Cebu, The Philippines, 26 September 2020 -- Fr. Fidel Ma. Orendain, SDB, has been nominated and elected as the regional trustee for the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) Region 7. CEAP aims to strengthen solidarity among member schools through Catholic education, to champion relevant, inclusive and transformative Catholic education with the Church in mind, and to be catalysts of change through dialogue, collaboration and education in the different dimensions of human life.
CEAP R7 held its virtual general assembly last September 19, 2020 with the technical assistance of Don Bosco Technical College – Cebu. In that event, Fr. Fidel, rector and president of DBTC, gave the keynote speech for the event entitled, “Catholic Educators Role in developing Faith-driven People in facing Life’s Difficulties”. He was later nominated and elected by an overwhelming majority by the official school representatives of the member educational institutions of Cebu and Bohol. He later was inducted into office in a national online meeting last September 23.
The regional trustee is the chief executive officer of the regional division of CEAP and the chairperson of the regional council. He coordinates for the effective communication of the needs of the region, formulate and carry out the will of the regional assembly, and render assistance to the region’s member institutions in matters relating to their operations. He serves for three years and may be reelected for another consecutive term.
Our FIS Provincial, Fr. Godofredo Atienza, SDB, said of the educational mission of Salesians: “I am happy that we are right there. We are just in the right place in education. I am looking forward to more encounters and I am happy that Fr. Fidel was elected as the regional trustee. The educational ministry is the Salesians’ special mission for the young.” The Salesian Philippines South Province is now better positioned to contribute and inform the educational ministry of the Church in region 7 with Fr. Fidel at the helm. This is both a gift and a challenge to better live the dream of St. John Bosco in our times, even during the pandemic.
