HISTORICAL LEGACY OF INCAT CLASS NASIDIRI

While I was going over my reviewers a few months ago, there was this test question item which sparked my interest. It goes this way.

            According to William Glasser’s Choice Theory, we are motivated by a never-ending quest to satisfy our basic needs. Which of these is our basic need?

            a. to love and to belong

            c. to be free and have fun

            c. to be powerful

            d. to survive

Write the letter of the correct answer. If all options are correct, write E. If none is correct, write F.

Is it letter A? TO LOVE AND TO BELONG?

            It can be A. Why? Because the mere fact that we are all gathered right now in this building is a beautiful expression of love. We are here because our parents made us out of love and we have withstood the test of time because we have loved and been loved back.

            I am 24 years old. I graduated with the course Bachelor of Science in Economics from a top-caliber university in the province. However, after graduation, I did not have a single clue on what I wanted to do.  It was like entering a maze  - taking left and right  turns, reaching dead ends and realizing that I was never getting out.  Paranoia is an understatement. Funny thing is, I’ve figured out that my problem was not looking for the exit but finding myself.

            I guess this is the biggest problem confronting every college graduate and more to a high school graduate. We are at a crucial time of life when decisions can alter the trajectory of our future. To add to the difficulties, we are generally left to ourselves to sort through the choices we make. But, just like a rainbow after a rain, a good thing will always happen after you experience pain.

I am just one of the many persons rescued by Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades. Through the career guidance activities of the Senior High School Department, I learned the countless opportunities waiting for a technical-vocational graduate. With INCAT as the pilot school for the implementation of Senior High School in the region plus my reawakened passion to be in the tourism industry, I took this huge leap and confidently enrolled Hotel and Restaurant Services.

And I know many of us right now are really thankful for this chance. Some of us want to be automotive mechanics, some desire to be draftsmen, some dream to be renowned fashion designers and dressmakers, some aspire to be electricians, technicians, TV and radio station managers, receptionists, chefs and hotel supervisors. We all want to be somebody. Truly, at INCAT, we were welcomed with open arms, and finally, we can say, WE ARE HOME.

IS then the need to love and to belong a basic need?

Or Is it letter b? To be free and have fun?

            Just play, have fun and enjoy the game. This was our motto when we ventured into a new journey . We were Grade 11 students but we were having the moment of our lives! We were always seizing the day! We keep calm and laugh like there’s no tomorrow. Fun in meeting our teachers, doing our projects in our major and core subjects and applying our knowledge in our performance tests.

           

Or is it letter c? Is to be powerful our basic need?

To be powerful is to achieve, to be competent, to be skilled, to be recognized for our achievements and skill, to be listened to and have a sense of self worth.

We joined different activities in the school.

Ronald Juan was elected Vice President of the Supreme Student Council under the tutelage of Mr. Neil Leal and Mrs. Jovelyn Queja. Antonette Aguillon, Mark John Gamiao, Dandrick Vitin, Shaina Calma  and Shirley Abejar were their defense in the student organization.

It was in Grade 11 when two students from Hotel and Restaurant Services emerged champion in the Nutrition Month – Cook Fest competition . They are Angela Torres and Harjay Anderson.

Their innate talents coupled with great willpower proved them greater success. John Rey Pascua, an HRS student bagged the gold medal in a seminar in Baguio City. 

With a killer combination of beauty and style, Cherry Anne Asuncion was well positioned to clutch the Female Star of the Night title during the Socialization Ball 2015. Arwyn James Edrada who also possessed the striking good looks and a charming smile was acclaimed Male Star of the Night.

Mark Lester Pilot’s superb vocal command both in terms of technique and expression made him the first ever winner of SHS Got Talent.  

During the Tech-Voc Day, we have proven again that we are masters of our crafts. Mastery that does not require us to be perfect, but it does require us to pursue perfection.

