MANAGEMENT-HONORS senior Billie Dumaliang was hailed as Most Outstanding among the 2013 Ten Outstanding José Rizal Model Students of the Philippines.

The recognition was given by the Order of the Knights of Rizal, a civil and patriotic organization, to students who emulate the achievements of national hero José Rizal.

Nominees from universities across the country were trimmed down to 21 semi-finalists based on academic excellence, extracurricular activities and community involvement.

The semi-finalists then went through a panel interview in which their knowledge of Rizal’s life and works were gauged and their personal conviction, articulation and projection were evaluated.

Dumaliang gave the response speech on behalf of the other finalists during the awarding ceremony held at the Manila Hotel on December 10, 2013. She also received a trophy and a P50,000 cash prize.

Joining Dumaliang in the 2013 Top Ten Outstanding José Rizal Model Students is another Atenean, Jacqueline Eleazar of Ateneo de Naga University.

Being a model student

“[Being a José Rizal Model Student] means upholding Rizal’s values and virtues and, most especially, realizing what he had envisioned for the country and for the youth,” said Dumaliang.

She believes that Rizal was someone for students like her to look up to with regard to working for self-improvement, giving back to society and making a change.

“He is the epitome of Filipino magis,” Dumaliang said. Magis refers to the Atenean ideal of being more and doing more.

Dumaliangs’s friend and former blockmate Guia Bulanhagui attested to how Dumaliang herself exemplifies magis in her own life.

“She knows how to prioritize and she makes sure that she’s always prepared for her classes,” said Bulanhagui, currently a management senior.

Dumaliang currently has a cumulative Qualitative Point Index of 3.84.

Dumaliang was also part of the Sanggunian from her freshman to junior year.

As last year’s Sanggunian finance officer, Dumaliang managed and monitored an overall student government fund of P2.3 million. She also devised and marketed the Sanggunian Subsidy System, a financial subsidy program for various student projects, research and conferences.

This year, Dumaliang opted to focus on managing Coconelas, a social enterprise she cofounded with management seniors Bulanhagui, Lia Chua, Kim Concepcion and Ron Habla.

According to Dumaliang, “[Coconelas] offers responsible fashion through fashionable and comfortable footwear handmade by local artisans and disadvantaged communities.”

Coconelas footwear have insoles made from coconut coir, the largest agricultural waste in the Philippines.

The group’s social enterprise won the championship of last year’s Filipino Youth Innovation competition. They were given start-up capital of P300,000 for the product.

“Although Billie focuses on marketing our brand, she also oversees all the different functions, including operations, human resources, finance and public relations,” said Bulanhagui.

According to her, Dumaliang “does things not just for the sake of doing them, but executes [them] with emphasis on quality.”

Talking about Rizal

Dumaliang shared that her love for Rizal kept her motivated throughout the screening process.

“Rizal is my idol. I try to do the things that he does,” she said.

According to her, Rizal is a role model for the youth. “If you look at him, [you ask yourself], ‘What have I done?’ I’m 21, what has he done when he was 21?’”

To prepare for her panel interview, Dumaliang read a book on Rizal to refresh her memory of his legacy and the issues that surround it.

The questions she was asked during the interview were about Rizal and his women: Was Rizal a womanizer? Do you think he loved these women? Was it true love? Would you marry Rizal in his lifetime?

Dumaliang expressed that Rizal was “definitely not” a womanizer because he had good intentions in admiring those women. “In fact, it’s one of the things I love most about him, he’s not afraid to love,” she said.

She said that most people in today’s society are scared of committing themselves to someone or to something because they are afraid of risking failure.

“He (Rizal) was just very much open to loving,” said Dumaliang.

She added that Rizal’s love was not just romantic love; his love was also for his studies, for languages, for travelling and for the country.

“There are different levels of love. Whatever he had for these women was love in a sense, but his truest love was for his country and that’s why he never really got a chance to create a family because he dedicated himself to the country,” she said.

In the spirit of Rizal

For University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, Dumaliang’s recognition serves as a testament to the quality of Ateneo students.

“I think Billie herself will say, ‘There are people just like me here also,’ and that’s something to celebrate,” he said.

Villarin further said that despite the lamentation of people that education in the Philippines is deteriorating, he is consoled by the fact that the university has talented, world class students.

“I hope that this award, in the spirit of José Rizal who was an Atenean, makes us reflect on our vocation, our calling [and] our role,” Villarin said.

Dumaliang said that having the title of Most Outstanding José Rizal Model Student has both recognition and responsibility attached to it.

“I just have to continue what I’ve been doing before, but with more motivation. It also means, for my part, being able to voice out my opinions more so I’m given the chance to share my advocacies with others more,” she said.

With reports from Joline S. Acampado