ASSOC bets bear platforms in MDA 2023

Photo from ASSOC Elections Committee

By Janna Lagman and Kristina Molina

During the “vASt Majority: The Asian Studies Miting de Avance (MDA) 2023” held last May 18, three aspiring candidates for the top positions in the UST Asian Studies Society (ASSOC) presented their platforms and addressed some of the most pressing issues faced by the Thomasian community. The MDA 2023 was presided over by the ASSOC Elections Committee (ASSOC Elecom), which included panelists composed of the ASSOC Board of Representatives (BOR). The event was also live-streamed via the official Facebook page of ASSOC Elecom.

Kicking off the MDA 2023 was ASSOC Elecom Adviser Ma. Regina Agustin with her opening remarks. “I heed you [Asian Studies (AS) students] to do three things in the following days: listen, reflect and vote,” Agustin emphasized. She also emphasized  AS students’ role in the elections is as important as the candidates’ role because without the former’s votes, there would be no leaders serving the ASSOC. “With new leadership, hopefully we can maintain continuity of the society’s best practices and continue our evolution towards the better,” Agustin added.

ASSOC Elecom Secretary Mako Komuro outlined the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the MDA 2023. First is the Presentation and Interpolation divided into two parts: presentation of platforms and policies wherein each candidate is given a maximum of three minutes to present their platforms and policies; and, a question and answer portion wherein each candidate is given two minutes to answer the questions, including follow-ups, from the BOR. Next is the For or Against segment, in which each candidate is given one minute to state whether or not they agree on a certain issue and explain their reason. Lastly, is the Open Forum, wherein each candidate is given 10 minutes to answer as many questions asked by AS students from a Google Form sent out by the ASSOC Elections Committee.

Buasen targets “governance with all-out service”

ASSOC President candidate Mary Carl Buasen stressed on the need to address AS students’ needs amid the transition from an online to a hybrid setup mode of learning. “I am advocating for governance with all out service for Asian Studies,” Buasen said.

She also outlined her platforms that include: Transparency and Mainstreaming Strategy wherein it aims to help AS students be up-to-date with necessary information and to assist them in their stay in the AS program; a collaborative effort between the ASSOC Internal Vice President (IVP) and External Vice President (EVP) that focuses on promoting opportunities and honing of skills of AS students through guilds like Model ASEAN Meeting (MAM), Model United Nations (MUN), and partnerships with outside organizations; another collaboration between ASSOC Secretary and Public Relations Officer (PRO) that aims to hasten updates about upcoming ASSOC events; another effort between ASSOC Auditor and Treasurer that focuses on the transparency of the finances of the organization; and, Asian Leadership 101, an improvement of the existing Realigning Asian Studies workshop, wherein it aims to emphasize more on the contextualization of leadership in different Asian regions.

Meanwhile, Buasen was asked about the step-by-step process of her platform, Transparency and Mainstreaming Strategy during the open forum. Wherein she clarified  that the planning would involve meeting the newly elected Executive Board members,current or the incoming BOR, and establishment of an open communication line between them. “Wala pa siyang mismong specific na step-by-step [Transparency and Mainstreaming Strategy still doesn’t have a specific process] because we still have to also consider din yung mga ilalabas na guidelines ng UST…pero hindi naman ibig sabihin that we are waiting for the general guidelines of UST na wala na tayong gagawin…yung plano natin ngayon, we can incorporate it with the guidance na ilalabas ng UST,[we also need to consider UST’s guidelines. But that doesn’t mean that we will just wait, we will have plans to incorporate it with UST’s general guidelines]” Buasen mentioned.

The candidate was also asked about how she would ensure student representation in the decision-making processes of ASSOC, in which she stressed that she would consult the BOR. “Sila ang tumatayong representative ng kani-kanilang mga blocks so mas alam nila ang mga kasama nila…mas may credibility sila for me to ask them or tap them for consultations if tama pa rin ba itong ginagawa namin, [They serve as a credible representative of each block so it useful to tap them for consultations if what we are doing is right.]” Buasen said.

As for the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion, the candidate recalled her experience as the former Vice President for Internal Affairs, highlighting that she had embraced all feedback of the students and took them as constructive criticisms to better improve ASSOC’s performance. “Kung estudyante ka ng AS, parte ka ng komunidad natin kahit saan ka man nanggaling, kahit ano man ang estado ng buhay mo, [If you are a student from Asian Studies, you are already part of the community. It doesn’t matter where you came from or what status you hold.]” Buasen added.

