Saint Mary's University - Student Central Council Halalan 2015

REY MARK

CASTILLANO With his strong beliefs that leadership is within all of us and just needs to be shown, this BS Electronics and Communication Engineering fifth year student’s courage is undeniable. As seen in the fact that, he is running for the highest position in the SCC as an independent candidate.

TM: BAKIT SA SCC KA TUMAKBO AT HINDI SA SCHOOL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT NG SCHOOL MO? Castillano: They are offering me for the Governer position dun, sabi nila mas kailangan daw nila ako dun but I said, this is my last chance to join SCC. At tyaka ang gusto kong i-lead talaga is Student Empowerment, student involvement, kasi yun talaga ang nakikita kong wala. Kasi madami sa atin, sa Marian community na apathetic sila kasi wala silang kinalaman with regards sa planning at decision making.

TM: WHAT IS THE GAL OF THE SCC OFFICE FOR YOU? Castillano: To become the voice of the people. Andun sila to inspire the next leader of this university. Hindi dapat sila yung office na titignan lang as props lang, na nandoon lang sila because popular sila kaya nandoon sila, dapat nandoon sila para maging guide sa mga susunod na magiging leaders. Kasi pag nakikita nilang yung leaders ngayon is “Ay ganun lang siya, props lang siya d’un so props lang din ako” parang ganun so kailangan i-start mo sa’yo. Kailangang may magstart n’un and I think yung SCC dapat ‘yun.

TM: IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Castillano: I think hindi mo kailangang magsacrifice kasi naniniwala ako that, if you are a good leader, you would be able to balance everything in your life. Syempre siguro uunahin mo yung priority mo, bibigyan mo siya ng time at isusunod mo na yung important things.

“This is my last year in Saint Mary’s University and I want to leave a Legacy”

KARMELA AIAH

HERNANDEZ This self-proclaimed activist is one that doesn’t back down from a fight, especially when she knows she’s only fighting for what’s right. She is a nineteen year old Political Science student who almost gave up on her dream to be the SCC President. But fate gave her the opportunity and she grabbed it.

TM: WHY DO YOU THINK MARIANS NEED YOU? Hernandez: Kasi nga I am a fighter and I will fight for them. Let’s make it happen 2015, gamitin natin ang SCC para mapaganda ang SMU. Kailangan e, there’s a lot to improve. Maraming dapat ayusin, kaya dapat we have to lead them.

TM: WHAT CAN DO ABOUT THE NOTION THAT THE SCC IS THE PUPPET OF THE ADMINISTRATION? Hernandez: That’s why I ran, the separation of SCC sa administration. Dapat independent talaga. Isa ako sa mga taong nag cricriticize sa SCC ngayon, kasi wala silang magawa, puro nalang utos.

TM: WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE “TRAPO” OR TRADITIONAL POLITICIANS? Hernandez: I am against them. Puro naman sila salita. That’s why we are here, to change that.

Para wala nang mga trapo. Para may mga bago nang politicians, to instill change. Kasi sino pa bang gagawa n’un kun’di tayo din?

“Kahit man makaaway ko lahat, I don’t care as long as kung anong napagusapan, ‘yun ang masusunod.”

LORETO CADIENTE JR. Filled with eccentricity and the passion to serve, this 19 year old, BS Psychology and AB Guidance and Counseling major has dreamed to be the SCC president since his freshman year.

“I will be a student leader. I will be an ideal student leader,” he tells himself all the time.

TM: WHAT PUSHED YOUR PARTY TO COME UP WITH YOUR PLATFORMS? Cadiente: Student empowerment. Also, the SCC doesn’t organize their own activity except the ones mandated in the calendar of activities. Another is to empower student leaders to organize their own activities and to apply what we learn to the community.

TM: HOW IS YOUR COURSE AND POSITION CONNECTED? Cadiente: Both of my degrees deal with people. Leadership is dealing with people. I can help myself and co-leaders to have the personality to deal with people.

TM: IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONLY ONE FROM ACADEMICS OR LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Cadiente: Academics. The primary purpose is to educate myself. Leadership is secondary. I don’t need to choose from the two. I can choose both.

“It’s a matter of initiative and not about the position.”

MERVIN

GO

Filled with an overwhelming passion to lead, this BS Political Science sophomore has plans on leading the whole Marian community by simply empowering them.

