ON HIATUS NO more, after years under the pandemic, the Bedan community welcomed the 2023 Christmas season with an all-out ceremonial lighting event that filled the campus with colors of joy and a sense of warmth last November 29 at the University Plaza.
The event marked the beginning of festivities while bannering the theme, “Pamayanang Sama-Sama at Buong Pusong Nagpapasalamat,” which reminds the community of “having hope for a better and brighter Christmas season.”
The inspirational message was delivered by the Rector-President, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. Maranan, OSB, in which he stated that “The lighting is not only a display, but it brightens the darkness inside the San Beda campus. Every time a Bedan enters the main gate, each one of us is a symbol that represents the light, as each light represents us.”
The ceremonial Christmas lighting event has now seen a vast improvement and participation from the Bedan community ever since the pandemic, which has caused divisions and isolation.
In an interview with the Prefect of Student Activities of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Prof. Marvin Reyes, Ph.D., mentioned that “After four years of hiatus, after four years of simple celebration because of pandemic. We go back to the usual glamorous and colorful Christmas lighting ceremony.”
With the preparations and efforts made, the lighting event was marked as it usually was before the pandemic took a toll on the Bedan community.
The event was serenaded by the Integrated Basic Education Department (IBED) Senior High School-Manila’s Bedan Harmony, the San Beda University Chorale (SBUC), and Musika Medisina, which highlighted the event’s performances.
Remembering the story of what Christmas means, selected Senior High School students performed the traditional Panunuluyan. A reenactment of the Biblical story of Joseph and Mary looking for shelter to give birth to Jesus.
To solidify this year’s Paskong Bedista theme, the 2023 San Beda University Christmas Music Video was launched with a concept that shows community and gratitude, along with memorable events and well-deserved achievements that transpired this year.
Moving further to the most anticipated part of the evening, Fr. Maranan spearheaded the blessing of Christmas lights.
The first countdown was for the main gate to be illuminated with the red color in commemoration of the Red Wednesday that also fell on the same day. Red Wednesday commemorated the Christians who were persecuted due to their beliefs.
This was then followed by a second countdown that lit up the rest of the campus-wide Christmas decorations.
In the process of making the Paskong Bedista 2023 “magic” possible, the Vice President for External Affairs of the CAS Student Council (SC), Kyla Cayetano, who also served as the event organizer of the Christmas Lighting Ceremony, shared that the program became “livelier” with the special numbers coming from the different schools and colleges of the University and the small feast prepared after the festivities, involving the whole Bedan community in it.
She proudly mentioned that “for this program, everyone was involved. But ‘yung pinaka naging partner talaga namin is [the] Integrated Basic Education Department, the Senior High School, Sir Benjamin Sonajo, and the External Vice President of the Senior High School, Akiah Loveighne Agbanlog. They were a really big help for the preparation of this event. For the sponsor, we have Great Taste. They are having their brand activation in the St. Maurs [Hall].”
(with Marc Joseph Felix and Rcee Umali Tenefrancia)