Office of Mission Integration and Leadership Development - AdZU

IN PHOTOS | OMILD Holds WEAVE for Wellness @ Work

Despite the inclement weather, the Office of Mission Integration and Leadership Development proceeded with WEAVE for Wellness @ Work on July 8 at the Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall of the Fr Ernesto Carretero Building, bringing together university leaders and personnel for a collaborative session aimed at strengthening wellness support in the workplace.

WEAVE, or Writeshop for Energizing AdZU’s Vinta Expedition, is OMILD’s collaborative process for giving concrete form to AdZU’s leadership development framework. For this session, the focus was on wellness as an essential part of leadership formation, particularly under the framework’s component on The Person of the Leader.

With the theme, “Mending the Sail, Caring for the Crew,” the session gathered representatives from OMILD, HRADO, Formation, Social Development, Guidance, the Infirmary, and other relevant units to reflect on how the University can better support the persons who carry its mission forward.

The program opened with a prayer, check-in, and overview of the Integrated Leadership Development Framework facilitated by Ms Renee Vieve Vecina-Kanindot, OMILD Director. Participants were invited to situate wellness not as an add-on activity, but as a necessary support system for leaders and personnel who deal with institutional demands, responsibilities, and relationships.

For contextual grounding, the session began with inputs that helped participants view wellness not merely as a personal concern, but as an institutional responsibility.

The first was on “Caring for the Person that Embodies the Mission: Health, Stress, and Preventive Care for Leaders,” was given by Fr Alberto “Tex” Paurom, SJ, MD, University Chaplain. Drawing from his medical and pastoral background, Fr Tex emphasized the importance of preventive care, stress awareness, and health practices that allow leaders to remain grounded and mission-ready.

This was followed by “Caring for the Inner Life that Sustains the Mission: Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness for Leaders,” led by Ms Tiffany Hope To, MA, LPT, RGC. Her session invited participants to consider the inner life of leaders, especially the mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual dimensions that often shape how they respond to pressure, conflict, fatigue, and responsibility.

The session also opened space for continuing cluster conversations among key units, particularly in mapping existing wellness initiatives, identifying gaps, and exploring practical ways to strengthen care systems for AdZU leaders and personnel.

Insights and follow-through outputs from the session are expected to inform the development of a more integrated wellness program under AdZU’s leadership formation framework.

This continuing work underscores OMILD’s commitment to shaping leadership development as a sustained practice of formation, collaboration, and care.

Happy Birthday, Fr. Tex! 🎉

Thank you for accompanying OMILD in our journey.

Happy Birthday, Fr. Tex! 🥳✨

On your special day, we give thanks to God for the gift of your life and your vocation as our university chaplain. Thank you for walking with us, praying for us, and leading us closer to God through your words and example. May the Lord bless you with renewed strength, deep joy, and His endless love. May He grant you all the desires of your heart as you continue to serve and inspire us all.

Have a blessed and wonderful celebration! Fr. Tex Paurom

𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜 | 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 (𝗥&𝗥)

On May 8, 2026, the Office of Mission Integration and Leadership Development (OMILD), in collaboration with the Human Resource Administration and Development Office (HRADO), Formation Unit, and Social Development Unit, conducted the pilot implementation of Rooted and Recharged (R&R) under the Institutional Leadership Development and Succession (ILDS) Framework, particularly for the ELEVATE Program.

Held at the Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall (CDCH), the activity gathered seasoned administrators and leaders under the theme, "Nurturing and Sustaining Mission-Centered Leadership." The program provided participants with an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the values and mission that guide their leadership and service to the university.

Through meaningful conversations, guided reflection activities, and insightful sessions, participants were encouraged to deepen their understanding of mission-centered leadership and strengthen their commitment to serving with purpose, integrity, and discernment.

University President Fr. Guillrey Anthony "Ernald" M. Andal, SJ, shared reflections on grounding one's leadership identity in the university's mission and values, reminding participants of the importance of remaining rooted in the institution's shared purpose. Meanwhile, University Chaplain Fr. Manuel "Manny" A. Uy, SJ, emphasized the role of faith and spiritual renewal in sustaining leaders as they navigate the demands and responsibilities of their roles.

The activity also created space for dialogue and sharing among participants, allowing them to reflect on practices that nourish the university community and identify ways to continue fostering a culture of collaboration, stewardship, and service.

As the program concluded, participants were reminded that effective leadership is not only about guiding others but also about continuously nurturing the values, relationships, and mission that sustain the university community.

OMILD extends its gratitude to all participants, facilitators, and partner offices whose presence and support contributed to the success of the activity. Through initiatives such as Rooted and Recharged, the university continues to strengthen its formation of leaders who are united in purpose and committed to carrying forward the institution's mission.



Caption:
Jaeramarga Usman

Photos:
Geoffrey Fabian
University Communications Office

‘Rooted and Recharged’ Reaffirms Collaborative, Mission-Driven Leadership at AdZU

Reaffirming its commitment to strengthening mission-driven, collaborative leadership, and its continued formation of leaders that are faithful stewards of the university’s Jesuit mission, Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) gathered senior administrators, deans, and principals for “Rooted and Recharged: Nurturing and Sustaining Mission-centered Leadership,” a formation initiative designed to deepen leadership identity, strengthen institutional stewardship, and renew engagement with the university’s core mission amid the growing complexities of educational leadership.

