L-R: Jojo Dumrique, Reg Guevarra, Rob Roque, Maan delos Santos. Photo by James M. Magalong.
Just chilling. That’s all we’re doing.
“I’m so sorry, she’s at a meeting with the admins right now,” frets Maan Delos Santos, the Sanggunian’s Secretary General. She’s fiddling furiously with her cellphone, trying to contact Finance Officer Reg Guevara to ask her where she is. Nearby, President Rob Roque and Vice President Jojo Dumrique chat idly, sharing a hearty chuckle at a private joke.
Reg eventually arrives, and the Sanggunian’s Top 4 greet each other enthusiastically, as we settle in to the interview. As it’s explained to them that school politics aren’t going to be the central point of the article, they all relax and breathe sighs of relief. “Sawang-sawa na kami dun (We’re getting tired of it),” admits Reg, likely echoing many students’ sentiments.
We’re just going to be talking – chilling. That’s all we’re doing.
The Trip so Far
Starting at the lower end of the organizational chart, they each worked every year at their positions, proving their mettle to the students, and winning in the elections each year. We ask them what it’s like, what drives them to keep running and keep serving.
Jojo thinks that serving in Sanggunian is primarily for others, but it isn’t without its rewards. “It’s a means of service to the community, even outside the Ateneo. It’s also a means of formation – we learn new skills that we can apply to any field we go into.”
Rob says he’s always felt a mix between frustration and fulfillment. “There’s so much potential to serve in the organization. So many things can be done, but there are always things that hinder that. It’s fulfilling because the people in this kind of service are really committed, you’re with people who really share your passion.”
Reg admits that she wasn’t really sold on the Sanggunian at first. “Honestly, the first feedback I received was pretty negative. People told me, wag ka sa Sanggu, mag-org ka nalang kasi wala naming ginagawa ang Sanggu (don’t enter the Sanggu, stay in an org instead; Sanggu doesn’t do anything).” Eventually though, as the veil parted and the Sanggunian moved more towards transparency, she began to see its value. “When I ran as Executive Officer, that’s where I really saw that Sanggu was relevant. I saw the problems that needed to be solved, and was fortunate to be part of an administration that allowed me to see how to solve these problems.”
These problems are not solved alone – there’s also the interpersonal factor. Sanggunian work is hard, and pressure filled, but the fact that you’re not working alone makes it easier. “It helps that you develop relationships with the people you work with,” says Maan. “I get to know new people, even outside Ateneo, and know their stories as well.”
Reg: It’s really been my life for the past half of college.
Rob: Pati love life?
Reg: And for the next half, it will still be my life. I can’t really explain why, but it’s really my passion. I joined so many orgs trying to find my place in the Ateneo, and I found it in Sanggu. There’s really no reason why, but there.
Rob: LOVE LIFE!
No “I” in Team
While listening to the playful banter, I can’t help but miss my own barkada. The whole thing just looks and feels like a bunch of friends having fun and hanging out at school after the hustle and bustle of the day. And as with any group of friends, everyone in the Top 4 has their own role to play, their own unique trait to contribute to the group.
“If we view the organization like a family,” shares Rob, “we have our own ways of being a mommy or a daddy. For example, I’m–“
Reg: He’s the nerd.
Rob: Yes, I’m the nerd, so I like systems, I like experiments. So I experiment sometimes with the group to push them, and things like that. Maan, for example, is the lovable, consistent bee, who does her work with much OC-ness. It’s part of our personalities. Palaban talaga si Reg, she’s like the cannonball who goes after what she wants. And Jojo, I’d like to think of him as a medic – kapag may kailangan alagaan, siya talaga gagawa. Swabe talaga siya sa mga tao.”
Jojo: Yun na yun eh!
This cohesive team effort and dynamic is supported by a strong and constantly growing friendship, one full of laughter, camaraderie, and good times. This comes to the fore when we ask about how they are outside work. The group practically explodes into activity.
Rob: Nag-aasaran! All the time!
Maan: SIYA MAY KASALANAN!
Reg: ‘Pag love life, si Rob yun!
Rob: It’s community building! We’re on the record, ‘di ba? Uh..
Maan: HUY ‘wag kang makikinig dito!
Rob: Si Reg, well publicized naman ang kanyang…
Reg: Ano ba ‘yan!
Jojo eventually stops the madness, telling us how important their friendship is. “While we didn’t start as like, barkada then said let’s go run for the Top 4. But the nature of our job is that we’re always together, so the friendship is developed.”
He continues to say that this is in fact needed in their line of work. “Doon nanggagaling ang lakas ng Sanggu, tingnan mo, hapon na, magkakasama pa rin kami (This is where Sanggu draws its strength, just look, it’s late in the afternoon and we’re still together),” he says. “We need to be bonded and open with each other, because if we hide problems from each other, [what more] at the lower levels?”
Somewhere down the Road
The sun begins to set, and we wrap up our discussion with talk about the future. When asked about what their post-graduation plans are, everyone breaks into conspiratorial laughter – it’s clear that this isn’t the first time they’ve talked about this.
The answers are as varied as the people giving them. Maan, in her own OC way, has already begun worrying about how to begin preparing for law school. Reg plans on taking Masteral studies in international relations or something to do with public services. “I realized that that’s really the track I want,” she says. “That’s why I shifted from SOM to SOSS recently.”
Jojo plans on taking the next step in politics, into serving the whole country. “Papasok ako sa government work, sa lugar na established na yung (I’ll enter government work, in a place where there’s an established) system of governance.” Aside from that, however, he still plans to put up a business. “Lahat naman tayo, kahit papaano, kailangang mabuhay, (We all still have to make a living)” he says with a slightly sheepish grin.
As for the President, things are still up in the air. “I love science, but I don’t see myself as a lab rat anymore.” [Ed’s Note: Rob is discerning whether or not to join the Society of Jesus.]
With that, the interview ends. As we prepare to go our separate ways, it doesn’t feel like a formal discussion has just taken place – it just seems like time has run out on a casual conversation. I say my goodbyes and head back to my car, leaving the four friends chatting idly by the benches we’ve been sitting on – just chilling.
