Courtesy: ChiNoy TV
Building Today, Inspiring Tomorrow: HCHS Mixed-Use Educational Building Groundbreaking Ceremony
The Hope Christian High School (HCHS) community witnessed the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Mixed-Use Educational Building last Thursday morning, June 26.
The event brought together our reflective learning community from the United Evangelical Church of the Philippines (UECP), the school’s Board of Trustees (BOT), HCHS Alumni Association Inc. officers, school administrators, Alumni from Silverians ‘72, Light Bearers ‘76, Pearls of Hope ‘77, faculty, staff, Student Council Officers (SCO), parents and honored guests. HCHS Alumni Supreme Court Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez and Manila District III Representative Cong. Joel Chua also graced the occasion, alongside other visitors. The guests took part in the picture-taking and signing of a digital dedication board to commemorate the ceremony.
The program officially opened with a Scripture reading led by Assistant Principals Ms. Jan Laurice Ong and Ms. Rosita Te, followed by an invocation from BOT Vice-Chairman Mr. James Tan. Anchored in the event’s theme “Building Today, Inspiring Tomorrow,” key stakeholders then gave special remarks to highlight the significance of the occasion.
Scripture Reading and Invocation
Investment, Testament, and Legacy
BOT Chairman Mr. Jimmy Sy Sionghun set the tone of the ceremony by sharing the purpose of the Mixed-Use Educational Building. He framed the new building as a response to the school’s growing needs brought about by sustaining the world-class education HCHS offers. He also said that the project would keep HCHS competitive despite the increasingly challenging educational environment and noted that the building represents the school’s continuous commitment to educational excellence.
Chairman Sy also described the project as “more than just a construction project” and emphasized,
“It is an investment in the future of our students, a testament to our commitment to academic excellence, and a legacy that will benefit generations to come.”
Opening Remarks by BOT Chairman Mr. Jimmy Sy Sionghun
Project Update
Project Chairman Mr. Harry Chong followed with a progress report. He confirmed that the architectural drawings are complete, and the team is finalizing electrical and mechanical details. While the process had slowed due to the rising costs tied to recent global economic pressures, Mr. Chong announced that the project would be fast-tracked over the next one to two months. The pilot boring of foundations will soon follow, according to him.
“This will be a two-year project, so from now until 2028 is the target,” Project Chairman Chiong stated.
Project Update by Mr. Harry Chiong
Words of Gratitude
Incoming BOT Chairwoman Helena Ng took the floor to thank the Lord, the United Evangelical Church of the Philippines, alumni, individuals, families, and organizations for their generous support and contribution to the project.
Some of the generous donors she mentioned were Honorary Chairman Mr. Daniel Chiong, Honorary Chairwoman Mrs. Magdalena Uy, Former President Mr. Michael Chenglay Jr., Mr. Josef Gohoc of Citiland, Dr. Allen Roxas of Versailles Land, Former Chairman Mr. Harry Chong, and Mr. and Mrs. Ramon and Sharon Ongkeco. She also acknowledged the alumni association who spearheaded several alumni batches for their active support: Pearls of Hope ‘77, Light Bearers ‘76 and Silverians ‘72.
“My warmest thanks to each and everyone in this room whom God placed together to help build the HCHS Mixed-Use Education building. Thanks for investing not just in the physical building but in building lives and leaders for God and man,” Incoming Chairman Ng ultimately said.
A prayer of dedication by UECP Elder Elizabeth Chow then followed.
Words of Thanks and Prayer of Dedication
Words of Encouragement
Dr. Cecilio Pedro built his words of encouragement around the acronym B-I-G: Best, Initiative, and God. He encouraged the HCHS community to keep striving to do their best, noting that doing it is a continuing effort.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”
He also called everyone to take the initiative in supporting the “biggest project HCHS has undertaken” and to believe in God, grounding his message in Philippians 4:6.
“It requires all of you to bless this institution, all of you to take initiative. In the name of God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will make this project successful,” he remarked.
Words of Encouragement by Dr. Cecilio Pedro
Groundbreaking Rites
The opening program is followed by the unveiling of a time capsule. The capsule displayed a message of hope that the new building will be a place where character is formed, faith deepens, and the legacy entrusted to today’s community is carried forward to the next.
The breaking of the ground proceeded. Key stakeholders and distinguished guests wore hard hats and held shovels for the symbolic groundbreaking rite. They lifted the shovels over the plot of cement and gravel, symbolizing the commencement of the building construction. This is then followed by a prayer of commitment by School Chaplain Rev. William Jonathan Ong.
Groundbreaking Ceremony and Prayer of Commitment
Posing the challenge to the Hope community, distinguished alumnus Supreme Court Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez invited everyone to unite efforts in building a legacy through investing in the Mixed-Use Educational Building. As he reflected on his own life having been shaped by the Christian education of HCHS, Justice Lopez thanked God for His work at Hope and urged the community to continue God’s work that is yet to be accomplished.
“By sacrificing together as a community, we ensure that our faith outlives us, securing a vibrant, Christ-centered future for the leaders of tomorrow. Let us give generously to honor God and establish a heritage of faith, wisdom, and leadership that will endure for generations to come. Let us build HCHS Mixed-Use Educational Building together. Let us build more generations of Christian Leaders for God and for man!” Justice Lopez exclaimed.
The ceremony culminated with the benediction led by Rev. Bryan Kimball Sy.
Words of Invitation and Benediction