Open hands and generous hearts highlight AGS Bigay Puso Program

In the Ateneo de Manila Grade School (AGS), there is an activity called Bigay Puso. It is a social involvement program that shapes our young students to become persons for and with others. Every year, AGS students have a chance to touch base with those who are in need by forming a special relationship called “friendship.” As early as Kindergarten, Ateneans are already immersed in social involvement work with the help of their learning partners. Inspired by the story of Jesus’ miracle of the five loaves and two fish, our students are asked to respond to Jesus’ call to help others. Bigay Puso teaches AGS students to be a blessing to others as they continue to be blessed by God. A simple act of sacrifice can greatly affect the lives of the friends they meet in Bigay Puso. 

What follows is a summary of the Bigay Puso activities that our Kinder, Grade 1, Grade 2 , and Grade 3 families engaged in during School Year 2023-2024.   

Kindergarten

During SY 2023-2024, our Kindergarten students partnered with our community helpers, the Ateneo Risk Management Unit (ARMU), and e-jeep drivers. These people are readily visible in our community especially since they are responsible for maintaining everyone’s safety and well-being. The Kinder students gave joy during the 2023 Christmas season to our community helpers by giving grocery packs and “own-made” Christmas cards. They also shared grocery packs with the Gawad Kalinga Village in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, during the conduct of Paskuhan 2023 last December.

It was a fun experience when our Kindergarten students finally met their Bigay Puso Partners during their interaction. They had lots to share during their “kuwentuhan” and even got to ride the e-jeep and board the ARMU Ambulance. It was a meaningful experience for our students and their partners as they exchanged stories with one another.

At the end of the school year, the Kinder family once again shared its blessings with our community helpers, including our pals from the cafeteria. The simple turnover ceremony was attended by AGS administrators, Kinder teachers, parents, students, and guests from the Campus Safety and Mobility Office led by its director, Engr. Josephy Almosera.

Grade 1

Similarly, the Grade 1 students were given the chance to help the children of Tangos Mission Station in Navotas City during School Year 2023-2024. These children are part of a community in Brgy. Tangos North, Navotas City, where many extra-judicial killings took place from 2016 to 2018. Through the help of Fr. Wilfredo Samson SJ, the head of the Mission Stations in the Diocese of Caloocan, our Grade 1 students were able to help these children. Their friendship began in October of 2023, when they met in the Ateneo de Manila Grade School campus for their interaction. They were able to play, eat, and share “kuwentuhan” time during the visit.

A simple yet fruitful interaction also took place during the Christmas gift-giving activity of our Grade 1 family with the children from Tangos Mission Station. This time, the parents of our Grade 1 students visited the community and shared Christmas packages and cards made by our students.

The Grade 1 family concluded its Bigay Puso Program with a turnover ceremony attended by AGS administrators, Grade 1 teachers, parents, students, and guests from Tangos Mission Station and Jesuit Mission Station, Br. Elmer Ulanday MJ, and Fr. Wilfredo Samson SJ.

Grade 2

Meanwhile, members of our Grade 2 family also had the opportunity to actualize being persons for others last school year, extending their hearts and hands to the students of Raymundo Punongbayan Elementary School (RPES) in Payatas, Quezon City. These students are the recipients of the Food Augmentation Program of the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED).

An ideal interaction between students from the AGS and RPES was not possible due to the extreme hot weather experienced in April 2024. However, with the commitment and support of both institutions, an asynchronous interaction was made possible. Four months prior, the distribution of gifts and Christmas packs was done during the Christmas gift-giving activity with the help of the Grade 2 parents. Christmas cards made by AGS students were also distributed to their partners from RPES.

At the end of a challenging school year, the Grade 2 family formally turned over the savings of our Grade 2 Ateneans to their Bigay Puso friends from Raymundo Punongbayan Elementary School, triggering many smiles.  

Grade 3 

Also giving their hearts and extending helping hands to new Bigay Puso friends were the members of the AGS Grade 3 family, which welcomed students from Francisco P. Felix Elementary School in Cainta, Rizal, as new partners. Just like the students from RPES, the learners of Francisco P. Felix Elementary School are also beneficiaries of the Food Augmentation Program of the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED).

Our Grade 3 students did not forget their friends from Felix Elementary School during the holiday season. Selected Grade 3 students, together with their parents, went to Cainta, Rizal for the Christmas gift-giving activity. The Grade 3 family shared Christmas packs, toys, and Christmas cards made by the Ateneans.

To celebrate a successful year for the Grade 3 Bigay Puso Program, a turnover ceremony was held to formally turn over the savings of our Grade 3 students to their partners from Francisco P. Felix Elementary School. AGS administrators, teachers, parents, and students were in attendance to witness the turnover with representatives from the ACED.