LEAD Story 429

From the De La Salle Brothers of Malaysia Facebook page

The De La Salle Brothers of Malaysia organized a series of inspiring sessions for the student leaders and Catholic students of SMK St. Francis Institution on 14-15 October 2024. Led by Brothers Carlo (SG), Collin (SG), Jeano (PH), and Mico (MY), the sessions focused on the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle and deepened the students’ understanding of Lasallian identity.

On Day 1, the Catholic students participated in a session centered around Vocation. The Brothers shared their personal vocation journeys, offering reflections on faith and service, alongside the inspiring life of St. John Baptist de La Salle. The session sparked meaningful and thought-provoking conversations, encouraging students to explore their own sense of purpose and calling.

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Lee and the school administrators of SFI for warmly welcoming us and making this visit possible.

Stay tuned for more photos of the other sessions!

#FSCvocations #BecomingBrothers

The sixth iteration of a whole day event encouraging the mental, physical, and spiritual wellness of Filipino domestic workers is Tapuan 6.0, a Filipino term meaning "encounter or meetup place". The organizers were the One La Salle Hong Kong Alumni Association and the La Salle Brothers. The event took place on 11 October 2024 at the Lasallian Youth Centre in Sheung Shui. Fr. Jerry Perocho SVD opened the program by presiding over the mass. After the mass, a panel discussion ensued on the topic of the protection of minors focusing on the Online Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children with guest resource persons Ms. Miwa Chan of the International Justice Mission and Undersecretary Alexander Ramos, the Director of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center of the Philippine government. Family photographer and artist Ms. Samantha Fong oversaw a mobile photography session following lunch. Games planned by Br. Edmon Viroomal and the Lasallian alumni with awards like tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland marked the last event of the day.

Lead by General Superior Sr. Thérèse De Ta Thi Thoa, the Hong Kong Lasallian Family kindly welcomed four La Salle Sisters of Vietnam for an exploratory visit from 08-13 October 2024. This unique program sought to expose the Sisters to many Lasallian educational projects in Hong Kong. The Sisters toured several Lasallian colleges over five days: La Salle College, Chan Sui Ki (La Salle), St. Joseph's College, and De La Salle Secondary School NT. Further underscoring the Lasallian dedication to service, they observed community outreach initiatives as the Lasallian Educational Outreach and an event involving Filipino domestic workers. Their trip also provided a window into the strength and variety of the Hong Kong Lasallian community. This visit not only strengthened the Lasallian Sisters' and the Hong Kong Lasallian Family's closer ties but also opened up possibilities for future joint projects, thereby supporting the common Lasallian goal of education, service, and community.

De La Salle College Mangere, New Zealand, visited the Philippines from 26 September to 09 October 2024. Composed of 17 senior high school boys and 5 Lasallian partners, the group was headed by Mr. Thomas Dermot English, Associate Principal of the school. They embarked on an educational and cultural immersion, as well as service-learning activities.

During their stay, they visited De La Salle University Manila, La Salle Green Hills, St. Jaime Hilario School - De La Salle Bataan, and De La Salle Santiago Zobel School. They participated in various activities, including exposure to urban poor and rural communities in Tondo, Manila, Montalban, Rizal, and Bagac, Bataan; had a reachout and participated in the building and construction work in a Pawikan Sanctuary, repainted classrooms at JHIS-La Salle; conducted outreach activities at the New Bilibid Prison Medium Security Compound and Haven for Children. They also visited the relic of St. John Baptist De La Salle at the Santuario on the DLSU Laguna campus, and just before leaving the country, paid a visit to Rizal Park to get to know more about Philippine History.

Their visit was enriched by class visitation and observations, and interactions and conversations with fellow high school students from the aforementioned schools, making their experience particularly meaningful and worthwhile.

by Paulo Luis Gabriel De Guzman and Kyra Cho

On the 2nd of October 2024, Lasallians from across the Lasallian East Asian District participated in the 2nd iteration of Lasallian Connect, hosted by Saint Joseph's Institution International in Singapore. This unique online gathering, held in celebration of International Lasallian Days for Peace (ILDP), allowed student leaders to come together to celebrate the wide range of initiatives and activities from their schools or institutions. Lasallian Connect served as a platform for these young leaders to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and foster a sense of unity across borders, where nearly 50 students, teachers and Brothers from Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan participated in this year’s call. 

