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Q&A: Supreme Student Council (SSC) Candidates
Kenneth M. Osabal
President
2nd Year, BSBA Human Resource Development Management
I won’t take it personally but I accept criticisms kasi criticisms are the signs that we need to improve something for the betterment.
Almost two-thirds of your slate is from the College of Business Management and Accountancy. What do you think are the risks of having majority of officers from one college and how can you address this issue?
Well, yung risk naman is that iisipin nila that the council would decide parang BA na din. And would be parang iisipin nila mostly ang magdedesisyon ay from BA but it is not. Iisipin namin na we’re not in the postion from the colleges. We are running for the position and we are in the position to serve the students, of course. Hindi namin iisipin na “Ah from BA ka kaya ganito ka”. Maybe, kapag SSC na kami we would be anonymous pagdating sa college and we will decide kung ano yung mapagdesisyonan namin as a council that will be serving the students.
How would you handle miscommunication in other organizations?
One of my platforms is to improve the information dissemination system that the council has. We will elect information officers per block to ensure that the information is widely disseminated. Well, of course meron naman tayong per orgs kaso nga lang yun. Minsan lang magkita. Itong information officer per block would be per block nga diba. Kapag may pasok kayo at may kailangang information na ibigay maibibigay agad kasi talagang magkaklase kayo at masasabi agad. Unlike sa mga organizations kasi we have P.R.O , public relations officer, minsanan lang yun. Through social media, through posting sa bulletin boards pero hindi talaga siya nakaka-interact within the whole org.
What changes in the university do you think should be made and what are the things you would like to improve upon?
The changes. As the student council, we are to bridge the gap between the administrators and the students. Well, kung titingnan yung pinaka-basic na problem ng students sa university, that would be information between the administration and the students. Kasi ayon yung medyo imbalanced ngayon. The second one would be the low academic standing of students in the university. Well, one of platforms as SSC goes LIVE is that “E” for excellence. We will help the university to mold globally competitive students. We will create programs, learning sessions, and tutorials to help students to improve and to enhance their academic performance.
How would you deal with criticism?
Well, I would deal. I won’t take it personally but I accept criticisms kasi criticisms are the signs that we need to improve something for the betterment. Of course kasi kung walang criticisms how would you know that you need to improve something, how would you know na mali ang ginagawa mo. So, we need criticisms para mabuhay tayo at para matama din yung mga mali.
Tell us something you are not.
What am I going to tell you that I’m not? Well, I don’t know. I don’t do things that I’m not. I’m just true to myself and just being myself in all the things na ginagawa ko.
As someone who is going to serve his fellow Aquinians, how would you describe your people?
Well, I would describe my people as my leaders because if you are a good leader you have a good follower. If you are a good follower you have a good leader. So, I want to create and my platform again is ‘SSC goes Live’ that would be “L” for leadership. I want to create avenues of learning where students can develop and enhance their leadership potential because I do believe in leadership by example. I describe my followers as leaders also because they are not followers na susunod lang sayo. They are not sheep that kapag nag-bark yung dog they will leave. Parang leader na rin sila para sa akin kasi in the future kapag magtrabaho na in the real world yun nga you would be a leader yourself na din.
Jan Josep G. Go
Vice President
4th Year, BS Civil Engineering
What changes in the university do you think should be made and things you would like to improve upon?
Gusto kong bigyang pansin yung mga simpleng bagay lamang. Halimbawa, sa mga offices natin katulad ng registrar, cashier, accounting karamihan sa mga studyante ay napupuna ang pagiging mataray ng ilang staff. Kaya sa tingin ko dapat silang maglagay ng suggestion box para malaman nila kung ano pang kailangan nilang i-improve. Pagdating naman sa assessment may mga napansin akong bayaran na medyo kahina-hinala. Katulad na lamang ng test paper fee which is 150 pesos. Maaring makatarungan siya para sa regular students pero paano naman yung mga irregular students. Isa din na nairereklamo ng mga kapwa ko studyante sa CEAFA ay yung ID natin which is may bayad pero wala namang nagbago.
How would you handle miscommunication with other organizations?
