2 Botomasino The
Varsitarian APRIL 7, 2017
Editor's Note
To the next CSC officials: Stand up for Thomasians EVERY election season, almost all aspiring Central Student Council officers (CSC) never forget to mention the need to cure apathy among Thomasians as part of their campaign promises. Apathy of UST students to national issues, let alone University issues, is indeed alarming. But did they investigate the reasons behind this pathetic situation? Asked about what the students wanted to know about the candidates for the CSC Executive Board, one Twitter user posted, “Paano mo maipaglalaban ang karapatan ng mga Tomasino kung ang mga simpleng hinaing namin sa mga pasilidad ay `di marinig?” The next leaders of the council should remember that the moment they are sworn in to their positions, they hold the responsibility to uplift the rights and protect the welfare of UST students. That way, they are helping crush the apathy that has afflicted the Thomasian community for years. They cannot be mere “event organizers,” as critics often allege. We challenge the next officials of the CSC Executive Board to let their actions fulfill their promises. The council should be our go-to organization every time there is a problem in our college or faculty involving student welfare. Stand up for the truth, and promote advocacies that truly matter. Do not be silent on the issues surrounding not only our beloved UST, but our country as well. To aid in voter education and help Thomasians choose the most deserving candidates, the Varsitarian has again come up with Botomasino — a special supplement on the 2017 CSC Executive Board elections. The Varsitarian is hoping that with the help of the stories featured in this supplement, Thomasians will develop a critical mind and gain a better understanding of the importance of exercising their right to vote on April 18 to 21.
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Lakasdiwa, Lakas Tomasino Coalition clash anew in this year’s student polls TWO UNIVERSITY-WIDE political parties will clash head-on anew in this year’s Central Student Council (CSC) Executive Board elections on April 18 to 21. Lakas Tomasino Coalition (LTC) has dominated the CSC elections for the past 10 years, nabbing majority of council positions away from competitors Lakas ng Diwang Tomasino (Lakasdiwa) and Alyansa ng Kristyanong Lakas (Aklas). But Aklas’ accreditation was cancelled by the UST Central Commission on Elections in 2015 after it failed to field candidates for two consecutive elections. This narrowed the field to LTC and Lakasdiwa. Since 2008, LTC has secured 29 positions in the CSC’s six-man
Executive Board. It was the dominant party except during election years 2010, 2011 and 2015. Last year, LTC won five of six seats in the council. Glyden Aguilar, who won as an independent candidate for treasurer, prevented LTC’s full sweep. “I think [our constant win] would be because of what the Thomasians saw in our candidates,” LTC Chairwoman Tanya Vasquez told the Varsitarian. “LTC is always just an avenue to give the students the power to choose, and the chance to make a positive, efficient and lawful change.” Lakasdiwa believes its appeal to Thomasian voters lies on the party’s principles of authentic humanism and nationalism. “We have these principles [that] we instill with our members so we try to bring these principles wherever we’re [going to] work,” Lakasdiwa
Legal Affairs Officer Gino Monsod said in an interview. “Our candidates promote the welfare of each Thomasian by knowing and acting upon the characteristics of the human being and [what is] upright in society,” said Lakasdiwa Chairwoman Richie Abache. Abache claimed Lakasdiwa candidates run not for the title but for the opportunity to serve Thomasians. “The council [is] just as one of the big opportunities to serve in the best way we can. [In] the student council, [there are] a lot of resources and access to many things that would be helpful in the service that they want to provide,” she said. More units, more chances Abache and Monsod said their candidates have higher chances of winning this year’s elections because of the establishment of three new local units of their political party at the College of Science, College of Tourism of Hospitality and Management, and the Junior High School. Lakasdiwa has 11 college-based affiliates, compared with LTC’s 16. UST has a total of 21 faculties and colleges, and three secondary school departments. “Establishing more local units will expand our reach, which means we are able to cater to more colleges and students,” Abache said. Vasquez also attributed
