After two years of online sessions prompted by the pandemic, the Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program (LEAP), themed “LEAP to the Stars”, welcomed students onsite last June 26 to 27 and 29 through a hybrid setup as part of the University Vision-Mission Week (UVMW). The 2023 iteration offered classes focused on discovering hobbies, engaging in sports, and taking downtime to de-stress.
Break from academics
Aside from giving Lasallians an opportunity to explore activities beyond their course work, the three-day event also encouraged students to pursue their special interests and introduced them to various advocacies through seminars, workshops, and output-based classes.
Habitat for Humanity Green Chapter held a crochet class and fundraising initiative through Habi Crafts. Part of the class’ proceeds were to be donated to the group’s housing site, Pasig 2. The Council of Student Organizations led a toy-making class using recycled materials in Purraya: Hiraya Para sa mga Pusa in support of DLSU PUSA.
The Student Discipline Formation Office Anti-Drug Advocates’ Zumba is One Key to be Drug-Free promoted a drug-free lifestyle and emphasized the role of physical activities in relieving stress.
Social media personalities Ayn Bernos and Kia Duntugan (I, HUM-BIO) graced the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium stage during #VLOGZ: Voicing Leadership and Opportunities with Gen Z as they spoke on responsible content creation and using online platforms to support advocacies.
Similar to previous years, an array of recreational activities entered the scene such as film viewings including BlockbAUster: Hidden Figures hosted by Archers for UNICEF and acquaintance parties like Empyrean Equipoise: An Acquaintance Party in the Clouds by the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants.
Lasallians were also able to participate in classes for sports and self-defense such as CATCH 2T25’s CATCH the Intrams Fever and DLSU Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling Organization’s Street Survival: Mastering Self-Defense Strategies for Real-Life Combat at the Enrique M. Razon Sports Center.
Online no more
The event coordinators, composed of committees from the Council of Student Organizations and its 48 accredited organizations, encountered challenges that came with the transition from online to onsite LEAP classes.
“It was a bit hard for us to adjust some of the policies and processes we had because most of it [were] deliberately for the online setup. In a sense, we had to come up with a whole different process for us to accommodate the new setup,” Project Head for Operations and Activity Screening Gwyneth Jao lamented, adding that it was her first time experiencing face-to-face LEAP classes.
Despite such difficulties, Jao expressed that the physical sessions of LEAP enabled organizers to bring the student body together through classes like Comedy Manila: United in Laughter, which sold out the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium.
“Everyone enjoyed the classes they chose and the memories they made, which in turn made me feel happy and proud of myself that I and my team were able to give them this experience,” she shared.
Class Coordinator and Logistics Project Head Anika Pineda noted that the event not only encouraged Lasallians to explore activities beyond their academics but also “created opportunities on leadership and event organization for the entire student body.”
Although Pineda called LEAP’s return on campus “overwhelming,” the involvement of approximately 16,000 students, 200 LEAP class organizers, and 70 central committee members appeared to make LEAP 2023 a “fulfilling success.”
