The National Service Training Program (NSTP) recently held its Partners Orientation on 10-11 October 2024, at AVR 1, Xavier University. The activity aimed to strengthen collaboration with various community stakeholders and enhance community engagement and social responsibility. The orientation also included talks about basic gender and development (GAD) concepts in partnership with the Xavier Ateneo-Gender and Development (XAGaD) Office. It is a significant step toward promoting gender equality and inclusivity in community work.

Ma Kharmel B Pimentel, the NSTP partnership development in charge, opened the orientations with a message of gratitude for the presence and commitment of the partners. She emphasized that NSTP is taking care of the well-being of the contact persons by providing them with formation sessions that will serve as a tool or support for their professional and personal development. Fr Frank Dennis B Savadera, SJ, the Vice President for Mission and Ministry, expressed in his inspirational message his appreciation to the partners for saying yes to Xavier University and its mission. He added that St John XXIII welcomed lay people to the mission and service of Christ with the poor when he opened Vatican 2.

Partners from the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), Cagayan de Oro City Education Development Department (CEDD), Cagayan de Oro City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Xavier University Green Campus Agenda, Mckeough Marine Center (MMC), Xavier University School of Education-Arrupe Educational Center, Xavier Ateneo Gender and Development (XAGaD), Pedro Calungsod PEACE Project, Nina Maria Learning Center Arts Hub, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) attended the first day of orientation. Atty Khristine Kay Lazarito-Calingin, one of the legal officers of Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for the Development of Mindanaw (BALAOD Mindanaw), a legal resource non-government organization, facilitated this session. Teachers and school heads from public elementary schools such as the City Engineers ES, Consolacion ES, Bonbon ES, Corrales ES, Camaman-an ES, Bulua ES, Lumbia CS, St. John ES, Balulang ES, Indahag ES, Sacred Heart Village ES, North CS, Cagayan de Oro National High School, South CCS, East CCS, Macabalan ES, and Taguanao ES attended the second day of orientation. Atty Normita V Batula, a faculty member of the School of Law of Xavier University and a board member of BALAOD Mindanaw, facilitated this session. Atty Batula included in her discussion the Department of Education Order No. 32, series of 2017, entitled Basic Education Gender-Responsive Policy. “This policy provides the guidelines for gender-responsive basic education that shall allow the DepEd to integrate the principles of gender equality, gender equity, gender sensitivity, non-discrimination, and human rights in the provision and governance of basic education.”

Both resource persons emphasized that building empowered and reliable communities demands more than service—it requires understanding gender and development. According to the resource persons, a key component of this understanding is the recognition of gender roles and gender-related challenges that may affect community members, particularly women and marginalized groups.

The resource persons discussed concepts of development, principles & assumptions, sex and gender, roles and differences, understanding sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC), agents of gender socialization, manifestations of gender bias, and several laws related to gender. The speakers emphasized that gender equality is not just a women’s issue but a societal one that affects everyone. By understanding the various factors that contribute to inequality, community partners and volunteers can adopt a more inclusive approach to service, especially with the NSTP students.

The NSTP Partners Orientation allowed dialogue and sharing among the participants. Mr Ismael Salarda expressed his appreciation for the focus on gender and development, noting that such discussions are vital in ensuring programs with the community are more inclusive and effective. He said the recent Gender and Development session at Xavier Ateneo resonated with him as it highlighted the crucial link between these two areas, revealing how deeply gender concerns are woven into broader developmental goals. He realized that discussing gender without considering its developmental context risks limiting the conversation to identity and preference alone, which can lead to disagreements rooted in subjective views. By framing gender within a larger framework of societal growth and justice, he saw how we can foster a more balanced, constructive discourse. This approach encourages collective growth over division and invites us to see gender as part of a shared journey toward equity and progress. Ms Florevie E Honghong, a teacher from Camaman-an Elementary School, also shared that the event is truly a blessing as a partner of XUNSTP. She appreciates the input on GAD since it lets her realize many things, especially that they handle children.

The orientation concluded with an activity where partners and formators identified the plan of action for the societal engagements of the students. The participants assessed their role in student formation and how the NSTP societal engagements can help develop communities.

As NSTP continues to engage with its partners, the program aims to uphold the mandate of the law while empowering its contact persons to promote equality in all aspects of life while assisting student formation. By equipping its partners, NSTP ensures its engagements are transformative, sustainable, and equitable.