Xavier Day, Save the Day

Youth nowadays can do something more for they are entitled as “Informed Youth” and were living in an age where there are various efficient ways to be well aware of what is happening in the country. It is not like the past generation’s dilemma wherein there is a sense of apathy due to the absence of information entailing the issues surrounding the country. However, not all who are informed are responding to enforce an act and execute a solution. They see the problem but they cannot say yes to an action for there are many things left for an individual youth to consider – encouragement and strong will to serve.

But on the 2nd day of December 2017, the Ateneo de Naga University conducted its annual Xavier Day Outreach in commemoration to the founder of the Society of Jesus, Saint Francis Xavier of Assisi who also happens to be the patron saint of the said university. In this significant day, student-organizations were obliged to go in areas around Bicol to lend their services for the betterment of the region through tree planting, coastal cleaning and feeding program. However, one of them, the Ateneo Junior Eagles which composes of the Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE), Uswag Junior Eagles (USJE) and Anduyog Junior Eagles (ANJE) made it an opportunity to enforce once more their individual club-created projects rolled into one in order to lift up the Maogma Village which is located at barangay Balatas, Naga City.

Through one of their areas of concern, the education, the Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles chose to make the dream of the mothers of the Maogma Village come true. It is to create the Dagdag Kaalaman Program: Libraria de Maogma. We all know that too much use of technology may have negative effects to children whether emotionally, intellectually or physically. Nowadays, some children used to neglect or change their reading habits due to these technologies. In due time, the need for place to find information and connect with others is unlikely to change soon. In order to survive in this digital age, public libraries need to be brave and innovative. Thus, libraries are in need for creating a culture wherein children will prefer reading books than consume their time on computers. It aims to give the children a more exciting and fruitful way of learning by creating a mini-library for them. Through this, children of Maogma Village could learn more about many things by going to the nearest library in their community.

Next, in line with the Uswag Junior Eagles Club area of concern, Emergency Response and its project “Be Secured and Alert for Emergencies”, they conducted a one-day Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Management Training in the area as being also done from the previous years. They chose the children and young adults of the Maogma Village for they are not usually included in times of planning and even raising their concern as to their understanding of disasters. In this way, they will be equipped with sufficient knowledge and proper skills when it comes to responding to disasters and emergencies. Moreover, USJE can at least extend its efforts in helping to prevent or reduce the number of victims of calamities in the province that are regularly affected.

Lastly, the Anduyog Junior Eagles, in line with their Welfare Development area of concern, launched its project Tindahan ni Aling AnJE. It primarily aims to provide affordable or low-cost school supplies to elementary students that will lessen the parents’ financial distress and will help students become more diligent in learning. Also, the project is about selling economic and affordable school supplies to parents, and is primarily centered to its spirit of “two-way giving” and the school supplies to be sold are of high-quality and are durable. In addition, this project aims to give opportunity to the parents in providing their children the most effective and long-lasting school supplies that can be used in their learning. Thus, this may bring inspiration to them, the hope of having a confident life and also the determination of holding their dreams together for the best education that their children deserved to have.

It’s not the projects, neither the Xavier Day that highlights the day. It is the youth who lend their times to save the day and partake to go on a venture on different areas. St. Ignatius, on the other hand, indeed held a great role and his values may inspire the youth to do meaningful things in service of others. Like what he once said, “Be great in small things”.