By Love Guevarra, Sofia Sia, Kathleen Alberba and Alyanna Kwan
Writers: Amiel Franco Garcia, Donna Raizza Arriesgado, and Shaunia Grace Manlapig
Ms. Nicole Trixia Raymundo is an inspiring alumna of UVU who graduated last Academic Year 2023-2024 and has been actively participating in UNICEF Philippines’ projects since before she entered college and joined the organization. She was awarded the Pope Leo XIII Community Development Award in the Individual Category at the university level for her relentless efforts to make a positive impact on children. Every member of the organization acknowledges her dedication to serving children despite her busy schedule and academic commitments. She excels in balancing her time and leadership roles, bringing honor not only to UVU but also to the other organizations with which she is involved. If the Philippines has Carlos Yulo, UVU has Nicole Raymundo. In this issue, we present her as the first featured member of the year. You will finally get to know more about her brilliant mind and committed heart in serving the kids.
What are the changes you experienced after parting away from the organization after 6 years?
Being in the organization for six years, Ate Nicki has experienced a lot, from an organizational approach before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and after the pandemic. She stated that these transitions challenged not only the UST Volunteers UNICEF but also different organizations and the different offices in the university.
Before the pandemic, she stated that the organization typically does and implements community development and internal projects. “It’s a normal academic year na kapag nag-organize kami ng events, alam naming magagawa namin ‘to, yun yung good opportunity before the pandemic,” she said.
During the pandemic, she posed many challenges, such as being skeptical about what approach should be taken because she also mentioned that even the offices need more proficiency in Zoom. Hence, during this transition, the organization implemented only one webinar event, which was about the effect of COVID-19 on children, on top of other internal events to build camaraderie among the organization's volunteers. Moreover, delays in university-wide events were put in place, such as during Recruitment 101, when she mentioned that offices have difficulty giving accreditation to different organizations. However, as the organization approached an entirely new academic year with a hybrid setup, projects were incorporated with traditional projects. Hence, Ate Nicki was able to explore different topics to tackle, and the organization was able to release its own podcast on Spotify.
Returning to a face-to-face setup, Ate Nicki was hopeful of slowly returning to the traditional projects while also trying to blend the learnings from previous academic years.
During your time in UVU, what is the most memorable challenge you faced as a student-leader and how did you handle it?
As students, Ate Nicki also experienced what some of us may find challenging: juggling academics and organizational work, as we cannot focus on one thing and ignore the rest. Therefore, she used the organization as a motivation to focus on some of her schoolwork first and then complete her organizational work. Hence, she was able to meet both ends. Moreover, her advice to student leaders, which she said may work for her and may not work for others, is to look at the bright side of everything, create your own calendar, and have a to-do list.
Do you still remember what you felt when you were interviewed for UVU, and can you share your thoughts when you were not part of the organization yet?
Ate Nicki still recalls the nerve-wracking moment while waiting for her interview in the Tan Yan Kee building. She applied for the Advocacy Committee during her first encounter with UVU. “Ang naisip ko noon kasi is mas gusto ko ma-experience [ang volunteering for UNICEF], noong time kasi na bago ako nagapply, nakapagjoin na ako ng mga projects, nakasama na ako sa UNICEF Philippines,” she explains. She also mentions that it was challenging to decide whether to join the team due to her academic commitments and busy schedule. Initially, she invited friends to join her at UVU but ended up applying on her own.
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“Nung na-interview ako, na-test ‘yung knowledge ko about children’s rights. Same feels kung ano ‘yung naramdaman niyo noong una kayong na-interview,” she says. The questions asked during interviews for both old and new members are generally the same, though some are tailored to the specific division one is applying for. This is why she feels that her experience was almost identical to what others felt during their initial UVU interviews.
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“It’s a matter of time lang, lumipas na, dami ko na na-experience. Mas marami na akong learnings ngayon pero kung ano ‘yung na-feel din ng first time magvolunteer, first time na EB (Executive Board) ngayon, kakagraduate lang ng JVC, I feel the same when I was interviewed back in 2018.”
What are your thoughts about UVU in your early years in the organization, and what are your thoughts about it now?
