Thread by @abtheflame

#ABHalalan2022: Six ABSC candidates will be presenting their platforms and stances on key issues concerning the Artlet community in this year's Miting de Avance.

Catch The Flame's live updates later at 3 p.m.

RELATED VIDEO: #ABHalalan2022 candidate profiles

For PRESIDENT: bit.ly/3u0xx2k

For INTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT: bit.ly/3iTzTtD

For EXTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT: bit.ly/3K5ctgD

For SECRETARY: bit.ly/3NHDGIv

NOW: Six ABSC candidates square off in Miting de Avance 2022, a mandatory debate organized by the AB Comelec and co-presented by UST Tiger TV. | @matt_theflame

Follow @abtheflame for live updates.

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AB Comelec Chairperson Mark Lugo gives his opening remarks. | @matt_theflame

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@matt_theflame Candidate for secretary journalism sophomore Janica Buan pushes for sufficient and sustainable information dissemination through a website Athena's Office. | @matt_theflame

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Panelist asks Buan: How certain are you that a website is the perfect medium for accessible information given the existence of FB and Twitter? | @matt_theflame

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Buan says her platform Athena's Office will serve as a guide for students in entertaining questions such as online procedures and asking about schedules for events.

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Question for Buan: How will you ensure that this (Athena's Office) will be utilized and maximized?

Buan says that she will seek help from the block secretaries in sending the link or disseminating the information to the students. | @matt_theflame

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Panelist asks Buan: Regarding MULAT, will this be a recurring advocacy project? Also, how will you ensure that it will remain sustainable in the long run?

Buan says MULAT is not just a name but a platform that will properly help the Artlets in identifying, debunking, and fighting disinformation. She adds that this will be disseminated to the block officers to ensure accessibility among students. | @matt_theflame

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Follow-up question: Wouldn't your advocacy (MULAT) overstep other advocacy projects from other organizations?

Buan says no as this will be a collaboration with other organizations. | @matt_theflame

@matt_theflame Political science freshman and VP Internal aspirant Jose Maria Balbaboco lays his plans and platforms. @matt_theflame

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Balbaboco says that being an Artlet exposed him to the diversity and capabilities of the students. He adds that he will emphasize the importance of respect and inclusivity through the KaakABay Project. | @matt_theflame

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Panelist asks Buan: What is the rationale behind using short plays and films as the culminating production? Should it not be newsletters from various papers in the University? Wouldn't it be better to enforce student publication instead? | @matt_theflame

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Buan says her advocacy has two phases. In the first phase, she will release publication materials to tackle disinformation. The second phase will be utilizing films as it will be easier to engage with the different interest organizations. | @matt_theflame

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...and provide students a new perspective in understanding the issue | @matt_theflame

Buan says that she has already talked to some organizations like UST Unesco and Artistang Artlets for this project. @matt_theflame

Panelist asks Buan regarding Athena's Office: Who will be in charge of creating and handling the website?

Buan says she will be spearheading the project and suggests the creation of a network committee that will handle and produce the contents of the website. | @matt_theflame

Buan clarifies that the network committee will comprise student volunteers. | @matt_theflame

Panelist asks Buan: Paper-processing of events of any organization is quite a heavy workload. Do you know the paper trail process when it comes to organizational paperwork?

Buan cites the six steps: Spilling out important information, submission of forms, acquiring signatories from the AB adviser, seeking approval from the SWDB, passing requirements to OSA and seeking for approval, and seeking the OSG's approval. | @matt_theflame

Follow-up: How can this website [Athena’s Office] be more engaging to the AB community?

Buan says that the website will also have an archive feature that will include previous AB events for Artlets' future reference. | @matt_theflame

Buan adds that the website will also include students' achievements and inspiring stories of Artlets and alumni.

Panelist asks Balbaboco: What is your plan of action for the KaakABay Project?

Balbaboco: We want to introduce and re-introduce the idea of women’s rights and alongside these are more specific topics such as the Safe Spaces Act.

