One of oldest Anglican institutions: Saint Mary’s School to cap centennial Dec 7-8

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- St. Mary’s School here, one of the oldest Anglican schools in the country, will  hold its culminating event on Dec. 7 and 8 with exciting activities to cap celebration of its centennial.

The initial commemoration of the school’s 100^th year of existence was held March 28-30 this year.  

SMS Sagada chapter chairman Alma Louise Bawing-Bagano bared schedule of events for the celebration. 

A torch parade by the community people is scheduled evening of Dec. 7 beginning at Daoangan Road and ending at the grounds of  the school followed by cultural presentations of SMS students.

A dinner –concert follows after the cultural show on  Dec. 7.

Musician and composer SMS alumnus Mauricio Patongao shall be rendering his compositions from his album Chawak for Peace.

Patongao shall be joined by local musicians including Eugene ‘Memra’ Magsino. 

In the evening event, a raffle draw wherein the lucky ticket will bag P500.00 to P20,000 worth of items solicited  by  former Board chairman SMS Sagada Inc. and active donor engineer Rufino Bumasang.

Consolation prizes are solicited from SMS alumni and local entrepreneurs.

Dec. 8  marks the unveiling and blessing of the centennial marker-bust of Rev. John Staunton along Mabbay road at 9 o’clock followed by a church service at Saint Mary the Virgin Church.with homilist SMS alumnus Rev. Jerry Sagayo.  

The centennial lunch is partaken by all community folks joining the midday meal prepared by village folks with each barangay of the Poblacion sharing special menu -pork from Dagdag, chicken from Patay, pansit from Ambasing and indigenous food from Demang.

 Four o’clock vespers follow on Dec. 8 with a hymn fest in the evening.

The award-winning Episcopal Church choir which won 1st place in the 112th Benguet Foundation’s Nov 25 choral festival shall be joining the Sagada Community Choir and other church choirs the centennial hymn fest.   

The Episcopal Church Choir composed of 40 members from Baguio-Benguet church choirs is conducted by Jayson Manuel Osong who hails from Sagada.

The release of 100 skylanterns will cap the momentous event coordinated by Bagano and SMS chairman finance committee on fund raising Nellie Abeya Pit-og.

The skylanterns were donated by SMS alumni engineer Virgilio Bucat and Edith Longid O'keefe.