Hannah Castillo wants to take the reins of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business (RVRCOB) as its next College Assembly President (CAP). A fresh face in the University Student Government, Castillo enters the race with a background filled with high titles—team head, associate, director—but no prior elected positions to her name. Her vision is to steer the college back to its advocacy-driven roots while addressing persistent concerns like the high costs of required materials—with “empathy, purpose, and inspiration” as the core tenets of her leadership.
The LaSallian: You have a long resume with numerous leadership experiences, including those in your batch and college governments. How do you believe these have prepared you to be a college president? What strengths do they bring to your potential role?
Castillo: These credentials really prepared me to be a grounded leader who is really formed [by] their values and their stances, and how they are able to lead with such integrity…and…with empathy, purpose, and inspiration. However, I think these credentials do not also solely define who I am as a person and how I really lead. When it comes down to being a leader naman, it’s not just about your capabilities and your credentials, but it’s how you really engage with other people and care for them as well. And it’s something that I bring with me a lot in being able to lead—not just for myself, but also to radiate inspiration for others to do the same for others as well.
The LaSallian: This would be the first time you will hold an elected position. What do you think makes you qualified for this position?
Castillo: Actually, last General Elections [2024], I was supposed to be running for the position of batch president. However, it was canceled. I think it was a big leap in terms of being able to really give in to the growth that I really want. …Now, [running] for college president is something that I believe I’ve always been for bigger and better things talaga; and it’s something that I feel like would not just bring [me] into growth but also help others grow into the person that they can be or to really maximize their potential as people. And that is why I’m also here: to really help others realize their potential and fully grasp it to be able to maximize their stay in RVRCOB and [in] the University.
The LaSallian: Many students from the college have consistently voiced their dismay on the high costs of McGraw Hill Connect books given their limited use—both in terms of time and utilization in classes. Where do you stand on this matter, and, if elected, do you have any plans to address the concerns?
Castillo: As a student myself before [being a] leader…I really also was able to experience these difficulties [with] the McGraw-Hill [books]… Nadidismaya din ako in terms of the full experience because it’s like, most of the time, ‘yun lang yung ginagamit. You’re not able to learn, and most of the time, it’s like you just answer [exercises] to be able to get it done—and it’s something that hinders us from really being able to learn fully. In terms of expenses, I stand with the students in having it lessened or at least having a project, once I am elected, to be able to pass down such materials or to have full access [to it] without really hindering their quality [of] education.
So, for example, for the older batches, they can pass down their old accounting books, or we can also do something about the McGraw-Hill accounts because some of them, they don’t expire agad, am I right? So, sayang din siya after nila gamitin; it expires [after] about six months to one year pa. So, it’s something that we can also try to pass on. But as the next college president as well, I would also take [into] account to really talk to the faculty and the departments to be able to give a solution to this, to be able to not hinder quality education.
The LaSallian: How do you plan to work with university and college administrators in the position, and what steps would you take if faced with resistance to your ideas?
Castillo: I believe that…[as] the next college president for RVRCOB…I’m the representation talaga for the students. It’s already non-negotiable; it’s my job to really communicate with the admin [about] the students’ concerns. And it’s something that I would like to [continuously do], at least monthly or weekly, depending on the kind of concerns and depending on the administration I have to [forward] the concerns to.
The steps I would take [are]: first, take into consideration first and foremost the students’ concerns because [they] themselves are the firsthand being able to experience these experiences, and not everyone is able to voice out their experiences talaga. So, it’s important for me to have something accessible, that they wouldn’t be shy to be able to voice out their thoughts or concerns [to]…so that it would still get to me.
Next, is to really collate these concerns and [respective] answers…to address them properly to the admin and also create a rollout plan. And…if I’m restricted (in trying to address the issues), I think it’s good to at least find a common ground with the admin or at least compromise from within the college, as well as the admin, because I think as students…it should also be our right to be able to really voice out our concerns to the admin. And if they won’t be able to comply [with] all of our concerns, it’s good that at least we’d meet halfway somewhere and compromise and be able to meet a common ground.
The LaSallian: Among your specific Plans of Action, which one do you consider most urgent? What do you see its effects will be by the end of your term and possibly beyond? And how do you plan to make it come to fruition?
Castillo: Fun fact: RVRCOB used to be an advocacy-driven college, and it’s something that has been part of the image of COB as well—something that I really want to bring back. So, one of the things that I would prioritize the most is “Para sa COBagong Umaga.” It’s an advocacy project that will unite all batches [and] it’s an umbrella project. For example, the ID 124s, since they’re new to the University, they will be having talks as well as experience sharing in regards to social responsibilities or partnering up with [non-governmental organizations] or advocacy organizations.
