The Mountain Collegian

UPDATE: Final results will be presented by the FSSG COMELEC within this day. Stay updated via their page: https://www.facebook.com/bsu.fssg.comelec?mibextid=9R9pXO

As of 12:45, here are the partial results of the FSSG Elections 2023.

According to Jecca Laruan, FSSG COMELEC member, there are still a lot of colleges whose ballots have not yet been counted so results are unpredictable.

Votes from the Buguias campus as well as the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH), College of Natural Sciences (CNS), and College of Home Economics and Technology (CHET) from La Trinidad campus have not yet been added.

"Jay daduma nga precinct syempre sabali ti invote da. And malalaki din voters’ numbers nang mga hindi pa na-count kaya hindi mo talaga masasabi na alam na kung sino ang nanalo,” Laruan stated.

Moreover, the FSSG COMELEC has reported already 100 invalid votes due to the absence of name or ID number, not following the correct way of voting where voters opted to check instead of shading, the use of blue instead of black pen, scribbling on the ballots, and voting more than the required number.

The final results will be announced on Monday, November 13.

𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘦𝘯.

The day has finally come for us to select our leaders for the FSSG. As we exercise our right to vote, may we take into great consideration on whose names are we going to choose.

In light of this, here are some of the statements of our aspirants taken from the Take A Stand and Q and A portion of the Miting de Avance.

Do cast your votes later, i-BSU!

𝐌𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐓 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬

Federation of Supreme Student Government (FSSG) aspirants convened at the Benguet State University (BSU) enclosed gymnasium to assert their platforms for the last time while facing the students of BSU- La Trinidad campus yesterday, November 8.

Dr. Edith A. Grande, Head of the Student Discipline Unit, in her opening remarks, honored the candidates’ aspirations to serve the BSU studentry. “Assuming a more active role in a democratic process is indicative of your earnest desire to foster passion for student voice and welfare, as well as to harness influence to help the students,” she stated.

The event provided an avenue once more for the active exchange of questions and concerns among BSU students and the six aspirants.

Moreover, voting will be held later at the designated polling stations per campus and per college.

𝘣𝘺: 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘻𝘩𝘦𝘭 𝘑𝘰𝘺 𝘙𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘴

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘣𝘺: 𝘝𝘰𝘨𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯

𝐁𝐒𝐔- 𝐁𝐎𝐊𝐎𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐔𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄 𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

Along with the candidates running for the position of chairperson and secretary of the Federation of Supreme Student Government (FSSG) and a seat at the Board of Regents (BOR), the FSSG election has taken its Miting de Avance (MDA) to the BSU- Bokod campus on November 7.

Charlyn Baggas, Bokod Comelec chairperson, shares her experience in being the first Bokod Comelec chairperson and in facilitating the first ever MDA of the FSSG within their campus. Baggas expressed her thanks and relief as they were able to pull off the event with only a minimal manpower of 8 people in their Comelec body.

“Recommendation ko lang ay yung transaction sana namin sa main [BSU-LT] ay maging mas malinaw kasi mahirap ang mag adjust ng schedule, budget and everything,” Baggas added.

The Bokod MDA commenced with a talk about Gender and Development (GAD) by Rachelle Kiong, Bokod GAD focal person. Kiong spoke about the importance of inculcating GAD into leadership with topics about Safe Spaces Act, Data Privacy Act, VAWC, Women’s month and others. Kiong also acknowledged the activities of the BSU- Bokod campus that supports GAD.

Moreover, Raymund Tavares Jr., Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship (BSE) III, commended the success of the event as it was done in time and gave a better understanding of what the FSSG is, its importance, and its function.

“Madami po kaming natutunan na hindi malalaman dito sa school naming kung hindi sa Miting De Avance at dahil dito mas nadagdagan yung knowledge namin about the FSSG and ang function nila sa Board of Regents,” Tavares explained.

Additionally, Everson Nayusan, Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BS Crim) I, gave his thoughts about the importance of the election of the FSSG and the role of the Student Regent to the students in providing an avenue that will voice their needs.

“Maganda to para makatulong satin at para may pagsasabihan kami kung ano ang mga kailangan namin dito sa campus [Bokod],” Nayusan reiterated.

