The Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) bagged the most awards while no organization received the highly coveted Faith, Service, and Communion (FSC) award in the recently concluded Gawad Lasalyano 2023 held at the De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) Sentrum, July 28.
JPIA, the official organization of DLSL accountancy and accounting information systems students, won the awards for Outstanding Organizational Officer, Award of Excellence for Organization Presidency, the Top 3 Organization under PROF division, Outstanding Organization Advocate of Strategic Directions D, and Beacon of Communion award.
Meanwhile, the merit for FSC is given to the organization that embodies zeal of faith, servant leadership, and communion in mission. Last year’s FSC awardee was Les Lasallian Lumieres (LLL), the official organization of DLSL’s working scholars.
Ginelle Isabel Ebreo, the outgoing president of JPIA, expressed her gratitude after the organization received back-to-back awards for Award of Excellence for Organization Presidency and Outstanding Organizational Officer.
“Seeing them [JPIA members] harness their potential, build confidence, and receive recognition has made me realize how much I love serving the community I belong to. The success of JPIA is theirs as they are the true embodiment of our tagline, ‘Linanging angking galing, ipamalas ang ningning’,” said Ebreo.
Joining JPIA in taking home the most awards is LLL, who bagged the Star of Faith award, Emblem of Service award, the Top 3 Organization under SCRO division, and the Outstanding Organization Advocate of Strategic Directions B.
Jed Magsino, CSO chairperson, stated that this is not the first time an organization failed to secure the FSC award and even if no organization obtained the highest merit, he is determined that CSO together with the College Student Activities Office (CSAO), will continue fostering growth in the student leadership community.
“DLSL CSO believes that the FSC Award will return next year as each student organization is determined to continue striving for excellence, making a difference, and pursuing passions with unwavering dedication,” said Magsino.
Despite not granting the FSC award this year, CSO presented the Star of Faith, a category under the FSC award, to LLL, Educator’s Circle (EducCircle), and Indayog Ng Adhikain At Damdamin Ng Mga Kabataan (INDAK).
The representatives from the organizations of LLL, Junior Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (JFINEX), along with the De La Salle Lipa Debate Society received the Emblem of Service, another category under the FSC Award.
The last installment of the FSC Award, Beacon of Communion, was presented to JPIA, Heirs and Outstanding Nurturer-Officers of Realities (HONOR) Society, and Dulaang Kentawra.
Under the the Council of Student Organizations (CSO), organizations are divided into three sectors, the Professional Organizations (PROF) which helps supplement the academe of a specific course, the Socio-civic and Religious Organizations (SCRO) who advocate civic concerns and growth, and the Special Interest Organizations (SPIN) which administer the interests of students.
This year’s top organization under PROF division is the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines – DLSL SC, the Lasallian Alliance of Youth Advocates for Equality (LAYA) under SCRO division, and the Debate Society (DebSoc) for SPIN division.
For the distribution of minor merits, all organizations under each CSO division received Merit for Organizational Performance, Organization President, and Organization Adviser.
The awarding was followed by the turnover ceremonies and oath-taking of the incoming student leaders and organization officers for AY 2023-2024.
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Gawad Lasalyano is an annual awarding ceremony held by the DLSL CSO to honor the remarkable contributions of student leaders, faculty, and CSO-accredited organizations in student activities year-round.
Article by Jannaya Barrion
