The Purveyor Publication

19/07/2024

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Technologies, with the support of the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST PCHRD), will be showcasing the innovations in biomedical devices of Philippine healthcare in the 'TeknoLunas 2024' at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Main Campus, on September 4, 2024.

This event is organized by the DLSU Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Technologies, in collaboration with Central Visayas Consortium on Health & Research Development (CVCHRD), Cebu Doctor's University (CDU), Cebu Normal University (CNU), and Velez College.

Join to explore the advancements of our healthcare!

18/07/2024

𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬' 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

The largest sporting event for student athletes in the Philippines, Palarong Pambansa 2024, culminated in a grand ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), attended by over 30,000 delegates, guests, and spectators on Tuesday, July 16th.

Philippines' Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio expressed her gratitude to Cebu City and all parties involved for the successful ex*****on of the event. She also commended the athletes for their achievements and urged them to carry the spirit of Cebuano pride to their communities.

“Bring to your respective communities the distinct Cebuano trait of pride or ‘Garbo' for one’s culture, talents, faith, and family,” said Duterte.

The National Capital Region (NCR) emerged as the Overall Champion with an impressive 238 medals: 98 gold, 66 silver, and 74 bronze, maintaining its undefeated streak as the Palaro Overall Champion for the 17th consecutive time.

Meanwhile, Cedric Niño Zoilo, a Grade 11 Table Tennis Player and bronze medalist from Central Visayas, shared his memorable experience as a first-time participant in the nationwide competition.

“Mao ni akong dream na maka-apil sa Palaro and sa akong first time nakaplace dayon ko,” said Zoilo.

The awarding ceremony was attended by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, and Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc.

In a ceremonial handover, the Palaro torch was handed to Ilocos Norte — the host of next year's Palarong Pambansa.

Despite a sudden downpour, the delegates joined in on the celebratory dancing of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo performance, showcasing Cebu's vibrant festival scene, particularly the province’s Sinulog.

While the games have ended, some delegates will continue to tour Cebu’s historic sites and museums before returning to their home regions.

Caryl Evangelista and Christian Yu | The Purveyor Correspondents

15/07/2024

𝐔𝐒𝐉-𝐑 𝐉𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤

The University of San Jose - Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars of Central Visayas captivated audiences with their resilient performance, facing two opponents on the fourth day of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 Volleyball Games, July 14.

Their first match against South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos (SOCCSKSARGEN) ended triumphantly with a 25-14 score, securing their spot in the semi-finals. However, their winning streak was halted by National Capital Region (NCR) with a final score of 21-25.

Rachel Ann Tecson, an incoming Grade 12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) student at USJ-R was awarded as the Best Player of the Game. Tecson was also the team’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) during last year’s Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) season 23.

“Akong ingon lang jud nila is no pressure and kalma lang sa court. Salig lang jud mi sa among kaugalingon and do lang gyud mi sa among best,” said Tecson.

Moreover, according to USJ-R Jaguars Volleyball Team Head Coach Roland Potot, the team had a tough start after experiencing food poisoning which affected the team's performance on the first day of the Volleyball games.

“Ni exert ug effort jud nga maka survive mi atong three sets. Nangayo lang mi ug tambal. Ako lang gi emphasize nga na abot ta ani na point since day one sa atong practice padung sa Palarong Pambansa so sayang na mu give up lang dayon ta,” said Potot.

Despite the challenges at this year's Palarong Pambansa, the team remains steadfast, continuing their daily training regimen in preparation for the upcoming Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) in Legazpi City on Thursday, July 18, 2024.

Caryl Evangelista | The Purveyor Correspondent

13/07/2024

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: Volleyball games continued on its third day as teams from various regions across the country compete at the Open Gym and Recoletos Coliseum, University of San Jose - Recoletos (USJ-R) Basak Campus for Palarong Pambansa 2024 yesterday, July 12, 2024.

The cheers and tension in the university volleyball courts roared even on the third day of the competition. As the elimination rounds are about to conclude, athletes were seen all over the premises, taking every chance to warm up and practice with their respective teams.

Moreover, in the elementary division, Central Visayas (Region VII) Volleyball girls won against Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at a final score of 18-50. This is another triumph for Central Visayas following the recent entry into the quarter-finals by the region’s Volleyball girls led by the USJ-R Jaguars in the secondary division last July 11, 2024 and another win today, July 13, 2024 against Region XI’s Davao Eagles, successfully getting past the elimination round.

