20/10/2025
๐๐๐๐ | SSC confident in successful foundation week celeb; students express dissatisfaction โ survey
Amidst an issue-riddled organization of major events during the week-long celebration of the 119th Founding Anniversary of Tarlac State University (TSU), the Supreme Student Council (SSC) expressed extreme satisfaction and confidence that it was successful.
โYes. Yes na yes [it was successful],โ SSC President Hon. Brixter Millo shared in an interview with The Work.
SSC Vice President Rafael Jay Valix seconded Milloโs statement, saying โYes, because we value the interest of the TSUian student community,โ noting that students were satisfied with major events, such as the opening ceremony, Fun Run, Battle of the Bands (BOTB), and the Mr. and Ms. TSU.
โBuong buo po โyung loob namin na napasaya po namin ang TSUian student community, which is the primary focus, again, of our student council programs and events po,โ he added.
However, in contrast to Valixโs statement, a survey conducted by The Work unveiled the extreme dissatisfaction of the majority of respondents with this yearโs founding celebration, citing various reasons, such as the ticketing system, the event venue, and the organizing committee, underscoring student discontent and the need for improvement in succeeding events.
๐๐ข๐๐ค๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐
While the SSC stated that tickets were distributed through college student councils (CSCs), students reported inconsistencies in information dissemination and fairness in distribution.
Several students claimed that ticket announcements were poorly relayed and that even some faculty members were unaware of the SSCโs new policy for ticket inquiries, leading to backlash and criticisms.
โThe system was suddenly implemented without any prior notice or formal memo disseminated to TSU employees, leaving many faculty members confused and unprepared. There appears to have been no proper allocation or reservation of tickets specifically for faculty, suggesting that the council may not have accounted for their attendance in the planning process,โ a respondent shared.
Others mentioned instances of fake tickets and confusion during gate entry, which caused long queues and crowding outside the gymnasium, as well as delays in major events, causing students to leave early out of frustration.
Out of a 1-5 scaling, 44.7% of the 95 total respondents rated 1, or were very dissatisfied, in ticket distribution, handling of tickets, announcements, and attitude.
๐๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐๐ฌ
The university gymnasium, which hosted several major events, also drew criticisms from students due to its limited capacity, poor ventilation, and lack of signal inside the area.
Some respondents also reported that the womenโs restroom was out of order. Due to this, various students were in discomfort, so as not to meddle with the โconfusingโ entrance policies outside the gymnasium.
The SSC, however, maintained that the venue limitations were beyond its control.
โHindi po talaga kasalanan ng student council kung kulang ang facilities ng university natin. In the first place, kasalanan po ng SUCs kung bakit walang pondo ang university sa pagkakaroon ng mga facilities na kayang mag-cater ng larger, lumalaki, and growing population na katulad ng Tarlac State University,โ Valix said, defending the choice of venue.
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ซ๐ฌโ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ซ
Several respondents also raised complaints regarding the attitude of some SSC members and the harsh tone of their communication during events.
โSobrang disrespectful ng mga organizers, imbis na mag-enjoy ka, mas-stress ka pa lalo,โ one respondent shared, recalling how organizers allegedly shouted and cursed at attendees during the Battle of the Bands (BOTB).
Another respondent criticized SSCโs conduct both on-ground and online, referencing its now-deleted Facebook post one day after the culmination of the event.
โAng professional naman ng โNye Nye Nyeโ posting ano? Haha,โ the respondent wrote.
Millo, however, clarified that the alleged insult โbobo ba kayoโ was taken out of context.
โAng sabi ko po doon, hindi naman po kami bobo para hindi namin alam โyung tickets na kami mismo ang gumawa,โ he explained, shedding light on how his words may have been perceived from varying perspectives.
๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
Despite SSCโs insistence that the event was a success, survey results and student feedback suggest a growing disconnect between the councilโs perception and the student bodyโs experience.
Respondents called for better communication, more transparent planning, and a review of the current ticketing and crowd management systems to avoid repeating the same issues in future events.
โSana naman ay ang kanilang pinangangalandakang mga katangian tulad ng kalinawan ay tunay na nakikita sa kanilang ginagawa,โ one respondent said, calling for SSC to take accountability.
Another respondent echoed similar sentiments, saying โThe SSC must own up to their lapses and take accountability for the issues raised, particularly the alleged disrespect shown toward students and faculty in the queue line. Acknowledging shortcomings is not a sign of weakness but of integrity and leadership.โ
Overall satisfaction level of the TSU community during the recently conducted foundation week scored 2.8 (on a 1-5 scaling system), indicating a fairly bad to neutral experience of students during the event.
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Report by Renz Joshua De Vera and Andrei Opeรฑa
Layout by Allan Tipon Jr.
