01/06/2026
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ππππππ | A Mission Anchored in Wisdom and Faith
In the light of dawn, tranquil parish chambers are filled with the faint whispers of prayers of parishioners. As Rev. Fr. Eric dela Cruz prepares his services, celebrating mass, addressing parishionersβ concerns, shepherding a faithful community, all the while balancing his duty to the educational institution. Guiding young minds to better futures, with people throwing him warm greetings this way and that as he passes by the school corridors.
For him, this path of faith has been clear from a very young age. While most children learned to read and write, a young Eric, no more than 3 years old, had tiny hands already learned to grasp rosary beads and recite prayers. Brought up by a Chinese mother and a Filipino father, he grew up in the disciplined walls of a Chinese school and was taught in the strict Catholic Faith.
His mornings began before the early light and would return home when dusk settled in. And throughout the years, his motherβs reminders linger within him; to never let go of the religion she taught him.
With years of strict discipline and rigid routines, life was quite difficult for him. However, as the rigid routines of his childhood quietly shaped him, he was prepared for a life that demanded endurance and devotion.
Hence, when the time for seminary life eventually came, his sacrifices no longer felt unfamiliar and had made life easier. Even then, his journey of faith had more awaiting for him. As he grew into a young man, Rev. Fr. dela Cruz asked his mother for permission to join a minor seminary, eager to walk the path of the priesthood. His mother hesitated, hoping he would first enjoy the experience of an ordinary high school life beyond the church walls.
But his call to the church persisted. Before entering college, he insisted on asking his mother once more, despite his motherβs hesitation and insistence on a normal college life. This time, he comes with a promise that heβd at least try seminary, and if the vocation does not work out, then he could always leave at any time. And with that, he never did.
As years pass before his presidency of CCI, Rev. Fr. dela Cruz now walks through the school grounds, spending his days as a deacon and an educator. Traversing between classrooms, visiting the school now and then from far-off church duties. He was simply another face attending campus ministries.
Inside his office, there are reminders that his work extends far beyond administration, a conversation about values, discipline, and services that often coincide with academics. And displays of faith he never let go.
During his earlier parish assignments, he opened opportunities every chance he could for those who were willing to learn back in his earlier days of parish assignment. Hiring individuals with little experience but strong determination. His hand even extends to the community that lies outside the school walls, facilitating help for the indigenous people. And actively lending a helping hand to those who truly need it. For all his observations, most people who are in the direst need tend to be the quietest of voices.
Students who once sat intently in classrooms eager to learn have since then grown into successful individuals with careers, achievements, and gratitude shaped by the lessons that have extended beyond textbooks. Many have even returned years later, bearing success stories, along with their own families they could now support on their own.
He recalls many of his former students greeting him years after their graduation, still carrying with them the values he once taught them during his time in campus ministry and formation in faith. In those warm moments, he understands that the true outcome of education is not in awards, titles, or status, but in the transformation of a life.
And it is within those instances that stay with him the most and fulfil him with accomplishment, not for the recognition, but for the memories of him that remain among the students.
Becoming one of the institutionβs lead figures certainly was not a part of his thoughtfully built vocation. βIf I were to talk to the young Eric,β he mused, βhe never in his wildest dreams would have believed he would be where he is today.β
His later years, once spent as an ordinary seminarian, now walk through the present-day school grounds where students, teachers, and staff all stop to give him a welcoming greeting. Yet behind the title and authority is a person who still regards himself as an ordinary educator and a humble servant of the Church.
And the values he learned both from faith and Chinese education became a core part of his guidance: To him, fostering a Filipino-Chinese community meant that βyou excel, you do what is right, and you do everything in transparency, accountability, and collaboration.β This passion is something that is integral to the work done by Rev. Fr. Dela Cruz, as he believes that anything done with a lack of passion becomes βhalf-cooked.β
For him, his mission was never about building a career, an insinuation of a fickle commitment; if such a thing were to end, what would become of a person? To him, it was always about answering a vocation to both the Church and the people. Transforming young minds leads to a change within society. Even with a strong faith, one needs an educated path to uplift themselves and their loved ones, as he has stated: βYour passion for education will make or break societyβ.
As the day ends, church pews empty and campus halls quiet down, Rev. Fr. dela Cruz remains at work addressing concerns, expanding school plans, and continuing his responsibilities that stretch far beyond the lively classrooms. And the parish lights dim once more in the tranquil evening, ready to be lit for another day.
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β Ma. Denise Aballe | Staff Writer
πΈ Steven Kurt Florentino | Staff Photojournalist
π» Angustia Juelle Danao | Features and Literary Editor
