by Gly Pobre
What is the job description of the secretary?
Well, basically, simple lang naman po. Of course, yung composition of the minutes, then recording and keeping of the files—documents, financial reports, handbook, lahat. Then there is also receiving and proofreading of proposals and letters. Then ako rin yung magse-send to the office. Basically, it revolves around these three jobs.
Do you think that the job of the secretary is “simple”?
There is no job that is too big or too little, pero kasi, like considering my abilities, I will be organizing, working only within the council, so it’s less hassle compared with the other positions. Sila, they have to go out din. One of my advocacies now as secretary would be to uplift this position, to make it more visible to the student body. Usually the secretary is invisible discreet, inconspicuous. You don’t really see them, you don’t really notice them kasi nga more on paperwork yung job, pero this time, what I want would be to make it stand out, to make it accessible to the student body.
So how do you plan to expand this position?
Ayun nga po, with my projects. One would be yung publishing of the minutes ng mga meetings ng council. This is to practice transparency, para alam ng student body what’s happening during the meeting, and they’ll know who’s really attending and who’s not—who’s really working within the council.
[Do] you think it’s a good idea to publish the minutes of the meeting? If you are a student, how will it be interesting for you to know?
Well, naisip ko kasi, there is nothing that we should hide, ‘di ba, from the students, so might as well, let them know.
But is it necessary?
Maybe for some, it won’t be, kasi nga “who cares?” Some would think na, “okay, whatever.” Pero, there are some who do care. There would be people like, “wala naman akong nararamdaman sa council” Then here I am, presenting to you. This is what we do in the council. We are not here dilly-dallying. This is our accomplishment. Para mas concrete yung makikita nila.
So if every week yung meeting, ia-update mo kami, or if there is an upcoming project, you need to inform us?
Lahat po.
What is the job description of the secretary?
Well, basically, simple lang naman po. Of course, yung composition of the minutes, then recording and keeping of the files—documents, financial reports, handbook, lahat. Then there is also receiving and proofreading of proposals and letters. Then ako rin yung magse-send to the office. Basically, it revolves around these three jobs.
Do you think that the job of the secretary is “simple”?
There is no job that is too big or too little, pero kasi, like considering my abilities, I will be organizing, working only within the council, so it’s less hassle compared with the other positions. Sila, they have to go out din. One of my advocacies now as secretary would be to uplift this position, to make it more visible to the student body. Usually the secretary is invisible discreet, inconspicuous. You don’t really see them, you don’t really notice them kasi nga more on paperwork yung job, pero this time, what I want would be to make it stand out, to make it accessible to the student body.
So how do you plan to expand this position?
Ayun nga po, with my projects. One would be yung publishing of the minutes ng mga meetings ng council. This is to practice transparency, para alam ng student body what’s happening during the meeting, and they’ll know who’s really attending and who’s not—who’s really working within the council.
[Do] you think it’s a good idea to publish the minutes of the meeting? If you are a student, how will it be interesting for you to know?
Well, naisip ko kasi, there is nothing that we should hide, ‘di ba, from the students, so might as well, let them know.
But is it necessary?
Maybe for some, it won’t be, kasi nga “who cares?” Some would think na, “okay, whatever.” Pero, there are some who do care. There would be people like, “wala naman akong nararamdaman sa council” Then here I am, presenting to you. This is what we do in the council. We are not here dilly-dallying. This is our accomplishment. Para mas concrete yung makikita nila.
So if every week yung meeting, ia-update mo kami, or if there is an upcoming project, you need to inform us?
Lahat po.
Paano kung wala masyadong [important matters] ng week na ‘to?
We can decide—with future colleagues—I can talk to them what would be the plan. If this project is gonna [going to] happen. “Do you wanna [want to] publish all or important stuff?” Basically, it’s to let the people know what we are doing. The council is working for all.
How are you going to improve the announcement of projects/activities of the council?
Yung late announcements, [pledge] yung on the day itself. Yung problem, they don’t disseminate immediately. So, I think naman I will be able to disseminate information.
So what are your concrete plans? Yung monthly schedule, yung weekly, ang ilalabas mo?
