By: Sophia Pacheco
Photo courtesy of Gwynette Lourisse Merano & Maverick Rhoy De Vera / The LANCE
Letran-Manila opened its annual Colegio Week 2025 launching a week-long celebration in commemoration of the institution’s 405th foundation year, on Monday, Nov. 24, at the St. Thomas Grounds.
This year’s festivities carry the theme “Expanding Borders, Empowering Minds: Celebrating the Spirit of Internationalization” and began with an institutional mass presided over by Rev. Fr. Raymund Fernando P. Jose, O.P., Rector and President.
“Today, we open our Colegio Week with festivities, and showcase skills and talents … we want to emphasize and highlight that letranites can be world-class and have the capacity to conquer the international sphere,” Fr. Jose said.
Following the mass, the official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at Letran Facade, led by Rev. Fr. Jose, Rev. Fr. Patricio P. Hiwatig, O.P., along with representatives from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), Research and Publication Department (RPD), and College of Education, Liberal Arts, and Science (CELAS).
The program included the blessing of booths to formally commence the week’s activities.
This year also saw the return of major amusement rides, including the Vikings, Ferris Wheel, and Pikachu rides which were absent during last year’s celebration.
Several recreational attractions were likewise opened to the community, such as an escape room, the Colegio Week bazaar, an open mic booth, and Talent’s Knight.
The Colegio and the Letran Student Council (LSC) have planned a series of events in the upcoming days, including the Bingo Socials, Run Hueknighted, and the Arriba Fest, which will be joined by bands and artists such as Lilly, Calein, Arthur Miguel, Five Fingers and The Muralla Project.