The Equilibrium V (April 2022 Issue)

Qualities of A IT STARTS WITH IN Leader Often Overlooked Am I an Effective Leader? HOW THE K-12 SYSTEM SHAPED THE Leadership: Is being FUTURE LEADERS a Good Leader Hereditary? How can a College Student become an Effective Leader? Know more of the different leadership styles through an entertaining comics strip!

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03 19 INTRODUCTION FEATURES Foreword IT STARTS WITH IN by the Associate Editor by Justine Nicole C. Hipolito The Equilibrium Staff Leadership: Is being a Good Leader Hereditary? 05 by Audre Garett M. Balayan NEWS How can a College Student become an The Youth Vote: Its Effective Leader? Consequence nn the 2022 by Carl Joseph Reyes Philippine Elections by Audre Garett M. Balayan Business Economics Dean's Listers A.Y. 2020 - 2021 09 39 EDITORIAL ENTERTAINMENT Am I an Effective Leader? by Jessa Mae E. Adriatico LEADERSHIP STYLES by Hans Angelo M. Enriquez Qualities of A Leader Often Overlooked by Patricia Margaret P. Layog How the K-12 System Shaped the Future Leaders by Vien Blanch Z. Gaton

Foreword Leadership is consequential in every aspect The fifth issue of The Equilibrium will delve deeper into the role of the youth as leaders of our lives, undeniably shown through the and our impact on the approaching national and local elections. It will also explore the current national issues and electoral qualities of an effective leader to help us decide who we are going to cast our ballot campaigns happening around us. for. Leadership was first introduced to us in our As always, let us continue improving ourselves as tomorrow’s future leaders and academic and extracurricular endeavors in be critical and wise in choosing the future leaders of our beloved nation. Someone schools. Effective leadership, may it be in who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way, as John Maxwell described small class groups, academic what being a leader is. organizations, or student councils, revealed how it could lead not only to good results but also to personal growth for everyone. Similarly in the context of a bigger scope, such as in a citywide or nationwide setting, wherein a leader guides its people towards growth then development Effective leadership is indeed vital in attaining good governance that would yield the optimum outcome. Recently, there have been several discussions regarding the specific qualities and platforms that people consider for leader candidates. Filipinos, including the youth, have been active in seeking good leadership, and as a famous Filipino quote says, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan” (The youth is the hope of the nation). We can exemplify it by doing our best in our current undertakings while fighting for what we believe is truly right for our nation. 3 l The Equilibrium April 2022

EqThue ilibrium EDITORIAL BOARD Jessa Mae E. Adriatico Editor-in-chief Maria Ranja Victoria M. Porras Managing Editor Associate Editor Vien Blanch Z. Gaton Chief Layout Artist Raziela Thea SD. Evangelista Chief Artist Hans Angelo M. Enriquez STAFFERS Audre Garett M. Balayan Apprentice/Writer Justine Nicole C. Hipolito Apprentice/Writer Patricia Margaret P. Layog Apprentice/Writer Artist Pauline Alaiza B. Mercado Layout Artist Layout Artist Allyssa Nicandra A. Cajano Layout Artist Anne Beatrice P. Concio Orange Katherine J. Lugod CONTRIBUTOR Mr. Carl Joseph Reyes April 2022 The Equilibrium l 4

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THE YOUTH : ITS CONSEQUENCE ON THE 2022 PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS BY: AUDRE GARETT M. BALAYAN According to CNN Philippines, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Spokesperson James Jimenez shared a snippet of the demographics of the 62 million registered voters in the upcoming 2022 National and Local elections on a virtual briefing last September 2021. According to him, most registered voters, about 52 percent (around 31.41 million voters) of the total registered voters, were considered the \"youth vote\" — voters in the age group of 18 to 40 years old. Given this unprecedented participation of the youth in one of the most important and monumental elections of our motherland, candidates and campaign strategists were undoubtedly forced to enhance and calibrate their positions and platforms to capture the “youth vote.” The said action of different camps clearly shows how consequential and important the youth votes are in achieving political success. The challenge now for politicians is how to effectively impart their platforms and advocacies given the current social, political, and economic problems that rage not just the youth but also every Filipino. 7 l The Equilibrium April 2022

As millions of Filipino youth On top of that, based on an article published at the “Electoral Knowledge Network,” the are geared to participate in the upcoming 2022 youth can utilize their intrinsic power in polls, registering to vote is not enough to make different social media platforms to influence a substantial change. Going out, queuing, and their friends and followers not to be virtually casting your vote on May 9th in your local dominated by the threat of the virus on voting precinct is the fundamental and core election day. Hence, they must elevate the actions that will determine how the next three idea that their vote is greater than the invisible or six years of our life will be. Due to the enemy. Everyone must go out of their bunker impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the and demonstrate their patriotism through number of voter turnout in the upcoming polls, voting. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año urged the It is marvelous to see the youth becoming Philippine National Police (PNP) last January more politically active and involved. Joining 26th to strictly enforce the minimum public intellectual discourses and consuming health protocols (MPHP) on poll events. diverse information from reputable sources will tremendously boost the youth's political On top of that, according to a Reuters report understanding and views. In this way, the published last January 17th, the government can youth can elect a candidate that will unite our restore the public's confidence to go out and country despite the country's deep head to their polling precinct on election day by polarization and brutal political divisiveness. flattening the COVID-19 epidemiology curve by Given the enormous number of youth voters, various health interventions such as extensive it is certain that the YOUth will determine the vaccination campaign and implementation of 2022 elections. Go out and vote on May 9th, MPHPs. folks. ELECTION DAY May 09, 2022 April 2022 The Equilibrium l 8

