Story By: Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga
Photos By Social Media Office
A dramatic toss coin between candidates for Grade 9 representative commenced the weeklong Supreme Student Council (SSC) Elections 2020 saga.
Samantha Boncalon of Student-Leaders with Ultimate Governance Objectives for Development (SUGOD) Party won over Cedfred Vergantiños of Students Advocating Leadership and Invigorating Grandest Achievements for Neo-Education Dynamism (SALIGAN) Party by toss coin. CST-R Comelec Chairperson Danilo A. Roblico facilitated the toss coin. Both candidates tallied 104 votes during the canvassing of ballots last March 11, 2020, election day. The ballots were re-counted on March 12 and both candidates received 103 votes bringing down the Grade 8 voter turnout for representative from 208 to 206.
Both Thomasian aspring leaders showed grace and composure during the high pressure re-count and toss coin situation. In the end, Boncalon and Vergatiños embraced in a show of humility and good faith. The last toss coin situation in the SSC elections happened three years ago.
Meanwhile, Kile Lester Tejones (SALIGAN) tallied 638 votes to win over Ritzie Lao (322 votes) in the bid for SSC presidency. Tejones is the incumbent PIO.
Eleventh grader Sophia Rosagazo won a convincing 609-vote margin for vice-president over Daniela Katrina Purisima, Grade 10.
The battle for Grade 10 representative was the next closest call after the tie. With only 22 points over his opponent, Joecell Velasco of SUGOD won. Mae Jolie Bautista of SALIGAN gathered 75 votes.
In total, SALIGAN Party won ten out of the 13 CST-R SSC positions. SUGOD party Candidates won three representatives posts—Grade 9, 10, 12.
This year’s voter turnout is 89.31 percent with only 10.69 percent abstention. Of the 1,248 currently enrolled Thomasians, 961 students actually cast their votes; all Grade 12 students, since they are graduating, were no longer allowed to vote.
During their campaign, SALIGAN Party vowed to “uphold the Core Values of the school toward achieving change for the betterment of [every Thomasian]”.
Agenda and platform of governance and views on critical student issues of both parties were thoroughly discussed and debated upon last Tapatan 2020: the SSC Grand Debate last March 9 at the St. Ezekiel Moreno Covered Court.
