The College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education of the University of San Agustin conducted a community outreach initiative last October 18, 2025, in observance of Indigenous Peoples Month, Breast and Reproductive Health Awareness Month, and Library and Information Services Month.
With the theme “Weaving Culture: Empowering Indigenous Communities as Bedrock of Sustainable Development,” the activity engaged indigenous mothers, adolescents, and children from community of Camangahan, Guimbal, Iloilo in a half-day program designed to promote cultural appreciation, health awareness, and community empowerment.
The event was organized by the CLASE Project Managers, Professors Joji Asuncion and
Veronica Taunan, and CLASE Academic Supervisors for the different programs and units, in partnership with student organizations and with the support of the Social Advocacy and Community Engagement Office (SACEO) Office.
Key sessions included Reproductive Health Awareness with Dr. Camille Erika Palomar-Octavio (Biology Department), Children and Mental Health with Dr. Robeeh G. Ramos (Psychology Department), and Human Rights Education with Mr. Justin Francis Bionat (Social Science Department).
Parallel activities featured a Storytelling Session (LRC, EDUCARE, USA-LISSA), Digital Responsibility Workshop led by Ms. Novelita Berganio (IT and Computer Science Department), Larong Pinoy and Face Painting (Political Science Club, Junior Diplomat Corps, EDUCARE), and a “Hinunánun” community dialogue facilitated by the College’s research team composed of Dr. Maria Cecelia P. Amparado, Ms. Rhounella Rhane S.
Magpantay, and Ms. Dorothy Vicenta H. Cajandig as lead researcher.
This community outreach initiative reflects the College’s commitment to the Augustinian values of caritas (charity), unitas (unity), and veritas (truth) through meaningful service-learning and community engagement programs.
CLASE is led by its dean, Dr. Nenelyn de la Fuente.
Visit usa.edu.ph or email cas@usa.edu.ph and/or coe@usa.edu.pg for more information about CLASE and its programs. /mrb