“The desire to know already presupposes the love of the still unknown truth.” — Jean-Luc Marion
On 21 March 2026, members of Saint Louis University’s (SLU) Department of Philosophy, School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) gathered at the Lourdes Extension Subdivision, Baguio City for another session of Project Dunong, an initiative dedicated to nurturing the intellectual and moral growth of children through play, learning, and compassion.
Guided by the New Louisian Philosophical Society (NEOLOUPHIS) officers and Philosophy faculty members, Philip Pioquinto, Anton Lawrence, and King Heartlee J. Villareal, the student facilitators of NEOLOUPHIS were reminded of the central responsibility of helping the children understand the games and activities not merely as rules, but as gateways to deeper learning. This simple instruction carried a profound weight, for it revealed that education is not only about knowledge but about cultivating a love for the unknown.
Project Dunong embodies the pursuit of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. Teaching mathematics or explaining the rules of play became more than instruction—it became an invitation to embrace discovery, to stride into the yet-to-be-known with courage and joy. The program affirms that the formation of the youth must be grounded in compassion because such grounding ensures a flourishing future shaped by curiosity and understanding.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Project Dunong advances Quality Education (SDG 4) by fostering inclusive learning opportunities, contributes to Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3) through holistic formation, addresses Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) by extending educational access, and strengthens Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) by cultivating empathy and responsibility among the youth—demonstrating how institutional partnerships (SDG 17) can drive sustainable transformation.
Through these encounters, the facilitators and children alike partake in humanity’s great challenge: the apprehension of the world. Education here is not reduced to information; it is a shared journey of comprehension, a weight of understanding borne together.
Project Dunong reminds the community that education is both a stride toward understanding and a love of the unknown. It is in this love that the seeds of wisdom, compassion, and flourishing are sown—an enduring testament to the mission of SLU to form individuals who seek truth and embody goodness and beauty in the world. (Article by Cristopher Andrie M. Manila, Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy 1 | Photos: NEOLOUPHIS)