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AM I AN Effective Leader? BY: JESSA ADRIATICO Often, we would find ourselves pensively observing our surroundings and the people around us. We would stay still and wonder why they were going out of their comfort zone to make things a lot better. This question steers our minds into thinking — why do people feel the need to lead? From this question, there would be several ideas and opinions likely circulating in our minds, which is why Self- Reflection could play a significant role in how people can be leaders, even more so as effective leaders. People usually tend to forget or are not even fond of doing self-reflection. In this day and age, it is easy to let words come out of our mouths to give opinions about how a leader should be. Nevertheless, do those opinions only apply to others and not to us? We will never know unless we try to sit down and have an overdue conversation with ourselves, which can be done through reflecting. Consequently, reflecting is not an easy method to carry out because clearly, we are giving opinions about ourselves. We all know that it is genuinely challenging to accept the truth about one’s self. Furthermore, another challenge people encounter is how to start doing reflections. The following are the aspects one can consider when reflecting: 11 l The Equilibrium April 2022

Our Story By the end of the day, week, month, or year, recall what has happened. Also, remember the people we have met and conversed with, our feelings at that time, and basically everything or whatever contributed to our day. This will allow us to easily track the occurrences in our lives and know the suitable approach for each situation. Best & Worst Learning & Discoveries Self-Improvement Race me to the end of Let us acknowledge Another day, another the track. Self- improvement is one of what made us feel discovery for us to the most challenging approaches one would overjoyed, even for the unravel. There is always have to take: shortest moment. something new waiting 1.There is a need to identify what we Commonly, we do not for us the moment we could have done better. recognize our efforts, open our eyes in the 2.There is a need to even our achievements, morning. These be consistent. for the reason that we plethoras of learning and 3.There is a need to know what comes think they are not big discoveries are mostly after it. enough to be recognized the things that would when in fact, they are. majorly help shape us to Meanwhile, we all know be the kind of leader we that it is not always want to be. We learn rainbows and sunshine; from people, books, however, it does not movies, and school. mean we will always find There is learning ourselves in the middle everywhere. of a storm. Improving ourselves is a long process, and we cannot expect ourselves to be immediately good at something. It will have to make us go through a series of trials and errors. We are driven to finish the race and win the challenge when there is no race, to begin with. We are incredibly eager to reach the end of the track when there is no end at all because self-improvement should be a continuous life-long process. Now that we have reached the end, let us go back to the question — why do people feel the need to lead? Why do WE think that we need to lead? Anyone can be a leader; yet, not everyone can be an effective leader. Again and again, people criticize others regarding their leadership style and the negativities a particular leader possesses; still, here we are mostly doing the very similar things we have been calling out. Self-reflection compels us to determine the key areas to provide attention to become effective leaders. By now, we perhaps have arrived with profuse answers; hence, the next question awaiting us is — what do WE need to do to make these happen? Ask yourself. April 2022 The Equilibrium l 12

Leadership is a vital skill that helps an organization become more efficient in achieving its goals. Leaders are known to be providers of clarity of purpose to their subordinates, motivators, and people who guide the whole organization to understand and realize its mission and create a clear vision for the team. A leader has a multidimensional trait that makes one attractive to be an effective leader. When we are asked what a leader KED should be like or what qualities should a leader possess, we often think about self-awareness, independence, communicative styles, and so on; however, there are unheeded characteristics that “leaders” should possess which play significant roles in providing effective leadership. OVERL Ms. Maureen Cucio, the president of TOMCAT-UST, provided two By: Patricia Layog unpopular qualities of a leader. Firstly, she identified empathy as something that is neglected. Stepping into the shoes of others is very important in providing fair judgment and objectivity in the team. An empathic leader understands the members' problems; they see beyond the picture and are aware of the team’s feelings and thoughts. Always go back to the ground. Ms. Cucio further explained that “This quote’ stuck in my mind, and it made me realize that before I got to where I am now, I was once an apprentice, a newbie.” 13 l The Equilibrium April 2022

\"There is no such thing as As a leader, you must become their mentor in order to open doors for the a hundred percent ready. next generation of leaders after you. You either do it, or you do not. Project perfection is the second act Ms. Cucio emphasized. Often, we have this Secondly, Ms. Cucio stated that accepting perception that leaders have everything that you do not know everything is also stuck together and know everything. an overlooked characteristic we should Nonetheless, this thinking creates a gap look out for in a leader. We do not have between the leader and the members. control over the things happening around us, and we are constantly trying to adapt Members can be under the false to those inevitable changes. impression of how perfectionist leaders tend to set unrealistic standards and Having the highest role in a team or an unattainable goals. Thus, members might organization is indeed overwhelming since end up being afraid to step up and voice you are responsible for every final decision out their thoughts and opinions, done inside the team. Nevertheless, it is especially on the projects the team is alright to show your weaknesses and learn planning on. It is okay to always strive for to make them your strengths. Fix things, the best, but if the ‘best’ did not produce redeem yourself, learn from them. Show the result you want, it is alright, and just your subordinates that mistakes are okay rework it with the help of your members. as long as you learn from them and do better the next time. Show them every side of the coin, not Leadership should possess harmony in just the pretty stuff. Show them quality and behavior. Although there are unnoticed characteristics that we should hardships and how to overcome them. look out for, there are also acts leaders shouldn’t do that we should be aware of. There are a lot of overlooked traits that a Pretending that you have everything together is something that leaders should leader must possess and must try to least likely do. It is okay to ask for help. Fmr. US President Barack Obama once avoid. These unpopular traits and skills said that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength as it provide effective leadership skills and shows that you have the courage to admit when you do not know something and are increase one’s professional willing to learn something new. marketability, which is needed for an organization or a team to excel. Cultivating the subtle qualities along with the better-recognized ones will aid a leader to succeed in any task where the whole team will benefit. Be mindful of exercising these cultivated leadership skills for growth, and just like what Michael Jordan said, earn your leadership every day. April 2022 The Equilibrium l 14

