Tree of Hope Lighting Ceremony: Celebrating the Season of HOPE and Giving
On December 6, 2019, the MapúaMCM community gathered at the Plaza to officially welcome the holiday season by lighting the school’s Christmas Tree in a heartfelt ceremony that celebrated the event’s overall theme: H.O.P.E.: Holding On to Positive Expectations.
Headed by the Masters of Ceremonies — Joyce Savillo and Nimrod Angelo Binghay — the ceremony began with a doxology performance by the Malayan SHS Choir: The Malayan Orientem Chorus. Then, an Audio Visual Presentation done by the Corporate Communications Office of MapúaMCM was presented to the audience, highlighting moments wherein MapúaMCM students and employees helped different communities in need and made an effort to push through with advocacies such as reducing plastic waste. This also officially announced the beginning of the institution’s #FindSolutions Campaign, a campaign wherein MapúaMCM continues to search for solutions to pressing issues within the country and executes them through transformative projects and activities.
Afterwards, Engr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, took the floor to give a heartwarming message of hope to all the students, faculty and staff present. He fondly titles the MapúaMCM Christmas Tree as the Tree of HOPE, and urges us all to hope for the best this season — listing all of the things we should be hopeful for such as safe loved ones, good health and prosperity.
“Life is hard… Often times we face setbacks, frustrations in life especially in these recent times, with these recent events that happened to us… It has felt like we’ve already been on the brink of disaster, but despite everything we are all still hopeful…Let us HOPE that we as MapúaMCM employees and students continue to prosper as the school continues to grow…”
Thereafter, Engr. Dodjie Maestrecampo; Cesar Glenn Josio, Senior High School Coordinator; and Lance Soriano, College of Engineering and Architecture Student Organization President went up to light the Christmas Tree, taking their places at the sides to press the switches that would light up the entirety of the tree. The lights were shut off and on the count of three, the students and employees all watched and cheered in awe as the Christmas Tree and MapúaMCM Letters lit up in a dazzling display of lights.
Following this, Engr. Rolando V. Bitor, Assistant Vice President for Administration; and Dr. Flora Mae C. Yparraguirre, Senior High School Principal, presented the Top 3 winners of the Eco-Ornament Making Contest — an ornament making contest open to the Senior High School students that entails them making Christmas ornaments out of recycled materials.
The 3rd place prize went to Class 12 – Lithium — Jondi Bryle Luayon, Aziad Mangacop, John Dave Marchan, and Datu Abuzar Mohammad; 2nd place to 12 – Cobalt — Kim Alyssa Go, Kiana Marie Guay, Alessandra Nicole Magsico, and Kylle Mendoza; and lastly, 1st place winners are from Class 12 – Lithium — Charl Riobert Saga, Jay Zandro Sango, Jeshcee Jay Tabuno, Khris Martin Rebullo, and George Ty Jr.
The highlight of the event truly took place when — in the spirit of giving — Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao employees and staff provided gifts to our hardworking utility people and security personnel who expressed their sincerest gratitude to the surprise gifts handed to them. One of the utility personnel, Mr. Kim Joven, remarked:
“It’s a huge happiness for us because we were given these gifts. We would like to thank everyone — all the Heads of MapúaMCM and teachers and staff, even more so to God.”
After this, a choir group from the Davao School and Rehabilitation Center for the Visually Impaired sang various Christmas songs to the audience, giving us an enrapturing and heartwarming presentation.
The event came to a close with a final performance from the Malayan Orientem Chorus and a big thanks to all of those who participated in the first ever Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao history.
