A Decade of Friendship, Service, And Impact: SHINE with Batch Saligan 

In 2015, twenty-seven (27) Participating Youth and one (1) National Leader represented the Philippines in the 42nd Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP). Guided by the values of Trust, Dignity, and Optimism, they named themselves Batch Saligan, from the Bisaya word Salig, which means “to trust.” Carrying this spirit, they sailed across Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Malaysia, strengthening the 42-year legacy of SSEAYP. 

As Batch Saligan marks its 10th anniversary in 2025, the group humbly reflects on a decade of friendship, service, and impact. Their flagship initiative, Project SHINE (Sustaining Homes and Institutionalizing Nutrition and Education), touched the lives of youth and families across the country—beginning in Batangas with Badjao (Luzon, 2016), moving to Sarangani with Blaan (Mindanao, 2017), and Cebu with Ati (Visayas, 2018), where they partnered with Cultural Indigenous Communities (ICCs).

Even beyond their official three-year post-program activities, Saligan continued to embody the SSEAYP spirit. They organized community outreaches, feeding programs, free medical check-ups, life-skills workshops, and youth peer discussions in different provinces. The pandemic did not deter their commitment. Instead, they mobilized to raise funds for protective kits for frontliners, radios and school supplies for learners, and emergency assistance for vulnerable families. 

One of their most enduring legacies is their partnership with Kiahe Integrated School, where more than 60 learners have finished high school through Saligan’s Adopt-a-Scholar Program. Their continuing initiative, Project Gumné (Home), in partnership with non-government donors and allies, builds the school’s dormitory to provide children with a safe learning environment, sparing them the daily 10-kilometer walk from their distant homes. 

Today, Batch Saligan stands as a testament to the power of youth trust and solidarity, proving that a single voyage can spark a lifelong journey of service, friendship, and nation-building.

Post Program Activities (PPA)

• Report of the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) in 2015