To prime Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) student leaders with the necessary leadership fundamentals and constitutional basics, the Supreme Student Government (SSG) of the Main Campus held the Basic Orientation Seminar (BOS) themed ‘Pagmugna: Molding 21st Century Student Leaders,’ April 21 to 22, Friday to Saturday, at Hotel de Fides.

The seminar, held through a series of talks with topics on Code of Ethics, Communication Letter Writing, Financial Flow, and Parliamentary Procedure, was attended by members of the Federation of Student Government (FSG) and members of the SSG from the Main Campus.

FSG Adviser, concurrent SSG Adviser, Dr. Ryzel Maureen T. Figer-Canes has expressed that the main purpose of the BOS is to equip the university’s student leaders with the needed skills as the SSG moves forward with its activities, as well as equipping them for the future.

“The primary objective and goal for the BOS is to equip our leaders with the necessary skills as we move forward with our activities, as also equip them for the future,” said Dr. Figer-Canes.

Additionally, Ormoc Campus SSG President Nikolai Villegas said that, as the newly elected President of Ormoc Campus, it was important that he got to learn the Parliamentary Procedure as this was not known to external campuses, and hoped that they can integrate it in their respective campuses.

“Personally, as the newly elected SSG President of Ormoc, it is important to me that we learned about the Parliamentary Procedure especially that we have to implement this in external campuses, as for sure they [other external campuses] do not know about these procedures. We are happy we got to learn the proper way of holding a meeting, and we hope that we implement this in our own campuses and get a positive feedback from it,” said Villegas.

Meanwhile, BOS Project Head Geoffry Kian C. Flores, shared that the preparation for the event encountered hurdles, such as the lacking presence of SSG members during meetings, preparing the necessary papers and having them signed, and other circumstances.

“First of all, the cooperation itself in the SSG office was a problem as there were not enough members present to form a quorum during meetings. The preparation of the papers was also a problem as it was time-consuming and requires patience. Sometimes the signatories were not present too,” said Flores.

However, the BOS Project Head has nonetheless expressed his elation seeing representatives from the main campus and external campuses during the event, further emphasizing that it was overwhelming as well as a big accomplishment for him.

“I am happy I took the challenge, and I am happy that, even though it was hard, I gained a lot of knowledge and discovered my potential through organizing this event,” he said.

Aside from the seminar’s speaking engagements, the SSG also gathered to review the organization’s House Rules as well as conducted team building activities for its members.

Student leaders of the EVSU system will gather once again for a Leadership Summit next month before the school year ends.

Article by Ton Sierolf Cairo