JPIC

By John Rainer L. Pulvera, LEAD Volunteer Coordinator (rain.pulvera@delasalle.ph)

"God did this in an imperceptible way over a long period of time, so that one commitment led to another in a way that I did not foresee in the beginning”. These words from our Founder encapsulates my recent journey to La Salle School Sangkhlaburi (LSSK) and La Salle Learning Center (Bamboo School) in Thailand last December 21-27, 2024. My visit, filled with striking parallels to my past work as a teacher in St. Jaime Hilario School – De La Salle Bataan, has made me reflect on how God has guided me to experience the Lasallian educational mission. 

When I arrived at the Brother's residence in LSSK it felt strangely familiar. The cool breeze, the lush mountain scenery, the distant sunset – it all evoked a sense of déjà vu. I felt like I was simultaneously standing on the shoreline of Jaime Hilario, the waves lapping at my feet, and gazing out at the vast sea. For context, it’s important to remember that these schools share a common foundation: to serve the "last, the lost, and the least" – the peripheries! 

Just as the day begins with some students being picked up at the Tower (Philippine Japanese Friendship tower) in Jaime Hilario, the journey in LSSK starts with pupils arriving from the 3 Pagodas Pass. Similarly, in both schools, the day commences with a sense of community. In LSSK, meditation fosters inner peace before the academic day begins, while in Jaime Hilario, morning prayers and community gatherings build a sense of belonging. Observing a Grade 2 English class at LSSK and interacting with the vibrant kindergarteners at Bamboo School brought back cherished memories of my own classroom experience. Although most of the Thai students do not understand some of the English words that I say, I know very well they felt and understand our shared smiles and warm hugs. A day is not complete without a hearty meal, lunch is free to teachers and pupils in LSSK and Bamboo school. Comparably, in Jaime Hilario, they currently have a feeding program for select grade school students called TIKAS (Tibay ng Katawan, Lakas ng Isip) that is funded by generous donors. 

The day culminates where they all started, the bus rides! Or in the case of LSSK and some Bamboo school pupils, the truck rides! The whole of my stay will not be complete if I have not experienced being either packed inside a truck with 100 plus pupils or standing on the edge holding on to a metal railing. It sounds like a risky endeavor, but these truck rides captured the charism of the Lasallian educational mission. It sends us a message that hope begins at a certain pick-up point, but never ends because we only culminate on where we started. I think these children do not see the inconvenience of the ride, I believe they see this journey as their hope for life. 

My visit to LSSK and Bamboo school left an indelible mark. I departed not only with memories of the children's smiles but also with a renewed appreciation for the transformative power of seemingly ordinary encounters. The mission in Jaime Hilario, LSSK, and Bamboo School is alive and still continues to echo the message of hope. The question now is, are you willing to respond and take part in this noble cause? 

One Life. Live it. Volunteer!

Serving and reaching out to the peripheries continues, especially during this CHRISTmas season.

The Lasallian Volunteers Batch 25 participated in their Mid-Year Activity-Program Management, which took place from December 11-14, 2024, at Sitio Mclen Ville, Malabon City. This immersion activity was organized by the De La Salle Brothers, Inc. – Social Action Unit

A total of 125 simple Noche Buena packages were distributed to the residents by the volunteers as a gesture of gratitude to the community.

The activity not only opened the hearts and minds of the volunteers to the realities that exist beyond what we usually see, but it also highlighted the importance of service. A special thanks to individuals like Nanay Alma, the President of SMV Homeowners Association, who is dedicated and always willing to go the extra mile in serving her community. May her commitment inspire us all to fulfill our roles and responsibilities as active members of our own communities.

#lasallianvolunteers #lsvp25
 

The District's Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and the Youth and Vocations (Y&V) Committees co-organized the LEAD for Peace closing ritual in celebration of the International Lasallian Days for Peace last October 19, 2024. The virtual gathering was entitled Day of Solidarity Prayers to Act with Courage and Vision, recognizing the diverse faith traditions and highlighting the various experiences promoting peace and justice in the District.

The prayer started with a reflection on Nelson Mandela for young people, inviting them to act with courage and vision to overcome injustices and poverty. This was followed by participants' reflections on their experiences in building peace, solidarity, and promoting justice. They shared their reflections on a pallet (link here: LEADforPeaceReflections), identifying persons and experiences that had an impact on their lives. 

Young people from the sector of Malaysia shared their service learning projects. They highlighted how their experiences in the refugee education centers exposed them to local communities' diverse realities and needs. At an international school, they shared that students come from comfortable backgrounds, and service learning instills a sense of social justice, deepens awareness of societal inequalities, and inspires action to contribute to a more just and equitable world.

