XSPB FEATURE

XSPB: Rooting for Roots

Karen E. Young, Parent

Posted Friday, 24-Nov-2006 7:20 AM

The Xavier School Archives Office, how wonderful it is! It safe-keeps records and memorabilia that will keep alive the identity of Xavier for years to come!  Research on history of the different departments could be a piece of cake!  Operative word:  “could be”--- if the material is there, that is!

In a classic case of appreciating the if-only when it’s not there, I discovered that there was no readily-available history of the Xavier School Parents’ Bulletin (XSPB).  (Thus, before I proceed, if you have in your possession any old files about Xavier, please submit them for evaluation to our Archives Office for posterity!)

For seven years now, I have been part of the XSPB without knowing how it ever came to be. So one afternoon, I embarked on a stroll through time in a quest to find out!

CLUES!

Luckily, we have a link to the past in Mayette Rocafort of the Office of Disciplinary Services (ODS). She was previously posted at the XS Parents’ Auxiliary (XSPA) Office for seventeen years.  She led me to a gaunt file that contained some old issues of the Bulletin.  But it was incomplete, beginning only in 1984 (incidentally, the year George Orwell depicted as the far future is now historical archive)

I looked through the files and found “Mrs. Anita Dy, Mother of Artistotle Dy, Grade 7D”.  How dandy! I had just interviewed Jesuit priest, Fr. Ari for the Renaissance XSPB issue and was sure we could figure out some timelines with this point of reference.  The listed phone number had only six digits (obsolete today in Metro Manila) but an aunt had a similar phone prefix which was changed a decade ago. I tried the same number change formula.  In a minute, thanks to touch tone phones, Mrs. Dy was on the other end of the line!

She shared about how she joined the Bulletin, just observing. (déjà vu for me) They were mostly “housewives” (contemporary term: homemaker or domestic engineer if you’d like) who got involved.  They did not know if in those days, the Bulletin was read at all. (Some things remain the same.)

They were able to ask Ms. Luisa Relatado, an English teacher, to be consultant “to polish, not censor” their grammar.  Fr. Mena served as their Adviser, helping parents with parenting issues.  As to the earlier history of the Bulletin, Mrs. Dy suggested that perhaps Fr. Mena might have a better recollection.

A call to the Archives Office revealed that for weeks, Fr. Mena, S.J. and his staff had tried, in vain, to obtain from the XS community old files and memorabilia (including XSPB) for safekeeping.  But at that point, XSPB history was nebulous.

The rarity of finding documents almost as old as one’s self is understated, especially since I’m fifteen years away from midlife (yesterday’s para-senior 55 years being today’s midlife). 

The Missing X Files

Fortunately, heaven’s favor was upon this search as a deeper dig amongst the timeworn folders highlighted one called “XSPA Library”. This contained files dating back as early as 1968 called “Bulletin for Parents” that were typewritten, mimeographed and stapled---totally different from the 1984 series of typeset broadsheet “Parents Bulletin” <no apostrophe>.  Are these two files zygote and baby? Or merely cousins? It was time to run to an authenticator!

Fr. Mena gingerly picked up and sniffed the folders that had browned with age around the edges.  With a twinkle in his eye and a pleased ear-to-ear grin, the same kind Nancy Drew might have had on her face upon stumbling on a clue, he declared, “This could be the real McCoy!” Excitedly, he examined the documents until finally, thanks to the time capsule information as revealed by the Rector’s Message and Editorial, he concluded that the one was the evolution of the other.

XSPB ORIGIN

The Adam of the XSPB was called Bulletin for Parents, a one-sheet folded bond paper size. The first issue was released on November-December 1968 under then Rector, Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, S.J.  It was designed by the school to feature appropriate articles and a calendar of activities to address the “growing interest of parents in the welfare and activities of their children at Xavier…to foster an even greater harmony between parents and teachers.” The same format was distributed until 1973. 

