Alumni Associations in New York Continue the Gabay Mag-aaral Project

Participants of the second Gabay Mag-aaral Project Workshop, a civic project of the  Homecoming sa Konsulado, held at the Philippine Center on 23 March 2019. (New York PCG photo)

NEW YORK 26 April 2019 – Members of the different alumni associations in New York and interested volunteers attended the  second Gabay Mag-aaral Workshop organized by the Philippine Consulate General in New York on 23 March 2019.

The workshop aimed to review lessons learned and best practices in the implementation of the first Gabay Mag-aaral Project (GMP) and to plan for this year’s implementation of the GMP

The GMP is an outcome of the Homecoming sa Konsulado, designed to mobilize U.S.-based mentors and volunteers to reach out to public elementary schools in the Philippines and conduct a student assembly among Grade five and six students to  inspire and motivate them and to share how to achieve their dreams based on time-honored values of honesty, integrity and discipline.

Consul Arman Talbo welcomed the workshop participants and recalled the history of the GMP. He facilitated the discussion on the priorities and thanked the three resource speakers who volunteered to implement  the GMP in three public schools last year. 

Dr. Nerissa Calub of San Carlos University Alumni Association, Dr. Roxanne Cajigas of Centro Escolar University Alumni Association and Ms. Nelsie Parrado of University of the Philippines Alumni Association of America, Inc. shared experiences and challenges of their meeting with Grade six students, teachers and administrators in their respective towns during the first-ever GMP launch in San Jose Elementary School in Tacloban City, Maybocog Elementary School in Maydolong, Eastern Samar and Tibungco Elementary in Davao.

Chiara Abaquin, Harvard School of Education Master’s candidate of and a graduate of Elementary Education and Applied Psychology and Human Development from Boston College, served as reactor during the workshop, and gave additional tips and recommendations in building connections and improving communication with the students.

The participants of the second GMP Workshop agreed to further improve the procedures, programs and guidelines, accelerate coordination with the Department of Education, and establish feedback mechanism.

After the workshop, some participants planned to undertake GMP in their respective towns in 2019 in Ilocos Sur, Batangas, and Leyte. A group of volunteers plan to go back to San Jose, Tacloban City and further engage the students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) development in coordination with the teachers and school administration. Carol Tanjutco, a community leader in New York, will incorporate the GMP in her projects in Mindoro this year. END

Consul Arman Talbo of the Philippine Consulate General New York (second from left)  led the Workshop of the Gabay Mag-aaral Project. Resource speakers included Ms. Nelsie Parrado (first from left), Dr. Joie Calub (first from right) and Dr. Roxanne Cajigas (not in photo). Chiara Abaquin (second from right) reacted to the presentations. (New York PCG photo)

Second Gabay Mag-aaral Project Workshop, a civic project of the  Homecoming sa Konsulado, was held at the Philippine Center on 23 March 2019. (New York PCG photo)

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