THE 360 DEGREES “KNOW YOUR HISTORY IN ORDER TO KNOW YOUR DESTINY.”
TOLENTINE STAR
VOL. LXXVIII NO. 5 March 04, 2020
SPECIAL EDITION
The Official Student Publication of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos
NEW BLOOD, NEW GAME
READY FOR CHANGE. (From left to right) TEAM CAUSA Party’s Anne Marielle Belandres and Charles Gabriel Gelotin and BUILDERS Party’s Andrei John Ea and Alexandrea Faith Castillo bare the real score in running for UNORSSGO’s executive posts. PHOTO by RAEVERLY ELENA RAMIREZ
Sophomore senators take lead in 2020 elections by ALYSSA MARIE ARCEÑO
Two for one. The electoral race commenced with two of the current UNO-R Supreme Student Government (UNORSSGO) senators vying for presidency in this year’s Universitywide Student Elections, Mar. 6. Andrei John Ea of the Body of United and Innovative Leaders for the Development of an Effective and Responsible Studentry (BUILDERS Party) will face fellow senator Charles Gabriel Gelotin, standard bearer of the Together Everyone Achieves More: Consolidated Action of United Students for Advancement (TEAM CAUSA) Party in the presidential match, together with their vice presidential running mates, Alexandrea Faith Castillo and Anne Marielle Belandres, respectively. NEW GEN LEADERSHIP With most of the outgoing UNORSSGO administration officers graduating, Ea and Gelotin vie for the chance of leading the student body without the guidance of their senior officers. As current senators, both presidential candidates prepared for their potential role as champion of student rights in the University by laying out their experiences as student leaders, especially as senators, in their own time. “During my term as senator, I was a project lead of two activities from UNORSSGO. I was in charge of the General Assembly 2019 with the theme ‘UNO-verse’. The second one was the Amazing Race during U-Week,” Gelotin shared. Ea also shared his experience during his term as senator, “In my experience as UNORSSGO senator, I was chairperson for the Mr. and Ms. Freshmen and Mr. and Ms. UNO-R which are very big projects every year.” The two outgoing senators’ leadership journey can be tracked way back in their integrated school days when both of them were very active student government officers, especially in their senior high school days as members of the Student Affairs Organization in the University’s Integrated School Department. Both Ea and Gelotin are also members and
officers of the Recollect Augustinian Youth and the Federation of Augustinian Recollect Student Leaders wherein they shared their leadership experiences during their assemblies and summits. Meanwhile, TEAM CAUSA Party’s vice presidential candidate and COED’s outgoing governor Belandres bared her leadership experience in high school as training ground for her candidacy. “Even though I was not part of the SSG itself, I was still involved in a lot of their activities. I had more opportunities in serving the people not just in my grade level but in my whole school,” she said of her experience as governor in her high school. BUILDERS Party veep bet and UNORSSGO outgoing house speaker Castillo also had her share of leading the student body. “During my senior high school days in the Humanities and Social Sciences Strand, my perspective in leadership widened. Because of that, I joined the junior council of the student affairs council,” she said. TO EACH HIS OWN Although coming from different backgrounds, their methods of leadership did not really set the bets apart from each other as they shared their qualities in assessing situations regarding student leadership. “I am an emotional person, so I always channel through my heart before I do something. When leading people, I always have a vision,” Civil Engineering student Ea said. He also added that one of his leadership styles is that he addresses each situation with sincerity, passion, and discipline. “I serve with genuineness like, for example, we do not get things done just because they are supposed to be done but, instead, you get things done because you want to inspire and encourage students and also serve your role as influencers, as leaders,” he added. Meanwhile, Gelotin does not fall far from Ea’s ideologies as he centers his leadership in purpose-finding and communicating efficiently toward his subordinates.
