09/05/2025
𝐎𝐋𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: 𝐀𝐔𝐏 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡
From classrooms to wind-swept shores and mountain heights, AUP Academy students embarked on a three-day Outbound Learning Experience (OLE) from May 4 to 6, 2025, embracing the theme "Making the Philippines a Part of Me." A total of 53 students —including several foreign students—were joined by three parents, five faculty members, and one doctor as they explored the vibrant and historic regions of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Baguio City. The journey aimed not merely at sightseeing, but at discovering a deeper connection to Filipino identity.
The OLE began in Ilocos Norte, where students stood in awe at the iconic landmarks like the Bangui Windmills, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Malacañang of the North, and experienced the thrilling Paoay Sand Dunes. The journey continued in Ilocos Sur, where they visited Vigan's Crisologo Museum, tried their hands at traditional pottery-making at Pagburnayan, and toured Baluarte ni Singson. Their final stop was in Baguio City, where they explored the Stone Kingdom, The Mansion, and Burnham Park.
Designed as more than just a fieldtrip, the OLE served as a living classroom, offering immersive learning experiences that deepened students’ appreciation for Filipino culture, identity, traditions, and historical roots in ways that textbooks alone cannot provide. For foreign students, it offered a first-hand connection to the heart of Filipino culture.
As the students returned home, the impact of the experience was clear. They carried with them a deeper connection to the nation and a strengthened sense of identity and unity that transcended borders, truly making the Philippines a part of them.
by: Janiyah Alvares
