HAU Alumni Hold Their Bigay-Puso Outreach Activity
University News
November 29, 2023
It was indeed an early Christmas celebration for the students, teachers, utility men, and boatmen of Sapang Malalam Elementary School in Purok 7, Macabebe, Pampanga, as the Alumni Bigay-Puso organized by the Marketing and Alumni Relations Office, the Office of the Community Extension Services (OCES), and the HAU Alumni Association, Inc. (HAUAAI) was held on November 24, 2023.
More than Php 100,000.00 worth of donations in cash and in kind was shared by alumni batches through the efforts of the HAUAAI, the Alumni Relations Office, and the OCES. The said donations benefitted the 109 school pupils, teachers, and some community members of the beneficiary school, including the six boatmen who ferried the HAU volunteers and the goods for donation to the site. The recipients gladly received school bags and school supplies, hygiene kits, food packs and some goodies, cleaning materials, and gadgets for prepaid internet connectivity (Wi-Fi modems).
Sapang Malalam Elementary School is under the jurisdiction of the San Rafael Arkanghel Parish and is headed by their principal, Mr. Romar Calma. Located at the center of the Pampanga river, it has a total population of 109 students from Kinder to Grade 6. The students have to take a 10- to 15-minute boat ride everyday just to get to school.
Truly, the Alumni Bigay-Puso was a memorable moment for the students and teachers of Sapang Malalam Elementary School. Given the cost of transportation via banca, only a few groups of people manage to visit their place to extend assistance. As their principal Mr. Calma mentioned during his speech, “Sana maulit ang ganitong pagkakataon na may Holy Angel na makapunta sa eskwelahan nila kahit nasa gitna ng ilog.” Beneficiaries and volunteers alike had a swell time doing the educational and fun activities that formed part of the gift-giving program. Every alumni volunteer had a role to play in the successful implementation of the activities.
Kudos to all the alumni volunteers who selflessly shared their gifts of time and presence in the event and all the alumni donors who generously shared their blessings [HS Batches: ’71, ’72, ’75 (Flamers), ’77, ‘78, 80, ’81, ’82 (Section 11), ‘83, ‘84 ’91, ’94, ’95, ’99, and Mr. Alvin Lauria (BS Accountancy 2004).
The benevolent alumni who made this endeavor possible are living testaments that the HAU spirit of compassion and generosity is very much alive.