When I was writing about the 150 years of the Vincentian community in the Philippines, I came to appreciate more what our priests and nuns are doing to bring the people closer to God through education and charity work.
Another milestone is the 100th anniversary of St. Agnes Academy in Legazpi City where some of my friends studied, such as Loida Nicolas Lewis, Imelda Nicolas, Cecile Gonzalez of the Miles Plus More Travel, Tribune lifestyle editor Dinah Ventura, Mary Ann Huenefeld and Legazpi Vice Mayor Vittorio Roces.
Also marking a milestone is the College of the Holy Spirit, which recently opened celebration for its 100th year in 2013.
St. Agnes Academy recently gave recognition to its 100 most outstanding alumni, including Filipino-American billionaire philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis and sister Imelda M. Nicolas, chair of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
Nicolas-Lewis established The Lewis College in Sorsogon City in 1999 , from which 1,000 students benefit.
The Nicolas sisters spent part their elementary and high school years as internas living with German Benedictine nuns behind St. Agnes, which is some 50 kilometers away from Sorsogon where they both grew up. Imelda’s experiences are featured in the book “Behind the Walls, Life of Convent Girls,” published by Anvil Publishing Inc.
History
St. Agnes Academy was founded in 1912. It was formerly known as Academia de Sta. Ines. It is the oldest Catholic school in the province of Albay.
Batch ’83 and Batch ’87 were the hosts of the celebration held last May 6.
As another century unfolds, St. Agnes Academy renews its commitment to the cause of children and women’s rights; moral regeneration and social transformation guided by its founder St. Benedict’s motto, “Ora et Labore” (Pray and Work), and the saying Bicolanos say at the end of an encounter, “Dios Mabalos, Dios Mapadagos.” (Thank you. God rewards you. God will continue to bless you.)
Holy Spirit sisters
Meanwhile, it was in 1913 when four German nuns agreed without hesitation to answer the call of the SSpS congregation to “sail” to an unknown island called the Philippines and to establish a missionary school and propagate Trinitarian values to its “natives.”
Those four nuns would be gratified to know that a century later, their efforts have produced a long-standing institution that is the College of the Holy Spirit in Mendiola near Malacañang.
The SSpS nuns reached Laoag, Ilocos Norte, much later and the school they built there was where my friends and I studied from kindergarten up to high school. It was called then the Holy Ghost Academy; now it’s known as Holy Spirit Academy. My aunts studied here, and my four nieces who are daughters of my late brother Abraham Darang did, too.
There is something about growing up under the guidance and direction of nuns. We were taught how to behave; so much so that we were always aware of our good manners in any situation. The knowledge that there is God who will always be there for us helped us cope when we went out into the world after graduation.
For the centennial of the Holy Spirit nuns’ school in Mendiola, there will be a three-day official program starting Feb. 1, 2013, with a homecoming on the CHSM campus and a centennial gala on Feb. 3.
All alumnae are requested to contact their class representatives to find out how their respective classes will be involved in ensuring a successful celebration.
Indie movie premiere
The premiere showing of the indie film “Madaling Araw, Mahabang Gabi,” directed by Dante Nico Garcia, will be at the Music Museum on Sept. 4, 8 p.m. TV host/singer Abby Asistio will lead in the singing of the National Anthem. She will launch her first album during the premiere.
Abby is no ordinary performer. The daughter of actress Veronica Jones and Macario “Boy” Asistio, Abby has suffered from Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out.
Abby told my friend Noel Hermogeno, who is here from Los Angeles for the premiere, that she would be singing bald during the premiere. “I wrote a song about inner beauty,” she said. “I will sing it and shoot a music video for it without hair.”
Our Lady of La Leche exhibit
Different images of Our Lady of La Leche are on exhibit at the San Juan de Dios Hospital until Aug. 31 to mark Breastfeeding Month.
The devotion to Our Lady under this title is being promoted by Marc Dalma, a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Philamlife Village, Las Piñas, and a member of the Cofradia de Nuestra Señora de Soledad de Porta Vaga.
In Catarman, Eastern Samar, the Cathedral of the Annunciation will celebrate the feast of Our Lady with Bishop Emmanuel Trance officiating the concelebrated Mass. Parish priest is Msgr. Romeo Infante.
Hermana is Mayor Fredicanda Dy, who asked Buen Suceso Exclusives to make the “Éstandartes” that will be carried during the procession.