The Lone Independent Candidate

TODAY marks the start of the 2025 Student Executive Council (SEC) elections. Similar to previous SEC elections, the lineup of candidates running for office is mostly composed of Bedistang Aktibong Naglilingkod (BedAN) Party members, except for the recently appointed 2nd Year Level Representative, Gabrielle Raines Calañgi (II-BSLM), who chooses to run independently for the position of External Vice President. 

     THE BEDAN HERALD interviewed Calañgi, who explained why she chose to run as an independent candidate and how she plans to implement her Beda Bridges and Bed1sta projects. 

Running independently

     Calañgi’s intention to run independently was to prioritize the Bedan community over political affiliations. 

     “I chose to run as an independent candidate because I have always had the passion for service to my community, which bears more importance as compared to the affiliations of being a member of a party,” she expressed. She believes that running as an independent candidate will enable her to connect with students deeper —necessary to better understand their concerns and suggestions.

Beda Bridges and Bed1sta

     The two promised projects seen in Calañgi’s campaign material are Bedan Bridges, a project similar to a student exchange program, and Bed1sta, a fundraising concert that aims to support student-athletes and scholars. 

     Both projects heavily revolve around collaboration with external groups —and when asked about how it can benefit the Bedan community the most, she says, “these programs bring together the community, giving us a stronger sense of belongingness, not just as students, but also as an institution as a whole.” She believes that these programs are in line with the institution’s mission of fostering student excellence and unity —and that the collaborations are for highlighting the SBCA community’s ability to develop competency.

     Despite not having the support of a party, Calañgi believes that both projects are achievable and realistic since she personally has participated in and organized similar projects in the past. Moreover, the lone independent candidate claims that her experience studying in different universities allowed her to build relationships with other student leaders from other institutions. “I have studied in different universities, and I have been able to build relationships with other student leaders from other institutions,” she shared. 

Calañgi’s vision

     Apart from the projects mentioned in her campaign material, Calañgi’s ultimate goal is to bring sponsors and brands to campus events and encourage student participation in various competitions and collaborations with other institutions. She believes that this proves beneficial for students even after college life. 

     "I do believe that bringing sponsors, concessionaires, and other brands to events of our institution will be an integral duty as EVP. However, aside from these projects and roles, I really plan to encourage higher participation of SBCA Students with regards to competitions, collaborations, and projects with other educational institutions.," she expresses.

Take action

     The SBCA community is encouraged to take part in the future of student leadership. Onsite voting starts today until Apr. 5.

     While Calañgi runs as an independent, the majority of SEC candidates are from the BedAN Party, which has also laid out its vision and platforms for student leadership.