We will be having a bazaar, [which] will be divided into two. The ID 123s [will] have bazaars for the student entrepreneurs…for us to be able to highlight and empower students who have small businesses or for us to be able to help them also grow and gain more exposure for their businesses. For the ID 122s naman, they will be partnering up with external [organizations], so it’s more on the outside markets like Solana market or local products [and] companies. All in all, this advocacy project would be like a win-win situation…where half of the profits will be…for a fundraiser…to contribute to quality education for local colleges. Because, as one of the top universities, and also…the top business school, it’s our job—or at least time—to pay it forward, because I think we forget about who we’re really serving. For us to [do this], it’s time we pursue change…not just…within the four walls of the University but also [beyond].
The LaSallian: The current Business College Government (BCG) President also ran under the same party as you. How would you distinguish yourself from her in terms of values, principles, and leadership style, especially given similar training from Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon?
Castillo: I do acknowledge that we (Josene Gonzales) ran under the same party…and we have been taught the same values and principles. But [being part of] Partidong Santugon entails…the attribute of individuality, and it’s something that I believe [is] really [fostered] around the party. I really admire her (incumbent RVRCOB CAP) in terms of her work and in terms of [what] she’s done with the BCG, and it’s something that I [want to] continue to bring [to] my administration—to be able to continue on what she fulfilled but also to keep in mind that as the next RVRCOB college president, it’s a chapter that I will not be continuing…[instead] I will be making a new one.
It’s something that I take into heart: that I will continue to pursue the things that she was not able to pursue—like [bringing] RVRCOB back to [being] an advocacy-driven college. I believe that I will be focusing more on the hard part of RVRCOB rather than the technicalities. There will still be technicalities, of course, to be…[fixed] like information dissemination, but it’s really more on being able to help the students with clarity of mind and being able to help them [to get] right there [for goals to be] within reach.
For example, I have one of these projects—an internship database. It’s really hard to look for an internship, and as a student myself who’s also going through an internship [course], it was a hard experience to look for one. Being able to help the students with their university life and how they can ease their stay is something that I want to do for them. That internship database, for example…will [be] like a weight that will be lightened…So, it’s really [about] being able to touch the [students] one by one, to be able to cater to them as a whole but actually feel as if it’s for them [specifically].
The LaSallian: How will students be able to see the impact of your leadership? What would you like to leave as your legacy?
Castillo: During our Miting de Avance, I really spoke into [the] thought that my title is not only a title. My leadership…trait is really being able to lead with empathy, purpose, and inspiration. And empathy is something that I bring with me all the time because without empathy as a leader, you will not be able to listen to others and understand what they really feel; and I think that’s (empathy) really important to bring with you all the time, because it’s your job to really represent the students.
[As for] purpose, my purpose is not only for myself but [also] being able to really serve others. My purpose is to help them be inspired and [be] able to do the same—to really radiate the same energy and the inspiration that they will bring [with them everywhere]. I’ve been in a lot of positions, and that’s always been my goal: to be able to inspire them (members) into reaching their potential and really maximizing [it], and it’s something that I always want to do for others because being able to see [people] grow is a fulfillment within myself already. I already feel fulfilled being able to see them grow from the first time I met them to [the present], and that’s what I want to [do]. Honestly, I feel like it’s not enough to be a legacy, but it’s something that speaks volumes for more…generations.
The LaSallian: Can you explain what your campaign’s vision, “Realized Lasallian Purpose,” means, especially in the context of the position you’re running for?
Castillo: Let me start off first with the College of Business vision: It’s maximizing your relentless pursuit of business excellence. So, in line with the Executive Board [slate]’s vision, it’s a “realized Lasallian purpose.” It actually aligns a lot because being able to maximize our business excellence as College of Business students [means] we are able to realize our purpose.
But in terms of being able to widen it more, my vision for the college and this vision for the entire University is something that will help you along the way [in] your university life. And as I’ve always said…the goal talaga is for you [to] not just to learn this within your university life, but to really bring it outside as well. Because as College of Business students…we’ve been preparing ourselves for the outside world—[including] how we can be good leaders [and] good employees. …That’s how we want to…be able to help you with a “realized Lasallian purpose.” From being able to have “genuine [experiences],” we could now maximize our potential and [be] able to realize what our purpose really is.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
With interview reports from Christopher Go and Job Lozada
