Operation Alaminos

UP Sandigan opened the new school year with a big activity dubbed "Operation Alaminos" last June 10-11, 2006. Operation Alaminos was organized through the efforts of UPS officers especially ExtComm VP Rodelia 'Yang' Pascual with the help of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Alaminos and the City Government of Alaminos City, Pangasinan. It was a two-day event of work and pleasure in which Saturday was for the Leadership Workshop and Sunday for the Hundred Islands sight-seeing.

Youth Unleashed was the title of the leadership workshop held at Bolo Beach with the members of the Alaminos SK Federation as participants. The program opened with remarks from Alaminos City Mayor, Hon. Hernani Braganza, Ms. Margielou Orange Humilde (SK Fed. President), and UP Sandigan president, Ms. Janeth Calantoc. The actual workshop started with an Amazing Race-style game which served as a team building tool. After that, seven of UP Sandigan alumni took turns in explaining and discussing Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. After lunch, a guest speaker taught the participants about organizational skills and development. Another alumna explained relationship-oriented leadership values which was followed by a focus group discussion. Then, a UPS member explained task-oriented leadership. The workshop ended with project proposal-making by the participants.

That night, a mini-immersion happened in the fishing village of Bolo Beach. UPS members were paired off to visit families to talk about their life and also to experience, even for a while, the way they live in the village. After the immersion, the members regrouped to watch and enjoy the musical performance by a local band.

The second day was reserved for fun and pleasure as the whole organization island-hopped the most popular attraction of Alaminos City, the famous Hundred Islands. Members were able to see most of the islands and enjoyed lunch at the Governor's Island where the 'Resthouse ni Kuya' from PBB Teen Edition was built. The highlight of the day was when most of the members took turns in jumping from a cliff in a cave of one of the islands. It was a perfect ending to a very enjoyable and very productive weekend at Alaminos City, Pangasinan.