Two SU students to join international service-learning program in Japan
Two Silliman University (SU) students will represent the University in the Japan Service-Learning (JSL) Program 2026 at the International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo, Japan, from December 8 to 22, 2026, joining fellow students from India and Indonesia in a two-week program focused on intercultural learning, community engagement, and service.
Representing SU are John Alfie S. Rendon, a fourth-year Bachelor of Secondary Education student majoring in General Science from the College of Education, and VE Lovely B. Culaste, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Social Work student from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Rendon and Culaste were selected following a screening process conducted by a panel composed of Mr. Abe Cadeliña, head of the Student Organizations and Activities Division (SOAD); Dr. Mae Briggitt Bernadel L. Villordon, officer-in-charge director of the Internationalization Office; Asst. Prof. Serlyn Sanson, chair of the Social Work Department; and Asst. Prof. Ruth Ann Entea, Service-Learning coordinator.
The JSL Program integrates academic learning with service and community engagement, providing participants with opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and deepen their understanding of social and cultural issues. Through interaction with communities and fellow participants, students are encouraged to exchange perspectives, reflect on their experiences, and develop a stronger awareness of their roles as global citizens.
Coming from different academic disciplines, Rendon and Culaste will bring complementary perspectives to the program. Rendon’s background in science education and Culaste’s training in social work will allow them to approach community engagement through the lenses of education, science, and social development.
Their participation also provides an opportunity to share the Silliman experience with international peers while learning from students and communities from other countries. The insights and experiences they gain from the program can, in turn, be shared with their respective academic communities upon their return.
SU’s participation in JSL 2026 reflects the University’s continuing commitment to service-learning, internationalization, and intercultural understanding by providing students with opportunities to engage with communities across cultures and put their academic learning into practice through service.
