To pay tribute to the late Fr. Rodolfo “Rudy” Malasmas, SJ, one of the Founding Fathers of the Ateneo de Davao and an erstwhile school administrator of the former Ateneo de Davao Compostela Branch, renamed Consuelo M. Valderrama High School (CMVHS) of Brgy. Ngan, in the Municipality of Compostela, Province of Compostela Valley (ComVal), a two-classroom building was blessed, inaugurated and turned over to the administration of CMVHS on Saturday, 8th March 2014. The ceremony was attended by the administrators of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), CMVHS, and representatives of the local government units (LGUs) of Ngan, Compostela and ComVal. The newly completed structure is named “Malasmas Building” in honour of the late Fr. Rudy.
Atty. Romeo T. Cabarde, chair of the University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC), Fr. Michael Pineda, SJ, principal of the ADDU High School, and Ms. Lilibeth L. Arcena, director of the Arrupe Office of Social Formation, headed the ADDU delegation. Ms. Perlita Villegas, the principal of CMVHS, was on hand to accept and receive the ceremonial key.
Project Completion and Building Feature
The construction of the new building was finished fifteen (15) days earlier than its expected target date of completion (of sixty [60] days). Some of its amenities include forty (40) arm chairs, three (3) whiteboards per classroom (with one [1] year supply of whiteboard markers and refills), medicine cabinets, tiled comfort rooms with lavatories for each room, wall fans, pathways with pavers made from Adecor in Samal, hardwood doors and three (3) planter bays.
Well-Attended, Heart-warming Celebration
A mass presided by Fr. Archimedes Lachica, SJ, and concelebrated by Fr. Pineda, opened the turnover ceremony. Shortly afterwards, the program proper commenced, attended by students, parents, teachers, the Schools Division Superintendent, and the local government officials of Brgy. Ngan (Punong Barangay Hon. Margarito Alcos) and the Municipality of Compostela (Hon. Mayor Lema P. Bolo). In expressing its magnanimity upon the completion of this project, ADDU is recommitting itself to look for other donors to further rehabilitate the other classrooms and school facilities in CMVHS damaged by Typhoo Pablo in 2012. Mr. Karl Anthony Ebol, the Community Engagement Office (CEO) of the Arrupe Office, who is also the project manager, reported that not only was the construction finished in forty-five (45) days, it also showed a savings from its planned budget, something which may be used in renovating other classrooms in CMVHS. Likewise, ADDU expresses its goodwill in cultivating further this partnership started close to forty (40) years ago when Fr. Rudy used to run the school as its administrator. The Arrupe Office announced its long-term engagement with CMVHS and Brgy. Ngan through the conduct of the Ateneo Student Exposure Program (ASEP) and the Inductee Exposure (IndEx) Program in early summer and early June of 2014.
During the cutting-of-the-ribbon immediately following the program, a faculty of CMVHS, Ms. Deborah M. Oñate, rendered a brief history of the school when it used to be known as Ateneo’s branch in Compostela. A little while after, the marker bearing the name of “Malasmas Building” was unveiled, followed by several heart-warming sharings and messages that were read. Mr. Antonio Lumactod, Program Office of the Ignatian Spirituality and Formation Office (ISFO), paid tribute to the late Fr. Rudy. ADDU president Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ’s message was then read, eliciting an appreciative response from CMVHS principal. The president of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) herself, Ms. Edna T. Sisbreño, rendered a message of “Pasasalamat,” while Mayor Bolo of Compostela gave a massage of gratitude on behalf of the municipality. A niece of Fr. Rudy representing the Malasmas family, Ms. Fe Malasmas-Lopez (who arrived with her son), graced this landmark occasion and conveyed her inspirational talk and expression of thanksgiving for the wonderful tribute accorded to her late uncle. The whole activity was capped with a message given by Ms. Nenita E. Lumaad, the Schools Division Superintendent.
ADDU Delegation
The rest of the ADDU contingent that attended the ceremony were other members of UCEAC such as Atty. Arnold Abejaron and Atty. Arlene L. Cosape; project engineer Engr. Richard Manapol, Dr. Melba Manapol, Ms. Gina Villagonzalo, Ms. Elcy Debildos, Ms. Sheena Cachuela, Ms. Carmen Celebrar, Ms. Joanna Estor, Ms. Rjlyn Oggie Martinez, and Mr. Roger Gamboa. Engr. Jonas Gallego, the project’s construction supervisor, was also present.
Another Inauguration in the Offing
The other part of this post-disaster reconstruction project funded by ADDU and its benefactors is in Brgy. Dapnan in the Municipality of Baganga, Province of Davao Oriental. The elementary school building being constructed in Dapnan Elementary School is expected to be completed in two weeks’ time. (By M. Isabel S. Actub, Arrupe Communications & Advocacy)