Leveraging her experience as the former EXCEL2026 Batch President, Micah Agatha is now committing to a student-centered and service-oriented leadership as she runs as the college president of the Carlos L. Tiu School of Economics (CLTSOE), with a focus on fostering active student engagement within her college and opening more avenues beyond campus for CLTSOE students.
The LaSallian: What characteristics do you think a CLTSOE College President should embody? In what ways do you see those qualities reflected in yourself?
Agatha: In SOE (School of Economics), I think one of the biggest challenges our college has is the lack of student participation, and I think that the next leader [of] SOE should understand the needs of the student body [and] the needs of the SOE people. In that way, we can activate student participation more and have them engage in value-adding activities that are made for them…I know what’s going to work based on my experience sa SOE, and as a leader, we should take in feedback, listen to what the people [and] what our constituents say, and consider this when making our platforms and activities. So basically a leader who knows what their constituents want and making efforts into gearing platforms and activities that will be for them.
The LaSallian: You mentioned that you were able to experience the different kinds of activities and initiatives. Can you give me a brief background on what these activities were?
Agatha: I did serve as [the] batch president [of] my batch [where] I was also at the making end of these activities, and I see [na] ‘yung activities na pumapatok sa mga estudyante is ‘yung may engagement sila…gusto nila ‘yung nakikihalubilo sila sa mga tao, may napapakinggan sila na relatable, and so ‘yung mga activities before na nakikita [ko] na nag-work for the batch would be a series of general assemblies [such] as “Spark It Up”… Other than that naman, we also have this project nung frosh year namin which is yung “Speak Out,” wherein we invited SOE alumnus to talk to the batch and share ‘yung experiences nila while they were in SOE.
The LaSallian: Given that you have this good impression and experience of these projects, are you planning to continue them if you were to be elected as the SOE college president?
Agatha: Definitely! But this time [on] a much larger scale and hindi naman tayo para sa magpatupad lang ng [mga] plataporma, we will also be adding different features to the project… This time dadalhin natin ito to a college-wide level, but not just college-wide level, gawin pa nating inter-university level. I also have a platform now that I’m running as college president, [a] project called “Ignite,” an inter-university networking event bringing together different [economics] students from the top schools here in the [country where] they can spark connections and build [a] community that goes beyond campus borders…connections that will go beyond academics [and the] professional world.
The LaSallian: How does your experience as EXCEL2026 batch president prepare you for college-wide leadership?
Agatha: My experience in EXCEL2026 just amplified my love and passion for service. Alam kong medyo cliche na ‘yan like love and passion, pero ayun talaga ‘yung nararamdaman ko eh. When I entered DLSU, double degree kasi ako, so iniisip ko five years ako dito, how can I make my stay here worth it? And ang naisip ko nun, my stay here should be more than just for myself. Para mas maging purposeful siya, parang ganoon talaga ‘yung thought process ko…now I’m taking the risk as I run for college presidency, parang tinulak niya lang ako to this bigger leap of faith, and of course may natutunan din ako like technical-wise, alam ko ano gusto ng [mga] estudyante, ano ‘yung pumapatok, ano ‘yung kailangan ng batch ko, and during my second year, I was an older batch in SOE. Alam ko na ‘yung mga kailangan ko as an older batch.
The LaSallian: What are the new systems or projects that you have in mind that could address the pressing needs of SOE students?
Agatha: So pansin ko talaga sa SOE, gusto talaga nila [ng] off-campus activities. We have two of those. One is “Econsight,” which is going to be an experiential learning platform wherein we bring our students to different economic institutes like government agencies, private firms, research centers to experience the day-to-day operations of how these institutions work [and] to also give them a glimpse of ano ba ‘yung real world after nilang mag-aral dito sa SOE, and also since maraming ang hindi pa nagi-internship, this platform [is] also for them to know how, where or what they want to do for their internship.
Another off-campus activity that we have [is] “SOE Fellows.” I think not a lot of people know [that] our department and professors are very active in outside engagements… What if we are actually able to join in these kinds of engagements and consultations that they have outside DLSU? …[It’s] basically a shadowing experience for the SOE students, and initiatives like this [will] hopefully bridge the gap between academic learning and public service.
…But then I also mentioned, kulang nga sa active participation ang SOE and if magtatanong ka ng bago, as far as I know, wala pang nagagawang case competition ang SOE. We have “EconSIMS” policy pitch. It’s a case competition for SOE students [where] things can get competitive yet friendly within the college…hopefully this engages them in a different way naman, hindi lang off-campus activity but in a different setting.
The LaSallian: What are your plans to support CLTSOE students who are taking double-degree programs?
