๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐จ ๐จ๐ง ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: โ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐โ
by Eunice Marsha M. Alorro, Marylou Ortillo, Justine Bendo
May 24, 2023
โ8 out of 10โ thatโs how Rafael Tarrayo, the former Institutional Supreme Student Council President (ISSC) and NwSSU student regent, confidently rates his administration.
โThe 8 reflects the unending efforts and commitment of my officers and the other 2 is a room to improve more not only in their knowledge and capability in leading the students but also an improvement for their personal growth,โ said Tarrayo in an interview by The Courier.
As the new set of leaders hold office for the next school year, he looked back on his year of service to the Norwesian community.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐
Tarrayo cited the successful projects of his administration. He categorized his accomplishments in 3 aspects โ projects, institutional university activities, and programs.
According to him, the council had successfully organized various institutional events, including the Freshmen Walk, the ExtraordinaRAVE Acquaintance party, and University-wide Intramural Meet wherein they were able to restore activities such as the Miss NwSSU Spectrum, and Cheerdance and Mascot Competition, which had been on hiatus for two years. Alongside these accomplishments, the ISSC also introduced new initiatives, such as the Sining Tanghalan and the E-Games: Mobile Legends Tournament.
Under programs, Tarrayo highlighted that the council was able to build external partnerships with different organizations with their extension programs including the Project UNO: Uniporme para sa Igkasi-Norwesian, Project Agapay with ORSICUP, Ipadayon an Pasko 3.0 in partnership with the Rotaract Club of Greater Calbayog, and Project SIKLAB, the recent donation drive in fire incident that occurred in Brgy. Carmen, to name a few.
Moreover, Tarrayo also expressed pride in the Project TRANSCEND in partnership with English Educators Association, highlighting that they successfully conducted four out of seven episodes.
โFirst is the Financial Literacy, Gender Awareness in partnership with the Gender and Development Office, as well as we have conducted the Multimedia Arts Workshop and then the Campus Journalism Seminar-Workshopโฆ and we are hoping to conduct more of those episodes in the next academic year of the new institutional supreme student council officers,โ said Tarrayo.
๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐
Tarrayo also being the student regent firmly believes that having a position in the council is both an easy and a difficult task.
โItโs not easy because representing the students is a challenge. We are the bridge; we are the voices of the students. Our mission is to address their concerns and to promote the rights and welfare of them,โ Tarrayo said.
โAt the same time, itโs easy because there is a collaborative effort within the council. I may be the highest position in the council, but I cannot do it myself so with the help of the experiences, the efforts, the sacrifices of my fellow student leaders, we were able to successfully perform well in the council for the sake of the students,โ he added.
Moreover, Tarrayo said in the interview that his role as President of the Federation Supreme Student Council (FSSC) allowed him to resolve issues in both campuses such as proper relaying of concerns and abolishment of haircut policy in the revised handbook.
โI am happy that our students, especially those members of the LGBTQIA+ community are happy with this result through the support also of the university administration and the committee during the revision of the student handbook,โ he said.
However, as of this writing, the implementation of the haircut policy is still pending as the university has not yet determined the release date for the new student handbook.
On the other hand, Tarrayo confessed that pertinent processes and inadequacy of budget in San Jorge Campus are often the cited incumbrances that challenge the implementation of his projects in both campuses.
โDue to the limited fund of the San Jorge campus, we were not able to purchase a printer for them. Only the main campus has been allocated with 6 printers since the funds usedโฆ the source of fund is coming from the SBO of the main campus,โ Tarrayo citing one of the impeded projects for both campuses.
๐ง๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐
As the transition of the new administration starts, Tarrayo expressed his hopes to the succeeding FSSC officers.
โI challenge them to surpass my administration because through it, they will be able toโฆ I know that they can do more and do greater than what we have accomplished. And I know that they serve hereโฆ they are here because their only mission is really to be the voices of the students. That is why the mantra for this new administration is always โStand for the students and by the studentsโ,โ he stated.
๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฐ๐
As a student leader, Tarrayo does not stray away from the inevitable problems in and outside the office, citing challenges on academic responsibilities, time and priority management.
โYou know I have always realized that there is no perfect councilโฆ We had to weigh kung ano ang iprioritize namin on that specific time, whether we focus first on our academics or the council. We have faced challenges on time management and priority management.โ
As Tarrayo concludes his term, he maintains an optimistic outlook on the legacy that his administration will leave behind the studentry.
โI think that the legacy that I will be able to leave to the students is the essence of transformational leadershipโฆBeing transformative [has always been] my advocacy and I always remind [that] to my fellow officers, that our goal is to influence the students that they have the potential in them that can be mustered, that can be amplified throughout their journey in the university,โ he said.
Ending his year of service, Tarrayo left words and advice to the new set of leaders.
“Iโm looking forward for best and significant improvements for the welfare of the student community. I donโt want them to compare themselves as to what my administration has done because they are the new admin now and they have new path to take. I donโt want them to fit in the shoe that I structured throughout my journey, but I want them to follow the path that they want, to pursue that they think, or they believe will improve or be beneficial to the students.”
Despite ending his term as President and Student Regent, Tarrayo will continue to serve another year as Vice President of the ISSC and Secretary of the FSSC under the administration of the newly elected ISSC and FSSC President, Pears Bob Picorro.
