The Notre Dame of Jolo College Community commemorated the 196th anniversary of the Oblates’ Day on February 17, 2022, while also commemorating Employees’ Day.

 

The event began at 7:30 a.m. with a Eucharistic Celebration (Mass) at the St. Eugene de Mazenod Chapel and a Muslim Duwa’a at the College Covered Court 

(NDJC). Following that, the NDJC President, Father Eduardo M. Santoyo, OMI, Ph.D., blessed and led the unveiling of the St. Eugene De Mazenod Corner to the NDJC Community, as well as the Pavillion de Marseilles, which was blessed and led also by him together with the OMI Fathers and Brothers. 

 

Afterward, the program was divided into two parts: an indoor activity involving sports (basketball, volleyball, and badminton) and a fun game involving NDJC College and SHS Faculty and Non-teaching workers held on the NDJC Campus. The outdoor activity, on the other hand, was an Outreach Program led by the OMI Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Admin, and CES that distributed food packs to senior residents and PWDs in Barangay Bunot, Indanan, Sulu.

 

Subsequently, at roughly 3:30 p.m., the celebrations resumed. The session began with an invocation, which was followed by open remarks from our College President, Fr. Eduardo M. Santoyo, OMI, Ph.D., stressed a few key points in his speech, saying, “We thank God because, despite all these challenges we have managed to promote quality education and remember that our mission continues as Oblates, as Vision partners of the Visionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and we need to continue to strive to raise the bar of education and service…“ 

 

Thereafter, the acknowledgment of faculty and non-teaching personnel awardees began with those with 10-15 years of service at NDJC, followed by those with 20-25 years of service at NDJC. Miss Chanda Samain and Miss Nurmina Sali, both recipients of the Loyalty Award, responded, sharing their prosperity and experience as long-term employees of the NDJC Institution. Along with the event, the NDJC-SHS Team demonstrated their finger dancing proficiency, as did the NTP Team, who showed off their talents in Modern Dancing. After the Recognitions and Intermission number, was the “Tribute-gift giving” by the Faculty and NTP Club.

 

Lastly, Bro. Angelo Roberto T. Diana, OMI, Vice President for Administration, gave his speech for the closing remarks, and he stated in his last part “Oblates came from the Latin word “oblatūs” which means “offering” You are spending your time in work, spending your platform, spending your day, your space… So that would make you also an Oblate because you are offering your heart [in service]” then the event was officially closed after singing then the Notre Dame Hymn.