How the K-12 System shaped the Future Leaders By Vien Blanch Z. Gaton In the Southeast region of Asia, the Beyond the challenges, the implementers of the Philippines has been the only country that K-12 system faced, several reactions from the provides ten years of primary education, students and their families arose. To adapt to the which is why the government implemented situation, tradeoffs and resource constraints will a K-12 system in 2016 under the be encountered. For parents and guardians, administration of the late President Benigno additional years in school will result in more Aquino III (Oxford Business Group, 2015). expenses for schooling for their children; for the Under the K-12 system, Senior High School academic institutions, there is a need to come up was introduced, which is two years of with effective plans to adjust to the new specialized upper secondary education curriculum; and for the students, more time will wherein students could choose their be spent in studying. Moreover, resources like preferred specialization based on aptitude, time and workforce have to be allocated interests, and school capacity. Students efficiently. These are just some of the challenges can select the Academic track (composing that had to be prepared for. of Business, Accountancy, and Management, Humanities, Education, and This 2022, the pilot batch from the K-12 system will Social Sciences, and Science, Technology, be graduating ceteris paribus. It will be the time Engineering, and Mathematics), Technical- when we will reap the fruits of our academic hard Vocational-Livelihood, and Sports and Arts work. We underwent the newly implemented (The K to 12 Basic Education Program | educational system, experienced studying during a Official Gazette of the Republic of the public health crisis, and handled our issues in life. Philippines, n.d.). Yet, we are nearing the end of our undergraduate program, which would mark another beginning in our Specifically, the new administration during lives. As we go on with this journey, are we ready to that time identified education reform as face what the future will bring? their top agenda, which resulted in the formation of the “Enhanced Basic When the pilot batch of K-12 students went to Education Program,” also known as K-12. college, due to substantial educational This program is not just about adding two adjustments, the majority of the senior students years of education, but it is the product of from various departments had already graduated. decades of study and reforming the whole Hence, first-year students, products of the K-12 education sector in the country. However, pilot batch, had to step up and lead by filling in the period from 2016 up to 2021, referred the vacant student councils positions and to as the K-12 transition, presents academic organizations. The opportunity to lead challenges in the primary education sector is a huge responsibility of helping the student which also causes ripple effects on other body, which is indeed rewarding. It is a stepping sectors (Commission on Higher Education, stone to becoming leaders in the path we will 2017). take after years.

CONT... With the K-12 curriculum, SIR ERIC PASQUIN students have to complete additional two years in Senior High School before The Voyage entering college. These additional years Every step is important. Such movement leads to a allowed students to know more about distance from the beginning towards the destination. different possible career paths they Each cadence of motion requires impactful progress that would like to pursue. It also gave them indicates either tiny or huge successes. It has been for the the chance to discover more of last four years or so. The hurdles were demanding both themselves, their ideologies, capabilities, mentally and physically which is constantly exhausting and wants. The additional two years in but with focus and tenacity, these were all vanquished. high school were challenging. Still, if we look at the brighter side, we may have I understand the excitement as the 2nd term reaches its also met good friends, acquaintances, end. The eagerness to accomplish the four-year business and professors who taught us important economics degree program is noticeable given that the life lessons and helped us improve sight of the finish line is clear on the horizon. The hard ourselves to become who we are today. If work and frustrations might be over soon, and upon the we may have met people we disliked, bestowment of the long-desired business degree, another they also taught us that we could not chapter unfolded that needs to be taken anew. please everyone. The voyage was not easy because it was confronted with Nevertheless, we must not let it control tough terrain, not only academically, but more of the our lives and focus on becoming better pandemic’s new normal. The haste to adapt from an in- versions of ourselves. Understanding and personal engagement to a virtual platform that is empty socializing with diverse groups of people of human emotions, a space that connects everyone in is an essential skill to possess as future real-time but devoid of interpersonal worthiness. But leaders of tomorrow. With the additional despite the new normal and the deprivation to socialize years, we learned in the four walls of our in the real class, each one has prevailed and survived. classrooms and through extracurricular endeavors. This helps enhance our skills It has been a rough journey but it was a testimony of further, solidify our leadership one’s strength to pursue the goal regardless of the capabilities, and improve our moral difficulties ahead. Congratulations to Batch 2022! compass, which would help us in “real life.” References: Commission on Higher Education. (2017, September 5). CHED K to 12 Transition Program - CHED. CHED. https://ched.gov.ph/k-12-project- management-unit/ Oxford Business Group. (2015, April 1). The Philippine government works to implement its K-12 programme while raising educational standards | Philippines 2015 | Oxford Business Group. Oxford Business Group. https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/overview/philippine-government-works- implement-its-k-12-programme-while-raising-educational-standards The K to 12 Basic Education Program | Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (n.d.). Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/k- 12/#:~:text=SENIOR%20HIGH%20(Grades%2011%2D12)&text=Sports%20a nd%20Arts.-,The%20Academic%20track%20includes%20three%20strands% 3A%20Business%2C%20Accountancy%2C%20Management,Engineering%2 C%20Mathematics%20(STEM) April 2022 The Equilibrium l 16

