“BAKIT SANGGUNIAN?” asked Omi Castañar (IV AB DS), incoming president of the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral.

In his speech at the Sanggu officers’ graduation and induction ceremony, he then gestured to the officers: “Kayo ang sagot kung bakit ang Sanggunian … salamat at hindi n’yo iniwan ang Sanggunian (You are the answer … thank you for not leaving the Sanggunian).”

Castañar, along with other newly-elected Central Board and School Board officials, was officially inducted to the Sanggu in the ceremony that the Office of Student Activities organized on March 7.

Parents of outgoing and incoming Sanggu officers, the Commission on Elections, the Student Judicial Court magistrates, and administrators attended.

Three challenges

In her speech, Vice President for the Loyola Schools Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, Ph.D., posed three challenges to the incoming Sanggu officers.

First was the challenge of truth. Cuyegkeng said, “Naiipit tayo sa maraming bersyon ng katotohanan (We are caught between many versions of the truth).”

Sanggu officers should aspire for truth for the greater good, she said.

Cuyegkeng added that as leaders of the student body, the Sanggu officers should stick to what they believe in. This was her challenge of faith to them.

Lastly, posing her challenge for others, Cuyegkeng dared the new leaders to serve not for themselves.

She said, “Sa anumang paglilingkod, kapwa ang laging nauuna (In any kind of service, others always come first).

Bridge the gap

After the outgoing Sanggu officers graduated and received their diplomas, outgoing Sanggu President Cabrei Cabreira (IV AB IS) also gave a speech.

“Words fail me … you know how much I love the Sanggu,” she said.

Cabreira thanked her colleagues in the Sanggu, her parents, OSA Director Pia Acevedo, and Partido Ignacio in her speech. Cabreira also told Castañar to take care of the Sanggu.

“I hope you’ll (Castañar) be able to bridge the gap despite [the presence of] different parties,” she added.

Cabreira was alternately crying and laughing as she gave her speech.

“Not about the Sanggu”

Comelec Chief Commissioner Ione Abergele Salud (III AB Eu) officially proclaimed Castañar as the new Sanggu president, while SJC Chief Magistrate Cesare Mikhail Cejas (IV BS-MS Chem) facilitated the oath-taking.

Cuyegkeng and Acevedo were the official witnesses of the proclamation.

After he was proclaimed president, Castañar then presided over the oath-taking of the other new Sanggu officials. He gave his inaugural speech afterward.

Ateneo Officer-in-Charge and Academic Vice President Antonette Palma-Angeles, Ph.D., also gave a message to the newly-inducted Sanggu officials. She said, “Don’t wing it … don’t be complacent.”

“The best service you can give is not about the Sanggu; it’s about the school, the country.”