Attention XS Alumni:

The Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) and AAXS Spirituality Formation and Fellowship Committee invite the alumni of Xavier School to LIFT, a weekend workshop of reflection and discovery.

It will be held at the EED Formation Center, Xavier School, San Juan, on February 24 to February 25, 2018 (Saturday to Sunday).

LIFT is a program designed to provide an opportunity for the sons of Xavier to reconnect and rediscover the Heart of Xavier in their lives.

For inquiries, call Ms. Bambi Chua of DARO at (02) 723-0481 loc 428 or register online.

Last December 16, 2017, the 2017 Southeast Asian Mathematical Olympiad (SEAMO) was held at St. Stephen’s High School. SEAMO aims to spread the joy of competititive mathematics, recognize talent, and develop grit in bright young minds.

The following students represented Xavier School and won silver and bronze medals in the said competition:

Silver Medal
Mikhail Borbe of G7I
Matthew Tansiongkun of G9B

Bronze Medal
Richwynn Ong of G9C
Philmon Wee of G10B

Congratulations to these young Math geniuses for a job well done! May they continue to let their light shine in all their endeavors. Luceat Lux!

Peace!

As we celebrate the Lunar Chinese New Year this week, I send each one of you my prayers and greetings for a new year of bountiful blessings. May our good Lord bless and keep you, and may He make your light brightly shine in the year ahead!

Happy Lunar Year of the Dog!

Fr. Xavier L. Olin, SJ
OIC School President

27 February 2018

The Xavier School Athletics Department announces the 2018 Summer Sports Program!

Get kids into sports this summer! Great opportunities to learn new skills, improve fitness levels, and develop self-confidence and character.

All courses are open to boys and girls (including non-Xavier students). Please note that the following terms and conditions shall apply to all courses:

1. All classes are subject to cancellation if the minimum number of enrolees is not reached.
2. No transfer or refund shall be allowed after the 2nd session has transpired.
3. Attendance is the responsibility of the enrolee or his/her parents. No make-up sessions shall be permitted except when the school cancels classes/activities.
4. For security purposes, a Sports Program ID/Pass will be issued upon enrolment. Parents/Guardians are expected to fill-up all details needed and affix passport-size pictures of the student and the fetcher/s. A photocopy of the ID/Pass must be submitted to the instructor/s on the first day.
5. Enrolees who wish to enrol for succeeding modules are requested to present the ID/Pass for revalidation.

Enrollment for the summer sports program starts on February 27. You may secure additional registration forms from the Cashier’s office. The different programs with their corresponding schedules and fees, as well as the Registration Form can be downloaded from https://goo.gl/8qwfX8.

Let’s have a fruitful, and fun-filled summer break.

Last January 13, 2018, the Ai Xin Educational Foundation conducted the annual search for the “Outstanding Chinese-Filipino Student” Award. This was participated in by different Filipino-Chinese schools nationwide. The search commenced at 9:00am. Students underwent rigorous screening. The judges did a review of their resume, academic and characteristic profile while the students took a 50-minute written examination. This was followed by a one-on-one interview with 3 judges. From the initial list of 30 participants, 12 winners were chosen and announced that same afternoon at 6:00pm.

Winners are students from 4 provincial schools and 8 from the NCR namely:

李小梅 of Angeles Lip Lin School
杨恩慈 of Bacolod Tay Tung High School
施巧玲 of Hua Siong College of Iloilo
林坊锦 of Pangasinan Universal Institute
王铭漪 of Chang Kai Shek College
陈奕泽 of Grace Christian College
陈伶俐 of Jubilee Christian Academy
林志培 of Philippine Academy of Sakya
陈思思 of Philippine Cultural College (annex campus)
王 俊 翔 of St. Jude Catholic School
曾焕彰 of St. Stephen High School and
our very own 黄正源 (Gianacarlo Nurhachu Hao Gonzaga) Xavier School.

Awarding ceremony was held last February 17, 2018 at the Fortune Hotel in Binondo, Manila. Winners were awarded a plaque, a trophy, P25,000 cash, and other prizes.

Congratulations Giancarlo! Continue to let your Light Shine!