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FEAT

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IT STARTS WITH IN BY: JUSTINE NICOLE C.HIPOLITO 21 l The Equilibrium April 2022

Leadership is about guiding others in the right direction and having a hold of the wheel to navigate your own life. It is a mix and match of taking risks and learning when to step back. This article talks about the UST Economics Society’s events that focused on what it means to be a leader. Confluence Webinar: The Life After College Last January 29th of this year, we were granted the opportunity to be visited by two wonderful speakers, Ms. Jihan Jafaar – Dolino and Ms. Sheila Mae Naghisa Amorsolo- Fuentes, both of whom shared a glimpse of their insights and experiences about leadership. They also added ample potential career opportunities for Business Economics graduates after college. April 2022 The Equilibrium l 22

According to Ms. Dolino, being a leader means being able to experience different things. One of which is having specific goals that will lead us to where we want to be. She also added that decision-making is an important aspect of leadership because it can make or break someone or something. She highlighted that one of the effective leadership styles is “Coaching,” wherein a person is unable to do things on their own but is willing to do so and that person just needs someone – a “coach” – who has the capacity to help them. In terms of possible careers, she said that some of the edges of being a Business Economic graduate in the corporate world is that it will give us a strong knowledge of how the economy works and we will be able to exercise our critical thinking. What is important is that whatever career we choose, we should always be patient, keep our head high, and do not forget to enjoy ourselves. On the other hand, Ms. Fuentes emphasized that in order to become a leader, we have to believe in ourselves first. We need to understand who we are, what we want, and what we value. Being bold and confident will get us far, but always keep in mind to never forget where we came from. She also believes that for a person to become a leader, having the willingness to step up for yourself and your people is essential. Regarding the career opportunities after college, a Business Economics major can go into various sectors like banking and finance, capital markets, research and development, government, academe, or become an entrepreneur. 23 l The Equilibrium April 2022

Start-Up: Growing Sustainable Business Towards Success Webinar Last February 5, 2022, Ms. Celina Reyes-Alejandrino had graced us with her interesting talk about how to open a local sustainable business. In relation to leadership, she said that leadership would all start within us. Some essential insights from the community development activity are: always focus on your goal; do not feel pressured because slow progress is still progress; it will all take time; and eventually, things will start to fall into place and you will realize that you are now the one steering your own wheel. Soon, you will be able to help others navigate their own. At the end of the day, no one was born to be a leader. It is our willingness to grow that cultivates us to become one over time. Becoming a leader means becoming a follower first. It is a stepping stone in order to becoming an effective leader. April 2022 The Equilibrium l 24

LEADERSHIP: IS BEI HEREDI By: Audre G There is an endless debate about whether or not being a good leader lies in the same lineage. But Mr. Jefferson Paspie, a 22-year-old junior majoring in Business Economics, believes that his competitive temperament during his secondary years molded his recognizable leadership. Filled with various leadership experiences, from being a Senior Patrol Leader during his Boy Scout years up to being a Director for International Affairs in Rotaract Club Caloocan, he proudly performed his duties with perseverance, enthusiasm, and love of God. He also received notable recognition and awards for his leadership from different institutions and organizations. His most recent recognition was for \"Excellent Performance as an International Relations Director\" in Rotaract Club Caloocan. As he continuously enhances his leadership style through his current professional and academic undertakings, Mr. Paspie exclusively shared his expounded thoughts if being a good leader runs from the same blood. 25 l The Equilibrium April 2022

NG A GOOD LEADER ITARY? arett M. Balayan Do you think He categorically stated that “because of you inherited my competitive temperament as a child, your leadership I have shaped my leadership style. I skills, or is it began as a varsity athlete, competing in the other way regional and national competitions. around? Those were the days when I first became competitive.\" Aside from this, he illuminated that ... \"all of my education, experience, competence, and honesty have been provided to me by God for me to serve my GOD by helping others.\" April 2022 The Equilibrium l 26

Who has the most What leadership influence in the qualities or development of styles do you your leadership inherit from your skills? Are you lineage? genetically related or not? He emphasized that \"the leadership style that I inherited from my He imparted that \"my father and parents is being visionary.\" He Egay (a friend of mine) is the main added that \"even if the problem and reason.\" As for his father, \"he responsibilities are not yet there, I refined my talents when I was a little am starting to think as quickly as boy. He teaches me how to manage possible about solving the people in our firm by telling me problem.\" He also highlighted that stories about how he led his town \"with my vision, I can plan ahead of and how I should lead my time on which path I should bring generation's youth.\" And as for his my organization and what platforms friend, \"he encouraged me to join and projects I should do with it.\" local and national organizations, and he recommended me to Rotaract Club of Caloocan, Millennials Philippines, and Junior Chamber International.\" 27 l The Equilibrium April 2022

