Casa Santa: The House of the Assumption Sisters in Iloilo

The City and Province of Iloilo are blessed by the presence of Assumption Iloilo, one of the biggest Assumption schools in the Philippine-Thailand Province of the Religious of the Assumption. Since its foundation in 1910, Assumption Iloilo has seen the best and the worst. Today, Assumption Iloilo has every right to claim that it's one of the best basic education institutions in this part of the country.

The Iloilo Community of the Religious of the Assumption ( RA ) is housed in a beautiful edifice inside the Assumption Iloilo campus along the scenic Iloilo River. It is aptly called the 'Casa Santa'. During school days, one can see Assumption nuns strolling around the area, either on foot or on the stretcher.

My favorite place in the Casa Santa is the Adoration Chapel which I have visited three times in my four years as an Assumption Iloilo facilitator. I remember Cecile Glorette Adrias, my department coordinator, bringing me to Casa Santa one Friday afternoon because I was stressed working with a colleague I coudn't connect to in the workplace. I stayed there for half an hour trying to see Jesus visibly present under the appearance of a small white host. There I felt my need to foster a greater community spirit, with Jesus' presence in the Blessed Sacrament as its center.

True to its name, Assumption Iloilo's Casa Santa is indeed a 'holy house'!

Hello, Camille Perez! - At Assumption Iloilo, November 2010

With Camille Perez, my Journalism III student, School Year 2010-2011, Assumption-Iloilo. Camille is such a sweet girl who always smiles and greets people she sees. Her friends dearly call her 'Angki'.

Assumption Iloilo Campus: Beautiful in More than One Way - With Rita Andrea Celis, November 2010

The statue of St. Peter representing the Church at the Garden of Three Loves, the Assumption Iloilo Park, the Milleret Building which houses the Primary Grades classroom and administration offices, and the Centennial Marker

Assumption Iloilo takes pride not only in its beautiful campus but also in its 'care for creation' program. The earth-friendly school takes its commitment to the planet seriously.

Assumption Iloilo's carefully planned buildings, wide hallways, good swimming pool and sports complex, and a lot more are a sweet deal. Now you have a beautiful spot to invest the next four years of study.

In Iloilo City and the rest of the island of Panay and the Western Visayas region, Assumption Iloilo offers these, and more. Despite of its high profile status in the community and its high academic reputation, extravagance and wanton display of wealth is considered the opposite of cool. Pretty as it is, what makes it beautiful is its love of simplicity.

Click that Fun! -- Assumption Iloilo 'Family Day 2010' Photo Booth, October 24, 2010

With Assumption Iloilo high school girls Angela Frances Gorriceta, Justine Ariane Cordon, Isabella Alvarez and some elementary girls

Well, this was my first photo booth experience, so I just had to go with the flow! Cool camera captures, huh!

These photo booth snaps made 'Family Day 2010' a day to to remember. Good thing I yielded to these girls' request. Anyway, thanks for tagging me along, girls!

I should say this photo booth thing is the hot new trend in event entertainment and memorabilia. This is not just your old fashion photo booth. It's the new age digital photo booth!

Again, thank you girls for sharing these incredible picture memories with me. I'm hoping for more 'Family Day' photo ops with you all in the years to come!

Assumption Iloilo Family Day 2010 'Parade of Nations', October 24, 2010

The theme of 'Family Day 2010' was 'Families Around the World'. After the Mass, Assumption Iloilo students, facilitators, and parents gathered in front of the Centennial Sports Complex ( CSC ) for the foot parade.

Since the event coincided with the founding anniversary of the United Nations Organization ( UN ), those who joined the parade were wearing the national costume of the country of their choice.

Since I didn't have much time to prepare, I just went for a Hawaiian-inspired outfit. It wasn't a stand-out but at least I followed what was expected from us. 

Seeing different national ensembles in a parade was a big wow. Most of these costumes filled in the element of their country's pride. That corseted shorts-bodysuit, that wondrous and very elaborate cape, and that 'Rio Carnival Queen' costume! More of these in the future, please!

