Last May 19, 2017, the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) in partnership with the Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC - College of Education (BAGCED) held its 2nd Service-Learning Forum at De La Salle University. This year’s topic and discussion centered on the research of Dr. Minie Rose C. Lapinid entitled “Assessing Current Service Learning (SL) Practices at De La Salle University (DLSU): Towards a Unified Model of Institutionalization." A total of 80 participants from different colleges, departments, community partners, students and Lasallian institutions gathered and actively participated in the said event. The participants were welcomed by Dr. Robert C. Roleda, Vice Chancellor for Academics while Br. Michael J. Broughton FSC, Vice President for Lasallian Mission, graced the event. During her presentation, Dr. Lapinid shared her team's assessment of current SL practice in DLSU, its unique characteristics and its alignment with Lasallian Framework and Values. Dr. Rito Barring and Dr. Fides Del Castillo, from the College and Liberal Arts (CLA) and Mr. Manuel Abinales from Buklod Tao, Inc. served as members of the panel of reactors. For more information on how you could implement service-learning in your course or school, you may contact us through the following: Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall (NSTP and CE) and Rm. 115, Miguel Bldg. (Service-Learning) De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 524-4611 to 19 Locals 417, 147 & 568
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DLSU Alternative Learning System (ALS) Batch 5 Learners recently toured the National Museum in Manila and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) - Women’s Center in Taguig last November 12 and 18 respectively. The said tours served as alternative activities to the learners’ regular classroom-based sessions and workshops. The National Museum Tour aimed at enriching their knowledge of Philippine History, Arts and Culture. The TESDA Tour on the other hand, provided them an opportunity to see future learning possibilities once they’ve passed DepEd’s ALS-Accreditation and Equivalency Test. The said educational tours could not have been possible if it were not for the meaningful engagement of two active student organizations of De La Salle University namely: Economics Organization (EconOrg) for the TESDA Tour and the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) for the National Museum Visit. The sponsorship of these two student organizations paved the way for enhanced learning experiences that will prepare learners for their ultimate challenge of hurdling the National Accreditation and Equivalency Test (AET) early next year. Passing this test will qualify them as Junior High Graduates in the K+12 Curriculum. The partnership and engagement of these student organizations are highly commendable. It paves the way for further sustainable and impactful projects with the learners in the future. This example of engagement is also an invitation to other student organizations, offices and like-minded individuals to help in COSCA’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Localization Project through one of its components, the Lasallian Accessible, Relevant and Alternative Learning (L-ARAL). For possible partnership and engagement in relation to L-ARAL component community engagement menu, please feel free to contact the University Community Engagement and Development (UCED) Program Manager and/or L-ARAL Development Specialist of COSCA. Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 524-4611 to 19 Locals 417 & 147 ALS: A School of Multiple Chances "The Blessings of the Most High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth be upon us all! Honorable guests of honor, Chairman Elizan and the key officials of the local government, honorable Brothers of De La Salle University, teachers, professors, volunteers, fellow parents, guardians, students and guests, a blessed afternoon. I know all of you are wondering who this woman standing before you is. I am a proud mother of an ALS-DLSU scholar. I came and wholeheartedly accepted the invitation to speak before you because it is indeed a privilege to share our experience with ALS-DLSU, an institution whose advocacy is to provide FREE QUALITY EDUCATION. My daughter and I were very grateful for ALS-DLSU because it provided shelter and second chance for continuing secondary education for my child who had been dropped-out during her high school years. "Hindi lang second chance ang ibinigay. I enjoin everyone present here to give ALS-DLSU our warmest applause of recognition and thanksgiving. Sino po ba ang hindi mamamangha, sino ang hindi hahanga, sino ang hindi magpapasalamat ng lubos sa DLSU-COSCA? Ang dating hindi nag-aaral o hindi makapag-aral na anak, ngayon ay ganap nang graduate at isa nang La Sallian! (Who would not be amazed, who would not be very thankful