08 May 2014 - Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) Dean Antonio “Tony” La Viña was guest speaker at the Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Training Program for Overseas Filipinos (LSE 20) graduation ceremony which was held at the Philippine Embassy in Brussels on April 5.
Speaking before the graduates with their families and friends, as well as before Embassy personnel led by Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Victoria Bataclan, Dean La Viña conveyed three main messages – transformation, love of country and global citizenship.
He said that the LSE’s primary objective is about transformation – one’s ability to use their dreams, modify them a bit perhaps but in the end, to live them, - with the use of vision, financial discipline and planning. He challenged them to help the country in addressing the problems of climate change and disaster, corruption, human rights, poverty and everyday inconveniences. Lastly, he impressed upon them that being a global citizen is actually a calling and that every Filipino should strive to do good. Dean La Viña recounted his own experiences as an overseas Filipino worker and why the LSE program is personal to him.
Nine (9) students led by Embassy staff members Girlie Ayuste and Mehdia Diab graduated from the LSE 20 Program after 12 sessions which lasted for six months. Mesdames Ayuste and Diab were also recipients of the Perfect Attendance and Best Business Plan awards. Ms. Ayuste presented a “Bed-and-Breakfast” business plan while Ms. Diab presented a business plan envisioning a “Café with live musical entertainment from street performers.”
Ambassador Bataclan also congratulated the graduates and expressed appreciation for Dean La Viña’s presence during the occasion.
Ms. Mehdia Diab, Embassy Receptionist/Translator and a Belgian national, spoke on behalf of the graduates and said that she joined the training program because of the LSE promise of being able to make something out of one’s passion and using one’s skills to help a community. She expressed satisfaction about the program and encouraged others to join future opportunities.
The Embassy is host to the first-ever comprehensive Leadership and Social Enterpreneurship Program in Belgium aimed at developing a new breed of leaders and social entrepreneurs – Filipino migrants who are empowered as agents of change and transformation and who are economically secure as they are able to handle resources well and can engage in additional and/or alternative means of livelihood.
The training program consisted of 12 sessions from 14 September 2013 until March 8, 2014. It covered such topics as leadership, financial literacy and social enterpreneurship, including two online sessions and presentations of project/business plans. The speakers included Fr. Pat Falguera, SJ; Mr. Vince Rapisura, Mr. Arnel Casanova, Ms. Lovelyn Corpurz, Ms. Mylin Sapiera, Mr.Edgar Valenzuela, Mr. Dennis Yaun and Ms. Tracy Villanueva.
The Brussels LSE 20 is a project of the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) with Ms. Tracy Villanueva as its coordinator for Belgium. END