Sacred Heart College moved to greater heights as it celebrated its 50th Foundation Anniversary. Momentous presentations and activities were held to commemorate the humble beginnings of the institution.
Sacred Heart School was founded in 1958 by Chinese missionary priests – Rev. Msgr. Joseph Fung and Rev. Fr. Joseph Wang. In their dedication to extend Catholic education to the Filipino-Chinese community of Tacloban City , a nipa hut was constructed to house the first batch of students. The nipa hut was later reconstructed into a concrete building to accommodate the growing student npopulation, which comprised students from both Filipino and Chinese families. Recently, it was transformed into Sacred Heart College due to the school’s aim to extend its quality education to tertiary level. After five decades, the improvements made are evident. The façade and the physical structure of the school are as advanced as the current system of neducation it employs.
Changes in the system, of course, perturbed some of the institutional traditions that required revision. Our alma mater recently overcame a period of struggle which involved a misunderstanding between some teachers and the administration. This showed us that progress is not without its potholes. Let us hope that these hurdles are viewed and dealt with as challenges, not as reasons to destroy the school.
Teachers and administrators should prioritize working together toward maintaining the integrity of the school and the quality of education it offers. A school essentially exists for the students. Thus, whatever conflict arises must not impede the students’ access to quality education (not in abstract notions but in tangible experience every step of the way). The period of struggle mentioned was also a period of confusion for the students because instead of being insulated, they were unnecessarily urged to take sides. I find no meaning in the idea that students ought to be submerged in every flood that threatens the school. This is like saying that children should take active part in solving every adult crisis that befalls the family.
As the school turns fifty, let us hope that the accumulated wisdom it has gained becomes more established. Our teachers must concretely show their commitment to their profession which, in their own words, is a passion, a vocation – a way of life rather than a mere source of income. Their character and real actions, more than the countless words they utter in the classroom, influence their students’ own ways of life. At this juncture, it is good to remember the great teachers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, and Jesus Christ; they did not become great because of rewards, awards, or high remuneration. They are remembered for truly teaching and teaching what is True. Human and humane teachers will set similarly excellent standards for the student.
On the other hand, the administration should always strive to preserve the inherent dignity and humanity that are imperative in an educator. As much as we can only have good students if we have happy students, we can likewise have excellent educators only if we have happy educators. Good rapport with employees should be maintained to keep misunderstandings at bay.
After all I have said, I must emphasize that my exhortation is, for the most part, directed at the students. Considering the level of awareness that young people have nowadays, I believe that we already have the capability to discern what could be beneficial to our moral and academic development. Involvement in every adult issue that presents itself does not necessarily turn us into adults. We can act and think more responsibly and with maturity if we focus more on keeping our path toward becoming true adults uncluttered by extraneous conflicts and bad examples. If the real mission and vision of our golden alma mater, the Sacred Heart College , is for the positive progress of the student, then that should also be our real goal.
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