Last March 2, 2018, a graphic novel conference was held at the Multipurpose Hall (MPH) of Xavier School, where the recently published graphic novel, Doorkeeper, was launched.

The entire G8 batch, members of the ComiXS club, along with many other visitors, had the chance to listen to and interact with Doorkeeper’s publisher, Mr. Lio Mangubat of Summit Books, and co-author, Scott Lee Chua (XS batch 2016).

In their presentation, the two shared interesting perspectives on what makes graphic novels literature. Scott and Lio also narrated how they started delving into the realm of writing and publishing, respectively.

Doorkeeper, as a historical fiction in a graphic novel genre, resonated well with the G8 students who studied different types of settings in the English classroom. They also had the rare opportunity to personally meet the author of a published work, and it was certainly a bonus that he is a Xavier alumnus. Toward the end of the session, budding student writers and artists had the chance to seek advice from both Scott and Lio.

When the conference ended, students flocked to the book stall outside the MPH to purchase their own copies of Doorkeeper and have them autographed.

The graphic novel conference was a joint effort of the JHS English Dept., the HS Learning Resource Center, and the NExT Office, in collaboration with Scott Chua and Lio Mangubat.

Doorkeeper is available at National Bookstores, nationwide, and Fully Booked, Greenhills.

Doorkeeper is one of CNN Philippine’s Top Comic Books of 2017; it is included in the JHS English’s Recommended Book List for Summer 2018

The Authors
Ethan Chua, XS ’16, is a spoken word poet whose work has been published in major Philippine newspapers, the Philippines Graphic, DIALOGIST, Strange Horizons, and The Blueshift Journal. He also received the 2017 Geballe Prize for short fiction. He is currently a Physics major and a performer of the Stanford Spoken Word Collective at Stanford University. . 

Scott Lee Chua, XS ’16, is the author of Top Ten Travels, a children’s book series that became a finalist for the National Book Awards. He received the Nick Joaquin Literary Award for short fiction in 2017 and the Palanca Kabataan Essay Award in 2011.  He is currently an Economics major and a student business consultant at Yale-NUS College Singapore.

The Publsiher
Lio Mangubat is the Editor-in-Chief of Summit Books, which published Doorkeeper. He was formerly the Features Editor of Men’s Health, Managing Editor of Spot.ph, and the Toys and Video Games Editor of K-Zone.

Date          :         9 March 2018

To               :        Members of Xavier School Community

Fr                :        The School President

Subject      :         XSPA Executive Committee for School Year 2018-2019

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Upon consultation with the XSPA Chairman, Mr. Edwin de Joya, I am pleased to announce the members of the XAVIER SCHOOL PARENTS’ AUXILIARY Executive Committee for School Year 2018-2019.

I enjoin the members of the Xavier Community to continue to support the programs of the XSPA.  The parents, as you know, are our partners in the mission of education.

Luceat Lux!

(sgd.)                                                              (sgd.)

Mr. Edwin de Joya                                       Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ, Ph.D.

XSPA Chairman                                             School President

12 March 2018

The results of the Grant-in-Aid for School Year 2018-2019 will be released on:

Look for Ms. Lucy Dimalanta, Grant-in-Aid Officer. For inquiries, please email at gia-mail@xs.edu.ph or call 723-0481 local 308, 0923-107-3898 (Sun), 0916-526-4953 (Globe).

Please be guided accordingly.

Thank you!

Noted:

(signed)

Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ

School President

Last February 20–23, 2018, the Thailand International Mathematics Olympiad (TIMO) Final Round was held in Bangkok, Thailand.

TIMO aims to identify and to challenge talented students to connect reasoning with mathematical knowledge and provide them with contents and concepts. These are beneficial to enhance their insightful strategies in problem solving and useful to unlock their mathematics potential. The ultimate goal of TIMO is to build students’ confidence in Mathematics to take STEM as a career path.

Two high school students from Xavier School won medals during the Final Round. Matthew Tansiongkun of G9B won the gold medal and was declared as the overall champion for Secondary 3 level. Tristan Uy of G9D won the bronze medal.

