Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) and Ateneo Center for Educational Development kicked-off the Year 2 training phase of 22 school principals who were admitted in 2024 to the 3-year Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building program. The principals completed their Year 2 in-person training at Ateneo de Iloilo from March 31 to April 4, 2025.
Under the Year 2 theme “Transforming the School,” principals learned how to transform inner leadership as the basis to solve problems, coach effectively, and improve school team performance. Singaporean Zhihan Lee and Filipino Rose Gustilo, both from Bagosphere – a multi-awarded capability-building organization recognized by Ashoka and the Obama Foundation, led the Year 2 in-person training.
Principals learned various tools for problem root cause analysis and solution identification. One such tool is MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive), which breaks down complex issues into distinct, non-overlapping categories. Principals also used AI tools to create problem “why maps” and solution “how maps” to identify possible solutions, assess the most effective solution through an evaluation criteria, and outline the steps and resources needed for the action plan.
Principals also pitched solutions to negative school culture in an elevator pitch format dubbed as Impact Lab and presented to a panel featuring Zhihan Lee, Louie De Real (SBFI Executive Director), and Asec. Carmela Oracion (Department of Education National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines Head).
The in-person training also equipped principals with coaching techniques to identify development needs of their teachers and non-teaching staff as well as somatic exercises to manage stress.
SBFI Chairman, Rafael F. Simpao Jr., closed the in-person training with timeless leadership principles from the bible. He emphasized the value of delegation just like how Jethro urged Moses to select leaders to share the workload of leading people. He also highlighted the key qualities of a leader drawing from Exodus 18: 20-21 which are teachable, good role models, capable, honest, God fearing, and with integrity.
“Year 2 helped me realize that the change I needed was in me all along. The training wasn’t just about fixing problems—it was about evolving as leaders, discovering the potential to inspire others and lead change from the inside out,” said John Paul Cabigao, a principal from Meycauayan, Bulacan.
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