By Julliane Nicole B. Labinghisa
Newly elected and appointed student leaders were urged to facilitate community-based leadership through active participation and engagement during the annual Induction and Oath-taking Ceremony held at the Far Eastern University (FEU) Main Auditorium today, June 15.
With the theme ‘Enabling Sustainable Communities Through Servant Leadership,’ guest speakers discussed the critical role of genuine leadership and its role in fueling change within communities.
In his speech, Asian Institute of Management TeaM Energy Center for Bridging Leadership Executive Director (AIMTEC-BL) and keynote speaker Manuel De Vera highlighted that leadership is not a role but rather an activity of mobilizing people to tackle problems.
“It is that work of helping [groups] face and do adaptive work — confronting the gap between the values they hold and the reality faced, and doing the principle in turn of collective work of closing that gap,” he shared.
Additionally, the keynote speaker also noted that in pushing for change, the community should be involved as well.
“In your engagement in communities you will see the vast potential of what can be done today and effect change, but always be mindful that change should be done… with the people concerned,” De Vera said.
Moreover, the AIMTEC-BL executive director emphasized that servant leadership requires the simple and sincere act of listening to the people and not grand actions to enable change to start from the community.
“Communities are not passive recipients of expert knowledge. They are knowers, analysts, and planners in their own right. Your role is to unlock their capacity,” he noted.
During the panel discussion, Founder of Trining’s Kitchen Stories Jayson Maulit stated that communities need more leaders that are present and respond to their concern.
Additionally, Positive Youth Development Network Executive Director Jeannie Anne Maguad highlighted the importance of the leaders going back to their reason behind leadership in facing difficult times.
Lastly, FEU alumni and Waves for Water Philippines Country Director Patrick Manuel inspired student leaders for more effective servant leadership which serves the communities with passion and commitment.
“Fill your spaces. Maliit man o malaki ‘yung espasyo, punan natin (the space may be small or big, let’s fill it). Show up for the student no one else is showing up. Fight for the community no one else is fighting for,” he said.
The Induction and Oath-taking Ceremony was led by the FEU Office of Student Involvement to officially mark the start of the proclaimed leaders’ term for School Year 2026-2027.
(Photo by Melvin James Urubio/FEU Advocate)