Last February 18, the Sector-Based Cluster (SBC) held the PasaHero Culminating Activity to cap off its activities for the year.
“The SBC wanted to engage more Ateneans in our advocacies because we thought it was necessary to share the fulfillment we felt whenever we support the causes of our organizations,” SBC Head Daryl De Vera said.
Philosophy Instructor Geoffrey Guevara and Photocopying Worker Ate Alma graced the culminating activity with their insights.
Genuine volunteerism
“To be a genuine volunteer is to be of service to others without expecting any reward… Genuine volunteerism is simply giving yourself because you know you have to,” De Vera said.
SBC Secretary-Treasurer Jan Christopher Rico had a similar take on the meaning of genuine volunteerism. “[Genuine volunteerism is doing] the right things because you see the good in them, without any condition or hesitation,” he said.
While De Vera and Rico touched on the value of selflessness in volunteerism, Kythe External Relations Advocacy Head Kara Guioguio emphasized the value of compassion.
She said, “[Genuine volunteerism] is an act of free will and stems from our common feelings of humanity for those whose dire need or situation compels us to reach deep within ourselves and try our best to be of help or service.”
Ateneans and volunteerism
While De Vera said there are enough Atenean volunteers, Rico’s personal view on the level of volunteerism in the university was conflicted.
“There are a lot of volunteers in the Ateneo. Is it enough? In the long run, I don’t think so, but for now, yes,” he said.
He added, “This is why our SBC orgs continue to make advocacy weeks: to provide more avenues for Ateneans to help, even if you are not an SBC member.”
Guioguio said that she hoped more people would take advantage of the opportunities to help others.
She said, “We have so much to be thankful for and it’s this sense of patriotism and common humanity that should inspire us to give back whenever and however we can.”
De Vera said that volunteerism is important in the Ateneo because it is the most evident proof that Ateneans are really preparing to be “professionals for others.”
He said, however, that being a volunteer does not mean merely joining an SBC organization. “You can be genuinely of service to others as long as you follow your passion and do it for other people.”
Rico said that the ingrained value of cura personalis in the Ateneo reflects in the high regard the university has for volunteerism.
“An Atenean, [whether] an SBC member or not, shows volunteerism when he joins an organization actively, signs up to volunteer in advocacy events, [helps] out in times of need—like Ondoy—or [even just follows the Clean as You Go scheme] in the cafeteria,” he said.
Guioguio also recounted the Typhoon Ondoy Relief Operations as her vision of Atenean volunteerism.
She said, “I was pleasantly surprised with the volunteer turnout during the relief work for Typhoon Ondoy, and I wish we can see more of it—not just whenever calamities strike.”
SBC principles
De Vera said that the organizations under SBC are “geared towards the development of self-sustaining sectors through proactive advocacy and direct social involvement.”
Rico said that the main principle of SBC is sustainability. Each organization in SBC helps the others become more effective and sustainable in their efforts to promote social advocacies.
This year, projects such as Friendship Hour and Best Activities and Contributions Sharing Sessions provided for community-building among SBC organizations.
