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ISA President, BOT Members Visit Universities in Xiamen, Quanzhou

"It has long been our intention to meet with the administrators of the Chinese tertiary institutions, particularly those which have been sending Chinese volunteer-facilitators to ISA, to personally express our gratitude for helping our school promote Chinese education. Furthermore, we also intend to seek greater opportunities for establishing closer bilateral relations with them." ISA President Mr. Vicente C. Tiu told this writer few days before the 11-member delegations of the ISA Board of Directors, led by the president himself, flew to Xiamen City on 21 May for a three-day official visit of the three Chinese universities, namely, the Jimei University, the Quanzhou Children Development Occupational College, and the Quanzhou Normal University. The ISA delegates arrived Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport at 4:30 p.m.

	The delegation were welcomed at the airport by Zhuang Bingsheng, a director of Jimei University and a famous Chinese-Filipino philanthropist, together with the Chinese volunteers assigned to teach at ISA. That evening, a dinner was hosted by Mr. Zhuang to formally welcome the party. In the right photo are Mr. Vicente Tiu (left) and Mr. Zhuang Bingsheng

	At 9 am the next day, the ISA Board members visited Jimei University. They were warmly received by the administrators of the Institute of the Overseas Education and the head of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges. During their conference, the dean of the institute, Mr. Ye Guanghuang, briefly introduced to the Filipino guests the history and the future plans of Jimei University, in general, and the details of the approaches and methodology employed in nurturing future educators in the field of overseas Chinese language learning.

	Mr. Elpidio Barcarlos, Vice-Chairman of ISA Board of Directors, highly commended the exemplary performance and dedication of the Chinese volunteers since ISA started inviting them to help improve the quality of Chinese education in the school four years ago. "The Chinese volunteers have contributed significantly to the development of the Chinese education in our school in particular, and in the Chinese education in our country in general" concluded Mr. Barcarlos. On his part, Mr. Ye expressed his appreciation for the care and concern accorded to the volunteers by the ISA community.

	The Filipino guests visited Quanzhou Development Occupational College and Quanzhou Normal University on 24 May. They were cordially received by the administrators of both institutions. Mr. Vicente Tiu thanks the hosts for their hospitality and for sharing valuable information and insights on how to further develop and promote overseas Chinese education. The delegates returned to Manila on 25 May. The visit has been the first of its kind, and certainly is not the last.

ISA Head Facilitator Rodgen Jabor is PRISAAP Most Outstanding Teacher

Mr. Rodgen M. Jabor, ISA Makabayan Head Facilitator, was announced Most Outstanding Teacher in the 4th Search for the Most Outstanding Private Secondary School Principal, Teachers, Student Leaders and PTA/PTCA Organizations organized by the Private Secondary Schools Administrators Association of the Philippines (PRISSAAP) in cooperation with the Department of Education Region 6.

	This was the first time ISA joined the search. After being nominated by the Executive Director, Mr. Jabor was asked to submit his portfolio for evaluation. The process concluded with a panel interview held in Sarabia Manor Hotel on 25 March 2010. Academic achievements, projects organized, and personal attributes were some of the major criteria for choosing the winner. The search was participated by teachers and students from the PRISSAAP-member schools in region 6.

	In his acceptance speech during the awarding on 6 May 2010 at Boracay Hall, Sarabia Manor Hotel, Mr. Jabor said "success comes from hard work". He further emphasized to his fellow educators that whatever challenge that comes along the teaching profession; it must be considered as an opportunity to discover and develop their potentials that would eventually make them grow. Congressman Ulan Sarmiento, A-Teacher party list representative, DepEd Regional and provincial officials, administrators and teachers from private school were present during the awarding.