The Senate... LIve!

For the first time, the Lasallian community will have the chance to meet the neophyte senators on July 27 at the Marilen Gaerlan Conservatory Wing. Dubbed The Senate...Live! Spotlight on First time Senators, this GenXchange forum is organized by the Marketing Communication Office.

Four senate neophytes, Manny Villar, Ralph Recto, Noli de Castro, and Kiko Pangilinan, will visit the University and give a five-minute presentation of their priorities in their legislative agenda.

As first-term legislators, they are expected to make laws that will serve the best interest of the Filipino people. However, given their educational and diverse occupational backgrounds, the members of the academe—teachers and students alike—pose the much-awaited question, can they really deliver?

Given the present challenges under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, competency is badly needed in addressing the problems of the nation. The recently staged people power at EDSA showed the stark realities of massive urban and rural poverty.

University experts will participate in the discussion. Faculty members Dr. Tereso Tullao of the Economics Department, Dr. Francisco Magno of the Political Science Department, and Dr. Eric Punzalan of the Chemistry Department will serve as the panel of reactors. Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta, president of the Yuchengco Center for East Asia, and Ronald Holmes, executive vice president of the College of St. Benilde, are also included. To join them in the open forum are a group of media people from various news organizations.

GenXchange is a biannual event that primarily aims to provide venue for students to dialogue with government leaders about relevant national issues. Through this forum, the University reaffirms its commitment of being a vital resource for Church and Nation. It is exclusively organized for the students and faculty of DLSU-M.

During the past three years, the MCO has had President Fidel Ramos, former DILG Secretary Alfredo Lim, Jr., and then Vice President Arroyo as special guests.