Calbayog City arts and design school on track in producing quality graduates

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Jan. 20 (PNA) –- Jashenna Apura, a Grade 11 student of Calbayog Arts and Design School of Eastern Visayas (CADSEV), and resident of Maydolong, Eastern Samar, did not mind being away from her family and the distance from her hometown to Calbayog City just to fulfill her dream of being an artist.

“If you really love arts, then you do something to enhance the talent and skills you have,” she said.

“My first choice when I finished Grade 10 was to enroll in a senior high school in Tacloban City, but then I heard about arts and design school in Calbayog City,” she recalled.

The girl had no regrets of her decision to pursue her dream considering that she learned a lot with the help of her mentors, who are exceptional artists.

“One more thing is that I was also given the chance to be exposed to other fields like dancing. I am not a musician, but with this school I was given the chance to explore other fields,” she added.

Jashenna is just one of the students enrolled in CADSEV from outside Calbayog City.

Starting from the scratch, the students of CADSEV was a bit disappointed the first time they saw their school when the class opened June last year.

“I thought the school building was already complete and ready to be used, but my expectation was not met, the building was still under construction,” said another student, Rodley Bedio.

But the school’s situation did not discourage Rodley.

“Our school is just starting and I believe that everything would be fine,” Bedio added. “I really want to enhance my talent in visual arts that is why I enrolled in CADSEV.”

Robley shared that their teachers helped them discover and develop the talent they have. 

Likewise, they have been joining various competitions, hence, giving recognition to their school.

School principal Noel Sagayap said that CADSEV has been trying to achieve its mission to be a home of students who love arts.

The arts and design school has specialization on media arts, visual arts and performing arts.

Sagayap said that during the first semester, inputs on the talents of the students were already integrated. For the second semester, students have been focusing on their field of specialization.

This school year, CADSEV has 28 enrollees, four of them from nearby provinces like Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar. Majority of learners are from Samar province.

Sagayap said the school is open to all students throughout the region who have passion for the arts.

“I am appealing to parents with children who have passion in arts to let your students develop their talents and be enrolled with us,” he said. “We have the best teachers in the field of arts. We are here to help the students be outstanding artists in the future.”

Construction of a school computer laboratory has just been completed. At least 56 units of high-end computers will be installed for media arts classes. Another school building will rise in the next academic year.

CADSEV campus is located in Tomalon Estate, Gadgaran village, five kilometers from the city center. The local government unit of Calbayog has provided a vehicle to shuttle students and teachers from downtown to the campus.

The school management plans to expand the campus to accommodate elementary and junior high schools learners. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/JENNIFER S. ALLEGADO/EGR