The Ateneo de Naga University’s Office of Student Affairs (OSA) held the 10th Student Organizations’ Awards Rites (SOAR X) last June 21, 2024 at the Alingal Multipurpose Hall. Student leaders, moderators, and organizations are recognized in the annual awards ceremony for their service and accomplishments in the School Year 2023-2024, and for their significant efforts towards the skill development, spiritual formation, team building, and social involvement of their members and partner communities.
One of the awards, the Jesse M. Robredo Most Outstanding Student Leader of the Year, was presented by Atty. Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo, former Vice President of the Philippines and current Chairperson and President of Angat Pinas, Inc.
Atty. Leni gave an inspiring message to the SOAR X audience, sharing her own experiences in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and her learnings from the late City Mayor and DILG Secretary, Jesse Robredo, before awarding the top student leaders of the year alongside Director of Student Affairs Rodolfo “Sonny” Virtus Jr. and President of the Lideratos kan Nueva Atenista Zharina Bianca “Byang” Asuncion.
Atty. Leni highlighted the theme of the event, “Bako sanáng sa kalangkawan, kundi sa rarom kan kamawutan,” a statement in Bikolnon that means “[To be] not only in the greatest of heights, but in the deepest of [one’s] desires,” and added that aside from having good intentions, leaders also need to transform this desire into action for it to bear fruit.
She further addressed the student leaders gathered on the occasion to remember that one of the key elements of leadership is character, which is, “the summation of all the choices one makes,” sharing anecdotes from her late husband.
Atty. Leni also defined the difference between matino at mahusay and why it has to go hand-in-hand: “Hindi enough na mahusay ka,” she recalls back when Jesse was in his Mayoral position at the Naga City Hall, he would tell her that one of the measurements of an effective leadership is if the whole team is inspired to be good as everyone else. “Kung ako lang ang magaling sa City Hall, hindi ako effective [na leader].”
She further stated how she has brought this lesson in her term in the Office of the Vice President, and that she is glad to see that even after her term, her team continued to be good and efficient people. It is the same challenge she left to the young leaders last Friday.
To end, she encouraged everyone to continue being of service despite all the odds, and to keep in mind what truly matters, quoting Fr. Roque Ferriols, S.J. “Huwag mong tanungin kung mahirap, tanungin mo kung mahalaga.”
The 10th SOAR also served as an opportunity for the University, through the University President Fr. Roberto Exequiel N. Rivera, S.J., to re-present a citation in her presence the tribute to Jesse’s legacy of good and transparent governance, and a challenge for the Ateneans to live out the “Matino at Mahusay” principles.
