ANALOGIZED TO a senior citizen who is kept under control by COVID-19 quarantine protocols, my alma mater, the 60-YEAR old Chevalier School (CS) almost ceased to exist—not because of the coronavirus pandemic where schools in 188 countries had shuttered—in the midst of “land ownership” issues. Sans the collective efforts and vigilance of alumni “caballeros & caballeras”, parents, teachers and students, Chevalier’s legacy of providing Catholic education and instruction in Angeles City may have slipped into oblivion.
For the time being, the legal issue is water under the bridge until 2033. The school’s life span was resuscitated for another 15 years reckoned from school year 2017-2018 after the honorable court rendered confirmation, validation and making permanent the writ of preliminary injunction dated March 24, 2017 citing “a reasonable basis on the need to protect petitioners-students’ right to finish their course and the necessity to grant injunction on the respondents’ imminent act of executing a new lease of contract that materially invades petitioners-students’ rights to education.” The petition was filed in behalf of the petitioners-students by CS parent and lawyer Regina Gopez-Agustin. As the Chevalier’s hymn goes, “To be gallant to his people and his land, to be noble in ways, to be gentle at heart, to be strong in conviction, and to be FEARLESS AND BRAVE.” These lyrics doth inspire the entire Chevalier community.
Chevalier School (formerly Sacred Heart Mission Seminary of Pampanga Inc.-SHS) is a private academic institution in Angeles City established in 1960. We are celebrating its 60th year this year. It has been continuously run by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC) founded by Servant of God Fr. Jules Chevalier in France which is committed to developing God-loving and well-rounded graduates that have a heart for others. It is also duly recognized by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines and the Department of Education. Being the educational center in Central Luzon, Angeles City houses other academic icons such as Holy Family Academy which was founded in 1906, Holy Angel University in 1933, Republic Central Colleges in 1946, Don Bosco Academy-Bacolor in 1956, and Angeles University Foundation in 1962. According to my elementary language teacher Madam Fe Quiambao, the former SHS had a temporary location at the apartments of the Lazatin family. The site is now the compound of the Lazatin vinegar plant in Brgy. San Jose. Through the years Chevalier School—from exclusive school for boys to mixed gender—has managed to maintain its academic excellence. During my time in the 1980s, the school was well known in winning academic contests such as the prestigious UP Aguman (Kapampangan UP students group) sponsored Pautakan Quiz contest for Pampanga-based schools. We were the first to win the revolving trophy (three consecutive annual victories – Batch ‘82, ‘83 and ‘84). My own Batch ‘87 academic team was composed by Engr. Richard Luciano, Eric Arcebido, Allen Hizon, Victor Veejay Tanglao, and Dr. Nines Bautista and teacher-coaches Madam Bona Castaneda, Mr. Venancio Belnas, Mr. Bart Canlas and Engr. Arthur Mitra were also the champion during our time and Chevalier School became the reigning Pautukan champion in Pampanga until 1988. The principal then was Mr. Ricardo “Rex” Dela Cruz. One of the famous icons in the campus is the late Fr. Henry Groenwegen with his enchanting Dutch accent stayed with CS for 50 years and opted to be buried in La Pieta with Fr. Witteman.
The school has produced numerous outstanding graduates and alumni since the 1960s that have contributed to our community and our country in the field of medicine, engineering, legal, culinary, automotive, entertainment, academe, aviation, military, agriculture, local government, IT, entrepreneurship, journalism, priesthood, banking, foreign service and politics. Among the alumni who always makes himself available to the alma mater is Converge ICT Solutions President CEO Dennis Anthony Uy. The CS PTA Board Inc., CS PTA Foundation Inc., and the Sacred Heart Seminary-Chevalier School Alumni Association, through Fernan Panlilio Batch ’85 and Veejay Tanglao Batch ’87, extended their gratitude to Uy, Ricardo De Jesus and Scarlet Ebba of the marketing department who recently donated Php 250,000 intended for the scholars, faculty development and the 60th CS grand reunion in December. Uy served as CS high school student council president for SY 1985-1986.
Traditional school operations may halt, but learning must not. Accepting the challenges of the COVID19 pandemic, Chevalier School has innovated a “Learning Continuity Plan” transforming the traditional in-person classes to online learning to cope with the requirements of the new normal. Consultations and surveys were conducted to employees, parents and students, health and safety standards are observed, teachers have attended webinars about the adjustments to be made, Deped’s most essential learning competencies were reviewed, and the faculty members have offered their readiness and commitment in providing continuous quality education. The school currently offers pre-school, elementary, junior high, and senior high education programs. Admission for SY 2020-2021 is ongoing as the tentative opening of classes is scheduled on August 24.
The Deped has already announced no face-to-face class interaction for SY 2020-2021. There are classes but learners need not be in school. The mode is not just online. There are modular and blended learning. If you don’t have gadgets and the internet, printed modules will be provided once the school year starts. No need to buy workbooks because teachers are preparing developmentally appropriate modules for learners. Likewise no need to ask or buy 1st-4th quarter files because learning is like taking food slowly portion by portion. Refrain from buying wifi modems, laptops, gadgets, workbooks and printers because prices are too much. These are more appropriate for teachers to deliver the modules properly. The mark up price is intense due to high demand.
The new normal curriculum is a great challenge and a shared responsibility not only for teachers but also to parents to help learners achieve their dreams.