Agatha: I think what I can do to help double degree students is help them connect with their second college, kasi ang nakikita ko ngayon parang medyo may disconnect in such a way na after mo mag SOE, ‘yung mga estudyante parang wala na silang sense of community. Feeling ko ang nagiging problem nila is pagtawid nila sa different college nila, parang hindi na sila belong, parang outcasted na sila doon sa second college nila. What I can do is hopefully have a project na pwedeng i-connect ‘yung mga SOE students doon sa next college nila which is COB (Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business), so collaborate with the college government and connect SOE students with their [second] college para walang disconnect.
The LaSallian: Despite being one of the smallest colleges, the engagement of CLTSOE students seems to be consistently low in University-wide activities, such as USG elections. What specific strategies would you implement to encourage their participation and collaboration?
Agatha: Again it goes back to thinking if, when it comes to platforms, ‘yung low participation kasi it always goes back to thinking [kung] kailangan ba nila ‘to? May makukuha ba sila dito? Ano makukuha nila dito? Kasi when you talk to these students, ang una nilang sasabihin [ay] ano makukuha ko diyan other than the incentives? So your platform should not [only] be a platform, ang naiisip ko, ‘yung platform mo dapat hindi lang face value, dapat may lalim siya para talagang mae-evoke ‘yung student participation.
When it comes to University-wide engagements like elections, I think ang kulang lang talaga sa SOE is being informed… Sometimes they forget, sometimes hindi lang talaga sila masyadong nagso-scroll sa Facebook or like social media accounts. It’s really a matter of really trying to reach them in the best way and most optimal way possible, whether it be mangulit ka sa batch [group chats] niyo, sa college [group chats], [and] magkakaroon [din] ng Facebook group na may announcements, [and] I think that would suffice.
The LaSallian: Given your population, what advantages and/or disadvantages do you think CLTSOE has in its representation in both the USG’s and DLSU administration’s decisions?
Agatha: I think na SOE despite being a small college is very important. I think ang advantage nga namin [is] maliit kami [and] I don’t see it as a disadvantage. Maliit kami na college, we are able to touch all of these people with the correct amount of effort lang. Kaya mo namang abutin lahat ‘yan eh basta gusto mo, basta ita-try mo kasi konti nga lang kami, and doing so kapag lahat ‘yan naabot mo lahat sila mae-empower mo. And as a small college, despite being a small college, ‘yung pinaka strength namin is lahat kami magkakakilala, lahat kami may connection with one another, lahat kami sinusuportahan ang isa’t isa, and we can say [that] SOE is a college of students who are empowered within our community.
When it comes to [the] admin naman, SOE lang ‘yung college na may seat sa TFI (tuition fee increase) negotiations with OPRES and OTREAS. So I think SOE being there, we’re able to represent not only SOE but the entire DLSU population in terms of sa paglalaban ng matrikula nila, when it comes to the increases we face and making suggestions as to how we can negotiate better for the students.
The LaSallian: Previous SEG presidents have made efforts to make CLTSOE the policy wing or research arm of the USG. Do you have any plans on continuing this initiative?
Agatha: Definitely. I think that as SOE students, sobrang madami kami pwedeng ma-contribute sa research arm and policy arm ng USG. I think that we are socially aware, politically aware, and we can make sound recommendations as to how we can solve the issues that we are facing here in DLSU. Other than that, I believe may mga tao din sa SOE [na] makatao like hindi sila out of touch. We are all grounded, and I think na that’s also one of the things na we can say na pwede makapagcontribute sa mga better policy recommendations na pwede pa magawa ng SOE or SEG moving forward.
The LaSallian: What specific value or advocacy do you uphold that you believe can contribute to the role of SOE college president? How will you motivate your fellow students to practice the same value or advocacy throughout your term?
Agatha: Ako kasi, I believe in servant leadership, in a leadership na alam ng mga tao na aabutin mo sila but then at the same time, alam ng mga tao na abot ka nila. I think very big part siya ng paniniwala ko when it comes to leadership na your leader should not be so far from you…So I guess sa SOE, nung batch president [ako] [and] ngayon na tumatakbo ako bilang CAP (college assembly president)…Gusto ko maging leader na alam nilang abot nila at aabutin sila. Paulit-ulit ‘yun sa akin, frosh palang ako, and every time I say it, I am reminded why I want to be SOE’s CAP.
Some leaders are just leaders for the position, and hindi sila abot ng students, and ayaw ko maging ganon na kind of leader. I want SOE to have a leader na alam nilang matatakbuhan nila…I just want to be a leader na ramdam ng tao, and alam ng tao na matatakbuhan nila because at the end of the day, wala naman kaming sweldo dito, it’s just really about making a significant impact to the community you are going to be a part of, and I think moving forward, ‘yung work ko makita ng mga tao na as something na reflection of like a bigger purpose [and] should translate into the values I’m [going to] be pushing for…And I think ‘yun ‘yung values na gusto ko i-share sa SOE na we can be people for one another, who’s going to show up for one another, who’s going to be there for one another, who’s going to support one another.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