The USJ-R Basak campus being the host venue for Palarong Pambansa 2024 for the Volleyball games, welcomed an estimate of around 400-500 people composed of delegates, guests, and audience members.

The games officially began last Wednesday, July 10, 2024 and is open to the public until the last game day on Monday, July 15, 2024.

The Palarong Pambansa is the biggest sports event for student athletes around the country and for the first time, two new delegations who are from Philippine schools based overseas and the National Academy for Sports are taking part in this year's competition. Cebu City once again hosts this event after 30 years with over 19,000 participants.

Caryl Evangelista | The Purveyor Correspondent

12/06/2024

The Independence Day is a celebration of our country's sovereignty over the hands of the foreign oppressors.

As we commemorate this day, let us not forget the bravery of our heroes who fought head-on to gain our right to independence and freedom that all Filipinos enjoy 'til this day.

As student journalists, we should embody the values that our heroes emanated and recognize the power of our stories to make changes in our country.

Journos, let us continue to love our country!

10/06/2024

Eyes here, Josenians!

The University of San Jose-Recoletos Department of Communication, Languages, and Literature just launched their official page.

Please like and follow to have more updates from the USJ-R DCLL.

03/06/2024

𝐔𝐒𝐉-𝐑 𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐏𝐀

The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) organized a press conference for the top notchers of the May 2024 Licensure Exam for Certified Public Accountants (LECPA), Mae Pearl C. Secuya, CPA, and Clark Peter B. Castillo, CPA, at the USJ-R President’s Conference Room.

Along with Secuya who ranked 6th and Castillo who placed 9th, there are also 41 other Josenians who passed the May 2024 LECPA with a passing rate of approximately 62%.

Meanwhile, the national passing rate for one of the most difficult exams is around 30% this year.

The LECPA 2024 was held on May 26-28 at the Abellana National High School (ANS).

According to Ms. Kristine Uy, CPA, the director of the USJ-R Certified Public Accountant’s Review Center, the Integrated Accounting Classes is one of the factors in contributing to the university’s achievements in the field of Accountancy.

“One very important thing that we always remember is that we learn from previous batches and since we already had a LECPA topnotcher in the past batch, we tried to tweak a little bit how we did the integrated classes,” she explained.

Secuya and Castillo were among the students affected by the online class setting due to the pandemic. Both had expressed their struggles with learning Accounting courses online.

"I think I'm not really fond of learning online, ganahan ko face-to-face, mas mo tatak sa ako-a ang mga gipangtabi,” Secuya said.

"A lot of the topics nga gi-discuss pag pandemic kay murag di sha masabtan kay.. in my case, akong perception ato kay maglutaw-lutaw ra ang uban topics ato,” Castillo stated.

The Integrated Classes played a huge role in training the top notchers to secure the top spots in the May 2024 LECPA. It filled in the learning difficulties brought by the online setting.

"During integrated [classes] at least na cover namo tanang topics na unsay ipagawas sa LECPA then mas na practice nako siya so it was very helpful for me and kanang though kapoy siya, imagine daghan subjects then every wednesday kay quizzes mi," Secuya stated.

"Thankfully with the integrated class mura siya’g iyang gi wrap up all the things na gi-dicuss pag online class, adto na nako na realize na dili ra diay to joke joke ang online ra oi, naa diay gihapon ko’y na-learn ato, it's just that I needed something na murag mo connect connect the dots nila," Castillo stated.

Since the university has been consistent in producing topnotchers in LECPA, according to the Accountancy and Finance Department Chairman Dr. Roland Martinez, JD, CAT, CPA, enrolment for the BSA program significantly increased.

"Not only the scholarship coming from the graduate of the Senior High [School], but also the result of the LECPA exam was the primary attributes of getting bigger in terms of the population of the BSA program," Martinez explained.

The topnotchers also gave their words of inspiration to those who are struggling with the program.

"You don't always have to be the number one for you to have worth," Castillo stated.

"It's important to know na it's okay to do it scared, when you're scared it means that there's something you do not know yet, which means you could still learn it throughout the way," he added.

"Surpass your limits. You surpass who you are before. By surpassing yourself, you continue to improve and that will lead you to lots of possibilities or a lot nga mga opportunities," Secuya said.

Moreover, they advised the next batch of examinees to believe in the power of preparations as it will lead them to greater outcomes.

“Just believe in the concepts you were taught kay everyone of us worked hard. It’s just a matter of padakuay lang gyud og confidence ug dili mag-panic sa exam,” Castillo expressed.

