Stop the party
The political ones, that is.
Haha, so I guess, if you're an Atenean, you've heard all this hooplah about there being no more political parties in the Loyola Schools, at least for this coming elections. I have observed two reactions. One, shared by a select few is outrage. The other one, the more common one, is apathy. Now, see you I don't carers, I have nothing to say to. Maybe that you could care more, but hey, I don't blame you if you feel the huge gap between you and the parties in AdMU
as for those of you who are outraged however...
First off, let me say that I am a member of IBIG-Agila, and I was really shocked and upset when I heard that this happened (way before the Guidon issue got released). I had no idea the whole thing was in motion, and by the time we found out, it was already too late. OSA and the rest of the affected had already signed the memorandum of agreement agreeing to halt the political party system for now. Both Ignacio and IA signed it. I believe the Sanggu did too.
A few points
- Political parties are not banned in Ateneo. There was simply a re-evaluation of what it really meant to be a political party. Both Ignacio and Agila found themselves with internal problems, and therefore decided to go on hiatus (its permanence being debated of course) for this election. They were not forcibly dissolved or banned. They just happened to be the only political parties and it turns out they both had problems. Had one of them been functioning the way they perceived they should have been functioning, they would not have pulled out. This was not a forcible liquification of parties. It was a decision of two parties to reevaluate themselves.
- That being said, I cannot say OSA is innocent in this. I do not know what went on in their meetings with representatives from both parties as well as the sanggu and comelec I think. Very few of us do. I do not know if there was enough room for discussion and defense on the part of each party, or if this decision was OSA's alone, where only the implementation was left to do. I think those who are concerned with this issue have a right to know how this all began, and more importantly, which actor played what part.
- The Sanggunian is being attacked, and I do not believe this is right. Your loyalty to your party ends where your duty to your constituents begin. It is under no obligation to protect a specific party. As I said, this was not a forced elimination and ban of all political parties (I'm sure the sanggu would have stepped in if it were), it was an analysis of what being a political party really meant, and since both parties, after much deliberation and discernment on their parts I am hoping, found they were not really political parties, they decided to stop. This decision was also partly (and I'm hoping mostly) theirs. What could the sanggu do if both parties decided to go on hiatus to resolve internal issues? It cannot force political parties to continue existing when they themselves have resolved to pull-out.
- This is not the story of all political parties in the LS and how they are never allowed to exist on campus ever again. It is a story of two specific political parties who both found that it was time they started restructuring and redefining themselves, maybe. This is not a shift to a party-less system. Sure, many disagree with their decision, but it is what they have come to. You cannot tell them no, and force them to keep on going, just for the sake of being able to say that we in the Ateneo have political parties. Yes, the presence of political parties do stand for many things, and I think it is very valuable, but when those parties themselves find a need to stop and rethink themselves, there is no use in forcing them to exist.
- I cannot speak for Ignacio, and I cannot wholly speak for Agila, but I do know that there has been some internal unrest, and maybe this break will do good for both. Yes, it will not sit well with many of us, but there can be some good found in this. Meanwhile, people will still run in the sanggu as independents, or in coalitions. I do not believe the sanggu is in danger. I personally know some of the candidates running. The sanggu will not run short of members.
- I do not wholly agree with OSA, from their definition of political parties to their plan on implementing that...thing, PMS thing, I don't remember what it's called. They say political parties should do more than serve the function of training and fielding candidates for elections. I really have to ask what else political parties need to do, because really that's why I joined Agila; to have an avenue for training and development as a leader, and also to be able to run under their banner. Though I disagree with many points, the fact of the matter is that the higher ups in both Ignacio and IBIG-Agila agreed with it. I know for a fact that they are not stupid people. There must be some sense to it. They know the parties better than I do, better, I suspect than outsiders who are getting mad, do. They know why they chose to stop.
***
There, sorry I just had to get it out of me. I understand that I may not be knowledgeable about all the facts and that a lot of you may disagree with me. In fact, I could have gotten my facts all wrong, but anyway. I just want to caution people about getting angry to soon, and not seeing that there is reason behind this. It may not be reason you accept, but it is reason the affected parties accepted. So...go form your own political parties, if you're so concerned.
At wag mag abstain kung may credible naman na kandidato. Haha. Labo, no relation at all.