Do you think your Youth as Future leadership skills Leaders were more honed when you were Overall, Mr. Paspie advised the aspiring younger or now youth leaders to enhance their when you were leadership skills externally (i.e., meeting older? new people and joining various organizations). He strongly believes that He firmly said that \"it was honed \"Leaders are not born; they're made. If more when I was older because you want to lead, then make things now the only limit is myself.\" He also possible by starting it by yourself.\" He added that \"being with other youth ended his thoughts by explicitly saying, leaders, I learned different leadership styles that I could do \"It would be best if you whenever I face different situations. first change your mindset I know that with my drive to serve, I before leading youth and want to lead my country as a youth.\" creating more leaders. The qualities of leaders are intensified with their knowledge and experience that would give them the capability to unite and lead the youth and their community.\" April 2022 The Equilibrium l 28

By Carl Joseph Reyes I am no perfect leader. I’m not even close to it. One thing that I know is that, by being true to yourself, all else will follow. Before anything else, let me acknowledge all our readers, from our academic officials, professors, students, and avid Equilibrium followers. I am really in awe of how far you have come, and I recognize all your hard work and dedication. You must be proud of your resilience, courage, and achievements now that we are in these times of crisis. Looking back at my younger years, I was not the type of student that would raise his hand on the spot when a professor asks for someone to volunteer in a specific project or task. I was this student who attended his class and went straight home afterward. No in-betweens. In my first two years in college, I rarely joined college organizations, except the college’s volleyball team, which is the sport I really love playing. I was a nobody. Perhaps I was still adjusting from high school, and the fact that I was shy at first was one of the few reasons why I started exploring during my junior year. Come my third year, I began exposing myself to various opportunities available and after then, I immersed myself in different organizations across the college and university-wide. Those years molded me into becoming the leader that I believe I am right now. In this article, I will share my little knowledge and experience on how I perceive an effective leader must be, and how college students can become an effective leaders, may it be on your small group of peers or on a macro setting. 29 l The Equilibrium April 2022

1 STICK TO YOUR CORE. All leaders have different leadership styles. I am sure you have encountered a lot of different kinds of leaders. There are leaders who are autocratic, transformational, transactional, democratic, or subtle types of leaders. From all these styles, you must always bear in mind to focus on your values and personality. Your leadership style will come out naturally if you focus on your character and values as an individual. As for my case, I see myself as a transformational leader. I see to it that I give the spotlight and the credits to the team or those who are mainly responsible for the specific task. As a transformational leader, I want to challenge the status quo and form other leaders. I came to see that I am this type of leader because I felt a sense of purpose when I helped someone achieve something. When you feel a sense of purpose as to why you are doing something, it means you are being true to yourself and your values. If you feel the satisfaction that you are doing good when you lead someone to goodness and success, then you are doing the right thing. However, always remember that as human beings, we develop, we grow, and we mature. With this, you must be prepared that different circumstances in life will challenge or change your values and character. Just make sure that these changes will change you for the better and help you improve as a person and a leader. 2 PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF OTHERS. Empathy. As a leader, you must always think of others, too. You must always see that your team, subordinates, colleagues, and peers are still motivated, loving their tasks, and still see the reason why they do their jobs. One way of making sure that your team is still in sync when you are up for a specific job is always to try to put yourself in their shoes. Ask yourself, “If I am in their position, what would I feel? Would I feel motivated? Stressed? Annoyed? Happy? Satisfied? Tired?” I believe you will be an effective leader if you always try to put yourself in the place of your teammates. One time, when I was the President of the College of Commerce and Business Administration Student Council (CBASC), we were tasked to headline the Commerce Week. It is a week-long celebration involving many academic and extracurricular activities. Sure, the planning took a lot of stressful days and nights. As their chief officer, I made sure to the best of my abilities to always look out for them, ask how they are doing, and if I am in their shoes, I ask myself, ‘can I still do this task?’ With this, it will help gauge how to motivate the team and let them have a break in stressful and hectic circumstances. After all, one of our core values in UST is Compassion, and to become an effective leader, this is where your compassionate self must be present. April 2022 The Equilibrium l 30

3 ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST IN EVERY TASK THAT YOU ARE DOING. BE THE ROLE MODEL. I have always believed that no matter what task or job is given to you, whether you are good at this task or not, you must always do your best. Always try to give the best output you can give in a specific task. Making the best effort you can in every task given to you as a leader will create a ripple effect in the sense that it will influence your team to do their best as well. There were a lot of times wherein I was exposed to different activities that did not match my skill set. I was called to be a leader in a task that involves dancing, but all of us know that I am not a dancer. However, as the leader of the pack, I just did my best to lead and cheer the team up so we could have a good performance. Being the role model that I must be, I danced with all the energy I had so that the whole troupe would also feel the same energy, and we would give a good performance. To become an effective leader, be the example your team needs. Always give every task a shot. At the end of the day, when you give your best, and you still fail or you don’t get the success you are looking for, you will have no regrets. You will have no regrets because you or the whole gave it all. Accept and move forward. 4 EXPOSE YOURSELF TO DIFFERENT WORK ENVIRONMENTS. As I have mentioned at the beginning of this article, I was kind of a late bloomer. I only started joining different organizations when I was in my third year already. It has both advantages and disadvantages, but to become an effective leader, you must practice your ways of leadership in different scenarios, groups of people, and environments. I realized it late that leadership or being a leader is also a process, that it somehow entails a trial-and-error kind of practice. I only had a year to do this trial-and-error process before I ran to become president of the student council. For me, one year is enough, but more years would be better. Honing your leadership skills through exposing yourself to different work environments would help you choose which kind of environment you would want to be in and which environment to implement when you become the leader. They say that ‘leaders are not born, they are made,’ which I really agree with. I believe that leaders are shaped by time, and one way of doing this is going out there and exploring all the world for you to see. You will encounter a lot of personalities, characters, and attitudes along the way, which will help you shape and cope with different settings as a leader. 31 l The Equilibrium April 2022

