JS prom-in the eyes of a junior

It was a night of glamour and beauty. A night that no junior could ever forget. It was a night when the juniors finally break out from their shells and have shown their best foot forward. Long gowns and Americanas were a usual sight in the Sabin hall. The plainly undecorated hall of the Sabin Hotel turned into a flamboyant setting. It became a place of enchantment and splendor. The juniors were changed from being naughty and childish to finally becoming mature and responsible persons. The sprightly young boys and girls were transformed into elegant ladies and gentlemen. It was as if every junior has morphed into someone more refined and self-effacing. On that night they became well mannered and decent while still enjoying the festive event. Their rudeness were buried somewhere, in a place no one could find.

The evening started with the processional march where everyone entered the hall with grace and elegance. The event started with a prayer was from a senior and a junior while everyone remained silent. During the whole event, it was very pleasing to see junior boys accompanying girls to the comfort room to show respect and guidance, especially that it was hard for them to walk with their high-heeled shoes. When the cotillion started, everyone waltzed gracefully until a surprising Tango and Reggae dance was rendered by the juniors and seniors. Everyone delighted in the cotillion. The night was coming to an end when everybody had his or her dinner ready. Each table of seniors and juniors bonded with each other, savoring an unforgettable moment of their lives. The proficient seniors had indeed became the juniors role models during the night. We all pay heed into whatever the seniors, the honorees, would say. That grandiose event was for them, as a sign of our honor and respect. It was our opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the seniors; the “ates” and “kuyas” who have made us feel guided.

The whole event was not only about glamour. It wasn’t merely about who looked alluring and handsome that night. It wasn’t about the food served or the persons who prepared the whole event. For in the eyes of a junior it was a fruit of ones dedication and work. With the endless support of or dear mentors, the event was something a junior student must be proud of. It was one of the greatest achievements, which should forever be cherished. And more than the wonderful things seen during the prom were the great experiences behind it. Experiences of all the efforts exerted, decisions made, opinions expressed and friendships bonded.

The Journey (CMLI)

It all started in the grounds of LLCI, one early two-thirty in the morning. Everybody met there. Ms. Sunit and Mrs. Colon, the teacher-advisers; the seniors: Earl Marvin Benigay, Emmylou Abiera, Dolly Valerie Bertulfo, Shiela Fe Casera, Rafael Canora, Michelle Grace Custodio and Kyra Cerillo and the juniors: Sneh Krishna Anora, Christerine Capocao, Dennis Penaflor, Ingrid Dianne Bernil, Hannah Ticzon, Cherry Mae Alito, Samantha Alexa Lagcao, Cindy Rose Diabordo and Christia Jane Buba. Everybody was excited, that much was obvious. We were all ready to face whatever challenge that awaits us in Baguio.

The trip to Baguio was tiring, but not a bore. If the group got tired of talking, we go to sleep. And if Baguio is still not in sight when we wake up, we either continue talking or indulge ourselves with the beautiful greenery outside. When we finally arrived, night and rain greeted us, along with the chilly atmosphere that had everybody's teeth rattling in immense coldness. We went straight to the Teacher's Camp to leave our luggage, had ourselves registered and then went off to SM Baguio for dinner and some groceries. It was getting a little late and we still had a major Baguio-exploring to do first thing in the morning so we cut our SM trip short and returned to camp for an all night's rest.

Our first morning in Baguio was the best. Our first stop was the Baguio Cathedral where we attended the mass and had a little pictorial. Then, we had breakfast and rowed in the lake of Burnham Park. After that, we went to the Philippine Military Academy. Ms. Sunit and Mrs. Colon were hoping that we could meet some LLCI alumni there. Shiela and Sneh were desperate to get their pictures taken with some of the cadets. The rest just joked that their shots would be worth publishing in a magazine. However, not all of our hopes had been met. Shiela and Sneh hadn't had any close-up shot with any of the cadets and we had not come across any alumni. But, all's well than end's well. Our shots together were very good anyway.

After the visit in PMA, we went to Wright Park and rode some horses. Everyone was engrossed. Next in our line was the mansion. It was where we bought key chains for the pasalubong. Our last stop is Minesview. Half of the group was already hungry so we hastened all the pictorial and shopping to get ourselves lunch. We went back to the camp to face our real purpose of our coming to Baguio: CMLI. Our five days of CMLI was too big to fit the word fun. Neither could it fit this whole page. But there are, however, two words that we had picked up for this journey.

Responsibility and goofiness. Responsibility refers to everything we learned from CMLI, from the battling apathy and lack of discipline, up to the initiatives of leadership and for the commitment in upholding our morals and duties as youth. CMLI speaks of the greatness that was entrusted upon us by Dr. Jose Rizal himself. It speaks of our deteriorating society and our obligation to make our country a better place for the next generation to live in. It wanted to instill us the value that we have to develop for our parents, for our society and for our future.

Goofiness, on the other hand. refers to everything we learned apart from the scope of CMLI. It refers to the friendship not just with other youngsters but also among our co-LIDEAN spent on late-afternoon wrestling sessions, late-night ghost stories, and with exchange of silly talks in the mess hall. Goofiness may also speak about the 'kilig' moments for our com-mates. It could also be the fun we had in carrying our things during the workshops; or our frequent shopping sprees at the teacher's camp souvenir stalls. Either way, we were all glad to have responsibility and goofiness in our journey.

Unbelievable it may be, our last night in Baguio was spent with a tropical storm. But no one freaked out. In fact, we still managed to laugh amidst the misfortune. But kidding aside, we prayed for the safety of our trip back home. And thank God we arrived as sound as we departed. Everybody was exhausted. Some of us were sick. But we were all happy and grateful. Our stay in Baguio may have lasted for barely a week, but the memories and lessons we got would be forever etched in our minds in the journey that was CMLI.

Just Married

This year, wedding bells are ringing in LLCI. Three female teachers have, once and for all, tied the knot and would now have a new surname. They are Mrs. Macion, (formerly Ms. Rubelyn Cabrera), Mrs Notario (formerly Ms. Ebb Navares) and Mrs. Castillano (formerly Miss Jasmine Apoloño).

“He knows what I feel, what I want and what I need.” This what she said, when asked what made her fell in love with him. After all the flowers, stuffed toys and chocolaty sweet times, Miss Ebb Navares, a prep teacher here in LLCI, decided to finally settle down with Mr. Tim Notario on October 28 this year in the Redemptorist Church.
When asked about her plans for her married life, Mrs. Notario smiled and simply said that a house and lot and three kids would complete her life with her husband.