Sunday, August 24, 2008 At STC’S homecoming celebration By Cookie newman with Chinggay Utzurrum
THIS year, St. Theresa’s College (STC) turns 75, and so the school’s homecoming day, July 26, was extra special, with the theme “STC: A Gift and a Blessing.” On the week of the homecoming, there were several events: days of career talks and a lecture, “Each Her Own Way” by Dr. Cawilihan T. Zubiri, and in between these, general rehearsals for the presentation during
the homecoming program!
The afternoon began with Holy Mass at the STC chapel and it was officiated by Fr. Aloysius Cartagena. There was a collective sigh of relief when the good priest announced that the Mass was an anticipated Sunday Mass.
After the Mass, it was time for the alumnae homecoming diamond jubilee program. And this year, the fun-and-frolic on stage was preceded by a speech from Dr. Lourdes Reynes Quisumbing who said that all the “oldies” of the school are gone, except herself.
She taught in STC Cebu for a good number of years before she left for other commitments in other schools and universities, the Philippine government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. She is currently chairperson of the STC–Cebu board, which made her the most appropriate person to be guest speaker.
The most awaited part of the program, of course, were the dance presentations by the jubilarians, ably presented through a story line that depicted the mission countries of the ICM sisters. The first one was India, with an Indian dance number from the coral jubilarians, high school 1973 with college ’78 — beautiful in their vari-colored Indian dresses. The Philippines was represented with a dance from high school ’53, joined by high school ’48. High school class ’78 gyrated to the Caribbean beat while high school class ’88 hipped and hopped to the American West.
Then the golden girls, high school class ’58, came in their beautiful gold Chinese brocade costumes, in a sedate Chinese fan dance typical of Hong Kong. High school class ’63 followed, the sapphire class, representing Taiwan in another Chinese dance with a star dancer twirling around a long ribbon gracefully going this way and that.
The ruby class, high school ’68, provided a change of tempo with their Roman dance, while the silver jubilarians, class ’93, came prancing in to the Brazilian beat in their colorful costumes complete with elaborate headdresses.
Truly a great program that did not end the night: there was more celebration with the diamond jubilee dinner at the covered court. And more time for bonding with class and school mates from far and near, and for realizing that yes, STC is a gift and a blessing!