Assumption Iloilo Family Day 2010, October 24, 2010

Educators around the world have long declared the importance of family involvement in children's education. Families dramatically influence the degree to which children are engaged in school and how they identify themselves as learners. A strong family-school partnership will improve both academic and behavioral outcomes for children.

This is the rationale behind the annual 'Family Day' in Assumption Iloilo. The activity is spearheaded by the Parent-Teacher Association ( PTA ) in coordination with the members of Assumption Iloilo A-Team, the Faculty and Staff Club, and the student bodies LCB-A ( Learners' Coordinating Board of the Assumption ) and LCT ( Learners' Coordinating Team ).

The 'Family Day 2010' was held on October 24, 2010, from 7:30 AM until 5 PM. A Eucharistic Celebration at the Centennial Sports Complex ( CSC ) commenced the celebration with Rev. Fr. Alejandro Esperancilla, an Assumption 'old boy', as the main celebrant. The Primary Grades had their paraliturgy at the St. Martin's Court. After the Mass, a foot parade along Gen. Luna St. fronting Assumption Iloilo followed. There were talent presentations and games in different venues after the parade. Scattered around the campus were food stalls selling all kinds of food items, from light snacks to heavy meals. For the kids and the kids-at-heart, a variety of outdoor activities were also available to enjoy such as a ferris wheel ride, shooting galleries, and a photobooth. To the people who worked hard to make the 'Family Day 2010' a big success, love and gratitude!

Welcome Home, Girls! - Assumption Iloilo Centennial Celebration, August 15, 2010

With Alexander Romero, Maricris Simpas, and some Assumption Iloilo 'old girls'

Selfies with Alexander Romero - At the High School Growth Community Office, Assumption Iloilo, 2010

Taking all these pictures, but yet you can never find the perfect one...that's us!

Thanks for the memories, Alex! Ours is a love-hate thing but one thing is sure - that you will be missed. Good luck on your journey!

Assumption Spirituality: Up-Close and Up-front -- Assumption Educators' Formation Program by the Marie Eugenie Institute, October 2010

The faculty and staff of all the schools within the Philippine-Thailand Province of the Religious of the Assumption ( RA ) are required to attend the Assumption Educators Formation Program ( AEFP ), a four-year course consisting of four tracks. This developmental training program is conducted annually by the Marie Eugenie Institute which is based in Assumption College, San Lorenzo Village, Makati City.

The main aim of the program is for the Assumption teachers and staff to familiarize themselves with the pedagogy of St. Marie Eugenie, the foundress of the Religious of the Assumption. It is Assumption's way of ensuring that the teachers understand, internalize, and are able to apply the pedagogy - Christianization of the Intelligence and Character Formation -  in their teachings.

Since it was my first year as a faculty member of Assumption Iloilo, I took the pre-track which was entitled 'Assumption Spirituality'. It was held in September of 2010 at the Cenacle inside the Assumption Iloilo campus. I was with fellow facilitators Natividad de los Santos and Samantha Decena. Other participants were teachers from Assumption Passi, Assumption Socio-Educational Center in Bo. Obrero, and Sta. Rita Academy, an Assumption-run school in Sibalom, Antique.

It was a three-day program full of reflections, self-assessment, and spiritual retreat. The overall facilitator was Sr. Regina Victoria Yulo, RA, the Co-Executive Director of the Marie Eugenie Institute. It was also Sr. Regivic who gave us a lecture on 'joyful detachment'. She said, "When we have learned what joyful detachment is and we have applied it in our lives, real joy stays with us in all situations, no matter what happens. Both humility and joy are fruits of a life lived in love - for God, for people, for all God's creation."

Other speakers included Cory Villafania, former Principal of the High School Department of Assumption College-San Lorenzo, Gina Bautista-Martin,  Head of the Sugar Regulatory Commission who talked about the love of Jesus and the life of prayer, and Cecile Glorette Adrias, Coordinator of the Communication Arts in English Department of Assumption-Iloilo.

