TGIF Newsletter
Contributed by Dr. Henry Lim Yu
January 17, 2008
Hello Friends,
Mabuhay! Welcome one and all to the beautiful City of Cebu - The Queen City, The Convention City, The Star City for All Seasons, The Santo Nino City, The Sinulog City. Yo! It's nine days more to the 28th Sinulog Festival. Cebu is indeed one place that never seems to run out of festivities. After the Yuletide comes the Sinulog Season. Yes, Cebu is now in a festive mood - a place to be and to see as thousands of people from all walks of life come and celebrate this annual event in honor of Senor Santo Nino (the Christ Child). Again we'll be seeing the Mardi Gras parade with contingents from the different parts of the Philippine archipelago in colorful costumes and painted faces, the higantes, floats, the singing and street dancing to the tune of "Tayo na sa Sinulog, kitang tanan mag-Pit Senyor!" or "Pit Senyor kang tatay kini! Pit Senyor kang nanay kini!" Yup, as far as the City of Cebu is concerned, the month of January is Balik-Cebu Season when fellow Pinoys or kababayans abroad come home to dear old Sugbu for the Sinulog Festival which is celebrated every third Sunday of January. Indeed, no matter how westernized we have become, we always long for that place we call home, where we were born, raised and grew up, where we used to eat Filipino foods (like dinuguan, lechon, puso, chicharon, ampao, bibingka, danggit, mango, otap, etc.), where we had so many memories built and created amidst flawless youth and innocence, the memories of our dream, of the way we were. Yes, there's just no place like home. And Cebu is home to so many of us who are scattered all over the world for one reason or the other.
But amidst funfare and frivolities, let us not forget to pay homage to the Child Jesus who is truly the reason for the season. In celebration therefore of His feast, let us all kneel down in veneration and pray together:
"O Senor Santo Nino who has said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you" give we beseech You, to us who ask the gift of Your divine love, that we may love You with our whole heart, in word and work, and never cease from showing forth Your praise. O miraculous Santo Nino, prostrate before Your sacred image, we beseech You to cast a merciful look on our troubled hearts. Let Your tender love so inclined to pity be softened by our prayers and grant us that grace for which we ardently implore You. Take from us all unbearable affliction and despair. For Your sacred infancy's sake hear our prayers and send us consolation and aid that we may praise You with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen."
Article from Sunstar magazine
FOCUS: ST. THERESA'S COLLEGE CEBU. STC Cebu turns 75 this year and has mapped out a year-long celebration that started with a candle-lighting ceremony last November 17 to mark the celebration's opening salvo.
HISTORY. It was in May of 1933, when eight Belgian nuns of what was then known as the Canonesses of St. Augustine arrived in Cebu to establish a school then known as St. Theresa's Academy. It was located in Sikatuna St. in two buildings: one housing as convent for the sisters and for kindergarten, intermediate and junior high school; and a bungalow for the primary grades. The following year, the academy moved to two new buildings of its own in Mango Avenue. On June 1941, the academy became St. Theresa's College. Late that year, war came to the Philippines, and classes were temporarily stopped. In 1942, classes for the elementary grades were reopened but were suspended on March 1944 when the Japanese used the high school building as a military hospital. On February 1945, the school was burned to the ground and the nuns had to stay at the Redemptorist convent for eight weeks while bamboo structures were built on the campus. School reopened in 1945 in these makeshift houses that were replaced by two concrete buildings in 1949. Since then, STC has constantly grown to what it is today, from a population of 175 in 1933 to the 2,272 students of today with more buildings to accommodate the growing population and the needs of a school constantly upgrading itself. Even the nuns have changed, from the Canonesses of St. Augustine to Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (Immaculati Cordia Mariae or ICM) in 1962, and have shed their habit for ordinary lay person’s clothes. Through all these years, STC has been true to its mission of educating young women.
DIAMOND JUBILEE. STC Cebu celebrates its Diamond Jubilee with a year-long activity, the first quarter of which will be on the theme "Go where there is no path." January is for recalling STC history and capturing the Theresian spirit with an official declaration of the jubilee year and the launching of STC-Cebu Foundation. February event is Family Day while March will be for graduation and a blessing of the Leadership Institute. In the second and third quarters, the theme is "Go lead the way." The second quarter will uphold STC's excellence in arts and culture. April will have an art camp and May will see an art festival and the formal blessing of the folk-life museum. June will be for Foundation Day and the blessing of the renovated STC auditorium.
