St. Robert’s International Academy starts classes at new campus ripe for success

“WE don’t just want to foster and help mold intellectual giants, we want to help develop intellectual giants with big hearts,” said Dr. Robert Galindez, St. Robert’s International Academy (SRIA) president, during the blessing of his school’s new campus on Saturday at the site of the former De Paul College in E. Lopez St., Jaro, Iloilo City – beside Robinson’s Place Jaro.

St. Robert’s International Academy (SRIA) has accomplished so much since its establishment in 2004 as a TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) school, and opening its high school department for the first time in 2010 – now an established academy that offers classes up to the senior high school level. The new milestone sees SRIA transferring to a much more spacious and accessible campus to better hone its budding students.

The blessing was led by Galindez, along with Dr. Clarissa Zamora, OIC-Schools Division Superintendent of the Division of Iloilo City; city councilor and SRIA board of trustees chairman Atty. Joshua Alim; Dr. Larry Caminero, Philippine Councilors League executive director; Father Ross Diño, Vicentian priest of the Brothers of the Philippines; Father Greg Baniaga, father provincial; and Father Narciso Lander, Father Deriz Cantellero, and Father Benny Enano.

During the program a handful of SRIA’s stakeholders delivered messages and well-wishes as the academy ventures a fresh new endeavor this S.Y. 2018-2019.

Atty. Joshua Alim

“With this new space, I can really see the Robertine family achieving even more, more awards, more accolades, more achievements” said Atty. Joshua Alim. “Soar high St. Robert’s International Academy!”

Dr. Clarissa Zamora of the Department of Education similarly congratulated SRIA, lauding the academy’s efforts in contributing to education that’s “Maka-Diyos, makakalikasan, at makabansa.”

The bigger venue provides fertile ground for the Robertine family to continue its mission of provoding world-class, God-centered, and learner-oriented education.

Dr. Robert Galindez, SRIA president

“We started with only nine high students in 2010,” Dr. Robert Galindez, SRIA president, told Panay News. “By 2011, we had a complete offering already, from Kinder to Elementary and High School, with nearly 100 enrolled in all.”

From humble beginnings SRIA and its students have garnered accolades and milestones in both creative and entrepreneurial endeavors, largely due to its enriched curriculums.

In 2014, St. Robert’s students Jessa Marie Tacadao, Henrich Matthew Chua, Renzo Ian Cancer, and Rayan Ahmad Barodi won a gold medal for Millennium Development Goals with their business pitch during the Student for the Advancement of Global Entrepeneurship (SAGE) World Cup held in Moscow.

By 2015, the same team claimed the top prize Grand Champion for Socially-Responsible SAGE in Seoul, South Korea. Just last year, the SAGE World Cup was hosted by the Philippines, with St. Robert’s International Academy running the competition.

Meanwhile, in the arts, the independent film “Impas” (“Settement”) – produced by Robertine Films, helmed by decorated Ilonggo filmmaker Elvert Banares, and starring SRIA students – was showcased at 13 esteemed film festivals here and abroad. Two other film projects produced by St. Robert’s International Academy were also met with similar fanfare.

St. Robert’s president Galindez attributes much of their success to the school’s unique “enriched” curriculums, all pioneered by SRIA.

“Our curriculum is different from the traditional curriculum,” he explains. “We offer a special creative arts curriculum in the elementary level. The basic prescribed elementary subjects are there, but we enriched it with creative arts courses.”

Meanwhile, SRIA’s junior high school department is seen as a special business high school, with the curriculum enriched with vital business subjects. Entrepreneurship subjects are offered from Grades 7 to 10, along with classes on business management, accounting, and even Information Technology, furthers Galindez.

Finally, for senior high school, St. Robert’s boasts among the largest population of students transferring from public high schools in the city, currently with 17 sections in the senior high department alone.St. Robert’s offers three strands – General Academic, Accountancy Business and Management, and Information Technology – all seeking to properly-equip its students with the right skills to notch lucrative jobs.

“We aim to prepare our senior high students for employment. Our Grade 12 pupils are deployed to the field for their practicum, because we have plenty of partner industries,” adds Galindez. “This ensures that they will adapt to become better-suited for future employment.”

Grounded on the vision: “Leading the way towards excellent, world-class, God-centered, and learner-oriented education,” St. Robert’s International Academy is leading the way when it comes to “enriched” education, molding students that can excel in their respective fields, while sweeping accolades and recognition along the way.

More talents are set to be discovered by SRIA,  producing champions who will continue to uphold the Robertine spirit in both the local and international stage./PN

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