THE Bedan Electoral Committee (BELCOM) officially announced the Student Executive Council (SEC) for the academic year 2024-2025 on Sept. 9. Among the newly elected officers is Ma. Atassia V. Soliveres (IV-BAIS), who, after being elected Internal Vice President last year, chose to resign to pursue the presidency. 

     SEC now welcomes five newly elected officers, all from the BEDAN Party: Soliveres, as President with 373 votes, Nina Biscocho (III-BSE) as External Vice President with 322 votes, Shane Talusan (II-BSP) as Secretary with 324 votes, Akio Paule (III-BSA) as Treasurer with 351 votes, and Felicity Oliveros (I-BSLM) as First-year level representative with 107 votes. The BEDAN Party ran unopposed for all positions except for the First-year Level Representative.

     The Special Elections, initially conducted from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3, were extended to Sept. 6 due to the continuous suspension of classes.  

     The voting process, originally held via the SBCA Learning Management System (LMS) in a quiz format, was subsequently switched to a questionnaire format. This quiz format hindered BELCOM from accurately determining the vote standing, as it only displayed the “scores” of students and necessitated individual response checks. In contrast, the questionnaire format offered an instant vote summary, streamlining the process for tracking voter turnout.

Electoral Machinations

     BELCOM Chairperson Daniela Cronico (IV-BSA) explained the efficiency and security of using LMS as the voting platform by restricting access exclusively to Bedan students. “Considering the announcement that we would be shifting to online classes after preparations for onsite elections were already settled, utilizing LMS became the most efficient and safest alternative,” Cronico said.

     The recent election accumulated 529 valid votes, a decline from the 608 votes cast in last year’s onsite election. Cronico acknowledged that onsite elections typically see higher turnout. However, she also highlighted that this was the first successful online election, attributed to flexible voting times and the elimination of mandatory Zoom sessions. 

     Regarding the recurring need for special elections, BELCOM clarified that these are standard practices for electing the first-year level representative, as general elections occur before the academic year begins. The committee also indicated plans to amend the Election Code to enhance the process for future elections.

Campaign Promises’ Forecast Future 

     Soliveres drew motivation from her leadership experiences, aiming to expand her impact by collaborating closely with her co-officers and the Council of Student Leaders to keep the student body informed and address their needs. Acknowledging the difficulty of balancing academics with leadership responsibilities, she plans to prioritize tasks, delegate effectively, and maintain open communication with her council. She remarked, “While no event is without its imperfections and lapses, I view these as opportunities for constant learning and improvement.”

“I intend to prove that my promises are not intended for mere show but are actionable by remaining active, engaging the students, and working with the team towards achieving the required outcomes.” Biscocho asserted, driven by a yearning to address alienation. She mentioned that her biggest challenge will be adjusting to the new structure and responsibilities of the SEC, which differs from her previous experience.

     Whereas Talusan used her prior election experience to fuel her commitment, noting, “Reflecting on why I originally wanted to run helped me reconnect with my purpose: leading, serving, and self-growth.” She cited the pressure of expectations and balancing academics with her new role as Secretary as her main challenges. Talusan intends to remain conscious of the students’ needs to render her  platforms a reality.

     Encouraged by his father to step outside his comfort zone and demonstrate his capabilities, Paule envisioned improving the finance system and internal controls within the SEC, guaranteeing proper organization and transparency. He expressed that adapting to his new position outside of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA), the co-curricular organization of the Accountancy department, is a significant challenge.“I plan to take it one step at a time, using my previous leadership experience to align with the current processes and become a better and effective leader, Paule said”

     “I strived to be in a position where I could deliver the change that I wanted to see regarding the issues that matter the most to us,” Oliveres affirmed. She remains inspired by a strong desire to serve and be an active voice for the student body, underscoring the significance of teamwork in delivering realistic and impactful platforms. She also plans to actively listen and engage with students from various backgrounds, aiming to find common ground. 

     Kylie Wong (II-BSP), also from the BEDAN Party, ran for Second-year level representative, but received 52 votes, falling short of the required vote quota of 60 votes. 

     Despite the vacancies for the positions of Second-year level representative, Internal Vice President, Press Relations Officer, Fourth-year level representative, and Third-year level representative, no further elections will be held to fill these seats in the SEC.