For the first time in its history, a woman will lead the country’s largest organization of Catholic schools, colleges, and universities.
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) on Tuesday, September 22, elected Sister Marissa Viri of the Religious of the Virgin Mary as its new president.
Sister Viri, previously CEAP’s vice president, will succeed Father Elmer Dizon of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, who served the post since September 2019.
The nun, who is currently president of the University of the Immaculate Conception in Davao City, was elected during CEAP’s organizational meeting.
Also elected as new vice president is Father Thadeu Enrique Balongag, a trustee of CEAP Negros Island.
CEAP also named Father Gilbert Sales as its new corporate secretary, and reelected Father Albert Delvo as treasurer.
Father Sales is president of St. Louis University in Baguio City while Father Delvo is currently superintendent of diocesan schools in Novaliches.
The election of the new officers took place during the ongoing CEAP Congress that is being held online. They will take their oath on Friday at the event’s closing ceremonies.
CEAP is the national association of Catholic educational institutions in the Philippines founded in 1941. It now has 1,524 member schools.
