Manresa School welcomed the Superior General of the Hijas de Jesus, Sr. Graciela Francovig, F.I., and the General Consultor, Sr. Maria Teresa Pinto, F.I., accompanied by the Provincial Superior of the Hijas de Jesus, Indico-Pacifico, Sr. Emelinda Falsis, F.I. last April 18, 2023, at the Manresa School Main AVR.

Manresa School Faculty and Staff Organization (MSFSO) spearheaded the intimate program facilitated by Mr. Alester Carreon, the junior high school English coordinator. The encounter was attended by the Hijas de Jesus sisters, faculty, and staff, as well as the president of Manresa School Parents Auxiliary (MSPA), Mr. and Mrs. Monica Rosales, Manresa School Alumni Association (MSAA) President, Mr. Mike Togle, Blessed Candida Maria Foundation (BCMF) president, Mrs. Malou Villegas, and the maintenance personnel. The event started with a doxology led by the CLE teachers. The MSFSO president, Mrs. Iby M. Paquibot, with her cultural costume and simple dance, introduced the guests to the event.

Manresa faculty and staff showcased their talent with a cultural dance called Tinikling, performed by select elementary teachers, as well as a musical performance from Mr. Richard Maaño, a music teacher, on piano and Mr. Erick Delos Santos, staff, on saxophone. Mr. Christian Nazareno of the grade school department and Mr. Mark Ryan Mallari of the junior high school department also staged solo performances to delight the crowd.

After showcasing the creativity and talents of the faculty and staff, Mr. Eleazar D. Solas, quality assurance officer, shared his take on the apostolic calls saying that he was grateful to the Hijas de Jesus for including the lay people in these missions. Mr. Solas added that for the apostolic calls, the school highlighted two calls and they are the Discernment in Common and the Laudato Si. He further shared how these programs toward these apostolic calls like the reinforcement of prayer life through reflecting online as a form of examen during the pandemic and as for the Laudato Si, offices and departments followed the basic awareness of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle). He reiterated these programs were born out of analyzing what were the basics. Although he stated that the programs are simple, he emphasized that “At the end of the day… with these simple things, we could go further.”

Meanwhile, Mrs. Concepcion B. Villagracia, communications-in-charge shared her thoughts on the Global Compact on Education. Mrs. Villagracia shared that “to be more aware and get familiarized and gain a better understanding of the global compact, the faculty and staff in Manresa School received a copy of the eight commitments: the value on the dignity of the human person, listening to the voices of children and young people, encouraging the participation of girls and young women, the family as a first and essential place of education, education in need for the acceptance and openness to the most vulnerable and marginalized—the poor, our commitment to education and service of the human person, safeguarding and cultivating our common goal, and commitment in investing the best energies for creative and transformative education.” She emphasized Manresa School adheres to the eight commitments of the Global Compact on Education which is very related and in consonance with Hijas de Jesus’ Our Characteristic Way of Educating or OCWE.

Lastly, the former principal of Manresa School, Ms. Aida A. Gomez shared the impact of the Manresan experience on her life. She expressed her unfeigned gratitude to the Hijas de Jesus’ sisters for sharing with the lay the charism of St. Candida Maria de Jesus. She further shared that even though she is now a retired teacher at Manresa School, “The mission goes on. It doesn’t stop.” Ms. Gomez also reiterated the importance of values such as simplicity, diligence, prayerfulness, and faithfulness to God that she learned from Manresa School and how she shares them with her family. Ms. Gomez shared that through these values, she would often tell her family members “how happy I am meeting God every day of my life. So, that is really the impact of the Mother Foundress in my life. And I thank God for the gift of St. Candida in my life because she inspired me to have a deep faith in God. She inspired me to have a great love for my teaching vocation and to really have a sense of service. And I really appreciate the formation of the Hijas de Jesus sisters have given me that really helped me become courageous in fulfilling the different tasks in this school.” She ended her sharing by saying that Sr. Graciela’s presence “gives us joy in this community.”

For the last part of the event, Sr. Graciela S. Francovig, F.I. expressed her gratitude to the performers and the sharers stating that her visit to Manresa School is a blessing. 

Before the event ended, photos were taken with Sr. Graciela, Sr. Maria Teresa, and Sr. Emelinda to commemorate the wonderful visit of the FI Sisters in Manresa School. The closing prayer was then led by the CLE coordinator of the junior high school department, Mr. Archee Curiba, with musical accompaniments performed by Mr. Maaño and Ms. Roli Alexandra Orial. 

- Ms. Dolly Ann C. Mina