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THEOBSERVERElection Special

The Official Tertiary Publication of Eastern Visayas State University - Ormoc City Campus February 2015

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THE OBSERVER Election Special 2Supreme Student Government is one of the highest institutions in the campus governed by the students. This upcoming

SSG Election, two parties are vying for the supremacy.In order to know them well and to help you choose the most deserving candidates, try to evaluate their goals and

platforms. Getting to know…

Genuine Reliable Officers United for the Improvement of EVSU (GROUFIE) is a student party that aims to create a NATION inside the campus and promote good environment through series of proposed projects. GROUFIE does not go for immediate change because as they say, change can only be realized through a step by step improvement. They generally focus always on the welfare of the students and fostering harmonious relationship within the campus.

What are your proposed plans for EVSU?Since we are really for the students, all our plans should benefit them. Our projects are

in line with the goals of the party and that is to create a nation inside the campus and to promote a good environment. Projects under “Creating a Nation” are infotainment seminars. This will be beneficial as it will truly enhance the knowledge of our students in a fun way. We also have leadership trainings. SSG hotline and suggestion box for each departments for easy access of students’ concerns and complains. Consultative meeting, twice every semester-this will be a perfect venue for open communication and suggestions. This consultative meeting is for evaluation and assessment.

Projects for the “Good Environment” are divided into two: the “social environment” and “natural environment”. Social environment includes Sports development, Person to Person Response (PPR), anecdotal record for teachers- the purpose of this is to have a student-teacher relationship, and transparency with the funding. In “natural environment” we propose plans such as tree planting, Campus Linis, Zero Waste Community, Students’ Actions Vital to the Environment and Mother Earth (SAVE ME) movement organization and ECO SMART projects.

What are the prevalent issues that need to be addressed immediately?First is transparency, then the issues regarding instructor and now is the dirty politics

during SSG election- it should be a clean campaign.

How do you select your subordinates?We do not conduct interviews for the representatives. After the selection of the higher

positions, we let the students join our party voluntarily. That’s why we have quite several running representatives for the education department. We consider their potentials and not because they are our friends.

How will your party enforce accountability to your representatives?We should conduct series of meetings and building a good relationship. We have to be

family inside the office to make sure that everybody will help and contribute. Also, we will appoint the most deserving to be in the Commission on Monitoring and Evaluation to look at the functions and performances of the team. It has to be based on quality.

If some of your subordinates will be from the opposing party, how will the office function?

We will surely promote camaraderie inside the office. We can achieve the NATION inside the campus by starting it inside the office. It should start within us. We have to bond.

If you were to campaign for the other running parties, what would you say?It’s commendable how brave they are to stand firm on their plans. They also are fighters

in some ways and they have the heart to serve the students. However, their ways are out track, they have accusations without accurate basis. Also, it seems like some of them are not sure for the office they are running for. Crab mentality is also a problem with their party.

What will be your highlighted argument during Miting de Avance?Our highlighted argument is that we are knowledgeable in handling the institution. Yes

we have weaknesses but student government in high school and in college are different. And running the SSG is so hard and that needs somebody with proper knowledge.

We also have an edge to lead because we have background and we know it. It seems like they really do not know the power and limitations of SSG. If they will win, it would be back to zero since most of them have no background.

Jomar Prudente, President

Constantino Cañedo, Secretary

Bonard Torres, Vice President

GROUfIE

Representatives:Education DepartmentGayo, JomarMahayag, JamesGoya, JelsonHugo, Victor IIIObabob, SergioLoon, MelchoraBobares, JoemarGencianos, JuliusFuentes, Lyca

Engineering DepartmentBaquiro, LeonilParrilla, Prince NikkoGumahin, IanBasmayor, John JeromeLuceño, Louie JayLim, Gerald

Technology DepartmentMiramonte, BejayMahilom, AdrianRamos, Mary AnnOmega, FrancoEstremos, RodneyAyud, NorbertoTajores, Josie

3Election Special

Kaugmaon sa Bag-ong Uluhan sa mga Estudyante (KABAG-UHAN) is a party for change. They have been very vocal to address campus issues and their primary aim is to speak for the students’ concerns. They will develop activities to unify the three departments and hand in hand on its way to progress. They are also targeting to change the SSG Governance of our university.

What are your proposed plans for EVSU?We are to start with the good governance in the SSG through proper service and

accountability. Enhance partnership with other organizations for future projects. We will conduct leadership programs and pursue educational assistance for less fortunate Evsuans.

