Secretary
Francisco Mayuyu
ADVOCATING for the mental well-being of Thomasians, former UST Senior High School Student Council secretary Francisco Mayuyu is running unopposed for secretary in this year’s university-wide student polls.
Through his “RISE Mental Health Alliance” platform, Mayuyu vows to address the mental health concerns of the Thomasian community through legal and particular interventions.
“[Sisimulan] natin sa paggawa ng mental health committees kada local student councils and pagkakaroon ng regular wellness reports,” he said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
He plans on partnering with certified mental health first responders and the University’s Career Center Counseling (CCC).
“We’ll work hand-in-hand with the CCC and [directly] i-report natin siya if we really deem it necessary for legal actions,” he said. “Then we can coordinate further kung ano ‘yung actions na susunod na tatahakin natin.”
In addition to his mental health advocacy, Mayuyu wants to create an accessible University-wide events and activities calendar through his “POLARIS” platform.
“Ang layunin is mabigyang access lahat ng students natin sa calendar na ‘to upang sa gayon ay hindi na po sila mahirapan sa pagtingin ng mga iba’t ibang programa na gusto nilang tahakin or mga updates galing mismo sa Unibersidad,” he said.
He also vows to work hand-in-hand with the rest of the Executive Board to push for the approval of the UST Students’ Code.
“Isusulong pa rin natin ang pagpapa-approve ng Students’ Code na matagal nang isinusulong ng ilang termino ng student council dahil isa ito sa mga talagang magco-concretize sa rights ng students natin,” he said.
Treasurer
Benjamin Amper IV
STUDENT assistance and crisis resiliency are what accountancy junior Benjamin Amper IV is offering to the Thomasian community as he runs for treasurer in this year’s student polls.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Amper said that he would assist students and alumni in finding job opportunities as well as educate them about tax and job documents through his “TALA: Jumpstarting Dreams” platform.
“Marami akong na-obserba na mga Tomasinong naging self-employed kasi mahirap na [and] they are really struggling to make ends meet,” he said.
Amper plans to establish “ULAP: Crisis Resiliency Protocol” which aims to create an all-inclusive crisis management committee among local student councils to improve crisis resiliency.
“Meron na ang mga organizations ng crisis management pero sa local student councils hindi ganoon ang case,” he said.
He added that the platform will also help students to have a smooth transition should in-person classes push through next school year.
Amper’s third platform, “ARAW: All Aboard UST,” will assist student commuters in accessing student-friendly transportation by featuring new and existing routes as well as a fare guide.
He said that the project was born out of his own daily experiences as a commuter going to school.
If elected, Amper said that he will abolish the “bureaucracy and red-tape” in the financial department of the CSC through active transparency in implementing projects.
“Marami magagandang proyekto ang Central Student Council at nais ko ipagpatuloy yun katulad ng pagpapalaganap ng community development,” he said.
“Doon natin nakikita na may kakayahan ‘yung kapwa nating Pilipino na maging part ng nation-building at society-building,” he added.
Auditor
Dale Marollano
FORMER SHS SC president Dale Marollano vows to advocate for all sectors of the Thomasian community as he guns for the position of treasurer.
“[Ang] mga plataporma ko ay hindi lang nakasentro sa mga estudyante kundi sumesentro din ito sa mga iba’t ibang sektor sa ating Unibersidad kagaya ng faculty union, labor union, medical union, support staff, at marami pang iba,” he told the Varsitarian.
He has three platforms: “One Thomasian Agenda,” “UST Face-to-Face Code,” and “Centralized Council Website.”
Under the One Thomasian Agenda, Marollano aims to have roundtable discussions with various sectors of the University regarding the issues they face and how they can be addressed.
“Gusto ko [ng] mas matibay at mas malakas na student representation sa mga sectoral issue dito sa ating Unibersidad at matulungan natin at mabigyan natin sila ng suporta,” he said.
The UST Face-to-Face Code plans to increase student representation and pro-student policies regarding in-person classes.
Marollano’s third platform is to integrate a “centralized council website” that focuses on the transparency and accountability of, not only the CSC, but also the local student councils.
The website would serve as an online inventory that contains finance and audit reports as well as project tracker to be implemented by the different student councils.
Marollano also called on Thomasians to be critical in choosing their next leaders in both the student polls and the national elections.
“Kailangan nating maging kritikal sa mga kandidato lalo na kung ano yung mga sentimyento nila ngayong halalan pa lang dahil ‘yun din ang magiging sentimyento na rin nila kung nanalo sila,” he said.
PRO
Rhojen Sianda
RUNNING unopposed for public relations officer (PRO), music education major Rhojen Sianda is pushing for a better cultural understanding and appreciation of the creative arts among the student body.
“Culture and the arts have been close to my field of interest and my experiences enable me to perform and function well in spearheading this advocacy,” Sianda said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
His two platforms, “Alab Hiraya” and “Sulaat Dilaab,” aim to recognize and empower the cultural identity of the Thomasian community.
Alab Hiraya plans to set up a University-wide celebration of National Arts Month in February and will feature several art-adjacent events such as concerts, film productions, workshops and seminars.
Sulaat Dilaab, on the other hand, aims to spotlight the academic aspect of the arts through the exhibition of the creative research projects of Thomasians.
“I believe na yung mga research ng mga Thomasians ay hindi lamang hanggang pang-presentation lamang sa apat na sulok ng UST but [they are also] worthy na magkaroon ng publication,” Sianda said.
Sianda, who belongs to Mindanao’s Blaan tribe, said that the CSC will give him better opportunities to push for equal representation of different sectors.
“I believe running for a position in the Central Student Council could widen my aspect of help not only for the Thomasian musician, but also for the whole student body of the University,” he said.
“When you have the power to make a difference, the choice for you is clear and my decision is firm: to cater to student concerns and their welfare,” he added. Jade Veronique V. Yap, Judd Ericka Marie F. Crescini, Alexandra L. Mangasar and Faith Nicole S. Gelacio
