The Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) hosted the first-ever Bicol Young Leaders Summit (BYLS) of the Philippine Association of Practitioners of Student Affairs and Services, Inc. (PAPSAS) Region 5 Chapter.

More than 200 student leaders, student affairs and services (SAS) administrators and staff, and advisers of student councils and organizations from Bicol Region participated in the event held on January 20 – 21, 2023 at ADNU’s Alingal Multipurpose Hall.

The summit featured three resource speakers, namely: Ralph Jacinto Quiblat, director of the Ateneo de Manila University Office of Student Activities, and screenwriter; Magno Edilberto Conag III, founder and CEO of Nueca Technologies, Inc.; and Ben Secretario, a Master in Entrepreneurship graduate of Otago University in New Zealand, and president of the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines Association. Consistent with the BYLS’s whole-person formation framework, the said speakers discussed the four-session topics: Self Awareness, Servant Leadership, Project Development, and Collaboration and Network Building.

Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion and ADNU University President Fr. Roberto Exequiel Rivera, S.J. graced the occasion and delivered their keynote speeches. Aside from attending the plenary talks and conversations, the participants took part in The Amazing Race-inspired game, where groups had to complete tasks in eight stations. After the teambuilding challenges, the same groups each performed in the talent show dubbed as “BYLS Got Talent.”

Group representatives also presented their project ideas after undergoing a project development workshop using the Business Model canvas template. The 1st BYLS was organized a team of ADNU students led by student leader-debater Jerwin Roy Villacruz, with the supervision of PAPSAS Region 5 Chapter headed by its Regional President Rodolfo ‘Sonny’ Virtus Jr. Now the flagship student development program of PAPSAS Region 5 Chapter, the BYLS shall be sustained as a yearly event for the Bicolano youth.