“I know you have it in you na mopasar and you just gotta believe in yourself lang gyud. Nakaya namo, so sure ko makaya sad ninyo,” Secuya said.

On the other hand, the CPA Review Center’s director Kristine Uy, also encouraged the LECPA examinees to keep on preparing for the upcoming exam this October.

“So for those Edeosas nga mo-take pa on October, well they already have this. It’s just a matter of building on their confidence and not losing the momentum…and hopefully they will use this achievement ni Clark and ni Pearl as an added motivation and inspiration for them,”

The topnotchers were rewarded with cash prizes of around three hundred thousand pesos and a brand new laptop.

Emmanuel Elijah Rufo | The Purveyor Correspondent

23/05/2024

𝐂𝐂𝐒𝐎, 𝐒𝐒𝐂 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐠 𝐧𝐢 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

The University of San Jose-Recoletos Supreme Student Council (USJ-R SSC) 42nd Congress organized the Pasidungog ni Jose 2024, an awarding ceremony to recognize exemplary outgoing members of the Council and the Council of the College Organizations (CCSO), at the Recoletos Center for Arts and Culture (RCAC) on May 22, 2024.

The Commissions under the SSC’s Office of the President were recognized first for their major contributions and projects that made the Recoleto experience a more meaningful one this year.

Here is the list of awards received by the Commissions:

COMMISSION ON GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT:
-Commission of Excellence Award
-Josenian Pericles Partnership Award
-Blue Ribbon Recollect Award

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC HEALTH:
-Sustainable Josenian Initiative Award
-Kuyog ta Ninyo Serbisyo Recoleto Award
-Josenian Kerykeion Excellence Award
-Eudaimonia Centro Rekoleto Award
-Josenian Plutus Prosperity Award
-Blue Ribbon Recollect Award

COMMISSION ON MENTAL HEALTH:
-Blue Ribbon Recollect Award

Meanwhile, the CCSO were awarded for their excellence and leadership that kept their organizations afloat throughout the school year.

Here is the list of awardees:

•Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants – Pasidungog ni Jose Award
•Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers – Recoletos Award for Innovation
•Junior Financial Executives – Flame of Service Award
•Le Cercle Culinaire – Caritas Award
•Josenian English Guild – Unitas Award
•Journalism Axis – Unitas Award
•Josenian Communication Society – Unitas Award
•Josenian Adcomm Guild – Unitas Award
•Junior Executive Marketers Society – Uno sa Impormasyon Award
•Josenian Library and Information Science Society - Sibol Rekoleto Award

Additionally, some of the presidents of the student organizations were recognized as the Most Outstanding Leaders:

•Van Kristian Cuadra
•Nynabel Marie Quitara
•Rufino Rico Jamisola
•Calvin Bryce Garces
•Dominique Anne Aguilar
•Trisha Alianna Guaves
•Michelle Molina
•Brix Cañal
•Bethany Faith Bataluna
•Raphael Jumoad

Moreover, the Council’s executive staff, appointees, and house representatives were also rewarded for their efforts and commitment in serving the student body.

Here is the list of awardees:

OUTSTANDING SSC EXECUTIVE STAFF:
-Erika Amante
-Danae Leigh Odilao
-Rhegie Wayne Pitogo
-Cherrylyn Giligan
-Quent Jacob Doble
-Carl Angelo Mendaros
-Duane Laborte
-Nefertiri Jane Esolana
-Sheardy Lim
-Miguelita Ostia

ABOVE AND BEYOND HR:
-Trishia Lynn Martinez

MOST OUTSTANDING LEGISLATOR:
-Angela Jocel Paculaba

Most Active HR:
-Keith Marc Añana

BEST SUPPORTING HR:
-Abegail Lambojo
-Mitzi Rose Rabaya
-Bob Elijah Davide

BEST LEGISLATIVE STAFF:
-Arnold Canja

MOST OUTSTANDING SCHOOL HR:

School of Allied Medical Sciences – Angelo Manugas
School of Arts and Sciences – Keith Marc Añana
School of Computer Studies – Maxene Borces
School of Education – Brynn Tyler Nadela
School of Engineering – Von Matthew Novabos

MOST OUTSTANDING SCHOOL:
-School of Business and Management

MOST OUTSTANDING LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE:
-Committee on Ways and Means

MOST OUTSTANDING LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE (1ST SEMESTER)
-So Be More
-EntrepreMORE

MOST OUTSTANDING LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE (2nd SEMESTER)
-InvestiTOUR

Niña Antonella Cañares, chief of the Commission on Public Health (CoPH), says she and her fellow commissioners were overjoyed to have received awards from the event as they truly had a productive academic year for the Josenians.

