Blogging way to Freedom

Many might not agree with how bloggers express their views but readers can only do so much. Like every document, this too have limitations. I am for responsible blogging and I am a supporter of free speech. Sometimes, people cannot handle the truth so they react without even seeing the merits of the blog. People cannot disprove the truth no matter what kind of excuse they give. Even the best liar is truthful at one point.

Recently, I came across observejudgeact’s blog. This blogger just started blogging last Sunday. He or she has an interesting way of going about his or her blog/s. I was texted by some friends to check the blog’s domain, www.akositomasino.wordpress.com. True that he or she  wrote about UST and all. Honestly, unlike some of my acquaintances, I welcome his views and points. Criticisms specially constructive ones must be welcome. In a democracy, that is the right of the people – power emanated from them by virtue of elections.

I had my fair share of those kind of criticisms in my two and a half years stint in the council. It is incumbent upon all elected student leaders to listen no matter how painful or “ego-hurting” it is. Listening makes a leader grounded on humility.

To Thomas More, welcome to blogging! Continue writing. This is the blogging way to freedom.

De Venecian plot for Villar

Surprise Surprise! Juan Ponce Enrile replaced Manuel Villar as Senate President. Enrile used to be an opposition stalwart and now he is with the Administration. Political butterflies are always on the scene of Philippines politics.

I am hoping that this is not Palace’s step to clear the way for Charter Change for PGMA’s term extension. Let us watch the Senate as the new set of leaders start anew. Let it be a Senate of the people and not a Senate of people. 2010 is just around the corner. Many will use the Senate as a stepping stone for a higher office.

Beware of the False prophet

It is funny to note that some people would exclaim that they have been championing the students’ cause since their stint as students. The reason why we are called student-leaders is because we are students first. If one cannot comply with the demands of the academic load, one has no right to engage in co/extra curricular activities. Formation and education goes hand in hand and whether you like it or not, you cannot have everything you want/aspire. You cannot be enroled in UST and just do what you do best – politicking! You preach about corruption and other wrong doings when in fact you failed to look at yourself! Being a student-leader or engaging oneself in students’cause/ activities, as the reason for one’s academic deficiency is not only a lame excuse but is also a scape goat for some.

Dwelling in past issues which were cleared by the proper authorities already is stupid. There is a system in place and we all have to respect that. If it does not go your way, do not be bitter and act as if an injustice was done to you. It simply does not mean that if the system is not favorable to you, the system is already wrong or what have you. It is a typical attitude of ‘cro-magnons’ to cry over spilled milk. Also, a writer/journalist should have a strong/firm basis before writing about something. If one wishes to proceed with false allegations/ideas he may do so as a matter of right but he loses his credibility. – Dapat nagshowbiz writer na lang!

Kudos to the creativity in packaging oneself as a students rights advocate! It is a good strategy to earn votes come 2010 as a Representative or Board member perhaps. The style is very traditional though! Ano na ba ang natapos mo ng maayos? The last time I checked, you left the group hanging at the middle of the peak season when you resigned. Is that your style of leadership? Or a Champ in the quitting game? Chickened out? Definitely, with his sweet tongue and passion for the pen, he could make a thousand reasons why he did it. I just thought that commitment is important! In addition, what unfortunate event will be your next lame excuse or alibi for your expected academic deficiency? Once in HS, Twice in College? Hmm… Probably, majority of the parents would say, MAG-ARAL KA MUNA at huwag MANGARAL SA IBA! I cannot agree more when someone suggested to look at one’s backyard. I suggest you do the same. Look at yourself. You are not getting any younger and your batch is about to graduate. Do not live to make excuses. Before making assumptions/allegations = OBSERVE, JUDGE, ACT! Think again! or should I say, STUDY AGAIN? hehehe.. Probably, if you are major in Politicking you will graduate BATCH VALEDICTORIAN – Summa Cum Laude.

At the end of the day, who is fooling who? We cannot give what we do not have. How can you help others if you cannot help yourself. Are we just going to appeal to sympathy? or make hasty assumptions/ reasons for one’s shortcomings/ academic deficiency? Ulitin ko lang, kaya Student-leader ang tawag kasi tayo ay student muna bago maging leader. In lay man’s term, MAG-ARAL KA MUNA at huwag MANGARAL SA IBA! To everyone out there, BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS… Let us not join their ignorance and overwhelming style of appeal to sympathy. Beware of this kind of people for they will mislead and take advantage of you. Huwag magpadala! Utot lang sila.. maamoy mo sa una, ngunit mawawala din! Little information is dangerous! There is no shortcut to education. Experience will help you at a certain extent.

