A week after the Mindanao Week of Peace 2025, representatives from campus sectoral organizations pressed the Samahan ng Mga Mag-Aaral ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Davao (SAMAHAN) and the University administration to prioritize critical student welfare concerns. 

Aiming to provide a platform for discourse, the SAMAHAN Multisectoral Council drew participants from SALAM: The Ateneo Muslim Society, Ateneo Libulan Circle (ALC), Ateneo Lumad Students Organization (ALSO), Protection of Women’s Equality and Rights (POWER), College Athletics Council, International Students Organization (ISO), Ateneo Catechetical Instructions League (ACIL). 

POWER representative Allena Sofia de Castro demanded adequate, immediate investigations and support to students subjected to sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

“The urgent thing that is needed is a response—an investigative response, objective, and an immediate help to women who are victims of sexual harassment and gender-based violence in the institution, because unfortunately, it is not only limited to the four walls of the classroom but rather the entirety of the campus. And unfortunately, nadadala siya [trauma] ng mga babae to their homes…”

de Castro highlighted bureaucratic barriers that delay responses to women’s issues across sectors. 

“Every sector has a woman, so it really has a much more impunitive vulnerability to women. They cannot go to their representatives because firstly, women do not know which office to go [to], and secondly is the burden of bureaucracies. If a woman goes to an office, there is evidence of bureaucracy that, in turn, polarizes what a woman should do.”

SALAM: The Ateneo Muslim Society representative Ismael Tambuang denounced gate entry protocols that force Muslim women to violate religious prohibitions. 

“Usually sa guards, sa gates, yung socks nila is pinapalift yung skirt which is not okay kasi sa Islam dapat fit talaga. So, hindi nila iallow na magwear ng mas mataas na socks yung women, in which if hindi magwear ng mataas na socks yung women ay makikita yung skin and it is not permitted in Islam.”

Tambuang also pointed out the blatant disregard of some professors in the university memorandum on Ramadan accommodations. 

“Even though during Ramadan, merong memo na ginarelease ang university that muslim students can be excused 15 minutes sa pagstart ng 6:00 PM classes nila, meron pa ring mga professor na hindi nila yun gina-acknowledge.” 

College Athletics Council representative Maria Nicola Mendoza implored for streamlined communication between athletes, the student government, and the program departments to ensure proper channeling of academic concerns. 

“We would like a clear communication throughout the departments, especially for our academics po, since competitions can last a few days and such, and some of us may have our duties or OJTs, some even have their classes. We would like a clear process for academic accommodations for the students po so they can still balance academics [while] taking both responsibilities as student-athletes po.”

Ateneo Libulan Circle (ALC) representative Joriz Jasse Galamiton also urged close coordination between the student government and the organization to tackle community issues, such as institutionalization of lived names of trans and gender non-conforming students. 

“Work hand in hand with the organization, for example the ALC—to actually battle and to fight occurring problems that the community may encounter. One of the things that we are actually vying for right now is the institutionalization of using the lived names for graduation… because those things are very significant for the existence of a person,” Galamiton stated.

Despite being grateful for university assistance on immigration processes, International Students Organization representative Jacob Wennin Bouda flagged steep tuition burdens that require extra payments each semester.

“We are really supported in terms of addressing issues related to immigration. But, the tuition is a problem we really need help [with]. The amount of the tuition as international students is really heavy for us… I investigated in some schools, what we pay is quite a lot and some school pay once a year, but we have to pay every semester.”

Affirming the efforts of the representatives, SAMAHAN Multisectoral Affairs Secretary Robs Briones accentuated the importance of having a written testament as a unified pledge for visibility and action. 

“The manifesto is a testament that the sectoral representatives stand united to being part of the dialogue… to have the right to visibility and recognition… We had that manifesto for the reason that we want to be heard and so we should be heard not only by the student government but also the administration of the university.”

The “Dialogue of Hope: Faiths and Sectors Journeying Together for Peace” was held on December 11 at the 3F Pakighinabi Room – Ricci Hall, Community Center of the First Companions (CCFC) Building.