Nicole Masagca

from The GUIDON Graduation Magazine 2022

Dr. Maria Luz C. Vilches, PhD

WRITTEN BY KATHLEEN U. YAP

All I really wanted to do was to create the same space that I had when I was a sophomore looking for somebody to validate my concerns, dreams, and fears.

WHILE MOST leaders are known for their strong and assertive voices, holistic leadership takes more just dictating the way. Being compassionate enough to listen is just as much a requirement to solve community problems as evidenced by Development Studies Program Awardee Nicole Masagca (4 AB DS).

Nicole’s ability to sit down, observe, and reflect can be attributed not only to the development engagements she has led, but also to the realization of her own advocacies and capabilities.

THE SEARCH FOR SELF

Nicole was unsure of what to pursue in college back when she was still a General Academic strand student at Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS). She initially felt drawn to Global Politics. However, she would chance upon a brochure that introduced the Development Studies program, which eventually captured her heart.

The interdisciplinary course still touched on politics, but at the same time, gave opportunities to experience on-theground work in creating social change. This was a match for Nicole, considering her interest in running relief programs that began in grade school. “I finally got to put a name to the work I’ve been doing for the longest time,” she said.

Nicole would learn more about sparking change outside the classroom setting when she joined the Ateneo Consultants for Organization Development and Empowerment (CODE) as a freshman. As she spoke and worked with its clients, she discovered how organizations move and shape their members into fostering their passions.

During her sophomore year in CODE was when Nicole also first heard of the Ateneo Student Leaders Assembly (ASLA) from an upperclassman. As she underwent a long application process, Nicole was already reflecting seriously on her leadership story, including her experience as the first Commission on Elections chairwoman in ASHS. And during the four-day program itself, she was inspired by one of its speakers Atty. Carlo Africa, a lawyer working for electoral reform whom she saw herself in. “ASLA gave me figures, real people who I could become, local people who I can look up to.”

DREAMING BIG

More than just gaining a mentor, ASLA also validated the dreams Nicole had for her home organization the Development Society of the Ateneo (DevSoc). Her coursemates felt frustrated that they could not get early exposure to how development work happens. This was coupled with Nicole’s own motivation that DevSoc could do more initiatives other than the usual talks led by their department.

“We don’t really have initiatives of our own that we can be proud of,” she realized. “Something done by development practitioners in the making.”

This inspired Nicole to run as DevSoc’s Vice President for Research and Development—a role that would allow her to establish the organization’s very own consultancy arm. During her vice presidency, she built the consultancy from the ground up, engaged with various sectorbased organizations in Ateneo, and provided solutions to the problems in their development initiatives. It was only fitting that Nicole was the leader to accomplish this, given her previous knowledge of consultancy from CODE.

PAYING IT FORWARD

Driven by her passion for development, Nicole would continue her journey in DevSoc as its President. Her term can be characterized by efforts to connect both externally and internally. She set up infrastructure to institute a development coalition of student organizations all over the Philippines, as well as conducted social listening sessions to address members’ concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicole associates being an executive board member ultimately as a way of giving back.

After being able to unlock her fullest potential as a student leader in DevSoc, Nicole also felt the calling to serve the ASLA community. She would help adapt the program to fit the online setting as the Facilitator Lead and later Program Director to ensure the ASLA continues to inspire and shape new batches of leaders.

“All I really wanted to do was to create the same space that I had when I was a sophomore looking for somebody to validate my concerns, dreams, and fears.”

Now that Nicole is setting foot in a new space down from the Hill, her goal remains to bring about social change, but this time in the public health sector. Geared with a Minor in Health and Development, Nicole aims to work locally first in the Department of Health and internationally one day in the World Health Organization. She hopes to influence how health programs are run by offering a grassroots perspective formed through listening to the community—true as ever to the leadership style.