Saint Mary’s University, through the Community Engagement and Indigenous Peoples Studies Center (CEIPSC), officially adopts Purok Bagingey of Barangay Anayo in Aritao, along with Anayo Elementary School (AES), as its new partner community and school through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Barangay Local Government Unit and school board on July 24. 

Simultaneous with the MOU signing, CEIPSC conducted a school supply donation activity, along with a Learners’ Health Assessment spearheaded by the School of Health and Natural Sciences through the Nursing Department in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd). 

Among the attendees of the MOU signing are SMU’s Vice President for Mission and Identity Fr. Philip A. Yu Jr., CICM; CEIPSC Director Dr. Christopher Allen S. Marquez; tertiary community engagement coordinators; IPS Coordinator; Anayo barangay officials, headed by Brgy. Captain Mr. Jaime F. Castro and the Anayo Elementary School board, with the presence of their school head, Mr. Oliver Tillama. 

Prior to the signing, SMU conducted consultations with the community on June 9, during which university representatives and school coordinators conducted a preliminary visit to meet with community members and school administrators and introduce the institution’s community engagement program.

Furthermore, on June 29, a review of the draft MOU and discussions with community stakeholders regarding the proposed partnership were conducted, formally establishing Purok Bagingey as the partner community under the agreement. 

The partnership is one of the two new community partnerships established by the university following the conclusion of its previous collaborations with Sitio Masina in Bagabag and Purok Gonggongob in Cabuluan, Villaverde. 

The partnership shall run for five years and will cover the delivery of community engagement services and extension initiatives.