Writers: Arhon Danielle Buentipo, Bethany Naguit, & Maychie Ortega
Mind sharp and resolve unshaken—Emmanuel Algem Perez stands as the pillar of accountability and trust, ensuring that every effort within our organization is built on integrity and purpose. For him, service is more than a duty—it’s a choice he made, over and over again, even when the weight of responsibility threatened to pull him away. From his early days as a Thomasian Wellness Advocate to his role as Executive Auditor of UST Volunteers for UNICEF, he has walked the fine line between passion and exhaustion, juggling academics, leadership, and personal struggles. There were moments he wanted to step back, to finally let go, but something always pulled him in—his friends, their shared vision, and the belief that their work meant something greater than themselves. What started as a stepping stone became a home, a purpose, a testament to the power of perseverance. Because true service isn’t just about showing up—it’s about staying when it’s easier to leave, pushing forward when you have every reason to stop, and choosing, again and again, to fight for something bigger than yourself.
Shifting from Thomasian Wellness Advocate to Executive Auditor is a big transition, especially since you spent 2 years being the Thomasian Wellness Advocate. How did you embrace this role, and what mindset helped you adjust to this new role?
For Kuya Emmanuel, the shift from being a Thomasian Wellness Advocate (TWA) to Executive Auditor was a continuation of the work he had been doing all along. While many perceive an auditor’s role as strictly financial, he sees it differently. “People just think if auditor ka, financial role lang—like gawa ka ng mga report. In reality, it’s much more than that,” he explained. His years as a TWA allowed him to recognize a critical gap in the organization: logistics and production. It was an issue that had persisted for years, and stepping into the Executive Board gave him the opportunity to address it head-on.
As a second-year TWA, he took on nearly every responsibility alone—pre-event planning, mental health programs, hosting, and even publicity. “Mag-isa lang ako that time. Ako ‘yung pre-event, ako ‘yung in charge sa kamustahan, ako ‘yung host, ako ‘yung tagagawa ng PowerPoint, ako tagagawa ng pubmat, so nakakapagod talaga siya.” This experience fueled his drive to create lasting improvements.
Recognizing the need for connection, Kuya Emmanuel helped implement “kamustahan” sessions while pushing for better project management training. Now, as Executive Auditor, he’s paving the way for even bigger changes, introducing his plans to start the Audit Committee, comprising both the Logistics Division and the Productions Division under his role. He stated that he may be the last ‘Executive Auditor’ as it will adopt a new job title as the organization will see its new nature. “Hopefully, matuloy sya. But, right now, I am still in the process of drafting the position and yung bagong committee which will be under the Auditor,” he revealed.
Looking back, Kuya Emmanuel sees his journey not as a challenge, but as a natural progression of the work he has been doing for years. “This is what I’ve been doing for the past three years, and na-enjoy ko talaga ‘yung job ko as the Executive Auditor/TWA.” His story is proof that leadership isn’t restricted to the titles conferred upon you—it’s about recognizing what needs to be done and stepping up to make it happen.
In what ways does being in UVU continue to contribute to your personal growth and in developing certain skills?
More than just the technical skills like managing events and projects, handling captions, and creating reports, Kuya Emmanuel learned the deeper aspects of being an officer. Although he did not undergo the JVC program he taught himself the ins and outs of the job through every opportunity he had. He also discovered what it truly means to have friends who will support you every step of the way. Balancing the heavy workload of his program, his responsibilities in UVU, and his social life was no easy task. The demanding 7AM to 7PM schedule often kept him from hanging out with his blockmates.
Some of his closest friends, Ate Azil and Ate Shan, have been serving as EBs with him for three years. Interestingly, said friends actually come from outside his college and program, BS Psychology from the College of Science, which Kuya Emmanuel finds ironic but is very grateful for. This year, he connected with Kuya Franco, Ate Francine, and Ate Erika, all of whom are now part of his program. But beyond the friendships and life lessons, he’s a firm believer in the value of soft skills. He admitted that when he first started, he had no expertise in auditing, but he showed up with enthusiasm and a strong desire to serve.
