ESFDB marks 25th year; unveils new mascot

Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja kicked off school year 2014-2015 on Aug. 15, in time for the school’s celebration of its 25th year of operation and the official unveiling of its new school mascot, “Bulls.”

“We’re excited to celebrate a new school year with our students and families, and welcome the new students and families joining us,” said administrator/principal Carmen H. Atalig. “ESFDB provides an individualized approach to education that helps students thrive and create meaningful academic, faith formation, and extracurricular experiences, and we can’t wait to see what this year holds for our Catholic community school.”

Rev. Fr. Charlie Borja, together with the 7th and 8th grade students, get ready for Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja’s school year 2014-2015. (Contributed Photo)

“This year also marks the school’s 25th anniversary,” said Atalig. “We are proud of the school’s legacy and we thank our founding father Monsignor Louis Antonelli for a Catholic school to materialize in the Luta community.”

Atalig, administrator/principal and kindergarten adviser, leads ESFDB’s dedicated team of administrative, faculty, and staff. She brings 20-plus years of experience in the Public School System classroom and management that has been invaluable to ESFDB. Atalig used to be principal of Sinapalo Elementary School on Rota.

“Our core of dedicated teachers are back to continue their success in providing the best education at our great and only Catholic school,” said Atalig.

The preschool program is headed by Lea D. Maratita and she also serves as the school’s business office manager. Maratita is assisted by teacher aide Ann Marie Toves. The newest ESFDB family member, Ivylin Taitano Hocog, is also assisting Maratita. Hocog is an alumni of ESFDB.

Leading the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade is Florinda M. Chavez. She is the most seasoned faculty in the ESFDB team.

Like Chavez, Mary Rose S. Lucero is another seasoned faculty, and she will be this year’s 4th, 5th, and 6th grade adviser.

Rev. Fr. Charlie Borja, administrator and pastor of San Francisco de Borja Church, Rota, will be handling the 7th and 8th grade Religion classes as well as the 4th to 8th grade math.

Rounding out the team is ESFDB board president and 7th and 8th grade adviser Edward Maratita Jr., who is also tasked to strengthen the athletic program to complement the school’s academic strength.

To mark its 25 years in operation, ESFDB will be having various activities in celebration of its silver anniversary. The theme for the anniversary is “ESFDB Legacy, 1989 and Beyond.”
ESFDB was founded in 1989 and serves a diverse Luta community.

“For 25 years, the school had been educating the children of a close diverse community, contributing to successful and wonderful memories in the process,” said ESFDB board president Edward Maratita, Jr. “We thank each of the families that send their children to a Catholic education and to the families who contributed and supported the school one way or the other, they haven’t just captured our hearts, they capture the spirit of San Francisco de Borja.”

The Silver Anniversary Committee is headed by board member Lorenzo Barcinas and 1997 alumni Jackie Gumataotao Manglona. (ESFDB)