Mentor-Volunteers Workshop Held in New York

Mentor-Volunteers of the Gabay Mag-aaral Project, an appendant project of the Consulate’s Homecoming sa Konsulado, undertake Workshop at the Philippine Center on 24 March 2018.

02 April 2018 NEW YORK — Twenty-eight alumni of different Philippine universities who are now based in New York participated in the training workshop for mentor-volunteers for the Gabay Mag-aaral Project organized by the Philippine Consulate General on March 24.

The Gabay Mag-aaral Project is an outcome of the Homecoming sa Konsulado (HSK) flagship project of the Consulate conceptualized in 2012. More than 20 schools and universities’ participants agreed to continue to go beyond just hosting an alumni gathering to having a civic purpose like giving back to the young students in the Philippines.

In coordination with the Philippine Department of Education, the Gabay Mag-aaral Project is designed to mobilize US-based mentors and volunteers to reach out to a public elementary school and conduct a student assembly among Grade 6 students to inspire and motivate and share how to dream dreams based on time-honored values of honesty, integrity and discipline.

Ms. Nerissa Linelle Joie Calub, Ed.D.,Ph.D, Education Administrator of  New York City Department of Education and alumna of Cebu Normal University led the workshop. The event was attended by alumni from Ateneo de Manila University, Assumption College, College of Holy Spirit, Centro Escolar University, Far Eastern University, Philippine Women’s University, University of Sto. Tomas, St. Paul’s College, San Carlos University and University of the Philippines. Participants pledged a commitment at the end of the workshop to put into fruition the said project. 

In her message to the participants, Consul General Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said, “This is what we had always hoped that HSK would evolve into or at least be involved in mentoring future generations.” 

Consul Armand R. Talbo expressed admiration of the spirit of volunteerism and initiative of the members of the HSK and underscored the positive influence of the project among the Grade 6 students in those public schools.

A pilot launch of the project is planned to be held in July and August 2018 to be organized by the UP Alumni Association in America (UPAAA) and Cebu Normal University Alumni Association in Davao and Cebu, respectively. END

For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/

Left photo: Consul Armand R. Talbo awards a certificate of appreciation to Dr. Nerissa Linelle Calub for volunteering to lead the Workshop. Right photo: UPAAA and PWUAA Presidents, Nelsie Parrado (L) and Alex Esteban (R) take the oath of commitment in the implementation of Gabay Mag-aaral Project.