Citius, Altius, Fortius

CITIUS, Altius, Fortius. Latin hendiatris terms for "Faster, Higher, Stronger." Borrowed from his friend Henri Didon, a Dominican priest who was an athletics enthusiast, these three words were proposed by Pierre de Coubertin on the creation of an International Olympic Committee in 1894.

According to records, de Coubertin said "These three words represent a programme of moral beauty. The aesthetics of sport are intangible."

“Citius,Altius, Fortius” was introduced in the 1924 Olympics in Paris.

Hendiatris, on the other hand, is from the Greek “hèn dià triôn,” which means “one through three.” Hendiatris then, is a figure of speech used for emphasis, in which three words are used to express one idea. Thus, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” as the ultimate quest of all players in a competition, is one hendiatris.

Put in the present scenario, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” is this year’s theme of the Sacred Heart Seminary Intramurals. The one-week event was a chance for 51 seminarians to prove that they can be swifter, stronger, higher than they can be and from others in an enjoyable and healthy quest for victory.

The Araw ng Wika and the Literary Musical Contest day was the culmination of the activity. Held last August 24, 2012, the whole-day program started with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass followed by the cerebral poem and essay writing.

The physical “larong pinoy”, like sipa, arnis, sack race, tug of war and “bunong braso” allowed the forte and the might of the seminarians to shine and be put to the test.

So, who says that seminary life is boring? It is not, as Seminarian Marvin Labasan, Academic Life Servant Leader, shared that they have plenty of extra-curricular activities in there.

Themed as “Tatag ng Wikang Filipino, Lakas ng Bagong Pilipino,” the celebration of the Araw Ng Wika was combined with Literary Musical contests. Held in John Paul II Cultural Center at Sacred Heart Seminary, the program hosted by Seminarians Karl Wilfred Vasquez and Jerrime Flores provided colors for all participants and audience that rainy afternoon of August 24.

The six events hugging the afternoon program were Declamation in Filipino, Extemporaneous Speaking in English, Vocal Duet (OPM), Oration in English, and MTV in English. Why in combi form? Well, it doesn’t mean that if we speak in English, we’re less Filipino, right?

Applause, giggles, laughter and formalities with seriousness equal fun. This characterizes the holding of the six events which I, together with Ms. Dalia Agudelo and Ms. Melona Quitche, judged. Six teams competed against each other. They were the Galatians, Colossians, Ephesians, Thessalonians, Corinthians and Exodians.

The Declamation Contest was participated by the First Years while the Extemporaneous Speaking in English was tackled by the Second Years. The Vocal Duet -OPM, Oration and MTV were participated by all levels, from preparatory to 4th year, and also by the ex-terns who are enrolled in the School of Philosophy.

Tough policeman, differently-abled boy, good and obedient son were some of the roles delineated by “actors-cum-narrators” in the declamation part. Reproductive Health Bill, Scarborrough Shoal controversy, national budget allocation, philosophies like relativism were some of the topics discussed by the contestants for the extemporaneous speaking contest.

The nationalistic “Ako’y Isang Pinoy” and the inspirational “Habang May Buhay” were applauded pieces for the Vocal Duet OPM. Oration pieces were from Og Mandino’s “The Greatest Salesman in the World” (‘I will persist until I succeed’), Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet” (‘On crime and justice’), Carlos Romulo’s “I am a Filipino” and Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”.

With no lull moments, the six events of the contests came to an end. So the “faster, the higher, and the stronger” or the astounding performer was adjudged.

Seminarian Rexie Padparan took the Declamation victory; Ronaldo Pudadera and Leonar Tejamo (both from the School of Philosophy) sang their hearts out and got both the audience’s and the judge’s nods; Reden Elaco’s elocution demo made him stand out from the others;

Oliver Wendell Servando’s discussion on the South Philippine Seas controversies gave him highest points; and the MTV presentation of Group BEC 6 was well sung and choreographed. Even with no drum rolls, no torches lighted, or medal and certificates given, all the groups’ members enthusiastically crowded over their soda bottles and packs of biscuits as their prized trophies.

Mrs. Milagros Leeping, the seminarians’ teacher in Filipino, gave her closing remark, in Filipino, of course. And to return all honor and glory back to God, Fr. Jetcel Villar gave the final blessing.

If the aesthetics in sports (or in other competitions) are intangible, the beauty in the Intramurals 2012 at Sacred Heart Seminary is indescribable. The activity did not only forge a stronger bond of brotherhood and community life among the seminarians and their fellow students, lifted high the seminarian’s spirit of true sportsmanship and brought each of them to a closer union with themselves, their brothers and their God. No need to go to the Olympics, then. Citius, Altius, Fortius. Faster, Higher, Stronger they (the seminarians) have become. God bless you, brothers.