Jaime Hilario Integrated School-La Salle (JHIS-LS) is already in its 3rd year of operation. Presently, two Brothers (Bros. Manny and Mandy) and 4 Partners (Melai, Suzette, Joy, and Rebecca) are teaching the 185 students ranging from Grades 1 to 3. Br. Ricky is the School Director.

The school specifically caters to the poorest of the poor in Bagac, Bataan because they believe that every child matters. The average income of the parents of the students range from Php 2,000-3,000 a month. Since transportation is a concern, the school has been fortunate to have two jeeps: “Jeep ni Kuya I” and “Jeep ni Kuya II”. The jeeps are used to service the students from the parish church to the school and back to the parish. Moreover, the school provides a feeding program to those students who can barely afford to bring their own food for recess or lunch time.

Various Lasallian schools (DLSU, DLS-CSB, LSGH, DLSZ, DLSHSI, DLSU-D, USLS) through their faculty, staff, administration, student groups, parents and alumni have visited JHIS-LS. They have given workshops, interacted with the students, immersed with the families of the students, and donated financial and material resources to build the scholarship fund and improve the school facilities.

The school continues to improve its curriculum, instruction, and facilities that would best suit the needs of the students. In fact, DLSU, through the College of Education, has been very helpful in doing research in the area. The efforts of the different stakeholders have made the students of Bagac very fortunate – after all every child matters in any kind of Lasallian education.

He Looked Up to Big Brother
By Butch Evarola

“Prove to yourself that you are more than what others think of you”
– Leo Carl Sarion

The dream to study in De La Salle University – Manila stated off as a fascination Leo had while studying at the Cayetano Arellano High School in Sta. Cruz, Manila. It was a dream shared by many young students who can only realize such a dream through scholarship grants. Last June 2008, Leo realized that dream when he graduated from De La Salle University – Manila, Summa Cum Laude.

Leo Carl Sarion, (Leo to his friends) is the youngest of five children. His mother is a housewife while his father has been working in Saudi Arabia long before he was even born. Leo has only seen his father for about five times his whole lifetime. In spite of this, Leo was raised with much love, righteous values and compassion.

Leo was an achiever even when he was young. He graduated Salutatorian at the Cayetano Arellano High School. He was already a recipient of financial aide under Operation Big Brother scholarship program of the College of Education’s Lasallian Institute for Development and Educational Research (LIDER).

He continued to attain academic excellence in De La Salle University – Manila while taking up a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. During his first term, he was under the Student Financial Assistance Scholarship, but later received the Metrobank scholarship, which was given to students with exceptional academic record.

He became President of Societas Vitae, the Professional Organization for biology Majors. He was also an active volunteer of the Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, Formation and Empowerment (S-LIFE). He underwent the Management of Organization for Visible Effectiveness for Emerging Leaders (MOVE-EL) program. He was actively involved both in issues and concerns that affect students’ life as well as that of society in general. He believes that education should result in positive contributions to society.

Although being an overachiever pressured him to always be at the top of what he does, his family, friends and his gratitude towards those who granted him the financial support were a source of motivation for him to continue exerting his best. He often assured himself that as long as he does his best, as long as what he does helps other people, as long as he works hard for the attainment of his goals, then he has lived his college life with no regrets. As Leo would say “Prove to yourself that you are more than what others think of you.” True enough, he has really proven himself since, aside from graduating with high distinction, he was a recipient of the Student Leadership Award and has also been inducted to the Jose Rizal Honors Society.

Doing a little “soul-searching”, he is still trying to figure out how he can best repay all those who have believed in him and have supported him. He is not yet sure whether to pursue a career in medicine, take up graduate studies, or even start a business venture would be the best option for him to take. In the mean time, he keeps himself occupied with tutorial sessions with medical students. Wtihout a doubt, whatever career path Leo chooses to take, he will be able to conquer obstacles, exceed expectations, and be an inspiration to many.