Aspiring UST Central Student Council (CSC) for this year’s university-wide elections candidates filed their certificates of candidacy today, March 27, 2019 at the UST -Tan Yan Kee Student Center, where no vice presidential candidate filed for candidacy.
Among the aspiring candidates is the incumbent CSC secretary Robert Dominic Gonzales from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery running independently for president.
In an exclusive interview with TomasinoWeb, Gonzales said that he is running again for CSC or him to continue what they have already started in their service in CSC.
“Kaya ako tumatakbo ulit bilang parte ng Central Student Council kasi, for me, gusto kong ituloy kung ano man yung mga nasimulan naming noong naglilingkod kami sa CSC. Actually with or without position kaya mong maglingkod eh. Pero yung alam mong nakikita mong nakaupo ka dun, first-hand, kung paano gumalaw, pa’no mag-representa ng mga estudyante, I think yun ang isa sa mga pinaka-noble acts being of service, without asking for anything in return. Kaya ako tumatakbo dito ngayon kasi dala-dala ko rin yung mga adbokasiya ko noon, noong tumakbo ako, at para rin maging boses ng mga Tomasino,” said Gonzales.
When asked about the the main problems and issues he will be addressing, he said that he will focus on giving more representation on the student body.
“Siguro for me kasi, ang nakikita kong problema ngayon nagkakaroon tayo ng siguro, kakulangan sa representasyon, sa pagiging boses sa social issues, sa mga pressing issues na kinakaharap ng mga estudyante natin. So isa yun sa mga pangunahing trabaho na gagawin natin,” he added.
“I am encouraging the student body to be very critical of the people who they will be voting for, not just in the student council elections but also in our national elections kasi nakasalalay sa kamay natin yung magiging kinabukasan, magiging future ng school ng bansa, ng bawat sarili natin,” said Gonzales.
Another independent candidate is Legal Management freshman Krizia Bricio running for the position of secretary.
In an exclusive interview with TomasinoWeb, Bricio said that she has been working for the team secretary for two years already and she is “already equipped with enough knowledge and skills to serve” as this years CSC secretary.
“Bibigyang-pansin ko po ‘pag ako’y nahalal na Secretary ng konseho ay ang mga study areas inside UST po and then strengthening the campaigns and advocacies inside the University para mas mapamulat natin ang mga Tomasino,” she added.
When asked about her plans on the passage of the long-delayed Students’ Code, “Sa ngayon po sa Students’ Code ipagpapatuloy po natin ito na ilatag sa ating central board and then sa mga offices para this year hopefully ay maipatupad na, maipasa na ang students’ code,” said Bricio.
Incomplete slate for the only two Political Parties
Meanwhile, Lakas ng Diwang Tomasino (LAKASDIWA) and Lakas Tomasino Coalition (LTC), the only two accredited political parties for this academic year, both have incomplete set of candidates for this year’s elections, with the former having only a a lone candidate for secretary.
LAKASDIWA’s only candidate for secretary is Chemistry freshman Karch Andrei Rafael from the College of Science.
“Being a first year student in the University, I’ve seen many spaces and areas that we can improve. And I know that I, together with the Thomasian community, we could work it out,” said Rafael in an exclusive interview with TomasinoWeb.
He also added that he wants to promote inclusivity and transparency of the council to all students.
When asked about the passage of the Students’ Code, he said that it must start from the “very bottom,” or from the local student councils.
“We could ask them to inform the students or orient the students about the student code about their rights and everything and it will go up until the University itself, until the whole University knows what are their rights,” he added.
On the other hand, LTC’s aspiring president Worship Acosta from the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics said that he believes that what Thomasians needs is someone who can give them service 24/7.
Furthermore, Acosta also said that he will give more focus on the opportunities that the students should get.
“Bibigyan po natin ng halaga ang mga dapat nakukuha ng students,” he added.
“Ipaglalaban po natin ang students’ rights. As a team we are here to really make the people have a choice, a chance to make a change in the University,” he added.
Meanwhile, LTC’s secretary candidate Nicholas Sia from College of Fine Arts and Design said that after working for CSC for the longest time, it is time for him to run for the CSC secretary.
When asked about his platforms, he said that he will not only focus on the welfare of the students but of other creations as well.
“In line with my advocacies towards life, tututukan natin not only welfare of the students but also the welfare of the other creations as well like the environment and the animals as well,” said Sia.
On the passage of the Students’ Code, Sia said that the executive board should prioritize it since it is really needed by the students.
“Kailangan na rin siyang tutukan kasi sa panahon na ang daming nagiging issue so we really have to like have a backup sa’ting mga students,” said Sia.
Moreover, Sia added: “Through that, I think, I believe na magagawa ko yung pagtulong din, yung mga platforms ko through community development especially through collaborative effort kasi naniniwala ako na CSC is not a one-man team.”
Meanwhile, LTC’s Auditor candidate Patricia Cruz said that after her three years of stay in the University since senior high school, she observed a lot of flaws and lacks in the Thomasians.
“I really want na yung pagiging leader ko, gusto kong ma-extend siya, maibahagi ko siya sa Thomasian community in a way na I can affect their lives for their betterment,” she added.
“Gusto ko talaga bigyang-pansin yung sa transparency. Gusto kong idisclose sa buong Thomasian community kung saan napupunta yung pera nila, na hindi siya biglang nawawala and gusto kong maipakita sa kanila na yung fund natin nagagamit siya ng tama,” said Cruz.
Moreover, LTC’s aspiring Treasurer Rafael Lipat said that what made him run is his will to serve the student body after being part of CSC for the past years.
“I want to step up my game again since I’ve been part of CSC for the past years. And I really want to go back to my roots na I want to serve the student body,” said Lipat.
In addition, he said that he will focus on the tuition fee increase being proposed by the admin every year.
“We will have a lobbying feature this year, hopefully sa CSC, na malo-lobby natin yung concerns natin when it comes to tuition fee increase; and I really want the next academic year to be a really transparent and financially able here for the CSC and the local student councils” he added.
Moreover, LTC’s PRO candidate Jeric Sun said that he decided to run for public relations officer since his capabilities and potentials should not stop in a local student council.
“As an outgoing executive board member of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences under the position of Chief-of-Staff, I believe that my people skills, if you may, is more than adequate,” said Sun.
In addition, Sun said that his biggest concern is oppression people face through harassment.
He added, “When people say, empowerment, it doesn’t stop at females, it doesn’t stop at the LGBTQ, it’s all of us, it’s each individual; and the true meaning of empowerment is not when you support one group, it’s when you support every individual going through something.”
Consequently, UST Central COMELEC is expected to release the official list of candidates on Friday, March 27, 2019 as stated in its Memorandum No. 4, Series of 2018-2019.
Furthermore, Tagisan 2019 or the Miting de Avance is scheduled on April 13, election period on April 23-27, and the proclamation of new set of CSC officers on April 27, 2019.
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