by Keziah Loucille Mallorca, SIAP Formator
The Xavier University Social Development (SD) Cluster through the Social Involvement and Advocacy Program (SIAP), in partnership with College of Nursing (CoN), Jose P Rizal School of Medicine (JPRSM), Campus of the Future (COF), and El Gaucho Community Relations celebrated the Xavier University Festival Days 2024 through “Mapadayunong Pagdayong” at the New Manresa, El Gaucho last 30 November 2024.
“Mapadayunong Pagdayong” is an environmental conservation and community outreach initiative focused on providing medical assistance to the workers and partner beneficiaries from El Gaucho community, Upper Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City. Derived from the Cebuano terms "Mapadayunong" (continuous or enduring) and "Pagdayong" (extending care or assistance), the project reflects the commitment to sustaining and expanding the programs and initiatives already established in the community, with a focus on fostering long-term development and support from potential new partners.
XU volunteers and partners of the “Mapadayunong Pagdayong” in celebration of the
Xavier University Festival Days 2024.
This is an official event of the XUFD 2024 celebration with the theme, “On to Stronger Connections and New Grounds”. This also aligns with Xavier University’s Atiman Kinaiyahan, the university’s program in environmental conservation through tree growing in XU’s land areas such as El Gaucho, and a continuation of XU-SIAP’s community engagement last June 2024 called “Dayong, El Gaucho”.
The event began with a tree-growing and monitoring activity along the property. The initiative was participated by various XU faculty, formators, staff, students and external partners. After the tree growing, a mass celebrated by Fr. Harvey Mateo was offered. Families from the El Gaucho property joined in the celebration, citing that it has been a long time since someone offered the Holy Eucharist in the area.
A student planting a bamboo seedling at the New Manresa, El Gaucho, Upper Puerto.
The services provided during the day included community health profiling, medical consultation, free medicine, and feeding activities. A public health lecture on skin lesions and handwashing was done by the senior clerks from the XU School of Medicine. These conditions were highlighted during the previous visit to El Gaucho last June 2024. The community was very cooperative and participative during the lecture by asking questions regarding the lecture, as well as citing the previous discussions on hypertension, rabies, and diabetes.
A student from the XU School of Medicine during the public health lecture on skin
lesions and handwashing.
Banking on the XUFD 2024’s theme, the Social Development Cluster continues to look forward to strengthening connections and collaborations with new and current partners. Anchored in a shared commitment to uplifting the underprivileged and those in need, the cluster’s engagements and aspirations to develop solutions are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that these engagements help in addressing societal concerns and building an inclusive and sustainable society.
The Social Development Cluster would like to thank the XUFD Executive Committee, El Gaucho community organizers, Campus of the Future, Campus Ministries Office, Health Services Office, Philippine Island Kids’ International Foundation, Inc. (PIKIFI), Social Action Center – Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (SAC-ACDO), and the faculty and student volunteers from the College of Nursing, School of Medicine, and School of Business and Management, for their time and effort given towards this activity.