The Filamer Christian University (FCU) formally opened its new Senior High School (SHS) canteen at the SHS building grounds, early morning of August 11. In place of the Canteen Committee Chairperson and University Enterprise Manager Fresel Basence delivered the call to celebration.

Basence emphasized that one of the purposes of re-establishing the canteen is to comply with the Department of Education (DepEd) requirement that each department in a school must have its own canteen.

“Since ang [Junior] High School kag Elementary may ara na didto, we tried our best nga makahimo sang sini man para sa Senior High School. Para ma-cater aton senior high school students kay damo sila,” Basence said.

University President Dr. George Cortel highlighted that the SHS canteen is not only a necessity but also conveniently located for students.

“We have to invest because it’s not only a requirement of DepEd, but also a requirement for a basic need of man,” Cortel said.

“We have to eat, and we have to buy something, and somewhere. And it must be in the proximity of the institution like, for instance, the Senior High School,” the university president underscored.

Ida Grace Fatima Bulao, one of the canteen vendors, shared her hopes for future improvements. “In the following years, tani mag-nami pa gid ang canteen, nga may mga tables kamo para kung magbakal kamo, pwede kamo kaon diri gid. Kag tani maglapad pa gid diri amon space in the future,” Bulao said.

For students, the canteen’s location has already proven beneficial.

“[It’s] convenient because we don’t need na magkadto pa sa Junior High, especially kung ga-ulan, kay lapit na di ang canteen sa aton. Kag we don’t need to go sa mga malayo pa para makabakal sang foods,” said John Carlo Lapostre, a Grade 12 student from Archimedes Strand.

The opening and blessing of the SHS canteen concluded with remarks from the University President, followed by a closing worship song. Official staff and guests were then served food prepared by the canteen vendors.

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Article by Dexter Villaluna (The Hillside Echo – Senior)

Photos by Janiela Chantelle Ballinas, Margaux Kelly Bocala (The Hillside Echo – Senior)