Today, July 29, 2024, marked another significant milestone for Notre Dame of Jolo College as the College Orientation and Seminar (CollOrS) once again welcomed this school year’s officially enrolled freshmen from different colleges and programs. The Student Development Placement Center Director, Ms. Fatimatuzzahra A. Abdulmajid, RPm, with the coordination of the Mahardika Student Government officers and student ambassadors and ambassadres volunteers, led and organized the one-day event.
The event kicked off with the registration of the first-year students. Following the registration, the college community gathered at the facade for an assembly that commenced with an interfaith prayer, a flag ceremony, and preliminaries. Moreover, through a heartfelt address, College President, Fr. Eduardo M. Santoyo, OMI, PhD, officially welcomed the freshmen.
This then transitioned to the College Covered Court, where the formal event took place. Hosting spiels set the energetic tone from the first-year students for the event before the opening remarks of the Quality Assurance Director, Ms. Fainda Asiri, RN, MAN, on behalf of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Raymond Delos Reyes.
The Human Resource Director, Ms. Janice A. Jalali, MPA, CHRA, took the opportunity to introduce the college deans, highlighting their expertise and commitment to academic excellence. Hence, each college dean gave their short messages, including Dr. Rosalyn A. Hashim for College of Nursing and Midwifery, Mr. Rapih A. Jairi, RPh for College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology, Ms. Houri Zaina I. Baladji on behalf of Ms. Nur-ain A. Sahibil, MAIS for College of Liberal Arts and Criminal Justice, Ms. Elieza S. Tusit, MBA, CHRA for College of Business Management and Information Technology, and Ms. Michelle Angeli S. Tarsum, LPT, MAED for College of Education, respectively.
Furthermore, an intermission number from the Ingat Kapandayan Artist Center was performed to provide entertainment for the audience.
Moving forward, the program delved into important introductions and informational sessions. Ms. Jalali MPA, CHRA, then continued to introduce the NDJC administrators, ensuring that the students were familiar with the key individuals who contribute to the college’s success.
The Campus Ministry Office Director, Sr. Zenaida Sonsona, OND, then enlightened the first-year students about the college’s core values, emphasizing their importance.
Subsequently, the Office of Student Affairs Director, Mr. Rhazzel Allan S. Asda, MPA took the stage to share crucial information about the school’s services and policies.
Trivia games were also incorporated into the program, providing moments of fun and amusement for the students, by the Mahardika Student Government officers.
The morning event continued with informative sessions led by various departments. The Information and Communications Technology Office Director, Mr. Eduardo K. Matriz provided an orientation on the ISMIS and Hotspot systems, equipping the students with the necessary technological skills for their academic endeavors. Then, the Community Extension Service Office Community organizer, Mr. Jimsarl T. Najib shed light on solid waste management, emphasizing the college’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
In addition, an educational session on NDJC’s intellectual property rights policy aimed to cultivate a sense of respect for creativity and innovation among the students.
The Office of Alumni Affairs also provided video messages from NDJC alumni who shared their stories and expressed gratitude to the school itself for making their dreams come true.
As the morning event drew to a close, the Vice President for Administration and SDPC Director, Ms. Fatimatuzzahra A. Abdulmajid, RPm, delivered her message, expressing her excitement for the students’ academic journey.
A comprehensive orientation for the afternoon activities was conducted by the school psychometrician, Ms. Rhabya Sahidaini, RPm, ensuring that the students were well-prepared for the upcoming sessions. Before bidding farewell to the morning event, the students participated in the photo opportunities.
The afternoon event consisted of an exhibition of the different organizations and clubs at the college’s Under the Tree sheds for the students to wander around as its Organization Fair, with the aim of anticipating the students participation and partaking in the organizations that captivate their interests.
Finally, the event successfully ended with a color blast that took place in the facade with the Bureau of Fire Protection and the community live band performances of the De Mazenod Band.