SPOTLIGHT is the newest portion of Aslag Online that will obviously, spotlight (duh! haha!) the AguPips so that we can get to know them better. For our second installment, we feature Daphne Villanueva (Kaputul 2004A), the Muning that rules them all for AY 2007-2008. Haha! Enjoy the witty answers of our Madame President.
Fullname: Daphne-Dominique Henson VillanuevaNickname: Officially, Daph. But more popularly, Muning, as per previous Poll Question Results
Birthday: March 10, 1988
Hometown: Angeles City
High School: Holy Family Academy
Aguman Batch: Kaputul 2004A (Particular awards weren't uso back then, but she was voted the Mems Favorite)
Course: BS Psychology
So, how does it fell to be the 36th President of the UP Aguman?
I remember emphasizing it to an applicant in one of the applicant’s interviews that here in UP Aguman we train our members to become leaders. We always say we want quality members, and we mean it. Elections now in Aguman where there are two firmly contending candidates are a rarity, especially for the position President. Eh kasi naman diba, just the name of the position can draw out anxiety to anybody who’s nominated for it, and I’m no exception to that. We may all have the capacity to lead but it all boils down to one’s willingness and readiness.
You even won a completely landslide victory, the 3rd in the past 4 years.
Just a landslide, rather than reflecting a victory, indicates the support and full faith of the members. I am truly happy for that (smiles). But it is more important to manifest that faith in concrete actions. I hope that we shall see better days for UP Aguman, where more members attend the genmeets, more members participate in activities.
You're the only 'Execom veteran' among the incoming officers. How do you think this will affect your performance as a team?
I should say that the members of the incoming Executive Council have equal experience of officership although in different respects. However I have not realized that I was the only ‘AguExecom veteran’ until our first execom meeting this summer. I was like, okay this is how an execom meeting goes! (laughs) Nawala kasi talaga sa isip ko.
So how was your first Execom?
It was actually quite cool to work with new people in the group kasi there is the opportunity to introduce fresh ideas. You can expect more diverse views and approach. And it is very exhilarating to discover that we share the same vision, the same drive and commitment for the org. I personally like change and I’m very open to suggestions. Nakakatuwa pag nagsa-suggest lahat (smiles). Kahit weird na yung suggestions ng iba (laughs)!
Weird suggestions? Like what?
Weird stuff, as in joke time na hirit like magbenta ng katawan si Joms sa gay lovers para magka-funds. Mga joke lang talaga. (laughs)
You're the most powerful person in Aguman right now. How does it feel? Hehe!
Powerful ba? (smiles) Power takes two forms: power of the position and power of the person. Sa “power of the position” level, I must say the feeling is overwhelming. You know, the ability to get others to do their task is an extremely important leadership skill. On the level of “power of the person”, I must be the powerless person. Talk about being called “muning” sa tambayan? (smiles)!
Pero yun ang favorite na nickname mo, based on the Poll Question! Haha!
I insist that I am not a cat. I am a bear. A happy bear! (laughs) Pero kidding aside, I feel overwhelmed but flattered to know that 40+ people look up (figuratively speaking okay) to me for insight especially with regards to org matters. The influence that one possesses when one is President entails a load of responsibility and good actions. As president, there is an added pressure to be always the best and exemplar for the members and applicants. Sabi nga sa Disney movie A Bug’s Life, “First rule of leadership: Everything is your fault.” (sighs)
You're a graduating student next year, right?
That’s right, I’m graduating!
How many units do you have left? How many require lengthy lab hours?
33 units with 3 subjects obliging lab hours.
At one point or another and to a certain degree, your academics will definitely be affected, are you ready for that?
I was born ready. Wushu may ganung mga statements (laughs)! The moment I joined UP Aguman, my academics was already affected (laughs), but in a good way because I always had the motivation to attend my classes lalo na pag sa AS and it’s quite a comfort to know you have fellow normal students who go through the same struggles of UP academic life. On a more serious note, of course being an officer now would demand more time for the org. But you know what? I have already set goals for my personal acads, it’s a matter of relating the right strategies to achieve those goals.
When you were an applicant, you were actually voted as the members' favorite. And 3 years later, you're the President. Did you see this coming?
Ows talaga?! I didn’t know I was a mem’s favorite, bakit ngayon lang ako na-inform?
Oo kaya! That’s the year when the Memcomm started the Mems’ Prerogative grade.
Wala bang prize? (laughs)
Err, Si Macoy ang tanungin mo. Hehe!