KAYA ARAL KA MUNA!

Kung Minsan, ang Diplomasya ay may hangganan din..

Ang bawat adhikain na ating nais ipatupad o gawin ay laging mahirap at tila imposible. Lahat tayo ay napapaisip, kadalasan ay nalulungkot at nasisiphayo sa maaring kalabasan ng ating paghihirap. Ngunit kung ating titingnan, kapag ang isang proyekto o adhikain ay mga mag-aaral ang nagsimula, malabong sila rin mismo ang unang mawalan ng puso para dito. Kung sila lamang ang masusunod, lahat ng nais nilang gawin o ipatupad ay pipiliting mangyari at maisakatuparan sapagkat sa tingin nila, ito ang makakabuti sa kapwa nila mag -aaral.

Hindi bulag, pipi, at bingi ang mga mag-aaral. At mas lalong hindi tanga at bobo ang mga ito. Marahil, ang mga ngiti, tawa, lambing, at kwento ng mga lider estudyante tuwing kanilang nakakadaupang palad ang mga opisyal ay tinitingnan bilang lantarang pagsunod at pagiging aliping sagigilid. Alipin ng isang sistema at dikta ng lipunang kanilang ginagalawan. Tinuturuan tayo ng tamang pagkilos at pagdala ng ating mga sarili upang tayo ay mabigyan ng maayos ng pagkatao. Tinuturuan din tayo na ayusin ang mga gusot, gulo, problema, at hindi pagkakaintindihan sa maayos na paraan. Tinuturuan din tayo ng kaugaliang pag-iintay sa tamang panahon, pagtahimik sa diskusyon, at magpanggap na lahat ay nasa tamang ayos kahit mali na ito. – DIPLOMASYA!

Ang paghubog sa bawat tao ay nagsisimula sa kanilang mga magulang, sa kanilang pamilya. Ang dapat ginagawa ng paaralan ay pagtibayin ang paghubog na ginawa ng magulang at pamilya. Hindi dapat ito baguhin kundi ipagpatuloy at pagtibayin. Tayo ay nasa paaralan para matuto, para maging handa sa trabaho at realidad ng tao. Tayo ay pinag-aaral ng ating mga magulang upang tayo ay hindi mahirapan kapag panahon na natin at para din siguro maitama ang hindi nila nagawa. Ngunit, bakit kaya kung minsan nananaginip ang ilan na ang paaralan ang bubuo sa pagkatao ng isang mag-aaral. Bago tayo naging mag-aaral, tayo ay tao na. Bago tayo pumasok sa unang baitang, tayo ay may identidad na bilang tao, at Pilipino. Tunay na marami tayong matututunan sa pag-aaral. Maraming mga teorya, leksyon, pag-aaral, at mga bagay na malalaman. Sa kabilang aspeto naman, marami din tayo matutunan sa araw-araw nating pakikisalamuha sa mga propesor, kapwa mag-aaral, at opisyal. Nakakatawa na makikita natin ang realidad ng buhay dito. Kung sa usapang Agham Pampulitika, ito ang “power struggle,” at sa usapang Agham at Sosyolohiya, ito ang “Survival of the Fittest.”

Nang pumasok tayo sa paaralan, hindi natin isinuko ang ating mga karapatang pantao ngunit nagbigay lamang tayo ng permiso na susunod tayo sa mga patakaran na DAPAT ay makakabuti sa atin bilang tao at mag-aaral. Maari itong masabing kontrata ngunit hindi ito DAPAT magamit na armas para makitil ang karapatang pantao at pang mag-aaral. Mag-Aaral muna hindi mamaya na! – Ito dapat ang pundasyon ng bawat paaralan sa bansa. Lahat dapat ng bagay ay tungkol, para sa, at inilalaan sa ikabubuti ng mag-aaral. Uulitin ko, malalaki na ang mga mag-aaral, nasa tama na silang pag-iisip, bumubuto na ang ilan, at hindi sila tanga! Hindi kami bobo para may mga tao pa na magdedesisyon para sa amin. Tunay na kailangan ng isang sistema para sa pagpapatakbo na isang corporasyon, kumpanya, at paaralan. Subalit nais ko lamang sabihin ay ito dapat ay maging isang sistema ng inklusyon at HINDI EKSKLUSYON. Marami tayong naririnig na mga salitang, “The University’s major stakeholders are the students.” – ngunit tinatrato ba ang mga mag-aaral bilang stakeholders? Ilang mga komite na nagdedesisyon sa mga bagay na direktang at indirektang nakakaapekto sa atin ang hindi kasama ang mag-aaral? Meron tayong mga konseho sa bawat kolehiyo ngunit nagagawa ba nila ang nais nilang gawin para sa mag-aaral? Malaya ba nilang naisasakatuparan ang mga adhikain nila? Tunay nga bang para sa mag-aaral ang paaralan?

