Articles

The Chairperson's Burning Light

Commitment is the chosen core value featured in this year's newsletter. The past year saw alumnae showing their love, generosity and devotion to our dear ICM sisters who celebrated their Centennial in the Philippines last October 2010.

The STCQCAA took the lead in producing 'Hearts on Fire' - the ICM alums' (short for alumnae and alumni) contribution for the ICM centennial.

For 2010 to 2013, the board was recomposed. We have six new volunteer board members bringing new ideas to the organization - Dr Carmencita 'Chit' Noriega-Reodica HS 55, Marinette 'Mawi' Yan-Aglipay HS 70, Ma Anita 'Annielu' Perez-Dandan HS 80, Christine Penaranda-Concio HS 85, Anna Vita 'Yen' Lim-Galagnara HS 88 and Lena Marie 'Mayen' Juico HS 00.

Former Department of Health Secretary Dr Chit is one of our earliest Teresa's Light recipients and continues to be active in Teresa's Light Committee activities. Mawi brings in expertise in Ways and Means, while Annielu helps out in the Membership Committee. Christine, a human resource development consultant specializing in decision-making, contributes in many ways - thinking through event details (and supplying delicious pancit and marvelous home-made desserts complete with a wagon of paper plates and cups). Yen and Mayen who are in media production provide assistance in communications and PR work.

While I volunteered/accepted to serve for another term as Chairperson, Margie Penson-Juico begged off as Vice for reasons we all know - she was at the height of the campaign for Noynoy and the rest is history. She is now the chair of PCSO. Marion Cruz Kohchet-Chua HS 84 is now our Vice-Chairperson and with her sharp, very organized mind and charm, she is able to guide the whole team into setting clear and attainable goals and projects. Rita 'Arit' Katigbak Rodriguez HS 68 remains as our Secretary, Head Regristrar for Homecomings, and Membership Committee Chief. Lynda Sibal HS 70 is our new Treasurer. After more than 20 years, Lut Pena HS 65 begged that she be relieved of the responsibility. We thank you Lut for your loyal service and for taking care of our resources!

Still in the board are Oli Innocentes-Jacinto HS 76 who is our Auditor and who also takes care of our website; Teng Centeno-Verzo HS 79 who gives birth to newsletters; Des Angeles Costales HS 80 who assists in the Membership Committee and organizes the annual Class Reps assembly. Saripaz Villar HS 82 is assigned to oversee the production and technical aspects of the annual Homecoming aside from being with the Ways and Means Committee. And of course, Gilda Sebastian of the first batch to graduate from STCQC, HS 52, remains as our champion for building the Bahay Teresa.

A new member of the Advisory Committee is Alice 'Peanuts' Alafriz-Panares HS 59, former STAA President during its revival in the eighties. Retired from her work at the Department of Education, she has more time now to contribute wisdom as do Rosemarie Jimenez-Bautista HS 55 and Evelyn Mendoza-Tan HS 67. All three are Teresa's light recipients.

Sr. Jo Olmedo, icm HS 53 is still our Spiritual Adviser. Ma. Lourdes 'Peachi' Santos-Viola Gaston HS 69, former STCQC Guidance Counselor is now our Moderator, liaison with the school and the sisters. You will be happy to see her in the office with Rose Diaz-Sales, our dedicated office staff.

So, there is our new batch of committed board members and staff! I should also recognize all the class representatives, who have employed all means to keep in touch with their batchmates, get reunions going, collect membership dues, support STCQCAA activities, and provide news and photos for our website and newsletters.

Strategic Plan 2010 to 2013: TAKING CARE OF OUR ALUMNAE

The board held their Strategic Planning Sessions at the Valdez home in Bagac, Bataan last April and agreed on the theme for the next three-year term: Taking Care of our Alumnae. Three main targets were also set.

1. ICM Centennial Production: 'Hearts on Fire: 100 Years of ICM in the Philippines' 9- 10 Oct 2010 at the Star Theatre and STCQC Grade School grounds.

Three years in the making... in the planning... . In 2008, then ICM District Superior Sr. Emelina Villegas convened alums to dream of an arts festival in 2010.