Xavier School proudly congratulates these two students for exhibiting true Magis.  May they continuously let their light shine as they pursue and excel in all their endeavors. Luceat Lux!

Tristan Uy wins the bronze medal

Date           :   13 March 2018
To               :   Xavier School Community
From           :   The School President
Re              :   XSPA Officers for SY 2018-2019

———————————————————————————-

Following the meeting of the incoming Executive Committee of the Xavier School Parents’ Auxiliary (XSPA) held on 12 March 2018, I am happy to announce the officers of the XSPA for SY 2018-2019:

Chairman                       :  Mr. Jeffrey Y. Siy
Vice-Chairman                :  Dr. Kelly Salvador
Treasurer                       :  Mr. George L. Go
Secretary                       :  Ms. Leanna A. Katigbak
Public Relations Officer    :  Ms. Kristine G. Gordon

Let us offer our support and prayers for the success of the incoming Execom and its officers.

On behalf of the outgoing Execom and its Officers for the SY 2017-2018, I would like to thank everyone for the support and assistance extended to the XSPA this past school year.

I also thank the outgoing Chairman, Mr. Edwin de Joya, for his leadership this school year. We wish him well as he sees his youngest son graduate from Xavier School.

Luceat Lux!

(sgd.)
Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ, Ph.D.
School President

March 16, 2018

Dear Parents of Xavier School Students,

Please click the link to give you access to the enrollment documents for School Year 2018-2019.

Please remember to bring the following on your assigned enrollment day:

• Report Card for SY 2017-2018
• Enrollment Acknowledgement Form
  (this is attached to the Enrollment Primer which was given with the 4^th Quarter Report Card)
• Filled out Tuition and Other Fees Form
• Filled out Book List
• Filled out Supply List
• Signed Home-School Partnership Agreement Form
• Filled out Student Medical Clearance
• Signed Consent Forms

The enrollment of your son will only proceed if all the documents are complete.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

(Sgd.)
Mrs. Josefina R. Galvez
School Registrar

Noted by:

(Sgd.)
Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, S.J.
School President

March 12, 2018

Dear Parents of Xavier School Nuvali Students,

We wish to inform you of enrollment procedure for School Year 2018 – 2019.

1. Schedule of Enrollment

Venue : David M. Consunji Administration Building

Time   :  8:00 am – 2:00 pm (No Lunch Break)

NOTE: Parents with more than one (1) child may enroll all their children in one (1) day.

For further details, please refer to the Enrollment Primer that will be distributed with the Report Card of your child on March 27, 2018.

2. Access to Forms

The following enrollment forms must be downloaded, filled out, printed and presented on your assigned enrollment day:

• Tuition and Other Fees Schedule
• Book List
• Supply List
• Student Medical Clearance
• Fetchers’ RFID Application Form
• Car Sticker Application Form

An eCircular will be sent to the parents that will contain the link to access the enrollment documents.  The forms are fillable in PDF format, which will provide ease in accomplishing the said documents.  This would mean that hard copies of the enrollment forms will not be provided.

For inquiries regarding the enrollment procedure, please call 6640143 or email the Registrar’s Office at registrar-mail@xs.edu.ph.

Please be guided accordingly.

Yours truly,

(sgd.)
Mrs. Josefina R. Galvez
School Registrar

Noted by:

(sgd.)
Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, S.J, PhD
School President

Xavier School Nuvali students have proven their mettle in a variety of competitions ranging from academic to athletic to socio-entrepreneurial ones.

The XVibe competition group with their moderator Mr. Philip Oning. Photo from the author.

XVibe, the school’s official dance group, was invited to join the Interschool Street Dance Competition organized by and held in Caritas Don Bosco in Biñan, Laguna last January 30, 2018. Out of the neighboring Laguna schools who were invited, XVibe, with members Nicole Dans, Timmi and Nina Aguirre, Francine Chua, Pau Lasala, Avril Belen, Cieli Gonzaga, Angel Villanueva, and Bienne Villarte, placed first runner-up. The group admitted to its inexperience and was surprised with their place. Nonetheless, the group is proud of their achievement and hopes to join and win more competitions under the guidance of their moderator, Mr. Philip Oning.

