Angelicum School Iloilo stays open, says board of trustees
Angelicum School Iloilo. COURTESY OF RAMON SANCHEZ
By PressONE.ph
May 29, 2020
Manila, Philippines
The Angelicum School in Jaro, Iloilo will stay open, according to the school’s board of trustees.
The board, in a “corrective statement” on Friday, May 29, said it had overruled and recalled the notice of closure issued by the school director, Fr. Maximo Gatela, O.P. dated May 27.
The statement was signed by the head of the Filipino Dominicans, Fr. Napoleon Sipalay, O.P.
“The Board of Trustees, as well as the Provincial Council of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, didn’t approve any cessation of operation,” the statement read.
Gatela has also resigned as director of Angelicum School Iloilo.
“The Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of Fr. Maximo Gatela, O.P., as Director of Angelicum School, Inc., Jaro, Iloilo City,” the statement read.
Founded in 1978 by Fr. Rogelio Alarcon, O.P., first prior provincial of the Filipino Dominicans, Angelicum School Iloilo occupies the Lizares Mansion in Jaro district.
Pandemic sparks closure of Iloilo Catholic school
Angelicum School Iloilo. COURTESY OF RAMON SANCHEZ
By CBCP News
May 29, 2020
Iloilo City
A Catholic school in central Philippines has suffered a blow from the coronavirus pandemic and announced it will stop operations by August.
Dominican-run Angelicum School Iloilo (ASIL) will cease operations effective July 31, according to Fr. Maximo Gatela, the school’s director.
The 42-year-old institution in the city of Iloilo’s Jaro district, he said, could no longer survive from the “difficulties” brought by the pandemic.
“The sad part was that ASIL was not ready and failed miserably in delivering the services,” Fr. Gatela admitted in a letter dated May 27.
“As the situation of uncertainty continues, we cannot prolong the 4th grading experience throughout the whole school year nor keep you hanging in the air,” he said.
Fr. Gatela said the school consulted the school’s council of parents on May 9 before coming out with the decision.
But the school offered three options where parents can choose to enrol their children: home study program of UST-Angelicum College; REAP (home study based program virtually for free); and transfer children to other school of their choice.
The priest said the first two options are non-face-to-face and “fit during the pandemic”.
