Santo Nino College Foundation, Inc. (SNCFI) opened its week-long Linang 2025 with two profound celebrations that captured the heart of its mission as an institution of learning: the Mass of the Holy Spirit and the Teachers’ Day Celebration. More than just formal events, these occasions became reminders that education is at its best when it is grounded in both faith and gratitude—two values that define not only academic success but also personal transformation and community development.

The Mass of the Holy Spirit has been a deeply rooted tradition in Catholic education. At SNCFI, the celebration carried a special meaning, as it united the academic community under a common prayer for wisdom, integrity, and compassion. Teachers, students, administrators, and staff filled the campus with their collective voice, seeking divine guidance as they embarked on another year of learning and growth. The solemn atmosphere was not simply about ritual—it was about reaffirming that behind every lesson plan, every lecture, and every examination is a shared calling to form not just minds but hearts.

In invoking the Holy Spirit, the school acknowledged the essential role of faith in sustaining the journey of education. Faith inspires resilience during challenges, compassion in relationships, and purpose in the pursuit of knowledge. It reminds the community that learning is not only for personal gain but also for service to others. In this way, the celebration resonated with SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, as it promoted integrity, inclusion, and justice within the community. Education guided by faith becomes not just a pathway to employment but also a preparation for building a more peaceful and humane society.

From the sanctuary of prayer, the community shifted to the celebration of gratitude through Teachers’ Day, an equally meaningful part of Linang 2025. The day served as a heartfelt reminder of the immense impact teachers have on students’ lives. Expressions of appreciation came in the form of messages, performances, and creative tributes that spoke of the love, respect, and admiration students hold for their mentors. Teachers, in turn, were reminded that their sacrifices—often unseen and unrecognized—do not go unnoticed.

The highlight of the day was the message of Dr. Jun Y. Badie, LPT, Academic Director of SNCFI, who offered both encouragement and a challenge. He spoke of education as more than the transfer of knowledge. For him, education is the shaping of values, the cultivation of discipline, and the planting of hope for the future. Teachers, he said, are not only instructors but also lifelong mentors whose influence extends far beyond the walls of the classroom. They shape the moral compass of the youth, inspire resilience, and instill the virtues of compassion and empathy. Dr. Badie’s words struck a chord with everyone present, as they reflected the spirit of SDG 4: Quality Education, which emphasizes not only equal access to learning but also its power to uplift lives and build futures.

In celebrating Teachers’ Day, SNCFI acknowledged that teachers are at the frontlines of nation-building. They are not only molders of students’ academic abilities but also architects of their character. By guiding students to become responsible, ethical, and compassionate citizens, teachers contribute directly to the creation of a society that values justice, peace, and inclusivity. Their work connects to broader goals of sustainable development by ensuring that education equips individuals not just with skills, but also with values that respond to the needs of communities and the challenges of the world.

Together, the Mass of the Holy Spirit and the Teachers’ Day Celebration created a powerful beginning for Linang 2025. One offered the community the gift of reflection, grounding their academic journey in prayer and faith. The other provided an opportunity for gratitude, recognizing the tireless mentors who dedicate their lives to forming the next generation. The two events, though different in form, carried the same essence: education must be rooted in both divine guidance and human dedication.

For SNCFI, this dual celebration was more than symbolic. It was a living affirmation of its mission to nurture holistic development—an education that shapes the mind, enriches the heart, and strengthens the spirit. Through faith, the community is reminded of its higher purpose. Through teachers, students are reminded of the selfless love and guidance that make every academic success possible. Together, they form the backbone of a transformative education that not only builds careers but also shapes lives.

Linang 2025, through its opening activities, reminded everyone that faith and gratitude are not separate from learning but are at the very core of it. These values ensure that education at SNCFI is not merely about producing graduates but about forming individuals who can contribute to a just, compassionate, and sustainable society. In grounding its celebrations in both spirituality and appreciation, SNCFI once again affirmed that true excellence is achieved not just in classrooms and examinations, but in the strength of values that guide every step of the journey.