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On a holiday that honors the working Filipino, a young scholar chose to give his Labor Day back to the very people whose taxes helped fund his education.
Brother Rodolfo Gallinero III, a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholar and Communications Assistant Director in the Lipa Philippines Stake (Diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served as event head and floor director for Project BALIK LINGAP, a community outreach initiative held in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, bringing scholars, volunteers, and local partners together to serve drivers and vendors in the transport and livelihood sectors.
The activity, which was later featured on the television program Idol Raffy Tulfo in Action, drew regional attention to what a rising generation can do when education is paired with purpose.
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Rodolfo Gallinero III , DOST Region IVA Deputy Director for External Affairs and Lipa Philippines Stake Communication Assistant Director© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.More Than a Title
For Brother Gallinero, being an Iskolar ng Bayan, a scholar of the nation, has never been simply an academic distinction. It is an opportunity to serve.
"My journey toward becoming a DOST scholar was not easy," he said. "There were academic challenges and moments of self-doubt, but my motivation was always to use education as a tool to serve others and help the nation."
That conviction carried him through the planning, coordination, and direct community engagement that Project BALIK LINGAP required. As event head, he helped ensure the outreach ran with clarity and compassion, not just with logistics, but with genuine care for the drivers and vendors who received assistance on the day.
"It is more than a title," he said of his scholarship. "It is a responsibility to give back to the people who support our education."
Where Knowledge Meets Service
Project BALIK LINGAP gave scholars an opportunity to apply what they had learned in the classroom to real and immediate human need, in planning, communication, coordination, and direct engagement with community members.
For Brother Gallinero, the experience confirmed something he had long believed: that knowledge only fully comes alive when it is placed in service of others.
"BALIK LINGAP allowed me to use what I have learned in leadership, communication, and organization," he said. "It showed me that knowledge becomes more meaningful when it is used to serve others."
Faith at the Foundation
What makes Brother Gallinero's story distinctive is not only his academic record or his organizational role, it is the faith that shapes both.
As a young leader in the Lipa Philippines Stake, he carries his discipleship into every space he occupies including government scholarship programs, national outreach initiatives, and television features.
"As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am guided by principles of service, integrity, and compassion," he said. "These values help me choose to do what is right and to serve others selflessly."
That grounding, he says, has been his anchor through the pressures of academic life and public leadership alike.
"When challenges come, I remind myself that I am working toward a greater purpose. That gives me strength to continue."
A Generation Rising to Serve
In a season when the Church is watching the rising generation with hope and expectation, Brother Gallinero stands as one example of what that generation is already doing, not waiting for a platform to be handed to them, but building one through daily choices to study hard, lead well, and serve without condition.
"I believe service is an expression of love," he said. "Even small acts of kindness can uplift others. When we serve people, we also grow spiritually and become better individuals."