SSC High School Faculty begins SY 2012-13 with a Retreat and Cultural Tour of Davao City
By: Ms. Erly S. Parungao, High School Faculty
Posted: Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Sr. Adela V. Arabia, Principal of the High School Unit; with the help of the Administrators, the High School Faculty Association (HSFA), and the High School Parents Association (HSPA); made it certain that the Faculty’s coming together for a new school year is altogether fun and worthwhile. As it has been the “habit” of the High School Faculty, this school year once again starts with a spiritual Retreat facilitated by Fr. Raul delos Santos, fondly known to the high school faculty as “Fr. Bayong” and a Cultural Tour in and around Davao City. The faculty, along with some members of the High School Library, AVC and the Guidance Office, left for Davao City on May 15 and returned to Manila on May 18, 2012.

Housed in the Benedictine Nun’s Retreat House (Our Lady of Peace Abbey) in Digos City, this year’s retreat focused on the different aspects of love--mostly the unexplored, yet very familiar aspects such as hatred and anger. Fr. Bayong led the group to feel God’s presence even in the most unwanted situations. As always, he filled the group with the spiritual vigilance to always look forward to the year with renewed hopes and uplifted spirits as they explore various odes ever made about love. The stories that he shared, which the faculty has grown to zealously anticipate, moved the group to contemplate on their own odes to love. His highly animated fashion in facilitating the high school faculty retreat, ranging from funny anecdotes to jocund sing and dance numbers to soulful points for reflection, never fails to stimulate the high school faculty to embrace the new year with vigor and optimism more than ever. Fr. Bayong had been assisted by the ever committed High School Campus Ministry Office, with Ms. Carol Aquino taking the lead. A moment of reconciliation (confession) and a Holy Mass were celebrated to cap off the retreat.

The group’s stay in Digos City was made more unforgettable by the simple yet sumptuous meals prepared by the very hospitable Benedictine nuns. From brown rice to fresh cow’s milk, to the Benedictine nuns’ kindness and generosity, not to mention the gecko’s that serenaded the retreatants, the group undoubtedly made the most of the one and a half stay in the retreat house.

As if the retreat was not yet enough, the high school faculty was also treated with a much wanted cultural tour in and around Davao City.  Upon their arrival at the Davao International Airport, the group was warmly greeted by an equally exciting group of local tour guides who gave the groupmember a native accessory that they wore around their necks. The group’s first stop was at Lia Chia, a Chinese buffet restaurant in Davao City. The group went on to tour around the city, visiting various places such as the Aldevinco Market and Museo Dabawenyo. The city tour was momentarily halted as the group headed for the Retreat House in Digos. The rich history of the city and the fine local products that greeted the group’s first day in Davao made the group look forward for more.

The entire trip culminated with the group splurging in Paradise Island Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal. The group continued their bonding session with games and intermission numbers from the high school’s formidable set of talents. Various perks and resort amenities were also enjoyed by the group.  A very special halo-halo treat for merienda at from Cabigting’s in San Fernando, Pampanga ultimately sealed the 4-day Retreat and Cultural Trip of the High School faculty in Davao and Digos City.

With the coming PAASCU accreditation, K-to-12 preparations, and so much more, this Retreat and Cultural Trip might just be what the high school needed to get the right amount of fuel to relieve stress and to jumpstart the year. As the successful Henry Ford said, “coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” The high school faculty has come for a new beginning, is keeping together for progress, and is working together towards a common goal of a more effective teaching and learning process for surely, the only genuine benchmark of success for an educator is when the students could say that they had truly learned from them. And effective learning does not happen overnight. With the right amount of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual preparedness, success might just be certain only an inch away. With the Retreat and the Cultural Trip, the High School Faculty is certain to hit achieve their targets.

 

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