By Keziah Loucille Mallorca, SIAP & Rizza Joy Adlaon, BSEd - 3
The Xavier University Festival Days (XUFD) was launched last 29 November 2023 with the theme: “Padayon: Celebrating Traditions, Inspiring Innovations”. As the university celebrates its 90th year, the XU Social Development Cluster continues their initiatives on social engagement with their various internal and external partners.
AGAPE Immersion in partnership with Theology Department
Selected classes in THEO 2 underwent the Ateneo Guided Apostolate in Pastoral Engagements (AGAPE) Immersion last 29 November – 3 December 2023 at the Cogon Public Market, Cagayan de Oro City. Students were deployed in various stalls in the market and were monitored and guided by XU Social Involvement and Advocacy Program (SIAP) and representatives from the City Economic Enterprises and Business Development Administration (CEEBDA). The immersion activity aimed to foster empathy, understanding, and community engagement by spending a maximum of 12 hours assisting their host vendors.
After their immersion, students underwent processing sessions to reflect on their experience. They expressed their gratefulness and enjoyment for the opportunity to be of service to their respective communities, highlighting the Ignatian values of ‘preferential option for the poor’ and ‘persons for others’.
Lamdag of ACT with XU Arrupe Education Center (AEC) and XU Holistic Union of General Educators (XU HUGE)
A ‘Lamdag of ACT’ Volunteer tutoring children from Talongan Village | A volunteer interacted with and guided her students
To help children who experienced challenges in learning is a collaborative project from the partnership between the XU Holistic Union of General Educators (XU HUGE) and the Arrupe Educational Center (AEC) entitled “Lamdag of ACT”. Since its inception in 2018, this project has been dedicated to providing motivational drive and educational enrichment for children in need. The initiative aims to provide additional educational enrichment and intervention through a series of weekly tutorial sessions and other pertinent activities.
Every Saturday, the core officers and volunteers of “Lamdag of ACT”, comprised of preservice teachers from the School of Education in partnership with the Arrupe Educational Center and the Social Involvement and Advocacy Program, gather to render tutoring services on basic literacy and numeracy to 50 enrolled students from elementary to high school. The learning center, provided by the village, becomes a hub of educational enrichment, focusing on reading, storytelling, and arts that center around self and family. Recently, the team visited the village on 2 December 2023 to continue their mission to serve the children amidst the festivities in campus.
Lamdag of ACT's community service in Talongan Village, is not a one-time event but a testament to the continuous commitment to education. Through collective efforts, the project aims to illuminate the path toward a brighter and more promising future for every child in the community. Future partnerships and projects are in store for next semester by the same group of student-volunteers.
Outreach Program at Lantapan, Bukidnon
XU Volunteers with Fr Dom Martin Hizon-Gomez at the Transfiguration Monastery. | Junior and Senior High School students from the Talaandig tribe
In celebration of the Mindanao Week of Peace and XUFD 2023, American Corner CdeO in coordination with XU Libraries, XU SIAP, XU Central Student Government, United Arts and Sciences Student Council, and Ateneo Diplomatic Corps, implemented a community outreach activity and cultural exposure at Lantapan, Bukidnon last 1 December 2023.
With the theme, “The Strength of the Community is the Path to Genuine Peace and Progress”, the team visited the Talaandig community in Lantapan, immersing themselves in deeper understanding and appreciation of the tribe’s culture while also empowering the Talaandig youth present in the activity.
More than 200 individuals from both Talaandig tribe and Xavier Ateneo participated in the activity. The event served as an avenue for both cultures to interact and engage with each other – identify each other’s differences yet also embracing a sense of commonality and understanding of each other’s identity. Both parties expressed their positive outlook for future engagements and partnerships.
XU Medical Mission with XU School of Medicine and THEO 2 Nursing Students
XU SIAP volunteers and formators with XUJPRSM and PIKIFI Volunteers | XU THEO 2 Nursing students took the vital signs of the patients
In partnership with XU School of Medicine, THEO 2 NB and NF, and Philippine Island Kid’s International Foundation, Inc. (PIKIFI), XU SIAP organized a medical mission for the families residing in Old Zayas Landfill, Cagayan de Oro City. A total of 78 XU students, doctors, and volunteers were present in the activity.
With the assistance from the social workers from PIKIFI, the Nursing students conducted a profiling of residents in the area. After the profiling, the students escorted and encouraged the residents to get a medical check-up from the volunteer doctors present in the activity.
The students and volunteers were able to interact with the residents and practice their expertise in the medical and nursing field. XU was able to cater medical check-ups, provide medicine for the patients, and present feedback on what are the common sickness and medical needs of the patients.
Padayon is a Cebuano term which means “to continue”. With the term being the main theme for the Xavier University Festival Days, it is a manifestation of XU’s continuous mission of serving communities, forming individuals to become men and women for and with others. These projects, initiatives, and engagements are just a few of the many engagements XU took part of since it was founded 90 years ago. Xavier University through the Social Development Cluster continues to commit to its mission of becoming a university in service of the Church, the global community and the Filipino people. For God’s greater glory!