TPEF holds learning summit amid and beyond the pandemic

TPEF graces a one-week scholars’ Learning Summit and 9th General Assembly held last July 28 to August 3, 2022, at the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Silang, Cavite.

The one-week event was highly thrilling since it marked the return of the face-to-face learning summit after a two-year hiatus due to the relaxation of pandemic-related limitations in response to the improvement of COVID cases in the Philippines.

KAIZEN: Mapping Priorities, Transforming Significant Possibilities, and Continuous Improvement in the New Normal is the theme for this year.

41 current scholars, 17 alumni officers and members, as well as visitors from TORM Philippines and India, attended the occasion.

Current scholars 9th general assembly
Mr. Joan Ortiz, TPEF Board of Trustees Officer and TORM Philippines General Accounting Manager, welcomed all the participants and guests from various regions before the opening program began. Nordic Medical Clinic’s Medical Director for Holistic Care, Dr. Christian Angelo Lubaton, offered a motivational speech and a brief course on mental health productivity, specifically “Self-Care.” The Keynote Speaker, Transformational Coach, Content Creator, and International Speaker, JC Libiran, advanced the audience members’ understanding of the subject.

Scholars’ alumni 4th general assembly
The Scholars Alumni Association (SAA) of TPEF had a separate general assembly headed by the SAA-TPEF President, Miss Shekina Loraine Viloria, and Vice President, Mr. Rey Lebanto. The half-day event presented and reviewed the organization’s by-laws to the 13 new members of the alumni group who took oath, with Jay Niña Buta elected as the batch representative of 2018.

Simultaneous training-workshops
In line with the theme “KAIZEN” were various trainings and workshops during the one-week sessions focusing on Self-Awareness and Academic Coping, Vision Board Making, Developing Emotional Intelligence, Time Management, Enhancing Facilitation and Leadership Skills, Public Speaking and Communication Skills, Becoming an Environmental Warrior, Gender Sensitivity, and Career Preparation. The customary solidarity night was again organized and hosted by the senior TPEF scholars, showcasing their talents, skills, and creativity. An indoor bonfire activity was also organized, led by the winners of the “Mr. and Miss TPEF Search for 2022”. The activity exhibited a strong sense of team camaraderie among the scholars, which directly impacts the overall success of the event.

Special guests
On day four, the scholars were gathered at the main hall for a virtual meet-up with one of the special guests of the event, Ms. Mailyn Borillo, who is an active and supportive TPEF Board of Trustees member and OSM Philippines President. It was such an inspiring one-hour session for the participants as Ms. Borillo shared her success story, which motivated the audience very well.

On the final day, another special guest, the Board of Trustees President and TORM Philippines President, Ms. Grinnabelle Duran, and Mr. Efren Doctor, the Senior Manager-Quality, Training, and Recruitment, were present. The activities highlighted were the distribution of training certificates, recognition of graduates for 2021 and 2022, and awarding to scholars who have exhibited exemplary leadership in their academics and extracurriculars.

The one-week learning summit nurtured the scholars to gain insights and critical lessons while also feeling empowered by the encompassing co-scholars who wholly supported and valorously pushed and supported each other as well.

This remarkable learning summit was an exhilarating and meaningful event that hastened the scholars to reflect on their values, build their mental willpower, and envision their goals as a student, an individual, and a leader.

Highlighting the one-week event was the inspirational closing message of the TPEF Board of Trustees President, Ms. Grinnabelle Duran, who encouraged the participants to educate, collaborate, innovate, and inspire as they seize the opportunity to shape the future of education.