After 12 years since its last hosting of the event, Saint Louis University (SLU) is set to once again welcome fellow Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) Schools from across the Philippines for the staging of the 7th CICM Schools Friendship Meet.
Moving towards inclusion, excellence, and solidarity, the Meet, running from 19 to 23 February 2024, is themed “Sandiwa’t Misyon: Journeying Together as CICM Schools Towards Catholic Integral Formation and Global Excellence”. The University initially hosted the Friendship Meet in February 2012 under the theme “Sampuso’t Misyon” (One Heart, One Mission).
As SLU gears up for the Meet, months of meticulous planning continue to ensure a smooth and successful event. “It’s been a long time since we last hosted,” acknowledged Triceayn Marie De Guzman-Prestousa, Director of the Office of Student Affairs and Services, emphasizing the importance of careful preparation.
The University’s Programs, Events, and Logistics Committee, working tirelessly since last year, has fine-tuned this large-scale event’s program flow and logistics. Collaborative efforts and multiple core meetings to discuss the gathering details with representatives from all participating CICM Schools have also been ongoing, involving key individuals such as Deans, Directors of Student Affairs, and leaders of athletic, academic, and cultural groups.
Initiated in 2007 to celebrate the CICM’s centennial in the country, the Friendship Meet seeks to strengthen unity among CICM Schools through sports, academic quiz bees, and cultural showcase of talents. It serves as a platform to foster camaraderie and mutual learning among students, administrators, and faculty from esteemed CICM institutions namely: Saint Louis University (Baguio City), Saint Mary’s University (Bayombong), Saint Louis College (San Fernando), University of Saint Louis (Tuguegarao) and Saint Louis College (Cebu).
Showcasing Talents, Competitions, and Legacy of Champions
Delegates of the Friendship Meet, coming from college, grade school, and high school (Junior High and Senior High) levels, will battle out in three categories: sports, cultural events and academic quiz bees. The sports events include basketball, volleyball, table tennis, chess, badminton, and swimming, with separate divisions for boys and girls, men and women. They will also compete in cultural performances such as one-act plays, contemporary dance, pop acapella groups, traditional Philippine folk dances, and ballrooms that will showcase the artistic diversity of the participants. Meanwhile, the Academic Quiz Bee will be a battle of wits. Grade school and high school students will lock horns in a test of knowledge across various subjects.
Aside from the joy of competing, this Friendship Meet highlights the significance of the common bond and collective consciousness in celebrating the shared identity and spirit of the CICM community.
In addition to convening for the 7th CICM Schools Friendship Meet, the CICM community will be together for the commemoration of the Bicentennial Birth Anniversary of the revered CICM Founder, Fr. Theophile Verbist. These upcoming events are anticipated to be a memorable and enriching experience, serving as a platform for participants to strengthen unity among CICM Schools.
Moreover, as SLU is the team to beat– cementing their dominance as the reigning overall champions for years with their consistent performances across all event categories, training– tryouts, and practices for athletes, performers, and participants has also been in full swing since last year, intensified by the recently concluded University Intramurals.
The CICM Friendship Meet Through the Years
The conduct of the Friendship Meet was approved by then CICM Provincial Superior, Fr. Romeo Nimez, following the proposal put forth by the Committee on Education (PCE) chaired by Fr. Jessie M. Hechanova.
The event’s journey began with Saint Mary’s University hosting the first-ever CICM Friendship Meet in November 2007, with the theme “CICM Schools, Friends for Life.” This served as the closing activity of the year-long celebration of the CICM Centennial Jubilee celebration. Subsequent meets, each hosted by different CICM schools, have consistently showcased themes highlighting unity, friendship, and the collective mission.
USL – Tuguegarao then hosted the second CICM Friendship Meet on 19 to 23 January 2010, themed “Sigla ng Pagkakaibigan, Sigla ng Misyon” (Fervor of Friendship, Fervor for the Mission). On 22-24 February 2012, SLU hosted the third CICM Friendship meet with the theme “Sampuso’t Misyon” (One Heart, One Mission).
Thereafter, on 24 to 27 November 2014 and on the occasion of SLC’s culmination of their 50th Golden Foundation, the College hosted the fourth CICM Friendship Meet with its theme, “One CICM: Celebrating the Unity of the CICM Schools-Philippines.”
Continually, in line with the celebration of the USL’s 51st Founding anniversary and closing of its Golden Jubilee celebration, the University hosted the 5th CICM Schools Friendship Meet titled “Makkarofun, Makkarauffun”, which is an Ybanag term for friendship and support in February 2016. And with the previous Meet, SMU hosted the 6th CICM Schools Friendship Meet in February 2020 under the theme “The Youth Inspired by Mission, Driven by Excellence.” (UIO, co-written by Mae Janica Palkit and Kristine Ingrid Rivera)
