In the sea of life, one can float around, swim about, dive into the
deep, or get thrown around by the crashing waves. Keeping afloat is
enough to stay alive. But our Malayan ancestors weren't satisfied with
survival. Wanting to reach lands far beyond sight, they gathered their
company, piled into balangays, unfolded their sails and set out to sea.
With the stars in heaven shining up above, they journeyed full sail
ahead, for the world awaits!
This is what Balanghai Study Center is all about -- a relentless effort to move forward, to improve. The center offers intense personal formation to female high school and university students, helping them mature into women of true character and integrity. Through an integration of activities under four aspects of development -- Personality Development, Spiritual Development, Academics & Culture, and Community Service -- Balanghai provides young ladies with an intense program for personal growth.
This is what Balanghai Study Center is all about -- a relentless effort to move forward, to improve. The center offers intense personal formation to female high school and university students, helping them mature into women of true character and integrity. Through an integration of activities under four aspects of development -- Personality Development, Spiritual Development, Academics & Culture, and Community Service -- Balanghai provides young ladies with an intense program for personal growth.
Personality Development Academics & Culture Balanghai realizes this and concretizes ways to affirm it. Study technique workshops on time management, critical thinking, reading, listening and writing are organized for students who want to learn how to study smartly and effectively. Get-togethers and talks on diverse topics ranging from fashion, arts and culture, music, sports, to current issues, economic trends and career perspectives are offered to broaden cultural horizons. Moreover, one can go to Balanghai's library for some serious studies or for the pleasures relaxed readings can bring. Infinitesimal as we and our preoccupations are, we need to extend the scope of our interests and let ourselves be fascinated every now and then with what had been happening in so far as the worlds of cuisine, architecture, media, medicine, information technology etc. are concerned. In that way we become less worry-freak persons and begin therefore, to love the world passionately. What with the small time that we have, it is impossible to learn them all! But what is possible is to be able to relate even in small ways to all the noble things of this world. That will help us forget our petty concerns as we make room for others.
| Spiritual Development A matured soul sees the events of her life in their true light and in the purpose they serve. She understands the need to deepen her relationship with God, to grow in authentic humility and tangible faith. Spiritual formation in Balanghai consists not so much in learning to have as many devotions and attending as many ceremonies religious in nature, as one can. Balanghai assists each one personally, in her struggle to be a better person in the eyes of God. A Christian through and through, in all circumstances is what one learns in the kind of spiritual development Balanghai gives.
Community Service On a yearly basis, Balanghai organizes ‘rurals' and ‘urbans' to attend to the needs of the communities to be visited. Every semestral break, Rural Service Project is carried out to foster social awareness and responsibility among UA&P students. This weeklong immersion includes medical-dental missions, tutorials, catechism, leadership and personality development seminar for adolescents and livelihood skills for mothers. Some areas in the metro city that are in need of medical and dental services are also attended to. Regular activities include teaching through CATS and TOPS. CATS teaches catechism to children while TOPS render tutorials for grade-schoolers in their academics. Hospital visits, either through personal initiative or a group outreach, are well-attended by the girls and their friends. As one engages through community service as done in Balanghai, she realizes that she does not do so to feel good but to be of real service to the society. |
A study center
Balanghai Study Center and its programs are inspired by the spirit of Opus Dei, a personal Prelature of the Catholic Church. Opus Dei, to which the spiritual activities of the center are entrusted, was founded by St. Josemaria Escriva in 1928. Its basic message is that ordinary people can be holy by fulfilling their ordinary daily tasks and responsibilities.