The SISC Student Council Miting de Avance 2023 for Senior High School, held on September 19 at the Luxembourg Hall, marked a pivotal moment for the school’s aspiring election candidates, providing a platform for them to demonstrate their potential as future leaders.
Whether you were unable to attend or simply require a recap ahead of tomorrow’s Election Day, here’s a brief overview of the event and its key highlights.
The Candidates
The program began with candidates introducing themselves to the audience. 17 students are in contention for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, STEM, HUMSS, ABM, and GAS Strand Representatives.
Minami Oikawa, presidential prospect for the Unfolding New Opportunities (UNO) Party, kicked off the segment by presenting her fellow members: Ryza Boco as ABM Strand Representative, Eun “Melody” Song Choi as GAS Strand Representative, Don Enrique “King” Padilla as HUMSS Strand Representative, Nathan Dichupa as STEM Strand Representative, Juliana Tan as Treasurer, Dahye Oh as Secretary, and Matthew Mariano as Vice President
Next, Una Villano, the opposing presidential candidate, introduced the BMOre Party’s candidates: Jacqueline Jocson as ABM Strand Representative, Doreen “Elin” Woo as GAS Strand Representative, Yoeiza Garcia as HUMSS Strand Representative, Alen Austria as STEM Strand Representative, Sihyun “Sisi” Park as Treasurer, Isabela “Sab” Castillo as Secretary, and Min Young “Charis” Kim as Vice President
The sole independent candidate for the Big Four positions, Kierkegaard “Kiko” Victoria, lastly established himself as an aspiring Student Council Treasurer.
The Platform and Plans
In the platform segment, the candidates outlined their visions for change within the school institution. The UNO Party, through its vision, aims “to provide proper handling of the Student Council’s platform and power in order to establish a lasting and powerful change.” Notable proposals from them included creating an online digital forum (titled Vox Populi), constructing SISC tote bags, adding food concessionaires, and developing a reviewer portal. The BMOre Party, through its vision, “aspires that through the ideas and values they intake, that every student or teacher, staff and non-staff, learns to be a little bit more.” Among others, they introduced plans for an improved School Spirit Month, celebratory festivals, a schoolwide thrift store, and a Varsity council. Independent candidate Victoria promised additional workshops, holiday-themed activities, and a school carnival.
The Q&A
Dominating the event was, in the words of the event moderator Ms. Sunny Patron, “the audience’s favorite part, and the candidates’ most dreaded — the Question and Answer portion.”
This segment started off with the ABM Representative candidates, who were asked how to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications. Jocson emphasized communication and connections with teachers and strand coordinators. Boco emphasized one of the UNO Party’s proposals, Vox Populi, and activities with seniors, juniors, and VOLT students to build camaraderie.
Woo and Choi were asked about their plans to include the minorities within the GAS strand. Woo suggested a Chuseok event, given the significant number of Korean students to bridge the cultural gap between them and those of other nationalities. Choi agreed with the idea of involving more GAS students and emphasized breaking down barriers through initiatives like Vox Populi. “I feel the most important thing [is] that all the students in the GAS [strand] should be united as they have their bond,” said Choi.
In addressing the question of how to promote a deeper appreciation for HUMSS, Garcia emphasized the importance of communication, recognizing the common misconception of HUMSS students as quiet. “I believe that I will be able to get the strand to engage more by being the bridge between [them],” Garcia expressed. On the other hand, King Padilla proposed first understanding the common human factor and the dynamic nature of humanity and society within the HUMSS strand.
For STEM, Austria and Dichupa were questioned about how they would promote interdisciplinary subjects, specifically in social sciences. Austria emphasized breaking free from stereotypes and expanding activities beyond math and science to foster new opportunities. Dichupa stressed that being in the STEM strand doesn't limit engagement with HUMSS subjects, advocating for the integration of HUMSS elements into STEM activities for a well-rounded approach.
Following the strand representatives, the Big Four candidates faced a series of insightful questions that tackled whole campus matters.
The candidates for treasurer were probed about their financial goals and strategies for their term as student council treasurer. Park underscored transparency and enhancing the Student Council experience within the budget, while Victoria aimed for financial freedom and memorable school events. Meanwhile, Tan focused on raising just enough funds for student body events, despite their profit-oriented reputation.
Secretarial candidates were asked about their communication platforms for the broader student population. Castillo centered on leveraging social media for transparency, while Oh emphasized UNO’s proposals of Vox Populi and social media rebranding.
Vice presidential candidates were questioned about how they would distinguish and complement the role of the president. Kim stressed the role of a vice president as a leader and bridge between the president and the rest of the Student Council, while Mariano emphasized the importance of a VP respecting and supporting the president without overpowering them.
Lastly, the presidential candidates were asked how they would promote open dialogue and unity during challenging times. Villano emphasized active communication and participation, while Oikawa stressed preventing major conflicts from escalating and ensuring that every voice is heard.
The Community Queries
All candidates had the opportunity to answer questions from both students and faculty, with Big Four officers having a two-minute window and strand representatives one minute to respond.
The question regarding strengthening the school's identity and fostering pride was posed to the presidential candidates. Villano suggested leveraging social media and collaborating with clubs like the Kindness Project to create a welcoming environment for all students. In contrast, Oikawa emphasized their dedication to supporting the student council, prioritizing service over personal recognition, and focusing on actively addressing student concerns.
In terms of handling criticism, the remaining candidates demonstrated their openness to constructive feedback and their ability to connect with the student body and collaborate with school management. Padilla acknowledged moments of self-doubt and the importance of distinguishing between constructive and unhelpful criticism. Victoria expressed a commitment to gathering opinions and proposals, even if some may seem unrealistic, to generate income for the school. Kim highlighted the inevitability of criticism and advocated for responding with key facts and valuable suggestions.
The Question and Answer session concluded with three probing questions from our Deputy Principal, Ms. January Gutierrez. In response to her query about what makes a Monarch leader, each candidate provided a succinct phrase to describe one.
Candidates also briefly endorsed their opponents, highlighting their opponents' qualities and qualifications.
Finally, when asked about the persuasive lines that would sway Ms. Jan to say yes to a proposal, candidates offered diverse responses, including appeals to benefiting students, personal growth, and ensuring opportunities were accessible to all.
If you have questions or seek additional information, check out the parties’ social media pages @theunoparty and @thebmoreparty.
The Election Proper
Voting for the election will take place on September 21 during homeroom time. It will end at exactly 8:16 am. The ballot QR code will only be displayed to students in attendance.
Winners will be inaugurated within the month of October. The future Student Council will oversee student affairs and school events onsite for the second year since online schooling.
As the anticipation for the upcoming Student Council elections builds, students remember that voting is more than a privilege — it's a vital responsibility that shapes the course of our school's future.
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