By Nina Marie Tonares

DBTC, Cebu, the Philippines, 17 December 2024 -- Don Bosco FIS in partnership with Don Bosco Press, Inc., organized the Philippine Catholic Educators Congress (PCEC) 2024, bringing around 220 Catholic school leaders and educators from 17 different schools on 7 December 2024, at Don Bosco Technical College Cebu. The conference, which centered on the theme “Strengthening Catholic Families Through School Pastoral Programs,” underscored the vital role of schools in fostering strong family ties as part of the Catholic mission.

A holy mass opened the congress, setting a reflective tone for the day-long conference. The event featured four insightful talks that equipped educators with tools to connect school and family life.

Fr Fidel Ma. Orendain, SDB, opened the series with “Harmony at Home and School: Cultivating Reason, Faith, and Compassion for Jubilee 2025,” emphasizing the need to nurture holistic values as the Catholic Church approaches its jubilee year.

The family trio—Mr. Nelson Villafania, Ms. Ma. Socorro Villafania, and Mr. John Marie Francis Villafania—followed with “To Know, To Love, and To Dream,” sharing perspectives on fostering familial relationships through mutual understanding and shared aspirations.

Atty. Diosdado Marasigan and Ms. Noemi Marasigan highlighted the often-overlooked partnership between schools and parents in their talk, “Educating Parents: The Hidden Curriculum in Schools.” They explored how schools can guide parents to better support their children’s education. Complementing their insights, Dr. Renante C. Payod presented a compelling case study on the same topic, offering real-world applications and strategies.

Participants engaged with the speakers during the Q&A sessions to foster dialogue on shared challenges and best practices in Catholic education.

The congress reminded participants that the family is the cornerstone of society, and schools are powerful allies in strengthening this foundation.

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