The Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) secured the coveted Faith, Service, and Communion (FSC) Award, emerging once again as the top awardee for the second consecutive year in the recently concluded Gawad Lasalyano, held at the De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) Sentrum, July 6.
JPIA, the official home organization of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) and Bachelor of Science in Accounting Information System (BSAIS) students in DLSL, clinched the prestigious FSC Award—the highest honor among 35 CSO-affiliated student organizations, in recognition of their dedication to embodying the values of faith, servant leadership, and shared mission through its dedicated services.
As the organization with the most received awards in this year’s Gawad Lasalyano, JPIA also took home the award for Top Organization, Star of Faith Award, Emblem of Service Award, Beacon of Communion Award, Award of Excellence for Organization Presidency, and Outstanding Organization Officer presented to its outgoing Vice President for Academics, Mishe Ghail Coz.
Adrian Castillo, the outgoing president of JPIA, expressed his fulfillment in the organization winning the FSC Award and emphasized the importance of seizing the opportunity to be a student leader, highlighting the fulfilling experience of making a meaningful impact on fellow students’ lives through dedicated service.
“Ang isang student leader, dapat marunong siyang mag-connect sa mga tao, sa mga member, and officers na pinamumunuan niya kasi yung pagiging competent mo as a student leader, it will be remembered, pero yung tatatak kasi sa mga tao is kung paano mo sila napatunguhan at na-inspire,” said Castillo.
Three different divisions cater to academic support, civic engagement, and student interests under CSO — with this year’s top organization awards going to the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) for Professional Organizations (PROF), Les Lasallian Lumieres (LLL) for Socio-civic and Religious Organizations (SCRO), and Samahan ng Lasalyanong Retratista (SLR) for Special Interest Organization (SPIN).
Alongside JPIA, another standout in receiving the most awards is the Indayog Ng Adhikain At Damdamin Ng Mga Kabataan (INDAK) as they received the Award for Top 3 Organization under SCRO division, Emblem of Service Award, Beacon of Communion Award, Excellence for Most Promising Activity Award, Excellence for Organization Adviser Award, and the Outstanding Organization Officer for Maria Hannah Perez.
Different installments of the FSC Award were granted to the organizations that won from different divisions, with the Star of Faith presented to JPIA, Les Lasallian Lumieres (LLL), and Samahan ng Lasalyanong Retratista (SLR).
The representatives from JPIA, Heirs and Outstanding Nurturer-Officers of Realities (HONOR) Society, and INDAK received the Emblem of Service. Meanwhile, the last installment of the FSC Award, the Beacon of Communion, was presented to JPIA, Peer Facilitator’s Circle, and INDAK.
This year’s Gawad Lasalyano also marks a new era for the CSO as Jed Magsino, the outgoing chairperson, leaves their position after their two-year reign, concluding the event with the turnover ceremony and oath-taking for incoming student leaders and organization officers for Academic Year 2024 to 2025.
In an interview with Lavoxa, Magsino shared their expectations for their successors and the upcoming officers of all organizations as their two-year term ends, emphasizing the need for continuity of leadership across the student body.
“I’m expecting that they will continue the joy for service, continue the great foundation of student leadership that they had [in] the previous years, embody the Lasallian core values of Faith Service, and Communion, and create activities for the least, the last, and the lost,” Magsino remarked.
Geraldine Lex Macatangay, the outgoing Secretary of the PROF Division under CSO, is set to become the new CSO Chairperson for the Academic Year 2024 – 2025.
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Gawad Lasalyano is an annual awards ceremony organized by the DLSL CSO, dedicated to acknowledging the significant contributions of student leaders, faculty members, and CSO-accredited organizations to student activities throughout the academic year.
Article by Hazel Landicho
