The First-Ever Virtual Commencement Exercises of Letran Senior High

Rhaine Eisley Bortanog & Thea Tugade

DECEMBER 7, 2020, MONDAY — Colegio De San Juan De Letran and the Senior High School Department held its 3rd Commencement Exercises virtually for the first time to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of the Senior Squires Quadri-Batch 2020 via Zoom and Facebook live.

Before the actual event, the afternoon started with an anticipated thanksgiving mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, presided by Rev. Fr. Clarence Victor Marquez, O.P., Rector and President of Letran Manila and Bataan.

Hosted by Mr. Kenny Arañas, a total of 542 graduates participated in the said ceremony to receive their long-awaited awards and recognition. The said graduation rites commenced with the virtual march of each section from all strands together with their respective advisers and were followed by the speeches of selected students.

“To me, there were always awkward moments of wondering of what's going to happen now that something I've enjoyed for so long must come to an end, to be blunt there is no good in goodbyes.” Mr. Jose Antonio Alfonso, the batch salutatorian, stated as he dedicated his welcoming remarks to the Quadricentennial Batch 2020 to officially starts the virtual commencement exercises.

In his address, Mr. Alfonso emphasized to his fellow graduates to never hesitate to follow their dreams and to carry their spark and let it burn bright.

The message of gratitude followed next as it was delivered by Ms. Pamela Gonida, Batch 2019-2020 President of the Letran Senior High School Student Council, she mentioned: “Kahit pa siguro ulit-ulitin kong kumanta at sumayaw ng ‘Salamat Letran’, hindi pa rin sya sapat.”

“We ended our graduating year with the beginning of the pandemic, and we started our college life still with it, facing countless challenges. Despite that and knowing that we can simply give up at a blink of an eye, we are still here, still together although virtually, commemorating a milestone and our successes… We are what Letran strives for. We are who Letran believes in, We are what the Colegio celebrates. We are Quadricentennial,” she added.

Furthermore, the address of concession led by the Rector was followed after the petition for graduation led by Mr. Eric Awi, Ph.D., Senior High School Principal. “We have endured, we are surviving, and we shall prevail. You are a living testimony, the gift of the quadricentennial,” the Rector stressed to the graduates.

Consequently, the highlights of the ceremony arrived as Mr. Awi presented the candidates for graduation, and the Rector for the conferment of diplomas and awards of the Class 2020 respectively.

After the commencement, the Rector gave the ‘Rector’s Award’ to Ms. Reece Hernandez, class valedictorian, recognizing her for gaining the highest academic excellence rank.

As the ceremony approached towards the end, Ms. Reese claimed that Letran is her first and her best choice for her senior high school education as she addressed her Valedictory Speech. She added that Letran provided her with various opportunities and experiences which resulted in her achievements of milestones.

“Taos pusong pasasalamat sa iyo, mahal kong Letran. Binigyan mo ako ng oportunidad na maging bahagi ng mayaman at masagana mong kasaysayan… Letran is home. At tunay nga na kay sarap maging Letranista,” Hernandez added as she expressed her thanks and appreciation to her dearest Alma Mater.

To end her message, she quoted, “Letran Senior High School Batch 2020, we all made it. And we are making history.”

The graduation wrapped up as viewers and graduates joined each other in the singing of “Salamat, Letran'' and the Himno del Colegio de San Juan de Letran, a way to successfully and fruitfully conclude the first-ever and the 3rd virtual commencement exercises in its history.