On February 9, 2026, the Saint Joseph College Educative Family formally opened its Family Day III as a celebration of its 98th Founding Anniversary, with the theme โHonoring Our Roots, Building Our Legacyโ that carries the sentiment of a centennial milestone.
Serving as masters of ceremony were Mr. Karl Kano and Mr. Mel Narona of the senior high school faculty. As they showered the attendees with warm greetings, they welcomed the alumni, the distinguished guests, the administrators, and the Josephians from various generations.
The arrival of the Drum and Lyre Corps, SJC Criminology Interns, school officials, department representatives, and the faculty and staff was formally recognized, which emitted the right amount of respect and acknowledgement at the programโs baseline.
The multi-awarded Drum and Lyre Corps was the first to exhibit their award-winning performance with a polished exhibition that drew applause from the watchers and listeners. This was then followed by a solemn prayer and the singing of the national anthem led by the SJC Chorale.
The event proceeded with the short speech of the vice president for administration, Mrs. Riza Lynn O. Siega, MCS, who emphasized the meaning of the anniversary theme: โThis [the theme] calls us to both look back with gratitude and forward with purpose. We thank those who are ahead of us, the teachers, former administrators, and even former students who are now alumni of this institution who, through their hard work and vision, built SJC into the home that we love today.โ
The second part of the program shifted into lighter feelings of fun. Non-competitive singing renditions featured solo and duet performances, while dance groups lit up the naked stage with music ranging from pop and hip-hop to funky beats. All of the dancing performers later returned for a freestyle number that was also joined by the SJC Green Hawks mascot, acquiring some different sorts of positive reactions from the audience.
During the later part of the event, the upcoming centennial initiatives were being highlighted, such as the 100 Distinguished Alumni Award, the Centennial Logo-Making Contest, and the Centennial Theme Song Writing Contest; these projects were established to give honor to the school across the country and within the society.
In his message later that night, Mr. Oscar A. Cadayona, PhD, SThL-MA, spoke of collective responsibility and faith as the institution moves forward. He stressed that collaboration and shared commitment would guide the college institution towards continued growth and service to God, to the country, and to the society.
Interactive games organized by the FCSO with much care for the enjoyment of all added spice to the program when the Josephiansโ faces of exhaustion showed through the screen. โGuess Dโ Lyricsโ challenged participantsโ familiarity with Bisaya, Tagalog, and English songs, which was then followed by a โBring Meโ game that tested speed and attentiveness among students. The celebration finished off with a music fest featuring live bands, ending the opening program with pure energy and bigger enthusiasm than how it began.
As the opening program drew to a close, the 98th founding anniversary affirmed SJCโs enduring identity and shared purpose. While its reaching centennial year is where we set our eyes on, the institution moves forward, carrying with it its rich history of strengthened faith, commitment to service, and continuous growth that transcends beyond limits.
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Words: Ma. Contesa Ronariese Rufin | The Josephinian
Photos: Dan Rughie Cadano | The Josephinian
Blessa Joyce Padecio | The Josephinian
