Minutes of Hope

  Notre Dame of Cagayan  Lupa Pula, Mapun, Tawi-Tawi   To the School administration, to our esteemed and ever-dynamic school principal Mr. Israel Maghanoy, to the young, gorgeous, and beautiful Faculty and Staff of NDC, our distinguished guests, Mayor Suraida Muksin, our municipal Mayor represented by Hon. Haripa Abdurahim and other Municipal counselors who are here tonight, To Sir. Julian Lim Jr, our school Alumni President and to Alumni Officers present tonight, Hon. Michael Pescadera, our overall school PAGTA president and the Overall PAGTA Officers present, to Maam Morada Sarail the Department of Education District School Supervisor and to our distinguished teachers and administrators from different schools here in Mapun, Dra. Sharifa Pescadera of Mapun Regional Health Unit, Dra. Marilous Sta Maria of Mapun Municipal Hospital, 1Lt Jay Rovinzor Enriquez of the Philippine Air Force, Coast Guard Ensign Terence Dy of the Philippine Coast Guard, Police Major Winston Botengan Chief of Po

The rain pours down uninvitingly It rushed with the wind on its side Hovering over enchanting hills and valleys Covering the lakes and oceans so it seems.   It’s cold and the steamy mud turns slippery I looked for something to cover my feet Oh, the air comes near me Near beneath and under earlier, still.   Is it the weather or simply me? Who is to blame with this melancholic scene? Is it me? or maybe not. A fellow just came and stole my lass.   But not so fast you thief, not so For even the night will end in light Or the river will lie bathed in the ocean’s might And the once loot will be at sight.

History The Notre Dame of Cagayan is located in a far distant island called Mapun, Tawi-Tawi. It is one of the Notre Dame schools founded by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Sulu and Tawi-Tawi archipelago to respond to the literary education needs of the local people. Among the Notre Dame schools, NDC is one of the farthest if not the most challenging mission area of the oblates particularly with regards to transportation. The Notre Dame of Cagayan was founded by the OMI Fathers in 1958. Fr. Maurice A. Hemann, OMI was its first school principal and director. During that time, the Notre Dame of Cagayan (NDC) was the only high school in the island municipality of Mapun. That is why most of the professionals coming from Mapun are graduates of NDC. The school in its long-standing influence through education has already produced doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, architects, a lawyer, businessmen, entrepreneurs, a priest, and many others. The Notre Dame of Cagayan is known for