The increasing loss in natural wealth, the increasing gain in a politician’s pocket, the increasing and unfulfilled demand for volunteer services, and the increasing rates of crimes against persons are all but proof of a society in a decreasing sense of responsibility over material things, others, and community. It is the proof of failure to grasp the very objects of humanism.
The observable degradation of human integrity and compassion that has promoted the “tao” to put his selfish interests before his social responsibility calls for the institution of this program. This depreciation has allowed him to destroy natural resources and remain unconcerned for its preservation; it enabled him to interfere with or separate from social structures and processes to its detriment; and lost him his sense of selfless service. This denigration is deeply entrenched in the person’s culture that it is essential to come up with advocacy and transformation programs integrated in efforts of an academic institution tasked to form young minds, to the end that this culture may be unlearned and transformed.
Bishop Socrates Villegas in a message entitled “EDSA Now!” delivered on February 25, 2008 posed a deeply related raison d’être for the existence of this Program. He thus worded that the “worst scourge the nation is suffering from” is a “culture of indifference”, that this culture has rendered the Filipinos resigned to the social inequities and problems that the country is besieged with. These culture of indifference incapacities the human person from taking part in his nation’s growth and development. As this culture is evident in the seemingly prevalent apathy towards social action in the University, the Program takes the responsibility to combat such with the cultivation of a “culture of involvement”.
The Advocacy and Development Program seeks to effect social transformation for the building of a Culture of Involvement through Formation, Information, Education, and Communication Activities, as well as Social Development and Community Development Projects. It has four – pronged focus:
1. On socio-political structures and processes relating to engaged citizenship;
2. On environmental protection and preservation;
3. On Volunteerism; and
4. On Human Rights Preservation