Every year, the competition gets harder and harder especially in pageants. Mr. and Miss Tech Voc was held in search for the candidate that has the total perfect package - beautiful, charismatic, confident, skilled, and, on top of all that, a perfect image of what she/ he represents. I couldn’t contain my joy when I was awarded the 2^nd runner up of the said competition and my partner, Mark Lester Pilot as Mr. Tech Voc 2015. Truly, when you are an SHS student, you must not only be confined to psychomotor abilities but also to remain dauntless under pressure.

The school year was ended with a bang when Shirley Abejar’s new embellishments to her songs and her unique musical style made her the champion of the cultural show- singing showdown.

Or is it letter D? To survive?

We were not yet done for we were just about to start work immersion … and we had to survive. We walked on different pavements for our work immersion during summer of 2015.Through the multiple linkages of our school to industries and companies in and out of the region, we have gained valuable experiences that we will take as we move forward with our future careers.  We got to experience being in a grind, of being part of the industrial race. We inhaled a fresh breath of professionalism, on knowing what real office etiquette is.

After two months of work immersion, we arrived in our last academic year. We are now in Grade 12. June 2015, we busied ourselves reaping more laurels. Ronald Juan led the entire senior high school studentry. Shirley Abejar was elected Vice President; Yours truly, Secretary; Antonette Aguillon, treasurer, Valerie Gayla Aglanao, Auditor; Angela Torres, Business Manager; Romilyn Francisco, PIO; Ma.Daphne Garcia and Ezar Menor, Athletic Managers and Mark John Gamiao and Shaina Calma, Peace Officers.

Composed of the batch’s hottest jamming artists, SHS Sessionistas swept us off our seats as they sang the best and the latest songs in every school activity. Equipped with their guitars and soothing voices, Hazel Estabillo, Ace Dalipe and Mark Lester Pilot confidently caught our attention as they related their experiences to the songs they sang and share them straight to us.

Class Nasadiri was put into limelight because it has produced students equipped with excellent technical and vocational know-hows. They won in the different contested activities during the Regional Festival of Talents held in Pangasinan. Princess Jackielyn Julian emerged champion in Fashion Technology  and Erick Saguilla ranked third in Electrical Installation and Maintenance. Proud coaches are Mrs. Marites Uganiza and Mr. Randy Laureta.

Because of their high academic achievement HRS students Mark Edison Respicio and Ma. Daphne Garcia , and Beauty Care students Jeannelle and Apple Joy Hilario became recipients of financial assistance during the Scholarship Program.

The Grade 12 students comprised the highest number of beneficiaries of Iskolar ni Manang Imee. This scholarship started in the first semester of Academic Year 2015-2016 which supports students enrolled in technical-vocational programs of schools. Receiving the scholarship means we have succeeded. A lot of people say there isn't help available, but this shows that there is help out there.

For the second semester, we devoted our 700 hours for another work immersion. Friends, I am very much proud to announce that many of our batchmates have been absorbed in the workforce. To name some companies and industries  are Hotel Supreme in Baguio City, Harbor View Resto in Manila, Hotel Salcedo in Vigan, CORE System, Bravo Tech in Dagupan, Manial Broadcasting Company, DWRS, DZRh, Plaza del Norte, Fort Ilocandia, INEC,  Expansion of Cluster Asia cable TV project, 88 Suite Hotel, Nail Lounge, and ABS-CBN Baguio.

            Which of those 4 choices is correct? Which do we need most? A B, C or D?

            The answer is E. All of the options are right. The need to love and to belong , the need to be free and have fun, the need to be powerful , the need to survive are all our basic needs and we need to meet one or more of these because these are the general motivation for everything that we do.

The choice theory teaches us that we always have a choice. We have a control of our lives. We are responsible for the choices we make. We have chosen before and now is the time to make some new constructive choices. Choose what is important. Choose what is satisfying. Choose what makes you happy. But we must make the wisest choice for the consequences are irreversible. William Glasser did not create that theory for you to just see the world unfold.