Thirty-three participating universities and colleges all over the Philippines—18 from Luzon, nine from the Visayas, six from Mindanao—fielded outstanding junior and senior students, who flew into Cebu to join this year’s leadership summit, which had the “Inspiring Leaders for a Better Future.”
The delegates went through a difficult selection process, which involved paper screening, panel interviews, and assessment of academic performances.
“It’s how you perform in the interview that gets you in,” explained Natasha Neri, Aboitiz talent retention manager. She revealed that as early as January, road shows and talks with members of the academe had started, as they called for applications before screening was done in April.
Neri added that during the selection process, they were keen on those who exhibited the company’s core values of passion, integrity, and determination. “We wanted to see their attitude, those who have a plan and sense of direction,” she said.
The students were asked a question that predetermined their entry into the summit: “What will you do if you made a mistake?”
Corporate HR manager Mia Zamora added that they wanted to impart to the students the value of “working with the country in whatever way you can… in whatever area you belong.”
Young leaders
The delegates were divided into 10 groups with nine members each. Every group was given a particular business case study, in which the members were asked questions after they presented their business solutions.
The group which provided the most relevant solution was selected as the winner.
“I was reminded that a leader must have the passion, vision, and determination to empower people in the future,” declared entrepreneurship student Carlo Mari Kier, who scored highest in the screening process.
Kier is a dean’s lister and president of the student council in the University of the Cordilleras. The other top students who scored high in the selection process were psychology student and dean’s lister Jo Villaflores of the University of San Carlos, and cheerdance varsity and dean’s lister Rachelle Flores of the University of Asia and the Pacific.
“Be courageous enough but be wise enough to hear other people out,” said Villaflores of what she learned from the summit. “It’s not about you, but the people you’re working with.”
Twenty-year-old Flores, on the other hand, said she learned to adapt to different situations because one can’t foresee everything.
The two-day summit aimed to get these young leaders ready for their entry in the business world and help them identify their role in nation building. Activities included plenary discussions, games, and team building exercises that simulated real work and business situations.
The students were presented a glimpse of the corporate world as speakers Jon Ramon Aboitiz, Bobby Aboitiz, Romy Ronquillo, and other speakers from various Aboitiz companies talked about business strategy, leadership, customer service, business ethics, building the brand, financial discipline, corporate social responsibility, and how to become a world-class company.
In one instance during the leadership forum, Bobby Aboitiz, chair of the Aboitiz construction group, imparted his philosophy in life as he told the story of a man and a “bugsay” (Cebuano word for paddle).
“People were born equal,” he said, “but just like the man and his bugsay, each needs to paddle down the river to reach a destination. Without a plan, effort, and the right attitude, however, no one could ever reach his destination.”
“There’s nothing like seeing results and influencing 90 kids every year,” said Xavier “Txabi” Aboitiz, SVP for Quality and People Development. He explained that customer service is a philosophy, and inspired them to “pick up from a one-time opportunity.”
Inspiring
Inspiring talks of guest speakers Antonio Oposa Jr., 2009 Ramon Magsaysay awardee for environmental activism, and Young Global Leader Paolo “Bam” Aquino amused and amazed the delegates on the second day.
Oposa is one of Asia’s leading voices in environmental law, while Aquino is a social entrepreneur.
The winning group, who received cash as prize money, was composed of Maica Erica Catalan, TIP QC; Joan Jao, De La Salle University; Nard Hartney Molina, University of the East; Janthina Pamela Oliveros, UP Diliman; Wilma Elizabeth Rada, St. Theresa’s College; Rodrigo Rellama Jr., TIP Manila; Christian John Rojo, University of St. La Salle; Greggy Senados, University of the Visayas and Joessel Florence Villasis, Notre Dame University.
Delegates are from Luzon: Assumption College Makati, Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Naga University, De La Salle University, Mapua Institute of Technology, Saint Louis University, St. Mary’s University, San Beda College, St. Scholastica’s College Manila, Technological Institute of the Philippines Manila, Technological Institute of the Philippines Quezon City, Technological University of the Philippines, University of Asia and the Pacific, University of Baguio, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Cordilleras, University of the East, and University of the Philippines Diliman.
From the Visayas: Cebu Institute of Technology University, Central Philippine University, Silliman University, St. Theresa’s College, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of St. La Salle, University of the Philippines Cebu and University of the Visayas.
From Mindanao: Ateneo de Davao University, Mindanao State University-Marawi, Notre Dame University, University of Southern Mindanao, University of the Philippines Mindanao, and Xavier University.