For the first time in history, we opened the Directorate with the Triumvirate's (President, Exec Sec. , Vice-President) state of students' address having a simple ceremony with the leadership community as the audience. This is simple begging is a just the start of greater things.

Here is my speech for the record.

Mrs. Irene Guitarte Director of Student Affairs , Sir Ivanell Subrabas Coordinator of Student Activities and Development Office, members of the 15^th Directorate, Student Leaders from the different organization, welcome and good evening to this first formal Opening slash SONA of the Central Student Government!

It is always a common practice to lay down a map, trace your road, and spot your prize as preparation for any treasure hunt, for any mission and I think it is quite fitting that as we begin our mission in this historic year, we do the same –we carve, we create, we lay down a road and together move into a common destination. This is what this ceremony is all about, conveying that message of unity, movement, and vision.

In crafting this message, the fundamental question that is hounding the minds of the Directors and in me is “How do we make history?” a subtle question but it left me wondering for hours on how can we fully justify our stint in this mission. Making history is about leaving a mark, and leaving a mark is about being distinct, being unique, and then I asked, where can we get this uniqueness? What makes us different from the past? And I found the answer, it is in a very obvious place, the number before the word Directorate - The only characters that change as time change – 15. One Five. We can find a lot of connections in making a number a source of uniqueness and inspiration but none is more fitting than the inspiration in the story of our very own humanity – our history. 15 in our directorate can be the 15^th Century of our human story. As you can recall, the 15^th century is the beginning of the age of discovery. It is in this time that man broke from the ancient bondage of superstition and saw more himself capable of shaping ideas and shaping worlds – the Renaissance. It is in this time that man, with courage, faith and hope ventured into vast oceans to search for new land – Discovery. And It is in this time that one man started to speak, listen, learn and write beyond his generation with a critical enlightened manner –Leonardo Da vinci. It is in these three stories that make 15^th century 15^th century and it is through their inspiration that would make us the 15^th Directorate.

These three stories of history somehow bring about a sense of animation and inspiration to the 15^th Directorate and its priorities and concerns. The sense of imagination and innovation in the renaissance inspires us to think beyond and improve our process and structures in and of the CSG – Institutional Development. The sense of discovery started by great sailors inspires us to act not only with in our shores but involve ourselves in the social-political landscape of our nation. The sense of critical thinking and self-reflection of Da vinci inspires us to focus on the process of leadership – proactive formation.

Institutional Development – we aim to legislate enactments that will smoothen the efficiency of the service and formation system of the CSG starting with the study of extra-curricular centralization of funds, a charter to create a physical friendly face of the seemingly abstract constitutional face of the STRAW called the Xavier Student Action Center and the creation of a defined framework for transitional (summer) and collaborative activities (such as BOLTS, GPOA, and summit) for consistency, sustainability, and uniformity of programs and visions.

Socio-Political Involvement – the Directorate inculcates in itself the duty not only inside the school but also to the nation. We shall prioritize this kind of involvement through passing support resolutions in collaboration with the Buklod Atenista network, and other networks we have linked to. In this way, by writing resolutions - we could articulate our stand on certain local and national issues and enlighten our constituents on our stand – the truth.

Proactive Formation – the Directorate aims not only of the output but gives extra-emphasis on the process itself. Banking on the statement, Leadership is not all about results but it is about how it is done. We value the importance of proactive formation in our service to the community. Through legislation, we aim to strengthen existing programs. Actions to address is the institutionalization of the Ateneo Leaders’ League as the official leadership outreach program of the CSG, the support legislation for the promotion of alternative class day (a day where students are free to pick their own subject based on their interests), and inter-council legislative support for the Green Movement or the “environment oriented” initiative of the school and the CSG.

This is what history can do, it inspires to look forward and connect the past. In the other hand, the Directorate is the like the recharger of the battery of the CSG. Through the council presidents, XU-URO and AECO, we create a sort of energy, a sort of political will that energizes our efforts in the different levels of government. Hand in hand, with Arbie Lyla, and especially you, we plan to build a stronger CSG for a brighter and farther future.

compassionately listen, truthfully speak... the 15th D.