Welcome to Dualtech, Msgr. Fernando Ocariz

Msgr. Fernando Ocariz, the Prelate of Opus Dei, visited Dualtech last Monday, July 31, 2023, as part of his 12-day apostolic trip to the Philippines. The Father, as he is called by the faithful of the Personal Prelature, was accompanied by Rev. Father Julio Dieguez, the Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in the Philippines. Also present to welcome the guests were the Dualtech board members, management team, school staff, past and present chaplains, and various collaborators.

The school President and Executive Director, Engr. Jerry Muhi, together with the former president, Engr. Arnolfo Morfe, toured the Father around the facilities. They visited students in their classrooms and workshops. Msgr. Ocariz was shown a project called “C” clamp which involves working on a block of metal until it becomes a tool. Fr. Jong Sabandal; Dualtech’s chaplain, explained that it is a training activity to help students develop character, patience and perseverance.

The Prelate’s visit was culminated with his blessing of the on-going construction of the Excellence Center-Canlubang. This facility will be a venue for the continuing human, spiritual, and professional formation of Dualtech students, alumni, and industry professionals in the Canlubang area and beyond.

In his message after the blessing, Msgr. Ocariz advised those gathered to continue asking the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva, who is the inspiration behind all the activities in Dualtech. He said that formation – in its many aspects – never ends and is on-going for the rest of our lives. He stressed the importance of unity for the apostolic and professional activities of the school to work well.

He received as gifts from the school a statue of Our Lady of the Workers and artistic sketches by two Dualtech trainees: Raffy Barrun and Jaymar Mondia.

Some of those present at the events last Monday recalled how Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, the first successor of St. Escriva, stressed during his trip to the Philippines in 1987 how important it is to provide education and livelihood for the marginalized in society. Blessed Alvaro never got to see Dualtech, but his successor, the late Bishop Javier Echevarria, visited the school in 1998.

The personal and spiritual formation in Dualtech is entrusted to Opus Dei, a personal Prelature of the Church, which encourages everyone to be closer to God through work, family, and ordinary life.