Our growth and success are dependent on having dedicated and loyal team members. In this year’s Milestone Awards, we honored 34 employees for their many years of service to PAREF Woodrose School. We wish to thank each and every one of them for the significant roles they continue to play in maintaining our performance standards and commitment to excellence. Heading that list is Mrs. Vicky Torralba who has been part of this institution since it was established 40 years ago in 1977:
| 5 Years | 10 Years | 15 Years | 20 Years | 25 Years | 35 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley Aquino MJ Benedicto Shiela Cabral Airene Diolata Mariz Morales Sheila Neukom Apple Obusan Renato Reyes Jet Villanueva |
Wea Acala Rose Dumlao Gemma Enriquez Joy Herrera Carmela Vertido |
Abigail Balasia Paty Buñag Fe Calara Fe Diño |
Gemma Barbo Leah Cabrera Sann Fermin Mylene Mapa Lynnie Mayang Delia Perea Mercy Reyes |
Rica Aguilar Au Katindoy |
Rhona Sedayao |
| Retirees | Special Recognition |
|---|---|
| Luz Ilagan Hedi Oguing |
Carmen Frim Maricar Reyes Vicky Torralba |
We share with you below a Message to the Milestone Awardees given by Mrs. Marie L. Escueta, School Board Corporate Secretary, on December 18, 2017.
On December 7, 2017, we were gathered in this same hall to give thanks and to celebrate Woodrose’s 40 Years. We were delighted to have a get-together with the founders and the founding parents and to hear many stories as we reminisced with them the early days of Woodrose. I remember asking Mrs. Tessie Arcenas who was 30+ years old at that time, “Tessie, what made you commit to this educational institution then when there were a lot of uncertainties – no legal permit, no teachers, no funds, no building?” She smiled and said, “It was the right thing to do given the urgent needs of the times.”Today, we are here once again to give thanks and to celebrate the people who have dedicated a significant portion, if not all, of their professional lives to Woodrose, aligning themselves with its Vision and Mission in the performance of their specific roles. In my mind, these are not two separate events with two distinct goals. I look at them as milestones in the Story of Woodrose, which includes the story of each and every one of the honorees. The story of Woodrose is also the story of each and everyone of us in this room today.
I am honored to have had a chance to work with most, if not all, of the honorees. When we enrolled our daughters in Woodrose in 1990, Vicky Torralba was the Associate Director for Academic Formation; Carmen Frim was a Philosophy Teacher; Rhona Sedayao was the Class Adviser of my Grade 7 daughter then; Au Katindoy and Rica Aguilar were teachers in Grade School; and Maricar Reyes was our Head Parent Coordinator. It was in her house where we had many fun, intimate get-togethers. Luz Ilagan came in at the right time as Business Manager then moved on to encompass HR and Administration…Mylene Mapa and Joy Herrera as mentors…Carmela Vertido a student then…Math Teachers Hedi Oguing and Patty Buñag…Grade School Teacher Del Perea…Mercy, Gemma, Lynnie, Leah…all hear already…Lynnie now married, so is Mercy.
Your stories have enriched Woodrose’s journey as they were very well integrated into the life of our beloved institution. You have been “guardians of its unique culture and environment.” Together with those who have gone before you, your love for your subject, your dedication, your commitment – all contributed to making Woodrose what it is today. Let me back track a bit and ask the question: Can you imagine a Woodrose with new teachers, new staff, new administrators every single year? What would Woodrose be like if each of our milestone awardees left after one year of service? There would be no Woodrose as we envision it to be and as we work hard to put it to life. There will only be the buildings, the teachers, the students.
The Regional Vicar asked during his homily on December 7–why do we celebrate? To remember the action of God! To recall, to remember, to celebrate for a purpose. And as we celebrate, we venture into the future with joy, with gratitude, with resolve, with optimism – constantly corresponding to the grace of God. Asking ourselves, what can we do better. What can I do better? We celebrate Woodrose’s 40 years. We celebrate the 5-10-20-25-35-40 years of dedicated service of individuals who have chosen to be part of Woodrose…And for all, and in all things, we give thanks. The future lies ahead, perhaps bringing with it many more challenges! With the examples set by our honorees, we will be guided. Whether in the classroom, in the office, in the bookstore, in the fields, in the dealings with parents, in the dealings with our mentees. They have shown us profound examples of how to live these ordinary things extraordinarily well.