Written by: Zhekianah V. Ordonio, Kennu Poyaoan, and Edria Sevilla | Photo credit OSA & SIHTM
BAGUIO CITY, September 24, 2026 – Effective leadership begins with the ability to listen, deliberate, and turn collective ideas into responsible action. Rooted in the Cordilleran tradition of tongtongan—a gathering for dialogue, the exchange of perspectives, and collective decision-making—the Tongtongan Leadership Convention 2026 provided student leaders from the University of Baguio (UB) with an opportunity to strengthen the practical skills and values needed to lead their organizations.
Held at the FGB Hall and organized by the UB Office of Student Affairs (OSA), the convention carried the theme “Empowering the Student Collective for Actionable Leadership.” It encouraged student organizations to move beyond leadership positions and organizational plans toward concrete actions responsive to the needs of their members and the wider university community.
The School of Criminal Justice and Public Safety (SCJPS) was represented by three delegates from each of its six recognized student organizations: the SCJPS Student Body, Junior Police Club, Post Mortem Societas, Praeclarus Society, Forensic Science Society, and Performance Rhythm Imagery Sound Movement (PRISM). Their participation brought together student representatives from across the School in a shared learning experience focused on responsible organizational leadership.
The morning sessions addressed three essential areas of student organization management: administrative accountability, effective communication, and procedural decision-making.
Ms. Roeanne Mylene K. Yango opened the discussion with professional etiquette and the technical responsibilities involved in organizational administration. She discussed the preparation of liquidation reports, operational plans, and accomplishment reports, emphasizing that transparency, accountability, and proper documentation are necessary in managing organizational resources and activities. She also explained the fundamental components of a professional email, highlighting the importance of clear and appropriate communication when representing a student organization.
The discussion then turned to organizational communication and public engagement through Dr. Veronica Bito’s session on article writing and the strategic use of social media. She emphasized the responsibility of student leaders to communicate organizational activities accurately and responsibly while using digital platforms to inform and engage their audiences. Her principle, “1 sentence, 1 idea, 1 paragraph,” encouraged participants to produce clear, focused, and reader-friendly written content.
Dr. Sheridan Athena Gajete subsequently introduced resolution drafting and basic parliamentary procedures. Her session covered the structure and essential components of a resolution, providing participants with a framework for formally presenting organizational proposals and documenting decisions. She also discussed orderly meetings, procedural compliance, and fair decision-making as important elements of effective organizational governance.
The convention moved from discussion to application during the afternoon plenary synthesis activity. Participants worked on three practical outputs: drafting a resolution, writing an article, and preparing an activity report. These exercises allowed student leaders to apply the principles introduced during the morning sessions, particularly in formal documentation, responsible communication, and the preparation of organizational decisions and reports.
Throughout the convention, SCJPS delegates engaged in discussions and collaborative activities with student representatives from other university departments. This exchange of perspectives reflected the central value of tongtongan: leadership becomes more meaningful when people listen to one another, share responsibility, and participate in decisions that affect their community.
The activity supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, particularly Target 4.4, which calls for increasing the number of young people and adults with relevant skills for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship. Through practical sessions on professional communication, administrative documentation, report preparation, and organizational procedures, the convention provided opportunities to develop transferable competencies that extend beyond classroom learning.
It also contributes to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, particularly Target 16.6, which promotes effective, accountable, and transparent institutions, and Target 16.7, which calls for responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making. The emphasis on financial documentation, accomplishment reporting, resolution drafting, and parliamentary procedures reflects governance principles that can strengthen accountability and participation within student organizations. While these are university-based organizations rather than public institutions, the leadership practices discussed provide a practical setting for developing responsible and participatory governance.
By bringing together representatives from different SCJPS organizations and university departments, the convention also encouraged dialogue across student groups. This provided an opportunity for participants to exchange perspectives and recognize the value of collaboration in addressing shared organizational concerns.
Through the Tongtongan Leadership Convention 2026, SCJPS student leaders were given opportunities to translate leadership concepts into practical organizational outputs. More than a gathering of student representatives, the convention reinforced a principle rooted in Cordilleran tradition: leadership is not defined solely by the position one holds, but by the willingness to listen, act responsibly, and turn collective decisions into meaningful service.
Tongtongan Leadership Convention 2026 | “Empowering the Student Collective for an Actionable Leadership”