The Benilde Commission on Elections (COMELEC) led the Miting de Avance on July 11 at the ARG Theater for the upcoming Benilde Student Government (BeSG) elections.
Candidates for the 2025 BeSG elections were given the stage to introduce themselves, present their platforms, and respond to questions on pressing global and campus issues to test their readiness in leading the Benildean community. While most delivered their speeches live, presidential candidate Jeus Fajardo joined virtually through a pre-recorded message from Germany, where he is currently on an educational trip.
Meet the Candidates and their Platforms
Fajardo, an ID123 Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy and International Affairs (AB-DIA) student running for President, champions a five-point agenda under “PULSO,” focusing on mental health, transparency, student empowerment, and external collaborations. His initiatives aim to foster unity through events like Benilde Week, prioritize emotional well-being, and amplify student participation in policymaking through platforms like Benildean VOICE and Ugnayan.
Meanwhile, Raeka Doblados, an ID124 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Marketing Management (BSBA-MM), is running for the Vice President for Internals position. She centers her platform on student leadership wellness, information accessibility, and inter-organization collaboration. Her proposals include leadership check-ins through a centralized student guide via Animo Compass called Pulse Check and a monthly organization partnership program under Bridging.
Sabrina Sison, ID24 Bachelor of Arts in MultiMedia Arts (ABMMA) running for Vice President for Externals, seeks to connect Benildeans with the outside world. Her platform includes career-building programs (Gateway), engagement with professionals and changemakers (Insight), and inter-school partnerships to expand academic and social horizons (Nexus).
Angel Soriano, candidate for Vice President for Operations, ID124 student taking Bachelor of Arts in Music Production (ABMP), advocates for inclusion and campus accessibility. Her proposals address safer commuting, inclusive infrastructure, wellness services for marginalized students, continuous LGBTQIA+ visibility, and open communication through regular student town halls.
Kervin Hernandez, an ID124 Bachelor of Arts major in Fashion Design and Merchandising (AB-FDM) running for Vice President of Finance, promotes financial transparency and support for student entrepreneurship. His initiatives include detailed fee breakdowns (The Breakdown™), a unified events calendar (The Calendar), and a student business directory (The Alley) to encourage peer-to-peer support.
Gian Sanjonco, running for School of New Media Arts (SNMA) Congress Representative, also an ID124 ABMMA student, focuses on student navigation and representation. His platforms include Wayfinder, a centralized office directory, and Ablaze—a proposed reform of the Block Representative system to ensure effective and qualified student leadership.
ID124 Aaron Ibañez, as School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM) Congress Representative from the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management (BSTM) program, emphasizes transparency, leadership, and social impact within SHRIM. His plans include auditing student org finances (Receipts Ready), leadership training via Project PLATE, and integrating SHRIM student leaders into outreach efforts through Front Desk to Frontlines.
For or against?
Kickstarting the debate was the “For or Against” segment, which challenged candidates’ stances on contemporary issues.
Most candidates opposed AI use in academia, except for the Vice President for Externals and the SHRIM Representative candidate. All unanimously opposed mandatory ROTC and supported legalizing divorce and abortion, alongside the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. On abolishing political dynasties, five were against, with the Vice President for Externals abstaining. Four candidates opposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility; the Vice President for Externals and SHRIM Representative abstained.
For campus issues, five candidates supported an Independent Learning Week, while the Vice President for Externals candidate abstained. All opposed tuition hikes and supported extended term breaks, activism in CSB, and including Filipino Sign Language as an elective. The “Failure Due to Absences” (FDA) policy saw hesitation, with five abstentions and only the SHRIM Representative favoring its removal. Four candidates advocated for clearer faculty attendance guidelines; the Vice President for Operations and Vice President for Externals abstained.
Follow-up questions were then raised by a panel composed of Dean Levi Albania of the Center for Student Life (CSL), Jan Louis Layacan, Editor in Chief of the Benildean Press Corps, and Joshua Jeridan Castro, current President of the Benilde Student Government. Candidates were put to the test with sharp inquiries that challenged the depth and consistency of their earlier positions. Some candidates shifted their stances as the discussion unfolded, particularly after certain misunderstandings were addressed.
The discourse resumed with a second round of questions focused solely on internal issues within the Benildean community. This was followed by an open forum, where students—both live and via pre-submitted questions—were given the chance to engage directly with the candidates. Topics ranged from student representation to policy relevance and the importance of transparency in leadership.
Nearing the end of the open forum, Hernandez acknowledged the struggles of balancing being a student and a leader, but reaffirmed his and his fellow candidates’ commitment to the position, saying, “We went into this, making sure na kakayanin namin. And whatever happens, kailangan kayanin…susuka, pero ‘di susuko.”
In an interview with The Benildean, the running candidates shared their experience. Hernandez acknowledged the nerve-wracking nature of public speaking, especially for those new to the spotlight.
Doblados admitted to “some lapses during the MDA,” but emphasized that it wouldn’t stop them from serving. She pointed out the logistical challenges they faced in preparing for the event, stating that they had to go into it “blindly,” with vague directions and tight schedules. “We are very, very much open to what we can improve on—and we are willing to show it.”
She also left a word of advice for future candidates: “Seryosohin niyo ‘to. This is the part where you show anong klaseng student leader kayo sa student body at kung bakit dapat kayong pagkatiwalaan.”
“Stand with us as well,” she added. “If there is anything that you guys need to let us know, and what else we can improve on, kung ano man ang kailangan ninyo, lapitan niyo kami at lalapitan namin kayo.”
Looking ahead, the candidates expressed plans to establish accessible feedback channels, including anonymous platforms that would allow student concerns to be formally acknowledged and relayed to the administration.
