Written by Rhoda Tique & Jessa Mae Bustillo
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Graduate School successfully conducted its 5th International Webinar on April 18, 2026, with the theme “Graduate Leadership in Action: Transformative and Sustainable School-Community Programs.” The webinar gathered more than 150 educators, graduate students, and professionals for an engaging discussion on the vital role of graduate leadership in fostering sustainable and transformative community development.
One of the major highlights of the program was Keynote Session 1, entitled “Empowering Communities through Global Leadership.” The session emphasized the importance of inspiring future leaders to build inclusive communities and drive equity across cultures. Drawing from her professional experiences as a Finance, Administration, and HR Coordinator at Plan International Switzerland, the speaker, Ms. Lorena D. Clerc, a recipient of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World (2019) award by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN), shared insights on applying the “capability approach” to empower migrant communities.
She discussed how to empower migrant communities through three core pillars: Curiosity (learning from global solutions), Wisdom (ethical clarity and cultural capital), and Agency (identifying gaps and equipping oneself with skills). She concluded by challenging the audience to translate disciplinary knowledge into socially responsible action, remarking that “to lead is to serve, to empower, and to build a more human world.”
Another significant highlight was Keynote Session 2, “Transformative Leadership: Redefining Graduate Roles in School-Community Development.” The discussion centered on how graduates can embrace transformative leadership by challenging traditional roles, fostering innovation, and creating inclusive environments. The speaker, a University President, highlighted the mindset and practices needed to lead systemic change.
He specifically addressed various roadblocks and the “Poverty Trap,” offering specific “fixes” for common challenges: TRAP: Social capital deficit, FIX: Build bridging social capital; TRAP: The urgency of now, FIX: Micro-leadership and small wins; TRAP: Resistance to change, FIX: Frame your innovation. He also specified strategies for success, such as pilot programs and resource pooling. As a transformative leader and the university president, Dr. Herminio Javier Bautista concluded: “You may lack a deep bank account, but your value lies in your Intellectual and Cultural Capital.”
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were strongly reflected in the webinar, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through the promotion of transformative and socially responsive graduate leadership; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, by advocating inclusive and equitable community empowerment; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, through sustainable school-community initiatives; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by strengthening collaboration among educational institutions, professionals, and communities toward sustainable development.
The webinar successfully inspired participants to strengthen their commitment to transformative leadership and sustainable community involvement, reaffirming the institution’s dedication to excellence in graduate education and social development.
Disclaimer: The authors wrote the content, and was refined by ChatGPT.
