What made you decide to run for presidency again?
During my term, I saw projects that are in
preparation of something else. What drives me to run again is
what happened during the student congress – proposal making, so
with that “It’s not enough pa,” kung baga this time it would be
the action, the implementation such proposals coming from the
student themselves. So basically on that, I am not satisfied
with what I have done on my term and I think I can do much
better and much greater if I would be given the opportunity to
be in the position again.
Are you allowed to run as a re-electionist candidate?
Hindi siya namention sa charter. It was a first
time. And I believe that a law that does not exist means the law
does not prohibit.
Ten being the highest, how would rate your term as the FEUCSO
president? Why?
I would rate it nine. Mainly because, I was able to
reach out to students naman on a holistic approach not just on a
serious matter of standing for the rights of the students but
also on its part of making the students imbibe their talents and
capabilities. I cannot say that I have a lot of projects but I
can defend that by saying that it’s not a matter of quantity,
it’s a matter of quality.
What sets you apart from other candidates? What is your edge
against your rival?
I’ve been here. I’ve learned so much. And with the
plans that we have, its something that was created out of what
happened during the last term. And by this time, I’ve already
reached out to the students; the students have already known me
and have already had a glimpse of my administration. Kung baga,
a continuation of my term would make what happened with my
previous term a better one.
What
is your stand regarding tuition increase?
As the FEUCSO president, we are after the legal
procedures of tuition fee increase. There is nothing wrong with
increasing the tuition fee if it is indeed for the development
of the University. But then, there are certain limits to such,
that’s why there are policies. What FEUCSO is trying to do is to
monitor the procedures. Because even though tuition fee increase
is something for the betterment of the University is to take
into considerations the capability of the students to bear with
it. So what we are after is the legal procedures that the
University is following.
Personal stand ko, actually no. Mainly because there
are certain things needed to be developed in the University. If
there are annual increases, stop it first then develop first
kung alin ang dapat i-develop. I have no question about our
facilities but on how these facilities are being used by the
students that’s what I’m worried about. Because as ordinary
students, we still have conflicts pa sa paggamit ng mga
facilities dito sa University. So, on my part, no to tuition
fee increase if it’s not efficient and it’s not being felt by
the students on the academic level. Kung baga on the quality of
education.
If you are to be re-elected, what are the things you would like
to change?
Madami. I would like to implement all that was done
in the Student Congress. One of which is to have a student
center. We’re pushing through it. We’re hoping the sana nga
ngayon siya kaso nga lack of time kaya hindi siya nagawa. We’re
pushing forward scholarship for irregular students and to allow
student council to have its own tuition fee increase
consultation.
What exactly is the Student Center?
Aside from the task of the FEUCSO and other student
council to implement projects, it would be the voice of the
students towards the administration. FEUCSO being the head,
House of Congress being the policy making body and the student
council officers being the part of a committee. This committee
is subdivided into three. Ang naisip pa lang namin na tentative
standing committee when were talking about it ay ‘yung Grievance
Committee, Information Dissemination Committee and the
Socio-Civic Committee. We’re targeting more on the grievance
committee kasi on this part voice of the students talaga. There
are vagueness on it kasi when you talk of committee it has a lot
of sections pa – on what grounds, on what part. Complex siya but
we’re really really looking forward na mapush through talaga
namin siya.
Please elaborate in on your party’s GPOA – like the FEUCSO TV
and the FEUCSO Newsletter.
FEUCSO TV. As what my fellow officers told me, some
of the TV’s here in the University are not used. Kung baga,
magagamit lang siya kapag may basketball game. So, why not ask
for the administration if we could manage the TV. That it could
be the information dissemination of FEUCSO aside from the
Bulletin Board. Or not, if we could afford so, we’ll avail of
TV. Then FEUCSO Newsletter. This will be a per semester
presidential report. Doon malalaman what FEUCSO have done and if
it’s possible, transparency ng funds since pera din naman ng
estudyante ‘yun. At nakalagay din sa charter na ang FEUCSO
mayroon daw talagang newsletter. But we were not able to work on
it, now we’re making it a reality.
You’re an architecture student, why did you choose to become a
student leader, orator; and eventually run for FEUCSO President?
