PALARO 2021: A Shift to Strengthen Commitment to Excellence

by Arianne Santos

This year has been a tough year for all of us. The combination of the pandemic and calamities that struck our country brought great changes and hardships that we bravely faced as one. This week as we continue our journey, we celebrate the week that all Divinians look forward to each year—the PALARO. The PALARO has been a part of every Divinian’s school life. It is a moment that we all look forward to that makes us true children of light. It is the moment where we not only enjoy our time as students, but also a moment where we honor and celebrate our patron Señor Santo Niño. It has been part of our tradition to start the week with a prayer dedicated to our dear patron to ask for guidance. It is but a solemn moment that we all take part in.

The previous PALAROs were conducted inside the campus, where the students bond with each other and cheer for their teams. The mixture of happiness and excitement plastered on the faces of the students is but a sight to see, and the loud cheers were like the booming background music you could hear everywhere, which can truly make anyone anticipate the events that there are to come. This year, however, the recent happenings hindered us from witnessing the same expressions as the pandemic took us by surprise. It is but a danger if the sports fest is to be held inside the campus without caution. To protect the students from the threat imposed by the pandemic and in compliance to the health safety protocols set by the government, the school administration decided to virtually hold an ‘e-games’ competition as a temporary replacement for the social tradition, PALARO. We might not hear the cheers nor see the expressions of our fellow Divinians, but we can still feel the celebration through this competition. It is still a week to look forward to as we continue our journey towards successful online schooling.

Let us take our time to enjoy this week and remember to honor our patron. Viva El Señor Santo Niño! Viva! Viva!