Mapúa University Senior High School students are prepping for their Student Council elections. One of the running parties is Laraya, created by Verrick Sta. Ana, External Vice President of Mapúa SHSSC and now running for President. He personally facilitated the screening and selection of the party’s 17 members.
“Laraya embodies the Mapúan spirit - Serving as the mind, soul, heart, and voice of the students of Mapúa University Senior High School. We want to reach out to students who have constantly been unheard and address the needs and concerns of those in need. We will conduct activities to uplift awareness, fill their students with curiosity and wonder, while bridging the world of invention and discovery,” says Sta. Ana, who spent two months in the screening process which began in May.
The aspirants were required to attend several activities such as the CSCs Student Awareness Week, Arts Day, Health Awareness Day, Environmental Issues Day, and P(LEAD)GE Day. The first Club Recruitment Week Meeting was led by Sta. Ana and Internal Vice President Ravelyn Dar Juan where Club presidents/representatives shared ideas for their club’s future events.
The weeks that followed were filled with activities such as the “Game of Thrones”-inspired photo shoot for the aspirants in July, planning, and props production. Sta. Ana called these weeks a test to weed out aspirants who could not handle the pressure and demands.
Laraya announced its official members on June 19 and held its first meeting on July 23 with. The first photo shoot of Laraya was held on August 4 and during Club Recruitment Week, aspiring officers hosted the events Move to Ignite, JumpSHSstart, Fit for the Future, ExCHANGE, and AddSTRESS.
Sta. Ana taks about the experience: “Selecting only 16 from many aspirants is very challenging. All choices are risks, but to make the best choices, I had to do resumé examinations, personality assessments, on-site execution observations, and interviews. I looked at their experiences, interests, strengths and weaknesses. I sometimes had surprise tasks to see who’s willing to do it and who can produce fast, efficient, and quality results. The psychology books I’ve been reading helped me assess the aspirants’ personalities and align them to roles that will maximize their capabilities. The on-site execution allowed me to see how they are in the actual workplace and how their skills and personalities are matched with the actual work. And the interviews helped me see where they fit, where their heart’s passions align. I had the chance to discover what their heart says — because that is the core of leadership and service: the heart.”
Laraya’s members are:
PRESIDENT: Verrick Jesus B. Sta. Ana
CSC REPRESENTATIVE: Jazent Marie Nina C. Tabañag
COO REPRESENTATIVE: Allona Julia A. Sta. Maria
INTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT: Ravelyn Emerald V. Dar Juan
EXTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT: Andrea Nicole R. Villasanta
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY: MarielleAngelu C. Porlares
ASSOCIATE SECRETARY: Andrea V. Serviento
TREASURER: Elaine Bernadette L. Bargola
AUDITOR: Michael Angelo V. Abaloyan
G12 P.R.O.: Holden Alexander Lawrence C. Cadavez
G11 P.R.O.: Gabrielle P. Lumunsad
G12 BUSINESS MANAGER: Anna Kamille D. Balan
G11 BUSINESS MANAGER: Lloyd Justin P. Lopez
G12 REPRESENTATIVE: Eureka Marie F. Capili
G12 REPRESENTATIVE: Louis Vincent Lloyd M. Etorma
G11 INTRAMUROS REPRESENTATIVE: Precious Angel L. Antonio
G11 MAKATI REPRESENTATIVE: Leigh Ann M. Competente