5 SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD MENTORS. Lastly, to become an effective leader, be teachable and open to criticism. The first thing I wrote in this article is “I am no perfect leader,” and I believe there is none. I have already mentioned that being an effective leader is a process that you must be willing to go through. This process will be a lot easier and more fulfilling if you have mentors to teach and guide you along the way. I have mentors who I look up to until now, and I make sure that the lessons, shared wisdom, and experiences they passed on to me constantly belong to the factors of how I make decisions and improve myself as a leader. Making yourself teachable will attract lots of windows for you to continuously grow and prosper as a leader. Our mentors are our solid foundation because they shape us into the great leaders we are today and will become in the future. Learning never stops, and by constantly discovering who we are, we acknowledge our limitations. You will experience what it is to be carefree and responsible at the same time in your college years. This is the perfect chance for you to build your character and hone your leadership skills. I believe that everyone can hone their leadership skills with the right amount of hard work and dedication. To be an effective leader entails commitment and the willingness to be one. After all these tips, the application to real life is also crucial and substantial. I hope you can try and execute this on your own – with your organizations, teams, and peers – and most importantly, for the leaders we will elect on May 9, 2022. Examine if the candidates vying for the national positions are sticking to their core, empathetic, compassionate, role models, teachable, and open for criticisms. At the end of the day, as a college student, you are the future of this society and to become an effective leader, you must try to spark change. TAKE NOTE: Stick to your core. Put yourself in the shoes of others. Always do your best in every task that you are doing. Be the role model. Expose yourself to different work environments. Surround yourself with good mentors.

CONGRATULATIONS! BUSINESS ECONOMICS DEAN'S LISTER Academic Year 2020 - 2021 33 l The Equilibrium April 2022

FIRST YEAR AGUSTIN, BRYANT MICO B. JAYAG, DANIELLE P. ASPI, ABBYGAILE M. LAO, MARIA ANGELIKA L. BALLANO, ELLEYAH SAMUEL D. LASCANO, MOIRA ELLISE C. BAYON, KATHLEEN MARIE L. LAYOG, PATRICIA MARGARET P. BERNASOL, ALYANNA ZERENE R. LEGASPI, MIKHAEL SEBASTIEN L. BRETAÑA, PATRICIA MARY AGNES A. LIN, JULIANNE BEATRIZ R. CABATUANDO, KEITH JOSEPH C. LUGOD, ORANGE KATHERINE J. CANLAS, MARK IAN JONARD V. MACALINTAL, ELIJAH L. CARANDANG, DENNISE CHAZELEY O. MAILOM, KEITH ANDREI LEOJ P. CATINDIG, KEANA MAE M. MONTEALEGRE, ADELMO II C. CELINO, HANS GABRIEL L. MOTAS, RIANNE JILL R. CEÑIDO, JAMES ARRENKIEL F. MUDLONG, KATHERINE CLARE S. CRUZ, MA. GABRIELLE ELIANA V. MUELLA, MARGIE N. CURIA, MZEKIEL MARTIN S. NATIVIDAD, JOSH DANIEL L. DE CASTRO, ANNE ROUELLE V. NEPOMUCENO, LEN-HUR LEIGH M. DELOS SANTOS, GARYZALDY JR T. OMBAO, DANICA C. DIZON, PATRICIA ANNE C. ONG, JOHN JOSEPH L. ELLA, EDSON JR A. PEROL, STEEN EILER N. FABIAN, KATRICE CLARE C. RAMILO, KARYLLE NICOLE N. FELIZARDO, JEZER DARIAN S. RECLAMANTE, MICHELLE ANGELA O. GABRILLO, JAMBERRY NICOLE S. REYES, GHELLENY RAYNE D. GATPANDAN, MA. AIMEE CARMELA C. SALAMEDA, GREGORY MARK L. GUEVARRA, JEAN ANTOINETTE S. SANTOS, KIO BENEDICT S. GUEVARRA, PAULINE ELIZABETH -. SUAN, SELYN GWYNETH M. HERNANDEZ, CHARLIZE KERI B. TAMARAY, MARK JOSEPH M. IDQUIVAL, JUSTINE LEE A. TENEDOR, GEISHA CLAUDI U. ISORENA, JAN MARITHE S. TOLENTINO, JAY C. JACINTO, AIAH KARRYLLE I. VELOSO, JAMES MATTHEW R. NEXT April 2022 The Equilibrium l 34

