Students gathered at the Roxas Grounds last Friday afternoon as the SAMAHAN Central Board (SCB) held its annual ViewFinder: SAMAHAN Student Summit in order to listen to the different concerns of the student body. The event gave a clear perspective on the important issues affecting the AdDU community.

The panel of school administrators was introduced to listen and respond to all the questions and concerns from the student audience. The members of the said panel included Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. (University President), Fr. Gabriel Jose Gonzales, S.J. (Academic Vice President), Jimmy Delgado (University Treasurer), Theresa Eliab (Office of Student Affairs Director), Roy Crescencio Linao, Jr. (Disciplinary Board Chairperson), Maria Theresa Quindoy (Head of IT Training Services Office), Atty. Edgar Pascua II (University Registrar), Fretzie Alfaro (University Libraries and Audio Visual Center Director), Stephen Fundador (Physical Plant Office Director), and Regel Kent Asuero (SCB President).

The ViewFinder ambassadors presented and elaborated the major issues inside the university, including enrollment concerns, tuition and other fees increase, school facilities, campus security, academic issues and student governance through their extensive data gathering before the event.

After a lengthy discussion of the school’s main issues, an open forum was done to establish open and direct interaction between the students and the panel of administrators.

“For me, very comprehensive naman yung nabigay na answers ng ating mga panels and as a student leader, most of the answers were very direct to the point and really it does address the concerns of the students,” Paul Nino Dotollo, a BS Environmental Science student, said.

“Okay masyado ‘to for the students gud. The university is really not perfect. The university has flaws. So those flaws are addressed here para at least makadagdag sa student satisfaction,” Earl John Dayanghirang, a BS Nursing student, said.
Lunar Fayloga, SCB Moderator, added that students should continue expressing their concerns outside of the ViewFinder summit. He said, “ViewFinder is just really one avenue. We don’t have to wait for the ViewFinder, for SAMAHAN, to help us address in our concerns. There are a lot of venues in the SAMAHAN Central Board that they are able to receive such feedbacks of their concerns from their teachers or administrators.”

“Kahit tapos na ang ViewFinder, I really encourage students to go to SAMAHAN. SAMAHAN is waiting for their feedbacks so that they will be helped, that will not feel that they are alone in their struggles, in their dreams, as long as they are here in the Ateneo de Davao,” Fayloga added.