The UST Simbahayan Community Development Office held the turnover ceremonies of the cash donation amounting to P378,000 to Save Our Schools (SOS) Network-Mindanao and Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (MISFI Academy) last February 28, 2017 at the Office of Student Affairs Conference Room, Tan Yan Kee Student Center. Through the NSTP event named Unending Race Fun Run last held on April 10, 2016, the proceeds made possible the construction of a classroom in Barangay Lipatan, Josephina Town, Zamboanga del Sur in behalf of Subanen Tribe.
Signing the memorandum of agreement on behalf of UST, Simbahayan Director Asst. Prof, Mark Anthony Abenir, DSD, and Assistant Director Asst. Prof. Froilan Alipao, MCD, respectively, along with NSTP Facilitator Mr. Paul Castillo and NSTP Moderator Asst. Prof. Jose Ricarte Origenes, as well as student representatives who participated in the fundraising activity, inked ties with the SOS Network-Mindanao Convenor Arleen Perez and MISFI Academy Executive Director Ms. Percenita Sanchez.
“[The Unending Race Fun Run] is not only for the requirement purposes, but we can see that our contribution has a value and it has a long way for our Lumad brothers and sisters,” Abenir said. ”Education has a many keys in life that so that other people take advantage of you.” he added. Castillo stated that, despite the physical distance between Manila and Zamboanga del Sur, this small amount of this donation is a way of reaching out and forging ties with the Lumads, making possible the building of structures in their homeland which are rightfully theirs.
MISFI has built 25 campuses that have a committee-based education in which the Simbahayan is pursuing in their partner communities especially the Aetas in Tarlac.
