Both contenders for University Student Government (USG) president are no strangers to policy-making. Before going on a leave of absence, Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon’s (Santugon) Zach Quiambao served as the Chief Legislator of the USG Legislative Assembly (LA) while Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista’s (Tapat) Kailu Baradas was the Chief Operating Officer under the Office of the Chief Legislator. Now gunning for the highest executive post, Quiambao and Baradas promise to deliver a more responsive governance. Their platforms converge on the need to ensure meaningful consultation and address longstanding gaps in student representation, coordination, and transparency.
The LaSallian: You both served in positions that allowed you to engage with legislative matters for the student body. How will you translate this experience into effective executive action, and what lessons from your previous roles will guide your approach?
Zach Quiambao (Santugon): Yes, I have served in the Legislative Assembly; we passed some bills that have been truly landmark. But in terms of executive roles, I’ve also been in the executive branch in the batch government. Even if you’re a batch legislator, you handle some executive matters. And I’ve been in OVPIA (Office of the Vice President of Internal Affairs) [and] OPRES (Office of the President) as well. I’ve been in CenComms (Central Committees), which is executive in nature. What I saw was [that] policies for it to be effective need a proper and very effective implementing body. So, that’s where OPRES comes in, because it’s a blend of policy and initiatives. So, as the executive branch, what we need to do is look into the fine text, and we really need to put it into context because it’s different in legislation and policy.
Kailu Baradas (Tapat): I did have some experience with the Legislative Assembly. I was able to gain knowledge of how the [process] works and how legislation is passed in the Legislative Assembly. On top of that, yes, I do also have executive experience from being a former batch vice president and then the batch president after, as well as OPRES experience before…under the Commission on Environment Protection. If I were to become OPRES, I want to make sure that the Legislative Assembly [and] OPRES work hand-in-hand with pushing priority bills. There’s something in the national government called LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council). It’s a legislative and executive [that] talk to each other. I want to do something like that wherein me, as the OPRES, and the Legislative Assembly, at least once a term, come together and we can talk about the ideas—what are your priority bills that you want me to push, specifically with RnP (Rules and Policies), it could be for STRAW (Students’ Rights and Welfare), or NatAff (National Affairs Committee)? Together, we’ll form a cohesive environment where the OPRES and [the] LA is able to come together and push for policies that change the way that the University works.
The LaSallian: What are your insights on the current level of engagement and effectiveness of the incumbent USG president, and how do you think the role could be improved to serve its constituents?
Baradas: How I feel with the current USG, not only in the OPRES, but the entire USG executive board (EB)—I often feel that there is a disconnect between what the USG leaders do [and] what the students actually want. We can often see that there are some projects talaga na ‘yung mga pumupunta lang doon or the people who go to those projects are people from USG also. But that shouldn’t be the case, because the USG has to fight for everyone. It has to represent all people. When it comes to that, I think that the USG has to have a culture shift. I don’t want to blame any one person for any one situation. I want to make sure that everything that we do moving forward is something we make sure is consulted with the students, and it’s something that every student wants in their university life.
Quiambao: This is actually one of the things that I dislike about the USG. It’s not just with this administration or the last. It’s been a culture, a tradition…kapag USG ka, you’re kind of confined in a box na ‘yun lang ‘yung naparinggan mo. And, being in the LA, we kind of had a shift in the LA because we were all novice BLs (batch legislators), so we had a shift in terms of how our approach would be when it comes to bills. So, we had a lot of consultations, we had public hearings to really hear out ano ‘yung mga hinanaing ng mga estudyante. We heard [from groups under] SMO (Student Media Office), we heard [from groups under] CAO (Culture and Arts Office). For the first time, these people came to the Legislative Assembly, and we had a talk. What exactly should we do in this University? So, in line with the lack of participation as well, this needs to be addressed with a need to shift as well. What are the needs of our students right now? Right now, it’s enlistment. Enlistment has been a platform for so many USG EBs, pero hindi talaga siya natutugunan. Additionally, we have PHEx (Periodic Health Examination). So, these things may be an inconvenience when you look at it. Pero if you look at the bigger picture of everyday student lives, these are the things na kailangan i-address, and that’s why we have our vision of “Beyond Limits, Together,” as well. Because, we want to go beyond ‘yung traditional formula of the USG and really have proactive measures wherein consultation is really a part of the process.
The LaSallian: The recent University Vision-Mission Week (UVMW) 2025 celebration drew criticism, particularly around the lack of volunteer response during Animusika and the execution of the mandatory Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program, or LEAP. What necessary steps should the student government take to improve the experience of the Lasallian community in future events?
