Xavier School Nuvali defines 21st Century Education

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

Tribute to Cory Aquino

Fr. Johnny Go, SJ, director of Xavier School in Greenhills San Juan made this tribute to a former president, a loving grandmother and mother, a woman of hope, courage and freedom. In the info beside the video, Fr. Go wrote:

She was swept to power by the world's first peaceful revolution, the People Power EDSA Revolution of 1986. From Boston, she returned home with her children in 1983 to bury her husband, Ninoy Aquino, who had been assassinated in the airport tarmac and in a breathtaking turn of events, led her people in dismantling the Marcos dictatorship and became the Philippines' first woman president.

Now, grateful for all that she has done, we pray for Cory as she battles her illness. Yellow ribbons, the symbol of the opposition movement she led in 1986, are sprouting in places physical and virtual. We thank the Lord for sending us this widow who wrapped her grief over her assassinated husband with faith and turned it into infectious courage.

I put this together from all sorts of YouTube videos and pictures on line. This is my tribute to the widow who led the nation in braving that storm. She made me proud to be Filipino.

She once have said in an inspiring message, and I quote, "I am burning the candle of my life in the dark, with no one to benefit from the light. The candle slowly melts away. Soon its wick will burn out, and the light is gone. If only someone will gather the melted wax, reshape it, give it a new wick. For another fleeting moment, my candle can once again light the dark, be of service one more time, and then, goodbye."

Now that there's already a lit path because of you, I take the challenge to be the wick of your remolded candle, ignite anew, and share the light to others, who still are in the dark. This is my promise, until another gathers our melted wax, and be its wick for the next generation.

"Cory, Laban!"

Fr. Robbie Sian, SJ

Just last month, one of my high school CLE teachers/ first high school Jesuit teacher, Bro Robbie Sian, SJ (back then) was ordained (so he's Fr. Robbie Sian, SJ now) to be a priest. He was one of the first few Jesuit scholars (if not the first) that I looked up to. After he taught in Xavier, he went to Cambodia. Funny, before he left for Cambodia, I met him the last time when he was with his sister in SM Megamall. Call it chance, or God's plan, I met him a couple of times after he returned back to the Philippines, and got back in touch with recently.



Xavier School Director Fr. Johnny Go wrote in his Facebook:

Newly ordained priest, Fr. Robbie Sian, SJ, taught religion for two
years to high school students in Xavier School. Here he talks about
how he feels about being a new priest.

Father Robbie will be presiding at the annual Missioning Mass this
June 5th at 2 pm at the Angelo King Multi-Purpose Center in Xavier
School for all our Faculty and Staff. His friends and former students
are all invited. After the Mass, he will give the traditional new
priest's blessing to the guests.

Congratulations on your ordination, Father Robbie! We are proud of you
and pray for you as you go to your new mission in Sta. Maria Parish,
Iloilo. Luceat Lux!

Back when Fr. Robbie was my CLE teacher, he touched our lives and taught us religion well. He was no boring teacher, but instead, he made the subject really interesting for his students with his stories and life experiences. He is a man of faith and someone who I think will do just great wherever he is sent. I'm praying for you Father! :)

Video Interview by Fr. Johnny Go.










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