Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos

Story By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga

Photos By Rheanna S. Empuerto, CVPro and Grace Ann Libre, CVPro

October 19, 2026—Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos, Inc. signed a new Tri-Party Memorandum of Agreement with two public schools situated in two separate barangays in San Carlos City.

Lamesa Elementary School in Barangay Buluangan and Lina dela Viña Integrated School, Barangay Palampas are now the CST-R adopted schools under the G.U.G.M.A. Program of the Community Extension and Development Office (CEDO). G.U.G.M.A., which means Giving of Ultimate Gifts, Memories and Assistance, is the adopt-a-school program of CST-R’s CEDO that was institutionalized in 2020.

These two public schools are the second batch of CST-R adopted schools.

Rev. Fr. Cristopher C. Maspara, OAR, School President, led the party of CST-R together with Rev. Fr. Dominador Mercado, Jr., OAR, the Vice-President for Identity, Formation and Mission and CEDO Director.

Ms. Caryl Faye Gevila, Senior Education Program Specialist for Social Mobilization and Network, and Mr. Joclin Mag-aso, Education Program Supervisor, represented the Department of Education-Division of San Carlos.

Mrs. Ma. Teresa M. Martinez, School Principal, signed the MOA for Lamesa Elementary School and with her was Mrs. Dee Marie Dela Victoria, DepEd-San Carlos Cluster 7 Head.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lynbert A. Gevila, School Principal, also signed the agreement for Lina dela Viña Integrated School and with him was Ms. Rosadille Vierneza, DepEd-San Carlos Cluster 9 Head.

Hon. Josephine Empuerto, Barangay Buluangan Councilor, was the representative of Hon. Desiderio A. Enarcio, Barangay Captain, and Engr. Alfredo Martin A. Cui, Barangay Captain of Barangay Palampas, was representated by another official.

Fr. Mercado during his welcome remarks said that signing the new “agreement also expresses the principle of the common good. When schools and communities work together, we create an environment where children can learn, families can hope, and communities can flourish.”

All parties that now belong to the Thomasian community hoped for a collaboration that shall truly bring to life the true sense of G.U.G.M.A.

**New MOA, New Schools.** (L-R) Ms. Jamela Mapa (standing, leftmost), staff of the CST-R Community Extension and Development Office, Rev. Fr. Cristopher C. Maspara, OAR, CST-R President, Hon. Josephine Empuerto, Barangay Buluangan Councilor, Mrs. Ma. Teresa M. Martinez, Lamesa Elementary School Principal, and Rev. Fr. Dominador Mercado, Jr., OAR, VP Identity, Formation and Mission, sign the new Tri-Party Memorandum of Agreement last October 19, 2026 at the CST-R Cultural Hall.

**Integrating the Integrated School.** (L-R sitting) Fr. Maspara, representative of Engr. Alfredo Martin A. Cui, Barangay Palampas Captain, Mr. Lynbert A. Gevila, Lina dela Viña Integrated School Principal, and Fr. Mercado sign the new MOA.

**MOA.** Lamesa Elementary School is now part of the second batch of CST-R G.U.G.M.A. adopted schools.

**One Augustinian Recollect Community.** Fr. Mercado expresses his gratitude to the two newly adopted schools for their willingness in “walking with us together in this mission of service, education, and community development.”

**The G.U.G.M.A. Story.** Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga, CST-R External Communications Officer, shares the program rationale and the brief history of G.U.G.M.A.

**Fellowship.** CST-R welcomes the new members of the Thomasian community with fellowship lunch.

**The Unfolding of Caritas et Scientia.** Guests from the Department of Education-Division of San Carlos, Lamesa Elementary School, Lina dela Viña Integrated School, Barangays Buluangan and Palampas and other stakeholders watch an AVP summarizing the story that began in 2020 when the program was born under its first CEDO Director Rev. Fr. Monday Benjamine Edobor, OAR and fellow religious administrators (on the screen) Rev. Fr. Vicente Ramon, Jr., OAR and Rev. Fr. Joel A. Alve, OAR.

**Special Message.** Mr. Joclin Mag-aso, Education Program Supervisor, represented Schools Division Superintendent Ms. Ma. Teresa P. Geroso, CESO VI, Department of Education-Division of San Carlos.

**Siempre Unidos!** The new members of the CEDO G.U.G.M.A. network of collaborators.

Spread the love

New CST-R Adopted Schools Declared, New Tri-Party MOA Signed