By Adrianne Coloma

By Bella Lucindo

A committee driven by a cause close to its members’ hearts, Sandigan Idiyanale serves as the body within the ASHS committed to advocating for the rights of PWDs and senior citizens.

Through their platforms and projects such as their outreach programs,  fundraisers, and initiatives, Idiyanale aims to create an ASHS community that is more competent and well-informed on the issues affecting PWDs and senior citizens — and hopefully — one that fosters compassion, inclusivity, and empathetic thinking. 

“It’s usually taboo for most of us — you know — questions like, ‘How do I approach this person without being ableist?’ or ‘Is there a way for me to accommodate people who experience life differently from me?’ We want to create a more competent student body by informing them of timely — and, as of now, very persistent — issues in our society, a society that remains prejudiced toward PWDs and senior citizens. Essentially, we hope to build a community that is more prepared for and open to conversations about our advocacies,” said Kyle Ignacio, Sandigan Idiyanale’s Overall Head. Idiyanale gives their all to fighting for a more inclusive society, and they can only pray that the ASHS, and the world beyond, open their hearts and minds to these causes.

What’s To Come

The committee has a lot to look forward to in the next few months. Idiyanale is currently working on a partnership with Best Buddies PH, an international organization that aims to foster friendships and awareness towards people with IDDs (intellectual developmental disorders). “It’s one of our biggest moves right now as a committee as this partnership will bring about many opportunities,” said Ignacio. There have been talks of an interschool sensitivity program between the various chapters of Best Buddies PH which opens up plenty of opportunities for Sandigan Idiyanale, and could possibly be available to ASHS students outside of the committee under an honorary membership program.

This December, Idiyanale will also be releasing a short film centered on senior citizens and the Christmas season. They have three outreach programs planned for the second half of the school year, and are currently in the process of working their booth for the 2026 ASHS Fair  entitled “Wisdom Wire.” The booth will act as a listening booth where their committee will collect recordings of short pieces of advice or compelling stories from senior citizens both locally and internationally. They also aim to encourage faculty members who are senior citizens to participate in sending messages. The committee is not at liberty to fully disclose all the details, but the ASHS community can expect Idiyanale to have a lot of collaborations with organizations outside the CSC in the near future. 

More Than Just An Involvement  

As a small committee consisting of only 8 members, each session is a new opportunity to bond and learn about their cause in a fun way. During their Tuesday sessions, Idiyanale’s Member Development Head, Joco Cruz, creates the agenda for the day based on a different disability the committee would like to learn about. “In every org session, I give an educational lecture first about the disability, the variants of this disability, and what people who have this disability feel and/or witness. And of course, may pa games din ako, because I also want to keep the org meeting interesting — and alam ko walang  mapapasok sa utak nila kung hindi sila masaya,” shared Joco. 

Of course, being small brings on its own challenges. Idiyanale often gets far less recognition and exposure than other CSCs and CSOs, people often dismiss or misunderstand them, members find themselves having to double up in their roles in order to get their work done. However, despite its small size — and despite all the challenges the committee faces — for its members, all that effort is worth it.

Being a part of Idiyanale fulfills more than just the involvement rule for these students. “I think Sandigan Idiyanale is a hidden gem within the CSC, it’s a real eye-opener,” expressed Sophie Caldona, Idiyanale’s Communications Head. “At first, I wasn’t aware of how wide and how diverse the PWD spectrum is, but when I actually delved into the core, into the lessons, and  how they immerse themselves into their work, I learned how much people see and experience the world differently. And I also learned how disability isn’t just being able to do something or not, but it’s a natural part of human diversity. And I think for me that’s one of the most fulfilling lessons I learned here in this committee,” she recalled. 

“I think the best — or most fulfilling — part is that most of the people who join Idiyanale are those with close family members or friends who are PWDs, are PWDs themselves, or have senior citizens in their lives. It’s fulfilling talaga in the sense na you get to see the change you’re trying to bring to the communities you aim to serve,” expressed Kyle. Her sentiment was beautifully followed up by Joco, who shared: “My sister has Crouzon Syndrome, which is a very rare disability — about 1 in 20,000. It’s a physical condition that affects the facial structure. Growing up, she told me how people bullied her and called her things like a ‘frog’ or an ‘alien,’ and I feel like it really affected her. She grew up thinking she could never be pretty or good enough for anyone because of her condition. Hearing her say that really hurt me, and I felt like I couldn’t say or do anything. So being here in Idiyanale makes me feel na parang may ginagawa ako to help people like her be more recognized and accepted in society. I feel like hindi lang siya nasa mind ko — I actually get to take it into action.” These heartfelt words reveal how Sandigan Idiyanale and their advocacies are personal to each and every member of the committee, and they can bring about positive change no matter how small, even to a single life.

Our Part

Through their activities and campaigns, Idiyanale hopes that they can reach a wider audience within the ASHS. “I think it really starts with awareness. I’d like to encourage the student body to be more open and to step into the world of the CSC, and to discover what Idiyanale has to offer. It’s not a conversation that’s usually talked about, and it’s not something most students find immediately relatable. So I encourage the student body to be more open to the concerns of the PWD and elderly sectors,” voiced Sophie. 

Joco then followed up, wishing for the student body to simply show up: “If there’s one thing I want to say, it’s that masaya po dito. I feel like a lot of people don’t choose orgs because they think, ‘Oh, it’s such a hassle, it’s an after-school activity where we have to learn more, and I already have other involvements.’ For me, I think orgs are often treated like a hassle or just something extra you have to do. But honestly, just being there — the bare minimum of simply showing up and enjoying the activities — I feel like that alone is already enough to help get Idiyanale out there.”

“It can’t be helped that many individuals have underlying prejudices and different judgments when it comes to PWDs and senior citizens, no matter how unbiased we may claim to be — and it’s not inherently the fault of the person. Society shows us that capability is defined by rigid, grown-up standards, overlooking the complex determination and circumstances of our lives. Our shared existence demands that we acknowledge this fundamental connection,” thoughtfully concluded Kyle. 

The potential of Idiyanale should not be underestimated. The members of this committee are as devoted as they are capable, and they can only hope that the rest of the ASHS sees the beauty of Sandigan Idiyanale as much as they do.