Institutional Faculty Development Seminar-Workshop of the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) for the S.Y 2019-2020
January 4,2020
- Opening Remarks, Dr. Virginia Fornias
- Facilitator, Ms. Vicky Dayao
- Group Activity: Story sharing
- Group Activity: Story sharing
- Workshop Activity: Breathing and Relaxation
- Workshop Activity: Breathing and Relaxation
- Workshop Activity: Breathing and Relaxation
- Workshop Activity: Free walking
- Workshop Activity: Free walking
- Group picture
- Awarding of Certificate of Appreciation
The Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) conducted its annual Institutional Faculty Development Seminar (IFDS) on Mindfulness on July 16 and 17, 2019 and the Institutional Benedictine Formation (IBF) Module 6 on July 15, 2019 at the Sr. Kuniberta Hall and Function Hall A, respectively.
IBF Module 6, entitled “The Spirit of Benedictine Community” was facilitated by Sr. Bernadette Asuncion, OSB for the Grade School and College Faculty. The seminar-workshop had two (2) sessions. The first was about the Gifts and Challenges of Community where the faculty members were grouped into ten (10) and discussed “Community as the basis of human relationships”, where their gifts and challenges in being in a community were shared. The second session, on the other hand, was building teamwork in a community in the light of the Benedictine tradition. In this part of the session, the participants meaningfully expressed their affirmation of each other as the facilitator has said, “We are called to accept with compassion and humility the particular fragility, complexity, and incompleteness of each other. They are not to be regarded as a sign of failure. Christ uses them for our conversion as we grow in mutual forbearance and learn to let go of the pride that drives us to control and reform our brothers and sisters on our own terms.”
The seminar-workshop on Mindfulness for faculty and administrators of the Grade School, High School, and College Units was facilitated by Ms. Ma. Victoria Dayao.
According to Ms. Dayao, Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges by means of paying attention. It originated from Eastern meditation practice and is done by deliberately paying attention in the present moment, without judgment. Mindfulness is also practiced with kindness, curiosity, and a choice in one’s behavior. The importance and benefits of practicing mindfulness as teachers and leaders were also emphasized.
The above-mentioned activities are part of the In-Service Training of the Faculty across units sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs in preparation for the new school year.
by: Ma-Reiko Borras-Mostaza