for DLSU-COSCA? The child who before won't or can't go to school, has now graduated and now a Lasallian!) Tiyaga at determinasyon lang ang puhunan, kaya buong sikap na nag-aral dahil sa DLSU-COSCA ALS. Hindi lang second chance ang ibinigay. It's a school of multiple chances. (Perseverance and determination are the key ingredients why they studied hard through COSCA ALS. They have not only given a second chance. They're a school of multiple chances.) To all students, I'd like to end this speech with a verse in the Bible: Jeremiah 29:11. Isang mapagpalang hapon po sa inyong lahat. (A blessed afternoon to you all.) Sa DLSU-ALS, ANIMO LA SALLE! (To DLSU ALS, Live the Lasallian Spirit!) -Emily alefanteEmily's daughter is part of the 4th Batch of COSCA ALS Passers recognized. Salamat sa mga guro, salamat sa ALS. (Thank you to our teachers, thank you for ALS.) "Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat! Binabati ko ang mga estudyanteng naririto na magsisipagtapos sa ALS ngayong taon. Isa pong karangalan sa akin ang mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagsalita sa harap ninyong lahat. Nais ko lamang pong magpasalamat sa La Salle dahil nagkaroon din kayo ng programang ALS dito mula sa DepEd dahil sa pamamagitan nito ay marami din ang mga kabataang huminto sa pag-aaral ang matutulungan ninyo. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa lahat ng kanilang mga guro na nagtiyagang magturo at gumabay sa kanila habang nag-aaral sila. Malaki ang naitulong ninyo sa kanila dahil nagkaroon sila muli ng pagkakataong makapag-aral at makapagtapos upang matupad ang kanilang mga pangarap o mithiin sa buhay. Sana ay ipagpatuloy niyo lang ang magandang gawain na inyong nasimulan. Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. GOD BLESS PO!" Translation "Good afternoon to everyone. I want to greet all students here today who are graduating from ALS. It is an honor for me to be given the chance to speak in front of you all. I would just like to thank La Salle for also having an ALS Program here through DepEd [Department of Education]. Because of this [program], you have helped many young people who stopped schooling already. I would also like to thank all of their teachers for patiently teaching and guiding them while they were studying. You have helped them a lot because they were given an opportunity to study and finish schooling so they can fulfill their dreams and aspirations in life. May you continue the good work you have started. Thank you very very much to all of you. God Bless You!" -julieta gritaSi Julieta ay nanay ng isang COSCA ALS Passer na pinarangalan sa DLSU nitong Agosto 6, 2016. Ito ang kanyang pasasalamat na ibinahagi sa palatuntunan ng pagtatapos ng araw na iyon. (Julieta is the mother of one of the COSCA ALS Passers recognized last August 6, 2016. This is her thank you message shared during the graduation program during that day.) Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Connon Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 523-4143 To my classmates and teachers, to the students, parents, audience and all the people present here, good afternoon. Teachers, parents and fellow graduates let's give ourselves a big round of applause, Congratulations to all of us! I'd like to start with these verses, In Philippians 3:14, God says, I can do all things through Christ and in Mathew 19:26, Nothing is impossible. These verses tell my successful journey but before that, I would like to walk you through the darkest moment of my life. You will all agree, everyone experience ups and downs. I was an athlete scholar of track & field in Chiang Kai Shek College. It all started in third year. I was accused of something I didn't do. It is too personal to mention. All of my classmates were pure blooded Chinese except me. I really felt discriminated being the only brown-skinned Filipino in our class. Their eyes are on me every single moment of the day watching and judging every action that I will do and every words that I will say. I was down and lost hope because of discrimination. I lost everything that I have. I was dropped from my athletic scholarship and my parents have to pay my tuition fees. I became a total mess. I cut classes and exchanged them with online computer games. There were times that I'd discontinue going to school but my decision changed when my mother motivated me to continue 4th yr. In the same school, however, I didn't take it seriously, almost failing in all my subjects and worse, I stopped fourth grading of that school year. But God is good! He embraced me and comforted me and one day, I just found myself driven to take the second chance God had provided me through this school, Alternative Learning System School of De La Salle University. And here I am proudly standing in front of you, having this speech, sharing my story and glorifying the works of the Lord in my life. I want to thank God who stays beside me no matter what happens, to my parents who supports me and guide me in my decisions, to my classmates who belong to this successful journey and lastly our teachers who never gave up on us and became our 2nd parents. Again, thank you and congratulations to fellow graduates! -ATHENAAthena delivered this message during the ALS Graduation Rites held at De La Salle University last August 14, 2016. Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Connon Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 523-4143 (See English translation at the bottom.) Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat! Ako ay nabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagsalita sa harap ninyo at maibahagi ang ilan sa mga karanasan ko noon at ngayon. Dati po, isa akong batang rebelde sa magulang. Siguro kaya ako naging rebelde ay dahil sa mga naranasan ko noong bata pa ako at dahil rin sa lumaki akong hindi kasama ang mga tunay kong mga magulang. Lumaki ako na hindi buo ang pamilya. Noong naging high school na ako ay nagsimula na akong magrebelde. Habang nag-aaral ako ay natuto akong bumarkada, mag-inom, magyosi, tumambay kung saan-saan at gumala nang gumala. Dahil doon, ay natuto na rin akong magcutting sa klase at minsan, hindi na talaga ako pumapasok sa school kahit na ang alam ni mama ay pumapasok pa rin ako at nag-aaral nang mabuti. Napabayaan ko ang aking pag-aaral at huminto na ako noong 3rd year na ako. Sa sobrang kalokohan ko ay nakatatlong 3rd year ako pero hindi pa rin ako nakatapos at laging paghinto sa pag-aaral ang nangyayari. Dala na rin ng pagrerebelde ay natuto akong lumayas at tumira sa ibang tao. Dahil dito, ay nagkaroon ako agad ng anak sa edad na disi-otso at ngayon lumalaki siyang walang kinikilalang ama. Noong nagka-anak na ako ay tumigil na rin ako sa pagre-rebelde ko at bumalik na ako ulit sa bahay kasama na ang anak ko. Last year, nagsikap ako na mag-aral ulit sa pamamagitan na ng ALS. Dito ay nagkaroon ulit ako ng mga bagong kakilala at naging barkada ngunit hindi ko pa rin naman pinabayaan ang pag-aaral ko dahil kaming lahat ay pursigido na makatapos. Ang pagiging isang estudyante ay hindi madali. Ito ay isang pagsubok lamang na kailangan natin sa buhay. Sa loob ng klase, kailangan mong malampasan ang mga pagsubok na gaya nang walang katapusang paggawa ng sanaysay, ang napakasakit sa ulo na pagcompute ng mga numbers sa Math at ang pagkabisado ng mga formula nito para lang masagot ng tama. "Ang pagiging isang estudyante ay hindi madali. Nandiyan din ang Science na kailangan mong pag-aralan ang iba't-ibang parte ng ating katawan, mga solar system at madami pang iba. Minsan, hindi mo rin talaga maalis sa isang estudyante ang maburyo sa loob ng klase kaya ang karamihan ay nakikipagdaldalan na lang sa katabi o kaya ay kung anu-anong kalokohan ang ginagawa sa upuan kahit na nagtuturo pa ang guro sa harapan. Ako? Aminado naman ako na minsan nakikisali din ako sa mga kalokohan at kaguluhan sa loob ng classroom kahit na ako pa yung presidente ng klase namin. Dati nga, sinasabihan pa kami na pinaka-magulong klase sa lahat ng mga batch. Ibang-iba daw yung batch namin dahil halos lahat ng nandito ay pasaway at nakakahiya man sabihin, pero marami na rin kaming mga naging guro dati na umiyak sa klase namin dahil nga sa pagiging magulo namin. Sa loob ng isang taon na pag-aaral dito sa ALS ay marami kaming naranasan at natutunan. Mga masayang ala-ala na hindi agad malilimutan tulad ng mga learning tour sa Lian, Batangas para sa tree planting at ang pagpunta sa TESDA. Ito ang masasabi ko ngayon na oo nga, kami yung mga pasaway at magugulo lagi sa loob ng klase dati. Pero ngayon, kami-kami pa rin naman ang magkakasama na magsisipagtapos dito sa ALS. Dahil kahit na mga pasaway kami ay napatunayan pa rin namin na kaya naming magsikap dahil may mga pangarap din naman kami sa buhay at ang pinakagusto namin ay ang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. "...oo nga, kami yung mga pasaway at magugulo lagi sa loob ng klase dati. Pero ngayon, kami-kami pa rin naman ang Nagpapasalamat ako sa tita ko kasi kahit na hindi niya ako tunay na anak ay inalagaan pa rin niya ako sa kabila ng lahat ng pinagga-gagawa ko sa buhay, palagi rin siyang nandiyan para sa akin at sinusuportahan pa rin niya ako minsan sa mga tama kong ginagawa. Ngayon, kahit na nagka-anak na ako ay tinanggap niya pa rin ako. At itong pagtatapos ko ngayon ay para sa inyong dalawa ng anak ko ma. Hindi ko man lagi itong nasasabi pero ma, sorry po sa lahat ng mga maling nagawa ko at mahal na mahal po kita. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng sakripisyo mo para sa akin. Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa lahat ng mga naging guro namin. Kahit na mga pasaway kami ay hindi niyo pa rin kami sinukuan na turuan. Maraming salamat po at sana madami pa ang mga kagaya namin na matulungan ninyo. Ngunit bago ako magtapos sa aking talumpati ay mag-iiwan ako ng isang hamon sa inyo, para sa mga estudyante na naririto ay magsipagtapos din kayo ng pag-aaral at mangarap kayo ng mataas at sikapin ninyong abutin ito. Lahat ay kaya nating magawa o maabot basta't may tiwala ka sa sarili at sa Panginoon. "Everyone deserves a second chance." Para naman sa mga magulang na nandito sana po ay lagi ninyong suportahan ang inyong mga anak sa mga bagay na gusto nilang gawin lalo na kung alam ninyong ito ay makakabuti para sa kanya. Hayaan niyo silang mag-aral at magsikap upang maabot nila ang kanilang mga pangarap. Kung nagkamali man sila ay matuto po tayong magpatawad at tanggapin ulit ang ating mga anak. May dalawa po akong kataga na iiwanan sa inyo, una "EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE" dahil lahat naman tayo nagkakamali, hindi naman kasi tayo perpekto pero kapag nabigyan ka na ulit ng pagkakataon ay huwag mo na itong sayangin, at ang pangalawang kataga ay "LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES" dahil kailangan mong matuto at huwag hayaan na ang pagkakamali mo sa buhay ang maging hadlang sa pag-abot ng mga pangarap mo. Yun lamang po, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat at God bless po. ANIMO LA SALLE!!! Translation "Good afternoon to all of you! I was given the privilege to speak in front of you today and share some of my past and present experiences. I was once a a kid who rebelled against her parents. I may have become rebellious because of my experiences when I was a child. Maybe it's also because I grew up away from my real parents. I grew up in a broken family. When I reached high school, I started rebelling. At school, I learned to be with bad company, I learned to drink, smoke, hang out in many places and roam around repeatedly. Because of these, I also learned how to cut class and sometimes, I didn't go to school anymore even if my mother thought I was in school and studying hard. I neglected my studies and stopped schooling when I was in 3rd year. I was so naughty, I took 3rd Year High School thrice. Yet, I still failed to graduate and always ended up out of school. Because of my rebellion, I learned to leave home and live with other people. This instantly made me a mother at age eighteen. Now, my child is growing up without a father. I had to stop rebelling when I became a mother. I also went back home with my child. Last year, I persevered to start schooling again through ALS. Here, I got to meet new friends who became best buddies. Unlike before though, I did not neglect my studies because we were all focused on graduating. Being a student is hard. It is just a test we need in life. In class, you have to overcome many trials like the endless essay-writing, the head-aching computations in Math and the memorization of many formulas on how to get the right answer. Then there's Science where you need to study the parts of the body, the solar system and a lot more. At times, you can't blame students for being bored in class. This is the reason why many of us chat with our seatmates or do all sorts of things while the teacher is in front. Me? I admit being part of the chaos inside the class too, even if I was the class president. I remember a time, when we were called the most rowdy ALS batch of all. They told us that our batch was very different because most of us were rowdy. Truth be told, many of our teachers cried in class because of our naughtiness. We experienced and learned a lot in our one year stay in ALS. There were joyful memories like our learning tour and tree planting in Lian, Batangas and our visit to TESDA. Yes, we were the rowdy and naughty ones in class before. But now, we are still intact and together, graduating here from ALS. Though we were naughty, we have still proven that we can persevere because we also have dreams in life. And our greatest desire is to graduate. I thank my aunt because even if I was not her real daughter, she still took care of me despite everything I did in life. She was also always there to support me in the things that I did right. Now, even if I'm already a mother, she still accepted me. Mother, my graduation today is for you and for my child. I may not tell you this often, but mother, I am sorry for all the mistakes I've done. I love you very much. Thank you for all your sacrifices for me. I also thank all the teachers we've had. You did not give up on us though we were naughty. Thank you very much. May you help more people like us. Before I end my speech, I want to challenge you, my fellow graduates. Finish your studies, dream greater and do all you can to fulfill it. We can do all things, reach all things if we trust ourselves and God. For the parents here today, may you always support your children in the things they want to do especially if you know that it will be good for them. Allow them to study and persevere to reach their dreams. When they commit mistakes, may we learn to forgive and accept our children again. I want to leave two things to you all. First, "Everyone deserves a second chance," because we all make mistakes. That's because we are not perfect. And when you're given another chance, don't waste it. My second one is, "Learn from your Mistakes." We need to learn from our mistakes and not allow our mistakes to hinder us from reaching our dreams. That would be all. Thank you very much and God bless! ANIMO LA SALLE!!! (Live the Lasallian Spirit!) -jesterJester is one of the COSCA ALS Passers recognized during graduation ceremonies for Batch 4 held at De La Salle University last August 14, 2016. She is one of the best performing learners in the group. Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Connon Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 523-4143 Graduation rites were held at De La Salle University last August 4, 2016 for the nineteen (19) COSCA ALS Learners who passed the Department of Education's High School Accreditation and Equivalency Test (AET). Awarded with their respective medals and high school diplomas are the following learners:
Also recognized during the program are the following individuals and organizations with significant contributions to the program:
Dream More
Mr. Leo Tadena, Development Specialist of COSCA's Lasallian Accessible, Relevant and Alternative Learning (L-ARAL), went onstage next to provide a brief history about ALS and the graduating learners. He noted the significant roles played by two Lasallian Brothers in improving the educational situation in the country - Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC who started ALS as the Non-Formal Education Program (NFE) of DepEd and Br. Armin Luistro FSC who institutionalized the K-12 educational reform program. Mr. Tadena reiterated that ALS should not be looked down upon as a program for school leavers only. "ALS is also an educational program taken by celebrities and TV personalities too," he said. With rising costs of education, ALS may even play a bigger role in helping needy children complete primary and secondary schooling. Second Chances After all the medals and certificates were awarded, Jester, one of the best performers in class, touched everyone present with her story of rising up from failure. She recalls how her rebellion against her family led her to smoke, drink and neglect her studies. It has even made her a mother at such a young age. She is very much thankful though for the second chance that ALS gave her. She challenged her batch mates to dream big and persevere: "Para sa mga estudyante na naririto, magsipagtapos din kayo ng pag-aaral at mangarap kayo ng mataas at sikapin ninyong abutin ito. Lahat ay kaya nating magawa o maabot basta't may tiwala ka sa sarili at sa Panginoon." Click here for FULL TEXT of her Message and Challenge to the Graduates. Click here for ALS Parents' Message of Thanks. Brgy. 704 Captain, Virginia Elizan also told graduates not to allow any obstacle to stand the way of their aspirations in life. As a fellow graduate of ALS (earlier called NFE), she remembered how she overcame all the difficulties of completing ALS while serving as a barangay official in 1997. To avail of the non-formal education program then, she had to form a foundation and gather forty-two other students like herself to enroll. She eventually finished high school and pursued Public Administration in College. Her secret to success: "Pag nangarap ka at sinamahan mo ng sipag at tiyaga, may kahihinatnan ang iyong pinaghirapan." Remember St. La Salle's Teachings
The DLSU-ALS is managed by the Center for Social Concern and Action as integral part of its University Community Engagement and Development Program (UCEDP) headed by Joseph Rosal. UCEDP is the lead unit of COSCA which is implementing direct Community Engagements as one of the strategic directions of the university and implements the localization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Center for Social Concern and Action
2nd Floor, Br. Connon Hall, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila Telefax: (632) 523-4143 Fifteen (15) pre-selected Learners just received the wonderful news of passing the Accreditation and Equivalency Test (AET) of the Department of Education. (http://www.dep.ed.gov.ph/als-ae)
Earlier around March 2016, eighteen (18) Learners were endorsed to take the test scheduled last April 17, 2016. Fifteen (15) of these learners successfully passed the test giving DLSU's Alternative Learning System Program an 83% passing rate for its 4th Batch of Learners. The program now has a total of fifty-six (56) AET passers since its inception in 2013. The DLSU-ALS is managed by the Center for Social Concern and Action as integral part of its University Community Engagement and Development Program (UCEDP) headed by Joseph Rosal. UCEDP is the lead unit of COSCA which is implementing direct Community Engagements as one of the strategic directions of the university and implements the localization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. |