We are planning also to build Gymnasium for school activities, construction of additional CRs, drinking stations, student lounge, and lighting on dark areas of our university.

What are the prevalent issues that need to be addressed immediately?The irregularity in the daily time records of the instructor, unclear JS Prom issue and of

course transparency.

How do you select your subordinates?In selecting our subordinates, for the Engineering representatives we based it on their

academic standing, if they will be able to handle the position. On the other hand, for the Education, we asked our friends and classmates since they are also active members of Young Scientists Guild and same on Technology representatives.

How will your party enforce accountability to your representatives?There should be assigning of committees. We will look at their performance that they

should perform their tasks well.

If some of your subordinates will be from the opposing party, how will the office function?

We will still build relationship with each other to have no awkward moment. If their plans are for the welfare of the students, then we will go for it.

If you were to campaign for the other running parties, what would you say?Honestly, we will not campaign for them. We treat them as our enemy.

What will be your highlighted argument during Miting de Avance?Our highlighted argument is that the instructor should be non-partisan; they should not

influence the students. We will highlight the transparency issues that the incumbent SSG faced and of course our capacity in leading, and to let the students be aware with the issues in our university.

Felmar Cabahug, President

Rodrigo Yari, Vice President

kaBAG-UHAN

Kathereen Valencia, Secretary

Representatives:Education DepartmentLuchavez, RemelynSeledio, Marvin Bacsal, RioObregon, John Mark

Engineering DepartmentTibay, Ronah MayNacua, Ma. BelenAlicaya, Judi

Technology DepartmentQuiros, IvyMontizon, MaricrisParrilla, ByronTero, DemarRoss, Jomar

THE OBSERVER

Christian JaritoPhotojournalist

Jerum MorelesGraphic Artist

Jerome SecuyaSenior Staff Writer

Apolinario Luberio IIILiterary Editor

THE OBSERVER Election Special 4EDITORIAL

Distress callSome call it Student Council and Student regents; some

call it Supreme Student Government.

February is the nationwide selection of student leaders.

Colleges from all over the country reflect on the performance of

their outgoing student government. That will be considered as

guidance in choosing another set of officers for the next school

year. In essence, choosing the right student leaders will result to a

better institution. This is why our wise votes are needed.

Many of us, students, do not understand the value of the

office of SSG as hallmark of progress in the school. It reflects on

our apathy and ignorance to the role of student leaders. It even

reflected in the absence of our outgoing SSG officers’ authority and

presence during their tenure.

The Student Forum has contributed a derogatory mark on the

SSG office. The “unaccountability” of the incumbent officers has left

a mark on us. We had barely survived a school year without so

much of SSG’s intervention.

“Barely” because during when there was a famous “amot-

amot and disappear”, to whom did we reported? When we were

not catered by our administrative offices, to whom did we run to?

When our right for quality education is abused-when sir and ma’am

came one or two hours late-who were there to respond? These

problems were all just whispered among our classmates and turned

into forgotten sentiments and discouragements to the school. This

cycle will never stop, not without the action of the SSG.

SSG represents us, students, to our administrators. It serves

as our safeguards whenever our rights are violated, when we seek

fairness. It has no definite scope, as long as students are involved,

SSG must be the forefront responder. But indeed, our incumbent

SSG has not entirely executed the purpose of its existence. So

should we settle on what we are now?

We heard it from you. You want an approachable leader, willing

to listen to your problems. You want a vigilant one who addresses

issues even without someone telling them. You want a leader who

will represent us to our administrators and support our holistic

development. So this is when our wise votes count.

With that, “we need SSG, a better one!” This should be our

dictum once again before we mark our fingers with ink during the

election. And with that, we cannot emphasize how important it is

to attend the Miting de Avance. Finals examination week is fast

approaching, so is the SSG election. And just like any exams, we

need to study and know our student-leaders-to-be. We encourage

your participation on the Miting de Avance this coming February

26. Know them personally; ask them your concerns. Choosing the

right student leaders result to a better institution. This is why

our wise votes are needed.

I read an article from another campus paper assessing the functionality of their student government: “Bukod sa acquaintance party, ano pa?” -A familiar scenario to me; something that we should all reflect.

Now that the election of new set of SSG officers is few days from now. The challenge falls both on us voters and the to-be elected new set of officers.