Mula pa ng unang taon ko sa kolehiyo at ngaun na magtatapos na ako, nandyan na talaga ang MAGNA CARTA OF STUDENTS RIGHTS a.k.a Students’ Code! Ngunit mula pa ng nabuo ang paaralan, halos 400 na taon na ang nakalipas, nandyan na talaga ang karapatang mag-aaral. At kahit ibalik pa natin sa mas malayong panahon, nandyan na talaga ang KARAPATANG PANTAO, it is our God-given right! Kung ayaw mo sumuporta sa adhikaing STUDENTS CODE, huwag mu pigilan at putulin ang proseso. Kung hindi ka naniniwala sa pinaglalaban naming mga mag-aaral, huwag mu sanang ikompromiso ang aming respeto. Hindi kami BULAG para hindi makita ang maling sistema na meron. Hindi kami PIPI para hindi makapagsalita at ipahiwatig ang aming pakasuya at puot na nadarama sa pagtrato sa amin, at hindi rin kami BINGI para hindi marinig ang silakbo ng damdamin ng aming kapwa mag-aaral para sa pagbabago at reporma! Isa akong tao na naniniwala sa ispirito ng pag-uusap. Ngunit kung ang mismong karapatan namin na kumausap at maipahiwatig ang aming nadarama ay haharangin, kikitilin, at ipagbabawal, ito na ang katapusan ng maayos na pagsasamahan! Ika nga sa ingles, “RESPECT BEGETS RESPECT.” Ang ilang mag-aaral, ibagsak mo, magsusummer yan! Ipahiya mo, tatahimik lang, Pagalitan mo, tatango lang. Utusan mo, susunod yan. NGUNIT, ang isiping sila ay tila BULAG, PIPI, at BINGI, at akalaing sila ay BOBO at TANGA upang hindi makita ang mga mali ay isang KALIBANGAN!

Meron pa tayong 3 buwan sa Academic year na ito. Kami sampu ng mga lider estudyante ay hindi titigil para sa STUDENTS CODE. Maaring ang ilan ang nawalan na ng puso at sumuko, maaring ang ilan ay hindi naniniwala, at maari din na ang ilan ay hindi sumuporta; ngunit HUWAG sana ipilit ng mga taong ito ang kanilang paniniwala sa iba! HUWAG sana pigilin, kitilin, ang iligaw-ligaw ang mga sistema para dito!

At para sa mga kapwa ko mag-aaral, ang STUDENTS CODE ay hindi isang bagay na ibibigay na parang kendi. Ito ay dapat ipaglaban, akinin, at pag-usapan sapagkat ito ay karapatan natin!, para sa atin!.. tunay na sa atin!! Kukunin ng mga lider estudyante ang kanilang lakas sa kapwa nila mag-aaral. 37, 450 tayo. Kung sama-sama ang ating tinig, kung sabay-sabay ang ating kilos, at kung tulong-tulong tayo, hindi malayong maisasakatuparan natin ang adhikain ito. ISULONG ang STUDENTS CODE…Ipaglaban! Akinin! Pag-Usapan!Ito lamang ang tanging paraan para ito ay maisakatuparan sapagkat KUNG MINSAN, ANG DIPLOMASYA AY MAY HANGGANAN DIN!

S.T.R.A.W. 2007

Viewing the proposed UST Students’ Code of the Students of the university has been limited to its drafters, the Central Board. The office acknowledges the importance of having the students own this document through information dissemination and discussion. It is high time that students be made aware and conscious of their rights and responsibilities in the university. Furthermore, this is will be an avenue for collaboration with Thomasian student leaders and networking with the different tertiary student councils of Metro Manila schools.

The sharing of best practices and benchmarking among the different student councils and the creation of an atmosphere of cooperation among student leaders will be realized through seminars and forum intended for students’ rights. We go beyond advocating students’ rights within the Thomasian community and instead make students’ rights an advocacy of EVERY Filipino student through exercising our right to participate in policy-making and in the deliberation of important matters directly or indirectly affecting us as students. Moreover, it is aiming at the realization and approval of the proposed Students’ Code in the university.