Producing an almost 200-member cast was not without pain, anxiety, differences in personalities and work styles, in other words Fire... but with God's Grace... the fire was graced. The ICM Centennial theme of Fire and Grace was internalized by all who participated in the celebration. It was like we were all possessed by the spirit of Mother Marie Louise De Meester. An external Force was guiding us, directing us all the way through. So we lived the ICM Alums motto – Keep the Graced Fire burning!

And so it kept burning... the result was an amazing, fantastic production with songs and dances from the Grade School, High School, Faculty, Non-academic personnel of STCQC and alumnae from STC campuses and alums from different ICM schools like St. Louis School Center in Baguio and St. Francis School in Balambang, Cebu.

An Art Exhibit of works by Theresian alumnae was also quickly organized at the De Meester Residence. STCM alumnae also organizaed a 'college day' simulation dubbed as 'STC @the Shack' held at the once called shack, old gym, and now Sr. Angeline Gym. We participated in the major activities organized by the sisters for their special year - torch lighting in different schools and mission centers, kick-off and earth flag raising, book launch, opening of ICM exhibits, mission dialogue, and the culmination Thanksgiving Mass held at 10-10-10-10 or 10 October 2010 at 10:00 in the morning.

Special guests of ICM Philippines were the ICM Superior General Sr. Saveria Jaganathan, ICM based in Rome and Ms. Myriam De Meester, the great-grandniece of Mother Foundress Mo. Marie Louis De Meester. Sr. Saveria was said to have remarked - Only in the Philippines has

she experienced the very close bonding with and support of the alumnae/alumni to the ICMs. The other Sisters felt that with the intensity of the collaboration with their Alums, they have become stronger and more up to the challenge of pursuing their mission.

2. Expand and Strengthen Membership

Reviewing the operations of our association, it was computed that we should be able to run our office and conduct our activities out of the membership dues that we are able to collect. Thus, the expansion and strengthening of alumnae membership was agreed as our second goal with the target of enlisting at least 127 new Lifetime members a year. The number reflects the needed income to sustain the annual operations of the association.

The campaign for annual membership and lifetime or Theresian for Life membership at P200 and P2000 respectively was set to be until January 28, 2011. Come Homecoming Day on January 29, the fees will be raised to P300 per annum and P3,000 for lifetime.

3. Bahay Teresa Workshops

We have talked of the Bahay Teresa construction. And we have had our golf tournament and other fund raising from batches for its construction. While still a dream house, the board thought that we should start organizing the workshops and sessions dreamt to be held at the Bahay Teresa even while it is not yet built.

We have heard of many stories, needs and wants, from our alumnae - health tips, physical fitness, stress management, counseling, managing adolescents, art and language classes, music and dance, creative writing, financial literacy and investments, women's empowerment and gender equality, national issues, the list can go on. And we have a wealth of expert resource speakers from among the alumnae! All we have to do is connect one with the other.

Thus, the holding of workshops for the personal development and new hobbies for the alumnae is the third target of the new Board. These workshops will be called the Bahay Teresa Workshops with the end goal being able to care for our alumnae. These will realize the STCQCAA goals as articulated in our Constitution:

• to nurture and support one another's needs and growth;
• to contribute to the health, environmental, social reform and transformation of society;
• to provide a venue for national and global communication of its members to make them feel they belong and are connected.Workshop schedules will be announced through our website (www.stcqc.ph) and through your respective class representatives.

Every year, our association gets bigger. We welcome our youngest members -- newly inducted alumnae from batch 2010! We wish you success in your college life! Do not forget STC from whom you learned the best core values you can keep for life. Your alumnae association is here for you.

I congratulate the Silver Jubilarians from HS 86 who are leading the 2011 Homecoming with the theme Evolution... Revolution: All Roads Lead Back Home on 29 January. Through many ups and downs and turmoil in our lives, we remain steadfast in our faith that we continue to evolve and transform. In remembrance and vigilance, we continue to celebrate our blessings, let our light shine, and keep the Graced Fire burning!