ONE-CDO

First Congressional Meeting

Loyola Conference Room, 2/F Magis Complex, Xavier University

Minutes of the congress

Present:
XU President and Ambassador
COC President and Ambassador
MUST President and Ambassador
CU President
Secretary General to the Convener
Permanent ONE-CDO Secretariat:
Secretary General
Communications officer
Budget and Finance officer
Executive Secretary

First part
Upon entrance to the conference room, the participants processioned fronted by the convening
chair and the executive secretary. The opening prayer and the Philippine national anthem
followed.
Thereafter, the chair had his opening statements and a roll call was done by the executive
secretary who sat nearly beside where the convening chair was positioned.
The chair welcomed the participants and talked in some details about the background of
ONE-CDO and the probable reason of its inactivity for the past few years.
House rules:
The use of parliamentary procedures was made known to the delegates and other rules were
further imposed and elucidated as per instruction of the chair, who was the executive secretary
to the convener. Only the ambassadors can raise a motion and vote for a motion.
Order of business:
Motion: COC ambassador wondered why the open floor is not allotted much time and thus
motioned that the open floor time be extended from 25 minutes to one (1) hour and the
remaining precedents be sticked on to.
Votes: AGREE: 3 DO NOT AGREE: 0
Updates on the coordination with the partner schools
XU Ambassador detailed the updates on the schools to whom the invitations were sent.
Accordingly, five schools have bidden for the invitation, while others declined and are still out
of contact. The five participating schools are the ones who were in the congressional meeting
except for the AMA participants who were absent to some reasons the working committee was
not informed (yet).
SPC had the last minute decline of participation to reasons concerning their school's enrollment
about which they (student council) are the ones facilitating. As with Liceo, the proper contact
person is still unidentifiable yet since they are still to hold a reelection for their council
president. Lourdes, accordingly, could not be reached as all the transactions need to undergone
through their Office of Student Affairs, which necessitates formal sending of business letters
before the final intent be granted. The working committee deems it time-consuming provided
that the congress won't meet halfway with the business intent should the imposed preliminary
processes be followed. While STI eventually had no subsequent replies following their positive
reply on their interest about the invitation.
Presentation of Mission, Vision, and structure of student council per school
In the instruction of the chair, each school is given 10 minutes. However, COC and MUST
insisted on the 15 minutes following what was stated in the program flow with time allocation
provided to the participants.
COC presented first, followed by MUST, and then XU. In the middle of the presentation, the CU
President arrived as expected of her. She then presented after XU presented.
The presentation, considering that only four schools were present, finished earlier than foreseen
and expected. With this, the participants motioned and voted that the snacks be handed early to
leeway on casual conversation amongst themselves.
Break
2​nd​ part
Introduction of the ONE-CDO Nature, Policies and Structure
The chair discussed the ONE-CDO Nature, Policies and Structure with the members of the
alliance following with their provided copies of the Alliance's Constitution and By-laws
In discussion proper, XU ambassador pointed that the working committee's creation of the
communication officer and executive secretary to the convener is unconstitutional for that
matter.
COC ambassador also stressed on some of the salient provisions that are vague and misleading
such as the stipulation on each school requested to have four members/ambassadors, the
number of the rays of the sun in the logo of the alliance, and confusion on whether it's
ONE-CDO or ONE-CDO.
In support, COC President said of the impracticability of some of the parts of the constitution in
that such are very idealistic.
XU president intimated his sentiments that ONE-CDO, being born already several years ago,
failed because of its structural impracticability. He then suggested that POCS' term of office
should more efficiently and practically be for five years instead of the constitutional provision
of three years. He also added on the comment on the point of constitutional confusion as to who
are the nine schools stated, and why four members are needed per school when at the moment
only one ambassador per school.
In back up of his comment on the constitution being too 'idealistic," THE COC President used
JPIA in an analogy of it being worthy and good to emulate with its practical and sustainable
ruling and constitution.
XU President took a major stress that for the alliance to succeed, commitment is need from
among its members. With this, he asked if the participating schools are really committed.
In response, COC and MUST said of their commitment but under and with some conditions
necessarily practical such as the constitution needing to be revised, elucidated, and other
provisions amended. While CU president honestly said that on the school's behalf, she is still
doubtful.
***
In the same run, COC Ambassador had his point of inquiry if is there any constitutional
provision for the regular meeting of the ambassadors. If there isn't yet, he said that better such a
provision be made. He also asked if the regular meeting, provided of it being already made or
ratified, be necessarily always at the school of the secretary general. This is in the same manner
as when he suggested that the meeting venue should change from one school to another in view
of making everybody, especially the ambassadors and presidents, feel a sense of felt
involvement in the alliance.
In another note, COC ambassador also said that the alliance should have core values.
In support, XU president suggested that the next meeting to be allotted for the making of the
core values and the ratification of the existing constitution.
Discussion and approval of plan for the academic year
The exec sec chair presented the strategic plan XU has made for the alliance for the whole year.
Presentation is made in respect of it being still subject for approval.
Having run through the proposed plans, COC President had a point of inquiry if are the
