Teachers Honored in Advance Celebrations, Eucharist
Photograph by Christian Paul Naparota
This past Thursday evening, simultaneous Eucharist observances, in combination with early celebrations of World Teacher’s Day 2015, were held at the university’s Downtown campus Wrocklage Yard, and the Talamban campus basketball court. A special formal gathering for such an event was organized for the first time in the university, and all Carolinian teaching faculties were invited.
The Eucharist commemorated St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church, and patroness of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) mission. Downtown, the mass was presided over by Fr. Resurreccion Vidal, SVD, MA, along with co-celebrants Fr. Anthony Salas, SVD, VPAA,, Fr. Dong Malazarte, SVD, Fr. Sherwin Aromin, SVD and Fr. Jose Marie Pareja, SVD. The mass in TC was held by Fr. Roger Bag-ao, SVD.
In Talamban, teachers, heads of department, and other teaching faculty were in attendance at the buffet-cum-mass to hear Fr. Bag-ao credit them with their dedication to what he admitted could be a “thankless job,” and were commended for their part in the SVD’s mission. “The excellence experienced here in the university is because of our teachers,” said Fr. Bag-ao. At the same time Downtown, Fr. Emmanuel Sarabia, SVD, welcomed all present. “To be a teacher is a vocation,” Fr. Sarabia said, acknowledging the occasion as a form of bonding and wishes for its continuation in upcoming years.
The National Prayer for Teachers and the Teacher’s Prayer were offered, after which students presented a program series of dance and musical numbers, as well as a dramatic skit, as a way of showing their gratitude. A photo booth was set up behind the dining area for students to take photographs with their teachers. Ticket stubs from registration were used in a raffle draw where faculty members won prizes courtesy of JPIC. A video reel of student greetings filmed on each respective campus was projected on behalf of all student organizations of the university.
Teachers were likened to St. Thérèse, who had followed her vocation as an educator in a convent despite being trained as a traveling missionary, and she was referred to them as an inspiration for their duty.
Meanwhile, during the simultaneous celebration at Downtown Campus, serenades from the USC Choristers and Rondalla were performed to entertain the teachers during dinner. Also present were the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)’s Got Talent Grand Champions and winners of HimigPinoy. A dance number by Fossibus from the Department of Hospitality Management and theater lip-syncing and stage comedy from special guest performers, “DreamGirls”, spiced up the program proper.
The USC Campus Ministry spearheaded the event and gave away pouches and bookmarks to all the teachers at the registration booth. Raffle prizes were also given away to those present – towels, umbrellas, oven toasters, coffee maker, rice, flat iron and an exclusive meal with the Cabinet members. The event was then closed with a message from Dr. Grace Marie Lape of the College Faculty Association (CFA).
World Teacher’s Day, officially on Oct. 5, was celebrated in advance to avoid overlap with the final exams week starting Monday. Classes were cut till 3:00 p.m. that day to allow attendance of faculty, unless the time was needed by teachers to catch up before finals week.
