Professional Readings/Sharing Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines National Convention at the historic landmark Manila Hotel References: Philippine Daily Inquirer > Online Name of the Materials: Philippine Daily Inquirer Date of Issue: September 15, 2009© All rights reserved Page No. : 2 Pages Publisher: Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines Author: President Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos, Ed. D Writer: President Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos, Ed. D Introduction:
On this year 2009, year of our Lord, we gather, remember, reflect, and celebrate as CBCP and CEAP, guided by the theme: Hold it in Trust – Leadership as Stewardship. We firmly believe in the outpouring of God’s abundant grace. May the Spirit of Discernment come upon us and stir our hearts and lead us to communal acts of stewardship for the transformation of our beloved country, and for the world. An opening Eucharistic celebration officiated by His Eminence, Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, will usher in the National Convention, which will be keynoted by His Excellency, Most Rev. Edward Joseph Adams, D.
D. , Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines. Among the events lined up for the convention are a panel discussion on the spirituality of stewardship, a forum with national leaders, concurrent workshop sessions, panel discussions, and product fairs and exhibits. Summary: Other highlights of the convention resolutions were the following: (a) the desire to cooperate and actively participate in the development of the national language program of the Commonwealth; (b) the promotion of Catholic Action by the member-schools of the Association; and (c) the endorsement for the creation of a textbook commission for the Association.
The Archbishop challenged the convention delegates not to forget that the fundamental objective of Catholic educators was to instill in the minds of the youth the knowledge of religion. At the same time Catholic educators should emphasize the importance of Catholic action, being defined as “the participation of the laity in the apostolate of the Hierarchy,” for each and every lay person. Another speaker, Sister Candida Ocampo, Directress of Sta.
Isabel Academy, discussed the aims of CEAP as a Catholic Association. She said that “an important task of this Association was to make specific provisions so that the interests of Catholic educational institutions are duly represented and safeguarded in the Department of Public Instruction, thus any step or measure that might be an obstacle to the realization of the aims of Catholic institutions be vigorously opposed through proper channels. But to preserve what has been accomplished. . . s not sufficient; it is necessary to advance with the progress of civilization, that is, it is a part of the program to suggest ways and means to improve methods of instruction, particularly those relating to the refining of religious and ethical sentiments, without in the least neglecting the cultural and academic training. ” Conclusion: At the end of the convention, the delegates endorsed a proposal for a new curriculum for elementary, high school and collegiate institutions, based on a six-three-three plan.
The plan called for six years of elementary, three years of high school and three years of college as the maximum length of stay for each student entering such school level. The convention resolved that members of the Association would adopt the plan beginning with the coming school year. The plan was opposed to the quarterly system as a program of the Department of Public Instruction, and was conceived to be implemented on a semestral basis. CEAP is a voluntary organization which operates through regional educational associations located in the 16 regions of the country.
It represents the interest of Catholic educational institutions in national and international fora, fosters unity of action with other organizations in educational matters, and assists members, particularly those in mission areas, to achieve common and specific aims. The CEAP is commissioned to advance and promote the teaching function of the Catholic Church. It contributes towards the attainment of the objective, “the total development of the human person” through a Catholic orientation in accordance with the norms of the Church, constituent with national development goals as expressed in the Philippine Constitution.
