In its first semester of implementation, the Eatskolar program was faced with a crucial task of securing funding to fulfill its goal of easing students’ burden by providing meals. However, budgetary constraints hindered the office from implementing the program on a larger scale, which meant that Eatskolar would only be possible if it were carried by the UP community itself, by alumni, partners, and advocates committed to ensuring that no Iskolar ng Bayan studies on an empty stomach.
Its first months of inception saw an outpouring of support from various sectors of the UP community. Upon learning about the issue of food insecurity, groups like The UP Alumni Association of Wisconsin (UPAA-W) quickly rallied behind the cause. For UAAP-W, supporting Eatskolar was imperative to their mission of empowering the next generation of nation-builders through education and service, pushing UPAA-W’s President Ito Conti and the board of directors and officers to encourage its members to extend support for the program.
As alumni of the university, it was not only a sense of community but also recollections of their own struggles as students, citing “moments when a simple meal made a world of difference” that drove their collective action.
From an initial unanimous vote from the board to donate $500 to the program, a wider appeal led by the chapter’s leadership raised an additional $2800. With the support of UPAA-W members, their family, friends, and the broader Filipino American community, the chapter was able to purchase $3300 (around ₱195,000) worth of meal coupons for Eatskolars, reaffirming the spirit of bayanihan that defines UPAA-W.
For UPAA-W, being an Iskolar ng Bayan does not end once the sablay is shifted. It is a lifelong commitment to serving the country and giving back to the community that gave them the education that they carry to this day. Through supporting Eatskolar, they embody the enduring ideals of honor, excellence, and service wherever they may be.
When asked for a message for fellow alumni, UPAA-W shared, “Take that first step. The need is urgent, but the impact of even a single meal is profound,” encouraging more chapters and individual alumni to extend their support to the program. As UPAA-W emphasized, it is through this kind of collective action that we help foster a healthier UP community, ensuring that the Iskolars whom we support today are the same Iskolars who will give back once their time comes.
Eatskolar, at its very core, is a community-driven program. Through organizations like UPAA-W that strive to leave a legacy of compassion and collective action, we foster a culture of shared responsibility, solidarity, and sustained support within the UP community.
Read Full Post: From Wisconsin to Diliman: UPAA-W Brings Bayanihan to Life through Eatskolar