Faculty and Staff Advent Recollection

The faculty and staff of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City and Tapulanga Foundation attended an Advent Recollection last December 2, 2015 at the Marians Missionaries of the Holy Cross in Silay City. It was facilitated by Brother Froilan De Atras and Brother Lawrence Maria. 

The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Nathaniel Duran.

"The recollection increased my faith in God, on how faithful He is in blessing us of His wonders everyday."  by Ms. Edna Taganile

"After the Advent recollection, my understanding of preparing myself for His coming improved and one way to prepare ourselves is to participate on the Sacrament of Confession."  by Ms. Elena Coja

"It reminded me on how to give importance on preparing myself for His coming, not only for myself but also for my family."  by Ms. Rose Iglesia

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Preschool Field Trip to Pizza Hut

St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City Preschool students went on a field trip last November 27 at the Pizza Hut, Robinson's Place, Bacolod City.  Each of the students got to make their own Hawaiian pizza!

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Rotary Club of Silay Celebrates Boys and Girls Week

Rotary Club of Silay City celebrated the 2015 Boys and Girls Week last November 16-22, 2015. It's goal is for students to witness how government leaders fulfill their daily tasks and duties in their respective offices.  Secondary schools like St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City, Sta. Teresita's Academy, Silay Institute, DADDJIS, Guimbala-on High School and HPCo-Dona Monseratt Extension High School sent student leader representatives to participate.

Grade 10 students Marlyn Bernasol, Danilo Villanueva, Jr, Oliver James Boiser and Kreizel Ann Tiongson represented SFAS.  Kreizel was assigned under 7th Councilor Jimmy Mayo and Oliver under 10th Councilor Aileen Javier.  Marlyn was assigned in the City Health Office while Danilo in DSWD.

Marlyn Bernasol with the Silay City Health staff

Danilo Villanueva, Jr. with the DSWD staff

It was a learning experience for the students as they attended and observed the weekly meeting sessions of the Silay City Mayor and the City Councilors. They witnessed how resolutions and plannings were being deliberated.  They were also tasked to make their own resolutions and plannings for the youth of Silay City.

A closing ceremony was held Friday, November 20, at the Silay Civic Center, with each participant receiving a Certificate of Participation.

Then the students attended the final evaluation of the 2015 Girls and Boys Week at Patag Eco-Tourism Center in Barangay Patag, Silay City over the week-end.

Osaka Rotaract of Japan representatives joined the week-end activity in Patag.

"It was a nice experience because we had the chance to know the work of government officials.  It was also exciting because we saw how the officials argued among each other on the resolutions being presented." by Marlyn Bernasol

"I learned a lot.  I witnessed how much paper work there is and it's very hard.  The staff were very friendly and I felt very welcomed."  by Danilo Villanueva, Jr.

"I learned that being a government official is not easy.  You need to make decisions on how to make a city work." by Kreizel Ann Tiongson

"I learned that a good leader must be honest and is responsible for the community.  It is not easy to make resolutions and one should not keep in mind the negative feedback which others may say." by Oliver Boiser

For more photos, click here.

More photos from Rotary Silay Facebook page, please click here.

Search-In Circles 18 - 20

Last October 23-25, I attended the Search-In Retreat with my fellow 9th grade students and we were Circle 19.  Nineteen students joined the 3-day retreat program adopted by St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City from La Salle Greenhills in Manila.  The retreat teaches students to have more growth in one's spiritual life and to have closer bonds between fellow students.

Our facilitators were alumni from SFAS and fellow Search-Inners from previous Circles.

Search-In Circle 19

I always keep in mind a saying from an unknown author, "Scarred people are beautiful."

Circle 18 had their Search-In retreat last September 25-27, 2015.

The Search-In retreat of Circle 20 was last November 27-29, 2015.

written by Steve Rotelo, Grade 9

First Place in PRISSAAP's English Language Festival!

The Private Secondary School Administrators Association of the Philippines (PRISSAAP) has initiated this year the Private Schools' English Language Festival for all private schools in Silay City. The literary contest was held at the Department of Education Hall in the Division Office of Silay City last November 20.

The school's representative was 3rd grader, Anne Marie Gulmatico.  She was coached by teacher Lovelyn Villanueva (an SFAS alumnus) and she won first place in the English Declamation category. The English Language Festival is intended for primary graders from Nursery to Grade 3 to enhance the exposure of students at an early age to these kind of competitions.

Anne Marie Gulmatico with Mrs. Leda Ibugan, English teacher.

SFAS Joins Green Earth Crusades

One of the core values of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City is the love for nature.  Saint Francis loved all of God's creatures from plants to animals and he referred to them as his brothers and sisters. 

Last November 6, imitating the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, high school students of SFAS participated  in the Green Earth Crusades supervised by the Catholic Women's League of the Diocese of Bacolod and the San Diego Parish of Silay City. 

A parade started the day going to the church, then Rev. Fr. Dimitri Gatcha, parish priest of the San Diego Parish, shared about the Word of God (taken from Genesis 1).  He shared that God created a very beautiful and perfect world which can sustain all the needs of mankind but because of man's pride, the world was ruined and lost its original beauty, unable to provide the needs of men. He challenged us youth to do something good for the environment to restore her beauty.

Rev. Fr. Rosello Villarosa, Youth Director of the Diocese of Bacolod, discussed Pope Francis' encyclical letter, the Laudato Si,  which stresses about the care of environment. He shared that God wants us to repair His house which we saw falling into ruins as Our Lord revealed it to Saint Francis of Assisi in a vision. Atty. Wilfredo Ramon Peñalosa, Provincial Environment Management Officer, shared about climate change. He reminded us to reduce waste, reuse things rather than throw them away and recycle old things rather than buying a new one. He challenged the youth to plant trees: if every young person around the world would plant at least 20 seedlings of trees, we could save the world. 

Rev. Fr. Rickyboy Attilana also gave a talk, interpretative dances on the environment were presented by the Doña Monserrat Lopez Memorial High School, Sta. Teresita's Academy and Silay Institute, and our very own Yorika Jaud did a song number.

Subdue the earth and bring it under your control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals. (Genesis 1:28)

Written by Lord William B. Pacurib, Grade 9-Sincerity

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Culmination of the Holy Rosary

Every October, the Universal Church celebrates the month of the Holy Rosary. October was chosen as the Rosary month because October 7 is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary which was established in 1571 by St. Pope Pius V to commemorate the triumphant battle of Lepanto attributed to the Virgin Mary, whose help was invoked through praying the Holy Rosary.

As a Catholic institution, St. Francis of Assisi School participated in the month-long celebration. Every flag ceremony, the first mystery was prayed then the remaining four mysteries were prayed during classes in the day.

Then last October 30, the Culmination of the Holy Rosary month was held. Since it was a Friday, the Sorrowful Mysteries was prayed. Before each mystery, a short Gospel passage was read and students offered flowers to Mother Mary. Chosen students from different grade levels formed a pattern of the rosary, where one student corresponded to one bead of the rosary.

Every time we prayed the Hail Mary in the Holy Rosary, we invoked the help of our Mother to pray for us until our last breath.

written by Lord William Pacurib, Grade 9

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