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Pathways celebrates 2023 in Paskuhang Pathways

Pathways celebrates 2023 in Paskuhang Pathways

26 Dec 2023 | Pathways to Higher Education

300 and more people, in a mix of students, professional alumni, and staff pose in an auditorium for a community photo. Everyone is smiling. — Pathways participants, parents, alumni, and friends gathered at the Leong Hall Auditorium for Pathways’ Christmas and year-end celebration

After a grace-filled year of hybrid events and formative moments shared, Pathways capped the year with the annual Paskuhang Pathways. We welcomed the Advent season with reflection, games, and gift-giving on Sunday, 3 December 2023 at the Leong Auditorium. We spent the afternoon with our 12th Graders, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, plus some alumni across different batches.

In the foreground, two students smile at the camera. On the left is one in yellow with her thumb up, on the right is one in green showing a peace sign. — Two Pathways participants from Batch 18 (left) and Batch 16 (right) pose for a picture in the middle of an icebreaker

Our afternoon began with icebreakers encouraging everyone to mingle with their older and younger Pathways siblings. We also quizzed everyone on Pathways facts in a trivia game. While it was to the advantage of the older Pathways batches of participants, we wanted to let our younger batches get to know the organization more in a fun yet informative format.

An alumna stands in front of a rolling board on which a tarpaulin is pasted with the words "Maligayang Pasko". On it are colorful paper stars with words handwritten on them. With her back to the camera, she is both taping her own star and making sure the others are taped well too. — A Pathways alum sticks her own paper star on the wall

To settle down in time for the mass, we invited everyone to think about the blessings they’ve received throughout the year. We created a colorful wall of gratitude and commitment this Paskuhan as they wrote down their thanks and wishes on paper stars.

A priest holds a split host above his chalice of wine. — Fr. Francis D. Alvarez presides over the Holy Mass

We lifted up these thoughts to the Lord in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist led by Fr. Francis D. Alvarez, SJ. During the homily, Fr. Alvarez reminded us that not all gifts are easily understood. While there are gifts that come to us in a positive light, some come in the form of challenges or only show through our weaknesses. It is in these moments that we are invited to discern these gifts and to watch for the Lord’s presence in everything.

A row of students in blue stand behind one student with a microphone in his hands. — Batch 17 takes to the stage for their batch presentation

We continued celebrating these blessings and commitments in the return of our Batch presentations. Before the pandemic, every Paskuhang Pathways challenged each batch of participants to present a skit or musical number in a friendly inter-batch competition. This year, each batch gathered together and shared their reflections with their peers. They collated these and shared the fruit of their discussions with the community in their skits.

Tied for first place in the competition were the two teams of our seniors from Batch 16, who were split due to their size. Second place went to our juniors from Batch 17.

Two rows of students in yellow stand on the stage holding blue fabric bags of groceries. — Batch 18 poses with the Noche Buena packages they received

In between celebrating and reflecting, we did some gift-giving as we raffled gifts such as small home appliances, gift checks, and gadgets - all thanks to our generous donors! Everyone also went home with Noche Buena packages for their family’s Christmas celebrations. All these gifts were shared with them through the generosity of our Pathways alumni and friends who all pitched in to make the celebrations extra jolly.

We were also fortunate to be joined by company sponsors for these giveaways. Our friends from ChowKing shared meal packages for some of the participants’ lunch as they came from a prior event, our Discernment Circles, in the morning. We are also fortunate for the generosity of our friends at Rebisco Foundation, Inc. for sharing snacks, Summit and Tanduay Distillers for sharing distilled water, and Unilab for sharing multivitamins.

Through everyone’s collaboration–donors, and participants alike–we had much to celebrate as we closed the year. We look forward to another fruitful year in 2024!

We would like to thank the following for the success of Paskuhang Pathways 2023:

Our sponsors:
Chowking
Rebisco Foundation, Inc.
Summit (through Tanduay Distillers)
Unilab, Inc.

Our donors:
Francis & Suzette Alcausin
Batch 13 Alumni: Justine Louise Alcantara, Ceejhay Castro, Maria Daniela Sanuco, Jumel Cablay
Batch 2 Alumni: Cris Angelica Sarmiento-Acosta, Crisanto Bordon, Jennifer Capistrano-Castano, Erica Latumbo-Dela Cruz, Lorenzo Fabic, Tel Fitero, Elma Corpuz Legaspi, Gene Mark Loresco, Melanie Mendez, Celia Marie Marcelo Ong, Nerian Ostonal, Christian Pascua, Weng Raborar, Jerald Santos, Joan Sanchez, Jayson Sonido
Iren Bello
Crisologo Comboy
Joyce Fortes
Jessa Marcelino
And our generous anonymous donors

Our volunteers:
Justine Louise Alcantara
Rose Peter Baldevino
Jacques Vincent Borral
Krisha Joy Cagunot
Allen John Dela Cruz
Maricar Garceron
Richmond Kurt Garcia
Kristal Ann Gerero
Rae Kayla Marie Magcalas
Maryjane Magsino
Kelly Yvonne Manzo
Dolly Ann Monsalud
Gabrielle Palaypayon
Rachel Leigh Pepito
Ada Rendol
Gian Carlo Risos
Milagros Risos
Jo Marcos Romulo
Joshua Miguel Tirana
Charles Myekell Samson
John Michael Villar