#AyokoNangMagmahalLPU: Publication fees continue, but where’s The Sentinel?

Manila, Philippines - Publication fees are still being collected from Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) students, but where will it go to?

In 2017, the official student publication was disbanded after false allegations of misuse of funds and poor quality of writing. (TIMELINE: Campus press repression in LPU)

Also read: Debunking the administration's justifications for "changing" The Sentinel

At the time, the Student Affairs Office withheld LPU Independent Sentinel’s funds and stopped collecting publication fees from students.

Enrollment Assessment Forms (EAF) acquired by The Sentinel revealed students have been paying a P100 pub fee ever since the previous editorial board graduated. Other miscellaneous fees are reportedly left unused throughout a semester.

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Deputy Secretary General Ryan Martinez confirmed there have been cases where pub fees were collected despite the absence of a student publication, but “fees were accumulated in their trust account and composed the bulk of their remaining funds.”

“(...) However... we can’t make a definite conclusion through hearsay [given the limited data]... Most of our sources come from student publications. Without them, we wouldn’t be aware of the existence of such issues,” he explained.

As of posting, The Sentinel has no capacity to procure financial records and track paper trail to verify whether or not the funds remain untouched.

SAO has yet to be reached for an official response, but they assured the money is reserved for The Sentinel if the publication will be revived.

Screenshot taken from LPU's official Twitter account

Meanwhile, efforts to jump-start the publication’s operations are on hold after LPU started to look for student writers who will contribute articles in the university website “on a weekly or monthly basis.”

A tuition fee increase consultation will take place on 27 February between the central student government and LPU officials.

Updates to follow

Patricia Samin and Timothy Gerard Palugod wrote this report.

LYCESGO accomplishes 72.72% of programs in strategic plan

by Patricia Samin

Lyceum Central Student Government (LYCESGO) President Patrick Sarsalejo’s leadership is about to end. With only inches away from the end of their term, Sarsalejo’s administration claimed 72.72% of the LYCESGO projects have already been implemented.

LYCESGO Secretary Chester Jan Singian has provided a report stating that out of the 22 target activities, the LYCESGO has fulfilled 16 of those projects.

Two of the 22 projects were not implemented by the council for various reasons. These include the EAF Revision, and the LYCESGO University-wide LED TVs which was originally the idea of the officers but is now adopted by the LPU administration.

Meanwhile, four of their projects such as Intramurals Closing, State of the University-wide Address, Research Forum, and the Calendar Rental, are yet to be implemented by the end of this term.

The incumbent LYCESGO is comprised of mixed representation from other parties. Sarsalejo was the representative of Partido Independiente and was elected as the head of the government while his council includes Vice President Karl Jerome Zapanta and Treasurer Eljohn Lagrada from Pamana; and Secretary Chester Jan Singian and Auditor Danielle Fontanilla from Kalayaan.

When asked about how the diverse LYCESGO today is different from the usual one-party rule before, Sarsalejo answered that it reformed the status quo in the student government.

“The structure I have created fosters teamwork, where everyone in the organization regardless of their degree programs/party affiliations works toward a common goal. It’s not a mere tool of delegating tasks and projects to subordinates so the council can meet project deadlines. It’s a mentorship program designed to students who shares the same endeavor with us, and that is to serve the Lyceans with [utmost] commitment,” he explained.

As student body president, Sarsalejo did not deny that he had struggles when it comes to serving the university.

“Being the 35th President of LYCESGO in post for a limited time frame, geared with audacious projects, aiming to make a mark and leave a legacy, puts me into huge challenge to make this dream possible,” he replied.

Furthermore, he elaborated his exasperation in the council caused by the strains of political partisanship.

“Frustrations are inevitable and probably my biggest frustration is when I think my efforts wasn’t enough to influence the behavior of self-interested student politicians in LPU to change for the better. They continue to be driven with greed, has the audacity to run for office lacking competency and advancing the interests of their respective political party,” he stated.

Now that his administration draws to a close, Sarsalejo hopes for the best in the next roster of officers from today’s elections for the next academic year. He advised them to “showcase the art of diplomacy in your leadership” and “evaluate and continue the major changes we wrought in the Lycean politics, be prudent, start young and have the courage, ambition, and passion for making a major social impact.”

CBA Kalayaan united in their ‘love with Jesus’

by Timothy Gerard Palugod

CBA Kalayaan's vice presidential candidate Samantha Labonera | Photo by Jacklord Lanzo

Chris Badana, Kalayaan’s College of Business Administration (CBA) presidential candidate, said that the most important project in their platform is a spiritual stress management seminar.

Among the three top projects in their platform, both Badana and vice presidential candidate Samantha Labonera chose ‘#JesusAndMe’ as the most relevant for the CBA community. They claimed that it is something new that “caters to the needs of the students.”

“If you’re going to look at the three courses, which is JPIA, ManSoc, and PSCAS, they are all stressed,” said Badan, referring to the three student organizations in their college. Labonera inferred that stress leads to depression and suicide.

“The main objective of #JAM is to remove the stress by getting someone who is an expert in giving a stress management seminar,” Badana stated. Likewise, he explained that it is open to all religions.

When asked about how this project will benefit non-believers, vice presidential candidate Labonera defended, “Hindi naman siya about sa religion; kung ano yung pinaniniwalaan mo. Ibi-build namin dun yung relationship mo with God.”

In addition, Badana has a resource speaker in mind. “I am thinking of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle because I’ve been attending most of the talks of our dearly beloved cardinal and I am aiming to give that joy in my heart to be felt by my co-Tycoons,” he said.

Other events in their platform include “LINK” (Leadership Innovation NetworK), which is a one-day camp out and team building, and “How to be StuPid” (Studyanteng Matipid), which is a financial literacy seminar.