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.

CIR Kalayaan on cheating, implications of star section system

by Timothy Gerard Palugod

CIR Kalayaan presidential candidate Chelsea Bless Nabing (L) and vice presidential candidate Janae Raquiza (R) | Photo by Jacklord Lanzo

For the College of International Relation’s (CIR) Kalayaan lineup, the act of cheating is “only in the mindset of the students.”

When asked about the issue in CIR where students cheat their way to the star sections, vice presidential candidate Janae Raquiza mentioned the “Mind Your Mind” mental health program in their platform. “Let’s give the reasons why people cheat. Because maybe the students didn’t study well, or maybe they have other activities,” she stated.

Raquiza and Kalayaan’s presidential candidate Chelsea Bless Nabing explained that the “Mind Your Mind” program is a series of tutorials and seminars that will encourage students to study and not to cheat.

The mechanism of the star section system in CIR recognizes the excellent academic performance of Diplomacy and International Relations students. Nabing does not see this as an issue, explaining that there are students who excel in academics and students who excel in extracurricular activities.

Meanwhile, Raquiza acknowledged that there are pros and cons to the star section system, but the program leaned more in the positive side as it “encourages the students to study harder so they can be part of that section.”

She clarified that there are students who excel in other sections. “You don’t really have to be in the 56 to say that you are smart,” said Raquiza, who has been a part of the star section.

Another highlight in their platform is the League of Diplomats, a series of competitions that strengthens the students’ skills and talents and helps them to be more engaged with each other.

COT Kalayaan Stands Strong Without VP

by Timothy Gerard Palugod

Kalayaan’s College of Technology (COT) lineup has no vice-presidential candidate.

It is an automatic win for their rival party’s vice president John Joseph Ong, but Kalayaan’s presidential candidate Renze Covacha reiterated that there should be no more partisanship once you’re seated in the council.

“Meron kaming circumstance na inimbitahan yung isang tao from kabila, tapos at the last day of filing [of candidacy], part [na] pala siya ng kabila. Alam namin na dito na siya sa VP, pero last day of filing tsaka siya lumipat,” said Covacha.

Renz Covacha, a third-year engineering student from the last batch of the engineering program, is also the incumbent COT student council Vice President.

With regards to the issue of merging the College of Computer Studies (CCS) and the College of Engineering (COE), Covacha explained that it is already an old issue. “Alam na namin sa sarili namin na ito na yung legacy namin. Ito na yung magbibigay sa amin ng time para maipamahagi yung mga learnings na natutunan namin sa school,” he added.

Furthermore, Covacha mentioned that the students in the college should be united. “Ito na, naging isa na tayo. Dapat i-impose natin na isa lang yung college at kakaunti na lang tayo. Dapat meron nang unity sa college natin,” he said.