SECOND YEAR ADVIENTO, ELIZA NICOLE R. EVANGELIO, CRIO EDRICK A. ALCANCE, JOHN JEEA G. FAJARITO, SHANNEN ROSE C. ALUNAN, MARKITA JOI L. FERNANDEZ, ANDREA ANGELA MAE M. ANTIQUIERA, MARIEL D. GARCIA, GEOFFREY FEDERIC G. BACAY, JANE ROSE C. GARCIA, KENNETH B. BACUD, JOSE ALBERTO T. GARCIA, RAYNIEL RYAN T. BALAYAN, AUDRE GARETT M. LAYNES, LAURICE ISABEL R. BARABAT, XYRUZ MIKE M. LEE, JAMES MARK G. BARCENA, JESSE MARIZ G. LIM, GERANINA JOY A. BAUTISTA, RENZO PHILIP L. LOTO, FRANCES NICOLE J. BELDA, JOANNA DIANNE A. MIRANDA, BENEDICT T. BERNARDO, BERNADENE IANNE V. NIETO, YNA BLESS E. BUMANLAG, CHARLENE LAINE D. NUQUI, AIKEN BEALE A. CANLAS, CYREL S. PINPIN, ANGELBERT N. CASTILLO, SKYLA RAY A. QUIZON, RAD RIEN P. CENSON, JOHN LUIS B. RABE, KEANNO STEVINZ C. CERTEZA, MA. THERESE JOY N. ROBERTO, VINCE ANDREI B. CIFRA, MARIA URIEL V. SAGUIGUIT, CATHERINE ANDREI G. CONCIO, ANNE BEATRICE P. SALCEDO, NATHANIEL C. CORDERO, ANGEL JOYCE SOPHIA D. SANCHEZ, JOSHUA ANDREI L. CRUZ, EDMUNDE MARCEL J. SANQUE, HOAN FERDINAND C. DE LOS SANTOS, ARLO FRANCIS F. SOLOMON, HERSHEYS ANN S. DELA CRUZ, JOSEPH SU BI G. SUMINISTRADO, WINONA MIRANDA REB J. DIÑO, ETHAN MARCO N. TAPIA, REDEN C. DIOKNO, JUSTINE A. VILLEGAS, RICHARD ELLIOT U. EBLAMO, MA. REI ABIGAIL P. VIVAS, PAOLO RAPHAEL T. ENGRACIA, ERIKA MAE B. VIZCARRA, CARLO MIGUEL Q. ESTRELLA, JUAN PAOLO D. YU, PATRICE NICOLE G. NEXT 35 l The Equilibrium April 2022

THIRD YEAR ADRIANO, CHRISTIAN ALEXANDER N. DAVID, JOSE ANDRES S. ADRIATICO, JESSA MAE E. DELOS SANTOS, KANE RAYAH T. AGSALUD, MARIEL ANNE M. DIMATULAC, PATRICIA ALYSSA K. ALCANTARA, ASHLEY JOY V. DIZON, DANIELA MAICA V. ALIPIO, ALFONSO LUCAS DIZON, MHIRONE JEMEL V. ALLADIN, ALIYAH JANA E. DOMINGO, PATRICK MELLO G. ALVAREZ, DANIELA JOYCE M. DONAIRE, SAMANTHA JEAN V. ANGELES, ATHENA CHANTEL M. DUGASAN, JENNYLYN FRANCES E. ANZURES, ARIELLE FRANCIS N. DUMLAO, NICOLE MARGAUX Q. APOSTOL, MATTHEW DURON, MARION JUSTIN JERICO U. AQUINO, JERMIASH DAVID Y. DY, KIANN CHANDLER L. ATIENZA, MATHEW GERALD F. EDORA, CHERRY ANNE G. BANGCO, RON ALLEN A. ELLA, DANIELLE MARIE-LOUISE N. BASMALA, JASMIN E. ELORIAGA, ELIZA FRANCESCA U. BONSAY, JAMIELYN O. ENRIQUEZ, HANS ANGELO M. CABRAL, MIKAELA NICOLE S. ESPINO, MARLOU EVAN V. CAJANO, ALLYSSA NICANDRA A. ESTEBAN, NARALI D. CAPELLAN, ANNE MARGARETH C. EVANGELISTA, NATHAN CARLO B. CARRILLO, SHEENA A. EVANGELISTA, RAZIELA THEA S. CHONG, MICAELLA A. FENIZ, FRANCES LORRAINE D. CHONGCO, SOFIA MITZI ROSE N. FIROZI, HOMA C. CO, JAN CHRISTIANNE ANTONETTE V. FORTUNA, HOAQUI DENCEL F. CO, KIM JULIANNE S. GABINETE, FELINA ELIZABETH D. COMPIO, MATTHEW CEDRICK T. GATON, VIEN BLANCH Z. CORDOVA, MA. LEXA D. GAURANO, MARION TIMOTHY P. CRUZ, ABIGAIL P. GRANADINO, GIA ANN I. CRUZ, ANGELA D. GULAPA, ARIANNE LOUISE M. CUNANAN, TRICIA ANN RHEMAE A. HERNANDEZ, HANNAH ERICKA C. HIPOLITO, KRISTINA L. NEXT April 2022 The Equilibrium l 36

