98 YEARS: FROM TRAVERSING RIPTIDES TO REFRAMING STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Generations of Chinese Filipinos have walked through the portals of Philippine Cultural College. This is not just to say that the school, the place that has been called home by its students, employees, and alumni, and the witness to many of the country's and the community’s victories and struggles, has done its job after 98 years of forming well-rounded and appreciative Chinese Filipino youth. Ultimately, after 98 years, it’s also high time amid a backdrop of a worldwide public health crisis, to amplify Kiaotiong’s ability to be responsive to the changing times.

Being the oldest secondary Chinese Filipino school in the Philippines, PCC has had its fair share of adversities and tragedies. The most recent being the COVID-19 pandemic, which started March of the year 2020. The pandemic wreaked havoc on the world, everything changed in the blink of an eye. Academic year 2019-2020 went into an indefinite state of suspension followed by an abrupt announcement that the said school year had already ended. Everyone had no choice but to stay at home as infection cases rose day by day, week by week, month by month. Eventually, the conditions brought about by this crisis forced PCC to hold classes online instead of the traditional face-to-face classes. 

But how did PCC Manila become responsive to such a change that no one ever imagined befalling this lifetime, more so affecting some junctures of the community directly? It’s best to reflect upon images of resilience that ultimately led to the reframing of its own standards of excellence.

Perhaps one image of PCC Manila is the inevitable fates of its community members to become technologically savvy individuals. As PCC transitioned to an online setup, it had to equip and prepare teachers for teaching in the new normal. Trainings and seminars were held so that they would be able to cope with the challenges that this kind of setup might bring. Different applications, websites, and platforms were utilized for the school year. With this, its personnel in the educational frontlines were compelled to be wittier, and to be more resourceful.

Programs and events were held, which were meant to nurture and enhance the students’ skills and talents. Before the pandemic, such feats were unimaginable, let alone favorable. But  PCC remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence, and this time through the virtue of reinvention and innovation. During the past school year, reruns of the traditions PCCians used to experience in its halls were made accessible and at the same time palatable to its patrons and even beyond. But this did not mean that no new events emerged, for the first ever PCC Youth Ambassador search and the E-Sportsfest were eventually witnessed by the virtual PCC community.

But one hallmark that can never be erased in the PCCian tradition of excellence is the development of competitive students that are able to represent the community on a global scale.

Students were able to participate in various contests like the FAMMPSA Academic Olympiad and the different mathematics competitions held all over the world. Research traditions were also reinvigorated, as the school  sent its largest contingent to the DLSU SHS Research Congress, presenting papers across various disciplines. With this, the students were able to continue bringing pride to the PCC community despite traversing the odd environments of how contests were usually conducted.

Survival has been a luxury, especially in this scenario where everyone is still left asking where to go next, yet having to reframe the standards of excellence is even a more challenging task. This is not to say that PCC has successfully made its shift to whatever it faces right now. But as ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi mentioned, every journey begins with a single step. The road towards the unknown will always be filled with questions and even anxieties. But there is no other way but forward.

PCC has indeed stayed strong, resilient, and responsive, and it seeks to continue being that way while an end to the COVID-19 pandemic may already be in sight. This coming school year may still be filled with the same questions and anxieties, but rest assured that PCC will never stop trying, and will never let go of traversing riptides, achieving dreams, and reframing its brand of excellence.