AJHS Social Involvement Week cultivates compassion for the marginalized and vulnerable

The Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) community celebrated Social Involvement Program (SIP) week from January 24 to 27, 2023. With the theme “Kita-Kita: Pakikipagkapwa at Pagbabahaginan,” the celebration was led by the AJHS Christian Service and Involvement Program (CSIP) with the goal of cultivating compassion for the marginalized and vulnerable. This year’s festivities included a community mass, a panel discussion, an engagement activity, and a bloodletting drive.

The mass opened with a parade of partners where representatives from partner institutions for all four CSIP programs were welcomed by the AJHS community.

Shortly after the parade, the Mass presided by Fr. Wilfredo Samson SJ was celebrated. In his homily, he recalled Jesus’ compassion for the marginalized and reminded the community that we are all called to journey with them as well.

The Kita-Kita program kicked off with a video of previous activities and engagements where Ateneans- both formators and students- were seen in action through the various CSIP programs. After the heartwarming videos played, a panel of speakers- namely Dr. Mhir Delos Santos, Fr. Mamert Mañus SJ, and Mr. JB Bejarin- shared their thoughts, feelings, and experiences on their respective advocacies, and how they each responded to the call to serve. They also talked about the challenges of leadership and explained that being a compassionate and caring person can mean many things, including caring for stray cats or tending for those who are sick.  

Right after the program, the 19 new Katipunan Fund Drive (KFD) products for Term 2 were energetically introduced by their respective classes. These products- which include pizza, juice drinks, milk tea and even gwapo kits- will be sold from Jan. 25 until Feb. 24 along the AJHS Edsa Walk.

After the program, an intimate salu-salo was held in Favre Hall to celebrate our partnership with the various CSIP institutions. We acknowledge these institutions for the vital role they play in the formation of our AJHS students:

From the DUNGAW Exposure Program:

●        Brgy. Duyan Duyan Day Care Center

●        Brgy Escopa 1 Day Care Center

●        Brgy. Escopa 2 Day Care Center

●        Brgy. Escopa 3 Day Care Center

●        Brgy. Milagrosa Day Care Center

From the DANAS Ecological Engagement Program

●        Salikneta Farm

From the DAMA Christian Service Program

●        Valeriano Fugoso Memorial Elementary School

●        Benigno Aquino Jr. Elementary School

●        Commonwealth Elementary School

●        Kapitan Moy Elementary School

From the DAMAY Immersion Program

●        Sitio Boso-Boso community

●        Sapang Palay F Community

●        Cabangan Community

On January 27, a joint Bloodletting Drive between Dugong Alay, Dugtong Buhay and AJHS CSIP was held on the AJHS campus. Its objective was to replenish the dwindling supply of blood in our hospitals. The beneficiaries of the drive are Philippine General Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

A total of 58 bags of blood were extracted from over 100 participants from the Ateneo community. The activity was made possible through the efforts of Mrs. Joyce Co-Yu (point person for the blood bank staff), the volunteer med techs and doctors from the aforementioned hospitals, and the support of the Ateneo Resident Students Association (ARSA) and the Parents Union for School and Home (PUSH) councils.

Lastly, students were invited to participate in Puno ng Pagmamahal, an activity wherein they contributed to the symbolic growth of the Puno ng Pagmamahal by writing good deeds they’ve performed on recycled paper fashioned as leaves, and then attaching these leaves to the tree.  

All in all, the success of this year’s SIP week would not have been possible without the community’s support. And for that, we are deeply grateful for the Ateneo community’s participation and its affirmative response to the call of forming young men-for-and-with-others.