Be constant and diligent in prayer: Prexy to AdU workforce
Date Posted: August 31, 2021 at 04:37 PM
University President Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim, CM, in his speech during AdU’s Annual General Assembly last August 16 applauded the community for its achievement in the recent school year and encouraged them to be in constant prayer.
“Let us entrust all that we will do this coming year to the intercession of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and to St. Vincent de Paul, our Patron. Let us be constant and assiduous in our prayer that the good Lord will guide our efforts and make them fruitful,” he told academic and co-academic employees and fellow administrators.
The University had just finished its first year under online learning, and Fr. Manimtim had nothing but pride and gratitude to all members of the community.
He specified the Center for Innovative Learning for training of faculty members in the use of Blackboard and the preparation of modules for online instruction, and lauded the community’s resilience efforts in transitioning operations online.
“As an academic community, we learn to live with [the pandemic] by looking and examining more closely the disruptions it has caused in our lives and in our work of teaching and learning,” he said.
Online Education
Fr. Manimtim, furthering in his message, encouraged employees, academic and co-academic, to welcome online education as the new norm.
“The disruptive conditions we see in our communities render face-to-face classes practically impossible. Online education, therefore, ceases to be a mere emergency procedure that we have to grudgingly accept. It becomes a precious opportunity that we have to embrace if we are to assure not only the continuity but the improvement in the learning of our students, he said.
“To embrace online education means to acknowledge that it makes higher demands on all actors in learning.”
Talking to the academe, he reminded the faculty to never cease learning – to continue learning as they teach – and slowly, yet surely, adapt to the technological and pedagogical demands of online education – actions that he regarded as essential to develop versatility and critical thinking among the student body.
Fr. Manny also recapped to the community the importance of overcoming adversity and providing support to the community, especially students amid difficulties – working together to “push and lift them beyond the minimum of learning outcomes so that they gain a higher sense of accomplishment, even reach for excellence.”
With this, he mentioned a three-year roadmap which would establish Adamson Digital University, AdU’s own Open University, beginning with the blending of online learning with face-to-face instruction in courses being offered by the school.
“If all things go well, the establishment of Adamson Digital University would go hand in hand with the expansion of the university outside of Metro-Manila,” Fr. Msnny added.
Vincentian Institution
Moving on to the Vincentian identity of Adamson, the University President asked the community, “What are we training and forming our students for?” pointing out to the social responsibility and compassion core values.
“After being “enticed” to join us what would make [students] stay even in the midst of difficulties and challenges that they surely will face? What should they expect from the teachers, staff and administrators that would make their struggle with the difficulties worthwhile?” he said.
Discussing his point, Fr. Manny encouraged the community to develop political engagement, especially for the May 2022 Philippine elections wherein majority of voters belong to the youth sector.
“What our times demand is not a retreat to indifference but a culture of care and responsibility for the good of the whole society,” he said.
He then proceeds to promote institutional activities that would assure every vote counted would lead to the ushering of true public servants.
Talking about compassion, Fr. Manny reckoned the programs being maintained and supported by the Vincentian and Adamsonian communities – advocacy projects, feeding programs, community pantries, lending of facilities and resources – and encouraged everyone to do the same, especially in sharing safety by getting vaccinated.
“This may seem little, but it is not an insignificant contribution for our localities to reach soonest the herd immunity which would enable our communities to resume economic and social activities in a sustained way,” he said.
