Foundation: About Bahay Teresa

by Gilda Sebatian HS '52, Chairman, Bahay Teresa

WHAT PROMPTED 'BAHAY TERESA'

The Alumnae Association (STCQCAA) has been functioning for several decades from a tiny, narrow office on the ground floor of the High School building. This was adequate when the number of graduates was relatively small and we had less files, office equipment and activities and therefore less "traffic" in the room. A table for six occupies the area not used by the desk of the association's secretary, her computer and printer station, a filing cabinet, a book shelf, a whiteboard and cartons of office supplies. When a committee meeting is convened and a few come with their laptops, the table is incapable of accommodating the computers, papers and bottles of water. Board meetings have to be held in the school's activity room but prior arrangements have to be made to ensure no STC activity is scheduled there. As a result, a lot of meetings are held in restaurants and private homes. We tried to find bigger accommodations in other buildings on the campus, but we were told by the school authorities that there was no other available space for us.

And so, at the Strategic Planning meeting of the current Board in May 2007, when we were asked what we envisioned as projects we should undertake or espouse, I submitted the "dream" that by the end of our three-year tenure we would see the groundbreaking of our own alumnae house. I was quite elated and encouraged by the enthusiastic reaction from the Board members and Advisory Council and was promptly designated head of what was fondly baptized "Bahay Teresa". (Be careful what you wish for!)

After the lunch break in this day-long meeting, we broke up in small working groups and I was joined by other dreamers like past president (2 terms) Rose Marie Jimenez-Bautista, Lynda Sibal, Chief Executive Officer of the Phoenix Group of Companies, Teresa's Light awardee Evelyn Mendoza-Tan, spiritual adviser Sister Jo Olmedo, ICM and Lourdes Angeles-Costales (whom we unfortunately "lost" eventually to the Membership Committee where she was more needed).

The Board decided that Bahay Teresa should be categorized as a medium-to-long term project since there were more urgent, important undertakings. And so it was put on the back burner for the first year. But there were steps the committee had to initiate. The most obvious was to get the school authorities to agree to designate and donate the terrain on which to build. We got Reena Manalo-Tabafunda to help us make a preliminary design concept which we could present to Sister Jo Nebres, ICM, STC Directress and Sister Emelina Villegas, ICM, Provincial Superior. Initially we thought the area besided the grade school building along Calamba Street seemed suitable. But at a meeting with Sister Jo Nebres, she advised us against it because it was out of range of the security guards who are posted on D. Tuazon Avenue. She subsequently suggested the parcel of land between Gates 1 and 2 which the committee members and Reena inspected together with Mr. Matti Fernando, grounds superintendent. The verdict was that while it would have been prime location, there are too many trees with roots protruding thru the ground. We wandered around the campus but did not find a viable location. Finally the grounds superintendent suggested that if the parcel of land next to the high school vegetable patch could be cleared of dead leaves, old tree branches and debris (a collection center for waste management) would be consider it?

We said we would consult other concerned parties and then communicate our decision. Faced with no other alternative we settled for this proposed site along Maria Clara Street, near the corner of D. Tuazon Avenue. One gets to it by going thru the Gate 1 security guard. A mango tree and acacia tree nearby and we have a parking area!

(Above photo by Dail Deri)

WHO APPROVED?

On 31 March 2008, when we wrote to Sr. Jo Nebres requesting approval to build on campus, we said that we envisioned the alumnae house to be a center where we could meet alongside the STCQCAA office where files, documents, archives and office equipment are readily accessible.

After we received Sr. Jo Nebres' approval, we decided to consult the class representatives at the Annual Assembly on 12 July 2008. Seventy five alumnae attended the meeting. Forty-three out of 66 High School and College batches covering the years 1952 to 2008 attended the assembly, the biggest attendance in STCQCAA's history. Of the 75 alumnae which included members of the Board, 62 participated in a survey where one of the questions was: Do you think an alumnae house will enhance the inter-relationship among Theresians who have left or are about to leave the school portals? Forty-five answered Definitely and 17 said Maybe.

THE THEME and INSPIRATION of the House

While the most practical purpose will be as headquarters of the Association, Bahay Teresa will be the repository of photographs, artifacts and other memorabilia that will trace and tell the story of St. Theresa's College, Quezon City and the girls that were educated there. It will house the books, articles, poems and other literary works penned by Theresians, the paintings, sculptures and other Theresian works of art. It will also be the venue for seminars, retreats, recollections, teacher training courses, language classes, painting and cooking classes.

But it does not have to be always serious business. Maybe you just want to get away from your husband or your daughter-in-law, or your children, to have a few quiet moments and meditate in peaceful surroundings. Bahay Teresa with its garden will provide the perfect get-away. It can also be a meeting place for old classmates, to giggle and reminisce and bond with one another in a familiar setting. And because we are here to help one another, we can have counseling sessions or interviews for job placement whenever companies approach us to ask us to refer applicants with specific qualifications. The possibilities are endless…..

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