LAST April 16, 2018, I attended and delivered a closing message for the Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) culmination ceremony for school year 2017-2018 at the Finster Auditorium of the Ateneo de Davao University. The 2017 - 2018, the MVP had partner madaris in Cotabato, Basilan, and Maguindanao.
The Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) is a project of the Ateneo de Davao University in partnership with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP). Its main goal is to promote inter- and intra-faith dialogue through community immersion and peace building work in the partner madrasah.
For my column this week, I would like to share my short message.
“Rev. Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ, president of the Ateneo de Davao University; Dr. Ombra Imam, president of the National Association of Bangsamoro Education, Inc. (NABEI); partner madaris in Cotabato, Basilan, and Maguindanao; our MVP Batch 2017 - 2018; guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen, assalamu alaikum warakmatullahi wabarakatuhu! Greetings of peace to each and every one!.
I am honored to be invited as one of your guest speakers, and I am grateful to be attending this culmination ceremony.
Madaris Volunteer Program – it has always been uplifting to see volunteers coming to this day – graduation. The ten months of volunteer service for sure was not that easy – but look at yourselves now – look at your co-volunteers, your administers and host families, your mentors – for sure there is so much that had happened that only you, or your fellow volunteers, and the community you have left can understand and appreciate those memories – be it happiness, sadness, and challenges along the way. I could not be more proud of what you have become today. I am sure, before you entered the program; you had lots of questions in yourselves as well on why you wanted to volunteer – why you wanted to teach children – why you wanted to serve the disadvantaged communities – why you wanted to go to Mindanao (to some of you) – and why you wanted see the Bangsamoro – I am confident, that you all now have your answers to these. I am so proud of your courage, your bravery, your commitment, and your compassion for the children and community of the Bangsamoro in order to uplift themselves, and to let them feel loved.
As a former United Nations Volunteer (UNV), let me share with you the essence of volunteerism - you know, you are lucky that you chose to be a volunteer – you made the right choice than seeking for an immediate employment right after your college graduation. You may not know how companies would look after applicants who have volunteer experiences. You probably know it is a great way to give back to your community and help those less fortunate, but you may not realize how it can benefit your career as well. I’m sure, throughout your ten-month immersion-volunteerism, while living outside your comfort zones, your experience had made you discover a lot about yourself, your skills, your capabilities, gained confidence, resourcefulness, learn new things, and gave you a sense of pride and identity. Ten-months was more than enough that you could discover yourself better.
Looking back - I’d like you take a pause for a few seconds; recall the moments teaching your students. What do you remember the most? Your students might have taken an inspiration from your teachings and the positive relation you possessed with each other. Be proud of yourselves because you made an impact with your students that may affect their whole life. You may become their inspiration as well – that is the sense of fulfillment in your life that volunteerism gives you.
Because of that impact, it is the role of Al Qalam in partnership with MVP, to continuously reach out to the Bangsamoro youths, especially the ones in the disadvantaged communities whose youths are eager for education but do not have the means to enroll. Both the Madaris Volunteer Program and the Al Qalam Institute share their common vision of a peaceful and humane society through education and friendship especially in the Bangsamoro.
I hope that with your experience in the Bangsamoro, you may serve as a tool in breaking cultural and religious misunderstanding due to difference and be the agents of peace in our country. It is with you, who will give a beautiful meaning of the lives of the diverse peoples of Mindanao, and our country as a whole.
And I hope you carry-on your spirit of volunteerism wherever you are through helping others. Let it be your happiness; as a Chinese saying goes: “if you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
Let me end my speech with one of the many famous Hadiths about volunteering, the Noble Rasool has said, “The best person is the one who benefits the people.” And as the Jesuits would say, be the men and women for others.
Congratulations! Thank you!”
For more details of the MVP, please check their website: http://www.teachmadaris.org