30/05/2025
๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ
๐๐: ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ
Photos by Jomerson Celeste and Rizalyn Cimatu
๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ซ๐ค๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐ค๐๐จ ๐จ๐๐ข๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ช๐จ๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ช๐ฅ๐ฉ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐จ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค๐ช๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐๐ก๐ฉ. ๐ฝ๐ค๐ง๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฅ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ, ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ง๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ.
Emblazoned by a magmatic passion, student leaders broke the ground as they marched to the University Student Council Leadership Training or USCLT 2025 held last May 14 to 16 at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University - South La Union Campus in Agoo, La Union.
With the theme "Epicenter of Action: Where Groundbreakers Erupt," the leadership camp gathered student leaders from DMMMSUโs campuses including the Open University System. University Student Council (USC) and Campus Student Body Organization (CSBO) officers served as facilitators to mentor the new generation of changemakers. The event was spearheaded by USC President John Frederick Javier, with full support from the USC cabinet and members. Participants were selected and gathered from the campuses of DMMMSU and grouped into tribes that will represent what a student leader shall possess as character. Tribes were named after volcanoes in the Philippines with their corresponding characteristics.
Previous student leaders and respected individuals were invited to lecture the student leaders on how to be honed as leaders to serve and not to be served. Ms. Joselle Jea Armas, Development Management Officer II of the City of San Fernando discussed Ground Zero Strategy: Starting Strong with Purpose Driven Planning. The participants were asked to reflect on their purpose as leaders in her session. One powerful activity involved writing oneโs eulogy, a contemplative exercise that challenged participants to live a life worthy of remembrance. On the same day, tribes presented their signature yells and participated in a โcard game open forum,โ where members shared deeply personal stories. Raw emotions emerged, and bonds of understanding and support were formed through vulnerability.
On the second day, more speakers gave their lectures. DMMMSU Open University Systemโs Executive Director, Dr. Bernando D. Lamadrid tackled Bridging the Gap: The Coexistence of Transformative and Reformative Leadership in Student Movements. In his talk, Dr. Lamadrid spoke passionately about the dual forces of leadership transformation and reformation, and the delicate balance they demand. His lecture prompted participants to think about their role in building a better student community by leading change and embodying it. Questions lingered in the minds of many: โWhat legacy do I want to leave behind?โ and โAm I a reformer, a transformer, or both?โ
The next speaker was Atty. Honorio Buccat, Jr., Dean of DMMMSU College of Law, with the topic From Status Quo to Status Growth: Leading Change in Campus Communities. โA simple act can be a start of something, a domino effect that can change you or change what is around youโ, said Atty. Buccat during his talk.
Further, Ms. Clariza Garcia, Administrative Assistant II of Mangaldan National High School, followed as speaker, tackling the topic From Bystander to Changemaker: Taking Initiative as a Non-Positional Leader. She emphasized the importance of doing something rather than doing nothing despite seeing unpleasant happenings around us. She also highlighted that a small move could make a domino effect of change. After her lecture, participants were asked to create project proposals that could amplify student voices across campuses. Many rose to the challenge, presenting ideas that addressed real student concerns, from mental health support to inclusive student spaces.
Lastly, Ms. Angelita Domondon, Guidance Counselor of DMMMSU South La Union Campus, lectured about Beyond Right and Wrong: The Nuances of Values in Student Leaders. Ms. Domondon discussed the pros and cons of being a student leader based on how leaders use their positions. She also stressed the importance of a โNOBODYโS VOICEโ which should always be heard, not just the voice of a โSOMEBODY IN POSITIONโ.
Closing the Day 2 activities was a candle lighting solidarity ceremony at the Open Grounds of Marcos Sports Complex. Participants were instructed to light a candle, offer a message to themselves, and then hand the flame to someone they had come to admire over the past two days. Some gave thanks, others confessed admiration, and a few tearfully acknowledged the strength they saw in quiet peers. Amid laughter, tears, and heartfelt words, the ceremony symbolically passed light from one leader to another.
The last day of USCLT 2025 was indeed a blast. The final day started with a quiz bee showcasing history and unfamiliar knowledge about DMMMSU. After which, the much-awaited Amazing Race commenced. Ten stations were plotted for the participants, scattered all over the campus. On each station, challenges were given to each tribe to complete within a specific time frame, and afterwards, they were asked what lesson they learned from the activity and how they could apply it as a leader.
The closing ceremony was also held on the day itself.
Announcements of winners on every activity, such as Best Yell, Most Active Tribe, Most Active Tribe Members, and Best Project Proposal. Rankings for the ten tribes were also announced based on the accumulated final score, with their merits and demerits per tribe according to how each tribe performed throughout the event. The overall champion was Tribe Cagua with 2,917 points. Tribes Hibok hibok and Mayon followed, with 2,874 points and 2,802 points, respectively.
