RUNS UNOPPOSED STUDENT OFFICE

inclusive and policy-driven.”

Among the revisions she offers include the establishment of the Central Student Legislative Assembly (CSLA), a legislative and policy-making body within the CSC, and the Recognition Commission Student Groups and Organizations (RCSGO), whose sole purpose is to process the recognition of university- and college-wide organizations.

“There are groups in UST that may not be as big number or as capable of being recognized as a student organization, but this does not mean na hindi dapat represented or heard,” Tabuno said.

“We do already have representation for women scholars and athletes, [but] we still need to provide avenue for other sectors like working students, persons with disabilities, indigenous groups and others.”

When it comes to the return of face-to-face classes, Tabuno said that aside from supporting the Covid-19 health protocols implemented in UST, a policy allowing the CSC to recommend the leniency of deadlines or academic breaks should be added among the provisions in the charter.

“Should local student councils deem to push for on-site classes that is more fit sa timeline ng kanilang curriculum, the Central Student Council will fully support that na lang po and offer aid in whatever [way] we can,” she said.

Tabuno said that should she be granted the opportunity, the Council shall remain focused and expeditious in revising the Constitution: “We must go beyond the expectations na gumagawa lang po ito ng events. Ang mandato po ng council is to truly be policy-driven and to truly air your concerns, kailangan ‘yun po ang focus, ‘yun ang number one.”

JAMES ARRENKIEL CEÑIDO AUDITOR

JAMES Arrenkiel Ceñido of the College of Commerce and Business Administration aims to boost public accountability and capacitate local-level officers by creating a “unified strategic goal” as he runs unopposed for auditor.

“Syempre bilang isang auditor, hindi lang naman tayo sa pinansyal na aspeto. More of the compliance side rin tayo. Iche-check natin kung ‘yung mga target objectives natin ay nakakamit ba [sa] bawat lokal at maging [sa] sentral,” the business administration junior told the Varsitarian Ceñido, who is this year’s CSC deputy chief of staff, offers two platforms centered on upholding accountability:

“Amplify” and “Magnify.”

Through “Amplify,” Ceñido vows to “hear the Thomasian voice” and empower students by creating a semestral evaluation that will quantify the effectiveness of the CSC in implementing its policies and programs.

And through “Magnify,” he aims to implement unified strategic objectives by establishing manuals on general statutes for local student councils across the University.

Citing the platform of former CSC auditor Dale Marollano, Ceñido also plans to continue the outgoing administration’s efforts but is still keen on assessing its effectiveness.

Marollano resigned from his post on Feb. 24 due to the “restrictive system” that bars his vision for a “policy-driven student council.”

Given this, Ceñido plans to intensify the council’s communication with the University administration.

“It [boils] down to communication and good relationship with the admin. Of course, we would be representing the student body.

‘Yun ang gusto natin ma-establish: Maintindihan tayo,” he said. NYAH GENELLE C. DE LEON AND NIÑA ANGELICA M. RODRIGUEZ

FINE ARTS junior Maxine Javier advocates for effective information dissemination and a financial support system for competing organizations as she runs unopposed for PRO.

Javier, the incumbent executive associate to the PRO, has two primary platforms: a constitutional revision information campaign and a program to raise funds for e-sports and debaters organizations.

“If the students won’t come to me and they have concerns and issues they’d like to raise, then I’m willing to be the one to come [close] to them,” the advertising arts junior said in an interview with the Varsitarian

The campaign, Javier said, would disseminate the Google Docs working file of the proposed constitutional amendments.

“I’d like to make sure that the Thomasian community is well-informed about the old Constitution and the new working proposal so that we all know what we are fighting for,” she said.

“But I feel like if we were able to push through with this constitution revision, we will be able to open more doors or opportunities for us to really pursue our duties as the Central Student Council.”

Javier also eyes giving more monetary support to dance troops, debaters, e-sports athletes and other competing groups representing the University by connecting them to the UST Alumni Association.

“We have organizations that do competitions that don’t have [the] time to do [fundraising] events — they have to focus on their training. I’d like to help them get financial funding from the alumni so they can compete in competitions without the issue of looking for funds themselves,” she said.

