he Middle School Guidance, Testing, and Research Center celebrated this year’s

Guidance Week with the theme “Bloom with Grit”.

An interactive exhibit was set up at the LMC Lobby to inform the community about
Angela Lee Duckworth’s study on grit while students participated in audio and video
mindfulness sessions, games, and reflective pen and paper activities during their
Homeroom periods.
Three career talks were organized for Grades 6, 7, and 8.
Grade 6 held the talk, “Shaping My Career, for Life!” featuring speakersNastassja B.
Quijano, a development management professional, and Romina Therese S. Lim, a
biodiversity management professional and volunteer.
Grade 7 conducted the talk “The Key Elements for a Successful Career” featuring
speakers Maria Rafaella Santos-Sol, a designer and creative director; Ms. Ida Anita Q.
del Mundo, a writer, director and producer; and Maria Elizabeth Puyat -Murga, a public
health manager and consultant.
The Grade 8, for its part, had veterinarian, Dr. Alay Maria Consuelo V. Paz and teacher
and a softball team manager Christine Michelle E. Fua as guest speakers for the talk
“Careers and Beyond”.
For the different sessions, the speakers shared their personal and professional journeys on
how their passion for their advocacies and perseverance in overcoming challenges made
an impact on their lives, on others, and on the world.
Through these talks, the students gained awareness of what the 21st century career
landscape has to offer. The esteemed speakers also inspired students to keep an open
mind and heart so they can cultivate their skills and interests toward a future career.
 The department organized different activities for the different levels. The PK 2 to YS 3
levels had a Group Guidance Activity about Understanding Emotions. Meanwhile, YS 4 and 5
levels had a Career Dress-up Contest titled “Your Future Sounds Familiar: Talent Competition”,
where the presentation and awarding of the best costume winners were held at the St. Albert
Auditorium. Winners were the learners from YS 4-W1 and YS 5-W1.

A Mental Health Seminar Series was also prepared, which included the All About Self-
Care talk for the YS 6 & 7 learners which was facilitated by Ms. Donna Fiel Magnaye, RN.
Likewise, Dr. Luz Maria Teresa Garcia was invited to talk about the Art of Handling Stress to the
YS 8 learners. Ms. Ana Lisa Mina, RN also gave an orientation about the Ways to Deal with our
Emotions to the YS 9 learners, while Ms. Vina Gavilano, LPT gave a talk about Coping with
Teenage Issues and Concerns to the YS 10 learners. A seminar about Ways to Win and Find
Meaning in Difficult Times for YS 11 was facilitated by Mr. Joseph Francis Mabanta. Also, the
USTAC Faculty joined the Mindfulness Seminar facilitated by Ms. Sunshine Excel Carino.

Apart from seminars and competitions, fun games and exciting exhibits were also
displayed to help the learners to develop awareness about mental health

In line with the goal to produce graduates who are prepared for the
world of work, Angelicum College, through the Guidance Department held
its annual celebration of Career Week on January 11-19, 2016, with the
theme, “Dare to be Great, Dare to Succeed!.” The event aimed to give
learners a more in-depth understanding on various career options.
The department organized different activities for the different levels. The
PK 1 to YS 4 levels had a Career Dress-up Contest where the presentation
and awarding of the best costume winners was held at the St. Albert
Auditorium. Winners were Madeline Mikaela D. Dancel, Alden Cesar A.
Castro, Pherlie R. Danabar, Carlos Eli M. Pajarillo, Hiyasmin Marie E.
Bautista, and Aryanne Royce S. Mercado from the PK 1 and 2 levels. Maria
Sophia D. Miranda, Ramstein C. Oralle, Joseph Ashton E. Ordellas, and
Zavana Lyan M. Gongora got the top points in the YS 1 level, while Pia
Loren D. Pedro and Stephen James N. Estedola were the winners in the
YS 2 level. Those who took home the prize in the YS 3 level were Daniella
Joy P. Manalo and Rohan Philip C. Hofileña and in the YS 4 level, the
winners were Lucas Miguel R. Cabotaje and Charlize Nicolette D. de
Guzman.
Elize Polla R. Dizon from the YS 5 level and Ania Kristen A. Bangalan from
the YS 6 level won in the Career Quiz Bee and On-the-Spot Poster-Slogan
Making Contest, respectively. The class of Ms. Marañon (7W3 – Bl.
Columba) were declared champions in the Career Collage Making Contest.
Apart from the competitions, a variety of activities were organized by the
department such as the Career Talk for the YS 7 learners. Likewise, a
representative from the Guidance NGO – Mr. Jake Kok was invited to talk
about the CPAG-Goals to the YS 8 learners and CPAG-Assessment to
those in the YS 9 level. Ms. Evylou H. Bonquin, the Senior High School
Coordinator, also gave an orientation about the K to 12 curriculum to the
YS 10 learners while Mr. Glenn Irwin C. Reynon, Head of the External
Affairs, gave a talk about Angelicum College to the YS 11 learners. The
college students joined in the activities through a test administration for the
freshmen and a Pre-employment and Personality Development Seminar
facilitated by Ms. Sharee Sonido Mestosamente from Jobs180.

