by JM Deblois
San Mateo, Rizal – Not even the challenge of the impending first block exams could stop the student leaders from stepping it up in this year’s successful leadership training service held last June 28, 2014 at Earthaven, San Mateo, Rizal.
Officers of the ’14-’15 Student Council of St. Luke’s College of Medicine together with class presidents, org presidents, and some class officers attended the Leadership Training Service organized by the Student Council.
The event was held to foster camaraderie between student leaders and to improve inter-organizational ties within the school through activities that require cooperation and leadership.
Earthaven, an eco-community owned by Wyden King, the former chairman of the now defunct Anito Hotels Inc., remained to be this year’s host for the LTS.
He closed his former business when “he found God”, as described by one of the facilitators of the activity as he introduced the participants to the place.
Earthaven is a 20-hectare community that features waterfalls, rivers, swimming pools, and a host of other recreational activities.
River trekking
The first part of the leadership training service immediately commenced upon arrival.
The 26 participants were divided into partners, and each will act as each other's “buddy” throughout the trek along the river.
The set-up ensures mutual safety and cooperation while traveling through the difficult path.
“Whatever you bring with you in the trek is something that you must be prepared to lose,” warned the facilitator as the group prepared to begin their journey.
The path is anything but smooth, as the participants fell, slipped, and scratched themselves while attempting to conquer the rocky path towards their goal.
At the end of the trail is a rock formation on top of which is where the final goal is located, a waterfall where the student leaders eventually climbed their way up to earn their well-deserved rest and then bathed in the cold waters coming from the mountains.
“Team Buhng” and “Team Building”
After lunch, the participants were then divided into two teams, “Team Buhng” and “Team Building”, each with their respective cheer and hand-drawn banner.
The teams were then pitted against each other in a line-up challenge on top of monobloc chairs, testing their ability to support each other despite of the need to reach a their goal.
Next is the “Toxic River” challenge where the teams are challenged in their capacity to strategize in a dire situation and reconcile their ideas in the face of a logistical problem.
Facing Fears and Cooperation
Participants are then taught how to face their fears through rappelling, one of the most looked forward events in the LTS.
After rappelling, an obstacle course featuring a path filled with various hindrances, from ant-laden muck to horse manure is the next ordeal for the participants.
Team Building and Team Buhng raced to get all their members across the hurdles, while helping those who had a hard time finish the course.
“Agawang Buko”, a staple for LTS in Earthaven was up next, resulting to a wild, muddy, and at-times painful contest to get the coveted “buko” to their bases and win the game.
The final part of the physical activities include the spiderweb challenge and the river obstacle course challenge where participants again get to test their cooperation, strategizing abilities, and resolve in reaching their goals.
Planning this Year’s Activities
The day culminated in an evening where the student leaders met and discussed their plans for the student body for the this school year.
Some of the plans include the delegation of some income generating projects of the Student Council to the organizations, contrary to last year's format where most of the IGPs are limited only to council projects.
The plan is said to be for the “empowerment of the student organizations”, a necessary step into creating a more dynamic student community in the growing SLCM family.
Other plans include a Quiz Bee that will act as a preparatory event for a bigger quiz bee in this year’s Medical Student’s Summit, a potential collaboration between Iatros and the Arts and Promotions Committee and Outreach committee for a school-wide art exhibit, a Valentines concert by the Chorale and Musician’s Circle, and a Greening Initiative by the Outreach committee targeted to be done in this year’s semestral break.
Activities by Agape, SAGIP-BAYAN, and Athletics Guild were also discussed and potential collaborations were made in making all the projects more fruitful and towards realization.
For the first years, an update on the organization of the Christmas party was also given to the council.
Leaving an impact
Participants enjoyed greatly the experience of the LTS, describing it as a tiring, but definitely a fruitful experience.
“Happy and unforgettable experience. At sobrang daming learning (there are so many learnings)”, as Rose Alday, a freshman student, describes this year’s LTS.
“More than the activities, na- inspire ako sa pinakitang passion ng mga upper batch students. Nakikita talaga sa kanila ung passion nila to serve the Lukan community habang ginagawa nila ung best nila para mag- excel sa acads. Sobrang gandang example nila para sa mga freshmen na katulad naming”, she added.
(“More than the activities, I was inspired by the passion showed by the upper batch students. Their passion to serve the Lukan community can be seen while doing their best to excel in their academics. They are very good examples for freshmen like us”)
"The LTS has taught me a lot of things - courage, trust, appreciation, dedication, focus, teamwork and so much more,” said Sheena Yu, another freshman student leader.
“Every activity was fun and full of learning, and I enjoyed both rock climbing as well as rappelling especially because many people kept encouraging me and backing me up," she added.
