31/05/2025
LITERARY | FAREWELL
The memories once cherished, became the presence that vanished.
The final bell rings, but this time, its sound lingers longer in the air— heavy with meaning, thick with emotion. The halls of Maryknoll fall into an unnatural silence, a stillness that speaks louder than words. The heart of the school is leaving. The father of the standing school, the guiding force behind countless triumphs and challenges, is stepping out the door for the last time.
For 12 long years, Father Jay B. Ramos was more than an administrator; he was the beating heart of Maryknoll itself. A force of nature who led with unmatched vision, unwavering compassion, and boundless energy. His leadership wasn’t defined by the authority of his title but by the authenticity of his actions. Fr. Jay wasn’t just a figurehead— he was the soul of the school, the spirit woven into every classroom, every hallway, every moment.
Fr. Jay reminded everyone that the true foundation of a school is built on relationships— it wasn’t enough to merely teach students; he inspired them. It wasn’t enough to simply guide teachers; he empowered them. The students and staff alike were more than numbers and statistics— they were people, and he made it his mission to ensure that every single one within the school felt valued, heard, and seen.
“I never wanted to be just a principal," he once said in his final address, his voice delicate and breaking through the emotion in the room. "I wanted to be a part of your journey, to help you find your way, to show you that you are more than what you see in the mirror. Together, we are stronger. You and this institution was the best thing that happened to me,”
For him, it was never about the accolades or the recognition. It was about the quiet moments—the smile shared with a student struggling to fit in, the encouraging word whispered to a teacher questioning their path, the gentle nudge that pushed someone to believe in themselves when they couldn’t. Fr. Jay didn’t just lead— he transformed, and in turn, everyone and everything transformed with him.
And now, as the people stand at the precipice of his departure, they are left with a profound emptiness— a gaping hole where his presence once was. The office, once filled with the energy of his ideas, laughter, and endless care for others, now sits silent. The hallways, once a place of shared experiences, feel colder without them. The classrooms, where students and teachers alike found the courage to dream, seems less bright.
But even in his absence, his influence remains. The lessons he taught us are not bound by the walls of this school; they are written in our hearts, forever. He wasn’t just a leader; but a guide, a mentor, a friend. And though he is leaving, his legacy will live on in the lives he touched and the hearts he molded.
“I don’t know how we’ll move forward without him,” one teacher woefully remarked, “but what I do know is that we’ve been given the tools to keep going— because that’s what Fr. Jay always did. He gave us what we needed to grow, to face the challenges ahead, and to believe in ourselves.”
The truth is, you will move forward— but not without carrying a part of them inside you. His wisdom, his vision, and his unwavering belief in every heart will continue to shape the future of this school. And while the halls will be quieter without him, the silence will echo the lessons he wholeheartedly instilled in us.
As his last year departs, there is no grand finale, no dramatic exit— just the soft closing of a chapter. But that doesn’t mean this is the end. No, the end of his time here marks only the beginning of a new legacy— one that will continue to grow, evolve, and inspire for years to come.
So, as we bid him farewell, we do so with more than just sadness. We do so with gratitude, with respect, and with the unshakable knowledge that the impact he had will never be erased. Father Jay, you leave behind more than just a school— you leave behind a family, a community forever changed by your leadership. And for that, we will all be eternally grateful.
Once again, farewell, Father. You will remain engraved in each of our hearts forever. Your legacy will echo through these halls for generations to come.
✍️ | Fiona Alexa Moca
👩💻 | Mary Lavaigne Miguel
