The Holy Cross College Supreme Student Council (College- SSC) named anew after the online elections participated by College students last April 16.
Shiela Andria Daria, a second-year BS Criminology student is the newly elected President of the College SSC together with Keith Angel Querijero, second-year BS Psychology as the Vice President.
Freshmen also joined the new lineup of student leaders. Vella Dwina Lulu, from Bachelor of Elementary Education, is the secretary, Lein Joshua Vino of BS Civil Engineering is the treasurer while classmates James Aron Balagtas is the auditor and Renelle Jhon Chan is the Public Information Officer.
These students came for different parties during the campaign period but now they become one group of young leaders who will serve the college students of the school with a heart.
Willingness to serve the students during the pandemic drives the motivation to pursue online elections. In the recent Miting De Avance, students got to know their leaders more.
Three party lists vied for the positions in the SSC this year namely Fearless and Competent Leaders of Holy Cross College (FCL Partylist), Passionate and Responsible Individuals in Delivering Excellence (P.R.I.D.E Partylist), and Student Uplifting League with an Indefatigable Tact (S.U.L.I.T Partylist).
“Kagaya po nang napag usapan nakaraan kung sakaling mananalo ang bawat isa sa amin galling po kami sa ibat-ibang Partido, naisip po naming na bawat plataporma ay pagsasama-samahin naming lahat po ng iyan iipunin namin at doon po kami mag-decide ano ang better o pinakakailangan para maiabot sa aming mga kapwa estudyante,” New Elected SSC President Daria said.
Three presidential candidates, Valerie Velasco (FCL), Vincent Zobel Sagum (PRIDE), and Shiela Daria (SULIT) joined the Miting de Avance last April 14 and discussed their platforms via Radio Libertas.
The head of the Commission on Student Elections Grace Gulapa facilitated the discussion. Each candidate was given two minutes to answer questions – prepared by the committee and student’s questions posted via the comment section during the live streaming.
Daria emphasized the roles of a student leader during this health crisis. She believes good communication is a way to connect to the students.
“Naniniwala po ako kung mayroon ka, ibahagi mo or itutulong mo sa kahit ano mang bagay kaya ako binubuhos ko nang buong sipag at tutugunan ang aking responsibilidad sa ating paaralang may puso at kapwa estudyante. Naniniwala ako na easy to reach out dahil mahalaga ang communication dahil hindi natin alam kailan magkaka face to face classes, mahalaga na masabi nila iyong opnions, problems nila and freedom to express,” she said.
Vicent Zobel Sagum led the PRIDE Party who promised to be the modern-day heroes of the youth. In their official campaign video, they portray their selves like Filipino leaders Jose Rizal, Gregoria De Jesus among the other heroes who fight for the rights of the citizens.
“We like to empower youth and motivate others to do good. Dapat tignan may plano ba o paano approach nila sa situation na nangyayari sa ating society. Nakikita po naming sa kasalukuyang administration sa eskwelahan ang reporma ay naayon sa
pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral at guro. The management who cares about students and community,” Sagum said.
Sagum also pointed that aspiring student leaders are the pride of this school and they are looking for good leadership and good governance.
Valerie Velasco is a student leader by heart. She is known for being a leader since she was in elementary and now, she is vying for a higher position to reach more students.
She is the outgoing Vice President of the SSC and she is a witness of student’s need for transparent and good leadership in the College department.
“Not just to encourage them, in this kind of situation kung ayaw nilang mag aral ang kailangan natin gawin is not just encourage them but to help them. Minsan nahihirapan talaga kasi sila as leader we need to extend help, dahil sa school na ito the school with a heart, wala naman nagpag-iiwanan kahit mayroong internet or walang internet access,” she answered on how to encourage students who opted to stop their education.
The new set of officers and other candidates who did not make it to the new lineup guaranteed to continue serving the students and be the voice of the youth especially during the health crisis.
The election was facilitated by Commission on Student Elections Head Grace Gulapa together with MIS Department Assistant Head and Computer Science Program Chair Arzel Pinpin.
College SSC adviser Jaramie Gonzales Manalaysay said to newly elected officers that it is just the start of their journey.
“Sana manatili ang unity, teamwork and cooperation. Don’t worry andito naman po ako bilang adviser tutulungan ko po ang mga bata para maisagawa kung ano ang proyekto na gusto nilang gawin para sa ating mga estudyante at para sa ating eskwelahan,”Manalaysay said.