ShareThisThe most effective leaders always tell themselves: “I cannot do this alone.”
For 79 student leaders of Catanduanes, this was just one leadership lesson of the many they have learned in the 1st Catanduanes Student Leaders Congress (CSLC) last October 18 to 20. With the support of the Gintong Pamana Awards Foundation, Inc. and the FILAMEGASCENE of Bart and Yoly Tubalinal, the CSLC is a product of the Leadership Communities (LeadCom) Program of Ayala Foundation, Inc.
For the 1st CSLC under the LeadCom program, student leaders from seven universities and colleges in Catanduanes came together for a three-day leadership experience, which included talks, group discussions, reflection activities, and experiential learning challenges.
LeadCom aims to develop, inspire, empower, and nurture the leadership of young Filipinos and promote servant leadership values to student leaders in various parts of the country. The LeadCom program draws inspiration from the annual Ayala Young Leaders Congress (AYLC), and was developed to provide an opportunity for a greater number of young leaders to improve their leadership capacities.
With three days of life enriching activities, student leaders shared their life and leadership stories, and gained a new perspective from their peers. In an unforgettable leadership journey, participants took part in challenges designed to bring about a greater sense of self-awareness and leadership, and established stronger values of trust, teamwork, effective communication, and collaboration.
“I have attended several leadership camps before, but this one is different. Bumaon talaga sa puso ang mga realizations ko. The congress made me realize na marami pa ako dapat matutunan about myself and how to be an effective servant leader,” shared Emlyn Graciela Lanon of Catanduanes State Colleges.
The congress was highlighted by the presence of Commission on Elections Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento as keynote speaker. A native from Catanduanes, Sarmiento talked about servant leadership and shared his personal leadership story. He likewise challenged the student leaders to work together and to commit themselves in improving their communities, specifically, their home province of Catanduanes.
Choosing Catanduanes
Catanduanes is an island province in the Bicol region. Because of its location, which makes it prone to typhoons and travel difficult, leadership development programs in the province are rare.
This caught the attention of Ayala Corporation’s Chairman Emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala, who posed a challenge during the 12th AYLC for Ayala to reach out to a greater number of youth leaders. In response, Ayala Foundation Inc.’s Youth Leadership Development Unit met with Catanduanes’ school and government officials.
LeadComm Catanduanes brought together 7 partner schools, namely: Catanduanes State Colleges (Main Campus and Panganiban campus), Catanduanes Computer Learning Center Inc., Hauswirtchaft Training Institute, TESDA-CSHCI-Cabugao, Bato, Catanduanes, Christian Polytechnic Institute of Catanduanes Inc., Catanduanes School of Advance Technology, Catanduanes Institute of Technology Foundation Inc.
In partnership with Ayala Foundation, Inc., the seven partner schools along with the Provincial Government of Catanduanes established a local LeadCom Organizing Committee that oversaw the local mobilization of resources and selection of participants. Gintong Pamana Awards Foundation, Inc. likewise extended their support in the 1st CSLC.
Ayala’s Belief in the Youth
For the past years, Ayala has been at the forefront in efforts of developing the leadership of the Filipino youth through its flagship program, the Ayala Young Leaders Congress. It annually brings together 80 of the most outstanding student leaders from across the country for a leadership congress.
Ayala Foundation’s Senior Director for Education and Leadership Development Mario A. Deriquito said that through the LeadCom program, Ayala continues its commitment in nurturing young leaders.
“Ayala hopes to expand [its] work in the area of youth leadership development and make quality leadership development programs available for more student leaders, especially in areas that have very little access or opportunities for such programs,” he said.
A Community of Leaders and Believers
Leadership is not just for an elite few; it is a responsibility that every Filipino carries. Each individual has the potential to be a leader to be someone else. That capacity is multiplied when leaders work together.
The 1st CSLC allowed participants to regain and renew their sense of hope and belief in themselves, in their community and in the country. Through the congress, 79 student leaders discovered their own capacities for leadership and to bring about change. Beyond this, they realized that change is not impossible when they bring their strengths together.
Ultimately they discovered a new group—a community of leaders with the same dreams and passions. For the young leaders of Catanduanes, they’ve become a stronger community of leaders and believers working towards a better tomorrow.