Erika Burgos (Gr. 10) and Jose Emmanuel Austria (Gr. 6). Photo from Mr. Aber Ruzgal, PE teacher.

Last February 13-14, the Department of Education held the Southern Tagalog CALABARZON Athletic Association (STCAA) Provincial meet in San Pablo City. Two of the school’s swimmers, Erika Burgos of Grade 10 and Jose Emmanuel Austria of Grade 6 each did exceptionally well in the various swimming competitions.

Erika won the gold medal in the 100m butterfly, silver for the 800m and 400m freestyle, silver for the 4x50m medley relay, and bronze for the 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley relay.

J-Em, meanwhile, won silver for the 4x50m and 4x100m freestyle relays, and bronze for the 200m individual medley relay and 50m butterfly.

XSN Football Midgets B Team. Photo from Mr. Aber Ruzgal, PE Teacher

On solid ground, the XSN Football Midget B Team had an impressive run during the Rizal Football Association (RIFA) Cup, winning all their elimination games. In the finals match last March 4, the team still finished strong at second place.

l-r: Mrs. Arzbette Amon (Chairperson, Math Department), Mr. Martin Bacierto, Mark Rodriguez (Gr. 8), Lee Yewon (Gr.8), Fr. Xavier Olin, S.J., Stephen Dequito (Gr. 7), Xedric Dela Cruz (Gr. 7), Mr. Mark Quitco. Photo from Mr. Luke Santos, HS Social Science teacher

On the academic side, select grade school and high school students who entered the Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge last February won various awards. For the Region 4-A Division of Calamba Elementary Level Division Oral Team Competition last February 8, 2018, Grade 2 students Misha Marcelo and Hughie Wael placed second. They were coached by Mrs. Marcela Pablo.

For the Secondary Level in the Division Oral Team Competition held last February 9, 2018, Grade 7 students Noel Stephen Dequito and Xedric Brent Dela Cruz won first place. They were coached by Mr. Mark Quitco. Grade 8 students Yewon Lee and Mark Clarence Rodriguez, coached by Mr. Martin Bacierto, also won first place.

Most notably, Xavier School Nuvali won, for the first time, as Over-All Champion for the Secondary Level Region 4A Calamba Division. 

l-r: Judge Colin Christie, XSN students Bea Lasaten, Justin Patacsil, Patrick Inciong, Rico Chung, Gyuri Cruz, judges Alexandra Manalac, Fiona Faulkner. Photo from Enderun Colleges

Grade 12 students Gyuri Cruz, Rico Chung, Patrick Inciong, Bea Lasaten, and Justin Patacsil, collectively known as  joined the Next Bright Idea elevator pitch contest hosted by Enderun College last February 10, 2018. Their business concept called “Empowerice” seeks to address two sustainable development goals namely No Poverty and Affordable and Clean Energy. Empowerice is essentially a machine that turns farmers’ rice husks–a common waste product–into ethanol which can be used by the farmers themselves to power other fuel-driven machines or which can be sold for additional income. The overall concept worked on by the entire team, as well as the elevator pitch delivered by Gyuri Cruz, impressed the judges. The group won first place and a cash prize.

A week later on February 18, Grade 7 students Martin Arriola, Stephen Dequito, and Kimi Gamo (Team LiveTheDream, named in honor of classmate Kristine Lumangaya) participated in the HackXS idea pitching hackathon contest organized by Xavier School San Juan’s NExT Lab club. The group’s idea is called Traffic Gen, which takes advantage of the metro traffic situation to generate power for street lamps and other community items or venues. The group placed second runner-up. (photo unavailable)

The students have done excellently in their respective fields and the school congratulates them on their achievements. The community hopes that they continue to let their light shine and serve as inspiration to their fellow school mates.

Date:   20 March 2018
To:      The Xavier School Football Community
From:  The School President
Re:      Management of the Football Program

After careful evaluation and study, I would like to announce new directions for the operations and management of the Xavier School Football Club (XSFC).

At Xavier, we aim for an environment that provides a healthy balance between sports and the academic formation of our student-athletes. The goal of XSFC is to sustain the interest and provide the venue for students to develop their football skills as they undergo the rigors of Xavier education.

