The Benilde Student Government (BeSG) and Benilde Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officially welcomed a new set of student leaders during the induction ceremony themed, “Boses ng Kinabukasan, Kilos Benildyano!” on Sept. 29, at the ARG Theater, Taft Campus.
The event opened with a Eucharistic Celebration presided by Rev. Fr. Eric Ollague, OFM, followed by the oath-taking of officers led by Mr. Levi Albania, Dean of the Center for Student Life (CSL).
Meet the newly inducted officers
The BeSG is led by Jeus Fajardo as the President, an ID123 student from the Diplomacy and International Affairs program. As for the Vice President for Internals, it is undertaken by ID124 student Raeka Minnelli Doblados, from the Marketing Management program. Angel Soriano, an ID124 student taking up Music Production is designated for the Vice President for Operations position. Lastly, the Vice President for Finance, Kevin Aron Fernandez, is an ID124 student from the Fashion Design and Merchandising program.
As for the school representatives, Gian Sanjonco, an ID124 student from the Multimedia Arts program, represents the School of New Media and Arts (SNMA). For the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM), it is represented by ID124 Aaron Lodito Ibañez from the Tourism Management program.
In an interview with The Benildean, the newly inducted BeSG officers shared that managing time and coordination posed the biggest challenge during their campaign. The officers highlighted balancing academics, conflicting schedules, and coalition work as factors that tested their teamwork and adaptability.
“We weren’t exactly able to maximize the time we had to campaign together, nor could we even campaign together on-site,” Doblados said.
Fajardo additionally shared that the team had to build familiarity after forming their coalition, in which Hernandez agreed, stating that coordinating across different programs required trust and independence as they worked remotely.
Meanwhile, Ibañez gave similar sentiments, sharing that navigating these challenges taught him the importance of patience, communication, and collaboration.
“The campaign taught me that leadership shines through when things don’t exactly go as planned,” Doblados added.
Looking ahead, Fajardo identified improving student engagement as one of the main challenges, noting that many students lose interest when they don’t feel connected to the government. Similar to Doblados' answer, she also introduced Pulse Check, a termly evaluation aimed at maintaining morale and a healthy internal environment, as a solution to address this problem.
For Hernandez, another challenge is restoring activity within the Office of the Vice President for Finance (OVPF) after its previous vacancy. He plans to address this by establishing financial books, auditing procedures, and tracking systems.
Meanwhile, Ibañez said that limited representation in the congress may affect policy-making. To overcome this, he aims to strengthen time management, coordination, and communication with fellow officers and constituents.
Officers outline key priorities for the term
Fajardo aims to strengthen inclusivity through interactive, student-centered initiatives, including the reestablishment of student congress representatives and the use of BeTown to address student concerns.
“For this year, enhancing student engagement and transparency in governance is my number one priority,” he said, adding that BeSG will also focus on the Benildean Vanguard, a leadership program designed to develop values-driven and socially engaged student leaders.
Meanwhile, Doblados looks forward to launching Animo Compass and BeACON, which aim to improve information dissemination and build a stronger foundation for future BeSG initiatives. As for Hernandez, he wants to prioritize as well as reiterate the importance of his ABC—The Alley, The Breakdown™, and The Calendar—platform.
For Ibañez, his focus lies on Benilde para sa Benildeans, a platform that promotes accessible scholarship opportunities through collaborations with the Scholarships and Grants Unit.
Finding balance beyond the office
Balancing academics, personal life, and leadership duties remain a common challenge among the newly inducted officers. Fajardo emphasized his commitment to both roles, “Being a student always comes first, but being a leader is also a responsibility I take very seriously.”
Despite these challenges, Doblados shared that while fulfilling her duties requires sacrifices, it still keeps her grounded. As for Hernandez, he plans to shape his time management skills based on urgency and priority.
For a scholar and working student, Ibañez emphasized the importance of time management and setting priorities. “I plan to maintain balance by staying organized, communicating openly with my team, setting realistic goals to ensure that my responsibilities, as a student, employee, and officer, are all given the attention they deserve.”
Doblados noted that what unites this year’s BeSG team is their shared passion and purpose. “Each of the officers have different goals, strengths, and weaknesses, but we perform together with a common goal in serving the community,” she said.
In their messages to the Benildean community, the officers expressed gratitude and a shared commitment to serve with integrity and sincerity. Fajardo and Hernandez vowed to uphold the trust of the students through transparent and impactful governance, while Ibañez emphasized his dedication to ensuring that every Benildean voice is heard and represented.
Meanwhile, Doblados encouraged her fellow Benildeans to lead with courage and authenticity, reminding them that “leadership doesn’t mean being fearless, but choosing to keep going despite being afraid.”
