The Varsitarian P.Y. 2018-2019 Botomasino

Volume XCI • April 22, 2019 • Special Coverage of the UST Central Student Council Elections

WHO WILL TAKE CHARGE

Dearth of bets mars 2019 polls

In UST student politics, only a few dared to run in this year’s council elections.

Page 2

A step closer to the helm Get to know the lone presidential candidate in the 2019 CSC polls and the platforms he is proposing.

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2 Botomasino Editor's Note

Dearth of bets in CSC polls alarming THERE was a time when student council elections in UST were highly contested, overflowing with candidates and defined by an electorate demanding better student governance.

This year is something else. The lack of candidates in the executive boards of central and local student councils may be a symptom of a new kind of apathy among Thomasians.

In the fictional HBO series “Game of Thrones,” many are contending to sit on the Iron Throne and lead the Seven Kingdoms. In UST, only a few want to take the charge.

For six posts in the council, only eight candidates filed their candidacies, with no student running for vice president and only the position of secretary having more than one candidate. For each of the rest -- the positions of president, treasurer, auditor and public relations officer – there is only one candidate.

This is not an issue of having quality over quantity. While such point is valid, UST’s political parties must address this issue. Lakas ng Diwang Tomasino (Lakasdiwa), for example, has failed to field a complete set of candidates for the annual student polls since 2017.

That year, it had no candidate for president but had bets for the five other positions in the council. In 2018, it did not participate in the CSC elections when no candidate from the party ran for the Executive Board. This year, only one candidate is running.

The same problem is plaguing the elections in the local student councils. In the College of Nursing, there is no candidate for president. In other colleges, faculties or institutes, only a few opted to run. This was despite the fact that Lakasdiwa and Lakas Tomasino Coalition have affiliate parties in the various faculties and colleges of the University.

Political parties bear the responsibility of giving the Thomasian electorate a range of candidates to choose from. Certainly, one would say that it is better for these parties not to field candidates whom they deem not fit to run. But to make this admission only speaks of their inefficiency or ineffectiveness in molding better candidates.

In the previous elections, we faced the issues of student apathy or the lack of discourse by student leaders on issues outside the University.

The electorate made its voice heard when in 2017, massive abstentions won over the candidates.

Political parties have historically provide Thomasians with a choice. How then, will the electorate decide if no choice is presented?

News Editor: Julia Claire L. Medina

APRIL 22, 2019

A new kind UST’s student politics yields only eight candidates STUDENT council elections in the University this year will be marked by an incomplete set of candidates for several positions both in the central and local levels, the lowest number of bets in the recent election history of UST. In the Central Student Council (CSC) Executive Board elections, only eight candidates are running for six positions, with only the post of secretary having more than one candidate.

No student also filed his or her candidacy for the council vice presidency.

John Renze Gelua, president of the UST Political Science Forum, said most Thomasians might be afraid of the possible repercussions when they voice out their opinions on pressing issues.

“May ibang priorities pa kasi sila (Thomasians), aware sila sa social issues pero hindi nila nakikita ‘yong relevance nang pakikipag-participate,” Gelua told the Varsitarian in an interview.

CSC Secretary Robert Gonzales is the sole presidential candidate in the April student polls. This was after the UST Central Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualified Worship Acosta, standard-bearer of the Lakas Tomasino Coalition (LTC), for his failure to submit an

CHRISTIAN DE LANO M. DEIPARINE Editor in Chief KLIMIER NICOLE B. ADRIANO Managing Editor LEXANNE O. GARCIA Associate Editor JULIA CLAIRE L. MEDINA News Editor KEVIN A. ALABASO Acting Assistant News Editor MA. ANGELICA D. GARCIA Sports Editor ARIANNE AINE D. SUAREZ Special Reports LOUISE CLAIRE H. CRUZ Features Editor ELMER B. COLDORA Literary Editor LYON RICARDO III M. LOPEZ Circle Editor DEEJAE S. DUMLAO Photography Coordinator NATHANAEL JONAS S.J. RODRIGO Art Director News Ahmed Khan H. Cayongcat, Marem A. de Jemel, Angelika V. Ortega, Neil Joshua N. Servallos Sports John Ezekiel J. Hirro, Faith Yuen Wei N. Ragasa, Ivan Ruiz L. Suing, Theresa Clare K. Tañas, Justin Robert Valencia Special Reports Lady Cherbette Agot, Job Anthony R. Manahan, Klyra V. Orbien Literary Karl Ben L. Arlegui, Jessica Joy C. Buenafe, Briana Michaela C. Diche, Matthew Dominic D. Dimapawi, Hailord N. Lavarias, Therese Marie F. Ungson Filipino Vivienne Audrey P. Angeles, Malic U. Cotongan, Joselle Czarina S. de la Cruz, Francis Agapitus E. Braganza, Chris V. Gamoso Witness Eugene Dominic V. Aboy, O.P., Mariel Celine L. Serquiña Science and Technology Miguel Alejandro IV A. Herrera, Roland Adrian D.L. Ignacio, Beatriz Avegayle S. Timbang Circle Jiselle Anne C. Casucian, Nolene Beatrice H. Cruicillo, Katrina Isabel C. Gonzales Art Mariane Jane A. Cadiz, Alisa Joy T. del Mundo, Mari Kloie D. Ledesma, Jury P. Salaya, Rica Mae V. Soriente Photography Hazel Grace S. Posadas, Enrico Miguel S. Silverio, Jose Miguel J. Sunglao, Mark Darius M. Sulit, Mary Jazmin D. Tabuena Editorial Assistant Jose Miguel S. del Rosario FELIPE F. SALVOSA II Assistant Publications Adviser JOSELITO B. ZULUETA Publications Adviser