“Personally, I think that our consistent participation in the activities of the Council, including some external engagements, constitute this "major contribution". I admit that the projects we were able to implement were not as grand as it could be, due to time and budget constraints, but I also believe that the idea of us making a move towards our desired outcome is what matters the most,” stated Cañares.

Cañares also pointed out that her motivation as Chief Commissioner of the CoPH to implement projects for the Josenians was to make its identity known as most students were unaware of its existence.

“As the chief, I really wanted to establish CoPH's identity as a commission first and ground it with our mission, vision and core values. I wanted to strengthen the foundation of our identity before we spread our advocacies in the community. The drive to make projects came from this goal. We wanted to be more visible to the students to be closer to them because in this way, we'd be able to serve them better,” she explained.

This event not only recognized the efforts of the Council that gave more to the Josenians but also served as a culmination of the 42nd Congress’ term for the school year 2023-2024.

Johanna Sumalinog and Christian Yu | The Purveyor Correspondents

23/05/2024

𝐒𝐒𝐂 𝟒𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐒𝐂’𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐀

The Supreme Student Council (SSC) 42nd Congress President Honorable Niñolito Enricko Sanchez recalls the Council’s milestones for the second semester in his last State of the Council Address (SOCA) for his term in the Pasidungog ni Jose 2024 at the Recoletos Center for Arts and Culture (RCAC) on May 22, 2024.

According to Sanchez, the Council has implemented more than 40 projects and establishments which include the Arangkada Balik Eskwela, Pagtuki: Visayas Media and Information Literacy Roadshow, Mental Health Day activities, BoothFest, JosenYouNight, and the Gabii sa Kabilin Pawshion Show – which truly made a big impact to the Josenian community.

Aside from the milestones that the Council had done, they also faced a major challenge during their term – the deficit issue. Nevertheless, Sanchez and SSC staff helped in solving it before their term ended.

“Through the combined efforts of the Council that gave more, we are . Currently, we have more than four hundred thousand pesos as balance to be passed onto the next congress,” Sanchez proudly said.

“We are passing onto you an amount that might be more than 60% of your total budget, so please do good. I don’t think there’s room for you to fail,” stated Sanchez on his message to the next set of SSC leaders.

Additionally, he thanked the members’ dedication and commitment behind every project that they have conducted throughout the year. Also, he emotionally gave a message to his executive committee members as he recalls their service to the Council.

He also acknowledged the guidance of the Student Activity Officer Ms. Maria Elena Yumang, SSC’s “mother” and “lifesaver,” who was present from the start until the end of the 42nd Congress journey.

Johanna Sumalinog and Christian Yu | The Purveyor Correspondents

10/05/2024

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐀𝐄 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐔𝐒𝐉-𝐑

Grace “Nanay Amba” Relucio Princesa, the former Philippine Ambassador to the UAE and Vatican City, visited the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) for a dialogue about international relations and the Bayanihan spirit of Filipinos at the Recoletos Center for Arts and Culture (RCAC) on May 9, Thursday.

Her talk entitled “W.R.A.P. Bayanihan” which stands for Wealth of Wonders and Reflection Advocacy Program, tackled about the Filipino identity and the importance of the Bayanihan spirit or the “collective heroism for a common cause.”

For Princesa, Bayanihan is “faith in action” as she believes that this comes from the Holy Spirit. For this reason, she continues to share her dreams for God and country in the present.

During the talk, she presented five things that the Filipinos should be proud of: Faith, Filipinoness, Troika Democracy, Gender Balance, and the fact that the Philippines never had to conquer any country because of its richness in culture, human and natural resources.

Moreover, she expounded on the lights or the brighter side of Philippine Migration in the world by citing Fr. Peter, a former parish priest in Geneva, that Filipinos give three Fs to the world: Faith, Family, and Fitness.

“Kalahati ngayon ng labor migrants natin kababaihan po, that’s the studies that we have. Feminized migration, why? Ang Pilipinong Nanay nga kasi ang may tender love and care. Sila yung mapagmahal sa matanda at bata…because we are spiritual, it comes out,” said Princesa on the high demand of Filipino women across the globe.

Meanwhile, the shadows or things that could get the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in trouble for are: indebtedness, infidelity, intoxication, illegal recruitment, improper documents, and internet crime.