Organized by the Office of Mission Integration and Leadership Development (OMILD), the activity is one of the outcomes of collaboration and synergy among the Formation and Social Development units and the Human Resource Administration and Development Office (HRADO). It is part of the ELEVATE Program for AdZU’s engaged leaders and administrators.

Through this initiative, AdZU continues to strengthen its formation of leaders who embody discernment, integrity, and service in carrying forward the university’s mission.

More photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vLSusXbqBT7GBPNP6

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‘Rooted and Recharged’ Reaffirms Collaborative, Mission-Driven Leadership at AdZU - Ateneo de Zamboanga University Reaffirming its commitment to strengthening mission-driven, collaborative leadership, and its continued formation of leaders that are faithful stewards of the university’s Jesuit mission, Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) gathered senior administrators, deans, and principals for “Rooted and ...

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦 | 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗚𝗔: 𝗔 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵

It is never the position, but the worth that matters. Leadership is not separate from sacrifice, but rooted in it.

The Formation Office, in collaboration with the Office of Mission Integration and Leadership Development (OMILD), conducted 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗚𝗔: 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 at the AdZU Lantaka Campus last March 27, 2026. Attended by newly appointed administrators who have completed the Ignatian Leaders and Administrators Orientation (ILAO), conducted by OMILD last July 3 and 4, 2025, as part of the Succession and Transition to Administrative Role (STAR) Program, this formation session focuses on the deeper parts of a leader, allowing them to reflect on the meaning and purpose of their leadership journey.

At its core, HALAGA invites leaders to pause and ask themselves: Where am I now? After a year of accepting the mission and taking on administrative roles, navigating transitions, responsibilities, and expectations, this question serves as a point to check on their experiences in the past year.

HALAGA serves not as a checkpoint but as a return and a reflection of their journey. Participants were guided to look back on their encounters, challenges, and moments of growth. It serves as a reflective space to see what has been accomplished and what they have become. The event also highlights the stepping stones they have relied on, the people who influenced and formed them, and the situations, whether good or difficult, that demanded courage.

The session also emphasizes that stepping into a leadership position is not about the title one holds, but about the mission that one carries. Highlighting that the mission comes first, and through it, others are invited to share in its meaning.

HALAGA calls leaders to cultivate emotional efficacy, to understand, process, and embrace their emotions rather than suppress them. It is through this inner work that leaders become whole. 𝘉𝘶𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢, the self becomes grounded because it recognizes its own worth, rooted in the mission. The 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘣, or inner self, becomes central. Only when leaders reconnect with their loob can they fully see the 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢, the value not only of their role, but of the mission they carry and the people they journey with.

Ultimately, the session is a reminder that leadership is a continuous process. It is a journey of deepening appreciation for the mission, for others, and for oneself. It calls leaders to move forward not just with competence, but with conviction, rooted in the mission.

We thank Mr Honey Rod Alfaro, Unit Director for Formation, for this collaborative endeavor and for designing and facilitating the session.

Caption and photos | Jaeramarga Usman

BUILDING BRIDGES, BRIDGING SUCCESS | OSA Holds OEP 2, Boosts Student Leaders’ Communication and Collaboration

Recognizing that effective leadership begins with clear communication and collective action, Ateneo de Zamboanga University Office of Student Affairs (OSA), through its Student Leadership and Organization Program, convened the second session of its Organization Enhancement Program (OEP) on February 6, 2026. Held at the Tee King Lecture Hall, Salvador Campus, the session gathered student leaders for a leadership formation focused on communication and collaboration skills.

OEP is a continuing formation initiative designed to develop student leaders’ competencies and organizational management skills. Guided by the Ignatian vision of forming leaders who serve with competence, conscience, and compassion, the program equips student leaders with practical strategies for teamwork, shared leadership, and organizational coordination—skills essential for building strong, mission-driven communities.

Under the theme “Building Bridges, Bridging Success,” the session was facilitated by Office of Mission Integration and Leadership Development (OMILD) Director Ms Renee Vieve V Kanindot and featured reflective discussions and interactive activities. Student leaders were challenged to put leadership principles into practice, emphasizing that strong organizations thrive on trust, clear communication, and shared responsibility, with purposeful collaboration and mutual understanding — key elements for fostering strong relationships within student organizations.

More photos here - https://photos.app.goo.gl/k7XCBE4T7ztweEYy9

Christmas is a gift and an invitation to pause.

To step away, even briefly, from the urgency of tasks and timelines, and to notice where God has been at work in the year that was, in our shared labor, in struggles that stretched us, and in unexpected graces.

In the humility of the manger, we are reminded that God is revealed not through the ostentatious, but through the ordinary. The Christ who comes is Emmanuel, God who chooses to be with us, teaching us that leadership is an act of accompaniment, and that mission begins with attentiveness to community, context, and call.

As we celebrate the season with our loved ones, may we be granted the grace to look back with gratitude, to look inward with honesty, and to look ahead with hope. And may we be renewed in our desire to serve without counting the cost, to lead with compassion, and to labor together for the greater good.

May our spirits be restored and our commitment to a mission larger than ourselves be deepened.

A grace-filled Christmas to you and your loved ones.