Catholic, indigenous schools in Mindoro band together as ‘pilgrims of hope’

PHOTO: Mindoro Association of Catholic and Indigenous Schools (MACIS)/FACEBOOK

CITY OF CALAPAN – The Mindoro Association of Catholic and Indigenous Schools (MACIS) was launched Saturday, March 25, at the Divine Word College of Calapan (DWCC) Arnold Janssen Gymnasium here, with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope, Moving Forward in Synodality.”

“This is the beginning of our working together despite challenges,” Fr, Crispin Cordero, SVD, president of the DWCC and MACIS vice president, said.

The province is just recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and with at least 100 coastal villages declared under state of calamity because of the oil spill from oil tanker MT Princess Empress that sank off  Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28.

Sr. Nancy Esmera, FMC, of the Mary Help of Christians School and MACIS secretary, said they welcomed around 900 delegates from Catholic schools in the province.

MACIS started in November 24, 2021 during a meeting between Fr.  Raymond Ruga, Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan Parochial Schools (AVCPS) superintendent, MACIS president, and Fr. Cordero.

“We discussed creating the association which also aims to [create] linkage to national organization – Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP),” said Fr. Ruga.

This was followed, a week later, by a meeting at the Bishop’s Residence, by school heads of St. Augustine Seminary, Mary Help of Christians School, Tugdaan School and Shirley Alda, Mangyan Mission Schools’ representative for Mangyan Education Center and Paminhian Katutubong Paaralan ng mga Iraya.

Alda was later on accompanied by the Episcopal Vicar for the Mangyans, Fr. Gabayno Oybad, the first and only Mangyan priest, and Fr. Ewald Dinter, SVD, and Fr. Ruga.

Their institutions composed the initial seven member schools of MACIS.

“Catholic schools are known as schools that are thinking more deeply but must also know how to listen to the cry of the people in order to come up with tangible actions,” said Dr. Nicholas Capulong, director of the Department of Education in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), told the delegates.

Capulong was speaker at the event on Saturday.

“By learning to listen, we are transformed together as a community,” said Capulong, as he cited Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Caloocan.

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