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natatakot lamang silang kumilos,” Gonzales said during the mandatory debate for CSC bets on April 13.

Bricio said the shift to K to 12 curriculum, which led to the decline of enrollees in UST, could also be blamed for the lack of candidates.

Lanz Hernandez of the Thomasian Debate Council claimed the apathy of Thomasians was because of their fear to compromise their liberal and progressive opinions with the conservative views of the UST administration.

“In a way, apathy stems from fear. The mere act of voting or choosing the right candidates is the best way for students to voice their issues,” Hernandez said.

In the local student council polls, several colleges will welcome the next academic year with an incomplete set of student

#TOMspeak

More advocacies from CSC sought

What are the issues that Thomasians want student-leaders to address?

FOUNDED JAN. 16, 1928

undisclosed requirement.

Three candidates will contest the post of secretary. Legal management freshman Krizia Milleny Bricio (independent) will face advertising arts senior Nicholas Sia (LTC) and the sole Lakas ng Diwang Tomasino (Lakasdiwa) bet, chemistry freshman Karch Andrei Rafael.

LTC bets Rafael Lipat, a political science junior, and Patricia Claire Cruz, an accountancy freshman, will run unopposed for the positions of treasurer and auditor, respectively.

Physical therapy sophomore Ian Jericho Sun (LTC), is the sole candidate for the position of public relations officer.

Gonzales said Thomasians were not apathetic but instead were just afraid to act up on their opinions. There is also a “trust” issue, he said.

“Nawawalan ng trust ‘yong student body natin sa nagrerepresent sa kanila sa konseho,” he said. “Hindi ako naniniwalang apathetic ang mga Thomasians,

“Gamitin [ang] posisyon para tumulong sa awareness tungkol sa iba’t-ibang isyu sa lipunan, lalo na sa mga isyu na malapit sa mga kabataan.” — Ian Tolentino (freshman, College of Science) “I would like the CSC to help us address the woes in the E-Learning System, and our wifi facilities in the campus. I think it would be better if they added a direct CSC message button in Blackboard for easier, much more convenient connection with the concerns of the Students.” — Dhon Castro (freshman, Faculty of Pharmacy) “Sana mas maging aktibo ang mga kakatawan sa mga Tomasino sa pagpapatupad ng kanilang mga adhikain na may kinalaman sa kalikasan ng Unibersidad.

Lalo na ngayong mas lumalala ang panahon.”

— Rafael de Belen (4th year, UST Alfredo M. Velayo - College of Accountancy) “[S]ana may magawa ‘yong next batch ng student leaders sa welfare ng students when it comes [to] mental health.” — Manuela Esguerra (3rd year, College of Science) “Sana responsible at talagang alam ‘yong ginagawa ng mga susunod na student leaders. Sa mga Thomasians, sana iboto ‘yong may [nararapat na] credentials at mas may reach sa public.” — Adrian Masiglat (4th year, Institute of Information and Computing Sciences) “Ang advocacy na gusto kong mamaintain ng student council [ay] ‘yong projects nila for the environment, since effective naman ang implementation this year sa aking pananaw.” — Chariesh Bitanga (4th year, Faculty of Engineering) “Sana proper ‘yong segregation of garbage, kasi sa nakikita ko dalawa lang

‘yong garbage bin and sana mas malawak pa. Kunwari plastic, paper, nabubulok at hindi nabubulok.” — Jillian Dalagan (Freshman, UST Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy) “Awareness po sana sa bullying, kasi nakikita ko sa classmates ko ‘yong presence ng bullying, so sana may magawa sila.

