THE SANGGUNIAN recently gained eight new official executive board members and more than a dozen block representatives, adding to its score of student leaders.
On August 10 and 11, freshmen voted for their student leaders in voting stations in Matteo Ricci, Rizal Library, Science Education Complex, and the Convergence Technology Center.
Comelec also held special elections for last year’s empty positions in SOH: secretary-treasurer, executive officers, and central board representatives from second to fourth year. Since the number of votes was below quota, no one was elected.
Ateneo Commission on Elections (Comelec) Head Patricia Faye Malabanan said that the Sanggunian would be the one to appoint people to fill in these positions.
The following are the newly-elected freshmen Central Board Representatives and Executive Officers, respectively:
School of Management (SOM): Beatrice Janine Caballeros and Ian Agatep
School of Social Sciences (SOSS): Third Fernandez and May Vizmonte
School of Science and Engineering (SOSE): Raiza Osi and Gio Alejo
School of Humanities (SOH): Rie Takumi and Gavin Chan
Not all blocks of the freshmen batch, however, have block representatives due to ties in positions and failure to reach the targeted voters’ quota.
Miscommunication
According to Malabanan, there was miscommunication on the dates of the freshman elections. “There was some person who announced on the internet and on InTACT classes that the elections would be on August 13-14. But according to official e-mail blasts by the Comelec, elections would be on 11 and 12,” she said.
She added that this was also a reason why some freshmen were misinformed and were unable to vote.
Reasons for running
Vizmonte, who was elected SOSS executive officer, said she wanted to be more involved in school activities by being part of the Sanggu.
“I want to help organize activities where students can familiarize themselves with the candidates for the May 2010 elections,” she said. “I hope that I could encourage students to register and be enthusiastic in voting.”
She also wants to implement changes in the tricycle system, among her other plans.
Fernandez, who was elected SOSS CB representative, said he saw himself serving and leading. Moreover, he added that he believes in his plans and that hopefully others will be influenced to believe in them as well.
Fernandez envisions awareness and pride among his constituents in SOSS. “Awareness in the sense that the freshmen are secured and comfortable where they are now,” he said. “Next, I want to develop in them pride as a stepping stone. From pride comes confidence.”
SOM CB Representative Caballeros, on the other hand, initially wanted to run for block representative but decided to run for a position in the executive board.“I’ve got nothing to lose. And if I do get elected, then I could make a change and be the voice for the freshmen SOM [School of Management] students,” she said.
Initial feelings on winning
“I was relieved [when I knew that I won]. The day before the elections, we were going around the campus. [We went] from Matteo Ricci [and from] SOM to the dorms just to get votes. We had to reach our quota,” said Fernandez.
Meanwhile, Caballeros, who was then unsure of whether she won the elections, received confirmation from a friend’s text message. “I couldn’t believe that I won the elections. It took some time to actually sink in, but after, I was on cloud nine that whole night,” she said. Vizmonte was both overjoyed and relieved upon finding out that she won in the elections. “I… felt confident knowing that the SOSS freshmen trust me to fulfill my duties as their representative,” she said.