Balbaboco: We can tell the sustainability of the project because the university is actually supporting us through implementing stricter policies in regards to safe spaces.

Balbaboco was asked: Paano mo nasabi na the University is already supporting your activity where in fact you are not yet in the Council?

Balbaboco: I mentioned "supported" because the University has already implemented stricter guidelines when it comes to sexual harassment.

Balbaboco: What I want to establish to the Artlet community--na merong council na willing i-defend if by chance they have experienced cases such as discrimination and harassment.

Balbaboco: We want to introduce first the idea of women’s rights and then tackle more specific topics under it. And then we will continue to our second phase which is the encouragement to the Artlet community of the idea of correct utilization of someone’s pronouns.

Balbaboco: While on the groundwork, we will post creative materials that will feature a certain proponent inside the artlet community.

Panelist asks Balbaboco: Nabanggit mo kanina na you wanted to raise the concerns of the students na may na violate sa kanila. So paano mo yun ma-lo-lobby in terms of mobilization para at least klaro sa lahat?

Balbaboco says he will be in partnership with a certain office that shares the same values as his platform.

Balbaboco says that before he encourages the Artlet community in the proper usage of pronouns, he will reintroduce first the importance and relevance of this.

"Magsisimula ito sa loob ng ABSC through their letters, etc.," he adds.

Balbaboco says that they will utilize quantitative and qualitative measures to see the effectiveness of the KaakABay project. | @dawn_abtheflame

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Balbaboco on discussing the idea of safe space: We can utilize this as complementary to the previous project of the AB student council. | @dawn_abtheflame

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Panelist asks Balbaboco: How would you address the concern of the seemingly isolated program societies during your term as vice president-internal, should you be elected? | @dawn_abtheflame

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Balbaboco says that he will prioritize a good relationship with the societies, the teaching personnel, the interest organizations, and the non-teaching personnel. | @dawn_abtheflame
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Panelist asks Balbaboco: In the spirit of the check-and-balance, what are your resolutions steps being the vice-president internal? | @dawn_abtheflame
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Balbaboco says that the council will freely listen to the concerns of the AB students. | @dawn_abtheflame

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Balbaboco says that the goals and objectives of various societies and the student council are the same, that is why it will be easy to enforce the measures. | @dawn_abtheflame

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@dawn_abtheflame Candidate for external vice president Timothy Santiago begins his campaign spiel. | @dawn_abtheflame
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Santiago lays down his platforms: AB Unbound, ABot Komunidad. | @dawn_abtheflame
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@dawn_abtheflame Candidate for external vice president Ierathel Tabuno begins her campaign spiel. | @dawn_abtheflame

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Tabuno pushes to update the AB Consitution through her platform Pivoting Better, improve response through Policy Priority, and collaborations and partnerships beyond the Faculty through Proud Together. | @dawn_abtheflame

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The panelist asks Santiago if he is aware of the processes to mobilize projects.

Santiago says that he does, citing steps in fulfilling these projects. | @dawn_abtheflame

Santiago says that he acknowledges that the processes are lengthy, thus he ensures that everything is time-bound. | @dawn_abtheflame

Santiago is asked how will his platform AbotKomunidad will avoid repetition.

Santiago: We will be banking on the purpose of partnership here in making community development projects easier by collaborating with the ABSC, our respective societies, and even the UST Simbahayan.

Santiago is asked if these projects will be overstepping with the other projects of the societies.

He says his platform will rather help in collaborating with other societies. | @dawn_abtheflame

Santiago is asked how will he measure the relationship with the alumni and artlet student body.

He says he will establish a working relationship with them by proper communication, involvement, dialogue, and engagement.| @dawn_abtheflame
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Panelist asks Santiago how will he establish sustainability with regard to his projects.

