11 February 2012

Dear parents, Warm greetings to you! I hope that you have read my first letter about the first meeting of parents last Thursday, February 9, 2012 about the community immersion. Unfortunately a couple of parents came for the meeting maybe because it is a weekday and most of you are working. I understand your situation that is why I am sending this letter to inform you of the significant facts about the community immersion. Community immersion is a very important curricular activity of the Sociology Section. It has been a relevant program of the course since 1975 in the Faculty of Arts and Letters. The following are its objectives: 1. To develop contextualize the sociological theories and perspectives learned and discuss in the classroom. 2. To raise the social consciousness of the students about the social realities of the Philippine society and be able to establish its interconnectivity with the global issues and problems. 3. To enhance the skills and competence of the students in research, train them to write social policies and develop their capacities in drafting social plans which will eventually be very important in their future employment. 4. To recognize the relevance of learning from the people through sustained exposure to communities. 5. To expose the students to the structure, systems and programs of the local government units, non-government institutions, peoples organizations life in the rural areas and subcultures. 6. To experience cultural exchanges and learn from the life experiences of the special sectors like the ethnic communities, farmers, fishermen and inmates. 7. To train and experience the process of interaction with students/teachers/community development workers/researchers from other Dominican institutions, government officials and community leaders. These objectives are very significant in the students future employment. The output of the community immersion shall be submitted to the partner institutions and could be a basis for the conceptualization of community development programs and policy-making. In regard to this, the students are required to accomplish research studies. However, I do understand that everybody cannot participate because of financial difficulties. The following are the requirements due to students of 2SCL1 and 2SCL2 enrolled in Research I: STUDENTS JOINING THE COMMUNITY IMMERSION IN DAVAO STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT JOINING THE COMMUNITY IMMERSION IN DAVAO

1. Research proposal 2. Research output of community profiling 3. Needs Assessment Analysis (DAPECOL/CIW inmates) 4. Narrative of students experiences in the two sectoral communities and two institutions 5. Facilitation of activities/focus group discussion and group dynamics in the communities 6. Written output of workshop discussion and evaluation of the community immersion.

1. Research proposal 2.Comprehensive examination about Chapters 1 &2 of the research proposal 3.Comprehensive examination of Chapter 3 of the research proposal 4.Final examination about Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of the research proposal 5.Organization of an assembly/symposium about the community immersion in Davao and Palawan (sharing of experiences 6.Preparation of the layout for the exhibit about the immersion/Summary of the content for the exhibit to be organized in the bulletin board of the Sociology section

Kindly confirm if you are allowing or not allowing your son/daughter to join the immersion by writing a short letter addressed to me. Please send it through your son/daughter on Monday, February 13, 2012. Attached are the documents on budget required for the immersion and program of activities for the Davao immersion. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours, _______________________________ Assoc. Prof. Marina D. Gamo, Ph.D. Professor of Research 1 & 2 Coordinator for Sociology Mobile no. 09285078186

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters Sociology Section Davao Community Immersion March 5-10, 2012 January 14-16, 2012 The partner community of San Pedro College was visited by the Coordinator for Sociology through the guidance of the staff and the director, Mrs. Yolanda S. Cortezano, RN of the Community Extension Services Office of the college last January 14-16, 2012. Pigasaan, Tagbay, Island Garden City of Samal is a multi-sectoral community of the Manobo farmers and fisherfolks. This is a poor community with 60 households. The main task of the participants for the immersion is community profiling and gathering of baseline data through integration in community life. A narrative discussion of community experience utilizing the research agenda encompassing the major subjects shall be submitted to the research professor. The format and content is based on the framework provided by the course professor. March 5 (Monday) 7:00 Expected time of arrival in Davao International Airport 8:00-9:00 Arrival in San Pedro College/Breakfast 9:00-10:00 Orientation and discussion of the objectives and itinerary 10:00 11:00 Visit to the LGU (Office of the Mayor of Island Garden City of Samal) 11:00-11:30 Lunch 12:00 Departure from San Pedro College 3:00 p.m. Arrival in the partner communities of San Pedro College Introduction to the foster parents of the students/Orientation Interaction with the leaders of Pigasaan, Tagbay, Island Garden City of Samal/Sitio Luyan, Brgy. Tabobong, Baguio District, Davao City March 6-7 (Tuesday & Wednesday) Experiencing community life 6:00 p.m.(March 7) Community interaction and presentation of experiences to the people and Staff of CES, San Pedro ( research output) Solidarity night

March 8 (Thursday) 8:00 Interaction with the staff and beneficiaries of Lamdag ng Kabataan for Boys (a government institution for the Youth in Conflict with the Law), Davao City

12:00 1:00 1:30 - 2:30 Norte 3:00 - 4:00

Lunch Expected time of arrival in Davao Penal Colony. Panabo, Davao del Courtesy call, Introduction to Superintendent Venjo Tesoro, Superintendent of Davao Penal Colony, Orientation and presentation of goals and objectives by DAPECOL and UST-AB Community Immersion Program specifically the activities that will be facilitated by the students and faculty members to the inmates of the Medium Security Camp. Expected time of arrival in Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), Introduction to the Officer In-Charge of CIW, Mrs. Tess Luceno, Orientation about CIW, Presentation of the program to Mrs. Luceno and the inmate leaders.

4:30 5:00

March 9 (Friday) 8:00 8:30 8:30:- 9:00 9:00 - 9:30 9:30-10:30 10:30-11:30 11:30-12:00 12:00-1:00 1:00 onwards Introduction/setting of goals and expectations Structured Learning Experience Activity Processing of the SLE Lecture on Leadership and Rehabilitation Workshop re: action plan Presentation of initial action plan Working lunch/discussion of the action plan Interaction/Socialization (Program)

March 10 (Saturday) 7:00 8:00 Breakfast 8:00 9:00 Arrival at DAPECOL, Basic orientation about policies in the Medium Security Camp/Setting of goals and expectations 9:00 10:00 Interaction of UST-AB students with the participants of the seminar 10:00-11:00 Structured Learning Experience Activity 11:00-12:00 Processing of the SLE 12:00-1:00 Working lunch (sharing of life-experience with the inmates based on the output of the SLE 1:00-2:00 Lecture on Leadership and rehabilitation 2:00-3:00 Workshop re: action plan 3:00-3:30 Sharing of action plan to the big group March 11 (Sunday) 8:00 9:00 9:00 10: 30 Breakfast Presentation of action plan in CIW by the inmates.

11:00 1:00 4:00 4:00

Lunch Guided City tour Airport

March 13

UST-AB---Evaluation/Assessment of Davao immersion/Discussion of the output/requirement

Itemized budget required for the Davao Immersion (in peso) Plane fare --------------------------------------------------- 4,500 Terminal fee--------------------------------------------------400 Inland transportation --------------------------------------500 to 600 Meal --------------------------------------------------------1,260 (60/meal for 11 days- 21 meals/person

Contingency fund------------------------------------------10,000 (for each class) Projected total amount of expenses------------------6, 360 per student

Prepared by: ____________________________ Assoc. Prof. Marina D. Gamo, Ph.D. Coordinator for Sociology