The 12th Summer Ateneo Workshop on Ignatian Leadership for Life (A-WILL) was conducted on May 19 to 23, 2017, with the theme, “CORE: From the Self to the Peripheries”. It was attended by seventy eight (78) student leaders – who called themselves ‘Batch Power’ – coming from 36 student organizations, the biggest batch so far in A-WILL history. It was held at the Arrupe Convention Hall and Arrupe Retreat Center of Ateneo de Naga University.
The Summer A-WILL is the foundational leadership training of the Ateneo Leadership Development Program (ALDP). It aims at facilitating the self-awareness of the student leaders’ person and character, potential and role in the organization and society as leaders. It feeds all of ALDP’s three areas of growth, especially personal spirituality.
Executive Director for Mission and Identity Janet B. Badong-Badilla served as the resource person for the first two days. A-WILL began with the session on self-awareness, given in two parts: a recollection and an Enneagram seminar-workshop. On Day 2, she discussed and gave exercises on the theories and concepts on leadership, and a special lecture on values and principles of Ignatian leadership.
For the third day, Joseph Anthony M. Quesada, former president of the Ayala Young Leaders Alumni Association, talked about the qualities and skills of Ignatian leaders, and, using these, how to develop competence and commitment.
NSTP-CFFP formator and campus minister Juan Carlos S. Delos Reyes, on Day 4, discussed how to cultivate teamwork in student organizations through team his input and teambuilding exercises. He was assisted by a team of student leaders.
Fr. Albert E. Alejo, S.J., poet, researcher and indigenous people’s right champion, talked about becoming “man and woman for others”. He presented the current realities of the political and economic situation of the Philippines, and challenged the participants to respond to these realities as leaders and Ateneans. He closed his session by recited his socially relevant poem, “Sanayan Lang ang Pagpatay”.
After four days of lectures and exercises, the participants celebrated through group presentations, fellowship and rituals in A-WILL Socials Night at the Xavier Grounds and the retreat center.
On the last day of the workshop, the Formation Student Support Offices (FSSOs) presented their programs and services for student leaders and organizations for the new school year. Facilitated by OSA Director Rodolfo SB. Virtus Jr., the FSSO heads and representatives and A-WILL participants further engaged in a dialogue on the latter’s concerns and needs for continued formation.
Finally, Leciel DR. Ramos, an NSTP-CFFP formator, facilitated the processing session of the participants’ 5-day experience of A-WILL.
The workshop was also an opportunity for a conversation with the President of the University, Fr. Primitivo E. Viray Jr. S.J., who shared his own leadership story and dreams for the University. The participants had the chance to ask questions and share sentiments about issues of the students with him. He and fellow Jesuit Fr. Angelo A. Silerio also celebrated the daily mass for the participants.
