The halls of Apo View Hotel in Davao City were filled with warmth and familiarity on August 3, 2024, as work scholars and Holy Crossians reunited for the Holy Cross of Davao College Work Scholar Organization’s (HCDC-WSO) homecoming, where being together again felt like being truly at home.
The scholarship program that work scholars of HCDC were part of was formed through the mission of the church and the institution to provide accessible education to the youth.
Mrs. Felina Olimba-Sapero, a member of WSO and former Head of the Office of Registrar and Records Management of HCDC, couldn’t contain her excitement when she saw her former co-work scholars.
“The moment I saw my co-working scholars, we automatically brought back the memories. The exchanging of warm greetings and hugs and kisses, everything was pure,” Mrs. Sapero shared.
One of HCDC’s former scholarship program advisers and a proud HCDC Alumna, Ms. Evangeline Cedeño, delivered an inspiring keynote speech that resonated deeply with the attendees. She emphasized the resilience and dedication required of work scholars.
“Our determination really took us through, and we tried to keep our promise,” she said, illustrating the challenges she faced while balancing work and studies.
“I was a bus conductor of the school; I had to leave the campus past six a.m. We would pick up the students around the city,” Cedeño recalled.
Her story illustrated the evolution of the scholarship program and the spirit it instilled in its students.
The HCDC-WSO homecoming was not merely a nostalgic gathering but a testament to the enduring impact of the Holy Cross of Davao College. It reinforced the theme of “Connecting the Past with the Present,” bridging generational gaps and fortifying the legacy of hard work, dedication, and unwavering faith among its community.