In honor of Saint Benilde Romancon’s canonization anniversary, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde held the yearly Benilde Mission Week with the theme “St. Benilde: Lighting the Way from Learners to Leaders,” through various activities and seminars organized from October 21 to 29, 2019 for all members of the Benildean community.
The Office of the Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life announced via email that this year’s celebration of Benilde Mission week was moved from August to October, due to August being part of the typhoon season as well as the College’s period for term-break. Furthermore, it was also aimed to gather and uplift the Benildean community’s involvement.
To start off the week, Benilde Red Cross Youth Council spearheaded “Blood Type: Benildean,” a blood-letting drive last October 21. Photos, videos, and memoirs of engagements in line with the Lasallian formation and social development were exhibited by offices and student organizations along the campus. A mass in respect to the transfer of the Carillon Bells from the College to De La Salle University was held the next day.
Meanwhile, the Center for Social Action (CSA) organized a Wellness Fair that consisted of nutrition consultation and counselling and beauty and wellness recreations (free haircut, foot spa, massage, and manicure for the Benildean community) that lasted from October 23 to 25. Subsequently, a Climate Hackathon, in cooperation with the Pasig City government, Hub of Innovation for Inclusion, and Future Proof PH, was organized to inspire think-tank of solutions to address climate change.
A mission for the (future) leaders
To continue the Benilde Mission Week celebration and to strengthen leadership qualities even more among Benildeans, a leadership seminar in light of digital transformation was conducted last Monday, October 28, co-headed by the University of South Australia (UniSA).
Mr. Neil Pariñas, the College’s Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life, welcomed everyone with his opening remarks, mentioning Benilde Mission Week’s theme that deals with social development and emphasized certain activities such as the blood letting program, outreach programs, and medical missions.
“It is through social development that can form partnerships between schools and operations leading into transformations,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ms. Grace Adeline Halcon, Business Development Manager at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), introduced the education sector in the Philippines as a very dynamic contributor to socio economic growth.
“Going through one of the biggest reforms in education with the ongoing implementation of the K-12 curriculum, which is why a lot of universities are seeing internationalization as a key element to partake in to further develop their future graduates,” she said.
Each year, 60 scholars are sent to Australia from the Philippines through the Australia Awards Program. In 2018, approximately 55% of awards were granted to women while 3% were granted to those who identify as living with a disability, with the Philippines being their fourth largest beneficiary of the said program.
UniSA is looking forward to a possible collaboration with the College for them to impart their teachings and learnings in working with the industry, sectors, and community, prioritizing Filipinos with expertise in the areas of cyber security and data analytics.
Ending towards a new beginning
To close this year’s Benilde Mission Week, a celebration of the Holy Eucharist was presided by His Excellency Teodoro C. Bacani, Bishop-Emeritus of Novaliches, and Rev. Fr. Marco Pangilinan, yesterday, October 29.
The gospel emphasized that in order to achieve holiness, one must master the art of loving for “love is what makes people beautiful”—and Saint Benilde mastered this by working hard and doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.
“Pagmamalasakit sa mga maralita—diyan sumikat si Benilde Romancon, (…) ‘yung walang maibigay, ‘yung walang maibuga, ‘yon ang tinututukan niya ng atensyon. […] He reminds us of our basic obligation to holiness. He reminds us that vocation can be fulfilled where you are,” Bishop-Emeritus Bacani stated.
After the mass, Social Development Council members were inducted. Following the induction was the awarding of several offices and associates of DLS-CSB for their volunteer work and service to the school community.
One of the highlights of the week was the exhibit-showing of the College’s different offices and organizations. These exhibits displayed the various activities each organization held concerning the Lasallian mission and social development.
The parties and groups awarded for their exhibits under specific categories are the following:
Schools and Offices with Outreach Projects in partnership with the Center for Social Action (CSA):
1st Place – School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management
2nd Place – Agapay Volunteers Group
3rd Place – Benildean Parents in Action
Associates Category:
1st Place – School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies
2nd Place – Brother Jayme Hilario Institute
3rd Place – Brother Fidelis Learning Resource Center
The CSA, in addition to Benilde Mission Week, will be launching an event from November to December which is yet to be announced. Nevertheless, a grand raffle will be held in De La Salle University’s Laguna Campus during “RODOMO: Lasallian City of Food, Arts, and Music” on January 18, 2020. This festival is in celebration of Saint John Baptist De La Salle’s legacy for the last three centuries.