Back to work now.
Haha, so I guess, if you're an Atenean, you've heard all this hooplah about there being no more political parties in the Loyola Schools, at least for this coming elections. I have observed two reactions. One, shared by a select few is outrage. The other one, the more common one, is apathy. Now, see you I don't carers, I have nothing to say to. Maybe that you could care more, but hey, I don't blame you if you feel the huge gap between you and the parties in AdMU
as for those of you who are outraged however...
First off, let me say that I am a member of IBIG-Agila, and I was really shocked and upset when I heard that this happened (way before the Guidon issue got released). I had no idea the whole thing was in motion, and by the time we found out, it was already too late. OSA and the rest of the affected had already signed the memorandum of agreement agreeing to halt the political party system for now. Both Ignacio and IA signed it. I believe the Sanggu did too.
A few points
- Political parties are not banned in Ateneo. There was simply a re-evaluation of what it really meant to be a political party. Both Ignacio and Agila found themselves with internal problems, and therefore decided to go on hiatus (its permanence being debated of course) for this election. They were not forcibly dissolved or banned. They just happened to be the only political parties and it turns out they both had problems. Had one of them been functioning the way they perceived they should have been functioning, they would not have pulled out. This was not a forcible liquification of parties. It was a decision of two parties to reevaluate themselves.
- That being said, I cannot say OSA is innocent in this. I do not know what went on in their meetings with representatives from both parties as well as the sanggu and comelec I think. Very few of us do. I do not know if there was enough room for discussion and defense on the part of each party, or if this decision was OSA's alone, where only the implementation was left to do. I think those who are concerned with this issue have a right to know how this all began, and more importantly, which actor played what part.
- The Sanggunian is being attacked, and I do not believe this is right. Your loyalty to your party ends where your duty to your constituents begin. It is under no obligation to protect a specific party. As I said, this was not a forced elimination and ban of all political parties (I'm sure the sanggu would have stepped in if it were), it was an analysis of what being a political party really meant, and since both parties, after much deliberation and discernment on their parts I am hoping, found they were not really political parties, they decided to stop. This decision was also partly (and I'm hoping mostly) theirs. What could the sanggu do if both parties decided to go on hiatus to resolve internal issues? It cannot force political parties to continue existing when they themselves have resolved to pull-out.
- This is not the story of all political parties in the LS and how they are never allowed to exist on campus ever again. It is a story of two specific political parties who both found that it was time they started restructuring and redefining themselves, maybe. This is not a shift to a party-less system. Sure, many disagree with their decision, but it is what they have come to. You cannot tell them no, and force them to keep on going, just for the sake of being able to say that we in the Ateneo have political parties. Yes, the presence of political parties do stand for many things, and I think it is very valuable, but when those parties themselves find a need to stop and rethink themselves, there is no use in forcing them to exist.
- I cannot speak for Ignacio, and I cannot wholly speak for Agila, but I do know that there has been some internal unrest, and maybe this break will do good for both. Yes, it will not sit well with many of us, but there can be some good found in this. Meanwhile, people will still run in the sanggu as independents, or in coalitions. I do not believe the sanggu is in danger. I personally know some of the candidates running. The sanggu will not run short of members.
- I do not wholly agree with OSA, from their definition of political parties to their plan on implementing that...thing, PMS thing, I don't remember what it's called. They say political parties should do more than serve the function of training and fielding candidates for elections. I really have to ask what else political parties need to do, because really that's why I joined Agila; to have an avenue for training and development as a leader, and also to be able to run under their banner. Though I disagree with many points, the fact of the matter is that the higher ups in both Ignacio and IBIG-Agila agreed with it. I know for a fact that they are not stupid people. There must be some sense to it. They know the parties better than I do, better, I suspect than outsiders who are getting mad, do. They know why they chose to stop.
***
There, sorry I just had to get it out of me. I understand that I may not be knowledgeable about all the facts and that a lot of you may disagree with me. In fact, I could have gotten my facts all wrong, but anyway. I just want to caution people about getting angry to soon, and not seeing that there is reason behind this. It may not be reason you accept, but it is reason the affected parties accepted. So...go form your own political parties, if you're so concerned.
At wag mag abstain kung may credible naman na kandidato. Haha. Labo, no relation at all.
Back to work now.