23 Ateneans join int'l conferences on service-learning, university social responsibility

Twenty-three  members of the Ateneo de Manila community, including seven Ateneo Senior High School students and seven senior Loyola Schools Development Studies students, presented at the 4th International Conference on Service-Learning (ICSL) and the International University Social Responsibility (USR) Summit 2022 last November 16-18, 2022. The events were co-hosted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the Service-Learning and Leadership Office (SLLO), and the USR Network. The Ateneo Center for Educational Development, the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, and the Office for Social Concern and Involvement also exhibited virtual booths for the summit.

Dr. Mark Anthony Abenir, Associate Professor of the Loyola Schools’ Development Studies Program and official representative of the university to the USR Network led the delegation. Aside from chairing three parallel sessions, Dr. Abenir also presented a research paper on Investigating the Impact on Partner Communities of Fully Online Academic Service-Learning Engagements and served as a panel speaker on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: The Ateneo’s Global and Regional Collaborations.

Two groups of Ateneo Senior High School students made virtual presentations at the USR Summit. Danielle Baldono, Gia Uncad, Tristan De Guzman, Elianna Urquico, and Julian Llantero presented a paper entitled “Commuter’s Choice Understanding Attitudes and Perception of Metro Manila Commuters Towards Cycling as a Mode of Transportation.” Melinda Cobar, the research subject area coordinator of the Ateneo Senior High School, accompanied Lauro Pacis III and Sofia Mikaela Lui when they presented their paper entitled “Perception of Filipino Private High School Students on Gender-Sensitive School Policies” on behalf of their group which includes Van Alcantara, Paula Bugaoisan, Thirdy Jaymalin, and RT Venturina.

One group of Loyola Schools’ Development Studies Program senior students presented their paper virtually at the ICSL. Diannie Mangali, Yanni Francisco, Sophia Tabanao, Julianne Makalintal, Jerrold Cainglet, Mandrake Medina, and Maria Purnell presented a paper entitled, “Sustainability of a Service Learning Project through the Participatory Development Approach - Hawak Kamay: A Series of Capacity Building Initiatives.”

Other members of the Ateneo de Manila community who made virtual presentations at the USR Summit were as follows:

• Dr. Justin Joseph Badion, Theology Department, Loyola Schools, “Promoting Food Justice through Religious Education: Towards Faithful Imagination of Regenerative Food Systems”
• Christelle Juin Ancha, Social Sciences 13 Instructor, Loyola Schools, along with Michelle Angeli E. Lapiz, Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc. (PCEPSDI), Philippines, “Blue Carbon Initiative: Empowering Coastal Communities on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) through People-Centered Programs and Policies”
• Anitta Nuevo and Jose Emmanuel Patrimonio, Office for Social Concern and Involvement, Loyola Schools, “E-Service Learning: Exploring Social Formation through Online Delivery”

Dr. Leland Joseph Dela Cruz, Assistant Vice President for Social Development, Environment, and Community Engagement also moderated an Ateneo de Manila virtual panel on “Institutionalizing Education for Social Responsibility at the Ateneo de Manila University.” Presentations at the panel were made by the following:

• Ophalle Alzona-Pornela, Director, Office for Social Concern and Involvement, Loyola Schools, “Student Social Formation at the Loyola Schools of the Ateneo de Manila University”
• Dr. Mark Anthony Abenir, Associate Professor, Development Studies Program, Loyola Schools, “Forming Successful Change Agents who can Address Wicked Problems via Converging Courses for an Integrated and Sustained Service-Learning Engagement”
• Ma. Criselda Dana Buñag, Syra Marie Norin Petalio, Erika Keith Mendoza, Office for Social Concern and Involvement, “Responding to the Signs of the Times: Opportunities for Civic Engagements with the Health Sciences Program during the Covid-19 Pandemic”

The ICSL and USR Summit gave all the participants a chance to showcase the Service-Learning and Community Engagement endeavors of the Ateneo de Manila as well as the work of our faculty and students. It also gave the participants a chance to learn about the social responsibility initiatives of other universities from different parts of the world.