Buklod Atenista NatCon propels Cha-Cha; passes reso creating Cha-Cha committee

During the informal morning session, discussions among the various Member Student Governments (MSGs) and Councils of Organizations in Ateneo (COAs) centering around identification of the changes necessary to the charter took place in the Richie Fernando Conference Hall, setting the stage for decisive actions to be taken later in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, the National Congress in its formal session passed two resolutions, one of which is Resolution No. 2024-01, namely “A Resolution Creating a Charter Change Committee to Review the 2022 Buklod Atenista Charter and Defining the Mandate Thereof”. 

Under Resolution No. 2024-01, a Charter Change committee will be established to oversee the review of the current charter. Comprised of key stakeholders including the Buklod Atenista Permanent Secretariat (BAPS) National Convener, BAPS Deputy National Convener, BAPS Executive Secretary, and Member Student Government (MSG) Buklod Ambassadors and their deputies, the committee will be tasked with evaluating the existing charter and proposing necessary amendments.

General amendments mentioned in the resolution that are expected to be included in the charter’s revision encompass the addition of the Vision and Mission of the Alliance, as well as the introduction of new articles concerning key details of Buklod Atenista's operations such as the Strategic Development Plan, Leader’s Summit, Mid-Year Conference, Council of Organizations in Ateneo, National Congress, Buklod Atenista Permanent Secretariat, Convening and Hosting Rights, and Transitioning of BAPS from one MSG to Another.

Furthermore, the resolution stipulates the creation of a formal framework that defines the alliance’s understanding of accountability, with the goal of integrating all aspects of accountability, ensuring effective communication between the Buklod Atenista and sets the deadline for the charter change on 31 August 2024.

'If not now, when?' 

In an interview, Zoreyn Victorio Dabon, the Secretary-General of Samahan ng Mga Mag-Aaral ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Davao (SAMAHAN) of Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), emphasized the need to realign the Buklod Atenista with the current status quo. 

“[T]he charter was amended a few times prior to the Buklod Atenista National Leaders' Summit right now, but we still saw as an alliance that the charter wasn't really aligned with what we're facing right now. So with that, to further bolster our connection as an alliance and to further bolster our identity, our principles, in creation of our future plans, we saw it fit to revise the charter," Dabon said.

In a separate interview, Bernice Amanda A. Mendoza, the President of Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila (SANGGUNIAN) of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) echoed the same sentiments, highlighting the evolving contexts surrounding the universities, the alliance, and the nation as a whole.

“The main insight was the fact that the charter has to have some sort of changes for it to be able to accommodate the certain changes that are happening in our communities,” Mendoza added.

When asked about the timing of the charter change, Dabon expressed a sense of urgency, stating that the change is bound to happen and it is better to act now rather than delay the process. Mendoza, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of intensive preparation and careful execution, noting that the decision to revise the charter is a turning point for the MSGs, COAs, and universities within Buklod Atenista.

Review, not change

In contrast, Ma. Erica Orabe, the National Convener of Buklod Atenista, expressed reservations about the necessity and importance of the charter change, noting that the constitution needs review and not revision.

“I think the real concern is for the alliance to reach a consensus on how we understand each part of the charter. As the National Convener, I believe that we only lack a thorough review of the charter, not necessarily a change right now. I understand the urgency of making the alliance relevant, but I don't see changing the charter as the sole solution to safeguarding the alliance and its relevance.” Orabe stated.

When asked about her hesitation about the charter change, Orabe highlighted the importance of interpreting the current charter in alignment with the current context and maintaining a balance between specificity and flexibility to accommodate the diverse needs of member institutions, instead of immediately changing the charter. 

Meanwhile, in a separate Resolution No. 2024-02 entitled “A Resolution Canceling the 40th Buklod Atenista Midyear Conference and Transferring the Hosting Rights for the 41st Buklod Atenista National Leaders’ Summit from Ateneo de Naga University to Ateneo de Manila University”, the alliance canceled the 40th Buklod Atenista Mid-Year Conference (BAMYC) and specified the transitory period for amendments and revisions of the charter from 27 February 2024 - 21 August 2024.