SAP's core: A life-long encounter

What is the Social Action Program?

For many Bosconians, it’s just a school activity Maybe for some, it’s a field trip

And for some, it is a mere completion of requirements. But at its core, the SAP is a way for us to step into the world of the less fortunate

By listening to the stories of the community members, we can sympathize with their struggles, such as the experiences of the families in Calauan

We can bond with the communities, sharing our experiences while promoting oneness and camaraderie

Of course, there is the essence of giving We can share our blessings with them, and in return, we also learn priceless lessons The SAP is something that every student should experience.

We hope that the trips to Calauan opened the eyes of many This has been the Bosconian Journal’s coverage of the Grade 10 Social Action Program

Meliora Eligo, Viva Don Bosco!

"Partners" were what we were asked to call the people we visited at Don Bosco Calauan on April 22, 2023, for our Social Action Program (SAP)

We called them partners instead of donees because, unlike a donee who receives donations without giving back, the Bosconians and Lay Mission Partners who participated received something in return: maturity and formation

It was an ecstatic yet sleepy morning when we departed from Don Bosco Makati We rode two buses composed of two different sections I had mixed emotions about this because this is one of the things I look forward to as a Bosconian I believe it is right to immerse ourselves in the various struggles of the community partners Likewise, these are their narratives that are worth learning and worth-sharing

Often, we encounter instances where we Bosconians act immaturely

Occasionally, you catch Bosconians praying for suspension due to heavy rain Even I am guilty of this But going to Calauan and hearing how families were forced to leave their old homes and move to Calauan due to heavy rains that their homes could not defend against really opened our eyes to the reality of those in need

Presence is an essence.

Aside from the monetary donations and gift-giving, presence is one of the important things to do This concept is the umbrella term for the effort of time and action As Bosconians, to be fair, the quantity of things and the amount of money matter, but the presence in this kind of event is immeasurable

Our presence is important because it implies the effort we allotted to receive formation and reflection on our partnered community This presence is beyond the monetary gift we gave because this is an embodiment of immersing ourselves in the partnered community

As One Community, As One Family

As one community, this was a big step for us to learn that we are beyond lucky to have these resources as easier as we want As one community, we know the importance of putting our shoes in the shoes of our partnered families to empathize and sympathize with their struggles We are a community that forms a family, which makes God the center of our relationship

We were asked by Sir Rommel how did we find God during the SAP Program The question was complicated as it seemed However, if you know the essence of SAP, you know the answer by heart.

I learned that I found God in three ways First, working as one section We worked as one to raise monetary funds for our partnered family Camaraderie and cooperation were witnessed throughout the process Second, Reflection and Formation are game changers Reflection is part of my everyday routine, but the reflection I had during the encounter was worth treasuring This reflection helped me build a better foundation for my formation

Through various reflection, Enzo Balmes from 10- Calazans shared his thought about the second family encounter of their section with their partner family pamilya, maraming realizations ang dumating sa amin Una ay kung gaano tayo kabiyaya o kaswerte dahil meron tayo ng mga bagay na kailangan natin."

During our visit to Calauan, my section was introduced to the Gutierrez family We first met Nanay Marie, who has six children, four boys, and two girls Her husband, unfortunately, was not present at the time because he was working The eldest son, a tenth grader, was also not there because he had an event to attend for school Nanay Marie’s sharing taught me two very important things: always giving and loving your parents

I would first like to discuss Nanay Marie’s point on always giving To give some background information, her family first resided in Lemery, Batangas She said life in Batangas was even more difficult than their current life in Laguna Because of the volcanic eruption in Taal, they were forced to leave everything behind in Batangas. The COVID-19 pandemic only reinforced their move to Calauan, Laguna Because her family is in Calauan, the family decided to live permanently in the municipality Despite the financial support they got from Nanay Marie’s siblings, the family still had difficulty providing for themselves until Don Bosco came into their lives

Though the family received much support and help from many people, Nanay Marie said it felt wrong that her family kept only receiving Thus, she imparted to herself and her family to always give back what they receive Despite having so little, she always gives back to the community For instance, in exchange for her family’s meals, she volunteered to wash dishes as repayment This has taught me always to give back and pay it forward, even if you only have a little “Do to others what you would do to yourself,” she said

Second is the importance of parents As a mother of six, Nanay Marie has much experience as a parent. She told us to always respect and love our parents, no matter how harsh they seem She told us that when our parents scolded us, it was because we did something wrong, and they wouldn’t want us to do it again They still love us despite how hard they may seem on us They only want what is best for us, so they tell us to correct us whenever we do something bad

4CSofaBosconian Debater:Coordination, Coherence,Compassion, Concreteness,and Collaboration

The Don Bosco Makati Debate Society (DBMDC) conducted a series of seminars and workshops for selected Bosconians in coordination with the De La Salle Debate Society, The Bosconian Journal, and the English Club last November to May 2023

These meaningful experiences honed the bosconians to unleash their potential as debated inside and outside the institution The Bosconian Journal asked selected officers from the DBMDS about their learning experiences Indeed, those training and workshops honed them in various possible ways they could ever imagine