Dominic: All right, so good day. Welcome. My name is Dominic C.

Joined me today is the

Sir Niko: Short introduction or background. Hello, my name is Niko Marco Gagolinan. Most
[00:20] - [01:10] students call me Sir Niko. I am a university counselor here at De La Salle
University for almost three years already, but I have also served La Salle
institutions prior to joining the university. I consider myself also a La Sallian, I
graduated masters here at De La Salle University in 2009. I have served Catholic
schools all my life, and I consider myself very much engaged in the Lasallian
mission, although here in the university counseling is part of student affairs, it is
still under the vice president for Lasallian mission. So I consider myself working for
the mission.

Dominic: Thank you, sir. That's a really informative background, which I'm actually
[01:10] - [01:20] surprised because I didn't know you graduated 2009. My God, it's been so long.

Sir Niko: Very long time, yeah.

Dominic: Very long time, yes. Moving on to the second question, sir. We're now moving on
[01:23] - [01:32] to the bulk questions. How would you define zeal for service in your own words?

Sir Niko: When I hear the term zeal for service under the context of La Sallian spirituality, I
[01:33] - [03:01] would always go back to our prayer, especially in the part where we say, I will
continue Oh my God, to do all my actions for the love of you. So foremost, I
believe in my own words, from the intellectual or political component, it's an
understanding that what I am doing is for God foremost. And at the same time, it
involves a personal sense of discipline, a personal sense of excellence. An object,
of course, is those who are least last and lost. That is how I see having the zeal for
service foremost directed towards God. It is action based. This action, of course, is
not just being able to do things just because I need to do something, but done with
excellence, purity, befitting of according something to God. And at the same time,
it is directed not to the privileged or those we just choose to or we are close to, but
most especially to the least last and lost. That's how I would define zeal for
service.
Dominic: Thank you, sir. I really love that answer, actually. And it's really such an
[03:01] - [03:30] importance to mention and really, you know, I wouldn't say put in a pedestal, but
definitely always remember the least last and lost because they're the ones that
are really, I would say, not just the majority, but a big chunk of what makes
community. Right. So moving on, were there any significant events or individuals
that inspired you to help others or, you know, to help you keep dedicated into
helping others?

Sir Niko: Well, Dom I'm sorry, is that a what or who?

Dominic: It can be a what and a who.

Sir Niko: I will always begin by saying that I serve the Lasallian community, not in the
[03:41] - [08:19] university muna. I started out really serving the Lasallian mission in another
Lasallian institution. I'm not, is it okay if I name? I'm going to be fine if I say na for
the longer part of my service, I'm part of De La Salle College of St. Benilde. And
just being able to see the Lasallian mission there, touched something very deep in
me that allowed me, you know, to take a closer look, for the most part, people will
always see. In as much as it is a mission, you know, La Salle is also a brand. And
sometimes people think more of La Salle as a brand, rather than as a mission.
Serving Benilde allowed me to see La Salle not as a brand, but as a mission, a
commitment to be of service to the least last and lost. I would like to pick up on
what you mentioned a while ago, that is true, majority of the society really don't
belong to the least last and lost. I would even say, you know, it's quite interesting,
because when, when, when I would say that people would, would ask me, they
would say, but why De La Salle University? How would you be able to find the
least, the last and the lost in a prestigious university, known for its academic
reputation, and at the same time, its reputation as a school for the privileged. But
you see, you know, we all have our own poverty, that I always want to emphasize,
even in the school for the rich, we are experiencing a sense of poverty. Students
who are experiencing psychological distress with no one to turn to, they are the
least, they feel lost. And as much as they have the money, we can consider them
also the least. Those who are, I mentioned the La Salle College of St. Benilde, of
course, it is an inclusive institution that is learner centered. And there are students
there who are developmentally challenged or who have developmental problems
or difficulties, along with psycho-emotional difficulties. Working with them allowed
me to be able to see that there are a lot of avenues that we can be of service.
Sometimes it's easy for us to say that it's just work. But when you are working with
the least last and lost, you cannot, for the most part, work in the usual terms, you
know, that I'm just going to go in, eight to five, I'm out. No, you would always,
 always be challenged to reconsider that. Having said that, that's the reason why I
asked what and what, is it a what or who? That is because working there allowed
me to work with those who really need help. And that moved me, you know, to
take a closer look at the Lasallian mission. I would also say who, because, you
know, working there allowed me to work with consummate Lasallian mission
partners, Benaldian associates, who have, you know, allowed themselves to be
really normed into the Lasallian mission. The reason why I'm saying that is
because, you see, just because working, just because you work in the La Salle
institution does not make you, you know, actively taking part in the Lasallian
mission. I mean, there must be some sort of intention there, you know, to put
yourself in, into the work, you know, or to become part of the Lasallian mission.
And I've seen a lot of consummate individuals there who are really living out their
very best as Lasallian partners. So that experience allowed me to see zeal for
service in action and to be inspired by individuals who really see themselves part
of this greater work. Of course St. La Salle would say, Lord the work is yours, of
God's work, being done until today. So that's how I would answer that question.