It has been a common election reality on campus, even local and national politics that we are bombarded with so many propagandas but end up flop. Imagine how the winning slogan of PNoy’s “tuwid na daan” led us to branches of roads leading nowhere. And Binay’s “para sa mahihirap” campaign ended up with so many corruption controversies. It was overwhelming how each individual present themselves during election campaign yet failed to do what have been promised when already in power.

It is one sad reality and this no different from what is happening in our university. A year ago, we heard number of propagandas and project proposals from two parties vying for the office. It was a “wow” how they were able to sell themselves just to earn the votes. But, throughout their service, complains and doubts have been raised.

Yes, it is understandable how hard it is to balance the academics and leading the highest student institution. But choosing to “serve” the studentry is indeed demanding. I believe that your reason for running is not to acquire the maximum aid of the air-conditioned office but to take actions to the students’ concern.

In our voxpop conducted, we asked random students whether they are satisfied with the incumbent SSG’s performance. “Murag dili kaayo. Imbis silay mudapig sa mga studyante- sila naman hinoun ang mokontra,” AEONFLUX, BT-HELE IIC said.

This is not to degrade the office but rather to challenge. There is no better way of improvement than to listen to the assessment from the one you are serving. We don’t need a 2-storey, 10 classroom project from your office. Just an initiative to stand firm with the complete uniform policy, a reinforced no smoking school campaign for example, and a deliberately rational actions towards students’ complains and concerns.

We have heard so many promises from last year’s campaign, pretty sure we will again hear so much this time. The question is, can we expect that this promises will be realized?

Let us all ponder that we have to elect the most deserving to be in the position, and they, in return, humbly accept and prove to be the role models for the rest of the students. And I believe that their position is so much based on worth. One doesn’t acquire the position out of fame; rather, one gets the fame by doing the best while they are in position.

A challenge to us voters, I believe we are done with this lame passivity, so let’s elect a trustworthy leader. And a challenge to the soon-to-be-elected officers, we are done with the secondary level of student government, so let me ask, aside from the Acquaintance Party and Organization Days, what else?

Position ImbalanceJerome SecuyaUncovered

THE OBSERVER Rolando Gaspar Jr.Editor in Chief

Editorial StaffS.Y. 2014-2015

Gabriel MedallaAssociate Editor

Merli Grace SalazarManaging Editor

Editor’s noteThe Publication does not glorify one party or defame the other.

And neither do we bow down to any party; still we are willing to work hand in hand with the next Supreme Student Government officers.

In addition, it does not mean that someone from the student publication saying his or her personal bias towards a party or of a candidate then he or she is representing the opinion of the publication as an institution. There is a difference between campaigning as an institution and campaigning as an individual and such matter should be easily understood.

The door of the Student Publications Office is open for all students, as that of the Office of the Supreme Student Government is.

Dr. Cecilia AvellanaAdviser

It is a sad reality that part of our student populace re-mains apathetic. Instead of participating in the organiza-tions’ days which is designed for us students, we simply secured our attendance and choose to spend our time in other engagements. Instead of involving ourselves in the student forum, we choose to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the concerning issues.

We often overlook the importance of these events. This clearly depicts lapses in our mind setting. It is alarming that students’ interest is rooted on a

superficial basis, thus, having a critical mind setting is rather a rare asset nowadays.

Why do we continue showing signs of being uneducated? Currently, the talk of the town is the upcoming SSG election. But instead of deliberating on essential matters, I often hear students saying “Bai wala’y klase karung Friday kay election daw, asa ta manlaag ana?”

It is quite irritating that the significance of the election is overlooked because of the students’ lack of concern. And it is even more irritating to

think that students are the ones who will be directly affected on whatever consequences it will bring.

For instance, students are not satisfied with the governance of those in position. The first option they do is to look for someone to blame. But they should not exclude themselves from the guilt because in the first place, students’ collective power had elected them to their positions.

Student election is a serious event. We are electing set of public servant who will address your concerns. In instances that you have a problematic instructor who doesn’t regularly hold classes and is inefficient in his job, the right avenue to voice your concern is the supreme student government.

And if the idealism of the leader you voted is not rooted on genuine public service, you will spend the rest of your stay in the university suffering from your dilemma. The improve-ment in the system cannot sole-ly be answered by replacement of administration. Students must do their part in the collab-orative action too.

Your active participation in the upcoming Miting de Avance is only a part of the whole pic-ture. Let me remind you that participation is not defined by merely asking a question. We must critically analyze the pur-est intentions of candidates be-hind their sweet promises. I be-lieve in the students’ power, and you should use it now.