The discussions this year centred around the theme of ILDP this year, One La Salle: Our Pilgrimage Towards Peace, with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) providing the framework for these conversations. The call was divided into breakout rooms, with each group discussing one of the five SDG pillars: peace, prosperity, people, partnerships, and planet. In each room, students explored how their respective institutions embrace and embody Lasallian values from the lens of the pillar.

The discussions were lively and reflective of the strong Lasallian spirit. Students eagerly shared examples of how they and their schools contribute to the SDGs by integrating Lasallian values into projects focused on social justice, environmental protection, and community service. The breakout rooms provided a space for students to engage in more personal and detailed conversations, enabling them to dive deeper into the specific ways their schools work toward the SDG goals .In the "Peace" group for instance, students and brothers shared how their schools promote student wellbeing through programs designed to emphasise the importance of checking in on fellow students. 

One of the highlights of the call was where students collaborated using a shared whiteboard to design artwork that captured the essence of their discussions. Each group presented their final piece, reflecting and learning from other groups. 

As the call concluded, the energy of collaboration and shared purpose resonated among the participants, leaving them inspired to bring these discussions back to their schools and continue their work. For students in SJII, Lasallian connect is merely one of a number of opportunities held during the month of ILDP, with other initiatives including schoolwide weekly morning reflections on how Lasallians strive to achieve peace through the various pillars, and the sale of custom Lasallian T-shirts with funds being used to support school charities.  

Due to the success of the event, the hope is to make Lasallian Connect a lasting tradition, held annually on the Wednesday of the second week of ILDP, ensuring students from across the region have a regular opportunity to exchange ideas, celebrate Lasallian values, and collaborate on a global level. 

Lasallian Connect 2024 was more than just a virtual meeting - it was an opportunity to forge bonds between students across Asia and inspire collaboration. Through their conversations, students shared insights into how their schools contribute to the global Lasallian mission, highlighting the tangible ways in which Lasallian values are being acknowledged in schools. This sense of unity and common purpose reinforces the message that all Lasallians, despite their diverse backgrounds, are collectively contributing to a more peaceful world.

by Danielle Anne Arellano (Grade 12 student), Managing Editor of The Hilarian from St. Jaime Hilario School - De La Salle Bataan

“Peace is not just about the absence of war, but also the presence of justice."

On 02 October 2024, the Horacio Cebrero Hall, Central House Administration became a room for resilience as various La Salle schools across the Philippines gathered either through face-to-face or via online meetings for the International Lasallian Days for Peace (ILDP) 2024. With the title, “Kwentong Lipat: Moving Stories of Displacement and Hope,” the event celebrated the power of storytelling and fostering compassion despite adversity.

DLSP hosted the ILDP 2024 in line with the Lasallian East Asia District's LEAD for Peace campaign and the Philippines’ celebration of Human Rights and Democracy Month.

TRANSCENDING BORDERS

“It does not mean that it does not happen to you, it does not happen at all."

Stories from the refugees have captured the hearts and minds of the Lasallian community. Their narratives of war and displacement showed the harsh realities that other people face. Their testimonies as refugees reminded everyone of the struggles that they faced, one that is sometimes forgotten by others. Their struggles and hardships in transcending physical and emotional borders emphasized the need for a just government and the significance of freedom to a human being.

SPARKING CONVERSATIONS

Even if we are not the light, we can be the spark! The event attendees engaged in discussions and explored ways in which Lasallians can be agents of peace. During the small group discussions, the Lasallian community was encouraged to take steps towards peace.

“The part that really struck me was the speech of the Founder of Little Gaza kitchen, I’m touched na may mga tao pa pala na handang tumulong kahit hindi sila sigurado kung hanggang kailan nila kayang tulungan ang mga refugee[s]. Thus, as a student journalist, we must be a leader, models of values of peace, service, and empathy in our own schools,” Nathalie Malang, a Grade 12 student from St. Jaime Hilario School - De La Salle Bataan said in an interview.

Hearing and imagining these stories from other people was indeed difficult to imagine. However, that day, gratitude filled the air as ILDP became a safe space to share stories, encouraging the Lasallian family to take a stand and be the change. 

Mr. Gladstone Cuarteros, the Lasallian Justice and Peace Office, National Coordinator gave his synthesis. He concluded that we must always embrace peace and help from the heart, reflecting this belief in the phrase, “pagtulong na galing sa puso.” “If only we could change mindsets and become more open[-minded], we would have a better world,” he added.

With hearts full of empathy, the Lasallians were reminded that the change begins within. Thus, as Lasallians, let us start the change we want to see, the change that begins in us.