SSC holds Social Orientation for faculty (batch 3)
By Mary Joy Rosales-Orante
Posted: Tuesday September 07, 2010 08:36 AM

"Ask not what your country can do for you —
ask what you can do for your country."
(John F. Kennedy) 

August 27 and 28, 2010 marked the social orientation of the 3rd batch of faculty members from various units of St. Scholastica’s College (SSC)-Manila.  A total of eighty-one (81) attendees from the College Unit (31), the High School Unit (13 [6 Faculty, 3 Guidance Counselors and 4 Librarians]) and the Grade School Unit (37) were assembled in the High School AVC of St. Scholastica’s College-Manila for a meeting that is part of the School’s program to strengthen social awareness in the school community.   The participants were divided into groups to enhance camaraderie and facilitate exchange of ideas. The event was facilitated by Sr. Celine Saplala, OSB, Social Action Center Director of SSC, and Sr. Cecille Ido, OSB, Chairperson of the Socio-Pastoral Apostolate of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters. 

August 27 (Friday) 1-5 PM 

The afternoon commenced with the viewing of disturbing snapshots on poverty by the participants.   As explained by Sr. Celine, the photo presentation was intended to update the members of the audience who may have different levels of awareness relating to social issues in the country.   

Sr. Celine began the orientation by discussing the “Spirituality of Social Transformation.” She first laid down the understanding of salvation (integral salvation and integral evangelization) as stipulated in the different periods covered in the Scriptures:  Israelitic, Prophetic, Apocalyptic, Jesus and Early Church.  What made the session interesting was when Sr. Celine instructed each of the nine groups of participants to look up certain biblical passages relating to the meaning of salvation.  Afterwards the group members wrote down the keywords or phrases from the passages on a board in front, placing them in the appropriate periods where they belong.  Going over the excerpts from the passages as written on the board, Sr. Celine discussed and made the necessary corrections.  She emphasized that what is needed in these trying times is the spirituality of social transformation.  As facilitators of education, Sr. Celine explained that teachers have to bring hope to the young people under their tutelage.  She also lectured on the social teachings of the Church. 

Sr. Cecille Ido, OSB, on her part, provided
a socio-political situationer and analysis in her presentation of “Signs of the Time: A Reality Analysis.” 

At the end of the day, the participants left with a lot of questions to ponder in relation to the socio-political ills besetting the country.     

August 28 (Saturday) 8AM-5 PM 

The agenda for the second day began with the participants’ reflection on the lessons learned from the past.  The highlight of the first session was Sr. Celine’s “The Social Cancer: Historical Analysis” where she observed that Filipinos lacked discipline.  As educators, she urged the participants to propagate something positive to their students. 

In the next session, Sr. Angelica Leviste, OSB, President of SSC, reviewed the history of SSC.  She reiterated that “the key to a strong nation is the education of the children.”  She explained that “as agents of change, the task of the academic community is to provide liberating education”.   What struck the participants were the very interesting photos of St. Scholastica’s College through the years, from the time it was established up to the present, from which they learned how the school evolved.  It made the participants proud that they are part of history. 

After the session, the book entitled A Brief History of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in the Philippines 1906-2006 was distributed to the attendees present. 

In the afternoon, the film, “Captive Land” was shown which elicited various opinions/reactions from the participants who felt that the film story gave them a sense of urgency and the resolve that they can continue history and help create a better one.   

The next activity motivated the groups to action in answering the query on why the sufferings of the Filipino people continue.  Groups were given an assignment to come up with recommendations to President Noy’s administration on the issues and concerns of the following sectors:  agriculture and industry;  welfare, health and housing;  human rights;  finance: wages, debt and foreign investment;  education, culture and religion;  politics and international relations;  women and children; IPs, Moro, ancestral domain; and ecology and national patrimony.   

After the groups’ recommendations, Sr. Cecille shared “Quo Vadis?: People’s Alternative.” She highlighted the goals of the Benedictine for Peace Program of Action that address socio-political concerns such as:  Promoting the people’s movement for change;  Calling for governance;  Working for genuine reform; and Upholding women’s rights, among others.   

Sr. Cecille added that aside from praying, the participants need to act.  They need a movement for change.  She stated: “We can work within the structure to make it socially oriented.”  Sr. Cecille gave emphasis to creating a nationalist alternative.  As educators, the participants should not wait for PNoy.  Citing President John F. Kennedy:  we must ask what we can do for our country”  Sr. Cecille urged the participants to use education to liberate the children because real power is in the hands of the people.  She cited two (2) important elements to achieve nationalism:  nationalism from the masses; and the anti-imperialist attitude of society.  As educators, the participants can incorporate in their lessons the concept of nationalism.

What were unforgettable in the orientation sessions were the very touching prayers which allowed the participants to reflect as well as the activities that motivated them to participate and to renew their pledge of commitment to step up and act to fulfill their social responsibility as educators and members of the Scholastican community. 

Social Orientation Sessions 

The orientation for the first batch of SSC faculty and staff was held last June 25-27, 2010 at St. Scholastica’s College Center of Spirituality (SSCCS), Tagaytay.  The second batch orientation was held in the same venue last July 23-24 while that of the fourth batch will be held on November 19-20, 2010 also at the SSCCS, Tagaytay.