AguElections: Socio-Cultural Committee Chairperson

In time for the UP Aguman Election of Officers for the Centennial Executive Council, Aslag Online is proud to present to you the candidates for the different positions. To help you make in making the crucial decision on whom to vote, here's a feature on the final candidates. Here are the candidates for Socio-Cultural Committee Chairperson.
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DENESSE HANDUMON
Langgotsi 2006B
2^nd Year, BA Political Science

Previous Committees: Socio-Cultural Committee 1st and 2nd Semester A.Y. 2007-2008 (2 sems)

What is your definition of leadership?
Leadership is the ability to assert what you believe is right but being open other’s views as well.

Makananu kalalam ing know-how mu keng position na tatagalan mu?
I have been in the Socio-Cultural Committee for almost a year and I can say that I have actively participated in the various activities and projects of our committee especially in the recently held Sining 2008. I know the things that need to be improved, the problems we’ve encountered, the shortcomings that we have committed as a committee and if I become the next Socio Chair I more likely know what to do. I have also seen how much Ate Loree has worked for the Committee and she has basically gave me the idea of what I am going into and I am ready for it.

Generally speaking, what does it take to be a competent AguLeader?
I think the primary thing that you need to be a competent AguLeader is to have a heart to serve, the willingness to sacrifice and to go out of your way just to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to you. The second thing you need to possess is experience. You can read all the responsibilities that you need to fulfill as an officer in the Constitution but nothing could teach better than experience.

How would you prevent previous mistakes of previous Executive Councils?
I think the easiest way to prevent mistakes is to have open communication lines. Wala naming hindi nadadaan sa mabuti at maayos na usapan ‘di ba? At kapag maayos na napag-uusapan ang mga bagay-bagay, mas naiiwasan ang mga pagkakamali.

Nanung masanting a administrative policy or practice ning outgoing Executive Council ing buri mung i-continue?
I think it would be the effort of the ExeCoun to reach out to the alumni. That practice really resulted to a lot of positive consequences that benefited the org.

Kapilan taya i-ammend ing Consti? Anong petsa na?!
Kung kakayanin ng susunod na ExeCoun na i-ammend next school year, mas maganda. Ang dami na kasing rules and policies na kailangan na i-ammend at idagdag katulad ng sa membership.

What trait of yours do you think will give you a harder time when it comes to handling the pressures of being in-charge?
I suppose my tendency to be complacent.

Ninung older member ing role model mu karas keng pagiging AguLeader?
Si Ate Daph. I admire how she has handled all the problems that she and the ExeCoun have encountered in the past year. Ang galing niya kasi she seems to always know the right thing to do. Hindi din siya pinangungunahan ng emosyon, lagi siyang rational sa decisions niya.

In your opinion, why is the duty of ‘looking over the physical well-being of the members’ almost always being neglected?
I think the main reason for this is that we live extremely toxic lives. Instead of spending time in being conscious and to do something about their physical well-being, we would rather spend our precious time to catch up with our readings or to finish our papers.

Makananu ka kalwat mamiling isulud mu patse lulub keng class?
Depende sa mood ko for the day. Patse balu kung ma-haggard ku for the day, nung nanu mu muna kung akit keng cabinet, ita na ing isulud ku. Neng kayi naman patse balu kung eku masyadu ma-haggard for the day, siguru around 5 minutes kung makalawe keng cabinet, haha! Patse naman feel kung gumet-up, the night before pamu, maka-plan na nung nanung sulud ku.


SPECIFIC PLAN OF ACTION

Linis Tambayan
We will be having weekly cleaners according to committees. This is pretty much like the cleaning scheme that was implemented earlier this year, only we would be stricter in monitoring it. The members of the Socio-Cultural committee and the Committee heads of the respective committees will be the ones in charge of monitoring the cleaners, but that does not exempt them from cleaning. At the end of the day, the Socio head or a representative will be checking the tambayan and the monitors will be held accountable if the tambayan is messy.

