By: Reigh John Bench Almendras, Sophia Pacheco
Photos by: Julia Iris Eguillano & Kim Yoshi Espiritu/The LANCE
The Colegio’s National Service Training Program (NSTP) conducted its three-day Volunteerism Fair from Jan. 22 to 24 with the theme ‘SALOK: NSTP Volunteerism Fair Week’. Organized with the Letran Community Volunteers (LCV), the event series promoted the importance of volunteerism, the value of community service, and encouraged volunteers and students to engage in efforts to uplift local development.
The three-day fair, in preparation for the project implementation of NSTP students, opened at the Salon de Actos on Jan. 22 which was attended by the officers of LCV as program facilitators and coordinators, and NSTP students alongside their course professors.
In his opening remarks, Inst. John Renzo M. Espinosa, the NSTP Chairperson, shared the initiative's intention to serve as an avenue to be involved with causes that align with the interests and values of Letranites.
“Ang linggong ito ay hindi lamang isang simpleng kaganapan, kundi isang bukas na paanyaya para sa bawat isa sa atin upang mag-ambag, makialam, at makapagbigay ng positibong pagbabago,” Inst. Espinosa stated.
A seminar conducted by Ms. Pia Castillo, Senior Officer of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) under the theme ‘Creating a Culture for Volunteerism in Schools: A Pathway to Service Learning and Community Development’ highlights volunteerism as a two-way process that affects both the giver and the receiver.
“If you want to develop something like your self-esteem, you can volunteer. Hindi lang ang binibigyan ang nagkakaroon ng pagbabago. In volunteerism, you can also develop yourself.” shared Ms. Castillo.
Aside from PNVSCA, non-governmental organizations (NGO) The Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS), and Handicapped Lourdes Inc. which caters to the rehabilitation of people with disabilities (PWD), also joined the event as NSTP’s external links.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially marked the opening of the Volunteer Hub at Salon de Actos, which served as a venue for students to interact with volunteer organizations, and inspire student engagement by sharing volunteer opportunities.
NSTP faculty members, IDEALS and Handicapped Lourdes Inc. representative Ms. Castillo, and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), Assoc. Prof. Eric Awi, PhD, were key personnel that participated in the ceremony.
Lectures on volunteerism and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing
On its second day, Jan. 23, the NSTP conducted another seminar at the Student Center (SC) Auditorium which focused on the significance of small actions as stepping stones towards greater volunteer work, and the consideration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in implementing volunteer initiatives in communities.
The event welcomed guest speakers Engr. Ronald Dela Cruz, the President of the Philippine Junior Jaycees Inc. (JJC), and Mr. Bryan Gonzales, the Program Officer of the Caucus Development NGO Networks.
After lectures, the speakers welcomed questions from the audience from which Engr. Dela Cruz shared the reality that everyone will leave the academe and will face greater challenges.
“The reality is, aalis tayo ng school at haharap sa mga hamon sa labas. Ang inspiration ko is, dahil student leader din ako sa loob ng school, is the need to step outside and learn more.” Engr. Dela Cruz stated.
At the end of the program, an MOU signing was conducted to foster partnerships that will permit Letranites to build networks that will aid their NSTP project implementations.
The MOU was signed by Engr. Dela Cruz from JJC, and Assoc. Prof. Awi, with Inst. Espinosa, and Ms. Dann Cortez, the Area Vice President for Luzon of JJC as witnesses.
On its last day, Jan. 24, the NSTP event conducted another MOU signing ceremony at St. Thomas Hall to officially forge partnerships with four more external organizations, namely IDEALS Inc., Handicapped Lourdes Inc., PNVSCA, and Archdiocese of Manila - Ministry on Ecology.
The directors, managers, senior officers, and staff of the external organizations were present during the ceremony, while Assoc. Prof. Awi, Inst. Espinosa, NSTP Faculty members, LCV members, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Prof. Danilo Villena served as representatives of the Colegio
In his closing remarks, Prof. Villena shared his hopes to make the NSTP an area of learning more empowered through the participation of the new external partners in the succeeding months.
“May this youthful event develop our NSTP students to become more empowered in volunteering.” Prof. Villena shared.
The ceremony ended with a lunch, where organizations informally discussed their goals as new partners of the NSTP.