By: Teodelyn D. Gomez
| Dr. Virtudazo administers the oath of office of SSC officers.
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Supreme Student Council President Kin F. Sabala and fellow elected officers of various school organizations for the Academic Year 2023-2024 took their oath, Sept. 6.
Students of Capiz State University-Mambusao Satellite College witnessed student leaders pledged their dedication to serve the whole student body and become a paragon of a good student governance.
Sabala and his companions in the SSC who were elected in June this year were finally installed to their respective offices.
Homeroom and department officers were first inducted by their program coordinators.
Officers of other organizations then followed namely, Society of Arts Students (SocArts), Computer Science Society (CSS), Philippine Association of Food Technologists-RHO Chapter, Office Administration Society (OAS), Kalingawan Performing Arts Group (KalPAG), Braveheart Sports Club, Society of Mental Health Advocates (SocMHA), AWANA, Junior Class Organization, Senior Class Organization, Student Crime Prevention Council (SCPC), and Future Leaders of the Philippines.
The members of The Courier, official student publication, were also inducted to the editorial board.
Dr. Adelfo Z. Virtudazo, satellite college director, conveyed in his opening remarks that induction ceremony is a significant one, a welcoming program for officers to officially start performing their duties and responsibilities as prescribed in their positions.
He gave insights on being a leader. "Being a leader, you should share your knowledge. You do your part as a leader, at the same time as a student," he said.
Dr. Virtudazo also shared his leadership experiences during his college days. He started as a campus journalist and eventually became the president of the organization of forestry students and led a summit for students pursuing a forestry degree from different higher education institutions in the entire Mindanao.
As a challenge, he mentioned what the Scripture says about servant leadership, "Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant" (Mk 10:42-44; Mt 20: 25-28).
But on the contrary, he conveyed that constituents should not let the officers alone shoulder all the responsibilities but they must also support their leaders as they fulfill their roles.
After his oathtaking, Sabala delivered his inaugural speech where he shared his journey to the presidency.
"Even before officially entering the race, my seniors playfully teased me that I would follow in the footsteps of Mr. Luces as the SSC President. Driven by a sense of purpose a willingness to take risks, I decided to embrace this opportunity," he said.
With his desire to have an impactful administration, Sabala conceptualized SIBOL- Supporting Individuals to Build Opportunities for Learning, which encapsulates the essence of what education strives to achieve.
“In this new administration, with our Batch name SIBOL, we will grow stronger together. Just as it implies, it means growth or, in our local dialect, pagtubo. This can only happen if we combine our forces, ideas, and vision, much like how our natural elements come together to form a strong foundation of a tree that shields us from invisible barriers hindering our growth,” Sabala elaborates the initiatives of this administration and how it can be achieved.
He also ensures that the focus of his administration is “on you- the students” which led to the creation of Project HUBLAG which aims “to mobilize individuals and communities to contribute to our Sustainable Development Goals, creating a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient world for present and future generations.”
Project HUBLAG has four micro elements namely, (STS) Stop the Stigma: Mental Health Awareness and Inclusive Thoughts among students, LEADER'S DIGEST: Transforming the youth, BALANGAW: Celebrating Diversity, Embracing Unity, and GREEN MINDED: Fostering Sustainable Development and Environmental Conservation.
The turning over ceremony between outgoing SSC President Joey O. Luces and Sabala also highlighted the occasion.
For the last time, Luces spoke before the faculty and students to express his gratitude for the support they extended to his administration which he considers “a remarkable journey.”
“…with my experience as a student leader, I've been to different places even on the international stage, I've met different kinds of people, and discovered my strengths as an individual. I had the chance to raise the flag of CAPSU in different arenas and I will always be honored to do it over and over again,” he shared, which received resounding applause from the audience.
"Serving as your leader has been the greatest honor of my life, and I want to express my deep appreciation for your trust and unwavering support," he added.
He reminded everyone of the real meaning of leadership. "Remember that leadership isn't about one person; it's about the collective efforts of a dedicated team," he said.
Before he finally stepped down, he turned over the files and funds of the SSC to the new SSC president.
Meanwhile to keep the crowd entertained, KALPAG dancers showcased their exemplary performances that have received plaudits from the crowd which ended with a Unity Dance participated by faculty, staff, and students.
The program culminated with the closing remarks of Dr. Lalaine E. Ricardo, student affairs and services chairperson.
"As I witnessed the induction ceremony today, I believe that the student body is in safe hands," Dr. Ricardo said as she puts her trust to the new student leaders of the campus.