University of Cebu

After the success of the First Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit (AFLBS) last year, outstanding UC students attended the second convention held on August 10 and 11, 2007. This year, 12 UC undergraduates from different colleges were named to participate in the event.

• College of Education - Jay Cavales and Tiffany Abellana (Main) and Sheila Peligrino (Banilad Campus)
• College of Liberal Arts - Angen May Fabro, Redford Oliveros and Virgil Vallecera (Main)
• College of Information Technology - Charlene Cani, Clyde Deligero and Melvia Orofeo
• College of Commerce – John Paul Gesta (Banilad)
• College of Nursing - Teffanie Llamada and John Paul Putong (Banilad)

Last year’s participant Sheila Benedicto, a recent AB English graduate recalled that the experience gave her a realistic idea about the business world as she and the student participants were given direct access to talk with the CEOs.

The summit’s significance even went beyond the two-day convention. Last year’s delegates are still invited by the Aboitiz Group in their activities, especially the socio-civic ones. Information is disseminated through an online blog which serves as their electronic bulletin, moderated by an Aboitiz Group staff. It is also through this medium that the former participants are kept abreast of recent job openings in the Aboitiz Group of Companies.

The first AFLBS was held on August 18 and 19, 2006 at the Waterfront Hotel, Lahug where 13 UC undergraduates were in attendance. The caucus was highlighted by the “Your Turn To Ask a CEO” where the CEO of a particular company in the Aboitiz Group interacted with the participants.

The participation of UC students in events like AFLBS underscor s the school’s passion to develop its students in establishing productive contacts with different industries.