Guiling seeks to ensure the welfare and competency of ASSOC

Vice President Internal candidate Mary Laurice Guiling envisions a strong involvement  of the Vice President Internal Office in the development of the ASSOC student body and takes the opportunity to "lead [the VP Internal Office) to greater heights."

In bringing her vision to life, Guiling presented her platforms, starting with the Better Together: ASSOC Welfare Desk, which provides a safe environment for students to express their concerns, inquiries, and feedback to the ASSOC Executive Board. It also bridges the students and administrators by "providing an environment that could level out the understanding of both parties," she explains. On top of that, Celebrating the ASsets of ASSOC Guild Fest 2023 aims to promote the guilds along with its goal to cultivate the talents of Asian Studies students. Intended to be held on-site, Guiling shares that she will do her best to make the project possible while emphasizing the need for the collaboration of the student body. In addition, the ASSOC Project Pool Initiative will serve as a platform that will connect the students with similar goals, interests, and passion projects. It offers a pool of undertakings that the student body can participate in. 

When asked about the difference between her platform, Better Together: ASSOC Welfare Desk, with the existing Grievance Committee, she stated, "It is different from our grievance form because its scope is very wide, it's very diverse in nature, so hindi lang yung grievances ang ma-accommodate dito but also yung mga concerns nila sa academics. [this will not only cater grievance concerns but also academics concerns.]” She also added that “it will be frequently reminded, unlike the grievance form na nandyan lang sa ating official page.” 

Furthermore, Guiling explains that the aid offered by the ASsets of ASSOC Guild Fest VP Internal Office will be here for any necessities that the guilds seek to acquire. The aid through providing a safe space for students to cultivate their talents is also for enrichment, wherein they can outsource, promote, and suggest their talents to other organizations within the university. 

As for the slow number of applicants to the UST Asian Studies Program, she plans to promote the course to the younger generation through the guild system. “By showing that these guilds can provide talents, pwede natin silang pasalihin not just asn-related events, [we can encourage them to join not only ASN-related events]" she stated. “We could show to the world that we are here, that we exist, and can offer so much to the younger generation,” she adds. 

Generoso strives to broaden the student’s horizons

Marianne Zabine Generoso, the independent candidate for the Vice President External, seeks to broaden the education and career opportunities of both the student body and graduates of the Asian Studies Society. 

“If given the opportunity I would instill competence, compassion, and commitment as I deliver excellence through servant leadership with the best of my ability,” Generoso states as she presented her platforms. 

Her platform on the Accessible Database aims to provide opportunities for graduates, students, and the next generation of area studies majors through an organized database and partnerships with other organizations. She explains that by "doing it the old-fashioned way," using email to reach out and contact other external institutions is the more formal way to establish partnerships. Meanwhile, the Alumni Association intends to expand the students' connections and enhance their knowledge regarding Asia with the help of networking with the graduates. Creating the official Alumni Association will strengthen its relationship with the former students of the Asian Studies program. Lastly, through the Optional Elective Courses and successful partnerships, students can take extra cultural classes offered by the ASEAN embassy. With a more solid foundation of the Alumni Association, students can acquire firsthand information about ASEAN countries and languages. She explains that it is not only the students but also the graduates who will gain benefits from her presented platform. 

“We would be able to create a more solid network with the alumni by giving us a sort of contact when it comes to how we are going to pursue a career in diplomacy and ambassadorship. But also for the alumni, they would be able to help train the next generation of Asian Studies, of Area Studies majors, and sort of have a glimpse of what the next generation will have to offer,” Generoso adds. 

When asked about the fundings of the Optional Elective Courses, she stated that “we will do our best to try and make sure that it could, as much as possible, be free of charge if ever. If not, we would push through with a very minimal fee.”

She also explained that the Optional Elective Course is mostly a trial run, so they wouldn't need to go through the AB Faculty first, and that they want this to "spark some passion into students first" before they actually pursue it, she adds. 

At the culmination of the MDA, ASSOC Elections Committee Chairperson Julia Vanessa Orillaza reiterated the importance of Ms. Agustin’s call for AS students to listen, reflect and vote.

The ASSOC elections and proclamation of winners will be on May 22, 2023.

Below are the candidates’ stands on key issues during the For and Against Segment