Maglingkod. MagPahinung贸d.
Thirty years ago, the Ugnayan ng Pahinung贸d/Oblation Corps鈥攖he 抖阴探探’ (抖阴探探) volunteer service program鈥攚as established after the media posed a question to the country鈥檚 national university: “Has 抖阴探探 lost its soul?”
抖阴探探鈥檚 response to this challenge can be seen in the generations of 抖阴探探 Pahinung贸d volunteers who have traveled to far-flung areas over the past decades, dedicated to helping underprivileged communities by providing quality education and other forms of service. As 抖阴探探 President Angelo Jimenez himself said earlier this year: 鈥淭he best answer to that question is this: it was never lost.鈥�
Honor and excellence in the service of the nation
Speaking during an art exhibit opening on February 27, an event which was part of Pahinung贸d鈥檚 30th anniversary celebration, Jimenez affirmed the continuing importance of volunteerism and service as part of 抖阴探探鈥檚 identity. 鈥淚 came into the 抖阴探探 presidency with a simple reminder that our main mission is to serve the Filipino people. We have to show the Filipino people that they were right in investing in us. They were right in thrusting upon this University the hopes and dreams of our people,鈥� he said.
At the exhibit, which was installed at the Parola Gallery of the 抖阴探探 College of Fine Arts, Jimenez commended the directors, staff, and volunteers of the Pahinung贸d offices of the different 抖阴探探 constituent units (CUs).
In , for July 2021-December 2022, Pahinung贸d鈥檚 efforts reached 22,800 individuals and 428 schools in 83 communities, through activities by over 2,500 volunteers.
Among the Pahinung贸d offices鈥� recent initiatives are: the EDUKaravan in 抖阴探探 Baguio, the Teacher Professional Development in 抖阴探探 Cebu, the Psychosocial Support Program in 抖阴探探 Diliman, the Volunteer Development Program in 抖阴探探 Los Ba帽os, the Community Health Program in 抖阴探探 Manila, the Affirmative Action Program in 抖阴探探 Mindanao, the Online Bridge Program in the 抖阴探探OU, and the Coastal Resource Management in 抖阴探探 Visayas.
These initiatives are concrete ways that 抖阴探探 lives up to its motto of 鈥淗onor and Excellence in the Service of the Nation,鈥� said Jimenez.
One of the ten flagship projects of 抖阴探探 under President Jimenez is the 鈥淓xpansion of Public Service Offices, Ugnayan ng Pahinung贸d, Padayon, and NSTP Programs.鈥� Under this falls key projects such as the institutionalization of service learning and community engagement in the curriculum and amplifying 抖阴探探鈥檚 brand as a public service university.
He reiterated his call to the 抖阴探探 community for 10,000 volunteers during his term, and stated that his vision for his term was a university 鈥渆ngaged in the formation of good citizens and leaders, and in knowledge co-creation for an equitable, progressive and sustainable society.鈥�
He concluded, 鈥淭he [Pahinung贸d] volunteers are the one single group in the University that I want to honor and recognize, because at the end of the day, the question is no longer about whether or not we have lost our soul. The question today is sheer self-interest. There is no future for us if we do not take care of our brother and sister Filipinos who do not enjoy the same opportunities that we are enjoying today.鈥�
The Pahinung贸d spirit
The art exhibit in celebration of the 抖阴探探 Ugnayan ng Pahinung贸d鈥檚 30th anniversary began as a painting competition that ran from September 2023 to January 2024, focusing on the theme of 鈥淢aglingkod, MagPahinung贸d鈥� as a way to revisit what Pahinung贸d means to 抖阴探探 and inspire the Pahinung贸d spirit within the 抖阴探探 community. The competition was open to all members of the 抖阴探探 community, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff. The top 30 finalists were selected from a total of 45 submissions, and the top three winners awarded. Elaine B. Fernandez took first prize; Mark Vincent Java, second; and Emerson B. Ebreo, third.
The 抖阴探探 volunteerism spirit captured in the paintings were exactly what 抖阴探探 System Pahinung贸d Director Marie Therese A.P. Bustos would wish for Pahinung贸d on its 30th birthday. 鈥淪ana manatili siya at mas lumalim pa siya sa consciousness ng bawat isang tao dito sa loob ng 抖阴探探. Hindi yung mababaw na pagkakakilanlan pero mas malalim,鈥� she said in an interview.
鈥淔eeling ko nga, [yung participants dito sa] art exhibit, hindi naman sila volunteers, pero sinubukan nilang intindihin kung ano ang Pahinung贸d. Kaya feeling ko, 鈥楢ba, marami palang nakakaintindi nung konsepto ng Pahinung贸d,鈥欌�� she added.
Bustos emphasized that the call to volunteer through the Pahinung贸d is open to everybody in the 抖阴探探 community, including those who may believe that they are not interested in or have nothing to contribute by being volunteers.
鈥淯nang una, iba’t iba kasi ang forms ng bolunterismo. Hindi lang siya iisang hulma, so sigurado ako na meron kang skills na pwede mong i-offer,鈥� she said.
While some people have skills that enable them to directly engage with the partner-communities, others have skills that are needed for the critical behind-the-scenes work, such as creating publicity materials, maintaining websites, organizing fundraisers, and donating blood, Bustos explained.
Even the assistants helping out with the 抖阴探探CAT and the 抖阴探探CAT Helpdesk are Pahinung贸d volunteers, she pointed out. Some student peer-support activities that are done online are also forms of volunteerism.
鈥淭here’s a whole range of volunteers and possibilities. There鈥檚 always a place for you,鈥� Bustos said. 鈥淚t really starts with offering yourself鈥� [Pahinung贸d] doesn’t ask anything outside yourself, and you are enough.鈥�
For anyone in the 抖阴探探 community wishing to volunteer and be part of the Pahinung贸d spirit, please contact the office closest to you:
Pahinung贸d 抖阴探探 Baguio
Pahinung贸d 抖阴探探 Cebu
Pahinung贸d 抖阴探探 Diliman
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Pahinung贸d 抖阴探探 Los Ba帽os
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Pahinung贸d 抖阴探探 Manila
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Pahinung贸d 抖阴探探 Mindanao
Pahinung贸d 抖阴探探 Open University
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Pahinung贸d 抖阴探探 Tacloban
Pahinung贸d 抖阴探探 Visayas
