How do we end a year? It’s probably with a Christmas Party with our beloved students after a major examination, right? For some, it could be by simply thanking the up above of all the many good things that has happened to us for the year that’s about to end. For STI College Muñoz-EDSA’s NSTP Department, it is through learning and giving.

Last December, before the campus administered the major examinations and indulged into everyone’s thankfulness for the year in parties, our NSTP Department engaged the students in two year-end activities that paved a way for learning and marked the students’ hearts for sharing. The students were engaged in Urban Farming Seminar and Gift-Giving.

The Urban Farming Seminar was held the third time since the year 2013, now with an overwhelming number of participants last December 2, 2014. It was held in partnership with the Committee on Agriculture of Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City, and was attended by 438 students. The topics of the seminar were the following:

• Solid Waste
• Waste Recycling
• Importance of Garbage
• Livelihood program of the barangay

Aside from the aforementioned topics, the students also learned about the modern and latest concept of composting and gardening which is called Hydroponic Gardening which includes the following:

• Urban Farming
• Compost Pit
• Sources of Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus

Since the students learned a lot about helping the environment, the organizers of the event received positive feedback from them. The whole-day seminar is not just suitable for the students but also for the school staff, especially the Maintenance Department who are very much responsible for keeping the campus surroundings clean and well-maintained.

Moreover, the year-end blast did not stop with the Urban Farming Seminar. It was followed by the very first Christmas Gift-Giving activity held at the 2nd floor of the hall of Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City for the indigent children of Sitio Mendez and Sitio Militar. Held last December 13, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 n.n., the program was attended by 87 children of the barangay and 139 students of STI Muñoz, as well as the organizers of the event.

The students and children were combined and equally divided into six groups which participated in different games namely Lemon Relay, Newspaper Dance and Stop Dance. After the games, the children were given individual gifts and even received raffled items. Before the meeting ended, some students of STI shared their advices about discipline and keeping the environment clean. The organizers also expressed their gratitude to the participants and all who made the event possible. The program culminated with the serving of meals from Jollibee which was voluntarily donated by our dear students.

The children of barangay Bahay Toro enjoyed the event and gifts they received. And more than the fun they have experienced, they have shown abundant joy through their smiles which in turn brought abundant grace to the giving hearts of the volunteer students. The students grasped the unending reality that indeed, giving touches the soul of the giver. And with this in mind, 2014 is made complete.

We thank our NSTP Coordinator, Mr. Wilson Morano; the NSTP coaches of STI Muñoz; the Barangay Holy Spirit Consultant for Agriculture, Mr. David Ballila; the public officials of Barangay Bahay Toro; and most especially, our students for sharing their time, money and effort for the fulfillment of the two activities which marked the year-end blast of STI Muñoz’s NSTP Department. Without them, there would be no realizations, no learnings, and no joy offered to the students of STI themselves and the indigent children of barangay Bahay Toro.

As the year came to an end and as the STI community thanked Heaven of the years’ provision, we all realized that indeed, true joy comes in things money cannot buy. It comes through priceless ways named learning and giving.