Rosalia “Lea” Medina Paz carries with her not just the title of school principal, but the responsibility of shaping students’ lives. As head of Malhacan Integrated School in Meycauayan, Bulacan, she believes leadership is more than just authority.
When Lea was first appointed as a principal in 2019, she was met with challenges that tested her resolve: lack of discipline among students, demotivated teachers, and learners on the brink of dropping out. “I realized that being a leader is not just about enforcing rules,” she recalls. “It is about inspiring others, building trust, and helping them dream again.”
Her compassion deepened when she encountered students who were constantly sent to the guidance office, dismissed as troublemakers, and even pushed by some parents to stop schooling. Instead of giving up on them, Lea sought to understand their struggles—broken families, poverty, and societal rejection. This was the seed of her Transformational Action Plan (TAP): Project A.H.O.N. (Alalay, Husay, at Oportunidad para sa mga Nagbabagong Mag-aaral).
Lea identified students with unruly behavior such as bullying, absenteeism, smoking, gambling, and vandalism that hindered their learning. She invited them to join her in school rounds, speaking with them one by one to understand their struggles and offer mentorship. With teachers, she organized values formation workshops and weekly counseling sessions, while encouraging the students to take part in community activities like leading flag ceremonies, assisting teachers, and serving as “good deed patrols” to help them model positive behavior.
Michael is a student once known in the school as a troublemaker. “Madalas po akong nang-aabang sa labas para makipag-away. Dahil doon, bumagsak grades ko at nagbago po ang tingin sa akin ng mga tao,” he confessed. With Project AHON, Michael and his peers consistently attended classes, completed assignments, and reduced school fights from 4–5 cases weekly to almost none.
“Ang Project AHON ay patunay na kahit maliit na hakbang, kapag ginagawa nang may puso, pagmamahal at tamang gabay, ay may malaking epekto sa buhay ng mga mag-aaral,” shares Lea.
Lea is among the 29 school principals who completed the Certificate in Educational Studies in Leadership (CESL), a four-month international module developed by the University of Bristol (UK) in partnership with The HEAD Foundation of Singapore, Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).
Designed to equip principals with culturally-responsive and context-sensitive leadership skills, CESL combines blended learning, experiential activities, and the implementation of a TAP to address pressing school issues. This module serves as a transition into the Year 1 “Transforming the Self” modules of SBFI’s three-year Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building Program with ADMU, which further strengthens principals’ to become mentors and changemakers within and beyond their schools.
Lea’s story proves that true leadership is rooted in compassion. From once-troubled students now finding hope in school to teachers gaining confidence in shaping students’ behavior, Lea’s journey shows that lasting change happens when leaders choose to believe in people.
“One of the greatest gifts you can give to your students is hope. A hope for a better tomorrow. Never forget nor underestimate its power,” said Rafael F. Simpao, Jr., SBFI Chairman.
To know more about how Security Bank Foundation empowers school principals and teachers, visit www.securitybank.com/mentoring-future-leaders.
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