LTC’s victories to the motivation and support given by their affiliates and units. “It is through them that we were able to come up with leaders who have served the University in any way that they can,” she said. CSC Vice President Steven Grecia is the LTC standard bearer in this year’s elections, while Lakasdiwa failed to field a presidential candidate. ‘Not a competition’ Speaking on behalf of Lakasdiwa, Monsod said the elections were not a competition as there were other ways to become a student leader. “Hindi talaga namin iniisip kung sino `yong papatakbuhin ng other party,” he said. Abache also said their candidates’ platforms were not drafted based on the political party’s interests. “Isa ring importante is that we [do not] want them to have a platform that [they are] not going to be passionate about, so kung ano na lang talaga `yung hilig nila,” he said. Every year, platforms of CSC candidates mostly focus on the passage of the decadeold Student’s Code, the promotion of students’ rights and welfare in the UST, and the removal of apathy among Thomasians toward University and national issues. ROY ABRAHMN D.R. NARRA and THEODORE JASON PATRICK K. ORTIZ
What has the CSC accomplished so far? By THEODORE JASON PATRICK K. ORTIZ and KLIMIER NICOLE ADRIANO WITH only two months left in their term, the outgoing Central Student Council (CSC) Executive Board officers are looking to accomplish the remaining projects in their yearlong general plan of action (GPOA). So far the council has implemented 14 out of 22 projects listed in their GPOA. CSC President Janela Nartates blamed the new one-month moratorium on University events, which bars organizations from holding events during examination period, for delaying the implementation of their projects. “We’re trying our best na magkasabay-sabay [ang projects], na well-implemented at hindi magkakagulo,” Nartates told the Varsitarian. The GPOA reflects the CSC’s five-point, “T.I.G.E.R. Agenda,” which aims to promote “Thomasian identity, Inclusive society, Genuine concern, Empowered studentry and Responsible leadership.” Fulfilled promises? In February, Nartates held the State of the Council Address, where she addressed the student body on the accomplishments of the council and their plans before their term ends. Nartates drew flak on social media after saying that the CSC had forgiven the Marcos family—a pronouncement made after the council was hit for its inaction during the late dictator’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Nartates is set to lead the annual celebration of the Students’ Rights and Wellness (Straw Week) in April. Vice President Steven Grecia,
who is running unopposed for the presidency in this year’s elections, headed the “Humans of UST” exhibit last Nov. 7. It featured eight panels displayed at the Tan Yan Kee Lobby, highlighting the lives of students, professors and security and janitorial staff. Grecia is also the head of the four-part “#MillennialGoals,” a series of advocacy seminars. The first part was held in February, focusing on mental health, while the remaining lectures will focus on gender equality and feminism, hunger, and social media literacy. In line with her environmental awareness platform in last year’s campaign, CSC Secretary Nina Pasno proposed the “Paper Rebound Cabinets,” a sustainability campaign that promotes the use of recycled paper. But the project failed to materialize during the target month. “The papers are already in progress so `yung kailangan [na] lang gawin is to finish the design of the cabinets,” Pasno said. She also led “Tiger Oasis: Environmental Symposium,” an environmental conservation seminar last Nov. 14. Pasno continued the “Scraps at Libro Para sa Kinabukasan Mo,” an initiative by her predecessor Yvonne Erica Yap. It involved a book fair and seminar on proper waste disposal. A portion of the total sales from the fair went to the Sampaloc-UST Neighborhood Watch. Pasno, a physical therapy student, also held an advocacy project that championed the rights of persons with disabilities. Pasno, alongside Grecia, headed last August an excursion with UST partner communities in Bayambang,
Pangasinan. CSC Treasurer Glyden Aguilar is one project short from the three that she promised in her campaign. In “Money Matters,” held last Oct. 25, Aguilar taught Thomasians proper financial management and budgeting. “Diamonds,” an annual symposium of finance officers from local student councils and student organizations, was held last Aug. 22. Aguilar’s fun-run project “Plague Run” failed to materialize last January due to its similarities with “Kislap,” a nighttime fun run also organized by the CSC. CSC Auditor Romulo Terrado established “Veritas,” where the CSC published monthly financial reports on their Facebook page, for financial transparency. The Office for Student Affairs ordered “Veritas” to be an annual project of the CSC, Terrado bared. Terrado’s pending project “CSC Cares: First Aid Cabinets” aims to promote first-aid care in case of emergencies or calamities. Public Relations Officer Jherome Ramos led the first phase of “Kumusta Tomasino,” a series of talks on stress management for student leaders last Nov. 24. The second phase, which will be open for all Thomasians, is expected to take place in April. Ramos has also proposed a project that would offer alternative classes such as cooking classes, media classes, language classes and personality development. Ramos will also launch “Project Construct,” where the CSC will aid students in developing on-campus activities and projects. CSC accomplishments PAGE 7