Bayanihan spirit manifested in Project Badang

The spirit of volunteerism and cooperation was on full display after the Urdaneta City University (UCU) joined the Brigada Eswela 2022 in different elementary and secondary schools in Urdaneta City and nearby towns that ran from August 3 to September 5, 2022.

Through the Center for Community Development and Extension Services (CCDES), the extension service initiative entitled “Badang” (an Iloko term that means “to provide aid and assistance”) was launched with three main activities — school clean-up drive and rehabilitation, Pagbasa at Pagsulat, and distribution of school supplies.

Teaching personnel, non-teaching staff, and other institutional partners of the University channeled their support by sharing their resources, time, and skills to 16 beneficiary schools namely: Cabaruan Elementary School, Cabaruan National High School, Sugcong Elementary School, Labit National High School, DAPSMECS West Elementary School, Manan Elementary School, Sta Lucia Elementary School, Capulaan National High School-Villasis, Cabilaoan Elementary School, Pedro T. Orata National High School, Palina East Elementary School, Ramon Costales Memorial National High School, Oltama Elementary School, Palina West National High School, Bactad Community School, and Sto. Domingo Day Care Center.

Accordingly, 536 students received school supplies from the University generated through the initiative of faculty and staff. UCU also joined in a clean-up drive, repairing and restoration of school facilities, and library organization. Further, the College of Teacher Education and the College of Arts and Sciences teamed up for the reading and writing activities aiming to promote literacy among pupils from different grade levels.

“Ang Project Badang po ay isang paraan ng pagpapakita ng suporta sa edukasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng serbisyong totoo sa mga adopted barangays natin. Pinapakita rito ang pagkakaisa, pagtutulungan at bayanihan na siyang kaugalian nating mga Pilipino,” said Dr. Jerry Dichoso, CCDES Director, in an interview.

The Badang Project was UCU’s manifesto of support for education resiliency as the Department of Education (DepEd) officially commenced the nationwide Brigada Eskwela on August 2 to rehabilitate and prepare schools for re-opening face-to-face classes for the school year 2022-2023