Siguro conducting seminars about bullying will help.” — Riggs Olivar (Freshman, Faculty of Pharmacy) “[Sana] mag focus sila sa equal rights ng lahat ng mag-aaral. Iba kasi ang tingin ng ibang students sa ibang students from a different college. Lahat naman tayo nahihirapan, so sana walang discrimination.”

— Pamela Marquillero (Freshman, Institute of Physical Education and Athletics) “The advocacy I want from the candidates is probably to raise the communication between the council and the students. Kasi I feel [that] there is a need for them to listen more to the student body.” — Melo Fuertes (Freshman, Faculty of Arts and Letters) “Matagal na pinapangako ng mga tumatakbo ‘yong sa improved facilities ng colleges pero may mga drinking fountain na hindi nagfa-function--walang tubig na lumalabas o kaya mainit.” — John Pascua (4th year, College of Commerce and Business Administration) “Gusto kong marinig sa mga candidates ay ‘yong [pag-advocate nila sa] grievance system, at sana hindi lang sila makikinig, dapat may magagawa talaga sila.” — Anne Grande (Sophomore, Faculty of Arts and Letters) “Regarding environment, siguro magimplement sila ng projects. Kunwari may ‘Clean As You Go’ sa UST, siguro subukan nila i-improve ‘yon.” — Jana Nagallo (freshman, College of Commerce and

Business Administration) “Sana magkaroon ng full inclusion dito sa UST, sana i-include ‘yong students with special needs. Wag ihiwalay sa regular students, kasi mayroon silang kayang gawin na ginagawa rin natin.” — Allora Centeno (4th year, College of Education) “Siguro pwede magawan ng paraan ng next CSC na pwede magpa-schedule ng [areas for]...leisure activity ng mga students.” — Raphael de Chavez (4th year, Faculty of Engineering) “[Sana] bigyan ng mas malawak na pagtuon ng pansin ang mga Ttomasinong] performing artist. Mas mabigyan pa sana kami ng mas maraming avenues para itanghal ang aming sining at lalo pa sana kaming ma-recognize na parte din kami ng Thomasian community.” — Jose Mari Javato (8th year, Conservatory of Music) “Sana kasama sa kanilang platforms ang women empowerment. Halimbawa, magkakaroon ng talks by known inspirational women sa loob ng campus.”

— Angela Nicole Cruz (freshman, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management) “The [winning] candidates should [give] more opportunities [to the local] student councils and their respective students in working together as one student body. By working together as a collective, it can open new possibilities and make notable progress for the whole community.”

— Caitlin Tiongson (sophomore, College of Fine Arts and Design) “[Sana] mag conduct ng seminars about mental health na ang participants ay professors. Kasi kahit ibang professor nagsasabi na may kilala silang mga professors na nagtuturo pero hindi pinapahalagahan ang mental health ng students.” — Princess Ng (5th year, College of Architecure) KARL BEN L. ARLEGUI

Assistant News Editor: Kevin A. Alabaso

APRIL 22, 2019

Botomasino 3

of apathy? for the 2019 Central Student Council elections

leaders.

Half of the 24 local student councils in the University have only one candidate running for president.

The Institute of Information and Computing Sciences, for instance, only has two candidates running for its student council, particularly for the positions of auditor and public relations officer.

In the Faculty of Civil Law Student Council, there are only three candidates for the positions of president, internal vice president and secretary.

The student polls in the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) will have the same number of candidates for the same positions.

The College of Nursing only has

three positions with candidates. No student filed for candidacy for the positions of president, vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer and auditor.

The Faculty of Engineering Student Council polls also lack candidates for external vice president and treasurer, while the College of Rehabilitation Sciences has no candidates running for internal vice president and treasurer.

The College of Science has no candidates for treasurer and assistant treasurer while in the College of Fine

Arts and Design, no student ran for treasurer and auditor.

‘Same rules apply’ Comelec chief Moriah Mendiola said the electronic voting system would be retained for this year’s election, as the system was deemed “successful” last year.

There will still be no option to “abstain,” in compliance with the

order of the Central Judiciary Board in 2017.

The campaign period, which began on March 30, ran until April 21.

The proclamation of the new CSC and local student councils’ executive board officers will be on April 27. KEVIN A. ALABASO with reports from AHMED KHAN H. CAYONGCAT, NEIL JOSHUA N. SERVALLOS AND ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA

CSC bets square off in annual mandatory debate “Tutol ako sa mandatory ROTC dahil right natin mamili kung saan natin matututuhan ang patriotism at nationalism, sa paraan na mas marami tayong matututuhan,” Nicholas Sia, Lakas Tomasino Coalition (LTC) candidate for secretary said.

Bricio said the call to stop it should be heard by the UST administration and the Commission on Higher Education.

