MALATE CATHOLIC SCHOOL'S CENTENNIAL KICKOFF DAY

A year ago our high school batch celebrated our 20th year anniversary as MCS graduates. It was one memorable night where we reminisced the good times, met our former teachers and got in touch with other classmates. That was also the first time I saw the new MCS directress Sr. Ma. Rosalina Cristina Asuncion, RVM. Also known as Sr. Sally, she said she was glad to meet the 1994 batch, because we were able to witness the transition from Columban to RVM school administration. She also invited us to take part in the MCS centennial celebration, with so many activities leading up to the culmination in 2017. 

During the early part of this year, I started to follow the MCS 100 years Facebook page and got excited to be part of it. I contributed some of my old MCS photos as part of a Throwback Thursday posts and eventually I volunteered to blog about the events. How can I pass up this chance, it's an honor and I wouldn't live to the next hundred so this is a once in a lifetime thing. 

The official 3 year countdown launch to MCS' centennial happened last November 14. It's called the Centennial KickOff Day filled with 3 major events participated by students, alumni, faculty and non-teaching staff. 

Blessed with great weather, the festivities began as early as 7:40 am with a grand motorcade featuring Batch 1991 silver jubilee alumni, Parents, Teachers, and Administration Council (PTAC), Mr. & Ms. MCS 2015 candidates. It passed through Manila, Pasay and Makati with a joyous fanfare.

At 1pm, the highlight of the day commenced at the MCS gym with a Eucharistic celebration officiated by no less than His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle D.D. The Gospel that day was especially significant because it was about the parable of the mustard seed. Cardinal Tagle spoke of humility and complete dependence on God. Just like the mustard seed, MCS started small and now has experienced bigger and brighter things through the grace of God.

Right before the Liturgy of the Eucharist,  there was a special unveiling of the 25th year seal of the Religious of the Virgin Mary's (RVM) presence in Malate Catholic School.

Since the next event which is the Kickoff party is still hours away, my batchmate bffs Thelma and Anne headed out to our former campus for a tour. The first thing we saw was the new chapel built in what used to be the "old building". Back in the day, we had to go to Malate Church for our mass but according to the nice teacher Ms. Aileen who was gracious enough to be our tour guide, they still go to the main church for 1st Friday masses.

The quadrangle took my breath away. It was so small now. I remember it to be huge where we played volleyball during free time, where we held our flag ceremony and we sat on the pavement for recess. So many memories flooded over me. I missed my friends, my youth and my school of 10 years.

There was the canteen where I bought snacks and yummy melon drink. The red phone booth was no longer there but everything else is still the same like the speaker system used for Angelus, the Registrar windows and the AVR Little Theater signage. For a moment I closed my eyes and got transported back to the past.

I passed by the old gate where my mom gave me food for lunch and where my dad picked me up, the corridors who heard the shrieks of teenage joys,

the classrooms were silent witnesses to our difficult exams and fun times, the library where I borrowed a lot of books and old elementary building with spooky Martha ghost stories.

I blinked and I was 6 again. It was magical Malate. This was the place I learned not only academics but my core values. I met my life-long friends here. Discipline, hard work and deep faith in God - all within these walls of MCS.

We had a grand time at the MCS museum which houses a collection of yearbooks, old school photos and our favorite school uniform. Our skirt looked simple but there are so many requirements for properly wearing it. 

The Clarionette staffers were fun to talk to and took our photos. There are new facilities like the souvenir area, chapel and offices. Some school memorabilia include MCS 100 years shirts in varied colors and hoodies at very affordable prices.

 

 

For the Kickoff night, we had a quick dinner at McDonald's and Shakey's, just some of the food concessionares in the event. We had a grand time "stalking" our former elementary teachers - Mrs. De Leon (Religion) and Ms. Rossini (Science). It was great to see Ms. Soriano, our Religion high school teacher and SCA head, Ms. Castillo, Algebra teacher and Mrs. Caburian-Vargas, the Julia Roberts lookalike and inspiring music teacher who composed the theme song for MCS diamond jubilee and helped produce a musical held at the Folk Arts Theater.

But the clincher for the night was when we approached Ms. Ofelia Meneses (principal) and Mrs. Sonia Madrid (vice-principal), the pillars of our MCS education. I was literally starstruck. I couldn't believe I had a conversation with them and a hug from Mrs. Madrid, the most fearsome character of our highschool days. She was the epitomy of discipline and proper decorum. I remember during JS prom, she would go onstage and tell people to keep their distance while dancing, and broke the romantic mood for them. We are better individuals because of their teachings. 

Ms. Meneses meanwhile is the iron lady with grace. She has this aura of strength and dignity. Looking back, I grew up knowing these fine examples of great women way before feminism became a battlecry.

The KickOff program began with the flawless performance of the MCS Phoenix Pep Squad. During our time, the cheering contest during Intrams were the main event. This group is amazing, looking forward to seeing them soar high in the future.

Part of the program was an official countdown launch headed by Sr. Sally as she pressed the giant red button, a start of great things to come for the 2017 centennial. 

Give it up for some fellow batch pride as our batchmate Faith Cuneta gave an amazing rendition for the first time of the Centennial song "Malate 'Yan", written and composed by Mr. Rey Vargas, a former boys' high school teacher. The lyrics and melody evoked feelings of nostalgia and gratitude to our dear alma mater. Faith Cuneta has been recognized for being the voice behind some of the best Korean drama theme songs and a winner of major local and international singing competitions.

Another proud alumna and a generous benefactor is none other than Ms. Kuh Ledesma. She sang her top hits "I Think I'm In Love" "Till I Met You" and a touching cover of "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan". She paid tribute to Ms. Meneses for her outstanding contribution to the school. 

Lance Raymundo, although not an alumnus is a friend of the RVM congregation and gave some "kilig" moments while serenading the female crowd.

There was a poignant presentation of the school history since 1917 featuring the valiant efforts of MCS founders and the milestones reached by the school throughout the years.

The MCS Alumni Association had a video highlighting its significant project of providing scholarships to worthy students. Lastly, Sr. Sally presented the pledges, design and plans for the Centennial Gymnasium.  

The Centennial Kickoff Day was a rousing success and I can't wait for the events lined up next year. My dream is for the 2017 Centennial to be the ultimate homecoming. Home is where you feel most alive and most loved. Let's give back to our dear Malate Catholic School, the grand old lady deserves it.  

Photo credits: Anne Marie Alim