THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF BICOL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSNESS ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT Volume XIV Issue No. 1 USC/CSC Election 2021 Coverage
Sy takes over CBEM CSC presidency
by James dela Cruz and Charmaine Hannah Torrecampo
T
he League of Liberal Reformists (LLR) – Reporma Coalition continues its winning streak as the party’s presidential bet Glenelyn Ysovel Sy claims her landslide win with 990 votes during the first-ever online College Student Council election held earlier, May 5, 2021. With an advantage of 434 votes over her counterpart Jimmy Celeste Jr. of the BU Leaders who garnered 556 votes, Sy who served for three years in the council triumphed to sit as the new CSC president for the academic year 2021-2022. “For the past three years, I have dedicated myself in serving my fellow students, and for the last time, I want to offer every-
thing that I have learned and experienced being a studentleader throughout the inside and out of our university,” said Sy in one of her online campaign materials. LLR Reporma also took over thirteen out of fifteen CSC seats grabbing six out of seven executive positions and seven out of eight representatives. Meanwhile, two candidates from the BU Leaders secured their seats of which one won the remaining executive position and the other claimed her slot as representative. Meanwhile, majority among the CBEMian voters made the following settle a seat on the council’s executive positions: Justin Dominique Cabrera (Vice President, 877 vs 493 vs 170); Chel-
sea Mallari (Secretary, 848 vs 644); Kristine Jane Santillan (Treasurer, 756 vs 581 vs 163); John Gayle Bruce (Auditor, 867 vs 655); Jurmae Niverba (Business Manager, 733 vs 557 vs 191); and Jomarie Casabuena (Public Information Officer, 1076 vs 434). Furthermore, the eight representative positions were secured by John Martin Abiera (800); Justine dela Cruz (712); Sarah Mae Regondola (662); Steve Dolz (636); Joerlan Carl Bermundo (626); Mickha Ella Comoda (619); Joseph Adrian Aninipot (584); and Ailamae Altavano (573). “Magsasamasama tayo sa School Year 2021-2022. There is synergy. There is strength when we work together as
one”, College Student Electoral Board (CSEB) Chairman Edna B. Mata stressed out during the proclamation of winners through Google Meet earlier tonight.
69.33% of the College of Business, Economics and Management (CBEM) population participated in this year’s six-hour online voting compared to the 71.05% last election.
CBEM registers 69.33% voters turnout by James dela Cruz
A
mid shift from traditional face-toface to first-ever online University and College Student Council (USC-CSC) Election, the College of Business, Economics, and Management (CBEM) has recorded a 69.33% voters turnout, which is on-
ly 1.72% lower than the preceding year’s election. Meanwhile, CBEM sets down 7.48% higher voters turnout compared to the 61.85% universitywide rate after the sixhour election, which began at 8:00 am and concluded at 2:00 pm, May 5, 2021.
Nonetheless, there is still a high percentage of CBEM students who were not able to participate in the election at 30.67%. According to a first year BS Accountancy student, “Ilang beses ako nag try magregister, invalid [tapos] biglang page not found, hanggang
mag-2:00 pm na.” “Kulang po yung oras na inilaan para makaboto ang mga estudyante,” expressed a second year student. “Sana man lang whole day yung time allotment para bumoto,” she added. However, as per the statement of Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin
Nebres III, Dean of Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS), extension of the election is not possible due to the security feature of the system. “If the election time will be extended for another hour or hours, the system will [be] back to zero,” the Dean stressed.
FE AT U RE |
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SCREEN by Crizelle Reniva
Press start to enter the game. The first rule is to never be caught in deception, lies, nor the middle ground. The players can only roam within the rectangles chosen and specified, and interact within the vicinity of it. There are spectators within the game who can react, give out clues, but never reveal themselves. The surroundings get dark, the players get asked, they get shot, but no matter what, they have to stay on top. They give you the game, you decide the winner. A new tale in history has been recorded as Bicol University held its first election through the Online Voting System. Forced to adjust within the new normal, the past few weeks have been a frenzied blurry time
Digital Art by Maedhyne Alim
as the madness between the approaching final examination and upcoming election took place through several online platforms. The unforgotten traditional way of voting rests within the mind of voters. The glamour of the usual campaigns that made students invested and curious to candidates as they presented themselves, are missing.