Quiambao: Actually, before I took my leave of absence in the Legislative Assembly, we were actually planning to hold an inquiry on how CenComms should work in the USG because that’s only our scope [in the] USG, and we can’t really infringe on [the] CSO (Council of Student Organizations). Pero, we wanted to look at CenComms as a whole to really evaluate: ano nga ba ang nangyayari dito. Now, I was a volunteer for UVMW. I was actually backstage, and I saw that we were kind of undermanned. There [were] a thousand people in Henry [Sy Sr. Hall grounds], in CADS (Cory Aquino Democratic Space) alone, and then ang konti [rin] namin. So, we had a lot of facilitation kung ano dapat ang mangyari doon and, at the end, naubusan ng cups, naubusan ng tubig, and we bought pala. So, when it comes to this, to the actual question, ano ‘yung dapat gawin? We should go back to basic, really. Go back to its roots, what is a CenComm, what are these projects, and ano yung objective nila and rationale, and really have a sit-down consultation with them. So as chief legislator, I’ve had a relationship as well with CSO and really talking to them. So ‘yun talaga, kasi may disconnect rin ‘yung USG and CSO, and ‘yun rin ‘yung kailangan i-bridge. With bridging connections and having actual consultations and being proactive and addressing these concerns and taking accountability, then we can really achieve these solutions na merong underlying problems.
Baradas: One of the biggest things that I really want to see in the USG and in general, a lot of the processes between different offices, is the transparency—the transparency between where the project ideas come from or where the plans come from, or even the money. Number two, I think I also want to look at the bureaucracy. There’s a lot of bureaucracy and red tape that happens in USG or even in SMO, I’m sure, and even in CSO. That’s something I want to see in the next USG: to be able to talk to these people, see exactly where we can change it culturally so that we can push for change that matters in a way that everybody who wants to join is able to join and is able to really excel in that thing that they do.
The LaSallian: This question is for Quiambao only. In late May, the Legislative Assembly passed a bill amending key provisions of the 2020 USG Constitution in a 13-1-1 vote. As one of the constitutional amendment framers, how do you view the USG law commission’s handling of the reforms, and do you believe the revision process could have been carried out more effectively?
Quiambao: Yes, it could have been done more effectively. And in regards din sa mga changes kasi nito, they were big changes. So, I think that’s where the reactions came from the people outside di ba. And we’re not really blaming anyone. Whether it’s [the groups under SMO] or [the] LA, it’s really about the content itself and how it was framed. But when it comes to this, I’d like to frame it in a way na what was the rationale of, really, the constitutional changes? Kasi, we’ve all been clamoring for change in the USG, right? And now that there are changes as well, these changes were not made partisanly lang, like parang Santugon lang ‘yung gumawa or Tapat lang ‘yung gumawa. These were changes with bipartisan measures. Like there were people from both parties, there were people from the Judiciary.
So, in regards to LawComm (USG Law Commission), they’re a very able body and their consultations were very good, actually. However, siguro nagulat lang siguro ‘yung mga people in the timeline itself. Kasi, we wanted the plebiscite to happen this [upcoming] general elections as well, and doon siguro nagulat ‘yung mga tao. Pero, let’s go back to the rationale of the constitutional changes. These changes were not made to really harm the USG or harm the student body. We had in mind that the USG is [an] evolving body. DLSU is evolving as well. And with these evolutions, kailangan talaga ng mga changes effectively, essentially due to representation as well—with Laguna Campus and other campus governments, with the efficiency of the batch governments, with the inclusion nung responsibilities pa ni Ombudsman, and many other provisions na nandoon. Although nag-focus tayo sa ibang provisions, I truly believe, and…Santugon believes that these constitutional changes are for the betterment of the student body.
The LaSallian: This question is for Baradas only. The passage of the bill has received mixed reactions among the student body and USG members. What is your stance regarding the changes to the provisions in the USG Constitution?
Baradas: The vision of this (Tapat’s) USG executive board is “Change That Matters.” It’s change that matters because we know that change can be radical, but it also has to be systematic. When it comes to the amendments to the USG Constitution, there are genuine things that I absolutely love about it. I like the representation that it gives for other campuses. I like the idea of the cabinet members. However, I do not believe that the USG constitutional amendments are systematic enough that it is able to stand on its own right now. I think that we should look at it more and further talk about the amendments that we’re going to pass. For example, there was an interview (press conference) today (July 9) with the people from the LA and the framers of the constitutional amendments, and when we asked their opinions, the people—all six of them—do you or do you not think that we should pass this? Four out of six of them said that we should have more consultations about it. So, if the people who wrote it, four out of six of them would say na there should be more consultations about it, paano pa ba ‘yung rest of the student body?
EDITOR’S NOTE: The press conference was attended by the chairs of each legislative committee and only one representative from the LawComm: former Magistrate Atlas Alviar. BLAZE2026 Batch Legislator Jianna Marie Añonuevo, chair of the Rules and Policies Committee, and FAST2022 Batch Legislator Johann Agulto, chair of the National Affairs Committee, both served on the Legislative Committee on Constitutional Revisions and are likewise recognized by the LawComm as framers of the revised USG Constitution.
