The Service Learning Program (SLP) of the Arrupe Office of Social Formation (formerly the Social Involvement Coordinating Office [SICO]) evaluates today the implementation of its Pagtataya Practicum Program with its major community partner, the Holy Family Parish in Baliok, Toril. Arrupe’s SLP, in partnership with the Theology Department, engaged in the deployment of some Theo 141 classes in the first semester of School Year (SY) 2013-2014 in the different basic ecclesial communities (BECs), or Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK), covered by the Holy Family Parish. These classes were deployed during the implementation of the practicum phase of Theo 141 which covers the whole of the midterm of the first semester. A total of seven Theo 141 classes participated in this partnership, including the classes of Mr. Lunar Fayloga, Mr. Noriel Rogon, M. Isabel S. Actub, and Mr. Bernard Buela.
Ms. Eufemia Faller, Arrupe’s SLP coordinator, facilitated the partnership with some Theo 141 classes of the Theology Department, as well as the partnership with Fr. Ricky Penalosa, the parish priest of the Holy Family Parish. The parish became the receptacle of more than 300 4th year students who performed their immersion in different GKKs in Baliok and Talomo for three to four full Sundays commencing August to September 2013. Theo 141, being the last class offered by Theology Department in the tertiary level, has a built-in practicum component which usually begins in the midterm of the first semester.
The evaluation is intended to assess the protocol/procedures in Pagtataya’s program implementation, as well as its general objectives (both of Arrupe’s SLP and the Theology Department’s practicum objectives), viability for sustainable long-term partnership with all stakeholders, and the community’s (the GKKs’) overall response to accepting 4th year Ateneo students in their homes and community not only for immersion/exposure purposes but also to render concrete service(s) according to the students’ field of expertise in the context of their specific courses. Some Arrupe Vols, the corps of student volunteers of the Arrupe Office, were also involved in the program implementation by providing assistance and support during the area scanning as well as during the actual practicum phase.
Arrupe’s SLP, as the major proponent of this program, has invited Fr. Ricky Penalosa as well as the presidents of the different GKKs covered under the Holy Family Parish, and the Theology faculty members engaged in this partnership, to the evaluation meeting which will be held at the Holy Family Parish in the afternoon of 11th December of 2013. Arrupe’s SLP signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Holy Family Parish for this purpose.
Similarly, Arrupe’s SLP also forged a partnership with the Computer Engineering Department (COE) and the Finance Department of the School of Business and Governance (SBG). The practicum deployment for both departments, also conducted in the first semester of this SY, was implemented in different areas. (By M. Isabel S. Actub, Arrupe Communications & Advocacy)