It’s an unlikely thing that an architecture student
is in a political arena. This is something that you would not
think an artist would do. But this is something that I’m
endowed. People tend to ask me are you really a student of IARFA?
Which is an embarrassment to me. My main reason is because I
want to expose myself… that we [IARFA students] can also speak
aside from doing art. I chose to be a student leader because I
crossed a path or milestone which I already know I’m the best.
What made you decide to run for FEUCSO president?
To continue the 21 years of quality student
service. I just want to make some change. I feel that the
previous government is not acting in accordance of what they
promised. I believed that with my partner we can do better.
What sets you apart from your rival?
Experience wise. I’ve been a student leader ever
since I’m in first year.
Basically, skills. One good factor is I’m an
artists. We in IARFA were not just taught on how to draw. We
were also taught how to rationalize on things in every day of
our subjects such as designs but in other subjects like theory
of arts, the analytical skills does not run in a mere sense of
academics but this develops more of our complex side of the
brain. In IARFA, we are not just taught how to color things
better. We are taught to weigh things more in defining the gray
matter.
What are issues or problems present in the current student
system that you want to address?
Issues on student and professor relationship. There
are a lot of issues na binababa sa UCCO, sa PEER Counsellor’s
group na hindi naman under sa responsibility ng UCCO tulad ng
nagkaroon ng problema and isang estudyante sa professor. Kasi
itong professor hinaharass itong estudyante that… Ibabagsak niya
ang estudyante para, well we know, na nangyayari yan hindi lang
sa University natin.
May kaso rin na may professor na hindi nagtuturo.
The students were professional enough to write to the office (FEUCSO)pero
hindi siya nabigyan ng action. They didn’t know anything. Pano
nila magagawa ‘yun eh ni mga officers nga wala sa office. Ang
mga nandoon committee members.
Buboto ka ng tao na nandoon na hindi mo nga
ma-gauge. Kung itong taong ba ito ay capable enough? ‘Yung mga
issues na ganoon. Marami pa. Actually, lahat ng issues doon
binababa eh. Pero hindi nabibigyan ng address.
There are issues in FEUCSO scholars. There’s this
officer in IABF. Hindi siya natanggap sa FEUCSO scholarship. So
there’s been an underground investigation done by PEER student
leaders from the party (SANDIGAN) who discovered that in IAS and
IABF most who pass the FEUCSO scholarship are friends of these
people who are in position. So, kawawa naman ‘yung ibang
estudyante na may chance. His grade is 1.00 +. The grade of that
person in exchange of him from SAMASA is 2.00+. Ganoon ‘yung
difference. Kung ikaw matinong officer, alam mo ‘yung grounds ng
FEUCSO scholarship. Dapat alam mo na ito ‘yung dapat pumasa.
Basically sa FEUCSO, meron na silang plot dyan eh
for FEUCSO scholarships. Nagkakaroon talaga ng fixing na dapat
hindi ganoon kasi nilo-lobby pa ya sa mga estudyante. It doesn’t
mean that if you’re in position, you won’t undergo checks and
balance. The thing is your still a student.
So, the FEUCSO scholarship is not entirely free for
FEUCSO students. This is for everybody. Dapat magkaroon ng isan
committee ng checks and balance. Ito bang FEUCSO officers, ok ba
silang mag-FEUCSO scholarship? Or there are people who need it
more? Paano kung itong mga officers na ito, capable naman ‘yung
family nila. Paano ‘yung iba na hindi kaya? Sayang ‘di ba? Ang
gusto pa naman natin na ma-achieve quality education. Paano kung
may mas iba pang may kaya, mas magaling.
How would you bring out the leadership skills in every TAMARAW
as your main goal?
In my
case, if I win, with my vice-chair, we will do a program na
ipapa-approve naming sa different leadership sectors such as
UST, AYLC. This program will be something of a standard in FEU
na mangyayari by volunteerism. This people from the sectors that
I’ve said will be efficient enough to train this people. This is
not more of a training. This more of inspiring to serve kasi
when you train sometimes, you don’t act kasi, its basically what
the brain tells you. Pero ano ‘yung nasa puso ‘yung pages-serve.
‘Yun ‘yung mas importante kasi nandun ka nga pero ano ba? Nandun
ka ba because you want to write something on your resume before
you graduate; or your there because you want to make some
change.
Dwight Norman Sarga
