Sixty aspiring volunteers attended the Pagpahinungod Kita! Volunteer Formation program of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod on September 16, 19, and 20, 2026 at the Leyte Samar Heritage Center.
The three-day activity commenced with a general orientation on September 16. In his welcome remarks, UP Tacloban Chancellor John Paul Yusiong emphasized that service does not mean having all the answers for the communities we work with, but rather working alongside them to understand their needs, learn from their experiences, and develop solutions together. Building on her experience as a Gurong Pahinungod in Tawi-Tawi, 2026 Gawad Pangulo Awardee and UP Tacloban alumna Ms. Floravel Ambas delivered a lecture on ethical and culturally sensitive volunteerism. This was followed by a brief overview of the office’s activities and volunteer opportunities by Pahinungod Coordinator Kim Arianne Zarzua. Rounding out the session, Gurong Pahinungod for SY 2026–2027 Ms. Lorie Shane Inosante who is currently deployed in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, shared her experience first as a student volunteer and now as a volunteer teacher through a video testimony.