TM: HOW WILL YOU IMPROVE THE TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE STUDENTS? Go: Firstly, dapat maging mas student friendly yung mga offices. Secondly, if magpapatayo ng building ang SMU, siguro mas maganda kung mas transparent, instead na wall siguro magkaroon ng big windows, so literal na transparent na siya. And there should always be evaluation; I believe kasi na kapag may evaluation malalaman ng admin and students ang results and there will be transparency TM: HOW IS YOUR COURSE AND THE POSITION YOU ARE RUNNING RELATED? Go: Siguro naisip ninyo very in line kami sa politics ganyan pero hindi. We’re not really very confined with politics itself it is actually more about studying the whole state.

Kaya ko siguro tinakbo ‘yung Vice president kasi unang una, my President is coming from social science and I as well. If we combined both, we can intensify yung mga ideas naming para mas mapaganda pa ‘yung mga programs and activities.

TM: WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL POLITICIANS? Go: Traditional politicians, aside from they are veterans na nga, I think traditional politicians are lot better than new generation politicians. Why? Because noon hindi pa uso yung tinatawag natin na political prostitutes, wherein you cling to the political party which you think has the strong appeal so that you could win.

“Pumuputok sa loob ko yung kagustuhan kong maglingkod sa komyunidad ng Marian”

KENNETH

ANDAYA He describes himself as a talented young man full of initiative who is ready to talk whenever given the opportunity.

This SMU Dance Troupe Senior member had no initial plans to run again this year. But fate had other plans. At first, the Lakas Marian Party list asked him to be part of their team, but he declined. With such, the other political party, Marian Sandigan Party, asked for Andaya’s interest of running for office again. He firmly said no. But after much convincing, he finally gave in. One of the lines used to persuade him was, “Para lang mabuo ‘tong party na ‘to.”

It has been a requirement to meet, under the Rules and Guidelines on SCC Halalan that one party must complete the eight positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, PIO and two Business Managers, following that all schools in the University must be well-represented.

TM: BUO NA BA LOOB MO TUMAKBO NGAYON? Andaya: Kailangan may maiwan na former SCC para alam na ‘yung mangyayari. ‘Yun kasi ‘yung mahirap last year, Lahat kami [na umupong SCC] bagong salpak.

Andaya shed some light on the ups and downs during their term and it wasn’t pretty.

“Lumubog [ang SCC] ngayong term namin,” he admitted.

TM: WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO CLEAN THE SCC’S IMAGE? Andaya: Maging dedicated ka dapat talaga and commited sa ginagawa mo. Kailangan consistent until the end.

TM: AMONG POWER, PRESTIGE AND FAME, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR A LEADER? Andaya: Prestige. I believe in prestige to lead, serve and inspire.

“You don’t need power para mahalin ka ng tao.”

JOVEN JOB PILASPILAS Thinking it would be a waste to not use his God given talents; this sophomore from the School of Education offers his candidacy to God. He believes that you would not want to offer God anything less than the best.

TM: WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO RUN AS SCC SECRETARY? Pilaspilas: I don’t think I have much experience on being a secretary actually but I also took it as a challenge because I want to explore more kung ano pa yung mga kaya ko pang gawin. I want to expand my knowledge in leadership especially sa organization.

TM: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM MARIAN STUDENTS ARE FACING NOW AND WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

CHLOE NEZIAH

MANDAC

She describes herself as a jolly person who easily gets homesick. This BS Psychology and AB Guidance and Counseling junior is the kind of person who likes to see the positive side of things. She accepted the position with the thought that she wanted to maximize her last year in SMU by offering her service.

TM: ANONG LAMANG MO SA KALABAN MO? Mandac: Dahil sa Fourth year na ako, mas aware ako sa kung anong meron sa administration. Mas alam ko rin kung paano gumalaw ang SCC. TM: WHAT CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF STUDENT EMPOWERMENT CAN YOU DO?

Pilaspilas: The [lack of] involvement outside the school, kasi what is the use of the things that we learned inside the school if we do not apply it outside. A part of our platform is yung application ng mga ito sa labas like hindi naka concentrate yung mga activitities dito sa loob ng school.

Mandac: I can apply what I learned from Psychology.

Motivation sa mga Marians. Hindi dahil ganun ang estudyante, ganun na siya. Kailangan lang ipa-realize sa estudyante kung sino siya at ano ang kaya niya.

TM: IN WHAT WAY IS YOUR COURSE AND POSITION CONNECTED?

TM: WHAT CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF STUDENT EMPOWERMENT CAN YOU DO?

Pilaspilas: I believe na kapag teachers diba sulat ng sulat, at hindi lang puro salita ng salita but also good listeners. So I believe sa pagiging secretary ko is very essential for me to listen very critically and also I should be responsible to see to it na correct yung mga details na sinusulat ko and also to be credible enough.