The increasing case of indebtedness of OFWs in UAE led to the formation of the Pinoy WISE (Worldwide Initiative for Investment, Savings, and Entrepreneurship) Movement in 2011, led by the Atikha, a non-government organization that provides economic and social services to OFWs and their families. This movement aims to help OFWs and their families maximize the gains of working abroad and minimize the pains or the social costs.

Princesa also highlighted that the country is one of the top suppliers for Abaca or Manila H**p, the strongest natural fiber in the world. She also compared the Filipinos to the said plant, describing the people as “strong, resilient, and exceptional” (SRE) or “malakas, matibay, at kakaiba” (MMK).

Lastly, she explained about the secrets to national success which are patriotism or love of country and love of God, discipline on money, environmental awareness, and time, and focused and visionary leadership, further emphasizing that leaders should have integrity, awareness of their community, and courage.

At the end of her talk, she coaxed everyone to sing “Ako ay Pilipino” and “Sino Ako” to give honor to the country and its people.

Princesa was also joined by Mr. Christian Joseph Bonpua, a representative from the Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN), who discussed about the Dagat ang Inahan: Cebuano Public and Cultural Diplomacy for all as a Legacy of the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines.

Bonpua also gave real-life tips about how diplomatic relations work abroad and discussed how they function when heads of state visit the country.

Additionally, Bonpua highlighted the successor of Princesa, Ambassador Myla Grace Regina C. Macahilig.

The event was attended by the School of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Marietta D. Bongcales, Vice President for Administration Rev. Fr. Antonio S. Limchaypo, OAR, students and faculty from the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy (DSSP).

In an interview, the former ambassador was asked about her advice and message to the aspiring diplomats.

“Kilalanin muna sarili ko and “PICM” ̶ Purity of Intentions and Clarity of Motivation…the why will lead into the how," stated Princesa.

"Being a diplomat is being Catholic [which is] being universal for all. We’re there to be the light and the servant of all as our missionary migrants are doing. We’re sharing with the world our faith and our tender love and care,” she added.

Princesa had already visited 4 universities in Cebu namely: University of Cebu (UC), Cebu Doctor’s University (CDU), University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), and University of San Carlos (USC) to continue to inspire young people to dream big for their country.

Johanna Sumalinog and Bryce Ken Abellon | The Purveyor Correspondents

Photos: BK Abellon

06/05/2024

𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓷𝓬𝔂 𝓐𝓭𝓪𝓶𝓼 𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭 :

"𝓘𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓶 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮, 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓷 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮, 𝓭𝓸 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓪 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻."

Josenians, here are the new faces of the Supreme Student Council 43rd Congress Executive Committee who will serve and guide you for the next school year!

As we step into a new chapter, let us reinforce the Student Council's role as the beacon of student voices, fostering inclusivity and safe space for every Josenian.

Heartfelt congratulations to the newly-elected leaders!

Together, let's strive for excellence and unity for a better and brighter Josenian Community!

06/05/2024

𝐔𝐒𝐉-𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐒𝐂 𝟒𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

The Inauguration Ceremony for the newly-elected Supreme Student Council (SSC) Officers for the 43rd Congress commenced last May 4, 2024 at the University of San Jose-Recoletos Main Lobby, to mark the transition of a new congress.

The program officially started with a welcome address from the Student Activity Officer Ms. Maria Elena Yumang, LPT, CSASS, who compared the intensity of leadership to the scorching heat of the sun.

“Leadership, my friends, my dear young leaders, is not about seeking shade when the sun blazes. It’s about standing tall, facing the heat head on and guiding others through the sweltering challenges,” Yumang expressed.

Additionally, Yumang also emphasized that integrity, empathy, and resilience are important traits for leaders to endure the heat of leadership.

Moreover, in his inspirational message, USJ-R Vice President for Identity, Formation, and Mission Rev. Fr. Persuiz Joseph Decena, OAR, imparted the values of the Augustinian leadership which include humility, empowerment, and unity to the newly-elected SSC Officers for the 43rd Congress.

Meanwhile, both the outgoing and ingoing presidents of the SSC 42nd and 43rd Congresses also gave their privilege speeches.

Former SSC President of 42nd Congress, Niñolito Sanchez, shared his experience when he was a president and advised the incoming president, which he quoted from Barack Obama, to “have thicker skin,” as there will be a lot of backlash and unfairness in being a president of the Council.

