the different CCS orgs. Right now, after consultation, I did notice that the orgs especially, they feel that they’re all doing their own thing, and that’s good in the sense that they’re able to highlight the specialties of their orgs, but at the same time, since we do have our ONECCS, it’s important that we’re able to know what each other is doing… Especially with CSG, because CSG should be the one handling these orgs and managing with the admin.
And then the next project that I have or platform is “CSGIT Merge” or “CSGIT Insert.” It’s an initiative, again, that focuses on shedding specifically CSG and the CCS admins relation wherein we want to work towards pushing for better, more pro-student policies and bills. And by making [these] mandates, our bills, it does allow for these changes to be present, even if it’s after my term.
These mandates or these policies, they’re all pro-student in the sense na I want to advocate for the elimination of project and exam deadline overlaps. I want to push for a better enlistment system right now than what we have. And then, actually, advocate for a lot of the needs na want ng students.
The LaSallian: The college has seen grievance complaints against professors due to a large number of failing students. How will you address these types of cases? Most of all, how will you maintain a cooperative learning environment between teachers and students?
Ignacio: So, I do get that there are often disagreements between the profs and especially the students. And to bring up an ideology that we believe in sa Tapat is [that] conflict is inevitable but can be mediated. And one of the first things that you need to fix [or] mediate this conflict is perspective. We need to get both sides, and at the same time, both sides need to be able to understand one another and be able to reconcile. Kaya I think as college president ‘yung main responsibility ko is to represent the student. To push for what they want and push for what they need, especially din sa mga grievance case.
From what I…know, a lot of these grievance cases is from misunderstandings from both the student and the prof, wherein the prof didn’t understand what the student needed and wasn’t able to provide it, or the student misunderstood the prof and how they were handling the situation, right?
So for me, collaboration ‘yung pinaka-important for me, and with collaboration comes communication. And this communication is what’s really going to help settle ‘yung mga differences na to, and allow them to be more cooperative, more collaborative, and then again, like, push for the learning environment here sa DLSU, yun, especially sa CCS, is going to be more conducive to learning.
Maglente: I answered [earlier] being consultative, and I feel like this is something na is really related to that. Kasi, like what Miguel [Ignacio] said, you need to hear both sides. And, as the student body’s representative, you need to hear bakit nangyari ito. You need to investigate why is this even happening. And at the same time, you consult with the professors. Bakit, especially for those terror profs, why are they [always being] complained about? Pero, of course, we also need to understand that they’re doing this for a reason, and I feel like the reason why they’re doing this is to prepare us, to prepare us students for the real world.
Siguro, it’s more on consulting with the students and consulting with the faculty [on] why is this still happening despite so many grievances. So, it’s more on meeting halfway. I understand that DLSU has a…reputation din kasi DLSU is one of the best when it comes to CCS. And I understand na…the faculty are just doing their job, but, of course, we also need to always help the students kasi at the end of the day we’re doing this for the students, and to serve the students.
The LaSallian: Plans and projects for the college tend to be plentiful as college president. However, these can be set back by unexpected issues that are outside your control. How do you handle and address sudden problems and failures in your plans?
Maglente: I just want to acknowledge na I’ve…experienced it (failures) nung frosh kami. And yes, it’s hard, the processes or the projects can be hard to implement. But, I understand na kaya may ganitong klaseng sistema is so that we can ensure that these projects that we are doing is hindi lang ‘yung mediocre projects but projects that can really help and serve the students. It also calls for transparency din kasi on accountability on our end na parang ensuring that these projects will not only be a band-aid solution or something like that.
Siguro, since it’s out of our control, it’s more on talking to the team, consulting with them, if what can we do given this situation How can we move around that issue, pero still [making] sure that the project, that the essence of the project is still there. So, [it] more comes down to consultation and collaboration with your team. Because, of course, hindi naman ma i-implement or magiging successful ang isang project if isang tao lamang ang gumagawa. Because, at the end of the day, a project can only succeed if all of the people working on it are passionate about it and they believe in the purpose of the project.