“Tutol tayo sa mandatory ROTC dahil binabalewala [nito] ang nangyari kay Mark Welson Chua na namatay dahil sa korapsiyon sa ROTC,” Bricio said.

In 2001, the body of 21-year-old Chua was found floating in the Pasig River, wrapped in a carpet and his face covered in duct tape. This was after he exposed corruption and irregularities in UST’s ROTC program. His death led to the removal of mandatory ROTC and the passage of the National Service Training Program law.

“Dapat i-lobby agad natin ito sa Central Board at sa administrative offices dahil maraming violations pa ang pwedeng mangyari kapag naging mandatory na ang ROTC sa Unibersidad,” Rafael said.

The eight candidates for the 2019 CSC Executive Board elections onstage during the mandatory debate at the Plaza Mayor on April 13.

DEEJAE S. DUMLAO CANDIDATES for the Central Student Council (CSC) Executive Board highlighted their platforms and stances on national and campus issues during the annual mandatory debate on April 13 at the Plaza Mayor.

Sole presidential bet Robert Dominic Gonzales vowed to continue the fight for the passage of the long-delayed Students’ Code by “elevating the battle of the code to the Academic Senate.”

Outgoing CSC officers said it was a first in 14 years that the code reached the Council of Regents in November of last year.

Gonzales, the council secretary, said the cause of the decline in the number of students running for positions in this year’s elections might have been the decline of Thomasians’ trust on student leaders.

“Hindi ako naniniwalang apathetic ang mga Thomasians, natatakot lamang silang kumilos,”

said Gonzales.

The Medicine sophomore also backed the reduction of academic load for students to promote mental health. He admitted, however, that this might lengthen the years of study.

“Kung papahabain ang taon ng pag-aaral natin, mas magkakaroon tayo ng focus sa kung ano ‘yung dapat pag-aralan,” Gonzales said.

“Hindi ‘yung itatambak natin iyon sa iisang taon na parang lima ang major subjects mo [tapos ang] oras mo sa pamilya mo, para sa sarili mo, nawawala na. That’s why I don’t see anything wrong with lengthening the years of education.”

Gonzales also said he had talked to the administrators of the UST Health Service regarding student grievances of students on its services.

A report by the Varsitarian in February

revealed that the Health Service ranked the lowest in support services in the University, registering an average score of 2.70. It was thr only support office that received a rating below 3.00 in key performance rubrics provided in the annual satisfaction survey.

“Tinanong ko na ‘yong office ng Health Sevice kung ano ba ang problema, nalaman ko na kulang sila sa staff at maliit ang kanilang lugar.

Kaya hinikayat ko [sila] na idala sa administrative offices ang concerns nila,” said Gonzales.

No to mandatory ROTC CSC bets also opposed the proposal to make the Reserved Offices’ Training Corps (ROTC) a mandatory subject for Senior High School students, citing the brutal muder of Thomasian Mark Welson Chua in 2001 by his co-cadets.

Responsive student council Candidates for secretary--the only position in the council to have more than one bet--vowed for a more responsive council on issues beyond UST. “Personally, bukod sa pagpo-proseso ng mga papel, ang maio-offer ko pa sa Thomasian community ay ang... pagigging boses ko para sa mga oppressed,” Bricio said.

Rafael said he was able to relay the concerns of the masses and would continue to do so, citing his experience as a former member of progressive organizations Anakbayan and League of Filipino Students.

“Naiparating ko na kung ano ang hinaing ng masa. Bababa tayo sa masa, lalahok tayo sa mga diskursong panlipunan,” said Rafael.

Sia said the essence of a student council is to become the voice of the student body.

“Bilang [miyembro ng] executive board, nasa duty at responsibilidad [ko] na ang pagprotekta sa mga karapatan ng mga estudyante at hindi [ko] na siya dapat gawin pang plataporma,” said Sia. The option of “Abstain” will not be available on the ballot, in compliance with the Central Judiciary Board’s order in 2017.

Room-to-room campaigning ended on April 13 while online campaigning ended on April 21.

Elections in local and central student councils will start on April 23 and end on 27. KATRINA ISABEL C. GONZALES and BEATRIZ AVEGAYLE TIMBANG

4 Botomasino

APRIL 22, 2019

A step closer to the presidency

By KATRINA ISABEL C. GONZALES and BEATRIZ AVEGAYLE S. TIMBANG

ADVOCATING health awareness, education and student representation on issues affecting the Thomasian community, Central Student Council (CSC) Secretary Robert Dominic Gonzales is running unopposed for the presidency.

Medicine sophomore Gonzales said his stunt as council secretary and years of service to various organizations has allowed him to carry out his previous platforms which he vows to continue along with his new advocacy to uplift student empowerment and students’ rights and welfare.