5 Election Special Our SSG election system

this year has improved from the last 4 years. There is already established election code and electoral tribunal with evaluation forms; there is a dry run, and finally, the campus media are already involved as watchers and even member of the electoral tribunal. What remained vulnerable is the number of genuine leaders. With that, we may vote candidates who don’t have the capacity to govern the entire student populace.

It may seem too much for a prejudice but I am sure you will feel the same way if you have seen how some candidates during the interview took so long to answer questions as simple as “what are your platforms?” Even in a simple self-introduction, we had to float ten minutes in the dead air. How will you represent the students if you are having a hard time expressing even yourself?

The candidates’ illegibility is reflected on how they have prepared their goals to be examined by anyone including us, the tribunal. To our surprise, not all of them are ready [and

willing] to “serve”. Some of them are limited to sugarcoated clichés and glittering generalities, while others merely recited the dictionary definition of “leadership”.

I am not impressed. I can still vividly recall how some candidates have no concrete outline of their platforms and why they ran as officers in the first place; like they were just grabbed from somewhere to fill up all the positions in a line up. I couldn’t help but said, hey! Do you present yourself voluntarily? Do you even know what you are up to?

The word “student leader” is misunderstood. Being able to recognize the issues and bravely communicate it to everyone is not enough. It gets us nowhere. You tell us what’s wrong yet you do nothing to make it right. What matters most is how you address it properly and provide solutions while minimizing conflict. That’s what student leaders do: working

silently in the background, often unacknowledged, all that is earned are criticisms. But that should be a part of what you have sworn as a public servant. Now you know why superheroes wear masks.

Thankfully, it wasn’t all that bad. Quite a few of them have well-thought platforms where I could say “if ma-elect ni and buhaton lang niya iya mga gipanulti, daku ug chances nga paspas mulambo ang EVSU”, somehow.

An ideal leader is that whose way of encouraging students’ participation is not by implementing costly penalties for non-attending students, nor the one who claims he will implement strict uniform policy but is not wearing complete uniform himself. Not even a lame blamer deserves the position. But rather the one who is willing to step out of the comfort as servant who will best embody the varying interests of the student populace. The

word there is “servant”. You are a servant.

It is a good leader who understands what leadership is; he who develops himself first to be able to develop other people; like you can confidently present yourself well in front of anyone without credulous and timid gestures. I don’t point any candidate in this column because what matters to me is what is right rather than who is right. That should hold true to you when you vote, fellow students.

We have done our part, now it’s your time to examine the hopeful candidates in the miting de avance. Don’t be deceived by the memorized vague platforms which actually bring us no good but rather inquire on specific and feasible solutions to prevalent concerns that need to be addressed.

To whoever will win the election, always promote the welfare of the students while upholding the reputation of the administration and the school. Strive to be critical and forget not your essential role. I noted all your statements. So walk the talk.

Incompetents’ CompetitionRolando Gaspar Jr.Make It Write

Passive Compulsive DiseaseMerli Grace SalazarRequest Line

THE OBSERVER

VOXPOP It is the students who elected our student leaders, thus, they should also be the ones to assess their performance during their tenure.

Tugonon, Charlyn BSHRT I-CWala gihapon nila mabohat na malimpyo og mapon-an man lang unta ang CR because they have the authority to talk to the highest position in school.My ideal leader: Approachable leader

Jack Hammer BSME IV-AI’m not satisfied. Pareha sa ila gebuhat sa acquaintance nidako ra kaayo ang amo gebayran nya gamay ra pagkaon.My ideal leader: Dali ra madoolan.

Marithes Tuesday BSBIO 1CNot so satisfied. Daghan ug reklamo.My ideal leader: Sacrifice all.. has time to paminaw gyud ba.

SARAH J. BSED MATH 1AUban diha SSG officers dli worth it na ma leader..mu take advantage raman na cla sa discount sa tuition! Way gamit ila pag seminar2 kay wala gi-share sa ato na estudyante!

KUYA M BSIT 2My ideal leader: Dali ra maduolan, mulihok ug unsa iya concern, tagaan ug pagpakabana ba.

JAYCE GONZALES BSME2BMy ideal leader: Kanang musabut sa studyante ug kanang utokan, naay diskarte.

JENESSA NATIVIDAD BSIT2AMy ideal leader: Makihalobilo, makiramdam what is happening to the world, dali maduolan.