EVOLUTION

By 1974 to February 1977, the Bulletin for Parents was released as a set of stapled multi-page mimeographed sheets (typed using a hard-key typewriter, a piece of equipment foreign to my sons’ generation. Pity they don’t know what trouble they are spared from for every typographical error.). This was prepared by the Grade School and High School Principals to inform parents of past as well as upcoming activities of the different grade levels.

By parents, For Parents

By the first quarter of School Year 1984-1985, it was renamed “Xavier School Parents Bulletin” <no apostrophe> on a new broadsheet single page format, prepared no longer by the school but by parents for parents “to help each other to be better parents”, according to then School Director, Fr. Zuloaga, who was happy with this initiative which he believes would develop an “irresistible” harmony and mutual support between the home and school.

The first set of XS Parents’ Bulletin Editorial Staff in 1984 consisted of Andy Tan-Gatue (who served as Coordinator), Chuki Miranda, Bong Tongco, Becky Maronilla, Anita Chan Dy, George Wang, Jr. and John Chua.

Official Publication of the XSPA

By 1988, “Xavier School Parents’ Bulletin” <with apostrophe> was labeled as the “Official Publication of the XSPA” in a new expanded 12-page newsletter format. The Editorial Board consisted of Vicky Anastacio (Editor in Chief), Danny Co (Managing Editor), Filomeno Siy and Andy Miano (Associate Editors), Arsenia Lao (Adviser), Wilhelmina Mingoa (Faculty Coordinator), Ignacio Ortigas (Board Liaison), Andy Tan-Gatue (Treasurer), Menchie Buencamino, Anita Chan Dy, June Ong, Evelyn Ranada, Bec Yao (Staff Members). The tasks were more defined. More topics were covered. There were more photos featured. The Parents’ Bulletin was blooming.

By 1991, maintaining the same format, Anita Chan Dy sat as Editor in Chief with Christine Bernardo (Managing Editor) and Antonio Yap II (Chairman for Publication, XSPA).  The Chinese article (written in Chinese characters) was introduced during this period.

Magazine Format

By 2000, under Editor Pete SyQuia (with Fr. Eugene Moran, S.J. as School Director), it evolved as a 20-page magazine with an expanded repertoire of articles including Awardees, School Updates, Humor, Recipes, Needing a Tutor.

In 2001 under Editor Bingo Dejaresco III and between 2002- 2006 under Editor Bobbie Co-Laguitao (with Fr. Johnny Go, S.J. as School Director) the same magazine format was retained. Topics responsive to the times included Peer Counseling, Safety (in the wake of the kidnap years), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Entrepreneurship, and a host of other issues.

Writing Seminar Training

During the term of Bobbie Co-Laguitao, she successfully implemented the plans which gestated during Pete SyQuia’s term to conduct a training session for the editorial staff. Guest speakers at the one-day seminar were Marjorie “Joyette” Perez, Supplement Editor, Manila Bulletin; Yeng S. Lim, Assistant Editor, JFK (Just for Kids), Manila Bulletin; and Ansel Beluso, In His Steps Entertainment Writer, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Head Writer,  Heart2Heart.

Nickname : “XSPB”

The work of last school year’s board (under XSPA Chairman Ramon Go, XSPB Chairperson Maria Luisa Oreta, and Editor in Chief Bobbie Co-Laguitao), the June 2006 Renaissance Issue (whose release was timed for the launching of XS’s 50th Jubilee year) of Xavier School Parents’ Bulletin was officially named “XSPB”, in keeping with the times of shortcuts (TYVM for Thank You Very Much, EGR for Extra Grace Required, etc.) 

In early 2006, a survey was done to find out what issues were most relevant to the parents. On top of the list were Academic Updates, School Updates (including Athletics, Curricular and Co-curricular Activities, Parents’ Activities) followed by miscellaneous parenting issues. These survey results are taken into consideration in the subsequent plans of XSPB.

WHAT NOW?