“I am running because of the visions evident on the platforms I am carrying, he told the Varsitarian. “Continuing the generations of service that the CSC has imparted is a call for noble service – being of service without asking for anything in return.”

The pharmacy alumnus has been an active student leader since his undergraduate studies. He served as the Faculty of Pharmacy Student Council assistant secretary in 2016.

As CSC secretary, he led the “RADIATE: The Medical Project” which aimed to raise awareness on top medical health problems and provide specialized and primary level of health care.

He is also the project head of “ILLUMINATE: A Step to Quality Education” centered on enhancing studentteacher relations with regards to delivering and acquiring education.

If elected, he plans to carry out a “democratic leadership style coupled with servant leadership” which he believes is one of the reasons why the incumbent CSC Team Secretary got the topmost rank in this year’s performance evaluation of the council.

“I see to it that my colleagues have the freedom to do what they love doing and that they are doing it with all passion and dedication,” he said. “If a moment comes when too much freedom leads to deviations from the main goal, that is the time when I step up and give necessary light to redirect our team.”

Platforms With “#RADIATEFarther: The Medical Project Year 2,” Gonzales plans to sustain the progress of the first installment of the medical project which has helped the Aeta communities of Tarlac since its implementation in 2018. He aims to reach out to farther communities and help groups of people, especially the marginalized, address their medical concerns.

“In the advent of rising medical health concerns in our country—whether it may be biological, seasonal or sociopolitical in cause — people need to have heightened degrees of awareness on vital aspects regarding health and wellness,” he said.

To further work on the “other determinants of quality education” Gonzales proposes “#ILLUMINATEFurther, Digging Deeper into Education” which in its first year of implementation was said to have increased the faculty members’ mental health awareness on concerns involving their students and colleagues.

“In coordination with the Office for Academic Affairs, this platform seeks to lobby to the Commission on Higher Education a more humane academic load especially for those affected with the new adjustments on the curriculum [such as senior high school and freshmen students],” he said.

Gonzales’s platforms also include “#ELEVATE” which seeks to elevate student representation, rights and welfare by holding quarterly dialogues between Thomasians and the administration, tackling institutional and academic issues. This platform also seeks to stage forums and benefit projects.

“Encouraging the Thomasian community importantly rests on the principles and actions that their student leaders portray,” Gonzales said. “Being true to our words during this election season and carrying them along during our term are important in maintaining the involvement of the Thomasian community.”

Robert Dominic Gonzales

Botomasino 5

APRIL 22, 2019

Who will be on the next CSC Executive Board?

SECRETARY

Krizzia Milleny Bricio

RUNNING for Central Student Council (CSC) secretary, Legal Management freshman Krizia Bricio advocates for heightened social awareness among Thomasians. “[S]a social issues natin, [dapat] mas maging vocal pa when it comes to the Mandatory ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) [and] the tuition fee increase,” Bricio told the Varsitarian.

Bricio plans to include progressive organizations that share information about various social issues in her platform.

“Magbibigay tayo sa Thomasian community ng facts… ‘yung pros and cons regarding pressing matters ng ating lipunan,” she said.

Bricio also believes that secretary’s responsibilities are not only limited to duties mandated by the CSC Constitution.

“Bilang parte ng executive board, tungkulin po namin na i-address ang mga concerns and grievances ng mga estudyante, cater ang needs and interests nila dito sa [U]niversity dahil ang pinaka tungkulin ng Central Student Council Executive Board ay ang pagsilbihan ang Thomasians,” she said.

“[S]a social issues natin, [dapat] mas maging vocal pa when it comes to the Mandatory ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) [and] the tuition fee increase.”

TREASURER

Nicholas Lopez Sia

Karch Andrei Rafael

RUNNING under the banner of Lakas Tomasino Coalition, Nicholas Sia promises to cultivate environmental stewardship, provide opportunities for development and encourage students to be more involved.

“We want the Thomasian students to be aware of the opportunities, inside and outside the [U] niversity,” he said.

Sia, an advertising arts senior, was the executive associate to the president of UST Central Student Council (CSC).

He also served as the co-director for creatives of UST-CSC from 2016 to 2019 and took part in UST Hiraya as its external public relations officer in 2017. “[M]y goal for this year is not only to educate the Thomasian students, but also for them to engage in activities of their liking,” Sia said.

“We are not only giving the Thomasian students a choice to excel in the fields they want, but also a chance to engage and to be involved,” he added.

THIS LAKASDIWA candidate for secretary is advocating for platforms geared toward transparency, good governance, inclusivity and social responsibility.

