Message from the School Director

Peace!

The year 2006 promises to be a year like no other for us Xaverians. On June 6, 2006 , it will be fifty years since Xavier School Kuangchi accepted its first class of 174 students in a converted warehouse in Echague, Manila . We've come a long way, and we have many reasons to celebrate!

Why are we celebrating the Golden Jubilee?

First, to celebrate the past fifty years and to pay tribute to our Jesuit founders. We have received a lot of blessings from the Lord, and we have much to thank God for.

Second, to strengthen our bonds as members of the Xavier community. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our students, faculty and staff, parents, benefactors and friends, as well as alumni, for their contribution towards achieving the school's vision of 'men for others'.

Third, and the most important objective of all is to renew ourselves for the future . We hope that on its 50 th year, Xavier School will experience a new renaissance in its mission of educating and evangelizing the Chinese-Filipino community to become positive catalysts for change.

Here in school, we have been undergoing a Curriculum Reform Process that began last school year. The process is designed to enable us to respond to new challenges in today's work of education. Needless to say, given the increasing importance of China , our Chinese Studies Program has been one of our priorities in this effort to improve our academic standards.

But what we are hoping for is not only a renewal of excellence, but also a renewal of service. After all, Xavier School has always aimed to form men for others , men who have developed their God-given gifts to the fullest and are using them in the service of those who are most in need.

In line with this, we are strengthening our formation programs for our students. Our parent leaders have also drafted a vision statement that will be the basis for a formation program for our parents. Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, Xavier's Alumni Relations Head and former School Director, and AAXS President, Jeffrey Siy (`80), have started discussing plans for the formation of our alumni and a stronger AAXS reanimated in the spirit of Xavier.

My hope is that our Golden Jubilee will strengthen the spirit of excellence and service among our students, alumni, parents, faculty and staff. More than ever, we, members of the Xavier Community, are called to share the blessings that we have received. Hence, aside from the internal renewal of the school, we hope that every member of our community student, alumni, parents, and Faculty and Staff will increasingly be able to make a substantial contribution to society.

I just returned from a productive and heartwarming trip abroad where I was privileged to meet with a number of our alumni who are now living in Vancouver , New York , Los Angeles , and San Francisco . In different ways, our X-PATS have accomplished much, and listening to their stories, I couldn't help but marvel at how the gift of a Xavier education has opened many doors for our alumni.

I hope that all of us who have benefited from our Xavier education will join us in celebrating our Golden Jubilee and work hard to share this precious gift by working, more than ever, to make this world a better place to live in.

Luceat Lux!

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