The following are the objectives of the STRAW; 1)     Intensify the awareness campaign for the proposed UST Students’ Code of the university.2)     Provide an avenue for discussion and deliberation among the different student leaders in the university.3)     Empower the students through information dissemination and participation in the activities of STRAW.4)     Create an atmosphere of cooperation among the different tertiary student councils in Metro Manila through the sharing of best practices and projects. 5)     Provide avenue for redress of grievances and concerns of students through dialogue and collective action.

The Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW week) will be an institutional project of the Office of the Central Student Council. This is very much consistent with the office’s mandate of upholding the Christian ideals and objectives of the university, protect the students’ democratic rights and welfare, promote the intellectual, spiritual, socio-cultural and physical well being of the students, and shall ensure their full participation in all its endeavors. The idea originated from the De La Salle University Student Council and is a product of deliberations of the Council of Representatives of the Union of Catholic Student Councils of the Philippines. Student Rights and Welfare 2007 (STRAW week) November 12           -                      Kick-off Parade (Council and Organization officers)PLAZA MAYOR 7:00-8:30AM -                     

Opening Ceremonies & Ribbon-cutting of the Roving STRAW exhibit (Executive & Administrative Officials, Deans,                                 Department heads, and Student Leaders) PLAZA MAYOR 9:00-10:30AM

 -                      Press conference with UST student publications such as the Varsitarian, School, Institute, College, Faculty journals / papers on the proposed UST Students’ Code. (All editors-in-chief of local publications)OSA CONFERENCE ROOM 9:00-11:00AM

-                      Forum on the proposed UST Student’s Code: Student Leaders Assembly      

Sharing of Best Practices and Benchmarking I: Magna Carta experience of ADMU, DLSU, SBC-M                                                                               

(All presidents and vice-presidents of local councils,Organizations)            

TAN YAN KEE AVR 1:00-5:00PM                           

    November 13                          

-               Forum on Grievances Sharing of Best Practices and Benchmarking II:The Case of ADMU, DLSU, and UP                               

 Launching Students’ Rights and Welfare Board (All class presidents and officers of councils and orgs)              

  TAN YAN KEE AVR 8:30-12:00NN

-                      Forum on Information Dissemination(All council, organization and class public relation officers) TAN YAN KEE AVR 1:00-5:00PM                            

November 14                                                                       

    -               Forum on Tuition fee and Financial TransparencY  Sharing of Best Practices and Benchmarking III: DLSU’s concept of a Multi-Sectoral Committee on Budget (MSCB) to different campuses for the advocacy of just negotiations for tuition fee  increases.(All council, organization, and class treasurers)   RIZAL CONFERENCE HALL 8:30-12:00NN                              

November 15           -                      Forum on Campus Wellness & Crisis Management(All class presidents and council officers)               

RIZAL CONFERENCE HALL 8:30-12:00NN                               

 November 16-                      Forum on Campus Safety and Security: Audience with the City Government Crime Prevention Advocacy               

 (All local student councils, and organization officers) TAN YAN KEE AVR 8:30-12:00NN

-                      Closing Ceremonies: Vigil and Candle ceremony for Students’ Rights (All students possible)

                                                                                PLAZA MAYOR 6:00PM-9:30PM

PLEASE SUPPORT THE STRAW WEEK CELEBRATION! YOUR RIGHTS, YOUR CODE! SUPPORT THE UST STUDENTS’ CODE!

Are students still safe in UST?

FACT:

Yesterday, October 25, 2007 at around 5:00 pm, an outsider broke into a car owned by a professor parked infront of the Benavides Library to steal two laptops inside it. The car window was smashed and the outsider got the laptops and ran out through the Dapitan gate. Fortunately, a student witnessed such happening and immediately called the attention of the guards. The chase caused traffic along Dapitan street because everyone was shocked about the incident and most students were surprised of the number of UST guards on bike chasing the outsider along Dapitan street. Roughly two months ago, College of Rehabilitation Sciences President Benjamin Abela, III’s laptop was stolen from his car parked at the multideck pay parking inside UST. The rear window was also smashed and that is how the criminal gained entry to his car.

