The dream of Xavier School Nuvali was hatched 14 years ago, in 1996, when Ambassador Benny Tan and the late Fr. Gene Moran requested our alumni to meet about the possibility of opening a second Xavier School. In September of that year, the late Fr. Louis Papilla met with that first group of alumni—a group that included Mike Tan, Carlos Chung, Harry Chua, Alex Ty, Art Dy, Maning Uychiaoco, Rudy Ang, Dobbin Tan, and Johnip Cua.
That talk of possibilities has led us here this morning to our groundbreaking ceremony. In June of 2012, we will break new ground as another Xavier School rises here in Nuvali, the Ayala Land development in Canlubang, Laguna.
XAVIER SCHOOL Nuvali:
With the same vision and the same brand of Xavier Education in a brand new, 15-hectare state-of-the-art campus Xavier School’s expansion comes at a time when education itself is undergoing a major transition. The numerous and rapid developments in information communications technology are changing the way students learn and ought to revolutionize the way we teach.
Because education itself needs a makeover, we envision a school reinvented for 21st-century learning and leadership.
Our dream is to form Christian leaders who are innovative, who do not merely “cross the bridge when they get there,” but can build the bridge “when they get there” simply because there are still no bridges. We hope to produce graduates who can grapple with and solve problems that may still not exist today.
The new Xavier School is a revolutionary dream not only because it takes education to a new level, but also because we want this gift of a Xavier education with those who may not be able to afford its cost. In the school that will rise here, 25% of the student population will be on scholarship. This is our commitment.
We are excited about this dream, especially now as this dream is about to become a reality. We thank our partners, Ayala Land and the Yulo Family, as well as all those who have worked hard on this project.
With its unique blend of tradition and innovation, Xavier School has consistently offered the best-designed learning environment and experiences to its students in the last five decades. In the process, it has produced numerous exemplary alumni: outstanding business and community leaders who have “let their light shine” in different ways and different fields both here and abroad.
The time has come to expand this mission and raise it to a whole new level.
We have been blessed to be part of this dream, to be invited to make this dream come true.
- Fr. Johnny Go, SJ
