President’s Corner

President’s Report for 2023-2024

(This speech was delivered during the Annual General Membership Meeting on March 2, 2024)

My dear CHS Alumni,

Allow me first, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, to congratulate the Golden Jubilarians, HS 74 and all other jubilarians namely HS 54, HS 59, HS 64, HS 69 and HS 79.

We all had a fun filled, memorable and very successful Homecoming at the campus grounds of CHS Manila – finally, after three years of being out of our beloved alma mater. We didn’t think it was going to be possible.

But the Holy Spirit moved all of us toward one direction so we can once again celebrate at HOME.

Thank you very much, SSpS sisters led by Sr. Rosario Tayson, head of the Rosary Province, for opening the doors of CHS Manila once again for all of us, even for just a day of celebration. Our hearts were full. Our joy could not be contained.

February 4, 2024, was truly an exciting day for everyone. In addition to the Homecoming, CHSAF held the Alumni Day in the morning ahead of the Homecoming activities, so that all alumni can come and be at CHS Manila once again to reminisce with their classmates and friends and make new memories. It was like having a school fair with booths and a mini program that featured songs, dances and a Zumba session.

Free massages were offered–a real treat for us who welcomed a few minutes of relaxation and a feeling of wellness.

I would also like to congratulate this year’s outstanding alumni awardees. CHSAF remains committed in recognizing CHS graduates who have shown exemplary achievements in their respective fields of service and have contributed to the betterment of their communities and society in general. They make us realize the value of good education and a purpose-driven life.

Because of all these wonderful happenings on Februrary 4, CHSAF, HS 74 and the other jubilarians received rave reviews from those who witnessed our celebration. We could not contain the joy from knowing that CHSAF was given the opportunity to fulfill the wish of countless alumni who wanted to be in CHS Manila once again. The comments you see on the slide are just some among countless messages we received from our social media accounts in Facebook, Messenger and Viber.

We would also like to thank Fr. Anselm Manalastas, OSB for officiating a beautiful mass at the CHS Chapel, a place that holds many dear memories for all of us.

Another milestone for all of us this past year was our fund-raising concert aptly called September to Remember. That event set the tone for us to be bolder and more trusting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It brought together for the first time the highest number of CHS alumni in one evening of nostalgic songs and dance led by our very own alumna, Louie Reyes of HS 68. She was joined onstage by veteran performers Leah Navarro, Pat Castillo, Ray An Fuentes, Ding Mercado and Chad Borja.

This event likewise garnered glowing reviews from those who attended as they shared and stored more happy memories with their families and classmates.

It also helped CHSAF raise the funds needed for our ongoing scholarship and social action programs. You will hear more about the financial aspect of the concert during the Treasurer’s report.

Both the recent Homecoming and the September to Remember events affirm our commitment to support our fellow alumni and to be of service to society in general. We are Holy Spirit alumni united, guided and strengthened by the principles embodied in the SSpS edict of Veritas in Caritate (Truth in Love).

We value integrity, excellence, good governance, respect for the environment and most of all, we are guided by our school motto, Truth in Love.

2023 was a year of milestones, of bigger projects which strengthened our confidence that, as one body, we can achieve greater heights. With bigger projects, so did bigger challenges face us. But with much resolve, focus, unity of purpose and prayers, we overcame them.

Our ties too with our counterparts in North America continues to strengthen given the presence of a CHSNAF representative in the CHSAF Board in the person of Ms. Deanna Go Bio. Together, CHSAF and CHSNAF support our scholarship and social action programs.

Our scholarship program has evolved on account of the closure of CHS Manila. It is now focused on assisting underprivileged but deserving high school students in Holy Spirit schools in Malolos, Fairview, Q.C., and Tarlac.

CHSAF has granted fourteen educational grants of P50,000 for each deserving student for a total amount of P700,000. The students were chosen from the list of applicants recommended by the SSpS sisters. These beneficiaries are those who are either finishing Senior High School Grades 11-12 or finishing Junior High School grades 7, 8, 9.

Aside from the grants to regular students of the SSpS schools, CHSNAF started the IP College Fund Program in 2022 to provide college education to deserving students at the SSpS Missions for the Aetas in Tarlac and for the Mangyans in Mindoro. For 2023, CHSNAF gave grants of P50,000 a year to two Aeta college students enrolled at the Dominican College in Capas, Tarlac. One is taking Bachelor of Science in Education, and the other is taking Bachelor of Science in Criminology. Both are in their second year.

In terms of our social action programs, we have a number of ongoing activities.

• First is CHSAF’s full year feeding program which benefits 30 grade 1 and grade 3 students in Balara Elementary School. This is the second year that we have supported the BES Friends Feeding Program of Ms. Nela Almario-Zeta of HS 68.
  
  For those who attended the morning program on February 4, a number of talented Balara Elementary students performed a beautiful song and three entertaining dance numbers to everyone’s delight.
  
  Last December, CHSAF also sponsored a Christmas Party for the beneficiaries of BES Feeding Program in Balara. Over 100 students attended the party where gift bags and game prizes were also handed out to the children in addition to the food they were served. The children performed dances while CHSAF hosted the games.
  
  
• Second is the assistance provided by CHSAF and CHSNAF to our indigenous peoples under the auspices of the SSpS sisters in Bukidon and in Capas Tarlac.

