The Office of Student Affairs conducted the third installment of Immersion of Student Leaders, this time with more participating officers from student organizations, host-leaders and institutions.

Dubbed as “Danlugan,” the immersion program is the midyear continuation of the Summer Ateneo Workshop on Ignatian Leadership for Life (A-WILL), where core leadership values and skills are discussed. In the immersion, these concepts are seen and evaluated in the students’ experiences in the life, work, advocacy, and family & organization of the host leader-institution.

Specifically, as an offering of Ateneo Leadership Development Program (ALDP), this immersion activity hopes to form the personal, student, and social spiritualities of leaders.

In the third run of the program, 39 leaders from 25 organizations were strategically distributed to 18 hosts from various sectors and settings, from the mayor of Calabanga to the businessmen of Rotary Club, from the Parish of Our Lady of Prompt Succor to 9th Infantry Division, from an academic dean in Ateneo to the artists of Rinconada, and from organizers in urban poor and transport sector. One unique host this year is Facenda de Esperanca, a rehabilitation center in Panicuason which provides unorthodox and highly formative framework to reform clients with different forms of addiction.

For three days, the students—guided by their hosts—immersed themselves workplaces, homes, meetings, and dialogues. In the conversations, the hosts shared their personal journeys, principles, dreams, and challenges in leading their respective communities & the nation.

The fourth day was devoted to the formative processing of the student leaders’ immersion experience. Leciel Ramos, NSTP-CFFP formator, facilitated the session at the Arrupe Convention Hall. The students shared their insights as persons and leaders, and affirmed the need to continue the program. The evening was spent for fellowship among the leaders and and hosts.

Finally, the fifth day served as the action component of the program. Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), a Jesuit social apostolate, facilitated the “Kwentuhang Bayan” which outlined opportunities for the students to be involved in voters’ education and post-election activities.