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Fellowship and Service Award Celebration

POSTED February 16, 2009

         During the last day of the 55th Foundation Anniversary, the Salesians and the Lay Mission Partners had a Fellowship and Service Award Celebration at the Joy Center last January 31, 2009.  The Service Awardees were honored in recognition of their dedication and commitment in journeying with the young and in the realization of the institution’s Vision-Mission.

SERVICE AWARDEES
SY 2008-2009

      The 30 years of service awardees were serenaded by Mr. Michael Cabrera and Mrs. Almalyn Toledano, both from the Grade School Department, where they sung a medley of songs of appreciation.  In turn, messages of inspiration and gratitude were shared by the awardees.  

Mr. Manuel Martin:

        Fr. Paul Bicomong, SDB, our beloved Rector; Fr. Junji Zarate, our Administrator; all Salesian priests and brothers, my fellow Lay Mission Partners, good afternoon!

         In my 30 years of service in this institution, I have never stood before a group like this to speak of something serious and inspiring.  Today, I speak to you not only about my 30 years of stay here in Don Bosco but more importantly of the wisdom and love that the school has shared to me.  If not for these, I would not have stayed here for 30 years.  I want to thank the Lord for all the blessings that I have received through Don Bosco.  I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the Salesians whom I have worked with in the past and whom I am working with at the present for their understanding, patience, trust, and support.  More than this, I thank them for nurturing my spiritual life.  I also want to thank my friends and co-workers in this school for their concern and encouragement.  Lastly, I want to thank my family, most especially my wife who is present in this gathering today, for her love, inspiration, and support.  These 30 years of service means a lot to me and to my family.  May I have more wonderful and meaningful experiences in the coming years.  Maraming Salamat po!

Mrs. Divine Z. Dahonog:

         Father Rector, Fr. Adminstrator, dear Salesians, fellow Lay Mission Partners, good afternoon!

       First of all, I would like to thank Fr. Paul, Fr. Junji and all the people involved in the preparation of this celebration.  I would also like to thank all my friends and my clinic family who have shared their strength and love so I can face all the challenges in my life.

         It took days for me to think of the right words to express my thoughts and feelings as I received my 30 years service award.  It is quite hard to narrate all that I’ve been through, most of which were good ones.

         I first entered the portals of this school as shy, timid, and quiet lady in 1978.  I first became a bookkeeper then a poperty custodian and currently as a purchaser.  Though I  may feel that the rank of the position is not that fulfilling, I find my work challenging.  I can say that Don Bosco embedded on me the feeling of being holistic.  Giving me the fulfillment of balance with my social, emotional, and spiritual life, enabling me to interact well not just  with my fellow LMPs but with people from all walks of life.  Salesianity gave me spiritual growth and strengthened my faith which I used as a foundation to enrich my family’s spiritual needs.  Salesian values allowed me to be drawn closer to God.

        I hope that the experiences I have shared with you in my 30 years here will help our young Lay Mission Partners in searching the TRUE meaning of Salesian Family and the spirit of service.

         Again, thank you very much and may you enjoy the rest of the day.

Mr. Bonifacio Arienda:

         Fr. Anthony Paul Bicomong, our Rector; Fr. Junji Zarate, our Adminstrator; ang aking Techhnical Director sa MSTC, Bro. Elmer C. Rodrguez, ama, guro at kaibigan sa mga Salesians, lay mission partners, guests, at kapwa ko awardees, magandang hapon sa inyong lahat.

         Napakasaya ko sa araw na ito.  Ako’y nagpapasalamt sa Panginoon at narating ko ang 30 taon sa serbisyo dito sa Don Bosco Makati. Maraming salamat sa bumubuo sa mga Salesian Family, sa kapuso kong lay mission partners, sa aking mahal sa buhay, aking kabiyak, Mayeth, at magulang at kapatid, at sa inyong lahat.

         Mayroon akong ginawang ABCs of love to Mama Mary:
Always Be Careful.  Don’t Ever Forget to Go Home Immediately.  Just Keep Loving Me, Mama Mary; No Other Person Quite Right Shall Truly Understand Very Well.  Xee You Zoon!

         Sana umabot pa ako ng 35 years.  Salamat!

Mrs. Lilia S. Abalos:

         Rev. Fr. Rector Anthony Paul Bicomong, SDB, Fr. Junjie Zarate, SDB , ViceRrector, the  Salesian community, Ms. Ofelia Dantes our Grade School Principal,  school heads, fellow teachers, non - teaching office personnel, guests and to my husband who is present here, Good afternoon!

         Looking back on the years I have spent here in Don Bosco Technical Institute Makati made me realized that there’s just so much in my life to be thankful for. I must admit, I am feeling all sorts of emotion as I stand here in front of you today. Part of me is happy because I am one of the blessed people who have been gifted with a long life to serve and touch the lives of the students, parents, co – teachers, friends and all the significant others that I have met along the way. Part of me is sad because my 30th year of service would mean the coming of my retirement in just a few years time. Part of me feels the fulfillment of growing in a community that allowed me to be the person I am. All these fraction of feelings make me somehow nervous and excited of what’s in store for me in the years to come.

         Within the four walls of this school lie over a thousand memories of a teacher who has reached self – fulfillment in her chosen profession? Isn’t it fulfilling enough to learn and adopt the computer based system? From the point of view of someone who has grown using the manual teaching style, going with the flow of technological advancements is one of the most fulfilling tasks I have ever encountered in my entire teaching life.

         Gone were the days when we had to compute individually and manually the students’ grades. Gone were the days when we had to write and re- write our lessons in the blackboard – an act which sometimes causes our arms to become stiff not to mention the increase in the probability of asthma attack because of the chalk dust. I am proud that with all the computer – based programs evolving, at least, I am literate enough to use the MS office.

         This shift in paradigm gave me the reason and courage to explore the things I once refused to learn. And I tell you, it was worth learning. Despite all the hardships, our individual efforts to learn and adapt with the changing world added up to our individual competencies not just as teachers but as mentors as well.

         I was reminded of an incident not so long ago, my kids, my husband and I were at home and I was just so busy complaining on how difficult it is to prepare for my instructional materials. Then my daughter asked me,” If you don’t like what you are doing … if you are not happy with what you are doing… why are you still in Don Bosco? Why don’t you resign?” At that moment my mind went point blank so I reflected for a while. Why am I still in Don Bosco? It took me weeks to finally figure out what made me stay. And then I just realized, it’s my passion to teach that made me stay. And with that passion I have come to embrace the changes that go along with it. That made me stay because I have always believed that when you teach, you touch the lives of different people no matter how small or great the impact maybe.

Thank you very much!

         Finally, Fr. Anthony Paul E. Bicomong, SDB, Rector, led the ceremonial toast for the awardees as well as for the institution in celebration of past achievements and future undertakings towards excellence.