The Forerunner - Student Publication

‘𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗚 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲’ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗮𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗦𝗨 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 | A hundred of student leaders from Bulacan State University (BulSU) external campuses gathered at the BulSU Main Campus Amphitheater on July 16 for “BANAAG 2026”: Empowering Student Leaders Towards Inclusive, Accountable, and Transformative Governance—the first leadership training organized by the Office of Student Organizations and Activities–External Campus (OSOA–EC) for student organizations across the university's external campuses.

In an interview, Dr. Aimee Grace M. Madlangbayan, Dean of Student Affairs and Services (SAS) for External Campuses shared that BANAAG 2026 was conceptualized after consultations revealed that many students from the external campuses felt left out of university-wide leadership opportunities.

“What led us to conceptualize this program is because of the need,” she said, explaining that conversations with student leaders and the executive board highlighted the need to create a platform that would unite external campuses through leadership development.

Madlangbayan added that months of collaborative planning and coordination with various university offices, partner agencies, and resource speakers made the initiative possible.

During the program, she reminded participants that while "A plan carefully laid out is a goal half finished," turning a vision into reality requires collaboration and a shared sense of purpose, she described BANAAG as a symbol of the light that dispels darkness, and encouraged student leaders to become guiding lights who inspire hope, promote unity, and lead with integrity.

Echoing this message, Federation of Student Councils (FSC) President Iesu Rex Judiel Cruz acknowledged that while BANAAG marks a significant first step, challenges remain for student organizations in the external campuses, including the need for more student-friendly organizational processes, particularly in improving access to funding and institutional support.

The morning sessions continued with discussions on leadership and governance led by Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro, followed by Dr. Joseph Roy F. Celestino, who tackled ethics in leadership. During his lecture, Celestino emphasized that leadership is defined not by position but by accountability, virtue, and responsible decision-making, describing leadership as a light.

"Hindi lahat ng liwanag ay nakakapagdulot ng kaginhawaan o nakakapadulot ng kaalaman; may mga liwanag na nakakasilaw, ‘pag nakakasilaw na ang liwanag, hindi na niya nase-serve ang kanyang purpose," he said.

Workshop sessions covered Project Proposal Making, Financial Report Preparation, and Membership Recruitment and Retention Strategies after which participants later presented their workshop outputs before taking part in team-building and networking activities designed to strengthen collaboration among student leaders from different external campuses.

Reflecting on the session, Zia Kristel Patawaran, president of the Society of Future Educators (SFED), said one of her biggest takeaways was that leadership goes beyond holding a title.

"Being a leader is not merely about holding a title; it is a responsibility that requires accountability and commitment," she said. Patawaran added that she plans to apply these lessons by ensuring that their organization's activities and initiatives are carried out with accountability, integrity, and proper procedures.

Cholo R. De Guzman, Chairperson of OSOA–BulSU External Campuses, encouraged delegates to carry the lessons of BANAAG into their respective organizations and begin their term with purpose, accountability, and integrity as participating student organizations received their Certificates of Recognition, marking the successful culmination of BulSU's first leadership training for its external campuses.

Meanwhile, the Dean of SAS-External also shared her vision for the future of BANAAG, saying, “Hopefully, hindi nga ito ang una. This is the start, just the beginning. Ang vision ko ay hindi lang ang Main Campus, hindi lang ang Student Affairs ang mag-oorganize. Maybe each one of your campuses will organize their own.” | via Kristen Paula Burcio 📷: Mark Albert Mendoza, THE FORERUNNER