For too long, we have relied on individuals to run, operate, and manage the club/varsity program. This reliance on any one person has presented many difficulties. Thus, the school is creating a management council composed of four individuals to run the XSFC. These are:

1.    Gerard Laurence De Las Peñas, Athletics Director – as head of XSFC; also in charge of coaches’ and players’ development;
2.    Billy Andro Naluz, XSFC Administration Lead – in charge of liaison and internal operations;
3.    Darwin Salvador, Lead Coach for Football – head of the training and varsity program;
4.    John Lawrence Chua, Lead Coach for Development Program – in charge of the beginners and developmental program (club).

I would like to thank Mr. Juan Miguel P. “Gue” G. David who has selflessly led the XSFC in the last four years. Under his leadership, we have seen XSFC return to stability and have allowed us to recognize and reorganize football as part of an integral program under the Athletics Department. He has  personally informed me that due to professional and career priorities, he will not be available to help in the football program next school year. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

I enjoin everyone to give their full support to the new management structure of the XSFC.

Thank you very much.

(sgd.)
Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ, Ph.D.
School President

For the coming SY 2018-19, the Xavier Golf Varsity Team will be chosen from those who will submit the best two (2) scorecards from the following events:

1. 1. Any The Junior Golfers League (TJGL) event from March 2018 to May 2018
   2. Annika Cup: March 22, 2018 in Forest Hills Golf Club/limited slots/register via ylk91@yahoo.com 
   3. Play with the Alumni: April 23, 2018 in Wack-Wack/limited slots/register via email to the Alumni Association of Xavier School
   4. Chinese Filipino Junior Interschool Golf Tournament: May 28, 2018/limited slots/register thru Mr Francis Dy whose details appear below
   5. Any recognized competitive national or international golf tournament during March 2018 to May 2018

You may submit your best two (2) scorecards to:

Mr. Francis Dy 0927-9270936 / francisydy@gmail.com

Mrs. Leah Lee 0917-8885324 / leahnuguidlee@yahoo.com

Mrs. Mona Ng 0917-8820130 / fattybraintoys@yahoo.com

Alumni Association of Xavier School (AAXS) aaxs.secretariat1@gmail.com

Please indicate the following:

1. 1. Tournament Name, Date, abd Venue
   2. Player’s Compete Name
   3. Incoming Grade Level for SY18-19
   4. Date of Birth

Thank you very much.

Golf Varsity Qualifying 18-19

Let me begin by thanking the City of San Juan, especially our beloved Mayor Guia Gomez, for the honor bestowed on me and my fellow awardees:

Ms Meggie Ochoa – Natatanging Batang San Juan
Mr Mariel Morales – Natatanging Kawani ng Pamahalaan
Mr Jay Macasieb – Natatanging Guro

This award is very special to me because I am not only living and working in San Juan at the moment, but I am a true native of San Juan. My family has been living in San Juan since 1963, so whenever I am asked kung taga-saan ako, anong probinsya ko, all I can answer is, San Juan.

My grandparents were immigrants from China, arriving in Manila around 1930. They lived in the city of Manila for three decades, earning a living and raising their children before being able to afford to buy property in Little Baguio, and moving here in 1963. My parents were married at Mary the Queen Parish in 1967, that is where my brothers and I were baptized; and we all studied at Xavier School. My parents are still living in their original house from more than 50 years ago.

I became a Jesuit after graduating from college in 1993. I lived away from San Juan from then on, going through Jesuit training and going wherever I have been assigned by my superiors. In late 2012, when it was announced that I would be the next President of Xavier School, I said to myself: uuwi na ako sa San Juan. And I have been here ever since, shepherding the community of Xavier School and from that base, also overseeing our branch in Nuvali, Calamba, Laguna, and our adopted school, the Fr. Pierre Tritz Institute-ERDA Tech Senior High School in Pandacan, Manila.

