by Katherine Santillan | September 16, 2023
Last week, September 7 (Thursday), the School of Arts and Sciences Pamimilamu Aeta Youth Outreach Project (SAS Pamimilamu) donated 80 school bags to Ayta students situated at Barangay Camias, Porac.
The project consisted of members of the SAS faculty, which was formed in 2015. The said organization heeds its objective to support the academic needs of the students of the Ayta community.
This month, it initiated its first “dole out” activity from last week Thursday which involved giving school bags containing raincoats, umbrellas, dental kits, biscuits, pads and pens, and water bottles to aid the Ayta students’ first week of classes.
Even though the SAS Pamimilamu only handed out 80 out of 100 bags targeted in the plan, Prof. Arlan Dela Cruz, the project point person, deemed the event successful.
“We hope that through giving of school bags, it can open more outreach opportunities for the School of Arts and Sciences in partnership with Camias High School so that we can support more diligent Ayta students.” Prof. Dela Cruz stated.
When asked about the organization’s possible outreach in collaboration with student institutions, Mr. Dela Cruz agreed and cited that the early youth camps of SAS Pamimilamu had student institution leaders from the department as co-facilitators of the outreach.
Barangay Camias, Porac was the chosen location for the outreach because an Ayta student (who was part of the SAS Pamimilamu beneficiaries) reached out and suggested the team to help his community.
“This project and advocacy is my passion,” Prof. Dela Cruz said, “I would like to extend this to my colleagues at the School of Arts and Sciences and [to the] students.”
“Pamimilamu” is an Ayta word that means “solidarity”, highlighting the organization’s advocacy to support the Aytas.
The project started its advocacy through summer youth camps, free tutorials, seminars, and board exam reviews. Its tutoring services persisted even during the pandemic using online platforms.
Recently, Prof. Dela Cruz reached out to the Nexus to announce that their team will be heading back to Barangay Camias to turn over the remaining school supplies and conduct an interview for their research.
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