He said Thomasians are part of the Council’s endeavors and should “be socially responsible and aware by doing programs and projects for marginalized and indigenous people.”

Karch Andrei Rafael, a chemistry freshman from the College of Science, was the executive associate to the chairman of the Executive Board of UST Unesco Club.

He also served as the vice president of the Technological University of the Philippines Senior High School Student Council in 2016 and treasurer of the same council in 2017.

“If the Thomasian community thinks that [they] need someone who will promote transparency, fight for inclusivity, and stand for the students, [they] should vote for me,” he said.

“[M]y goal for this year is not only to educate the Thomasian students, but also for them to engage in activities of their liking.”

“If the Thomasian community thinks that [they] need someone who will promote transparency, fight for inclusivity, and stand for the students, [they] should vote for me.”

AUDITOR

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

Jan Rafael Lipat

Patricia Claire Cruz

Ian Jericho Sun

FOR POLITICAL science junior Jan Rafael Lipat, a more student-engaged and relational student council is essential in the University. “[The long-term feasibility of my advocacies] may be addressed by letting [the students] be a part of the advocacy itself, through a strong presence of student volunteers who are into the advocacy in the Central Student Council,” he said.

Lipat, who served as the executive coordinator to the CSC auditor this academic year, also promotes the value of financial literacy.

In carrying out his projects and advocacies, Lipat also believes in maintaining good rapport with the administration to more easily bridge it with different student bodies, especially in seeking approval of these projects.

“Continued dialogue with the administration, because I believe that hostility will not work when it comes to bridging two vastly different yet interconnected members of the Thomasian community.”

BEING unopposed for the position of Central Student Council (CSC) auditor, accountancy freshman Patricia Claire Cruz advocates “inclusiveness” for the whole Thomasian community.

“I [want] everyone to feel that they are safe and accepted regardless of their choices. I want them to feel the sense of belongingness and redefine the feeling of home as CSC,” Cruz told the Varsitarian.

For Cruz, upholding transparency is the biggest challenge she will have to face as an aspiring CSC auditor.

She adds that there is a constant need to prove one’s credibility as the officer in charge for the checks and balances of the council.

As the assistant associate of the academics committee of AMV student council, Cruz believes that an efficient student leader knows how to balance her responsibilities well.

“A student-leader is one who knows how to manage her own time without having to choose between two important things: being a student or being a leader,” Cruz said.

LONE public relations officer (PRO) candidate and physical therapy sophomore Ian Jericho Sun vows to be the “voice of the oppressed.” He aims to empower others through his plans for the students.

“We are all at one point abused, others in ways they can’t speak out. I seek to tackle more than what the eye can meet,” Sun told the Varsitarian.

“Being oppressed, as what I used to think was weakness, has given me an opportunity to be strong and inspire others.

Now, I believe empowerment is a choice that just needs a little guidance,” he added.

Sun envisions an effective student council that will form an “empathetic bond” with the students it serves.

“There can’t be a good studentry without a good council, and there can never be a great council without a great studentry,” he said.

For Sun, it is necessary for a student leader to learn how to follow in order to be effective.

“You can never be a leader without being a follower. It’s a must for student leaders themselves to take the first step for the rest to follow, and take the fall for the rest to fly,” Sun said.

“I [want] everyone to feel that they are safe and accepted. I want them to feel the sense of belongingness and redefine the feeling of home as CSC.”

“There can’t be a good studentry without a good council and there can never be a great council without a great studentry.”

“I believe that hostility will not work when it comes to bridging two vastly different yet interconnected members of the Thomasian community.”

6 Botomasino

APRIL 22, 2019

(L-R) CSC President Francis Gabriel Santos, Vice President Victor Amores, Secretary Robert Dominic Gonzales, Treasurer Alek Santa Ana, Auditor Adrian Lee Fernando and Public Relations Officer Jeanne Nicole Naval.

DESPITE having a full slate of officers, the Central Student Council (CSC) Executive Board failed to accomplish its main campaign platform: the approval of the long-delayed Student’s Code this academic year.

The outgoing CSC officers, who all ran as independents in the 2018 student polls, however, were able to implement 13 out of their 23 projects.

“The fact that [the draft of the code] has already been passed to the jurisdiction of the Council of Regents, malaking bagay na ‘yon sa amin,” CSC President Francis Santos told the Varsitarian.

Santos pointed out that this was the first time a student council was able to present the code to the Council of Regents. This happened in November last year.

He said the Executive Board had two meetings with UST Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. to ask for help in expediting the approval of the code.

However, he admitted that the process of passing the code would take more than an academic year.

Santos, in his campaign for the presidency last academic year, proposed to lobby for the Student’s Code, hence his project Kabalikat, which called for an improvement in the communication and relationship of the CSC with various administrative offices.

