Preparations for this year’s Ateneo Student Exposure Program (ASEP), an annual summer exposure conducted by the Student Servant Leadership Program (SSLP) of the Arrupe Office of Social Formation (AOSF), are well under way. The Arrupe team, headed by its Community Engagement Officer (CEO) Karl Anthony Ebol and SSLP coordinator Noriel Rogon, started the spadework as early as January 2015 to prepare for the implementation of this summer’s ASEP.

On 29-30 January, the team travelled to Cabanglasan, Zamboanguita and Bendum for an area scanning. They did a courtesy call and close coordination with the local Jesuit priests who are assigned in the parishes of Cabanglasan and Zamboanguita. Another trip to Bukidnon (this time including Miarayon) on 26-27 February was also conducted inorder to do a community profiling of the possible areas where the ASEP participants will be deployed. The team then interviewed probable foster families who consented to participate in the program by agreeing to house ASEP participants for the whole duration of the implementation.

The Arrupe team will again travel to Bukidnon on 18-19 March 2015 to facilitate the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) and Fr. Francisco “Koko” Parilla, SJ, the parish priest of Our Lady of Mediatrix of All Graces in Zamboanguita, and Fr. Jomari Manzano, SJ, the parish priest of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Cabanglasan.  Both Jesuit priests act as ADDU’s primary partners in this year’s ASEP implementation to be done in Sitio San Vicente of Brgy. Poblacion in Cabanglasan, Brgy. Zamboanguita proper, Brgy. St. Peter, as well as Sitio Bendum in Brgy. Busdi, areas which formed part of the Jesuit mission stations in the Province of Bukidnon. These locations are specifically chosen inorder to align the program’s thrust in observance of the bicentenary of the Restoration of the Society of Jesus (1814-2014).  Aside from the MOA signing, the team will also meet with local stakeholders to provide briefing and orientation regarding ASEP, such as the City Mayor of Malaybalay, the Municipal Mayor of Cabanglasan, the local government units (LGUs) of Zamboanguita, St. Peter and Cabanglasan, the 403rd Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army (PA), and the Malaybalay City Police Office.

Prior to the actual deployment of ASEP participants in Bukidnon, the team will head back to the abovementioned identified areas on 26-27 March to conduct an orientation among participating families.  Two to three participants will stay in the house of foster families (some of whom are Lumad) for the whole duration of their exposure

Earlier this month, the AOSF conducted a well-attended Parent’s Meeting on 1 March 2015.  In that meeting, the office headed by its director Lilibeth L. Arcena explained to the parents (of those who have expressed interest to join ASEP) the nature of the program, its history, its design for this year’s implementation, as well as its objectives, by way of locating them to ADDU’s overall social formation thrust.

This summer program is designed to provide the new corps of Arrupe volunteers and other invited student leaders an experience of immersion by staying with some Lumad families for a period of ten (10) days between 30 March until 8 April.  So far, around thirty (30) Arrupe volunteers constituting batches 43 and 44, and invited student leaders from different student organizations, have expressed interest in joining the program. The final clearance of their participation will depend on their procurement of parents’ consent and medical clearance. (By Arrupe Communications & Advocacy)