ANGELES CITY – The absence of the archbishop of San Fernando did not prevent the sangguniang panlungsod here from pushing through with its Tuesday hearing on the “educational stability” of beleaguered Chevalier School (CS).
Committee on education chair councilor Joseph Alfie Bonifacio said Archbishop Florentino Lavarias “respectfully asked to be excused” in a letter he sent the SP last Feb. 11
Lavarias wrote in his letter: “Although I wish to give my humble widow’s mite on your agenda, educational stability of Chevalier School, I happen to be a senior citizen and medically considered to be immuno-compromised.”
He noted that, “recently too, a number of the clergy of the Archdiocese have tested positive for COVID-virus, hence, at this critical time it may not be mutually beneficial for us to have a physical face-to-face meeting.”
“Rest assured that I am one with you in prayerful discernment that the truth may come out in regard to Chevalier School and the holy will of God may be accomplished through us,” the archbishop wrote, concluding: “With my prayers that you may continue to fully discharge your duty ever-protected, I remain…”
After reading Lavarias letter, Bonifacio decided to push through with the committee hearing despite his absence.
Bonifacio said as a proud alumnus of CS, he cannot accept that the school will simply close down.
Fr. Sabino T. Roquero, Jr., MSC, CS rector, said they were told to leave as the “archdiocese does not want to enter into any new contract.”
Roquero said the MSC will have to abide by the order to leave and therefore close CS.
He said the stability of CS depended upon the archbishop. But he said as a rector, he found it “very, very difficult” and as an educator he also felt “it is so short a time, from December up to June 30.”
A plea was earlier made by Bonifacio that it should at least be four to five years to allow students to complete their studies.
Roquero also mentioned several reasons for his sentiments.
He said there are 89 employees that will be affected with the closure of CS “especially at this time of the pandemic when every firm is closing right now. So, that is my reflection.”
He asked: “At this time of the pandemic, who will accept our employees?”
Roquero said he MSC has been operating CS for 60 years and records are too voluminous.
Another reason he said will be the more than a thousand students that will be directly affected if a formal closure of CS is submitted to the Department of Education.
Roquero said CS has a different curriculum from other schools. This means that CS Grade 11 students cannot proceed to Grade 12 if they are transferred to another school but will have to repeat Grade 11 because of the difference in curriculum.
He said the closure of CS will be “involuntary” since the MSC is “obliged to follow” the order.
“Since the MSC is not the owner of the land and only the school, so our leaving will be tantamount to closing our school,” he said.
Expressing his opinion, Bonifacio said he cannot understand why as an educator, Roquero has to follow the order to leave and close CS.
“As chairman of the education committee, my prayer is that you separate yourself from being a priest to being an educator,” Bonifacio said.
“Magkaiba pu yon (That is different),” he said.
As educators, he said, “you are bound to educate students to be better human beings regardless of their religious convictions. You are not bounded by your Roman Catholic conviction,” he said.
Bonifacio then asked Roquero on the financial standing of CS whether it is going bankrupt or not. He said he could understand why it’s closing if it’s going bankrupt.
But Roquero said CS is financially stable.
At this point, Bonifacio reiterated that there is a pending move in the city council recommending CS to be declared as a heritage site of the city.
This will mean the preservation of the school, he said.
Before the committee hearing ended, Bonifacio reiterated his appeal for the continuity of CS for at least another four to five years for the sake of the students.
In the meantime, with an impending revocation of the school’s recognition by April or May, Bonifacio set the third committee hearing on Feb. 22 with an invitation to Lavarias to join “via Zoom with the physical appearance of an authorized or legal representative from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando.”
