In this series of blog postings, we feature our alumni as they talk about their experience being in the program as well as their unforgettable moments as former XU DevCom students.

Why did you choose XU DevCom?

It took me 2 courses and 3 calamities before I finally settled interest in DevCom.

I took Information Technology (1 academic school year) and Computer Technology (1 semester) because my father wanted me to work in his company as an IT specialist. I did not like these courses personally and it manifested thru my grades. I told my mother that I needed to transfer. Apparently, my Mom asked me to stop schooling due to financial constraints.

December 2011, typhoon Sendong devastated the city. Non-Government organizations (United Nations Population Fund and Family Planning Organization of the Philippines) were looking for volunteers to help provide medical services to the survivors. I was an out of school youth. I decided to participate. We were trained by these organizations re Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (first training in the whole Asia). I started to organize Evacuation Camps few days after the training. We conducted Health Information Sessions to pregnant and lactating mothers, men in reproductive age and the youth. During the rehabilitation phase of the city, I joined the team and visited rural health units, schools, barangays to provide Comprehensive Sexuality Education. Those, to me, were the things I found myself passionate and committed. The organization hired me as a community organizer and performed the same job while I was volunteering.

I realized I was not working. A strong typhoon hit our neighboring province, Compostela Valley, in 2013. I was invited to respond not as a volunteer but as Youth Organizer. I have performed several functions I have already tried when I was a volunteer. It was an amazing 8 months project living in Compostela Valley province. I knew I needed to go back schooling so I was saving portion of my salary.

September 2013, I decided to pursue my dream and I chose Development Communication. My hands on experiences motivated me to pursue community organizing. However, an Armed-Conflict took place in Zamboanga and the organization requested me to respond as an Area Coordinator. The salary was tempting but I have decided to lead the team for only 1 month. When the academic school year started, I felt I was home.

The major subjects in DevCom has verified the things I have learned when I was an out of school youth working in the grassroots. I started to learn the technicalities of Community Organizing, widen my knowledge in Community participation and have met teachers and students who, few of them, became my mentors and colleagues. Right before my first DevCom subject ended, I knew this time I made the right choice. Its DevCom, its me.

Tell us about your experience with the program.

I earned a Bachelors Degree where I can be as flexible as I can. To me, DevCom is universal, realistic and up to date. Its a mutli-dimensional course and it was not easy earning it amid prior experience.

What is your current job?

I am working as a Health Teacher and at the same time, a volunteer of Youth Peer Education Network, Inc. Asia Pacific Regional Office. Before I came here, I became a Humanitarian Consultant for an International Organization in Malaysia. I have travelled Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines to monitor Humanitarian initiatives of my organization; International Planned Parenthood Federation. I supervised humanitarian projects in Solom Island, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea for 3 months.

I went back to the Philippines and worked as an Emergency Welfare Program Head of the Municipal Social Welfare Development Office of Tagoloan Misamis Oriental and at the same time elected as President of the largest youth network in the Philippines; Youth Peer Education Network Pilipinas, Inc. (YPEER Philippines).

I have harnessed my skills in community organizing, put into practice the theories I have learned in DevCom. Though I have shifted career from a Humanitarian Actor to a teacher, my DevCom spirit is always burning. I continue to be a volunteer of an organisation where I can demonstrate skills in community organizing and participation.

I am currently managing a youth-lead organization in Tagoloan Misamis Oriental as an adviser and Social Media officer. The Youth for Reproductive Health Awareness (YouRHealth) Tagoloan is compose of Sangguniang Kabataan officers and youth leaders who provide Comprehensive Sexuality Education to the 10 barangays of the Municipality. I was a former president of this organization as well.

I can never let go of the things I love doing and DevCom has totally helped me to become more technical, more driven and passionate.

Would you recommend studying DevCom?

I will always be proud to claim that I am a DevCom graduate of Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan because I cannot explore my potential as a young person if it weren’t for DevCom who provided me the relevant approaches, strategies and technicalities in community organizing and participation. I will always recommend DevCom because it is not just a promising profession, it is life changing.