University of Baguio Lights Up Communities through UB GIFTS
“Service is not seasonal; kindness does not depend on festivities, but on intentions.”
“Service is not seasonal; kindness does not depend on festivities, but on intentions.” These words from University President Dr. Javier Herminio Bautista opened this year’s UB G.I.F.T.S. celebration with a powerful reminder that genuine service extends beyond occasions—it is a commitment rooted in purpose.
This year’s UB G.I.F.T.S. (Gives Inspiration, Fellowship, and True Service), led by the Research Innovation, Extension, and Community Outreach Office (RIECO), once again brought together the management team, alumni, and partner communities in a shared celebration of generosity and compassion. The activity brought together 11 VIPPD members, 22 barangay officials and functionaries of Barangay Pinsao Proper, 11 teachers from Lindawan Elementary and High School, 8 students under the Master in Public Administration program, 29 UB management representatives, and 4 alumni, reflecting a strong, diverse, and collaborative community presence. More than a gift-giving activity, UB GIFTS highlights the University’s year-round dedication to uplifting communities through meaningful programs and sustained engagement. At its core, UB GIFTS reflects UB’s enduring mission to give back, featuring activities that provided not only material support but also learning opportunities, and empowerment and resiliency.
The morning session of the celebration centered on empowering communities through knowledge, beginning with a lecture by Ms. Teresa Villanueva, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences, on “Promoting Community Resilience and Environmental Health through Bayanihan.” Her discussion highlighted SDG 13.3.5, which focuses on climate resilience education, while also contributing to SDG 3.3.2 related to community health outreach as she emphasized environmental stewardship, disaster preparedness, and collective action. This was followed by Dr. Esmeralda Gatchallan, Director of the Medical and Dental Clinic, who provided essential health updates, an activity aligned with SDG 3.7.1 on health education and SDG 3.D, which strengthens early-warning and risk-reduction systems in communities. The third speaker, Dr. Helen Alalag, Dean of the School of Nursing, emphasized the crucial role of women in community building, directly supporting SDG 5.5.1, which measures women’s equal participation in leadership, and SDG 5.1.1, which calls for eliminating discrimination against women. Concluding the morning program, Laboratory Elementary School Principal Dr. Julius Gat-eb addressed the issue of out-of-school youth, underscoring reintegration strategies and community support systems that strengthens SDG 4.3.1 by improving educational access for disadvantaged youth, and SDG 10.2.1 by promoting social inclusion. Furthermore, the review of the Memorandum of Agreement between UB and Barangay Pinsao Proper reinforced the University’s commitment to long-term, evidence-based partnerships, consistent with SDG 17.2.2, which highlights institutions that foster meaningful and impactful community collaborations. This was supported by the principles of participatory governance, aligning with SDG 11’s focus on inclusive and sustainable communities. Meanwhile, the School of Nursing, School of Natural Sciences, and School of Dentistry provided free medical and dental services, including vital signs assessment, complete blood count, urinalysis, blood typing, glucose testing, postural assessments, medical consultations, and dental check-ups, cleaning, and extractions. These services directly contribute to SDG 3.3.2 and 3.3.4, which measure community health outreach and access to essential health services, while also supporting SDG 1.4.3 by providing basic services to community members who may have limited access to healthcare.
Through these unified efforts, UB GIFTS continues to strengthen the University’s enduring partnerships with its partner communities, illustrating that meaningful development is achieved through consistent presence, shared responsibility, and compassion-driven collaboration. By aligning its initiatives with measurable SDG’s, the University of Baguio demonstrates its commitment not only to academic excellence but also to social transformation. UB GIFTS stands as living proof that service, when rooted in empathy and sustainability, becomes a powerful force that uplifts communities, promotes equity, and advances the University’s role in contributing to global goals.