On the other hand, Zed Avalon Diaz, the newly-elected president of the SSC 43rd Congress, recognized the significance of the roles of the officers in the Council, stating that they are “not merely representatives” but they are “voices of the fellow students, advocates for their needs, and catalyst for positive change” in the Josenian community.

After the privilege speeches, the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected SSC officers led by Fr. Decena took place. Followed by the turnover ceremony of the SSC 42nd Congress Legislative Body and Executive Committee to the SSC 43rd Congress.

Arnold Canja, one of the House Representatives (HRs) from the School of Business and Management, was recognized as the legislator who garnered the highest votes among all the HRs during the 2024 Elections.

Subsequently, the giving of certificates of recognition to the SSC 43rd Congress House Representatives and the Executive Committee followed.

In his closing remarks, Ryan Dave Rayla, USJ-R Commission on Elections (COMELEC) adviser, reminded everyone that the election is not just a partisan activity but it is a vital public activity to show the unity of the Josenian community despite the result of the elections.

In attendance were the newly-elected SSC officers of the 43rd Congress, the SSC 42nd Congress officers, COMELEC adviser and commissioners, the Student Activity Officer Ms. Maria Elena Yumang, LPT, CSASS, and USJ-R Vice President for Identity, Formation, and Mission Fr. Persuiz Joseph Decena, OAR.

The event was hosted by SSC 42nd Congress Office of the President Director for Communications Carl Angelo Mendaros and SSC 42nd Congress House Representative from the School of Business and Management Mitzi Rabaya.

Kalifa Chiong, COMELEC Chairman, assessed that the success of this year's election is noteworthy despite the numerous challenges they faced during the electoral process.

"Despite these obstacles, the Commission and I remained committed to upholding the integrity of the election. We implemented resilient measures to address any irregularities promptly, ensuring that voters could cast their votes and that their choices were accurately recorded. Through meticulous planning, effective communication, and swift action, we were able to navigate through the hurdles and deliver a transparent and fair election outcome. So, as the chairman, I can truly say that it's a success," Chiong explained.

Johanna Sumalinog | The Purveyor Correspondent

Photos by: Jonathan Daniel Obaob

05/05/2024

05/05/2024

𝐔𝐒𝐉-𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐒𝐂 𝟒𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The Canvassing of Votes for the 2024 Supreme Student Council (SSC) Elections took place after the on-site and online voting on May 2, 2024 at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Main Lobby.

The event was spearheaded by the USJ-R Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to announce the new set of leaders for the SSC 43rd Congress.

In his opening remarks, COMELEC Adviser Ryan Dave Rayla, emphasized that the Election is a perpetual process of politics and that the first step in this process is in electing who will represent us and who will make decisions on our behalf for the good of all.

“Regarding elections, we’re expecting nga the turnout will be great for this sem, not only that, but this election will legitimize whoever will sit next in the Council and whoever will represent you as Josenians. And finally, may both parties accept the result of the elections as legitimate for it is the foundation of democracy that elections not only legitimize those who hold power but also legitimize the process and the decisions made in the name of those processes in the year to come,” Rayla expressed.

Afterward, the Commission presented the tally of votes for the House Representatives (HRs) from the School of Education, School of Allied Medical Sciences, School of Computer Studies, School of Engineering, School of Arts and Sciences, and School of Business and Management. After the HRs, the winners for the Executive Committee which includes Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and President were announced.

Supporters were overjoyed and excited to see the candidates that they voted win. Meanwhile, candidates from both Kabataan para sa Sambayanang Makatarungan (KASAMA) and Student Alliance for Christian and Real Education under Democracy (SACRED) cried and celebrated as some of their members are included in the new set of officers for the SSC 43rd Congress.

In an interview, Zed Avalon Diaz, the newly-elected SSC president, shared how he felt about his win as the new president of the Council.

“This isn’t an easy task, running again and doing everything again. But at the end of the day, I’m really doing this for the Josenians and I’m just happy to be back here and hopefully sa katu among gipangsulti sa mga plataporma and everything else ma-suffice siya sa karun na congress,” Diaz stated.

The event concluded with a speech from Rev. Fr. Glynn C. Ortega, OAR, director of the Office of the Student Affairs and Services, congratulating and thanking everyone who participated in the 2024 SSC Elections.

“We must always remember that regardless of the outcome, we are part of one Josenian community working towards a common goal,” Ortega conveyed.

Johanna Sumalinog | The Purveyor Correspondent

Photos by: Bryce Ken Abellon and Glaze Ceniza