Andrea Ysabelle Suarez was acclaimed as the first elected De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) Student Government (SG) Executive President, after two successive years of presidential appointments, during the Signum Fidei: Service and Governance Awards 2026 at the Sentrum, May 16.
The student leader deemed the recent elections surprising in light of last year’s voting results, while highlighting the need for more leaders to take up the mantle.
“I’ve rarely seen voter turnout to be more than 50 [%] […] This is the first time that I saw an elected Executive President [but] I’d say that we have more room to improve on. So this year, the challenge [is to] empower more leaders,” Suarez said.
In her keynote address, she pressed that a public servant is never fully certain, but should carry a resolve to be responsible and stand up for one’s community.
“Leadership is not about having all the answers—it’s about having the courage to stay and discover […] I will lead with you; one voice held accountable by many, and a person who will fight […] for this community,” Suarez affirmed.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Executive Vice President, Aimee Shaniz De Los Reyes, counts on a more active electoral participation for the SG to better reflect student needs.
“[…] Nagkaroon ako ng quota, na [sana] ay maka 100% tayo ng voters […] Mas maganda pa rin na ang mga officers […] ay elected talaga ng ating students, kasi nga […] ang student leaders [ay] voice of the students,” De Los Reyes said.
Moreover, Suarez voiced her upcoming agendas for the SG, focusing on leadership training while aiming for more organization collaborations.
“I hope that in my term, that they’d [SG] be more into service pa, [and] I encourage them to collaborate with organizations to help them thrive, as well as [to] find the common value within them,” said Suarez.
The turnover ceremony concluded with the awarding of accolades for all attending officers along with the installation of 14 elected and 23 appointed SG officials into their respective executive and college councils.