Instead, we are fastened to our seats in front of our laptops as we solely looked forward for the victors and not-solucky aspirants. As the limitations set by the COVID-19 continue to grapple the activities in the university, the election for new officers of the Student Council entered a new dimension and gameplay as candidates interacted through
social media platforms and made their mark through digital form. Customary activities were made through live viewing and as each vied for the trust of students, the candidates creatively made ways to connect to the people and make themselves known. Setting aside the medium used, it is noteworthy to know and remember that
change begins with a single person's decision to vote and exercise their right, paving the way for a new direction of leaders, the new voice of the people, a new era of time for leadership whose concern centers within the public, specifically the students. There are no buttons to quit the real game. You only get to leave when all missions are accomplished and there are no more players in it. The game restarts. Each with a different rule, different players, and a whole new different game to be played. As the game concludes for this year and commence for the succeeding one, the victors have the biggest privilege to choose their next most valuable mission. 'What game will they play next? Press start!
L I TE R A RY |
PROBABILITY by Vitus A. Moran
Scorn by close-eyed egos, They scream for change and progress. But did they care enough to learn and listen To leaders who wouldn’t settle for less?
Did you choose someone who you think is right, Or someone who would serve with boundless might? Look beyond the robes of pretense, And see if anyone can admit weakness.
Did you vote? Or did you just care enough to loathe? One’s ignorance creates empty notions, Be involved for more grounded opinions.
Who is to say the victors did not earn their triumph? Applaud for they are given a worthwhile purpose. To enact and guarantee their spoken “truths”, Beyond well-thought vows and plans proposed.
Blurry. The future will always be filled with uncertainty. The ones covered with masks would be unfolded, The ones who bore everything would be celebrated.
Criticize, not hate. A chance to be given to disprove sweet talkers. Expect for who is the one who could even foresee? If promises are really meant to be broken completely.
E DI T OR I A L |
Work in Process The online voting system for Bueños demands consideration and understanding for students who suffer countless difficulties in these trying times. The on-going demise of Filipinos fueled by the resurgence of rising cases in the Philippines didn’t exempt Bicolanos in facing its sinister repercussions. As Bueños adapted to the changes brought by the pandemic since the previous year, anticipated and unprecedented difficulties still serve as hindrances in ensuring that they could exercise their right to vote in the new system of electing new leaders to serve the student body. The pandemic modified the normal campaign roll-outs as candidates utilized all possible facets of social media to reach out to students on all campuses of the learning institution. With no other option due to mandated quarantine safety protocols, Bicol University adapted a first widespread online voting system for the election. The precinct link started to accept votes from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., preventing students to have more time to cast to their bets, most especially class schedules could fill up the voting period. With different free hours on distinct days, students who were fully loaded on the day of the election were concerned to balance their time. The one-hour lunch period for some of them could have been used to place their votes but other irregularities such as unstable signal from remote areas and unauthorized access to the link made the new system of election frustrating on the part of students. Those who are situated in areas with low to diminutive sources of signal experienced drawbacks like what they have already been experiencing on a daily basis for their education. With fluctuating signals in obscured and isolated communities, the worries of students to attend to their classes are piled up by the added stress of allotting time to exercise their right that could have taken only minutes, but didn’t due to the issues encountered regarding connectivity. Students should be given more time to vote as a sign of remembering their roles in picking the right people who would represent them for development and social transformation. Consideration for those who are still doing their best to be as T H E A P P R A I SE R
Digital Art by Alyssa Nicole Buencamino involved as possible in this remote learning signifies appreciation for their efforts to use their right. On the other hand, the unauthorized access on the precinct link due to different information registered on the system between the student voters and the records of the Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) also caused conflicts in the submission of votes. Some individuals who were not informed on how to solve this type of concern were discouraged due to the system that repeatedly deemed them as prohibited to proceed. The familiarity and exposure to probable issues that the online voting system manifested should encourage the administration to develop and strengthen this new method during elections in Bicol University, as the indefinite resume of complete face-to-face classes for all Bueños are yet to be certain. By listing and resolving the issues surrounding these complication, this mode of choosing the student councils could be utilized effectively and efficiently in this type of unexpected crisis and opening doors for current methods to adapt to advancements and modernization. Being involved in this current climate emphasizes the desire of individuals to pursue change and development. If students are not given the opportunities to exercise their right, then their chances to be represented by leaders who are highly competent and capable are seized away by obstacles that could be truly resolved. All it takes is for someone to listen and care.
