Niña Maria Learning Center Celebrates 10th Founding Anniversary

November 21, 2008, the Feast of the Presentation of the Child Mary (Niña Maria) in the Temple, marked the 10th Founding Anniversary of Niña Maria Learning Center. On that same day NMLC was in union with the students of all ODN schools throughout the world in observing a tradition that dates back to 1610 in France when St. Jeanne de Lestonnac, the ODN Foundress herself, taught the kids to honor Mary and consecrated to Her the kids and the youth under care of the Sisters.

The theme of this year’s celebration was - NMLC: Ten years onwards, in thanksgiving and hope. The whole-day activity started with a celebration of the Eucharist at 8:00 o’clock in the morning followed by a procession. Upon going back to NMLC grounds the children and the parents offered their flowers to the Child Mary. After the snack break was a short program by the Kinder 1 and 2 kids. This was followed by two parlor games: Pabitin for Kinder 1 and Hit the pot for Kinder 2. Then lunch was served and it we hoped that our guests and visitors from Japan and Rome really enjoyed Pinoy Fiesta meal specially lechon prepared specially for them.

At 7:00 o’clock in the evening was a variety show dubbed as ExpresArte: Handog Pasasalamat. This was a thanksgiving offering prepared by NMLC scholars, alumni, parents and staff as a way to say “THANK YOU” to benefactors, supporters, friends and specially to the Sisters of the Company of Mary for their tireless service and generosity that made NMLC program sustainble.

The Sisters of the Company of Mary started working in Tambo in early 1990s through catechism and some extra-curricular activities with children. They also worked in the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC), the only local organization at that time. The relationship with the neighborhood and the desire of institutionalizing these learning activities led them to the inception of the educational center named NIÑA MARIA LEARNING CENTER (NMLC). It aims at promoting education in Tambo, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City. It started in June 1999 with a Preschool Program which is successfully ongoing.

In the two years that followed, more learning activities were initiated to cater to the needs of both the young and adult populace in the area. A six-month modular formation seminar for adults was conducted in January 2001 and in April of the same year a Tutorial Learning Program (TLP) for elementary students was begun and is currently ongoing.

The desire to continue looking for a more comprehensive way of reaching out to the community has led to the inception of a new initiative which aims to provide financial assistance to poor families who can hardly send their children to school because of financial inadequacy. This program dubbed as “Sending Our Children from Tambo to College” has as its goal the involvement of the community channeled thru a core group which is a consultative body that consists of five area representatives from Tambo.

Ultimately, NMLC envisions to contribute to the development of the residents of Tambo, Cagayan de Oro City by fostering education through a community-building process.