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| Photo by Jamila Alyssa Estanislao |
To give an in-depth look at this year’s 6 Executive Board candidates, the Electoral Board partnered with UST-CASA Chronicle to conduct a series of interviews as an alternative to the supposed Miting de Avance.
What drives you to run for the position you are aiming to fill?
What drives me to run in this position, una, gusto ko maging student leader that empowers CASAns. Aside from that, I want to promote inclusivity and a progressive change together with my other members in this partylist. Aside from that, as a Secretary, I want to continue working and giving an effective and a straight workflow in terms of papers and documents that the CASAns need.
Do you have past experiences that will help you in fulfilling the responsibilities of the position you are running for, and what can you offer to the CASAn Community if you were to serve them?
I have stated before in my credentials that I have worked as a student-leader for the past years, ever since Junior High School. I have been a class Secretary in both years of my Senior High School. I have been a class President from Grade 8, Grade 9, and Grade 10. Aside from that, in my other organizations during my high school years, I also work as a first battalion operations; to explain that operations, I am working hand-and-hand with the paper process of my organization. So, to explain that, I can say that I am very well equipped in this position as a Secretary because I’ve handled paperworks ever since then. Aside from that, what can I offer here in UST CASA, I can give my platforms to improve the inclusivity here in CASA which is the Kumpas, Bigkas. Aside from that, I have a platform that contributes to the academe or knowledge of CASAns which is the CASAngga Synthesis, that is in relation to research studies given and for CASA. Lastly I have a platform for all block secretaries that can help them guide what are the do’s and don'ts of being a block secretary and if ever they want to pursue being a secretary of an organization like what I am doing right now, then that platform can greatly help.
What one personal quality or trait do you possess that you think you can use in progressing with your position as secretary if elected?
I think the fact that I think I can work under pressure is a great quality when running for secretary because there are a lot of paperworks, there are a lot of responsibilities in being a secretary, and being able to work under pressure helps me to perform well and do better in this kind of job.
For or Against: What is your stance on SOGIE or the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Bill?
I am FOR SOGIE Bill. Una palang, ang tagal na nating pinaglalaban ‘yang bill na ‘yan. Sogie (is) often misconceptualized kasi by others, like akala nila, it’s just for same-sex Marriage. Hindi lang kasi siya bill for that, hindi siya bill para mag-dictate sayo tungkol sa religious beliefs o pagbabawalan ka sa mga pinaniniwalaan mo. It’s a call for equal rights, as far as I know. It’s for everyone kasi, kahit mga straight, included sa kung anong ino-offer ng SOGIE Bill because it’s to protect us from discrimination kasi. That’s the main goal of the bill. And aside from that, discrimination siya in a way na, for example, sa work or sa companies, they don’t give LGBT people the right to work. Aside from that, they deny LGBT people the right to other facilities or other equipment(s). Kaya when LGBTQ people are denied of those, this is why I am for SOGIE Bill na matagal na nating pinaglalaban because it penalizes those who deprive the community, not just the LGBTQ people, mostly them, pero included even those that are straight. So, sana, ipaglaban pa natin itong SOGIE Bill because this is for basic human rights.
Can you specify your platforms and how do you plan to put them into action?
Let’s move to my first platform first which is the CASAngga Synthesis. I will just explain this briefly and then discuss the implementation. So yung CASAngga Synthesis, to keep it short, isa siyang parang centralized website where alumnus and even the fourth year CASAns can provide us their own research studies so that other CASAns can use it as well. Syempre, hindi lang natin siya basta-basta kukunin, we need our research studies na peer-reviewed, meaning, nababasa rin natin siya sa other websites, kasi if hindi, hindi natin siya pwedeng kunin because of course may intellectual property rights pa din. Aside from that, CASAngga Synthesis also aims na maging aid to other CASAns such as kunwari mga third year, if they need research respondents, they can come to us using this platform and then we can help them research respondents. So, paano yun? Syempre, by the start of the academic year, bibigyan natin sila ng consent form in student directories para informed sila na in the future we may contact them in regards to answering the survey.
Next platform is yung Kumpas, Bigkas. This Kumpas, Bigkas is a personal advocacy of mine, and I want this to really happen. So yung Kumpas, Bigkas, it’s a webinar and a three-part workshop na hopefully mangyari sa month of October. This is a webinar for showing CASAns the importance of sign language. Kasi nga, as Communication students, we must learn to communicate not only to those who are able. Of course, since dahil nga it’s a month-long project, it’s a tedious paperwork to do, pero I hope that this project can be implemented slowly hanggang sa mga susunod pa na academic year because we want, or I aim na this project can lead us to having interpreters inside CASA for our external events such as SineReel, StreamCon, and others.
Lastly, my platform na Secretaryopedia. This is in collaboration actually with the Auditor and the EVP’s platforms. Here, parang ilalagay sa isang mini manual ang mga do’s and don'ts ng pagiging block secretary or organization secretary. Aside from that, nandito na lahat ng answers, frequently asked questions in regards to tasks related on a secretary such as enrollment concerns, student concerns, SWIS concerns, even grading system nandito na lahat—para may titignan na yung mga Secretary or even kahit hindi ka Secretary, if you’re just curious about things like these, mabibigay namin yung sagot agad-agad. That’s all.
