With the spirit of harmony, grace, and rejoicing the Paulinian community converged last December 27 to 29 at the SPCIS campus for a three-day grandiose affair to culminate SPCIS’ one hundred years of sharing life and mission in Ilocandia. Last January 11 to 15, 2005 an equally momentous celebration marked the launching of SPCIS’ year-long Centennial Jubilee Celebration.

A grace-filled and prayerful atmosphere permeated the first day of the culminating celebration as it opened with a meaningful Eucharistic celebration officiated by Archbishop Ernesto Salgado, D.D., the Archbishop of Nueva Segovia, together with 27 priests from the Ilocos Region. The mass was held to commemorate the seven zealous Sisters of the St. Paul of Chartre (SPC) Congregation, who, armed with their strong belief that a citadel of God’s word would thrive in this region, set forth to Vigan City on June 5, 1905 to lay the foundations of Paulinian Education in the Ilocos region.

Coinciding with the Eucharistic celebration was a province-wide grand motorcade participated in by students, teachers, staff, and administrators of SPCIS. Meanwhile during lunchtime, a fraternal agape gave visitors, guests, students, teachers, staff, and alumni of SPCIS a chance to share a sumptuous buffet while enjoying each one’s company and reliving the good old days of yesteryears. The nostalgic atmosphere continued in the afternoon until the evening as the Grand Alumni Homecoming of SPCIS ensued. Another grand motorcade adorned with colorful floats this time by SPCIS Alumni was slated in the afternoon while the evening was filled with songs, dances, and citations as SPCIS awarded a number of Outstanding Alumni.

The second day of the grand celebration gave SPCIS students a chance to showcase their talents. The day opened with costume parade and floats which were participated in by the students from the kinder, grade school, high school, and college departments. Parading around the historic streets of Vigan City, the students wearing their colorful costumes and wide smiles beamed at delighted spectators. After the parade, the students charmed parents, alumni, guests and visitors with their field demonstrations, which recount the history of the SPC Congregation and birth of Paulinian education in the province. Through the expressive Iloco dances and symbolic abel costumes of the students, the audience traveled back to the past from the time of the French Revolution and the ravages of war which compelled Father Louis Chauvet to found the SPC Congregation and thus paving the way to the momentous flourishing of Paulinian education globally and locally especially in the Ilocos region. The students’ presentations gave the whole community a time to look back, reflect, and be grateful for the copious fruits of the seeds sown by the SPC Sisters in the Ilocano community.

The afternoon of December 28 showcased the cultured Paulinian as they demonstrate their acting prowess in SPCIS’ adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Sound of Music." The said play was staged with no less than students, teachers, parents, and alumni of SPCIS as the actors and actresses.

The last day of the celebration was dubbed the "Grand Family Day". The day started with an acrobatic show sponsored by the Paulinian Family Circle wherein young and old alike enjoyed watching the breathtaking stunts and funny antics of the clowns and acrobats. The fun and excitement lingered on until the evening as the "grand family" of SPCIS embarked on a fashion show entitled "Linabag" showcasing beautiful creations of accomplished designers using the famous abel Iloco fabric. Donning stylish gowns and casual attires, SPCIS students and some parents elegantly saunter the catwalk to the delight of the viewers.

As the night draws to a close, the three-day celebration was capped off with a colorful display of fireworks reminiscent of the colorful 100 years of existence of St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur. As the sky filled with lights and colors, SPCIS reaffirmed its commitment to bring light and color to this part of the world. (Sharon Q. Rondaris)