Current political, educational concerns discussed at BACS Board Meeting

The Bicol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS) Board Meeting was held last Tuesday, October 11, at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) - Legazpi, formerly known as Aquinas University. This was after the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) Convention in Davao. Present at the meeting were BACS President Fr. Ernesto Arceo, O.P., Rector and President of UST Legazpi; Vice-President Fr. Odine Areola, President of Veritas College of Irosin, Sorsogon; Secretary Fr. Rex Andrew Alarcon, Director of Naga Parochial School; Treasurer Fr. Rolando Panesa, Director of the Catholic School Center in Tabaco, Albay; Fr. Rikki Miranda, S.V.D. of Divine Word College, Commission for Higher Education; JEEPGY Chairperson Fr. Arnel Cabangunay of San Vicente Parochial School, Camarines Norte; and Dr. Marife Molato and Fr. Jaime Danilo Viola, Basic Education Commission Chairmen. Also included were Fr. Eric John Rojas of the Diocese of Virac and Bishop Jose Bantolo, current Superintendent of the Diocese of Masbate.

Topics dicussed during the meeting were the K to 12 Educational Reform, especially Senior High School concerns; issues on Higher Education such as the universal access to it; and advocacies which include the following: Marawi Crises, Federalism, Enhanced BBL, and Justice and Peace. BACS, as aforementioned, is the association of all Catholic schools in the Bicol Region. Photo courtesy of University of Sto. Tomas - Legazpi