activities' nature really boardroom set-up and is confined only within the four corners of a
room. If so, he suggested that what if the alliance also embarks on outreach programs. He also
side-noted that maybe one of the reasons why some members of the alliance in the past did not
have the full of attendance because of the activities being only within a room. He furthered on
his suggestion that should the plans push through, COC is willing to allocate budget solely
intended for ONE-CDO.
In the same matter, MUST president said that the alliance can partner with other local
government units in view of actualizing some community plans and projects shall the alliance
push on the creation of such.
COC ambassador made his point that in the matter of community outreach, ONE-CDO can
really be a helpful medium.
Setting the ground on a neutral one apart from the community plans the alliance can likely
resort to , CU president said that the alliance should really first build a guiding objective for
which it is exists.
Meanwhile, XU president, using Buklod Atenista in his analogy to bring about an equitable
sense, suggested that this year the alliance should focus solely more on ratifying and
strengthening the constitution. He then proposed in line that the mid-year be allotted to the
presentation of the draft of the ratified constitution and speakers are likely to be invited to
comment on the constitution during the time. While the October to march can then be for the
redrafting and in March will be for ratification of the constitution.
In line with this, COC president agrees on the suggestion of the XU President. However, he
side-noted that why not the alliance be in a simultaneous run of activities for the year so that the
alliance, in their composition, can have a legacy to leave for this year.
On the other hand, MUST president said that what's important is that the alliance to settle with
a vision and then look out for possible financial supports — in as much as the respective
student councils to really tie up with ONE-CDO.
Taking sides on the monetary aspect, COC president asked if all the schools budgeted for
ONE-CDO.
In response to COC president's inquiry, the XU ambassador shared that Xavier University,
being this year's host school, has allotted a budget for ONE-CDO. In details, ONE-CDO
Mid-year congress has 15,000 pesos budget while the summit has 20,000 pesos allocated. This
sums up to 35,000 budgetary fund for ONE-CDO this year. He added that for each school
allotting budget for ONE-CDO is still unconstitutional.
Strong about the idea of each participating school funding for ONE-CDO, COC president said
that each school has to have a share for the sheer purpose of proportionality.
Going back to the strategic plan proposal, CU president said that she sticks with the original
strategic plan proposal of Xavier University.
Meanwhile the COC ambassador agrees on XU president's suggestion except that the
constitution should only be for one semester, which is until the mid-year congress.
COC ambassador also went back if whether or not the present ambassadors agree on the
conduction of regular meetings.
MUST and XU ambassador bade yes for the suggestion. But XU ambassador suggested that it
should be twice a month that the meeting be held.
The motion of COC ambassador was raised. All the three ambassadors voted that they agree on
the motion of having a regular meeting twice a month. Suggestions were raised that second and
last Saturday of every month be the schedule of the regular meeting. However, the specifics are
still indefinite are still upon decision. This motion is granted.
MUST ambassador raised his point of inquiry if the meeting be done personally or can be done
virtually/online.
XU ambassador however suggested that for the personal meeting to happen, it should be on a
Sunday. With this, MUST ambassador said he is okay with Sunday be the meeting day.
In the thought of person-to-person meeting, XU president suggested that the meeting place
should shift every now and then with Xavier University the first place to conduct the meeting
and then it goes alphabetically shifted from one school to another.
COC ambassador raided his question if the presidents invited in the meeting. In response to
this, XU president said he is okay with the presidents attending the meeting but such an action
would accordingly undermine the purpose of the ambassadors that is to represent their
respective schools.
Meanwhile, MUST ambassador raised a point of inquiry on what would happen if possibilities
occur that the ambassador is absent in the regular meeting. However, this question was not
answered.
COC president then said of his thoughts that he is okay with four members represent each
school. Opposing then from this remark, XU president said it would be confusing if there will
be four member representatives of each school much so that it would confuse the process of
arriving at a quorum.
Thereby, COC ambassador motioned on the regular meeting allotment in that the first
semester to focus on the constitution, the second semester be for the implementation
stage and plenary sessions. This motion got the three approval votes of the ambassadors
with none disagreeing.

Following was XU ambassador’s motion on the midyear conference that will be during
semestral break in third or last week of October. This motion got three approval votes.

In clearer terms, XU ambassador also motioned that July to September be for the
drafting of the constitution, October to be the mid-year congress wherein the
constitution will be proclaimed and ratified, November to March the following year to
be allotted for the plenary sessions and activity of the Alliance and transitioning period,
and April be for the ONE-CDO Leaders’ Summit.

Further arrived upon was July 10, second week, will be the first regular meeting at
Xavier University.

Open floor

What happened was the commendation of each school’s unique and distinct student
council structure, composition, and system.

Ateneo School for Upcoming Leaders (ASUL) was also talked about in COC president’s
inquiry about it.

The presence of intramural of some schools and its absence in COC was also discussed.
Budget funding their school administration was put light on why such an absence of
sports development is prevailing.

The open floor ended earlier. A motion of recess was raised and was voted by the three
ambassadors – thus granted.

The convening chair called to order the dismiss/adjournment of the congress.

Picture taking