Primer for Progress: Mx. CASS Advocates for IP Student Support in Mx. IIT Influencer

by Jessa Mae Lebumfacil


With PALAKASAN 2025 on the horizon, the seven candidates representing their colleges took the stage to unveil their advocacies at the Mx. IIT Influencer Press Launching and Sashing, held on Wednesday, March 12, at the MSU-IIT PRISM Lecture Hall.


Mx. CASS Jhon Dave Manos, second-year BA Political Science, introduced Project Lahuta, an Indigenous People’s Student Support initiative as his advocacy.


Meanwhile, Mx. CHS focused on health empowerment and rights, Mx. CCS pushed for women’s empowerment, technology, and digital inclusivity, Mx. COE advocated for remote and sustainable democracy, Mx. CSM presented Project Cat-on, aiming to break the stigma surrounding math and science, Mx. CED-IDS emphasized voters’ education, and Mx. CEBA sought to uplift the welfare of coconut farmers.


This brief presentation of the candidates’ advocacies kicked off the event, followed by a brief sashing ceremony, with each candidate’s sash presented by their respective college governors.


Mx. IIT Coordinator Mary Grace Cabalhin shared a few words about her experience in organizing the event and highlighted the bold transition from Mr. and Ms. IIT to Mx. Influencer.


“It was a shift towards something more inclusive, more diverse, and more representative of our community. Mx. IIT Influencer is not just about choosing a winner; it’s about breaking barriers, redefining standards, and proving that pageantry can be a space for everyone,” she expressed.


To gain deeper insight into each candidate’s perspectives, a question-and-answer segment was held. Led by Cabalhin, the segment featured tailored questions that allowed each candidate to showcase their unique advocacies and visions.


“I believe that student leaders are uniquely positioned for a very simple reason: they represent the student body. They relay the needs of the students to the administration, serving as the bridge that fills the gap between the challenges students face and the solutions they require,” said Mx. CASS Jhon Dave Manos when asked about the role of student leaders in driving positive change within the institution.


Manos also touched on the pressures faced by students, noting, “We must realize that students are subjected to so many societal standards that we sometimes forget they are also doing their best in their own ways.”


The question-and-answer segment later opened the floor to the audience, where all candidates responded to the same questions, offering diverse insights and showcasing their individual approaches to shared challenges.


One attendee asked the candidates how they plan to utilize the programs they are currently involved in to further their advocacy.


“As a second-year BA Political Science student, I’ve always advocated for legislation and lobbying because it ensures the rights of people that I advocate for,” CASS’ Manos stated.


Notably, Manos also presently serves as the President of the MSU-IIT Indigenous Peoples Advocate (MIPSA), an organization dedicated to advancing Indigenous Peoples (IP) inclusion and representation.


Hailing from Bukidnon, he shared a personal experience in lobbying for the legislation of an Indigenous Peoples (IP) code in their province. “As a member of an Indigenous tribe myself, I do believe that a comprehensive law that protects and safeguards Indigenous People will help address the needs that they want to be addressed and provide them with more leverage and resistance in a society where they are often marginalized, sidelined by the government, dispossessed, displaced, and even stolen from.”


Manos concluded with a powerful statement about his role as an influencer: “I believe that even though I may be [just] an individual, my voice can reach many people, and it’s very important that as an influencer, we live by the things we promise to live by.”


In light of the recent arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC), a student posed a pressing question to the candidates: How do they plan to use their platforms to promote social and political awareness?


Mx. CASS responded with a call for civility and rational discourse. He emphasized the role of the academe in fostering meaningful conversations, stating, “As people of the academe, and as someone from the Political Science department, I truly believe it is necessary to amplify voices that promote rational thought rather than bogus claims.”


Highlighting the importance of maintaining civility, particularly on social media, where opinions are often shared without regard for consequences. “It’s very important that we, as members of the academe, steer discussions toward what truly matters—identifying which issues deserve attention and ensuring that the language we use does not alienate or offend others.”


Manos concluded with a firm reminder: “We must shy away from discourses that destroy our social fabric and instead ensure that we are voices of reason, voices that speak the truth, and voices that amplify the truth.”


This event marked the beginning of the candidates’ journey to becoming the next Mx. IIT Influencer. As PALAKASAN 2025 approaches, the stage is set for these candidates to inspire, lead, and contribute to a celebration of diversity and knowledge.