Objectively speaking, how did the outsider gained entry to our university? I am not pointing fingers to anyone but it is quite obvious that there is negligence on the part of the guards on duty. UST is our second home. We students must feel that we are safe and secured inside the university premises. Notwithstanding the cases of Thomasians killed just outside our walls because of gun shots and knives, having an incident as serious as this inside our very campus is a serious matter we should all be concerned about. If our valuables can be stolen and our cars can be violated right inside our campus, then there must be something wrong with our Security measures. Whats next? – We will be hearing a Thomasian killed by gun shot or knife right inside our campus or building? A student raped right inside our shower rooms? I mean if we cannot address the minor concerns well, what are the chances that we will be able to address the major ones? Thus, it will bring us all to the question, ARE STUDENTS STILL SAFE IN UST?

We have been lobbying for the CSC Campus Safety and Security plan since Day 1. We were  proposing for the following;

1) VISITORS’ PASS or ID system where there will be designated gates where outsiders (non-Thomasians) can gain entry provided that they give a valid ID such as but not limited to passports, driver’s license, etc. They will be issued a Visitor’s Pass and they will be properly endorsed to the guard on duty of the place they wish to visit. For the case of the UST Hospital, and the parishioners of Santissimo Rosario, there will be designated gates also for people going to these places.

2) 7:00am – 10:00pm Pedestrian Assistance. In a letter to former Vice-Rector for Finance, Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P., and current Acting Vice-Rector for Finance, Fr. Manuel F. Roux, O.P., we have requested for this PEDXING assistance and the employment of additional two guards. After our dialogue with Mr. Dingayan, UST Security Detachment Commander, he raised that they are undermanned. He suggested the employment of two guards to better the system.

3) After waiting for the formulation of the Crisis hotline, CSC already placed the Emergency lines tarpaulins so that Thomasians will know the numbers to call when needed. Also, we have asked before AY 0607 ended that there will be guards on bikes who will roam around the walls of the university for visibility purposes. We also asked the Office of the Vice-Rector for Finance during the time of Fr. Marquez to study the feasibility of putting up swiping stations at the gates of our campus.

4) It is a saddening reality that the Manila Bureau of Parking and Traffic has now allowed the parking of vehicles on the sides of the walls of the university along the streets of Lacson, Dapitan, and P.Noval. This is a security nightmare! Experiences of our Security officers will tell us that in the  night time, these cars parked near our walls has become a hideout for holdapers and rugby-dependent people. Most of the time, they hide and when they see a possible victim they just appear out of the sides of the car and nabbed students. We are currently asking for its immediate removal.

5) Right now, there is no student representative sitting on the university Security committee. We already expressed our intention to be part of the said committee and no response was given yet. Students should be represented in the formulation of security measures inside the university.

I am bothered by the recent events in UST. As Students let us be vigilant and be concerned with our safety. The best way to proceed is by realizing that together, we are a force to reckon with. Together, criminals wont stand a chance. If you have concerns and suggestions, feel free to tell us. No one has a monopoly on ideas. Thanks.

Down the lane to the Seminary gym

Since enrolment started, many students have been texting me that it took them three hours or more in paying their fees. One thing was very much consistent with respect to the complaints we received and it pertains to the way the guards on duty handle the flow of students. Having heard all these, we decided to observe in the Calderon court were students were lining up to enter the Seminary gym. Also, we were able to see the happenings inside the Seminary gym because of the television set-up in the waiting area and we also went in to check. Personally, I observed the following things;

1) The scheduling of the enrolment period per college made the enrolment chaotic. However, we cannot deny the fact that studnts were given schedule of enrolment so as not to have a sudden influx of students in the area. Many students did not follow their schedules that is why those who were scheduled in the afternoon had a hard time lining up.

2) As Students, we are guilty of allowing our friends and acquaintances squeeze in the lines. You see, the reason why those who were at the back part of the line were annoyed is because students who are lined up in the middle or at the start of the line is reserving spaces for their friends so as to allow them to squeeze in. Let us be reasonable here. If they arrived late, its not the fault of those who arrived early. Let us be considerate to those who lined up properly. Also, the guards on duty failed to regulate this particular concern.

3) Last Tuesday, October 23, the system encountered some difficulty that is why it shut down. This is the reason why last tuesday, the enrolment was dead slow. This is not something planned by the Accounting and Cashier’s office. It was an unexpected happening which they tried to resolve immediately. We should also give credit to the volunteers who made sure that those who were lined up in the Calderon court will be able to enrol. They extended upto 6:00pm. Kudos to our enrolment volunteers!

