“It is with profound gratitude that I express my appreciation to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through Engr. Mario de la Peńa for equipping each of our five Catholic Schools with STARBOOKS, a digital library on science and technology,” said School Director Rt. Rev. Msgr. Ramon Duran of the Siquijor Association of Catholic Schools.
On May 2, 2022, DOST Region 7 through Provincial Science and Technology Director in Siquijor Engr. Mario de la Peńa awarded the Siquijor Association of Catholic Schools a Grants-In-Aid (GIA) intervention nominated as “Science and Technology Support to Siquijor Association of Catholic Schools (SACS) Through E-Learning and Community S & T Education.”
The SACS is an association of five Catholic schools in Siquijor under the Diocese of Dumaguete.
It is composed of Assisi High School, Siquijor, Siquijor; Saint John High School, San Juan, Siquijor; Saint Isidore the Farmer Catholic School, Lazi, Siquijor; Ave Maria Academy, Maria, Siquijor, and; Saint Vincent Academy, Larena, Siquijor.
Provincial Science and Technology Director in Siquijor Engr. Mario de la Peña (3rd from left) during the awarding of STARBOOKS intervention to the Siquijor Assocation of Catholic Schools on May 2, 2022 at Assisi High School, Siquijor. (DOST)
“In a certain way, we help the five schools of SACS in increasing their library holdings for the benefit of their faculty, staff, students, and those residents living nearby who are interested in upgrading their interest in science and technology, and for encouraging meaningful activities within their campuses in consonance with their mandate of promoting wholistic Catholic formation," said de la Peńa.
Glende Paquera and Jayfhel Pagente, principals of Assisi High School and Ave Maria Academy, shared the same sentiment: “This STARBOOKS of DOST is an excellent idea. With our schools offering STEM strand in Senior High curriculum, STARBOOKS would facilitate the research undertakings of our students. More so, this will pave way in creating a culture of pursuing and upgrading knowledge in science and technology among students and teachers as well.”
The turn over of the DOST check in Assisi High School was attended by de la Peńa together with Rt. Rev. Msgr. Ramon Duran, Ph.D. - (School Director), Rev. Fr. Leonardo Tan (Finance Officer), Mary Joy Cuevas (Librarian AHS), Glende Paquera (Assisi High School principal), Jean Paquera (SACS bookkeeper and focal person of STARBOOKS of SACS). (PR)