Ate Nicki has been around the organization for six years and highlighted that there has been significant evolution in UVU throughout her tenure.
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“In the early three years na nasa organization ako, maraming nagagawa but I must say, it’s still a bit limited. Kumbaga, may ibubuga pa,” She also stated that while communities might have been more accessible during pre-pandemic, there is definitely more potential to be realized, hinting that UVU still has a lot more to offer and show.
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“... for the later years, it’s less accessible due to the pandemic pero it is something we cannot control naman, but the thing is we incorporate a lot of things. Hindi na tayo limited when it comes to making projects,” In recent years, especially considering the impact of the pandemic, the organization faced challenges with accessibility. However, this period also led to growth and adaptation.
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“For the later years, mas maganda siya for me. Big improvement that we can do anything somehow. May online, may face-to-face, may hindi commdev, social meda postings natutuhan natin ‘yon so it’s better,” The focus expanded beyond just community development projects to include various types of activities and skills, such as online engagement and social media.
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“... alam na natin whatever happens. Kunyari, there is calamity na naman o sa pandemic na naman, hindi na tayo mangangapa. Alam na natin ‘yung gagawin [kapag may sakuna] or if normal na, either way diba alam natin ‘yung gagawin. We have more knowledge compared to before and I believe that’s a good thing,” This evolution also allowed the organization to become more versatile and better equipped to handle different situations, including emergencies like calamities and pandemics, which she views as a significant asset for UVU.
Do you think your love for children has grown over time?
“[my love] definitely grew a lot.”
It all started with the love and fondness of Ate Nicki with children. Ate Nicki joined the UST Volunteers for UNICEF with that in mind. She shared how others may have joined the organization, not because of fondness with children, but maybe out of pure whim, or a friend might have just pulled them to join, and that is okay, she emphasizes.
We all came from different backgrounds, and somehow, we can say that we are privileged enough to be studying at the University of Santo Tomas. Many things are happening in our country that we cannot see, and being in places where she could see those things helped shed light on these situations.
Ate Nicki saw these situations firsthand in her junior high school, as she helped in charity work, wherein they gave free food and provided relief goods to those victims of calamities. This experience of hers broadened her thinking. She thought that she could help and thought of ways to further her reach to help those in need and apply it.
“...it’s not just loving, or mahilig sa bata, it’s about being inclusive talaga, understanding them, understanding their pov, of different children.”
Thus, her journey with UVU started. At first, she didn’t know much and just wanted to join whatever was considered cool and well-known organizations. However, in her senior year in high school, she had the urge to join UVU, but unfortunately, she couldn’t because it was a college organization. But when the time was right, in her first year of college, she finally got to join UST Volunteers for UNICEF.
“Throughout the years, my love has grown with the experiences and the knowledge imposed to me by this organization. “
Ate Nicki further shared how UVU tackled many different things and topics that we are unaware of. Even though she was not aware of those things, they changed through UVU. From webinars to events hosted by the organization, it opened the eyes of the members.
She explains this further with the organization’s project, “Batang Mataliknows.” In this project, they went to a public school and taught students. After talking to these children, she realized that their knowledge and experience do not really equate to their age or grade level. That is when it will hit you with the thought, “Oh, there is really something like that,” and “Oh, that is why we have this education problem in our country.” Although you might have heard about those things in the past, Ate Nicki says that it is different, and you will definitely see that there is really something wrong with our education system, with poverty, when you experience it firsthand. She emphasizes that children are the first ones to be affected by these problems. As the foundation and the future of our country, if they are not given the chance to have a proper education system and learn, in 50 years, where would our country be?
What is the most memorable project of UVU for you and why?
Projects like Bravehearts, Is Eat Right, and the podcast about children are the most memorable projects to Ate Nicki, respectively.
The podcast is her top 3 because it is their baby project during its implementation. During its first episode, there was yet to be recruitment for staff; therefore, only the Executive Team put in the effort to execute the first episode.
Placed in the top 2 is the Is Eat Right project. This project is close to her heart as she is a nutrition and dietetics major. Moreover, projects in the organization need to talk about children's nutrition. Hence, through this project, people are taught about nutrition and other related topics.
