By Francheska Griño & Trixie Camutin-Malcolm
The De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) University Student Government (USG) on Wednesday, Oct. 13 named its newest members through their official Facebook page.
With the hashtags #USGPagsibol and #USGKasamaMo, the USG wants Lasallian students to remember that they will flourish together, leaving nobody behind.
Since the beginning of the academic year, the USG has consistently provided updates about events and happenings affiliated with the University.
They also demonstrated the importance of students’ activism and welfare by proposing the allowed absence for students registering to vote and attending their vaccination schedules.
Here’s what students should know about the members of the highest governing student body in the University.
President Niña, the extraordinary
As the president of USG, Niña Marie Ligan, a Broadcast Journalism student, is adept at bridging the gap between students and the administration.
For her, communication is the key to knowing the pulse of both the University’s management and the students.
“I should not only follow what is written on the Constitution, but I should also follow myself and what I really have to [do] to serve for the student body because you know what hindi lang kasi about the Constitution ang leadership.” she said.
Niña wanted to ensure transparency, accountability, and good governance within the USG as she is aware of what is lacking, especially in the national government.
She also stated that giving support is the best contribution for anyone, and she wants her term to be remembered as the student government that catered to the student needs.
“I want USG to be remembered as, si USG ay lumago, sumibol, nagkaroon ng pagsibol kasi alam niyang kakayanin (niya) dahil alam (niyang) kasama niya ang mga kapwa estudyante niya.” Niña added.
The extraordinary role of being a president and her passion for helping out students prevailed and inspired her to run despite having some second thoughts at first.
Ligan has been a former junior news manager of Green FM, legislative councilor, then a governor in the College of Liberal Arts Student Government (CLACSG) before being elected as the USG President.
VP Reine, the mentor
The role of a vice president may be hard to define, but according to Reine Joshua Cruz, as long as the president is present, he will serve as the source of strength, support, and motivator for each member in doing their tasks.
Aside from handling the executive board, the vice president also serves as the senate president of the USG Legislative Department.
“Sa legislative department naman sa Senate, I‘m the presider, ako yung nagle-lead sa meeting ng mga legislatives natin.” Reine added.
Being a student-athlete also played a significant role for Reine in becoming a student leader, as being a brother to his teammates made him realize that he can be a leader.
From a junior student council in his first year of college, Reine gradually got promoted to vice governor in his second year and governor in his third year at the College of Education Student Government (COEdSG).
He also did speakership on his leadership journey and mentored his fellow student leaders.
When asked about his vision for the organization, Reine said, “As a group, plano namin nila Niña na bumuo ng standard para sa student-leader[s] ng La Salle. Wala talaga kaming gustong iwanan na something, gusto lang namin na kami yung maging foundation, yung maramdaman ng students yung USG despite of our online setup, and mag-build ng mga student-leaders na magiging mentor din in the future.”
Amyr, the challenger
The appointed secretary of Treasury, Veronica Amyr Balayan, is an Economics major who takes pride in handling the finances of the entire organization.
“To fulfill my role, I need to provide transparency. ‘Yun yung pinaka-importantbecause yung position ko nga is money yung hawak ko so more than anything I need to have transparency syempre sa kapwa, sa organization ko, and sa student body din.” Amyr said.
Despite being shy and introverted, Amyr grabbed the opportunity to run for the position in USG due to her desire to help and serve people.
Being exposed to a leadership position when she became a Discipline Committee Chairperson, Amyr admits that there are still many things to learn, which does not stop her from striving for the best when it comes to helping her fellow students.
“Being a leader does not mean you are privileged because you have this position na mataas ka. [Rather,] you are privileged because the students trust you that you are able to give them clarity sa mga gagawin nila or serve them in ways that you can,” she added when asked what she learned from her past leadership experiences.
She described herself as the challenger, knowing that her role is not an easy task, and being in the USG will shape who she is for the future.
“If we do not leave our comfort zones, we are not able to grow syempre. (So,) we need to take risks sa life natin.” Amyr added.
Alecx, the communicator
Alecx Dania Ignacio was elected consecutively as secretary of the Interior for two consecutive terms.
When offered the position last semester, Alecx immediately ‘fell in love’ with her role, which pushed her to continue pursuing it.
“Sobrang napamahal ako sa position na ‘to kasi nakita ko yung need ng pag-establish ng communication within the college student governments and organizations. So, masarap sa pakiramdam yung na-a-assist and na-su-supervise mo sila.” she said.
Alecx also expressed the importance of communicating with other organizations within the University since her fellow student-leaders serve as the voice of students and a bridge to help them raise their concerns.
“Kung meron akong mga nakikita(ng) problema, i-vo-voice out ko yun kasi ‘yun ‘yung pinakamagandang help na ma-co-contribute ko sa organization namin, yung ma-voice out ko and maging way ako upang matulungan ‘yung mga students.” she added.
Before being part of the USG, Ignacio served as a junior vice governor and a legislative counselor at the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management Student Government (CTHMSG).
Mariz, the dedicated
The elected secretary of Business Affairs, Mariz Nicole Ramos, is the officer administering soliciting sponsorship from internal and external entities for organization events, fundraising projects, and more.
Being committed and dedicated to excellence, she perceives her role as more than just a job or an obligation, but rather a calling to help the student body.
She found inspiration, owing up to her calling of helping and serving when she realized what lacks within the organization.
“I came to realize what USG lacked before—and it’s the branding, identity, and connection with the students. This, I believe, is the reason why I got inspired to really pursue the position, kasi aside from my calling, I can really resonate deeply with the needs of the students especially when the pandemic came into picture,” she added.