The LaSallian: As a candidate for the highest role within the USG, how do you plan to bridge the gap between student needs and administrative action, and what key platforms or initiatives will you prioritize that would directly benefit the Lasallian community?
Baradas: The biggest thing I can say that I would want to be able to do is to make sure that we communicate actively with every administration or every office that we have to. I want to make sure that there’s nothing that is left to speculation because, at the end of the day, the [University’s] biggest stakeholder is the students. And by that definition, the administration really wants to hear from the students. But sometimes, there is a lack of bridging that information to the administration, so what I want to do is I want to make sure that everything that we push for—for example, one of the bills that I want to push for is the anti-red tagging policy—I want to make sure that all of that is consulted with different offices, and make sure that it’s something that every student knows is part of their rights.
Quiambao: Actually, it’s one of the most important questions when it comes to OPRES, because OPRES, if you look at it, is the most instrumental when it comes to consultations and all. So, I’d like to begin with this question by saying [that] I’m in the LA as the chief legislator. All of the bills that we’ve done have been consulted with offices, and we wanted to model that with our plans of action as well. So, all of the things you see in our campaign materials have been consulted with the administration already, and we found the funding for it, the partnerships for it and all. Now, when it comes to these things, there are certain issues that the admin always says no, and there are actually events right now na gusto talaga patigilin ni admin. But, the proper strategy here is always, as student leaders, is to be adamant and really persevere kung ano nga ba ‘yung boses ng mga estudyante. After all, the admin did not vote for us. It’s not [the] “University Administrative Government”—it’s the University Student Government.
We have a responsibility to really uphold our campaign promises, and really uphold ano nga ba ‘yung feedback nila para sa administration, and ano nga ba mga key concerns nila. That’s why, if you see in our campaigns, we’re focusing on problems that matter, on problems that are really catered to the students. For example…with respect to Kailu (Baradas) as well, anti-red tagging. We’re actually doing it right now with the Student Handbook revisions. We proposed these already with OSA (Office of Student Affairs), and they’re really prepared to have an open mind with it. So, with the Student Handbook and things and all, I’m already doing it. And we will continue to do it because a harmonious relationship with the administration is almost one of the keys to success in the USG.
The LaSallian: As Executive President, you have to represent the voice of the student body. How would you handle issues where there is no solid consensus or one opinion?
Quiambao: Consensus is basically the key to passing bills, right? Going back to my experience…not just in the LA, but in CenComms I’ve handled as well, for example Animofest, there were some contentions about rules and all. The key about consensus is [that] there has to be some compromises, and student leaders should be ready to give compromises if needed. But as a student, a leader as well, you need to have a certain stance and foundation kung saan nga ba tatayo before you have these compromises. But with these, as USG president, you need to be a broker, basically, of deals. But I’d like to be adamant to this as well. As student leaders, ang first priority talaga is the students, and that’s not something I’m willing to sacrifice. That’s not something your EB is ready to sacrifice, or your batch governments are ready to sacrifice. So, with these things, I know USG is known for partisanship and all, but partisanship is not really a thing that we want to advocate.
Baradas: Drawing from my inspiration or my experience from being batch vice president and being batch president, there are a lot of problems in our University and even on the batch level, the college [level,] and the university level, where not everything is black and white. Not everything is going to have a full consensus and not everything is going to always work in your favor—not everyone is going to agree. I think that when we look for consensus, it has to be something that is talked about with all the students. We have to make sure that every voice is heard, even the tiniest of sectors is talked to, which is why one of my projects is pushing for sectoral advocacy—making sure that every single student has that ability to be represented in the USG. So that’s one—representation. Number two, I think also another point that Zach had made which was “you have to give with an open mind.” You have to look at things if your opinion or what your stance is might not be perfect. You have to see—saan ba ako gagalaw? What more can I do and how can I always be better?
The LaSallian: Tapat had to sit out two of the most recent elections due to various reasons that led to disqualifications. What do you think this says about your party, and how do you think you can rebuild the trust of the electorate to vote for you and your party again?
Baradas: Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista, for 39 years, has always been a pro-student and pro-people organization. We have always fought for the ideas of the students. We have always fought for the voice of the students. That will never change…as long as there is somebody who is willing to raise their hand and say “Me, I think I can do it. I think I can fight for the students. I think that can be someone who is of service to the University.” What it says about the party is the fact that we’re still here. The fact that we’re still fighting and the fact na hindi kami mawawala based on circumstances that may or may not have been part of our control.
