West Visayas State University
College of Education
Integrated Laboratory School
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL
La Paz, Iloilo City
May 16 - 18, 2011
STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Every year the University Student Council (USC) spearheads the Student Leadership Development Program or better known as SLDP. Its main goal is to teach selected student council members in West Visayas State University to enhance their leadership skills and making a team out of an organization.
The High School Student Council (HSSC) delegates were Rachelle Angeli Maranon (Chairperson), Maphete Dianne Lustre (Vise – Chair), Winona Yvonne Olimpo (Secretary), Angela Joy Fernandez (Asst. Treasurer), Mary Zeliet Paris (HS Representative), and Philip Christian Suplico (3rd year Rep) together with the delegates of the high school publication – Blue Quill with Lauderdale Robite and Michael Andre Treyes.
With the theme, “Empowering WVSU Student Leaders through Effective and Responsible Organization Movement”, they emphasized that all young leaders to give ample time to the council they are in; to serve without asking in return and to bring out every leader in each and everyone.
The said event was enthusiastically joined by every council in WVSU main campus and external as well. It was held in El Grand Resort and Convention Center, Alta Tierra Village, Jaro Iloilo City last May 16 – 18.
The registration started at 12:00pm to 1:00pm. During the registration, we were given our seat plans, teammates, room numbers, etc. We were grouped randomly for us to know everyone and to also mingle. It started with a prayer followed by the singing of the National Anthem, Opening Remarks, and the brain storming of each group for the cheers and yells.
The first lecture was about Fiscal Management by Mr. Marco Magbanua. He taught us the importance of saving our money and the benefits of it. The 1 hour lecture taught us that money isn’t something that comes out from a magician’s hat. One should work for it. The second lecture – Parliamentary Procedures, was presented by Mr. Shim Lester De Pio, a faculty, Social Science Department. Each lecture lasted in just an hour, but we learned a lot.
Before our dinner, we were tasked to put our belongings in our rooms and to also familiarize with our roommates. Buffet dinner. After that, we had our General Assembly, announcement of house rules, presentation of calendar of activities, group meetings for our presentations and rehearsals. We ended at 10pm and we were given some time to go swimming for a while. Lights out after that.
2nd DAY
Wake up call at 5:30am then at 6 we had our morning praise and calisthenics led by the Pescar students. After that, we were given time to prepare ourselves for the day’s activities.
The 3rd lecture was given by the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines – Region 6 (TOSP). We played games such us building a tower out of toothpicks and scotch tapes. The game was very thrilling. In order to build a tower, one must trade their certain garments for the toothpicks. Everyone had their own ideas and strategies. The more exciting part was some of us were tied down, blind folded and even kidnapped. The irritating part was when the order was given that we can destroy the other groups’ tower and so the chaos began. Naked guys were running around pushing others while the girls were trying to defend the tower. It was a total mess. Unfortunately, none of us won! Lessoned learned, in a council, it is inevitable that some of us can’t do their duties right because of some reasons. While others have to sacrifice in order to attain the certain goal and also, some would really do anything just to put you down, or in other words, there are always problems that are lurking. For one council to be called as an organization is easy, but to be a team, one must live up for it.
The second game was all about team building and leadership. It was complicated. We have to transfer an egg from one place to another with limited space by using a self – made scoop out of a half 1.5 bottle and some strings. It took us 3 tries to get the game done. It was really fun and it helped us know each other more; our weaknesses and strengths, capabilities and also our true personalities.
After a short break was the Ten Outstanding Youth Organization (TAYO) 9 Orientation. It was about how one council can be recognized and gets awards with all the achievements and projects they made. Examples of the TAYO awardees were the people from Link.exe last year.
We were given enough time to prepare for tonight’s Talent/Solidarity Night. After our Dinner and a couple of minutes, our Program started. It was totally fun! Everybody was all pumped up with all their talents and jokes. Some danced, sang, impersonated someone, did some commercial, and even got thrown in the air. Over all, it was really great and a very amazing night. Then we proceeded to the solemn part where we were tasked to write our contributions to our councils and how to make it better. Then outside the convention hall, we made a big circle facing the center. We placed our papers inside a box then hugged someone as we did so.
This night was very meaningful. We got closer to each other in a way no one could imagine. I hope that even though were outside, we would still talk to each other.
3rd DAY
Early in the morning, we changed into our SLDP shirts, ate our breakfast, and arranged our things inside the convention hall; we proceeded to the awarding ceremonies. What ever the results during our games were easily forgotten, what we had in our minds were the times when we had so much fun and laughed till our lungs were out of air. We took pictures as we were given our certificates. And as we approached to our closing remarks, while playing the song “Colorblind” some of us bursts into tears and hugged each other. It was really a sad time for us, saying good bye to our friends and not seeing them for quite some time. But overall, it was a good experience. Some things aren’t worth to be thrown and friendship is something worth treasuring. ;)