THIRD YEAR ILAS, PIL ANN BERNADETTE A. PASCO, ELISHA MARIZ A. JURADO, JHENICA MAE L. PESTOLANTE, KATHERINE B. KADOMURA, MARIE P. PORRAS, MARIA RANJA VICTORIA M. LAGASCA, EDIANA FRANCES L. PUNZALAN, JORGE VICTOR C. LEDESMA, CHRISTIAN IVAN O. QUETUA, SAMUEL MARCIAL S. LEEHUEKEE, MARTIN ANGELO L. QUINTANA, ANGELICA ANNE M. LIM, AIRA KAIN M. REYES, ANGELIN MARIAN C. LIM, DENNISE MARIE N. REYES, ARMAN CESAR LIMON, JALEN ARVIN H. REYES, KIMBERLY ANNE R. LO CHIONG, HANNAH O. REYES, KIRBY DUANE GARRET T. LU, BOSYONG N. REYES, ROGIE BENEDICT P. LUAT, YSABELLE Q. RUBIO, WINDSOR REDZ C. LUZON, FEL SOLOMON V. SADANG, JAN MYLES M. MALASIQUE, ARION MARI P. SANCHEZ, JOHN FREDERICK L. MANALO, MA. PATRICIA ISABELLE S. SANCHEZ, KENNETH ANTHONY B. MANANSALA, GENELY M. SANDOVAL, ADELINE MARCELINO, JILLIANNE O. SEPILLOS, SEMERA YLUJ A. MARQUEZ, DANIELLE JAN V. SEREVO, ANDREA JUSTINE G. MENDOZA, ALLIEAH A. SOBREMONTE, EMEE MARIE J. MENDOZA, JULIA A. SUMAWAY, ODETTE L. MERCADO, PAULINE ALAIZA B. TALITY, DHAPNE GAIL B. MERCADO, THEA ELAINE S. TIONG, RYAN CHRISTOPHER F. MIRANDA, FRANCES RAE M. UY, LOUIE MATTHEW O. MORALES, GILBERT JR S. VALENZUELA, PIA C. MUNSAYAC, VANGUARDIA, MA. PATRICIA NICOLE A. NAPALLATAN, JENNIFER JANE S. VILLACORTA, JO MARJ D. NAVARRO, LUIS MIGUEL D. VILLAR, JOHN ALFRED V. NIP, FEI DHANIA V. VILLARONTE, REGINA KYLA M. NORIEGA, CHRISTINE JANELLE J. VIRTUCIO, ANNE FLOREINE P. OBLEA, SHAINA NICOLE R. VITRIOLO, DOMINICA ANN P. PALAS, VICTORIA CAMILLE A. YAP, MARIA CONSOLACION O. DONE 37 l The Equilibrium April 2022

ALWAYS REMEMBER There are no secrets to success. It is dedication, hard work, and learning from failure. – Powell Collin April 2022 The Equilibrium l 38

ENTERTA Leadersh

AINMENT hip Styles

Authoritarian (Autocratic) This kind of leadership emphasizes the decisions of a leader over others. Initially, in a one-person show, inputs from other members are limited, and the leader’s decisions are considered orders that must be absolutely performed. This leadership style is suited to make quick and confident decisions when in crisis, and when the leader is regarded as the most experienced and knowledgeable in the team. PROS: ↪ Quick and confident decision-making . ↪ Member responsibilities are clear and precise. ↪ Strategy implementation errors are fewer due to limited inputs from members. CONS: ↪ Members feel undervalued. ↪ Creativity and innovation are hindered. ↪ Group synergy is minimal. ↪ Increased risk of member rebellion. 41 l The Equilibrium April 2022

Participative (Democratic) Also called the democratic leadership style, it is essentially the opposite of authoritarian leadership. It values team participation and inputs among all else when it comes to decision-making. While the leader still holds the last words in making a decision, members are open to debate and voice out their own opinions for the benefit of the group. This leadership style can be implemented effectively in small groups or teams where members are all equally capable of making informed decisions. PROS: ↪ It increases group creativity. ↪ Members become empowered or motivated. ↪ Helps develop synergy and relationships between members. ↪ Diverse ideas to be considered in problem solving. CONS: ↪ Time-consuming decision-making process. ↪ Communication failures. ↪ Indecisiveness April 2022 The Equilibrium l 42

Delegative (Laissez-faire) A delegative leadership focuses on distributing responsibilities and initiative among members while allowing them to have complete autonomy in maneuvering their way to solve problems. With this kind of leadership, everyone is equal,\\ and the final say can belong to anyone and everyone in a team. This style works best with highly skilled and motivated members in different aspects. PROS: ↪ Creates a feeling of high importance between members. ↪ Highly skilled employees can take advantage of their competence in problem solving. ↪ Values innovation and creativity. CONS: ↪ The chain of command is not properly defined. ↪ Lack of control between members. ↪ Susceptible to confusion on implementing strategic processes. 43 l The Equilibrium April 2022

Transactional (Managerial) In this kind of leadership, rewards and punishments are the name of the game. Members are rewarded for compliance while punished for defiance of the work structure. Thus, it creates a structured environment where the expectations for the members are clear and defined. Order and efficiency are valued under transactional leadership, making it suitable for teams with self- motivated members who adhere to the systems set and regulations. PROS: CONS: ↪ A team’s long-term and short-term goals are clearly ↪ Minimal room for flexibility. defined. ↪ Hinders members’ creativity. ↪ An efficient working system can be implemented ↪ Personal Initiative is not rewarded. easily. ↪ Increased employee motivation. ↪ An efficient chain of command. Transformational (Visionary) A leader with a transformational leadership style CONS: empowers, encourages, and inspires their members ↪ Leaders are put into position towards a common goal or vision. This style usually where they can deceive employees. focuses more on the leader’s personality and attitude, as compared to the other leadership styles that April 2022 The Equilibrium l 44 center on creating a working system and environment. PROS: ↪ Members are empowered to make decisions. ↪ Increased group synergy . ↪ Fosters motivation among members. ↪ Results in a low turn-over rate across members.

THE EQUILIBRIUM A.Y. 2021 - 2022 \"SOMEWHERE INSIDE OF ALL OF US IS THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD.\" -ROALD DAHL