Proposals and projects As president, Santos spearheaded a yearlong project that emphasized the rights and welfare of the students, called “Kasangga: Student’s Rights and Welfare.” It was a projectpitching platform where anyone was allowed to raised their ideas, held from July 8 to 20.

The CSC also hosted a Student’s Code public discussion on Oct. 27.

Another is the “Thomasian Votes,” a threeday voter registration drive held in the University from Sept. 27-29, in relation to the upcoming national midterm elections.

The “Student’s Rights and Welfare Coalition” (Straw), while approved by the Office for Student Affairs (OSA), was not launched due to lack of applicants, but Santos said he would

Outgoing CSC officers:

What they’ve done—and failed to do open applications to students who would like to become members before the academic year ends.

“I did not launch it yet kasi wala pang masiyadong update for the coalition,” Santos said. “That’s why the plan is to open the application to [more] students who would like to be a member of the coalition at the end of the academic year para [ma-transition] sa succeeding years ‘yong napundar namin sa Students’ Code.”

Vice President Victor Amores failed to implement the “Stronger Safety and Security System,” which aimed to provide “safe spaces” inside and outside of the University.

“We lobbied this to our administration noong pagkapanalo pa lang namin… then sila na ‘yong naging way para tumulong sa amin makipag-usap with different concerned people,” Amores said.

Amores also promised to work for a multifaith room called “Thomasian Interfaith Room,” where students of different religions could pray, mediate and contemplate. There was a carpet placed at the fourth floor of the Tan Yan Kee building.

CSC Secretary Robert Dominic Gonzales, who is gunning for the position of president, proposed two projects.

Gonzales was able to implement “Radiate:

The Medical Project,” a community development project that aimed to raise awareness on the top 10 medical health problems to a partner Aeta community in Sitio Mabilog, Tarlac. The medical mission happened on March 23 and 24.

Another project headed by Gonzales was “Illuminate: A Step to Quality Education,” which sought to improve the quality of the student-educator relationship though a mental health awareness seminar.

The event commenced on April 3 in connection with “Emotional Toolkit: Helping Skills for Responders,” a seminar led by the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. “[T]his event also aimed to further strengthen the bond between the students and their educators; ultimately, taking one step to improving quality education,” Gonzales said.

He also spearheaded “Secretariat: Chamber of Secretaries,” a seminar for secretaries of local student councils and student organizations in the University.

It was a tutorial on the preparation and processing of documents and other secretarial duties last Nov. 19, 2018.

Before his resignation as CSC treasurer, Alek Pierce Sta. Ana proposed “TP4: The Return,” which was supposed to be implemented

prior to the academic year but did not push through. It aimed to give scholarships to qualified public senior high school students who will enroll at UST. He also proposed “Investomasino,” a project that aimed to teach Thomasians the mechanics of investing.

CSC Auditor Adrian Lee Fernando led “Greener UST” a two-phase environment advocacy project.

The first phase, which focused on “Environmental Assessment Resolving the Threats to our Home” (Earth), was launched on Sept. 17 and 18. The next phase, titled “The Greener Congress,” held on Nov. 27, gathered student leaders and organizations to come up with projects to ensure environmental protection.

Another was “Veritas 2.0: Auditing Beyond Numbers,” which published updates on the executive board’s programs after every semester.

CSC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Jeanne Nicole Naval proposed a project on the extension of the operating hours of some University facilities to give space for students who need extra time in UST to study during exam weeks.

Naval said the CSC was still processing the papers for the proposal.

“May regulations din kasi [like the] security of the students outside the University, ‘yon ang hinahanapan namin ng soultion right now,” Naval explained.

CSC project “Pandit” was also proposed

by Naval to give tutorial sessions to partnercommunities in preparation for the National Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency examination. Naval has yet to implement the project.

Naval launched “Amplify: League of PROs 2018,” a seminar for PROs of local organizations and class officers in the University on Nov. 28.

Naval is also heading “#CSCSpeaks,” a year-long project of the CSC that releases informative campaigns on relevant university and nationwide issues. AHMED KHAN H.

CAYONGCAT AND KATRINA ISABEL C. GONZALES with reports from VIVIENNE AUDREY ANGELES

No veep in UST student council next year THE EXECUTIVE Board of the Central Student Council (CSC) will lack a vice president next academic year, as no student opted to run for the second highest position in the council in this year’s student polls.

Medical technology senior Victor Amores, outgoing CSC vice president, said the vacancy is not an isolated case.

“There are also a few students who ran for positions in their own [local student councils],” he told the Varsitarian in an online interview.

Amores said the next council would have to double its effort to fill in the duties and responsibilities of the vice president.

