JBLCF Arevalo: Soaring high with PQA Award
Colors narrate stories. Our personalities are depicted by hues and tints. Our heritage is a sum of different chroma and saturation. Each nuance and shade conveys a particular message. Each intensity and tone is a window to our soul.
Historically, yellow is eponymous to People Power. Spiritually, white signifies purity and peace. Socially, red shouts out courage. Metaphorically, blue is royal. For JBLCF, green can only mean one thing - the 2005 PQA Award.
"Commitment, love, passion and dedication is our service. Magalit na ang magalit," says Dr. Mary Lou Arcelo, chairman of JBLCF's Board of Trustees in a press conference held at JBLCF Molo last March 28, 2006.
John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation Arevalo Incorporated is the recipient of the 2005 Philippine Quality Award (PQA) for commitment to Quality Management. The 34-year-old stellar institution in terms of maritime training brushed elbows with the country's three other gigantic names. The NYK Fil Ship Management, Incorporated bagged the 2005 PQA for mastery in quality management; University of Santo Tomas and Centro Escolar University were both awarded with PQA for proficiency in quality management.
The 8th PQA awarding ceremony was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Dusit Hotel in Makati City last March 15, 2006. The green crystal trophy was officially handed to Dr. Mary Lou Arcelo and to Dr. Ralph Pador, JBLCF-Arevalo Administrator, by Director Virgilio P. Fulgencio, the Executive Director of the Department of Trade and Industry Center for Industrial Competitiveness. The said historical act was assisted by Mr. Raul Hernandez, chairman of the PQA Board of Judges, Vice Chairman Filemon Berba Jr; DAP President Dr. Eduardo Gonzales; Ma. Teresa Bagaman, Award Administrator for the Private Sector; PQA President Jaime Aquino and Governor of the DTI Board of Investments, Francis Ferrer.
The Philippine Quality Award Program, a separate entity from that of the Philippine Quality Awards for Business Excellence, was born during the regime of former President Fidel V. Ramos through Executive Order 448. Also known as the Philippine Quality Award Act, the program was institutionalized through Republic Act 9013 and was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 28, 2001. PQA program makes use of the seven point criteria that was patterned after the Balbridge National Quality Award in the US. The criteria are as follows: desk evaluation and consensus review by trained PQA assessors, site visit of applicant organizations, and final judges review by a panel of Board of Judges. Managed by the Development Academy of the Philippines and by the Philippine Society for Quality, the 8-year-old award-giving body has given distinctions to 19 private corporations, 5 government agencies, and 3 educational institutions including JBLCF.
JBLCF-Arevalo has scribbled its name in the pages of our history being the only maritime college and the top-flight institution outside Manila garnering such prestigious award.
"Our goal is not solely to reap awards and recognition, it is more directed towards producing quality and globally-competitive graduates not only for the school but for the whole country," Dr. Pador sincerely expressed to the faculty and staff after returning from Manila. According to him, the award is going to be more of a challenge than a victory. "It is another step in a ladder of challenges which the school has to move up to," he added.
The lofty Dr. Arcelo formally stated with utmost confidence that in the years to come, the school will sustain its role of being a bastion of maritime education in the country. She too delivered that providing quality education is not an option for the institution but a responsibility to its stakeholders.
The members of the Quality Steering committee who perpetually worked day and night pointed out that in the process of preparing the documents needed, they were able to identify strong points that helped improved the weak aspects.
The hardworking committee is composed of Dr. Benelyn P. Batiduan as chairman, Engr. Neal Sobrejuanite, Captain Denny Docto, Engr. Ronnie Surmieda, Capt. Conrado Tabanda, Mrs. Emely Palomero, Dr. Geneva Eler and Mrs. Louella Bernas as category champions and Dr. Melchor Mangramo, Dr. Roberto Somosa, 3/M Rene Fullon, 3/M Venerado Lamasan and Ms. Teresita Salcedo as members.
Indeed, JBLCF-Arevalo regained the long-lost glory of the city by proving to the country and to the world that Ilonggos are no-ordinary citizens. Thank you for making us proud!