ARTLETS STUDENT RUNS FOR HIGHEST STUDENT

By Marymon Frances Reyes

AIMING to redefine Thomasians’ perspective towards student governance by pursuing a policy-driven and “student-representing” leadership, incumbent Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) Student Council vice president-external Ierathel Tabuno is running unopposed for the presidency in this year’s student polls.

“We will push for a Central Student Council (CSC) that is brave enough to follow through despite the hardships of the status quo and open enough to be transparent in its processes,” Tabuno told the Varsitarian Tabuno, a Legal Management junior, said that the University needs a council that will address the concerns of Thomasians and one that “will go be-

Who are the candidates for the CSC Executive Board?

yond organizing events,” which she believes is possible by amending the 2003 CSC Constitution.

“Ultimately, should I be granted the opportunity, we will have a council that shall remain focused and expeditious in revising the Central Student Council Constitution in line with achieving its legitimacy,” Tabuno said.

The independent candidate saw the need to change the University’s system and traditions after CSC auditor Dale Morallano relinquished his post due to a “restrictive system” that made him unable to render his vision on policy-making and advocacy for student welfare.

“May nakikita po tayong problema [sa] kung paano nakikita ang Sentral na Konseho […] ano ang tingin ng administrasyon sa ating Sentral na Konseho,” Tabuno said. “It’s time na rin for our Central Student Council to truly abide by their mandate to be inclusive tablishment sembly within for whose universitya number dent sila scholars an persons others.”

VICE PRESIDENT

AIAH KARRYLLE JACINTO

ADVOCATING for a safer learning environment, a progressive council and effective student representation, Aiah Karrylle Jacinto, the public relations officer (PRO) of the College of Commerce and Business Administration Student Council, is gunning for the vice presidency in this year’s student polls.

Running unopposed, the former student coordinator to the vice president at the Student Organization Coordinating Council (SOCC) believes that her interpersonal skills as a student leader will significantly contribute to her leadership if elected.

“Throughout po my student leadership journey, I have learned the importance of, una, being able to connect [with] other people through active listening at pangalawa, the ability to empathize with others,” she told the Varsitarian

Through her “Tungkod Tomasino” platform, Jacinto pushes for proper representation and recognition of different sectoral groups in the University, which she believes can be achieved by forming independent commissions, one of the proposed amendments of the 2003 Central Student Council

(CSC) Constitution.

She plans to work with the CSC president to actualize the proposed constitutional revision and create a working environment to help execute her platform.

“Kahit po nasa president ‘yung legislative power [ng] konseho, maaari pa rin po akong makipagtulungan sa presidente upang maigi po kaming makapagplano sa mga gagawing hakbang,” she explained.

The incumbent CSC President Nathan Agustin released on March 5 the working file containing the proposed revisions to the charter.

Jacinto supports a constitutional convention instead of a constituent assembly where only the Central Board decides on the charter revision.

“Kung magco-constitutional convention po tayo ay maaari po akong directly makatulong po sa pag-rerebisa ng Constitution,” she said.

“Dahil dito po sa con-con na tinatawag po natin, pwede po tayong mag-delegate ng mga taong sa tingin natin mas makakatulong sa pagpapatibay ng mga provisions na ire-revise sa Constitution.”

SECRETARY

JOHN HAROLD PERALTA

FACULTY of Medicine and Surgery freshman John Harold Peralta will set his sights on improving the University’s activity management system, prioritizing the needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and amending the Constitution if elected secretary.

Running as an independent candidate, Peralta, the incumbent CSC executive coordinator, said that the charter change would help future executive boards push for “genuine student representation” and make the code more “holistic and inclusive” to the Thomasian community.

“Unang-una sa lahat ng aking mga priorities ay ang Constitution revision dahil dito mabibigyan o maha-highlight ang policy-making mandate ng sentral na konseho,” he told the Varsitarian

Peralta also promises to streamline processes in filing applications on the Electronic Reservation of Scheduled Events and Reservation of

Venue (e-ReSERVe), the official activity management system for scheduling events in the University, to hasten document processing and improve dialogue with University offices.

“Makikipag-coordinate [ang] mga local student councils at Central Student Council sa mga administrators at offices para nang sa gayon ay hindi na ma-delay ang mga projects natin,” he said.

Peralta also seeks to build partnerships with organizations providing assistance to PWDs.

“Pagtutuunan natin ng pansin ang braille para sa mga persons with visual impairment, ang wheelchair mount at mga ramps para sa mga persons with physical disability,” he added.

Peralta has been unopposed since Peter Estalilla, the interim president of the College of Education Student Council, withdrew from the race on March 6. ALLYSSA

MAE C. CRUZ

INCUMBENT CSC executive coordinator to the treasurer

Rafael Luis Pesueña is pushing to strengthen Thomasian connections and establish mentors from top professionals in different fields in his quest to be the next CSC treasurer.

“Thomasian Case Week,” he said, aims to build “avenues to connect with top professionals” that encourage “applications and learning, and mentoring sessions, as well as establishing connections” that will contribute to the Thomasian identity.

Currently, the UST Counseling and Career Center consistently conducts career fairs and partners with different organizations to prepare Thomasians as they enter the workforce.

Pesueña also proposes a unified financial manual entitled “ReAlign: Treasurer’s Manual” that will make the financial dealings of the CSC and local bodies with the Office of the Vice Rector for Finance more efficient.

“Nakita ko na mahirap intindihin ‘yung mga finance process na meron tayo especially if galing ka sa labas […] ‘Yun ‘yung nakita ko talaga na dapat bilang isang treasurer [ay] matugunan natin,” Pesueña said in an interview with the Varsitarian The SOCC and Office for Student Affairs (OSA) internally organize a yearly financial seminar for treasurers and auditors from the CSC and local student councils.

If elected, the marketing management student wishes to reinforce the ties between the CSC and University administrators, stressing the need for proper communication.

“Bilang UST Central Student Council kasi, ikaw ‘yung bridge ng administrasyon sa Thomasian body and vice versa,” he said. KARIS M. TSANG