OSCI student volunteer program revived, first batch of volunteers announced

The first batch of new student volunteers of the Office for Social Concern and Involvement had their general orientation last 10 September 2024. As the student-arm of OSCI, the student volunteers are composed of current undergraduate student volunteers who contribute to and participate in the formation and service-learning initiatives of OSCI and the University. The orientation marked the first official activity where the student volunteers (SVs) met one another and the formators of OSCI. 

The orientation began with a talk from current OSCI Director Ophalle Alzona-Pornela who discussed the history of the office. She explained the events from the Filipinization Movement (1968-1971) to Fr. Ben’s formal establishment of the structures and offices directed towards serving the nation in 1975. She emphasized that OSCI’s history and roots began with volunteerism and continues to hold a special place in the heart of the office and all its initiatives.

Batch 0 and Current Chairperson (Khatt Sanarez, 4 BS PSY) and Secretary-General (Justine Ong, 4 BS HsC), who were instrumental in the relaunch of the Student Volunteer Center, were also in attendance.

“I'm very excited for the Center this coming school year, especially now that our new kapatids are joining us this batch. It's another chance to grow, help others in their formation, and be part of something bigger than ourselves. I feel very hopeful and motivated and I can't wait to see what we'll achieve together,” Sanarez shared.

Ong added: “The volunteer program has always been a place for me to grow and learn about myself and my advocacies, so I'm excited to see how this year of full implementation will shape me as a Senior. More than that, I’m also looking forward to the kind of community we get to build and the stories that we get to share. I hope that our collective efforts as student volunteers will lead to more meaningful experiences not only for us, but also everyone we meet along the way.”

This Student Volunteer Center (SVC) follows its predecessors Reaching Out for Opportunities to Serve (ROOTS) in 2004 and the OSCI Volunteers (OVs) in the late 2000s.  While names have changed, the heart for formation and service remains the same in working for faith and justice and living out the thrust of forming persons for and with others.

Fruits from last year’s labors, grounded on student consultations

To relaunch the Student Volunteer Formation Program (SVFP), OSCI first had its recruitment talk back on 23rd of January 2024. This came after its formal consultation with 12 undergraduate students to help set the direction of the renewed OSCI Volunteers. The week after the recruitment talk, applications were open to interested student volunteers. From the deliberations, there were selected twenty-two (22) student volunteers out of the thirty-three (33) student applicants. In the week of February 12-16, 2024, they completed the Skills Training for Social Formation and Social Involvement, which included the Five Invitations with Sir Bob Guevara, and Group Dynamics and Facilitation and Processing with Ms Abi Victoria.

“I believe the Student Volunteer Formation Program is the most concrete expression of OSCI’s [or Ateneo, for that matter] commitment to the mission of forming “persons for and with others”. Yayun Patrimonio, current Bigkis formator and Committee Head for the Student Volunteer Program shared. “It is a response to the reality that at-large formation has its limitations and the call is to provide more intensive formation to “a few good people” who can join the Office and the University at the frontlines of social formation and involvement work. In this way, I am excited, not just for the time we will spend with our new batch of student volunteers (SVs), but, moreso, for what this time will mean for them in the long run. OSCI has had a tumultuous history with sustaining student volunteerism in the university. I look forward to how this version of the program and our SVs can be a living testament that volunteerism and activism is ingrained in the very DNA of an Atenean,” he added.

Several of the students who joined the recruitment talk and initial activities have renewed their commitment to the program. For recent graduate and former Secretary-General of the Student Volunteers, Nic Eijansantos, her experience translated into being OSCI’s newest formator.

“The OSCI-SVFP was a transformative journey that not only strengthened my commitment to Ignatian values but also revealed the profound impact of living a life rooted in pakikiisa (solidarity), paglilingkod (service), and pagtindig (social justice). It was more than just a formation program; it was also an invitation to join a community that believes in striving for what truly matters, even when it’s difficult. Being part of the Batch 0 of the SVFP became an avenue for me to grow, serve, and be formed—it was truly a program that changed my life for the better,” Eijansantos shared.

Current composition

The first batch of new OSCI student volunteers are:
ARGALLON, Macwen (4 BS MGT)
CARLOS ,  Matthew Gabriel  (3 AB POS)
FELONGCO, Gabrielle Suleida  (4 BS LfSci)
HO, Ella (2 BS LM)
ISNANI, Athea June Charlotte  (2 AB PSY)
MAPALAD, Jo Franci  (3 AB DS)
NATO, Keilah Nyzel Isaiah  (2 AB PSY)
OBRERO, Yna Gabrielle  (4 AB COM)
PEREZ, Anahata Joselle (4 AB DS)
PIÑON, John William  (2 AB POS)
SACMAR, Kyla Elisa (4 BS HS)
SUMOD-ONG, Elica Mae (4 BS HS)

Batch 0:
ALTUBAR, Justin Vincent (4 AB/MA POS)
CASTRO , Zoe Julianna (3 AB DS)
FERNANDEZ, Shaine Loise (3 AB POS)
GERONIMO, Alexa Charlize (3 BS BIO)
GUINANAO, Jennelle (4 AB IS)
JAVIER, Howie   (2 AB POS)
LABARIA, Emirozz Czarlene (3 AB DS)
LAZARO , Ryan (4 BS HS)
LETARGO, Pio Gian (2 AB POS)
LUISON, Juan Paolo (2 AB DS)
ONG, Justine Avril (4 BS HS)
PANDAPATAN, Ayeesha Raquiza (2 BFA ID)
PIMENTEL, Aletheia Maria (3 AB EC)
ROMERO, Jedryc (2 AB POS)
ROSENDO, Lean (4 BS PSY)
SANAREZ, Jeanne Lovelle (4 AB PSY)
SARMIENTO, Angel Rose (3 AB POS)
UBANA, Shane Dominique (4 AB IS)

The Student Volunteer Center is headed by the Central Committee:
Chairperson: Jeanne Lovelle Sanarez (4 AB PSY)
Secretary-General: Justine Avril Ong (4 BS Health Sci)
Administrative Officer: Shane Dominique Ubana (4 AB IS)
Finance Officer: Aletheia Maria Pimentel (3 AB EC)
Resource Mobilization Officer: Juan Paolo Luison (2 AB DS)
Evaluations and Insights Head: Ryan Lazaro (4 BS HS)
Advocacy Head: Emirozz Czarlene Labaria (3 AB DS)
Community Impact Head: Angel Rose Sarmiento (3 AB POS)
Communications and Creatives Head: Pio Gian Letargo (2 AB POS)
Volunteer Welfare and Development Head: Shane Loise Fernandez (3 AB POS)