“TRUE leadership is service that leaves a mark,” these were the words expressed by Muntinlupa City Mayor Rozzano “Ruffy” Biazon last Oct. 13 at the Rosendo Herrera Hall, as he gave a talk on leadership and administered the oath-taking of various co-curricular and extra-curricular organizations of the College. 

The event, titled “The Bedan Legacy: Leadership, Service, and the Oath of Excellence,” organized by the Bedan Electoral Committee (BELCOM), gathered 16 student organizations that had their oath of office administered by Biazon. 

From being the city’s representative in the House of Representatives, failing to secure a seat in the Senate during the 2010 elections, and then eventually winning the mayoral post in 2022, Biazon now holds the position for a second term; he shared his leadership journey with the Bedans. 

“Listen more, than you post,” the mayor said as he explained the importance of listening in an era where everyone is trying to be viral. According to him, being a leader isn't always about speaking; having the quality of listening is important as well. He encourages the Council of Student Leaders to listen to different perspectives, from classmates, critics, and even the people who do not necessarily agree with you. 

The Muntinlupa mayor further explained that, in his years of leadership, he learned that most of his decisions that were made without listening end up as mistakes. “If you want to lead well, don’t just have a louder voice but have a wider heart,” he emphasized.  

In the context of governance in today’s digital age, where clout often fuels leaders, the local chief executive offers a different perspective: “Leadership is not about getting likes, it's about earning trust. As the saying goes, clout fades but character lasts.” He further encouraged the Bedan leaders to use their platforms wisely, to amplify and serve as an example to their constituents, and to “use your platforms to inform, not to mislead; to inspire, not to divide; to call out what's wrong but to lift up what’s right.”   

Sharing from personal experience, the Mayor narrated that in his years of serving the government, real work is done behind the scenes, solving problems and doing the unglamorous tasks that no one often sees. “The best leaders are not the ones in the spotlight. They are the ones who make things happen quietly but sincerely,” he said. 

Biazon ended his speech by reminding the leaders that taking their oath is not merely swearing, but rather, accepting a mission “to lead with honesty, humility, and hope.” 

A mix of independent, co-curricular, and extracurricular organizations participated in “The Bedan Legacy.”  

The elected and appointed officers from these organizations took their oath of office in the presence of the Muntinlupa Mayor: Student Executive Council, Bedan Psychological Society, Junior Bedan Law Circle, Bedan Information and Technology Society, Beda.Comm, Junior Bedan Marketing Association, Bedan Entrepreneurs Society, Bedan PEERS, Eureka, Himig Bedista, Silakbo, Rovers, San Beda Alabang Debate Society, Bedan Liturgical Ministries, and Rotaract. 

In his closing remarks, Jose Mari Aguidan (IV-BSLM), BELCOM Chairperson, shared that during the last special elections, there was a significant increase in the voting population, signifying the continuous combat against student apathy. 

He explains that being a leader can be likened to the famous provision of law from the subject, Obligations and Contracts: “the juridical necessity to give, to do, or not to do.” According to the BELCOM Chairperson, this provision exemplifies the importance of striving for excellence, upholding the core values of the institution, helping out the community, and combating student apathy – qualities and attributes that are necessary for leaders. 

As he highlights what it means to be a Bedan leader, Aguidan shares that, “As Bedans, we inherit a legacy of leadership, service and excellence. May our lives be a testament to these values, inspiring future generations to uphold the Bedan spirit. ” 

Reminding that leadership is not always about the legacy but the impact one brings to the organizations, Aguidan adds, “Everyone may forget us, but our respective organizations will never forget us, how we shaped and helped the community.”