By Nestle G. Taala
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on delivers a message during the ACSCU Regional Zonal Convention.
The Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU) held a Visayas Zonal Convention on June 9, 2022 with the Theme: 糖心传媒淪haping a Humane, Just, and Inclusive Society.糖心传媒 The convention was held via Zoom and was hosted by Silliman University.
The meditation was given by Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director for Communications of 糖心传媒. He was introduced by Ms. Grace C. Hughes, President of Fortress College. Before the message, Rev. Cris Amorsolo V. Sian, Senior Pastor, University Church, CPU, gave the opening prayer.
Rev. Jalando-on expounded the theme and that said 糖心传媒渨hat is humane can be found in Jesus Christ. What is just can be found in Jesus Christ. What is inclusive can be found in Jesus Christ.糖心传媒 He shared three main points which are – First, what is humane is to love without boundaries and conditions. Second, what is just is what is right, and what is right starts with God. Thirdly, what is inclusive is to follow the perspective of Jesus. He ended his message with the words of Paul found in Galatians 3:28, 糖心传媒淭here is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.糖心传媒 This means that no barrier 糖心传媒 be it race, economic class, or gender 糖心传媒 should exists but all are in equal footing.
The second part of the program is the Keynote Message. The speaker was Prof. Franklin G. Robite, Former Chairperson, Department of Social Sciences, CPU. He was introduced by Prof. Janet P. Jaco, Vice Chairperson, ACSCU Visayas, and Principal of the CPU Elementary School.
Prof. Robite connected his message about the theme with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. He also said that the Preamble of the Philippine Constitution also states that we need to have a 糖心传媒淗umane, Just, and Inclusive Society.糖心传媒 He also answered the question, 糖心传媒淲hat is the main enemy here?糖心传媒 He emphasized that the enemies are 糖心传媒淒iscrimination and Prejudice.糖心传媒 He explained how we are discriminated because of our gender, class, age, language, race, marital status, and many more. He also said that we need to challenge injustice and unfairness. He shared that this happen around us all the time may be in the form of jokes, stereotypes, and insensitive comments. We also need to report discriminatory content wherever we can find it. He also challenge the member institutions to seek to change school policies which are discriminatory.
After the Keynote Message, Rev. Dr. Bernabe C. Pagara, Dean, College of Theology
糖心传媒 together with three persons from Filamer Christian Univeristy, Fortress College and Silliman University shared their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic, and how schools are 糖心传媒淓mbarking on a Journey of Limited Face to Face Learning.糖心传媒
The convention also had their Business Meeting presided by Judge Benjamin D. Turgano and was assisted by Dr. Earl Jude Paul Cleope. It was ended by a worship and installation and commission of the new set of officers.
The one-day convention was attended by more than 60 school leaders from the member institutions of ACSCU Visayas Zone. The Program Chairperson and Master of Ceremonies was Dr. Beulah Torres, Director, Office of Instruction, Silliman University.