AIMING TO CHAMPION WOMEN at the forefront, the San Beda Student Council (SC), in collaboration with TEDx, hosted a leadership forum with the theme “The Lioness Within: Bedan Women Leading Change” in commemoration of International Women’s Day at the Jonathan Sy Auditorium last March 8. 

With its goal of “recognizing the role of women in leading the path to inclusivity and empowerment,” the event featured former and current Bedan women leaders who shared their struggles and experiences in leadership and advocacy. 

Former senator and human rights advocate Leila de Lima opened the forum and shared her remarks via recorded video. She reaffirmed the pursuit of equality and inclusion while emphasizing the need for continuous efforts to empower and support women’s rights.  

She also shared her personal experience of being unjustly imprisoned for years, highlighting the systemic barriers that continue to hinder women and reinforced the importance of ensuring their “voice” and “place” in the society.  

Following this, the Vice President for External Affairs of the Junior Bedan Law Circle (JBLC), Rheanna Yazmin Melanis, started the talk with her discussion on the art of “following through,” reinforcing the notion that leaders have the carrying responsibility to “not just lead but to power through” to ensure a persistent impact in the community. She also emphasized that leadership extends beyond vision, requiring dedication to transform ideas into tangible results.  

“Your follow-through is what defines your legacy,” Melanis further stated, urging women to uphold their commitment in achieving genuine impact through consistent fulfillment of responsibilities.  

Later, Kloe Lim, President of The Repvblic (TR), emphasized the idea of empowerment being a reciprocal process, asserting that to be empowered is to “empower others in return.” 

She shared stories of her advocacy in community engagement, specifically her efforts in reaching out to children in marginalized areas, emphasizing the significance of fostering an environment where individuals encourage and support one another. She also expressed how she “clung” onto the support of the people who believed in her, and how they have empowered her in leading and inspiring others.  

Similarly, Ciaznee Victoria, President of San Beda Junior Marketing Association (SBJMA), echoed the same sentiment by categorizing the people who have supported and empowered her as “her strength and beauty.” 

Victoria stressed the importance of having a stable support system in order to navigate the challenges of being a leader with confidence. Characterizing herself as a “mosaic” of those who have influenced her, she acknowledged the role of her family, peers, and mentors in shaping her into the woman she is today.  

On the other hand, Atty. Charmaine Bilgera, former President of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Student Council during the academic year 2019-2020, reflected on her challenges of “leading through uncertainty” and the importance of persevering through adversity. 

With her leading through the pandemic, she highlighted that effective leadership not only requires having the right answers to each problem, but rather the ability to “find your way out and navigate such grievances with determination and resolve.” 

“The Lioness does not need to roar to be heard,” Bilgera affirmed, emphasizing how women leaders create ripples through silent, yet powerful ways.   

For her part, Tiene Ortega-Vicedo, the first female president of the Bedan Scholars’ Guild (BSG) discussed the role of effective decision-making in shaping one’s identity. She outlined key points in making sound choices, stressing the need for “conviction, expression, and accountability.” 

Vicedo also shared her experiences in joining pageants, utilizing it as a platform to promote her advocacy of sustainability, demonstrating the extent of leadership beyond conformity.  

In relation to celebrating women, Atty. Michelle Angeles, a professor and alumna of the Department of Legal Management, addressed the pertinent issue of gender parity that had never been achieved despite years of progress.  

She acknowledged the University as an institution that has “provided a space for women to thrive,” emphasizing the school’s ‘plain field’ when it comes to treating men and women. 

She also emphasized the power of a nurturing environment in fostering equality, urging women to “take up space” without hesitation, and encouraging students of San Beda to put the work, rooting from the school’s values of prayer and work in fostering gender parity and preserving the equality that stays within the community. 

Notably, Atty. Maria Liavel Badillo Crisostomo ended the discussion with a message about her personal experience of rejection and self-doubt.  

She emphasized that setbacks do not define one’s worth, but rather, it serves as an “opportunity for growth and confidence.” She also shared one of her advocacies which was extending help to indigenous communities.  

“A lioness isn’t fearless. She feels the fear but stands anyway,” Crisostomo remarked, encouraging aspiring women leaders to find their voice and stand up not only for themselves, but for those who cannot. 

In her closing remarks, SC President Mari Okol reflected on the significance of the TEDx talk, calling it not just an event, but a “movement.” 

She stressed the power of curiosity and the role of women in questioning and redefining real change. “The curiosity we carry—the questions we ask about what is possible—can lead to real change,” she stated.  

Moreover, Okol also extended her gratitude to all Bedan women speakers who have shared their insights and experiences, affirming that their voices ‘fuel progress’ in empowering Bedan women for more generations to come.  

When asked about the inspiration in organizing such an event, she shared how she knew that bringing TEDx to San Beda would be a “game-changer.” 

Seeing other universities such as the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and the University of the Philippines (UP) host their own TEDx events, she believes that San Beda also “deserved the same opportunity—to highlight the intellectual prowess, leadership, and transformative ideas within our own community.” 

As a final word, the SC President closed with a call to action, urging everyone to “stay curious, ask the questions, and take the first step,” instigating the idea that within curiosity lies the power to change the world.