Founder's Week Recalled
by Alaine Therese D. Uy
"110 Senior marching all the way. Proud to be in blue and white array..." That's just one of the lines we, seniors, had been repeating for the nth time for many days. The lower years were practicing their own lines, too.
It was the second to the last week of January and all the students were bust practicing for either the street cheering competition, the cheerleading competition, the Don Bosco songwriting competition, the battle of the bands, the invitational games, the Don Bosco play or the floral offering, all of which were to take place the following week, from January 27-31, when St. Louis School - Don Bosco would be celebrating its 34th founding anniversary and 50 years of Salesian presence in the Philippines.
A lot of time for classes was sacrificed just to be able to practice well, especially for the street cheering competition, each team vying for the title of champion. There were still cheers to be memorized and actions to be perfected and time was running out. It was only a few days 'till Saturday.
Finally, January 27 came, the day of the cheering competitions. But before all the excitement, there was a floral offering held in the Don Bosco square. The students offered St. John Bosco not only flowers but songs and prayers, as well.
When it was through, we went to the booth area, waiting for Mr. Lee Kim Daniel, Mr. Dumaguete 2000 and alumnus of SLS-DB, to cut the ribbon, thereby officially declaring the permanently constructed booths open.
That afternoon, Bosconians clad in street cheering attire assembled on the streets near Freedom Park. After having performed the street cheering in front of Lee Plaza and the crows and after having walked under the scorching heat of the sun for many kilometers, the tired and parches students gathered in the SLS-DB gym to watch the cheerleading competitions. After the cheerleaders had done their part, the winners of the contests were announced. Juniors won first place in street cheering, with the Seniors, the Freshmen, and the Sophies trailing. In cheerleading, the Sophies were first, followed by the Juniors, the Seniors, and the Freshmen. As for the overall champion, the Sophies emerged as the victor.
That night was the Hodge Podge, as what we call the SLS-DB Alumni Homecoming night. Seniors were invited to go and a lot were definitely excited. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't able to go because of an important matter. However, from what I discovered the next day, the Seniors had won themselves some chicken for being the most attended batch. They would've gotten more for the liveliest batch but it was given to another batch, to give others a chance. Besides, a little chicken was enough.
The following day, January 28, was Family Day. As usual, it began with a Holy Mass followed by a few games and activities just before the Potluck Lunch. When all were fed, a few teachers began the raffle draw, and a few parents and students were luck enough to have had their tickets drawn. To end the day, report cards, bearing the students' third grading grades, were distributed. A lot were frowning at the decrease in their grades but a few also had smiles on their faces.
On the third day, January 29, after the morning assembly were some booth activities and in the afternoon was the battle of the bands and most of the school's population were gathered in the booth area, now in the eastern side of the DB square. However, I wasn't able to enjoy watching all the bands play because I was running around the campus, helping distribute the invitations to the Ceremonial Parade and Review and Presentation of Sponsors, which was to take place the next day.
It was half past seven and I was running late. I was supposed to be in school by that time but I wasn't and I hadn't properly fixed my CAT uniform yet. Luckily, I was able to hitch a ride and arrive in school at a quarter to eight. The whole battalion was already formed. The day had arrived. In a few minutes, we would be showing what we learned from out CAT training in our last year in high school, and we'd done a pretty good job at it too.
After that tiring activity, we were given the chance to relax and watch the invitational games, basketball and volleyball. In the evening was the Don Bosco play, highlighting the important events in the life of our school's founder, St. John Bosco, which lasted for about an hour and a half.
The next day, January 31, was the last day of our Founder's Week Celebration. It was also our Founder's Day, the day John Bosco died. After the assembly was the Don Bosco songwriting competition. The songs were written by the high school students for Don Bosco and for the judging, the Campus Chorale, under the supervision of Mr. Absalon Boladola, sang the songs in a solo. There were ten songs all in all and two of the songs tied for being the best. That afternoon at 4:00 PM, the school had a Holy Mass in honor of St. John Bosco, who will forever remain a friend and mentor, in the hearts of true Bosconians in mind, in body, and in heart.