Ignacio: Yeah, similar with Michael (Maglente) na given I was his batch president, he was my batch vice president, we did experience a lot of, like, setbacks when it came to projects and like platforms that we wanted to implement. After I was elected BP (batch president), after my time as BP, I used that time to learn more about the actual processes, kaya I was the director for documentations sa OVPEA. So, basically, that meant na I handle a lot of the operations, ‘yung logistics, and I used that position to not only help serve the student body, pero at the same time, learn what I could have done better. And ayun nga, that experience, that position gave me a lot more insight when it comes to being college president and solving these issues…
Syempre, every kind of unit has its issues, for me, lagi ‘yung approach ko, is to: “Let’s replan. Let’s look at what else we can do, right?” Kung ano naman, for me, I believe [that] there’s a lot of ways naman to solve the problem. Pero, ayun nga…perseverance. Kasi…at least for me, I never let adversity stop me. I don’t let it stop me from achieving what I want to achieve. Either personally, or for my batch or now, for my college.
I agree naman with what Michael said: if there’s an honest belief in your project and ‘yung purpose niya magagawan niyo talaga ng paraan when it comes to re-planning and planning ahead for the future especially.
The LaSallian: A unique yet crucial job of the CCS college president is leading ONECCS, a council of CCS-aligned student organizations and CSG batch governments. What are your plans in coordinating the college’s numerous student organizations that may have their own needs?
Ignacio: Now, one of my first platforms that I thought of was “CCSynergy.” And…it’s an initiative focused on uniting these sectors. And, at least for “CCSynergy,” it focuses more on what the admin wants, especially the orgs. Orgs need to be able to say what they want, what they need from CSG, and especially the admin. And, at the same time, kailangan ni admin sabihin din, kung ano ‘yung need nila, hanggang saan nila kaya, ‘yung ibibigay nila.
What’s the problem right now? …[This] is something na na-realize nila, [it] is low participants and…constant project topic overlaps, wherein like, they do either the same project or parang similar project, covering the same topic. ‘yung core issue nga is a lack of coordination, a lack of collaboration. Kaya, besides ‘yung termly meetings, I want to have a ONECCS-wide calendar. So, we’re all able to plan ahead of each other…
When it comes to ONECCS, what I really want to push for with them is to highlight ‘yung specialties nila, to highlight kung what they can offer. And then, at the same time, to push for projects that the students wants and needs.
And what I want CSG to be is I want to focus less on (the) actual projects. I want the orgs, the ONECCS orgs to handle that since yun ‘yung pinaka-specialty nila. And CSG, kami na lang ‘yung parang pinaka backbone nila, ‘yung taga-support sa kanila [because] I want CSG to mainly focus right on more pro-student and focus more on supporting ‘yung orgs na ‘to. So, mas may cohesive na direction tsaka mas cohesive na parang plan talaga ang ONECCS when it comes to what they want for the college.
Maglente: For me, in terms of the situation right now with ONECCS, I agree with Miguel (Ignacio) that after consultation with the ONECCS orgs, parang we were able to identify the lack of participation from students. But, it’s also because na there are projects talaga that are overlapping. And, siguro, that’s something na we should look into why is it happening, and I feel like one of the reasons behind it is the sistema that we currently have in place right now for ONECCS. We have a ONECCS website pero hindi siya na-utilize ng maayos. Wherein it should be able to show the specifics of the project for each naman, and basically all the details for the ONECCS orgs.
Kaya, one of the projects na I have is Query Hub, wherein I want to centralize all information. This involves SS (Student Services). So, like the enlistment, it will be there, frequently asked questions by the students, as well as ‘yung activities ni CSG and the ONECCS orgs. So that students will not, hindi na mahihirapan ‘yung students to see ano ‘yung mga ganap ng ONECCS and CSG. So, that ONECCS orgs as well will know agad if mayroon ba silang kasabay na project (on) this day or if mayroon bang project na really the same with them.
And second, siguro is since I’m the incumbent unit monitoring lead for the executive board under OVPEA, I’ve seen na how the processes work, and I’ve seen na this specific committee is really helpful because we are the ones that monitor if the project that you’re planning to implement is even a feasible project and if it’s going to really have an impact.
That’s something na I was hoping to implement din with in terms of ONECCS of creating, it’s either a president of presidents or a committee that solely handles the ONECCS orgs. So that before they push through with the projects and talk to admin about it, there will be a committee that will assess if meron ka bang kasimilar na project or if this project [is] even really a good idea or is this really a project na pasok sa scope niyo as an organization?
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
ERRATUM: July 21, 2025
An earlier version of the article incorrectly transcribed Michael Maglente mentioning that he is the incumbent unit monitoring lead for the USG Executive Board as under OVPEA (Office of the Vice President for External Affairs), when it should be OVPIA (Office of the Vice President for Internal Affairs). The publication apologizes for the oversight.
