As Saint Michael’s College of Laguna rides the winds of change and aspires to be a 21st century institution of learning, a new mindset and sensitivity must be embraced. Knowing itself, its capabilities and liabilities enables the College to grow and harness its full potential towards its preferred future. By being aware of its strengths, it can build on these to achieve more and enhance its productivity and effectiveness. Conscious of its handicaps, it is prepared to avoid pitfalls or useless mistakes. Thru self-assessment, challenges are treansformed into opportunities. This is the bottom line of winning and succeeding. The new and complex age demand reordering of time and space and acting even faster than ever. This perspective necessitates renewal and transformation as the tried and tested strategies will somehow give way to the new and bold alternatives and approaches.

The quest for excellence and significance will never be easy but thru our solid, strong, unwavering and unyielding commitment, combined with passion, to the cause that we all serve -- that of shaping and gearing up the next generation of Filipinos -- will definitely materialize. Indeed, as Mr. Ramon Del Rosario, Jr. aptly puts it: “Only the strong and brave in spirit shall survive and succeed. However it is easy to be strong and brave if we stand and face this age together.” Let us weave together a common purpose. Let us act to fulfill our aspirations and goals and not leave them to chance. Let us continue to take one step beyond our comfort zones, a leap beyond our borders, to plunge into the unfamiliar but necessary and challenge the relevance of everything we do.

As we joyfully and gratefully look back on the amazing developments that have unfolded as we culminate another banner year, the gratitude that I wish to extend our stakeholders -- our shareholders, the Board of Directors, the President’s Council, the Council of Deans and Directors, the faculty and staff, the students and their parents, and alumni -- will never be enough. It is my fervent wish that they will be with us as we continue our journey to significance.