FOCUSING on the core of “Thomasian leadership,” Lakas ng Diwa Tomasino (Lakasdiwa) bet John Louis Tingzon believes his experience as the College of Architecture Student Council’s vice president has prepared him well for the bigger task ahead.
Tingzon, a fourth-year Architecture student, is running for Central Student Council (CSC) vice president. For him, his experiences in his local student council will be his advantage.
“Since dati na akong vice president from local [student council], ginawa [ko] tinaas ko ‘yung sarili ko [to] Central Student Council. Dinala ko lang ‘yung principle ko, same pa din,” Tingzon said. “Naging bigger picture lang siya, naging mas malaki ‘yung gusto kong hawakan and ‘yung service naman ‘yun talaga ‘yung nasa puso ko.”
Tingzon said he was looking forward to expanding CSC’s internal and external affairs, deviating from the stereotypical notion of being a proxy for the president.
“[Ang vice president] siya ‘yung magiging external affairs for the CSC and nagiging coordinator ng mga committees. Syempre hindi naman tumatakbo ‘yung CSC na kami-kami lang. May committees kami na tumutulong sa‘min para gumana ‘yung isang student council,” he said. “Dahil ako ‘yung magiging coordinator, i-inform ko sila kung ano yung nangyayari, kung ano yung dapat gawin at kung ano pa ‘yung pwedeng ma-improve sa mga gagawin namin.”
Tingzon said a vice president should always be ready to take over in case the elected president vacates the position.
Keeping Thomasians on track
Like Lakasdiwa standard bearer Rosvielentine Rosales, Tingzon wishes to inform the Thomasian community about the changing educational landscape brought about by K to 12 and Association of Southeast Asian Nations integration by conducting seminars, forums and information campaign strategies.
“Siguro mas magandang gawin natin na i-inform natin kung ano ba talaga ang mangyayari sa pagbabago ng academic calendar tapos lalo natin silang ipu-push na ito ang mga pagbabago, ito ‘yung mga mangyayari,” he said.
According to Tingzon, he is satisfied with the performance of the present CSC because they are visible and active in student involvement. He said he wanted to improve the quality of annual university-wide events like Welcome Walk and Paskuhan.
Tingzon also vowed to serve the Thomasian community even if he loses in this year’s campus polls by volunteering to be a committee head in the CSC or in his local student council.
“Ako naman, kaya ako [tumakbo] kasi gusto ko talagang mag-serve. Kung ano mang mangyari sa resulta ng eleksyon, tatanggapin ko,” Tingzon said. “Handa pa rin akong tumulong sa Central Student Council. Handa pa rin akong tumulong sa local student council kasi ito na ‘yung passion ko. Mag-serve sa student body.” Jerome P. Villanueva
