In many places in the world, Valentine’s Day is remembered as a day of love. It is a celebration that is carefully prepared by the people during the month of February. Cliché as it may sound, people tend to be reminded of the universal language of “LOVE” even though the month did not begin yet. Starting from the last week of January, some of the people prepare their gifts, surprises, and small celebration for their love ones to celebrate the Hearts’ Day. We celebrate it differently though. Some prefer to enjoy a dinner with the family. Others celebrate it only with their partners. There were also some who prefers to celebrate alone at home. Most of us give cards, chocolates, roses or all of those to our love ones. And for some, Valentine’s Day is just an ordinary day.
However in our OSFI Family, we celebrated another victory beforehand the V Day from the different competitions joined by our pupils last January 25-26, 2020 held at University of the Philippines- Baguio and Baguio National High School. UP Namnama is the first Ilocano Organization and the bastion of Ilocano Culture in the country’s premier university, University of the Philippines. It exists with the purpose of providing academic and social growth among the Ilocano youth, as well as encouraging a widening awareness and appreciation of our region’s unique heritage and culture among our fellow Filipinos. The organization hosts annual activities: Annual Sirib Quiz Show and Saririt Cultural Festival. These two activities are joined by different participating schools as an institution in the educational map of whole Ilocos. And as we have always expected, our dear Saviourites has made us proud once again. Starting from the Provincial UP Namnama, our Irish Chloe I. Rigon, Eirol P. dela Cruz and Ramona Loisegold B. Acain placed 4th in the Sirib Quiz Bee. In the art of rhetorical speaking, Bea Jaye A. Abuce placed 1st in Iloco Declamation and Lian Danielle R. Rosaros nailed the English Declamation Contest, proudly getting the first place. Our dearest Hannah Daffodil P. Poblacion serenaded everyone’s hearts in the Vocal Solo Competition and garnered 2nd place. Our little essayists Denisse L. Htoon placed 2nd in the Filipino Essay-Writing Contest followed by Jayden Brylle D. Ramos who placed 1st in the English Essay-Writing Contest. And in the Poster Making Contest, our artist, Samantha Elle V. Puruganan took the 3rd place. These provincial winnings made us achieve our 5th time of being the Champion among the other schools in the province of Ilocos. Indeed, they have proven again that they came from the #HomeoftheChampions.
These applaudable achievements paved way for these same kids to qualify to the next level of the UP Namnama Competitions, the Regional UP Namnama held at city of Pines, Baguio City. Both Bea Joyce A. Abuce and Lian Danielle R. Rosaros placed 2nd in the English and Iloco Declamation. Hannah Daffodil P. Poblacion placed 3rd in the Vocal Solo.The Denise L. Htoon and Jayden Brylle D. Ramos tandem placed 1st in the Filipino and English Essay Writing Contest. And Samantha Elle “the artist” Puruganan placed 1st in the Regional Poster Making Contest. They were fondly guided by their coaches, Teachers Mark P. Valiente, Renal Ian C. Pasion, Xandrelle Yeunice N. Ramos, and Levie Joy Daguro all throughout their competition journey. Truthfully told, Saviourites are far from being wallflowers when it comes to talent and skills. These achievements undeniably made our hearts flutter once more.
Another Saviourite characteristic to be proud of is our nature of reaching out towards our brethren who needs help wherever they may be. During the recent Taal Volcano Eruption, different families from Our Saviours’ Foundation Incorporated immediately gave assistance in the form of relief goods and clothes to help the victims of the said natural disaster. The Father of OSFI, our very own Pastor Brian Shah, with the other volunteers, travelled a twelve-hour trip to personally give the provisions to our brothers that are affected in Batangas. This simple act of love is a way of the Lord to show to our brethren that we stand as one with them as His children from the other side of the country.
Our Saviour’s Foundation Incorporated Family is a place full of love. You can feel it as soon as you enter the gates of the school. The charity that we have to every people we meet is one of the lessons imparted in our Monday Chapel Services and is applied to each Saviourites’ lives every single day. Our love to our Lord, Jesus Christ, our love to our family and friends, our love to our neighbors, our love for our school, our love to our leaders, our love to our province, our love for our country and different forms of love is deeply rooted within us. Love keeps us motivated in whatever we do and whichever path we take. In companionship or loneness, in our success or failure, in prosperity and hardship, in time of peace and in times of chaos, Love is indeed here. Love is always in our hearts. And it is real.