the 155th Foundation Anniversary celebration
Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga, Inc. on its 155 years and beyond...
Continuing History and Legacy of EXCELLENCE and SERVICE
155th Foundation Anniversary
Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga Inc.
“The beginning is always today.” 12th April 2023 is Colegio/Universidad de Sta. Isabel, Inc. 155th Foundation Anniversary. As the institution prepares for this great event, the Committee opted for a countdown beginning 2 January 2023, to provide an opportunity for all of us - members of the USI Vincentian family, our stakeholders, and partner communities to reflect with profound gratitude, the journey through the years colored with obstacles, challenges, and opportunities that served as strong pillars to be “inventive” in our service and mission. The celebratory events have been lined up as mentioned by the Committee Chair, As we celebrate the various activities and continue to journey in the years ahead, there is one crucial point that I wish to focus on: to continuously develop and raise a culture of encounter and care that gives premium to compassion, especially to those are ‘nameless and faceless’. What is the ‘culture of encounter and care’? Individually and collectively, we put in our Heads, Hearts, and Hands, a new mindset to make the various events life-nurturing and meaningful not only during the celebration day but daily embracing encounters as a way of life. A culture of encounter and care is a call to mission with joy. Pope Francis in his homily at the Madison Square Gardens on 15 September 2015 emphatically declared: ... go out ... go out and meet others where they really are, not where we think they should be … go out, again and again, go out without fear, without hesitation,.. go out and proclaim with joy the good news that God, our Father, walks at our side. He frees us from anonymity, from a life of emptiness and selfishness, and brings us to the school of encounter… he removes us from the fray of competition and self-absorption, and he opens before us the path of peace… that peace which is born of accepting others, that peace which fills our hearts whenever we look upon those in need as our brothers and sisters. The people who walked – caught up in their activities and routines, amid their successes and failures, worries and expectations – have seen a great light. The people who walked – with all their joys and hopes, their disappointments and regrets – have seen a great light. The people who walked – caught up in their activities and routines, amid their successes and failures, worries and expectations – have seen a great light. The people who walked – with all their joys and hopes, their disappointments and regrets – have seen a great light. Recently, Pope Francis wrote that ‘this year, while we hope for new beginnings and new cures, let us not neglect care … together with a vaccine for our bodies, we need a vaccine for our hearts, and that vaccine is care. Our world is gravely polluted by how we speak and think badly of others, of society, and of ourselves … but complaining and denigrating others corrupts and decays, whereas blessing restores life and gives the strength we need to begin anew. We cannot continue to focus on ourselves… the time has come to commit ourselves seriously to pursuing a common good. Let each day of the countdown and onward serves as your continued commitment to serve USI with passion and dedication, coupled with renewed hope which enables you to see and experience the presence of a guiding STAR, who is JESUS with MARY. For that, I am forever grateful.
155th Foundation Anniversary
Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga Inc.
My warmest greetings to all Stakeholders of Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga Inc. Celebrating the 155th Foundation Anniversary of Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga Inc. is God’s greatest gift to all of us! With its theme: USI@155: “Nurturing the Legacies of Vincentian Education through Excellence and Compassionate Service" expresses its commemoration of the legacies of Vincentian Education rooted in its humble beginnings. It proclaims the dedication and valuable contribution of Colegio de Sta. Isabel now the Universidad de Sta. Isabel in pioneering quality formal education for women and recounting the University’s educational commitment to Excellence of continuously serving with compassion. The 155 Years Foundation Anniversary of the Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga, Inc. will be celebrated to honor the legacies of its contribution to the educational development in the region through quality Vincentian education. The USI, with more than a century and a half year of existence as an educational institution, has continuously produced Vincentian leaders for various private and public sectors both in the national and international arena. Faithful to its vision and mission, the University offers many opportunities to deserving individuals to obtain their academic degrees in their chosen profession, provides assistance to the marginalized communities, establishes local and international partnerships and embarks in research-based projects to efficiently respond to the demands of the changing time. Evidently, various initiatives have continuously served to furnish the University’s four-fold functions such as: instruction, extension services, research, and production. USI has been soaring with excellence in the field of education despite the trials and mandates especially during the current health crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this celebration is an expression of thanksgiving. USI is consistently being tenacious in manifesting resilience and perseverance despite the challenges it encountered during the 155 years. It is imperative that a tribute and gratitude to our founder, Bishop Francisco Gainza, OP.DD and the Daughters of Charity with the Vincentian Fathers have to be given and the legacies they left that stood up in catering academic excellence and quality educational services towards a more developed and progressive society. As a bird’s-eye view of the celebration, we have lined up a series of activities to honor and celebrate this anniversary with exciting events marking the journey from "Escuela Normal de Maestras” in 1868 to Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga Inc. Utilizing the USI website, unveiling of the digital 100 countdown board will begin on January 2, 2023. This will be followed by the virtual launching of “USI@155 logo. Numerous activities related to the celebration will be conducted within the duration such as: Personnelympics: Sports and Music, Dance and Songs, Planting of 155 Fruit-Bearing Trees, Semana de Sta. Isabel-Naga-Lakaw, Re-enactment of the Peaceful Capitulation of the Spanish Soldiers to Felix Plazo and Elias Angeles, and Unveiling of the Historical Marker. Grand Parade along the main streets of Naga City, USI Visitors’ Open House and the Field Demonstration of the BED Students from Kinder to Grade 12 and Zumba Dance presentation of the HED Physical Education (PE) classes. On April 12, 2023, during the 155th Foundation Day, activities will begin with the Institutional Eucharistic Celebration. After which, a Theatrical Presentation on the History of Universidad de Sta. Isabel and a Tribute Presentation of music, dance and songs to culminate the celebration. This anniversary is truly an excellent opportunity for all of us to look ahead and although we were stalled by the pandemic for the past 2 years, we all have the reasons to celebrate: “USI, WE MOVE FORWARD. “ Happy Anniversary, Universidad de Sta. Isabel! NATHALIE C. RANIN, Ph.D 155th Foundation Anniversary Committee Chairperson
ABOUT
The Universidad de Sta. Isabel, also simply referred to as USI or Universidad de Sta. Isabel, is a private Catholic University run by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent De Paul in Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines. It was founded by Rev. Francisco Gainza, O.P., Bishop of Caceres in 1868 as the First Normal School for Women in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, named in honor of the university's patron, St. Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary.