Prof. Ma.Joji B. Tan and her 'Applied Linguistics for Communication Arts' Class -- At the University of the Philippines Visayas, Iloilo City Campus, October 2010

Getting in the Graduate Education Program of the University of the Philippines Visayas wasn't easy for me. The entrance examination was super difficult. The exam was composed of two parts - the cloze test and the essay writing part. It took me around four long hours to finish everything. Yes, that hard!

When I was finally accepted, I was in for more and bigger challenges. My first 'Language Education' class was 'Applied Linguistics for Communication Arts' under Prof. Ma. Joji B. Tan, an Associate Professor of English in the Division of Professional Education, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas. It was a morning class which started at 8 o'clock and ended at exactly 12 noon. It was a four-hour weekly session of lectures, reportings, group discussions, and language analyses.

Basically, a course in Applied Linguistics aims at making students become knowledgeable about the nature and structure of language and how first and second languages develop. Here, students explore language teaching strategies consistent with the current understanding of the nature, structure, and development of language. Teachers investigate best practices and current research and consider how to adapt and integrate these principles into their own educational practice. For me, the course wasn't really difficult since I had a few Linguistics classes back in college at West Visayas State University-College of Education. Dr. Yolanda Janay's 'Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics' class was a big help. That prepared me for higher linguistics courses.

Prof. Ma. Joji B. Tan was such. In UP Visayas, she's the most authoritative to teach this course because of her educational qualifications and experience. She has two master's degrees stamped on her neck - Master in Education ( M.Ed. ) major in English as a Second Language ( ESL ) from the University of the Philippines Visayas and Master of Arts ( MA ) in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages ( TESOL ) from the Teachers College of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Heriot-Watt University is one of the oldest higher institutions in the United Kingdom ( UK ), and gained university status by Royal Charter in 1966. 

As part of her work as a language teacher and researcher, Prof. Tan has traveled abroad, notably in such countries as Canada and Jamaica. She has been tapped several times by the Iloilo City Government in its efforts to upgrade the teaching skills of English teachers in all public schools in Iloilo City. Aside from teaching in the Graduate School, she also handles English classes in UP High School Iloilo. 

Prof. Tan is one of the most challenging professors I have ever had. She was never late for class. In fact, she always arrived 5 to 10 minutes earlier. I felt guilty every time I came to class late. Throughout the trimester, I struggled not to be absent from her class. One time, she gave out different topics for reporting. I personally chose 'Grammar' because that's what I was most confident about. Based on the syllabus she had handed to us earlier, I would be the third reporter. I wasted no time preparing for my report. I didn't want to disappoint the professor I admired so much. She was expecting us two things - the oral report in class as well as the written one. It was a bit demanding but I managed to deliver both quite well. At that time, I wasn't adept at making powerpoint presentations yet, so I just settled for the old but reliable transparencies. 

Prof. Tan's exams were hard yet reasonable. "Answer the question befitting a master's degree student," she would always say. We had two major exams with her - midterm and final exams. I found the midterm exam difficult because it required much reading since the questions were all theory-based. When Prof. Tan revealed our scores, I was expecting the worst. I got 32 points out of 100. I just had one consolation, though - my score wasn't the lowest. I took this setback as my prime motivation to do well in the finals. I always believe that we can draw good out of evil and convert losses into gains. Since then, I studied every night. I took down notes religiously. I did advance reading. Eventually, all my efforts paid off. I scored 91 out of 100 in the finals. At the end of the trimester, Prof. Tan gave me a grade of 1.5. It might not have been very high, but it's well above the norm. When I saw this figure reflected on the UP-CRS, I just smiled and told myself, "It's hard to enter UP Grad School; but it's even harder to stay inside its sphere.

