By Yuri Andrei Morrison | April 19, 2024
Graphic by Louise Margareth Mansing
The Independent Candidates for Presidency
GET to know the independent candidates for the upcoming elections! In an interview with THE BEDAN HERALD, the students who had their eyes set on the Student Executive Council (SEC) presidency for the next term opened their doors for us to get a view of who they were and what they planned to do.
The New Face in The Race
A competitor in the presidential race comes from the Department of Communication and Media Studies (CMS). Joanna Marie San Juan Del Rosario (III-BACMS) vies for the presidential position in her final year after leading Beda.Comm, the co-curricular organization of the CMS department, for two. Calling herself a selfless leader, she immersed herself in experience by participating in numerous organizations outside Beda.Comm, namely, Silakbo and Pulagrafia. A previous president turned IVP under the CMS department, Joanna has a diverse array of experience.
Del Rosario said she wants to materialize her vision for the institution, establishing a strong and uplifting identity that will embrace what it truly means to have a “Lion’s Pride.” When asked what made her run, she says, “I believed that this was the perfect chance for me to step in and initiate change. In this initiative, I do not intend to gain anything in return; rather, I have a lot to give to my community and to the people.”
Aiming to be a Jubilant leader, Joanna categorizes her goals under JUANDER:
Jubilant, Unite, Amplify, Nurture, Direction, Emphasize, and Reignite
To achieve them, she is looking to launch three projects: “Juan For All, All for Juan” — a wellness project for the environment and the student’s physical and mental well-being; “Para kay Juana” – a women empowerment project; and “Animo Week” – a project showcasing talent, entrepreneurship, and support for scholars, athletes, and other members of the community.
The All-Too-Familiar Face
In her final year, Jules Mykel Reyes (III BSBA-MM) aims for a second term as the SEC President. A studious student with service to share, she is more than just a “simple girl” as she calls herself. A visionary from the Marketing Department, she has been a part of the SEC for three years, starting as a Level Representative, taking on the mantle of Secretary, and heading forward as the President, but will her momentum be enough?
Reyes emphasizes her vision—representing the voices of every student and valuing books, organizations, and events. She wants to uphold what she has done for the community so far and develop it by working immersed in and with it.
The organization has never been work for her, she considers it something she enjoys and loves. It has become a family to her. And to it, she wants to come back to, explaining “[It] was like a book I wasn’t able to finish reading. Just like an unfinished book, I still have plans and projects yet to be continued for the student body,” citing that she gets a sense of fulfillment and growth as a President.
She advocates for inclusivity, well-being, and excellence, looking forward to new projects whilst keeping those we all have come to know like the back of our hands. Highlighting planned events, she vaguely mentions a platform for students to explore extracurriculars and understand their strengths, host discussions with other universities, and recognize the musical talents of our very own students.
But what Lies Beyond the Faces?
As we assess the promising faces that call for the seat at the head of the students, it is crucial for us to take into account what is truly important — that what lies behind the face between the eyes is where the race that matters is. We ourselves must criticize the upcoming platforms and projects these candidates lay on us, erasing biases and idealistic thoughts. These candidates are no strangers to the students, you may check what they have previously promised, what they have achieved, and how they have been as student leaders.
Get involved, bat an eye, or at the very least, vote. Whoever among the candidates shall represent you as a student, as an individual, but most importantly as the community they serve. Take it upon yourself to separate personal relations, whether they may be your close friends or the person who always smiles at you when you cross paths in the halls, and assess these individuals as servants. Their face cards hold no value in places of service, and we must see them beyond that.
Volume 29 | Issue 4
