In an effort to spark the spirit of volunteerism and service among the new generation of Iskolar ng Bayan, various grassroots initiatives aimed at addressing sectoral issues were presented during the“Sikhay Lingkod 2: A Summit on Volunteerism”. The summit, an annual event hosted by the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Diliman Office, through the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC), was held at the School of Economics Auditorium at the University of the Philippines Diliman last April 29, 2019. Dr. Jonalou S. Labor, NSRC Deputy Director, opened the event, urging the participants to be actively involved in any initiative as it is each UP student’s responsibility to contribute to the betterment of the Philippine society. He further extended his gratitude to all the guest speakers and partner organizations that made the event possible. Representatives from various government, non-government, and civic organizations delivered talks during the summit. Ms. Evica Vicas, Senior Volunteer Service Officer of Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) explained the nature of the government agency’s promotion and coordination among the volunteer programs in the Philippines. The agency advocates volunteerism across the nation that is dedicated, competent, and responsive to various service initiatives. PNVSCA creates partnerships with the academe, non-profit organizations, government and other service organization. Ms. Vicas encouraged the students to rise and heed the calls of volunteerism as it is each citizen’s role to be socially responsible. The Kythe Foundation is a non-profit organization aimed to provide psycho-social support to children with cancer and other chronic illness in hospitals. The volunteers of Kythe believe that the hospital is more than a place of healing, but it is also a space for fun, love, and learning. The Kythe Child Life Program’s goal is to alleviate anxiety of the patients and also provide their families with information on basic access to treatments and medicines. The volunteer program of Kythe enables individuals to personally interact with the patients through fun and learning activities through arts and crafts, bedside storytelling, and games. Donors may also be involved in different monetary assistance programs for the patients and survivors. In partnership with hospitals, […]
Monthly Archives: April 2019
The University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Corps of Sponsors (CoS) brought free medical, dental and other government services to some one hundred sixty (160) personnel and residents of the University and the nearby Barangays of Krus na Ligas, UP Campus, and San Vicente on 30 March 2019. “A big part of our duties as Sponsors is to serve the University community,” explains the organization’s head, Corps Sponsor Camille Ugarte. “This medical-dental mission is one way for us to fulfill it.” Dubbed “To the Rescue,” the day-long activity held at the UP Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST) complex gave beneficiaries medical and dental check-ups, medicines, tooth extraction, and consultations with social service agencies like the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth. The Commission on Elections also held a demo that allowed beneficiaries to try the new vote counting machines in preparation for the upcoming mid-term elections in May. The medical-dental mission is a civil military operation (CMO) of the CoS that is part of their fulfilment of their mandate as the socio-civic arm of UP ROTC. UP ROTC cadets, students taking military science, were also on hand to provide assistance to the beneficiaries. “This activity gives the cadets the opportunity to participate in CMO,” said Cadet Captain Jennie Ron Ablog, Corps CMO Officer of UP ROTC. “Serving the community is a huge part of their duties as nation-builders.” The day was capped with a program that recognized the services and support of volunteer doctors, dentists, students, government personnel and donors led by UPD NSTP Director, Prof. Arlyn Macapinlac and DMST Administrative Officer, Atty. John Barona. by Ara Allana D Tolosa, Corps Operations Sponsor