NOVEMBER 2020
VOLUME XLIV ISSUE 3
NEWS
Typhoon Ulysses: the aftermath
FEATURES
OPINION
A time for festivities: Letran’s Quadricentennial Year
SPORTS
NCAA, GMA Network ensures landmark deal until 2026
The Calm Before the Storm
Letran commemorates 400th founding year with relief operation
PHOTO BY DAVY CHIOA VIA LETRAN FACEBOOK PAGE
BY ANDREA YSABEL ANDRES MANILA, PHILIPINES - Letran’s much-awaited Quadricentennial Foundation Celebration changed its course as “Colegio Day” became “Tulong Letranista Day”. It is a series of humanitarian efforts that are thematically and topically relevant especially with the recent typhoons “Rolly” and “Ulysses” ravaging Northern Luzon and Bicol Region. It started with Misa de Gracias, a Eucharistic celebration presided by Rector and President Rev. Fr. Clarence Victor C. Marquez, O.P. at the Colegio Chape, and was aired via Facebook live. “Nang tulad sa ebang helyo, nakalaan sana ang taon 2020 para papurihan ang Letran, mistulang “templo” ng karunungan para sa atin.” (Like the gospel, the year 2020 would have been set to praise Letran, as if it were a” temple” of wisdom for us.), the Rector said. Preparations for the long-awaited Quadricentennial Celebration
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started in 2016. However, the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic and the eventual implementation of lockdown in Metro Manila and nearby provinces resulted in the postponement of school activities indefinitely. Similarly, Fr. Rector emphasized that the Letranite must be always prepared to help others regardless of their shortcomings.
ANG “HANDAAN” NG APAT-NARAAN A highlight of this year’s celebration is “Ang Handaan ng Apat-na-Raan” wherein students, faculty and staff, alumni members, and administrators repacked relief goods at Salon de Actos. It was streamed on the Colegio’s official Facebook page and was followed by Enviar in which 17 teams of student and staff volunteers from the Letran community joined the en route to affected communities. Each department of the Colegio has designated location assignments; Like us on Facebook fb.com/thelanceletran
Basic Education-Rodriguez, Rizal; Senior High School – San Mateo Rizal; College of Engineering and Information Technology - Montalban, Rizal; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences & College of Business Administration and Accountancy – Marikina City; Graduate School and Admin – Bulacan; College of Education and Support staff – Pampanga. The relief drive was in partnership with the Dominican Family for Justice and Peace and Care for Creation.
institution. A grocery raffle for partner communities ensued as well as several interviews with the Enviar team. Social media celebrity and Letran alumnus-cum-part-time BAAdvertising instructor Mark Averilla (aka “Macoy Dubs” and “Aunt Julie”) also shared his wondrous recollections of his student years in the Colegio.
“AYUDA LETRAN” The Ayuda Letran, hosted by BABroadcast Communication alumnus, employee, and part-time Institute of Communication instructor Nathaniel Gonzales, featured the Quadricentennial short film entitled ‘Gunita’ (produced by Letran Alumni and Public Relations Department). It depicted a fact-based story of a family who witnessed the Arriba Letran spirit in each generation, with members being alumni of the
“REGALO”: A BENEFIT CONCERT AND FUENTE ESPECTACULAR As part of the celebration, a benefit concert was held to raise funds and help the victims of typhoon “Ulysses”. The show was performed by numerous local artists, including Jason Fernandez, This Band, Mayonnaise, and several others. Finally, this year’s celebratory events ended with Fuente Espectacular (hosted by the City Government of Manila and was led by Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso_), wherein the Letran community, together with several guests and
onlookers witnessed a blue and red fountain show held at the Kartila ng Katipunan (Bonifacio Shrine). Despite the apparent changes in the supposed-to-be magnanimous Quadricentennial Celebration of the Colegio’s founding anniversary, the outcome turned out to be more than apt given the recent cataclysmic events in the nation. As Rev. Fr. Rector Marquez addressed the Letran community during the Misa de Gracias: “Arriba lang nang Arriba! Ang taong 2020 ay Taon ng Letran, ikaapat-na-raang taon ng ating alma mater. Ang apat na taong paghahanda ay dito nakatuon - sa papuri sa Diyos, pagtulong sa kapwa, sa pagpapasalamat ng Letran.” [Arriba lang nang Arriba! The year 2020 is the year of Letran, the fourthcentury year of our alma mater. The four-year preparation focuses on this - to praise God, to help others, to express Letran’s gratitude. Despite these challenges, the Arriba spirit goes on. As the popular adage goes: Siempre Arriba! Siempre Letran!
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