𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘗𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺
𝐇𝐅𝐀 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐞𝐭𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲

Holy Family Academy celebrates Aeta Day and the Month of the Holy Rosary on October 27, 2026, at the HFA-HS Covered Court, with the theme: “Pax! Pray with Mary, Live for Peace.”

The program began with Mr. Ryan Sarmiento extending a warm welcome to the Aeta community and invited the students to listen to the stories and daily livelihoods of the esteemed guests.

During the program, guest speakers Tatay Eddie and Nanay Vilma shared their community's ongoing struggles with food insecurity and limited transportation.

Tatay Eddie noted that foraging for wild fruits and vegetables remains a vital survival method, while Nanay Vilma mentioned that traveling long distances on foot is their primary mode of transport.

Despite these hardships, Tatay Eddie emphasized their determination to send their children to school. "Hinahanap lang namin ang aming karapatan," he said.

Martin, an Aeta scholar and valedictorian, also shared their struggle with education, emphasizing how schools are too far away from their homeland.

However, despite this, they said that each Aeta has the right to education and to pursue their dreams, “Hindi lang kami Aeta, isa kaming Aetang may pangarap din.”

The Aeta community also highlighted their faith in Apung Namalyari through prayer chants and performed traditional courtship and healing dances, including the "Sayaw Lawin" and "Sayaw Palaka."

They expressed that their faith helps them focus on hope rather than adversity, sharing the same thought, "Hindi lahat ng pangit sa buhay ay disgrasya."

The program concluded with a moment of silence and a closing prayer led by Mr. Sarmiento, followed by a break for all.

After the break, invited guest speaker Teacher Mars, a representative from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), gave a brief talk informing the students on the ill effects of Pax Silica in our country.

Following the talk, the HFA community began its culminating activity for the Month of the Holy Rosary, with Mrs. Aurora Yutuc delivering the opening remarks, followed by the call to prayer, led by the San Benito Chorale.

Soon after was the processional, where the image of Mary was carried onto the stage, to signify the start of the rosary, reflecting on the Luminous mysteries.

The first luminous mystery, the Baptism of Jesus in Jordan, was led by the Aeta community, spoken in their own native language, with the hymn: “Stella Maris.”

The second luminous mystery, the Wedding at Cana, was led by the senior high school students, in Kapampangan, presenting the hymn: “Virgen Delos Remedios.”

The third luminous mystery, the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, was led by the Grade 9 and 10 students, in Filipino, followed by the hymn: “Inay.”

The fourth luminous mystery, the Transfiguration, was led by the Grade 7 and 8 Students, in English, singing the hymn: “On this Day.”

The fifth luminous mystery, the Institution of the Eucharist, was led by the employees, in Latin, closing with the hymn: “Ave Maria.”

The program proceeded to the prayer of Hail Holy Queen through the singing of Salve Regina, which was then followed by the litany.

After the litany, select students from all grade levels gathered to present donations, through kind and through seedlings.

The program concluded with the song “Awit Sa Ina ng Santo Rosaryo,” again led by the San Benito Chorale.

✍️ Gabrielle Elise Werthwein
📷 Sue Cordero, Catherine Lugtu, & Jacque Sundiam

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 | E-COR-logy—Familians showcase creativity and stewardship through Ecology Month projects

Students expressed their creativity and environmental awareness through various eco-friendly projects, crafted in celebration of Ecology Month.

Each grade level designed unique outputs following the requirements assigned to their batch:

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟕 - 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐃𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 🌱

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟖 - 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝟑𝐃 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 💐

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟗 - 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲: 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 🌍

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟎 - 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐫𝐭: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐭 🔦

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟏 - 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐬: 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 👗

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟐 - 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦: 𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐀 𝐉𝐚𝐫 🫙

These projects highlighted how discarded materials can be transformed into meaningful creations while promoting a sustainable world and showing the importance of caring for the environment.

✍️ Lance Peter Meneses
📷 Aen Danielle Limio