Santiago says he will manage sustainability by student-alumni representatives, aiming for a coalition to better create AB initiatives.| @dawn_abtheflame

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Santiago says that in trying to implement this coalition, they seek advice from the BOM and different societies. | @dawn_abtheflame

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Panelist asks Tabuno how will she ensure that the schedule of the conferences will not be in conflict with those of other programs, and invite students in participating. | @dawn_abtheflame

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Tabuno says she will seek consultation with the AB programs in mobilizing her platform Proud Together. | @dawn_abtheflame
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Panelist asks Tabuno what will be her involvement with the partner communities of the council.

Tabuno clarifies that she will still have her focus on duties as the external VP, despite having platforms that focus on internal concerns. | @dawn_abtheflame

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Tabuno says that her credentials are aligned with the internals, saying that this is "an edge" on how she will work inside and outside AB. | @dawn_abtheflame

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Tabuno is asked about her plans regarding the external affairs of the council.

She says that she will implement livelihood projects regarding elections. | @dawn_abtheflame

Tabuno is asked if she is willing to withdraw her initial projects as these are more inclined in the internal aspect.

Tabuno says that she will not sacrifice her platforms as these also touch important concerns. | @dawn_abtheflame

Tabuno is asked how will she consolidate the general concerns of the students regarding her Policy Priority platform.

Tabuno says that she will impose data-driven initiatives to address student concerns. | @dawn_abtheflame

Tabuno is asked how will she ensure this policy will be implemented within a short period of time, knowing that there is a lot of processes to go through. | @dawn_abtheflame

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Tabuno says that the Ad Hoc committee will spearhead her platform policy priority. | @dawn_abtheflame

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@dawn_abtheflame Candidate for president Cyrille Coronado (Independent) begins her campaign spiel. | @dawn_abtheflame
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Coronado's platforms are ABalik sa Eskwela ng F2F, AB Connected, Advocacy Lobbying 101, and AB Constitutional Conventions. | @dawn_abtheflame

Panelist asks Coronado: Communication lang ba ang focus mo dito pagdating sa ABalik sa Eskwela? Hindi ba parang duplicate na lang yun ng ginagawa ng mga Societies? | @matt_theflame

Coronado says that she will centralize the information dissemination regarding F2F classes and the answers to other queries from the students through this platform. | @matt_theflame

Coronado: Lahat ng queries na pwedeng itanong ay ilalabas natin at maglalabas tayo ng materials para consolidated yung information.

The panelist suggests changing the project name ABalik sa Eskwela as it bears a connotation of transitioning classes from online set-up to F2F, and not on the information dissemination and answering queries regarding the possible shift to F2F classes AB.

Coronado says she is open to changing the name of her platform. | @matt_theflame

Coronado is asked: Why would you present AB Constitutional Convention as a platform, given that it has been initiated by the current administration and this should be initially done by the ABSC without stating it as a platform? | @matt_theflame

Coronado says that she included it in her platform because this initiative, although proposed, has not been materialized.

She adds that it will better inform the students that the constitution is outdated--two decades since it has been amended.

Follow-up question for Coronado: If you are to continue that platform, how will you make sure that students or at least all the representatives are involved? | @matt_theflame

Coronado says she will begin the project around the first term given, that the second term is a hectic time to consider for graduating students. | @matt_theflame

Coronado adds that the hearings for the constitutional amendment will fall on a day when they have no classes and she will provide excuse letters to ensure full student involvement. | @matt_theflame

Coronado is asked: What part of the constitution should be amended and why? | @matt_theflame

@dawn_abtheflame Candidate for president Kim Czaccei Dacanay (Dekada) gives her campaign spiel.

Her platforms include "Handa Na," a program aiming to ease the transition from distance learning to F2F classes and "ABeyond Elections 2022."

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Coronado says she will amend the bill of rights to protect students, especially the student activists. | @matt_theflame

Panelist asks Coronado: In your platforms, you included that you will sanction student leaders who will fail to do their responsibilities. What sanctions will you implement and how will you ensure that these will not impede their rights?

