Kapuluan

Ask parents and they will tell you that rearing and educating their children especially the teens are relatively more difficult now than during their time as students. And this is obviously and mainly due to advances in modern technology and the new media which, according to international research firm McCann Erickson, brought about a “widening gray area between perceived right and wrong among the youth today”.

Fortunately, there is a man ahead of his time who foresaw today’s situation and the problems it has brought about among the youth. He is St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. As early as 1934 he already established the first study center for young men (later on also separate centers for young women). The centers are primarily designed for the spiritual and physical formation, academic excellence and leadership training of the youth.

One of the centers established in the Philippines is already celebrating its 25 years of “scholarship, leadership and service” this year. Dubbed as “Kapuluan” which is the tagalog word meaning “group of islands” that aptly describes our country, the study center is strategically located at 17 Maginhawa St., Teacher’s Village, Q.C. as a haven of formation for students residing within the surrounding villages particularly those studying in the UP, and Ateneo.

In 25 years of existence, Kapuluan has been the center of various activities that have helped so many students who are willing to undergo formation in several aspects of life. It has conducted and undertaken leadership seminars, social outreach projects, work camps and sports academics. The activities are well rounded as they improve mind, body and spirit. They are not purely learning but even unwinding as the Center organizes excursions once or twice a month including out of town mountain hikes, overnight camping and trips to the beaches.

Indeed Kapuluan’s key project has been able to reach thousands of students, youth leaders and scholars all over the Philippines through talks, conferences, publications and social outreach programs that focus on themes like values, virtues, leadership, youth solidarity, the need for culture and having a social conscience.

To meet the needs for values education among the young in the hope that they “can lead better lives and build a better society”, Kapuluan formed the Universitas in 2003. Universitas, which is the Latin word for “universality” is a group of scholars, leaders and youth volunteers that aims to foster among its members a spirit of excellence and service to society and promote values education among the youth. It also promotes unity of life and a universal regard to unchanging truths and envisions a group of future leaders with strong foundation in good governance.

Among the notable projects of Universitas is the “Project Forge” which is leadership social outreach program for students in the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Here the student volunteers of UP teach Math, English and values education to grades five and six public school pupils for six consecutive Saturdays in a semester. Since its inception Project Forge has taught more than 300 school children and molded a number of student volunteers who will become the country’s future leaders. Project Forge emphasizes that aside from teaching academics, values education is key to the total development of a student.

Universitas also organizes yearly three-day conference of university students and prominent individuals called USC (Universitas Student Conference) where talks and lectures on diverse issues are given. Among the topics discussed since 2003 are “Living a Balanced Life: How to be a Well Rounded Student; Are Values Still in Vogue; Media and the Youth for Rebuilding the Nation; The Art of Work: Secrets of Highly Effective Professionals; Gear Up: Excellence in the University and Beyond; and Transcend: The Science and Art of Success”.

In Kapuluan, the fellows may do a lot of things, but in all their activities, they have their eyes glued to one source: Jesus the perfect God and the perfect Man. Hence, the fellows in Kapuluan also have weekly classes on the meaning of their faith; advanced classes on human professional, doctrinal, apostolic and spiritual formation; weekly meditations, monthly recollections and yearly retreats; Holy Mass and Sacraments; Novena to the Immaculate Conception and Chat and Spiritual Direction with the Chaplain.

The present director of Kapuluan is Mr. Oliver M. Tuason who has been dedicatedly serving the Center for so many years that he has already become some sort of a permanent fixture therein. He is also the Universitas Consultant on Youth and Organization Affairs. Supporting the Center both financially and in various other roles are prominent people like Batangas Congressman Hermilando Mandanas, Mr. Joey Cuisia of Philam Life, Dr. Placido Mapa of the Metrobank Foundation, Mr. Jayjay Calero, Zenith Optimedia Chairman, Dr. Bernardo Villegas a noted economist and many other prominent individuals.

Monsignor Joseph Duran, Vicar General of the Opus Dei in the Philippines best sums up what Kaupuluan is all about when he said that “In kapuluan, one finds a school of friendship, a venue to foster the spirit of service and live Christian fraternity down to its last consequences”. He also best defines its quarter of a century existence with these words: “Kapuluan proved to be a crucial stage in the students’ human and personal development. What they could not get from the university they found it in No. 17, Maginhawa Street”.

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