𝐒𝐂 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Aiming to strengthen sociopolitical awareness among students, the San Pedro College (SPC) Student Congress (SC) launched the first session of SocieTalks, titled “Philosophy of Corruption in the Philippine Context,” on Feb. 4, at the Philomene Labrecque (PL) Hall, in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).

Program preliminaries opened the event, followed by welcome remarks from OSA Head, Marlou Jade Eliab.

“We live in a time where the word ‘corruption’ is not just a term in a textbook, but a recurring headline that shapes our national reality,” Eliab said, citing issues ranging from healthcare systems to public infrastructure and governance.

Shortly after, the invited speaker, Christopher Ryan Maboloc, was introduced as an associate professor at Ateneo de Davao University and a visiting lecturer in several institutions.

In his lecture, Maboloc framed corruption in the Philippine setting as a problem rooted not only in individual morality but also in culture and institutional systems.

According to him, while personal values are relevant, corruption persists largely due to weak institutions, excessive bureaucratic processes, and the lack of effective checks and balances that can pressure even well-intentioned individuals into corrupt practices.

Discussion later shifted to an open forum, where a student asked about the purpose of the lecture and possible solutions to corruption in the Philippines.

In raising the question, the student cited the country’s collectivist culture, voter behavior, and the persistence of patronage politics, noting how voters continue to elect officials linked to systemic failures.

“How can you expect that a voter can possibly think and vote for what is right if the physiological needs for the person are not met?” the student asked.

Responding, Maboloc said voter decisions are shaped by “fellow feeling,” adding that support for the same political figures often stems from perceived assistance and what he described as “basic respect for their dignity as human beings.”

“A lot of these things are a problem of perception… At the end of the day, in society, we’re to create and make a collective network. It must continue in its imperfectity and aspire to change that will ultimately impact the lives of people,” he later added, noting that these forums can present different viewpoints, but they are conducted by organizations because these same students will later become part of the system — either making it better or worse.

Following the discussion, a raffle draw was conducted, after which a certificate of appreciation was awarded to the guest speaker.

“Let us carry forward the insights and essence of today’s discussion, not just as ideas, but as guiding principles in our actions and decisions,” said SC President John Laurence Satentes in his closing remarks.

Satentes also shared in an interview that a second SocieTalks session is being planned for April 2025, featuring another topic relevant to student concerns.

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