Maranatha Christian College to mark ruby jubilee
THE Maranatha Christian College, alma mater of Cong. Greg Gasataya, will celebrate its 40th school year of ministry in Christian education this March 3-11 with Fe T. Colinco, its first principal, as guest of honor.
Its 9-day Ruby Jubilee celebration’s opening salvo is a motorcade tomorrow, Friday, March 3 from the Capitol Lagoon to the MCC campus at Villa Soledad Subd. in Estefania, Bacolod City. Assembly time is 8 a.m.
Joining the motorcade are members of Maranatha Baptist Church which is celebrating its 61st anniversary on Sunday, March 5.
MBC founder Pastor Samuel Irving Colinco Sr., started MCC as a ministry of MBC in 1983. His 21st death anniversary will be commemorated at MCC this March 7.
Alumni Day will be held Saturday, March 4. During the Alumni Homecoming, Maranatha Christian College High School Alumni Association officers will be elected and deserving alumni will be given awards. It will also feature exhibition basketball matches, parlor games, and a potluck fellowship.
Also scheduled on March 4 is the 5k/3k Fun Run. Starting time from the New Government Center is 5:30 a.m.
The three-day Ruby Jubilee Bazaar will open on March 9 at 3 p.m. Proceeds from the bazaar and other activities and events during the celebration will be used for the construction of the MCC covered court, along with funds raised in 2013 for the project.
Free medical consultation will be sponsored by the Dr. Joel and Diane Colinco Memorial Medical Mission at the MCC campus on March 11, starting 9 a.m. It is open to the public but the number of patients is limited to the first 50 who pre-register.
The celebration will be highlighted by a joint thanksgiving service at MBC (March 5 at 2 p.m.), the opening of the 8-day exhibit at the SM Mall’s East Bridgeway (March 5, 5 p.m.), the Ruby Gala Night at Sugarland Hotel (March 8 at 6 p.m.), the MCC@40 benefit concert (March 10 at 5 p.m.).
The climax of the celebration is the Ruby Jubilee Foundation program on March 11, starting 4 p.m.
Valedictorian of HS Class 1988, Cong. Gasataya is the most prominent of its 2,394 high school graduates. Another distinguished MCC alumnus is Brig. Gen. Stephen Agtoto, HS Class 1989 valedictorian, the Dean of the Corps of Professors of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Other notable graduates are Alen Caldeo (2022 Teacher of the Year of Buckeye Elem. School District in Arizona, U.S.A), Engr. Rory Sillador (below-1800 category champion in the 2009 Canadian Chess Open), Maureen Azuelo-Catacutan (18th placer in the 1994 physical therapy board exam) and Engr. Enrique Joniega (20th placer in the 1999 civil engineering board exam).
During a ten-year period (2012 to 2022), at least 33 HS alumni earned Latin honors (one summa cum laude, seven magna cum laude, 25 cum laude) upon completion of their respective college courses.