Provide Education for 100 Students in Philippines

In the recent floods that hit the City of Dumaguete, there was a need to gather clothes, blankets and food for those who have lost their valuables and worst, had their homes submerged in the soil.

One thing to be emphasized about education is that it should be utilized to better other people’s lives.

Relevance and Service are two inseparable virtues that are inculcated in most students by the mentors. Education, that is selfish in nature, is of no use. But education when shared for the common good of people will inspire and is deemed fruitful.

Encouraging the students to gather used clothes and help those who are in need can be the start of a social transformation, through education. In this way, they will realize, in a deeper sense, the purpose of acquiring a degree – to be relevant and to be of genuine service to society.

It is through their chosen career path that they can serve truly the community along with their acquired knowledge, skills and expertise in a specific field.

The outreach activity ignited deeper realization of students to work better in their academic endeavors, in order to acquire their degrees, and be successful in a chosen career so that they can help the people who are in need.

It was an opportunity for the students to realize that they are called to be agents of service and transformation.

By inculcating the values of relevance and service to the education system, the students will learn more and think deeper of their purpose as an individual. And that they will come to realize that the end goal of education is to contribute in the establishment of a better and safer society for the coming generations to benefit.

As the academic year opens, the festival of hopes and dreams called “Dal-uy” (derived from the word "daloy" which means "to flow") was held to jumpstart the school year of Foundation University.

Thousands of students with their individually-designed lanterns join the dusk walk from the main campus to the Rizal boulevard of Dumaguete City.

During the ceremony held at the city’s famed boulevard, the students will all bring their lighted lanterns to the shoreline and make them float together.

This tradition may sound simple for observers but for the students of Foundation University, it was an avenue to express their hopes, dreams, prayers, and aspirations at the start of the academic year.

The activity becomes a source of strength, courage and enthusiasm as the students face a new chapter in their student life.

Why hopes? Why dreams? Why aspirations? Because education in the Philippines is hard-earned and what the University provides, especially to its work students and scholars, is a great opportunity to acquire education and in order to be made ready for the real world of work in their individual field of expertise.

During their stay in the University, they are given opportunities to grow in a holistic manner through the various cultural, academic and sports activities plotted within the duration of the academic year.

Such activities prepare the scholars not only to be ready for work in the outside arena but this will cultivate in them the importance of being relevant and concerned to the immediate community.

The lighted lanterns as well symbolize every Foundationite’s life mission and purpose, to give hope to the people who are in dire need for inspiration, especially in poor and far-flung communities.

As their lighted lanterns, filled with dreams and aspirations, float and bring light to the community, the students, faculty, staff and alumni are reminded to also bear the hopes and aspirations and to share light to others. And together with their individual dreams, wishes and prayers also afloat for the whole humanity, for the world and for the betterment of the society.