I Am Strong

I Am S.T.R.O.N.G. is a character education program
for the youth, by the youth.

S.T.R.O.N.G. stands for six universal virtues:
S for STEADFAST : unwavering in the pursuit of what is right
T for TRUSTWORTHY : meaning and doing what you say
R for RESPECTFUL : taking into account the innate dignity of everyone around you
O for OPEN-MINDED : willingness to see things in a different light and receptiveness to making the necessary changes for the good
N for NOBLE : carrying yourself with dignity, embodying and seeking that which is good, and relating to others with compassionate understanding
G for GUTSY : ready to do what must be done and to endure what must be endured for the greater good

It addresses high school and college students, teachers, and parents, sharing with them principles on responsible day-to-day decision-making.
Four graduate students, deeply motivated by their desire to help their peers, developed modules in studies, friendship, career and boy-girl relationships, from their theses.

These works inspired what in 1998 became the I AM S.T.R.O.N.G…I AM RESPONSIBLE PROGRAM of the University of Asia and the Pacific, carried out in collaboration with Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing, Inc. for their Youth Smoking Prevention program. It was the intention to create a program that gave premium to character formation. It was realized that in order to carry out holistic education, three key components are necessary:

1. Curricular for principles and theory
2. Co-curricular for practice
3. Character for life application

*Guiding Principles
>>Universality
- As character transcends religious, cultural, and political beliefs and affiliations, IAS, with IKLR, is most effectively explained in the language of universal truths and values.

>>Multisectoral Representation
- The advocacy is a multi-sectored campaign, extending membership to groups that affect youth development: the academe, local government units, non-government organizations, the business sector, and media.

>>Ate/Kuya Principle
- Since the youth tend to open up and listen more to their peers, IAS takes pride in the ate/kuya principle it espouses, where college studeSince the youth tend to open up and listen more to their peers, IAS takes pride in the ate/kuya principle it espouses, where college students and young professionals share personal convictions about responsible decision-making.


The program carries I Keep Love Real campaign for a deeper understanding of love, relationships, and sexuality.

KEEP is respecting the nobility of affection and love.

LOVE refers to courtship, romance, and relationships between men and women with eyes towards friendship and marriage.

REAL is a quality of love that leads to respecting the dignity of the other person, waiting for marriage for love's full expression, and making it last despite trials.

The first person pronoun I makes keeping love real a personal decision not an imposition from the outside.