Splash of New Beginnings: Binyag Arriba 2025

Elijah Leigh Tan

PHOTO | Chona Ahon

Drenched in water and unforgettable memories, the senior high school ‘freshies’ of Colegio de San Juan de Letran Manila took part in the colegio’s unique yet fun welcoming tradition, “Binyag Arriba,” last Friday, July 18, 2025, officially acknowledging them as fully pledged Letranites.

Tiny drops of rain accompanied the freshmen, yet the crowd of students sitting in the SC auditorium proved their dedication in taking part in the Binyag Arriba. Despite the mixed emotions of nervousness and excitement, the freshmen patiently waited for the event to commence as this marked the start of their new journey.

The SC auditorium became a sea of red and blue as the freshies proudly flaunted their strands. Those in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graced the event wearing blue, while students from, Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Home Economics (HE), wore their red shirts.

Floating in a tide of unfamiliar faces, the first half of the event was filled with tension as the Senior Squires got to meet their new classmates for the first time. The place was buzzing with unavoidable awkward hellos and curious stares that would eventually spark budding friendships. With eager eyes, they also got to meet their second parents within the campus—their advisers as well as their subject teachers. A sneak peek of thrilling events was also presented which further stirred their excitement. 

But the second part was the highlight of it all. Starting from the Knighthood Ceremony, followed by the Rites of Passage, Rites of Vestition, Rites of Cleansing, and Hooding, which were all part of the process of officially becoming a Letranite. “Arriba Letran! Arriba Letran! Arriba Letran!” The chants of the students echoed as their Arriba spirit strengthened with each ritual they went through.

Finally, they reached the most anticipated part, the “basaan,” starting with a walk of trust where they walked towards the campus grounds while blindfolded, solely relying on those in front of them and their respective student guides; as if symbolizing their new journey, where every step is taken cautiously in fear of the unknown. But more importantly, this experience allowed them to build trust among new peers as well as with their seniors, who are willing to guide them on their journey.

Water came pouring over them even before they took off their blindfolds. Despite the unfamiliar crowd and the unfamiliar grounds, bright smiles and starry eyes filled the expanse of their faces that had been so tense before the day began. Binyag Arriba ended with a splash—an actual splash of water signifying the students’ transformation as official Letranites who uphold the three core values: Deus, Patria, Letran.

Some were already familiar with the school's premises, while for some, the halls were unfamiliar and a new yet exciting experience. Some stepped into the Colegio along with old friends, while some students’ only company was themselves. Regardless of their differences, Binyag Arriba was the first thing that united them in one identity—being a Letranite; a Senior Squire with a fresh and thrilling Senior High School journey ahead.