PROFILE ON A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF.

Ratchel (Chi Chi) Sulatan.

Its 30 years this year since Rachel (Chi Chi) Mendoza Sulatan joined the staff of Bethany. Chi Chi as she is affectionately called graduated from Liceo de Cagayan University in her profession in general nursing in 1978. In 1981 she joined the staff of Bethany as a nurse.

During her work at Bethany she met her husband Fred Sulatan himself a former Bethany ward who was working after graduating in Cagayan de Oro city at that time and returning to Bethany at weekends to help at the home. In 1984 Chi Chi and Fred married and started their own family.

In 1988 Chi Chi and Fred officially became house parents to the Bethany wards and Chi Chi continued her duties as nurse. You can just imagine the Sulatan cottage with three children of her own and nine Bethany wards all living together as one big family.

Until the Sulatan children left home to further their education this was how it was for the family.

Chi Chi recalls that as many as twelve children had to be fed, washed and clothed and played with in her cottage with all the usual trials and tribulations of raising children.

Chi Chi went on to explain that over the years she has been a house parent between 50/60 children have been adopted from her cottage along with the numerous wards that passed through as they became older and moved on to other cottages.

She sits and recalls all the children by name as well as where they went to live at the time of their adoption and can remember particular characteristics of each child.

If Chi Chi and Fred were living in another country they would I’m sure by now be honoured by the relevant authorities of that country for their care and devotion to the wards of Bethany.

So thirty years on Ch Chi despite recently aggravating an old back injury soldiers on with her duties of house parent and nurse to the children.

When you visit Ch Chi in her cottage she is always smiling and cheerful despite the personal pain she suffers daily due to her back problem but one thing you can be rest assured of the children always come first.

Well done to Chi Chi for her thirty years of service to Bethany and lets not forget Fred her support in her very busy life.

BETHANY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL'S 55th FOUNDATION DAY.

The stage setting for the 55th year celebration.

This morning 4th September 2011 I had the pleasure of attending along with my wife Marilou the opening ceremony of Bethany Christian School’s 55th Foundation Year celebration.


Yes it’s now 55 years since BCS first opened its doors to teach the children from Bethany Home in its formative years and then the children from Talakag and surrounding Barrios in later years. Thousands of children have graduated from BCS with an excellent standard of education as provided by its dedicated teaching and support staff.



BCS Students at todays ceremony.


In the last five years I have to admit its had its ups and downs due to lack of financial support but this is slowly but surely being overcome by the efforts of the current Board of Trustees as well as the efforts of the membership of the First Baptist Church of Middleburg, Florida as previously reported here and not forgetting the parents and guardians as well as sponsors who also add their support by sending their children to be taught there year after year.

Joe Hutcheson talks about commitment in his speech

At this mornings ceremony Mr Joe Hutcheson (Financial Officer) gave a speech on the importance of being truly and fully committed to whatever you do in life, if you want to really be successful. His words were directed at not only the students but also their parents who were also in attendance. How true are his words when we reflect back ourselves to what we have achieved in our lives to date. Could we have done better had we showed more effort and commitment, of course we could have. With continued commitment BSC will survive and grow to fulfil the educational needs of the children of Bethany Home as well as those from Talakag and its surroundings.

The celebration is week long with educational, cultural and sporting activities involving all the students of BCS. I’m sure you would like to join me in wishing them a happy celebration with many more years of celebration to look forward too.