Br Mico de Leon FSC, Vocations Director for the Sector of Malaysia, gave the closing remarks encouraging the members of the Lasallian community, especially the young people, to reach out and look for those who are in the peripheries and take the lead in creating new responses to address their needs. 

The closing ritual was also followed the LEAD for Peace launch and  gathering last August 29 which also featured experiences and initiatives of young people in the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Myanmar.

Here is the link to the Zoom Recording of LEAD for PEACE: http://bit.ly/3DiE9jF (Passcode: 2O$SM=5k)

by Paulo Luis Gabriel De Guzman and Kyra Cho

On the 2nd of October 2024, Lasallians from across the Lasallian East Asian District participated in the 2nd iteration of Lasallian Connect, hosted by Saint Joseph's Institution International in Singapore. This unique online gathering, held in celebration of International Lasallian Days for Peace (ILDP), allowed student leaders to come together to celebrate the wide range of initiatives and activities from their schools or institutions. Lasallian Connect served as a platform for these young leaders to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and foster a sense of unity across borders, where nearly 50 students, teachers and Brothers from Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan participated in this year’s call. 

The discussions this year centred around the theme of ILDP this year, One La Salle: Our Pilgrimage Towards Peace, with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) providing the framework for these conversations. The call was divided into breakout rooms, with each group discussing one of the five SDG pillars: peace, prosperity, people, partnerships, and planet. In each room, students explored how their respective institutions embrace and embody Lasallian values from the lens of the pillar.

The discussions were lively and reflective of the strong Lasallian spirit. Students eagerly shared examples of how they and their schools contribute to the SDGs by integrating Lasallian values into projects focused on social justice, environmental protection, and community service. The breakout rooms provided a space for students to engage in more personal and detailed conversations, enabling them to dive deeper into the specific ways their schools work toward the SDG goals .In the "Peace" group for instance, students and brothers shared how their schools promote student wellbeing through programs designed to emphasise the importance of checking in on fellow students. 

One of the highlights of the call was where students collaborated using a shared whiteboard to design artwork that captured the essence of their discussions. Each group presented their final piece, reflecting and learning from other groups. 

As the call concluded, the energy of collaboration and shared purpose resonated among the participants, leaving them inspired to bring these discussions back to their schools and continue their work. For students in SJII, Lasallian connect is merely one of a number of opportunities held during the month of ILDP, with other initiatives including schoolwide weekly morning reflections on how Lasallians strive to achieve peace through the various pillars, and the sale of custom Lasallian T-shirts with funds being used to support school charities.  

Due to the success of the event, the hope is to make Lasallian Connect a lasting tradition, held annually on the Wednesday of the second week of ILDP, ensuring students from across the region have a regular opportunity to exchange ideas, celebrate Lasallian values, and collaborate on a global level. 

Lasallian Connect 2024 was more than just a virtual meeting - it was an opportunity to forge bonds between students across Asia and inspire collaboration. Through their conversations, students shared insights into how their schools contribute to the global Lasallian mission, highlighting the tangible ways in which Lasallian values are being acknowledged in schools. This sense of unity and common purpose reinforces the message that all Lasallians, despite their diverse backgrounds, are collectively contributing to a more peaceful world.

by Danielle Anne Arellano (Grade 12 student), Managing Editor of The Hilarian from St. Jaime Hilario School - De La Salle Bataan

“Peace is not just about the absence of war, but also the presence of justice."

On 02 October 2024, the Horacio Cebrero Hall, Central House Administration became a room for resilience as various La Salle schools across the Philippines gathered either through face-to-face or via online meetings for the International Lasallian Days for Peace (ILDP) 2024. With the title, “Kwentong Lipat: Moving Stories of Displacement and Hope,” the event celebrated the power of storytelling and fostering compassion despite adversity.

DLSP hosted the ILDP 2024 in line with the Lasallian East Asia District's LEAD for Peace campaign and the Philippines’ celebration of Human Rights and Democracy Month.

TRANSCENDING BORDERS

“It does not mean that it does not happen to you, it does not happen at all."

Stories from the refugees have captured the hearts and minds of the Lasallian community. Their narratives of war and displacement showed the harsh realities that other people face. Their testimonies as refugees reminded everyone of the struggles that they faced, one that is sometimes forgotten by others. Their struggles and hardships in transcending physical and emotional borders emphasized the need for a just government and the significance of freedom to a human being.

