Divine Word College of Laoag DWCL
“Naragsak nga panagkikita ken panaglalangen” filled the campus as 14 batches of the Grade School and High School converged to pay homage to their Alma Mater in a pre-Diamond Jubilee grand homecoming on December 28, 2019. Registrar Dr. Janette R. Lazaro, and the Alumni Scholars facilitated the registration of High School Batch 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2006 and Grade School 1969 just before taking off for a motorcade around the city.
The Holy Eucharist has always been and shall always be the highlight of any school event like that of homecomings. Rev. Fr. Nerio Joseph A. Artienda, SVD the school President officiated the Thanksgiving Mass that was offered after the motorcade. He underscored in his homily that the very essence of celebrating school founding anniversaries are the alumni, who through the years of the school’s education apostolate, built the name of the school as the PRIDE OF THE NORTH through the various contributions they make in their fields/professions for the development of the society.
Symbolically affirming to carry out our ALMA MATER’s motto “Deo et Patriae” For God and Country, blue and gold balloons representing the school’s official colors, were flown soar high with the band playing the DWCL Hymn, “The Pride of the North. ” Indeed, here are the alumni together from many places they have come and all bound to touch base for a pre-diamond jubilee homecoming.
The Memory lane in the “ Meet and Greet Dinner” gave way to some moments of flashbacks of the High School/Grade School life episodes of the batches. The then and now only proved the sturdy foundation afforded by their beloved Alma Mater.
The master of ceremonies, Ms. Divina Gracia de los Santos nee Barcelona of HS Batch ’88 with her very captivating and entertaining emceeing prompted the alumni to gesture strong support to the conceived commemorative memento, the face-lifting of the school’s gymnasium and be counted as benefactors of more alumni scholars. A symbolic handing over of the plan to Fr. Nerio Joseph A. Artienda, SVD by the Alumni Association Board of Directors headed by Dr. Macario Rufino Salva, Chairman, together with Mr. William Agcaoili, and Engr. Richard Mata took place. The Basic Education Director Rev. Fr. Denny D. Lucas, SVD likewise conveyed gratitude for this laudable project for the school. It was indeed a night where everyone brought home an added remarkable event in their treasure chest of school life memories.