“My methodology is I want the action to be voluntary because I believe that all leaders running now signed up for this, knowing that a lot of things would be sacrificed; a lot of things would be considered. That is why, when the time comes when their commitments are tested and they could not function well, we do verbal communication because, as a Mass Communication student, it is very important to know both sides of the party,” he said. Moreover, Ea’s running mate, Castillo, shared that the key to good leadership is going all-ears to students’ suggestions and comments. “As a Psychology student, I am required to be a good listener. I also entered my program to mingle with other people listen to them
because I believe that, as a good leader, you also need to listen first,” she said. On the other hand, Gelotin’s veep, English major Belandres, branded her leadership as motivating and student-centered. “I want to give students motivation. I want to give life to them even if they are in their darkest times; that is my goal. When I become vice president, I want to pull students out of their comfort zone, give them motivation to unleash their full potential,” she said. PLANS AND PROPOSITIONS Gelotin plans to push three of his core projects if ever the presidency were to fall into his cards. “We have the CLAYGO policy and this dream of a plastic-free UNO-R. I will still adopt SOPHOMORE SENATORS... PAGE 4
Outgoing prexy, veep proud of student-centered admin by KRISHA MARIE SEMELLANO Strong passion begets action potential. UNO-R Supreme Student Government’s (UNORSSGO’s) outgoing President Levi Tulmo and Vice President Katherine Geanga considered their student-centered projects as their significant legacy that they could turn over to the incoming administration. “Empowering and nourishing students’ potentials to become equipped student leaders in their various fields regardless of who they are and whether they are academically excelling or not is what I consider a legacy to be carried on,” Tulmo said. Meanwhile, Geanga shared that she was able to fulfill projects that adhere to student empowerment – one of the platforms she pledged to the student body during her election campaign last year. FOR THE STUDENT BODY Tulmo recalled how their implemented projects and activities resonate with the needs and wants of the student body. He
shared that the UNORSSGO always puts up services per the demands of the students wherein they were able to cover both the academic and non-academic of their service. One of the services of the outgoing administration carried out and improved the previous administration’s such as letting students borrow sports materials and giving of free bluebooks, yellow pads, and coffee during exams. According to them, one of the additional in-demand services that they implemented this year was the borrowing of the scientific calculators and the renovation of the One Heart Garden, in collaboration with the Campus Organizations Federation, that became the new students’ common area. “Most of the services and events of the UNORSSGO have gained positive response and active participation from the students. This is the result of the collaborative efforts of the student body and the student leaders. OUTGOING PREXY... PAGE 4
TOLENTINE STAR
COMPILATION by CARLA JOANNE ROBLES PHOTOS by GODWIN ROBERT TAN
“
4
THE 360 DEGREES
RATE SSG 2019 FROM 1-10 AND EXPLAIN WHY ?
EDITORIAL
JEREMIAH SALDAÑA, BSECE I “I-rate ko guro mga eight out of 10. May nami sila actually nga service towards sa mga students.For example, sa mga calculator nga gina-provide nila [and] others like sa mga free bluebooks. Ang mga na-reduce ko lang guro nga points are tungod sa ano - sa BML (block master’s list). Kay sang BML [signing] daw ka-hard sila bala i-reach haw. Nakita ko bala nga daw may pagka-lazy man pero indi man guid na guro ma-summarize guid ang mga ginapanghimo nila. I mean, indi man guid ko familiar sa ila, so indi ko lang guid guro pag i-10 out of 10.”
APRILYN MEJICA, BSSW II
“Eight kay, bisan SA [Student Assistant] kami kag mostly wala kami ga-join sa mga programs kay siyempre ga-duty kami kag indi kami exempted, mafeel guid namon kay daw nami guid bala haw. Kay sa mga bluebooks pa lang kag sa mga kape, maka-avail kami; isa lang namon ka kadto. Ang mga tawo man didto approachable man pirme kag ang UNORSSGO bi wala gakawad-an tawo. Amo na nga, kung may mga pamangkot ka bala haw kag mga concerns, ma-reach mo man sila dayon. Tapos nakita ko man abi ang mga officers da bala haw daw ka-active man bala. Mostly, ga-duty guid sila ya kag amo na ngaa wala gakawad-an [tawo].”
BIANCA CABABAHAY, BSIT II
“My opinion on the UNORSSGO 2019 would be, from one to 10, I would have to say a six. I am going to say six because I think that they did a pretty good job keeping everything stabilized like the predecessors before them. They have done some good things for the different colleges. They managed to bring up different activities and all that. They have helped keep the college bonds strong but then, with the missing points, I would have to say those would be because there are some issues that the students have raised before that have not gotten answers or solutions until now. So, I would say that they are not lazy or anything; they really do take priority over some matters other than most but I also think they should also consider the matters raised by the students before. That is why I gave them a six out of 10.”
VINCENT BENEDICT ROSCO, BS CRIM IV “Rating ko from one to 10 is around seven. Seven tungod kay may ara man guid sila abi projects kag mga other activities nga maka-benefit sa students. Seven lang tungod may ara man sila mga [in]efficiencies kag mga lacking. Kung kis-a problematic which is indi nila madali-dali cope up. So, all in all, amo na siya akon rating sa ila kag amo na ngaa amo na akon rating sa ila.” FROM PAGE 1
SOPHOMORE SENATORS...