Mandac: I can apply what I learned from Psychology.

Motivation sa mga Marians. Hindi dahil ganun ang estudyante, ganun na siya. Kailangan lang ipa-realize sa estudyante kung sino siya at ano ang kaya niya.

“I think the best way to use my skills, talents and capabilities is to run as SCC secretary”

“Just be yourself, you won’t grow if you keep doing what everyone wants you to do”

ROMEO

ROMERO

The constraints of being a student in the School of Engineering and Architecture did not stop 19-year-old Romeo Romero, Architecture sophomore, to inspire and lead Marians in the following school year.

TM: HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS POSITION? Romero: Para sakin wala naman akong [makukuhang] benefit sa position na ‘to eh. Sa tingin ko ang magbe-benefit naman dito ay ‘yung mga [Marians], kasi hindi ko naman ‘to gagawin para sa sarili ko, para ‘to sa mga estudyante.”

TM: WHY DO MARIANS NEED YOU? Romero: Sa tingin ko, kailangan ako ng Marians kasi magaling akong mag-lead tapos madali akong pagkatiwalaan tsaka binibigay ko naman lahat ng kailangan at kung ano yung dapat.

TM: TELL US ABOUT YOUR PLATFORM Romero: Yung gusto ko lang naman na platform ko eh pagkatiwalaan ako ng mga [Marians], kasi ‘yung iba para hindi nila pinagkakatiwalaan [ang SCC], parang hanggang sa simula lang sila. As a treasurer, yung platform ko din is yung transparent and proficient finance stability para sa mga students.

“Hindi ko naman ‘to [running for SCC Treasurer] gagawin para sa sarili ko, para ‘to sa mga estudyante”

LOIMIEL UIE

BURGOS This BSBA Financial Management freshman didn’t let her age stop her from wanting to serve the Marian Community through her responsible and trustworthy character.

TM: WHAT IS YOUR FIRST PRIORITY, IF EVER YOU WIN? Burgos: To innovate the Marian community. Alam natin na innovation is change, I just want to make new things like student empowerment and dadagdagan and mas ipapakita ko sa kanila ‘yung mga rules.

TM: KUNG IKAW LANG ANG HINDI NANALO SA PARTY NIYO, ANONG GAGAWIN MO? Burgos: I’ll still continue it kasi gagawing organization ang Lakas Marian. I’ll stay and continue to support the platforms. I’ll [still] continue [with] my goals. Or I’ll go sa SBCC. TM: BAKIT KA TUMAKBO SA SCC AT HINDI SA SBCC? Burgos: For me I tried to, kasi marami nagsasabi na marami kailangang baguhin and meron mga feedbacks na naririning kami from the School of Business na medyo hindi pa maganda ang SCC ngayon. Nacurious ako doon and sumali ako. I want to prove sa lahat na mali yung sinsabi nila.

“Alam po natin na innovation is change, I just want to make new things like student empowerment.”

JOHNRICK

WALLIS

Described to be an optimistic person who hates getting mad and having people mad at him, this 20 year old senior BSECE student, ran for Auditor under the Lakas Marian Party with the desire to empower students.

TM: WHAT CAN BE YOUR GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE MARIAN COMMUNITY? Wallis: As a peer counselor, I listen to many students [and] their problems. I hear they need help with their studies especially [in] my school – School of Engineering and Architecture. One of the platforms that I included actually is the pagpapa-level up ng SSGP seminar classes. So ‘pag nanalo ako, talagang babantayan ko ‘yun at talagang aayusin ko ‘yun kasi talagang gusto kong matulungan ‘yung mga kapwa ko students in their academics.

TM: AS A MARIAN LEADER, HOW CAN YOU BE OF HELP IN NATION BUILDING? Wallis: As leaders, it’s already a cliché [but] it’s still our job to inspire. You can’t influence all students at once so basically I’ll start just with [who] I can influence. Because I know that there’s this chain of events that if you help someone, if you start something, it will still continue to affect everything around it and create a bigger chain.

TM: WHAT CAN YOU SAW ABOUT THE NOTION THAT THE SCC IS BEING CONTROLLED BY THE ADMIN? WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT? Wallis: We probably still cannot do anything about [being] independent from the Dean of Student Affairs and Services (DSAS), however, I think that is not the point here because even if you are not independent, the DSAS does not control everything about you. And you can even influence the DSAS. If we want to push something and the DSAS thinks that all students are towards it, little by little, we can create something na wala pa dito, bago pa dito. Things are changing, things are dynamic.

