The Student Trainers (STRAINS) held the Priming Leaders for Active Networking and Synergy (PLANS) 2025 on Oct. 10 to 11, bringing together the future student leaders of Benilde in this two-day comeback event, in partnership with the Center for Inclusive Education (CIE) and the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS).
In an interview with The Benildean, project head and an ID123 student from the Industrial Design (BS-ID) program, Nicole O’Santos, shared the story behind the theme: Kung Fu, “[...] growing up, I was doing Taekwondo and I wanted it to somewhat resonate with me as a project head… and with our target participants. Another martial art that I thought of was Kung Fu… since [it] practices the art of communication through motion.”
Inclusion through Kung Fu
Kicking off the two-day event, the first day was held at the 2F Ideation Room, Atrium Campus. CIE Director, Mr. Martin Romero, focused his talk on inclusion. According to Mr. Romero, “[...] inclusion is a choice,” he expressed how a great leader should cater to everyone in the community that they are serving.
Ms. Anabelle Salazar, a representative from SDEAS, taught the event-goers on the politically correct terms that should be used, and the difference between American Sign Language (ASL) and Filipino Sign Language (FSL). Together with SDEAS students, Ms. Salazar ended her seminar by teaching the student leaders how to sign basic phrases that are often used, ending the event with a heartwarming experience for both parties.
Going into the event, Alex Pereire, an ID124 student from the Multimedia Arts (AB-MMA) program and Vice President for Internal Affairs in DrawINK, mentioned their expectations going into PLANS 2025, “When you look at the title, it’s like social networking… I thought it was more on communication between student leaders. Once we got there, what they taught was really good and insightful.”
Moreover, Chelsea Arriesgado, ID123 student from the Marketing Management (BSBA-MM) program and Benilde Red Cross Youth Council (BRCYC) executive president, expressed, “Based sa mga naturo sa [event], kailangan natin maging courageous as a leader and also be inclusive to lead the organization confidently.”
Team trials in the Dojo
On the second day, it was time to unleash the inner fighters of the student leaders with the simultaneous teambuilding activities at the 5F Augusto Rosario-Gonzales (ARG) Theater, Taft Campus. The student leaders were diversely spread into eight teams, testing their strength in quickly crafted strategies as well as their synergy as a whole.
As the adrenaline faded from the rigorous challenges they faced, the fighters were bestowed with scrolls from student leaders of PLANS 2024 during the “Sensei’s Message" segment. A different kind of strength was tested—a connection to their legacy. It was a blast from the past as the letters contained envisioned goals and words of encouragement from the former leaders. As a gift to the next generation of student leaders, each team made short video messages to be played in the following STRAINS PLANS 2026.
Varick Deguzman, an ID123 student from the Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (BS-HRIM) program majoring in Culinary Arts, and Director of Sales and Marketing of the World-class Hoteliers in Progress (WHIP), expressed that “I still related so much to the message of the letter,” despite receiving a letter from an officer from a different organization. “It was perfect for me; for my situation,” he added.
To wrap up the last day of the event, the toughest fighters were recognized and awarded for their efforts and exceptional teamwork throughout the team-building activities.
Izzac Nolasco, ID122 student from the Business Administration Major in Marketing Management (BSBA-BM) program and the Logistics Head of Atelier, reflected on his experiences, saying, “This workshop helped me to be able to collaborate [and] socialize with more people, which would be needed when it comes to our organization.”
