LEAD Story 334

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the declaration of St. John Baptist de La Salle as Patron of Teachers, De La Salle Philippines organized a series of live streamed activities in Facebook:

11:00 AM - Holy Mass and Message of the Brother Visitor. Chapel of the Divine Child, La Salle Green Hills. The Brother Visitor gave his Founder’s Day message. Click on the image below to view his message on Youtube.

3:00 & 8:00 PM - Film Showing: Frère.

4:00 PM - Lasallian Rosary. 1911 Brothers' Community Chapel, De La Salle University, Manila

6:30-6:45 PM - Veneration of St. La Salle's Relic. Residencia de La Salle Chapel, Dasmariñas

LEAD Young Brothers in Myanmar and Thailand renewed their vows. The Myanmar Brothers renewed their vows in their respective communities, while the Thai Brothers gathered together at La Salle School Bangkok to renew theirs. (Photos: Br. Joseph Aung FSC, Br. Benedict Chaiwat Phanomworachai FSC, Br. Philip Thein Oo FSC)

Renewal of Vows - Thailand Sector
St. John Baptist de La Salle Chapel
La Salle School Bangkok, Thailand | May 9, 2020

Br. John Win Kyaw FSC & Br. Josaphat Ai Saw Hung Htoo FSC
St. Mary's Cathedral, Yangon, Myanmar | May 7, 2020

Br. Lucas Ah Do FSC
La Salle Chapel, Maymyo Formation House
Maymyo, Myanmar | May 15, 2020

On the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Declaration of Saint John Baptist De La Salle as Universal Patron of Christian Educators, the Alumni Association together with La Salle School Nakhonsawan distributed survival bags to people affected by COVID-19.

Saint John Baptist De La Salle, pray for us! Live, Jesus, in our hearts! Forever! (Text & Photos: Br. Raphael Tanet Lertwaja FSC)

May 8, 2020 is the Institute Celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of the Star. It is a significant day to all who worked for the accreditation and certification of the Molecular Laboratory of De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI) in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Philippines.

In the certification from the Philippines’ Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), DLSMHSI can now perform independent tests for COVID-19 through Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), and experts consider it as the gold standard in corona virus testing. DLSMHSI has five PCR machines and in 2-3 weeks another 5 more machines will be added. The molecular laboratory could run up to 1,000 RT-PCR tests per day and is now the 24th COVID-19 testing center in the country.

In order for a laboratory to be a COVID-19 testing center, it must attain a level 5 certification and a license from RITM. The laboratory will undergo and should pass the 5-stage process that includes assessment, validation or on-site assessment by experts, personnel training, proficiency testing or validation, and full-scale implementation.

DLSMHSI, in partnership with the Cavite Provincial Government, can now provide high quality healthcare service to Cavite and its neighboring provinces. This certification will change the battlefield against the coronavirus as we play a vital responsibility in flattening the curve.

St. John Baptist de La Salle...Pray for us! Live Jesus in our hearts...Forever! (Text: Br. Dan Sanding FSC; Photos: Dr. Charles Yu, MD, MSc, FPCP, FPCCP)

Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School (CSKPS), established in 1973, is one of the three Lasallian primary schools in Hong Kong. Since its founding, CSKPS has spared no effort to seek various kinds of learning opportunities which would help its students to prepare for the future. The school engaged in the CoolThink@JC project in the academic year 2016/17, funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. A coding curriculum originally designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology of the USA and adapted by The Education University and The City University of Hong Kong has since been introduced and optimized in upper primary classes.

CoolThink@JC is a curriculum teaching computer programming to students aged from 10 to 12 with free online applications Scratch and App Inventor 2. By participating in this programme, CSKPS aims to enhance students’ computational and logical thinking skills, meanwhile cultivating their creativity. Students will have the chance to develop computer games and mobile apps of their own and on their own. Before producing a workable app, it is inevitable that students will have to undergo numerous stages of debugging through which they develop the ability to solve problems.

CSKPS has gladly accepted the invitation of the CoolThink@JC to be one of the four resource schools next year as the project is moving to its Phase II. Two teachers will serve as mentors and offer lesson observation opportunities to other participating schools. We believe CSKPS will continue to pursue excellence and serve the community with a humble heart. (Text: Mr. Sherman Lau & CSKPS Team; Photos: CSKPS Team)

*Click thefollowing hyperlinksfor more information!