Coronado says she will impose the same sanctions as given to the ABSC officers. She emphasizes that the sanction will only be given if they did not properly do their responsibilities. | @matt_theflame

The panelist wants to clarify the sanctions, noting that there should be a right that needs to be addressed first in the constitution. | @matt_theflame

Coronado says the sanction to be given is dismissal to the post of any block or Society officers and be substituted by a more active and willing student. | @matt_theflame

Coronado is asked: More or less you are implying that you want to impeach irresponsible student leaders. How will you encourage the BoM to inspect this matter and what will be the role of BoM in the impeachment tribunal given that it is not part of their constitution?

Coronado explains that this is the reason why she lobbies for the police powers of the BoM, so that they will fully utilize their role as the legislative body and be able to police those incompetent student leaders. | @matt_theflame

Question to Coronado: Would this sanctioning be only applicable to student leaders or the whole student body?

Coronado says: Student leaders dahil nga idadagdag nga natin yung responsibilidad ng mga student leaders na halos same sa responsibilities ng ABSC officers.

Coronado on the participation of BoM in her project: Sisiguraduhin natin na informed sila na makikipag-ugnayan talaga tayo para alam nila yung nangyayari at para ma-exercise nila powers to a full extent. | @matt_theflame

Coronado says her platform AB Connected is open to everyone who wants to attend but the target is the student leaders because they will be trained in terms of management and conflict resolution. | @matt_theflame

Coronado says that the training will be done in an online set-up, given that some student leaders in the Faculty are still living outside the country. Conducting this online will make the platform accessible to everyone. | @matt_theflame

The panelist asks Dacanay: when it comes to health protocols, I believe that UST already has ThOMedSS. How will your "Handa Na" platform be different? How will you do better as compared to the existing program of the University? | @matt_theflame

Dacanay says her platform "Handa Na!" is different from ThOMedSS, saying that its data cannot be used by the ABSC to lobby policies in the AB admin as these are confidential.

She adds that her platform is localized. | @dawn_abtheflame

Dacanay further says that she will ensure the participation of the students through block presidents. | @dawn_abtheflame

Dacanay is asked what will be the content of the Artlet Care Kit and where will be the budget from.

Dacanay lists down medical supplies that they aim to provide to Artlets infected by COVID-19 and says that the budget will be from the ABSC funds. | @dawn_abtheflame

Dacanay says that there will only be 20 care kits quarterly, however, if there comes a surge, they will seek help from the AB Admin. | @dawn_abtheflame

Panelist asks Dacanay how will the project really perform as a transitional one, knowing that the project is only concerned with the current setup and not with when the limited F2F classes begin. | @dawn_abtheflame

Dacanay says that the platform is only an avenue to help the Artlets, but the actual work of the council is to amplify the student demands and make student policies regarding the return of the students to F2F. | @dawn_abtheflame

Dacanay is asked: How is the third phase (New Artlet in the New Normal) of the platform different from the AB Guidance initiative in helping the Artlets?

Dacanay says that it is not different from the efforts of the AB Guidance, rather it is complementary. | @dawn_abtheflame

Panelist asks Dacanay on the relevance of her platforms in representing the AB population, which are seen to be only inviting the "interest organizations."

Dacanay defends that the platforms are not only for the interest-organizations, rather the platforms demand accountability from those they voted for. | @dawn_abtheflame

A follow-up question for Dacanay was raised: What else are you aiming to resolve in the collective bond of AB, and not just parroting what is being currently done? |
@dawn_abtheflame

Dacanay further defends that their platforms are only complementary to the duties of the president, through this platform Artlets will become more 'political.' |
@dawn_abtheflame

Dacanay is asked if she will also spearhead the updating of the Constitution.

She says that she wants to prioritize the changing of class officer structures. | @dawn_abtheflame

Dacanay says that the ABSC's presence will be felt and known through pro-student policies. | @dawn_abtheflame

Dacanay is asked what does she think is lacking in the student council today.

She says that there are a lot of things that were not foreseen and readied, and hopes for the next EB to be ready. | @dawn_abtheflame

The event enters the For or Against segment. | @dawn_abtheflame

The first question: Are you for or against F2F classes activities, in the case that F2F classes return?