P.E.T. Bottle and Used Paper Drive
This is a fund raising activity that would help us earn money for the maintenance of the tambayan (for padlocks, pins, etc.). This would involve all the committees. The committees will compete with each other in earning money through selling P.E.T. bottles, used papers and newspapers. The committee who raises the most funds will have a special prize.

Org Shirt
It is very expensive for the mems to keep on buying new shirts for every event that we have. It would be better to invest on just one single shirt that would really identify us as AguPips.
To be able to make sure that the shirt design would really be creative and that majority of the mems will like the shirt design, Socio Committee would hold a shirt design competition that will be open for all AguPips and the AguPips themselves will choose what shirt design they would like.

Agu Apparel
The AguJacket was really a hit especially with the alumni. Let us make more AguApparel like lanyards which would be saleable to the alumni. This would be another way in which we could raise much needed funds.

Promotion of Aguman
The Socio-Cultural committee could join culture related activities or events here in the university (i.e. Kalye Kultura). This is also a way of promoting the org to other students in the university.

Reinventing Sining!
Sining is the major project of the Socio- Cultural Committee. We all know that it has been really successful this year and I am planning to make some alterations that I believe would improve it even more.

Earlier distribution of STS letters
The STS letters for Sining will be distributed together with the STS letters for Pautakan. This way, we could save the mems’ efforts and time as well. This would also give the schools more time to mull over if they would want to join and to prepare. The deadline for the confirmation of joining will be set a month before Sining. This is a way to avoid last minute “panic” like we experienced this year. This would give us ample time to think of what to do if there would only be few participants.

Bigger Sponsors
If we would want a bigger Sining, we first have to have sponsors. The second day of Sining is held in SM City Clark, we could ask the establishments in SM Clark to sponsor our event.

We would publish souvenir program samples that we could show to our prospected sponsors. This way, they would have an idea of what Sining really is. It is also a way to encourage them become our sponsor.

We would also have Sining recognized by the the Kapampangan Office for the culture and the Arts. This is another way for us to get funds from the Governor’s Office. As for the Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies, it would be helpful if we would be affiliated with them since they are for the promotion of the Kapampanagn culture and Sining has the same thrust. This would also help us have access to better Crisotan pieces for free.

Sining Workshops
Instead of just letting the contestants compete and just leave it at that, why don’t we give them workshops that would help them improve their talents? This way we could impart something to the contestants. These workshops would specifically be for both Filipino and English essay and poetry writing and in still life drawing and art photography. This would also give the contestants a chance to interact with each other. We can get our alumni to help us out with the workshops that we would be conducting. We can also get sponsorships from paper companies, oil pastel companies, etc.
This will be done on the first day of Sining simultaneously with the Impromptu speech and Crisotan competitions.

Kapampangan Essay and Poetry Writing
Sining’s thrust is to showcase Kapampangan talent and what better way to do this than to have a category for Kapampangan essay and poetry writing?

JEREMIAH TORRICO
Lakatan 2006A
2^nd Year, BS Community Nutrition

Previous Committees: Socio-Cultural Committee: 2^nd semester A.Y. 2006-2007, 1^st and 2^nd semester A.Y. 2007-2008 (3 sems)

What is your definition of leadership?
Leadership is the capacity to be a unique selling proposition, for without difference, everything would seem to be a simple commodity. Nevertheless, it is also the competency to be responsible both as a member and as a leader. In addition, it is the ability, the willingness and the authority to guide, to direct and to administer the subjects undertaken towards yielding a fulfilling goal.

Makananu kalalam ing know-how mu keng position na tatagalan mu?
Keng three sems kung pamagsilbi king socio, I think I am credible enough to say na balu ku la reng pasikut-sikut keng committee. Also, being a member, I have been a witness to the hardships, the accomplishments and even the perks experienced by our previous Socio Comm chairpersons.

Generally speaking, what does it take to be a competent AguLeader?
I think, simply being a responsible member and having the capability AND willingness to serve is enough.

How would you prevent previous mistakes of previous executive councils?
By considering those previous mistakes as the things that should be avoided, circumvented or improved. They must serve as guidelines to what the org should do in certain circumstances may they be critical or not.

