Cardoner Volunteers Program Deploys 3rd Batch of Volunteers

Ateneo de Davao University’s Cardoner Volunteers deployed its third pool of volunteers to its partner institutions. After the announcement of their respective area assignments during the Pre-deployment Training, Formation and Discernment held last April 23-29, 2018; seven(7) brave souls namely,  Tessa Mae Alison(AB-Psychology, 2009), Epimarie Arsenic Daño(BEEd-Elementary Education,2017), Johnedel Laciapag(AdDU-Junior High School Faculty), Ferdinand Aalrome Pagdilao IV(BSED-English,2016), Ivy Jane Torregosa(AB-International Studies Major in Asian Studies,2016), Ezar Uy(BS-Marketing, 2017), and Aivy Rose Villarba(AB-Mass Communication, 2016) decided to embark on a year-long journey.

On May 19, 2018, Karl Anthony Ebol, the Program Coordinator of Cardoner Volunteers departed from Davao with Ms. Daño, Mr. Pagdilao, Ms. Torregosa, and Ms. Villarba for their deployment to Myanmar and Thailand. The Xavier Learning Community in Chiang Rai, Thailand headed by the school director, Fr. Peter Pichet Saengthien SJ welcomed Mr. Ebol, Ms. Torregosa, and Ms. Villarba. Mr. Ebol attended meetings intended to orient the volunteers and the program about XLC which Mr. Ebol in return orient XLC about Cardoner Volunteers, Arrupe Office of Social Formation and Ateneo de Davao University. Mr. Laciapag will soon join Ms. Torregosa and Ms. Villarba in Chiang Rai, Thailand this coming August.

As soon as the deployment procedures finished, Mr. Ebol then accompanied Ms. Daño and Mr. Pagdilao last May 24, 2018, to Taunggyi, Myanmar where St. Aloysius Gonzaga Institute of Higher Studies headed by its school director, Fr. Paul Dass, SJ welcomed them together with Batch 1 and Batch 2 Cardoner Volunteers who are in the final stretch of their volunteer journey. Soon after arriving SAG, they then witnessed the Commencement Exercises for the diploma program of SAG wherein Dr. Anabelle Casumpa, AdDU’s dean of the School of Education represented Dr. Gina Montalan,  AdDU’s Academic Vice President gave an inspirational message to the graduates of SAG as the guest of honor for the ceremony.

On June 3, 2018, Madaris Volunteer Program sent-off all the Madaris Volunteers including Ms. Alison and Mr. Uy at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center in Cotabato City. Two days after, on June 5, 2018, the Madaris Volunteers including Ms. Alison and Mr. Uy assigned in the island provinces of Basilan and Tawi Tawi arrived in Zamboanga City. Both Cardoner Volunteers were immediately deployed to Lamitan City, Basilan where their foster families welcomed them to their homes and Madaris.

This year-long journey aims to give the volunteers a transformative experience as they share their talents as teachers to address the specific set of needs of the respective partner institutions and building peace and understanding through the dialogue of witnessing.

This avenue for volunteering is made possible through the efforts of the Office of the President, Madaris Volunteer Program, Cardoner Volunteers, St. Aloysius Gonzaga (SAG) Institute of Higher Studies, Xavier Learning Community, Madaris Partners of Madaris Volunteer Program, and Arrupe Office of Social Formation.