4) The heavy rainfall during the past days made it hard for us all to enrol. Offices concerned already asked the Buildings and Grounds office to add tents so that students or parents will not get wet. I should also note the fact that some parents are wanting to accompany their sons or daughters inside the Seminary gym. Guys, we are already in college and we are old enough to line up and pay our dues. However, for those who will be paying thru credit or debit cards, parenst or guardians who owns the card can or definitely must enter. Let us explain to our parents that enrolment in college is not like in grade school or high school. In college, students are expected to line up by themselves and pay their dues. Parents are expected to entrust to their sons and daughters the payments.

5) A Little act of kindness and patience wont hurt. Some of us have this attitude towards workers or volunteers in the university. These volunteers are also our co-students. They just went out of their way to assist the university so that services can be expedient. A smile or ‘thanks’ will make their work lighter. Let us put ourselves in their place and situation and let us see how would it feel if we are the ones criticized and scolded.

6) Integrity is working without the need for recognition or reward. Never think that we do not try to better the system by which student services are rendered. As much as possible, we exhaust all means and influences to better the system. I just hope that each student will involved themselves by making us aware of your concerns and suggestions about this matter.

Thanks a lot to our student volunteers in the enrolment! I would like to apologize on behalf of the students who gave you a hard time. Also, let me take this opportunity to encourage you all to do better and understand where other students are coming from. The change that we want to see in the university must first begin with ourselves. Random act of kindness and appreciation wont hurt.

From Magna Carta to UST Students’ Code

UST Student leaders were successful in campaigning and promoting the proposed Magna Carta of Students inside the campus. There were different responses to the information dissemination conducted by the local student councils and partner organizations. The different forum became an avenue for redress of grievances and many find the proposed document vague. This is probably because of the fact that the term ‘Magna Carta’ is too overpowering.   On a positive note, it became the talk of some colleges and even in UST High School.  Our brothers and sisters there realized the importance of such document when we had the opportunity to talk to them. Regardless of the kinds of response which the proposed Magna Carta generate, it is still something which I am happy about. This means that Thomasians are now getting themselves involved.

Passing the proposed Magna Carta is not an easy task. It will require the collective effort of all students in the university. This will never be a one-man show. A person pushing for the approval of this document alone is like a diesel engine trying to run without diesel in it. This is the concern of all students and student leaders will only coordinate efforts to realize this document. All students have the luxury to call or brand this with any name which they prefer for freedom of expression guarantess these actions. However, we must also realize that we are not protagonist-antagonist alike in this scenario. We are all students wanting to better the system of a university turning 400. We want to make things better for ourselves and for others. We must also look out for the future students of the university. We may vary in the approach but we have the same purpose.

Many key persons in UST find the name ‘Magna Carta’ as somewhat overpowering and strong to the point of sounding radical. I have learned in my experiences as a student leader that we can always disagree without being disagreeable.  For Student Leaders to advance the interests of their co-students, they must learn to humble themselves and master the art of arriving at a compromise. Thus, we have decided to rename the proposed Magna Carta of Students of the University of Santo Tomas to UST Students’ Code. The Office of the UST-Central Student Council in partnership with all Local Student Councils and SOCC will do everything to see the approval and immediate implementation of the proposed UST Students’ Code. We can only operate within the processes which current laws and public policies allow. It may be a Students’ Code intended for and by the students but some provisions may affect other members of the UST Community. We must acknowledge that we do not exist for ourselves alone. We always co-exists and with this thought, we should realized that in order for us all to advance our concerns and interests, we must learn to co-exists responsibly and wisely.

Let it be known to all Thomasians that our proposed Magna Carta is now called UST Students’ Code. It has the same contents and provisions, we just changed the name of this important document so as to lessen the problems we will all encounter in the duration of our lobbying for its approval. This is the document of all Thomasians…This is our document, let us own this and fight for it. Let us support the proposed UST Students’ Code.

The UST CENTRAL STUDENT COUNCIL is calling on all Thomasians to stand up and move to help in the passing of this proposed UST Students’ Code. We must never lose hope because our generation is yet to take the center stage. We must all be catalyst of change in a society of perpetual distress. We must also recall the Martial Law era when it was only the Youth who were speaking out. That was the time of great distress for the country. WE are calling on all Thomasians to ACT not because we are hopeless but because we believe that for every hand that shifts from apathy to sympathy, we are slowing changing this community and eventually the world.

Support the proposed UST STUDENTS’ CODE – this should be our choice and we must all see this as a chance to realize the much needed change in UST.