How can your platforms bring about change department-wide and if applicable, university-wide as well?
Okay, for this one, I think my second platform “Kumpas, Bigkas” can really change the system here in CASA and then hopefully, maybe, baka ma-adapt din university-wide. Why? Because as I’ve said earlier, I aim na slowly ma-transition yung CASA na magkaroon ng interpreters kada event using sign language. And I hope na this platform introduces that kind of goal to our CASAn students.
What is the reason behind your preference to relate your advocacies or platforms to Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 10?
Of course, siyempre, yung SDG #4 is Quality Education; as students we want to amplify the quality education that we receive and we want to use our platforms, what we have, kung anong meron kami ngayon, kung bakit kami tumatakbo. We want that to amplify quality education. We want that to give platforms to students na parang makakapag-inspire sa kanila na “Okay, kailangan namin ‘to, kailangan naming umattend sa mga ganito, ganiyan. Kailangang mangyari itong system na ‘to. 'Because it wants us, na sana alam nilang, it gives them the quality education that they need. And of course 'yung second, na yung SGD #10, na as I’ve said kanina na personal advocacy, I want inclusivity to be more evident here in CASA. Not just for those that is in special needs. I know that I focus in the sign language, however, inclusivity is a big word and I want that to, yung lahat ng meaning n'on. May it be inclusive in special needs, may it be inclusive in gender and sexual orientation; I want that to be very transparent here in UST CASA.
How are you dealing with your recognized weaknesses? Do you think you have a certain weakness that you can capitalize on or use to manage the executive board secretary position and how do you think it is important to your role?
Right now, if there are weaknesses in terms of not being able to handle such a huge load of paper works, I think with the help of the other candidates or the future EB if ever, of course that will help me amplify or that will help me motivate myself more in doing the said load in paper works. And of course I am always open for criticisms, may it be from myself, from the other EB, or of course the whole student body. Of course using those criticisms, that will help me improve more in what I do. It will help me improve my job and it will help me improve as a future EB or as a student leader myself.
How do you plan on strengthening the alumni relations and research committee of CASA?
Okay for this, I think my first platform best fits on this question yung “CASAngga Synthesis” kasi with this, it aims to improve the relations with the alumni by getting their research studies with their permission. Kasi of course with that, they could get like bragging rights or they could get a boost of confidence kasi kinukuha ko yung research nila para magamit ng ibang CASAns. So hindi lang pang isang beses yung research nila after ng thesis defense nila okay na tapos na. Ngayon, with my platform, pwede na siyang magamit ng ibang CASAn’s for their future academic papers or their references for their future thesis studies. And aside from that, ayun nga, ka-assist ko kasi dito sa platform na ‘to yung research committee, so aside from strengthening the relations with the alumni, this could help build rapport in the research committee and within the CASA community.
You’ve made mention or it was depicted that the position you’re running for is often ‘overlooked, downplayed, or stereotyped.’ In line with that, I’d like to know why you think the position of secretary is deemed still important in today’s university political scene.
Because the secretary is considered the backbone of CASA or in any organizations in general. Kasi kung walang secretary, sinong a-asikaso ng mga papeles? Kung walang secretary, sinong magpapadala ng events, sinong maga-ayos ng mga constitutions, sinong maga-ayos ng mga papel sa kahit saang field pa yan, may it be for interclass competitions, may it be for events, or simply just papers related to the organization. So yung being a secretary that’s a very important role. Honestly lahat naman ng role may kaniya kaniyang importance yan but as I’ve mentioned nga kanina, being a secretary is often overlooked kasi iniisip ng iba, “Ah secretary, tiga-pirma lang yan, Ah secretary tiga-prganize lang ng mga papeles.” but no it’s more than that. And that’s what I want to promote in my third platform as well.
Why should you not win and be elected in your respective position?
Alright so, this question probably is because they might see weaknesses in me yet. They might see that I’m not capable enough of it yet. But I’m really hoping that through my platforms and credentials given during the campaign period, I hope that they could change their minds and vote for me as their next secretary. But honestly, I still acknowledge and respect the democratic process in voting. Like, if they don't want to vote for me, that’s their decision, that’s their right in voting. But still, I am hoping that with my hard work, with my integrity, with all that I have laid out, I hope they could still choose and give me a chance to serve them as their next secretary.
Further Details of CASA Halalan ‘23
In line with the ongoing Electoral activities, here are the remaining important dates to remember:
April 12-18, 29, 2023 - Campaign Period
May 3 and 4, 2023 (10 A.M. to 6 P.M.) - CASA Elections ‘23 Proper
May 6, 2023 - Announcement of Duly Elected Executive Board for A.Y. 2023-2024
To be in the loop for further updates and announcements regarding the CASA Halalan ‘23, kindly visit the official Facebook and Twitter Pages of the UST-CASA Electoral Board.
