WHO’S YOUR DADDY?

The SJABI Hustle

Part 3 (Last Part of the Series)

In Part 1 you were presented with the facts.  Part 2 described The Hustle.  So what now?

Quo Vadis? (“Romam eo iterum crucifigi.”)

SJABI is in corporate limbo.  It is similar to a rudderless aircraft hijacked by an unlicensed pilot.

“And the world is like an apple, whirling silently in space.  Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.”

The song Windmills of Your Mind was the theme song of the original 1968 movie, The Thomas Crown Affair, featuring Paul Newman and Faye Dunaway.  The plot: wealthy banker masterminds daring bank robbery pulled off by four men.  Get my drift?

As the chairman of the committee on education, culture and science of the Sangguniang Bayan I have received several issues and concerns from some of the trustees of SJABI, parents and teachers pertaining to the management and administration of the school.  The Sanggunian realized that these issues and concerns, left unabated, could affect the long-term viability of the school and ultimately result in adverse consequences to students, parents and teachers.  These issues reveal a red flag that raises it to a matter of grave public interest.

The Sanggunian invited the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Ms. Socorro T. Ponferrada, and the pseudo school administrator, Sr. Marylou Quijano, as resource persons.  Sadly, only the Secretary of the Board showed up on 10 April 2017.  After three successive invitations, Sr. Marylou deliberately ignored our invitation with no valid explanation.  On the third invite, she informed the Vice-Mayor (Presiding Officer of the Sanggunian) that she was directed not to appear before the Sanggunian without the go signal of the Archbishop.  Such a lame and arrogant excuse! 

Sr. Marylou Quijano was given the opportunity to explain her side but chose to ignore it.

So, who’s your daddy?

By unanimous vote of the members present the Sangguniang Bayan of Barugo, Leyte, passed two resolutions on 10 April 2017 based on the discussions with Ms. Socorro T. Ponferrada, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and the non-appearance of Sr. Marylou Quijano. 

1.    RESOLUTION ENJOINING THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY BARUGO, INC. (SJABI) TO PERFORM ITS RIGHTFUL AND LAWFUL MANDATE UNDER THE CORPORATION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, DEPED ORDER NO. 88 SERIES OF 2010 AND ITS CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS RELATIVE TO THE GOVERNANCE OF THE SJABI SCHOOL.

2.    RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DISPLEASURE AND DISAPPOINTMENT WITH SISTER MARYLOU QUIJANO, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OF ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY OF BARUGO, INC. (SJABI), FOR HER DELIBERATE FAILURE TO APPEAR AS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE PERSON BEFORE THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN OF BARUGO, LEYTE.

It is clear that the Archbishop of Palo has pretentiously imposed his will on St. Joseph Academy Barugo, Inc.  He has abrogated the roles, powers and authority vested in the governing body of the corporation, the Board of Trustees.  He acts as if he alone is the governing body and the ultimate authority.  Under his instructions, he has effectively changed the role of the school administrator and, worse, made her accountable to no one but himself alone, or his representative, with respect to the operation of the school including stewardship and full control of its financial resources, and made her no longer subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees.  His actions have resulted in an inutile Board of Trustees.

But there are several courses of action for the Board of Trustees.  One of them is to revoke the Contract of Service which would effectively cut any connection of the FSAHC Sisters to the school.  Appoint a new and qualified school administrator that will properly manage the operation of the school with transparency, and observe accountability to the Board of Trustees.

Understandably however, the Archbishop of Palo, as patriarch and direct representative of the Roman Catholic Church entrusted with the care of the faithful in his diocese, has immense intimidating power over the members of the corporation. He has confusingly injected Canon Law into what is rightfully matters pertaining exclusively to the laws, rules and regulations of the State and its authorized agencies.

He has wittingly confused church hierarchy, legitimately his domain, and corporate school hierarchy which is not for him to dominate.

The SJABI Board of Trustees, for the last three or four years, has failed to assert its legitimate authority as the Governing Body of the school and has practically and effectively relinquished its rightful and lawful mandate, essentially allowing the Archbishop of Palo to impose his will on school governance unrestrained.

Admittedly, most of the members are intimidated and hesitant to undertake legitimate corrective actions that are likely to result in direct confrontation with the Archbishop.  In fact, this is the only reason why the current state of affairs with respect to the operation of the school exists, and will naturally continue to exist unless the members decisively act on it.

However, the members and the Board of Trustees cannot completely ignore one important and nagging point.

Continued inaction by the SJABI Board of Trustees in asserting and exercising its rightful and legal role as the governing body of the school exposes itself to potential legal ramifications. Furthermore, it could be interpreted as a breach of its fiduciary duty and tacit neglect of its moral and social responsibilities.

As a matter of grave public interest, this current state of affairs must be resolved by the Board of Trustees so as to ensure the long-term viability of the school and protect the welfare of pupils, students, parents, teachers and the general public.