The event culminated with the announcement of Team Building as the overall winners of the event. [x]
San Mateo, Rizal – Not even the challenge of the impending first block exams could stop the student leaders from stepping it up in this year’s successful leadership training service held last June 28, 2014 at Earthaven, San Mateo, Rizal.
Officers of the ’14-’15 Student Council of St. Luke’s College of Medicine together with class presidents, org presidents, and some class officers attended the Leadership Training Service organized by the Student Council.
The event was held to foster camaraderie between student leaders and to improve inter-organizational ties within the school through activities that require cooperation and leadership.
Earthaven, an eco-community owned by Wyden King, the former chairman of the now defunct Anito Hotels Inc., remained to be this year’s host for the LTS.
He closed his former business when “he found God”, as described by one of the facilitators of the activity as he introduced the participants to the place.
Earthaven is a 20-hectare community that features waterfalls, rivers, swimming pools, and a host of other recreational activities.
River trekking
The first part of the leadership training service immediately commenced upon arrival.
The 26 participants were divided into partners, and each will act as each other's “buddy” throughout the trek along the river.
The set-up ensures mutual safety and cooperation while traveling through the difficult path.
“Whatever you bring with you in the trek is something that you must be prepared to lose,” warned the facilitator as the group prepared to begin their journey.
The path is anything but smooth, as the participants fell, slipped, and scratched themselves while attempting to conquer the rocky path towards their goal.
At the end of the trail is a rock formation on top of which is where the final goal is located, a waterfall where the student leaders eventually climbed their way up to earn their well-deserved rest and then bathed in the cold waters coming from the mountains.
“Team Buhng” and “Team Building”
After lunch, the participants were then divided into two teams, “Team Buhng” and “Team Building”, each with their respective cheer and hand-drawn banner.
The teams were then pitted against each other in a line-up challenge on top of monobloc chairs, testing their ability to support each other despite of the need to reach a their goal.
Next is the “Toxic River” challenge where the teams are challenged in their capacity to strategize in a dire situation and reconcile their ideas in the face of a logistical problem.
Facing Fears and Cooperation
Participants are then taught how to face their fears through rappelling, one of the most looked forward events in the LTS.
After rappelling, an obstacle course featuring a path filled with various hindrances, from ant-laden muck to horse manure is the next ordeal for the participants.
Team Building and Team Buhng raced to get all their members across the hurdles, while helping those who had a hard time finish the course.
“Agawang Buko”, a staple for LTS in Earthaven was up next, resulting to a wild, muddy, and at-times painful contest to get the coveted “buko” to their bases and win the game.
The final part of the physical activities include the spiderweb challenge and the river obstacle course challenge where participants again get to test their cooperation, strategizing abilities, and resolve in reaching their goals.
Planning this Year’s Activities
The day culminated in an evening where the student leaders met and discussed their plans for the student body for the this school year.
Some of the plans include the delegation of some income generating projects of the Student Council to the organizations, contrary to last year's format where most of the IGPs are limited only to council projects.
The plan is said to be for the “empowerment of the student organizations”, a necessary step into creating a more dynamic student community in the growing SLCM family.
Other plans include a Quiz Bee that will act as a preparatory event for a bigger quiz bee in this year’s Medical Student’s Summit, a potential collaboration between Iatros and the Arts and Promotions Committee and Outreach committee for a school-wide art exhibit, a Valentines concert by the Chorale and Musician’s Circle, and a Greening Initiative by the Outreach committee targeted to be done in this year’s semestral break.
Activities by Agape, SAGIP-BAYAN, and Athletics Guild were also discussed and potential collaborations were made in making all the projects more fruitful and towards realization.
For the first years, an update on the organization of the Christmas party was also given to the council.
Leaving an impact
Participants enjoyed greatly the experience of the LTS, describing it as a tiring, but definitely a fruitful experience.
“Happy and unforgettable experience. At sobrang daming learning (there are so many learnings)”, as Rose Alday, a freshman student, describes this year’s LTS.
“More than the activities, na- inspire ako sa pinakitang passion ng mga upper batch students. Nakikita talaga sa kanila ung passion nila to serve the Lukan community habang ginagawa nila ung best nila para mag- excel sa acads. Sobrang gandang example nila para sa mga freshmen na katulad naming”, she added.
(“More than the activities, I was inspired by the passion showed by the upper batch students. Their passion to serve the Lukan community can be seen while doing their best to excel in their academics. They are very good examples for freshmen like us”)
"The LTS has taught me a lot of things - courage, trust, appreciation, dedication, focus, teamwork and so much more,” said Sheena Yu, another freshman student leader.
“Every activity was fun and full of learning, and I enjoyed both rock climbing as well as rappelling especially because many people kept encouraging me and backing me up," she added.
The event culminated with the announcement of Team Building as the overall winners of the event. [x]