This school year 2006-2007, Walter Cheng heads the XSPB Committee. Our Editorial Board teammates are Amour-Mae Amor and Abbie Sandico (Associate Editors), and Vicky Abraham (Creative Director). Previously cut off from XSPB history, we sought to clarify our raison d’etre.  On June 15, 2006,  Fred Tiu (Liaison, Central Administration) joined us in drawing up the XSPB Mission:

In support of the XSPA, the XSPB aims

to communicate relevant information that will serve

the Parent-School goal of raising “Men Fully Alive”.

     A Writing Seminar was held last August 5, 2006 for the Editorial Staff and interested parents. Speakers were Miss Donalyne Lampa (magna cum laude, Journalism, University of the Philippines, Diliman; English teacher, XS High School), Mr. Ric Pinca (Public Relations Practitioner and Journalist), and Ansel Beluso (print and broadcast journalist). (See related article “Wield the Power of the Written Word.)

XSPA’s “XSPB ONLINE” PROJECT

This year’s XSPA Executive Committee (Exec Com) under Chairman Ramon Go deliberated on the XSPA’s Communication Plan to manage all the information that needs to be disseminated to parents regarding the school. Such information would include, but would not be limited to, school activities, important announcements and updates which parents could refer to.  Thus far, the XSPB had been coming out on an annual or semi-annual basis serving as a keepsake of sorts on what transpired during the year.

Exec Com “wild cards” (not heading specific committees but working under several committees that need manpower) Arnold Acero and Dennis Ancheta drew up an initiative that fused the current need with the given framework.  Add the serendipitous bonus of award-winning XS Web Team headed by Gary Garcia (and assistant Logan Chiam), the XSPB Online pilot project was birthed on October 5, 2006.

THREE-IN-ONE

This project hits multiple birds with one stone.

A. For XSPA: (1) this will provide a communication vehicle to disseminate more current updates (which, to my mind, may relieve Exec Com members from routine questions about school activities as these volunteer busy businessmen and executives sometimes receive questions like “Will there be soccer practice on this day?” or “When will Sports Day be held?”); (2) According to Dennis Ancheta, XSPB Online will eventually foster the sense of community within Xavier, as parents will be encouraged to participate in bridging communication by contributing articles and photos.

B. It will address the challenges of XSPB:  (1) becoming more current, purposeful, and relevant); (2) reduction of lead time to produce hard copy outputs; and  (3)  rising hard copy printing costs.

C. It will be an aid to the Web Team: After four years of operation, the XS website will finally have an official representation of the Parent Community by the parents through the existing framework of XSPB.

XSPB Online is timely in this day of progressively advancing computer technology when banking, messaging, shopping, researching, and just about anything can be done online.

Being a pilot project, the future direction is still in process, pending assessment of its effectivity. Tentatively, a hard copy keepsake issue is scheduled to be produced for the second semester of this schoolyear.

“dot.con” : WHERE IS OUR DOT IN THE TIME CONTINUUM?

It is an exciting time to be at the XSPB!  It looks conveniently attractive to have a breakthrough development during my term as Editor in Chief.  But this is not to my credit. This is totally a team effort of the men and women who are, at present, part of the XSPB as writers, photo contributors, encouragers, Editorial Board, the Exec Com, Web Team, members of the XS Administration, faculty members who liaise and contribute, even the messengers who transport the files in between offices, as well as the men and women of the past who formed XSPB history way back to its roots in 1968. The people who came before us paved the way for this momentary stewardship of XSPB before it will be passed on to future generations. 

Past, present, and future XSPB teams may never see one another face to face, but the thread of Xavier woven into our lives unites us. 

BEGINNING WITH THE END IN MIND AND TENDING WITH THE BEGINNING IN MIND

The formats have changed and the range of topics have evolved according to the need of the times, but there is a joy of discovering that after thirty-eight years, there is faithfulness to its original purpose back in 1968 when Fr. Zuloaga thought of coming up with a communication medium to foster harmony between the parents and the school. 

May the faithfulness and stewardship continue now and in the years to come to serve the purpose for which the XSPB was created.  And from a view of the roots, it’s time to look forward to the bearing of fruits.

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