In Bukidnon, CHSAF funded the renovation of the dormitory in a Mission Center in Malitbog town under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. The SSpS sisters from Cebu were invited to assist, since the facility houses a dozen female high school and college students who otherwise have to trek to and from the mountain where they reside to go to school. They belong to the Higaonon community.

Among all the ethnic groups of the northern and central areas of Mindanao, the Higaonons are the least known. They are described as the “people of the living mountains” and “people of the wilderness.” They are known to be peace makers as the culture of the Higaonon tribe is best described as one of solving the internal conflicts of other ethnic groups.

The amount donated by CHSAF was P340,000.

This support for Malitbog stemmed from the project of HS 71 which involved the construction of two classrooms for the elementary school in Barangay Banawa, Malitbog. They witnessed the decrepit state of the dormitory in the area when they went there to visit.

CHSAF, in partnership with CHSNAF is also supporting the work of the SSpS sisters in Barangay Paidyanan and the Aeta Community in Sitio Yangka, Barangay Maruglo. Both are in Capas, Tarlac.

The sisters run an Aeta mission center with dormitories for Aeta boys and girls who need a place to stay that is closer to their school. Otherwise, like the Higoanons, they will have to trek to and from their homes up in the mountain of Sitio Yangka.

The first project funded by CHSNAF was the building of a kitchen and dining area for the Aeta students. What used to be an area exposed to the elements is now a well-equipped dining hall.

Upon learning that the Aeta community in Sitio Yangka, Barangay Maruglo where the children’s families live and where more than 90 families have no direct source of potable water, CHSAF, through its social action committee began working with the SSpS Sisters and Water.Org, a global nonprofit organization with the mission to bring water and sanitation to the world.

The main objective of this project is to be able to provide a water system within the community. At present, the Aetas are located in a plateau with an average elevation of 462 meters. To fetch potable water, they have to trek nearly 800 meters each way on mountainous terrain.
This image you see is part of a pre-feasibility study done by Engineer Petronio Muring through water.org. It was jointly funded by CHSAF and CHSNAF.

The project is currently at the stage of completing a detailed engineering study, which will be the basis for seeking donations for the construction of the water system. A sole donor in the person of Ms. Malou Tiquia of Publicus Asia is funding this P150,000 study. Prior to that, CHSAF and CHSNAF funded the pre-feasibility study which cost about P15,000. It is estimated that the construction of the water system could run up to P2 million. CHSAF will need the help of the alumni who may be able to provide leads for us to attract large-scale donors for the project. The timetable for the completion of the project is middle to third quarter of this year, that is, with God’s grace, all goes well, and funding is available.

Beyond our scholarship and social action programs,

CHSAF continues to provide spiritual support for our members. Last year, CHSAF held a Holy Week recollection, a Visita Iglesia, a Requiem Mass and the popular Simbang Gabi.

This year, we have already a scheduled recollection on March 16. It will be officiated by Sr. Eden Panganiban who currently heads the Holy Spirit Retreat Center of the Blue Sisters in Tagaytay. Sr. Eden is also the Adviser of CHSAF.

Other activities include a CHSAF Chats episode on May 20, with Deanna Go Bio, hosted by Cora Guidote of HS 78 and Lilet La Vina of HS 76.

On June 15, CHSAF also conducted a tour of the Heritage Homes in Taal which was joined by a number of alumni.

During our strategic planning workshop on November 27 and 28, 2023, it became clearer that our overall direction was to continue our existing programs, but with increasing focus on partnering with the activities of the SSpS missions, particularly with the neglected communities of our indigenous peoples.

CHSAF also wants to further increase its active membership from both from High School and College graduates, but most especially the latter. We would like more College graduates to celebrate their Homecoming with their respective batches rather than just having one group. The increase in membership, particularly from younger batches will ensure the long-term sustainability of CHSAF and its programs.

CHSAF would like to specially thank your class representatives who have been vital in the success of the programs and events that CHSAF has been holding. Their close coordination with the Board of Trustees ensures that information and scheduled activities are properly cascaded to their respective members, and dues or donations are collected in a timely manner.

Our communications efforts have been highly effective as we actively engage with the alumni through our various social media sites using internally generated content. We have our official website chsafofficial.org, our two Facebook pages, our Messenger and Viber chat groups, our quarterly newsletters We the Alumnae, and our Youtube channel. Through these platforms we were able to generate very strong interest in our major events without having to engage an external PR agency nor to make very costly ad placements.

In the area of Governance, CHSAF released in 2023 the Manual of Good Governance, the Code of Conduct for Members. CHSAF also managed to establish an Audit Committee, led by Trustee Cori Desiderio BSC 82.

More needs to be done, because in the area of Governance we are aiming for PCNC accreditation which will allow CHSAF to draw bigger donors for more ambitious projects. Other initiatives in the pipeline include succession planning, generating a business continuity plan, the formulation of a CHSAF Data Privacy Policy with implementing guidelines, and supporting guideline for policies set forth in the Bylaws such as inclusivity and disciplinary procedures for erring members.

Overall, moving forward, CHSAF aims to CONSOLIDATE, INTEGRATE, and PRIORITIZE our activities and programs.

We have so much work ahead of us because our vision is to become an exemplary charitable foundation of Holy Spirit Alumni dedicated to perpetuate the legacy of the SSpS brand of quality Catholic education through socially responsible and sustainable programs.
With your help and through our God Almighty’s divine providence, we are confident that we are walking on the path toward fulfilling our vision.

Thank you very much.