Philippines: Catholic youths begin synodal journey to tackle commuter safety
By Peter Monthienvichienchai, LiCAS News
Student hackers from Assumption Antipolo have formally launched the PASAHero Movement, a commuter safety initiative developed during the MISSION POSSIBLE Philippines hackathon.
The student-led project emerged as the top-funded proposal during MISSION POSSIBLE Philippines, a youth-focused program that challenges students to develop practical responses to social issues raised by the Synod on Synodality, including education, social justice, community development, and environmental concerns.
“Receiving this funding is both a blessing and a burden. A blessing to be shared and a burden to be carried,” said Gab Ecijan, one of the student hackers behind PASAHero.
“Nevertheless, being granted this funding marks a significant milestone for our team, as it enables us to further our advocacy of empowering commuters to feel safe and empowered,” she added.
MISSION POSSIBLE Philippines was co-hosted by Assumption Antipolo and LiCAS News and held in a hackathon format that brings together students, mentors, and coaches for a weekend of collaborative problem-solving.
Participants from twelve schools across the Philippines worked in teams as “hackers,” designing projects rooted in real-world concerns identified through the synodal process.
The pitch for the PASAHero Movement proposed a peer-to-peer community-based network using a cost-effective “SafetyPin” device that commuters can use to alert others when they feel unsafe during their journey on the country’s public transport system.
Student hacker Lexi Boquer said moving from concept to implementation brings both pressure and motivation.
“I’m quite nervous since there will surely be challenges and difficulties in bringing our plan to life, along with the pressure in ensuring that we do our best to deliver what we pitched,” Boquer said.
“Regardless, remembering our purpose—to make a safer and a more inclusive commuter space fuels a flame of excitement,” she added.
Another team member, Ianne Ladores, described a similar mix of excitement and anxiety as the project moves toward rollout.
“After receiving the funding, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiousness because having the product become real is really just amazing but a bit pressuring,” Ladores said. “Several people have said that they would really want to use our product makes me even more motivated.”
School officials said the initiative provides students with a rare opportunity to translate ideas into concrete social action.
“Exciting and daunting all at once,” said Ms. Grace Magtaas, school director of Assumption Antipolo. She added that MISSION POSSIBLE Philippines “gave our students a rare chance to turn bold ideas into real change. We can’t wait to roll out the PASAHero Movement.”
Organizers emphasized that the seed funding of 200,000PHP (approximately US$3,400) marks an early step in a longer process of accompaniment and implementation.
“The hackathon weekend was a very exciting and inspiring start, but it is only the beginning of the journey for our student hackers,” said Ms. June Nattha Nuchsuwan, MISSION POSSIBLE project lead at LiCAS News.
“We look forward very much to seeing them make real differences to their community and make a better world possible in their own very unique and special ways,” she added.
This article was originally published on https://www.licas.news/. All rights reserved. Unauthorized republication by third parties is not permitted.
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