Paulinian Volunteers for Community Development-UNESCO Club (PVCD-UNESCO Club)

The idea of forming a volunteer organization was born during one of the assemblies of a group of SPUP College of Education students. These students usually gathered together at the Community Development Center (now the Community Extension Services Office) while waiting for their classes. In their talks, ideas about outreach activities such as children’s tutorials, responsible voting campaign, feeding activities, relief operations, Christmas gift-giving programs, and other community activities kept cropping up. It was only a short time later before they decided to approach the then Director of the CDC, Sr. Regina Cobrador, SPC and told her about their desire to form the organization in September 1996.

Sr. Regina welcomed the idea of an organization that will cater to the needs of the community through servant leadership. Backed by the support of the CDC through Sr. Regina, the organization was formed and was given the name Paulinian Volunteers for Community Development, a name coined by the students themselves.

1997
As soon as the PVCD was formally organized, the student-members elected a set of officers and a series of capability-building seminars and lectures on community organizing and community building were conducted. These set the mind and heart of the members to be prepared for community service. The club’s constitution and by-laws were then drafted. A year later, in 1997, the PVCD started doing community services and volunteer works in Tuguegarao and in SPUP-adopted communities.

Their existence within the SPUP campus eventually became known, which paved the way for the great increase in the number of students registering to be members of the PVCD. There was an overwhelming desire embracing the students to become volunteers. Three years after, the PVCD was recognized as an institutional club in the University.

2005
The PVCD received national media mileage when it was featured in an issue of the Manila Bulletin as one of the performing student volunteer organizations in the Philippines (“League of X-traordinary Students” Issue, February 4, 2005).

The tremendous contribution of the PVCD in delivering community services reached acclaim even in other St. Paul Schools all over the country. As a result, the PVCD received invitations to organize the same organization in SPU-Dumaguete, SPU-Quezon City, SPU-Manila, and St. Paul College-Ilocos Sur to name a few.

The PVCD’s presence in SPUP and in other St. Paul schools institutionalized the act of volunteerism in the SPU System. With this ballooning interest on volunteerism, Sr. Regina conceptualized the conduct of the annual PVCD National Summer Camp-in to encourage more Paulinians to be pro-active. The first Community Extension Services (CES-PVCD) Annual National Summer Camp-in was organized by SPUP in 2005 and was conducted at the SPUP Ecological Park in Brgy. Lannig, Solana, Cagayan. About 120 Paulinian students, faculty, and staff from SPUP and other St. Paul schools in the country attended the camp-in. Because of its success, this activity was then followed by seven more camp-ins held in the different places from Luzon to Mindanao which involved more Paulinian volunteers nationwide.

2006
PVCD organized and conducted seven Leadership and capability building trainings and seminars for Paulininan Volunteers which are geared toward equipping and updating the members with current trends and issues confronting the society.

2011
PVCD, in its desire to help develop and encourage more youth leaders in community building, organized training for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and other student leaders. Hence, the Regional Youth Empowerment for Sustainability (YES) training camp-in with the theme “Spirituality and Excellence: Edge of Servant Leaders and Volunteers for Sustainable Development” was held in Brgy. San Jose, Baggao, Cagayan on October 19-22, 2011. The training camp was conceptualized and organized by Mr. Randy Max Bulaquit (PVCD President) in consultation with Mrs. Noemi Cabaddu (PVCD Adviser). The YES camp was conducted in partnership with the United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines (UNYAP). More than 80 participants from the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya participated in the training.

In this same year, PVCD was nominated in the 2011 Search for Outstanding Volunteer Organization by the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and was selected as the Region’s representative to the national search.

2012
PVCD was granted accreditation by the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines and was accepted member of the National Association of UNESCO Clubs in the Philippines (NAUCP). The certificate of Accreditation and Membership was awarded during the 2nd National Innovation Conference in January 26-29, 2013. PVCD is the first and only accredited UNESCO Club in the St. Paul University System.

2014
PVCD was awarded as one of the Outstanding UNESCO Clubs of the Philippines. Nelson Gacutan (PVCD President) as an Outstanding UNESCO Youth Leader and Mrs. Noemi T. Cabaddu, (PVCD Adviser) as an Outstanding UNESCO Club Adviser by the NAUCP and UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines

Mrs. Noemi T. Cabaddu was elected as one of the NAUCP Board of Trustees

2017
PVCD was honored as Outstanding UNESCO Club (Education Category) and obtained a Certificate of GOOD STANDING as a UNESCO Club in the Philippines. Moreover, Mrs. Noemi Cabaddu (CES Director and PVCD Adviser) was awarded as an Outstanding UNESCO Club Educator; while, Ms. Cheeni Mabbayad (PVCD President) was hailed as Outstanding UNESCO Club Youth Leader.

2018
PVCD was adjudged as one of the Outstanding UNESCO Clubs in the Philippines. Dr. Allan Peejay Lappay (Director, Alumni, External Relations and Advocacies) was named as Outstanding UNESCO Club Educator; while, Ms. Trisha Elene dela Cruz and Mr. Janesis RR Buena were named Outstanding UNESCO Club Youth Leaders.