The SPCB News Blog: Sr. Remedios leads students to reflect on character in times of calamities

Sr. Maria Remedios R. Cayetano, SPC addresses the students during the Culminating Program of the Nutrition Month.

“Nasaksihan ko ang hirap at sakit, ang inyong mga sakripisyo, teamwork, paghihirap, kasiyahan sa pagluluto,” Sr. Maria Remedios R. Cayetano, SPC, Directress-HS Principal declared, referring to the survival cooking contest done in the High School Department, as she addressed the students during the culminating program of the Nutrition Month on August 1 at the Fr, Louis Chauvet Gymnasium.

The month of July is declared annually as Nutrition Month. This year has the theme “Kalamidad Paghandaan: Gutom at Malnutrisyon Agapan!”

Because the theme suggests readiness during calamities, the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) Area thought of survival cooking contest for the students as one of the activities in the month-long celebration. On Friday, August 25, all classes simulated situations in evacuation areas when calamities strike. Given limited food supplies, students of the different sections sent some of their classmates at the Bocaue Public Market to do actual marketing of food items to be cooked. The challenge was to provide food enough for the entire class, which included butchering live chickens and cooking them into viands of their own choice. This was aside from the vegetable and other viands that they could prepare out of the limited budget that they worked on.

Using the national language as the culminating activity was done at the beginning of another month-long activity of Buwan ng Wika, Sr. Remedios told the students the joy experienced by them could not be bought by money.

“Ang mga moments, bonding, pagsisiksikan – ito ay patunay na maaari palang magkaisa,” she emphasized. “Sa isang sakuna, maaring bagyo, chemical warfare, hydro-physical (difficulties), at iba pa, nananaig ang kabutihang-loob ng isang tao. Sa isang sakuna may isang pinuno na nag-e-emerge,” she reminded.

“Sino sa mga kaklase ninyo ang tahimik na nagluto at gumawa, at sino naman ang walang pakialam, di alintana kung may nasasayang na resources,” she asked. “Sino naman ang tunay na bayani sa inyong klase?”

“Sa isang sakuna nandiyan din ang katatagan ng kalooban. Iba ang lakas ng loob. May mga maangas at mangahas. Ang maangas ay nagyayabang at walang direksiyon. Ang taong nangangahas ay naglalakas-loob ngunit maaari ring walang direksiyon sa kanyang buhay. Ang tatag ng kalooban ay nag-uugat sa atin,” she extolled the students.

“Tayo ba ay natatakot? Hindi na tayo dapat nabubuhay sa takot sapagkat matagal na tayong tinubos ng Panginoon. Kung tayo’y may takot sa ating mga puso, tayo’y may pangamba,” she explained. “Kumusta ang ating pananalig at pananampalataya?” she led the students to reflect.

“Minsan sa isang sakuna makikita natin ang kaugalian ng Pilipino na nananampalataya. Lalabas na labas ang dalawang ito – ang pananalig at pananampalataya,” she stressed. “At sa panahon ng sakuna, lumalabas din ang kaugalian na makasarili. Sa panahon ng taghirap lumalabas din ang mga bayani,” she reminded.

“Pag-ibayuhin natin ang kagandahang asal at pag-uugali. Saliksikin ang ating sarili. Kumusta ako pag ako’y mag-isa. Paano ako pag may mga kasama?” she asked.

She further led the students to inspire them to endure and be persistent. “Kayo ba ay madaling sumuko? Endurance and persistence. Tiis at tiyaga. Yan ang kulang sa kabataan ngayon. Lagi yan magkakambal. May pagtitiis, pananalig, at pagtitiyaga. Ang lahat ng ito ay nakaugat sa pananalig at pagmamahal,” she said.

The culminating program was also highlighted by the awarding of winners in the different contested activities. The following were the winners who received their Certificates of Recognition:

Bulletin Board Contest

1. Grade 7

1. St. Lorenzo Ruiz

2. St. Aloysius

3. St. Therese

2. Grade 8

1. Our Lady of Fatima

2. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

3. Our Lady of Lourdes

3. Grade 9

1. St. Peter

2. St. Matthew