Article by: Reese Valerie Gantan
Proofread by: Luisa Arranz, Jonah Denise Batolina
Atty. Nathan Raphael D. L. Agustin
former UST Central Student Council president
Last February 28, 2026, the UST Volunteers for UNICEF initiated an event called Wonderpeers: Developing Leaders for Positive Change at UST Central Seminary Gym, for student leaders to cultivate and strengthen their skills through insightful talks and a series of activities to foster collaboration. The session featured Atty. Nathan Raphael D. L. Agustin, a former UST Central Student Council president, served in the UST Civil Law Student Council, and a Juris Doctor graduate of the University. He currently serves as a junior associate at Fortune Narvasa & Salazar. He also holds positions within the Integrated Bar of the Philippines - Manila II Chapter, representing the chapter in the IBP House of Delegates.
Grounding his talk in personal experience, Atty. Agustin traced how leadership evolves over time. From his years in student government to his current work in the legal field, he imbued leadership as a responsibility shaped by exposure, decision-making, and service. He emphasized that servant leadership demands consistency, especially when one’s choices carry consequences for others.
When asked which leadership style proves most effective, whether authoritative or servant leadership, the Thomasian alumnus responded that context determines approach. While he identifies with servant leadership rooted in Thomasian values, he acknowledged that certain settings require direct and firm command. He cited industries such as construction, where precision and clear instruction are necessary for safety and efficiency. Leadership, he noted, must align with the environment and the people it serves.
The program soon progressed to interactive activities, where the principles discussed were translated into practice.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
In the first activity, “Draw a Mirror,” each group was given sheets of paper and asked to create a visual representation of themselves as leaders. The mirror served as a symbol of self-assessment, prompting them to consider the qualities they embody and the values they project.
For the final activity, groups were provided with training modules containing specific case scenarios. Each scenario presented a leadership challenge, tackling organizational conflict alongside ethical decision-making. Participants reenacted how they would handle the given situation, demonstrating problem-solving approaches grounded in responsibility and teamwork.
Leadership, after all, does not pause once a program ends. It resumes in meetings, in project proposals, in budget deliberations, and in decisions made when no one is watching.
For these student leaders, the afternoon at the UST Central Seminary Gym was a checkpoint. A moment to recalibrate how they lead their teams, how they manage their influence, and how they measure the impact of their initiatives.
Titles will expire. Terms will end. Projects will be turned over.
What remains is the standard they set and the communities they shape.
Through the recently held event, leadership was reframed as steady work—guided by competence, sustained by commitment, and grounded in compassion.
As these student leaders return to their respective organizations, the challenge now rests in transforming reflection into action, and intention into service that withstands time.
05 BATA BALITA INSIDER | Wonderpeers: Developing Leaders for Positive Change