There is this impulse to write my own memories of ADu back in 1995, the year I graduated, also my term as the President of the AUSG. Call it personal misgivings, or regrets or whatever. For me they are mere glimpses of the past I loved, treasured, and hoped was better, both for myself and the students.
It was August already and almost time for the AUSG elections. But there were no activity from the known political parties. SAMAKA disbanded nationally and the leftist KAMAO was in shatters. Only the ambitious and mediocre ARMS party led by a forgotten student leader was pushing for an election. Even without a presidential candidate this party was pushing for a mock election so that they could occupy the post unchallenged.
A KAMAO leader together with a former Chronicle EIC, and his limited number of supporters, decided to boycott the elections. One week before the “meeting de avance” with no other option but to see the AUSG occuppied by puppeteers, or see the leftist wing launch a renewed militant stand against the Admin, a former SAMAKA officer approached this MASP instructor and posed this proposition. That we shall create another party out of the ruins of SAMAKA and challenge ARMS in the mock election they were hoping to win. One week. Two months headstart for the competition. A lot of work.
That night we managed to organize the leadership of the College of Architecture. In two days the COMPSCi group was behind us. Soon the entire line up for the CSG offices was filled out and we were headed for the public debate. Who are we to be? What shall we call ourselves? Then it was decided: SIKLAB! (It was a long time ago, I have forgotten what this stands for.)
A long line that stretched out from the Cardinal building’s gate to the narrow opening of the main campus’ grounds was formed by the group supporting this new party. Some came because it was cool to be in. Some for more political reasons. Others because they believed. With one voice shouting “Si-siklab” it meant trouble for the opposition, caught off guard in their own dirty game. They did not know there were students who care about the electoral process, and that these same nameless faces would take down to the streets to defend that right.
And so the debate started. Me against a candidate reportedly in an emergency room. A no-show. A spokesperson, the ambitious and forgotten quasi student leader cum political puppet stood in the middle to deliver their party’s platform. I don’t remember anything he said. And then it was my turn.
I told about five thousand of the students watching and listening what I came there for. Not to get elected. Not to solicit the votes. I simply reminded them what the process means and what the opposition is doing. It was all about choosing something you think deserves the position, or not at all. Not about “choosing” just about anyone since there was no other choice.
The leftist group was huddled beside the circular snack bar, waiting for the right time to unfold their flags to affront the public debate. Only that there was no debate. And then they realized they have a better chance of saving the AUSG from the stupidity that was ARMS, if they give the man with a microphone a chance.
And they did give me a chance. An overwhelming landslide. The party that sought to benefit from the tricky game they played got played in turn. SIKLAB was a blast.
The next question is, “What do I do now?” Six months more and I will graduate. What would be my goals?
In case you want to know, just keep on reading.
Last 20 posts by erwinilao
- A Life That is Well and Full - August 3rd, 2008
- Time Stood Still (posted at ownlegacy.com) - June 30th, 2008
- Political abductions on the rise under GMA - June 11th, 2008
- Ready for change - May 22nd, 2008
- In Memory of Those Who Fought - May 20th, 2008
- A Tribute To Mom - May 9th, 2008
- Vacation - April 30th, 2008
- A MASPozie (posted as an autobiography at ownlegacy.com) - March 20th, 2008
- A Wonderful Cross - March 17th, 2008
- Fighting tuition fee increase - March 7th, 2008
- Obama speech on change - February 6th, 2008
- My second’s seventh (posted at ownlegacy.com) - February 4th, 2008
- The way I love thee (posted at ownlegacy.com) - February 4th, 2008
- My Memories of Adamson University - September 30th, 2007
- Chronicles of An Appendectomy (posted at ownlegacy.com) - September 30th, 2007
- A Long Day At Play (posted at ownlegacy.com) - September 17th, 2007
About the author:
1990 - Freshman belonging to a seminary called the Marian Missionaries of the Holy Cross. The very first student to run out of St. Vincent's Bldg. from the Registrar's office when the violent earthquake of 1990 began.
1992 - Fresh out of the seminary and back to the corridors of the institution. Feeling the need to belong to something or someone. That was when I found SAMAKA.
1993 - Elected President of the College of Liberal Arts, really did nothing but hung out with Morfe, Echauz, Mercado and the Filipinism ideologue. Most were SI Fraternity members.
1994 - Got tired of student politics and joined the MASP, a popular group of Student Speech instructors who knew how to clean tables and do teachers' errands. At least we got paid and I got to "own" the Speech Lab off the 2nd floor of the ST bldg.
1995 - Elected as President of the Adamson University Student Government (AUSG). The election was a landslide courtesy of a no-show opponent, a dysfunctional left-winger, an ambitious "speaker", and my being a popular student teacher.
Not that I did not deserve the position at that time. My term was the most peaceful the last fifteen years prior.
Here are My Achievements:
- Minimal pillboxes thrown off the campus since I keep them in my Cabinet at the AUSG office.,
- Less frat wars since I attended their drinking sprees in front of Cardinal bldg.,
- A more religious contribution from the AUSG, never before done, during the celebration of World Youth Day
- More parties or celebrations like a week-long festivity during the Student Week, a College Student Government celebration, a fund-raising dance party for Lahar victims and other sorties we would not mention.
I am glad I was part of this institution. I am proud to say that it was because of ADU that I am who I turned out to be.
For more of me, visit www.ownlegacy.com.
erwinilao has blogged 16
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he has to renovate our new house. so if you plan to visit Germany with your family you can stay with us. if you like to see some of our fotos here just visit my foto gallery in friendster (search for Let Fleitmann).
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