In the spirit of the Sagradan Core Value of Servant Leadership, the Elementary Department of Montessori de Sagrada Familia came together in the gymnasium for the election of officers for the Supreme Pupil Government (SPG) under the theme “You Can Be a Leader!” on August 18, Friday.
Student Well-Being Officer (SWBO), Mr. Christian Anthony Valino, together with Ms. Lizbeth Agudon of the Counseling and Testing Office (CTO), stood at the helm of the Miting De Avance, an event where candidates gather to present their platforms and engage with voters.
Mrs. Jovelina Inductivo, the Vice Principal for Student Affairs then delivered her opening remarks, emphasizing the gravity of the impending election.
“Vote for Sagradans who exemplify leadership. Vote for individuals who you aspire to follow or emulate,” Teacher Jovy expressed, encouraging students to choose wisely, and to make their voices heard.
Furthermore, the two aspiring parties, STARS (Supportive, Trustworthy, and Responsible Students) and UNITY articulated their platforms comprehensively during the event. They also addressed essential questions relevant to their vision for the academic year, especially showcasing their leadership qualities before the Sagradan community.
A Grade 5 student, Sodina Pascual, inquired about the aspirants’ possible contributions to the Sagradan Virtue Project— a character formation program rallied by the school community to enrich sterling human qualities outside academics.
UNITY’s Vice Mayor candidate, Zeth Alexander, pledged to distribute posters throughout campus to encourage students to embrace and exhibit these virtues—meanwhile, the Vice Mayor representative of Stars, Ma. Frances Akiko Cabrera, expressed her commitment to being a role model, creating promotional videos, and highlighting the significance of the virtue project.
Moreover, the teams were asked about their strategies to advance the school’s anti-bullying campaign wherein STARS proposed the creation of anti-bullying presentations displayed on their proposed SPG bulletin boards. On the other hand, UNITY aimed to underscore the positive impacts of good deeds and actions, fostering an optimistic atmosphere within the school grounds.
The department’s homerooms served as voting precincts, allowing students the freedom to select candidates aligned with their interests and needs, and the power to decide for emerging leaders that will take a significant step towards representing their school with pride.
To promote transparency, the process of tallying the votes was live-streamed in real-time on the monitors in each homeroom. The students, voters, and candidates, all anticipate as they patiently watch for the fluctuating numbers on the screen.
During the subsequent flag-raising ceremony, Miss Ma. Carmela Perez, the Social Studies Supervisor announced the official SPG officers. Mariae Leyhiana Lanzeula emerged victorious in the mayoral race with an impressive 323 votes, while her party colleague Ma. Akiko Cabrera secured the position of Vice Mayor with 315 votes. Additionally, hailing from the STARS party, Jade Ellarie Carolino triumphed as the Secretary-General, garnering the highest overall vote count of 331 from the Sagradan community.
When queried about her forthcoming plans for the upcoming year, Lanzuela underlined the significance of each Sagradan’s contribution to creating a bespoke, inclusive, and enjoyable community that accommodates all.
“We are contemplating the addition of a student corner, such as a bulletin board adjacent to the gymnasium or even within the cafeteria, offering Sagradans the freedom to express their musings and suggestions. This space would facilitate the exchange of ideas, allowing for the appreciation of one another’s perspectives and the celebration of accomplishments and occasions,” the elected mayor stated.
The SWBO further amplified the responsibility and privilege bestowed on the elected set of officers.
“This generation of leaders needs to embrace servant leadership and truly serve. Every SPG member must be able to prioritize Sagradans despite any challenge. The upper-grade SPG should mentor lower-grade students, in order to constantly nurture future leaders,” Valino of SWBO expressed.
Ultimately, the SPG election underscores that every individual harbors the capacity to lead, become engaged in society, and instigate positive transformation. Whether in victory or defeat, at the end of the day, the essence remains the same: each and every Sagradan will emerge triumphant.
By: Hannah Beatrice Robes
Photos taken by: Ericaviel Maureese Isaac, Francheska Bettina Carpio, Megan Edrea Ladao