The LaSallian: As a candidate running under Santugon, who has more or less held the student government in a majority for the past two years, how will your leadership push for a positive change and not perpetuate the status quo that critics associate with your party?
Quiambao: I am actually somewhat of a new face when it comes to elections. Last election, yes, I ran as batch legislator FAST2023 in SE24 (Special Elections 2024), but I was running as a novice BL, right? I was running just like an idealistic PolSci (political science) student that thought they could change the University with policies. So, it’s hard. But what I’ve proven time and time again, with or without the position dapat is [that] you have to do it. And it’s hard, but what I’ve proven time and time again is I’ve done it. No matter how difficult it is, doon kasi yung difference.
There are a lot of student leaders that can’t keep promises, but I can confidently say when it comes to execution of things—whether it’s a project or a policy—I’ve had experience in both; and I believe and I truly have confidence not just in myself but in my ability to make a team that can actually do the policies and initiatives of the student body. Now, when it comes to differentiation, I have a lot of backgrounds. I’m not just like the typical persona na sinasabi nila about Santugon. I come from the province, science high school—public school ‘yun—and ang dami ko pinagdadaanan every week sa commute pa lang.
I can bring my unique background, kasi doon ko nilalagay lahat, and my experiences as well as a political science student. So, I may come from the same party as the majority of the executive board for the past two years, but I have different ideas, I have a different work ethic, and I have a different vision in mind. Kasi, we’ve had “Genuine Lasallian experience” [and] “Realized Lasallian Purpose.” What we’d like to propose is, really, a radical shift in how the USG is framed and formalized by looking at events that really encounter or really address these problems of the students, not just making policies or projects na papogi lang or paganda, just slapping your face and IG (Instagram) story [saying], “Oh I did it.” I’m not alluding to anyone, but that’s not what we want. That’s not the culture that we want. We want a culture that really addresses ‘yung passion for service talaga and really goes back to the roots of representation and grassroots campaign.
The LaSallian: Should you be elected, what legacy do you want to leave after your term as Executive President?
Quiambao: Actually, I’ve had discussions about this legacy and all. Ako kasi kahit di na ako mabigyan ng credit, okay lang. You can usually see the BLs whose projects na kahit wala ako sa picture, okay lang. But when it comes to legacy, the legacy that we’re trying to build here is very focused on our plans of action, not on the persona itself of USG. What we’d like to give, really, for example, we want to give a northbound bus na P2P (point-to-point) katulad ng pa-ATC (Alabang Town Center). We want to implement that here.
Additionally, we want to integrate STD (sexually transmitted disease) testing in PHEx. Hindi lang siya ‘yung general health. All in all, we want to integrate reproductive health as well as an option for students’ testing na para dito na sila magpa-STD testing. Additionally, we have policies like we want to address [like] ‘yung approved absences during calamities kasi it’s really up to the discretion of the prof (professor).
These are just a few things that we’d like to bring in to the table alongside some of the policies. Pero, at the end of the day, what the culture we’d like to leave other than our projects is ‘yung culture talaga in the USG of really going back to its roots. Kung ano nga ba ang USG, which is to represent the students and address those problems at its core. Matagal na ‘yung enlistment system natin. I think every EB has promised that, but I think we’re the closest this year or next school year kasi we’re in the pilot testing na… Admin is already having consultations, and the next role of EB there is to really put themselves in how they consult and to make sure it’s implemented better, effectively, and more efficiently. And in line with that, we’d really like to leave that the USG is for the students.
Baradas: The one thing I always like to tell people is [that] I don’t really care that much about the clout of it. I am someone who genuinely wants to serve for the students. If I get no credit, but I did great, that’s fine with me as long as I was able to change the lives of every Lasallian or at least one. When I talk about what kind of legacy that I want to leave for, I want to be known as somebody who changed the way that we look at student leaders instead of putting them up on a pedestal na parang ang layo na nila [and] ang layo ko, hindi ko sila maabutan. I am someone who really went down for the students and made sure that the USG is still one who comes for the students, not the students who have come to the USG—and you can see that in a lot of the platforms that I have pushed for.
I mentioned “Sectoral Advocacy” earlier, but I also want to increase national participation, and I want to make sure that we rethink the way that we push for student services (SS), whether it’s here or in Laguna Campus. For example, one of my student services plans is to have a permanent satellite office for the SS concerns of the students in Laguna Campus. Think about that: if there’s an SS concern in Laguna, they have to come here in order to fix that problem. ITS (Information Technology Services) or OUR (Office of the University Registrar)… It has to be here sa Manila Campus.
Finally…the change that matters to me is change wherein we create one USG, one where partisanship isn’t something that people look at and say “Yung USG puro mga partisan lang ‘yan or mga Tapat versus Santugon.” It starts with me, and it starts with putting my hand out and reaching and saying, “Hey, let’s be friends.”
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
