What happens when disaster preparedness is transformed into stories, colorful characters, experiments, and hands-on activities? For hundreds of elementary students in Quezon City, learning about fire safety became an experience that was not only educational but also memorable. Through Project ALAS: SIKLABAN – Sindihan ang Alab ng Kabataan, the UP Association of Civil Engineering Students (UP ACES) brought fire safety and preparedness education to students of Toro Hills Elementary School and Tandang Sora Elementary School as part of its continuing commitment to strengthening disaster resilience among young learners. Project ALAS, short for Alleviating Lives, Advancing Solutions, serves as the social service arm of UP ACES and seeks to apply civil engineering principles to real-world community concerns. Since its establishment nearly a decade ago, the initiative has reached more than 4,000 beneficiaries through programs addressing waste management, sustainable housing, disaster preparedness, and environmental education. In 2023, the project began strengthening its focus on sustainable, replicable, and scalable approaches to community safety and resilience, particularly in addressing disaster-related concerns. This direction was put into practice in 2024 at Bagbag Elementary School, where Grades 1 to 3 students learned about disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and waste management through interactive storytelling, dioramas, experiments, and personalized go-bags. Building on this experience, UP ACES returned in 2025 with SIKLABAN, this time focusing on fire safety and protection. Through animated explainer videos, interactive storytelling, physical dioramas, experiments, and fire safety demonstrations, the project sought to make potentially life-saving information understandable and engaging for children. Reaching More Learners The project was initially designed to accommodate approximately 300 students in one school. However, when two schools expressed interest, the team expanded its implementation to serve around 600 students. The increased number of beneficiaries presented logistical challenges, but it also gave Project ALAS an opportunity to extend its reach. Another challenge was communicating fire safety concepts effectively to children across different age groups. Recognizing the differences in maturity and learning preferences between younger and older students, the team developed age-appropriate materials. Students from Grades 1 to 3 received coloring books, while those from Grades 4 to 6 received […]
UP DIliman NSRC
The NSTP Diliman Office held its first virtual graduation last August 15, 2020 for students who completed their NSTP courses this Academic Year 2019-2020. This also served as an induction program for the graduates of Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) and Literacy Training Service (LTS) components to the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC). As reservists, the graduates may now be tapped by the state to perform duties related to literacy and civic welfare initiatives, especially during times of disaster. The commencement theme “Maglingkod, Magmalasakit, Manindigan” calls for reservists to help the underserved communities and care for the marginalized sectors, values that are formed in their NSTP classes. This also serves as a reminder to all students that as “Iskolar ng Bayan”, they have a sense of duty to stand against injustices and relentlessly serve the people. Vice Chancellor Ma. Theresa T. Payongayong, PhD gave her opening remarks to formally welcome the program’s participants. An inspirational message for the graduates was delivered by the guest speaker Mr. Joshua G. Danac, Convenor of the Scientists Unite Against COVID-19, an alliance of scientists, organizations and other Filipinos that echoes calls to expand testing efforts at the regional and local levels, and build the country’s COVID-19 testing capacity. Mr. Danac is a science research specialist at the UP National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and also a member of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team. In his message, he urged the students that no matter how young they think they are, there is always something that they can contribute to the community . “Sa ganitong panahon pinaka-tumitindi ang diwa at katuwiran ng NSTP. Ang panawagan nito sa ating mga Iskolar ng Bayan, ang ating service – ang ating paglilingkod. Ito ang krisis na humahamon sa bawat isa sa atin. Now, more than ever, we need to step up and serve the people,” he emphasized. The program also featured the NSTP students’ community engagement projects, fundraising activities, and awareness campaigns along with their partner communities and organizations. NSTP classes’ partner communities include Sitio San Roque Community, Bahay Aruga, He Cares Mission, Open School of […]