Beautiful young and old ladies, dashing clothes, big bright smiles and cheerful laugh were the things that filled SMX Convention Hall last January 29, 2012. It was a night of glamour. But more importantly, it was a night of rekindling friendship. Paulinians from all ages gathered in one hall to reunite with classmates and mentors who made a big impact in their Paulinian life.
I was glad to attend this big event. Since I am part of this year’s graduating class, we were also invited to come. Upon entering the place, I was astonished to see alumnae who maintained their glamour despite their age. Certainly, Paulinians are proven to be simple yet elegant. As I find my table, I noticed some alumnae who were happily chatting with their former classmate. Others were sharing stories with some St. Paul of Chartes sisters who used to be their mentors in school
I was just in time to find my seat when the thanksgiving mass started. The first part of the program followed. It focused on the launching of A Hundred Thousand Miracles, a coffee table book edited by Ms. Marionette Ocampo-Martinez. Part one of the night were not complete without the Welcome Address of Ms. Sherry Lara-Alingod, President of SPMAFI and the Centennial Message of Sr. Lilia Therese L. Tolentino, SPC, the University President.
A sumptuous meal followed while batch photos were also taken. The dinner became more special seeing classmates and friends share their stories and take photos after a long time of not seeing one another. Some famous alumnae were also sighted and one of those was Ms. Charo Santos-Concio, AB Communication Arts graduate of batch 1977 and the president of ABS-CBN. The alumnae were very warm and approachable to us, students. They share their stories and experiences as a Paulinian to us.
Part two of the program started after the dinner. It was hosted by Mr. Edu Manzano and Ms. Frida Nepomuceno. During this part, each batch showcased their talents through their song and dance numbers. Watching them, I thought I was on a time machine that went back to their era as students of the institutions. They moved and grooved to the hits of their time. They were very enthusiastic in giving their best performance. Raffles were also done in between the performance. The current professors of the institution also entertained everyone with their performances featuring the boybands of the 90s while the student gave their own rendition of the Sound of Music Medley
As the night ended, I was truly inspired to see how Paulinians are successful in their own fields. More than that, I was inspired to see how they remain grateful and proud of the 100-year institution that molded them to be what they are right now. The alumnae set an example for us students to continue living the Paulinian values that was taught to us. They also set as a motivation to do our best in order to follow their footsteps and be like them in the future. Indeed, the night was not only a reunion but also an inspiration.
These are some of our photos during the night.
