THE PHILLIPINE WAY
Photo Journal
SPMC’s Web site
E-mail Newsletter - August 2008
From Janet M. McCarty - Advance # 013028Z
jmccarty50@yahoo.com
Janet M. McCarty
SPMC
P.O. Box 68
Kidapawan City 9400
Philippines
The New 2008-09 School Year
The seasons are different here in the Philippines compared to the United States and therefore the school year is different. April and May are the summer months, school starts in June and ends ten months later in March. SPMC’s (Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges) school year started on June 11 with the highest enrollment in its 14 years of existence with 105 students. For the first time we broke the one hundred mark. Praise God! We have 32 students enrolled in theology, 30 in elementary education, 28 in early childhood education and 15 in computer science. In addition to the regular college students we had 56 students enrolled this past summer in the 21 unit course for early childhood teachers, the highest ever number for that course. SPMC operates the preschool as a lab school and we have 22 children enrolled in it.
One of the biggest events of the year is the Acquaintance Party and Turn Over Ceremony near the beginning of the year. It is an evening for students to get to know each other and the turn over for the students’ organization from last year’s president to this year’s president. The students waited until I returned from the states so the event wasn’t held until July 11. It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening. The first part of the program included several presentations by different groups, an inspirational message, and the turning over of the key. Part two was dinner followed by the acquaintance party as different group activities were held. The faculty and staff delighted the students with our own presentation of a style show, which I was even persuaded to join. One of the male students gave me a flower during our walk.
For Environmental Month in June the students planted trees and we had a special program in chapel.
July was Nutrition Month with the theme Sa Wastong Nutrisyon ni Mommy, Siguradong Healthy si Baby (good nutrition for the mother results in a healthy baby). Both the college and preschool celebrated but on different days. The preschool children, as combined classes, along with their parents celebrated one morning with recitation of poems, dances, and songs. That was followed by the children having a drawing and coloring contest while the parents had a booth display and cooking contest. We enjoyed their food for lunch. The college celebrated during our regular Thursday afternoon activity period with parlor games and various contests including posters, slogan, cooking, essay writing, and jingles.
An 86th Birthday Celebration
My mentor and friend, Prof. Librada C. Pableo, celebrated her 86th birthday with a big celebration on Saturday morning, July 26, in an outdoor restaurant. Ma’am Pableo was president of SPMC when I first arrived in 1999 and she was the force behind me being named as OIC of SPMC.
Birthdays are big occasions and this birthday was even more significant. All of Ma’am Pableo’s eight living children (one is deceased), were in attendance with the exception of one daughter living in the United States who called during the celebration. All of her children have college degrees, two have their PhDs and two are medical doctors. She has 20 grandchildren. There was a formal Thanksgiving Program followed by a huge buffet lunch. Ma’am Pableo cut her tiered decorated cake which we enjoyed for dessert.
Our carload had trouble finding the location so we missed the video presentation of Ma’am Pableo’s life which I would have enjoyed seeing. We arrived during the tributes to the celebrant and imagine my surprise when I was given a program several minutes after arriving and read my name as one who would give a tribute. I was next on the program. I only had a few minutes to collect my thoughts but I was honored to be able to share in Ma’am Pableo’s celebration. The tributes were followed by reflections from a son, a granddaughter, a daughter, a grandson, and a son-in-law. To view pictures of all these events click on New School Year/Birthday Party at
http://community.webshots.com/user/janetmmccarty100.
Shalom,
Janet McCarty