The first one she ranked was the project Bravehearts because it was the community development project she became part of in 2019, and it was the project that opened her eyes to things. The usual Bravehearts before the pandemic are different from what we are used to seeing today because the organization visits the National Children's Hospital. Volunteers would then talk with cancer patients and create activities suited for them. Moreover, Ate Nicki mentioned that, “kahit hindi ka health allied inclined na student, talagang nakakatouch pa rin yung experience and yung pumunta doon kasi malalaman mo yung story nila.”
If you were to give a message to new volunteers who just
joined UVU, what will it be?
“Number 1, always volunteer.”
As per Ate Nicki, If you're new, always volunteer. If there’s an opportunity, join and sign up immediately. Even if you’re shy, just sign up. She shares how, even initially, she was shy too; the current executive board members of UVU? They, too, were shy at first. So just volunteer and take every opportunity that you can; it’s not always that you are a college student.
She then tells us how short our time here in college is and how we should make the most out of it. Ate Nicki says that college was so fast. She spent so much time in UST, but she felt as if there wasn't enough time and that it was too fast. However, with that timeframe, she said there were many opportunities, but to make that opportunity happen, you must volunteer and always be present when possible. Sometimes, you can volunteer, sign up, and don’t show up. Ate Nicki tells us that we shouldn't be like that.
“Take your time”, she said. Ate Nicki shared how, back then, everything was a bit different than it is today. In her time, if you want to join a community development project, you can see the postings on an open wall, and even last minute, you can join. However, today, you must join as soon as possible because last-minute applications to join a project are no longer allowed. Emails were not that popular back then, so when you submit an application to join, you will be waiting for a text confirmation that you got in, and that is where Ate Nicki’s excitement comes from.
“Sana sa new volunteers natin, you get excited as well.”
Ate Nicki wishes the new volunteers to feel that excitement, too. That excitement that she got from receiving that confirmation text. She hopes new volunteers can feel it, too, especially on the day of the community project or event.
“Always show up. Always volunteer, always be present, and then everything will follow.”
Ate Nicki encourages new volunteers always to show up, volunteer, and be present; everything will follow. You’re shy? That will go away. You’ll always surprise yourself with who you are becoming. In the past, you don’t host? In the past, you didn't think that you could interview people. At UVU, there are a lot of opportunities that would present themselves in front of you, and those are meant to be taken to help you grow and uncover the things that you can do. Although it is not instant, you get better every time. There would be a lot of opportunities, and you would never know what would work for you.
It’s not just about the kids if you have personal talents or personal goals and dreams. We can incorporate that in our projects and activities. You can discover your talents here. Hosting, podcasting, and acting. Ate Nicki proceeds to tell how back then, if they needed someone to act, they would get someone from Mediatrix (multimedia arts club), but before that, they would think about getting someone from the volunteers if someone wanted to act. So, for new volunteers, if you want to do something, you can do it at UVU!
“Our forte is in sharing our advocacy; why not do that by sharing our own personal talent? “
Ate Nicki tells us that even though UST Volunteers for UNICEF is all about sharing our advocacy, there is no one way to do it. We can share our advocacies through our own personal talents. There are a lot of things that we can do by sharing our advocacies.
So, to new volunteers, always volunteer and always be present, and that’s it; everything will follow. When the opportunity presents itself, even if you're scared, do it anyway because you’ll never know unless you try.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ate Nicki's journey with UVU and her unwavering commitment to serving children exemplify the powerful impact of dedication and passion. Her experiences, from the early years of volunteering to overcoming the challenges brought by the pandemic, showcase her growth as a leader and advocate. She emphasizes the importance of always showing up, volunteering, and embracing opportunities, even when faced with uncertainty. Her message to new volunteers is clear: through consistent effort and a willingness to learn, one can help the community and discover one’s talent and skills, which can only happen if one grabs every opportunity. Ate Nicki's story is a testament that you, too, can make a meaningful legacy in your time here in UST and UVU. You, too, can be someone who has a great impact not only on children but also on those around you, and especially yourself, in making sure that you are a catalyst of hope and growth, just like Ate Nicki.