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Written by: Sheena Alcala & Arianne Maghanoy

PNVSCA’s Executive Director, Donald James D. Gawe handing over the Certificates to partners to recognize their contribution to the agency’s volunteerism activities throughout the year.

To recognize the ever-unwavering support of its partners in its continuous effort to promote volunteerism as a development strategy, PNVSCA celebrated the year-end by giving the spotlight to its partners through the Partnership Building and Appreciation Ceremony held on December 28, 2022, live at the Benguet State University, and via Zoom online platform. The event aims to promote a culture of recognition in which all partners are encouraged, recognized, and motivated to maintain their support and dedication to volunteering for development, as well as to strengthen the network of voluntary sector partners.

The Partnership Building and Appreciation Ceremony that served as a culminating activity of the National Volunteer Month (NVM) 2022 consisted of two parts.

The first part aired the fourth episode of 2022 Voluntalks, titled “Once A Volunteer, Always A Volunteer!” The episode featured the national awardees of the recently conducted Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV), which include: Mr. Marlon Balunsat, Individual – Youth Category; Councilor Artemio Andaya Jr., Individual – Adult Category; Mr. Delivery PH represented by its Chief Executive Officer Mark Duque, Organization – Corporate Category; Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. (CLAFI) represented by Knowledge Management Officer Vivien Christi Trocio, Organization – Non-Profit Category; and the Philippine Adventist Medical Aviation Services, Inc. represented by its President Capt. Dwayne Harris and Director Granny Mary Quieng. They all shared their volunteering experiences and motivations for doing volunteer work, as well as gave the audience some advice in terms of volunteering.

The second part of the event recognized PNVSCA’s partners for their commitment and invaluable contributions toward strengthening volunteerism for development. BSU President Dr. Felipe S. Comila welcomed the participants and  commended the volunteers by describing them as God’s gift to people.

Among those recognized by PNVSCA are its partners in conducting volunteerism events, including those who conducted activities in celebration of the NVM, partners in Policy Formulation and Program Coordination, and those who partnered in media engagements.

Delivering messages of support to PNVSCA’s advocacy on volunteerism, heads and representatives of PNVSCA’s partner organizations expressed their thanks and gave commitment to further assist PNVSCA. Among these partners are AVP’s Philippines Regional Director – Asia Archipelago, Mr. Jonathan Hunter; NEDA Region II’s Regional Director, RD Dionisio C. Ledres, Jr.; Provincial Government of La Union’s Gov. Raphaelle Veronica “Rafy” Ortega-David; Silliman University’s President, Doc. Betty C. McCann; DMMMSU-NLUC Fisheries Research and Training Institute’s Executive Director, Mr. Andie John D. Tadeo; NEDA V Regional Director, RD Agnes Espinas-Tolentino; and Provincial Government Office of Pangasinan’s Gov. Ramon Guico III read by his representative.

Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe of PNVSCA together with Engr. Philip Puzon, Dr. Murphy Mohammed, Mayor Romeo K. Salda, and Dr. Jan Rich A. Guira at the MOU signing during the Partnership Building and Appreciation Meeting.

The Partnership Recognition also featured the ceremonial signing of PNVSCA’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with its new partners, namely City Government of Baguio represented by Baguio City Chief of Staff Engr. Phillip Puzon; La Trinidad, Benguet Municipal Office through Mayor Romeo Salda; Mariano Marcos State University represented by its Student Affairs and Services Director Dr. Jan Rich Guira and Student Affairs Services representative Prof. Mark Kelvin Villanueva; and Tarlac State University represented by its VP for Research and Extension Services Dr. Murphy Mohammed.

PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe personally expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Agency’s partners and highlighted that “The Philippines is a country that takes pride in its rich history of volunteerism through the “Bayanihan” — the tradition of helping one another to promote family, community and society’s welfare. The Filipino brand of volunteerism has evolved through time to engage all sectors, including the government, NGOs, academic institutions, international organizations and corporate groups in volunteer service for development.”

The event was also livestreamed on PNVCA’s Facebook page. It was conducted in partnership with Benguet State University (BSU) and PIA Cordillera; and attended by 60 onsite participants and 9,000 online participants.,

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The authors are currently the VSO I of Policy, Advocacy and Technical Services Division (PATSD) and VSO I of the Program Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PCMED), Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency.

Visit PNVSCA website (www.pnvsca.gov.ph) and PNVSCA Facebook (facebook.com/PNVSCA) for other stories and information on volunteering.