21/06/2026
During the BAGANI Opening Ceremony and commissioning of the inaugural Fellows 2026 โSibol Cohortโ held on 13 June 2026, Ms. Shawntel Nicole Nieto, Sustainability PH Founder and Fellowship Track Consultant of the Rising Leaders Development Program, delivered a message of support that underscored the deeper purpose of leadership formation under BAGANI.
She emphasized that the program is not simply about selecting individuals based on competence alone, but about recognizing a deeper calling to public serviceโrooted in work ethic, heart, spirit, and a genuine desire to serve beyond oneself. BAGANI, she stressed, was created to strengthen and expand this commitment to meaningful service and action.
She likewise spoke candidly about the urgency of nation-building in the present time, calling on the fellows to recognize the realities of a society that must heal and rebuild. In her message, she highlighted the importance of leaders who do not wait for change, but actively participate in healing, rebuilding, and restoring trustโmoving together from standing, to walking, and ultimately to running as a nation.
Her message reaffirmed the core vision of BAGANI: to form a generation of leaders who are not only capable, but deeply committed to service, collaboration, and transformative action for the Filipino people.
