28/07/2025
𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗦: 𝗠𝗦𝗨 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
In a bold move to redefine their perspectives on different norms and social issues, the campus leaders across Mindanao State University (MSU System convened on the third day of the 73rd FEMSUSSCO Executive Summit, which opened dialogues in diversity, representation, and governance, July 28.
Anchored on the theme “From Groundwork to Governance: Shaping the Future Through Inclusive Leadership”, the seminar workshop was graced by seven guest speakers to give information and address several social concerns held at the STTC Function Hall.
𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
Ms. Gellie Rose Davalos, in her talk on Safe Spaces and Inclusive Campus Environments, emphasized that everyone, regardless of gender, is entitled to privacy, safety, and dignity within academic spaces.
“May mga society pa rin na ang mga babae ay tagapagsilbi lang sa husband, sa bahay lang. Makikita rin sa mga batas na deprive pa rin ang ibang genders dahil pinapaboran ang mga kalalakihan,” she said.
She highlighted the rising number of sexual harassment cases but lamented that very few are reported to authorities.
Moreover, Ms. Davalos underscored the importance of Republic Act No. 11313, also known as the Safe Spaces Act or “Bawal Bastos Law,” which seeks to protect all individuals, especially women, from harassment. Despite this legal protection, she noted, many continue to experience violations in both public and private settings.
On the other hand, Mx. Prince Harvey Arellano discussed the presence of SOGIESC and the LGBTQIA+ community, highlighting that while discrimination still persists in society, it is gradually becoming more accepted by others.
“We celebrate pride month, a reminder that we can still do more than what is expected of us,” Mx. Arellano said.
Mx. Arellano explained the differences among gender identities and highlighted the gaps in legal implementation.
“Hindi pa rin enough ang mga batas na ’yan sa amin as long as hindi na-translate in actual setting dahil nakakaranas pa rin ang iba ng discrimination,” Mx. Arellano emphasized.
𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆
Sir Jovanie Camacho Espesor tackled the topic of Women, Peace, and Security, emphasizing that women should be recognized not as mere victims, but as active contributors to peace-building and leadership.
“We must see women as leaders not victims,” he noted.
Sir Espesor emphasized that women should equally participate in peace-building efforts, rather than be viewed solely as homemakers.
Meanwhile, the seminar-workshop leaned towards ecofeminism by Ms. Roxanne Kythe Fado where she said that under this philosophy, women have been treated as inferior or subordinate, just like the environment that has been treated as something to be controlled and exploited.
Ms. Fado highlighted how women are disproportionately affected by climate change and called for climate justice, asserting that those responsible for environmental destruction must be held accountable.
“When we value the environment, we value human life,” she said.
Ms. Fado then challenged everyone to rewrite the common narrative of women, such as being naturally exploitative by men and being branded as weak and submissive.
𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
Mx. Leonard Tucjayao presented on Deliberative Democracy and Political Participation, stressing that decision-making within organizations must be grounded in rational discourse and proper deliberation.
“Sometimes, it happens kasi ay nagsisigawan kayo. Hindi ‘yun normal, kailangan natin e-change ‘yung sistema. Dapat rational lang ang discussion,” Tucjayao uttered.
Leonard emphasized that simply allowing someone to speak doesn’t justify a decision, it must go through proper deliberation.
“Deliberation changes minds, mind changes systems,” he remarked.
On the other hand, Ms. Kristal Claire Davalos centered on the importance of situational leadership, wherein she focused on the significance of adapting a leader’s approach based on the situation.
She engaged the student leaders through identifying leadership styles, whether directing, coaching, supporting, or delegating, to equip them with tools for more responsive and effective leadership.
𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀
Mr. Raydan Tangyawan highlighted the significance of Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao and their rights, emphasizing their relevance to campus leaders, especially since some students in their respective universities also belong to Indigenous communities.
He shared with the participants his personal struggles in dealing with unjust actions by the government, as an Indigenous person himself, including a time when their resources were exploited.
“It’s easy for other people to push us from our homeland,” he said.
“Being here [FEMSUSSCO] is privileged. You have to think your way forward to bring back to your communities on what you learned,” he added.
𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀
Mr. Dave Andrei Garbanzos from MSU-IIT, OIC SSC President, shared his learnings on the seven sessions conducted on the third day of the summit.
“I really love the fact that the indigenous people discussion has always been there every FEMSUSSCO Executive Meeting because as someone who is part of the Culture and Arts Committee or the chairperson, actually in our campus, I'm very happy that they are tackled and the voices of the IPs are more amplified every executive,” he stated.
He added that they are not in the summit merely as readers, but as learners, acquiring knowledge from various topics to share with others, having understood it in their own ways.
Meanwhile, Ms. Sandara Samonte from MSU-TCTO, SSC Senator, learned many things as each session was delivered well.
“I have learned din during the discussion sa first speaker namin, he talked about the deliberative democracy and also ‘yung kind of leadership. ‘Yung mga WPS, which stands for the Women, Peace and Security, that women have different perspectives than men. Like ‘yung diniscuss na for ‘yung coaching and supporting, ‘yung mga kung well-confident na ‘yung isang tao sa ano, like sa mga leadership ganyan. And to sum up all those nangyari sa seminar workshop, naka-build ng connection from the other student from the other campus po, ganoon,” she stated.
✍🏻 Lynxter Leaño
📸 Jibrylle Mohammad
