The poverty of Philosophy in the Philippines is a real deal. No one can deny the fact that not all are familiar with the discipline, only the academics, erudite, and professionals are spared from such. This urgent need leads us to the conceptualization of Pilosopiya Para sa Masa, an endeavor where everyone can get access and understanding of the greatness offered by philosophy. As a community development project, our task is to share the various aspects that are concerned with philosophy, enabling the beneficiaries to think for themselves and help them in their proper decision making, having a positive attitude, and hoping for what one can do. There is a reason why we chose Healing Path as our partner community, it is because we do believe that philosophy can offer hope to the lives of the people under Healing Path Foundation. In partnership with the Artlets Student Council (ABSC), we are eager enough to conduct the project by means of implementing the community of inquiry and a set of processing activities.
During our ocular visit on July 14, 2020, we were introduced to the house rules of the community and what do they expect us to teach and share with them. The community requested us to focus on topics of the importance of family, values, and hope against trying times. We are set to conduct it on January 22, 27, and 29 of 2020. During our first day of implementation, Zeus Suazo (Community Development Head of UST Concilium Philosophiae) gave the introductory remarks for the series of projects. It is immediately followed by the video presentation that would stimulate the beneficiaries’ thoughts on the subject matter. Afterward, we grouped them into 4 for the focus grouped-discussion and the implementation of the community of inquiry. The community of inquiry aims to strengthen the critical thinking of each beneficiary, asking them questions and letting them reflect and think for themselves. This was the central part of the project, where we share the value of philosophy as we qualify each of their questions. In order to help them in applying the reflections that they have embodied for themselves, we offered them processing activities that would enable them to see the relevance of philosophy in their actual lives. These include a pen and paper worksheet and the freedom fall. These were the cycle of programs that happened also in the second day. Some of the other volunteers include Lorenz Layao (President of UST Concilium Philosophiae), Mikaela Avelino (Community Development Head of UST Concilium Philosophiae), Paolo Manuel (VP External of Artlets Student Council), etc. We were also accompanied by some of the faculty of the Department of Philosophy like Mrs.Marella Bolaños and Ms. Gian Agbisit. Unfortunately, we were not able to finish the last phase of the project due to the sudden unavailability of our accompanying faculty for the third day, this was followed by the indefinite suspension of all off-campus activities in the University in view of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Despite this unfinished project, we still managed to learn from our beneficiaries and inculcate in them the kind of hope that they need especially in their situation.
Perhaps, as philosophy majors and student volunteers, we can think of Hannah Arendt, a political theorist, and philosopher who believes that everyone has the capacity to begin again and resolve himself/herself against his/her past mistakes. This gives us hope that whatever has transpired in Healing Path is a concrete sign of the affirmation that human beings will always have the capacity to begin again and our understanding and forgiveness will truly matter. Indeed, we brought Healing by going down from our ivory tower.
Ocular Visit of Paolo Manuel, Alyandra Ressurecion, and Mikaela Avelino
Project Implementors:
Christian Zeus S. Suazo (UST Concilium Philosophiae - Community Development Head)
Mikaela D. Avelino (UST Concilium Philosophiae - Community Development Head)
Paolo Jericho D. Manuel (UST Artlets Student Council - VP External)
Joe C. Todaka (UST Artlets Student Council - Community Development Head)
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