The University of San Carlos entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Balay Samaritano sa Sugbo on Friday, May 24, 2024 at the School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design (SAFAD) lobby. 

The MOA formalized the partnership for the interior renovation of Balay Samaritano sa Sugbo (Samaritan House of Cebu), a “drop-in shelter for the homeless people living in the streets of Cebu City,” providing temporary shelter, food assistance, medical care, and educational support to children and elderly. 

The interior renovation project entitled “Dayon Kamo: A Proposed Interior Renovation for Balay Samaritano in Cebu City supported by Third Place Theory” started with the creation of a research-based approach in design of the Balay Samaritano which was initiated by a batch of graduating students of Bachelor of Science in Interior Design last May 2023. Damon Kamo is a common Cebuano greeting roughly translated as, “welcome, come in.”

This year, Phase 1 construction includes the renovation of two classrooms and two offices which is made possible through the initiative and team effort of 19 fourth-year students with the guidance of their mentors in the Interior Design Program under the course IN4200 Special Projects.

The MOA signing was led by Bachelor of Science in Interior Design students and hosted by the Dayon Kamo project managers, John Brix Cruza and Jan Marie Trocino. The Dayon Kamo project is an embodiment of the Carolinian core value, Devotio. 

By extending a helping hand through partnership and commitment, the students of the University of San Carlos are able to manifest the Carolinian devotion.

by Juliene Lim