"GIVE a man a fish and he will live for a life. Teach a man to fish and he will live for a lifetime." – Chinese Proverb
ALMOST three years after its conception, the Office for Community Development (OCD) is well on the road to serving its purpose for the University and its extended communities. Tracing its roots to the former Office for Community Affairs and Community Service, it was established to give emphasis to the University Community Development (UCDP). The separation took effect on October 2001, in accordance with the directive of Rector Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P.
OCD director Prof. Jose Cruz III, said that the UCDP has a decentralized set-up in which each faculty or college has its own partner community. It extends help and aid in various forms through the concerted efforts of the OCD, donors, and volunteers.
But more than aiding its client communities, UCDP promotes “gradual, but long-term communal growth that leads to self-reliance,” Cruz said. In so doing, the Health, Education, Livelihood, Physical environment, Spiritual (HELPS) approach is used.
The program has partner communities in Batangas, Caloocan, Laguna, Manila, Muntinlupa, Tagaytay, and Tarlac. At present, the University is the only recognized non-government organization in service in Bamban, Tarlac.
The Tomas program serve as the framework of the UDCP. Tomas stands for training and education for capacity development; organizing for empowerment; management for program development; advocacy, research, and documentation; and spirituality of transportation.
On-going projects
The distance education and adult literacy programs began on the second. Began since the inception of the OCD. These innovative schemes make use of a two-way radio system to conduct class discussions. The University-based instructor gives the lessons from a radio room situated inside the Albertus Magnus Building while the students, mostly Aytas, are situated in learning centers in Sitios Malasa, San Martin, and Mabilog in Tarlac.
Prof. Marielyn Quintana, assistant to the director for non-formal education, serves as the main instructor for the program. She said, there are about 80 students whose ages range from 15-60 years. These students are further divided into two sections in each learning center. Each group has its parateacher, a native who facilitates the discussions. Instructors then visit the learning centers once every month to administer diagnostic pre-tests and post-tests among the students. There are six sections and parateachers in the program.
Each session lasts at least for an hour and a half to two hours. These sessions are held once or twice a week. Practical literacy and numerical skills are the main subjects being taught and enhanced. There are three modules that entitled Kalikasan, Pamayanan, and Kabuhayan.
“Since most students are parents, we teach subjects that will suit their everyday needs and problems,” Quintana said.
“Kadalasan naloloko ng mga mamimili ang mga Ayta dahil hindi sila marunong bumasa at magbilang,” Sitio Mabini parateacher Lina Sanchez said.
Cruz emphasized that through a process of motivation and social analysis with the Aytas, the OCD makes the Aytas realize and figure out the importance of basic education even at a late age.
Meanwhile, Sitio Malasa parateacher Lucy Guya expressed her eagerness towards the program. Aside from learning through her daily experiences in teaching, Guya said that many are interested to enroll themselves in the program.
“Hindi na ako maliligaw kahit saan pa ako magpunta dahil marunong na ako magbasa,” Tirso Sumaway, a 53-year-old father and student from Sitio Malasa said. “Ang lahat ng natutunan ko ay naibabahagi ko na rin sa aking mga anak. “
This coming school year, the OCD plans to bring the program to Santa Rosa, Laguna. Quintana also said that the office plans to launch new modules tackling health and sanitation, family planning, and responsible parenting.
Shelters
Another major project is the Action Camps of the Thomasian Students Community. This house building activity in Sitio Mabilog, Tarlac was launched last Holy Week. A total of 150 volunteers, mostly Engineering students, lend their time to build homes. There were also a number of professors who volunteered.
“The participants in the ACTS lost weight and burned under the sun but all of them went home very happy and fulfilled and are willing to do it again,” Cruz said.
As of the moment, six out of the 40 target houses have been constructed. On the average, three houses are to be built each month. At this rate, the remaining houses are to be completed by January next year. During school days, construction will be continued on weekends.
For the younger Aytas, the OCD provides sustenance to 70 pupils of Malasa Elementary School. This is otherwise known as food scholarship. To attend their classes, the children need to hike seven kilometers to and fro everyday. Aside from the tiring journey, their stomachs are mostly empty. The OCD takes its part by setting up a kitchen in which breakfast is served and packed lunch is provided.
Ancestral domain
Furthermore, the University also helps the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association to acquire a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). Alongside with the National Commission on the Indigenous People and a group of lawyers, the CADT will enable the Aetas to own and utilize 5,500 hectares of land covering 11 sitios in Tarlac.
Cruz encourages the Thomasian community to participate and see for themselves what community service is all about.
“There are many things that we can learn in the community that we can never learn in class,” he said. “The community development is also an avenue for us to share what we know to the community and in turn learn from them.”