Actually, yeah, yun po yung plan ko. Kaya yung isa kong project is to publish online, kasi I noticed [that] the council is not really available online. Facebook lang meron, pero there are so many modes of communication right now. ‘Di ba you have Twitter, Instagram. Not everyone is the same. Not everyone logs in to Facebook, some would go to Twitter, [and] some would go to Instagram, so ang plan ko is to cater to every student. Para kung nasaan man sila, they see the events. I plan to do monthly as well as weekly schedule of events. Monthly is like the overview, and then weekly para added exposure. Napansin kasi namin kulang ng mga pub[lication] mat[erial]s sa events. Yung mga students parang nairita na “ano ba ‘yan, bakit kailangang magpunta ngayon…” Parang SLCM SC online, parang ganun.
May mga tao na weekend lang nag-oonline, how do you address that?
We are not going to rely only on the online [publication]. Information dissemination can still be through the text [message]. Also, personally, we can talk to the president of the class para i-announce.
How is the SC different from other organizations?
Ang pinakamalaking org[anization] ko kasi ngayon is the SLDC. Comparing the two, SC will require more of my time, obviously.
So how are you going to adapt to that?
I’d still be active in the SLDC. I won’t let go of the dance, pero ako naman kasi, I have handled so many pressures in my life. Like in my undergrad, I was also part of the council; I was also part of the dance. And then I can say naman na I am an above average student. I have honed my skills naman in time management and balance. The SC will be good for me. Right now, I have my academics but I’m not really…parang nawala yung sense ko ng…yung public relations ko. Parang yung academics, basa-basa lang, hindi masyadong nagre-recite. Sa dance naman, well dance is movement. So parang puro training, ganyan. SC will be good for me. It will allow me to practice again to relate with people, to be a leader.
Do you miss it?
Opo. Nung undergrad po kasi committee head din po ako, nasa council din ako, so I miss it.
So can we say na that is the reason you are vying for a position right now?
Being part of the executive board is really overwhelming. I’ve been a leader, but only in a small scale. I’ve handled the college [undergrad], but not this big—the executive board. It is my dream to be part of something bigger. I think SC would be this stepping stone for me.
How can you improve the coordination of the council with the other organizations?
Usually po, hindi naman po kasama yung mga org leaders sa meeting ng SC, so I think the publication of minutes will be useful. They would see what we talked about.
What can you say about rushed projects?
Siguro we start with a meeting. We meet every month, then we layout kung ano yung plan namin for this month. So kunwari, may naisip ka mid-month, you postpone to the next month, kasi guguluhin mo lahat.
Do you think you are a systematic person?
Opo. Well, I have a planner (laughs). Ako po kasi, I can’t live without my planner kasi, like right now, packed yung schedule ko kasi yung academics, there’s also something for DC. Kumbaga it [my planner] organizes me. If I don’t write it down, magulo talaga yung utak ko. When I write it in my planner, I make sure I accomplish yun within the end of the day. If not accomplished within the day, then I write it again on the next day. Ganun po yung life ko. I think I’m viable po to be called systematic, to be your secretary.
What can the people expect from you during your term?
Ayun nga po. Expect that the secretary will be visible this year. What I want this year is the position to be recognized, “Siya yung secretary. This is her work.”
Siguro we start with a meeting. We meet every month, then we layout kung ano yung plan namin for this month. So kunwari, may naisip ka mid-month, you postpone to the next month, kasi guguluhin mo lahat.
Do you think you are a systematic person?
Opo. Well, I have a planner (laughs). Ako po kasi, I can’t live without my planner kasi, like right now, packed yung schedule ko kasi yung academics, there’s also something for DC. Kumbaga it [my planner] organizes me. If I don’t write it down, magulo talaga yung utak ko. When I write it in my planner, I make sure I accomplish yun within the end of the day. If not accomplished within the day, then I write it again on the next day. Ganun po yung life ko. I think I’m viable po to be called systematic, to be your secretary.
What can the people expect from you during your term?
Ayun nga po. Expect that the secretary will be visible this year. What I want this year is the position to be recognized, “Siya yung secretary. This is her work.”