Our academic achievements and performance are important but in the real world, there are so many other aspects to consider for one to be truly successful. But when you graduate from STEFTI, whatever awards you will have, or how mediocre your grades are, do not worry, STEFTI has prepared you for life, just wait and see!“

Shawn Kemp

Back in high school, one can easily spot Shawn in a crowd. He was the student who passionately expressed his ideas from mundane topics to the most sublime issues in the universe. He was the eloquent speaker, the first award-winning debater in the history of the STEFTI Debaters Guild.  Early on, he already showed this talent in public speaking and was later developed when he joined several debate tournaments outside the school up until college where he won the Visayas Universities Debate Championship in 2015.

“The school cultivated an environment where everyone was allowed to express themselves, explore their strengths and weaknesses and have fun all the time. I think this aspect of my STEFTI experience is significant because it was during these formative years of my life that the healthy environment of STEFTI allowed us to do all these things and more.  I specially cherish the times I spent with the STEFTI Debaters Guild, the Special Group that was more than just an interest club. There we were a family that just so happened to hurdle one debate competition to the next victoriously, the bond and chemistry of our team (FAMILY) and the excellence of our coaches created a synergy that made us champions and the best in the region.”

After graduating from STEFTI he took up Bachelor of Science in Social Science Major in Political Science at the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College. There he became an active student leader serving as the Chairperson of the UP Tacloban Student Council, Vice Chairperson of the UP Visayas University Student Council and Secretary General of KASAMA sa UP, the largest alliance of Student Councils in the UP System. During his term as Chairperson of the Student Council, he had the unenviable task of leading the student body as it was still recovering from the devastation of Super-Typhoon Yolanda. It was during this time that he along with the other officers were able to lobby and secure free meals, free lodging and tuition fee discounts for the students of UP Tacloban. It was quite an achievement for him as a chairperson, because in his own little way he was able to help his fellow Iskolars ng Bayan cope with the aftermath of such a horrific disaster.

He is currently employed at the Office of the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives as part of the legislative team and the head of the Program and Projects Division. Part of his duties include constant communication with the Secretaries of different Departments and National Agencies in order to bring social services and projects for Eastern Visayas and ensure their efficient and expedient implementation. These projects include the New Passenger Terminal Building of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport and Tacloban City By-Pass Road.

He is now happily married to Kristine Saludo-Capucion and they’re currently based in Quezon City, Metro Manila.  He has just recently earned his Juris Doctor degree from the San Beda University College of Law and will be taking the next BAR Exams hopefully this year.