By: Liezel A. Vidal
The first Religious and Lay Administrators’ Conference/Session(ReLACS) for AY 2019-2020 was conducted last October 9, 2019 at the Seminar Room, St. Monica Building. The program was attended by seven (7) Religious Administrators and fifteen (15) Lay Administrators. This activity aims to build and strengthen rapport among the Religious and Lay Administrators. This also serves as a venue to present and discuss school-related concerns among the Religious and Lay Administrators which could somehow assist the members of the School Board in their decision making.
It started with an opening prayer led by Rev. Fr. Allan Rubett A. Cabatian, OAR, the new Director of Campus Ministry Office (CMO) and the School Chaplain. It was followed by a welcome remarks given by Rev. Fr. Henry H. Santiago, OAR, the Vice President for Administration and the Vice President for Finance.
The rationale of the gathering was presented by Dr. Rodrigo F. Ponce, Jr., the Director of Quality Assurance Office (QAO) and the Director of Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) Center. Mrs. Mary Grace S. Poblete, the Head of Human Resource Development Center (HRDC), introduced the new Religious Administrators of SSC-R Manila for AY 2019-2020, namely: Rev. Fr. Arnel F. Diaz, OAR, the Director of Basic Education and the Coordinator for Religious Education and Rev. Fr. Allan Rubett A. Cabatian, OAR, the Director of Campus Ministry Office and
Inspirational talks were shared by Dr. Juliet M. Baltazar, the Principal of the Junior High School Department and Rev. Fr. Arnel F. Diaz, OAR. Dr. Baltazar emphasized her learnings and realizations she gained in her entire career as a teacher and as an administrator. She has been teaching in SSC-R for thirty-one (31) years, literally, spent more than half of her life in teaching. For her, being a teacher is very fulfilling and it is in teaching that she can get a Lifetime Achievement Award. She may not get millions of monetary equivalent but the love of students is worth billions. She laid emphasis that until now she is still learning.
Fr. Diaz further explained that St. Augustine recognized that justice is constituted with three elements – love, service, and human witnessing. Only those who love can be just. The justified man is not the person who got what he deserves but the person who accepted the mercy of God. All persons, no matter who they are, should serve God and man in whatever capacity they happen to find themselves.
Service for the common good must be cultivated in order to purify and open one’s heart to the justice of God. Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one’s neighbor. Justice as charity is a tangible and spectacular proclamation of Christ. No love can be greater than Christ’s love.
After the inspirational talks and sharing, Ms. Ma. Teresa E. Ronquillo, the Head of Student Development and Placement Center, facilitated an individual and group activities to promote positive work attitude and healthier work relationship among the Religious and Lay Administrators.
The program was ended with a message from Rev. Fr. Nemesio D. Tolentin, OAR, the School President and followed by a simple dinner.
