A Centennial Dawn Procession on February 1, 2013 ushered the week-long celebration of 100 years of St. Bridget College in Batangas City.
Photo: Sisters read the marker of St. Bridget College Centennial.
The prayer service included symbols and rituals. The blowing of horn signalled the beginning of the ceremonies and called on the students, faculty, alumnae, alumni, friends and Good Shepherd Sisters who came for the occasion. They processed towards the images of St. Bridget, St. John Eudes, St. Mary Euphrasia and Blessed Maria Droste located in the four directions, north, east, south and west that symbolized the universality of life and to convey the existence of the cosmos and other symbols.
A Eucharistic Celebration was presided by Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa and concelebrated by Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and priests alumni of St. Bridget College and friends.
Photo: Centennial presentation at the school grounds.
A hundred doves were released, symbols of the Women Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation thrust of the Philippine Province of the Good Shepherd.
A field demonstration recalling the arrival of the first two Irish Good Shepherd Sisters who came to the Philippines followed the Mass. In song and dance, the students of St. Bridget College praised God for the gift of a hundred years of SBC in Batangas.
Centennial markers were also unveiled, a marker for SBC and another for a centennial tree that has witnessed the coming of Sisters and the students who came to the school through the decades.
The University of the Philippines in Los Baños also came to present the first of its Women Saints series of Gumamela to honor an institution. It was Sr. Mary Teresita Fiel who had an inspiration to mark this centennial with a flower named after St. Bridget College, the "Hibiscus rosa sinensis St. Bridget College". Alumni and friends supported the project.
In the afternoon, Atty. Ferdinand Juan and Ms. Bianca Gonzales also shared to the students the important lessons they learned in life and the importance of prayers, family, friends as they reach for their goals. They also led in lighting the 100 torches of SBC whose motto is, "Let Your Light Shine."
The internationally acclaimed Philippine Madrigal Singers also came to celebrate with the alumni, teachers, staff and Students of St. Bridget College, Good Shepherd Sisters, with a concert organized by Atty. Antonio Pastor. The concert was held at the SBC Manuela Q. Pastor Auditorium.
On, February 2, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Feast of Candelaria, a Eucharistic Celebration was presided by Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales at the Immaculate Conception Basilica. The SBC Alumni Association also honored 10 SBC graduates. It was a good start to the Grand Alumni Homecoming, participated by students from batch 1932 to batch 2012.
Before the Mass, members of various batches in grade school, high school and college joined the motorcade. In the afternoon, alumni also celebrated in songs and dance, at the auditorium.
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| A hundred torches lit to mark SBC's Centennial, held at the Pastor field. | Sisters welcome SBC alumni during the motorcade that concluded at the SBC grounds. |
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| Bridgetines. Srs. Añanita Borbon, Florencia Tio, Veronica Mondonedo, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Sisters Irene Lat and Ludila Panaligan. | Two of the 10 alumnae, Maxima Reyes-Recto and Azucena Ingco Mandanas, who received certificates of recognition from SBC Alumni Association. Behind them are members of their families. |