Janet McCarty
The Philippine Way
Newsletter – August 2012
From Janet M. McCarty – Advance #13028Z
Reasons to Celebrate
Over the past few months we have had several occasions to celebrate but other pressing issues took up the newsletters so this one will list our blessings at SPMC (Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges). First of all, back in March we had 13 education graduates take the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) for the first time and eight passed plus one student who retook the exam passed, which gave SPMC an overall passing rate of 56.25% compared to the national passing rate of 42.46%. From the 2011 graduating class 10 have now passed, two failed, and one did not take the test. SPMC is number one in overall performance in the March LET BEEd results among all colleges and universities in Kidapawan City and in the nearby area of North Cotabato. Praise God!
In May our Dean of Theology and I were able to attend the National Convention of the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (ACSCU). The organization has 121 member schools spread across the Philippines which includes: three seminaries, seven universities, 37 colleges, and 74 basic education schools representing 11 denominations. It was a blessing to be with members of other Christian schools. The group singing itself was worth the time and effort to attend. I get tired of sitting but with a companion I was able to leave him in charge as I walked around one afternoon and took in the book display.
Following the convention we attended the Bicol Philippines Provisional Annual Conference where I personally delivered the SPMC report for the first time. One of our deaconess graduates gave us a short tour around Legazpi City where got a good look at Mayon Volcano. A good outcome of the Dean and I traveling together for these two events was that we were able to work on some important projects in the bus and then over dinner one evening. He did give me a little bit of a hard time later saying he expected to rest during our travels. There are no pictures of these two events as I left my camera at home.
Then the new school year started in June and the enrollment increased. SPMC ended the 2011-12 school year with only 80 students and we currently have 106 enrolled, an increase of 32%. That surpasses our 20% drop at the beginning of school in June 2011. Praise God again! We currently have 36 first year students: 17 education students, 11 deaconess students, and 8 theology students. With the increased enrollment we had to purchase more chairs for the chapel which was a good problem. We are also thankful for the many students who made the Dean’s List from 2nd semester last year.
On July 20 I traveled to Davao to join the 90th birthday party for Ma’am Librada C. Pableo, the former president of SPMC. Ma’am Pableo was president when I first came to the Philippines back in 1999 and was instrumental in getting me named as current president of SPMC. She is a truly inspiring person. She started her tenure of being SPMC president at the age of 76! The evening started with the march of the cakes, one cake for each decade of her life with a short narrative. Before the delicious dinner, Bishop Leo A. Soriano gave a message followed by some special songs and prayers. Afterwards a PowerPoint of her life was shown which was very interesting to me. Selected people were asked to share and I was chosen to tell of her time at SPMC. I felt honored. It was a delightful evening.
During July we also celebrated Nutrition Month at SPMC. For the first time the college and preschool joined together in the celebration of Nutrition Month. The preschool had a presentation during the program and then some of the college students had games for them while the college students divided into three teams and had an amazing race. The preschool parents had a cooking demonstration which the faculty and staff appreciated when it was lunch time. They are good cooks!
I am encouraged about our Building Fund campaign. It is gaining momentum. The alumni embraced it and are helping promote it by selling t-shirts with a picture of the new building on the front. Some passionate prayers have been offered during chapel uplifting the need for the new building. Please continue to pray with us and follow God’s guidance.
To view pictures of the above events go to http://community.webshots.com/user/janetmmccarty100 and click on SPMC Blessings 2012.