Dominic: Thank you, sir. And it's really good to emphasize that, yes, just because you're at
[08:19] - [08:56] the Lasallian Institute, where technically there are more privileged people, does
not mean that there aren't others who are also facing their own struggles and
difficulties. And at the end of the day, everybody is important. And everybody's part
of that, you know, everybody's brothers and sisters in the eyes of God, right? So of
course, we want to make sure that everybody's accounted for as well. And we're
now going to move on to the last question, do you have any experience where you
went beyond being of service to others? And can you share that experience?

Sir Niko: Siguro, maybe I'm just going to make use of the one that is, that just happened.
[08:56] - [12:11] Yeah. That just happened last Saturday. Right. So you very well know that I am off
for a professional development activity for the past three days. But just before that,
somebody mentioned, “Sir I really need to see you. This is something urgent.” You
know, even if it is urgent, if it is not critical, I can actually move it to, to like my work
day, like today, right? Rather than, immediately trying to help out. But since, of
course, I also have my own commitments. And that's also part of my commitment
to the Lasallian Mission. You know, I said, because it's a rather lengthy meal, so I
know, I can feel the sense of, you know, being lost, the sense of despondency, and
I just really need some kind of help or direction. And, you know, since I cannot give
it on the next few days, you know, even if it's not a work day for me on a Saturday
day, I said, you know, I'm going to see you online. I gave him the option though, I
gave the student the option. I can see you on Saturday, or you can arrange for me
to see me on Monday. And, or you can walk in and, you know, he chose to see me
on a Saturday. So Saturday it is, you know, after all, it's just a maximum of one
hour, one hour and some minutes. So I decided to make that session. Why did I
 choose that particular incident also, by the way? I chose that because it comes
with an understanding that saying yes or having the zeal for service, it doesn't
mean that it has to be grand. It just has to have that intention, that willingness of
seeing, like what I mentioned, my own definition of the zeal for service, just being
able to, you know, accord to God what is your best. You see that it's not even
perfection.I did not set aside my prior commitment, but just being able to do my
best to give options to that student. And even if it is outside my own comfort level,
just being able to undertake that work, that journey with that person. And I think I
was able to help him out last Saturday. So I've chosen that example. It's very
simple and it does not necessarily mean that the zeal for service has to be
something very big or very grand or something that's easily seen, because after
all, sabi ko nga noh, since this is just between the two of us, I mean, I won't even
record na nagcouncil ako nung Saturday. I'm just going to put it today. So it's as if I
work today on a regular day. I won't even say, no, I worked on a Saturday. I
worked outside of my work hours for that. I think that is, for me, an example of how
I express zeal for service whenever I can.

Dominic: All right. Thank you, sir. And that's a very touching experience, especially as
[12:12] - [12:54] somebody who is, you know, in sight of myself and who's had experiences of
helping my friends who are also going through their own issues. It's really a very, I
would say selfless and not self-sacrificing, but it is in a sense self-sacrificing at the
same time, right? Because it's not for the praise or the attention. It's for the fact
that this person is somebody that matters and they're somebody that needs help.
So that really concludes the session. Thank you so much, sir, for your time. We
really appreciate that you have, you know, given us your time today, especially at
such a last notice as well. So we really appreciate it. And thank you so much, sir.

Sir Niko: Thank you.