Anyway, most people desire to become a leader because they aspire to draw changes. To tell you frankly, I’m one of those people but still I didn’t see this coming. I can still recall when I had that sem of inactivity in the org because I felt I needed to search for something more. And guess what, I found all that. I am active in 2 other orgs and founded one org. I found fulfillment in everything I did. But you know what, I realized that the saying “you’re heart will take you home” is true. I was back to making tambay in the Aguman, laughing again at the old AguJokes and I still keep laughing at them now (smiles). I was entrusted responsibilities, I felt the warmth of the AguFamily all over again. And I realized that it was all here after all. I don’t regret anything. I owe it to the people who trusted me, in spite of everything. Ate Em,
Bakit? What does Em had to do with it?
Alam na ni Ate Em yun. Let’s just say Ate Em believed in me ever since, even before I started believing in myself.
Currently, what are the organization’s strengths and weaknesses?
It thrills me to see the AguPeople, both residents and alumni, and the AguBond getting bigger and stronger. Happy people make a happy family, and that’s what we’re mostly about. And of course, let us not forget the activities that make Aguman a living legacy, its CEERs, Pautakans and Sinings. On a personal point of view, I wish to bring back some old traditions of the org or if not, start new ones.
Areas for improvement?
We need to improve on the external and internal aspects of the org. On the external facet, we hope we can promote and market the org better. And most importantly, to tie stronger bonds with our alumni by holding Alumni dinners again. So we can hear their AguStories and just to get everybody more involved for the org. On the internal side, I hope to put together a more stringent application process to our prospective members to qualify them fittingly. Team-building activities and more fundraisers for our dear org also.
What style of leadership will you use on 40+ people (most of which are taller than you, hehe!)?
At 4-feet-eleven-AND-A-HALF, yes, I am less than five feet, I think I shall be a dictator, haha, joke lang! (laughs) Factor ba talaga yung “most of the 40+ people are taller than me”?!
But it’s the truth, hehe!
Haha!... I think that different styles apply to different situations. Pero personally kasi ‘participative’ leadership ang ina-advocate ko. Like what I said during the Meeting de Avance, I’d like to be the type of President who is both a team leader and a team player and critically knows when to be either. I prefer to be involved in every committee work and see up-close what’s going-on. Constitutionally, the General Assembly, composed of that 40+ people who are mostly taller than me, (smiles) is the chief decision-making body of the organization, thus we are democratic. Above all else, it is important that these members should love working with the Executive Council to attain our organization’s goals.
What concept in diving do you think will help you in your term as President?
Favorite ko talaga sa scuba is when our dive master signals to go deep, it sends me the thrill of the water world that awaits. The experience is indeed beautiful and always unforgettable. But if asked about concepts, we follow a simple Golden Rule in scuba diving: plan your dive and dive your plan. It is critical to follow THE plan in a scuba trip because extra minutes spent at a certain depth can cause narcosis or worse casualty. In reality, I am not so much of a planner but I like putting a plan to action. While courage to explore new grounds is admirable, the trait of being cautious which I learned in scuba diving is a lot valuable. In my term as President, I hope that whatever plans we will make in the Execom’s sem-planning, we shall be able to put those to action efficiently and effectively, and not left written as just plans. We all know that things don’t happen perfectly like how we planned them to be, and that exactly will leave room for more flexibility, which I learned not in scuba but in ballet (smiles).
You're considered as one of the jolliest person in the org, EVER. What things pissed you off that you can't even manage to fake a smile?
I’m a happy person in a happy crowd like Aguman. Yes, I am guilty of sugarcoating. Sometimes I say I’m okay when deep inside I’m really not. But note, I never sugarcoat when I make a face. I don’t fake my frown or annoyance with a smile. When somebody would want to say something bad about me, I prefer he/she tells it to my face. I also hate hypocrisy. AND the thing when I will most really not fake a smile is… when you insist that Pooh is bading! 19 times in a day is still okay, but the twentieth?! Grrr, grabe na talaga nun ah! You sure have hurt my feelings by then (laughs)
FILL IN THE BLANKS (Original item in boldface and italicized):
Gboi and Elai will make a good Aguman couple because ahem, ahem, subaybayan nyo na lang sa The Buzz! Haha!
Hindi bading si Pooh dahil lalaki siya! C’mon, I can prove that he has a Y-chromosome, hahaha!
The thing people don't know about power is it’s like M&Ms – it melts in your mouth, not in your hands.
The best perk about being not-so-tall is I can fight my way to the cosmic traffic of people in the MRT. Plus there’s a bonus: I don’t have to bow my head when passing by Cubao overpass, hahaha!
LAST. You need to answer in Kapampangan. Any message to the AguPips?
Sorry, I don’t have a fine command of the language. So here it goes, in the words of
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