Newly elected HAU Student Government (HAUSG) Senate President and Commission on Student Organization (CSO) Chairman, alongside three other appointed senators, formally assumed office during the Grand Oathtaking Ceremony for Academic Year (AY) 2026–2027 on June 1.

Czarina Mae Aguarin, who was initially nominated as senator-at-large, was elected as HAUSG Senate President during the ceremony.

In her privilege speech, Aguarin stated that leadership in the university allows students to be heard and be served while empowered to serve others, stating that “it is a privilege that comes with responsibility.”

“We often encounter fellow students serving fellow students, because sometimes the greatest lessons we learn are not only from lectures but from the stories, struggles, and experiences of the people around us,” she stated.

Aguarin further emphasized the duty to serve for the greater good of the Angelite community especially this Pride Month.

“Every Angelite, regardless of their background or identity, deserves to feel heard, valued, and represented. Diversity does not weaken our community, it strengthens it,” she shared.

In an interview, Aguarin claimed that for the Third Congress, all senators agreed on “resetting” the Senate as one of the body’s priorities.

She cited the disconnect with the legislative branch and the student body as the reason for the priority.

“We want to craft bills that they really want. So, we have to really consult the student body this year,” Aguarin discussed during the interview.

She also added that the Senate is currently leaning towards bills that focus on accountability and good governance as one of its priorities.

Among those who filled vacancies in the Senators-at-Large roster were presidential appointees Alicia Abby Ann Ang, Krisha Yasmien Guiao, and Sedrick Marion Tamayo. 

HAU – University Student Council (HAU-USC) President Aerith Claude Catap nominated the appointees on May 23 pursuant to Article VII, Section 14(b) of the 2024 HAUSG Constitution. This allows the USC President to nominate individuals to vacant Senator-at-large seats in the absence of unelected candidates in the previous election with the highest number of votes.

CSO launches new committee, chair serves again

Meanwhile, Arianne Meg Esguerra was voted back into office as chairperson of the Commission on Student Organizations (CSO) following a 7-1-1 secret ballot election on May 30, securing a second and final term for AY 2026–2027.

Earlier, she also returned as commissioner for the School of Computing (SOC) for a second and final term during a meeting of SOC student organization heads presided over by then-Governor-elect Louise Justine Oraye on May 18.

Esguerra is serving her final term in both positions pursuant to Article XVI, Section 3 of the 2024 HAUSG Constitution, which limits officers to a maximum of two terms in the same office.

Furthermore, the CSO passed a resolution creating the Committee on Communications to be led by a Deputy Chairperson.

School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) Commissioner Sofhia Pineda was appointed to the post following a 6-2-1 vote in the same meeting.

The committee, composed of representatives from learner groups, will have access to narrative reports submitted by all student organizations and will focus on marketing, communications, creative arts, and information.

It will work directly with the HAU Marketing Office to show the progress and accomplishments of Angelites and learner groups.

Similarly, Pineda is serving her second and final term after being re-elected as SAS CSO commissioner during a meeting of the school’s student organization heads on May 22, spearheaded by then-Governor-elect Jan Angelo Suaverdez.

In an interview, Esguerra called the block rejection of the High Court Revision No. 4 during the May 4 deliberations a “missed opportunity” to strengthen institutional continuity within the CSO.

The revision includes provisions allowing officers to remain in office until graduation, resignation, loss of qualifications, or removal for cause.

“I understand that structural changes like shifting to a tenure-based system need careful evaluation, but from our experience as only the second term in CSO’s history, the lack of continuity really showed during transition periods, especially last summer, when many of us were essentially learning and building systems from scratch,” she explained.

Esguerra said while term transitions are inevitable, CSO work relies on accumulated knowledge and established processes, adding that tenured commissioners, similar to COMELEC and the High Court, could have made workflows more stable and less repetitive.

For her, the result was difficult to accept, noting that the proposal was not intended to remove accountability or eliminate turnover, but to strengthen continuity in areas essential for effective service delivery.

“From our perspective, the concerns raised may not have fully reflected the operational demands of CSO work, particularly the level of difficulty involved in transitioning responsibilities while maintaining established relationships and ongoing initiatives,” Esguerra shared.

Viewing the decision as one that “prioritized caution” within the current framework, she said she respects the Senate’s role in deliberation and decision-making.

“I also believe it is important to recognize how much CSO’s effectiveness depends on sustained institutional memory, consistent processes, and the ability to maintain trust with student leaders across term,” she said.

In the previous academic year, the CSO encountered challenges in maintaining compliance and alignment among learner groups, especially in meeting accreditation requirements and submitting necessary documents, recounted Esguerra.

“While guidelines were regularly disseminated and follow-ups were conducted, there were instances where late submissions. were still accommodated, which unintentionally led to a level of complacency among some learner groups,” she said.

Among the concerns were financial requirements, particularly financial statements, which were linked to a “lack of full understanding” and “engagement during financial seminars.”

“Despite the availability of an audit handbook and orientation sessions, some learner groups did not fully maximize these opportunities, which often resulted in incorrect submissions and delayed accreditation processes,” she noted.

Similarly, the HAU Commission on Financial Audit (CFA) recorded a first-semester dip, with only five institutions receiving an unqualified opinion on their financial records before eventually rising to 22 in the second semester.

Moving forward as chairperson, she aims to focus on strengthening “clarity, accessibility, and accountability,” including the development of a simplified “slambook-style” guide intended to make CSO processes more approachable and easier for learner groups to navigate.

Esguerra mentioned there will be a stronger focus on improving communication channels and addressing learner group concerns, positioning the CSO as a space for feedback, clarification, and system improvement.

Francine Jayne Cunanan, commissioner for the School of Business and Accountancy (SBA) under the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), oversaw the CSO election.