The Alternative Learning System Approach: Bridging Unlimited Hope for the Advancement of Youth, or commonly known as ALSA BUHAY, an educational project of the Puso sa Puso Edukasyon Inc. which aims to uplift the lives of the youth in slum areas through education, has officially started its classes last October 26, 2010 in Parola, Binondo Manila. Excitement and anticipation was fulfilled not only in the teachers and the staffs’ part but also in the part of the students who were beneficiaries of the said project. The ALS teachers together with the Salvatorian brothers joined forces in reaching out the children and youth who are no longer capable of attending formal schooling.
The day before the classes started, the said brothers undergone some orientations conducted by the ALSA BUHAY staff in order for the brothers to be familiar and be acquainted to the place and to the project matter. 
Each brother was assigned to handle two students having schedules in the morning and in the afternoon. The tutorial with the said brothers was done in the homes of their students, while the other ALS students were taught by the official ALS teachers in the multi- purpose hall that served as a classroom for them. It was a sort of an apostolate in the side of the Salvatorian brothers to experience such one of a kind opportunity. The tutorial experience lasted only for a week but it created so much impact on the lives of each and every brother. As one of the brothers would say, “This learning experience opened my eyes to see the unfolding reality we have now, such opportunity that created great impact in my life, as a seminarian, as a future priest and as a missionary.”
The brothers were very grateful for the given privilege to meet and intermingle with the people living behind the dark shadows of reality, to know their way of living and experience their daily lifestyle. All the more, such thankfulness felt by the brothers, for they were the pioneering group who became members as teachers for the said project of the Puso sa Puso Edukasyon Inc. The students handled by the brothers, after the private tutorials at home will continue their classes with the ALS teachers. They will be formally attending the modular classes together with the other ALS students, handled by the ALS’ official teachers.
With the working hands of the people behind this program, and of course, with the help of our good Lord, the Puso sa Puso Edukasyon Inc. is looking forward for the flourishing continuance of its program, ALSA BUHAY. After achieving the desired outcome of the successful start, the project is aiming to continually uplift the lives of the youth who deserves to be educated. The bridge of unlimited hope is starting to be built, and the successful start of the project in Parola is a proof of its continual accomplishment. This foundation and starting point would serve as a stepping stone to the coming challenges that the project would face in the years to come.
-Francis Ivor Millar
Salvatorians
November 2010
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