Her passion for leading stemmed from her childhood experiences, such as being the eldest among her siblings, the leader amongst her playmates, and a part of the class officers.
Before being a member of the USG executive department, Mariz experienced being a leader for an international program led by Universidad La Salle Mexico, DLSU-D, and Christ the Teacher Institute for Education in Kenya, called Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).
All the leadership experiences that Mariz acquired taught her about adaptability and flexibility, relationship building and collaboration, and dedication to the craft.
Sassy, the considerate
As the secretary of Outreach and Initiatives, Alyza Kyle “Sassy” Delos Santos intends to conduct events that hone students in different aspects such as mental, spiritual, and emotional.
She also added that the events were not just about crowdfunding but more about doing something conforming to the goal of USG.
Sassy came from being a member, secretary, then director of Treasury in the CLACSG before being part of the USG.
“Nung una, after ko maging treasury ng CLACSG, sabi ko ‘di muna ako magiging student leader, kaya lang tinawag padin ako ng passion ko to help and to lead because malaki yung natulong na growth nito sakin especially when it comes to maturity.” she admitted.
Being a public relations student, Delos Santos stated that this role could also be her training ground since being a student leader is not far from what a public relations professional does.
Through the USG, she wants Lasallian students to remember that they are not alone in their journey, and they have this organization to rely on, diminishing the misconception that USG has no function.
“USG is solely there for the students kasi ‘di naman mabubuo ang USG kung walang students. Gusto kong mapatanda sa kanila na we will not be existing without them.” Sassy proclaimed.
LJ, Mr. Fun
The shooting guard of DLSU-D s basketball team, Lean James “LJ” Morenos, does not only strut his stuff within the basketball court but also shows that he can do so much more as the USG’s secretary of Sports and Recreation.
With the support of his family and friends, he was inspired to run for USG and attest to his passion for serving and helping the people around him.
Fresh from being the president of the Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE) program in the year 2019-2020, LJ learned a lot of things most especially when leading during this time of pandemic.
“Meron talagang iba’t ibang perspective ‘yung tao ngayong pandemic, (mga students) merong mga nahihirapan, merong nadadalian, merong mga privileged ‘di ba, merong kulang ng gadgets pang class pero despite of the differences, nakita ko kung paano dapat ma-involve lahat. ‘Yung tipong walang maiiwan talaga.” Morenos said when asked what he learned about his leadership experience.
Instead of mandating what he wants to happen, LJ prefers to think of ways on how he can help others.
Due to the restrictions brought by the pandemic, LJ plans to create an impact to the community by inspiring students to discover several ways that can help improve their physical condition.
He described himself as Mr. Fun, as he always tends to have fun in everything he does, which helps him excel and survive through challenges.
Mavic, the creative
Mavic Lopez, the secretary of Creatives and Promotions, is the creative mind behind all the online publication materials of the USG.
As a multimedia arts student, Lopez applied for the said position to further practice his skills in multimedia arts and experience working with people in an organization.
“When it comes to creatives kasi, kailangan mo i-pitch yung mga ideas mo. Kailangan mong matuto na i-defend or i-present ba’t ganito ginawa mo, ba’t ganito design mo. So, dito sa USG na-pa-practice ko yung gano’ng bagay na magagamit ko pag nag-wo-work na,“ Lopez added.
Mavic aims for the students to connect deeply with the USG by ensuring that every publication material he designs should properly communicate the message they want to convey.
He admitted that being a student-leader is still new to him since his previous experience as part of the student government was way back in elementary.
Furthermore, Mavic wanted to leave a significant contribution to the USG.
“Sa pagiging secretary of Creatives and Promotions, ‘yun na ‘yung iiwan ko sa school [at] students, na ‘di man sa ‘kin nag-start, pero nag-ambag ako sa USG when it comes to connecting with students through online since ‘yung situation natin ay online na rin,” he stated.
Julia, the right-hand woman
The right-hand woman to the president of USG is none other than Julia Rebecca Lising, the executive secretary.
Adept at assisting the president in her duties, Julia is also overall in-charge of supervising the entire operation of the Executive Office.
When asked about what inspired her to take part in the USG, she said, “It’s not ‘what’ but more like ‘who’. Ate Niña inspired me to go for another year as a student-leader. I’ve been with Ate Niña ever since I applied as a committee in CLACSG and her perseverance in serving the Lasallians despite her hectic schedule inspired me to apply on her office as the secretary.”
As the former chief of staff of the CLACSG for three semesters, Julia is not new to the pressure of the job as she already developed the expertise.
“We just don’t serve the Liberal Lasallians, but we serve and strive to be the voice of the whole Lasallians,” Julia added, differentiating her past position in CLACSG and her current post in USG.
Lising shared the most important thing she gained from her experience, which is the heart in serving the college.
With regards to the legacy she wants to incorporate for this batch of USG, Julia prefers that the students remember the service they have done rather than their names.
With each member’s experiences and heart to serve, achieving their goals for the Lasallian community can encourage everyone to flourish and unite despite the online setup.
With their intentions laid out, these are the things the students will be expecting from the current student government of the University.
To learn more about the highest governing student body in the University and its bylaws, read USG’s Constitution here: https://portal.dlsud.edu.ph/myDLSUD/Document/PDF/VCAR/USG/USG-Constitution.pdf?fbclid=IwAR20VaPZj4VdZZDw1AflOAjtyt_rINeZltaH3QXuxMmtNyDI2wbiUowVY_g
