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CHOSEN ARTICLES FOR THE JULY 2002 issue:

EDITORIAL

Apart from feeling nostalgic yet certainly without any trace of regret, another electoral season has passed. With a better news of not having declared any failure unlike some of the barangays in the country; we in UP Cebu just had our Student Council Election.

And contrary to the fixedly patterned opinion of many that ours is an institution of boring and predictable politics, making it by all means dull and not at all outstanding – we just had the time of our lives.

Although we weren’t really spared with all the hooplas of passé black propaganda and nuisance candidacies which may have gotten us one heck of nausea – we just had the time of our lives.

Stupid as it seemed and ironic as it was.

Where else can we see an aspirant clinching atop so unlikely? A pronounced victor yet a loser from the very start; a proclaimed leader but a no-good student to a few. When others went as brazen as underrating puissant potentials in lieu of hard-earned credentials. Or worse when language proficiency became an issue? And who would neglect the alleged unprofessionalism of some of the members of the Electoral Board?

But it didn’t really matter. UP student are supposed to be skeptical enough to see beyond the mundane anyway. It was just another season with which we have done our share, be it conscientious or not. So whether a blunder or a worthwhile endeavor, perhaps another episode can tell.

After all, crime does not pay – not as of the moment.

UUUPPS, YUPI pa diay!

by: Me

This year’s declaration of winners in the recent Student Council election was quite delayed. There were several unconfirmed rumors about a recount since several candidates’ names were misspelled.

I could not believe that there are still several UPians who are capable of misspelling a person’s name in spite of the fact that a list bearing the candidates’ correctly spelled names was posted right in front of them. I was under the impression that UPians are the cream of the crop. Apparently, there are some exceptions. It is sad to note that these poor, rather unfortunate souls had sneaked their way past the UPCAT.

Moreover, election results show that about 68% only of the school’s population had casted their votes. Tragic, coming from an institution that boasts of its politicized orientation.

It is important to note that the leaders we voted into office are going to be responsible for our life here in UP this school year. I assume that these people are deemed capable of running the student council, which is precisely the reason they were elected. No sense in arguing on that one.

By not exercising your right to suffrage, you showed that you do not care. Please bear in mind that we are in UP to not only learn but also to have fun. After all, that is what college life is supposed to be – developing oneself not only as an individual but also as an active member of the society.

We are old enough to know that we are responsible for our own actions. If a person did not vote, then he or she does not have the right to complain if school activities are lousy, if facilities are falling apart, or if the elected candidates did not fulfill their promises. After all, their vote could have made a difference between making this school year memorable or making it completely forgettable.

Can our newly elected Student Council live up to all our expectations?

We can only wait.

NO RECOUNT – EB

by: Jan Ranny S. Aquino

The Electoral Board (EB) of this year’s Student Council (SC) elections disapproved the petition for a recount for the chairperson seat filed by the Union of Progressive Students (UPS). The Board stood on their ground that the UP Cebu Student Electoral process is independent from any legal ruling in a National Election.

The EB consists of Engr. Atanacio Almocera of NSMD as the Chairman, Ms. Lilia Tio of the HUMDIV, Mr. Pedro Cujardo of PED, Mr. Wenceslao Dino and Ms. Annie Manzano as OSA’s representatives, May Lim of BA Psych – IV and Romeo Demeterio of BSMC – IV as student representatives.

Unresolved Chasm

UPS alleged that Nagkahiusang Kusog sa mga Estudyante’s (NKE) Jay Pujanes lead of two votes over UPS bet Daffodil Pastor is enough legal ground for a recount in a normal electoral process, since it is less than 10 percent of the total voters’ turnout. UPS further argued that the inconsistent ruling of the EB midway during the canvassing of votes worsened the vagueness of this year’s election guidelines. UPS cited the case of the misspelled name of Marlon Catong (UPS, FASO Rep.) spelled as Caton; and Pujanes’ spelled as Puhanes, Pojanes, and Pohanes.

“The EB’s actions were alarming,” Brian Magalong, UPS Campaign Manager remarked. “Their discretionary power has been established the very moment they invalidated the vote with the misspelled Catong. They should have done the same to the votes with the misspelled surnames of Pujanes by virtue of consistency.” Magalong added. The case of Catong was prior to Pujanes.

Agreed Conditions

“There was verbal agreement during convened meetings of the EB.” Manzano of OSA, in an interview noted. That although the election guidelines were vague, both NKE and UPS agreed on the suggestion of EB Chairman Almocera. Almocera proposed that votes with misspelled surnames shall be declared valid provided that it will sound like the properly spelled surname. This, according to Manzano was concurred to by both parties’ General Campaign Managers.

In a separate interview with Politique, Mischelle Ogdoc and Brian Magalong of UPS denied that there was a consensus. “Ni-insist man gani si Brian (Magalong) na there be a list of possible variations of spelling of each candidate’s surname. But Cujardo commented that it will only complicate the Electoral procedure.” Ogdoc said. It was during this time, according to Manzano that Almocera suggested that upon arising of such cases of such nature the Electoral Board shall have the discretion to decide; only then was the consensus reached.

Final Outlay

As a response to the petition filed by the UPS, the Electoral Board, in a letter dated 22 July 2002, unanimously decided not to grant the request for a recount and the invalidation of the votes with the misspelled Pujanes. The decision was premised on the grounds that in the absence of a guideline stating that 10 percent lead for what matter would constitute a recount, there is no solid bases why a recount is in order. With regards to the EB’s use of its discretionary power, the board had meticulously determined and reflected by consulting each other before determining how close the misspelled name to properly spelled is. This decision was then explained to poll watchers of both parties (NKE and UPS), of which decision they concurred.

The latter part of the reply letter stated: the move for electoral review by the UPS is highly commendable but under the given circumstances, the board upholds, without reasonable doubt, that it has fulfilled its role without neither malice not prejudice in implementing the USC Election 2002.

Winning Set of UPCC Student Council Officers (AY 2002 – 2003)

Chairperson:                                  JAY PUJANES

Vice-chairperson:                           JIMVIC DY

UPV – USC Representatives:             CHRISTOPHER JOJIT LLANES

                                                   MARY LOUISE EUGENIO

4^th Yr. Representatives:                   GUIA MERCADO

                                                   BERNARDO TEO, JR.

3^rd Yr. Representatives:                   ROCEL VIRMA GALLO

                                                   FLORAINE HERMOSA

2^nd Yr. Representatives:                  JEDAIAH JOEL LUMAGBAS

                                                   BRYAN ALBERT LIM

1^st Yr. Representatives:                   VAN OWEN PELAYO

                                                   TRISTAN KIRBY NABONG

FASO Representatives:                     EDEL GRACE AMORO

                                                   HONORATO CORPIN III