By Victoria Melissa C Pulido
SLP Formator

Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan (XU) organized the Service-Learning (SL) Summit 2025 carrying the SD Week’s theme, "Bracing the Mission: On to Stronger Connections and Newer Grounds".

Held on 13 March 2025, the summit aimed to highlight the significant service-learning engagements conducted by students during the first semester of the 2024-2025 academic year, with a focus on their contribution to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, it provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange perspectives, reflections, and feedback on key service-learning themes. By showcasing these experiences, the summit sought to encourage prospective faculty and partners to actively participate in service-learning, promoting the program's growth into new and strategic areas of engagement.

(In Photo: Administrators, faculty, students, and partners pose for a group photo at the SL Summit 2025)

The summit drew a diverse audience, including administrators, faculty, students, and partners. Notably, representatives from local government offices in Cagayan de Oro City (City Health Office, City Housing and Urban Development Department, and City Social Welfare and Development), Misamis Oriental (LGU Opol and LGU Tagoloan), and Bukidnon (LGU Malitbog) were present. Additionally, participants included representatives from Liceo de Cagayan University, Capitol University, DTI Region 10’s Rapid Growth Project, SPI Power Incorporated, Macapaya Oro Settlers Homeowner’s Association, and Philippine Island Kids International Foundation, Inc.

(In Photos: L-R: Nursing student Kristine Ann A Tan and Biology student Joselito Rafael P Albasin presented their service learning engagements)

In his opening address, Fr Mars P Tan, SJ, University President, shared a personal anecdote, recounting how his own college experiences in community engagement profoundly shaped his life choices, including his decision to enter the priesthood. He underscored Xavier Ateneo's institutional commitment to service-learning, emphasizing its integral role in the university's educational approach. This approach aims to cultivate not only academic excellence but also social responsibility in students. By exposing students to diverse communities and guiding them through faculty and service-learning formators, Xavier Ateneo empowers them to collaboratively develop solutions for pressing social issues within partner communities. Fr Mars further highlighted the university's global outreach, noting that students are sent to various countries to engage in intercultural dialogue and gain a broader understanding of global social problems. He acknowledged that service-learning, as an evolving program, presents its own set of challenges within Xavier Ateneo. He pointed out that this unconventional teaching pedagogy requires increased effort from faculty. Nevertheless, he asserted that it represents a crucial advancement in academic formation, particularly within Jesuit universities, where social formation remains a vital component of Jesuit education and development

Ms Gail P dela Rita, Director of the Service Learning Program, provided an overview of the SL Summit, emphasizing the distinct nature of service learning at Xavier Ateneo. She clarified that it extends beyond mere community service, involving collaborative partnerships where students apply their academic knowledge and skills to develop solutions for community needs and concerns. "Students utilize the academic knowledge and skills acquired over years of training at Xavier," Ms dela Rita stated. She further emphasized that the "Magis" of service learning transcends simply assisting. It encompasses the acquisition of data and the presentation of research findings that can contribute to the development of policies and programs aimed at safeguarding community well-being. Furthermore, it advocates for various social issues, including environmental protection and good governance.

A total of 12 service learning engagements from various academic programs were showcased during the summit. It was presented by select students who shared their service learning experience, insights and reflections gained, photos and video clips as well as findings of their studies. The engagements were categorized into five sub-themes: Environmental Sustainability, Policy and Governance, Community Health, Nutrition and Safety, Technology and Innovations, and Cultural Preservation and Community Education. Specific projects included: assessments of marine and terrestrial ecosystems; microbiological and physicochemical water analyses; carbon sequestration through tree and mangrove planting; evaluations of feeding programs; basic life support training for community emergency responders; capacity building for homeowner's associations in relocation sites; initiatives to improve disaster response and traffic management; assessments of farmer organizations' readiness for digitization; creation of maps using GIS open-source systems; advocacy for child protection and good values through puppetry; and documentation of Higanonon cultural narratives for preservation.

(In Photo: Second-year Industrial Engineering student, Christ Cedrick Gabisan, led the presentation
of their engagement with the DTI Rapid Growth Project at the SL Summit 2025)

The summit included reactions from three guest reactors representing service learning faculty, partner organizations, and Xavier Ateneo administration. Engr Randolph Hallasgo, Head of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office of Opol, emphasized the significant impact of the Marine Biology students' study on coastal and marine areas in Opol. He highlighted how the data presented by the students directly influenced the municipality's policy direction, particularly in maintaining clean and protected coastal communities “sukad adtong pag present ninyo sa inyong data, nakahuna-huna mi nga kinahanglan na namo ma amend ang among Integrated Coastal Management Plan… importante gayud siya nga data, in-ana ka importante ang inyong gihimo” (Since you presented those data, we realized we needed to amend our Integrated Coastal Management Plan… the data is truly important, that's how significant your work is) he mentioned in his reaction.

(In Photo: Engr Randolph Hallasgo, Head of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office
(MENRO) of Opol, represented the Municipal Local Government Unit (LGU) at the SL Summit 2025.)

Dr Faustino M Tarongoy, Jr, a service learning faculty member teaching Chemistry, shared his experiences facilitating service learning in his course. He emphasized the critical role of conducting thorough community needs assessments. This process, he explained, enables faculty to effectively mentor and guide students in developing relevant engagements and outputs that directly address the community's expressed needs.

Dr Juliet Q Dalagan, Vice President for Higher Education, connected the summit's purpose to a recent message from Fr.Jose Ramon T Villarin during the Higher Education convocation. She stated, “When you know what is happening out there, you would like to be better in here… you made the invisible, visible, the stunted children, the IPs, the environment, these are things that are invisible, we don't see them until we go out there.” She further shared that the students' presentations reinforced her confidence that Xavier Ateneo is successfully institutionalizing service-learning as a social formation and community engagement program.

Xavier Ateneo's Service Learning Program is its flagship program for social formation, connecting academic studies with community needs.

SL Summit Video Highlights can be accessed through XU-SLP’s official Facebook page.