ASAP! presents ‘Pay It Forward’;
Ignatian league spends ACP day in Dominorog

By Rodolfo ‘Sonny’ SB. Virtus Jr.

On February 20, 2009, volunteerism got a new name – Pay It Forward.

As an Alternative Class Program offering of the Office of Student Affairs, Pay It Forward: Thanking God Through Volunteerism, was not so attractive for two reasons: One, it was an off-campus activity – definitely not what one imagines of a scenic spot. Two, it was for a whole day- absolutely not for those who wanted to oversleep or unwind on an ACP day.

But for seventeen (17) student leaders from various co-curricular and extra-curricular student organizations, the few details on the posters and the announcement that ran for three days at the PA system were enough for them to wake up very early, assemble at Xavier Hall, be transported via jeepney to Dominorog, Calabanga, Camarines Sur, and be surprised at anything that happened during the day.

There were no monoblock chairs, no sound system, no air-conditioning, no LCD projector that most seminars would normally have. There was just a plain bahay kubo that stood in a small vegetable and poultry farm and in a rural community with open arms and smiles to receive them. Strategically chosen as a venue of the activity, the shack is a symbol of Ateneo de Naga University’s relationship with the barangay as it was built through the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB) for Dominorog Elementary School. Many of the schoolchildren are among the more than 170 beneficiaries of ADNU’s feeding program through the Social Involvement Office (SIO). Some of them also used to be tutored by a volunteer group of the Center for Community Development (CCD). The University has piloted these and other programs in this part of a municipality which ADNU chose as one of its four partner communities.

After a short acquaintance and orientation sessions, the participants were ready to immerse in the community. The arrivals and departures of different groups from Ateneo have been familiar scenes for people in Dominorog, so it was easy for them to welcome the students in their homes. Their connection started with small talk, and before the students knew it they were already asking personal questions. They asked them of their place, their family, their dreams, even their problems.

Back at the nipa house, SIO director Atty. Mila Raquid-Arroyo processed the participants’ experiences in such a short time. Despite this, the richness in the participants’ experiences was very much apparent in the generosity of their sharing.

Many participants easily identified the material poverty that consumed the place. Many families seemed to have resigned to this situation that they become content and happy with just anything that will make them survive day after day.

Mary Grace of Christian Youth in Action (CYA) was distressed at how hard one family earns a living by waiting for two small bottles to be filled by drops of coconut wine (tuba) from the pith (ubod) just to be sold at meager fifty pesos each.

Some students, on the other hand, were amazed by the people’s simplicity compared to the complexity and overindulgence of city life.

Johnly, also of CYA, was even inspired by how a grandmother, who did not have the Ignatian education that he is privileged to have or of any other Catholic-based schooling, came to be so religious.

However, everyone realized how fortunate they are for enjoying the comforts of their homes and the advantages of their Ateneo education – gifts that most of the people in the community do not have.

Atty. Arroyo told the participants that the immersion was not only about the people in the community and they opened their homes for the students. She explained that it was also about how the community experienced them as they shared their own persons to the community.

Glenn of the Supreme Student Government, felt a little cynical about the image of ADNU to community as tantamount to “hero” and “high”, creating a gap between Ateneans and the communities that we desire to serve.

Lao of Tabang Atenista, however, shared that Dominorog has improved, since ADNU started to be a partner of Calabanga. He observed, for instance, the empowerment that the beneficiaries of ADNU’s housing program had. He also commented that community now sees ADNU as more of a friend and equal than a savior or a hero that brings them relief goods when it comes to them.

The immersion was designed for participants to identify issues and needs of community. As most of them are officers and members of various extra-curricular organizations, issue identification is important for them in appropriately deciding on the kind of outreach that they will do to respond to a particular need.

The participants were taught of planning, organizing and implementing an outreach – the Ateneo way. Partnership is a key. Empowerment and development become the goals.

The participants learned this redefinition of outreach when they were challenged to cook up an outreach activity with ADNU feeding program beneficiaries.

After some thirty minutes of planning, the organized themselves into two groups, one for the feeding and the other for fun games. The feeding group had to coordinate with the mothers’ group. Here, they learned that ADNU does not just feed undernourished children. ADNU empowers these children’s parents by giving them the responsibility to cook the food ADNU provides and feed their children, and by teaching them health and nutrition.
And while they were preparing and cooking champorado with squash, the children were having fun with the other group. After three games, the children were ready to receive their share of delicious champorado.

From the Feeding Center, the participants returned to the shack for the final processing and synthesis of the activity.

Atty. Arroyo challenged the participants to reflect on the title of the activity, focusing on two things: the sentence Pay it forward, and the word volunteerism. Everyone, including the staff, also had the chance to share on the question, “What are your gifts and how do you ‘pay it forward’?”

Many had greater sense of awareness and appreciation of their giftedness. Many identified the Divine Source of this unconditional and overflowing love. Many “gained broader and deeper context and appreciation of one’s role, and in realizing the Church’s mission, especially towards the poor and the disadvantaged, and a deeper understanding of the call for and active participation in the life of the society.”

Atty. Arroyo said that one way of thanking God is through sharing one’s giftedness in the service of others. She also took the opportunity to invite students to ‘pay it forward’ and respond to the call of Ignatian volunteerism by involving in existing University programs, projects and activities through SIO.

The fields of Dominorog turned gold with sunset at the backdrop when the participants journeyed back to Ateneo as more self-aware, inspired and empowered student leaders.

“I will always go back here,” Dennis of CCD Voltz promised. In the past, he used to tutor some schoolchildren in the same nipa house. Pay It Forward, he felt, was God’s way of leading him back to Dominorog.

As encapsulated in the Ateneo Student Awareness and Action Program’s (ASAP!) theme this year, “Empowering the League of Ignatian Heroes In the Service of Faith that Does Justice”, Pay It Forward lives out a non-fiction heroism among our students. But it is not the kind of heroism that Glenn and Lao would reject. It is about awareness and gratitude for our giftedness - giving back the blessings God has given us by serving other people without asking for anything in return. This heroism is one that is grounded on our Christian missionary ideology. This heroism is one that brings the Atenean closer into the Regnum Dei.

The participants were joined in by organizers Rodolfo SB. Virtus Jr., program officer for Student Development and Student Organizations’ Formation and Training; Janice L. Tresvalles, coordinator for Student Support and Linkages; student leader Cris Aian D. Cabal and volunteer Kim Maristasa.