“Meron akong diniscuss noon nung speaker ako nung general assembly natin which was, ‘there are 3 things na dapat sinasabi ng isang tao when they are in a job: gusto ko ‘to, gusto nila ako, and kailangan ko ‘to’,” he explained.
Kuya Emmanuel also talked about how he always strives to exceed expectations, putting in his best effort no matter what role he’s in. He may not be the most knowledgeable, but he takes pride in being the most eager and open to learning. He also highlighted the importance of recognizing that UST - UVU needs him just as much as he needs UST - UVU. There have been moments when he thought about quitting, but his goals with his friends, all aiming for a better UST - UVU, kept him going. It wasn’t a calling for him, but a choice he actively made—and after four years, it’s something he’s proud of.
What’s something you do in your leadership style that most people overlook or don’t really notice, but you believe makes a significant impact?
Kuya Emmanuel described his leadership style as friendly and warm, which made some members apply as a core team member simply because they found him amusing and approachable as a Project Head. He sees his friendliness and approachability as key aspects of his leadership style, stating how he enjoyed forming friendships with his juniors rather than enforcing a strict senior-junior hierarchy.
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"Never ko talaga nabu-buy ‘yung unspoken rule na ‘yun, kasi for me it just builds a divide between seniors and juniors. Kasi after all kayo ‘yung next generation, better if ma-build ko ‘yung relationship here pa lang,” he shared.
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He also highlighted his belief that wisdom can come from anyone, regardless of seniority, and that he values open communication with his juniors. However, he acknowledged that not everyone interacts the same way, recognizing that each individual has their own unique approach to relationships and teamwork.
Have there been any difficult decisions/sacrifices you've had to make during your stay here in UVU? (How did you approach this?)
Despite committing to UVU, Kuya Emmanuel’s biggest sacrifice was to stay during his senior year. Various challenges came crashing in when he was finally in his 4th year, telling everyone that he needed to leave the organization due to academic demands and personal issues which initially forced him to step down. However, after some time, he took on the Executive Auditor role to help the organization.
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During these hard times, however, Kuya Emmanuel shared that he was not alone. He received support from his colleagues–Ate Shan, who is currently the Executive President, and Ate Azil, who is currently the Executive Secretary–and he shared that their primary goal was to stay and support the organization despite hardships.
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Staying in UVU, Kuya Emmanuel also had self-doubts that made him question his worthiness of the position due to various reasons but he remained committed because he felt valued by his peers. He described, “Kasi minsan there were times that I wasn’t at my best but I never felt like the org wanted me to leave. I feel valued more this year and I’m very grateful for my current EBs.
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As such, Kuya Emmanuel acknowledged how sometimes it is okay to not always give your best as long as you can maximize what you can do at the moment, sharing that it is also self-empathy.
What’s one specific project that you’ve worked on in your UVU journey that’s made you feel most proud?
Kuya Emmanuel shared that he always mentions this when asked, even talking about it during his interview on Tiger TV. He and Ate Shan, our current Executive President, both agree that the “Eh Kasi Bata” project, which they worked on during their second year, stands out as the most memorable project in their UVU journey.
It’s a well-known fact that, in most organizations, things tend to slow down during the second semester, with many members becoming inactive and many projects taking place. So, he and Ate Shan had to step up. The project was a huge undertaking, especially since it was an community development project with only two newly added EB members as the Project Heads.
Kuya Emmanuel had a lot on his plate, juggling tasks like being the Floor Director, coordinating with the host, speakers, and partner communities, and handling documentation. Meanwhile, Ate Shan focused on hosting, tech operations, live updates, and registration. The psychological seminar, a project he hopes future EBs will continue, was particularly challenging since it took place during the second semester, a time when his subjects were demanding. But despite the heavy workload, his desire to serve kept him going.
“Sobrang proud ko lang sa “Eh Kasi Bata” at actually, thankful din ang UST UNICEF sa amin because that was one of the projects that got us the Pope Leo XIII Community Development Award."
As the JVC program is known for the heavy tasks being given, what advice could you give them as they aspire to be part of the organization's executive board?
The work in the Junior Volunteer Coordinator (JVC) program is no small feat but Kuya Emmanuel assures you that it’s okay to be lost sometimes because the time will come where life would also fall into place.
