Celso keynotes ZCSPC Palaro; Ponce cites need to take action
Mayor Celso Lobregat keynoted yesterday morning the opening ceremonies of this year’s Palaro of the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College (ZCSPC) at the JFE Memorial Sports Complex, calling it an avenue for moulding the character and good values of the student-athletes.
Lobregat also took the opportunity to thank the ZCSPC under the leadership of Dr. Nora Ponce for its partnership with the city government in all its programs and activities, particularly the highly successful implementation of the Operation 10Rs known as “Recycle, Repair, Refurbish, Rehabilitate, Restore, Remodel, Repaint, Renew, Redistribute and Reuse” dilapidated desks and armchairs from public elementary and secondary schools in the city.
He said the ZCSPC had provided the carpentry, steel technology and wood works for the duration of Operation 10Rs last summer and had donated parcels of its land (on its main campus) that paved way for the construction of the DepEd Zamboanga City Division Office funded by District 1 Rep. Beng Climaco Salazar and that of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) building.
Meanwhile, the ZCSPC lady president stressed that the institution’s weeklong Palaro is not merely for the purpose of merry-making among its people, but most importantly “it is through this event that we acknowledge the need for actions in resolving our problems in the community.”
Dr. Ponce said the ZCSPC Palaro ’09 is geared towards the principle of being responsive to the challenges caused by global crisis. “Given this notion, it is within this institution’s event to serve as an avenue for us to be responsible and aware of the obligations that we need to accomplish,” she averred, adding that an institution like the ZCSPC trains students to be responsive constituents and socially upright.
“The ZCSPC exists not only for moulding students with ample knowledge and skills. It exists as a vocational school for the purpose to also instil values which are guided by moral principles and an awareness of the social conditions taking place,” Dr. Ponce emphasized.
In addressing the school’s 3,400-strong student population and 186 teaching and non-teaching personnel, Ponce said: “We must take in mind that this (Palaro) is an endeavour of enjoyment and a source of learning for each one of us concerning on the aspect of what is takes to be socially responsive individuals.”
“Let us not be doubtful of our capabilities, but we must stand firm on what we believe we can do. Let us not take a step backward because of fear, but we have to step forward and take the failures as an opportunity for growing by considering such failures as part of our learning. Create a better community by taking sure little steps and envision for a sure greater and better glory for the constituents,” Ponce concluded.
Also present during the opening rites were CHED regional director Dr. Emmylou B. Yanga, technical and academic officials of the ZCSPC. (Vic Larato)