From our archives: written by Pastor Gerry Limoso in November 2008, when Eastbridge was just two years old.
On Thursday, November 20, 2008, I had the privilege of attending Ateneo's 31st Service Awards, as our school Directress, Teacher Jane, was a five-year awardee that year. It is the school's way of recognizing the teaching and non-teaching staff who contribute to the growth, reputation, efficiency, and standard of this premier institution. Several things I saw that afternoon are worth musing about.
The first thing that struck me was that not every institution does something like this — and Ateneo had been doing it for 31 years. That is really something.
Secondly, although the awards were given only at milestones of five years — 5, 10, 15, and so on — there were more than a hundred awardees that afternoon. It amazed me to see so many of the school's employees staying so long, at a time when people are expected to hop from one job to the next in pursuit of that proverbial greener pasture.
Thirdly, I was struck by the length of service many of the awardees had reached — from five years all the way to an incredible 45 years. Most remarkably, the five-year awardees were outnumbered by those who had served even longer. I wanted to know what made such a beautiful and lasting relationship possible, and I found my answer in the response of one 25-year awardee.
She told us how she had come to Ateneo from another school, and from then on there was no turning back, because she found in this institution plenty of room to grow in a deeply nurturing environment. There was a sense of mutual giving and respect between the institution and its staff that made each willing to sacrifice for the other — even, in her own words, letting pass opportunities to work abroad and even marriage proposals. Teacher Jane could attest to this: even in her few years there, she felt the peer cooperation and nurture that happens. There is plenty of hand-holding for those still finding their way, development programs are open to everyone, and every achievement is recognized — articles published in print or online, seminars attended, research done, educational travels, and more.
The program made my imagination run wild, and deep inside me a wish was born. How I wished that someday, our young school might also hold its own service awards to honor its faithful, hardworking staff — and that they too could say Eastbridge had become their extended family, a place where they were nurtured and cared for in return for their sacrificial service. My wish even stretched to a beautiful picture: Teacher Jane and me handing some of those awards to our own former students, whom the school had inspired to become dedicated teachers themselves.
That would be the day. Young as we are as an institution, we thank the Lord for putting this wish in our hearts, and we make it part of our vision for the future. Perhaps in due time, Lord willing, we will.
Eighteen years later
In God's time, the first part of that wish came true. Last school year, Eastbridge honored teachers who have served our school for fifteen years or more — among them Teacher Sybel, Teacher Glenda, Teacher Connie, and Teacher Carol. And as a small token of our gratitude, we brought them on a day trip to Lucban, Liliw, and the beautiful towns nearby.
Fifteen years is a long time to give to one school, and a child who passed through their classrooms in that time was shaped by teachers who stayed. That is the quiet strength behind every Eastbridge graduate.
As for the rest of that wish — our own former students returning to Eastbridge as teachers — we still hold it before the Lord. Lord willing, that day will come too.
