(JUN. 26)— Incoming University Student Council (USC) Chairperson Sean Angelo Thakur, 12 councilors and 17 college representatives, together with the 2019 “Philippine Collegian” (Kulé/Collegian) editorial board and editor-in-chief (EIC) Beatrice Puente, were affirmed by UPD Chancellor Michael L. Tan on Jun. 25 at the Balay Kalinaw Conference Hall.
The newly appointed student officials and Kulé’s editorial board serve a 1-year appointment effective this August until July 2020.
Shakur succeeds Kisha Marielle Beringuela as USC chairperson.
At the turnover ceremony, Beringuela, who handed over a face mask to Shakur, said “Alam natin kung gaano ka-stressful ang council life and you sometimes have to also prioritize your well-being. This is to detoxify rin kasi andaming pinagdadaanan sa council. Hopefully, you’ll have a productive and successful term this year.”
In his acceptance speech, Shakur said “Ang ating panunumpa ngayon ay pagpapatibay ng mga gampanin bilang mga lider-estudyante at ang termino naman ay magpapatibay ng ating gampanin bilang parte ng isang malaking lipunan.”
Furthermore, Shakur said “Importanteng palakasin ang mga institusyon tulad ng konseho ng mag-aaral at dalhin ito sa mga lugar kung saan ito pinaka kailangan: sa laban ng mga estudyante sa labas ng klasrum, sa mga komunidad ng Taliptip at San Roque, at sa mga picket line ng Zagu at Champion workers. Bilang tagapangulo ng konseho, hindi lamang sa akin nakadepende ang tagumpay ng lahat. Sa dami nang nangyari sa nakaraang termino, malinaw na hamon ito sa USC na tumuon sa ating layunin na pagsilbihan ang sambayanan sa buong taon.”
“Katulad ng pag-aalay ni Oble ng kanyang sarili, maging ganoon din sana tayo sa bawat proyekto, mobilisasyon at aktibidad na gagawin natin buong taon gaano man ito kalaki o kaliit,” he added.
Meanwhile, outgoing EIC Jayson Edward San Juan handed over to Puente a key from Kulé’s old office at Vinzons Hall as a symbol of turning over the responsibility and leadership.
Other members of the Kulé editorial board are: Marvin Joseph E. Ang (associate editor), John Irving D.M. Gandia (managing editor for online), Kimberly Anne P. Yutuc (managing editor for print), Richard C. Cornelio (features editor), Sheila Ann T. Abarra (kultura editor), and Cathryne Rona L. Enriquez and Rex Menard L. Cervales (managers).
Puente, the 96th Kulé EIC, in her acceptance message said, “Tapang, talas, talab. Ito ang tatlong salitang kumakatawan sa tunay na esensiya ng “Philippine Collegian.” Ito ang mga salitang nagpapahayag ng tradisyon na matibay nitong pinanghawakan sa loob ng halos isandaang taon nang pamamahayag.”
“Malinaw sa atin na marami tayong kailangang baguhin at iyung mga naging problema noong nakalipas na taon, for example, iyung ‘Philippine Collegian’ ed[itorial] exam ay naging maayos naman ngayon sa panibagong board of judges. Pinayagan iyung graduating katulad ko na makapag-exam, at pinagpapasalamat natin iyon na binigyan ng ganitong pantay na pagkakataon iyung mga estudyante upang ma-take iyung ganitong eksamen,” she said.
Moreover, Puente said “Sa tulong ng USC, sa tulong ng iba’t ibang formations dito sa campus na mga estudyante, ng iba’t ibang sectoral formations, ay matulungan nating pagtibayin muli iyung ‘Philippine Collegian.’ Sa kabila ng lahat, sa kabila ng mga personal naming kinakaharap, makakaasa ang bawat isa na mayroon tayong Collegian na masasandigan. Mayroon tayong Collegian na maaasahan na magreport, na maglathala ng mga isyu na hindi natin naririnig sa mainstream. Tayo mismo ang magtatampok ng mga isyu na pilit isinasantabi.”
Puente mentioned during the ceremony that she is one of the writers of Rebel Kulé, the alternative ‘official’ publication of the Collegian which was revived by campus journalists in view of the ongoing issue faced by UPD’s official student publication.
In his message, the Chancellor congratulated the incoming USC and Kulé editorial board and acknowledged the issue raised by Puente regarding the suspended graduating students of Rebel Kulé.
“Naka-raise na iyung appeal ng Rebel Kulé team sa Office of the President (OP) and I want to point out that I gave that advice to the student regent at mabuti nakaabot sa inyo. At sasabihin ko, I will defend your position with the OP na kailangang pa-gradweytin ang mga kailangang grumadweyt,” Tan said.
After the affirmation, the outgoing USC awarded the Seal of Good Governance to student councils of 14 degree granting units, namely: College of Architecture, College of Arts and Letters, Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT), Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business, School of Economics, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of Home Economics, College of Law, College of Mass Communication (CMC), National College of Public Administration and Governance, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy and School of Statistics.
“The Seal of Good Governance is awarded to local college councils who practice proper governance in their local colleges. It is a symbol of how through the student government, we can practice transparency, efficiency and accountability,” Beringuela said.
The ceremony was witnessed by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jerwin F. Agpaoa, who delivered the closing remarks; Prof. Ma. Althea T. Enriquez, PhD, Office of Student Activities coordinator; Prof. Arminda V. Santiago, CMC dean, and Prof. Maricel G. Badilla of the AIT. —Text and images by Haidee C. Pineda, with reports from Mariamme D. Jadloc and Jefferson Villacruz