Kailangan na sa tuwing nagkakaroon ng meeting o kahit anong event ang SSC dapat ay nandoon ang mga CBO’s. Mas mabuti kasing planning palang alam na nila para kung sakaling may hindi sila naintindihan maari nilang mailapit agad sa council.
How would you deal with criticism?
Magaling ka man or hindi ka magaling na officer may masasabi talaga ang mga tao. Nasa tao kasi yan. Okay lang naman sa akin na i-criticize ako basta’t may naniniwala sakin na tama ang ginagawa ko. Hindi ako masyado nagbabase sa criticism mas pinakikinggan ko yung good side ng mga pangyayari.
Tell us something you are not.
Hindi ako makapagtimping sumagot o rumason kung nasa tama ako. Kahit sabihin nating simpleng bagay lamang basta napupuna kong mali hindi ko mapigilang hindi magsalita.
As someone who is going to serve his/her fellow Aquinian, how would you describe your people?
Mahilig silang pumuna ng mga mali ng mga nasa taas. Hahanapan nila ng mali lahat ng bagay in every event, every program. Mas tinitignan nila yung kamalian which is yun yung sana tanggalin natin.
So how will you deal with that as a VP?
As a VP gusto ko maging way or medium nila ako. Kung may gusto silang sabihin at gustong iparating sa presidente bukas ako sa kanila at maari nila akong malapitan. Maasahan nila ako.
Nicole Laeze Reyes
Treasurer
3rd Year, BSBA major in Financial Management
What changes in the university do you think should be made and things you would like to improve upon?
Siguro yung when it comes to internet access because very limited lang yung 20 hours per sem. Kung ko-compute-in natin, aabot lang siya ng 14 minutes per day para i-spread out yung 20 hours sa buong semester. Magpo-propose siguro kami na per day mag-aallocate ng certain number of hours.
How would you deal with criticism?
Just ignore them as long as alam kong tama yung ginagawa ko. Wala akong ginagawang mali. Yun lang, just shake it off.
Tell us something you are not.
I am not talented.
As someone who is going to serve his/her fellow Aquinian, how would you describe your people?
Maaasahan dahil handa silang tumulong when someone needs help. In terms of friendships or acads, di naman sila yung selfish na parang sa kanila lang. Talagang tutulungan ka nilang matapos mo yung kailangan mong matapos.
Joshua Dominic B. Jalosjos
Auditor
3rd Year, BSBA major in Marketing Management
Usually, auditors say that they want transparency of accounts, they want the students to know what the council spending. How exactly will you go about providing this to the students?
As of now, I really didn’t think much about it, about the transparency but when you ask me about transparency if I’m about to do it. Maybe it’s best for me to do it in a way that I can post on a bulletin board inside the SSC for them to see. And maybe I can save the documents in my PC so if in case someone wants to find out what the SSC is spending on, I could show them the reports or the documents. As of now, that is the only idea I have for the transparency but maybe I could improve that with the help of my other colleagues.
What changes in the university do you think should be made and things you would like to improve upon?
One of the things I would like to change in the university mainly, is the guidance points system. Because as we know it, the guidance points system isn’t actually helping the students participate in the program but it is such a big liability for the students to go to a program, prioritizing the attendance rather than prioritizing the goal of the program itself. For me, as the running auditor, I consulted Kenneth about it, I told him that we should include in our platforms to act against the guidance points system. Because as we know it, the students are being ripped off. Yung teacher ayaw nilang palabasin yung estudyante pagka may program, yun guidance points naman sasabihin sa inyo dapat pumunta kayo dito. Ano na ang mararamdaman ng students diba? Burden talaga siya. Kasi kung iisipin mo, naniniwala kasi ako sa balance ng yin and yang. Sa madaling salita, balance of good and bad so kung ire-relate natin yun sa academics dapat balance of academics and fun pero ang nangyayari dito sa guidance point system nagiging balance daw siya ng academics and again, academics so hindi po siya maganda. So syempre dahil naisip kong kalabanin yung ganung klaseng sistema, nag-provide na din ako ng solution kay Kenneth. So, I told him why not elect officers in certain blocks, di ba? Pag kasi nag-elect tayo ng officers sa certain blocks, magkakaroon ng much wider control sa mga students. So, pagka meron na tayong mga officers sa mga blocks, pwedeng sila naman yung maglista ng mga ganyan kung pumunta ba sila sa ano tapos makipag-coordinate tayo sa mga teachers na pwedeng sabihin ng mga teachers na pag pupunta kayo sa program na to meron kayong quiz na ganyan or kahit points lang, di ba?
