The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) conducted the 14th Ateneo Workshop on Ignatian Leadership for Life (A-WILL) last 6 to 10 June 2019 at the Arrupe Convention Hall, Ateneo de Naga University. Sixty-six student leaders representing twenty-nine student organizations participated and completed the A-WILL Orientation and Proper.
In the morning of June 1, the student leaders underwent the orientation session facilitated by Rodolfo SB. Virtus Jr., Director of Student Affairs. The OSA Head discussed the history of A-WILL and the Ateneo Leadership Development Program (ALDP), the overarching program of OSA for student organizations and leaders. Juan Carlos S. De Los Reyes, a CIFP-NSTP formator, discussed the importance of teamwork especially in the context of student organizations. He was assisted by student facilitators in the implementation of several teambuilding activities and the lecture proper.
The 66 student leaders began their A-WILL Proper on 6 June starting with a session on self-awareness, a recollection in the morning was facilitated by Janet B. Badong-Badilla, Executive Director for Mission and Identity. She then proceeded with the Enneagram session workshop in the afternoon. In the evening, former College Guidance Center Director, Dr. Rufino Ll. Ramos III shared his own leadership story as well as the importance of self-awareness in leadership.
For the second day, Dr. Ronaldo Elicay, the director of the Senior High School Department served as the resource speaker for the morning session on rediscovering leadership calling. He urged the participants to remember when they were first called to be leaders of their class or group. In the afternoon session, Magno Conag III of Nueca Technologies Inc. discussed the different leadership styles that the participants may use in their respective organizations or in specific tasks that they handle.
For the third day, Joseph Anthony Quesada, A-WILL speaker and a facilitator in various youth leadership groups, laid down the qualities of an Ignatian leader, especially being a servant leader and the importance of communication in a leader’s life.
On 9 June the student leaders had their last session was facilitated by Fr. Roberto Exequiel N. Rivera, S.J., the University President of Ateneo de Naga. Fr. Rivera discussed the exemplary life of St. Ignatius, who has been the model for Jesuit leaders, and the Jesuit core values which are guidelines to authentic service. The student leaders were given the opportunity to have a dialogue with Fr. Rivera and ask for his opinions regarding several local and national issues. In the afternoon, the Formation and Student Support Offices (FSSO) presented their programs and services for student leaders and organizations for next school year. The student leaders engaged in a dialogue with the heads of FSSO regarding their concerns and needs for continued formation.
After all the sessions, the student leaders had their social’s night, with the theme “Tribo Ignacio: Ang Simula ng Bagong Yugto”, at the Xavier Hall. The student leaders were divided into four groups and were tasked of making their own tribal flag, cheer, and their needed materials. The four groups participated in different activities prepared by the core team such as gimmick presentation, music jam, and spoken poetry.
On June 10, the A-WILLers had their processing session facilitated by Ms. Judith B. Vergel de Dios, CIFP-NSTP Formator. She asked the participants how they felt before and after undergoing the 5-day workshop and what they have discovered about themselves as persons and leaders.
The A-WILL is an offering under the Ateneo Leadership Development Program (ALDP) with the support of the Office of Mission and Identity (OMI) and the Formation and Student Support Offices (FSSO).