Probably, ‘yung pagtingin ng DSAS, baka mabago.

“I want to inspire others to do something to be better”

CARLO ZALUN Deemed ordinary outside, but extraordinary inside, this Marian Sandigan Party candidate and 18 year old Accountancy sophomore believes that the Marian community needs his helping hand as Auditor for the Student Central Council (SCC).

TM: WHAT IF YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE IN YOUR PARTY WHO DIDN’T WIN? Zalun: It’s okay, at least na-experience ko kung pa’no ‘yung makipaglaban sa ibang schools, parang naki-beauty pageant na ako. Top ten! [parang ganun]. Tapos hindi ko naman sila ibabash. Feel ko eh magiging matulungin din ako sa kanila (other party mates), at least nalaman nila kung ano ‘yung pinasukan ko tapos magtutulungan kami.

TM: PAANO KA NAIIBA DOON SA KALABAN MO? Zalun: Maliban sa ang trabaho ng accountant is pagau-audit, naiiba ako sa kanya kasi I think I’m fresh.

TM: WHAT CAN YOU SAW ABOUT THE NOTION THAT THE SCC IS A PUPPET OF THE ADMIN? WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT? Zalun: I heard is nung pumasok na sila (current SCC), may nakalapag na diyan na schedule of activities. I’m a follower, so inaasahan ko ‘yung Smashers party noon, na ‘yung advocacy nila na ganito ganyan [ay mangyari], nga nga ako kasi wala akong nakita. Tapos ang nasabi na lang nila, meron na ‘yung pinasa ng admin.

I think there’s one possible way para ‘di na maging puppet ulet yung SCC sa admin, which is dapat kaming mga SCC officers, ‘di na namin papayagan, though with respect, papayagan naman namin sila (admin), ‘yung mas konti lang na possibility, ‘yung mas marami ‘yung nasa students, ‘yung anong gusto ng students at hindi kung ano ang mas gusto ng admin. ‘Yung admin, hindi sila ‘yung magwo-work but ‘yung students ang magwo-work.

I think na kahit napaka-new yung position sakin, tatanggapin ko ‘yun [nang] buo.

JOHN DANIEL

MEDRANO With his friendly face and active personality, this BS Pharmacy freshman has been through thick and thin and is ready to use his experiences as stepping stones to success.

TM: AMONG POWER, PRESTIGE AND FAME, WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A LEADER? Medrano: Power, because power entails opportunities and influence and with that influence you can make change.

TM: WHAT IS YOUR FORMULA FOR CHANGE? Medrano: I could give change by giving the best of what I can bring to the table; which is my good service to the whole Marian community. And I hope that I can bring change to the Marian community.

TM: MAY NOTION ANG STUDENTS NA ANG SCC AY KANANG-KAMAY NG DSAS, NANINIWALA KA BA DOON? KUNG OO, PAPAANO MO ITO MABABAGO? Medrano: We had a seminar before about student welfare and na-tackle doon ang student rights and kung ano ‘yung space about sa SCC and administration. But with regards about renewing the mind set of Marians, siguro, we would try to prove it to them through the activities conducted kasi kung maganda ito hindi naman siguro maiinstill sa mindset na connected ito sa admin.

“Power entails opportunities and influence and with that influence you can make change.”

JODEL TAGUILING This Bachelor in Medical Laboratory Science freshman is the kind of person who wants to really know a person better before befriending them.

TM: ACADEMICS OR SCC POSITION? RATE FROM 1-10.

Taguiling: I’ll prioritize my academics. I’ll give my academics a 9 [out of 10] and my leadership a 7.

TM: BAKIT KA TUMAKBO SA SCC? Taguiling: I want to experience to help and lead students’ kasi ngayon, isa akong SCC representative. Nagustuhan ko ‘yung trabaho nila. And it’s my personal decision na rin.

TM: HOW WILL YOU HANDLE WORK ETHICS AND PERSONAL RELATION IF EVER YOU HAVE MISUNDERSTANDING WITH A SCC OFFICER? Taguiling: Kakausapin ko siya kaagad, kasi hindi magwowork kapag hindi kayo nagkakaintidihan.

“I want to experience to help and lead students”

STEPHEN

CASTRO This BS Infortmation Technology incoming third year student says he is a follower more than a leader and believes being a leader is a good follower.