SPARKING CONVERSATIONS

Even if we are not the light, we can be the spark! The event attendees engaged in discussions and explored ways in which Lasallians can be agents of peace. During the small group discussions, the Lasallian community was encouraged to take steps towards peace.

“The part that really struck me was the speech of the Founder of Little Gaza kitchen, I’m touched na may mga tao pa pala na handang tumulong kahit hindi sila sigurado kung hanggang kailan nila kayang tulungan ang mga refugee[s]. Thus, as a student journalist, we must be a leader, models of values of peace, service, and empathy in our own schools,” Nathalie Malang, a Grade 12 student from St. Jaime Hilario School - De La Salle Bataan said in an interview.

Hearing and imagining these stories from other people was indeed difficult to imagine. However, that day, gratitude filled the air as ILDP became a safe space to share stories, encouraging the Lasallian family to take a stand and be the change. 

Mr. Gladstone Cuarteros, the Lasallian Justice and Peace Office, National Coordinator gave his synthesis. He concluded that we must always embrace peace and help from the heart, reflecting this belief in the phrase, “pagtulong na galing sa puso.” “If only we could change mindsets and become more open[-minded], we would have a better world,” he added.

With hearts full of empathy, the Lasallians were reminded that the change begins within. Thus, as Lasallians, let us start the change we want to see, the change that begins in us.
 

Brothers Mico and Butch launched the “LEAD for Peace”* campaign at St. Joseph’s Institution International School (SJIIS) this week to mark the International Lasallian Days of Peace from 21 September to 21 October 2024.

They spoke during the Elementary School (ES) and High School (HS) assemblies about the importance of promoting peace and supporting efforts for a more just world. During tutor time, HS students made origami peace cranes. 

Next week, Year 11-13 students will go for a Service-Learning Day on 03 October 2024, actively engage in service-learning activities, and collaborate with a partner community serving a vulnerable sector of society. 

Let us all be peacemakers in our daily lives, through kindness, justice, and compassion. As St. John Baptist de La Salle said, “Be driven by the spirit of love and concern for others.”

From the De La Salle Brothers of Malaysia Facebook page.

Last 20 September 2024, the La Salle Youth Group of La Salle School Bangkok organized an activity with the theme Participation, Development, and Peace.

National Youth Day is celebrated in Thailand every 20 September. Coincidentally, the United Nations has designated 21 September of every year as the International Day of Peace to raise awareness among people around the world about the cessation of violence against humans, animals, and the environment.

From the Facebook page of La Salle School Bangkok

On 20 September 2024, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, Br. Francisco Terayut Chadang FSC--Director of La Salle School Nakhonsawan--read the message of the United Nations Secretary-General and led a moment silence and prayer, with the theme "Cultivating a Culture of Peace."

The United Nations has designated 21 September of every year as the International Day of Peace to raise awareness among people around the world about the cessation of violence against humans, animals, and the environment. For humans, this includes the use of physical and mental violence, as the world has seen countless wars and violence throughout history, leading to loss. Even today, violence continues to occur around the world, from family problems to international problems. Using peaceful means to solve problems together starts with creating a culture of peace in the minds of individuals, families, communities, societies, nations, and the world.

From the Facebook page of La Salle School Nakhonsawan

By Silay LSVP Community, Kalinga

One life. 4 young individuals responded to the call of a long-term (8-10 months) volunteer engagement in Silay Lasallian Volunteer Program (LSVP) community in the mountains of Kalinga, Philippines. They are the 25th batch of Lasallian volunteers who will commit their lives to a mutually-transformative experience. Before their deployment, the volunteers underwent a 2-week orientation-seminar which aimed to purify their intentions, build a sense of community, understand their part as Lasallian volunteers, and equip them with basic life support skills.

Live it. To culminate the orientation seminar, a commissioning ceremony was held together with the Brothers of the Lasallian Formation Center (LFC), Members of the Lasallian Partners Council, Lasallian Mission Services, and volunteers of LSVP Batch 24. By the end of the ceremony, the volunteers, in good faith, read their memoirs, “God who guides all things with wisdom and serenity, whose way it is not to force the inclination of persons, willed to commit me entirely to (their personal commitment), God did this in an imperceptible way and over a long period of time so that one commitment led to another in a way that I did not foresee in the beginning. One Life. Live it. Volunteer! "

Volunteer! These young individuals, though coming from different backgrounds, chose to spend their time for the service of others. Truly, their hearts are in the peripheries.

Looking forward: The Lasallian Volunteer Program (LSVP) will be sharing volunteer stories every end of the month. May you find inspiration in these seemingly ordinary stories but done with extraordinary love.