Jessie Gabonpa 
Two presidential and one out of two vice presidential aspirants of the University Student Council clashed in the debate organized by The Tradesman Student Publication, held at SSU Gymnasium on September 26, 2022.
The debate was intended for the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates to have an avenue to express their views and answer questions regarding issues concerning SSU students, as Tradesmen set to cast their votes on this year’s USC Election, September 27.
Standard-bearers of DASIG Party, Christine Calley and Jason Dela Peña, running for President and Vice President, respectively, and Dave Prudenciado, Presidential aspirant from MALAYA Political Party participated in the debate. Whereas MALAYA Party Vice President, Rasie Gasalatan was unable to show up due to health concerns.
The debate was divided into four parts. The first part of the debate was the Like or Dislike where the candidates were given the like and dislike icons which they can use to show if they agree or disagree with the issues shown on the screen. They were also given 30 seconds to defend their stand.
Presidentiables both expressed that irregular students should not be deprived to run in the higher position.
“We have the right to run in a higher position bisan irregular kita kay bawat college, may iba-iba nga standards.” Prudenciado said, “Instead of pagbawalan hira, why not tagan ta hira chance para magshine ngan makabulig ha ira igkasi estudyante?” He added.
Meanwhile, Calley stressed that as they try to hear every voice of the SSU students, inclusivity for irregular students is a must.
“To be honest, mas active ngan mas damo pa ngani an naibubulig han mga irregular student na member han council kaysa ha mga regular. So I think, it is okay for irregular students to run,” she uttered.
Main questions were given for the second part of the debate in which the candidates were given five minutes to answer the questions.
The third part was the face off, where all vice presidential and presidential candidates were given a chance to ask each other questions, they were also given two minutes to explain their answers.
Calley, who is an outgoing USC Vice President questioned Prudenciado regarding a phrase posted on MALAYA Student Development Coalition Facebook page which states that they have already revised the USC Constitution and by-laws.
Prudenciado reiterated that as a candidate for the highest position in USC, they ought to upgrade and improve the CBL for its effectiveness.
“Paano makakaimplement programa kun an CBL, diri klaro? We are MALAYA Political Party ngan masisiring ko nga mayda baralyuan ha CBL kay nakikita naton na diri effective. Diri man ginyayakan nga ginyayakan nga mali an CBL, ginsisiring ko la nga ig-upgrade ngan ig-improve ini nga makakabulig talaga ha mga estudyante,” he said.
Calley rebutted saying that in the month of July, the USC already started revising the existing CBL intended to highlight student’s Bill of Rights on transparency in grades and documents and fees collected from the students. She also stressed that it is never easy to revise the CBL.
“Diri harumamay it pagrevise it CBL kay after iton ig approve ha legislative body, need iton ig plebiscite ha 10% han estudyante ha SSU which is naging makuri kay still we are in a transition from online classes to limited face-to-face classes,” Calley said.
For the last part, the audience had the chance to raise their questions, one minute was given to answer but this time only the presidential candidates were to answer the questions. A student once again asked Prudenciado about the revised CBL only that this time MALAYA Presidential candidate answered it with “Please respect my opinion and I will respect your question”.
Jessie Gabonpa, Riscia Lagria | News Writers
Bruce Raphael Verzosa | Photojournalist