TM: BAKIT KA KAILANGAN NG MARIANS? Castro: Kailangan ako ng Marians dahil kaya kong gawin ang aking tinatakbuhang posisyon. Hindi lang dito sa loob ng eskwelahan ngunit sa labas na rin para mainspire ang mga kabataan na makatulong din sa iba. Kumbaga po is conservation of water po. Alam naman po natin na sa other parts of the world, like Kenya, hindi po sila masyadong nakakainom ng tubig kung minsan po twice a week lang silang nakakainom ng tubig which means na dapat po magrelease tayo ng awareness na kailangan ding magtipid ng tubig ang ating kapwa Marians.

TM: ANO ANG GAGAWIN MO BILANG SCC BUSINESS MANAGER? Castro: Sa pagiging posisyon ko as Business Manager, gagamitin ko po siyang as a stepping stone para po makapag inspire ng other po para po makatulong sa iba.

MARVELLOUS

GUILLERMO With his inclination with the performing arts, this BS Accountancy freshman is ready to be one of the next SCC Business Managers.

TM: WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO RUN IN SCC? Guillermo: [Who] motivated me to run was Kuya Joel Espino and Kuya Gerome Rogel. And it was my personal choice to run also kasi gusto kong iapply lahat ng mga natutunan ko from attending national and regional leadership camps.

TM: WHAT IS YOUR FIRST PRIORITY, IF EVER YOU WIN? Guillermo: I would inspire my fellow students by showing leadership to them by telling them to approach us para maempower sila.

TM: WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS THAT YOU MIGHT ENCOUNTER IF EVER YOU WIN AS A SCC OFFICER? Guillermo: Kung mananalo ako baka maiisip ng tao bakit ako nanalo eh ang bata-bata ko pa. Hindi naman ito hindrance dahil kaya ko ring mag-lead ng Marian community.

TM: ANO SA TINGIN MO ANG TRABAHO NG ISANG BUSINESS MANAGER? Castro: Magiging liason ako sa mga freshmens po tapos sa atin, gagawa ako ng system kaya po kahit na lang page sa Facebook para kahit magsend ang mga freshmen sa Facebook is mabasa po namin each and then magawan po namin ng paraan ang kanilang mga question.

“I am more than a follower than a leader because being a leader is a good follower”

“Hindi naman hindrance [ang pagkabata ko] dahil kaya ko ring mag-lead ng Marian community.”

LOVELYN JOY

CALLEJO She is known for her undeniable beauty and poise as proven by her titles as Miss Education 2015 and Miss SMU Campus Personality 2015 first runner-up.

This BSED Mathematics senior had to initial plans to join the SCC; she was surprised to find out later on that her name was in the list of one of the parties. But she grabbed the opportunity anyway and is ready to serve the Marian Community in case she wins.

TM: AMONG POWER, PRESTIGE AND FAME, WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR YOU AS A LEADER? Callejo: Power? Kasi kapag may power ako, magagampanan ko ‘yung role ko. Pakikinggan ako ng mga tao. Kung wala akong power, parang wala akong voice.

TM: IF ELECTED, WHAT WILL BE YOUR GREATEST CONTRIBUTION? Callejo: I will be a representation of the Marian voice. May mga gustong sabihin ang mga Marians pero hindi nila nasasabi. I would represent them na sasabihin ko d’un sa SCC para mapakinggan ‘yung hinaing [ng mga Marians.]

JOHN RUSTOM

VELASCO A junior from the School of Computing Sciences and Information Technology decided to give way to the other candidates for the honor of becoming Governor and ran for Student Central Council Business Manager instead.

With an OJT to do in the following semester and the SMU Artist’s Circle to perform in, this 18 year old of Marian Sandigan Party shares with us his views and reasons for running for the Business Manager office.

TM: WHAT FOR YOU IS THE GOAL OF THE SCC OFFICE? Velasco: Ang ma-maintain ang Catholicism of the school at maiwasan ang mga bad [influences]. Maging guide [ng Marians.]

TM: ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OR A LEADER? Velasco: Follower po, kasi po sa grupo po namin, wala pong mataas, pantay-pantay po kami.

TM: IF YOU WIN, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE YOUR DUTIES IN THE SCC OFFICE? Velasco: Ang mapa-ganda ang organization. Kung ano ang ibigay sa akin na trabaho, ‘yun.

TM: ARE YOU READY TO BEAR THE POSSIBLE HATE YOU CAN GET IF YOU WIN? Callejo: Hindi naman natin maiiwasan kung may mga bashers. Basta akin lang, binoto ako ng mga tao and gagawin ko part ko.

“Kapag natapos ko pag-aaral ko, pwede parin akong mag-lead”

“Sa grupo po namin, walang mataas, pantay-pantay kami”

the

MariaN the official student publication of saint mary’s university