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As a senior in UVU, Kuya Emmanuel would often get questions like, “Kuya, paano ka nakakapag-stay?”, “Kuya, paano mo nakakaya acads mo?” to which he would often reply, “Hindi ko alam.”
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Kuya Emmanuel reflected on the benefits of being a psychology student, particularly in learning to navigate uncertainty. He was used to having his life planned out, meeting high expectations, and constantly striving for greatness. However, the pressure led him to have severe burnout, prompting him to take a gap year.
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“Naging Valedictorian ako, Student Council President, and the Editor-in-Chief during my elementary and high school years out of yearning for greatness, pero minsan talaga alam mo ‘yung napapagod ka talaga. Sobrang na-burnout ako, and because of that nag-gap year ako, supposedly graduate na ako and hindi ito ang school ko dahil pagod na pagod ako after high school,” he opened.
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He also shared that he initially didn’t plan to be in his current school or program, as he originally wanted to pursue AB Philosophy but struggled transferring at the start of the term since he had to undergo a stressful program shifting request. In the end, he chose not to pursue it anymore.
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By his third year, Kuya Emmanuel admitted that he was strongly considering to shift programs because though he was feeling okay, he felt lost. A turning point came during his Clinical Psychology lecture when he asked, “What would you do if hindi mo na alam ang nangyayari sa buhay mo? Should you be okay with it or not?” The response—“It’s okay to be confused”—resonated deeply within him. Kuya Emmanuel also expressed how pressured he was to be surrounded by his peers within the Executive Board with clear career paths in law, medicine, and teaching. However, he also found peace in embracing the unknown.
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Now in his fourth year, Kuya Emmanuel shared how he has accepted that he may not fully understand his purpose yet, but he believes that everything will fall into place. For him, true happiness comes not from external validation but from having his own back and trusting the process, even in moments of uncertainty.
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“Okay lang maging lost ako kasi there is peace for me at this point in my life na 4th year na ako. Okay lang sa akin na hindi ko na alam ang ginagawa ko, hindi ko alam ang reason kung bakit nasa UNICEF ako or bakit nag-psych ako, pero okay lang ‘yun because things will fall into place sooner or later,” he assured.
From your first time being part of UVU up until you became the Executive Auditor, how do you think UVU has changed over the years, and where do you see it going in the future?
Looking back, Kuya Emmanuel shared that this is something he and his friends often discuss. For years, he always believed that multiple things in the system can be improved. He stated, “Pag nag-susuggest ka, minsan, it may get dismissed muna for a certain amount of time… but that’s okay.” He further adds that whether you are an Executive Board member, core team member, or volunteer, they should freely suggest and point out improvements. He adds that “Gone are the days that we don’t let things change kasi gumagana pa. Never be okay by people saying things still work, when, in reality, they don't anymore. There will always be things that can be improved. Let your voice be heard and keep voicing out what needs to be fixed because your time will come sooner or later.”
On the bright side, Kuya Emmanuel still sees plenty of achievements to celebrate. He believes that the organization will continue to flourish in the upcoming years, solidifying its place as one of the university-wide student organizations that focus on improving the lives of the children and partner communities of the University of Santo Tomas. He hopes that, with the ongoing dedication of the volunteers, the only way is up, supporting the decades of recognition the organization has earned. He also expressed a wish for future members—EBs, JVCs, and volunteers—to be willing to unlearn what they need to and embrace the changes necessary for the growth of UST - UVU. After all, he believes that there will always be room for improvement.
If you have 30 seconds to convince others (such as in r101) to join UVU as volunteers next academic year, what would you tell them?
Kuya Emmanuel shared that this organization is one of the most family-like environments he has encountered. “Iba talaga ‘yung peace that comes with helping people,” he said. At this stage in life, where our identity is still being formed, he believes that being in the right place makes all the difference. “Baka in the future magawa mo din ‘yan in or outside the organization,” he added, emphasizing how the values and experiences gained here extend beyond membership.
He also highlighted the importance of seizing opportunities while they are still available. “Malay mo, in the next set of years, hindi mo na pala siya magawa,” he reflected. For him, staying in the organization This is one of the several organizations that prioritize improving the living conditions not only for the partner communities, but also for Thomasians, and most importantly, the children.