MANILA, Philippines ? Seldom does a school manage to seamlessly integrate technology with humanities, nurturing not only its students? minds but also forming a strong sense of values rich in civic consciousness and spirituality.

But in just eight years, the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH) achieved this feat, surpassing expectations and blooming into the premier educational organization it is today.

Located in Tanauan in Batangas, a city south of Metro Manila, the FAITH campus lies within Calabarzon (the Southern Tagalog region composed of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and at the heart of the emerging metropolitan area of north Batangas.

Producing graduates who are technically skilled, well-rounded and competent, with Christian humanistic values has always been the vision of the school?s president Saturnino G. Belen.

?FAITH believes that education is a potent instrument in improving the quality of life at the individual, community, national and global levels. We want to develop students to become responsible citizens who not only do well but also do good, so they can help improve the lives of people in their community and the world at large,? Belen said.

With 18 bachelor degree courses (from just five when it first started in 2000) under its tertiary level, and two certificate programs under its community college, this academic institution has indeed gone a long way.

The five-hectare campus now has 1,000 students from the FAITH Unified School (the school?s pre-school, primary and secondary levels) and 2,400 college students.

This year marks FAITH?s 8th Foundation Day with a roster of worthwhile activities for its technologically advanced students.

?All our activities in the school are in line with our philosophy of building character and competence among our students,? said Ma. Rosario B. Cesario, director of the FAITH Unified School and head of the Foundation Day Celebration Committee for 2008. ?That?s hard to do in a big school,? she noted.

In FAITH, however, they achieve this goal one student at a time with not just academic subjects but also quality student activities such as public speaking contests, quiz bees, and spelling bee contests.

But, of course, she said, FAITH?s claim to fame remains its Robotics program, which has brought several accolades to the school and its students since it started in 2000. The Robotics program is part of the school curriculum in Grade 5, 3rd year high school, and its engineering course.

In 2006, the school took home the championship in the World Robot Olympiad, High School Division (Open Category) in Nanning, China. Last year, the FAITH team received the Excellence Award (Regular and Open Categories) in the same contest.

But the school?s seamless integration of technology and humanities isn?t without the foundation of a strong Christian living, Cesario reiterated.

In August 6, 2007, the school built its chapel, The Mater Fidelium (Mother of the Faithful) Chapel. The image of Mater Fidelium was conceptualized by Fr. Catalino Arevalo of the Ateneo de Manila University.

FAITH believes that the chapel serves as an instrument to popularize faith among its students. The same day, FAITH Unified School was formally declared as a Catholic School. The Tertiary schools remain non-sectarian, however, Cesario clarified.

In time for the celebration of its 8th Foundation Day, FAITH released a book called ?The Heart of FAITH? detailing how the school chapel came to be, from its conceptualization to construction.

Aside from the campus chapel, First Asia students also enjoy air-conditioned classrooms, a newly constructed Indoor Sports Arena and Activity Center, a 400-square meter open field, the library, food court, and cyber hub. FAITH also has its own dormitory, the Student Residences, inside its campus.

Being a high tech school, FAITH?s buildings are completely wired using the latest in structured cabling and fiber optic technology. Each air-conditioned classroom and laboratory has multimedia capability and comes with a 29-inch colored TV and computer. Each high school classroom also has a dedicated LCD projector and computer set-up.

On top of that, broadband access is available in every classroom, along with a WiFi hotspot within the campus that allows laptop users to have easy access to the Internet.

FAITH is developing its campus to become a ?garden campus.? It boasts of several gardens, including the ASEAN Garden which is planted with different plant varieties from different ASEAN countries. These gardens have become the students and faculty?s favorite place to relax in and unwind. The plants themselves, on their own, provide excellent references for the students? studies.

?The FAITH campus has been deliberately laid out to give its academic community a sense of peace, order, and harmony. The garden campus enhances human interaction on the one hand and encourages contemplation on the other. Keeping the campus well-maintained, clean and a smoke-free environment leads students to adopt certain norms of appropriate behavior,? said the school president.

With the theme ?From 8 to Infinity,? this year?s Foundation Day focuses on wellness and sports and outdoor activities. ?In this age of technology, we make sure that our school remains a conducive place for learning and that fitness stays part of our students? curriculum,? Cesario said.

This year, the celebration culminates in a three-day spectacle for students, teachers, and parents alike which had its start yesterday (September 6).

Foremost among the line up of activities is the Country Talk, a global awareness drive that allows First Asia students have a first hand cultural encounter with a featured country since the school started operation in 2000.

Students are encouraged to attend a forum in the school?s multipurpose hall, where representatives from the featured country?s embassy and partner institutions are invited.

Last year, Singapore starred in the event. This year, the spotlight is on China. ?We thought it was perfect to feature China since it is the host of the Beijing Olympics 2008,? Cesario said.

Since they started holding Country Talk as part of its Foundation Day celebration, it has become somewhat of a tradition for the school. So far, it has invited ASEAN countries (2001), Spain (2002), Japan (2003), Mexico (2004), Korea (2005) and Sweden (2006).

?For us to produce globally competitive students in a high tech school like FAITH, our students need to be globally aware,? Cesario said of the project.

Yesterday also saw the opening of the First Asia Center of Excellence for Teachers, a teacher?s training establishment inside the campus where instructors can enroll to upgrade their competencies.

Aside from the seminars, FAITH is also holding tai chi and aerobic dancing sessions for parents and faculty on the first day of the celebration. Representatives of adopted communities from neighboring barangays will beef up the 2,000 expected participants.

Last night also saw more than 15 participants compete for the top prize in the Battle of the Bands that doubled as a live musical concert. The audience got a special treat after popular alternative local band Sponge Cola spiced up the night?s electrifying numbers.

Today (September 7) on Day 2, the High School Palarong Pinoy, Unified Picnic Lunch, and the Tertiary School?s Faculty Fellowship follows a Holy Mass and a Field Demo for Pre-school and Grade School in the morning. In the afternoon, the Jose Rizal Honor Society holds a merienda cena with the school?s president.

The actual Foundation Day tomorrow (September 8), will feature the Finals Night of FAITH Idol?a singing contest among students patterned after the hit TV show ?American Idol,? another first in the celebration. A fireworks display caps the festivities later in the night.

At the end of the day, vice president for student affairs Eve Orbeta said the activities should have helped the students acquire the characteristics that have become FAITH?s trademark: assertiveness, a strong command of language, and firm leadership.

In this fast-changing world where technology is on centerstage, FAITH promises to continue producing graduates who know how to put to good use and noble causes the knowledge they have gained from the academic institution.

With new course offerings in the near future, the school?s administration can?t help but feel excited about the school?s next eight years and beyond.

ADVT