E D I T O RIA L B O A RD AN D S T A FF Editor-in-Chief: Associate Editor: Managing Editor: News Editor: Feature Editor: Sports & Creative Editor: Literary Editor: DevComm Editor: Online Content Editor: Copy Editor: Chief Layout Artist: Chief Cartoonist: Chief Photojournalist: Senior Cartoonists: Senior Photojournalist:
Niña B. Orido Mikko M. Panesares Mae Joy A. Redito Charmaine Hannah B. Torrecampo Vitus A. Moron Jeremiah B. Cordial Ma. Jemarah Solyn E. Sabio Mannylyn V. Cullon Arjay B. Bejer Adrian Gebb B. Bio Aron N. Anastacio Maedhyne N. Alim Solomon Mig S. Bustamante John Owen P. Plamplona, Joshua A. Araña Precious Joy A. Deuda
Senior Writer: Jamaica B. Blancaflor Staff Writers: Jude H. Barasona, Mary Ann B. Bataller, James L. dela Cruz, Mickha Ella Comoda, Patricia Michiko Fernandez Cartoonist: Frances Bitancur Photojournalists: Lianne Andrea de Guzman, Eliza S. Legazpi Layout Artists: Alyssa Nicole T. Buencamino, Arcel James S. Cruz
ADVISER
P R O F . G E N I V A M. N A R I O
Question: How was your experience with the first-ever conducted online voting system? Date
Particulars
Debit
05/05
I haven't experienced any glitches from the site. Everything was smooth on my end and it only took me a good 3 minutes to turn in my ballot. However, I observed that students got lazy with the new method of votation and only few students from our block participated in the elections. I'm not sure if it's the internet to blame or they just aren't feeling it.
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BSBA Micro Finance II /
I find it really hard in choosing which candidates I am going to vote for since I do not have enough basis of whom I am going to choose. However, the online election itself went smoothly.
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BSBA Financial Marketing II A /
It was fine because there was no traffic that happened like what we're experiencing when enrolling. And it was much easier to find the candidates that I want to vote.
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BSBA Management III A
/
Fortunately, isa ako sa mga naka-experience ng mabilis or smooth na process ng pagboto. After ko mag log-in at pumili ng iboboto, na-validate at na-post naman agad. Pero may mga kaklase akong nahihirapan sa pagboto dahil ata sa system error.
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BSBA Management III B /
The first-ever conducted online voting was very convenient as the process was smooth and fast. I was glad that I did not experience any glitch on the system and finished in just a few minutes.
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BSBA Management III A /
Okay namn sya, nahirapan lng ako i-access siguro sa internet namin :)
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BSBA Management III A
/
Actually mejo inanticipate ko yung lag & tech problems but so far it was okay naman. Hindi hassle yung site. Concern ko lang is bakit nabago yung name ng CBEM, why naman naging entrep? False po he he. And I also experienced traffic the first time I tried to access it, marami raw gumagamit ng strips at the moment. In a minute of trying, naging okay na ulit. BS Accountancy III C
Comics by Joshua Araña
Credit
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