The Community Engagement and CICM Advocacies (CECA) Office of the University of Saint Louis recently wrapped up two activities under Project SPORTS (Sportsmanship in Propelling Optimal and Relevant Teaching in Sports), an extension program, led by Mr. Bryan F. Arugay, BES CECA Coordinator, designed to promote youth development through sports and community engagement.
On October 11, 2024, a Friendship Game took place between athletes from the USL Basic Education School (BES) and Allaguia National High School (ANHS) during the ANHS Intramurals, themed “Allaguia NHS: Championing Excellence and Embracing Camaraderie.” The games featured basketball (3×3), volleyball, and badminton, participated by 10 BES student-athletes with Ramil I. Corpuz, MAEd, Assistant Director for Sports Development, and Roselyn N. Lemi, MBA, SABH CECA Coordinator, serving as judges for the cheerdance competition. The event, hosted at the historic Saint Mary’s Catholic Mission grounds, concluded with a lively Kalinga unity dance, fostering a deep sense of community among the students and teachers.
On October 18-19, 2024, the Sports Empowerment Series followed, offering participants talks on Sports Safety and Sportsmanship, along with focused training sessions in basketball, volleyball, and badminton. Two Physical Education instructors from the School of Education, Criminology, Arts, and Psychology (SECAP), alongside five USL college student-athletes, led the training. The AFS foreign exchange students from BES also took part, immersing themselves in the local culture and building bonds with the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of Kalinga.
In addition to the sports activities, the AFS students, namely Hedy Oehme (Germany) and Tilo Halter (Switzerland) enjoyed a rich cultural experience, visiting the Barangay Hall for a taste of native Kalinga coffee, hiking through the community, and exploring the waterfalls near Allaguia, guided by the local school head and teachers. The two-day event concluded with mini-tournaments and another joyful unity dance, celebrating cultural diversity and solidarity with the Kalinga community.
These activities support SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), while aligning with the CICM advocacy of Integral Evangelization and Social Justice. The events highlighted the importance of sports not only as a tool for physical development but also as a means for intercultural exchange, community building, and personal growth.
Through Project SPORTS, the youth of Allaguia, USL, and AFS have created lasting connections, embodying the spirit of collaboration, cultural immersion, and shared experiences.
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