Leadership Program: Enderun Colleges’ Mission Vision Focus

John Santeo Tamayo, INK

“No one, not even I, can state from memory the Vision-Mission of our school. We should simplify it. The vision is to supply the next generation’s leaders,” says Dean Ed, President of Enderun Colleges.

The launch of Leadership Program (LP) in April 2016 highlights our responsibilities in Enderun’s value system. Dean Ed believes that Enderun should be reoriented to stand on three pillars: Leadership, Love for the Environment, and Service to Others.

“We want our potential leaders to maintain their high ambitions and idealism for society and the environment,” Dean Ed affirms.  “Through the Leadership Program, we aim to nourish these ambitions and challenge the students to cross cultures and cross generations.”

A fun-filled Improve Workshop for LP facilitated by SPIT’s Gabe Mercado, Thea Yrastorza, and Dingdong Rosales.

The training and development of the LP has been extensive from participating in the Sustainable Regional Development Project with the Mikunigaoka High School (based in Osaka, Japan) to attending prestigious events such as the 24^th Metro Manila Business Conference and the Asian Development Bank’s 2016 International Skills Forum. In partnership with Mikunigaoka High School, Enderun and the Osaka school won first prize out of 2600 candidates for the presentation of their Social Enterprise business case.

Armae Panganiban, LP member, proudly asserts, “We’ve done so much together.” The experience goes beyond participating in round table meetings, and getting certificates. For her, as the members create wonderful memories with one another, and this serves to “show what potential we, Titans, have.”

LP members at the GK Enchanted Farm with their counterparts from Mikunigaoka High School

Larissa Baloy, also a member, deeply values the LP. It never crossed her mind that she’d feel the ripple effect of how “being with such innovative, capable, and responsible people would influence her behavior towards others.” She now sees herself out of her comfort zone, aiming for extraordinary goals.

“Are the members of the Leadership Program perfect? No,” says Ms Marivic Ignacio, LP Adviser.  “In fact, they’re far from it. Like all other students, they make mistakes. Yet, when they fail in their tasks, it is innate in them to realize ‘Hey, I messed up. I have to do better next time.’ That is how the Leadership Program improves as well.”

Currently, the pioneering batch of the Leadership Program has 21 members. They are currently co-organizing some of the upcoming Leadership Program events.  It is hoped that the successful completion of the Leadership Program shall result in a formal academic distinction that will be recognized in the Enderun diploma upon graduation.