Through my work in education and the promotion of Chinese-Filipino identity and culture, I hope that I am contributing to the progress and growth of the city as a hub for the spirit of freedom (our city being the site of the first battle for Philippine independence), and unity in diversity (our city being a melting pot of peoples and cultures). One hundred and eleven years ago, in 1907, we became an independent municipality. On our centenary in 2007, we became a city. We are a small city, but we are big in historical consciousness, cultural diversity, and entrepreneurial endeavors.

 At Xavier School, we are committed to working with the city in promoting quality education. For more than 25 years now, we have been running Para Kay Kiko, a summer enrichment program held at Xavier School where the best public grade school students in San Juan spend one month attending classes at Xavier, run by our best high school students. These classes have fostered enduring relationships between Xavier students and their wards from the public schools.

I remember my own high school days when I would spend Wednesday afternoons teaching catechism or tutoring at San Perfecto Elementary School. Today, our high school students have adopted Salapan as their outreach area.

Next year, when our adopted school, the Fr Pierre Tritz Institute-ERDA Tech, a Tech-Voc Senior High School, opens in Sto Tomas, Batangas, we will be happy to welcome G10 graduates from San Juan public schools who are interested in a Tech-Voc career path. Our campus there is residential and our two-year intensive program includes four months of on the job training at the First Philippine Industrial Park.

Xavier is also the city’s partner in disaster risk reduction. Our campus is a designated evacuation site outside of school hours, and we are ready to assist the city in its efforts to promote the safety and well being of all residents.

My fellow awardees embody the spirit of service to the community as youth, as teacher, as government worker. All of us, in our own ways, contribute to the prosperity of the city. I pray that we all remain united in working for an environmentally-friendly city, a solid city, a place where living conditions allow religion, culture, business and education to thrive. More power to the city; more power to our city officials. Mabuhay po tayong lahat!

 Salamat at magandang gabi!

Credits to the owner of this photo (from the web).

Do you know who these three are?

Exactly a month ago on Valentine’s Day, a terrible thing happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. In what has become all too common in America, a young man, a former student of the school, walked into the school with a semi automatic rifle and countless magazines, and started shooting. Seventeen people died, including these three junior cadets—Martin Duque, Peter Wang, and Alaina Petty. Peter Wang, whose parents immigrated to the US from China, died while holding the door to help others escape. He took in several shots to the front of his body. He was only 15 years old.

It was Peter Wang’s dream to go to West Point Military Academy. The famous school posthumously admitted him.

You might wonder why I am starting this homily with a tragic story of death, even if it is a story of heroism. The reason is that this young man is the same age as you guys, and I could not help but be inspired that in a moment of crisis, he was alert and had the instinct to help others rather than flee for his own life. He gave his life to others, and in this season of Lent, that is exactly what we try to recall—that the Son of God came on this earth and gave us his life. If you listened well to the Gospel, we heard Jesus say that he does nothing on his own, but only what he sees his Father doing. Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life.

Peter Wang is an example to us of giving one’s life for others. It was a choice he made and it wasn’t a choice he could have made only at that particular moment of crisis when a gunman was going crazy in his school. He was ready for that moment because he had already gotten used to serving others. Friends and family described him as a kind, joyful person who was always ready to help others. His dream was to become a soldier at West Point, and he prepared himself through many small acts of kindness and service. When the moment for him to make the ultimate sacrifice came, he was ready for it.

Today we are marking a milestone in your academic life. Junior High School has come to an end and you will be in Senior High in a few months. Maybe it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but I’d like to invite you to ponder what kind of person you are becoming. You’ve all struggled through your academics, but you have also spent time on sports, on computers, on competitions, on many other student activities. Many of you have already been to XCE, and all of you have been trusted with iPads in school. Recently, you were entrusted with using a debit card in school.

All of your experiences are forming you into the person you are becoming. If you can imagine yourself two years from now, graduating from Senior High School, what can you see? Which university will you be going to?  What will you be good at?  In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, massive amounts of information, and emotional outbursts on social media, what can you do that will give life to others?

Few of us will be given an opportunity like Peter Wang’s, to give one’s life in a dramatic moment of service. But all of us are called to be like our Master, Jesus Christ, giving life to others through the persons we are becoming.

I pray that you become more and more aware of the kind of person you are becoming, and that you become a man of the Six C’s, who has made it a habit to choose life.