𝒷𝓎: 𝒥𝒶𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝓇𝓃𝒶𝒷𝑒 𝐼𝐼

𝒫𝒽𝑜𝓉𝑜𝓈 𝒷𝓎: 𝒯𝒾𝓉𝑜 𝒥𝓇. 𝒮𝒶𝓃𝓆𝓊𝒾

𝐒𝐒𝐆 𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐂𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐔𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐀𝐒, 𝐁𝐎𝐊𝐎𝐃, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐋𝐀 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐅𝐒𝐒𝐆 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Six executive Supreme Student Government (SSG) officers from Benguet State University's (BSU) Buguias, Bokod, and La Trinidad campuses running for the positions of chairperson and secretary of the Federation of Supreme Student Government (FSSG) presented their platforms in the Miting de Avance spearheaded by the FSSG-Committee on Elections (FSSG-COMELEC) and hosted by the BSU-Buguias campus on November 6.

The candidates for the FSSG Chairperson are the executive presidents from each campus, namely Alien Canaya from SSG- Buguias, Whyda Gosgos from SSG- Bokod, and Lorenzo Acosta III from SSG- La Trinidad. Meanwhile, the aspirants for the position of FSSG Secretary are Princess Arana from SSG- Buguias, Gwyneth Jhersey Amino from SSG- Bokod, and Liaa Eve Tacio from SSG- La Trinidad; who are all executive secretaries of their respective campuses.

As explained by Julia Cabigon, FSSG-COMELEC Chairperson, only the chairperson and secretary will be voted upon as the co-chairperson will automatically be the candidate with the second-highest number of votes.

Moreover, Nievalyn Labenio, BSU Buguias Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Person served as the speaker for the opening program and emphasized that student leaders should promote and advocate gender equality, equity, and inclusivity.

"So make sure that those issues will be given actions with no bias. There should be fairness and equality and then we should not be one-sided. We should address them all, regardless of who those people are," Labenio expressed.

𝒫𝒽𝑜𝓉𝑜𝓈 𝒷𝓎 𝐵𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈𝓎 𝒢𝓇𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝒥𝓊𝒶𝓃

“𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐄𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓”

The Mountain Collegian, the official student publication of Benguet State University (BSU) commenced the 2023 Intercollegiate and Invitational Press Conference Cup on the 27th and 28th of October at Chrysanthemum Hall, CPAG building, BSU.

After a five-year interlude, MC has finally gotten back on its feet hosting once again its 5th Intercollegiate Press Conference and first ever Invitational Press Conference Cup where colleges and universities from outside BSU are able to partake and compete in the spirit of campus journalism.

Student publications from BSU-La Trinidad that attended the said event were Information, Photography and Visual-Literary Arts in Multimedia Organization (IPAAMO) from the College of Public of Public Administration and Governance, Itangguyob from the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH), The Blue Courier from the College of Teacher Education (CTE), Shontog from the College of Forestry (CF), The Purple Plume from the College of Human Kinetics (CHK).

Moreover, student publications outside BSU that participated were Outcrop from the University of the Philippines (UP-Baguio), The Flame from Baguio Central University (BCU), The Montañosa Herald from BSU-Buguias campus, The Earthline from Kalinga State University (KSU), The Organon from KSU-Rizal Campus.

The first day of the press conference began with a lecture about news writing and was conducted by Hannah Lacsamana from Baguio Midland Courier talking about the practices that a journalist should uphold and how Artificial Intelligence (AI) should only be an assistance and not our replacement.

After the news lecture, Vjnhyl Zam Pondivida, MC alumna, discussed developmental communication writing and a journalist's role in helping to voice out marginalized people.

“Continue to write for the people and for the truth, may we use our pen and paper to fight disinformation and create an informed and critical society where we can challenge assumptions, provide thoughtful and participatory dialogue, and bring development stories to galvanize people into action. As journalists, we continue to stand up for what is right and what is just. Tuloy ang laban," Pondivida expressed.

The final two lectures for the day were given by Frank Cimatu on editorial writing, explaining its importance as the heart of the newspaper and sports writing by Bobby Mc Gee Lee, another MC alumnus, urging the participants of the said event that even though they're writing sports articles, they must not focus only on the event itself but angle their visions as well with the stories leading to that event.

On the second day during the morning session, Jessica Faye Olayo conducted a spoken word poetry and literary lecture giving emphasis to writing for one’s self-expression rather than writing to what the mass audience wants.