1. Introduction of the CoolThink@JCprogramme: https://bit.ly/2Ab4nnx

2. Student achievements in STEM and Codingcompetitions: https://bit.ly/2LXXfO1

3. Videos of students introducing their original products: https://bit.ly/2A665H3

One night after dinner, I received a message that there would be a Zoom meeting of former Student Council Presidents to discuss possible ways to help in the Kada-Uno Project of De La Salle Philippines. While I was not a President, I joined anyway since most of them are friends from college. We talked about how we could help the campaign to feed more than 1000 families by asking people to donate at least Php 1000 which would be enough to buy food for one week.

The energy of the group was amazing! Right after the meeting there were already committees – Finance, Strategic Marketing, Social Media, Logistics. Soon enough, the campaign had a name, ‘Isang Libo, Kada-Uno’, and a strategy – the #KadaUnoChallenge, to encourage 10 friends to donate Php 1000 and pass the challenge around. From the initial distribution, the target number of families has increased to at least 2400. There was also a weekly plan to sustain interest online. A Facebook group was created and has at least 2,800 members today.

Not only were the funds increasing, the efficiency was also inspiring. A member of the Logistics team opened her family’s factory operations as a warehouse and assembly line for the relief bags. She also personally called and reached out to farmers, who supplied most of the vegetables. The other members kept exchanging corporate contacts and looked for more organizations to help. All these became possible, despite the limitations of movement caused by the lockdown.

Since the target of the group was to raise at least enough money to feed families for a month, we thought of other ways to generate interest and support so we thought of organizing a small online concert. We remembered that there was a planned concert across LS schools in January to celebrate #300LaSalle. We thought that it would be a good idea to celebrate our stories of hope and generosity in the time of COVID-19 and involve the whole Lasallian Family.

‘Kada-Uno, Lasalyano!’, the online fundraising event was planned. Coordinating through online messengers, we reached out to the schools’ staff-in-charge of student activities and performing groups. After 2-3 weeks, we already had 13 hours’ worth of performances and events! We also were able to invite young Brothers and alumni to host the segments. The best blessing was to have a reliable tech team on D-Day. Despite some setbacks, the event ran smoothly from 9am and was watched by at least 180-300 people on the average. We were not able to count the total number of performers involved but the response of the viewers was overwhelming. An hour before the event ended, the finance team sent a report that we have already reached our month-long goal of Php 4 million. This, on top of being able to showcase talents from LS schools and animate the Lasallian spirit at the same time.

In spite of the crisis, it’s amazing how God’s presence and grace sustained everything. Even with limitations, we had a great time working with each other (again) for a good cause. We are thankful to all those who helped and supported the event. I’m sure that years later, when we look back at this time, we will not forget that the spirit of our Lasallian family is stronger than any crisis! (Text & Photos: Br. Aikee Esmeli FSC)

PS: You may still watch it by clicking on these links: [Part 1: tinyurl.com/Part1-KUL Part 2: tinyurl.com/KUL-Part2]

A group of SJI International kids of Singapore decided to put together an online concert (inspired by the One World Concert) to raise funds for the vulnerable individuals and families affected by the COVID-19 situation. This is also a tribute to all the brave front line workers out there. (Boysbiggestfan Youtube Channel)

Watch the concert here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk8e1NeOKnM

Find out more by visiting the SJII Official Website: https://www.sji-international.com.sg/news/446

La Salle Green Hills (LSGH), an exclusive all-boys school will go coeducational in the Senior High School. This development marks the end of an era since 1959 as the institution transitions to an integrated school this coming school year 2020-2021. The first 20 female applicants will be offered tuition subsidy. (Text: Br. Alex Diaz FSC)

Article by: Josh Aldrich P. De Villa (De La Salle Lipa)

Edited By: Sofia Denisse M. Lucido (De La Salle Lipa)

In response to the emerging social problems in the country brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic, various Search-In communities in the Philippines partnered and had recently conducted an online fundraiser entitled “Bungad ng Pag-Asa: An Online Mission” last May 15, 2020.

Search-In is an inclusive religious and foundational organization composed of students from different La Salle Schools all over the Philippines. It is a group that helps students in recognizing their own identity and assisting them in living a life inspired by our Lasallian core values of faith, service and communion. Search-In also serves as an incubatory organization to prepare aspiring brothers in their future vocations in mission.

Fulfilling its goal of being of service to others, especially in this time of need, six (6) different Search-In La Salle Communities in the Philippines namely: De La Salle College of Antipolo, La Salle Academy Iligan, De La Salle University – Laguna campus, University of St. La Salle – Bacolod, St. Joseph School – La Salle and headed by De La Salle Lipa have partnered up to conceptualize and deliver “Bungad ng Pag-Asa: An Online Mission” (BNP).

