Adamson U opens new SY with online Mass, GA
Date Posted: August 25, 2020 at 01:53 PM
Adamson University opened School Year 2020-2021 very differently from its traditional Community
Mass of the Holy Spirit and General Assembly as ceremonies were held online this August 20.
Despite the resumption of University operations last August 18, administrators and employees stayed in
their respective offices or homes and just participated the rites via a Zoom virtual conference hosted by
the Basic Education Department (BED).
Fr. Rafael K. Eloriaga, CM, Vice President for Financial Affairs, served as presider and homilist for
Adamson U’s first ever online Mass of the Holy Spirit.
“The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a prayer of grace. We pray to God who is the source of all wisdom and
knowledge. We invoke God who sent his Son Jesus Christ, who taught us and who proclaimed his
message of faith, hope and love to us all,” Fr. Eloriaga said in his homily.
“In God’s graciousness, we ask Him to bless us through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim, University President, then declared the opening of the school year as the
Mass concluded and the program transitioned into the Institutional General Assembly opened by
remarks from Dr. Daniel Sarroca, Principal of BED.
A speech from Fr. Manimtim which reminded the administrators, faculty and co-academic staff to “hold
on to the nobility of [their] mission to educate our youth” served as the highlight of the event.
“The innovations in teaching and learning can make education even in these trying times more
interesting, and relevant for learners. If their interest is touched and challenged, the students will in turn
be more motivated and engaged,” Fr. Manimtim said.
“This is the great challenge to our teachers: to seize the opportunities for improving the craft of teaching
as we continue our mission of providing quality education to our students,” he continued. “Up to this
point, I’m asking each one of you what to do for the sake of our students.”
Accomplishment reports from the different offices under the University President and Vice Presidents
were also featured during the GA which carried the theme Assuring Student Learning in a Pandemic
World this year.
The said accomplishment reports detailed the activities of each University department and offices
before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New and re-assigned administrators were introduced and were asked to take their oath of office,
namely Mr. William Bill Turnbull (Director, Center for Innovative Learning; Concurrent OIC, College of
Science), Dr. Eleanor Austria (Chairperson, Biology Department), Mr. Robertson Laban (Chairperson,
Math and Physics Department), Fr. Rowen Carlos, CM (Director, Integrated Community Extension
Services), Fr. Agustin Advincula, CM and Fr. Libin Varghese, CM (Chaplains, Campus Ministry), Fr.
Rolando Tuazon, CM (Chairperson, Philosophy – Saint Vincent School of Theology), Dr. Amy Daraway
(OIC, College of Business Administration; Concurrent Chairperson, Management and Marketing
Departments), Ms. Raquel Bermudez (Chairperson, Center for Innovative Learning), and Ms. Pamela
Mantuhac (Institutional Development and External Affairs).
The event lasted from 8AM to 10:30AM.
