By: Samantha Bernardo, Mark Allain Manatad
The traditional Binyag Ritual shown herein as the freshmen were welcomed with blessed waters. Image courtesy of Yvonne Solon.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran celebrates its annual Binyag Arriba on Thursday, August 4, 2022, after two years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2-day Binyag Arriba celebration is the first face-to-face event in the last 2 years, spearheaded by the Department of Student Affairs along with the recognized student organizations, co-curricular and extra-curricular, to formally welcome the new students of the Colegio.
The 1st day of Binyag Arriba was attended by the freshmen students from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Information Technology, and College of Education who wore red to represent the Colegio's Arriba spirit.
The Binyag Arriba consists of three parts: Letran, Deus, and Patria— in which they showcased what it means to be a Letranite with the Tatak Arriba story.
Welcoming remarks were spearheaded by Vice President for Academic Affairs Cristina Castro-Cabral. She also explained the origin of "Arriba" and its importance as a Letranite.
Directress of the Planning, Quality and Accreditation Department, Ms. Diane Francisco, defined Colegio's Vision and Mission. The Mission showcases what kind of institution the Colegio is, what does it stand for, and what does it provide for its students. The “vision” helps the Letranite what they want to achieve in the future.
Directress of the Alumni and Public Relations Department, Ms. Jhennie Villar dissected in a live Zoom meeting the different symbols and history of Letran.
Rev. Fr. Stephen Mari La Ja, O.P. then later discussed the importance of spiritual formation. He encouraged the Letranites to approach them whenever they wanted.
The director of the community extension department, Asst. Prof. Leo N. Barnadas, MBA, presented the programs and advocacies that aims to encourage the new students of Letran to take part in several volunteer works of the Colegio. Moreover, the Directress of the Department of Student Affairs, Asst. Prof. Catherine D. Sanchez, RChe, MEN, tackled the critical guidelines and rules that every new Letranites must follow in the Colegio in order to avoid conflicts and grievances throughout their stay.
In-between these parts are intermissions by the Letran Student Council, Uknighted Dance Company, and Letran Filipiniana Dance Company.
The Binyag Arriba Ritual took place in the afternoon, where the freshmen from the three colleges were knighted and pledged to Deus, Letran, and Patria. They were also hooded by the Religious Ed Faculty members. They also participated in the cheers and yells with the Letran Band and Letran Cheering Squad before they were drenched with water to establish that they are now full-fledged Letranites.