The Power of 5E: Fostering Holistic Growth and Transformative Citizenship

Dr. Renierio E. Aligonero, Subject Area Head, Social Living and Global Education (SLGE) and PhD Management Student, Southville International School and Colleges

Dr. Renierio E. Aligonero is a prominent academic leader in the Philippines, holding dual roles at Southville International School and Colleges as Chairperson of the College of Tourism Management and Director for International Linkages and Partnership. Beyond his institutional responsibilities, Dr. Aligonero founded The Julian and Remedios Espulgar Aligonero Community Outreach and Productivity Engagement (JREA-COPE), a notable familycentered community outreach initiative. He also plays a significant role in fostering collaboration within the educational sector as the Chairperson for Partnerships and Linkages for the Association of Administrators in Hospitality, Hotel, and Restaurant Management Educational Institutions (AAHRMEI).

Through this article, Dr. Aligonero outlines the 'Power of 5E,' a pedagogical approach he has developed over decades of experience. It aims to move beyond diplomas to cultivate empathy, leadership, grit, and empowered, active citizens.

Education is more than just a diploma. It is not a race to the top but a lifelong journey of the head that thinks, the heart that empathizes, and the hand that leads.

True learning goes beyond memorizing facts or acing exams. It lives in how we understand others, respond with compassion, and take initiative not for recognition, but for lifelong impact.

Let me share the holistic Power of 5E, which translates to ENCOURAGE students to participate actively in some schools’ academic and non-academic activities. Educators have sharp eyes and the power to buoy up a student to excel in leadership, co-curricular, and analogous engagements. It costs no penny to be a leader! To encourage is to uplift every learner’s spirit.

“True learning lives in how we understand others, how we respond with compassion, and how we take initiative not for recognition, but for lifelong impact”

Once fired up, the reason is to encourage students to ENGAGE in worthwhile learning community activities and become dynamic and productive citizens. Myriad undertakings abound where students conscript and make themselves available as volunteers, project initiators like team-building events, facilitating academic discussions, creating activities for active learning and feedback, sports programs, community-based tourism activities, among others. To engage is to create purposeful participation.

Right after is to EQUIP students with the necessary life skills they can apply after leaving the portals of their alma mater. Being equipped is getting more than ready, but prepared. This is a universal platitude that most, if not the majority, agree with. To equip is to prepare students beyond the classroom. These preceding “powers” aim to ENRICH learning with ample experiences, coupled with grit (Duckworth) and a growth mindset (Dweck). At this juncture, knowledge acquisition is supplemented by perseverance and a positive outlook on life. With this, success is not far from achieving. To enrich is to foster grit and a growth mindset.

Finally, the elocution of the 4Es leads to the end in mind (Wiggins and McTighe), which is to EMPOWER graduates to ignite their potential for holistic growth and become ambassadors of transformative citizenship. Empowering is cultivating transformative citizenship.

Having served the academic sector for over three decades, starting as a classroom teacher and rising to various leadership positions including Subject Area Head of Social Living and Global Education, Student Affairs Services and Discipline Officer, Training and Development Head, Chairperson of the College of Tourism, and Director of International Linkages and Partnership, I can confidently say that the Power of 5E mirrors the many roles an educator must fulfill—we are motivators, facilitators, mentors, content experts, and most of all, nation-builders.

Let us not underestimate the ripple effect of what we do inside and beyond the classroom. When we teach with the 5Es in mind, we don’t just educate minds; we awaken hearts, uplift spirits, and empower lives.

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