Interview with Mr. Christian Santos regarding the National Career Guidance Week Question: What is
National Career Guidance Week to you, as a teacher and counselor? Mr. Santos: National Career
Guidance Week, actually, the program is initiated by the Department of Education and based on
their letter or memo, it requires all schools nationwide to conduct a National Career Guidance Week,
and of course, as one of the members of or as one of the schools managed by the DepEd, we are
obliged to conduct or celebrate the National Career Guidance Week. Now, it is very important
because the school emphasizes the importance or the significance of career – in the preparation of
our students, especially the High School students. That’s why this kind of activity became a part of
the school calendar, and as a teacher, it is very important for us to know what the interests of the
students are because most of the students of High School want this career maybe because it is in
line with their family legacy, right? Or sometimes, they want the specific career because their friends
are interested on those things, that’s why it is more on peer influence and we want to address those
misconceptions about career planning, that is why we had that kind of activity. Question: As the
head of the National Career Guidance Week, do you think the week was a success? Why or why
not? Mr. Santos: Actually, for me, it is a success because first, it is the first year we conducted a
National Career Guidance Week in St. Mary of the Woods School. Second, our objectives – we met
those objectives, that’s why, I think it is a successful activity and our activity, it’s a come-on activity,
that’s why I always emphasize to our teachers during our meetings that the Career Guidance Week
for this year is a come-on activity – which means it is a very light, it is not a tiring activity. Kung baga,
madali lang – simple lang. We wanted to make it simple and we wanted to make it para hindi ma-
pressure ang students and at the same time, ini-enjoy lang. That’s why we had the ramp modeling,
and the other thing is, we only focused on the Grade 10 students because they are the first batch of
the Senior High School. So, in total or in general, the activity went well and it was a successful
activity. Hopefully, we can innovate more. Question: What were the goals you wanted to achieve and
why? Mr. Santos: Actually, it’s the same goals with the DepEd. The reason why we conduct the
National Career Guidance Week definitely is to give awareness to the students on the different
careers especially on the professions that are available in our society, especially the trending today
since we have the K-12, the issues of Senior High School, issues of job mismatching and the
availability of work or labor market. Yun yung mga kailangang bigyan ng information to the students,
because, later on, you as a student, you will be part of the labor force – kung saan yung mga tao
nagtratrabaho. So, we want to make sure that our graduates here will be in line to their careers that
are in line to their interests and passion. That is the very basic goals of our activity. Question: What
are the important topics that were tackled in the seminar with the Grade 10? Mr. Santos: We
conducted the National Career Guidance Week in three days, the first day is a come-on activity – it’s
an activity where all students are involved. The second and third day was a seminar for the Grade
10 students. On the second day, it’s a more on orientation for the Grade 10 students and parents
about the Senior High School program, so on that day, we tackled the importance of Senior High
School and we also introduced our partner institutions who will be the partner schools of St. Mary of
the Woods School in implementing the Senior High School and of course, what are the courses or
tracks that this school will offer. The third day is a career planning seminar and I think this is the
highlight of the celebration because on that seminar, we invited speakers from the Department of
Labor and Employment. The speaker discussed how to make a career plan and she introduced what
the available jobs are in the labor market, what are the professions that are in demand if you want to
earn more money, what are the in demand jobs nowadays, and of course, the importance of
studying hard. That is the most important thing the speaker told us, that you need to study hard in
order for you to have a better future. If you want to have high compensation, definitely, you need to
study hard and go to college. Question: How do you think the students realized their dreams and
skills in life? Through what means or what ways? Mr. Santos: Based on the seminar we had, the
speaker simply emphasized the importance of studying. And that is the only way for you to become
successful in life, because in school, this is the foundation of everything. Aside from our home and
our families, the next foundation of our behavior and everything is the school. So, studying hard is
the most important, according to our speaker – it is the most important thing that we need to do, and
the only way for us to be successful in life. Question: Have you thought about next year’s National
Career Guidance Week events? Mr. Santos: As of now, we are thinking of possible, should I say,
new activities in line with the Career Guidance Week next year. But, before that, I’m making modules
for follow-up sessions for the Grade 10. I already talked to the principal and of course to the High
School teachers that I will make a module and I am encouraging all homeroom advisers to conduct
at least once a month in their RHGP – a career guidance, instead of homeroom, it should be a
career guidance session wherein the teacher will discuss in their respective homeroom classes the
importance of career. Definitely, it depends on the needs. For the Grade 7 students, their module will
focus on the career awareness (What is career?), the Grade 8 is more on the career planning (What
do I want to be in the future?). The Grade 9 students will be focusing on “Where I’m going to” and
the Grade 10 students is more on the planning. Presently, I’m working on the modules to be
conducted for the school year. But, next year, since we conducted the ramp modeling, I want to
bring it outside the school so maybe we can have a career parade or a career caravan? So, I’m
looking for possibilities. But, definitely seminars will be held every Career Guidance Week.