The third quarter will focus on Theresian excellence in science and math. July will be highlighted by the alumnae homecoming and the launching of a diamond jubilee book of memories of 75 years, and August will be for the blessing of the butterfly garden and September for a science park. In 2008, the theme is "Go leave a trail" and the activities include Mother Foundress' Day and St. Theresa of Avila Day in October, a tribute to Theresians who have contributed to the growth of STC in November, and December will be highlighted by the lighting of the Eternity Tree and dance drama presentation. The whole year diamond celebration of STC befits the school that, for 75 years, has dedicated its efforts towards "the education of young women."
DYKT (Do You Know That):
Anniversary: University of the Philippines (100 years)
Several concerts will be held in Cebu City in celebration of Sinulog 2008, among them: The Pop diva Kuh Ledesma, The Heartthrobs of Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby, the Three Divas of Pilita Corrales, Dulce, and Marilou Berry, etc.
Grand Family Reunion of the Chiong Veloso Clan (descendants of Don Nicasio Chiong Veloso and Dona Genoveva Rosales Chiong Veloso) on January 18, 2008 at Laguna Garden Café
SINULOG 2008 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Friday, January 11, 2008
Sinulog 2008 Kick Off
Sinulog Photo Exhibits Through The Years (SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, MCIAA)
Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Nino) - 2 p.m.
Launching Parade (Basilica to Cebu City Sports Complex) - 3 p.m.
Opening and Launching Program, Fireworks and Concert (Fuente Osmena) - 7 p.m.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Lalawigan
Parade of Participants (Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Complex) - 1 p.m.
Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Lalawigan Program, Awarding of Winners
Cultural Show DepEd, Cebu Province (Fuente O) - 7 p.m.
Ms. Cebu 2008 Presentation Night - 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Dakbayan
Medical Mission (Plaza Independencia) - 8 a.m.
Parade of Participants (Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Complex) - 1 p.m.
Sinulog Sa Kabataan Sa Dakbayan Program, Awarding of Winners
Cultural Show UC (Fuente O) - 7 p.m.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Cultural Show USP, CIT and UC (Fuente O) - 7 p.m.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Cultural Show USC (Fuente O) - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
Cultural Show ANS, CDU and CSCST (Fuente O) - 7 p.m.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
Ms. Cebu Coronation Night (Waterfront Cebu City Hotel) - 7 p.m.
Cultural Show USJ-R, SWU, SCSIT (Fuente O) - 7 p.m.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Visual Merchandising Contest (Department Stores and Malls)
Devotee City - 8 a.m.
Metro Cebu Popular Music Festival (Waterfront Cebu City Hotel) - 7 p.m.
Cultural Show DepEd (Fuente O) - 7 p.m.
Handumanan The Concert (SM City Cebu) - 7 p.m.
Balik Cebu Welcome Party (Ayala Center Cebu) - 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Fluvial Procession - 6 a.m.
4th Street Vibration, Bike Rally - 6 a.m.
Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon (Basilica del Sto. Nino) - 9 a.m.
Solemn Procession - 2 p.m.
Sinulog Festival Queen (Cebu City Sports Complex) - 7 p.m.
Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras (Ayala Center Cebu) - 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Sinulog Grand Parade
Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off - 9 a.m.
Grand Fireworks (Cebu City Sports Complex) - 7 p.m.
Grand Firework Display (Ayala Football Grounds) - 8 p.m.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Awarding Ceremonies (Cebu City Sports Complex) - 1 p.m.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest
February 1-10, 2008
Photo Exhibits - Winning Photos Sinulog 2008 (SM City Cebu)
REFLECTIONS:
Repentance always has been and always will be one of the foundation stones of a good Christian life. True repentance indicates a desire to leave behind a life of sin and indifference, and marks the rise of a desire to live according to the will of God. It can take a while to put everything in place but if one's desire to repent is true then there will be no obstacle too big that will stop it from happening.
GIVE ME FIVE (5): WORDS TO LIVE BY:
1. No dream comes true until you wake up and go to work.
2. We create our future by what we dream today.
3. Draw your salary before spending it.
4. Seek His will in all you do and He will lead your path.
5. We are the floor managers. God owns the club.
And remember to laugh at your mistakes but learn from them. Joke over your troubles but gather strength from them. Have fun with your difficulties but overcome them. Have a festive weekend. Cheers! Viva Pit Senyor!
Greetings from:
HENRIO tm - the Fridayman