Froilan Calilung, who teaches

at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, said students demand better council leaders.

“It may have been incidental or probably, there exists the apprehension among many student leaders with regard to the perception of the student body on their stand on sensitive political issues,” he told the Varsitarian.

He said the role of vice president is important and does not exist only as a “spare tire.”

“The previous elections only proved that Thomasians do not know the meaning of political apathy,” he said. “I believe this election shall be deemed crucial in putting back the trust and confidence of the entire

student body on their Thomasian student leaders.”

Under the CSC constitution, the council vice president acts as the coordinator of all the committees created by the Executive Board and supervises them. He is also tasked to handle the external affairs of the council and other duties that the CSC president may assign.

Moriah Mendiola, chairwoman of the UST Central Commission on Elections, said the poll body might hold a special election next academic year to fill the vacancy in the council.

She also attributed the lack of candidates to the fear of being subjected to the criticism of the student body.

“[R]ight now, the Thomasian student body became more active in asking for a more competent leader who is fit for the job,” Mendiola told the Varsitarian in an online interview.

According to UST Students’ Election Code of 2011, the Comelec, upon a petition of any interested party, may call for a special election.

Another option to fill the vacant post is for next year’s Executive Board to nominate three local student council presidents, who are members of the Central Board of Students, after which a secret balloting will take place for the election of a new vice president. A.K.H. CAYONGCAT and N.J.N. SERVALLOS

APRIL 22, 2019

Botomasino 7

Comelec wants turnout threshold raised to 30% “If there’s no provision in the CSC Constitution regarding abstain, and USEC has, it can be [declared] unconstitutional,” Santos said.

Mendiola, however, said Comelec had no plans to amend any provisions regarding the “abstain” vote.

Amendments to both the USEC and the CSC charter were sought after “abstain” votes dominated the student polls in 2017. Only two out of six positions in the council had winners, namely: Santos as public relations officer and Therese Gorospe and secretary.

Last year, the Comelec proposed USEC revisions to the election campaign period of CSC candidates and campaign expenses, among others.

Mendiola said Comelec had to start from scratch this year as the previous legal heads of Comelec lost the drafts of the proposal.

Comelec attempted to revise the USEC in 2015 but the effort did not push through due to “internal conflicts.”

FILE PHOTO

THE UST CENTRAL Commission on Elections (Comelec) is mulling amendments to the UST Student’s Election Code of 2011 (USEC), one of which is to raise the minimum voter turnout by five percentage points.

Comelec chief Moriah Mendiola said the poll body had finished drafting its proposal, which is still subject to approval of local Comelec units.

The USEC states that a failure of election shall be declared when the voter turnout is less than 25 percent of the total population of the electorate.

Mendiola said the Comelec wanted to add a residency rule for candidates who will run under accredited political parties.

Provisions on the impeachment process of Comelec

heads were also included, she said.

The revisions in the election code will then be presented to the Central Board of Students, composed of presidents of local student councils, who will have to approve the amendments by a vote of two-thirds.

Francis Gabriel Santos, outgoing president of the Central Student Council (CSC) Executive Board, agreed that some parts of the USEC needed revisiting.

“There are provisions that need to be updated such as [compliance with the] academic calendar, the provision on the interpretation of abstain, and even the [financial provisions],” Santos said in an online interview with the Varsitarian.

He added that the interpretation of the abstain provision should be included in the CSC constitution for consistency.

‘Updated’ electronic voting system Mendiola told the Varsitarian that central and local council election results would be computed automatically, unlike last year when manual computations were made for the local units.

She said the electronic voting system programmed by UST Computer Science Society would be retained for this year’s election, as the system was deemed “successful” last year.

There will still be no option to “abstain” in the ballots, in compliance with the order of the Central Judiciary Board in 2017.

A failure of election will be declared if the lone candidate won less than 25 percent of the vote.

Comelec approved on March 29 the official list of candidates in this year’s student council elections, with seven candidates out of eight from the preliminary list deemed qualified to run.

Lakas ng Tomasino Coalition standard bearer Worship Acosta was disqualified to run because of his failure to complete the required documents for candidacy, leaving incumbent CSC Secretary Robert Gonzales unopposed.

The campaign period started last March 30.

Room-to-room campaigns ended on April 13, while online campaigning continued until April 21.

The proclamation of the new central and local Executive Board officers is slated on April 27.

Comelec chief Mendiola, a computer science student, was the understudy of Arvin Bersonda, former Comelec chairman who led the poll body for two years.

She led Comelec’s efforts for the development of an electronic voting system last academic year. ANGELIKA V. ORTEGA with reports from KARL BEN L. ARLEGUI