May nagsabi sakin, ‘bakit ganun ang na-provide mong answer? Eh parang ganun din, parang guidance din yun. Sabi ko naman sa kanya, hindi yun parang guidance kasi yung teacher na mismo ang nagsabi sayo na pagka pumunta ka dun, may points ka. Ibig sabihin, hindi ka napupunit kasi priority mo siya mapasa eh. Ibig sabihin, pag dinagdagan ka niya ng points, pabor pa yun sayo kasi pumunta ka lang. Unlike na hindi ka niya papapuntahin tapos dito naman sa guidance tini-threaten ka na babagsak ka pag di ka pumunta so magkaiba talaga siya. Para sa akin, that’s the first thing I want to act against, the guidance point system.
Second is the dissemination of information para sa akin ngayon medyo malabo pa. Kasi there are a lot of information here sa school na iba-iba lang ang nakakaalam lalo na yung sa pagdating sa mga damit-damit baga. Na-connect din namin yung sa pag-eelect ng officers.Kung may officers man na naka-elect sa mga kada-block, madali lang talaga ma-spread yung information. If in case na di naman ma-spread yung information sa isang block, meron tayong masisisi or meron magiging liable doon which is yung officers.
Third is I think masyadong biased in terms sa political beliefs natin. I believe that the school has no right to influence us over our political beliefs. That’s why every citizen in the Philippines has their own right to vote. Maka-Aquino, Maka-Duterte ka man o maka-ano ka man. Wala tayong paki kasi kanya-kanya tayo eh. Bakit ko nasabi na merong political control? Kasi katulad baga nung inilibing si Marcos, anong ginawa ng Aquinas Di ba sabi nila mag-wear kayo ng black tapos may guidance points pa? [Fact Check: The event was not mandatory and there were no guidance points given to attendees.] Paano yung ayaw mag-wear ng black? Ibig sabihin may nagkakalat nun. Sabihin na nating walang guidance points. Naka-black nga sila. Papano naman yung ayaw nilang kumampi doon, naka-uniform. Syempre magkakaroon din ng advantage yung naka-black kahit di naman sila with dun sa idea na ilibing si Marcos. Magba-black sila kasi civilian. So why not gawin nating yung mga gusto kay Marcos naka-yellow ngaya tapos yung ayaw kay Marcos naka-black para naman patas kasi ang nangyayari kasi di talaga patas yun. Marami akong kaibigan ba’t kayo naka-black? Akala ko ba ano kayo?’ Eh hindi eh, civilian kasi. Naiimpluwensiyahan talaga siya.
How would you deal with criticism?
Criticism, how would I act against criticism? I guess, normal siya eh. Para sakin mas mabuting ma-criticize ang student council para malaman namin or kung sino man ang nakaupo diyan, kung anong dapat naming i-act. Kasi kumbaga di ka naman tatakbo para sa sarili mo, tatakbo kasi gusto mong maging representative ng mga students sa Aquinas. So, ibig sabihin, pag may nagki-criticize sayo, ibig sabihin may mali pa, di ba? So, kasalanan mo yun. Tatakbo-takbo ka eh, di ba? Yung magki-criticize sayo, tanggapin mo. Ibigay mo sa kanila kung anong gusto nila. Pero syempre dapat alam mo rin kung tama o mali yung pino-provide nila. Siguro kung makakakita ka man ng someone saying something against you tapos di naman tama. Siguro syempre you should consult him or her naman sa personal para mapag-usapan yun pero kung sa tingin mo naman tama naman yung pagki-criticize sayo, ay tanggapin mo talaga at baguhin mo talaga para mas maging better yung performance mo.
Tell us something you are not.