All candidates are for F2F classes. | @dawn_abtheflame

All candidates are for the F2F classes as long as the safety of the students is prioritized. | @dawn_abtheflame

Are you for or against the additional process set by the OSA in inviting high-profile speakers?

None of the candidates agreed. | @dawn_abtheflame

Third question: Are you for or against the USTAR?

All candidates are against USTAR. | @dawn_abtheflame

The candidates say that an applicant's previous grades should not be the sole basis for being accepted into the University.

Question: Are you for or against the endorsements of candidates in the national elections by religious groups.

Four out of 6 candidates are in favor while Tabuno and Coronado are against the statement. | @dawn_abtheflame

Fifth question: Are you for or against the continuation of the loaning made by the government?

Only Balbaboco and Santiago agreed with the statement. |
@dawn_abtheflame

Balbaboco says that he agrees with the statement, although the government must first educate the constituents about 'smart loaning.'

Santiago also agrees with this, saying there must be smart strategies. | @dawn_abtheflame

Buan is against this, saying the government should ensure that these loans will be utilized wisely for the benefit of the people and not for the wrong purpose. | @matt_theflame

Tabuno is also against it, saying an increasing number of debts could result in higher taxes. The government should have the economy bounce back first. | @matt_theflame

Coronado is also against continuing loans as it could result in higher taxes, burdening future generations.

Dacanay is against continuing loaning, saying it must be the last option as the country's debts have piled up already.

Santiago asks Tabuno: You said that you would create an ad hoc committee for the constitutional convention, however, may I ask if kasama ba ito sa duty mo as external vice president?

Tabuno says that it is not part of the VP-external's constitutional duty to establish an ad hoc committee or plan for the constitutional amendment.

Tabuno asks Santiago: One of the initiatives of ABot Komunidad is to help the AB Societies in creating development projects more easily. Are the AB societies having a hard time or lacking in implementing these kinds of projects?

Santiago says that members of the Concilium Philosophiae had a hard time implementing such projects due to time constraints and lacking communication with specific University offices. | @matt_theflame

Santiago asks Tabuno: Considering that we have 13 programs, could your programs and conferences cater to all of them all year round?

Tabuno says it is possible given that she will ask all the representatives of each program to identify the schedules, and she will also involve them, together with the AB administrators, in planning the conferences.

Tabuno asks Santiago about the possible benefits that Societies could get in partnering with him in creating community development, given that these Societies could propose their own development projects.

Santiago says that with the additional help his platform can offer, it will be easier for Societies to implement such projects and they will also be guided to assure their success. | @matt_theflame

Santiago to Tabuno: How are you going to hold red-taggers accountable when most of them are anonymous and outside the University? | @matt_theflame

Tabuno says it will only be prevented if there is a collaborative effort with the admin to ensure the safety and security of the students.

Tabuno asks Santiago about his statement that he will only consider constitutional amendment if it is deemed urgent. | @matt_theflame

Santiago says that he will only consider constitutional amendment when the urgency comes as it is a long process and it is already part of his constitutional duty, the reasons why he did not include it in his platform. | @matt_theflame

Coronado asks Dacanay why she did not implement her platforms when she was already the ABSC Secretary for current the academic year.

Dacanay says that they have different priorities to be done and platforms, according to her, are a product of time.

Dacanay asks Coronado what specific part of the bill of rights will she amend and if she is aware of the univesity-wide student code being lobbied.

Coronado says she is aware of the university-wide student code being lobbied.

She says she wants to include the student's right to appeal for his or her case, believing that this will further protect a student's interest. | @matt_theflame

Coronado asks Dacanay if she also has plans for other sectors in the University like the students who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, the working students, student-athletes, and such.

Dacanay says that it is part of her constitutional duty to govern the entire AB should she be elected as president, adding that she will open a dialog for them to hear their grievances and concerns.

Dacanay asks Coronado how could she address the contradiction in her platforms: policy-making and student leader training, which is a webinar in nature when she claimed to step up and not provide a webinar-based program.

