𝐒𝐏𝐂 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐔𝐒𝐀𝐃 𝐏𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐨

To strengthen leadership and organizational decision-making skills among students, the San Pedro College Commission on Elections (SPC COMELEC) spearheaded an interschool leadership seminar themed “USAD ng Makabagong Pedro: Tungo sa Matatag na Pamumuno at Mahusay na Pakikitungo” on May 6 at the SPC Gymnasium.

Promoting collaboration among SPC clubs and organizations with different student councils, the event gathered participants from Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), Brokenshire College Inc. (BCI), Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (MMCM), and University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC).

“The purpose of this is to spread wisdom and knowledge while improving and promoting leadership skills. Every USAD, we also introduce topics related to elections, leadership, and other core values that help promote student development,” SPC COMELEC General Treasurer Sofia Niña Vasquez said.

Divided into two sessions, first speaker Ken Ryle Hinojales, vice president of the AdDU Samahan ng Mga Mag-aaral ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Davao (SAMAHAN), emphasized the importance of collective decision-making within student organizations, highlighting collaboration and active participation among members in effective leadership.

In the second discussion, Ira Calatrava-Valenzuela, assistant director of AdDU Office of Student Affairs (OSA), focused on ethical leadership and transparent governance, encouraging student leaders to uphold accountability, integrity, and responsibility in serving their respective communities.

Meanwhile, the SPC COMELEC also expressed hopes of holding more collaborative events in the future to provide students with greater awareness and understanding of issues relevant to society.

“We hope to have more events like this because it helps bring insights and allows us to gain more knowledge regarding matters that are relevant not only to our community but also to our lives as students,” Vasquez added.

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Alongside discussions and leadership talks, the event also featured open forums and interactive activities that encouraged engagement and participation among student leaders.

“What struck me the most during the session [was that] leadership is a trust. Kasi we are not really just put here bilang pagiging leader [because] ginusto namin, but we were put [here] because of the people who trusted us,” UIC Student Government Secretary Sharissa Olayer shared.

UIC Student Government Vice President for Internal Affairs Andrey Harvey Klyde Sandoval also added that he hopes future symposiums would further contextualize election-related concerns within schools, particularly the challenges faced by student COMELEC officers and how institutions can learn from one another to improve leadership and student governance.

Meanwhile, John Vincent Cristal, a student leader from BCI, said that the seminar provided them with insights on transparency, accountability and strengthening relationships with students and fellow institutions.

“It’s important na naa tay networking para pud na dali-dali na lang [kung] naay activity … to encourage camaraderie din sa atoang tanan,” Cristal said, stressing the importance of collaboration among schools.

Similarly, Gavin Jailo, secretary general from MMCM, underscored the relevance of the discussions on transparency and accountability within their institution.

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