The University Social Involvement Council (USIC) through the lead units from the colleges, departments and the studentry as coordinated by the Center for Community Development (CCD) headed by Mr. Elmer T. Sto. Domingo, had again contributed to its mission of becoming “men and women for others” and a “university in the world” through various community outreach activities in several communities during the Ignatiana Celebration on 31 July 2014.

31 July signifies the Ignatius Day Celebration for the Ateneo Community in commemorating the pious St. Ignatius of Loyola of the Society of Jesus. San Ignacio once expressed, “The more universal the good is, the more it is divine. Therefore preference ought to be given to those persons and places which, through their own improvement, become a cause which can spread the good accomplished to many others…universities (such as the Ateneo de Naga)…can become laborers for the help of others.”

Partner communities which became the recipients of the activities are the barangays Fundado, San Nicolas, and San Roque in Canaman; barangays Barobaybay, Casuray, and Ponong in Magarao; and barangays  Cabugao, Flordeliz, and Mayaopayawan in Milaor. Non-partner communities which were also recipients of activities are the following: Brgy. Panicuason and Brgy.Del Rosario in Naga City, Brgy.San Isidro in Magarao, and Brgy.Balatasan in Calabanga.

The activities conducted were Storytelling of the Life of St. Ignatius with Community Merienda for the nine (9) partner communities headed by the College Faculty Club and College of Nursing; Medical Mission for San Roque, Canaman and Casuray, Magarao by the College of Nursing; Distribution of Used Books with Storytelling and Community Merienda by the College of Education in Ponong Integrated School in Magarao; Computer Literacy Enhancement Program for Northern Canaman High School in Fundado, Canaman by the College of Computer Studies (held in Ateneo main campus computer room); Computer Tutorial for High School Students by the College of Engineering; and Bahay Atenista Projects in Fundado, Canaman and San Nicolas, Canaman by Center for Community Development (CCD) and Korean students from Sogang University.

The said outreach activities were held simultaneously, same with the Campus Clean-up held in the Ateneo main campus spearheaded by the College Faculty Club. For non-partner communities, the activities conducted were Tree Planting in Panicuason, Naga City and Mangrove Reforestation Project in Balatasan, Calabanga by Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR) and Ateneo Personnel Club (APC); House Build Activity together with the Habitat for Humanity at Brgy. Del Rosario, Naga City by the Supreme Student Government (SSG); and Build a Library Project-Grand Opening, Turnover, and MOA Signing at Magarao Central School in San Isidro, Magarao in partnership with Ms. Melissa Clouser, US Peace Corps Volunteer with DepEd Magarao-Bombon School District.

From the greatest to the least who had given their help, donations, efforts and time to make the Ignatiana outreach activities come into reality, the University through the University Social Involvement Council extends its warmest gratitude to the community members who involved themselves to make St. Ignatius Day Celebration a success.

Above all, to God be the Glory!

By Julie Prado; photos courtesy of Leo Borras (Tree Planting Activity), Ruth Lumbrera (Mangrove Reforestation), and Mr. Benedick Bana (Computer Enhancement Literacy Program)