CHS Graduate Wins JRAEVCS Award for A.Y. 2023-2024
Written by: Edward Andrew A. Guese
Photos by: Ma. Eala Faye A. Mazaredo and Mapúa MCL CCO
(From L-R): Edward Andrew A. Guese (CSCE staff), Jocelyn T. Bellin (CSCE Director), Angela Cecille C. Ortiz-Kare (CGC Head), Kiana Bianca M. Ram (via Zoom), Martin David R. Victoria, Anejela F. Pagaspas, and Dr. Adomar L. Ilao.
As the academic year 2023-2024 ends, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (Mapúa MCL) Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE) has called upon graduating students to receive the prestigious Jose Rizal Award for Excellence and Virtue in Community Service (JRAEVCS). This institutional award is given to a deserving student who exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism through participation in community engagement activities during their stay in Mapúa MCL while making their mark for a positive impact on the partner communities. Ten years since it was first awarded, 11 students have received this prestigious recognition, including the latest recipient, Ms. Rica Joyce G. Ramilo, a B.S. Chemical Engineering graduate from the Mapúa Institute of Technology at Laguna (MITL), who beat out four (4) other nominees in the previous year.
This year, three (3) graduating students were nominated by their colleges to share their notable community engagement activities to the Award Selection Committee (ASC) and why they deserve to win the award. The presentation and interview phase took place on June 13, 2024, at the Board Room in the E.T. Yuchengco Building. This year’s panel consists of Ms. Angela Cecille C. Ortiz-Kare, the Head of the Center for Guidance and Counseling (CGC), Dr. Adomar L. Ilao, the Program Chair of the B.S. Information Technology program at the College of Computer and Information Science (CCIS), and Mr. Edward Andrew A. Guese, the Senior Program Assistant of CSCE. This year’s nominees are Mr. Martin David R. Victoria, a Bachelor of Multimedia Arts student from the College of Arts and Science (CAS), Ms. Anejela F. Pagaspas, a B.S. Psychology student and a Certified Human Resource Associate from the College of Health Sciences (CHS), and Ms. Kiana Bianca M. Ram, a B.S. Tourism Management student from the E.T. Yuchengco College of Business (ETYCB).
In his presentation, Martin chose “Sulong Biñan Paengbangon” and “Paeng-eng Konting Tulong” as his key community engagement activities. As a member of the said organization and a victim of Typhoon Paeng (international name: Nalgae) himself, he devoted his time to helping those who were affected by the typhoon by initiating two donation drives providing food, clothes, and essential items to the residents of Barangay Dela Paz in Biñan City and Barangay Aplaya in Santa Rosa City. Aside from these key engagements, he organized “UNFOLD,” in partnership with the Childhope Philippines Foundation, as part of the MMA seminar requirement. His team gathered funds and raised awareness about the organization to a large audience. He also led the mental health project, a collaboration between the CAS Student Council and CGC, during Suicide Prevention Month. They created and produced content to promote hope and aid members of the Mapúa MCL community in understanding the weight of similar instances of advocacy. He also participated in Youth for Christ projects and more recently, an off-campus tree planting activity in Cavinti, Laguna along with Mapúa MCL students.
As a first-time nominee for her college, Anejela presented a plethora of activities she participated in, some of them were in collaboration between CSCE and her student organization, UgMaSiko (Ugnayan ng Malayang Sikolohiya), where she served as president from 2022 to 2024. Her notable community engagement activity was “Handog ng Musika Para sa Bahay ni Maria.” Her organization gathered donations from Mapúa MCL students and staffs through busking performances given to the elderly residents of Bahay ni Maria in Calamba City, Laguna, in celebration of National Elderly Filipino Week in October 2023. She also conducted or has been a part of various activities under UgMaSiko including “Lend a Hand 2023: A New Year’s Celebration with SPED Calauan,” a collaboration between the organization and Mapúa MCL PSY students, where they devoted their time supporting and assisting children with special needs, the online seminar “The Wondrous Path on Caring for Children with Autism,” in partnership with Autism Society Philippines Santa Rosa, which focused on defining autism, debunked common myths and provided guidance on caring for children with autism, and “Threads of Hope: A Workshop Seminar on Creating Hope through Action,” in collaboration with CYA-MMCL (Christ’s Youth in Action – Mapúa MCL Chapter) and UAPSA-MMCL (United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary – Mapúa MCL Chapter) where the goal was to understand the psychological factors contributing to suicide and developing supportive skills to improve the students’ well-being. She also volunteered to Serve the People Corps Laguna during the two major events in 2020, the Taal Volcano eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic by delivering relief goods and raising funds for disaster response and public health needs.
Unable to attend in person, Kiana showcased her community engagement portfolio to the panel via Zoom. Her activities involved her organization, Mapúa MCL HOTELS (Hospitality and Tourism Enthusiastic Leaders Society), and their chosen beneficiary, Children’s Joy Foundation in Calamba City, Laguna. Her key achievement was the “MapúONE TribYouth: Puhon sa Kabataan,” a voluntary effort to provide access to learning and foster education as a powerful force for promoting growth and opportunity to young beneficiaries. Her organization also spearheaded two donation drives: “Liwanag: Shine a Light” aimed to brighten children’s lives in need by providing essential goods and support in time for Christmas, and “United to Serve Hope: Helping Out People in Emergencies” which provides necessary aid and offers relief and hope not only to the children but also to communities affected by the onslaught of Typhoons Rolly (Goni) and Ulysses (Vamco). She also created COVID awareness posters for San Antonio Integrated National High School in Kalayaan, Laguna to engage the school’s community to protect themselves from the novel disease.
After rigorous deliberations by the ASC, Ms. Anejela F. Pagaspas, CHRA, was awarded the prestigious JRAEVCS award during the 23rd commencement exercises at the Philippine International Convention Center on August 5, 2024. She is the first awardee for CHS. This recognition signifies her remarkable dedication and outstanding contributions to the community, particularly in mental health awareness. With this, CSCE is committed to recognizing outstanding Mapúa MCL students who have initiated or led various community engagement activities. These students have inspired others, dedicated their time, talent, and resources to the communities they have served and gained valuable experiences.