CLAVERIA, Cagayan—The University of the Philippines (UP) Padayon Public Service Office, in partnership with the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungód System and UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungód Baguio, held a community outreach activity in the Municipality of Claveria, Cagayan Valley, on February 17, 2025.
This collaborative public service initiative aimed to address the immediate needs of typhoon victims on Fuga Island, Aparri, and to provide storytelling activities and school supplies for the elementary school students in Taggat Sur, Claveria. Cagayan Valley was among the provinces hit the hardest by Typhoon Marce.
The community outreach activity culminates the Agkaykaysa Para sa Fuga: Online Donation Drive and Public Service Bazaar, a fundraising initiative for the victims of Typhoon Marce on Fuga Island—located north of Luzon and part of the country’s second-northernmost group of islands, the Babuyan Island Group. Barangay Fuga Island is also a partner-community of the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungód Baguio. The fundraising initiative ran from February 6 to 14, with the support of the UP System Ugnayan ng Pahinungód, Ugnayan ng Pahinungód Baguio, UP Office of Alumni Relations, and the Media and Public Relations Office.
At the end of the fundraising activity, UP Padayon Project Staff Julie Dela Paz indicated that the campaign raised PhP240,052.36, which was then used to purchase 82 sacks of rice for the 679 families residing in Barangay Fuga Island and school supplies for the 145 students of Taggat Sur Elementary School in Claveria, and pay for the logistics needed to transport the sacks of rice to Fuga.
The first leg of the Community Outreach Activity involves turning over 82 sacks of rice to Pastor Jayson Duerne of Faith Baptist Mission Fuga, who will then deliver and distribute them to the community.
“Ito po ay malaking bagay na naitulong sa amin, lalo na sa pagkain, bigas… Nakapagbibigay din ng pag-asa sa tao, kahit dumaan man sila sa kalamidad o mga pagsubok—isang paalala rin sa mga taga-isla na kahit gaano man karami ang mga pagsubok sa buhay ay hindi tayo mawawalan ng pag-asa…” says a sentimental yet hopeful Duerne after the simple turnover ceremony.
The second leg of the activity is a storytelling session for the 145 students (Kindergarten to Grade 6) of Taggat Sur Elementary School, which was conducted as part of the 31st anniversary of Ugnayan ng Pahinungód Baguio. After the lively and interactive Storyaan session, school supplies and hygiene kits were distributed to the students while the school’s faculty and staff received groceries.
In a short interview, an optimistic Ariston Baisa, Head Teacher III at Taggat Sur Elementary School, shared his hopes for the school: “Mapabalik [sana] ang sigla ng aming paaralan.”
The collaborative public service and volunteer activity of UP Padayon and the Pahinungód offices of Baguio and System is a testament to the University’s commitment to public service and reaching out to underserved communities nationwide.
Reflecting on the community outreach activity in Cagayan, Junior Project Associate Divine Peñaflor of Pahinungód Baguio highlighted the importance of providing immediate relief for Fuga, “‘Yun ay malaking tulong sa kanila [Fuga], lalo ngayon–mula pa noong late last year, dahil nga sa sunod-sunod na mga bagyo, walang masyadong tulong na nakakapunta doon sa island.”
Besides the much-needed aid provided to communities, serving on the ground also offers UP volunteers and staff a sense of fulfillment, “[N]akikita natin sa mga sarili natin na ‘yung pagod na nilalaan natin ay may tamang pinatutunguhan.”
Photos by: Chu Quinto
Words by: Alain Villegas