Javier believes she can still be a student leader despite the alleged “restrictive system” in the University that Marollano cited as one of the reasons for stepping down.

“For me, my motivation to keep going with this restrictive system is to just keep fighting and continue their fight, even if it’s only small — but at least it’s progress,” she said.

Tomspeak

Do you feel the presence of the student government in this hybrid setup?

By Camille M. Marcelo and Eduardo G. Fajermo Jr.

As the hybrid setup was implemented, can honestly feel that there’s still a lack of presence felt by the student government. As a student body, it is still passive in managing state-wide events, activities, and programs, allowing it to evaluate and recognize feedback among students who undertake hybrid learning. In terms of everyday struggles, there’s still a missing mechanism in place in where students can be intensively assisted and guided in the process.

—Gia Karla Martin, Faculty of Arts and Letters

Yes. As a student leader of an organization, I had several interactions with the student government, some of which were attending webinars on leadership, receiving emails on certain memos and following up on papers for the project proposals. As a regular student, our local student government, the UST Organization of Medical Technology Interns, and UST Faculty of Pharmacy Student Council, help us relay our problems, especially in schedules of exams or classes, to our professors. This allowed us to have full face-to-face classes for our second-semester subjects, SEM and MTAP. It also helped our professors understand why most of us were having a hard time understanding certain topics.—

Sofia Alexandra S. Tasarra, Faculty of Pharmacy

Indeed, from service delivery, program implementations and monitoring, the current student government’s advocacies and action plans are effectively carried out. Although they have other commitments besides the council, they consistently respond to students’ general concerns. This I can say as I have witnessed the STRAW committee’s diligent involvement. Additionally, programs such as “AB Model Congress” and “STRAW Week: Through the Looking Glass” are essentially commended as they heighten the active participation of the student body in building the Artlets community we have today

Maxine Rhea Monte, Faculty of Arts and Letters

Yes, the student government serves as the bridge in representing the concerns of the student body in this time of hybrid setup. I appreciate their effort in organizing events and relaying the concerns of the students, especially given that the hybrid setup may be more difficult in terms of communication.—

Bernadette Ann C. Lim, Faculty of Pharmacy

In my experience as a Thomasian, I do feel that the student government is doing their jobs as student leaders, from successful events such as Agape and Paskuhan. Moreover, they provide us students with public announcements from the university, making it easier for us Thomasians to know what is currently happening or what will happen. Lastly, in times of the needs of students, they have constantly been amplifying our voices and progressively helping the students concerning their welfare and development.

Robert Ephraim C. Pabiling, Faculty of Engineering

I have never felt the student government’s presence since I entered UST three years ago. The Central Student Council (CSC) has yet to make any presence in the Thomasian community. I still don’t see the presence of the student council since UST implemented the hybrid setup. Now that we are slowly transitioning back to the typical face-to-face class, the student council must now do one of their jobs: to make us Thomasian students feel UST is our second home. Planning and carrying out school events related to building camaraderie and school spirit is one way to make us, Thomasian students feel at home whenever we are in UST.

Raven Divinagracia, College of Information and Computing Sciences

In this hybrid setup, I personally feel the student government’s presence. I can see that they devote a significant amount of their time and effort to ensure the welfare of the students. Since we’re transitioning back to face-toface setups, the student government makes an effort to help us adjust by relaying information about the school policies, do’s and don’t’s, and such. In my case, the announcements on their social media accounts aided me in staying up to date on the school’s events. However, since we have different social media algorithms and dissemination of information can be delayed sometimes, it can be difficult for some students to search for their posts constantly. Overall, I acknowledge their efforts to create a better community for Thomasians.

Karina Dyan Madayag, College of Science

Yes, I feel the presence [of student leaders in] this hybrid setup since they have a collective effort to conduct events online and onsite events like the traditional Agape and Paskuhan that would benefit the whole Thomasian community. Moreover, if there are situations that need to be addressed to the admin they immediately try to get some answers by sending some gforms to be answered by the students. In addition, this survey would help them gather data on what factors would need to be addressed and discussed with the admin. This collective data is one tool to use in order to identify the main problem and prioritize this problem.—Kyle Gericho Palomares, Faculty of

Engineering