One Shot: Capturing the Arriba Spirit of Colegio Week 2024

Alyssa Andrei E. Rimorin

PHOTO | Chona Mae Ahon

One click of the camera and it captured the beautiful moments inside the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. The smiles of every Letranite, the laughter that can be heard everywhere, the colorful decorations, and the students who were strolling around the campus. With every turn of the head, the glowing happiness could be seen in everyone’s face as they celebrated the Colegio Week 2024 to mark the school’s 404th founding anniversary.

Before the surprises got unleashed, the event started with a prayer to convey everyone’s gratitude to the Almighty. Fostering the supreme ideal of Deus, Letranites attended the Eucharistic mass on November 25, 2024. “We draw inspiration from his [St. Vincent Liem de la Paz] life as we celebrate this Colegio Week,” the Very Rev. Fr. Raymund Fernando P. Jose, O.P. stated. This reflects the values of the Letranites and their love for God as they carry out their missions and live by the examples of St. Liem.

It was then followed by the ribbon-cutting that revealed the colorful atmosphere and fun-filled space. The booths were scattered around the campus, providing the Letranites with wide array of options that would be up for sale. From appetizing foods and mouthwatering drinks, to wide range of merchandise that would fulfill people’s wants and provide satisfaction to them.

On the other hand, the Colegio Week served as a key to opening a new door to the students. It provided them with an opportunity to express themselves and to prove their talents, creativity, and dedication as they joined in the field demonstration on the first day of celebration. Students from basic education, senior high, and collegiate showcased their amazing performances with colorful costumes that shone throughout the school.

The first day was indeed a great opening for a week-long celebration of fun and excitement. Following this, the second and third day were also filled with interesting activities for every student. The Colegio conducted different workshops, seminars, and shows. This enabled everyone to gain new insights and knowledge regarding their own field, strand, or program.

Transitioning to the fourth day, the sun shone brightly as every classroom was filled with students who were busy in preparation for the big night. With Letranites who were running around as they panicked due to their busy schedules, we could see their efforts in ensuring that everything would go well. The competitiveness and the arriba spirit were indeed very evident during the Mr. and Ms. Letran SHS Coronation Night.

The candidates showcased their shimmering and outstanding outfits and looks. From their ethereal beauty to their unmatched wits, all of them shone through the crowd. With this, the audience had a great fun, which was seen through their smiles and heard from their deafening screams.

Since the celebration started with overflowing happiness and excitement, the Colegio had to end it in a better way than it was. The students were covered in colors as they ran around Intramuros for the RunHueKnighted 2024. The air was filled with laughter and heavy breathing, symbolizing the exhausting yet fun activity that they participated in. With every step they took, they gained and carried a new memory that they can keep forever.

As the hearts of the Letranites got filled with joy and delight, they were welcomed back to the school with more surprises. The campus was filled with bubbles and splashes of water as the students jammed with Over October, Zild, Autotelic, WeTheSouth, and Uknighted Dance Company. The music filled every corner and touched everyone’s heart as they celebrated the Arriba Fest 2024 on November 29 at the St. Thomas Grounds.

“Annual celebration to celebrate who we are as a Letranite.” This is how Rev. Fr. Raymund Fernando P. Jose, O.P. described the purpose and importance of celebrating the Colegio Week annually. It is the time to uplift one’s identity as a Letranite as they empower their arriba spirits. This entails the mission to live by the examples set by St. Liem and to elevate the supreme ideals, the Deus, Patria, and Letran.

With every click of the camera, one moment was being documented, which will serve as a reminder of yesterday’s episodes. This Colegio Week 2024 captured the hearts of the Letranites and sealed it with happiness, love, and excitement. As students roamed around the campus, they were able to gain new experiences and knowledge, thus uplifting their arriba spirit. The event may be a one-shot, but the memories will forever linger on the back of every Letranite’s mind.