Coronado says that she could not take away webinars given the distance-learning setup, but emphasizes the role of lobbying the advocacy as a concrete plan of action can also be done in the current setup.

Coronado asks Dacanay on her stand about student organizations collecting membership fees.

Dacanay says it depends on the nature of the organization on why they are collecting such.

Dacanay challenges Coronado's ABalik Eskwela platform by asking whether or not the nature of the platform is a scope of the duty of PRO.

Coronado says this will only strengthen the information dissemination and query seeking of the students. | @matt_theflame

Coronado to Dacanay: There are other initiatives rin to protect the interest of the students like the STRAW bill pero in our set up, we are pushing for the students' code. How will you help ensure na 'di siya ma-red-tape ulit?

Dacanay says that the elected president of AB is automatically part of the central board and she will keep on emphasizing the interests of students to the central board.

An Artlet asks Buan: Given that you only have little leadership experience as compared to your running mates, what can you offer to persuade us that you are not inexperienced in the position you are running for?

Buan cites her passion and willingness to serve the Artlet community.

An Artlet asks Balbaboco: What do you mean by "kulang sa respeto" and what are your grounds to say that our community is "kulang sa respeto?"

Balababoco cites his personal experience on sexual harassment and discrimination.

Balbaboco adds that this keeps him motivated to ensure that the students have the assurance that they are protected.

An Artlet asks Tabuno: Hindi ba constitutional duty ang constiutional revision? What are your reasons for making it a platform?

Tabuno cites a platform to be "a formal set of principles and goals supported by a candidate." Given this, she said that this is still considered a platform as it is supported by the definition of goals. | @matt_theflame

A student asks Santiago: How would you ensure effective communication with the administration should we shift to onsite classes?

Santiago says that the data-driven measures done by the ABSC this year have been effective in creating dialogue.

He says he will also listen to the demands of the students regarding in-person classes.

A student asks Coronado: You said you are for "no vaccines, no F2F classes," so does it mean you are pushing for mandatory vaccination?

Coronado says she is not pushing for mandatory vaccination but only encourages those who are eligible to take the vaccine. | @matt_theflame

An Artlet asks Dacanay: What are your work ethics as previous ABSC secretary, and do you think that you will maintain such ethics in your presidency?

Dacanay: My work ethics as the secretary is dapat organized ka kasi malulunod ka sa paperworks kapag hindi ka organized as the secretary.

Dacanay: And I make sure that I maintain an open-line communication with the project heads, the executive board, the secretaries of different interest organizations, and the Board of Majors.

Dacanay: Hindi natin i-me-maintain yung same work ethics that we had as a secretary because I am running for the presidency. My work ethics must be better than what I had practiced last term.

An Artlet asks Balbaboco about his platform KaakABay: Do you have other concrete plans of action other than informing the AB community regarding women’s rights?

Balbaboco: Once we have informed the Artlet community that the Artlets student council is prioritizing respect, in a place where discrimination and harassment do not take place, we proceed in partnering with a certain office under our Faculty of Arts and Letters.

Balbaboco: Dito natin iaaddress yung harrassment issues, by chance, discrimination issues, dito natin kakausapin yung mga students who have experienced this and dito natin tutulungan sila.

Balababoco is asked how will they know if they have achieved their goals.

Balbaboco says that they will use qualitative and quantitative measures in measuring the effectiveness of their projects.

A panelist*

Panelist asks Balbaboco: How different will be your ABilidad ng Artlets be from its preceding variants of AB organizational fairs throughout the years?

Balbaboco: For our organizational fair, we will have an opening ceremony that will give chance for the different interest organizations to show what they can offer.

Panelists ask Santiago how will his platform ABot Komunidad be different from the other policies being implemented by the other societies in AB and interest organizations.

Santiago says that his platform serves as a guide for community project proposals with the ABSC and societies to work together in being able to create action with local partnerships.

The Miting de Avance has ended.

No Artlet filed for the positions of auditor, treasurer, and public relations officer.

The voting period will be from April 4 to 8.

END OF THREAD