DBTC Cebu 2019 Homecoming Day
By Bro. Louis Domasian, SDB
Provincial delegate for DB Alumni
Cebu, the Philippines, 3 February 2019 -- Just one day after the Victorias DBTI (Negros Island) Alumni Anuual Homecoming, the traditional motherhouse of DB Technological College Cebu held their annual event as well.
More than 500 Bosconians, including many Salesians of Don Bosco, their mentors and families, gathered for this Sunday at the Alma Mater. At the centre of attention was the Golden Jubilee of the 1969 Batch (including our SDB Bishop Precioso Cantillas and Fr Peter Porio - currently a missionary in Taiwan), and Silver Jubilarians of the 1994 Batch (again with few SDB).
One full day event was attended by most of the different batch representatives (first graduates in 1964), including also a good number of 'GEX' (Young Past Pupils) from the 2018-2014 (last five years) batches as a witness of good animation and relationship between the school and the Alumni.
During the morning Mass in the school chapel, Br. Carlo Bacalla,SDB (Cebuano missionary in Laos, THA - 40 years after graduation) proclaimed the official 'Prayer and Promise of Don Bosco Alumni' (cf. World Confederation Statutes, ed. 2015, 5b). The EAO regional councillor, who presided at the Eucharist with a further 8 SDB and Bosconian priests, highlighted in his homily the contribution of DB Alumni to the Don Bosco Mission in all 136 countrie, especially in the peripheries.
In the school gym the whole Assembly recited the recently drafted 'Bosconian Code of Ethics' -a response to the need to provide some light for themselves in the context of the ethic confusion of present-day society:
We, Don Bosco Cebu Alumni Bosconians
B- believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
O- observe patriotism towards our country
S- strengthen our faith, hope and charity
C- collaborate with the other members of the Salesian family
O- open ourselves to help others in need, especially the youth and the poor
N- network with all past pupils in business and professional endeavors
I- impart integrity in our personal and professional life
A- animate our family, friends and community with the teachings of St. John Bosco especially the preventive system, the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the communion of the Holy Eucharist
N-nourish God's love to others.
In the second part of the event two former mentors spoke - Fr Lan and Fr Ben, with their talks to the Jubilarians. This was followed by awards for outstanding Bosconians. The whole event took place in a strongly felt family spirit with sharing of memories and planning of each batch for their future path.
The Cebu Alumni Association (outgoing DBCAI President – Mr Jeff Calomarde) is providing heartfelt leadership for the large Bosconian community, and also aims to help finally launch the 'Southern Philippines Federation' of DB Alumni as a sign of greater responsibility for the growth and animation of other relatively new and weak Alumni Chapters in the five islands of the FIS province. In the afternoon there was also the election of Chapter officials for the next two year period.