I

Credits to the owner of this photo (from the web).

Several years ago, when I was studying in the UK, I was able to visit Edinburgh in Scotland, and while I was exploring the city on foot, I was struck by the statue of a cute little dog. I wondered why a dog would have a statue there, so I looked for the inscription. I learned that the dog’s name was Bobby, a Skye terrier.  A generous lady had the statue made because she was so touched by his story. What’s his story?

Well, Bobby belonged to a man named John Gray and they had a very good, friendly relationship. When John Gray passed away, he was buried in Greyfriars church yard. Bobby followed the funeral procession of his friend and master, and then for the next fourteen years, lived in the church yard until his own death in 1872. Talk about loyalty!

II

Credits to the owner of this photo (from the web).

Hachiko is a Japanese Akita dog, and belonged to a teacher, Professor Ueno. They lived in Tokyo in the 1920s, near the Shibuya station. They were also very close, and every day in the late afternoon, Hachiko would run to Shibuya station to meet Professor Ueno so they could go home together. One day, Professor Ueno did not arrive on his usual train. Hachiko went home. The next day, at the usual time, he went to the train station again. He did this every day, but Professor Ueno never came back.

Unknown to Hachiko, Professor Ueno had a heart attack and died. He never again returned home. Of course, Hachiko had no way to understand this, so for nine long years the dog just kept returning to the station, day after day. People got to know his story and, in time, Hachiko became famous all over Japan as a symbol of great loyalty.

III

Credits to the owner of the photo (from the web).

Closer to home, we have the story of Kabang, an ordinary “askal” who lived in Zamboanga. You were still very young when Kabang made it to the news headlines in 2012. Kabang belonged to two little children who were playing on the street one day. Suddenly, a motorcycle came rushing in the direction of the two kids. The children were in danger of being run over, so Kabang leapt to action, and pushed the kids out of harm’s way. As a result of his heroic sacrifice, Kabang was badly injured in the face. Thankfully, he survived and many people helped pay for an operation to heal him and make him okay.

I share the stories of Bobby, Hachiko, and Kabang on your graduation from grade school today not only because we are in the year of the dog, but because they can teach us what loyalty means. Loyalty means love. Loyalty means patience and perseverance. Loyalty means grit, sticking to something and not giving up. Loyalty means staying around to help when there is danger, rather than running away. Loyalty means putting yourself in harm’s way, like Kabang did, so that your friends will not be hurt.

Dogs can be so loyal, maybe even more than humans, but you know who has been just as, if not more, loyal to you? Who has blessed you by creating you and protecting you, giving you parents and teachers who have brought you to this day of your graduation?

Of course you know the answer. God has been there, accompanying you, making himself available to you when you had your first holy communion,  patiently waiting for you when you had no time for Him. God has been loyal to you. He even sent His Son Jesus to be your friend, and as we approach the Holy Week, we remember how Jesus was so loyal that he died on the cross so that we can be with God forever. In today’s Gospel, the people around him are already plotting his death, but he quietly remains loyal. Even the Jewish high priest prophesied that Jesus would die for his nation and unite the dispersed people of God.

On this special day, let us thank God for His loyalty to us. Let us be grateful for all the people, especially your parents, who have made your life easier so that all you have to do is live and learn, and grow up to be men for others. Remember that God is always there, watching over you like a good Father. Reach out to your brother and friend, Jesus. With the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, they are always around you, loyal to you even to the point of suffering for you. I pray that you can be loyal too—loyal to your parents, your family, your school; and most of all, loyal to God by always trying to be the best person you can be.

April 6, 2018

Dear Parents of Xavier School Nuvali Students,

Please find the link below to give you access to the enrollment documents for School Year 2018-2019:

XSN Enrollment Documents for S.Y. 2018-2019

 Please remember to bring the following on your assigned enrollment day:

• Original Report Card for SY 2017-2018
• Enrollment Acknowledgement Form
  • this is attached to the Enrollment Primer which was given with the 4^th Quarter Report Card
• Filled out Tuition and Other Fees Form
• Filled out Book List
• Filled out Supply List
• RFID Fetcher’s Application Form
• Car Sticker Application Form
  • please attach photocopy of OR / CR
• Student Medical Clearance
• Home-School Partnership Agreement Form
• Data Privacy Consent Form

The enrollment of your child will only proceed if all the documents are COMPLETE.