            “Bungad ng Pag-Asa: An Online Mission” is a fundraiser that aims to fund the KadaUno Challenge initiative by the De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines. It offers a wide variety of dialogues between student leaders and members of the partnership amongst various Search-In communities in the Philippines. BNP also showcases the innate talents of some of the members of this organization.

With the goal of alleviating the grievances of the people and raising funds for the benefit of the marginalized, Bungad ng Pag-Asa stays true to its title of serving as a gateway to spread hope in this age of despair.

“I’ve always had a passion for leading, especially in situations where a group could help for a cause like Bungad,” says Tori Lualhati, the Head Producer of the fundraiser from De La Salle Lipa (DLSL).

The Head Producer also added that the whole team was nervous during the preparations as they were given merely 3 weeks to prepare a livestream which they haven’t done before.

During the Live event, various people from different La Salle Schools have offered their time and talents to attract donors and sponsors for Bungad ng Pag-Asa.  It started with the greetings of the hosts, Clarisse Avila and Jhustin Dipasupil, and then followed by some welcoming remarks by Br. Marvin Sipin FSC, DLSL VMO Head. 

“I think that it is in our nature to be of service to others as Lasallians. As I came to be aware of the difficulties of other people during this pandemic, I was moved to respond in whatever way I can,” said the DLSL VMO Head.

It was succeeded by brief interviews with student leaders: Bea Luna and Abby Caig from DLSL, Samantha Ubiadas and Angelica Aquino from La Salle College of Antipolo, and a dialogue with former Idol Philippines Contestant, Vanya Castor from the University of St. La Salle Bacolod.

Right after that, the audience were serenaded by the beautiful voices of the guests performers; Yaeli Quijano from La Salle Academy - Iligan, Marc Mayuga, Allaine Samarita, Ella Fortu, James Ramirez, Marielle Alcantara and Singko Sentimos from De La Salle Lipa, Raphael Sunga from La Salle College Antipolo, and USLS singers, in collaboration with Center for Lasallian Ministries from University of St. La Salle - Bacolod and SJS-LS Circle 1 from St. Joseph School - La Salle.

Star Performers such as Miguel Traspe and Angel Secillano from DLSU - Laguna, Marianne Osabel of La Salle Academy - Iligan and Vanya Castor and Ysanygo from University of St. La Salle - Bacolod were also present in the show.

“I was stunned by the performances as they are really good and the interviews were also very informative” says Richard Punongbayan of La Salle Academy Iligan.

Aside from the interviews and performances, “Bungad ng Pag-Asa” also had several challenges such as Translation Challenge, Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts Challenge, Smile for A Mile and Laws of Quarantine which made the live stream fun and engaging. While the hosts: Sophia Durana and Beatrice Recidoro from De La Salle University Laguna headed the shoutouts segment of the show.

Before reaching the conclusion of the show, the Head Producer, Tori Lualhati gave her closing remarks where she thanked the people who supported the project and the faces behind it.

“The project started small, but as time passed by, we saw the increasing number of members and volunteers from various La Salle Communities, which inspired us to work even harder. It was a good thing that the members of the Bungad Team had each other’s backs,” says the Head Producer.

Lualhati also expressed how the journey was a challenge but is fulfilling, knowing that they are able to help the Lasallian and Filipino communities. She also stressed that Bungad ng Pag-Asa didn’t only help thousands of families, but also created a new one – a unified family of Search-In Communities.

“It was difficult to pull off this kind of event given the short amount of time and the limitations, but I am thankful to God for giving me students who are committed and passionate to say ‘yes to life’ by saying ‘yes to serve’,” added Br. Marvin Sipin FSC.

The Head of the Vocations Ministry Office of DLSL also expressed that all praises are given to God who enabled them to build a stronger community with the common purpose to serve.

As of May 20, 2020, the fundraiser had collected 110,050 Pesos in donations and pledges through online bank transfers and has directed them to the KadaUno Initiatives of the DLSP.

The whole team behind Bungad ng Pag-Asa is expressing its gratitude to the people who have supported this noble cause and is hoping that this amount will create a big impact towards helping families who were negatively affected by the pandemic to get through their everyday needs.

DLSL Search-In Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SearchInDLSL/

Below are two documents, the Decree of Establishment of LEAD and the Decree of Adoption of the Statutes of LEAD, both signed by Br. Alvaro Rodriguez Echeverria FSC, the former Superior General of the Brothers.