12/11/2025
๐ฆ๐๐๐ฆโ ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ-๐ช๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป-๐จ๐ฝ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ, ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐
For the first time in its history, the Science Enthusiasts and Environmentalists Society (SEES) successfully launched a college-wide clean-up drive, bringing College of Education (COE) students together to promote both environmental stewardship and camaraderie.
The initiative EDUKalinisan: A SEES COE-Wide Clean-Up Drive, themed โCultivating the Noblest for a Greener Tomorrow,โ the activity marked Phase 1 of the campaign, which is paired with the month-long Green Guardians: Growing for a Greener COE program, held Nov. 6.
The latter encourages students to adopt and maintain designated green corners across the college, cultivating plants while keeping their areas sustainable.
โBased on how I observed it, nakita ko talaga โyung competitiveness and dedication ng COE students during this cleanup drive. They went beyond what was expected from them, hindi lang sila basta sumunod sa instructions, they took initiative, they were proactive, and they gave their best effort to clean and beautify their assigned areas,โ said Kaila Glaine C. Dela Torre, chairperson of EDUKalinisan.
She emphasized that the activity went beyond cleaning.
โFor me, this activity wasnโt just a movement towards the environment, but it also showed how much they care about the people around them. Kasi sa cleanup drive na ito, hindi mo siya magagawa mag-isa, you have to work together with your peers. So, it became a movement not just for cleanliness, but also for unity and compassion,โ Dela Torre stated.
Under Green Guardians, students are assigned to adopt a Green Corner, taking responsibility for its cleanliness and plant care.
Final evaluations of these corners will be conducted one month after adoption, measuring cleanliness, plant care, and overall maintenance.
โThe heart of this initiative goes beyond simply cleaning our surroundingsโitโs about nurturing a deep and lasting sense of environmental stewardship among students,โ explained Ream M. Garcia, SEES President.
โThis is not just a one-time activityโitโs a month-long and year-round commitment. EDUKalinisan is not just an event, but a movementโa living practice of care and accountability that reminds us that even small acts of service can create lasting impact,โ he added.
Garcia noted that the initiative also aligns with the United Nationsโ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
โThis cleanup drive directly contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through waste repurposing and creating cleaner spaces; SDG 13 (Climate Action) by promoting environmental responsibility and reducing our ecological footprint; and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through our greening and conservation efforts,โ he said.
SEES will track measurable outcomes such as participation, waste collected, and behavioral changes to ensure sustainability extends beyond campus life.
โSome areas already started their designs, while others are still in preparation, but Iโm excited to see how each corner will turn out. And of course, I would like to commend everyone for the successful Clean-Up Drive. You all did an amazing job, and Iโm genuinely proud of what weโve accomplished together,โ Dela Torre added.
Report by Dwight Lace and Angelica Miel Zaragoza
Photos by Joriz Fullantes, Sarah Vallesteros, Francine Gendoma
