Endings are beginnings: SSC pays tribute to its Chief Accountant retiring
after 42 years of loyal service to the institution
By Helen D. Tan, Office Personnel
Posted: Saturday March 06, 2010 09:54 AM

Last February 26, 2010, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Office hosted a luncheon for St. Scholastica’s College’s Chief Accountant, Zenaida Agaton, a very touching “despedida” in recognition of her 42 fruitful years with the school.  Sr. Vicenta Anuran, OSB, HRD Director graced the occasion and present to support were Sr. Vida Mones, OSB, School Treasurer, together with Dr. Evelyn Jaymalin, Assistant HRD Director, and the Business Office staff in full force. The presence of SSC President, Sr. M. Angelica Leviste, OSB and Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Sr. Mary Thomas, OSB made the event more meaningful for our retiree Ate Zen, as she is fondly called.

The event commenced with a prayer service for Ate Zen, that God may continue to keep watch over her in the next chapters of her journey through life. Everyone had her/his chance to say a few parting words and give their warm hugs to Ate Zen. The administrators thanked her for her invaluable service to SSC while most of us at the Business Office thanked Ate Zen for her kind friendship and patient mentorship. Her service to SSC may have ended but her contributions to the school will continue to live as part of the Business Office’s continuous development.

Her mission, as the song being played during the prayer service suggested, continues but this time to the people most dear to her.  She will now have more time to take care of her mother, daughter and husband, who incidentally accompanied her during the occasion.  She will have more time for herself and things neglected before; trusting God more in the midst of insecurities of the unknown future.  It’s time for her to catch up with relatives and friends to make up for time lost during her busy years in school.  Time to appreciate the value of life and those wonders that are unseen by the naked eye but which are real treasures.

After the prayer service, the Business Office showed a video presentation of Ate Zen’s camaraderie with us all through the years. Our individual messages ended the presentation. If the prayer service made us emotional and sentimental, the presentation made us smile and even laugh.  Truly, it made me reflect, what does really matter?  Is it the material gain or relationships that matters?  Is it the destination or the journey?  Whatever you choose, choose life.

The video presentation capturing the many happy moments of Ate Zen among her co-workers in school

Goodness! The whole “senti” part being over, we can now whet our growing appetite.  The HRD Office prepared a wonderful lunch despite the day being Lenten Friday. We ate to our hearts delight with an ice cream cone for desert as our finale.  Eating ice cream is really like "Ate Zen's  way", indeed.  Thank you Ate Zen for the many ice cream cones you would frequently and generously share with us.  We will miss the ice cream but most specially we will miss YOU.