The semestral Alternative Class Program (ACP), held on various dates in November 2025, is a collaborative initiative of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) with the Office of Mission and Identity, the College Formation Council, and various university partners. The program is designed to provide college students with transformative learning experiences that transcend traditional classroom boundaries, offering a lineup of fun, thought-provoking, and meaningful activities that garnered over 5,000 student participants in total.
With the overarching theme, Ateneo IgKnights: Nurturing Laudato Si, this season of ACP ran sessions inspired by the University’s Laudato Si initiative, offering topics in line with climate awareness and action. Headliner events included: “Saringaya: Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Natural Heritage” with environmentalist and nature storyteller Celine Murillo, “Rooted in Change: Forests, Climate, and Our Future” with licensed forester and researcher Prof. Ethan Hernandez, and “In the Eye of the Storm: Understanding Typhoons and Building a Climate-Resilient Future” with Typhoon Specialist Mike “Mr. Typhoon” Padua.
Aside from these, other seminars and workshops were held at various venues and platforms, covering topics such as artificial intelligence, digital rights and responsibilities, financial investments, freelancing, anxiety and human experience, Japanese culture and language, and youth development opportunities.
Moreover, off-campus programs allowed students to engage with various communities, including persons deprived of liberty (PDL), farmers, and indigenous peoples, providing hands-on exposure and meaningful dialogue.
ACP’s goal is not only to broaden students’ perspectives but also to empower them to actively contribute to the University’s goal of nurturing globally competent, locally responsive, and environmentally conscious graduates. The program received an overall evaluation rating of 4.68 out of 5, with an attainment of its objectives of 4.71.
Some of the key insights, learning, and realizations shared by the participants of the ACP through the evaluation are:
“The session strengthened my ability to assess risks during disasters and improved my awareness of practical preparedness strategies. I also learned how individual actions like readiness and responsible decision-making, contribute to community resilience.”
“I have been questioning how I can successfully turn my awareness into meaningful action. After the ACP session, I realized that we simply need to create a collective effort to act and fulfill our purpose.”
“I discovered that quiet times are not meaningless; rather, they disclose my actual motivations, anxieties, and thoughts. This made me realize that, in addition to technical proficiency, self-awareness, emotional presence, and the capacity to sit with discomfort are equally crucial.”
“I was able to learn more on how to take opportunities that would benefit my growth.”
“To make a lasting and big impact in the community, we must not be afraid to start small.”
Written by MJ Reyes
