August 7, 2024, in the year of the Lord, marks the beginning of a noble partnership. Manresa School signed the Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) with CORA. The Communities Organized for Resource Allocation or CORA is a non-profit organization, dedicated to creating sustainable programs to help solve global issues centered on hunger, poverty, inequality, and climate change. The Eco-Ikot Centers of CORA will coordinate with Manresa School for partnership and participation in collecting segregated, clean, and dry materials. 

The exciting partnership meeting and the signing of the MOA are attended by Sr. Joji Silorio, F.I., RCA, Sr. Lorna Genovate, F.I., the school Treasurer, Sr. Edhen Mae Paranga, F.I., Grade School Principal, Ms. Yolanda Cruz, GS Asst. Principal, with Mr. Eleazar Solas, Quality Assurance Coordinator, Mr. Ariel Cañete, Community Extension Service Coordinator, and Mrs. Bonna Villagracia, In-Charge of Communications. Likewise, from CORA Philippines, Ms. Antoinette Taus, Founder and Executive Director, Ms. Aiyan Montoya, Program Manager, Mr. Christian Calalang, Program Officer, Ms. Marla Agas, SWM, 3R Specialist, and Ms. Sophia Romilla, Program Officer attended this exciting partnership. The meeting ended with remarks of gratitude from the Founder and Executive Director of CORA, Ms. Antoinette Taus, followed by a response from Sr. Joji Silorio, F.I. of Manresa School. 

The encyclical letter, Laudato Si' of Pope Francis, calls for all of us to respond more fully to the call of caring for others and for God's creation. Thus, the active partnership of Manresa School with CORA manifests a dynamic and concrete response to the call of Laudato Si’. May this noble endeavor bring meaningful and beneficial results to both parties, and to the larger community and society in general. 

By Ms. Concepcion Bayais-Villagracia