NOTE:

1. Please use your laptop/ desktop computer to access, download and edit the fillable forms. DO NOT USE CELLPHONES.
2. Please download and install the latest ADOBE READER using this link: https://get.adobe.com/reader/
3. If ADOBE reader is not installed, the fillable form won’t work properly.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

(sgd.)
Mrs. Josefina R. Galvez
School Registrar

Noted by:

(sgd.)
Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, S.J.
School President

9 May 2018

To the Xavier Community:

The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 Xavier-KuangchiAward for Exemplary Alumni:

JOHN Q. WONG of the Class of 1977

Dr. John Wong graduated from UP Diliman, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (cum laude), and from UP Manila College of Medicine and College of Public Health (MSc Epidemiology, Highest Academic Distinction). He is a practicing physician and teacher who has focused much of his career on research and education to advance public health policy and services. He is an associate professor at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, teaching a generation of public health professionals and inspiring many of his students to enter government service. His own prolific investigations into the patterns and causes of diseases in the Philippines have been instrumental in shaping major government programs, including the benefit packages of PhilHealth.

His public service extends beyond the academe. Since 1987, he has worked closely with the Canossa Health and Social Center, a religious organization ministering to the poor, where he teaches mothers of scholars to prepare herbal medicine, and has been mentoring his ADMU students in organizing public health projects, including Canoderm, a line of organic ointments that provide livelihood to volunteers of the center in Silang, Cavite. He is Managing Director of Project Laan, another student-founded organization, dedicated to increasing health insurance among the poor, and serves as Chairman of the Board of EpiMetrics, a research consultancy firm that provides epidemiological data to anyone in medical research and public health. He has served as consultant for the DoH, PhilHealth, ADB, WHO, the World Bank, and Unicef. In 2017, he was awarded the Roux Prize by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IMHE) of the University of Washington for use of the institute’s Global Burden Disease Study in his research to improve population health.

JOHN PHILLIP P. SEVILLA of the Class of 1985

John Phillip “Sunny” Sevilla graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Economics and earned his MA in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.  While pursuing a successful career in finance, working for Standard & Poor’s, Peregrine, Salomon Smith Barney, and Goldman Sachs, Sunny also engaged actively in the non-profit sector. Since 1998, he has been involved with the People’s Development Institute, an NGO focused on asset reform and rural development to benefit farmers and indigenous peoples. He has also been working with Synergeia Foundation, an organization that promotes higher quality basic education through collaboration with LGUs and the municipal offices of the DepEd.

He is undoubtedly more recognized for his work in government. He first served as Undersecretary for the Department of Finance from 2006-2007. Under his leadership, the government’s privatization program gained momentum, increasing average annual revenues from P3.6 billion to P43 billion in 2007. He served again as Undersecretary from 2010-2013 and participated in the structuring and procurement of major PPP infrastructure projects like the Daang Hari – SLEX Link Road, the NAIA Expressway, and the Mactan Cebu International Airport Concession, among others. In 2013, he became Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs, where he implemented reforms that increased collections by 21% in 2014. He tightened the accreditation of importers and brokers, implemented the Balikbayan Tracking Program to trace packages from the US, and opened the Customs ng Bayan website, an online portal accessible to the general public for greater transparency.

We wish to extend our gratitude to these alumni who have brought honor to Xavier School through their exemplary public service. May they inspire all Xaverians to be similar “servant-leaders” in their respective communities and fields of endeavor.

The award will be conferred in July during Ignatian Month, Xavier School’s month-long celebration and affirmation of the Jesuit values of magis and “men for others,” on which theXavier education is grounded.

We thank the Xavier community and the awards committee, headed by Fr. Peter Pojol, SJ, for their involvement in this year’s search.

Luceat lux!

(signed)                                                            (signed)

Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ                                         Johnip G. Cua

President                                                          Chairman