NBSC’S SUGA EXTENSION PROJECT CONTINUES JOURNEY TOWARD INNER DEVELOPMENT WITH SESSION 2
The SUGA: Inner Development Goals (IDGs) in Public Sector Leadership and Governance Program of Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC), in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, continued its leadership development journey with its second session, bringing the members of the Sangguniang Bayan together for a deeper reflection on the inner qualities that enable leaders to lead with purpose, integrity, and values.
Building on the momentum of its successful launch during the 33rd Regular Session of the Manolo Fortich Sangguniang Bayan, SUGA held its second session on September 17, 2026, as part of the 37th Regular Session of the Sangguniang Bayan. The session created another meaningful space for participating SB members to pause from the demands of public service, reflect on their personal experiences, and draw insights that can enrich how they lead and serve their communities.
The SUGA Team, led by Dr. Jovelyn G. Delosa, together with Ms. Maria Socorro T. Bonita, who served as this session’s activity facilitator, Ms. Grace P. Quiblat, Dr. Sheilou Amor B. Ubagan, Dr. Sheila K. Maglente, and Ms. Rowena E. Bagongon, facilitated this activity.
The session featured “Word Hugot,” a reflective activity that invited participants to explore how a single word can evoke a memory, image, person, or feeling. Through a writing exercise, participants were encouraged to pause and reflect on what came to mind when presented with two Hugot Words: “Confused” and “Overwhelmed.”
What began as a simple exercise became an opportunity for deeper self-reflection. Participants were encouraged to connect the words with their own experiences and emotions and, in the process, recognize a powerful realization: the moments when they once felt confused or overwhelmed were not the end of their journey.
Dr. Delosa aptly captured the essence of the activity, describing it as an exercise in “discernment and transcendence”: a moment of looking inward, recognizing what one has been through, and realizing that one can rise beyond it.
The session was made more meaningful by the warm support and enthusiastic participation of the Manolo Fortich Sangguniang Bayan, headed by Vice Mayor Reynaldo “Bojun” Bagayas, Jr. NBSC expresses its sincere appreciation to the Vice Mayor and the members of the SB for welcoming SUGA into their regular session and for providing a space where public servants could step back from the demands of governance, reflect on their own journeys, and engage in conversations that foster personal and collective growth. The SB’s continued support and enthusiasm for the succeeding sessions serve as an encouraging affirmation of the value of bringing inner development into the practice of public leadership.
The SUGA team likewise extends its heartfelt appreciation to CESD Director Alven L. Gomez, MSEST, for his invaluable support and assistance in making the engagement possible and for helping strengthen the link between NBSC’s extension initiatives and the communities they seek to serve. Equally deserving of gratitude is College President Christie Jean Villanueva-Ganiera, EdD, CESE, whose unwavering support and inspiration continue to encourage the NBSC Family to step beyond its comfort zone, extend its reach, and bring its knowledge and expertise closer to the communities it serves. Her leadership embodies the spirit behind SUGA: the work of an institution does not end at its gates, but finds greater meaning when knowledge, service, and learning are shared with and for the community.
As SUGA moves forward, its succeeding sessions will continue to provide spaces for reflection, dialogue, and practical learning, reinforcing a central message of the program: leadership transformation begins from within and is ultimately reflected in how one serves others. For NBSC, SUGA also provides a way to bring the College’s knowledge and capabilities closer to the people and institutions it serves. It strengthens the College’s connection with local communities while giving its extension work a direct place in the development of public servants.
Written by: Maria Socorro T. Bonita
Registrar and Student Records Office
Photos by: Grace P. Quiblat
