Article by: Edward Andrew A. Guese
Photos by: Karylyn Kate R. Gan and Julie Anne C. Dee
COMMITTED TO SERVE. Nominees David Genesis Pedeglorio, Aeone Villanueva, Rica Joyce Ramilo, Belen Mariese Panganiban, and Job Lipat were vying for the coveted JRAEVCS award. Also in this photo: Ms. Julie Anne C. Dee, CSCE-NSTP Program Coordinator, Mr. Edward Andrew A. Guese, CSCE Program Assistant, Ms. Jocelyn T. Bellin, CSCE Director, Ms. Angela Cecille Ortiz-Kare, CGC Head, and Dr. Roel Rodrigo, I-ExCELL Director. (NOT IN PICTURE: Dr. Hermie Articona, RPCO Director)
Graduation season is getting closer.
Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL), through the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE), facilitated the conduct of the Jose Rizal Award for Excellence and Virtue in Community Service (JRAEVCS). This award is given to a graduating Mapúa MCL student who has participated in community engagement activities during their college years. It is an institutional recognition of Mapúa MCL’s dedication to promoting students’ pursuit of socio-civic responsibility and making a positive impact on their partner communities. To date, ten (10) students have received the award since its inception in 2014, including the recent awardee, Dustin O. Divina, a B.A. Communication graduate from the College of Arts and Science (CAS).
For the Academic Year 2022-2023, the nominees for the JRAEVCS once again presented their community engagement portfolios to CSCE and the members of the Award Selection Committee (ASC). The presentation took place on August 16, 2023, at the newly renovated Board Room in the E.T. Yuchengco Building. The ASC panel consisted of three (3) individuals from the Mapúa MCL Administration: Dr. Hermie V. Articona, Director of the Research Promotion and Coordination Office (RPCO), Ms. Angela Cecille C. Ortiz-Kare, the new Head of the Center for Guidance and Counseling (CGC), and returning member, Dr. Roel C. Rodrigo, who is now the Director of the Institute for Excellence in Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning (I-ExCELL).
In the post-pandemic era, five (5) graduating students have been selected as finalists for the JRAEVCS awards this year, based on nominations from their Deans and Program Chairs. This is the first time such nominations have been made. The nominees are Mr. Job J. Lipat, a B.S. Computer Science student, Ms. Belen Mariese V. Panganiban, a B.S. Architecture student, Mr. David Genesis C. Pedeglorio, a B.S. Computer Engineering student, Ms. Rica Joyce G. Ramilo, a B.S. Chemical Engineering student, and Ms. Aeone P. Villanueva, a B.S. Computer Engineering student. During the presentation, each nominee had 10 minutes to showcase their portfolios and confidently answered questions raised by the ASC. Here are some highlights of their initiatives:
JOB J. LIPAT – A Greater Focus on Peer Mentoring
Mr. Lipat initiated the Mapúa MCL ACM Peer Mentoring Program to aid students in programming courses and ensure their academic success. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the program expanded to serve the entire Mapúa MCL community and support more subjects. He was also part of the team that created the MCL COVID-19 Tracker for Laguna. Additionally, he led the Mapúa MCL ACM’s annual Hour of Code events, demonstrating coding fundamentals.
BELEN MARIESE V. PANGANIBAN – She’s Determined to Volunteer
Ms. Panganiban is dedicated to community engagement, particularly in environmental conservation and community development. As part of her advocacy as Ms. MCL 2019, she, and Mr. Raymart Castillo (Mr. MCL 2019), organized the Solid Waste Management: Sustainable Development for Children initiative for pupils at Makativille Elementary School. This initiative taught children the importance of keeping the environment clean and recycling through storytelling and a recycling art activity. Ms. Panganiban is an outstanding role model, involved and volunteered for various organizations and relief operations, including the SAVE (Stand and Volunteer for Empowerment) Taal Eruption Relief Operations and At the Frontlines of Social Responsibility: Community Engagement Series in Porac, Pampanga.
DAVID GENESIS C. PEDEGLORIO – Engaging the Community through Science and Web Development
Mr. Pedeglorio founded the Filipino Web Development Peers online community in 2022 to provide educational opportunities in web development to over 3,000 members. He also volunteered to Serve the People Corps Laguna to gather accurate counts of active COVID cases. He led various community engagement projects, including the promotion of science education and climate action.
RICA JOYCE G. RAMILO – Leading Her Way towards Environmental Awareness
From 2020 to 2022, Ms. Ramilo served as the President of Malayan Kalikasan. During her tenure, she implemented an eco-point system for the organization that kept members engaged in their advocacy work and improved initiatives during the pandemic. She also hosted webinars to promote environmental awareness that aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Additionally, she volunteered her time to help assemble solar lamps to communities without electricity, participated in clean-up drives, and contributed to tree-planting activities. Ms. Ramilo also chaired a collaborative event co-organized by Perpetual Kalikasan and served as a resource speaker for Earth Hour 2022. Recently, she continued her outreach efforts, including participating in a tree-planting activity during CAS Week 2023 and contributing to the Mt. Manabu 2023 Outreach program.
AEONE P. VILLANUEVA – Equipping Communities in Digital Literacy and Disaster Preparedness
Ms. Villanueva, a member of the Mapúa MCL Amateur Radio Club, organized a seminar and radio operator licensure exam for selected residents of Makati Homeville in Calauan, Laguna. The gathering’s purpose was to equip the community with adequate knowledge and tools, such as radios and antennas, to address their disaster management needs. Additionally, she volunteered to arrange a Christmas party and gift-giving event for the elderly residents of Bahay ni Maria in Calamba City, Laguna. She also participated as an instructor for the Computer Hardware and Software Fundamentals activity for the teachers of Makativille Elementary School and Mapúa MCL stakeholders. As the ICPEP-MMCL president, she served as one of the instructors for Basic to Advance Microsoft Office Tutorials for the Alternative Learning System (ALS) students of Cabuyao. Recently, she participated in the community engagement activity, At the Frontlines of Social Responsibility, in Porac, Pampanga.
During the 22nd commencement exercises held on September 25, 2023, the prestigious Jose Rizal Award for Excellence and Virtue in Community Service was presented to Rica Joyce G. Ramilo. This recognition signifies her remarkable dedication and outstanding contributions to the community. With this, CSCE is now more committed to recognizing deserving students as awardees, in hopes of inspiring others to volunteer their time and give back to their communities.