Catch this article also in our Boto Bedista 2023 3.0 Special Issue

A NEW WAVE of leadership is on the horizon as the first election for academic year (A.Y.) 2023-2024 introduced Beige Benedict Campbell, a determined and forward-thinking freshman from the Department of Political Science, running for the position of First-Year Representative under the San Bigkis Party (SBP). 

Being part of the Bedan community since Senior High School, Beige, a graduate under the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand, stood with unwavering resolve and a passionate commitment to redefining the Bedan experience. Join us in this exclusive interview as Beige unveils his vision and articulates how he plans to be a game changer for the Bedan community. 
 

Q. Introduce yourself. 

A. I am Beige, Beige Campbell, first-year batch representative under the San Bigkis Party.  

Q. In a short anecdote, would you please introduce to us who Beige is?

A. Beige is a person that you could call your “Beige friend”. Ang inyong malalapitan kahit ano pa iyan. Ang kaibigan mo na tutulungan ka hanggang sa abot ng makakaya at ipaglalaban ang responsibilidad at mga adhikain para sa Bedan community.  

Q. A month into San Beda, what are the problems you noticed leading you to run for the position of first-year representative? Kindly elaborate. 

A. You know what po, as a first-year student, we are entering a new environment where we don’t feel as safe or even as much as… na kumportable kami. Our problem na needed to be addressed as a first-year student is the inclusivity of the students. We need to have a diversity where everyone feels belonged and everyone feels at home. Na.. kahit sino ka pa, regardless of where you come from or whatever your gender is. You are accepted and well-loved in our community..  

Q. What is your principle of leadership, and how does this align with the political banner you’ll carry in San Beda? Kindly elaborate as well. 

A. The reason why I ran… because I think this now, we need a leader that asserts and takes action. Bawal na sa atin ang mahiyain o mahinhin. Kailangan na natin ang boses ng mamamayan na sumisigaw ng kanilang mga responsibilidad at ng kanilang abilidad na ipakita sa Bedan community. Sa hangarin ng SBP o ng San Bigkis Party, kasama namin ang bawat estudyanteng hangad ang marinig ang boses ng kanilang pangangailangan at ang boses na kanilang ipinaglalaban.  

Q. What social issue or issues pertaining to the students are close to your heart that you seek to address? Kindly elaborate as well. 

A. In our first year po, siyempre po we’re in a stage na… we’re entering adulthood, and… meron kaming mga confusion, uncertainty na kinakaharap at gusto kong i-address iyon na… sa pagpasok natin sa adult life natin, we will be a responsible adult that carry our responsibility and duty with great pride. Na hindi tayo mahihiya na… as we enter our adulthood, kumpleto na tayo. Meron na tayong mga shield. May mga foundation na tayo that will establish our self po.  

Q. What are the primary concerns of your batch that you noticed or observed to be neglected by the council and the administration? Please elaborate 

A. Ang una ko pong concern na nakita sa aming community as a first-year batch representative or as a first-year in our batch is.. para ba kaming ”saling ket ket” lang. Para ba kaming, nakikitungo lang o nakikisama lang sa iba na may mga boses, boses ba namin ang naririning o boses lang ng ibang batch? Pag-pasok namin sa batch namin, parang na-feel namin na parang, kasama ba kami sa community na ito o parang tinanggap lang kami dahil nag-enroll kami sa Beda.  At iyon ang isang issue na kailangan ko i-address. Na pag-pasok mo sa Beda, tanggap ka na. Hindi ka kailangan matahin o i-side eye dahil kasama ka namin sa journey ng college life namin. Pangalawa naman, ay ang pagiging… pagdating sa adulthood. Ang “Sa-Beige Adulting”. Magbibigay tayo ng “Adulting 101” that will give us hints and tips when it comes to being a responsible adult. Ayun po… Pangatlo naman po is academics. Katulad lang po ng sinabi ko na nasa adjusting period pa kami. May mga bagay na nabibigla pa kami or hindi kami sanay pagdating sa academic performance. Kaya kailangan natin i-address na hindi ka diyan mag-iisa. Kasama mo ang iyong “Beige friend” na iyong malalapitan pagdating sa iyong edukasyon. We want to establish na Bedan education, a quality education that we all aspire to have po. 

Q. So, how do you intend to address these concerns actively? 

A. First, when it comes to being a “Sa-Beige” na community nga po kung tawagin ko is… we need to open a community and diversity that accept all of us. We will conduct a month-long activity that would engage the student to feel belonged and welcomed sa community natin. We will have a “town hall forum” na maririnig natin ang mga sentiments ng freshmen. Na ang mga boses namin, kahit na bago pa kami dito, may mapapatunayan kami at may mai-ooffer kami sa Bedan community. Kaya nga kami pumasok dito sa eskwelahang ito. Pangalawa naman po ang adulting, magkakaroon tayo ng mga webinar at seminars. At pagdating naman sa mga national ID… Alam niyo po ba, na na-bash ako niyan ng mga kapwa ko ano? Na… bakit kailangan ng mga national ID o valid ID agad ng mga first-year students? Katulad ng sinabi ko, we are entering the adult stage, na kailangan namin, prepared na kami. Na pagdating namin ng 4th year, hindi na namin problema kumuha ng SSS, PhilHealth, National ID, at iba pang mga valid ID, dahil pagdating ng 4th year, handa na kami maghanap nalang ng trabaho. 

Q. How do you intend to position yourself as the youngest member of the council, as against your fellow executive officers? 

A. My first duty is to my people, to my fellow freshmen. Kung kailangan ko manindigan, tumayo, at ipaglaban ang aming karapatan, hindi ko tatalikuran ang responsibilidad na iyon. Kailangan ko ipakita sa mga freshmen na…ako bilang inyong representative, ipaglalaban ko kayo at hindi ko isasantabi na porke’t bago lang ako sa council, porke’t bata pa ako ay mananahimik lang ako o i-titikom ko ang aking bibig pagdating sa karapatan nating mga freshmen. 

Q. If elected, share your banner platform for the first-year students of San Beda. 

A. As we enter a new stage or environment, we need a community and diversity. “Sa-Beige” na community na… we will enhance and let us, the freshman, experience the Bedan community not just by blood but also by heart. We will conduct an event na makikitungo at makikiisa ang bawat isa na mas-makilala natin ang mga ka-batch natin, regardless of course, regardless of gender, regardless of whatever age na meron sila. Na dapat i-establish na natin yung community natin na iisa tayo sa laban patungo sa pagmamartsa na suot natin ang red toga.  

Q. So, why is Beige qualified to be the first-year batch representative? 

A. Dito po kasi ako nag-senior high school sa San Beda at naramdaman ko yung Bedan community na gusto ko rin ipa-experience sa kapwa ko freshie. Sa mga bago pa lang dito sa Maynila. Kasi marami po sa mga freshmen ang lumipat pa ng Maynila o nag-dodorm or nag-cocondo. Now, mag-isa lang sila dun. Pagdating sa eskwelahan, di ka mag-iisa dahil kasama mo nga ang iyong “Beige friend”. Ito ang plataporma na hindi lang isang boses ang maririnig kundi isang batch ng boses ang maririnig ninyo, thank you po.