Hindi ako madaling masilaw sa mga bagay na wala sa akin. Kung anong merong budget ako, yun lang talaga yung gagastusin ko kahit pa mapa-Hong yan. Takot akong gumawa ng hindi tama.
As someone who is going to serve his/her fellow Aquinian, how would you describe your people?
I would describe Aquinians as mga estudyante na malaki ang nakikita kong marami pa silang kayang gawin, potensyal but then hindi nila kayang ilabas kasi kulang pa ang napo-provide sa kanila ng school na confidence. Ito yung isa sa tingin kong di napagtutuunan ng pansin ng mga teachers, yung confidence di nila kayang i-build sa students. Marami akong kilala na malaki yung potential nila pero hindi nila kayang ilabas sa school so parang nasasayangan ako kasi di kayang ipalabas yung potensyal nila ng mga teachers nila para pagdating sa trabaho ready na sila. So, I believe all Aquinians are very capable of anything. Nakikita ko naman pero I believe, di pa ito tuluyang nakakalabas kasi siguro wala din kasi tayong ‘malupet’ na relationship sa isa’t-isa dito sa school kaya siguro nagkaka-ilangan tapos siguro, sa mga programs siguro di sila interesado mag-attend-attend kaya siguro mga ‘shy’ type halos lahat. Nagpapakita lang ng potential sa mga pinaka-close sa kanila.
Marjorie Azurin
Internal P.R.O.
3rd Year, Bachelor of Secondary Education
What were the positions you have previously held in council and/or other organizations?
President, DOMNET (2014–2015, 2015–2016)
Secretary, CASE-SC
Secretary, DeMentors
Secretary, Co-curricular Organization of Teacher Ed
Secretary, STAGE
What changes in the university do you think should be made and things you would like to improve upon?
As I can observe, I can improve the student service. First, in terms of communication. Sometimes due to miscommunications, big issues arise. There should be good and right communication. I must assure that every communication that will be uploaded or announced are really the correct ones.
How would you handle miscommunication with other organizations?
Since every organization is composed of diverse people, we cannot manipulate someone to think in a certain way. We must gather every org, as much as possible all of the members of the organization, so that it will be clear to everyone especially if there is misinformation on my part. I will admit that I committed an error in giving that information. I will humbly admit it and afterwards, just say sorry. It does not follow that if you committed error there will be no more room for improvements. Rather, that error can be considered as a room for a harmonious relationship with each other.
How would you deal with criticism?
For me, if you know who you are and what you are doing is morally upright, you should not mind that criticism. Just let it go and let them say whatever they want as long as you know the truth and you know what you did is correct
Tell me something you are not.
I am not a person who keeps on promising because I believe that promises are meant to be broken. Whatever I have in mind, I just keep it to myself and I’m just going to do it. I think I am more on action than in words.
As someone who is going to serve his/her fellow Aquinian, how would you describe your people?
I see the Aquinians as diverse but unified. Unified, in a sense that everyone is given the chance to showcase their talent, intelligence and skills. They will be united as one to share with others whatever it is they have so that their fellow Aquinians may also acquire those knowledge and skills.
John Patrick R. Arteta
External P.R.O.
3rd Year, BSBA Marketing Management
What changes in the university do you think should be made and things you would like to improve upon?
As External PRO, one thing I’d like to improve upon is miscommunication. Magkakaroon kami ng officer per block, one representative or leader so that walang issues sa information dissemination. l think para sakin yun lang. Kung meron pa, tutulong na lang din ako sa President namin. Di naman siya lang ang gumawa, syempre tulong-tulong naman kami.
How would you deal with criticism?
I think di na lang patulan yung mga ganyan. Kasi pag pinatulan mo, mas lalong mang-iisyu yang mga yan.
Tell me something you are not.
Hindi ako masyadong fluent mag-English and then, di ako masyadong marunong gumawa ng proposals. Pero as plan sa slate namin, magkakaroon kami ng trainings about that kung paano gumawa ng proposals. Kung hindi marunong ang isa, syempre magkakaroon ng training so that ma-eenhance yung paggawa ng proposals. Yun, yun talaga ang kahinaan ko.
As someone who is going to serve his/her fellow Aquinian, how would you describe your people?
Masipag.
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