Late last year, the St. Scholastica’s College Manila Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo Center for Leadership Excellence held its second annual thought leadership workshop for student leaders. Fifty-two promising students from Grades 7-12 participated to hone their leadership skills and become an inspiration to others.
The MFPA Leadership Center partnered with 2017 Ramon Magsaysay awardee, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), to highlight this year’s theme, Inspire to Lead. PETA used the fundamentals of theater and storytelling to teach the workshop participants to be critical, communicative, and creative in dealing with the problems facing their generation.
Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, founder of the Center and president and CEO of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) and outspoken advocate of woman empowerment, explained the importance of this creative workshop: “We are living in uncertain and volatile times. Young leaders have access to so much information about societal issues and want to help change the world for the better, but it can be difficult for them to know where to start. This innovative workshop with PETA will help them learn how to get the full picture and inspire others to act.”
The MFPA Center for Leadership Excellence was established on April 24, 2017 to complement the Scholastican academic tradition of leadership. The Center is based on four pillars or modules: Personal Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Social Change, and Service Learning.
In November 2018, the Center held its inaugural session with a Thought Leadership Forum of woman executives that helped impart the proper mindset for leadership in the age of digital disruption.
This year, the workshop developed by PETA and the Center focused on promoting a deeper understanding of the issues that beset the Filipino family and society today. The student leaders were encouraged to reflect on these issues and consider how they can harness creativity to be better heard and listened to.
After the workshop sessions, selected student leaders shared their key insights and takeaways. Grade 12 class president Chloe Nicole T. Ebeo delivered a message on behalf of the participants: “Thank you, Ms. Maria Fe Perez-Agudo, for inspiring us to take an extra step for all the opportunities we may come across. You have truly showed us that compassion and determination does get you far…. Thank you to PETA, its members, and staff for giving us such an eye opening experience…that reminds us that we were given this platform to be able to speak up and bring change.”
After watching the students deliver their presentations, Ms. Agudo encouraged the young leaders to continue learning and growing: “As a member of a generation that has seen AND addressed our share of problems over the years, I hope that sharing our insights and experiences can help you mold a better future for our country and for the world! I know I have learned so much just from watching your wonderful presentations! I am inspired to believe that your generation is strong and brave and compassionate enough to face any challenge or problem head on!”