Assumption-Iloilo Museum: Showing Assumption in the Ebb and Flow of Time - At Assumption Iloilo, August 11, 2010

This school year, I teach World History in Year III. I don't know but I just love history. That's why if chance permits, I visit museums. I'm fascinated with how museum collections give us insights into people's lives, tastes, and environments. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of museums in Iloilo City. Probably, Ilonggos have not yet reached that level where they really appreciate 'the good and the beautiful' in their history. Ilonggos are most interested in bread-and-butter issues. Well, for most of us, survival is the name of the game.

Good thing I work in Assumption-Iloilo. The school has a beautiful museum which is located on the second floor of the main building. It houses evidences of the long history and fine tradition of Assumption-Iloilo.

On August 15, 2010, as part of the centennial celebration of Assumption-Iloilo, the school administration opened the museum to public view. It was a well-organized museum tour which highlighted the impact of Assumption presence in Iloilo. Seeing Assumption 'old girls' and 'old boys' Assumption nuns, Assumption students and their families, and Assumption teachers meeting and discussing thoughts and opinions and sharing memories was a sight to behold.

Tête-à-Tête with Sr. Maria Rosa Medina, RA - At Assumption Iloilo, Iloilo City, August 11, 2010

With Sr. Maria Rosa Medina of the Religious of the Assumption ( RA ) during the Centennial Celebration of Assumption-Iloilo. Sr. Maria Rosa is now based in Thailand.

We Do Crazy Things in Class; But I've Got Some Good Photos Here -- With My Classmates in 'Foundations of Education' Class of Dr. Aurora Fe Bautista, UP Visayas, August 28, 2010

With Marie Cris Ponsaran. Too bad, Marie Cris quit Graduate School. I just missed her. By the way, she's an Assumption 'old girl' which explains her English.

Oh, it's Anthony and Glenn here. Anthony had his 'UP Sablay' last year, while Glenn quit as well. Wherever they are now, I wish them all the best life has to offer.

My Head's Spinning, My Eyes Are Drooping -- At Dr. Aurora Fe Bautista's 'Psychological and Philosophical Foundations of Education' Class, UP Visayas

Those who have been under Dr. Bautista's class kept on saying one thing about her- the Frankena Model. It's like a 'don't-go-home-without-it' thing for her and her Foundations of Education class. It's her trademark, her 'tatak'. Well, she's successful in that aspect because hundreds of her graduate students throughout the years have equated the name Aurora Fe Bautista with the Frankena Model.

I'm not sure how old Dr. Bautista is but I know that she retired from service as a UP professor more than five years ago. She must be pushing 70 or beyond 70. The old woman has weathered every rack as an educator and still tirelessly goes to school every Saturday to teach. She might have some 'senior moments' in the classroom but her 'psychologies and philosophies' are still beyond compare. Research shows that a higher level of education is associated with better mental functioning in old age. This is so true of Dr. Bautista.

Dinner at the Peña's --At Ledesco Village, La Paz, Iloilo City, June 2010

Circling Monte Rosa's Rotunda -- At Monte Rosa Subdivision, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, June 26, 2010

Recently, gated communities have been mushrooming around our place in Hibao-an, a quiet barangay which is part of the District of Mandurriao, Iloilo City. One of such communities is Monte Rosa, a 57-hectare subdivision across from Hibao-an Elementary School.It is owned by Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Inc. in partnership with La Filipina Uy Gongco  Corporation.

One landmark in Monte Rosa that catches everybody's attention is its 'Rotunda'. In architecture, a rotunda is a large circular structure having a dome. Monte Rosa's 'Rotunda' is very prominent because it is located in the center of the subdivision's ring road that leads to all its major streets. Interestingly, the streets of Monte Rosa are named after some of the world's famous cities like London, Rome, Berlin, Athens, and Buenos Aires.

Remembering Alex and Sr. Ma. Paz - At the High School Growth Community Office, Assumption Iloilo, June 2010

Me, Sr. Maria Paz Moreta, RA, High School Unit Coordinator, and 
Alexander Romero. Song long, Sr. Ma. Paz and Alex!