XAVERIAN'S CORNER

Golden Jubilee Torch Run

Arch. Florencio Sebastian III, XS'89

Posted Wednesday, 03-Jan-2007 7:40 AM

     December 3, 2006, feast of our patron saint, St. Francis Xavier, was made a momentous event with a massive series of activities that filled the whole day.  The Golden Jubilee Torch Run was, perhaps, the most poignant among all the events.

     The Torch Run was the symbolic run where all 47 Xavier alumni batches carried and passed on a golden torch from the original school campus in Echague (now C. Palanca Street) up to the present campus in San Juan – totaling a distance of 8 kilometers.

     As early as 4:30 in the morning, representatives from all Xavier alumni batches gathered in Xavier School.  Each batch received their final instructions as well as their batch banners for them to carry during the run.  At 5:45 a.m., everyone boarded the buses and headed for their respective stations along the route.

     The opening ceremony at Station 1 was held in front of the SM Building along C. Palanca Street.  A special prayer was led by Fr. Joseph Ly, S.J., Fr. Maximo Barbero, S.J., and Mr. William Go Wee Kong (XS 1960), while all the 1960’s batches were gathered around.  The Torch Run, much like the Olympics, officially commenced with the lighting of the torch by Fr. Johnny Go, S.J., the current school director.

     With a full complement of escorts from the city government and Xavier’s finest, the torch was passed on from Bacthes ‘60-‘64 to Batches ‘65-‘69 at P. Casal Street, Batches ‘70-‘74 at Arlegui Street, Batches ‘75-‘79 at Legarda Place, Batches ‘80-‘84 at Arellano University, Batches ‘85-‘89 at the LRT Pureza Station, Batches ‘90-‘94 at Santol Street, Batches ‘95-‘99 at SM Centerpoint, Batches ‘00-‘03 at Broadway Centrum, and Batches ‘04-‘06 at RCBC Granada.  Before entering Xavier School, all the runners regrouped for some photos and a breath of air.

     At 7:45 a.m., 15 minutes earlier than the estimated time of entry, all runners led by Batch 2006 made their way to the grade school quadrangle, welcomed by a flank of animated students waving their blue and yellow flags.  As it is the duty of every alumnus to pass on the light to the younger Xaverians, the torch was likewise passed on by the latest alumni Batch of 2006, represented by Phillip Ong, to Jonn Terence Dy of Batch 2007 and present Student Council president.  The whole ceremony ended with the singing of the school song.

     Events like this do not happen often.  Maybe it will take another 50 years on the school’s centennial before this will be done again.  But this happened with good reason.  By the torch we lit, symbol of our commitment to the Xavier ideals, the alumni of Xavier School renewed our pledge to hold fast to the ideals we were taught in Xavier.  And by the lives we live now, we hope to serve as a good example to the students and the future alumni of Xavier School to stay committed to the value of “magis” and to use our God-given gifts for the good of our fellowmen.  Indeed, Luceat Lux!

     The Golden Jubilee Torch Run was organized by Mr. Benedict Chua (XS 1976), Dr. Joseph Ng (XS 1984), Mr. Lito Santiago of the Security Office, and yours truly.

                                  Torch Run Photo Gallery

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