CICM PSN Governance Assembly 2025 officially opens

The Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) Philippine Schools Network (PSN) Governance Assembly 2025 officially opened on 10 July 2025 with a Eucharistic Celebration held at the Cordillera Convention Hall (CCH), Baguio Country Club (BCC) presided by Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, President of the host university, Saint Louis University (SLU).

The shared act of worship reminded the assembly of their unity in Christ and their shared purpose as a CICM community. It fostered a sense of belonging and collective mission, which is crucial before undertaking important discussions or decisions rooted in this year’s assembly’s theme, “CICM-PSN: Sustaining A Beautiful Mission Through Innovation, Collaboration, and Synergy.”

In his homily, Fr. Sales warmly welcomed each one to the grace-filled moment and said that the assembly is not just a gathering for planning or reporting. “It is a space for renewal. It is a sacred time to listen, to reflect, and to discern together as one educational mission family under the CICM congregation. Our coming together is rooted in our conviction. We cannot move forward in isolation. The educational landscape today is filled with challenges: academic, financial, ethical and spiritual. No school, no office, no leader can address all these alone. That is why we have this network — not just as a structure for coordination, but as a community of communion,” he said.

Atty. Shellah Yzanne P. Merced, the SLU Vice President for Administration, in her message affirmed how the CICM Philippine Schools Network collectively treads the journey grounded on Missio et Excellentia. Solidifying this mandate, Atty. Merced reiterated that the annual Governance Assembly serves as an avenue of furthered knowledge, stronger partnership, and enriched aspiration for the CICM Schools, especially in the times today. “As we navigate through our collective plans and goals, may the spirit of camaraderie and shared goals shine bright. It is our fervent hope that each participant brings home with them the calm of the Baguio weather, the warmth of being with old friends, and the renewed commitment to pursuing our beautiful mission,” Atty. Merced encouraged.

The SLU Vice President for Academic Affairs, Felina P. Espique, PhD, acknowledged the participants of the assembly. “As we move through the sessions and conversations ahead, may we be reminded that the most meaningful contributions are never done in isolation, but through genuine collaboration and shared purpose…As we have come to understand through our own journeys in the academe, the work we do has always been more than educational management. At its heart, it is the sacred stewardship of people and of values– distinguished by compassion, action, and purpose,” she said.

Setting things in Motion: Governance Assembly proper

To set the tone for the tasks to accomplish and the discussions to have, CICM PSN Chair Rev. Fr. Macwayne N. Maniwang, CICM, PhD, gave his message through a video recording and said, “This governance assembly is not only a time for reflection and direction. It is a powerful opportunity for all to forge deeper ties with our institutions. Let us respond to the call of the times with active collaboration, a spirit of commitment, and a shared commitment to quality education.”

The formal Assembly, facilitated by SLU President, Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, then commenced with the Approval of the Agenda, ensuring a clear roadmap for the day’s discussions and activities.

An Audio-Visual Presentation (AVP) recapping the 2024 CICM PSN Governance Assembly held at University of Sant Louis Tuguegarao (USLT) was presented , providing an overview of past milestones and initiatives. Following this, the Minutes of the 2024 CICM PSN Governance Assembly were presented and approved, affirming the continuity and accountability of the network’s governance.

A key highlight was the Presentation of Accomplishments of the different clusters prepared by the Institutional Development and Quality Assurance (IDQA) office of USL. The cluster reports showed significant progress across various institutional domains in the six CICM-affiliated schools

Unlocking Potential: The Power of Employee Engagement

Establishing the cohesion needed for the cluster meetings and plannings, Mr. Reuben L. Aslor, Human Resource Management Consultant and Trainer at the Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV), facilitated the plenary session, “Unlocking Potential: The Power of Employee Engagement.” The insightful lecture emphasized the importance of having a motivated and collaborative workforce within the CICM schools. It highlighted the indications of employee engagement, the causes of employee disengagement, especially how to encourage and instill employee engagement.

“Employee engagement is a reflection of how companies and organizations manage their employees. Before we expect our employees to be engaged and be invested in our organization, they must be able to see and feel that their organizations or companies are also invested in them,” Mr. Aslor emphasized.

Synergy through Cluster Meeting and Planning for AY 2025-2026

Concluding the productive day were the breakout sessions of the various clusters for their Action Planning session for Academic Year 2025-2026 that centered on the following key points:

Review and Evaluation of CICM PSN Strategic Plan
Discussion of Action Plans
Crafting of Action Plans

The collaborative workshop enabled representatives to align their goals, share best practices, and design actionable plans that will further strengthen the CICM PSN’s educational apostolate and operational effectiveness in the coming year.

The CICM PSN looks forward to the remaining time of this meaningful gathering, confident that the network will continue to sustain its beautiful mission through innovation, collaboration, and synergy.