NEWS| Two New UWOs Set to Take Campus Action in A.Y '22-'23

Two New UWOs Set to Take Campus Action in A.Y '22-'23

Roxan D. Resuello

PHINMA-University of Pangasinan's Supreme Student Council (PHINMA-UPANGSSC) launches two new University-Wide Organizations (UWOs) under its wings on January 10, 2022, and January 12, 2022, respectively.

Anchored within Resolutions 2021-03 and 2021-02, signed on July 2021, the University of Pangasinan Sexuality and Gender Alliance (UPSAGA) and University of Pangasinan Multimedia Arts Organization (UPMAO), with their own sets of goals and plans, are set to take action on the upcoming Academic Year 2022-2023.

ONSITE CLASS - First Year MedTech students sit one-meter away from their fellow classmates to follow safety protocols.

Photo by Denisse Brillante

Come As You Are: Sulong Vaklash!

Aiming to create an inclusively nurturing and accepting space for the LGBTQIA+ community on campus, UPSAGA plans to bolster the students' general understanding of the community by breaking misconceptions through seminars/webinars and publishing infographics and videos. All of which will be accessible to all students through the organization's official page. Discrimination is sought to decrease through these steps as misconceptions in the spectrum will substantially be terminated.

More than a space for awareness, UPSAGA, will also be an avenue for the community to embody and express who they are by showcasing their creative, passionate, and innovative nature through their talents and skills.

In an interview with Rodolfo De Vera Jr., author of Resolution 2021-03, the purpose of the newly-formed organization is "to reduce discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, promoting their well-being not just as students but also who they are, and fostering a safe and affirming school environments."

When asked whether heterosexual and questioning allies are also welcome to be a member of the org, De Vera Jr. reiterated that everyone within the spectrum is welcome. "Yes, they are allowed to join since heterosexuals and questioning are still a part of the gender spectrum. This is one of the goals of the organization, to educate about their SOGIE, and should share the spirit of inclusivity and acceptance no matter who you are."

The organization considers opening the screenings to call for more tertiary students as Senior High School students take the most number out of the 17 registration entries they received.

A Multimedia Powerhouse

Established to strengthen the students' multimedia skills, promote fact-checking, and disrupt the cycle of misinformation, UPMAO is to function by taking into account the matters that involve multimedia advertisement and information dissemination made by other organizations on the campus.

The organization calls to house tertiary students with exemplary skills in multimedia arts. As per the Resolution 2021-02, its establishment "aims to have an organization that will enhance the student's capabilities and talents in . . . fields of multimedia arts."

In a joint interview with the resolution's Author, Marivelle Manuel, and Co-Author, Daenica Lorraine Sebastian, they state that the programs relating to the enhancement and development of student's multimedia skills will be decided by the governing bodies of the org itself. ". . .This is an internal program which the Chief Multimedia Officer and his/her officers will work upon. The freedom and authority to create specific programs and styles of developing their capabilities are given to the future officers of the organization as they sail along the journey on this sea of ever-changing environment and set up."

Furthermore, UPMAO will be the "main university multimedia conglomerate at the tertiary level." With this, the org may be seen extending a hand to other organizations in aspects relating to the field of multimedia arts.

In terms of its fact-checking duties, the organization will collaborate with the University's only Student Publication, The Students' Herald. The authors note "cooperation and awareness" as keys to making the work run successfully. According to Manuel and Sebastian, the importance of a fact-checking organization on the campus is rooted in our country's general media situation. "Socially and generally speaking, as the Philippines were recognized as one of the top country of internet user, the news that comes out of this outlet should be of great concern."

"We have witnessed several misinformation and fake news inside our campus itself. Without an organization that independently looks after the facts published by various organizations inside the campus, exaggerations, misinformation, fake news etc. may be prevalent which may lead to the destruction of not just a student's image but an organization's credibility as a whole. It is important to realize this fact by now specially the usage of internet is a necessity for the current learning and organizational operations' set up." they added.

UPMAO is structured with 7-base core functioning jobs. Although the first assembly has already been held in February, the organization is yet to have an election. The authors say that positions will be decided either by an election in the upcoming A.Y or appointment by the next SSC admin.