The University of the Philippines (UP) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPolyU) partnered for a vision screening project held on Jan. 8 at Krus na Ligas Elementary School, Quezon City (QC). This initiative provided vision screening and eye health education while also providing 200 pairs of eyeglasses for free to students with identified vision problems.
Students from HKPolyU’s School of Optometry (SO), UP Diliman’s (UPD) College of Science National Service Training Program (NSTP), and UP Manila’s (UPM) College of Arts and Sciences NSTP facilitated the activity. There were 12 stations for assessing distant vision, near visual acuity, cover tests, stereopsis, color vision, external ocular health, auto-refractor testing, and internal ocular health, as well as for conducting consultations and providing educational information.
UP President Angelo Jimenez was present to assist students as they underwent tests at each station. He was joined by UP System officials, VP for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Leo Cubillan, VP for Administration Augustus Resurreccion, VP for Development Daniel Peckley, University Secretary Roberto Lara, Chief of Staff Ricky Dela Torre, and AVPAA (Student Affairs) Ma. Shari Niña Oliquino.
Two more projects are also currently in progress: the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education project that aims to teach AI fundamentals to elementary students and the Rehabilitation Science Project that seeks to provide mental health education to students and stakeholders.
Langkapan: UP x HKPolyU
Four days prior to the vision screening event, UP and HKPolyU held “Langkapan: UP x HKPolyU” at the David M. Consunji Civil Engineering Theater in UPD. This marked the beginning of collaborative activities planned for 2025. It was organized by the Office of the VPAA and the UP Ugnayan ng Pahinungód, following the 2023 MOA on service-learning projects.
Cubillan explained that “Langkapan” is a Filipino term that signifies collaboration or coming together. The event brought together over 200 students, faculty members, and staff from HKPolyU, along with more than 80 participants from UP, all eager to serve QC communities.
A “Salubong” was held for different teams from both institutions: (1) HKPolyU SO Team B headed by Dr. Venus Kui and UPM Team 1 headed by Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) Bernadette Heizel Manapat-Reyes; (2) HKPolyU AI Team headed by Dr. Grace Ngai and UPD Literacy Training Service (LTS) Team headed by VCAA Maria Vanessa Lusung-Oyzon; (3) HKPolyU SO Team A headed by Dr. Ken Wan and UPD Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) headed by College of Science Dean Giovanni Tapang; (4) HKPolyU Rehab Science headed by Dr. Shirley Ngai and UPM CWTS headed by Dean Esmerita Rotor of the College of Allied Medical Professions; and (5) HKPolyU SO Team C headed by Dr. Jason Lau and UPM LTS Team C headed by NSTP Director Josephine Agapito.
After the Gurong Pahinungód Volunteers’ video presentation, Ang Pagkamulat sa Pikit, in Langkapan, Jimenez echoed Yul Olaya, Bangsamoro Chief of Curriculum and Instruction at the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, “The way we deliver education is an act of justice. Failure for us to do things less than the best is to do an injustice.”
Jimenez also encouraged everyone, saying, “We have the perfect laboratory for social innovation, for creating engagement, and for fostering social commitment among our students to justify and realize the University’s vision. If you can do something right across the street, it is a global act.”
Dr. Grace Ngai, HKPolyU Head of the Service-Learning and Leadership Office, emphasized, “Service does not necessarily mean only helping those on the streets. Service can also mean helping the people next to you.”