Beyond the hype, the posters, and the caf raids, Blue Ballot ‘08 gives you The Top 4, a closer look at each Top Four candidate’s stands, plans, and visions for the future Sanggunian.

In this first of four parts, we feature Westin Contreras and Kim Sto. Domingo, candidates for Finance Officer.

WESTIN CONTRERAS (III BSM AMF)
Partido Ignacio

Contributions to this year’s Sanggu

Before I was appointed as the Finance Officer, I was the 3rd year CB for SOSE. As a CB rep, I was the deputy chair for the social concerns and involvement. We had a lot of projects in the first semester that were implemented. One of this that I was co-project head of was the Senate Inquiries that happened when the senators came here …. It’s a sort of check and balance thing with the senators.

Next would be the Pinoy Security Series which talked about the Human Security Act. There was a segment of talks that the students attended….

As Finance Officer … we adjusted to the [new accounting] system [of the school], for the Sanggunian members … to make it faster for them to work and get their money from the Sanggunian.

Also … the Sanggunian loans and grants program, [where a] student can get financial [assistance] from the student government. They can approach me, they can approach us and we can talk about it. And this past year, we’ve helped a lot of organizations like AtSCA, Honors’ Assembly… [and the] Rowing team actually came up to us for financial assistance also, and ECE students.

First thing he’ll do when elected

On my part, I think that I will probably be helping Pepi [Partido Ignacio’s candidate for Secretary-General] with the whole house cleaning first … Second, since the administration has a new accounting procedure, I plan to reevaluate the code of financial procedures for the Sanggunian. And like what Pepi said, fix it so that we can have a more efficient processing next year with regards to projects and funding….

Plans

[Most] of the budget would be allocated as an open fund … that students who have projects could simply apply for. And if we feel that the projects cater to the student needs or to the student majority, then we will back it up as best we can, as the student government. That’s also our work. So, yun. We want to iron out some of the details with the internal procedures also, with the finance, and the accounting has a new system.”

Money for the students

[I] was planning to create a fund for students talaga. For them to initiate the projects. I believe that the Sanggunian is for the students, and the students should be able to access it. I mean, I agree that the Sanggunian has to create projects for the students also, but then the bulk of the money should be allocated to the students, too. They should initiate, and participate in the Sanggunian.

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KIM STO. DOMINGO (III AB Eco)
Ang IBIG Agila

Why run?

To me, my intention’s not really specific to being a Finance Officer. In my last year in the Ateneo, I just want to serve a greater body or student population. Before, sa ACIL, I served a small group of people so sa last year ko, I want to give my service to all … Sa lahat ng mga Atenista.

Another perspective

My unique selling point is my orientation. Coming from a socially-oriented organization, I bring a new perspective to the organization [the Sanggu], to have a new view of things as a Finance Officer. I get hold of the money given by the students. The best way of spending that money is to give it back to the students. I am very “other-oriented.”

Medyo ina-anticipate ko na na ‘yun ang pinaka-titirahin sakin na ‘wala kang experience sa Sanggu’. If you’re looking for someone who has been in Sanggu for so long, definitely that’s not me. Pero if you’re looking for someone who has been a leader for so long, I’m definitely the person they’re looking for.

On this year’s Sanggu

Coming from the point of view of the organizations, I would really think na the Sanggunian is really irrelevant as of now to the students. I didn’t really feel the need of a Sanggunian. So perhaps, that’s the challenge for next year …to bring back that need of the students and to gain their trust once more.

Plans

Being a Finance Officer, I have a voice in the Budget Committee. So perhaps, i-maintain yung voice na yun within the administration body. Or perhaps, make our voice louder, so that we can work to really make them feel, hear, and understand the concerns of the students. Para makita naman nila yung point of view natin.

Win or lose

Winning is not the end of it all. Win or lose, ang mahalaga, we stick to the ideology of the party: ‘Buklod Atenista Alay sa Sambayanan.’ Kahit na matalo kami, although mas maganda rin na manalo, we stick to the ideology talaga na as ordinary students, as a party, we work together to unite the school.

Watch out for the second part of The Top 4, featuring Bea Gomez and Pepi Sison, candidates for Secretary-General.