Velez students hold leadership summit
The Cebu Cultural Center (CCC) in Lahug, Cebu City was packed with almost 600 students of Velez College who attended the very first Velezian Summit last Aug. 18, Sunday.
Attended approximately by 350 medical technology students, 150 nursing students and 80 occupational and physical therapy students, the Velezian Summit aimed to mold future leaders among the youth of today.
“We need to develop leaders for the future,” said Ebenezer Manzano, Velez College Supreme Student Council (VCSSC) adviser. “In order for us to safeguard what we have in the present, we have to think about the future as well.”
The summit was a whole day event where speakers from different sectors engaged the students.
In the first part, National Youth Commission (NYC) commissioner Erwin Andaya talked about the situation of the Filipino youth today, including how much things have changed and how the youth tend to take some values for granted.
He was followed by Michael Josh Villanueva from Rappler.com, who talked about making use of social media for social change, instead of plainly just for fun. He noted how popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can be tools to effect change.
After the first two speakers, girls and girls-at-heart in the audience were treated to an inspirational talk by GMA 7, sharing his life as a Business Management student and his dream of becoming a banker, and how he ended up being a GMA talent even without any background in acting.
Daez said the youth should not limit themselves to things they would like to venture into, and that they should be prepared for any possibility so as not to miss out on great opportunities that may come their way.
Lastly, to close the first part of the program, businessman Ludwig Federigan of Autowelt Motors Cebu narrated his life story as someone coming from a poor family who did his very best to achieve what he has in life right now.
The second half of the program was then opened by James Annjo Salomon, Philippine Youth Ambassador and the current VCSSC executive secretary, where he gave a talk about finding the catalyst within one’s self, noting that students like him should not give up on anything no matter how tough things may get.
Next in line was the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Executive Director Jose Luis Oquiñena, who was followed by his twin brother, Jose Mari Oquiñena, the Undersecretary for Special Concerns of the Office of the President and the Director General of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Luis first talked about social entrepreneurship, a part of social innovation where modern technology is used for the benefit of the society. He also shared his experience as a student leader in college wherein one of his projects is to help financially challenged students in meeting their needs in school.
“Leadership is in the people,” said Luis. “The feel to join the need to change is inherent.”
After Luis’ talk, his twin Mari then started sharing about the big shift he experienced in his life from being a student who stayed for nine years in college for a four-year course to becoming one of GK’s pioneering members and later, becoming a government official. With all his funny experiences in life, which drew laughter from the audience, Mari inspired everyone to never think so low of one’s self because being less intelligent than the others doesn’t mean that one is incapable of any achievement.
Other speakers included ABS-CBN Cebu desk officer and anchor Rico Lucena and Dr. Reynette Ligaray, chief of the Region VII Blood Center.
For the past years, the VCSSC would conduct an exclusive teambuilding activity for selected department and class officers annually. But this year, the VCSSC officers wanted to take it to the next level.
“We gave them a wider perspective. We invited powerhouse speakers from the business sector, mass media, entertainment and health because we want to be relevant,” said Manzano.
“Leadership is not confined in one area,” said Salomon. “That’s why we really planned to get speakers from different sectors so that these people who are already exposed to student government type of leadership would also learn from other leaders’ perspective.”
Students who attended and listened to the talks in the Velezian Summit said they were happy that the VCSSC organized such an event.
“It’s really great to hear from the powerhouse speakers and learn from their stories,” said Thea Armecin, a fourth year medical technology student. “I have learned that there are still many things you have to learn in life. When things are falling apart, you just have to keep your eyes on the price.”
“I like Sir Mari’s talk. I was inspired to never give up because although he went through a lot of hardships in life, he never lost hope. I was also able to relate with James Solomon because he shared with us the hardships he’s gone through as a student and he never gave up,” he said.
Indeed, the first ever Velezian Summit has contributed a lot to the students. The organizers hope to hold a series of follow-up activities to hone the students’ skills as leaders.
“But today is at least an eye-opener to them to help them see if they are to rekindle their hidden passion for leadership,” said Salomon. “But it’s still up to them if they would take the challenge to follow and do what the speakers did in their own leadership paths.”