Students Leaders and SY 2005-2006

The first half of SY 2005-2006 has been very tough for FEU student leaders. Though Far Eastern University received insurmountable accolades and acquired umpteen achievements that every Tam would be proud of, it is still undeniable that the academic year, somehow, has been tough for the student leaders. You may ask why. According to my contemporaries, advisers and friends, student organizations' accomplishment this year can far be comparable to the last year's. I also happened to observe it.

Take my institute for instance, the IAS. During Kuya Norman Zafra's term, he was able to come out with a number of ideal projects geared toward students' development. Name it, Mahika ng Kamay (which was originally conceptualize by Kuya Celmer's batch), Sportsfest, Teambuilding, LTS, etc. This year, IAS piloted a Teambuilding (I haven't gotten my certificate yet) and a "Directory" project which I deem unsuccessful. In the given cases, it is very much apparent that the last year's IAS-SC has accomplished much compared to this year's.

During the YMCA Congress, i got to mingle with fellow student leaders from student organizations to which I am not part of. I learned from them one of their problems, which is exactly similar to mine (not in my one organization but in my two. Bet you know it.)

Friendship and alliance among student leaders are very important. However, if exceedingly practiced, this may somehow result to unexpected shortcomings and eventual problems. This, very thing, has been one of the problems seen in a group of student leaders in FEU. Until now, it is producing problems, with which they may not be fully aware.

On Semestral Thoughts

The previous semester has swiftly passed. After having received a grade not enough to grant me a full scholarship (because of a 0.01 deficiency),I am off to the new level of my academic pursuits. However, I think it may be noteworthy to mention some things related to the fruitful previous semester.

What I Liked to my Previous Subjects:

Term Paper Writing-My natural proclivities to written language inspired me to actually love this subject. Other than that, the excellent professor by the person of Dr. Corazon Soberano seemed to have doubled my appreciation to the writing class.

Advanced Speech Communication-Next to TPW, the performing class under Prof. Mendoza happened to be my second fave subject. Aside from having an inclination in public speaking, the tactful Prof. Mendoza (who resembled my fave HS mentor, Maam Yoggie) made the subject more interactive and insightful.

Logic-Who shall not love Logic subjects who teach a person to be wise? I was a no exception to that especially when the class was handled by a very intelligent and sophisticated young professor, Prof. Maybelle O. Padua. (hey, I even remember her middle initial!) Square of Opposition, Fallacies, Hypothetical Statements among others had been uncomplicated.

Humanities-The immediate contemporary of my sophisticated lady Logic mentor was the comely and gentleman UP alumnus, Prof. James Owen Saguinsin. Everybody in class seemed to have appreciated arts and beauty in any way possible via the presentation of the equally-superb Humanities professor. If Michaelangelo is still alive, will he gladly curve an exquisite sculpture of Sir James just like "David"?

Retorika-Our mentor in this Filipino class is a writer in his own right. Though almost everyone in class learned to loathe him, I still found ways to appreciate the learnings I acquired from him especially whenever he related his stories and experiences as a writer.

Basic Statistics-Albeit I love Mathematics subjects a lot especially during HS which was apparent from the accolades I received, for the first time, I learned to abhor it in asmuchas I hate indolence among the students.

Table Tennis-Born athlethic as I am, I appreciate Table Tennis a lot. No need to elaborate. However, I found my professor (who was also a DLSU-CSB prof by then) totally hilarious with all her DLSU faculty uniforms (include her bag!). Still, I know I deserved the 1.00 she gave me.

Godspeed!

To Run or Not to Run: It shall be the Query

February 10 shall be the election for the new batch of student leaders in FEU (SC Levels). Up to these moments, I am still reflecting as to whethe ror not shall I be running for any office in the council. However, I believe it is still too early to decide now. Or is it?

Yesterday, Kuya EA Mendoza (Sandigan) and Kuya Jeffrey Mora (SAMASA) both uttered their intentions to get me in their party. I was flattered. As expected of me, I wasn't able to give them a clear Yes or a clear No. I know still have many things to reckon before running. And if finally I've decided to run, what political party in FEU shall I choose to embody and what office shall I opt.

Whatever my decisions be, I know it shall be for the greater good.

TAMVOL Revive!

After attending the meeting with Prof. Pizaro concerning the Grammar Fest Final Rounds, I went straight to OSACS to bury my head to organizational matters that concern me. At 4:30, I left Prof. Faustino's cubicle and rushed to the rendezvous for another council meeting. This time, with Tamaraw Volunteers and Kuya Ago (!).

Everyone was silent, heads down; except, of course for Kuya Ago who was delivering the tirade. I took my seat. Listened. Bowed down. They were guilty. I am not.
The Tamaraw Volunteers isn't doing good these days. Not to mention, it is completely paralyzed. "You only have three (3) months left to prove your worth. Your batch is very promising. Do not let it to go to waste.", reiterated the concerned organizational alumnus. During that time, I feel gladly-gloomy (oxymoronic) for 2 reasons:

1. for letting Kuya Ago acquire the chance to remind the group for being inactive and ineffective (and not me), and

2. for not being the one to have awaken my co-officers in the profoundity of their slumber.

The Council Meeting seemed to be a reunion for us. With all the words we heard together, may TAMVOL truly found its revival!

I sincerely wish!

Altruistic Sentiments

Months after the approval of the newsletter project, till now, it is yet to be published.I believe i have already exerted due efforts for the realization of this hopeful endeavor I have adopted. In fact, I have already written the 90% of the write-ups to be included (the remaining 10% goes to maiden ish messages from "prominent" campus personalities and editors' columns which, sad to say, are still left unfinished).

Unmindful of the countless hours I already devoted to the Altruist, I still sometimes think whether or not shall I pursue the project. "I've gone far, alone", that very thought seems to redeem me from despair and mental anguish that are ought to devour me. I hold back. I continue rendering more efforts which are nonetheless unrecognized and unacknowledged.

It's January. Will my plans to come out at least two (2) issues this shool year be actualized? Or, worst, shall I be able to circulate at least a single issue?

I go to the affirmative! Albeit I am very much discouraged already to push thorugh the publication, I will still be hoping I could. I know I could (sighs).

My experiences being the Editor-in-Chief of our HS organ served as my very beacon as I strive for this organizational publication. I experienced the same dilemma back then but the good thing was that the quandary was resolved before the end of the academic year.

In TAMVOL, everyone seems passive, more so to the Altruist.

"Open communication is critical", remarked my Advanced Speech mentor. How true! Indeed, despite the presence of modern gadgets, communication process in our organization is very narrow and restricted, making us function ineffectively and making the guild completely paralyzed.

Sometimes, I want to blame Kares and Danilo for not being responsive to the organization and for not submitting the articles I have requested them for approximately two (2) months now. At times, I feel bad about high-ranking officers with whom I have asked to contribute at least a couple of compound sentences expressing their greetings to the expectedly "new-born" newsletter. Many times, I want to fully blame myself for sacrificing a lot for something frivolous.

These "Altruistic Sentiments" shall soon perished. I shall soon be relieved with all these anxieties. With Him, I confide my whole being with.