The Benilde Commission on Elections (COMELEC) introduced a new set of candidates for the upcoming Benilde Student Government (BeSG) elections during its Miting de Avance titled, “Boto Benildyano: Dunong at Serbisyo!” on July 17 at the 3/F Case Room, Taft Campus.
Candidates from different coalitions and programs took on the challenge in this year’s Miting de Avance, answering questions regarding relevant issues within and outside the academic institution.
Meet the candidates
Running as an independent candidate, ID125 Animation (ABANI) student Samuel Miguel Juada presented a three-point platform. Juada’s first point, “Let’s Build up Benilde! A Fairer Benilde that Works for Everyone,” pushes for a review of school policies and a transparency help desk. The second point was “Let’s See ‘I to Eye’ and Aim for the Service we Deserve,” which aims to increase student engagement and strengthen dialogue to address community concerns. Lastly, “Let’s Fight for the Future” champions a better future for Benildeans through environmental and geopolitical awareness to encourage a critical student body.
The Alyansa para sa Gabay, Asenso, at Pagkakaisa (AGAP) ng mga Benildyano Coalition president, Angel Paulin Soriano, an ID124 student from the Music Production (ABMP) program, advocates for inclusion and accessible communication between the student body and BeSG through various social media platforms. Soriano aims to implement a trimestral townhall in “Sama-sama Benildyano,” and a digital space to voice out the community’s concerns and share updates regarding the institution with “BeSG on the Go!”
The independent candidate for Vice President for Academics, Jonathan Mercado Ty, an ID125 Multimedia Arts (ABMMA) student, wants to streamline transparency and access to information through initiatives like “The Benildean Beat,” a project to keep up with the status of the College. His advocacies include inclusion, innovation, and the reimplementation of school student governments with a decentralized BeSG.
Vice President for External Affairs Marteina Anastasha Banaag of the AGAP Benildyano Coalition, ID125 student from the Governance and Public Affairs (AB-GPA) program, plans to organize the “Benilde Christmas Bazaar” to provide students, faculty, and staff an avenue for entrepreneurship, given that many of these constituents handle self-owned businesses outside of school. Aside from the Benilde Christmas Bazaar, Banaag wants to improve menstrual hygiene product access with “Menstrual Care Stations” and as well as resolve commonly raised concerns of student organizations through the “Benilde Student Leaders’ Summit.”
ID125 ABMMA, Bea Annika Fegarido running as an independent candidate for Vice President for Internal Affairs introduced the “People-First Human Relations” in line with promoting “A Stronger External Presence for BeSG,” alongside “Communications That Reach Every Student.” She wishes to bring her past experiences in event-level representations from past affiliations with BeSG in building stronger partnerships with alumni networks, industry partners, and peer student governments, ensuring all Benildeans are informed.
Congress Representatives for the School of Diplomacy and Governance (SDG) under the Koalisyon para sa Aksyon, Serbisyo, at Makabuluhang Adbokasiya (KASAMA) Coalition are 125 AB-DIA students Andrea Kate Abellar and Nalen Ian Caberte. Their coalition aims for transparent communication, stronger student engagement, and full representation through the “SDG Socials Day” for AB-DIA and AB-GPA students to socialize and “State of the SDG Community Address” to deliver updates on SDG affairs every XO Mondays.
In addition to Congress consultations, updates, and SDG Block Deputies Leadership Conference, Abellar sees the potential of service learning and collaboration with other offices and government agencies to fulfill community needs in the Student Service Initiative, inspired by the success of BeSG’s free concessionary Beep card distributions.
For or against
In the first segment of the Miting de Avance’s debates, “For or Against,” various national and social issues were presented, and candidates raised for or against placards to indicate their stances.
The following national and social issues covered are as follows: charter change, political dynasties, the use of confidential funds for non-security agencies, the passing of SOGIE Equality Bill, the banning of video games in response to youth violence in schools, the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, the presence of national mass democratic organizations (NDMOs) on campus, and the signing of Non-Fraternity Contracts upon enrollment.
Candidates pose the same stances on most issues. All expressed unanimous support for the SOGIE Equality Bill, impeachment, NDMOs, and Non-Fraternity Contracts. Meanwhile, there was collective opposition for confidential funds, political dynasties, and blanket ban on video games. Everyone is also against charter change, but only after three candidates changed their stances.
Panelists from the COMELEC and BeSG, COMELEC Interim Adviser Mr. Idan John Roman, BeSG Secretary-General Joseph Louise Guerrero, and Former BeSG President Joshua Castro, moderated discussions and raised follow-up questions to clarify positions on charter change and NDMOs on campus in the first round.
Guerrero began with asking the candidates initially favoring charter change on which specific clauses or provisions in the 1987 Philippine Constitution they wish to revise and their reason. Banaag pointed to political candidacy qualifications in appointing and running for public office. Caberte and Abellar gave the same provision, but Abellar added that the constitutional provisions likewise needed economic reforms.
Castro raised a follow-up question on proposing an alternative to revise the COMELEC omnibus rather than the constitution, leading Banaag, Caberte, and Abellar’s changed stances.
Regarding the presence of NDMOs, panelists asked candidates how they will overcome the school’s institutional limitations of allowing accredited organizations on campus and ideological differences and their views on red-tagging.
Juada believes that “although these students have a distinct ideological background, students should be free to organize within the school” as they represent the youth in general and speak out on prevalent social issues like corruption.
Soriano acknowledges the students’ right to express and calls attention to the importance of reaching out to BeSG in times of need, but also asserts the school’s principle in “loco parentis” regardless of authorization from the school administration for these organizations’ assembly.
Fegarido reassures that student activism is not violent, and “it’s really important to still not lose sight of what we are actually fighting for” as all students experience the same societal struggles.
Redefining the Student Government
During the second round of debates, candidates campaigned on their platforms. Panelists also inquired about the gaps within their campaigns, the possibilities of resurfacing BeSG’s past issues regarding resignations, and their commitment to their positions.
Candidates were quick to reaffirm their commitment individually, but Juada emphasizes that if he were to win as president, “we will be here for each other in the executive board…[b]ut also to plan, strategize, and maximize our time—that is how we will take care of each other.”
At the final juncture of the Miting de Avance, an open forum was held to entertain any questions from the audience.
In an interview with The Benildean, Juada “believes that [being the] president is [a] direct way to remedy [ongoing] problems,” Soriano said she looks up to her communities as her inspiration for her service, and Caberte is passionate about serving others and “proving that leadership begins with a genuine willingness to help.”
The candidates generally hope for BeSG to communicate with all students, resolve issues with understanding and collaboration, and be present in the community beyond the election season.
COMELEC Chairperson Khyle Sayyid Pendatun also noted the disconnect in BeSG and student body relations. “This is why we’re making a conscious effort to bring student governance closer to the community through greater engagement with student organizations and increased voter education,” as he sheds light on COMELEC’s long-term goals of building “a stronger culture of voting and leadership within the Benilde community.”
The electoral period will run from July 27 to 29, and voting procedures will be conducted through BigSky.
For more information about the candidates and election updates, visit COMELEC’s Facebook (Benilde Commission on Elections) and Instagram (@benildecomelec).