these projects even though these projects are not properly implemented because the projects do not call for environmental protection but more on the call for discipline,” he said. Gelotin added that discipline is a collaborative effort and that students cannot be demanded to properly segregate their trash if there are incomplete and unlabeled trash bins inside the campus. He also emphasized on animal protection wherein animals, especially cats inside the campus, will be taken care of with proper fostering and low-cost spay and neuter in cooperation with animal protection groups. “Another is in line with my college program. I believe that UNORSSGO is here to shorten the gap between the admin and the students. In every decision that the University does, the student body is well-represented by the SSG like with the tuition fee increase. Our role there is not to give solutions and answers; our role is to be the bridge of communication. The students have the right to know what is going on and to be clarified with certain issues,” he added. Ea also highlighted some of his planned projects starting with seasonal projects such as the anti-dengue campaign. He also takes the annual events, such as the Mr. and Ms. UNO-R, into consideration, “I will try to improve with better, more creative ideas. I will try to make students feel that they are wanted in each event. I always hear students that they felt the need to participate
just because of attendance. I want to make them feel that they are wanted and they can get something from the event.” But before amplifying the involvement of students in UNORSSGO’s activities, Ea said that he will start first with his officers, reminding them that the full trust of the student body lies on them. Furthermore, Belandres addressed her platform in line with her college program, “As an education student, I will be focusing in the educational aspect of the student such as having one day without classes for all the students to peer-teach each other.” Belandres proposes to have a no-class activity day for students to review their lessons together with their classmates or seniors, so that they can easily catch up with their lessons. On the other hand, Castillo sticks to improving and continuing the plans and projects of the outgoing administration. “What we can achieve is that we will continue the legacy and programs under the administration UNORSSGO President Levi Tulmo,” she said. Prior to the elections day, Ea and Gelotin, together with their veep bets, senatorial candidates, and gubernatorial candidates, are set to face each other in the Grand Political Rally and Rekoletalk 2020 wherein they will deliver their platforms and answer questions relevant to the UNO-Rian community and the society at the University Park, Mar. 4.
ARTWORK by CARL ANDRO VALLEJERA
It’s that time of the year again College classrooms are alive in the recent days as the 10-day campaign period for the 2020 University-wide Student Elections is about to reach its climax at the Grand Political Rally. Candidates in shades of yellow or blue go room to room to establish an avenue where they can deliver their platforms right at the laps of the students. Cheers and chants echo in the hallways while banners hung on steel frames dot the campus. However, electoral participation in the University had been on the decline for quite some time. In fact, voter turnout in the recent years had been extremely low that the event where more than fifty percent of registered voters not casting their ballots is no longer surprising. Voter apathy plagues many election seasons ever since. In fact, a Commission on Elections study revealed that there is a national voter turnout at 75.9 percent. This means that every four of all registered voters failed to claim or exercise their right to vote. But voting, in the context of student elections, is more of a right than a duty. There are no enforceable bills or memoranda requiring all students to participate in the yearly event. In the same spirit that the freedom to speak does not impair the freedom not to speak, abstaining from voting is not punishable. FROM PAGE 1 Outgoing
prexy ...
With this, I think I was able to become an effective president,” Tulmo shared. The outgoing prexy shared that he always upholds the initiative to always have activities involving the students. This led his administration to become student-centered which he thinks is a distinct achievement of his term as he was able to connect with the different offices and empowered a lot of student leaders at the University. “I believe anyone can be a leader as long as they commit to turn their passion into action,” Tulmo said. STUDENT SATISFACTION Moreover, Geanga mentioned that the criticisms of the students which they serve for and meeting the students’ needs are mostly the challenges that their administration encountered. Though she admitted that they did have lapses individually as student leaders and collectively as an organization, they were still able to hold onto their passion and mission. “We cannot please everyone but I am delighted that the feedbacks are not mostly negative but are positive,” Geanga said. Geanga shared that this year’s
However, elected student leaders are supposed to be representatives of the entire student body and not by just a few. So, when voter turnout does not even reach the quorum, the elected officials, though their eligibility is acknowledged, won without the majority on their side. On top of that, voting is an important democratic process that reminds the student leaders that authority lies in their hands. Moreover, our student leaders have long debunked the notion of being mere event organizers. Though production and event organizing might be one facet of being a UNO-Rian student leader, that is not all of it. These leaders represent the student body when talks on a proposed tuition fee increase arise. They give life to initiatives that embody the students’ advocacies. They allocate their budget, 150 pesos per student per semester, to fund certain projects. These things directly affect the student body. Student elections matter because the decisions they make can affect our University experience in general. Yes, not voting on election day, March 6, might not entail you any demerit. You might even suffer a greater consequence for not attending a required general assembly in your respective college than by failing to vote but do not count that as a reason to skip the indelible ink. Go out and vote. UNORSSGO was able to reach more participation and tapped more students through their events and sponsored activities. In their term, they continued most of the events that the UNORSSGO is annually hosting just like the Welcome Smash in June, Mr. and Ms. UNO-R during the University Week, Feb-ibig Film Festival every February, and many others. Aside from these, they put up new projects like the student’s common area which was originally a project of the administration two years ago, Mr. and Ms. Faculty, and a bigger set of UNO-R Entrusted Alliance of Leaders members which Geanga considered as some of their achievements. “I was able to perform as a liaison to the student government and student body by bridging both sides to create harmony and empowered relationship ties. With this, I think I achieved my goal as the UNORSSGO vice president,” Geanga said. According to her, UNORSSGO became an open door for students as they have accommodated their requests, needs, and everyday concerns.