Nanung masanting a administrative policy or practice ning outgoing Executive Council ing buri mung i-continue?
Ing regular a communication with the alumni, improvement of the org’s major events, Aslag Online.

Kapilan taya i-ammend ing Consti?
Kapag ready ne ing org. Ali ya dapat i-ammend ing consti nung ali tamu sure keng effect na lalu pa’t saklaw ne nita ing lagyu and structure ning org. I think it would be better nung panigaralan ya pang masalese ing consti at iconsider reng reactions da reng alumni (especially the charter mems) dahil saklaw la parin karin…

What trait of yours do you think will give you a harder time when it comes to handlin pressures of being in-charge?
Maybe itang pagiging ‘acads first’ minded ku. As much as possible, I make sure that my acads would not be sacrificed. Saka na rin siguru itang masyadu kung pagtitiwala kareng friends ku kaya madalas dakung paglokwan.

Ninung older mems ing role model mu karas keng pagiging leader?
Ate Daph, kasi baski busy ya dahil graduating ne and magprepare ya pa para keng med career na, lagi nang atutupad reng responsibilities na. Plus points pa itang fact a friendly ya. She made a lot of changes keng org and I think that she really did improve the wellness of the org.

In your opinion, why is the duty of ‘looking over the physical well-being of the members’ almost always being neglected?
Kasi makafocus tamu masyadu keng goals na ning org a akakalingwan tane ing sarili tamu. It’s good to know na maging fruitful lareng efforts tamu pero kadalasan, akakalingwan tana ing responsibilities tamu keng sarili tamu. Dapat tularan yuku bakanta miras kayu king edad ku. Hehe!

Makananu ka kalwat mamiling isulud mu patse lulub keng class?
Malwat ne siguru ing one minute. I usually don’t mind whatever it is that I wear as long as I am comfortable with it. Aaminan ku a baduy ku, pero so what? At least I’ve got my own style, manong yamu mu! Ehe.


SPECIFIC PLAN OF ACTION

Isulong Taya Ing M.A.T.W.A.!!
Jer-jer Torrico. Para keng Socio.

(M)as Social a Sining
Lahat ning maging Socio-Cultural Committee Chairperson mag-aim a mas masanting a Sining for us to promote the talents of Kapampangans. I would make a better Sining by making it a bigger event. For 2009, I’m planning (ambisyosoJ) to acquire more sponsors through the help of exte and fin and share with them new strategies to attract sponsors para maging mas social ya ing sining.

(A)guman Anniversary at its Best
Since 35th anniversary na na ning org this december, gawan tayang memorable and colorful ing event a ini with the help of the other execom officers. We’ll be having colorful events like photo exhibit, souvenirs, grand pakain, etc.

(T)ambayang Malinis at Masanting
Although it is the members’ responsibility to take care of the tambayan, our consti states that Socio is in charge of maintaining its cleanliness. Next school year, ilakad kareng mems ing agreement na ating nang bayad nung maglakwan kalat keng tambayan. Makalinis nakang tambayan, makasaup ka pa keng Fin… Isulung din ing pagrennovate keng tambayan bakanta maging conducive ya both for learning and for social intercourse ing ambience keng tambayan …

(W)inning Strategy
Para maging mas close tamu kareng other mems and kareng alumni, magkarung minisports fest involving us. Enjoying while getting to know each other more is something that Socio should initiate to fulfill its duty of taking care of the physical well being of the members. This way, we can experience camaraderie with our fellow members and with the alumni…

(A)pagmaragul Tamung Kapampangan Tamu
I think that the SocioCultural Committee should stand by its name. Dapat maging aware ya ing org na responsibility taya rin ing promotion ning Kapampangan Culture. Makananu taya gawan ini? Well, there are a lot of orgs na magaim magkaintercultural events and masanting nung makiyabe tamu kareng makanitang events. Also, isulong din ing pamagcoordinate with various cultural organizations keng Pampanga para naman lagi tamung updated with what’s happening with our culture.