SU joins youth forum
(Left to right) Abe P. Cadeliña, Student Organizations and Activities Division (SSAD) head; Zeth Rose P. Sabio, SU Peer Advocacy Facilitators internal vice president; Angelique Kara J. Sorbito, College of Mass Communication (CMC) governor; Shakira P. Jacoba President, SU Peer Advocacy Facilitators president; Luke Timothy R. Burbano, SU Student Government (SUSG) vice president; Dr. Edna Gladys T. Calingacion, Office of Student Services (OSS) dean; Sabrina Ysabelle C. Ledesma, SUSG president; Jedidiah L. Clarin, COMSO co-chair; and Dr. Jaruvic C. Rafols, Guidance & Testing Division (GTD) head, pose for a quick photo during the event.
Silliman University (SU), represented by the Office of Student Services (OSS), actively participated in the 2024 Midyear Interactive Youth Forum (IYF) held on October 16-18, 2024, at the Bohol Mountain Resort and Restaurant in Dauis, Bohol.
This year’s IYF, organized by the Philippine Association of Practitioners of Student Affairs and Services, Inc. (PAPSAS), brought together student leaders from various higher education institutions (HEIs) under the theme “#Volunteerism: Passion, Compassion, and Action.” The forum aimed to inspire students to embrace volunteerism as a powerful tool for social change.
The SU delegation included key student leaders: Sabrina Ysabelle C. Ledesma, president of the Silliman University Student Government (SUSG); Luke Timothy R. Burbano, SUSG vice president; Jedidah L. Clarin, co-chair of the Committee on Student Organizations; Angelique Kara J. Sobito, governor of the College of Mass Communication and vice president of Student Leaders; Shakira P. Jacoba, president of SU Peer Advocacy Facilitators (PAF) and Peer Outreach of the Philippines; and Zeth Rose P. Sabio, SU PAF vice president (internal). They were joined by OSS officers, including Dr. Edna Gladys T. Calingacion, dean of students and vice president for HEIs of PAPSAS, who also chaired the IYF organizing committee; Mr. Abe P. Cadeliña, head of Student Organizations and Activities Division; and Dr. Jaruvic C. Rafols, head of the Guidance and Testing Division.
(left to right) Dr. Edna Gladys T. Calingacion, PAPSAS VP for Private HEI’s and Chair, 2024 Midyear IYF Organizing Committee, Miss Franchese Almirol, Student Council President of FAITH Colleges, Dr. Jaruvic C. Rafols, Head Guidance and Testing Division, Silliman University, Mr. Virgilio Tabbu, VP for Student Services and Community Development, University of Makati, Dr. Evelyn A. Songco – PAPSAS Adviser, Mr. Jefferson I. Cañada, PAPSAS Board and Co-chair, 2024 Midyear IYF Organizing Committee
With 357 participants, including over 200 student leaders, the IYF featured a range of interactive sessions and workshops tailored for both student leaders and Student Affairs Services (SAS) practitioners. Dr. Rafols took an active role as a discussant representing the SAS administrators’ perspective, sharing Silliman’s initiatives in addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).
Calingacion highlighted the enthusiasm of SU students for volunteerism, stating, “Our students consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to community engagement, evident in their active participation in various volunteer activities.”
Recognizing this spirit, SUSG and the Committee on Student Organizations (COMSO) are planning a seminar-workshop on volunteerism, set to target senior and junior high school students as well as members of student organizations.
According to Cadeliña, “We are working towards establishing a unified volunteerism program that will be implemented annually, with coordination from the Office of Community Engagement and Service-Learning.” This initiative aims to create a sustainable culture of volunteerism within the university, reinforcing SU’s commitment to shaping socially responsible and compassionate leaders.