It was followed by a photojournalism lecture by JJ Landingen from The Manila Bulletin expounding to the participants that they are a journalist first and photojournalist second and that each photo should tell a story.

Moreover, an editorial cartooning lecture by Wreigh Jann Tamayo from the Baguio Midland Courier encouraged the student cartoonists to be proud of their work and their ability to make a visual representation of an issue with creativity and humor.

For the last lecture of the press conference, Heather Ann Pulido, a SEO content strategist and author of the award winning short story My Grandma Who Lives in Half a House spoke about the relevance of feature writing in the digital present where misinformation is one of the challenges readers and journalists face. She emphasized on how feature stories dive deeper than news making it more engaging to readers, thus writers, in order to gain the public trust must be credible, transparent, and must be a human being by means of being honest and open when writing their features.

𝑏𝑦 𝐽𝑎𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑒 𝐼𝐼

𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝐴𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝐵𝑢𝑑𝑎𝑠, 𝐾𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑦𝑎 𝑃𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑦, 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑎ℎ 𝐻𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑜, 𝐺𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑎𝑛 𝐴𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑛, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑦 𝐺𝑤𝑦𝑛𝑒𝑡ℎ 𝑅𝑎𝑓𝑎𝑒𝑙

𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝑆ℎ𝑖𝑦𝑙𝑎 𝐺𝑢𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑤𝑒𝑛

𝐈𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐈: Different but Equal; We are United

BSU commenced another remarkable event notably the United Nations Day with the theme "BSU to the World, the World to BSU" on October 24, 2023 arrayed with diverse programs to signify global connectedness and UN's Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs).

It started with the Parade of Flags where students showcased the national attire and flags of different countries. Then, the UN Day quiz bee followed through the participation of student representatives from each college.

To complete the event, the International Food Lane was launched starring the various cuisines across the world.

Through the event, BSU asserts its strong commitment to achieve goals in global unification, boost the importance of cultural diversity and strengthen sustainability of SDGs.

𝑏𝑦 𝑅𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑂𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑜

𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝐴𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝐵𝑢𝑑𝑎𝑠, 𝑇𝑖𝑡𝑜 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑞𝑢𝑖 𝐽𝑟. 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉𝑜𝑔𝑛 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝐿𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑛

𝐁𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐖

Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL) has officially begun with Benguet State University as the host school welcoming 10 institutions from Benguet and Baguio City on October 28, 2023, at the university gymnasium.

The participating schools for the BBEAL 2023 are Benguet State University (BSU), Baguio College of Technology (BCT), Baguio Central University (BCU), Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC), Pines City Colleges (PCC), Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Saint Louis University (SLU), University of Baguio (UB), University of the Cordilleras (UC), and University of the Philippines (UP).

These schools will face each other in a battle of physical strength and strategies as they compete in two different phases of the league having the first phase commenced today to proceed on October 29, 2023, and the second phase in February next year.

Keep keen as we await more updates on the events!

𝑏𝑦 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑎 𝐴𝑔𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑛 𝐽𝑜𝑦 𝐴𝑑𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑜

𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝐺𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑎𝑛 𝐴𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑜𝑛 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝐵𝑢𝑑𝑎𝑠

𝐈𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐈: To discuss important matters related to the upcoming Federation of Supreme Student Government (FSSG) election, an orientation was conducted and participated by the candidates, COMELEC, and publication members of the three BSU campuses held at the Rogelio D. Colting (RDC) Hall, Benguet State University (BSU) on October 20, 2023.

The said event tackled the FSSG Constitution and By-Laws (CBL), Election Code, and the calendar of events. FSSG-COMELEC members took turns in discussing while entertaining suggestions and comments from the members. According to the CBL, the FSSG is the highest student organization of BSU and candidates are automatically the SSG president and executive secretary of each campus.

Julia Franchesca Cabigon, FSSG-COMELEC chairperson, confirmed that the elections would now be face-to-face.

Stay tuned for more details.

𝑏𝑦 𝑅𝑢𝑡ℎ 𝑁𝑎𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠

𝑃ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝑇𝑖𝑡𝑜 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑞𝑢𝑖 𝐽𝑟.

Greetings and Warm Welcome!

It's been a long time coming but now it's finally happening! The Mountain Collegian, the official student publication of Benguet State University, welcomes our dear delegates for the 5th Intercollegiate - Invitational Press Conference Cup 2023. We may come from different colleges and different universities, but we are one and the same in our passion for good journalism.

We wish everyone best of luck!