Merbelsupilanas BSEDMATH1Kuwang sila ug awareness sa mga problema. Hangtud karon wa pa gihapuy solusyon.My ideal leader: Makahibaw siya unsay situation like problema sa iya members.

Ingki BSMEMy ideal leader: Responsible, approachable, dli arte.

MADAM GABUNILAS BSME2They are too slow. Their service is not enough. My ideal leader: Active, manageable, able to handle any kinds of problems. It should be a persistent leader.

John Harvey Coronel BSCE 1CThey are so slow on making something that could make the school better.My ideal leader: Can make a decision and support that decision and can defend.

FIEL BSME2BActually, I’m not satisfied, I don’t even feel their existence. My ideal leader: Yung leader na approachable then active.

Nakakaalarma na. Talagang nakakaalarma

na ang mga eksinang aking nasasaksihan sa kasalukuyang “SSG election”. Kung susuriin ang pamamaraan ng pangangampanya ng mga tumatakbong partido, hindi maikakailang may umiiral na katakot-takot at hindi kaaya-ayang pansariling bangayan.

Sa apat na taon na pamamalagi ko sa unibersidad na ito, lubos ko nang naintindihan ang kahalagahan ng mga lider-estudyante. Ganap ko nang naintindihan ang kahalagahan ng ating halalan. Subalit kung kailan ko naintindihan ang lahat, ngayon pa nabahiran ng kakaibang tinta ang halalan.

Ngunit bago paman dumating ang panahon ng katotohanan, narinig at nahimok tayo sa mga salitang binitawan

ng mga kuma-kandidatong lider-estudyante. “Pagbabago.” Ito ang salitang sumisimbolo sa kani-kanilang layunin. Ang salitang pinaniniwalaan nilang makakapagtaguyod ng kapakanan para sa lahat. Susi. Pagbabago ang bukang bibig ng lahat.

Sa kasagsagan ng halalan, nagkakaroon na ng “bashing” ang mga kuma-kandidatong lider-estudyante at ito’y nagpapakita lamang ng “incompetence”. Kung sa pangangampanya at sa halalan pa lang ay hindi naitataguyod ang “friendly competition” bilang isang kandidato, paano na kaya kung nasa posisyon na sila?

Katangahan! Oo, ang lahat ay purong katangahan kung susuriin mo lamang. Sapagkat hindi makakamit ang pagbabago kung pansariling

bangayan ang nangingibabaw. Naililigaw at nililito nito ang isipan ng bawat estudyante at nagpapakatanga naman ang mga nagpapaligaw sa mga salitang walang laman. Sa katotohanang pinaiiral ng ibang kandidato ang kani-kanilang lihim na hangarin. Pawang mapanirang-puri lamang ang naipapahayag.

Katangahan! Dahil unti-unti ng sinusunod ang balangkas ng pambansang halalan sa loob ng ating institusyon. Tila nagkakaroon na ng representasyon ng katangiang pampulitiko ang ating mga kandidato. Malaki ang pagkakaiba ng lider-estudyante sa pamamaraan ng isang ganap na politiko. Nababahiran na ng putik ang magkabilang panig. Nanganganib na mawala ang natatanging layuning paglingkuran at itaguyod ang kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral.

“Dirty”! Yan nga ang laman-loob ng pang-paaralang halalan natin ngayon. Sa halip na bigyang diin ang bawat plataporma, girian ang nangunguna.

Ang kailangan ng mga studyante ay mga lider na pupuna at tutugon sa samu’t saring pangangailangan ng lahat. Nakakatugon sa mga isyung direktang nakakaapekto sa kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral, may kakayahang maitayo ang tunay na mukha ng pagbabago, nakakawaksi sa kaugaliang “malamig ang loob” at naipapamalas ang pagiging aktibo, at nakakapagtalaga ng sariling pundasyon ng katotohanan.

Alalahanin na ang pagiging lider-estudyante ay hindi madali. Ito ay isang mabigat na tungkulin na dapat pag-ingatan. Na kung sino man ang maiudyok ay may kakayahang sumuong sa butas ng karayom. Hindi basta-basta.

Sa halip na maging halimbawa ng maayos at matiwasay na pagsusulong sa mabuting kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral, heto at nagbabatohan ng putik. Nakakaalarma na.

THE OBSERVER Election Special 6Bangayan sa HalalanGabriel MedallaSapul sa Punto

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