EXUPERIO V. FLORES, JR., Ph.D.
In the 5th century., Parthenon, an ancient rectangular marble Greek temple dedicated to goddess Athena on the Acropolis in Athens was built under the leadership of Pericles, making it the earliest and simplest of the classical Greek style. Fifteen years in the making, the Parthenon is noted for its perfect simplicity of design and the harmony of its proportions with 17 columns or pillars along each of its sides and 8 columns or pillars on each end measuring about 102 by 230 feet. Although partly in ruins today, it remains a masterpiece of Greek architecture.
Notably, in 1956, Our Lady of the Pillar College was not as majestically built as Parthenon, yet its style was designed by God, dedicated to Our Blessed Virgin Mary and its pillars were also remarkable and incomparable having surpassed the tests of time and remained sturdy and steadfast. These were the great Pillarican men – Fr. Roque Fidel, Mr. Vicente Talosig, Fr. Jose Ingaran, Fr. Francisco Uanan, and Monsignor Marino D. Gatan, to name a few who courageously and faithfully laid the foundation of the long tradition of leadership anchored in academic excellence and community service.
OLPC, in its 56 years of offering quality catholic education will now have another pillar, our new president who will continue the legacy and be a strong force in upholding the school’s philosophy, vision and mission.
Born in Gamu, Isabela and from a couple of public servant and educators, he took his elementary education at Gamu Central school. With a call of priestly vocation, he entered at Our Lady of Visitation Seminary for his formation and at St. Ferdinand College for his academic studies in Ilagan, Isabela. In 1981, he finished his Bachelor of Arts majors in Philosophy and Sociology at San Pablo Major Seminary, Baguio City.
During his regency, he became a classroom teacher and instructor at OLPI old site handling philosophy, sociology and religious education subjects, and then he went back to the seminary and stayed at Immaculate Concepcion School of Theology, Vigan, Ilocos Sur until 1982. After his discernment, God guided him to another path so he left the seminary and got married to Ma. Theresa Araneta in 1983 and blessed with three lovely children – Princess Grace, Tristan James and Carlo James.
In 1984, he became the OLPI college registrar who established the records of the school and followed-up permits to operate with Bachelor of Arts in Sociology as the lead course and BSBA major in Accounting up to the time the school was recognized.
After a year, he took up Master of Arts in Educational Management at SLU, Baguio City with a special course in Educational Management under the scholarship program of the late Fr. Roger Tjole, CICM.
He also worked as a part time commentator and newscaster under the radio name Bombo Junn Flores at Bombo Radyo DZNC Cauayan from 1988-1991.
In 1995, he finished his Master of Arts in Educational Management at St. Paul University, Tuguegaro City being a full CHED-FAPE scholar.
When the school was transferred to the new site, he got his appointment as dean of college after Dr. Violeta Directo. He then started the process of accreditation in the college and eventually in all levels when he was appointed as executive vice-president and concurrent dean of college in 2002 to 2010.
His unceasing love for education made him achieve Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management at St. Paul University and OLPC-C in 2010.
To make him more fully equipped and updated, he attended various local, national and international trainings and seminars in leadership, management and corporate governance, to name a few: Leadership and Organization Effectiveness at the Asian Institute of Management, Makati Metro Manila in 2001, National Workshop on Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program at Barasoain Center for Innovative Education, Malolos, Bulacan in 2002, Orientation Workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (IQUAME) at Saint Mary’s University, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya in 2006 and Education for Active Learning (UbD Model) Bangkok, Thailand in 2011.
Then when Monsignor Gatan retired as the school president in 2010, Sir Junn (as he is fondly called) was appointed as OIC president. He is also the BOT secretary at Our Lady of Visitation Seminary, a Board of Director of Rural Bank of Maddela, and BOT Member at OLPC-C.
In 2012, he officially became the first lay president of Our Lady of the Pillar College up to the present. His efforts and great achievements earned him a spot in the Catholic Educational Associations of the Philippines (CEAP) after being elected as the first Regional Trustee on August 30, 2018.
With all his achievements and splendid performances in the academe, he stays humble and grateful to everyone as he continuously transforms the institution into something worth emulating for.